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IQGeo Group plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · IQGeo Group plc
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9

Geospatial 
productivity &  
collaboration

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019

 
 
 
 
 
Who are we?

IQGeo is a market leading 
developer of geospatial 
software for the telecoms 
and utility industries

IQGeo’s end-to-end geospatial 
software for the telecoms and utility 
industries accelerates productivity 
and collaboration across enterprise 
sales, planning, design, construction 
and maintenance processes. 
Our reality-centric solutions create 
and maintain a current, accurate view 
of complex network assets, dramatically 
improving data quality and currency. 

The unique, mobile-first architecture of 
the IQGeo software platform streamlines 
operational processes using any device, 
in the office or in the field, enabling 
greater departmental collaboration. 
We help network operators meet their 
digital transformation ambitions and 
operational KPIs by saving time and 
money, while improving safety and 
enhancing customer satisfaction.

Visit us online
www.iqgeo.com

In 2019, IQGeo won the 
prestigious Diamond award 
for our software products from 
Broadband Technology Report.

Highlights

2019 was a productive and successful first year for the new IQGeo following the disposal 
of the Ubisense RTLS SmartSpace business at the end of 2018. In 2019 IQGeo significantly 
grew its own product sales across all our target markets, launched a number of new 
products, and established a strong opportunity pipeline for 2020.

IQGeo own product orders  
(£m)

M&S and subscription orders  
(£m)

2019

7.5

2019

2.5

2018

3.4

2018 0.8

2017

6.8

2017

0.9

+122%

+213%

New logos won  
(Number)

Recurring M&S and 
subscription revenues  
(£m)

2019

2018

2017

13

2019

1.6

11

9

2018

2017

0.9

0.8

+18%

+78%

Across virtually every 
area of the business 
we've made good 
progress against 
strategic objectives.

Richard Petti
Chief Executive Officer

Contents

1.   Strategic report

2.   Corporate governance

3.   Financial statements

1   Highlights

2   At a glance

36   Board of Directors

48   Independent auditor’s report

38   Corporate governance report

54   Consolidated income statement

4   Chair’s statement

42   Audit Committee report

6   Chief Executive Officer’s statement

43    Remuneration Committee report

45   Directors’ report

47   Directors’ responsibilities statement

10   Market opportunity

12   Our business model

14   Our strategy

16   Our products

18   Case study – Gigaclear

20   Case study – NW Natural

22   Key performance indicators (KPIs)

24   Chief Financial Officer’s statement

28   Principal risks and uncertainties

32    Environment, employee engagement 

and CSR 

34   Section 172 statement

55    Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income

56    Consolidated statement of changes 

in equity

57    Consolidated statement of 

financial position

58   Consolidated statement of cash flows

59    Notes to the consolidated 
financial statements

84   Company balance sheet

85    Company statement of changes 

in equity

86    Notes to the Company financial 

statements

IBC  Advisers

1

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019At a glance

In response to increasingly competitive markets and the widespread 
deployment of new technology including IoT, smart metering, 
fibre and 5G, telecoms and utility network operators are 
undergoing a digital transformation revolution. 

Those that embrace IQGeo’s next generation geospatial software are realising 
measurable business benefits and gaining competitive advantage. IQGeo is helping 
customers to successfully meet their KPIs and manage the challenges of a changing 
business landscape, with its world-class software and a skilled team delivering 
innovative and cost-effective solutions. 

Business KPIs for IQGeo customers

Increase 
revenues

Decrease 
operating 
costs

Improve 
customer 
satisfaction

Enhance 
operational 
safety

ROI investment case

Empower 
field crews 
with mobile-
first software 
to increase 
productivity

Enable rapid 
decision 
making with 
current, 
accurate data

Consolidate 
applications 
to reduce 
complexity 
and TCO

Create a 
single source 
of truth to 
improve 
collaboration 
and safety

Reduce 
repair times 
and improve 
customer 
satisfaction

Accelerate 
time-to-
market 
with faster 
design and 
construction

IQGeo market position

IQGeo is successfully challenging the 
technology and process status quo 
that has existed at telecoms and utility 
network operators for the past 20 to 30 
years. Increasingly, these organisations 
realise that the fundamental architecture 
of legacy GIS is no longer fit for purpose 
or economically viable for their future 
digital transformation requirements.

The old model of specialised, expensive 
GIS professionals in the back office 
controlling operational processes 
simply cannot deliver a current, 

accurate network view that is essential 
to a digitally connected network. 
In contrast to legacy GIS that takes 
a cartography-centric approach 
designed to create paper maps, IQGeo’s 
distributed, mobile-first architecture uses 
a reality-centric approach. We create a 
living digital twin of the outside plant and 
network that incorporates a wide range 
of data streams into a single source of 
truth. This accurate, current network view 
empowers office-based staff and field 
crews to easily monitor, capture and edit 
network information.

2

At IQGeo we are helping our customers 
to rewrite the geospatial rulebook in 
order to meet their ambitious digital 
transformation objectives in a way that 
dramatically improves operational 
productivity and departmental 
collaboration. 

Read more about our products 
and lifecycle on pages 16 and 17

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019The IQGeo global headquarters are in Cambridge, UK 
and we have regional sales and service offices in Denver, 
Frankfurt and Tokyo.

North America

Europe

Japan

New customers in  
North America during 2019

New customers in  
Europe during 2019

New customers in  
Japan during 2019

5

3

5

IQGeo product order growth in 2019

Active end user software licences

Telecoms and utility customers

122%

45,000+

50

New customer logos worldwide

13

Partner ecosystem

IQGeo has a growing partner ecosystem that provides a depth of experience and knowledge in specialist areas and extends 
the sales and support network for our software in regions of the world where we do not have a local presence.

3

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Chair’s statement

We have made good progress in delivering 
sales to new and existing customers 
and developing a richer suite of products.

In our first full year of trading since the disposal of the 
Ubisense RTLS business and brand, we have made good 
progress in delivering sales to new and existing customers 
and developing a richer suite of products. 

This is also the first year that we have offered our customers 
the ability to purchase products under a subscription licensing 
model. Whilst this is still at a relatively early stage, it is creating 
the opportunity to expand and develop closer relationships 
with our customers. This more flexible commercial model has 
already provided the business with a good in-year revenue 
stream and secured a strong order book and pipeline for 
future revenue.

In 2019, the organisation had to quickly establish and build 
business focused on its geospatial platform. With an existing 
customer base and wide endorsement of the new business 
focus, the organisation worked hard in the early part of 
the year to develop both internal processes and customer 
opportunities. Whilst this led to a slower start to the year than 
we had anticipated, the second half saw greater stability, 
improved execution and better visibility on future growth.

Our three key geographical regions of North America, 
Japan and Europe all contributed to the growth of own product 
revenue. North America remains our biggest market and offers 
the greatest near-term opportunity where the customers are 
structured to allow the introduction of new technology 
more easily.

2019 also saw the release of several new and strategic 
software products. Workflow Manager streamlines our 
customers' construction and maintenance processes and 
Network Revenue Optimizer enables rapid and efficient 
quoting for network expansion. Both products were 
developed in conjunction with real-world requirements from 
existing customers, have already been sold to additional 
customers, and are included in our 2020 revenue pipeline. 
The most significant new product announcement of 2019 was 
our new Network Manager product that enables IQGeo to offer 
an end-to-end operational solution increasing our addressable 
market and revenue potential. 

4

  Paul Taylor
  Chair

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019We have continued to develop our 
organisational capabilities by investing 
across all disciplines, providing a greater 
focus on sales and product delivery. 
We continue to see opportunities to 
invest in business growth, organisational 
efficiency improvement, and the delivery 
of higher margins in future periods. 
Investment that drives growth remains 
our primary focus.

These are exciting times for IQGeo. 
Our markets continue to strive for 
improvements in execution, where data 
quality and accessibility is key. IQGeo’s 
products, customer relationships, and 
proof of delivery make us well positioned 
to benefit from such opportunities.

Results overview
Bookings of orders related to IQGeo 
own products increased by over 120% 
to £7.5 million during 2019 (2018: 
£3.4 million) following expansion 
of our presence in North America 
as well as adding new contracts in 
Europe and Japan. 

IQGeo own product revenue has 
increased by 17% to £5.5 million 
(2018: £4.7 million) with growth 
driven predominantly by recurring 
revenue streams.

Gross margin for the year is 
slightly below last year, reflecting 
a subscription sales model with 
greater revenue deferral to future 
years. Consequently, historic trend 
comparisons are not relevant at this 
stage as the business transitions to 
higher subscription revenues.

Our balance sheet remains strong with 
a year-end cash position of £13.1 million. 
This is after returning £11.0 million 
to shareholders in September 2019. 
The strength of the balance sheet 
allows selective levels of investment and 
reflects the near-term cash impact on 
the business as it transitions to higher 
levels of recurring revenues.

Group strategy 
We can see a clear opportunity in 
our target markets to grow quickly, 
enabling customers to realise significant 
collaboration and productivity 
improvements across their businesses.

Our priority is to deliver growth in our 
own product recurring revenue base 
through acquisition of new customers 
and further deployments with existing 
customers. We will continue to invest in 
developing our software with customer 
driven improvements in functionality 
including Network Manager.

The investment strategy will continue 
to be controlled, balancing growth 
achievements against the opportunity 
available, ensuring improved operating 
cash flows that turn positive within a 
few years.

Looking further out, we continue to 
assess the opportunity to significantly 
increase the addressable global market 
by developing a multi-tenant SaaS 
offering. There is an under serviced 
global opportunity to supply solutions to 
smaller network operators that have not 
historically had the resources or capital 
to invest in large-scale GIS systems.

Governance 
As outlined later in this report, 
we continue our commitment to a 
high standard of corporate governance 
by maintaining the QCA Corporate 
Governance Code in our reporting 
structure. The Board continually reviews 
its composition and has made three 
Board level changes during the year.

As noted in the 2018 Annual Report, 
following a period of illness Peter 
Harverson resigned in February 2019. 
Recognising the need for additional 
experience in the target vertical markets, 
Andy MacLeod was appointed as an 
independent Non-Executive Director 
in June last year, bringing a wealth of 
telecoms industry experience to IQGeo. 

Tim Gingell, CFO, has advised that he 
wishes to step down from the Board at 
the upcoming AGM to focus on his child’s 
medical needs. Tim will however stay 
with the business, including remaining 
as Company Secretary, for a period 
beyond the AGM to help with an 
orderly and structured handover to his 
replacement. Tim has been with the 
business since 2015 and has been a key 
part of the management team over 
that period, developing the finance, 
IT and HR functions, executing on the 
Japan and Ubisense disposals in 2018, 
and establishing the IQGeo business. 
The Board would like to thank Tim for all 
his hard work and, whilst disappointed 
to see Tim step down, wish him and 
his family the very best for the future. 
The Board has instigated a search for a 
CFO and whilst this is at an early stage 
it is expected that a timely appointment 
can be made.

Oliver Scott (Kestrel Partners), 
who has been on the Board since 
May 2016, stepped down at the end 
of October 2019 and was replaced by 
Max Royde, who is an experienced 
non-executive director and co-founder 
of Kestrel Partners. I would like to thank 
Oliver for his support and guidance 
over the last two and a half years in 
helping deliver a well-funded and 
focused business. 

The Board desires to improve diversity 
including consideration of gender, 
social and ethnic backgrounds in 
its members and the Company as 
a whole. However, it is keen, with 
its limited resources, to match the 
skills of available candidates with 
the responsibilities of open roles. 
Currently, this means that, with my 
CFO background, I will continue to 
act as chair of the Audit Committee, 
while Max Royde assumes chair of 
the Remuneration Committee and 
Robert Sansom continues to chair the 
Nomination Committee. 

The Board recognises that it must evolve 
its Committee strategy as it grows in the 
future, noting that neither Max Royde nor 
Robert Sansom are Independent, and 
I have been a Non-Executive Director 
for over nine years. With these stated 
considerations, we feel that the skills and 
mix of its members best serve our current 
governance needs at this stage of the 
Group’s development.

Organisation
In 2019 IQGeo has achieved rapid 
change and I would like to thank 
our committed staff in delivering an 
organisation that has prepared itself 
for growth and success. The Company 
remains totally focused on delivering 
geospatial productivity and collaboration 
solutions for our customers.

Future outlook 
Opportunities within our markets 
continue to develop at pace as the 
organisations we serve, grow and evolve 
their digital transformation strategies. 
Our customer centric approach and 
first-class products are focused on 
closing these increasing opportunities 
and positioning IQGeo well for 
future growth.

Paul Taylor
Chair
6 March 2020

5

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Chief Executive Officer’s statement

A strong start for the new IQGeo.

2019 was a strong first year for IQGeo as a geospatial 
software-only focused business targeting the telecoms and 
utility industries. Across virtually every area of the business, 
we’ve made good progress against our key strategic objectives 
that I set out last year. Our three key goals for 2019 are 
summarised below:

1.  Expand regional growth and market share

2.  Grow subscription and recurring revenue base

3.  Invest in product innovation to increase our competitiveness

We have established IQGeo as a leader in geospatial software 
focused on the telecoms and utility market, and successfully 
challenged our legacy Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) 
competitors with an exciting product suite and talented team.

Our target market is now recognising that the previous GIS 
approach does not meet their current and future needs of 
a dynamic and responsive business. Our major competitors 
produce what we term ‘cartography-centric’ software. These 
systems were built 20 to 30 years ago to create paper maps 
using a centralised, proprietary architecture focused on a small 
group of geospatial experts. We believe this model is no longer 
fit for purpose. Our prospects and customers have shared how 
this legacy approach creates process bottlenecks and data 
quality issues that compromise a company’s ability to increase 
productivity, quality and safety. 

IQGeo offers a ‘reality-centric’ approach that reimagines 
the role of geospatial software by positioning geospatial 
capabilities across all departments that touch the network 
lifecycle (i.e. fibre, mobile, gas, water or electric). We can give 
all staff the design, survey, construction and maintenance 
capabilities they need at any time and in any location. 
The versatility of our solution means our products are rapidly 
adopted across an enterprise, providing our customers with a 
platform that drives transformation throughout their business. 

We also see strong growth drivers across all our key markets. 
5G and fibre are triggering large investments into telecoms, 
while smart grid and IoT technology, as well as the need for 
increased safety, is driving investments in utility networks. 
Thanks to our track record of strong Return on Investment 
(ROI) customer stories, we are now extremely well positioned 
to capitalise on these exciting industry changes. 

6

  Richard Petti
  Chief Executive Officer

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Our strategy

Goal 1  
Regional  
growth

Goal 2  
Transition to  
subscription

Goal 3  
Product  
innovation

Read more about how we are delivering on our strategy on pages 14 and 15

Strategic goals
Market response to our reality-centric 
proposition has been very positive and 
enabled significant progress with our 
first strategic goal of Regional Growth. 
We have increased the number of logos 
(customers) to 50 across all operational 
territories and in all segments.

We hired two European sales directors in 
the first quarter of 2019 and have already 
secured new European customers in 
both the telecoms and utility sectors. 
Our small Japanese team added new 
customers in 2019 through our local 
partners in the utility sector. The North 
American operation also secured new 
telecoms and utility customers who 
provide a strong, referenceable installed 
base across most geographies in the US 
and Canada. We are not just pleased 
with the number of new logos but also 
their mix. We have secured both very 
large (organisations with over 20 million 
customers) and small customers (with up 
to 20,000 customers) while shortening 
sales lead times through more accurate 
solution targeting and opportunity 
qualification. This ability to mix customer 
sizes is extremely important because it 
means our market opportunity is much 
larger than if we were restricted to a 
single customer demographic.

Transition to Subscription is our second 
strategic goal. We have made great 
progress in transitioning our sales teams 
to selling subscriptions and we were 
delighted to see that 70% of all new 
software deals in 2019 were closed using 
a subscription model. 

I do not foresee that we will abandon 
perpetual sales entirely in the future. 
Some new customers may insist on 
perpetual licensing and transitioning 
current customers away from 
their existing perpetual licensing 
arrangements will be a slower 
process. These exceptions aside, 2019 
demonstrated that IQGeo can build a 
solid recurring revenue foundation that 
will reduce volatility of bookings and 
revenue in years to come. 

Even during this launch year of our 
subscription service, customers have 
already begun to expand their initial 
user counts after successful field 
deployments. This model is extremely 
promising for IQGeo’s year-on-year 
revenue growth potential. To further 
support ongoing customer growth, 
over the course of 2020 we will be 
emphasising account management with 
our sales team, will continue to develop 
our sales model to further accelerate 
sales, and will improve our customer 
procurement processes. 

Our third strategic goal of Product 
Innovation was amply demonstrated by 
the release of several new products in 
2019. This includes the highly innovative 
Network Revenue Optimizer that helps 
customers automate short cycle designs 
and quotations and our new Workflow 
Manager product (formerly Operations 
Manager and Construction Manager) 
that helps to reduce repair times and 
accelerate time-to-market. These new 
products have already been sold to 
existing and new customers, which is a 
great endorsement of IQGeo’s ability 
to spot gaps in the market and create 
products our customers want to buy. 

In recognition for software innovation, 
we were very pleased to receive two 
highly regarded Diamond Technology 
Awards in 2019 from Broadband 
Technology Report for our Network 
Revenue Optimizer and Capture 
products. Customers tell us that we are 
delivering world-class technology, but it 
is also extremely satisfying for the IQGeo 
team to be recognised by our peers in 
the industry.

In addition, we also announced in 2019 
the impending release of our new 
Network Manager product in the first 
quarter of 2020 that allows us to tell a 
complete end-to-end enterprise solution 
story, and is already driving new business 
opportunities.

7

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Chief Executive Officer’s statement continued

We are pleased to report a very satisfying 
120% growth in new orders worldwide.

The IQGeo team
Our accomplishments in 2019 
would not have been possible 
without an exceptional team of 
people that create, promote, sell 
and support our award-winning 
products. Over the course of 2019 
we strengthened our business 
across a number of key areas to 
achieve our improved performance. 
Organisational focus on sales teams, 
product development, services and 
product management, as well as HR 
initiatives, creates an attractive and 
high-performance work environment 
that delivers greater focus and 
higher productivity.

We have invested time and resources in 
developing our organisation because 
it is so central to the execution of 
our strategy. For this reason, I have 
been very pleased to see the positive 
responses from staff in our annual 
staff survey. The survey reflected 
improvements that we have made in 
communication, training, performance 
management and career management. 
This also included very positive 
responses to the questions ‘Would you 
recommend IQGeo to a friend?’ and ‘Do 
you understand our vision and strategy?’.

2020 and beyond
As I look to the year ahead, I will be 
expanding our list of business goals from 
three to five. We will continue our focus 
on our initial three business goals while 
also concentrating the management 
team on account development and 
operating margins.

1.  Expand regional market 

share maintaining the pace 
of logo acquisition.

2.  Grow subscription and recurring 

revenue base.

3.  Invest in product innovation.

4.  Develop existing customer accounts. 
Our business model has shown that 
customers often spend more on our 
products in the second and third years 
than in the first. This means that the 
surge in new logos in 2019 creates 
a strong platform for upselling 
opportunities in the years ahead.

5.  Improve operating margin. In 2019 our 
strategy of growing the organisation 
and increasing subscriptions has 
deferred operating margin to future 
years. It is a strategic priority to 
become a cash generative business 
in as little time as possible, while 
maintaining high growth rates in a 
market that has long sales lead times.

Financial performance
Our objective for 2019 was to use some 
of the funds generated in the Ubisense 
disposal to invest in the IQGeo geospatial 
business and create momentum for 
future growth. I am ensuring that our 
management team is focused on the 
following performance KPIs for 2020.

1.  Growth in orders. Here we are 

pleased to report a very satisfying 
120% growth in new orders worldwide. 
While a high proportion of these 
are subscriptions, it means we enter 
2020 with a backlog that has been 
strengthened by 40% compared to 
last year.

2.  Growth in logos (aka customers). 

We’re very pleased with an increase 
in customers to a total of 50 at the 
end of 2019, providing a platform for 
future growth.

3.  Growth in recurring revenue. 
While our large increase in 
subscriptions has deferred 
revenue into future years, we 
have nevertheless managed to 
grow own-product recurring 
revenue by 78%.

4.  Gross profit and margin. 

Gross profit and margin have fallen 
in 2019 as the business develops 
with a stronger subscription revenue 
stream that will deliver positive 
impact in future periods.

As we look forward to 2020 and 
beyond, we remain singularly focused 
on creating a business that combines 
high growth with good margins and 
cash generative capabilities. 

8

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Market demand

Read more about how we are delivering for our customers on pages 18 to 21

At IQGeo we are excited about the 
opportunities ahead of us. We see 
strong demand in all our markets 
globally and have timed the introduction 
of our new product offerings to help 
capitalise on the upgrade and expansion 
opportunities in our target markets. 

The markets we target are largely 
uncorrelated to many of the global 
macro headwinds such as US-China 
trade relations, Brexit, UK retail gloom 
or declining European industrial 
output. The fundamentals in our target 
markets are largely isolated from global 
macroeconomic trends because network 
operators must maintain and upgrade 
their networks and outside plant assets, 
or risk permanently damaging their 
business models.

For these reasons, IQGeo is 
achieving growth in its core business 
independently of other market indicators 
and has excellent momentum entering 
the new decade. We remain positive 
about the prospects of continuing 
this progress, making IQGeo a strong 
growth business.

Richard Petti
Chief Executive Officer
6 March 2020

We remain positive 
about the prospects 
of continuing this 
progress, making 
IQGeo a strong 
growth business 
and attractive 
investment.

9

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Market opportunity

IQGeo is actively targeting more than 10,000 contacts 
at 1,200 telecoms and utility network operators.

Within our database every network 
operator is identified by their appropriate 
tier. This allows the IQGeo sales and 
marketing team to deliver customised 
messaging and product positioning that 
reflects the most critical business issues 
for a given industry and tier. 

Targeted marketing and 
sales campaigns
The IQGeo marketing and sales team is 
actively engaging with the companies 
and contacts outlined in this market 
opportunity summary. We reach out 
to these individuals through activities 
that range from automated digital 
marketing campaigns to onsite personal 
meetings. Constantly running multiple 
campaigns in parallel, we are focused 
on providing high value content that 
is carefully targeted to ensure it is 
relevant, informative and inspiring. 
It is the goal of marketing and sales to 
nurture and create a long-term working 
relationship with our targeted prospects, 
while growing our list of contacts 
year-on-year.

Example marketing campaign activities

•  Email campaigns with high 

value content

•  Tradeshows and customer conferences

•  Thought leadership and 

product webinars

• 

Industry reports and 
sponsored research

•  Participation in industry associations

•  One-on-one sales meetings 

In 2019 IQGeo secured new customers 
across all three of our current sales 
regions of North America, Europe and 
Japan. To continue this successful growth, 
we have identified the specific markets, 
companies and individuals that we will 
be targeting with our marketing and 
sales campaigns in 2020. The market 
opportunity outlined on this page 
reflects the telecoms and utility network 
operators that have been identified 
as appropriate targets for our 2020 
sales and marketing activities, rather 
than an attempt to define the total 
addressable market.

IQGeo has successfully established more 
than 50 telecoms and utility customers 
across our three sales regions. With a 
currently defined target market of more 
than 1,200 named network operators 
with over 10,000 contacts, there is 
significant long-term customer and 
revenue growth opportunity for IQGeo.

Future market opportunity
IQGeo’s contact database is not static 
and is constantly being expanded 
and refined. We expect our market 
opportunity list to grow significantly 
over time as we identify new companies, 
release new products in adjacent areas 
and expand the business geographically. 

Market segmentation
In this market opportunity analysis, 
we have segmented the targeted 
companies into Tier 1, Tier 2 and 
Tier 3 network operators. While the 
detailed definition of these three tiers 
varies between industries and across 
regions, it is possible to establish a 
general definition for how these tiers 
are segmented.

Tier 1
International or dominant national 
network operators.

Tier 2
Regional network operators that serve 
multiple states or regions.

Tier 3
Local network operators that serve 
a city or metropolitan area.

10

North America

North America

Utility targets

Telecoms targets

Europe

Europe

Utility targets

Telecoms targets

Japan

Japan

Utility targets

Telecoms targets

North America is IQGeo’s largest 

and most mature sales region with 

a very healthy ecosystem in both the 

telecoms and utility industries. We are 

currently targeting more than 600 

network operators in this region and 

see significant growth potential as we 

expand our product line offering into 

adjacent markets. We are establishing 

good market awareness with our North 

American target audience and have 

received positive market feedback on 

the momentum we are building.

Europe is IQGeo’s newest sales region. 

Established in the first quarter of 2019, 

the sales team has already secured 

telecoms and utility reference customers. 

We are currently targeting more than 

500 network operators in this region 

with a particular focus on Central and 

Northern Europe. This region is a more 

fragmented market than North America 

with a different mix of Tier 1, Tier 2 

and Tier 3 players, creating significant 

opportunity to identify organisations that 

are responsive to the IQGeo story. 

While Japan is IQGeo’s smallest sales 

region, they were very successful in 

2019, establishing new customers and 

expanding our product footprint with 

existing customers. Given our small 

team and the specifics of the Japanese 

market, we sell our software through 

several long-standing reseller partners. 

A smaller market than Europe and North 

America, we are currently targeting 

a well refined list of over 30 telecoms 

and utility network operators. Within 

the Japanese market there is significant 

revenue growth potential with these 

identified targets, as well as with our 

existing customers. 

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019North America

Europe

Japan

2020 go-to-market strategy

Key

Tier 1

Tier 2

Tier 3

Global total targets

Global utility targets

Global telecoms targets

1,210 

companies

10,135 

contacts

812 

companies

5,510 

contacts

398 

companies

4,625 

contacts

North America
North America is IQGeo’s largest 
and most mature sales region with 
a very healthy ecosystem in both the 
telecoms and utility industries. We are 
currently targeting more than 600 
network operators in this region and 
see significant growth potential as we 
expand our product line offering into 
adjacent markets. We are establishing 
good market awareness with our North 
American target audience and have 
received positive market feedback on 
the momentum we are building.

Europe
Europe is IQGeo’s newest sales region. 
Established in the first quarter of 2019, 
the sales team has already secured 
telecoms and utility reference customers. 
We are currently targeting more than 
500 network operators in this region 
with a particular focus on Central and 
Northern Europe. This region is a more 
fragmented market than North America 
with a different mix of Tier 1, Tier 2 
and Tier 3 players, creating significant 
opportunity to identify organisations that 
are responsive to the IQGeo story. 

Japan
While Japan is IQGeo’s smallest sales 
region, they were very successful in 
2019, establishing new customers and 
expanding our product footprint with 
existing customers. Given our small 
team and the specifics of the Japanese 
market, we sell our software through 
several long-standing reseller partners. 
A smaller market than Europe and North 
America, we are currently targeting 
a well refined list of over 30 telecoms 
and utility network operators. Within 
the Japanese market there is significant 
revenue growth potential with these 
identified targets, as well as with our 
existing customers. 

Utility targets

Telecoms targets

30

25

520
companies

170

320

130
companies

70

35

4,700 contacts

3,000 contacts

Utility targets

Telecoms targets

15

30

275
companies

230

35

125

255
companies

95

700 contacts

1,500 contacts

Utility targets

Telecoms targets

3

6

17
companies

8

13
companies

8

3

2

110 contacts

125 contacts

11

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
Our business model

IQGeo is successfully transitioning to a recurring software subscription revenue model. 
Our software quickly finds a strategic role within a new customer and the number of user 
licences and products expands over time with little customer churn. This combination 
creates a reliable recurring revenue stream with strong future growth potential.

