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Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc

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FY2021 Annual Report · Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc
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Unlocking 
the power 
of ultrasound

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Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc
2021 Annual Report and Accounts

Contents_GEN_PageContents_GEN_PageL2Contents Generation – Section 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
What’s in the Report

What We Do
Making ultrasound easier to 
learn and simpler to use

p2

p14

Chief Executive’s 
Review
Another year of good 
progress

p38

Financial Review
A positive year

p10

p18

Business Model
Building our ‘Classroom To 
Clinic’ business

Environmental, Social 
and Governance Report
Our first annual ESG Report

Contents

Overview 
1-6

Our Vision 

Highlights of the Year 

What We Do 

At a Glance 

Strategic Report 
8-41

Chairman’s Statement 

Business Model 

Our Strategy 

Chief Executive’s Review 

Governance 
42-62

Board of Directors 

Chairman’s Introduction 

Corporate Governance Report  

Audit Committee Report 

Remuneration Committee Report 

Nomination Committee Report 

Directors’ Report 

Parent Company Statement  
of Changes in Equity 

Group and Company Statement of 
Cash Flows 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

Glossary 

Corporate Directory 

75

76

77

110

111

42

46

47

52

54

58

60

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities  62

Financial Statements  
63-111

1

1

2

6

8

10 

12

14

Environmental, Social and Governance  18

Section 172 statement 

Risk Management 

Key Performance Indicators 

Financial Review 

26

30

36

38

Independent Auditor’s Report 

Group Statement of Profit and Loss and 
Other Comprehensive Income 

Group and Company Statements of 
Financial Position 

Group Statement of Changes in Equity 

63

72

73

74

Contents_GEN_PageContents_GEN_PageL2Contents Generation – SectionOverview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

1

Our Vision

To make ultrasound easier to 
learn and simpler to use by 
providing ‘Classroom to Clinic’ 
training, guidance and real-time 
support to medical professionals

Financial highlights

Group revenue

£7.6m

Operating loss

£(4.3)m

2021 

7.6

(4.3) 

2020 

5.2

(4.5) 

2021

2020

Net cash used in operations

Cash and cash equivalents 

£(1.8)m

(1.8) 

(2.3) 

2021

2020

Operational highlights

£5.0m

2021 

5.0

2020 

8.8

For more information visit
intelligentultrasound.com

•  GE Healthcare continued the rollout of the ScanNav 

•  NeedleTrainer, the Group’s third AI-related product, 

Assist AI technology on the Voluson SWIFT 
ultrasound machine 

•  ScanNav Anatomy Peripheral Nerve Block (PNB), the 
Group’s second AI product, received CE approval in 
April and was subsequently launched in the UK 
market

which incorporates the PNB trainer software to teach 
ultrasound-guided needling to medical professionals, 
was soft launched in October 

•  BabyWorks, our new simulator platform aimed at the 
global neonate and paediatric markets, was launched 
in September

Post year end highlights

•  The new HeartWorks 3D Echo simulator module was 

• 

launched in January 2022

In January 2022 we announced an extension to our 
existing exclusive women’s healthcare AI agreement 
with GE Healthcare that was signed at the end of 
December 2021

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

2

What We Do

From classroom ...

We unlock 
potential

Simulation
We develop, build and sell some of the 
world’s leading ultrasound training 
simulators. Our guiding principle is to 
develop world-class ultrasound simulation 
technologies that will improve the quality 
and speed of ultrasound scanning in the 
clinical environment

Strategic Report

3

1350+

Simulators sold to over 
650 medical institutions

For more information
 see pages 14 to 17

Our simulation products

ScanTrainer 

BodyWorks 

A unique self-learning scanning 
experience in Obstetrics and 
Gynaecology (OBGYN) and general 
medicine that replicates being 
taught one-to-one by an expert

A hi-fidelity simulator used in 
critical care, intensive care and 
emergency medicine

BabyWorks 

HeartWorks

A realistic baby manikin for  
training in paediatric and  
neonatal care

A highly realistic simulator with 
all the tools needed to learn 
echocardiography

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

OverviewCorporate GovernanceFinancial statements4

What We Do continued

... to clinic

We make 
ultrasound
smarter

Clinical AI
We are harnessing the power of the new 
generation of AI algorithms to make 
ultrasound simpler to use, and easier to 
learn by providing guidance and support  
to medical professionals, whilst they  
are scanning

For more information
 see pages 14 to 17

Strategic Report

5

Our clinical AI software

ScanNav Assist

NeedleTrainer 

Augmented reality needling 
for entirely non-invasive, safe 
and realistic ultrasound-guided 
needling training. Incorporates 
ScanNav Anatomy PNB trainer

For more information
Visit intelligentultrasound.com

A range of AI-based ultrasound 
software products that provide 
real-time image analysis during 
protocol-based scanning in the 
women’s health sector and  
are exclusively licensed to 
GE Healthcare

ScanNav Anatomy PNB 

AI based ultrasound software 
which can automatically identify 
and highlight key anatomical 
structures in a live ultrasound 
image

3 AI products

in the market

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

OverviewCorporate GovernanceFinancial statements 
6

At a Glance

Our purpose 

Key 2021 stats

57

Employees

£7.6m

Revenue

3

New products

Building our ‘Classroom to Clinic’ business

Classroom

Teaching

Hi-fidelity  
simulators

Clinical

Guiding and supporting

OEM licences

Developed, regulatory cleared and generating revenue

We leverage our knowledge and experience in medical ultrasound, simulation, image segmentation and machine learning to develop software that can increase the number of medical professionals who can use ultrasound, as well as increasing the speed and quality of scanning itself®Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

7

Key 2021 stats

Our global footprint

Key

Offices

Partners

Consumer

Diagnosing

Reassuring

Plug-in devices

Standalone devices

Handheld devices

Developed, regulatory cleared and generating revenue

Future

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

8

Chairman’s Statement

Riccardo Pigliucci 
Chairman

This has been a year of significant 
progress across our ‘Classroom to Clinic’ 
business. We have increased Group 
revenue by 47% with the majority of this 
growth coming from our established 
ultrasound simulation sales operation, 
which contributed £4.5m gross profit 
(2020: £3.2m) towards the Group’s 
overheads. 

Year of 
significant 
progress

We launched two new artificial intelligence (AI) related 
products into the real-time clinical ultrasound image 
analysis market, and have also added to our ultrasound 
simulation portfolio. In addition, we are building an 
excellent partnership with GE Healthcare, the world’s 
leading ultrasound company - that has been expanded 
with a new product extension to the agreement. We slightly 
reduced our operating loss to £4.3m (2020: £4.5m). All this 
has been achieved despite the ongoing pandemic that has 
restricted activities, such as the US based clinical studies 
required for new product regulatory clearance, as well as 
the critical face-to-face introduction of new products at 
shows and medical exhibitions.

Strategy
We continue to progress our ‘Classroom to Clinic’ 
ultrasound strategy based on:

•  We are one of the world’s leading real-time ultrasound 
simulation companies and are growing the Group’s 
‘classroom’ related revenues through sales of our 
existing simulator platforms; and by expanding our 
range of ultrasound training simulators into new  
medical market segments

•  This ‘classroom’ expertise in teaching the hard to learn 
real-time ultrasound scanning skills has enabled us to 
develop real-time AI software that aims to make 
ultrasound scanning in the clinic easier to learn and 
simpler to use. We are building our ‘clinic’ related AI 
revenues through royalty income from ultrasound 
machine manufacturers, such as our partnership with 
GE Healthcare, that incorporates our ScanNav AI 
technology in their latest women’s health ultrasound 
systems; by direct sales of our newly launched 
proprietary stand-alone AI-driven ScanNav Anatomy 
and NeedleTrainer systems; and by expanding our 
AI-based product offerings with new proprietary 
products for new medical markets

We believe the on-going expansion of all parts of the 
‘Classroom to Clinic’ business confirms our strategic 
positioning, and we look forward to continuing this growth 
in 2022.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

9

We are focused on growing sales in both the 
more established simulation market and the 
newer, potentially higher growth AI imaging 
market, but will continue to monitor cash and 
overheads against this anticipated sales 
growth curve and any future investment of 
new AI products and expansion of our sales 
networks. We remain excited about the 
potential of our ’Classroom to Clinic’ business. 

Riccardo Pigliucci
Chairman

Board and governance
The Board aims to maintain the highest 
standards of corporate governance and is 
successfully transitioning from a typical 
founder and venture-driven Board to a  
more mature public entity.

Following an independent review of our 
Board and meetings with a number of our 
major shareholders, in 2021 we set 
ourselves the goal of increasing the diversity 
and relevant experience of the Directors in 
the markets we now serve and the 
technologies we utilise; with the longer-term 
aim of also reducing the size of the Board. 

I’m pleased to say that we are well on the 
way to achieving this goal:

•  During 2021 we appointed two new, 
highly experienced Non-executive 
Directors (NEDs) - Ingeborg Øie and 
Michèle Lesieur

•  During 2022 two current NEDs are 
expected to retire from the Board

•  By the end of 2023 we expect to have 
recruited two new NEDs and to have 
reduced the Board to seven members

In addition, during 2021, in compliance with 
ISS recommendation, I stepped down as a 
Member of the Remuneration and Audit 
Committees.

People
I would like to thank all our staff for working 
so hard and performing so well during the 
year. We had all hoped to see an end to the 
pandemic in 2021 and although the 
restrictions had an effect on elements of the 
business, such as remote regulatory trials 
and new product roll out, the team 
responded brilliantly and were able to 
minimise the negative impact of the 
pandemic.

Our head office in Cardiff has given us the 
space to conduct important study trials on 
site, as well as increased flexibility in the new 
hybrid work environment. We were also able 
to welcome some of our larger shareholders 
to our first in-house technology open day, 
where we were able to give hands-on 
demonstrations of both our new AI 
technology platforms, as well as all our 
simulation products.

Outlook
With a growing range of both AI and 
simulation-related products, a scalable 
operational base and pandemic related 
restrictions around the world relaxing, we 
have had a strong start to 2022. We have 
had a high number of NHS financial year-end 
orders in the first quarter, and we therefore 
expect revenue for 2022 to be ahead of 
current market expectations. 

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

10

Business Model

Our inputs

What we do

Financial

Intellectual

Leadership

Clinical

Employees

Classroom 
simulation

Clinical  
AI

Teaching

Guiding and supporting

•  Hi-fidelity simulators

•  OEM licences

•  Plug-in devices

Strong strategic  
relationships

Current

Corporate Governance
see page 47

Section 172
see page 26

How do we generate revenue?
•  Develop and sell a range of ultrasound training simulators that 
meet the needs of the global medical professional training and 
education market

•  Develop and sell a range of AI-clinical ultrasound software tools 
that enable hospitals to scan more patients by speeding up 
scanning and helping more clinicians scan

•  Develop and sell a range of AI-based clinical ultrasound software 

tools that enable hospitals and imaging centres to improve 
ultrasound-based diagnosis

Financial Review
see page 38

Underpinned  
by our values ...

• 
Integrity
•  Honesty

•  Commitment 
to excellence

and  
culture ...

•  Ambitious
•  Supportive

•  Dynamic

•  Enjoyable
•  Open

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

11

How do we add value 

Technology

•  Make ultrasound easier to learn and simpler to use

•  Enable more clinicians to use ultrasound

Financial

•  Revenue growth to bring the Group to profitability

•  Efficient working capital management

•  Continued investment in R&D 

Human

•  Foster an honest and open culture

•  Encourage innovation

•  Recruit market-leading experts in all fields of expertise

•  Create a rewarding and dynamic working environment

Innovation

•  Prioritisation of R&D resource and spend

•  Develop software that aims to positively disrupt 

current markets

•  Continually improve clinicians’ training experiences

•  Maintain a balance between developing new products as 

well as enhancing existing ones

Responsible

•  Deliver products that make a positive impact on the world

•  Minimise carbon footprint

•  Generate employment opportunities

•  Maintain operating licence and legal obligations

Shareholders

•  Positive growth

•  Path to profitability

•  Ethical business practices

Strategy
see page 12

Consumer  
AI

Diagnosing

Reassuring

•  Stand-alone 

•  Handheld devices

devices

Future

•  Continue to grow within existing markets

•  Explore and exploit the opportunities created by 

development of new products

•  Explore the worldwide market for new products 

as mass scanning becomes more feasible

•  Become the ‘go-to’ company for AI ultrasound 

technologies

CEO Review
see page 14

to unlock  
ultrasound for everyone

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

12

Our Strategy

We continue to progress  
our ‘Classroom to Clinic’  
ultrasound strategy 

Strategic aims

How we do it

Make  
ultrasound 
easier to 
learn 

Develop and sell a range of 
hi-fidelity ultrasound training 
simulators that meet the 
needs of the global medical 
professional training and 
education market

•  Focus on clinical teaching schools  

where ultrasound scanning  
performance is important

•  Continue to develop our simulator range to 

expand into new ultrasound growth markets 

•  Build on our clinical and simulation 

synergies to cement our position as the 
ultrasound experts in the market

Make 
ultrasound 
simpler  
to use

Develop and sell a range 
of AI-based clinical ultrasound 
software tools make ultrasound 
machines smarter and more 
accessible to more medical 
professionals

•  Build and maintain large, curated ultrasound 

image databases 

•  Develop AI software that meets a medical 
need and has a viable commercial market 

•  Work with OEMs to integrate our software 

into their devices 

•  Extend the market for our AI platform 

device in the retrofit market 

•  Build on our clinical and simulation 

synergies to cement our position as the 
ultrasound experts in the market

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements 13

2021 progress

Key performance indicators

2022 objectives

• 

Increased sales by 42% from existing 
products

•  Launched a new platform simulator 
- BabyWorks into the neonate and 
paediatric market in September 2021

•  Developed a new 3D Echo add-on 

module for the HeartWorks simulator 
that was launched in January 2022

•  First revenues from our new products 

launched in 2021

•  Our image database increased  

to almost 11m

•  Continued to build on the GE partnership

•  Obtained CE approval for Anatomy PNB 
and launched it in the UK in April 2021

•  Launched NeedleTrainer, our third  

AI-related system

•  Signed a new product extension to GE 

partnership agreement

Revenue

Research and development

New products launched

• 

Increase sales to £9.4m

•  Continue to develop new modules 
for our existing product range

•  Market new and existing products 

to drive revenue growth

Revenue

Research and development

New products launched

AI partner agreements

• 

Increase sales to £0.6m

•  Obtain FDA clearance for Anatomy 

PNB and launch in the US

•  Continue development of future 

variants of ScanNav 

Key performance indicators
see page 36

Risk management
see page 30

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

14

Chief Executive’s Review

Stuart Gall 
Chief Executive Officer

Our vision is to harness the power of the 
new generation of AI algorithms to make 
ultrasound easier to learn and simpler to 
use by providing ‘Classroom to Clinic’ 
training, guidance and real-time support 
to medical professionals.

Well 
positioned 
for growth

AI remains a key element of our ‘Classroom to Clinic’ 
approach to ultrasound as we expand both our simulation 
and clinical AI revenue streams. The report below details 
the progress made in 2021 and the key challenges faced 
during the year.

SIMULATION
Training medical professionals in the specialist skills 
required to competently scan a patient using the diagnostic 
capabilities of ultrasound is a key foundation stone of our 
business. We understand the clinical needs of medical 
professionals who rely on real-time ultrasound imaging and 
consider ourselves one of the world’s leading companies in 
this growing market. 

We design, develop and sell some of the world’s leading 
real-time, hi-fidelity ultrasound training simulators for 
teaching ultrasound scanning to medical professionals and 
medical device companies. Our simulators are, in the main, 
high value capital equipment sales sold through our direct 
sales forces in the US and UK, as well as through a network 
of resellers covering the rest of the world.

During the year ultrasound simulation revenue grew by 
43% to £7.4m (2020: £5.2m) and contributed £4.5m (2020: 
£3.2m) of gross profit towards the Group overheads. Over 
650 medical institutions around the world now use our 
ultrasound simulators.

We also expanded our product range and now operate in 
the following markets:

•  Obstetrics and gynaecology (OBGYN)

•  Echocardiography and anaesthesiology (ECHO)

•  Emergency medicine and Point-of-Care (PoCUS) 

•  Critical care and intensive care

•  Neonate and paediatric

United Kingdom
The UK had a record year, with spending 
on our simulators continuing to grow 
across all product lines. The launch of 
BabyWorks in the second half of 2021 
was well received and combined with 
the HeartWorks 3D Echo simulator that 
was launched in January 2022, there 
continues to be strong purchasing 
interest in the UK market.

We look forward to continuing the  
growth of the UK revenues in 2022.

North America 
Despite the pandemic impacting access 
to hospitals in several important US states, 
sales in North America also grew to a record 
high. With an established operational base 
in Alpharetta, Georgia, we are expanding 
the sales team in 2022 to take advantage 
of the revenue potential in the North 
American market. 

As with 2020, there were almost no 
major face-to-face trade exhibitions  
in the US during the year, but we  
continued to adapt well to the pressures  
of operating in a restricted market.  

During 2020 and 2021, the pandemic 
restrictions enabled products to be 
demonstrated live over the internet, and 
although it is expected that the medical 
profession will wish to revert to face-to-face 
product demonstrations in 2022, we will look 
to try and increase the use of this cost-
effective demonstration tool. As such, during 
2022 we will be upgrading the web 
demonstration facilities in Alpharetta to 
match the facilities in our head office in 
Cardiff. As with the UK, the launch of 
BabyWorks and HeartWorks 3D Echo 
was well received by the market, and we 
look forward to growing our North American 
revenues in 2022.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

15

Research & Development 

During the year, we invested £1.2m in 
simulation R&D (2020: £0.9m). The team 
focused on developing the new BabyWorks 
ultrasound simulator platform for neonate 
and paediatric scanning, the new HeartWorks 
3D Echo module, and a number of product 
upgrades that aim to provide remote 
eLearning capability for our HeartWorks 
and BodyWorks simulators, especially 
important in the current environment.

BabyWorks is an ultra-realistic baby manikin 
offering medical professionals a safe and 
effective training tool for Point-of-Care 
ultrasound (PoCUS) and echocardiography 
in paediatric and neonatal care. The 
combination of an anatomically accurate, 
tactile manikin combined with real patient 
ultrasound scans provides a high fidelity, 
precise scanning experience that replicates 
scanning a real baby. Initial feedback from 
the launch in the second half of 2021 has 
been very positive and we look forward to 
building sales during 2022.

Challenges to our simulation 
revenue streams

Ultrasound continues to be a growing 
medical diagnostic tool, with increasing 
demand for training that can enhance a 
medical practitioner’s scanning skills. 
However, there have historically always 
been capital expenditure limitations on 
medical training budgets for high value 
simulators within the global healthcare 
market. As such funds for purchasing 
departments can be hard to access and 
revenues difficult to predict, especially 
during times of government cutbacks, 
political upheaval or global pandemics, 
when funds can be diverted from training 
to front-line care. 

During 2022 we expect the restrictions 
caused by the pandemic to recede in the 
majority of our markets, but there may be 
some exceptions that impact sales in 

countries such as China, where zero 
tolerance Covid-19 policies are operated 
and regions can be locked down at short 
notice, but we would not expect these to 
materially impact the Group. 

The purchasing decisions in the high-fidelity 
sector of the ultrasound simulation market 
continue to be based on quality of training 
and value for money, rather than simply 
the lowest priced solution. 

The absence of exhibitions and conferences 
has restricted the growth of the Group’s lead 
pipeline during the pandemic and there is a 
risk that the leads from our increased 
number of email campaigns may have a 
lower sales conversion rate. 

The impact of rising inflation causing medical 
device costs to rise faster than hospital 
budgets in 2022/23 could potentially reduce 
future health spending. 

The risk of inflation related interest rate rises 
pushing countries into recession could also 
impact on medical training budgets in the 
longer term.

Although we do not sell to or purchase from 
the Ukraine, sales to our Russian reseller are 
currently on hold and we have adjusted our 
2022/23 forecasts accordingly. Russia 
accounted for 2% of our sales in 2021.

During the year, we continued to respond well 
to new competitive products and pricing and 
margin pressures, by expanding our range 
of simulators that provide the highest standard 
of ultrasound training, offering a variety of 
purchase price points and increasing our 
eLearning options that can work in tandem 
with our hands-on training simulators.

2021 saw an increase in key component 
supply chain pressure and this remains a 
concern for companies of our size. Costs 
are increasing across the board and lead 
times are lengthening. Although we work 
closely with our suppliers, we have had to 
increase our key component stockholdings 
to provide some insurance against potential 
supply disruption and this is continuing in 
2022. Despite the challenges, our current 
stock combined with our stock order 
commitments indicate we should be able 
to deliver all expected orders over the 
coming 12 months.

Revenue

+76%

+18%

+53%

United Kingdom

North America 

Rest of the World

£2.5m

(2020: £1.4m)

£2.7m

(2020: £2.4m)

£2.2m

(2020: £1.4m)

Rest of the World 
This was a year of recovery for our reseller 
sales, although revenue is still 18% below 
our pre-pandemic sales of 2019. Reduced 
sales in a number of countries, including 
China and Germany, that continued to be 
affected by the pandemic, were offset by 
encouraging sales in Eastern Europe and 
Japan. In the second half of the year, we 
initiated a joint sales venture with Skills 
Meducation, one of our Western Europe 
resellers, whereby we are jointly investing in 
a dedicated Intelligent Ultrasound 
salesperson. The long-term aim is to 
increase French sales to the equivalent UK 
level and, if successful, roll out to other 
reseller markets.

We have continued to provide training and 
product sales support from our head office 
web demonstration facilities and have been 
able to minimise sales and training related 
travel throughout the year. The BabyWorks 
new product launch was conducted entirely 
online and was well received. We do, 
however, expect sales support and training 
related costs to increase in 2022.

With the pandemic restrictions easing in the 
many of our markets, we look forward to 
growing reseller revenues in 2022 and 
beyond.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

16

Chief Executive’s Review continued

CLINICAL AI
A key part of the company’s ‘Classroom 
to Clinic’ vision is to follow medical 
professionals, as they graduate out of 
the classroom-based simulation training 
environment, and provide them with access 
to real-time AI-based clinical software that 
makes ultrasound easier to use. 

This vision became a reality in 2021, with 
our ScanNav image analysis AI technology, 
which provides real-time support 
to clinicians whilst they are scanning, 
being incorporated into three products 
in the market:

•  GE Healthcare’s SonoLyst software 

which is incorporated in their Voluson 
SWIFT ultrasound machine, utilises our 
ScanNav Assist technology

•  ScanNav Anatomy PNB (Peripheral Nerve 
Block) that simplifies ultrasound-guided 
needling by providing the user with 
real-time AI-based anatomy highlighting 
for a range of medical procedures

•  NeedleTrainer that teaches real-time 
ultrasound guided needling and 
incorporates ScanNav Anatomy PNB 

We continue to follow a two-pronged go-to 
market strategy of:

•  Signing royalty-based, ‘on-machine’ 

licences for the provision of real-time AI 
software with the major manufacturers, 
whose established sales networks can 
provide faster access to our technology 
in the new ultrasound machine markets

•  Selling proprietary ‘plug-in’ real-time 

AI-enabled devices direct to the global 
pool of existing ultrasound machines, 
through our own sales network

Clinical AI-related revenue for the year was 
£0.2m (2020: £0.0m) and reflects the impact 
of the pandemic in 2021 that limited global 
new product roll-out, reduced key opinion 
leader contact and resulted in almost no 
exhibitions or congress events. As we said 
at the beginning of 2021, as the pandemic 
restrictions relax and face-to-face meetings 
and exhibitions restart, we anticipate 2022 
to be the year where we generate more 
significant sales growth from our AI-
based products.

During the year, we invested £2.1m in clinical 
AI-related R&D (2020: £1.7m).

ScanNav Assist

Our ScanNav Assist AI technology acts like a 
personal scanning assistant, by comparing 
the image or view acquired to specific criteria 
on standard views within a fetal scan, to 
ensure they contain the required anatomy 
for the imaging plane. The software aims to 
provide real-time workflow enhancements, 
that support faster, more standardised 
scanning, but importantly also support 
decision making, so that the stress of 
scanning is reduced and the ‘burn-out’ 
of operators being asked to increase 
productivity is minimised.

In 2019, we entered a long-term partnership 
agreement for our ScanNav Assist AI 
software with GE Healthcare, one of the 
world’s leading ultrasound manufacturers, 
that provides for the integration of our 
real-time AI image analysis software into 
GE Healthcare’s full range of Voluson 
women’s health ultrasound machines. 

At the end of September 2020 GE 
Healthcare launched the Voluson SWIFT, 
which is the first GE ultrasound system to 
feature SonoLyst, the new software that 
utilises our ScanNav Assist real-time image 
analysis software and is the world’s first fully 
integrated AI tool that recognises the 20 
views recommended by the ISUOG 
mid-trimester practice guidelines for fetal 
sonography imaging. SonoLyst is an optional 
add-on and feedback during the year has 
been encouraging, despite the pandemic-
related impact on global roll-out that 
restricted sales training and key opinion 
leader contact. As pandemic restrictions 
relax, we expect to see increased revenue 
in 2022.

Post year-end we announced we had signed 
an extension to the GE Healthcare 
agreement to enable GE Healthcare to utilise 
the ScanNav Assist AI software in a new 
women’s health segment of automated 
ultrasound image analysis, that is outside the 
Group’s original agreement. The terms, 
product sales and the timings of the related 
product launches are undisclosed.

Future variants of ScanNav Assist that will 
support additional scanning protocols are 
in development.

ScanNav Anatomy Peripheral Nerve 
Block (PNB)

ScanNav Anatomy PNB uses the latest 
AI technology to automatically highlight the 
key nerve block anatomical structures on 
a live ultrasound image and support the 
performance of healthcare professionals 
who are suitably qualified, but who perform 
ultrasound-guided local anaesthesia 
procedures on a less frequent basis.

This first version of ScanNav Anatomy PNB 
received CE approval in April 2021 and 
supports nine common peripheral nerve 
blocks. It is sold as a stand-alone screen 
mounted on a portable stand that is plugged 
into existing ultrasound machines to provide 
clinicians with continuous feedback from 
real-time highlighting of their live ultrasound. 
Users can also re-familiarise themselves with 
blocks that are carried out less frequently 
using the systems integrated 3D animations. 
The cart-based system is sold in the UK 
through the Group’s direct sales team. 

ScanNav Anatomy PNB is also available as 
a training simulator for medical learning on 
volunteers, prior to patient contact (see 
NeedleTrainer below).

Increasingly, ultrasound-guided peripheral 
nerve blocks are being used as a prudent 
alternative to general anaesthesia, but not all 
anaesthetists have the specialist knowledge 
of ultrasound anatomy to perform them. 
Through the adoption of ScanNav PNB, it is 
hoped that hospitals will be able to increase 
the number of ultrasound-guided nerve 
blocks that they can perform. We continue 
to progress the product‘s FDA regulatory 
filing to enable a version of the product to be 
sold in the US, as well as seeking to license 
an integrated version of the product to the 
major ultrasound manufacturers. The need 
for an additional US-based Human Factors 
study delayed the regulatory approval and 
anticipated launch of the PNB clinical system 
in the US, but the Group still envisages 
the PNB system will contribute to revenues 
in 2022. 

Our aim is to develop further variants of 
ScanNav Anatomy that can be added to 
the existing ScanNav standalone hardware 
platform and support ultrasound scanning 
in both interventional radiology and general 
radiology, as appropriate.

NeedleTrainer

Launched at the end of 2021, NeedleTrainer 
was developed by the clinical AI software 
team as a real-time training version of 
ScanNav Anatomy PNB. Currently the device 
is a portable, plug-in system that uses a 
retractable needle and real-time, virtual 
image overlays to simulate needling 
non-invasively on a live volunteer, using the 
live ultrasound scan. This enables medical 
professionals to develop hand-eye 
coordination, optimum positioning and 
accuracy in ultrasound-guided interventional 
procedures in a safe, realistic, clinical 
environment. The system is sold with the 
trainer version of ScanNav Anatomy PNB 
integrated into the software.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

17

Future ScanNav AI products
Although during 2021 we focused on 
developing the partnership with GE 
Healthcare, commercialising ScanNav 
Assist, ScanNav Anatomy PNB and 
NeedleTrainer, the following additional 
AI-related products are in various early 
stages of development:

ScanNav Detect 

ScanNav Detect aims to facilitate the 
automatic recognition of abnormalities 
within a general medical ultrasound scan, 
confirming that a clinician has correctly 
scanned the anatomical area of interest, 
and then flagging any areas of potential 
abnormality, so the patient can be triaged 
to a specialist. This could potentially allow 
more medical practitioners, such as GPs, 
midwives, paramedics and doctors to use 
ultrasound imaging for frontline medical 
diagnostic sonography. 

ScanNav HealthCheck

ScanNav HealthCheck remains a proof-of-
concept development area that aims to 
enable ultrasound scans to be performed 
at home.

Challenges to the Clinical  
AI revenue streams
AI-based medical imaging software remains 
an immensely exciting, and potentially hugely 
significant global market. However, there is 
considerable competition from both existing 
ultrasound manufacturers and well-funded 
independent AI software vendors. The 
commercial modelling, although embryonic, 
is as yet unproven.

To respond to these challenges, we remain 
focused on developing AI software that has 
both a clinical need and a clear economic 
rationale for its purchase. The ScanNav 
Assist software is a good example of how 
our software aims to speed up scanning yet 
also support the sonographer so that a 
faster scan is also less stressful, benefiting 
the operator, the imaging centre and 
the patient.

As with the simulation market, funds for 
purchasing departments can be hard to 
access and revenues difficult to predict, 
especially during times of government 
cutbacks, political upheaval or global 
pandemics. 

During 2022 we expect the restrictions on 
face-to-face contact caused by the 
pandemic to recede in the majority of our 
markets, but there may be some exceptions 
that impact sales in countries such as China, 
where zero tolerance Covid-19 policies are 
operated and cities/regions can be locked 
down at short notice. The easing of these 

restrictions will also help with any overseas 
product trials and studies for regulatory 
clearance, which proved harder to monitor 
remotely in 2021 and caused delay to our 
FDA regulatory process.

Royalty payments from sales related to 
ultrasound machine vendors can be 
impacted by product launch delays that are 
outside our control.

When restrictions allowed, we held large 
hands-on trial study days and shareholder 
technology open days in Cardiff.

The Group’s warehouse and technical 
support operation in Caerphilly, that opened 
in 2020, has also enabled us to build and 
ship more systems than ever before, as well 
as hold the increased stock levels caused by 
the current market conditions. 

The impact of rising inflation may cause 
medical device costs to rise faster than 
hospitals budgets and could potentially 
reduce future health spending. 

As ever, all our staff have been tremendous 
in another difficult working year and I would 
also like to convey my thanks to all our 
stakeholders for being so supportive.

Recruitment of high calibre AI software 
engineers remains a challenge, however 
during the year we continued to recruit high 
quality staff by offering attractive, flexible 
salary packages and expect this to continue 
in 2022.

Looking ahead
After a positive 2021 in which we grew 
revenues to £7.6m and reduced operating 
losses to £4.3m, we are encouraged by the 
start to 2022. 

The new UK Conformity Assessed (UKCA) 
medical device approval is due to come into 
effect from 30 June 2023. Failure to migrate 
our CE approvals to UKCA (caused by, for 
example, bottlenecks from limited UK 
regulatory body capacity) could impact the 
Group’s ability to sell its medical device 
products in the UK from that point.

Quality Management System 
The Group continues to meet the standards 
of ISO 13485:2016 to ensure the consistent 
design, development, production, installation 
and sale of medical devices that are safe for 
their intended purpose. 

