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Medica Group

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FY2018 Annual Report · Medica Group
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ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018 Collaborative care –  improving your outcomesCONTENTSImproving your outcomes through a collaborative approach to careCreating value through our core commitments:Collaborative approach to the delivery of our serviceAccessible to our customers when they need us Responsive to the clinical needs of patients and hospitalsExcellence in everything we do1STRATEGIC REPORT01Highlights02Chairman’s Statement04How teleradiology works at  Medica Group06Our services07What makes Medica Group unique?08Business modelValue created for:10Collaborative care in action12What our clients say about our NightHawk service13Life at Medica14The service desk16Market review18Strategy20Strategy in action22Key performance indicators23Chief Executive’s review26Financial review28Risks and uncertainties30Corporate social responsibility32Men’s health crisis2GOVERNANCE38Board of Directors40Corporate governance report46Directors’ report50Report of the Audit Committee52Report of the Nominations Committee53Report of the Remuneration Committee60Independent auditor’s report  to the members of Medica Group plc3FINANCIALS70Consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of comprehensive income71Consolidated statement  of financial position72Consolidated statement  of cash flows73Consolidated statement  of changes in equity74Notes to the financial statements95Company statement of financial position96Company statement of changes in equity97Notes to the financial statements100Company informationHIGHLIGHTSGROSS PROFIT MARGIN  %ADJUSTED EBITDA  £MADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE %REVENUE  £M£38.9+15.6%£11.9+12.8%48.9%+0.2%7.75p+12%2018 ANNUAL REPORTMedica Group is the market leading provider of Teleradiology services in the UK.We offer high quality service with a strong clinical governance structure. We have invested heavily in continuous improvement and an IT interface with customers allowing our reporters the best opportunity to deliver for our clients and for patients.01201820172016£28.5m£33.7m£38.97m201820172016£9.2m£10.6m£11.94m2018201720164.98p6.92p7.75p20182017201649.8%48.7%48.9%“ Medica continued to grow strongly in 2018 and has achieved another impressive set of results. Since Medica became a public company two years ago revenue has increased by 37% through its core teleradiology business.”www.medicagroup.co.uk02STRATEGIC REPORTCHAIRMAN’S STATEMENTINTERNATIONAL EXPANSION BASED ON A STRONG CORE PLATFORMI am pleased to provide my Chairman’s statement for another strong year of achievement for Medica Group Plc.Medica continued to grow strongly in 2018 and has achieved another impressive set of results. The Group saw growth across its main teleradiology offerings with revenue increasing by approximately 16% on last year whilst maintaining healthy profit margins. Since Medica became a public company two years ago revenue has increased by 37% through its core teleradiology business.The teleradiology market has continued to develop in the UK throughout 2018 and as the premium quality provider Medica has seen demand from its clients continue to grow as they seek cost effective solutions to complex clinical requirements. Medica’s core business strategy continues to be to work in partnership with NHS Trusts who are experiencing growing demand for diagnostic reporting, limited in-house capacity and ongoing financial constraints. By investing in technology and clinical excellence Medica seeks to provide a timely and high-quality clinical service to its clients’ patients and bridge geographical and specialist gaps across the UK.We are committed to giving our clients the  best possible service with the highest levels  of clinic governance.To be able to meet its clients’ needs Medica must continue to attract and retain radiologists by making their experience in working with Medica as positive and productive as possible. Medica strives to create an environment where radiologists’ want to be and encourages them to offer increasing levels of commitment. Medica achieves this through a supportive and robust clinical governance framework, high quality technical support and by meeting their individual working commitment needs. This will continue through 2019 as the Group invests further in improving its workflow.During 2018 Medica developed plans to expand overseas, initially by engaging with radiologists in different geographies to support UK demand. I am pleased to confirm that Medica has deployed radiologists in Australia and New Zealand and will shortly start reporting. The Company expects to develop this increased capacity further under the same clinical framework that has operated so successfully in the UK.  This is the start of the internationalisation of the business  and is an important development in Medica becoming a global company.Medica’s employees have performed exceptionally  well again in 2018 supporting clients and radiologists and always focused on trying to ensure the best patient care. Medica now has more than 100 full-time employees and the success of the business is built on their hard work, dedication and professionalism. I would like to thank them all for their continued commitment and efforts.Medica’s Chief Executive Officer, John Graham has informed me that he wishes to step down from the Company during 2019 and ensure there is a well-managed transition process to a new Chief Executive Officer to take the Company through the next stages of its development. We have engaged an international search and selection agency to help us identify a suitable candidate to lead the Company forward for the next growth phase. The search is progressing well and we will provide an update in the future. The Board would like to thank John for his significant contribution in leading the company through years of rapid growth. Since joining the business in 2011 John has been instrumental in developing all aspects of the business and successfully transitioning Medica from a private to a  public company.I would also like to thank Anand Jain, who left the Board at the end of 2018, for his contribution to Medica since he joined the Board in 2013. As the Investment Director of the Company’s private equity partner and then a Non-Executive Director, Anand’s healthcare and business knowledge has been of great benefit to the Group and he has played a significant role in Medica’s development from a private  to a public company. We have engaged with an external recruitment company to assist with finding a new Non-Executive Director and will provide an update in due course.The Board has adopted a progressive dividend policy for the Company from Admission, which seeks to maximise shareholder value and reflect Medica’s strong earnings and cash flow characteristics, while allowing it to retain sufficient capital to fund ongoing operating requirements and to invest in the Group’s long-term growth. Following the interim dividend of 0.75 pence for the period to 30 June 2018,  the Board proposes a final dividend of 1.50 pence, bringing the total for the year ended 31 December 2018 to 2.25 pence, an increase of 36% on the 2017 dividend.The Group has performed well in 2018 and I believe we are well positioned to continue to create value for all shareholders by delivering high levels of service to our clients and helping to improve the standard of care for patients.ROY DAVIS CHAIRMAN22 March 201903Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 Stock code: MGP04

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

HOW TELERADIOLOGY WORKS 
AT MEDICA GROUP

What is teleradiology?
Teleradiology is the electronic transmission of 
radiological patient images, including plain film 
x-rays (PF), computerised tomography (CT) 
scans and magnetic resonance imaging  
(MRI) scans, from one location to another,  
for the purposes of diagnostic interpretation 
and reporting. 

Through teleradiology, images can be transmitted  
from the hospital setting, where the images are created,  
to a radiologist who can review and report on the  
images remotely. 

In the case of Medica, these are Consultant Radiologists, 
Reporting Radiographers and Rheumatologists, all 
specialising in the relevant field, who typically report on 
the image from their own home or from one of Medica’s 
dedicated reporting centres. Teleradiology improves patient 
care by enabling reporters to provide their services remotely, 
thereby facilitating the rapid availability of trained specialists 
24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The benefits of the 
Medica platform

•  Through a virtual 

• 

private network (VPN) 
Medica has the unique 
ability to access the 
client hospital’s own 
radiology information 
system (RIS) which 
provides equivalence to 
an in-house radiologist. 
This access offers a 
number of advantages:

 − Access to patient  
data including 
historical reports

 − Knowledge of  
allergy alerts

 − Ability to 

recommend/book 
further referrals

 − Saves client time 
selecting files to  
send to Medica

 Medica’s radiologists  
are available to discuss  
or clarify reports with  
the clients

•  Experienced technical 

team offering full support 
24/7

•  Dual data centre and 
multiple contingency 
systems providing robust 
and resilient network

• 

 Network linking Medica 
with its c.350 radiologists 
and 100 hospitals

•  Supported by in-house 

technical team

•  Differentiating 

NightHawk contingency 
system – eliminates 
downtime

PATIENT BOOKING / REPORTING SYSTEM  (RIS)PATIENT SCANIMAGE STORE (PACS)MEDICA FIREWALLA KEY ADVANTAGE  FOR MEDICA IS  ACCESS TO THE HOSPITAL RIS. THIS ALLOWS OUR REPORTERS SECURE ACCESS TO HISTORICAL PATIENT  RECORDSMEDICA SYSTEMSMEDICA REPORTERMEDICA REPORTER REPORTS DIRECTLY INTO RISStock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 0506

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

OUR SERVICES

CORE SERVICES

NightHawk
Out-of-hours emergency CT and MR reporting 
– less than 60 minutes.

Timely and accurate reporting of images is the most critical 
aspect of emergency teleradiology. To achieve this, Medica 
has invested heavily in its technical platform and this has 
enabled the achievement of an average turnaround time 
of just over 25 minutes, which compares favourably with 
a typical contracted service-level turnaround time of 60 
minutes; the Group’s average turnaround time for NightHawk 
reports is believed by the Directors to be considerably 
shorter than the industry average. 

49.6%  

of revenue

Routine Cross Sectional 
Reporting for less urgent CT and MRI exams 
within a turnaround required by the client, 
typically 48 hours. 

38.4%  

of revenue

Routine Plain Film
Reporting for less urgent Plain Film exams 
within a turnaround required by the client, 
typically 48 hours.

10%  

of revenue

Specialist Services
Range of diagnostic imaging examinations 
being performed increases each year as 
technology improves. Medica are developing 
a range of Specialist Reporting Services in 
response to this. These include:

•  Multiparametric prostate MRI

•  Specialist cardiac reporting

•  CT colonoscopy (‘virtual colonoscopy’ service)

•  DXA reporting (flexible reporting by UK rheumatologists)

•  Nuclear medicine examinations

•  Tailored cancer reporting

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

07

WHAT MAKES MEDICA GROUP UNIQUE?

1 

SIZE 

Largest pool of consultant radiologists outside of the NHS, all of whom have a 
minimum of two years’ experience as a consultant

2 

BREADTH 

Scale and breadth of specialisms in the pool of consultant radiologists

3 

TECHNOLOGY 

Bespoke IT platform that provides a robust and secure connection with hospital 
radiology systems providing a unique linkage between clients and Medica reporters

4 

EFFICIENCY 

Our average turnaround time is believed to be considerably shorter than average 
(including in-house radiology departments)

5 

EXPERIENCE 

Highly experienced, market-leading clinical governance function

MEDICA  GROUPHEALTHCAREPROVIDERS(CLIENTS)Pool of expert  reportersThe reporters carry out  the interpretation and  reporting on MRI, CT and  plain film images.Clinical governance  and auditingStrong clinical governance ensures high quality of clinical services through continually monitoring the performance of radiologists.We have a close relationships with hospitals, due to our bespoke IT platform that provides market-leading linkage between a hospital’s radiology information system (RIS) and Medica reporters.By delivering the highest quality  clinical services to our clients,  we drive improvements in clinical  quality across the UK.We work in partnership with our  clients to deliver high quality  clinical care for patients by  reducing waiting times and improving patient  outcomes. PATIENTSOur clients include the NHS, private hospital groups and diagnostic imaging firms. We give our clients rapid access to trained specialists 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.www.medicagroup.co.ukSTRATEGIC REPORT08BUSINESS MODELPATIENTSPatients receive better clinical care through the reduction in waiting times and the improvement of patient outcomes.HEALTHCARE PROVIDERSTimely turnaround, including out-of-hours, assisting hospitals to manage  workloads across a wide range of subspecialist expertise, and rapid availability  of trained specialists 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.REPORTERSAttractive and flexible terms, with ability to work from home  and to focus on speciality interests.INVESTORSMedica has delivered strong financial performance in recent years with high growth rates in revenue and EBITDA. The Group has strong cash generation and cash conversion ratios. The close relationships with its clients means that there are high levels of repeat revenues, with over 80% of revenue derived from customers who have worked with Medica for more than three years.Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 09Stock code: MGPVALUE CREATED FOR:A patient arrives in the Hospital Emergency Department after a  road traffic collision and is categorised  as a major trauma  case (MTC).The Hospital Trauma Team run a clinical assessment on the patient and decide CT scan is required as part of the MTC assessment.The Medica NightHawk Team are advised to expect an MTC patient as soon as they are scanned by the Hospital Radiographer.The Hospital Radiographer calls the Medica NightHawk Team when they have completed the scan, ensuring all relevant clinical information is available to the Medica NightHawk Radiologists.NHS Trusts  connected to Medica NightHawk for their urgent care1234Fast call response rateTIME IS TISSUEImproving outcomes through collaborative careThe Hospital Trauma Team and Radiographer can speak to the Medica NightHawk Radiologist for support and guidance at any time.www.medicagroup.co.ukSTRATEGIC REPORT10COLLABORATIVE CARE IN ACTIONStock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

11

Average 
turnaround time 
just over 25 
minutes

5

6

7

The Medica 
NightHawk Team 
send the scan to 
one of up to 15 
Medica NightHawk 
Radiologists available 
to report on the case.

The Medica NightHawk Radiologist 
initially reviews the images for 
gross life threatening injuries and 
produces a Seriously Injured Patient 
(SIP) report. The findings from this 
high level report are shared with the 
Hospital Trauma Team, usually within 
15 minutes, allowing them to take 
rapid decisions about the priorities 
in the patients’ treatment.

The Medica NightHawk 
Radiologist then completes 
a detailed report covering 
any subtle injuries which 
is available to the Hospital 
Trauma Team within the 
hour, but usually within  
30 minutes.

The Hospital Trauma Team use the Medica NightHawk reports, 
together with their clinical assessment, to decide on the best 
treatment plan for the patient. Treatment may include emergency 
surgery, administration of specialist drugs or emergency interventional 
procedures. Allowing The Hospital Trauma Team to take decisions 
as quickly as possible ensures the best possible clinical outcomes 
for the patient.

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STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

WHAT OUR CLIENTS SAY ABOUT  
OUR NIGHTHAWK SERVICE

“ I have now had over five 
years’ experience using 
Medica NightHawk as our sole 
provider for the out-of-hours 
emergency CT Service at 
Croydon University Hospital. 
The service is reliable,  
the radiologists are of a  
high standard and they 
consistently produce  
excellent quality reports. ”

Operational management 
– added value
“ Medica is proactive, providing detailed 
reports and highlighting trends on referral 
rates and the number of scans accepted so 
that we have oversight of the service and 
potential future demand. They are happy to 
tailor referral guidelines to accommodate 
individual trust requirements. Queries about 
inappropriate referrals are dealt with swiftly 
and often a transcript is produced outlining 
details of the case and including learning 
points for both parties. This collaborative 
approach helps us better manage our 
efficiency and ensure that we get the best 
value from our partnership with Medica”.

Responsiveness and quality
“ Regular reports on turnaround times 
are made available and these generally 
demonstrate an exceptional resilience for 
producing reports within agreed timeframes 
and quality is assured by a systematic peer 
review audit. Overall I would thoroughly 
recommend Medica NightHawk and would  
like to thank them for their continued 
support at Croydon University Hospital.”

DR KETUL PATEL

CLINICAL LEAD FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND SUPPORT 
SERVICES, CROYDON UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL 

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

13

LIFE AT MEDICA

Medica Radiologist and Clinical Advisory Lead for our Reporting 
Radiographer service, Dr Paul Tallett, speaks about his experience 
of working for MEDICA

These requests can also be made in real time while 
radiologists who have agreed to provide the second opinion 
service are available during their own reporting sessions. 
This is much like when working in an NHS hospital albeit it is 
managed more efficiently at Medica to minimise distractions 
and allocate to the most appropriate specialist for review.

As a Clinical Advisory Lead, I also have Clinical Audit 
Committee minutes to review prior to meetings that  
are mostly held in the virtual environment via WebEx,  
to save unnecessary travel. 

This part of my role within Medica I find the most satisfying 
as it provides added interest but also more extensive contact 
with colleagues than would be the case if I was simply 
providing remote teleradiology reporting.

The remainder of my working day is then as a conventional 
teleradiologist. 

“ The Medica system allows all of its  
reporters direct access to both the patient 
history and prior imaging. This means that in 
addition to the automatic prefetched images 
I can see all priors and elect to download 
these in addition should I feel that these are 
necessary. I can then include reference to 
these images or reports in the construction of 
my own report for the outsourced image. This 
is a significant advantage over what I believe 
other providers offer and was one of the most 
influential factors when choosing to connect 
with Medica as a teleradiology provider.”

The work is varied both in terms of content and geographical 
spread within the UK and Channel Islands. This means that I 
will see a broad mix of cases to keep my interest peaked and 
increase my job satisfaction.

At the end of my routine reporting, I will take cases 
from the routine internal audit system operated by Medica 
and review the images and quality of reporting against an 
agreed template, raising discrepancies where appropriate 
for further reflection by the reporter and occasionally 
offering arbitration where there is disagreement 
between the reporter and the auditor.

When my working day comes to an end, I close down my 
work station, walk out of my home office into my living room 
next door and put my feet up!

DR PAUL TALLETT,  
CLINICAL ADVISORY LEAD 
REPORTING RADIOGRAPHER SERVICE AND MEMBER, 
MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD.

In 2016, after 35 years as a clinical radiologist, I retired 
from the NHS to work for Medica, initially joining as one 
of the reporting team. However, at Medica I was given the 
opportunity to expand the breadth of my role into an area 
of personal interest within clinical teaching and mentorship. 
I am now the Clinical Advisory Lead for radiographer 
reporting services at Medica, responsible for ensuring  
a high level of quality and support for this service.

My career at Medica has developed in such a way that I 
have been able to supplement my regular routine reporting 
sessions with other areas where I am able to add value.  
I support the audit service at Medica by contributing to a 
panel of internal auditors, providing quality assurance  
audits internally as well as for external client audit for the 
NHS and other private healthcare providers.

A typical day now starts with reading and responding 
to emails, working closely with the Medica recruitment 
team usually means that I will have a number of CVs and 
recruitment documentation from prospective reporting 
radiographers to review. These will include clinical audit 
data, whole scope of practice and other supporting 
documentation. My comments are then passed on  
to the recruitment team.

Before starting my own worklist, I will check to see if there 
are any requests for support or second opinions that have 
been generated by the reporting radiographers. Support is 
most likely to be required with abnormal chest x-rays where 
CT would be appropriate for clarification of a plain film 
finding as the patient awaits a specialist opinion or enters 
the cancer pathway. The second opinion service is designed 
to emulate reporting within a radiology department where 
an unusual, rare or unexpected appearance might benefit 
from a “second pair of eyes” to either reinforce the  
reporter’s initial impression or to provide clinical  
input or a wider differential.

 
14

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

THE SERVICE DESK

Questions and answers with Matt Mitchell, the Medica Service 
Desk Manager within the IM&T Department

TELL US ABOUT 
WHAT THE MEDICA 
SERVICE DESK 
DOES?
Our role is to support all our 
internal staff, clinical reporters 
and NHS client Trusts with any 
IM&T support issues that they may 
have. Our IM&T support has a three-
tier structure and our Service Desk is 
the first point of contact for any issues. 
We have recently launched a brand new 
Service Desk portal which allows both the 
user and the support team full visibility and 
tracking of an issue that has been raised. 

On top of these requests the team works on 
projects, general maintenance, patching and 
housekeeping on all Medica systems, servers and 
computers whilst also always being readily available  
to help anyone in need.

“ The team works 

together to provide IT 
cover 24 hours a day 
365 days a year”

Stock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 1515Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 Stock code: MGPThe team works together to provide IT cover 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, we strive to offer the best cover possible to ensure all service lines run smoothly and efficiently. If there should be any issues, there is always someone at the end of the phone ready to offer technical support.WHO FORMS THE SERVICE DESK TEAM?The Service Desk team consists of myself as the Service Desk Manager and four IM&T System Administrators: Harvey Taylor Meek, Ashley Cheese, Luke Warner and Jamie Dixon. We have carefully recruited the Service Desk team to ensure we have diverse IT knowledge within the team; this gives us the best skillsets available when handling the multitude of requests escalated to us.WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT YOUR TEAM HAS TO OVERCOME?We are constantly working to improve the analytical side of the Service Desk with an aim to generate data, which can in turn help direct our continual improvement strategy and ensure that we are providing our stakeholders with the very best service possible.I think the key thing to remember is that every  single business who runs a technical department will encounter challenges and issues, it is how responsive and communicative you are in the resolution of these issues that is key. We feel that the set-up and structure of our team and platform here at Medica means that we can offer a ‘best-in-class’ service to all of our stakeholders.“ This gives us diverse IT knowledge and the best skill sets available”“ Our continual improvement strategy will ensure that we are providing our stakeholders with the best service possible”Increased demand for Medica Group servicesContinued shortage of RadiologistsNHS Trusts unable to meet demandDemand for specialist servicesAnnual growth in UK scan volumesGrowth in outsourcingDemand for radiographer reportingAnnual growth in  UK scan volumesThe need for examinations continues to grow  and increase in complexity. A drive for early diagnosis in a greater number of specialities, pressures from increasing A&E admissions, a move towards NHS seven-day working and NICE guidelines evolving to include more diagnostic imaging has all contributed to a growth in scan volumes across the UK. These factors have resulted in a 30% increase in diagnostic reporting workload over the last five years – three times more than the rate of workforce growth.Continued shortage of radiologistsHospitals continue to struggle to add enough in-house radiologist capacity. According to the Royal College of Radiologists (RCR) Workforce Census 2017 there is a radiologist shortfall of 1,000 consultants which is projected to increase to 1,600 in five years’ time. Resourcing through traditional channels continues to fail, with the RCR reporting that one in ten consultant radiologist posts are vacant, of which 70% have been unfilled for over 12 months. Stagnant radiologist growth across some regions continues to contribute to this shortfall with less than a 1% increase in radiologists across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland over the past five years. www.medicagroup.co.ukSTRATEGIC REPORT16MARKET REVIEWStock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

17

NHS Trusts unable  
to meet demand

Growth in  
outsourcing

The critical shortfall of consultant radiologists has 
left 97% of radiology departments in the UK unable 
to meet their reporting requirements within staff 
contracted hours. Medica Group offer these struggling 
departments a cost-effective solution, covering 
regional shortages and providing access to Consultant 
Radiologists who are experts in specialist areas. 

With increasing workloads, a critical shortage of 
radiologists and trouble with recruitment, radiology 
departments in the UK are increasingly seeing 
the value in using the services of outsourced 
teleradiology, with the use of radiology outsourcing 
doubling over the last three years.

Demand for  
specialist services

Demand for  
radiographer reporting

Working collaboratively with NHS hospitals and 
specialist doctors, Medica has developed a range 
of Specialist Reporting Services. These allow us to 
provide additional capacity to supplement local 
resources, or to provide reporting capability which is 
not available from local staff. In 2018 Medica added 
specialist cardiac reporting, enhanced scope in 
nuclear medicine examinations and multi-parametric 
prostate MRI to our service portfolio. 

7.9%

INCREASE IN REVENUE FROM 
SPECIALIST SERVICES IN 2018

Radiologists are increasingly required to change 
their job plans away from plain film, towards cross-
sectional and interventional work to meet local 
needs. Retiring radiologists also often undertake 
a higher than average percentage of plain film 
reporting. These factors combine to result in a 
decrease of radiologist plain film reporting capacity. 
Radiographer reporting is widely adopted within the 
NHS and Medica Group are providing a reporting 
radiographer service which offers high quality 
capacity and expertise. In 2018 the percentage of 
our plain film reporting undertaken by radiographers 
rose to 21.5%.

