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
FY2023 Annual Report · Omega Diagnostics Group PLC
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
O

m

e

g

a

D

i

a

g

n

o

s

t

i

c

s

G

r

o

u

p

P

L

C

A

n

n

u

a

l

R

e

p

o

r

t

a

n

d

G

r

o

u

p

F

i

n

a

n

c

i

a

l

S

t

a

t

e

m

e

n

t

s

2

0

2

3

Embracing 
Wellness 

Annual Report and Group 
Financial Statements 2023

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Informing decisions 
Improving health

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 wellbeing.

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.

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

 B Omega Diagnostics Group

 B Omega Diagnostics

 B Omega Diagnostics

HIGHLIGHTS

Financial highlights

Operational highlights

Revenue

£7.5m (-12%)

(2022: £8.5 million)

•  Completion of the disposal of the CD4 business effective 31 

July 2022

•  CD4 sale proceeds (excluding royalties) of £5.3 million received in full

•  Placing and open offer raised £2.2 million in May/June 2022

Closing order book

•  Lower than expected production yields adversely impacted 

£2.4m (+71%)

(2022: £1.4 million)

Gross margin

47.0%(2022: 59.7%)

Operating loss (continuing operations) 

£3.2m

(2022: £0.9 million)
Stated after aborted relocation costs of 
£0.5 million

Loss from discontinued Global Health 
operations

£0.7m

(2022: £9.9 million) 

Adjusted EBITDA (continuing operations)* 

Loss of £2.0m

(2022: Earnings of £0.2 million)

* 

 Adjusted for exceptional items and share-based
payment charges, see Financial Review section.

customer deliveries in the final quarter

•  Successful yield recovery plan implemented post-year end
•  FoodPrint® yields reach a three-year high post-year end

•  Major Chinese partner re-commences deliveries 

•  Launch of MyHealthTracker digital app

“ This year has seen the final steps in the withdrawal from the Global 
Health business through the divestment of the loss-making CD4 
business and the full relocation to our Health and Nutrition manufacturing 
site in Littleport, Cambridgeshire. We have started our journey into the 
US market and entered into two agreements with established testing 
laboratories which will be installing and validating our core food 
sensitivity product, FoodPrint®.

 The year ahead will be our first full year with the focus on our Health and 
Nutrition business, where we can finalise our strategic objectives and start 
to gain momentum and create value for our shareholders. Such a change 
does bring its challenges, but one that is exciting and will be taken up with 
renewed vigour by the whole team. A new culture needs to be established, 
one that will allow us to focus on this core business and make it a success. 
Part of this change will be a new name, Cambridge Nutritional Sciences 
PLC (LON:CNSL) and a resolution to change the name is proposed for the 
upcoming Annual General Meeting. This new name builds on our existing 
CNSLab brand and aligns with our goal to improve patient care through a 
more personalised approach to health and wellbeing.”

Simon Douglas
Chairman

Contents

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Highlights
At a Glance
Investment Case
Chairman’s Statement
Chief Executive’s Review
Business Model

01 
02 
06 
07 
10 
14 
16  Market Review
Strategy
18 
Section 172
20 
Stakeholder Engagement
21 
Risks and Risk Management
22 
Financial Review
26 

 Directors’ Remuneration Report

Board of Directors
31 
32  Corporate Governance
36 
38  Directors’ Report
40 

 Statement of Directors’ 
Responsibilities

41 
46 

47 
48 

Independent Auditor’s Report
 Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Balance Sheet
 Consolidated Statement 
of Changes in Equity
 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

49 
50  Company Balance Sheet
51 

 Company Statement 
of Changes in Equity

52  Company Cash Flow Statement
53  Notes to the Financial Statements
79  Notice of Annual General Meeting
 Explanatory Notes to the Notice of 
81 
Annual General Meeting
Shareholder Notes
Advisors

83 
84 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

01

STRATEGIC REPORTAT A GL ANCE

At a glance

Business Operations sites

Countries we are active in

Experts in nutrition and 
wellness sector

What we do

Scientific heritage

30+years in the industry

A global presence

85+countries

Trusted by 

160+

labs worldwide

02

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Delivering personalised nutrition 
for better health
Omega Diagnostics is an international 
diagnostics testing business that is 
passionate about improving lives around 
the world by accurately informing health 
decisions. Collaborating with laboratories 
and partner organisations, we provide 
world-leading food sensitivity tests in 
over 85 countries.

We believe in promoting a more 
personalised approach to health.

Pioneers and global leaders in 
food sensitivity testing
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. 

Using pioneering diagnostic technologies, 
we enable healthcare professionals and 
their patients to accurately identify lifestyle 
and dietary changes that can significantly 
improve long-term health and wellbeing. 

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. 

From a small finger prick blood sample, 
our technologies can quickly identify an 
individual’s unique food sensitivity reactions. 
Our Food Detective® product tests for 
sensitivities across 59 common foods and 
can be used by the practitioner in-clinic.

Our FoodPrint® product is more 
comprehensive, allowing for up to 222 
foods to be tested and is trusted by more 
than 160 laboratories around the world.

Testing for food sensitivities 
There is much debate in the 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 IgG-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.

Using a small finger prick of blood, our 
diagnostic technologies can quickly identify 
an individual’s unique food sensitivity 
reactions, allowing healthcare practitioners 
and patients to adjust and plan a new diet 
and address IgG-mediated food sensitivities.

Why test for food sensitivities?
Scientific studies have associated 
elevated levels of food IgG antibodies 
with increased intestinal permeability 
and disruption to the gut barrier wall. 

The development of food IgG antibodies 
promote an inflammatory immune response 
which can result in the presentation of 
symptoms such as bloating, nausea, 
diarrhoea or constipation, headaches, 
and fatigue. 

The efficacy of a diet based upon the 
measurement of IgG antibodies specific to 
food components has been demonstrated 
in a number of conditions, both in independent 
studies and clinical practice. Excellent 
results have been obtained particularly in 
patients with migraine, IBS and obesity.

Successful development 
and validation of automated 
solution for FoodPrint®
Partnered with Dynex to create 
customised software solution 
to automate and validate 
FoodPrint® assay on DS2. 
Offering high-throughput labs 
a more labour-efficient solution

95% y-o-y revenue growth 
in CNSLab to £1.0 million 
Driven by new partnerships as 
well as closer engagement with 
key nutrition/naturopathic governing 
bodies such as British Association 
of Nutritional Therapy (BANT) 
and Association of Naturopathic 
Practitioners (ANP), alongside our 
practitioner education programme

Our brands:

•  Used by over 

160 laboratories 
worldwide 

• 

Innovative, 
colorimetric 
microarray-based 
ELISA technology

•  Analyses IgG 
antibodies to 
over 200 different 
foods with vegan 
and vegetarian 
panels available

•  Near-patient test 
in clinic setting

•  Wide range of 

panels available

•  59 common 

foods analysed 

•  Rapid results in 
just 40 minutes 

•  Easy to interpret 
semi quantitative 
results reported 

•  Our UK lab offers 
FoodPrint® and 
other functional 
tests to healthcare 
practitioners in the 
functional/integrative 
medicine sector 

•  A powerful and 
comprehensive 
health app that 
provides practitioners 
and patients with 
a simple and 
convenient way 
to manage gut 
health and 
access FoodPrint® 
test results

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

03

STRATEGIC REPORTAT A GL ANCE continued

 Embracing 
wellness

Optimal gut health and digestive function are essential for maintaining 
good health and wellbeing. 

