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Instem plc

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FY2013 Annual Report · Instem plc
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Instem plc
Annual Report 
2013

Instem  is  a  leading  supplier  of  IT  applications  to  the  early  development  healthcare  market

delivering compelling solutions for data collection, management and analysis across the R&D

continuum.    Instem  applications  are  used  by  customers  worldwide,  meeting  the  rapidly

expanding needs of life science and healthcare organisations for data-driven decision making

leading to safer, more effective products.

Instem’s established portfolio of software solutions increases client productivity by automating

study-related processes while offering the unique ability to generate new knowledge through

the extraction and harmonisation of actionable scientific information.

Instem supports over 400 clients through full service offices in the United States, United Kingdom

and China with additional locations in India and a full service distributor based in Japan. 

Our clients include these fine organisations...

Contents

HIGHLIGHTS

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

STRATEGIC REPORT

FINANCIAL REVIEW

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF INSTEM PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DIRECTORS AND ADVISORS

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Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

Highlights 

Financial Highlights

Strategic Developments

• 

Revenues increased 7% to £11.4m (2012: £10.7m)

• 

• 

Recurring revenues increased 9% to £8.2m 
(2012: £7.5m), representing 72% of total 
revenues

Software as a Service (SaaS) revenues increased 
35% to £1.5m (2012: £1.1m)

• 

• 

Logos Technologies (rebranded “Instem Clinical”) 
and its ALPHADAS® product suite acquired in May 
2013. Fully integrated and performing strongly

First entrance into the in vitro R&D market through 
the acquisition of Perceptive Instruments Ltd. in 
November 2013

Operational Highlights

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Customer retention rate remained strong at 95%

Signed 10-year US$6.2m revenue SaaS contract 
for Provantis secured with the National Institute 
of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), a US 
Government body 

SaaS deals with two top 10 pharmaceutical 
companies 

Provantis licensed for 3 additional clients in North 
America, Europe and India in Q4

First Instem Clinical contract won with Retroscreen 
Virology Group plc (AIM:RVG), with additional sites 
licensed in December 2013

Signed SEND contracts with a major healthcare 
customer, a top three pharmaceutical company and 
three further clients in H2

* Before amortisation of intangibles on acquisitions, share-based 
payments and non-recurring costs.

**After adjusting for the effect of foreign currency exchange on the 
revaluation of inter-company balances included in finance income/
(costs), non-recurring items and amortisation of intangibles on 
acquisitions.

• 

• 

• 

• 

Adjusted operating profit* increased 8% to £1.5m 
(2012: £1.3m)

Reported profit before tax of £0.7m (2012: £1.3m)

Cash balance as at 31 December 2013 of £2.1m 
(2012: £2.5m)

• 

£1.6m net investment in acquisitions during 
2013

Adjusted** earnings per share of 8.6p (2012: 7.8p)

• 

Basic earnings per share of 4.5p (2012: 8.9p)

The Group has continued to increase its share 
of the preclinical market and made important 
strategic progress including expansion of its 
product sets and entry into the early phase 
clinical market. The increase in new SaaS deals 
signed in the year is particularly pleasing. Our 
SaaS offer is compelling for clients and provides 
the Group with increasing long-term revenue 
visibility.

Instem, like other pharmaceutical services 
companies, is beginning to see an improvement 
in its end markets, with the global 
pharmaceutical market re-focusing its efforts 
into early stage development work. In addition, 
the industry’s regulatory and fiscal pressures 
continue to work in Instem’s favour, driving 
demand for all areas of our product portfolio.

With the benefit of a full year’s contribution 
from both the Instem Clinical and more recent 
Perceptive Instruments acquisitions, we look 
forward to 2014 with confidence.

P J Reason,
Chief Executive

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       3

market leadership

“Instem has again proven to be the leading 

supplier in the preclinical market place, extending 

its footprint with existing clients and across the 

industry as a whole.” 

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Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

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Chairman’s       
Statement

As outlined in the January Trading Update, although 
overall order intake in 2013 was encouraging, 
particularly in the latter half of the year, contractual 
discussions regarding a significant contract remained 
ongoing at the year-end, consequently affecting the 
overall 2013 revenue and profits performance. Whilst 
there is clear potential for consolidation within the 
fragmented supplier base, our priority during 2014 
will be to maximise the synergistic benefit created 
for Instem Clinical and Perceptive Instruments as a 
result of being part of the Instem Group. Nevertheless, 
should appropriate strategic opportunities arise during 
the year every effort will be made to achieve further 
consolidation. 

The pharmaceutical market continues to undergo 
structural changes, and once again this created some 
uncertainty that impacted client purchasing decisions 
during the year. There have, however, been nascent signs 
of a recovery. Pharmaceutical companies are prioritising 
investment in early stage drug development and the 
sector outlook for 2014 is improving. 

The Board believes that the significant progress achieved 
during the year continues to provide the necessary 
platform for growth, both organic and through further 
selective acquisitions. 

D Gare
Chairman

During the year, Instem successfully continued its 
dual strategy of both increasing its market share and 
extending its product portfolio. In particular, the two 
acquisitions successfully completed in the year were 
important examples of the execution of this strategy. 
Behind the scenes the Group has also invested in 
strengthening its management resources to ensure that 
it has the capacity to continue to implement its strategic 
plans.

Instem has again proven to be the leading supplier in 
the preclinical market place, extending its footprint 
with existing clients and across the industry as a whole. 
Of great importance, and testimony to the quality of 
our people and our products, was the decision of the 
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences 
(NIEHS) to use Provantis as the cornerstone IT system for 
its National Toxicology Program in the USA. In addition, 
several strategically important contracts were gained, 
including both existing and new clients choosing 
Instem’s preferred SaaS deployment strategy. It was 
particularly pleasing to see uptake by industry elites 
across the entirety of our product set.

The first of two acquisitions made in the year was Logos 
Technologies (now rebranded Instem Clinical) which was 
acquired in May. This acquisition has enabled Instem to 
make an important strategic step into the adjacent early 
phase clinical market. During the seven months as part 
of the Instem Group, the Board was delighted that Instem 
Clinical was able to exceed its plans. Instem Clinical is 
now fully integrated within the Group and we are starting 
to see the market benefits of it being part of a larger 
business.

In November the Group completed its second acquisition 
in the period, purchasing Perceptive Instruments, a 
business that provides world-leading software and 
hardware solutions supporting in vitro research and 
development within the broad life sciences market.      
We believe the acquisition will particularly enhance 
our offering in the preclinical market. As the acquisition 
was late in the year, it had little impact on our 2013 
performance.  

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       5

continued growth

“Instem has continued to increase its reach 

with existing clients and expand the number 

of clients it serves”

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Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

Strategic       
Report

In May 2013, Instem acquired London-based Logos 
Technologies and its ALPHADAS software suite. The 
initial consideration paid amounted to £0.55 million with 
additional consideration of up to £4.45 million payable 
through a mixture of cash and shares dependent on profit 
related targets over the first four years. The first earn-out 
payment of £0.45 million was made following the period 
end, comprising £0.2 million in cash and £0.25 million 
through the issue and allotment of new ordinary shares. 

November 2013 marked Instem’s entrance into the 
in vitro R&D marketplace through the acquisition of 
Perceptive Instruments for an initial cash amount of 
£1.0 million net of cash acquired, and an additional £0.3 
million earn-out, contingent on the performance of the 
business. The integration of Perceptive Instruments is 
progressing well.  

Both acquisitions are complementary to Instem’s product 
portfolio and are expected to provide additional cross-
selling opportunities with existing and new clients.

The breadth of Instem’s business has grown significantly 
over the past year, as the portfolio of leading products 
for the early development healthcare market has been 
expanded through organic and acquisitive activity. 
Instem continues to service many of the world’s leading 
pharmaceutical organisations and laboratories, providing 
the tools to streamline processes within the industry 
whilst significantly reducing costs.

As well as securing customers for traditional licences, 
Instem also saw further uptake of its software deployed 
via the SaaS business model, which is proving to be 
an increasingly compelling value proposition for 
organisations of all sizes. Total SaaS revenue for 2013 
was up 35% to £1.5m (2012: £1.1m). This, in conjunction 
with annual licence renewals, continues to provide the 
Group with strong forward visibility. Recurring revenues 
for the year, including SaaS and support and maintenance 
revenues, amounted to 72% of total revenues (2012: 
70%).

Strategic acquisitions enhance product 
offering and expand addressable market

The IT supplier market is highly fragmented and Instem’s 
customer base has indicated its preference to purchase 
software from a smaller number of core providers, such 
as Instem. There is a need to consolidate this disparate 
supplier landscape and enhance data integration 
amongst and between the customer bases. 

Instem has an impressive and longstanding customer 
list of leading global pharmaceutical, chemical, 
academic and government research organisations. 
Instem is ideally positioned with its international sales 
model and geographical presence to sell additional 
products to these customers, either through third-party 
licensing agreements or acquired technology. In the 
year, Instem has expanded its range of products through 
the acquisitions of two complementary technology 
companies. 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       7

STRATEGIC REPORT

Product Portfolio

ALPHADAS

Instem has continued to increase its reach with existing 
clients and expand the number of clients it serves. 
Instem offers software via perpetual licences and term-
based subscriptions, and is seeing strong growth in 
demand for its SaaS model. 

Provantis

Provantis is the leading product for the management 
of study data in the preclinical drug safety assessment 
market and it has continued a strong performance 
throughout the year generating further sales and 
maintaining a very high renewal rate for recurring 
revenues. 

In February 2013, Instem won a significant US 
Government contract with the NIEHS to support National 
Toxicology Program studies. During the year this 
contract was extended to enable two additional contract 
laboratories to utilise Provantis. Other significant client 
wins included a multi-site North American and European 
CRO and further clients in India and China.

Provantis continued to generate a steady stream of 
additional revenue from current clients who licensed 
additional modules from the suite, increased their user 
licensing and upgraded to later versions. The large 
Provantis client base also provides avenues for cross-
selling of complementary third party products such as 
Logbook and ACIS. 

Centrus

Centrus is Instem’s software suite for the exchange, 
aggregation, collation and reporting of early drug 
development information. Modules associated with 
the US FDA sponsored Standard for the Exchange of 
Non-Clinical Data (SEND) have proved particularly 
successful. In May 2013, a world leading healthcare 
company purchased the complete Centrus software 
suite, with four further clients, including a top three 
pharmaceutical company, purchasing SEND related 
modules during 2013. Centrus submit™ was also 
recognised for innovation and industry leadership at the 
2013 SmartCEO VOLTAGE Awards.

A number of important new modules have been added 
to the Centrus suite; these offer opportunities for 
additional sales with existing customers and make the 
offer more compelling for new clients. Instem is pleased 
to report that momentum for Centrus seen in the final 
quarter of the year has continued into 2014.  

Instem’s solution for the early phase clinical market, 
ALPHADAS, has performed well in the year and has 
generated strong order intake. The first new contract 
for Instem Clinical, post-acquisition, was a perpetual 
licence with Retroscreen Virology Group plc, a virology 
healthcare business that recently floated on AIM. The 
Retroscreen project progressed well during 2013 and 
in December Retroscreen exercised an option in the 
contract to extend ALPHADAS licensing for additional 
sites. In December 2013, Simbec Research selected 
ALPHADAS for deployment in its UK-based Phase I unit. 

ALPHADAS version 6 was released during the year, 
enabling upgrades within the existing customer base 
and enhancing Instem’s competitive position for new 
product opportunities within the wider early phase 
clinical market. 

Instem Scientific

The re-use of scientific data is an increasing market 
within the life sciences industry. Instem Scientific’s 
products are designed to enable clients to leverage 
large volumes of public and proprietary historic 
data, to enable considerable value to be unlocked 
from prior research investments. Instem routinely 
leads or participates in industry groups focused on 
the challenges and opportunities in this area and 
in September 2013 Gordon Baxter, Instem’s Chief 
Scientific Officer, was appointed to the Board of one 
leading industry body, the Pistoia Alliance.

Instem completed the development and launch of 
the next version of the SRS Data integration platform 
(version 8.4) in early July 2013, further enhancing our 
clients’ abilities to identify patterns and trends in their 
data and generate new knowledge and scientific insight. 
Two new clients for SRS were added in the period.

New versions of OmniViz, an advanced visualisation and 
data projection solution, were also released in the year. 
This contributed to securing several additional licence 
purchases from existing customers and a number of new 
clients.

Perceptive Instruments (“Perceptive”)

Perceptive was acquired to enhance Instem’s Study 
Workflow and Automation Suites. The integration of 
Perceptive is underway and progressing according 
to plans with Perceptive making a minimal, five-
week contribution to the 2013 fiscal year results. 
Development focus during 2013 was on a new product, 
Cyto Study Manager, which we plan to launch in the 
first half of 2014. The majority of potential clients for 
Cyto Study Manager are existing Perceptive or Instem 
customers.

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Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

STRATEGIC REPORT

Market Overview

clinics have ensured that many opportunities remain for 
software solutions to gain greater penetration.

Government

Governments in North America, China and Europe are 
expanding investment in order to: prime advances in 
basic research, advance therapies with important social 
needs (but limited return to commercial organisations) 
and generally improve environmental health. This is of 
particular importance as such organisations frequently 
operate on a different economic cycle to the commercial 
pharmaceutical industry.

Government agencies are indirectly supporting 
investment in Instem technologies through funding a 
wide variety of commercial organisations and research 
institutes as well as purchasing solutions directly for 
their government research facilities. Through this, 
Instem’s products can also be mandated by authorities 
for use by third parties involved in public sector 
programmes.

Growth Strategy 

Instem will continue to focus on growing organically 
through further penetration of existing product 
suites into pharmaceutical organisations, CROs and 
research institutions. The Group’s aim is to increase 
recurring revenues and growth by maintaining market 
leadership with established product suites and 
introducing new solutions organically, acquisitively 
and through exclusive third party arrangements, which 
satisfy an ever increasing proportion of the early drug 
development market.

The approaching deadline for the requirement to submit 
SEND data sets presents an important opportunity for 
Centrus. The growing need for the management of ‘Big 
Data’ represents an opportunity for Instem Scientific as 
companies look to mine large amounts of historical data 
for the generation of scientific insight.

The trend, where large pharmaceutical organisations 
prefer to select a smaller number of strategic providers 
for their research software needs, continues to be the 
key focus of the Group’s acquisition strategy. The Group 
will continue to selectively pursue additional bolt-on 
acquisitions that provide access to adjacent markets and 
additional growth prospects.  

Over recent years the pharmaceutical industry has 
focused work on drugs in late stage development in 
an attempt to fill the gap from lost revenues on patent 
expired drugs. Recently, there have been signs that 
the global pharmaceutical market is moving resource 
towards early stage development work to refill 
the pipeline of preclinical candidates. This is a key 
development given the Group’s position within the early 
stage development market.

As a consequence, Instem and its pharmaceutical 
services clients that target the earlier stages of drug 
development, are beginning to see an improvement in 
end markets. Citeline®, which claims the world’s most 
comprehensive source of real-time R&D intelligence for 
the pharmaceutical industry, recently reported a 7.9% 
increase in the global drug pipeline. 

Two key aspects are increasing demand for IT solutions. 
Firstly, there is an increased preference for regulatory 
authorities to receive data for new drug submissions 
electronically. Secondly, there is a growing appetite 
from pharmaceutical organisations to analyse and 
mine historic data in order to extract further value and 
generate additional scientific insight from development 
work already carried out.

Preclinical market

There is evidence of a more sustained recovery in the 
preclinical market, including data from the two largest 
preclinical CROs, Charles River and Covance, who have 
both reported greater growth and optimism in recent 
results announcements. 

