Quarterlytics / Healthcare / Medical - Instruments & Supplies / Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

odx · LSE Healthcare
Claim this profile
Ticker odx
Exchange LSE
Sector Healthcare
Industry Medical - Instruments & Supplies
Employees 51-200
← All annual reports
FY2022 Annual Report · Omega Diagnostics Group PLC
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
Informing decisions
Improving health

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

Informing decisions 
Improving health

Our core values

Omega Diagnostics promotes a 
personalised approach to health, 
specialising in a range of tests associated 
with food sensitivity and gut health. 
Using advanced diagnostic technology, 
we enable healthcare professionals and 
their patients to identify lifestyle and dietary 
changes that can significantly improve 
their long-term health and well-being.

Our purpose

To improve lives around the world by offering 
pioneering diagnostic testing in the functional 
medicine sector – empowering healthcare 
practitioners and patients to make informed 
health decisions.

Our vision

To put personalised nutrition at the heart of 
global healthcare. 

Our mission

Working with our partners to develop and 
deliver best-in-class diagnostic products. 
Empowering, educating and inspiring the 
markets we serve.

Customer focus
Customer satisfaction is not a department; 
everyone is responsible. Listening to 
customers drives improvement.

Accountability
Ask what more I can do. Take ownership.

Collaboration
Actively support your colleagues.

Be clear in communication.

Celebrate success and have fun together.

Honesty
Aspire to be open and transparent. 

Take pride in building trust between 
ourselves and others.

Respect
Treat others as we would wish to be treated. 
Respect the environment we work and live in.

Find up-to-date information at www.omegadx.com

Omega Diagnostics Group

Omega Diagnostics

Omega Diagnostics

HIGHLIGHTS

STRATEGIC REPORT

Financial highlights

•  Revenue increased by 25% to £8.5m (2021: £6.8 million)

•  Gross margin increased to 59.7% (2021: 58.6%)

•  Operating loss (continuing operations) £0.9m  

(2021: £0.5 million)

•  Loss from discontinued Global Health operations £9.9m 

(2021: £2.5 million) including:

•  loss on disposal of Alva site £0.4m

•  impairment loss recognised on the remeasurement  

of Global Health assets to fair value less costs to sell £1.9m

•  Adjusted EBITDA (continuing operations) £0.2m  

(2021: £0.1 million)

•  Health and Nutrition division adjusted EBITDA £1.6m  

(2021: £1.3 million)

Operational highlights
•  Strategy now focused exclusively on profitable and cash generative 

Health and Nutrition products

•  New executive team of Jag Grewal (CEO) and Chris Lea (CFO)

•  Global Health division has been discontinued and disposed of

•  Withdrawal from COVID-19, following non-progression of the 

DHSC contract

•  Reduction in operating costs following the sale of the Alva site for 

£1.0 million

•  Disposal of the loss-making CD4 business for up to £6.3 million 

completed on 31 July 2022 

•  Post year end equity fund raise of £2.2 million (gross)

•  Business now stabilised after the disruption caused by COVID-19

Contents

Strategic Report

01  Highlights

02  At a Glance

06  Investment Case

07  Chairman's Statement

09  Chief Executive's Review

12  Financial Review

18  Section 172

19  Stakeholder Engagement

20  Risks and Risk Management

Governance

24  Board of Directors

25  Corporate Governance

29 

 Directors’ Remuneration Report

31  Directors’ Report

34 

 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

Financial Statements

35 

42 

Independent Auditor's Report

 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
Income

43  Consolidated Balance Sheet

44 

45 

 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

46  Company Balance Sheet

47 

 Company Statement of Changes in Equity

48  Company Cash Flow Statement

49  Notes to the Financial Statements

79  Notice of Annual General Meeting

80   Notes to the Notice of Annual 

General Meeting

IBC Advisors

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

01

  AT A GLANCE

Delivering personalised 
nutrition for better health 

Optimal gut and digestive function are essential for maintaining 
good health and well-being. 

Whilst it has always been understood that a healthy gut and 
digestive function are necessary for life, emerging evidence has 
demonstrated that the gut microbiome plays a key role in 
regulating immune function; protection of the gut barrier wall; 
synthesis of vitamins, amino acids, as well as short chain fatty 
acids which in turn promote good gut health; as well as influencing 
mood via gut-brain cross talk. 

Over the last decade, more and more scientific evidence has 
emerged indicating that poor gut health is influential in many 
chronic illnesses from immune function, mental health, obesity, 
cancer, heart disease and type II diabetes as well as cognitive 
decline and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. 

Our gut microbiomes are highly individual and are reflective of the 
food we eat. Whilst a healthy, diverse gut microbiome is associated 
with good health, an unhealthy or dysbiotic gut microbiome profile 
has been found to promote chronic, low-grade inflammation which 
underpins many of the chronic illnesses seen today. 

Diet plays a major role in influencing the gut microbiome, and a diet 
rich in fibre from fruit and vegetables, as well as wholegrains will 
help promote a healthy microbial profile. Conversely, a diet rich in 
refined sugar, carbohydrates and fats encourages alterations in the 
gut microbiome which leads to increased inflammation and raises 
the risk of obesity, type II diabetes and liver disease, among others.

It is now acknowledged that a “one size fits all” approach to diet 
and health no longer works, as our genes, biochemistry and gut 
microbiome are all unique to every one of us. A more personalised 
approach to nutrition and health, based on lifestyle, genetics and 
microbiome profile is required to meet the challenges of 
managing chronic illness in the future.

Physical 
inactivity

Chronic 
infections

Obesity

Cardiovascular 
disease

Cancer

Metabolic syndrome, 
type 2 diabetes and 
NAFLD

Depression

Auto-immune 
diseases

Neurodegenerative 
diseases

Systemic 
Chronic 
Inflation

Chronic 
Disease

Xenobiotics

Immunosenescence

Sarcopenia 
and osteoporosis

Intestinal 
permeability

Specific IgG 
antibodies

Dysbiosis

Diet

Isolation 
and chronic 
stress

Disturbed 
sleep

Source: Dr Nigel Abraham, Scientific Director, Omega Diagnostics, 2022

02

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

MARCH 2022
Sale of Alva Manufacturing business
With an unsustainable cost base in Alva, following the 
non-progression of the DHSC COVID-19 lateral flow 
test contract, combined with a small, but growing 
CD4 business, the Board elected to dispose of the 
site to Accubio Limited in March 2022 for £1.0 million. 
The sale involved the transfer of 93 employees to 
Accubio, many of whom were subsequently 
contracted to provide manufacturing services for the 
Group’s CD4 production. The disposal lowered the 
monthly Alva site costs by approximately £0.2 million, 
from £0.5 million to £0.3 million per month.

JULY 2022
Disposal of the CD4 business 
On 31 July 2022, the Group completed the exit from 
the Alva site with the sale of its CD4 business to 
Accubio for gross proceeds of up to £6.3 million, 
of which £4.0m is held in escrow and up to £1.0m 
is dependent on future product sales. The sale 
completed the planned withdrawal from the Global 
Health division, which at the time of sale was losing 
£0.3 million a month.

This disposal stabilises the finances of the Group 
and leaves the Group focused solely on its profitable 
and cash generative Health and Nutrition business, 
where the Board sees opportunities for growth.

JANUARY 2022
Leadership changes 
After 19 years, Kieron Harbinson stepped down 
as Group Finance Director in August 2021, replaced 
by Chris Lea. Chris has extensive experience of 
AIM-listed small cap companies, with a strong focus 
on turnaround and mergers and acquisitions.

After six years, Colin King stepped down as CEO in 
January 2022. His replacement, Jag Grewal, has been 
with the Group for eleven years, formerly as Group 
Commercial Director and more recently, Managing 
Director of the Health and Nutrition business. 

After nine years, former Chairman Bill Rhodes retired 
from the Board in February 2022.

MAY/JUNE 2022
Fundraising
The Company completed a placing to raise £2.0 million 
before costs, issuing 50 million shares at an issue price 
of 4.0 pence. The placing involved the issue of warrants 
over a further 90 million shares, executable over an 
18-month period at a price of 4.0 pence. A subsequent 
open offer raised an additional £0.2 million. The funding 
enabled the Group to finance the CD4 business through 
to eventual sale and provided additional working capital.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

03

  STRATEGIC REPORTDelivering personalised nutrition 
for better health 

AT A GLANCE continued

The global health and wellness market is estimated by McKinsey 
to be worth $1.5 trillion.  Annual growth is predicted to be between 
5 and 10%, driven by the growing prevalence of chronic lifestyle 
diseases across the globe. The COVID-19 pandemic has also 
highlighted the importance of personal health and wellness. A 
McKinsey survey of 7,500 consumers conducted in six countries 
concluded that 79% of respondents claimed that wellness was 
important, and 42% said wellness was a priority.

The global functional medicine lab testing market is estimated 
to generate revenue of $5.6 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 
10% between 2020 and 2025. Functional medicine is gaining 
widespread traction globally as a science-based, whole-
body approach to addressing chronic disease. More than 100,000 
clinicians – 60% of them medical doctors – have adopted a 
functional medicine emphasis within their clinical practice. North 
America is the leading market for functional medicine lab testing 
due to the increasing demand for personalised medicine, although 
growth projections for the Asia Pacific region and Europe will see 
these regions soon fall into step with the US and Canada.

Omega’s Health and Nutrition products are used 
by customers around the globe and include government and 
private hospitals, reference laboratories, nutritionists, naturopaths, 
and other healthcare professionals who follow a functional 
medicine approach to health and wellness.

Our tests are typically used where there are chronic long-term 
inflammatory conditions that are linked to poor gut health or by 
healthcare consumers wishing to maintain health and wellness. 

How we go to market – our playbook 
We work closely with our global business partners to help 
develop food sensitivity testing markets in their territories. 
Key factors for successful commercialisation of our products 
in global markets include: 

•  engagement of our business partners with our scientific 

education programme; 

•  establishing direct relationships with local professional bodies; 
introducing them to our scientific education programme and 
participation in relevant local health conferences; 

•  dissemination of scientific webinars to labs and healthcare 

practitioners in their local markets; 

•  development of local online and offline marketing, including 

support materials for practitioners and patients; 

•  technical training and education for business partner teams and 

their customers; and 

•  qualified nutrition and technical support. 

04

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

What is food sensitivity? 
Food sensitivity can result from your body 
reacting badly to certain foods. Often the foods 
we regularly include in our diet, or the foods we 
crave, may be the ones causing us a problem. 
Poor gut health appears to be a factor in the 
development of food sensitivities. 

Research has shown that food sensitivity can 
be linked to IgG antibodies produced when 
these "problem" foods are eaten. 

Normally these antibodies do not have any 
ill-effects, but if the immune or digestive system 
is not working optimally, their presence may 
provoke a wide range of symptoms. 

As pioneers in food IgG antibody testing for 
food sensitivities, we have over 30 years’ 
experience and expertise in this field.

Testing for food sensitivities  
There is much debate in scientific community in 
respect of the terminology used to describe 
IgG-mediated food specific antibody testing. 
There is currently no clear international 
consensus, with definitions including type III 
Ig-mediated food allergy, IgG food intolerance 
and IgG food sensitivity amongst others. This 
confusion permeates from healthcare 
practitioners through to their patients. Our tests 
should not be confused with IgE allergy 
panels for food allergy, or diagnostics to 
identify enzyme deficiency food intolerances, 
such as lactose intolerance. While IgE 
antibodies are responsible for acute allergic 
reactions, IgG-mediated manifestations take 
much longer to develop. 

As a result of this confusion relating to IgG food 
antibody testing, we have reviewed how we 
can distinguish the intended purpose of our 
products, which is to identify food-specific IgG 
antibodies in blood from these other clinical 
conditions and have aligned our products with 
the Institute for Functional Medicine (IFM) 
definition which classes these tests as Food 
Sensitivity tests.

Our brands:  

Future strategy

•  Near-patient test in clinic setting

•  59 common foods analysed for 

IgG food antibodies

•  Rapid results in just 40 minutes

•  Trusted by over 150 

laboratories worldwide 

•  Innovative, colorimetric microarray-

based ELISA technology

•  Analyses IgG antibodies to over 

200 different foods

•  Foods tested in duplicate for 

more accurate results

•  Quantitative reporting allows for 
more personalised and precise 
dietary management

•  Wide range of panels available

•  Semi-quantitative results reported 

with easy to interpret results

•  Our UK Lab offers FoodPrint® testing 

and other functional tests to healthcare 
practitioners in the functional/integrative 
medicine sector 

Education is key factor for success 
Key to our vision and maintaining a leadership position in gut health is an 
ongoing programme of scientific education, which includes building 
awareness amongst healthcare practitioners as to how gut health 
impacts on a wide range of long-term clinical conditions. Scientific 
studies have shown a clear link between gut health and certain chronic 
conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or migraine and whilst the 
mechanisms involved are still poorly understood, healthcare 
professionals recognise the importance of preventative care in respect of 
digestive health and overall well-being.  

To support this strategy, Omega is focusing on developing a digital 
education system to allow business partners and healthcare practitioners to 
access relevant scientific education and marketing resources on demand.   

The future is digital 
Digitalisation in the healthcare sector has become a key trend as patients 
seek to prioritise their health and wellness and become more fully 
engaged in playing a more proactive role in managing health conditions. 
Omega is embracing digital technology that will empower healthcare 
practitioners to more easily reach and engage with their patients.  

Food sensitivity testing

Microbiome

Personalised nutrition 
for better health

Micronutrients

Nutrigenomics

Test Menu extension 
Optimal gut health is influenced by a number of factors including diet and 
lifestyle, as well as genetics. We are planning on extending our product 
range to embrace the gut microbiome, as well as nutrigenetic testing, 
which analyses our genetic strengths and weaknesses, and offers 
insights into lifestyle and dietary modifications help improve overall health. 
This will allow healthcare practitioners to more effectively manage 
patients through greater diagnostic insights, offering actionable and easy 
to interpret results, which will inform personalised nutrition protocols. 

A global platform to build on 
Our global network for food sensitivity testing gives us a solid foundation 
for building complementary testing around our current products to give 
healthcare practitioners a more comprehensive insight into an individual’s 
health status. 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

05

STRATEGIC REPORT  INVESTMENT CASE

How we are different

Geographic presence

People and knowledge

Technology and innovation

Strong partnerships

With a geographic presence in 
over 70 countries; with more 
than 150 laboratories around 
the world offering our 
FoodPrint® test, and our 
products positioned at the 
heart of functional testing for 
gut health and nutrition, 
Omega is well positioned to 
exploit the anticipated growth 
within the global health and 
wellness sector. 

Our highly qualified and 
specialist teams include 
scientists with the capability 
and capacity for the 
development of novel 
immunoassays, allied to skilled 
operational and support staff 
to manufacture and 
commercialise opportunities 
in key markets. 

As pioneers in food IgG 
antibody testing for food 
sensitivities, we have over 
30 years’ experience and 
expertise in this field. 

Our track record for 
commercialising pioneering 
diagnostics technologies such 
as microarray and near-patient 
devices speaks for itself. 

As digital technologies are 
increasingly being adopted 
for health purposes, Omega 
is embracing digital 
technology that will 
empower healthcare 
practitioners to more easily 
reach and engage with 
their patients.  

Our global partnerships are a 
key factor in our commercial 
success and our regional 
sales teams offer close 
support alongside our 
scientific marketing team, 
who organise and deliver 
educational events and 
resources for our business 
partners to use with 
their customers. 

Collaboration is one of our 
core values and a fundamental 
part of our scientific education 
programme is our partnerships 
with a number of global and 
UK-based key opinion leaders 
in the nutritional science field. 
These high profile speakers 
drive practitioner engagement 
via educational webinars and 
help position Omega as global 
thought leaders in personalised, 
evidence-based nutritional 
medicine, with a specific focus 
on optimal gut health to 
prevent chronic illness. 

06

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Focused on 
our future

Simon Douglas
Chairman

Looking back over the last twelve months it has been one of highs 
and lows. We have experienced challenges, with the Government 
backed COVID-19 opportunity hitting many hurdles out of our 
control, but we have demonstrated resilience from a trading 
perspective, with a 41% increase in invoiced sales over the 
previous year. 

The Group has a new, talented management team who have 
reacted quickly and decisively to many challenges presented to it 
and the Board have now strategically re-aligned the Group to 
focus on the highly successful and profitable Health and Nutrition 
business. The lateral flow test manufacturing site in Alva, Scotland 
has been successfully divested, together with its 93 staff, to 
Accubio Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zhejiang Orient 
Gene Biotech Co. Ltd (Orient Gene). This was the first step in our 
planned strategy to reshape and restructure the business. The 
CD4 business has also been sold to Accubio Limited for cash 
consideration of up to £6.3 million. 

Following the expected receipt of the deferred consideration of 
£4.0 million from the CD4 business, we will be well financed and 
will focus our efforts solely on our Health and Nutrition business, 
which we believe has substantial opportunities in both China and 
the US and is positioned for good growth and success in the 
coming years. I would like to thank the Board for their 
commitment, decisiveness and determination in difficult 
circumstances, when seeking to maximise the value of the 
Company going forward. 

Business performance
Outside of the COVID-19 opportunity, the Group had a strong 
trading year in its core Health and Nutrition business, with a 25% 

“Last year was an extremely challenging year, 
dominated by the COVID-19 opportunity that ultimately 
did not come to fruition and which destabilised the 
whole Group. The actions we have taken this year to 
withdraw from the COVID-19 market, to dispose of the 
Alva site to reduce losses and, subsequent to the year 
end, to complete the disposal of the loss-making CD4 
business, have left the Group in a much stronger position. 
We currently have approximately £2.5 million in the 
bank and fully expect to receive the £4.0 million CD4 
deferred consideration later this year, which will be 
used to accelerate our growth plans. Our existing 
Health and Nutrition division is profitable and cash 
generative, with opportunities for expansion both 
geographically and in terms of product range”.

Simon Douglas
Chairman

increase in revenue to £8.5 million for the year ended 31 March 
2022 (2021: £6.8 million). The underlying performance was 
significantly better due to sales in 2021 being skewed by a large 
stocking order placed by the Group’s largest partner in China to 
seed the market in 2021. Excluding this order, underlying Health 
and Nutrition sales grew by 54%, driven by strong FoodPrint® 
product sales, up 84%. 

The now discontinued Global Health division also saw substantial 
growth in the period, up 97% to £3.8 million (2021: £1.9 million). 
CD4 revenues increased to £1.0 million (2021: £0.1 million), as 
further progress was made to implement CD4 testing in high HIV 
prevalence countries and where demand from aid agencies and 
non-governmental organisations continues to grow. This 
performance helped secure a buyer for the business.

COVID-19 lateral flow tests
We came into the year on a very positive note, with the 
Government having just announced that as part of its plans for 
dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, it had secured a number of 
UK-based contracts, of which we were one, for the supply of rapid 
COVID-19 antigen lateral flow tests to help prevent the virus from 
spreading and to stop outbreaks from taking hold as restrictions 
were carefully lifted. The intention was that as soon as the 
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) had sourced and 
had access to a test that had successfully passed a performance 
evaluation, the test would be licensed for Omega to manufacture. 
As part of the contract the DHSC provided funds to help expand 
our Alva manufacturing site, which we duly delivered on. However, 
although Omega was in regular dialogue with the DHSC, progress 
was slow, and the DHSC ultimately failed to licence a third-party 
developed test to transfer to Omega’s Alva site for manufacture. 
Eventually they allowed the contract to expire, which 
understandably had a negative and detrimental effect on our 
share price and on shareholder value.

As a result, we were left with insufficient demand and a significant 
manufacturing cost-base in Alva that was accordingly not 
sustainable. The Alva site generated a £4.9 million loss in the nine 
months to 31 December 2021. As part of a strategic review the 
Board decided to substantially reduce costs through the 
divestment of its Alva manufacturing site, to improve operational 
efficiency and to focus on our two growth opportunities, the 
Health and Nutrition business and our VISITECT® CD4 business.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

07

STRATEGIC REPORT  CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT continued

COVID-19 lateral flow tests continued
As announced on 10 December 2021, the Group is in dispute with the 
DHSC regarding the potential repayment of a pre-production payment 
of £2.5 million (net of VAT). The Board of Omega, having taken legal 
advice, does not believe that the Group is required to repay the 
pre-production payment and that it is entitled to recover additional 
losses incurred under the contract. However, we acknowledge that 
there is a risk that a repayment of some or all of this amount may 
be required, the timing and quantum of which is uncertain.

CD4
Our strategy to drive further growth was to relocate CD4 test 
production to Ely, Cambridgeshire, and focus on the profitable and 
growing Health and Nutrition business, but this required additional 
working capital. The Company sought to raise growth capital of up 
to £7.0 million to achieve these goals but following the 
shareholder vote against the resolutions necessary to proceed 
with the proposals, the placing, subscription and open offer did 
not take place.

With the Group not funded to pursue its fully integrated growth 
strategy comprising both the CD4 business, which manufactures 
and supplies VISITECT® CD4 and VISITECT® CD4 Advanced 
Disease tests and the Health and Nutrition division, the Board 
quickly reassessed the strategy for the forthcoming financial year, 
reflecting on alternative options for funding growth for the Group. 

Post year end
The conclusion of this strategic review was a decision taken in 
March 2022, to divest the CD4 business and to focus solely on 
our fast-growing Health and Nutrition business, which as a 
standalone business is profitable, contributed the majority of 
Group revenues, and is one where the Directors believe there to 
be substantial growth opportunities.

On 3 August 2022, we announced that, having run a thorough 
process and receiving a number of indicative offers, the Group 
concluded the sale of the CD4 business to Accubio Limited on 31 
July 2022 for a maximum cash consideration of £5.3 million plus 
a 4% royalty payment over the period to 31 December 2026, 
capped at £1 million in aggregate. Although we are confident of a 
positive outcome from the trial and the receipt of the full amount 
of the deferred consideration, the precise timing and quantum of 
the deferred consideration which will be received is uncertain.

The Board will now focus Omega’s efforts solely on its Health and 
Nutrition business, maintaining its leadership position and 
targeting significant organic growth through embracing digital 
technologies and related marketing activities. 

Board and employees
This year has seen a refreshed Board with many changes, 
creating an experienced board to work together on the next phase 
of Omega’s future, focused on the Health and Nutrition business. 

The summer saw Kieron Harbinson, Group Finance Director, step 
down from his position after 19 years’ invaluable contribution. Bill 
Rhodes, our previous Chairman and Non-Executive Director also 
stepped down from the Board in February 2022 and the Board 
would like to thank both Kieron and Bill for their many years of 
service. Towards the end of the financial year Colin King stepped 
down as the CEO and on behalf of the Board I would like to offer 
our sincere thanks for his contribution to the Group over many 
years and to wish him well for the future.

08

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Omega welcomed the appointment of Jag Grewal to the position 
of CEO in January 2022. Jag has been a member of the Omega 
Board for over ten years and has over 25 years’ commercial 
experience in the field of in vitro diagnostics and specifically in our 
Health and Nutrition division, where he was Managing Director. In 
August 2021, we were pleased to announce the appointment of 
Chris Lea, ACA, as Chief Financial Officer, someone who has 
extensive public company and private equity board level 
experience, gained within multi-national, high growth and 
turnaround environments.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has become better controlled, 
primarily through a successful vaccination programme, it still 
remains with us, and we still continue to take precautions where 
possible. We have also seen many structural changes within the 
Group and I would like to thank all of our staff for their commitment 
and dedication for continuing to deliver both products and 
services throughout the year. For those who are no longer 
employees of Omega, I wish them all the success for the future 
under the new ownership. 

Outlook 
Last year was an extremely challenging year, dominated by the 
COVID-19 opportunity that ultimately did not come to fruition and 
which destabilised the whole Group. The actions we have taken 
this year to withdraw from the COVID-19 market, to dispose of the 
Alva site to reduce losses and, subsequent to the year end, to 
complete the disposal of the loss-making CD4 business have left 
the Group in a much stronger position. We currently have 
approximately £2.5 million in the bank and fully expect to receive 
the £4.0 million CD4 deferred consideration later this year, which 
will be used to accelerate our growth plans. Our existing Health 
and Nutrition division is profitable and cash generative, with 
opportunities for expansion both geographically and in terms of 
product range.

Despite inflationary headwinds, the Group’s Health and Nutrition 
markets continue to grow, although as a consequence of China’s 
zero tolerance approach to COVID-19, market adoption of our food 
sensitivity products in China will be slower than previously 
envisaged. With a number of product re-registrations being in 
process following a significant technical product change 
undertaken in May 2022, and variability in the ordering profile of 
many of the Group’s distributors, including those in China, 
revenues are expected to be weighted towards the second half of 
the current financial year. Planned investments to increase 
capacity, broaden the product range and the establishment of a 
US presence will be dependent on receiving the CD4 deferred 
consideration and will increase operating expenses this year, with 
the Group targeting EBITDA break even for its continuing activities 
and the benefit of those investments expected to be realised in 
the following financial year, when we expect to be both profitable 
and cash generative. 

Simon Douglas
Chairman
11 September 2022

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW

A clear focus on Health and Nutrition 

Jag Grewal
Chief Executive

•  Health and Nutrition revenues up 25% and 

back to pre-pandemic levels

•  disposal of the loss making Covid-19 and CD4 
businesses based at the Alva site, generating 
significant funds for investment

•  strategy now focused exclusively on the 

profitable and cash generative Health and 
Nutrition business

•  post year end equity fundraise of £2.2 million 

(before expenses)

Introduction
To suggest the past financial year has been tumultuous is 
probably an understatement and I echo the Chairman’s 
comments of it being a year of highs and lows. Whilst our 
underlying established business units grew strongly over prior 
year, much of the focus and excitement was obviously centred 
around the potential for Omega to step up and support the UK 
Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through 
increased levels of testing. 

However, government policy and market conditions changed 
rapidly throughout the period. The UK Government effectively 
decided not to invest in parts of the UK industry and to source 
products from abroad. This left Omega, along with several 
other domestic in vitro diagnostic manufacturers, in a position 
where the scaled up of resources and capacity were unviable  
and/or unsustainable.

When I stepped into the CEO role in January 2022, it was clear 
that we had to act quickly to stem our losses, while creating a new 
foundation for the future. This resulted in the sale of the Alva site 
to Accubio Limited while we retained VISITECT® CD4 
manufacturing capability there under a transitional services 
agreement. We then sought to raise funds to assist the transfer of 
CD4 manufacturing and to invest in key growth opportunities for 
Health and Nutrition. 

Following on from the placing, which shareholders voted against at 
the general meeting held on 7 March 2022, the Board re-evaluated 
the strategic options for the Group’s CD4 business. The conclusion 
of this strategic review was that in March 2022 the Board elected to 
divest this business unit and to focus solely on its already 
established, growing and profitable Health and Nutrition business, 
which contributed the majority of Group revenues.

Core business review
Health and Nutrition

The Group offers products to test for food sensitivity, a condition 
where there is a non-immediate adverse physiological response 
to particular foods, as distinct to an allergic reaction to food. The 
Food Detective® product is designed for use by healthcare 
practitioners and is believed to be the world’s only established 
point-of-care food specific IgG test. 

FoodPrint® is a microarray technology used by over 150 
laboratories worldwide and offering significant benefits over 
traditional plate-based ELISA tests. The Group also provides a 
laboratory testing service from its UK base near Cambridge under 
the CNS Lab brand, serving healthcare professionals and 
consumers directly. The division’s products have a widespread 
coverage and brand reach in over 70 countries.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

09

STRATEGIC REPORT  CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REVIEW continued

Core business review continued
Health and Nutrition continued

In the year ended 31 March 2022, Health and Nutrition revenues 
were £8.5 million (2021: £6.8 million). Prior year sales were 
skewed by a large stocking order worth approximately £1.2 million 
placed by the Group’s largest partner in China to seed the market 
in 2021. Excluding this stocking order from prior year, I am pleased 
to report that underlying Health and Nutrition sales grew by 54%, 
driven by strong FoodPrint® product sales, up 84%. This division 
remains the key area of strategic focus, with substantial strategic 
growth opportunities in both China and the US, in addition to 
organic growth driven by an increasing awareness of how gut 
health impacts chronic inflammatory disease.

Growth during the period was driven by sales in North America, 
Europe and the Middle East, with all markets demonstrating 
growth other than China. Omega’s team have worked incredibly 
hard to educate consumers and drive awareness of nutritional 
therapy through its Health and Nutrition Academy webinars. These 
webinars have also focused on naturopathic therapies, functional 
medicine and sports nutrition and the Board remains confident 
that this will drive demand once markets fully open back up. 
Comparative sales from China were skewed by a large stocking 
order placed the previous year with Omega’s partner utilising that 
inventory in 2021 to seed the market. Sales ramp up in China is 
taking a little longer than expected due to local market conditions 
and the challenges that face any company looking to introduce a 
relatively new concept into the Chinese consumer market.

