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FY2011 Annual Report · iomart
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iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Annual Report and Accounts 2011

“Our confidence in iomart Hosting is critical to our 
business, if we can’t provide our service, there’s a 
real risk that vulnerable people will not receive the 
care they require.”

Ian McMullon, Managing Director, PeoplePlanner

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Financial Statements for year ended 31March 2011

Highlights

Financial

•	 Adjusted	EBITDA	growth	of	113%	to	£6.6m	(2010:		£3.1m)

•	 Profit	before	tax	growth	of	618%	to	£2.8m	(2010:	£0.4m*)

•	 Revenue	growth	of	38%	to	£25.3m	(2010:	£18.3m)

•	 Cashflow	from	operations	growth	of	82%	to	£7.1m	
	 (2010:	£3.9m)

•	 Basic	earnings	per	share	from	operations	increased	by	137%	
	 to	2.91p	(2010:	1.23p**)

•	 Proposed	final	dividend	increased	by	63%	to	0.65p	per	share	
	 (2010:	0.4p	per	share)

Operational

•	 iomart	Hosting	customer	base	increased	by	over	60%	with	
  substantial increase in sales of cloud based solutions

•	 Additional	7,000	sq	ft	of	space	fully	fitted	out	in	Maidenhead	
  datacentre

•	 Acquisition	of	Titan	Internet	Limited	for	£4.2m	in	October	
  2010 adds strong customer base and additional virtualisation 
	 expertise

•	 Introduction	of	additional	cloud	products	to	address	back	up,	
  storage, email and archiving

•	 Acquisition	of	Switch	Media	Limited	for	£1.2m	post	year	end,	
	 adding	customers	to	Easyspace

*  Profit	before	tax	of	£1.3m	in	2010	included	a	net	gain	on	reduction	in	deferred	consideration	of	£0.9m.	Excluding	this	gain,	the	
	 profit	before	tax	would	have	been	£0.4m	in	2010.

** Reported	basic	earnings	per	share	of	2.12p	in	2010	was	based	on	profit	after	tax	of	£2.1m	which	included	a	net	gain	on	
reduction	of	deferred	consideration	of	£0.9m.	Excluding	this	gain,	earnings	per	share	would	have	been	1.23p	in	2010.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

EBITDA	Growth	

113%	
to	£6.6M

PBT	Growth	

618%	
to	£2.8M

Revenue	Growth	

38%	
to	£25.3M

Dividend	Growth	

63%	
to 0.65p/share

Operating	Cash	Growth

 82%	
to	£7.1M

 
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
	
 
	
	
	
“We wanted a website that had a real design 
edge to it that showed off the branded 
quality products we had chosen in the best 
possible	light.	Easyspace	did	just	that.”

Maria	Parpas,	Owner,	Bathbox

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Contents

Chairman’s statement 

Chief executive officer’s report 

Finance director's report 

Corporate governance 

Report of the board to the members on directors’ remuneration 

Directors' report 

Statement of directors' responsibilities 

Board of directors 

Independent auditor's report to the members of iomart Group plc 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

Consolidated statement of financial position 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Notes to the financial statements 

Holding company financial statements 

Notice of annual general meeting 

Officers and professional advisers 

Group contact information 

1

3

4

6

9

11

15

17

19

20

21

22

23

24

26

56

64

69

70

www.iomart.com 

“Having the ability to deliver client software and our 
cloud-based management console from iomart Hosting’s 
infrastructure gives us a definite competitive and operational 
edge in a market where reliability is paramount, and security 
even more so.” 

Tom	Colvin,	Chief	Technology	Officer,	Conseal	Security

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

"The  increasing  demand  for  cloud  services  plays  firmly  to  our  strengths 
with our extensive experience in the successful provision of a wide range 
of  hosting,  virtual  computing,  storage  and  security  services  over  many 
years."

Ian Ritchie, Chairman

The Group has enjoyed another very successful year. That success is a result of a great deal 
of  hard  work  and  consolidates  our  position  as  one  of  the  UK’s  leading  managed  hosting 
operators. 

Having  moved  into  profitability  in  the  previous  financial  year  we  have  seen  that  level  of 
profitability  more  than  double  over  this  year  and  we  have  now  laid  very  firm  foundations 
for continued growth. Our organic growth, especially from our Hosting segment, has been 
very pleasing and we have added to that with the acquisition of Titan Internet Limited during 
the  year  and  also  with  the  acquisition  of  Switch  Media  Limited  after  the  year  end.  We  are 
confident that both will be excellent acquisitions for our Group.

The  increasing  demand  for  cloud  services  plays  firmly  to  our  strengths  with  our  extensive 
experience in the successful provision of a wide range of hosting, virtual computing, storage 
and security services over many years. We are in the position of owning and operating our 
own datacentre infrastructure and networks which we believe provides us with a significant 
advantage over our competitors.

As ever the commitment, enthusiasm and energy of our senior management team and all of 
our employees is essential in delivering this success. I thank them all on behalf of the Board 
and the shareholders.

As  I  indicated  last  year  we  are  committed  to  rewarding  shareholders  with  dividends  as  we 
deliver improved performance. Accordingly, the Board is proposing to pay a final dividend 
of 0.65p per share on 5 October 2011 to shareholders on the register on 10 June 2011 an 
increase of 63% over the dividend last year. We have decided that we will offer shareholders 
the option to participate in a Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) as an alternative to receiving 
cash. Details of the DRIP scheme will be distributed with the Annual Accounts in due course. I 
can also reconfirm that it is our intention, depending on the underlying profitability and cash 
generation of the business, to continue to pay annual dividends.

We begin the 2012 financial year in a strong position and I look forward to another exciting 
year of growth, both organically and through acquisition, for the Group. We can look ahead 
with considerable confidence.

Ian Ritchie
Chairman
31 May 2011

3

Chairman's Statement

"We begin the 
2012 financial 
year in a strong 
position and I 
look forward to 
another	exciting	
year of growth, 
both organically 
and through 
acquisition, for the 
Group."

www.iomart.com 

4

Chief Executive Officer's Report

"At iomart we have built our technologies from the ground up 
specifically to be delivered via the cloud. As a result we are 
becoming recognised as an authority on the provision of cloud-
hosting solutions and are well positioned to take advantage as 
the market evolves and people look for reliable vendors.”

Angus MacSween, Chief Executive Officer

Introduction
I am once again delighted to report another excellent year of trading for the Group. Having 
broken into profitability in our last financial year, we have more than doubled our profitability 
in  this  year  with  adjusted  EBITDA  of  £6.6m  (2010:  £3.1m)  which  is  at  the  top  end  of  the 
upgraded market expectations. This significant increase in profitability resulted from increased 
sales to both new and existing customers, with revenues growing by 38% to £25.3m (2010: 
£18.3m). In addition we substantially increased our cash generation in the year with cashflow 
from operations totalling £7.1m (2010: £3.9m). 

We  continue  to  see  a  growing  trend  for  the  outsourcing  of  infrastructure  and  services  to 
reliable suppliers with cloud computing expertise and experience. We are now recognised as 
a leading player in the hosting/cloud/managed services arena.

Whilst  cloud  computing  and  cloud-based  services  have  become  the  buzzwords  du  jour, 
it’s  important  to  understand  the  realities  beyond  the  hype.  Many  companies  are  adding 
the ‘cloud’ tag to whatever they do in the hope of some halo effect but many do not have 
reliable  or  well  tested  delivery  mechanisms  and  are  trying  to  shoehorn  legacy  technology 
into some form of online delivery. At iomart we have built our technologies from the ground 
up specifically to be delivered via the cloud and are ideally positioned to take advantage of 
the shift to cloud computing. We are continuing to expand our range of services to meet the 
market demand through the introduction of products to provide back up; storage; email and 
archiving as cloud based services.

During  the  year  the  Group  grew  through  both  organic  and  acquisitive  means.  We  were 
delighted to welcome Titan Internet to the Group in October 2010. The acquisition provides 
the  Group  with  an  excellent  customer  base  and  a  highly  skilled  and  motivated  workforce 
with  particular  expertise  in  virtualisation  technology.  After  the  year-end  on  26  April  2011 
we acquired Switch Media, an organisation that provides similar services to our Easyspace 
segment concentrating on providing services to newly created companies in the UK and the 
Republic of Ireland. We expect both to contribute to the ongoing profit growth of the Group 
as we fully exploit the integration synergies available.

Operational Review
Whilst all of our activities involve the provision of managed hosting services we are organised 
into two segments.

Hosting
The Hosting segment has performed very well over the year.  Its revenue growth has led to 
a  substantial  increase  in  adjusted  EBITDA  due  to  the  operational  gearing  we  are  able  to 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

“We have continued 
to invest in 
our datacentre 
infrastructure, our 
people and our 
products giving us 
an ideal platform 
from which to move 
forward. We are 
in a market that is 
growing and that 
is here to stay and 
we	fully	expect	to	
participate strongly in 
that growth.”

5

Chief Executive Officer's Report

leverage.  The  adjusted  EBITDA  for  the  year  from  the  Hosting  segment  was  £6.2m  (2010:  £2.8m)  an  increase  of  124%.  This 
increase includes the impact of the acquisition of Titan without which the increase would have been 106%.

Our hosting segment provides a range of managed hosting services, increasingly with an element of cloud or virtual computing, 
to SMEs and corporate customers. We address different market segments with different brands but all ‘sweating’ the same physical 
infrastructure and network. Complex hosting solutions to corporate customers are provided by iomart Hosting in a consultative 
sales  process;  dedicated  server  hosting  to  SMEs  is  marketed  online  by  Rapidswitch  and  cloud  security  services  to  the  large 
corporate and education sector through Netintelligence. In addition, Titan has been fully integrated into our Hosting segment 
providing managed hosting solutions, with a high degree of virtualisation, to SMEs and corporate customers.

The Hosting segment has seen revenue growth of 61% to £17.7m including the impact of the acquisition of Titan for the last five 
months of the year. The organic growth in this segment excluding Titan was an impressive 47% with the majority of this growth 
coming  from  the  activities  of  iomart  Hosting.  We  have  won  over  400  new  orders  in  the  year,  many  of  which  were  additional 
orders from existing customers. Increasingly, these orders contain some aspects of cloud or virtual computing within the overall 
solution and we are becoming recognised as an authority on the provision of cloud hosting solutions as that market opportunity 
evolves.

We  have  continued  to  invest  in  our  datacentre  estate  over  the  year.  We  clearly  have  a  competitive  advantage  through  the 
ownership of our own datacentre capacity and we completed the fit out of a further 7,000 square feet of datacentre space in 
Maidenhead during the year. 

Easyspace
Our  Easyspace  segment,  which  serves  the  micro  and  SME  market  with  a  range  of  products  including  domain  names,  shared 
hosting and dedicated and virtual servers has continued to perform well against its peers.
In a competitive market we have continued to increase revenues and profitability. Revenues have grown by 3% over the year to 
£7.6m and the adjusted EBITDA margin has increased from 35% last year to 37% this year, having been 30% in the year before 
last. The margin increase is largely as a result of the continued implementation of operational efficiencies within this segment.

Current Trading and outlook
The first two months of trading in the new financial year have been good and in line with expectations.

We are in a market that is both growing and we believe is here to stay. Combining the strength and resilience of our strong asset 
base with our technical expertise and commitment to customer uptime we fully expect to continue the growth we have seen in the 
last two years which we will achieve through both organic expansion and through the acquisition of businesses which we consider 
to be complementary to the Group.

I look forward with confidence to the year ahead 

Angus MacSween
Chief Executive Officer
31 May 2011

* Throughout the Chief Executive Officer, Finance Director and Directors’ reports adjusted EBITDA for March 2011 is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation 
(EBITDA)  before  share  based  payment  charges  and  costs  associated  with  acquisitions  and  for  March  2010  is  earnings  before  interest,  tax,  depreciation  and  amortisation 
(EBITDA) before share based payment charges and gain on reduction of deferred consideration.

www.iomart.com 

6

Finance Director's Report

“In the last two financial years the Hosting segment has grown 
revenues, through both organic and acquisitive means, from 
£4.6m in the year to March 2009 to £17.7m this year, an 
almost four fold increase.”

Richard Logan, Finance Director

Trading Results
Revenues for the year of £25.3m (2010: £18.3m) have grown by 38% with both of our operating 
segments having contributed to this growth.

The majority of the revenue growth was delivered by our Hosting segment. Revenues in the year 
from  this  segment  of  £17.7m  (2010:  £11.0m)  grew  by  61%.  This  growth  was  helped  by  the 
contribution from Titan Internet Limited which we acquired at the end of October. The growth in 
Hosting segment revenues excluding the impact of Titan was 47%. In the last two financial years the 
Hosting segment has grown revenues, through both organic and acquisitive means, from £4.6m 
in the year to March 2009 to £17.7m this year, an almost four fold increase.

Our Easyspace segment continues to perform well in a very competitive market and revenues from 
this segment of £7.6m (2010: £7.4m) grew by 3%.

Our  gross  margin,  which  is  calculated  by  deducting  our  variable  cost  of  sales  such  as  domain 
name  costs,  power  charges  and  sales  commission  and  the  relatively  fixed  costs  of  operating 
our  datacentres  from  revenue,  was  £15.6m  (2010:  £10.5m).  This  very  significant  increase  was 
substantially  a  direct  result  of  the  contribution  made  from  the  additional  revenues  delivered  by 
our  Hosting  segment.  In  percentage  terms  the  gross  margin  improved  to  62%  (2010:  57%) 
demonstrating the high operational leverage of the Hosting segment. Easyspace has maintained 
its gross margin percentage at a similar level to the previous year. The Hosting segment continues 
to deliver an improved gross margin percentage through increased sales revenues whilst its fixed 
costs of operations remain unchanged. The addition of Titan into the Hosting segment for the last 
five months of the financial year has helped to improve the absolute level of gross margin and in 
percentage terms has contributed at a similar level to the rest of the Hosting segment operations.

The adjusted EBITDA for the year of £6.6m (2010: £3.1m) has also shown a very high level of 
growth. Our percentage adjusted EBITDA margin has also significantly improved to 26% (2010: 
17%). Once again both of our operating segments have contributed to both the absolute growth 
and the improvement in the percentage margin in adjusted EBITDA. 

The  Hosting  segment’s  adjusted  EBITDA  was  £6.2m  (2010:  £2.8m)  an  increase  of  124%.  In 
percentage  terms  the  adjusted  EBITDA  margin  has  improved  to  35%  (2010:  25%).  This  greatly 
improved performance is a direct result of the additional gross margin delivered by the increase 
in  sales  revenue  from  the  Hosting  segment  offset  by  an  increase  in  administrative  expenses. 
Administrative  expenses  have  increased  as  we  have  continued  to  invest  in  additional  resources 
within the Hosting segment during the year to support the high level of revenue growth that has 
been  achieved.  As  a  result  we  have  increased  these  costs,  mainly  through  the  introduction  of 
additional  headcount,  especially  in  sales  and  technical  roles.  The  contribution  from  Titan  since 
November has contributed to the improvement in the adjusted EBITDA in absolute terms and has 
helped maintain the percentage margin improvement.

The  Easyspace  segment’s  adjusted  EBITDA  was  £2.8m  (2010:  £2.6m)  an  increase  of  8%. 
In  percentage  terms  the  adjusted  EBITDA  margin  has  improved  to  37%  (2010:  35%).  The 
improvement in adjusted EBITDA is the result of the additional gross margin contributed from the 
increased sales revenues together with reduced administrative expenses as we continue to run the 
operation more efficiently.

Group overheads, which are not allocated to segments, include the cost of the Board; the running 
costs  of  the  headquarters  in  Glasgow;  Group  marketing,  human  resource,  finance  and  design 
functions;  and  legal  and  professional  fees  for  the  year.  These  overhead  costs  have  increased 
slightly to £2.3m (2010: £2.2m).

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

"The Group 
continues to 
invest in both 
its datacentre 
infrastructure and 
in the equipment 
required to 
provide managed 
services to both its 
existing and new 
customers".

7

Finance Director's Report

Share based payment charges in the period of £0.3m (2010: £0.4m) have decreased as a result of both the lapsing of share options and 
share options issued in previous periods having been fully charged to the statement of comprehensive income. Under IFRS 3 (revised) it is 
no longer permissible to include costs incurred on professional fees during an acquisition as part of the overall cost of the balance sheet 
investment. Consequently, during the period we incurred costs of £0.2m (2010: £nil) in respect of professional fees for the acquisition 
of both Titan Internet Limited and Switch Media Limited.

Depreciation charges of £2.7m (2010: £1.8m) have increased largely as a result of charges for the additional equipment bought to 
provide services to the additional Hosting segment customers and also as a consequence of the acquisition of Titan. 

The charge for amortisation of intangibles of £0.7m (2010: £0.5m) has increased as a result of the acquisition of Titan which has resulted 
in the recognition of additional intangible assets which are being amortised over their estimated useful lives.

Finance income in the period of £0.2m (2010: £0.1m) includes interest earned on the deferred consideration due to the Group from a 
disposal in a previous year which was received during the period and also interest due on a lease rental deposit. Finance costs of £0.2m 
(2010: £0.1m) includes interest on bank loans used to fund the Titan acquisition and also interest on finance leases which are used to 
fund the purchase of some of the capital equipment needed to provide services to customers.

After  deducting  the  charges  for  share  based  payments,  acquisition  related  costs,  depreciation,  amortisation  and  finance  costs  and 
crediting the finance income from the adjusted EBITDA the Group’s profit before tax was £2.8m (2010: £1.3m, including a net gain of 
£0.9m arising from the renegotiation of deferred consideration payable).

There  is  a  tax  credit  for  the  year  of  £0.1m  (2010:  £0.8m)  arising  from  a  deferred  tax  credit  of  £0.2m  (2010:  £0.8m)  offset  by  a 
corporation tax charge of £0.1m (2010: £nil) resulting in a profit for the year from total operations of £2.9m (2010: £2.1m, including 
a net gain of £0.9m arising from the renegotiation of deferred consideration payable and a tax credit of £0.8m).

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations was 2.91p (2010: 2.12p) an increase of 37% over the year. However, in the year to 
March 2010 the earnings per share calculation included the effect of the exceptional net gain arising from the renegotiation of deferred 
consideration payable of £0.9m. Excluding this from the calculation would result in a revised basic earnings per share of 1.23p for March 
2010 and thus a 137% increase over this financial year.

Acquisitions 
In October 2010 the company acquired Titan Internet Limited for a maximum consideration of £4.2m of which £3.6m was paid during 
the year. On 26 April 2011, post year end, the company acquired Switch Media Limited for a maximum consideration of £1.2m, of 
which £1.0m was paid at the time of the acquisition.

Cash flow and net cash
Net cash flows from operating activities
The Group continued to generate high levels of operating cash over the year. Cash flow from operations was £7.1m (2010: £3.9m) 
with the significant increase over the previous year’s level largely due to the improvement in adjusted EBITDA and also helped by cash 
received  from  the  provision  of  Netintelligence  in  the  Universal  Home  Access  project.  It  is  a  feature  of  our  operations  that  in  many 
instances  the  Group  generates  cash  in  advance  of  revenue  recognition  and  consequently  carries  a  substantial  amount  of  deferred 
revenue in its statement of financial position. After deducting a small cash payment for corporation tax in respect of the operations of 
Rapidswitch the net cash flow from operating activities was £7.0m (2010: £3.7m).

Cashflow from investing activities
In line with our strategy the Group continues to spend substantial sums on investing activities, having invested a total of £7.1m (2010: 
£11.0m) in the period. Of this amount a net sum of £3.3m (2010: £8.3m) was incurred in relation to acquisition activities. The single 
biggest  investment  related  to  the  acquisition  of  Titan  Internet  Limited  in  October  2010  for  a  net  initial  amount  of  £3.1m  being  the 
payment of £3.6m made at the time of the acquisition net of the £0.5m bank balance held in Titan at that time. In addition the Group 
settled the final amount of deferred consideration due on the acquisition of iomart Datacentres Limited (formerly known as Ezee DSL 
Limited) of £1.0m and received the amount of deferred consideration due in respect of the disposal of Ufindus Limited in July 2008 of 
£0.8m, net of related costs. 

The Group continues to invest in both its datacentre infrastructure and in the equipment required to provide managed services to both 
its existing and new customers. During the year the Group invested £3.4m (2010: £2.3m) in such activities, net of related finance lease 
drawdown, including the fit out of 7,000 sq ft of datacentre space in Maidenhead at a cost of £1.2m.

Expenditure was also incurred on development costs of £0.4m (2010: £0.3m) and the purchase of software of £0.2m (2010: £0.1m). 

Finally, the Group received interest in the period of £0.2m (2010: £0.2m) which included interest on the deferred consideration received 
during the period.

www.iomart.com 

8

Finance Director's Report

Cashflow from financing activities
The Group’s financing activities generated a net cash inflow of £1.2m (2010: expenditure of £0.9m) over the year. The issue of new 
shares, due to the exercise of share options by staff generated £0.5m (2010: £nil) and the Group also drew down £2.0m of bank loans 
to help fund the purchase of Titan. The Group spent £0.8m (2010: £0.4m) repaying finance leases, £0.4m (2010: £0.3m) on dividends 
and £0.1m (2010: £0.1m) on interest.

Net cashflow
As a consequence our overall cash generation during the year was £1.1m (2010: expenditure of £8.2m) which resulted in cash and cash 
equivalent balances at the end of the year of £6.9m (2010: £5.7m). After recognising bank loans of £2.0m (2010: £nil) and finance 
lease obligations of £1.8m (2010: £1.3m) net cash balances at the end of the period stood at £3.1m (2010: £4.4m).

Financial position
The Group is now in a position where it is generating substantial amounts of operating cash. The generation of that cash flow together 
with the bank loan facility for acquisitions and capital expenditure of £10m, of which £3.0m has been drawn down, including the £1.0m 
drawn down after the year end and finance lease facilities for capital expenditure, provides the Group with the liquidity it requires to 
continue its growth through both organic and acquisitive means.