Competitive advantage

Advantages

Our typical customer lifecycle

At IQGeo we deliver 
clear and measurable 
business benefits 
to our customers, 
accelerating 
productivity and 
collaboration with our 
innovative geospatial 
software.
One customer reported a 33% 
reduction in new construction 
survey time.1 Another customer 
has reduced yearly construction 
hours by 36,200.1

Customer partnerships
Once our software is 
installed at a new customer 
organisation, it rapidly 
finds a strategic role and 
often expands across other 
departments, allowing the 
IQGeo service and support 
team to form a strong working 
partnership. Armed with 
our portfolio of professional 
services, we routinely work 
on site with our customers in 
their environment and go into 
the field with their technicians 
to ensure we understand and 
support their unique business 
and technical requirements. 

12

Built for  
infrastructure 
companies
IQGeo’s total focus on the telecoms 
and utility industries enables 
us to deliver highly optimised 
software solutions that streamline 
processes and dramatically improve 
operational productivity. 

Mobile-first  
software
Key to delivering a current view 
of network assets that enhance 
departmental collaboration is a 
reality-centric approach that puts 
mobile operations at the heart of 
our software architecture. Our 
largest customer deployment to date 
exceeds 12,000 users. 

Open and  
flexible platform
Cartography-centric legacy GIS 
imposes a proprietary, prescriptive 
architecture that adds complexity and 
limits agility. Unlike our competitors that 
still use centralised fat-clients, IQGeo 
has created a browser-based software 
platform with the latest open source 
technology that defines a new standard 
for flexibility.

Cost-effective  
to deploy
Often seen as the 'only game in town', 
legacy GIS vendors have created 
bloated, inefficient solutions with 
onerous partner ecosystems that cost 
millions to support. This legacy GIS 
model is broken and unsustainable. 
By contrast, IQGeo offers a lighter 
touch solution that is built for today’s 
digital realities, cloud-ready, 
cost-effective, rapid to deploy 
and simple to maintain. 

Year 1
Customer purchases first product 
with a small number of user licences.

Year 2
Customer expands the number of 
users for Product 1 and adds Product 
2 with initial users.

Year 3
Customer expands the number of 
users for Products 1 and 2.

Year 4
Customer adds Products 3 and 4 while 
expanding users on Products 1 and 2.

Year 5
Customer continues to expand users 
across the deployed product suite.

Year 1
Software subscription revenue 
received from initial customers.

Years 2-5
Additional customers are added 
each year while existing customers 
expand their installations. This creates 
a healthy recurring subscription 
revenue stream with significant 
top-line revenue growth as new 
customers are added each year.

Underpinned by our 
culture/purpose
The success of the IQGeo business 
model depends on the long-term 
success of our customers. Our entire 
organisation is focused on creating 
and maintaining long-term customer 
partnerships. 

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Our typical customer lifecycle

Value created

Single customer revenue 
growth model

Product 1
Product 2
Product 3
Product 4
Revenue growth

P2

P1

P1

P2

P1

P4

P3

P2

R
e
v
e
n
u
e
p
e
r
u
s
e
r

P4

P3

P2

P1

P1

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Customer journey

Multiple customer revenue 
growth model

Customer

Revenue growth

C2
C1

C3
C2

C1

C4
C3

C2

C1

C5
C4

C3

C2

C1

C6
C5

C4

C3

C2

C1

R
e
v
e
n
u
e

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

From a prospect’s first engagement 
with IQGeo, we listen, and we seek 
to understand their unique business 
and technical requirements in order 
to deploy a solution that evolves 
and grows with their changing 
requirements. In a world where 
our competitors propose complex, 
inflexible and costly configurations, 
the entire IQGeo team strives to 

deliver innovative, transparent and 
cost-effective solutions. 

Providing software that exceeds 
customer expectations develops the 
trust and mutual commitment that 
ensures the long-term health of both 
our businesses.

Business
45,000+

Active users

50

Telecoms and utility customers

Customers
18%

Increase in new customer logos

33%

Reduction in new construction 
survey time1

36,200 hours

Reduction in construction project 
hours per year1

Employees
8.30/10

Employees would recommend 
IQGeo as an employer

8.38/10

Employees understand the 
strategy and objectives of IQGeo

1.  ROI figures are quoted from specific 
customer deployment examples.

13

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
Our strategy

In 2020 IQGeo will continue to focus on our three 
key growth strategies and build on the significant 
progress made in 2019. 

The business will 
remain focused 
on developing 
the customer 
base in our core 
geographies, 
expanding the 
scope of our 
product portfolio, 
and ensuring the 
long-term success 
of our software 
subscription 
licensing model.

14

Goal 1  
Regional  
growth

Goal 2  
Transition to  
subscription

Goal 3  
Product  
innovation

Progress during the year
Our regional growth goals for 2019 
were to establish an initial customer 
base in Europe, build on the strong, 
but small, utility customer base in Japan 
and acquire a significant number of 
new customers in our already well 
established North American market. 
We have achieved significant success 
against all these objectives.

5 new logos in North America

3 new logos in Europe

5 new logos in Japan

Progress during the year
We made substantial progress during 
2019 in our transition from a perpetual 
to a subscription-based software 
licensing model. All software quotes 
are now issued with subscription 
pricing by default and the response to 
this model has been well received by 
new customers. Recurring subscription 
revenue is showing healthy growth 
with 70% of all new sales using our 
subscription model.

Progress during the year
We released three new products that 
enhance construction, maintenance 
and sales productivity. These 
products have already been sold 
to new and existing customers and 
feature prominently in our pipeline 
development. This is part of our strategy 
to build a complete suite of products 
that deliver value across the entire 
network lifecycle, allowing IQGeo to 
attack adjacent market opportunities, 
while expanding penetration with 
existing customers.

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Our future goals
New logos plus revenue 
growth in existing accounts
In 2020 we will continue to focus on 
these three regions with our direct 
sales force to acquire new logos 
and expand the annual revenue 
we received from existing customers 
through user growth and the sale 
of new products. We will explore 
reseller partner relationships in 
2020 as a possible route to market in 
geographic territories where IQGeo 
does not have a direct sales force. 

Our future goals
Grow business based on 
strong recurring revenue
In 2020 we issued a revised, and 
greatly simplified, price list that makes 
the value of a subscription model 
more transparent to our customers. 
Our sales team understand the 
value subscription pricing brings to 
our business and will continue to be 
incentivised on subscription sales.

Our future goals
Launch schedule for major 
new products 
In 2020 we will be rolling out the 
release of a major new geospatial 
design and editing product called 
Network Manager. In combination 
with the IQGeo software platform, 
this disruptive new product creates 
an end-to-end enterprise offering 
that enables us to target larger, 
long-term deal opportunities with a 
product line and value proposition 
that cannot be matched by our legacy 
GIS competitors.

Case study 
Gigaclear “One source of truth”
Read more on pages 18 and 19

70%

of new customer orders 
in 2019 used subscription 
pricing

Case study 
NW Natural “Reducing technical debt”
Read more on pages 20 and 21

15

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Our products

The IQGeo Platform and applications provide powerful 
office-to-field solutions that enable infrastructure network operators 
to reimagine the benefits that geospatial technology brings to 
their entire business. Our software is in the field where the action 
happens, providing a current view of the network assets that 
dramatically streamlines processes and improves data quality.

What makes IQGeo different

Unlike the software from legacy GIS vendors that use a centralised, 
process-heavy architecture dependent on highly specialised engineering 
resources, IQGeo provides an end-to-end solution with measurable ROI that 
increases productivity and collaboration across the entire organisation. 

Field and office staff are empowered to monitor, capture, visualise and 
manage geospatial network assets without specialised training. 

The IQGeo advantage

There are four key business and technical advantages that are recognised 
by our customers as critical considerations when choosing to work with the 
IQGeo technology and team. 

1 – Built for network 
operators
IQGeo’s end-to-end 
enterprise solutions are 
designed specifically 
for use by telecoms 
and utility network 
operators. Our optimised 
software and industry 
experts help customers 
to streamline processes 
across their network 
lifecycle, delivering greater 
productivity from the office 
to the field.

2 – Mobile-first 
architecture
IQGeo’s mobile-first 
software democratises 
the use of technology. 
We enable approved users 
to view, manage and edit 
a current network view 
from any mobile device, 
anywhere, online or offline. 
The easy-to-use interface 
is rapidly adopted by field 
and office staff, improving 
collaboration across 
the business.

3 – Open and flexible 

Using the latest browser, 
open source and flexible 
data model technologies 
allows IQGeo customers 
to fully leverage a wide 
range of GIS, IoT and 
application data sources. 
They can also rapidly 
configure and customise 
their implementation. 
In combination this creates 
a unified geospatial view 
of their network that 
represents a single source 
of truth for rapid, accurate 
decision making.

4 – Fast and cost-
effective to deploy
The IQGeo solutions are 
a fraction of the cost of 
deploying and supporting 
legacy GIS environments. 
Our open and flexible 
contemporary architecture 
avoids the need for 
expensive specialised 
training and hardware, 
and reduces the number 
of required applications. 

Customers often complete 
new deployments in a 
matter of weeks, reducing 
technical debt and 
improving  ROI.

IQGeo’s easy-to-use, flexible software is 
readily adopted by IT, office and field staff, 
rapidly spreading across the enterprise and 
delivering business transformation.

16

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019We continue to develop new applications on top of the IQGeo Platform that target 
different departments with very specific operational benefits. These range from 
an integration with Salesforce to accelerate sales response and close-rates, 
to workflow management that improves the efficiency and productivity of 
construction and maintenance crews. The IQGeo Platform and applications 
work together to deliver an end-to-end, cloud-enabled enterprise solution 
that addresses business critical needs across the entire network lifecycle.

The launch of Network Manager

In 2020 we are releasing a major 
new geospatial design and editing 
product called Network Manager. 
In combination with the IQGeo 
software platform, this exciting new 
product allows IQGeo to compete 
head-to-head with legacy GIS vendors 
by offering a complete end-to-end 
enterprise solution. 

Lifecycle diagram

It is an easy-to-use, powerful solution 
that enables office staff and field crews 
to view, manage and edit network 
information, dramatically improving 
collaboration, process efficiency, 
and network data quality. 

Network Manager raises IQGeo’s 
market visibility, broadens the 
addressable market, while increasing 
deal sizes and our potential for 
long-term subscription revenue. 
Network Manager is already included 
in our 2020 pipeline in a number of 
strategic sales opportunities.

Sales &  
marketing

Planning & 
design

Construction

Operation &  
maintenance

Customer  
service

IQGeo for  
Salesforce

Network 
Revenue 
Optimizer

Fiber 
Planning

Workflow 
Manager

Inspection  
& Survey

Damage 
Assessment

IQGeo for 
Salesforce

Network Manager

IQGeo Platform
Search / Interact / Visualise

Application data sources

Geospatial data sources

17

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
Case study

Single source of  
truth accelerates 
construction projects

Goal 1  
Regional  
growth

Given the rural nature of their network, 
the ability to capture field data while 
offline was a major consideration in 
the selection of IQGeo. Delivering a 
single source of trusted information 
improves collaboration with third party 
contractors and allows all stakeholders 
to monitor status and field updates, while 
streamlining processes and increasing 
productivity. 

Gordon Perry,  
Technical Director – Gigaclear
As a rural operator, we have really 
struggled to find products that work 
for us so were forced to rely on 
printed work orders and field updates. 
Offline support, validating designs 
and version control were causing us 
major headaches. Thanks to IQGeo, 
these are now problems of the past!

Introduction
IQGeo is accelerating the speed of 
Gigaclear’s construction projects while 
improving collaboration and oversight 
with external contractors. As one of the 
UK’s leading rural full-fibre broadband 
providers, Gigaclear selected IQGeo’s 
geospatial software following a 
competitive search process. 

Case study overview
Built for the edge of the network, IQGeo’s 
geospatial platform and Capture solution 
enables Gigaclear engineers to walk 
the route of their broadband network 
with external contractors, recording 
data and submitting changes on their 
mobile devices. 

Customer statistic 
Gigaclear designs, builds and operates a 
full fibre, ultrafast broadband network in 
rural areas across central and southern 
England. Established in 2010, its network 
now reaches more than 

200

communities across many counties. 

Find out more:
info.iqgeo.com/customer-stories

18

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019It was our intent to build a field capture 
solution internally, but decided to explore 
what was commercially available first. 
We were impressed with IQGeo’s solution 
from the outset. The team immediately 
understood our challenges and delivered 
a presentation and Proof of Concept that 
addressed our biggest concerns. We continue 
to be impressed by both the team and the 
software, which has exceeded our initial 
expectations.

  Gordon Perry
  Technical Director at Gigaclear

19

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Case study

Reducing 
technical debt

Goal 3  
Product  
innovation

Introduction
IQGeo’s geospatial software 
has enabled North West Natural 
(NW Natural) to move away from legacy 
paper-based processes for back office 
and field activities, improving situational 
awareness and increasing operational 
efficiency. The utility now has real-time 
network data available across the 
organisation, accelerating response 
times and decision making. The platform 
provides a single, consistent network 
view that was quickly adopted by 
field crews and office staff. The data 
consolidation capability of the IQGeo 
software also allowed them to eliminate 
the use of redundant applications, 
reducing the technical debt of their 
IT systems.

Case study overview
NW Natural found a partner in IQGeo 
that delivered the industry focus, vision, 
innovation and agility needed to rapidly 
support the specific requirements of 
their users. By constantly updating and 
sharing real-time, accurate network 
data, IQGeo’s mobile-first solution gives 
NW Natural business critical insights. 
They can now make informed decisions 
in critical scenarios such as pipeline 
management, damage prevention, 
emergency response, regulatory 
compliance, work allocation and routing 
and more. The IQGeo Platform and 
Inspection & Survey product also improve 
operational efficiencies by removing 
complex and manual processes and 
cutting as-built backlogs. 

Jim Downing, CIO – NW Natural
IQGeo has the agility that we were 
looking for as well as the leadership 
in this space and I think those two 
factors sealed the deal for us. We 
knew that we would be in good hands.

Customer statistic 
North West Natural is one of the 
largest natural gas suppliers in 
the state of Oregon; it has about 

750,000

meters and about 2 million customers.

Find out more:
info.iqgeo.com/customer-stories

20

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019

As a senior leader of our IT&S organisation, 
I’m thinking about how I simplify our portfolio, 
how I consolidate applications and reduce 
the amount of technical debt. By doing that 
I’m making a significant investment but I’m 
also reducing the portfolio of the complexity 
and the cost at the same time. If anyone is 
looking at considering IQGeo, don’t forget 
about the horizontal platform. Drive out the 
technical debt, reduce your complexity and 
give IQGeo a good look.

Jim Downing

  CIO – NW Natural

21

3. 1. Strategic report2.  
Key performance indicators (KPIs)

Progress against strategic objectives.

IQGeo own product orders  
(£m)

Software orders  
(£m)

M&S and subscription orders  
(£m)

£7.5m 

+122%

£1.5m 

+50%

£2.5m 

2019

7.5

2019

1.5

2018

3.4

2018

1.0

2019

2018

0.8

+213%

2.5

2017

6.8

2017

3.0

2017

0.9

IQGeo own product orders have 
increased by 122% following expansion 
of our presence in North America as 
well as adding new contracts in Europe 
and Japan.

Link to strategy

Software orders have increased by 50% 
despite the focus on adding customers 
on a subscription basis during 2019.

Link to strategy

Transition of the licencing model to a 
recurring revenue subscription basis 
has been successful with total M&S and 
subscription orders increasing by 213%.

Link to strategy

IQGeo own product revenue  
(£m)

Recurring M&S and subscription 
revenues (£m)

Gross margin  
(%)

£5.5m 

+17%

£1.6m 

+78%

42% 

2019

2018

2017

5.5

2019

1.6

2019

4.7

2018

0.9

5.8

2017

0.8

2018

2017

-2%

42

44

39

IQGeo own product revenue has 
increased by 17% with growth driven 
predominantly by recurring revenue 
streams.

Link to strategy

78% growth in recurring revenues with 
70% of all new customers being secured 
on a subscription basis.

Link to strategy

While the revenue mix has moved in 
favour of higher margin software, 
subscription and maintenance and 
support revenues, the significant 
reduction in services revenue which has 
a fixed cost of delivery, has led to an 
overall decline in the gross margin.

Link to strategy

22

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019New logos won  
(Number)

Net cash  
(£m)

Employee headcount at 31 Dec  
(Heads)

13 

2019

2018

2017

+18% £13.1m 

-58% 71 

13

2019

13.1

2019

+20%

71

11

2018

30.9

2018

59

9

2017

6.6

2017

83

New logos were won in all operating 
regions during 2019, with the regional 
customer base becoming more diverse 
as markets are developed.

Net cash decreased to £13.1 million 
following the completion of the share buy 
back which saw the return of £11.0 million 
to shareholders.

Link to strategy

Link to strategy

Headcount has increased as a result 
of investment in sales channels in both 
the North American and European 
telecoms and utility markets, along 
with investment in product development 
to create the next generation 
geospatial platform.

Link to strategy

Key 

Regional growth

Transition to subscription

Product innovation

23

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer’s statement

The increase in recurring revenues is 
a significant step towards achieving 
sustained profitability.

The Group is focused on growing IQGeo own product revenues 
which include generating recurring revenues from software 
subscription products, selling perpetual software licences 
and the associated maintenance and support contracts, and 
delivering consultancy services revenues. Additionally, the 
Group has a legacy operation that provides lower margin 
consultancy services connected to third party products which 
have declined in the current period – in line with expectations, 
and may decline in future periods. 

During 2019, the commercial model evolved with a strong focus 
on building a recurring revenue subscription-based software 
business through long-term relationships with customers. 
The subscription offering has been attractive to potential 
customers with 70% of all new customers being contracted 
on a subscription basis.

Increasing Annual Contracted Value (ACV) is the benchmark 
of securing recurring revenue growth and achieving sustained 
profitability. The ACV won during 2019 from new subscription 
contracts was £0.7 million, which, in addition to the ACV 
associated with maintenance and support of perpetual licence 
sales, gives total ACV as at 31 December 2019 of £2.0 million 
(31 December 2018: £1.1 million) – an increase of over 80%. 

Orders
Bookings of orders related to IQGeo own products increased 
by over 120% to £7.5 million during 2019 (2018: £3.4 million) 
following expansion of our presence in North America as well 
as adding new contracts in Europe and Japan. 

Bookings of orders related to third party Geospatial Services 
were £1.6 million (2018: £4.8 million) reflecting the managed 
decline in this legacy revenue stream. 

IQGeo own product order backlog as at 31 December 2019 was 
£3.7 million (2018: £1.6 million). Third party Geospatial Services 
order backlog was £1.4 million (2018: £2.1 million).  

24

  Tim Gingell
  Chief Financial Officer

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Recurring own product revenue  
(£m)

Revenue
Revenue composition by revenue stream is summarised in the table below:

2019

2018

2017

0.9

0.8

1.6

Revenue by stream 

Software 

Services 

Non-recurring own  
product revenue 

+78%

Maintenance and support 

Subscription 

2019 
£’000 

1,589 

2,328 

3,917 

1,251 

381 

Recurring own product revenue 

1,632 

Total own product revenue 

5,549 

% of total 
revenue 

20% 

30% 

50% 

16% 

5% 

21% 

71% 

% of total Year-on-year 
growth
revenue 

2018 
£’000 

1,395 

2,424 

14% 

24% 

3,819 

38% 

918 

— 

918 

9% 

— 

9% 

4,737 

47% 

14%

(4)%

3%

36%

N/A

78%

17%

Geospatial services from  
third party products 

Total revenue 

2,257 

7,806 

29% 

100% 

5,242 

9,979 

53% 

100% 

(57)%

(22)%

The transition of the commercial model to a subscription-based software business 
enables more customers to start with smaller deployments which can then be grown 
over time. Ultimately this approach will provide greater stability to income and 
operations in future periods but will have the impact of deferring revenue in the 
short term.

Despite 70% of all new customers being contracted on a subscription basis, software 
sold as a perpetual licence increased by 14% during 2019. In addition to software 
sales to new customers, IQGeo has sold further user licences and achieved product 
expansion within its existing customer base. 

Services revenues associated with IQGeo products has decreased by 4% during the 
year, largely due to the timing of project delivery.

Maintenance and support revenues associated with perpetual licence sales has 
increased by 36% during 2019 due to an increase in users of the software and a strong 
renewal rate of annual contracts.

Subscription revenues of £0.4 million have been recognised in respect of contracts 
won during the 2019 period. These contracts have an associated ACV of £0.7 million 
with committed terms ranging between one and three years.

Gross profit

Gross profit 

2019 

Gross 
£’000  margin %  

2018 
£’000 

Gross 
margin % 

Gross 
margin 
variance

Gross profit/gross margin 

3,243 

42% 

4,380 

44% 

(2)%

Gross margin percentage has decreased during 2019 by 2%. While the revenue mix 
has moved in favour of higher margin software, subscription and maintenance and 
support revenues, the significant reduction in total services revenue which has a 
fixed cost of delivery, has led to an overall decline in the gross margin during 2019. 
Increases of recurring subscription and maintenance and support revenues, together 
with improved margins on services revenue, are expected to drive an improvement to 
both gross profit and gross margin percentage in future reporting periods.

25

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chief Financial Officer’s statement continued

Operating expenses and adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations
Operating expenses were £9.5 million (2018: £6.0 million) and are summarised as follows:

Other operating expenses 

Depreciation 

Amortisation and impairment   

Share option expense 

Unrealised foreign exchange on intercompany trading balances  

Non-recurring items 

Total operating expense 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

8,091 

5,446

285 

815 

102 

110 

136 

273

774

248

(151)

(619)

9,539 

5,971

Other operating expenses of the Group include sales, product development, marketing and administration costs, net of costs 
capitalised. 

Sales costs have increased during 2019 as a result of headcount being added to develop sales channels in the North American and 
European utility and telecoms market. Sales headcount has increased by over 25% during the year with all new hires being quota 
carriers.

Product management and development headcount has increased by over 120% during the year as the Group focuses on creating 
the next generation geospatial platform. 

The 2018 other operating costs reported above include an allocation of the administration and marketing costs of the Group which 
supported both the Geospatial and discontinued RTLS SmartSpace divisions during 2018. Accordingly, the 2018 other operating 
costs reported above do not reflect a realistic cost base to support the standalone IQGeo business. The 2019 other operating 
expenses are based on the IQGeo operating model which includes short-term serviced office leases in Cambridge, Frankfurt and 
Tokyo together with a subscription-based IT environment which provides the Group with a flexible cost base from which to develop 
with minimal capital expenditure other than product development.

Non-recurring costs in 2019 relate to the cost of completing the capital reduction and subsequent repurchase of share capital. 

The operating loss for the period from continuing operations was £6.3 million (2018: £1.6 million).

EPS and dividends
Adjusted diluted loss per share from continuing operations was 8.8 pence (2018: 3.0 pence). Reported basic and diluted loss per 
share from continuing operations was 9.4 pence (2018: 2.2 pence). The Board does not feel it appropriate at this time to commence 
paying dividends.

Discontinued operations
During 2019, the Group received an additional £1.1 million cash consideration in respect of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit 
disposal as a result of the finalisation of the completion accounts. This sum was greater than the £0.8 million asset recognised 
within the balance sheet as at 31 December 2018. This cash inflow was offset by the settlement of £1.8 million of costs associated 
with the disposal being paid.

No additional asset has been recognised for potential earn-outs on the disposal which could be up to maximum of £3.0 million. 
The earn-out will be triggered if revenue milestones of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit are achieved for the year ended 
31 December 2019. As at the date of this report, the final results of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit for the year ended 
31 December 2019 are not available.

Repurchase of share capital 
On 2 August 2019, the Company announced a proposed tender offer to repurchase up to a maximum of 28,260,869 of the 
Company’s Ordinary Shares at a price of 46 pence per Ordinary Share. Following approval of the tender offer by a General 
Meeting of shareholders on 22 August 2019, the tender offer completed on 30 August 2019, resulting in the share capital reducing 
by 23,803,690 and £11.0 million of surplus funds being returned to shareholders in September 2019. 

26

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of financial position 
As at 31 December 2019, the Group had a cash position of £13.1 million with no debt (2018: £30.9 million), noting that £11.0 million 
was returned to shareholders in September 2019.

On 20 December 2019, the Group entered into a seven year lease running to February 2028 on new premises in Denver as the 
lease on the existing premises in Denver ends on 30 April 2020. While the lease agreement has been contracted, a capital asset 
for the present value of the future payments, and its associated liability, have not been recognised on the balance sheet in 
accordance with IFRS 16, as the lease period will not commence until March or April 2020. In addition, £0.2 million fit-out costs net 
of landlord’s contribution will be incurred in the first half of 2020.

Non-current assets
Total non-current assets were £3.8 million (2018: £3.6 million). 

Capitalised development costs represent the key intangible assets of the Group, being investment in IQGeo own products, 
which will support the future growth of the business. Capitalised development costs at 31 December 2019 were £1.5 million 
(2018: £1.2 million) with the increase reflecting the investment in the IQGeo product suite. No change has been made to the current 
three-year amortisation period, due to the fast-moving nature of the technology.

The consideration for disposal of the RTLS SmartSpace business included £2 million in a rollover investment into the sold business 
and accordingly an investment asset of £2 million is recognised as at 31 December 2019 (2018: £2 million). 

Current assets
Total current assets decreased to £15.4 million (2018: £34.5 million) with £11.0 million of cash being returned to shareholders via 
the share repurchase during the year. 

Total assets
Total assets decreased to £19.2 million (2018: £38.1 million) which includes £13.1 million (2018: £30.9 million) of cash.

Current liabilities
Total current liabilities decreased to £3.3 million (2018: £5.5 million) driven by trade payables decreasing to £0.3 million 
(2018: £2.2 million).

Non-current liabilities
Total non-current liabilities remained at £0.3 million year-on-year.

Net assets
Net assets decreased to £15.6 million (2018: £32.3 million).

Cash and cash flow
Operating cash outflow before working capital movement was £4.9 million (2018: £0.4 million inflow). 

Operating cash outflow from operating activities after adjusting for working capital and tax was £4.7 million (2018: £0.9 million 
inflow). 

The Group had investment outflows of £1.9 million (2018: £24.3 million inflow) due to cash flows associated with the 
RTLS SmartSpace business unit disposal and expenditure on capitalised software development costs.

Cash outflow from financing activities was £11.2 million (2018: £3.5 million) primarily due to the repurchase of share capital 
in September 2019.

Tim Gingell
Chief Financial Officer
6 March 2020

27

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Principal risks and uncertainties

Effective risk management is critical to the 
achievement of the Group’s long-term growth.

The Directors of IQGeo Group plc confirm 
that we have carried out a detailed 
assessment of the principal risks facing 
the Company, including those that would 
threaten its business model, future 
performance, solvency or liquidity. Risks 
that present a potential material impact 
are identified and governed in accordance 
with our risk management policies.

Strategic risks

Effective risk management is critical 
to the achievement of the Group’s 
long-term growth. The Board has overall 
accountability for ensuring that risk is 
effectively managed across the Group 
through the implementation and review 
of the Group’s risk processes.

The principal risks listed in the table are 
those we believe could cause our results 
to differ materially from expected and 
historical results. They are also the risks 
that may impact the achievement of the 
Group’s strategic priorities.

Principal risk and impact

Mitigation of risk

Change

Strategy

Growth management
Near-term expansion is expected in the 
future to develop existing markets and to 
expand into new markets. The risks associated 
with growth include the delivery of market 
penetration through the conversion of the 
sales funnel, and control of increases in fixed 
operating costs to support revenue growth. 
If the Group is unable to manage expansion 
effectively, its business and financial results 
could suffer.