Workplace environment
Our larger, more modern and flexible 
head office space in the centre of Cardiff 
significantly improved our ability to operate 
effectively during the variety of pandemic 
restrictions that were in place during the year. 

With restrictions changing monthly, we 
supported office, at home and hybrid 
working throughout the year, by continuing 
to provide employees with the hardware and 
software to work from home, where 
appropriate. All Covid-19 related changes 
were regularly communicated to staff and we 
continue to hold our weekly all-staff meeting 
over the internet, with an attendance of over 
90%. Health and safety risk assessments were 
conducted regularly and our anonymous 
annual staff survey helped us assess the 
impact of the pandemic on employee welfare 
and support staff where appropriate. During 
the pandemic we were pleased that no staff 
were furloughed.

We are expanding our US sales team and 
now have four core simulation products that 
are expected to continue the growth of our 
simulation revenues in 2022 and beyond. 

We have three clinical AI-related software 
products in the market and hope to obtain 
FDA clearance for ScanNav Anatomy PNB 
during the year. We are building an excellent 
partnership with the world’s leading ultrasound 
company - GE Healthcare, that was recently 
expanded with a new product extension to 
the agreement and as with our simulation 
revenues, expect to see growth in our clinical 
AI-related revenues in 2022 and beyond. 

With the pandemic restrictions around the 
world easing and enabling a return to face-to 
face meetings, a growing range of ‘classroom 
to clinic’ ultrasound products in the market, 
new products in the pipeline, an established 
operational base, and an encouraging start to 
the year, we expect the strong revenue 
performance of 2021 to continue in 2022.

There are a number of potential growth 
opportunities for the Group relating to new 
AI product development programmes, as 
well as increases in the machine learning, 
direct sales and marketing teams and we 
therefore continue to monitor closely our 
cash, investment in R&D and overheads 
against the anticipated sales growth curve. 

We remain excited about the potential of our 
’Classroom to Clinic’ business.

Stuart Gall
Chief Executive Officer

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

 
18

Environmental, Social and Governance

Message from the CEO

Welcome to 
our first annual 
ESG report

Stuart Gall 
CEO

Intelligent Ultrasound aims 
to build a profitable and 
sustainable business that 
delivers our vision of enabling 
ultrasound for everyone”

We aspire to being a global force for good, empowering people to 
have access to one of the world’s leading imaging modalities, by 
either teaching them ultrasound skills in the classroom or by 
providing AI-based software tools that simplify or improve real-time 
ultrasound scanning in clinical practice.

To achieve these goals, we have adopted three principles that will 
guide us:

1    Deliver products that fit with our vision and make a 

positive impact on the world

2    Do the right thing while making an impact

3    Enjoy making an impact

We understand that for our business to be successful we need to 
recognise, understand and manage the environmental, social and 
governance (ESG) issues that are important to both our stakeholders 
and our business. 

We believe that during 2021 we made a good start on all three 
principles, but we recognise that this is an ongoing process and that 
there is always room for improvement. 

The report below details ESG at Intelligent Ultrasound, the key 
initiatives implemented during the year and two case studies that 
exemplify the positive impact our products have made around 
the world. 

We also set out our aims for the expansion of our ESG review in 
2022 and we look forward to reporting back on this next year.

Stuart Gall
Chief Executive Officer

Overview

Strategic Report

Corporate Governance

Financial Statements

19

Intelligent Ultrasound at a glance

Classroom simulation

Clinical AI

Teaching

Guiding and supporting

Hi-fidelity simulators

OEM AI licences

Plug-in AI devices

Our approach to ESG

We have always been a business focused on making a positive impact with our customers, employees and communities. 
In 2021 we formalised our approach and set up an ESG working group, chaired by the CEO, to:

Develop and implement 
a formal ESG policy that 
reflects our goal to build 
a sustainable and viable, 
long-term business that 
will enable ultrasound 
for everyone

Develop and implement 
an environmental training/
Develop and implement  
awareness programme for 
an environmental training/
all employees
awareness programme for 
all employees

CO2

Reduce the Group’s 
carbon emissions through 
Minimise the Group’s 
initiatives such as 
carbon emissions through 
minimising travel and 
incentives such as green 
offset the Group’s 2021 
travel incentives and offset 
carbon emissions
the Group’s 2021 carbon 
emissions

Develop an ESG 
dashboard that is reviewed 
Develop an ESG  
annually and reported to 
dashboard that is  
stakeholders
reviewed annually and 
reported to stakeholders

The working group met five times in 2021 to formulate and implement these objectives. The working group includes three members of the 
executive management team, three employee representatives and two Non-executive Directors. The three employee representatives were 
elected to the Group after all staff were invited to put their names forward for election, with an ESG manifesto, and the three candidates  
who received the most votes were elected.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts
Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

®20

Environmental, Social and Governance continued

ESG performance dashboard

Environmental

Energy consumption (KWh)

Carbon dioxide emissions (tonnes)

Carbon dioxide emissions (tonnes per average no. of employees )

Carbon footprint report

Environmental and Sustainability Policies

Social

Employee turnover (%)

Tax paid (as % of PBT)

Discrimination Policies 

Community Policies 

Ethics Policies 

Governance

Female representation on the Board

Independent Board members

CEO cash compensation (versus UK median earnings)

Highest to lowest full-time pay ratio

CEO & Chairperson role split?

Adhere to the QCA Corporate Governance Code?

During 2022 we will review if further metrics should be added to the dashboard.

2021

84,424

180,484

3,166

Yes

Yes

10%

0

Yes

Yes

Yes

27%

45%

6.2x

7.8x

Yes

Yes

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

21

Environmental
Acknowledging the Group’s role in the low-carbon world

The Carbon Trust defines 
three scopes as the basis for 
mandatory Greenhouse Gas 
(GHG) reporting in the UK 
which are defined as follows:

For 2021 and 2022, we have decided to focus 
our reporting as follows:

Scope 3

Scope 2

Scope 1

Scope 1

Scope 2

Scope 3

Covers the emissions we 
make directly, e.g. 
our buildings or vehicles

Covers the emissions we 
make indirectly, e.g. 
the energy we buy to heat 
and cool our buildings

Covers all the indirect emissions associated with our value chain

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Emissions (tonnes): 11,312

Emissions (tonnes): 16,962

Emissions (tonnes): 152,210

Emissions (tonnes): N/a

2021

2021

2021

2022

•  Gas consumed

•  Electric used

•  Business travel

Upstream (suppliers)

•  Company vehicles

•  Heat used

•  Employee commuting

•  Waste generated

•  Purchased goods and services

•  Transport and distribution

Downstream (customers)

•  End-of-life products

•  Use of sold products

•  Processing of sold products

•  Transport and distribution

Impact of climate change
Whilst climate change is not expected to 
have a material effect on the future of the 
Group, the company is at the start of its 
journey to better understand and quantify 
the impact it has on climate change and 
potentially how climate change could 
impact it in the future.

Offsets 
Despite the current relatively low direct 
negative environmental impact of the Group, 
we have offset 100% of the Group’s direct 
2021 CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas 
emissions through a programme of supporting 
the clean cookstoves project in Rwanda and 
the UK afforestation project, both certified 
carbon offset projects through Climate Partner.

The two programmes were selected for the 
following reasons:

In 2022 we plan to:

•  The clean cookstoves project was 

selected because Intelligent Ultrasound’s 
AI image analysis algorithms were used in 
The Household Air Pollution Intervention 
Network (HAPIN) Trial that aimed to assess 
the impact of a liquified petroleum gas 
(LPG) cooking stove and fuel intervention 
on the health of pregnant women.

•  The UK reforestation project was selected 
by the employee representatives as it was 
the closest UK impact programme that 
fitted with the employee’s desire to 
support local reafforestation projects. 
We aim to combine this with local 
woodland charity support in Wales.

However, there are some areas where it may 
be possible to reduce our environmental 
impact even further. 

• 

Introduce a new employee commuting 
scheme to incentivise low-carbon travel

•  Review our sales demonstration 

processes to promote web-based 
demonstrations and web-based reseller 
training, where possible

•  Review international travel and 

conference attendance, although it 
should be stressed that these remain a 
key generator of sales leads and product 
awareness for the Group

•  Review supplier and distribution 

environmental impact areas and identify 
areas of positive change

•  Review material customer-related 

environmental impact areas

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

 
22

Environmental, Social and Governance continued

Social
Aligning our people with our purpose

Our success depends upon the quality of 
our people across a wide range of 
disciplines. Many members of our team have 
joined the Company because they seek to 
make a difference in the world, and we want 
the culture of the Company to build on this. 
We want a working environment that enables 
us to attract, engage and retain the best 
people. Working for us should be both 
challenging, purposeful and enjoyable.

Employee engagement

The move to virtual Teams meetings over the 
last two years has inevitably decreased 
face-to-face meetings. This had the potential 
to reduce the bonds and relationships that 
tie a company’s employees together as a 
team. We have therefore worked hard to 
make sure our team is engaged and fully 
aware of how we are progressing towards 
fulfilling the Company’s vision. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

 The CEO holds a weekly all staff 
‘Breakfast Club’ meeting on Teams, 
giving updates on all aspects of the 
business performance and any relevant 
issues that the team wish to discuss

 An annual anonymous staff survey is 
conducted that aims to assess staff 
happiness and concerns. All results and 
relevant actions and changes are 
presented back to the staff and Board

 Individual teams and departments are 
encouraged to hold regular social events

 An annual offsite awayday will be 
organised as soon as the Covid-19 
restrictions allow

Building skills

In 2021 we took the decision to improve our 
internal training opportunities and 
implemented the Intelligent Ultrasound 
Synergise management programme 
comprising externally run courses on 
leadership skills, building and managing 
teams, presenting and communication skills, 

conflict management, performance and 
monitoring skills, and financial skills for 
managers. This six-month course, which 
started in 2021 for 16 employees, will 
continue in 2022.

All staff participate in our cyber security  
and GDPR training online courses.

Retention

We were pleased to see that only 10% of 
staff left the Company in 2021, an 
encouragingly high level of staff retention.

Diversity and inclusion

We are committed to building a diverse and 
inclusive working environment at Intelligent 
Ultrasound. Equal opportunities in both 
recruitment and development are central to 
our culture. We believe businesses are more 
likely to succeed when they have a broad 
range of characters, experiences and 
backgrounds.

Gender split as at Dec 2021

Board

 Female:  27%
73%
 Male: 

Management

 Female:  30%
70%
 Male: 

All Company

 Female:  38%
62%
 Male: 

Covid-19

Over the last two years we have prioritised 
the health and well-being of all our 
employees, whilst ensuring that our 
day-to-day operations remained open. 
Regular health and safety assessments were 
conducted, home working was supported, 
and all offices worked to the relevant local 
Covid-19 operational guidelines.

As we transition to a post-Covid world, we 
will be introducing a new flexible working 
policy to all our UK employees, that 
emphasises that although we believe that we 
generally work at our best as a team in an 
office environment, there are clear benefits 
to working from home for many of our 
employees and we therefore want to find the 
right balance of home/office working that 
maximises output, whilst allowing individual 
choice and maintaining a working 
environment that attracts and keeps staff. 

Local community engagement

Despite the global nature of our business, 
we recognise the importance of being a 
Company that supports local employment, 
local community engagement and where 
possible local purchasing.

In 2022 we plan to:

•  Set up a local academic engagement 
group to increase employee and 
company engagement with universities in 
South Wales and Bristol

•  Set up a Cardiff schools engagement 
group to increase employee and 
company engagement in STEM 
ambassador roles

•  Enable local charity payroll giving for staff

•  Review green pension fund options  

for staff

•  Encourage local purchasing options 

where possible

• 

Implement a flexible work policy post 
Covid-19

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

23

Governance
Honest, transparent and responsible

We seek to conduct all of our operating and 
business activities in an honest, ethical and 
socially responsible manner and these values 
underpin our business model and strategy. 

We are committed to acting professionally, 
fairly and with integrity with all of our 
stakeholders, including commercial partners, 
customers, suppliers, employees and 
investors/shareholders. 

The ESG working group is chaired by the 
CEO and reports to the Board.

Policies

Copies of the Group’s policies in relation to 
anti-corruption and bribery, anti-slavery, 
modern slavery, environmental, equal 
opportunities and diversity, data protection 
and health and safety can be found in the 
ESG section of the Group’s website:  
www.intelligentultrasound.com.

Impact Summary

2021 Impact

Cyber security 

KPIs

The Group obtained the IASME Governance 
certification in 2020 which is renewed 
annually to ensure that best practice 
continues to be followed. IASME 
Governance is risk based and includes key 
aspects of security such as incident 
response, staff training, planning and 
operations. IASME Governance incorporates 
Cyber Essentials assessment and an 
assessment against the General Data 
Protection Regulation (GDPR). The Group 
takes the threat of a cyber incident very 
seriously and endeavours to mitigate the risk 
wherever possible, although it recognised by 
the Board and management that it will never 
be possible to fully mitigate cyber risk.

An internal audit of Group KPIs was 
conducted at the end of 2021 and a new 
framework for KPIs and reporting at both 
management, executive and Board levels 
was implemented at the start of 2022.

In 2022 we plan to:

•  Monitor the new framework of KPIs 

across the Group

• 

Review the UN’s sustainable 
development goals to determine which 
of the 17 present the greatest 
opportunity for IU to make a positive 
impact as a global citizen

Corporate Governance
see page 47

Positive impact 
on patient care 
around the 
world

• Rewarding work with 
products that have a 
positive impact

• Flexible working options

• Reward low carbon 

commuting

• Increased web-based 

demos to reduce travel 
to customers

• Diverse and inclusive 

environment

• Carbon neutral company

Suppliers

Inbound 
logistics

Assembly

Company 
Company 
operations
operations

Outbound 
logistics

Product use

Review of supplier 
processes

Review of supplier 
logistics

Review of 
packaging

Review of sales 
related travel and 
training/support

Review 
of outbound 
logistics

Review the UN’s 
sustainable goals

2022 focus

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

24

Environmental, Social and Governance continued

 IMPACT CASE STUDY

   Covid-19 training module  

for BodyWorks

At the start of the pandemic in early 2020, our simulation R&D 
team resources were diverted to focus on the development of 
a Covid-19 version of our BodyWorks Point-of-Care simulator, 
designed to train frontline healthcare providers to use 
lung ultrasonography. 

Ultrasound has major utility for patient monitoring of respiratory-
related Covid-19 due to its safety, repeatability, absence of 
radiation, low cost and Point-of-Care use. Our Covid-19 
upgrade module was made available globally and free of 
charge, to all our existing customers and enabled rapid and 
effective training of many healthcare professionals working in 
the front line. Examples include the UK Nightingale hospitals, 
New York’s Harbour Healthcare hospitals and Ohio State 
University system, to name but a few.

For more information visit: 
https://www.intelligentultrasound.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BodyWorks-Eve-COVID-19-module-used-to-train-front-line-
clinicians-in-NYC.pdf

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

25

 IMPACT CASE STUDY

   Saving Babies’ Lives module 

for ScanTrainer

ScanTrainer is one of the world’s leading obstetrics and 
gynaecology ultrasound training simulators that uses real patient 
scans and curriculum-based teaching to train and assess 
medical professionals at all levels of ultrasound scanning. 

Launched in 2010, it’s a perfect training tool for someone who 
is picking up the probe for the very first time, for an expert 
learning advanced sonography skills, or for everyone in 
between. Importantly, ScanTrainer automatically marks 
performance based on our expert metrics, so trainees 
can self-learn in their own time, at their own pace.

In 2019 NHS England published a new version of the Saving 
Babies Lives Care Bundle, as part of its ongoing drive to reduce 
the rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal death and brain 
injuries and keep babies as safe as possible during pregnancy.

To support this initiative our R&D team produced an advanced 
obstetrics module for the ScanTrainer simulator that teaches a 
number of the key skills in the Saving Babies’ Lives Care 
initiative, including spectral doppler in obstetrics, fetal 
presentation and placenta localisation.

This module is now sold around the world, helping medical 
professionals learn the key skills to keeping babies as safe as 
possible during pregnancy.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

26

Section 172 statement

Engaging and maintaining strong relationships 
with stakeholders is a key factor in determining 
the long-term success and sustainability of 
Intelligent Ultrasound – not only in delivering 
the Group’s strategy, vision and values, 
but also in directly benefiting employees, 
partners, suppliers, customers, consumers and 
shareholders alike

The Board is proactive in ensuring that dialogue and engagement with stakeholders takes place and that feedback is taken into account in 
the Board’s decision making. 

The Directors are required by law to act in good faith to promote success of the Company for the benefit of the shareholders as a whole. 
The following table describes how the Board has had regard to the matters set out in section 172 of the Companies Act 2006 as amended 
by the Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018. Please also refer to the following disclosures throughout the Annual Report.

S172 Statement

Section 172 factor

Read more

The likely consequences of any decision in the long-term

•  Our purpose (page 6)

•  Our business model (page 10)

•  Our strategy (page 12)

The interests of the Company’s employees

•  Covered in the Section 172 report

The need to foster the Company’s business relationships with 
suppliers, customers and other

•  Covered in the Section 172 report

The impact of the Company’s operations on the community and 
the environment

The desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high 
standards of business conduct

•  See the Environmental section within our ESG Report (page 21)

•  Governance (page 49)

•  Risk management (page 30)

•  Our business model (page 10)

The need to act fairly between members of the Company

•  Corporate Governance Report (page 47)

The Directors discharge their duties by monitoring and assessing stakeholder interests in two primary ways:

(i)   Regular information flow from the Executive Directors  

The Executive Directors are directly involved in day-to-day business operations. The Non-executive Directors receive regular written and 
verbal business updates from the executive Directors via monthly reports, face-to-face at regular board meetings or between board 
meetings as required. 

(ii)   Direct engagement of board members 

Directors are expected, where appropriate, to engage directly with, or on behalf of, stakeholders. The Directors consider the interests of 
each of our key stakeholder groups when considering their duties under S172 and take into account the information gathered through 
engagement with these stakeholders when determining the Group’s strategies and key decisions. 

Identifying our stakeholders
The Company’s stakeholders are the people who use our products and those who which have an interest in our vision, purpose and 
strategy or who may otherwise be affected by decisions made by its Board. The views and feedback of healthcare professionals, our 
partners, our customers, our suppliers, our people and investors are all taken into account in considering the long-term consequences 
of the Board’s decision making.

For each of our key stakeholders, the following disclosure sets out the material issues, how the Board engages and how the engagement 
has influenced Board decisions.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements 27

The people who use our products

Healthcare 
professionals

We engage with the healthcare professionals who use our 
products to ensure the products meet their needs

Material issues
•  Products continue to support the needs of the healthcare 

professional

How we engage 
•  Clinical dialogue to agree the product specification at the 

development stage of new product and upgrades to existing 
product

•  Ongoing clinical and commercial dialogue collated, circulated, 

and discussed at regular product development meetings

•  Targeted research to determine market changes

•  Key opinion leader meetings held on a regular basis to 

understand future market changes

Outcomes
•  The Board and management take into account the opinions of 
healthcare professional in planning and design of new product 
development, as well as product upgrades, to ensure new 
product platforms meet new segments of the market and 
upgrades meet the needs of clinical professionals

Customers

We stay close to our current and potential customers, building 
long-term relationships

Material issues
•  Manage key customer relationships through our direct and 

reseller sales network

•  Meet project development milestones 

•  Customer satisfaction

•  Product innovation

How we engage
•  Exhibitions to showcase our products and obtain market 

feedback

•  Regional account management structure across the world to 
encourage meaningful, consistent and ongoing engagement 
with customers and collation of feedback that is then 
discussed at regular product development meetings and fed 
into the healthcare professional feedback and product 
development described above

•  Product roadmaps to give customers increased clarity 
improvements to the provision of support and service

Outcomes
•  A greater understanding of both customer pain points and 

future requirements from strategic to end-user level

Impact on decisions made in 2021
Some examples of how the Board has considered and responded to stakeholder needs in 2021 are as follows:

1) BabyWorks
In 2021 as part of the strategy to grow the simulation revenue stream, we launched our new paediatric and neonate simulator BabyWorks to 
market, expanding our simulation platform to four systems. During the research phase we consulted with customers and healthcare professionals 
to determining the market need. Feedback from these stakeholders convinced management that BabyWorks could be sold to departments and 
institutions in the US and UK, as well as a number of resellers around the world. Development of the product was complex and a decision was 
made, based on market feedback, to include certain modules to include as a priority at launch and other modules, which would be added as 
future add-ons in 2022 to 2024. BabyWorks was launched in H2 2021 and is expected to contribute to the growth in simulation revenue in 2022.

2) ScanNav Anatomy PNB 
In 2021 we launched ScanNav Anatomy PNB in the UK, our first direct to market AI device in line with our two-pillar strategy of ‘on-machine’ 
and ‘off-machine’ software products to enable IU to be leader in the ultrasound AI market and grow revenue for the Clinical AI business. 
During the research phase to determine the market need we consulted with customers and healthcare professionals to determining the 
market need which concluded that just 5% of UK anaesthetists conducted almost 85% of all PNBs in the UK and that this was primarily due 
to a lack of confidence in ultrasound scanning. The development took longer than anticipated due to delays in obtaining FDA clearance, with 
regulatory studies being difficult to complete during the pandemic. However CE approval was granted in April 2021 and the product launched 
in the UK. FDA clearance in the UK is expected to contribute to revenue in 2022.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

28

Section 172 statement continued

Direct enablers who help us deliver

Our People

Shareholders

Suppliers

Our relationship with our suppliers is 
integral to the delivery of quality products 
to our customers and the operational 
success of our business

Material issues
•  Potential disruption of supply chain 

•  Competitiveness of component pricing

•  Research and development investment 
to resolve any component problems

•  Approval of large purchase order 
requests in line with requisition 
approval limits

How we engage
•  Strong, collaborative long-term 

relationships

•  Regular meetings and conversations 

with key suppliers to ensure 
uninterrupted supply chain

•  Annual key component tenders, as and 

when appropriate

•  Dialogue between the R&D and 

manufacturing teams to determine 
component issue solutions

Outcomes
•  Reasonable payment terms agreed

•  Minimise component price increases

•  Minimise component supply issues

Our people are our most valuable asset. We 
rely on their skills, experience, knowledge 
and diversity to deliver our vision

All Board decisions are made to promote 
the long-term success of the Group for 
the benefit of our shareholders

Our people are a highly skilled and technical 
workforce. They are an essential component 
of the Group’s ability to stay ahead in a 
fast-paced competitive environment

Material issues
•  Employee care and value

•  Retention and talent

•  Remuneration and benefits package

•  Diversity and inclusion

•  Workforce engagement

•  Day-to-day engagement from 

executive team 

How we engage
•  Weekly ‘all staff’ meeting with dialogue 
between the CEO and all employees 

•  Annual full UK employee engagement 
event (Covid-19 restrictions permitting)

•  Annual ‘all staff’ survey to understand 

our people’s views on all aspects of the 
company, including engagement, 
communication, environment and ESG 

•  A commitment to ensure that the 
training, career development and 
promotion of all employees is 
non-discriminatory

• 

IU Synergise management 
development programme introduced 
for all managers within the group

•  Regular employee updates to increase 
understanding of vision, strategy, 
performance and priorities 

Outcomes
• 

In 2021 the Board agreed the 
appointment of a new HR manager to

• 

improve employee engagement and 
feedback, refresh the employee 
appraisal system 

•  Review of staff benefits package 

•  As part of the new ESG working group, 
the Board recognised the importance 
to include three employee 
representatives

• 

Introduced a new all employee survey 
to understand the views of employees 
on culture, hybrid working and 
company communication. Feedback 
was reported to the Board. One 
outcome was the creation of a new 
post-Covid-19 hybrid working policy

We aim to attract shareholders who are 
interested in a long-term holding in our 
Company

Material issues
•  Our vision and strategy 

•  Financial performance

•  Path to profitability

•  Communicating our strategic priorities 

and ambition

•  Responsible business practices 

How we engage
•  A wide range of communication styles 
is used to suit investor and potential 
investor preferences to engage and 
enable them to gather the information 
they need, from in person meetings, 
videos, podcasts and hard copy 
material online

•  Regular meetings between members 
of the Board, the Company’s major 
shareholders, analysts and corporate 
broker

•  Participation in sector relevant investor 

conferences

•  Publishing Annual Report and 

Accounts to share with shareholders 
and the subsequent Annual General 
Meeting 

•  Results statements, trading updates 

and press releases

•  Videos and presentations on the 
company website from investor 
relations events

• 

Investor roadshows and technology 
open days 

•  Consultation with some of our larger 
shareholders on matters of executive 
benefits, to ensure that these are 
aligned with the expectations of the 
market

Outcomes
•  Two technology open days for new 
and existing investors in 2021 to 
demonstrate face to face all our 
products

•  Feedback received from investors 
following investor roadshows is 
reviewed by the Board

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

29

Partners

Includes our resellers who market and sell our products outside the 
UK and the US; as well as our clinical AI ultrasound vendor partners

Community & 
environment

Material issues
•  Effective, competitively priced products

•  Fair pricing and commercial terms.

•  Accessible training

•  Continuity of supply

How we engage
•  Clear and understandable product positioning and pricing

•  Meetings with vendors scheduled throughout the year with key 

decision makers and key implementors

•  Continual commercial dialogue with partners

•  Ongoing reseller product training

•  Regular meetings to review performance and feedback from 

the market

Outcomes
• 

Increased reseller access to product information

• 

In 2021 the Board decided to introduce new contracts with 
resellers in order to:

• 

revise our reseller pricing to incentive volume sales.

•  Formalise annual reviews and quarterly updates with each 

reseller

• 

In 2021, the Board decided to build a web-based training room in 
Cardiff head office, to be made available to all resellers on demand

Intelligent Ultrasound aims to build a profitable and sustainable 
business that delivers our vision of enabling ultrasound for everyone

Material issues
•  Minimise any negative impacts on the environment, including 

our carbon footprint

•  Have a positive influence on local and international communities

How we engage
•  Support local employment

•  Local community engagement

•  Local purchasing where possible

Outcomes
• 

In 2021, we created a new ESG Working Group consisting of 
five directors and three employees

•  Set up a local academic engagement group to increase 

employee and company engagement with universities in South 
Wales and Bristol

•  Set up a Cardiff schools engagement group to increase employee 

and company engagement in STEM ambassador roles

•  Enable local charity payroll giving for staff

•  See our first ESG report on page 18

Other stakeholders

The Group considers that the above groups are its key stakeholders. However, it is important that the Board engages with and considers 
the interest of any other stakeholders who may be interested in the Company’s business or otherwise be impacted by its decisions. The 
Board therefore considers any other stakeholders who may have a particular interest in a principal decision made by the Board.

Examples of other stakeholders include research partners, academic institutions, professional advisers, analysts, governance bodies, 
which include proxy advisors and regulators.

In addition to the methods of engagement as set out above, the interests of the Company’s stakeholders are considered by the Board 
through a combination of: 

• 

regular reports and presentations including operational reports and updates on investor relations, health and safety, employees and 
corporate governance; 

•  a strategy review attended by the Board that considered the purpose of the Group and its strategy, which is supported by a budget for 

the following year and a medium-term financial plan; 

• 

formal consideration of R&D projects; and the risk management process.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

30

Risk Management

Managing risk

The Board
Sets the tone on risk management culture

Reviews the principal risks and ensures they are aligned  
with overall goals and strategic objectives

Executive Committee 
Reviews and identifies risks across  
the business

Audit Committee
Reviews the effectiveness of risk management  
and internal control systems

Oversees execution and implementation  
of controls to manage risks

From 2022 will support the Board in the 
detailed monitoring of risk exposures

Organisational culture, policies and procedures

Risk monitoring and reporting

Visibility of Group risks is delivered through our risk register.

The Group identifies and assesses each risk based on the impact and likelihood, and then applies mitigating actions 
appropriately. Each risk is categorised by risk area and scaled, based on the likelihood of occurrence and severity of 
impact with risks graded as high, medium or low accordingly, with high risk areas receiving the most attention. The 
risk register is reviewed and updated to capture and identify any new risks and opportunities, and to improve the 
mitigating actions. Each of our risks are owned by an Executive Director.

The Executive committee is responsible for identifying, assessing and mitigating risk under the direction of the Board 
(in 2022 this will move under the direction of the Audit and Risk Committee). A detailed risk assessment is performed 
bi-annually as outlined below:

• 

 Review existing risks: A review of the existing significant risks by category to assess whether the risk profile has 
changed since the previous review

• 

Identify new risks: Discuss whether there are any new or emerging risks and agree the risk rating status 

• 

 Review the mitigating controls: Consider and review the processes currently in place and identify the controls, 
which mitigate each risk

•  Review and document mitigating controls: The mitigating controls and any further actions are documented

•  The significant risks are mapped onto a heat map and alongside the risk register presented to the Board

Change key

Increased

Decreased

No change

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements 31

Heat map
Our risk map identifies the key risks at 31 December 2021 and are those that we consider most impact our business 
model and delivery of our strategy. 

j

r
o
a
M

9

5

t
n
a
c
fi
n
g
S

i

i

k
s
R

i

d
e
t
i

m
L

i

w
o
L

12

13

4

14

3

11

8

1

6

7

2

10

High

Medium
Control

Low

Risk status

Risk category

Risk - a combination of impact and probability

Major residual risk

Strategic

Significant residual risk

Limited residual risk

Low residual risk

Commercial  
and operational

Legal and 
regulatory risks

Risk status change

Increased risk

Increased risk

No change

4

New AI products fail to obtain 
regulatory clearance or are 
significantly delayed 

5 Covid related lock-downs

1

3

Our Clinical AI products take 
longer than expected to build 
sales traction
Development of new products 
takes longer than anticipated

7

9

Supply chain interruptions

6 Negative perception of AI

Liquidity

10 Foreign exchange

Decreased risk

11 Economic and political conditions

2

We fail to sign additional OEM 
contracts 

12

Compliance with regulatory 
requirements for medical devices

8 Recruitment/retention of expertise 

13 Cyber security and GDPR

14 Legal and compliance

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

32

Risk Management continued

Risk

Impact

Mitigating actions

Change  
from 2020

Link to 
strategy

 Strategic risks

1. Our Clinical AI 
products take 
longer than 
expected to build 
sales traction

2. We fail to sign 
additional OEM 
contracts 

3. Development of 
new products takes 
longer than 
anticipated 

Slower than anticipated revenue growth.

Longer term AI revenue growth 
potentially reduced.

Growth in revenues will depend on 
our ability to continue to develop new 
products. These products may take 
longer to develop than planned, require 
more resources or may pose technical 
challenges that we cannot solve.

Regular meetings with strategic partner to 
assess market feedback and sales.

Dedicated salespeople in UK and US for direct 
to market product.

Quarterly review of sales forecasting.

Contractual discussions with OEMs.

Launched our own direct-to-market products.

New product development is a key focus 
area for the Group. In 2021 we have continued 
to strengthen the Clinical AI and simulation 
R&D teams.

 Commercial and operational risks

4. New AI products 
fail to obtain 
regulatory 
clearance or are 
significantly delayed

Failure to achieve regulatory approval of 
new products as well as changes in 
regulation may require us to reapply for 
approval or prevent the further use of 
those products. This could have an 
impact on sales.

We manage this risk by employing experienced 
professionals combined with external advisers 
who consult with regulatory authorities on the 
design of any products or programmes that may 
be required. 

The requirements of regulators continue 
to evolve and potentially may increase 
the regulatory burden for our products.

5. Covid related 
lock-downs

Impacting the effectiveness of external 
development/clinical trials where IU staff 
are unable to travel to oversee the trials.