Principal risks and uncertainties
Section  417(3)  of  the  Companies  Act  2006  provides  that  the  business  review  must  contain  a  description  of  the  principal  risks  and 
uncertainties.

The board has established a formal process to identify risks and uncertainties through the production and maintenance of a risk register. 
There are a number of potential risks and uncertainties which have been identified as a result of this process which could have a material 
impact on the Group’s future performance. These are not all the risks which the board has identified but those that the Directors currently 
consider to be the most material. In addition to these risks Note 27 contains details of financial risks.

 Staff
As  with  any  service  organisation  iomart  is  dependent  on  the  skill,  experience  and  commitment  of  its  employees  and  especially  a  
relatively  small  number  of  senior  staff.  The  Group  seeks  to  recruit  and  retain  suitably  skilled  and  experienced  staff  by  offering  a 
challenging and rewarding work environment. This includes competitive and innovative reward packages and a strong commitment 
to training and development.

Datacentre operation
Any downtime experienced at our datacentres would immediately have an impact on our ability to provide customers with the level 
of  service  they  demand.  Our  ongoing  investment  in  preventative  maintenance  and  lifecycle  replacement  programme  ensures  our 
datacentres continue to deliver operational efficiency and effectiveness.

Customers
The Group provides an essential service to an extensive client base many of whom rely on the provision of that service for their major 
internet  presence.  Any  diminution  in  the  level  of  service  could  have  serious  consequences  for  customer  acquisition  and  retention. 
Our high level of recurring revenue and our low level of customer attrition are evidence of our ability to provide the level of service 
required.

Key suppliers
The Group is dependent on certain key suppliers for the continued operation of its business, the most significant of which are those 
for electricity, bandwidth and servers. In all cases these supplies are obtained from reputable organisations chosen after a thorough 
selection process. After selection, the Group actively seeks to maintain good relationships with the chosen suppliers. The Group also 
seeks to maintain either several sources of supply or in the case of electricity alternative sources of power.

Search engine optimisation
A significant amount of the Group’s sales revenues are generated through consumers using internet search engines to acquire goods 
and services. The Group continually monitors the position of its websites with respect to these search engines. Through the engagement 
of expert consultants and the allocation of experienced staff the Group seeks to maintain or enhance the position of its websites for 
detection by internet search engines.

Richard Logan
Finance Director
31 May 2011

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

9

Corporate Governance

As  the  company  is  listed  on  the  Alternative  Investment 
Market  it  is  not  required  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of 
the Combined Code. However, the board is committed to 
ensuring  that  proper  standards  of  corporate  governance 
operate  and  has  established  governance  procedures  and 
policies that are considered appropriate to the nature and 
size of the Group. Your board considers that at this stage in 
the Group’s development, the expense of full compliance 
with the Combined Code and with the further provisions of 
the Revised Combined Code is not appropriate.

Directors and the board
The  board  directs  the  Group's  activities  in  an  effective 
manner  through  regular  monthly  board  meetings  and 
timely  and  relevant 
through 
monitors  performance 
reporting  procedures.  Where  it  deems  it  necessary  the 
board requests reports on specific areas outwith the normal 
reporting regime.  All directors have access to advice from 
the  company  secretary  and  independent  professionals  at 
the company’s expense. Training is available for new and 
other directors as necessary.

The board at present comprises three executive and three 
non-executive directors. The size of the board is considered 
to  be  appropriate  to  the  current  size  and  character  of 
the  Group.  The  non-executive  directors  are  independent 
of  management  and  any  business  or  other  relationships 
which could interfere with the exercise of their independent 
judgement. The roles of chairman and chief executive are 
separate appointments and it is board policy that this will 
continue. 

The  board  has  established  three  committees,  the  audit 
committee, the remuneration committee and the nominations 
committee. Membership of both the audit committee and 
the  remuneration  committee  is  exclusively  non-executive 
while membership of the nominations committee comprises 
the  chairman,  two  non-executive  directors  and  the  chief 
executive officer. Ian Ritchie is chairman of the nominations 
committee,  Fred  Shedden  of  the  remuneration  committee 
and Chris Batterham of the audit committee.

A separate report on directors’ remuneration is set out on 
pages 11 to 14, this to be approved by the shareholders 
at the annual general meeting.

Under  the  company’s  articles  of  association,  the  nearest 
number to one third of the board shall retire each year by 
rotation.

Accountability and audit
The  board  considers  that  the  annual  report  presents  a 
balanced  and  understandable  assessment  of  the  Group’s 
performance and prospects.

The audit committee has written terms of reference setting 
out its authority and duties and has meetings, at which the 
executive  directors  also  have  the  right  to  attend,  at  least 
three times a year with the external auditors.

The  audit  committee  reviews  the  independence  and 
objectivity of the external auditors. The committee reviews 
the nature and amount of the non-audit work undertaken 
by  the  auditors  to  satisfy  itself  that  there  is  no  effect  on 
their independence. The committee is satisfied that Grant 
Thornton UK LLP are independent. 

Risk management
The  board  established  a  risk  register  in  2006  which  is 
formally reviewed during each calendar year.

Going concern
On  the  basis  of  a  review  of  facilities  available  to  the 
Group  together  with  a  review  of  forecasts,  the  directors 
have  a  reasonable  expectation  that  the  Group  has 
adequate  resources  to  continue  in  operational  existence 
for the foreseeable future. For this reason they continue to 
adopt  the  going  concern  basis  in  preparing  the  financial 
statements.

Internal financial control
The Group has established policies covering the key areas 
of internal financial control and the appropriate procedures, 
controls, authority levels and reporting requirements which 
must be applied throughout the Group. The key procedures 
that have been established in respect of internal financial 
control are as follows:

•	 Financial	reporting:		there	is	in	place	a	comprehensive		

system of financial reporting based on the annual 
  budget which the board approves.  The results for the 
  Group as a whole and each business segment are 

www.iomart.com 

 
 
10

Corporate Governance

reported monthly, along with an analysis of key 
variances.  Year-end forecasts are updated on a 
regular basis.

•	 Investment	appraisal:		applications	for	capital	

expenditure are made in a prescribed format which 
  places emphasis on the commercial and strategic as 
  well as the financial justification. All significant projects 

require specific board approval.  

No system can provide absolute assurance against material 
misstatement or loss but the Group's systems are designed 
to  provide  reasonable  assurance  as  to  the  reliability  of 
financial information, ensuring proper control over income 
and expenditure, assets and liabilities.

Relations with shareholders
The  company  values  the  views  of  its  shareholders 
and  recognises  their  interest  in  the  Group’s  strategy 
and  performance,  board  membership  and  quality  of 
management.

The  annual  general  meeting  is  used  to  communicate 
with  all  shareholder  and  investor  groups,  and  they  are 
encouraged  to  participate.  The  chairmen  of  the  audit, 
remuneration  and  nominations  committees  are  available 
to answer questions. Separate resolutions are proposed on 
each issue so that they can be given proper consideration 
and there are resolutions to receive the annual report and 
accounts  and  the  report  on  directors’  remuneration.  The 
company counts all proxy votes and will indicate the level 
of  proxies  lodged  on  each  resolution,  after  it  has  been 
dealt with by a show of hands.

The  company  uses  its  website,  www.iomart.com,  as  a 
means of providing information to shareholders and other 
related parties. The company’s annual report and accounts, 
interim  reports  and  other  relevant  announcements  are 
maintained on the website.  

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
11

Report of the board to the members on directors' 
remuneration

The  remuneration  committee  has  given  consideration  to  the 
Combined  Code  on  Corporate  Governance  issued  by  the 
Financial Reporting Council in framing its remuneration policy. 
As the company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market, 
it is not required to comply with the provisions of Section 412 
of  the  Companies  Act  2006.  The  following  disclosures  are 
voluntary as is resolution 2 to approve this report at the annual 
general meeting.

Remuneration committee
The  remuneration  committee  determines,  on  behalf  of  the 
board,  the  Group’s  policy  for  executive  remuneration  and 
the individual remuneration packages for executive directors. 
In setting the Group’s remuneration policy, the remuneration 
committee  considers  a  number  of  factors,  including  the 
following:

•	 Pensions

Pension  contributions  to  individuals’  personal  pension 
arrangements are payable by the Group at the rate of twice 
the contribution made by the director subject to a maximum 
employer contribution of 10% of basic salary.

•	

	Share	options

Executive  directors  are  entitled  to participate  in  share  option 
schemes.

•	

Joint	share	ownership	plan

Executive directors are entitled to participate in the Company’s 
Joint Share Ownership Plan (JSOP).

salaries	and	benefits	available	to	executive	directors	
of comparable companies;

•	 Other	benefits

•	

•	

the	need	to	attract	and	retain	executives	of	an	
appropriate calibre; and

the	continued	commitment	of	executives	to	the	
•	
  Group’s success through appropriate incentive 

schemes.

The committee meets at least twice a year.

Remuneration of executive directors
The remuneration packages of the executive directors comprise 
the following elements:

•	 Base	salary

The  remuneration  committee  sets  base  salaries  to  reflect 
responsibilities and the skill, knowledge and experience of the 
individual.    The  executive  directors  do  not  receive  directors’ 
fees.

•	 Bonus	scheme

The  executive  directors  are  eligible  to  receive  a  bonus  on 
top of their basic salary dependent on individual and Group 
performance at the discretion of the remuneration committee.  
Performance  conditions  are  set  individually  for  each  director 
to  ensure  they  are  relevant  and  stretching.  For  the  executive 
directors,  there  may  be  an  opportunity  to  sacrifice  their 
potential  bonus  in  exchange  for  a  payment  into  a  pension 
plan.

The  executive  directors  are  entitled  to  life  insurance  cover 
and  to  participate  in  the  Group’s  Private  Medical  Insurance 
scheme.

All the executive directors are engaged under service contracts 
which require a notice period of 6 or 12 months. 

Remuneration of non-executive directors
The  fees  paid  to  the  non-executive  directors  are  determined 
by  the  board.  They  are  not  entitled  to  receive  any  bonus  or 
other benefits.

Non-executive  directors’  letters  of  appointment  are  on  a  6 
month rolling basis.

www.iomart.com 

	
 
 
	
 
 
	
 
 
 
12

Report of the board to the members on directors' remuneration

Directors’ remuneration (this information has been audited)
Details of individual directors’ emoluments for the year are as follows:

Name of director 

Angus MacSween 
Chris Batterham 
Sarah Haran 
Richard Logan 
Ian Ritchie 
Fred Shedden 

Salary or fees 
£ 
200,000 
30,000 
130,000 
150,000 
50,000 
30,000 

Bonus 
£ 
95,000 
- 
117,000 
75,000 
- 
- 

Benefits 
£ 
1,673 
- 
400 
1,513 
- 
- 

Pension 
contributions 
£ 
120,000 
- 
13,000 
15,000 
- 
- 

Year 
ended 

Year
ended
31 March  31 March
2010
Total
£
326,996
30,000
233,947
223,444
50,000
30,000

2011 
Total 
£ 
416,673 
30,000 
260,400 
241,513 
50,000 
30,000 

590,000         287,000 

3,586 

148,000  1,028,586         894,387        

Directors’ interests in shares
The  interests  of  the  directors  in  the  shares  of  the  company  at  31  March  2011,  together  with  their  interests  at  1  April  2010  were  as 
follows:

Name of director 
Angus MacSween 
Chris Batterham  
Sarah Haran 
Richard Logan 
Ian Ritchie 
Fred Shedden 

                    Number of ordinary shares

31 March 2011 

 At 1 April 2010 

19,336,304 
90,621 
1,124,944 
100,500 
151,400 
764,588 

19,686,304
90,621
1,224,944
135,500
151,400
764,588

The  shareholdings  for  Angus  MacSween,  Sarah  Haran  and  Richard  Logan  exclude  shares  held  under  the  Company’s  Joint  Share 
Ownership Plan (JSOP), in which the directors are beneficial co-owners of shares. Details of such shareholdings are given below.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of the board to the members on directors' remuneration

13

Directors’ interests in shareholdings of Joint Share Ownership Plan (this information has been audited)
The interests of the directors in the JSOP shares are as follows:-

Name of 
director 

Market 

Current 
  Price at date Participation Participation 
Price 

of Award 

Initial 

Price 

Award Date 

Vesting  Number 
of shares 

Date 

Date 
from which 
exerciseable 

Expiry date

 Angus MacSween  31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 

Sarah Haran 

Richard Logan 

31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2010 

49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 

49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 

49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 

49.5p 
78.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 

50.5p 
78.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 

49.5p 
50.5p 
49.5p 
49.5p 

51.0p  31/03/2010 
78.5p  31/03/2010 
51.0p  31/03/2011 
51.0p  31/03/2012 

356,990  31/03/2010  06/10/2018
322,612  31/03/2010  17/11/2014
350,000  31/03/2011  06/10/2018
450,000  31/03/2012  06/10/2018

  1,479,602 

52.0p  31/03/2010 
78.5p  31/03/2010 
51.0p  31/03/2010 
51.0p  31/03/2011 
51.0p  31/03/2012 

414,018  31/03/2010  27/09/2017
177,867  31/03/2010  17/11/2014
357,087  31/03/2010  06/10/2018
350,000  31/03/2011  06/10/2018
450,000  31/03/2012  06/10/2018

  1,748,972

51.0p  31/03/2010 
52.0p  31/03/2010 
51.0p  31/03/2011 
51.0p  31/03/2012 

221,505  31/03/2010  06/10/2018
500,000  31/03/2010  27/09/2017
350,000  31/03/2011  06/10/2018
450,000  31/03/2012  06/10/2018

  1,521,505

The JSOP shares are held jointly between the director and the iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust. Under the terms of the JSOP rules 
the directors are eligible to receive the excess of any disposal proceeds received for the JSOP shares over the participation price. Certain 
of the JSOP shares are subject to a 3% per annum escalation until the JSOP shares are sold. The JSOP shares do not carry dividend or 
voting rights whilst they are jointly held by the director and the iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust. The JSOP shares which vest for 
Angus MacSween, Sarah Haran and Richard Logan at 31 March 2012 are subject to continuous employment criteria.

Should the market price of a vested JSOP share exceed the participation price the director has the option to convert the value of any such 
excess into a number of wholly owned shares within the JSOP. If a director exercises this right then the wholly owned shares subsequently 
held within the JSOP by the director shall be eligible for both dividend and voting rights.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14

Report of the board to the members on directors' remuneration

Directors’ interests in share options (this information has been audited)
The interests of the directors at 31 March 2011 in options over the ordinary shares of the company were as follows:

Name of  
director 

At 
1 April 

2010  Exercised  Surrendered  Lapsed 

At 
  31 March  Exercise 
price 

2011 

Date of 

Date from
which 
Grant  exerciseable 

Expiry
date

Angus MacSween  127,388 
43,010 

Sarah Haran 

Richard Logan 

170,398 

72,133 
85,982 
42,913 

201,028 

50,000 
150,000 
28,495 

228,495 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 

- 

-  127,388 
43,010 
- 

78.5p  17/11/2004  17/11/2007  17/11/2014
46.5p  06/10/2008  31/03/2009  06/10/2018

-  170,398 

- 
- 
- 

72,133 
85,982 
42,913 

78.5p  17/11/2004  17/11/2007  17/11/2014
50.5p  27/09/2007  27/09/2010  27/09/2017
46.5p  06/10/2008  31/03/2009  06/10/2018

-  201,028 

- 
50,000 
-  150,000 
28,495 
- 

74.0p  24/08/2006  24/08/2009  24/08/2016
46.5p  06/10/2008  31/03/2009  06/10/2018
46.5p  06/10/2008  31/03/2010  06/10/2018

-  228,495 

No share options were exercised and no new share options were granted to directors during the year. There have been no variations to 
the terms and conditions or performance criteria for share options during the year.

The market price of the company’s shares at the end of the financial period was 91.00p and the range of prices during the period was 
between 44.50p and 99.75p.

By order of the board

Fred Shedden
Chairman, Remuneration committee
31 May 2011

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15

Directors' Report

The directors present their annual report on the affairs of the 
Group,  together  with  the  financial  statements  and  auditors’ 
report, for the year ended 31 March 2011.

Principal activity
The  principal  activity  of  the  Group  is  the  provision  of  cloud 
computing and managed hosting services through a network 
of owned data centres.  

Business review
The chairman’s statement, chief executive officer’s and finance 
director’s reports contain a review of trading.

The Group is focused on building a managed hosting business 
using its own carrier neutral datacentre capacity to allow the 
full  set  of  vertical  components  from  domain  names  through 
space, power and bandwidth to complex application hosting. 
The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the business are 
described in the Finance Director’s Report.

Key performance indicator review

Revenue 
Growth 

2011 
£25.3m 
38% increase 

2010
£18.3m
55% increase

Revenue  from  continuing  operations  grew  by  38%  over  the 
year compared to a growth of 55% in the previous year. The 
Hosting  segment  grew  revenues  by  61%  (2010:  139%)  and 
the Easyspace segment by 3% (2010: 2%).

Adjusted EBITDA 
Adjusted EBITDA margin 

2011 
£6.6m 
26% 

2010
£3.1m
17%

The  adjusted  EBITDA  margin  has  shown  a  substantial 
improvement as a result of the Hosting segment both continuing 
to win new business and the inclusion of Titan Internet Limited 
which  was  acquired  during  the  year.  Easyspace  has  also 
contributed  to  the  adjusted  EBITDA  margin  improvement 
through increased revenues and operational efficiencies.

various  items  such  as  trade  debtors  and  trade  creditors  that 
arise directly from its operations.  The main purpose of these 
financial  instruments  is  to  provide  finance  for  the  Group’s 
operations.  In June 2010 the Group obtained a multi option 
revolving credit facility of £10m which was made available in 
order to finance business acquisitions and to finance capital 
expenditure. In order to fund the acquisition of Titan Internet 
Limited,  £2m  of  this  facility  was  drawn  down  in  November 
2010. The main risk to the Group is interest rate risk arising 
from  floating  rate  interest  rates.  The  Group’s  borrowings  at 
31  March  2011  comprise  finance  leases  totalling  £1.8m 
(2010: £1.3m) and a bank loan totalling £2.0m (2010: £nil).  
The interest rates on the finance leases are fixed for the term 
of  the  lease  at  between  5.0%  and  12.2%  and  the  average 
interest rate was 6.9% (2010: 6.1%). The interest rate on the 
bank loan is fixed for the term of the loan which is 6 months 
at  3.0%  per  annum  excluding  any  draw  down  fees  and  the 
average annual interest rate during the year was 3.0% (2010: 
nil). The Group has exposure to movements in the exchange 
rate of the US dollar as certain domain name purchases are 
transacted  in  this  currency.  To  protect  cash  flows  against  the 
level  of  exchange  rate  risk,  the  Group  entered  into  forward 
exchange  contracts  to  hedge  foreign  exchange  exposures 
arising on the forecast payments. The majority of transactions 
of  the  holding  company  and  the  UK  subsidiaries  are  in  UK 
sterling and, with the exception of forward foreign exchange 
contracts,  the  Group  does  not  use  derivative  instruments.  
Additional information on financial instruments is included in 
Note 27.

Dividend
The  directors  have  not  declared  an  interim  dividend  for  the 
year  ended  31  March  2011  (2010:  0.4p  per  share).  The 
directors recommend a final dividend for the year ended 31 
March 2011 of 0.65p per share (2010: nil).  

Directors and their interests
The present membership of the board is set out on page 19. 
In  accordance  with  the  company’s  Articles  of  Association, 
Sarah  Haran  and  Chris  Batterham  will  offer  themselves  for 
re-election at the forthcoming annual general meeting. 

Financial instruments
The  Group’s  financial  instruments  comprise  cash  and  liquid 
resources,  bank  loans  and  finance  leases  together  with 

Details of directors’ interests in the company’s shares are set 
out  in  the  report  of  the  board  to  the  members  on  directors’ 
remuneration on pages 11 to 14. 

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16

Directors' Report

Substantial shareholdings
At 23 May 2011 the following interests in 3% or more of the 
issued  ordinary  share  capital,  excluding  shares  held  by  the 
iomart  Group  plc  Employee  Benefit  Trust,  had  been  notified 
to the company: 

Shareholder 

Shares 

Percentage held

Angus MacSween  

 19,336,304  

19.58%

Legal & General 
Investment 
Management 

Gartmore 
Investment Limited 

Majedie Asset 
Management 

British Steel 
Pension Scheme 

Universities 
Superannuation 
Scheme 

12,885,000 

13.05%

12,348,325  

12.50%

8,185,101 

8.29%

4,268,103  

4.32%

alternative  work  of  employees  who  become  disabled,  to 
promote their career development within the organisation.

Supplier payment policy and practice
The company and its subsidiaries agree the terms of payment 
when negotiating the terms and conditions for their transactions 
with their suppliers. Payment is made in compliance with those 
terms,  subject  to  the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  relevant 
transaction  having  been  met  by  the  supplier.  Trade  creditor 
days of the Group at 31 March 2011 were 24 days (2010: 23 
days), and of the company were 2 days (2010: 4 days). This 
represents the ratio, expressed in days, between the amounts 
invoiced to the company in the year by its suppliers and the 
amounts due, at the year end, to trade creditors falling due for 
payment within one year.

Political and charitable donations
The Group did not make any charitable or political donations 
in either the current or the previous year. 

Awareness of relevant audit information
So  far  as  each  of  the  directors,  at  the  time  the  report  is 
approved, is aware:

 4,169,000  

4.22%

  auditors are unaware, and

	 •	 there	is	no	relevant	audit	information	of	which	the	

River & Mercantile 
Asset Management 

3,938,200 

Bill Dobbie 

3,361,369 

3.99%

3.40%

Liontrust Asset 
Management 

3,294,767 

3.34%

Transactions in own shares 
At  31  March  2011  the  iomart  Group  plc  Employee  Benefit 
Trust  held  4,977,184  shares  (2010:  4,977,184)  which  are 
accounted for as Own Shares.