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 and amino acids, as well as short chain 
fatty acids which in turn promote good gut health; and 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 including immune system dysregulation such 
as allergies and hypersensitivities, mental health, obesity, cancer, 
heart disease and type 2 diabetes as well as cognitive decline 
and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. 

“You have the microbiome you deserve.” 

Colin Hill
  Professor at APC Microbiome Ireland and School 
of Microbiology, University College Cork 

Our gut microbiomes are highly individual and are reflective 
of the food we eat, our environment and our lifestyle. 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 
based on refined carbohydrates, sugar and saturated fats encourages 
alterations in the gut microbiome which leads to increased 
inflammation and raises risk for obesity, type 2 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.

04

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Why is gut health so 
important to overall 
health and wellbeing?

75-80%

of the immune system

95%of serotonin

100mnerve endings

is located in the gut

which affects mood and 
regulates digestive function, 
is produced within the gut

known as the enteric nervous 
system, line the gut wall linking 
the brain and the gut

The clinical landscape

Emerging scientific studies are increasingly linking a poor gut 
microbiome profile with chronic diseases

Up to 2%

of the global population

13%of the global population

Over 40%

of the global population

is estimated to have 
Coeliac disease(1)

report symptoms following 
consumption of gluten, suffering 
with non-coeliac gluten sensitivity(1)

suffer from gut related symptoms, 
such as IBS which can adversely 
impact quality of life(2)

(1) 

 Lebwohl B, Ludvigsson JF, Green PH. Celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity. BMJ. 2015 Oct 5;351:h4347. doi: 10.1136/bmj.h4347. PMID: 26438584; 
PMCID: PMC4596973.

(2)   Sperber AD, Bangdiwala SI, Drossman DA, et al. Worldwide Prevalence and Burden of Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, Results of Rome Foundation Global 

Study. Gastroenterology. 2021;160(1):99-114.e3. do1:10.1053/j.gastro.2020.04.014.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

05

STRATEGIC REPORTINVESTMENT CASE

How we are 
different

Geographic 
presence
With a geographic presence 
in over 85 countries, with 
more than 160 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 
placed to exploit the anticipated 
growth within the global health 
and wellness sector.

People and 
knowledge
Our highly qualified and specialist 
teams include scientists with 
the capability for the development 
of novel immunoassays, allied 
to skilled operational and 
support staff who 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. 

Technology 
and innovation
Our track record for 
commercialising pioneering 
diagnostic 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. 

Strong 
partnerships
Our global partnerships are 
a key factor in our commercial 
success and our business 
partners enjoy the support of 
our sales and scientific 
marketing teams in helping 
them commercialise our 
products in their markets. 

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 a global 
thought leader 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

This has been a positive year where we implemented the final 
parts of the turnaround strategy outlined last year. A turnaround 
year where we established a new focus, with new and fresh 
objectives. It has seen a significant shift in the business which 
is now a business promoting a personalised and functional 
approach to health and nutrition. With the COVID-19 business now 
well behind us and following the divestment of the Alva site last 
year, we have continued to reshape and restructure the Company 
as we implement our new strategy. This year has seen the final 
steps in the withdrawal from the Global Heath business through 
the divestment of the loss-making CD4 business and the full 
relocation to our Health and Nutrition manufacturing site in Ely, 
Cambridgeshire. We have started our journey into the US market 
and entered into two agreements with established testing 
laboratories which will be installing and validating our core food 
sensitivity testing product, FoodPrint®. In addition to the proceeds 
from the CD4 divestment we also raised further money from a 
placing and open offer and are well financed to implement the 
Company’s vision of delivering personalised nutrition for better 
health and to create a valuable Company for our shareholders. 
The Board will now focus Omega’s efforts on its Health and 
Nutrition business, maintaining its leadership position and 
targeting significant organic growth over the coming years, 
through menu expansion, related marketing activities and 
embracing digital technologies.

Business performance
The year showed a slight downturn in sales at £7.5 million from 
continuing operations (2022: £8.5 million).

Whilst we had a very strong order book, one of our leading products, 
the FoodPrint® test, had some production challenges towards the 
end of the year which resulted in a drop in production yields and, 
as a consequence, a backlog in the fulfilment of some orders. The 
Company took swift action to improve operational efficiency and 
appointed Chartwell Consulting, a global specialist in delivering 
operational performance improvements in healthcare manufacturing, 
to work with us to deliver improvements in our production processes 
and establishing new preventative procedures. We have already 
seen a very material increase in yield and the improvements will 
help meet the demand for our food sensitivity tests, which 
continues to be strong.

The combination of reduced yields and thus increased scrap 
meant the adjusted EBITDA loss for continuing operations was 

£2.0 million (2022: adjusted EBITDA profit of £0.2 million). This 
is not what we had anticipated at the beginning of the year and 
is hugely disappointing. However the year-end cash position of 
£5.1 million (2022: £1.6 million) will allow us to deliver against our 
growth strategy from existing funds. 

Some of this growth will come from investment in an expansion 
into new territories, the most important of which is the USA, a 
health-conscious, mature personal health and wellbeing market 
and the largest market for food sensitivity testing globally. This 
year has seen us gain our first two orders from new testing 
laboratories in the USA who are now implementing and validating 
the test in readiness for launch. 

Another part of our expansion plan is a new facility, with specialised 
production and service laboratories. As previously announced, 
our new, purpose-built facility in Ely, Cambridgeshire, has yet to 
be delivered by the landlord. The quality of build is not up to the 
standard that we originally specified so we have not been able 
to take possession. We have rejected the terms of the landlord’s 
current proposal and we are considering alternative options. 
Whilst it is admittedly a frustrating position to be in, we have extended 
the lease for our current building in Littleport to June 2025, which 
will provide sufficient capacity and allow us time to consider 
alternative plans. 

New products
The Company is now focused on promoting a personalised and 
functional approach to improving the health and nutrition of our 
customers. We have two key products, FoodPrint®, a microarray 
technology used by over 160 laboratories worldwide, and the Food 
Detective® product, the world’s only established point-of-care food 
specific IgG test which can be used by healthcare practitioners 
within a clinic setting. These tests are also available through our 
own testing laboratory, CNSLab which serves healthcare 
professionals and the consumer directly. 

As part of this personalised approach we are extending our menu 
to support our core food sensitivity testing. This year saw the first 
steps in this expansion of our current menu of tests as planned 
and we have been working closely with two strategic partners to 
develop bespoke microbiome and nutrigenomic test reports. 
These are planned for launch in the UK shortly and we will roll-out 
these tests in other key markets in line with our stated strategic 
targets, as we build a wider menu of complementary gut health 
tests to sell through our established channels. 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

07

STRATEGIC REPORT  CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT continued

New products continued
By better understanding the relationship between food sensitivity, 
the gut microbiome, diet and gene expression, healthcare 
professionals will be able to make specific dietary and lifestyle 
recommendations that help achieve better health outcomes 
for patients. 