66.8%

MORE PLAIN FILM 
REPORTED BY REPORTING 
RADIOGRAPHERS IN 2018

18

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

STRATEGY

Strategic priorities

GROWTH OF CORE SERVICES LINES
Continued development of NightHawk and routine business

BUILDING A GLOBAL NETWORK 
OF SPECIALISTS
The exact same trusted service with expanding capacity

INCREASING NON-NHS CLIENT BASE
Developing and maximising growth opportunities in the independent sector

DEVELOPING SPECIALIST  
REPORTING SERVICES
Continued development of clinician-led specialist services in line  
with the needs of our clients

ADJACENT OPPORTUNITIES 
Expansion into related areas

•  Clinical trials

•  Autopsy reporting

•  Lung screening

• 

International clients

BROADER GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES 
Through development or acquisition

•  Service expansion into other areas e.g. pathology

•  Wider telehealth diversification

•  Artificial intelligence

Developing  
the core 
business

Future 
developments

ProgressFuture focus•Now providing clinical audit service for two largeindependent private healthcare providers•Develop global opportunities within theindependent sector•Specialist cardiovascular reporting service established•Multi-parametric MRI prostate service developed•CT cone beam service development•Partnerships with newly acquired NHS Trusts and independent sector providers•The number of existing clients utilising our reporting radiographer plain film service now at 87%•Continue to develop partnerships with NHSTrusts and independent sector•Increasing capacity including internationalexpansion in 2019•Formal NHS Digital Authority to Proceed received•Introduction of reporting locations outside of UK tomeet continued growing demand•Expansion of reporting territories Europe, Asia,USA, South Africa•Targeting overseas clients19Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 Stock code: MGP20

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

STRATEGY IN ACTION

CASE STUDY: MEDICA’S CLINICAL 
AUDIT SERVICE

STRATEGIC LINK:
Increasing non-NHS client base

Medica offers a range of independent auditing 
services to the NHS and independent sector 
and has over 11 years of expertise in delivering 
this service. 

The three levels of service offered are as follows;

•  Cause for concern audit – providing independent  

and constructive feedback on performance

•  Departmental quality assurance audits – providing 

independent evidence for use in accreditations and for 
benchmarking

•  Ongoing CT, MR, plain film and ultrasound audit services 
– providing the independent evidence required by service 
commissioners

The Medica audit service ultimately aims to improve clinical 
practice and patient outcomes with clear, meaningful and 
actionable feedback.

BMI HEALTHCARE

The background: 
Medica partnered with BMI Healthcare in 2015 to provide 
quality assurance audit and routine reporting and now works 
with them across a significant number of its hospitals.

BMI Healthcare is an independent sector healthcare provider, 
offering treatment to private patients, medically insured 
patients, self-pay and NHS patients. They provide 115 
different specialties and services, offered across 59  
hospitals and clinics throughout the UK.

The impact:
“ Working with Medica has given us the ability to access 
remote GMC specialist registered consultant radiologist 
reporting and the quality assurance through clinical audit 
of our radiology services. The services provided by Medica 
have been highly responsive, tailored to our specific needs 
and delivered with the utmost professionalism. The service 
delivery has always been of the highest quality and enables 
us to provide assurance to key stakeholders within our own 
business, our referrers and most importantly our patients.

We remain suitably impressed with the ability of Medica to 
constantly evolve as an organisation, continually seeking 
to improve and provide the very best quality of service 
for their clients. I am delighted with our partnership and 
experiences to date of working with Medica.” 

SIMON HARVEY  
HEAD OF DIAGNOSTICS - BMI HEALTHCARE

Stock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 21CASE STUDY: A GLOBAL CLINICAL REPORTING NETWORK In 2018 Medica Group completed a comprehensive project which enables us to deliver our reporting services from overseas.• Without compromising our full standard Medica  technical solution • With no compromise in our radiologist, selection and governance framework• With Authority to Proceed (‘AtP’) received from NHS Digital for over 40 countries outside the UK• Already underway or planned in five countries, including Australia and New ZealandSupporting the needs of our clients• Born out of demand from our clients and developed in collaboration with them, the overseas reporting model offers a choice to clients - UK only, or a hybrid international delivery model • Provides additional capacity and subspecialist expertise to support the NHS • Increased ability to service peaks in demand over UK summer timeGrowth opportunities• Allows the utilisation of UK experienced radiologists, wherever they are located• Provides additional capacity and subspecialist expertise to service demand from the UK • Provides a local footprint to offer services to healthcare organisations in the reporting location OUR OVERSEAS JOURNEYQ1-3 2018Extensive technical, operational and Information Governance review resulting in Authority to Proceed approval from NHS DigitalQ4 2018Work commenced on our first reporting locations outside of UKJanuary 2019 Commenced testing with our first GMC registered, NHS experienced Consultant Radiologist based overseasFebruary 2019Employed our first full-time GMC registered, NHS experienced Consultant Radiologist based overseasApril 2019Reporting will commence from multiple locations outside the UK, including Australia and New ZealandSTRATEGIC LINK:Building a global network of specialistsAverage urgent care (NightHawk) turnaround time25.3minutesDEFINITIONThis represents the time taken for a exam to be reported by a Medica radiologist with a diagnosis and this will in turn will inform the patient care plan.  WHY IS THIS METRIC IMPORTANT?In an acute environment where a patient may have had a thrombolysis (Stroke) or major trauma time is critical, simply put the quicker an accurate and actionable report can be delivered, the better the chances of a positive patient outcome.PERFORMANCE25.3 minutesNumber of reporters362DEFINITIONThis represents the number of live reporters (including Consultant Radiologists, Rheumatologists and Radiographers) at Medica.WHY IS THIS METRIC IMPORTANT?Recruitment and retention of reporters is a high priority for Medica as we grow the number of our reporters to meet the market demand.PERFORMANCEUp 18.3% from 2017Number of reported body parts1.66mDEFINITIONThe number of different body regions included within an exam.WHY IS THIS METRIC IMPORTANT?It provides a better understanding of our case load than simply reporting patient numbers.PERFORMANCEUp 13.7% from 2017Revenue£38.97mPERFORMANCEUp 15.6% from 2017Adjusted operating profit£10.67mPERFORMANCEUp 12.8% from 2017www.medicagroup.co.ukSTRATEGIC REPORT22KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORSBUILDING FOR THE FUTUREI am delighted to present my Chief Executive’s Review for another excellent year in Medica’s growth story.The business has continued to develop throughout the year, expanding services to clients, growing volumes and engaging with increasing numbers of radiologists whilst at the same time embarking on new technical and expansionary projects.I would like to thank the whole Medica team for their hard work and dedication this year and we are well positioned to take advantage of the many growth opportunities we see before us. Our clinical, technical and operational excellence combined with financial strength give Medica a great platform to continue to develop its services  in teleradiology and beyond.I have informed the Chairman of my intention to step down as CEO at some point in 2019. I felt that this was an appropriate time for me to transition to someone who can take the Company through what should be a very exciting period of growth and development for the business. I have very much enjoyed my time with Medica which has seen the company grow significantly year on year and positioned itself for growth opportunities that bode well for the future. I would like to thank all past and present staff for their contribution over the years of my tenure.23Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 Stock code: MGPCHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW24

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW

Increasing capacity
Recruitment remained a key focus during 2018 and we 
significantly increased the number of radiologists (including 
radiographers and rheumatologists) from 306 at the 
start of the year to 362 at 31 December to meet growing 
market demand. Investment in recruitment, retention and 
training are priorities for the business as we seek to ensure 
radiologists are supported at all times, that the reporting 
experience is as smooth and efficient as possible and that 
radiologists can work in a high-quality clinical environment.

The most significant factor in bringing new radiologists 
into Medica’s recruitment process is word of mouth 
recommendation from radiologists who are already 
contracting with the Group. Our skilled recruitment team is 
then able to complete the process and bring these contacts 
into Medica. In addition, the Group maintains a presence 
at many specialist and national events and maintains a 
database of candidates for recruitment. Medica’s recruitment 
pipeline remains stronger than ever.

A key tenet of Medica’s capacity plan is to increase the 
level of commitment from the existing pool of radiologists 
and variations to the model such as the increased use of 
reporting centres in addition to recruiting new radiologists. 
Recruitment numbers are important but are not the only 
indicator of increasing capacity and the company will review 
the information provided in this area.

Deepening partnerships with clients
This has been another strong year of double-digit growth  
for Medica with revenue increasing by 15.6% over last year.  
As in previous years this growth has all been organic and 
whilst Medica continues to be attractive to new clients most 
of the growth has been from delivering more volume for 
existing clients. 

Volume growth came across all major service lines with 
NightHawk scan volume increasing by 19.4%, routine cross 
sectional (CS) computerised tomography (CT) and magnetic 
resonance imaging (MRI) reporting increasing by 21.6% and 
routine plain film x-ray (PF) growing by 7.9%.

The overall market dynamics remain a key growth driver 
with the number of CT and MRI scans performed across 
the UK increasing year on year and continued shortages 
of radiologists to provide increasingly complex diagnostic 
reports. Medica, as the market leader in UK teleradiology, 
is leading the way to support the NHS using technology to 
bridge geographical and specialist gaps in resource and  
using its technical and clinical infrastructure to increase 
reporting productivity. 

The way that Medica interacts with its clients has evolved 
in recent years, no more so than in 2018. At its inception, 
Medica was an “on demand” service that clients used often 
when they had capacity issues, but now we work in close 
partnership with our clients. Increasingly, we are considered 
as part of a client’s solution to its reporting issues and clients 
often choose Medica ahead of trying to recruit themselves. 
We actively work with our clients to help them manage 
their capacity and turnaround times, with most clients now 
operating with regular sending patterns.

These embedded relationships enable closer management  
of turnaround times, which helps clients manage their  
waiting times and improves the experience for patients.  
Improved predictability of incoming work also assists Medica 
in radiologist capacity planning which in turn means that 
there is more efficient allocation of exams to specialist 
radiologists, which is better for patients. As exams become 
increasingly specialist and complex, this ability to maximise 
the output of a wide group of specialist reporters becomes 
more important and a differentiator from other providers.

Operational efficiency and the use of technology are 
important factors in Medica’s offering, but alongside 
direct access to client’s systems our high-quality clinical 
governance processes are the key attribute that enables 
us to be considered the provider of premium services. 
Increasingly, Medica is developing in-depth clinical 
partnerships with clients.

Medica’s clinical governance strength has given clients more 
confidence in outsourcing. In addition, it has enabled the 
development of more specialist services that have been 
clinician led and are beyond the scope of most providers. 
During 2018 Medica developed and started offering clients 
specialist cardiac CT and prostate MRI reporting. These are 
areas that are expected to grow in the future as the clinical 
guidelines become established and the ability to offer a full 
suite of services to clients will become increasingly important. 

Continued investment and developmentDuring 2018 Medica has continued to invest in people and processes in all areas of the business and expects to make further investments in 2019. This is to ensure we keep pace with growing volumes now and in the future whilst continuing to improve the quality of service to both clients and radiologists. A key area of focus is in the technical aspects of the business and the appointment of Marc O’Brien as our Chief Technical Officer is an important part of the strategy to further develop and improve Medica’s infrastructure and technical offering. There have been other additions to the IT and related teams in 2018 with more planned for 2019. As part of a review of the infrastructure in the first  quarter of 2019 we have made a capital expenditure investment of £1m in IT equipment at our data centre to ensure continued resilience and to plan for significant volume growth in the next period. This investment is a sign of the Group’s confidence in the future growth of the UK teleradiology market.As volumes grow it is important to continue to improve  the operational processes. Considerable effort has gone  into refining workflow management processes in 2018 and there is a full program of improvements planned for 2019. The aim is to further improve turnaround times for clients,  to improve radiologists’ experiences working with Medica and to enhance operational efficiency.During 2018 there were further improvements in Medica’s NightHawk service to including initiatives to improve stroke and major trauma pathways. Work was also completed on a ground-up rewrite of our unique NightHawk portal based on feedback from clients, radiologists and Medica staff. The new portal supports continual refinement to our workflows, improves efficiency, enhances communication and provides greater visibility to both clients and radiologists.InternationalisationThe most significant project the business has undertaken in 2018 and the first part of 2019 has been the development of Medica’s international strategy.Medica’s ongoing investment in compliance and strong information governance has allowed the Company to engage with radiologists based overseas to use our existing workflow without compromising key parts of Medica’s service offering to our clients. The premise is that there  is no difference in quality, access or clinical governance whether a radiologist is working from the UK or a permitted overseas territory. We will shortly start reporting from Australia and  New Zealand and have plans to grow this international capacity across a number of locations in 2019 and beyond. We have also started discussions with some potential international clients.The additional capacity, particularly supporting the Nighthawk service, will help the company continue to grow its UK business and in the longer term internationalisation could offer wider growth opportunities.Longer term strategyThe Directors have to date focused on developing a platform that can deliver a high quality teleradiology service to the Group’s core customer base of NHS hospitals, centred on its NightHawk and routine offerings. In the last year we have added more specialist services to our portfolio and begun the process of internationalising the business.Since becoming a public company, it has been the  Group’s intention to diversify its services and its client base. In addition to the international opportunities, there are opportunities to increase the work we engage with for the private sector in the UK and there are a number of adjacent services that Medica is working on and expect to develop in the next two years. Looking further ahead, the Directors believe that there are a number of wider tele-health and broader healthcare opportunities that the Group would be well-placed to take advantage of. These are considered longer-term opportunities and would likely require investment in additional expertise to augment that already in place and, in some circumstances, may be better achieved through acquisition. The Board intends to develop plans for some  of these opportunities in coming periodsOutlookLooking forward to 2019, the year has started well, with trading in line with the Board’s expectations. The prospects for new work from existing and new clients and the pipeline for recruiting radiologists in the new financial year continues to be strong which gives me confidence in our outlook for 2019. As the market evolves the Board is confident that, in the short to medium term, Medica will continue to grow revenues at a rate similar to that seen in 2018.JOHN GRAHAMCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER22 March 201925Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 Stock code: MGP26

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

FINANCIAL REVIEW

STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION 
UNDERPINNING FUTURE GROWTH

Medica’s strong growth has continued 
throughout 2018.

A review of the business during the year, 
its strategy and business model, future 
developments, and its position at the year-
end is included within the Chairman and 
Chief Executive’s reviews on pages 2 to 3 
and 23 to 25. Both these reports form an 
integral part of the Strategic report.

Trading results
Medica has enjoyed strong growth in recent years, and this 
continued throughout 2018, with Group revenues growing 
by 15.6% to £39.0m (2017: £33.7m) and adjusted operating 
profit growing by 12.8% to £10.7m (2017: £9.5m).

Gross margins
Gross profit margin for the year was 49.0% (2017: 48.7%).

In 2018 the gross margins for the main service lines were  
as follows:

Net profit increased by 70% from £4.33m to £7.36m and 
basic earnings per share increased by 66% from 3.99 pence 
to 6.62 pence. Adjusted profit after tax increased by 14.6% 
from £7.52m to £8.61m and adjusted basic earnings per share 
increased by 12.0% from 6.92 pence to 7.75 pence. A full 
reconciliation between statutory and adjusted profit metrics 
is shown in note 30.

Revenue
Revenue growth has been driven by an increase in the 
number of NightHawk and routine CS and PF scans which 
Medica has reported upon.

•  NightHawk revenues increased to £19.3m, a 15.0% 

increase from 2017 revenue of £16.8m. The increase in 
volumes and revenue was due to continued growth in 
existing clients’ emergency service requirements as the 
number of A&E admissions and the proportion of patients 
requiring a scan both increase and Trusts expand the 
scope of the services they procure. 

•  Routine cross-sectional revenues increased to £15.0m,  

a 19.3% increase from 2017 revenue of £12.5m. Growth has 
been driven primarily through existing customers; Medica 
enhanced its partnerships with Trusts and reported a 
greater number of their increasing scan volumes. 

•  Plain film revenues increased to £3.9m, a 7.2% increase 

from 2017 revenue of £3.7m. During the period, plain film 
volumes continued to be actively managed to focus on 
the faster growing routine cross-sectional service with 
the increase coming from radiographer reporting which 
continued to develop.

Our continued ability to recruit and retain radiologists is a 
key driver of revenue growth. Medica added an additional 
net 56 reporters in 2017 and at 31 December 2018 there  
were a total of 362 with whom Medica contracted, which  
is a record high for the Company.

•  NightHawk: 49.9% (2017: 50.5%)

•  Routine cross-sectional: 51.9% (2017: 52.1%)

•  Routine plain film: 49.4% (2017: 49.4%)

The costs included within cost of sales relate to the costs of 
paying Medica’s radiologists, internal clinical audit costs and 
framework fees. Internal clinical audit costs, which can be 
significant, and framework fees are not included within the 
individual service line gross profit figures above.

Despite being consistent in 2018, gross profit margin is 
expected to edge down in the next few years. There are a 
number of contributing factors with the main reason being 
ongoing renewal of contracts often through migration 
to framework agreements which increasingly have costs 
attached to them. There has been downward pressure 
on prices for some time as volumes increase and this is 
expected to continue. 

The key reasons for the overall maintenance of gross  
margins in 2018 are slower than expected pricing 
adjustments, an increasing complexity of work which has 
marginally reduced the average body part costs and a 
streamlining of the internal clinical audit costs.

Adjusted operating profit
The adjusted operating profit for the period of £10.7m was 
13.4% higher than 2017 (£9.5m), which represents continuing 
good progress for the business. Despite the additional costs 
of being a public company the adjusted operating profit 
margin only reduced moderately from 28.1% in 2017 to 27.4% 
in 2018.

The reason that adjusted operating profit has increased at a 
lower rate than revenue is due to the investment during the 
year in people and processes to ensure the long-term growth 
of the business, most notably in IT and related areas. Staff 
and overheads including Plc costs, increased by 22.3% in 
2018 and depreciation and amortisation increased by 13.3%.

Exceptional costs The exceptional costs of £0.2m are in relation to the international search and selection process for both the Chief Executive Officer and an additional Non-Executive Director. These are considered to be one-off costs. The exceptional costs in 2017 were all related to the listing of the Group on the London Stock Exchange.Net finance expenseFinance costs were £0.3m for the year (2017: £0.7m).  The costs for 2018 were in respect of bank loan financing  and these were at a similar level to 2017. Last year also included interest paid to CBPE Capital LLP, the majority owners of Medica prior to the IPO, before the loan notes were repaid in full.TaxationThe Group has incurred a tax charge of £1.8m in the year ended 31 December 2018, compared with £1.3m in the year ended 31 December 2017. The effective rate of tax for 2018 is 19.5%.Earnings per shareAdjusted earnings per share increased by 12.0% to 7.75p, reflecting the growth in the business. Normal earnings per share increased by 66% to 6.62p, the difference between the two growth rates being due to the costs of the IPO being  in 2017. DividendsThe Board has adopted a progressive dividend policy, following the interim dividend of 0.75 pence the Board proposes a final dividend of 1.50 pence per share to give a total dividend for the year ended 31 December 2018 of 2.25p per share. This will, subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 22 May 2019, be paid on 28 June 2019 to shareholders listed on the register on 31 May 2019.Cash flowCash flow from operating activities was £9.6m (2017: £5.5m). The increase was due to strong business growth, lower exceptional costs, lower capital expenditure and a moderate improvement in debtor days. The business continues to generate strong cash flows from its core business.Capital expenditure for the year was £1.2m (2017: £1.8m).  The business continues to invest in its infrastructure to support volume growth and to improve its efficiency and service offering. The 2018 expenditure was lower than forecast and some of the expected spending in 2018 will occur in 2019 instead in addition to the significant £1.1m IT expenditure already made this year.Net debtThere was a debt restructuring completed as part of the IPO which at the time of listing in March 2017 left the Group with net debt of approximately £10m. Since then an objective has been to reduce the Group’s net debt to nil and this was achieved at the end of 2018 when Medica achieved net cash of £0.6m – being cash of £12.6m and a loan of £12m.The total facilities available to the Group is up to £13m in aggregate under a £12m term loan facility and a £1m revolving credit facility. Both facilities will mature on 6 March 2022, being the fifth anniversary of entry into the New Facilities. Interest is payable at the rate of LIBOR + 1.75%. As at the balance sheet date, the revolving credit facility was undrawn.Intangible assetsAs at the year-end, total intangible assets were £24.2m (31 December 2017: £25.2m): the Group’s intangible assets are the goodwill of £15.9m and other intangible assets from the acquisition by the Company of Medica Reporting Limited in May 2013. In addition, there is a small proportion, which at the year-end was £1.9m (year ended 31 December 2017: £1.3m), in relation to purchased software and certain capitalised development software and licences.Property plant and equipmentAs at the year end, total value of property, plant and equipment was £1.9m (31 December 2017: £1.9m).  Property, plant and equipment primarily relate to computer equipment, the majority of which is the servers installed with customers, radiologists’ workstations and infrastructure technology. The growth in property, plant and equipment reflects the net increase, i.e. after depreciation, of additional capital expenditure for new customers and new radiologists and software for new projects.This report was approved by the Board on 22 March 2019 and signed on its behalf.ANTHONY LEE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER22 March 201927Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 Stock code: MGP28

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

There are potential risks and uncertainties which could impact the Group’s performance and 
these are considered by the Board on a regular basis. The Board robustly considers the risks 
of all significant business decisions, changes in the external environment and in the Group’s 
operations. 

Our risk assessment for the UK withdrawal from the European Union considers different Brexit scenarios and the wide 
range of implications that may impact our business. Our current view is that the impact on Medica Group is low. We have 
a very limited dependence on people or services in Europe. We continue to monitor the situation as it develops and assess 
implications for our business.

The key risks affecting the business are as follows:

Mitigation

2018 trend and 
commentary

Risk description 
and impact

Clinical quality risk
Medica provides radiology reports which 
form an integral and essential part of the 
clinical management process for patients. 
Inaccurate reporting could lead to  
patient harm and reputational impairment  
for the Company. Error is inherent in all 
radiology practice.

Retaining and growing reporting capacity
The performance of the Group depends on 
its ability to grow its reporting capacity and 
any reduction in reporting capacity or any 
increase in reporting costs could negatively 
impact the Group’s business, results of 
operations, financial condition or prospects. 
If the Group’s costs increase, its results of 
operations and financial condition could be 
materially adversely affected.

Reputational risk
Quality deficiencies or other issues affecting 
the Group’s accreditations and registrations 
could adversely impact Medica’s reputation 
and ability to market its services effectively 
and could have a negative impact on the 
Group’s business, results of operations, 
financial condition and prospects.