Employee involvement
The  Group  regularly  communicates  with  all  staff  providing 
information  on  developments  within  the  Group  including 
updates on the Group’s strategy and details of new products 
and services provided by the Group.

Staff  are  eligible  to  receive  share  options  or  Joint  Share 
Ownership  Plan  shares  in  the  company  under  the  Group’s 
share incentive schemes and it is the board’s policy to make 
specific  awards  as  appropriate  to  attract  and  retain  the  best 
available people.

	 •	 the	directors	have	taken	all	the	steps	they	ought	to	

have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant 
  audit information and to establish that the auditors are 
  aware of that information.

Website disclaimer
The  maintenance  and  integrity  of  the  iomart  Group  plc 
website is the responsibility of the directors. The work carried 
out  by  the  auditors  does  not  involve  consideration  of  these 
matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility 
for  any  changes  that  may  have  occurred  to  the  financial 
statements since they were initially presented on the website. 
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation 
and dissemination of the financial statements may differ from 
legislation in other jurisdictions.

Auditors
Grant  Thornton  UK  LLP  have  expressed  their  willingness  to 
continue  in  office  as  auditors  and  a  resolution  to  reappoint 
them  will  be  proposed  at  the  forthcoming  annual  general 
meeting.

By order of the board

Employment of disabled persons
Full  and  fair  consideration  is  given  to  applications  for 
employment  made  by  disabled  persons  having  regard  to 
their  particular  aptitudes  and  abilities.    Appropriate  training 
is  arranged  for  disabled  persons,  including  retraining  for 

Bruce Hall 
Company secretary

31 May 2011

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

17

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report 
and the Group and the Parent Company Financial Statements 
in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company  law  requires  the  Directors  to  prepare  financial 
statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors 
have prepared the Group Financial Statements in accordance 
with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRSs)  as 
adopted  by  the  European  Union,  and  the  Parent  Company 
Financial  Statements  in  accordance  with  applicable  law  and 
United  Kingdom  Accounting  Standards  (United  Kingdom 
Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Practice).  The  Group  and 
Parent Company Financial Statements are required by law to 
give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company 
and the Group and of the profit or loss of the Group for that 
period. In preparing those financial statements, the Directors 
are required to: 

•	 select	suitable	accounting	policies	and	then	apply	

them consistently;

•	 make	judgements	and	estimates	that	are	reasonable	
  and prudent; and

•	 prepare	the	financial	statements	on	the	going	

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

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

www.iomart.com 

	
 
 
	
 
	
 
 
 
 
“iomart	is	currently	enjoying	the	sort	of	momentum	
that	could	soon	place	it	on	the	list	of	European	
heavyweights.”

Tier1	Research	(T1R)	June	2011

www.iomart.com 

Board of Directors

Ian Ritchie
60,  appointed  2008;  currently  Chairman  of  Computer  Application  Services  Ltd,  Caspian 
Learning  Ltd  and  Interactive  Design  Institute  Ltd.  He  is  also  a  past  President  of  the  British 
Computer  Society.  Ian  was  founding  chairman  of  several  technology  companies,  including 
Voxar Ltd (now part of Toshiba), Orbital Software Group plc (now part of Sopheon plc), Digital 
Bridges Ltd (now part of Oberon Inc) and Sonaptic Ltd (now part of Wolfson Microelectronics 
plc).

Angus MacSween
54, appointed 2000; after a short service commission in the Royal Navy, Angus started his first 
business selling telephone systems in 1984. Since selling this first business he has established, 
grown  and  sold  5  profitable  businesses  in  the  telephony  and  internet  sector.  Following  the 
sale of Teledata Limited, the UK’s leading telephone information services company to Scottish 
Telecom plc, Angus spent two years on the executive of Scottish Telecom plc where he was 
responsible for the development of the company's Internet division. In December 1998 Angus 
founded iomart.  

Chris Batterham
56, appointed 2005; Chris was finance director of Unipalm plc, the first internet company to 
IPO and stayed with the company for 5 years following its takeover by UUnet.  He was CFO 
of Searchspace until 2005 and is currently a non executive director of SDL plc, office2office 
plc and The Risk Advisory Group. He is also chairman of Eckoh plc.  Chris has also served on 
the boards of Staffware plc, DBS Management plc, DRS plc, Betfair Limited and The Invesco 
Techmark Enterprise Trust plc.

Sarah Haran
45,  appointed  2000;  Sarah  has  spent  her  career  implementing  and  managing  operations 
centres  for  large  corporations  such  as  Microsoft  Inc,  Compaq  Inc,  Scottish  Power  plc 
and  Prestel  Limited.  She  joined  iomart  in  1998,  from  Scottish  Telecom  plc  and  has  been 
responsible  for  developing  the  day-to-day  business  processes  and  technical  operations  to 
support the Group’s customer base.

Richard Logan
53, appointed 2006; Richard is a chartered accountant having qualified with Arthur Young in 
1984. Richard then spent 7 years with Ben Line Group initially as Group treasurer and latterly 
as  financial  director  of  Ben  Line’s  main  container  shipping  division.    From  1992  to  2002 
Richard served as finance director of Kingston SCL a company which provided administration 
and billing software to the mobile communications market during which time he was involved 
in a management buy-out and subsequent trade sale of the company.  Immediately prior to 
joining iomart Richard served as finance director of ePOINT Group, a technology company 
based in Scotland.

Fred Shedden
66, appointed 2000; senior independent director of Murray International Trust plc 
and formerly senior partner of McGrigors. 

19

www.iomart.com 

20

Independent auditor's report to the members of 
iomart Group plc

We  have  audited  the  Group  financial  statements  of  iomart 
Group Plc for the year ended 31 March 2011 which comprise 
the  consolidated  statement  of  comprehensive  income, 
consolidated  statement  of  financial  position,  consolidated 
statement  of  cash  flows,  the  consolidated  statement  of 
changes  in  equity  and  the  related  notes.  The  financial 
reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation 
is  applicable  law  and  International  Financial  Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. 

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

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

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is 
provided on the APB’s website at www.frc.org.uk/apb/scope/
private.cfm.

Opinion
In our opinion the Group financial statements:
•	 give	a	true	and	fair	view	of	the	state	of	the	Group's	

affairs as at 31 March 2011 and of its profit for the year 
then ended;

•	 have	been	properly	prepared	in	accordance	with	IFRS	as	

adopted by the European Union; and 

•	 have	been	prepared	in	accordance	with	the	requirements	

of the Companies Act 2006.

Opinion  on  other  matter  prescribed  by  the  Companies 
Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ Report for 
the financial year for which the Group financial statements are 
prepared is consistent with the Group financial statements.

Matters  on  which  we  are  required  to  report  by 
exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following:
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to 
you if, in our opinion:

•	 certain	disclosures	of	directors’	remuneration	specified	by	

law are not made; or

•	 we	have	not	received	all	the	information	and	

explanations we require for our audit.

Other matter
We have reported separately on the parent company financial 
statements of iomart Group plc for the year ended 31 March 
2011.

Andrew Howie
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants
Glasgow
31 May 2011

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Year ended 31March 2011

21

Revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Administrative expenses 

Operating profit 

Analysed as: 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, share based payments,  
acquisition costs and net gain on reduction of deferred consideration 
Share based payments 
Acquisition costs 
Depreciation 
Amortisation 

Gain on reduction of deferred consideration on business combination 
Associated costs on gain on reduction of deferred consideration 
Finance income 
Finance costs 

Profit before taxation 

Taxation 

Profit for the year from total operations 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Note 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

4 

4 

24 

4 
4 

6 
6 

8 

25,252 

18,327 

(9,699) 

(7,830)

15,553  

10,497 

(12,780) 

(10,119)

2,773 

378

6,644 

3,112

(290) 
(195) 
(2,689) 
(697) 

- 
- 
197  
(178) 

(379)
-
(1,846)
(509)

1,000
(135)
77 
(66)

2,792 

1,254

70 

816

2,862 

2,070

2,862 

2,070

Attributable to equity holders of the parent 

2,862 

2,070

Basic and diluted earnings per share 

Total operations 
Basic 
Diluted 

11 
11 

2.91 p 
2.85 p 

2.12 p
2.12 p

www.iomart.com 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
 31March 2011

Note 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

12 
12 
9 
13 
15 

17 
18 
16 

21 

20 
19 
21 

23 

23,952 
1,978 
619 
2,016 
14,788 

20,723
1,008
604
1,216
12,276

43,353 

35,827

6,864 
- 
3,100 

5,715
914
2,937

9,964 

9,566

53,317 

45,393

(920) 
(920) 

(834)
(834)

(600) 
(10,047) 
(2,846) 
(13,493) 

(1,000)
(7,489)
(480)
(8,969)

(14,413) 

(9,803)

38,904 

35,590

1,038 
(2,464) 
1,200 
19,977 
19,153 
38,904 

1,028
(2,464)
1,200
19,514
16,312
35,590

ASSETS 
Non-current assets 
Intangible assets – goodwill 
Intangible assets – other 
Deferred tax asset 
Lease deposit 
Property, plant and equipment 

Current assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Deferred consideration receivable on disposal 
Trade and other receivables 

Total assets 

LIABILITIES 
Non-current liabilities 
Non-current borrowings 

Current liabilities 
Deferred and contingent consideration due on acquisitions 
Trade and other payables 
Current borrowings 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

EQUITY 
Share capital 
Own shares 
Capital redemption reserve 
Share premium 
Retained earnings 
Total equity 

These financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 31 May 2011.
Signed on behalf of the board of directors

Angus MacSween
Director and chief executive officer 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Year ended 31March 2011

Profit before taxation  
Gain on reduction of deferred consideration - net 
Finance income - net 
Depreciation 
Amortisation 
Share based payments 
Movement in lease deposits 
Movement in trade receivables 
Movement in trade payables 
Cash flow from operations 
Taxation paid 
Net cash flow from operating activities 

Cash flow from investing activities 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Capitalisation of development costs 
Purchase of  intangible assets - software 
Payment for acquisition of business net of cash acquired 
Repayment of borrowings on acquisition of business 
Deferred consideration paid on prior period acquisition 
Receipt from disposal of discontinued operation 
Interest received 
Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flow from financing activities 
Issue of shares 
Bank loans 
Repayment of finance leases 
Repayment of borrowings 
Interest paid 
Dividends paid 
Net cash received from / (used in) financing activities 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 

23

2010
£’000

1,254
(865)
(11)
1,846
509
379
(332)
(63)
1,169
3,886
(164)
3,722

(2,341)
(281)
(69)
(5,303)
(226)
(2,935)
-
172
(10,983)

41
-
(396)
(222)
(66)
(291)
(934)

Note 

6 
4 
4 
24 
13 

15 
12 
12 
10 

18 
6 

23 
21 
21 
10 

7 

2011 
£’000 

2,792 
- 
(19) 
2,689 
697 
290 
(800) 
194 
1,211 
7,054 
(12) 
7,042 

(3,419) 
(351) 
(197) 
(3,144) 
- 
(1,000) 
795 
237 
(7,079) 

473 
2,000 
(759) 
- 
(137) 
(391) 
1,186 

1,149 

(8,195)

5,715 

13,910 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 

17 

6,864 

5,715

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
 Year ended 31March 2011

Changes in equity 

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Own 
shares 
JSOP 
£’000 

Note 

Own 

Share
Capital 
shares  redemption  premium 
account 
reserve 
£’000 
£’000 

treasury 
£’000 

Retained
earnings 
£’000 

Total
£’000

Balance at 1 April 2009 

1,002 

- 

(678) 

1,200 

17,583 

14,284 

33,391

Profit in the year and total 
comprehensive income 

Dividends – final (paid) 
Share based payments  
Issue of own shares for 
option redemption 
Issue of own shares to 
Joint Share Ownership Plan 
Issue of new shares to Joint 
Share Ownership Plan 

7 
24 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

171 

507 

26 

(2,464) 

- 

Total transactions with owners 

26 

(2,464) 

678 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

712 

1,219 

1,931 

2,070 

2,070

(291) 
379 

(291)
379

(130) 

41

- 

- 

1,219

(1,219)

(42) 

129

Balance at 31 March 2010 

1,028  

(2,464) 

-  

1,200   19,514   16,312  35,590 

Profit in the year and total 
comprehensive income 

7 
24 

Dividends – interim (paid) 
Share based payments  
Deferred tax on share based 
payments 
Issue of shares for option 
redemption 

Total transactions with owners 

- 

- 
- 

- 

10 

10 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

Balance at 31 March 2011 

1,038  

(2,464) 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2,862 

2,862

- 
- 

- 

463 

463 

(391) 
290 

(391)
290

80 

- 

(21) 

80

473

452

1,200   19,977   19,153  38,904 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
iomart	Hosting's	Customer	Control	Panel	displays	power	
usage	and	CO2	emissions	in	real	time,	giving	customers	
the data required to make informed choices about their 
environmental impact.

BCS	Finalist	Environmental	Project	of	the	Year

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

26

Notes to the Financial Statements
Year ended 31March 2011

1.  GENERAL INFORMATION
iomart  Group  plc  is  a  company  incorporated  in  the  United 
Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The address of the 
registered office is given on page 69 of this report. The nature 
of  the  Group’s  operations  and  its  principal  activities  are  set 
out in the Chief Executive Officer’s report, Finance Director’s 
report and Directors’ report.

The financial statements are presented in UK Pounds Sterling 
because  that  is  the  currency  of  the  primary  economic 
environment  in  which  the  Group  and  its  subsidiaries 
operates.

2.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in 
accordance with applicable International Financial Reporting 
Standards  (IFRS)  as  adopted  by  the  EU  and  issued  by 
the  International  Accounting  Standards  Board  (IASB).  The 
measurement bases and principal accounting policies of the 
Group are set out below. These policies have been consistently 
applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

Standards,  amendments,  and  interpretations  effective 
in year
IFRS  3  Business  Combinations  (revised  2008).  The  revised 
standard  on  business  combinations  has  introduced  major 
changes  to  the  accounting  requirements  for  business 
combinations.  It  continues  to  apply  the  acquisition  method 
to  business  combinations  but  the  following  are  the  most 
significant  changes  the  new  standard  has  introduced  which 
have impacted the Group’s acquisition in the current year:

•	 Acquisition-related	costs	of	the	combination	such	as	

professional fees are recorded as an expense in profit or 
loss. Previously, these costs would have been accounted 
for as part of the cost of acquisition; and

•	 Contingent	consideration	is	measured	at	fair	value	at	the	

acquisition date. If the contingent consideration 
arrangement gives rise to a financial liability, any 
subsequent changes are recognised in profit or loss. 
Previously, contingent consideration was recognised only 
once its payment was probable and changes were 
recognised as an adjustment to goodwill.

IFRS 3R has been applied prospectively to business combinations 
for which the acquisition date is on or after 1 January 2010. 
For  the  year  ended  31  March  2011,  the  adoption  of  IFRS 
3R  has  affected  the  accounting  for  the  Group’s  acquisition 

of Titan Internet Limited (note 10) and in respect of the costs 
incurred  in  relation  to  the  post  year  acquisition  of  Switch 
Media Limited up to the end of the financial year by increasing 
the  Group’s  expenses  related  to  acquisition  costs  by  £0.2m. 
The current tax expense and both basic and diluted earnings 
per share have not been materially impacted.

Business combinations for which the acquisition date is before 
1 January 2010 have not been restated.

In  addition  the  following  standards,  amendments  and 
interpretations  are  effective  in  the  year  but  have  no  material 
impact on the Group’s financial statements:

IAS	 27	 Consolidated	 and	 Separate	 Financial	 Statements	

•	
(revised 2008).

•	 Amendment	to	IAS	32	Classification	of	Rights	Issues.

•	

IFRIC	17	Distributions	of	Non-cash	Assets	to	Owners.

•	

IFRIC	18	Transfers	of	Assets	from	Customers.

New standards and interpretations of existing standards 
that  are  not  yet  effective  and  have  not  been  adopted 
early by the Group
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective 1 January 2013).  IFRS 
9 introduces new requirements for classifying and measuring 
financial  assets  and  these  new  requirements  will  impact  the 
disclosure and carrying values of financial assets. 

In addition the following new standards and interpretations of 
existing standards that are not yet effective and have not been 
adopted  early  by  the  Group  are  not  expected  to  have  any 
impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements:

•	

IAS	24	(revised	2009)	Related	Party	Disclosures.

•	

IFRIC	19	Extinguishing	Financial	Liabilities	with	Equity	
Instruments.

•	 Amendments	to	IAS	12	Income	Taxes	Deferred	Tax:	

Recovery of Underlying Assets.

•	 Amendments	to	IFRIC	14	Prepayments	of	a	Minimum	

Funding Requirement.

•	 Amendments	to	IFRS	7	Disclosures	–	Transfers	of	

Financial Assets.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

27

Summary of Accounting Policies

Basis of consolidation 
The  Group  financial  statements  consolidate  those  of  the 
company and all of its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 
31  March  2011.    Subsidiaries  are  entities  over  which  the 
Group has the power to control the financial and operating 
policies  so  as  to  obtain  benefits  from  its  activities.    The 
Group obtains and exercises control through voting rights.

Unrealised  gains  on  transactions  between  the  Group  and 
its  subsidiaries  are  eliminated.    Unrealised  losses  are  also 
eliminated  unless  the  transaction  provides  evidence  of  an 
impairment  of  the  asset  transferred.    Amounts  reported  in 
the  financial  statements  of  subsidiaries  have  been  adjusted 
where  necessary  to  ensure  consistency  with  the  accounting 
policies adopted by the Group.

Acquisitions of subsidiaries are dealt with by the acquisition 
method. The acquisition method involves the recognition at 
fair  value  of  all  identifiable  assets  and  liabilities,  including 
contingent  liabilities  of  the  subsidiary,  at  the  acquisition 
date, regardless of whether or not they were recorded in the 
financial  statements  of  the  subsidiary  prior  to  acquisition.  
On  initial  recognition,  the  assets  and  liabilities  of  the 
subsidiary are included in the statement of financial position 
at  their  fair  values,  which  are  also  used  as  the  bases  for 
subsequent  measurement  in  accordance  with  the  Group 
accounting policies.  Goodwill is stated after separating out 
identifiable intangible assets.  Goodwill represents the excess 
of acquisition cost over the fair value of the Group’s share 
of the identifiable net assets of the acquired subsidiary at the 
date of acquisition.

Revenue 
Revenue  comprises  the  fair  value  of  the  consideration 
received or receivable for the sale of services in the ordinary 
course  of  the  Group’s  activities.  Revenue  is  shown  net  of 
value-added  tax,  returns,  rebates  and  discounts  and  after 
eliminating sales within the Group.

The Group recognises revenue when the amount of revenue 
can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic 
benefits  will  flow  from  the  transaction  and  specific  criteria 
have been met for each of the Group’s activities as described 
below.  The  amount  of  revenue  is  not  considered  to  be 
reliably measurable until all contingencies relating to the sale 
have been resolved. The Group bases its estimates on prior 
experience,  taking  into  consideration  the  type  of  customer 
and the type of transaction.

Continuing Operations
Easyspace 
This  operating  segment  provides  domain  name  registration 
and  shared  hosting  services.    Revenue  from  the  provision 
of  domain  names  is  recognised  at  the  time  the  title  to  the 
domain name passes.  Revenue from the provision of shared 
hosting  is  recognised  evenly  over  the  period  of  the  service 
and  once  the  service  has  been  established.    Any  unearned 
portion  of  revenue  is  included  in  payables  as  deferred 
revenue.

Hosting
This operating segment provides managed hosting facilities 
and services.  Revenue from the sale of facilities and services 
is spread evenly over the period of the agreement and once 
the  service  has  been  established.    Any  unearned  portion 
of  revenue  is  included  in  payables  as  deferred  revenue. 
Revenue from the provision of domain names is recognised 
at the time the title to the domain name passes. 

Interest
Interest  is  recognised  on  a  time-proportion  basis  using  the 
effective interest method.

Intangible assets
Goodwill
Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the 
fair value of the consideration given over the fair value of the 
identifiable  net  assets  acquired.  Goodwill  is  capitalised  on 
the consolidated statement of financial position and subject 
to an annual impairment test. The carrying value of goodwill 
is cost less accumulated impairment losses and is allocated 
to  cash  generating  units  for  the  purpose  of  impairment 
testing. The allocation is made to those cash generating units 
that are expected to benefit from the business combination 
in which the goodwill arose. Impairment reviews are carried 
out by the Board at least annually. Impairments to goodwill 
are  charged  to  the  statement  of  comprehensive  income  in 
the period which they arise.

Customer relationships
Customer  relationships  are  recognised  only  on  acquisition. 
The  fair  value  is  derived  based  on  discounted  cash  flows 
from  estimated  recurring  revenue  streams.  The  carrying 
value is stated at fair value at acquisition less accumulated 
amortisation  and  impairment  losses.  The  useful  economic 
life  is  assessed  on  an  individual  basis.  Amortisation  is 
charged over the useful life of the relationships in proportion 
to the estimated future cash flows, a period which does not 
generally exceed five years.

www.iomart.com 

28

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

Research and development
Expenditure on research (or the research phase of an internal 
project) is recognised as an expense in the period in which it 
is incurred. Development costs incurred are capitalised when 
all the following conditions are satisfied:

separately from goodwill where the individual fair values of 
the assets in the Group are not reliably measurable.  Where 
the  individual  fair  values  of  the  complementary  assets  are 
reliably measurable, the Group recognises them as a single 
asset provided the individual assets have similar useful lives.

•	 completion	of	the	intangible	asset	is	technically	feasible	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

so that it will be available for use or sale
the	Group	intends	to	complete	the	intangible	asset	and	
use or sell it
the	Group	has	the	ability	to	use	or	sell	the	intangible	
asset
the	intangible	asset	will	generate	probable	future	
economic benefits
there	are	adequate	technical,	financial	and	other	
resources to complete the development and to use or 
sell the intangible asset, and
the	expenditure	attributable	to	the	intangible	asset	
during its development can be measured reliably.