If the Group is unable to deliver growth to 
exceed the costs of operation then ultimately 
its cash resources will be fully consumed.

•  Subscription revenue model provides 

greater stability to income and operations 
in future periods.

•  Close monitoring of business development 
strategy and regular reviews of the sales 
opportunity pipeline at Board meetings.

•  Head office support of regional office 

development in the event of accelerated 
regional growth.

•  Development of systems and processes 
that can scale with the business while 
maintaining good financial management.

•  Close monitoring of gross margin including 

resource allocation and utilisation on 
services projects.

•  The costs within the business are closely 

monitored to ensure they remain in line with 
the growth trajectory, and cash flow outlook, 
of the business.

Continuing investor confidence
Access to future capital may be required as 
the business develops. 

Growing market capitalisation and good 
investor relations coverage will be viewed 
positively by existing and potential customers.

•  Clearly defined medium and long-term 

strategy.

•  Regular meetings with investors as part of 

the financial results reporting cycle.

• 

Improved communication to articulate 
business performance and strategy.

Dependence on key customers
The Group has a concentrated customer 
base, many of which are substantially larger 
enterprises than the Group. The Group 
is reliant on significant projects with its 
key customers to deliver financial results. 
The conversion of opportunities to signed 
contracts and then the subsequent timing of 
the projects is not fully under the control of the 
Group. 

•  The Group’s management performs regular 

reviews of the opportunity pipeline, including 
critical stages to complete the larger deals 
with status reported at Board meetings.

• 

Increase the breadth of the opportunity 
pipeline through recruitment of more 
quota-carrying sales and pre-sales personnel.

•  The Group continues to invest in the 

key customer relationships that it has 
successfully retained over many years, while 
also maintaining a strategy to extend and 
diversify its customer base.

28

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Principal risk and impact

Mitigation of risk

Change

Strategy

Customer satisfaction and retention 
The subscription model is attractive to some 
customers as it provides flexibility and reduces 
the initial investment required to adopt the 
IQGeo Platform. Poor customer satisfaction 
would impact renewal of subscription and 
maintenance and support contracts. 

Expansion of additional users and new products 
is anticipated within our typical customer 
lifecycle. This strategy would be limited in the 
event of poor customer satisfaction.

Barriers to entry into the market are high with 
proof of delivery in customer environments 
essential. The Group operates in a market with 
a small number of significant customers and 
reputational damage through poor customer 
satisfaction could be significant.

Additionally, poor customer satisfaction could 
result in delays in the timing of customer 
payments which would reduce the working 
capital available to the Group.

Technological risk
The Group operates in an industry where 
competitive advantage is heavily dependent 
on technology. Technological development 
may reduce the importance of the Group’s 
function in the market.

Slower adaption of disruptive technologies 
within the markets we operate will impact 
on revenue unless the benefits of the IQGeo 
Platform are clearly communicated.

Coronavirus Covid-19 or other pandemics
The ability to build pipeline, develop 
opportunities and service customers 
needs direct customer interaction which 
is often most effective on a face to face 
basis requiring travel. The ability to travel 
is, and may further, be impacted by travel 
restrictions. Key trade shows may also 
be cancelled. 

Customer decision-making may be delayed 
by operational priorities or a broader 
economic downturn. 

IQGeo’s offices and those of its customers may 
be affected by temporary quarantine measures. 

Global economic downturn caused by virus 
spread may slow down investment plans for 
IQGeo target customers. 

Key 

•  Maintain regular communications 

with customers.

•  Ensure appropriate level of resources are 

applied to key customer accounts.

•  Deal with issues quickly through a clear 

escalation path.

• 

Investment in product enhancements with 
a focus on understanding customer needs. 

•  Regular monitoring of the industry and 

advances through participation in research 
forums.

•  Review of the product roadmap by the 

Board to ensure competitiveness.

•  Continued investment in technologies that 

meet customer needs.

•  Monitoring of planned R&D to ensure 

resources are allocated to deliver advances 
that are aligned to the Group strategy, linking 
investment to commercial viability and return 
on investment.

•  Maintain regular communications 

with customers. 

•  Visit customers as normal where travel 

policy allows. 

•  Be aware of potential impact to 

customer operations. 

•  Maintain Cloud based infrastructure for 

IQGeo’s IT systems. 

• 

Implement travel and quarantine policy for 
staff as well as comprehensive work from 
home capabilities in the event of extended 
office closures. 

•  Pipeline and forecast will be risk weighted 
appropriately to reflect impact of virus.

Increase

Decrease

No change

New

Regional growth

Transition to subscription

Product innovation

29

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal risks and uncertainties continued

Operational risks

Principal risk and impact

Mitigation of risk

Change

Staff recruitment and retention
The Group’s success is substantially dependent 
upon recruiting, retaining and incentivising senior 
management and key technically skilled employees, 
the loss of whom could have an adverse impact on 
the performance of the business.

Legal and regulatory breaches
The Group is required to comply with local laws, 
regulations and legislation in each jurisdiction in 
which it operates. These include compliance with 
financial reporting and conduct requirements, Health 
& Safety, Data Protection and anti-Bribery rules.

Failure to comply with local laws may result in the 
cessation of the ability to trade in that jurisdiction, 
fines or the allocation of resources to perform 
corrective actions. 

International trade
On 31 January 2020, the UK left the European Union. 
The risks include a potential increase in the level of 
market volatility and barriers to trade between the 
UK and the EU following the end of the transition 
arrangements on 31 December 2020.

The Group is exposed to economic downturn within 
the markets in which it operates.

Digital infrastructure and cyber security
Breaches of the Group’s digital security through 
cyber attacks or otherwise, or failure of the Group’s 
digital infrastructure, could seriously disrupt 
operations, including the provision of customer 
services and result in the loss or misuse of sensitive 
information, legal or regulatory breaches resulting in 
potential liability, and reputational damage among 
the customer base leading to a decline in revenues.

•  The Group has in place appropriate incentive 
structures to attract and retain the calibre of 
employees necessary to ensure the efficient 
development and management of the Group.

•  The Group has implemented Employer of 

Choice initiatives including career planning 
and organisational development.

•  Succession planning in key positions across the 

business functions.

•  The Group monitors new developments taking input 

from local advisers.

•  The Group regularly reviews its processes to ensure 

that the risk of default is minimised.

•  The Group maintains Privacy Shield accreditation 
allowing for the sharing of personnel information 
between the US and EU.

• 

IQGeo Germany GmbH, a German based 
subsidiary of IQGeo Group plc, will contract 
with new customers based in the European Union.

•  The Group’s customer sales are spread across 
multiple territories which will partially mitigate 
against a downturn in any one region.

•  The Group continues to invest in resources in 

enhancing site resilience and defences, improving 
network monitoring and reviewing the incident 
response processes to mitigate the impact of a 
security breach.

•  The Group ensures all employees receive training 

and testing to improve their awareness of 
cyber-threats.

•  Short and medium-term cyber security plans are 

regularly reviewed by the Board.

30

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Financial risks

Principal risk and impact

Mitigation of risk

Change

Clawback in respect of RTLS SmartSpace sale
On 31 December 2018, the Group disposed of its 
RTLS SmartSpace business. The sale agreement 
included a number of warranties which would allow 
the new owners of the RTLS SmartSpace business 
to clawback consideration paid, should additional 
liabilities crystallise at a later date.

Taxation
The Group operates globally and is exposed to 
international tax laws. Changes to taxation legislation 
would have an adverse impact on the working capital 
and profitability of the Group.

Foreign exchange risk
The Group’s international operations expose it to a 
number of risks that include the effect of changes in 
foreign currency exchange rates. A major proportion 
of the Group’s receivables and payables is currently 
denominated in Canadian Dollars and US Dollars.

•  The Group has worked extensively with external 

advisers in concluding the transaction.

•  The Group reviews local compliance and upcoming 

changes to legislation with its advisers and 
continues to update forecasts accordingly.

•  The Group relies on a partial natural hedge of 
Canadian Dollar, US Dollar and Japanese Yen 
receivables being in the same currency as the local 
operation’s payables.

•  The Group’s working capital is forecast and 

monitored in the local currency of each subsidiary 
allowing the foreign currency exposure across the 
Group to be reviewed.

Financial reporting risk
In preparing the financial statements, the Group 
makes accounting estimates that have a significant 
risk of causing material adjustment to the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year. These judgements are detailed further 
in note 3 to the financial statements and include 
revenue recognition and product development costs.

• 

In forming our accounting judgements, 
management discuss estimates with internal 
experts within the IQGeo Group to ensure all 
relevant facts are understood. 

•  The underlying fact pattern and conclusions 

reached in making accounting judgements are 
discussed in detail with the Audit Committee of 
the Group.

All risks reported in the prior year are still considered to be risks and are reported above. 

The Strategic Report was approved by the Board of Directors on 6 March 2020 and signed on its behalf by:

Tim Gingell
Chief Financial Officer
6 March 2020

Key 

Increase

Decrease

No change

New

31

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
Environment, employee engagement and CSR

2019 was a turning point for the business 
and it showed in nearly every aspect of 
employee experience.

Environment 
Acting with environmental responsibility 
is part of IQGeo’s daily activity and we 
take steps to reduce our impact on the 
environment where we can. We have 
significantly decreased the amount of 
printed material and plastic used across 
all of our offices. For example, our 2019 
Annual Meet-up was a plastic-free event, 
providing reusable water bottles for 
all delegates to avoid the use of plastic 
cups and bottles. We have also given 
all employees these reusable bottles 
to help reduce the purchase of plastic 
water bottles across our offices. For all 
events that we attend, we have cut the 
use of printed materials and developed 
an online app for people to order digital 
collateral that is delivered as a PDF. 

For environmental and financial reasons, 
we seek to minimise business travel 
to save costs and reduce the carbon 
footprint of the organisation. We look for 
opportunities to conduct internal and 
external business meetings via conference 
calls whenever possible and, when we 
do travel, we seek to maximise our onsite 
activities in order to reduce future travel 
requirements. In 2020 we will be looking 
to further expand our environmental 
programmes and initiatives. 

Employee engagement 
2019 was a turning point for the 
business and it showed in nearly 
every aspect of employee experience. 
Our recent staff survey showed a 
surge in energy and confidence that 
followed our new product line vision 
and go-to-market strategy. 

We continue to provide key elements to 
staff that support our Employer of Choice 
initiative, including

• 

Interesting and challenging work 
with new products such as Network 
Manager and engagement with 
exciting new customers

•  Career development having 

promoted ten employees and 
transferring three into new roles with 
other departments

•  Recognition during our all-hands 

meetings when we thank members 
of staff for outstanding achievement 

IQGeo global staff distribution

Key statistics

People profiles

8.30

Employees would recommend 
working at IQGeo – 8.30/10

41

8.38

Employees feel IQGeo’s strategy 
and objectives are clear – 8.38/10

8.96

Employees feel IQGeo has a 
strong teamwork ethos – 8.96/10

Canada

Japan

8.84

Employees feel IQGeo operates 
with integrity – 8.84/10 

8.30

Employees feel IQGeo is 
focused on innovation – 8.30/10 

Derek Kern 
Director of Research

Denver, Colorado, USA 

Started working with the business in 2002. 

Derek is an expert in system architecture, 
software engineering, high performance 
computing, Artificial Intelligence and has a 
passion for assimilating and understanding 
new technology. As Director of Research, 
Derek discovers, experiments with, and 
evaluates next generation technologies for 
possible integration into IQGeo products. 
His goal is to solve difficult problems for our 
customers using the latest technology.

What excites you most about IQGeo?  
Our persistent desire to solve the next 
issue that our customers will experience. 
At IQGeo everyone is motivated, 
knowledgeable and friendly, making it 
a fantastic place to work. 

What’s your favourite thing to do 
outside work?  
Reading, snowboarding, hiking and travel 
are all passions of mine. 

34

4

17

Key 

USA

UK

Germany

32

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
People profiles

•  Community engagement through 
our corporate social responsibility 
activities (see below) has greatly 
improved a sense of collaboration, 
with Teamwork being ranked as 
the most important value in our 
staff survey

IQGeo employees are highly 
engaged and proud of the work being 
accomplished. The annual survey shows 
that managers are getting even better 
at communicating, and most staff would 
recommend IQGeo to their friends and 
colleagues as a great place to work. 
Top values identified by the staff in 
addition to Teamwork include Integrity, 
Staff Development and Customer Focus. 
With these ideals resonating with our 
people, we will see even more success 
as we move into 2020.

Corporate social responsibility 
One of our key tenets as an Employer 
of Choice is to demonstrate corporate 
social responsibility. By demonstrating 
how the Company contributes to 
society at large, we will further attract 
and retain high quality talent that 
makes us successful. Our products and 
services help customers keep millions 
of households safe and provide them 
with safer, greener and more affordable 
mobile, broadband, gas, water and 
electricity services. Knowing that our 
products are also helping communities 
that have been hit by disasters to rebuild 
and get back on their feet is important 
and rewarding for everyone at IQGeo. 
Our work is benefiting both the business 
and the communities in which we live. 

We continue to offer each employee the 
opportunity to participate in their local 
community by taking one day a year of 
paid leave to assist with a charity of their 
choice. This effort is helping to create 
stronger employee engagement as 
shown in our Annual Employee Survey. 
In 2020 we’re adding charitable giving 
schemes in the UK and the US that give 
employees the opportunity to make 
donations from their pre-tax pay to local 
or international charities of their choice. 

Tasneem Jodhpurwala 
Solution architect

Cambridge, UK

Yukari Goto 
Sales manager

Tokyo, Japan

Michael Schoenstein 
Director for Utility Solutions – EU

Frankfurt, Germany

Started working with the business in 2013. 

Started working with the business in 2002. 

Started working with the business in 2019.

Tasneem’s expertise lies in front-end 
software development, programming 
in JavaScript, HTML, CSS and Python. 
She is an expert at creating intuitive and 
simple-to-use user interfaces.

What excites you most about IQGeo?  
It's great to work in a dynamic team. 
We are always coming up with new 
ideas. What’s exciting about working on 
our product is that the work I do today is 
going to be used in the field in only a few 
months’ time. IQGeo is changing the way 
people work; improving their day-to-day 
lives by making them quicker and more 
efficient. One of the joys of working in a 
small company is that you get visibility and 
accolades for the work you do very quickly. 

What’s your favourite thing to do 
outside work?  
Travelling the world and looking after my 
house plants.

Yukari’s expertise lies in providing GIS 
consultancy services to telecoms and utility 
network providers. She has more than ten 
years’ experience working with geospatial 
solutions.

What excites you most about IQGeo?  
It is great to be part of the global IQGeo 
team. On a local level we are really 
starting to make a big impact on Japanese 
infrastructure companies and that is very 
exciting for us. 

What’s your favourite thing to do 
outside work?  
Hot yoga and enjoying delicious sake and 
fish from all over Japan.

Michael has more than 25 years of 
experience in the geospatial business, 
working with utilities and infrastructure 
management software solutions. His 
expertise lies in business development, 
professional services and account 
management. As Director for Utility 
Solutions in Europe, he is responsible for the 
growth of IQGeo’s business in this industry.

What excites you most about IQGeo?  
The knowledge and enthusiasm of IQGeo’s 
great team that has the skills, commitment 
and creativity to solve our customers’ 
business issues. It’s great to be part of an 
international team, working closely across 
cultures to share practices and experiences 
and help deliver innovative, powerful 
solutions worldwide. 

What’s your favourite thing to do 
outside work?  
I love race cycling, mountain biking and 
wind surfing. I live in the south of Germany, 
so love to spend time in the Alps.

33

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Section 172 statement

As required by Section 172 of the UK’s Companies Act, 
a director of a company must act in the way he or she 
considers, in good faith, would most likely promote the 
success of the company for the benefit of its shareholders. 

In doing this, the director must have regard, amongst other 
matters, to the following issues

•  The company’s reputation for high standards of 

business conduct

•  Likely consequences of any decisions in the long term

•  Need to act fairly between members of the company

• 

Interests of the company’s employees

•  Need to foster the company’s business relationships with 

suppliers, customers and others

• 

Impact of the company’s operations on the community 
and environment

Engagement with stakeholders and consideration of their 
respective interests in the Company’s decision-making 
process took place during the year as described below.

Shareholders

Customers

Following the separation from the RTLS business, 
the Company engaged on a detailed review of use cases 
with its customers, identifying opportunities for product 
development and clarifying the competitive advantage that 
IQGeo has in its chosen target vertical markets.

In October, the Company held its annual 'IQGeo Meet-up' 
in Denver to which many of its customers and prospects 
attended to share their experiences and successes, as 
well as learn about future product development plans. 
In addition, the Chair attended the IQGeo Meet-up, 
engaging directly with the customers and partners there, 
whilst the rest of the Board reviewed the video use cases 
captured at the event. 

The Board gained insights on customers, other than via 
the Executive Directors, through Board meeting sessions 
through the year dedicated to North America from the GM 
Jay Cadman and then at a separate meeting focused on 
Europe and Japan from the GM Christian Wirth. 

During the year, and alongside the updated website, 
a regular email update was sent to interested investors and 
prospective investors to provide insights on the Company’s 
progress and achievements.

The primary mechanism for engaging with shareholders 
in more depth is via the annual cycle of investor meetings 
associated with financial results for the half year and the 
full year, and the AGM. In addition, in 2019, Paul Taylor, 
the newly confirmed permanent Chair, together with 
another Non-Executive Director, consulted with larger 
investors on some of the details of the proposed capital 
return and Company strategy, both informally and via the 
General Meeting.

Investors showed their support of the Board and the 
Company’s strategy with all votes cast in favour of the 
resolutions at the General Meeting and the Annual 
General Meeting, apart from one resolution at the AGM. 
For the first time, at the 2019 AGM, all Directors were put 
up for re-election, which is a practice that the Company 
plans to continue. One shareholder voted against the 
re-appointment of Oliver Scott in line with the advice 
from an institutional governance report as Remuneration 
Committees should be formed of independent 
Non-Executive Directors. The Company recognised and fully 
disclosed this matter in its 2018 Annual Report noting that, 
whilst Oliver Scott was not independent given his position at 
Kestrel, his perspective representing shareholders together 
with his broad business experience with smaller listed 
companies, and the reality of the size and skills of IQGeo’s 
Board meant that the Board felt that it was appropriate that 
he was the Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

Other than the capital return project, the main topics of 
discussion with shareholders were focused on the strategic 
shift to a subscription revenue model, the outlook on cash 
flow and the desire, in due course when management was 
comfortable, for market forecasts to be issued.

34

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Employees

We have an experienced, diverse and dedicated workforce 
which we recognise as a key asset of our business. 
Therefore, it is important that we continue to create the right 
environment to encourage and create opportunities for 
individuals and teams to realise their full potential.

The Board and management team pay close attention to the 
results of the employee survey carried out annually in the 
fourth quarter, taking note of trends and developments and 
creating action plans to address any issues arising. 

2019 was such a key transition year for employees in terms 
of the shape and strategy of the business, that many of the 
Cambridge-based employees from the finance and IT teams 
came to the IQGeo Meet-up to improve their understanding 
of our business and engage with customers directly.

In 2019, the Denver-based staff were consulted on the 
options available for, and design of, new office space as 
the existing lease will end on 30 April 2020.

Community and 
the environment

Being a software company, the Company tries to minimise 
its impact on the environment through a number of 
measures, including the following

•  Providing products to customers to improve the safety 

of their operations (particularly to reduce the risk of gas 
explosions), and restore service after storm damage 
(specifically in 2019, following Typhoons Faxai and 
Hagibis in Japan)

•  Supporting its customers in improving their collaboration 

and productivity, thereby reducing travel and waste

•  Providing public transport season tickets to 

Denver-based staff

35

3. 1. Strategic report2. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Board of Directors

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for 
the Group. Its aim is to provide the leadership and 
industry-specific insight required to develop a successful 
business, through utilising the broad range of skills and 
experience of the Board members.

Key 

A

R

N

Audit 
Committee

Chair of 
Committee

*

I

Independent

Remuneration 
Committee

Nomination 
Committee

*

A

NR

Paul Taylor 
Chair 
Experience
Paul Taylor spent over 21 years with AVEVA Group plc and was Group Finance Director 
from 2001 to 2011. Paul is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants 
and was recipient of the FTSE 250 Finance Director of the Year in 2008. Paul was 
appointed to the IQGeo (then Ubisense) Board on 28 February 2011. Previously, 
Paul was a non-executive director of Anite plc, KBC Advanced Technologies plc, 
Escher Group Holdings plc and Frontier Smart Technologies Group Ltd. 

Other appointments 
Paul now serves as a non-executive director of Thruvision Group plc and Trustee of 
CADCentre Pension Fund.

Richard Petti
Chief Executive Officer
Experience
Richard Petti brings 25 years of experience in developing market leading businesses 
for automotive, financial and industrial customers. He was previously CEO of Asset 
Control, a supplier of data management systems to leading financial institutions, and 
COO at WEMA, a leading provider of sensors to commercial vehicle manufacturers. 
Richard joined the IQGeo (then Ubisense) Board on 14 December 2016.

Other appointments 
None.

Tim Gingell
Chief Financial Officer
Experience
Tim has over 25 years of commercial and financial experience across software, 
wireless and telecoms industries. At IQGeo, Tim has rebuilt the balance sheet through 
disposals, organisation restructuring, re-negotiating debt finance and closing two 
fund raising rounds on London’s AIM stock market and positioned the business for 
software-led growth. He has been a member of the IQGeo (then Ubisense) Board 
since 9 August 2016. Tim held leadership positions at i2/IBM, The Cloud Networks 
and MFS/WorldCom.

Other appointments 
None.

36

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
*N

Dr. Robert Sansom
Non-Executive Director
Experience
Dr. Robert Sansom co-founded and was CTO of FORE Systems, acquired by 
Marconi for $4.5 billion in 1999. Robert joined the IQGeo (then Ubisense) Board on 
16 December 2005. He co-founded and was Chairman of the Cambridge Angels 
from 2001 to 2010. Robert was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineers 
in 2010.

Other appointments 
Robert is a non-executive director to enterprises including Arachnys Information 
Services Ltd, Myrtle Software Ltd, Featurespace Ltd, Camfed International, 
Cambridge Communication Systems Ltd, CRFS Ltd and Netronome Inc. 

I

RA

Ian Kershaw
Non-Executive Director
Experience
Ian has over 30 years’ strategy, engineering and operations experience in 
the telecoms, utilities and manufacturing industries. He was appointed as a 
Non-Executive Director to the IQGeo (then Ubisense) Board on 23 May 2014. 
Previously, Ian was executive chairman of Coryton Advanced Fuels, the transport 
fuels specialists, and a director of Ricardo UK Ltd., the engineering consultants.

Other appointments 
Ian is also a non-executive director of Surface Generation Ltd.

*R

Max Royde
Non-Executive Director
Experience
Max co-founded Kestrel in 2009. He joined the IQGeo Board on 31 October 2019. 
Max has been advising and investing in quoted and unquoted UK smaller companies 
since 1998 and prior to Kestrel was a managing director of KBC Peel Hunt.

Other appointments 
Max is also a fund manager of Kestrel Opportunities, sits on the Investment 
Committee for KITS and is a non-executive Director of Ingenta PLC.

I

Andy MacLeod
Non-Executive Director
Experience
Andy is a professional non-executive director and industry consultant after recently 
retiring from Vodafone Group as Regional Technology Director for the Africa, Middle 
East and Asia-Pacific Region. Prior to that he was Vodafone’s Group Chief Networks 
Officer and CTO of Verizon Wireless in the US. Since the early 1990s he has held CEO, 
COO and CTO positions at major telecommunications companies and has gained 
extensive public and private experience as a Director on the Boards of companies 
such as Eircom, Indus Towers, Vodafone Italy and Vodafone Australia. Andy was 
appointed to the IQGeo Board on 21 June 2019. Andy holds an MA degree in Materials 
Science from Keble College, Oxford and an MBA from Warwick Business School, and 
was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2014.

Other appointments 
Andy is currently a non-executive director of Gfinity PLC.

37

3. 2. Corporate governance1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
Corporate governance report

On 8 March 2018, the London Stock Exchange published AIM Notice 50 
outlining corporate governance practices. In accordance with the guidance, 
the Group has adopted the Quoted Company Alliance’s (QCA) Corporate 
Governance Code for Small and Mid-Sized Quoted Companies.

Principle 1:

Establish a strategy and 
business model which 
promotes long-term 
value for shareholders
IQGeo has defined the telecoms and 
utility industries as its target vertical 
markets. The business strategy 
is to develop and sell its highly 
innovative geospatial productivity 
and collaboration software to these 
industries, transforming the customers' 
ability to plan, design, install and service 
networks including 5G, fibre, coaxial, 
electricity, gas and water.

Principle 2:

The Group is focused on a three-point 
strategy to achieve the goal of building 
a fast-growing and cash generative 
business.

Regional growth
• 

Increase the number of new logos or 
customers signed in our key markets

•  Build commercial partnerships to 

address specific markets or use-cases

• 

Increase the Annual Contracted Value 
received from each existing customer 
for IQGeo’s products whilst managing 
down the legacy third party service 
business

Transition to subscription
• 

Increase the number of new customers 
establishing subscription contracts

•  Create subscription-only product 
offerings to maximise annual 
recurring revenue 

•  Build and retain a significant recurring 

Annual Contracted Value (ACV) 
order base enabling the business 
to generate positive cash flow

Product innovation
•  Develop customer-driven product 
roadmaps solving enterprise-level 
business challenges

•  Further develop the modular software 
platform addressing known customer 
issues

•  Clearly establish with customers the 
short-term and long-term benefits 
that IQGeo products will deliver

Seek to understand 
and meet shareholder 
expectations
The Company maintains a dedicated 
contact form which is prominently 
displayed on its website together with the 
Company’s address and phone number 
for investors to use.

The Company holds an Annual General 
Meeting (AGM) to which all members 
are invited. During the AGM, time is set 
aside specifically to allow questions 
from attending members to any 
Board member. As the Company is 
too small to have a dedicated investor 
relations department, the Chair and 
CEO are responsible for reviewing all 

communications received from members 
and determining the most appropriate 
response, engaging the executive 
team and Board as needed. In addition 
to these passive measures, the CEO 
typically engages with members through 
investor roadshows held at least twice 
each year following the release of results.

Principle 3:

Take into account wider 
stakeholder and social 
responsibilities and 
their implications for 
long-term success
In addition to members, the Company 
believes its main stakeholder groups are 
its employees and customers.

The Company devotes significant time 
to understanding and acting on the 
needs and requirements of these two 
groups through dedicated meetings and 
activities designed to obtain feedback 
directly from the stakeholders.

38

With regard to corporate social 
responsibility (CSR), IQGeo is engaged 
in a range of CSR programmes through 
corporate activities sponsored by 
its regional offices. The Company 
encourages employees to participate in 
local activities by giving each employee 
an annual charity day to volunteer for 
an organisation of their choice. In 2020 
IQGeo is also rolling out a charitable 
giving initiative that allows employees 
to financially support local and 
international charities through direct 
payroll contributions. 

IQGeo believes that participation in CSR 
activities is a fundamental responsibility 
of the Company. It encourages the 
personal development of employees and 
greater community integration, which 
helps contribute to the long-term success 
of the Company by creating a more 
experienced, passionate and productive 
workforce.

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Principle 4:

Embed effective 
risk management, 
considering both 
opportunities and 
threats, throughout 
the organisation
Risk management on pages 28 to 31 of 
our 2019 Annual Report details risks to 
the business, how these are mitigated 
and the change in identified risks over 
the last reporting period.