Failure to retain key management

The Group’s executive management team is 
critical to its continued performance.

The mitigation is the presence of strong 
clinical governance with quality assurance 
and quality improvement. The reporting 
radiologists must carry personal indemnity 
which minimises the financial risk to Medica.

The Group has and continues to invest in 
its recruitment activities with a dedicated 
recruitment team and a presence at radiology 
events across the UK. The reputation of 
Medica’s clinical governance and word 
of mouth is a key part of the recruitment 
strategy. Retention policy is based on 
providing a comprehensive support structure 
to Medica Radiologists from all parts of  
the business.

The Group has and continues to invest 
significant resources in its clinical governance 
structure and processes and maintains all 
relevant certifications.

As noted in the remuneration report, the 
Group has policies in place to retain and 
motivate key management which are kept 
under regular review.

Industry risk
Future changes in healthcare regulation are 
difficult to predict and may constrain the 
Group or require it to materially alter the way 
in which it operates.

The Group monitors changes in regulation on 
an ongoing basis.

Medica’s clinical processes 
continue to be of the  
highest calibre.

Medica’s UK recruitment 
pipeline is strong and the 
ability to engage with 
overseas based radiologists 
offers additional opportunities

This risk remains unchanged 
as the Group continues to 
maintain high standards  
and vigilance.

The succession of the Chief 
Executive has been managed 
and there is a transition plan 
in place.  

There have been no changes 
that increase this risk in 2018

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

29

Risk description 
and impact

Operating risk
The Group currently derives substantially all 
of its revenue from the NHS through NHS 
Trusts and the reduction of such revenue 
could adversely impact the Group’s business, 
results of operations and financial condition. 
The Group’s revenue from NHS Trusts is 
not subject to any minimum purchase 
commitment and any reduction in demand 
for the Group’s services could have a material 
adverse effect on its business, results of 
operations and financial condition. There is 
a risk of increased pricing pressure from the 
NHS for teleradiology services.

Changes in taxation or legal requirements 
can influence the way the group operates.

Data protection risk
The Group is subject to regulations relating 
to personal information. Any failure to 
adequately protect its customers’ patients’ 
personal data could expose the Group  
to liability.

Mitigation

2018 trend and 
commentary

The Group focuses on providing a high 
quality, value for money service and 
maintains close communication with clients 
through its account management team. 
The Group engages with advisors on legal 
and taxation matters and monitors expected 
changes that could affect the way the Group 
operates.

Whilst increasing pressure on 
NHS resources increases the 
demand for Medica’s services, 
NHS continues to be under 
financial constraints. 

The Group minimises the amount of data it 
holds, maintains the ISO 27001 accreditation 
and carries out regular tests on its data 
security systems.

Competition risk Competition risk
Significant competition could adversely 
affect the Group’s business, financial 
condition and prospects.

The Group focuses on providing a high 
quality, value for money service and 
maintains close communication with clients 
through its account management team.

Technology risk
The Group’s business could be disrupted if 
its information systems fail or if its databases 
are destroyed or damaged.

Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence could play a role in 
radiology diagnosis and this represents both 
a risk and an opportunity.

The Group has invested significantly in its 
IT platform and has an in-house team that 
maintains and improves performance of the 
IT systems. The Group has robust disaster 
recovery plans.

The Group continues to keep up to date with 
innovations in AI and other areas.

There have been no changes 
that increase this risk in 2018 
and Medica maintains its 
accreditations and focus in  
this area.

As an attractive sector new 
companies are trying to 
establish themselves in the 
Teleradiology market. Medica 
is the clear market leader and 
continues to be successful in 
differentiating our service.

Medica continues to invest in 
this area to reduce the risk.

AI remains an opportunity 
as well as a risk and Medica 
continues to monitor closely. 

OUR PEOPLEDiversityOur people are our most valued asset, they are vital to Medica’s success and growth and we are proud of the mixture of talent and experience they bring. We strive to make Medica a great place to work and this enables us to attract and retain the best talent and provide the best service for both our clients and radiologists.Medica has a firm commitment to equality of opportunity in all our employment policies, practices and procedures.  Our recruitment and selection processes are geared to selecting the best candidate regardless of their age, gender, sexuality, full or part-time status, disability and marital status. We recognise that a diverse workforce will provide a wide range of perspectives that promotes innovation and business success. The Group has a formal equal opportunities policy to ensure no employee or applicant is discriminated against.At 31 December 2018, the Group had 97 full-time employees and 20 part-time staff of which 77 were male and 40 were female. Of the senior members of management, four were male and one was female.Training and developmentDeveloping the team is crucial to Medica’s continued success and development and is an area where Medica has a good track record. A number of employees have been with the Company since early in its history and have developed into senior management roles.In addition to the executive team we have developed a wider leadership group that meet regularly and are taking increasing levels of responsibility for the development of the core business. The leadership team is developing by providing a mentoring and coaching environment.More broadly there is a focus on individual development, including training and personal educational support. We are developing a skills framework for the full team to enable the sharing of skills to promote learning and development.Employee engagement and cultureWith a relatively small team it is important to foster an atmosphere of inclusion and engagement and we have a committed and dedicated team that work well together.We ensure there are strong lines of communication through the wider leadership team and all members of the team  are able to discuss matters with Directors. We have a company newsletter and ensure there is consultation on key policy changes.We hold regular events for staff and encourage support of local charities.Recruitment and retention of radiologistsOur dedicated recruitment team helps radiologists  through the process whilst ensuring Medica contracts  with the highest calibre of applicants. The recruitment process focuses on the needs of both stakeholders to  ensure quality and work satisfaction which leads to a  long-term relationship.We have developed a retention strategy that covers all aspects of a radiologist’s interaction with Medica. As well as a team that looks after radiologist training needs we have a Reporter Liaison team that deals with day-to-day queries and requirements and offer all radiologists 24/7 support. Overall radiologist management is overseen by our Clinical governance team.We have ongoing investment in a workflow programme to improve standardisation, efficiency and quality of service to all stakeholders.www.medicagroup.co.ukSTRATEGIC REPORT30CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ENVIRONMENTClimate changeMedica actively considers its environmental impact and we are conscious of playing our part in tackling climate change. As a technology-based Group with most staff employed in one office location and radiologists’ contract mainly from their own homes, we believe our own environmental footprint is small. Greenhouse gas emissionsThis is the second year the Group has measured greenhouse gas emissions and has reviewed and applied the scope of the greenhouse gas protocol in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.Scope 1: Direct emissions that result from activities  within the Group’s control in connection with the combustion of fuel.Scope 2: Indirect emissions from any electricity, heat or steam the Group purchases and uses.Scope 3: Any other indirect emissions from sources outside the Group’s direct control.The Group does not purchase or combust fuel directly so the Scope 1 emission for the year is zero. Scope 2 emissions are limited to the Group’s head office building and the calculations are derived from electricity meter readings.  The Scope 2 GHG emissions for 2018 are 18.0 tonnes (2017: 22.6 tonnes) of carbon dioxide equivalent. The Group has chosen this year not to make the voluntary disclosure for Scope 3 emissions.Our greenhouse gas emissions have been calculated on a per full-time equivalent employee ratio. This intensity metric is the best measure available to the Group given the nature of the business, and the absence of a similar business to benchmark against.The emissions per employee for 2018 are 0.17 tonnes (2017: 0.25 tonnes) of carbon dioxide equivalent.SOCIAL AND COMMUNITY ISSUESImproving clinical qualityImproving clinical quality is a key aim for the Company and the excellence of our clinical offering is probably Medica’s key selling point to clients.We do this through our clinical governance structure which comprises our full-time Medical Director and Clinical advisers, the Medical Advisory Board and the Clinical Governance Committee. We operate a meticulous system of internal clinical audit, are developing an educational case programme for radiologists and have a number of radiographers in non-clinical senior management positions.Improving patient outcomesThe whole team is proud to work for a company that makes a real difference to improving patient welfare and contributes to saving lives. Our core Nighthawk and routine services do this by providing high quality complex reports back to hospitals quickly to direct the care of the patient.We are always looking to innovate to improve the quality of our services and recent examples of this are the investment in developing the stroke pathway and the major trauma pathway. Other examples are the development of the radiographer reporting service and the emphasis on new specialist services.Stock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 31Medica Group has been consulting with experts, collaborating with the NHS and investing in the field of prostate care.Our mission?To improve access to the best practice  diagnosis for men in the UK.In January 2018 Medica Group appointed Dr Natasha Jefferson as our expert Clinical Advisory Lead for multiparametric prostate MRI. We asked her for her  view on prostate diagnosis in the UK. Q How are we helping to improve prostate diagnosis across the UK? A1. Development of a dedicated full-time Prostate Clinical Advisory Lead, who is supported by a wide project team.2. Creation of ‘best practice’ prostate imaging protocols and referral information guidance, designed to support PIRADS-2 reporting.3. Access to a dedicated team of subspecialist radiologists who can provide PIRADS-2 reports to supplement NHS local reporting capacity when required.Q What is your view of the current diagnostic landscape for prostate health in the UK? APre-biopsy mpMRI of the prostate gland for patients in whom there is a concern for undiagnosed prostate cancer (based on a raised PSA test and/or a suspicious digital rectal examination) is now considered to be the gold standard for care in this clinical scenario.  This is based on the fact that a recent study in the Lancet entitled PROMIS (PROstate MR Imaging Study) found that an unsuspicious mpMRI of the prostate gland may obviate the need for biopsy (in up to 27% of patients who would previously have undergone an untargeted TRUS guided prostate biopsy) with its associated morbidity and mortality, or, will enable Trusts to remove such patients from their 31/62 cancer waiting pathways whilst they await biopsy (NICE draft guidance to be published this year). A suspicious mpMRI of the prostate enables the most appropriate biopsy technique to be used (TRUS biopsy, which is a local anaesthetic procedure, or transperineal template biopsy, which is a longer general anaesthetic procedure) and facilitates better targeting of areas of concern at biopsy. Due to the fact that mpMRI is better at detecting significant prostate cancers that require treatment and may not identify non-significant prostate cancers (that might have been identified on random TRUS biopsy), the use of pre-biopsy MRI means that overtreatment of insignificant prostate cancer (with potential complications of impotence and incontinence) may be prevented. Regular mpMRI of the prostate gland also enables active surveillance of biopsy-detected insignificant prostate cancer. This means that potentially harmful treatments can be delayed until a cancer becomes significant with the intention of cure  at that time.There is also the potential to “fuse” the mpMRI dataset with a real-time ultrasound study, enabling an ultrasound biopsy to be guided by MRI images overlaid on the ultrasound images; fusion biopsy has the potential to reduce the demand on pathology imposed by template biopsy.STRATEGIC LINK:Developing specialist reporting serviceswww.medicagroup.co.ukSTRATEGIC REPORT32MEN’S HEALTH CRISIS“ Only 51% of men in the UK have access to mpMRI scanning with 13% of UK hospitals offering no access”  PROSTATE CANCER UKQHow does the UK landscape compare to the rest of Europe?AmpMRI was developed in Europe but its utilisation is variable and largely dependent on the structure of healthcare services within individual countries. The practice described above is that recommended by the European Society of Uroradiology.QWhat exactly is mpMRI?AmpMRI, or multiparametric MRI, is the use of multiple imaging parameters – anatomy, diffusion restriction and contrast enhancement - in the acquisition of a study to increase confidence in  the likelihood of malignancy within a lesion.  This is distinct from dual parametric MRI which uses only two imaging parameters – anatomy and diffusion restriction – and which has been performed more widely in the past. mpMRI is the technique recommended in recent high profile papers that are currently shaping practice. QWhat is the advantage of mpMRI over more conventional reporting?AThe advantage of a well-performed mpMRI of the prostate is that it enables a Radiologist to assign a score from 1 to 5 to any abnormal area within the prostate gland which reflects how likely that abnormality is to reflect a significant cancer, using published guidelines (PI-RADS 2 criteria). A score of 1 suggests that the area is highly unlikely to reflect a significant prostate cancer, a score of 2 suggests that the lesion is unlikely to reflect a significant prostate cancer, a score of 3 suggests that the lesion is equivocal, a score of 4 suggests that a lesion is likely to reflect a significant prostate cancer whilst a score of 5 suggests that a lesion is highly likely to reflect a significant prostate cancer. Assigning such scores to areas within the prostate gland enables a Urologist to make a decision about whether or not a biopsy of any lesion is necessary. mpMRI is better in patients who have implanted pelvic metalwork such as total hip replacements which degrade the quality of the diffusion weighted images, it is helpful in characterising lesions at the front of the gland in some cases and it is essential in patients undergoing follow-up of treated prostate cancer in whom dual parametric studies are unhelpful.QIs there a cost saving for the NHS using this  new method? AAlthough the use of contrast media in an  mpMRI study adds to the cost of that study,  by reducing unnecessary prostate biopsies and their associated potential complications and avoiding overtreatment of insignificant prostate cancer, the use of mpMRI of the prostate has the potential to save the NHS money.33Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 Stock code: MGP34

STRATEGIC REPORT

www.medicagroup.co.uk

Q

PCUK say that only 51% of men in the UK have 
access to mpMRI scan with 13% of UK hospitals 
offering no access – why does the service vary so 
much for men across the UK?

Q

 Tell us about your work at Medica and how you 
are together trying to bring this service to more 
men across the UK?

A Those men unable to access mpMRI at their local 

hospital are probably undergoing dual parametric 
MRI of the prostate at those centres instead. 
All the studies which are being used to direct 
contemporary practice have used mpMRI imaging 
rather than dual parametric MRI of the prostate 
and thus the conclusions made in these studies 
cannot be directly applied to the results of dual 
parametric imaging. Some of this lack of access 
will be due to radiologists lacking experience in 
reporting mpMRI of the prostate and some will 
be due to Trusts refusing to fund the contrast-
enhanced element of an mpMRI study. I suspect 
that those hospitals offering no access to prostate 
MRI at all are small centres with no appropriately 
trained radiologists and/or no MRI scanner.

Q What are the barriers for the Trusts using it?
A In a centre with an MRI scanner capable of 

acquiring appropriate images, lack of radiologist 
expertise and the increased cost/scanning time 
of a mpMRI study compared to a dual parametric 
study are barriers to those Trusts implementing 
mpMRI of the prostate.

A I was appointed as the Medica Prostate 

Imaging Advisor in January 2018 with the aim 
of developing the mpMRI reporting offering 
from Medica. So far, I have recruited a panel of 
radiologists fully trained to deliver high quality 
PI-RADS 2 reports for mpMRI studies performed 
in NHS Trusts. This has involved scrutinising the 
experience and training in mpMRI of the prostate 
of individual radiologists through the use of a 
carefully designed questionnaire. For Trusts that 
perform dual parametric MRI of the prostate, a 
PI-RADS 2 standard report is delivered, as far as 
is possible given the limitations of those studies. 
I also offer advice to existing clients whose 
images are suboptimal or whose images do not 
conform to the protocol recommended in the 
PI-RADS 2 guidelines in how to address those 
limitations to improve the diagnostic quality 
of the images. New clients wishing to use our 
mpMRI reporting service are asked to follow our 
(PI-RADS 2) image acquisition protocol and this 
is a relative condition of us accepting them as a 
client. By providing a quality reporting service 
for mpMRI of the prostate and by advising on 
image optimisation, Medica is raising the standard 
of mpMRI imaging and reporting in centres that 
have lagged behind implementing such a quality 
imaging and reporting practice themselves and 
maintaining that standard in those centres that 
run a contemporary practice but are overwhelmed 
by the numbers of scans being requested in 
response to the publication of PROMIS and recent 
recommendations for UK practice published in the 
British Journal of Urology. By advocating the same 
imaging protocol to all our clients, Medica is trying 
to standardise imaging practice across multiple 
centres to an internationally accepted standard.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

35

Q What challenges are Medica hoping to help the 

NHS overcome?

Q  How would a Trust who is not offering this 

service be able to offer it? 

A The Medica prostate imaging service allows NHS 

Trusts to obtain mpMRI reports written in an 
internationally understood reporting language 
(PI-RADS 2) that are of a consistent quality and 
reported in a timely manner when their volumes 
of mpMRI prostate imaging exceed local reporting 
capacity. This prevents breaches in cancer waiting 
time pathways. It has been proposed that, in the 
future, Trusts might initiate one-stop prostate 
cancer clinics where patients will be seen by a 
urologist, undergo a pre-biopsy MRI and then 
undergo a prostatic biopsy based on the MRI 
findings, all during the course of a single clinic. 
Many Trusts will be unable to report the pre-
biopsy mpMRI studies within an appropriate time 
frame to facilitate this and it may be that this is 
a service that Medica could offer to NHS Trusts 
wishing to start up such clinics.

A A Trust that does not currently offer mpMRI of 

the prostate could contract Medica to report 
such studies following some consultation 
between Medica and a Trust’s MR radiographers 
and applications specialists to optimise mpMRI 
prostate acquisition protocols.

“ Using mpMRI to triage men might allow 27%  
of patients avoid a primary biopsy and diagnosis 
of 5% fewer clinically insignificant cancers.  
If subsequent TRUS-biopsies were directed by 
mpMRI findings, up to 18% more cases of clinically 
significant cancer might be detected compared 
with the standard pathway of TRUS-biopsy for all. 
mpMRI, used as a triage test before first prostate 
biopsy, could reduce unnecessary biopsies by a 
quarter. mpMRI can also reduce over-diagnosis of 
clinically insignificant prostate cancer and improve 
detection of clinically significant cancer.” 

2  GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE38Board of Directors40Corporate governance report46Directors’ report50Report of the Audit Committee52Report of the Nominations Committee53Report of the Remuneration Committee60Independent auditor’s report to the members of Medica Group plcwww.medicagroup.co.uk36GOVERNANCEStock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 37ROY DAVISIndependent ChairmanRoy is the Company’s Chairman.  Roy served as the Chief Executive Officer of Optos plc, a leading opthalmology medical device business, from 2008 until June 2016 when he stepped down following that company’s acquisition by Nikon. Before joining Optos, he served from 2007 as Chief Executive Officer of Gyrus Group plc, a leading medical device company, prior to its acquisition by the Olympus Corporation of Japan in 2008, having previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Gyrus  from 2003.Prior to this, Roy was CEO of NTERA, a nanotechnology company, and spent almost ten years with Arthur D Little, the global management consulting company, where he was Vice President and Global Head of its operations management business. He has also held senior positions with Tricom, Reuters and Molex. Roy holds a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Southampton and an MBA from the London Business School.TONY LEEChief Financial OfficerTony Lee joined Medica in 2009 and became Finance Director and Company Secretary in 2013. Prior to joining the Group, he was an accounts manager at Sellens French Chartered Accountants where he worked for nine years. During Tony’s time at Medica he has played a key role in building the finance function and supporting the company through various successful transactions including the MBO in 2013 and more recently the IPO in March 2017. Tony is an FCCA and has a politics degree from Lancaster University.JOHN GRAHAMChief Executive OfficerJohn joined Medica as Chief Executive in July 2011. John brings a wealth of experience from his previous healthcare role as Managing Director of Allied Respiratory, a subsidiary of Allied Healthcare group, where he turned a loss-making business into a successful company before leading the sale of Allied Respiratory to Air Liquide. He subsequently remained with Air Liquide, managing the standalone Allied Respiratory business and then leading the integration of their UK acquisitions.Prior to his time with Allied Respiratory, John held various Chief Executive and senior operational positions on the boards of both public and private companies in sectors including consumer products, manufacturing and distribution.www.medicagroup.co.uk38GOVERNANCEBOARD OF DIRECTORSPROFESSOR MIKE BEWICKIndependent Non-Executive DirectorHaving started his career in  hospital medicine (specialising in oncology), Mike became a General Practitioner in 1989 and was a partner in a local GP practice in Cumbria for 20 years until 2009. Alongside his general practice, he developed an interest in education and assessment and became a senior examiner and Chair of Assessment at the Royal College of General Practitioners.  In 2008, he was recruited to be the Medical Director for the Cumbria Primary Care Trust, subsequently serving as Regional Managing Director for NHS England, and in 2013 became the national Deputy Medical Director for NHS England, reporting to Sir Bruce Keogh. Mike took early retirement from the NHS in 2015.  He undertook his pre-clinical and clinical studies at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London.STEVE WHITTERNSenior Independent  Non-Executive DirectorSteve currently serves as Finance Director of Dignity plc, the only listed provider of funeral-related services. He joined Dignity in 1999 from KPMG and was appointed Finance Director at the beginning of 2009, having spent the previous two years as Financial Controller, being responsible for the Group’s finance function. During his time with Dignity, Steve has led various leveraged refinancings and returns of capital as well as managing the debt and  equity funding for a £58m acquisition in 2013. He is an FCA  and holds a mathematics degree from Warwick University.DR STEPHEN DAVIES  MA, FRCP, FRCRMedical Director and  Responsible OfficerStephen joined Medica in May 2013 as Medical Director. He has responsibility for clinical governance and oversight of the Clinical Strategy, and is the Group’s Responsible Officer under the GMC Designated Body Scheme. Stephen was an NHS Consultant Radiologist at Cwm Taf University Health Board from 1991 until 2016. Stephen is a Non-Executive Trustee of the College of Radiographers a position which is non-remunerated which he has held since 2017.Stephen undertook pre-clinical studies at Cambridge and his clinical studies at The Royal London Hospital. He is a past President of both the British Institute of Radiology and  the UK Radiology Congress.  In October 2015, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal by The British Institute of Radiology. He has had educational leadership positions as Associate Dean in the University of Wales and educational engagement with the Royal College of Radiologists.Stock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 3940

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

The following sections explain how the 
Company applies the main provisions set out 
in the UK Corporate Governance Code 2016 
(the Code) issued by the Financial Reporting 
Council FRC, as required by the Listing Rules 
of the FRC and meets the relevant information 
provisions of the Disclosure and Transparency 
rules of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The corporate governance  
report covers:
•  The Group’s governance principles and structure 

•  The composition and role of the Board and its 

committees

•  Relations with the Group’s shareholders

•  The reports of the Audit and Nomination Committees

•  The Remuneration Committee report and policy

The Group’s principal risks and uncertainties are 
described on pages 28 to 29. The Directors’ report on 
pages 46 to 48 also contains information required to 
be included in the statement of corporate governance.

Statement of compliance
This report details how the Group has applied the principles 
of the Code. The Group has complied with the principles and 
provisions of the Code for the year ended 31 December 2018. 

Governance principles
Good governance is important at all levels in the 
organisation and the Board is committed to maintaining the 
highest standards for the Group. All shareholders and other 
stakeholders should have confidence in the governance of 
the Group and the Board has adopted the core governance 
principles as set out in the Code.

Leadership – The Board is collectively responsible for 
the long-term success of the Company and will operate 
according to the principles of sound governance.

Effectiveness – The Board is committed to be strong, open 
and effective and will maintain the appropriate balance 
of skills, experience, independence and knowledge of the 
Company.