As a Company we are passionate about improving lives around 
the world by accurately informing health decisions and an important 
and exciting event towards this goal was the recent successful 
launch of our new digital “app”, MyHealthTracker, strengthening 
our connection with our customers. This is a health and wellbeing 
tool designed to be used alongside a trained healthcare 
professional, allowing the patient to receive test results direct to 
their smartphone which will help them to make changes to their 
diet for optimal health. Fully tested and validated during the year it 
was initially available in the UK in April and will be rolled out to 
more territories over the next twelve months. This is another step 
towards our goal of improved patient care through a more 
personalised approach to health and wellbeing. It will empower 
people to become more proactive about managing their health 
straight from their phone. 

Strong balance sheet
In June 2022, we were pleased to announce that we raised 
of £2.2 million (gross) through a placing and open offer of 
55,002,776 new ordinary shares of 4.0 pence each and also 
issued share warrants to subscribe for 90 million ordinary shares 
to institutional investors at an issue price of 4.0 pence per new 
ordinary share. These warrants expire on 9 November 2023. 
Additionally, as the final step to exiting from the Global Health 
business, the Company disposed of the CD4 business, comprising 
of the VISITECT® CD4 and VISITECT® CD4 Advanced Disease 
tests, to Accubio Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zhejiang 
Orient Gene Biotech Co. Ltd, for a total of £5.3 million. Omega will 
also receive a royalty of 4% on Accubio’s future CD4 revenues 
for the period to 31 December 2026, capped at £1.0 million 
in aggregate.

This disposal, together with the capital raise leaves the Group 
well-funded, with £5.1 million in the bank on 31 March 2023 and 
solely focused on its Health and Nutrition business.

Board and employees
The Board has continued to be proactive and have now strategically 
re-aligned the Company to focus on the Health and Nutrition 
business. We are well financed and will endeavour to maintain our 
leadership position and to deliver growth in the coming years. 
Whilst it is disappointing that we have faced some recent production 
challenges, resulting in a poorer financial performance, the team 
reacted swiftly in appointing external assistance and are well on 
our way to solving the issues. Furthermore, in order to align the 
Executives’ interests with our various stakeholders and to incentivise 
the Executive Directors and certain senior managers to deliver 
long-term value for shareholders we have introduced a new 
long-term incentive plan (LTIP).

Finally 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. And to our shareholders, both new and old, 
for their commitment and patience as we re-focus and turnaround 
the Company. 

08

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Post-year end
The Group remains in an ongoing dispute with the Department 
of Health and Social Care (DHSC) regarding the potential 
repayment of a pre-production payment of £2.5 million under a 
contract to manufacture COVID-19 lateral flow tests and has 
intimated a substantial counterclaim made in favour of the 
Company. A formal mediation meeting took place in late April 
2023, and both parties are now reflecting on their respective 
positions. The Board remain confident that the Company is in 
a strong position and that the pre-production payment will not 
need to be repaid.

Corporate governance
The long-term success of the business and delivery on strategy 
depends on good governance. The Company complies with the 
Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code 2018 
as explained more fully in the Corporate Governance Report.

Outlook and name change 
This year has been the first year of turning the Company around, 
divesting the last part of our previous Global Health business 
and started the journey as a Health and Nutrition business and 
on promoting a personalised and functional approach to health 
and nutrition. The year ahead will be our first full year with this 
focus and a year where we can finalise our strategic objectives 
and start to gain momentum and create value for our shareholders. 
Such a change does bring its challenges, but one that is exciting 
and will be taken up with renewed vigour by the whole team. A 
new culture needs to be established, one that will allow us to focus 
on this core business and make it a success. Part of this change 
will be a new name, Cambridge Nutritional Sciences PLC (LON:CNSL) 
and a resolution to change the name is proposed for the upcoming 
Annual General Meeting. This new name builds on our existing 
CNSLab brand and aligns with our goal to improve patient care 
through a more personalised approach to health and wellbeing.

We will be seeing our first sales from the USA and continue to find 
and engage new testing laboratories to use the FoodPrint® test. We 
are confident that our manufacturing yields of the FoodPrint® test will 
be restored, delivering improved margins and lower costs with new 
preventive processes in place. The current plans for the extension in 
our menu will be completed and both the new microbiome and 
nutrigenomic tests will be launched and result in our first sales from 
these new tests. This will start in the UK and then later in the year be 
rolled out to other territories in a step wise fashion. Likewise, this year 
has seen the launch of our new digital “app” the MyHealthTracker, 
our unique health and wellbeing tool designed to be used alongside 
a trained healthcare professional. This allows the patient to receive 
test results direct to their smartphone which will help them to make 
changes to their diet for optimal health. All these new products 
launched this year are another step towards our goal of improved 
patient care through a more personalised approach to health and 
wellbeing. With £5.1 million of cash at the end of the year we can 
invest fully in these plans and deliver them on time and build an 
exciting profitable business for everyone.

Simon Douglas
Chairman
2 August 2023

Significant revenue growth through CNSLab

92+

95% 

revenue growth 
y-o-y in 2023

R 5+

growth in number of 
registered healthcare 
practitioners 

5% 

R63+

700+

Over 700 healthcare 
practitioners globally 
watched our educational 
webinars in the last year

Based at our manufacturing site in Littleport, 
CNSLab are pioneers in food sensitivity testing 
and offer high quality functional diagnostic testing. 

For over 20 years we have used our expertise and 
knowledge in the nutrition and functional medicine 
sector to offer advanced laboratory diagnostics to 
improve health and wellbeing.

New e-commerce website for practitioners 
and end users launched Q2 FY 24

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

09

STRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
8
+
95
+
37
+
R
CHIEF E XECUTIVE’S RE VIE W

Laying a 
foundation 

Jag Grewal
Chief Executive

Highlights

•  Completion of the disposal of the 

CD4 business

•  Launch of the MyHealthTracker digital app

•  Ongoing development of new microbiome 

and nutrigenomics products

•  FoodPrint® production yields much 

improved post-year end

•  Our leading Chinese customer 
re-commenced purchasing

“ The Group offers products to test for food 
sensitivity, a condition where there is a delayed 
adverse physiological response to particular 
foods, as opposed to an allergic reaction to food.”

“ CNSLab sales in the UK grew by 95% driven by both 
practitioner-based business as well as consumer 
demand serviced by our white-label partners.”

10

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Introduction
The past year has overseen the final steps of restructuring a 
business now focused: with a very clear vision and mission, 
on promoting a personalised and functional approach to health. 
Divesting the CD4 business now allows us to put all our efforts 
into delivering personalised nutrition diagnostics going forward, 
maintaining our leadership position and targeting organic growth 
through geographical expansion, a broadening of our product 
offering and embracing digital technologies. 

Whilst it was disappointing to have fallen short of our revenue and 
profit expectations in the last quarter of the year due to operational 
issues, we acted swiftly to improve our performance with the help 
of external consultants. Nevertheless, we had a strong and growing 
order book demonstrating our commercial success in an exciting 
market. We successfully launched the MyHealthTracker digital 
platform in the UK and plan to roll it out to key international 
markets, further cementing our leadership position while better 
engaging our customers.

We operate in the consumer healthcare segment of gut health. 
It is increasingly being recognised how important gut health is to 
overall health and wellbeing and not a day goes by without some 
mention of the link which poor nutrition has to chronic inflammatory 
disease. Targeted diagnostics are essential in assisting health 
care professionals to identify the causes of poor gut health and 
planning therapeutic protocols for their patients.

