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Kape Technologies

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FY2018 Annual Report · Kape Technologies
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GROWING  
OPPORTUNITIES

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
IntRoductIon

Who we are

Our focus

Kape is a privacy first 
cybersecurity company 
focused on helping 
consumers around the world 
have better experience and 
protection in their digital life.

The Group utilises its proprietary 
digital distribution technology to 
optimise its reach and create a 
superb user experience.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Digital marketing expertise

Our vision

Kape offers products which 
provide online security, privacy and 
an optimal online experience.

Kape’s vision is to provide online 
autonomy for a secure and 
accessible personal digital life.

Financial highlights

Operational highlights

Contents

$52.1m

Revenue from core app 
distribution segment
+8%

$10.4m

Adjusted EBITDA*
+28.3%

$15.9m

Adjusted cash flow  
from operations excluding 
movement in deferred 
contract costs

$40.4m

Cash balance 
and no debt

• Progress: Substantial progress in
transitioning to a pure SaaS-based
model, providing a solid platform for
future growth.

219%
Growth in subscriptions

• Growth: Launched CyberGhost 7.0
app and developed add-ons for
Chrome and Firefox browsers.

Strategic Report

Highlights
At a glance 
Chairman’s statement 
Market overview 
Chief Executive Officer’s review 
Growth strategy 
Our user acquisition model 
Strategy in action 
Financial review 
Principal risks and uncertainties 

1.1 million
Paying users

• Acquisition of Intego, a leading SaaS
cyber-security provider Mac and iOS
cybersecurity and malware
protection.

• Acquisition of Zenmate a multi-

Corporate Governance

Board of directors 
Corporate governance statement 
Remuneration Committee report 
directors’ report 
Statement of directors’ responsibilities 

Financial Statements

01
02
04
06
08
11
12
14
16
20

22
24
28
30
32

platform security software business
with a focus on the provision of virtual
private network (“VPN”) solutions.

33

Independent Auditor’s report 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income 
37
Consolidated statement of financial position 38
Consolidated statement of changes  
in shareholders’ equity 
Consolidated statement of cash flows 
Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements 
Shareholder information and advisors 

39
40

41
72

*

Adjusted EBITdA is a non-GAAP measure and a company specific measure which excludes 
other operating income and expenses which are considered to be one off and non-recurring 
in nature.

**  The Adjusted EBITdA attributable to the Web Apps and License division for 2017 was $2.2 
million. This division was discontinued as of September 2017; as no such revenue was 
recorded in 2018.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

01

0246810122016Underlying Adjusted EBITDA** ($ million)($ million)2017271% Growth20182.86.010.4At A GlAnce

Kape’s core  
software products

Company overview

Our product range

Digital Privacy
• Consists of our two complementary digital

privacy solutions: CyberGhost and
recently acquired ZenMate

• Safeguards personal information when

browsing the internet through unsecured
networks

• Blocks malicious content and provides a

fully encrypted internet

• CyberGhost is consistently rated a Top 3

VPN SaaS provider in Europe and the USA

OS Performance Optimisation
• Consists of Restoro & Reimage, our PC

and Mac repair product, and driverfix, our
driver repair solution

• Restoro is a patented repair solution to fix
PCs and Macs remotely; removes malware
and repairs computer software
• Proprietary driverfix solution scans

computers for outdated drivers across all
Windows operating systems on desktop
computers, tablets and mobile devices

• developed subscription brands

Malware Protection
• Consists of Intego, our leading Mac and

iOS cybersecurity and malware protection
SaaS provider

• Focused on the provision of malware

protection, firewall, anti-spam, backup,
data protection

• Provide parental controls software for
Mac, a tool for keeping children safe
online

• NetBarrier provides a two-way firewall to
protect consumers from malicious apps

c. 400

Employees

9

Global Hubs

830,000

Subscribers

160

Subscriber countries

02

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Our product range

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

03

cHAIRMAn’s stAteMent

As the world becomes more reliant on digital 
communication, with individuals accessing data 
across multiple devices and from various locations 
globally, consumers have become more vulnerable to 
cyber-attacks – with high profile hacking often 
targeting individuals’ private and personal data 
stored online. We believe that digital privacy, 
alongside protection, is becoming the number one 
individual security concern. The global cybersecurity 
market was worth $153 billion in 20181 and is 
estimated to be growing by 12-15% p.a., while the 
market for privacy solutions is growing at an equally 
fast rate of 15% p.a.2

Kape’s growing range of ‘privacy first’ solutions are 
now well-positioned to capitalise on this sizeable 
global market opportunity, as we continue to market 
to a receptive and highly scalable customer base. 

Competitive advantage 
Customer acquisition knowhow and a superior 
product stack continue to be key competitive 
advantages for our business.

Our ability to manage and implement highly 
targeted customer acquisition methodologies 
enables our team to reach millions of customers 
daily, effectively and has enabled management to 
both accelerate organic growth and enhance the 
customer traction of the software solutions that 
we have acquired. 

Our product and R&d teams continue to work hard 
to develop and improve our solutions, ensuring 
quality and ease of use as well as heightened 
customisation and performance.

74%

Subscription  
retention rate

DON ELGIE
non-eXecutIVe cHAIRMAn

Kape’s growing range of ‘privacy first’ 
solutions are now well-positioned to 
capitalise on this sizeable global 
market opportunity

Introduction
I am pleased to report 12 months of significant 
further development for the Group, during which 
Kape delivered another impressive operating profit 
performance. Our senior management team has 
worked tirelessly to both shape and grow the 
business – successfully completing two 
acquisitions, alongside product upgrades and 
launches. This strong performance has only been 
possible due to the commitment, hard work and 
dedication of the entire ‘global’ Kape family and 
has underpinned our transformation into a leading 
consumer security company. 

Market overview 
The shift that Kape has made into a leading privacy-
first consumer security company has been central to 
our commitment to create long-term shareholder 
value, as the directors believe that the characteristics 
of the global cybersecurity market support our 
underlying growth aspirations for the business.

 1  Cybersecurity Market by Solution, Markets & Markets, September 2018
 2  The Cybersecurity Market Report, by Cybersecurity Ventures, March 2018

04

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

 
STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

pRoGRess AGAInst stRAteGY

Alongside this, Kape prides itself on the strength 
and talent of its people. We now operate from ten 
locations in eight countries and are thriving as a 
truly global business. We are also strong advocates 
of diversity within our workforce and closely monitor 
the gender ratio of employees within the Company, 
with the percentage of women growing from 25% to 
35% in 2018, which is an incredible achievement 
given less than 20% of the global cybersecurity 
workforce are women. We firmly believe that part of 
Kape’s long-term success is the global and diverse 
nature of our workforce and we intend to continue 
our efforts to promote this. We have accelerated 
our training efforts across the Company and see 
personal development as an important strategic 
component of our future growth. 

Ongoing strategy
Given the successful execution of our organic  
and acquisitive growth strategy in the year, 
management remain fully committed to 
maintaining our current focus. We will therefore 
continue to develop and grow our product base, 
while evaluating selective acquisition targets, 
which would further enhance our market presence.

The board remains confident in delivering year-on-
year growth in 2019. 

DON ELGIE
non-eXecutIVe cHAIRMAn
18 March 2019

Strategic Goals

Progress Achieved

Grow
Kape’s user base across 
existing products by 
leveraging proprietary 
technology and expertise.

Acquire
Businesses that broaden 
product offering and grow 
user base.

Build-up
A fully SaaS-based 
business model, improving 
both visibility and quality 
of earnings.

• 219% growth to

830,000 subscriptions
•  Grew our product portfolio 
expanding into the Malware 
protection, consumer firewall 
as well as expanded on 
privacy protection offering.

• Acquisition of Intego
provides Kape with a
strong foothold in the
malware protection
market, grows user base
and expands R&d
capabilities.

• Acquisition of ZenMate, is

highly synergistic expands
Kape’s product range and
grows our user base into
new geographies.

• Increased SaaS-based
revenues through our
Privacy solutions, Malware
protection and PC & Mac
repair products.

• Overall increased visibility
over revenues, with over
$30 million expected to be
delivered from existing
user in future periods

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

05

MARKet oVeRVIeW

• High internet penetration has increased 
the number of cyber attacks, resulting in 
heightened concerns around data privacy 

• VPN market is already worth $24 billion and 

is expected to grow by 50% by 2022

• The Data Protection and Privacy subsector 

was the fastest growing, in light of the 
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 
and countless large data breaches that 
have occurred over the last few years

The cybersecurity 
market was worth 
$153 billion in 2018 
and is expected to 
grow by 52%*  
by 2022

Digital privacy 
awareness is 
growing, supported  
by new regulations 
and a more 
educated market

• Frequency of usage of VPN 
growing in tier 1 markets
• Value of personal data is 
underpinning the growing 
trend of cyber crime 
targeting consumers’ data
• 75% of VPN users use VPN 
on a weekly basis
• VPN use is moving from a 
niche tech product to a 
widely used consumer 
application**

*  Source: Cybersecurity Market by Solution, Markets & Markets, 

September 2018, Start-Up Nation Central: Finder Insights Series 
The State of the Israeli Ecosystem in 2018, March 2019
**  Source: Global Web Index - VPN around the World 2018

06

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Market drivers

B2C market replicating 
B2B trends

IoT increasing levels 
of data and connected 
devices

Individuals increasingly
becoming targets of 
cybercrime

Increasing awareness 
of need to protect 
digital presence

Rise in personal data
stored in the cloud

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

07

cHIeF eXecutIVe oFFIceR’s ReVIeW

In the last 12 months, we delivered adjusted EBITdA 
growth of 28.3% to $10.4 million, increased our 
subscription user base by 219% to c. 830,000 users 
and improved our customer retention rate to 74%. 
We expect to generate revenues of c. $30 million in 
future financial years from the existing user base. 

Performance in the Group’s App distribution 
segment – which is now Kape’s sole focus – 
remained strong, with revenues of $52.1 million 
(2017: $48.2 million), and an improvement in both 
profitability, margin and forward visibility over 
revenues as a result of the Group’s transition to a 
recurring SaaS revenue model. 

We have achieved this positive momentum by 
focusing on a clear strategy, centred on: 
•  growing our existing user base by leveraging our 

proprietary technology to drive customer 
acquisition; 

•  broadening and strengthening our product 

offering through R&d and acquisitions which 
offer the potential to enter new verticals; and 

•  building our SaaS-based business model to 

improve both visibility and quality of earnings. 

Operational overview
Key performance Indicators
In order to focus on profitability, growth and 
earnings predictability we introduced five key 
performance indicators, which ultimately underpin 
Kape’s financial progress. 

deferred income and adjusted operating cash  
flow demonstrate the true value of each product 
purchase from our customers, given that they 
recognise the benefits across the life time of the 
contract. Paying users and subscriptions represent 
our ability to grow the customer base. The 
retention rate is an indication of the quality of our 
service and products and our aim is for this to 
remain constant over the short term and improve 
in the medium term.

Paying users (thousands)

Subscriptions (thousands)

Retention rate

deferred income ($’000)

Adjusted operating cash flow:

2018

2017

1,100
830
74%
9,514

887
260
69%
4,014

Attributable to current year ($’000)

Investment in growth ($’000)

15,936
(10,215)

9,471
(1,330)

Adjusted operating cash flow ($’000)

5,721

8,141

IDO ERLICHMAN
cHIeF eXecutIVe oFFIceR

Strong progress was made in the year 
against our core KPIs, with the increase 
in both paying users and subscriptions 
demonstrating the strength of our 
digital marketing expertise in driving 
user acquisition. 

Introduction
2018 was a very significant year for Kape, during 
which we completed our transformation into a 
privacy-led cybersecurity software provider, 
reaching over a million paying customers. We are 
now proud to offer our consumers an end-to-end 
software suite which includes: Privacy (CyberGhost 
and ZenMate), Malware Protection (Intego) and 
Performance (Reimage and driverFix). 

219%

growth in 
subscriptions

08

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Strong progress was made in the year against our 
core KPIs, with the increase in both paying users 
and subscriptions demonstrating the strength of 
our digital marketing expertise in driving user 
acquisition. Additionally, the increase in our 
retention rate to 74% is particularly pleasing, and 
now compares favourably against the wider B2C 
cybersecurity industry. Clearly, the most important 
improvement is in visibility of revenues, and we 
expect to deliver $30 million revenue from existing 
users in future periods (dec 2017: $8 million). This 
is a key metric for the Group, as it reflects our 
customers’ satisfaction, in addition to providing 
quality, highly visible earnings for the Company 
moving forward. In 2018, the Company remained 
highly cash generative. As stated in our growth 
ambitions we enhanced the investment in growth, 
primarily in user acquisition.

divestment of Media division 
and re-brand
during 2018, we completed our transition to solely 
focus on the delivery of cybersecurity solutions 
following the divestment of Kape’s Media division, 
announced in July 2018, to Ecom Online Ltd. As 
consideration, Kape will receive a 50% share of 
EBITdA from the Media division for the next five 
years following the sale. This divestment resulted 
in an anticipated decrease in revenues for the year 
and is aligned to the Company’s strategy to focus 
on the development and growth of its owned 
cybersecurity assets. In March 2018, we rebranded 
to Kape Technologies Group plc to better reflect 
the ongoing activities of the business.

Acquisitions and integration 
In-line with our strategy laid out at the beginning 
of the year, we were able to successfully execute 
on two earnings enhancing acquisitions in 2018, 
both of which form part of Kape’s approach to 
acquire select businesses to add complementary 
products and additional users.

In July 2018, Kape acquired Intego, a US-
headquartered SaaS business providing malware 
protection, firewall, anti-spam, backup, data 
protection and parental control software for Mac 
users globally, for a total consideration of $16.0 
million. With a user base of 150,000 paying 
customers, high renewal rates and a strong brand 
presence, Intego brought additional benefits to the 
Group. We have now completed the integration of 
Intego, and implemented Kape’s user acquisition 
methodologies which we expect to accelerate 
Intego’s growth in the first half of 2019. We have 

also integrated Intego’s R&d, marketing and 
product teams into Kape, which further benefit 
from the economies of scale of the enlarged group. 
We also expect to release new malware protection 
products in the coming months. 

In October 2018, Kape acquired ZenMate,  
a multi-platform security software business  
with a focus on the provision of privacy solutions, 
for a total consideration of $5.6 million. ZenMate  
is a highly complementary solution to CyberGhost, 
Kape’s existing VPN solution. This synergistic 
infrastructure allows Kape to leverage the 
products’ strengths and create an improved 
product for users worldwide coupled with 
substantial cost savings. In addition, with 
ZenMate’s highly regarded web firewall and its 
Safesearch application, Kape is now able to 
provide a broader software suite to protect our 
customers’ digital lives. As part of its integration, 
Kape implemented an extensive restructuring of 
ZenMate, which has been completed in less than 
two months, ahead of management’s expectations. 
As a result, in this short time we have been able  
to bring ZenMate to profitability. ZenMate is 
anticipated to be EBITdA enhancing from Q1 2019. 

Prior to being acquired, both businesses’ 
marketing activities were primarily organic, 
presenting a clear opportunity for the 
implementation of Kape’s digital marketing 
expertise to drive user acquisition and enhance 
profit margin. The benefits of this implementation 
are anticipated to begin to be realised in 2019. 

July 2018  
acquired Intego for

$16.0m

October 2018  
acquired ZenMate for

$5.6m

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

09

cHIeF eXecutIVe oFFIceR’s ReVIeW

Outlook
The underlying trends in digital privacy and 
cybersecurity continue to broaden Kape’s 
addressable VPN market to $36 billion by 20224  
with demand for privacy solutions anticipated to 
continue growing 15% annually, underpinning the 
ongoing demand for our products. 
Management are confident that not only does a 
sizable opportunity exist to add further products 
to Kape’s portfolio through future acquisitions, but 
there is also substantial potential within Kape’s 
existing product portfolio and user base to further 
invest in organic initiatives. 

We continue to improve and expand our product 
offering to best serve our customers globally and 
will continue to evaluate select acquisition 
opportunities to broaden and deepen our reach. 

IDO ERLICHMAN
cHIeF eXecutIVe oFFIceR
18 March 2019

organic growth
during the year, we saw accelerated growth in 
CyberGhost, as we increased user acquisition 
through the application of our digital marketing 
technologies and expertise. We have seen positive 
results in CyberGhost’s user acquisition on desktop 
and mobile; and expect enhanced growth and 
profitability to be delivered in 2019. In 2018, 
CyberGhost was one of the top performing VPN 
solutions globally – ranking in the top three in the US, 
France, Germany and the UK by industry reviewers.3 

In our Performance vertical (ReImage and 
driverfix), focus has been on transitioning to a 
subscription-based model and implementing new 
product marketing initiatives ahead of the launch 
of two major updates for our driver and computer 
repair solutions. We are extremely pleased with 
the results of the transition to a subscription 
model, which we expect to improve profitability 
moving forward.

product development  
We accelerated our R&d efforts in the year and we 
now have 68 employees globally who are top-tier 
experts in their field. Our focus has been on: 
•  investment in the next generation infrastructure; 
•  development of new products and updates to 

existing solutions; and

•  implementation of proprietary cross-product 
business intelligence and marketing tools.

Specifically, we released the most comprehensive 
update to our CyberGhost product to-date with the 
launch of the CyberGhost 7.0 app across Apple and 
Android devices, following an increase in mobile 
subscribers, as individuals look to safeguard their 
mobile devices. Kape also launched a Google 
Chrome and Mozilla Firefox plug-in based on a 
distributed computing platform and operating 
system, which enables greater freedom on the 
internet. We have seen significant traction across 
these products, demonstrating our standing at the 
forefront of the privacy technology sector.

3  Best VPN, January 2019; VPN Mentor 2019, Comparitech June 2018
4  Size of the virtual private network (VPN) market worldwide from 2016 

to 2022 (in billion U.S. dollars), Statista 2019.

10

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

GRoWtH stRAteGY

Broadening our product portfolio  
and accelerating our market penetration.

Accelerate SaaS
adoption
•  Continue to transition all 

products to licence/
subscription based models 

•  Execute on SaaS-based 

acquisitions such as Intego
•  Increase recurring revenues 

to achieve heightened 
visibility over earnings

Leverage existing 
expertise to  
accelerate growth
•  Leverage technology 

expertise to accelerate user 
acquisition across existing 
products

•  Broaden customer cross and 

up-sell opportunities to 
increase ARPU

•  Enhance inter-company 

synergies

•  develop a one platform 
dashboard allowing 
consumers to purchase 
Kape’s products from one 
place

Ongoing R&D supported  
by complementary  
acquisitions
•  Expand and develop core 

products 

•  Add complementary 

products and user base 
through acquisition

•  Build a complete suite of 

cybersecurity products to 
provide consumers with all 
their digital protection needs

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

11

ouR useR AcQuIsItIon Model

Through digital distribution 
technology, we can optimise 
the customer reach and create 
a superb user experience.

1

2

3

Target market

Digital funnel optimisation

Existing customers

user acquisition
•  Advanced user acquisition 

technology and leveraging of 
digital marketing platform

Funnel expertise
•  Proprietary data driven automatic 

Retention and cross-selling
•  Once acquired, provide a 

funnel

•  Ongoing customisation of 

•  Utilise extensive network to drive 

product

users to our products

•  Automatic personalisation of user 

•  Leverage wide user base for 

journey

subscription model to grow 
customer’s LTV

•  Provide servicing such as remote 
technician and 24/7 support to 
increase customer retention

indirect user acquisition

•  Proprietary targeting of purchase 

•  Convert users to additional Kape 

•  Highly efficient method to drive 

process

traffic

organic
•  High brand awareness drives 

users to products

•  Referrals from existing customers
•  Consumers go directly to product 
websites or search for product as 
a result of growing media 
presence

products by channelling 
customers to further owned 
software solutions

•  Increase the value of the user
•  200 support personnel in Manilla, 

supporting main languages

830k

Subscribers

12

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

our ability to manage and 
implement highly targeted 
customer acquisition 
methodologies enables our 
team to reach millions of 
customers daily, effectively 
and has enabled 
management to both 
accelerate organic growth 
and enhance the customer 
traction of the software 
solutions that we have 
acquired

– Ido Erlichman, CEO

2

Digital Funnel Optimisation
Funnel expertise

Privacy

Malware Protection

Performance

1

Target Market
User acquisition

3

Existing Customers
Retention and Cross-Selling

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

13

stRAteGY In ActIon

Kape’s M&A integration process  
and implementation 

Kape has demonstrated its ability to source, 
execute, integrate and grow revenue enhancing 
acquisitions. Working with superb companies to 
accelerate their user growth and leverage on 
Kape’s proprietary capabilities.

