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Kape Technologies

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FY2020 Annual Report · Kape Technologies
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LEADING  
IN DIGITAL 
PRIVACY AND  
SECURITY FOR 
CONSUMERS

AnnuAl RepoRt And Accounts 2020

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INTRODUCTION

Who we are

Kape is a ‘privacy first’ 
digital security company 
focused on protecting 
consumers and their 
personal data as they  
go about their daily  
digital life.

Our focus

empowering consumers to 
manage their own data and  
digital security online.

Our vision

to provide online autonomy for a 
secure and accessible personal 
digital life.

Consumer SaaS expertise

Growth business model and 
strong revenue visibility driven  
by a saas-based financial model.

Contents

Strategic Report

Highlights 
At a glance 
Chairman’s statement 
Coping with COVID-19 
Market overview 
Chief Executive Officer’s review 
Strategic priorities 
Strategy in action: Integration 
Strategy in action: Acquisition 
Product development 
Chief Financial Officer’s review 
Responsible business 
Stakeholder engagement  
Principal risks and uncertainties 

Corporate Governance

Board of Directors 
Corporate governance statement 
Remuneration Committee report 
Directors’ report 
Directors’ responsibility statement 

Financial Statements

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

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Financial highlights

$122.2m

Revenue increase
+85%*

$20.4m

Adjusted cashflow from 
operations
+1,994%

$39.0m

Adjusted eBitdA1
+168%

14.8 cents

Fully diluted earnings  
per share2
+771%

$106.4m

Growth in recurring revenues
+106.6%

$49.9m

cash balance 

Operational highlights

•  Increase in subscribers to 2.52 million at 31 December 2020  
(31 December 2019: 2.31 million) with a 83%4 retention rate  
(31 December 2019: 81%)

•  Visibility on revenues from existing users increased to  

$110.5 million3 (31 December 2019: $98.8 million)

•  Completed the successful integration of PIA

•  Kape’s user acquisition expertise and technology continues to drive 

growth of PIA users

•  Raised additional growth capital through a successful $115.5 million 
fundraising in October 2020, which was both oversubscribed and 
upscaled

•  Expanded Kape’s investor base across the uK, Europe, uS and Israel

•  Facilitated the buy-out of the equity interests in the Company of the 

two co-founders of PIA

•  Provided additional funds to execute on the Group’s growth strategy

•  Delivered on the Group’s product development roadmap, launching  
a number of significant new solutions and initiatives during the year

•  transformed the digital business from VPN provider to a fully-fledged 

privacy and security suite

•  launched CyberGhost’s first unified privacy and security suite,  

adding Privacy Guard and Security updater

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

1

1  Adjusted EBItDA is a company-specific measure which  
is calculated as operating profit before depreciation 
(including right-to-use assets amortisation), amortisation, 
exceptional or non-recurring costs, other operating 
expenses and employee share-based payment charges. 

2  From continuing operations.
3  Calculated as expected revenues from first renewal of the 
existing user base in addition to the deferred revenue 
balance.

4  Renewal rate is on a 6 months basis.

Continued to successfully deliver 
against our strategy, achieving record 
revenues and user numbers, despite 
the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 
across the global economy.

05101520253035402017Underlying Adjusted EBITDA2 ($ million)($ million)201920206.010.414.639.0168% increase2018AT A GLANCE

Kape’s core  
software products

Our products
We have built a core SaaS product suite over  
a number of years, with a primary focus on  
digital privacy and digital security.

Digital Privacy

Digital Security

COMPANY OVERVIEW

360

employees

9

Global hubs

2.5m

subscribers

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KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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Successful integration 
experience

160+

subscriber countries

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

3

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

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.

2020 was a year dominated by the social and 
economic challenges brought about by the 
COVID-19 pandemic. As we look back over 2020  
and evaluate our progress, I am immensely proud 
of the response of our management team in 
safeguarding our people and of our employees in 
keeping our customers protected. the need for 
digital privacy products has never been more 
relevant. there is no question that the sudden  
and rapid shift to remote working accelerated 
consumer awareness of the need for a more 
comprehensive suite of privacy solutions capable 
of protecting their data, identity and digital 
footprint, in turn fuelling demand.

this helped deliver a very strong performance 
from the Group. In the year ended 31 December 
2020, revenue generated was at the upper end of 
management’s forecasted range at $122.2 million 
(2019: $66.1 million), an increase of 85%, with 
recurring revenue now representing c. 87% of  
total Group revenue. Kape also achieved Adjusted 
EBItDA1 ahead of management’s expectations  
at $39.0 million (2019: $14.6 million). 

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KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

Management delivered on its promise to integrate 
PIA, strengthen the balance sheet and accelerate 
product development initiatives. the integration  
of PIA has exceeded expectations, which is 
particularly pleasing, given that, at the time we 
made the acquisition, it was our largest acquisition 
and integration to date. this experience of 
delivering a successful integration gives us huge 
confidence following the recent announcement of 
our acquisition of Webselenese.

We were extremely pleased to complete the 
successful fundraise in October 2020, and for 
Kape’s first capital raise since IPO to be 
significantly oversubscribed, and subsequently 
upscaled, validates investor support for Kape’s 
vision and the execution of our strategy to date. 
the ability of the Company’s R&D team to innovate 
and launch multiple new products was again 
demonstrated during 2020 and we are already 
seeing growing traction for these products, paving 
the way for Kape to play an expanding role in 
individuals’ lives globally. the business reached a 
new level of maturity in 2020 and we are already 
building on this in the current financial year. 

post period-end
We were pleased to announce the appointment  
of Pierre-Etienne lallia as Non-Executive Director 
in January 2021. Mr. lallia brings extensive 
experience working across the capital markets 
arena, having spent much of his career at leading 
global investment banks. Mr lallia is Managing 
Director of Globe Invest uK ltd and the appointed 
representative of unikmind Holdings limited, the 
Company’s largest shareholder. He is a significant 
addition to the Board of Kape.

the acquisition of Webselenese in March 2021 is 
pivotal in Kape’s strategic roadmap. Whilst to date 
Kape’s M&A strategy has focused on expanding  
its product portfolio, which we will continue to do, 
this addition to the Group is highly strategic and 
enhances both our go-to-market capabilities and 
product development roadmap whilst at the same 
time being significantly earnings enhancing.

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investment case

1

Fully focused on the high growth 
privacy-first digital security space

2 Strong customer proposition 

underpinned by proven user 
acquisition model

3 Market leading privacy and software 

security products designed for global 
consumer markets model

4 Proven track record of revenue and 

EBITDA growth

5 Strong revenue visibility underpinned 

by a SaaS-based financial model

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

5

outlook
As announced at the time of the Webselenese 
acquisition, it is expected that the enlarged Group 
will generate consolidated full-year 2021 revenues 
of between $197-202 million and Adjusted EBItDA 
of between $73-76 million.

We expect that the combination of our growing 
product stack and our superior go-to-market 
capabilities will accelerate our growth across 2021 
and in the years to come, particularly as we  
begin to see the benefits from the acquisition  
of Webselenese. We continue to execute on our 
ambitious strategy to be our customers’ go-to 
partner in ensuring control over their online 
privacy and security both through organic growth 
and further acquisitions. 

summary 
Kape’s management team have continued to 
demonstrate their unique combination of a 
compelling strategic vision coupled with superior 
execution capabilities. We are confident that 
during 2021 and beyond we will continue to deliver 
against our strategy and on our ambitious growth 
trajectory. I would like to thank the entire global 
Kape team for their hard work and dedication 
during what has been a trying time for every 
individual. Kape’s ongoing success would not be 
possible without the tenacity and determination  
of its people.

We were especially encouraged by the 
participation of a number of core management  
and employees in the Company’s recent equity 
fundraising in October 2020 which amounted to 
circa $600,000.

DON ELGIE
NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
16 March 2021

1  Adjusted EBItDA is a company-specific measure which  
is calculated as operating profit before depreciation 
(including right-to-use assets amortisation), amortisation, 
exceptional or non-recurring costs, other operating 
expenses and employee share-based payment charges.

COPING WITH COVID-19

Increased need for private  
work from home connections 

Our priorities and key mitigating actions

1

maintaining critical 
services for our 
customers

2

Keeping our 
employees safe

3

protecting value for 
our stakeholders

Increased number of personal devices used = 
increased risk for individuals and companies

data stored in 
the cloud

servers

employee with 
unmanaged
devices

internal network 
with managed 
devices

COVID-19
With COVID-19 severely impacting the 
macroeconomic environment and driving an 
increased requirement for workforces to shift to 
home working, heightened concerns relating to 
digital security and privacy have resulted in Kape 
benefiting from favorable market tailwinds. the 
global shift to remote working has provided further 
impetus to our existing growth trajectory through 
increased demand for Kape’s digital privacy 
solutions, with the size of the global VPN market 
alone expected to reach $70 billion in 2026.  
In addition to a continued focus on cost control,  
travel restrictions have curtailed the costs 
associated with the Group’s global marketing 
activities and other operational expenses, resulting 
in an improvement in the Group’s operating margin.

How it affected our business
•  Accelerated remote working trends, as well  
as accelerating the need for digital privacy  
& security 

•  Increased need for private work from home 
(WFH) connections for corporate employees

•  there is an increased risk due to WFH 

connections being less secure than corporate 
enterprise grade servers

outlook
Whilst we continue to monitor the ongoing 
COVID-19 pandemic and the wider macro-economic 
situation closely, Kape remains well placed to 
continue on its exciting growth trajectory as market 
fundamentals remain strong and we expand our 
user base and broaden our software suite to 
capture this.

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KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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30,000%

increase in phishing where 
48% of phishing attacks 
are on mobile devices

33%

increase in remote access 
technologies and Vpn usage since 
the beginning of the pandemic

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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MARKET OVERVIEW

The global privacy 
market is a fast growing 
billion-dollar market.

Market size and scale

VPN market exceeded 
$25bn in 2019 and is 
expected to reach 
$70bn in 2026*

*  Source: Global Market Insight

Europe market CAGR 
(2020-26): 10%

lAtAM market CAGR 
(2020-26): 15%

59% of consumers 
lack understanding 
about what is done 
with their data

>$25bn

>$70bn

CAGR (2020-26): >12%

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

•  Fast-growing internet penetration globally  
has increased the number of cyber attacks, 
resulting in heightened concerns around  
data privacy 

•  As more data breaches and cyber attacks 

occur, consumers are increasingly concerned 
about their data security

•  Proliferation of mobile phone use and 

internet-linked devices is driving the need to 
protect users’ data-research indicates that  
48 per cent of phishing attacks occur on 
mobile devices

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KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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Created by Joel Wisneskifrom the Noun ProjectstRAteGic
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Digital privacy awareness  
is growing, supported  
by new regulations and a 
more educated market

ever-expanding market

•  Over 490 million individuals were affected by data 
breaches in 2019 with an estimated global cost of 
cybercrime of $600 billion per year*

•  Growing exposure of personal information including 
names, email addresses, credit card numbers,  
and IP addresses

•  Average internet user’s information will be shared  

with 800 different websites

•  Endpoint security market estimated at $12.5 billion  

in 2020, growing to $18.6 billion in 2027*

Allowing internet service providers to:

•  Sell confidential data pertaining to how consumers  

use the internet

•  Share consumers’ information without consent
•  Withhold news of a data breach from consumers and 
law enforcement, even where consumer information  
is at risk

market drivers

coVid-19: working from home the new normal
Increased number of personal devices used

• 
•  Heightened risk for individuals and companies from 

opportunistic individuals

•  An increase of over 40% of disclosed security incidents 
since the pandemic, underlining the heightened threat 
environment**

* Meticulous Market Research Pvt. ltd. – June 2020
**Grand View Report

internet of things 
(iot) increasing 
levels of data and 
connected devices

B2c market 
replicating B2B 
trends

individuals 
increasingly
becoming targets  
of cybercrime

Rise in personal data 
stored in the cloud

increasing 
awareness of need 
to protect digital 
presence

coVid-19  
is increasing the 
need for security

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW

In the year ended 31 December 2020, revenue 
generated was at the upper end of management’s 
forecasted range at $122.2 million (2019: $66.1 
million), an increase of 85%, with recurring revenue 
now representing c. 87% of total Group revenue. 
Kape achieved Adjusted EBItDA1 ahead of 
management’s expectations at $39.0 million (2019: 
$14.6 million), up 168%, with Adjusted EBItDA 
margin increasing significantly to 31.9%  
(2019: 22.0%).

the tenacity and dedication of our employees  
was more evident than ever in 2020. Despite the 
challenges arising from the increase in employees 
working from home, as a business, we delivered 
across all our key strategic milestones. this is 
testament to the more than 360 individuals that 
Kape employs globally, who work daily innovating, 
improving and delivering on our vision to become 
the privacy and security provider of choice  
for consumers. Notable achievements in the  
year include: 

•  completing the integration of PIA ahead of 
schedule and achieving synergies beyond 
expectations;

•  delivering on our product roadmap, launching 
our first unified privacy and security suite, 
providing consumers with a comprehensive 
protection solution to safely navigate their life 
online; and
raising additional capital and expanding our 
investor base in the uK, Europe, uS and Israel, 
to continue on our growth trajectory.

• 

piA integration
In the latter part of 2020, we completed the 
integration of PIA, having acquired the business  
in December 2019. the first half of the year was 
focused on improving the business’ infrastructure 
and realising cost synergies. Pleasingly, we were 
successful in improving the service that we provide 
to our customers whilst reducing the cost to serve, 
as a result of the technical strengths and 
economies of scale of the enlarged Group. 

the cost synergies that the Group achieved totaled 
$6.5 million – well ahead of the upper end of the 
$3.5-4.5 million range previously guided. From a 
cultural aspect, it has been encouraging to see 
that the pursuit for privacy and security for 
consumers unites all of the Group’s employees, 
with PIA’s team central to our ongoing efforts.  
By the completion of the integration, we had 
retained 97% of the original PIA team (excluding 
preplanned departures) and a number of former 
PIA employees have since taken on enhanced 
Group-wide roles. 

IDO ERLICHMAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

We are now fast-tracking our 
vision into reality by creating  
one of the most prominent privacy 
companies globally. 

2020 was an extremely positive year for Kape,  
both in terms of operational progress and  
financial performance. Kape delivered a record 
performance in 2020, with a significant increase  
in both revenues and improved profitability. With 
COVID-19 causing widespread uncertainty globally, 
the requirement for high quality and secure 
internet software solutions has been further 
reinforced, triggering a sustained increase in 
demand for Kape’s products. If we have learned 
anything from 2020, then it is that the move to 
increased working from home is very much here to 
stay which bodes extremely well for Kape’s future. 

2.5m

subscribers

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KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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Revenue

oversubscribed  
fundraise

$122.2m 

$115.5m

Adjusted operating  
cash flow 

$20.4m

In the final quarter of 2020, the strength of 
combining Kape’s go-to-market technologies with 
PIA’s brand recognition began to come to fruition, 
with 93% growth achieved in cash revenue from 
new users in Q4 2020 compared with the same 
period in the prior year. We expect this trend  
to continue as we expand our customer  
acquisition efforts.

product development
2020 was a significant year for Kape in terms of 
product development, as we transformed our 
digital business from a VPN provider to a fully-
fledged consumer focused privacy suite. this 
included the launch of CyberGhost’s first unified 
privacy and security suite, an all-in-one digital 
freedom, data privacy and security system 
providing consumers with a comprehensive 
solution enabling them to safely navigate their lives 
online. two significant new features were added, 
Privacy Guard, which gives users full control over 
their operating system’s settings and Security 
updater, which protects devices from threats 
caused by vulnerable versions of installed apps. 
the WireGuard® encryption protocol has also  
been introduced to enhance the security and 
performance of our VPN service and we launched 
our endpoint protection for Windows, with this 
product now available to CyberGhost customers. 

Kape is also adding products which protect two 
further privacy touchpoints: a Password Manager, 
which is a fully secured vault allowing customers to 
actively guard their passwords; and an end-to-end 
encryption service for cloud-data in partnership 
with Boxcryptor, which ensures that users’ files are 
encrypted before they are synced to supported 
cloud storage providers.

We have seen increasing uptake for our powerful 
antivirus real-time protection for Windows in our 
privacy suite, as well as the introduction of our 
tokenised dedicated IP product. Overall, 10% of all 
new CyberGhost users have taken up additional 
products during the first two months of 2021, as 
we accelerate our cross-selling initiatives, which  
we believe are a key strategic growth driver for the 
Group. Kape’s product roadmap is geared towards 
adding adjacent products which will enhance and 
improve our customers’ control over their digital 
privacy and security, and we are seeing growth in 
up-sell and cross-sell.

Finally, we have begun deploying colocation, 
adding a private server network, which is owned 
and controlled by Kape in 17 locations including 
Chicago, Frankfurt, Silicon Valley, toronto and 
Berlin, providing our customers with even greater 
autonomy and digital protection.

strengthening the Balance sheet
In April 2020, the Group secured a new senior  
term loan and revolving credit facilities of up to  
$70 million with Bank of Ireland, Barclays Bank,  
and Citi Commercial Bank. the Group’s balance 
sheet was further strengthened in October 2020, 
through a significantly oversubscribed and 
upscaled $115.5 million fundraise to provide 
additional growth capital. We were very pleased 
with the strong response to the fundraising,  
which further endorsed our strategy, as we 
received high levels of interest from existing 
shareholders, as well as welcoming a number of 
new uS institutions to our register. Post year-end, 
as part of the funding for the Webselenese 
acquisition, the Group increased debt funding 
through drawing down $85 million under a  
bridge facility made available by tS Next level 
Investments limited, an affiliate of unikmind 
Holdings limited, Kape’s majority shareholder.