Development costs not meeting the criteria for capitalisation 
are expensed as incurred. The only development costs which 
are deemed to meet these criteria in the Group are in relation 
to  developments  by  specific  teams  to  develop  products  in 
the  hosting  asset  management  control  system  and  internet 
security.  Development  costs  capitalised  are  amortised  on  a 
straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the asset. 
The  estimated  useful  life  is  deemed  to  be  three  years  from 
the  month  of  expenditure  for  all  developments  capitalised. 
Amortisation  charges  are  recognised  in  administration 
expenses  in  the  consolidated  statement  of  comprehensive 
income. 

Software
Software  is  recognised  at  fair  value  on  purchase  and 
amortised  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  its  useful  economic 
life, which does not generally exceed four years.

Assets acquired as part of a business combination
In  accordance  with  IFRS  3  Business  Combinations,  an 
intangible  asset  acquired  in  a  business  combination  is 
deemed  to  have  a  cost  to  the  Group  of  its  fair  value  at 
the  acquisition  date.    The  fair  value  of  the  intangible  asset 
reflects  market  expectations  about  the  probability  that  the 
future economic benefits embodied in the asset will flow to 
the Group.  Where an intangible asset might be separable, 
but  only  together  with  a  related  tangible  or  intangible 
asset,  the  group  of  assets  is  recognised  as  a  single  asset 

Property, plant and equipment
Property,  plant  and  equipment  is  stated  at  cost  net  of 
depreciation  and  any  provision  for  impairment.  Leasehold 
property  is  included  in  property,  plant  and  equipment  only 
where it is held under a finance lease.  

Disposal of assets
The  gain  or  loss  arising  on  the  disposal  of  an  asset  is 
determined as the difference between the disposal proceeds 
and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the 
statement of comprehensive income.  

Depreciation
Depreciation  is  calculated  to  write  down  the  cost  of  all 
property,  plant  and  equipment  to  the  expected  residual 
value  by  equal  annual  instalments  over  their  estimated 
useful  economic  lives.    All  items  of  plant  and  equipment 
are  deemed  to  have  immaterial  residual  values.    The  rates 
generally applicable are (per annum): 

Freehold property 
Leasehold improvements 
Computer equipment 
Office equipment 
Datacentre equipment 
Motor vehicle 

3.33% 
25% 
Between 20% and 50% 
Between 10% and 25% 
Between 6% and 10% 
25% 

Impairment testing of goodwill, other intangible assets 
and property, plant and equipment
For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped 
at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable 
cash flows (cash-generating units).  As a result, some assets 
are  tested  individually  for  impairment  and  some  are  tested 
at cash-generating unit level.  Goodwill is allocated to those 
cash-generating  units  that  are  expected  to  benefit  from 
synergies of the related business combination and represent 
the  lowest  level  within  the  Group  at  which  management 
monitors goodwill.

Goodwill,  other  individual  assets  or  cash-generating  units 
that  include  goodwill,  and  those  intangible  assets  not  yet 
available for use are tested for impairment at least annually.  

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

29

All other individual assets or cash-generating units are tested 
for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the 
asset’s or cash-generating unit’s carrying amount exceeds its 
recoverable amount.  The recoverable amount is the higher 
of  fair  value,  reflecting  market  conditions  less  costs  to  sell, 
and value in use based on an internal discounted cash flow 
evaluation. Management estimate expected future cash flows 
from  each  cash  generating  unit  and  determines  a  suitable 
interest  rate  to  determine  the  present  value  of  the  future 
cash  flows.  Discount  factors  are  determined  for  each  cash 
generating  unit  to  reflect  the  underlying  risks  involved.  The 
future  cash  flows  used  in  the  calculation  are  based  on  the 
Group’s latest approved budget.

Impairment  losses  recognised  for  cash-generating  units,  to 
which  goodwill  has  been  allocated,  are  credited  initially 
to  the  carrying  amount  of  goodwill.    Any  remaining 
impairment  loss  is  charged  pro  rata  to  the  other  assets  in 
the  cash  generating  unit.    With  the  exception  of  goodwill, 
all assets are subsequently reassessed for indications that an 
impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist.

Details  of  the  key  assumptions  and  judgements  are  shown 
in note 12.

Leased assets 
In accordance with IAS 17 Leases, the economic ownership 
of a leased asset is deemed to have been transferred to the 
Group  (the  lessee)  if  the  Group  bears  substantially  all  the 
risks  and  rewards  related  to  the  ownership  of  the  leased 
asset.  The related asset is recognised at the time of inception 
of the lease at the fair value of the leased asset or, if lower, the 
present value of the minimum lease payments plus incidental 
payments, if any, to be borne by the lessee.  A corresponding 
amount is recognised as a finance lease liability.  

The  interest  element  of  leasing  payments  represents  a 
constant proportion of the capital balance outstanding and 
is  charged  to  the  statement  of  comprehensive  income  over 
the period of the lease.  

All  other  leases  are  regarded  as  operating  leases  and  the 
payments  made  under  them  are  charged  to  the  statement 
of  comprehensive  income  on  a  straight  line  basis  over  the 
lease  term.    Lease  incentives  are  spread  over  the  term  of 
the lease. Where a lease is for land and buildings there is a 
split between land and buildings  in  the  consideration as  to 

whether there is a finance lease within the lease.

Borrowings
Borrowings  are  initially  stated  at  the  amount  of  the  net 
proceeds  after  deduction  of  any  issue  costs.  The  carrying 
amount  is  increased  by  the  finance  costs  in  respect  of  the 
accounting  period  and  reduced  by  payments  made  in  the 
period. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost, 
any difference between the periods (net of transaction costs) 
and the redemption value is recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive  income  over  the  period  of  the  borrowings 
using the effective interest method.  

Reinstatement costs 
At  the  inception  of  the  leases  and  annually  thereafter,  the 
Directors  assess  the  cost  of  restoring  leasehold  premises 
to  their  original  condition  at  the  end  of  the  lease  and  the 
likelihood  of  such  costs  actually  being  incurred.  If  the 
likelihood  of  this  liability  arising  is  judged  as  probable, 
the  discounted  cost  of  the  liability  is  included  in  leasehold 
improvements  and  is  depreciated  over  the  duration  of  the 
lease. The discount arising on the provision is amortised in 
future years through interest. If the likelihood of this liability 
arising  is  judged  to  be  possible,  rather  than  probable,  it 
is  disclosed  as  a  contingent  liability.  When  assessing  the 
likely duration of the lease and the likelihood of this liability 
arising, the Directors take into account their contractual and 
statutory rights to renew or extend the lease terms.

Income taxes
The tax expense recognised in the statement of comprehensive 
income comprises the sum of deferred tax and current tax not 
recognised directly in equity.

Current  tax  is  the  tax  currently  payable  based  on  taxable 
profit  for  the  year.  Deferred  income  taxes  are  calculated 
using the liability method on temporary differences.  Deferred 
tax  is  generally  provided  on  the  difference  between  the 
carrying  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  tax 
bases.  However, deferred tax is not provided on the initial 
recognition of goodwill, nor on the initial recognition of an 
asset or liability unless the related transaction is a business 
combination  or  affects  tax  or  accounting  profit.    Deferred 
tax  on  temporary  differences  associated  with  shares  in 
subsidiaries  is  not  provided  if  reversal  of  these  temporary 
differences can be controlled by the Group and it is probable 
that  reversal  will  not  occur  in  the  foreseeable  future.    In 
addition,  tax  losses  available  to  be  carried  forward  as  well 
as  other  income  tax  credits  to  the  Group  are  assessed  for 
recognition as deferred tax assets.

www.iomart.com 

30

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

Deferred  tax  liabilities  are  provided  in  full,  with  no 
discounting.  Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent 
that it is probable that the underlying deductible temporary 
differences  will  be  able  to  be  offset  against  future  taxable 
income.  Current and deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
calculated  at  tax  rates  that  are  expected  to  apply  to  their 
respective period of realisation, provided they are enacted or 
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Changes  in  deferred  tax  assets  or  liabilities  are  recognised 
as  a  component  of  tax  expense  in  the  statement  of 
comprehensive  income,  except  where  they  relate  to  items 
that  are  recognised  directly  in  equity  (such  as  share  based 
remuneration) in which case the related deferred tax is also 
recognised in equity.

Financial assets
All financial assets are recognised when the Group becomes 
a  party  to  the  contractual  provisions  of  the  instrument.  
Financial  assets  other  than  those  categorised  as  at  fair 
value  through  profit  or  loss  are  recognised  at  fair  value 
plus  transaction  costs  on  initial  recognition.    Financial 
assets  categorised  as  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss 
are  recognised  initially  at  fair  value  with  transaction  costs 
expensed through the statement of comprehensive income.

All  income  and  expenses  relating  to  financial  assets  that 
are  recognised  in  statement  of  comprehensive  income  are 
presented  within  ‘finance  costs’,  ‘finance  income’  or  ‘other 
financial  items’  except  for  impairment  of  trade  receivables 
which is presented within ‘administration expenses’.

Loans  and  receivables  are  non-derivative  financial  assets 
with  fixed  or  determinable  payments  that  are  not  quoted 
in  an  active  market.    Loans  and  receivables  are  measured 
subsequent  to  initial  recognition  at  amortised  cost  using 
the effective interest method, less provision for impairment.  
Discounting  is  omitted  where  the  effect  of  discounting  is 
immaterial.  The  Group’s  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  trade 
and most other receivables fall into this category of financial 
instruments.

Provision against trade and other receivables is made when 
there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to 
collect all amounts due to it in accordance with the original 
terms  of  those  receivables.    The  amount  of  the  write-down 
is determined as the difference between the asset’s carrying 
amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows. 
An assessment for impairment is undertaken at least at each 
balance sheet date.

Financial  derivatives  such  as  forward  foreign  exchange 
contracts are carried at fair value through the statement of 
comprehensive income.

A financial asset is derecognised only where the contractual 
rights  to  the  cash  flows  from  the  asset  expire  or  the 
financial  asset  is  transferred  and  that  transfer  qualifies 
for  derecognition.    A  financial  asset  is  transferred  if  the 
contractual rights to receive the cash flows of the asset have 
been transferred or the Group retains the contractual rights to 
receive the cash flows of the asset but assumes a contractual 
obligation to pay the cash flows to one or more recipients.  
A financial asset that is transferred qualifies for derecognition 
if the Group transfers substantially all the risks and rewards 
of ownership of the asset, or if the Group neither retains nor 
transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership 
but does transfer control of that asset. 

Financial liabilities
Financial  liabilities  are  obligations  to  pay  cash  or  other 
financial  assets  and  are  recognised  when  the  Group 
becomes  a  party  to  the  contractual  provisions  of  the 
instrument.    Financial  liabilities  categorised  as  at  fair  value 
through profit or loss are recorded initially at fair value, all 
transaction costs are recognised immediately in the statement 
of comprehensive income.  All other financial liabilities are 
recorded initially at fair value, net of direct issue costs.

Financial liabilities categorised as at fair value through profit 
or loss are re-measured at each reporting date at fair value, 
with changes in fair value being recognised in the statement 
of  comprehensive  income.    All  other  financial  liabilities 
are  recorded  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest 
method,  with  interest-related  charges  recognised  as  an 
expense in finance costs in the statement of comprehensive 
income.    Finance  charges,  including  premiums  payable  on 
settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are charged 
to  the  statement  of  comprehensive  income  on  an  accruals 
basis  using  the  effective  interest  method  and  are  added  to 
the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that they 
are not settled in the period in which they arise.

Financial liabilities  are categorised as  at  fair  value through 
profit  and  loss  on  initial  recognition.  A  financial  liability  is 
derecognised only when the obligation is extinguished, that 
is,  when  the  obligation  is  discharged,  cancelled  or  when  it 
expires.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

31

Foreign currency transactions
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded 
at  the  rate  ruling  at  the  date  of  the  transaction.  Any  gains 
or losses arising on assets and liabilities between the date of 
recording and the date of settlement are treated as gains or 
losses  in  the  statement  of  comprehensive  income.  Forward 
foreign  exchange  contracts  used  to  hedge  the  Group’s 
exposure to foreign currency transactions are fair valued at 
the  balance  date  and  the  gain  or  loss  is  recognised  in  the 
statement of comprehensive income for the period.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  cash  on  hand  and 
demand  deposits,  together  with  other  short-term,  highly 
liquid  investments  that  are  readily  convertible  into  known 
amounts  of  cash  and  which  are  subject  to  an  insignificant 
risk of changes in value.

Capital policy
The  Group’s  objectives  when  managing  capital  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  a  capital  structure  that 
optimises the cost of capital. In order to maintain or adjust 
the  capital  structure,  the  Group  may  return  or  issue  new 
capital  or  acquire  its  own  shares  or  adjust  the  amount  of 
dividends paid to shareholders. The Group may also make 
use of bank facilities for acquisitions or capital expenditure 
and finance leases for capital expenditure.

Dividends
Dividend  distributions  payable  to  equity  shareholders  are 
included in the financial statements within ‘other short term 
financial  liabilities’  when  a  final  dividend  is  approved  in  a 
general  meeting.    Interim  dividend  distributions  to  equity 
shareholders approved by the Board are not included in the 
financial statements until paid.

Equity
Equity comprises the following:

•	 “Share	capital”	represents	the	nominal	value	of	equity	

shares.

•	 “Own	shares	JSOP”	represents	the	amount	of	the	
company’s own equity shares, plus attributable 
transaction costs, that is held by the company within the 
iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust in respect of 
the Joint Share Ownership Plan.
	“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.
•	 “Capital	redemption	reserve”	represents	set	aside	
reserves in relation to previous redemption of own 
shares.

•	

•	 “Retained	earnings”	represents	retained	profits.

Employee benefits
The Group operates a stakeholder pension scheme and also 
contributes  to  a  number  of  personal  pension  schemes  on 
behalf  of  executive  directors  and  some  senior  employees.  
The  pension  costs  charged  against  operating  profit  are 
the  contributions  payable  to  the  schemes  in  respect  of  the 
accounting period.

Share-based payment 
The Group operates equity-settled share-based remuneration 
plans  for  its  employees.  All  goods  and  services  received 
in  exchange  for  the  grant  of  any  share-based  payment 
are  measured  at  their  fair  values.    Where  employees  are 
rewarded  using  share-based  payments,  the  fair  values  of 
employees’  services  are  determined  indirectly  by  reference 
to the fair value of the instrument granted to the employee. 
This  fair  value  is  appraised  at  the  grant  date  and  excludes 
the  impact  of  non-market  vesting  conditions  (for  example, 
profitability and sales growth targets).

Where existing share based incentives are replaced the fair 
value of the replacement share based incentives is calculated 
and compared to the current fair value of the replaced share 
based incentives. Where the fair value of the replaced share 
based  incentives  exceeds  that  of  the  replacement  share 
based incentives then the share based payment charge to the 
statement of comprehensive income for the year continues to 
be based on the original share based incentives.

All share-based remuneration plans are ultimately recognised 
as  an  expense  in  the  statement  of  comprehensive  income 
with a corresponding credit to ‘retained earnings’.  

If  vesting  periods  or  other  non-market  vesting  conditions 
apply,  the  expense  is  allocated  over  the  vesting  period, 
based  on  the  best  available  estimate  of  the  number  of 
share options expected to vest.   Estimates are subsequently 
revised  if  there  is  any  indication  that  the  number  of  share 
based  incentives  expected  to  vest  differs  from  previous 
estimates.    Any  cumulative  adjustment  prior  to  vesting  is 
recognised  in  the  current  period.    No  adjustment  is  made 
to  any  expense  recognised  in  prior  periods  if  share  based 
incentives ultimately exercised are different to that estimated 
on vesting.

Upon  exercise  of  share  based  incentives  the  proceeds 
received  net  of  attributable  transaction  costs  are  credited 
to  share  capital,  and  where  appropriate  share  premium. 
Under  the  rules  of  the  Joint  Share  Ownership  Plan  (JSOP), 
should the market price of a vested JSOP share exceed the 
participation  price  the  employee  has  the  option  to  convert 
the value of any such excess into a number of wholly owned 
shares within the JSOP.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
32

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

Segmental reporting
The Group provides segmental reporting on a basis consistent 
with  the  provision  of  internal  financial  information  used  for 
decision making purposed by the Chief Operating Decision 
Maker.  Internal  reports  are  produced  on  a  basis  consistent 
with  the  accounting  policies  adopted  in  Group’s  financial 
statements.

The Group calculates geographical information on the basis 
of the location of the customer.

Key judgements and sources of estimation uncertainty
The  key  assumptions  concerning  the  future,  and  other  key 
sources  of  estimation  uncertainty  at  the  balance  date,  that 
have  a  significant  risk  of  causing  a  material  adjustment  to 
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year are discussed below.

Impairment of goodwill
Determining  whether  goodwill  is  impaired  requires  an 
estimation  of  the  value  in  use  of  the  cash-generating  units 
to  which  goodwill  has  been  allocated.  The  value  in  use 
calculation  requires  the  entity  to  estimate  the  future  cash 
flows  expected  to  arise  from  the  cash-generating  unit  and 
to  select  a  suitable  discount  rate  in  order  to  calculate  the 
present  value.  Full  details  of  the  assumptions  used  in  the 
calculation are disclosed in note 12.

Valuation of intangible assets and fair value adjustments on 
acquisition
As the Group continues to implement its acquisition strategy 
there is a requirement to fair value the assets and liabilities 
of  any  business  acquired  during  the  year.  Within  these 
adjustments  consideration  has  been  given  to  the  valuation 
of  intangible  assets  including  customer  relationships  and 
brand.  The  valuation  of  customer  relationships  is  based 
on  the  value  in  use  calculation  which  requires  estimates 
of  the  future  cash  flows  expected  to  arise  from  the  existing 
customer  relationships  over  their  useful  life  and  to  select 
a  suitable  discount  rate  in  order  to  calculate  the  present 
value. Full details of the assumptions used in the calculation 
of  intangible  assets  and  fair  value  adjustments  on  the 
acquisition  that  has  occurred  during  the  current  year  are 
disclosed in note 10.

Estimated accruals
Estimates have been made of a number of accruals relating 
to premises used in the Group’s operations. These estimates 
are based on previous experience of costs incurred in similar 
situations.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Deferred tax
The Group has substantial tax losses available to offset future 
taxable  profits.  In  assessing  the  amount  of  deferred  tax  to 
be  recognised  as  an  asset  the  Group  has  estimated  future 
profitability of the relevant operating unit.

3.  SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS

The  chief  operating  decision-maker  has  been  identified  as 
the  Chief  Executive  Officer  (“CEO”)  of  the  Company.  The 
CEO reviews the Group’s internal reporting in order to assess 
performance  and  to  allocate  resources.  The  Company  has 
determined its operating segments based on these reports.
The Group currently has two reportable segments. 

•	 Easyspace	–	this	segment	provides	a	range	of	shared	
hosting and domain registration services to micro and 
SME companies.

•	 Hosting	–	this	segment	provides	managed	hosting	
facilities and services, through a network of owned 
datacentres, to the larger SME and corporate markets. 
The segment uses several routes to market and 
provides managed hosting services through iomart 
  Hosting, Rapidswitch, Titan Internet and iomart Cloud 
Services (formerly known as Netintelligence). Titan 
Internet Limited was acquired during the year and 
has been reported as part of the Hosting segment since 
acquisition.

Information  regarding  the  operation  of  the  reportable 
segments  is  included  below.  The  CEO  assesses  the 
performance  of  the  operating  segments  based  on  revenue 
and  a  measure  of  Earnings  before  Interest,  Depreciation 
and  Amortisation  (EBITDA)  before  any  allocation  of  Group 
overheads,  charges  for  share  based  payments  or  costs 
associated  with  acquisitions.  This  segment  EBITDA  is  used 
to  measure  performance  as  the  CEO  believes  that  such 
information is the most relevant in evaluating the results of 
the segment. 

The Group’s EBITDA for the year has been calculated after 
deducting  Group  overheads  from  the  EBITDA  of  the  two 
segments  as  reported  internally.  Group  overheads  include 
the cost of the Board, all the costs of running the premises 
in Glasgow, the Group marketing, human resource, finance 
and design functions and legal and professional fees.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

33

3. SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS (CONTINUED) 

The segment information is prepared using accounting policies consistent with those of the Group as a whole.  

The assets and liabilities of the Group are not reviewed by the chief operating decision-maker on a segment basis. Therefore none of 
the Group’s assets and liabilities are segmental assets and liabilities and are all unallocated for segmental disclosure purposes. For that 
reason the Group has not disclosed details of segmental assets and liabilities.

All segments are continuing operations. No customer accounts for more than 10% of external revenues. Inter-segment transactions are 
accounted for using an arms-length commercial basis.

Operating Segments
Revenue by Operating Segment

Easyspace 
Hosting 

External 
£’000 
7,558 
17,694 
25,252 

2011 
Internal 
£’000 
- 
896 
896 

Total 
£’000 
7,558 
18,590 
26,148 

External 
 £’000  
7,363 
10,964 
18,327 

 2010
Internal 
 £’000  
- 
717 
717 

Total
£’000
7,363
11,681
19,044

Geographical Information
In presenting the consolidated information on a geographical basis, revenue is based on the geographical location of customers. The 
United Kingdom is the place of domicile of the parent company, iomart Group plc. All of the Group’s revenue originates from the United 
Kingdom. 