Operational leverage
•  Integrate Kape’s in-house support 

systems

•  Align G&A to wider Kape group

•  Provide support to existing 

management 

•  Maximise operational leverage and 

realisation of cost synergies

Business 
acquired

Future growth  
with the  
Kape Group

14

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Growth acceleration
•  Implement Kape’s marketing 

platform and expertise for user 
acquisition, the benefits of which 
expect to see in 2019 

•  Integrate R&d teams and practices 

to further develop products

Cross promotion
•  Implemented initial cross promotion 
campaigns between Kape’s product 
suite, already experiencing traction

)
s
d
n
a
s
u
o
h
T

(
s
r
e
s
U

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Quarterly new users through Kape’s marketing platform

63k

37k

24k

10k

12k

5k

Q3-17

Q4-17

Q1-18

Q2-18

Q3-18

Q4-18

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

15

 
cHIeF FInAncIAl oFFIceR’s ReVIeW

MORAN LAUFER
cHIeF FInAncIAl oFFIceR

Strong performance of Kape’s core App 
Distribution activity, with an increase of 
8% in revenues, 49.3% in segment results 
and 73.3% in underlying adjusted EBITDA

Overview 
Revenue from continued operations for the year to 
31 december 2018 increased by 3% to $52.1 million 
(2017: $50.6 million). Adjusted EBITdA from continued 
operations increased by 28.4% to $10.4 million (2017: 
$8.1 million) with the increase in Adjusted EBITdA 
driven by the strong performance of Kape’s core App 
distribution activity, with an increase of 8% in 
revenues, 49.3% in segment results and 73.3% in 
underlying adjusted EBITdA. In July 2018, Kape 
divested its Media division to a third party, Ecom 
online Ltd, and is now considered a discontinued 
operation.

Kape remains a cash generative business, with cash 
generated from continued operations after 
adjusting for one-off non-recurring items in 2018 of 
$5.7 million (2017: $8.1 million). This represents 
adjusted cash conversion of 55% (2017: 101%). Cash 
flow from operations includes $10.2 of million 
investment in user acquisitions growth that will be 

16

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

expensed in future periods as it attributable to 
future revenue from subscriptions and is recognised 
over the expected life time of the users in 
accordance with IFRS 15 (2017: $1.3 million). When 
excluding this investment, adjusted cash conversion 
from operations was $15.9 million, which represents 
cash conversion of 151%. The Group’s balance  
sheet remains strong with cash of $40.4 million  
at 31 december 2018 (31 december 2017: $69.5 
million) and no debt after cash outflow for investing 
and financing activities of $32.0 million, that 
comprise mainly of the acquisitions of Intego and 
ZenMate and a special dividend payment. 

On 24 July 2018, the Group acquired 100% of the 
share capital of Neutral Holdings Inc, trading as 
Intego, for a total consideration of $16.0 million. 
Intego is a leading Mac and IOS cybersecurity and 
malware protection SaaS business. Intego is 
focused on the provision of malware protection, 
firewall, anti-spam, backup, data protection and 
parental controls software for Mac. In the year to 
31 december 2017, Intego generated profit before 
tax of $1.3 million.

On 16 October 2018, the Group acquired 100% of 
the share capital of ZenGuard GMBH trading as 
ZenMate, a multi-platform security software 
business with a focus on the provision of virtual 
private network solutions. The total consideration 
for the acquisition was $5.6 million (€4.8 million) in 
cash, funded from Kape’s internal cash resources, 
which was satisfied on closing of the acquisition. 
As part of the acquisition, Kape initiated a 
restructuring plan which was intended to downsize 
ZenMate’s staff and reduce operational costs.

Segment result

Revenue

Segment result

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

App distribution 52,060 48,226 25,690
Web Apps and 
license

2,376

-

-

17,207

2,376

Revenue

52,060 50,602 25,690  19,583

The segment result has been calculated using 
revenue less costs directly attributable to that 
segment. Cost of sales comprises payment 
processing fees and infrastructure costs of the 
group’s VPN products. direct sales and marketing 
costs are user acquisition costs.

 
STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

App Distribution

Revenue

Cost of sales

direct sales and marketing costs

Segment result

Segment margin (%)

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

 52,060 
 (5,605)
(20,765)

48,226
(4,572)
(26,447)

25,690

17,207 

 49.3

35.7

during the period, the App distribution segment has seen 
continued growth with an 8.0% increase in revenue to $52.1 
million (2017: $48.2 million) and a 49.3% increase in segment 
result to $25.7 million (2017: $17.2 million). The segment 
margin has significantly improved to 49.3% (2017: 35.7%). 
Following their acquisition, Intego contributed $2.6 million 
and ZenMate contributed $0.4 million to the segment result. 
Excluding acquisitions, the segment results has increased by 
30.2% to $22.4 million in 2018. 

Adjusted EBITDA from continued operations
Adjusted EBITdA from continued operations for the year  
to 31 december 2018 was $10.4 million (2017: $8.1 million). 
Adjusted EBITdA is a non-GAAP company specific measure 
which is considered to be a key performance indicator of  
the Group’s financial performance. It excludes share based 
payment charges and expenses which are considered to be 
one-off and non-recurring in nature and are excluded from 
the following analysis:

Revenue

Cost of sales

direct sales and marketing costs

Segment result

Indirect sales and marketing costs

Research and development costs

Management, general and administrative cost

Adjusted EBITDA

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

 52,060 
 (5,605)
(20,765)

50,602
(4,572)
(26,447) 

25,690

19,583 

 (6,398) 
 (1,389)
(7,529)

(3,657)
(535)
(7,306)

10,374

8,085 

1 Adjusted EBITdA is a company specific measure which is calculated as 
operating loss before depreciation, amortisation, exceptional and 
non-recurring costs, employee share-based payment charges and charge 
of repurchase of employee options which are considered to be one off and 
non-recurring in nature as set out in note 4. The directors believe that this 
provides a better understanding of the underlying trading performance of 
the business.

Operating profit
A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITdA to operating profit is 
provided as follows:

Adjusted EBITDA

Employee share-based payment charge

Charge for repurchase of employee options

Exceptional and non-recurring costs

depreciation and amortisation

Operating profit

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

 10,374 

8,085

 (1,490) 

(303)

 - 

(3,176)

 (1,441)
(3,800)

(796)
(2,376) 

3,643

1,434

Exceptional and non-recurring costs in 2018 comprised 
non-recurring staff costs of $0.5 million (2017: $0.3 million), 
mainly due to payments made to employees that were  
option holders in parallel to the special dividend paid in June, 
$0.8 million for professional services for acquisitions (2017: 
$0.3 million) and $0.1 million related to an onerous lease 
contract (H1 2017: Nil).

Profit/(Loss) before tax from 
continuing operations
Profit before tax from continuing operations was $3.3 million 
(2017: $1.3 million).

Profit from continuing operations
Profit from continuing operations was $2.2 million (2017:  
$0.2 million). The tax charge derives mainly from group 
subsidiaries’ residual profits. The Group recognises a 
deferred tax asset of $0.2 million (2017: Nil) in respect of  
tax losses accumulated in previous years.

49.3%

App distribution  
margin

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

17

cHIeF FInAncIAl oFFIceR’s ReVIeW

Discontinued operations
On 26 July 2018, the Group sold the Media division to Ecom 
Online Ltd. This sale is in-line with the Company’s strategy to 
focus on the development and distribution of its own 
cybersecurity products. As consideration, the Group will 
receive a 50% share of EBITdA from the Media division for the 
five years following the sale. The Company recognised a loss 
from the sale as calculated below:

Consideration received or receivable:

Fair value of contingent consideration

Total consideration

Carry amount of net assets sold

Non-controlling interest

Loss on sale

2018
$’000

 1,257 

 1,257

(4,498)
989

(2,252)

The financial performance and cash flow information 
presented are for the period ended 26 July 2018 and the year 
ended 31 december 2017.

Revenue

Share of results of equity accounted associates

Expenses

Loss before income tax

Income tax income/ (expenses)

Loss after income tax of discontinued operation 

Loss on sale of the Media division 

Loss from discontinued operation 

Net cash outflow from operating activities

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Net cash flow from financing activities

Net decrease in cash generated by the 
Media division

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

 4,185 
–
(4,501)

15,781
(40)
(19,895)

(316)
(166)

 (482)
(2,252)

(4,154)
636

(3,518)
– 

(2,734)

(3,518)

 (336) 
 (341)
–

(603)
(175)
–

(677)

(778) 

18

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

Cash flow

Cash flow from operations

Exceptional and non-recurring payments

Net cash flow from discontinued operating activities

Net cash paid due to restructuring plan

Adjusted cash flow from operations

% of Adjusted EBITDA

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

 3,695 

6,533

 1,441 

1,005

336 
 249

603
(796)

5,721

8,141 

55%

101%

Cash flow from operations was $3.7 million (2017: $6.5 million). 
Adjusted cash flows from operations, after adding back 
payments that are one off in nature was $5.7 million (2017: 
$8.1 million). This represents a cash conversion of 55% of 
Adjusted EBITdA (2017: 101%). Cash flow from operations 
includes $10.2 million investment in user acquisitions growth 
that will be expensed in future periods as it attributable to 
future revenue from subscriptions and therefore is 
recognised over the expected life time of the users in 
accordance with IFRS 15 (2017: $1.3 million). When excluding 
this investment adjusted cash conversion from operations is 
$15.9 million (2017: $9.5 million) which represents cash 
conversion of 151% (2017: 115%).

Tax paid net of refunds in the period was $0.5 million (2017: 
$0.1 million).

Cash spent in the period on capital expenditure of $2.5 million 
(2017: $2 million) mainly comprises capitalised development 
costs and purchase of fixed assets. Net cash paid for 
acquisitions in the period totalled $20.8 million (2017: $5.3 
million), of which the Company paid $15.5 million in relation to 
the acquisition of Neural Holdings Inc and $5.3 million related 
to the acquisition of ZenGuard GMBH. Net cash outflow for 
sold operations in the period amounted to $0.3 million in 
relation to the disposal of the Media division to a third party 
in July 2018. As a result, net cash outflow from investing 
activities was $23.6 million (2017: $7.4 million).

In June 2018, the Company paid a special dividend in the 
amount of $6.8 million representing 3.55 pence per share. In 
November 2017, the Company repurchased 3.8 million share 
options from CyberGhost’s founder for a total consideration 
of $3.8 million, out of which $1.9 million was paid in 2017 and 
the rest in eight equal quarterly instalments. during 2018 $0.9 
million in payments were made for the repurchase. during 
2018 the Company paid $1.1 million of lease related payments 
that were recorded as part of the financing activities 
following the adoption of IFRS 16. Employee option exercises 
resulted in cash receipts of $0.4 million during 2018. As a 
result, net cash outflow from financing activities was $8.4 
million (2017: $1.5 million).

 
$40.4m

Cash at  
31 December 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Financial position
At 31 december 2018, the Company had cash of $40.4 million  
(31 december 2017: $69.5 million), net assets of $73.0 million  
(31 december 2017: $79.4 million) and was debt free. At  
31 december 2018, trade receivables and contract assets  
were $3.6 million (31 december 2017: $8.5 million) which 
represented 13 days outstanding, (31 december 2017: 42 days). 
The decrease in Trade receivables is mainly due to the sale of 
the media division 

Early adoption of IFRS 16
From 1 January, 2018, the Company adopted IFRS 16, which 
specifies how to recognise, measure, present and disclose 
leases. The Company has not restated comparatives for the 
2017 reporting period. 

On initial application, the Group recognised lease liabilities  
in relation to leases which had previously been classified as 
‘operating leases’ under the principles of IAS 17 Leases. 
If the Company had chosen not to early adopt IFRS 16, the 
Company net profits from continuing operations would have 
been $2.3 million.

The recognised right-of-use assets and lease liabilities are 
specified below: 

Right-of-Use Assets

At 1 January 2018

Additions

Additions through business 
combination

Amortisation

At 31 december 2018

Lease liabilities

At 1 January 2018

Additions

Additions through business 
combination

Interest expense

Lease payments

Interest expense

At 31 december 2018

MORAN LAUFER
cHIeF FInAncIAl oFFIceR
18 March 2019

Real estate 
leases
$’000

Vehicles
$’000

 1,331 
1,265

305
(1,181)

1,720

 77 
–

–
(28)

49

Real estate 
leases
$’000

Vehicles
$’000

 1,331 
1,265

305
82
(1,058)
(62)

1,863

 77 
–

–

11
(29)
(3)

56

Total
$’000

1,408
1,265

305
(1,209)

1,769

Total
$’000

1,408
1,265

305
93
(1,087)
(65)

1,919

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

19

pRIncIpAl RIsKs And unceRtAIntIes

There are a number of potential risks and uncertainties  
that could have a material impact on the Group’s  
long-term performance and could cause results to differ 
materially from expected and historical results. The risks to 
which the business is exposed are set out below:

Risks

Background

Mitigating controls

Regulatory, legislative 
or self-regulatory 
developments regarding 
internet privacy matters 
could adversely affect 
the Group’s ability to 
conduct its business.

International regulatory bodies are increasingly 
focused on online privacy issues and user data 
protection. In particular, GdPR was approved by 
the European Union (EU) and takes effect from May 
2018. It intends to strengthen and unify data 
protection for all individuals within the EU. It also 
addresses the export of personal data outside the 
EU. The GdPR aims primarily to give control back 
to citizens and residents over their personal data 
and to simplify the regulatory environment for 
international business by unifying the regulation 
within the EU.

•  All the information that the Group 
obtains regarding users and their 
profiling is information that may 
correspond to a particular person, 
account or profile, but does not 
identify, allow contact or enable Kape 
to locate the person to whom such 
information pertains. As a 
consequence, the Group is not 
regulated by any regulator or subject 
to any regulatory approval for its 
day-to-day operations.

•  Whilst not externally regulated, the 
Group adheres to a strict set of 
controls with its partners. Partners, 
developers, publishers and 
advertisers are required to comply 
with these contractually imposed 
controls, which have been jointly 
created by the Group and its legal 
advisers.

•  The Group actively monitors the 
developments of the large and 
established internet, Antivirus and 
technology companies to identify any 
threats that may impair the Group’s 
ability to operate.

Large and established 
internet, Antivirus and 
technology companies 
may be able to significantly 
impair the Group’s 
ability to operate.

Large and established internet, Antivirus and 
technology companies such as Symantec 
Corporation, Amazon.com, Inc. (“Amazon”), AOL, 
Inc., Apple, eBay Inc., Facebook, Inc. (“Facebook”), 
Google and Microsoft, may have the power to 
significantly change the very nature of the 
app-distribution and internet display advertising 
marketplace. These changes could materially 
disadvantage the Group. For example, Amazon, 
Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft have 
substantial resources and control a significant 
share of widely adopted industry platforms such as 
web browsers, mobile operating systems and 
advertising exchanges and networks. Changes to 
their web browsers, mobile operating systems, 
platforms, exchanges, networks or other products 
or services could be significantly harmful to the 
Group’s business. Such companies could also seek 
to replicate all or parts of the Group’s business.

20

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Risks

Background

Mitigating controls

If the Group fails to innovate 
and respond effectively 
to rapidly changing 
technology, the Group’s 
solution may become less 
competitive or obsolete.

To remain competitive, the Group’s future success 
will depend on its ability to continuously enhance 
and improve its solutions to meet client needs, add 
functionality to its product portfolio and address 
technological advancements.

•  The Group invests in research and 

development resources to ensure that 
the Group’s technology platforms are 
continually enhanced through 
evolution and innovation.

•  The Group also invests in acquisitions 
to expand its technology platforms 
and adapt to the rapidly changing 
technology environment.

Failures in the Group’s IT 
systems and infrastructure 
supporting its solution 
could significantly disrupt 
its operations and cause 
it to lose clients.

In addition to the optimal performance of the  
Kape Engine, the Group’s business relies on the 
continued and uninterrupted performance of its 
software and hardware infrastructures. Sustained 
or repeated system failures of its software and 
hardware infrastructures, which interrupt its ability 
to deliver its software products and services or 
advertisements quickly and accurately, could 
significantly reduce the attractiveness of its 
solution to advertiser clients and publishers, 
reduce its revenue and affect its reputation.

•  The Group outsources hosting 

services, holding minimal server 
infrastructure itself. This allows the 
Group to flex and grow its operations 
efficiently.

•  Kape uses third party content 

distribution network services in order 
to offload traffic served directly from 
its own infrastructure and minimise 
network latency.

•  The Group uses advisers to review its 
tax position and ensure compliance 
with local tax legislation.

The Group is a multinational 
organisation faced with 
increasingly complex tax 
issues in many jurisdictions, 
and it could be obliged 
to pay additional taxes 
in various jurisdictions 
as a result of new taxes, 
laws or interpretation, 
including sales taxes, 
which may negatively 
affect its business.

As a multinational organisation, operating in 
multiple jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, 
Cyprus, Israel, Romania, Germany, Untied States 
and the United Kingdom, the Group may be 
subject to taxation in several jurisdictions around 
the world with increasingly complex tax laws, the 
application of which can be uncertain. The amount 
of taxes it pays in these jurisdictions could increase 
substantially as a result of changes in the 
applicable tax principles, including increased tax 
rates, new tax laws or revised interpretations of 
existing tax laws and precedents, which could have 
a material adverse effect on its liquidity and results 
of operations.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

21

BoARd oF dIRectoRs

22

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

Don Elgie Non-Executive Chairman
don has many years’ experience in marketing services including 
developing companies organically and by acquisition. don retired 
as Group CEO of Creston plc, which was listed on the Main Market 
of the London Stock Exchange, at the end of March 2014. He 
founded Creston as a digitally focussed communications and 
insight group in 2001 and built it into an international group which 
generated £75m revenue, £12m EBITdA and employed over 800 
people as at March 2014.

Ido Erlichman Chief Executive Officer
Ido joined Kape Technologies plc in May 2016 as Group Chief Executive 
Officer. Ido has more than nine years’ experience in the technology 
sector garnered through roles in private equity, consulting and 
finance. Prior to joining Kape, Ido was acting Joint Chief Executive 
Officer of VisualdNA (which was acquired by The Nielsen Company) a 
leading psychographic data business, where he led its geographic 
expansion and oversaw significant EBITdA growth. Prior to VisualdNA, 
Ido worked as a Senior Associate within KPMG’s Private Equity deal 
advisory practice in London and as a Senior Manager within KPMG’s 
Transaction Services practice focusing on technology deals in Israel 
and with the Israeli Ministry of Finance. Ido is the author of the 
bestselling book ‘Battle of Strategies’ published in Israel by Yediot 
Books. Ido is a Certified Public Accountant, having graduated magna 
cum laude in Accounting and Economics from The Hebrew University 
of Jerusalem, he also obtained his Masters degree in Law from 
Bar-Ilan University, and has received an MBA from the University  
of Cambridge’s Judge Business School.

Moran Laufer Chief Financial Officer
Moran joined Kape Technologies plc as Group Financial Controller 
in 2012. He was a key member of the finance team that 
successfully supported the Group’s admission to AIM in 
September 2014. Prior to joining Kape, Moran was a divisional 
Controller at SafeCharge international Ltd (AIM: SCH), a global 
provider of payments services, technologies and risk 
management solutions for online and mobile businesses. 
Previously Moran worked for Ernst & Young as a senior auditor on 
London Stock Exchange and NASdAQ traded companies primarily 
focused on the technology sector. Moran is a Certified Public 
Accountant, who graduated in Accounting and Economics and 
received an MBA from Tel Aviv University.

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

David Cotterell Non-Executive Director
david has over 30 years’ experience in the information technology 
software and service sector. He has held senior management roles 
with firms such as ACT Financial Systems, dST, Advent and SQS Group 
Plc and has led and successfully integrated many trade sales of 
technology companies. Between 2006 and 2011 david served as the 
CEO of UKIISA Region (UK, Ireland, South Africa and India) and as 
Board director at SQS Group plc (LSE:SQS). david is a director of david 
Cotterell Partnership Limited. Additionally, david is Chairman of IT 
services company Qualitest UK. david is Kape Group’s Senior 
Independent director and also Chairman of the Company’s 
Remuneration Committee.