Impacts ability to visit customers and 
attend exhibitions and conferences to 
demonstrate products. 

Use in-country specialist clinical trial consultancy 
to conduct trials on our behalf.

Installation of web demonstration rooms in both 
the UK and US offices.

6. Negative 
perception of AI by 
clinicians

Potential for negative perception and 
mistrust of AI products impacting 
acceptance of our products for use in 
the clinical environment.

On-going education of key opinion leaders on the 
performance and benefits of AI, supported by 
independently verified study data.

 
 
 
Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

33

Risk

Impact

Mitigating actions

Change  
from 2020

Link to 
strategy

7. Supply chain 
interruptions

Potential impact areas include:

(1) Increased price

(2) Increased lead times

8. Recruitment and 
retention of 
expertise 

(3)  Delays in shipments, including delays 

at the borders and ports

(4)  A general shortage of computer chips 
is impacting many businesses in the 
supply of electronic components

Recruitment of expertise in relation to 
machine-learning, industrial software 
development experience and product 
management continues to be highly 
competitive. 

Our ability to attract, develop and retain 
a diverse range of skilled people is 
critical if we are to compete and grow 
effectively. This is especially true in our 
key emerging markets where there can 
be a high level of competition for a 
limited talent pool.

9. Liquidity

Insufficient cash resources would require 
further fund raises.

Regular discussions with suppliers to ensure we 
are aware of current lead times and adjust order 
frequency or quantity to minimise risk of not 
having sufficient stock to complete orders.

Adjust order frequency or quantity to minimise 
risk of not having sufficient stock to complete 
orders.

The Group tries to ensure it can offer a 
competitive remuneration package.

We aim to retain our employees with:

•  Competitive salary and regular benchmarking

•  Provision of online training and development

•  Annual learning and development budgets

•  Flexible working arrangements

•  Wellness focus through Vitality private health 

insurance

•  Leadership workshops for all managers in the 

business

•  Annual performance reviews

Group cash balances are monitored on a 
monthly basis to ensure that the Group has 
sufficient funds to meet its current needs. 

As part of the annual budget process management 
review the balance of cash against planned 
R&D investment.

See the going concern statement on page 78.

Change key

Link to strategic pillars

Increased

Decreased

No change

Make ultrasound 
easier to learn

Make ultrasound  
simpler to use

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

 
 
 
34

Risk Management continued

Risk

Impact

Mitigating actions

Change  
from 2020

Link to 
strategy

10. Foreign 
exchange

11. Economic and 
political conditions

The Group has transactional currency 
exposures. The Group has a US 
subsidiary, it makes purchases of 
inventory and incurs other costs in 
foreign currencies and makes sales 
denominated in sterling, US dollars and 
euro.

We operate in multiple countries and are 
exposed to the effects of political and 
economic risks, changes in the 
regulatory and competitive landscape, 
trade policies, political upheaval, 
changes in government policy regarding 
healthcare priorities and budgets.

Fluctuations in exchange rates between the 
Group’s presentational currency of sterling and 
the currency of transactions could adversely 
impact the financial results. The US dollar costs 
incurred by the US subsidiary are hedged by 
revenues invoiced in US dollars. The Group has, 
when necessary, utilised foreign currency 
hedging instruments to mitigate the impact of 
unhedged currency fluctuations. 

The Group seeks to mitigate this risk by conducting 
operations on a broad geographic basis and by 
introducing new technologies into new market 
segments. Although this may reduce some risk 
but does not reduce the risk arising from 
geopolitical conditions.

 Legal and regulatory risks

12. Compliance  
with regulatory 
requirements for 
medical devices

Global regulatory bodies continue to 
increase their expectations of 
manufacturers and distributors of 
medical devices.

We need to comply with ongoing 
regulatory requirements,  
such as to maintain a quality 
management system (QMS), for which 
we are subject to periodic inspections 
(scheduled and unscheduled), 
restrictions in relation to promotional 
materials and post-market safety 
surveillance programmes.

Losing the ISO13485 accreditation would 
impact regulatory approval.

Our regulatory team is focused on the 
development of quality documentation for 
the QMS.

All documentation is stored and available should 
any resubmission be necessary, and our quality 
systems are designed to be sufficiently robust to 
withstand any necessary scrutiny.

We will take necessary actions to register products 
in any alternative UK-based system as and 
when required.

 
 
 
Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

35

Risk

Impact

Mitigating actions

Change  
from 2020

Link to 
strategy

13. Cyber security  
and GDPR

14. Legal and 
compliance

The Group stores anonymised patient 
scans for use in its software 
development projects and its cloud-
based simulation systems also store 
customer data on servers managed by a 
third party. 

We depend on a wide variety  
of information systems, programmes and 
technology to manage our business.

Our systems may be vulnerable to a 
cyber attack, malicious intrusion, data 
privacy breaches or other significant 
disruption. We have a layered security 
approach in place to prevent, detect and 
respond, to minimise the risk and 
disruption of any intrusions and to 
monitor our systems on an ongoing basis 
for current or potential threats.

Operating across the legal and compliance 
environment, which includes regulations 
on IP breaches, bribery, corruption and 
privacy, increases the risk of fines, 
penalties and reputational damage. 

Compliance with the General Data Protection 
Regulation (GDPR) is managed on an ongoing 
basis. Our third-party server manager, which is a 
major player in the information technology sector, 
has confirmed its compliance with GDPR.

IASME Governance certificate.

Continued security awareness activities including 
email communications and email phishing 
training activities.

Multi-factor authentication tools to reduce the 
likelihood of remote attacks.

Regular penetration testing and frequent 
vulnerability scanning undertaken. 

Endpoint protection and intrusion detection/
prevention implemented.

Legal and compliance policies, procedures, 
training and practices designed to prevent and 
detect violations of laws and regulations.

The Group continues to mitigate the risk of 
litigation by reviewing its IP position against all its 
competitors and conducting annual reviews of 
its freedom to operate in its target markets.

Change key

Link to strategic pillars

Increased

Decreased

No change

Make ultrasound 
easier to learn

Make ultrasound  
simpler to use

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

 
 
 
 
36

Key Performance Indicators

We assess Group operational and 
strategic progress against key 
performance indicators,  
or KPIs. These provide a clear direction  
as to how we should achieve our 
goals. Importantly, these measures are 
reflected in management targets and  
are aligned with our growth objectives 
and our purpose, strategy and vision

Financial

Revenue

£7.6m

2021: Increase of 47%

Research and development

£3.2m

2021: Increase of 19%

2021 

2020 

2019 

7.6

3.2 

5.2

5.9

2.6 

2.7 

2021

2020

2019

Revenue from sales of simulation  
and clinical AI products

Total R&D expenditure including capitalised 
development costs

Cash used in operations

£(1.8)m

Cash and cash equivalents

£5.0m

2021: Improvement of 20%

2021: Reduction of 43%

(1.8) 

(2.3) 

2021

2020

2019

2021 

2020 

2019 

(3.3) 

5.0

8.8

7.3

Cash used in operations

Cash resources available

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements 37

Operational

AI image database (million)

New products launched 

11m

3

2021: Increase of 4m

2021: 3 new products launched

2021 

2020 

2019 

4m

11m

7m

2021 

2020 

2019 

1

3

2

Total number of AI database  
ultrasound images

ScanNav Anatomy PNB (UK), NeedleTrainer 
and BabyWorks

AI partner agreements 

1

2021: Extension to GE  
partnership agreement signed

2021 

2020 

2019 

Signed partner agreements

1

1

1

Link to strategic pillars

Make ultrasound easier to learn

Make ultrasound simpler to use

Business Model 
see page 10

Risk Management 
see page 30

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

38

Financial Review

Helen Jones 
Chief Financial Officer

Summary financial performance

£m  
(unless otherwise stated)

Revenue

Gross profit

Gross profit margin (%)

Total R&D spend

Administrative expenses (excluding expensed R&D)

Operating loss

Loss after taxation

Net cash used in operating activities

Cash and cash equivalents 

A year 
of good 
recovery 

2021

7.60

4.66

61%

(3.23)

(7.02)

(4.33)

(3.61)

(1.82)

4.95

2020

5.17

3.17

61% 

(2.56)

(5.87)

(4.48)

(3.31)

(2.26)

8.77

Income statement

Clinical AI

Revenue

2021 was a year of strong sales growth despite the continued 
challenges of Covid-19 ongoing throughout the year. The Group 
achieved total revenue of £7.60m (2020: £5.17m) representing an 
increase of 47% on 2020. 

Simulation

Simulation revenue grew 43% year-on-year with growth across all 
regions and products compared to 2020 despite pandemic 
restrictions continuing for a second year. In particular, the UK market 
achieved its highest revenue to date, benefiting from NHS budgets 
for ultrasound simulation products. Performance by region has been 
discussed in more detail in the CEO review. 

£m

UK 

North America

Rest of the World

2021

2.51

2.73

2.15

7.39

2020

Change

1.42

2.32

1.41

5.15

76%

18%

53%

43%

Clinical AI revenue for 2021 was £0.21m (2020: £0.02m). Revenue 
growth was impacted by the pandemic that delayed new product 
roll-outs, reduced key opinion leader contact and resulted in almost 
no exhibitions or congress events taking place to demonstrate new 
products.

Gross profit

With higher revenue, gross profit increased to £4.66m (2020: £3.17m) 
achieving a stable average gross margin of 61% (2020: 61%).

Other income

Other income in 2020 included an advance of £0.12m relating to the 
US Government’s Paycheck Protection Program which allowed US 
small businesses to apply for forgivable loans to pay for their payroll 
and certain other costs during the pandemic. This support was not 
available to the US business in 2021. 

R&D expenditure credit (RDEC) of £0.08m was received in 2020 in 
relation to R&D projects which have been previously in receipt of 
grant funding which cannot be claimed under the R&D SME regime. 
RDEC was recognised as taxable income within other income. In 
2021 there were no grant funded R&D projects and as a result no 
RDEC was received. 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

39

Administrative expenses

£m

Selling and distribution 

Other general and 
administrative

Insurance

Other non-cash costs:

Share based payment 
charges

Depreciation and 
amortisation

2021

2.44

2.64

0.22

2020

1.75

2.51

0.12

Change

0.69

0.13

0.10

Total R&D spend increased in 2021 to £3.23m (2020: £2.56m). 
The Simulation R&D team was largely focused on completing the 
development of the new BabyWorks platform and HeartWorks 
3D Echo products as well as the new online E-learning modules. 
The Clinical AI R&D costs related to the ongoing development of 
the ScanNav Anatomy PNB product, in particular in relation to 
progressing the products through US FDA regulatory clearance 
as well as NeedleTrainer and the progression of other variants of 
ScanNav Assist. 

Taxation

0.53

0.15

0.38

1.19

7.02

1.34

5.87

(0.15)

1.15

The total tax credit in 2021 was £0.76m (2020: credit of £1.18m). The 
credit in 2021 relates to the estimated R&D tax credit claim for 2021 
R&D investment (2020: £0.7m with an additional £0.2m in respect of 
2019). The Group claims each year for R&D tax credits and, since it is 
loss-making, elects to surrender these tax credits for a cash rebate.

Administrative expenses, excluding expensed R&D costs, 
increased by 20% to £7.02m (2020: £5.87m) largely relating to 
higher performance-based remuneration expenses including 
sales commissions and bonuses, as well as higher distribution 
costs. Within other general and administrative expenses, the 
Group incurred higher IT related costs and recruitment fees as 
well as spend relating to additional finance support staff. Insurance 
costs, in particular for Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance, 
also increased in 2021. As a result of company wide LTIP share 
options issued in December 2020, share based payment charges 
increased to £0.53m in 2021 (2020: £0.15m).

Operating loss

The 47% improvement in gross profit in 2021 from £3.17m to 
£4.66m was, in the main, offset by a combination of no Covid-19 
grants from the US business in 2021 and a 20% increase in 
administrative expenses (detailed above) resulting in only a small 
improvement in the operating loss of £4.33m (2020: £4.48m).

Research and development (R&D) costs

£m

R&D 

– Expensed

– Capitalised

Simulation 

Clinical AI 

2021

2020

Change

1.96

1.27

3.23

1.15

2.08

1.99

0.57

2.56

0.87

1.69

(0.03)

0.70

0.67

0.28

0.39

Included within the tax credit of £1.18m in 2020 is a deferred tax 
credit of £0.3m (2021: nil), which represents the movement in the 
consolidated deferred tax liability as well as the recognition of an 
equivalent deferred tax asset in relation to the intangible fixed assets 
acquired on acquisition of Intelligent Ultrasound Limited (IUL) and 
Inventive Medical Limited (IML) representing the view that the 
intangible fixed assets have value which will lead to the accumulated 
trading losses being utilised in the future.

As at 31 December 2021, the Group had cumulative gross UK tax 
losses of approximately £17.3m (31 December 2020: £15.7m) for 
which no deferred tax asset has been recognised due to the 
uncertainty over the timing of future recoverability.

Balance sheet 
Net assets reduced to £9.72m as at 31 December 2021  
(31 December 2020: £12.69m) with lower total assets and 
higher total liabilities compared to the previous period.

The largest movement in current assets in the period related to 
cash and cash equivalents which decreased by £3.82m to £4.95m  
(31 December 2020: £8.77m). The Group has no other sources  
of finance/debt. 

Included within trade and other receivables of £2.65m are trade 
receivables of £1.89m (31 December 2020: £1.64m, increasing 
with higher trading in the last quarter of the period. Prepayments 
also increased by £0.37m from £0.18m to £0.50m arising from 
higher prepaid inventory and insurance balances. 

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

40

Financial Review continued

Inventory of £1.20m (31 December 2020: £1.05m) increased by 
£0.15m due to higher stockholding of certain key components as 
insurance against potential supply chain disruption, although this 
has not resulted in any increased obsolescence. Included within 
current assets is the R&D tax credit receivable of £0.96m  
(31 December 2020: £0.67m). This is £0.28m higher than as at  
31 December 2020 due to increased R&D costs in 2021; and the 
balance including £0.2m of the 2020 receivable, which was received 
post year end.

The decreases in current assets were offset by an increase in 
non-current assets of £0.68m. During the year £1.27m (2020: £0.57m) 
of development costs were capitalised within intangible assets. The 
criteria for capitalisation of development costs relating to ScanNav 
Anatomy PNB and NeedleTrainer were met during the period 
resulting in £0.46m of cost being capitalised in 2021. 

Current liabilities increased by £0.99m to £3.21m (31 December 2020: 
£2.22m), with higher trade payables of £1.35m (2020: £0.84m) and 
an increase in accruals for sales-based royalties payable, sales 
commissions and annual bonuses. Lease liabilities of £0.67m  
(31 December 2020: £0.77m), relating to offices, the manufacturing 
facility and company cars, reduced by £0.1m in 2021 with ongoing 
lease payments. The only new lease in the year related to the IUNA 
office lease renewal.

Total deferred income of £0.53m (31 December 2020: £0.42m), 
relating to extended warranties and technical support, increased 
with higher trading levels in the year. 

On 19 July 2021 following a receipt of a notice for the exercise  
of a share warrant certificate, the Company issued 1,256,693 new 
ordinary shares with a nominal value of £0.01 each at a subscription 
price of £0.01 per ordinary shares. The share warrant liability of 
£0.06m and the share warrant reserve of £0.13m were both 
extinguished directly through equity resulting in a new 
undistributable reserve of £0.17m. The fair value movements since 
initial recognition of the liability of £0.02m were transferred directly  
to retained earnings. 

The share based payment reserve increased by £0.53m to £1.37m 
(31 December 2020: £0.84m) in line with the share based payment 
charge for the period. 

Cash flow

The Group reported cash and cash equivalents of £4.95m at  
31 December 2021 (31 December 2020: £8.77m). 

Operating cash outflows before working capital movements of 
£2.61m (2020: £2.94m) improved by £0.33m in 2021 due to the 
higher trading levels in the year offset partly by increases in 
administrative expenses. Movements in working capital of £0.32m 
(2020: £0.31m) and higher R&D tax credits received in the year of 
£0.48m (2020: £0.36m) resulted in the net cash used in operating 
activities reducing to £1.82m (2020: £2.26m).

The net cash outflow arising from investing activities was £1.78m 
(2020: inflow of £4.58m) relating to capitalised R&D expenditure of 
£1.28m (2020: 0.57m) and £0.50m (2020: £0.37m) of purchases of 
property, plant and equipment. In the prior year, the cash inflow from 
investing activities was primarily impacted by the maturity of £5.50m 
of cash held on short term deposit.

The net cash outflow from financing activities was £0.22m  
(2020: £4.72m inflow), principally relating to lease payments and the 
receipt of gross proceeds of £0.01m in relation to shares issued as  
a result of the exercise of the share warrant certificate. The Group 
did not complete any fundraises during 2021. In 2020 the Company 
placed 49,400,000 newly issued shares of 1 pence each in the 
capital of the Company at a price of 10.5 pence per share resulting 
in a cash receipt of £5.19m with share issue costs of £0.39m. 

Going concern

In undertaking a going concern review, the Directors have reviewed 
three financial projections to 31 December 2024 based on the 
existing base budget; a flexed, more conservative version of the 
base budget; and a projection based on latest trading, all of which 
include estimates and assumptions regarding the product 
development projects, sales pipeline, future revenues and costs and 
timing and quantum of investments in the R&D programmes. 
Although the projection based on latest trading indicates that the 
Group will not need to raise money within the next 12 months, the 
flexed more conservative budget projections indicate that the Group 
would need to raise further funds within the next 12 months to 
support the Group’s growth plans in the absence of mitigating 
actions to control cash outflows such as deferring development 
expenditure. The flexed more conservative budget reflects a 20% 
revenue reduction on the existing base budget and therefore the 
Directors have concluded that this range of projections represents  
a material uncertainty related to events or conditions which may  
cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern and, therefore, it may be unable to realise its assets or 
discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business. Although 
there is no guarantee, the Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Group will be able to raise further financing to support its 
ongoing development and commercialisation activities and continue 
in operational existence for the next 12 months. On this basis, the 
Directors continue to apply the going concern basis in preparing 
these accounts. Accordingly, these accounts do not include any 
adjustments that would result from the going concern basis of 
preparation being inappropriate.

The Directors continue to explore additional sources of income and 
finance available to the Group to continue the development of its 
‘Classroom to Clinic’ business. 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

41

The Company is required by the Companies Act 2006 to include a Strategic Report in its Annual Report. The information that fulfils 
this requirement can be found from pages 1 to 40. 

The Strategic Report contains certain forward-looking statements. These statements are made by the Directors in good faith 
based on the information available to them up to the approval of this report and such statements should be treated with caution 
due to the inherent uncertainties, including both economic and business risk factors, underlying any such forward-looking 
information.

This Strategic Report was approved by the Board on 27 May 2022 and signed on its behalf by: 

Stuart Gall
Chief Executive Officer

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

42

Board of Directors

A Board with a broad range 
of skill and experience

Riccardo Pigliucci
Non-executive Chairman

Stuart Gall
Chief Executive Officer

Ian Whittaker
Chief Operating Officer

Appointed

2012

Experience

Riccardo has more than 30 years’ 
experience of guiding private and publicly 
listed high-technology companies and 
brings a wide range of experience in  
sales, marketing, operations, financing, 
acquisitions and public offerings within the 
medical sector. He is a former president, 
COO and board member of The Perkin 
Elmer Corporation, has served as CEO of 
Life Sciences International plc, chairman 
and CEO of Discovery Partners International 
and was on the board of several private and 
publicly listed companies including Dionex, 
a public company purchased by Thermo 
Fisher in December 2010, DVS Sciences, 
sold in January 2014 to Fluidigm and most 
recently Affymetrix, sold to Thermo Fisher in 
March 2016. Mr Pigliucci is a member of the 
UK Institute of Directors and has received a 
Professional Director Certification from the 
American College of Corporate Directors,  
a public company Director education and 
credentialing organisation.

Appointed

2009: part-time  2014: full-time

Experience

Stuart was a joint founder and executive 
director of Fusion IP plc, an AIM-listed 
university IP commercialisation company, 
before its purchase by IP Group plc for  
£103m in 2014. Stuart has a sales, 
marketing and general management 
background with over 25 years’ experience 
in starting small technology-led companies, 
fund raising for and managing SMEs and 
acting as an executive director for a number 
of public companies. Stuart is an engaging 
and motivational leader with an energetic 
management style and the drive and 
enthusiasm to ‘tell the Intelligent Ultrasound 
story’. He also leads an active life outside 
work, taking part in running and cycling 
races throughout the year. In addition to 
Fusion IP, he has previously worked at 
British Airways plc, The Promotions 
Partnership Limited, Anvil Limited and  
Toad Group plc. Up until June 2021 Stuart 
was an NED with i2L Ltd. Attends regular 
external courses during the year  
to keeps his skills up to date and relevant.

Appointed

2016

Experience

Ian was formerly the CEO of Inventive 
Medical Ltd (IML), the cardio ultrasound 
simulation company which was acquired by 
the Company in August 2016. Ian previously 
held general management roles at Hewlett 
Packard (HP) in the UK and EMEA, living in 
Grenoble and Geneva for five years. He was 
appointed to the HP UK Board in 2001, 
working as vice president for HP’s UK 
Consumer, Imaging and Printing business, 
where he was closely involved in the 
integration of Compaq into the HP group 
following its acquisition in 2002. Since 
leaving HP in 2005, Ian worked with 
blue-chip US technology companies and  
UK start-ups before being appointed CEO  
of IML in 2010 and COO of the Group in 
September 2016.

Independent

Yes

Committees

Nomination (CHAIR)

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

43

Nicholas Sleep
Chief Technology Officer

Helen Jones
Chief Financial Officer

Appointed

2012

Experience

Appointed

2020

Experience

Helen qualified as a Chartered Accountant 
with PwC and has a BS(Hons) in French 
and Spanish. Before joining the Board, 
Helen was part of the senior finance team at 
Amerisur Resources plc, an AIM-quoted oil 
and gas company and spent over ten years 
in various senior group finance and tax roles 
within Tata Steel Europe. These roles 
enabled her to acquire experience in 
corporate acquisitions, restructurings and 
disposals as well as debt and equity 
transactions, IFRS reporting and investor 
relations.

Before joining the Group, Nicholas ran his 
own consultancy specialising in providing 
management support to early stage 
companies. Nicholas is a software engineer 
by background but has also run companies 
in areas as diverse as stem cell therapeutics 
and biofuels. Previous companies include 
The Technology Partnership Limited, 
Magnecell Limited, Procognia Limited 
(where he negotiated out-licensing deals 
with Qiagen and GE) and The Automation 
Partnership Limited (where he grew a £0.4m 
annual turnover business to over £3m in 
two years). Nicholas has a BscMEng from 
The University of Manchester and an MBA 
from Cranfield School of Management. 
Running the Group’s Artificial Intelligence 
division, Nicholas takes an active part in  
the national debate on both the benefits of 
machine learning for medical imaging and 
the roadblocks that need to be removed for 
this potential to be realised. He keeps his 
skills current by interaction with colleagues, 
internal training courses and regular 
attendance of clinical symposia.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

44

Board of Directors continued

Non-executive Directors

Professor Nazar Amso
Non-executive Director

Professor Nick Avis
Non-executive Director

David Baynes
Non-executive Director

Appointed

2004

Experience

Appointed

2006

Experience

Appointed

2010

Experience

One of the founders of the Group, Nazar is 
an Emeritus Professor at Cardiff University. 
He has been a Fellow of the Royal College 
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists since 
1999 and Founding Fellow of the Higher 
Education Academy. Nazar has more than 
30 years’ experience in ultrasound 
education. At Cardiff University, Nazar 
pioneered integration of simulation into the 
ultrasound Masters’ programme curriculum. 
Nazar is passionate about introducing 
ultrasound simulation into the 
undergraduate curriculum and has 
continuously championed that cause 
around the world. Nazar has been and 
remains on a number of national and 
international committees defining and 
setting standards in ultrasound practise.  
He is a recognised expert in the field of 
ultrasound, Chairs the Board’s Medical 
Advisory Committee and brings a wealth of 
medical and training experience to the 
Board. 

Nick was the Scientific Director for the  
Group in its formative years. Nick’s research 
interests include: interactive and real-time 
visualisation and virtual/augmented reality 
systems; computational steering; application 
acceleration using many-core devices, 
remote rendering; interactive grid middleware 
and visual analytics of social media data. 
Nick has conducted many successful 
projects with both academic and industrial 
partners including Electronics Visualization 
Lab, University of Chicago, Wuhan Technical 
University and Toyota Motor Corporation 
(Japan). In 2013 he joined the University of 
Chester to establish the first new Faculty of 
Science and Engineering and in 2018 was 
appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research 
and Knowledge Transfer. In January 2021  
he left the University of Chester to head up 
Clean Power Ltd. Nick is a member of the 
Engineering and Physical Sciences (EPSRC) 
peer review college and was previously a lay 
member of the Postgraduate Medical 
Education and Training Board (PMETB) and 
the General Medical Council (GMC). Nick has 
completed the Entrepreneurial University 
Leadership Programme.

Independent

No

Committees

Remuneration

Nomination

Independent

No

Committees

Audit

Nomination

David is currently the joint CFO/COO of IP 
Group plc. David was the joint founder and 
CEO of Fusion IP plc before its purchase by 
IP Group plc for £103m in 2014. David has 
previously worked at Celsis International 
plc, Toad Group plc, which he co-founded, 
and Codemasters Limited.

David’s association with IP Group, which is 
a major shareholder in the Company, 
means that he does not qualify as an 
independent director, but he is a very 
welcome member of the Board who makes 
an invaluable contribution, bringing a wealth 
of corporate finance experience backed by 
clear strategic thinking and no shortage of 
common sense. 

Independent

No

Committees

Audit (CHAIR)

Remuneration

Nomination

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

45

Andrew Barker
Non-executive Director

Ingeborg Øie
Non-executive Director

Michèle Lesieur
Non-executive Director

Appointed

2017

Experience

Andrew was formerly Chair and acting  
CEO of Intelligent Ultrasound Limited (IUL). 
Andrew has over 30 years’ experience in 
senior management of technology and 
software businesses and in venture capital, 
having been involved in the early stages of 
internet computing with Sun Microsystems 
in Silicon Valley, later going on to help  
build Intel’s venture arm in the UK. He  
is an experienced NED and investor in  
early stage companies with disruptive 
technology. His portfolio has a med-tech 
focus and, in addition to his position as a 
Director of the Company, Andrew is the 
chairman of Oxford Brain Diagnostics  
and founder director of Brainomix, both 
University of Oxford medical imaging spin 
outs, and a Partner of Anchard Associates 
LLP. Andrew holds the Institute of Directors 
Certificate in Company Direction.

Appointed

19 May 2021

Experience

Ingeborg has outstanding financial, 
corporate governance and investor  
relations experience, having been a  
medical devices and healthcare services 
analyst at Goldman Sachs and Jefferies, 
CFO of next-generation surgical robotics 
company, CMR Surgical. Ingeborg is 
currently Chief Strategy Officer of digital 
health company Huma. She was also  
a non-executive Director of Georgia 
Healthcare Group, the largest healthcare 
services provider in Georgia, that prior to  
its acquisition by Georgia Capital Plc  
in 2020, was listed on the London 
Stock Exchange.

Appointed

20 Sept 2021

Experience

Michèle has significant experience in  
the medical imaging industry as well as 
corporate governance, and investor relations 
having been CEO of Philips France and 
General Manager of Philips Healthcare 
France and most recently CEO of Euronext 
listed Supersonic Imagine and Non-executive 
Director of EOS Imaging, a formerly listed 
software medtech company. Michèle 
remains chairman of the board of Intrasense, 
a listed software medtech company and 
Non-executive Director of Prodways Group,  
a listed 3D printing company.

Independent

Yes

Committees

Remuneration (CHAIR)

Nomination

Independent

Yes

Committees

Audit

Nomination

Independent

Yes

Committees

Remuneration

Audit

Nomination

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

46

Chairman’s Introduction 

Strong 
corporate 
governance 
to support 
our growth 

The Board continues to be committed to supporting high 
standards of corporate governance, and in this section of 
the Annual Report we set out our governance framework 
and describe the work we have done to ensure good 
corporate governance throughout the Company and its 
subsidiaries (the Group). As Chair, my primary responsibility 
is to lead the Board effectively and ensure that the Group’s 
corporate governance is appropriate and adopted across all 
our business activities. I am also responsible for ensuring 
our Board agenda ensures that we examine all the key 
operational and financial issues affecting our strategy.

Intelligent Ultrasound is traded on the AIM market of the 
London Stock Exchange. The Directors recognise the 
importance of sound corporate governance and are 
committed to maintaining high standards of corporate 
governance. As a Company whose shares are admitted to 
AIM, the Board has adopted and complies with the Quoted 
Companies Alliance’s Corporate Governance Code (the 
QCA Code) to the extent that they are appropriate for a 
company of the size and nature of the Group, in 
establishing its corporate governance policies.

Riccardo Pigliucci
Chair of the Board

27 May 2022

Riccardo Pigliucci 
Chairman

I am pleased to present the governance 
section of our Annual Report, which 
includes details about the Board and an 
explanation of our individual roles and 
responsibilities. I also summarise the 
activities of the Board and the Chair of 
each Board Committee discusses the 
activities of that Committee during  
the past year.

Changes to the Board in 2021 and 2022

•  We appointed two new highly 
experienced NEDs - Ingeborg 
Øie and Michèle Lesieur

• 

In compliance with ISS 
recommendation, I stepped 
down as Member of the 
Remuneration and Audit 
Committees

•  During 2022 and 2023 

we expect to continue our 
search for two new NEDs 
and start to reduce the 
overall size of the Board 

• 

In 2022 two current NEDs 
will retire from the Board

Corporate Governance Report

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

47

The QCA Code
The QCA Code sets out ten corporate governance principles and how to apply these principles, including a set of specific disclosures 
required in the Company’s Annual report and Accounts or on its website. 

The Company’s disclosures on its website (the Website Disclosures) can be found at:  
https://www.intelligentultrasound.com/aim-rule-26/

Statement of compliance with the QCA Corporate Governance Code

Principle

Commentary

1

Establishing a strategy 
and business model to 
promote long-term 
value for shareholders

The Group’s business model and strategy to deliver shareholder value in the 
medium to long-term is discussed in the Strategic Report. The section Risk 
Management includes a discussion of the key challenges facing the Group 
and how these will be addressed.

2 Seeking to understand 
and meet shareholder 
needs and expectations

3 Taking into account 

wider stakeholder and 
social responsibilities 
and their implications 
for long-term success

4 Embedding effective 
risk management, 
considering both 
opportunities and 
threats throughout the 
organisation

5 Maintaining the Board 
as a well-functioning, 
balanced team led by 
the Chairman

Further information

Business model: 
page 10.

Strategy: page 12.

Details of all 
shareholder 
communications  
are provided on  
our website.

See the 
Shareholders 
section of the 
Section 172 report 
on page 28.

See the Section  
172 report which 
details our key 
stakeholders.

See the Business 
model on page 10.

Responsibility for shareholder liaison rests principally with our CEO supported 
by our CFO and Chairman, alongside our advisers Cenkos and Walbrook PR. 
However, all our Board members attach a high degree of importance to 
providing shareholders with clear and transparent information on the Group’s 
activities, strategy and financial position. The Board holds meetings with 
institutional investors and other large shareholders following the release of the 
interim and financial results. We provide the market and shareholders with the 
results of AGM and GM voting via RNS and other communication channels 
including the Group’s website. We also participate from time-to-time in 
investor shows offering smaller and private investors insight into our business 
and also access to our management team.