Analysis of Revenue by Destination

United Kingdom 
Rest of the World 
Revenue from operations 

Profit by Operating Segment

Easyspace 
Hosting 
Group overheads 
Acquisition costs 
Share based payments 

Net gain on business combination 
Group interest and tax 
Profit for the year 

2010
£’000
17,142
1,185
18,327

2011 
£’000 
22,585 
2,667 
25,252 

 2010

Share based
payments, 
acquisation 
costs

EBITDA 
before 

EBITDA 
before 
Share based 
payments 
and  

2011 

Share based 
payments,  
acquisation 
costs 

costs 
£’000 
2,794 
6,178 
(2,328) 
- 
- 
6,644 

acquisation  depreciation &  Operating 
amortisation  profit/(loss) 
£’000 
2,759 
2,827 
(2,328) 
(195) 
(290) 
2,773 
- 
89 
2,862 

£’000 
(35) 
(3,351) 
- 
(195) 
(290) 
(3,871) 

(3,871) 

6,644 

payments 
 £’000  
2,579 
2,763 
(2,230) 
- 
- 
3,112 

Share based  depreciation &  Operating
amortisation  profit/(loss)
£’000
2,544
443
(2,230)
-
(379)
378
865
827
2,070

£’000 
(35) 
(2,320) 
- 
- 
(379) 
(2,734) 

(2,734) 

3,112 

Group overheads, acquisition costs, share based payments, interest and tax are not allocated to segments.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

4. OPERATING PROFIT

The profit for the year from total operations is stated after 
charging the following operating costs:

Staff costs excluding development costs capitalised and research and development 
costs written off the statement of comprehensive income  

7,582 

6,216

 2011 
 £’000  

 2010 
 £’000 

Depreciation of property plant and equipment 
 - Owned assets 
 - Leased assets 
Property, plant and equipment hire 
 - Land and buildings 
 - Plant and machinery 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
R&D expensed to statement of comprehensive income 
Marketing and sales 
Infrastructure 
Provision for doubtful debts 
Premises and office  

Included within other expenses are fees paid to the Group’s auditors, 
an analysis of which is provided below:

Auditors’ remuneration  

- Fees payable for the audit of the consolidation and the parent company accounts 
- Fees payable for audit of subsidiaries, pursuant to legislation 
- Tax compliance fees 
- Corporate finance and advisory transactions 

2,031 
658 

1,683 
239 
697 
62 
622 
434 
71 
4,376 

2011 
£’000 
26 
38 
19 
55 
138 

1,498
348

1,299
242
509
162
604
337
57
3,778

2010
£’000
22
23
14
27
86

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

35

5. INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES

Directors’ emoluments 
Aggregate emoluments 
Pension contributions to personal money purchase schemes 
Share based payments 

Emoluments payable to the highest paid director are as follows: 
Aggregate emoluments 
Pension contributions to personal money purchase schemes 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

881 
148 
1 

297 
120 

855
39
243

311
16

During the year the company made personal pension contributions to the personal pension schemes of 3 directors (2010: 3).
The aggregate amount of gains realised by directors on the exercise of share options during the year was £nil (2010: £129,395).
The detailed numerical analysis of directors’ remuneration and share options is included in the report of the board to the members on 
directors’ remuneration on pages 11 to 14.

Average number of persons employed by the Group (including directors): 
Technical 
Customer services 
Sales and marketing 
Administration 

Number of persons employed by the Group at the year end 
Technical 
Customer services 
Sales and marketing 
Administration 

Staff costs of the Group during the year in respect of
 employees and directors were: 
Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Other pension costs 
Share based payments 

No. 

76 
20 
39 
25 
160 

93 
21 
41 
27 
182 

No.

66
22
33
24
145

65
19
32
22
138

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

6,964 
664 
77 
290 
7,995 

5,688
536
56
379
6,659

The  Group  operates  a  stakeholder  pension  scheme  and  also  contributes  to  a  number  of  personal  pension  schemes  on  behalf  of 
executive directors and some senior employees.  In the case of executive directors, details of the pension arrangements are given within 
the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 11 to 14. In the case of senior employees, pension contributions to individuals’ personal 
pension arrangements are payable by the Group at a rate equal to the contribution made by the senior employee subject to a maximum 
employer contribution of 5% of basic salary. 

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
36

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

6. NET FINANCE COST

Finance income: 
Bank interest receivable 
Other interest income 
Finance income for the year 

Finance expenses: 
Bank loan  
Finance leases  
Other interest payable 
Finance expense for the year 

Net finance cost 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

45 
152 
197 

(25) 
(112) 
(41) 
(178) 

19 

77
-
77

-
(66)
-
(66)

11

Other interest income of £112,000 was received in the year relating to interest earned on sums held in escrow which have now been 
released. In addition, £80,000 was received in the year relating to interest earned on sums held on a rental deposit by a landlord since 
the inception of the agreement and of this, £40,000 had previously been accrued in interest receivable.

7. DIVIDENDS ON SHARES CLASSED AS EQUITY

2011 
Pence per 
share 

2011 

£’000 

2010 
  Pence per
share 

2010

£’000

Paid during the year: 
Final dividend – for prior year 
Equity dividends on ordinary shares 

Interim dividend – for current year 
Equity dividends on ordinary shares 

- 

- 

0.3p 

291

0.4p 

391 

391 

- 

-

291

The  directors  have  recommended  a  final  dividend  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2011  of  0.65p  per  share  (2010:  nil).    Subject  to 
shareholder approval this proposed final dividend would be payable on 5 October 2011 to shareholders on the register as of 10 June 
2011.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8. TAXATION

Tax charge for the year 
Adjustment relating to prior year 
Deferred tax credit 
Taxation  

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

37

2011 
£’000 

(183) 
33 
220 
70 

2010
£’000

(12)
20
808
816

The Group has a deferred tax asset which has been recognised in respect of tax losses within three subsidiary companies, which have 
generated taxable profits and are expected to continue to do so.

The differences between the total current tax shown above and the amount calculated by applying the standard rate of UK corporation 
tax to the profit before tax is as follows:

Profit before tax 

Tax charge @ 28% (2010 – 28%) 

Expenses disallowed for tax purposes 
Adjustments in respect of prior periods 
Effect of research and development tax reliefs  
Tax effect of share based remuneration 
Non-taxable gain on reduction of deferred consideration on business combination 
Effect of intangible asset tax reliefs 
Movement in unprovided deferred tax related to fixed assets 
Movement in unprovided deferred tax related to other timing differences 
Increase in tax losses recognised 

2011 
£’000 

2,792 

782 

25 
(33) 
(50) 
(191) 
- 
(7) 
130 
9 
(735) 

2010
£’000

1,254

351

23
(20)
(44)
50
(242)
(24)
(99)
(8)
(803)

Taxation (credit)/charge for the year 

(70) 

(816)

The  weighted  average  applicable  tax  rate  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2011  was  28%  (2010:  28%).  The  total  current  tax  charge 
of  £183,000  (2010:  £12,000)  on  operations  represents  6.6%  (2010:  1.0%)  of  the  Group  profit  before  tax  of  £2,792,000  (2010: 
£1,254,000). 

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
38

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

9. DEFERRED TAX

The Group had recognised deferred tax assets and liabilities as follows:

2011 

Deferred tax  Deferred tax 
Recognised  Unrecognised 
£’000 

£’000 

2010
Deferred tax  Deferred tax 
Recognised  Unrecognised
£’000

£’000 

Tax losses carried forward 
Share based remuneration 
Deferred tax on acquired assets with no capital allowances 
Deferred tax on customer relationships 
Deferred tax 

1,971 
354 
(1,367) 
(339) 
619 

1,386 
- 
- 
- 
1,386 

2,187 
72 
(1,504) 
(151) 
604 

2,427
-
-
-
2,427

At the year end, the Group has unused tax losses of £13.2m (2010: £16.5m) available for offset against future profits. A deferred tax 
asset has been recognised in respect of £7.7m (2010: £7.8m) of such losses. No deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of 
the remaining £5.5m (2010: £8.7m) as these losses are not currently expected to be used up by taxable profits by the end of the period 
covered by future projections.

The movement in the deferred tax account during the year was: 

Tax losses carried 
forward 
£’000 

  Deferred tax on
acquired assets
Share based  with no capital 
allowances 
£’000 

remuneration 
£’000 

Opening balance 
Acquired on acquisition of subsidiary 
Credited to equity 
(Charged)/credited to statement of 
comprehensive income 
Closing balance 

2,187 
- 
- 

(216) 
1,971 

72 
- 
80 

202 
354 

(1,504) 
- 
- 

137 
(1,367) 

Customer
relationships 
£’000 

(151) 
(285) 
- 

97 
(339) 

Total
£’000

604
(285)
80

220
619

The deferred tax asset in relation to tax losses carried forward arises from the unutilised tax losses in the hosting segment. The deferred 
tax asset has been recognised in line with future projections over a three year period. The basis of these projections are:

•	The	consistent	success	of	the	sales	teams	in	generating	new	business
•	Expectations	about	the	retention	of	customers
•	Continued	success	in	achieving	a	particular	product	mix	and	maintaining	price	yield

Based on the current profitability of certain companies within the hosting segment, an assessment of projections and the expectations 
of sustainable profits in future years, a deferred tax asset in relation to the utilisation of these losses is recognised in line with ‘IAS 12 
Income Taxes’.

The  deferred  tax  asset  in  relation  to  share  based  remuneration  arises  from  the  anticipated  future  tax  relief  on  the  exercise  of  share 
options. 

The deferred tax on acquired assets arises from the datacentre equipment acquired through the acquisition of iomart Datacentres Limited 
(formerly known as Ezee DSL Limited) on which depreciation is charged but on which there are no capital allowances available.

The deferred tax on customer relationships arises from the intangible assets recognised on the acquisitions of Rapidswitch Limited on 11 
May 2009 and Titan Internet Limited on 29 October 2010, which are being amortised over an estimated useful life of 5 years and on 
which there are no capital allowances or other tax deductions available.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

39

10. ACQUISITION

The Group acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Titan Internet Limited (“Titan”) on 29 October 2010.  This transaction has been 
accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting.

Titan delivers managed hosting solutions to its client base and the acquisition is in line with the group’s strategy to grow both organically 
and by acquisition.

The acquired business contributed revenues of £1,625,000 and profit after tax of £216,000 to the group for the period from 30 October 
2010 to 31 March 2011.  The following unaudited pro forma summary presents consolidation information of the group as if the business 
combination had occurred on 1 April 2010:

Revenue 

Profit after taxation 

Pro forma year ended
31 March 2011
£’000
27,107

2,985

These amounts have been calculated after applying the group’s accounting policies and after adjusting the results of Titan to reflect the 
additional amortisation that would have been charged assuming the fair value adjustments to intangible assets had been applied from 
1 April 2010, together with the consequential tax effects.

As a consequence of the acquisition of Titan, the company incurred £117,000 of third party acquisition related costs.  These expenses 
are included in administrative expenses in the company’s consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 March 
2011. 

The  following  table  summarises  the  consideration  transferred  to  acquire  Titan  Internet  Limited  and  the  amounts  of  identified  assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:

Fair value of consideration transferred: 
Cash 
Contingent consideration 
Total consideration 

Recognised amounts of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed: 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other receivables 
Property, plant and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Trade and other payables 
Deferred tax liability 
Total identifiable assets 

Goodwill 

£’000

3,645
600
4,245

501
396
572
1,119
(1,287)
(285)
1,016

3,229
4,245

The acquisition of Titan Internet Limited includes a contingent consideration arrangement that requires additional consideration to be 
paid by the company for Titan subject to the transfer of Titan’s server estate to the group’s datacentres. The directors consider that the 
maximum value of contingent consideration will be payable and therefore have accrued the balance in full. 

The  goodwill  arising  on  the  acquisition  of  Titan  Internet  Limited  is  attributable  to  the  specialised,  industry  specific  knowledge  of  the 
management  and  staff,  the  benefits  to  the  Group  in  merging  the  business  with  its  existing  infrastructure  and  the  anticipated  future 
operating synergies from the combination.  The goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

The fair value of the assets acquired includes trade receivables of £125,000.  The gross amount due under contracts is £125,000 and 
there are no amounts which are expected to be uncollectable.  The fair value of the acquired customer relationships intangible asset is 
£1,119,000.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

10. ACQUISITION (CONTINUED)

To estimate the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset, a discounted cash flow method, specifically the income approach, 
was used with reference to the directors’ estimates of the level of revenue which will be generated from them. A post-tax discount rate of 
13.8% was used for the valuation. Customer relationships are being amortised over an estimated useful life of 5 years.

The name, Titan Internet Limited, is not legally protected in any way and is not actively advertised or promoted, with the majority of Titan’s 
business being generated from existing customers or by word of mouth.  The terms and conditions of Titan specifically prohibit the sharing 
of information held about customers with third parties.  No value has therefore been attributed to either the trade name/brand or to the 
customer lists acquired at the acquisition date.

11. EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of 
ordinary shares in issue during the year, after deducting any own shares held by an Employee Benefit Trust in a Joint Share Ownership 
Plan (“JSOP”) and shares held in treasury.  Fully diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary 
shareholders by the total of the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year, after deducting any own shares 
(JSOP) and shares held in treasury, and adjusting for the dilutive potential ordinary shares relating to share options, including the dilutive 
effect of JSOP shares that have vested.  

Total operations 

Profit for the financial year and basic earnings attributed to ordinary shareholders 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares: 

Called up, allotted and fully paid at start of year 
Shares held by Employee Benefit Trust 
Own shares held in treasury 
New shares issued during year (weighted average) 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares - basic 

Dilutive impact of share options 
Dilutive impact of JSOP shares 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares - diluted 

Basic earnings per share 
Fully diluted earnings per share 

Adjusted earnings per share 

Profit for the financial year and basic earnings attributed to ordinary shareholders 
Less: net gain on reduction of deferred consideration 

2011 
£’000 
2,862 

No 
000 

102,753 
(4,977) 
- 
674 
98,450 

958 
1,026 
100,434 

2.91 p 
2.85 p 

2011 
£’000 

2,862 
- 

2010
£’000
2,070

No
000

100,239
-
(3,294)
632
97,577

230 
-
97,807 

2.12 p
2.12 p

2010
£’000

2,070
(865)

Adjusted profit for the financial year and adjusted earnings attributed to ordinary shareholders 

2,862 

1,205

Adjusted basic earnings per share 

Adjusted fully diluted earnings per share 

2.91 p 
2.85 p 

1.23 p
1.23 p

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

41

12. INTANGIBLE ASSETS 

Cost 
At 1 April 2009  
Additions 
Acquired on acquisition of subsidiary 
Development cost capitalised 
At 1 April 2010 
Additions 
Acquired on acquisition of subsidiary 
Development cost capitalised 
At 31 March 2011 

Accumulated amortisation: 
At 1 April 2009 
Charge for the year 
At 1 April 2010 
Charge for the year 
At 31 March 2011 

Carrying amount: 

At 31 March 2011 

At 31 March 2010 

Goodwill 
 £’000  

Development 
costs 
£’000 

Customer 
relationships 
£’000 

Software 
 £’000  

Domain
names 
 £’000  

16,550 
4,173 
- 
- 
20,723 
3,229 
- 
- 
23,952 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

23,952  

20,723  

479 
- 
- 
281 
760 
- 
- 
351 
1,111 

(169)  
(209) 
(378)  
(275) 
(653)  

458 

382 

- 
- 
800 
- 
800 
- 
1,119 
- 
1,919 

-  
(261) 
(261)  
(316) 
(577)  

221  
69 
4 
- 
294  
197 
- 
- 
491  

(199)  
(30) 
(229)  
(96) 
(325)  

Total
£’000

17,281
4,242
804
281
22,608
3,426
1,119
351
27,504

31  
- 
- 
- 
31  
- 
- 
- 
31  

-  
(9) 
(9)  
(10) 
(19)  

(368) 
(509)
(877) 
(697)
(1,574) 

1,342  

166  

12  

25,930

539  

65  

22  

21,731

All  amortisation  and  impairment  charges  are  included  in  the  depreciation,  amortisation  and  impairment  of  non-financial  assets 
classification, which is disclosed as administration expenses in the statement of comprehensive income. 

During the year, goodwill was reviewed for impairment in accordance with IAS 36 “Impairment of Assets”. No impairment charges (2010: 
nil) arose as a result of this review. For this review goodwill was allocated to individual Cash Generating Units (CGU) on the basis of 
the Group’s operations. This allocation has been amended in the current year to reflect the way in which the Group both manages its 
operations and the level at which the cash flows are internally monitored. The goodwill acquired in the Titan Internet Limited acquisition 
in the current year has been allocated to the Hosting CGU which is the CGU expected to benefit from that business combination. The 
carrying value of goodwill by each CGU is as follows: 

Cash Generating Units (CGU) 

Easyspace 
Hosting 

2011 
£’000 
12,314 
11,688 
24,002 

2010
£’000
12,314
8,409
20,723

The  recoverable  amount  of  a  CGU  is  determined  based  on  value-in-use  calculations.  These  calculations  use  pre-tax  cash  flow 
projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a two-year period. Cash flows beyond the two-year period 
are extrapolated using the estimated growth rates stated below. 

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
42

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

12. INTANGIBLE ASSETS (CONTINUED)

The growth rates and margins used to estimate future performance are based on past performance and the experience of growth 
rates. The growth rate does not exceed the long-term average growth rate for the business in which the CGU operates. The growth 
rates used to estimate future performance beyond the periods covered by the annual and strategic planning processes do not 
exceed the long-term average growth rates for similar products.

The assumptions used for the CGU included within the impairment reviews are as follows:

Discount rate  
Future perpetuity rate  
Forecast period for which cash flows are estimated (years) 

Easyspace 
11% 
2.25% 
2 

Hosting
13%
2.25%
2

Based on an analysis of the impairment calculation’s sensitivities to changes in key parameters (growth rate, discount rate and 
pre-tax cash flow projections) there was no probable scenario where the CGU’s recoverable amount would fall below its carrying 
amount. 

13. LEASE DEPOSIT 

The lease deposit of £2,016,000 (2010: £1,216,000) is due to be repaid at the end of the lease which at the earliest is July 2020. 
The Group is due to receive interest on the lease deposit at the prevailing market rate and therefore it has not been discounted.

14. PRINCIPAL SUBSIDIARIES

The following subsidiaries have been consolidated in the Group financial statements:

Country of 
registration 
and operation 

Activity 

       Ordinary share capital 

Owned by the 
company 
% 

Owned by
subsidiary
undertakings
%

iomart Limited  
iomart Hosting Limited  
iomart Cloud Services Limited 
(formerly known as Netintelligence Limited) 
iomart Virtual Servers Hosting Limited  
Netintelligence Limited 
(formerly known as Easyspace 
Datacentres (UK) Limited) 
Easyspace Limited 
Rapidswitch Limited 
Titan Internet Limtied 
iomart Datacentres Limited 
(formerly known as Ezee DSL Limited) 
Internetters Limited 
NicNames Limited 
Web Genie Internet Limited 

Scotland 
Scotland 

Dormant  
Managed hosting services 

Scotland 
Scotland 

Managed hosting services 
Dormant 

Scotland 
England 
England 
England 

England 
England 
England 
England 

Dormant 
Webservices 
Managed hosting services 
Managed hosting services 

Datacentre services 
Webservices 
Dormant 
Webservices 

100 
100 

100 
100 

100 
100 
100 
100 

100 
- 
- 
- 

-
-

-
-

-
-
-
-

-
100
100
100 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

43

15. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Freehold 
Property 
£’000 

Leasehold
improve- 
ments 
£’000 

Datacentre 
Equipment 
£’000 

Computer 
equipment 
£’000 

Office 
equipment 
£’000 

Motor
vehicles 
£’000 

Total
£’000

Cost: 
At 1 April 2009 
Additions in the year  
Acquisition of subsidiary 
Disposals in the year 
At 1 April 2010 
Additions in the year  
Acquisition of subsidiary 
Disposals in the year 
At 31 March 2011 

Accumulated depreciation: 
At 1 April 2009 
Charge for the year 
Disposals in the year 
At 1 April 2010 
Charge for the year 
Disposals in the year 
At 31 March 2011 

Carrying amount: 
At 31 March 2011 

837  
- 
- 
- 
837  
- 
- 
- 
837  

(12) 
(8) 
- 
(20) 
(20) 
- 
(40) 

360  
480 
1,299 
- 
2,139  
1,371 
14 
- 
3,524  

(346) 
(112) 
- 
(458) 
(135) 
- 
(593) 

7,584  
645 
166 
- 
8,395  
400 
- 
- 
8,795  

(677) 
(652) 
- 
(1,329) 
(709) 
- 
(2,038) 

1,869  
2,088 
727 
- 
4,684  
2,868 
421 
- 
7,973  

(1,246) 
(1,029) 
- 
(2,275) 
(1,758) 
- 
(4,033) 

797 

2,931  

6,757  

3,940  

At 31 March 2010 

817 

1,681  

7,066  

2,409  

677  
12 
21 
- 
710  
10 
81 
- 
801  

(374) 
(40) 
- 
(414) 
(60) 
- 
(474) 

327 

296 

- 
- 
14 
(7) 
7 
- 
55 
(24) 
38 

- 
(5) 
5 
- 
(7) 
5 
(2) 

11,327 
3,225
2,227
(7)
16,772 
4,649
571
(24)
21,968 

(2,655)
(1,846)
5
(4,496)
(2,689)
5
(7,180)

36 

14,788 

7 

12,276 

The net book value of computer equipment held under finance lease at 31 March 2011 was £1,735,000 (2010: £1,204,000).

16. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables 
Less: Provision for impairment 
Trade receivables (net) 
Other receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income  
Trade and other receivables    

2011 
£’000 
1,358 
(177) 
1,181 
240 
1,679 
3,100 

2010
£’000
1,382
(124)
1,258
191
1,488
2,937

The carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value, which has been calculated based on expectations 
of debt recovery from historic performances feeding into impairment provision calculations. Some of the higher value trade receivables 
in the Hosting division are reviewed individually for impairment and judgment made as to any likely impairment based on historic trends 
and the latest communication with specific customers. The balance of trade receivables in the Group are individually small in terms of 
value, so are considered for impairment by business unit specific provision calculations and are not individually impaired.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
44

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

16. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES (CONTINUED)

To consider the total exposure to credit risks, the Group uses figures net of VAT. At 31 March 2011, £686,000 (2010: £862,000) of 
net trade receivables were fully performing. Net trade receivables of £495,000 (2010: £396,000) were past due, but not impaired. The 
credit quality of financial assets that are neither past due or impaired can be assessed by reference to the customer type. The aging below 
shows that almost all are less than three months old. Historic performance indicates a high probability of payment for debts in this aging. 
Those over three months relate to a small number of larger customers without history of default.