Core business review
Health and Nutrition

The Group offers products to test for food sensitivity, a condition 
where there is a delayed adverse physiological response to 
particular foods, as opposed 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 160 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 CNSLab brand, 
serving healthcare professionals and consumers directly. The 
division’s products have a widespread coverage and brand reach 
in over 85 countries.

In the year ended 31 March 2023, Health and Nutrition revenues 
were £7.5 million (2022: £8.5 million) in line with the expected 
revenue range provided in the 18 January 2023 trading update. 
However, with lower-than-expected production yields and higher 
raw material costs, the adjusted EBITDA loss from continuing 
operations increased to £2.0 million (2022: adjusted EBITDA 
profit of £0.2 million). The year-end cash position was £5.1 million 
(2022: £1.6 million), in-line with expectations, and more than 
adequate to allow Omega to deliver against its growth strategy 
from existing funds.

Demand for Omega’s food sensitivity tests moving into the 
new financial year remains strong with an opening order book of 
£2.4 million (2022: £1.4 million) on 1 April 2023, and the Company is 
taking action to improve operational efficiency and manufacturing 
capability in the near term. Chartwell Consulting, a global specialist 
in delivering operational performance improvements in healthcare 
manufacturing, was appointed in February and has been working 
with the team to deliver additional production yield improvements 
whilst reducing the FoodPrint® slide manufacturing cycle time. This 
has had a positive impact already in terms of the aforementioned 
improvements. We are currently weaning ourselves off this additional 
support by embedding core skills and learning into our manufacturing 
teams. High performing organisations invariably develop greater 
resilience and performance through adversity, and we are confident 
that this learning opportunity has given us the ability to do just that.

It was pleasing to see Omega’s largest partner in China return to 
ordering Food Detective® kits in the year, reflecting the underlying 
recovery in the market as well as increasing demand in what is a 
large potential market after an initial lag, which is natural for novel 
products in virgin markets. In fact, China became Omega’s single 
largest market in 2023. Another market that grew substantially 
was our home market in the UK which is serviced by our own 
testing laboratory CNSLab. Sales grew by 95% driven by both 
practitioner-based business as well as consumer demand 
serviced by our white-label partners. Our core strategy is based 
on marketing to and educating health care professionals. We 
recognise, however that we operate in a consumer healthcare 
environment. White label partners are often better equipped to 
address and support these markets.

Despite the operational difficulties, order intake was up over prior 
year due to new installations and Omega’s scientific marketing 
team continuing to work incredibly hard to educate consumers 
and drive awareness of nutritional therapy through our Health and 
Nutrition Academy webinars. These webinars have also focused 
on naturopathic practice, functional medicine and sports nutrition.

Part of laying a new foundation is the requirement for a new, 
purpose-built facility. The current project has yet to be delivered 
by the landlord and the Company has rejected the terms of the 
landlord’s recent proposal for delivery of the site. We are now 
considering alternative options. As previously confirmed, an 
agreement has been reached to extend the current Littleport 
lease to June 2025, thus providing sufficient time to resolve 
the outstanding issues and facilitate an orderly relocation in 
due course.

Global Health (now discontinued)

The past financial year oversaw the final act of discontinuing the 
Global Health division which was largely focused on VISITECT® 
CD4 products. These products are disposable, lateral flow 
point-of-care tests for determining CD4 levels in people living 
with HIV. Believed to be 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.

However, this division and more importantly the products 
marketed had little strategic fit with the core Health and Nutrition 
business. In addition, we believed that the CD4 business would 
be more successful under new ownership, with an owner that had 
a greater capacity to invest in production capabilities and future 
product development. On 31 July 2022, we completed the sale 
to Accubio Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Zhejiang Orient 
Gene Biotech Co. Ltd, for an aggregate cash consideration of up 
to £6.3 million, before costs.

Under the terms of the sale, Omega received an immediate 
cash payment of £1.3 million for fixed assets and inventory, 
an additional £4.0 million for the intellectual property and a 4% 
royalty on the sale of CD4 tests to 31 December 2026, capped 
at £1.0 million.

At the time of writing, Omega remains in an ongoing dispute with 
the Department of Health and Social Care regarding the potential 
repayment of a pre-production payment of £2.5 million under a 
contract to manufacture COVID-19 lateral flow tests and a substantial 
counterclaim has been intimated in favour of the Company. 
Discussions with the DHSC are ongoing, the nature of which are 
not publicly disclosable due to confidentiality arrangements.

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 wellbeing 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 
manage their patients more comprehensively and thus enabling 
the Board’s vision of delivering personalised nutrition for 
better health.

In March 2023, Omega successfully launched MyHealthTracker, a 
health and wellbeing tool designed to be used alongside a trained 
healthcare professional, allowing the patient to receive laboratory 
test results direct to their smartphone, thereby helping the patient 
make personalised changes to their diet for optimal health. 
Access is by invitation only from an approved healthcare professional 
with its main goal to elevate patient care by way of a more personalised 
approach to health and wellbeing. This digital platform will serve 
as a spine that not only improves consumer/patient and health 
care professional engagement but will help us better understand 
our end-user market around the world. This will further drive 
awareness and better health outcomes that will lead to organic 
growth from an existing customer base.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

11

STRATEGIC REPORT  CHIEF E XECUTIVE’S RE VIE W continued

Strategy continued
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 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.

Having initially considered that the best route to market would 
be to replicate Omega’s CNSLab service direct to healthcare 
professionals and ultimately direct to consumer we subsequently 
adjusted our strategy to initially enter the market via partnerships 
with existing testing laboratories. Differentiating ourselves from 
established players by taking our tried and tested approach with 
education and support, coupled with its digital strategy, to engage 
and empower patients and healthcare professionals we will learn 
more about the US market as well as allowing the market time 
to become familiar with our brand prior to any further investment 
decisions. At the time of writing, we have already two new installations 
planned in the US with discussions with a third laboratory at 
advanced stages.

In order to realise our vision of becoming a leader in delivering 
diagnostics that provide a complete gut health assessment, it 
has been our intention to build a wider menu of complementary 
gut health tests and to sell these through our already well-established 
channels in over 85 countries. The gut microbiome is the new 
frontier to 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 provides 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.

Having signed heads of term agreements with two separate 
digital technology partners to develop bespoke microbiome and 
nutrigenomic test reports, we have prioritised the microbiome test 
as having greater potential demand and volume of sales. We aim 
to commercialise the test in the UK shortly under our own 
CNSLab laboratory service to healthcare professionals.

Summary and Outlook
As an international diagnostic testing business that is passionate 
about improving lives around the world by accurately informing 
health decisions, the recent launch of our MyHealthTracker app 
helps our reach and connects us to our customers globally, while 
giving us a better understanding of gut health data and trends in 
terms of predictive analysis. It also empowers people, via a 
healthcare practitioner, to become more proactive about 
managing their health straight from their phone, which we believe 
is an important step forward.