The Board recognises its responsibility under UK law to promote the success of 
the Group for the benefit of its stakeholders and understands that the business 
has a responsibility towards its stakeholders including shareholders, employees, 
customers, partners, suppliers and to the local community. The Board sets 
standards across the Group and monitors these at regular board meetings of all 
Group companies. The Board is very conscious that the tone and culture it sets 
impacts all aspects of the Group and the way employees behave and operate. 
The Board encourages open dialogue and commitment to providing the best 
service possible to the Group’s stakeholder. The Company monitors feedback 
from all its stakeholders and the Board uses this to develop future policy and 
make decisions.

Our Executive Directors are closely involved in the day-to-day operations of 
the Group and report to the Board in detail at monthly intervals. Relevant 
papers are distributed to members of the Board in advance of Board and 
Committee meetings. Detailed financial reports of the Group’s financial 
performance are also provided on a regular basis.

Our Risk 
Management 
process is explained 
on page 30.

The Board reviews a matrix of the key risks which sets out how these are 
managed and mitigated through internal and other controls and processes. 

The Board comprises the Non-executive Chairman, four executive Directors 
and six Non-executive Directors. 

Biographies of the 
Directors: page 42.

The Board considers that Andrew Barker, Michèle Lesieur and Ingeborg Øie 
are independent Non-executive Directors. Currently no Senior Independent 
Director has been appointed, but the Board continues to evaluate a possible 
appointment. 

To ensure the Board functions well, the Board meets at least 11 times each 
year and it is the responsibility of the Company Secretary (supported by 
reports submitted by the Executive Directors) to provide the Board with high 
quality information in a timely manner to facilitate the proper assessment of 
the matters requiring a decision or insight.

We also hold an annual strategy meeting at which Directors’ attendance is 
mandatory. Each Non-executive Director continues to demonstrate that they 
have sufficient time to devote to our business.

To support the Board we have put in place Audit, Remuneration and 
Nomination Committees all of which have agreed formal terms of reference.

The Board has recently undertaken a review of its balance and composition to 
ensure it has a sufficiently wide range of skills and experience to enable the 
Group to pursue its strategic goals. 

Key corporate 
governance changes 
in the year: page 46.

See:  
Audit Committee 
report: page 52.

Nomination report: 
page 58.

Remuneration 
report: page 54.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

48

Corporate Governance Report continued

Principle

Commentary

6 Ensuring that between 

them the Directors have 
the necessary up-to-
date experience, skills 
and capabilities

The Board is satisfied that, between the Directors, it has an effective and 
appropriate balance of skills and experience, including in the areas of 
innovation, software development, the use of medical ultrasound, finance, 
marketing, international trade and corporate acquisitions. 

The Board includes some diversity in terms of the background and ethnicity of 
each Director and there are now three female Board members.

The Nomination Committee reviews the balance and composition of the Board 
and its Committees taking into account the skills and experience of each 
Board member.

Each new Director undertakes a formal induction programme to strengthen 
their understanding of the business.

Further information

Nomination 
Committee report: 
page 58.

Biographies of the 
Directors: page 42.

7

Evaluating Board 
performance based on 
clear and relevant 
objectives, seeking 
continuous 
improvement

The Chairman regularly assesses the performance of each of the Directors 
(including by way of one-to-one meetings) to ensure that they remain 
committed to the business, that their individual contributions are relevant and 
effective and where relevant, they have maintained their independence.

Key corporate 
governance changes 
in the year: page 46.

Agreed objectives and targets are set each year for the Executive Directors 
and performance measured against these metrics.

In 2020 an external formal Board evaluation process was performed led by an 
independent consultant. Further information on the changes to the Board as a 
result of the Board evaluation are discussed on page 46.

See  
Section 172: page 
26.

Business model: 
page 10.

8 Promoting a corporate 

culture based on 
ethical values and 
behaviours

The Board has an ethics policy which forms part of the Staff Handbook and a 
breach of the policy by any member of staff would result in disciplinary action 
to ensure that the Company’s ethical values and behaviours and recognised 
and respected. A summary of the policy is set out below:

It is the policy of Intelligent Ultrasound to conduct its business at all times and 
throughout the world with honesty and integrity and the Company will 
continue to be an ethical and responsible company. This policy is embedded 
within the Staff Handbook which is given to all Group employees when they 
join the business and is updated and refreshed regularly. The Company 
recognises it has a responsibility for all the actions of its employees in 
connection with the activities of the organisation. In view of this, the Company 
believes that the ethics demonstrated by our employees should give all 
customers, shareholders, suppliers, colleagues, business partners and 
regulators’ confidence that the Company operates in a way that avoids any 
suggestion of improper or personal motives or actions. Therefore, all 
employees are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the 
Company’s Code of Ethics at all times.

The Company has a clear set of values and purpose which are communicated 
to the organisation regularly by the Board. The Board principally monitors and 
assesses corporate culture through annual staff surveys.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

49

Principle

Commentary

9 Maintaining governance 

structures and 
processes that are fit 
for purpose and 
support good decision-
making by the Board

10 Communicating how 
the Company is 
governed and is 
performing by 
maintaining a dialogue 
with shareholders and 
other relevant 
stakeholders

The Board has established three Committees to discharge its roles and 
responsibilities: an Audit Committee, a Remuneration Committee and a 
Nomination Committee. Each Committee is governed by its own terms of 
reference which are created and reviewed by the Board to ensure they are 
appropriate to support the Board and to ensure good decision making.

The CEO is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of the Group, the 
management team and its employees. The CEO is responsible, in conjunction 
with the Executive Directors and senior management, for the execution of the 
Company’s strategy approved by the Board and the implementation of Board 
decisions.

We maintain a regular dialogue with our shareholders through investor 
presentations for our annual and interim reports, investor conferences, 
shareholder meetings, podcasts, technology open days and through our 
broker Cenkos. 

Further information

Audit Committee 
report: page 52.

Remuneration 
Committee report: 
page 54.

Nomination 
Committee report: 
page 58.

See the Section 172 
report which details 
our engagement 
with shareholders: 
page 26.

See: 
Audit Committee 
report: page 52.

Nomination 
Committee report: 
page 58.

Remuneration 
Committee report: 
page 54.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

50

Corporate Governance Report continued

Areas in which the Company’s governance structures and practices differ from the expectations  
set out by the QCA Code and proposed changes in governance arrangements

Understanding shareholder needs and expectations

The Company’s shareholders include a number of private individuals who have invested though VCT/EIS and other investment funds and it 
is not possible to engage with all elements of the Company’s shareholder base to gain an understanding of their needs and expectations. 
However, the Directors (principally the CEO and CFO) endeavour to meet with major shareholders and engage with others at presentations 
made to groups of shareholders. All Directors attend the Company’s Annual General Meeting with shareholders. Existing and potential 
investors are also invited to contact the Company about any investor relations matter by emailing intelligentultrasound@walbrookpr.com. 

That the Company Secretary should not be an Executive Director

The Board members have significant external Board Director experience and are aware that they may seek independent professional advice 
at the Company’s expense to discharge their duties. The roles of CFO and Company Secretary have been combined in the interests of 
efficiency and cost, however the separation of the roles is reviewed annually.

Requirement to have at least two independent non-executive Directors on the Board

For the period 1 January 2021 until the appointment of Ingeborg Øie on 19 May 2021, out of the five Non-executive Directors, including the 
Chairman, only Andrew Barker and Riccardo Pigliucci were considered independent.

•  Nazar Amso and Nick Avis are not considered independent on the grounds of tenure, both having served on the Board for over 15 years. 

•  David Baynes is not considered independent as he is COO/CFO of IP Group plc, which owns 21% of the Company’s issued share capital.

Although Nick Avis, Nazar Amso, Andrew Barker and Riccardo Pigliucci hold a small number of share options in the Company, these are 
not considered to affect their independence on the basis they are historical, one-off share options and the value is not significant relative to 
their respective personal financial position. The remaining unlapsed options vest after set time periods with no dependence on any 
Company performance measure. Two-thirds of the share options held by Nick Avis and Nazar Amso lapsed in March 2021. 

Following the appointment of Ingeborg Øie and Michèle Lesieur, both of whom are considered independent, the Board now has four 
independent Non-executive Directors. 

Review of the performance of the Board as a whole and committees

During the year a review of the effectiveness of the individual directors was performed. However, the QCA Code requires that a regular 
review for effectiveness is also carried out for the board as a whole and for individual committees. Whilst an external board evaluation was 
performed in 2020, there was no such review in 2021 for either the board or the individual committees. Such reviews will be performed 
within the next 12 months.

Key governance-related matters that have occurred during the year
The Board welcomed Ingeborg Øie as a Non-executive director of the Company on 19 May 2021. Ingeborg brings to the Company 
outstanding experience in the Financial world having been a medical devices and healthcare services analyst at Goldman Sachs and 
Jefferies, CFO of surgical robotics unicorn, CMR Surgical and is currently Chief Strategy Officer digital health company Huma. 

Michèle Lesieur also joined the Board on 20 September 2021. Michèle brings to the Company outstanding industry, corporate 
governance, and investor relations experience, having been CEO of Philips France and General Manager of Philips Healthcare France and 
most recently CEO of Euronext listed Supersonic Imagine, that was sold to Hologic in 2019 and Non-executive director of EOS Imaging, a 
listed software medtech company, sold to Nasdaq listed Alphatec Holdings, Inc in 2021. Michèle remains Chairman of the Board of 
Intra-sense, a listed software medtech company and Non-executive director of Prodways Group, a listed 3D printing company.

These appointments strengthen the number of independent NEDs on the Board to four. 

The role of the Board
The Board is responsible for leading and controlling the Company and has overall authority for the management and conduct of its 
business, strategy and development. The Board is also responsible for approving strategic plans, financial statements, acquisitions, major 
contracts and projects. The Board is focused on ensuring the long-term sustainable success of the Company and the continuous creation 
of value for its shareholders and stakeholders.

The Non-executive Directors communicate directly with Executive Directors between formal Board meetings as required.

The composition of the Board
The skills and experience of the Board are included in the Directors’ biographical details on pages 42 to 45. The Board currently comprises 
11 Directors, four of whom are Executive Directors, seven of whom are Non-executive Directors of which four are independent.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

51

Key activities for the Board in 2021

Strategy and risk 
management

•  Reviewed the Group risk register twice in the year

•  The whole Board participated in a two-day strategy meeting 

•  Approved the Group’s new ESG strategy including the creation of the ESG Working Group

Board appointments

•  Appointed Ingeborg Øie and Michèle Lesieur as Non-executive Directors

Financial performance

•  Approved the Company’s financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 and the review 

of the period ended 30 June 2021

•  Approved the 2022/23 budget

Corporate governance

•  Approved the expansion of the terms of reference of the Audit committee to include risk 

management from 2022 onwards

•  Approved amendments to the Terms of Reference for Remuneration and Nomination Committees

Board committees
The Board has established Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees with formally delegated duties and responsibilities. The Audit 
Committee comprises David Baynes as Chair along with Professor Nick Avis, Michèle Lesieur and Ingeborg Øie. The Remuneration 
Committee comprises Andrew Barker as Chair along with Nazar Amso, David Baynes and Michèle Lesieur. The Nomination Committee is 
chaired by Riccardo Pigliucci and also comprises all of the Non-executive Directors.

The Audit Committee has primary responsibility for monitoring the quality of internal controls and ensuring that the financial performance of 
the Group is properly measured and reported on. It receives and reviews reports from the Group’s management and external auditors 
relating to the interim and annual accounts, and accounting and internal control systems in use throughout the Group. The Audit Committee 
meets at least twice in each financial year and has unrestricted access to the Group’s external auditors.

The Remuneration Committee reviews the performance of the Executive Directors and makes recommendations to the Board on matters 
relating to their remuneration and terms of service. The Remuneration Committee also makes recommendations to the Board on proposals 
for the granting of share options and other equity incentives pursuant to the employee share option schemes or equity incentive plans in 
operation from time to time. The Remuneration Committee meets at least twice each year to set targets for the Executive Board and review 
their remuneration.

In 2020, the Company established a Nomination Committee to lead its process for appointments and oversee the development of a diverse 
pipeline for succession. 

The Executive Directors are employed full-time by the Group. 

Nick Avis, Andrew Barker, Ingeborg Øie and Michèle Lesieur are contracted to work for the Company for 20 days per annum and David 
Baynes and Nazar Amso are contracted to work for the Company for 12 days per annum. 

Attendance at Board and Committee meetings during 2021

Board 
meeting

6

RP

Board  
call

6

RP

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

4/4

2/2

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

4/4

2/2

Audit 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Nomination 
Committee

3

DB

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

3

3

3

2/2

3

AB

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

3

3

n/a

3

n/a

1/1

2

RP

2

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

2

2

2

2

0/0

0/0

Number of meetings in 2021

Chairperson

Riccardo Pigliucci (RP)

Stuart Gall

Helen Jones

Ian Whittaker

Nicholas Sleep

Nazar Amso

Andrew Barker (AB)

Nick Avis

David Baynes (DB)

Ingeborg Øie

Michèle Lesieur

Riccardo Pigliucci
Chair of the Board

27 May 2022

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

52

Audit Committee Report

David Baynes
Chair of the Audit Committee

Composition of the Committee

•  David Baynes – Chair

•  Nick Avis 

• 

Ingeborg Øie – appointed  
19 May 2021

•  Michèle Lesieur – appointed 

20 September 2021 

•  Riccardo Pigliucci and Andrew 
Barker stepped down from the 
Committee on 22 June 2021

Dear Shareholder,

On behalf of the Audit Committee, I am 
pleased to present the report of the Audit 
Committee for the year end 31 December 
2021 and in the period up to the approval of 
the 2021 Annual Report and Accounts 
(together, the ‘period’).

Role of the Committee
The Audit Committee oversees the 
Company’s financial reporting process on 
behalf of the Board of Directors. The 
Company’s management has the primary 
responsibility for the financial statements, for 
maintaining effective internal control over 
financial reporting, and for assessing the 
effectiveness of internal control over financial 
reporting. In fulfilling its oversight 
responsibilities, the Committee reviewed and 
discussed the audited consolidated financial 
statements included in this Annual Report 
with management and the Group’s external 
auditor, including a discussion of the quality, 
not just the acceptability, of the accounting 
principles; the reasonableness of significant 
judgments; and the clarity of disclosures in 
the financial statements.

During the period, the role of the Audit 
Committee was extended to include 
oversight of the Group’s risk management 
framework and mitigating actions and will be 
known as the Audit and Risk Committee 
going forwards. 

The Committee also has responsibility  
for oversight of the annual audit and its 
effectiveness, including the objectivity and 
independence of the external auditor.

The Committee is governed by its Terms of 
Reference, a copy of which can be found on 
the Company’s website at: 

https://www.intelligentultrasound.com/
wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Audit-
Committee-Terms-of-Reference-1.pdf

The Group’s external auditor
The Audit Committee monitors the 
relationship with the external auditor, Deloitte 
LLP, to ensure that auditor independence and 
objectivity are maintained. Deloitte were 
appointed as the Group’s auditor in 2020 
following a competitive tender. Going forward 
the Committee will continue to monitor the 
performance of the auditor and will keep 
under review the need for external tender if 
required. A summary of remuneration paid to 
the external auditor is provided in note 7 of 
the financial statements. Having reviewed the 
auditor’s independence and performance, the 
Audit Committee has concluded that these 
are effective and recommends that Deloitte 
LLP be re-appointed for an additional year as 
the Group’s auditor at the 2022 AGM.

Internal audit
The Group does not have an internal audit 
function, as the Board does not consider the 
current scale and complexity of operations 
warrant such a function. However, the Board 
will keep this under review, with a view to 
creating an internal audit function when it is 
warranted. 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

53

Member

David Baynes (Chair)

Nick Avis

Ingeborg Øie

Michèle Lesieur

Committee member since

14 August 2014

14 August 2014

19 May 2021

20 September 2021

Attendance at full meetings held 
since publication of the prior year 
Report and Accounts

3

3

3

2/2

Audit Committee meetings
In addition to numerous meetings during 
the year the Committee has held two full 
meetings since the publication of the 2020 
Report and Accounts. In addition to this, 
audit-related matters are discussed by the 
full Board at most meetings. 

The membership of the Audit Committee, 
together with appointment dates and 
attendance at meetings is set out in 
the table. 

The meetings of the Committee are 
designed to facilitate and encourage 
communication among the Committee, 
the Company, and the external auditor. 
The Committee discussed with the external 
auditor the overall scope and plans for their 
audit and the key audit risks identified at the 
audit planning stage at a meeting held in 
December 2021. The Committee 
subsequently met with the external auditor 
on 21 April 2022 to discuss the Preliminary 
announcement, results of their audit to that 
date, their evaluation of the Company’s 
internal control and the overall quality of the 
Company’s financial reporting.

The Committee also reviewed and discussed 
together with management and the external 
auditor the effectiveness of the Group’s 
internal control over financial reporting and 
the auditor’s audit of internal control over 
financial reporting. Both management and 
the external auditors acknowledged the 
significant overall improvement in the 
monitoring controls and processes in 2021 
since the prior year. Although noted that a 
review of controls in relation to the 
impairment review process and assessment 
of going concern will take place in 2022 in 
response to the findings identified by Deloitte 
(Audit report page 63).

The Chair of the Audit Committee also had 
several conversations with the partner 
responsible for the 2021 audit during the 
planning stage and during the audit. These 
included discussions about planning and 
ensuring the importance of the Group 
achieving its proposed reporting dates. 
Fees were also discussed on several 
occasions as were changes in staff 
allocated to the assignment. 

Financial reporting
The Committee has reviewed, with both 
management and the external auditor, where 
the more significant judgements have been 
made and the quality and appropriateness of 
the Group’s accounting policies. 

i) Going concern assessment

As part of the process of preparing the 
Going Concern statement, a thorough review 
is carried out on the Group’s budgets and 
cashflow projections, taking account of 
possible changes in trading performance 
under three scenarios:

•  existing base budget; 

•  a flexed, more conservative version  

of the base budget; and 

•  a projection based on latest trading

All of the above forecasts include estimates 
and assumptions regarding the product 
development projects, sales pipeline, future 
revenues and costs and timing and quantum 
of investments in the R&D programmes. 
Following detailed review, the Committee 
agreed that the range of projections represents 
a material uncertainty regarding the likelihood 
of the Company needing to raise money in the 
next 12 months. The Board has adopted the 
going concern basis in preparing these 
financial statements on the basis that there is a 
reasonable expectation that the Group will be 
able to raise further financing if required.

ii) Intangible asset impairment

The Committee considered the carrying 
value of intangible assets in the 2021 
financial statements together with the 
recoverability of the carrying value through 
future cash flows. For the purposes of its 
annual impairment testing process, the 
Group assesses the recoverable amount of 
each of the Group’s cash generating units 
(CGUs) based on the calculation of the 
value-in-use. The Committee reviewed the 
impairment methodology and specifically 
assessed the key assumptions used to 
estimate the recoverable amount of each 
CGU, including future cash flows and 
discount rates applied in the calculation of 
the value-in-use, along with the sensitivity 
analysis performed.

iii) Classification and valuation of 
intangible assets

The Committee considered the 
appropriateness of the capitalisation of the 
Clinical AI development costs in relation to 
ScanNav Anatomy PNB and NeedleTrainer 
and were satisfied that these costs had met 
the criteria set out in IAS 38.

Approval of the financial 
statements
The Audit Committee has concluded that it 
has acted in accordance with its Terms of 
Reference. At the meeting on 19 May 2022 
the Audit Committee considered each 
section of the Annual Report and the 
document as a whole, as proposed by the 
Company and subsequent to a review of 
the final draft of the report and accounts; 
it reached the conclusion and advised the 
Board that it considered the 2021 Annual 
Report and Accounts to be fair, balanced 
and understandable and, combined with 
the QCA Code Website Disclosures, 
provided the information necessary to 
assess the Group’s business plan 
and strategy.

It is proposed that I will stand down from  
the Chair role at that time and pass the 
responsibility on to Ingeborg Øie, who is very 
well qualified to adopt the role and will be 
taking on the responsibility after that time.

Approval

This report was reviewed and approved by 
the Audit Committee and signed on its 
behalf by:

David Baynes
Chair of the Audit Committee

27 May 2022

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

 
54

Remuneration Committee Report

Andrew Barker
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Composition of the Committee

•  Andrew Barker - Chair

•  Nazar Amso

•  David Baynes

•  Michèle Lesieur - appointed 20 

September 2021

•  Nick Avis and Riccardo Pigliucci 

stepped down from the Committee 
on 22 June 2021

Dear Shareholder,

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to 
present the report of the Remuneration 
Committee for the year ended  
31 December 2021. 

This report sets out the Company’s 
remuneration practices and how they 
align the interests of the executive team 
with those of shareholders and also outlines 
the Executive Directors’ Annual Incentive 
Scheme for the current year which is 
designed to underpin the Company’s 
objective to provide shareholder value. 

Membership
Although only members of the Committee 
have the right to attend meetings, other 
individuals, such as external advisers, the 
Chair of the Board and the CEO, may be 
invited to attend for all or part of any 
meeting.

Role of the Committee
The Committee meets at least two times per 
year and is responsible for determining the 
policy for Directors’ remuneration and setting 
remuneration for the Company’s Chair and 
Executive Directors, and other senior 
management who report to the CEO. The 
objective of the remuneration policy is to 
ensure that the executive team are provided 
with appropriate incentive to encourage 
enhanced performance and in a fair and 
responsible manner, are rewarded for their 
individual contributions to the success of the 
Group. We also determine the measures and 
targets for the Annual Incentive Scheme for 
the Executive Directors as well as long-term 
incentive plans and awards. 

Terms of Reference
The Terms of Reference of the  
Remuneration Committee are available  
on the Company’s website at: 

https://www.intelligentultrasound.com/
wp-content/uploads/2020/12/
Remuneration-Committee-Terms-of-
Reference-1.pdf

Basis of preparation
As an AIM-quoted Company, the information 
provided in the report is disclosed to fulfil the 
requirements of AIM Rule 19. The Company 
is not required to comply with Schedule 8 of 
the Large and Medium-sized Companies and 
Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 
2008; however, it is committed to achieving 
high governance standards. 

The information is unaudited except where 
stated.

Director’s remuneration
The Committee aims to ensure that the total 
remuneration for Executive Directors is 
designed to: 

•  be competitive and to attract, retain and 
motivate executives of a high calibre

•  be appropriate to the scale of their 

responsibility

•  provide for a significant element of at-risk 

performance-related pay 

•  ensure Directors identify with the interests 

of shareholders and

•  are fairly remunerated in the light of their 
own personal performance and their 
contribution to the Group’s overall 
performance

The remuneration package for Executive 
Directors comprises:

•  basic salary: Salary and benefits are 

reviewed annually by the Committee and 
benchmarked against comparable roles 
in the sector and general market 
conditions.

•  pension allowance: Each Executive 
Director receives a pension allowance 
equivalent to 10% of their basic salary.

•  performance-related pay: The Annual 
Incentive Scheme is payable to each 
Executive Director according to the 
achievement of a number of measurable 
objectives and growth targets. 

•  share-based incentives: The Company 

operates a share option scheme for 
Executive Directors and permanent 
employees. Share options are normally 
granted to Directors on appointment and 
to employees after one year’s service. 

•  Other benefits in kind including life 
insurance and health insurance.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

55

Directors’ service contracts
All Executive Directors are employed under service contracts. The services of all Executive Directors may be terminated by the Company or 
individual giving six months’ notice.

Directors remuneration (audited)
The Directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 December 2021 was:

Salaries  
& fees 
£’000

Accrued 
bonus 
£’000

Pension 
£’000

Travel & car 
allowance
£’000

Other 
benefits 
£’000

Total 
2021 
£’000

Total 
2020 
£’000

Nazar Amso

Nick Avis

Andrew Barker

David Baynes

Stuart Gall

Helen Jones

Michèle Lesieur2

Ingeborg Øie1

Riccardo Pigliucci

Nicholas Sleep

Ian Whittaker

Total

1  Appointed 19 May 2021

2  Appointed 20 September 2021

22

21

25

20

195

120

7

16

56

185

147

814

–

–

–

–

44

28

–

–

–

37

43

152

–

–

–

–

19

1

–

–

–

18

15

53

–

–

–

–

14

–

–

–

–

–

–

14

–

–

–

–

2

1

–

–

–

–

5

8

22

21

25

20

274

150

7

16

56

240

210

1,041

20

20

20

20

251

145

–

–

54

228

178

937

David Baynes holds an interest in IP Group plc, the largest shareholder of the Company. Fees of £20,000 (2020: £20,000) were paid to IP 
Group plc in respect of the services provided by Mr Baynes.

Basic salary

Salary and benefits are reviewed annually by the Committee and benchmarked against comparable roles in the sector and general market 
conditions.

Pensions

Each Executive Director receives a pension allowance equivalent to 10% of their basic salary.

Performance-related pay

i)  2021 Annual Incentive Scheme

Each Executive Director can earn up to a maximum of 30% of their base salary on the successful achievement of the following: 

•  10% based on hitting Group revenue, cash, and operations, targets; and 

•  20% based on the achievement of individual performance-based targets for each Director.

The Committee may exercise its discretion over up to half of the potential scheme payment.

ii)  2022 Annual Incentive Scheme 

The Chief Executive can earn up to a maximum of 35% of his base salary and each other Executive Director can earn up to a maximum of 
30% of their base salary on the successful achievement of Group revenue and operations targets, and on the achievement of individual 
performance-based targets.

The Committee may exercise its discretion over up to half of the potential scheme payment.

Key performance indicators
see page 36

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

56

Remuneration Committee Report continued

Directors and their interests
The Directors’ interests in the shares of the Company (audited) are detailed below:

Nazar Amso

Stuart Gall

Ian Whittaker

Nicholas Sleep

Andrew Barker

Nick Avis

Riccardo Pigliucci

Helen Jones

David Baynes

Ingeborg Øie

Michèle Lesieur

At 31 December 
2021 
No.

1,134,000

923,474

451,172

421,709

317,992

272,619

117,648

95,238

–

–

–

% of issued 
Ordinary share 
capital 

0.42%

0.34%

0.17%

0.16%

0.12%

0.10%

0.04%

0.04%

–

–

–

At 31 December 
2020 
No.

1,134,000

923,474

451,172

421,709

317,992

272,619

117,648

95,238

–

–

–

% of issued 
Ordinary share 
capital

0.42%

0.34%

0.17%

0.16%

0.12%

0.10%

0.04%

0.04%

–

–

–

In addition to the above, Professor Nazar Amso is the beneficial holder of 180,000 shares representing 0.07% (2020: 0.07%) of the issued 
share capital through The Amso Trust and Professor Amso’s spouse holds 120,000 shares representing 0.04% (2020: 0.04%) of the issued 
share capital.

Parties related to Professor Nick Avis hold 141,177 shares representing 0.05% (2020: 0.05%) of the issued share capital. 

Directors’ interests in share options
At 31 December 2021 the following options had been granted to the Directors and remain current and unexercised:

Option  

At 1 January  

Executive Directors

exercise price
(pence)

Stuart Gall

Stuart Gall

Stuart Gall

Stuart Gall

Nicholas Sleep

Nicholas Sleep

Nicholas Sleep

Nicholas Sleep

Ian Whittaker

Ian Whittaker

Ian Whittaker

Helen Jones

Helen Jones

Non–executive Directors

Nazar Amso

Nazar Amso

Nazar Amso

Nick Avis

Nick Avis

Andrew Barker

Riccardo Pigliucci

Riccardo Pigliucci

19.00

42.50

11.25

15.00

19.00

42.50

11.25

15.00

20.50

11.25

15.00

12.00

15.00

16.51

19.00

42.50

16.51

42.50

16.22

19.00

42.50

2021
No.

268,000

324,000

2,437,000

1,087,498

268,000

260,000

1,605,000

1,033,711

200,000

1,000,000

824,790

1,000,000

662,266

84,000

80,000

150,000

84,000

40,000

135,000

216,000

80,000

Lapsed  
during year 
No.

 At 31 December  
2021 
No.

–

–

–

–

 –

 –

 –

 –

–

–

 –

 –

 –

268,000

324,000

2,437,000

1,087,498

268,000

260,000

1,605,000

1,033,711

200,000

1,000,000

824,790

1,000,000

662,266

Expiry date

1 May 2023

30 June 2024

29 May 2028

21 Dec 2030

1 May 2023

30 June 2024

29 May 2028

21 Dec 2030

4 April 2027

29 May 2028

21 Dec 2030

24 April 2030

21 Dec 2030

(84,000)

 –

16 March 2021

 –

 –

80,000

150,000

1 May 2023

30 June 2024

(84,000)

 –

16 March 2021

 –

 –

 –

 –

40,000

135,000

216,000

80,000

30 June 2024

6 October 2027

1 May 2023

30 June 2024

The vesting conditions are detailed in note 26 of the financial statements. 

11,839,265

(168,000)

11,671,265

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

57

The Chair of the Committee will be available 
at the 2022 AGM to answer any questions 
about the Group’s senior management 
remuneration policies and practices. 

Approval
This report was reviewed and approved by 
the Remuneration Committee and signed on 
its behalf by:

Andrew Barker
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

27 May 2022

Non-executive Directors
The salary of the Chair is determined by the 
Committee excluding the Chair and the 
salaries of the Non-executive Directors are 
determined by the Board excluding the 
Non-executive Directors following a 
recommendation from the Chair of the 
Remuneration Committee, after consultation 
with independent advisers and published 
data. The Non-executive Directors, other 
than David Baynes, each receive fees of 
£25,000 per annum, with an additional 
£5,000 per annum for each committee 
chaired. The Remuneration Committee plans 
to recommend that these fees are kept in 
line with those of comparable similar size 
companies in the sector, and general market 
conditions. Prior to 2018, the Non-executive 
Directors, other than David Baynes, have 
been awarded a small number of share 
options in previous years and no further 
options will be issued. 

M&A bonus arrangement
The Remuneration Committee provides 
incentive for senior management to realise 
reward for growth with the Long-term 
Incentive Plan, through share price 
appreciation of awarded stock options, 
however, the Remuneration Committee also 
recognises the need to provide management 
with an incentive in the form of a cash award 
that will be payable upon the completion of a 
potential exit event through an M&A Bonus. 
To provide a dual incentive structure, the 
M&A Bonus is underpinned by the Long-
term Incentive Option which can be 
exercised in accordance with its own terms. 

The maximum amount of cash payable to 
each participant under the M&A Bonus will 
be based on a multiple of 50% of each 
Executive Director’s remuneration if the price 
per share to be paid by an acquirer is £0.18 
or more and will increase with any increase 
in the price per share paid by an acquirer 
above £0.18. The total M&A bonus pool for 
all participants is capped at 2.9% of the 
eventual sale price of the Company. The 
actual amount of cash payable under the 
M&A Bonus will be calculated after 
deduction of any gain in the Long-Term 
Incentive Option.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

58

Nomination Committee Report

Riccardo Pigliucci 
Chair of the Nomination Committee

Composition of the Committee
•  Riccardo Pigliucci - Chair

•  Andrew Barker

•  Nick Avis 

•  David Baynes

•  Nazar Amso

• 

Ingeborg Øie – appointed  
19 May 2021

•  Michèle Lesieur – appointed  

20 September 2021

Dear Shareholder,

During 2021, the Nomination Committee 
focused on strengthening the Board with  
the appointment of two new independent 
Non-executive Directors who bring 
considerable experience across a number of 
relevant industries that reflect the Group’s 
broad long-term ambitions.

Membership
Although only members of the Committee 
have the right to attend meetings, other 
individuals, such as external advisers and 
the CEO, may be invited to attend all or part 
of any meeting. Currently, all Non-executive 
Directors are members of the Nomination 
Committee. Ingeborg Øie and Michèle 
Lesieur joined the Committee on 
appointment to the Board.