Martin Blair Non-Executive Director
Prior to joining the Board of Kape, Martin acted as CFO of Pilat Media 
Global plc, a company which previously traded on both AIM and the  
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and developed, marketed and supported new 
generation business management software solutions for content and 
service providers in the media industry. Martin joined Pilat Media in 
2001, ahead of its admission to AIM in 2002. Pilat Media was acquired 
by SintecMedia Ltd for £63.3 million in April 2014. Martin qualified as  
a chartered accountant with Ernst & Young in 1982 and between  
1983 and 1986 worked for PwC. Martin is Chairman of Kape’s Audit 
Committee. Martin is also currently a non-executive director and 
Chairman of the Audit Committees at both Green Biologics Ltd and 
Cake Box PLC.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

23

coRpoRAte GoVeRnAnce

Overview
On 8 March 2018, the LSE issued revised rules for AIM-listed 
companies, within which was a requirement (Rule 26) for AIM 
companies to apply a recognised corporate governance code 
from 28 September 2018. Taking account of this, the Board 
has adopted the Quoted Company Alliance’s (QCA) Corporate 
Governance Code for Small and Mid-Size Quoted Companies 
(“QCA Code”). The principal means of communicating our 
application of the Code are this annual report and our 
website (http://investors.kape.com/corporate-governance). 
As Chairman, I am the custodian of the corporate governance 
approach adopted by the Board to ensure that the Company 
has the right people, strategy and culture to deliver success 
in the medium to long term. Since adopting the QCA Code  
I have led the Company’s application of its ten principles to 
ensure that the Company’s strategy is linked to and 
supported by its governance arrangements. The remainder 
of this statement sets out the Company’s application of the 
Code including, where appropriate, cross references to other 
sections of the annual report.

1. establish a strategy and business model 
which promote long-term value for shareholders
The strategy and business operations of the Group are set 
out in the Chairman’s Statement on pages 4 and 5 and the 
Chief Executive Officer’s Review on pages 8 to 10. The 
Group’s strategy and business model and amendments 
thereto, are developed by the Chief Executive Officer and the 
senior management team, and approved by the Board. The 
management team, led by the Chief Executive Officer,  
is responsible for implementing the strategy and managing 
the business at an operational level. 

The Group’s overall strategic objective is to become the 
leading next generation providers of consumer 
cybersecurity  products.

The Group continues to grow and develop its product 
portfolio in the growing cybersecurity market, with a 
renewed focus in consumer cybersecurity. The Group 
deploys its financial and other resources towards developing 
R&d internally, growing its product offering through organic 
growth and acquisitions and strengthening its SaaS business. 

The Board believes that this approach will continue deliver 
significant long-term value for shareholders through a strong 
share performance and against the Group’s key performance 
indicators. The Board also believes that remaining admitted 
to trading on AIM is of long-term value to shareholders as it 
offers a combination of access to capital markets, flexibility 
to make acquisitions, incentives and rewards to management 
through share schemes, and a regulatory environment 
appropriate to the size of the Company.

2. seek to understand and meet shareholder 
needs and expectations
The Group seeks to maintain a regular dialogue with both 
existing and potential new shareholders in order to 
communicate the Group/Company’s strategy and progress 
and to understand the expectations and needs of 
shareholders. Beyond the Annual General Meeting, the 
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer 

and where appropriate, other members of the senior 
management team meet regularly with investors (including 
institutional shareholders) and analysts to actively build the 
relationship, provide them with updates on the Group’s 
business and to obtain feedback regarding the market’s 
expectations for the Group. Shareholders also have access to 
current information on the Company through its website 
http://investors.kape.com/, and via its financial PR advisor 
and the Chief Financial Officer who is available to answer 
investor relations queries.

3. take into account wider stakeholder and social 
responsibilities and their implications for long-
term success
The Group is aware of its corporate social responsibilities and 
the need to maintain working relationships across a range of 
stakeholder groups. The Group’s operations and working 
methodologies take account of the requirement to balance 
the needs of all of these stakeholder groups while 
maintaining focus on the Board’s primary responsibility to 
promote the success of the Group for the benefit of 
members as a whole. Our employees are the key to our 
success and therefore regular meetings are held with staff to 
ensure that the strategic vision of the Group is realised and 
to provide a forum for employees to engage in open and 
confidential dialogue and ensure successful two-way 
communication with agreement on goals, targets and 
aspirations of employees and the Group. In addition, the 
Group is in the process of setting up formal arrangements to 
facilitate whistleblowing. These feedback processes help to 
ensure that the Group can respond to new issues and 
opportunities that arise to further the success of employees 
and the Group. In addition, there are a range of processes 
and systems in place with other stakeholders to ensure that 
there is close oversight and contact with key stakeholders. 
These relationships are addressed at regular 
Board  meetings.

4. embed effective risk management, 
considering both opportunities and threats, 
throughout the organisation
The Board is responsible for the systems of risk management 
and internal control and for reviewing their effectiveness.  
The internal controls are designed to manage rather than 
eliminate risk and provide reasonable but not absolute 
assurance against material misstatement or loss. Through 
the activities of the Audit Committee, the scope and 
effectiveness of these internal controls is reviewed annually, 
identifying key financial and non-financial risks, risk control 
measures and the implementation status of risk control 
measures. The review was presented to the Audit Committee 
by the Chief Financial Officer. A summary of the principal 
risks and uncertainties facing the Group, as well as mitigating 
controls, are set out on pages 20 and 21. All material 
contracts are required to be reviewed and signed by a senior 
director of the Company and reviewed by our General 
Counsel. Whilst not externally regulated, the Group adheres 
to a strict set of controls with its partners. Partners, 
developers, publishers and advertisers are required to 
comply with these contractually imposed controls, which 
have been jointly created by the Group and its legal advisers. 

24

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

A comprehensive budgeting process is completed once a 
year and is reviewed and approved by the Board. Actual 
results are monitored on a weekly and monthly basis and 
compared to the yearly budget. In addition, the Group 
performs quarterly reforecasts for expected performance 
over the remainder of the financial period. These cover 
profits, cash flows, capital expenditure and balance sheets. 
The Group maintains appropriate insurance cover in respect 
of actions taken against the directors because of their roles, 
as well as against material loss or claims against the Group. 
The insured amounts and type of cover are reviewed 
periodically. The Board has ultimate responsibility for the 
Group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its 
effectiveness. However, any such system of internal control 
can provide only reasonable, but not absolute, assurance 
against material misstatement or loss. The Board considers 
that the internal controls in place are appropriate for the size, 
complexity and risk profile of the Group.

5. Maintain the board as a well-functioning, 
balanced team led by the chair
The Board currently comprises three Non-Executive 
directors (one of whom also acts as Senior Independent 
director) and two Executive directors. The directors’ 
biographies are set out on pages 22 and 23. The Board is 
satisfied that it has a suitable balance between 
independence on the one hand, and knowledge of the 
Company on the other, to enable it to discharge its duties 
and responsibilities effectively. The Board considers, after 
careful review, the Non-Executive directors to be 
independent of management and free of any relationship 
which could materially interfere with the exercise of their 
independent judgment. The Board is responsible for the 
overall strategy and direction of the Group. It provides robust 
leadership of the Company within a framework of effective 
controls which enables risk to be assessed and managed. 
The Board, in setting the Company’s aims, ensures that the 
necessary financial and human resources are in place to 
meet its objectives. It regularly reviews management 
performance on a yearly basis and upholds the Company’s 
values and standards so that its obligations to shareholders 
and others are understood and met. The Board is supplied 
with information in a timely manner to enable it to discharge 
its duties. The Board also reviews arrangements under which 
employees can raise concerns in confidence about possible 
improprieties in matters of financial reporting or other areas. 
The Board meets at regular scheduled intervals ten times a 
year and follows a formal agenda. It also meets as and when 
required. during 2018, all the directors attended all the board 
meetings. No one individual has unfettered powers of 
decision. The directors may take independent professional 
advice at the Group’s expense. The Non-Executive directors 
normally do not have any day-to-day involvement in the 
running of the business but are responsible for scrutinising 
the performance of management in meeting agreed goals 
and objectives and monitoring the reporting of performance. 
All Board members are considered to be able to allocate 
sufficient time to the Company to discharge their 
responsibilities as directors effectively with a minimum of 
45 days a year dedicated to fulfil their roles.

6. ensure that between them the directors have 
the necessary up-to-date experience, skills and 
capabilities
The Board considers that all of the Non-Executive directors 
are of sufficient competence and calibre to add strength and 
objectivity to its activities. The directors’ biographies are set 
out on pages 22 and 23. The Board considers that the 
combination of the complementary skills and experience of 
its Board members provides it with an appropriate balance of 
sector, financial and public markets skills. The composition of 
the Board is reviewed regularly to ensure that it has the 
necessary breadth and depth of skills to support the ongoing 
development of the Group. The Chairman has a clear and 
distinct responsibility for running the Board whilst the 
executive responsibility for running the Company’s business 
was delegated to the Chief Executive Officer.

7. evaluate board performance based on clear 
and relevant objectives, seeking continuous 
improvement
Board and Committee meetings are scheduled in advance for 
each calendar year. Additional meetings are arranged as 
necessary.

The Chairman assesses the individual contributions of each 
member of the Board to ensure that: 
•  their contribution is relevant and effective;
•  that they are committed; 
•  understand the business and its strategy;
•  where relevant, they have maintained their independence

8. promote a corporate culture that is based on 
ethical values and behaviours
The Board seeks to maintain the highest standards of 
integrity and probity in the conduct of the Group’s 
operations. These values are enshrined in written policies 
and working practices adopted by all employees in the 
Group. We strive to create an agile, creative and openminded 
culture to support our success in a constantly evolving 
market where time to market and outside of the box thinking 
is essential for success. We promote cross company 
discussions as well as encourage involvement of employees 
in proposing new and innovative project initiatives we do that 
through cross company activities as well as regular subject 
based meetings.

The board believes that diversity is a key to future success  
of our business we have put an effort on monitoring and 
improving the gender ratio in the company, and we are 
pleased to report that the percentage of women in the 
company has gone up from 25% to 35% in the last year, as we 
firmly believe that part of the company success is the global 
and diverse nature of our workforce and we intend to 
continue our effort to promote diversity.

9. Maintain governance structures and 
processes that are fit for purpose and support 
good decision-making by the board
Our corporate governance structures and processes are 
summarised and discussed under the heading Corporate 
Governance on pages 24 to 26.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

25

coRpoRAte GoVeRnAnce CONTINUEd

10. communicate how the company is governed 
and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with 
shareholders and other relevant stakeholders
In addition to the activities summarised under the QCA Code 
principle, “Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs 
and expectations” the Company provides information for 
investors on its website, arranges Investor meetings and 
maintains contact with institutional shareholders and fund 
managers. The Company’s joint-brokers provide independent 
feedback to the Board on market views and produce regular 
research notes on the Company. This enables the Board to 
understand the concerns of shareholders and the wider 
investment community.

Role of the Board
The Board is responsible for the overall strategy and 
direction of the Group. It provides robust leadership of the 
Company within a framework of effective controls which 
enables risk to be assessed and managed. The Board in 
setting the Company’s aims, ensures that the necessary 
financial and human resources are in place to meet its 
objectives. It regularly reviews management performance 
and upholds the Company’s values and standards so that its 
obligations to shareholders and others are understood 
and met. 

The Board is supplied with information in a quality form and 
in a timely manner to enable it to discharge its duties. The 
Board also reviews arrangements under which employees 
can raise concerns in confidence about possible 
improprieties in matters of financial reporting or other areas.

Division of responsibilities
during 2018, the Chairman, donald (don) Elgie had a clear 
and distinctive responsibility of running the Board whilst the 
executive responsibility of running the Company’s business 
was delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, Ido Erlichman. 

As at 31 december 2018, the Board comprised five directors, 
three of whom were Non-Executive directors.

The Non-Executive directors normally do not have any 
day-to-day involvement in the running of the business but 
are responsible for scrutinizing the performance of 
management in meeting agreed goals and objectives and 
monitoring the reporting of performance. All Board members 
are considered to be able to allocate sufficient time to the 
Company to discharge their responsibilities as 
directors effectively.

The Board meets at regular scheduled intervals and follows a 
formal agenda; it also meets as and when required. No one 
individual has unfettered powers of decision. The directors 
may take independent professional advice at the 
Group’s expense.

26

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

Board committees
The Group has an Audit Committee, a Nominations 
Committee, and a Remuneration Committee, each consisting 
of three Non-Executive directors. Each committee has 
written terms of delegated responsibilities which will be 
available for review at the end of the Annual General Meeting 
for 2018 and are available for review in the Investor Relations 
section of the Group’s website www.Kape.com. The Board 
and its committees are considered to have an appropriate 
balance of skills, experience, independence, and knowledge 
of the Company to enable them to discharge their respective 
duties and responsibilities effectively.

Remuneration committee
The Remuneration Committee is comprised of david Cotterell 
(Chair of the Committee), don Elgie and Martin Blair, all of 
whom are Non-Executive directors. It is responsible for 
making recommendations to the Board on remuneration 
policy as applied to the Company’s Executive directors. The 
Remuneration Committee also considers grants of options 
under the company’s share option schemes. The policy of the 
Remuneration Committee is to grant share options to 
employees as part of a remuneration package to motivate 
them to contribute to the growth of the Group over the 
medium to long term. 

The Chief Executive may, at the Remuneration Committee’s 
invitation, attend meetings except where his own 
remuneration is discussed. The Remuneration Committee 
met twice during the past financial year. The Remuneration 
Committee’s terms of reference, which can be found on the 
Company’s website www.Kape.com, are reviewed on an 
annual basis and updated as required.

The Remuneration Committee Report, which includes details 
of directors’ remuneration, pension entitlements and 
director’s interests, together with information on service 
contracts, is set out on pages 28 and 29.

Audit committee
The Audit Committee is comprised of Martin Blair (Chair of 
the Committee), david Cotterell and don Elgie, all of whom 
are Non-Executive directors. 

The Committee meets at least twice a year and at other 
times as agreed between the members of the Committee.  
In 2018 the Committee met 4 times. Executive directors and 
the Group’s auditors may be invited to attend all or part of 
any meetings. The Committee also meets with the Group’s 
external auditors without the presence of the Executive 
directors.

The Committee terms of reference, which can be found on 
the Company’s website www.Kape.com, are reviewed on an 
annual basis and updated as required.

Risk management and internal controls
during the year, the Audit Committee has reviewed the scope 
and effectiveness of systems to identify and address 
financial and non-financial risks. The review identified the key 
risks, risk control measures and the implementation status of 
the risk control measures. The report was presented to the 
Committee by the Chief Financial Officer.

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Audit of the Group’s annual report financial 
statements
In advance of the audit of the Group’s annual report and 
financial statements the Audit Committee reviewed the plans 
as presented by the Group’s external auditor, BdO LLP. The 
plan set out the proposed scope of work, audit approach, 
materiality and identified areas of audit risk.

The Audit Committee also reviewed the annual report and 
financial statements along with the audit findings report 
presented by BdO LLP.

Auditor independence
The Audit Committee monitors the independence of the 
Group’s external auditor. during the year BdO LLP provided 
the Group with the following non-audit services:

•  Taxation compliance services; and
•  Taxation advisory services.

The Audit Committee considered the threats to the 
independence of BdO LLP created by the provision of the 
non-audit services and concluded that sufficient safeguards 
were in place. 

BdO was appointed as auditor of the Group for the year 
ended 31 december 2013. The Audit Committee will keep 
under review, in consultation with major shareholders, the 
decision as to whether to conduct a tender in respect of the 
audit in line with the recommendations of the Financial 
Reporting Council.

Nominations committee
The Nominations Committee is comprised of don Elgie (Chair 
of the Committee), Martin Blair and david Cotterell, all of 
whom are independent Non-Executive directors. The 
Committee meets when appropriate and considers the 
composition of the Board, retirements and appointments of 
additional and replacement directors and makes appropriate 
recommendations to the Board. The objective of the 
Committee is to review the composition of the Board and to 
plan for its progressive refreshing, with regard to balance 
and structure. The Committee is responsible for: 

•  Reviewing the structure of the Board;
•  Evaluating the balance of skills, knowledge, experience and 

diversity of the Board;

•  Advising the Board on any areas where further recruitment 

may be appropriate; and

•  Succession planning for key executives at Board level 

and below.

Where necessary and appropriate, recruitment consultants 
are used to assist the Committee in delivering its objectives 
and responsibilities. The Committee leads the process for the 
identification and selection of new directors and makes 
recommendations to the Board in respect of such 
appointments. The Committee also makes recommendations 
to the Board on membership of its committees. The 
Committee terms of reference, which can be found on the 
Company’s website www.Kape.com, are reviewed on an 
annual basis and updated as required.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

27

ReMuneRAtIon coMMIttee RepoRt
(UNAUdITEd)

The Remuneration Committee (for the purpose of the Remuneration Committee report “the Committee”) is comprised of 
david Cotterell (Chair of the Committee), don Elgie and Martin Blair all of whom are Non-Executive directors.

The directors (other than alternate directors) shall be entitled to receive by way of fees for their services as directors (in 
addition to fees paid for employment or executive services) such sum as the Board may from time to time determine, 
provided that such amount shall not exceed in aggregate £500,000 per annum or such greater sum as the Company in 
general meeting shall from time to time determine by ordinary resolution. Any fees payable shall be distinct from any salary, 
remuneration or other amounts payable to a director.

Each director is entitled to be repaid all reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by him in or about 
the performance of his duties as a director, including any expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board or any 
committee of the Board or general meetings or separate meetings of the holders of any class of shares or of debentures of 
the Company.

Directors emoluments
directors’ emoluments for the 2018 financial year are set in Pounds Sterling. These are set out in the tables below along with 
the US dollar equivalent cost to the Company:

Name

Ido Erlichman
don Elgie
david Cotterell
Martin Blair
Moran Laufer

Base  

Salary/Fees
GBP£

300,000
80,000
50,000
50,000
113,217

Benefits
GBP£

117,569
–
–
–
72,145

Pension
GBP£

24,750
–
–
–
–

Bonus
GBP£

200,000
–
–
–
80,000

Total
GBP£

642,319
80,000
50,000
50,000
265,362

The US dollar equivalent cost to the Company has been calculated using an average USd/GBP rate of 1.33

Name

Ido Erlichman
don Elgie
david Cotterell
Martin Blair
Moran Laufer

Base Salary/
Fees
$

395,198
105,386
65,866
65,866
148,849

Benefits
$

154,972
–
–
–
95,182

Pension
$

32,345
–
–
–
–

Bonus
$

274,688
–
–
–
109,875

Total
$

857,203
106,400
66,500
66,500
353,906

The beneficial interests of the directors who held office at 31 december 2018, together with that of persons connected with 
the directors, in the share capital of the Company were as follows:

Directors’ interests in shares

Name

Ido Erlichman
don Elgie
Martin Blair 
david Cotterell
Moran Laufer

2018

2017

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital

Number of 
ordinary 
shares

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital

0.07%
0.07%
0.01%
0.03%
0.04%

100,000
97,087
19,417
48,544
50,000

0.07%
0.07%
0.01%
0.03%
0.04%

Number of 
ordinary  
shares

100,000
97,087
19,417
48,544
50,000

28

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Directors’ interests in share options

Name

Ido Erlichman 

Moran Laufer 

Number of 
ordinary shares 
under option at 
31 december 
2017

2,000,000

215,054
50,000
634,946

date of grant

Exercise Price

1 June 2016(*)
24 August 2018(**)
29 May 2014(*)
5 January 2016(*)
26 October 2016(*)
24 August 2018(**)

£0,275
£0.000
£0,380
£0,555
£0,365
£0.000

Number of 
ordinary 
shares under 
option at 
31 December 
2018

2,000,000
1,200,000
215,054
50,000
634,946
600,000

(*)   Vesting schedule: 25% one year from date of grant and then in 12 equal quarterly instalments thereafter.
(**)  The Awards vest equally over the three year period from grant, subject to the achievement of certain performance metrics relating to the three 

financial years of the Company commencing 1 January 2018, as set out below:

FY 2018
FY 2019

FY 2020

SaaS Revenue Target
50% of Award

Adjusted EPS Target
25% of Award

G&A Target
25% of Award

25% of total Company revenues
40% of total Company revenues

55% of total Company revenues

$0.049
$0.065

$0.072

The adjusted G&A expenses 
as a proportion of the total 
revenue of the Company is  
< 15% for each financial year

Total Vesting

33.33%
33.33%

33.34%

For the purposes of the above:
•  “SaaS Revenue” means revenues from customer contracts that will renew automatically at the end of their term unless 

actively terminated by the customer;

•  “Adjusted EPS” means the fully diluted adjusted Earnings Per Share of the Company (as presented in the annual accounts 

related to each financial year of the Performance Period); and

•  “G&A” means the general and administrative expenses after adjusting for one-off and non-recurring expenses of the 

Company (as presented in the annual accounts related to each financial year of the Performance Period).