While there were only modest additions of new 
commercial clients in 2013, Instem’s preclinical 
business benefitted from increased demand from 
governmental customers. In February 2013, Instem won 
a contract with the US government NIEHS with a cash 
value of US$870,000 in the first year, with a potential to 
extend and expand the agreement up to a further nine 
years, giving a possible total contract value of between 
US$6.2 million – US$7.6 million.

Early Stage Clinical market 

The early stage clinical market is immediately 
downstream of preclinical and consequently has also 
witnessed reduced study volumes in recent years. 
However, a growing prevalence of patient studies in 
early phase clinical, to complement the widespread 
use of healthy volunteers, is extending trial sites 
into hospital units and increasing the importance 
of controlling data quality and integrity through the 
deployment of IT solutions.  These factors together with 
the relatively low levels of automation in early phase 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       9

outlook

“…the industry’s regulatory and fiscal pressures 

continue to work in Instem’s favour, driving 

demand for all areas of our product portfolio. “

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Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

Financial       
Review

The financial results demonstrate a solid performance in 
the year with total revenues at £11.4m (2012: £10.7m). 
As described in the Chairman’s Statement, although 
market conditions were challenging and resulted in the 
delay in one particularly significant perpetual licence, 
there are nascent signs of a recovery in end markets. 
Growth in revenues was principally driven from the UK, 
with an increase from £1.3m in 2012 to £2.5m, driven 
by new business orders for ALPHADAS received from 
Retroscreen Virology,

Instem’s business model consists of perpetual licence 
fees, annual support, SaaS subscriptions and professional 
services. Approximately 72% of revenue was recurring in 
nature (2012: 70%), principally from annual support fees 
and SaaS subscriptions, with a small contribution from 
professional fees. 

The Group continues to generate the majority of its 
revenue in US dollars and therefore we continued to 
hedge against currency fluctuations. In the period 
the average exchange rate was $1.5707/£1.00 
compared with an average exchange rate in 2012 of 
$1.5888/£1.00. 

The profit from operations before amortisation of 
acquired intangibles, share-based payment and 
non-recurring costs for the year was £1.5m (2012: 
£1.3m). Operating expenses, comprising primarily salary 
costs, increased by £0.5m in the year reflecting the two 
acquisitions during the year. 

Amortisation increased due to the acquisitions to £0.6m 
(2012: £0.4m) 

Internal development costs incurred in the period were 
£1.8m (2012: £1.7m), of which £0.4m was capitalised 
(2012: £0.3m).

There was an increase in the actuarial deficit on the 
Group’s defined benefit pension scheme during the 
period calculated in accordance with the provisions 
of IAS19 that amounted to £0.6m, net of deferred tax 
(2012: £1.4m), which has been recognised in Other 
Comprehensive Expense. This was a non-cash charge 
in the period and arose primarily as a result of higher 
inflation rates used for calculation of the liabilities, 
partially offset by higher expected returns on assets. As 
part of the scheme’s triennial actuarial valuation as at 5 
April 2011, the Group has agreed a schedule of payments 
to the scheme with the trustees and the Pensions 
Regulator that is designed to eliminate the funding 
deficit over an eight year period. The defined benefit 
pension scheme has remained closed to new members 
since 2000 and to future accrual since 2008.

Cash generated from operations was £2.0m (2012: 
£0.4m). The Group had cash reserves of £2.1m as at 
31 December 2013, compared with £2.5m as at 31 
December 2012, after making initial payments (net of 
cash acquired) for the two acquisitions during the year of 
£1.6m. 

In line with previous periods, and our current policy 
of retaining cash within the business to capitalise on 
the available growth opportunities, the Board has not 
recommended the payment of a dividend.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The directors consider that the global pharmaceutical 
market is likely to continue to provide growth 
opportunities for the business. The combination of the 
high level of annual support renewals and low levels 
of customer attrition provides revenue visibility to 
underpin the Group strategy on product and market 
development.

Non-recurring costs of £0.2m include legal and 
professional fees associated with the two completed 
acquisitions during the year.

The Group seeks to mitigate exposure to all forms of risk 
through a combination of regular performance review 
and a comprehensive insurance programme.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       11

FINANCIAL REVIEW

The global nature of the market means that the Group is 
exposed to currency risk as a consequence of a significant 
proportion of its revenue being earned in US Dollars. 
The Group continually assesses the most appropriate 
approach to managing its currency exposure in line with 
the overall goal of achieving predictable earnings growth.

Outlook

The past year has seen the Group continue to increase 
its share of the preclinical market and make important 
strategic progress including expansion of its product 
sets and entry into the early phase clinical market. 
The increase in new SaaS deals signed in the year is 
particularly pleasing. Our SaaS offer is compelling for 
clients and provides the Group with increasing long-term 
revenue visibility.

Instem, like other pharmaceutical services companies, 
is beginning to see an improvement in its end markets, 
with the global pharmaceutical market re-focusing its 
efforts into early stage development work. In addition, 
the industry’s regulatory and fiscal pressures continue to 
work in Instem’s favour, driving demand for all areas of 
our product portfolio. 

With the benefit of a full year’s contribution from 
both the Instem Clinical and more recent Perceptive 
Instruments acquisitions, we look forward to 2014 with 
confidence.

On behalf of the Board

P J Reason
Chief Executive

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Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Gare
Non-executive Chairman
David was a founder member of the Company’s former parent, Instem Limited, and led the resulting 
businesses through most of their history. David successfully achieved a succession of strategic 
developments for Instem Limited, including its sale to Kratos Inc. in 1976, its MBO in 1983, its flotation on 
the USM in 1984, its flotation on the Official List in 1996, its public to private and demerger in 1998 and 
the buyout of Instem LSS Limited from Alchemy Partners in 2002. Throughout, David has concentrated on 
value creation through achievement of a strong market position. 

Phil Reason
Chief Executive Officer
Phil is an experienced chief executive who has developed a number of IT businesses in the life sciences 
and nuclear industries, both organically and through acquisition. Phil joined the former parent Company, 
Instem Limited, in 1982 and was appointed Managing Director of the Life Sciences division in 1995 and 
Chief Executive Officer of Instem LSS Limited on the demerger from Instem Limited. Given the importance 
of the North American market to Instem’s organic and acquisitive growth, Phil relocated from the UK to 
the US in 2003 and established a new headquarters in the Philadelphia area. Phil previously ran Instem 
Limited’s Nuclear and Laboratory Information Management Systems integration businesses.

Nigel Goldsmith
Chief Financial Officer
Nigel, who joined Instem in November 2011, has a wealth of experience in senior financial roles, at 
both public and private companies within the pharmaceutical industry. After qualifying as a Chartered 
Accountant, Nigel spent over nine years at KPMG prior to moving into industry. Nigel was Finance Director 
for three years at AIM listed, pharmaceutical and medical company, IS Pharma plc. He also spent a seven-
year tenure as CFO at Almedica International Inc, a privately held supplier of clinical trial materials to the 
pharmaceutical and biotech industry in Europe and the US and two years as European Controller for the 
sales and marketing division of laboratory equipment manufacturer, Life Sciences International plc.

Mike McGoun
Non-executive Director
Mike has a wealth of management experience within the IT industry. He spent 10 years at IBM prior to 
co-founding a successful ComputerLand franchise in 1984. In 1994, Mike moved to SkillsGroup plc as a 
main board director, with responsibility for corporate development and later as a non-executive director. 
Mike was founder and non-executive Chairman of Tikit Group plc prior to its disposal to BT plc in 2012. 
Mike has been Chairman of Peakdale Molecular plc, a chemistry research organisation, since 2002.

David Sherwin
Non-executive Director
David is a qualified Management Accountant and holds an MBA from Staffordshire University. He joined 
Instem Limited as a trainee accountant in 1973 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 1979. He has 
worked closely with David Gare on all of the subsequent transactions involving Instem Limited and Instem 
LSS Limited including participating in the management buyout of Instem Limited in 1983, the flotation on 
the USM in 1984, the flotation on the Official List in 1996 and the demerger of the business in 1998.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       13

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Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
STATEMENT

Given the size of the Group the Board has decided to 
apply the Corporate Governance Code for Small and 
Mid-Size Quoted Companies as it seeks to maintain a 
strong governance ethos throughout the Group.  The 
Board recognises its overall responsibility for the 
Group’s systems of internal control and for monitoring 
their effectiveness. 

The main features of the Group’s corporate governance 
procedures are as follows:

a. 

b. 

c. 

d. 

the Board has one independent non-executive 
director who takes an active role in Board matters;
the Group has an Audit Committee, a Remuneration 
Committee and a Nomination Committee, each 
of which consists of the non-executive directors, 
and meets regularly with executive directors in 
attendance by invitation. The Audit Committee 
has unrestricted access to the Group’s auditor and 
ensures that auditor independence has not been 
compromised;
all business activity is organised within a defined 
structure with formal lines of responsibility and 
delegation of authority, including a schedule of 
“matters referred to the Board”; and
regular monitoring of key performance indicators 
and financial results together with comparison of 
these against expectations.

Attendance at Board and Committee 
Meetings

Attendances of directors at Board and Committee 
meetings convened in the period, along with the 
number of meetings they were invited to attend, are set 
out below:

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee comprises M F McGoun (Chairman), 
D Gare and D M Sherwin, all of whom are non-executive 
directors of the Company. The Board is satisfied that 
the Audit Committee has all the recent and relevant 
financial experience required to fulfil the role. 

Appointments to the Audit Committee are made by the 
Board in consultation with the Nomination Committee 
and the chairman of the Audit Committee.  The Audit 
Committee meets at least twice a year and any other 
time as required by either the chairman of the Audit 
Committee, the Chief Financial Officer of the Group or 
the external auditor of the Group.  In addition, the Audit 
Committee shall meet with the external auditor of the 
Group (without any of the executives attending) at any 
time during the year as it deems fit. 

The Audit Committee:
a.  monitors the financial reporting and internal 
financial control principles of the Group;
b.  maintains appropriate relationships with the 

external auditor, including considering the 
appointment and remuneration of the external 
auditor, and reviews and monitors the external 
auditor’s independence and objectivity and the 
effectiveness of the audit process;
reviews all financial results of the Group and 
financial statements, including all announcements 
in respect thereof before submission of the 
relevant documents to the Board;
reviews and discusses (where necessary) any 
issues and recommendations of the external 
auditor including reviewing the external auditor’s 
management letter and management’s response;
considers all major findings of internal operational 
audit reviews and management’s response to 
ensure co-ordination between internal and external 
auditors;
reviews the Board’s statement on internal reporting 
systems and keeps the effectiveness of such 
systems under review; and
considers all other relevant findings and audit 
programmes of the Group.

c. 

d. 

e. 

f. 

g. 

No. of meetings in the period / No. invited to attend

Board meetings

Audit 
Committee

Remuneration Committee

Nomination 
Committee

Executive directors

P J Reason

N J Goldsmith

Non-Executive directors

D Gare

D M Sherwin

M F McGoun

10/10

10/10

10/10

10/10

9/10

3/3

3/3

3/3

3/3

3/3

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

1/1

0/0

0/0

0/0

0/0

0/0

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       15

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

Audit Committee (continued)

The Audit Committee is authorised to:

a. 

b. 

c. 

investigate any activity within its terms of 
reference;
seek any information it requires from any employee 
of the Group; and
obtain, at the Group’s expense, outside legal or 
other independent professional advice and to 
secure the attendance of such persons to meetings 
as it considers necessary and appropriate.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee comprises M F McGoun 
(Chairman), D Gare and D M Sherwin, all of whom are 
non-executive directors of the Company.

The members of the Remuneration Committee are 
appointed by the Board on recommendation from 
the Nomination Committee, in consultation with the 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee.  The Chief 
Executive Officer of the Group is normally invited to 
meetings of the Remuneration Committee to discuss 
the performance of other executive directors but is not 
involved in any of the decisions.  The Remuneration 
Committee invites any person it thinks appropriate to 
join the members of the Remuneration Committee at its 
meetings.  The Remuneration Committee meets at least 
once a year and any other time as required by either the 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee or the Chief 
Financial Officer of the Group.

The Remuneration Committee:

a. 

b. 

c. 

ensures that the executive directors are fairly 
rewarded for their individual contributions to 
the overall performance of the Group but also 
ensures that the Group avoids paying more than is 
necessary for this purpose;
considers the remuneration packages of the 
executive directors and any recommendations 
made by the Chief Executive Officer for changes to 
their remuneration packages including in respect 
of bonuses (including associated performance 
criteria), other benefits, pension arrangements 
and other terms of their service contracts and any 
other matters relating to the remuneration of or 
terms of employment applicable to the executive 
directors that may be referred to the Remuneration 
Committee by the Board;
oversees and reviews all aspects of the Group’s 
share option schemes including the selection of 
eligible directors and other employees and the 
terms of any options granted;

e. 

d.  demonstrates to the Group’s shareholders that the 
remuneration of the executive directors is set by an 
independent committee of the Board; and
considers and makes recommendations to the 
Board about the public disclosure of information 
about the executive directors’ remuneration 
packages and structures in addition to those 
required by law or by the London Stock Exchange.

The Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
reports formally to the Board on its proceedings after 
each meeting on all matters within its duties and 
responsibilities. The Remuneration Committee produces 
an annual report which is included in the Group’s annual 
report and accounts.

The Remuneration Committee is authorised to:

a. 

b. 

c. 

investigate any activity within its terms of 
reference;
seek any information it requires from any employee 
of the Group;
assess the remuneration paid by other UK listed 
companies of a similar size in any comparable 
industry sector and to assess whether changes 
to the executive directors’ remuneration is 
appropriate for the purpose of making their 
remuneration competitive or otherwise comparable 
with the remuneration paid by such companies; and

d.  obtain, at the Group’s expense, outside legal or 

other independent professional advice, including 
independent remuneration consultants, when the 
Remuneration Committee reasonably believes it is 
necessary to do so and to secure the attendance of 
such persons to meetings as it considers necessary 
and appropriate. 

Nomination Committee

The Nomination Committee comprises D Gare 
(Chairman), M F McGoun and D M Sherwin, all of whom 
are non-executive directors of the Company.

Appointments to the Nomination Committee are made 
by the Board, in consultation with the Chairman of the 
Nomination Committee. 

The Nomination Committee may invite any person 
it thinks appropriate to join the members of the 
Nomination Committee at its meetings. 

The Nomination Committee:

a. 

regularly reviews the structure, size and 
composition (including skills, knowledge and 
experience required) of the Board compared to its 
current position and makes recommendations to 
the Board with regard to any changes;

16 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT

b.  gives full consideration to succession planning for 
directors and other senior executives in the course 
of its work, taking into account the challenges and 
opportunities facing the Group, and what skills and 
expertise are needed on the Board in the future;
is responsible for identifying and nominating for 
the approval of the Board, candidates to fill Board 
vacancies as and when they arise; and

c. 

d.  evaluates the balance of skills, knowledge and 

experience on the Board before an appointment 
is made and, in light of this evaluation, prepares a 
description of the role and capabilities required for 
a particular appointment.

The Chairman of the Nomination Committee reports 
formally to the Board on its proceedings after 
each meeting on all matters within its duties and 
responsibilities. 

The Nomination Committee also makes 
recommendations to the Board concerning:

a. 

formulating plans for succession for both executive 
and non-executive directors and in particular 
the key roles of Chairman of the Board and Chief 
Executive Officer;

b.  membership of the Audit and Remuneration 

c. 

d. 