Responsibilities
The main responsibilities are set out in its 
terms of reference, which are available on 
the Group’s website:

https://www.intelligentultrasound.com/
wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ICSA-
nomination-committee-terms-of-reference-
JAN201.pdf

The terms of reference for the Committee 
are based on the ICSA guidelines.

The purpose of the Committee is to ensure 
an orderly succession of candidates for 
Executive Directors and Non-executive 
Directors (NEDs), and to advise the Board on 
matters of corporate governance relating to 
the appointment and re-appointment of 
Directors. In fulfilling this purpose, the 
Committee is required to:

• 

identify, evaluate and nominate 
candidates to fill Board vacancies 

•  make recommendations to the Board 
regarding the annual re-election of 
Directors

•  ensure an appropriate succession plan is 
in place for the Chair and all Directors

•  ensure an orderly succession plan is in 

place for senior executives and

•  advise on matters of governance such as 

Board diversity

Diversity
The Committee recognises the importance 
of a diverse Board and is mindful of the issue 
of Board diversity in its succession plans. It 
also acknowledges the importance of 
ensuring that the selection of Directors 
should be based upon a range of factors 
including skills, experience, qualifications, 
background and values. Accordingly, all 
vacancies are filled taking into account these 
wider factors and are not based to a 
disproportionate extent on any one factor 
such as gender or ethnicity. 

Principal activities during the year
The Committee met formally by video 
conference twice during the year. The 
Committee focused on its role to search 
for and appoint new independent NEDs. 
The Nomination Committee recognised that, 
during the past few years, the Company has 
significantly expanded its portfolio of product 
offerings and the way it takes them to market. 
From an original focus on the ‘classroom’ by 
teaching ultrasound skills with simulation 
products sold directly to end users, to the 
entry into the ‘regulated clinic’ market with 
AI-driven solutions sometimes integrated 
into the ultrasound equipment itself and 
sold through agreements with large 
Original Equipment Manufacturers 
(OEM) such as GE. 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

59

In response to these developments, 
the Nomination Committee developed 
a set of requirements for new NEDs who 
would ultimately provide the skill mix 
required to assist the Company in 
this expanded strategy.

In 2020, an external consultant was appointed 
as adviser to the Board to conduct the search 
for these appointments. Subsequently, on 
19 May 2021, Ingeborg Øie was appointed 
to the Board to serve as an Independent 
NED and member of the Audit and 
Nomination Committees. 

Ingeborg brings to the Board outstanding 
financial, corporate governance and investor 
relations experience, having been a medical 
devices and healthcare services analyst at 
Goldman Sachs and Jefferies, CFO of 
next-generation surgical robotics company 
CMR Surgical and currently Chief Strategy 
Officer at Huma.

Michèle remains chairman of the board 
of Intrasense, a listed software medtech 
company and NED of Prodways Group, 
a listed 3D printing company.

Currently the Committee is conducting  
a search for an additional independent  
NED to be appointed in 2022.

Following these appointments, and a period 
of overlap, it is expected that several current 
Directors will not stand for re-election at the 
2022 AGM in order to reduce the size of 
the Board.

Induction of new directors
New directors are taken through a 
comprehensive induction programme which 
is tailored to their individual needs and 
understanding of the technologies, markets 
and issues facing the Company. 

On 20 September 2021, Michèle Lesieur was 
appointed to the Board to serve as an 
independent NED and member of the Audit, 
Remuneration and Nomination Committees. 

Riccardo Pigliucci 
Chair of the Nomination Committee

27 May 2022

Michèle brings to the Board outstanding 
experience in the medical imaging industry 
as well as corporate governance, and 
investor relations having been CEO of Philips 
France and general manager of Philips 
Healthcare France and most recently CEO of 
Euronext listed Supersonic Imagine and NED 
of EOS Imaging.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

60

Directors’ Report

The Directors present 
their report and audited 
consolidated financial 
statements of Intelligent 
Ultrasound Group plc (the 
Company or the Group) 
for the year ended 31 
December 2021.

General Information
The Company is incorporated as a public 
limited company and is registered in England 
and Wales with registered number 09028611. 
Its registered office is at Floor 6A Hodge 
House, 114-116 St Mary Street, Cardiff, 
CF10 1DY.

The Group’s principal activities are the 
development, marketing and distribution  
of medical training simulators and the 
development, distribution and licence  
of clinical ultrasound AI-based software. 

Information included  
in the Strategic Report
The Directors have chosen to set out the 
following information in the Strategic Report 
which would otherwise be required to be 
contained in the Directors’ Report:

financial review

•  performance of the business
• 
•  principal risks and uncertainties
important events which have  
• 
occurred post period end and
likely future developments

• 

Dividends
The Directors do not recommend the 
payment of a dividend (2020: £nil). 

Research and development
The Group’s research and development 
activity plays an important role in the 
operational and financial success of the 
business. The Group spent £3.23m (2020: 
£2.56m) on research and development 
activities of which £1.96m (2020: £1.99m) 
was expensed and £1.27m (2020: £0.57m) 
was capitalised as an intangible asset.

Going concern
In undertaking a going concern review, the 
Directors have reviewed three financial 
projections to 31 December 2024 based on 
the existing base budget; a flexed, more 
conservative version of the base budget; and 
a projection based on latest trading, all of 
which include estimates and assumptions 
regarding the product development projects, 
sales pipeline, future revenues and costs and 
timing and quantum of investments in the 
R&D programmes. Although the projection 
based on latest trading indicates that the 
Group will not need to raise money within the 
next 12 months, the flexed more conservative 
budget projections indicate that the Group 
would need to raise further funds within the 
next 12 months to support the Group’s 
growth plans in the absence of mitigating 
actions to control cash outflows such as 
deferring development expenditure. 

The flexed more conservative budget reflects 
a 20% revenue reduction on the existing 
base budget and therefore the Directors 
have concluded that this range of projections 
represents a material uncertainty related to 
events or conditions which may cast significant 

doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a 
going concern and, therefore, it may be unable 
to realise its assets or discharge its liabilities in 
the normal course of business. Although 
there is no guarantee, the Directors have a 
reasonable expectation that the Group will be 
able to raise further financing to support its 
ongoing development and commercialisation 
activities and continue in operational existence 
for the next 12 months. On this basis, the 
Directors continue to apply the going concern 
basis in preparing these accounts. Accordingly, 
these accounts do not include any adjustments 
that would result from the going concern 
basis of preparation being inappropriate.

Financial instruments
A description of the Group’s financial risk 
management objectives and policies, as well 
as disclosure of exposure to price risk, credit 
risk, liquidity risk and cash flow risk is included 
in note 25 to the financial statements. 

Directors and their interests

The following Directors have held office 
during the year under review and up to date 
of this report: 

  Nazar Amso 
  Nicholas Avis 
  Andrew Barker 
  David Baynes 
  Stuart Gall 
  Helen Jones 
  Riccardo Pigliucci 
  Nicholas Sleep 
Ian Whittaker 
 Ingeborg Øie  
(appointed 19 May 2021)  
 Michèle Lesieur  
(appointed 20 September 2021) 

Substantial shareholdings
The following shareholders held 3% or more of the issued share capital of the Company as at 30 April 2022: 

Shareholder

IP Group

Parkwalk Advisors

Octopus Investments

Polar Capital

Amati Global Investors

Herald Investment Management

Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management

Walker Crips Investment Management

Rathbones

Number of shares

(as at date of notification)

% of issued capital  

56,740,641

35,965,600

29,983,500

25,405,236

15,869,000

9,481,900

9,444,400

9,164,461

8,154,564

20.96

13.29

11.07

9.39

5.86

3.50

3.49

3.39

3.01

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

61

The Directors’ interest in shares, share 
options and their remuneration is set out in 
the Remuneration Report. There have been 
no changes to Directors’ interests between 
the end of the period under review and one 
month prior to the notice of the AGM.

•  Each of the Directors has confirmed that 

they have taken all the steps that they ought 
to have taken as Director’s in order to make 
themselves aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that it has been 
communicated to the auditor.

This confirmation is given and should be 
interpreted in accordance with the provisions 
of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.

Auditors
The auditors, Deloitte LLP, have indicated 
their willingness to continue in office, and a 
resolution that they be re-appointed will be 
proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

By order of the Board

Helen Jones
Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary

27 May 2022

Insurance
The Company and its subsidiaries have 
made qualifying third-party indemnity 
provisions for the benefit of its Directors, 
which remain in force at the date of this 
report and throughout the year. Directors’ 
and Officers’ liability insurance is provided 
for all Directors of the Company.

Corporate governance 
The Company’s statement on corporate 
governance can be found in the Corporate 
Governance Report. The report forms part of 
this Directors’ Report and is incorporated 
into it by cross-reference.

Statement as to Disclosure of 
Information to the 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. 

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

62

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

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

Company law requires the Directors to 
prepare financial statements for each 
financial year. Under that law the Directors 
are required to prepare the Group and 
Company financial statements in accordance 
with UK-adopted international accounting 
standards in conformity with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 
Under company law the Directors must not 
approve the accounts unless they are 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view of 
the state of affairs of the Group and 
Company and of the profit or loss of the 
Group and Company for that period. 

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

•  properly select and apply accounting 

policies

•  present information, including accounting 

policies, in a manner that provides 
relevant, reliable, comparable and 
understandable information

•  provide additional disclosures when 

compliance with the specific 
requirements in IFRS Standards are 
insufficient to enable users to understand 
the impact of particular transactions, 
other events and conditions on the 
entity’s financial position and financial 
performance and

•  make an assessment of entity’s ability to 

continue as a going concern

The Directors are responsible for keeping 
adequate accounting records that are 
sufficient to show and explain the 
Company’s transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial 
position of the company and enable them to 
ensure that the financial statements comply 
with the Companies Act 2006. 

They are also responsible for safeguarding 
the assets of the Company and hence for 
taking reasonable steps for the prevention 
and detection of fraud and other 
irregularities. 

The Directors are responsible for the 
maintenance and integrity of the corporate 
and financial information included on the 
Company’s website. 

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

• 

• 

the Strategic Report includes a fair review 
of the development and performance of 
the business and the position of the 
Company and the undertakings included 
in the consolidation taken as a whole, 
together with a description of the 
principal risks and uncertainties that they 
face; and

the Annual Report and financial 
statements, taken as a whole, are fair, 
balanced and understandable and 
provide the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Company’s 
position and performance, business 
model and strategy.

This responsibility statement was approved 
by the Board of Directors on 27 May 2022 
and is signed on its behalf by:

Directors’ responsibility statement
We confirm that to the best of our 
knowledge:

Helen Jones
Chief Financial Officer and Company 
Secretary

27 May 2022

• 

the financial statements, prepared in 
accordance with the relevant financial 
reporting framework, give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and profit or loss of the 
Company and the undertakings included 
in the consolidation taken as a whole;

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

63

Independent Auditor’s Report

to the members of Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc

Report on the audit of the financial statements
1. Opinion
In our opinion:

• 

• 

• 

the financial statements of Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) give a true and fair view 
of the state of the Group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 December 2021 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended;

the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom adopted international 
accounting standards; 

the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom adopted international 
accounting standards and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

• 

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

We have audited the financial statements which comprise:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the Group statement of profit and loss and other comprehensive income;

the Group and Company statements of financial position;

the Group statement of changes in equity;

the Company statement of changes in equity;

the Group and Company statements of cash flow; and

the related notes 1 to 27.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom adopted international 
accounting standards and, as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006.

2. Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those 
standards are further described in the auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. 

We are independent of the Group and the parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the 
financial statements in the UK, including the Financial Reporting Council’s (the ‘FRC’s’) Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we 
have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

3. Material uncertainty related to going concern 
We draw attention to note 3 in the financial statements, which indicates that, although the projection based on latest trading indicates that 
the Group will not need to raise money within the next 12 months, the flexed more conservative budget projections indicate that the Group 
would need to raise further funds within the next 12 months to support the Group’s growth plans.

As stated in note 3, these events or conditions, along with the other matters as set forth in note 3, indicate that a material uncertainty exists 
that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in 
respect of this matter.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of 
the financial statements is appropriate.

Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the Group’s and parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of 
accounting included:

•  Reviewing and challenging management’s forecasts and budgets for the going concern period, evaluating the financial results and key 

cash flows of the business over this period focussing on profitability, liquidity and forecast cash burn;

•  Assessing post year end performance including revenues recognised and cash burn compared to budget;

•  Assessing the historical accuracy of forecasts prepared by management compared to actual results in the year;

•  Assessing any funding raised or secured post year end compared to management’s going concern assessment;

•  Validating forecasts are consistent with those used to support the valuation of intangible assets and investment in subsidiaries and 

intercompany receivables; and

•  Assessing the appropriateness of the disclosure in the financial statements relating to the going concern position of the group, including 

consideration of the material uncertainty identified.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

64

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

to the members of Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc

 4. Summary of our audit approach

Key audit matters

The key audit matters that we identified in the current year were:

Materiality

•  Going concern (see material uncertainty related to going concern section)

•  Completeness and accuracy of deferred income;

•  Classification and valuation of intangible assets; and

•  Valuation of investments in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables (Parent company only)

The materiality that we used for the Group financial statements was £150,000 which was determined 
with reference to 2% of Group revenue. Given the loss-making performance of the Group, revenue 
was considered the most appropriate benchmark on which to determine materiality.

Scoping

We have performed full scope audit procedures on all trading components.

Significant changes in our approach The audit approach and key audit matters identified in the current year have remained largely 
consistent with the prior year, due to the business operations and group structure remaining 
consistent.

We have however identified classification of intangible assets as an additional key audit matter 
in the current year as this is the first year in which development costs have been capitalised in 
respect of the Clinical AI division. This is due to significant management judgement being required 
to determine the appropriate capitalisation date of development costs incurred, in line with IAS 38.

5. Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of 
the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified. 
These matters included those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit; and 
directing the efforts of the engagement team.

These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we 
do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. In addition to the matter described in the material uncertainty related to going concern 
section, we have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report.

5.1. Completeness and accuracy of deferred income

Key audit matter description

Deferred income relates to extended warranty and support packages on sales of hardware products 
and revenue is released over time as the performance obligation is fulfilled. Deferred income recognised 
as a liability as at 31 December 2021 totals £0.527m (2020: £0.417m) with previously deferred revenues 
of £0.312m (2020: £0.226m) released to the income statement in the financial year to 31 December 2021.

How the scope of our audit 
responded to the key 
audit matter

The completeness and accuracy of deferred income has been identified as a key audit matter as 
manual intervention is made by management in both the calculation of revenues to defer and the 
posting of deferred income adjustments. Where an extended warranty or support package is 
purchased at the point of initial product sale it is necessary to delay revenue recognition until the  
end of the standard warranty and support service included in the initial purchase.

The revenue recognition accounting policy is disclosed in Note 3 to the financial statements. Revenue 
disclosure is included in Note 5 to the financial statements and deferred income disclosure is included 
in Note 19 to the financial statements.

We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls over the revenue deferral process. 

We obtained management’s breakdown and calculation of deferred revenues and on a sample basis 
assessed whether:

•  it is appropriate for revenues to be deferred based on the performance obligations of the contract, 

and the performance obligations have been correctly identified through assessment of the 
underlying services being provided;

•  the transaction price has been appropriately determined and correctly included in the calculation  

of deferred income;

•  revenue is recognised appropriately on a straight-line basis over the period of service;

•  the amount recognised is recoverable by assessing cash received or obtaining customer confirmations; 

and

•  the revenue recognised in the year to 31 December 2021 and the revenue deferred as at 31 December 
2021 had been correctly recognised or deferred by completing an independent recalculation. As part of 
the recalculation we obtained evidence in relation to the start date for the service being provided and the 
length of time the service was being provided over, and assessed whether revenues had only been 
recognised from the identified start date and over the corresponding period of service.

Key observations

We have not identified any significant control deficiencies or misstatements in the current year and we 
consider the completeness and accuracy of deferred income to be appropriate.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

65

5.2. Classification and valuation of intangible assets

Key audit matter description

How the scope of our audit 
responded to the key 
audit matter

As at 31 December 2021 the group has £2.558m (2020: £1.963m) of intangible assets, comprising 
intellectual property of £0.798m (2020: £1.129m) relating to the Clinical AI and Simulation divisions, and 
development costs of £1.76m (2020: £0.819m) relating to the Clinical AI and Simulation divisions. 
Intellectual property has arisen on the acquisitions of Intelligent Ultrasound Limited and Inventive 
Medical Limited in previous periods. Development costs capitalised relate to development expenditure; 
additions to development costs in 2021 total £1.275m (2020: £0.568m). Two separate cash generating 
units (CGUs) have been identified by management in the group, being the Clinical AI division and the 
Simulation division.

Classification of intangible assets

There is significant management judgement required to determine the appropriate capitalisation date 
of development costs incurred, in line with the requirements of IAS 38 specifically around the product 
being technically and commercially feasible. This is the first year in which development costs have 
been capitalised in respect of Clinical AI division products, including the Anatomy PNB product for the 
amount of £0.29m.

Valuation of intangible assets

The intangible assets have been assessed by management for impairment as required under IAS 36 
Impairment of Assets where indicators of impairment exist. No impairment has been recognised in 2021 
however an impairment review has been performed in the year due to losses incurred which increases 
the risk the assets may not be recoverable.

There is a risk that the key assumptions such as revenue growth, terminal growth rate, variability of costs 
and discount rates used in the impairment review model are not appropriate.

Note 3 to the financial statements sets out the group’s accounting policy for intangible assets acquired 
as part of a business combination, other intangible assets, and impairment of assets.

Note 4 to the financial statements provides details of the critical accounting judgements and key sources 
of estimation uncertainty in respect of intangible assets.

Note 12 to the financial statements outlines the key assumptions involved in the intangible asset 
impairment assessment.

The Audit Committee Report also considers the quality and appropriateness of the groups accounting 
policy in respect of intangible asset impairment assessment, as detailed on page 52.

We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls over the classification and impairment 
assessment process for intangible assets.

Classification of intangible assets

We reviewed management’s assessment that supported the capitalisation of the development costs in 
the year. We challenged the rationale and management’s judgements against the requirements of IAS 
38 specifically around the product being technically and commercially feasible, and sought evidence 
as to whether the criteria had been met.

We tested the additions to intangible assets this year to ensure they are capitalised in line with the 
requirements of IAS 38.

Valuation of intangible assets

We obtained cash flow forecasts prepared by management and challenged key management 
estimates included in the forecast, such as revenue growth, terminal growth rates and discount rates.

We validated the mathematical accuracy of the models prepared by management and also compared 
them against other forecasting models to identify if there were inconsistencies.

We compared the net present value of the forecast cash flows to the carrying value of the CGUs identified.

We considered indicators of impairment including with reference to historical performance, external 
market data and assessment of the group’s future strategy and budgets.

We assessed the accuracy of management’s historical forecasts, including where management made 
adjustments to forecast performance for the impact of Covid-19; where there were discrepancies, we 
evaluated the impact of these on the current year forecasts.

We involved our internal valuations specialists to estimate an appropriate discount rate with reference 
to market data and compared that to the rate used by management.

We applied sensitivities to calculations prepared by management to assess the impact on headroom 
of reasonably possible changes in assumptions.

We tested the adequacy of management’s disclosures relating to intangible assets, and capitalisation 
of development costs included in note 4 and note 12.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

66

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

to the members of Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc

Key observations

Classification of intangible assets

Based on our work performed, we concluded that the classification of intangible assets is appropriate.

Valuation of intangible assets

Based on our work performed, we concluded that the carrying value of intangible assets is not impaired. 
However, the impairment model prepared by management in relation to the Clinical AI division is sensitive 
to a reduction in revenue growth rates, whereby not achieving budgeted revenue targets could result in 
an impairment of the full carrying value, as disclosed in note 4. The discount rates used in the impairment 
model were also at the higher end or slightly above our independently determined reasonable range, 
although this did not have a material impact on the conclusion of the impairment assessment completed 
by management. We also identified a control deficiency with respect to management’s review 
controls in relation to the impairment model, as there was insufficient detailed documented evidence 
to support the secondary review of the impairment model produced by management. We consider our 
audit procedures appropriately responded to the control deficiencies identified. 

Refer to the Audit Committee report on page 53 of the Annual Report for discussion of the control 
environment.

5.3. Valuation of investment in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables (parent company only)

Key audit matter description

Impairment of investment in subsidiaries

The parent company holds significant investment in subsidiary balances that are not supported by the 
net asset balance of the invested company, but rather the value in use assessment.

An assessment using value in use to support the valuation of investment in subsidiaries is subjective 
due to the inherent uncertainty involved in forecasting and discounting future cash flows  
of the investee companies.

The result of management’s impairment assessment in the current year identifies there is a lower 
amount of headroom in Clinical AI division in comparison to the Simulation division.

The carrying value of the investment in subsidiaries held by the parent company of £5.951m (2020: 
£5.459m) and has been assessed for impairment by management with reference to IAS 36 Impairment 
of Assets. No impairment has been recognised in 2021 or 2020.

Note 3 to the financial statements sets out the Group’s accounting policy for investments in 
subsidiaries and impairment of assets.

Note 4 to the financial statements provides details of the critical accounting judgements and key 
sources of estimation uncertainty.

Note 14 to the financial statements outlines the key assumptions involved in the investment in 
subsidiaries impairment assessment.

Impairment of intercompany receivables

Under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, management is required to consider all expected credit losses 
based on historical, current and forward-looking information, including intercompany loans from the 
perspective of the lender.

As at 31 December 2021 the carrying value of the parent company’s intercompany receivables was 
£14.881m (2020: £12.526m). In assessing the expected credit losses of intercompany receivables as at 
31 December 2021, management determined that the amounts due from its subsidiary undertakings 
at 31 December 2021 totalling £6.974m were credit impaired (2019: £5.348m). A reversal of previous 
impairment losses of £0.015m has been recognised in addition to an increase of £1.641m during the 
year to 31 December 2021.

Note 3 to the financial statements sets out the Group’s accounting policy for amounts owed by 
subsidiary undertakings.

Note 4 to the financial statements provides details of the critical accounting judgements and key 
sources of estimation uncertainty.

Note 16 to the financial statements outlines the key assumptions involved in the intercompany 
receivables impairment assessment.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

67

How the scope of our audit 
responded to the key 
audit matter

We obtained an understanding of the relevant controls over the valuation of investment in subsidiaries 
and intercompany receivables.

We obtained cash flow forecasts prepared by management and challenged key assumptions included 
in the forecast, such as revenue growth, terminal growth rates, and discount rate.

We validated the mathematical accuracy of the models prepared by management and  
also compared them against other forecasting models prepared by management to identify if there 
were inconsistencies.

The net present value of the forecast cash flows was compared to the carrying value of the individual 
investment in subsidiary balances.

We considered indicators of impairment including reference to historical performance, external market 
data including market capitalisation, and assessment of the Group’s future strategy and budgets.

We evaluated whether the expected credit loss model adopted by management is consistent with the 
requirements of IFRS 9.

We assessed the accuracy of management’s historical forecasts, and where there were discrepancies, 
we evaluated the impact of these on the current year forecasts.

We involved our internal valuations specialists to estimate an appropriate discount rate with reference 
to market data and compared that to the rate used by management.

We applied sensitivities to calculations prepared by management to assess the impact on headroom 
of reasonably possible changes to assumptions.

We tested the adequacy of management’s disclosures relating to the key sources of estimation 
uncertainty as disclosed in note 4 and also note 14 and note 16 in relation to impairment of investment 
in subsidiaries and intercompany receivables respectively.

Key observations

Impairment of investment in subsidiaries

Based on our work performed, we concluded that the carrying value of the investment in subsidiaries 
including provision for impairment is reasonable. However, the impairment model in relation to the 
Clinical AI division is highly sensitive to movements in the underlying assumptions, whereby not 
achieving budgeted revenue could lead to an impairment against the full carrying value as disclosed in 
note 4. We identified a control deficiency with respect to management’s review controls in relation to 
the impairment model, as there was insufficient documented evidence to support the detailed 
secondary review of the impairment model produced by management. We consider our audit 
procedures appropriately responded to the control deficiency identified.

Impairment of intercompany receivables

Based on our work performed, we concluded that the impairment allowance recognised in line with 
IFRS 9 as at 31 December 2021 of £6.974m is appropriate and that reasonably possible change have 
been appropriately disclosed within Note 16 of the financial statements.

We identified a control deficiency with respect to management’s review controls in relation to the 
impairment of intercompany receivables, as there was sufficient documented evidence to support the 
secondary review of the impairment model produced by management. We consider our audit 
procedures appropriately responded to the control deficiency identified.

Refer to the Audit Committee report on page 53 of the Annual Report for discussion of the control 
environment.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

68

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

to the members of Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc

6. Our application of materiality
6.1. Materiality

We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic decisions of a 
reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope of our audit work and in 
evaluating the results of our work.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Group financial statements

Parent company financial statements

Materiality

£150,000 (2020: £100,000)

Basis for determining 
materiality

2% of revenue (2020: 1.9%)

£75,000 (2020: £50,000)

2% of net assets (2020: 2%)

Parent company materiality has been capped at 
£75,000, being 50% of Group materiality.

Rationale for the 
benchmark applied

In our professional judgement we consider that 
revenue is the most appropriate benchmark to 
determine materiality as it is reflective of the size and 
scale of the Group which is currently loss making.

In our professional judgement our we consider net 
assets as the most appropriate measure given the 
parent company is primarily a holding company for 
the Group.

Revenue £7,596,000

Revenue

Group materiality

Group materiality
£150,000

Component
materiality range
£60,000 to £90,000

Audit Committee 
reporting threshold
£7,500

6.2. Performance materiality

We set performance materiality at a level lower than materiality to reduce the probability that, in aggregate, uncorrected and undetected 
misstatements exceed the materiality for the financial statements as a whole. 

Group financial statements

Parent company financial statements

Performance materiality 60% (2020: 60%) of Group materiality

60% (2020: 60%) of parent company materiality 

Basis and rationale  
for determining 
performance materiality

We set performance materiality at a lower level than materiality to reduce the probability that, in aggregate, 
uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceed the materiality for the financial statements as a whole. 
Group performance materiality was set at 60% of Group materiality for the 2021 audit.

In determining performance materiality we considered the following factors:

•  our risk assessment, including our assessment of the Group’s overall control environment; and

•  the nature, volume and size of misstatements (corrected and uncorrected) in the previous audit.

6.3. Error reporting threshold

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee all audit differences in excess of £7,500 (2020: £5,000), as well 
as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. We also report to the Audit Committee on 
disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall presentation of the financial statements.

7. An overview of the scope of our audit
7.1 Identification and scoping of components

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc is incorporated in England and Wales and holds investment in subsidiaries in MedaPhor Limited, Intelligent 
Ultrasound Limited, Intelligent Ultrasound North America Incorporated, IML Finance Limited, Inventive Medical Limited, MedaPhor 
International Limited and Intelligent Ultrasound Innovations Limited. All components are incorporated in England and Wales with the 
exception of Intelligent Ultrasound North America Incorporated which is incorporated in the USA.

Our audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the nature of the Group and its environment and assessing the risks of material 
misstatement at the Group level.

Based on this assessment we focused our Group audit scope on the four main trading companies being Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc, 
Intelligent Ultrasound Limited, MedaPhor Limited, and Intelligent Ultrasound North America Incorporated.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

69

The four main trading companies make up 100% (2020: 100%) of group revenues, 100% (2020: 100%) of group loss before tax, and 100% 
(2020: 100%) of group net assets. Our audit work for these entities was executed at levels of materiality applicable to each individual entity 
which were lower than group materiality and ranged from £60,000 to £90,000 (2020: £50,000 to £70,000).

At the parent entity level we also tested the consolidation process and carried out analytical procedures to confirm our conclusion that there 
were no significant risks of material misstatement of the aggregated financial information.

All audit work for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the Group’s financial statements is performed by the Group engagement team as 
the accounting records are held centrally.

7.2. Our consideration of the control environment

The 2021 audit was planned without the expectation of placing reliance on the controls operated by the Group. This plan acknowledges the 
evolving nature of the current finance function and the current control environment. In gaining an understanding of the current control environment 
deficiencies were identified in relation to the controls relating to the impairment review process, as noted in section 5.2 and 5.3 above. We 
also identified control deficiencies in relation to the robustness of management’s appraisal of going concern and we considered these control 
deficiencies as part of our procedures in the Going Concern section of our report. Refer to the Audit Committee report on page 52 of the 
Annual Report for consideration of the control environment.

7.3 Our consideration of climate-related risks

In planning our audit, we have considered the potential impact of climate change on the Group’s business and its financial statements. The 
Group continues to develop its assessment of the potential impacts of environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) related risks, including 
climate change, as outlined on page 21. As a part of our audit, we held discussions to understand the process of identifying climate-related 
risks, the determination of mitigating actions and the impact on the Group’s financial statements. We performed our own qualitative risk 
assessment of the potential impact of climate change on the Group’s account balances and classes of transactions and did not identify any 
additional risks of material misstatement.

8. Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report 
thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report.

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our 
report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the 
financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a 
material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

9. Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial 
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to 
enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue 
as a going concern, disclosing as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the 
directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

10. Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, 
but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. 
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/
auditors responsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

70

Independent Auditor’s Report continued

to the members of Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc

11. Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our 
responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which  
our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below. 

11.1. Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and 
regulations, we considered the following:

• 

• 

the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance including the design of the Group’s remuneration 
policies, key drivers for directors’ remuneration, bonus levels and performance targets;

results of our enquiries of management and the audit committee about their own identification and assessment of the risks 
of irregularities; 

•  any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed the Group’s documentation of their policies and procedures relating to:

 – identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;

 – detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;

 – the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations;

• 

the matters discussed among the audit engagement team and relevant internal specialists, including tax, valuations and IT specialists 
regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and 
identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: 

•  completeness and accuracy of deferred income; and

•  classification and valuation of intangible assets.

In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the Group operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws 
and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws 
and regulations we considered in this context included the AIM rules, UK Companies Act, and tax legislation.

In addition, we considered provisions of other laws and regulations that do not have a direct effect on the financial statements but 
compliance with which may be fundamental to the Group’s ability to operate or to avoid a material penalty. These included the Group’s 
ability to obtain the relevant approval for the sale of medical devices.

11.2. Audit response to risks identified

As a result of performing the above, we identified completeness and accuracy of deferred income and classification and valuation of 
intangible assets as key audit matters related to the potential risk of fraud. The key audit matters section of our report explains the matters in 
more detail and also describes the specific procedures we performed in response to those key audit matters. 

Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

• 

reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant 
laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements;

•  enquiring of management, the audit committee and external legal counsel concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;

•  performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement 

due to fraud;

• 

• 

reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and correspondence with HMRC;

in addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other 
adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating 
the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

We also communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members including internal 
specialists, and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

71

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements

12. Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• 

the information given in the strategic report and the directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared 
is consistent with the financial statements; and

• 

the strategic report and the directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the parent company and their environment obtained in the course of the 
audit, we have not identified any material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report.

13. Opinion on other matter prescribed by our engagement letter
In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the provisions of 
the Companies Act 2006 that would have applied were the Company a quoted company.

14. Matters on which we are required to report by exception
14.1. Adequacy of explanations received and accounting records

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

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

•  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.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

14.2. Directors’ remuneration

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are also required to report if in our opinion certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration have not 
been made.

We have nothing to report in respect of this matter.