Whilst it’s disappointing to have challenges regarding the 
lower-than-expected production yields, we have taken swift action 
to bring in consultants to oversee a number of process improvements 
and are confident the actions being taken will deliver a material 
improvement in yield in the near term. Embedding key lessons 
learned from this is part of laying a brand-new foundation for a 
business that is emerging from a group structure and learning to 
stand on its own two feet. Now based in Ely, Cambridgeshire, we 
have had to build new finance, HR and regulatory teams that 
were previously located in Alva, Scotland. We have a new senior 
management team and need to get through the “storming and 
norming” stages to gel teams together, change culture and step 
out of some of the legacy shadows to drive the business forward.

The demand for our food sensitivity tests continues to be strong 
and the order book is holding up well. We remain excited and 
confident for our prospects in the US as we continue to build a 
wider menu of complementary gut health tests to sell via our 
established channels.

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 
energy. As healthcare systems creak under the burden of chronic 
disease and an ageing 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 remain honoured to lead the organisation, 
a company I love, in a healthcare market I am passionate about. 
I work with an extraordinary group of talented individuals whose 
knowledge and know how form a key cornerstone of our strategy 
within personalised nutrition. We have had some setbacks in the 
latter part of the year but the team have adopted a growth mindset 
with a willingness to learn and improve. This will help in developing 
a new foundation and culture that drives performance and 
success in the future.

Jag Grewal
Chief Executive Officer
2 August 2023

12

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

13

STRATEGIC REPORTBUSINESS MODEL

Our go-to-market strategy

How we go to market

We work closely with our global business partners to develop food sensitivity testing markets in their territories.  
Key factors for commercialisation of our products in global markets include:

C onsumer

P ractitioner

L a boratory

B u siness
p artner

F
i

n

a

n

c

e

r
e
m
s
s
u
e
s
c
ac

C on

y
Regula t o r
compl i a n c e

Technical  s u p p o r

t

Education an d   t r a i n i n g

Nutrition su p p o r t

B

e

t

t

e

r

e

x

p

e

r

i

e

n

c

e

S

t

r

e

a

m

l
i

n

e

o

r

d

e

r

i

n

g

R

e

d

u

c

e

p

r

o

c

e

s

s

i

n

g

t

i

m
e

s
t
l
u
s
e
e r

Digitalis

t
n
e
m
e
g
a
n
a

Patient m

s
s
e
gr

M onitor pro

ering
y ord

s
a
E

atients
ort p

p
p
u
S

I

m

p

r

o

v

e

d

h

e

a

l

t

h

H

e

a

l

t

h

d

a

t

a

o

u

t

c

o

m

e

s

fficiency

E

Trend

T

e

s

t

m

e

n

u

C

o

n

t

r

o

l

e

x

t

e

n

s
i
o

n

14

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
How we are different

Value creation

•  Our passionate commitment to improving lives by 

informing health decisions.

•  Our unique diagnostic solutions, backed by our deep 

scientific expertise.

•  Our extensive global reach, and our well-established 

partnerships and networks.

•  Our highly collaborative approach and inclusive way 

of working.

•  Our agile mindset and our ability to meet changing 

customer needs.

•  Our determination to empower, educate and inspire 

the markets we serve. 

Our shareholders
Omega is an actively traded AIM stock, supported by a 
large retail shareholder base. Significant shareholders, 
with an over 3% shareholding, are shown on the Company 
website (https://www.omegadx.com/Investor-Relations/
Share-Holder-Information) with many of these shareholders 
representing Execution Only accounts on behalf of retail 
investors. The Directors collectively own 2.57% of the 
issued share capital.

Our customers
We have a diverse base of customers across more 
than 85 countries. Our products are used by healthcare 
practitioners in both public and private healthcare facilities 
around the globe. GPs, internal medicine specialists, 
some key specialists such as gastroenterologists, 
and dermatologists, nutritionists, dieticians, functional 
medicine practitioners and naturopaths trust our products 
to help identify the root cause of patient symptoms relating 
to gut health and inflammation. 

Our suppliers and partners
We work hard at establishing close and collaborative working 
relationships with our suppliers and partner organisations. 

Our people
Our employees are our biggest asset, and are highly 
educated and experts in their fields. Our team also 
reflects the fact we are a global business with more 
than 15 languages spoken by our UK team.

25% of senior scientists are female.

30% of employees have more than five years’ service.

Our communities
We have been based at our site in Littleport, near Ely, 
Cambridgeshire for over 30 years. 

Over 50% of our employees live within a ten-mile radius 
of the site.

Technical training and education for 
business partner teams and their 
customers

Underpinned by our core values

Customer focus

Collaboration

Respect

Honesty

Accountability

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

15

STRATEGIC REPORT  MARKE T RE VIE W

Significant opportunities 
for growth

Global functional medicine 
testing market(4):

UK market for free-from foods(1):

Estimated at 

With y-o-y growth up to

Estimated at 

With y-o-y growth up to

$5.6bn 

by 2025

  10%

£3.17bn 

  1.5%

Increased user 
confidence in  
at-home testing:

Key market drivers:
Increasing scientific evidence emerging 
of the influence of the gut microbiome 
in respect of chronic illnesses

65%of UK sports nutrition 

consumers are more open 
to at-home health testing 
since the COVID-19 outbreak(2)

Consumers prioritising  
health and wellness:
conducted in 
A McKinsey survey of 

7,500 

consumers 

6 countries 

concluded that:

79%

42%

said wellness 
was a priority

said wellness 
was important

42+
79+
52+

52%

of respondents stated that they were aware of the 
importance of optimal gut health to their overall wellbeing(3)

16

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Increased awareness 
amongst consumers on the 
effect some foods can have 
on health, for example:

Up to 13%

of global population report 
symptoms following consumption 
of gluten grains, such as wheat 
or barley 

Free-from foods more widely available:

•  global market for gluten free 

products set to increase 133% 
in next ten years to $14 billion(1)

•  plant milk sales rising 11% CAGR 

to $34 million by 2032(1)

(1)  Kantar WorldPanel 2022.
(2)  Mintel.
(3)  International Food Information Council (IFIC) Survey 2022.
(4)  Industry ARC Functional Medicine Lab Testing Market – Forecast (2023–2028)

21
+
F
48
+
F
58
+
F
Case study

FoodPrint® automation solution 
for laboratories
•  Successful validation of automated FoodPrint® assay in Dubai 
Hospital Immunology Lab by our Middle Eastern business 
partners supported by our Ely scientific team.

•  A collaboration with Dynex, one of the market leaders in 

laboratory automation, to develop a customised software 
solution for FoodPrint® on the Dynex DS2®, a common liquid 
handling platform found in many laboratories across the world.

•  Automates what is a manual assay procedure which offers 

many benefits in performance and walk away capability for our 
laboratory customers.

•  Planned roll out to other high throughput global lab partners 

during FY24.

Customer base

Government 
and private 
hospitals/clinics

Reference 
laboratories

Nutritionists

Naturopaths

Functional 
medicine 
healthcare 
practitioners

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.