Committees, in consultation with the chairmen of 
those committees;
the re-appointment of any non-executive director 
at the conclusion of their specified term of office 
having given due regard to their performance and 
ability to continue to contribute to the Board in 
the light of the knowledge, skills and experience 
required;
the re-election by shareholders of any director 
under the “retirement by rotation” provisions in 
the Company’s articles of association having due 
regard to their performance and ability to continue 
to contribute to the Board in the light of the 
knowledge, skills and experience required;

e.  matters relating to the continuation in office of any 
director at any time including the suspension or 
termination of service of an executive director as 
an employee of the Group subject to the provisions 
of the law and his/her service contract; and
the appointment of any director to executive or 
other office other than to the positions of Chairman 
of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the 
recommendation for which would be considered at 
a meeting of the full Board.

f. 

The Nomination Committee is authorised to:

a. 

b. 

investigate any activity within its terms of 
reference;
seek any information it requires from any 
employee;

c. 

d. 

obtain outside legal or other independent 
professional advice at the Group’s expense when 
the Nomination Committee reasonably believes it is 
necessary to do so; and
instruct external professional advisers to attend any 
meeting at the Group’s expense if the Nomination 
Committee considers this reasonably necessary and 
appropriate.

Internal Controls

The directors are responsible for establishing and 
maintaining the Group’s system of internal control 
and reviewing its effectiveness. The system of internal 
control is designed to manage rather than eliminate the 
risk of failure to achieve business objectives and can 
only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance 
against material misstatement or loss.

The Board and senior executives meet to review 
both the risks facing the business and the controls 
established to minimise those risks and their 
effectiveness in operation on an ongoing basis. The aim 
of these reviews is to provide reasonable assurance 
that material risks and problems are identified and 
appropriate action taken at an early stage.

Going Concern

The directors have prepared and reviewed financial 
forecasts for the following two years. After due 
consideration of these forecasts and current cash 
resources, the directors consider that the Company 
and the Group have adequate financial resources to 
continue in operational existence for the foreseeable 
future (being a period of at least twelve months from 
the date of this report), and for this reason the financial 
statements have been prepared on a going concern 
basis.

On behalf of the Board

N J Goldsmith
Director and Company Secretary

16 April 2014

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       17

 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Directors

The directors submit their report and the Group and 
Company financial statements of Instem plc for the year 
ended 31 December 2013.

Instem plc is a public limited company, incorporated and 
domiciled in England, and quoted on AIM.

Review of the Business

In measuring the successful development of the business, 
the directors focus on two important performance 
indicators which strongly underwrite the future 
performance of the Group:

1.  Total number of customers

In 2013 the Group had in excess of 400 customers (2012: 
122 customers) for continuing products.

2.  Recurring revenue

The Group generates a substantial proportion of revenue 
from fees in respect of annual support, hosting and routine 
upgrade services. The value of these recurring fees in 2013 
was £8.2m (2012: £7.5m)

A more detailed review of the development and 
performance of the Group’s business during the year and its 
position at the end of the year is set out in the Chairman’s 
Statement and the Strategic Report on pages 5 to 10.

Future Developments

The directors consider that the continued investment in 
product and market development will allow the business to 
grow organically in its core markets. Investment in business 
growth initiatives will also allow the business to move into 
new product and market areas. The combination of organic 
growth along with strategic acquisitions will support the 
expected growth as outlined in the Chairman’s Statement 
and the Strategic Report.

The following directors held office during the year:

D Gare
M F McGoun
D M Sherwin
P J Reason
N J Goldsmith

Details of the directors’ service contracts and their 
respective notice terms are detailed in the Remuneration 
Committee report on page 20.

Directors and Their Interests

The interests of the directors who held office at 31 
December 2013 and up to the date of this report were as 
follows:

2013

2012

No. of Shares

No. of Shares

D Gare

2,278,427

2,278,427

D M Sherwin

1,580,066

1,580,066

P J Reason

665,287

665,287

M F McGoun

14,286

14,286

N J Goldsmith

-

-

Directors’ interests in share options are detailed in the 
Remuneration Committee report on page 21.

Employee Involvement

The general policy of the Group is to welcome employee 
involvement as far as it is reasonably practicable. 
Employees are kept informed of progress by regular 
company meetings and monthly management reports. 

Research and Development Activities

Political Donations

The Group continues its development programme of 
software for the global pharmaceutical market including 
the research and development of new products and 
enhancement to existing products. The directors consider 
the investment in research and development to be 
fundamental to the success of the business in the future.

Dividends

The directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend.

The Group made no political donations in 2013 or 2012.

Financial Instruments

The Group’s objectives and policies on financial 
instruments are set out in note 19 to the financial 
statements.

18 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013     

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Indemnity of Officers and Directors

Under the Company’s Articles of Association and subject 
to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Group may 
and has indemnified all directors and other officers 
against liability incurred in the execution or discharge 
of their duties or the exercise of their powers, including 
but not limited to any liability for the costs of any legal 
proceedings. The Group has purchased and maintains 
appropriate insurance cover against legal action brought 
against directors or officers.

Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the Company will 
be held on 20 May 2014 at the offices of Baker Tilly, 
Manchester.  The resolutions to be proposed at the 
Annual General Meeting, together with explanatory 
notes appear in a separate notice of Annual General 
Meeting which is sent to all shareholders. A proxy card 
for registered shareholders is distributed along with the 
notice.

Statement as to Disclosure of Information 
to Auditor

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

Auditor

Pursuant to s489 of the Companies Act 2006, a 
resolution to appoint Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP as auditor 
will be put to the members at the forthcoming Annual 
General Meeting.

On behalf of the Board

P J Reason
Director

Diamond Way
Stone Business Park
Stone
Staffordshire
ST15 0SD                         

16 April 2014

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       19

                                 
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

Performance Related Annual Bonus

Executive directors are eligible for a performance 
related bonus based on Company performance, in 
particular, the achievement of profit and cash targets.  
The performance related annual bonus forms a 
significant part of the level of remuneration considered 
appropriate by the Committee.  In addition to the formal 
bonus scheme, the Committee has the discretion to 
recommend the payment of ad hoc awards to reflect 
exceptional performance. No bonuses were paid or 
payable in respect of the year ended 31 December 2013 
(2012: £nil).

Pensions

Company contributions are made to the executive 
directors’ personal pension schemes up to a maximum 
of 16.5% of basic salary.

Benefits

Benefits comprise car and fuel allowance, private 
healthcare and critical illness cover.  No executive 
director receives additional remuneration or benefits in 
relation to being a director of the Board of the Company 
or any subsidiary of the Company.

Service Contracts

The Executive directors have contracts with a notice 
periods between six and twelve months.

The Board determines the Company’s policy on 
non-executive directors’ remuneration.

D Gare, D M Sherwin and M F McGoun each have a 
contract that had an initial three year term commencing 
October 2010. These contracts were renewed in 
December 2013, each with a notice period of three 
months. Since October 2013 Mr McGoun has been 
remunerated through a service company, Noble 
Adamson Limited.

Instem plc is not required to comply with Schedule 8 
of the Large and Medium Sized Companies and Groups 
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 relating to 
directors’ remuneration reports or the Listing Rules, as a 
Company on AIM.  The disclosures contained within this 
report are, therefore, made on a voluntary basis and in 
keeping with the Board’s commitment to best practice.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee (‘the Committee’) is 
composed entirely of non-executive directors. The 
Committee was formed upon the public listing of the 
Company on 13 October 2010.  The Chairman of the 
Committee is M F McGoun.  The terms of reference for 
the Committee are to determine the Company’s policy 
on executive remuneration and to consider and approve 
the remuneration packages for directors and key 
executives of the Company, subject to ratification by the 
Board.  During the year, the Committee met once.  Full 
details of the elements of each director’s remuneration 
are set out on page 16.  Details of share-based payments 
are shown in note 6 to the financial statements.

Policy on Executive Director 
Remuneration

The Company’s current and ongoing policy aims to 
ensure that executive directors are rewarded fairly 
for their individual contributions to the Company’s 
overall performance and is designed to attract, retain 
and motivate executives of the right calibre.  The 
Committee is responsible for recommendations on 
all elements of executive remuneration including, in 
particular, basic salary, annual bonus, share options 
and any other incentive awards.  In implementing the 
remuneration policy, the Committee has regard to 
factors specific to the Company, such as salary and 
other benefit arrangements within the Company and 
the achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives.  
The Committee determines the Company’s Policy on 
executive remuneration with reference to comparable 
companies of similar market capitalisation, location and 
business sector.

Basic Salary

The basic salaries of executive directors are reviewed 
annually having regard to individual performance and 
position within the Company and are intended to be 
competitive but fair using information provided from 
both internal and external sources.

20 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

The emoluments paid to directors in the year ended 31 December 2013 were as follows: 

Salary

Benefits

Pension

2013 Total

2012 Total

Executives

£000

£000

£000

P J Reason

N J Goldsmith

Non-executives

D Gare

D M Sherwin

M F McGoun

146

94

44

24

24

Total

332

15

12

-

-

-

27

24

13

-

-

-

37

£000

185

119

44

24

24

396

£000

180

119

44

24

24

391

Directors’ and Employees’ Share Options

Exercise 
price(£)

Issue date

Held at 31 
Dec 2012

Granted 
During Year

Exercised 
during Year

Lapsed 
during Year

Held at 31 
Dec 2013

P J Reason
Ordinary shares

1.750

13/10/2010

187,427

-

0.900

14/01/2013

-

23,429

N J Goldsmith
Ordinary shares

2.215

29/11/2011

   40,000

1.760

07/02/2012

   20,000

-

-

0.900

14/01/2013

   -

15,000

Employees
Ordinary shares

1.750

13/10/2010

304,568

2.220

03/03/2011

101,351

2.220

17/10/2011

14,667

1.115

23/10/2012

40,000

-

-

-

-

0.900

14/01/2013

-

61,397

Total

708,013

99,826

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

187,427

23,429

40,000

20,000

15,000

304,568

101,351

14,667

40,000

61,397

807,839

Further detail of the terms of the option agreements is given in note 6.

Approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by:

M F McGoun
Independent Non-Executive Chairman

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       21

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information 
included on the Instem plc website.

Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the 
preparation and dissemination of financial statements 
may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES IN 
THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL 
STATEMENTS

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

Company law requires the directors to prepare Group 
and Company financial statements for each financial 
year.  The directors are required by the AIM Rules of 
the London Stock Exchange to prepare Group financial 
statements in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the 
European Union (“EU”) and have elected under Company 
law to prepare the Company financial statements in 
accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU.

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

Under Company law the directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they 
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the 
Group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the 
Group for that period. 

In preparing the Group and Company financial 
statements, the directors are required to:

a. 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply 
them consistently;

b.  make judgements and accounting estimates that 

c. 

are reasonable and prudent;
state whether they have been prepared in 
accordance with IFRSs adopted by the EU;
d.  prepare the financial statements on the going 

concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume 
that the Group and the Company will continue in 
business.

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

22 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

                                      
 
 
 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO 
THE MEMBERS OF INSTEM PLC

We have audited the group and parent company 
financial statements (“the financial statements”) on 
pages 24 to 68.  The financial reporting framework that 
has been applied in their preparation is applicable law 
and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) 
as adopted by the European Union and, as regards the 
parent company financial statements, as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 
2006. 

This report is made solely to the company’s members, 
as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of 
the Companies Act 2006.  Our audit work has been 
undertaken so that we might state to the company’s 
members those matters we are required to state to 
them in an 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.

Respective responsibilities of directors 
and auditor

As more fully explained in the Directors’ Responsibilities 
Statement set out on page 22, the directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the financial 
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view.  Our responsibility is to audit and express 
an opinion on the financial statements in accordance 
with applicable law and International Standards on 
Auditing (UK and Ireland).  Those standards require us 
to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) 
Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial 
statements

A description of the scope of an audit of financial 
statements is provided on the Financial Reporting 
Council’s website at http://www.frc.org.uk/Our-Work/
Codes-Standards/Audit-and-assurance/Standards-
and-guidance/Standards-and-guidance-for-auditors/
Scope-of-audit/UK-Private-Sector-Entity-(issued-1-
December-2010).aspx

Opinion on financial statements

In our opinion: 
• 

the financial statements give a true and fair view of 
the state of the group’s and the parent’s affairs as at 
31 December 2013 and of the group’s profit for the 
year then ended;
the group financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union

• 

• 

• 

the parent financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union and as applied in accordance 
with the Companies Act 2006; and
the financial statements have been prepared 
in accordance with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by 
the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion the information given in the Strategic 
Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year 
for which the financial statements are prepared is 
consistent with the financial statements.

Matters on which we are required to 
report by exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following 
matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to 
report to you if, in our opinion:
• 

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.

Geoff Wightwick BA FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BAKER TILLY UK AUDIT LLP, 
Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants 
3 Hardman Street
Manchester
M3 3HF 

17 April 2014

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013       23

  
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME for the year ended 31 December 2013

CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 Note

REVENUE 

Operating expenses

Amortisation of internally generated intangibles

PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE AMORTISATION OF INTANGIBLES ARISING ON 

ACQUISITION, SHARE-BASED PAYMENT AND NON-RECURRING COSTS

Amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition

Share-based payment

PROFIT BEFORE NON-RECURRING COSTS

Non-recurring (costs)/income

PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS

Finance income

Finance costs

PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION

Income tax expense

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

1

2

2

3

4

8

2013
£000

2012
£000

11,361

10,661

(9,685)

(9,157)

(226)

(164)

1,450

1,340

(394)

(96)

960

(200)

760

145

(207)

698

(169)

529

(233)

(86)

1,021

137

1,158

238

(144)

1,252

(208)

1,044

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EXPENSE

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

Actuarial loss on retirement benefit obligations

21

(587)

(1,833)

Deferred tax on actuarial loss

30

389

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EXPENSE FOR THE YEAR

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE EXPENSE FOR THE YEAR

PROFIT ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT COMPANY

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE EXPENSE ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT COMPANY

Earnings per share from continuing operations

Basic

Diluted

23

23

(557)

(1,444)

(90)

(647)

(118)

529

(118)

4.5p

4.5p

(189)

(1,633)

(589)

1,044

(589)

8.9p

8.9p

24 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

Note

£000

£000

£000

£000

2013

2012

ASSETS

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax assets

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Current tax assets

Cash and cash equivalents

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables

Current tax payable

Financial liabilities

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Financial liabilities

Retirement benefit obligations

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL LIABILITIES

EQUITY 

Share capital

Share premium

Merger reserve

Shares to be issued

Translation reserve

Retained deficit

9

12

20

13

14

17

15

16

17

18

18

21

22

24

24

24

24

24

8,953

6,525

15,478

7,287

3,196

10,483

12,887

265

388

307

2,908

-

2,053

7,236

7

1,250

1,836

3,506

1,176

7,892

(932)

270

194

(3,627)

13,540

5,268

18,808

8,493

5,342

13,835

8,034

187

732

90

3,750

235

2,450

7,037

-

250

-

3,196

1,176

7,892

(932)

174

284

(3,599)

TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF 

THE PARENT

4,973

4,995

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 

18,808

15,478

The financial statements on pages 24 to 68 were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 16 April 2014 
and are signed on its behalf by:

P J Reason 
Director   

N J Goldsmith
Director 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      25

  
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31 DECEMBER 2013

Note

2013           

2012

ASSETS

£000

£000

£000

£000

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Investments

10

23,024

17,195

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

23,024

17,195

CURRENT ASSETS

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

TOTAL ASSETS

LIABILITIES

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables

Current tax payable

Financial liabilities

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

14

15

16

17

18

1,243

277

1,264

120

1,250

Financial liabilities

18

1,836

TOTAL NON CURRENT LIABILITIES

TOTAL LIABILITIES

EQUITY 

Share capital

Share premium

Merger reserve

Shares to be issued

Retained deficit

22

24

24

24

24

1,176

7,892

10,702

270

34

1,520

24,544

2,634

1,836

4,470

2,032

1,365

309

-

250

-

1,176

7,892

10,702

174

89

3,397

20,592

559

-

559

TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES 

20,074

24,544

20,033

20,592

The financial statements on pages 24 to 68 were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 16 April 2014 
and are signed on its behalf by:

P J Reason 
Director   

N J Goldsmith
Director 

26 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS for the year ended 31 December 2013

2013

2012

Note

£000

£000

£000

£000

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS

Profit before taxation

Adjustments for:

Depreciation

Amortisation of intangibles 

Share-based payments and shares to be issued

Adjustments to contingent consideration

Retirement benefit obligations

Net foreign exchange gains

Finance income

Finance costs

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE MOVEMENTS IN 

WORKING CAPITAL  

Movements in working capital:

Increase in inventories

Decrease/(Increase) in trade and other receivables

Increase/(Decrease) in trade and other payables

CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS

Finance costs

Income taxes

NET CASH (USED IN)/GENERATED FROM OPERATING 

ACTIVITIES

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Finance income received

Purchase of intangible assets

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Cash acquired with subsidiaries

698

96

620

96

-

(412)

84

(145)

207

61

(407)

(171)

(2,710)

1,134

1,244

(210)

823

31

1,888

(9)

74

1,953

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

(2,093)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Loan notes repaid

(250)

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year

Effects of exchange rate changes on the balance of cash 

held in foreign currencies

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

15

(250)

(390)

2,450

(7)

2,053

1,252

158

397

86

(241)

(337)

219

(238)

144

19

(328)

(158)

(85)

-

(250)

1,440

-

(953)

(64)

423

(60)

(442)

(79)

(552)

(250)

(881)

3,368

(37)

2,450

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      27

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS for the year ended 31 December 2013

Note

£000

£000

£000

£000

2013

2012

65

-

(3)

63

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS 

Profit before taxation

Adjustments for:

Contingent consideration

Finance income

Finance cost

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE 

MOVEMENTS IN WORKING CAPITAL  

Movements in working capital:

Decrease/(Increase) in trade and other receivables

Increase in trade and other payables

CASH GENERATED FROM/(USED IN) OPERATIONS

Finance costs

NET CASH GENERATED FROM/(USED IN) 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

Finance income received

Acquisition of subsidiaries

3

(2,710)

NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

Loan notes repaid

(250)

NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS  

Cash and cash equivalents at start of year

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR

15

125

789

955

1,869

-

1,869

(2,707)

(250)

(1,088)

1,365

277

972

(241)

(18)

13

18

(85)

(250)

726

(1,279)

146

(407)

(13)

(420)

(67)

(250)

(737)

2,102

1,365

28 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Called 

up share 

capital

£000

Balance as at 1 January 2012

1,171

£000

7,813

£000

(932)

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive expense 

for the year

Total comprehensive expense

Share-based payment

Transactions with owners in 

their capacity as owners

Shares issued

Balance as at 31 December 
2012

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive expense 

for the year

Total comprehensive expense

Share-based payment

-

-

-

-

5

-

-

-

-

79

-

-

-

-

-

1,176

7,892

(932)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Balance as at 31 December 
2013

1,176

7,892

(932)

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Share 

Premium

Merger

Reserve

Shares to 

Translation

be issued

Reserve

Retained 

Earnings

£000

£000

473

-

(3,199)

1,044

(189)

(1,444)

(1,633)

(189)

(400)

Total

 Equity

£000

5,414

1,044

(589)

86

84

-

-

(3,599)

4,995

529

(557)

(28)

-

529

(647)

(118)

96

(3,627)

4,973

-

-

284

-

(90)

(90)

-

194

£000

88

-

-

-

86

-

174

-

-

-

96

270

Called 

up share 

capital

£000

Balance as at 1 January 2012

1,171

Total comprehensive income for the year

Share-based payment

Transactions with owners in their capacity 

as owners

Shares issued

-

-

5

Balance as at 31 December 2012

1,176

Total comprehensive expense for the year

Share-based payment                                                           

-

-

Share 

Premium

£000

7,813

-

-

79

7,892

-

-

Merger

Reserve

£000

10,702         

-

-

-

10,702

-

-

Balance as at 31 December 2013

1,176

7,892

10,702

Shares to 

be issued

£000

88

-

86

-

174

-

96

270

Retained 

Earnings

£000

(883)

972

-

-

89

(55)

-

34

Total

 Equity

£000

18,891

972

86

84

20,033

(55)

96

20,074

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      29

accounting policies

GENERAL INFORMATION
The principal activity of the Group is the provision of world 
class IT solutions to the early development healthcare market.   
Instem’s solutions for data collection, management and analysis 
are used by customers worldwide, to meet the needs of life 
science and healthcare organisations for data-driven decision 
making leading to safer, more effective products.  Instem plc 
is a Company incorporated in England and Wales under the 
Companies Act 2006 and domiciled in England and Wales.  The 
registered office is Diamond Way, Stone Business Park, Stone, 
Staffordshire, ST15 0SD.

STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and IFRS 
Interpretation Committee (IFRIC) interpretations as adopted 
by the EU and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 
applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

BASIS OF PREPARATION
The Group’s accounting reference date is 31 December.  

The acquisition of the Instem LSS Group in 2010 did not 
qualify as a business combination under IFRS 3 ‘Business 
Combinations’ as Instem plc did not meet the definition of a 
business within that standard.  As a consequence the transaction 
was treated as a pooling of interests to reflect the substance of 
the transaction which was that of the continuation of the existing 
Instem LSS Group.

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical 
cost basis.

The Company has taken advantage of the audit exemption 
for three of its non-trading subsidiaries Instem Life Science 
Systems Limited, Instem Scientific Solutions Limited and Logos 
Technologies Limited, by virtue of s479A of Companies Act 2006.  
The Company has provided parent guarantees to these three 
subsidiaries.

In accordance with Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 the 
company has elected not to present its own income statement. 
The loss for the year of the parent company is £55,000 (2012: 
profit £972,000).

The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise 
stated, been applied consistently to all years presented in these 
consolidated financial statements.

BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION 
The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of the 
parent company, Instem plc, and its subsidiary undertakings 
made up to 31 December 2013 and 31 December 2012. (2012: 
excludes Instem India Private Limited as the values were 
considered immaterial).  Statutory accounts for Perceptive 
Instruments Limited have not been produced at 31 December 
2013, but they will be produced for the eighteen month period 
ending 31 December 2014

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, any intra-
Group balances, unrealised gains and losses or income and 
expenses arising from intra-Group trading are eliminated.  Where 
accounting policies used in individual financial statements of a 
subsidiary Company differ from Group policies, adjustments are 
made to bring these policies in line with Group policies.

Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are entities over which the Group has the power 
to govern the financial and operating policies so as to obtain 
economic benefits from their activities.  Subsidiaries are 
consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the 
Group up until the date that control ceases.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Acquisitions of businesses are accounted for using the 
acquisition method.  The consideration transferred in a business 
combination is measured at fair value, which is calculated as the 
sum of the acquisition date fair values of the assets transferred 
by the Group, liabilities incurred by the Group to the former 
owners of the acquiree and the equity interests issued by the 
Group in exchange for control of the acquiree.  Acquisition 
related costs are recognised in profit or loss as incurred.

At the acquisition date, the identifiable assets acquired and the 
liabilities assumed are recognised at their fair value, except that 
deferred tax assets or liabilities are recognised and measured in 
accordance with IAS 12 ‘Income taxes’.

Contingent consideration is measured at its acquisition-date fair 
value and is included as part of the consideration transferred.  
Changes in the fair value of the contingent consideration that 
qualify as measurement period adjustments are adjusted 
retrospectively, with corresponding adjustments against goodwill.  
The subsequent accounting for changes in the fair value of the 
contingent consideration that do not qualify as measurement 
period adjustments depends on how the contingent consideration 
is classified.  Contingent consideration that is classified as an 
asset or a liability is re-measured at subsequent reporting dates 
with the corresponding gain or loss being recognised in profit 
or loss.  Contingent consideration is recognised initially at fair 
value and subsequently carried at amortised cost; the difference 
between the gross amount and the fair value is recognised in the 
income statement over the period in which the liability is settled 
using the effective interest method.

GOING CONCERN
Having made appropriate enquiries, the directors consider that 
the Group has adequate resources to enable it to continue in 
operation for the foreseeable future.  The Group has a significant 
proportion of recurring revenue from a well-established global 
customer base, supported by a largely fixed cost base. A working 
capital facility is in place to support the Group’s working capital 
needs. The Group has net current liabilities of £3.2m at 31 
December 2013, including deferred income of £5.8m (2012: 
£5.8m).  The deferred income recurs each year on renewal of 
contracts, and in general the Group has either received the 
cash or has raised invoices for the services. As a result, this 
amount reverses during the financial year in the normal course of 
business. The Group has strong positive cash reserves, as well 
as the working capital facility of £2m referred to above which, at 
31 December 2013 was unutilised. The Group has, therefore, 
sufficient liquid assets to cover its day to day needs, in addition 
to its strong trading cashflow generation.

The financial position of the Group, its cash flows and liquidity 
position are set out in the primary statements within these 
financial statements.  Detailed projections have been made for 
the 12 months following the approval of the financial statements 
and sensitivity analysis undertaken.  This work gives the 
directors confidence as to the future trading performance of the 
Group. Accordingly, the directors continue to adopt the going 
concern basis for the preparation of the financial statements.

30 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

accounting policies

REVENUE RECOGNITION
The Group follows the principles of IAS 18 ‘Revenue 
Recognition’, in determining appropriate revenue recognition 
principles.  In general, revenue is recognised to the extent that 
it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the 
transaction will flow to the Group.

Revenue comprises the value of software licence sales, 
SaaS subscription, installation, training, maintenance and 
support services.  Revenue is recognised when (i) persuasive 
evidence of an arrangement exists; (ii) delivery has occurred or 
services have been rendered; (iii) the sales price is fixed and 
determinable and (iv) collectability is reasonably assured.

For software arrangements with multiple elements revenue is 
recognised dependent on whether vendor-specific objective 
evidence (‘VSOE’) of fair value exists for each of the elements. 
VSOE is determined by reference to sales made to customers 
on a stand-alone basis. Where there is no VSOE revenue is 
recognised over the full term of each contract.

Revenue from licence based products is recognised when the 
risks and rewards of ownership of the product are transferred to 
the customer.  For bill and hold arrangements relating to sales 
of licences,  revenue is recognised when the buyer takes title 
provided that it is probable that delivery will be made, the item is 
on hand, identified and ready for delivery to the buyer, the buyer 
specifically acknowledges the deferred delivery instructions and 
the usual payment terms apply. 

Revenue from software maintenance, SaaS and other time 
based contracts are recognised over the invoiced contract 
period.

Revenue from installation and training is recognised on a 
percentage completion basis on fixed price contracts or as 
services are provided in respect of time and materials contracts.

The excess of amounts invoiced over revenue is included 
in accruals and deferred income.  If the amount of revenue 
recognised exceeds the amounts invoiced the excess amount is 
included within amounts recoverable on contracts.

PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE AMORTISATION OF 
INTANGIBLES ARISING ON ACQUISITION, SHARE-BASED 
PAYMENT AND NON-RECURRING COSTS
Profit from operations before amortisation of intangibles arising 
on acquisition, share-based payment and non-recurring costs 
is profit arising from the Group’s normal trading activities stated 
before amortisation of intangibles arising on acquisition, share-
based payment charges, non-recurring costs, finance income, 
finance costs and taxation.  

PROFIT FROM OPERATIONS
Profit from operations is profit from the Group’s ordinary activities 
stated before finance income and costs, and income tax 
expense.

SEGMENTAL REPORTING
IFRS 8 ‘Operating Segments’ requires segmental information for 
the Group on the basis of information reported internally to the 
chief operating decision-maker for decision-making purposes. 
The Group considers that the role of chief operating decision-
maker is performed by the Group’s Board of directors.  

Since the Group is primarily providing goods and services to the 
global life sciences market there is only one operating segment 
which is monitored by the business.

FOREIGN CURRENCIES 
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the foreign 
exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction.  Monetary 
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at 
the reporting date are translated at the foreign exchange rate 
ruling at that date.  Foreign exchange differences arising on 
translation are recognised in profit or loss.  Non-monetary assets 
and liabilities that are measured in terms of historical cost in a 
foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate at the 
date of the transaction.  Non-monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies that are stated at fair value 
are translated at foreign exchange rates ruling at the date the fair 
value was determined.  

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including 
goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on consolidation, are 
translated at foreign exchange rates ruling at the reporting date.  
The revenue and expenses of foreign operations are translated 
at an average rate for the year where this rate approximates to 
the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions.  

Exchange differences arising from the translation of foreign 
operations are taken directly to the translation reserve.  They are 
released into profit or loss upon disposal of the foreign operation.

The presentational currency adopted by the Group is Sterling (£).  
The functional currencies of the principal companies in the Group 
are as follows:

Instem plc

Sterling (£)

Instem Life Science Systems Limited 

Sterling (£)

Instem LSS Limited

Sterling (£)

Instem LSS (North America) Limited

US Dollars ($)

Instem LSS Asia Limited

Hong Kong 
Dollars (HK$)

Instem Information Systems (Shanghai) Limited

Renminbi (¥)

Instem Scientific Limited

Sterling (£)

Instem Scientific Solutions Limited

Sterling (£)

Instem Scientific Inc

US Dollars ($)

Instem India Pvt Limited

Indian Rupees 
(INR)

Instem Clinical Holdings Limited

Sterling (£)

Instem Clinical Limited

Sterling (£)

Instem Clinical Inc

US Dollars ($)

Logos Technologies Limited

Sterling (£)

Perceptive Instruments Limited

Sterling (£)

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      31

accounting policies

The exchange rates used to translate the financial statements 
into Sterling (£) are as follows:

US Dollar ($)

Hong Kong Dollar 
(HK$)

Chinese Renminbi
(¥)

Indian Rupee
(INR)

Average rate for year ended 31 December 2012

Closing rate at 31 December 2012

Average rate for year ended 31 December 2013

Closing rate at 31 December 2013

1.5888

1.6155

1.5707

1.6494

12.3237

12.5228

12.1832

12.7915

10.0170

10.0699

9.6579

10.0096

87.3028

88.5428

91.7069

102.1390

FINANCE INCOME
Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the 
principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable, 
which is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash 
receipts through the expected life of the financial asset to that 
asset’s net carrying amount.  Finance income includes exchange 
gains on the translation of intra-group funding balances.

FINANCE COSTS
Net finance costs comprise interest payable, exchange losses on 
the translation of intra-group funding balances, finance charges 
on finance leases and interest on pension scheme liabilities.  
Interest payable is recognised in the statement of comprehensive 
income as it accrues, using the effective interest method.

LEASING
Where assets are financed by leasing agreements that give 
rights approximating to ownership (“finance leases”), the assets 
are treated as if they had been purchased outright.  The amount 
capitalised is the fair value or, if lower, the present value of the 
minimum lease payments payable during the lease term.  The 
corresponding leasing commitments are shown as finance lease 
obligations to the lessor. 

Lease payments are apportioned between finance charges and 
reduction of lease obligations so as to achieve a constant rate 
of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.  Finance 
charges are charged to finance costs in the statement of 
comprehensive income.

All other leases are “operating leases” and the annual rentals are 
charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight 
line basis over the lease term. 