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

Andrew Wright, FCA (Senior statutory auditor)
For and on behalf of Deloitte LLP 
Statutory Auditor 
Bristol, United Kingdom

27 May 2022

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

72

Group Statement of Profit and Loss and Other Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Continuing operations

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Other income

Administrative expenses 

Operating loss

Finance income

Finance costs

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss attributable to the equity shareholders of the Parent

Other comprehensive income

Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss:

Exchange gain/(loss) arising on translation of foreign operations

Other comprehensive gain/(loss) for the period

Note

5

6

7

8

8

9

2021
£’000

7,596

(2,937)

4,659

2

(8,993)

(4,332)

1

(37)

(4,368)

758

(3,610)

2020
£’000

5,170

(1,999)

3,171

207

 (7,859)

(4,481)

17

(17)

(4,481)

1,175

(3,306)

33

33

(77)

(77)

Total comprehensive loss attributable to the equity shareholders of the Parent

(3,577)

(3,383)

Loss per Ordinary share attributable to the equity shareholders of the Parent

Basic and diluted (pence)

11

(1.34)

(1.30)

The above consolidated statement of comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

73

Group and Company Statements of Financial Position

As at 31 December 2021

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investments in subsidiaries

Trade and other receivables

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Current tax assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred income

Lease liabilities

Provisions

Non-current liabilities

Deferred income

Lease liabilities

Other payables

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital 

Share premium 

Share warrants

Accumulated losses

Share-based payment reserve

Merger reserve

Foreign exchange reserve

Other reserves

Total equity 

Note

12

13

14

16

15

16

17

18

19

13

20

19

13

18

22

22

22

Group

Company

2021
£’000

2,558

1,400

–

61

2020
£’000

1,963

1,313

–

61

4,019

3,337

1,196

2,650

954

4,950

9,750

13,769

1,048

2,025

671

8,774

12,518

15,855

(2,767)

(1,901)

(206)

(213)

(22)

(142)

(170)

(10)

(3,208)

(2,223)

(320)

(457)

(65)

(842)

(4,050)

9,719

2,707

25,959

–

(275)

(603)

(65)

(943)

(3,166)

12,689

2,694

25,959

126

2021
£’000

–

532

5,951

14,942

21,425

–

232

–

1,507

1,739

23,164

(345)

–

(138)

–

(483)

–

(381)

(65)

(446)

(929)

22,235

2,707

25,959

–

2020
£’000

–

675

5,459

12,587

18,721

–

116

–

6,175

6,291

25,012

(296)

–

(123)

–

(419)

–

(518)

(65)

(583)

(1,002)

24,010

2,694

25,959

126

(26,967)

(23,381)

(12,435)

(10,077)

1,373

6,538

(56)

165

842

6,538

(89)

–

1,291

4,548

–

165

760

4,548

–

–

9,719

12,689

22,235

24,010

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

The Company has elected to take the exemption under Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 to not present the statement of 
comprehensive income for the Company. The result for the Company for the year was a loss of £2.38m (2020: profit of £4.28m).

These financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 27 May 2022 and were signed on its 
behalf by:

Helen Jones 
Chief Financial Officer 

Stuart Gall
Chief Executive Officer

Company number: 09028611

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

 
 
74

Group Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Share  
capital
£’000

Share  

premium
£’000

Share 
warrants 
£’000

Accumulated 
losses
£’000

Note

Share-
based 
payment 
reserve
£’000

Merger
reserve
£’000

Foreign 
exchange 
reserve
£’000

Other 
reserves
£’000

As at 31 December 2019 

2,200

21,653

126

(20,075)

688

6,538

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive loss

Total comprehensive loss  
for the year

Transactions with owners,  
recorded directly in equity

–

–

–

–

–

–

Issue of share capital

Cost of raising finance

Cost of share-based awards

22

22

23

494

4,693

–

–

(387)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

As at 31 December 2020

2,694

25,959

126

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive loss  
for the year

Transactions with owners,  
recorded directly in equity

Issue of share capital

Exercise of share warrants

Cost of share-based awards

22

22

23

–

–

–

13

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

As at 31 December 2021

2,707

25,959

–

–

–

–

(126)

–

–

(3,306)

–

(3,306)

–

–

–

(23,381)

(3,610)

–

(3,610)

–

24

–

–

–

–

–

–

154

842

–

–

–

–

–

531

–

–

–

–

–

–

6,538

–

–

–

–

–

–

The above Group statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Total
equity 
£’000

11,118

(3,306)

(77)

(3,383)

5,187

(387)

154

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

– 12,689

–

–

–

–

165

(3,610)

33

(3,577)

13

63

–

531

(12)

–

(77)

(77)

–

–

–

(89)

–

33

33

–

–

–

(26,967)

1,373

6,538

(56)

165

9,719

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

75

Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Share
capital
£’000

Share  

Share  

premium
£’000

warrants
£’000

Accumulated 
losses 
£’000

Note

Share-
based
payment
reserve
£’000

Merger
reserve
£’000

Other 
reserves
£’000

As at 31 December 2019

2,200

21,653

126

(14,360)

606

4,548

Profit and total comprehensive 
income for the year

Transactions with owners,  
recorded directly in equity

Shares issued for cash

Cost of raising finance

Cost of share-based awards

As at 31 December 2020

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive loss  
for the year

Transactions with owners,  
recorded directly in equity

Issue of share capital

Exercise of share warrants

Cost of share-based awards

As at 31 December 2021

–

–

22

22

 23

494

4,693

–

–

(387)

–

–

–

–

–

2,694

25,959

126

–

–

13

–

–

22

22

23

–

–

–

–

–

2,707

25,959

–

–

–

(126)

–

–

4,283

–

–

–

(10,077)

(2,382)

(2,382)

–

24

–

–

–

–

154

760

–

–

–

–

531

–

–

–

–

4,548

–

–

–

–

–

Total 
equity
£’000

14,773

4,283

5,187

(387)

154

24,010

(2,382)

(2,382)

13

63

531

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

165

–

(12,435)

1,291

4,548

165 22,235

The above Parent Company statement of changes in equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

76

Group and Company Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 December 2021

Cash flows from operating activities

(Loss)/profit before taxation

Depreciation

Amortisation of intangible assets

Credit loss allowance/(reversal) on intercompany receivables

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Fair value adjustment to share warrants

Finance costs/(income)

Share-based payment charge

Operating cash flows before movement in working capital

Movement in inventories

Movement in trade and other receivables

Movement in trade and other payables

Movement in provisions

Cash used in operations

Income taxes received

Net cash used in operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(Increase) in intercompany loans

Increase in short-term deposits

Internally generated intangible assets

Interest received

Net cash (used in)/generated by investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from issue of new shares 

Share issue costs

Principal elements of lease payments

Interest paid

Net cash (used in)/generated by financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Exchange losses on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Group

2021
£’000

Company

2020
£’000

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

Note

(4,368)

(4,481)

(2,382)

4,283

7

7

8

10

16

21

9

12

8

22

22

13

8

17

17

508

680

–

–

3

36

530

(2,611)

(149)

(592)

1,045

12

(2,295)

476

(1,819)

(503)

–

–

(1,275)

1

(1,777)

13

–

(195)

(37)

(219)

(3,815)

8,774

(9)

4,950

406

937

–

26

21

–

154

(2,937)

(389)

590

199

(85)

(2,622)

362

(2,260)

(371)

–

5,500

(568)

17

4,578

5,187

(387)

(62)

(17)

4,721

7,039

1,790

(55)

8,774

143

–

1,623

–

3

29

37

(547)

–

(115)

110

–

(550)

–

(550)

–

(3,978)

–

–

–

41

–

(4,784)

–

21

(7)

6

(440)

–

(76)

64

–

(452)

–

(452)

–

(3,729)

5,500

–

17

(3,979)

1,788

13

–

(123)

(29)

(139)

(4,668)

6,175

–

1,507

5,187

(387)

(11)

(11)

4,778

6,114

61

–

6,175

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

77

Notes to the Financial Statements

For the year ended 31 December 2021

1. General information
Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc (the Company) is a public company limited by shares and incorporated and domiciled in the United 
Kingdom whose shares are traded on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange. The Company’s registration number is 
09028611 and its registered office address is Floor 6A Hodge House, 114–116 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 1DY.

The Company’s principal activity is that of a holding company. The Group’s principal activities are the development, marketing and 
distribution of medical training simulators and clinical ultrasound software. 

The Company is the parent entity and the ultimate parent company of the Group

2. New and amended Standards adopted by the Group
Impact of the initial application of other new and amended IFRS Standards that are effective for the current year

In the current year, the Group applied the following new and revised IFRS Standards:

•  Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions (Amendment to IFRS 16)

• 

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2 (Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16)

The Standards did not have any impact on the financial statements of the Group. 

New and revised IFRS Standards in issue but not yet effective

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the Group has not applied the following new and revised IFRS Standards that have 
been issued but are not yet effective:

•  Amendments to IFRS 4  

•  Amendments to IFRS 4 

•  Amendment to IAS 1 

•  Amendment to IFRS 17 

Applying IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ with IFRS 4 ‘Insurance  
Contracts’

Extension of the Temporary Exemption from Applying IFRS 9

‘Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current — Deferral of  
Effective Date’

Initial Application of IFRS 17 and IFRS 9 — Comparative Information

• 

IFRS 17 (including the June 2020 Amendments to IFRS 17) 

Insurance Contracts

•  Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28   

•  Amendments to IAS 1 

•  Amendments to IFRS 3 

•  Amendments to IAS 16 

•  Amendments to IAS 37 

•  Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018–2020 Cycle 

Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its  
Associate or Joint Venture

Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current

Reference to the Conceptual Framework

Property, Plant and Equipment–Proceeds before Intended Use

Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract 

Amendments to IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial  
Reporting Standards, IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, IFRS 16 L 
Leases, and IAS 41 Agriculture

•  Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2 

Disclosure of Accounting Policies

•  Amendments to IAS 8 

•  Amendments to IAS 12 

Definition of Accounting Estimates

Deferred Tax related to Assets and Liabilities arising from a Single  
Transaction

The Directors do not expect that the adoption of the Standards listed above will have a material impact on the financial statements of the 
Group in future periods.

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
78

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

3. Significant accounting policies
Basis of preparation

Compliance with IFRS

On 31 December 2020, IFRS as adopted by the European Union at that date was brought into UK law and became UK adopted 
international accounting standards, with future changes being subject to endorsement by the UK Endorsement Board. The Group 
transitioned to UK adopted international accounting standards in its consolidated financial statements on 1 January 2021. There was  
no impact or changes in accounting policies from the transition.

The Group and Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity  
with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Historical cost convention

The financial statements have been prepared on historical cost basis except certain financial assets and liabilities are measured at fair value 
at the end of each reporting period.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants 
at the measurement date, regardless of whether that price is directly observable or estimated using another valuation technique. In estimating 
the fair value of an asset or a liability, the Group takes into account the characteristics of the asset or liability if market participants would take 
those characteristics into account when pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. Fair value for measurement and/or disclosure 
purposes in these consolidated financial statements is determined on such a basis, except for share-based payment transactions that are 
within the scope of IFRS 2, leasing transactions that are within the scope of IFRS 16, and measurements that have some similarities to fair  
value but are not fair value, such as net realisable value in IAS 2 or value-in-use in IAS 36.

The accounting policies set out in this note have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these financial statements. 

Foreign currency translation

i) Functional and presentation currency

The individual financial statements of each Group entity are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which it 
operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each Group 
Company are expressed in sterling, which is the functional currency of the Company, and the presentation currency for the consolidated 
financial statements.

ii) Transactions and balances

These financial statements are presented in sterling which is considered to be the currency of the primary economic environment in which 
the Group operates. This decision was based on the Group’s workforce being based mainly in the UK and that sterling is the currency in 
which management reporting and decision-making is based.

In preparing the financial statements of the Group entities, foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using  
the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions, 
and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at year-end exchange rates, are generally 
recognised in profit or loss. They are deferred in equity if they are attributable to part of the net investment in a foreign operation.

Non-monetary items carried at historical cost are reported using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. Non-monetary items 
carried at fair value are reported at the rate that existed when the fair values were determined.

iii) Group companies

The results and financial position of foreign operations (none of which has the currency of a hyper-inflationary economy) that have a 
functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

•  assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet.

• 

income and expenses for each statement of profit or loss and statement of comprehensive income are translated at average exchange 
rates (unless this is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case 
income and expenses are translated at the dates of the transactions).

•  all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of any net investment in foreign entities at the closing rate are 
recognised in other comprehensive income. When a foreign operation is sold or any borrowings forming part of the net investment are 
repaid, the associated exchange differences are reclassified to profit or loss, as part of the gain or loss on sale.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign operation are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign 
operation and translated at the closing rate. Exchange differences are recognised on other comprehensive income.

Going concern

In undertaking a going concern review, the Directors have reviewed three financial projections to 31 December 2024 based on the existing 
base budget; a flexed, more conservative version of the base budget; and a projection based on latest trading, all of which include estimates 
and assumptions regarding the product development projects, sales pipeline, future revenues and costs and timing and quantum of 
investments in the R&D programmes. Although the projection based on latest trading indicates that the Group will not need to raise money 
within the next 12 months, the flexed more conservative budget projections indicate that the Group would need to raise further funds within 
the next 12 months to support the Group’s growth plans in the absence of mitigating actions to control cash outflows such as deferring 
development expenditure. The flexed more conservative budget reflects a 20% revenue reduction on the existing base budget and therefore 
the Directors have concluded that this range of projections represents a material uncertainty related to events or conditions which may cast 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

79

significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and, therefore, it may be unable to realise its assets or discharge its 
liabilities in the normal course of business. Although there is no guarantee, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group will 
be able to raise further financing to support its ongoing development and commercialisation activities and continue in operational existence 
for the next 12 months. On this basis, the Directors continue to apply the going concern basis in preparing these accounts. Accordingly, 
these accounts do not include any adjustments that would result from the going concern basis of preparation being inappropriate.

The Directors continue to explore additional sources of income and finance available to the Group to continue the development of its 
‘Classroom to Clinic’ business.

Basis of consolidation
Where the Company has control over an investee, it is classified as a subsidiary. The Company controls an investee if all three of the 
following elements are present: power over the investee, exposure to variable returns from the investee and the ability of the investor to use 
its power to affect those variable returns. Control is reassessed whenever the facts and circumstance indicate that there may be a change 
in any of these elements of control. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Company obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases 
when the Company loses control of the subsidiary. Specifically, the results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are 
included in profit or loss from the date the Company gains control until the date when the Company ceases to control the subsidiary. Where 
necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with the Group’s 
accounting policies. All intragroup assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between the 
members of the Group are eliminated on consolidation. The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of the Company and 
its subsidiary undertakings. The Company was incorporated on 7 May 2014. 

There are no restrictions over the Company’s ability to access or use assets and settle liabilities of the Group.

Revenue recognition
In accordance with IFRS 15 ‘Revenues from Contracts with Customers’, revenue is measured by reference to the fair value of consideration 
received or receivable by the Group, excluding value added tax (or similar local sales tax), in exchange for transferring the promised goods 
or services to the customer. Revenue excludes value added tax or similar local sales tax. The consideration is allocated to each separate 
performance obligation that is identified in a sales contract, based on stand-alone selling prices.

i) Simulation

Performance obligations and timing of revenue recognition

The majority of the Group’s revenue is derived from selling goods (principally simulation systems including related software licences) with 
revenue recognised at a point in time when control of the goods has transferred to the customer. This is generally when the goods are 
delivered to the customer or collected by the customer’s agents from the Group’s premises. The licence is integral to the functionality of the 
simulation system and is not considered a separate performance obligation applying the guidance in IFRS 15:B54. As no software updates 
are made throughout the period of ownership, the licence represents the right for the customer to use the Group’s IP. Revenue from 
resellers (outside the UK and North America) is recognised based on “ship to order” with control passing when the goods have been 
delivered to the reseller. There is no returns policy.

The customer may elect to purchase installation and training services in relation to the goods supplied by the Group. The revenue from 
these services is recognised once the installation and training have been provided. The delivery of the systems and related software licence 
coincides with the provision of installation services and the delivery of training. Consequently, the sale is treated as if it was one single 
performance obligation recognised at a point in time.

The price of the goods supplied by the Group usually includes 12 months’ technical support and a first year warranty. The technical support 
is accounted for as a separate performance obligation, with revenue recognised pro-rata to an estimate of the typical profile of the time 
spent on delivering the support required by customers in the first year (with 60% of the time spent in the first 3 months and the remaining 
balance spent on a straight line basis over the remaining 9 months). First year warranties are not accounted for as separate performance 
obligations as they relate to ‘assurance-type’ warranties (i.e. assurance that the product will function as intended) rather than ‘service-type’ 
warranties. No revenue is allocated to these warranties but instead a provision is made for the costs of satisfying the warranties in accordance 
with IAS 37 ‘Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets’. When an extended warranty (see below) is purchased a portion of the 
transaction price is allocated to that separate performance obligation. 

Customers are able to purchase extended warranties, Cloud access, on-going service support (which incorporates ad-hoc minor ‘bug-
fixes’) and, for some products, new release software upgrades (distinguished from minor ‘bug-fixes’, as these upgrades incorporate 
enhancements to the functionality of the software). The revenues from extended warranties, Cloud access and on-going service support 
are recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the related contract. Revenues from the new release software upgrades, which is 
considered a right to use licence, are recognised on delivery of the software upgrades.

First-year warranties are not accounted for as separate performance obligations as they relate to 'assurance-type' warranties (i.e. assurance 
that the product will function as intended) rather than 'service-type' warranties. When an extended warranty is purchased a portion of the 
transaction price is allocated. 

Determining the transaction price

The Group’s revenue is almost entirely derived from fixed price contracts and therefore, the amount of revenue to be earned from each 
contract is determined by reference to those fixed prices. In certain situations, discounts may be given (for example, for larger orders or 
sales to key opinion leader customers).

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Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

3. Significant accounting policies continued
Allocating amounts to performance obligations

For the vast majority of contracts there is a fixed unit price (considered to be the stand-alone selling price) for each product or service sold 
(including installation and training, extended warranties, Cloud access, on-going support and software upgrades).For all contracts, any 
reductions are given at a specific time – when the contract is agreed. Discounts are allocated to the specific performance obligations in the 
contract on a pro-rata basis based upon the stand-alone selling prices. The amount of revenue relating to first year technical support is 
estimated using a cost-plus model recognised by reference to the typical profile of the time spent in providing support in the first year. 

Costs of obtaining contracts and costs of fulfilling contracts

Commissions paid to sales staff for generating sales orders are recognised when the customer order has been received. Sales are invoiced 
in all cases when control of the goods passes to the customer or, in the case of services to be delivered in the future, at the point in time 
when the customer has agreed to purchase these future services. The value of future services extending beyond one year is not significant 
and so no prepaid commission is recorded as the amounts involved would not be material. No judgement is needed to measure the costs 
of obtaining contracts – it is the commission paid.

The costs of fulfilling contracts do not result in the recognition of a separate asset because:

•  such costs are included in the carrying amount of inventory for contracts involving the sale of goods; and

• 

for service contracts, revenue is recognised over time by reference to the stage of completion meaning that control of the asset (the 
service) is transferred to the customer on a continuous basis as the service is provided. Consequently, no asset for work in progress 
is recognised.

Significant payment terms

Invoices for goods that are delivered at a point in time are rendered when control of the goods has passed to the customer. Invoices for 
services that are delivered over time are rendered on the date on which the customers agree to purchase those services. Most customers 
are allowed 30 days credit from the date of invoice. New distribution customers or existing customers with a poor credit history are required 
to pay 50% of the invoice on placement of their order, with the balance payable 30 days from delivery of the goods to them. These payment 
terms apply to both goods that are delivered at a point in time and services that are delivered over time.

Practical expedients

The Group has taken advantage of the practical expedient not to account for significant financing components where the time difference 
between receiving consideration and transferring control of goods (or services) to its customer is one year or less. As noted above, the 
group has also taken the practical expedient in IFRS 15.94 allowing for non-capitalisation of the costs of obtaining a contract. 

ii) Clinical AI – royalty income

Revenue is recognised for licences of intellectual property in exchange for sales-based royalties when the customer’s subsequent sales and 
activation occurs. When the royalty relates to a right-to-use licence, it is recognised at a point in time when the final sales to the end 
customer occurs.

Share-based payments
The Company issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain employees and Directors of group companies. Equity-settled 
share-based payments are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments at the grant date. The fair value excludes the effect of 
non-market-based vesting conditions. Details regarding the determination of the fair value of equity-settled share-based transactions  
are set out in note 23.

The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting 
period, based on the Group’s estimate of the number of equity instruments that will eventually vest. At each reporting date, the Group 
revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions. 
The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in profit or loss such that the cumulative expense reflects the revised 
estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to the share based payment reserves.

Financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the statement of financial position when the entity becomes a party to the 
contractual provisions of the instrument.

Trade receivables

Trade receivables are initially recognised at their transaction price and subsequently measured at their amortised cost using the effective 
interest method less any loss allowance. The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses using a 
lifetime expected credit loss provision for trade receivables. To measure expected credit losses on a collective basis, trade receivables are 
grouped based on similar credit risk and ageing. Institutional customers such as hospitals and medical schools are assigned the lowest 
credit risk and non-institutional customers with poor credit history are assigned the highest credit risk. The expected loss probability rates 
are based on management’s experience of historical credit losses for each group of trade receivables. The resultant provision matrix is then 
adjusted for current and forward-looking information based upon management’s knowledge of the customer concerned, the prospects of 
recovery and includes any negative macroeconomic factors relating to the territory or sector in which the customer operates. For trade 
receivables, which are reported net, provisions for impairment are recorded in a separate provision account with the loss being recognised 
through the statement of comprehensive income. On confirmation that the trade receivable will not be collectable or the indicators are that 
there is no reasonable prospect of recovery (due to, for example, the insolvency of the customer or legal advice that the prospects of 
recovery are remote), it is deemed to be credit impaired and the gross carrying value of the asset is written off against the 
associated provision. 

The Group writes off a trade receivable when there is information indicating that the debtor is in severe financial difficulty and there is no realistic 
prospect of recovery. Any recoveries made are recognised in profit or loss.

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81

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings (Company only) 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are classified and measured in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 9 including applying 
the Expected Credit Loss (ECL) model for impairment. Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are considered to be in default when 
there is evidence that the borrower will have insufficient liquid assets to repay the amount due on demand. 

Financial liabilities and equity

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. A financial 
liability is a contracted obligation to deliver cash or another financial asset to another entity. An equity instrument is any contract that 
evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities.

Trade payables

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

Deferred consideration

In respect of deferred share consideration for business combinations, where the number of shares to be issued may vary then the 
consideration does not meet the definition of equity and so, until the shares are issued, the deferred consideration is classified as a financial 
liability. The liability is measured as the fair value of the shares to be issued.

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 assets transferred by the Group, liabilities 
incurred by the Group to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interest 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 at the acquisition date, 
except that:

•  deferred tax assets or liabilities and assets or liabilities related to employee benefit arrangements are recognised and measured in 

accordance with IAS 12 and IAS 19 respectively; 

• 

liabilities or equity instruments related to share-based payment arrangements of the acquiree or share-based payment arrangements of 
the Group entered into to replace share-based payment arrangements of the acquiree are measured in accordance with IFRS 2 at the 
acquisition date; and

•  assets (or disposal groups) that are classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5 are measured in accordance with that Standard.

Goodwill

Goodwill arising on consolidation is recorded as an intangible asset and is the surplus of the cost of the acquisition over the Group’s interest 
in the fair value of identifiable net assets (including intangible assets) acquired. Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment. Any impairment 
identified as a result of the review is charged to the statement of comprehensive income.

Other intangible assets
An intangible asset, which is an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance, is recognised to the extent that it is probable 
that the expected future economic benefits attributable to the asset will flow to the Group and that its cost can be measured reliably. 
Subsequent to initial recognition, internally generated intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated 
impairment losses.

Internally generated Intangible assets – research and development expenditure

Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred. 

Development cost expenditure is incurred at the later stage of the project and the probability of success should be more apparent. Once 
the feasibility of the project can be verified and all elements of the recognition criteria is satisfied, any future costs will be classed as 
development. Any expenditure that was incurred and expensed during the research phase cannot subsequently be capitalised.

Development expenditure is capitalised as an intangible asset only if the following conditions can be demonstrated:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale

the intention to complete the intangible asset and to use or sell

the ability to use or sell the intangible asset

it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the Group

the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development to use or sell the intangible asset

the attributable expenditure of the asset during its development can be reliably measured

The probability of future economic benefits must be based on reasonable and supportable assumptions about conditions which will exist 
over the life of the asset and that there is the existence of a market for the intangible asset.

Technical feasibility is generally considered to be the formal process of assessing whether it is technically possible to develop/manufacture 
a product. An appropriate point may be when the entity has completed all the planning, design and testing activities that are necessary to 
establish that an asset can be produced to meet its design specifications, including functions, features and technical performance requirements. 

If the Group is unable demonstrate the commercial feasibility of the project, then all costs must be expensed under the scope of the 
research phase.

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Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

3. Significant accounting policies continued
Medical device product development capitalisation

Regulatory requirements are an important factor in restricting the ability of an entity to meet the recognition criteria in certain industries.

A strong indication that an entity has met all of the above criteria for capitalisation arises when it obtains regulatory clearance. It is the 
clearest point at which the technical feasibility of completing the asset is proven and this is the most difficult criterion to demonstrate. 

Obtaining regulatory clearance is also sometimes considered as the point at which all relevant criteria, including technical feasibility, are 
considered to be met. For the Group, this is CE marking in the EU and FDA clearance in the US. If clearance is received in one market but 
not in another, provided that the entity considers regulatory clearance in a secondary market is a formality and it is considered highly 
probable that clearance will be granted, then capitalisation can commence after clearance in the first market. If the Company has judged 
that registration is probable, and there are likely to be low barriers to obtaining regulatory clearance, it is likely to be technically feasible. 

Providing that regulatory clearance from one major marketplace is achieved, clearance in other markets is considered highly probable and 
the remaining recognition criteria can be demonstrated, the development phase commencement date will be the noted date of regulatory 
clearance, either CE or FDA.

Subsequent measurement

IAS 38 states that an entity must choose either the cost model or the revaluation model for each class of intangible assets. The Group have 
elected to follow the cost model based on no active market existing for internally developed intangible assets at the end of their useful life. 
Intangible assets will be carried in the financial statements at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.

It is assumed that all internally developed intangible assets have a finite life (a limited period of benefit to the Group). An impairment test 
must be carried out on any intangible asset if there is an indication to do so. The residual value (RV) of a finite life intangible asset is 
assumed to be zero, unless an active market exists at the end of the useful life of the asset to provide a reliable measurement of RV. For 
prudence, the Group assumes that the RV of all internally developed intangible assets to be zero.

Amortisation of intangible assets

Development expenditure thus capitalised is amortised on a straight-line basis over its useful life. Amortisation commences when the 
project is available for commercial sale.

The Group will assess the estimated useful life of each project on an individual basis by considering the guidance stated in the 
standard, including:

•  Expected usage by the entity of the asset and whether it could be managed efficiently by another management team. 

•  The typical product life cycle for the asset and published information about useful lives of similar assets that are used in a similar way. 

•  Technical, technological, commercial or other types of obsolescence. 

•  The stability of the industry in which the asset operates, and changes in market demand for the products or services from or related 

to the asset. 

•  Expected actions by actual or potential competitors. 

•  The level of maintenance required to maintain the asset’s operating capability, and whether management intends to perform that  

level of maintenance. 

•  The period for which the entity has control of the asset and any legal or similar limits on the asset’s use. 

•  Whether the asset’s useful life is dependent on the useful life of other assets of the entity.

Amortisation is charged so as to write off the costs of intangible assets over their estimated useful lives, on the following basis:

Development costs

Software licences

20%

33%

Straight line

Straight line

Subsequent expenditure

Subsequent expenditure can be capitalised if capital in nature i.e. improves the capacity of an asset from its existing condition and provides 
additional functionality. This includes module upgrades or enhancements but excludes software repairs and fixes.

Subsequent expenditure that needs regulatory approval

Expenditure incurred to add new functionality should not be capitalised if the new functionality will require filing for new regulatory approval. 
This requirement implies that technical feasibility of the modified device has not been achieved. This does not apply to expenditure on 
additional filings in other countries provided that approval in other countries is considered highly probable.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

83

Derecognition

An intangible asset is derecognised on disposal, or when no future economic benefits are expected from use or disposal. Gains or losses 
arising from derecognition of an intangible asset, measured as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount 
of the asset, are recognised in profit or loss when the asset is derecognised.

Intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination

For acquisitions, the Group recognises intangible assets separately from goodwill provided they are separable or arise from contractual or 
other legal rights and their fair value can be measured reliably. Intangible assets are initially recognised at fair value, which is regarded as 
their cost. Intangible assets are subsequently held at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses. Where intangible assets 
have finite lives, their cost is amortised on a straight-line basis over those lives. The nature of intangible assets recognised and their 
estimated useful lives is as follows:

Intellectual property

Brands

Impairment of assets

5 to 10 years

5 years

The Group assesses annually whether there is any indication that any of its assets have been impaired. If such indication exists, the asset's 
recoverable amount is estimated and compared to its carrying value. Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent 
from other assets, the group estimates the recoverable amount of the smallest cash-generating unit to which the asset is allocated. If the 
recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount an impairment loss is recognised 
immediately in the statement of comprehensive income. 

For goodwill, intangible assets that have an indefinite life and intangible assets not yet available for use, the recoverable amount is estimated 
annually or whenever there is an indication of impairment.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less any subsequent accumulated depreciation or impairment losses. 

Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment at rates calculated to write each asset down to its estimated residual value 
over its expected useful life, as follows:

Furniture, fixtures and equipment

Plant & equipment 

R&D/demonstration units

Other

25%

33%

25%

Straight line

Straight line

Straight line

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed at each year end and adjusted if appropriate. The carrying values of property, plant 
and equipment are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected to arise from 
the continued use of the asset. 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 profit or loss.

Leases
The Group leases various property and motor vehicles. Rental contracts are typically made for fixed periods of 3 to 5 years and may include 
extension and termination options. These are used to maximise operational flexibility in terms of managing the assets used in the Group’s 
operations, The Group assesses at contract inception whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. That is, if the contract conveys the right to 
control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.

The Group applies a single recognition and measurement approach for all leases, except for short-term leases and leases of low-value 
assets. The Group recognises lease liabilities to make lease payments and right-of-use assets representing the right to use the underlying assets.

i) Right-of-use assets

The Group recognises right-of-use assets at the commencement date of the lease (i.e. the date the underlying asset is available for use). 
Right-of-use assets are measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, and adjusted for any re-measurement 
of lease liabilities. The cost of right-of-use assets includes the amount of lease liabilities recognised, initial direct costs incurred, and lease 
payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received. Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a 
straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term and the estimated useful lives of the assets. If ownership of the leased asset transfers to 
the Group at the end of the lease term or the cost reflects the exercise of a purchase option, depreciation is calculated using the estimated 
useful life of the asset.

The cost of a right-of-use asset also includes an estimate of costs to be incurred by the lessee in dismantling and removing the underlying 
asset, restoring the site on which it is located or restoring the underlying asset to the condition required by the terms and conditions of the 
lease, unless those costs are incurred to produce inventories. The lessee incurs the obligation for those costs either at the commencement 
date or as a consequence of having used the underlying asset during a particular period.

The right-of-use assets are also subject to impairment and are considered in the light of the losses of the Group and where impairment 
indicators are identified for other assets. 