Accountability – The Board will present a fair, balanced 
and understandable assessment of the Group’s position 
and prospects and will ensure the implementation and 
measurement of effective controls. 

Remuneration – The Board will ensure executive remuneration 
is designed to promote the long-term success of the Group 
and that a formal and transparent procedure for developing 
policy on executive remuneration is adhered to.

Relations with shareholders – The Board will maintain 
a strong, open and transparent two-way dialogue with 
shareholders based on the mutual understanding of 
objectives. 

The role of the Board
The Board is collectively responsible to shareholders for the 
overall direction of the Group. The Board’s primary aim is to 
promote the long-term success of the Group whilst ensuring 
the highest standards of corporate governance. 

THE BOARD IS RESPONSIBLE FOR:

•  Overall leadership of the Group;

•  Setting and reviewing strategic aims and objectives of 

the Group;

•  Oversight of the Group’s operations including 
management, planning and operating systems;

•  Monitoring and management of key business risks and 

internal controls;

•  Approving annual budgets and reviewing performance 

against aims and objectives; 

•  Approval of significant financial expenditure including 

mergers and acquisitions;

•  Approval of structural changes to the Group;

•  Approval of Board membership and other senior 
management appointments or management  
structural changes;

•  Proposing and making dividend payments to 

shareholders. 

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

41

Division of responsibilities

Board composition and tenure

Roy Davis  
Chairman
Steve Whittern   
Non-Exec
Mike Bewick   
Non-Exec
John Graham   
CEO (Exec)
Tony Lee   
CFO (Exec)
Stephen Davies   
Medical Director 
(Exec)

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

THE CHAIRMAN

The Chairman is responsible for chairing 
the Board meetings and setting the agenda 
to ensure that all important matters are 
discussed. The Chairman ensures the Board 
functions effectively in all aspects of its 
role, upholding and maintaining the highest 
levels of integrity, probity and corporate 
governance. The Chairman facilitates the 
contribution of Non-Executive Directors and 
ensures there is effective communication 
with stakeholders.

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND 
OTHER EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

The Chief Executive and other Executive 
Directors are responsible for the operational 
management and control of the Group. 
The Executive team formulate and propose 
strategy to the Board and implement the 
strategy once it is adopted by the Board.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

The Non-Executive Directors are 
responsible for scrutinising, measuring 
and reviewing the performance of the 
Executive team. Non-Executive Directors 
assist in the development and review 
of the performance, strategy, financial 
management and risk management  
systems for the Group. There were four 
Non-Executive Directors during 2018. 

SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

The Senior Independent Non-Executive 
Director provides a sounding board for the 
Chairman and acts as an intermediary for 
other Directors if needed.

42

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

Key Board activity during the year

STRATEGY AND DIRECTION

SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

•  Continued to implement established 
strategy of growing the core business

•  Held a strategy meeting with senior 

management

•  Reviewed and approved 2019 budget 

and long-term plan

•  Received investor feedback from the 
Executive Directors throughout the 
year, particularly following results 
announcements and investor roadshows 

•  Received monthly reports on shareholder 
composition and analysis of significant 
changes to the shareholder register 

•  During the year the Chairman met with a 
number of the Group’s larger shareholders

PERFORMANCE MONITORING

GOVERNANCE AND RISK

•  Reviewed monthly updates on the 

•  The Board kept key risk areas under 

business performance in relation to 
analyst forecasts and business plan

constant review and upon approval of 
the Group’s interim and full year results 

•  Reviewed monthly updates on the 

•  During the year regular updates were 

market and commercial opportunities as 
well as recruitment activities and other 
key performance indicators

received by the Board on specific areas 
of clinical risk and clinical litigation as 
well as on cyber security

There are three standing committees of the Board: the Audit Committee; the Remuneration Committee; and the Nominations 
committee. The terms of reference for the Committees are available on the Medica Group website and their reports are set 
out on pages 50 to 59.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

43

Board key responsibilities

•  Overall leadership of the Group

•  Setting and reviewing strategic aims and objectives of the Group

Audit Committee

Remuneration Committee

Nomination Committee

The Audit Committee is 
responsible for monitoring and 
reviewing the integrity of the 
financial reporting process, 
risk management and internal 
control, ensuring compliance 
with UK reporting standards.

The Remuneration Committee is 
responsible for the development 
and implementation of the Group’s 
remuneration framework and policies 
for Directors and to ensure that 
these support the strategic aims of 
the business while also complying 
with the requirements of regulation.

The Nomination Committee 
is responsible for the structure 
of the Board, providing 
advice on Board and senior 
management appointments 
and succession planning and 
monitoring the composition of 
the Board and its Committees.

Board composition and 
independence
At the date of this report the Board comprises three 
Executive Directors and four Non-Executive Directors.  
The profiles of all Directors are detailed on pages 38 to 39 
and the Board considers that the Directors and senior 
management team have the appropriate skills  
and experience.

The Company regards Roy Davis, Steve Whittern and 
Professor Mike Bewick, each of whom were recruited at 
the time of the Company’s initial public offering and have 
had no prior association with the Group, as independent 
Non-Executive Directors within the meaning of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code and free from any business 
or other relationship that could materially interfere with 
the exercise of their independent judgement.

The Senior Independent Director has an important role on 
the Board in leading on corporate governance issues and 
being available to shareholders if they have concerns which 
contact through the normal channels of the Chairman, Chief 
Executive Officer or other Executive Directors has failed to 
resolve or for which such contact is inappropriate. Steve 
Whittern has been appointed as the Company’s Senior 
Independent Director.

During 2018 Roy Davis was appointed as chairman of 
Edinburgh Molecular Imaging Limited. There is no conflict 
between this role and his role with the Group and the role does 
not detract from his ability to execute his responsibilities as 
Chairman of the Board. 

The Board is satisfied that all Directors are able to allocate 
an appropriate amount of time to meet their obligations 
as Directors.

It is the Company’s current intention that each of the 
Directors will stand for re-election each year. All of the 
Directors retired and were re-elected at the first Annual 
General Meeting held after Admission.

Board operation
There are usually 11 scheduled Board meetings each year 
including one meeting dedicated to the consideration of 
the Group’s strategy. Additional meetings can be arranged 
at short notice at the request of any Director. In addition 
to scheduled Board meetings there is a regular informal 
dialogue between all Directors.

Directors receive Board papers well in advance of meetings 
to allow sufficient time for review and consideration so 
that they can make informed decisions at Board meetings. 
Directors receive monthly management and financial reports 
on the operational and financial performance of the business 
setting out actual and forecast financial performance against 
approved budgets and other key performance indicators. 

The Board regularly receives updates on clinical and 
regulatory matters from the Medical Director. The Board 
complies with its obligations to NHS England as a 
Designated Body with the Medical Director also the  
Group’s Responsible Officer.

The Board also receives copies of broker reports and press 
information relating to the Group.

44

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

Board operation continued
When Directors are unable to attend a meeting, they 
are advised of the matters to be discussed and given an 
opportunity to make their views known to the Chairman 
prior to the meeting. Such views can be included in the 
minutes of the meeting if necessary.

The minutes of Board meetings are taken by the Company 
Secretary and are approved at the next meeting. 

All Directors have received training on their duties  
and responsibilities as Directors of a public company.  
All Directors are able to request access to additional training 
as appropriate and all Directors are able to take independent 
professional advice relating to their duties, if necessary, at 
the Company’s expense.

Board and Committee attendance 
The attendance of Board members at meetings are shown 
below. The attendance of Executive Directors at Committee 
meetings was by invitation. The Company Secretary is also 
Secretary to each of the Committees.

Total meetings
Davis
Whittern
Bewick
Graham
Davies
Lee
Jain

BOARD AUDIT
3
3
3
3
2
n/a
3
2

11
11
10
11
10
9
11
11

REM
3
3
2
3
2
n/a
3
3

NOM
4
4
4
4
3
n/a
4
4

Activities of the Board
The Board has focused on its core areas of responsibility and 
the key activities for the year are set out below.

STRATEGY AND DIRECTION
The Group’s core strategy and direction was set out in detail 
in the Group’s prospectus prior to admission and subsequent 
Annual Reports and has been reviewed and monitored by 
the Board throughout the period. In November the Board, 
together with members of the senior management team, 
held a meeting to review and assess the core business 
strategy and the wider opportunities and risks for the 
business. The Board reviewed and approved the budget  
for 2019 and the longer term business plan.

PERFORMANCE MONITORING
The Board reviewed monthly updates on the business 
performance in relation to analyst forecasts and the business 
plan. The Board reviews monthly updates on the market and 
commercial opportunities as well as recruitment activities 
and other key performance indicators. 

SHAREHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The Board received investor feedback from the Executive 
Directors throughout the year, particularly following results 
announcements and investor roadshows. The Board received 
monthly reports on shareholder composition and analysis of 
significant changes to the shareholder register. During the 
year the Chairman met with a number of the Group’s  
larger shareholders.

GOVERNANCE AND RISK
The Board keeps key risk areas under constant review with 
a detailed review performed as part of the prospectus and 
upon approval of the Group’s interim and full-year results. 
During the year regular updates were received by the Board 
on specific areas of clinical risk and clinical litigation as well 
as on cyber security. The principal risks and uncertainties 
are included in the Financial Review on pages 28 to 29.

Board evaluation
During the year the Nominations Committee coordinated an 
internal self-assessment Board evaluation. Directors were 
invited to provide feedback via the Company Secretary 
on Board and Committee performance and answer key 
questions relating to the Board’s strengths, improvements 
during the year and areas for additional focus.

The evaluation concluded that the Board and its Committees 
continue to operate effectively with strong individual 
contributions from Executive Directors, open constructive 
debate and a good balance of support and challenge from 
Non-Executives.

Risk management 
and internal controls
The Board is responsible for maintaining a sound system 
of internal controls, including financial, operational and 
compliance controls and risk management, and reviews 
the effectiveness of the system at least annually in order 
to safeguard shareholders’ investment and the Company’s 
assets. The system is designed to manage rather than 
eliminate risk and can provide only reasonable and not 
absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The Board confirms that there is an ongoing process for 
identifying, evaluating and managing the significant risks 
faced by the Company and that this process is regularly 
reviewed by the Board. The Board has reviewed the 
effectiveness of the system of internal control and the 
process for identifying and evaluating the significant risks 
affecting the business and the policies and procedures by 
which these risks are managed. Management is responsible 
for the identification and evaluation of significant risks 
applicable to its areas of business together with the design 
and operation of suitable internal controls. 

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

45

In addition, at the Company’s 2018 AGM, the Board was 
authorised to make market purchases of its ordinary shares, 
up to a maximum of 11,111,111 ordinary shares, representing 
approximately 10% of the Company’s issued ordinary share 
capital and within the limits prescribed in the resolution until 
the earlier of the conclusion of the Company’s 2018 AGM and 
27 September 2018. These authorities are renewed annually 
and authority will be sought at the Company’s 2019 AGM. 

Substantial shareholdings of 3% or more that have been 
notified to the Group are disclosed in the Director’s report 
on pages 46 to 48.

Summary
The Directors consider that this Annual Report and 
Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the Group’s performance, business 
model, risks and strategy. In order to assess whether the 
Annual Report and Accounts were fair, balanced and 
understandable, the Board received an early draft to 
enable time for review and comment. The Audit Committee 
then met to consider the criteria for a fair, balanced and 
understandable Annual Report and to review the process 
underpinning the compilation and assurance of the report, 
in relation to financial and non-financial management 
information. At the meeting the Committee considered the 
Annual Report and Accounts as a whole and discussed the 
tone, balance and language of the document, being mindful 
of the UK reporting requirements and consistency  
between narrative sections and financial statements.  
As part of the process the Board considered the Group’s 
reporting governance framework and the views of the 
external auditor as reported to the Audit Committee.

By order of the Board

A L LEE 
COMPANY SECRETARY

22 March 2019

The Audit Committee reviews the scope of audits, the half 
yearly and annual financial statements (including compliance 
with legal and regulatory requirements) and reports to 
the Board on financial issues raised by the audit reports. 
Financial control is exercised through an organisational 
structure which has clear management responsibilities 
with segregation of duties, authorisation procedures and 
appropriate information systems. The system of annual 
budgeting with monthly reporting and comparisons 
to budget is a key control over the business and in the 
preparation of consolidated accounts. 

The principal risks and uncertainties are included in the 
Financial Review on pages 28 to 29.

Relationship with shareholders
The Group recognises the importance of clear 
communication with shareholders. Regular contact with 
institutional investors, fund managers and analysts is 
maintained by the Chief Executive and the Chief Financial 
Officer to discuss information made public by the Group.  
The Board receives reports of these meetings and any 
significant issues raised are discussed by the Board.  
Where appropriate or if requested such meetings could 
include either or both of the Chairman or Senior  
Independent Director. 

The Chairman is also available to discuss governance and 
strategy matters with the major shareholders and has met 
with a number of them during the course of the year.

The AGM provides an opportunity to meet the Board.  
All shareholders are free to attend and put questions to 
any Director and in particular the Chairman of each of the 
Board committees at the AGM on 22 May 2019. At least 20 
days’ notice will be given ahead of that meeting. The Annual 
Report and Accounts are made available to all shareholders 
at least 20 days before the AGM.

The Board may, subject to the UK Companies Act 2006 
and the passing of the appropriate resolutions at a General 
Meeting, issue shares within the limits prescribed within 
the resolutions. At the 2018 AGM held on 23 May 2018, the 
Directors were authorised to issue new ordinary shares, 
(i) up to a maximum of £148,148.16 nominal value (which 
at the time represented approximately two thirds of the 
Company’s issued ordinary share capital) in connection with 
a rights issue and (ii) in any other case, up to a maximum 
of £74,074.08 nominal value (which at the time represented 
approximately one third of the Company’s issued ordinary 
share capital) and to disapply pre-emption rights up to 
approximately 5% of the Company’s issued ordinary share 
capital and an additional 5% authority only in connection 
with an acquisition or specified capital investment. 

46

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors are pleased to present their 
report to shareholders and the audited 
financial statements for Medica Group PLC and 
its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 
2018. The company registration number of 
Medica Group PLC is 08497963. The principal 
activity is that of teleradiology and the 
business model is set out on pages 8 to 9.

• 

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

The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report 
in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Having 
taken advice from the Audit Committee, the Directors 
consider the annual report and the financial statements, 
taken as a whole, provides the information necessary to 
assess the company’s performance, business model and 
strategy and is fair, balanced and understandable.

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

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and 
parent financial statements for each financial year.

Under that law the Directors are required to prepare the 
Group financial statements in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union and have elected to prepare the Parent 
Company financial statements in accordance with United 
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United 
Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable laws, 
including FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”).  
Under company law the Directors must not approve the 
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a 
true and fair view of the state of affairs and profit or loss of 
the company and group for that period. In preparing these 
financial statements, the Directors are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently; 

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

reasonable and prudent; 

•  state whether applicable IFRSs and UK Accounting 

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

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern 
basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the 
company will continue in business. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain 
the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable 
accuracy at any time the financial position of the company 
and enable them to ensure that the financial statements 
and the Remuneration report comply with the Companies 
Act 2006 and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and 
hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors confirm that:

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

To the best of our knowledge:

• 

• 

• 

the Group financial statements, prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, give a true 
and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position 
and profit or loss of the company and the undertakings 
included in the consolidation taken as a whole; 

the Parent Company financial statements, prepared in 
accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice, give a true and fair view of the 
assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of 
the company; and 

the annual report, including the strategic report, includes 
a fair review of the development and performance of 
the business and the position of the company and the 
undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a 
whole, together with a description of the principal risks 
and uncertainties that they face. 

Principal risks and uncertainties
The principal risks and uncertainties are set out 
on pages 28 to 29.

Results and dividends
The results for 2018 are set out in the financial statements 
on pages 70 to 99.

An interim dividend of 0.75 pence (2017; 0.55 pence) per 
Ordinary Share was paid to shareholders on 26 October 
2018. The Board has proposed a final dividend of 1.50 pence 
(2017: 1.10 pence) per share, which, subject to approval at the 
AGM, will be paid on 28 June 2019 to shareholders on the 
register at close of business on 31 May 2019.

Review of the period
A comprehensive analysis of the Group’s progress  
and development is set out in the Strategic report on 
pages 1 to 35 which includes the Chairman’s statement, 
Chief Executive’s review and financial review. This analysis 
includes comments on the position of the Group at the 
end of the financial period.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

47

Significant events after the year-end
There have been no significant events after year end.

Capital structure
The company’s share capital is divided into 111,111,114 ordinary 
shares of £0.02 each with voting rights. 

Significant shareholdings
As at 31 December 2018 and 14 March 2019, the Directors were aware of the following interests in 3% or more of the voting 
rights of the issued Ordinary Share capital. These shareholdings are as notified to the Company through a TR-1 as per the 
listing rules.ru

Director

Prudential PLC 

Liontrust Investment Partners LLP 

CBPE Nominees Limited 

Strategic Equity Capital Plc 

GVQ Investment Management Limited 

Standard Life Aberdeen plc 

Hargreave Hale Limited 

The Independent Investment Trust plc 

As at 31 December 2018

As at 14 March 2019

Number of 
Ordinary
Shares in issue 
held

Percentage of 
Ordinary
Shares in issue

Number of 
Ordinary
Shares in issue 
held

Percentage of 
Ordinary
Shares in issue

12,450,249

12,960,650

8,220,551

6,728,538

6,255,038

6,956,932

4,316,965

4,000,000

11.20%

11.67%

7.40%

6.05%

5.63%

6.26%

3.89%

3.60%

14,451,344

12,960,650

8,220,551

6,728,538

6,255,038

5,029,392

4,316,965

4,000,000

13.00%

11.67%

7.40%

6.05%

5.63%

4.53%

3.89%

3.60%

Related party transactions
Details of all related party transactions are set out 
in Note 27 to the Financial Statements.

will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities 
as they fall due for the foreseeable future and are satisfied 
that it is appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of 
preparation in the financial statements.

CO2 Emissions
The Group’s CO2 emissions are disclosed on page 31 
of the Corporate Social Responsibility report within 
the Strategic Report.

Directors’ insurance
The Group maintains appropriate insurance cover in respect 
of any legal action against its Directors including in respect 
of the prospectus issued for the initial public offering. 

Corporate governance
The Directors’ statement on Corporate Governance is set 
out on pages 40 to 45 and forms part of this report.

Going concern assessment
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared 
on the going concern basis on the assumption that the 
Group continues in existence for the foreseeable future.  
The Directors of Medica Group PLC have assessed the 
current financial position of the Group, along with future 
cash flow requirements, to determine if the Group has 
the financial resources to continue as a going concern for 
a period of at least 12 months from the approval of the 
accounts. The Directors have concluded that the Group 

Viability statement
In accordance with provision C.2.2 of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code, the Directors have assessed the viability 
of the Company over a three year period to 31 December 
2021. The Directors believe this period to be appropriate 
as the Group’s strategic review considered by the Board 
encompasses this period. In making their assessment, the 
Directors have considered the Group’s current financial 
position and performance, cash flow projections, including 
future capital expenditure, in relation to the availability of 
finance and funding facilities and have considered these 
factors in relation to the principal risks and uncertainties 
which are included in the Directors’ report.

During the year to 31 December 2018, the Board  
carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks  
facing the Group, including those that would threaten its 
business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity. 
The Directors believe that the Group is well placed to 
manage its business risks successfully, having taken into 
account the Group’s principal risks and uncertainties. 
Accordingly, the Board believes that, taking into account the 
Group’s current position, and subject to the principal risks 
faced by the business, the Group will be able to continue in 
operation and to meet its liabilities as they fall due for the 
period up to 31 December 2021.

48

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors consider that the Annual Report and Accounts, 
taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the information necessary for shareholders to 
assess the Company’s position and performance, business 
model and strategy.

Future outlook
The strategy of the business is set out in the Chief 
Executive’s review on pages 23 to 25.

Annual General Meeting
Medica’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled to take place 
on 22 May 2019.

Directors
The Directors who served during the year were as follows:

Roy Davis 

Steve Whittern

Professor Michael Bewick 

Dr Stephen Davies

John Graham 

Anthony Lee

Anand Jain (Resigned 31 December 2018)

All of the above Directors are male.

Auditors
The auditors Grant Thornton UK LLP will be proposed 
for reappointment in accordance with section 485 of the 
Companies Act 2006.

This report was approved by the Board on 22 March 2019 
and signed on its behalf. 

ANTHONY LEE 
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 
 
 
 
 
Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

49

STEVE WHITTERNCHAIRMAN OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE2018 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Approval of financial statements in 2017 and 2018 Annual reports• Review of 2018 audit plan• Approval of 2018 interims• Review of forecasts and going concern • Review of independence and effectiveness of auditorsAREAS OF FOCUSIN 2019: • Review of 2018 financial statements and 2019 interims• Review of 2019 audit plan• Review of company forecasts  and going concern• Review of independence and effectiveness of auditors• Review of risk management structure and processesThe Audit Committee  assists the Board in discharging its responsibilities in relation to financial reporting, risk management and external and internal controls. The ultimate responsibility for reviewing and approving the Annual Report and Accounts and  the half-yearly reports  remains with the Board.  The Audit Committee gives due consideration to laws and regulations, the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code and the requirements of the Listing Rules. The Committee works with the full Board to fulfil its oversight responsibilities. Its primary functions are to:• Monitor the integrity of the financial statements and other information provided to shareholders to ensure they represent a clear and  accurate assessment of the  Group’s position, performance, strategy and prospects• Consider the financial statements and recommend to the Board on whether the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced, understandable and provides information necessary for shareholders to assess the performance, business model and strategy of the Group• Review significant financial reporting issues and judgements contained in the financial statements• Review the systems of accounting, internal control and risk management• Monitor and review the significant risks identified by the Group as well as the management and mitigation of those risks• Makes recommendations in relation to the appointment of the external auditors, including their remuneration and the provision by them of any non-audit services• Oversee and maintain an appropriate relationship with the Group’s external auditors and  review the effectiveness, independence and objectivity  of the external audit process. • Monitor and review the arrangements by which employees can, in confidence, raise concerns about any possible improprieties in financial and other matters (such as compliance with the Bribery Act).Membership and meetingsThe Audit Committee is chaired by Steve Whittern, and its other members are Roy Davis and Mike Bewick all of whom are considered independent.  The Directors consider that Steve Whittern has recent and relevant financial experience. The Audit Committee meets up to four times  per year in the ordinary course at  times driven by the Company’s reporting cycle and otherwise as circumstances require. The committee met three times in 2018 and all members attended each meeting. The Finance Director, the Chief Executive and the Non-independent non-executive director attended meetings by invitation.Principal activities for the yearDuring 2018 the primary activities of the committee were in relation to the Group’s reporting cycle. • It reviewed the financial statements in the 2017 and 2018 Annual Report and Accounts and the 2018 Interim Report. As part of this review the Committee received reports from the external auditors on their audit of that Annual Report and their review of the interim results.  It also reviewed the Preliminary and Interim Announcements made to the London Stock Exchange• Formally reviewed the going concern assumptions adopted in the preparation of the 2017 and 2018 www.medicagroup.co.uk50GOVERNANCEREPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEEStock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

51

financial statements

•  The Committee discussed the 
annual external audit plan in 
advance of the year end with the 
external auditors, which addressed 
the planned audit approach to key 
accounting areas

•  The Committee discussed the 

auditor’s views on key judgement 
areas and audit findings relating 
to key accounting matters at the 
conclusion of the audit.