SHARE-BASED PAYMENT TRANSACTIONS
The Group has applied the requirements of IFRS 2 Share-based 
Payment.  In accordance with the transitional provisions, IFRS 
2 has been applied to all grants of equity instruments after 7 
November 2002 that were unvested as of 1 January 2007.

The Group issues equity-settled share-based payments to 
certain employees. Equity-settled share-based payments 
are measured at fair value at the date of grant by reference 
to the fair value of the equity instruments granted.  The fair 
value determined at the grant date of equity-settled share-
based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the 
vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of the number 
of instruments that will eventually vest with a corresponding 
adjustment to equity.  Fair values are measured by use of 
the Black-Scholes model and for options with a performance 
condition, Binomial or Monte Carlo models are used.  The 
expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on 

management’s best estimate, for the effect of non-transferability, 
exercise restrictions, and behavioural considerations.

Non-vesting and market vesting conditions are taken into 
account when estimating the fair value of the option at grant 
date. Service and non-market vesting conditions are taken into 
account by adjusting the number of options expected to vest at 
each reporting date.

Cancelled or settled options are accounted for as an acceleration 
of vesting.  The unrecognised grant date fair value is recognised 
in profit or loss in the year that the options are cancelled or 
settled.  Where the terms of the options are modified and 
the modification increases the fair value or number of equity 
instruments granted, measured immediately before and after 
the modification, the incremental fair value is spread over the 
remaining vesting period.

Options over the Company’s shares granted to employees of 
subsidiaries are recognised as a capital contribution by the 
Company to the subsidiaries.

TAXATION 
Taxation expense includes the amount of current income tax 
payable and the charge for the year in respect of deferred 
taxation.

The income tax payable is based on an estimation of the 
amount due on the taxable profit for the year.  Taxable profit is 
different from profit before tax as reported in the statement of 
comprehensive income because it excludes items of income or 
expenditure which are not taxable or deductible in the year as a 
result of either the nature of the item or the fact that it is taxable 
or deductible in another year.  The Group’s liability for current 
tax is calculated by using tax rates that have been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the reporting date.

Income tax credits for research and development activities are 
recognised on a cash basis when their receipt is reasonably 
certain.

Deferred tax is accounted for on the basis of temporary 
differences arising from the differences between the tax base 
and accounting base of assets and liabilities.

Deferred tax is recognised for all taxable temporary differences, 
except to the extent where it arises from the initial recognition 
of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a business 
combination.  Deferred tax assets are recognised only to 
the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be 
available against which temporary differences can be utilised.

32 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

accounting policies

Deferred tax is charged or credited to the statement of 
comprehensive income, except when it relates to items charged 
or credited directly to equity, in which case it is dealt with within 
equity.  It is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply 
to the period when the asset is realised or the liability is settled.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets purchased separately from a business are 
capitalised at their cost. 

Intellectual Property, Customer Relationships and Patents
The Group makes an assessment of the fair value of intangible 
assets arising on acquisitions. These include Intellectual 
Property, Customer Relationships and Patents.  An intangible 
asset will be recognised as long as the asset is identifiable and 
its fair value can be measured reliably.  An intangible asset 
is identifiable if it is separable or if it was obtained through 
contractual or legal rights.  Amortisation is provided on the fair 
value of the asset and is calculated on a straight line basis 
over its useful life.  The useful life for Intellectual Property, 
Customer Relationships and Patents is five years.  Amortisation 
is recognised within the statement of comprehensive income.  All 
intangible assets except Goodwill are amortised.

Goodwill
Goodwill on acquisitions, being the excess of the fair value of the 
cost of acquisition over the Group’s interest in the fair value of 
the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired, is capitalised and 
tested for impairment on an annual basis.  
Any impairment is recognised immediately in profit or loss and 
is not subsequently reversed.  For the purpose of impairment 
testing goodwill is allocated to cost generating units of Instem 
plc, which represent the smallest identifiable group of assets that 
generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash 
inflows from other assets or groups of assets.

Computer Software
Computer software is carried at cost less accumulated 
amortisation and any impairment loss.  Externally acquired 
computer software and software licences are capitalised and 
amortised on a straight line basis over their useful economic lives 
of 3 years.  Costs relating to development of computer software 
for internal use are capitalised once the recognition criteria of IAS 
38 “Intangible Assets” are met.  When the software is available 
for its use, these costs are amortised over the estimated useful 
life of the software.

Internally generated intangible assets 
Expenditure on research activities is recognised in the statement 
of comprehensive income as incurred.

Expenditure arising from the Group’s development of software 
for sale to third parties is recognised only if all of the following 
conditions are met:

• 
• 

• 

• 

• 

an asset is created that can be identified;
it is probable that the asset created will generate future 
economic benefits; 
the development cost of the asset can be measured 
reliably;
the Group has the intention to complete the asset and the 
ability and intention to use or sell it;
the product or process is technically and commercially 
feasible; and 

• 

sufficient resources are available to complete the 
development and to either sell or use the asset.

Where these criteria have not been achieved, development 
expenditure is recognised in profit or loss in the period in which it 
is incurred.

Internally-generated intangible assets are amortised, once the 
product is available for use, on a straight-line basis over their 
useful lives (five to eight years).

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT 
Property, plant and equipment are stated in the statement of 
financial position at cost less accumulated depreciation and 
provision for impairments.

Depreciation is provided on all assets so as to write off the cost 
less estimated residual value on the following basis:

Short leasehold property 
IT Hardware and Software 

-     Over term of lease 
-     12½% - 33% per annum 

Depreciation is recognised within operating expenses.The 
expected useful lives and residual values of property, plant and 
equipment are reviewed on an annual basis and, if necessary, 
changes in useful lives are accounted for prospectively.  

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 in the 
statement of comprehensive income.

IMPAIRMENT OF ASSETS EXCLUDING GOODWILL
The carrying value of property, plant and equipment and 
intangible assets (excluding goodwill) is reviewed for impairment 
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the 
carrying value may not be recoverable.  

At each reporting date the Group reviews the carrying value of its 
property, plant and equipment and intangible assets to determine 
whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered 
an impairment loss.  If any such indication exists the recoverable 
amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent 
of the impairment loss.

Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are 
independent from other assets the Group estimates the 
recoverable amount of the cash generating unit to which the 
asset belongs.  A cash generating unit is the smallest identifiable 
group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely 
independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of 
assets.

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

If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than 
its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced 
to its recoverable amount.  An impairment loss is recognised as 
an expense immediately.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      33

accounting policies

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying 
amount of the assets is increased to the revised estimate of 
its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying 
amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have 
been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for 
the asset in prior years.  A reversal of an impairment loss is 
recognised in profit or loss immediately.

INVENTORY 
Inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.  
Inventory includes billable employee expenses and hosting set 
up costs.  These are stated at the lower of amortised cost and 
net realisable value.

Provision is made where necessary for obsolete and slow 
moving inventory.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Classification of financial instruments 
Financial instruments are classified as financial assets, financial 
liabilities or equity instruments.

Recognition and valuation of financial assets
Financial assets are initially recorded at their fair value net of 
transaction costs.  At each reporting date, the Group reviews 
the carrying value of its financial assets to determine whether 
there is objective evidence of an indication of impairment.  If any 
such indication exists the recoverable amount is estimated and 
any identified impairment loss is recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income.

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

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and cash 
deposits which are readily convertible to a known amount of 
cash.  For the purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and 
cash equivalents include bank overdrafts which are repayable 
on demand as these form an integral part of Group cash 
management.  

Trade receivables
Trade receivables are classified as loans and receivables and 
are initially recognised at fair value.  They are subsequently 
measured at their amortised cost using the effective interest 
method less any provision for impairment.  A provision for 
impairment is made where there is objective evidence that 
amounts will not be recovered in accordance with original terms 
of the agreement.  A provision for impairment is established when 
the carrying value of the receivable exceeds the present value 
of the future cash flows discounted using the original effective 
interest rate.  The carrying value of the receivable is reduced 
through the use of an impairment provision account and any 
impairment loss is recognised in the statement of comprehensive 
income.  

Financial liabilities and equity
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified 
according to the substance of the contractual arrangements 

entered into.  An equity instrument is any contract that evidences 
a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all 
of its liabilities.

Bank borrowings and loan notes
Interest-bearing loan notes and bank overdrafts are recorded 
initially at their fair value, net of direct transaction costs. 
Such instruments are subsequently carried at their amortised 
cost and finance charges are recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income over the term of the instrument using an 
effective rate of interest.  Finance charges are accounted for on 
an accruals basis to the statement of comprehensive income.  
Overdrafts are offset against cash and cash equivalents when 
the Group has a legal right of off-set.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are not interest bearing and are initially 
recognised at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost.

Ordinary share capital
For ordinary share capital, the par value is recognised in share 
capital and the premium in the share premium reserve.

Derivative financial instruments
The Group’s activities expose it primarily to foreign currency 
risk.  The Group uses forward contracts to hedge this exposure.  
The Group does not use derivative financial instruments for 
speculative purposes.
The Group does not adopt the hedge accounting provisions and 
as such, these derivatives are classified as financial instruments 
held for trading in accordance with IAS 39.  They are initially 
and subsequently measured at fair value with gains and losses 
recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

RETIREMENT BENEFITS 
Defined contribution schemes
A defined contribution scheme is a pension plan under which 
the Group pays a fixed contribution to a scheme with an 
external provider.  The amount charged to the statement of 
comprehensive income in respect of pension costs and other 
post-retirement benefits is the total of contributions payable in the 
year.  Differences between contributions payable in the year and 
contributions actually paid are shown as either other payables 
or other receivables in the statement of financial position.  The 
Group has no further payment obligations once the contributions 
have been paid.

Defined benefit schemes
A defined benefit scheme is a pension plan under which the 
Group pays contributions in order to fund a defined amount of 
pension that the employees under the scheme will receive on 
retirement.  The cost of providing the benefits is determined 
using the projected unit credit method with actuarial valuations 
being carried out regularly. 

An asset or liability is recognised equal to the present value of 
the defined benefit obligation, adjusted for unrecognised past 
service costs and reduced by the fair value of plan assets.

Actuarial gains and losses are recognised in the statement 
of other comprehensive income in the year in which they 
occur, whilst expected returns on plan assets, servicing 
costs and financing costs are recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income.

34 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

accounting policies

The rate used to discount the benefit obligations is based on 
market yields for high quality corporate bonds with terms and 
currencies consistent with those of the benefit obligations.

IFRS 12 ‘Disclosure of interests in other entities’ – effective 1 
January 2014

IFRS 14 ‘Regulatory deferral accounts (not yet endorsed by the 
EU) – effective 1 January 2014

IFRIC 21 ‘Levies (not yet endorsed by the EU) – effective 1 
January 2014

IFRSs ADOPTED IN THE YEAR
The following IFRSs, IASs and IFRICs have been adopted for 
the first time in the year:

IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’ – effective 1 January 2013

IFRS 7 ‘Financial Instruments – Disclosures – Amendment; 
Offsetting Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities’ – effective 1 
January 2013

IAS 1 ‘Presentation of Financial Statements – Amendments’ – 
effective 1 January 2013

IAS 19 ‘Employee Benefits’ – (Amended) – effective 1 January 
2013

Changes made to IAS19 that came into force for accounting 
periods on or after 1 January 2013 are as follows:

• 

The “finance cost” which was previously the difference 
between the interest on liabilities and expected return on 
assets is replaced by a “net interest cost”.  This means 
that the expected return on assets is effectively based 
on the discount rate with no allowance made for any 
outperformance expected from the Scheme’s asset holding.

• 

Actual administration expenses are required to be included 
in the Statement of Financial Position.

The Group has not restated 2012 numbers as the additional 
charge which arises is not considered to be material.

PROVISIONS
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present 
obligation as a result of a past event which it is probable will 
result in an outflow of economic benefits that can be reliably 
estimated.

The time value of money is not expected to be material and 
therefore future outflows have not been discounted.

ADOPTION OF IFRS
The Group and Company financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with IFRS, IAS and International 
Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRICs) effective 
as at 31 December 2013.  The Group and Company have not 
chosen to adopt any amendments or revised standards early.

IFRSs ISSUED BUT NOT YET EFFECTIVE
The following IFRSs, IASs and IFRICs have been issued, are 
not yet effective, and have not been adopted by the Group or 
the Company in these financial statements.  The directors do not 
believe the adoption will have a material impact on the business.

IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ – effective 1 January 2014

IAS 27 ‘Separate financial statements’ – (Amended) – effective 1 
January 2014

IAS 28 ‘Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures’ – (Amended) 
– effective 1 January 2014

IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Presentation’ – effective 1 January 
2014

IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and measurement’ – 
effective 1 January 2014

IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’ – effective 1 January 2014

IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated of financial statements’ – effective 1 
January 2014

IFRS 11 ‘Joint Arrangements’ – effective 1 January 2014

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      35

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

1.  Segmental Reporting

For management purposes, the Group is currently organised into one operating segment – Global Life Sciences.

Segment results, assets and liabilities include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a 
reasonable basis. 

REVENUE

2012

£000

1,775

6,188

1,141

1,373

184

2013

£000

2,282

6,307

1,543

1,175

54

11,361

10,661

REVENUE

2013

£000

2,496

1,991

5,871

1,003

2012

£000

1,311

2,147

6,135

1,068

11,361

10,661

NON-CURRENT ASSETS EXCLUDING DEFERRED TAXATION

2013

£000

13,120

14

18

13,152

2012

£000

8,183

29

9

8,221

INFORMATION BY PRODUCT TYPE

Licence fees

Annual support fees

SaaS subscription fees

Professional services

Funded development initiatives

INFORMATION BY GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

United Kingdom

Rest of Europe

USA and Canada

Rest of World

INFORMATION BY GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION

United Kingdom

USA and Canada

Rest of World

Major Customers

The Group generates revenue from no customers which individually amount to more than 10% of the Group revenue (2012: one such 
customer generated revenues of £1.1m).  

36 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

 
       
  
  
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

2.  Profit from Operations

Profit from operations includes the following significant items:

Depreciation and amounts written off property, plant and equipment:

 Charge for the year:

   Owned assets

Amortisation of intangible assets

Research and development costs

Foreign exchange gains recognised in operating expenses

Operating lease rentals: 

Plant and machinery

Land and buildings

Amounts payable to Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP and their associates in 

respect of both audit and non-audit services:

Statutory audit of parent and consolidated financial information

Audit services:

Other services:

Audit of subsidiaries where such services are provided by Baker Tilly UK 

Audit LLP or its associates

Audit related assurance services

2013

£000

96

620

1,379

(84)

4

376

15

38

15

Taxation services - Compliance

11                  

Taxation services - Advisory

Corporate finance services

8

25

112

2012

£000

158

397

1,434

(219)

61

363

15

20

11

10

2

25

83

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      37

    
    
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

2.  Profit from Operations (continued)

The following table analyses the nature of expenses:

Staff costs (see note 5)

Depreciation (see note 12)

Operating lease rentals

Software maintenance charges

Licence costs 

2013

£000

6,235

96

380

333

110

Total cost of sales, distribution costs, administrative expenses and other 

operating expenses

9,685

Other expenses

2,531

2012

£000

6,024

158

424

257

436

1,858

9,157

Non-Recurring (Costs)/Income

The Group incurred costs of £0.2m (2012: £0.10m) in connection with acquisition activities.  The Group recognised a credit of £0.24m in 
2012 in relation to the re-assessment of contingent consideration.