The Board considers risk to the 
business at every Board meeting and 
the risk register is regularly reviewed. 
The Company formally reviews and 
documents the principal risks to the 
business at least annually.

Both the Board and senior managers are 
responsible for reviewing and evaluating 
risk and the Executive Directors meet at 

Principle 5:

Maintain the Board 
as a well-functioning, 
balanced team led by 
the Chair
The Company is controlled by the Board 
of Directors. The Board comprises the 
Non-Executive Chair, four Non-Executive 
Directors and two Executive Directors. 
The Non-Executive Chair is responsible 
for running the Board and Richard Petti, 
the Chief Executive, has responsibility 
for running the Group’s business and 
implementing Group strategy.

The Non-Executive Directors are 
required to be available to attend 
Board meetings and to deal with both 
regular and ad-hoc matters and they 
are expected to commit sufficient time 
to fully discharge their responsibilities. 
All Non-Executive Directors have 
confirmed and demonstrated that they 
have adequate time available to meet 
the requirements of the role and that 
they have no conflicts.

Executive Directors work full time in the 
business and have no other significant 
outside business commitments.

All Directors receive regular and timely 
information on the Group’s operational 
and financial performance. Relevant 
information is circulated to the Directors 
in advance of meetings.

least monthly to review ongoing trading 
performance and discuss budgets, 
forecasts and new risks associated with 
ongoing trading.

•  Budgetary control over all operations, 

measuring performance against 
pre-determined targets on at least 
a monthly basis

Internal control
The Board of Directors has overall 
responsibility for the Group’s system 
of internal control and for reviewing 
its effectiveness. The risk management 
process and systems of internal control 
are designed to manage, rather than 
eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve 
the Group’s objectives. It should be 
recognised that such systems can only 
provide reasonable, but not absolute, 
assurance against material misstatement 
or loss. The Directors acknowledge their 
responsibilities for the Group’s system 
of internal control and for reviewing its 
effectiveness. The principal features of 
the system of internal financial controls 
include the following

•  Regular forecasting and reviews 

covering trading performance, assets, 
liabilities, headcount and cash flows

•  Authority covering key financial 
commitments including, but 
not necessarily limited to, 
capital expenditure, office lease 
commitments and recruitment

• 

Identification and management 
of key business risks

The Board continually reviews the 
effectiveness of other internal controls, 
including financial, operational, 
and compliance controls and risk 
management.

The Board is satisfied that it has a 
suitable balance between independence 
and knowledge of the business to 
allow it to discharge its duties and 
responsibilities effectively but will 
continue to review the composition 
of the Board regularly.

The Board holds full meetings at least ten 
times per year, with attendance required 
in person whenever possible.

The principal matters that it considers 
are as follows

•  Reviewing operating and financial 

performance

•  Ensuring that appropriate 

management development and 
succession plans are in place

•  Determining corporate strategy, 

including consideration and approval 
of the Company’s annual strategy 
review

•  Consideration of dividend policy

•  Approving and accepting all new 

committed funding facilities

•  Approving and accepting major 
changes in the capital structure 
of the Company

•  Reviewing the health and safety, 
and environmental performance 
of the Group

•  Approving corporate acquisitions, 

mergers, divestments, joint ventures 
and major capital expenditure

•  Receiving, reviewing and approving 
recommendations by the designated 
committee on matters related to 
audit, nominations and remuneration

16 Board meetings were held in 2019.

Attendance at the meetings was as 
follows:

Total meetings attended 

Peter Harverson 

Paul Taylor 

Richard Petti 

Tim Gingell 

Robert Sansom 

Ian Kershaw 

Oliver Scott 

Andy MacLeod 

0 (2)

15 (16)

16 (16)

16 (16)

13 (16)

13 (16)

11 (13)

 5 (8)

3 (3)

•  Reviewing and approving formal 

Max Royde 

treasury policies relating to funding, 
liquidity, transactional foreign 
exchange and interest rate risk 
management

Figures in brackets denote the maximum 
number of meetings that could have 
been attended by that person.

39

3. 2. Corporate governance1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Corporate governance report continued

The Board is satisfied that, between 
the Directors, it has significant industry, 
financial, public markets and governance 
experience, possessing the necessary 
mix of experience, skills, personal 
qualities and capabilities to deliver the 
strategy of the Company for the benefit 
of the shareholders over the medium to 
long term.

The roles of the Chair and CEO are split 
in accordance with best practice. The 
Chair has responsibility of ensuring that 
the Board discharges its responsibilities 
and is also responsible for facilitating full 
and constructive contributions from each 
member of the Board in determination 
of the Group’s strategy and overall 
commercial objectives. The CEO leads 
the business and the executive team 
ensuring that strategic and commercial 
objectives are met. He is accountable 
to the Board for the operational and 
financial performance of the business.

Board members are appointed with 
full consideration of the knowledge 
and skills that they will contribute to the 
Board and are aligned to the needs of 
the Company at that time. The Chair 
ensures that full consideration of the 
development of the Board is addressed 
by reviewing the Board composition 
annually in consultation with the other 
Board members. The Board, through its 
Remuneration Committee, ensures that 
appropriate annual performance targets 
are set for Executive Board members.

The Board believes that the promotion 
of a corporate culture based on sound 
ethical values and behaviours is essential 
to maximise shareholder value. These 
values are reinforced with employees 
by the management team through 
annual business review sessions and 
form the cornerstone of the employee 
performance review process. 

The Nomination Committee of the 
Board oversees the process and makes 
recommendations to the Board on all 
new Board appointments. Where new 
Board appointments are considered 
the search for candidates is conducted, 
and appointments are made, on merit, 
against objective criteria and with due 
regard for the benefits of diversity on 
the Board, including gender.

The Nomination Committee also 
considers succession planning.

The Board carries out an evaluation of 
its performance annually; taking into 
account the Financial Reporting Council’s 
Guidance on Board Effectiveness.

The Chair routinely reviews the 
management and performance of the 
Board Committees and will address 
any performance concerns directly 
with the Chair of, and/or participants of, 
that Committee. 

The ethical standards at IQGeo are a 
key factor in the evaluation of individual 
performance and that of the entire 
Company.

Principle 6:

Ensure that between 
them the Directors 
have the necessary 
up-to-date experience, 
skills and capabilities
The Board of Directors has overall 
responsibility for the Group. Its aim 
is to provide the leadership and 
industry-specific insight required to 
develop a successful business, through 
utilising the broad range of skills and 
experience of the Board members.

Principle 7:

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

Principle 8:

Promote a corporate 
culture that is based 
on ethical values and 
behaviours

40

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Principle 9:

Maintain governance 
structures and 
processes that are fit 
for purpose and support 
good decision making by 
the Board
The Board of IQGeo Group plc currently 
comprises two Executive Directors, 
one Non-Executive Chair and four 
Non-Executive Directors. For now, 
the Board considers its composition 
appropriate given the size of the 
Company, its revenues and profitability.

The key Board roles are as follows

•  Chair: The primary responsibility 
of the Chair is to lead the Board 
effectively and to oversee 
the adoption, delivery, and 
communication of the Company’s 
corporate governance model. The 
Chair has sufficient separation from 
the day-to-day business to be able 
to make independent decisions. 
The Chair is also responsible 
for making sure that the Board 
agenda concentrates on the key 
issues, both operational and 
financial, with regular reviews of the 
Company’s strategy and its overall 
implementation

Principle 10:

Communicate how the 
Company is governed 
and is performing by 
maintaining a dialogue 
with other relevant 
stakeholders

The Company views shareholders, 
customers, employees and the wider 
community as the key stakeholders. 

The Company communicates with its 
shareholders through regular emails, 
the Annual Report and Accounts, 
full-year and half-year announcements, 
the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 
one-to-one meetings with existing and 
prospective shareholders.

•  CEO: Charged with the delivery of the 
business model within the strategy 
set by the Board. Works with the 
Chair and Non-Executive Directors 
in an open and transparent way. 
Keeps the Chair and Board up to 
date with operational performance, 
opportunities, risks, and other issues 
to ensure that the business remains 
aligned with its key objectives

The Board has three sub-committees 
as follows

•  Audit Committee: See Audit 

Committee report for further details

•  Remuneration Committee: 

See Remuneration Committee 
report for further details

•  Nomination Committee: 

The Nomination Committee 
will consider the selection and 
re-appointment of Board members

The Nomination Committee has 
responsibility for the following matters

• 

Identifying and recommending to 
the Board candidates to fill Board 
vacancies

•  Ensuring Non-Executive Directors 

are able to make the necessary time 
commitments to fulfil their role

•  Ensuring Non-Executive Directors 
receive letters of appointment, 
detailing their responsibilities

•  Making recommendations to 

the Board about the appointment, 
removal or continuation in office 
of any Director

During the period under review, 
the Nomination Committee has met four 
times on a formal basis. The Nomination 
Committee is expected to meet formally 
twice a year. A summary of Nomination 
Committee composition and attendance 
was as follows:

Total meetings attended 

Robert Sansom (Chair) 

4 (4)

4 (4)

•  Reviewing the size and composition 

Paul Taylor 

of the Board to ensure that an 
appropriate mix of skills, knowledge 
and experience is achieved

•  Succession planning for the Board 
and other key management roles

The Company keenly engages with 
customers on their use of the products 
and their desire for future potential 
development. The Company consults 
with customers on opportunities for 
exploiting, or expanding, features and 
functions of their existing deployment to 
gain the benefits of further productivity 
and collaboration.

Each year the Company holds a two-day 
customer conference called the IQGeo 
Meet-up. During this interactive event, 
customers share their challenges and 
experiences with IQGeo products and 
engage in workshops and networking 
activities that promote collaboration 
with IQGeo and between customers. 
This provides an opportunity for the 
IQGeo team to learn directly from our 
customers and integrate their input into 
our product development roadmap and 
service offering.

The Company engages with employees 
on a regular basis through all-hands 
meetings, performance reviews 
and employee surveys. There is a 
well-established internal communication 
process that provides employees with the 
latest product development, sales, IT and 
HR information, and essential corporate 
resources are made available to all 
employees on an internal IQGeo portal. 

The Board invites senior management to 
attend specific Board meetings to discuss 
in detail aspects of performance and 
to gain greater insight on operations. 
Members of the Board visit the Denver 
and Cambridge offices from time to time 
on an informal basis to talk to staff and 
join Company events where appropriate 
and possible.

41

3. 2. Corporate governance1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Audit Committee report

The Committee continues to be satisfied 
that a robust and effective control 
environment exists.

The Audit Committee consists of the 
Chair and an independent Non-Executive 
Director, who between them have a 
balance of financial experience and 
business knowledge. There were no 
changes to the Committee membership 
during the year.

During the period under review, the 
Committee has met five times on a 
formal basis. The Committee is expected 
to meet formally four times a year.

The timing of meetings allows the 
Audit Committee to consider the 
external auditor’s planned approach 
to the half-year interim review and 
full-year audit of the Annual Report. 
The Committee discusses the auditor’s 
findings ahead of the financial 
statements being approved for release. 
When appropriate, non-Committee 
members are invited to attend, including 
the Chief Financial Officer and members 
of the finance team.

As part of its procedures, the 
Committee discusses the interim and 
annual financial statements with the 
external auditor. When appropriate, 
non-Committee members are invited 
to attend. 

A summary of Committee composition 
and attendance is as follows:

In accordance with its terms of reference, 
the Audit Committee has responsibility 
for the following matters

•  Financial reporting

•  Monitor the integrity of the 

financial statements of the Group, 
reviewing any significant reporting 
issues and judgements they 
contain

•  Advise on the clarity of disclosure 
and information contained in the 
Annual Report and Accounts

•  Ensure compliance with applicable 
accounting standards and review 
the consistency of methodology 
applied 

•  External audit

•  Recommending appointment, 
re-appointment or removal of 
the external auditors

•  Oversee the relationship with 

the external auditor, reviewing 
performance and advising 
the Board members on their 
appointment and remuneration 

•  Whistleblowing

•  Review of the Group’s 

whistleblowing policies 
and procedures

Audit Committee

• 

Internal control

Paul Taylor (Chair) 

Ian Kershaw 

5 (5)

5 (5)

•  Review management’s and the 
internal auditor’s reports on 
the effectiveness of systems for 
internal financial control, financial 
reporting and risk management; 
together with monitoring 
management’s responsiveness 
to their findings 

Activities of the Committee 
during the year
The Audit Committee has met with both 
the auditor and internal management 
during the year and discussed the 
following key matters

•  Presentation of the RTLS SmartSpace 
business unit disposal within the 2018 
Annual Report

•  The Group’s revenue recognition 

policies in respect of contracts sold 
under the subscription model

•  The resolution of significant 

accounting judgements or of matters 
raised by the external auditor during 
the course of their half-year review 
and annual statutory audit. These key 
matters are stated within the external 
auditor’s report included within this 
Annual Report

•  The external auditor’s report on any 
deficiencies in the internal controls 
of the Group identified during the 
statutory audit. IQGeo Group plc does 
not have an internal audit function 
and believes that given the size of the 
business, this remains appropriate

•  Assessment of the independence of 
the external auditor. As part of this 
review, the Committee monitors the 
provision of non-audit services by 
the external auditor. An analysis of 
non-audit services is disclosed in 
note 9 to the financial statements. 
The non-audit services charged 
by Grant Thornton in 2019 relate 
to the review of half-year results, 
the provision of tax advisory services, 
and review of the interim accounts 
required for the capital reduction of 
the Company. The Audit Committee 
was satisfied that safeguards are 
adequately observed to ensure no 
issues arise impacting upon the 
auditor’s independence

The Audit Committee has satisfied itself 
that the key areas discussed above have 
been addressed appropriately within 
the Annual Report and that the Group 
continues to work and communicate 
well together.

42

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Remuneration Committee report

The Committee focus on ensuring that 
Executive remuneration packages reflect 
the achievement of the Group’s strategy 
and sustained shareholder growth.

The Remuneration Committee has 
responsibility for the following matters

A summary of Committee composition 
and attendance is as follows:

•  Agreeing the framework for the 
Group’s remuneration policy for 
Directors and key management 
personnel, including determining 
individual remuneration policies for 
Executive Directors

•  Approving the design and targets for 
short and long-term incentive plans

•  Determining the policy and scope of 

pension arrangements

•  Ensuring contractual terms and 

payments made on termination are 
fair to both the individual and the 
Group

•  Agreeing the policy for authorising 
expense claims by the Chair and 
Chief Executive

The Committee aims to set levels of 
remuneration for Executive Directors 
that are sufficient to attract, retain 
and motivate Directors of the quality 
required, without paying more than 
necessary, and that are appropriate 
for the size and complexity of the 
Group. It aims to see that a significant 
proportion of each Executive 
Director’s remuneration package is 
performance-related.

During the period under review, the 
Committee has met three times on a 
formal basis. The Committee is expected 
to meet formally twice a year.

The Remuneration Committee comprises 
of Max Royde, Paul Taylor and Ian 
Kershaw, who are Non-Executive 
Directors of the Company. Max Royde 
replaced Oliver Scott as Remuneration 
Committee Chair on 31 October 2019. 

Remuneration Committee

Paul Taylor 

Ian Kershaw 

Oliver Scott  

Max Royde (Chair) 

3 (3)

3 (3)

3 (3)

0 (0)

Remuneration practice overview
The Committee believes in pay for 
performance and that Executive 
Directors’ remuneration should be 
designed to promote the long-term 
success of the Group. 

When reviewing and setting 
remuneration policy, the Committee 
benchmarks remuneration against 
quoted companies of a similar size and 
considers a range of factors including the 
Group’s strategy and circumstances, the 
prevailing economic environment and 
best practice guidelines. The policy must 
also enable IQGeo Group plc to attract, 
retain and motivate the talent it needs to 
ensure success.

The remuneration of the Non-Executive 
Directors is determined by the Executive 
Directors, and the Chair, rather than the 
Committee.

Remuneration of  
Executive Directors
The Executive Directors are entitled to 
receive base salary, benefits, employer 
pension contributions and to participate 
in share option schemes approved by the 
Remuneration Committee.

The appointment of the Chief Executive 
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer 
is terminable on six months’ notice by 
either party.

Base salary
Base salaries are reviewed annually 
and adjustments made if required to 
reflect Group performance, individual 
performance and market rates. 
Remuneration is through the Group’s 
flexible benefits scheme under which 
the individuals can elect to switch basic 
salary into pension contributions and 
other benefits.

Benefits
The Group offers benefits to all 
employees including life assurance and 
healthcare solutions, appropriate to each 
of the markets in which it operates.

Bonuses
Executive Directors are eligible 
to participate in an annual bonus 
programme, which is calculated by 
reference to the annual financial and 
operational targets including orders, 
revenue, operating cash flow (excluding 
working capital movements) and 
goal-driven objectives.

Pensions
The Group operates a defined 
contribution personal pension scheme 
in the UK, and similar schemes in other 
countries. Under the UK scheme rules 
the Group pays a matched contribution 
of up to 5% of base salary as adjusted 
for current pension and tax legislation. 
The scheme is open to Executive 
Directors and employees.

Remuneration of Non-Executive 
Directors
The Non-Executive Directors have 
entered into letters of appointment 
with the Company. The appointments 
are terminable on one month’s notice 
by either party. The Non-Executive 
Directors, including the Non-Executive 
Chair, may participate in the Group’s 
pension scheme.

The appointment of the Non-Executive 
Chair is terminable on six months’ notice 
by either party. 

43

3. 2. Corporate governance1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Remuneration Committee report continued

Directors' remuneration
The Directors received the following remuneration during the year:

Basic  
salary 
£’000 

Benefits Performance  Termination 
benefits 
payments 
£’000 
£’000 

in kind 
£’000 

2019 total 
excluding 
pensions 
£’000 

Pensions 
£’000 

Director 

Richard Petti1 

Tim Gingell2 

Executive Directors 

Paul Taylor3 

Peter Harverson4 

Robert Sansom5 

Ian Kershaw 

Oliver Scott6 

Andy MacLeod7 

Max Royde6 

Non-Executive Directors 

225 

149 

374 

79 

27 

— 

20 

17 

13 

3 

159 

4 

4 

8 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

85 

51 

136 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

19 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

19 

Total 
2019 
£’000 

330 

216 

546 

79 

46 

— 

20 

17 

13 

3 

178 

724 

Total 
2018 
£’000

406

253

659

46

78

—

21

20

—

—

165

824

314 

204 

518 

79 

46 

— 

20 

17 

13 

3 

178 

696 

16 

12 

28 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

28 

Total 
1.  Richard Petti is entitled to a performance related bonus of up to £125,000, and receives a car allowance of £9,000.

533 

136 

19 

8 

2.  Tim Gingell is entitled to a performance related bonus of up to £75,000.

3.  Paul Taylor was confirmed as Chair of the Company on 19 February 2019. The annual remuneration of the appointment is £75,000 with an additional £5,000 per annum 

whilst chair of the Audit Committee.

4.  Peter Harverson resigned, and left, as Chair of the Company on 13 February 2019. A final settlement of £18,750 was paid on his departure from the Company

5.  Robert Sansom has waived his entitlement to annual remuneration of £25,000 (2018: £25,000 waived).

6.  Max Royde was appointed, and Oliver Scott resigned, as Non-Executive Director of the Company on 31 October 2019. The annual remuneration of the appointment 

is £20,000.

7.  Andy MacLeod was appointed Non-Executive Director of the Company on 21 June 2019. The annual remuneration of the appointment is £25,000.

Share options
The Company issues share options to the Executive Directors and employees to reward performance and to align interests with 
those of the shareholders. 

The aggregate emoluments disclosed above within Directors’ remuneration does not include any amounts for the value of options 
to acquire ordinary shares in the Company granted to or held by the Directors.

On 14 December 2016 IQGeo Group plc implemented a long-term incentive share option plan for Executive Directors and key 
management. As participants in the new share scheme, IQGeo Group plc granted 3,150,000 options of two pence each in the 
Company to the Executive Directors at that time with an exercise price set at the nominal value. The options would vest if the 
Company’s share price exceeds 70 pence for 60 consecutive days between the 2nd and 3rd anniversary of issue and the period 
of employment continues for over three years – this performance condition was not achieved before the 3rd anniversary.

The Remuneration Committee is in advanced stages of planning to make awards under a new share option scheme, the details 
of which will be confirmed in due course including the cessation of the existing nominal value options. As of the date of this report 
however, the existing share option scheme remains in place with the Remuneration Committee retaining the right to extend 
the scheme into the 4th year and vest the outstanding share options in exceptional circumstances in the event of a corporate 
transaction.

Director 

Award  
date 
Year 

Vests 
Years 

Expires 
Year 

Peter Harverson 

2010 

2011-13 

2016 

2019 

2016 

2016 

2019 

2019 

Richard Petti 

Tim Gingell 

Total 

2020 

2026 

2026 

2026 

Exercise 
price 
£ 

0.14 

0.02 

91,333 

850,000 

941,333 

0.02 

1,600,000 

0.02 

700,000 

3,241,333 

Awards 
outstanding 
at 

Lapsed 
Granted  Exercised 
1 January  during the  during the  during the 
year 
Number 

2019 
Number 

year 
Number 

year 
Number 

at 31 

Awards 

Awards 
outstanding  exercisable 
at 31 
December  December 
2019 
Number

2019 
Number 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

91,333  

— 

—  850,000 

91,333  850,000 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1,600,000 

700,000 

2,300,000 

—

—

—

—

—

—

Following his resignation from the Board, Peter Harverson exercised 91,333 options at 14 pence per share on 25 February 2019. 
These shares were immediately sold, resulting in a gain of £36,000.

44

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ report

The Directors present their Annual Report 
on the affairs of the Group together with 
the audited financial statements for the 
year to 31 December 2019. The corporate 
governance report set out on pages 38 to 
41 forms part of this report.

Incorporation and constitution
IQGeo Group plc is domiciled in England 
and incorporated in England and Wales 
under Company Number 05589712. 
IQGeo Group plc’s Articles of Association 
are available on the Group’s website at 
www.iqgeo.com. 

Based on the country generating the 
greatest revenue, the main country of 
operation is the United States of America. 

Principal activity
The Group delivers end-to-end 
geospatial software which improves 
productivity and collaboration across 
enterprise planning, design, construction 
and maintenance processes for telecoms 
and utility network operators. Our 
mobile-first enterprise solutions create 
and maintain an accurate view of 
complex network assets that is easily 
accessible by anyone, wherever and 
whenever needed. 

Specialised applications combined 
with our open IQGeo Platform help 
network operators create a single 
source of network truth to meet their 
digital transformation ambitions and 
operational KPIs. Our award-winning 
solutions save time and money, and 
improve safety and productivity, while 
enhancing customer satisfaction.

Business review and key 
performance indicators 
The Group’s results are set out in the 
consolidated income statement on 
page 54 and are explained in the 
Chief Financial Officer’s statement on 
pages 24 to 27. A detailed review of the 
business, its results and future direction 
is included in the Non-Executive Chair’s 
statement on pages 4 and 5.

Capital structure
The Company has one class of ordinary 
share of two pence each which carries no 
right to fixed income. Each share carries 
the right to one vote at general meetings 
of the Company.

Details of the share capital of the 
Company, including shares issued during 
the year, can be found in note 20 of the 
consolidated financial statements. 

There are no specific restrictions on the 
size of a holding nor on the transfer of 
shares, which are both governed by 
the general provisions of the Articles of 
Association and prevailing legislation. 
The Directors are not aware of any 
agreements between holders of the 
Company’s shares that may result in 
restrictions on the transfer of securities 
or on voting rights.

Details of employee share schemes are 
set out in note 21.

No person has any special rights of 
control over the Company’s share capital 
and all issued shares are fully paid.

With regard to the appointment and 
replacement of Directors, the Company 
is governed by its Articles of Association, 
the Companies Act and related 
legislation. The Articles of Association 
themselves may be amended by special 
resolution of the shareholders.

At the Company Annual General Meeting 
on 5 June 2019, the Directors obtained 
shareholder approval to complete a 
capital reduction with the Company’s 
share premium account being reduced 
by £28,948,000. On 16 July 2019 a 
Court Order was granted to allow 
a capital reduction.

On 2 August 2019, the Company 
announced a proposed tender offer 
to repurchase up to a maximum of 
28,260,869 of the Company’s ordinary 
shares at a price of 46 pence per 
ordinary share. Following approval of 
the tender offer by a General Meeting 
of shareholders on 22 August 2019, the 
tender offer completed on 30 August 
2019, resulting in the share capital 
reducing by 23,803,690 and £10,949,697 
of surplus funds being returned to 
shareholders in September 2019. 

As at 31 December 2019, the Company 
had 49,503,429 ordinary shares in issue.  

Substantial shareholdings
As at 6 March 2020, the Company had been notified of the following significant interests in its ordinary share capital:

Kestrel Partners 

Columbia Threadneedle Investments 

Canaccord Genuity Group Inc   

Robert Sansom 

NFU Mutual Insurance Society Ltd 

Janus Henderson Investors 

Merian Global Investors 

12,283,268 

8,632,954 

6,241,919 

3,831,714 

2,658,457 

  1,586,250 

1,515,637 

 Total   % of issued 
share  

holding 
Number 

capital

24.8%

17.4%

12.6%

7.7%

5.4%

3.2%

3.1%

45

3. 2. Corporate governance1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ report continued

Directors
The Directors serving at 31 December 2019 were as follows:

Paul Taylor 
Riccardo (Richard) Petti 
Timothy (Tim) Gingell 
Robert Sansom 
Max Royde 
Ian Kershaw 
Andrew MacLeod

Board changes 
Peter Harverson resigned as Non-Executive Chair and member of the Board on 13 February 2019, and was succeeded by 
Paul Taylor as Non-Executive Chair.

Andy MacLeod was appointed as Non-Executive Director of the Company on 21 June 2019.

Max Royde was appointed, and Oliver Scott resigned, as Non-Executive Director of the Company on 31 October 2019.

Tim Gingell has advised that he wishes to step down from the Board at the upcoming AGM. Tim will however stay with the business, 
including remaining as Company Secretary, for a period beyond the AGM to help with an orderly and structured handover.

Directors’ interests – shares
Directors’ interests in the ordinary shares of IQGeo Group plc at 31 December 2019 were as follows:

2019 
Number 

2018 
Number

191,459 

191,459

133,661 

78,125

86,875 

86,875

  3,831,714  6,235,899

2,000 

2,000

  4,245,709  6,594,358

The Group has purchased and 
maintained throughout the year 
Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance 
in respect of itself and its Directors.

Post-balance sheet events
There are no post balance sheet events 
to report.

Financial instruments 
Principal financial risks and mitigating 
activities have been set out within the 
strategic report. Additionally, note 24 to 
the financial statements provides further 
details in respect of credit risk, market 
risk and liquidity risk.

Research and development 
During the year, the Group has been 
active in the development of software. In 
the opinion of the Directors, continuity of 
the investment in software development 
is essential for the long-term growth 
of the business. The Board regularly 
reviews the IQGeo product roadmap to 
ensure its competitiveness.

Going concern review 
The Board has considered the going 
concern position of the Group, which 
is discussed further in note 3 to the 
financial statements.

Dividends
The Directors do not recommend 
payment of a dividend for the year 
(2018: £nil).

Auditor
A resolution to re-appoint Grant 
Thornton UK LLP as the Group’s auditor 
will be proposed at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting. In accordance 
with normal practice, the Directors will 
be authorised to determine the auditor’s 
remuneration.

Approved by the Board of Directors and 
signed on behalf of the Board.