Key performance indicators 
In the year ended 31 December 2020, the Group 
continued to perform very strongly against its 
KPIs, which are designed to track the ongoing 
profitability and earnings predictability of the 
Group by assessing the progress of the Group’s 
SaaS business model.

Subscribers (thousands)

Retention rate3

Deferred income ($’000)

31 Dec 2020
‘000

2,519
83%
36,594

31 Dec
2019
‘000

2,308
81%
35,312

Year  
ended  

30 Dec 2020

31 Dec
2019
‘000

Adjusted EBItDA

38,973

14,559

Adjusted operating cash flow2:
Attributable to current year 

($’000)

Investment in growth

Adjusted operating cash flow 

43,594
(23,194)

17,902
(16,928)

($’000)

20,400

974

the number of subscribers increased in the year  
to 2.52 million, as we started to introduce our 
customer acquisition capabilities and technologies 
across PIA in the second half of the year, a trend 
we expect to accelerate. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

11

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW CONtINuED

the number of CyberGhost and Intego subscribers 
increased 19% and 28% respectively on an 
annualised basis during the period and we expect 
PIA to achieve these double-digit growth rates,  
as all solutions continue to benefit from Kape’s 
ongoing customer acquisition technologies. the 
PC performance products saw a flattening in users 
during the period, as we continue to shift our 
customer acquisition focus to the high growth 
privacy and security verticals.

Pleasingly, we also achieved an uplift in retention 
to 83%, which remains very high for a consumer 
software business. With recurring revenues now 
accounting for 87% of Group revenue, Kape has 
strong visibility over its future earnings with 
deferred income of $36.6 million at 2020 year-end. 

We achieved a significant increase in Adjusted 
EBItDA of 168%, as well as a marked increase in 
adjusted operating cash flow attributable to the 
current year to $43.6 million (2019: $17.9 million), 
enabling us to make substantial investment in the 
future growth of the business, as we continue to 
execute on our strategy.

coVid-19 response 
As announced in March 2020, Kape successfully 
shifted its global workforce to remote working 
across the majority of its locations with minimal 
impact on the Group’s output. the health and 
wellbeing of our employees is a central priority  
for Kape and whilst we are pleased to see the 
worldwide roll-out of vaccination programmes, 
management continues to monitor the situation 
very closely. COVID-19 has triggered a seismic shift 
in the way that people work and interact causing  
a global acceleration in digitisation. In turn, 
individuals’ digital privacy and security has 
become a priority resulting in a sustained increase 
in demand for Kape’s products. Pleasingly, the 
Group has been able to service this increase in 
demand despite the ongoing influences of the 
pandemic without impact to the quality of its 
services. 

Acquisition of Webselenese 
In March 2021, post year-end, the Group announced 
the acquisition of Webselenese – a highly strategic 
transaction for Kape that markedly bolsters  
our go-to-market and product development 
capabilities. Webselenese is an insight-driven digital 
platform which provides independent and highly 
valued consumer privacy and security content to 
millions of users globally via its market leading 
review site, attracting eight and a half million unique 
monthly readers in more than 29 languages, with a 
strong presence in North America. 

It is anticipated that Webselenese’s unrivalled level 
of market understanding and consumer feedback 
will support Kape’s ongoing product development 
and organic user growth with Webselenese 
maintaining its editorial independence as its 
management team will stay with the business. this 
acquisition is a very important milestone in Kape’s 
journey to becoming the leading force across the 
global consumer digital privacy and security arena 
and we look forward to providing further updates 
regarding the synergies from and integration of 
the acquisition in due course.

outlook
I am delighted with our progress during 2020, both 
in terms of strategic objectives and accelerating 
our financial and customer growth targets. this 
momentum has been maintained into 2021 with 
continued strong organic growth coupled with the 
acquisition of Webselenese, which we managed to 
execute less than six months after securing our 
additional funding. 

the Board and management team believe that  
the Group is now better placed than ever before  
to continue to deliver meaningful growth in the 
medium to long-term and benefit from the 
burgeoning digital privacy and security markets.  
It is expected that following the acquisition of 
Webselenese in March 2021, the Group will 
generate consolidated 2021 revenues of between 
$197-202 million and Adjusted EBItDA of between 
$73-76 million, signposting another period of 
material growth for the business. 

We expect the combination of expanding our 
product stack coupled with our superior go-to-
market capabilities will accelerate growth in the 
medium-term. We continue to execute on our 
ambitious strategy to be our customers’ go-to 
partner in ensuring control over their online 
privacy and security.

IDO ERLICHMAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
16 March 2021

1  Adjusted EBItDA is a Company-specific measure which is 

calculated as operating profit before depreciation 
(including right-to-use assets amortisation), amortisation, 
exceptional or non-recurring costs, other operating 
expenses and employee share-based payment charges.
2  Adjusted operating cash flow attributable to current year 
is calculated as Adjusted operating cash flow excluding 
change in deferred contract costs.

3  Retention rates are calculated on a six month basis.

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KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 

Continuing our  
ongoing and successful  
strategic priorities

1

Expand global  
customer base in a  
fast-growing market

Progress during the year

the Group services 2.5 million 
paying subscribers, providing a 
significant global platform for 
continued growth

3

Leverage customer 
acquisition platform

Progress during the year

Significant opportunity to leverage 
Kape’s proprietary technology 
platform to deliver continued  
strong organic growth, complete  
the integration of PIA and enhance 
subscriber growth

2

Product innovation  
and R&D to enhance 
competitive advantage 
and optimise users’  
life-time-value

Progress during the year

Kape’s enhanced product stack 
includes a suite of privacy-based 
software solutions focused on  
online identity, browsing, security, 
encryption and connectivity

4

Continue acquisitive 
expansion

Progress during the year

Completed PIA’s integration. 
Continue to leverage Kape’s success 
in integrating and growing SaaS 
products. the cost synergies that the 
Group achieved totalled $6.5 million

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

13

STRATEGY IN ACTION: INTEGRATION

Growing our
customer base

Successfully completed the integration of PIA  
– Kape’s largest integration to-date



CUSTOMER REACH

Doubled Kape’s existing customer base, with the 
enlarged Group servicing over 2.52 million paying 
subscribers globally; 93% growth achieved in cash 
revenue from new users in Q4 2020 compared with 
the same period in the prior year



PRODUCT EXTENSION

Enhanced Kape’s product stack with a suite of 
privacy-based software solutions focused on 
browsing, encryption and connectivity





OPERATIONAL & R&D SYNERGIES

Expanded tech stack – introduced WireGuard 
protocol, reduced cost to serve while growing 
support quality and product development achieving 
$6.5 million synergies in operations expenses far  
in excess of expectation of $3.5-4.5 million

BRAND AWARENESS – US FOOTPRINT

uniquely positioned Kape as a truly global leader  
within the fast-growing digital privacy sector and  
a strong presence in North America

Kape’s journey to becoming a leader 
in the digital privacy space

Consistent growth in paying subscribers, revenue and EBITDA

May  
new management
team appointed

March
Acquisition
of cyberGhost

H1 2018 
500k paying 
subscribers

July
Acquisition
of intego

2011-15

2016

2017

2018

September 2014
ipo on Aim

H2 2016  
 launch of a 
new strategic 
roadmap

October
Acquisition of 
driverAgent

14

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

March  
name change 
to Kape 
technologies

October
Acquisition  
of Zenmate

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Integration in numbers:
•  Cost savings achieved totalled $6.5 million  

– well ahead of the upper end of guided range 
$3.5-4.5 million

•  Opex: 40% reduction in monthly operating 

expenses

•  Customer support – 800% increase in chat 

support; more cost effective

User acquisition platform
1. Advanced BI enabling new approaches

2. In-house affiliate programme. Expanding and 
creating new marketing channels to address 
proven untapped addressable markets

3. New channels – influencers, podcasts

93% growth in cash 
revenues from new 
users in PIA for Q4 
compared with the 
same period last year

H1 2019 
H1 2019 
1 million paying 
1 million paying 
subscribers
subscribers

H1 2019 
H1 2020 
1 million paying 
2.5 million paying 
subscribers
subscribers

2019

2020

2021

December 
Acquisition
of piA

March  
Acquisition
of Webselenese

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

15

STRATEGY IN ACTION: ACQUISITION

Scale changing 
acquisition of Webselenese

Kape acquired Webselenese ltd. (‘Webselenese’), 
a digital platform which provides independent 
and highly valued consumer privacy and security 
content to millions of users globally via market 
leading review sites. the total consideration for 
the acquisition is c. uS$149.1 million on a  
net cash basis.

•  Provides a unique competitive advantage in 

driving organic growth, complementing Kape’s 
existing user growth efforts

•  Bringing Kape closer to the consumer – 

unrivalled insights and expertise will support 
Kape’s product development roadmap

•  Growing and profitable – expected earning 

accretion of 65% in 2021, accelerating Kape’s 
existing growth ambitions

$149.1m 

acquisition* of Webselenese 
a significant milestone in 
Kape’s strategic roadmap

* On a net cash net debt basis

Delivers unrivalled market and 
consumer knowhow

strategic technology and knowhow:
•  A unique insight-driven content platform; 

attracting over 105 million readers last year

•  Providing a deep understanding of driving 

readers to security-related content across the 
web and creating an organic presence

content assets:
•  Millions of highly localised, top quality online 

content pieces across the web

•  An authoritative presence in the security space. 

It has built up a global team of local experts

•  The platform has tens of thousands of user 

generated reviews

Summary
•  Provides Kape with one of the broadest audiences for consumer 

digital privacy and security

•  Deepens Kape’s go-to-market capabilities and ensures Kape is ahead 

of the market in consumer trends providing a competitive edge

•  Expected accretion of 65% in 2021, acquisition accelerates Kape’s 

earnings growth with the enlarged Group expected to generate on  
a reported basis 2021 revenues of uS$197-202 million and adjusted 
EBItDA of uS$73-76 million* consolidated on the closing date

•  Key pillar in Kape’s strategic roadmap to become a world leader in 

consumer digital privacy and security

* Consolidating Webselenese as from the 5 March 2021, being the deal’s closing date

16

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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Unique knowhow and technology:
•  Provides a deep understanding of driving 

readers to security-related content across  
the web and fueling organic growth

•  Immediately reduces CAC by circa 16% 

(customer acquisition costs)

•  Gives Kape a competitive advantage in its 
go-to-market strategy, with infrastructure 
which will create a strengthened organic online 
presence

•  Kape has been partnering with Webselenese  

for the last three years

Driving access  
to users and 
underpinning organic 
growth ambitions

Users

Brand

Content

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

17

PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Product innovation and R&D to 
increase competitive advantage 
and user satisfaction

Our product process

Kape’s enhanced product stack includes 
a suite of privacy based software 
solutions focused on browsing, 
encryption and connectivity.

Better speed
Increase in speed, providing our 
customers with better service 
worldwide with up to 45% 
improvement in speed in  
major locations.

Better scalability
Our server fleet performs 1,000% 
more efficiently than before the 
upgrade; providing our customers 
with better performance and 
increased scalability.

Better flexibility
Infrastructure is completely modular 
which allows for agile development, 
and the ability to constantly improve 
enables Kape to be ahead of the 
competition with new developments.

•  Drive retention

•  Allow for hyper-growth

•  Fast to react and agile tech

>10%

of new cyberGhost 
users purchased more 
than one product*

*  Figures based on sales since the 

commercial launch of the suite  
in January 2021

18

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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Progress in Digital Privacy
We have demonstrated a technology leap in our product 
development effects. 

We have continued to make significant progress in 
expanding the ‘privacy first’ product stack, which enables 
individuals to take full control of their online privacy across 
growing digital vulnerabilities.

Accelerating our product development efforts
Launched our CyberGhost suite focused on digital privacy 
and digital security.

Foundation is set for future opportunities
•  Cross-sell opportunities
•  Increased retention
•  Platform for Integration of new products

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

19

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW

MORAN LAUFER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

Strong performance, the Digital Privacy 
Segment has seen continued growth 
with a 198% increase in revenues. 

overview 
Revenues for the year to 31 December 2020 
increased by 85.0% to $122.2 million (2019: $66.1 
million). the increase in revenues was driven by a 
full year contribution of PIA as well as 31% organic 
growth in the Digital Privacy segment. Adjusted 
EBItDA increased by 167.7% to $39.0 million (2019: 
$14.6 million). Operating profit increased by 158.5% 
to $10.7 million (2019: $4.1 million).

Adjusted cash flow from operations attributable to 
the current financial period was $43.6 million (2019: 
$17.9 million), which represents cash conversion of 
112% (2019: 123%). In addition, during the period, 
$23.2 million was reinvested in user acquisition 
costs that will be expensed in future periods (2019: 
$16.9 million). After including this investment, 
Adjusted cash flow from operations increased to 
$20.4 million (2019: $1.0 million). As 31 December 
2020 the Group’s cash balance was $49.9 million 
(31 December 2019: $8.2 million) and net debt was 
$11.1 million.

20

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

On 28 April 2020, Kape agreed with Bank of Ireland, 
Barclays Bank, and Citi Commercial Bank, to 
refinance the shareholder loan, that the Company 
entered into in December 2019, with a senior 
secured term and revolving credit facilities of up  
to $70 million. the New Debt Facilities comprised  
a $40 million term facility, a $10 million revolving 
credit facility, and a $20 million uncommitted 
acquisition facility. the new Debt Facilities carry  
an interest rate of 3 months lIBOR (as of the 
beginning of the relevant period) plus a margin of 
1.85-2.25% per annum.

On 5 March 2021, the Group acquired 100% of the 
share capital of uma Capital ltd and Ani Ariel ltd, 
the owners of Webselenese, a digital platform 
which provides independent and highly valued 
consumer privacy and security content to millions 
of users globally via market leading review sites. 
the total consideration was $149.1 million (the 
‘Consideration’) to be satisfied by a combination  
of $116.6 million in cash and $32.5 million in new 
shares, amounting to 12.1 million Kape ordinary 
shares. We anticipate that the Acquisition will 
support and improve the Group’s organic growth 
prospects in the fast-growing consumer digital 
privacy and security markets. 

to fund the transaction the Company has drawn 
down $85 million from a $120 million Bridge loan 
by tS Next level Investments limited (‘tSNlI'). 
the Bridge loan will carry a fixed coupon of  
6.0% per annum payable on funds drawn and  
an arrangement fee of 1.0%. the Bridge loan is 
subordinated to Kape’s existing bank facilities and 
is repayable on 31 December 2021 (which may be 
extended to 30 April 2022 at the sole discretion of 
Kape). tSNlI is an affiliated company of unikmind 
Holdings limited, Kape’s largest shareholder, 
therefore the bridge loan is considered a related 
party transaction. the Company intends to 
refinance the Bridge loan in full within a period of 
90 days with a new upsized facility from its lending 
banks. there are no penalties for early repayment 
under the bridge loan agreement.

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segment result

digital security

Revenue

Segment result

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

32,368

35,949

13,346

17,873

Revenue
Cost of sales

89,844

30,111

52,835

15,536

Direct sales and marketing costs
Segment result

122,212

66,060

66,181

33,409

Segment margin (%)

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

32,368
(2,045)

(16,977)
13,346

35,949
(2,085)

(15,991)
17,873

41.2

49.7

Digital  

Security

Digital  

Privacy

Revenue

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 privacy products. Direct sales and marketing 
costs are user acquisition costs.

digital privacy

Revenue
Cost of sales

Direct sales and marketing costs
Segment result

Segment margin (%)

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

89,844
(14,127)

(22,882)
52,835

30,111
(5,440)

(9,135)
15,536

58.8

51.6

During the period, the Digital Privacy segment saw continued 
growth with an 198% increase in revenue to $89.8 million 
(2019: $30.1 million) and an 240% increase in segment result 
to $52.8 million (2019: $15.5 million). Following the completion 
of its acquisition in December 2019, PIA contributed $53.5 
million of revenue in the period (2019: $2.5 million). the 
segment margin has increased to 58.8% (2019: 51.6%) driven 
mainly from higher margins on revenue generated by PIA.

During the year, revenue from the Digital Security segment 
slightly decreased, by 10% to $32.4 million (2019: $35.9 
million). this decrease was driven by a decrease in revenues 
generated from the PC performance products following a 
management decision to shift focus and budgets to Intego’s 
Endpoint security products as its user base generates higher 
life-time value due to a better retention rate of its subscriber 
base. Revenue generated from sales of Intego’s end point 
security products have increased by 9%. 

98%

increase in combined 
segment results

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

21

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW CONtINuED

Adjusted eBitdA from continued operations
Adjusted EBItDA for the year to 31 December 2020 was $39.0 
million (2019: $14.6 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. 
Adjusted EBItDA is calculated as operating profit before 
depreciation (including right-to-use assets amortisation), 
amortisation, exceptional or non-recurring costs, other 
operating expenses and employee share-based payment. 
Such amounts are excluded from the following analysis:

Revenue
Cost of sales
Direct sales and marketing costs

Segment result

122,212
(16,172)
(39,859)

66,060
(7,525)
(25,126)

66,181

33,409

Indirect sales and marketing costs
Research and development costs
Management, general and 

administrative costs

Adjusted EBITDA

(9,192)
(6,194)

(7,903)
(3,149)

(11,822)

(7,798)

38,973

14,559

22

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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

Adjusted EBITDA
Employee share-based payment 

charge

Other operating income

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

Exceptional and non-recurring costs
Depreciation and amortisation

Operating profit

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

38,973

14,559

(1,232)

(1,680)

(313)

(6,623)
(20,097)

(91)

(2,331)
(6,314)

10,708

4,143

Exceptional or non-recurring costs in 2020 includes non-
recurring staff costs of $6.4 million comprised mainly of a  
$4.9 million one-off bonus award to the management team 
for the successful integration of PIA and a $1.5 million 
onerous contract cost relating to PIA’s founder consulting 
agreement, and $0.2 million (2019: $1.9 million) for 
professional services costs related to business combinations.