Our key strengths

Global network and 
brand reach in over 
85 countries

Highly qualified and 
knowledgeable team

Strong partnerships with 
business partners, lab 
partners and health care 
practitioners, and local 
professional bodies

Pioneers and 
experts in food 
sensitivity testing

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

17

STRATEGIC REPORTSTR ATEGY

Future growth strategy

 Organic

Geographic

•  Capitalise on increased demand for home 

•  On-going channel optimisation addressing vacant 

health testing

•  Maintain leadership position through scientific 
education programme and building awareness 
with healthcare practitioners

markets and distributor upskilling

•  Entry into the health-conscious and mature private 

health and wellbeing US market with three 
FoodPrint® installations planned in 2023

•  Embrace digital technology that will empower 

•  China represents an increasingly health-conscious 

our customers to reach and engage their patients 
more easily

market and excellent opportunity for 
Food Detective®

•  Marketing activities focused on digital 

technologies/channels and brand awareness

•  Roll out of automated assay solution for high 

throughput lab customers

Underpinned by responsible and efficient management

18

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 Menu

•  Developing complementary tests to sell 
to our markets including microbiome 
and nutrigenomics

•  Expansion of our menu of tests will allow our 

healthcare practitioner customers greater clinical 
insight into patient health status, enabling our vision 
of delivering personalised nutrition for better health

Case study

Connecting to the customer

Managing and tracking health and 
wellbeing information
Traditional methods of managing health information are 
often fragmented and inefficient for both practitioner and 
patient. Consumers are now turning to free or low cost 
health apps to meet specific goals related to fitness, diet 
and weight loss.

Health apps empower practitioners and patients to 
collect, manage and monitor health information easily 
leading to a more personalised approach to patient 
management, better patient/practitioner engagement 
and ultimately better health outcomes.

63% of US adults used an app for health related 
purposes in 2022 (Insider Intelligence, Dec 2022).

•  12% of users use apps for virtual practitioner engagement

•  16% use health apps for nutrition/dietary support

Health app users globally: 

385 million

Sources: Data.ai, Marketer, MoEngage 2021

Omega launched its MyHealthTracker app in March 2023 
to its UK practitioner base, with global roll out planned 
through FY23/24.

•  Digitised results for practitioners and patients

• 

Improved customer experience and 
patient management

•  Wellness diary for easy symptom monitoring

•  Better understanding of audiences through data 

•  Locks in customers through the value chain

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

19

STRATEGIC REPORTPAGE TITLESECTION 172

Connecting with 
our stakeholders

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 2023, 
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 
and 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 the Chief Financial Officer. 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.

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 85 countries throughout the world and is normally 
able to meet with customers through attendance at major industry 
trade shows throughout the year. 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 site.

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 and is happy to continue 
to engage with all shareholders. Contact can be made using 
omega@walbrookpr.com

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.

20

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

The Company uses the services of Investor Meet Company 
(IMC) to provide shareholders access to submit questions 
and listen to management updates on the Group’s progress

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

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

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

Awareness of 
business strategy

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

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. Feedback from investors is provided 
to the Board based on e-mails received and following 
results presentations 

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 also communicates with its investors 
through its PR firm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 MyHealthTracker by Omega app 
provides 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 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

The Group has conducted salary benchmarking within 
its sector in the UK and accessed wider market data 
from digital recruitment platforms

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

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 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 an 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, 
mental health awareness and remote working

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

21

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.

There is an overall increase in 
risk due to the continuing war 
in Ukraine having an adverse 
impact on sales activity in 
Eastern Europe and cost 
inflation is impacting input 
costs and salaries.

22

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Risk and description

Mitigating actions

Change

Key 

  Increase in risk

  Decrease in risk

  No change in risk

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, 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. 

Regulatory risk

Certain 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. Furthermore, 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.

Funding/solvency risk

The Company now intends to 
pursue a substantial counterclaim 
against DHSC to seek to 
recover additional losses 
incurred in connection with 
the contract. 

The Group, having taken initial 
legal advice, does not believe 
that it is required to repay this 
pre-production payment and 
considers that it is entitled to 
recover additional losses incurred 
in connection with the contract. 
Discussions with the DHSC are 
ongoing, the nature of which cannot 
currently be disclosed publicly due 
to confidentiality arrangements.

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.

The Group is 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.

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

The divestment of the loss-making 
Global Health division has provided 
significant additional cash resources 
and leaves the Group with a stronger 
balance sheet.

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

The Group received cash 
proceeds of £5.3 million 
following the sale of the CD4 
business and had cash 
balances of £5.1 million as 
at 31 March 2023.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

23

STRATEGIC REPORT  RISKS AND RISK MANAGEMENT continued

Principal risks and uncertainties continued

Risk and description

Mitigating actions

Change

Cyber security risk

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

The launch of the app has created additional data streams for the 
Group to manage.

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

The launch of the 
MyHealthTracker app has 
increased the volume of data 
the Group needs to process, 
manage and protect.

The Group has IT security systems, 
data breach policies and awareness 
training in place to mitigate against 
cyber-attacks.

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

The IT network continues to be 
managed by a specialist IT firm on 
behalf of the Group.

The Group has engaged with a 
specialist cybersecurity and GDPR 
compliance consultancy firm to 
benchmark the current level of 
compliance and recommend further 
areas of improvement.

Development risk

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. 

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

Technology risk

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

Supply chain risk 

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

The Group is currently investigating a dual sourcing plan for key 
raw materials and services.

New manufacturing site risk

The Group has long planned 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 may have insufficient capacity to 
meet its growth aspirations in the medium term and revenue 
growth will be slower than anticipated.

24

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

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

The Group is deploying a digital 
strategy with an App to enhance the 
customer experience.

The Group continues to invest 
in new technologies which can 
add value to its business and 
is currently exploring potential 
new manufacturing 
technologies to replace its 
ageing slide printing equipment.

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.

As part of the recent production 
yield improvement plan, the 
Group has identified a number 
of key suppliers where contracts 
and/or quality agreements 
could be improved.

The Group is in discussions with 
the developer to potentially vary 
the agreed terms of the lease to 
allow the building to be completed 
and is exploring options for 
alternative premises.

The Group has secured an 
extension to the Littleport 
lease until June 2025.

Recent production yield 
improvements have provided 
additional capacity for the 
core FoodPrint® products.

Risk and description

Mitigating actions

Change

Key 

  Increase in risk

  Decrease in risk

  No change in risk

Production process risk

The FoodPrint® manufacturing process is complex, with extremely 
fine tolerances and biological materials which introduce variability 
into the manufacturing process. The manufacturing technology is 
based on contact printing, using ageing equipment and requires 
significant manual intervention. As a result, production yields can 
vary from batch to batch, scrap rates can vary significantly and 
customer deliveries can potentially be delayed.

Specialist production consultants 
have been engaged to review the 
FoodPrint® manufacturing process 
and to recommend process 
improvements, revised operating 
procedures and more detailed KPIs. 
Staff have been trained to use a fault 
tree methodology to investigate 
results and optimise output. KPIs are 
now visible throughout the site.

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.

The Group aims to offer competitive 
salary and benefits packages by 
monitoring trends in the industry and 
periodically undertaking a UK-wide 
salary benchmarking exercise. 

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.

FoodPrint® yields have been 
falling for the last three years, 
with a catastrophic decline 
being observed from October 
2022. This has substantially 
increased scrap costs and 
delayed deliveries to 
customers. Post year end, 
yields have improved 
significantly and further work 
is underway internally to 
maintain and improve yields 
still further.

Staff turnover has increased 
as individuals seek new 
opportunities following the exit 
from the pandemic and in a 
market where wage inflation 
is high.

Customer concentration

The Group’s top three customers account for 27% of revenue.

The Group’s largest customer accounts for 11% of revenue.