Should the SaaS Revenue, Adjusted EPS or G&A expenses fail to meet these target levels in any of the financial years, the 
proportion of the Award for that financial year will be lost and will not be capable of vesting for the Executives.

The Awards have been granted as Jointly Owned Equity Awards (“JOE Awards”). The Company will transfer 1,800,000 Ordinary 
Shares out of treasury to Intertrust Employee Benefit Trustee Limited as trustee of the Kape Technologies plc Employee 
Benefit Trust, to be held jointly with the Executives in order to satisfy the proposed JOE Awards.  Under the terms of the 
Awards, the Executives will benefit from the growth in value of their respective Award from the date of grant along with the 
right to acquire the Trustee’s interest by way of a nil cost option in the event that the Awards vest.

Annual bonus
The bonuses for the Executive directors for 2019 will be based on Adjusted EBIdTA and non-financial and strategic objectives. 
The level of bonus payable by reference to the financial performance of the Company will be determined on a sliding scale 
based on the Company’s budget for the forthcoming financial year.

Service contracts
executive directors
The service agreements of the Executive directors are for an indefinite term and provide for formal notice of six months for 
the Chief Executive director and three months for the Chief Financial Officer to be served to terminate the agreement, either 
by the Company or by the director. In addition to their annual salaries, the Executive directors are entitled to annual pension 
contributions starting at 1 per cent. as well as other benefits commensurate with their positions including health related 
benefits. 

non-executive directors
Fees for Non-Executive directors are set with reference to time commitment, the number of committees chaired and relevant 
external market benchmarks. 

The Non-Executive directors each have specific letters of appointment, rather than service contracts. Non-Executive 
directors are appointed for an initial term of three years and, under normal circumstances would be expected to serve for 
additional three-year terms, up to a maximum of nine years, subject to satisfactory performance and re-election at the annual 
general meeting as required. 

DAVID COTTERELL
cHAIRMAn, ReMuneRAtIon coMMIttee
18 March 2019

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

29

dIRectoRs’ RepoRt

The directors present their annual report on the affairs  
of the Group, together with the financial statements  
and independent auditor’s report for the year ended 
31 december 2018. The Corporate Governance Statement 
set out on pages 14 to 16 forms part of this report. 

The Company’s full name is Kape Technologies plc, domiciled 
in the Isle of Man with company number 011402V. Kape 
Technologies plc is a public listed company, listed on the AIM 
market of the London Stock Exchange (“AIM”).

Appointment of a Director
The Articles of Association require that any director 
appointed by the Board shall, unless appointed at such 
meeting, hold office only until the dissolution of the Annual 
General Meeting of the Company next following such 
appointment.

Directors’ responsibility statement
The statement of directors’ responsibility is set out on 
page 32.

Directors’ indemnities
The directors have been granted an indemnity from the 
Company to the extent permitted by law in respect of 
liabilities incurred as a result of their office which remains in 
force at the date of this report.

Employee policies
At the 31 december 2018, the Group employed 344 people, 
(31 december 2017: 128 people). The Group is committed to 
attracting and retaining personnel with the requisite 
technical skills and experience to implement its growth 
strategy and maintain its position in the competitive industry 
in which it operates. Kape therefore places significant 
emphasis on ensuring that it has a strong recruitment team 
as well as appropriate remuneration and bonus policies 
which are set by reference to appropriate objectives and 
include share based incentive schemes, details of which are 
set out in note 17 to the financial statements.

Financial instruments
The Group does not currently use derivative financial 
instruments. A summary of the Group’s financial instruments, 
changes in share capital and related disclosures are set out 
in notes 14 and 16 to the financial statements. The Group has 
no material exposure to price, liquidity, or cash flow risk that 
would impact its objectives.

Capital structure
Under the IOM Companies Act, the Company is not required 
to have an authorised share capital. The Ordinary Shares in 
issue at 31 december 2018 have been created pursuant to 
the BVI Companies Act and the articles of association of  
the Company in place prior to the re-domiciliation of the 
Company from the BVI to the IOM on 13 August 2014 and  
are ordinary shares of USd 0.0001 par value.

details of the issued share capital as at 31 december 2018  
of 148,496,073 ordinary shares of USd 0.0001 par value, 
together with details of the movements in the Company’s 
issued share capital during the year are shown in note 14 to 
the financial statements. The Company has one class of 
ordinary shares, which carry no right to fixed income. Each 
share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of 
the Company.

Principal activity
Kape develops and distributes a variety of digital products  
in the online security space. The Company utilises its 
proprietary digital distribution technology to optimise its 
reach and distribute its software products to consumer.  
The Company offers products which provide online security, 
privacy and optimisation tools for the consumer system. 
A  detailed overview of the Group’s activities is set out on 
pages 2 to 13.

Review of business and future developments
details of the Group’s performance during the year under 
review and expected future developments are set out in  
the Chairman and Chief executive officer statements  
on pages 4 to 10. A description of the principal risks and 
uncertainties facing the Group is set out on pages 20 to 21.

Dividends
On 14 March 2018, The Board has declared the payment of  
a special dividend of 4.93 US$ cents per share being a  
total payout of $7 million (2016: nil), which was paid to 
shareholders on the register as at 25 May 2018. No additional 
dividend were declared in 2018.

Directors
The directors who served during the period were as follows:
Ido Erlichman 
donald (don) Elgie  
david Cotterell 
Martin Blair 
Moran Laufer 

Active
Active
Active
Active
Active

Re-election of Directors
The Articles of Association require that at each Annual 
General Meeting one third of the directors (excluding any 
director who has been appointed by the Board since the 
previous Annual General Meeting) or, if their number is not  
an integral multiple of three, the number nearest to one third 
but not exceeding one third shall retire from office (but so 
that if there are fewer than three directors who are subject  
to retirement by rotation one shall retire).

Any director who is not required to retire by rotation but  
who has been in office for three years or more since his 
appointment or his last re appointment or who would have 
held office at not less than three consecutive Annual General 
Meetings of the Company without retiring shall retire 
from office.

30

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

 
 
 
 
STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

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. Save as provided by the terms of 
certain lock-in agreements entered into between the 
Company, the directors and certain shareholders, 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. 

As at 31 december 2018 the Company held 4,476,153 shares 
in treasury and 1,800,000 are held by Intertrust Employee 
Benefit Trustee Limited as trustee of the Kape Technologies 
plc Employee Benefit Trust. No other shares in the capital of 
the Company are held by or on behalf of the Company or by 
any of the Company’s subsidiaries.

details of employee share schemes are set out in note 17 to 
the financial statements. 

Related party transactions
details of all related party transactions are set out in note 22 
to the financial statements.

Research and development
The Group maintains an integrated global research and 
development team which has a staff of 68 (2017: 44). In the 
opinion of the directors, continuity of investment in this area 
is essential for the maintenance of the Group’s market 
position and for future growth. The amount of research and 
development costs capitalised in the year was $2,289,000 
(2017: $1,432,000).

Going concern
The directors, having considered the Group’s resources 
financially and the associated risks with doing business in the 
current economic climate, believe the Group is capable of 
successfully managing these risks. The Board has reviewed 
the cash flow forecast and business plan as provided by 
management which includes the rate of revenue growth, 
margins and cost control. As such, the directors are satisfied 
that the Group has adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, 
they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing 
these financial statements.

Annual general meeting
The annual general meeting for 2019 will be held on Tuesday, 
07 May 2019 at 12 noon. The notice convening the annual 
general meeting for this year, and an explanation of the items 
of non-routine business are set out in the circular that 
accompanies the Annual Report.

Auditor
A resolution to reappoint BdO LLP as the Company’s auditor 
will be proposed at the 2018 Annual General Meeting.

Each of the persons who are directors at the date of approval 
of this annual report confirms that:

•  So far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; 
and 

•  The director has taken all the steps that he ought to have 
taken as a director in order to make himself aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the 
Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

Signed on behalf of the Board by:

DON ELGIE
non-eXecutIVe cHAIRMAn 
18 March 2019

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

31

dIRectoRs’ ResponsIBIlItY stAteMent

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

Isle of Man company law does not require the directors to 
prepare financial statements for each financial year, however 
the group is required to do so to satisfy the requirements of 
the AIM Rules for Companies. Under company law, when 
preparing the financial statements, the directors are 
required to prepare the group financial statements in 
accordance with an appropriate set of generally accepted 
accounting principles or practice. The directors have elected 
to use International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
issued by the IASB. 

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

In preparing these financial statements, International 
Accounting Standard 1 (revised) requires that directors:

•  Properly select and apply accounting policies; 
•  Present information, including accounting policies, in a 

manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 
understandable information; 

•  Provide additional disclosures when compliance with the 
specific requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable 
users to understand the impact of particular transactions, 
other events and conditions on the entity’s financial 
position and financial performance; and 

•  Make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue 

as a going concern.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that correctly explain the transactions of 
the Company, enable the financial position of the Company 
to be determined with reasonable accuracy at any time and 
allow financial statements to be prepared. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and 
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information included 
on the Company’s website. The directors’ responsibility also 
extends to the continued integrity of the financial statements 
contained therein.

Signed on behalf of the Board by: 

DON ELGIE
non-eXecutIVe cHAIRMAn 
18 March 2019

32

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Independent AudItoR’s RepoRt to tHe MeMBeRs oF KApe tecHnoloGIes plc

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Kape 
Technologies Plc for the year ended 31 december 2018 which 
comprise consolidated statement of comprehensive income, 
the consolidated statement of changes in equity,  
the consolidated statement of financial position, the 
consolidated cash flow statement 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 financial statements is applicable law 
and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs)  
as issued by the International Accounting Standards  
Board (IASB). 

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

•  the directors have not disclosed in the financial statements 

any identified material uncertainties that may cast 
significant doubt about the group’s or the parent 
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.

Key audit matters
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) we identified, including those 
which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, 
the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the 
efforts of the engagement team. These matters were 
addressed in the context of our audit of the financial 
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, 
and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

In our opinion:

•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the 
state of the affairs as at 31 december 2018 and of the 
group’s loss for the year then ended;

•  the group financial statements have been properly 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as issued by the IASB;

•  the financial statements have been prepared in 

accordance with the requirements of the Isle of Man 
Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our 
responsibilities under those standards are further described 
in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
statements section of our report. We are independent of the 
group 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.

Key audit matter

How we addressed the matter in our audit

Revenue recognition
The group has a number of revenue streams for which the 
accounting must be individually considered. due to the 
different nature of agreements entered into by the group, 
and the fact that revenue is recognised both at a point in 
time and over a period of time, there is a key risk of 
material misstatement arising from both the recognition of 
revenue around the year end (cut-off) and the revenue 
recognition policy itself, as detailed in note 2 to these 
financial statements.

In accordance with accounting standards, costs that are 
directly incremental to obtaining a contract are eligible to 
be recognised as an asset, provided the entity expects to 
recover the costs. A material deferred contract cost asset 
has been capitalised in respect of costs incurred to obtain 
and fulfil contracts. There is judgement surrounding costs 
meeting the capitalisation criteria and a risk that this 
balance is overstated. 

We assessed whether the revenue recognition policies 
adopted by the Group comply with relevant accounting 
standards.

We tested revenue through substantive procedures, including 
confirmation of cash receipts through to bank statement over 
all material revenue streams. 

We performed cut-off procedures including recalculations of 
contract liabilities around the year-end in order to get comfort 
over subscription revenues, noting that both newly acquired 
entities have subscription based revenue. 

We reviewed the capitalised customer acquisition costs 
against the accounting standard requirements to check the 
costs met the criteria for recognition. The length of time over 
which costs are amortised is based upon management’s 
estimate of average customer lifetime, which exceeds the 
licence length. discussions were held with management and 
reviews of historic customer purchasing trends were 
undertaken. A recalculation was also performed over the 
amortisation charge recognised in the year.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

33

Independent AudItoR’s RepoRt to tHe MeMBeRs oF KApe tecHnoloGIes plc CONTINUEd

Key audit matter

How we addressed the matter in our audit

With input from our valuations team, we challenged the 
assumptions underpinning the significant judgements and 
estimates used by management in the assessment of the fair 
values of the assets and liabilities acquired and consideration 
paid including; reviewing underlying cash flow projections and 
comparing against post-year end, royalty rates, discount rates 
applied and the long term growth rates. 

Our testing focused on both material and more judgmental 
fair value adjustments that were recorded. Particular 
adjustments we tested were:

Intangible assets – the directors obtained external valuations 
for the acquired intangible assets. Utilising our own valuations 
expertise, we evaluated the valuation methodologies used for 
each type of asset and used these to check that the 
methodology used by the directors was appropriate and 
consistent with market practice. We also examined the
key assumptions used as inputs to the valuation models to 
assess whether these were consistent with our understanding 
of the businesses acquired, their historical performance and 
the markets in which they operate. These assumptions 
included revenue and profit forecasts, discount rates, 
customer attrition rates, technology obsolescence rates and 
royalty rates. 

We examined and satisfied ourselves with the methodology 
and tax rates used to calculate the associated deferred tax 
liabilities arising from the creation of intangible assets. This 
involved reference to the tax jurisdictions in which the group 
operates, levels of business in those jurisdictions and the 
manner in which profits are expected to be repatriated  
and taxed.

We assessed whether the lease policy adopted by the Group 
complies with accounting standards. The relevant IFRS is 
International Financial Reporting Standard 16 Leases. 

Our procedures included the following:

•  Obtaining copies of lease agreements to assess the key 
terms included and verify the inputs to the calculation. 

•  Checking that any practical expedients taken are in line with 

those allowed by the standard. 

•  Reviewing the financial statement disclosures against the 

disclosure requirements of the standard.

Business combinations
See accounting policy in note 2, and the intangibles assets 
note (note 9) and the business combinations note (note 20) 
on page 66 respectively.

There are risks present as a result of management’s 
requirement to make significant judgements in assessing 
the fair values of consideration and of the assets and 
liabilities acquired. Management have engaged external 
valuations experts to undertake the purchase price 
allocation exercise required.

The two acquisitions resulted in the group holding, on 
consolidation, goodwill and intangible assets of $19.96m 
and $7.43m respectively.

Adoption of IFRS 16: Leases
The Group have elected to early adopt IFRS 16 – Leases 
effective 1 January 2018, as detailed in notes 2 and 23 to  
the financial statements. 

The new standard sets out the principles for the  
recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure  
of leases. It requires lessees to bring all leases within the 
scope of IFRS 16 on balance sheet with an asset shown  
for the right of use and a liability shown for the discounted 
amount of future payments. 

There is a risk associated with the accounting in respect of 
IFRS 16, as a result of the judgements and inputs required 
within the calculation including determining the incremental 
borrowing rate, noting that the asset and corresponding 
liability are material to the Group at year-end.

34

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Our application of materiality
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and 
performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of 
misstatements. We consider materiality to be the magnitude 
by which misstatements, including omissions, could influence 
the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken on 
the basis of the financial statements. Importantly, 
misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be 
evaluated as immaterial as we also take into account of the 
nature of identified misstatements, and the particular 
circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their 
effect on the financial statements as a whole.

We determined materiality for the financial statements as  
a whole to be $560,000 (2017 – $646,000) which represents 
approximately 1% of revenues (2017 – 1% of revenues). We 
agreed with the audit committee that we would report to 
them misstatements identified during our audit above 
$28,000 (2017 – $32,300).

This, together with the additional procedures performed at 
Group level over the acquisition accounting and consolidation 
process gave us the evidence we needed for our opinion on 
the financial statements as a whole.

Classification of components

Revenue

Revenue has been determined to be the most relevant 
performance measure to the stakeholders of the group. 

Adjusted EBITDA

Performance materiality is the application of materiality at 
the individual account or balance level set at an amount to 
reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the 
aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements 
exceeds materiality for the financial statements as a whole. 
Performance materiality was set at $420,000 (2017: $484,500) 
which represents 75% (2017 75%) of the above materiality 
levels.

Individual component audits were carried out using 
component materialities of between 25-50% of overall 
financial statement materiality (this ranged from $140,000 
and $280,000).

Total Assets

An overview of the scope of our audit
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we 
performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the 
financial statements as a whole, taking into account the 
geographic structure of the Group, the accounting processes 
and controls, and the industry in which the Group operates. 

In establishing the overall approach to the Group audit, we 
assessed the audit significance of each reporting unit in the 
Group by reference to both its financial significance and 
other indicators of audit risk, such as the complexity of 
operations and the degree of estimation and judgement in 
the financial results. We also considered the changes to the 
overall Group as a result of the acquisitions of Neutral 
Holdings Inc. (trading as ‘Intego’) and ZenGuard GmbH and 
where the key business activities and transactions reside. 

We instructed BdO’s member firms in Romania and Cyprus 
as component auditors, to perform full scope audits of 
financial information of the significant components 
accounted for locally in those territories. We visited these 
locations during the year to ensure we obtained a full 
understanding of the operational activities and appropriately 
scoped risks and agreed responses to those risks. We also 
attended audit clearance meetings in these locations and 
took an active part in reviewing the work undertaken by our 
component auditors.  

Full scope audit
Group level procedures

We identified two individually significant components,  
which together make up 82% of Group revenue. 

A further two components have been scoped in as significant 
to ensure sufficient coverage was obtained across the group. 
This relates to the newly acquired component Intego Inc. and 
Intego S.A., the trading subsidiaries acquired as part of the 
acquisition of Neutral Holdings Inc. in July 2018. These 
components contributed to a further 5% of group revenue. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

35

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC contInued

the remaining components not subject to full scope audit 
have been reviewed for group reporting purposes, using 
analytic procedures to corroborate the conclusions reached 
that there are no significant risks of material misstatement of 
the aggregated financial information of those components. 

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 directors,  
as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement 
letter dated 29 november 2018. our audit work has been 
undertaken so that we might state to the company’s 
directors 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 directors as a body, for our audit work, for this 
report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Iain Henderson (senior statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Chartered Accountants
london, uK
18 March 2019

Bdo llp is a limited liability partnership registered in 
england and Wales (with registered number oc305127).

Other information
the directors are responsible for the other information. the 
other information comprises the information included in the 
annual report and accounts, 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.

Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities 
statement set out on page 32, the directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such 
internal control as the directors determine is necessary to 
enable the preparation of financial statements that are free 
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

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

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the 
financial statements
our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about 
whether the financial statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error,  
and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. 
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not  
a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with IsAs 
(uK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.