Increase in Depreciation and amortisation is driven by a  
$12.6 million (2019: $0.6 million) amortisation charge of PIA 
acquired intangibles assets. 

profit before tax from continuing operations
Profit before tax from continuing operations was $7.3 million 
(2019: $2.8 million).

profit after tax from continuing operations
Profit from continuing operations was $29.7 million (2019:  
$2.5 million). At the time of the acquisition of PIA, the 
Company recognised a deferred tax liability of $25.8 million, 
which had been reversed through the tax income line in the 
year ended 31 December 2020 and presented in the tax note 
as part of ‘Reversal of previously recognised deferred tax 
liability’. the reversal is following a share buy back from the 
PIA’s founders that changed the tax structure of the 
acquisition and increased the tax basis of the acquired 
intangible assets. See notes 5 and 7 for more details. 

the Group recognised a deferred tax asset of $6.2 million 
(2019: $1.6 million) in respect of tax losses accumulated in 
previous years.

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$28.8m

net profit at  
31 december 2020

Financial position
At 31 December 2020, the Company had cash of $49.9 million 
(31 December 2019: $8.2 million), net assets of $228.8 million 
(31 December 2019: $155.0 million) and net cash of $11.1 
million (2019: net debt of $32.0 million). At 31 December 2020, 
trade receivables and contract assets were $4.0 million 
(31 December 2019: $3.4 million).

Following the acquisition of Webselenese and draw down  
of the Bridge loan in March 2021, the adjusted pro forma 
leverage of the Group is c. x1.6. It is our intention to further 
decrease the leverage by the end of 2021 and maintain a 
moderate level of financial indebtedness going forward.

MORAN LAUFER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
16 March 2021

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

23

cash flow

Cash flow from operations
Exceptional and non-recurring 

payments

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

15,244

(1,357)

5,156

2,331

Adjusted cash flow from operations

20,400

% of Adjusted EBITDA

52%

974

7%

Excluding increase of deferred  
contract costs

Adjusted cash flow from operations 
attributable to current year

% of Adjusted EBITDA

23,194

16,928

43,594

17,902

112%

123%

Cash flow from operations was $15.2 million (2019: ($1.4) 
million). Adjusted cash flows from operations, after adding 
back payments that are one-off in nature was $20.4 million 
(2019: $1.0 million). this represents a cash conversion of 52% 
of Adjusted EBItDA (2019: 7%). the increase in operating  
cash flow is due to an increase in revenues from renewals  
of existing subscribers. Following the increase in renewal 
revenue, customer acquisition cash investment in the year 
was 51% out of cash revenue (2019: 63%). the Company 
invested $23.2 million (2019: $16.9 million) in user acquisition 
that is attributable to revenue that will be recognised in 
future periods. Excluding the investment, adjusted operating 
cash flow attributable to the current financial period 
increased to $43.6 million (2019: $17.9 million), which 
represents a cash conversion of 112% (2019: 123%).

tax paid net of refunds in the period was $0.7 million (2019: 
$1.4 million). the decrease was mainly due to prepayments 
that were paid in 2019 in France and the united States by 
Group subsidiaries related to Intego.

Cash spent in the period on capital expenditure of $9.1 million 
(2019: $67.5 million) mainly comprises $5.8 million for the 
acquisition of PIA (2019: $64.3 million), $2.5 million (2019: $2.6 
million) capitalised development costs and $0.5 million (2019: 
$0.5 million) purchase of fixed assets. 

In October, the Company raised a net amount of $113.2 
million by a share placing and paid $72.5 million to buy back 
shares and settle deferred share considerations of PIA’s 
founders. In addition, the Company paid $1.8 million interest 
for the Bridge loan and subsequent bank debt (2019: $NIl) 
and $3.6 million (2019: $NIl) to repay debt. In total, cash flow  
from financing activities for the year was $35.8 million (2019: 
$38.1 million).

 
RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

Kape prides itself on the  
strength and talent of  
its people.

Equality
Diversity is key to success; at Kape we have people 
from all across the world and are continuously 
striving to grow our diversity in each and every 
location. the more points of view we have the 
better we perform.

Wellbeing
the last year was a challenging year for all. 
Working from home created a new reality for a 
large part of our employees. At Kape we tried to 
find ways to support each individual with their own 
challenge; with ongoing communication to support 
the mental wellbeing of our employees as well as 
sending surprises and support to those in need at 
Kape we found creative ways to keep in touch on a 
team, country and cross-Company level. Some of 
these channels are here to stay.

Our People
Our employees are the key to our success hence 
we constantly invest, improve and explore ways  
we can provide a holistic environment for our 
employees globally.

Benefits
Kape strives to provide its employees with the key 
benefits which will allow our employees to perform 
at their best.

Training
In the last year, we have accelerated our training 
programmes across our employees making sure 
they are up to speed with the latest technologies 
and tools. As our teams are at the forefront of 
technology and talent we are great believers in 
cross-Company knowledge transfer and regularly 
hold cross-team seminars and sessions.

Together we make 
the internet a safe 
and accessible 
place for everyone

24

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

Events
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, we were able to have 
a number of physical events in between lockdowns 
as well as virtual events, including online birthday 
parties and virtual team-building events across  
the Group.

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stakeholder engagement  

Shareholders
•  the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial 

Officer and other members of the senior management team 
meet regularly with investors and analysts to provide them 
with updates on the Group’s business and to obtain feedback 
regarding the market’s expectations for the Group. Due to  
the pandemic, many of the meetings during the year were  
held virtually

•  Shareholders also have access to current information about 
the Group through the Company’s website http://investors.
kape.com, the financial PR advisor and the Executive Directors 
who are available to answer investor relation queries

Employees
•  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 
which ensures successful two-way communication with 
agreement on goals, targets and aspirations of employees 

•  Holding bi-annual meetings between key employees and  
the Board, facilitating direct communication between 
management and all employees through messaging apps  
and emails and resumption of site visits when travel 
restrictions are lifted 

•  Promoting cross Company discussions as well as encouraging 
involvement of employees in proposing new and innovative 
project initiatives. this is achieved through cross Company 
activities as well as regular subject based meetings

Customers
•  At Kape, 24/7 customer support is provided for most of our 
products through a highly experienced in-house customer 
support team 

•  Our customers are seen as full partners to the success of our 
products and so customer surveys are regularly held and the 
feedback used to improve and update our product offerings

Community and environment
•  As a digital business, our environmental footprint is minimal, 
however improvement is always sought – focusing on only 
allowing essential air travel, no print and minimal waste 

•  Improving the efficiency of our infrastructure allowing for a 
lower environmental footprint while improving the service  
to our customers

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

25

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

•  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 vendors are required to 
comply with these contractually 
imposed controls, which have 
been jointly created by the  
Group and its legal advisors.
•  the regulation also increases 

public awareness to the 
importance of digital privacy 
which the Company believes was 
one of the drivers for the digital 
privacy market growth.

•  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.

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 it took 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.

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, Apple, eBay Inc., Facebook, Inc. 
(‘Facebook’), Google and Microsoft, may have 
the power to significantly change the very 
nature of the app-distribution and 
compatibility of our products with operating 
systems. 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 and 
mobile operating systems. 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.

26

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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Risks

Background

mitigating controls

•  the Group invests in research and 
development staff and 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.

•  the Group outsources hosting 

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

•  Kape invests significant resources 
in research and development 
relating to its It infrastructure to 
make sure it is reliable, efficient 
and secure. 

•  the Group uses advisors to review 

its tax position and ensure 
compliance with local tax 
legislation.

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.

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

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.

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 quickly and reliably, 
could significantly reduce the attractiveness of 
its solution to advertiser clients and publishers, 
reduce its revenue and affect its reputation. 
In addition breach of its infrastructure which 
results in exposure of user data may harm 
the Group reputation.

As a multinational organisation, operating in 
multiple jurisdictions such as the Isle of Man, 
Cyprus, Israel, Romania, Germany, France, 
Philippines, united 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 2020

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PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES CONtINuED

Risks

Background

mitigating controls

price pressure as a result  
of competition.

As a company operating in a primarily 
consumer driven space, price competition  
is an element the business is exposed to. 
Competitors might lower their prices or 
increase their marketing spend and this could 
affect the business’s ability to grow as well as 
Kape’s margins. 

•  Kape’s cost structure is focused 

on continuously reducing our cost 
to serve; we have been developing 
technology on the infrastructure 
side that allows us to grow 
substantially without growing our 
costs, thus allowing us to be more 
flexible on prices. 

•  Kape has an advantage for scale 

on the cost side as well as the user 
acquisition side. New incumbents 
will find it hard to compete in this 
space. 

•  We are expanding our vertical 
integration across our user 
acquisition operations allowing us 
to control a growing percentage of 
our margins
In addition, we operate a multi 
brand strategy which allows us to 
capture a wider price range across 
the competitive landscape.

• 

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ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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Risks

Background

mitigating controls

Availability of funding to 
support growth and 
compliance with debt 
covenants.

In March 2020, the Group secured a new senior 
term loan and revolving credit facilities of up to 
$70 million with Citi, Barclays and the Bank of 
Ireland (the ‘Banks’). this loan is subject to a 
number of debt covenants.

As a result of the acquisition of Webselenese in 
March 2021 the Group increased debt funding 
through drawing down $85 million under a 
bridge facility made available by tS Next level 
Investments limited, an affiliate of unikmind 
Holdings limited, Kape’s majority shareholder. 
the Bridge loan is subordinated to Kape’s 
existing bank facilities and is repayable on 
31 December 2021 which may be extended to 
30 April 2022 at the sole discretion of Kape.

Consent was obtained from the Banks for the 
existing $40 million term facility and $10 million 
revolving credit facility to remain in place and 
available. under the terms agreed with the 
Banks, Kape has a period of 90 days to agree  
a new upsized facility to refinance the Bridge 
loan in full, absent which the existing term 
facility and revolving credit facility will become 
repayable. In such eventuality, the remaining 
$35m available under the Bridge loan will be 
drawn and, together with Kape’s own cash 
resources for the balance, will be applied to 
repay the Banks in full.

•  the Group operates well within 

• 

the existing bank debt covenants 
and ensures regular forecasting 
to monitor compliance.
In October 2020 the Group 
completed a $115.5 million 
fundraise which was 
oversubscribed and upscaled 
evidencing the Group’s ability to 
attract investment.

•  Whilst the Bridge loan’s 

maximum expiry date is 30 April 
2022, the Group was able to 
obtain consent from the Banks to 
raise the Bridge loan, evidencing 
the Banks’ support for the 
Group’s growth strategy. Kape 
intends to re-finance the Bridge 
loan with new facilities from the 
Banks as soon as practicable. 
Kape is confident of such 
refinancing as evidenced by the 
consent granted for the Banks 
and the discussions to date.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

30

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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 
focused 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. Don is Chairman of Kape’s Nominations Committee. 

IDO ERLICHMAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Ido joined Kape 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 Master’s 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 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.

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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 Cake Box PlC and Starcom Plc.

PIERRE-ETIENNE LALLIA
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Pierre has 20 years’ experience working across the capital 
markets arena, most recently at Nomura International plc, 
london, where he spent ten years, latterly as Managing 
Director in its Acquisition and leveraged Finance team. Prior 
to this, Mr lallia spent over four years with Goldman Sachs 
International’s london-based Bank Debt Portfolio Group. 
Mr lallia has extensive experience earlier in his career, 
working as a lawyer at Shearman & Sterling in New York and 
Willkie Farr & Gallagher llP in New York and Paris. Mr lallia  
is based in london and is the Managing Director of Globe 
Invest uK ltd and the appointed representative of unikmind 
Holdings limited (‘unikmind’), the Company’s largest 
shareholder.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

overview
three years ago, Kape’s Board decided to adopt the Quoted 
Company Alliance’s (QCA) Corporate Governance Code for 
Small and Mid-Size Quoted Companies (‘QCA Code’), the 
Board believes this is still the relevant code and the Company 
continues to adhere to that 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 page 4 to 5 and the  
Chief Executive Officer’s Review on pages 10 to 12. 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 provider of consumer and SME 
cybersecurity products.

the Group continues to grow and develop its product 
portfolio in the growing cybersecurity market, with a focus 
on consumer cybersecurity. the acquisition of Private 
Internet Access towards the end of 2019 and the acquisition 
of Webselense in March 2021 is an illustration of how the 
Group intends to meet this objective. Along with selecting 
acquisitions that meet the Group’s strategic objectives the 
Group deploys its financial and other resources towards 
developing products through internal R&D, as well as 
growing and strengthening our existing products in the 
SaaS business model.

the Board believes that this approach will continue to deliver 
significant long-term value for shareholders through strong 
share performance and against the Group’s key performance 
indicators which we report on a bi-annual basis. the Board 
also believes that remaining admitted to trading 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.

32

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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 its 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 
Group through its website http://investors.kape.com/, and via 
its financial PR advisor and the Executive Directors who are 
available to answer investor relation 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. this is done through regular meetings with 
senior management in our different locations as well as 
regular email and slack communications. In addition, the 
Group has now adopted its whistleblowing policies which  
will be shared with all employees. 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 
such as our move to 24/7 support for our products and 
minimum response time, holding a bi annual meeting  
with key employees and the Board and facilitating direct 
communications between management and all employees  
in the form of slack, emails and ongoing site visits. these 
relationships are addressed at regular Board meetings. 

the Group also sees its environmental responsibility in highest 
regard, as a digital business our environmental footprint is 
minimal, but we always strive to improve it; focusing on only 
allowing air travel when required, having strict policies around 
travelling in basic class to reduce our footprint. In addition, we 
are constantly improving the efficiency of our infrastructure 
allowing for a lower environmental footprint while improving 
the service to our customers.

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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 are 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 26 to 29. All material contracts 
are required to be reviewed and signed by a senior executive 
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 and 
publishers are required to comply with these contractually 
imposed controls, which have been jointly created by the 
Group and its legal advisors. 

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

For the period, the Board comprised four Non-Executive 
Directors and two Executive Directors. As part of the Private 
Internet Access Acquisition Mr theodore (ted) Kim, was 
appointed as Non-Executive Director as representative of 
Private Internet founders to the Board but formally resigned 
in November 2020 following the buyback of shares from  
the founders (see note 14). Mr Pierre-Etienne lallia was 
appointed as a Non-Executive Director in January 2021.  
Mr. lallia brings extensive experience working across the 
capital markets arena, having spent much of his career at 
leading global investment banks.  

Mr lallia is the appointed representative of unikmind Holdings 
limited (‘unikmind’), the Company’s largest shareholder.

the Directors’ biographies are set out on pages 30 to 31.  
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 2020, 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 page 30 to 31. 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.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CONtINuED

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: 
• 
• 
• 
•  where relevant, they have maintained their independence.

their contribution is relevant and effective;
they are committed; 
they understand the business and its strategy;

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 
and are shared with each new employee who joins 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 key to the future success 
of our business, so we have therefore placed an emphasis on 
monitoring and improving the gender ratio in the Company. 
We are pleased to report that the percentage of women in 
the Company is higher this year at 32% (2019: 31%). We firmly 
believe that part of the Company’s success is down to 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 ‘Role of the 
Board’ on this page.

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 2020, 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 2020, 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 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.

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.

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 2021 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.

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KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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 36 to 37.

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 2020 the Committee met 2 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.

Audit of the Group’s Annual Report and 
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.

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Auditor independence
the Audit Committee monitors the independence of the 
Group’s external auditor. During the year BDO llP provided 
the Group with the no non-audit services.

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.

Signed on behalf of the Board by:

DON ELGIE
NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
16 March 2021

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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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 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 2020 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
ted Kim

Base  

Salary/Fees
GBP£

350,000
96,000
60,000
60,000
197,229
278,379

Benefits
GBP£

50,613
–
–
–
6,287
33,298

Pension
GBP£

35,000
–
–
–
–
–

Bonus
GBP£

total
GBP£

773,000 1,208,613
96,000
60,000
60,000
783,516
311,677 

–
–
–
580,000
–

the uS Dollar equivalent cost to the Company has been calculated using an average uSD/GBP rate of 1.2837.

Name

Ido Erlichman
Don Elgie
David Cotterell
Martin Blair
Moran laufer
ted Kim

Base  

Salary/Fees
$

449,295
123,236
77,022
77,022
253,183
357,355

Benefits
$

64,972
–
–
–
8,070
42,746

Pension
$

44,930
–
–
–
–
–

Bonus
$

total
$

–
–
–

992,300 1,551,497
123,236
77,022
77,022
744,546 1,005,799
400,101

–

the beneficial interests of the Directors who held office at 31 December 2020, 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

2020

2019

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital

Number of 
ordinary 
shares

Percentage of 
issued share 
capital

0.02%
0.05%
0.01%
0.074%
0.04%

40,000
107,087
32,750
150,544
90,667

0.06%
0.06%
0.01%
0.06%
0.05%

Number of 
ordinary  
shares

100,000
97,087
19,417
88,544
74,000

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directors’ interests in share options

Name

Ido Erlichman 

Moran laufer 

Number of 
ordinary shares 
under option at 
31 December 
2019

Date of grant

Exercise price

800,000
800,000
50,000
300,000
400,000

1 June 2016*
24 August 2018**
5 January 2016*
26 October 2016*
24 August 2018**

£0.275
£0.000
£0.555
£0.365
£0.000

Number of 
ordinary shares 
under option at 
31 December 
2020

800,000
800,000
50,000
300,000
400,000

*  Vesting schedule: 25% 1 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

$0.130

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 or 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 2020 are based on Revenue, Adjusted EBIDtA, Cash conversion 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.