During the period, the Health and Nutrition team has begun 
marketing in a number of new and significant European territories, 
but the focus on future growth outside of China remains with the 
US and, as international travel opens up, Omega’s team have 
more opportunities to engage with key partners in this market. In 
readiness for a future growth, the Group still expects to relocate 
the business to a new purpose-built facility in Ely which will 
improve operational efficiencies and provide the additional 
capacity required to support growth expectations.

Global Health (now discontinued)

The Global Health division also saw substantial revenue growth in 
the period, up 97% to £3.8 million (2021: £1.9 million). 

The VISITECT® CD4 products are disposable, lateral flow 
point-of-care tests for determining CD4 levels in people living with 
HIV. Omega believes VISITECT® CD4 is the only instrument-free 
point-of-care established test in the market. Its strengths include 
the fact there is no requirement for refrigerated storage and 
relative to other CD4 tests that require an accompanying desktop 
instrument, it is affordable and easy to use.

Omega recorded CD4 sales of £1.0 million (2021: £0.1million) and 
was encouraged by the progress being made to implement CD4 
testing in high HIV prevalence countries and the demand 
experienced from aid agencies and non-governmental 
organisations continued to grow. At the end of March 2022 
Omega had confirmed orders worth over £1.1 million which were 
expected to be delivered in the year ending 31 March 2023, and 
the Group had an encouraging sales pipeline.

However, following on from the placing, which shareholders voted 
against, the Board had to re-evaluate the strategic options for the 
CD4 business as the Group lacked the resources to fund the 
growth in the business. Accordingly, the conclusion of the 
strategic review in March 2022 was that the Board intended to 
divest the CD4 business and to focus solely on its already 
established and profitable Health and Nutrition business. The 
Board considered that the CD4 business was likely to be more 
successful under new ownership, with an owner with a greater 
capacity to invest in production capabilities and product 
development/improvement.

The sale of the CD4 business to Accubio Limited for up to £6.3 
million was concluded on 31 July 2022, leaving the Group now 
focused solely on the Health and Nutrition business.

The market for COVID-19 lateral flow tests changed dramatically 
over the last twelve months. The anticipated volumes under the 
Group’s contract with the DHSC did not materialise and the 
contract lapsed in late 2021. The Group had very limited success 
in gaining the necessary product approvals in a timely fashion and 
during this time, product pricing had reduced significantly, with a 
large quantity of UK testing requirements being sourced from high 
volume manufacturers in China. With the then surplus of products 
on the market, selling prices became substantially below the 
Group’s cost of raw materials, thereby making Omega’s COVID-19 
business unit unviable. COVID-19 related revenues contributed 
£2.6 million last year (2020: £1.7 million); however, in light of these 
circumstances, the Board took the decision to no longer pursue 
any COVID-19 opportunities. 

As announced on 10 December 2021, the Group is in dispute with 
the DHSC regarding the potential repayment of a pre-production 
payment of £2.5 million. The Board of Omega, having taken legal 
advice, do not believe that the Group is required to repay the 
pre-production payment and that it is entitled to recover additional 
losses incurred under the contract. Discussions with the DHSC 
remain ongoing. At the Group’s request, the DHSC is making 
arrangements to remove the government-funded equipment from 
the Alva site.

10

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Summary and Outlook
After a tumultuous year, Omega has re-emerged as a more 
focused and significantly better funded company, dedicated to 
delivering personalised nutrition diagnostics. It was Thomas 
Edison who memorably stated that “I have not failed. I've just 
found 10,000 ways that won't work”. Learning lessons from the 
past will inform and guide Omega’s future. We will move away 
from strategies that are built on new product development and 
targeting unfamiliar market segments to those growing from an 
established leadership position in an existing segment that has 
huge potential for growth. New product development will be 
replaced by commercial and service development utilising 
existing technologies that are underpinned by a digital and 
educational strategy that will maintain our brand in the 
marketplace. It has been proven time and time again across many 
industries that those companies with a narrow focus and low level 
of distraction are more likely to deliver on their vision.

We operate in an exciting market where it is increasingly being 
recognised that improving gut health and avoiding food-driven 
inflammation are key to achieving a healthy weight and 
maximising your energy. As healthcare systems creak under the 
burden of chronic disease and an aging population, society is 
increasingly turning to prevention through wellness. Gut health is 
at the very frontier of this change and we in turn sit at the heart of 
this movement.

On a personal level, I was honoured to be asked to lead the 
organisation in January 2022. I work with an extraordinary group of 
talented individuals whose knowledge and know how form a key 
cornerstone of our strategy within personalised nutrition. Over the 
past few years, Colin led the organisation honourably over that 
time and brought a lot of positive change to our business. I would 
like to thank Colin for his support and mentorship over the years, 
without which I would not be in a position to take the reins and lead 
a company I love, in a healthcare market I am passionate about.

Jag Grewal
Chief Executive Officer
11 September 2022

Strategy
Going forward, the Board will now focus Omega’s efforts solely on 
its core Health and Nutrition business, maintaining its leadership 
position and targeting significant organic growth through 
embracing digital technologies and related marketing activities. 
The Group’s growth strategy in this segment will also focus on 
geographic expansion in the USA, a health-conscious and mature 
personal health and well-being market, as well as expansion of 
the Group’s current menu of tests available to healthcare 
professionals, with the introduction of complementary tests, 
allowing customers to more comprehensively manage their 
patients and thus enabling the Board’s vision of delivering 
personalised nutrition for better health.

The US Food Sensitivity testing market is estimated to be the 
largest and most established market in the world. It is the leading 
market for functional medicine laboratory testing with an 
increasing demand for personalised medicine. The Board 
believes the best route to market would be to replicate the 
Group’s CNS Laboratory service direct to healthcare 
professionals and ultimately direct to consumer. Omega 
differentiates itself from established players by taking the Group’s 
tried and tested market leading approach with education and 
support, coupled with its digital strategy, to engage and empower 
patients and healthcare professionals. The total US market size is 
estimated by the Directors to be $50-$100 million and the Board 
believes that Omega’s US revenues could potentially be between 
£3 million and £6 million over the next three to five years.

In order to realise our vision of becoming a leader in delivering 
diagnostics that provide a complete gut health assessment, it is 
our intention to build a wider menu of complementary gut health 
tests and to sell these through our already well-established 
channels from a market leading position in over 70 countries. 
Understanding the microbiome is the new frontier of 
understanding chronic inflammatory conditions arising from poor 
gut health. Over recent years the gut microbiome in particular has 
been linked to a plethora of diseases and conditions, from 
diabetes and anxiety to obesity and the Group has recently seen a 
growing demand from its existing customer base in this segment.

In addition to the microbiome, it is also important to understand 
the relationship between nutrients, diet, and gene expression. 
Nutrigenomics allows the healthcare professional to understand 
genetic strengths and weaknesses making specific improvements 
that help achieve better health. Combining microbiome and 
nutrigenomics with our existing IgG tests provide a compelling 
value proposition that will offer true personalised nutritional 
assessment and the Board believes that menu expansion has the 
potential to generate material revenue growth over the medium 
term. The Directors believe that menu expansion from microbiome 
and nutrigenomics combined has the potential to increase 
revenues by £2 million to £5 million over the next five years.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

11

STRATEGIC REPORT  FINANCIAL REVIEW

Restructuring for growth

Dispute with the DHSC
As announced on 10 December 2021, the Group is in dispute with 
the DHSC regarding the potential repayment of a pre-production 
payment of £2.5 million (net of VAT). The Board of Omega, having 
taken legal advice, does not believe that the Group is required to 
repay the pre-production payment and that it is entitled to recover 
additional losses incurred under the contract. Discussions with 
the DHSC are ongoing. The legal costs associated with the 
dispute have been expensed and, with no production volume over 
which the pre-production payment can be recovered as 
envisaged in the contract, the Group still retains a deferred 
income balance of £2.5 million pending resolution of the dispute.

Alongside the DHSC contract, the Group sought to develop its 
own COVID-19 lateral flow test for manufacture and sale, although 
the DHSC contract was not dependent on a test developed by 
Omega. Regrettably, the Group had very limited success in 
gaining the necessary COVID-19 product approvals in a timely 
fashion and during this time product pricing had reduced 
significantly, with a large quantity of UK testing requirements being 
sourced from high volume manufacturers in China. With a surplus 
of products on the market, selling prices fell substantially below 
the Group’s cost of raw materials therefore making Omega’s 
COVID-19 business unit unviable. In light of these circumstances, 
the Board decided to cease pursuing any COVID-19 opportunities.

On 4 March 2022, the Group requested the DHSC make 
arrangements to remove the government-funded equipment 
from the Alva site. To date, much of the government-funded 
equipment remains on the Alva site, which is no longer owned 
or occupied by Omega.

Following the sale of the Alva site and the sale of Omega’s CD4 
business to Accubio on 7 March and 31 July 2022 respectively, the 
Group is now in a better position to quantify the additional costs 
suffered as a result of the DHSC’s actions and expects to pursue the 
recovery of these incremental costs from the DHSC. The financial 
statements do not however, assume any recovery of such costs.

Sale of the loss-making Alva site while protecting jobs
The expansion of the Alva site in anticipation of government 
demand which did not materialise, coupled with a modest, but 
growing demand for CD4 tests, gave rise to a manufacturing facility 
with a high level of fixed costs, including regulatory and quality 
assurance costs disproportionate to activity levels, and insufficient 
revenue. The Alva site was losing circa £0.5 million per month and 
with finite cash resources available, put the future of the entire 
Group at risk. It was readily apparent that swift action needed to be 
taken to substantially reduce the Alva cost base. During 
discussions with Orient Gene regarding sub-contract manufacture 
of COVID-19 lateral flow tests, it became apparent that Orient Gene 
were seeking a UK manufacturing site with lateral flow expertise. A 
sale of the Alva site to Orient Gene, through their wholly owned UK 
subsidiary company, Accubio Limited, would allow the Group to 
assign the remaining 14 years of the lease, transfer 93 employees 
to Accubio thereby avoiding any redundancy costs and to dispose 

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer

The year has unfortunately been dominated by COVID-19 and the 
expansion of the Alva site to facilitate the contract for the 
manufacture of lateral flow tests for the DHSC which was awarded 
in February 2021, together with dealing with the consequences 
arising from the non-performance of that contract.

Following the award of the DHSC contract, the Group acted swiftly 
and in good faith to increase the production capacity of its Alva 
site to meet anticipated government demand. Funded initially by 
advance payments of £2.5 million from the DHSC, the Group 
rented additional floor space in Alva, re-configured the 
manufacturing site, recruited and trained a significant number of 
new employees and purchased the plant and machinery 
necessary to deliver lateral flow tests at scale. The funding from 
the DHSC covered the initial costs of expansion, up to and 
including July 2021, with this advance funding to be recovered by 
the DHSC at an agreed amount per test produced. 

Unfortunately, the anticipated volumes under the Group’s contract 
with the DHSC did not materialise, as the DHSC failed to licence 
the necessary intellectual property to enable the Group to 
commence manufacture. The DHSC did not advise the Group of 
its failure to licence the necessary technology and instead, 
allowed the contract to lapse in late 2021. The Board considers 
that the DHSC should have notified the Group that the contract 
could not be fulfilled and invoked the termination clauses within 
the contract, which would have allowed the Group to recover 
additional losses incurred in relation to redundancy costs, the sale 
of assets and contract break costs.

12

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

of certain fixed assets for value. The Group also negotiated the 
right to occupy part of the Alva site until 31 December 2022 and to 
purchase manufacturing and administrative services from Accubio, 
enabling CD4 manufacturing to continue until such time as it could 
be relocated to the Group’s planned new site in Ely. The disposal of 
the Alva site was completed on 7 March 2022, with the Group 
receiving cash proceeds of £1.0 million.

Placing and an open offer/direct subscription
At the same time as the announcement of the Alva site sale, the 
Group had contracted with a number of placees to raise £5.0 
million at a share price of 5.0 pence, with the additional funding 
facilitating the planned relocation of the CD4 business to Ely, as 
well as financing investments in the Health and Nutrition division 
and providing additional working capital for the Group. The Board 
however failed to convince shareholders of the need to raise funds 
for this purpose at the general meeting on 7 March 2022 and the 
placing did not proceed. As a consequence, the Group was no 
longer capable of funding the relocation of its CD4 business and 
instead, immediately sought to divest itself of this loss-making 
business unit. Still requiring additional funding to finance the CD4 
business through to an eventual sale, the Company undertook a 
placing in May 2022 and an open offer/direct subscription in June 
2022 which raised £2.0 million and £0.2 million respectively, at a 
price of 4.0 pence, with the placees requiring warrants over a 
further 90 million shares at an exercise price of 4.0 pence.

Disposal/sale of CD4 business 
Following the decision to divest the CD4 business, the Group 
completed the disposal to Accubio on 31 July 2022. Under the terms 
of this agreement, the Group received an immediate cash payment of 
£0.5 million for fixed assets and £0.9 million for inventory on hand at 
completion. Furthermore, the Group expects to receive an additional 
£4.0 million contingent on the successful outcome of an ongoing final 
clinical study in Kenya which is expected to conclude in the autumn 
and will receive a royalty of 4% of Accubio’s future CD4 revenues for 
the period to 31 December 2026, capped at £1.0 million in aggregate.

The decisions to divest the CD4 business and to withdraw from 
the COVID-19 market resulted in the recognition an impairment of 
£1.9 million on the remeasurement of asset values to fair value, less 
costs to sell, as well as an impairment of inventory of £0.7 million.

With the withdrawal from COVID-19 having been announced in 
March, and the decision, also in March, to divest the CD4 
business, the Group no longer operates in the Global Health 
market as previously reported. As such, the Global Health division 
has been treated as a discontinued operation, with the CD4 
assets and any associated research and development assets 
being written down to their recoverable amount and reclassified 
as assets held for sale as at 31 March 2022. This now leaves the 
Group solely focussed on its profitable and cash generative 
Health and Nutrition division going forward.

Following the sale, the Group were left with surplus plant and 
equipment with a net book value of £0.7 million, the majority of 
which relate to the COVID-19 business and which were purchased 
as part of the site expansion for the DHSC contract. These assets 
were offered to potential purchasers of the CD4 business and as 
such have been classified as assets held for sale at 31 March 
2022. These non-CD4 assets have been written down to an 
estimated recoverable amount of £0.1 million.

216

287

50

(171)

(950)

Total
£’000

6,816

Financial results summary – continuing operations
For the year ended 31 March 2022, the Group reported revenue of 
£8.5 million (2021: £6.8 million), an EBITDA loss of £0.4 million 
(2021: EBITDA loss of £0.1 million), an adjusted EBITDA of £0.2 
million (2021: £0.1 million), and a statutory loss before tax of £1.0 
million (2021: £0.5 million).

2022

Sales

Operating profit/(loss) after 

exceptional costs

Add back:

Health and

Nutrition Corporate
£’000

£’000

Total
£’000

8,539

—

8,539

965

(1,894)

(929)

Depreciation and amortisation

547

—

547

EBITDA

Share-based payment charge

Compensation for loss of office

Aborted placing costs

1,512

(1,894)

(382)

58

—

—

158

287

50

Adjusted EBITDA

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

1,570

944

(1,399)

(1,894)

2021

Sales

Operating profit/(loss) after 

exceptional costs

Add back:

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

6,816

—

906

(1,374)

(468)

Depreciation and amortisation

357

—

EBITDA

1,263

(1,374)

Share-based payment charge

Exceptional costs

Adjusted EBITDA

Statutory profit/(loss) before taxation

72

—

1,335

856

131

—

(1,243)

(1,402)

357

(111)

203

—

92

(546)

Health and Nutrition revenue increased by 25% to £8.5 million 
(2021: £6.8 million), as markets opened up following the easing of 
COVID-19 restrictions. Prior year sales are skewed by a large 
stocking order worth approximately £1.2m placed by the Group’s 
largest partner in China to seed the market in 2021. Excluding this 
stocking order from last year, underlying sales grew by 54%, 
driven by strong Food Print® product sales, up 84%. This remains 
one of the key areas of strategic focus, with substantial growth 
opportunities in both China and the US. 

A summary of Health and Nutrition revenue is in the table below:

FoodPrint® 
Food Detective® 
CNS Laboratory service

Food ELISA/other

2022
£'000

6,102

1,614

484

339

2021
£'000

3,325

2,525

430

536

inc/(dec)
% 

84%

(36)%

13%

(37)%

8,539

6,816

25%

The gross profit margin percentage has increased to 59.7% 
(2021: 58.6%) which has benefitted from the growth in the higher 
margin FoodPrint® sales, the Group’s highest margin product.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

13

STRATEGIC REPORT  FINANCIAL REVIEW continued

Financial results summary – continuing operations 
continued

Excluding exceptional costs, administrative overheads on 
continuing operations increased by £0.8 million to £4.4 million 
(2021: £3.6 million). Research and development and regulatory 
affairs resources have been focused on compliance with the new In 
Vitro Medical Device Regulations (EU) 2017/746, which were due to 
be implemented in May 2022 but have subsequently been delayed 
to 2027 and directed more towards product improvement rather 
than development and have therefore been expensed rather than 
being capitalised. In contrast to the prior year, the year ended 31 
March 2022 includes a full year amortisation charge for two specific 
research and development projects, Salary costs include an 
increase in temporary staff to support growth, together with a return 
to the full expense following the end of the Job Retention Scheme.

Selling and marketing costs have increased by £0.3 million to £1.3 
million (2021: £1.0 million) due to the implementation of the new 
corporate branding, increased headcount and a return to 
tradeshows and international travel after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Exceptional items

During the year, the Group incurred exceptional costs on 
continuing operations of £0.3 million. The costs incurred related 
to the settlement associated with the outgoing Chief Executive 
and the legal costs associated with the aborted placing.

Financial results summary – discontinued operations

As a consequence of the decision taken in March 2022 to 
dispose of the CD4 business, the Global Health division, which 
also included the COVID-19 business, has been treated as a 
discontinued operation, with the COVID-19 assets, CD4 assets 
and any associated research and development assets being 
written down to their recoverable amount and reclassified as 
assets held for sale as at 31 March 2022.

Year ended 31 March 2022

Sales

Operating loss after exceptional costs

Impairment on the remeasurement  

of asset values

Depreciation and amortisation

EBITDA
Share based payment charge

Exceptional costs

Impairment on the remeasurement  

of asset values

Adjusted EBITDA

Loss before taxation

2022
£'000

3,789

(7,476)

(1,915)

742

(8,649)

66

1,028

1,915

(5,640)

(9,550)

2021
£'000

1,919

(2,853)

—

528

(2,325)

67

—

—

(2,258)

(2,993)

Revenue from Global Health increased to £3.8 million (2021: £1.9 
million), principally due to the activities undertaken with COVID-19 
testing. The largest portion of revenue was derived from 
manufacturing COVID-19 lateral flow antibody tests on behalf of 
the UK-Rapid Test Consortium, followed by sub-contracting 
activities undertaken on behalf of third parties. 

14

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Omega also shipped 309,000 VISITECT® CD4 Advanced 
Disease tests (2021: 37,000 tests) generating a revenue of £1.0 
million (2021: £0.1 million), including sales through the Clinton 
Health Access Initiative supply agreement into countries including 
Nigeria, Uganda, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. 

VISITECT CD4

COVID-19

Allergy/autoimmune

Other

2022
£'000

968

2,596

87

138

3,789

2021
£'000

111

1,668

73

67

 inc/(dec)
 %

772%

56%

19%

106%

1,919

97%

The exceptional costs associated with the discontinued Global 
Health division are as follows:

Loss on disposal of the Alva site (after costs)

Gain on disposal of Alva lease

Impairment of Global Health inventory

Bad debt expense
Reduction in Omega Diagnostics GmbH 

settlement*

2022
£'000

(399)

158

(723)

(190)

126

(1,028)

2021
£'000

—

—

—

—

—

—

* 

 Relates to the German business which was discontinued in the year ended  
31 March 2019.

The loss on disposal of the Alva site includes the sale of tangible 
fixed assets at a loss of £0.2 million, transaction costs of £0.1 million 
and other costs of £0.1 million. In addition, the Group made a net 
gain of £0.2 million when disposing of the Alva property lease.

All COVID-19 inventory was fully impaired at 31 March 2022 and 
CD4 inventory has been written down to net realisable value in 
line with the terms of the CD4 sale and purchase agreement, 
resulting in an aggregate impairment charge of £0.7 million.

The bad debt expense of £0.2 million includes a provision for the 
potential repayment which may arise if Abingdon Health are 
unsuccessful in resolving their ongoing dispute with the DHSC.

The insolvency claim relating to Omega Diagnostics GmbH was 
settled during the year for £0.3 million, £0.1 million lower than had 
been provided for in prior periods.

Assets held for sale
At 31 March 2022, the Global Health assets of £5.0 million and 
liabilities of £0.5 million were reclassified as held for sale. These 
assets and liabilities included CD4 assets and liabilities and 
non-CD4 assets and liabilities.

Following the withdrawal from the COVID-19 market and disposals 
of the Alva manufacturing site and the CD4 business, the Group 
also has a number of surplus assets which are no longer required 
to support its operations. These non-CD4 assets are primarily 
plant and equipment purchased in anticipation of COVID-19 lateral 
flow test production. 

The Group has recognised an impairment loss of £1.9 million on 
the remeasurement of the CD4 and non-CD4 assets to their fair 
value, less costs to sell. This amount includes assumptions on the 
fair value of deferred consideration and future royalty income to be 
received by the Group following the sale of the CD4 business.

Adjusted EBITDA
The continuing Group continues to consider EBITDA and adjusted 
EBITDA as being more appropriate measures of profitability which 
are better aligned with the cash generating activities of the 
business. Whilst the Group made an EBITDA loss of £9.0 million 

(2021: £2.4 million), the continuing Group generated an EBITDA 
loss in the year of £0.4 million (2021: £0.1 million). The adjusted 
EBITDA (before exceptional costs, share based payment charges 
and the impairment loss recognised on the remeasurement to fair 
value of assets held for sale, less costs to sell) is £0.2 million 
(2021: £0.1 million).

2022

2021

Continuing
operations
£’000

Discontinued
operations
£’000

Total
£’000

Continuing
operations
£’000

Discontinued
operations
£’000

(929)

(7,476)

(8,405)

(468)

(2,853)

Operating loss after exceptional costs

Impairment on the remeasurement of 

asset values

Depreciation and amortisation

EBITDA
Exceptional costs

Impairment on the remeasurement of 

asset values

Share based payment charge

Adjusted EBITDA

—

547

(382)

337

—

216

171

(1,915)

742

(8,649)

1,028

1,915

66

(1,915)

1,289

(9,031)

1,365

1,915

282

(5,640)

(5,469)

—

357

(111)

—

—

203

92

Total
£’000

(3,321)

—

885

—

528

(2,325)

(2,436)

—

—

67

(2,258)

—

—

270

(2,166)

The standalone Health and Nutrition business remains profitable, 
with an adjusted EBITDA of £1.6 million (2021: £1.3 million).

After the loss arising from discontinued activities of £9.9 million 
(2021: £2.5 million), the Group has recorded a loss after tax of 
£11.3 million (2021: £2.1 million). 

Taxation
The current year tax charge of £0.5 million arises predominantly 
from a reassessment of the recoverability of the tax losses of 
£19.5 million as at 31 March 2022. Other than to offset any 
deferred tax liabilities which may crystallise in the future, based on 
the Group’s trading assumptions the deferred tax asset in respect 
of trading losses will begin being realised from 2024 onwards, 
when the Group starts to generate taxable profits. The deferred 
tax asset has been valued based upon a future UK Corporation 
tax of 19%, increasing to 25% from 1 April 2023.

Loss per share
The loss per share was 6.2 pence (2021: 1.2 pence) based on 
a statutory loss after tax of £11.3 million (2021: loss of £2.1 million). 
The basic loss per share for continuing operations was 0.9 pence 
(2021: earnings per share 0.2 pence). The adjusted loss per 
share was 4.2 pence (2021: 1.0 pence). The adjusted loss after 
tax was £7.7 million (2021: loss of £1.7 million) and the loss per 
share is calculated on the basic average of 182.6 million shares 
(2021: 171.7 million shares) in issue. The adjusted loss per share 
on continuing operations was 0.4 pence (2021: earnings per 
share of 0.4 pence).

Research and development
During the year, the Group invested a total of £0.4 million in all 
development activities associated with continuing operations, a 
reduction of £0.1 million from the prior year (2021: £0.5 million), 
representing 5.1% (2021: 6.9%) of revenue. Of the total 
expenditure, £0.1 million (2021: £0.3 million) has been capitalised in 
accordance with IAS 38 – Development Costs, whilst earlier stage 
expenditure and expenditure not qualifying in accordance with IAS 
38 criteria of £0.5 million (2021: £0.6 million) has been expensed 
through the income statement. The capitalised expenditure 
incurred all related to the development of the digital platform. 

Research and development expenditure on the now discontinued 
Global Health division totalled £0.8 million during the year (2021: 
£1.0 million). Capitalised expenditure reduced by £0.1 million to 
£0.5 million (2021: £0.6 million) with the remaining £0.3 million 
expensed to the income statement (2021: £0.4 million).

Property, plant and equipment
Total expenditure on property, plant and equipment in the year 
was £1.0 million (2021: £2.0 million). Additions of £0.4 million were 
incurred on leasehold improvements in relation to the Alva site 
and these have been disposed of following the sale of the site 
early in 2022. 

Following the sale of the Alva site, the Group recognised a net 
gain on the disposal of the Alva lease of £0.2 million.

As at 31 March 2022, the outstanding liabilities in connection with 
leases recognised under IFRS16 includes short-term liabilities of 
£0.1 million (2021: £0.2 million) and long-term liabilities of £0.02 
million (2021: £2.0 million). 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

15

STRATEGIC REPORT  FINANCIAL REVIEW continued

Financing and going concern
In determining the appropriate basis of preparation of the financial 
statements, the Directors are required to consider whether the 
Company and Group can continue in operational existence through 
a period of at least twelve months from the date of approving the 
financial statements (the going concern period). The Directors have 
determined that the going concern period for purposes of these 
financial statements is the period through to 30 September 2023. 
The Group realised a loss of £11.3 million for the year ended 
31 March 2022 (2021: loss of £2.1 million). As at 31 March 2022, 
the Group had net current assets of £2.8 million, including a cash 
balance of £1.6 million and additionally had a overdraft facility of 
£2.0 million, which was undrawn. Subsequent to the year end, the 
overdraft facility was extended to 30 September 2022 on existing 
terms but following the sale of the CD4 business in July, Bank of 
Scotland have subsequently indicated it will not be renewed 
beyond this date. At the date of finalising these financial 
statements, the Group has cash in bank of £2.5 million.

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely 
to affect its future development, performance and position, are 
set out in the Strategic Report. The financial position of the Group, 
its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are 
described in the Financial Review.

In May and June 2022, the Group raised £2.2 million from 
shareholders through a placing and open offer/direct subscription, 
in order to finance the loss-making CD4 business through to 
eventual disposal. The sale of the CD4 business was concluded 
on 31 July 2022, with the Group subsequently receiving a cash 
payment of £0.5 million for the sale of fixed assets and a further 
£0.9 million for inventory on hand. A further £4.0 million is expected 
to be received, contingent on the successful outcome of an ongoing 
clinical study in Kenya which is expected to conclude in the final 
quarter of this calendar year. Royalty fees of 4% of Accubio’s 
future CD4 revenues for the period to 31 December 2026 would 
also be due to be received, up to £1.0 million in aggregate. 

The Directors have prepared trading and cash flow base case 
forecasts to 30 September 2023, taking into account the full 
anticipated proceeds from the sale of the CD4 business and have 
applied severe downside sensitivities and reverse stress tests to 
the base case forecasts. The sensitivities and stress tests have 
been applied to take account of the impact of potential uncertain 
outcomes that are, to an extent, outside of management’s control, 
as well as reduced trading forecasts, taking into account current 
macro-economic conditions. These scenarios include:

•  Not receiving any of the deferred consideration of £4.0 million 
arising from the sale of the CD4 business. This would require 
the VISITECT® CD4 test to fail to meet the agreed levels of 
sensitivity and specificity, the Group’s response to the points 
raised in the study report to be dismissed and the World Health 
Organisation to officially de-list the product, removing it from 
the market entirely. The Directors consider that this final step will 
not be taken lightly as the test is unique. Should the product be 
de-listed, an evaluation of the time and costs associated with 
any remedial action is to be agreed between the Group and 
Accubio Limited, with the costs of any such action to be met 
from the deferred consideration held in escrow, subject to a 
maximum cap of £4.0 million. There is therefore a range of 

potential outcomes arising from the Kenyan trial, ranging from a 
cash receipt of £4.0 million to £nil, and the timing and quantum 
is, to an extent, outside of management’s control.

•  Reduction in forecast revenue to £8.5 million per annum, in line 

with the year ended 31 March 2022, together with a 2% 
reduction in gross margin to 58%.