The committee considered the 
main audit risk raised by Grant 
Thornton in audit of the 2018 financial 
statements as revenue recognition 
and discussed with them how this 
was to be addressed. The committee 
noted the transactional nature of the 
business. They also noted that revenue 
recognition was not an area that relied 
on significant judgement and also 
considered the potential impact of 
new accounting standards effective in 
2018. The committee supported Grant 
Thornton’s approach and detailed 
transactional testing.

Non-audit services 
provided by the  
external auditor
Non-audit services provided by the 
Company’s auditor are kept under 
review by the Committee. These will 
generally be compliance services and 
there were no activities in 2018.  
The Committee ensures that the 
auditor’s objectivity and independence 
are safeguarded by means of the use of 
separate teams of staff and by ensuring 
that the level of fees is not material to 
either the Company or the auditors.

The report from Grant Thornton UK 
LLP confirming their independence 
and objectivity was reviewed by the 
Chairman of the Audit Committee and 
the Finance Director. The level of fees 
paid to Grant Thornton UK LLP for 
non-audit services is not regarded to 
conflict with auditor independence.

Fees payable to the auditors are set 
out in note 6.

Effectiveness and 
independence of 
external auditor
Grant Thornton UK LLP has been 
external auditor to Medica Group 
PLC since 2013. As part of this 
year’s decision to recommend the 
reappointment of the auditor, the 
Committee has taken into account 
the tenure of the auditor and the need 
to consider at least every ten years 
whether there should be a full tender 
process. There are no contractual 
obligations that restrict the Audit 
Committee’s choice of external auditor. 

In accordance with the auditor 
independence requirements of the 
Financial Reporting Council’s Ethical 
Standard, Grant Thornton UK LLP’s 
appointment as auditor cannot be 
extended beyond the year ending 
31 December 2027 without an open 
tender process taking place. Subject to 
reappointment as part of such an open 
tender process, Grant Thornton UK LLP 
could serve as auditor for a further ten 
years subsequent to the audit for the 
year ending 31 December 2027.

Consistent with the requirements 
of the Financial reporting Council’s 
ethical Standard, Grant Thornton audit 
partners serve for a maximum of five 
years on listed clients. This is therefore 
the first year that Chris Smith will act as 
Medica’s audit partner. The committee 
extends its thanks to Mr Maile for the 
support and challenge he has provided 
during his tenure.

The Committee is also responsible 
for advising the Board on the 
appointment of the auditor, assessing 
their independence and formulating 
policy on the award of non-audit work. 
Non-audit work is only awarded to the 
auditors after due consideration of 
matters of objectivity, independence, 
costs, quality of service and efficiency. 
As a consequence of its satisfaction 
with the results of its review of 
the activities outlined above, the 
Committee has recommended to the 
Board that the external auditors are 
reappointed by shareholders at the 
Annual General Meeting. 

At the conclusion of each year’s 
audit, the performance of the external 
auditor is reviewed by the Committee 
with the executive directors covering 
such areas as quality of audit team, 
business understanding, audit approach 
and process management. Where 
appropriate, actions are agreed against 
the points raised and subsequently 
monitored for progress.

The Chair of the Committee meets 
with the external auditors without 
management present at least twice  
a year.

On 14 March 2019, the Committee 
received a report from the Financial 
Reporting Council (FRC), setting 
out the findings from their review 
of Grant Thornton UK LLP’s audit of 
the Group’s financial statements for 
the year ended 31 December 2017. 
The Committee considered the findings 
of the FRC’s review and discussed the 
matters arising with external auditor 
and executive management at the 
March 2019 Committee meeting. Based 
on these discussions, the Committee 
is satisfied that the approach to the 
audit of the financial statements for 
the year ended 31 December 2018 was 
appropriate in responding to the points 
raised by the FRC.

Internal audit function
The committee concluded in 2018  
that there was no requirement for  
the Group to have an internal audit 
function due to its size and complexity. 
The committee will consider the need 
for an internal audit function on an 
annual basis.

STEVE WHITTERN
CHAIRMAN OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

22 March 2019

 
ROY DAVISCHAIRMAN OF THE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE2018 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Recruitment process for Chief Executive Officer• Recruitment process for a Non-Executive DirectorAREAS OF FOCUSIN 2019: • Further review of succession planningThe Nomination committee’s role is to regularly review the structure, size and composition of the Board to ensure the skills knowledge and experience matches the requirements of the business.The primary functions of the Committee are:• To review and make recommendations on any changes on the size, structure and composition of the Board• To provide a formal, rigorous and transparent procedure for the identifying and nominating new Directors to the Board. • To review the succession planning for the Group as a whole and for key Board positions in particular.• To review and evaluate the performance of the Board.Membership and meetingsRoy Davis is the chair of the  committee and the other members  are Steve Whittern and Mike Bewick. The Nomination Committee meets once a year in the ordinary course and more frequently as circumstances require. During 2018 the committee met four times and all members attended.Board inductionAll Board members undertook induction training on their responsibilities and duties as Directors prior to the Initial public Offering. Additional training is available for individuals and updated as required. Activities in 2018The committee reviewed the composition of the board and the processes surrounding succession planning.  The committee concluded that the current Board size and structure was suitable for the business as it continues to develop. The Committee’s main task is to recruit a successor for John Graham who has advised the Board that he intends to step down as the Group’s Chief Executive Officer.The Committee has arranged for a detailed job specification to be compiled and for an external Executive recruitment company to assist with conducting a search for suitable candidates. Directors have met a number of suitable candidates and the recruitment process is at an advanced stage. An appointment is expected to be announced in the coming months.The Board has also started the recruitment process for a new Non-executive Director to replace Anand Jain who stepped down at the end of 2018. This process involves a search using specialist advisors and is also at an advanced stage.ROY DAVISCHAIRMAN OF NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE22 March 2019www.medicagroup.co.uk52GOVERNANCEREPORT OF THE NOMINATIONS COMMITTEEAnnual Report on RemunerationThe Remuneration Report provides details of how our Policy was implemented during the financial year ended 31 December 2018 and how it will be implemented during the year ending 31 December 2019.Committee membership in 2018The Committee is currently composed of three Non-Executive Directors:Mike Bewick – Committee Chairman (independent)Roy Davis – Non-Executive Chairman (independent)Steve Whittern – Senior Independent Non-Executive Director The Committee met formally three times during the year to 31 December 2018. All of the Committee members attended the meetings.The Committee is responsible for assisting the Board in determining its responsibilities in relation to remuneration, including making recommendations to the Board on Medica’s policy on executive remuneration (including setting the over-arching principles, parameters and governance framework of Medica’s remuneration policy) and determining the individual remuneration and benefits packages of each of the Executive Directors and the Company Secretary. The Committee will also ensure compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code in relation to remuneration wherever possible and is considering the impact of the changes in 2018 to the Code with a view to making appropriate changes at the next Remuneration Policy review which will be subject to shareholder approval. AdvisersMercer Limited supported Medica on remuneration-related matters in the build up to the Listing. The Committee formally appointed Mercer Limited as its independent adviser. Mercer Limited reports to the Committee Chairman. Mercer Limited is a member of the Remuneration Consultants’ Group and, as such, voluntarily operates under the Code of Conduct in relation to executive remuneration consulting in the UK (www.remunerationconsultantsgroup.com). Mercer Limited does not have any other connection with Medica and is considered to be independent by the Committee. Fees paid to Mercer Limited are determined on a time and materials basis, and totalled £6,000 (excluding expenses and VAT) for the year to 31 December 2018 in their capacity as advisers to the Committee. Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP provided legal advice to Medica in relation to incentive arrangements prior to and since Listing. Eversheds Sutherland provides legal advice to Medica generally.Statement of voting at the Annual General MeetingMedica will be proposing resolutions to shareholders in respect of its Annual Report on Remuneration at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 22 May 2019. The percentage of votes cast for and against and the number of votes withheld will be reported in the next Remuneration Report.The votes of the Annual General Meeting of 23 May 2018 were as follows:votes  FORvotes AGAINSTApproval of Directors’ Remuneration Report48,860,702(54.07%)41,498,640(45.93%)Approval of Directors’ Remuneration Policy89,681,853(99.25%)677,489(0.75%)The Remuneration Committee understands that the votes against are attributable, in large part, to concerns regarding the level of disclosure in relation to the long-term incentive plan targets and is committed to providing a level of disclosure that is acceptable to shareholders. The Remuneration Committee has responded by publishing the targets for the previous year‘s award and the performance criteria for the 2017 and 2018 awards are set out overleaf.MIKE BEWICKCHAIRMAN OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE2018 KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: • Adoption of the Group’s Remuneration Policy at 2018 Annual General Meeting• Engagement with key shareholder to discuss the 2017 Remuneration report following the 2018 Annual General MeetingStock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 53REPORT OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE54

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

REPORT OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

Single total figure of remuneration for Executive Directors (audited)
The table below sets out a single figure for the total remuneration received by each Executive Director for the financial years 
ending 2017 and 2018. As Medica listed in March 2017, part of the 2017 remuneration relates to the period when Medica was 
privately owned. The values of each element of remuneration are based on the actual value delivered, where known.

2018 Director’s remuneration

Director

John Graham

Anthony Lee

Stephen Davies

2017 Director’s remuneration

Director

John Graham

Anthony Lee

Stephen Davies

Kevin Terrins4

Martin Wells4

Base
salary1 

Taxable
Benefits2

£200,000

£140,000

£212,000

£nil

£nil

£nil

Annual 
bonus 

£10,000

£7,000

£10,000

Base
salary1

£191,250

£123,750

£193,333

£16,667

£16,667

Taxable
Benefits2

Annual 
bonus 

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

PSP3

£nil

£nil

£nil

PSP3

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

Pension
benefit 

£14,000

£8,400

£nil

Pension
benefit 

£13,387

£7,425

£9,000

£1,000

£1,000

Other

Total

£nil

£nil

£nil

£224,000

£155,400

£222,000

Other

Total

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£nil

£204,637

£131,175

£202,333

£17,667

£17,667

1.  Salaries for 2017 reflect the adjustments made effective on Listing in 2017. There has been no increase in salaries since Listing.

2.  Medica provides death in service benefits to its executive directors.

3.  PSP Awards granted in 2017 and 2018 will be shown in the Single total figure of remuneration table for the 2020 and 2021 financial year (to the 

extent vested)

4.  Figures for Kevin Terrins and Martin Wells are to 28th February 2017 as they both resigned as Directors on 1st March 2017

5.  Stephen Davies elects to receive increased salary in lieu of pension contributions.

Incentive outcomes for the year ended 31 December 2018 (audited)
Annual bonus in respect of performance in the 2018 financial year

Director

John Graham

Anthony Lee

Stephen Davies

Details of disclosure of targets 

Salary 
earned for 
the financial 
year to 31 
December 
2018

Bonus for 
the financial 
year to 31 
December 
2018

Bonus 
outcome 
(% of max)

5%

5%

5%

£200,000

£140,000

£200,000

£10,000

£7,000

£10,000

Maximum 
opportunity

100% of salary

100% of salary

100% of salary

It is the Committee’s intention going forward to disclose annual bonus targets retrospectively, at the same time as the 
performance outcome is disclosed in the remuneration report after the end of each financial year.

The Executive Directors’ bonuses for the year ended 31 December 2018 provided for a payment of up to 100% of salary with 
a 0% pay out at threshold, 30% at target and 100% at stretch performance with a straight line between each of these points:

Financial measure

Pre-bonus EBITDA

Threshold - 
0%

Target – 
30% 

Stretch 
100%

Actual 
performance

Bonus 
received

£11.8m

£12.8m

£14.9m

£12.0m

5%

 
Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

55

Share incentive awards awarded in 2018 (audited)
Performance Share Plan (PSP)

On 26th March 2018, Executive Directors and other key executives were granted awards under the PSP, comprising a grant of 
options to acquire shares at nil cost. Awards granted to Executive Directors under the PSP were granted in respect of shares 
with a market value equal to 150% of base salary, determined using the average closing price of Medica’s shares for the 
three dealing days immediately preceding 26 March 2018 (141.6p). The Committee regarded this level of award as necessary 
to incentivise Executive Directors while base salaries remained below market levels. These awards will vest after a 3 year 
period, broadly subject to continued employment and the achievement of performance measures, and will also be subject to 
a further 2 year holding period after the end of the normal vesting period. They will vest 50% depending on EPS growth and 
50% on absolute TSR over the performance period.

If the minimum EPS growth target is met, 12.5% of the PSP Award will vest. If the minimum TSR growth target is met, 
12.5% of the PSP Award will vest.

None of the Executive Directors participated in the SAYE plan in 2018.

Director

Date of 
grant

Vehicle

Number 
awarded

Exercise 
price

Face value  Vesting date

Expiry date

26 March

PSP – nil cost 

211,864

Nil

£300,000

26 March

26 March

John Graham

2018

share options

2021

2028

Anthony Lee

2018

share options

2021

2028

26 March

PSP – nil cost 

148,305

Nil

£210,000

26 March

26 March

Dr Stephen Davies

2018

share options

2021

2028

26 March

PSP – nil cost 

211,864

 Nil

£300,000

26 March

26 March

1.  The awards are performance share awards, for which no exercise price is payable.

2.  The face value of the awards has been calculating using the share price at the date of grant, being the average closing 
share price for a Share as derived from the Official List for the three consecutive Dealing Days immediately preceding 
26 March (141.6p). This assumes that the performance targets are met in full. Actual value at vesting will depend on the 
extent to which the awards vest, the share price at the date of vesting, and any dividend equivalents payable on vested 
shares.

3.  There will be a two year holding period following the normal vesting period for PSP awards granted in 2018 

A summary of the performance conditions for LTIP awards in 2017 and 2018 is shown in the table below:

Measure

Absolute TSR 

Weighting

Targets

Performance 
measurement 
period

50%

0% vesting below 8% growth per annum

Three-month 

(share price plus rolled up dividends)

12.5% vesting for 8% growth per annum

average at the end 

50% vesting for 16% growth per annum

of the three year 

Straight-line vesting between these points

performance period

Growth in Adjusted

Earnings per Share

50%

0% vesting below 10% growth per annum

12.5% vesting for 10% growth per annum

35% vesting for 20% growth per annum

50% vesting for 30% growth per annum

or greater

Straight-line vesting between these points

Vesting of awards is subject to overall 

Committee discretion to reduce or eliminate 

the awards if deemed necessary

Cumulative 3 

three years

56

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

REPORT OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

Single total figure of remuneration for Non-Executive Directors (audited)
The table below sets out a single figure for the total remuneration received by each Non-Executive Director for the financial 
years ended 31 December 2017 and 31 December 2018. Each of Gordon Roy Davis, Stephen Lee Whittern and Dr Mike 
Berwick were appointed on 1 March 2017 so the figures reflect the fees from that date and no prior year figures have been 
shown. In respect of Anand Jain, part of the 2017 fee relates to the period when Medica was privately owned. 

2018 Non-Executive directors’ Remuneration

Director

Gordon Roy Davis

Stephen Lee Whittern

Dr Mike Bewick

Anand Jain1

2017 Non-Executive directors’ Remuneration

Director

Gordon Roy Davis

Stephen Lee Whittern

Dr Mike Bewick

Anand Jain1

Fees1

Total

£100,000

£100,000

£60,000

£50,000

£42,000

£60,000

£50,000

£42,000

Fees1

Total

£75,000

£45,000

£37,500

£42,000

£75,000

£45,000

£37,500

£42,000

1.  The fees of Anand Jain together with expenses are paid to CBPE in respect of Mr Jain’s services. Fees for 2017 reflect the adjustments effective on 

Listing and in respect of directors other than Anand Jain only reflect a partial year. There has been no increase in fees since Listing.

Percentage change in CEO remuneration
The CEO’s total remuneration increased by 9% from 2017 to 2018.This is due to the increase in salary effective on Listing. 
There has been no increase in salaries since Listing.

Relative importance of spend on pay
There were no dividends paid or share buybacks implemented or other significant distributions, payments or other uses of 
profit or cashflow in the 2018 financial year which the Directors consider relevant in assisting an understanding of the relative 
importance of spend on pay. Total staff costs – disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements – were £4,245,000 for the 
same period.

Distributions to 
shareholders 
(£000)

Total employee 
pay (£000)

2,056

611

236%

4,245

3,574

17%

FY18

FY17

% change

Payments for loss of office (audited)
No payments for loss of office were made to Directors during the year.

Payments to past Directors (audited)
No payments were made to past Directors in the year.

External appointments
No Executive Director currently holds any external appointments.

 
Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

57

Review of past performance
This graph shows Medica’s Total Shareholder Return (TSR) compared to the FTSE Small Cap index. The comparison is made 
between the date of Listing (21 March 2017) and 31 December 2018 The FTSE Small Cap index was chosen as the comparator 
because Medica is part of this group and is the most comparable group of peer companies’.

TSR chart for 2018 DRR
TSR chart for Medica Group and FTSE small cap to December 2018

HISTORICAL TSR PERFORMANCE
Growth in the value of a hypothetical £100 holding since listing 21 March 2017 to 31 December 2018

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

Mar 17

Jun 17

Sep 17

Dec 17

Apr 18

Jul 18

Oct 18

SmallCap

Medica

The table below details the CEO’s single total figure of remuneration and incentive outcomes over the same period:

CEO

CEO single figure (‘000)

Annual bonus (% max)

PSP vesting (% max)

2018

John Graham

£224,000

5%

n/a

Implementation of Executive Director Remuneration Policy for 2019
Base salary

Base salaries were set on Listing taking into account each individual’s professional experience and level of responsibility in 
their role. The Committee considers that base salaries remain significantly below market levels, and this will be factored into 
discussion on the levels of variable remuneration as well as being factored into future salary increases. The current salaries of 
the Executive Directors, effective from Listing, are set out below:

Director

John Graham

Anthony Lee

Stephen Davies

Base salary

£200,000

£140,000

£200,000

Executive Director salary levels will remain at these levels for 2019 but may be increased in future years.

58

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

REPORT OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

Pension
John Graham receives pension contributions of 7% of his salary. Anthony Lee receives pension contributions of 6% of his 
salary. Dr Stephen Davies receives a cash allowance equal to 6% of his salary in lieu of pension contributions. 

Annual bonus
For 2019, the Executive Directors will have a maximum bonus opportunity of 100% of salary. No more than 75% of any annual 
bonus will be payable in cash and the balance will be made in the form of a Deferred Bonus Plan (‘DBP’) award over Shares, 
which will then vest after a period of not less than two years, broadly subject to continued employment. Cash bonuses will 
be subject to clawback provisions as will DBP awards, as set out in the rules of the annual bonus plan and DBP. The level of 
deferral and period for deferral may change in relation to future financial years.

The annual bonus for 2019 will be based 100% on achievement of company financial targets relating to profits. The bonus 
will continue to be based on EBITDA targets. 0 per cent of the maximum will become payable for achieving a threshold 
level of performance, rising incrementally so that 30 per cent of the maximum will be payable for achieving a target level 
of performance, with full pay out for significant over-achievement of target. 

There will be Committee discretion to adjust the formula driven outturn to ensure that the bonus payments also reflect 
performance more broadly and the experience of other stakeholders in the business. The EBITDA target range is deemed 
to be commercially sensitive and have not been disclosed prospectively. However, full retrospective disclosure of the 
targets and performance against them will be provided in next year’s Remuneration Report. 

The Committee will normally disclose the annual bonus targets retrospectively in next year’s Annual Report on 
Remuneration. In the event the Board considers these targets to remain commercially sensitive, they will be disclosed 
as soon as possible once they are no longer considered to be sensitive. Targets have been disclosed for the 2018 award.

Performance Share Plan (“PSP”)
In 2019, the Executive Directors will receive nil cost options under the Medica Group PSP, with face values of 150% of salary. 
The Remuneration Committee considers that the circumstances are exceptional given the lack of increase in salary for 2019 
in relation to salary figures that were considered to be below market when set the previous year.

The 2019 PSP awards will vest after three years, subject to the following performance measures and will be subject to a 
further 2 year holding period following the end of the normal vesting period:

Performance measures

3 year EPS growth

3 year absolute TSR growth

Weighting

50%

50%

Absolute TSR growth has been selected by the Committee to closely align executive interests with those of shareholders. 
Medica’s TSR performance will be measured over the three-year period commencing on the date of award.

EPS growth has been selected by the Committee because it closely aligns with, and incentivises delivery of, Medica’s 
strategy. The EPS growth will be measured over the three-year period commencing 1 January 2019.

The performance target ranges have been set at stretching levels taking into account both internal and external forecasts. 
The maximum vesting level is set to represent very stretching performance.

In line with our Policy, PSP awards will also be subject to Medica’s malus and clawback provisions.

Implementation of Non-Executive Director Remuneration Policy for 2019
Non-Executive Director fees were set on Listing taking into account competitive practice for similar roles. The current fees 
payable to the Non-Executive Directors are set out below:

Role

Chairman

Senior Independent Non-Executive Director

Independent Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director fees will remain at these levels for 2019. 

Fee

£100,000

£60,000

£50,000

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

59

Directors’ shareholdings (audited)
The table below sets out details of the current shareholdings of each Director (and any relevant connected persons) as at  
31 December 2018 and, for Executive Directors, compares this to their shareholding guideline as set out below. The executive 
directors are subject to shareholding guidelines of 100% of salary, which they have met.

Shares

Options

Beneficial 
ownership 
2018 
-Owned 
outright or
vested

Beneficial 
ownership 
2017
-Owned 
outright or
vested

2,258,248 3,608,248

515,464

515,464

Director

John Graham

Anthony Lee

Stephen Davies

1,546,392

1,546,392

Gordon Roy Davis

Stephen Lee Whittern

Dr Michael Bewick

Anand Jagdish Jain

37,037

37,037

11,111

–

37,037

37,037

11,111

–

Unvested 
deferred bonus 
awards not 
subject to 
performance

Unvested 
PSP awards 
subject to
performance

Vested PSP 
awards but 
not exercised

nil

nil

nil

–

–

–

–

nil

nil 

nil

–

–

–

–

nil

nil 

nil

–

–

–

–

Unvested 
PSP awards 
subject to
performance

434,086

303,860

434,086

–

–

–

–

Current
shareholding
(% salary)

Shareholding
guideline
(% salary)

1,358%

443%

930%

–

–

–

–

100%

100%

100%

–

–

–

–

1.  Current holding measured by reference to the middle market quotation of Medica’s share price on 31 December 2018 (120.25p) and as a percentage 

of base salary at 31 December 2018.