38 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

3.  Finance Income

Bank interest

Foreign exchange gains

Bank loans and overdrafts

Unwinding discount

Net interest charge on pension scheme

Other

2013

£000

61

84

145

2013

£000

9

63

135

-

207

2012

£000

19

219

238

2012

£000

47

-

84

13

144

4.  Finance Costs

5.  Employees

Average monthly number (including executive directors)

By role:

Directors, administration and supervision

Software design, sales and customer service

Employment costs:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other pension costs

2013

Number

2012

Number

39

84

123

2013

£000

5,207

514

514

6,235

35

79

114

2012

£000

5,000

495

529

6,024

A charge of £0.1m (2012: £0.1m) arises in respect of share-based payment.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      39

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

6.  Share-Based Payment

Equity-Settled Share Option Plan

Under the approved and unapproved option schemes, the Remuneration Committee can grant options to employees of the Group.    
Options are granted with a fixed exercise price which is equal to the market price at the date of grant. The contractual life is generally 
ten years from the date of grant. Options become exercisable after three years. Certain options issued to directors and senior 
employees carry market based performance conditions.  

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Number

708,015

Granted

99,826

Lapsed 

-

Outstanding at end of the year 

Exercisable at 31 December 

807,841

491,996

2013

2012

Weighted 

average exercise 

price (£)

1.82

0.90

-

1.71

1.75

Number

737,824

60,000

(89,809)

708,015

-

Weighted 

average exercise 

price (£)

1.87

1.33

1.89

1.82

-

The options outstanding at 31 December 2013 had exercise prices of £0.900, £1.115, £1.750, £1.760, £2.215 and £2.220. (2012: 
£1.115, £1.750, £1.760, £2.215 and £2.220) and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 7.4 years (2012: 8.10 years).

Options are valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and for performance conditions, the Binomial or Monte Carlo models.  
The fair market value has been estimated using the following key assumptions:

Average exercise price

Average market price

Average vesting period (years)

Expected volatility

Option life (years)

Expected life

Risk free rate

Expected dividend yield

Expected lapse rate

2013

£0.90

£1.35

3

17.7%

10

6

2012

£1.33

£1.47

3

17.9%-19.1%

10

6

1.14%

0.95%-1.29%

0%

0%

0%

0%

Fair value of options

£0.25

£0.30-£0.45

Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of a comparable business, prior to the period when the 
Company’s shares were listed on the AIM market.  Volatility since listing has been calculated using the daily mid-market share price. The 
expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based upon the management’s best estimate for the effects of non-transferability, 
exercise restrictions, and behavioural considerations.

Options over 564,106 shares (2012: 464,281 shares) incorporate a market performance condition based on the Company’s share price.

The fair value of options granted in the year is £0.02m (2012: £0.02m).

40 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

7.  Directors’ Emoluments

Amounts payable by Instem plc:

Emoluments

Money purchase pension contributions

Amounts payable by subsidiary companies:

Emoluments

Money purchase pension contributions

Total emoluments

2013

£000

92

-

267

37

396

2012

£000

92

-

251

48

391

2013

Number

2012

Number

Number of directors to whom retirement benefits

are accruing under:

Defined contribution schemes

2

2

The highest paid director is shown in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      41

                                                           
                                                           
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

8. 

Income Taxes                 

Income taxes recognised in the statement of 

comprehensive income

Current tax:

UK corporation tax on profits of the year

Double tax relief

Foreign tax

Foreign tax in respect of previous years

Adjustments in respect of previous years

Adjustment in respect of  R&D tax credit

Total current tax

Deferred tax:

Current year charge

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Adjustments in respect of previous years

Retirement benefit obligation

Total deferred tax

2013

£000

42

-

147

(227)

121

-

83

11

-

11

64

86

Total income tax expense recognised in the current year

169

The income tax expense can be reconciled to the 

accounting profit as follows:

Profit before tax

Profit before tax multiplied by standard rate of 

corporation tax in the UK 23.25% (2012: 24.5%)

Effects of:

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Fixed asset timing differences

Differences in overseas tax rates

Adjustments in respect of prior years

Tax losses utilised in respect of subsidiaries

Tax losses carried forward

Non taxable income

Total income tax expense recognised in the statement 

of comprehensive income

42 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

2013

£000

698

162

50

1

63

(95)

(15)

3

-

169

2012

£000

179

(109)

224

-

27

(50)

271

-

(38)

(83)

58

(63)

208

2012

£000

1,252

307

29

-

110

(106)

(73)

-

(59)

208

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

9. 

Intangible Assets

Goodwill

Software 

property 

Relationships

Patents

Group

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Intellectual 

Customer 

Cost

At 1 January 2012

6,356

1,158

Additions from continuing 

operations

-

328

At 31 December 2012

6,356

1,486

Additions from continuing 

operations

Additions from acquisitions in 

the period

-

3,031

407

-

At 31 December 2013

9,387

1,893

Amounts written off 

At 1 January 2012

Amortisation expense

At 31 December 2012

Amortisation expense

At 31 December 2013

Net book value

-

-

-

-

-

382

164

546

226

772

819

-

819

-

1,403

2,222

137

164

301

303

604

At 31 December 2012

6,356

940

518

At 31 December 2013

9,387

1,121

1,618

325

-

325

-

632

957

54

65

119

87

206

206

751

21

-

21

-

-

21

3

4

7

4

11

14

10

Total

£000

8,679

328

9,007

407

5,066

14,480

576

397

973

620

1,593

8,034

12,887

The gross carrying amount and accumulated amortisation within Software includes internally generated and externally acquired 
elements.  The cost of internally generated software amounts to £0.3m (2012: £0.3m) with accumulated amortisation of £0.2m (2012: 
£0.2m) 

Impairment of goodwill

Goodwill amounting to £5.858m (2012: £5.858m) relates to a cash generating unit (CGU), being the Instem business acquired on the 
management buyout of Instem LSS Limited on 27 March 2002.  Goodwill amounting to £0.498m (2012: £0.498m), relates to a CGU, 
being the BioWisdom Limited (now Instem Scientific Limited) business acquired on 3 March 2011.  Goodwill amounting to £2.482m, 
relates to a CGU, being the Logos Holdings Limited (now Instem Clinical Holding Limited) business acquired on 10 May 2013.  Goodwill 
amounting to £0.549m, relates to a CGU, being the Perceptive Instruments Limited business acquired on 21 November 2013.

During the period, goodwill was tested for impairment in accordance with IAS 36 “Impairment of Assets”.  The recoverable amount of the 
CGU exceeded the carrying amounts of goodwill.  The recoverable amount for each of the CGU has been measured using a value in 
use calculation and as such no impairment was deemed necessary.  

The key assumptions used, which are based on management’s past experience, for the value in use calculations are those regarding 
the discount rates, growth rates and direct costs during the period.  The value in use calculations are based on the future cashflows from 
approved forecasts for two years which have been extrapolated to cover a period of five years, and then a terminal value calculated 
using the Gordon Growth Model, to take account of the software development cycle and the high percentage of recurring revenues 
from the customer base. At 31 December 2013 a pre-tax discount rate of 13.0% (2012: 12.5%) was used in the value in use calculation 
based on the Group’s cost of capital.

Projected cashflows were based on detailed profit and cashflow projections through to 2015 with a 2.5%-10% assumption of growth 
beyond 2015.  The projections were based on reasonable assumptions in respect of business growth rates, payroll and other cost 
increases and related cashflow impacts.  

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      43

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

9. 

Intangible Assets (continued)

The recoverable amount of the Instem CGU exceeds the carrying amount of this CGU by 168%, for the Instem Scientific CGU by 580%, 
for Instem Clinical CGU by 117% and, Perceptive Instruments CGU by 152%. The directors consider the discount rate and revenues to 
be the most sensitive assumptions used in the impairment reviews.  An increase in the discount rate of 36%, or a reduction in certain 
revenues of in excess of 5%, would result in the recoverable amount of the Instem CGU being equal to its carrying amount. An increase 
of 68% in the Instem Scientific discount rate, or a reduction in revenues of 20% would result in the recoverable amount of the CGU 
being equal to its carrying amount. An increase of 36% in the Instem Clinical discount rate, or a reduction in revenues of 16% would 
result in the recoverable amount of the CGU being equal to its carrying amount. An increase of 28% in the Perceptive Instruments 
discount rate, or a reduction in revenues of 25% would result in the recoverable amount of the CGU being equal to its carrying amount. 

Amortisation expenses are disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

10.  Investments

Company

£000’s

Cost

At 1 January 2012

Additions 

At 31 December 2012

Additions

At 31 December 2013

17,109

86

17,195

5,829

23,024

The company has four wholly-owned subsidiaries and ten wholly-owned sub-subsidiaries, details of which are as follows:

Company

Activity

Ownership

Instem Information Systems (Shanghai) Limited

(company number 310115400257075)

Sales, sales support and service

Instem Life Science Systems Limited 

(company number 04339129)

England and Wales

Instem LSS Limited 

(company number 03548215)

England and Wales

Instem LSS (North America) Limited 

(company number 02126697)

England and Wales

Instem LSS (Asia) Limited 

(company number 1371107)

Hong Kong

Shanghai, PRC

Instem Scientific Limited 

(company number 03861669)

England and Wales

Instem Scientific Solutions Limited 

(company number 03598020)

England and Wales

Instem Scientific Inc

USA

44 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

Holding Company

100% by Instem plc

Software development, sales, sales support 

and administrative support

100% by Instem Life 

Science Systems 

Limited

Sales, sales support and administrative 

100% by Instem LSS 

support

Limited

Holding Company

100% by Instem LSS 

Limited

100% by Instem LSS 

(Asia) Limited

Leading provider of software solutions for 

extracting intelligence from R&D related 

100% by Instem plc

healthcare data

Dormant

Leading provider of software solutions for 

extracting intelligence from R&D related 

healthcare data

100% by Instem 

Scientific Limited

100% by Instem 

Scientific Limited

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

10.  Investments (continued)

Company

Activity

Ownership

Instem India Pvt Limited

(company number 

U73100MH2012FTC231951)

India

Software development

100% by Instem LSS Limited

Instem Clinical Holdings Limited

Holding of intellectual property

(company number 05840032)

rights and investment in group

100% by Instem plc

England and Wales

companies

Instem Clinical Limited

Provision of electronic data capture and clinical 

(company number 06959053)

management solutions to the pharmaceutical 

England and Wales

industry

Instem Clinical Inc.

USA

Logos Technologies Limited

(company number 05836842)

England and Wales

Provision of electronic data capture and clinical 

management solutions to the pharmaceutical 

industry

Dormant

100% by Instem Clinical 

Holdings Limited

100% by Instem Clinical 

Holdings Limited

100% by Instem Clinical 

Holdings Limited

Perceptive Instruments Limited

software and hardware products for in vitro study 

(company number 02498351)

data collection and study management in the 

100% by Instem plc

England and Wales

genetic toxicology, microbiology and immunology 

Development, manufacture and supply of 

markets 

11.  Business Combinations

Subsidiary acquired

2013

Principal activity

Instem Clinical Holdings 

Holding of intellectual property 

Proportion of voting 

Date of 

acquisition

equity interests 

Consideration 

acquired %

transferred £000

Limited (formerly Logos 

rights and investment in group 

10 May 2013

100

3,298

Holdings Limited)

companies

Consideration transferred

Initial cash consideration (including £25,000 stamp duty)

Contingent consideration – Payable in cash

Contingent consideration – To be settled in shares

Contingent consideration – To be settled in cash or shares

Total consideration estimate at 31 December 2013

Instem Clinical Holdings Limited 

£000

575

200

250

2,273

3,298

The contingent consideration is based on achieving certain cumulative Earnings Before Interest & Taxation (EBIT) performance related 
conditions over 4 periods ending 30 April 2016 .  The contingent consideration provided in the financial statements represents the Group 
management’s estimate of the amount payable over this period.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      45

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

11.  Business Combinations (continued)

Discounting has been applied, which gives a difference of £164,000 between the contractual cost of the acquisition and its fair value. 
This will be charged to the statement of comprehensive income over the period of consideration.  The method used to derive the above 
values was present value.

Acquisition related costs amounting to £98,000 have been excluded from the consideration transferred and have been recognised as an 
expense in the current year, within the ‘Non-recurring costs’ line item in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Assets acquired and liabilities recognised at the date of acquisition

£000

Instem Clinical Holdings Limited 

Non-Current Assets

Intellectual property

Customer related assets

Investment in subsidiaries

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred Tax on losses brought forward

Current Assets

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Current Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Non-Current Liabilities

Deferred Tax on acquisition

Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired

964

105

1

1

158

54

22

(243)

(246)

816

46 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

11.  Business Combinations (continued)

Instem Clinical Holdings Limited 

Goodwill arising on acquisition

Consideration transferred

Less: fair value of identifiable net assets acquired

Goodwill arising on acquisition

£000

3,298

(816)

2,482

Goodwill arose on the acquisition of Instem Clinical Holdings Limited because the premium paid by the Company reflects the expected 
benefit of synergies, revenue growth and future market development.  Instem Clinical Holdings Limited was acquired to expand and 
enhance the Group’s product and service offering within the Global Life Sciences operating segment.  These benefits have not been 
recognised separately from goodwill because they do not meet the recognition criteria for identifiable intangible assets.

Instem Clinical Holdings Limited 

Net cash outflow on acquisition

Consideration paid in cash

Less: cash and cash equivalent balances acquired

Net cash outflow

£000

575

(22)

553

Impact of acquisition on the results of the Group

Included in the profit for the year is £581,000 attributable to the additional business generated by Instem Clinical Holdings Limited.  
Revenue for the year includes £1,340,000 in respect of Instem Clinical Holdings Limited.

Had this business combination been effected at 1 January 2013, Instem Clinical Holdings Limited would have added £1,418,000 to the 
Group’s revenues and £297,000 to the profit from continuing operations. 

Subsidiary acquired

2013

Principal activity

Date of 

acquisition

Proportion of voting 

Consideration 

equity interests 

transferred 

acquired %

£000

Development, manufacture 

and supply of software and 

hardware products for in vitro 

study data collection and study 

management in the genetic 
toxicology, microbiology and 

immunology markets

Perceptive Instruments 

Limited

Consideration transferred

21 November 

2013

100

2,435

Initial cash consideration

Contingent consideration – Payable in cash

Deferred consideration – Payable in cash

Total consideration estimate at 31 December 2013

Perceptive Instruments Limited 

£000

2,085

300

50

2,435

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      47

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

11.  Business Combinations (continued)

The contingent consideration is based on performance related conditions over 1 year as follows:

The contingent consideration is based on achieving a certain revenue target over a 1 year period ending 20 November 2014.  The 
contingent consideration provided in the financial statements represents the Group management’s estimate of the amount payable over 
this period.

Acquisition related costs amounting to £73,000 have been excluded from the consideration transferred and have been recognised as an 
expense in the current year, within the ‘Non-recurring costs’ line item in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Assets acquired and liabilities recognised at the date of acquisition

£000

Perceptive Instruments Limited 

Non-Current Assets

Intellectual property

Customer related assets

Property, plant and equipment

Current Assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Current Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Non-Current Liabilities

Deferred Tax on acquisition

Fair value of identifiable net assets acquired

Goodwill arising on acquisition

Consideration transferred

Less: fair value of identifiable net assets acquired

Goodwill arising on acquisition

439

527

4

17

99

1,112

(109)

(203)

1,886

£000

2,435

(1,886)

549

Goodwill arose on the acquisition of Perceptive Instruments Limited because the premium paid by the Company reflects the expected 
benefit of synergies, revenue growth and future market development.  Perceptive Instruments Limited was acquired to expand and 
enhance the Group’s product and service offering within the Global Life Sciences operating segment.  These benefits have not been 
recognised separately from goodwill because they do not meet the recognition criteria for identifiable intangible assets.