•  After factoring the impact of the above sensitivities, the 

Directors considered certain discretionary cost mitigation 
measures which could be taken, including eliminating any new 
headcount, delaying the planned investments in product menu 
expansion and in establishing a US presence, further delaying 
the start of the lease for the new Ely premises and seeking 
recovery of liquidated damages in cash or through the benefit of 
a rent-free period. The severe downside forecast takes account 
of all of these mitigating actions that could be taken as needed, 
but does not include any new debt finance facilities which may 
be available to the Group. The Directors consider these 
mitigating actions to be under their direct control.

•  After taking into account the above sensitivities and mitigating 
actions, the reverse stress test indicates revenue could fall 
by a further 38% and a gross margin could deteriorate by an 
additional 2% before forecast cash resources are exhausted.

After taking legal advice and making an assessment of the terms 
and conditions contained within the contract with the DHSC, the 
Directors do not believe the Group will be required to repay the 
pre-production payment of £2.5 million. In addition, the Directors 
consider there to be grounds to claim for damages for additional 
losses incurred under the contract. As such, the Directors believe 
there is a reasonable prospect that no cash outflow in the form of 
a repayment to the DHSC and repayment is not included in the 
base case or as a sensitivity. However, the Director’s acknowledge 
that there is a risk that a repayment of some or all of this amount 
may be required, the timing and quantum of which is uncertain.

The receipt of the CD4 sale proceeds of £4.0 million is dependent 
on the outcome of an ongoing, independent clinical study. Although 
the Directors are confident of a positive outcome from the trial and 
the receipt of the full amount of the deferred consideration, the 
precise timing and quantum is uncertain.

The Directors acknowledge there is an element of uncertainty 
within the going concern period attaching to the outcome of the 
DHSC dispute and the receipt of the CD4 deferred consideration. If 
both outstanding matters went against the Group to the maximum 
extent of £6.5 million, this may exhaust the available liquidity of the 
Company and Group and represents a material uncertainty which 
may cast significant doubt on the Company and Group’s ability 
to continue as a going concern. Notwithstanding this material 
uncertainty, on the basis of the legal advice received in relation 
to the DHSC dispute, and our assessment that the conditions 
precedent prior to release of the CD4 contingent consideration 
will be achieved, the Board has a reasonable expectation that the 
Company and Group have adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the period to 30 September 2023. On 
this basis, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis 
of preparation. Accordingly, these financial statements do not 
include the adjustments that would be required if the Company 
and Group was unable to continue as a going concern.

16

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Events since the balance sheet date
On 6 May 2022 the Company announced that it has raised gross 
proceeds of £2.0 million via a placing of 50,000,000 new 
ordinary shares of 4.0 pence each and 90,000,000 warrants to 
subscribe for ordinary shares (warrants) to institutional investors 
at an issue price of 4.0 pence per share. The placing was 
undertaken by means of a non pre-emptive cashbox placing. 
Subscribers to the placing were issued warrants to subscribe for 
one additional ordinary share at 4.0 pence, in the ratio of nine 
warrants for every five placing shares issued to those subscribers.

In addition to the placing, on 8 June 2022 the Company issued 
2,877,776 new ordinary shares by direct subscription, received 
valid acceptances from qualifying shareholders in respect of their 
basic entitlements under an open offer in respect of 1,560,453 
new ordinary shares and received applications from qualifying 
shareholders under the excess application facility in respect of 
1,317,323 new ordinary shares. In aggregate this totalled 2,877,776 
new ordinary shares. Furthermore, the Directors subscribed for an 
additional 2,125,000 shares. Accordingly, a total of 5,002,776 new 
ordinary shares were issued at 4.0 pence, bringing additional 
gross proceeds of £0.2 million before expenses.

On 8 and 9 June 2022 the Company issued share awards to 
directors and senior managers under a new, long term incentive 
plan which targets an increase in the share price to 12.0 pence 
over the next three years. As part of these awards, all existing 
share options held by Simon Douglas and Jag Grewal 
were relinquished.

On 10 July 2022, the Group received a payment of £0.7 million from 
Abingdon Health plc (Abingdon) in relation to the manufacture and 
supply of AbC-19™ Rapid tests, a COVID-19 lateral flow antibody 
test. The payment was due under the Supply of Goods contract 
announced on 19 October 2020 and was made following 
confirmation from Abingdon that a cash payment had been 
received from the DHSC on 7 July 2022, as part of a settlement 
agreement relating to outstanding invoices due from the DHSC to 
Abingdon. The Group may be required to repay £0.2 million of this 
amount dependent upon the final outcome of the ongoing dispute 
between Abingdon and the DHSC.

On 31 July 2022, the Group completed the disposal of its CD4 
business to Accubio. Under the terms of this agreement, the 
Group received an immediate cash payment of £0.5 million for 
fixed assets and £0.9 million for inventory on hand at completion. 
Furthermore, the Group expects to receive an additional 
£4.0 million contingent on the successful outcome of an ongoing 
final clinical study in Kenya and which is expected to conclude in 
the autumn and will receive a royalty of 4% of Accubio’s future 
CD4 revenues for the period to 31 December 2026, capped at 
£1.0 million in aggregate. The VISITECT® CD4 test is already fully 
commercialised, being distributed in 29 countries and the 
performance of the test has previously been independently 
verified in several external clinical studies. Accordingly, the Board 
is confident as to the outcome of the clinical study in Kenya. 

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer
11 September 2022

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

17

STRATEGIC REPORT  SECTION 172

Connecting with our stakeholders

Communication with customers is maintained on a frequent basis 
under the responsibility of the Global Sales Director, who is 
supported by a team of Regional Sales Managers. The Group has 
customers in over 70 countries throughout the world and is 
normally able to meet with customers through attendance at 
major industry trade shows throughout the year. During the 
pandemic, the Group has organised a number of webinars for its 
health and nutrition customers which have been well attended 
throughout the year. Complaints from customers are carefully 
monitored and recorded through a quality management system 
that seeks to provide a quick resolution to any issue.

The Board recognises the importance of acting responsibly and 
following high standards of business conduct. As an export group 
that deals with many countries around the world, our induction 
procedure for all new employees ensures that people are aware of 
the Group’s anti-bribery policy. The induction process also 
ensures employees are aware of all our other policies that 
underpin our business ethics. The Group’s core values lie at the 
heart of what we do and these core values are highly visual 
throughout the Group’s sites.

The Board regards all shareholders as being equal and aims to 
treat them all fairly. This recognises the different regions in which 
shareholders live and the different media and technology 
platforms used by shareholders. Where shareholders make 
contact with the Company, the Board endeavours to respond to all 
shareholders where it can, whilst remaining compliant with 
regulations. The Group also retains the services of a PR adviser 
that has increased the resource available to deal with an 
increased number of shareholder queries throughout the year and 
that is happy to continue to engage with all shareholders.

Updating the Board
The Board receives regular updates from the senior management 
team and the following is a summary of how we have interacted with 
the key stakeholder groups comprising shareholders, customers 
and employees and some of the decisions we have taken.

The Board takes into account the views and expectations of 
a number of stakeholder groups when making its decisions.

Section 172 statement
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, a director of a 
company must act in the way he considers, in good faith, would 
be most likely to promote the success of the company for the 
benefit of its members as a whole, and in doing so have regard 
(amongst other matters) to:

a. 

the likely consequences of any decision in the long-term;

b. 

the interests of the company’s employees;

c. 

d. 

e. 

 the need to foster the company’s business relationships with 
suppliers, customers and others;

 the impact of the company’s operations on the community 
and the environment;

 the desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for 
high standards of business conduct; and

f. 

the need to act fairly between members of the company.

The Board considers that, collectively and individually, it has acted 
in good faith and in ways that are most likely to promote success 
for the Company and Group during the year ended 31 March 
2022, and that it continues to exercise judgement and make 
decisions that comply with the Companies Act 2006. The Board 
reviews and approves an annual budget that includes investment 
decisions which can impact the long-term future of the Group. 
The Board has regard to likely return on investment when projects 
compete for scarce resources and the focus is now fully on the 
Health & Nutrition area of the business which offers the greatest 
opportunities for shareholder return.

When communicating our longer-term strategy throughout the 
Group, we always classify our employees as our greatest asset. 
We undertake staff appraisals twice a year and we have 
implemented management training programmes that offer 
long-term opportunities for staff. We also undertake industry 
surveys to ensure our remuneration and incentivisation packages 
for all employees are benchmarked against a selection of peer 
group companies within the diagnostics industry to ensure we 
remain competitive.

The Board ensures that the Group maintains regular contact with 
suppliers, with group procurement being the responsibility of a 
Strategic Sourcing Director. We plan our forward requirement for 
critical raw materials, based on our business forecasts, and share 
this information with suppliers. We frequently place “call-off” 
purchase orders for longer periods of time which provides good 
visibility for the supplier and increases the chance of on-time 
deliveries for our business.

18

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

What is important to them How we engage

Decisions and outcomes

Shareholders

Growth in shareholder value

The Company undertakes formal investor presentations 
with institutional and retail shareholders around full-year and 
half-year results and at other times as necessary

Increased communication 
on business performance

As well as the IMC platform, the Company provides frequent 
updates through the London Stock Exchange’s regulatory 
news service, supplemented by announcements made via 
multiple social media channels, allowing differing levels of 
engagement with the various stakeholder groups

Awareness of 
business strategy

Setting out details of strategy in the Annual Report, 
IMC presentations and in circulars to shareholders as 
strategy evolves 

Improved communication via the Company’s PR advisory 
firm to deal with the increased level of information requests 
coming from shareholders. Feedback from investors is 
provided to the Board based on e-mails received and 
following results presentations 

The Company is increasingly using the services of Investor 
Meet Company (IMC) to provide shareholders access to 
submit questions and listen to management update on the 
Group's progress

A new Long Term Incentive Plan has been implemented which 
rewards senior management for delivering a substantial 
increase in shareholder value over a three year period

The Company’s presence on social media has been 
enhanced and Executive Director approval for all social 
media posts is now in place, with a view to ensuring that all 
posts remain professional and appropriate

The Company also uses the RNS Reach service to provide 
updates on more commercial matters

The annual report contains a detailed description of the 
Health and Nutrition market in which the Group operates, 
and the Board’s strategy for growth. Circulars and 
investor presentations are available to download from 
the Group’s website

The Company increased the budgeted resource allocated 
for its investor relations activity through its PR firm

Customers

Customer satisfaction with 
our products and services

A collaborative approach 
and inclusive way of 
working that drives better 
patient outcomes

Scientific information and 
educational content

A wide range of communications channels including regular 
business reviews, routine account management calls, 
customer webinars, social media and newsletters keeps us 
connected to the customer

Our ISO 13485 accredited quality management system 
allows us to track and spot emerging patterns that enable 
us to proactively manage potential issues

The commercial team and customer services engage 
our distribution partners regularly to build trust and 
collaborative relationships

At the request of customers, we have increased the number 
of Health and Nutrition webinars to enable and upskill our 
global business partners which drives growth in mutual 
revenues as well as better patient outcomes

We undertake annual customer satisfaction surveys as well 
as proactively seeking continuous feedback during normal 
business processes

The use of key opinion leaders to provide thought 
leadership within the consumer healthcare industry

Customer focus is a core value for the organisation and 
so we have introduced customer focus training into our 
employee induction programmes to ensure that all our 
employees are aware of our customers’ needs 

Promoting the Group’s Scientific Director as a thought 
leader in this space

Improved use of technology Development of the My healthcare by Omega app as a 

sales tool for customers to engage with their patients

The new app will provide direct access to broader product 
range and allows healthcare professionals and consumers 
to access their test results provided electronically

Employees

Being fairly rewarded and 
incentivised for their work

The Group invites feedback on pay and benefits in its annual 
staff survey and monitors trends from leavers through 
structured exit interviews 

Opportunities for career 
progression 

The Group invites feedback on career development in its 
annual staff survey and advertises all vacant positions to all 
staff with a clear job description and person specification

Feeling engaged with the 
Group and the strategy for 
growth especially during 
the Covid-19 pandemic

The Group encourages collaboration between departments 
and sharing of good practice and provides opportunities for 
secondments and project work 

The Group invites feedback on the wider business in our 
annual staff survey: company goals and objectives, customer 
focus, leadership, communication, work environment, 
empowerment, collaboration and company image and 
shares results with staff to create action plans to address 
priorities for improvement

The Group has conducted salary benchmarking within its 
sector in the UK and accessed wider market data from 
digital recruitment platforms. The Group has also created a 
salary structure with defined bands for each role with three 
levels to reflect experience and contribution

The Group has developed a career development matrix for 
each role with three levels linked to salary band and a core 
competencies matrix to demonstrate core/transferable 
skills for all roles

The Group has implemented a revised annual performance 
and development review process to incorporate both 
matrices to provide greater visibility of career progression 
for every employee

The Group provides monthly updates on its intranet site on 
a variety of topics throughout the year including strategic 
updates, other business news, people news, COVID-19 
information, mental health awareness and remote working

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

19

  STRATEGIC REPORT 
RISKS AND RISK MANAGEMENT

Operating a system of internal 
control and risk management

The long-term success of the 
Group depends on the continual 
review, assessment and control of 
the key business risks it faces. The 
Group’s current principal risks 
and uncertainties are briefly 
outlined below.

Risk management process
The Group’s senior management team (SMT) meets 
on a regular basis and ensures that time is dedicated 
to review the Group risk register on a detailed basis. 
The SMT covers all business areas and risks are 
assessed with regard to likely impact and probability 
so that movements in risk score can be carefully 
monitored. A summary of the highest level risks is 
included in the monthly Executive Board report and is 
reviewed at regular Board meetings.

Principal risks and uncertainties

Identify risk

Assess risk

Develop plan to mitigate risk

Reassess risk

Report to management

Risk and description

Mitigating actions

Change

General economic and political conditions

The Group may be faced with changes in the general economic climate in 
each territory in which it operates that may adversely affect the financial 
performance of the Group. Factors which may contribute include the level 
of direct and indirect competition against the Group, industrial disruption, 
conflicts, rate of growth of the Group’s product segments, inflation and 
interest rates. Following the conclusion of Brexit with the EU, the UK’s ability 
to enter into trade deals with other countries could be subject to delay.

As the world recovers from the economic impact of COVID-19, many 
markets, including the UK, are seeing high levels of cost inflation. This 
inflationary pressure is increasing the cost base of the Group.

The war in Ukraine is reducing demand for the Group’s products in Eastern 
Europe and a further, protracted conflict may exacerbate this issue.

The Group seeks to mitigate 
this risk by conducting 
operations on a broad 
geographic basis and by 
introducing new technologies 
to remain innovative.

The Group is able to pass on a 
proportion of its incremental 
costs to its customers by 
increasing selling prices, 
although there is generally 
a notice period required.

Whilst there has been some 
short-term disruption due to 
Brexit, the Group has not been 
directly impacted by this. 
However, there is an overall 
increase in risk due to the war 
in Ukraine having an adverse 
impact on sales activity in 
Eastern Europe and cost 
inflation is impacting input 
costs and salaries.

DHSC litigation risk

The Group's contract with the DHSC to provide manufacturing capacity for 
COVID-19 lateral flow antigen tests expired on 1 October 2021. Following the 
expiry of that contract, the DHSC requested a proposal for the repayment 
of a pre-production payment of £2.5 million (net of VAT) which had been 
made by the DHSC to the Group under the contract. In the event that the 
outcome of the dispute is not resolved in the Group's favour, then the 
Group may be liable to repay some or all of the £2.5 million claimed by the 
DHSC. Any such finding would have a materially adverse impact upon the 
Group's financial position.

The Group, having taken initial 
legal advice, does not believe 
that it is required to repay this 
pre-production payment and 
that it is entitled to recover 
additional losses incurred 
under the contract. Discussions 
with the DHSC are ongoing.

This risk has arisen as a result 
of the non-performance of the 
contract with the DHSC within 
the last financial year.

There is a risk that a 
repayment of some or all of 
this amount may be required, 
the timing and quantum of 
which is uncertain.

20

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Key 

  Increase in risk

  Decrease in risk

  No change in risk

Risk and description

Mitigating actions

Change

CD4 sale proceeds risk

As part of the contract for the disposal of the Group’s CD4 business in July 
2022, £4.0 million of the sale proceeds are held in escrow pending the 
successful completion of an ongoing clinical study. This study is expected 
to complete in late 2022. In the event the study is not successful and the 
WHO subsequently delist the CD4 product, the indemnity granted by the 
Group under the sale contract may be called upon and some or all of the 
sums held in escrow and the future royalty income may not be received by 
the Group.

The Group has already 
undertaken a number of 
similar clinical studies which 
demonstrate the required 
product performance. 
Furthermore, the product 
failure rate in the field is 
minimal, giving confidence 
that the product meets the 
requirements of the WHO.

The requirement for a new 
clinical study arose as a 
result of a temporary PQ 
approval process adopted 
by the WHO throughout the 
COVID-19 pandemic.

The precise timing and 
quantum of the amount to 
be received is uncertain.

Regulatory risk

Certain of the markets in which the Group operates are regulated by 
governmental agencies. Changes in any such regulatory requirements or 
delays when seeking new approvals could affect the ability of the Group to 
manufacture, market or sell its Group’s products and services. Further, the 
nature of some of the markets addressed by the Group’s products is such 
that their general size and growth depend to a large extent on government 
or other regulatory policies and decisions over which the Group has no 
control. Should it be the case that the Group’s products become subject 
to further regulatory or other restrictions, then the Group may incur further 
research and/or development costs, or could be required to apply for 
regulatory approvals, which could have a material adverse effect on its 
financial position or prospects.

The Group continually 
monitors its product portfolio 
for fitness for purpose. The 
Group engages with regulatory 
organisations and notified 
bodies to understand and 
implement their requirements. 
The Regulatory team has 
developed its strategy to 
address the requirements 
of the new IVD Regulations 
(2017/746).

Following the withdrawal from 
the manufacture of COVID-19 
products and the divestment of 
the CD4 business, the ongoing 
activities within the Health and 
Nutrition business are less 
regulated than those within 
the Global Health division.

Funding/solvency risk

The bank overdraft of £2.0m is due to expire in September and will not be 
renewed, leaving the Group with an asset financing facility only. The Group 
will therefore be reliant on funds generated from its trading operations or 
from external debt and/or equity funders. There is no certainty that 
additional funding will be forthcoming should it be required.

Cyber security risk

The Group’s IT systems could be subject to attack from ransomware, 
malware and distributed denial of service attacks.

The Group seeks to maintain 
strong relationships with 
shareholders and its bank. 

The divestment of the 
loss-making Global Health 
division is expected to provide 
significant additional cash 
resources and leaves the Group 
with a profitable and cash 
generative Health and Nutrition 
business going forwards.

The Group successfully raised 
£2.2 million (gross) in June 
2022 by way of a placing and 
open offer/subscription.

The Group expects to receive 
additional cash proceeds of 
£4.0 million following the 
successful completion of an 
ongoing CD4 clinical study 
which is due to be completed 
in Q4 2022.

Cybersecurity attacks are 
becoming more powerful and 
effective and the threat may 
be exacerbated as more 
employees work from home.

The Group has IT security 
systems in place, data breach 
policies and awareness 
training in place to mitigate 
against cyber-attacks. New 
firewalls have been installed at 
its UK sites with updated VPNs.

Dual factor authentication 
has been implemented for 
remote users to access the 
servers/domains.

The IT network has been audited 
by a specialist IT firm with 
additional recommendations 
being implemented.

Key 

  Increase in risk

  Decrease in risk

  No change in risk

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

21

STRATEGIC REPORT  RISKS AND RISK MANAGEMENT continued

Principal risks and uncertainties continued

Risk and description

Development risk

Mitigating actions

Change

There is no guarantee that development activity will lead to the future 
launch of products. Such development activity can meet technical 
hurdles that cannot be overcome and market and competitor activity can 
render the output from development activities obsolete. Poor product 
evaluations could lead to delays in approvals and product launches.

The Group seeks to mitigate 
the risk around development 
activities by ensuring that new 
product candidates undergo a 
rigorous screening program.

Technology risk

Competition introduces new technology that competes with the Group’s 
current portfolio which is disruptive in nature.

The Group adapts sales and 
marketing tactics as necessary 
and seeks to educate business 
partners on how to handle 
competitive threats.

In Health and Nutrition, the 
Group is deploying a digital 
strategy with an App to enhance 
the customer experience.

The majority of product 
development expenditure has 
historically been within the 
now-discontinued Global 
Health division. In future, 
Health and Nutrition 
development will focus on 
service development.

The Group continues to invest 
in new technologies which can 
add value to its business.

Supply chain risk 

Certain parts of our business may be reliant on single sources of supply 
or single customer partnerships.

Unique suppliers identified 
for all key raw materials for 
UK operations.

Develop closer relationship 
with partners. Create strategic 
sourcing plan and provide 
forecast information and 
call-off orders to suppliers to 
increase on-time delivery for 
key raw materials.

New manufacturing site risk

The Group plans to relocate its Health and Nutrition business to a new, 
purpose-built facility in Ely. The property developer has advised that it 
does not currently have access to funding to enable it to undertake the 
remaining works. The planned relocation may be further delayed, the 
Group may incur additional costs or the Group may need to look for an 
alternative manufacturing facility. In the absence of a suitable new facility 
being available, the Health and Nutrition business will have insufficient 
capacity to meet its growth aspirations in the medium term and revenue 
growth will be slower than anticipated.

The Group is in discussions 
with the developer to 
potentially vary the agreed 
terms of the lease to allow the 
building to be completed.

The Group has a strong 
relationship with the current 
landlord and may be able to 
extend the lease on the 
current Littleport site and/or 
acquire the site.

The remaining period of 
the Littleport lease is 
approximately twelve months. 

22

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Key 

  Increase in risk

  Decrease in risk

  No change in risk

Risk and description

Mitigating actions

Change

Pandemic risk 

While the Group is not currently experiencing any material impact of the 
COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health restrictions and 
mitigations, the future path and development of the pandemic still 
remains relatively uncertain and there is no assurance this will not have a 
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition 
and/or results of operations of the Group worldwide. A resurgence of the 
virus in locations in which the Group operates, including any imposition of 
stricter public health restrictions and mitigations, could have a materially 
adverse effect or effects on its business, prospects, financial condition or 
results. Such effects could include disruptions or restrictions on the 
ability of employees to work effectively, as well as further temporary 
closures of facilities or the facilities of customers or suppliers, which 
could affect Group’s ability to perform contracts, implement growth plans 
and/or move to profitability. Ultimately, the full extent of the impact of a 
resurgence of the COVID-19 virus will depend on the continued 
geographical range of the virus, mutations to and variants of the virus, 
infection rates, the severity and related mortality rates of the virus, the 
timing and efficacy of further vaccine roll-outs worldwide, the evolution 
and administration of further vaccines and the further, ongoing steps 
taken nationally and globally to limit the further spread, variance and 
proliferation of the virus. As observed during 2020 and 2021, the 
pandemic caused widespread disruption to normal business activity 
across the globe, including the imposition of restrictions on movement 
and social distancing measures in the US, UK and elsewhere. There can 
be no assurance that it will not result in similar disruption in future.

Key employees

The Group’s development and prospects are dependent upon training 
and retaining qualified professional, scientific and technical operating 
staff. In particular, the Group’s success depends to a significant degree 
upon the vision, technical and specialist skills, experience, performance, 
and continued service of its Directors, senior management and other key 
personnel. Whilst the Group has entered into contractual arrangements 
with these individuals with the aim of securing the services of each of 
them, retention of these services cannot be guaranteed and the loss of 
the services of any of the Directors, senior management or key personnel 
may have a material adverse effect on the Group.

The ability to continue to attract and retain employees with the 
appropriate expertise and skills cannot be guaranteed. Effective product 
development, innovation, manufacturing and testing, upon which the 
Group’s success is dependent, is in turn dependent upon attracting and 
retaining talented technical, scientific and marketing personnel, who 
represent a significant asset and serve as the source of the Group’s 
technological and product innovations. In addition, to expand the Group’s 
customer base and increase sales, the Group will need to hire additional 
qualified sales personnel. If the Group is unable to hire, train and retain 
such personnel in a timely manner, the manufacture of the Group's 
existing products and the development of future products could be 
interrupted or delayed and its ability to sell its products and otherwise to 
grow its business will be impaired and the delay and inability may have a 
detrimental effect upon the performance of the Group.

The Group conducts operations 
on a broad geographic basis. 
The portfolio effect of trading 
in over 70 countries reduces 
the risk associated with 
COVID-19 outbreaks. 

The Group has procedures in 
place to ensure the continued 
manufacture of its Health and 
Nutrition products and for its 
employees to work safely within 
the Littleport site or at home. 

The severity of the disease 
has reduced and a significant 
proportion of the population 
have now been vaccinated 
against COVID-19.

Health and Nutrition revenues 
have recovered to 
pre-pandemic levels, albeit 
the roll out of the Food 
Detective product line within 
China has been delayed, in 
part due to local lockdowns 
within China.

The Group monitors trends in 
the industry and periodically 
undertakes a UK-wide salary 
benchmarking exercise. 

The Group has been 
successful in recruiting 
additional key individuals 
throughout the last year who 
have added to its talent-base.

The Group aims to offer 
competitive salary and 
benefits packages. 

The Group has recently 
implemented a new, long 
term incentive plan for 
executive directors and 
senior managers. This plan 
is intended to retain and 
reward key personnel for 
improved share price 
performance over a  
three-year period.

Management training 
programs are in place. 

Staff appraisals and 
development programs 
are in place.

Key 

  Increase in risk

  Decrease in risk

  No change in risk

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

23

STRATEGIC REPORT  BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our experienced leadership

Dr Simon Douglas, PhD, 
MPhil, BSc (Hons)
Non-Executive Chairman
appointed on 11 February 2021

Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee and member of the 
Audit Committee.

Simon was appointed Chairman 
in February 2021. He has over 
30 years’ experience in the 
biotech industry, including 10 
years working for Amersham 
International (now GE), ICI and 
Zeneca (now Astra Zeneca), in a 
variety of commercial and 
technical positions, and over 
five years with Tepnel Life 
Sciences plc (now Hologic Inc), 
a London Stock Exchange listed 
diagnostic company where he 
was Chief Executive. He has 
been the CEO/Executive 
Chairman of three other venture 
capital backed Life Science 
companies and headed up the 
trade sale of two of these. He is 
currently Chairman of Fusion 
Antibodies plc, an AIM listed 
CRO providing services for the 
discovery and development of 
antibody-based therapies, 
C-Major Medical, a venture 
capital backed medical device 
company and Chairman of 
Cambridge start up, 
HexagonFab. 

Jag Grewal, BSc (Hons), 
MSc, MBA
Chief Executive Officer 
appointed on 30 June 2011

Jag joined Omega in June 2011 
as Group Sales and Marketing 
Director. He has worked in the 
medical diagnostics industry 
for over 25 years having started 
out as a Clinical Biochemist in 
the NHS. In 1995 he joined 
Beckman Instruments where he 
developed a career spanning 15 
years in sales and marketing 
holding a variety of positions in 
sales, product management and 
marketing management. In 
2009 he left his position of 
Northern Europe Marketing 
Manager to join Serco Health, 
where he helped create the first 
joint venture within UK pathology 
between Serco and Guy’s and 
St Thomas’ Hospital. He is also 
past Chairman and current 
Treasurer of the British In Vitro 
Diagnostics Association (BIVDA).

Jag was appointed as CEO in 
January 2022, replacing Colin 
King. Prior to this appointment, 
Jag was responsible for 
managing the Health and 
Nutrition division.

Chris Lea, BSc (Hons), ACA
Chief Financial Officer and 
Company Secretary 
appointed on 30 August 2021

Chris joined Omega on 30 
August 2021 as Chief Financial 
Officer and Company 
Secretary. He is responsible for 
finance, tax, auditing, company 
secretarial and supporting the 
CEO with investor relations. He 
was previously CFO of two 
other AIM-listed companies, 
IndigoVision Group plc and 
Superglass Holdings PLC, both 
of which were successfully 
turned around under Chris’ 
management and were 
subsequently acquired by 
larger corporations. 

Prior to his public company 
roles, Chris was CFO of 
Aviagen Europe, the world’s 
largest poultry breeding 
company, where he helped 
grow Aviagen’s European 
business five-fold over a 
10-year period, through a 
combination of organic growth 
and multiple strategic 
acquisitions. Chris spent 15 
years with KPMG, holding 
various roles in their audit and 
corporate finance business. He 
holds a BSc (Hons) in Physics 
from Nottingham University 
and is a member of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants in 
England and Wales.

Jeremy Millard, BA (Hons), 
MEng, FCA
Non-Executive Director
appointed on 1 March 2019

Chairman of the Audit 
Committee and member of the 
Remuneration Committee.