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Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

3. Significant accounting policies continued
ii) Lease liabilities

At the commencement date of the lease, the Group recognises lease liabilities measured at the present value of lease payments to be made 
over the lease term. The lease payments include fixed payments (including in substance fixed payments) less any lease incentives receivable.

In calculating the present value of lease payments, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate based on average lending rates at the 
lease commencement date because the interest rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable. After the commencement date, the 
amount of lease liabilities is increased to reflect the accretion of interest and reduced for the lease payments made. In addition, the carrying 
amount of lease liabilities is remeasured if there is a modification, a change in the lease term, a change in the lease payments (e.g. changes 
to future payments resulting from a change in an index or rate used to determine such lease payments) or a change in the assessment of an 
option to purchase the underlying asset. No such modifications have occurred during the period.

iii) Short-term leases and leases of low-value assets

The Group applies the short-term lease recognition exemption to its short-term leases of machinery and equipment (i.e. those leases that 
have a lease term of 12 months or less from the commencement date and do not contain a purchase option). It also applies the lease of 
low-value assets recognition exemption to leases of office equipment that are considered to be low value, based upon IASB guidance of 
approximately £5,000. Lease payments on short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognised as expense on a straight-line 
basis over the lease term.

Impairment of Property, plant and equipment and Intangible assets excluding goodwill
At each reporting date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts 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 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. When a reasonable 
and consistent basis of allocation can be identified, corporate assets are also allocated to individual cash-generating units, or otherwise 
they are allocated to the smallest group of cash-generating units for which a reasonable and consistent allocation basis can be identified.

Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are tested for impairment at least annually and whenever there is an indication at the end of a 
reporting period that the asset may be impaired. Intangible assets still in development are also tested for impairment annually.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal 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 or cash-generating unit is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the 
asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless 
the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease and to the extent 
that the impairment loss is greater than the related revaluation surplus, the excess impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) 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 or cash-generating unit in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is 
recognised immediately in profit or loss to the extent that it eliminates the impairment loss which has been recognised for the asset in prior 
years. Any increase in excess of this amount is treated as a revaluation increase.

Investments in subsidiaries
The Company’s investments in its subsidiaries are included at cost plus the fair value of options in the Company’s shares that have been 
granted to the employees of each subsidiary less any provision for impairment. 

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with 
original maturities of three months or less.

Short-term investments
Short-term investments include term deposits with maturities over three months at the date of investment.

Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined on weighted average basis and includes all direct 
expenditure. Net realisable value is the price at which the stocks can be sold in the normal course of business after allowing for the costs of 
realisation and where appropriate for the costs of conversion from its existing state to a finished condition. Provision is made for obsolete, 
slow moving and defective stocks.

Income tax
The income tax credit for the period is the tax receivable on the current period’s taxable loss, based on the applicable income tax rate for 
each jurisdiction, adjusted by changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities attributable to temporary differences and to unused tax losses.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

85

The current income tax credit is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period 
in the countries where the Company and its subsidiaries and associates operate and generate taxable income. Management periodically 
evaluates positions taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation and considers 
whether it is probable that a taxation authority will accept an uncertain tax treatment. The Group measures its tax balances either based on 
the most likely amount or the expected value, depending on which method provides a better prediction of the resolution of the uncertainty. 

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and 
liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated financial statements. However, deferred tax liabilities are not recognised if they arise 
from the initial recognition of goodwill. Deferred income tax is also not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability 
in a transaction other than a business combination that, at the time of the transaction, affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss. 
Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting 
period and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Deferred tax assets are recognised only if it is probable that future taxable amounts will be available to utilise those temporary differences 
and losses.

Deferred tax liabilities are not recognised for taxable temporary differences between the carrying amount and tax bases of investments in 
foreign operations where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary 
difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences associated with such 
investments and interests are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that there will be sufficient taxable profits against which to 
utilise the benefits of the temporary differences and they are expected to reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets and liabilities 
are offset where there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and where the deferred tax balances relate to 
the same taxation authority. Current tax assets and tax liabilities are offset where the entity has a legally enforceable right to offset and 
intends either to settle on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Current and deferred tax is recognised in profit or loss, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive 
income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.

UK Research and Development Tax Incentive regimes

The Group accounts for amounts claimed under the SME scheme as tax credits and amounts claimed under the RDEC scheme as 
Other income. 

Pension costs
Pension allowances, contributions to defined contribution pension schemes and contributions to personal pension schemes are charged to 
the statement of comprehensive income in the year to which they relate. 

Warranty claims
Provision is made for liabilities arising in respect of expected assurance type warranty claims (i.e. 12 months) based upon management’s 
best estimate of the Group’s liability for remedial work and warranties granted on products sold. 

Government grants
R&D expenditure credits are recognised as income over the periods necessary to match them with the related costs and are included within 
Other income.

Government grants are not recognised until there is reasonable assurance that the Group will comply with the conditions attaching to them 
and that the grants will be received.

Amounts claimed under the US Paycheck Protection Program are recognised on a gross basis in accordance with IAS 20. Proceeds are 
recognised in Other income on a systematic basis that corresponds with the manner in which the business entity recognises the underlying 
expenses for which the government grant is intended to compensate.

Equity
Ordinary share capital represents the nominal value of equity shares. Share premium represents the excess over nominal value of the fair 
value of consideration received for equity shares, net of expenses of the share issue. 

The merger reserve is the non-statutory premium arising on shares issued as consideration for acquisitions of subsidiaries where merger 
relief under the relevant section of the Companies Act applies. 

The foreign exchange reserve represents the differences arising on translating the foreign operations into the sterling presentation currency, 
for the purposes of preparing the consolidated financial statements of the Group. It also includes foreign exchange differences arising on 
intercompany loans that form part of the net investment in the subsidiary.

The share based payment reserve comprises the grant date fair value of share options granted to employees and Directors which are yet to be 
exercised. The share based payment reserve is used to record the credit to equity over the vesting period in an equity settled SBP arrangement. 
On exercise of the warrant, the share warrant reserve is extinguished directly through equity resulting in a new undistributable other reserve. 

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

86

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

4. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty 
The preparation of financial statements requires the use of accounting estimates which, by definition, will seldom equal the actual results. 
Management also needs to exercise judgement in applying the Group’s accounting policies. This note provides an overview of the areas 
that involved a higher degree of judgement or complexity, and of items which are more likely to be materially adjusted due to estimates and 
assumptions being revised. Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to estimates are 
recognised prospectively.

i) Critical accounting judgements
In preparing the 2021 financial statements, management has made various judgements in the process of applying the entity’s accounting 
policies. The following represents those judgments, apart from those involvement estimation uncertainty (see (ii)), made by management 
which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

Going concern

As described on page 78 the going concern assessment includes the review of three financial projections to 31 December 2024 based on 
the existing base budget; a flexed, more conservative version of the base budget; and a projection based on latest trading, all of which 
include estimates and assumptions regarding the product development projects, sales pipeline, future revenues and costs and timing and 
quantum of investments in the R&D programmes. Significant judgement has been applied by the Directors in determining whether a material 
uncertainty exists relating to events or conditions which may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Capitalisation of internally generated intangible assets - Clinical AI only

The Group follows the guidance of IAS 38 to determine when internally generated intangible assets should be capitalised. The determination 
requires judgement. In making this judgement, management assesses each project against each of the capitalisation criteria. If one of the 
conditions is not met, then the costs attributable to the project would not be capitalised. The capitalisation criteria which requires the most 
judgement is the project achieving technical feasibility of completion so that it will be available for use or sale, it is common practice within 
the regulated medical device sector that technical feasibility with respect to Clinical AI software products is not achieved until regulatory 
approval to use and sell to the market is obtained. The Directors applied this judgement with respect to research and development costs for 
Anatomy PNB, which is the first Clinical AI product the Group has taken through regulatory clearance. CE approval was obtained in April 
2021, after which development costs relating to the UK version of the product were capitalised. 

There are a number of potential points during the development of a Clinical product after which the costs can be capitalised. We have made 
the judgement that the point at which the IAS 38 criteria have been met to be the point of CE approval.

ii) Key sources of estimation uncertainty
The key source of estimation uncertainty that has a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities within the next financial year is discussed below.

Intangible assets – impact of possible changes in key assumptions (IUL intangible assets only)

For the intangible assets that have a finite life, the Directors considered the need to impair the carrying value of intangible assets by 
performing an assessment of indicators of impairment. The review of the indicators of impairment concluded that indicators of impairment 
existed with respect to the intangible asset of £0.8m in relation to the intellectual property acquired as part of the Intelligent Ultrasound 
Limited (IUL) acquisition in 2017 of £0.8m. These intangible assets were required to be tested for impairment following a review of 
impairment indicators. The recoverable amount of the asset was determined based on value-in-use calculations which require the use of 
assumptions. The calculations use five-year cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a 
two-year period. Cash flows for periods three to five are extrapolated using estimated growth rates and growth rates beyond five years are 
consistent with forecasts specific to the sector in which the CGU operates.

A 9.0% reduction in the budgeted revenue used in the value-in-use calculation for the IUL acquired intangible assets would result in full 
impairment of the carrying value of the asset by £0.8m.

A 7.5% reduction in the budgeted revenue used in the value in use calculation for the IUL acquired intangible assets would result in a 
material impairment of the carrying value of the asset of £0.24m.

Recoverability of amounts due from subsidiary undertakings (Company only)

The Company has applied the IFRS 9 general approach to measure expected credit losses arising from amounts owed by its subsidiary 
undertakings. This required the Directors to make judgements to arrive at a weighted average expected credit loss based on a number of 
forecast cash flow scenarios and the assignment of probability factors to each scenario. Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings is 
£14.9m (2020: £12.5m) – see Note 16.

Investment in subsidiaries impairment (Company only)

The Directors perform an annual impairment assessment for the investments held in subsidiaries by the Company. If indicators of 
impairment exist, the recoverable amount of the investment is determined based on value-in-use calculations which require the use of 
assumptions. The calculations use five-year discounted cash flow (DCF) projections based on financial budgets approved by management 
covering a two year period. Cashflows for periods four to five are extrapolated using estimated growth rates and growth rates beyond five 
years are consistent with forecasts specific to the sector in which the subsidiary operates. The review of the indicators of impairment 
concluded that indicators of impairment existed with respect to the investment in IUL. The Directors consider that there is no reasonably 
possible change in assumptions that could lead to a material change in the carrying value of the investment in other subsidiaries within the 
next 12 months.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

87

The DCF model is sensitive to expected future cash inflows. If the budgeted revenue used in the value-in-use calculation for the investment 
in IUL had been 9.0% lower than management estimates in all years, the Company would have had to recognise an impairment against the 
full carrying value of the investment. 

If the budgeted revenue used in the value in use calculation for the investment in IUL had been 0.3% lower than management estimates in 
all years, the Company would have had to recognise a material impairment against the carrying value of the investment of £0.08m (£81k).

5. Segmental operations
The Group identifies reportable operating segments based on internal management reporting that is regularly reviewed by the chief 
operating decision maker (CODM). The CODM is the Board of Directors.

The format of revenue reporting is based on the Group’s management and internal reporting (including reports to the CODM) of the 
segments below which carry different risks and rewards and are used to make strategic decisions. The Group has two operating segments: 
Simulation and Clinical AI. Other Group costs, assets and liabilities that cannot be allocated to an operating segment are shown within 
‘Central’ below, including head office costs.

•  Simulation: sales of ultrasound simulation systems and related services.

•  Clinical AI: sales of AI-related ultrasound image analysis software products.

2021

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Other income

Administrative expenses

Operating loss

Finance income

Finance costs

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss attributable to the equity shareholders of the Parent

2020

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Other income

Administrative expenses

Operating loss

Finance income

Finance costs

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss attributable to the equity shareholders of the Parent

(1,464)

(4,368)

Simulation
£’000

Clinical AI
£’000

Central
£’000

7,390

(2,883)

4,507

2

(5,125)

(616)

1

(8)

(623)

222

(401)

206

(54)

152

–

(2,433)

(2,281)

–

–

(2,281)

536

(1,745)

–

–

–

–

(1,435)

(1,435)

–

(29)

–

(1,464)

Simulation
£’000

Clinical AI
£’000

Central
£’000

5,153

(1,999)

3,154

207

(4,703)

(1,342)

–

(6)

(1,348)

488

(860)

17

–

17

–

(2,239)

(2,222)

–

–

(2,222)

687

(1,535)

–

–

–

–

(917)

(917)

17

(11)

(911)

–

(911)

Total
£’000

7,596

(2,937)

4,659

2

(8,993)

(4,332)

1

(37)

758

(3,610)

Total
£’000

5,170

(1,999)

3,171

207

 (7,859)

(4,481)

17

(17)

(4,481)

1,175

(3,306)

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

88

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

5. Segmental operations continued
Revenue by destination of external customer

Year ended 31 December 2021

United Kingdom

North America (USA & Canada)

Rest of the World

Timing of revenue recognition:

At a point in time 

Over time

Year ended 31 December 2020

United Kingdom

North America (USA & Canada)

Rest of the World

Timing of revenue recognition:

At a point in time 

Over time

Simulation
£’000

Clinical AI
£’000

2,503

2,733

2,154

7,390

7,078

312

50

–

156

206

206

–

Simulation
£’000

Clinical AI
£’000

1,419

2,324

1,410

5,153

4,907

246

–

–

17

17

17

–

Total
£’000

2,553

2,733

2,310

7,596

7,284

312

Total
£’000

1,419

2,324

1,427

5,170

4,924

246

Included within non-UK revenues are sales to the following country which accounted for more than 10% of the Group’s total revenue for  
the year:

USA 

2021
£’000

2,426

2020
£’000

2,036

The Group had no customers who accounted for more than 10% of the Group revenue for the year ended 31 December 2021 or 2020.

Other segment information

Simulation 

Clinical AI 

Central

Assets and liabilities by segment

Simulation 

Clinical AI 

Central

Depreciation  
and amortisation

Additions to 
non-current assets

2021
£’000

843

202

143

1,188

2020
£’000

1,156

145

42

1,343

2021
£’000

1,334

535

–

1,869

Assets

Liabilities

2021
£’000

9,296

2,133

2,340

2020
£’000

7,324

1,578

6,953

2021
£’000

(2,743)

(392)

(915)

13,769

15,855

(4,050)

2020
£’000

1,049

–

717

1,766

2020
£’000

(1,906)

(258)

(1,002)

(3,166)

Non-current assets based outside the UK

Right-of-use assets include leased offices for Intelligent Ultrasound North America Inc (IUNA), based in Georgia. The net book value as of  
31 December 2021 was £0.07m (2020: £0.02m).

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

89

6. Other income

US Government grant income

UK grant income

R&D expenditure credit (RDEC)

2021
£’000

–

2

–

2

2020
£’000

124

–

83

207

In the prior year, IUNA received an advance of £0.124m under the US Government’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) which allowed US 
small businesses to apply for forgivable loans to pay for their payroll and certain other costs. The programme was designed to provide a 
direct incentive for small businesses to keep their workers on payroll instead of furlough during the pandemic. The amount of a PPP loan 
available was approximately equal to 2.5 times the average monthly payroll costs. The loan was formally forgiven on 18 December 2020. 
The advance has been recognised as Other income in accordance with IAS 20 ‘Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of 
Government Assistance’. No advance was received in 2021.

In 2020 RDEC to the amount of £0.83m was received by MedaPhor in relation to R&D projects which have been previously in receipt of 
grant funding which cannot be claimed under the R&D SME regime. RDEC is recognised as taxable income within Other income. No RDEC 
was received in 2021.

7. Operating loss

Operating loss is stated after charging/(crediting): 

Raw materials and consumables used

Depreciation 

Right-of-use assets

Other assets

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Staff costs (note 10)

Exchange loss

Auditor’s remuneration

Audit of Group financial statements

Audit of Company and subsidiaries

Review of interim accounts

R&D cost 

– Expensed (including £1.28m staff costs included above)

– Amortised

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

2,512

1,605

218

290

680

111

295

937

5,530

4,736

31

81

18

5

9

69

17

–

1,957

334

1,990

441

Staff and other development costs not included in the operating loss of £1.27m have been capitalised as intangible assets during the year 
(2020: £0.57m).

8. Finance income and costs

Finance income

Interest income from bank deposits 

Finance costs

Interest on lease liabilities 

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

(1)

37

36

(17)

17

–

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

90

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

9. Taxation
i) Analysis of income tax credit in the year

Current tax

R&D tax credit

R&D tax credit relating to prior periods

Deferred tax

Origination and reversal of timing differences

Effect of tax rate change on opening balance

Income tax credit 

ii) Factors affecting the tax credit

2021
£’000

(769)

11

(758)

–

–

–

(758)

2020
£’000

(673)

(214)

(887)

(300)

12

(288)

(1,175)

The Group has made a taxable loss for the year (2020: loss) and therefore has not recognised all of the deferred tax asset arising due to 
uncertainty over the timing of future profit.

Loss before taxation

Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19% (2020: 19%)

Effects of:

Fixed asset differences

Expenses not deductible/income not taxable

Differences between R&D expenditure credit and capitalised revenue expenditure

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

Remeasurement of deferred tax for changes in tax rates

Difference in US tax rate

Deferred tax not recognised

Income tax credit

2021
£’000

(4,368)

(830)

(26)

158

(337)

4

(912)

(35)

1,220

(758)

2020
£’000

(4,481)

(851)

1

24

(290)

(214)

(262)

–

417

(1,175)

In the Spring Budget 2020, the UK Government announced that from 1 April 2020 the corporation tax rate would remain at 19% (rather than 
reducing to 17%, as previously enacted). The government made a number of budget announcements on 3 March 2021. These include 
confirming that the rate of corporation tax will increase to 25% from 1 April 2023. This new law was substantively enacted on 24 May 2021. 
Deferred taxes at the balance sheet date have been measured using these enacted tax rates and reflected in these financial statements.

In 2020 the R&D tax credit was recognised through the income statement upon cash receipt of the 2019 claim. In 2021 an asset has been 
recognised for the best estimate of the 2021 R&D tax claim based on the track record of previous successful claims in addition to the 2020 
tax claim on receipt.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

91

iii) Deferred tax

The unrecognised and recognised deferred tax asset/(liability) comprises the following:

Accelerated capital allowances

Capitalised development costs

Intangible assets

Provisions

Tax losses

Total asset/(liability)

Unrecognised

Recognised

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4,322

4,322

2,991

2,991

2021
£’000

(190)

–

(554)

3

741

–

2020
£’000

(110)

(91)

(218)

–

419

–

The movement in each temporary difference is shown in the reconciliation below, including the amounts charged/(credited to the income 
statement.

At 1 January

Charged/(credited) to income statement

As at 31 December

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances
£’000

Intangible 
assets
£’000

110

80

190

309

245

554

Provisions
£’000

Tax losses
£’000

Total
£’000

–

(3)

(3)

(419)

(322)

(741)

–

–

–

Where a deferred tax liability arises, an equal amount of trade losses has been recognised so that the net position at entity level is nil. The 
deferred tax liabilities relate to accelerated capital allowances mainly due to claims for annual investment allowances (AIA) with respect to 
eligible fixed asset additions, R&D claims in MedaPhor where development costs are capitalised and R&D claims are made under s.1308 
CTA 2009, reducing the tax base of these assets and intangible assets acquired with IML and IUL.

iv) Tax losses

The Group have significant trade losses carried forward which are currently not being recognised due to uncertainty of when these losses 
will be utilised. This includes losses arising in IUNA of c.$3.9m / £2.9m.

Unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised

Potential tax benefit @25% (2020: 19%)

2021
£’000

17,289

4,322

2020
£’000

15,742

2,991

Deferred tax balances have been recognised at the rate expected to apply when the deferred tax attribute is forecast to be utilised based 
on substantively enacted rates at the balance sheet date. The rate of UK corporation tax will increase to 25% from April 2023.

v) Uncertainty over income tax treatments

MedaPhor is currently appealing various penalty notices received by the Inland Revenue Service (IRS) totalling $55k for late filing of historical 
tax returns in the US. The Company has appealed these penalties and it is the view of the Company, supported by the Group’s tax advisers, 
that these appeals will be successful. The penalty appeal remains outstanding due to significant delays within the IRS.

10. Employees

The average monthly number of persons (including Executive Directors) employed by the Group was:

Research and development

Sales, marketing and distribution

Management and administration

2021
No. 

2020
No. 

28

12

17

57

32

11

15

58

The Company has no other employees and the only staff costs incurred by the Company relate to fees paid to Non-executive Directors  
(see the Remuneration Report for details).

The average monthly number of Non-executive Directors employed by the Company was:

2021
No. 

7

2020
No. 

5

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

92

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

10. Employees continued
Staff costs for the employees and Executive Directors of the Group (included under administrative expenses and in staff costs capitalised 
under development costs):

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs

Pensions

Share-based payments

Total employed staff costs

Contractors and freelancers

Staff costs capitalised

Staff costs included under administrative expenses

Key management for the Group is considered to be the Board of Directors of the Group:

Short-term employee benefits

Post employment benefits

Share-based payments

2021 
£’000

4,995

374

128

530

6,027

262

(759)

5,530

2021
£’000

988

53

338

1,379

In 2020 short-term employee benefits have been restated by £0.13m to include those of the Non-executive Directors.

Directors’ remuneration comprises the following:

Salaries and fees (including estimated value of other benefits)

Fees paid to third parties in respect of services provided by Directors

Directors’ pension costs

2021
£’000

968

20

53

2020
£’000

3,854

324

180

154

4,512

475

(251)

4,736

2020
£’000

873

63

87

1,023

2020
£’000

854

20

63

No Directors are accruing benefits under Company defined contribution pension schemes (2020: None). Each Executive Director is entitled 
to a 10% pension allowance.

This remuneration includes the following amounts in respect of the highest paid Director:

Salaries and fees (including estimated value of other benefits)

Pension costs

2021
£’000

255

19

2020
£’000

232

19

The highest paid Director held 923,474 (2020: 923,474) shares at the year end and share options in the Company totalling 4,116,498 
(2020: 4,116,498). None of the Directors exercised any of their share options during the year (2020: None). 

Further details of Directors’ fees and salaries, bonuses, pensions and share options are given in pages 54 to 57 in the Remuneration 
Report, which forms part of these financial statements.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

93

11. Loss per Ordinary share
The loss per Ordinary share has been calculated using the loss for the year and the weighted average number of Ordinary shares in issue 
during the year as follows:

Loss after taxation

Number of Ordinary shares of 1p each

Basic and diluted weighted average number of Ordinary shares 

Basic and diluted loss pence per share

2021
£’000

(3,610)

2021
No.

2020
£’000

(3,306)

2020
No.

269,964,886

254,915,148

(1.34)

(1.30)

At 31 December 2021 and 2020 there were share options outstanding (see note 24) which could potentially have a dilutive impact but were 
anti-dilutive in both years.

12. Intangible assets

Cost

At 1 January 2020

Additions

At 31 December 2020

Additions

At 31 December 2021

Amortisation/impairment

At 1 January 2020

Charge for year

At 31 December 2020

Charge for year

At 31 December 2021

Net book value

At 31 December 2021

At 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2020

i) Intellectual property

Arising from business combinations

Other intangibles

Goodwill
£’000

 Intellectual 
property
£’000

Capitalised 
development 
costs
£’000

Brand
£’000

Software 
licences
£’000

3,328

–

3,328

–

3,328

3,328

–

3,328

–

3,328

–

–

–

3,038

–

3,038

–

3,038

1,440

469

1,909

331

2,240

798

1,129

1,598

133

–

133

–

133

91

27

118

15

133

–

15

42

2,949

568

3,517

1,275

4,792

2,257

441

2,698

334

3,032

1,760

819

692

 25

–

25

–

25

25

–

25

–

25

–

–

–

Total
£’000

9,473

568

10,041

1,275

11,316

7,141

937

8,078

680

8,758

2,558

1,963

2,332

Intellectual property (IP) was acquired as part of the acquisition of IML and IUL and is amortised over their estimated useful lives of five and 
10 years respectively. The IP acquired from IML relates to the HeartWorks echocardiology simulator software and associated trademarks. 
The IP acquired from IUL relates to the ScanNav Assist software and ultrasound scan images. 

Material individual intangible assets within IP are as follows:

•  £Nil (2020: £0.21m) in relation to the acquisition of IML as at 31 December 2021; and

•  £0.80m (2020: £0.94m) in relation to the acquisition of IUL with a remaining amortisation period of 5.75 years as at 31 December 2021.

ii) Capitalised development costs

Amortisation is charged on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, on the following basis:

Development costs

Software licences

20%

33%

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

94

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

12. Intangible assets continued
In 2021, the Group has revised the estimated useful life of the internally developed intangible assets from three years to five years, based on an 
updated view of the expected technical obsolescence of such assets. However, the actual useful life might be shorter or longer than five years, 
depending on technical innovations and competitor actions. This change in accounting estimate in 2021 has been accounted for prospectively.

This impact of the change in estimate resulted in a reduction in the amortisation charge of £0.18m

iii) Impairment tests

For the intangible assets that have a finite life, the Directors considered the need to impair the carrying value of all intangible assets by 
performing an assessment of indicators of impairment at a CGU level. The Group intangible assets include intellectual property (IP) acquired as 
part of the Intelligent Ultrasound Limited (IUL) acquisition in 2017 of £0.8m. These intangible assets were required to be tested for impairment 
following a review of impairment indicators. The recoverable amount of the asset was determined based on value-in-use calculations. The 
calculations used five year discounted cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a two year period. 
Cashflows for periods four to five are extrapolated using estimated growth rates of 5% and growth rates beyond five years of 2%, which are 
consistent with forecasts specific to the sector in which the CGU operates. The impairment review concluded that no impairment was required.

The calculation of the value-in-use is most sensitive to the following assumption:

•  Estimates in revenue growth 

See page 86 for the sensitivity of this intangible asset to reasonably possible changes in assumptions.

13. Property, plant & equipment
i) Group

Leasehold 
improvements 
£’000

Furniture & 
fixtures  
£’000

Plant & 
equipment  

£’000

Right-of-use 
assets 
£’000

Cost

At 1 January 2020

Additions

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2020

Additions

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2021

Depreciation

At 1 January 2020

Charge for year

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2020

Charge for year

Disposals

Foreign exchange

At 31 December 2021

Net book value

At 31 December 2021

At 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2020

–

63

–

–

63

7

–

–

70

–

10

–

–

10

17

–

–

27

43

53

–

91

14

(77)

–

28

15

–

–

43

59

14

(65)

–

8

10

–

–

18

25

20

32

Total 
£’000

1,129

1,198

(289)

(3)

2,035

594

(10)

2

929

276

(212)

–

993

479

–

–

109

845

–

(3)

951

93

(10)

2

1,472

1,036

2,621

488

271

(198)

–

561

263

–

–

824

648

432

441

35

111

–

(3)

143

218

(10)

1

352

684

808

74

582

406

(263)

(3)

722

508

(10)

1

1,221

1,400

1,313

547

Total depreciation expense of £0.51m (2020: £0.41m) has been charged to administrative expenses in the income statement. 

The addition of £0.09m to the right-of-use assets relate to a fair value adjustment arising from the renewal of the IUNA office lease.

The disposal of the right-to-use asset in 2021 relates to a non-cash disposal of a leased vehicle.

ii) Company

Cost

At 1 January 2020 

Additions

As at 31 December 2020 and 31 December 2021

Depreciation

At 1 January 2020 

Charge for year

At 31 December 2020

Charge for year

At 31 December 2021

Net book value

At 31 December 2021

At 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2020

iii) Leases 
The balance sheet shows the following amounts relating to leases:

Right-of-use assets

Premises

Vehicles

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Less: unearned interest

Analysed as:

Current

Non-current

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

95

Right-of-use 
assets  
£’000

–

718

718

–

43

43

143

186

532

675

–

2020
£’000

675

–

675

2020
£’000

152

160

133

160

113

718

(77)

641

123

518

641

Group

Company

2021
£’000

669

14

683

Group

2021
£’000

241

186

185

116

–

728

(58)

670

213

457

670

2020
£’000

776

32

808

2020
£’000

204

191

164

185

117

861

(88)

773

170

603

773

2021
£’000

532

–

532

Company

2021
£’000

160

133

160

114

–

567

(48)

519

138

381

519

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

96

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

13. Property, plant & equipment continued
Set out below are the movements during the period in the carrying amount of the lease liability:

Group

Company

At 1 January

Non-cash changes

New leases

Interest on lease liability

Cash changes

Interest paid 

Principal repaid

At 31 December

2021
£’000

773

92

37

(37)

(195)

670

2020
£’000

73

762

17

(17)

(62)

773

Leases are the only liability arising from financing activities.

The following amounts relating to leases are recognised in profit and loss in the year to 31 December 2021:

Short-term or low-value lease expense

Depreciation expense on right-of-use assets – property

Depreciation expense on right-of-use assets – vehicles

Interest expense on lease liabilities

Cash outflows from short-term or low-value leases are £nil (2020: £0.047m).

14. Investments in subsidiaries

At 1 January 

Equity settled share options granted to employees of subsidiaries

At 31 December

2021
£’000

641

–

(30)

(29)

(123)

519

2021
£’000

2

209

9

37

257

2020
£’000

–

641

11

(11)

–

641

2020
£’000

47

101

10

17

175

Company

2021
£’000

5,459

492

5,951

2020
£’000

5,310

149

5,459

The movement in the year represents the capital contribution made by the Company to its subsidiaries for the cost of remunerating the 
subsidiary’s employees under share-based payment arrangements which will be settled in the Company’s own shares. The movement is 
equal to the share-based payment expense recognised in the subsidiaries. An equal credit to equity has been reflected in the statement of 
changes in equity. 

The Company’s subsidiary undertakings are as follows:

Name of undertaking

MedaPhor Limited (Med)

Company number

Incorporated in

05176992

England & Wales

Intelligent Ultrasound North America Incorporated (IUNA)

–

USA

Intelligent Ultrasound Limited (IUL)

IML Finance Limited (dormant)

Inventive Medical Limited (dormant)

MedaPhor International Limited (dormant)

Intelligent Ultrasound Innovations Limited (dormant)

08107443

10289063

06468381 

08838635

13772674

England & Wales

England & Wales

England & Wales

England & Wales

England & Wales

Interest in Ordinary 
share capital

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

The registered office for the undertakings incorporated in England & Wales is Floor 6A Hodge House, 114–116 St Mary Street, Cardiff, CF10 
1DY. IUNA’s registered office address 12600 Deerfield Parkway, Suite 100, Alpharetta, GA 30004.

The principal activity of Med is the development and sale of simulation-based ultrasound training equipment. The principal activity of IUNA is 
the sale of simulation-based ultrasound training equipment. 

The principal activity of IUL is the sale and development of AI-based medical imaging software.

MedaPhor International Limited, IML Finance Limited and Intelligent Ultrasound Innovations Limited are dormant companies. 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

97

Impairment review of the carrying amount of the Company’s investments in subsidiaries

The Directors perform an annual impairment assessment for the investments held in subsidiaries by the Company. If indicators of 
impairment exist, the recoverable amount of the investment is determined based on value-in-use calculations which require the use of 
assumptions. The calculations use five-year discounted cash flow (DCF) projections based on financial budgets approved by management 
covering a two year period. Cashflows for periods three to five are extrapolated using estimated growth rates and growth rates beyond five 
years are consistent with forecasts specific to the sector in which the subsidiary operates. 

The net present value of the DCF has been calculated using a pre-tax discount rate of 12.98% (2020: 13.20%) and a growth rate of 2.00% 
(2020: 2.00%) was used to determine the terminal value. The conclusion of this impairment review was that no further impairment was 
required in 2021 (2020: £nil).