Customer concentration 
remains broadly unchanged 
year on year.

The Group operates in over 85 
countries and is continuously 
looking to expand its global 
customer base.

The expansion of the Group’s 
product range will attract 
new customers.

The launch of the app puts the 
Group’s digital platform at the heart 
of patient management, 
strengthening customer contact.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

25

STRATEGIC REPORT  FINANCIAL RE VIE W

Improving 
operational 
efficiency

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer

The year was one in which the Group completed the disposal of 
the remainder of the Global Health division, culminating with the 
disposal of the CD4 business on 31 July 2022. The disposal of 
the loss-making division and receipt of the initial cash proceeds 
of £5.3 million have significantly strengthened the Group balance 
sheet and allowed the Board to focus exclusively on the remaining 
Health and Nutrition business, where there are a number of 
growth opportunities.

Essential changes to the formulation of the Group’s key FoodPrint® 
product in May 2022 led to a second half weighted sales forecast 
which placed additional pressures on the Group’s manufacturing 
operations. Whilst production yields have been declining steadily 
from a high in April 2020, there was a further and unexpected 
sharp decline from November 2022 which, when coupled with 
delays in the quality control approval process brought about by 
personnel changes, inefficient working practices and COVID-19 
related absences, did not allow the Group to keep up with demand 
for its FoodPrint® product.

Whilst the order book at 31 March 2023 was £2.4 million – 
£1.0 million higher than the prior year – the low yield led to 
a substantially higher than expected raw material cost and 
a consequent reduction in gross margin towards the end of the 
financial year. In February 2023, the Board appointed Chartwell 
Consulting to undertake a review of micro-array production and to 
recommend and help implement an improvement plan, with the 
aim of returning yields to the 2020 high or better and to 
significantly reduce manufacturing and quality control lead times. 
These objectives have largely been achieved, with a number of 
all-time high yields achieved in recent weeks, although there is 
further work required to ensure performance is sustainable at these 
levels. Furthermore, the Omega team have developed new KPIs 
and troubleshooting skills and are now better positioned to 
respond earlier and more effectively to any future production 
challenges. In response to the lower-than-expected operational 
performance, several personnel changes have been enacted, 
with Jag Grewal currently acting as Interim Operations Director 
whilst the recruitment of a full-time replacement is underway.

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, having taken 
legal advice, does not believe that the Group is required to repay 
the pre-production payment and considers that it is entitled to 
recover additional losses in connection with the contract. 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.

Whilst the Company sought to develop a COVID-19 test for 
commercial, non-governmental purposes, this was entirely 
separate from the operation of the contract with DHSC, which was 
for the manufacture – and not development – of tests and required 
DHSC to confirm which test was to be manufactured through the 
licensing of rights. There is no reference to the development of the 
Group’s own test anywhere in the contract, whereas the contract 
specifically deals with the licensing of intellectual property rights 
by the DHSC once an appropriate agreement has been entered 
into between the DHSC and a third-party test developer. Despite 
repeated requests over the last 18 months, the DHSC have yet 
to provide any information regarding the licencing of rights.

Following a protracted series of correspondence throughout 
2022, on 26 April 2023 the Group met with a mediator and 
representatives of DHSC to attempt to resolve the dispute. 
Following mediation, the Board are increasingly confident that 
the Company is in a strong position and that the pre-production 
payment will not need to be repaid. Furthermore, the Company 
intends to pursue its counterclaim to seek to recover additional 
losses incurred in connection with the contract.

26

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

The mediation was paused to allow DHSC to re-assess their position 
in the light of the evidence provided by the Group. As a consequence, 
the Board is increasingly confident that the DHSC’s claim has no 
merit and will not succeed. The Board now intends to vigorously 
pursue its substantial counterclaim for losses incurred as a result 
of the DHSC’s failure to licence the necessary intellectual property 
to permit the contract to move forward and their failure to notify 
the Group of their inability to do so in a timely manner. 

Placing and an open offer/direct subscription
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. To date, none of these warrants 
have been exercised and they expire on 9 November 2023.

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 £1.3 million for fixed assets and inventory on hand at 
completion. Furthermore, the Group received an additional 
£4.0 million of deferred consideration in November 2022, 
following the successful outcome of a final clinical study. The 
Group will continue to 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.

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 were written down to an estimated 
recoverable amount of £0.1 million as at 31 March 2022 and were 
fully impaired as at 30 September 2022. Finance lease liabilities 
of £0.4 million remain outstanding in relation to lateral flow 
equipment which was purchased for the manufacture of COVID-19 
lateral flow tests for the DHSC and the commercial market.

Financial results summary – continuing operations
For the year ended 31 March 2023, the Group reported revenue 
of £7.5 million (2022: £8.5 million), an EBITDA loss of £2.6 million 
(2022: EBITDA loss of £0.4 million), an adjusted EBITDA loss of 
£2.0 million (2022: EBITDA profit of £0.2 million), and a statutory 
loss before tax of £3.3 million (2022: £1.0 million).

2023

Sales
Operating loss after 

exceptional costs

Add back:

Health and 

Nutrition Corporate
£’000

£’000

Total
£’000

7,546

—

7,546

(2,132)

(1,107)

(3,239)

Depreciation and amortisation

591

—

591

EBITDA
Share-based payment charge

Exceptional aborted relocation costs

(1,541)

(1,107)

(2,648)

1

524

77

—

78

524

Adjusted EBITDA
Statutory loss 

before taxation

2022

Sales
Operating profit/(loss) after 

exceptional costs

Add back:

Depreciation and amortisation

EBITDA
Share-based payment charge

Compensation for loss of office

Exceptional aborted placing costs

Adjusted EBITDA
Statutory profit/(loss) before 

taxation

(1,016)

(1,030)

(2,046)

(2,145)

(1,107)

(3,252)

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

8,539

—

Total
£’000

8,539

965

(1,894)

(929)

547

1,512

58

—

—

—

(1,894)

158

287

50

1,570

(1,399)

547

(382)

216

287

50

171

944

(1,894)

(950)

Health and Nutrition revenue of £7.5 million (2022: £8.5 million) 
was 12% below prior year, with the order backlog caused by 
lower than anticipated production yields accounting for all of this 
shortfall. The order book at 1 April 2023 was £2.4 million (2022: 
£1.4 million). Encouragingly, the Group’s primary trading partner in 
China re-commenced ordering after a two-year hiatus. 

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

FoodPrint®
Food Detective®
CNS laboratory service

Food ELISA/other

2023
£’000

4,123

2,291

948

184

7,546

2022
£’000

inc/(dec)
 %

6,102

1,614

484

339

(32)%

(41)%

95%

(45)%

8,539

(12)%

The gross profit margin percentage has decreased to 47.0% 
(2022: 59.7%), impacted by lower FoodPrint® production yields 
and substantially increased scrap costs.

Excluding exceptional costs, administrative overheads for 
continuing operations increased by £0.4 million to £4.8 million 
(2022: £4.4 million). 