Tim Gingell
Chief Financial Officer 
and Company Secretary
6 March 2020

IQGeo Group plc

Registered number: 05589712

Paul Taylor 

Richard Petti 

Tim Gingell 

Robert Sansom 

Ian Kershaw 

Total 

Max Royde has no direct interest in the 
ordinary shares of IQGeo Group plc 
but is a partner with the significant 
shareholder Kestrel Partners. Kestrel 
Partners LLP fully participated in the 
August 2019 tender offer and sold 
7,323,246 shares at a price of 46 pence 
per ordinary share.

Robert Sansom, a Director of IQGeo, fully 
participated in the August 2019 tender 
offer and sold 2,404,185 shares at a price 
of 46 pence per ordinary share.

There has been no change in the 
Directors’ interests set out above 
between 31 December 2019 and 
6 March 2020 other than Ian Kershaw 
acquiring 17,000 shares at a price of 
61.9 pence on 3 February 2020.

Directors’ interests
Details of Directors’ remuneration 
and share options are provided in the 
Remuneration Committee report on 
pages 43 and 44. There are no loans to 
or from the Directors.

Directors’ indemnity arrangements
The Group has made qualifying third 
party indemnity provisions for the benefit 
of its Directors which were made during 
the year and remain in force at the date 
of this report.

46

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ responsibilities statement

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

The Directors confirm that 

•  So far as each Director is aware, 

there is no relevant audit information 
of which the Company's auditor is 
unaware 

•  The Directors have taken all the steps 
they ought to have taken as Directors 
in order to make themselves aware of 
any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the Company’s auditor 
is aware of that information 

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

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

Company law requires the Directors 
to prepare financial statements for 
each financial year. Under that law the 
Directors are required to prepare the 
consolidated financial statements in 
accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted 
by the European Union and have 
elected to prepare the parent company 
financial statements in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards and applicable 
law, including FRS 102 ‘The Financial 
Reporting Standard’ applicable in the UK 
and Republic of Ireland). Under company 
law the Directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they give a 
true and fair view of the state of affairs 
and profit or loss of the Company and 
Group for that period. In preparing these 
financial statements, the Directors are 
required to 

•  Select suitable accounting policies 
and then apply them consistently 

•  Make judgements and estimates that 

are reasonable and prudent 

•  State whether applicable IFRSs as 

adopted by the European Union have 
been followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in 
the consolidated financial statements

•  State whether applicable UK 

Accounting Standards have been 
followed, subject to any material 
departures disclosed and explained in 
the Company financial statements

•  Prepare the financial statements on 
the going concern basis unless it is 
inappropriate to presume that the 
Company will continue in business

47

3. 2. Corporate governance1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Independent auditor’s report 
to the members of IQGeo Group plc

Opinion
Our opinion on the financial 
statements is unmodified
We have audited the financial 
statements of IQGEO Group plc 
(the ‘parent company’) and its 
subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the 
year ended 31 December 2019 
which comprise the Consolidated 
income statement, the Consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income, 
the Consolidated statement of changes 
in equity, the Consolidated statement 
of financial position, the Consolidated 
statement of cash flows, the Company 
balance sheet, the Company statement 
of changes in equity and notes to 
the financial statements, including 
a summary of significant accounting 
policies. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in 
the preparation of the group financial 
statements is applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in 
the preparation of the parent company 
financial statements is applicable 
law and United Kingdom Accounting 
Standards, including Financial Reporting 
Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting 
Standard applicable in the UK and 
Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion:

• 

• 

• 

• 

the financial statements give a 
true and fair view of the state of the 
group’s and of the parent company’s 
affairs as at 31 December 2019 
and of the group’s loss for the 
year then ended;

the group financial statements 
have been properly prepared in 
accordance with IFRSs as adopted 
by the European Union;

the parent company financial 
statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice; and

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

• 

the directors have not disclosed in the 
financial statements any identified 
material uncertainties that may cast 
significant doubt about the company’s 
ability to continue to adopt the going 
concern basis of accounting for a 
period of at least twelve months 
from the date when the financial 
statements are authorised for issue.

In our evaluation of the directors’ 
conclusions, we considered the risks 
associated with the group’s business 
model, including effects arising from 
Brexit, and analysed how those risks 
might affect the group’s financial 
resources or ability to continue 
operations over the period of at least 
twelve months from the date when the 
financial statements are authorised for 
issue. In accordance with the above, we 
have nothing to report in these respects. 

However, as we cannot predict all future 
events or conditions and as subsequent 
events may result in outcomes that are 
inconsistent with judgements that were 
reasonable at the time they were made, 
the absence of reference to a material 
uncertainty in this auditor’s report is 
not a guarantee that the company will 
continue in operation.

Overview of our audit approach
•  Overall materiality: £231,000, 
which represents 3.7% of the 
Group’s earnings before taxation

•  We performed full scope procedures 

at IQGeo Group plc, IQGeo UK 
Limited and IQGeo America Inc., 
targeted procedures on IQGeo 
Solutions Canada Inc, and analytical 
procedures were performed for all 
other components

•  Key audit matters were identified as:

• 

improper recognition of 
revenue due to fraud; 

•  capitalisation of intangible 
development costs may not 
be appropriate; and

•  carrying value of capitalised 
development costs may not 
be appropriate

•  carrying value of investments in 
subsidiaries and amounts due 
from subsidiary undertakings.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance 
with International Standards on 
Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable 
law. Our responsibilities under those 
standards are further described in the 
‘Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit 
of the financial statements’ section of our 
report. We are independent of the group 
and the parent company in accordance 
with the ethical requirements that are 
relevant to our audit of the financial 
statements in the UK, including the FRC’s 
Ethical Standard as applied to listed 
entities, and we have fulfilled our other 
ethical responsibilities in accordance 
with these requirements. We believe that 
the audit evidence we have obtained is 
sufficient and appropriate to provide a 
basis for our opinion.

The impact of uncertainties arising 
from the UK exiting the European 
Union on our audit 
Our audit of the financial statements 
requires us to obtain an understanding 
of all relevant uncertainties, including 
those arising as a consequence of 
the effects of Brexit. All audits assess 
and challenge the reasonableness 
of estimates made by the directors 
and the related disclosures and the 
appropriateness of the going concern 
basis of preparation of the financial 
statements. All of these depend on 
assessments of the future economic 
environment and the group’s future 
prospects and performance.

Brexit is one of the most significant 
economic events for the UK, and at the 
date of this report its effects are subject 
to unprecedented levels of uncertainty, 
with the full range of possible outcomes 
and their impacts unknown. We applied 
a standardised firm-wide approach in 
response to these uncertainties when 
assessing the group’s future prospects 
and performance. However, no audit 
should be expected to predict the 
unknowable factors or all possible future 
implications for a group associated with 
a course of action such as Brexit.

Conclusions relating to 
going concern 
We have nothing to report in respect of 
the following matters in relation to which 
the ISAs (UK) require us to report to 
you where:

• 

the directors’ use of the going concern 
basis of accounting in the preparation 
of the financial statements is not 
appropriate; or 

48

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Key audit matters
The graph below depicts the audit risks identified and their relative significance based on the extent of the financial statement 
impact and the extent of management judgement.

High

l

i

a
c
n
a
n
fi

l

a
i
t
n
e
t
o
P

t
c
a
p
m

i

t
n
e
m
e
t
a
t
s

Low

Low

Capital 
reorganisation

Investments

Deferred and 
Accrued income

Trade 
receivables 
and payables

Capitalised 
development costs

Revenue 
recognition

High risk
Medium risk
Low risk

Carrying value of 
investment and 
group balances

Management 
override of 
controls

Extent of management judgement

High

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to 
fraud) that we identified. These matters included those that had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation 
of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our 
audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on 
these matters.

Key Audit Matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group 

Risk 1 – Improper recognition of revenue 
due to fraud
Under International Standard on Auditing (UK) 
240 ‘The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to 
Fraud in an Audit of Financial Statements’, there 
is a rebuttable presumed risk that revenue may 
be misstated due to the improper recognition of 
revenue due to fraud.

The group has recognised revenues of £7.8m 
(2018: £10m) for continuing operations. The nature 
of the Group’s revenue includes sales of software 
licences, maintenance and support, labour and 
installation services.

IQGeo Group plc has been transitioning to a 
recurring software subscription revenue model 
to increase its recurring revenue streams. 
Subscription contracts are structured as a term 
software licence sold together with maintenance 
and support. 

Revenue recognition is dependent upon 
identifying the relevant distinct performance 
obligations, ensuring the revenue allocated to the 
performance obligation is based on standalone 
pricing and appropriate allocation of discount to 
ensure the correct revenue is recognised. 

The Group’s revenue is material to the financial 
statements and comprises multiple distinct 
performance obligations which adds complexity 
to how revenue is recognised. We therefore 
identified revenue recognition as a significant risk, 
which was one of the most significant assessed 
risks of material misstatement.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

•  assessing revenue recognition policies for consistency and 

compliance with IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’;

•  understanding the basis for pricing and considering performance 
obligations to assess whether revenue is being recognised in 
accordance with IFRS 15;

• 

• 

• 

• 

for software revenue, agreeing a sample of revenue to either 
customer confirmation of receipt of access to new licences, or 
purchase orders for renewed licences; 

for maintenance and support revenue, – obtaining a sample of 
purchase orders, recalculating revenue recognised and checking 
the appropriateness of any deferred income at the year-end;

for labour and installation services revenue, agreeing a sample of 
revenue to signed contracts or purchase orders and tracing a sample 
of time booked to revenue to timesheets, subcontractor invoices or 
other supporting documentation; 

for a sample of deferred and accrued income balances, recalculating 
revenue recognised and checking to invoices and other supporting 
documentation;

•  recalculating the allocation of discounts for a sample of revenue;

•  performing analytical procedures, disaggregated by revenue 

stream, location and month, by identifying key movements and 
significant transactions which have occurred in the year and 
then obtaining explanations and corroborating evidence for key 
movements and significant transactions identified.

The Group’s accounting policy on revenue recognition is disclosed in 
note 3 to the financial statements and related disclosures are included 
in notes 4 and 5. 

Key observations
Our audit work did not identify any material misstatements in the 
occurrence of revenue recognised during the year or any instances 
of revenue not being recognised in accordance with stated 
accounting policies.

49

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 20193. Financial statements 2. 1.  
 
 
Independent auditor’s report continued 
to the members of IQGeo Group plc

Key audit matters continued

Key Audit Matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group 

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  assessing product development activities alongside the qualifying 
nature of the projects, including obtaining an understanding from 
management of the details of projects capitalised and challenging 
whether they relate to additional functionality, enhancements or new 
product development, to ensure that capitalisation is in accordance 
with the recognition criteria under IAS 38;

•  we have assessed managements’ intention to complete new projects 
and the availability of resources and corroborated this to future 
revenue and cost forecasts;

•  recalculating the mathematical accuracy of capitalised amounts; 

•  agreeing amounts capitalised to supporting evidence including 

timesheets.

The Group’s accounting policy on intangible assets is shown in note 3 to 
the financial statements and related disclosures are included in note 12.

Key observations
Our testing did not identify any material misstatements 
in the capitalisation of intangible development costs.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  assessing the amortisation policy applied to capitalised development 
costs for consistency with the approach applied in the prior year and 
challenging the determination of the useful economic life; 

•  comparing projects against which amounts are capitalised to 

forecast revenue calculations produced by management, based on 
contractual and expected renewal income; 

•  assessing forecast income by agreeing amounts to subscription 

agreements or maintenance and support renewal terms;

•  challenging managements assumptions regarding future revenue 

generation;

•  evaluating and challenging information included in the impairment 
models to ensure it is consistent with our knowledge of the business 
obtained through reviewing trading plans and discussions with 
Management.

The Group’s accounting policy on intangible assets is disclosed in note 3 
to the financial statements and related disclosures are included in notes 
4 and 12. 

Key observations
Our testing did not identify any material misstatements in the carrying 
value of the capitalised development costs. 

Risk 2 – Capitalisation of intangible 
development costs may not be appropriate
Under IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’, development 
costs should only be capitalised if the recognition 
criteria are met, including determining whether 
the project provides a future economic benefit to 
the group. 

During the year, the group capitalised £1.1m (2018: 
£1.7m) of development costs in relation to various 
projects. 

In capitalising these costs, management makes 
judgments and assumptions when assessing each 
project according to IAS 38 ‘Intangible Assets’ 
criteria. Judgement is required to determine 
whether the criteria is met, in particular, in 
respect of the future economic benefit that will 
be generated and the intention of the group 
to complete development. There have been 
four new projects capitalised in the year. The 
level of judgement involved leads to a risk 
that development costs may be capitalised 
inappropriately. 

We therefore identified the capitalisation of 
development costs as a significant risk, which 
was one of the most significant assessed risks of 
material misstatement. 

Risk 3 – Carrying value of capitalised 
development costs may not be appropriate
There is a risk, given fast-moving technology, that 
developed products could become obsolete and 
will not be supported by future cash flows and 
hence development assets may become impaired.

The net book value of capitalised development 
costs at the year-end amounted to £1.5m (2018: 
£1.2m), including amortisation charged on 
capitalised development costs of £0.8m (2018: 
£1.8m). Capitalised development costs are 
amortised by the Group to ensure the capitalised 
cost reflects the anticipated benefit of the 
development project to the Group over time. In 
accordance with IAS 36 ‘Impairment of Assets’ 
the Group is required to assess at the end of 
each reporting period whether there are any 
indications that assets may be impaired. 

In order to assess whether there are any such 
indicators of impairment management have 
identified the contracted and renewal revenues 
associated with each identifiable capitalised 
project over a three-year forecast period. 

There is an inherent uncertainty involved in 
forecasting and discounting future cash flows. 
We therefore identified the carrying value of 
capitalised development costs as a significant risk, 
which was one of the most significant assessed 
risks of material misstatement.

50

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Key audit matter – parent

How the matter was addressed in the audit – parent

Risk 1 – Carrying value of investments 
in subsidiaries and amounts due from 
subsidiary undertakings
IQGeo Group plc has investments of £0.4m in 
subsidiaries and £19.0m due from subsidiary 
undertakings. The net assets of the parent entity 
exceed those of the group. There is a risk that 
amounts due from subsidiary undertakings may 
not be recoverable. We therefore identified the 
carrying value of investments in subsidiaries 
and amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 
as a significant risk, which was one of the 
most significant assessed risks of material 
misstatement.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

•  obtaining an understanding of how management consider the 

balances will be recovered by examining future cash flow projections 
and challenging their assumptions;

•  evaluating and challenging information included in the impairment 
models to ensure it is consistent with our knowledge of the business 
obtained through reviewing trading plans and discussions with 
management;

•  comparing the group’s net assets and market capitalisation to the 
parent company’s net assets and then challenging management’s 
assessment on the quantum of impairment required against amounts 
due from subsidiary undertakings.

The Group’s accounting policy on investments and group balances is 
disclosed in note 1 to the company financial statements and related 
disclosures are included in notes 3 and 4.

Key observations
Our testing did not identify any material misstatements in the carrying 
value of investments in subsidiaries and amounts due from subsidiary 
undertakings.

Our application of materiality
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality in determining the nature, 
timing and extent of our audit work and in evaluating the results of that work. 

Materiality was determined as follows:

Materiality measure

Group

Parent

Financial statements 
as a whole

Performance materiality 
used to drive the extent of 
our testing

Specific materiality

£231,000 which is 3.7% of the group’s 
earnings before tax. This benchmark 
is considered the most appropriate 
because the Group is a commercially 
focused organisation but generating 
an operating loss.

Materiality in the prior year was determined 
by using revenues as a benchmark. Earnings 
before tax has been used as a benchmark 
for the current year because this is now 
considered to be the principal measurement 
used by stakeholders to assess the group’s 
financial performance. This has resulted in 
materiality for the current year being lower 
than the level we determined for the year 
ended 31 December 2018.

£173,000 which is 0.5% of expected total 
assets restricted to group performance 
materiality. This benchmark is considered 
the most appropriate because the parent 
company does not generate revenues or 
profits and holds investments in subsidiaries.

Materiality for the current year is lower 
than the level that we determined for 
the year ended 31 December 2018 using 
the same basis. This is due to the capital 
reorganisation and return of funds to 
shareholders. 

75% of financial statement materiality.

75% of financial statement materiality.

We determined a lower level of specific 
materiality for directors’ remuneration and 
related party transactions of £1,000 due to 
the inherent sensitivity of these transactions 
and related disclosures.

We determined a lower level of specific 
materiality for directors’ remuneration and 
related party transactions of £1,000 due to 
the inherent sensitivity of these transactions 
and related disclosures.

Communication of 
misstatements to the 
audit committee

£12,000 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

£10,000 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

51

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 20193. Financial statements 2. 1. Independent auditor’s report continued 
to the members of IQGeo Group plc

Our application of materiality continued
The graph below illustrates how performance materiality interacts with our overall materiality and the tolerance for potential 
uncorrected misstatements.

Overall materiality – Group

Overall materiality – Parent

Key 

25

25

Performance materiality

Tolerance for potential 
uncorrected mis-statements

75

75

Our opinion on other matters 
prescribed by the Companies 
Act 2006 is unmodified
In our opinion, based on the work 
undertaken in the course of the audit:

• 

• 

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

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

Matters on which we are required 
to report under the Companies 
Act 2006
In the light of the knowledge and 
understanding of the Group and the 
parent company and its environment 
obtained in the course of the audit, 
we have not identified material 
misstatements in the strategic report 
or the directors’ report. 

Other information
The directors are responsible for the 
other information. The other information 
comprises the information included in the 
annual report, other than the financial 
statements and our auditor’s report 
thereon. Our opinion on the financial 
statements does not cover the other 
information and, except to the extent 
otherwise explicitly stated in our report, 
we do not express any form of assurance 
conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the 
financial statements, our responsibility 
is to read the other information and, 
in doing so, consider whether the other 
information is materially inconsistent 
with the financial statements or our 
knowledge obtained in the audit or 
otherwise appears to be materially 
misstated. If we identify such material 
inconsistencies or apparent material 
misstatements, we are required to 
determine whether there is a material 
misstatement in the financial statements 
or a material misstatement of the other 
information. If, based on the work we 
have performed, we conclude that there 
is a material misstatement of this other 
information, we are required to report 
that fact. 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

An overview of the scope 
of our audit
Our audit approach was a risk-based 
approach founded on a thorough 
understanding of the group’s business, 
its environment and risk profile and 
in particular included the following 
considerations:

• 

• 

• 

• 

IQGeo Group plc has centralised 
processes and controls over the 
key areas of audit focus. Group 
management are responsible for 
all judgemental processes and 
significant risk areas. In assessing 
the risk of material misstatement to 
the group financial statements we 
assessed the significance of each 
component and determined the 
planned audit response based on a 
measure of materiality. Significance 
was determined with regard to the 
group’s total assets, revenues and 
earnings before taxation; 

full scope audit procedures were 
performed on IQGeo Group plc, 
IQGeo UK Limited and IQGeo 
America Inc.; targeted procedures 
were performed on IQGeo Solutions 
Canada Inc, and analytical 
procedures were performed for 
all other components including 
IQGeo Germany GbmH and IQGeo 
Japan K.K.; 

the total percentage coverage of 
full-scope and targeted procedures 
over the Group’s revenue was 100%; 

the total percentage coverage of full 
scope and targeted procedures over 
the Group’s total assets was 92%; and

•  our audit approach in the current 
year is consistent with the audit 
approach adopted for the year ended 
31 December 2018 being substantive 
in nature.

52

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
Auditor’s responsibilities for the 
audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable 
assurance about whether the financial 
statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s 
report that includes our opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level 
of assurance, but is not a guarantee 
that an audit conducted in accordance 
with ISAs (UK) will always detect a 
material misstatement when it exists. 
Misstatements can arise from fraud 
or error and are considered material 
if, individually or in the aggregate, 
they could reasonably be expected 
to influence the economic decisions 
of users taken on the basis of these 
financial statements.

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

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

Alison Seekings
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
Cambridge 
6 March 2020

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

•  adequate accounting records 

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

• 

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

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

•  we have not received all the 

information and explanations 
we require for our audit. 

Responsibilities of directors for 
the financial statements
As explained more fully in the directors’ 
responsibilities statement page 47, 
the directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the financial statements 
and for being satisfied that they give a 
true and fair view, and for such internal 
control as the directors determine is 
necessary to enable the preparation of 
financial statements that are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error.

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

53

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 20193. Financial statements 2. 1. Consolidated income statement
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Revenue 

Cost of revenues 

Gross profit 

Operating expenses 

Operating loss 

Analysed as: 

Gross profit 

Other operating expenses 

Adjusted EBITDA 

Depreciation 

Amortisation and impairment of other intangible assets 

Share option expense 

Unrealised foreign exchange gains/(losses) on intercompany trading balances 

Non-recurring items 

Operating loss 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Loss before tax 

Income tax  

Loss from continuing operations 

Profit from discontinued operations 

(Loss)/profit for the year 

(Loss)/profit attributable to: 

Equity shareholders of the Company 

Non-controlling interest 

(Loss)/profit for the year 

Loss per share – continuing operations 

Basic 

Diluted 

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

5 

7,806 

9,979

(4,563) 

(5,599)

3,243 

4,380

(9,539) 

(5,971)

(6,296) 

(1,591)

3,243 

4,380

(8,091) 

(5,446)

(4,848) 

(1,066)

(285) 

(815) 

(102) 

(110) 

(136) 

(273)

(774)

(248)

151

619

(6,296) 

(1,591)

72 

(10) 

1

(14)

(6,234) 

(1,604)

13, 14 

12 

9 

8 

8 

10 

64 

(39)

(6,170) 

(1,643)

6 

403 

21,485

(5,767) 

19,842

(5,767) 

19,842

— 

—

(5,767) 

19,842

11 

11 

(9.4p) 

(9.4p) 

(2.2p)

(2.2p)

54

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Loss from continued operations 

Profit from discontinued operations 

(Loss)/profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income:  

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss 

Exchange difference on retranslation of net assets and results  
of overseas subsidiaries from continuing operations   

Reclassification to income statement for discontinued operations 

Total comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year 

Attributable to: 

Equity shareholders of the Company 

Non-controlling interest 

Total comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

(6,170) 

(1,643)

403 

21,485

(5,767) 

19,842

5 

— 

(50)

216

(5,762) 

20,008

(5,762) 

20,008

— 

—

(5,762) 

20,008

55

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

Sub-total 
£’000 

Non- 
controlling 
interest 
£’000 

(35,260) 

11,679 

434 

19,842 

19,842 

— 

216 

— 

(50) 

19,842 

20,008 

725 

— 

— 

303 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

282 

1,007 

282 

585 

(434) 

(434) 

(14,411) 

32,272 

(5,767) 

(5,767) 

— 

5 

(5,767) 

(5,762) 

28,948 

— 

476 

(10,950) 

(10,950) 

— 

— 

— 

476 

476 

6 

60 

— 

31 

— 

(19) 

18,064 

(10,938) 

(2,114) 

15,572 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Total 
£’000

12,113

19,842

216

(50)

20,008

—

303

(152)

151

32,272

(5,767)

5

(5,762)

—

(10,950)

31

—

(19)

(10,938)

15,572

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Attributable to equity shareholders of the parent company

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

 Share-based 

Capital 
payment  Translation  redemption 
reserve 
reserve 
£’000 
£’000 

reserve 
£’000 

Balance at 1 January 2018 

1,462 

46,375 

1,139 

(2,037) 

Profit for the year 

Recycled translation reserve 

Exchange difference on  
retranslation of net assets and  
results of overseas subsidiaries 

Total comprehensive profit  
for the year 

Lapse of share options 

Reserve credit for equity-settled  
share-based payment 

Acquisition of  
non-controlling interest 

Transactions with owners 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Balance at 31 December 2018   

1,462 

46,375 

Loss for the year 

Exchange difference on  
retranslation of net assets and  
results of overseas subsidiaries 

Total comprehensive loss  
for the year 

Capital reduction 

Repurchase and  
cancellation of shares 

Exercise of share options 

Lapse of share options 

Reserve debit for equity-settled  
share-based payment 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(476) 

4 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(28,948) 

— 

27 

— 

— 

Transactions with owners 

(472) 

(28,921) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(725) 

303 

— 

(422) 

717 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(6) 

(60) 

(19) 

(85) 

— 

216 

(50) 

166 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(1,871) 

— 

5 

5 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Balance at 31 December 2019   

990 

17,454 

632 

(1,866) 

56

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of financial position
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Assets 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment  

Right-of-use assets 

Investments 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Corporation tax receivable 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets  

Liabilities  

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Current tax liabilities 

Lease obligation 

Total current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 

Deferred income tax liabilities   

Lease obligation 

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity attributable to owners of the parent company 

Ordinary share capital 

Share premium  

Share-based payment reserve  

Capital redemption reserve 

Translation reserve 

Retained earnings 

Equity attributable to shareholders of the Company  

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

12 

13 

14 

15 

1,596 

1,235

86 

73 

2,000 

3,755 

84

304

2,000

3,623

16 

2,353 

3,586

16 

—

17 

13,053 

30,915

15,422 

34,501

19,177 

38,124

18 

(3,241) 

(5,080)

19 

10 

19 

20 

20 

21 

— 

(79) 

(232)

(232)

(3,320) 

(5,544)

(285) 

— 

(285) 

(231)

(77)

(308)

(3,605) 

(5,852)

15,572 

32,272

990 

1,462

17,454 

46,375

632 

476 

717

—

(1,866) 

(1,871)

(2,114) 

(14,411)

15,572 

32,272

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 6 March 2020 and signed on its 
behalf by:

Richard Petti 
Chief Executive Officer 

Tim Gingell 
Chief Financial Officer

IQGeo Group plc  
Registered Number: 05589712

57

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of cash flows
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Operating activities 

Loss before tax from continuing operations 

Gain/(loss) before tax from discontinued operations   

Loss before tax 

Adjustments for: 

Depreciation 

Amortisation and impairment   

Loss on the disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Revaluation of intercompany balances 

Share-based payment charge  

Gain on sale of Japan business  

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Operating cash flows before working capital movement 

Change in inventories 

Change in receivables 

Change in payables 

Cash generated from operations before tax 

Net income taxes received/(paid) 

Net cash flows from operating activities   

Cash flows from investing activities 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment 

Expenditure on intangible assets 

Cash received on sale of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Cash in RTLS SmartSpace business unit at disposal 

Disposal costs in relation to the RTLS SmartSpace business unit   

Sale of Japan Geospatial third party services business 

Interest received 

Net cash flows from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Repayment of borrowings 

Interest paid 

Payment of lease liability 

Purchase of non-controlling interest 

Repurchase of ordinary share capital 

Proceeds from the issue of ordinary share capital 

Net cash flows from financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at start of period 

Exchange differences on cash and cash equivalents   

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 

58

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

13, 14 

12 

8 

8 

(6,234) 

(1,604)

161 

(824)

(6,073) 

(2,428)

285 

815 

— 

110 

(19) 

— 

(72) 

10 

(4,944) 

— 

388 

1,081

2,025

14

(151)

303

(619)

(8)

156

373

198

2,012

(10) 

(2,071)

(4,566) 

(124) 

(4,690) 

512

407

919

(56) 

(316)

(1,176) 

(1,844)

1,060 

28,882

— 

(2,313)

(1,839) 

— 

72 

(704)

569

8

(1,939) 

24,282

— 

(2) 

(238) 

— 

(10,950) 

31 

(2,500)

(73)

(743)

(152)

—

—

(11,159) 

(3,468)

(17,788) 

21,733

30,915 

(74) 

9,114

68

17 

13,053 

30,915

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019

2 New accounting standards
For the purposes of the preparation of 
the consolidated financial statements, 
the Group has applied all standards 
and interpretations as adopted in the 
European Union that are effective 
and applicable for accounting periods 
beginning on or before 1 January 2019.