Jeremy has 20 years’ 
investment banking experience 
and was previously a Partner at 
Smith Square Partners LLP 
where he provided strategic 
and corporate finance advice 
to clients in the science, 
technology and 
telecommunications sectors, 
prior to which he headed up the 
technology practice at 
Rothschild in London. Jeremy 
runs FCA-regulated corporate 
finance business Iridium 
Corporate Finance and is also 
currently a Non-Executive 
Director and Chairman of the 
Audit Committee of AIM-listed 
Ilika plc as well as sitting on the 
boards of a number of other 
private UK companies.

24

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Introduction
The Board has decided to adopt the Quoted Companies Alliance 
(QCA) Corporate Governance Code for Small and Mid-sized 
Quoted Companies, issued in April 2018.

•  Operational excellence – to develop processes for continuous 

improvement, consistent quality culture and growth in gross margin

•  Empowering our people – to provide a framework where all staff 

can contribute to achieving the Group’s aims

The Chairman has overall responsibility for corporate governance 
and the Board is committed to providing information on an open 
basis. The Board understands the role that good corporate 
governance plays, particularly around the wider areas of culture 
and accountability, and has overseen a number of changes over 
the recent past to drive improved performance and accountability 
throughout the Group, including: 

•  the appointment of Jag Grewal as CEO on 18 January 2022;

•  the appointment of Chris Lea as CFO on 30 August 2021;

•  the appointment of Dr Simon Douglas as Non-Executive 

Chairman on 11 February 2021;

•  the appointment of Jeremy Millard as a Non-Executive Director 

on 1 March 2019;

•  the introduction of annual group-wide staff surveys; and 

•  the implementation of a set of new core values.

The Board believes that the QCA Code is the more appropriate 
framework under which to operate for a company of Omega’s size.

Board and committee structure
The size and structure of the Board and its committees are kept 
under review to ensure an appropriate level of governance 
operates throughout the year. The Board currently comprises two 
Non-Executive Directors and two Executive Directors who meet 
frequently during the year to discuss strategy and to review progress 
and outcomes against objectives. We have also taken steps recently 
to improve our engagement with shareholders and to try and 
communicate more effectively regarding our long-term growth 
drivers. We believe the Board has a good mix of skills and experience 
and a culture that easily enables the Non-Executive members of the 
Board to challenge and advise the Executive team as appropriate.

The QCA Code encompasses ten principles, against which, we 
are required to explain how we comply or explain why we feel it is 
appropriate to depart from those principles. We now report 
against these principles as follows.

Establish a strategy and business model which 
promote long-term value for shareholders
The Group is focused on selling a range of products into the 
consumer health and wellbeing space where we see significant 
growth opportunities.

In early 2022, we implemented a revised strategy to reduce 
operating costs, exit the Global Health business and to invest in 
our Health and Nutrition business in order to drive growth. We are 
now focused on creating value by increasing the footprint of our 
food sensitivity products, particularly in the US and China, where 
we see opportunities for growth in direct-to-consumer market 
channels and broadening the range of products available in our 
Health and Nutrition division.

Our strategy is to deliver longer-term growth by adopting and 
implementing the following principles:

•  Revenue growth – growing the revenue for our Health and Nutrition 

business through geographical and product range expansion

•  One team ethos – to improve collaboration between 

departments and implement our cultural beliefs

The key challenges we face are:
•  Increasing regulatory hurdles to achieve in-country product 
registration. More and more countries now require individual 
product registration and in-country evaluations to be performed 
before a product can be sold in a territory and we are investing 
in more people with the regulatory skills needed to handle this 
increased workload

•  Development risk. There is no guarantee that products in 
development will lead to a future market launch. We have 
increased resource in project management skills that plans 
product development activities to minimise the risk of failure
•  Technology risk. We closely monitor the market on a continual 
basis to see how we can maintain a competitive advantage 
against our peers

•  Key employees. The Group undertakes a salary benchmarking 
exercise to ensure that we remain competitive and we have also 
increased resource into training more of our people throughout 
the Group so that they can more clearly see career 
development opportunities with the Group

Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs 
and expectations
The responsibility for investor relations lies with the Chief Executive 
Officer, who is supported by the Chief Financial Officer. The Group 
seeks to engage with shareholders on a number of occasions 
throughout the year to understand shareholders’ needs and 
expectations. The Company has expanded its communication 
strategy with shareholders, including hosting webinars on the 
Investor Meet Company platform and by providing video excerpts 
which can be accessed from the Company’s website.

The Group receives anonymised feedback through its broker and 
financial PR organisation, through direct e-mail correspondence and 
from attendees at all the above events and welcomes both positive 
feedback and constructive criticism. This feedback has proved very 
useful in tailoring the content of subsequent presentations.

Take into account wider stakeholder and social 
responsibilities and their implications for 
long-term success
The Group seeks to ensure it has good relations with employees 
and external stakeholders including customers, suppliers, 
regulatory bodies and the wider community with which it interacts.

Employees

•  All employees are invited to participate in an annual survey on 

which they can give anonymised feedback on a range of issues. 
The results are collated and presented to all employees along 
with actions taken by management to address the issues raised.

•  Senior management present business progress updates to all staff 
twice a year to keep them informed. Feedback from staff indicates 
that this is a popular exercise undertaken by management.

•  All staff undergo performance and development reviews with 

their managers twice a year to ensure that everyone is 
prioritised and aligned with the Group’s main business 
objectives. These sessions also allow for additional staff training 
needs to be addressed.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

25

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE continued

Take into account wider stakeholder and social 
responsibilities and their implications for 
long-term success continued
Customers

Simon Douglas and Jeremy Millard are considered by the Board 
to be independent. However, it is noted that Simon Douglas and 
Jeremy Millard have been granted a relatively small quantity of 
share options as disclosed.

•  The Group surveys its customers on a regular basis by sending 
out an on-line survey for them to complete. The programme 
cycles through the Group’s customers so that each customer 
receives an invite to participate in the survey at least once every 
two years. A regular post market surveillance regime is in place 
that follows up on every customer complaint and technical 
enquiry received and is an integral part of the Quality 
Management System. Customer feedback is also sought 
through formal and informal meetings during customer visits 
and exhibition meetings. These feedback interactions are 
documented and reviewed, with any actions recorded.

Suppliers

•  Suppliers are evaluated as to the criticality and dependency of 

the materials or services they provide to the Group. Suitability to 
supply is determined either by completion of a supplier 
questionnaire or by supplier audit undertaken by one of the 
Group’s Quality team. Supplier performance is regularly 
measured, monitored and reviewed and any concerns are 
escalated through a well-defined process as part of the Quality 
management System.

Regulatory bodies

•  The Group is regularly audited by several bodies including Lloyd’s 
Register for both ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 and under 
the Medical Devices Single Audit Program. The Group is also 
regularly visited by regulatory bodies of overseas jurisdictions 
and these have included the regulatory agencies from Brazil, 
Korea and more recently the World Health Organization.

Embed effective risk management, 
considering both opportunities and threats, 
throughout the organisation
The Health and Nutrition business has its own senior 
management team (SMT), which comprise Executive Directors, 
plus a number of senior managers. The SMT meet on a monthly 
basis to review key management objectives. The SMT are 
responsible for preparing a risk register which is also reviewed at 
these monthly meetings and analysed for changes using a 
scoring system of impact and probability, as well as the 
identification of new risks.

This annual report includes an analysis of key risks along with 
mitigating actions.

Simon Douglas and Jeremy Millard act in the interests of the 
Group at all times and are not influenced by the factors pointed 
out above. The Board has a good mix of skills and experience and 
a culture that easily enables the Non-Executive members of the 
Board to challenge and advise the Executive team as appropriate. 

The Board meets at regular intervals and has a schedule of matters 
reserved for the Board including setting corporate strategy, approving 
the annual budget, reviewing financial performance, agreeing the 
renewal of and any new banking/treasury facilities, approving major 
items of capital expenditure and reviewing and approving 
acquisitions. The Board is provided with appropriate information in 
advance of board meetings to enable it to discharge its duties 
effectively and this includes a report from the Executive members 
of the Board, along with summary reports from senior managers 
providing updates on key issues.

The Non-Executive Chairman is committed to providing not less 
than 30 days annually to the Group and the Non-Executive 
Director is committed to providing not less than 18 days annually 
to the Group. In reality, the Non-Executive Director consistently 
provides more than this minimum time requirement. The 
Executive Directors are all full-time positions.

The Group also has an Audit Committee and a Remuneration 
Committee. The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Simon 
Douglas and the Audit Committee is chaired by Jeremy Millard. 
The Board does not have a separate nominations committee due 
to its small size and the Board itself adopts a consensus-based 
approach in making changes to its composition.

For the year ended 31 March 2022, the number of meetings held, 
and attendance by each Board member at those meetings for 
which they are entitled to attend, is as follows:

Simon Douglas

William Rhodes*

Jeremy Millard

Colin King**

Kieron Harbinson***
Jag Grewal

Chris Lea****

Board
meetings

Audit
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

14/15

10/12

14/15

9/9

4/4
13/15

11/11

2/2

2/2

2/2

—

—
—

—

2/2

1/1

2/2

—

—
—

—

The independent auditor’s report has now been expanded to 
cover key risks from an audit perspective, the auditor’s response 
to those risks and the auditor’s observations as reported to the 
Audit Committee.

*  Resigned 28 February 2022.

**  Resigned 18 January 2022.

***  Resigned 30 August 2021.

**** Appointed 30 August 2021.

Maintain the Board as a well-functioning, 
balanced team led by the Chairman
The Board members have a collective responsibility and legal 
obligation to promote the interests of the Group and are 
collectively responsible for defining corporate governance 
arrangements. Ultimate responsibility for the quality of, and 
approach to, corporate governance lies with the chair of the Board.

The Board currently comprises the Non-Executive Chairman, one 
Non-Executive Director and two Executive Directors who are the 
Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer.

Ensure that between them, the Directors have 
the necessary up-to-date experience, skills 
and capabilities
Collectively, the Board has many years’ of experience in the in 
vitro diagnostics industry with a number of public and private 
companies. This experience includes areas of immunoassay 
development, operational supply and logistics, commercial and 
finance activities. Currently all members of the Board are male 
and two of them are chartered accountants. There are currently 
no female directors. The Board remains confident that the 
opportunities in the Group are not excluded or limited by any 

26

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

diversity issues (including gender) and that the Board nevertheless 
contains the necessary mix of experience, skills and other 
personal qualities and capabilities necessary to deliver its strategy. 
The Chairman fosters a culture during Board meetings that 
encourages debate and enables any Director to feel comfortable 
in communicating and explaining alternative viewpoints. 

The Board is of the view that it has a balance of experience and 
skills to enable it to deliver on its strategy. Directors ensure their 
skills and capabilities are kept up to date including:

•  Attending continuing professional development courses as part 

of a professional qualification.

•  Attending industry trade shows and exhibitions to remain up to 

date with competitor activities.

The Board seeks advice from external advisors where necessary. 
This includes its nominated advisor/broker in relation to 
compliance with the AIM Rules for Companies and advice 
regarding secondary fundraisings. The Board also regularly seeks 
legal advice in relation to commercial and property matters.

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

The Board has not undertaken any formal external review of its 
members’ performance to date. Beneath Board level, members of 
the senior management team are included in the twice-yearly 
review process which is carried out across the entire Group.

In reviewing its own performance, the Board is aware of its 
perception amongst shareholders, both through formal face-to-
face meetings and subsequent feedback from these, along with 
informal discussions which take place from time to time. As 
Chairman, Simon Douglas invites all Board members to suggest 
any candidates who they feel may be capable of adding value to 
the Board as a whole.

Promote a corporate culture that is based 
on ethical values and behaviours
The Group has adopted the following core values:
•  Accountability 

•  Ask what more I can do

•  Take ownership

•  Collaboration 

•  Actively support your colleagues

•  Be clear in communication

•  Celebrate success and have fun together

•  Respect

•  Treat others as we would wish to be treated

•  Respect the environment we work and live in

•  Honesty

•  Aspire to be open and transparent

•  Take pride in building trust between ourselves and others

•  Customer focus

•  Customer satisfaction is not a department; everyone 

is responsible

•  Listening to customers drives improvement

The Executive members of the Board are very aware of the 
importance in living up to these core values and in setting 
examples for all staff to follow.

The core values are highly visible throughout the organisation and 
are branded on the walls of the buildings as well as being used on 
company notebooks and pens.

The core values that the organisation promotes are included 
within recruitment processes as well as within the personal 
development reviews which all staff undergo twice a year.

Maintain governance structures and processes 
that are fit for purpose and support good  
decision-making by the Board
The Board is collectively responsible for defining and implementing 
a strategy to deliver long-term value to shareholders, but which 
operates within a framework of good corporate governance and in 
line with the Board’s assessment of risk.

The roles and responsibilities of the various Board positions are 
as follows:

Chairman – has responsibility for leading an orderly and effective 
Board and providing overall guidance to other members of the Board 
to ensure it delivers on its stated strategy. The chair also attends 
some results presentations demonstrating a level of commitment 
which is visible to shareholders. The chair is also responsible for 
overseeing the Group’s corporate governance practices to ensure 
they remain relevant for an organisation of our size.

Non-Executive Director – has responsibility to be independent 
in judgement and thought and for scrutinising and, if necessary, 
challenging the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial 
Officer (CFO) to ensure the Group delivers its strategy whilst 
maintaining acceptable levels of risk. The Non-Executive 
Directors also provide a sounding block for the Chairman as and 
when necessary.

Chief Executive Officer – has responsibility for leading the 
organisation and implementing the Group’s objectives in line with 
its agreed strategy, assessing risks to ensure they are managed 
and mitigated, safeguarding the Group’s assets with appropriate 
policies and controls, leading an investor relations programme to 
ensure effective communication with shareholders and to ensure 
effective communication and reporting between the Executive 
members of the Board to the Non-Executive members.

Chief Financial Officer – has responsibility for safeguarding the 
Group’s assets with appropriate policies and controls and 
supporting the CEO in promoting the interests of the Group. The 
CFO supports the CEO in day-to-day operational, finance and 
commercial issues, providing support and leadership to the 
senior management team and support in the delivery of the 
organisation’s strategic plan.

The Board has a schedule of matters which it reserves for its 
review including:

•  setting corporate strategy

•  approving the annual budget

•  reviewing financial performance

•  agreeing the renewal of and any new banking/treasury facilities

•  approving major items of capital expenditure

•  reviewing and approving acquisitions

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

27

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE Communicate how the Company is governed 
and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with 
shareholders and other relevant stakeholders
The Company has not previously issued an Audit Committee 
report but does include a Directors’ Remuneration Report for the 
financial year in this Annual Report.

The Group publishes an annual report in hard copy which is sent 
to all shareholders on the register as well as publishing current 
and historical annual reports on its website.

In addition, the Group publishes current and previous shareholder 
presentations on its website.

By order of the Board

Chris Lea
Company Secretary
11 September 2022

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE continued

Maintain governance structures and processes 
that are fit for purpose and support good  
decision-making by the Board continued
The Board delegates authority to two committees which operate 
under terms of reference and include:

The Audit Committee

The Audit Committee is comprised of Jeremy Millard as Chairman 
and Simon Douglas, and has primary responsibility for monitoring 
the quality of internal controls, ensuring that the financial 
performance of the Group is properly measured and reported on, 
and for reviewing reports from the Group’s auditors relating to the 
Group’s accounting and financial reporting, in all cases having 
due regard to the interests of shareholders. The Committee shall 
also review preliminary results announcements, summary 
financial statements, significant financial returns to regulators and 
any financial information contained in certain other documents, 
such as announcements of a price-sensitive nature. 

The Committee considers and makes recommendations to the 
Board, to be put to shareholders for approval at the annual general 
meeting, in relation to the appointment, re-appointment and 
removal of the Group’s external auditors. The Committee also 
oversees the relationship with the external auditors including 
approval of remuneration levels, approval of terms of engagement 
and assessment of their independence and objectivity. In so 
doing, they take into account relevant UK professional and 
regulatory requirements and the relationship with the auditors as a 
whole, including the provision of any non-audit services. Ernst & 
Young LLP have been auditors to Omega Diagnostics Limited 
(ODL) since 2000 and were appointed as auditors to the Group 
following completion of the reverse takeover of ODL in September 
2006. It has been agreed that Ernst & Young LLP will be stepping 
down as auditors and RSM UK Audit LLP will be proposed for 
appointment at the forthcoming annual general meeting.

The Committee has reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s 
system of internal controls and has considered the need for an 
internal audit function. At this stage of the Group’s size and 
development, the Committee has decided that an internal audit 
function is not required, as the Group’s internal controls system in 
place is appropriate for its size. The Committee will review this 
position on an annual basis.

The Committee also reviews the Group’s arrangements for its 
employees’ raising concerns, in confidence, about possible 
wrongdoing in financial reporting or other matters. The Committee 
ensures that such arrangements allow for independent 
investigation and follow-up action.

The Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee is comprised of Simon Douglas 
as Chairman and Jeremy Millard, and has primary responsibility 
for determining and agreeing with the Board the remuneration of 
the Group’s Chief Executive, Chairman, Executive Directors, 
Company Secretary and such other members of the Executive 
management as it is designated to consider. The remuneration 
of the Non-Executive Directors shall be a matter for the 
Chairman and the Executive Directors of the Board. No Director 
or manager shall be involved in any decisions regarding their 
own remuneration. 

28

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

As an AIM-quoted company, the Group is not required to produce 
a Remuneration Report that satisfies all the requirements of the 
Companies Act. However, the Directors are committed to 
providing information on an open basis and present their 
Remuneration Report as follows:

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee is comprised of Simon Douglas 
and Jeremy Millard. The Committee meets as and when required 
to determine and agree with the Board the policy for the 
remuneration of the Group’s Chief Executive, Chairman and 
Executive Directors. The objective of this policy shall be to ensure 
that members of the Executive management of the Group are 
provided with appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced 
performance and are, in a fair and reasonable manner, rewarded 
for their individual contributions to the success of the Group. No 
director or manager shall be involved in any decisions as to their 
own remuneration.

Remuneration policy
The Group’s policy is that the remuneration arrangements, 
including pensions, for subsequent financial years should be 
sufficiently competitive to attract, retain and motivate high quality 
executives capable of achieving the Group’s objectives, thereby 
enhancing shareholder value.

Directors’ emoluments

Directors’ service contracts
Jag Grewal entered into a service contract with the Group on 
30 June 2011, under which he was appointed as an Executive 
Director on an annual salary of £110,000. His salary was increased to 
£140,000 per annum on 1 August 2015, £154,000 on 1 October 2020 
and £195,000 on 19 January 2022 following his appointment 
to Chief Executive Officer. The agreement will continue until 
terminated by either party giving to the other not less than 
twelve months’ notice in writing.

Jeremy Millard was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the 
Group on 1 March 2019 and is currently entitled to an annual fee of 
£35,000. The agreement will continue until terminated by either 
party giving to the other not less than one month’s notice in writing.

Simon Douglas was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman of 
the Group on 11 February 2021 and is entitled to an annual fee of 
£55,000. The agreement will continue until terminated by either 
party giving to the other not less than one month’s notice in writing.

Chris Lea entered into a service contract with the Group on 
30 August 2021, under which he was appointed as Chief Financial 
Officer and Company Secretary on an annual salary of £180,000. 
The agreement will continue until terminated by either party giving 
to the other not less than six months’ notice in writing. 

Fees/basic
salary
£’000

Consultancy
fees
£’000

Bonuses
£’000

Benefits Compensation for
loss of office
£’000

in kind
£’000

Total
2022
£’000

Total
2021
£’000

69

163

183

106

55

9

35

620

—

—

—

—

—

37

—

37

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2

3

2

—

—

—

—

7

—

—

258

—

—

—

—

258

71

166

443

106

55

46

36

922

160

147

207

—

7

50

30

601

Executive
Kieron Harbinson*

Jag Grewal

Colin King**

Chris Lea***

Non-Executive
Simon Douglas

William Rhodes****

Jeremy Millard

*  Resigned 30 August 2021.

**  Resigned 18 January 2022.

***  Appointed 30 August 2021.

**** Resigned 28 February 2022.

The £37,000 consultancy fee is paid to Third Day Advisors LLC, a company controlled by William Rhodes.

The amounts paid in the year towards Directors’ pension contributions were as follows:

Directors’ pension contributions

Kieron Harbinson

Jag Grewal

Colin King

Chris Lea

2022
£’000

2021
£’000

—

8

9

5

22

8

7

10

—

25

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

29

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued

Directors’ interests in ordinary shares
Directors’ interests in the 4 pence ordinary shares of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC are as follows:

Simon Douglas

Jag Grewal

Chris Lea

Jeremy Millard

31 March 
2022

—

235,746

—

525,000

31 March
2021

—

235,746

—

525,000

The Directors have no interests in the shares of subsidiary companies.

As part of the fund raise completed on 8 June 2022, each of the Directors’ subscribed for an additional 500,000 shares.

Directors’ share options

At
1 April 
2021

Granted
during
the year

Lapsed
during
the year

Exercised
during
the year

Jag Grewal

90,000 *

610,000 **

500,000 ***

Jeremy Millard

333,334

Simon Douglas

200,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

At
31 March
2022

90,000

610,000

500,000

333,334

200,000

Option
price

14.5p

30.5p

15.4p

Date of
grant

05/07/12

25/02/14

23/01/20

Earliest
exercise
date

05/07/15

25/02/17

23/01/22

Expiry
date

05/07/22

25/02/24

23/01/30

10.0p

02/12/19

02/12/20

02/12/29

89.0p

05/03/21

05/03/22

05/03/31

On 8 June 2022, Simon Douglas and Jag Grewal waived their entitlement to the above options and were granted new awards under the 
Company’s new Long-Term Incentive Plan.

The options granted above have vesting periods as noted below.

* 

 Indicates the options have a vesting period of three years (due to a three-year service condition) and can be exercised if the market price of a share has been 
at 25 pence or higher on at least one occasion at any time on or after the third anniversary of the date of grant. 

** 

I ndicates the options have a vesting period of three years (due to a three-year service condition) and can be exercised if the market price of a share has been 
at 50 pence or higher on at least one occasion at any time on or after the third anniversary of the date of grant.

***   Indicates the options have a vesting period of two years (due to a two-year service condition) and can be exercised if the market price of a share has been 

at 30 pence or higher on at least one occasion at any time on or after the second anniversary of the date of grant.

 The options granted to Jeremy Millard and Simon Douglas were awarded under the Company’s Third Unapproved Option Scheme. One third of the options vest 
one year after grant, another third vests two years after grant and the final third vests three years after grant.

The share price at 31 March 2022 was 3.7 pence. The highest and lowest share prices during the year were 96.06 pence and 
3.01 pence respectively.

Approved by the Board

Simon Douglas
Chairman
11 September 2022

30

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors present their Annual Report and Group Financial 
Statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Principal activities
The principal activity of the Company is as a holding company. 
The principal activities of the Group are the manufacture, 
development and distribution of medical diagnostics products for 
the food sensitivity testing market.

Research and development
Details of research and development activity are contained in 
the Financial Review. Costs in the year amounted to £1.2 million 
(2021: £1.5 million). Costs of £0.6 million in relation to research and 
development activities (2021: £0.5 million) were expensed through 
the statement of comprehensive income and costs of £0.6 million in 
relation to product development (2021: £0.9 million) were capitalised 
and included within intangible assets as detailed in Note 10.

Results and dividends
The result for the year is a loss of £11.3 million (2021: loss of 
£2.1 million), which has been taken to reserves. The Directors do 
not propose to pay a dividend. The results are disclosed in more 
detail in the Strategic Report.

The Company’s loss for the year ended 31 March 2022 is 
£2.8 million (2021: restated profit of £374,000). Further details 
regarding the restatement of 2021 profits are set out in Note 3.

Future development
As permitted by section 411c (11), information on likely future 
developments is included in the Strategic Report, where it is 
considered by the Directors to be of strategic importance.

Directors
The names of the Directors who have served the Group 
throughout the year are:

•  Simon Douglas;

•  Jag Grewal;

•  Kieron Harbinson (resigned 30 August 2021);

•  Colin King (resigned 18 January 2022);

•  Jeremy Millard;

•  William Rhodes (resigned 28 February 2022); and

•  Chris Lea (appointed 30 August 2021).

Biographies of all Directors serving at the year-end are on 
page 24.

Directors’ interests
The beneficial interests of Directors who have served throughout the year are listed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. There are no 
non-beneficial interests held by Directors. Each Director’s number of shares purchased and sold during the year and their total holding 
at the year end are shown in the table below: 

Simon Douglas

Jag Grewal

Jeremy Millard

Chris Lea

Number of 
shares held at
31 March
2021

Number of 
shares 
purchased
in year

Number of 
shares 
sold
in year

Number of
shares held at
31 March
2022

—

235,746

525,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

235,746

525,000

—

As part of the fund raise completed on 8 June 2022, each of the Directors’ subscribed for an additional 500,000 shares.

Employees
The Group values communication with its employees and 
provides a framework where all employees can contribute to the 
business through effective management and leadership. 
Employees receive regular feedback on the Group’s activities and 
all staff are encouraged to participate in the annual employee 
survey which provides useful feedback on how best employees’ 
ideas can be fed back to management. 

Disabled employees
The Group gives full and fair consideration to applications for 
employment made by disabled people, having regard to their 
particular aptitudes and abilities. Where an employee becomes 
disabled in the course of their employment, where possible, 
arrangements will be made for appropriate retraining to match 
their abilities with their duties.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

31

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT continued

Treasury policy and financial risk management
The Group continues to generate revenues and cash 
flows through its subsidiary undertakings. The financial risk 
management objectives, policies and processes of the Group 
and details of its financial instruments are detailed in the Notes to 
the Financial Statements. The Strategic Report contains details of 
the Group’s system of internal control. 

Auditors
The auditors, Ernst & Young LLP, will not continue in office. 
A resolution for the appointment of RSM UK Audit LLP as auditors 
of the Company will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual 
General Meeting.

Directors’ statement as to disclosure of 
information to auditors
The Directors who were members of the Board at the time of 
approving the Directors’ Report are listed above. Having made 
enquiries of fellow Directors and of the Company’s auditors, 
each of these Directors confirms that:

•  to the best of each Director’s knowledge and belief, there is no 
information (that is, information needed by the Group’s auditors 
in connection with preparing their report) of which the Group’s 
auditors are unaware; and

•  each Director has taken all the steps a director might 

reasonably be expected to have taken to be aware of relevant 
audit information and to establish that the Group’s auditors are 
aware of that information.

Major interests in shares
As at 30 June 2022, the following shareholders have notified the 
Group that they hold 3% or more of the Group’s issued ordinary 
share capital:

Shareholder

Shares

Percentage

Hargreaves Lansdown, stockbrokers (EO) 49,795,390

Interactive Investor (EO)

Spreadex Limited

HSDL, stockbrokers (EO)

IG Markets, stockbrokers (EO)

AJ Bell, stockbrokers (EO)

Barclays Smart Investors (EO)

31,433,952

23,029,621

22,308,711

13,082,499

12,727,525

12,575,845

Walkers Crips Investment Management

9,767,752

Argon Financial
HSBC James Capel as principal

Cantor Fitzgerald Europe

9,096,686
8,585,703

7,556,635

20.95%

13.23%

9.69%

9.39%

5.50%

5.35%

5.29%

4.11%

3.83%
3.61%

3.18%

Going concern 
In determining the appropriate basis of preparation of the financial 
statements, the Directors are required to consider whether the 
Company and Group can continue in operational existence through 
a period of at least twelve months from the date of approving the 
financial statements (the going concern period). The Directors have 
determined that the going concern period for purposes of these 
financial statements is the period through to 30 September 2023. 

The Group realised a loss of £11.3 million for the year ended 
31 March 2022 (2021: loss of £2.1 million). As at 31 March 2022, 
the Group had net current assets of £2.8 million, including a cash 
balance of £1.6 million and additionally had a overdraft facility of 
£2.0 million, which was undrawn. Subsequent to the year end, the 
overdraft facility was extended to 30 September 2022 on existing 
terms but following the sale of the CD4 business in July, Bank of 
Scotland have subsequently indicated it will not be renewed 
beyond this date. At the date of finalising these financial 
statements, the Group has cash in bank of £2.5 million.

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely 
to affect its future development, performance and position, are 
set out in the Strategic Report. The financial position of the Group, 
its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are 
described in the Financial Review.

In May and June 2022, the Group raised £2.2 million from 
shareholders through a placing and open offer/direct subscription, 
in order to finance the loss-making CD4 business through to 
eventual disposal. The sale of the CD4 business was concluded 
on 31 July 2022, with the Group subsequently receiving a cash 
payment of £0.5 million for the sale of fixed assets and a further 
£0.9 million for inventory on hand. A further £4.0 million is expected 
to be received, contingent on the successful outcome of an ongoing 
clinical study in Kenya which is expected to conclude in the final 
quarter of this calendar year. Royalty fees of 4% of Accubio’s 
future CD4 revenues for the period to 31 December 2026 would 
also be due to be received, up to £1.0 million in aggregate. 