All targets for 2019 and 2020 were met. 

service contracts
Executive Directors
the service agreements of the Executive Directors are for an indefinite term and provide for formal notice of 12 months for  
the Chief Executive Director and six 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 
16 March 2021

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

37

 
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 2020. the Corporate Governance Statement 
set out on pages 32 to 35 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').

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 consumers.  
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 12.

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 12. A description of the principal risks and uncertainties 
facing the Group is set out on pages 26 to 29.

dividends
the Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend 
(2019: $nil). the declaration and payment by the Company of 
any future dividends on the ordinary shares will depend on 
the results of the Group’s operations, its financial condition, 
cash requirements, future prospects, profits available for 
distribution and other factors deemed to be relevant at  
the time.

the Board recognises the importance of dividend income to 
shareholders and intends to adopt, at the appropriate time,  
a progressive dividend policy to reflect the expectation of 
future cash flow generation and long term earnings potential 
of the Company. However, it is not the current intention of the 
Board to declare any dividends in the near term. the Board 
may revise the Company’s dividend policy from time to time 
in line with the actual results of the Company.

the Directors who served during the period were as follows:

Ido Erlichman 
Donald (Don) Elgie  
David Cotterell 
Martin Blair 
Moran laufer 
ted Kim   

Active
Active
Active
Active
Active
Resigned – November 2020

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).

38

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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.

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 40.

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 2020, the Group employed 364 people, 
(31 December 2019: 398 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 16 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 15 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 2020 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 2020  
of 222,297,719 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.

 
 
 
 
 
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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. 

Whilst the Bridge loan’s maximum expiry date is 30 April 
2022, the Directors’ were able to obtain consent from the 
Banks to raise the Bridge loan, evidencing the Banks 
support for the Group’s growth strategy. the Directors intend 
to re-finance the Bridge loan with new facilities from the 
Banks as soon as practicable. the Directors are confident of 
such refinancing as evidenced by the consent granted for the 
Banks and the discussions to date.

As at 31 December 2020 the Company held 9,713,857 shares 
in treasury and 1,200,000 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 16 to 
the financial statements. 

Related party transactions
Details of all related party transactions are set out in note 21 
to the financial statements.

Research and development
the Group maintains an integrated global research and 
development team which has a staff of 102 (2019: 102). 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 $2,544,000 
(2019: $2,620,000).

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 well as forecast debt covenants.

In March 2020, the Group secured a new senior term loan  
and revolving credit facilities of up to $70 million with Citi, 
Barclays and the Bank of Ireland (the ‘Banks’).

As a result of the acquisition of Webselenese in March 2021 
the Group increased debt funding through drawing down  
$85 million under a bridge facility made available by tS Next 
level Investments limited, an affiliate of unikmind Holdings 
limited, Kape’s majority shareholder. the Bridge loan is 
subordinated to Kape’s existing bank facilities and is 
repayable on 31 December 2021 which may be extended to 
30 April 2022 at the sole discretion of Kape.

Consent was obtained from the Banks for the existing uS$40 
million term facility and uS$10 million revolving credit facility 
to remain in place and available. under the terms agreed with 
the Banks, Kape has a period of 90 days to agree a new 
upsized facility to refinance the Bridge loan in full, failing 
which, the existing term facility and revolving credit facility 
will become repayable. In such eventuality, the remaining 
uS$35m available under the Bridge loan will be drawn and, 
together with Kape’s own cash resources for the balance, will 
be applied to repay the Banks in full.

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 2021 will be held on 20 May 
2021 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 2021 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 
16 March 2021

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

39

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 
16 March 2021

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

opinion on the financial statements
In our opinion:
• 

the financial statements give a true and fair view of the 
state of the Group’s affairs as at 31 December 2020 and  
of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;
the Group financial statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
issued by the International Accounting Standards Board 
(IASB).

• 

We have audited the financial statements of Kape 
technologies plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries 
(the ‘Group’) for the year ended 31 December 2020 which 
comprise the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income, consolidated statement of financial position, 
consolidated statement of changes in equity, the 
consolidated statement of cash flows and notes to the 
financial statements, including a summary of significant 
accounting policies.

the financial reporting framework that has been applied in 
the preparation of the Group financial statements is 
applicable law and IFRSs as issued by the IASB.

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

Independence
We remain 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.

conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that 
the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in 
the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 
Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group’s 
ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of 
accounting included:
•  Obtained an understanding of the management process 

for producing cash forecasting models, including the review 
of the inputs and assumptions used in those models;
•  Obtained management’s board approved budget and 

forecast cash flows, covenant compliance forecasts and 
management’s sensitivity analysis;

•  Critically evaluating the revenue and cost projections 

underlying the model with reference to market 
information as well as past performance of the Group.
•  Comparing forecast sales with recent historical financial 

information to consider accuracy of forecasting.

•  understanding and challenging the forecasts for the 

Group including underlying assumptions in the forecasts.
•  Reviewing legal agreements for the availability of the Group’s 
debt arrangements, including consideration of expiration 
dates and interest and capital repayments in the forecast 
period and the headroom in forecast covenant calculations.

•  Performing analysis of changes in key assumptions 
including a reasonable possible (but not unrealistic) 
reduction in forecast revenue to understand the 
sensitivity in the cash flow forecasts.

•  A review of the appropriateness Directors’ statement in 

note 1 of the financial statements as to whether it 
discloses all the relevant events and assumptions made to 
adopt the going concern basis of accounting in 
preparation of the financial statements.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not 
identified any material uncertainties relating to events or 
conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast 
significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going 
concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the 
financial statements are authorised for issue.

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

overview

Coverage

Key audit matters

73% (2019: 77%) of Group profit before tax
91% (2019: 89%) of Group revenue
85% (2019: 98%) of Group total assets

Revenue recognition and contract costs

Capitalisation of development costs

Business combinations

2020





2019





Business combinations is not considered a key audit matter doe the year ended 31 December 
2020 as the Group did not complete any business combinations in the year.

Materiality

Group financial statements as a whole
$697,000 (2019: $637,000) based on 5% of consolidated profit before tax, adjusted for 
exceptional and non-recurring costs (2019: 1% of revenues)

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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

An overview of the scope of our audit
Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding 
of the Group and its environment, including the Group’s 
system of internal control, and assessing the risks of material 
misstatement in the financial statements. We also addressed 
the risk of management override of internal controls, 
including assessing whether there was evidence of bias by 
the Directors that may have represented a risk of material 
misstatement.

We instructed BDO’s member firm in Romania as component 
auditor, to perform a full scope audit of financial information 
of CyberGhost SRl, the significant component accounted for 
locally in that territory.

In addition, the Group audit team performed the full scope 
audit of the two remaining significant components Private 
Internet Access Inc. and Reimage limited. the Group audit 
team also performed specified audit procedures over 
revenue for Intego Inc. to provide additional coverage and 
due to the qualitative risks within the revenue cycle for this 
entity. the accounting for these entities is based on Cyprus 
and the Group audit team conducted the audits remotely due 
to the travel restrictions imposed as a result of the global 
pandemic.

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

Our involvement with component auditors
For the work performed by component auditors, we 
determined the level of involvement needed in order to be 
able to conclude whether sufficient appropriate audit 
evidence has been obtained as a basis for our opinion on the 
Group financial statements as a whole. Our involvement with 
component auditors included the following:
•  Group instructions were issued to the component auditor 
detailing procedures and the risk assessment together 
with the allocated component materiality thresholds.
•  We conducted numerous video and conference calls 

throughout the audit period to ensure we obtained a full 
understanding of the operational activities and appropriately 
scoped risks and agreed responses to those risks.
•  We also attended the audit planning, update and 

clearance meetings.

•  We reviewed the work undertaken by our component 

auditor by reviewing their working papers.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional 
judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the 
financial statements of the current period and include the 
most significant assessed risks of material misstatement 
(whether or not due to fraud) that we identified, 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.

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Key audit matter

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

Revenue recognition and contract costs

the Group derives revenue from the sale of 
products to customers. these products are sold 
individually and in software bundles and revenue 
is recognised at either a point in time or over time, 
depending on when the performance obligation is 
satisfied.

Our specific audit focus was the timing of revenue 
recognition and the allocation of the transaction 
price to individual performance obligations  
within a software bundle. Assessment of when  
a performance obligation is satisfied can be 
judgemental in nature and increases the risk in 
relation to the timing of revenue recognition. Risk 
related to allocation of the transaction price to 
individual performance obligations in a software 
bundle is subject to assessment of the standalone 
selling price and this increases the risk of revenue 
recognition.

Additionally, the Group recognises costs to obtain 
and fulfil a contract as contract assets. there is 
judgement surrounding the costs that meet the 
capitalisation criteria and the assessment as to 
whether the proceeds from the customer over  
the expected relationship period exceed the  
costs to obtain the contract. Finally, there is 
judgement in relation to the period over which  
the contract asset is amortised based on the 
expected relationship

We evaluated the revenue recognition policy of the Group and, on a 
sample basis, we determined that the revenue had been recognised in 
conformity with the Group’s policy and applicable IFRSs.

For a sample of transactions through the year we confirmed their 
occurrence by tracing to source documentation such as third party 
payment processor reports or to bank. We also verified that the 
performance obligation had been satisfied by agreeing to evidence 
within supporting It systems.

We performed procedures including recalculations of contract liabilities 
at the year-end based on the contract dates in order to check that the 
revenue has been recognised in the appropriate period. For those 
contracts spanning the year end, a sample of the balances deferred were 
recalculated. We also assessed the treatment of individual contracts 
being treated as a portfolio of contracts and revenue recognised from 
the 1st of the month for all contracts entered into in a month, as 
permitted by the accounting guidance. We assessed management’s 
process to conclude that it reasonably expects such a treatment would 
not differ materially from applying recognition to the individual contracts.

We assessed the basis upon which performance obligations were 
recognised for each material product sold and compared this to 
accounting guidance, industry practice, and the Group’s specific 
circumstances and, where necessary, we obtained corroborating 
information to support delivery either over time or at a point in time.

For software sold in bundles, we tested the allocation of the transaction 
price of individual performance obligations to underlying support for the 
standalone selling price of these products. We tested a sample of the 
transaction prices back to supporting documentation such as standalone 
prices identifiable via current or historic sales or by reference to market 
prices for similar products. 

In relation to contract assets recognised from costs to obtain and fulfil a 
contract, we tested a sample of capitalised customer acquisition costs 
back to the incremental amounts paid. Such costs related to direct 
marketing to obtain the customer or order fulfilment costs. We checked 
that such costs met the definition of contract costs per the accounting 
standard. We assessed the length of time over which contract assets are 
amortised based upon evidence of expected customer life, which 
exceeds the initial licence length. We also generated an expectation of 
the amortisation of the contract asset recognised in the year to ensure 
the calculation used by management was appropriate. We also obtained 
customer churn rates to ensure amounts capitalised in previous years 
were not impaired.

Key observations
there were no material issues identified by our testing of revenue 
recognition and contract costs in the year.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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Key audit matter

How the scope of our audit addressed the key audit matter

Capitalisation of development costs

the Group capitalises costs in relation to 
development of the software it sells to customers. 
Such costs must satisfy certain criteria as set out in 
the Group’s accounting policy in note 2 to the 
financial statements and in IAS 38 intangible 
assets. In determining which costs to capitalise 
management make certain estimates in relation 
to the allocations of contractor costs and payroll 
costs between those which should be capitalised 
and those which should be expensed through the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

In accordance with IAS 38, management’s policy is 
to capitalise development expenditure on internally 
developed software products if the project is 
technically feasible, it intends to complete and sell 
the software, it will generate future economic 
benefits and it can be measured reliably.

Because of the estimates involved we considered 
this area to be a key audit matter.

In order to address this risk, we performed the following testing:
•  Discussions were held with the Group’s technology team to 

understand the Group’s processes, procedures and material projects 
in relation to development costs.

•  On a sample basis, we checked the accuracy of the contractor and 
payroll data included in the calculations for capitalised costs by 
agreeing to supporting documentation including employment 
contracts and agreements with contractors.

•  We evaluated management’s estimate of the amortisation period for 
capitalised costs and we assessed whether for amounts previously 
capitalised if any indicators of impairment existed taking account of 
discussions with technology team, knowledge of product sales and 
any changes in usability.

•  We critically evaluated management’s assessment of the ability of  
the asset to generate future economic benefits for the business.
 We re-performed the calculation of the amortisation charge for 
capitalised development and compared this to the actual charge.

• 

Key observations:
Based on the procedures performed, we noted no instances indicating 
that the accounting for development costs, including the calculation of 
the related amortisation charge and the evaluation of impairment was 
inappropriate. 

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.

In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower 
materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, misstatements below these 
levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take 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.

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

Materiality

Group financial statements

2020
$’000

697

2019
$’000

637

Basis for determining 
materiality

5% of consolidated profit before tax, adjusted 
for exceptional and non-recurring cost

Approximately 1% of revenues

Rationale for the 
benchmark applied

Profit before tax has been determined to be 
the most relevant performance measure to 
the stakeholders of the Group given the 
Group is now more established and the 
directors’ focus on profitable growth.

Revenue was the most relevant performance 
measure to the stakeholders of the Group given 
the Directors’ focus on expansion and growth of 
customer numbers.

Performance materiality

Basis for determining 
performance materiality

75% of Group materiality based on our understanding of the Group, risk assessment 
procedures and the nature and extent of misstatements identified in previous audits and the 
expectations in relation to misstatements in the current period.

523

478

44

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stAtements

Component materiality
We set materiality for each component of the Group based 
on a percentage of between 36% and 90% of Group 
materiality dependent on the size and our assessment of the 
risk of material misstatement of that component. Component 
materiality ranged from $252,000 to $630,000. In the audit of 
each component, we further applied performance materiality 
levels of 75% of the component materiality to our testing to 
ensure that the risk of errors exceeding component 
materiality was appropriately mitigated.

Reporting threshold
We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to 
them all individual audit differences in excess of $33,430 
(2019: $32,000). We also agreed to report differences below 
this threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on 
qualitative grounds.

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are 
responsible for assessing the Group’s 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 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. 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.

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

irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: 
•  We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory 

frameworks that are applicable to the Group and 
determined that the most significant frameworks which 
are directly relevant to specific assertions in the financial 
statements are those than relate to the reporting 
framework, the Isle of Man Companies Act 2006 and the 
AIM rules and data privacy and the relevant tax regulations.

•  We understood how the Group is complying with those 

frameworks by making enquiries of management, those 
responsible for legal and compliance procedures. We 
corroborated our enquiries through our review of board 
minutes and papers provided to the Audit Committee.
•  We assessed the susceptibility of the Group’s financial 

statements to material misstatement, including how fraud 
might occur, by meeting with management to understand 
where they considered there was a susceptibility to fraud.

•  Our audit planning identified fraud risks in relation to 
management override and risk of fraud in revenue 
recognition which has been assessed as a Key Audit 
Matter above. We considered the processes and controls 
that the Group has established to address risks identified, 
or that otherwise prevent, deter and detect fraud and how 
management monitors that processes and controls.

•  We designed our audit procedures to detect irregularities, 
including fraud. Our procedures included journal entry 
testing, with a focus on large or unusual transactions based 
on our knowledge of the business; enquiries with in-house 
legal and Group Management; and focused testing as 
referred to in the Key Audit Matters section above.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

45

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

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks  
of material misstatement in the financial statements, 
recognising that the risk of not detecting a material 
misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not 
detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve 
deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, 
misrepresentations or through collusion. there are inherent 
limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further 
removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from 
the events and transactions reflected in the financial 
statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.

A further description of our responsibilities is available 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 Parent Company’s members, 
as a body, in accordance with our engagement letter dated 
28 January 2021. Our audit work has been undertaken so that 
we might state to the Parent Company’s members those 
matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s 
report and for no other purpose. to the fullest extent 
permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility 
to anyone other than the Parent Company and the Parent 
Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this 
report, or for the opinions we have formed..

LEIGHTON THOMAS
FOR AND ON BEHALF OF BDO LLP,  
CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
london, uK
16 March 2021

BDO llP is a limited liability partnership registered in 
England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

46

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FinAnciAl
stAtements
stAtements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

Revenue 
Cost of sales

Gross profit

Selling and marketing costs
Research and development costs
Management, general and administrative costs
Depreciation and amortisation
Other operating expenses 

total operating costs

Operating profit

Adjusted EBITDA 

Employee share-based payment charge
Other operating expenses 
Exceptional or 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) 

Profit 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 Income for the year 

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

Earnings per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company: 
Basic earnings per share (cents)
Diluted earnings per share (cents)
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 from discontinued operations attributable to the ordinary 

equity holders of the Company: 

Basic earnings per share (cents)
Diluted earnings per share (cents)

Note

3,4

3c

9,10,22

5

5
16

5
9,10,22

7

8

20

17
17

17
17

17
17

2020
$’000

122,212
(16,172)

106,040

(49,112)
(6,332)
(19,478)
(20,097)
(313)

(95,332)

10,708

38,973
(1,232)
(313)
(6,623)
(20,097)

10,708

–
(3,382)

7,326
22,343

29,669
(792)

28,877

(6)

28,871

29,669
(792)

28,877

15.0
14.4

15.4
14.8

(0.4)
(0.4)

2019
$’000

66,060
(7,525)

58,535

(33,124)
(3,349)
(11,514)
(6,314)
(91)

(54,392)

4,143

14,559
(1,680)
(91)
(2,331)
(6,314)

4,143

300
(1,644)

2,799
(314)

2,485
(465)

2,020

(81)

1,939

2,485
(465)

2,020

1.4
1.3

1.7
1.7

(0.3)
(0.4)

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

47

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
As At 31 decemBeR 2020

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

Current assets
Software licence inventory
Deferred contract costs
Deferred consideration
trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

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

Total equity

Non-current liabilities
Contract liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities
long term lease liabilities
Deferred and contingent consideration 
Provisions
loans and Borrowings

Current liabilities
trade and other payables
Provisions
Current tax liability 
loans and Borrowings
Shareholder loan
Contract liabilities
Short term lease liabilities
Deferred and contingent consideration 

Note

9
10
22
20,27
3c
8

3c
20,27
11
12

3b
8
22
27
25
23

13
25
8
23
21c,23
3b
22
27

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

227,949
1,375
4,006
–
31,080
6,282

270,692

128
21,454
–
8,884
49,912

80,378

242,864
2,351
2,985
446
16,542
2,180

267,368

96
12,798
346
6,687
8,211

28,138

351,070

295,506

22
273,358
1,350
772
(46,746)

228,756

16
153,002
56,499
778
(55,291)

155,004

7,463
2,640
1,975
407
679
29,619

42,783

22,468
721
3,188
7,117
–
29,131
2,572
14,334

79,531

6,013
22,102
1,753
14,578
–
–

44,446

17,805
–
2,591
–
40,221
29,299
1,365
4,775

96,056

Total equity and liabilities

351,070

295,506

the financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 16 March 2021.