The accounting policies used are the 
same as set out in detail in the Report 
and Accounts 2018 and have been 
applied consistently to all periods 
presented in the financial statements. 

IFRS 16 ‘Leases’ became mandatory for 
adoption on 1 January 2019 and was early 
adopted from 1 January 2018. There were 
no other new standards or amendments 
or interpretations to existing standards 
that became effective during the year 
that were material to the Group.

No new standards, amendments or 
interpretations to existing standards 
having an impact on the financial 
statements that have been published 
and that are mandatory for the Group’s 
accounting periods beginning on or 
before 1 January 2020, or later periods, 
have been adopted early. 

Standards and interpretations 
not yet applied by the Group 
The following new standards and 
interpretations, which are yet to become 
mandatory and have not been applied in 
the Group’s financial statements, are not 
expected to have a material impact on 
the Group’s financial statements

• 

IFRS 17 'Insurance contracts'

•  Definition of a business 
(Amendment to IFRS 3)

•  Definition of material 

(Amendment to IAS 1 and IAS 8)

1 General information
IQGeo Group plc (“the Company”) 
and its subsidiaries (together, “the 
Group”) delivers geospatial software 
solutions that integrate data from any 
source – geographic, real-time asset, 
GPS, location, corporate and external 
cloud-based sources – into a live 
geospatial common operating picture, 
empowering all users in the customer’s 
organisation to access, input and analyse 
operational intelligence to proactively 
manage their networks, respond quickly 
to emergency events and effectively 
manage day-to-day operations.

The Company is a public limited 
company which is listed on the 
Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of 
the London Stock Exchange (IQG) and is 
incorporated and domiciled in the United 
Kingdom. The value of IQGeo Group plc 
shares, as quoted on the London Stock 
Exchange at 31 December 2019, was 
57.5 pence per share (31 December 2018: 
67.5 pence).

The Company was incorporated as 
Ubisense Trading Limited on 11 October 
2005 and changed its name to Ubisense 
Group plc on 31 May 2011 ahead of its 
initial public offering and listing on AIM 
on 22 June 2011. Following the sale of 
its RTLS SmartSpace business unit the 
Company changed its name to IQGeo 
Group plc on 2 January 2019 with its 
subsidiaries also changing name to 
IQGeo. The address of its registered 
office is CB1 Business Centre, 20 Station 
Road, Cambridge CB1 2JD.

The Group has its operations in the UK, 
USA, Canada, Germany and Japan, and 
sells its products and services in North 
America, Japan, the UK and Europe. The 
Group legally consists of six subsidiary 
companies headed by IQGeo Group plc. 
A full list of subsidiaries is given in note 22 
of the financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements 
have been approved for issue by the 
Board of Directors on 6 March 2020.

3 Summary of significant 
accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied 
in the preparation of the consolidated 
financial statements are set out below. 
These policies have been consistently 
applied to all the years presented, unless 
otherwise stated. 

Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of 
IQGeo Group plc have been prepared in 
accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted 
by the European Union (IFRSs as adopted 
by the EU) and the Companies Act 2006 
applicable to companies reporting 
under IFRS. The consolidated financial 
statements have been prepared 
under the historical cost convention. 
The consolidated financial statements 
are presented in GBP and all values are 
rounded to the nearest thousand pounds 
(£’000) except when otherwise indicated.

The preparation of these financial 
statements in conformity with IFRS 
requires the Directors to make certain 
critical accounting estimates and 
judgements that affect the amounts 
reported in the financial statements and 
accompanying notes. The areas involving 
a higher degree of judgement or 
complexity, or areas where assumptions 
and estimates are significant to the 
consolidated financial statements, 
are disclosed in note 4.

Going concern basis
The Group’s business activities, together 
with factors likely to affect its future 
development, performance and position, 
are set out in the strategic report and 
Directors’ report on pages 1 to 46.

In determining the basis for preparing 
the consolidated financial statements, 
the Directors are required to consider 
whether the Company can continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable 
future, being a period of not less than 
twelve months from the date of the 
approval of the consolidated financial 
statements. 

59

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

3 Summary of significant accounting 
policies continued
Going concern basis continued
Management prepares detailed cash 
flow forecasts which are reviewed by the 
Board on a regular basis. The forecasts 
include assumptions regarding the 
opportunity funnel from both existing 
and new clients, growth plans, risks 
and mitigating actions. In particular, 
operating cash flow and profitability 
are highly sensitive to revenue mix and 
the positive contribution of continuing 
growth in software sales whether on a 
perpetual licence or subscription basis.

In reaching their going concern 
conclusion, the Directors have 
considered that the Group had cash 
of £13.1 million, with nil bank debt as 
at 31 December 2019 and sufficient 
working capital to continue operations. 

The Group’s forecasts and projections, 
taking account of reasonably possible 
changes in trading performance, support 
the conclusion that there is a reasonable 
expectation that the Company and the 
Group have adequate resources to 
continue in operational existence for the 
foreseeable future, a period of not less 
than twelve months from the date of this 
report. The Group, therefore, continues 
to adopt the going concern basis in 
preparing the consolidated financial 
statements.

Consolidation
The Group financial statements 
include the results, financial position 
and cash flows of the Company and 
all of its subsidiary undertakings. 
Subsidiary undertakings are those 
entities controlled directly or indirectly 
by the Company. Control arises when 
the Company has the power to govern 
the financial and operating policies of 
an entity, uses this power to affect the 
returns from that entity and has exposure 
to variable returns from its investment in 
the entity. 

Financial statements of the subsidiaries 
are prepared for the same reporting 
year as the Company, using consistent 
accounting policies. Businesses acquired 
or disposed of during the year are 
accounted for using acquisition method 
principles from, or up to, the date 
control passed. Intra-group transactions 
and balances are eliminated on 
consolidation. All subsidiaries use 
uniform accounting policies for like 
transactions and other events and 
similar circumstances. 

Non-controlling interests in the net 
assets of consolidated subsidiaries are 
identified separately from the Group’s 
equity therein. Non-controlling interests 
consist of the amount of those interests 
at the date of the original business 
combination and the non-controlling 
interest’s share of changes in equity since 
the date of combination. 

Foreign currencies
a. Functional and presentation  
currency 
The functional currency of each Group 
entity is the currency of the primary 
economic environment in which each 
entity operates. The consolidated financial 
statements are presented in GBP.

b. Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions 
are translated into the functional 
currency of each Group entity using 
the exchange rates prevailing at the 
dates of transactions. Monetary assets 
and liabilities denominated in foreign 
currencies are translated at rates ruling 
at the period end date. Such exchange 
differences are included in the income 
statement within “operating expenses”. 
Non-monetary items that are measured 
in terms of historical cost in a foreign 
currency are translated using the 
exchange rates as at the dates of the 
initial transactions.

c. Consolidation
For the purpose of presenting 
consolidated financial statements, the 
results and financial position of all the 
Group entities (none of which have the 
currency of a hyperinflationary economy) 
that have a functional currency other 
than GBP are translated into GBP as 
follows

•  Assets and liabilities for each 

statement of financial position are 
translated at the exchange rate at the 
period end date

• 

Income and expenses for each 
income statement are translated at 
the exchange rate ruling at the time of 
each period the transaction occurred

•  All resulting exchange differences are 
recognised in other comprehensive 
income

Business reporting
IFRS 8 requires a “management 
approach” under which information in 
the financial statements is presented on 
the same basis as that used for internal 
management reporting purposes.

The Group is organised on a global basis 
for its Geospatial business following the 
sale of its RTLS SmartSpace business 
unit on 31 December 2018. The Directors 
believe that the Chief Operating Decision 
Maker (CODM) is the Chief Executive 
Officer of the Group. The CODM and 
the rest of the Board are provided with 
information on the Geospatial business 
as a single business unit to assess its 
financial performance.

The internal management accounting 
information is prepared on an IFRS 
basis but has a non-GAAP “Adjusted 
EBITDA” as the primary measure of profit 
and this is reported on the face of the 
income statement.

Revenue recognition
Revenue represents the fair value of 
consideration received or receivable 
for the sales of goods and services net 
of discounts and sales taxes. Revenue 
is recognised based on the distinct 
performance obligations under the 
relevant customer contract as set out 
below. Where goods and/or services are 
sold in a bundled transaction or on a 
subscription basis, the Group allocates 
the total consideration under the contract 
to the different individual elements based 
on actual amounts charged by the Group 
on a standalone basis.

Software
Revenue earned from software sales 
under perpetual licence agreements with 
maintenance and support is recognised 
when the software is made available to 
the customer for use. 

If contracts include performance 
obligations which result in software being 
customised or altered, the software 
cannot be considered distinct from the 
labour service. Revenue recognition is 
dependent on the contract terms and 
assessment of whether the performance 
obligation is satisfied over time. If the 
conditions of IFRS 15 to recognise 
revenue over time are not satisfied, 
revenue is deferred until the software is 
available for customer use.

Maintenance and support 
Maintenance and support is recognised 
on a straight-line basis over the term 
of the contract, which is typically one 
year. Revenue not recognised in the 
consolidated income statement is 
classified as deferred revenue on the 
consolidated statement of financial 
position. 

60

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Employee benefits
a. Retirement benefits
The Group operates various defined 
contribution pension arrangements for 
its employees.

For defined contribution pension 
arrangements, the amount charged to 
the income statement represents the 
contributions payable in the period. 
Differences between contributions 
payable in the period and contributions 
actually paid are shown as either 
accruals or prepayments in the 
statement of financial position.

b. Share-based payments
The Group issues equity-settled 
share-based payments to certain 
employees. Vesting conditions are 
continuing employment and can include, 
for senior employees, a diluted EPS 
performance target or share price 
target. Equity-settled share-based 
payments are measured at fair value at 
the date of grant using an appropriate 
pricing model. The fair value is expensed 
on a straight-line basis over the vesting 
period, together with a corresponding 
increase in equity in the share-based 
payment reserve. Non-market vesting 
conditions include assumptions about the 
number of options expected to vest. 

Non-recurring items
Non-recurring items are disclosed 
separately in the financial statements 
where it is necessary to do so to provide 
further understanding of the financial 
performance of the Group. They are 
material one-off items of income 
or expense that have been shown 
separately due to the significance 
of their nature or amount and do 
not reflect the ongoing cost base or 
revenue-generating ability of the Group.

Interest income and expense
Interest income and expense is included 
in the income statement on a time basis, 
using the effective interest method by 
reference to the principal outstanding.

Tax 
The tax charge or credit comprises 
current tax payable and deferred tax:

a. Current tax
The current tax charge represents an 
estimate of the amounts payable or 
receivable to or from tax authorities in 
respect of the Group’s taxable profits 
and is based on an interpretation of 
existing tax laws. Taxable profit differs 
from profit before tax as reported in the 
income statement because it excludes 
certain items of income and expense 
that are taxable or deductible in other 
years or are never taxable or deductible. 
Taxation received is recognised only 
when it is probable that the Group is 
entitled to the asset.

b. Deferred tax
Deferred income taxes are calculated 
using the liability method on temporary 
differences. This involves the comparison 
of the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities in the consolidated financial 
statements with their respective tax 
bases. 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. 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 liabilities are always 
provided in full. 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. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
calculated, without discounting, at tax 
rates that are expected to apply to their 
respective period of realisation, provided 
they are enacted or substantively 
enacted at the reporting date. Deferred 
tax is recognised as a component of tax 
expense in the income statement, except 
where it relates to items charged or 
credited directly to other comprehensive 
income or equity when it is recognised in 
other comprehensive income or equity.

Subscription
Software sold on a non-perpetual basis 
consists of two performance obligations: 
a licence obligation for the temporary 
right to use the software and a post 
contract customer support obligation 
for the right to receive updates, 
enhancements, error corrections and 
support throughout the contracted 
term. The customer obtains the right 
to use the software once the licence 
has been delivered and the licence 
period starts. Revenue for the licence 
obligation is recognised at the point 
in time when the licence is delivered, 
whereas the maintenance and support 
obligation is satisfied over time and 
the associated revenue recognised on 
a straight-line basis over the term of 
the contract. Revenue not recognised 
in the consolidated income statement 
is classified as deferred revenue 
in the consolidated statement of 
financial position.

Services 
Services revenue includes consultancy 
and training. Services revenue from time 
and materials contracts is recognised in 
the period that the services are provided 
on the basis of time worked at agreed 
contractual rates and as direct expenses 
are incurred.

Revenue from fixed price, long-term 
customer specific contracts is recognised 
on the stage of completion of each 
assignment at the period end date 
compared to the total estimated service 
to be provided over the entire contract 
where the outcome can be estimated 
reliably. If a contract outcome cannot 
be estimated reliably, revenues are 
recognised equal to costs incurred, to 
the extent that costs are expected to 
be recovered. An expected loss on a 
contract is recognised immediately in 
the income statement.

Timing of payment
Maintenance and support income and 
subscription income is invoiced annually 
in advance at the commencement of 
the contract period. Other revenue is 
invoiced based on the contract terms 
in accordance with performance 
obligations. Amounts recoverable in 
contracts (contract assets) relate to our 
conditional right to consideration for 
completed performance obligations 
under the contract prior to invoicing. 
Deferred income (contract liabilities) 
relates to amounts invoiced in advance 
of services performed under the 
contract.

61

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are 
stated at cost less accumulated 
depreciation and any recognised 
impairment loss. Depreciation is charged 
to the income statement so as to write 
off the cost or valuation less estimated 
residual values over their expected useful 
lives on a straight-line basis over the 
following periods

•  Fixtures and fittings: three to ten 

years, or period of the lease if shorter

•  Computer equipment: three years

Residual values and useful economic 
lives are assessed annually. The gain or 
loss on the disposal or retirement of an 
asset is determined as the difference 
between the sales proceeds and the 
carrying amount of the asset and is 
recognised in operating expenses.

Leased assets
The Group as a lessee 
For any new contracts entered into, 
the Group considers whether a contract 
is, or contains, a lease. A lease is defined 
as ‘a contract, or part of a contract, 
that conveys the right to use an asset 
(the underlying asset) for a period of time 
in exchange for consideration’. To apply 
this definition the Group assesses 
whether the contract meets three 
key evaluations which are whether 

•  The contract contains an identified 
asset, which is either explicitly 
identified in the contract or implicitly 
specified by being identified at the 
time the asset is made available to 
the Group 

•  The Group has the right to obtain 
substantially all of the economic 
benefits from use of the identified 
asset throughout the period of use, 
considering its rights within the 
defined scope of the contract 

•  The Group has the right to direct the 
use of the identified asset throughout 
the period of use. The Group assess 
whether it has the right to direct 
‘how and for what purpose’ the asset 
is used throughout the period of use 

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

Development activities involve a plan 
or design for the production of new or 
substantially improved products and 
processes. Development expenditure 
is only capitalised if all of the following 
conditions are met

•  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. 
Among other things, this requires 
that there is a market for the output 
from the intangible asset or for the 
intangible asset itself, or, if it is to be 
used internally, the asset will be used 
in generating such benefits

•  There are adequate technical, 

financial and other resources to 
complete the development and to 
use or sell the intangible asset

•  The expenditure attributable to 
the intangible asset during its 
development can be measured 
reliably

Internally-generated intangible assets, 
consisting mainly of direct labour 
costs, are amortised on a straight-line 
basis over their useful economic 
lives. Amortisation is shown within 
administrative expenses in the income 
statement. The estimated useful lives 
of current development projects are 
three years. Upon completion the assets 
are subject to impairment testing if 
impairment triggers are identified, 
based on expected future sales.

Where no internally-generated 
intangible asset can be recognised, 
development expenditure is recognised 
as an expense in the period in which it is 
incurred.

Other intangible assets
Intangible assets that are purchased 
separately, such as software licences 
that do not form an integral part of 
related hardware, are capitalised at cost 
and amortised on a straight-line basis 
over their useful economic life which is 
typically three years. 

3 Summary of significant accounting 
policies continued
Business combinations
The Group applies the acquisition 
method to account for business 
combinations. The consideration 
transferred for the acquisition of a 
subsidiary is the fair values of the 
assets transferred, the liabilities 
incurred to the former owners of 
the acquiree and the equity interests 
issued by the Group. The consideration 
transferred includes the fair value of 
any asset or liability resulting from a 
contingent consideration arrangement. 
Identifiable assets acquired and 
liabilities and contingent liabilities 
assumed in a business combination are 
measured initially at their provisional 
fair values at the acquisition date. 
Fair values are reassessed during the 
measurement period and updated if 
required. The Group recognises any 
non-controlling interest in the acquiree 
on an acquisition-by-acquisition 
basis, either at fair value or at the 
non-controlling interest’s proportionate 
share of the recognised amounts of the 
acquiree’s identifiable net assets. 

If the business combination is achieved 
in stages, the acquisition date fair value 
of the acquirer’s previously held equity 
interest in the acquiree is remeasured to 
fair value at the acquisition date through 
profit or loss.

Any contingent consideration to be 
transferred by the Group is recognised 
at fair value at the acquisition date. 
Subsequent changes to the fair value 
of the contingent consideration that 
is deemed to be an asset or liability is 
recognised in accordance with IAS 39 
either in profit or loss or as a change to 
other comprehensive income. Contingent 
consideration that is classified as equity 
is not remeasured and its subsequent 
settlement is accounted for within equity.

Goodwill
Goodwill is initially measured as 
the excess of the aggregate of the 
consideration transferred and the fair 
value of non-controlling interest over 
the net identifiable assets acquired and 
liabilities assumed. If this consideration is 
lower than the fair value of the net assets 
of the subsidiary acquired, the difference 
is recognised in profit or loss.

Goodwill arising on an acquisition of 
a business is the difference between 
the fair value of the consideration paid 
and the net fair value of the assets and 
liabilities acquired. Goodwill is carried at 
cost less accumulated impairment losses.

62

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Impairment of non-financial assets
Assets that have an indefinite useful 
life – for example, goodwill – are not 
subject to amortisation and are tested 
at least annually for impairment and 
whenever there is an indication that the 
asset may be impaired. Assets that are 
subject to amortisation are reviewed 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 carrying 
amount exceeds its recoverable amount. 
The recoverable amount is the higher 
of an asset’s fair value less costs to 
sell and value in use. For the purposes 
of assessing impairment, assets are 
grouped at the lowest levels for which 
there are separately identifiable 
cash flows (cash-generating units). 
Impairment losses are recognised 
immediately in profit or loss.

Non-financial assets other than 
goodwill that suffered an impairment 
are reviewed for possible reversal 
of the impairment at each reporting 
date. Where an impairment loss is 
reversed, it is reversed to the extent that 
the increased carrying amount does 
not exceed the carrying amount that 
would have been determined had no 
impairment loss been recognised in prior 
years. A reversal of an impairment loss is 
recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Financial instruments
Recognition and derecognition 
Financial assets and financial liabilities 
are recognised when the Group becomes 
a party to the contractual provisions of 
the financial instrument.

Financial assets are derecognised when 
the contractual rights to the cash flows 
from the financial asset expire, or when 
the financial asset and substantially all 
the risks and rewards are transferred. 
A financial liability is derecognised when 
it is extinguished, discharged, cancelled 
or expires.

Measurement and recognition 
of leases as a lessee 
At lease commencement date, the Group 
recognises a right-of-use asset and 
a lease liability on the balance sheet. 
The right-of-use asset is measured 
at cost, which is made up of the initial 
measurement of the lease liability, any 
initial direct costs incurred by the Group, 
an estimate of any costs to dismantle 
and remove the asset at the end of the 
lease, and any lease payments made in 
advance of the lease commencement 
date (net of any incentives received).

The Group depreciates the right-of-use 
assets on a straight-line basis from 
the lease commencement date to the 
earlier of the end of the useful life of 
the right-of-use asset or the end of the 
lease term. The Group also assesses the 
right-of-use asset for impairment when 
such indicators exist.

At the commencement date, the Group 
measures the lease liability at the 
present value of the lease payments 
unpaid at that date, discounted using 
the interest rate implicit in the lease 
if that rate is readily available or the 
Group’s incremental borrowing rate. 

Lease payments included in the 
measurement of the lease liability are 
made up of fixed payments (including 
in substance fixed), variable payments 
based on an index or rate, amounts 
expected to be payable under a residual 
value guarantee and payments arising 
from options reasonably certain to 
be exercised.

Subsequent to initial measurement, 
the liability will be reduced for payments 
made and increased for interest. It is 
remeasured to reflect any reassessment 
or modification, or if there are changes in 
in-substance fixed payments.

When the lease liability is remeasured, 
the corresponding adjustment is 
reflected in the right-of-use asset, or 
profit and loss if the right-of-use asset 
is already reduced to zero. 

The Group has elected to account for 
short-term leases and leases of low-value 
assets using the practical expedients. 
Instead of recognising a right-of-use 
asset and lease liability, the payments 
in relation to these are recognised as an 
expense in profit or loss on a straight-line 
basis over the lease term.

On the statement of financial position, 
right-of-use assets have been presented 
as non-current assets and lease liabilities 
have been included in trade and 
other payables.

Classification and initial 
measurement of financial assets 
Except for those trade receivables that 
do not contain a significant financing 
component and are measured at the 
transaction price in accordance with 
IFRS 15, all financial assets are initially 
measured at fair value adjusted for 
transaction costs (where applicable). 

Financial assets, other than those 
designated and effective as hedging 
instruments, are classified into the 
following categories

•  Amortised cost 

•  Fair value through profit or loss 

(FVTPL) 

•  Fair value through other 

comprehensive income (FVOCI)

The classification is determined by both 

•  The entity’s business model for 
managing the financial asset 

•  The contractual cash flow 

characteristics of the financial asset

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

Subsequent measurement of 
financial assets 
Financial assets at amortised cost 
Financial assets are measured at 
amortised cost if the assets meet the 
following conditions (and are not 
designated as FVTPL) 

•  They are held within a business model 
whose objective is to hold the financial 
assets and collect its contractual 
cash flows 

•  The contractual terms of the financial 
assets give rise to cash flows that 
are solely payments of principal and 
interest on the principal amount 
outstanding

After initial recognition, these are 
measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method. Discounting is 
omitted where the effect of discounting 
is immaterial. The Group’s cash and 
cash equivalents, trade and most other 
receivables fall into this category of 
financial instruments.

63

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

3 Summary of significant accounting 
policies continued
Financial instruments continued
Subsequent measurement of 
financial assets continued
Financial assets at fair value through 
profit or loss (FVTPL) 
Financial assets that are held within a 
different business model other than ‘hold 
to collect’ or ‘hold to collect and sell’ 
are categorised at fair value through 
profit and loss. Further, irrespective of 
business model, financial assets whose 
contractual cash flows are not solely 
payments of principal and interest are 
accounted for at FVTPL. 

Assets in this category are measured 
at fair value with gains or losses 
recognised in profit or loss. The fair 
values of financial assets in this category 
are determined by reference to active 
market transactions or using a valuation 
technique where no active market exists.

Investments
As part of the sale transaction of the 
RTLS business unit on 31 December 
2018, the Group holds a rollover equity 
investment in Abyssinian Topco Limited 
(registered number: 11650137) which, 
following the transaction, is the parent 
company of the RTLS SmartSpace 
business unit.

The Group has made the irrevocable 
election to account for the investment in 
Abyssinian Topco Limited at fair value 
through other comprehensive income 
(FVOCI). In the current financial year, the 
fair value was determined in line with the 
requirements of IFRS 9, which does not 
allow for measurement at cost. 

Trade receivables
Trade receivables are amounts due from 
customers for products sold or services 
performed in the ordinary course of 
business. If collection is expected in one 
year or less, they are classified as current 
assets. If not, they are presented as 
non-current assets.

The Group makes use of a simplified 
approach in accounting for trade and 
other receivables as well as contract 
assets and records the loss allowance 
as lifetime expected credit losses. These 
are the expected shortfalls in contractual 
cash flows, considering the potential for 
default at any point during the life of 
the financial instrument. In calculating, 
the Group uses its historical experience, 
external indicators and forward-looking 
information to calculate the expected 
credit losses using a provision matrix. 

The Group assesses impairment of trade 
receivables on a collective basis as they 
possess shared credit risk characteristics 
they have been grouped based on the 
days past due.

Classification and measurement 
of financial liabilities
The Group’s financial liabilities include 
borrowings, trade and other payables 
and derivative financial instruments.

Financial liabilities are initially measured 
at fair value, and, where applicable, 
adjusted for transaction costs unless the 
Group designated a financial liability at 
fair value through profit or loss. 

Subsequently, financial liabilities are 
measured at amortised cost using 
the effective interest method except 
for derivatives and financial liabilities 
designated at FVTPL, which are carried 
subsequently at fair value with gains 
or losses recognised in the profit or 
loss (other than derivative financial 
instruments that are designated and 
effective as hedging instruments).

Trade payables
Trade payables are obligations to 
pay for goods or services that have 
been acquired in the ordinary course 
of business from suppliers. Accounts 
payable are classified as current 
liabilities if payment is due within one 
year or less. If not, they are presented as 
non-current liabilities.

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

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

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

Share capital and share premium
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. 
Incremental costs directly attributable 
to the issue of new shares or options 
are shown in equity as a deduction, net 
of tax, from the proceeds. The nominal 
value of shares issued is classified as 
share capital and the amounts paid over 
the nominal value in respect of share 
issues, net of related costs, is classified 
as share premium.

Share-based payment reserve
The share-based payment reserve 
relates to a cumulative charge made 
in respect of share options granted by 
the Company to the Group’s employees 
under its employee share option plans.

Capital redemption reserve
The capital redemption reserve relates 
to the repurchase and subsequent 
cancellation of issued ordinary 
share capital.

Translation reserve
Exchange differences relating to the 
translation of the results and net assets 
of the Group’s foreign operations 
from their functional currencies to 
the Group’s presentation currency of 
GBP, are recognised directly in other 
comprehensive income and accumulated 
in the translation reserve.

Retained earnings
Retained earnings include all current 
and prior period retained profits/losses. 

Non-controlling interests
Non-controlling interests, presented as 
part of equity, represent a proportion of 
a subsidiary’s profit or loss and net assets 
that is not held by the Group. The Group 
attributes total comprehensive income 
or loss of subsidiaries between the assets 
of the parent and the non-controlling 
interests based on their respective 
ownership interests. 

64

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 20194 Critical accounting judgements 
and key sources of estimation and 
uncertainty
When preparing the financial statements, 
management makes a number of 
judgements, estimates and assumptions 
about the recognition and measurement 
of assets, liabilities, income and 
expenses.

Significant management judgements
The following are the judgements 
made by management in applying the 
accounting policies of the Group that 
have the most significant effect on the 
financial statements.

Capitalisation of development costs
The point at which development costs 
meet the criteria for capitalisation is 
critically dependent on management’s 
judgement of the point at which 
technical and commercial feasibility is 
demonstrable. The carrying amount 
of capitalised development costs 
at 31 December 2019 is £1.5 million 
(2018: £1.2 million). After capitalisation, 
management monitors whether the 
recognition requirements continue to be 
met and whether there are any indicators 
that capitalised costs may be impaired.

Revenue recognition
Significant management judgement 
is applied in determining the distinct 
performance obligations included within 
contracts involving multiple deliverables. 
Additionally, for each identified 
significant performance obligation 
management are required to determine 
which obligations meet the criteria to 
recognise revenue over time.