2.  No further shares were acquired by the Directors between 31 December 2018 and 9 March 2019, being the latest practicable date prior to 

publication of this Annual Report.

3.  No shares are owned by Anand Jain but CBPE Nominees Limited hold 8,220,551 ordinary shares as at 9 March 2018.

Directors’ share dealings must be conducted in accordance with the Company’s Share Dealing Policy.

The Directors’ Remuneration Report has been approved by the Board and signed on its behalf by:

MIKE BEWICK
CHAIRMAN OF THE REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

22 March 2019

 
60

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

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

OPINION

OUR OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IS UNMODIFIED
We have audited the Financial Statements of Medica Group Plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) 
for the year ended 31 December 2018 which comprise the Consolidated Income Statement and Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, Company Statement of Financial Position, Company Statement of Changes 
in Equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial 
reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting framework 
that has been applied in the preparation of the Parent Company financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ (United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion:

• 

• 

• 

• 

the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as 
at 31 December 2018 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

the Group Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European 
Union;

the Parent Company Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice; 

the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006; 
and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation.

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

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

61

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO PRINCIPAL RISKS, GOING CONCERN 
AND VIABILITY STATEMENT
We have nothing to report in respect of the following information in the Annual Report, in relation to which the ISAs (UK) 
require us to report to you whether we have anything material to add or draw attention to:

• 

• 

• 

the disclosures in the Strategic Report set out on page 28 to 29 that describe the principal risks and explain how they are 
being managed or mitigated;

the Directors’ confirmation, set out on page 47 of the Directors’ Report that they have carried out a robust assessment of 
the principal risks facing the Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency 
or liquidity;

the Directors’ statement, set out on page 47 of the Directors’ Report about whether the Directors considered it 
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements and the Directors’ 
identification of any material uncertainties to the Group and the Parent Company’s ability to continue to do so over a 
period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements;

•  whether the Directors’ statement relating to going concern required under the Listing Rules in accordance with Listing 

Rule 9.8.6R(3) is materially inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the audit; or

• 

the Directors’ explanation, set out on page 46 of the Directors’ Report as to how they have assessed the prospects of the 
Group, over what period they have done so and why they consider that period to be appropriate, and their statement as 
to whether they have a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities 
as they fall due over the period of their assessment, including any related disclosures drawing attention to any necessary 
qualifications or assumptions.

OVERVIEW OF OUR AUDIT APPROACH
•  Overall Group materiality: £527,000 which represents 4.5% of the Group’s Adjusted 

EBITDA as determined at the planning stage of our audit;

•  The key audit matter was identified as revenue recognition, particularly the risk around 

the occurrence of revenue; and

•  We performed full scope audit procedures over all Group entities at the sole operating 

location in the United Kingdom.

62

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

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

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

Key Audit Matter - Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit - Group

REVENUE RECOGNITION 
Revenue is recognised throughout the Group as the 
fair value of consideration receivable in respect of the 
provision of services in relation to the completion of 
radiology reports. Revenue is recognised at the point at 
which the radiology report is submitted to the hospital’s 
RIS (Radiology Information System) and, as such, revenue 
is recognised once the service has been provided and 
delivered to the customer. 

Determining the amount of revenue to be recognised 
does not require significant management judgement 
or estimation, due to all performance obligations being 
satisfied at the point in time when the report is submitted.

Under International Standard on Auditing (UK) 240 ‘The 
Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in an Audit of 
Financial Statements’, there is a rebuttable presumed risk 
that revenue may be misstated due to fraud. This requires 
us to evaluate which types of revenue, revenue transactions 
or assertions give rise to this risk. 

We therefore identified the occurrence of revenue 
transactions, specifically those which have not been  
settled in cash by the reporting date, as a significant risk. 
This was one of the most significant assessed risks of 
material misstatement. 

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

•  gaining an understanding of the processes and 
controls implemented by the Group to identify, 
measure and recognise revenue, and assessing the 
design effectiveness of those processes and controls, 
particularly in relation to the accurate extraction of data 
from the Picture Archiving and Communications System 
(‘PACS’), as relevant to the recognition of revenue;

•  considering the appropriateness of the Group’s revenue 
recognition policy in accordance with International 
Financial reporting Standard 15: ‘Revenue from 
Contracts with Customers’;

• 

• 

 performing substantive analytical procedures, including 
regression analysis and trend analysis, by developing a 
statistical prediction of revenue for the year based on 
PACS volumes and comparing this prediction against 
recorded amounts; and

testing a sample of revenue items recognised during 
the year to determine the occurrence of that revenue by 
agreeing each item to an underlying customer contract 
or relationship and to PACS data.

The Group’s accounting policy on revenue recognition is 
disclosed in note 3.2 to the financial statements and related 
disclosures are included in note 3.2 and note 5. The Audit 
Committee identified revenue recognition as a significant 
matter in its report on page 51, where the Audit Committee 
also described the consideration that it has given to 
address this matter. 

KEY OBSERVATIONS
Our testing did not identify any material misstatements 
in relation to the occurrence of revenue. 

No key audit matters were identified in respect of the Parent Company financial statements.

 
 
Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

63

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the Financial Statements that makes it probable that the 
economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality in 
determining the nature, timing and extent of our audit work and in evaluating the results of that work. 

Materiality was determined as follows:

Materiality measure

Group 

Parent Company

Financial Statements 
as a whole

Performance materiality 
used to drive the extent 
of our testing

£527,000 which is 4.5% of the Group’s 
Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, 
Depreciation, and Amortisation excluding 
Exceptional Items (‘Adjusted EBITDA’), as 
determined at the planning stage of our 
audit. This benchmark is considered the 
most appropriate because this is the key 
performance measure used by the Board 
of Directors to report to investors on the 
financial performance of the Group.

Materiality for the current year is higher 
than the level that we determined for the 
year ended 31 December 2017 to reflect the 
increase in the Group’s Adjusted EBITDA in 
the year ended 31 December 2018.

£418,000 which is 2% of the Parent 
Company’s Total Assets, capped at the level 
of component materiality which reflects 
the relative size of the Parent Company in 
proportion to the Group as a whole. Total 
Assets is considered the most appropriate 
benchmark because the Parent Company is 
primarily an investment holding entity.

Materiality for the current year is lower 
than the level that we determined for the 
year ended 31 December 2017 to reflect the 
reduction in the Company’s Total Assets in 
the year ended 31 December 2018, owing 
primarily to dividends paid during the year.

75% of financial statement materiality.

75% of financial statement materiality.

Specific materiality for: 
Directors’ remuneration 
and related party 
transactions

£1,000 based on our view that Directors’ 
remuneration and related party transactions 
would be considered material by nature by 
the users of the financial statements.

£1,000 based on our view that Directors’ 
remuneration and related party transactions 
would be considered material by nature by 
the users of the financial statements.

Communication of 
misstatements to the 
Audit Committee

£26,000 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

£21,000 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

The graphs below illustrate how materiality interacts with the applicable benchmark which we considered to be an 
appropriate basis on which to base our materiality.

GROUP

527,000

PARENT COMPANY

418,000

11,938,000

29,726,000

Materiality

Adjusted EBITDA

Materiality

Total Assets

64

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

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

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT
All Group operations are based in the UK. The consolidated Group, including the Parent Company and Medica Reporting 
Limited, the Group’s only trading component, were subject to statutory audit under a comprehensive audit approach. The 
Group’s other two components, Medica Reporting Services Limited and Medica Reporting Finance Limited, have taken 
exemption from statutory audit via parental guarantee. Neither Medica Reporting Services Limited nor Medica Reporting 
Finance Limited were assessed as being significant to the group as a whole and consequently both were subject to an 
analytical response. Our audit approach was based on a thorough understanding of the Group’s business and is risk-based, 
and in particular included: 

•  performing an evaluation of the design effectiveness of controls over key financial statement risks identified as part of 

our risk assessment process;

•  gaining an understanding of the financial reporting and accounts production process;

•  undertaking substantive testing on significant classes of transactions, account balances and disclosures, the extent of 
which was based on various factors such as our overall assessment of the control environment, the effectiveness of 
controls over individual systems and the management of specific risks; and

•  performing analytical reviews over the non-significant components of the Group: Medica Reporting Services Limited and 

Medica Reporting Finance Limited.

The scope of the current year audit has remained consistent with that of the prior year, with the exception that in the prior 
year Medica Reporting Services Limited and Medica Reporting Finance Limited did not take exemption from statutory audit 
and were subject to a comprehensive audit approach.

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

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

In this context, we also have nothing to report in regard to our responsibility to specifically address the following items in 
the other information and to report as uncorrected material misstatements of the other information where we conclude that 
those items meet the following conditions:

•  Fair, balanced and understandable set out on page 47 – the statement given by the Directors that they consider 

the Annual Report and financial statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the 
information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s performance, business model and strategy, is materially 
inconsistent with our knowledge obtained in the audit; or

•  Audit Committee reporting set out on pages 50 to 51 – the section describing the work of the Audit Committee does not 

appropriately address matters communicated by us to the Audit Committee; or

•  Directors’ statement of compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code set out on page 40 – the parts of the 
Directors’ statement required under the Listing Rules relating to the Company’s compliance with the UK Corporate 
Governance Code containing provisions specified for review by the auditor in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.10R(2) 
do not properly disclose a departure from a relevant provision of the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

65

OUR OPINIONS ON OTHER MATTERS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES 
ACT 2006 ARE UNMODIFIED
In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• 

the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• 

the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT UNDER THE 
COMPANIES ACT 2006
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Parent Company and its environment obtained in the 
course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors’ Report. 

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to 
report to you if, in our opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not 

been received from branches not visited by us; or

• 

the Parent Company Financial Statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in 
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

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

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

RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 46, the Directors are responsible for 
the preparation of the Financial Statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal 
control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of Financial Statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

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

AUDITOR’S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE AUDIT OF THE 
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Financial Statements as a whole are free from 
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditor’s Report that includes our opinion.

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with 
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. 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.

66

GOVERNANCE

www.medicagroup.co.uk

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

We are responsible for obtaining reasonable assurance that the Financial Statements taken as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk 
that material misstatements of the Financial Statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and 
performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). Our audit approach is a risk-based approach and is explained more fully in the 
‘An overview of the scope of our audit’ section of our Audit Report.

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

OTHER MATTERS WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO ADDRESS
We were appointed by the Board of Directors on 6 August 2013 to audit the Financial Statements for the period ending 
31 December 2013 and subsequent financial periods.

The period of total uninterrupted engagement is six years, covering the periods ending 31 December 2013 to 
31 December 2018.

The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the Group or the Parent Company 
and  we remain independent of the Group and the Parent Company in conducting our audit.

Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the Audit Committee.

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

CHRISTOPHER SMITH BA(HONS) ACA
SENIOR STATUTORY AUDITOR

for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
London

Date: 22 March 2019

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

67

3  FINANCIALFINANCIALS70Consolidated income statement and consolidated statement of comprehensive income71Consolidated statement of financial position72Consolidated statement of cash flows73Consolidated statement of changes in equity74Notes to the financial statement95Company statement of financial position96Company statement of changes in equity97Note to the financial statement100Company informationwww.medicagroup.co.uk68www.medicagroup.co.uk68FINANCIAL STATEMENTSStock code: MGPAnnual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 6970

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT AND 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF  
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administration expenses

Operating profit

Other expenses – exceptional items

Operating profit after exceptional items

Finance income

Finance costs

Exceptional finance costs

Profit before tax

Analysed as

Adjusted EBITDA

Share based payments charge

Exceptional items

Exceptional finance costs

Finance costs

Finance income

Depreciation

Amortisation

Profit before tax

Income tax charge

Profit attributable to equity holders of the parent

Statement of Comprehensive Income

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent

Profit per share (basic and diluted)

Basic profit per ordinary share (pence)

Diluted profit per ordinary share (pence)

31
December
2018
£000

31
December
2017
£000

Note

38,969

(19,883)

19,086

(9,424)

9,662

(245)

9,417

68

(329)

–

9,156

33,715

(17,282)

16,433

(7,917)

8,516

(1,661)

6,855

50

(661)

(582)

5,662

11,938

10,582

(135)

(245)

–

(329)

68

(853)

(1,288)

9,156

(1,794)

7,362

7,362

–

7,362

6.62p

6.58p

(74)

(1,661)

(582)

(661)

50

(775)

(1,217)

5,662

(1,331)

4,331

4,331

–

4,331

3.99p

3.96p

6

7

8

9

9

6

7

9

9

8

15

14

10

11

11

The notes and accounting policies on pages 74 to 94 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

71

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF FINANCIAL POSITION
COMPANY REGISTRATION 08497963
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2018

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Derivative financial instruments

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings and other financial liabilities

Deferred tax

Net assets

Equity

Share capital

Share premium

Retained profit

Total equity

At 31
December
2018
£000

At 31
December
2017
£000

Note

13

14

15

17

18

23

19

16

21

21

21

15,948

8,243

1,938

26,129

8,634

12,588

21,222

15,948

9,218

1,880

27,046

8,210

6,907

15,117

(3,970)

–

(3,932)

(14)

(3,970)

(3,946)

(11,912)

(1,128)

(13,040)

30,341

222

14,721

15,398

30,341

(11,888)

(1,429)

(13,317)

24,900

222

14,721

9,957

24,900

The notes and accounting policies on pages 74 to 94 form an integral part of these financial statements.

The financial statements on pages 70 to 94 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 22 March 2019 and were 
signed on its behalf by:

JOHN GRAHAM 
DIRECTOR 

ANTHONY LEE
DIRECTOR

 
72

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

Operating activities

Profit for the year

Add taxation

Profit before tax

Adjustments for:
Depreciation

Amortisation

Shared based payments

Finance income

Finance costs

Exceptional finance costs

Changes in:
(Increase) in trade and other receivables

Increase/(Decrease) in trade and other payables

Movement of derivative financial instruments

Tax paid

Cash inflow from operating activities

Investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of software intangibles

Interest received

Cash outflow from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Equity funds raised

Costs of equity funds raised

Repayment of borrowings

Loan fees paid for refinancing

Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders

Interest paid

Net cash outflow from financing

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

Movement in net cash

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

Increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

12 months
ended 31
December
2018
£000

12 months
ended 31
December
2017
£000

7,362

1,794

9,156

853

1,288

135

(54)

329

–

(424)

536

(14)

(2,172)

9,633

(920)

(725)

54

(1,591)

–

–

–

–

(2,056)

(305)

(2,361)

5,681

6,907

5,681

12,588

4,331

1,331

5,662

775

1,217

74

(12)

661

582

(2,138)

(365)

(38)

(904)

5,514

(820)

(612)

12

(1,420)

15,000

(203)

(15,270)

(130)

(611)

(686)

(1,900)

2,194

4,713

2,194

6,907

The notes and accounting policies on pages 74 to 94 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

73

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT  
OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

At 1 January 2017

Cancellation of share premium

Shares issued in the year

Share issue costs

Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders

Equity settled share based payments

Transactions with owner

Profit and total comprehensive income for the period

At 1 January 2018

Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders

Equity settled share based payments

Transactions with owner

Profit and total comprehensive income for the period

At 31 December 2017

Share
capital
£000

146

Share
premium
£000

1,309

Retained
earnings
£000

4,854

Total
equity
£000

6,309

–

15,000

(203)

(611)

74

14,260

1,309

–

–

(611)

74

772

4,331

9,957

4,331

24,900

(2,056)

135

(1,921)

7,362

15,398

(2,056)

135

(1,921)

7,362

30,341

–

76

–

–

–

76

–

222

–

–

–

–

(1,309)

14,924

(203)

–

–

13,412

–

14,721

–

–

–

–

222

14,721

The notes and accounting policies on pages 74 to 94 form an integral part of these financial statements.

74

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

1 MEDICA GROUP PLC
Medica Group PLC (“the Company”) was incorporated in England and Wales on 22 April 2013 under the Companies Act 
2006 (registration number 08497963) and is domiciled in the United Kingdom. Its registered office and principal place of 
business is Havelock Place, Havelock Road, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 1BG.

The consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2018 (including comparatives) comprise 
the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as “the Group”). The Group’s principal activity is the provision of 
Teleradiology reporting and is the leading independent provider in the UK. The Group’s business activities, together with the 
factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position are set out in the Chairman’s and Chief Executive’s 
Reports on pages 2 to 3 and 23 to 25. In addition, Note 24 to the financial statements includes the Group’s objectives, 
policies and processes for managing its capital; its financial risk management objectives; details of its financial instruments 
and its exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk.

2 BASIS OF PREPARATION
2.1. BASIS OF PREPARATION
The Consolidated financial statements of Medica Group PLC and its subsidiary undertakings (together “the Group”) for the 12 
months ended 31 December 2018 have been prepared by the Directors of Medica Group PLC.

The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (“IFRS”) and IFRIC interpretations as adopted by the European Union (EU) and the Companies Act 2006 
applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. 
The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to 
the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in Note 4 to the financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements are presented in £ (Sterling), the presentational and functional currency of the 
Company, rounded to the nearest £’000.

2.2. GOING CONCERN
The Directors of Medica Group PLC have assessed the current financial position of the Group, along with future cash flow 
requirements to determine if the Group has the financial resources to continue as a going concern for a period of at least 
12 months from the approval of the accounts. As a result of this review the Directors of Medica Group PLC have concluded 
that it is appropriate that Medica Group PLC be considered a going concern. For this reason, they have adopted the going 
concern basis in preparing the financial statements. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that would 
result in the going concern basis of preparation being inappropriate.

2.3. ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS
With effect from 1 January 2018, IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” has been adopted as explained in the 
Annual Report for the year ended 31st December 2017. The new standard has not had a material impact on group revenue or 
earnings as previously stated. See note 3.2 for further detail.

With effect from 1 January 2018, IFRS 9 “Financial instruments” has been adopted as explained in the Annual Report for the 
year ended 31 December 2017. The new standard has not had a material impact on the group’s measurement of financial 
instruments.

At the date of authorisation of these interim financial statements, IFRS 16 ‘Leases’.has been published by the IASB and adopted 
by the EU but is not yet effective, and has not been adopted early by the Group. Management anticipates that IFRS 16 will be 
adopted in the Group’s accounting policies for the first period beginning after the effective date of the pronouncement. 

IFRS 16 will impact the measurement and disclosure of lease liabilities, and the liabilities shown on the Group’s balance 
sheet. Management have assessed the anticipated impact of adopting IFRS 16 and have concluded that the adoption of 
the standard will not impact on the Group’s previously reported results significant. The Group will apply the modified 
retrospective approach in transitioning to IFRS 16, recognizing the cumulative effect of transition as at 1 January 2019 
and taking full advantage of the practical expedients and transitional reliefs available. The Group does not have any lease 
agreements in which it is a lessor and the only substantial lease agreement in which the Group is a lessee is the lease of 
property for the Group’s offices in Hastings. As at 31 December 2018, this lease was subject to a break clause within 12 
months, and subsequent to the balance sheet date, the Group served notice to the lessor that the lease will not be extended 
past the next option to break the lease. Consequently, on adopting IFRS 16 as at 1 January 2018, the Group will recognise a 
right of use asset and a corresponding lease liability on the statement of financial position. The carrying value of the right 
of use asset and the lease liability, will equate to the present value of the remaining lease payments through to the date 
of the termination of the agreement. This is expected to amount approximately £60,000. It is anticipated that a new lease 
agreement will be entered into at a new property immediately following the vacation of the current office building and 
accordingly, as from the inception of the new lease, management will apply IFRS 16 accounting to that lease agreement.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

75

Management will continue to assess the impact of IFRS 16 throughout the course of 2019.

A number of IFRS and IFRIC interpretations are also currently in issue which are not relevant for the Group’s activities and 
which have not therefore been adopted in preparing these financial statements.

3. SUMMARY OF ACCOUNTING POLICIES
These accounting policies have been used throughout all periods presented in the financial statements, except where the 
Group has applied certain accounting policies and exemptions upon transition to IFRS.

3.1. BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
The Group financial statements consolidate those of the parent company and all of its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 
31 December 2018. All subsidiaries have the same reporting date and use accounting policies consistent with those of the 
parent company. Medica Group PLC (“the Group”) controls an entity when the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable 
returns from its involvement with the subsidiary and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. 
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group.

Unrealised gains and losses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Amounts reported in the financial 
statements of subsidiaries have been adjusted where necessary to ensure consistency with the accounting policies adopted 
by the Group.

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

Profit or loss and other comprehensive income of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are recognised from 
the effective date of acquisition, or up to the effective date of disposal, as applicable.

3.2. REVENUE
IFRS 15 - ACCOUNTING POLICY:
The Group has adopted IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts With Customers’, which came into effect on 1 January 2018 and 
replaced IAS 18 ‘Revenue’. 

The Group’s previously stated revenue recognition policy, which outlined the Group’s compliance with IAS 18, and was 
applied during the year ended 31 December 2017, was as follows:

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for 
services provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts and sales related taxes.

Revenue is recognised when the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits 
associated with the transaction will flow to the entity, the costs incurred or to be incurred can be measured reliably and 
when the criteria for each of the Group’s different activities have been met.

Radiology image submissions: the service is deemed to have been provided, and subsequent revenue recognised, when the 
Company submits its radiology report to the customer. Revenue for all service lines are recognised on the same basis.

The Group’s revised revenue recognition policy, effective for the year ended 31 December 2018 is as follows:

The group recognises revenue in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 15 and in the five step model set out within the 
standard.

STEP 1 IDENTIFYING THE CONTRACT WITH THE CUSTOMER
The Group accounts for contracts with a customers within the scope of IFRS 15 only when all of the following criteria are met: 

a.  The Group and the customer have approved the contract (in writing, orally or in accordance with other customary 

business practices) and are committed to perform their respective obligations; 

b.  The Group can identify each party’s rights regarding the services to be transferred; 

c.  The Group can identify the payment terms for services to be transferred; 

d.  The contract has commercial substance (i.e. the risk, timing or amount of the Group’s future cash flows is expected to 

change as a result of the contract); and 

e.  It is probable that the Group will collect the consideration to which it will be entitled in exchange for the services that will 
be transferred to the customer. In evaluating whether collectability of an amount of consideration is probable, the Group 
considers only the customer’s ability and intention to pay that amount of consideration when it is due. 