36

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
AnnuAl RepoRt And Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

consolIdAted stAteMent oF coMpReHensIVe IncoMe
FOR THE YEAR ENdEd 31 dECEMBER 2018

Revenue 
Cost of sales

Gross profit

Selling and marketing costs
Research and development costs
Management, general and administrative costs
depreciation and amortisation

Total operating costs

Operating profit

Adjusted EBITDA 
Employee share-based payment charge
Charge for repurchase of employee options
Exceptional and non-recurring costs
depreciation and amortisation

Operating profit

Finance income
Finance costs

Profit before taxation 
Tax charge

Profit from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations (attributable to equity holders of the company) 

Loss for the year 
Other comprehensive income: 
Items that may be reclassified to profit and loss:
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Total profit/(loss) for the year attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests 

Total comprehensive income/ (loss) attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests 

Total profit/(loss) for the year attributable to Owners of the parent:
Continuing operations
discontinuing operations

Note

3,4

3c

9,10,23

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

52,060
(5,605)

50,602
(4,572)

46,455

46,030

(27,564)
(1,653)
(9,795)
(3,800)

(30,143)
(856)
(11,221)
(2,376)

(42,812)

(44,596)

5

3,643

5
17
17
5
9,10,23

7

8

21

10,374
(1,490)
–
(1,441)
(3,800)

3,643

587
(938)

3,292
(1,064)

2,228
(2,734)

1,434

8,085
(303)
(3,176)
(796)
(2,376)

1,434

277
(452)

1,259
(1,102)

157
(3,518)

(506)

(3,361)

7

858

(499)

(2,503)

(518)
12

(511)
12

(3,561)
200

(2,703)
200

2,228
(2,746)

157
(3,718)

(518)

(3,561)

Earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the ordinary 

equity  holders of the company: 

Basic earnings per share (cents)
diluted earnings per share (cents)

Earnings per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the company: 
Basic earnings per share (cents)
diluted earnings per share (cents)

18
18

18
18

1.5
1.5

(0.3)
(0.3)

0.1
0.1

(2.4)
(2.4)

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

37

Note

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

9
10
23

21
3c
8

3c
21
11
12

3b
8
23
25

13
3b
23
25

36,265
713
1,769
–
934
7,196
728

12,350
815
–
50
–
406
97

47,605

13,718

52
5,216
323
6,101
40,405

65
1,386
–
11,071
69,502

52,097

82,024

99,702

95,742

15
131,091
859
(58,991)

15
130,728
852
(53,200)

72,974

78,395

–

977

72,974

79,372

2,165
3,125
1,693
143

7,126

11,131
7,349
226
896

892
349
–
993

2,234

10,094
3,120
–
922

19,602

14,136

99,702

95,742

consolIdAted stAteMent oF FInAncIAl posItIon
AS AT 31 dECEMBER 2018

Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment 
Right-of-use assets
Non-current investments
Contingent consideration
deferred contract costs 
deferred tax asset

Current assets
Software license inventory
deferred contract costs
Contingent consideration
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Equity
Share capital
Additional paid in capital
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
Retained earnings

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Non-current liabilities
Contract liabilities 
deferred tax liabilities
Long term lease liabilities
deferred consideration 

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Contract liabilities
Short term lease liabilities
deferred consideration 

Total equity and liabilities

The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 18 March 2018.

IDO ERLICHMAN 
cHIeF eXecutIVe oFFIceR   

MORAN LAUFER
cHIeF FInAncIAl oFFIceR

38

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

 
 
STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

consolIdAted stAteMent oF cHAnGes In eQuItY
FOR THE YEAR ENdEd 31 dECEMBER 2018

At 1 January 2017
Loss for the year 
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign exchange differences on translation  

of foreign operations

Total comprehensive loss for the year
Non-controlling interest from acquisition  

of subsidiary

Transactions with owners:
Share based payments
Exercise of employee options (note 14)
Purchase of own share options (note 14)

At 31 December 2017

At 1 January 2018
Loss for the year 
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign exchange differences on translation  

of foreign operations

Total comprehensive loss for the year
Non-controlling interest from disposal 

of  subsidiary

Transactions with owners:
Share based payments
Exercise of employee options (note 14)
dividend paid to company’s shareholders

Foreign 
exchange 
differences  
on translation 
of foreign 
operations
$’000

(6)

Share
capital
$’000

Additional 
paid in 
capital
$’000

14
–

130,292
–

–

–

–

–
1
–

–

–

–

–
436
–

15

15
–

130,728

130,728
–

–

–

–

–
*
–

–

–

–

–
363
–

858

858

–

–
–
–

852

852

7

7

–

–
–
–

Equity 
attributable 
to equity 
holders of 
the parent
$’000

80,553
(3,561)

Retained 
earnings
$’000

(49,747)
(3,561)

–

858

(3,561)

(2,703)

–

–

3,516
–
(3,408)

3,516
437
(3,408)

(53,200)

78,395

(53,200)
(518)

78,395
(518)

–

7

(518)

(511)

Non-
controlling 
interests
$’000

Total
 $’000

–
200

 80,553
(3,361)

–

200

777

–
–
–

977

977
12

–

12

858

(2,503)

777

3,516
437
(3,408)

79,372

 79,372
(506)

7

(499)

–

–

(989)

(989)

1,490
–
(6,763)

1,490
363
(6,763)

–
–
–

–

1,490
363
(6,763)

72,974

At 31 December 2018

15

131,091

859

(58,991)

72,974

*  amounts below 1 thousand

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

39

consolIdAted stAteMent oF cAsH FloWs 
FOR THE YEAR ENdEd 31 dECEMBER 2018

Cash flow from operating activities
Loss for the year after taxation
Adjustments for:
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Loss from Selling the media activity
depreciation of Right-to-use assets
depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
Tax charge
Interest income
Interest expenses, fair value movements on deferred consideration
Share based payment charge
Share of results of associates
Movement in deferred and contingent consideration
Re-measurement gain on equity interest in associate
Expense from repurchase of employee share options
Interest received
Unrealised foreign exchange differences

Operating cash flow before movement in working capital
decrease in trade and other receivables
decrease/(Increase) in software licenses inventory 
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
decrease in other current liabilities
Increase in deferred contract costs
Increase in contract liabilities

Cash flow from operations
Tax paid net of refunds

Cash generated from operations
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Sale of property, plant and equipment
Net cash paid on business combination
Net cash paid on business sold
Intangible assets acquired 
Capitalisation of development costs

Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flow from financing activities
Repurchase of employee share options 
dividend paid
Payment of leases
Exercise of options by employees

Net cash generated from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Revaluation of cash due to changes in foreign exchange rates
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

40

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

Note

2018
$’000

2017
$’000

(506)

(3,361)

9
21
23
10
10
8

7
17
15

15

10

20
21
9
9

 2,617
2,252
1,209
288
58
1,230
(587)
252
1,490
–
(20)
–
–
587
(168)

8,702
3,142
13
82
–
(10,215)
1,971

3,695
(502)

3,193

(179)
10
(20,823)
(341)
(6)
(2,289)

6,046
–
–
399
101
467
(277)
411
3,516
40
(90)
(52)
208
277
240

7,925
967
(65)
(2,113)
(209)
(1,330)
1,358

6,533
(109)

6,424

(540)
39
(5,337)
–
(115)
(1,432)

(23,628)

(7,385)

14,17

23
14

(929)
(6,763)
(1,087)
363

(1,914)
–
–
437

(8,416)

(1,477)

(28,851)
(246)
69,502

(2,438)
(124)
72,064

12

40,405

69,502

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

notes FoRMInG pARt oF tHe FInAncIAl InFoRMAtIon FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 deceMBeR 2018

1 Basis of preparation
The financial information provided is for Kape Technologies Plc (“the Company”) and its subsidiary undertakings (together the 
“Group”) in respect of the financial years ended 31 december 2018 and 2017. The company is incorporated in the Isle of Man.

The financial information has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, International 
Accounting Standards and interpretations (collectively IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB).

The preparation of financial statements in compliance with adopted IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates. It also requires Group management to exercise judgement in applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas 
where significant judgements and estimates have been made in preparing the financial statements and their effects are 
disclosed in note 2. 

Going concern
The directors have, at the time of approving the financial statements, a reasonable expectation that the Company and the 
Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. They therefore continue to 
adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. 

Adoption of new and revised standards
New standards impacting the Group that will be adopted in the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 december 
2018, and which have given rise to changes in the Group’s accounting policies are: 
•  IFRS 16 Leases (IFRS 16); and
•  IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (IFRS 9) 

details of the impact IFRS 16 have had is given in note 23. Other new and amended standards and Interpretations issued by 
the IASB that will apply for the first time in the next annual financial statements are not expected to impact the Group as they 
are either not relevant to the Group’s activities or require accounting which is consistent with the Group’s current accounting 
policies.

IFRs 9 – Financial instruments
IFRS 9 has replaced IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement, and has had no significant effect on the 
Group.

The impairment provision on financial assets measured at amortised cost (such as trade and other receivables) has been 
calculated in accordance with IFRS 9’s expected credit loss model, which differs from the incurred loss model previously 
required by IAS 39. The Group has chosen not to restate comparatives on adoption of IFRS 9. The change to an expected 
credit loss model as required under IFRS 9 has had an immaterial impact on the group.

As allowed by the transitional rules in IFRS 9, prior year financial statements have not been restated and, in any event, no 
material changes in the numbers recognised were required. The adoption of IFRS 9 has though resulted in presentational 
changes as described above.

On the date of initial application, 1 January 2018, the financial instruments of the group were as follows:

Current financial assets
Trade receivables and contract assets
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Non-current liabilities
deferred consideration

Current liabilities 
Trade payables
Other payables and accrued expenses
deferred consideration 

Measurement Category

Carrying amount

Original (IAS 39) 
$’000

New (IFRS 9)
$’000

Original
$’000

New
$’000

difference
$’000

Amortised cost
Amortised cost
Amortised cost

Amortised cost
Amortised cost
Amortised cost

8,536
1,872
69,502

8,536
1,872
69,502

FVTPL

FVTPL

993

993

Amortised cost
Amortised cost
FVTPL

Amortised cost
Amortised cost
FVTPL

2,469
5,939
922

2,469
5,939
922

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

41

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

1 Basis of preparation continued
new standards, interpretations and amendments not yet effective 
IFRIC 23 ‘Uncertainty over Income Tax Positions’ is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. IFRIC 23 
clarifies how to recognise and measure current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities when there is uncertainty over 
income tax treatments. When there is uncertainty over income tax treatments. IFRIC 23 is not expected to have a significant 
impact on the amounts recognised in the Group’s consolidated financial statements. 

The Group does not expect any other standards issued by the IASB, but not yet effective, to have a material impact on the 
Group. 

2 Significant accounting policies
Basis of consolidation
The Group consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the parent company Kape Technologies Plc 
and the financial statements of the subsidiaries as shown in note 19 of the consolidated financial statements.

The financial statements of all the Group companies are prepared using uniform accounting policies. All transactions and 
balances between Group companies have been eliminated on consolidation.

Business combinations and goodwill
Acquisitions of businesses not under common control are accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration 
transferred in a business combination is measured at fair value, which is calculated as the sum of the acquisition date fair 
values of the assets transferred by the Group, liabilities incurred by the Group to the former owners of the acquiree and the 
equity interests issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree. Acquisition related costs are recognised in profit 
or loss as incurred.

Contingent consideration that is classified as an asset or a liability is initially recognised at fair value and subsequently at fair 
value thorough profit and loss in accordance with IFRS 9  as appropriate.

At the acquisition date, the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are recognised at their fair value at the 
acquisition date.

Goodwill is measured as the excess of the sum of the consideration transferred and the fair value of the acquirer’s previously 
held equity interest in the acquiree (if any) over the net of the acquisition date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and 
the liabilities assumed. 

common control transactions
Common control transactions have been accounted for using merger accounting. 

Under merger accounting, the assets and liabilities of both entities are recorded at book value, not fair value (although 
adjustments are made to achieve uniform accounting policies), intangible assets and contingent liabilities are recognised only 
to the extent that they were recognised by the legal acquiree in accordance within applicable IFRS, no goodwill is recognised, 
any expenses of the combination are written off immediately to the income statement and comparative amounts, if 
applicable, are restated as if the combination had taken place at the beginning of the earliest accounting period presented.

The result is that the merged groups are treated as if they had been combined throughout the current and comparative 
accounting periods. 

non-controlling Interests
For business combinations, the Group initially recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the non-controlling 
interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets.

The total comprehensive income of non-wholly owned subsidiaries is attributed to owners of the parent and to the non-
controlling interests in proportion to their relative ownership interests.

Foreign currencies
(a) Presentational currency
Items included in the Group’s financial statements are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in 
which each entity of the group operates (the “functional currency”). The financial statements are presented in United States 
dollars ($000).

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(b) Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of 
the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the 
translation at year end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in 
profit or loss. Exchange rates gains and losses are recognised net within Finance cost. 

(c) Consolidation
The functional currency of the Company, and the presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements is United 
States dollars. For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign 
operations with a functional currency other than United States dollars are translated into United States dollars using 
exchange rates prevailing on the reporting date. Income and expense items (including comparatives) are translated at the 
exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Exchange differences arising, if any, are recognised within other 
comprehensive income.

Effective March 31, 2018, the functional currency of one of the Company’s subsidiaries, CyberGhost SRL, has changed to US 
dollar (“USd” or “$”) from Romanian Lei (“Lei”). The change was following an assessment by company’s management that 
found that the USd is the primary currency of the economic environment in which the subsidiary operates. The exchange rate 
at that date was Lei 1= $0.2646.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign operation are treated as assets and liabilities of the 
foreign operation and translated at the closing rate. 

Associates
Where the Group has the power to participate in (but not control) the financial and operating policy decisions of another 
entity, it is classified as an associate. Associates are initially recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position at 
cost. Subsequently associates are accounted for using the equity method, where the Group’s share of post-acquisition profits 
and losses and other comprehensive income is recognised in the consolidated statement of profit and loss and other 
comprehensive income (except for losses in excess of the Group’s investment in the associate unless there is an obligation to 
make good those losses).

Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured based on the consideration specified in a contract with customer and excludes amounts collected on 
behalf of third parties. The company recognises revenue when it transfers control over a product or service to a customer.

sales from App distribution 
The majority of the Group revenue is derived from sales of products to customers in a B2C model. Transaction price been 
determined by the fixed price of each product which may be changed according to management decision. 

•  The CyberGhost, Zenmate, VirusBarrier and ContentBarriar products are SaaS products which contain one performance 
obligation that is satisfied over time. Since the service is being provided evenly across the contract period, revenue is 
recognised on a straight-line basis. All payments from customers are received upfront. Some of these contracts’ term are 
greater than one year, mostly for 24 and 36 months. The Company determined that the upfront payments are for reasons 
other than providing a financing benefit to the Company and thus there are no significant financing components in its 
contracts. The following factors were considered in the analysis: 

•  The intent of the payment terms that require all payments in advance is to preserve the customers, and to make it 

economically unlikely for them to stop using the Company’s services.
1.  The company has no need for financing and it charges its customers with an upfront payment, since otherwise it would 

incur high administration costs related to renewals and collection of payments. 

2.  An upfront payment of the entire consideration is in accordance with the typical payment terms in the industry.

•  The Reimage PC and driverAgent products contain three performance obligations: one-time repair, unlimited use of the 
repair software for one year and technical support for one year. Revenue for performing the one-time repair obligation is 
recognised at the time of the sale. For the unlimited use package, customers benefit from the use of the repair software 
and technical support for one year, revenues are recognised in line with the pattern of usage of the products and technical 
support, which is substantially within the first 30 days of the 12 months period.

•  Revenue from the sale of Intego Mac Washing Machine, NetBarrier and Backup products is recognised at the time of the 

sale as the customer is able to use the products independently without any additional resources of the company.

•  The Company also offers its products for sale as a bundle. For software bundles, the company allocates revenue to each of 

the performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling price. The stand- alone selling prices are determined 
based on the prices charged to customers who acquire software packages individually.

In respect of the App distribution CGU, customers are provided with a 30-60 day refund period in which they can receive a full 
refund. Historical experience and information post year end allows management to estimate the value of products that will be 
returned which are not material to the group and a refund liability has therefore not been recognised.

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sales from advertising
The Company provides advertisers with the ability to manage and monetize publishers’ inventory and manage advertisers’ 
campaigns. These services represent one performance obligation and are recognised in the accounting period in which the 
services are rendered based on clicks/ views/ impression as detailed below. 

The determination of whether revenue should be reported on a gross or net basis is based on an assessment of whether the 
Company controls the specified services before the transfer to its customers. In determining this, the Company follows the 
accounting guidance for principal-agent considerations. This determination involves judgment and is based on an evaluation 
of the terms of each arrangement. The Company determined that it is the principal in these transactions and therefore 
revenue is recognised on a gross basis since it is primarily responsible for fulfilling of the services. The Company also bears 
inventory risk as it pays the majority of publishers according to cost per mille impressions (CPM( but charges the payment 
from the customer according to cost per acquisition (CPA)/ cost per click (CPC)/dCPC/ or cost per install (CPI). Stated 
differently, an impression can be purchased from a publisher with no corresponding sale to an advertiser if the final user does 
not click on the advertisement delivered. Moreover, The Company has the discretion in establishing the prices.

sales from Ajillion – Ad-exchange
The Company provides ad-exchange services which allow the Company’s partners to seamlessly buy and sell from each other 
through a real time bidding process. Revenue is recognised in the accounting period in which the services are rendered.

In this case, the Company determined that it is acting as an agent and therefore revenue is recognised on a net basis. While 
the Company is primarily responsible for the connectivity services, it does not bear inventory risk nor has discretion in 
establishing the prices. The customer chooses the inventory to purchase on a real-time basis, the amount spent on the 
campaign is determined by the customer through a real-time bidding process and the amount earned by the Company is 
based on a fixed percentage. 

sales from license of web apps platform
The company licenses its web apps platform to customers on a SaaS basis. The benefits simultaneously provided to and 
consumed by the customers therefore revenues were recognised on a straight line bases over the period of the contract.

costs to obtain and fulfil a contract
According to IFRS 15, Incremental costs of obtaining a contract are those costs that the entity would not have incurred if the 
contract had not been obtained (for example, sales commissions). Incremental costs of obtaining a contract with a customer 
are recognised as assets if they are recoverable. The Company recognise an asset in relation to marketing costs to obtain a 
contract. The costs include fees paid to marketing partners on behalf of subscription sales of Cyberghost or Reimage to 
customers referred by the partners. The company believes that the costs are recoverable as the proceeds from the customer 
over the expected relationship period exceed the costs to obtain the contract. The asset is amortised on a systematic basis 
over the expected customer relationship period including expected contract renewals by customers. The expected customer 
relationship period is an estimation, which is based on historical renewal data. 

In addition, the company recognised an asset for fulfilment costs that are considered directly attributable in fulfilling a 
contract. The fulfilment costs comprised of processing fees paid to third party processing service providers. This asset is 
amortised on a systematic basis over the contract period. 

Assets recognised from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract are subject to impairment testing. An impairment loss should 
be recognised in profit or loss to the extent that the carrying amount of an asset exceeds:
a.  The remaining amount of consideration that the entity expects to receive in exchange for the goods or services to which 

the asset relates, less

b.  The costs that relate directly to providing those goods or services and that have not been recognised as expenses. 

Intangible assets 
Amortisation for all classes of intangible assets is included within amortisation and depreciation costs in the income 
statement. 

(a) Externally acquired intangible assets 
Externally acquired intangible assets comprise intellectual property (“IP”), customer lists, trademarks and internet domains. 
All such intangible assets are stated at cost less any accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. 
Amortisation of these intangible assets is calculated using the straight-line method over their useful economic lives. 

Where intangible assets are acquired as part of a business combination they are recorded initially at their fair value.

The useful economic life of IP, customer lists and trademarks is 3 to 11 years.

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Internet domains are generally considered to have an indefinite useful economic life. They are purchased due to the 
marketability of the related domain name, are not specific to a particular product, brand, market or service and therefore are 
not expected to diminish in value or use as a function of time.

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

(b) Internally generated intangible assets (development costs)
An internally-generated intangible asset arising from the Group’s e-business development is recognised only if all of the 
following conditions are met:
•  The technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale;
•  The intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it;
•  It is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits; and
•  The development cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

Internally-generated intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives, which is 2 to 3 
years. Amortisation commences when the asset is available for use.

Where no internally-generated intangible asset can be recognised, development expenditure is charged to profit or loss in 
the period in which it is incurred.

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

(c) Goodwill
Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment 
losses. The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are indicators that goodwill might be 
impaired. 

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

depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method so as to write off the cost of each asset to its residual value over its 
estimated useful life. The annual depreciation rates used are as follows:
•  Computer equipment: 2-3 years
•  Furniture, fixtures and office equipment: 6 -15 years
•  Leasehold improvements: 10 years or the term of the lease if shorter
•  Cars: 4 years

The assets residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted, if appropriate, at each reporting date. 

Expenditure for repairs and maintenance of property, plant and equipment is charged to profit or loss in the year in which it is 
incurred. 

An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when no future economic benefits are expected 
to arise from the continued use of the asset. Any gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an item of property, plant 
and equipment is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is 
recognised in profit or loss. 

Impairment of property, plant and equipment and internally generated intangible assets
Assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to depreciation or amortisation and are tested annually for 
impairment. Assets that are subject to depreciation or 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).

cash and cash equivalents
For the purpose of the consolidated cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and short-term 
bank deposits.