The Directors have prepared trading and cash flow base case 
forecasts to 30 September 2023, taking into account the full 
anticipated proceeds from the sale of the CD4 business and have 
applied severe downside sensitivities and reverse stress tests to 
the base case forecasts. The sensitivities and stress tests have 
been applied to take account of the impact of potential uncertain 
outcomes that are, to an extent, outside of management’s control, 
as well as reduced trading forecasts, taking into account current 
macro-economic conditions. These scenarios include:

•  Not receiving any of the deferred consideration of £4.0 million 
arising from the sale of the CD4 business. This would require 
the VISITECT® CD4 test to fail to meet the agreed levels of 
sensitivity and specificity, the Group’s response to the points 
raised in the study report to be dismissed and the World Health 
Organisation to officially de-list the product, removing it from the 
market entirely. The Directors consider that this final step will not 
be taken lightly as the test is unique. Should the product be 
de-listed, an evaluation of the time and costs associated with 
any remedial action is to be agreed between the Group and 
Accubio Limited, with the costs of any such action to be met 
from the deferred consideration held in escrow, subject to a 
maximum cap of £4.0 million. There is therefore a range of 
potential outcomes arising from the Kenyan trial, ranging from a 
cash receipt of £4.0 million to £nil, and the timing and quantum 
is, to an extent, outside of management’s control.

32

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

•  Reduction in forecast revenue to £8.5 million per annum, in line 

with the year ended 31 March 2022, together with a 2% 
reduction in gross margin to 58%.

•  After factoring the impact of the above sensitivities, the 

Directors considered certain discretionary cost mitigation 
measures which could be taken, including eliminating any new 
headcount, delaying the planned investments in product menu 
expansion and in establishing a US presence, further delaying 
the start of the lease for the new Ely premises and seeking 
recovery of liquidated damages in cash or through the benefit of 
a rent-free period. The severe downside forecast takes account 
of all of these mitigating actions that could be taken as needed, 
but does not include any new debt finance facilities which may 
be available to the Group. The Directors consider these 
mitigating actions to be under their direct control.

•  After taking into account the above sensitivities and mitigating 
actions, the reverse stress test indicates revenue could fall by 
a further 38% and a gross margin could deteriorate by an 
additional 2% before forecast cash resources are exhausted.

After taking legal advice and making an assessment of the terms 
and conditions contained within the contract with the DHSC, the 
Directors do not believe the Group will be required to repay the 
pre-production payment of £2.5 million. In addition, the Directors 
consider there to be grounds to claim for damages for additional 
losses incurred under the contract. As such, the Directors believe 
there is a reasonable prospect that no cash outflow in the form of 
a repayment to the DHSC and repayment is not included in the 
base case or as a sensitivity. However, the Director’s acknowledge 
that there is a risk that a repayment of some or all of this amount 
may be required, the timing and quantum of which is uncertain.

The receipt of the CD4 sale proceeds of £4.0 million is dependent 
on the outcome of an ongoing, independent clinical study. Although 
the Directors are confident of a positive outcome from the trial and 
the receipt of the full amount of the deferred consideration, the 
precise timing and quantum is uncertain.

The Directors acknowledge there is an element of uncertainty 
within the going concern period attaching to the outcome of the 
DHSC dispute and the receipt of the CD4 deferred consideration. If 
both outstanding matters went against the Group to the maximum 
extent of £6.5 million, this may exhaust the available liquidity of the 
Company and Group and represents a material uncertainty which 
may cast significant doubt on the Company and Group’s ability 
to continue as a going concern. Notwithstanding this material 
uncertainty, on the basis of the legal advice received in relation 
to the DHSC dispute, and our assessment that the conditions 
precedent prior to release of the CD4 contingent consideration 
will be achieved, the Board has a reasonable expectation that 
the Company and Group have adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the period to 30 September 2023. On 
this basis, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis 
of preparation. Accordingly, these financial statements do not 
include the adjustments that would be required if the Company 
and Group was unable to continue as a going concern.

By order of the Board

Chris Lea
Company Secretary
11 September 2022

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

33

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable United Kingdom 
law and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected 
to prepare the Group and Company financial statements in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards (IFRSs). 
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 of the Group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the Group and the Company for that period. 

In preparing these financial statements the directors are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors and 

then apply them consistently;

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

•  present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable information;

•  provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRSs is insufficient to enable users to understand the 
impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Group and Company financial position and financial performance; 

•  in respect of the Group financial statements, state whether UK-adopted international accounting standards have been followed, 

subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

•  in respect of the Company financial statements, state whether UK-adopted international 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 and/ or the Group 

will continue in business.

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

Under applicable law and regulations, the directors are also responsible for preparing a Strategic Report, Directors’ Report, Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance Statement that comply with that law and those regulations. The Directors are 
responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company’s website. 

34

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
to the members of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Opinion
In our opinion:

•  Omega Diagnostics Group PLC’s Group financial statements and parent Company financial statements (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 March 2022 and of the Group’s loss 
for the year then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards; 

•  the parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting 

standards as applied in accordance with section 408 of the Companies Act; and

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

We have audited the financial statements of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC (the parent Company) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) 
for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise:

Group

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year 
ending 31 March 2022

Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2022

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ending 
31 March 2022

Parent Company

Balance sheet as at 31 March 2022

Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ending 
31 March 2022

Statement of Cash Flows for the year ending 31 March 2022

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ending 
31 March 2022

Related notes 1 to 25 to the financial statements including 
a summary of significant accounting policies

Related notes 1 to 25 to the financial statements, including a summary 
of significant accounting policies

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and UK adopted international accounting 
standards and, as regards to the parent Company financial statements, as applied in accordance with section 408 of the Companies 
Act 2006. 

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

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

Material uncertainty related to going concern
We draw attention to note 2 in the financial statements on page 49, which indicates that, if the anticipated receipt of the CD4 contingent 
consideration of £4.0 million is not realised in combination with the Group being required to settle the £2.5 million pre-production payment 
from the DHSC which is currently in dispute, in the going concern review period to 30 September 2023, this may exhaust the available 
liquidity of the Company and Group. As stated in note 2, these events or conditions indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast 
significant doubt on the Group and parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of 
this matter.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation 
of the financial statements is appropriate.

Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group and parent Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis 
of accounting included:

Risk assessment and management’s method 

•  In conjunction with our walkthrough of the Group’s financial statement close process, we confirmed our understanding of 

management’s going concern assessment process. We engaged with management and the Board throughout to ensure all key 
factors were considered in their assessment and changes to circumstances were being factored in accordingly;

•   We obtained management’s board approved forecast cash flows and accompanying paper covering the period of assessment from 
date of signing to 30 September 2023, the going concern period. The Group has modelled a number of scenarios, including base 
case, severe downside and reverse stress test, in their cash forecasts in order to incorporate the impact of current macro-economic 
conditions and impact of timing and ability to finance investment in product and geographical expansion; 

•  To challenge the completeness of this assessment, we have independently identified factors that may indicate events or conditions 

that may cast significant doubt on the Group and the parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

35

  INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued
to the members of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Material uncertainty related to going concern continued
Risk assessment and management’s method continued

•  We tested to ensure that the forecasts were mathematically accurate; and

•  We also considered the consistency of information obtained from other areas of the audit such as the forecasts used for impairment 

and external sector trend reports.

Assumptions, stress testing and management’s plans for future actions 

•  We challenged whether there was appropriate evidence to corroborate revenue and cost assumptions underlying management’s 
assumptions on the Health and Nutrition business, comparing these against historic actual growth and trading results from 2019 
through to 2022 and external market sector forecasts, to assess whether there was any indication of management bias;

•  We received and challenged management’s paper related to the DHSC dispute, as well as considered all legal and contractual 

documentation. In addition, we engaged with management specialists to independently corroborate chronology of the fact pattern 
as outlined by management, understand the basis for management conclusion and challenge the appropriateness of management’s 
assumption to exclude any repayment for purposes of the cash flow forecasts;

•  Reviewed the sale and purchase agreement related to the disposal of CD4, to challenge the assumptions adopted by management 
in the base case, severe downside sensitivities and reverse stress test forecasts, in particular in relation to the likelihood, timing and 
quantum of the amount expected to be received in the going concern period;

•  We evaluated management’s severe downside sensitivities and reverse stress testing on the forecasts to understand how severe 

the downside scenarios would have to be to result in the Group exhausting available liquidity; and

•  We evaluated management’s controllable cost mitigations, largely related to delaying planned investments in product menu 

expansion and in establishing a US presence, in order to determine whether such actions are within managements control, if timing 
of such would be feasible and appropriateness of amounts.

Liquidity 

•  We confirmed cash balances to bank confirmations at the balance sheet date; and

•  We confirmed cash balance in August 2022 to bank statements, for confirming starting position of cash flow forecasts.

Disclosures 

•   We considered whether management’s disclosures, in the Annual Report and financial statements, sufficiently and appropriately 

reflects the going concern assessment. 

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this 
report. However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the Company’s 
and Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

Overview of our audit approach

Audit scope

•   We performed an audit of the complete financial information of two components (audit scope 

is consistent with the prior year)

•   The components where we performed full audit procedures accounted for 93% of total gross 

margin, 98% of total revenue and 98% of total assets

Key audit matters

•   Risk of inappropriate revenue recognition

•   Risk of inappropriate classification of costs and exceptional items between continuing and 

discontinued operations

•   Going concern

Materiality

•   Group materiality of £96,000 which represents 1.88% of gross margin from continuing operations.

•   Company materiality of £200,000 (2021: £354,000), which is 0.95% of total assets of the Company 

(2021: 2% of total equity)

36

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

An overview of the scope of the parent Company and Group audits
Tailoring the scope

Our assessment of audit risk, our evaluation of materiality and our allocation of performance materiality determine our audit scope for 
each component within the Group. Taken together, this enables us to form an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We take 
into account size, risk profile, the organisation of the Group and effectiveness of Group-wide controls, changes in the business 
environment and other factors such as recent Internal audit results when assessing the level of work to be performed at each 
component. All audit work was performed by the primary audit engagement team. 

In assessing the risk of material misstatement to the Group financial statements, and to ensure we had adequate quantitative coverage 
of significant accounts in the financial statements, of the three reporting components of the Group, we selected two components 
covering entities within the UK, which represent the principal business units within the Group.

Of the two components selected, we performed an audit of the complete financial information of the complete financial information of 
those components (full scope components) which were selected based on their size or risk characteristics.

The reporting components where we performed audit procedures accounted for 93% (2021: 96%) of the Group’s total gross margin, 
98% (2021: 97%) of the Group’s total revenue and 98% (2021: 99%) of the Group’s total assets. 

Of the remaining one component that represents 7% of the Group’s gross margin, we performed other procedures, including but not 
limited to analytical review, performing substantive audit procedures over cash including obtaining bank confirmations and testing of 
consolidation journals to respond to any potential risks of material misstatement to the Group financial statements.

The charts below illustrate the coverage obtained from the work performed by our audit teams.

Gross margin

93+

  93% Full scope components

Revenue

98+

  98% Full scope components

Total assets

98+

  98% Full scope components

  7% Other procedures

  2% Other procedures

  2% Other procedures

Changes from the prior year 
There have been no changes in scope from prior year.

Involvement with component teams 
All audit work performed for the purposes of the audit was undertaken by the Group audit team. 

Climate change 
Our audit effort in considering climate change was focused on evaluating management’s assessment that there is no impact of climate 
change risk, the adequacy of the disclosures in the financial statements and the conclusion that no issues were identified that would 
impact carrying value of assets with indefinite and long lives or have any other impact on the financial statements. We also challenged 
the Directors’ considerations of climate change in their assessment of going concern and associated disclosures.

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 which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the 
audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial 
statements as a whole, and in our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. In addition to the matter 
described in the material uncertainties related to going concern section, we have determined the matters described below to be the 
key audit matters to be communicated in our report.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

37

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS7
+
C
2
+
C
2
+
C
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued
to the members of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Key audit matters continued

Risk

Our response to the risk

Key observations communicated to the 
Audit Committee 

Risk of inappropriate revenue 
recognition 

Our audit response consisted of several procedures 
including those summarised below: 

We communicated to the Audit 
Committee that:

31 March 2022 – £12.3m

•  Perform walkthroughs of the revenue cycle at significant 

31 March 2021 – £8.7m
Refer to the Note 2 – Accounting 
policies and Note 7 – Revenue and 
Expenses of the Consolidated 
Financial Statements

ISAs (UK) require that, as part of our 
overall response to the risk of fraud, 
when identifying and assessing the 
risks of material misstatement due 
to fraud, we evaluate which types 
of revenue or revenue transactions 
might give rise to potential fraud risks.

We have specifically identified the 
risk to be associated with cut-off for 
sales/shipments that occur before or 
after the year-end. 

This risk has not changed from the 
prior year.

components to gain an understanding of when the 
revenue should be recognised, to map out the relevant 
controls end to end and the processes in place. We 
have assessed the design and implementation of 
these controls.

•  Perform analytical review procedures to identify any 
unusual sales trends as well as utilising computer 
assisted data analytics techniques to examine the 
correlation of revenue streams through debtors to cash; 
highlighting anomalies and non-routine transactions 
(business activities) and perform focused procedures 
on these transactions.

•  Interview a selection of key sales personnel to 

determine the existence of any side agreements 
or unusual arrangements which may impact when 
revenue can be recognised.

•  Perform substantive testing procedures including 

detailed transaction testing around the period end to 
ensure revenue had been recognised in the correct 
period and that transfer of risks and rewards of 
ownership were appropriately accounted for.

•  Examined post year end credit notes to ensure revenue 
recognised pre- year end was not reversed post year-end.

We performed full scope audit procedures over this risk area 
in one component, which covered 98% of total revenue.

•   Through management inquiries 
and our walkthrough procedures 
performed, we assessed the 
design and implementation of the 
controls in place to be appropriate.

•   After examination of the 

correlations between revenue 
streams through debtors to cash, 
no material issues were identified.

•   Through our journal entry testing, 

specifically revenue journal 
postings near year end and 
related to any judgements or 
assumptions applied by 
management, we had identified 
no material issues.

Based on our audit procedures 
performed we have concluded that 
revenue is recognised appropriately 
in all material aspects.

38

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Key audit matters continued

Risk

Our response to the risk

Key observations communicated to the 
Audit Committee 

Risk of inappropriate 
classification of costs and 
exceptional items between 
continuing and discontinued 
operations (loss from 
discontinued operations £9.9m, 
assets held for sale £5.0m)
Refer to the Note 2 – Accounting 
Policies and Note 8 – Discontinued 
Operations of the Consolidated 
Financial Statements

Following the decision to dispose of 
the Global Health segment in March 
2022, the Group completed the 
disposal to Accubio on 31 July 2022.

Management has reflected the 
results of the disposed operations 
as discontinued operations for all 
periods presented and classified the 
pertaining assets and liabilities within 
the Global Health as held for sale. 

The classification of costs and 
exceptional items between 
continuing and discontinued 
operations is determined to be a key 
audit matter. We consider there is 
incentive by management to classify 
costs as discontinuing and due the 
subjectivity involved, might give rise 
to potential fraud risks.

Our audit response consisted of several procedures 
including those summarised below:

We communicated to the Audit 
Committee that:

•  Reviewed management’s process and controls relating 

to the evaluation of whether the divestiture met the 
criteria for discontinued operations and assets held for 
sale in accordance with IFRS 5.

•  Assessed the classification of assets, liabilities and the 
results of operations that are classified as held for sale 
by inspecting the Group’s accounting data and related 
adjustments including allocation of costs between 
continuing and discontinued operations, upholding 
a high degree of professional scepticism particularly 
around exceptional items.

•  Assessed the adequacy of disclosures presented in the 
financial statements surrounding assets held for sale 
and discontinued operations within the scope of IFRS.

•  Through our review and challenge 
of management’s assessment we 
have concluded that assets held 
for sale and discontinued 
operations satisfy the criteria 
under IFRS 5 within the financial 
year ended 31 March 2022 and 
the classification is therefore 
appropriate.

•  The fair value of assets held for 
sale and the impairment loss 
recognised on the 
remeasurement to fair value less 
costs has been calculated 
appropriately and correctly 
allocated between asset 
classifications.

•  Through supporting evidence 
obtained on a sample basis, 
applying additional scrutiny on 
exceptional items, we have 
confirmed the classification of 
costs within discontinued 
operations is appropriate.

•  We have concluded that 

disclosures presented in the 
financial statements with respect 
to assets held for sale and 
discontinued operations meet the 
requirements of IFRS 5.

Based on the audit procedures 
performed we have concluded that 
there have been no issues of 
inappropriate classification of costs 
and exceptional items between 
continuing and discontinued 
operations and that appropriate 
disclosure has been made within 
the financial statements.

In the prior year, our Auditor’s Report included a key audit matter in relation to a risk of inappropriate revenue recognition specifically 
in relation to new COVID-19 related contracts, however, following the reduced COVID-19 related activity in the current year, we do not 
assess this as a key audit matter for the current year audit.

Additionally, in the prior year, our Auditor’s Report included key audit matters in relation to impairment of capitalised development costs 
and risk of inappropriate capitalisation of development costs. Following the classification of Global Health intangible assets as assets 
held for sale which has been captured by the key audit matters above, the risk of impairment over remaining intangible assets under 
continuing operations is not considered to be a key audit matter for the current year audit. Additionally, as Health and Nutrition capitalised 
development costs was less than our materiality in the current year, we have not considered the risk inappropriate capitalisation of 
development costs a key audit matter for the current year audit.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

39

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTSINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued
to the members of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Our application of materiality 
We apply the concept of materiality in planning and performing 
the audit, in evaluating the effect of identified misstatements on 
the audit and in forming our audit opinion. 

Materiality
The magnitude of an omission or misstatement that, individually or 
in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to influence the 
economic decisions of the users of the financial statements. 
Materiality provides a basis for determining the nature and extent 
of our audit procedures.

We determined materiality for the Group to be £96,000 (2021: 
£78,000), which is 1.88% (2021: 1.75%) of gross margin from 
continuing operations. We believe that gross margin is considered 
to be a key performance indicator by both management and 
shareholders. Furthermore, the use of profit before tax is not 
considered appropriate given the continued loss-making position of 
the continuing business. We have excluded discontinued operations 
results from our calculation as this we believe this is not a key 
performance indicator of management and shareholders.

We determined materiality for the parent Company to be £200,000 
(2021: £354,000), which is 0.95% of Total Assets (2021: 2% of Total 
Equity). We believe that Total Assets is considered to be a key 
performance indicator by both management and shareholders. 

During the course of our audit, we reassessed initial materiality 
using final year-end figures which resulted in no change from our 
original assessment at the planning stage of the audit.

Performance materiality
The application of materiality at the individual account or balance 
level. It is set at an amount to reduce to an appropriately low level 
the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected 
misstatements exceeds materiality.

On the basis of our risk assessments, together with our assessment 
of the Group’s overall control environment, our judgement was 
that performance materiality was 50% (2021: 75%) of our planning 
materiality, calculated to be £48,000 (2021: £59,000). We have 
set performance materiality at this percentage due to various 
considerations including the past history of misstatements, our 
ability to assess the likelihood of misstatements, the effectiveness 
of the internal control environment and other factors affecting the 
entity and its financial reporting.

Audit procedures at component locations for the purpose of 
obtaining audit coverage over significant financial statement accounts 
is undertaken based on a percentage of total performance materiality. 
The performance materiality set for each component is based on 
the relative scale and risk of the component to the Group as a whole 
and our assessment of the risk of misstatement at that component. 
In the current year, the performance materiality allocated to the two 
in-scope components was £45,000 (2021: £44,000 to £53,000). 

Reporting threshold
An amount below which identified misstatements are considered 
as being clearly trivial.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them 
all uncorrected audit differences in excess of £4,800 (2021: £3,200), 
which is set at 5% of materiality, as well as differences below that 
threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

We evaluate any uncorrected misstatements against both the 
quantitative measures of materiality discussed above and in light 
of other relevant qualitative considerations in forming our opinion.

40

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Other information 
The other information comprises the information included in the 
annual report than the financial statements and our Auditor’s 
Report thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other 
information within the annual report. 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the 
other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly 
stated in this report, we do not express any form of assurance 
conclusion thereon. 

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by 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 Directors’ Report have been prepared 

in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report 
by exception
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.

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

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent 

Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or

•  the parent Company financial statements are not in agreement 

with the accounting records and returns; or

•  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law 

are not made; or

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit.

•  We assessed the susceptibility of the Group’s financial 

statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might 
occur by meeting with management, including within various 
parts of the business, to understand where they considered 
there was susceptibility to fraud. Where the risk was considered 
higher, we performed specific procedures including testing 
of manual journals to provide reasonable assurance that the 
financial statements were free from fraud and error. Further 
details of the procedures performed over revenue and our 
observations are included in the key audit matters section of this 
report. Additionally, details of the procedures performed over 
classification of costs, including exceptional items, between 
continuing and discontinued operations and our observations 
are also included in the key audit matters section of this report. 
Based on this understanding we designed our audit procedures 
to identify non-compliance with such laws and regulations. 
Our procedures included review of board minutes, review of 
management reports made to the Audit Committee, enquiries 
of external legal Counsel, enquiries of management as well as 
the application of data analytical tools with a focus on manual 
journals and transactions that have heightened risk by nature.

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

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

Paul Copland (Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditors
Edinburgh
11 September 2022

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities 
Statement set out on page 34 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 and 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.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered 
capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud 

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance 
with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our 
responsibilities, outlined above, to detect irregularities, including 
fraud. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to 
fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from 
error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, 
forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion. 
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting 
irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and 
detection of fraud rests with both those charged with governance 
of the Company and management. 

•  We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory 

frameworks that are applicable to the Group and determined 
that the most significant are those that are directly relevant to 
specific assertions in the financial statements are those that 
relate to the reporting framework (IFRS and the Companies 
Act 2006), and the relevant tax compliance regulations. In 
addition, we concluded that there are certain significant laws 
and regulations in relation to health and safety and 
employee matters. 

•  We understood how the Group is complying with those 

frameworks by making enquiries of management including 
those who are responsible for legal and compliance procedures. 
We corroborated our enquiries through our review of Board 
minutes and papers provided to the Audit Committee. 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

41

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
for the year ended 31 March 2022

Continuing operations

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Administration costs

Selling and marketing costs

Other income

Operating loss before exceptional items
Exceptional items

Operating loss after exceptional items
Finance costs

Loss before taxation
Tax (expense)/credit 

(Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations

Discontinued operations 

Loss after tax for the year from discontinued operations

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income/(losses) to be reclassified to profit and loss 

in subsequent periods
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Tax credit

Other comprehensive income/(losses) for the year 

Total comprehensive losses for the year

Earnings per share (EPS)

Basic and diluted EPS on loss for the year

Earnings per share for continuing operations

Basic and diluted EPS on (loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations

Note

7

7 

7

7

5

6

8

9

9

2022
£’000

8,539

(3,437)

5,102

(4,438)

(1,256)

—

(592)

(337)

(929)

(21)

(950)

(459)

(1,409)

(9,924)

(11,333)

10

—

10

2021
£’000

6,816

(2,820)

3,996

(3,638)

(980)

154

(468)

—

(468)

(78)

(546)

931

385

(2,489)

(2,104)

(3)

2

(1)

(11,323)

(2,105)

(6.2)p

(1.2)p

(0.9)p

0.2p

42

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
as at 31 March 2022

ASSETS

Non-current assets
Intangibles

Property, plant and equipment

Right of use assets

Deferred taxation

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Assets held for sale

Total assets

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Equity
Share capital

Share premium

Retained deficit

Translation reserve

Total equity

Liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Long-term borrowings

Lease liabilities

Deferred income

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

Simon Douglas 
Non-Executive Chairman 
11 September 2022   

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer
11 September 2022

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC 
Registered number: 5017761

Note

 2022
£’000

As restated*
 2021
£’000

10

11

11

12

14

15

 16

8

17 

18

11

19

18

11

20

8

4,745

1,138

106

1,107

7,096

1,094

3,045

1,605

5,744

4,995

17,835

8,044

25,340

(21,537)

(31)

11,816

51

23

2,500

2,574

204

92

2,674

2,970

475

6,019

9,892

3,078

1,801

2,535

17,306

2,238

4,175

5,827

12,240

—

29,546

8,028

25,288

(9,891)

(41)

23,384

712

1,753

647

3,112

206

172

2,672

3,050

—

6,162

17,835

29,546

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

43

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 March 2022

Balance at 31 March 2020 as reported

Development costs written off

Share
capital
£’000

6,752

—

Share
premium
£’000

As restated*
Retained
deficit
£’000

15,258

(8,364)

—

(290)

Note

3

Restated balance at 31 March 2020

6,752

15,258

(8,654)

Loss for year ended 31 March 2021

Other comprehensive losses – net exchange adjustments

Other comprehensive income – tax credit

Total comprehensive losses for the year

Issue of share capital for cash consideration

Expenses in connection with share issue

Share-based payments

Deferred tax credit related to share-based payments

Restated balance at 31 March 2021

Loss for year ended 31 March 2022

Other comprehensive income – net exchange adjustments

Total comprehensive (losses)/income for the year

Share options exercised

Share-based payments

Deferred tax debit related to share-based payments

Translation
reserve
£’000

As restated*
Total
£’000

(38)

—

(38)

—

(3)

—

(3)

—

—

—

—

13,608

(290)

13,318

(2,104)

(3)

2

(2,105)

11,857

(551)

270

595

—

—

—

—

1,276

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

10,581

(551)

—

—

(2,104)

—

2

(2,102)

—

—

270

595

8,028

25,288

(9,891)

(41)

23,384

—

— 

—

16

—

—

—

—

—

52

—

—

(11,333)

— 

(11,333)

—

282

(595)

—

10

10

—

—

—

(11,333)

10

(11,323)

68

282

(595)

Balance at 31 March 2022

8,044

25,340

(21,537)

(31)

11,816

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

44

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the year ended 31 March 2022

Cash flows generated from operations
Loss for the year from continuing operations

Loss for the year from discontinued operations

Adjustments for:

  Gain on disposal of fixed assets

  Loss on disposal of Alva site fixed assets

  Depreciation

  Amortisation of intangible assets

Impairment and derecognition of intangible assets

Impairment loss recognised on the remeasurement to fair value

  Share-based payments

  Taxation

  Omega Diagnostic GmbH liability settlement

  Finance costs

Cash outflow from operating activities before working capital movement

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other receivables

Increase/(decrease) in inventories

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other payables

Movement in grants

Receipt of advance funding from the DHSC

Taxation received

Cash outflow from operating activities

Investing activities
Income from sale of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of intangible assets

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities
Finance costs

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Expenses in connection with share issue

New asset finance arrangements

Repayment of overdraft facility

Principal portion of asset finance payments

Interest portion of asset finance payments

Principal portion of lease liability payments

Interest portion of lease liability payments

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Effects of exchange rate movements

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

Note

11

10

10

8

5

11

5

 2022
£’000

(1,409)

(9,924)

(7)

226

671

618

47

1,915

282

833 

(126)

180

(6,694)

1,130

480

(137)

(8)

2,000

—

(3,229)

985

(968)

(510)

(493)

(2)

68

— 

— 

— 

(198)

(34)

(192)

(144)

(502)

(4,224)

2
5,827

1,605

As restated* 
2021
£’000

385

(2,489)

—

—

461

425

—

—

270

(1,435)

—

218

(2,165)

(887)

(1,069)

1,072

(8)

500

138

(2,419)

—

(1,965)

(860)

(2,825)

(29)

11,857

(551)

796

(565)

(96)

(13)

(149)

(176)

11,074

5,830

(3)

—

5,827

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

45

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY BALANCE SHEET
as at 31 March 2022

ASSETS

Non-current assets
Investments

Intangibles

Deferred tax

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Equity
Share capital

Share premium

Retained deficit

Total equity

Liabilities

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

Note

13

12

15

 16

17 

20

2022
£’000

3,100

—

—

3,100

16,898

1,045

17,943

21,043

8,416

25,957

(13,727)

20,646

397

397

397

As restated*
2021
£’000

4,661

31

1,070

5,762

12,881

5,543

18,424

24,186

8,400

25,905

(10,785)

23,520

666

666

666

21,043

24,186

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, no separate statement of comprehensive income is presented for the Company.

The Company loss in the year was £2,832,000 (2021: restated profit of £374,000). Further details regarding the restatement of 2021 
profit in the year are set out in Note 3.