76

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

STEP 2 IDENTIFYING THE PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS
At contract inception, the Group assesses the services promised within the contract and shall identifies as a performance 
obligation each promise to transfer to the customer either: 

a.  A good service (or a bundle of services) that is distinct; or 

b.  A series of distinct services that are substantially the same and that have the same pattern of transfer to the customer

The only identifiable performance obligation is the delivery of a radiology report which diagnoses a patient using images 
provided by the client into the client’s Radiology Information System (RIS) by a suitable radiologist in an agreed timescale. 
This is a teleradiology service.

The contracts provide structure around the IT set up and transition methodology to be used. The contracts also detail the 
required clinical competences of the radiologists the Group uses. Both of these points describe the method and standard 
of the service but are not distinct to the service provided.

The contracts also provide agreement on certain other matters such as the quality assurance standards that the Group 
adheres to such as those on information governance, confidentiality, maintenance of indemnity insurance and clinical audit 
procedures. None of these are distinct performance obligations providing services to the client but form part of the criteria 
that demonstrates that the Group is a suitable provider of a teleradiology service. 

STEP 3 DETERMINING THE TRANSACTION PRICE
Each contract has a detailed schedule of prices for each different type of radiology report. The pricing is based on the type 
of images diagnosed, the complexity of the report and the nature of the report (for example whether it is emergency or 
routine). 

STEP 4 ALLOCATING THE TRANSACTION PRICE TO THE SEPARATE PERFORMANCE 
OBLIGATIONS
There is only one performance obligation and accordingly the transaction price is allocated to the delivery of the individual 
report.

STEP 5 RECOGNISING REVENUE WHEN PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS ARE SATISFIED
The performance obligation is satisfied at the point in time when the report is delivered to the client’s Radiology Information 
System (RIS). Each transaction is recognised as a separate chargeable event. 

IFRS 15 – DISCLOSURES RELEVANT TO CURRENT YEAR
All revenue recognised in the income statement is from contracts with customers and no other revenue has been recognised. 
No impaired losses have been recognised on any receivables or contract assets arising from a contract with a customer.

All revenue arose within the UK. A disaggregation of revenue is shown in note 5 as part of the segmental analysis. 
There are no other relevant categories of revenue other than reporting modalities which are monitored by the Directors.

Due to the nature of the Group’s contractual relationship with customers and the nature of the services provided there are 
no timing differences between revenue recognised in the income statement and trade receivables being recognised in the 
statement of financial position. 

Revenue for each report is recognised when the report is provided to the client and the obligation to pay the reporter 
arises at the same time. Control passes to the customer once the report is submitted, at which point Group becomes entitled 
to consideration for the services provided. The client is charged for services provided at the end of the month and typically 
debtors are recovered 40 days later.

As at 31st December 2018 there were no remaining performance obligations for revenue recognised in the year. 
All obligations pertaining to revenue recognised has been met. No revenue was recognised relating to obligations 
not yet performed. No revenue has been recognised in the period relating to obligations met in the preceding period.

There have been no significant judgements regarding the timing of transactions or price.

Transaction price is set out in individual contractual agreements and there is a range of prices based on the types of 
service offered. There are no variable pricing considerations.

No assets were recognised from costs to obtain or fulfil a contract with any customer.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

77

3.3. INTEREST INCOME/INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest income and expenses are reported on an accrual basis using the effective interest method.

3.4. SEGMENT REPORTING
IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the same basis as is used internally for the review of performance 
and allocation of resources by the Group Chief Executive (chief operating decision maker – CODM).

The Board has reviewed the Group and all revenues are functional activities of teleradiology reporting and these activities 
take place on an integrated basis. The senior executive team reviews the financial information on an integrated basis for the 
Group as a whole.

3.5. LEASING
Management applies judgement in considering the substance of a lease agreement and whether it transfers substantially all 
the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the leased asset. Key factors considered include the length of the lease term 
in relation to the economic life of the asset, the present value of the minimum lease payments in relation to the asset’s fair 
value, and whether the Group obtains ownership of the asset at the end of the lease term.

OPERATING LEASES
All other leases are treated as operating leases. Where the Group is a lessee, payments on operating lease agreements are 
recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Associated costs, such as maintenance and insurance, 
are expensed as incurred. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to enter into an operating lease are also spread 
on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

3.6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. 
Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost less estimated residual value of all property, plant and equipment 
by equal annual instalments over their expected useful lives less estimated residual values, using the straight-line method. 
The rates generally applicable are:

Computer equipment 
Leasehold improvements 

– 25% per annum
– Over the life of the lease term 

The 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.
The assets’ residual value and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if required, at each balance sheet date. 
The carrying amount of an asset is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the carrying amount 
is greater than its estimated recoverable amount.

3.7. IMPAIRMENT OF PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and equipment to determine 
whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the 
recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it 
is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount 
of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments 
of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying 
amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised 
immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss 
is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased 
to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying 
amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (cash-generating unit) 
in prior years.

A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant assets are carried 
at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

78

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

3.8. GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
An intangible asset, which is an identifiable non-monetary asset without physical substance, is recognised to the extent that 
it is probable that the expected future economic benefits attributable to the asset will flow to the Group and that its cost can 
be measured reliably. The asset is deemed to be identifiable when it is separable or when it arises from contractual or other 
legal rights.

Intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination, are shown at fair value at the date of the acquisition less 
accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is charged on a straight-line basis through the profit or loss. The rates applicable, 
which represent the Directors’ best estimate of the useful economic life, are:

•  Customer relationships – 15 years 

•  Software and technology – 10 years for assets purchased as part of the acquisition of Medica Reporting Limited in 2013, 

software licences purchased since then are amortised over their term.

•  Brands – 20 years 

INTERNAL DEVELOPMENT COSTS
Expenditure on the research phase of projects to develop new projects is recognised as an expense as incurred.

Costs that are directly attributable to a project’s development phase are recognised as intangible assets, provided they meet 
the following recognition requirements:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the development costs can be measured reliably 

the project is technically and commercially feasible 

the Group intends to and has sufficient resources to complete the project 

the Group has the ability to use or sell the software 

the software will generate probable future economic benefits. 

Development costs not meeting these criteria for capitalisation are expensed as incurred.

Directly attributable costs include employee costs incurred on software development along with an appropriate portion of 
relevant overheads and borrowing costs.

3.9. IMPAIRMENT OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS
GOODWILL
Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units and is not 
amortised but tested annually for impairment. Impairment losses in respect of goodwill cannot be subsequently reversed.

At each balance sheet date, the Group performs an annual impairment review of goodwill and any intangible assets with 
an indefinite useful economic life. The recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of 
the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the Group 
estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. 

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying 
amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised 
immediately in profit or loss.

An impairment loss is reversed if the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s recoverable amount exceeds its carrying amount.

OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Other intangible assets are not tested for impairment annually, only when there is an objective indicator of impairment. 
Where an impairment indicator is identified an impairment test is carried out by comparing the carrying of the assets with 
its recoverable amount. If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying 
amount is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

79

3.10. TAXATION
Tax expenses recognised in profit or loss comprise the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax not recognised in 
other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

CURRENT TAX
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in the 
statement of comprehensive income because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other 
years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated 
using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

DEFERRED TAX
Deferred tax is recognised on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements 
and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and are accounted for using the liability method. 
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences, and deferred tax assets are generally 
recognised for all deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available 
against which those deductible temporary differences can be recognised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if 
the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other 
assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries except 
where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference 
will not reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets arising from deductible temporary differences associated with 
such investments are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that there will be sufficient taxable profits against 
which to recognise the benefits of the temporary differences and they are expected to reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer 
probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax assets 
and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the 
asset recognised based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet 
date. The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the 
manner in which the Group expects, at the reporting date, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities.

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 they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to 
settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

3.11. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
RECOGNITION, INITIAL MEASUREMENT AND DERECOGNITION
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of 
the financial instrument and are measured initially at fair value adjusted for transaction costs, except for those carried at 
fair value through profit or loss which are measured initially at fair value. Subsequent measurement of financial assets and 
financial liabilities is described below.

Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire, or when the 
financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards are transferred.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires. An 
exchange between an existing borrower and lender of debt instruments with substantially different terms shall be accounted 
for as an extinguishment of the original financial liability and the recognition of a new financial liability. Similarly, substantial 
modification of the terms of an existing financial liability shall be accounted for as an extinguishment of the original liability 
and the recognition of a financial liability. A substantial modification of terms occurs when the discounted present value of 
the cash flows under the new terms is at least 10% different from the discounted present value of the remaining cash flows of 
the original facility. 

The only types of financial assets held by the Group are loans, receivables and derivative financial instruments.

80

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

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

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified approach to measuring expected credit losses which uses a lifetime expected loss 
allowance for all receivables. The expected loss rates are based on the payment profile of sales over 36 months before 31 
December 2018 or 1 January 2018 respectively and the corresponding historical credit losses expected in this period. The 
Group also considers future expected credit losses due to circumstances in addition to historical loss rates.

On that basis no loss allowance was identified as at 31 December 2018 or 1 January 2018.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Group utilises interest rate swaps, derivative financial instruments are recognised at fair value at the end of the year with 
changes in fair value recognised in the income statement.

CLASSIFICATION AND SUBSEQUENT MEASUREMENT OF FINANCIAL LIABILITIES
The Group’s financial liabilities include borrowings, trade and other payables and derivative financial instruments. Financial 
liabilities are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method except for derivatives. The only 
derivatives held by the Group are interest rate swaps which have been included at fair value. Financial liabilities designated 
at FVTPL, which are carried subsequently at fair value with gains or losses recognised in profit or loss. Please see Note 23 for 
the fair value hierarchy.

3.12. EQUITY, RESERVES AND DIVIDEND PAYMENTS
Share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been issued.

Share premium includes any premiums received on issue of share capital. Any transaction costs associated with the issuing 
of shares are deducted from share premium, net of any related income tax benefits.

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

Dividend distributions payable to equity shareholders are included in ‘other liabilities’ when the dividends have been 
approved in a general meeting prior to the reporting date. 

3.13. EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS
Exceptional items are items that are unusual because of their size, nature or incidence and which the Directors consider 
should be disclosed separately to enable a full understanding of the Group’s results.

3.14. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
Short-term employee benefits and contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as an expense in the period in 
which they are incurred.

3.15. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
The Group has applied the requirements of IFRS share based payments.

The Group issues share based payments to certain employees. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on 
a straight line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. Fair value is 
measured by use of an appropriate valuation model. The Binomial model has been used to value both the non-market based 
conditions part of the Performance Share Plan (PSP) and the market based conditions part.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

81

4  CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND 

KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY

The preparation of financial statements under IFRS requires the Group to make estimates and assumptions that affect 
the application of policies and reported amounts. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on 
historical experience and other factors including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under 
the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and assumptions which have a risk of 
causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are discussed below.

4.1. KEY JUDGEMENTS AND SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY
THE USEFUL LIFE OF ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
The Group recognises the intangible assets acquired as part of business combinations at fair value at the date of acquisition. 
The determination of these fair values were determined by experts engaged by management and based upon management’s 
and the Directors’ judgement and includes assumptions on the timing and amount of future incremental cash flows 
generated by the assets and selection of an appropriate discount rate. Furthermore, management have estimated the 
expected useful lives of intangible assets and charged amortisation on these assets accordingly. At the reporting date 
no impairments to other intangible assets were recognised in the period.

The Directors considered the estimates of the useful economic life of intangible assets acquired in May 2013 as part of the 
purchase of Medica Reporting Limited. The directors considered the strength of the Medica brand in the teleradiology and 
wider healthcare sector and noted that the transaction was limited to a change of equity ownership. The brand is expected 
to continue to be used for the foreseeable future. In assessing the useful economic life of customer relationships the 
Directors considered the importance of long term relationships given the limited number of NHS Trusts and the fact that 
the majority of revenue came from long standing clients. In assessing the useful economic life of the technology purchased 
the Directors considered that the technology was core to the business and whilst requiring ongoing investment was not 
expected to fundamentally change for a considerable period. 

The table below sets out the carrying amounts of the separately identifiable intangible assets acquired in May 2013, together 
with the estimated useful lives assessed by the Directors and the resultant amortisation charges recognised in the year:

Intangible asset

Customer relationships

Software and technology*

Brand

Directors’ 
estimate of 
useful economic 
life
(years)

Carrying 
amount as at 
31 December 
2018
£000

Amortisation 
charge for the 
year ended 
31 December 
2018
£000

15

10

20

4,018

1,403

1,661

7,082

430

324

116

870

The Group’s reported profit is sensitive to changes in the estimated useful economic lives of the acquisition intangibles, 
owing to the amortisation charges for the year which are calculated by reference to the estimated useful lives. The table 
below demonstrates the impact on reported profits of applying different values to the estimated useful lives.

Directors’ 
estimate of 
useful economic 
life
(years)

15

10

20

-50%
change 
in estimate
(years)

7.5

5

10

Decrease 
in reported 
profit for the 
year ended 
31 December 
2018
£000

(430)

(324)

(116)

(870)

+50%
change 
in estimate
(years)

22.5

15

30

Increase 
in reported 
profit for the 
year ended 
31 December 
2018
£000

144

108

39

290

Customer relationships

Software and technology*

Brand

*excludes software and technology assets that do not relate to the 2013 acquisition.

82

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

5 SEGMENT REPORTING
Management prepare and monitor financial information for the Group’s three primary service lines (Routine Cross-
Sectional, Routine Plain Film and NightHawk) on a regular basis. This financial information is reviewed and used by the chief 
operational decisions maker (considered to be the Chief Executive Officer) in managing the operating activities of the Group. 
IFRS 8 sets out certain thresholds in determining whether reportable operating segments exist, and all of the three primary 
service lines exceed these thresholds. However, IFRS 8 permits the aggregation of operating segments where these services 
lines are similar in nature, service delivery processes, types or classes of customers, and regulatory factors. Management 
consider it is most appropriate to aggregate the three service lines into one Teleradiology operating segment due to the 
similarities in respect of these factors. As a result, all Teleradiology activities are presented as one operating segment.

Medica Group PLC has identified only one geographic area, the UK. As a result of this and there being only one operating 
segment as described above, no analysis has been provided. No customer accounted for more than 10% of the Group’s revenues.

The Group identified four revenue streams, NightHawk, Routine Cross-Sectional, Routine Plain Film and Independent and 
specialist. The analysis of revenue by each stream is detailed below.

NightHawk

Routine Cross-Sectional

Routine Plain Film

Independent and specialist

6 OPERATING PROFIT AND PROFIT BEFORE TAXATION
The operating profit and the profit before taxation are stated after:

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts

The audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

Total audit fees

Audit related services:

Interim review

Total audit related services

Taxation compliance services

Other assurance services:

Covenant compliance services

Reporting Accountants services in connection with the 2017 IPO

Total non-audit fees

Total fees paid to Company’s auditor

Operating lease rentals – land and buildings

Depreciation: property, plant and equipment

Amortisation of intangible fixed assets on acquisition

Amortisation of intangible fixed assets on other assets

7 EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS

Costs incurred in respect of Initial Public Offering

Costs incurred in respect of Board succession

2018
£000

19,312

14,963

3,927

767

38,969

2017
£000

16,798

12,542

3,665

710

33,715

2018
£000

2017
£000

48

3

51

13

13

-

3

-

16

67

78

853

870

418

2018
£000

-

245

46

3

49

12

12

–

3

112

127

176

52

775

870

347

2017
£000

1,661

-

The costs for 2018 are in relation to the international search and selection process for both the Chief Executive Officer and 
the Non-Executive Director. These are considered to be one off costs. 

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

83

The costs in 2017 were incurred in respect of the Company’s refinancing and listing on the Stock Exchange in March 2017. 
Although some of the costs were allowable for corporation tax purposes, a large proportion of the costs were deemed 
capital in nature and therefore not allowable for tax purposes; the tax effect was not considered material by the Directors. 
Management identified a portion of the exceptional IPO costs as relating to the issue of new shares and subsequently 
£203,000 was recognised in equity in 2017.

Exceptional finance costs incurred in 2017 are detailed in Note 9.

8 FINANCE INCOME

Interest on cash and cash equivalents

Fair value movement on derivative financial instruments

9 FINANCE COSTS

Bank interest

Amortisation of loan arrangement fees

Exceptional loan arrangement fees expense

Interest on secured loan notes

2018
£000

54

14

68

2018
£000

305

24

–

–

329

2017
£000

12

38

50

2017
£000

414

68

582

179

1,243

In 2017 as part of the listing process the debt owing to Lloyds bank was partially settled and the pre-existing debt agreement 
was amended so as to include Medica Group PLC as the primary borrower. Owing to this, transaction costs of £582,000 
(£512,000 in respect of bank loan and £70,000 in respect of loan notes) which were initially incurred as a result of the 
previous borrowing arrangement were recognised as an exceptional finance cost in the income statement.

10 TAX EXPENSE

Major components of tax expense:

Current tax:

UK current tax expense

Prior year adjustment

Total current tax

Deferred tax:

Originations and reversal of temporary differences

Effect of rate change

Total deferred tax

Tax expense on ordinary activities

2018
£000

1,971

125

2,096

(215)

(88)

(301)

1,794

2017
£000

1,544

(45)

1,499

(168)

–

(168)

1,331

RECONCILIATION OF TAX EXPENSE:
UK corporation tax is assessed on the profit on ordinary activities for the year and is the same as (2017: higher than) the 
standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.00% (2017: 19.25%).

The charge for the year can be reconciled to the loss per the income statement as follows:

Reconciliation of effective tax rate:

Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Income tax using the Company’s domestic tax rate 19% (2017: 19.25%)

Effect of:

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Prior year adjustment – current tax

Effect of tax rate change – deferred tax

Total tax charge for period

2018
£000

9,156

1,740

17

125

(88)

1,794

2017
£000

5,662

1,090

286

(45)

–

1,331

84

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

11 EARNINGS PER SHARE
Both the basic and diluted profit per share have been calculated using the profit after tax attributable to shareholders 
of Medica Group PLC as the numerator. The calculation of the basic profit per share is based on the profit attributable to 
ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year.

Profit for the year attributable to ordinary shareholders

Exceptional items

Exceptional finance costs

Profit for the year before exceptional items attributable to ordinary shareholders

Share based payments charge

Refinance costs

Amortisation of acquired intangibles

Adjusted profit for the period attributable to ordinary shareholders

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Dilutive effect of share options

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Basic profit per ordinary share (pence)

Diluted profit per ordinary share (pence)

Adjusted basic profit per ordinary share (pence)

Adjusted diluted profit per ordinary share (pence)

2018
£000

7,362

245

–

7,607

135

–

870

8,612

2017
£000

4,331

1,661

582

6,574

74

–

870

7,518

111,111,114 108,675,802

681,954

746,264

111,749,191

109,422,066

6.62p

6.58p

7.75p

7.70p

3.99p

3.96p

6.92p

6.87p

As at 31 December 2018 the Directors assessed the potentially dilutive effect of contingently issuable shares, which comprise 
share options awarded as part of the Performance Share Plan. As at the end of the year there were 1,646,357 options 
outstanding of which 681,954 were considered dilutive. The calculation of diluted earnings per share above takes into 
consideration the Group’s performance against the targets within the Performance Share Plan to date. There were no further 
instruments that had a potentially dilutive effect.

12 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES
The average number of persons (including Directors) employed by the Group during the years were:

Clinical Governance

Business development & recruitment

Service delivery & NightHawk

IT, deployment and development

Finance

Executive team

Non-Executive Directors

The aggregate cost of these employees was:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Pension contributions

Share based payments charge

2018
Number

2017
Number

8

10

53

22

7

5

3

108

2018
£000

3,503

363

244

135

4,245

7

9

41

18

5

6

3

89

2017
£000

3,015

330

155

74

3,574

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

85

12 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES CONTINUED
Directors’ emoluments paid during the period and included in the above figures were:

Emoluments

2018
£000

854

2017
£000

741

The highest paid Director received emoluments totaling £200,000 (2017: £191,250). The value of the Company’s contribution 
paid to a defined contribution pension scheme in respect of the highest paid Director amounted to £14,000 (2017: £13,387). 

During the year retirement benefits accrued to three Directors (2017: five) in respect of defined contribution pension 
schemes. 

Key management of the Group are the three executive members of Medica Group PLC’s Board of Directors and two senior 
managers. Key management personnel remuneration includes the following expenses:

Salaries including bonuses

Social security costs

Pensions

Share based payments charge

Key management personnel compensation

13 GOODWILL

Cost

At 31 December 2016 and December 2017

Additions

At 31 December 2017 and December 2018

2018
£000

797

100

36

135

1,068

Goodwill
£000

2017
£000

793

100

47

74

1,014

Total
£000

15,948

15,948

–

–

15,948

15,948

Goodwill is not amortised but tested annually for impairment. The Directors have assessed goodwill for impairment by 
reference to fair value as indicated by the market value of the company’s equity at the balance sheet date after allowing 
for an estimation of selling costs. There is only one cash-generating unit and the goodwill relates entirely to the acquisition 
of Medica Reporting Limited (MRL) in 2013, and MRL accounts for all of the Group’s revenue and operating activity (other 
than finance charges relating to the bank loans and loan notes which are recorded in intermediate parent entities). The fair 
value of the Group as indicated by the market value of its equity at the balance sheet date is in excess of £130m, providing 
substantial headroom over the carrying amount of goodwill and estimated selling costs.

86

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

14 INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Cost

At 31 December 2016

Additions

At 31 December 2017

Additions

Reclassification from tangibles

At 31 December 2018

Amortisation

At 31 December 2016

Charge for the year

At 31 December 2017

Charge for the year

Reclassification from tangibles

At 31 December 2018

Net book value

At 31 December 2018

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

Customer
relationships
£000

Software and
technology
£000

6,461

–

6,461

–

–

6,461

1,581

431

2,012

431

–

2,443

4,018

4,449

4,880

4,360

1,033

5,393

305

27

5,725

1,730

670

2,400

742

19

3,161

2,564

2,993

2,630

Brand
£000

2,317

–

2,317

–

–

Total
£000

13,138

1,033

14,171

305

27

2,317

14,503

425

116

541

115

–

656

1,661

1,776

1,892

3,736

1,217

4,953

1,288

19

6,260

8,243

9,218

9,402

Amortisation has been included in administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the 
estimated remaining useful life of each class of asset at 31 December 2018 was as follows:

Customer relationships

Software and technology (acquired in 2013)

Software and technology (licences since 2013)

Brand

10 years

5 years

Over licence period

15 years

At the year ended 31 December 2018, £102,000 (2017: £70,000) of development costs have been capitalised as internally 
generated software and technology intangibles. These have not been shown separately as they are not deemed to be 
material to the financial statements.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

87

15 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Leasehold
improvements
£000

Computer
equipment
£000

Cost

At 31 December 2016

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Additions

Disposals

Reclassification to intangibles

At 31 December 2018

Depreciation and impairment

At 31 December 2016

Charge for the year

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Charge for the year

Disposals

Reclassification to intangibles

At 31 December 2018

Net book value

At 31 December 2018

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

97

–

–

97

–

–

–

97

49

23

–

72

19

–

–

91

6

25

48

4,148

820

(121)

4,847

919

(21)

(27)

5,718

2,361

752

(121)

2,992

834

(21)

(19)

3,786

1,932

1,855

1,787

Total
£000

4,245

820

(121)

4,944

919

(21)

(27)

5,815

2,410

775

(121)

3,064

853

(21)

(19)

3,877

1,938

1,880

1,835

All depreciation charges are included within administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income.