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Financial assets
(a) Classification
From 1 January 2018, the Group classifies its financial assets in the following measurement categories:
•  Those to measured subsequently at fair value (either through OCI or through profit or loss), and 
•  Those to be measured at amortised cost. 

The classification depends on the Group’s business model for managing the financial assets and the contractual terms of the 
cash flows. For assets measured at fair value, gains and losses will either be recorded in profit or loss or OCI. 

The Group’s financial assets are trade receivables, other receivables and cash and cash equivalents. These assets are held 
within a business model whose objective is to collect contractual cash flows, and give rise on specified dates to cash flows 
that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding. As such, they are classified as 
measured at amortised cost.

(b) Recognition and derecognition 
Regular way purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on trade-date, the date which the Group commits to 
purchase or sell the asset. Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the financial assets 
have expired or have been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership.

(c) Measurement
At initial recognition, the Group measures a financial asset at its fair value plus, in the case of a financial asset not at fair value 
through profit or loss (FVTPL), transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the financial asset. 
Transaction costs of financial assets carried at FVTPL are expenses in profit or loss. Changes in the fair value of financial 
assets at FVTPL are recognised in the statement of comprehensive.

Financially assets measured at amortised cost arise principally through the provision of services to customers (e.g. trade 
receivables), but also incorporate other types of contractual monetary asset. They are initially recognised at fair value plus 
transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition or issue and are subsequently carried at amortised cost 
using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment.

Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business. 
They are generally due for settlement within 365 days and therefore are all classified as current. Trade receivables are 
recognised initially at the amount of consideration that is unconditional. The group holds the trade receivables with the 
objective to collect the contractual cash flows and therefore measures them subsequently at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method.

due to the short-term nature of the current receivables, their carrying amount is considered to be the same as their fair value.
Other receivables consist of amounts generally arising from transactions outside the usual operating activities of the group. 
due to the short-term nature of the other current receivables, their carrying amount is considered to be the same as their fair 
value. 

(d) Impairment
The group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss 
allowance for all trade receivables.

the following policy was applied before the adoption of IFRs 9:
The Group has applied IFRS9 retrospectively but has elected not to restate comparative information. As a result, the 
comparative information provided continues to be accounted for in accordance with the Group’s previous accounting policy.

Trade receivables are measured at initial recognition at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest rate method. Appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts are recognised in profit or loss 
when there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired. The allowance recognised is measured as the difference between 
the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the effective interest rate 
computed at initial recognition.

Financial liabilities
Trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently carried at 
amortised cost using the effective interest method.

current and deferred tax
Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

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current tax
Current tax liabilities and assets are measured at the amount expected to be paid to or recovered from the taxation 
authorities, using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted, or substantively enacted, by the reporting date.

deferred tax
deferred tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets 
and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. 

deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which 
the temporary differences can be utilised. deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period 
when the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the 
period end date, and is not discounted.

deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when the deferred taxes relate to the same fiscal authority.

operating leases
The implementation of IFRS 16 replaced the existing guidance in IAS 17 – “Leases” (hereafter – “IAS 17”). The standard sets 
out the principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases, and has a material impact mainly 
on the accounting treatment applied by the lessee in a lease transaction. 

Until the 2018 financial year, leases were classified as either finance or operating leases. Payments made under operating 
leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) were charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of 
the lease. 

IFRS 16 changes the existing guidance in IAS 17 and requires lessees to recognise a lease liability that reflects future lease 
payments and a “right-of-use asset” in all lease contracts within scope, with no distinction between financing and capital 
leases. IFRS 16 exempts lessees in short-term leases or the when underlying asset has a low value.

The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases 
of low-value assets only. The lease payments associated with these leases is recognised as an expense on a straight-line 
basis over the lease term.

IFRS 16 substantially carries forward the lessor accounting requirements in IAS 17. Accordingly, a lessor continues to classify 
its leases as operating leases or finance leases, and to account for those two types of leases differently. 

IFRS 16 also changes the definition of a “lease” and the manner of assessing whether a contract contains a lease. At inception 
of a contract, the Company assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease based on whether the contract conveys the 
right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.

The Company has elected to apply the practical expedient to account for each lease component and any non-lease 
components as a single lease component.

The Company recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the following lease payments:
•  Fixed payments
•  Variable payments that are based on index or rate
•  The exercise price of an extension or purchase option if reasonably certain to be exercised 
•  Payment of penalties for terminating the lease, if relevant 

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, 
the Company’s incremental borrowing rate. The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate.

The right-of-use asset is initially measured based on the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments 
made at or before the commencement date, plus any initial direct costs incurred and an estimate of costs to dismantle and 
remove the underlying asset or to restore the underlying asset or the site on which it is located, less any lease incentives 
received. The assets are depreciated to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the lease term using 
the straight-line method. The lease term includes periods covered by an option to extend if the Company is reasonably 
certain to exercise that option. In addition, the right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses, if any, and 
adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability.

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operating leases continued
The lease liability is measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured when there is a change 
in future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate, if there is a change in the Company’s estimate of the 
amount expected to be payable. When the lease liability is remeasured in this way, a corresponding adjustment is made to the 
carrying amount of the right-of-use asset, or is recorded in profit or loss if the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset has 
been reduced to zero.

the following policy was applied before the adoption of IFRs 16:
Leases where a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating 
leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the 
lease.

share-based payments
Kape operates equity-settled, share-based compensation plans, under which the entity receives services from employees as 
consideration for Kape equity instruments (options). The fair value of the options and share awards is recognised as an 
employee benefit expense. The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined by reference to the fair 
value of the options granted, excluding the impact of any non-market vesting conditions (for example, Recurring Revenue and 
Earning Per Share targets). Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are 
expected to vest. 

At each balance sheet date, the entity revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest. It recognises 
the impact of the revision of original estimates, if any, in the income statement, with a corresponding adjustment to equity. 
The proceeds received net of any directly attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (par value) and share 
premium when the options are exercised.

Cancellation or settlement is accounted for as an acceleration of the vesting period, and therefore the amount that otherwise 
would have been recognised for services received over the remainder of the vesting period is recognised immediately. 
Repurchase of cancelled or settled share based compensation plan, is accounted for as a deduction from equity, except to 
the extent that the payment exceeds the fair value of the equity instruments granted, measured at purchase date. Such 
excess is accounted as expense.

share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. The difference between the fair value of the consideration received by the Group and 
the nominal value of the share capital being issued is classified as additional paid in capital.

critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of consolidated financial statements under IFRS requires the Group to make estimates and judgments that 
affect the application of policies and reported amounts. Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on 
historical experience and other factors including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the 
circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The following accounting policies cover areas that the directors consider require estimates and assumptions which have a 
significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year:

(a) Capitalisation of development expenses
Research and development costs which create identifiable assets and are expected to generate future economic benefits are 
capitalised, and the remainder is expensed to income statement. This requires the Group to perform judgements in 
apportioning costs to identifiable assets and making judgements about which assets are expected to give rise to future 
economic benefits.

(b) Presentation of net revenues
The Group makes judgements in assessing whether it has acted as a principal or agent in transactions for selling and 
acquiring advertising media space, and therefore whether it reports its revenues gross or net respectively. The Group 
assesses a number of criteria in making these judgements, including the party, who is responsible for price setting and credit 
risk of the transaction, the losses the Group would suffer for non-delivery of service as well as the perceived and contractual 
relationship between the media publisher and seller or ad network.

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(c) determining the lease term
In determining the lease term, management considers all facts and circumstances that create an economic incentive to 
exercise an extension option, or not exercise a termination option. Extension options (or periods after termination options) are 
only included in the lease term if the lease is reasonably certain to be extended (or not terminated). 

The assessment is reviewed if a significant event or a significant change in circumstances occurs which affects this 
assessment and that is within the control of the lessee.

(d) determining the customer lifetime 
On recognising an asset in relation to marketing costs to obtain a contract, the Group determined the expected lifetime of the 
customer. The lifetime value been determined after taking into consideration, the product sold, period of the license, and the 
Group past experience.

The Group is monitoring changes which can affect the assessment during the period such as changes with the product, 
renewals rate etc. 

3 Revenue

Sale of software license and services
Revenue from advertising

2018
$’000

52,060
–

2017
$’000

48,226
2,376

52,060

50,602

Revenues from sale of software tool and provision of virtual private network (“VPN”) solutions are generated from the App 
distribution CGU, while revenues from advertising is generated mainly from the Web Apps and licenses CGU. The revenues 
generated from the Media CGU are presented as discontinued operations.

(a) disaggregation of revenue
The following table presents our revenues disaggregated by the timing of revenue recognition in accordance with our 
reporting segments: 

2018 
(USD, in thousands)

2017  
(USd, in thousands)

Revenue recognised over a period
Revenue recognised at a point in time

Total

App 
distribution

11,788
40,272

Total

11,788
40,272

6,454
41,772

App 
distribution

Web apps 
and license

52,060

52,060

48,226

2,376
–

2,376

Total

8,830
41,772

50,602

(b) contract liabilities
The company has recognised the following revenue-related contract liabilities:

Contract liabilities 

Total 

December 
31, 2018 
(USD, in 
thousands)

december 
31, 2017 
(USd, in 
thousands)

9,514

9,514

4,012

4,012

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3 Revenue continued
(b) contract liabilities continued
Significant changes in relation to contract liabilities
The following table shows the significant changes in the current reporting period which relate to carried-forward contract 
liabilities.

Significant changes in the contract liabilities balances during the period are as follows:

Business combination 
Revenue recognised that was included in the contract liability balance from Business combination
Revenue recognised that was included in the contract liability balance at the beginning of the period
Increases due to cash received, excluding amounts recognised as revenue during the period
Revaluation of contract liabilities in foreign currency

December 
31, 2018 
(USD, in 
thousands)

december 
31, 2017 
(USd, in 
thousands)

(3,415)
(1,863)
(3,189)
3,082
(117)

(2,324)
2,181
–
(3,537)
(332)

Management expects that 77.2% of the transaction price allocated to the unsatisfied contracts (which represent to contract 
liabilities) as of 31 december 2018 will be recognised as revenue during the next annual reporting period ($7,349,000), 15.1% 
and 4.5% ($1,432,000 and $433,000) and will be primarily recognised in the 2020 and 2021 financial years, respectively. The 
remaining 3.2% ($300,000) will be primarily recognised on the following financial years.

(c) Assets recognised from costs to obtain and fulfil a contract
The Company recognises an asset in relation to marketing costs to obtain a contract. The asset is recognised as the Company 
expects to recover the cost over the expected relationship period with the customer which includes the initial contract period 
and expected renewals. The expected relationship period with the customer is estimated based on historical contract 
renewals data. The asset is amortised on a straight line basis over the expected relationship period with the customer.

In addition, the company recognised an asset for fulfilment costs that are considered directly attributable in fulfilling a 
contract. The fulfilment costs comprised of processing fees paid to third party processing service providers. This asset is 
amortised on a systematic basis over the initial contract period. 

Significant changes in relation to assets recognised from costs to obtain and fulfil a contract

Short term Asset recognised from marketing cost to obtain a contract
Long term Asset recognised from marketing cost to obtain a contract
Short term Asset recognised from fulfilment cost to fulfil a contract
Long term Asset recognised from fulfilment cost to fulfil a contract

Amortization recognised during the period – marketing costs
Amortization recognised during the period – fulfilment cost

December 
31, 2018 
(USD, in 
thousands)

december 
31, 2017 
(USd, in 
thousands)

4,624
7,066
592
130

(2,155)
(1,319)

1,071
315
315
91

(294)
(804)

4 Segmental information
Segments revenues and results
On 26 July 2018, the Group disposed the Media division which represented a separate reportable segment in the prior year 
and this has been accounted for as a discontinued operation, as set-out in Note 21. 

Based on the management reporting system, the group operates two reportable segments:
•  App distribution – comprising the Group’s own software and SAAS products and distribution platform;
•  Web Apps and License – comprising revenue generated from monetising web apps and licencing the associated 

technology; and

50

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Year ended 31 December 2018

Revenue
Cost of sales
direct sales and marketing costs

Segment result
Central operating costs

Adjusted EBITdA(1)
depreciation and amortisation
Employee share-based payment charge
Exceptional and non-recurring costs

Operating loss
Finance income
Finance costs

Profit before tax
Taxation

Profit from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operations (attributable to equity holders of the company)

Loss for the year

App 
distribution 
2018
$’000

Web apps 
and license
2018
$’000

 52,060 
 (5,605)
 (20,765)

25,690

–
–
–

–

Total
2018
$’000

 52,060 
 (5,605)
 (20,765)

25,690
(15,316)

10,374
(3,800)
(1,490)
(1,441)

3,643
 587 
(938) 

3,292
(1,064)

2,228
(2,734)

(506)

Exceptional and non-recurring costs in 2018 comprised non-recurring staff costs of $0.5 million (2017: $0.3 million) mainly due 
to payments made to option holders in parallel to the special dividend paid in June, $0.8 million (2017: $0.3 million) for 
professional services for acquisitions and rebranding expenses and $0.1 of onerous cost related to lease contract (H1 2017: 
Nil). The decrease in Employee share-based payment charge is due to the repurchase of the share-based option 
consideration from the founder of CyberGhost, which completed on 20 November 2017.

Year ended 31 december 2017

Revenue
Cost of sales
direct sales and marketing costs

Segment result
Central operating costs

Adjusted EBITdA(1)
depreciation and amortisation
Employee share-based payment charge
Charge for repurchase of employee options
Exceptional and non-recurring costs

Operating profit
Finance income
Finance costs

Profit before tax
Taxation

Profit from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operation (attributable to equity holders of the company)

Loss from the year

App 
distribution
2017
$’000

Web apps 
and license
2017
$’000

48,226
(4,572)
(26,447)

17,207

2,376
–
–

2,376

Total
2017
$’000

50,602
(4,572)
(26,447)

19,583
(11,498)

8,085
(2,376)
(303)
(3,176)
(796)

1,434
277
(452)

1,259
(1,102)

157
 (3,518)

(3,361)

Exceptional and non-recurring costs in 2017 comprised $0.3 million of acquisition bonuses to employees, professional 
services related to business combination of $0.3 million and a $0.2 million expense from repurchase of CyberGhost’s founder’s 
share options on 20 November 2017.

(1)   Adjusted EBITdA is a company specific measure which is calculated as operating loss before depreciation, amortisation, exceptional and non-recurring 

costs, employee share-based payment charges and charge for repurchase of employees options which are considered to be one off and non-recurring in 
nature as set out in note 5. The directors believe that this provides a better understanding of the underlying trading performance of the business.

Information about major customers
In 2018 and 2017 there were no customers contributing more than 10% of total revenue of the Group. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

51

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

4 Segmental information continued
Geographical analysis of revenue
Revenue by origin

Europe
British Virgin Islands
Asia
US

Geographical analysis of non-current assets

Europe
British Virgin Islands
Asia
US

Total intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

5 Operating profit
Adjusted eBItdA
Adjusted EBITdA is calculated as follows:

Operating profit
depreciation and amortisation
Employee share-based payment charge
Exceptional and non-recurring costs:
Non-recurring staff and restructuring costs

Adjusted EBITdA
Excluding Web Apps and License Segment 
Adjusted EBITdA excluding Web Apps and License segment

Operating profit has been arrived at after charging:

Exceptional and non-recurring operating costs
Non-recurring staff costs
Professional services related to business combination
Expenses from repurchase of employee share options 
Costs related to onerous rent agreement

Auditor’s remuneration:
  Audit
  Taxation services
Amortisation of intangible assets
depreciation
Amortisation of Right-to-use assets 
Employee share-based payment charge (note 17)

52

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

2018
$’000

 49,302 
–
–
 2,758 

2017
$’000

48,225
4
2,373
–

52,060

50,602

2018
$’000

23,972
–
90
12,916

2017
$’000

10,364
1,954
847
–

36,978

13,165

2018
$’000

3,643
3,800
1,490

1,441

10,374
–
10,374

2018
$’000

543
813
–
85

1,441

220
7
2,305
286
1,209
1,490

2017
$’000

1,434
2,376
3,479

796

8,085
(2,062)
6,023

2017
$’000

295
293
208
–

796

158
8
1,982
394
–
3,479

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

operating costs
Operating costs are further analysed as follows:

  direct sales and marketing costs
  Indirect sales and marketing costs

  Selling and marketing costs

Research and development costs
Management, general and administrative cost
depreciation and amortisation

Total operating costs

2018
Adjusted
$’000

20,765
6,398

2018
Total
$’000

20,765
6,799

2017
Adjusted
$’000

26,447
3,657

2017
Total
$’000

26,447
3,696

27,163

27,564

30,104

30,143

1,389
7,529
2,079

1,653
9,795
3,800

535
7,306
963

856
11,221
2,376

38,160

42,812

38,908

44,596

Adjusted operating costs exclude share based payment charges, exceptional and non-recurring costs, amortisation of 
acquired intangible assets and impairment of intangible assets. See note 4.

6 Staff costs
Total staff costs comprise the following:

Salaries and related costs
Expenses for defined contribution plans
Employee share-based payment charge (note 17)

2018
$’000

9,988
421
1,490

11,899

2017 
$’000

5,587
291
3,478

9,356

The remuneration of the key management personnel of the Group which comprises the Executive directors and senior 
management team, is set out below:

The aggregate remuneration comprised:
Wages and salaries
Expenses for defined contribution plans
Employee share-based payment charge

details of directors’ remuneration are set out in the Remuneration Committee report on pages 28 to 29.

7 Finance costs

Interest expense 
Fair value movements on deferred consideration
Net foreign exchange and Other finance expenses

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

2,504
54
655

3,213

1,896
36
3,608

5,540

2018 
$’000

93
219
626

938

2017 
$’000

–
411
41

452

The interest expense relates to lease liabilities on real-estate and vehicles that were originally recognised at fair value. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

53

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

8 Taxation
The parent company is domiciled, for tax purposes, in both the Isle of Man and the UK. The final tax charge shown below 
arises partially from the difference in tax rates applied in the difference jurisdictions in which the subsidiaries’ jurisdictions.

The Group continues to recognise a deferred tax asset of $159,000 (2017: $97,000) in respect of tax losses accumulated in 
previous years. 

The total tax charge can be reconciled to the overall tax charge as follows:

Profit from continuing operations before income tax expense
Loss from discontinuing operation before income tax expense

Tax at the applicable tax rate of 19% (2017: 19%)
Tax effect of
differences in overseas rates
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
deferred tax not recognised on losses carried forward
Tax expense for previous years

Tax charge for the year

Income tax expenses/ (credit) is attributable to:
Profit from continuing operations
Loss from discontinued operation

The tax expense from continuing operations analysed as:
deferred taxation in respect of the current year
Current tax charge

Tax charge for the year

The group has maximum corporation tax losses carried forward at each period end as set out below:

Corporate tax losses carried forward

2018
$’000

3,292
(2,568)

724

137

83
835
81
94

1,230

1,064
166

1,230

173
891

1,064

2017 
$’000

1,259
(4,153)

(2,894)

(550)

(421)
1,253
122
63

467

1,102
(635)

467

41
1,061

1,102

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

38,974

33,235

details of the deferred tax asset recognised arising in respect of losses and timing differences is set out below:

At the beginning of the year
Additions through business combinations
disposal of the media division
derecognised in the year from continuing operations
Foreign exchange revaluation

At the end of the year

details of the deferred tax liability recognised arising from timing differences is set out below:

At the beginning of the year
Arising from business combinations
Foreign exchange differences
Movement in the year due to temporary differences from continuing operations
Movement in the year due to temporary differences from discontinuing operation

At the end of the year

54

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

2018 
$’000

97
770
(12)
(115)
(12)

728

2018 
$’000

349
2,718
–
58
–

3,125

2017 
$’000

166
10
–
(100)
21

97

2017 
$’000

691
366
42
(59)
(691)

349

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

In addition, the Group has an unrecognised deferred tax asset in respect of the following:

Tax losses carried forward
Unrecognised deferred tax assets due to tax losses carried forward

9 Intangible assets

Cost
At 1 January 2017
Additions
Acquisition through business combination
Foreign exchange differences

At 31 december 2017

Additions
Acquisition through business combination
disposals 
Foreign exchange differences

Intellectual 
Property
$’000

Trademarks
$’000

Customer 
Lists
$’000

36,424
–
1,706
212

9,462
90
546
70

38,342

10,168

–
5,751
(3,663)
(81)

6
2,491
(2,035)
10

2,383
–
743
92

3,218

–
2,342
(2,078)
24

Goodwill
$’000

685
–
5,690
479

6,854

–
16,168
(2,524)
125

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

38,218
6,603

33,026
4,011

Capitalised 
Software 
development
Costs
$’000

Internet 
domains
$’000

69
25
–
–

94

–
–
–
–

3,450
1,432
204
16

5,102

2,289
–
(768)
(30)

Total
$’000

52,473
1,547
8,889
869

63,778

2,295
26,752
(11,068)
48

At 31 December 2018

40,349

10,640

3,506

20,623

94

6,593

81,805

Accumulated amortisation
At 1 January 2017
Charge for the year
Foreign exchange differences

At 31 december 2017

Charge for the period
disposals
Foreign exchange differences

At 31 December 2018

Net book value
At 1 January 2017
At 31 december 2017

At 31 December 2018

(33,559)
(2,320)
(12)

(7,968)
(1,595)
(4)

(1,415)
(1,128)
(5)

(35,891)

(9,567)

(2,548)

(1,031)
3,663
15

(241)
2,035
(5)

(33,244)

(7,778)

(450)
2,078
(4)

(924)

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

(2,418)
(1,003)
(1)

(45,360)
(6,046)
(22)

(3,422)

(51,428)

(895)
719
4

(2,617)
8,495
10

(3,594)

(45,540)

2,865
2,451

7,105

1,494
601

2,862

968
670

685
6,854

2,582

20,623

69
94

94

1,032
1,680

7,113
12,350

2,999

36,265

On 16 October 2018, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of ZenGuard GMBH trading as ZenMate (“ZenMate”), a 
multi-platform security software business with a focus on the provision of virtual private network (“VPN”) solutions. ZenMate is 
a digital privacy company, headquartered in Berlin, focused on encrypting and securing internet connections and protecting 
individuals’ privacy and digital data, as set out in note 20.