15. Inventories

Raw materials

Work in progress

Finished goods 

Group

2021
£’000

617

510

69

1,196

2020
£’000

869

172

6

1,047

The costs of individual items of inventory are determined using weighted average cost. Inventories recognised as an expense during the 
year ended 31 December 2021 amounted to £2.51m (2020: £1.61m). These were included in ‘cost of sales’. The above figures include a 
provision for obsolete stock of £nil (2020: £0.35m).

Inventory written off in the year, included within ‘cost of sales’, totalled £0.05m (2020: £0.07m).

Inventories of £1.2m (2020: £1.0m) are expected to be recovered within 12 months. 

16. Trade and other receivables 
i) Included within non-current assets

Financial assets at amortised cost

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Group

Company

2021
£’000

61

–

61

2020
£’000

61

–

61

2021
£’000

61

14,881

14,942

2020
£'000

61

12,526

12,587

The financial assets at amortised cost represent refundable deposits paid to the landlord of the UK head office. Its value recorded in the 
balance sheet is considered to be a reasonable approximation of fair value.

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings relate to Med, IUL and IUNA.

ii) Included within current assets

Trade receivables

Other receivables 

VAT and other sales taxes

Prepayments

Group

Company

2021
£’000

1,882

67

175

 526

2,650

 2020
£’000

1,639

7

199

180

2,025

2021
£’000

–

–

28

204

232

2020
£'000

–

–

38

78

116

The carrying value of trade and other receivables approximates fair value.

Group
Trade receivables are initially recognised at their transaction price and subsequently measured at their amortised cost using the effective 
interest method less any loss allowance. The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses using a 
lifetime expected credit loss for trade receivables. To measure expected credit losses on a collective basis, trade receivables are grouped 
based on similar credit risk and ageing. Customers are assigned one of four credit risk profiles (A to D) with A being the lowest credit risk 
profile (institutional customers such as hospitals and medical schools) and D the highest (non-institutional customers with a poor credit 
history). The expected loss probability rates are based on management’s experience of historical credit losses for each group of trade 
receivables. The resultant provision matrix is then adjusted for current and forward-looking information based upon management’s 
knowledge of the customer concerned and the prospects of recovery. The allowance that has been made for estimated irrecoverable trade 
receivables is £0.024m (2020: £0.11m). The movement in the impairment allowance is included in Administrative Expenses in profit and loss. 

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

98

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

16. Trade and other receivables continued
At 31 December 2021 the lifetime expected loss allowance for trade receivables is as follows:

Expected loss rate

Customer profile A

Customer profile B

Customer profile C

Customer profile D

Trade receivables

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance

Trade receivables – net

Current

1–30 days 
past due

31–60 days 
past due

61–90 days 
past due

More than 90 
days past due 

0%

0%

0.5%

5%

Current
£’000

943

–

943

0%

0%

5%

10%

0%

5%

10%

15%

10%

15%

20%

25%

15%

20%

25%

30%

1–30 days 
past due
£’000

31–60 days 
past due
£’000

61–90 days 
past due
£’000

More than 90 
days past due
£’000 

340

–

340

73

(1)

72

325

–

325

225

(23)

202

Total
2021
£’000

1,906

(24)

1,882

At 31 December 2020 the lifetime expected loss allowance for trade receivables was as follows:

Expected loss rate

Customer profile A

Customer profile B

Customer profile C

Customer profile D

Trade receivables

Gross carrying amount

Loss allowance

Trade receivables – net

Current

1–30 days 
past due

31–60 days 
past due

61–90 days 
past due

More than 90 
days past due 

0%

0%

0.5%

5%

Current
£’000

1,041

(7)

1,034

0%

0%

5%

10%

0%

5%

10%

15%

5%

10%

15%

20%

10%

15%

20%

36%

1–30 days 
past due
£’000

31–60 days 
past due
£’000

61–90 days 
past due
£’000

More than 90 
days past due
£’000 

207

–

207

14

–

14

241

(33)

208

248

(72)

176

Total
 2020 
£’000 

1,751

(112)

1,639

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

Movements in the loss allowance for trade receivables are as follows:

At 1 January 

(Decrease)/increase in loss allowance during the year

At 31 December

There are no trade receivables within the Company.

Company
Impairment allowance in respect of receivables from subsidiary undertakings

At 1 January

Increase in loss allowance during the year

Reversal of loss allowance

At 31 December

Group

2021
£’000

112

(88)

24

2020
£’000

92

20

112

Company

2021
£’000

5,348

1,641

(15)

6,974

2020
£’000

10,132

15

(4,799)

5,348

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

99

The gross carrying values for the Company upon which the loss allowance is based is as follows:

Risk  

category

In default

In default

In default

Carrying 
value
£’000

18,469

–

3,383

21,866

2021

Loss 
allowance
£’000

(5,194)

–

(1,777)

(6,971)

Carrying 
value
£’000

15,399

15

2,460

17,874

2020

Loss 
allowance
£’000

(5,119)

(15)

(214)

(5,348)

Net
£’000

13,275

–

1,606

14,881

Net
£’000

10,280

–

2,246

12,526

Med

IUNA

IUL

At 31 December

The intercompany loans are interest free and repayable on demand. Under IFRS 9, these amounts fall under the definition of ‘Hold to 
Collect’ receivables and meet the SPPI test and consequently these amounts should be included at Amortised Cost and the General ECL 
model should be adopted.

An intercompany receivable is considered to be in default when there is evidence that the borrower will have insufficient liquid assets to 
repay the amount due on demand. The assessment of whether a receivable is credit impaired focuses on events that have already taken 
place which provide evidence of impairment. In the case of the amounts due from Med Ltd and IUL:

•  There is no history of repayment. 

•  The indebtedness has increased year-on-year. 

•  The subsidiaries would be insolvent without funding from PLC. 

•  The subsidiaries would have no prospect of repayment of the amounts if demanded by PLC (or their fellow subsidiary to whom they owe 

the amount) (and would not be able to borrow from a third party to make the repayment).

The amounts due to the Company are therefore considered credit impaired and so are at Stage 3 = Life-time ECL, interest on a net basis.

The loss allowances for intercompany receivables are based on assumptions about risk of default and expected loss rates. The Group uses 
judgement in making these assumptions and selecting the inputs to the impairment calculation, based on the Group’s past history and 
existing market conditions, as well as forward-looking estimates at the end of each reporting period. 

The estimation technique used to measure the expected credit loss was based upon a weighted average assessment of six different 
scenarios impacting cash flows as follows:

Scenario

Scenario description

1

2

3

4

5

6

Performs to budget

As scenario 1 and sold* for 5 x EBITDA in year 5

Exceeds budget by 20%

As scenario 3 and sold for 5 x EBITDA in year 5

Underperforms against budget by 20%

As scenario 5 and sold for 5 x EBITDA in year 5

*  sold refers to the disposal of the investment in the entity.

There has been no change in the estimation techniques or significant assumptions made during the current reporting period. There are no 
financial instruments for which credit risk has increased significantly since initial recognition.

Sensitivity analysis

Amounts due from Med

i) If the probability of Med:

•  performing to budget reduces from 40% to 30%

•  exceeding budget by 20% reduces from 5% to 0%

•  underperforming budget by 20% increases from 10% to 25%

The loss allowance recognised would increase by £1.65m.

ii) If the probability of Med:

•  performing to budget reduces from 40% to 39.5%

•  underperforming budget by 20% increases from 10% to 11.5%

The loss allowance recognised would increase by £0.17m. 

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

100

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

16. Trade and other receivables continued
Amounts due from IUL

i) If the probability of IUL:

•  performing to budget reduces from 30% to 20%

•  exceeding budget by 20% reduces from 15% to 0%

•  underperforming budget by 20% increased from 5% to 30%

The loss allowance recognised would increase by £0.53m.

ii) If the probability of IUL:

•  performing to budget reduces from 30% to 25%

•  underperforming budget by 20% increased from 5% to 10%

The loss allowance recognised would increase by £0.17m.

17. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and on hand

18. Trade and other payables

Current liabilities

Trade payables

Taxation and social security

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Accruals 

Share warrants

Non-current liabilities

Other payables

Group

Company

2021
£’000

4,950

2020
£’000

 8,774

2021
£’000

1,507

2020
£’000

 6,175

Group

Company

2021
£’000

1,353

179

–

1,235

–

2,767

65

2,832

2020
£’000

842

169

–

829

61

1,901

65

1,966

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

259

–

14

72

–

345

65

410

172

–

–

63

61

296

65

361

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of current and non-current liabilities approximates their fair value.

Amounts owed to Group undertakings relate to Intelligent Ultrasound North America Inc and is considered to approximate it’s fair value.

The share warrants are explained in note 22.

Other payables relate to a dilapidation liability payable at the end of the UK office lease in 2026.

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

101

19. Deferred income

Deferred income expected to be recognised

Within one year – included in current liabilities

In the second to fifth years inclusive – included in non-current liabilities

Group

2021
£’000

206

320

526

2020
£’000

142

275

417

Deferred revenue released to the income statement in 2021 is £0.312m (2020: £0.246m).

The vast majority of the Group’s contracts are for delivery of goods and services within the next 12 months. However, certain support and 
extended warranty contracts have been entered into which extend beyond 12 months and the value of these contracts is included in 
deferred income within current and non-current liabilities. 

20. Provisions 
Remedial and warranty provision

At 1 January

Provision made in the year

Utilised in the year

Released in the year

At 31 December

Group

2021
£’000

10

12

–

–

22

2020
£’000

95

–

(10)

(75)

10

The warranty provision is estimated to be due within one year. 

The provision represents management’s best estimate of the Group’s liability for remedial work and warranties granted on products sold net 
of warranty amounts recoverable from its suppliers. The Group sources its simulation system hardware from third-party suppliers and, while 
there is always some uncertainty relating to new technology, the actual annual remedial and warranty costs incurred suggest that the 
provision is sufficient. 

21. Non-current liabilities – deferred taxation

At 1 January

Released 

At 31 December

Group

 2021
£’000

–

–

–

2020
£’000

 288

 (288)

–

Where a deferred tax liability arises in Med and IUL, an equal amount of trade losses has been recognised so the net position at entity level 
is nil. The deferred tax liabilities relate to accelerated capital allowances mainly due to claims for annual investment allowances (AIA) with 
respect to eligible fixed asset additions and R&D claims in Med where development costs are capitalised and R&D claims are made under 
s.1308 CTA 2009, reducing the tax base of these assets. 

22. Share capital and share warrants

Authorised, allotted, issued and fully paid

Number 

£’000 

Number

 2021

2020

Ordinary shares of 1p each

Balance at 1 January

Shares issued for cash

At 31 December

269,396,792

1,256,693

270,653,485

2,694

13

2,707

219,996,792

49,400,000

269,396,792

The nominal values and the premium arising on shares issued in 2021 and 2020 are as follows:

Date

4 May 2020

19 July 2021

Number 
of shares

49,400,000

1,256,693

Nominal value
£’000

494

13

£’000

2,200

494

2,694

Premium
£’000

4,693

–

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

102

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

22. Share capital and share warrants continued

On 4 May 2020 the Company placed 49,400,000 newly issued shares of 1 pence each in the capital of the Company at a price of 
10.5 pence per share. Share issue costs of £387k have been netted off against the share premium arising on the new share issue.

On 7 July 2021 pursuant to a receipt of notice for the exercise of warrants, the Company issued 1,256,693 new Ordinary shares with a 
nominal value of £0.01 each at a subscription price of £0.01 per Ordinary share. The Company has received gross proceeds of £12,566.93.

Ordinary shares have a par value of 1 pence. They entitle the holder to participate in dividends, and to share in the proceeds of winding up 
the company in proportion to the number of and amounts paid on the shares held. On a show of hands, every holder of ordinary shares 
present at a meeting, in person or by proxy, is entitled to one vote; and, on a poll, each share is entitled to one vote. Ordinary shares have 
equal rights, preferences and no restrictions on distributions of dividends nor the repayment of capital.

The Company does not have a limited amount of authorised capital.

Share warrants

The consideration for the acquisition of IUL on 6 October 2017 included 837,795 share warrants with a fair value of £125,669 which were 
issued on completion. The terms of the warrant instrument agreement allow the holder to subscribe for a fixed number of shares in the 
Company at any time until 10 July 2021 for a fixed subscription price. In accordance with IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments: Presentation’, a 
contract that will be settled by the entity delivering a fixed number of its own equity instruments in exchange for a fixed amount of cash or 
another financial asset is an equity instrument. 

One third of the consideration payable in respect of the acquisition of IUL in 2017 was deferred for 12 months from completion with the 
actual number of deferred shares and warrants to be issued dependent on any vendor warranty or indemnity breaches (as specified in the 
Sale and Purchase Agreement) arising during that 12-month period. The Company was not aware of any vendor warranty or indemnity 
breaches and so the 418,897 deferred consideration warrants were issued at their fair value. These warrants remained as a financial liability 
and measured at fair value through the income statement until their exercise in 2021. 

The fair value of share warrants is based upon a level 1 hierarchy according to IFRS 13. All warrants were exercised on 7 July 2021, 
therefore their values as at 31 December 2021 was £nil (2020: £0.126m).

The share warrant liability of £0.06m and the share warrant reserve of £0.13m were both extinguished directly through equity resulting in a 
new undistributable reserve of £0.17m. The fair value movements since initial recognition of the liability of £0.02m were transferred directly to 
retained earnings.

23. Share-based payments
Share options

The Company has issued options under the Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc EMI Approved Share Option Scheme and several individual 
unapproved share option schemes to subscribe for Ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the Company. The purpose of the share option 
schemes is to retain and motivate eligible employees and Directors. 

Group

The movement in share options outstanding is summarised in the following table:

At 1 January

Granted 

Forfeited/lapsed

At 31 December

Vested and exercisable at 31 December

2021

2020

Number of
options

23,699,323

1,105,000

 (968,000)

23,836,323

5,299,082

Weighted average 
exercise price
(pence)

15.21

16.51

(14.93)

15.28

17.66

Number of
options

14,071,944

10,645,039

 (1,017,660)

23,699,323

3,108,402

Weighted average 
exercise price
(pence)

15.56

14.78

(15.51)

15.21

23.20

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

103

No share options were exercised in the year.

968,000 options expired during the periods covered by the above table as detailed below. 

The exercise price and number of shares to which the options relate are as follows:

Option 
exercise 
price
(pence)

Grant 
date

2020

Granted 

Forfeited/
lapsed

2021

Expiry 
(years)

Risk-free 
rate of 
return
%

Expected
volatility
%

Vested

Notes

Unapproved schemes

16.51

19.00

42.50

16.22

12.75

12.50

11.25

7.75

8.00

11.00

15.00

15.00

15/08/14

168,000

15/08/14

296,000

30/06/14

350,000

06/10/17

268,920

06/10/17

500,000

19/01/18

600,000

29/05/18

2,709,040

20/12/18

150,000

18/01/19

150,000

09/08/19

150,000

24/10/20

–

21/12/20

3,054,292

EMI schemes

15/08/14

644,000

30/06/14

904,000

15/08/14

01/01/16

18/08/16

21/12/16

23,529

20,000

20,000

80,000

04/04/17

200,000

06/10/17

317,835

19/01/18

1,950,000

29/05/18

3,332,960

18/01/19

220,000

09/08/19

50,000

24/04/20

1,450,000

23/10/20

1,013,529

21/12/20

5,077,218

16.51

42.50

50.00

51.50

42.50

29.00

20.50

0.240

12.50

11.25

8.00

11.00

12.00

15.00

15.25

16.51

Total

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(168,000)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

296,000

350,000

268,920

500,000

600,000

2,709,040

150,000

150,000

150,000

–

3,054,292

644,000

904,000

23,529

20,000

20,000

80,000

200,000

317,835

1,950,000

3,332,960

220,000

50,000

(150,000)

1,300,000

(150,000)

 863,629

(500,000)

4,577,218

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

3.690

1.790

2.815

1.410

1.410

1.409

1.339

1.285

1.380

0.540

0.330

0.240

1.790

2.815

2.508

 2.009

0.687

1.440

1.071

1.410

1.408

1.339

1.380

0.540

0.300

0.330

0.240

0.800

40.0

35.0

35.0

35.0

35.0

37.0

–

Fully vested

296,000

Fully vested

350,000

Fully vested

268,920

Fully vested

301,593

Fully vested

–

(iv)

38.9 2,709,040

Fully vested

58.0

46.6

61.9

76.4

75.3

35.0

35.0

35.0

17.0

22.0

32.0

32.0

35.0

37.0

38.9

46.6

61.9

75.7

76.4

75.3

69.2

150,000

Fully vested

–

–

–

–

(vi)

(vi)

(vi)

(vii)

644,000

Fully vested

376,000

23,529

20,000

20,000

80,000

60,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(i)

Fully vested

Fully vested

Fully vested

Fully vested

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

(vi)

(vi)

(v)

(vi)

(vii)

(viii)

02/12/21

1,105,000

–

1,105,000

23,699,323 1,105,000

(968,000) 23,836,333

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

104

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

23. Share-based payments continued
The weighted average exercise price for options granted in the year is equivalent to the weighted average fair value of the options at the 
measurement date.

The fair value of the equity-settled share options granted is estimated as at the date of grant using a binomial probability option pricing 
model taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. The volatility has been estimated by reference to 
comparable listed companies and the dividend yield has been assumed to be 0% for all schemes.

The Group charged £0.53m to the statement of comprehensive income in respect of share-based payments for the financial year ended 
31 December 2021 (2020: £0.15m).

The weighted average remaining life of all share options outstanding at 31 December 2021 is seven years and two months (2020: eight 
years and 0 months).

Vesting conditions:

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

(vi) 

(vii)  

 236,000 of these options will vest when the Group achieves breakeven EBITDA for a financial year; 312,000 of these options will vest 
on the earlier of the Group achieving EBITDA of £2m or £10m revenue for a financial year and the remainder have vested.

 60,000 of these options vest when the Group achieves breakeven EBITDA for a financial year; 80,000 of these options will vest on the 
earlier of the Group achieving EBITDA of £2m or £10m revenue for a financial year and the remainder vested on 4 April 2020.

 301,593 of these options vested on 31 December 2020 and the remainder vest in equal instalments until May 2021.

 266,742 of these options vest when the Company’s share price reaches 25p; 1,094,964 vest when the share price reaches 37.5p and 
1,347,334 vest when the share price hits 50p.

 1,747,257 of these options vest when the Company’s share price reaches 25p; 919,035 vest when the share price reaches 37.5p and 
666,668 vest when the share price reaches 50p.

These options vest three years from grant date.

 For 3,608,265 of these options, 1/36 vest 12 months from grant date. After the initial 12 months, 1/36 vest per month for the 
remaining 24 months. 4,523,245 of these options vest three years from grant date.

(viii)  1,105,000 of these options vest two years from the grant date.

Company

The movement in share options outstanding is summarised in the following table:

At 1 January

Granted 

Lapsed

At 31 December

Vested and exercisable at 31 December

2021

2020

Number of
options

1,849,000

–

 (168,000)

1,681,000

1,366,513

Weighted average 
exercise price
(pence)

19.98

–

16.51

20.33

21.86

Number of
options

1,732,920

116,080

–

1,849,000

1,534,513

Weighted average 
exercise price
(pence)

20.30

15.00

–

19.98

21.27

The share options in the Company relate to historical options granted to Non-executive Directors and internal consultants.

No share options were exercised in the year. The weighted average exercise price for options granted in the year is equivalent to the 
weighted average fair value of the options at the measurement date.

168,000 options expired during the periods covered by the above table as detailed below. 

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

105

The exercise price and number of shares to which the options relate are as follows:

Option exercise price
(pence)

Grant 
date

EMI schemes

2020

Lapsed

2021

16.22

06/10/17

135,000

–

135,000

Unapproved schemes

16.51

19.00

42.50

16.22

12.75

7.75

15.00

Total

15/08/14

168,000

(168,000)

–

15/08/14

296,000

30/06/14

350,000

06/10/17

133,920

06/10/17

500,000

20/12/18

150,000

21/12/20

116,080

–

–

–

–

–

–

296,000

350,000

133,920

500,000

150,000

116,080

1,849,000

(168,000)

1,681,000

Risk-free 
rate of 
return
%

Expected
volatility
%

Expiry 
(years)

Vested

Notes

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

10

1,410

35.0

133,920

Fully vested

3.690

1.790

2.815

1.410

1.410

1.285

0.24

40.0

35.0

35.0

35.0

35.0

58.0

75.3

–

Fully vested

296,000

Fully vested

350,000

Fully vested

133,920

Fully vested

301,593

Fully vested

150,000

Fully vested

–

(i)

The fair value of the equity-settled share options granted is estimated as at the date of grant using a binomial probability option pricing 
model taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. The volatility has been estimated by reference 
to comparable listed companies and the dividend yield has been assumed to be 0% for all schemes.

The Company charged £0.038m to the statement of comprehensive income in respect of share-based payments for the financial year 
ended 31 December 2021 (2020: £0.006m (£60k)).

The weighted average remaining life of all share options outstanding at 31 December 2021 is four years and ten months (2020: five years 
and seven months).

Vesting conditions

(i) 

These options vest three years from the grant date.

24. Related party transactions
i) Key management personnel compensation

Details of the remuneration and share transactions of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, are disclosed in 
the Remuneration Report and in note 10. 

ii) Transactions with related parties

Med, IUNA, IML and IUL are related parties by virtue of being subsidiary companies of the Company. During the year working capital 
funding was provided by the Company to Med and IUL. The gross amounts outstanding from subsidiary undertakings to the Company at 
31 December 2021 totalled £21.855m (2020: £17.874m). The gross amounts owed by the Company at 31 December 2021 totalled £0.014m 
(2020: £Nil).

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

106

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

24. Related party transactions continued
The company incurs an obligation to settle share based payment arrangements relating to employees of subsidiary companies (IUL, Med, 
IUNA). The cost is reflected in the movement in the cost of investment in note 14.

IP Group plc (IPG) is a related party by virtue of their significant shareholdings in the Company. David Baynes and Stuart Gall held an 
interest in IPG during the year. David Baynes is a Director of IPG and Stuart Gall, until April 2020, undertook consultancy work on retainer 
for IPG. The value of the expenses (which exclude Directors’ fees noted above) paid to IPG are disclosed below. 

Professor Nazar Amso is a Director of the Company and also a Director and shareholder of Advanced Medical Simulation Online Limited 
(“AMSOL”). The value of the goods and services sold to AMSOL are disclosed below.

Company

Med (working capital)

Med (recharges, e.g. Director fees, VAT and insurance refunds)

IUNA (working capital)

IUNA (expenses)

IUL (working capital)

IUL (expenses)

IPG (expenses) 

Group

AMSOL (goods and services sold)

IPG (expenses)

2021
£’000

3,500

(430)

–

(15)

880

43

50

2021
£’000

–

50

2020
£’000

3,300

(426)

15

–

840

–

64

2020
£’000

 (6)

 64

iii) Outstanding balances arising from sales and purchases of goods and services

Net amounts after allowance for expected credit losses owed by/(to) each related party. See note 16 for detail on expected credit 
losses recognised.

Company

Med

IUL

IUNA

Net amount owed by subsidiaries (after credit losses)

IPG

Group

AMSOL

IPG

2021
£’000

13,275

1,606 

(14)

2020
£’000

10,280

2,246

–

14,867

12,526

–

(16)

2021
£’000

–

–

2020
£’000

4

(16)

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

107

25. Financial instruments
i) Financial risk factors – Group and Company

The Group and Company has exposure to liquidity, credit and market risks from its use of financial instruments. This note sets out the 
Group’s key policies and processes for managing these risks.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is that the Group and Company might be unable to meet its obligations and arises from trade and other payables. The Group 
manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate cash reserves and by continuously monitoring forecasts and actual cash flows.

Capital risk management 

The Company’s objectives when managing capital, which comprises all components of equity, are to safeguard the Group’s ability to 
continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal 
capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. The Company reviews the recoverable amount of each trade debt on individual basis at the 
end of each reporting period to ensure that adequate loss allowance is made for irrecoverable amount. In order to maintain or adjust the 
capital structure, the Company may, issue new shares or sell assets.

Credit risk

The Group and Company’s principal financial assets are bank balances and trade and other receivables. The credit risk is primarily attributable 
to its trade receivables and the Group and Company attaches considerable importance to the collection and management of trade receivables. 
Standard credit terms are net 30 days from date of invoice. Overdue trade receivables are managed through a phased escalation culminating 
in legal action but in general credit risk is considered very low. Please refer to note 16 for more detail on the expected credit loss.

The credit risk associated with bank balances is considered as limited because the counterparties are banks with A-rated credit scores 
assigned by international credit-rating agencies such as Moody’s and Standard & Poors.

Foreign currency risk 

The Group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Hence, exposures to exchange rate fluctuations arise. The 
Group’s main exposure is to the US dollar (USD) and the Euro (EUR). 

Amounts owed by and investments in subsidiary undertakings (Company only)

In addition to the financial risk factors facing the Group described above, the Company also provides working capital funding for its trading 
subsidiaries; Med, IUNA and IUL which are included within the intercompany loan balance although repayable on demand is not expected 
to be repaid in the next 12 months. The funding provided is supported by annual budgets including monthly cash flows which are approved 
at the start of each year by the Board. The recoverability of the amounts owed to the Company by its subsidiary undertakings and the 
Company’s investments in its subsidiary undertakings are dependent on the ability of the subsidiary undertaking businesses to grow in line 
with the longer term forecasts of the Group. The Board monitors the performance of the Company’s subsidiary undertakings by monthly 
reviews of management accounts including the sales order pipeline and cash flows compared to budget. The Company has determined 
that the amounts due from its subsidiary undertakings at 31 December 2021 totalling £6.97m (2020: £5.35m) were credit impaired. See note 
16 for the movement in the expected credit loss in the year. 

ii) Financial instruments by category – Group

Financial assets 

Financial assets measured at amortised cost

Trade and other receivables: non-current

Trade and other receivables: current

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

Trade payables 

Accruals

Non-current liabilities – other payables

Lease liabilities: current

Lease liabilities: non-current

Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit and loss

Share warrants

Total financial liabilities

2021
£’000

61

1,949

2,010

4,950

6,960

2021
£’000

1,353

704

65

213

457

–

2,792

2020
£’000

61

1,784

1,845 

8,774

10,619

2020
£’000

842

554

65

170

603

61

2,295

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

108

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

For the year ended 31 December 2021

25. Financial instruments continued
iii) Financial instruments by category – Company

Financial assets

Financial assets measured at amortised cost

Trade and other receivables: non-current

Trade and other receivables: current

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Cash and cash equivalents

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

Trade payables 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Accruals

Other payables: non-current

Lease liabilities: current

Lease liabilities: non-current

Financial liabilities measured at fair value through profit and loss

Share warrants

Total financial liabilities

Group and Company

2021
£’000

61

–

14,881

14,942

1,507

16,449

2020
£’000

61

–

12,526

12,587

6,175

18,762

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

259

14

72

65

138

381

–

929

172

–

63

65

123

518

61

1,002

Trade payables and receivables generally have a remaining life of less than one year so their value recorded in the balance sheet is 
considered to be a reasonable approximation of fair value. Other receivables relate to a refundable deposit paid to the landlord of the UK 
Head Office on expiration of the lease term in September 2026. Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are repayable on demand but 
are not expected to be repaid within the next 12 months.

Other payables relate to a dilapidation liability owed to the landlord of the UK head office payable on expiration of the lease term in 2026. 
The share warrants original expiry date was 10 July 2021. These were exercised on 7 July 2021.

The value of the amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings is considered to approximate fair value.

Please refer to note 13 for the maturity analysis of lease liabilities.

iv) Currency denomination 

Financial assets and liabilities are denominated in the following currencies:

Financial assets

Trade and other receivables
Sterling
US Dollar
Canadian Dollar
Euro

Cash and cash equivalents
Sterling
US Dollar
Canadian Dollar
Euro

Total financial assets

Group

Company

2021
£’000

937
647
308
118
2,010

2,080
2,236
57
577
4,950
6,960

2020
£’000

951
753
16
125
1,845

6,726
1,554
200
294
8,774
10,619

2021
£’000

14,942
–
–
–
14,942

1,505
2
–
–
1,507
16,449

2020
£’000

12,587
–
–
–
12,587

6,175
–
–
–
6,175
18,762

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

109

Group

Company

2021
£’000

2,049

429

117

197

2020
£’000

2,129

127

39

–

2021
£’000

2020
£’000

929

1,002

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,792

2,295

929

1,002

Financial liabilities

Trade payables:

Sterling

US Dollar

Euro

Swiss Franc

Total financial liabilities

v) Currency fluctuations

At the year end the Group was exposed to fluctuations in the US Dollar, Canadian Dollar, Swiss Franc and the Euro against Sterling. 
The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% increase or decrease in Sterling against the relevant foreign currencies rounded 
to the nearest £’000. 10% represents management’s assessment of a reasonable possible change in foreign currency exchange rates.

The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items and adjusts their translation at the period 
end for a 10% weakening in foreign currency rates. A negative number below indicates a decrease in profit where Sterling strengthens 
against the relevant currency. For a 10% strengthening in Sterling against the foreign currency, there would be an equal and opposite impact 
on profit and loss.

US Dollar

Canadian Dollar

Euro

Swiss Franc

26. Events after the reporting period
There are no events after the reporting period. 

27. Ultimate parent and controlling party
The ultimate parent company is Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc.

There was no overall controlling party as at 31 December 2021 or 31 December 2020.

Group

2021
£’000

277

41

68

(24)

2020
£’000

263

22

38

–

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

110

Glossary of Terms

Term

OBGYN

PNB Trainer

PACS

ECHO

PoCUS

TTE

TEE

ISUOG

NED

ESG

GHG

IU

OEM

QMS

RDEC

IUL

MED

IML

CGU

ECL

Description

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Peripheral Nerve Block Trainer

Picture Archiving and Communication System

Echocardiogram

Point-of-Care Ultrasound

Transthoracic echocardiogram 

Transoesophageal echocardiogram

International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Non-Executive Director

Environmental Social and Governance

Greenhouse Gas

Intelligent Ultrasound

Original Equipment Manufacturer

Quality Management System

Research and Development Expenditure Credit

Intelligent Ultrasound Limited

Medaphor Limited

Inventive Medical Limited

Cash Generating Unit

Expected Credit Losses

Overview Strategic Report Corporate Governance Financial Statements

111

Corporate Directory

Board of directors 
Nazar Amso 

Nicholas Avis 

Andrew Barker

David Baynes 

Stuart Gall 

Helen Jones 

Riccardo Pigliucci 

Nicholas Sleep

Ian Whittaker 

Ingeborg Øie

Michèle Lesieur 

Company secretary and registered office
Helen Jones

Floor 6A Hodge House

114–116 St Mary Street

Cardiff

CF10 1DY, United Kingdom

Auditor
Deloitte LLP

3 Rivergate

Bristol

BS1 6GD, United Kingdom

Registrar and receiving agents
Link Group

10th Floor

Central Square

29 Wellington Street

Leeds

LS1 4DL, United Kingdom

Nominated adviser and broker
Cenkos Securities Plc

6–8 Tokenhouse Yard

London

EC2R 7AS, United Kingdom

Public/investor relations
Walbrook PR Ltd

4 Lombard Street

London

EC3V 9HD, United Kingdom

Lawyers
Memery Crystal LLP

165 Fleet Street

London 

EC4A 2DY, United Kingdom

Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc  2021 Annual Report and Accounts

112

I

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Intelligent Ultrasound Group plc
Registered office:

Floor 6A Hodge House

114-116 St Mary Street

Cardiff, CF10 1DY

www.intelligentultrasound.com

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