As referred to in Note 19, all assets have been pledged as security for the Group’s borrowings and are subject to a fixed and 
floating charge.

16 DEFERRED TAXATION ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Deferred tax included in the statement of financial position is as follows:

Deferred tax liabilities

Accelerated capital allowances

Deferred tax on share based payments

Deferred tax on intangible assets

RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENT IN DEFERRED TAX

As at 1 January 2017

Recognised in the income statement

As at 31 December 2017

Recognised in the income statement

As at 31 December 2018

2018
£000

 (53)

(46)

1,227

1,128

Depreciation 
in excess 
of Capital
Allowances
£000

1,597

(168)

1,429

(301)

1,128

2017
£000

74

(38)

1,393

1,429

Total
£000

1,597

(168)

1,429

(301)

1,128

88

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

17 TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Trade receivables

Prepayments

2018
£000

8,171

463

8,634

2017
£000

7,840

370

8,210

All trade receivable amounts are short term. All of the Group’s trade and other receivables have been reviewed for indicators 
of impairment. The carrying value is considered a fair approximation of their fair value. Due to the fact that the Group’s 
revenue is derived primarily from NHS Trusts the Group’s management considers that all the above financial assets are of 
good credit quality and no changes in credit quality have been experienced since initial recognition.

In addition, some of the unimpaired trade receivables of the Group are past due as at the reporting date. The age of financial 
assets past due, but not impaired, is as follows:

More than three months but not more than six months

More than six months but not more than one year

More than one year

18 TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Trade payables

Corporation tax

Other taxation and social security

Accruals

2018
£000

327

(1)

5

331

2018
£000

2,158

1,135

115

562

3,970

2017
£000

914

8

–

922

2017
£000

1,822

1,212

103

795

3,932

All amounts are short term and the Directors consider that the carrying value of trade and other payables are considered to 
be a reasonable approximation of fair value. The contractual maturity of all amounts above are within one year of the balance 
sheet date.

The average credit period taken for trade purchases was 37 days (2017: 40 days).

19 BORROWINGS DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR
19.1. BORROWINGS DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR

Bank loans

2018
£000

11,912

11,912

2017
£000

11,888

11,888

19.2. MATURITY OF THE GROUP’S NON-DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL LIABILITIES 
(INCLUDING INTEREST PAYMENTS WHERE APPLICABLE)

Maturity:

Due within one year

Due between 2-5 years

Trade 
payables 
and accruals
£000

Bank Loan  
£000

2,719

-

313

12,703

The above amounts reflect the contractual undiscounted cash flows, which may differ from the carrying values of 
the liabilities at the reporting date. The maturity analysis above assumes that interest rates remain as they were at 
31 December 2018. 

The bank loan is secured by way of a fixed and floating charge over all of the assets of the Group up to £12m.

The Group had available to it a revolving credit facility of £1m that as at 31 December 2018 and 31 December 2017 
was undrawn.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

89

20 RECONCILIATION OF LIABILITIES 
ARISING FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

At 1 January 2018

Cash flows:

Interest

Repayment

Arrangement fees

Non-cash:

Interest

Amortisation of arrangement fees

At 31 December 2018

21 EQUITY
Ordinary share capital issued and fully paid

111,111,114 ordinary shares of £0.02

Total ordinary share capital of the Company

Long 
term bank 
borrowings
£000

11,888

(305)

–

–

(305)

305

24

329

11,912

At 31
December
2018

At 31
December
2017

£000

222

222

£000

222

222

RIGHTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ISSUED SHARES
Any profits which the Company determines to distribute in any financial year shall be paid on the ordinary shares. Every 
holder of an ordinary share and ordinary share is entitled to one vote and has one vote for every share for which they are a 
holder.

On a return of capital on liquidation, capital reduction or otherwise, the surplus assets of the Company remaining after 
the payment of its liabilities shall be applied in distributing the balance of such assets amongst the holders of the ordinary 
shares.

VOTING RIGHTS
The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive notice of and attend and vote at any general meeting of the Company.

SHARE PREMIUM
No proceeds were received in addition to the nominal value of the shares issued during the year.

RETAINED PROFIT
Retained earnings include current and prior period retained profit and losses.

22 UNDERTAKINGS INCLUDED IN THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The consolidated financial statements include:

Medica Reporting Services Limited

Medica Reporting Finance Limited

Medica Reporting Limited

Ordinary

Ordinary

Ordinary

England & Wales

England & Wales

England & Wales

100%

100%

100%

Holding company

Holding company 

Teleradiology reporting

Class of share held Country of incorporation

Proportion held Nature of business

Subsidiary audit exemption under parent guarantee:

For the year ended 31 December 2018, Medica Reporting Finance Limited (Registered number 08497950) and Medica 
Reporting Services Limited (Registered number 08497952) are exempt from the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 
relating to the audit of individual accounts by virtue of section 479A of the Companies Act 2006.

90

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

23 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Categories of financial instruments

Financial assets at amortised cost

Trade receivables

Cash and bank balances

Financial liabilities at amortised cost

Trade and other payables (trade payables and accruals)

Borrowings 

Derivative financial liabilities 

Derivatives held for trading at FVTPL

As at 31
December
2018
£000

As at 31
December
2017
£000

8,171

12,588

20,759

(2,719)

(11,912)

(14,631)

7,840

6,907

14,747

(2,617)

(11,888)

(14,505)

–

(14)

A description of the Group’s financial instrument risks, including risk management objectives and policies, is given in Note 24.

As discussed in note 2.3 and note 3.11, the Group adopted IFRS 9 with effect from 1 January 2018. The impact of applying 
IFRS has not been significant and has not resulted in a change to the Group’s previously stated results and the measurement 
requirements of IFRS 9 has not resulted in a change to the carrying amounts of any financial assets or liabilities as previously 
stated.

IFRS 9 has introduced new classification requirements in respect of financial instruments, replacing the classification 
requirements of IAS 39. This change has affected the classification of financial assets in the current year in that Trade 
receivables balances, previously classified as ‘Loans and receivables’ in accordance with the requirements of IAS 39, are now 
classified as ‘Financial assets at amortised cost’ in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 9.

There has been no change to the classification of financial liabilities arising from the adoption of IFRS 9.

23.1. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The methods used to measure financial assets and liabilities reported at fair value are described below.

Financial assets and financial liabilities measured at fair value in the statement of financial position are grouped into three 
levels of fair value hierarchy. The three levels are defined based on the observability of significant inputs to the measurement 
as follows:

Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities.

Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly 
(i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices).

Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

The fair values of interest rate swaps are categorised within level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Group’s interest rate swaps 
are not traded in active markets. These have been fair valued using observable interest rates corresponding to the maturity 
of the contract. Outstanding derivatives at the reporting date are included under the appropriate format heading depending 
on the nature of the derivative.

24 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS RISK
24.1. RISK MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES AND POLICIES 
The Group is exposed to various risks in relation to financial instruments. The Group’s financial assets and liabilities by 
category are summarised in Note 23. The Group’s financial instruments (other than derivatives) comprise cash and liquid 
resources and various items, such as trade receivables and trade payables that arise directly from its operations. The main 
purpose of these financial instruments is to raise finance for the Group’s operations. The principal financial risks faced by the 
Group are liquidity, credit and interest rate risks. The Group is not exposed to transactional foreign currency risks, as all of its 
activities are based in the UK.

The Group’s risk management is coordinated at its headquarters, in close cooperation with the Board of Directors, and 
focuses on actively securing the Group’s short to medium-term cash flows by minimising the exposure to volatile financial 
markets. Long-term financial investments are managed to generate lasting returns.

The Group does not actively engage in the trading of financial assets for speculative purposes nor does it write options. 
The most significant financial risks to which the Group is exposed are described below.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

91

CREDIT RISK
The Group’s principal financial assets are cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables. The Group has no 
significant credit risk. The maximum exposure to credit risk is that shown within the balance sheet. All amounts are short 
term and management consider the amounts to be of good credit quality. For a summary of financial assets past due, but 
not impaired, please see Note 17.

24 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS RISK CONTINUED
LIQUIDITY/FUNDING RISK
The Group’s funding strategy is to ensure a mix of funding sources offering flexibility and cost effectiveness to match the 
requirements of the Group. Operating subsidiaries are financed by retained profits. The Group manages liquidity risk by 
maintaining adequate reserves and agreed committed banking facilities. For a summary of non-derivative financial liabilities 
that have contractual maturities (including interest payment where applicable) please see Note 19.2.

INTEREST RATE RISK
The Group holds the majority of its cash and cash equivalents in corporate current accounts. These accounts offer a 
competitive interest rate with the advantage of quick access to the funds. At the end of the year all of the Group’s bank loans 
bore a variable rate of interest of LIBOR plus 1.75%. 

CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, in order 
to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain a capital structure that optimises the 
cost of capital.

The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while 
maximising the return to stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance.

The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, which includes loans, other borrowings and the loan notes disclosed 
in Notes 19 and 20; cash and cash equivalents as disclosed in the statement of financial position; and equity attributable 
to equity holders of the parent, comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the consolidated 
statement of changes in equity.

The gearing ratios at the end of the reporting periods were as follows:

Debt due within one year

Debt due in more than one year

Cash and bank balances

Net (cash) / debt

Total equity

Total capital

Net debt to total capital

2018
£000

–

11,912

(12,588)

(676)

30,255

29,579

-2%

2017
£000

–

11,888

(6,907)

4,981

24,900

29,881

17%

Debt is defined as long and short-term borrowings (excluding derivatives). Equity includes all capital and reserves of the 
Group that are managed as capital.

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS
The £12m in bank loans is at a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.75% and therefore represents a potential risk that the fair 
value of the Group’s future cash flows may fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. 

At 31 December 2018, if LIBOR had been 100 basis points higher, with all other variables held constant, post-tax profit for the 
year and total equity would have been reduced by £120,000 (2017: £53,000), arising as a result of higher interest expense on 
variable borrowings.

25 SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
Under the Group’s share based incentive scheme the following expense was charged.

Performance share plan

Share save scheme

Total charge

All share based payment schemes related to equity settled awards only.

2018
£000

135

–

135

92

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

PERFORMANCE SHARE PLAN
The performance share plan is a “free” share award with an effective exercise price of £nil. For scheme participants, half the 
award is based on Earnings per share (EPS) and half is based on Total Shareholder Return (TSR). The performance period is 
three years and there is an additional holding period of two years. Accordingly the vesting period is deemed to be five years. 
Further information is set out in the report of the Remuneration Committee on pages 53 to 59. 

Outstanding at beginning of period

Granted during period

Dividend equivalent in period

Exercised during period

Lapsed during period

Outstanding at the end of period

Exercisable at end of period

Weighted 
average 
Number

746,263

985,676

14,418

–

(50,000)

1,696,357

–

The remaining weighted average contractual life is 3.75 years. The options that lapsed during the year were due to the 
departure of a scheme participant from the Company.

The Group engaged external consultants to calculate the fair value of the awards at the date of grant. The valuation model 
used to calculate the fair value of the awards was a binomial model for both the non-market based awards and for the 
market based awards. 

Share price at date of grant

Exercise price

Expected volatility

Expected life

Risk free rate

Expected dividend yield

Average fair value of award per share

Weighted 
average 
Awards

£1.38

£nil

28.5%

4.9 years

1.3%

1.1%

£0.72

Share price volatility was measured as at 1st July 2017 and 26th March 2018. As the Group had only a limited share 
price history at both dates the price volatility of comparable listed companies was referred to over a four year period to 
supplement the company’s own share price history. 

SAYE SCHEME
The SAYE scheme is an all-employee HMRC approved tax-advantaged share scheme. The scheme involves employees 
saving a set amount from their salary for a period of three years. At the end of the three years the employee is offered an 
opportunity to purchase shares based on the amount saved at an option price set at the start of the period. The exercise 
price for awards granted in 2017 was £1.86 and 2018 was £1.35 and by the end of the year employees has saved a total of 
£53,000 into the schemes. In light of this the Directors have concluded that any share based payments charge arising in 
2018 are not material.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

93

26 FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
The Group leases an office building under an operating lease. The term of the operating lease is ten years with a break clause 
at five years after the commencement of the lease. The future minimum rentals payable under non-cancellable operating 
leases were follows:

Less than one year

Between 2 and 5 years

Over 5 years

At 31
December
2018
£000

At 31
December
2017
£000

58

–

–

58

78

58

–

136

The present values of the future rental payments were not materially different to the amounts above.

27 TRANSACTIONS WITH DIRECTORS AND OTHER RELATED PARTIES
Included in administrative costs are £42,546 (2017: £42,600) in respect of fees payable to CBPE Nominees Limited for 
services of the Investor Director to the Group. CBPE Nominees Ltd are considered a related party as they had a controlling 
interest in the Group prior to 21 March 2017.

On 31 December 2018 Anand Jain resigned as a Director and therefore CBPE Nominees Ltd is no longer regarded as a 
related party.

Key management personnel (which the Group defines as the Board of Directors and two senior managers) remuneration is 
disclosed in Note 12.

All transactions with related parties were on an arm’s length basis.

28 CONTROLLING PARTY
There is no overall controlling party of the Group following the admission of the Company’s ordinary shares onto the 
premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange’s Main Market for listed securities 
on 21 March 2017.

29 POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS
There are no post balance sheet events.

94

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

30 RECONCILIATION OF NON-IFRS FINANCIAL KPIS
The Group uses a number of key performance indicators to monitor the performance of its business. This Note reconciles 
these key performance indicators to individual lines in the financial statements. 

In the Directors’ view it is important to consider the underlying performance of the business during the year. Therefore the 
Directors have used certain Alternative Performance Measures (APMs) which are not IFRS-compliant metrics. The main 
effect has been that the exceptional items relating to the IPO in March 2017 have been excluded from the APMs. The APMs 
are consistent with those established within the IPO prospectus and the prior year annual report. It is the Directors’ intention 
to monitor and reassess the appropriateness of the APMs in future years.

Reconciliation of adjusted operating profit

Operating profit before exceptional items

Adjustments for:
Amortisation of acquired intangibles

Shared based payments

Adjusted operating profit

Adjusted operating profit margin

Reconciliation of adjusted profit before tax

Profit for the year

Adjustments for:
Amortisation of acquired intangibles

Exceptional items

Exceptional finance costs

Share based payments

Adjusted profit after tax

Income tax charge

Adjusted profit before tax

Reconciliation of net debt

Cash and equivalents

Borrowings due within one year

Borrowings due after one year

Net cash / (debt)

31
December
2018
£000

31
December
2017
£000

9,662

8,516

870

135

10,667

27.4%

870

74

9,460

28.1%

7,362

4,331

870

245

–

135

8,612

1,794

10,406

870

1,661

582

74

7,518

1,331

8,849

12,588

–

(11,912)

676 

6,907

–

(11,888)

(4,981) 

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

95

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
COMPANY REGISTRATION 08497963
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2018

Fixed asset investments

Investments in subsidiaries

Current assets

Debtors

Deferred tax

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Accruals

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Profit and loss account

Total equity

Parent company profit for the year

Note

33

36

35

34

34

At
December
2018
£000

At
December
2017
£000

1,455

1,455

28,224

47

(10)

28,261

(11,912)

17,804

222

14,721

2,861

17,804

10

30,318

38

(208)

31,603

(11,888)

19,715

222

14,721

4,772

19,715

4,000

The financial statements on pages 70 to 99 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 
22 March 2019 and were signed on its behalf by:

JOHN GRAHAM 
DIRECTOR 

ANTHONY LEE
DIRECTOR

 
96

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

At 1 January 2017

Cancellation of share premium

Shares issued during the year

Share issue costs

Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders

Equity settled share based payments

Transactions with owner

Profit and total comprehensive income for the period

At 1 January 2018

Cancellation of share premium

Shares issued during the year

Share issue costs

Dividends paid to ordinary shareholders

Equity settled share based payments

Transactions with owner

Profit and total comprehensive income for the period

At 31 December 2018

Share
capital
£000

Share
premium
£000

146

–

76

–

–

–

76

–

222

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,309

(1,309)

14,924

(203)

–

–

13,412

–

14,721

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

222

14,721

Retained
earnings
£000

–

1,309

–

–

(611)

74

772

4,000

4,772

–

–

–

(2,056)

135

(1,921)

10

2,861

Total
equity
£000

1,455

–

15,000

(203)

(611)

74

14,260

4,000

19,715

–

–

–

(2,056)

135

(1,921)

10

17,804

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

97

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

31 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards including Financial 
Reporting Standard 101, ‘The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 101)’ and 
the Companies Act 2006. The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost 
convention, modified to include certain items at fair value. The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the 
functional currency of the Company.

EXEMPTIONS
The Directors have taken advantage of the exemption available under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and not 
presented a profit and loss account for the Company alone. In addition, the Directors have taken exemption from providing a 
cash flow statement and financial instruments disclosures as these are provided within the Group accounts.

In preparing these financial statements the Company has taken advantage of all disclosure exemptions conferred by FRS 101. 
Therefore, these Company financial statements do not include: 

•  A statement of cash flows and related notes 

•  The requirements of IAS 24 related party disclosures to disclose related party transactions entered in to between two or 

more members of the group as they are wholly owned within the group 

•  The effect of future accounting standards not adopted 

•  Disclosure of key management personnel compensation 

•  Disclosure in respect of financial instruments (other than disclosures required as a result of recording financial 

instruments at fair value)

•  Share based payment disclosures required under IFRS 2

GOING CONCERN
The Directors of Medica Group PLC have assessed the current financial position of the Group, along with future cash flow 
requirements, to determine if the Group has the financial resources to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future. 
The Directors of Medica Group PLC have concluded that it is appropriate that Medica Group PLC be considered a going 
concern. For this reason, they have adopted the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. The financial 
statements do not include any adjustments that would result in the going concern basis of preparation being inappropriate.

INVESTMENTS
Investments are recognised initially at fair value which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs. 
Subsequently, they are measured at cost less impairment.

For the year ended 31 December 2018, Medica Reporting Finance Limited (Registered number: 08497950) and Medica 
Reporting Services Limited (Registered number: 08497952) are exempt from the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 
relating to audit of individual accounts by virtue of section 479A of the Companies Act 2006.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
See note 3.11 of the Group accounts.

SHARE CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been issued.

Share premium includes any premiums received on issue of share capital. Any transaction costs associated with the issuing 
of shares are deducted from share premium, net of any related income tax benefits.

Retained earnings include all current and prior period retained profits or losses. They also include charges related to share-
based employee remuneration.

Dividend distributions payable to equity shareholders are included in ‘other liabilities’ when the dividends have been 
approved in a general meeting prior to the reporting date.

SIGNIFICANT JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES
The Directors review annually whether there have been any indicators of impairment of investments. Where an impairment 
indicator is identified an impairment test is carried out by comparing the carrying of the assets with its recoverable amount. 
If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount is reduced to its 
recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

98

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2018

32 DIRECTORS AND EMPLOYEES
The Directors and other key management personnel were the only employees of the Company during the year. The 
disclosures in respect of key management personnel have been provided in Note 12 of the Group financial statements.

33 INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES AND ASSOCIATES
INVESTMENTS

At 31 December 2017

Additions

Impairment

At 31 December 2018

2018
£000

1,455

–

–

1,455

Investments have been assessed for impairment and the Board has reviewed the funds successfully raised through the Initial 
Public Offering on 21 March 2017 and the fair value of the Group as indicated by the market value of its equity at the balance 
sheet date both of which valued the Company in excess of £130m. Given the valuation, the Board is comfortable that the 
investments are not impaired.

At 31 December 2018, the Company had the following subsidiary undertakings.

Medica Reporting Services Limited

Ordinary

Medica Reporting Finance Limited

Medica Reporting Limited

Ordinary

Ordinary

England & Wales

England & Wales

England & Wales

100%

100%

100%

Holding company

Holding company 

Teleradiology reporting

Class of share held

Country of incorporation Proportion held

Nature of business

34 CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Ordinary share capital issued and fully paid

111,111,114 ordinary shares of £0.02

Total ordinary share capital of the Company

At 31
December
2018
£000

At 31
December
2017
£000

222

222

222

222

RIGHTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO ISSUED SHARES
Any profits which the Company determines to distribute in any financial year shall be paid on the ordinary shares. Every 
holder of an ordinary share and ordinary share is entitled to one vote and has one vote for every share for which they are a 
holder.

On a return of capital on liquidation, capital reduction or otherwise, the surplus assets of the Company remaining after 
the payment of its liabilities shall be applied in distributing the balance of such assets amongst the holders of the ordinary 
shares.

VOTING RIGHTS
The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive notice of and attend and vote at any general meeting of the Company.

SHARE PREMIUM
No proceeds were received in addition to the nominal value of the shares issued during the year.

RETAINED PROFIT
Retained earnings include current and prior period retained profit and losses.

35 BORROWINGS 
See note 20 for details of the movement in borrowings during the year.

Stock code: MGP

Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

99

36 DEBTORS
The debtor balance of £28.2m relates to amounts owed from subsidiaries. The balance can be called for repayment on 
demand by the Company or repaid at any time at the option of the subsidiary. In the Directors view the entire outstanding 
balance could be settled by the relevant subsidiary within one year of the balance sheet date and as such the Directors are 
satisfied that there is no indication of impairment.

37 RELATED PARTIES
See Note 27 in of the Group Financial Statements for related parties’ information.

38 POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS
There were no post balance sheet events.

100

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

www.medicagroup.co.uk

COMPANY INFORMATION

The Board of Directors 

G Davis 
S Whittern 
Professor M Bewick 
A Jain – resigned 31 December 2018
J M Graham
Dr S G Davies
A L Lee

Company Secretary 

A L Lee

Registered office 

Independent auditors 

Medica Group PLC
Fifth Floor
Havelock Place
Havelock Road
Hastings
East Sussex
TN34 1BG

Grant Thornton UK LLP
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditors
2nd Floor St Johns House
Haslett Avenue West
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 1HS

Registered Company number 

08497963 medicagroup.co.uk

Medica Reporting Limited
Fifth Floor
Havelock Place
Havelock Road
Hastings
East Sussex
TN34 1BG
t: 033 33 111 222

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
MEDICA REPORTING LIMITEDFifth FloorHavelock PlaceHavelock RoadHastingsEast SussexTN34 1BGt: 033 33 111 222medicagroup.co.uk