IDO ERLICHMAN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MORAN LAUFER
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

48

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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stRAteGic
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FinAnciAl
FinAnciAl
stAtements
stAtements

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

At 1 January 2019
Profit for the year 
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign 

operations

total comprehensive profit for the year
Share-based payments
Exercise of employee options (note 14)
Issue of equity share capital (note 19)
Deferred share consideration (note 19)

At 31 December 2019

At 1 January 2020
Profit for the year 
Other comprehensive income:
Foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign 

operations

total comprehensive profit for the year
Transactions with owners:
Share based payments
Exercise of employee options (note 14)
Issue of equity share capital (note 14)
Issue of equity share capital of deferred share 

consideration (note 27)

Buy-back of deferred share consideration (note 14)
Share buy-back (note 14)

Share
capital
$’000

15
–

Additional 
paid in 
capital
$’000

131,091
–

Share to be 
issued
$’000

–
–

–

–
–
–
–
56,499

–

–
–
255
21,656
–

153,002

56,499

153,002
–

56,499
–

–

–

–
2,952
113,213

–

–

–
–
–

4,191
–
–

(4,191)
(50,958)
–

–

–
–
*
1
–

16

16
–

–

–

–
*
6

–
–
–

Foreign 
exchange 
differences 
on 
translation 
of foreign 
operations
$’000

859
–

(81)

(81)
–
–
–
–

778

778
–

(6)

(6)

–
–
–

–
–
–

Retained 
earnings
$’000

(58,991)
2,020

–

2,020
1,680
–
–
–

total
$’000

72,974
2,020

(81)

1,939
1,680
255
21,657
56,499

(55,291)

155,004

(55,291) 155,004
28,877
28,877

–

(6)

28,877

28,871

1,232
–
–

1,232
2,952
113,219

–
(1,730)
(19,834)

–
(52,688)
(19,834)

At 31 December 2020

22

273,358

1,350

772

(46,746) 228,756

*   amounts below one thousand

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

49

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS 
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

Cash flow from operating activities
Profit for the year after taxation
Adjustments for:
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Amortisation of right-to-use assets
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
loss on sale of right-to-use assets
Profit on sale of intangible assets
tax charge
Interest income
Interest expenses, fair value movements on deferred consideration
Share based payment charge
Interest received
unrealised foreign exchange differences

Operating cash flow before movement in working capital
Decrease/(Increase) in trade and other receivables
Increase in software licences inventory 
Increase in trade and other payables
Increase in provision 
Increase in deferred contract costs
Increase in contract liabilities

Cash Inflow/(outflow) from operations
Tax paid net of refunds

Cash generated/(used in) from operations
Cash flow from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets acquired 
Disposal of intangible assets
Cash paid on business combination, net of cash acquired
Capitalisation of development costs

Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flow from financing activities
Repurchase of employee share options 
Payment of leases
Proceeds from shareholder loan
Proceeds from loans
Proceeds from RCF
Debt issuance costs
Repayment of interest on shareholder loan
Repayment of shareholder loan
Repayment of interest on loan
Repayments of long-term loan
Payment of deferred shares consideration
Payment of purchase of own shares
Proceeds from issuance of shares, net of transaction costs
Proceeds from exercise of options by employees

Net cash generated from financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) 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

50

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

Note

9
22
10
10
22
9
8

7,27
16

25

10
10
9
9
19
9

27
22
21,23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
14
14
14
14

12

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

28,877

2,020

17,730
1,707
660
271
53
(27)
(22,343)
–
3,997
1,232
–
(114)

32,043
(1,734)
(32)
5,483
1,396
(23,194)
1,282

15,244
(712)

14,532

(536)
11
(376)
132
(5,777)
(2,544)

(9,090)

–
(1,836)
–
40,000
1,654
(1,723)
(1,155)
(40,000)
(658)
(3,636)
(52,688)
(19,834)
113,219
2,431

35,774

41,216
485
8,211

49,912

4,784
1,177
353
57
–
–
314
(300)
814
1,680
300
143

11,342
374
(44)
1,824
–
(16,928)
2,075

(1,357)
(1,416)

(2,773)

(518)
7
(2)
–
(64,324)
(2,620)

(67,457)

(880)
(1,246)
40,000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
255

38,129

(32,101)
(93)
40,405

8,211

stRAteGic
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FinAnciAl
FinAnciAl
stAtements
stAtements

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

1  Basis of preparation
the financial information provided is for Kape technologies Plc (‘the Company’ or ‘Kape’) and its subsidiary undertakings 
(together the ‘Group’) in respect of the financial years ended 31 December 2020 and 2019. 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, 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 well as forecast debt covenants.

In March 2020, the Group secured a new senior term loan and revolving credit facilities of up to $70 million with Citi, Barclays 
and the Bank of Ireland (the ‘Banks’).

As a result of the acquisition of Webselenese in March 2021 the Group increased debt funding through drawing down 
$85 million under a bridge facility made available by tS Next level Investments limited, an affiliate of unikmind Holdings 
limited, Kape’s majority shareholder. the Bridge loan is subordinated to Kape’s existing bank facilities and is repayable on 
31 December 2021 which may be extended to 30 April 2022 at the sole discretion of Kape.

Consent was obtained from the Banks for the existing $40 million term facility and $10 million revolving credit facility to 
remain in place and available. under the terms agreed with the Banks, Kape has a period of 90 days to agree a new upsized 
facility to refinance the Bridge loan in full, absent which the existing term facility and revolving credit facility will become 
repayable. In such eventuality, the remaining $35m available under the Bridge loan will be drawn and, together with Kape’s 
own cash resources for the balance, will be applied to repay the Banks in full.

Whilst the Bridge loan’s maximum expiry date is 30 April 2022, the Directors were able to obtain consent from the Banks to 
raise the Bridge loan, evidencing the Banks support for the Group’s growth strategy. the Directors intend to re-finance the 
Bridge loan with new facilities from the Banks as soon as practicable. the Directors are confident of such refinancing as 
evidenced by the consent granted for the Banks and the discussions to date.

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.

Adoption of new and revised standards
New standards impacting the Group that were adopted in the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 
2020, and which have given rise to changes in the Group’s accounting policies are: 
• 

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements and IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors 
(Amendment – Definition of Material)
IFRS 3 Business Combinations (Amendment – Definition of Business)
IFRS 7, IFRS 9 and IAS 39 (Amendment – Interest Rate Benchmark Reform)

• 
• 
•  Revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting

the adoption of these standards did not have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

51

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

1  Basis of preparation continued
New standards, interpretations and amendments not yet effective 
there are a number of standards, amendments to standards, and interpretations which have been issued by the IASB that are 
effective in future accounting periods that the group has decided not to adopt early. 
• 

IAS 37 (Amendment Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract) – clarifies that the direct costs of fulfilling a contract 
include both the incremental costs of fulfilling the contract and an allocation of other costs directly related to fulfilling 
contracts. Before recognising a separate provision for an onerous contract, the entity recognises any impairment loss that 
has occurred on assets used in fulfilling the contract. the amendment is effective for annual reporting periods beginning 
on or after 1 January 2022. the Group is currently assessing the potential impact of this amendment on its financial 
statements, however, such impact if any, is not expected to be material.
In January 2020, the IASB issued amendments to IAS 1, which clarify the criteria used to determine whether liabilities are 
classified as current or non-current. these amendments clarify that current or non-current classification is based on 
whether an entity has a right at the end of the reporting period to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months 
after the reporting period. the amendments also clarify that ‘settlement’ includes the transfer of cash, goods, services,  
or equity instruments unless the obligation to transfer equity instruments arises from a conversion feature classified as  
an equity instrument separately from the liability component of a compound financial instrument. the amendments are 
effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023. the Group is currently assessing the potential 
impact of this amendment on its financial statements, however, such impact if any, is not expected to be material. 

• 

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

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 18 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 or loss as appropriate.

Deferred cash consideration is measured initially at fair value and subsequently at amortised cost. 

Deferred share consideration that is classified as an equity instrument, is measured at the date of the recognition at fair value 
using the share price at the acquisition date adjusted for the time value of money and lack of marketability, if needed.

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

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. 

Any provisional amounts are subsequently finalised within the 12-month measurement period, as permitted by IFRS 3. those 
provisional amounts are adjusted through goodwill during the measurement period, or additional assets or liabilities are 
recognised to reflect new information obtained about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date that, if 
known, would have affected the amounts recognised at that date. these adjustments are called as measurement period 
adjustments and are applied on a retrospective basis with comparative prior periods revised in subsequent financial 
statements to include the effect of those adjustments. the measurement period does not exceed 12 months from the 
acquisition date.

52

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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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).

(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.

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. 

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.

the majority of the Group revenue is derived from sales of products to customers in a B2C model. 
•  the CyberGhost, Zenmate, Private Internet Access, Intego VirusBarrier and Intego 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 retain the customers, and to make it 

economically unlikely for them to stop using the Company’s services.

 — 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. 

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

•  the Reimage PC, Restoro and DriverFix 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 one year package of the Reimage, Restoro and DriverFix products, 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.

•  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 standalone selling prices are determined 
based on the prices charged to customers who acquire software packages individually or by reference pricing for similar 
products sold in the market. 

Given the B2C nature of the business and the high volume of contracts with multiple start dates, the Company applies the 
practical expedient to treat these as a portfolio of contracts (or performance obligations) with similar characteristics to 
recognise revenue from the beginning of the month for all contracts. the Company has concluded it is reasonably expected 
that the effects on the financial statements of applying a portfolio approach will not differ materially from applying revenue 
recognition to the individual contracts.

Customers are provided with a 30-60 day refund period in which they can receive a full refund. Historical experience 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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ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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2 significant accounting policies continued
Principal versus agent considerations
When the Company is involved in providing other parties’ products to a customer, the Company determines whether it is a 
principal or an agent for each specified good or service promised to the customer. A specified good or service is a distinct 
good or service (or a distinct bundle of goods or services) to be provided to the customer. to determine the nature of its 
promise, the Company shall:
• 

identify the specified goods or services to be provided to the customer (which, for example, could be a right to a good or 
service to be provided by another party); and

•  assess whether it controls each specified good or service before that good or service is transferred to the customer. the 
Company is a principal if it controls the specified good or service before that good or service is transferred to a customer. 
the following factors are considered in the analysis:
 — the entity which is primarily responsible for fulfilling the promise to provide the specified product. 
 — If the Company has inventory risk before the specified good or service has been transferred to a customer, or after 

transfer of control to the customer.

 — the Company has discretion in establishing the prices for the specified product. 

When the Company is a principal, the revenues are recognised in the gross amount in profit and loss while as an agent the 
revenues are recognised on a net basis in profit and loss.

Costs to obtain and fulfil a contract
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). the Company recognises 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 the Group Digital Security and 
Digital Privacy products 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 through the selling and marketing costs 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 over 
the expected customer life on a systematic basis at the same rate as the expected revenue recognition from the customer 
which derive from period of 1-month up to 36 months. 

In addition, the Company recognised an asset for fulfilment costs that are considered directly attributable in fulfilling a 
contract. the fulfilment costs are comprised of payment processing and order fulfilment fees paid to third party processing 
service providers. this asset is amortised through the cost of sales on a systematic basis over the initial contract period at the 
same rate as the revenue recognised from the contract. 

Assets recognised from the costs to obtain or fulfil 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 Depreciation and amortisation 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. 
Where intangible assets are acquired as part of a business combination they are recorded initially at their fair value.

Intellectual Property: 3 to 8 years

the Company amortises intangible assets with a limited useful life, using the straight-line method over the following periods:
• 
•  trademarks: 5 to 12 years
•  Customer lists: 4 to 5 years

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.

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Cryptocurrencies are generally considered to have an indefinite useful economic life. Cryptocurrencies are digital tokens or 
coins based on blockchain technology, such as Bitcoin. they currently operate independently of a central bank and are 
intended to function as a medium of exchange.

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;
• 
•  the development cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

It is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits; and

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.

(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 is 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:
•  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: 4-5 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 ‘CGu').

Cash and cash equivalents
For the purpose of the consolidated balance sheet and cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in 
demand, bank accounts and bank deposits that require notice of three months or less.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

2 significant accounting policies continued
Financial assets
(a)   Classification
the Group classifies its financial assets in the following measurement categories:
•  those to be 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. 

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)  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 income.

Financial 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 trade 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 receivables, their carrying amount is considered to be the same as their fair value. 

(c)   Impairment
the Group applies the simplified approach to measure the expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss 
allowance for all trade receivables.

Financial liabilities
(a)   Classification and measurement
Financial liabilities are classified as measured at amortised cost or FVtPl. A financial liability is classified as at FVtPl if it is 
classified as held-for-trading, it is a derivative or it is designated as such on initial recognition. Financial liabilities at FVtPl  
are measured at fair value and net gains and losses, including any interest expense, are recognised in profit or loss. Other 
financial liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Interest expense and 
foreign exchange gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss. Any gain or loss on derecognition is also recognised in 
profit or loss

(b)  Derecognition
the Company derecognises a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged or cancelled, or expire. the 
Company also derecognises a financial liability when its terms are modified and the cash flows of the modified liability are 
substantially different, in which case a new financial liability based on the modified terms is recognised at fair value.

On derecognition of a financial liability, the difference between the carrying amount extinguished and the consideration paid 
(including any non-cash assets transferred or liabilities assumed) is recognised in profit or loss.

(c)   Offsetting
Financial assets and financial liabilities are offset and the net amount presented in the balance sheet when, and only when, 
the Group currently has a legally enforceable right to set off the amounts and it intends either to settle them on a net basis or 
to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

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

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 base 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.

Uncertainty over Income Tax Positions
It may be unclear how tax law applies to a particular transaction or circumstance. the acceptability of a particular tax 
treatment under tax law may not be known until the relevant taxation authority or a court takes a decision in the future. 
Consequently, a dispute or examination of a particular tax treatment by the taxation authority may affect the Group’s 
accounting for a current or deferred tax asset or liability.

If it is not probable that the uncertain tax treatment will be accepted, the Group measures the tax uncertainty based on the 
most likely amount or expected value, depending on whichever method better predicts the resolution of the uncertainty. this 
measurement is based on the assumption that each of the tax authorities will examine amounts they have a right to examine 
and have full knowledge of all related information when making those examinations. 

Government grants
Grants from the government are recognised at their fair value where there is a reasonable assurance that the grant will be 
received and the Company will comply with all attached conditions. Note 24 provides further information on how the Company 
accounts for government grants.

Leases
IFRS 16 requires lessees to recognise a lease liability that reflects future lease payments and a ‘right-of-use asset’ in all lease 
contracts within scope. 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 and not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for 
leases with 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.

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 a termination option is reasonably certain to be exercised 

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.

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2 significant accounting policies continued
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.

the lease liability is measured at amortised 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. 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.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is 
probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the 
amount of the obligation. If the amounts involved are material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected future 
cash flows at a pre-tax rate which reflects the current market assessment of the time value of money and, when appropriate, 
the risks specific to the liability. Where discounting is applied to provisions, the increase in the value the provision due to the 
passage of time is recognised as a finance cost.

Where the Group is a party to a contract in which the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under the contract exceed 
the economic benefits expected to be received under the contract a provision is recognised.

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 reporting date, the Company 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 profit and loss, 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 recognised 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 an 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. Incremental costs directly 
attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. 

Where any Group company purchases the Company’s equity instruments, for example as the result of a share buy-back or a 
share-based payment plan, the consideration paid, including any directly attributable incremental costs (net of income taxes), 
is deducted from equity attributable to the owners of the Company as treasury shares until the shares are cancelled or 
reissued. Where such ordinary shares are subsequently reissued, any consideration received, net of any directly attributable 
incremental transaction costs and the related income tax effects, is included in equity attributable to the owners of 
the Company.

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.

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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
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. the 
Group tracks research and development employees’ and advisors’ time invested in each research and development project. 
the Group then estimates whether it has adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development of 
the intangible asset and how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits. Wrong estimations might 
cause the Company to capitalise costs that otherwise would been recorded as operational expenses. 