On 24 July 2018, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of Neutral Holdings Inc trading as Intego (“Intego”), a leading 
Mac and IOS cybersecurity and malware protection SaaS business. Intego is focused on the provision of malware protection, 
firewall, anti-spam, backup, data protection and parental controls software for Mac, as set out in note 20.

On 26 July 2018, the Group sold the media division to Ecom Online Ltd. This sale is in-line with the Company’s strategy to 
develop and distribute its own cybersecurity products. The carrying value of the Intangible assets of the Media division on the 
Group balance sheet as the date of the sale is $2.6 million of which the majority related to Goodwill, as set out in note 21.

On 14 March 2017, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of CyberGhost S.A (“CyberGhost”), a leading cyber security 
SaaS provider, with a focus on the provision of virtual private network (“VPN”) solutions. Prior to the acquisition date, 
CyberGhost acquired Mobile Concepts GmbH, a software development company based in Germany, for an amount of €1.5 
million.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

55

 
notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

9 Intangible assets continued
On 1 April 2017, the Company increased its holding in Clearvelvet Trading Limited (“Clearvelvet”) to 50.01% of the share capital 
by acquiring an additional 33.34% of its issued share capital. In September 2015, the Group acquired 16.67% of the share 
capital of Clearvelvet for a total consideration of $850,000, of which $350,000 paid in 2016 with the completion of certain 
milestones.

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated at acquisition to the cash generating units (CGUs), or group of units 
that are expected to benefit from that business combination. 

The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill might be impaired. 
The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from value in use calculations. Goodwill allocated to the App 
distribution CGU has a carry amount of $20,623,000 (2017: $4,330,000).

The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected 
changes to selling prices and direct costs during the period.

For the App distribution CGU, the recoverable value has been determined from value in use calculations based on cash flow 
projections for the next five years from the most recent budgets approved by management and extrapolated cash flows 
beyond this period using an estimated growth rate of 1 per cent (2017: 1 per cent). This rate does not exceed the average 
long-term growth rate for the relevant markets. The rate used to discount these forecast cash flows is 25 per cent (2017: 25 
per cent).

The discount rate used in the valuation of the App distribution CGU was 25 per cent. If the discount rate was increased by 1 
percentage point the effect would have been nil. There is no reasonably possible change in assumption that would give rise to 
an impairment. 

10 Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2017
Additions
disposals
Acquisition through business combination
Foreign exchange differences 

At 31 december 2017
Additions
disposals
Acquisition through business combination
Foreign exchange differences 

At 31 December 2018

Accumulated depreciation:
At 1 January 2016
Charge for the period
disposals
Foreign exchange differences

At 31 december 2017
Charge for the period
disposals
Foreign exchange differences

At 31 December 2018

Net book value
At 1 January 2017
At 31 december 2017

At 31 December 2018

56

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

Furniture, 
fixtures and 
office 
equipment
$’000

Leasehold 
improvements
$’000

Computer 
equipment
$’000

976
215
(67)
94
22

1,240
99
(17)
35
(15)

1,342

(711)
(250)
55
(9)

(915)
(196)
12
(5)

(1,104)

265
325

238

279
40
(140)
60
6

245
43
(57)
47
–

278

(88)
(29)
44
(1)

(74)
(37)
22
(1)

(90)

191
171

188

450
174
(350)
14
2

290
37
(146)
–
5

186

(315)
(106)
304
–

(117)
(10)
126
–

(1)

135
173

185

Cars
$’000

–
111
–
42
9

162
–
(17)
–
4

149

–
(14)
–
(2)

(16)
(45)
15
(1)

(47)

–
146

102

Total
$’000

1,705
540
(557)
210
39

1,937
179
(237)
82
(6)

1,955

(1,114)
(399)
403
(12)

(1,122)
(288)
175
(7)

(1,242)

591
815

713

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

11 Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables and contract assets
Prepayments 
Other receivables

2018 
$’000

3,648
1,267
1,186

6,101

2017 
$’000

8,536
663
1,872

11,071

Other receivables as of 31 december 2018 include VAT receivable balance of $736,000 (2017: $742,000).

The fair values of trade and other receivables due within one year approximate to their carrying amounts as presented above. 
The exposure of the Group to credit risk and impairment losses in relation to trade and other receivables is set out in note 16 
of the consolidated financial statements.

12 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash in bank accounts
Bank deposits

The carrying value of these assets represents a reasonable approximation to their fair value.

13 Trade and other payables

Trade payables
Accrued expenses
Employee liabilities
Current tax liability 
Other payables

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

22,462
17,943

17,844
51,658

40,405

69,502

2018 
$’000

4,146
3,303
1,361
2,004
317

2017 
$’000

2,469
4,643
655
1,573
754

11,131

10,094

The Group’s management consider that the carrying value of trade and other payables approximates their fair value. The 
Group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure that all payables are paid within the credit timeframe and no 
interest has been charged by any suppliers as a result of late payment of invoices.

14 Shareholder’s equity

Issued and paid up ordinary shares of $0.0001

2018 
Number of Shares

2017 
Number of Shares

148,496,073

148,496,073

during the year a total of 374,095 new ordinary shares of $0.0001 par value from treasury were sold for cash in relation to 
share option schemes resulting in cash consideration of $363,000 (2017: $437,000).

during the year 1,800,000 shares were transferred out of treasury to an employee benefit trust as part of a jointly owned 
equity shares award to members of the executive management.

during 2017 a total of 3,810,667 of share option of $0.0001 par value were repurchased by the Company for a total cash 
consideration of $3,800,000.

As at 31 december 2018, the Company hold in the treasury total of 4,476,153 of ordinary shares of $0.0001 per value (2017: 
6,650,248). during 2018, 374,095 of ordinary shares of $0.0001 par value were transferred out of treasury to satisfy the 
exercise of options by the company employees (2017: 801,175).

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

57

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

14 Shareholder’s equity continued
The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within owner’s equity:

Reserve

Additional paid in capital

Retained earnings

Foreign exchange

description and purpose

Share premium (i.e. amount subscribed or share capital in 
excess of nominal value)

Cumulative net gains and losses recognised in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Cumulative foreign exchange differences of translation of 
foreign operations

In accordance with Isle of Man Company Law, all of the reserves with the exception of share capital are distributable.

15 Interests in associates
On 1 April 2017, the Company increased its holding in Clearvelvet Trading Limited (“Clearvelvet”) to 50.01% of the share capital 
of Clearvelvet by acquiring an additional 33.34% of its issued share capital. In September 2015, the Group acquired 16.67% of 
the share capital of Clearvelvet for a total consideration of $850,000, of which $350,000 paid in 2016 on completion of certain 
milestones. 

Although the Group held less than 20% of the equity shares of the voting power at shareholder meetings, until 1 April 2017, 
the Group exercises significant influence by virtue of its contractual right to appoint one of four directors to the Board of 
directors of Clearvelvet and to veto certain significant trading and investment decisions. 

On 26 July 2018, the company decreased its holding in Clearvelvet to 0% of the share capital of Clearvelvet as part of the sale 
of the Media division, as set-out in note 21.

Interest in associates at the beginning of the year
Share of results
Re-measurement gain on equity interest in associate
Transfer on increase in stake 

Interest in associates at the end of the year

Aggregated amounts relating to Clearvelvet as an equity accounted associate are as follows:

Total current assets
Total current liabilities
Revenues
Profit (Loss)

*  Clearvelvet loss until 1 April 2017. 

2018 
$’000

–

–
–

–

2018 
$’000

–
–
–
–

2017 
$’000

859
(40)
52
(871)

–

2017 
$’000

–
–
–
(240)*

16 Financial Instruments and risk management
The Group is exposed to the risks that arise from its use of financial instruments. This note describes the objectives, policies 
and processes of the Group for managing those risks and the methods used to measure them. Further quantitative 
information in respect of these risks is presented throughout this financial information.

principal financial instruments
The principal financial instruments used by the Group, from which financial instrument risk arises are as follows:
•  Trade and other receivables
•  Trade and other payables
•  Cash and cash equivalents
•  deferred consideration
•  Contingent consideration 
•  Lease liabilities 

58

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Financial assets
The Group held the following financial assets:

Contingent consideration (see note 21)
Trade receivables and contract assets
Other receivables
Cash

Financial liabilities
The Group held the following financial liabilities:

Amortised cost
Trade payables
Other payables and accrued expenses
Lease liabilities (see note 23)
deferred consideration (see note 25)

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

1,257
3,648
1,186
40,405

46,496

–
8,536
1,872
69,502

79,910

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

4,146
4,728
1,919
1,039

2,469
5,939
–
1,915

11,832

10,323

The Group’s directors monitor and manage the financial risks relating to the operation of the Group. These risks include 
market risk (including foreign currency risk and interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. 

Market risk
(a) Foreign currency risk management
Currency risk is the risk that the value of financial instruments will fluctuate due to changes in foreign exchange rates. 
Currency risk arises when future commercial transactions and recognised assets and liabilities are denominated in a currency 
that is not the Group’s measurement currency. The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currency 
exposures primarily with respect to the Israeli New Shekel, British Pound, Euro, Australian dollar, Philippines peso and 
Romanian Leu. The Group’s management monitors the exchange rate fluctuations on a continuous basis and acts accordingly 
and also avoids engaging in a significant level of transactions in currencies which are considered volatile or exposed to risk of 
significant fluctuations.

The carrying amounts of the Group’s foreign currency denominated monetary assets and monetary liabilities at the reporting 
date are as follows:

Israeli New Shekel
Euro
British Pound
Australian dollar
Romanian Lei
Philippines peso
Japanese Yen

Liabilities

Assets

2018 
$’000

1,135
1,744
262
3
941
316
6

4,407

2017 
$’000

541
308
74
–
269
–
–

1,192

2018 
$’000

696
5,612
962
–
309
357
5

7,941

2017 
$’000

524
6,028
259
–
219
–
–

7,030

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

59

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

16 Financial Instruments and risk management continued
Market risk continued
(a) Foreign currency risk management continued
A 10% weakening of the United States dollar against the following currencies at 31 december 2018 would have increased/ 
(decreased) equity and profit or loss by the amounts shown below. This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular 
interest rates, remain constant. For a 10% strengthening of the United States dollar against the relevant currency, there would 
be an equal and opposite impact on the profit and other equity.

Israeli New Shekel
Euro
British Pound
Australian dollar
Romanian Lei
Philippines peso
Japanese Yen

Profit or loss

2018 
$’000

(44)
387
70
–
(63)
4
–

354

2017 
$’000

(2)
572
19
–
(5)
–
–

584

(b) Interest rate risk management
Interest rate risk is the risk that the value of financial instruments will fluctuate due to changes in market interest rates. The 
Group has no material interest bearing financial instruments and is therefore not exposed to changes in market rates of 
interest or fair value interest rate risk.

At the reporting date the interest rate analysis of financial instruments was:

Fixed rate financial instruments
Financial assets
Financial liabilities (note 23)

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

40,405
(1,919)

38,486

69,502
–

69,502

Any increase/ (decrease) in interest rates will have no effect on results and equity of the Group, because, all financial 
instruments are fixed rate.

credit risk
Credit risk arises when a failure by counterparties to discharge their obligations could reduce the amount of future cash 
inflows from financial assets on hand at the reporting date. The principle credit risk is considered to result from new 
relationships with customers with which the Group does not have a long working relationship and for which reliable 
information as to their credit ratings cannot be obtained. In such cases the Group limits the initial credit facility afforded to 
these customers. Cash balances are held with high credit quality financial institutions and the Group has policies to limit the 
amount of credit exposure to any financial institution or customer.

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The maximum exposure to credit risk at 
the reporting date was:

Trade and other receivables
Cash at bank
Bank deposits
Receivables from related companies
Short term Asset recognised from marketing cost to obtain a contract
Long term Asset recognised from marketing cost to obtain a contract

2018 
$’000

2017 
$’000

4,184
22,462
17,943
650
4,624
7,066

9,527
17,844
51,658
881
1,071
315

56,929

81,296

Credit risk arises when a failure by counterparties to discharge their obligations could reduce the amount of future cash 
inflows from financial assets on hand at the balance sheet date.

60

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STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Wherever possible and commercially practical the Group invests cash with major financial institutions that have a rating of at 
least A- as defined by Standard & Poors. While the majority of money is held in line with the above policy, a small amount is 
held at various institutions with no rating. The Group holds approximately 3.5% of its funds (2017: 2.9%) in financial institutions 
below A- rate and 0.3% in payment methods with no rating (2017:4.4%).

Management expects that 39.5% of assets recognised to obtain a contract as of 31 december 2018 will be recognised as 
expense during the next annual reporting period ($4,624,000), 33.1% and 22.8% ($3,867,000 and $2,663,000) and will be 
primarily recognised in the 2020 and 2021 financial years, respectively. The remaining 4.6% ($536,000) will be primarily 
recognised on the following financial years

At 31 december 2018
At 31 december 2017

Financial 
institutions 
with A- and 
above rating 
$’000

Financial 
institutions 
below 
A- rating and 
no rating 
$’000

Total 
$’000

40,405
69,502

38,860
64,431

1,545
5,071

Before accepting a new customer, the Group assesses each potential customer’s credit quality and risk. Customer contracts 
are drafted to reduce any potential credit risk to the Group. Where appropriate the customer’s recent financial statements are 
reviewed.

The group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss 
allowance for all trade receivables. To measure the expected credit losses, trade receivables have been grouped based on  
the days past due. The expected loss rates are based on the payment profiles of sales over a period of 90 days month before  
31 december 2018 or 1 January 2018 respectively and the corresponding historical credit losses experienced within this period. 

At 31 december the expected credit losses provision for trade receivables and contract assets is as follows:

Expected loss rate
Gross carrying amount 
Loss provision 

The ageing of trade receivables that are past due but not impaired is shown below:

Between 1 and 30 days
Between 31 and 60 days
More than 60 days

Current 
$’000

0%
3,536
–

Between 1 
and 30 days 
past due 
$’000

Between 31 
and 30 days 
past due 
$’000

More than 
60 days past 
due 
$’000

0%
40
–

0%
32
–

2018 
$’000

40
32
40

112

0%
40
–

2017 
$’000

455
411
1,734

2,600

The Group holds a specific loss provision of $17,000 at 31 december 2018 (2017: $239,000). The expected credit loss rate is 
immaterial to the Group, given the nature of the Group’s activities operating within B2C markets. At 31 december 2018, the 
Group had trade receivables of $112,000 (2017: $2,600,000) that were past due but not impaired. 

Trade receivables are written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Indicators that there is no reasonable 
expectation of recovery include, amongst others, the failure of a debtor to engage in a repayment plan with the group and any 
change in the credit quality from the date the credit was initially granted up to the reporting date.

Impairment losses on trade receivables are presented as net impairment losses within operating profit. Subsequent 
recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against the same line item.

In determining the recoverability of trade receivables, the Group considers any change in the credit quality of the trade 
receivable from the date the credit was initially granted up to the reporting date. The Group does not hold any collateral as 
security. Impairments of trade receivables are expensed as operating expenses. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

61

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

16 Financial Instruments and risk management continued
liquidity risk management
Liquidity risk is the risk that arises when the maturity of assets and liabilities does not match. An unmatched position 
potentially enhances profitability but can also increase the risk of losses. The Group has procedures with the object of 
minimising such losses such as maintaining sufficient cash and other highly liquid current assets. 

The Group’s liquidity risk is monitored using regular cash flow reporting and projections to ensure that it is able to meet its 
obligations as they fall due.

The following tables detail the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial liabilities. The tables have been drawn 
up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group can be required 
to pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows.

2018

Trade and other payables
Payables to related parties
Lease liabilities
deferred consideration 

2017

Trade and other payables
Payables to related parties
deferred consideration 

Carrying 
amounts
$’000

Contractual 
cash flows
$’000

3 months  
or less
$’000

Between  

3-12 months
$’000

Between 
1-5 years
$’000

More than  
5 years
$’000

8,664
210
1,919
1,039

8,664
210
2,026
1,243

11,832

12,143

8,664
210
366
226

9,446

–
–
782
717

–
–
878
300

1,499

1,178

–

–

–

Carrying 
amounts
$’000

Contractual 
cash flows
$’000

3 months  
or less
$’000

Between  

3-12 months
$’000

Between  
1-5 years
$’000

More than  
5 years
$’000

8,318
90
1,915

8,318
90
2,249

10,323

10,657

8,318
90
236

8,644

–
–
728

728

–
–
1,285

1,285

–

–

–

capital risk
The Group seeks to maintain a capital structure which enables it to continue as a going concern and which supports its 
business strategy. The Group’s capital is provided by equity and manages its capital structure through cash flow from 
operations. The Group invest available funds within short-term bank deposit which support the Group future available capital.

17 Employee share-based payments
Options have been granted under the Group’s share option scheme to subscribe for ordinary shares of the Company.  
At 31 december 2018, the following options were outstanding (2017: 8,490,329):

Number of shares  

under option

Subscription 
price per 
share 

1,258,132
338,781
291,500
2,000,000
2,232,272
884,333
991,287
67,500
485,000
1,810,000
1,800,000

12,158,805

$0.538
 $1.305
$0.710
$0.352
$0.467
$0.0001
$0.845
$0.0001
$1.280
$1.437
$0.000

Group

Group 1
Group 2
Group 3 
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6 
Group 7
Group 8
Group 9
Group 10
Group 11

Total

Grant date

29 May 2014
21 April 2015
5 January 2016
31 May 2016
26 October 2016
3 April 2017
15 June 2017
26 April 2018
26 April 2018
13 July 2018
24 August 2018

62

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

Vesting conditions
Groups 1-5 and 7-10 – 25% at the end of the first year following the grant date. 6.25% on a quarterly basis during 12 quarters 
period thereafter. 

Group 6 – 50% at the end of the second year following the grant date and the remainder at the end of the third year following 
the grant. 

Group 11 – 33.33% on a yearly basis during 3 years period following the grant date subject to certain performance conditions 

The total number of shares exercisable as of 31 december 2018 was 5,864,311 (2017: 2,973,348).

The weighted average fair value of options granted in the year using the Cox, Ross and Rubinstein’s Binomial Model (the 
“Binomial Model”) was $1.03. The inputs into the Binomial model are as follows:

Early exercise factor
Fair value of Group’s stock
Expected Volatility
Risk free interest rate
dividend yield
Forfeiture rate

2018 
$’000

100%
$1.51-$1.61
60%
0.72%-1.50%
–
0%-28%

2017 
$’000

150%
$0.78
70%
0.16%-1.11%
–
43%

We used the empirical observations for early exercise factor of public companies as an appropriate benchmark for the 
expected early exercise factor.