As revenue from fixed price services 
agreements is recognised over time, 
the amount of revenue recognised in a 
reporting period depends on the extent 
to which the performance obligation 
has been satisfied. This requires an 
estimate of the time and value to deliver 
the services to be provided, based 
on historical experience with similar 
contracts. In a similar way, recognising 
revenue requires the estimated number 
of hours required to complete the 
promised work.

Deferred tax
A deferred tax asset is recognised where 
the Group considers it probable that 
future tax profits will be available against 
which the tax credit will be utilised in the 
future. This specifically applies to tax 
losses and to outstanding vested share 
options at the statement of financial 
position date. 

In estimating the amount of the deferred 
tax asset that should be recognised, the 
Directors make judgements based on 
current budgets and forecasts about the 
amount of future taxable profits and the 
timings of when these will be realised. 
No deferred tax asset is currently 
recognised.

Recognition of earn-out  
consideration
On 31 December 2018 the Group 
disposed of its RTLS SmartSpace 
business unit for a consideration of 
up to £35.0 million, with £30.0 million 
paid in cash on completion (subject to 
adjustments for net debt and net working 
capital) in addition to a £2.0 million 
rollover investment and further 
£3.0 million earn out consideration. 

The earn-out consideration of 
£3.0 million is subject to the RTLS 
SmartSpace business unit meeting the 
following milestones 

•  £1.5 million is payable if revenue 
achieved for the year ended 
31 December 2018 is £16.4 million. 
This milestone was not met

•  £1.5 million is payable if revenue 
achieved for the year ended 
31 December 2019 is £22.0 million

• 

If the first milestone is not met, the full 
£3.0 million will be paid if the revenue 
for the 2019 period meets the 2019 
target plus the shortfall of the target 
of the 2018 period. Accordingly, the 
full £3.0 million earn-out would be 
achieved if the 2019 revenue for the 
RTLS SmartSpace business exceeds 
£22.9 million 

While the achievement of an additional 
£3.0 million earn-out cash consideration 
remains possible, no contingent 
asset has been recognised within the 
statement of financial position as at 
31 December 2019. Management believes 
that this is appropriate as achievement 
of the milestones is dependent on the 
new management team’s strategy and 
performance, over which IQGeo have 
no influence as a minority shareholder. 
IQGeo have not been informed of the final 
consolidated results for the year ended 
31 December 2019 of the RTLS SmartSpace 
business unit (Ubisense Limited) as at the 
release date of this report.

Estimating uncertainty
The Group makes estimates and 
assumptions concerning the future. 
The resulting accounting estimates will, 
by definition, seldom equal the related 
actual results. 

The estimates and assumptions that have 
a significant risk of causing a material 
adjustment to the carrying amounts 
of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year are addressed below.

Amortisation and impairment 
of development costs
Capitalised development costs are 
amortised over a three year period 
which is management’s estimate of 
the useful lives of current development 
projects. In reaching this conclusion, 
management have made assumptions in 
respect of future customer requirements 
and developments within the industry. 
These estimates have a high level of 
uncertainty and are matters outside 
of management's control. 

The Group reviews capitalised 
development costs for impairment 
annually in accordance with the 
accounting policy stated in note 3. 
In performing the impairment review, 
management is required to make 
assumptions of the future cash flows 
generated from the software products. 
This includes consideration of both the 
current business pipeline and estimations 
beyond the existing pipeline. Estimation 
uncertainty relates to assumptions 
about future operating results and the 
determination of a suitable discount rate.

5 Business information
5.1 Operating segments
Management provides information 
reported to the Chief Operating 
Decision Maker (CODM) for the purpose 
of assessing performance and allocating 
resources. The CODM is the Chief 
Executive Officer. 

The business delivers software solutions 
that integrate data from any source 
– geographic, real-time asset, GPS, 
location, corporate and external 
cloud-based sources – into a live 
geospatial common operating picture, 
empowering all users in the customer’s 
organisation to access, input and analyse 
operational intelligence to proactively 
manage their networks, respond quickly 
to emergency events and effectively 
manage day-to-day operations. These 
geospatial operations are reported to 
the CODM as a single business unit.

The performance of the discontinued 
RTLS SmartSpace business unit which 
was disposed of on 31 December 2018 
is disclosed within note 6.

65

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

5 Business information continued
5.2 Revenue by type of the continuing operations
The following table presents the different revenue streams of the Geospatial business unit:

Revenue of continuing Geospatial operations 

Software 

Maintenance and support 

Subscription 

Services 

Total revenue generated from IQGeo own products 

Geospatial services from third party products 

Total revenue 

2019 
£’000 

1,589 

1,251 

381 

2,328 

5,549 

2,257 

7,806 

% of total 
revenue 

20% 

16% 

5% 

30% 

71% 

29% 

100% 

2018 
£’000 

1,395 

918 

— 

2,424 

4,737 

5,242 

9,979 

% of total 
revenue

14%

9%

0%

24%

47%

53%

100%

5.3 Geographical areas of continuing operations
The Board and Management Team also review the revenues on a geographical basis, based around the regions where the Group 
has its significant subsidiaries or markets.

The Group’s revenue from external customers in the Group’s domicile, the UK, and its major worldwide markets have been 
identified on the basis of the customers’ geographical location. Non-current assets are allocated based on their physical location.

The following table represents the Group’s continuing operational revenue and non-current assets by geographical region:

UK 

Europe 

USA 

Canada 

Japan 

Rest of World 

Revenue 

Non-current assets

2019 
£’000 

95 

169 

5,897 

1,164 

461 

20 

2018 
£’000 

— 

17 

7,041 

1,596 

1,302 

23 

2019 
£’000 

3,630 

1 

121 

2 

1 

— 

2018 
£’000

3,252

1

364

4

2

—

7,806 

9,979 

3,755 

3,623

The main country of operation of the Group is the United States of America as this is where the majority of revenue is generated.

2019 revenues include £0.9 million from income deferred at the beginning of the period (2018: £1.4 million) relating to performance 
obligations satisfied over time.

5.4 Information about major customers of the continuing operations
During 2019, the Group had one customer who generated revenues of greater than 10% of total Geospatial revenue. £1.8 million 
was generated from one US customer.

During 2018, the Group had one customer who generated revenues of greater than 10% of total Geospatial revenue. £3.1 million 
was generated from one US customer.

6 Discontinued operations
On 31 December 2018 the Group disposed of its RTLS SmartSpace business unit for a consideration of up to £35.0 million with 
£30.0 million paid in cash on completion (subject to adjustments for net debt and net working capital) in addition to a £2.0 million 
rollover investment and further £3.0 million earn out consideration. 

The disposal of the RTLS SmartSpace business followed reorganisation involving the creation of new legal entities within the UK, 
USA, Canada, Germany and Japan regions. The Group completed a reorganisation whereby the trade and assets of the RTLS 
SmartSpace and Geospatial business units were separated into different legal entities in each country. The restructured RTLS 
SmartSpace group of legal entities, headed by Ubisense Limited, was disposed of on 31 December 2018. Central functions such as 
finance and IT were allocated between the RTLS SmartSpace and Geospatial legal entities so that both divisions could continue 
trading post disposal. This was supported through a transition services agreement between IQGeo and the discontinued business.

66

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The earn-out consideration of £3.0 million is subject to the RTLS SmartSpace business unit meeting the following milestones 

•  £1.5 million is payable if revenue achieved for the year ended 31 December 2018 is £16.4 million. This milestone was not met

•  £1.5 million is payable if revenue achieved for the year ended 31 December 2019 is £22.0 million

• 

If the first milestone is not met, the full £3.0 million will be paid if the revenue for the 2019 period meets the 2019 target plus the 
shortfall of the target of the 2018 period. Accordingly, the full £3.0 million earn-out would be achieved if the 2019 revenue for 
the RTLS SmartSpace business exceeds £22.9 million 

While the achievement of an additional £3.0 million earn-out cash consideration remains possible, no contingent asset has been 
recognised within the statement of financial position as at 31 December 2019. Management believes that this is appropriate as 
achievement of the milestones is dependent on the new management team’s strategy and performance, over which IQGeo have 
no influence as a non-controlling shareholder. IQGeo have not been informed of the final results for the year ended 31 December 
2019 of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit as at the release date of this report.

The following information is attributable to the RTLS SmartSpace business unit:

6.1 Income statement for the year ended 31 December 2019

Revenue 

Cost of revenues 

Gross profit 

Operating expenses 

Operating profit/(loss) 

Analysed as: 

Gross profit 

Other operating expenses 

Adjusted EBITDA 

Depreciation 

Amortisation and impairment of other intangible assets 

Share option expense 

Reorganisation costs 

Operating profit/(loss) 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Profit/(loss) before tax 

Income tax  

Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations prior to gain on disposal 

Gain on disposal of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations 

The gain on disposal of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit discontinued operations is summarised as follows:

Consideration received or receivable: 

Cash received (as presented within the statement of consolidated cash flows) 

Rollover investment in RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Amounts receivable on finalisation of completion accounts 

Total disposal consideration 

Consideration used to settle HSBC debt on 31 December 2018 

Carrying value of net assets sold  

Transaction costs incurred 

Accrued bonuses in respect of the transaction completion 

Gain on sale before income tax and reclassification of foreign currency reserve  

Reclassification of foreign currency reserve 

Gain on disposal of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

2019 
£’000 

— 

— 

— 

161 

161 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

121 

40 

161 

— 

— 

161 

— 

161 

242 

403 

2018 
£’000

15,519

(7,402)

8,117

(8,804)

(687)

8,117

(6,204)

1,913

(808)

(1,251)

(55)

(486)

(687)

7

(144)

(824)

(57)

(881)

22,366

21,485

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

— 

— 

214 

214 

— 

— 

38 

28,882

2,000

846

31,728

(1,753)

(4,804)

(1,888)

(10) 

(701)

242 

22,582

— 

(216)

242 

22,366

67

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

6 Discontinued operations continued
6.2 Cash flows from discontinued operations

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities: 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Expenditure on intangible assets 

Cash received on sale of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Cash in RTLS SmartSpace business unit at disposal 

Disposal costs in relation to the RTLS SmartSpace business unit   

Interest received 

Total net cash inflow/(outflow) from investing activities 

Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities: 

Repayment of bank debt 

Repayment of lease liability 

Interest paid 

Total net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities 

2019 
£’000 

— 

— 

— 

2018 
£’000

(599)

(245)

(985)

1,060 

28,882

— 

(2,313)

(1,839) 

(704)

— 

7

(779) 

24,642

— 

— 

— 

— 

(2,500)

(518)

(71)

(3,089)

7 Employee information
7.1 Employee numbers of continuing operations
The average monthly number of people, including Executive Directors, employed by the Group during the year was:

Actual number of  
people as at  
31 December 

Average monthly 
number of people

2019 
Number 

2018 
Number 

2019 
Number 

2018 
Number

21 

23 

16 

11 

71 

24 

18 

7 

10 

59 

20 

24 

13 

11 

68 

30

20

7

10

67

2019 
Number 

2018 
Number 

2019 
Number 

2018 
Number

17 

4 

47 

3 

71 

15 

1 

40 

3 

59 

Notes 

21 

17 

4 

44 

3 

68 

16

1

41

9

67

2019 
£’000 

7,872 

523 

355 

102 

2018 
£’000

6,395

482

288

248

8,852 

7,413

By activity 

Technical consultants 

Sales & marketing 

Research & development 

Administration 

By geography 

United Kingdom 

Europe 

North America 

Asia  

7.2 Employee benefits of continuing operations
The aggregate employee benefit expense, including Executive Directors, comprised:

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Contributions to defined contribution pension arrangements 

Share-based payments 

Total aggregate employee benefits 

68

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
8 Finance income and costs of continuing operations

Interest income from cash and cash equivalents 

Finance income 

Interest expense for lease arrangements   

Finance costs 

Net finance costs 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

72 

72 

(10) 

(10) 

62 

1

1

(14)

(14)

(13)

9 Loss before tax: analysis of expenses by nature
9.1 Expenses by nature of continuing operations
The following items have been charged/(credited) to the income statement in arriving at a gain before tax:

Amortisation and impairment of other intangible assets 

Depreciation of owned property, plant and equipment 

Depreciation of right-of-use assets 

Lease rental charges – land and buildings  

Research & development costs expensed   

Net foreign currency (gains)/losses 

Unrealised foreign exchange (gains)/losses on intercompany trading balances 

Non-recurring items 

9.2 Non-recurring items from continuing operations

Capital reduction 

Sale of Japan geospatial third party services business 

Total non-recurring items 

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

12 

13 

14 

19 

9.2 

815 

57 

228 

221 

238 

(38) 

110 

136 

2019 
£’000 

136 

— 

136 

774

57

216

—

95

(89)

(151)

(619)

2018 
£’000

—

(619)

(619)

Capital reduction
On 2 August 2019, the Company announced a proposed tender offer to repurchase up to a maximum of 28,260,869 of the 
Company's Ordinary Shares at a price of 46 pence per Ordinary Share. Following approval of the tender offer by a General 
Meeting of shareholders on 22 August 2019, the tender offer completed on 30 August 2019, resulting in the share capital reducing 
by 23,803,690 and £10,950,000 of surplus funds being returned to shareholders in September 2019. 

Sale of Japan geospatial third party services business
On 30 March 2018, the Group sold its Japan third party geospatial services, including the Geoplan brand name, for a gross 
consideration of JPY 100 million (£0.7 million). This has been credited to the income statement in arriving at a gain before tax.

Alongside this transaction, the 23% non-controlling interest of Geoplan Company Limited was acquired. The acquisition of this 
non-controlling interest gave the Group 100% ownership of its remaining Japanese operations. 

The sale of the Japan geospatial third party services business was not presented as a discontinued operation because these 
geospatial services will be provided to customers based in other regions of the Group’s continuing operations. Additionally, 
the Japan geospatial operations will continue, albeit solely focused on selling IQGeo products and related services. The sold 
geospatial business did not represent a significant part of the global business at the time of disposal.

69

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

9 Loss before tax: analysis of expenses by nature continued
9.3 Auditor's remuneration
During the year the Group (including its overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from the Company’s auditor and 
its associates:

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

70 

10 

80 

17 

— 

21 

— 

38 

118 

59

70

129

7

179

14

—

200

329

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

— 

118 

— 

118 

(54) 

(54) 

64 

—

213

(238)

(25)

(14)

(14)

(39)

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

64 

—

300

(407)

(107)

50

50

(57)

(96)

Fees payable to the Group’s auditor for the audit of:   

Parent Company and consolidated financial statements 

Financial statements of subsidiaries, pursuant to legislation 

Total audit fees 

Fees payable to the Group’s auditor for other services: 

Tax advisory 

Tax services associated with the Group reorganisation  

Audit related assurance services 

Other services 

Total non-audit fees 

Total auditor's remuneration 

The auditor of IQGeo Group plc is Grant Thornton UK LLP.

10 Income tax
10.1 Income tax recognised in the income statement

Current tax – continuing operations 

Corporation tax 

Adjustment in respect of prior year 

Foreign tax 

Total current tax credit/(charge) 

Deferred tax – continuing operations 

Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Total deferred tax charge 

Total income tax credit/(charge) for the year – continuing operations 

Current tax – discontinued operations 

Corporation tax 

Adjustment in respect of prior year 

Foreign tax 

Total current tax charge 

Deferred tax – discontinued operations 

Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Total deferred tax credit 

Total income tax charge for the year – discontinued operations 

Total income tax credit/(charge) for the year 

70

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The tax credit differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK for the year of 19% (2018: 19%) for the following reasons:

Loss before tax – continuing operations 

Gain before tax from discontinued operations 

Total (loss)/gain before tax 

Loss before tax multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.0% (2018: 19%) 

Tax effects of: 

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes  

Income not subject to income tax 

Utilisation of previously unrecognised tax losses 

Unrecognised deferred tax movements 

Tax unprovided/(overprovided) in prior years 

Research & development tax credits – prior years 

Difference on tax treatment of share options – unrecognised 

Differential on overseas tax rates 

Total income tax debit/(credit) 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

(6,234) 

(1,604)

403 

21,542

(5,831) 

19,938

(1,108) 

 3,788

16 

(77) 

(24) 

1,371 

(118) 

— 

19 

(143) 

(64) 

75

(2,138)

(1,987)

256

15

(513)

57

543

96

10.2 Factors that may affect future tax charges
The Group has tax losses of £17.6 million (2018: £8.7 million) that are available for offset against future taxable profits of those 
subsidiary companies in which the tax losses arose. The increase in tax losses from the prior year is partially due to clarification 
of the tax implications of the Group reorganisation undertaken in 2018. Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect 
of these losses as they may not be used to offset taxable profits elsewhere in the Group, and they have arisen in subsidiaries 
whose future taxable profits are uncertain. No deferred tax has been recognised on the unremitted earnings of overseas 
subsidiaries, because the earnings are continually reinvested by the Group and no tax is expected to be payable on them 
in the foreseeable future.

The deferred tax balances have been measured at 19%, the rate of realisation expected.

10.3 Deferred tax
The movement in deferred tax in the Consolidated statement of financial position during the year is as follows:

Deferred income  
tax assets 

Deferred income 
tax liabilities

At 1 January 

Deferred tax credited to the income statement 

Deferred tax charged to the income statement 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

At 31 December 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

The components of deferred tax included in the Consolidated statement of financial position are as follows:

Development costs capitalised  

Total deferred income tax liabilities 

2019 
£’000 

(231) 

150 

(204) 

— 

(285) 

2019 
£’000 

(285) 

(285) 

2018 
£’000

(516)

349

(313)

249

(231)

2018 
£’000

(231)

(231)

Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the following items because it is not probable that future taxable 
profits will be available against which the Group can utilise the benefits:

Tax losses carried forward 

Equity-settled share options temporary differences 

Total unrecognised deferred tax assets 

2019 
£’000 

3,396 

8 

2018 
£’000

1,549

33

3,404 

1,582

71

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

11 Earnings per share (EPS)

Earnings attributable to Ordinary Shareholders 

Loss from continuing operations (’000)  

Gain from discontinued operations (’000)  

(Loss)/gain from continuing and discontinued operations (’000)   

Number of shares 

2019  

2018 

(6,170) 

(1,643)

403 

21,485

(5,767) 

19,842

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic EPS (’000) 

65,977 

73,088

Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares:  

– Share options (’000) 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted EPS (’000) 

Continuing operations EPS 

Basic and diluted EPS (pence)   

Discontinued operations EPS   

Basic and diluted EPS (pence)   

Continuing and discontinued operations EPS 

Basic and diluted EPS (pence)   

67 

257

66,044 

73,345

(9.4) 

(2.2)

0.6 

29.4

(8.7) 

27.1

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing profit/(loss) for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company 
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period. For diluted earnings per share, the weighted 
average number of shares is adjusted to allow for the effects of all dilutive share options and warrants outstanding at the end 
of the year. Options have no dilutive effect in loss-making years and are therefore not classified as dilutive for Discontinued 
and Total EPS since their conversion to ordinary shares does not decrease earnings per share or increase loss per share from 
continuing operations. 

The Group also presents an adjusted diluted earnings per share figure which excludes share-based payments charge, unrealised 
foreign exchange gains/(losses) on intercompany trading balances and non-recurring items from the measurement of loss for the 
period.

Continuing operations 

Notes 

2019 

2018

Continued earnings for the purposes of diluted EPS being net loss attributable  
to equity holders of the parent company (£’000) 

Adjustments:  

Reversal of share-based payments charge (£’000) 

Unrealised foreign exchange gains/(losses) on intercompany trading balances (’000)   

Reversal of non-recurring items (£’000) 

Net adjustments (£’000) 

Adjusted earnings (£’000) 

Adjusted diluted EPS from continuing operations (pence) 

21 

9 

(6,170) 

(1,643)

102 

110 

136 

348 

248

(151)

(619)

(522)

(5,822) 

(2,165)

(8.8) 

(3.0)

The adjusted EPS information is considered to provide a fairer representation of the Group’s trading performance. Options have 
no dilutive effect in loss-making years.

72

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12 Intangible assets

Cost  

At 1 January 2018 

Exchange difference 

Additions 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Acquired 
customer 
 relationships 
and order 
backlog  
£’000 

Goodwill 
£’000 

  Capitalised 
Acquired 
product 
software  development 
costs 
products 
£’000 
£’000 

Software 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

8,805 

2,240 

650 

15,936 

1,407 

29,038

— 

— 

(3,256) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1,650 

85 

194 

85

1,844

(11,139) 

(355) 

(14,750)

Disposal of Japan geospatial services business 

(2,579) 

(2,240) 

(650) 

Disposal – other 

At 31 December 2018 

Additions 

At 31 December 2019 

Accumulated amortisation 

At 1 January 2018 

Effects of movement in exchange rates 

Charge for the year 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Disposal of Japan geospatial services business 

Disposal – other 

At 31 December 2018 

Charge for the year 

At 31 December 2019 

Net book amount 

At 31 December 2019 

At 31 December 2018 

— 

2,970 

— 

2,970 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

6,447 

1,074 

7,521 

(403) 

(5,872)

(906) 

(906)

22 

102 

124 

9,439

1,176

10,615

(8,805) 

(2,240) 

(650) 

(13,220) 

(1,161) 

(26,076)

— 

— 

3,256 

2,579 

— 

(2,970) 

— 

(2,970) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2,240 

650 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(79) 

(79)

(1,839) 

(186) 

(2,025)

9,825 

— 

— 

(5,234) 

(788) 

(6,022) 

144 

376 

906 

13,225

5,845

906

— 

(8,204)

(27) 

(27) 

(815)

(9,019)

1,499 

1,213 

97 

22 

1,596

1,235

Capitalised product development costs relate to expenditure that can be applied to a plan or design for the production of new or 
substantial improvements to software products. On 31 December 2018 the RTLS SmartSpace business unit was disposed of and 
the remaining capitalised product development costs relate entirely to geospatial software products. The Group is loss-making 
and this is an indicator for potential impairment of development costs. Management have completed impairment reviews through 
estimating the future discounted cash flows to be generated from these assets and concluded that no impairment is required as 
the cash flows exceeded the carrying value of the asset.

The remaining average amortisation period for capitalised product development costs is two years.

The software assets represent assets purchased from third parties.

73

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

13 Property, plant and equipment

Cost  

At 1 January 2018 

Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Additions 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Disposals – other 

At 31 December 2018 

Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Additions 

Disposals – other 

At 31 December 2019 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 1 January 2018 

Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Charge for the year 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Disposals – other 

At 31 December 2018 

Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Charge for the year 

Disposals – other 

At 31 December 2019 

Net book amount 

At 31 December 2019 

At 31 December 2018 

  Fixtures and   Computer 
fittings  equipment  
£’000 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

733 

19 

214 

1,292 

2,025

29 

102 

48

316

(760) 

(864) 

(1,624)

— 

206 

(7) 

7 

(25) 

181 

(383) 

176 

(4) 

49 

(35) 

186 

(383)

382

(11)

56

(60)

367

(391) 

(1,141) 

(1,532)

(15) 

(117) 

343 

— 

(180) 

7 

(16) 

25 

(35) 

(95) 

771 

382 

(118) 

7 

(41) 

35 

(50)

(212)

1,114

382

(298)

14

(57)

60

(164) 

(117) 

(281)

17 

26 

69 

58 

86

84

14 Right-of-use assets 
The Group early adopted IFRS 16 and from 1 January 2018 recognised right-of-use assets for leases previously classified as 
operating leases applying IAS 17.

Details of the Group’s right-of-use assets and their carrying amount are as follows:

Cost 

At 1 January 

Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Additions 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Cost at 31 December 

Depreciation 

At 1 January 

Effect of movements in exchange rates 

Charge for the year 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

Depreciation at 31 December   

Net book amount at 31 December 

74

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

502 

(10) 

— 

— 

3,002

—

63

(2,563)

492 

502

(198) 

7 

—

23

(228) 

(869)

— 

(419) 

73 

648

(198)

304

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15 Investments
At 31 December 2019, the Group holds a rollover investment in Abyssinian Topco Limited as part of the consideration for the sale of 
the RTLS SmartSpace business unit on 31 December 2018. Abyssinian Topco Limited is a UK registered company (company number 
11650137) and is a parent company of Ubisense Limited (company number 04489603) which, along with its subsidiary companies, 
comprise the RTLS SmartSpace business unit.

Investment as at 31 December 2019 and 31 December 2018 

IQGeo Group plc holds 5.3% (2018: 5.6%) of the ordinary share capital of Abyssinian Topco Limited.

16 Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables, gross 

Allowances for expected credit losses 

Trade receivables, net 

Amounts recoverable on contracts 

Other receivables 

Prepayments 

VAT and taxation receivable 

Total trade and other receivables 

£’000

2,000

Notes 

16.1 

16.2 

2019 
£’000 

1,365 

(4) 

2018 
£’000

1,535

—

1,361 

1,535

336 

68 

540 

48 

610

915

485

41

2,353 

3,586

All amounts disclosed are short term. The carrying value of trade receivables is considered a reasonable approximation of 
fair value. 

The following disclosures are in respect of trade receivables that are either impaired or past due. The individually impaired 
receivables mainly relate to customers who are in unexpectedly difficult economic situations and are assessed on a 
customer-by-customer basis following detailed review of the particular circumstances. To the extent they have not been 
specifically provided against, the trade receivables are considered to be of sound credit rating.

16.1 Movement in allowance for expected credit losses

At 1 January 

Exchange differences 

Amounts recovered in the year  

Amounts written off in the year  

Allowance released 

Provided debts disposed of on 31 December 2018 

Allowance made 

At 31 December 

16.2 Ageing of past due but not impaired receivables

Neither past due nor impaired  

Past due but not impaired: 

0 to 90 days overdue 

More than 90 days overdue 

Total 

2019 
£’000 

— 

— 

— 

35 

— 

— 

(39) 

(4) 

2019 
£’000 

1,173 

188 

— 

2018 
£’000

(1,460)

(25)

204

—

42

1,239

—

—

2018 
£’000

1,533

2

—

1,361 

1,535

75

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

17 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand 

Cash and cash equivalents 

2019 
£’000 

13,053 

13,053 

2018 
£’000

30,915

30,915

Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates based on daily bank overnight deposit rates. Short-term cash deposits earn interest 
at fixed rates for the term of the deposit.

The composition of cash and cash equivalents by currency is as follows:

By currency 

British Pound (GBP) 

Euro (EUR) 

US Dollar (USD) 

Japanese Yen (JPY) 

Canadian Dollar (CAD) 

Cash and cash equivalents 

18 Trade and other payables

Deferred income 

Trade payables 

Trade accruals 

Other taxation and social security 

Other payables 

Total trade and other payables 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

10,083 

29,076

373 

—

1,936 

1,030

392 

269 

5

804

13,053 

30,915

2019 
£’000 

1,118 

272 

1,428 

317 

106 

2018 
£’000

913

2,175

1,734

214

44

3,241 

5,080

All amounts disclosed are short term. The carrying value of trade payables is considered a reasonable approximation of fair value.

19 Lease obligation
The Group early adopted IFRS 16 and from 1 January 2018 has recognised a lease liability for leases previously classified as 
operating leases applying IAS 17.

The Group has measured lease liabilities at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using the Group’s 
incremental borrowing rate at the date of initial application.