Simon Douglas 
Non-Executive Chairman 
11 September 2022   

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer
11 September 2022

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC 
Registered number: 5017761

46

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 March 2022

Balance at 31 March 2020 as reported

Restatement of 2019 profit for Omega Diagnostics GmbH liability

Restated balance at 31 March 2020

Profit for the year ended 31 March 2021 as reported

Restatement of 2021 profit for share-based payments

Profit for the year ended 31 March 2021 as restated

Other comprehensive income – tax credit

Total comprehensive income for the year as restated

Issue of share capital for cash consideration

Expenses in connection with share issue

Share-based payments as restated

Deferred tax credit related to share-based payments

Restated balance at 31 March 2021

Loss for the year ended 31 March 2022

Share-options exercised
Share-based payments

Deferred tax debit related to share-based payments

Note

3

3

3

As retained*

Share
premium
£’000

Retained  As restated*
Total 
£’000

deficit
£’000

15,875

(11,393)

11,607

Share
capital
£’000

7,125

—

—

(430)

7,125

15,875

(11,823)

—

—

—

—

—

1,275

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

10,581

(551)

—

—

513

(139)

374

2

376

—

—

270

392

(430)

11,177

513

(139)

374

2

376

11,856

(551)

270

392

8,400

25,905

(10,785)

23,520

—

16
—

—

—

52
—

—

(2,832)

(2,832)

—
282

(392)

68
282

(392)

Balance at 31 March 2022

8,416

25,957

(13,727)

20,646

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

47

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCOMPANY CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the year ended 31 March 2022

Cash flows generated from operations
(Loss)/profit for the year

Adjustments for:

  Taxation

Impairment of subsidiaries

  Share-based payments

  Finance costs

Cash (outflow)/inflow before working capital movement

Increase in trade and other receivables excluding intercompany financing

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

Cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities

Investing activities
Intercompany transfer of intangible assets

Transfers of cash to subsidiary companies

Transfers of cash from subsidiary companies

Investment in subsidiaries

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities
Finance costs

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Expenses of share issue

Repayment of overdraft facility

Net cash inflow from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

2022
£’000

(2,832)

678

1,685

158

31

(280)

(22)

(269)

(571)

31

(19,806)

15,811

—

(3,964)

(31)

68

—

—

37

(4,498)

5,543

1,045

As restated*
2021
£’000

374

(376)

—

131

28

157

(15)

11

153

—

(14,220)

9,327

(105)

(4,998)

(28)

11,856

(551)

(889)

10,388

5,543

—

5,543

48

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 March 2022

1 Authorisation of financial statements
The financial statements of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC (registered number: 5017761; registered office address: One Fleet Place, 
London EC4M 7WS for the year ended 31 March 2022 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 11 September 2022, and 
the balance sheets were signed on the Board’s behalf by Simon Douglas and Chris Lea. Omega Diagnostics Group PLC is a public 
limited company incorporated in England. The Company’s ordinary shares are traded on AIM.

2 Accounting policies
Basis of preparation

The accounting policies which follow set out those policies which have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these 
financial statements. The consolidated financial statements, and the Company financial statements, are presented in sterling and have 
been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards and, as regards to the Company financial 
statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. The Company has taken advantage of section 
408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present the Company statement of comprehensive income.

In relation to IFRS 8 – Operating Segments, the Group has identified the Executive Board as the chief operating decision maker with 
responsibility for decisions over the allocation of resources to operating segments and for the monitoring of their performance. Following 
the decision of the Executive Board to discontinue trading in the Global Health segment, the Group now reports on two segments as below. 

•  Health and Nutrition; and

•  Corporate

Prior year restatements

A number of adjustments have been made for figures reported in prior years and these adjustments are set out in Note 3. In addition, 
a number of reclassifications have been made to amounts previously reported to ensure consistency of presentation between 
reporting periods.

Discontinued operations

Assets and liabilities are classified as held for disposal if their recoverable value is likely to be recovered via a sale or distribution as 
opposed to continued use by the Group. In order to be classified as assets held for sale, assets and liabilities must meet all of the 
following conditions; the disposal is highly probable, it is available for immediate disposal, it is being actively marketed and the disposal 
is likely to occur within one year.

Assets that qualify as held for disposal and related liabilities are disclosed separately from other assets and liabilities in the balance 
sheet prospectively from the date of classification. Non-current assets determined as held for disposal are measured at the lower of 
carrying value and fair value less costs to sell. No depreciation or amortisation is charged in respect of these assets after classification 
as held for disposal.

Assets or groups of assets and related liabilities that qualify as held for disposal are classified as discontinued operations when they 
represent a separate major line of business or geographical area, are part of a single plan to dispose of a separate major line of business 
or geographical area or are acquired exclusively with a view to resale. Income and expenses relating to these discontinued operations are 
disclosed in a single net amount after taxes in the statement of comprehensive income, with comparative amounts re-presented accordingly.

Additional disclosures are provided in Note 8. All other notes to the financial statements include amounts for continuing operations, 
unless indicated otherwise. 

Basis of consolidation

The Group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC and the entities it controls (its 
subsidiaries). Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and 
has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date of acquisition, 
being the date on which the Group obtains control, and continue to be consolidated until the date that such control ceases. The financial 
statements of the subsidiaries used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements are based on consistent accounting 
policies. All intercompany balances and transactions, including unrealised profits arising from them, are eliminated.

Going concern 

In determining the appropriate basis of preparation of the financial statements, the Directors are required to consider whether the 
Company and Group can continue in operational existence through a period of at least twelve months from the date of approving 
the financial statements (the going concern period). The Directors have determined that the going concern period for purposes of 
these financial statements is the period through to 30 September 2023. The Group realised a loss of £11.3 million for the year ended 
31 March 2022 (2021: loss of £2.1 million). As at 31 March 2022, the Group had net current assets of £2.8 million, including a cash 
balance of £1.6 million and additionally had a overdraft facility of £2.0 million, which was undrawn. Subsequent to the year end, the 
overdraft facility was extended to 30 September 2022 on existing terms but following the sale of the CD4 business in July, Bank of 
Scotland have subsequently indicated it will not be renewed beyond this date. At the date of finalising these financial statements, 
the Group has cash in bank of £2.5 million.

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position, are set out in 
the Strategic Report. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the 
Financial Review.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

49

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2 Accounting policies continued
Going concern continued

In May and June 2022, the Group raised £2.2 million from shareholders through a placing and open offer/direct subscription, in order 
to finance the loss-making CD4 business through to eventual disposal. The sale of the CD4 business was concluded on 31 July 2022, 
with the Group subsequently receiving a cash payment of £0.5 million for the sale of fixed assets and a further £0.9 million for inventory 
on hand. A further £4.0 million is expected to be received, contingent on the successful outcome of an ongoing clinical study in Kenya 
which is expected to conclude in the final quarter of this calendar year. Royalty fees of 4% of Accubio’s future CD4 revenues for the 
period to 31 December 2026 would also be due to be received, up to £1.0 million in aggregate. 

The Directors have prepared trading and cash flow base case forecasts to 30 September 2023, taking into account the full anticipated 
proceeds from the sale of the CD4 business and have applied severe downside sensitivities and reverse stress tests to the base case 
forecasts. The sensitivities and stress tests have been applied to take account of the impact of potential uncertain outcomes that are, to 
an extent, outside of management’s control, as well as reduced trading forecasts, taking into account current macro-economic conditions. 
These scenarios include:

•   Not receiving any of the deferred consideration of £4.0 million arising from the sale of the CD4 business. This would require the 

VISITECT® CD4 test to fail to meet the agreed levels of sensitivity and specificity, the Group’s response to the points raised in the 
study report to be dismissed and the World Health Organisation to officially de-list the product, removing it from the market entirely. 
The Directors consider that this final step will not be taken lightly as the test is unique. Should the product be de-listed, an evaluation of 
the time and costs associated with any remedial action is to be agreed between the Group and Accubio Limited, with the costs of any 
such action to be met from the deferred consideration held in escrow, subject to a maximum cap of £4.0 million. There is therefore a 
range of potential outcomes arising from the Kenyan trial, ranging from a cash receipt of £4.0 million to £nil, and the timing and 
quantum is, to an extent, outside of management’s control.

•   Reduction in forecast revenue to £8.5 million per annum, in line with the year ended 31 March 2022, together with a 2% reduction 

in gross margin to 58%.

•   After factoring the impact of the above sensitivities, the Directors considered certain discretionary cost mitigation measures which could 
be taken, including eliminating any new headcount, delaying the planned investments in product menu expansion and in establishing 
a US presence, further delaying the start of the lease for the new Ely premises and seeking recovery of liquidated damages in cash or 
through the benefit of a rent-free period. The severe downside forecast takes account of all of these mitigating actions that could be 
taken as needed, but does not include any new debt finance facilities which may be available to the Group. The Directors consider these 
mitigating actions to be under their direct control.

•   After taking into account the above sensitivities and mitigating actions, the reverse stress test indicates revenue could fall by a further 

38% and a gross margin could deteriorate by an additional 2% before forecast cash resources are exhausted.

After taking legal advice and making an assessment of the terms and conditions contained within the contract with the DHSC, the 
Directors do not believe the Group will be required to repay the pre-production payment of £2.5 million. In addition, the Directors 
consider there to be grounds to claim for damages for additional losses incurred under the contract. As such, the Directors believe there 
is a reasonable prospect that no cash outflow in the form of a repayment to the DHSC and repayment is not included in the base case or 
as a sensitivity. However, the Director’s acknowledge that there is a risk that a repayment of some or all of this amount may be required, 
the timing and quantum of which is uncertain.

The receipt of the CD4 sale proceeds of £4.0 million is dependent on the outcome of an ongoing, independent clinical study. Although 
the Directors are confident of a positive outcome from the trial and the receipt of the full amount of the deferred consideration, the 
precise timing and quantum is uncertain.

The Directors acknowledge there is an element of uncertainty within the going concern period attaching to the outcome of the DHSC 
dispute and the receipt of the CD4 deferred consideration. If both outstanding matters went against the Group to the maximum extent of 
£6.5 million, this may exhaust the available liquidity of the Company and Group and represents a material uncertainty which may cast 
significant doubt on the Company and Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. Notwithstanding this material uncertainty, on the 
basis of the legal advice received in relation to the DHSC dispute, and our assessment that the conditions precedent prior to release of 
the CD4 contingent consideration will be achieved, the Board has a reasonable expectation that the Company and Group have 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the period to 30 September 2023. On this basis, the Directors continue to 
adopt the going concern basis of preparation. Accordingly, these financial statements do not include the adjustments that would be 
required if the Company and Group was unable to continue as a going concern. 

Intangible assets

Goodwill

Business combinations are accounted for under IFRS 3 using the acquisition method. Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of the 
business combination over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities. Goodwill 
is not amortised but is subject to an annual impairment review and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying value may be impaired a charge is made to the income statement. After initial recognition, goodwill is stated at cost less any 
accumulated impairment losses.

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the related cash-generating units monitored by management, usually at 
business segment level where synergies lie. Where the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than its carrying amount, 
including goodwill, an impairment loss is recognised in the income statement.

50

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20222 Accounting policies continued
Intangible assets continued
Other intangible assets

Intangible assets acquired as part of a business combination are recognised outside goodwill if the asset is separable or arises from 
contractual or other legal rights and its fair value can be measured reliably. Following initial recognition at fair value at the acquisition 
date, the historical cost model is applied, with intangible assets being carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated 
impairment losses. Intangible assets with a finite life have no residual value and are amortised on a straight-line basis over the expected 
useful lives, with charges included in administration costs, as follows:

Technology assets   

Software   

Licences   

Customer relationships  

– 

– 

– 

– 

5 to 20 years

5 years

17 to 20 years

fully amortised

The carrying value of intangible assets is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying 
value may not be recoverable.

Research and development costs

Expenditure on research and initial feasibility work is written off through the income statement as incurred. Thereafter, expenditure on 
product development which meets certain criteria is capitalised and amortised over its useful life. The stage at which it is probable that 
the product will generate future economic benefits is when the following criteria have been met: technical feasibility; intention and ability 
to sell the product; availability of resources to complete the development of the product; and the ability to measure the expenditure 
attributable to the product. The useful life of the intangible asset is determined on a product-by-product basis, taking into consideration 
a number of factors. Development costs previously recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in a subsequent period. 
Research and development intangible assets are amortised on a straight line basis over the expected useful lives, with charges included 
in administration costs, as follows: 

IAS38 Development costs 

– 

5 to 20 years

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses. Depreciation 
is charged so as to write off the cost of assets to their estimated residual values over their estimated useful lives on a straight line basis 
as follows:

Leasehold improvements 

Plant and machinery 

Right of use leased assets 

– 

– 

– 

ten years, straight line with no residual value or the remaining term of the lease if shorter

three to ten years, straight line with no residual value

over the lease term, straight line with no residual value

The carrying values of property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment if events or changes in circumstances indicate the 
carrying value may not be recoverable and are written down immediately to their recoverable amount. Useful lives are reviewed annually 
and, where adjustments are required, these are made prospectively.

Leases

Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of the contractual payments due to the lessor over the lease term with the discount 
rate determined by reference to the Group’s incremental borrowing rate at commencement of the lease. 

Right of use assets are recognised at the commencement date of the lease and measured at an amount equal to the initial lease liability 
recognised and initial direct costs incurred when entering into the lease. Right of use assets comprise the premises and equipment with 
leases in excess of one year. 

Low value leases

Rentals applicable to low value leases, where substantially all the benefits and risks remain with the lessor, are charged against the 
statement of other comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Asset finance arrangements

The Group raises finance secured on new asset purchases. Amounts received in relation to the financing of fixed asset acquisitions, 
where the lender has security over the specified assets acquired, are recorded as liabilities in the balance sheet and accounted for in 
accordance with IFRS 9. Interest incurred on these arrangements is charged to the statement of comprehensive income using the 
effective interest rate method.

Impairment of assets

The Group and Company assess at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any such indication 
exists, the Group and Company make an estimate of the asset’s recoverable amount. An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of an 
asset’s or cash-generating unit’s fair value less costs to sell and its value in use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset 
does not generate cash inflows that are largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. Where the carrying amount of 
an asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset is considered to be impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

51

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
2 Accounting policies continued
Impairment of assets continued

In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their net present value, using a pre-tax discount rate that 
reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to that asset. Impairment losses on continuing 
operations are recognised in the income statement in those expense categories consistent with the function of the impaired asset.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is defined as standard cost or purchase price and includes all 
direct costs incurred in bringing each product to its present location and condition. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling 
price less any further costs expected to be incurred prior to completion and disposal.

Trade receivables

Trade receivables recognised by the Group and Company are carried at original invoice amount less an allowance for any non-collectable 
or impaired amounts. The Group uses the IFRS 9 expected credit loss model to measure loss allowances at an amount equal to their 
lifetime expected credit loss. A provision for doubtful amounts is made when there is objective evidence that collection of the full amount 
is no longer probable. 

Significant financial difficulty or significantly extended settlement periods are considered to be indicators of impairment. Normal average 
payment terms vary from payment in advance to 90 days. Balances are written off when the probability of recovery is assessed as remote.

Provision for expected credit losses (ECLs) of receivables

The Group uses a provision matrix to calculate ECLs for trade receivables. The provision rates are based on analysis of payment receipt 
days past due for groupings of various customer segments (i.e. by geography, product type, customer type and rating). 

The provision matrix is initially based on the Group’s historical observed default rates. The Group will calibrate the matrix to adjust the 
historical credit loss experience with forward-looking information. For instance, if forecasted economic conditions are expected to deteriorate 
over the next year, which could lead to an increased number of defaults in the medical diagnostics sector, the historical rates are adjusted. 
At every reporting date, the historical observed default rates are updated and changes in the forward-looking estimates are analysed.

The assessment of the correlation between historical observed rates, forecast economic conditions and ECLs is an estimate. The amount 
of ECLs is sensitive to changes in circumstances and forecasted economic conditions. The Group’s historical credit loss experience 
and forecast of economic conditions may also not be representative of the customer’s actual default in the future. The information about 
the ECLs on the Group’s trade receivables is disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements.

Expected credit loss on amounts due from subsidiaries are measured using the general models for ECLs. When there has been a significant 
increase in credit risk since initial recognition, a loss allowance is required for credit losses expected over the remaining life of the exposure, 
irrespective of the timing of the default. This is determined by applying the probability of default to the receivables due from subsidiaries.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash at banks and in hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity 
of three months or less. Bank overdrafts or other short term debt facilities that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the 
Group’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

Financial instruments

Under IFRS 9, financial assets, liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual 
arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after 
deducting all of its liabilities.

Financial assets held by the Group and Company are trade and other receivables and cash. 

Financial liabilities held by the Group and Company are trade and other payables, deferred income and bank borrowings.

The classification of financial assets at initial recognition depends on the financial asset’s contractual cash flow characteristics and the 
Group’s business model for managing them. Trade receivables are measured at the transaction price determined under IFRS 15. The 
Group’s financial assets at amortised cost include trade receivables and loans to subsidiaries.

A financial asset (or, where applicable, a part of a financial asset or part of a group of similar financial assets) is derecognised when the 
rights to receive cash flows from the asset have expired. 

For trade receivables and contract assets, the Group applies a simplified approach in calculating ECLs. Therefore, the Group does not 
track changes in credit risk, but instead recognises a loss allowance based on lifetime ECLs at each reporting date.

Customer credit risk is managed by the Group finance team and is subject to the Group’s established policy, procedures and controls relating 
to customer credit risk management. All new customers are subject to formal take-on procedures which include the first four orders being on 
a proforma basis. Customers’ credit is reviewed on a regular basis with existing trading experiences taken into account when deciding 
on ongoing terms. The Group has an excellent record in cash collections and consequently has had almost no bad debt in recent years.

A financial asset is deemed to be impaired when internal or external information indicates that the Group is unlikely to receive the 
outstanding contractual amounts in full before taking into account any credit enhancements held by the Group. A financial asset is 
written off when there is no reasonable expectation of recovering the contractual cash flows.

52

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20222 Accounting policies continued
Financial instruments continued

Trade payables are not interest bearing and are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method.

Bank borrowings are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 
For long-term bank borrowings stated at amortised cost, transaction costs that are directly attributable to the borrowing instrument are 
recognised as an interest expense over the life of the instrument.

A financial liability is derecognised when the obligation under the liability is discharged or cancelled or expires; when an existing financial 
liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability are substantially 
modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as the derecognition of the original liability and the recognition of a new liability. 
The difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Company’s investments in subsidiaries

The Company recognises its investments in subsidiaries at cost. The carrying value of investments is reviewed for impairment whenever 
events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Foreign currency translation

The financial statements are presented in UK pounds sterling. Transactions in currencies other than sterling are recorded at the prevailing 
rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign 
currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in 
foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing at the date of the transaction.

Gains and losses arising on retranslation of monetary items are included in the net profit or loss for the year. The trading results of the 
overseas subsidiaries are translated at the average exchange rate ruling during the year, with the exchange difference between the 
average rates and the rates ruling at the balance sheet date being taken to other comprehensive income and accumulated in the 
translation reserve. Any differences arising on the translation of the opening net investment in the overseas subsidiaries and of 
applicable foreign currency loans are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the translation reserve.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and net of discounts and sales-related taxes. Sales of 
goods are recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to the customer. This will be when goods have 
been despatched and the collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured. Revenue relates to the sale of medical diagnostic 
kits. Revenue relating to the provision of technical services is recognised upon completion of staged contractual obligations.

Grants

Grants are recognised when it is reasonable to expect that the grants will be received and that all related conditions will be met, usually 
on submission of a valid claim for payment. Grants in respect of capital expenditure are credited to a deferred income account and are 
released to the income statement over the expected useful lives of the relevant assets by equal annual instalments. Revenue grants are 
credited to the income statement as and when the relevant expenditure is incurred.

Share-based payments

Equity-settled transactions

For equity-settled transactions, the Group measures the award by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are granted and 
it is recognised as an expense over the vesting period, which ends on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled 
to the award. In certain circumstances, such as death of an employee, the Directors can amend the vesting period at their discretion. 
Fair value is determined using the Black-Scholes model.

Any other conditions which are required to be met in order for an employee to become fully entitled to an award are considered to be 
non-vesting conditions. Like market performance conditions, non-vesting conditions are taken into account in determining grant date fair 
value. No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a market or 
non-vesting condition, which are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market or non-vesting condition is satisfied, 
provided that all other performance conditions are satisfied.

At each balance sheet date before vesting, the cumulative expense is calculated, representing the extent to which the vesting period 
has expired and management’s best estimate of the achievement or otherwise of vesting conditions and of the number of equity 
instruments that will ultimately vest or, in the case of an instrument subject to a market or non-vesting condition, be treated as vesting 
as described above. This includes any award where non-vesting conditions within the control of the Group or the employee are not met. 
The movement in cumulative expense since the previous balance sheet date is recognised in the income statement, with a 
corresponding entry in equity.

Where the terms of an equity-settled award are modified or a new award is designated as replacing a cancelled or settled award, the 
cost based on the original award terms continues to be recognised over the original vesting period. In addition, an expense is 
recognised over the remainder of the new vesting period for the incremental fair value of any modification, based on the difference 
between the fair value of the original award and the fair value of the modified award, both as measured on the date of the modification. 
No reduction is recognised if this difference is negative.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

53

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS2 Accounting policies continued
Share-based payments continued
Equity-settled transactions continued

Where an equity-settled award is cancelled, it is treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any cost not yet recognised in 
the income statement for the award is expensed immediately. Any compensation paid up to the fair value of the award at the cancellation 
or settlement date is deducted from equity, with any excess over fair value being treated as an expense in the income statement.

Pensions

Contributions to personal pension plans of employees on a defined contribution basis are charged to the income statement in the year 
in which they are payable.

Income taxes

Current tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the taxation authorities, based on 
tax rates and laws that are enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred income tax is recognised on all temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying 
amounts in the financial statements, with the following exceptions:

•  where the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or of an asset or liability in a transaction that is not a 

business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss;

•  in respect of taxable temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, where the 

timing of the reversal of the temporary differences can be controlled and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse 
in the foreseeable future; and

•  deferred income tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the 

deductible temporary differences, carried forward tax credits or tax losses can be utilised.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates that are expected to apply when the 
related asset is realised or the liability is settled, based on tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Income tax and deferred tax are charged or credited in other comprehensive income or directly to equity if they relate to items that are credited 
or charged in other comprehensive income or directly to equity. Otherwise, income tax and deferred tax are recognised in profit or loss.

Use of estimates and judgements

The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the 
application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. It is not practical to separate 
estimates from judgements in relation to future forecasts. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the 
period in which the estimate is revised and in any future periods affected.

The significant areas of estimation uncertainty and critical judgements in applying the accounting policies that have the most significant 
effect on the amounts recognised in the financial information are as follows:

Intangible assets – expected useful life

Management judgement is required to estimate the useful lives of intangible assets, having reference to future economic benefits 
expected to be derived from use of the asset. Economic benefits are based on the fair values of estimated future cash flows. The Group 
seeks to develop relationships with key external decision makers that can influence the global agenda for the markets in which the 
Group operates. To the extent that future economic benefits are dependent upon inputs and decisions to be taken by third parties, the 
Group maintains regular dialogue with these parties to ensure it has the most relevant and up-to-date data upon which to base its 
judgement. The Group reviews its technology assets on a regular basis by undertaking competitor reviews to ensure the relevance of 
these assets and to increase the likelihood that future economic benefits will continue to ensue. The period selected for amortisation in 
relation to the Health and Nutrition products is five years as there is competitor activity in this space.

Carrying value of goodwill

Goodwill is tested annually for impairment. The test considers the recoverable amount of cash-generating units (CGUs) that give rise 
to the goodwill. The recoverable amount is determined to be the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and the value in use of the 
CGU. If the carrying amount of the CGU exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment charge will be recognised immediately in the 
income statement.

Value in use calculations require the estimation of future cash flows to be derived from the respective CGU and the selection of an 
appropriate discount rate in order to calculate their present value. The value in use methodology is consistent with the approach taken 
by management to evaluate economic value and is deemed to be the most appropriate for the respective subsidiary. The methodology 
is based on the pre-tax cash flows arising from the specific CGU and discounted using a pre-tax discount rate. The estimation of the 
timing and value of underlying projected cash flows and the selection of appropriate discount rates involves management judgement. 
Subsequent changes to these estimates or judgements may impact the carrying value of the assets.

54

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20222 Accounting policies continued
Income taxes continued
Deferred tax

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on the difference 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 is accounted for using the 
balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax 
assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that the taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary 
differences can be utilised within a reasonable period of time. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance 
sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow the asset 
recognised to be recovered within a reasonable period of time.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where there is a legally enforceable right of offset within the same tax authority and where 
the Group intends to either settle them on a net basis, or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. A deferred tax asset 
is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the asset can be utilised. 
Deferred tax assets are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax benefit will be realised.

Investments

For investments subject to impairment testing, the investment carrying value is compared to the investment recoverable amount. 
The recoverable amount is determined to be the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and the value in use of the investment. If the 
carrying amount of the investment exceeds its recoverable amount, an impairment charge will be recognised immediately in the income 
statement. Reversals of previous impairment charges are recognised if the recoverable amount of the investment significantly exceeds 
the carrying amount.

Value in use calculations require the estimation of future cash flows to be derived from the respective subsidiary and the selection of an 
appropriate discount rate in order to calculate their present value. The value in use methodology is consistent with the approach taken 
by management to evaluate economic value and is deemed to be the most appropriate for the respective subsidiary. The methodology 
is based on the pre-tax cash flows arising from the respective subsidiary and discounted using a pre-tax discount rate. The estimation 
of the timing and value of underlying projected cash flows and the selection of appropriate discount rates involves management 
judgement. Subsequent changes to these estimates or judgements may impact the carrying value of the subsidiary.

Deferred income

At inception, amounts advanced by DHSC were classified as deferred income under IFRS 15 because they were to be recovered at 
an agreed amount per lateral flow test produced. With no production volume over which the advance payment can be recovered as 
envisaged in the contract, the Company still retains the deferred income balance of £2.5 million pending resolution of the dispute. 
Depending on the outcome of the settlement negotiations, the amount of deferred income to be retained by the Company may be more 
or less than the amount stated. Under IFRS 15 no amount would be recognised as revenue unless it is highly probable that a significant 
reversal would not occur. Notwithstanding legal advice obtained and the Directors intention to challenge any attempt to reclaim the 
amount advanced under the contract, at the 31 March 2022, the Directors have determined the amount to be fully constrained. 

Fair value of assets held for sale

The fair value less costs to sell of assets held for sale at the reporting date is £5.0 million (see note 8), of which the majority relates to 
the CD4 business. The fair value has been determined on the basis of negotiations with potential buyers at the balance sheet date and, 
since there were no material changes to the fair value of the CD4 business between 31 March 2022 and 31 July 2022, the consideration 
agreed has been determined to be representative of the fair value at the balance sheet date. Judgement has also been applied in 
determining the appropriate fair value of the contingent elements of the consideration agreed, which is based on a range of possible 
outcomes including, the outcome of the ongoing clinical study in Kenya which is expected to conclude in the final quarter of this 
calendar year and revenues generated from future CD4 revenues under Accubio ownership for the period to 31 December 2026 
which the Group are entitled to royalty fees of 4%.

Standards adopted for the first time

There are no new or revised standards effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 April 2022 that are relevant to the Group. 

Standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective

There are no new standards, amendments to existing standards or interpretations that are effective as at 31 March 2022 relevant to the Group.

3 Restatement of comparatives
Group

Intangible assets

Following a review of intangible assets, one project has been identified which was not adequately defined in previous reporting periods 
and which does not meet the requirements of IAS 38, in that the probability of generating future economic benefits arising from the 
development expenditure cannot be established. The capitalised costs relating to this project are £235,000, all of which were incurred 
prior to 1 April 2020 and were incorrectly capitalised at the time.

In addition, a legacy research and development project valued at £55,000 has been identified which relates to the Group’s infectious 
disease business, which was sold in June 2018. This amount was incorrectly not written off in the year ended 31 March 2019.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

55

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS3 Restatement of comparatives continued
Group continued
Intangible assets continued

The costs associated with both of these projects have been written off effective 31 March 2020 through means of a prior year adjustment 
in accordance with the requirements of IAS 8, resulting in a reduction of the carrying value of intangible assets of £290,000 as at that 
date. There has been no impact on the earnings reported for the years ended 31 March 2021 or 2020.

Deferred tax

Historically, deferred tax assets and liabilities were incorrectly reported as separate balances in prior years. The 31 March 2021 balance 
sheet has been restated to net off the deferred tax asset and liability, reducing the previously reported deferred tax asset by £1,153,000 
with a corresponding reduction in the deferred tax liability. The 31 March 2020 balance sheet has been restated to net off the deferred 
tax liability asset and liability, reducing the previously reported deferred tax asset by £899,000 with a corresponding reduction in the 
deferred tax liability.