Expected volatility was determined based on the historical volatility of comparable companies.

Forfeiture rate is assumed to be 0% for senior management and 28% for other employees.

The risk-free interest rate was estimated based on average yields of UK Government Bonds.

The Group recognised total share based payments relating to equity-settled share based payment transactions as follows:

Share-based payment charge
Charge for repurchase of employee options

2018 
$’000

1,490
–

2017 
$’000

303
3,176

Movements in the number of share options outstanding and their related weighted average exercise prices are as follows:

At the beginning of the year
Granted
Lapsed
Exercised
Repurchased by the company

At the end of the year

2018

Weighted average 
exercise price

Number of options

exercise price

Number of options

2017

Weighted average  

$0.55
$0.81
$0.96
$1.02
–

$0.59

8,490,329
4,162,500
(119,929)
(374,095)
–

12,158,805

$0.66
$0.17
$0.81
$0.55
$0.0001

$0.55

10,259,383
5,843,424
(3,000,633)
(801,178)
(3,810,667)

8,490,329

The options outstanding at 31 december 2018 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 7.9 years (2017: 8.2 years).
On 24 August 2018, the Company awarded 1,800,000 in respect of its ordinary shares of $0.0001 each have been granted 
under the Company’s 2014 Global Equity Plan to members of its executive management. The Awards vest equally over the 
three-year period from grant, subject to the achievement of certain performance metrics relating to the three financial years 
of the Company commencing 1 January 2018. The Awards have been granted as Jointly Owned Equity Awards (“JOE Awards”). 
Under the terms of the Awards, the Executives will benefit from the growth in value of their respective Award from the date of 
grant along with the right to acquire the Trustee’s interest by way of a nil cost option in the event that the Awards vest.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

63

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

18 Earnings per share
Basic loss/earnings per share is calculated by dividing the loss /earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Basic earnings per share: 
From continuing operations 
from discontinued operations

Total basic earnings per share 

Diluted earnings per share: 
From continuing operations 
from discontinued operations

Total diluted earnings per share 

Adjusted basic
Adjusted diluted

2018 
cents

2017 
cents

1.5
(1.8)

(0.3)

1.5
(1.8)

(0.3)

5.2
5.0

0.1
(2.5)

(2.4)

0.1
(2.5)

(2.4)

3.8
3.7

Adjusted earnings per share is a non-GAAP measure and therefore the approach may differ between companies. Adjusted 
earnings have been calculated as follows:

Loss for the year 

Post tax adjustments:
Employee share-based payment charge
Exceptional and non-recurring costs
Amortisation on acquired intangible assets
Loss from discontinued operations
Finance cost on deferred consideration for options repurchase

Adjusted profit for the year

2018 
$’000

(506)

2017 
$’000

(3,361)

1,578
1,403
1,905
2,723
247

7,350

3,535
793
4,439
–
–

5,406

denominator – basic:
Weighted average number of equity shares for the purpose of earnings per share

142,008,376

141,547,496

Number

Number

denominator – diluted
Weighted average number of equity shares for the purpose of diluted earnings 

per share

147,955,573

145,260,658

The diluted denominator has not been used where this has anti-dilutive effect. Basic and diluted loss per share are therefore 
the same for reporting purposes.

The difference between weighted average number of Ordinary shares used for basic earnings per share and the diluted 
earnings per share is 5,947,198 (2017: 3,713,162) being the effect of all potentially dilutive Ordinary shares derived from the 
number of share options granted to employees.

64

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

 
STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

19 Subsidiaries

Name

Country of incorporation

Principal activities

Holding %

BestAd Hi Tech Media Limited (**)

Israel

Crossrider Advanced Technologies 
Limited (**)

Israel

Crossrider (Israel) Limited (**)

Crossrider Technologies Limited 
(formerly Market Connect (Cyprus) 
Limited)

Israel

Cyprus

development technical support and marketing 
services

development services and technical and marketing 
support

Provision of marketing services to related parties

Licensing of IP software and agency services to 
related parties

Crossrider Sports Limited (**)

United Kingdom

Provision of consulting services

Reimage Limited

Reimage Limited(**)

Isle of Man

Cyprus

development and sale of the “Reimage” software tool.

Consulting, market research and software 
development services

R.S.F Remote Software Fixing  
Limited (**)

Israel

Provision of development, technical support and 
marketing support services to its parent company

Crosspath Trading Limited

British Virgin Islands Performance of commercial activity through the 

Blueroad Trading Limited

Frontbase Trading Limited

Crossrider ROM SRL(**)

definiti Media Ltd(**)

CyberGhost SRL(**)

Cyprus

Cyprus

Romania

Israel

Romania

Mobile Concept(**)

Germany

Neutral Holding Inc

United Sates of 
America

licensing of technology from Crossrider technologies 
Ltd

Provision of agency services to Crosspath Limited

Provision of agency services to Crosspath Limited

Provision of marketing and development services

Providing digital advertising services for mobile 
platforms

leading cyber security SaaS provider, with a focus on 
the provision of virtual private network (“VPN”) 
solutions

Provision of software development services to its 
parent company

Holding company of Intego inc, a leading cyber 
security SaaS provider, with a focus on the provision 
of malware protection to Macintosh operating 
systems.

France

development and technical support services.

Intego SA (**)

Intego Inc (**)

United Sates of 
America

A leading cyber security SaaS provider, with a focus 
on the provision of malware protection to Macintosh 
operating systems

A leading cyber security SaaS provider, with a focus 
on the provision of malware protection to Macintosh 
operating systems

ZenGuard GMBH

Germany

Kape Technologies Employee Benefit 
Trust

Jersey

Employee benefit trust 

(**)  Indirect shareholding

The Group has been formed from a series of common control transactions which have been accounted for using merger 
accounting; and acquisitions from third parties which have been accounted for using the acquisition method.

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

65

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

20. Business combinations 
(a) Acquisition of neutral Holdings Inc
On 24 July 2018, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of Neutral Holdings Inc trading as Intego (“Intego”), a leading 
Mac and IOS cybersecurity and malware protection SaaS business. Intego is focused on the provision of malware protection, 
firewall, anti-spam, backup, data protection and parental controls software for Mac.

The Acquisition is directly in-line with Kape’s core strategy to accelerate its growth in the cybersecurity market through select 
acquisitions, and brings significant strategic benefits to the Company.

details of the fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities acquired, purchase consideration and goodwill, are as follows:

B2C Brand 
Customer relations
Corporate Trademark
Technology
deferred tax liability
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Property, plant and equipment
deferred Contracts costs
deferred tax assets 
Contract liabilities
Trade and other payables

Fair value of consideration
Cash
Goodwill

Net cash outflow on acquisition of business

Cash consideration
Cash and cash equivalents acquired

Acquiree’s 
carrying 
amount 
before 
combination
$’000

–
–
–
–
(61)
510
229
67
291
684
(2,499)
(931)

(1,710)

Fair value
$’000

625
2,155
1,334
3,687
(1,857)
510
229
67
291
684
(2,499)
(931)

4,295

15,979
11,684

2017 
$’000

15,979
(510)

15,469

Intego is being acquired for a total consideration of $16.0 million cash, from internal cash resources, to be satisfied on closing 
of the Acquisition.

Since the acquisition date, Intego has contributed $2.9 million to group revenues, profit of $1.1 million to group loss. In 
addition, since the acquisition date Intego contributed $2.6 million to segment results of the app distribution segment (as set 
out in note 4). If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2018, group revenue would have been $55.5 million, group loss for 
the period would have been $0.9 million and the app distribution segmental result would have been $28.2 million.

Acquisition costs of $0.6 million arose as a result of the transaction. These have been recognised as part of administrative 
expenses in the statement of comprehensive income. 

66

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

(b) Acquisition of ZenGuard GMBH
On 16 October 2018, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of ZenGuard GMBH trading as ZenMate (“ZenMate”), a 
multi-platform security software business with a focus on the provision of virtual private network (“VPN”) solutions. ZenMate is 
a digital privacy company, headquartered in Berlin, focused on encrypting and securing internet connections and protecting 
individuals’ privacy and digital data.

The Acquisition is highly complementary to CyberGhost, Kape’s existing VPN solution.

details of the fair value of identifiable assets and liabilities acquired, purchase consideration and goodwill, are as follows:

Customer relations
Brand
Technology
deferred tax liability
Property, plant and equipment
deferred Contracts costs
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
deferred tax asset
Contract liabilities
Trade and other payables

Fair value of consideration
Cash
Goodwill

Acquiree’s 
carrying 
amount 
before 
combination 
$’000

–
–
–
(29)
15
96
139
200
–
(916)
(472)

(967)

Fair value
$’000

187
532
2,064
(861)
15
96
139
200
86
(916)
(472)

1,070

5,554
4,484

ZenMate is being acquired from several venture capital funds and private investors, including the founders of the business, for 
a total consideration of $5.6 million (€4.8 million) in cash, funded from Kape’s internal cash resources, to be satisfied on 
closing of the Acquisition.

As part of the acquisition, Kape indicated a restructuring plan which was planned and designed by ZenMate former 
management. The restructuring plan was intended to downsize ZenMate’s staff and reduce operational costs. The 
restructuring plan cost was circa $0.3 million and was completed in January 2019. 

Net cash outflow on acquisition of business

Cash consideration
Cash and cash equivalents acquired

2018 
$’000

5,554
(200)

5,354

Since the acquisition date, ZenMate has contributed $0.55 million to group revenues, profit of $0.1 million to group loss and 
$0.4 million to segment results (as set out on note 4). If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2018, group revenue would 
have been $54.2 million, group loss for the period would have been $1.7 million and the app distribution segmental result 
would have been $26.7 million.

Acquisition costs of $0.1 million arose as a result of the transaction. These have been recognised as part of administrative 
expenses in the statement of comprehensive income.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

67

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

21 Discontinued operation
(a) description
On 26 July 2018, the Group sold the Media division to Ecom Online Ltd. As for the sale date, the Media division included 
Clearvelvet Trading Limited (“Clearvelvet”) and Intangible assets of the Media CGU. This sale is in-line with the Company’s 
strategy to develop and distribute its own cybersecurity products. 

(b) Financial performance
The financial performance and cash flow information presented are for the period ended 26 July 2018 (2018 column) and the 
year ended 31 december 2017.

Revenue 
Share of results of equity accounted associates 
Expenses

Loss before income tax
Income tax income/ (expenses) 

Loss after income tax of discontinued operation 
Loss on sale of the Media division 

Loss from discontinued operation 

Net cash outflow from operating activities
Net cash outflow from investing activities
Net cash flow from financing activities

Net decrease in cash generated by the Media division 

(c) details of the sale of the subsidiary

Consideration received or receivable:
Short term fair value of contingent consideration
Long term fair value of contingent consideration

Total consideration
Carry amount of net assets sold
Goodwill 
Capitalised Software development Costs
Investment
Property, plant and equipment 
Trade and other receivables
deferred tax asset
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other payables

Non-controlling interest 

Loss on sale

2018 
$’000

4,185
–
(4,501)

(316)
(166)

(482)
(2,252)

(2,734)

(336)
(341)
–

(677)

2017 
$’000

15,781
(40)
(19,895)

(4,154)
636

(3,518)
–

(3,518)

(603)
(175)
–

(778)

2018
$’000

323
934

1,257

(2,524)
(49)
(50)
(4)
(2,517)
(12)
(341)
999

(4,498)
989

(2,252)

As consideration, the Group will receive a 50% share of EBITdA from the Media division for the next five years following the 
sale, which will be reinvested in the Group’s core App distribution segment, where all Media division employees were be 
transferred to.

In order to calculate contingent consideration, the recoverable value has been determined from value in use calculations 
based on cash flow projections for the next five years agreed upon with the acquiree.

The discount rate used in the valuation was 25 per cent. If the discount rate was increased by 1 percentage point the effect 
would have been $0.03 million. There is no reasonably possible change in assumption that would give rise to an impairment.

68

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

22 Related party transactions
The Group is controlled by Unikmind Holdings Limited incorporated in British Virgin Islands, which owns 72.77% of the 
Company’s shares. The controlling party is the Unikmid holding Ltd, established under the laws of British Virgin Islands. Mr. 
Teddy Sagi is the sole ultimate beneficiary of Unikmind Holding Ltd.

(a) Related party transactions
The following transactions were carried out with related parties:

Revenue from common controlled company
Technical support services to end customers provided by common controlled company
Payment processing services provided by common controlled company
Office rent expenses to common controlled companies
Amortisation of Right-to-use assets with common controlled companies (Note 23)
Interest expenses from Lease liabilities to common controlled companies
Loss debt from related parties (Note 23)

(b) Receivables owed by related parties (note 16)

Name

Nature of transaction

Parent company
Companies related by virtue of common control

Unpaid share capital
Trade

(c) payables to related parties (note 16)

Name

Nature of transaction

Companies related by virtue of common control

Other

(d) Right-to-use assets and lease liabilities to related parties (note 23)

Right-to-use assets
Lease liabilities

2018 
$’000

85
(2,227)
(376)
–
(744)
(71)
(323)

(3,656)

2017 
$’000

2,587
(2,704)
(208)
(230)
–
–
–

(555)

2018 
$’000

10
650

660

2018 
$’000

210

210

2018 
$’000

1,422
(1,543)

2017 
$’000

10
881

891

2017 
$’000

90

90

2017 
$’000

–
–

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

69

notes to tHe consolIdAted FInAncIAl stAteMents CONTINUEd

23 Operating leases
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company early adopted IFRS 16, which specifies how to recognize, measure, present and 
disclose leases. The Company has not restated comparatives for the 2017 reporting period, as permitted under the specific 
transitional provisions in the standard. The reclassifications and the adjustments arising from the new leasing rules are 
therefore recognised in the opening balance sheet on 1 January 2018. 

On initial application, the group recognised lease liabilities in relation to leases which had previously been classified as 
‘operating leases’ under the principles of IAS 17 Leases. These liabilities were measured at the present value of the remaining 
lease payments, discounted using the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate as of 1 January 2018. The weighted average 
lessee’s incremental borrowing rate applied to the lease liabilities on 1 January 2018 was 4.49%. The Company has elected to 
record right-of-use assets based on the corresponding lease liability. 

In applying IFRS 16 for the first time, the group has used the following practical expedients permitted by the standard: 
•  The use of a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics 
•  Reliance on previous assessments on whether leases are onerous 
•  The exclusion of initial direct costs for the measurement of the right-of-use asset at the date of initial application; and
•  The use of hindsight in determining the lease term where the contract contains options to extend or terminate the lease. 

The group has also elected not to reassess whether a contract is, or contains a lease at the date of initial application. Instead, 
for contracts entered into before the transition date the group relied on its assessment made applying IAS 17 and IFRIC 4 
determining whether an Arrangement contains a Lease. 

The Company’s operating lease liability at december 31, 2017, as previously disclosed in the Company’s consolidated financial 
statements (2017: $578,000) differs from the lease liability recognised on initial application of IFRS 16 at January 1, 2018 
$1,408,550. The differences attributed mainly to, management assumptions for periods of the leases contract, and the 
Company decision to apply the practical expedient to account for each lease component and any non-lease components as a 
single lease component.

The recognised right-of-use assets relate to the following types of assets:

Rights-of-use assets:

Real estate leases
Vehicles

Right-of-use Assets

At 1 January 2018
Additions
Additions through business combination
Amortisation

At 31 December 2018

Real estate 
leases
$’000

Vehicles
$’000

1,331
1,265
305
(1,181)

1,720

77
–
–
(28)

49

The Group had sub-leased one of the Right-of-use asset on 2018, for total consideration of $0.1 million.

lease liabilities

At 1 January 2018
Additions
Additions through business combination
Interest expense
Lease payments
Foreign exchange movements

At 31 December 2018

70

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

Real estate 
leases 
$’000

Vehicles 
$’000

1,331
1,265
305
82
(1,058)
(62)

1,863

77
-
-
11
(29)
(3)

56

2018 
$’000

1,720
49

1,769

Total
$’000

1,408
1,265
305
(1,209)

1,769

Total 
$’000

1,408
1,265
305
93
(1,087)
(65)

1,919

STRATEGIC
REPORT

CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE

FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS

2018

Lease liabilities 

Carrying 
amount
$’000

Contractual 
cash flow
$’000

3 months  
or less
$’000

Between 
3-12 months
$’000

Between 
1-5 years
$’000

More than  
5 years
$’000

1,919

2,026

366

782

878

–

The Company leases various offices and vehicles. Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range 
of different terms and conditions. The lease agreements do not impose any covenants. 

Extension and termination options are included in a number of property and equipment leases across the group. These terms 
are used to maximize operational flexibility in terms of managing contracts. 

24 Contingent liabilities
The Group had no contingent liabilities as at 31 december 2018.

25 Deferred consideration
(a) Acquisition of AjillionMax
The consideration for the acquisition of certain assets of AjilionMAX Limited in May 2014 included $654,000 deferred 
consideration. Of this $104,000 was repaid during the year ending 31 december 2014, $156,000 was repaid during the year 
ending 31 december 2015, $189,000 was repaid during the year ending 31 december 2016 and the remainder was repaid 
during the year ending 31 december 2017.

In addition, $435,000, included as part of the acquisition arrangements, has been recognised directly in the income statement 
during the year ending 31 december 2015, out of which $209,000 was paid in May 2017.

(b) Acquisition of driverAgent intangibles
In October 2016, the Group acquired the intellectual property of PC maintenance software product, driverAgent, from 
eSupport.com, Inc for a total consideration of $1.2 million. As for 31 december 2018, the consideration included $0.17 million 
of deferred consideration (2017: $0.17 million) which is contingent on future results. 

(c) Repurchase of share-based consideration 
On 20 November 2017, the Company repurchased 3,810,667 options out of the 4,057,813 option granted to the Cyberghost’s 
former founder for total cash consideration of $3.8 million (€3.2 million). Out of which $1.9 million (€1.625 million) paid upon 
execution of the purchase agreement, while the remaining amount to be paid in eight equal instalments amounting of $235 
thousand (€197 thousand) per quarter over the course of two years and recognised as deferred consideration. As for 31 
december 2018, the consideration included $0.9 million of deferred consideration (2017: $1.75 million) which will be fully paid 
in 2019.

(d) sale of the Media division
On 26 July 2018, the Group sold the media division to Ecom Online Ltd. This sale is in-line with the Company’s strategy to 
develop and distribute its own cybersecurity products. As consideration, the Group will receive a 50% share of EBITdA from 
the Media division for the next five years following the sale, which will be reinvested in the Group’s core App distribution 
segment, where all Media division employees were be transferred to. As at 31 december 2018, the consideration included 
$1.3 million of contingent consideration receivable.

26 Subsequent events
There were no material events after the reporting period, which have a bearing on the understanding of the consolidated.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

71

sHAReHoldeR InFoRMAtIon And AdVIsoRs

Shareholder information, including financial results, news and information on products and services, can be found  
at www.kape.com.

Independent Auditor 
BdO LLP
55 Baker Street
London W1U 7EU

Nominated Advisor and Broker 
Shore Capital & Corporate Limited
Bond Street House
14 Clifford Street
London W1S 4JU

Investor Relations 
Vigo Communications
180 Piccadilly
London W1J 9HF

Registered Office
Sovereign House
4 Christian Road
douglas
Isle of Man IM1 2Sd

Corporate Legal Advisors
Morrison Foerster 
CityPoint
One Ropemaker Street
London, United Kingdom EC2Y 9AW

Joint Broker
Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP
1 Bartholomew Lane
London EC2N 2AX
United Kingdom

Registrars
Computershare Investor Services (Jersey) Limited
Queensway House
Hilgrove Street
St Helier
Jersey JE1 1ES

Stock exchanges
The Company’s ordinary shares are listed on the AIM market 
of the London Stock Exchange under the symbol “KAPE”.  
The Company does not maintain listings on any other  
stock exchanges.

72

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNUAL REPORT ANd ACCOUNTS 2018

Kape Technologies plc
LABS Atrium 
Stables Market
Chalk Farm Road
London NW1 8AH
Tel: +44 (0) 203 355 7926
Email: ir@kape.com

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