48 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

11.  Business Combinations (continued)

Perceptive Instruments Limited 

Net cash outflow on acquisition

Consideration paid in cash

Less: cash and cash equivalent balances acquired

Net cash outflow

£000

2,085

(1,112)

973

Impact of acquisition on the results of the Group

Included in the profit for the year is a loss of £7,000 attributable to the additional business generated by Perceptive Instruments Limited.  
Revenue for the year includes £36,000 in respect of Perceptive Instruments Limited.

Had this business combination been effected at 1 January 2013, Perceptive Instruments Limited would have added £842,000 to the 
Group’s revenues and £287,000 to the profit from continuing operations.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      49

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

12.  Property, Plant and Equipment

Short leasehold 

IT Hardware & 

property

£000

Software

£000

Motor vehicles

£000

1,501

149

-

1,650

171

(1)

5

(4)

1,821

1,318

12

154

-

1

1,485

92

(1)

(12)

(2)

1,562

165

259

12

-

(12)

-

-

-

-

-

-

12

-

-

(12)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total

£000

1,518

158

(12)

1,664

171

(1)

5

(4)

1,835

1,330

-

158

(12)

1

1,477

96

(1)

-

(2)

1,570

187

265

Group

Cost 

At 1 January 2012

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2012

Additions

Disposals

Acquisitions through business 

combinations

Exchange adjustment

5

9

-

14

-

-

-

-

At 31 December 2013

14

Depreciation

At 1 January 2012

Reclassification

Depreciation expense

Disposal

Exchange adjustment

At 31 December 2012

Depreciation expense

Disposals

Reclassification

Exchange adjustment

At 31 December 2013

Net book value

At 31 December 2012

At 31 December 2013

-

(12)

4

-

-

(8)

4

-

12

-

8

22

6

50 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

13.  Inventories

Group

Work in progress

Total gross inventories

Inventory impairment

Net inventories

14. Trade and Other Receivables

Group

Trade receivables

Amounts recoverable on contracts

Prepayments and accrued income

Company

Amounts owed by group companies

Other receivables   

2013

£000

307

2013

£000

307

-

307

2013

£000

1,990

425

493

2,908

1,225

18

1,243

2012

£000

90

2012

£000

90

-

90

2012

£000

1,971

1,232

547

3,750

1,919

113

2,032

A provision for impairment is made where there is objective evidence of impairment which is usually indicated by a delay in the expected 
cash flows or non-payment from customers.  

An analysis of the provision for impairment of receivables is as follows:

Group

At beginning of year

Credit for the year

At end of year

2013

£000

4

(4)

-

2012

£000

6

(2)

4

The average credit period taken on sale is 31 days (2012: 54 days). No interest is charged on overdue receivables.

Before accepting any new customer, the Group obtains relevant credit references to assess the potential customer’s credit quality. 
Credit limits are defined by customer.

The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      51

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

14. Trade and Other Receivables (continued)

The age profile of the net trade receivables for the Group at the year-end was as follows:

Group

2012

Current

0-30 

days

31-60 

days

Over 60 

days

Total

Debt age

Trade receivables/Amounts recoverable 

on contracts

Value (£000)

%

2,133

67

775

24

250

8

45

1

3,203

100

Group

2013

Current

0-30 

days

31-60 

days

Over 60 

days

Total

Debt age

Trade receivables/Amounts recoverable 

on contracts

Value (£000)

%

1,619

67

488

20

94

4

214

9

2,415

100

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivables mentioned above. The 
group does not hold any collateral as security.

An analysis of trade and other receivables by currency is as follows:

Group

Sterling

Euro

US Dollar

Renminbi

Other

2013

£000

1,083

67

1,598

156

4

2,908

2012

£000

1,690

179

1,645

235

1

3,750

52 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

15.  Cash and Cash Equivalents

Group

Cash at bank

Bank overdraft 

Company

Cash at bank

2013

£000

11,051

(8,998)

2,053

277

2012

£000

11,415

(8,965)

2,450

1,365

The Group overdraft facility has a net limit of £2,000,000 and gross facility of £9,000,000.  Interest is charged on the bank overdraft at 
2.75% above base rate.  The bank overdraft is secured by fixed and floating charges over certain items of the Group’s assets.  The bank 
facility is reviewed in April each year.

There is a debenture in favour of National Westminster Bank Plc, dated 13 April 2011, secured over the assets of the group by way of 
fixed and floating charges, in respect of the Group’s overdraft facility.

An analysis of cash and cash equivalents by currency is as follows:

Group

Sterling

Euro

US Dollar

Renminbi

Other

Company

Sterling

The carrying amount of these assets approximates to their fair value. 

16.  Trade and Other Payables

Group - Current

Trade payables

Other taxation and social security costs

Other payables

Accruals

Deferred income

Company - Current

Trade payables

Amounts owed to group companies

Accruals

2013

£000

601

82

733

619

18

2,053

277

2013

£000

525

192

-

743

5,776

7,236

80

1,080

104

1,264

2012

£000

743

38

1,418

238

13

2,450

1,365

2012

£000

334

134

82

704

5,783

7,037

11

260

38

309

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      53

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

16. Trade and Other Payables (continued)

An analysis of trade and other payables by currency is as follows:

Group

Sterling

US Dollar

Renminbi

Other

Company

Sterling

2013

£000

3,500

3,531

202

3

7,236

1,264

2012

£000

3,010

3,819

206

2

7,037

309

The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates to fair value due to their short maturities.  

17.  Current Taxation

The Group current tax payable of £7,000 (2012: receivable £235,000) represents the amount of income taxes payable/receivable in 
respect of current and prior years. 

The Company current tax payable of £120,000 (2012: £nil) represents the amount of income taxes payable in respect of current and 
prior years. 

18.  Financial Liabilities

Group and Company

2012

Total

£000

Less than 

One to 

More than 

one year

two years

two years

£000

£000

£000

Loan Note

250

250

-

-

Total

£000

Less than 

One to 

More than 

one year

two years

two years

£000

£000

£000

2013

Contingent consideration

3,086

1,250

980

856

Loan Note

The Loan Note was issued on 3 March 2011.  The loan note is unsecured and bears interest at the rate of 7%. Due to the short maturity 
the directors believe the carrying value approximates to fair value.  This was repaid in full during 2013.

Contingent  Consideration

The contingent consideration relates to the acquisitions of Instem Clinical Holdings Limited and Perceptive Instruments Limited. 
The directors believe that the carrying value of the contingent consideration for Perceptive Instruments approximates to the fair 
value and that the carrying value of the contingent consideration for Instem Clinical Holdings Limited has been discounted by an 
appropriate rate to take account of the time to maturity.

54 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

19. Financial Instruments

All financial instruments held by the Group, as detailed in this note, are classified as “Loans and Receivables” (trade and other 
receivables, excluding prepayments, and cash and cash equivalents), “Financial Liabilities Measured at Amortised Cost” (trade and 
other payables, excluding statutory liabilities, and financial liabilities) and “Fair value through profit and loss” (other financial liabilities 
which reflect derivative contracts) under IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks including market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. Market risk includes 
interest rate risk, foreign exchange rate risk and price risk. The main financial risks managed by the Group, under policies approved by 
the Board, are interest rate risk, foreign currency risk, liquidity risk and credit risk. 

The Group has in place risk management policies that seek to limit the adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group by 
using various instruments and techniques.  Derivative financial instruments are only used to hedge exposures arising in respect of 
underlying business requirements and not for any speculative purpose.  

Foreign exchange risk

The Group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign currency risk on transactions denominated in a currency other than the 
functional currency and on the translation of the statement of financial position and statement of comprehensive income of foreign 
operations into sterling.  The currencies giving rise to this risk are primarily US dollars.  The Group has both cash inflows and outflows in 
this currency that create a natural hedge.  

In managing currency risks the Group aims to reduce the impact of short-term fluctuations on the Group’s cash inflows and outflows in a 
foreign currency.  The Group also hedges any material foreign currency transaction exposure.  During the year the Group entered into a 
US dollar hedging arrangement with a fixed forward contract which expired prior to the reporting date. 

Over the longer term, changes in foreign exchange could have an impact on consolidation of foreign subsidiaries earnings.  The 
assumption in 2013 was based on a forecast that the US dollar to sterling rate would be 1.60.  A 10% decrease in the value of Sterling 
against the US dollar would result in an increase in the Group’s profit before tax by approximately £0.30m.

Interest rate risk 

The Group operates an interest rate policy designed to minimise interest costs and reduce volatility in reported earnings.

The Group’s bank facility does not allow the US Dollar cash balances to generate interest therefore the Group transfers funds from the 
US dollar account into the sterling account.  Currency swaps have been utilised to maximise the interest gains whilst minimising foreign 
exchange risks.

As at 31 December 2013 indications are that the UK bank base interest rate will not materially differ from 0.5% over the next 12 months.  
On the basis of the floating net cash position at 31 December 2013 and assuming no other changes occur (such as changes in currency 
exchange rates) and that no further interest rate management action is taken, the stable interest rates will not have an impact on net 
interest income/(expense). 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      55

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

19. Financial Instruments (continued)

2012

Group

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables

Loan notes

2013

Group

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables

Contingent consideration

2012

Company

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables

Loan notes

2013

Company

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other payables

Contingent consideration

Fixed

 rate

£000

-

-

-

(250)

(250)

Fixed

 rate

£000

-

-

-

-

-

Fixed

 rate

£000

-

-

-

(250)

(250)

Fixed

 rate

£000

-

-

-

-

-

Floating

Non-interest 

 rate

£000

-

2,450

-

-

2,450

bearing

£000

3,203

-

(1,120)

-

2,083

Floating

Non-interest 

 rate

£000

-

2,053

-

-

2,053

bearing

£000

2,415

-

(1,268)

(3,086)

(1,939)

Floating

Non-interest 

 rate

£000

-

1,365

-

-

1,365

bearing

£000

2,032

-

(309)

-

1,723

Floating

Non-interest 

 rate

£000

-

277

-

-

277

bearing

£000

1,243

-

(1,264)

(3,086)

(3,107)

Total

£000

3,203

2,450

(1,120)

(250)

4,283

Total

£000

2,415

2,053

(1,268)

(3,086)

114

Total

£000

2,032

1,365

(309)

(250)

2,838

Total

£000

1,243

277

(1,264)

(3,086)

(2,830)

56 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

19. Financial Instruments (continued)

Credit risk

Management aims to minimise the risk of credit losses.

The Group’s financial assets are bank balances and cash and trade and other receivables, which represent the Group’s maximum 
exposure to credit risk in relation to financial assets.

The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables and the Group has policies in place to ensure that sales of 
products and services are made to customers with appropriate creditworthiness. 

The amounts presented in the statement of financial position are net of impairment provisions, estimated by the Group’s management 
based on prior experience and their assessment of the present value of estimated future cash flows. An allowance for impairment is 
made where there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the 
cash flows. 

The Group generates external revenue from no customers which individually amount to more than 10% of the Group revenue (2012: 
one such customer generated revenues of £1.1m).  

The Group’s exposure to losses from defaults on trade receivables is reduced due to contractual terms which require installation, 
training, annual licensing and support fees to be invoiced and paid annually in advance.   

Note 14 sets out the impairment provision for credit losses on trade receivables and the ageing analysis of overdue trade receivables.  
There were no impairment losses recognised on other financial assets.

Liquidity risk 

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial commitments as they fall due.

The Group’s objective is to ensure that adequate facilities are available through use of bank overdrafts and finance leases.  The Group 
manages liquidity risk through regular cash flow forecasting and monitoring of cash flows, management review and regular review of 
working capital and costs.

The Group regularly monitors its available headroom under its borrowing facilities.  At 31 December 2013, its £2.0m bank facility was 
undrawn and available (2012: £2.0m).

In respect of the Group’s interest-bearing financial liabilities, the table in note 18 includes details at the reporting date of the periods in 
which they mature.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      57

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

20.  Deferred Tax

Group

Deferred tax assets

 Amounts due to be recovered within 12 months

 Amounts due to be recovered after 12 months

Deferred tax liabilities

 Amounts due to be settled within 12 months

 Amounts due to be settled after 12 months

Net position 

The movement in the period in the Group’s net deferred tax position was as follows:

At beginning of the year

Charge to income for the year

Charge to equity

Adjustments in respect of prior years 

At end of the year

2013

£000

-

388

-

-

388

2013

£000

732

(75)

(258)

(11)

388

2012

£000

-

735

-

(3)

732

2012

£000

279

(46)

389

110

732

The following are the major deferred tax assets and liabilities recognised by the Group and the movements thereon during the year:

Accelerated 

tax 

Retirement 

benefit 

Other 

timing 

depreciation

Tax losses

obligations

differences

Deferred tax asset/(liability)

At 1 January 2012

Charge to profit or loss for the year

Charge to equity for the year

Adjustments in respect of prior years

At 31 December 2012

Charge to profit or loss for the year

Credit to equity for the year

Adjustments in respect of prior years

£000

(500)

42

-

100

(358)

127

(446)

(9)

At 31 December 2013

(686)

£000

375

(30)

-

-

345

(143)

158

-

360

£000

£000

404

(58)

389

-

735

(64)

30

-

701

-

-

-

10

10

5

-

(2)

13

Total

£000

279

(46)

389

110

732

(75)

(258)

(11)

388

Unrecognised tax losses not included at 31 December 2013 were £4,883,000 (2012: £5,246,000) due to uncertainty over the timing of 

the recoverability of these losses.

58 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

21.  Retirement Benefit Obligations

The Group has four active defined contribution schemes and a closed defined benefit scheme:

Defined contribution pension schemes

Group Personal Pension Plan - the scheme was created on 31 December 2008.  The Scheme is a contributory money purchase 
scheme with the employer matching employee contributions to a maximum of 5%.  The employer also contributes to the Scheme for 
former members of Instem LSS Pension Scheme at rates varying from 5% to 18%.  Employer contributions for the year ended 31 
December 2013 were £0.40m (2012: £0.43m).

Contracted In Money Purchase Scheme (CIMP) - the Scheme was created on 31 December 2008.  The Scheme is a non-contributory 
scheme created for former members of the Instem LSS Pension Scheme who are US residents.  Employer contributions for the year 
ended 31 December 2013 were £0.03m (2012: £0.03m).

Instem LSS (North America) Limited 401k Plan - the scheme was created for the benefit of employees of Instem LSS (North America) 
Limited in the USA.  The Scheme is a contributory money purchase scheme with the employer matching contributions to the scheme to 
a maximum of 4.8%.  Employer contributions for the year ended 31 December 2013 were £0.09m (2012: £0.09m).

BioWisdom GPP Scheme - the Scheme is a Group Personal Pension arrangement with Winterthur Life (now part of Friends Life) and 
was set up in 2001.  Employee members must contribute at least 3% of basic salary and the employer contributes up to a maximum of 
6%.  Employer contributions for the year ended 31 December 2013 were £0.03m (2012: £0.03m).

Defined benefit pension scheme

The Group also operates a pension scheme providing benefits based on final pensionable pay.  This scheme was closed to new 
members with effect from 8 October 2001 and the rate of future benefit accrual reduced from 1/60th of final pensionable pay per year of 
service to 1/80th with effect from 6 April 2003.  The scheme closed to future accrual on 31 December 2008.  

The Scheme is subject to the Statutory Funding Objective under the Pensions Act 2004. A valuation of the Scheme is carried out at least 
once every three years to determine whether the Statutory Funding Objective is met. As part of the process, the Group must agree with 
the Trustees of the Scheme the contributions to be paid to address any shortfall against the Statutory Funding. The Statutory Funding 
Objective does not currently impact on the recognition of the Scheme in the accounts.