Up to 3 months 
Over 3 months but less than 6 months 
Over 6 months but less than 1 year 
Total unimpaired trade receivables which are past due   

2011 
£’000 
434 
33 
28 
495 

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade receivables during the year was as follows:

Balance at start of the year 
Provision for receivables impairment 
Balance at end of year   

17. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

2011 
£’000 
124 
53 
177 

2010
£’000
337
55
4
396

2010
£’000
67
57
124

5,715
Cash at bank and on hand  
Cash and cash equivalents 
5,715
The credit risk on cash and cash equivalents is considered to be negligible because the counter parties are UK banking institutions. The 
effective interest rate earned on short term deposits was 0.51% (2010: 0.51%).

6,864 
6,864 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

18. DEFERRED CONSIDERATION RECEIVABLE ON DISPOSAL

Deferred consideration receivable on disposal: non-current 

Deferred consideration receivable on disposal: current 

Total deferred consideration receivable on disposal 

2011 
£’000 

- 

- 

- 

2010
£’000

-

(914)

(914)

The deferred consideration receivable on the disposal of disposal of Ufindus Limited in July 2008 of £914,000 was received in July 2010 
net of costs associated with the disposal of £119,000.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES  

Trade payables 
Corporation tax 
Other taxation and social security 
Accruals 
Deferred income 
Trade and other payables 

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

45

2011 
£’000 

(1,377) 
(303) 
(596) 
(3,407) 
(4,364) 
(10,047) 

2010
£’000

(1,044)
(12)
(915)
(2,399)
(3,119)
(7,489)

The carrying amount of trade and other payables approximates to their fair value. Trade payables and accruals are non-interest 
bearing and generally mature within three months.  

20. DEFERRED AND CONTINGENT CONSIDERATION

Deferred consideration due on acquisition: 
- iomart Datacentres Limited (formerly known as Ezee DSL Ltd) 

Contingent consideration due on acquisition: 
- Titan Internet Limited 

Total deferred and contingent consideration due on acquisitions 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

- 

(1,000)

(600) 

(600) 

-

(1,000)

On 27 August 2010, the final instalment of deferred consideration of £1,000,000 was paid in relation to the acquisition of iomart 
Datacentres Limited (formerly known as Ezee DSL Limited). The single share in iomart Datacentres Limited that had been placed 
in escrow was transferred to iomart Group plc on payment of this final instalment and consequently iomart Group plc now owns 
100% of the share capital of this company.

The contingent consideration due on the acquisition of Titan Internet Limited is subject to a successful transfer of Titan’s server 
estate to the Group’s data centres and is expected to be completed within 12 months.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

21. BORROWINGS

Current: 
Obligations under finance leases  
Bank loans 
Current borrowings 

Non-current: 
Obligations under finance leases  
Total non-current borrowings 

Total borrowings 

The carrying amount of borrowings approximates to their fair value.

The obligations under finance leases are secured by the related assets and are repayable as follows:

2011 
£’000 

(846) 
(2,000) 
(2,846) 

(920) 
(920) 

2010
£’000

(480)
-
(480)

(834)
(834)

(3,766) 

(1,314)

Due within one year 
Due between two and five years 

Capital 
£’000 
846 
920 
1,766 

2011 
Interest 

Total 
£’000  £’000 
938 
964 
136  1,902 

92 
44 

Capital 
£’000 
480 
834 
1,314 

2010
Interest 

Total
£’000  £’000
561
903
150  1,464

81 
69 

The Group in its ordinary course of business enters into hire purchase and finance lease agreements to fund or re-finance the purchase 
of computer equipment and software. The lease agreements are typically for periods of 2 to 3 years and do not have contingent rent or 
escalation clauses. The agreements have industry standard terms and do not contain any restrictions on dividends, additional debt or 
further leasing.

The finance lease liability has an effective interest rate of 6.9% (2010: 6.1%). Lease payments are made on a monthly and quarterly basis. 
The future lease obligation of £1,902,000 (2010: £1,464,000) has a present value of £1,846,000 (2010: £1,367,000). 

In June 2010 the Group obtained a multi option revolving credit facility of £10m which was made available in order to finance business 
acquisitions and to finance capital expenditure. In order to fund the acquisition of Titan Internet Limited, £2.0m of this facility was drawn 
down in November 2010 and this remained the only draw down of the facility at 31 March 2011. The interest rate on the bank loan is 
fixed for the 6 month term of the loan at 3.0% per annum (2010: nil) which results in an effective annual interest rate, which includes the 
cost of draw down fees, of 5.0% (2010: nil). Due to the short term nature of the loan, the future loan obligation of £2,030,000 (2010: 
£nil) approximates the present value.

22. OPERATING LEASES

The Group has outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due 
as follows:

Within one year 
Between two to five years 
After five years 

2011 

2010

Land and  
buildings 
£’000  
2,222 
5,189 
6,006 
13,417 

Other 
£’000 
181 
252 
381 
814 

Land and
buildings 
£’000 
1,280 
4,972 
5,228 
11,480 

Other 
£’000
240
347
387
974

Lease terms for land and buildings
Operating  leases  do  not  contain  any  contingent  rent  clauses.  None  of  the  operating  leases  contain  renewal  of  purchase  options  or 
escalation clauses or any restrictions regarding further leasing or additional debt. At 31 March 2011, the total future minimum sub-lease 
payments expected to be received under non-cancellable sub-leases were £226,000 (2010: £275,000)

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

47

Ordinary shares of 1p each

Number of shares 

200,000,000 

100,239,302 
2,513,297 
102,752,599 
1,087,244 
103,839,843 

£’000

2,000

1,002
26
1,028
10
1,038

23. SHARE CAPITAL

Authorised 
At 31 March 2009, 2010, and 2011 
Called up, allotted and fully paid
At 31 March 2009 
Issued to Employee Benefit Trust 
At 31 March 2010  
Exercise of options 
At 31 March 2011 

During the year the company issued 1,087,244 (2010: nil) ordinary shares of 1p each in respect of the exercise of share options by 
employees for which a net total of £473,000 (2010: £nil) was received

As at 31 March 2011 the company held 4,977,184 shares (2010: 4,977,184) in the iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust in relation 
to the JSOP which are accounted for in the Own Shares JSOP reserve and have a nominal value of £49,772 (2010: £49,772). 

The JSOP shares are valued at 49.5p per share, which was the mid-market value of the shares at the start of trading on the day they 
were issued, resulting in a total value in the Own Shares JSOP reserve of £2,463,706. 

The JSOP shares are held jointly between employees and the iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust. Under the terms of the JSOP rules 
employees are eligible to receive the excess of any disposal proceeds received for the JSOP shares over the participation price. Certain 
of the JSOP shares, as identified in the Remuneration Report on pages 11-14, are subject to a 3% per annum escalation until the JSOP 
shares are sold. The JSOP shares do not carry dividend or voting rights whilst they are jointly held by the employee and the iomart Group 
plc Employee Benefit Trust. 

Should the market price of a vested JSOP share exceed the participation price the employee has the option to convert the value of any 
such excess value into a number of wholly owned shares within the JSOP. If an employee exercises this right then the wholly owned shares 
subsequently held within the JSOP by the employee shall be eligible for both dividend and voting rights.

The share capital of iomart Group plc consists of ordinary shares with a par value of 1p. All shares, excluding the shares held by the 
iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust, are equally eligible to receive dividends and represent one vote at the shareholders' meetings 
of iomart Group plc. All shares issued at 31 March 2011 are fully paid.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
48

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS

The  Group  operated  the  following  share  based  payment  employee  share  option  schemes  during  the  year;  Enterprise  Management 
Incentive scheme, a number of other approved schemes and a number of unapproved schemes. All schemes are settled in equity only 
and are summarised below.

Vesting period 

Maximum term 

Performance criteria 

Required to remain in  
employment

Enterprise Management  
Incentive scheme 

Up to 3 years 
from grant  

Other approved schemes 

Between 1 and  
3 years from grant  

Unapproved schemes 

3 years from grant  

Joint Share  
Ownership Plan 

Up to 3 years 
from grant  

10 years after 
date of grant 

10 years after 
date of grant 

10 years after  
date of grant 

10 years after 
date of grant 

As set by Remuneration
Committee 

As set by Remuneration
Committee 

As set by Remuneration
Committee 

As set by Remuneration
Committee 

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

The  performance  criteria  as  set  by  the  Remuneration  Committee  are  based  on  the  achievement  of  annual  objectives  and  continuous 
employment.

In accordance with the transitional provisions of IFRS, the requirements of IFRS 2 Share Based Payment have not been applied to equity 
instruments that were granted before 7 November 2002 or equity instruments that were granted after 7 November 2002 that had vested 
before the date of transition, being 1 April 2005. Therefore the following disclosures relate only to awards made after 7 November 2002 
that had not vested by 1 April 2005.

During the year, options over 1,087,244 ordinary shares (2010: 830,660) were exercised and the average market price at the exercise 
dates was 66.6p (2010: 32.0p).

As  disclosed  in  note  5,  a  share  based  payment  charge  of  £290,000  (2010:  £379,000)  has  been  recognised  in  the  statement  of 
comprehensive  income  during  the  year  in  relation  to  the  above  schemes.  The  fair  value  of  the  employee  services  received  is  valued 
indirectly by valuing the options granted using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which worked on the following assumptions for 
the options granted in the year.

Grant date 
Vesting date 
Variables used 
Share price at grant date 
Volatility 
Dividend yield 
Number of employees holding options/units  
Option/award life (years)   
Expected life (years) 
Risk free rate 
Expectations of meeting performance criteria  
Fair value 
Exercise price per share 

29-Oct-10 
31-Mar-12 

02-Dec-10 
31-Mar-13 

02-Dec-10
31-Mar-14

88.5p 
62% 
1.0% 
1 
10 
1.4 
2.00% 
100% 
25.07p 
90.5p 

87.5p 
63% 
1.0% 
1 
10 
2.3 
2.02% 
100% 
32.04p 
87.5p 

87.5p
63%
1.0%
3
10
3.3
2.02%
100%
37.40p
87.5p

i) Expected volatility was determined at the date of grant from historic volatility, adjusted for events that were not considered to be reflective 
of the volatility of the share price going forward
ii) Risk free rate was calculated based on the average Bank of England zero coupon yields.

Details of options and awards outstanding, and a reconciliation of movements in the year in respect of the Company’s ordinary shares 
of 1p each, under the various share option schemes are as follows:

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

49

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)

As at 31 March 2011

Details 

                       Options for shares outstanding 

Vested
options for  
shares not yet  
exercised

 Exercise 
  price 

Grant 
date 

Exercise 
date 

Expiry 
date 

31 March 
2010 

Issued 

Transferred  Forfeited  Exercised  31 March  31 March
2011

2011 

Enterprise management incentive   scheme 

02/07/2004 
02/07/2005 
02/07/2006 
17/11/2007 
24/08/2009 
27/09/2010 
20/12/2007 
20/06/2008 
20/12/2008 
20/06/2009 
20/12/2009 
20/06/2010 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2010 
05/02/2012 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2012 
31/03/2013 
31/03/2013 
29/10/2010 
01/04/2010 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2012 
31/03/2013 
31/03/2014 

31/10/2001 
20/12/2009 
20/06/2010 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2011 
30/09/2009 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2012 
31/03/2013 
01/14/2011 
01/04/2012 
31/03/2013 
31/03/2014 

02/07/2013 
02/07/2013 
02/07/2013 
17/11/2014 
24/08/2016 
27/09/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
06/10/2018 
06/10/2018 
05/02/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
09/12/2019 
29/10/2020 
29/10/2020 
02/12/2020 
02/12/2020 
02/12/2020 
02/12/2020 

31/10/2011 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
05/02/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
29/10/2020 
29/10/2020 
02/12/2020 
02/12/2020 

44,581 
47,916 
47,920 
224,521 
50,000 
85,982 
150,000 
160,000 
160,000 
160,000 
99,655 
10,000 
345,700 
216,668 
211,287 
235,923 
28,495 
100,000 
250,000 
124,324 
25,000 
25,000 
200,000 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

50,000 
40,230 
100,000 
80,647 
166,667 
172,042 
12,000 
125,676 
225,000 
225,000 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
83,333 
49,263 
16,667 
76,668 
81,808 
59,999 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
34,071 
83,333 
28,191 
66,667 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(116,668) 
(116,667) 
(111,290) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
(2,500) 
- 
(5,833) 
- 
(5,834) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
-  (100,000) 
-  (100,000) 
(50,000) 
- 
(50,000) 
- 
(29,885) 
- 
- 
- 
(93,011) 
- 
(50,000) 
- 
- 
(16,666) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(25,000) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
116,668 
116,667 
111,290 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
(40,230) 
- 
-  (100,000) 
-  (197,315) 
(50,000)  (164,248) 
- 
(12,000) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

(100,000) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

42,081 
42,083 
42,086 
224,521 
50,000 
85,982 
50,000 
60,000 
110,000 
110,000 
69,770 
10,000 
136,021 
50,001 
83,331 
235,923 
28,495 
100,000 
225,000 
124,324 
25,000 
25,000 
200,000 
83,333 
49,263 
16,667 
76,668 
81,808 
59,999 

50,000 
- 
- 
- 
69,086 
183,332 
- 
125,676 
225,000 
225,000 
34,071 
83,333 
28,191 
66,667 

42,081
42,083
42,086
224,521
50,000
85,982
50,000
60,000
110,000
110,000
69,770
10,000
136,021
50,001
83,331
235,923
28,495
-
225,000
124,324
-
-
-
83,333
-
16,667
-
-
-

50,000
-
-
-
69,086
183,332
-
125,676
-
-
-
-
-
-

6.25   02/07/2003 
6.25   02/07/2003 
6.25   02/07/2003 
  78.50   17/11/2004 
  74.00   24/08/2006 
  50.50  27/09/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  26.50  05/02/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  44.50  09/12/2009 
  90.50  29/10/2010 
  90.50  29/10/2010 
  87.50  02/12/2010 
  87.50  02/12/2010 
  87.50  02/12/2010 
  87.50  02/12/2010 

Unapproved schemes 
  11.75   31/10/2001 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  26.50  05/02/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  90.50  29/10/2010 
  90.50  29/10/2010 
  87.50  02/12/2010 
  87.50  02/12/2010 

 Approved Schemes  
  44.00   24/01/2001 
  13.50   26/09/2001 
  11.75   31/10/2001 

24/01/2004 
26/09/2004 
31/10/2004 

24/01/2011 
26/09/2011 
31/10/2011 

37,500 
5,000 
23,888 

- 
- 
- 

Total 
Weighted Average Exercise price 

4,266,622  580,000 
43.14p  88.79p 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

(37,500) 
- 
(23,888) 

- 
5,000 
- 

-
5,000
-

(166,666) (1,087,244)  3,592,712  2,312,712
51.02p

51.62p 

46.50p 

43.39p 

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
50

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED) 

As at 31 March 2010

Exercise 
  price 

Details 

Grant 
date 

                                     Options for shares outstanding 

Exercise 
date 

Expiry 
date 

31 March 
2009 

Issued  Surrenderd  Exercised  Expired 

  31 March 
2010 

Enterprise management incentive   scheme 

Vested

options for  
shares not yet  
exercised

31 March
2010

6.25   02/07/2003 
6.25   02/07/2003 
6.25   02/07/2003 
  78.50   17/11/2004 
  74.00   24/08/2006 
  50.50  27/09/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  26.50  05/02/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  44.50  09/12/2009 

Savings related scheme 
  76.00  01/03/2006 

Unapproved schemes 
5.00   29/03/2000 
5.00   29/03/2000 
5.00   29/03/2000 
  11.75   31/10/2001 
  78.50   17/11/2004 
  50.50  27/09/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  43.50  20/12/2007 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  29/09/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  46.50  06/10/2008 
  26.50  05/02/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 
  37.00  11/05/2009 

Approved Schemes  
  44.00   24/01/2001 
  13.50   26/09/2001 
  11.75   31/10/2001 

02/07/2004 
02/07/2005 
02/07/2006 
17/11/2007 
24/08/2009 
27/09/2010 
20/12/2007 
20/06/2008 
20/12/2008 
20/06/2009 
20/12/2009 
20/06/2010 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2010 
05/02/2012 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2012 
31/03/2013 
31/03/2013 

02/07/2013 
02/07/2013 
02/07/2013 
17/11/2014 
24/08/2016 
27/09/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
06/10/2018 
06/10/2018 
05/02/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
09/12/2019 

44,581 
47,916 
47,920 
224,521 
50,000 
85,982 
150,000 
160,000 
160,000 
160,000 
99,655 
10,000 
345,700 
216,668 
211,287 
235,923 
28,495 
100,000 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
250,000 
124,324 
25,000 
25,000 
200,000 

01/03/2009 

01/09/2009 

41,579 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

44,581 
47,916 
47,920 
224,521 
50,000 
85,982 
150,000 
160,000 
160,000 
160,000 
99,655 
10,000 
345,700 
216,668 
211,287 
235,923 
28,495 
100,000 
250,000 
124,324 
25,000 
25,000 
200,000 

44,581
47,916
47,920
224,521
50,000
-
150,000
160,000
160,000
160,000
99,655
-
345,700
216,668
-
235,923
28,495
-
250,000
-
-
-
-

-  (41,579) 

- 

-

11/05/2000 
11/02/2001 
11/02/2002 
31/10/2001 
17/11/2007 
27/09/2010 
20/12/2009 
20/06/2010 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2009 
31/03/2010 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2012 
30/09/2009 
31/03/2011 
31/03/2012 
31/03/2013 

29/03/2010 
29/03/2010 
29/03/2010 
31/10/2011 
17/11/2014 
27/09/2017 
20/12/2017 
20/12/2017 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
29/09/2018 
06/10/2018 
06/10/2018 
06/10/2018 
06/10/2018 
05/02/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 
11/05/2019 

276,886 
276,887 
276,887 
50,000 
500,479 
914,018 
60,345 
150,000 
104,304 
233,334 
238,708 
214,077 
721,505 
1,050,000 
1,350,000 
12,000 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
125,676 
225,000 
225,000 

-  (276,886) 
-  (276,887) 
-  (276,887) 
- 
- 
- 
(500,479) 
- 
(914,018) 
- 
(20,115) 
- 
(50,000) 
- 
(23,657) 
- 
(66,667) 
- 
(66,666) 
- 
(214,077) 
- 
(721,505) 
- 
(1,050,000) 
- 
(1,350,000) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

24/01/2004 
26/09/2004 
31/10/2004 

24/01/2011 
26/09/2011 
31/10/2011 

37,500 
5,000 
23,888 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
50,000 
- 
- 
40,230 
100,000 
80,647 
166,667 
172,042 
- 
- 
- 
- 
12,000 
125,676 
225,000 
225,000 

-
-
-
50,000
-
-
40,230
-
80,647
166,667
-
-
-
-
-
12,000
-
-
-

37,500 
5,000 
23,888 

37,500
5,000
23,888

Total 
Weighted Average Exercise price 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

8,916,045  1,200,000  (4,977,184)  (830,660)  (41,579)  4,266,622  2,637,311
44.66p

5.00p  76.00p 

38.25p 

50.41p 

43.14p 

44.45p 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

51

24. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)

Details of options and awards outstanding, and a reconciliation of movements in the year in respect of the Company’s ordinary shares 
of 1p each, under the JSOP scheme are as follows:

As at 31 March 2011 

Details 

                                       Options for shares outstanding  

Vested options

for JSOP  
shares not yet  

exercised

Exercise 
price 

Grant 
date 

Exercise 
date 

Expiry 
date 

31 March 
2010 

Issued  Surrenderd  Exercised  Expired 

31 March 
2011 

31 March
2011

Joint Share Ownership Plan 

50.99 

50.99 

50.99 

52.00 

78.50 

50.99 

50.99 

50.99 

50.99 

Total 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

06/10/2018 

935,582 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2011 

06/10/2018 

1,050,000 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2012 

06/10/2018 

1,350,000 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

27/09/2017 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

17/11/2014 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

20/12/2017 

31/03/2010 

20/06/2010 

20/12/2017 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

29/09/2018 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2011 

29/09/2018 

914,018 

500,479 

20,115 

50,000 

90,324 

66,666 

4,977,184 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

935,582 

935,582

1,050,000 

1,050,000

1,350,000 

914,018 

500,479 

20,115 

50,000 

90,324 

66,666 

-

914,018

500,479

20,115

50,000

90,324

66,666

- 

4,977,184  3,627,184

Weighted Average Exercise price  

52.60p 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

n/a 

53.95p 

55.05p

As at 31 March 2010 

Details 

                                       Options for shares outstanding  

Vested options

for JSOP  
shares not yet  

exercised

Exercise 
price 

Grant 
date 

Exercise 
date 

Expiry 
date 

31 March 
2009 

Issued  Surrenderd  Exercised  Expired 

31 March 
2010 

31 March
2010

Joint Share Ownership Plan 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

06/10/2018 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2011 

06/10/2018 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2012 

06/10/2018 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

27/09/2017 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

17/11/2014 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

20/12/2017 

31/03/2010 

20/06/2010 

20/12/2017 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2010 

29/09/2018 

31/03/2010 

31/03/2011 

29/09/2018 

49.50 

49.50 

49.50 

50.50 

78.50 

49.50 

49.50 

49.50 

49.50 

Total 

Weighted Average Exercise price 

25. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

935,582 

1,050,000 

1,350,000 

914,018 

500,479 

20,115 

50,000 

90,324 

66,666 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

4,977,184 

52.60p 

- 

n/a 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

935,582 

935,582

1,050,000 

1,350,000 

914,018 

500,479 

20,115 

50,000 

90,324 

66,666 

-

-

914,018

500,479

20,115

-

90,324

-

- 

4,977,184  2,460,518

n/a 

n/a 

52.60p 

55.77p

The only related party transactions in the year were the payments to key management (only directors are deemed to fall into this category) 
disclosed in note 5.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
52

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

26. CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

(a) Contingencies
The Group is a party to certain operating lease agreements for properties which have been converted into datacentres. These operating 
leases  impose  a  liability  on  the  Group,  at  the  request  of  the  lessor,  to  reinstate  the  properties  to  the  condition  they  were  in  before 
conversion to datacentres. All of these properties are on long term leases and these leases may be extended. Consequently the Directors 
believe that the likelihood of these liabilities crystalising is remote. There were no other contingent assets or liabilities as at 31 March 
2011 (2010: nil).