Deferred income

In the year ended 31 March 2021 the prepayment of £500,000 from the DHSC was incorrectly presented within trade and other 
payables. This amount has been reclassified as deferred income in the balance sheet as at 31 March 2021 with a corresponding 
reduction in trade and other payables. The presentation of the consolidated cash flow statement has also been restated. There is no 
impact to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

The effect of the restatements noted above on the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 March 2021 is as follows:

ASSETS

Non-current assets
Intangibles

Property, plant and equipment

Right of use assets

Deferred taxation

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Equity
Issued capital

Retained deficit

Translation reserve

Total equity

Liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Long-term borrowings

Lease liabilities

Deferred tax

Deferred income

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

As reported
2021
£’000

Restatement
2021
£’000

As restated
2021
£’000

10,182

3,078

1,801

3,688

18,749

2,238

4,175

5,827

12,240

(290)

—

—

(1,153)

(1,443)

—

—

—

—

9,892

3,078

1,801

2,535

17,306

2,238

4,175

5,827

12,240

30,989

(1,443)

29,546

33,316

(9,601)

(41)

23,674

712

1,753

1,153

147

3,765

206

172

3,172

3,550

7,315

—

(290)

—

(290)

—

—

(1,153)

500

(653)

—

—

(500)

(500)

(1,153)

33,316

(9,891)

(41)

23,384

712

1,753

—

647

3,112

206

172

2,672

3,050

6,162

Total equity and liabilities

30,989

(1,443)

29,546

56

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20223 Restatement of comparatives continued
Group continued

The effect of the restatements noted above on the consolidated cash flow statements as at 31 March 2021 is as follows:
Restatement
2021
£’000

As reported
2021
£’000

Increase in trade and other payables

Receipt of advance funding from DHSE

1,572

—

(500)

500

As restated
2021
£’000

1,072

500

The effect of the restatements noted above on the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 March 2020 is as follows:

ASSETS

Non-current assets
Intangibles

Property, plant and equipment

Right of use assets

Deferred taxation

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Equity
Issued capital

Retained deficit

Translation reserve

Total equity

Liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Long-term borrowings

Lease liabilities

Deferred tax

Deferred income

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities
Short-term borrowings
Lease liabilities

Bank overdraft

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

As reported
2020
£’000

Restatement
2020
£’000

As restated
2020
£’000

9,677

1,432

1,732

1,538

14,379

1,169

3,288

—

4,457

(290)

—

—

(899)

(1,189)

—

—

—

—

9,387

1,432

1,732

639

13,190

1,169

3,288

—

4,457

18,836

(1,189)

17,647

22,011

(8,364)

(38)

13,609

131

1,704

899

155

2,889

86
87

565

1,600

2,338

5,227

—

(290)

—

(290)

—

—

(899)

—

(899)

—
—

—

—

—

(899)

22,011

(8,654)

(38)

13,319

131

1,704

—

155

1,990

86
87

565

1,600

2,338

4,328

Total equity and liabilities

18,836

(1,189)

17,647

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

57

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS3 Restatement of comparatives continued
Company

Omega Diagnostics GmbH settlement

The €500,000 (£430,000) liability associated with the liquidation of Omega Diagnostics GmbH was reported in the financial 
statements of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2019. Whilst the liability was correctly reflected in the Group financial statements, 
the liability was the legal responsibility of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC and should also have been reflected in the Company’s balance 
sheet as at 31 March 2021, 31 March 2020 and 31 March 2019. These balances have restated to include the liability of £430,000, with a 
corresponding increase in the Company’s total opening retained earnings deficit. This liability was settled for €350,000 (£304,000) in 
August 2021 with a corresponding exceptional gain of £126,000 included within discontinued activities in both the Group statement of 
comprehensive income for the year ended 31 March 2022 and the Company’s loss for the year ended 31 March 2022.

The effects of the restatements noted above on the Company balance sheet as at 31 March 2021 and 31 March 2020 are as follows:

Retained deficit

Total equity

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Retained deficit

Total equity

Trade and other payables

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

As reported
2021
£’000

Restatement
2021
£’000

As restated
2021
£’000

(10,355)

23,950

236

236

236

(430)

(430)

430

430

430

(10,785)

23,520

666

666

666

As reported
2020
£’000

Restatement
2020
£’000

As restated
2020
£’000

(11,393)

11,607

226

1,115

1,115

(430)

(430)

430

430

430

(11,823)

11,177

656

1,545

1,545

Share-based payment expense

The Company’s share-based payment expense of £139,000 for the year ended 31 March 2021 in respect of employees of the subsidiary 
company Omega Diagnostics Limited was incorrectly credited through comprehensive income for the year instead of being recorded 
through share-based payment reserves included within retained deficit. The Company’s 2021 results have been restated to reverse the 
incorrect credit to comprehensive income resulting in a reduction in the Company only profit for the year ended 31 March 2021 of 
£139,000 with the offset being recorded through the “share-based payments” line within retained deficit. There is no change to the 
Company’s total retained deficit or net assets as at 31 March 2021.

Company profit for the year

As reported
31 March 2021
£’000

Restatement 
£’000

As restated
31 March 2021
£’000

513

(139)

374

4 Segmental information
Following the withdrawal from COVID-19 products and the decision taken in March 2022 to dispose of the CD4 business, the sale of 
which was completed on 31 July 2022, the entire Global Health division was classified as held for sale, the only remaining division is 
Health and Nutrition. The Global Health division specialised in the research, development, production and marketing of kits to aid the 
diagnosis of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

The Health and Nutrition division specialises in the research, development and production of kits to aid the detection of immune 
reactions to food. It also provides clinical analysis to the general public, clinics and health professionals as well as supplying the point-of-
care Food Detective® test.

The Corporate segment consists of centralised corporate costs which are not allocated to the trading activities of the Group.

Inter-segment transfers or transactions are entered into under the normal commercial conditions that would be available to unrelated 
third parties.

58

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20224 Segmental information continued 
Business segment information 

2022

Revenue

Inter-segment revenue

Total revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Operating costs

Operating profit/(loss) before exceptional items
Exceptional items

Operating profit/(loss) after exceptional items

Depreciation

Amortisation

EBITDA

Exceptional items

Share-based payment charges

Adjusted EBITDA

Share-based payment charges

Depreciation

Amortisation

Net finance costs

Exceptional costs

Profit/(loss) before tax
Exceptional items

Share-based payment charges

Amortisation

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

8,779

(240)

8,539

(3,437)

5,102

(4,137)

965

—

965

194

353

1,512

—

58

—

—

—

—

—

(1,557)

(1,557)

(337)

(1,894)

—

—

(1,894)

337

158

1,570

(1,399)

(58)

(194)

(353)

(21)

—

944

—

58

99

(158)

—

—

—

(337)

(1,894)

337

158

—

Total 
£’000

8,779

(240)

8,539

(3,437)

5,102

(5,694)

(592)

(337)

(929)

194

353

(382)

337

216

171

(216)

(194)

(353)

(21)

(337)

(950)

337

216

99

Adjusted profit/(loss) before tax

1,101

(1,399)

(298)

2021

Revenue

Inter-segment revenue

Total revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Operating costs

Operating profit/(loss) before exceptional items
Exceptional items

Operating profit/(loss) after exceptional items

Depreciation

Amortisation

EBITDA

Share-based payment charges

Adjusted EBITDA

Share-based payment charges

Depreciation

Amortisation

Net finance costs

Profit/(loss) before tax
Share-based payment charges

Amortisation

Adjusted profit/(loss) before tax

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

6,937

(121)

6,816

(2,820)

3,996

(3,090)

906

—

906

179

178

1,263

72

1,335

(72)

(179)

(178)

(50)

856

72

108

1,036

—

—

—

—

—

(1,374)

(1,374)

—

(1,374)

—

—

(1,374)

131

(1,243)

(131)

—

—

(28)

(1,402)

131

—

(1,271)

Total 
£’000

6,937

(121)

6,816

(2,820)

3,996

(4,464)

(468)

—

(468)

179

178

(111)

203

92

(203)

(179)

(178)

(78)

(546)

203

108

(235)

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

59

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
4 Segmental information continued 
Business segment information continued

The adjusted profit/(loss) before taxation is a key measure of the Group’s trading performance used by the Directors. The reported 
numbers are non-GAAP measures.

Corporate consists of centralised corporate costs which are not allocated across the trading divisions. 

The segment assets and liabilities are as follows:

2022

Segment assets

Unallocated assets

Total assets

Segment liabilities

Unallocated liabilities

Total liabilities

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

10,055

—

10,055

2,508

—

2,508

73

—

73

397

—

397

Total 
£’000

10,128

2,712

12,840

2,905

2,639

5,544

The assets and liabilities held for sale at 31 March 2022 are detailed in Note 8 – discontinued operations.

2021

Segment assets

Unallocated assets

Total assets

Segment liabilities

Unallocated liabilities

Total liabilities

As restated*
Health and
Nutrition
£’000

As restated*
Global
Health
£’000

As restated*
Corporate
£’000

As restated*
Total 
£’000

9,890

—

9,890

1,201

—

1,201

11,243

—

11,243

4,295

—

4,295

51

—

51

666

—

666

21,184

8,362

29,546

6,162

—

6,162

*   See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

Unallocated assets comprise cash and deferred taxation. Unallocated liabilities primarily relate to deferred income balances.

Information about major customers

One customer within the Health and Nutrition segment accounts for £1,369,000, 16.0% (2021: £1,336,000, 19.6%) of continuing revenues.

Geographical information

The Group’s geographical information is based on the location of its markets and customers. Sales to external customers disclosed 
in the geographical information are based on the geographical location of its customers. The analysis of segment assets and capital 
expenditure is based on the geographical location of the assets.

 2022
£’000

470
2,605

1,742

500

513

1,503

1,206

8,539

Intangibles
£’000

Property, 
plant and
equipment
£’000

Inventories
£’000

Trade
and other
receivables
£’000

4,743

2

—

1,241

3

—

4,745

1,244

1,084

10

—

1,094

2,938

107

—

3,045

12,840

 2021
£’000

402

1,777

842

269

293

2,592

641

6,816

Total
£’000

10,006

122

2,712

Revenues
UK

Rest of Europe

North America

South/Central America

India

Asia and the Far East

Africa and the Middle East

2022

Assets
UK

India

Unallocated assets

Total assets

60

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4 Segmental information continued
Geographical information continued

2021

Assets
UK

India

Unallocated assets

Total assets

Liabilities
UK

India

Unallocated liabilities

Total liabilities

Capital expenditure
Health and Nutrition
Global Health and Other

Total capital expenditure

Intangible expenditure
Health and Nutrition

Global Health and Other

Total intangible expenditure

5 Finance costs

Consolidated

Interest payable on bank overdraft

Interest payable on lease liabilities

Interest on hire purchase and asset finance arrangements

6 Taxation

Consolidated – continuing operations

(a) Tax credited/(charged) in the income statement
Current tax – prior year adjustment 

Deferred tax – current year

Deferred tax – prior year adjustment

Consolidated – continuing operations

(b) Tax relating to items charged or credited to other comprehensive income
Deferred tax on net exchange adjustments

Total tax credit

Intangibles
£’000

9,890

2

—

9,892

Property, 
plant and
equipment
£’000

4,871

8

—

4,879

Inventories
£’000

2,165

73

—

2,238

Trade
and other
receivables
£’000

4,092

83

—

Total
£’000

21,018

166

8,362

4,175

29,546

 2022
£’000

2,829

76

2,639

5,544

275

693

968

92

489

581

 2022
£’000

2

15

4

21

 2022
£’000

—

(455)
(4)

(459)

2022
£’000

—

—

 2021
£’000

3,230

89

2,843

6,162

142
1,823

1,965

371

559

930

 2021
£’000

29

43

6

78

 2021
£’000

27

960

(56)

931

2021
£’000

2

2

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

61

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6 Taxation continued

Consolidated – continuing operations

(c) Reconciliation of total tax charge/(credit)
Factors affecting the tax charge/(credit) for the year:

Loss before tax

Effective rate of taxation

Loss before tax multiplied by the effective rate of tax

Effects of:

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes and permanent differences

Exercised employee share option gains deductible for tax purposes – income tax

Notional gains on unexercised employee share option gains deductible in future years – deferred tax

Adjustments in respect of previous periods – deferred tax

Deferred tax not recognised

Other permanent differences

Adjustment due to different overseas tax rate

Tax charge/(credit) for the year

 2022
£’000

 2021
£’000

(950)

19%

(180)

34

—

369

(4)

235

—

5

459

(546)

19%

(104)

12

(495)

(369)

—

—

29

(4)

(931)

The UK Budget 2021 announcements on 3 March 2021 included measures to support economic recovery as a result of the ongoing 
COVID-19 pandemic. These included an increase to the UK’s main corporation tax rate from 19% to 25%, which is due to be effective 
from 1 April 2023. These changes were substantively enacted on 24 May 2021 and they have been reflected in the measurement of 
deferred tax balances at the period end.

7 Revenue and expenses

Consolidated – continuing operations

Revenue and other income
Revenue – sales of goods

Other income

Total revenue and other income

 2022
£’000

8,539

—

8,539

2021
£’000

6,816

154

6,970

Other income for prior year relates to contributions toward specific product development from one customer and estimated Research 
and Development Expenditure Credit (RDEC) income for the year.

 2022
£’000

2,107

194

353

10

343

15

216

65

85

10

10

—

As restated*
 2021
£’000

1,762

179

203

134

133

6

203

50

70

10

15

6

Consolidated – continuing operations

Operating profit is stated after charging:

Material costs

Depreciation including right of use asset depreciation

Amortisation of intangibles

Net foreign exchange losses

Research and development costs

Low value lease rentals

Share-based payments

Auditors’ remuneration

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

  Local statutory audit of subsidiaries

  Local statutory audit of the parent company

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for other services:

  Taxation compliance

  Taxation advisory

*   See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

Audit fees above relate to total operations. 

62

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7 Revenue and expenses continued
Exceptional items summary

Compensation for loss of office

Aborted placing costs

Total

Staff costs

The average monthly number of employees (including Directors) was:

Consolidated

Operations

Management and administration

Employee numbers

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Consolidated

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Pension costs

Share-based payments

No personnel expenses are paid directly by the Company.

Equity-settled share-based payments

Consolidated and Company

The share-based payment plans are described below.
2007 EMI Option Scheme and 2020 EMI Option Scheme

2022
Continuing 
operations
£’000

2021
Continuing 
operations
£’000

(287)

(50)

(337)

—

—

—

 2022
Number

 2021
Number

42

43

85

 2022
£’000

3,492

352

129

216

4,189

35

44

79

 2021
£’000

3,199

320

115

203

3,837

The plans are equity-settled plans and the fair value is measured at the grant date. Under the above plans, share options are granted to 
Directors and employees of the Company. The exercise price of the option is equal to the market price of the shares on the date of grant. 
The options for the 2007 EMI Option Scheme vest three years after the date of grant. The options for the 2020 EMI Option Scheme vest 
two years after the date of grant. The rules for these schemes allow for performance criteria to be applied in appropriate cases. 
Performance criteria include share price hurdles and these are detailed in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 

The fair value of the options is estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes pricing model, taking into account the terms and 
conditions upon which the instruments were granted.

The contractual life of each option granted is ten years and there is no cash settlement alternative.
Third Unapproved Option Scheme (TUOS)

The plan is an equity-settled plan and the fair value is measured at the grant date. Under the above plan, share options may be granted 
to Directors and third parties. The exercise price of the option is equal to the market price of the shares on the date of grant. One third of 
the options vests one year after grant, another third vests two years after grant and the final third vests three years after grant.

The fair value of the options is estimated at the grant date using the Black-Scholes pricing model, taking into account the terms and 
conditions upon which the instruments were granted.

The contractual life of each option granted is ten years and there is no cash settlement alternative.

On 9 June 2022 Simon Douglas was granted options of 200,000 shares with an exercise price of 4.0 pence.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

63

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
7 Revenue and expenses continued
Equity-settled share-based payments continued
Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

On 2 June 2022, the Company established the Omega Diagnostics PLC Long-Term Incentive Plan as a new scheme to incentivise 
Executive Directors and certain senior managers to deliver long-term value for shareholders.

On 8 June 2022, the following nil cost options were awarded over the following number of ordinary shares:

Jag Grewal

Chris Lea

Retention 
Award

Performance 
Award

1,200,000

1,000,000

4,700,715

4,339,121

Under the EMI schemes, options are granted to recognise and retain committed employees and key talent within the Group for the 
benefit of the business.

Under the HMRC approved schemes, taxation of any gains (capital gains tax) is the responsibility of the optionee. The unapproved schemes’ 
optionees are not employees of the Company, and therefore any income taxes due on exercise gains are the responsibility of the optionee.

The following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (WAEP) of, and movements in, share options during the year:

Outstanding at 1 April

Granted during the year under the 2020 EMI Scheme

Granted during the year under the TUOS

Exercised during the year*

Lapsed during the year under the EMI Option Scheme

Outstanding at 31 March 2022

Exercisable at 31 March 2022

 2022
Number

9,827,074

—

—

(50,000)

(1,938,334)

7,838,740

7,472,073

 2022
WAEP

As restated 
2021
Number

19p

13,470,406

—

—

—

—

19p

—

50,000

200,000

(3,683,332)

(210,000)

9,827,074

5,435,406

 2021
WAEP

18p

53p

80p

—

—

19p

—

*  300,000 shares were exercised on 31st March 2021 with the shares admitted to AIM and the cash settlement taking place in the year ended 31 March 2022.

The following table lists the inputs to the model used for the year ended 31 March 2021. There were no share options granted in the year 
ended 31 March 2022.

Dividend yield

Expected volatility

Risk-free interest rate

Weighted average remaining contractual life

Weighted average share price

Exercise price

Model used

EMI Option Scheme, 2020 EMI 
Scheme and TUOS scheme

 2021

—

226%

5%

3.4 years

74.60p

74.60p

Black-Scholes

The expected volatility reflects the assumption that historical volatility over a period similar to the life of the option is indicative of future 
trends, which may not necessarily be the actual outcome.

Directors’ remuneration

Consolidated

Fees

Emoluments

Contributions to personal pension

Members of a defined contribution pension scheme at the year end

Information in respect of individual Directors’ emoluments is provided in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

64

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 2022
£’000

 2021
£’000

37

885

922

22

944

2

40

561

601

25

626

3

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
8 Discontinued operations
Following the withdrawal from COVID-19 products and the decision taken in March 2022 to dispose of the CD4 business, the sale of 
which was completed on 31 July 2022, the entire Global Health division was classified as held for sale as part of a single coordinated 
plan and has therefore been presented as a discontinued operation.

The Alva manufacturing site was disposed of in March 2022 for £985,000 resulting in a loss on disposal of £226,000 before costs of 
£173,000. In addition, the remaining 14 years of the Alva lease were assigned to the acquiror, and 93 employees were transferred to 
Accubio Limited. The Group made a gain of £158,000 when disposing of the Alva right of use asset and associated lease liability.

The remaining Global Health assets, including the CD4 assets, were held for sale as at 31 March 2022 and an impairment loss of 
£1,915,000 has been recognised on the remeasurement to fair value, less costs to sell. The non-CD4 assets relate primarily to 
COVID-19 plant and equipment no longer used in the business, the liabilities relate to the hire purchase on these assets.

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross (loss)/profit

Administration costs

Selling and marketing costs

Other income

Operating loss before exceptional items

Exceptional items

Operating loss after exceptional items

Finance costs

Impairment loss recognised on the remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell

Loss before taxation

Tax benefit/(expense):

Related to pre-tax loss from the ordinary activities for the period

Related to measurement to fair value less costs to sell

Loss for the year from discontinued activities

Adjusted loss before taxation

Loss for the year from discontinued activities
Exceptional items

Impairment loss recognised on the remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell

Amortisation of intangible assets

Share-based payment charges

 2022
£’000

3,789

(4,773)

(984)

(4,832)

(640)

8

(6,448)

(1,028)

(7,476)

(159)

(1,915)

 2021
£’000

1,919

(1,456)

463

(2,964)

(499)

147

(2,853)

—

(2,853)

(140)

—

(9,550)

(2,993)

(738)

364

504

—

(9,924)

(2,489)

 2022
£’000

(9,924)

1,028

1,915

6

66

 2021
£’000

(2,489)

—

—

11

67

Adjusted loss for the year from discontinued activities

(6,909)

(2,411)

Earnings per share

Basic, loss for the year from discontinued operations

Diluted, loss for the year from discontinued operations

Adjusted, loss for the year from discontinued operations

The net cash flows relating to the Global Health business are, as follows

Operating

Investing

Financing

Net cash outflow

 2022

(5.4p)

(5.4p)

(3.8p)

 2022
£’000

(4,064)

(126)

(412)

(4,602)

 2021

(1.4p)

(1.4p)

(1.4p)

 2021
£’000

(3,699)

(2,382)

(266)

(6,347)

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

65

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS8 Discontinued operations continued
The major classes of assets and liabilities of the Global Health business as held for sale as at 31 March 2022 are, as follows:

2022

CD4 assets
Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Right of use assets

Inventories

CD4 assets held for sale

Non-CD4 assets
Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Non-CD4 assets held for sale

Total assets held for sale

CD4 liabilities
Lease liabilities

Non-CD4 liabilities
Borrowings

Total liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale

Net assets directly associated with the disposal group

The assets held for sale are stated net of the cost of disposal.

Exceptional items summary

Loss on disposal of the Alva site

Gain on disposal of Alva lease

Impairment of Global Health inventory

Bad debt provision

Reduction in Omega Diagnostics GmbH settlement*

Total

*  Relates to the German business which was discontinued in the year ended 31 March 2019.

Held for sale
£’000

3,784

395

9

664

4,852

—

143

143

4,995

(10)

(465)

(475)

4,520

 2021
£’000

—

—

—

—

—

—

 2022
£’000

(399)

158

(723)

(190)

126

(1,028)

66

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20229 Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the (loss)/profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing the (loss)/profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group by the weighted 
average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be 
issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares. Diluting events are excluded from the 
calculation when the average market price of ordinary shares is lower than the exercise price.

(Loss)/profit attributable to equity holders of the Group

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Loss attributable to equity holders of the Group for basic earnings

Basic average number of shares

Share options

Diluted weighted average number of shares

Adjusted earnings per share on profit for the year

 2022
£’000

(1,409)

(9,924)

(11,333)

 2022
Number

 2021
£’000

385

(2,489)

(2,104)

 2021
Number

182,638,427

4,359,653

171,688,730

5,415,449

186,998,080

177,104,179

The Group presents adjusted earnings per share, which are calculated by taking adjusted (loss)/profit before taxation and adding the tax 
credit or deducting the tax charge in order to allow shareholders to understand better the elements of financial performance in the year, 
so as to facilitate comparison with prior periods and to better assess trends in financial performance.

Loss attributable to equity holders of the Group
Exceptional items*

Amortisation of intangible assets

Share-based payment charges

Adjusted loss attributable to equity holders of the Group

 2022
£’000

(11,333)

3,280

105

282

(7,666)

 2021
£’000

(2,104)

—

120

270

(1,714)

* 

 Being the sum of continuing exceptional items, discontinuing exceptional items and impairment loss recognised on the remeasurement to fair value less costs to sell.

Adjusted loss for the year – continuing operations

The reported numbers are non-GAAP measures.

(Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations
Exceptional items

Amortisation of intangible assets

Share-based payment charges

Adjusted (loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations

Adjusted EPS on loss for the year

Adjusted EPS on (loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations

 2022
£’000

(1,409)

337

99

216

(757)

(4.2)p

(0.4)p

 2021
£’000

385

—

109

203

697

(1.0)p

0.4p

Adjusted (loss)/profit before taxation, which is a key measure of the Group’s trading performance used by the Directors, is derived by 
taking statutory profit before taxation and adding back exceptional items, amortisation of intangible assets (excluding development 
costs) and share-based payment charges.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

67

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS10 Intangibles

Cost
At 31 March 2020 as reported

Prior year adjustment

Restated at 31 March 2020

Additions

Additions – internally generated

Currency translation

Disposals

At 31 March 2021

Additions

Additions – internally generated

Currency translation

Reclassified as assets held for sale

Disposals

At 31 March 2022

Accumulated amortisation
At 31 March 2020

Amortisation charge in the year

Currency translation

At 31 March 2021

Amortisation charge in the year

Impairment charge

Reclassified as assets held for sale

At 31 March 2022

Net book value

At 31 March 2022

At 31 March 2021 as restated

At 31 March 2020 as restated

Goodwill
£’000

3,017

—

—

—

—

—

—

Licences/
software
£’000

Technology
assets
£’000

Customer
relationships
£’000

As restated*
Development
costs
£’000

As restated*
Total
£’000

1,633

—

1,633

2

—

(2)

—

1,975

—

1,975

—

—

—

—

100

—

100

—

—

—

—

13,699

(290)

20,424

(290)

13,409

20,134

201

727

—

—

203

727

(2)

—

3,017

1,633

1,975

100

14,337

21,062

— 

— 

— 

—

— 

— 

— 

1

—

— 

— 

— 

— 

—

— 

— 

— 

— 

—

— 

— 

581

— 

(5,706)

(31)

— 

581

1

(5,706)

(31)

3,017

1,634

1,975

100

9,181

15,907

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

— 

1,578

21

(2)

1,597

6

16

—

1,242

99

—

1,341

99

—

—

100

—

—

100

— 

—

—

7,827

305

—

8,132

513

—

(642)

10,747

425

(2)

11,170

618

16

(642)

1,619

1,440

100

8,003

11,162

3,017

3,017

3,017

15

36

56

535

634

732

— 

—

—

1,178

6,205

5,582

4,745

9,892

9,387

* 

 See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

The net book value of goodwill at 31 March 2022 all relates to the Health and Nutrition segment.

Of the development costs brought forward, costs of £4,390,000 (2021: £4,452,000) relate to the VISITECT® CD project which is now 
held for sale. The remaining balance of £1,178,000 (2021: £1,657,000) relate to Health and Nutrition projects, £967,000 of which has 
a further amortisation period of 45 months. The development costs of £209,000 relate to the project developing the digital platform 
which has not been launched and is therefore not being amortised.

The technology assets costs of £1,975,000 comprise the microarray, macroarray and microplate. The remaining amortisation period for 
these assets is 65 months.

£71,000 (2021: £71,000) of the additions internally generated in the year relates to capitalised depreciation on assets utilised for 
development activities.

Impairment testing of goodwill and intangibles

On acquisition, goodwill is initially measured as the excess of the purchase consideration of the acquired business over the fair value 
of the identifiable net assets. Goodwill arose on the acquisition of Genesis Diagnostics Limited and Cambridge Nutritional Sciences 
Limited in 2007, the trading results of which are reported within the Health and Nutrition segment and as a consequence, the goodwill 
is allocated to the Health and Nutrition CGU. The Group tests goodwill and intangibles annually for impairment or more frequently if there 
are indicators of impairment. The carrying amounts are indicated in the table above.

The recoverable amount of the Health and Nutrition CGU has been determined based on a value in use calculation using cash flow 
projections for the years ending 31 March 2023 to 31 March 2027 based on an organic sales growth rate of 10% for the year ending 
31 March 2024 and 5% thereafter and cost inflation of 5% per annum. Expansion in the US has been included, as this replicates the 
UK lab services model which leverages the existing goodwill and intangible assets. The forecast includes a recommencement of supply 
to China towards the latter part of the year ending 31 March 2023.

68

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 Intangibles continued
Impairment testing of goodwill and intangibles continued

A pre-tax discount rate of 10.8% (2021: 9.7%) has been used in the calculation of future cash flow projections, which takes account of 
other risks such as currency risk, geographical risk and price risk perspective. In order to calculate the terminal value, a perpetuity growth 
rate of 2% (2021: 2%) has been applied.

The key assumptions used in the forecasts are the product revenues and margins which are predicated on the continued success of 
FoodPrint® and Food Detective®, both having a strong track record of historical performance. Following the classification of the Global 
Health CGU as a discontinued operation, 100% (2021: 50%) of the corporate costs have been allocated to the Health and Nutrition CGU 
when assessing the value in use.

The Group has conducted a detailed sensitivity analysis as part of its impairment testing to ensure that the results of its testing are 
reasonable. The discount rate for the CGU would need to increase by approximately 650 basis points, or the perpetuity growth rate 
would need to fall below zero before the recoverable amount would equal the carrying value. The Directors believe that any reasonably 
possible further change in the trading assumptions, as detailed above, on which the recoverable amount is based would not cause any 
of the carrying amounts to exceed the relevant recoverable amount. 