(b)  Valuation of separately identifiable intangible assets
to determine the value of separately identifiable intangible assets in a business combination the Group is required to make 
judgements when utilising valuation methodologies. these methodologies include the use of discounted cash flows, revenue 
forecasts and the estimates for the useful economic lives of intangible assets. there are significant judgements involved in 
assessing what amounts are recognised as the estimated fair value of assets and liabilities acquired through business 
combinations, particularly the amounts attributed to separate intangible assets such as brands and customer relationships. 
these judgements impact the amount of goodwill recognised on acquisitions. Any provisional amounts are subsequently 
finalised within the 12-month measurement period, as permitted by IFRS 3. Details of acquisitions in the years ended 
December 31, 2019 and 2020 are set out in Note 19.

(c)   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 has been determined after taking into consideration, the product sold, period of the licence, 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.

Different assessment of the customer life time might impact the amount of Contract costs that are capitalised to the balance 
sheet and the rate in which the Deferred contract costs are amortised. 

3  Revenue

Sale of Digital Security, malware protection and PC performance products
Sale of Digital Privacy software solutions

2020
$’000

32,368
89,844

122,212

2019
$’000

35,949
30,111

66,060

Revenues from software and SaaS products offering security, malware protection and PC performance are generated from 
the Digital Security CGu, while revenues from provision of Digital privacy software solutions are generated from the Digital 
Privacy CGu. 

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

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

Total

2020 
(USD, in thousands)

2019 
(uSD, in thousands)

Digital 
Security

4,470
27,898

Digital 
Privacy

69,645
20,199

Total

74,115
48,097

Digital 
Security

4,294
31,655

Digital 
Privacy

20,191
9,920

total

24,485
41,575

32,368

89,844

122,212

35,949

30,111

66,060

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ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

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3  Revenue continued
(b)  Contract liabilities
the Company has recognised the following revenue-related contract liabilities:

Contract liabilities 

31 December  

31 December  

2020
(USD,  

2019
(uSD,  

in thousands)

in thousands)

36,594

35,312

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:

31 December  
2020 
(USD,  

31 December  
2019 
(uSD,  

in thousands)

in thousands)

Contract liabilities balance at the beginning of the period
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
Increase due to cash received, excluding amounts recognised as revenue during the period
Contract liabilities balance at the end of the period

(35,312)
–
–
29,298
(30,580)
(36,594)

(9,514)
(23,723)
1,946
7,349
(11,370)
(35,312)

Management expects that 79.6% of the transaction price allocated to the unsatisfied contracts (which represent the contract 
liabilities) as of 31 December 2020 will be recognised as revenue during the next annual reporting period ($29,131 thousands), 
16.0% and 4.0% ($5,868 thousands and $1,464 thousands) will be recognised in 2022 and 2023 financial years, respectively. 
the remaining 0.4% ($131 thousand) will be recognised during the following financial years.

(c)   Assets recognised from costs to obtain and fulfil a contract 
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
Significant changes in the deferred contract costs balances during the period are as follows:
Balance at the beginning of the period
Amortisation recognised during the period – marketing costs
Amortisation recognised during the period – fulfilment cost
Increases due to cash paid – marketing costs
Increases due to cash paid – fulfilment cost
Balance at the end of the period

31 December  
2020 
(USD,  

31 December  
2019 
(uSD,  

in thousands)

in thousands)

19,784
30,726
1,670
354

29,340
(23,552)
(5,202)
45,681
6,267
52,534

12,057
16,325
741
217

12,412
(12,033)
(2,963)
28,725
3,199
29,340

4  segmental information
Segments revenues and results
Based on the management reporting system, the Group operates two reportable segments: 
•  Digital Security – comprising software and SaaS products offering security, endpoint protection and PC performance.
•  Digital Privacy – comprising virtual private network (‘VPN') solutions and other privacy SaaS products.

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stAtements
stAtements

Year ended 31 December 2020

Revenue
Cost of sales
Direct sales and marketing costs

Segment result

Central operating costs

Adjusted EBItDA1

Other operating expenses
Depreciation and amortisation
Employee share-based payment charge
Exceptional or 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)

Profit for the year

Digital Security 
2020 
$’000

Digital Privacy 
2020 
$’000

32,368
(2,045)
(16,977)

13,346

89,844
(14,127)
(22,882)

52,835

Total 
2020 
$’000

122,212
(16,172)
(39,859)

66,181

(27,208)

38,973

(313)
(20,097)
(1,232)
(6,623)

10,708

–
(3,382)

7,326

22,343

29,669

(792)

28,877

Exceptional or non-recurring costs in 2020 are comprised of non-recurring staff costs of $6.4 million which comprise of 
$4.9 million one-off bonus award to the management team for the successful integration of PIA, $1.5 million onerous contract 
cost relating to PIA’s founder consulting agreement and $0.2 million (2019: $1.9 million) professional services and other 
business combinations related costs.

Year ended 31 December 2019

Revenue
Cost of sales
Direct sales and marketing costs

Segment result
Central operating costs

Adjusted EBItDA1
Other operating expenses
Depreciation and amortisation
Employee share-based payment charge
Exceptional or 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)

Profit from the year

Digital Security 
2019 
$’000

Digital Privacy 
2019 
$’000

35,949
(2,085)
(15,991)

17,873

30,111
(5,440)
(9,135)

15,536

total 
2019 
$’000

66,060
(7,525)
(25,126)

33,409
(18,850)

14,559
(91)
(6,314)
(1,680)
(2,331)

4,143
300
(1,644)

2,799
(314)

2,485
(465)

2,020

Exceptional or non-recurring costs in 2019 comprised of $0.4 million severance payments relating to the restructuring of 
ZenMate and Intego and $1.9 million for professional services and other business combinations related costs which derive 
from PIA acquisition.

1  Adjusted EBItDA is a company-specific measure which is calculated as operating profit before depreciation (including right-to-use assets 

amortisation), amortisation, exceptional or non-recurring costs, other operating expenses and employee share-based payment charges as set out 
in note 5. 

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61

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

4  segmental information continued
Information about major customers
In 2020 and 2019 there were no customers contributing more than 10% of total revenue of the Group. 

Geographical analysis of revenue
Revenue by residence of the recording subsidiary:

Europe
uS

Geographical analysis of non-current assets

uS
France
Romania
Germany
Other 

total intangible assets, right-to-use assets and property, plant and equipment 

5 operating profit
Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted EBItDA is calculated as follows:

Operating profit
Depreciation and amortisation
Other operating expenses 
Employee share-based payment charge
Exceptional or non-recurring costs:
  Non-recurring staff and restructuring costs
  Exceptional costs

Adjusted EBItDA

2020 
$’000

61,395
60,817

122,212

2020
$’000

210,521
6,215
6,535
7,406
2,653

233,330

2020
$’000

10,708
20,097
313
1,232

6,405
218

38,973

2019 
$’000

56,793
9,267

66,060

2019
$’000

222,227
6,663
6,712
8,912
3,686

248,200

2019
$’000

4,143
6,314
91
1,680

416
1,915

14,559

Other operating expenses in 2020 are comprised mainly of $0.2 million loss from disposal of Company owned cars related to 
PIA acquisition (see note 27), $0.05 million of donation done in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic and $0.05 million of other 
fixed assets disposals.

Operating profit has been arrived at after charging:

Exceptional or non-recurring operating costs
Non-recurring staff costs
Professional services related to business combination

Auditor’s remuneration:
Audit
taxation services
Amortisation of intangible assets
Depreciation
Amortisation of Right-to-use assets 

Employee share-based payment charge (note 16)

62

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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2020
$’000

6,405
218

6,623

273
–
17,730
660
1,707

1,232

2019
$’000

416
1,915

2,331

210
21
4,784
353
1,177

1,680

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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
Other operating expenses
Depreciation and amortisation

total operating costs

2020 
Adjusted 
$’000

39,859
9,192

49,051

6,194
11,822
–
4,825

71,892

2020 
Total 
$’000

39,859
9,253

49,112

6,332
19,478
313
20,097

95,332

2019 
Adjusted 
$’000

25,126
7,903

33,029

3,149
7,798
–
2,652

46,628

2019 
total 
$’000

25,126
7,998

33,124

3,349
11,514
91
6,314

54,392

Adjusted operating costs exclude share based payment charges, exceptional or non-recurring costs, other operating 
expenses and amortisation of acquired 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 16)

2020 
$’000

27,256
837
1,232

29,325

2019 
$’000

14,280
893
1,680

16,853

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 36 to 37.

7  Finance costs

Interest expense on short-term shareholder loan (note 23)
Interest expenses on long-term loan (note 23)
Interest expense on lease liabilities (note 22)
unwinding of discounting on deferred cash consideration (note 27)
Net foreign exchange and other finance expenses

2020
$’000

6,341
69
1,005

7,415

2020
$’000

934
1,114
205
952
177

3,382

2019
$’000

2,197
86
1,461

3,744

2019
$’000

221
–
77
82
1,264

1,644

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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63

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

8  taxation
the parent company is resident, for tax purposes in the uK. the final tax charge shown below arises partially from the 
difference in tax rates applied in the different jurisdictions in which the subsidiaries reside.

the Group recognised a deferred tax asset of $6,215 thousands (2019: $1,598 thousands) 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% (2019: 19%)
tax effect of
Differences in overseas rates
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Previously unrecognised tax losses now recouped to reduce current tax expense
Deferred tax not recognised on losses carried forward
Recognition of previously unrecognised deferred tax assets
Reversal of previously recognised deferred tax liability
tax expense for previous years

tax charge for the year

Income tax expenses is attributable to:
Profit from continuing operations
loss from discontinued operation

the tax expense/(credit) from continuing operations analysed as:
Deferred taxation in respect of the current year
Current tax charge

tax charge for the year

2020
$’000

7,326
(792)

6,534
1,241

2,072
29
(27)
587
(261)
(25,639)
(345)

(22,343)

(22,343)
–

(22,343)

(23,419)
1,076

(22,343)

2019
$’000

2,799
(465)

2,334
443

(386)
999
(14)
454
(1,561)
–
379

314

314
–

314

(1,608)
1,922

314

PIA acquisition was structured as a tax free reorganisation in accordance to section 368(a) of the IRC code. this structure 
enabled the sellers to postpone the tax payment on their shares consideration to the time of the sale of these shares and 
reduces the tax rate from an income tax rate to a capital gain tax rate on that part of the consideration. A side effect of this 
structure is that the tax basis of the acquired intangible assets was zero for tax purposes for the Company, and thus any 
amortisation expense that is recorded in relation to these assets will not deductible be from tax profits. As a result, the 
Company recognised a deferred tax liability on the acquired intangible assets.

Following the Company’s agreement with the sellers in October 2020 to buy back the shares that were already issued at 
closing and to cancel their deferred shares consideration (see note 14), the acquisition of PIA no longer meets the criteria of 
section 368(a) which means the transaction no longer qualifies as a tax free reorganisation but instead is considered as a 
taxable sale of assets by the sellers. the main implications on the Company is an increase in the tax basis of the acquired 
assets. As a result, PIA’s intangible assets, including goodwill, will be amortised over 15 years for tax purposes and therefore 
create a tax saving. At the time of the PIA Acquisition, the Company recognised a deferred tax liability of $25.8 million, which 
had been reversed through the tax income line in the year ended 31 December 2020 and presented in the tax note as part of 
‘Reversal of previously recognised deferred tax liability’. the change to the tax structure will result in the creation of a 
deferred tax liability over the 15-year period that the assets are amortise for tax purposes. the tax liability will unwind in case 
of a sale or a write-off of the Goodwill. these figures are based on current uS tax legislation.

the Group maintained provisions for potential historic tax liabilities presented in income tax liabilities. In 2020 the Group 
increased its provision by $0.2 million to $2.2 million (2019: $2.0 million). the increase in tax liabilities driven by the multi-
national nature of the Company which give rise to uncertainty over the income tax treatment related to cross border services 
and transactions.

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stAtements

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

Corporate tax losses carried forward

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

46,037

35,671

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

At 1 January 2019
Foreign exchange differences
Movement in the year due to temporary differences from continuing operations

At 31 December 2019

Foreign exchange differences
Movement in the year due to temporary differences from continuing operations

At 31 December 2020

losses carried  

forward
$’000

159
–
1,440

1,599

145
4,471

6,215

Other temporary 
differences
$’000

569
9
3

581

–
(514)

67

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

At 1 January 2019
Arising from business combinations
Foreign exchange differences
Movement in the year due to temporary 
differences from continuing operations

At 31 December 2019

Movement in the year due to temporary 
differences from continuing operations

At 31 December 2020

Business 
combination
$’000

Intangibles 
assets
$’000

Deferred contract 
costs
$’000

2,718
19,145
(3)

(726)

21,134

(19,674)

1,460

–
–
–

–

–

376

376

98
–
–

261

359

(225)

134

Capitalised 
Software 
Development 
Costs
$’000

309
–
–

300

609

61

670

total
$’000

728
9
1,443

2,180

145
3,957

6,282

total
$’000

3,125
19,145
(3)

(165)

22,102

(19,462)

2,640

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

2020
$’000

24,219

3,447

2019
$’000

30,457

4,057

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

65

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

9  intangible assets

Intellectual 
Property
$’000

trademarks
$’000

Customer 
lists
$’000

Goodwill
$’000

Internet 
Domains
$’000

Capitalised
 Software 
Development 
Costs
$’000

Cryptocurrencies
$’000

total
$’000

Cost
At 1 January 2019
Additions
Acquisition through business 

combination

Foreign exchange differences

40,349
–

10,640
–

3,506
–

20,623
–

31,991
(76)

36,257
–

27,796
–

112,558
–

At 31 December 2019

72,264

46,897

31,302

133,181

Additions
Disposals

–
–

11
–

–
–

–
–

94
–

231
–

325

–
–

6,593
2,620

–
(57)

9,156

2,544
–

–
11

6
–

81,805
2,631

208,839
(133)

17

293,142

365
(105)

2,920
(105)

At 31 December 2020

72,264

46,908

31,302

133,181

325

11,700

277

295,957

Accumulated amortisation
At 1 January 2019
Charge for the year
Foreign exchange differences

(33,244)
(2,050)
37

(7,778)
(544)
–

At 31 December 2019

(35,257)

(8,322)

(924)
(1,069)
–

(1,993)

Charge for the period

(5,465)

(3,447)

(6,359)

At 31 December 2020

(40,722)

(11,769)

(8,352)

–
–
–

–

–

–

Net book value
At 1 January 2019
At 31 December 2019

7,105
37,007

2,862
38,575

2,582
29,309

20,623
133,181

At 31 December 2020

31,542

35,139

22,950

133,181

–
–
–

–

–

–

94
325

325

(3,594)
(1,121)
9

(4,706)

(2,459)

(7,165)

2,999
4,450

4,535

–
–
–

–

–

–

(45,540)
(4,784)
46

(50,278)

(17,730)

(68,008)

–
17

36,265
242,864

277

227,949

On 13 December 2019, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of ltMI Holdings (‘ltMI'). ltMI is the holding company  
for Private Internet Access Inc (‘PIA'), a leading uS-based digital privacy company with strong position in the data privacy 
services. PIA was established in 2009 and is a security software business, based in Denver, Colorado, with a focus on the 
provision of virtual private network (‘VPN') solutions. 

During the measurement period the Company recorded adjustments to increase liabilities assumed (other payables) with the 
corresponding entry to increase goodwill by $0.8 million, changes related to conditions that existed at the time of the 
acquisition. See Note 19.

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 Digital Security 
CGu has a carrying amount of $11,688 thousands (2019: $11,688 thousands) and the Digital Privacy CGu has a carrying 
amount of $121,493 thousands (2019: $121,493 thousands).

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 Digital Security 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 3 per cent (2019: 1 per cent). this rate does not exceed the average 
long-term growth rate for the relevant markets. If the growth rate was decreased by 2 percentage points the effect would 
have been nil. the rate used to discount these forecast cash flows is 17 per cent (2019: 17 per cent).

the discount rate used in the valuation of the Digital Security CGu was 17 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. 

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For the Digital Privacy 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 (2019: 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 15 per cent (2019: 
15 per cent).

the discount rate used in the valuation of the Digital Privacy CGu was 15 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 2019
Additions
Disposals
Acquisition through business combination
Foreign exchange differences 

At 31 December 2019
Additions
Disposals

At 31 December 2020

Accumulated depreciation:
At 1 January 2019
Charge for the period
Disposals
Foreign exchange differences

At 31 December 2019
Charge for the period
Disposals

At 31 December 2020

Net book value
At 1 January 2019
At 31 December 2019

At 31 December 2020

11  trade and other receivables

trade receivables and contract assets
Prepayments 
Other receivables

Computer 
equipment
$’000

Furniture, fixtures 
and office 
equipment
$’000

leasehold 
improvements
$’000

1,342
192
(12)
–
(4)

1,518
424
(10)

1,932

(1,104)
(205)
11
2

(1,296)
(179)
6

(1,469)

238
222

463

278
108
(88)
46
–

344
34
(2)

376

(90)
(40)
33
–

(97)
(44)
2

186
101
(4)
36
–

319
78
(27)

370

(1)
(47)
–
–

(48)
(98)
–

(139)

(146)

188
247

237

185
271

224

Cars
$’000

149
117
(11)
1,457
–

1,712
–
(1,109)

603

(47)
(61)
7
–

(101)
(339)
288

(152)

102
1,611

451

2020
$’000

3,953
1,785
3,146

8,884

total
$’000

1,955
518
(115)
1,539
(4)

3,893
536
(1,148)

3,281

(1,242)
(353)
51
2

(1,542)
(660)
296

(1,906)

713
2,351

1,375

2019
$’000

3,446
1,389
1,852

6,687

Other receivables as of 31 December 2020 include VAt receivable balance of $1.7 million (2019: $1.2 million). 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 15 of the 
consolidated financial statements.