(b) Commitments 
Capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment committed by the Group at 31 March 2011 was £83,000 (2010: £249,000). 

27. RISK MANAGEMENT

The  Group  finances  its  operations  by  raising  finance  through  equity,  bank  borrowings  and  finance  leases.  No  speculative  treasury 
transactions are undertaken however the Group does from time to time enter into forward foreign exchange contracts to hedge known 
currency exposures. Financial assets and liabilities include those assets and liabilities of a financial nature, namely cash, investments, short 
term receivables/payables and borrowings. 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

53

27. RISK MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

The carrying amounts of financial assets presented in the statement of financial position relate to the following measurement categories 
as defined in IAS 39:

2011 
Non-current: 
Lease deposit 

Current: 
Trade receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Other receivables 
Total for category 

2010 
Non-current: 
Lease deposit 

Current: 
Deferred consideration on disposal of subsidiary  
Trade receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Other receivables 
Forward foreign exchange contracts 
Total for category 

Loans and 
receivables 
£’000 

Designated at
fair value
through profit
or loss 
£’000 

2,016 

1,181 
6,864 
240 
10,301 

1,216 

914 
1,258 
5,715 
172 
- 
9,275 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
19 
19 

Total 
£’000

2,016

1,181
6,864
240
10,301

1,216

914
1,258
5,715
172
19
9,294

The carrying amounts of financial liabilities presented in the statement of financial position relate to the following measurement categories 
as defined in IAS 39:

2011
Non-current: 
Finance leasing capital obligations 

Current: 
Trade payables 
Accruals  
Bank loan 
Contingent consideration due on acquisition 
Finance leasing capital obligations  
Forward foreign exchange contracts 
Total for category 

2010 
Non-current: 
Finance leasing capital obligations 

Current: 
Trade payables 
Accruals  
Deferred consideration due on acquisition 
Finance leasing capital obligations  
Total for category 

Designated at 
fair value  
through profit 

Financial
liabilities
measured at 
or loss  amortised cost 
£’000 
£’000 

Other
(non-IAS 39) 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(30) 
(30) 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

(920) 

(920)

(1,377) 
(3,401) 
- 
(600) 
- 
- 
(5,378) 

- 
- 
(2,000) 
- 
(846) 
- 
(3,766) 

(1,377)
(3,401)
(2,000)
(600)
(846)
(30)
(9,174)

- 

(834) 

(834)

(1,044) 
(2,399) 
(1,000) 
- 
(4,443) 

- 
- 
- 
(480) 
(1,314) 

(1,044)
(2,399)
(1,000)
(480)
(5,757)

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
54

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

27. RISK MANAGEMENT (CONTINUED)

Liquidity risk
The Group seeks to manage financial risk to ensure sufficient liquidity is available to meet foreseeable needs and to invest cash safely 
and profitably. The Group reviews its cash flow requirements on a monthly basis.

Interest rates
The interest rate on the Group’s cash at bank is determined by reference to the base rate.

Currency risk
During the year the Group made payments totalling US$1.8m (2010: US$1.6m) to acquire domain names for its Easyspace division. 
The Group entered into forward exchange contracts to hedge its exposure to the US Dollar arising on these purchases. At the year end, 
the Group had outstanding forward contracts under which it was due to purchase $840,000 (2010: $800,000) for a total of £555,000 
(2010: £509,000), at an average exchange rate of US$:GBP of 1.51 (2010: 1.57) over the period to September 2011. The fair value 
of these currency contracts is estimated to be approximately a loss of £30,000 (2010: gain £19,000). This has been recognised in the 
statement of comprehensive income for the year. The Group has no non-monetary assets or liabilities denominated in foreign currencies 
and the level of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies is minimal. 

Capital risk
The Group currently has net cash. The Group’s policy on capital structure is to maintain a level of gross cash which the Board considers 
to be adequate for the size of the Group’s operations. Consequently, the Group makes use of both banking facilities and finance lease 
arrangements to help fund the acquisition of companies and capital expenditure in order to maintain that level of gross cash. The Group 
is committed to paying annual dividends depending on the underlying profitability and cash generation of the business. The Group was 
in compliance with all debt covenants in the banking facility arrangements throughout the reporting period.

Credit risk
The majority of the Group’s customers are small businesses and a significant number of these customers take advantage of the deferred 
payment terms offered by the Group, however the revenue recognition policy takes account of this, so that there is no exposure from the 
deferred payment terms. Therefore the Group consider that the trade receivables of £1,181,000 (2010: £1,258,000) which are stated 
net of applicable provisions represent the total amount exposed to credit risk. The Group’s cash at bank is held within the UK clearing 
banks.
Further information on financial instruments policy and procedures is given in the Directors’ Report.

28. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENT

The Group acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Switch Media Limited and its subsidiaries (“Switch Media”) on 26 April 2011. 
This transaction will be accounted for by the acquisition method of accounting.

Switch Media supplies domain registration, web hosting and web design services to its client base primarily in the UK and in the Republic 
of Ireland and the acquisition is in line with the group’s strategy to grow both organically and by acquisition.

The acquired business did not contribute to the revenues or profit of the group during the year ended 31 March 2011.

During the year the group incurred £78,000 of third party acquisition related costs in respect of this acquisition.  These expenses are 
included in administrative expenses in the group’s consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 March 2011.  
After  the  year  end  a  further  £9,000  of  third  party  acquisition  related  costs  are  expected  to  be  incurred  and  these  will  be  included  in 
administrative expenses in the group’s consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ending 31 March 2012.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Notes to the Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

55

28. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENT (CONTINUED)

The following table summarises the consideration transferred to acquire Switch Media Limited and its subsidiaries and the amounts of 
identified assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date:

Fair value of consideration transferred: 
Cash 
Contingent consideration 
Total consideration 

Recognised amounts of net assets acquired and liabilities assumed (provisional): 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other receivables 
Current deferred tax asset 
Property, plant and equipment 
Intangible assets 
Trade and other payables 
Current deferred tax liability 
Non-current deferred tax liability 
Total identifiable assets 

Goodwill 

£’000

1,025 
225 
1,250 

126 
75 
52 
47 
395 
(464)
(40)
(61)
130 

1,120 
1,250 

The acquisition of Switch Media includes a contingent consideration arrangement that requires additional consideration to be paid by 
the group for Switch subject to the successful integration of the business of Switch Media into the group, the successful transfer of Switch 
Media’s  provisioning  platforms  to  existing  group  platforms  and  the  successful  transfer  of  Switch  Media’s  server  estate  to  the  group’s 
datacentres.

The goodwill arising on the acquisition of Switch Media is attributable to the specialised, industry specific knowledge of the management 
and staff, the benefits to the Group in merging the business with its existing infrastructure and the anticipated future operating synergies 
from the combination.  The goodwill is not expected to be deductible for tax purposes.

All services supplied by Switch Media are payable in advance and the fair value of the assets does not include any trade receivables.  The 
fair value of the acquired customer relationships intangible asset of £394,000 is provisional pending a final valuation.

To estimate the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset, a discounted cash flow method, specifically the income approach, 
was used with reference to the directors’ estimates of the level of revenue which will be generated from them. A post-tax discount rate of 
13.8% was used for the valuation. Customer relationships are being amortised over an estimated useful life of 3 years.

The name, Switch Media Limited, is not actively advertised or promoted, with the majority of Switch Media’s business being generated 
from  existing  customers  or  by  mail  shots  to  newly  registered  companies.    Switch  Media  has  given  a  commitment  to  customers  not  to 
share information held about them with third parties.  No value has therefore been attributed to either the trade name/brand or to the 
customer lists acquired at the acquisition date.

www.iomart.com 

  
 
 
  
56

Holding Company Financial Statements
Year ended 31March 2011

INDEPENDENT  AUDITOR’S  REPORT  TO  THE  MEMBERS 
OF IOMART GROUP PLC

We have audited the parent company financial statements of 
iomart Group plc for the year ended 31 March 2011 which 
comprise the parent company balance sheet and the related 
notes.  The  financial  reporting  framework  that  has  been 
applied  in  their  preparation  is  applicable  law  and  United 
Kingdom  Accounting  Standards  (United  Kingdom  Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice).

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.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies 
Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Directors' Report 
for the financial year for which the financial statements are 
prepared is consistent with the parent company financial 
statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by 
exception

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

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

•	

the	parent	company	financial	statements	are	not	in	
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

•	 certain	disclosures	of	directors’	remuneration	specified	

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors

by law are not made; or

•	 we	have	not	received	all	the	information	and	

explanations we require for our audit.

Other matter

We have reported separately on the Group financial statements 
of iomart Group plc for the year ended 31 March 2011.

Andrew Howie
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants
Glasgow
31 May 2011

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

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is 
provided on the APB's website at www.frc.org.uk/apb/scope/
private.cfm.

Opinion on financial statements

In our opinion the parent company financial statements:
•	 give	a	true	and	fair	view	of	the	state	of	the	company's		

affairs as at 31 March 2011; 

•	 have	been	properly	prepared	in	accordance	with	United	
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

•	 have	been	prepared	in	accordance	with	the	requirements	

of the Companies Act 2006.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Holding Company Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

57

BALANCE SHEET

FIXED ASSETS 
Investments 

CURRENT ASSETS 
Debtors 
Cash at bank 

CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 

NET CURRENT ASSETS 

NET ASSETS 

CAPITAL AND RESERVES 
Called up share capital 
Own shares 
Capital redemption reserve 
Share premium account 
Profit and loss account 

Note 

4 

5 

7 

8 
9 
9 
9 
9 

2011 
£’000 

31,098 
31,098 

14,151 
5,981 
20,132 

(10,433) 

9,699 

40,797 

1,038 
(2,464) 
1,200 
19,977 
21,046 

2010
£’000

26,630
26,630

16,039
5,224
21,263

(8,355)

12,908

39,538

1,028
(2,464)
1,200
19,514
20,260

TOTAL EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS 

40,797 

39,538

These financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 31 May 2011.
Signed on behalf of the board of directors

Angus MacSween
Director and chief executive officer
iomart Group plc – Company Number: SC204560

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58

Holding Company Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

1. ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The  financial  statements  are  prepared  in  accordance  with 
applicable United Kingdom accounting standards.

Investments
Investments held as fixed assets are stated at cost less provision 
for any permanent diminution in value. As part of the acquisition 
strategy  of  the  Company,  the  trade  and  net  assets  of  subsidiary 
undertakings  at  or  shortly  after  acquisition  may  be  transferred 
at book value to fellow subsidiaries. The cost of the Company's 
investment  in  that  subsidiary  undertaking  would  have  reflected 
the  underlying  fair  value  of  its  net  assets  and  goodwill  at  the 
time  of  its  acquisition.  As  a  result  of  such  a  transfer,  the  value 
of the Company's investment in that subsidiary undertaking may 
fall  below  the  amount  at  which  it  was  stated  in  the  Company's 
accounting records.

Where  this  occurs,  Schedule  4  of  the  Companies  Act  2006 
requires that the investment be written down accordingly and that 
the  amount  be  charged  as  a  loss  in  the  Company's  profit  and 
loss account.  However, the directors consider that, as there has 
been no overall loss to the Group, it would fail to give a true and 
fair  view  to  charge  the  diminution  to  the  Company's  profit  and 
loss account.  Instead, the carrying value of the investment in all 
companies  transferred  will  be  considered  together  against  the 
future cashflows and net asset position of those companies which 
received the trade and net assets.

Deferred taxation
Deferred tax is provided in full on timing differences which result 
in an obligation at the balance sheet date to pay more tax, or a 
right to pay less tax, at a future date, at rates expected to apply 
when they crystallise based on current tax rates and law.  Timing 
differences  arise  from  the  inclusion  of  items  of  income  and 
expenditure  in  taxation  computations  in  periods  different  from 
those in which they are included in financial statements. Deferred 
tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more 
likely than not that they will be recovered. Deferred tax assets and 
liabilities are not discounted.

Leases
Assets obtained under finance leases, which transfer substantially 
all  the  risks  and  rewards  of  ownership,  are  capitalised  at  their 
fair  value  on  acquisition  and  depreciated  over  their  estimated 
useful  economic  lives.    The  finance  charges  are  allocated  over 
the  period  of  the  lease  in  proportion  to  the  capital  element 
outstanding.

Operating lease rentals are charged to the profit and loss account 
in equal annual amounts over the lease term.

Financial instruments
Financial assets are recognised in the balance sheet at the lower 
of cost and net realisable value. Provision is made for diminution 
in value where appropriate.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Income and expenditure on financial instruments is recognised on 
the accruals basis and credited or charged to the profit and loss 
account in the financial period to which it relates.

Pension scheme arrangements
The Group operates a stakeholder pension scheme and contributes 
to a number of personal pension schemes on behalf of executive 
directors and some senior employees.  No other post retirement 
benefits are provided to employees.  Pension costs are charged to 
the profit and loss account in the period to which they relate.

Share-based payment 
All share-based payment arrangements granted after 7 November 
2002 that had not vested prior to 1 April 2005 are recognised in 
the financial statements. All share-based payment arrangements 
in  the  company  are  equity  settled.    All  goods  and  services 
received in exchange for the grant of any share-based payment 
are measured at their fair values.  Where employees are rewarded 
using share-based payments, the fair values of employees’ services 
are  determined  indirectly  by  reference  to  the  fair  value  of  the 
instrument granted to the employee. This fair value is appraised 
at the grant date and excludes the impact of non-market vesting 
conditions (for example, profitability and sales growth targets).
All equity-settled share-based payments are ultimately recognised 
as an expense in the profit and loss account with a corresponding 
credit to “Profit and loss reserve”.  

If vesting periods or other non-market vesting conditions apply, the 
expense  is  allocated  over  the  vesting  period,  based  on  the  best 
available  estimate  of  the  number  of  share  options  expected  to 
vest.   Estimates are subsequently revised if there is any indication 
that  the  number  of  share  options  expected  to  vest  differs  from 
previous estimates.  Any cumulative adjustment prior to vesting is 
recognised in the current period.  No adjustment is made to any 
expense  recognised  in  prior  periods  if  share  options  ultimately 
exercised are different to that estimated on vesting.

Upon  exercise  of  share  options  the  proceeds  received  net  of 
attributable  transaction  costs  are  credited  to  share  capital,  and 
where appropriate share premium.

Development expenditure
Development  expenditure  is  charged  to  the  profit  and  loss 
account as incurred.

2. PROFIT OF PARENT COMPANY

As  permitted  by  Section  408  of  the  Companies  Act  2006,  the 
profit and loss account of the parent company is not presented as 
part of these financial statements.  The parent company’s profit 
for  the  financial  period  after  taxation  was  £807,000  (2010: 
£1,022,000).

Holding Company Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

59

3. INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES

Staff costs of the company during the year in respect of employees and directors were:
Executive directors’ remuneration 
Non-executive directors’ remuneration 
Other wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Pension contributions to personal money purchase schemes 

2011 
£’000 

523 
110 
466 
135 
156 

2010
£’000

523
110
447
111
33

1,390 

1,224

The company makes contributions to executive directors’ and some senior employees’ personal defined contribution pension schemes. 
These are the only pension arrangements of the holding company.

4. INVESTMENTS HELD AS FIXED ASSETS

Cost  
At 1 April 2010    
Additions 
Share based payment 

Cost at 31 March 2011 

Impairment 
At 1 April 2010 
Charge for the year 

Impairment at 31 March 2011 

Net book value of Investments at 31 March 2011 

Net book value of Investments at 31 March 2010 

All of the above investments are unlisted.

Shares in subsidiary undertakings 
£’000

28,315
4,362
119

32,796

(1,685)
(13)

(1,698)

31,098

26,630

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60

Holding Company Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

4. INVESTMENTS HELD AS FIXED ASSETS (CONTINUED)

The following subsidiaries are included in the company financial statements:

Country  
of registration  
and operation 

Activity 

Ordinary share capital

Owned by the 
company 
% 

Owned by the
subsidiary
undertakings
% 

Scotland 
Scotland  Managed hosting services 

Dormant  

Scotland  Managed hosting services 
Scotland 

Dormant 

Dormant 

Scotland 
England  Webservices 
England  Managed hosting services 
England  Managed hosting services 

Datacentre services 

England 
England  Webservices 
England 
England  Webservices 

Dormant 

100 
100 

100 
100 

100 
100 
100 
100 

100 
- 
- 
- 

2011 
£’000 

160 
1 
220 
354 
13,416 

-
-

-
-

-
-
-
-

-
100
100
100

2010
£’000

126
918
36
72
14,887

14,151 

16,039

iomart Limited  
iomart Hosting Limited  
iomart Cloud Services Limited 
(formerly known as Netintelligence Limited) 
iomart Virtual Servers Hosting Limited  
Netintelligence Limited (formerly known 
as Easyspace Datacentres (UK) Limited) 
Easyspace Limited 
Rapidswitch Limited 
Titan Internet Limtied 
iomart Datacentres Limited 
(formerly known as Ezee DSL Limited) 
Internetters Limited 
NicNames Limited 
Web Genie Internet Limited 

5.  DEBTORS

Prepayments and accrued income 
Other debtors 
Other taxation and social security 
Deferred taxation (note 6) 
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Holding Company Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

61

6. DEFERRED TAXATION

The company had recognised deferred tax assets and potential unrecognised deferred tax assets as follows:

Share based remuneration 

The movement in the deferred tax account during the year was: 

Balance brought forward 
Profit and loss account movement arising during the year 
Profit and loss account reserve movement during the year 
Balance carried forward 

2011 
Recognised  Unrecognised 
£’000 
- 

£’000 
354 

2010
Recognised  Unrecognised
£’000 
-

£’000 
72 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

72 
202 
80 
354 

79
(7)
-
72

The  deferred  tax  asset  in  relation  to  share  based  remuneration  arises  from  the  anticipated  future  tax  relief  on  the  exercise  of  share 
options.

7. CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR 

Trade creditors 
Other taxation and social security 
Accruals and deferred income 
Deferred consideration 
Contingent consideration 
Bank loan 
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings 

8. SHARE CAPITAL

Authorised 
At 31 March 2009, 2010, and 2011 
Called up, allotted and fully paid 
At 31 March 2009 
Issued to Employee Benefit Trust 
At 31 March 2010  
Exercise of options 
At 31 March 2011 

2011 
£’000 

8 
41 
710 
- 
600 
2,000 
7,074 
10,433 

2010
£’000

43
184
801
1,000
-
-
6,327
8,355

 Ordinary shares of 1p each
 Number of shares 

£’000

200,000,000 

100,239,302 
2,513,297 
102,752,599 
1,087,244 
103,839,843 

2,000

1,002
26
1,028
10
1,038

During the year the company issued 1,087,244 (2010: nil) ordinary shares of 1p each in respect of the exercise of share options by 
employees for which a net total of £473,000 (2010: £nil) was received.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

Holding Company Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

8. SHARE CAPITAL (CONTINUED)

As at 31 March 2011 the company held 4,977,184 shares (2010: 4,977,184) in the iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust in relation 
to the JSOP which are accounted for in the Own Shares JSOP reserve and have a nominal value of £49,772 (2010: £49,772).

The JSOP shares are valued at 49.5p per share, which was the mid-market value of the shares at the start of trading on the day they 
were issued, resulting in a total value in the Own Shares JSOP reserve of £2,463,706. 

The JSOP shares are held jointly between employees and the iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust. Under the terms of the JSOP 
rules  employees  are  eligible  to  receive  the  excess  of  any  disposal  proceeds  received  for  the  JSOP  shares  over  the  participation  price 
at the time of disposal. Certain of the JSOP shares, as identified in the Remuneration Report on pages 11-14, are subject to a 3% per 
annum escalation until the JSOP shares are sold. The JSOP shares do not carry dividend or voting rights whilst they are jointly held by 
the employee and the iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust. 

Should the market price of a vested JSOP share exceed the participation price the employee has the option to convert the value of any 
such excess value into a number of wholly owned shares within the JSOP. If an employee exercises this right then the wholly owned shares 
subsequently held within the JSOP by the employee shall be eligible for both dividend and voting rights.

The share capital of iomart Group plc consists of ordinary shares with a par value of 1p. All shares, excluding the shares held by the 
iomart Group plc Employee Benefit Trust, are equally eligible to receive dividends and represent one vote at the shareholders' meetings 
of iomart Group plc. All shares issued at 31 March 2011 are fully paid.

9. STATEMENT OF MOVEMENT IN RESERVES

Profit for the financial period 
Dividends 
Share based payments 
Deferred tax on share based remuneration 
Issue of own shares for option redemption 

Opening balance 

Closing balance 

Own  
shares  
JSOP 
£’000 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
account 
£’000 

Profit
and loss
account
£’000 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
463 
463 

807
(391)
290
80
-
786

(2,464)  

1,200  

19,514  

20,260

(2,464)  

1,200  

19,977  

21,046

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Holding Company Financial Statements. Year ended 31March 2011.