The Scheme is managed by a Board of Trustees appointed in part by the Group and part from elections by members of the Scheme. 
The Trustees have responsibility for obtaining valuations of the Scheme, administering benefit payments and investing the Scheme 
assets. The Trustees delegate some of these functions to their professional advisers where appropriate.

The Scheme exposes the Group to a number of risks:

• 

• 

• 

Investment risk. The Scheme holds investments in asset classes, such as equities, which have volatile market values and while 
these assets are expected to provide the real returns over the long-term the short-term volatility can cause additional funding to be 
required if deficit emerges.

Interest rate risk. The Scheme’s liabilities are assessed using market yields on high quality corporate bands to discount the 
liabilities. As the Scheme holds assets such as equities the value of the assets and liabilities may not move in the same way.

Inflation risk. A significant proportion of the benefits under the Scheme are linked to inflation. Although the Scheme’s assets are 
expected to provide a good hedge against inflation over the long-term, movements over the short-term could lead to deficits 
emerging.

•  Mortality risk. In the event that members live longer than assumed a deficit will emerge in the Scheme.

There were no plan amendments, curtailments or settlements during the period.

The latest full actuarial valuation was carried out at 5 April 2011 and was updated to 31 December 2013 by a qualified independent 
actuary.  

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      59

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

21.  Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)

The expected return on plan assets was determined by considering the expected returns available on the assets underlying the current 
investment portfolio.  Expected yields on bonds are based on gross redemption yields at the reporting date whilst the expected returns 
on the equity and property investments reflect the long-term real rates of return experienced in the respective markets.

Discount rate

Inflation

Rate of increase in salaries

Rate of increase in pensions in payment

Rate of increase in pensions in deferment

2013

%

4.6

3.5

N/A

3.5

3.5

Life Expectancy assumptions

Years

Male currently aged 45

Female currently aged 45

Male currently aged 65

Female currently aged 65

ANALYSIS OF AMOUNT CHARGED TO OPERATING EXPENSES

Current service cost

Past service cost

Total operating charge

ANALYSIS OF AMOUNT CHARGED TO FINANCE COSTS

Interest on pension scheme assets

Interest on pension scheme liabilities

Net finance charge

ANALYSIS OF AMOUNT RECOGNISED IN OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EXPENSE

Gains on pension scheme assets in excess of interest

Experience losses arising on scheme liabilities

Changes in assumptions underlying the present value of the scheme liabilities

Actuarial loss recognised in other comprehensive expense

25.0

26.3

23.7

24.8

2013

£000

-

-

-

2013

£000

273

(408)

(135)

2013

£000

(612)

-

1,199

587

2012

%

4.5

2.9

N/A

2.9

2.9

Years

24.9

26.2

23.6

24.7

2012

£000

-

-

-

2012

£000

288

(372)

(84)

2012

£000

(172)

763

1,242

1,833

60 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

21.  Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)

CHANGES IN THE PRESENT VALUE OF THE DEFINED 

BENEFIT OBLIGATION

Opening defined benefit obligation

Interest cost

Actuarial loss

Benefits paid

Closing defined benefit obligation

CHANGES IN THE FAIR VALUE OF PLAN ASSETS

Opening plan assets

Expected return

Actuarial gain

Contributions by employer

Benefits paid

Closing plan assets

The actual return on plan assets was a positive return of £885,000 (2012: £460,000)

AMOUNT RECOGNISED IN THE CONSOLIDATED 

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

Present value of funded obligations

Fair value of plan assets

Deficit

Related deferred tax asset

Net pension liability

RECONCILIATION OF NET DEFINED BENEFIT LIABILITY

Opening net defined benefit liability

Net interest expense

Remeasurements

Contributions by employer

Closing net defined benefit liability

2013

£000

9,200

408

1,199

(278)

10,529

2013

£000

6,004

273

612

412

(278)

7,023

2013

£000

(10,529)

7,023

(3,506)

701

(2,805)

2013

£000

3,196

135

587

(412)

3,506

2012

£000

6,946

372

2,005

(123)

9,200

2012

£000

5,330

288

172

337

(123)

6,004

2012

£000

(9,200)

6,004

(3,196)

735

(2,461)

2012

£000

1,616

84

1,833

(337)

3,196

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      61

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

21.  Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)

ANALYSIS OF CUMULATIVE AMOUNT RECOGNISED IN 

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE EXPENSE

Actual return less expected return on pension scheme 

assets

Experience gains and losses arising on scheme liabilities

Changes in assumptions underlying the present value of 

the scheme liabilities

Cumulative

Cumulative

2013

£000

253

(1,673)

(1,763)

2012

£000

(359)

(1,673)

(564)

Cumulative actuarial loss recognised in other 

comprehensive expense

(3,183)

(2,596)

MAJOR CATEGORIES OF PLAN ASSETS AS A PERCENTAGE OF FAIR VALUE OF TOTAL PLAN ASSETS

2013

2012

Equities

Property

Bonds

Corporate Bonds

Cash

Other

£000

4,986

211

632

632

492

70

%

71

3

9

9

7

1

£000

4,263

120

541

600

480

-

%

71

2

9

10

8

-

7,023

100

6,004

100

The five year history of experience adjustments are as follows:

2013

£000

2012

£000

2011

£000

2010

£000

2009

£000

Present value of defined 

benefit obligation

(10,529)

(9,200)

(6,946)

(6,956)

(5,893)

Fair value of plan assets

7,023

6,004

5,330

5,479

4,812

Deficit

(3,506)

(3,196)

(1,616)

(1,477)

(1,081)

Experience adjustments on 

plan liabilities

Experience adjustments on 

plan assets

-

612

(763)

-

172

(480)

(77)

235

(18)

557

The Group expects to contribute £0.4m to its defined benefit plans in the next financial year (2012: £0.4m).

62 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

21.  Retirement Benefit Obligations (continued)

The following sensitivities apply to the value placed on the liabilities:

Adjustments to assumptions

Approximate effect on

Liabilities

£000

DISCOUNT RATE

Plus 0.50% pa

Minus 0.50%

INFLATION

Plus 0.50%

Minus 0.50%

LIFE EXPECTANCY

Plus 1 year

Minus 1 year

(979)

1,125

 951

(935)

 305

(312)

22.  Share Capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid

At 1 January

11,764,658 ordinary shares of 10p each (2012: 11,714,286)

50,372 ordinary shares of 10p each, issued during 2012

At 31 December

2013

£000

1,176

-

1,176

2012

£000

1,171

5

1,176

50,372 shares were issued in 2012 in part settlement of the deferred contingent consideration in respect of the acquisition of Instem 
Scientific Limited. 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      63

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

23.  Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of 
ordinary shares in issue during the year.  Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted number of ordinary shares 
outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive potential shares arising from the share option scheme.  The dilutive impact of the share 
options is calculated by determining the number of shares that could have been acquired at fair value (determined as the average 
market share price of the Company’s shares) based on the monetary value of the subscription rights attached to the outstanding share 
options. 

Profit after 

tax (£000’s)

2013

Weighted 

average 

Earnings per 

Profit after tax 

2012

Weighted 

average 

Earnings per 

number of 

share  (pence)

(£000’s)

number of 

share  (pence)

shares (000’s)

shares (000’s)

Earnings per share-basic

Potentially dilutive shares

Earnings per share-diluted

529

-

529

11,765

15

11,780

4.5

-

4.5

1,044

-

1,044

11,755

-

11,755

8.9

-

8.9

Adjusted Earnings Per Share

Adjusted earnings per share is calculated after adjusting for the effect of foreign currency exchange on the revaluation of inter-company 
balances included in finance income/(costs), non-recurring items and amortisation of intangibles on acquisitions. Diluted adjusted 
earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted number of ordinary shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive 
potential shares arising from the share option scheme.  The dilutive impact of the share options is calculated by determining the number 
of shares that could have been acquired at fair value (determined as the average market share price of the Company’s shares) based 
on the monetary value of the subscription rights attached to the outstanding share options. 

Adjusted 

Profit after 

tax (£000’s)

2013

Weighted 

average 

Earnings per 

number of 

share  (pence)

shares (000’s)

Earnings per share-basic

1,017

Potentially dilutive shares

-

Earnings per share-diluted

1,017

11,765

15

11,780

8.6

-

8.6

2012

Weighted 

average 

Earnings per 

number of 

share  (pence)

shares (000’s)

11,755

-

11,755

7.8

-

7.8

Adjusted 

Profit after 

tax (£000’s)

921

-

921

64 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

24.  Capital and Reserves

Called up share capital

The share capital account includes the par value for all shares issued and outstanding.

Share premium account

The share premium account is used to record amounts received in excess of the nominal value of shares on issue of new shares less 
the costs of new share issues.

Translation reserve

The translation reserve incorporates the cumulative net exchange gains and losses recognised on the translation of subsidiary company 
financial information to the presentational currency of Sterling (£). 

Retained earnings

The retained earnings reserve includes the accumulated profits and losses arising from the consolidated ‘Statement of Comprehensive 
Income’ and certain items from ‘Other Comprehensive Income’ attributable to equity shareholders net of distributions to shareholders.

Merger reserve

The merger reserve represents the difference between the consideration payable at the date of acquisition, net of merger relief, and the 
share capital and share premium of Instem Life Science Systems Limited.

Shares to be issued

The shares to be issued reserve represents the shares to be issued under the share option scheme and shares contingently issuable on 
acquisitions.

CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

The Group’s main objective when managing capital is to protect returns to shareholders by ensuring the Group will continue to trade 
profitably in the foreseeable future.  The Group also aims to maximise the capital structure of debt and equity so as to minimise its cost 
of capital.

The Group manages its capital with regard to the risks inherent in the business and the sector within which it operates by monitoring its 
gearing ratio on a regular basis. 

The Group considers its capital to include share capital, share premium, translation reserve, retained earnings and net debt as noted 
below. 

Net debt includes short and long-term borrowings (including overdrafts, redeemable preference shares and lease obligations) net of 
cash and cash equivalents.  

The Group has not made any changes to its capital management during the year.

25.  Capital Commitments

There were no capital commitments at the end of the financial year (2012: £nil).

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      65

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

26. Operating Leases Payable

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised as 

an expense in the year

At the reporting date, the Group has outstanding commitments 

under operating leases, which fall due as follows:

Land and buildings

  Within one year

  In the second to fifth year inclusive

  After five years

Plant and machinery

  Within one year

  In the second to fifth year inclusive

2013

£000

380

2013

£000

295

868

604

4

8

2012

£000

424

2012

£000

364

1,168

727

3

5

1,779

2,267

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for property leases and certain equipment.  Leases have varying 
terms and renewal rights.  The above leasing arrangements do not contain any restrictive covenants, contingent rents or purchase 
options.

The operating lease in relation to the head office buildings contain a dilapidation clause whereby Instem plc must make good any 
damage to the demised premises on expiration of the lease in November 2023.  The Directors estimate that the current liability is not 
material to warrant provision at the period end.

66 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

27.  Related Party Transactions

Transactions between Group companies have not been disclosed as these have all been eliminated in the preparation of the 
consolidated financial statements.  During the year the Company traded with subsidiary companies in its normal course of business.  
These transactions related to recharges and totalled in aggregate £0.73m (2012: £1.21m).  The net intercompany balances due to the 
Company at the year-end totalled £0.02m  (2012: £1.66m).

During the year the Company traded in its normal course of business with shareholders and consultancy businesses in which Directors 
have a material interest as follows:

Key management compensation:

2013

£000

2012

£000

Fees for services provided as non-executive directors

Salaries and short term benefits

Post employment retirement benefits

Employers’ national insurance & social security costs

Share-based payment charge

86

-

9

-

95

Executive directors

Salaries and short term benefits

267

Post employment retirement benefits

Employers’ national insurance & social security costs

Share-based payment charge

37

20

38

362

Other key management

Salaries and short term employee benefits

414

Post employment retirement benefits

Employers’ national insurance & social security costs

Share-based payment charge

25

38

36

513

92

-

10

-

102

251

48

18

43

360

336

24

29

36

425

In addition the Company paid £0.05m (2012: £0.05m) to Instem Ventures Limited, a company owned by A Gare, a shareholder.  The 
balance outstanding at the end of the year was £nil (2012: £nil).

In addition the Company paid £0.006m (2012: £nil) to Noble Adamson Limited, a company owned by M McGoun, the independent 
non-executive director and a shareholder.  The balance outstanding at the end of the year was £nil (2012: £nil).

Key management are considered to be the Directors together with the Senior Managers of the business. 

28.  Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments

Some asset and liability amounts reported in the financial information are based on management estimates and assumptions.  There 
is therefore a risk of significant changes to the carrying amounts for these assets and liabilities within the next financial year.  The 
estimates and assumptions are made on the basis of information and conditions that exist at the time of the valuation.

Fair value of assets acquired and calculation of contingent consideration

The amounts presented in the statement of financial position in respect of the fair values of assets acquired are estimated by the 
Group’s management based on prior experience and their assessment of the present value of estimated future cash flows.  The key 
assumptions made in assessing fair values are in relation to intangible assets acquired, and these relate principally to the royalty rate 
applied to intellectual property rights (IPR), and the assessment of future revenues.

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      67

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS for the year ended 31 December 2013

28.  Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgments (continued)

The contingent consideration provided in the financial statements represents the Group management’s estimate of the net present value 
of the amount payable over the related period.

Impairment

At each reporting date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of goodwill and investments.  The recoverable amount of the asset 
is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).  Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are 
independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. A 
key factor which could result in an impairment of goodwill or investments is lower than predicted revenue. Sensitivities around this factor 
and the discount rate are set out in note 9.

Other intangible assets – useful lives

Other intangible assets are amortised over their useful life, which has been estimated by management to be up to 8 years.

29.  Contingent Liabilities

Instem plc has provided a guarantee to its subsidiaries which have taken advantage of the exemption from audit.  Under this guarantee, 
the company has a contingent liability of £9.0m.

68 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      69

NOTES

70 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

NOTES

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013      71

NOTES

72 

Instem plc Annual Report, 2013    

Directors and Advisors

DIRECTORS
D Gare (Non-Executive Chairman)
M F McGoun (Independent Non-Executive)
D M Sherwin (Non- Executive)
P J Reason
N J Goldsmith

SECRETARY
N J Goldsmith

REGISTERED OFFICE
Diamond Way
Stone Business Park
Stone
Staffordshire
ST15 0SD
Tel: +44 1785 825600
Fax: +44 1785 825625
www.instem.com

Company No: 07148099

AUDITOR
Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP
Chartered Accountants
3 Hardman Street
Manchester 
M3 3HF

BANKER
NatWest Bank
1 Spinningfields Square
Manchester
M2 3AP

NOMINATED ADVISOR AND BROKER
Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP
One Bartholomew Lane
London 
EC2N 2AX

REGISTRARS
Computershare
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol 
BS13 8AE

SOLICITORS
Squire Sanders (UK) LLP
Trinity Court
16 John Dalton Street
Manchester
M60 8HS

Our clients include these fine organisations...

UK
Global Headquarters -
UK & European Operations
Diamond Way
Stone Business Park
Stone
Staffordshire, ST15 0SD
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 1785 825600

USA
North American Headquarters
Eight Tower Bridge
161 Washington Street
Suite 1550, 15th Floor
Conshohocken, PA 19428
United States
Tel: +1 (610) 941 0990

China
Asia-Pacific Headquarters
Room 205, Building 16
88 Darwin Road
Zhangjiang High-Tech Park, Pudong District
Shanghai
China, 201203
Tel: +86 (0) 21 5131 2080

The Group employs over 130 people in eight offices in the US, UK,

China and India; with a full service distributor in Japan.

e-mail
investors@instem.com

instem.com