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67

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

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
Other payables

2020
$’000

49,887
25

49,912

2020
$’000

8,926
7,866
1,848
3,828

2019
$’000

7,472
739

8,211

2019
$’000

5,023
4,874
2,943
4,965

22,468

17,805

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

2020
Number of 
Shares

2019
Number of 
Shares

222,297,719

160,144,132

On 28 October 2020, the company issued a total of 59,230,769 new ordinary shares of uS $0.0001 each (‘Ordinary Shares’) were 
subscribed for by investors, at an issue price of 150 pence per Placing Share. the Net amount proceeds after issue costs from 
the share issuance is $113.2 million.

As part of the ltMI Holdings acquisition on 2019, as disclosed in Note 19, the Company undertook to issue 42,701,548 new 
ordinary shares (‘Consideration Shares’) to be paid in three phases. ltMI co-founders Andrew lee and Steve DeProspero 
would each been entitled to be issued 19,247,723 Consideration Shares representing approximately 10.4% of the enlarged 
issued share capital of Kape, of which 5,250,363 were issued on completion, 10,498,020 were due to be issued on the first 
anniversary of completion and 3,499,340 would have been issued on the second anniversary of completion. the balance of 
the Consideration Shares, being 4,206,102 in aggregate, are to be issued to four senior executives of PIA, of which 1,147,333 
were issued on completion, 2,294,077 were issued on the first anniversary of completion and 764,692 will be issued on the 
second anniversary of completion. 

On 28 October 2020, the Company and ltMI Co-founders have reached an agreement with respect to the repurchase of the 
Initial Consideration Shares and their right to receive the Deferred Consideration Shares by the Company, for a total 
consideration of approximately $72.5 million. Out of which, $52.7 million were paid for the deferred share consideration and 
$19.8 million paid for the Initial Consideration Shares and recognised as treasury. On 6 November 2020, the Company 
completed the transaction. 

On 16 December 2020, at the first anniversary of completion, the Company issued 2,294,077 new ordinary shares to four 
senior executives of ltMI out of the deferred consideration shares. the remaining of the deferred share consideration is 
disclosed as shares to be issued.

As at 31 December 2020, the Company holds in the treasury total of 9,713,857 of ordinary shares of $0.0001 par value 
(2019: 3,865,223) and company’s Employee Benefit trust holds 1,200,000 ordinary shares. During 2020, 4,652,092 of ordinary 
shares of $0.0001 par value were transferred out of treasury to satisfy the exercise of options by the company employees 
(2019: 610,930).

No divided was declared in 2020 and 2019. 

68

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stAtements

the following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within owner’s equity:

Reserve

Description and purpose

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

Retained earnings

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

Foreign exchange

Cumulative foreign exchange differences of translation of foreign operations

Shares to be issued

Deferred share consideration

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

15  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:

Non-current financial assets
Deferred consideration 

Current financial assets
Deferred consideration 
trade receivables and contract assets
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Non-current liabilities
lease liabilities 
Deferred consideration
Contingent consideration
loans and Borrowings
Provisions

Current liabilities 
trade payables
Other payables and accrued expenses
Shareholder loan
lease liabilities 
Deferred consideration 
Contingent consideration
loans and Borrowings
Provisions

Financial assets
the following table shows the carrying amounts of financial assets measured as amortised costs:

trade receivables and contract assets
Other receivables
Cash

Measurement Category

FVtPl

FVtPl
Amortised cost
Amortised cost
Amortised cost

Amortised cost
Amortised cost
FVtPl
Amortised cost
Amortised cost

Amortised cost
Amortised cost
Amortised cost
Amortised cost
Amortised cost
FVtPl
Amortised cost
Amortised cost

2020
$’000

3,953
3,146
49,912

57,011

2019
$’000

3,446
1,852
8,211

13,509

the following table shows the fair values of financial assets, including their levels in the fair value hierarchy. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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15  Financial instruments and risk management continued
Financial liabilities
the following table shows the carrying amounts of financial liabilities measured as amortised costs:

trade payables
Other payables and accrued expenses
Provision (see note 25)
loans and Borrowings (see note 23)
lease liabilities (see note 22)
Deferred consideration (see note 27)

2020
$’000

8,926
9,434
1,400
36,736
4,547
14,494

75,537

2019
$’000

5,023
8,675
–
40,221
3,118
18,536

75,573

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 functional 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, Philippines peso, Australian Dollar and 
Romanian lei. 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
Other

liabilities

Assets

2020
$’000

799
2,591
4,404
183
859
1,050
–

9,886

2019
$’000

950
2,459
731
5
571
1,318
6

6,040

2020
$’000

329
2,494
3,442
–
1,183
97
8

7,553

2019
$’000

213
1,986
1,083
–
94
18
7

3,401

A 10% weakening of the united States Dollar against the following currencies at 31 December 2020 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
Other

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Profit or loss

2020
$’000

(47)
(10)
(96)
(18)
32
(95)
1

(233)

2019
$’000

(74)
(47)
35
–
(48)
(130)
–

(264)

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(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 is exposed to changes in market rates of interest or fair value interest rate risk, due to its borrowings which bear fixed 
interest rate plus uSD libor.

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

Fixed rate financial instruments
Financial assets
Financial liabilities (note 22)

Fluctuating rate financial instruments
Financial liabilities (note 23)

2020
$’000

49,912
(4,547)

45,365

2020
$’000

(36,736)

(36,736)

2019
$’000

8,211
(3,118)

5,093

2019
$’000

(40,221)

(40,221)

Any increase/(decrease) by 1% in uSD libor interest rates will have an effect of $0.2 million on equity and profit or loss. this 
analysis assumes that all other variables, will remain constant.

In July 2019, the united Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates lIBOR (london Interbank Offered Rate), 
announced that it intends to phase out lIBOR by the end of 2021. It is unclear whether or not lIBOR will cease to exist at 
that time and/or whether new methods of calculating lIBOR will be established such that it will continue to exist after 2021. 
the uS Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised 
of large uS financial institutions, is considering replacing uS Dollar lIBOR with a new SOFR (Secured Overnight Financing Rate) 
index calculated by short-term repurchase agreements, backed by treasury securities. the Company has evaluated the 
impact of the transition from lIBOR, and currently believes that the transition will not have a material impact on the financial 
statements. 

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 principal 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

2020
$’000

7,071
49,887
25
28

57,011

2019
$’000

5,268
7,472
739
30

13,509

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.

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FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

15  Financial instruments and risk management continued
Wherever possible and commercially practical the Group invests cash with major financial institutions that have a rating of at 
least A-1 as defined by Standard & Poor’s. 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 10.8% of its funds (2019: 19.3%) in financial 
institutions below A-1 rate and 0.0% in payment methods with no rating (2019: 0.1%).

At 31 December 2020

At 31 December 2019

Financial 
institutions with 
A-1 and above 
rating
$’000

Financial 
institutions below 
A-1 rating and no 
rating
$’000

44,530

6,623

5,382

1,588

total
$’000

49,912

8,211

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. 

the Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measure 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 2020 or 1 January 2020 respectively and the corresponding historical credit losses experienced within 
this period. 

At 31 December 2020 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 is shown below:

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

Current
$’000

0%
3,712
–

Between 1 and 
30 days past due
$’000

Between 31 and 
30 days past due
$’000

More than 
60 days past due
$’000

0%
97
–

0%
32
–

2020
$’000

3,712
97
32
112

3,953

0%
112
–

2019
$’000

3,346
10
12
78

3,446

the Group holds a specific loss provision of $Nil at 31 December 2020 (2019: $Nil). the expected credit loss rate is immaterial 
to the Group, given the trade receivables predominantly relate to amounts due from payment providers following sale of the 
Group’s products to consumers and are typically received within 7-60 days. 

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. there were no impairment losses on 
trade receivables for the years ended 31 December 2020 and 2019.

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. 

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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 by:
•  using regular cash flow reporting and projections to ensure that it is able to meet its obligations, including the loan,  

as they fall due.

•  Projections the Company results to ensure meeting the loan covenants. 

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.

2020

trade and other payables
loans and Borrowings
Provision
Payables to related parties
lease liabilities
Deferred consideration 

2019

trade and other payables
Shareholder’s loan
Payables to related parties
lease liabilities
Deferred consideration 

Carrying 
amounts
$’000

18,354
36,736
1,400
6
4,547
14,494

 75,537

Carrying  
amounts
$’000

13,640
40,221
58
3,118
18,536

 75,573

Contractual 
cash flows
$’000

18,354
39,385
1,438
6
4,740
15,482

79,405

Contractual 
cash flows
$’000

13,640
40,221
58
3,330
20,532

77,781

3 months
 or less
$’000

18,354
2,014
188
6
757
–

21,319

3 months 
or less
$’000

13,640
–
58
431
–

14,129

Between 3-12 
months
$’000

Between 1-5 
years
$’000

More than 5 
years
$’000

–
5,968
563
–
1,833
15,045

23,409

–
31,403
687
–
2,150
437

34,677

–
–
–
–
–
–

–

Between 3-12 
months
$’000

Between 1-5 
years
$’000

More than 5 
years
$’000

–
40,221
–
957
5,020

46,198

–
–
–
1,942
15,220

17,162

–
–
–
–
292

292

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 manages its capital structure through cash flow from operations 
and a long-term borrowing which was taken primarily to support PIA’s acquisition. 

16  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 2020, the following options were outstanding (2019: 13,018,231):

Group

Group 1
Group 2
Group 3 
Group 4
Group 5
Group 6 
Group 7
Group 9
Group 10
Group 11
Group 12
Group 13
Group 14
Group 15
Group 16
Group 17

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
13 July 2018
24 August 2018
21 May 2019
20 November 2019
3 December 2019
21 May 2020
17 July 2020
26 November 2020

Number of shares 
under option

Subscription price 
per share 

200,340
179,563
166,938
800,000
1,549,660
197,500
498,987
298,125
910,000
1,200,000
342,500
527,000
650,000
1,582,000
25,000
175,000

9,302,613

$0.538
 $1.305
$0.710
$0.352
$0.467
$0.0001
$0.845
$1.280
$1.437
$0.000
$1.090
$1.040
$1.230
$2.050
$2.230
$2.400

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FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

16  employee share-based payments continued
Vesting conditions
Groups 1-5, 7-10 and 12-17 – 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 for 3 years period following the grant date subject to certain performance conditions.

the total number of shares exercisable as of 31 December 2020 was 4,795,448 (2019: 6,977,213).

the weighted average fair value of options granted in the year using the Cox, Ross and Rubinstein’s Binomial Model (the 
‘Binomial Model’) was $1.20. 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

2020
$’000

100%
$2.31-$2.75
44.6%-59.6%
(0.79%)-(0.45%)
–
0%-20%

2019
$’000

100%
$1.12-$1.91
45%
0.47%-1.08%
–
0%-28%

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 20% 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

2020
$’000

1,232

2019
$’000

1,680

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

At the end of the year

2020

2019

Weighted average 
exercise price 

Number of 
options

Weighted average 
exercise price

$0.66
$2.09
$1.20
$0.56

$0.84

13,018,231
1,817,000
(372,647)
(5,159,971)

9,302,613

$0.59
$1.14
$1.00
$0.43

$0.66

Number of 
options

12,158,805
1,844,500
(374,144)
(610,930)

13,018,231

the options outstanding at 31 December 2020 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 7.34 years (2019: 
7.3 years).

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17   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

2020
cents

15.4
(0.4)

15.0

14.8
(0.4)

14.4
14.1
13.5

2019
cents

1.7
(0.3)

1.4

1.7
(0.4)

1.3
6.8
6.5

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

Profit for the year 
Post tax adjustments:
Employee share-based payment charge
Exceptional or non-recurring costs
Amortisation on acquired intangible assets
loss from discontinued operations
Other operating expense
Exceptional deferred tax charge
Finance cost on deferred consideration for business combination and on lease liabilities 

Adjusted profit for the year

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

Adjustments for calculation of diluted earnings per share:
Impact of potentially dilutive shares related to employee options

2020
$’000

28,877

1,344
5,630
14,652
792
371
(25,639)
1,157

27,184

2019
$’000

2,020

1,767
2,136
3,112
465
92
–
138

9,730

Number

Number

192,596,652

143,217,060

8,406,227

7,208,944

Denominator – diluted
Weighted average number of equity shares for the purpose of diluted earnings per share

201,002,879

150,426,004

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 8,406,227 (2019: 7,208,944) being the effect of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares derived from the 
number of share options granted to employees. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
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75

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FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

18  subsidiaries

Name

Country of incorporation

Principal activities

Holding %

CyberGhost SRl*

Romania

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

Neutral Holding Inc

Intego SA*

Intego Inc*

united Sates of 
America

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.

united Sates of 
America

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

ZenGuard GMBH* 

Germany

A leading cyber security SaaS provider, with a focus on the 
provision of virtual private network (‘VPN') solutions and 
Provision of software development services to its parent 
company

Reimage limited

Reimage limited*

R.S.F Remote Software Fixing 
limited*

KltM5 Holding 

Isle of Man

Development and sale of the ‘Reimage’ software tool.

Cyprus

Israel

Consulting, market research and software development services

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

united Sates of 
America

Holding company of Private Internet Access Inc, a leading 
cyber security SaaS provider, with a focus on the provision of 
virtual private network (‘VPN') solutions

Private Internet Access Inc*

united Sates of 
America

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

Kape technologies (Cyprus) 
limited (formerly Crossrider 
technologies limited)

Cyprus

Provision of professional services to the Group entities

Crossrider Sports limited*

united Kingdom

Provision of consulting services to the Group entities

Definiti Media ltd*

Israel

Providing user acquisition services for the group activities 

Crosspath trading limited

British Virgin 
Islands

Kape technologies Employee 
Benefit trust

Jersey

Plus ultra link llC*

united Sates of 
America

Ember Infrastructure Services, 
llC*

united Sates of 
America

BestAd Hi-tech Media limited* Israel

Crossrider Advanced 
technologies limited*

Israel

Crossrider (Israel) limited*

Israel

Blueroad technologies limited 
(Formerly Blueroad trading 
limited)*

Cyprus

Provision of professional services to the Group entities

Employee benefit trust 

Development of a speeds up internet connections software

Provision of Infrastructure Services

Inactive

Inactive

Inactive 

Inactive

CyberGhost (Cyprus) limited 
(Formerly Frontbase trading 
limited)*

Cyprus

Inactive

Crossrider ROM SRl*

Art5 limited**

Romania

Jersey 

Inactive

Special purpose entity for Cash box equity raise 

Indirect shareholding

* 
**  under liquidation 

the Group was 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

80

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

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19  Business combinations 
(a)  Acquisition of LTMI Holdings
On 13 December 2019, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of ltMI Holdings (‘PIA'). ltMI is the holding company for 
Private Internet Access Inc (‘PIA'), a leading uS-based digital privacy company with strong position in the data privacy 
services.

New information about facts and circumstances existing at the acquisition date may be obtained within one year of the 
acquisition date that would give rise to measurement period adjustments. these adjustments may be made to the provisional 
fair values of assets and liabilities previously recognized or may result in the recognition of additional assets and liabilities, 
and they are applied on a retrospective basis with comparative prior periods revised in subsequent financial statements to 
include the effect of those adjustments. During the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company recognised measurement 
period adjustments, related to liabilities assumed of $0.8 million with the corresponding entry to goodwill. In accordance with 
the accounting guidance the adjustment was applied on a retrospective basis with comparative financial statements updated 
in this Annual Report for this adjustment. the purchase price allocation was finalised in the year ended 31 December 2020. 
For further explanation regarding the Group’s policy regarding business combinations, please refer to Note 2.

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

Acquiree’s carrying amount  

before combination
$’000

Final fair value
$’000

Brand and domain name
technology
Customer lists
Deferred tax liability
Cash and cash equivalents
trade and other receivables
Property, plant and equipment, net
Intangible assets, net
Right-of-use assets
Deferred Contracts costs
Deferred tax assets 
Contract liabilities
trade and other payables
long-term debt
lease liabilities

Fair value of consideration
Cash
Shares
Deferred Cash consideration
Deferred shares consideration
Deferred assets consideration
Goodwill

Net cash outflow on acquisition of business

Cash consideration
Cash paid to ltMI Holding’s Phantom shareholder
Cash paid to repay long-term debt 
Cash and cash equivalents acquired

–
478
–
(942)
676
976
1,539
237
386
3,491
6,438
(23,723)
(12,699)
(32,161)
(314)

(55,618)

36,257
31,991
27,796
(25,804)
676
976
1,539
237
386
–
6,659
(23,723)
(12,699)
(32,161)
(314)

11,816

27,076
21,657
18,325
56,499
817
112,558

2019
$’000

27,076
5,763
32,161
(676)
64,324

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

77

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FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

19  Business combinations continued
As part of the ltMI Holdings acquisition on 2019, the company issued 42,701,548 new ordinary shares (‘Consideration Shares’) 
to be paid in three phases. ltMI co-founders Andrew lee and Steve DeProspero were each be entitled to be issued 19,247,723 
Consideration Shares representing approximately 10.4% of the enlarged issued share capital of Kape, of which 5,250,363 were 
issued on completion, 10,498,020 were due to be issued on the first anniversary of completion and 3,499,340 will be issued on 
the second anniversary of completion. the balance of the Consideration Shares, being 4,206,102 in aggregate, are being 
issued to four senior executives of PIA, of which 1,147,333 were issued on completion, 2,294,077 were issued on the first 
anniversary of completion and 764,692 will be issued on the second anniversary of completion. 

On 28 October 2020, the Company and the ltMI Co-founders Andrew lee and Steve DeProspero reached an agreement 
whereby the Company purchased back their Initial Consideration Shares and removed their right to receive the Deferred 
Consideration Shares in exchange for cash consideration of approximately $72.5 million. On 6 November 2020, the Company 
completed the transaction. As this relates to a new agreement entered into in 2020 and was not envisaged at the date of 
acquisition, this has been treated as a new transaction in 2020 rather than a measurement period adjustment.