63

2011 
£’000 
807 
(391) 
473 
- 
- 
290 
80 

1,259 

39,538 

40,797 

2010
£’000
1,022
(291)
41
1,219
(1,219)
379
-

1,151

38,387

39,538

10. MOVEMENT IN SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS

Profit for the financial period 
Dividend paid 
Issue of own shares for option redemption 
Issue of own shares to Joint Share Ownership Plan 
Issue of new shares to Joint Share Ownership Plan 
Share based payments 
Deferred tax on share based remuneration 

Opening shareholders’ funds 

Closing shareholders’ funds 

11. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS

For  details  of  share  based  payment  awards  and  fair  values  see  note  24  to  the  Group  financial  statements.  The  Company  accounts 
recognise the charge for share based payments for the year of £290,000 (2010: £379,000) by;  

1)  taking  the  charge  in  relation  to  employees  of  the  holding  company  through  the  holding  company  statement  of  comprehensive 
income £171,000 (2010: £256,000),

2)   recording  an  increase  to  its  investment  in  subsidiaries  for  the  amounts  attributable  to  directors  of  subsidiaries  and  recording  a 
corresponding entry to the profit and loss account reserve £119,000 (2010: £123,000).

12. CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

(a) Contingencies
The  Company  is  a  party  to  certain  operating  lease  agreements  for  properties  which  have  been  converted  into  datacentres.  These 
operating leases impose a liability on the Company, at the request of the lessor, to reinstate the properties to the condition they were in 
before conversion to datacentres. All of these properties are on long term leases and these leases may be extended. Consequently the 
Directors believe that the likelihood of these liabilities crystalising is remote. There were no other contingent assets or liabilities as at 31 
March 2011 (2010: nil).

(b) Commitments 
There are no commitments present as at 31 March 2011 (2010: Nil).

13. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENT

On 26 April 2011, the Group acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Switch Media Limited for a total consideration of £1,250,000. 
Full details of this acquisition are disclosed in note 28 to the Group financial statements.

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
64

Notice of the 2011 Annual General Meeting

NOTICE  IS  HEREBY  GIVEN  that  the  2011  annual  general 
meeting of the Company will be held at Lister Pavilion, Kelvin 
Campus,  West  of  Scotland  Science  Park,  Glasgow  G20 
0SP  on  29  September  2011  at  2.30  pm  for  the  purpose 
of  considering  and,  if  thought  fit,  passing  the  following 
resolutions,  of  which  resolutions  1  to  8  (inclusive)  will  be 
proposed  as  ordinary  resolutions  and  resolutions  9  to  10 
(inclusive) will be proposed as special resolutions:-

1  To  receive  and  adopt  the  financial  statements  of  the 
Company and the directors' and auditors' reports thereon for 
the year ended 31 March 2011.

2  To  approve  the  report  of  the  board  to  the  members  on 
directors' remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2011.

3  To  reappoint  Sarah  Haran  (who  retires  by  rotation  and, 
being  eligible,  offers  herself  for  re-election)  as  a  director  of 
the Company.

4  To reappoint Chris Batterham (who retires by rotation and, 
being  eligible,  offers  himself  for  re-election)  as  a  director  of 
the Company.

5  To declare a final dividend for the year ended 31 March 
2011  of  0.65p  per  share  payable  on  5  October  2011  to 
shareholders  registered  at  the  close  of  business  on  10  June 
2011.

6  To reappoint Grant Thornton UK LLP, Chartered Accountants, 
as auditors of the Company and to authorise the directors to 
fix their remuneration. 

7  That,  in  accordance  with  section  551  of  the  Companies 
Act  2006  (the  "Act"),  the  Directors  are  generally  and 
unconditionally authorised to allot shares in the Company or 
grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares 
in the Company (the "Rights") provided that:

(a) the  maximum  aggregate  nominal  amount  of  shares  to 
be  allotted  in  pursuance  of  such  authority  is  an  aggregate 
nominal amount equal to £346,132.81; and

(b) this authority shall expire, unless sooner revoked or varied 
by the Company in general meeting, at the conclusion of the 
Company's annual general meeting to be held in 2012 save 
that  the  Company  may,  before  such  expiry,  make  an  offer 
or  agreement  which  would  or  might  require  shares  to  be 
allotted or Rights granted after such expiry and the Directors 
may  allot  shares  in  pursuance  of  such  offer  or  agreement 
notwithstanding that the authority conferred by this resolution 
has expired.
This  authority  is  in  substitution  for  all  previous  authorities 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

conferred  on  the  Directors  in  accordance  with  section  80  of 
the Companies Act 1985 or section 551 of the Act.

8  That  for  the  purposes  of  section  551  of  the  Act,  the 
Directors  are  generally  and  unconditionally  authorised  to 
exercise all powers of the Company to allot equity securities 
(as  defined  in  section  560  of  the  Act)  in  connection  with  a 
rights issue in favour of the holders of ordinary shares in the 
capital  of  the  Company  (the  "Ordinary  Shareholders")  where 
the  equity  securities  respectively  attributable  to  the  Ordinary 
Shareholders are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to the 
respective  numbers  of  Ordinary  Shares  held  by  them  up  to 
a maximum nominal amount of £346,132.81 provided that 
this authority shall expire, unless sooner revoked or varied by 
the  Company  in  general  meeting,  at  the  conclusion  of  the 
Company's annual general meeting to be held in 2012 save 
that  the  Company  may,  before  such  expiry,  make  an  offer 
or  agreement  which  would  or  might  require  equity  securities 
to  be  allotted  after  such  expiry  and  the  Directors  may  allot 
equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement 
notwithstanding that the power conferred by this resolution has 
expired.

9  That subject to the passing of resolutions 7 and 8 and in 
accordance  with  section  570  of  the  Act  and  in  place  of  all 
existing  powers,  the  Directors  are  generally  empowered  to 
allot  equity  securities  of  the  Company  (as  defined  in  section 
560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by 
resolutions 7 and 8 as if section 561 of the Act did not apply 
to  such  allotment  provided  that  this  power  shall  be  limited 
to:

(a) the  allotment  of  equity  securities  in  connection  with  an 
issue in favour of holders of ordinary shares of 1 penny each 
in the capital of the Company (the "Ordinary Shares") where 
the equity securities are offered to such holders in proportion 
(as  nearly  as  may  be)  to  the  respective  number  of  Ordinary 
Shares  held,  or  deemed  to  be  held,  by  that  shareholder 
but  subject  to  such  exclusions  or  other  arrangements  as  the 
Directors  may  deem  necessary  or  expedient  in  relation  to 
fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems under the 
laws of, or the requirements of any recognised regulatory body 
or any stock exchange in, any territory;

(b) the allotment of equity securities pursuant to any authority 
conferred upon the Directors in accordance with and pursuant 
to  article  41  of  the  articles  of  association  of  the  Company; 
and

(c) the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to (a) and (b) above) 
of  equity  securities  up  to  an  aggregate  nominal  amount  of 
£103,839.84;

provided that this authority will expire, unless sooner revoked 
or  varied  by  the  Company  in  general  meeting,  at  the 
conclusion  of  the  Company's  annual  general  meeting  to  be 
held in 2012, save that the Company may at any time before 
such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might 
require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the 
Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such offer 
or agreement notwithstanding that the power conferred by this 
resolution has expired.

10 That  the  Company  be  and  is  hereby  generally  and 
unconditionally  authorised  for  the  purposes  of  section  701 
of  the  Act  to  make  one  or  more  market  purchases  (within 
the  meaning  of  section  693(4)  of  the  Act)  on  a  recognised 
investment exchange (as defined in section 693(5) of the Act) 
of Ordinary Shares provided that:

(a) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares hereby authorised 
to  be  purchased  is  10,383,984    (representing  10%  of  the 
Company's  issued  ordinary  share  capital  at  the  date  of  the 
notice of this annual general meeting);

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

(c) the maximum price, exclusive of any expenses, which may 
be paid for any such Ordinary Share shall be not more than 
5%  above  the  average  of  the  middle  market  quotations  for 
an  Ordinary  Share  on  the  relevant  investment  exchange  on 
which  the  Ordinary  Shares  are  traded  for  the  five  business 
days immediately preceding the date on which such Ordinary 
Share is contracted to be purchased;

(d) unless  previously  revoked  or  varied,  the  authority  hereby 
conferred  shall  expire  on  the  conclusion  of  the  next  annual 
general meeting of the Company; and

(e) the  Company  may  make  a  contract  or  contracts  for  the 
purchase  of  Ordinary  Shares  under  this  authority  before  the 
expiry  of  this  authority  which  would  or  might  be  executed 
wholly  or  partly  after  the  expiry  of  such  authority,  and  may 
make  purchases  of  Ordinary  Shares  in  pursuance  of  such  a 
contract or contracts, as if such authority had not expired.

By order of the board  

Bruce Hall,  
Company Secretary 
Lister Pavilion, Kelvin Campus,
West of Scotland Science Park,
29 June 2011  
Glasgow G20 0SP

Notice of the 2011 Annual General Meeting

65

www.iomart.com 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
66

Notice of the 2011 Annual General Meeting

NOTES:
Appointment of Proxy

EXPLANATORY  NOTES  TO  THE  NOTICE  OF  ANNUAL 
GENERAL MEETING IOMART GROUP PLC

1  As a member of the Company you are entitled to appoint a 
proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend, speak and 
vote at a meeting of the Company.  You should have received 
a proxy form with this notice of meeting.  You can only appoint 
a proxy using the procedures set out in the notes to the proxy 
form. A proxy need not be a member of the Company.

2  To be effective, the proxy form, and any power of attorney 
or other authority under which it is executed (or a duly certified 
copy of any such power or authority), must be deposited at the 
office of the Company’s registrars, Capita Registrars, PXS, 34 
Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU, not less than 
48 hours (excluding weekends and bank holidays) before the 
time for holding the meeting (i.e. by 2.30pm on Tuesday 27 
September 2011) and if not so deposited shall be invalid.

Entitlement to attend and vote

3  Pursuant to Regulation  41  of the  Uncertificated  Securities 
Regulations  2001,  only  those  members  entered  in  the 
Company's register of members at:

•	 6.00pm	on		27	September	2011;	or

•	 if	 this	 meeting	 is	 adjourned,	 at	 6.00pm	 on	 the	 day	 two	
days prior to the adjourned meeting,
shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.

Documents on Display

4  Copies of the service contracts and letters of appointment 
of the directors of the Company will be available:

•	 for	at	least	15	minutes	prior	to	the	meeting;	and

•	 during	the	meeting.

Communication

5  Except  as  provided  above,  members  who  wish  to 
communicate  with  the  Company  in  relation  to  the  meeting 
should do so by post to the Company's registered office, details 
of which are below.  No other methods of communication will 
be accepted.

Address: The Company Secretary, iomart Group plc, 
Lister Pavilion, Kelvin Campus, 
West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow G20 0SP

Ordinary Resolutions

Resolutions  1  to  8  are  all  to  be  proposed  as  ordinary 
resolutions.  This means that for each of those resolutions to 
be passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour 
of the resolution.

Resolution  1  –  To  receive  and  adopt  the  financial 
statements for the year ended 31 March 2011 and the 
directors' and auditors' reports thereon

For  each  financial  year  the  directors  of  the  Company  must 
present the audited financial statements, the directors' report 
and  the  auditors'  report  on  the  financial  statements  to  the 
shareholders at an annual general meeting.  

Resolution  2  –  To  approve  the  directors'  remuneration 
report

Shareholders are asked to approve the directors' remuneration 
report which may be found in the annual report on pages 11 
to 14.  This resolution is an advisory one and no entitlement to 
remuneration is conditional on the resolution being passed.

Resolution 3 and 4 – Re-election of directors

Under  article  24  of  the  Company's  articles  of  association 
one third of the directors are required to retire by rotation at 
each annual general meeting.  Pursuant to those articles, Mrs 
Sarah Haran and Mr Chris Batterham are required to retire by 
rotation  at  this  annual  general  meeting  and,  being  eligible, 
offer themselves for reappointment.  The Board is satisfied that 
the performance of Mrs Sarah Haran and Mr Chris Batterham 
continues  to  be  effective  and  demonstrates  commitment 
to  their  roles  with  the  Company  including  commitment  of 
time  for  Board  meetings  and  other  duties  required  of  them.  
Accordingly, resolutions 3 and 4 propose the reappointment 
of Mrs Sarah Haran and Mr Chris Batterham.

Brief  biographical  details  of  Mrs  Sarah  Haran  and  Mr  Chris 
Batterham are given below.

Sarah Haran 45, appointed 2000; Sarah has spent her career 
implementing  and  managing  operations  centres  for  large 
corporations  such  as  Microsoft  Inc,  Compaq  Inc,  Scottish 
Power plc and Prestel Limited. She joined iomart in 1998, from 
Scottish Telecom plc and has been responsible for developing 

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

Notice of the 2011 Annual General Meeting

67

the day-to-day business processes and technical operations 
to support the Group’s customer base.

capital of the Company as at the date of the notice of this 
meeting.

Chris  Batterham  56,  appointed  2005;  Chris  was  finance 
director of Unipalm plc, the first internet company to IPO and 
stayed  with  the  company  for  5  years  following  its  takeover 
by UUnet.  He was CFO of Searchspace until 2005 and is 
currently  a  non  executive  director  of  SDL  plc,  office2office 
plc  and  The  Risk  Advisory  Group.  He  is  also  chairman  of 
Eckoh plc.  Chris has also served on the boards of Staffware 
plc, DBS Management plc, DRS plc, Betfair Limited and The 
Invesco Techmark Enterprise Trust plc.

Resolution 5 – To declare a dividend 0.65p per Ordinary 
Share

Subject  to  the  provisions  of  the  Companies  Acts,  the 
Company  may  by  ordinary  resolution  declare  dividends, 
but  no  dividend  shall  exceed  the  amount  recommended 
by  the  Board.    The  Board  recommends  the  payment  of  a 
final  dividend  of  0.65p  per  Ordinary  Share,  to  be  payable 
to  shareholders  registered  at  close  of  business  on  10  June 
2011.

In  line  with  recent  guidance  issued  by  the  Association  of 
British Insurers, resolution 8 would give directors the authority 
to allot shares in connection with a rights issue in favour of 
ordinary shareholders up to an aggregate nominal amount 
equal to £346,132.81 (representing 34,613,281 Ordinary 
Shares).  This amount represents approximately a further one 
third of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as 
at the date of the notice of this meeting.

There  is  no  present  intention  to  exercise  either  of  the 
authorities sought under these resolutions, which will expire 
at the conclusion of the Company's annual general meeting 
to be held in 2012.

Special Resolutions

Resolutions 9 and 10 will be proposed as special resolutions.  
This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, 
at least three-quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of 
the resolution.

Resolution  6  –  Re-appointment  and  remuneration  of 
auditors

Resolution 9 - Disapplication of statutory pre-emption 
rights

The Company is required at each general meeting at which 
financial statements are presented to shareholders to appoint 
auditors who will remain in office until the next such meeting.  
Grant  Thornton  UK  LLP  have  expressed  their  willingness  to 
continue  in  office  for  a  further  year.    In  accordance  with 
company  law  and  corporate  governance  best  practice, 
shareholders  are  also  asked  to  authorise  the  directors  to 
determine the auditors' remuneration.

Resolution 9 gives authority to the directors of the Company 
to disapply the provisions of section 561 of the Act.  Under 
that section, if the directors wish to allot any of the unissued 
shares  for  cash  the  directors  must  in  the  first  instance  offer 
those  shares  to  existing  shareholders  in  proportion  to  the 
number of shares held by such shareholders.  An offer of this 
type is called a "rights issue" and the entitlement to be offered 
a new share is known as a "pre-emption right".

Resolutions  7  and  8  –  Authority  to  authorise  the 
directors to allot shares 

Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the "Act") requires 
that  the  authority  of  the  directors  to  allot  shares  shall  be 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  shareholders  in  general 
meeting.    These  resolutions,  if  passed,  would  give  the 
directors  general  authority  to  allot  shares  in  the  capital  of 
the Company.

Resolution  7  would  give  the  directors  the  authority  to  allot 
shares up to an aggregate nominal amount of £346,132.81, 
being  approximately  one-third  of  the  issued  ordinary  share 

There  may  be  circumstances,  however,  where  it  is  in  the 
interests of the Company for the directors to allot some of the 
new shares for cash other than by way of a rights issue.  This 
cannot  be  done  under  the  Act  unless  the  shareholders  first 
waive  their  pre-emption  rights.  There  are  legal,  regulatory 
and practical reasons why it may not always be possible to 
issue new shares under a rights issue to some shareholders, 
particularly  those  resident  overseas.    To  cater  for  this, 
resolution  9  (at  paragraph  (a)),  in  authorising  the  directors 
to allot new shares by way of a rights issue, also permits the 
directors to make appropriate exclusions or arrangements to 
deal with such difficulties.

www.iomart.com 

 
The directors have no present intention of using the authority.  
However, the directors consider that it is in the best interests 
of  the  Company  and  its  shareholders  as  a  whole  that 
the  Company  should  have  flexibility  to  buy  back  its  own 
shares  should  the  directors  in  the  future  consider  that  it  is 
appropriate to do so.

In relation to any buy back, the maximum price per Ordinary 
Share  at  which  the  Company  is  authorised  in  terms  of 
resolution  10  to  effect  that  buy  back  is  5%  above  the 
average  middle  market  price  of  an  Ordinary  Share  for  the 
five business days immediately preceding the date on which 
the buy back is effected.

The statutory provisions governing buy backs of own shares 
are currently contained in, inter alios, sections 693 and 701 
of the Companies Act 2006. 

68

Notice of the 2011 Annual General Meeting

Under the Company's articles of association the Board may, 
with the sanction of an ordinary resolution, offer the holders 
of shares the right to receive shares, credited as fully paid, 
instead of cash in respect of the whole (or some part, to be 
determined by the Board)  of  such  dividend  or  dividends  as 
are specified by such resolution.  Paragraph (b) of resolution 
9  asks  shareholders  to  waive  their  pre-emption  rights  in 
respect of any such issue of shares.

Resolution  9  (at  paragraph  (c))  asks  shareholders  to  waive 
their pre-emption rights, but only for new shares equal to 5 
per cent. of the Company's issued ordinary share capital as 
at the date of the notice of this meeting.  The directors will 
be able to use this power without obtaining further authority 
from  shareholders  before  they  allot  new  shares  covered  by 
it.  However,  by  setting  the  limit  of  5  per  cent.,  the  interests 
of existing shareholders are protected, as their proportionate 
interest in the Company cannot, without their agreement, be 
reduced by more than 5 per cent. by the issue of new shares 
for  cash  to  new  shareholders.    If  the  directors  wish,  other 
than by rights issue, to allot for cash new shares which would 
exceed this limit, they would first have to ask the Company's 
shareholders to waive their pre-emption rights in respect of 
that proportion of new shares which exceeds the 5 per cent. 
ceiling.  

The power given by resolution 9 will, unless sooner revoked 
or  renewed  by  the  Company  in  general  meeting,  last  until 
the  conclusion  of  the  next  annual  general  meeting  of  the 
Company to be held in 2012.

Resolution  10  –  Authority  to  purchase  the  Company's 
own shares

This  resolution  grants  authority  to  the  Company  to  make 
purchases of up to a maximum of 10% of the issued ordinary 
share capital of the Company as at the date of the notice of 
this meeting.

In  certain  circumstances  it  may  be  advantageous  for  the 
Company  to  purchase  its  Ordinary  Shares.    The  directors 
would use the share purchase authority with discretion and 
purchases would only made from funds not required for other 
purposes and in light of market conditions prevailing at the 
time.  In reaching a decision to purchase Ordinary Shares, 
your  directors  would  take  account  of  the  Company's  cash 
resources  and  capital,  the  effect  of  such  purchases  on  the 
Company's business and on earning per Ordinary Share.

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

 
69

Officers and Professional Advisers

Ian Ritchie 
CBE, FREng, FRSE, FBCS, CEng, BSc
Non Executive Chairman

Angus MacSween
Chief Executive Officer

Chris Batterham MA, FCA
Non Executive Director

Sarah Haran
Director

Richard Logan BA, CA
Director

Fred Shedden MA, LLB
Non Executive Director

Bruce Hall BAcc (Hons), CA
Secretary

Registered office
Lister Pavilion, Kelvin Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow G20 0SP

Nominated adviser and broker
Peel Hunt LLP, 111 Old Broad Street, London EC2N 1PH

Bankers
Lloyds Banking Group, Bank of Scotland plc, 235 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3EY

Solicitors
McGrigors LLP, 141 Bothwell Street, Glasgow G2 7EQ

Independent auditors
Grant Thornton UK LLP, 95 Bothwell Street, Glasgow G2 7JZ

Registrars
Capita IRG plc, Bourne House, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU

Company Registration Number
SC204560

www.iomart.com 

70

Group Contact Information

iomart Group

) : + 44 (0) 141 931 6400

* : info@iomart.com

www.iomart.com

iomart hosting

* : info@iomarthosting.com

www.iomarthosting.com

Easyspace

* : sales@easyspace.com

www.easyspace.com

Rapidswitch

* : sales@rapidswitch.com

www.rapidswitch.com

Titan Internet

* : sales@titaninternet.co.uk

www.titaninternet.co.uk

Westcoastcloud

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iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

  
  
  
  
  
William Strain, CTO iomart Group.

Tim Loughton, MP.

“I’m	delighted	that	BSI	have	awarded	the	first	Kitemark	for	parental	control	software	to	
Netintelligence.	The	standards	set	by	BSI	are	rigorous	and	the	availability	of	Kitemark	
certified software will help give parents confidence that their children will be protected 
from harmful or inappropriate content on the internet.”

Tim	Loughton,	Minister	for	Children	and	Families
iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

iomart group plc Annual Report 2011

iomart Group plc, Lister Pavilion, Kelvin Campus, West of Scotland Science Park, Glasgow, G20 0SP. www.iomart.com