Details of the Group’s liability in respect of right-of-use assets and their carrying amount are as follows:

At 1 January 

Effect of movements in exchange rates 

New leases entered into during the year 

Finance costs incurred 

Payments made during the year 

Disposal of RTLS SmartSpace business unit 

At 31 December 

Presented as: 

Lease liability payable within one year 

Lease liability payable in more than one year 

At 31 December 

76

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

309 

3,002

1 

— 

7 

(238) 

— 

79 

79 

— 

79 

23

63

96

(743)

(2,132)

309

232

77

309

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
On 20 December 2019, the Group entered into a seven year lease running to February 2028 on new premises in Denver as the 
lease on the existing premises in Denver ends on 30 April 2020. While the new Denver lease agreement has been contracted, a 
capital asset for the present value of the future payments, and its associated liability, have not been recognised on the balance 
sheet in accordance with IFRS 16, as the lease period will not commence until March or April 2020. In addition, £0.2 million fit-out 
costs net of landlord’s contribution will be incurred in the first half of 2020.

The lease liability consists of £80,000 of lease payments after deduction £1,000 of future finance charges.

Leases as lessee
The Group maintains short-term office rental agreements within Germany, Japan and the UK. The leases entered into are 
twelve months or less and the Group has elected to not apply IFRS 16 to these leases due to their short-term nature. The 2019 
operating expense presented within the consolidated income statement includes £221,000 of rent expense in respect of these 
leases. The future obligations for the new short-term leases are reported within the table below. 

The Group enters into these arrangements as these are a cost-efficient way of obtaining the short-term benefits of these assets.

The Group’s future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

No later than one year 

Total 

Land and  
buildings  
2019 
£’000 

Land and 
buildings 
2018 
£’000

231 

231 

191

191

The above table reflects the committed cash payments under operating leases, rather than the expected charge to the income 
statement in the relevant periods. 

20 Share capital and premium

  Number of 
ordinary  
shares 
 of £0.02 each 

Share 
capital 
 £’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

Balance at 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018 

 73,087,904 

1,462 

46,375 

47,837

Issued under share-based payment plans  

Capital reduction 

Repurchase and cancellation of shares 

Change in year 

Balance at 31 December 2019   

219,215 

— 

4 

— 

27 

31

(28,948) 

(28,948)

 (23,803,690) 

(476) 

— 

(476)

 (23,584,475) 

(472) 

(28,921) 

(29,393)

 49,503,429 

990 

17,454 

18,444

The Company has one class of ordinary shares which carry no right to fixed income.

At the Company Annual General Meeting on 5 June 2019, the Directors obtained shareholder approval to complete a Capital 
Reduction with the Company’s share premium account being reduced by £28,948,000. On 16 July 2019 a Court Order was granted 
to allow a capital reduction.

On 2 August 2019, the Company announced a proposed tender offer to repurchase up to a maximum of 28,260,869 of the 
Company’s Ordinary Shares at a price of 46 pence per Ordinary Share. Following approval of the tender offer by a General 
Meeting of Shareholders on 22 August 2019, the tender offer completed on 30 August 2019 resulting in the share capital reducing 
by 23,803,690 and £10,950,000 of surplus funds being returned to shareholders in September 2019. 

77

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

21 Share-based payments: options 
21.1 Equity-settled share-based payment arrangements
The Group operates a number of plans to award options over shares in the Company to incentivise high performing key employees 
of the Group periodically. 

Other than the December 2016 share option award set out in note 21.4, the options generally vest evenly over three years on 
the anniversary from the date of the grant or entirely on the third anniversary from the date of grant, depending on continuing 
service during the vesting period. The contractual life of the options is ten years from the date of grant, after which they expire 
if unexercised.

21.2 Analysis of amounts recognised in the financial statements
(a) Analysis of amounts recognised in the consolidated income statement
The allocation between continuing and discontinued operations is as follows:

Share-based payments charge presented as continuing operations 

Share-based payments credit/(charge) presented as discontinued operations 

Total share-based payments (credit)/charge recognised 

(b) Analysis of amounts recognised in the consolidated statement of changes in equity in the year

Net share-based payments (debit)/credit recognised in equity 

(c) Cumulative amounts included within equity in the consolidated statement of financial position

Cumulative reserve credit for share-based payments 

21.3 Reconciliation of movements in equity-settled share-based payment arrangements in the year

2019 
£’000 

102 

(121) 

(19) 

2019 
£’000 

(19) 

2019 
£’000 

632 

2018 
£’000

248

55

303

2018 
£’000

303

2018 
£’000

717

Arrangement 

Options 

Award 
date 
Year 

Vests 
Years 

Expires 
Year 

2010 

2011–13 

2011 

2012–14 

2012 

2013–15 

2013 

2014–16 

2014 

2015–17 

2016 

2017–19 

2018 

2019–21 

2020 

2021 

2022 

2023 

2024 

2026 

2028 

Total 

Weighted average exercise price (£) 

Weighted average remaining contractual life 

Awards 
  outstanding 
at 1 Jan 
2019 
Number 

Exercise 
price 
£ 

0.140 

320,172 

1.050 

100,200 

2.125 

70,500 

2.055 

77,850 

2.250 

45,000 

0.020  5,250,000 

0.555 

350,000 

  6,213,722 

0.138 

  7.5 years 

Granted 
during 
the year 
Number 

Exercised 
during 
the year 
Number 

Awards 
Awards 
Forfeited  outstanding  exercisable 
at 31 Dec  
at 31 Dec 
2019 
2019 
Number
Number 

during 
the year 
Number 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

219,215 

6,000 

94,957 

94,957

— 

— 

— 

— 

71,500 

28,700 

28,700

42,500 

28,000 

28,000

45,100 

32,750 

32,750

35,000 

10,000 

10,000

—  1,900,000  3,350,000 

—

— 

— 

350,000 

116,666

219,215  2,100,100  3,894,407 

311,073

0.140 

0.179 

0.117 

0.828

  6.8 years  4.1 years

21.4 Share option scheme details 
2010 granted share options
90,657 14 pence share options have been exercised during January 2020. Any remaining 14 pence unexercised share options will 
expire during 2020.

2016 granted share options
On 14 December 2016 IQGeo Group plc implemented a new long-term incentive share option plan for Executive Directors and key 
management. IQGeo Group plc granted 5,600,000 options of two pence each in the Company with an exercise price set at the 
nominal value. The options vest if the Company’s share price exceeds 70 pence for 60 consecutive calendar days between the 2nd 
and 3rd anniversary of issue and the period of employment continues for over three years. 

Due to the LTIP performance condition not being reached in the year to 14 December 2019, the share options have not vested. 
Despite the performance condition not being met, the Remuneration Committee retains the right to extend the vesting period 
for another twelve months in exceptional circumstances. The Remuneration Committee has not exercised this right to date, 
and expects to replace this existing LTIP scheme with a new one during 2020.

78

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The share options were valued using a Monte Carlo valuation model. The expected life is the expected period from grant to 
exercise based on management’s best estimate of the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural 
considerations. The risk-free return is an average yield on the zero-coupon UK Government Bond in issue at the date of grant 
with a similar life to the option. Volatility is estimated at the grant date based on the historical daily share price movements of the 
Company over a four-year period.

Within the 2019 financial statements a credit of £39,000 (2018: £291,000 charge) has been recognised in respect of share options 
granted on 14 December 2016 of which £121,000 credit relates to discontinued operations.

2018 granted share options
On 24 May 2018, 350,000 share options were issued at market value. The new share options were valued using a Black-Scholes 
valuation model. The expected life is the expected period from grant to exercise based on management’s best estimate of the 
effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. The risk-free return is an average yield on 
the zero-coupon UK Government Bond in issue at the date of grant with a similar life to the option.

One-third of the options will vest each anniversary of the grant date with 350,000 options being fully vested on 24 May 2021. 
The vesting conditions are that the individual must remain an employee of the Group on each vesting date.

Within the 2019 financial statements a charge of £20,000 (2018: £12,000) has been recognised in respect of share options granted 
on 24 May 2018.

22 Subsidiaries 
The Group consists of the parent company, IQGeo Group plc, incorporated in the UK, and a number of subsidiary companies 
which operate and are incorporated around the world. Information about the composition at the end of the reporting period 
is as follows:

Subsidiary 

IQGeo UK Limited 

Country of 
incorporation 

Principal 
activity 

UK 

Geospatial solutions 

IQGeo Germany GmbH 

Germany 

Geospatial solutions 

IQGeo America Inc. 

US 

Geospatial solutions 

IQGeo Solutions Canada Inc. 

Canada 

Geospatial solutions 

IQGeo Systems Limited 

UK 

Non-trading 

Proportion 
of ordinary 
shares held 
 by group  
(%) 

100 

100 

100 

100 

100 

Registered office

CB1 Business Centre, 20 Station Road 
 Cambridge, CB1 2JD, UK

Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 49,  

60308 Frankfurt am Main, Germany

999 18th Street, Suite 901, Denver, 
CO 80202, United States

250 Howe Street, Suite 1400,  

Vancouver, BC V6C3S7, Canada

CB1 Business Centre, 20 Station Road 
 Cambridge, CB1 2JD, UK

IQGeo Japan K.K. 

Japan 

 Geospatial solutions 

100 

Level 20 Marunouchi Trust Tower – Main 1-8-3 
  Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 100-005, Japan

All subsidiaries are directly held by IQGeo Group plc. All subsidiaries are 100% owned by the Group.

All subsidiaries prepare local statutory accounts up to 31 December each year. 

79

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

23 Related party transactions
23.1 Remuneration of key personnel
The key management have been assessed to be the Directors of the Group (Executive and Non-Executive) during the 2019 and 
2018 period.

During the year, there was an average number of seven key management personnel (2018: seven) and seven key management 
personnel at 31 December 2019 (2018: seven). The compensation paid or payable to key management for employee services is 
shown below:

Short-term employee benefits  

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Performance payments 

Termination payment 

Other benefits 

Post-employment benefits 

Contributions to defined contribution pension arrangements 

Share-based payments 

Equity-settled share-based payments 

Total key management compensation 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

533 

87 

136 

19 

8 

783 

519

72

247

—

5

843

28 

53

26 

837 

175

1,071

23.2 Transactions with the Group related parties
There were no other related party transactions with Directors of the Company during 2019 or 2018 other than acquisition and 
disposal of shares described within the Directors' report.

24 Financial risk management
24.1 Risk management objectives and policies
The Group is exposed to various risks in relation to financial instruments. The Group’s financial assets and liabilities by category 
are summarised within note 24.7. The main types of risks are market risk (including foreign currency risk), credit risk and 
liquidity risk. 

The Group’s risk management is co-ordinated at its headquarters, in close co-operation with the Board of Directors, and focuses 
on actively securing the Group’s short to medium-term cash flows. The Group does not actively engage in the trading of financial 
assets for speculative purposes. The most significant financial risks to which the Group is exposed are described below. 

24.2 Foreign currency risk management
The Group operates globally and undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies, predominantly in US Dollars 
(USD), Euros (EUR) and Japanese Yen (JPY), exposing the Group to foreign currency risk. The Group’s risk management policy is 
to maintain natural hedges where possible, by matching foreign currency revenue and expenditure. The Group does not enter 
into forward exchange contracts to mitigate the exposure to foreign currency risk as the Group’s currency transactions are not 
considered significant enough to warrant this. 

Foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities which expose the Group to currency risk are disclosed below. 
The amounts shown are those denominated in the local functional currency, translated into GBP at the closing rate.

Assets 

Liabilities 

Japanese Yen  

US Dollars 

Euros

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

— 

(10) 

— 

(19) 

2019 
£’000 

413 

(1) 

2018 
£’000 

53 

(7) 

2019 
£’000 

84 

— 

2018 
£’000

—

(9)

All foreign currency financial assets and liabilities are classified as current.

80

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24.3 Foreign currency sensitivity analysis
The following table illustrates the sensitivity of profit and equity in regards to the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities 
and the USD/GBP, EUR/GBP and JPY/GBP exchange rates “all other things being equal”. It assumes a +/- 5% change in the GBP 
exchange rate against the relevant foreign currencies.

The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items and adjusts their translation at 
the period end. A positive number indicates an increase in profit and equity.

Effect of a 5% appreciation of the local currency:  

Income statement 

Equity 

Effect of a 5% depreciation of the local currency: 

Income statement 

Equity 

Japanese Yen  

US Dollars 

Euros

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

(1) 

(1) 

— 

— 

(1) 

(1) 

1 

1 

22 

22 

(20) 

(20) 

2 

2 

(2) 

(2) 

4 

4 

(4) 

(4) 

—

—

—

—

Exposure to foreign currency exchange rates varies during the year, depending on the volume of transactions. Nonetheless, the 
analysis above is considered to be representative of the Group’s exposure to currency risk.

24.4 Credit risk analysis
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty fails to discharge a contractual obligation resulting in financial loss to the Group. 
The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk is limited to the carrying amount of financial assets recognised at the reporting date, 
as summarised in note 24.7, which are principally cash and cash equivalents and trade receivables.

Cash and cash equivalents are held at banks with good independent credit ratings in accordance with the Group Treasury policy. 
The Group continuously monitors defaults of customers and other counterparties, identified either individually or by the Group, 
and incorporates this information into its credit risk controls. Where available at reasonable cost, external credit ratings and/
or reports on customers and other counterparties are obtained and used. The Group’s policy is to deal only with creditworthy 
counterparties.

The Group’s management considers that its financial assets that are not impaired or past due for each of the reporting dates 
under review are of good credit quality. All receivables are subject to regular review to ensure that they are recoverable and any 
issues identified as early as possible. In order to manage credit risk the Directors set limits for customers based on a combination 
of payment history and third party credit references. Credit limits are reviewed by the credit controller on a regular basis in 
conjunction with debt ageing and collection history. In addition, many of the Group’s customers, and approximately 80% by 
balance at any given time, are large utility companies and other blue-chip companies that would be considered a low credit 
risk. As a consequence management have determined that there is no expected credit loss in respect of trade receivables at 
31 December 2019.

The amount of exposure to any single counterparty or a group of counterparties having similar characteristics is subject to a limit, 
which is reassessed periodically by management. At 31 December 2019, one customer individually accounted for more than 32% of 
the gross trade receivables balance (31 December 2018: more than 51%).

None of the Group’s financial assets are secured by collateral or other credit enhancements.

Details of certain trade receivables at 31 December 2019 that have not been settled by the contractual due date but are not 
considered to be impaired are included in note 16.2.

24.5 Liquidity risk analysis
Liquidity risk is the risk arising from the Group not being able to meet its obligations as they fall due. The Group seeks to manage 
this risk by regularly reviewing forecast inflows and outflows due in day-to-day business and investing cash assets safely and 
profitably. The data used for analysing these cash flows is consistent with that used in the contractual maturity analysis below.

Cash flow forecasting is performed at the subsidiary level and aggregated by Group finance. Rolling cash flow forecasts are 
used by the Group to monitor liquidity requirements to ensure it has sufficient cash to meet operational needs. The Group policy 
throughout the year has been to remit surplus working capital balances at the subsidiary level to Group treasury and place on 
short-term deposit or interest bearing reserve accounts and distribute funds locally when required. 

The Group’s existing cash balances exceed the current cash outflow requirements.

81

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

24 Financial risk management continued
24.5 Liquidity risk analysis continued
As at 31 December 2019, the Group’s financial liabilities have contractual maturities as summarised below:

As at 31 December 2019 

Trade and other payables 

Lease obligations 

Other payables 

As at 31 December 2018 

Trade and other payables 

Lease obligations 

Other payables 

Current 

Non-current

Within 
6 months 
£’000 

Between  
 6 and 
12 months  
£’000 

Between 
1 and 
5 years 
£’000 

Later than 
5 years 
£’000

3,241 

79 

— 

5,312 

119 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

113 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

77 

— 

—

—

—

—

—

—

Financial assets used for managing liquidity risk
Cash flows from trade and other receivables are contractually due within three months in the majority of cases. Where surplus 
cash deposits are identified these are placed in accounts with access terms of no more than three months.

24.6 Capital risk management
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising 
the return to stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the long-term cost of capital. The capital 
structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and capital and reserves attributable to the owners of the Company.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may issue shares, take on debt, sell assets to raise cash, adjust the 
amount of dividends payable to shareholders or return capital to shareholders.

The capital structure is continually monitored by the Group. The Group’s strategy is to have a capital structure that allows 
investment in long-term profitable growth, takes into account prevailing trading conditions and seeks to improve balance sheet 
efficiency over time. The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

The Group has no bank loan facilities at 31 December 2019 (31 December 2018: £nil).

82

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24.7 Categories of financial instruments
Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement 
and the basis on which income and expenses are recognised in respect of each class of financial asset, financial liability and 
equity instrument, are disclosed in the accounting policies in note 3. The carrying amounts presented in the consolidated statement 
of financial position relate to the following categories of financial instrument:

Financial assets 

Fair value through the profit and loss: 

– Investments 

Amortised cost: 

– Trade receivables 

– Amounts recoverable on contracts 

– Other receivables 

– Cash and cash equivalents 

Total financial assets 

Financial liabilities 

Amortised cost: 

– Trade payables 

– Trade accruals 

– Other payables 

– Lease obligation 

Total financial liabilities 

25 Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities

At 1 January 2018 

Cash flows: 

  Repayment 

Non-cash 

  Recognition on adoption of IFRS 16 

  Additions 

Effect of moving exchange rates 

Interest applied to principle  

  Disposal of the RTLS SmartSpace business 

At 31 December 2018 

Cash flows: 

  Repayment 

Non-cash 

Effect of moving exchange rates 

Interest applied to principle 

At 31 December 2019 

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

15 

2,000 

2,000

16 

16 

16 

17 

18 

18 

18 

19 

1,361 

1,535

336 

68 

610

915

13,053 

30,915

16,818 

35,975

272 

1,428 

106 

79 

2,175

1,734

44

309

1,885 

4,262

  HSBC loan 
£’000 

Lease 
liability 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

2,500 

— 

2,500

(2,500) 

(743) 

(3,243)

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

3,002 

3,002

63 

23 

96 

63

23

96

(2,132) 

(2,132)

309 

309

(238) 

(238)

1 

7 

79 

1

7

79

83

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company balance sheet
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Fixed assets 

Investments  

Current assets 

Debtors falling due within one year 

Debtors falling due after one year 

Cash at bank and in hand 

Creditors – amounts falling due within one year 

Net current assets 

Total assets less current liabilities 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 

Called-up share capital 

Share premium account 

Share-based payment reserve  

Capital redemption reserve 

Profit and loss reserve 

Equity shareholders’ funds 

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

3 

4 

4 

2,384 

2,110

12,950 

14,027

6,076 

9,715

9,851 

28,948

28,877 

52,690

5 

(418) 

(6,207)

28,459 

46,483

30,843 

48,593

30,843 

48,593

6 

7 

7 

7 

7 

990 

1,462

17,454 

46,375

632 

476 

11,291 

717

—

39

30,843 

48,593

The notes on pages 86 to 88 are an integral part of the Company financial statements.

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company has elected not to present its own profit and loss 
account for the year. IQGeo Group plc reported a loss for the financial year ended 31 December 2019 of £6.8 million 
(2018: £27.8 million gain).

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 6 March 2020 and signed 
on its behalf by:

Richard Petti 
Chief Executive Officer 

Tim Gingell 
Chief Financial Officer

IQGeo Group plc

Registered Number: 05589712

84

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2019

Attributable to equity shareholders

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

 Share-based  

Capital 
payment   redemption 
reserve 
£’000 

reserve 
£’000 

Balance at 1 January 2018 

Total comprehensive profit for the year 

Lapse of share options 

Reserve credit for equity-settled share-based payment 

Transactions with owners 

Balance at 31 December 2018   

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Lapse of share options 

Exercise of share options 

Capital reduction 

Repurchase and cancellation of shares 

Reserve credit for equity-settled share-based payment 

Transactions with owners 

Balance at 31 December 2019   

1,462 

46,375 

1,139 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

1,462 

46,375 

— 

— 

4 

— 

— 

— 

27 

(28,948) 

(476) 

— 

— 

— 

(472) 

(28,921) 

990 

17,454 

— 

(725) 

303 

(422) 

717 

— 

(60) 

(6) 

— 

— 

(19) 

(85) 

632 

The notes on pages 86 to 88 are an integral part of the Company financial statements.

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

(28,467) 

20,509

27,781 

27,781

725 

— 

—

303

28,506 

28,084

39 

48,593

(6,812) 

(6,812)

60 

6 

28,948 

—

31

—

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

476 

(10,950) 

(10,950)

— 

476 

476 

— 

(19)

18,064 

(10,938)

11,291 

30,843

85

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2019

1 Principal accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The financial statements of IQGeo Group plc have been prepared in compliance with United Kingdom accounting standards, 
including Financial Reporting Standard 102 (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006. A summary of the significant accounting 
policies which have been reviewed by the Board of Directors is set out below.

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention. 

The Company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted 
by FRS 102, as it is a qualifying entity and its financial statements are included in the consolidated financial statements of 
IQGeo Group plc.

•  The requirements of Section 4 Statement of Financial Position 4.12(a)(iv)

•  The requirements of Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows

•  The requirements of Section 3 Financial Statement Presentation paragraph 3

•  The requirements of financial instruments paragraphs 11.41(b), 11.41(c), 11.41(e), 11.41(f), 11.42, 11.44, 11.47, 11.48(a)(iii), 11.48(iv), 

11.48(b) and 11.48(c)

•  The requirements of Section 33 Related Party Disclosures paragraph 33.7

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption under FRS 102 paragraph 1.12(b), from preparing a statement of cash flows, 
on the basis that it is a qualifying entity and the consolidated financial statements of IQGeo Group plc include the Company’s 
cash flows.

Share-based payments
The Company issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain employees of its subsidiaries. Vesting conditions are 
continuing employment and can include, for senior employees, a diluted EPS performance target or share price target. 
Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant using an appropriate pricing model. 
The share-based payment is accounted for as a capital contribution to the subsidiaries. Investments in subsidiaries are increased 
by the aggregate amount of share-based payment with a corresponding increase in equity for the same amount. Information on 
share options which have been granted to Directors and employees are given in note 21 to the consolidated financial statements.

Investments 
Fixed asset investments are stated at historical cost less any provision for impairment. 

The Group assesses investments for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value 
of an investment may not be recoverable. If any such indication of impairment exists, the Group makes an estimate of the 
recoverable amount. If the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the value of the investment, the investment 
is considered to be impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in the 
profit and loss account. 

Debtors
Short-term debtors are measured at transaction price, less impairment. Financial assets are measured subsequently at amortised 
cost using the effective interest method less any impairment.

Creditors
Short-term trade creditors are measured at transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured 
initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest rate.

Deferred taxation
Deferred tax is provided in full on timing differences that 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.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation and uncertainty
The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom 
equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are addressed below.

The Group is loss making and this is an indicator for potential impairment of the investments in the trading subsidiaries of IQGeo 
Group plc. In undertaking impairment reviews, management is required to make assumptions of the future cash flows generated 
from its subsidiaries. This includes consideration of both the current business pipeline and estimations beyond the existing pipeline.

86

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 20192 Profit and loss account
The Company does not have any employees (2018: nil). Directors’ emoluments are disclosed within the Remuneration Committee 
report on page 44 of the Corporate governance report. The Directors were not remunerated by IQGeo Group plc.

Auditor's remuneration attributable to the Company is as follows:

Audit fee – statutory audit 

Other services 

3 Investments 

Cost and net book amount 

At 1 January 2019 

Additions to subsidiaries 

Capital contribution relating to share-based payments 

At 31 December 2019 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

70 

— 

70 

59

—

59

  Investments  
Other 
in 
  subsidiaries  investments 
£000 

£’000 

Total 
£’000

2,110

74

200

2,000 

— 

— 

110 

74 

200 

384 

2,000 

2,384

Capital contribution and impairment
As part of the sale transaction of the RTLS SmartSpace business unit, the Group holds a rollover investment in Abyssinian Topco 
Limited. 

Capital contributions relating to share-based payments arise because the Company has granted share options to the employees 
of its various subsidiaries.

The Group is loss making and this is an indicator for potential impairment of its investments. Management have completed 
impairment reviews through estimating the future discounted cash flows to be generated from these assets and concluded that 
no further impairment is required as the cash flows are expected to exceed the value of the investment. 

Further information about subsidiaries is provided in note 22 of the consolidated financial statements.

4 Debtors

Debtors falling due within one year: 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

Other debtors 

Debtors falling due after one year: 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

Total debtors 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

12,950 

13,180

— 

847

12,950 

14,027

6,076 

6,076 

9,715

9,715

19,026 

23,742

Interest is charged on debtors falling due after one year at a rate of 3.5% plus LIBOR on the balance owed. 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are unsecured.

During 2019, a provision of £6.8 million was made against amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings due within one year.

87

3. Financial statements 2. 1. IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2019

5 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade accruals 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings 

6 Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid 

Ordinary shares of £0.02 each  

 49,503,429 

 73,087,904 

Movements during the year are disclosed within note 20 to the Group accounts.

2019 
Number 

2018 
Number 

2019 
£’000 

3 

415 

418 

2018 
£’000

1,431

4,776

6,207

2018 
£’000

1,462

2019 
£’000 

990 

7 Reserves
Share capital and share premium
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares are shown in equity as 
a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. The nominal value of shares issued is classified as share capital and the amounts paid 
over the nominal value in respect of share issues, net of related costs, is classified as share premium.

Share-based payment reserve
The share-based payment reserve relates to a cumulative charge made in respect of share options granted by the Company to 
the Group’s employees under its employee share option plans.

Capital redemption reserve
The capital redemption reserve relates to the repurchase and subsequent cancellation of ordinary share capital.

Retained earnings
Retained earnings include all current and prior period retained profits/losses. 

8 Related party transactions 
The Company takes advantage of the exemption under FRS 102 for transactions with wholly owned Group companies. There were 
no other related party transactions, other than the issue of shares to certain Directors detailed within the Directors' report. 

88

IQGeo Group plc Annual Report 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Advisers

Registered office 
IQGeo Group plc 
CB1 Business Centre  
20 Station Road 
Cambridge CB1 2JD  
Tel: +44 (0)1223 606 655 
Website: www.iqgeo.com

Nominated advisers and brokers 
finnCap Limited
60 New Broad Street 
London EC2M 1JJ

Lawyers 
Mills & Reeve LLP 
Cambridge Office  
Botanic House  
98-100 Hills Road  
Cambridge CB2 1PH 

Auditor 
Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Cambridge Office  
101 Cambridge Science Park  
Milton Road  
Cambridge CB4 0FY 

Registrar 
Computershare Investor Services PLC 
The Pavilions  
Bridgwater Road  
Bristol BS99 6ZZ 

Banker 
HSBC Bank plc 
Vitrum  
St John’s Innovation Park  
Cowley Road  
Cambridge CB4 0WS

The paper used in this report is elemental chlorine free and 
is FSC® certified. It is printed to ISO 14001 environmental 
procedures, using vegetable based inks.

The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) is an international 
network which promotes responsible management of the 
world’s forests. Forest certification is combined with a system 
of product labelling that allows consumers to readily identify 
timber-based products from certified sources.

Designed by  

www.lyonsbennett.com

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United Kingdom
IQGeo Group plc
20 Station Road
Cambridge CB1 2JD

Germany
IQGeo Germany GmbH
Friedrich-Ebert-Anlage 49
60308 Frankfurt am Main

Canada
IQGeo Solutions Canada Inc.
#19 - 3034 Edgemont Blvd.
North Vancouver, B.C. V7R 2NO

USA
IQGeo America Inc.
999 18th Street, Suite 901
Denver, CO 80202

Japan
IQGeo Japan KK
Level 20 Marunouchi Trust Tower 
1-8-3 Marunouchi Chiyoda-ku Tokyo 
100-0005

Youtube/IQGeo

@IQGeo_software

LinkedIn/IQGeo

Visit us online
www.iqgeo.com