20  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. As consideration, the Group will receive a 
50% share of EBItDA from the Media division for the next five years following the sale. the fair value of the deferred 
consideration as at 31 December 2020 was $Nil (2019: $0.8 million). Decrease to the fair value is presented as 
discontinued operation.

the deferred consideration fair value has been determined in use calculations based on cash flow projections for the period 
left using the most recent expectations received from the acquire. the rate used to discount these forecast cash flows is 
25 per cent (2019: 25 per cent).

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 $Nil million. there is no reasonably possible change in assumption that would give rise to an impairment.

(b)  Financial performance
the financial performance and cash flow information presented are for the year ended 31 December 2020 and 2019.

2020
$’000

2019
$’000

–
–

–

–

–

(792)

–

(792)

–
–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–

(465)

–

(465)

–
–
–

–

Revenue 
Expenses

loss before income tax

Income tax expenses

loss after income tax of discontinued operation 

Fair value movements on deferred consideration

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 

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stAtements

21  Related party transactions
the Group is controlled by unikmind Holdings limited (‘unikmind’) incorporated in British Virgin Islands, which owns 64.3% of 
the Company’s shares as at 31 December 2020. the controlling party, unikmind Holdings ltd, has redomiciled from the British 
Virgin Islands to the Isle of Man. Mr. teddy Sagi is the sole ultimate beneficiary of unikmind Holdings ltd.

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

technical support services to end customers and administration services provided by common 

controlled company

Office expenses to common controlled companies
Payment processing services provided by common controlled company
Development services provided by common controlled company
Amortisation of Right-to-use assets with common controlled companies (Note 22)
Interest expenses from lease liabilities to common controlled companies
Interest expenses from shareholder short-term loan and debt facility 

2020
$’000

(207)
(61)
–
–
(1,069)
–
(934)

(2,271)

2019
$’000

(254)
(163)
(189)
(29)
(941)
(65)
(221)

(1,862)

On 6 December 2019, Kape entered into a $40.0 million short-term debt facility from unikmind Holdings limited (‘unikmind’), 
Kape’s largest shareholder, and was also provided with an additional debt facility of $20.0 million, on similar terms. the term 
loan had a fixed interest rate of 5% above 6 months uSD libor. Each tranche of the term loan was repayable on the earlier of 
a third-party refinancing of the term loan and 6 months after its utilisation unless such tranche’s maturity was extended, at 
the Company discretion, until 31 March 2021. the term loan could be repaid early in whole or part by the Borrower free of any 
penalty. the term loan also included a commitment fee on undrawn amounts only from the moment they become available in 
accordance to the payment schedule and certain other customary obligations on the Borrower in relation to the lender’s costs 
and expenses and in relation to taxes. the term debt facilities had a fixed interest of 1.5% upon availability, $5.0 million on the 
first anniversary and $15.0 million on the second anniversary.

Borrowings under the term loan were guaranteed by Kape and secured by a share charge granted by Kape in respect of its 
shares in the Borrower subsidiary. 

In April 2020, Kape re-financed the Shareholder term loan with third party facilities and repaid the Shareholder term loan in 
full, as further described in Note 23.

(b)  Receivables owed by related parties (Note 15)

Name

Parent company
Companies related by virtue of common control

Nature of transaction

unpaid share capital
Other

(c)   Payables to related parties (Note 15)

Name

Companies related by virtue of common control
unikmind Holdings limited

Nature of transaction

Other
Shareholder loan

(d)  Right-to-use assets and Lease liabilities to related parties (Note 22)

Right-to-use assets

lease liabilities

2020
$’000

10
18

28

2020
$’000

6
–

6

2020
$’000

758

(932)

2019
$’000

10
20

30

2019
$’000

58
40,221

40,279

2019
$’000

2,058

(2,387)

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

79

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

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

Rights-of-use assets:

Real estate leases
Vehicles
Colocation

Right-of-Use Assets

At 1 January 2019
Additions
Additions through business combination
Effect of modification to lease terms
Amortisation

At 31 December 2019

Additions
Effect of modification to lease terms
Amortisation
Disposal

At 31 December 2020

Lease liabilities

At 1 January 2019
Additions
Additions through business combination
Effect of modification to lease terms
Interest expense
lease payments
Foreign exchange movements

At 31 December 2019

Additions
Effect of modification to lease terms
Interest expense
lease payments
Foreign exchange movements

At 31 December 2020

2020
$’000

2,060
22
1,924

4,006

Vehicles
$’000

Colocation
$’000

49
44
78
–
(33)

138

–
(3)
(60)
(53)

22

–
7
–
–
–

7

2,205
–
(288)
–

1,924

Vehicles
$’000

Colocation
$’000

56
44
–
–
1
(39)
–

62

–
(3)
2
(34)
2

29

–
7
–
–
–
–
–

7

2,205
–
21
(305)
89

2,017

2019
$’000

2,840
138
7

2,985

total
$’000

1,769
2,070
386
(63)
(1,177)

2,985

2,643
138
(1,707)
(53)

4,006

total
$’000

1,919
2,070
314
(66)
77
(1,246)
50

3,118

2,643
138
205
(1,836)
279

4,547

Real estate 
leases
$’000

1,720
2,019
308
(63)
(1,144)

2,840

438
141
(1,359)
–

2,060

Real estate 
leases
$’000

1,863
2,019
314
(66)
76
(1,207)
50

3,049

438
141
182
(1,497)
188

2,501

2020

lease liabilities 

Carrying  
amount
$’000

4,547

Contractual 
cash flow
$’000

3 months  
or less
$’000

Between 3-12 
months
$’000

Between 1-5 
years
$’000

More than 5 
years
$’000

4,740

757

1,833

2,150

–

the Company leases various real estate leases, vehicles and Server spaces (‘Colocation’). 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. the weighted average lessee’s incremental borrowing rate applied to the new lease liabilities during the year 
ended 31 December 2020 was 3.72%.

Extension and termination options are included in a few lease contracts. these terms are used to maximise operational 
flexibility in terms of managing contracts. 

80

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

stRAteGic
RepoRt

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GoVeRnAnce

FinAnciAl
FinAnciAl
stAtements
stAtements

23  loans and Borrowings

At 1 January 2019
term Facility 
Interest expenses

At 31 December 2019
term Facility 
Revolving credit facility
Debt issuance costs
Interest expenses
Interest paid
Net foreign exchange
Repayment of loan

At 31 December 2020

Bank loan
$’000

Shareholder loan
$’000

–
–
–

–
40,000
1,654
(1,730)
1,114
(658)
(8)
(3,636)

36,736

–
40,000
221

40,221
–
–
–
934
(1,155)
–
(40,000)

–

Shareholder loan
On 6 December 2019, Kape entered into a $40.0 million short-term debt loan from unikmind Holdings limited (‘unikmind’), 
Kape’s largest shareholder, and was also provided with an additional debt facility of $20.0 million, $5 million of it was available 
on December 2020 and $15 million would be available on December 2021 (‘term loan’). the term loan had a fixed interest 
rate of 5% above 6 months uSD libor. Each tranche of the term loan was repayable on the earlier of a third-party refinancing 
of the term loan and 6 months after its utilisation unless such tranche’s maturity was extended until 31 March 2021. the term 
loan can be prepaid in whole or any part of the term loan, free of any penalty at any time. the term loan also includes a 
commitment fee on undrawn amounts only from the moment they become available in accordance with the payment 
schedule and certain other customary obligations on the Borrower in relation to the lender’s costs and expenses and in 
relation to taxes. term debt facilities have a fixed interest of 1.5% upon availability.

On 4 May 2020, Kape repaid the term loan and the accumulated interest in full following closing of a new bank debt facility,  
as detailed below. the undrawn additional debt facility of $20m was also terminated as of 4 May 2020. 

Bank loan
(a)   General
On 28 April 2020, Kape agreed with Bank of Ireland, Barclays Bank, and Citi Commercial Bank (the ‘Banks’), to provide a senior 
secured term and revolving credit facilities of up to $70 million (the ‘New Debt Facilities’), the facility is a club of banks with 
Bank of Ireland acting as the agent bank.

the New Debt Facilities comprise of a $40 million term facility (the ‘term Facility’), a $10 million revolving credit facility (the 
‘RCF'), and a $20 million uncommitted acquisition facility (the ‘uncommitted Acquisition Facility’). the New Debt Facilities have 
a three-year term with an option to extend by up to an additional two years, 50% of the term Facility will be repaid on a 
quarterly basis across 36 months starting from 30 September 2020. the remaining 50% of the term Facility will be repaid in  
a single bullet payment in 2023.

Term Facility
the net proceeds of the term Facility after deducting debt issuance costs of the term Facility totalled to $38.3 million.  
Debt issuance costs of the term Facility have been offset against the principal balance and are amortised using the effective 
interest method over the life of the loan.

the term Facility carries an interest rate of 3 months lIBOR (as of the beginning of the relevant period) plus an opening 
margin of 2% per annum.

the applicable margin is linked to the Adjusted leverage, tested at the end of each quarter for the preceding 12 months.  
In case the Adjusted leverage will be greater than 2 or less than 1 the applicable margin will change to 2.25% or 1.85%, 
respectively. the applicable margin as of 31 December 2020, is 1.85%. the effective interest rate after considering debt 
issuance cost is 3.975%.

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

81

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONtINuED
FoR tHe YeAR ended 31 decemBeR 2020

23  loans and Borrowings continued
RCF
A $10 million revolving credit facility, that carries a commitment fee for the unused facility of 35% of the applicable margin and 
interest rate as of the term Facility. As of the reporting date the credit facility drawn amount is $1.65 million of which $0.1 
million (GBP 0.07 million) received with GBP. the RCF is paid along with the term facility last payment.

Uncommitted Acquisition Facility
up to $20 million to be used for acquisitions, including the funding of deferred consideration due under the acquisition 
agreement of Private Internet Access. the interest rate will be 3 months lIBOR plus a margin of no more than 1% above the 
original Margin applicable to the term loan or RCF. As of December 31, 2020, the uncommitted Acquisition Facility drawn 
amount is $Nil million.

(b)  Security
the New Debt Facilities are secured by first ranking security over all assets (including material Intellectual Property) of Kape 
technologies Plc (‘Parent’) and her material subsidiaries (‘Obligors’) and over the shares in all Obligors (other than the Parent).

(c)   loan Covenants
the Group is required to comply with the following financial covenants:
•  the ratio of EBItDA to Net Finance Charges (‘Interest Cover’) shall not be less than 4.0x in respect of any Relevant Period.
•  the ratio of total Net Debt on the last day of the relevant period to Adjusted EBItDA in respect of that Relevant period 

(‘Adjusted leverage’), shall not exceed 2.5x for the first 4 relevant periods and 2.0x thereafter. 

As of 31 December 2020, the Group has met the financial covenants as follows:
• 
•  Adjusted leverage: (0.29)

Interest Cover: 22

Fair Value
As of December 31, 2020, the fair values are not materially different from the carrying amount of the Bank loan, since the 
interest payable is deemed to be market rate.

24  Governments Grants
On 30 April 2020, Private Internet Access Inc received $0.7 million from the uS treasury as part of the Paycheck Protection 
Program (‘PPP'). Following the COVID-19 crisis, uS treasury declared the PPP to provide relief to small businesses during the 
Coronavirus pandemic as part of the $2 trillion Coronavirus Aid. Each business can borrow up to 2.5 of monthly payrolls, rent, 
and utilities expenses. the loan will bear interest of 0.5% and potentially can be fully forgiven if the proceeds were used to 
fund qualified payroll and non-payroll (rent and utilities) expenses in the 24 weeks subsequent to disbursement while keeping 
a level factor of the expenses.

As of 31 December 2020, the Group believes the PPP amount will be fully forgiven and accounted as a Government grant.  
the PPP is recognised in profit and loss over the period necessary to match them with the costs that they are intended to 
compensate. As of 31 December 2020, the remaining unrecognized balance of the PPP is $nil. 

25  provisions
On 28 October 2020, as part of ltMI’s founders buy-back transaction, the Company terminated the consultancy services 
arrangement provided to the Company by Andrew lee through a services company. the remaining contract liability will be 
paid in monthly instalments, starting November 2020. As of December 31, 2020, the provision balance is $1.4 million. From the 
remaining amount, $0.7 million will be settled in 2021 and $0.7 million in 2022.

26  contingent liabilities
the Group had no contingent liabilities as at 31 December 2020.

82

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stRAteGic
RepoRt

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FinAnciAl
FinAnciAl
stAtements
stAtements

27  deferred and contingent consideration
(a)  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 2020, the consideration included $0.2 million of 
consideration (2019: $0.2 million) which is contingent on future results. 

(b)  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 this $1.9 million (€1.625 million) were paid upon 
execution of the purchase agreement, while the remaining amount was paid in eight equal instalments amounting of 
$235 thousand (€197 thousand) per quarter over the course of two years and recognised as deferred consideration. On 
28 March 2019, the Company accepted CyberGhost’s former founder request for immediate remittance of the remaining 
consideration in exchange for reduction on the amount of said consideration, equal to 7%. As of 31 December 2019, the 
deferred consideration was fully paid with $Nil balance.

(c)   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 agreed, 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 Digital Security and Digital 
Privacy segments. As at 31 December 2020, the consideration included $Nil million (2019: $0.8 million) of deferred 
consideration receivable.

(d)  Acquisition of Private Internet Access Inc
On 13 December 2019, the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of ltMI Holdings (‘PIA'). ltMI is the holding company  
for Private Internet Access Inc (‘PIA'), a leading uS-based digital privacy company with strong position in the data privacy 
services. PIA was acquired for a total consideration of $130.1 million (including the $5.7 million to PIA phantom shareholder) 
and an enterprise value of $162.3 (including $32.2 million for repayment of PIA’s existing debt), to be satisfied by a 
combination of $85.0 million cash and issuance of 42,701,548 new Kape ordinary shares to be paid in three phases:
•  A payment upon closing of $65.0 million in cash of which $27.1 million to PIA founders, $5.7 million to PIA phantom 

shareholder and $32.2 million for repayment of PIA’s existing debt, and 11,648,059 Consideration Shares.

•  A payment on the first anniversary of completion of $5.0 million in cash (‘Deferred cash consideration’), 23,290,117 

Consideration Shares and Company owned cars (‘Deferred assets consideration’).

•  A payment on the second anniversary of completion of $15.0 million in cash (‘Deferred cash consideration’), 7,763,372 

Consideration Shares and Company owned cars (‘Deferred assets consideration’).

On 28 October 2020, the Company and the ltMI Founders reached an agreement with respect to the sale and purchase of  
the Initial Consideration Shares and their right to receive the Deferred Consideration Shares, for a total consideration of 
approximately $72.5 million. On 6 November 2020, the Company completed the transaction. As of 31 December 2020, the 
Company holds the Initial Consideration Shares in treasury.

As of 31 December 2020, the deferred consideration balance included $14.3 million (2019: $18.4 million) of deferred cash 
consideration, $1.35 million (2019: $56.5 million) of shares consideration and $0.2 million (2019: $0.8 million) of assets 
consideration. 

28  subsequent events
On 5 March 2021 the group acquired uma Capital ltd and Ani Ariel ltd, which are the owners of Webselenese, for a total 
consideration of $149.1 million (the ‘Consideration’) to be satisfied by a combination of $116.6 million in cash and $32.5 million 
in new shares, amounting to 12.1 million Kape ordinary shares (‘Consideration Shares’). Out of the cash consideration 
Webselenese’s founders will use $1.34 million to purchase Kape Shares in the market following the close of the transaction. 
the cash element of the Consideration will be funded through a combination of $32.5 million of Kape’s own cash resources 
and $85 million drawn down under a $120 million bridge facility (the ‘Bridge loan’) made available by tS Next level 
Investments limited (‘tSNlI'), an affiliate of unikmind Holdings limited, Kape’s majority shareholder.

the Bridge loan will carry a fixed coupon of 6.0% per annum payable on funds drawn and an arrangement fee of 1.0%. the 
Bridge loan is subordinated to Kape’s existing bank facilities and is repayable on 31 December 2021 (which may be extended 
to 30 April 2022 at the sole discretion of Kape). the Bridge loan may be repaid at any time in whole or part by Kape without 
penalty. the Bridge loan is currently unsecured, but in the event that it is still outstanding after 90 days, customary security 
over the shares held by Kape in KltM5 Holdings Inc., uMA Capital ltd and ANI Ariel ltd will be granted to tSNlI. the Bridge 
loan also includes certain customary obligations on Kape in relation to tSNlI’s costs and expenses and in relation to taxes.

Due to the proximity of the acquisition to the date of the approval of these financial statements the fair value exercise 
including quantification of acquired intangibles and goodwill is incomplete. 

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

83

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 Joint Broker
Shore Capital & Corporate limited
Cassini House
57 St James’s Street
london SW1A 1lD

corporate legal Advisors
Bryan Cave leighton Paisner llP
Governor’s House
5 laurence Pountney Hill
london, EC4R 0BR

Joint Broker
Stifel Nicolaus Europe limited 
150 Cheapside
london EC2V 6Et

investor Relations
Vigo Communications
Sackville House
40 Piccadilly
london W1J 0DR

Registered office
Sovereign House 
4 Christian Road 
Douglas 
Isle of Man IM1 2SD

Registrars
Computershare Investor Services (Jersey) limited
13 Castle 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.

84

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC
ANNuAl REPORt AND ACCOuNtS 2020

KAPE TECHNOLOGIES PLC

LABS Hawley Lock
1 Water Lane
London NW1 8NZ
Tel: +44 (0) 203 432 4977
Email: ir@kape.com 

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