11 Property, plant and equipment

Consolidated

Cost
At 31 March 2020

Additions

Currency translation

At 31 March 2021

Additions

Disposals

Reclassified as assets held for sale

Currency translation

At 31 March 2022

Accumulated depreciation
At 31 March 2020

Charge in the year

Disposals

Currency translation

At 31 March 2021

Charge in the year

Disposals

Reclassified as assets held for sale

Currency translation

At 31 March 2022

Net book value

At 31 March 2022

At 31 March 2021

At 31 March 2020

Leasehold
improvements
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

992

417

—

1,409

394

(1,107)

—

—

696

638

41

—

—

679

91

(286)

—

—

484

212

730

354

3,864

1,548

(1)

5,411

574

(1,378)

(2,147)

1

2,461

2,786

277

—

—

3,063

415

(970)

(974)

1

1,535

926

2,348

1,078

Total
£’000

4,856

1,965

(1)

6,820

968

(2,485)

(2,147)

1

3,157

3,424

318

—

—

3,742

506

(1,256)

(974)

1

2,019

1,138

3,078

1,432

Included within disposals is the Alva site disposed of in March 2022 creating a loss on disposal before costs of £226,000 which has 
been included within exceptional costs on discontinued operations.

£71,000 (2021: £71,000) of the annual depreciation charge relates to assets utilised for development activities; therefore, this 
depreciation has been capitalised and included within intangible assets.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

69

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11 Property, plant and equipment continued
Leases

Right of use assets

Consolidated

At 31 March 2021

Additions

Depreciation

Disposals

Assets held for sale

At 31 March 2022

Lease liabilities

Consolidated

At 31 March 2021

Additions

Interest expense

Lease payments

Disposals
Assets held for sale

At 31 March 2022

Land and
property
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

1,759

64

(205)

(1,514)

—

104

42

—

(31)

—

(9)

2

Land and
property
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

1,882

64

141

(301)

(1,672)
—

114

43

— 

3

(35)

—
(10)

1

Total
£’000

1,801

64

(236)

(1,514)

(9)

106

Total
£’000

1,925

64

144

(336)

(1,672)
(10)

115

As part of the Alva site disposal, the remaining 14 years of the lease were assigned to Accubio Limited, creating a gain on disposal of 
£158,000 as the right of use asset and lease liability were both derecognised for £1,514,000 and £1,672,000 respectively.

An analysis of the lease liabilities by repayment date is as follows:

Consolidated

Within one year

More than one year

Total

12 Deferred taxation
The deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability is made up as follows:

Temporary differences

Tax losses carried forward

The deferred tax liability is made up as follows:

Fair value adjustments on acquisition

Accelerated capital allowances

Capitalised research and development

Net deferred tax asset

 2022
£’000

92

23

115

 2021
£’000

172

1,753

1,925

Consolidated balance sheet

 2022
£’000

1

2,753

2,754

102

417

1,128

1,647

1,107

 2021
£’000

975

2,713

3,688

120

335

698

1,153

2,535

A deferred tax asset has been recognised for the carry forward of unused tax losses to the extent that it is probable that future taxable 
profits will be available against which the unused tax losses can be utilised. The result of this review is to write-off some of the deferred 
tax asset previously recognised and take a charge to the profit and loss account in the amount of £459,000.

The temporary differences asset on share-based payments of £974,000 from prior year has been reversed, £369,000 of which is recognised 
through the Statement of Comprehensive income and the residual balance of £595,000 relating to the tax effect of unrecognised losses on 
unexercised employee share options, which are in excess of the cumulative amounts charged to comprehensive income for share-based 
payment expense, is recognised through equity in accordance with IAS 12.

70

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
 
 
12 Deferred taxation continued
This judgement is based on a review of the forecasted profits from the Health and Nutrition segment. The forecasts for the years ending 
31 March 2023 to 31 March 2027 are based on an organic sales growth rate of 10% for the year ending 31 March 2024 and 5% 
thereafter and cost inflation of 5% per annum. Expansion in the US has been included, as this replicates the UK lab services model 
which utilises the existing goodwill and intangible assets. The forecast includes a recommencement of supply to China towards the 
latter part of the year ending 31 March 2023.

The deferred tax asset at 31 March 2022 will be offset against future profits of the Health and Nutrition sector. Deferred tax assets not 
recognised as recoverable amount to £2,938,000 (2021: nil).

Company

Temporary differences

Tax losses carried forward

2022
£’000

— 

— 

— 

 2021
£’000

634

436

1,070

The temporary differences asset on share-based payments of £634,000 from prior year has been reversed, £242,000 of which 
is recognised through the Statement of Comprehensive income and the residual balance of £392,000 relating to the tax effect 
of unrecognised losses on unexercised employee share options, which are in excess of the cumulative amounts charged to 
comprehensive income for share-based payment expense, is recognised through equity in accordance with IAS 12.

No deferred tax asset has been recognised in relation to losses based on the forecast profitability of the Company resulting in a 
£436,000 charge through the Statement of Comprehensive income. 

13 Investments
Company

The Company’s investments in subsidiaries, which are all 100% owned and directly held, are comprised of the following:

Investment in Omega Diagnostics Limited(1)
Investment in Genesis Diagnostics Limited(2)
Investment in Cambridge Nutritional Sciences Limited(2)
Investment in Omega (South West) Limited(3)
Investment in Bealaw (692) Limited(3)
Investment in Bealaw (693) Limited(3)
Investment in Omega Dx (Asia)(4)

Country of
incorporation

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

India

 2022
£’000

2,791

— 

 —

—

—

—

309

3,100

 2021
£’000

2,667

—

—

—

—

—

1,994

4,661

Bealaw (692) Limited and Bealaw (693) Limited are both dormant companies that have never traded.

Omega (South West) Limited, Genesis Diagnostics Limited and Cambridge Nutritional Sciences Limited are exempt from audit under 
section 479A of the Companies Act 2006.

Additions in the year of £124,000 (2021: £139,000) to the investment in Omega Diagnostics Limited relate to capital contributions provided 
by the Company to subsidiary undertakings in relation to share based payments as detailed in the equity-settled share-based payments 
note. The Directors have undertaken a review of the carrying value of investments during the year based on the future prospects of the 
subsidiary and consider an impairment of £1,685,000 is necessary in respect of the investment in Omega Dx (Asia) to reflect the 
recoverable amount of the subsidiary.

(1)  Registered office address – 1 Exchange Crescent, Conference Square. Edinburgh EH3 8UL.

(2)  Registered office address – Eden Research Park, Henry Crabb Road, Littleport, Cambridgeshire CB6 1SE. 

(3)  Registered office address – One Fleet Place, London EC4M 7WS.

(4)  Registered office address – 508, 5th Floor, Western Edge 1, Kanakia Spaces, Borivali East, Mumbai.

14 Inventories

Raw materials

Work in progress

Finished goods and goods for resale

 2022
£’000

325

488

281

1,094

 2021
£’000

1,068

936

234

2,238

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

71

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
15 Trade and other receivables

Consolidated

Trade receivables

Less provision for impairment of receivables

Trade receivables – net

Prepayments

Other receivables

 2022
£’000

2,601

(190)

2,411

201

433

3,045

 2021
£’000

3,827

—

3,827

130

218

4,175

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade receivables and other receivables approximates their fair value. 100% of trade 
receivable balances at the year end relate to contracted income from customers.

Analysis of trade receivables

Consolidated

Neither impaired nor past due

Past due but not impaired

Ageing of past due but not impaired trade receivables

Up to three months

Between three and six months

More than six months

 2022
£’000

1,579

832

2,411

 2022
£'000

364

4

464

832

 2021
£’000

3,070

757

3,827

 2021
£’000

721

36

—

757

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade receivables and other receivables approximates their fair value.

The credit quality of trade receivables that are neither past due nor impaired is assessed internally with reference to historical information 
relating to counterparty default rates. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the fair value of each class of receivable 
and no collateral is held as security.

Unimpaired receivables are expected, on the basis of past experience, to be fully recoverable.

Company

Prepayments

Other receivables

Intercompany receivables

 2022
£’000

60

13

16,825

16,898

 2021
£’000

46

5

12,830

12,881

The intercompany receivable of £16,825,000 due from Omega Diagnostics Limited is stated net of an expected credit loss of 
£200,000 (2021: £nil). This is determined by applying the probability of default to the receivables due from subsidiaries. The probability 
of default has increased in the current year following the non-progression of the DHSC contract which was expected to create significant 
profits and cash flow.

16 Cash and cash equivalents

Consolidated

Cash and cash equivalents

Company

Cash and cash equivalents

72

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 2022
£’000

1,605

 2022
£’000

1,045

 2021
£’000

5,827

 2021
£’000

5,543

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
17 Capital and reserves

Consolidated

Authorised share capital
Ordinary shares of 4.0 pence each

Deferred shares of 0.9 pence each

Company

Issued and fully paid ordinary share capital
At 1 April 2020

Issued during the year

At 31 March 2021

Issued during the year

At 31 March 2022

Issued and fully paid non-participating deferred share capital
At the beginning and end of the year

During the year ended 31 March 2022, the Company did not grant any options over ordinary shares.

18 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings and financial instruments

Consolidated

Current
Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements

Non-current
Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements

 2022
Number of 
shares

 2021
Number of 
shares

323,278,493

123,245,615

184,769,736

123,245,615

Number of 
shares

150,387,010

31,868,296

182,255,306

427,098

182,682,404

£’000

6,015

1,275

7,290

17

7,307

123,245,615

1,109

 2022
£’000

 2021
£’000

204

204

51

51

206

206

712

712

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of finance obligations approximates their fair values.

The Group uses asset finance loan arrangements, hire purchase contracts and leases to acquire plant and machinery. Future minimum 
payments are as follows:

Future minimum payments due:

Not later than one year

After one year but not more than five years

After five years

Less finance charges allocated to future periods

Present value of minimum principal payments

The present value of minimum lease payments is analysed as follows:

Not later than one year

After one year but not more than five years

After five years

 2022

 2021

Asset finance
 and hire
 purchase 
 £’000

Lease
liabilities
 £’000

Asset finance
 and hire
 purchase 
 £’000

Lease
liabilities
 £’000

222

53

— 

275

(20)

255

204

51

—

255

99

26

— 

125

(10)

115

92

23

—

115

232

775

—

1,007

(89)

918

206

712

—

918

316

886

1,958

3,160

(1,235)

1,925

172

416

1,337

1,925

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

73

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings and financial instruments continued

Changes in liabilities

Opening lease, hire purchase and asset finance obligations

New leases 

New asset finance loan arrangements

Right of use asset lease repayments

Right of use asset lease interest

Hire purchase and asset finance repayments

Hire purchase and asset finance interest

Disposals

Liabilities directly associated with assets held for sale

Closing lease, hire purchase and asset finance obligations

 2022
£’000

2,843

64

— 

(336)

144

(232)

34

(1,672)

(475)

370

 2021
£’000

2,008

284

796

(325)

176

(109)

13

—

—

2,843

The Group’s bankers, Bank of Scotland, hold a floating charge granted by Omega Diagnostics Limited on 5 November 1988. A cross 
guarantee is also in place between Omega Diagnostics Limited and Omega Diagnostics Group PLC. 

19 Deferred income

Consolidated

Deferred income

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

 2022
£’000

2,500

As restated*
 2021
£’000

647

Under the contract dated 12 February 2021, the Company has received £2,500,000 (2021: £500,000) of advance funding from DHSC 
as a contribution to the preparedness of the Alva site for COVID-19 lateral flow test production. This prepayment was due to be recovered 
by DHSC based upon production volumes under the contract. The contract did not progress to phase II (manufacturing) and as such 
there is no agreed mechanism for repayment. The £500,000 received in the financial year to 31 March 2021 has been reallocated to 
deferred income from accruals and other payables for the prior year for consistency.

The Board of Omega, having taken legal advice, does not believe that the Company is required to repay the pre-production payment and 
that it is entitled to recover additional losses incurred under the contract, the timing of resolution of which is uncertain.

20 Trade and other payables

Consolidated

Trade payables

Social security costs

Accruals and other payables

*  See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

 2022
£’000

448

193

2,033

2,674

As restated*
 2021
£’000

1,029

348

1,295

2,672

Trade payables and other payables comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The Directors consider that 
the carrying amount of trade payables approximates their fair value.

Included in accruals and other payables are amounts totalling £62,000 relating to customer advance payments.

Company

Trade payables

Accruals and other payables

*   See note 3 for details regarding the restatement.

 2022
£’000

44

353

397

As restated*
 2021
£’000

13

653

666

Trade payables and other payables comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The Directors consider that 
the carrying amount of trade payables approximates their fair value.

74

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21 Commitments and contingencies
Future lease contractual commitments

Omega Diagnostics Limited, in relation to a new facility in Ely, signed an agreement for lease in January 2018. A full 25-year lease will be 
entered into when the building is complete – at the time of signing the building is still incomplete and the lease is subject to renegotiation 
between the parties. The total commitment for the lease is £15,500,000.

Performance bonds

The Group has performance bonds and guarantees in place amounting to £60,000 at 31 March 2022 (2021: £60,000).

22 Related party transactions
Remuneration of key personnel

The Board has defined key management personnel as the Directors of the Company and the remuneration is set out below in aggregate 
for each of the categories specified in IAS 24 – Related Party Disclosures:

Consolidated

Short-term employee benefits

Share-based payments

Post-employment benefits

 2022
£’000

987

160

22

1,169

 2021
£’000

601

131

26

758

Included within short-term employee benefits are £37,000 (2021: £40,000) paid to Third Day Advisors LLC, a company controlled by 
William Rhodes. Following Colin King’s resignation he took up a position working for Accubio Limited, the purchaser of the Group’s Alva 
site and CD4 business.

Other related party transactions

During the year there were transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries as follows:

Company

Balance at 1 April 2021
Charges to subsidiary companies

Charges from subsidiary companies

Transfers of cash to subsidiary companies

Transfers of cash from subsidiary companies

Less provision for impairment of receivables

Loan balance transferred to investments

Retranslation

Balance at 31 March 2022

 2022
£’000

12,830

1,377

(632)

18,429

(14,979)

(200)

—

—

 2021
£’000

7,937

1,560

(808)

12,660

(8,402)

—

(105)

(12)

16,825

12,830

23 Retirement benefit obligations
The Group operates pension schemes for the benefit of its UK and overseas employees.

Details of the defined contribution schemes for the Group’s employees are given below.

Defined contribution scheme

The Group makes contributions to personal plans of employees on a defined contribution basis. The Group does not have ownership 
of the schemes, with individual plans being arrangements between the employee and pension provider. 

24 Financial instruments
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise leases, asset finance arrangements, availability of a bank overdraft and cash. 
The main purpose of these financial instruments is to manage the Group’s funding and liquidity requirements. The Group has other 
financial instruments, such as trade receivables and trade payables, which arise directly from its operations. The categories of financial 
instruments are summarised in the following tables:

Consolidated

Trade receivables at amortised cost

Company

Due from subsidiary companies at amortised cost

2022
£'000

2,411

2022
£'000

16,825

2021
£’000

3,827

2021
£’000

12,830

Amounts due by the Company from subsidiary companies are repayable on demand and are not subject to interest.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

75

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
24 Financial instruments continued

Consolidated

Trade payables

Obligations under leases and asset finance loan arrangements

Company

Trade payables

Financial risk management

2022
£'000

448

370

818

2022
£'000

44

2021
£’000

1,029

2,843

3,872

2021
£’000

13

The principal financial risks to which the Group is exposed are those relating to foreign currency, credit, liquidity and interest rate. 
These risks are managed in accordance with Board-approved policies.

Foreign currency risk

The Group operates in more than one currency jurisdiction and is therefore exposed to currency risk on the retranslation of the income 
statement and the balance sheet of its overseas subsidiaries from rupees into its functional currency of pounds sterling. The Company funds 
its subsidiaries by a mixture of equity and intercompany loan financing and these balances are subject to exchange rate movements that 
can give rise to movements in equity. The Group also buys and sells goods and services in currencies other than the functional currency, 
principally in euros and US dollars. The Group has US dollar and euro-denominated bank accounts and, where possible, the Group will offset 
currency exposure where purchases and sales of goods and services can be made in these currencies. The Group’s non-sterling revenues, 
profits, assets, liabilities and cash flows can be affected by movements in exchange rates. It is currently Group policy not to engage in any 
speculative transaction of any kind but this will be monitored by the Board to determine whether it is appropriate to use additional currency 
management procedures to manage risk. At 31 March 2022 and 31 March 2021 the Group had not entered into any hedge transactions.

Credit risk

The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables. The Group conducts its operations in many countries, so there is 
no concentration of risk in any one area. In most cases, the Group grants credit without security to its customers. Creditworthiness checks 
are undertaken before entering into contracts with new customers, and credit limits are set as appropriate. The Group conducts most of 
its operations through distributors and is therefore able to maintain a close relationship with its immediate customers. As such, the Group 
monitors payment profiles of customers on a regular basis and is able to spot deteriorations in payment times. An allowance for impairment 
is made that represents the potential loss in respect of individual receivables where there is an identifiable loss event which, based on 
previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of cash flows. The carrying amount recorded in the balance sheet of 
each financial asset as at 31 March 2022 and 31 March 2021 represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk. The amounts 
presented in the balance sheet are net of allowance for doubtful receivables. An analysis of ageing of past due but not impaired trade 
receivables can be seen in Note 7. 

An analysis of trade receivables from various regions is analysed in the following table:

UK/Europe

North America

South/Central America

Asia and the Far East

Africa and the Middle East

Impairment losses

Balance at start of period

Impairment recognised

Impairment released

Balance at end of period

 2022
Trade
receivables
£’000

 2021
Trade
receivables
£’000

1,240

585
113

399

74

2,411

1,715

556

131

1,404

21

3,827

 2022
Trade
receivables
ECL
£’000

 2021
Trade
receivables
ECL
£’000

—

(190)

—

(190)

(39)

—

39

—

The Company has provided for an ECL of £200,000 (2021: £nil) in relation to amounts due from Omega Diagnostics Limited following 
the significant losses incurred by the subsidiary in the year to 31 March 2022.

76

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
24 Financial instruments continued
Financial risk management continued
Capital management

The Group funds its operations with a mixture of cash, short and long-term borrowings or equity as appropriate with a view to maximising 
returns for shareholders and maintaining investor, creditor and market confidence. The Board reviews and approves an annual budget to 
help ensure it has adequate facilities to meet all its operational needs and to support future growth in the business.

Liquidity risk

The Group’s objective is to maintain sufficient headroom in cash generation and banking facilities to meet its foreseeable financing and 
working capital requirements. The Group maintains a surplus balance of cash and cash equivalents to ensure flexible liquidity to meet 
financial liabilities as they fall due.

The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Group’s financial liabilities at 31 March 2022 based on the undiscounted cash 
flows of liabilities which include both future interest and principal amounts outstanding based on the earliest date on which the Group 
can be required to pay. The amounts of future interest are not included in the carrying value of financial liabilities on the balance sheet.

Consolidated

2022
Trade payables

Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements 

Obligations under leases
Bank overdraft

2021
Trade payables

Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements 

Obligations under leases

Bank overdraft

Less than
3 months
£’000

3 to 12
months
£’000

448

21

25
—

494

1,029

61

79

—

1,169

—

201

75
—

276

—

171

237

—

408

1 to 5
years
£’000

—

53

25
—

78

—

775

886

—

1,661

>5
years
£’000

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

1,958

—

1,958

Total 
£’000

448

275

125
—

848

1,029

1,007

3,160

—

5,196

The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Company’s financial liabilities at 31 March 2022 based on the undiscounted cash 
flows of liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Company can be required to pay.

Company

2022
Trade payables

2021
Trade payables

Interest rate risk

Less than
3 months
£’000

3 to 12
months
£’000

44

13

—

—

1 to 5
years
£’000

—

—

Total 
£’000

44

13

All of the Group’s borrowings are at fixed rates of interest.

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a possible change in interest rates on the Group’s profit before tax through the impact 
on floating rate borrowings and cash balances.

Consolidated

2022
Cash and cash equivalents

2021
Cash and cash equivalents

Effect on profit
before tax 
and equity
£’000

Change in 
basis points

25

25

9

7

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

77

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
24 Financial instruments continued
Financial risk management continued
Interest rate risk continued

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a possible change in interest rates on the Company’s profit before tax through the 
impact on floating rate borrowings and cash balances.

Company

2022
Cash and cash equivalents

2021
Cash and cash equivalents

Fair values

Change in 
basis points

Effect on profit
before tax 
and equity
£’000

25

25

8

6

All financial assets and liabilities, with the exception of assets held for sale, are classified as level 2 given they are short term and 
therefore the current value is an approximate for fair value. The carrying amount for all categories of financial assets and liabilities 
disclosed on the balance sheet and in the related notes to the accounts is equal to the fair value of such assets and liabilities as at both 
31 March 2022 and 31 March 2021. The monetary value attributable to these financial assets and liabilities is the same value that has 
been disclosed in the related notes to the accounts.

The fair value has been determined on the basis of negotiations with potential buyers at the balance sheet date and, since there were 
no material changes to the fair value of the segment disposed of between 31 March 2022 and 31 July 2022, the consideration agreed 
has been determined to be representative of the fair value at the balance sheet date.

25 Subsequent events
On 9 May 2022 and 8 June 2022 respectively, the Company successfully raised £2.2 million (gross) by way of a cash box placing of 
£2.0 million and an open offer/direct subscription of £0.2 million, to fund the CD4 business through to a successful sale.

On 31 July 2022, the Group sold its CD4 business to Accubio Limited for cash consideration of up to £6.3 million. Initial payments of 
£463,000 for fixed assets and £852,000 for inventory have been received, with a further £4.0 million placed in escrow to be released 
following the successful conclusion of an ongoing clinical study in Kenya. To the extent this study is not successful and the World Health 
Organisation withdraw the CD4 product approval, the funds in escrow will be utilised, with the prior agreement of the Group, to fund any 
remedial work required in order to re-list the product, subject always to a maximum cap of £4.0 million. In addition, the Company will receive 
a royalty equivalent to 4% of Accubio’s CD4 revenues for the period to 31 December 2026, capped at £1.0m in aggregate.

78

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2022 
 
 
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the annual general meeting of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC (the Company) will be held at Poets House, 
St Mary’s Street, Ely CB7 4EY, on 26 October 2022 at 11:00 a.m. for the following purposes:

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following as ordinary resolutions:
1. 

 To receive and adopt the reports of the Directors and the Auditor and the audited accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022.

2. 

 To appoint RSM UK Audit LLP as auditor of the Company, to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which 
accounts are laid before the Company.

3. 

 To authorise the Directors to fix the Auditor’s remuneration.

4. 

 To re-elect Jeremy Millard as a director of the Company.

5. 

 To elect Chris Lea as a director of the Company.

6. 

 That, in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006, the directors be generally and unconditionally authorised to 
allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares in the Company (Rights) up to an 
aggregate nominal amount of £3,169,135.73 ordinary shares of 4 pence each (Ordinary Shares), provided that this authority shall, 
unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company, expire on the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company 
or, if earlier, on 31 October 2023 save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might 
require shares to be allotted or Rights to be granted and the Directors may allot shares or grant Rights in pursuance of any such 
offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority conferred by this resolution has expired. This authority is in substitution for all 
previous authorities conferred on the Directors in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006, but without prejudice 
to any allotment already made or to be made pursuant to such authority.

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following as a special resolution:
7. 

 That, conditional upon the passing of resolution 6 above, and in accordance with section 570 of the Companies Act, the Directors 
be generally empowered to allot equity securities (as defined in section 560 of the Companies Act 2006) pursuant to the authority 
conferred by resolution 6 as if section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this 
power shall be limited to:

7.1 

 the allotment of equity securities in connection with an issue in favour of the holders of Ordinary Shares where the equity 
securities respectively attributable to the interests of all holders of Ordinary Shares are proportionate (as nearly as may be) to 
the respective number of Ordinary Shares held by them but subject to such exclusions or arrangements as the Directors may 
deem necessary or expedient to deal with fractional entitlements arising or any legal or practical problems under the laws of 
any overseas territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and

7.2 

 the allotment of equity securities otherwise than pursuant to subparagraph 7.1 above up to an aggregate nominal amount 
of £475,370.36,

 and provided that this power shall, unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company, expire on the conclusion of the next annual 
general meeting of the Company or, if earlier, 30 September 2023, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer 
or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity 
securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power conferred by this resolution has expired.

By order of the Board

Chris Lea
Company Secretary
11 September 2022

Registered in England and Wales number: 5017761

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2022

79

  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
 
 
NOTES TO THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Entitlement to attend and vote
1. 

 Pursuant to Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, the Company specifies that only those members 
registered on the Company’s register of members at 11.00 a.m. on 24 October 2022 shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting.

Appointment of proxies
2. 

 If you are a member of the Company at the time set out in Note 1 above, you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of 
your rights to attend, speak and vote at the meeting and you should have received a proxy form with this notice of meeting. You can 
only appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the proxy form.

3. 

4. 

5. 

 A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company but must attend the meeting to represent you. Details of how to appoint the 
chair of the meeting or another person as your proxy using the proxy form are set out in the notes to the proxy form. If you wish your 
proxy to speak on your behalf at the meeting you will need to appoint your own choice of proxy (not the chair of the meeting) and give 
your instructions directly to them.

 You may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different shares. You may 
not appoint more than one proxy to exercise rights attached to any one share. To appoint more than one proxy, please contact the 
registrars of the Company, Share Registrars Limited, on 01252 821 390.

 A vote withheld is not a vote in law, which means that the vote will not be counted in the calculation of votes for or against the 
resolution. If no voting indication is given, your proxy will vote or abstain from voting at his or her discretion. Your proxy will vote 
(or abstain from voting) as he or she thinks fit in relation to any other matter which is put before the meeting.

6. 

 The notes to the proxy form explain how to: (a) direct your proxy to vote on each resolution or withhold their vote; (b) appoint proxies; 
(c) change proxy instructions; and (d) terminate proxy appointments.

Corporate representatives
7. 

 Corporate members are referred to the guidance issued by the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators on proxies 
and corporate representatives at www.icsa.org.uk for further details of this procedure.

Issued shares and total voting rights
8. 

 As at the date of this Annual Report the Company’s issued share capital comprised 237,685,180 ordinary shares of 4 pence each 
and 123,245,615 deferred shares of 0.9 pence each. Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at a general meeting of the 
Company. The deferred shares do not confer any voting rights and no shares are held in treasury. Accordingly, the total number of 
voting rights in the Company is 237,685,180 as at the date of this Annual Report.

Communications with the Company
9. 

 You may not use any electronic address provided either in this notice of annual general meeting, or any related documents 
(including the proxy form), to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

Appointment of proxy using CREST
10.   CREST members may appoint a proxy through CREST by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual (available via 

www.euroclear.com/CREST). CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members and those CREST members who 
have appointed a voting service provider should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider, who will be able to take 
the appropriate action on their behalf.

11. 

12. 

 In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (“a CREST proxy 
instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & International Limited’s specifications and must contain 
the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. All messages relating to the appointment of a proxy 
or an instruction to a previously appointed proxy must be transmitted so that they are received by Share Registrars Limited (ID 7RA36) 
by 11.00 a.m. (UK time) on 24 October 2022 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, the time that is 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned 
meeting). For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message by the 
CREST Applications Host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by 
CREST. Any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.

 CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & International 
Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will, 
therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST proxy instructions. It is therefore the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take 
(or procure the taking of) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any 
particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred, in 
particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat 
a CREST Proxy Instruction as invalid in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

Electronic appointment of proxy
13.   As an alternative to completing a hard-copy proxy form or submitting a proxy appointment via CREST, shareholders can appoint 
a proxy online at www.shareregistrars.uk.com (clicking on the “Proxy Vote” button and then following the on-screen instructions). 
For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, Share Registrars must receive the proxy appointment no later than 11.00 a.m. on 
24 October 2022 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, the time that is 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting).

80

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

ADVISORS

Nominated adviser and broker
finnCap Limited
1 Bartholomew Close 
London EC1A 7BL

Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP (2022)
Atria One  
144 Morrison Street 
Edinburgh EH3 8EX

RSM UK Audit LLP (proposed for 2023)
Third Floor  
Centenary House  
69 Wellington Street 
Glasgow G2 6HG

Solicitors
Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP
1 Exchange Crescent 
Conference Square 
Edinburgh EH3 8UL

Registrars
Share Registrars Limited
The Courtyard 
17 West Street 
Farnham 
Surrey GU9 7DR

Public relations
Walbrook PR Limited
75 King William Street 
London EC4N 7BE

Country of incorporation 
England and Wales

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC
Registered number: 5017761

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC's commitment to environmental issues is 
reflected in this Annual Report, which has been printed on Symbol Freelife 
Satin, an FSC® certified material. This document was printed by L&S using 
its environmental print technology, which minimises the impact of printing 
on the environment, with 99% of dry waste diverted from landfill. Both the 
printer and the paper mill are registered to ISO 14001.

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC
Eden Research Park 
Henry Crabb Road 
Littleport 
Cambridgeshire 
CB6 1SE 
United Kingdom

www.omegadiagnostics.com
Tel: +44 (0)1353 862220