Sales and marketing costs increased by £0.2 million to £1.5 million 
(2022: £1.3 million). 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

27

STRATEGIC REPORT  FINANCIAL RE VIE W continued

Financial results summary – continuing operations 
continued
Exceptional items

Aborted relocation costs

Compensation for loss of office

Aborted placing costs

Total

2023
Continuing 
operations
£’000

2022
Continuing 
operations
£’000

(524)

—

—

(524)

—

(287)

(50)

(337)

During the year, the Group incurred exceptional costs on 
continuing operations of £0.5 million (2022: £0.3 million). These 
costs represent the cumulative expenditure on the planned new 
manufacturing facility in Ely. To date, the landlord has yet to deliver 
the property to the agreed specification and has advised that they 
are unable to fund the remaining works required to complete the 
building. Whilst the Group is contractually obliged to enter into a 
lease for the property once it has been completed to the agreed 
specification, this is now considered to be highly improbable. As a 
consequence, the Group have extended the lease for the current 
Littleport site to June 2025 and is currently evaluating a number of 
new and existing properties in the Ely area.

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.

Sales
Operating loss after exceptional costs

Impairment on the remeasurement of asset 

values

Depreciation and amortisation

EBITDA
Share-based payment charge

Exceptional (income)/costs

Impairment on the remeasurement of asset 
values

Adjusted EBITDA loss

Loss before taxation

2023
£’000

640

(810)

(176)

—

(986)

—

(150)

176

(960)

(988)

2022
£’000

3,789

(7,476)

(1,915)

742

(8,649)

66

1,028

1,915

(5,640)

(9,550)

In the four months to the date of disposal of the CD4 business, 
revenue from Global Health was £0.6 million (twelve months 
ended 31 March 2022: £3.8 million). 

28

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

VISITECT® CD4
COVID-19

Allergy/autoimmune

Other

2023
£’000

448

—

131

61

640

2022
£’000

968

2,596

87

138

 inc/(dec)
 %

(54)%

(100)%

51%

(56)%

3,789

(83)%

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 income/(expense)

Reduction in Omega Diagnostics GmbH 

settlement*

2023
£’000

—

—

—

150

—

150

2022
£’000

(399)

158

(723)

(190)

126

(1,028)

* 

 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 was 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 in 2022 includes a provision 
for the potential repayment which may have arisen if Abingdon 
Health were unsuccessful in resolving their ongoing dispute with 
the DHSC. This provision was released in 2023 following the 
settlement of the related dispute.

The insolvency claim relating to Omega Diagnostics GmbH was 
settled during the 2022 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 were primarily 
plant and equipment purchased in anticipation of COVID-19 lateral 
flow test production. 

In 2022, the Group 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 included 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. 
In 2023, the Group recognised a further impairment of £0.2 million, 
fully impairing these assets. 

 
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA

Alongside the key performance indicators of revenue and gross margin percentage, the Group  continues to consider EBITDA and 
adjusted EBITDA as being more appropriate performance measures which are better aligned with the cash-generating activities of 
the business. Whilst the Group made an EBITDA loss of £3.6 million (2022: £9.0 million), the continuing Group generated an EBITDA 
loss of £2.6 million (2022: £0.4 million). The adjusted EBITDA loss (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) for continuing operations 
is £2.0 million (2022: EBITDA profit of £0.2 million).

2023

Continuing
operations
£’000

Discontinued
operations
£’000

Total
£’000

Continuing
operations
£’000

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

(3,239)

(810)

(4,049)

—

591

(2,648)

524

—

78

(176)

—

(986)

(150)

176

—

(176)

591

(3,634)

374

176

78

Adjusted EBITDA

(2,046)

(960)

(3,006)

(929)

—

547

(382)

337

—

216

171

2022

Discontinued
operations
£’000

(7,476)

(1,915)

742

(8,649)

1,028

1,915

66

Total
£’000

(8,405)

(1,915)

1,289

(9,031)

1,365

1,915

282

(5,640)

(5,469)

Research and development
During the year, the Group invested a total of £0.4 million in all 
development activities associated with continuing operations, 
in line with the prior year (2022: £0.4 million), representing 4.7% 
(2022: 5.1%) of revenue. Of the total expenditure, £0.1 million 
(2022: £0.1 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 
£0.3 million (2022: £0.3 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 £0.1 million during the first four 
months of the year (2022: £0.8 million). 

After the loss arising from discontinued activities of £0.7 million 
(2022: £9.9 million), the Group has recorded a loss after tax of 
£3.9 million (2022: £11.3 million).

Taxation
The current year tax credit of £0.4 million arises predominantly 
from the cash receipt of £0.5 million of research and development 
tax credits relating to the year ended 31 March 2021. 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 
2025 onwards, when the Group starts to generate taxable profits. 
The deferred tax asset has been valued based upon a future UK 
Corporation tax of 25%.

Loss per share

The loss per share was 1.7 pence (2022: 6.2 pence) based on a 
statutory loss after tax of £3.9 million (2022: loss of £11.3 million). 
The basic loss per share for continuing operations was 1.4 pence 
(2022: 0.9 pence). The adjusted loss per share was 1.4 pence 
(2022: 4.2 pence). The adjusted loss after tax was £3.1 million 
(2022: loss of £7.7 million) and the loss per share is calculated on 
the basic average of 231.3 million shares (2022: 182.6 million 
shares) in issue. The adjusted loss per share on continuing 
operations was 1.1 pence (2022: 0.4 pence).

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

29

STRATEGIC REPORT  FINANCIAL RE VIE W continued

Property, plant and equipment
Total expenditure on property, plant and equipment in the year 
was £0.03 million (2022: £1.0 million). 

As at 31 March 2023, the outstanding liabilities in connection with 
leases recognised under IFRS 16 includes short-term liabilities of 
£0.02 million (2022: £0.1 million) and long-term liabilities of £NIL 
million (2022: £0.02 million). 

Financing and going concern
Following the disposal of the operations in Scotland, the Group 
has appointed NatWest to replace Bank of Scotland as its 
bankers, with support to be provided by the East of England 
corporate team, more local to the Littleport site. 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 31 August 2024. The 
Group realised a loss of £3.9million for the year ended 31 March 
2023 (2022: loss of £11.3 million). As at 31 March 2023, the Group 
had net current assets of £6.7 million, including a cash balance 
of £5.1 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.

The Directors have prepared trading and cash flow base case 
forecasts to 31 August 2024 and have applied reverse stress tests 
to the base case forecasts. The 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:

•  The reverse stress test indicates revenue could fall by a further 
45% 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 that there will be no cash outflow in the form 
of a repayment to the DHSC in the going concern period and 
repayment is not included in the base case or as a sensitivity. 
However, the Directors 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 Board has a reasonable expectation that the Company 
and Group have adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the period to 31 August 2024. 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. 

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer
2 August 2023

30

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Our experienced leadership

Dr Simon Douglas,  
PhD, MPhil, BSc (Hons)
Non-Executive Chairman 

Jag Grewal,  
BSc Hons, MSC, MBA
Chief Executive Officer  

Chris Lea,  
BSc Hons, ACA
Chief Financial Officer 
and Company Secretary 

Jeremy Millard,  
BA (Hons) M.Eng
Non-Executive Director 

Appointed on: 
11 February 2021

Appointed on:  
30 June 2011

Appointed on:  
30 August 2021

Appointed on:  
1 March 2019

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. 
Prior to this appointment, 
Jag was responsible for 
managing the Health and 
Nutrition division.

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 ten 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 on 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.

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’s 
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 
ten-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.

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.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

31

 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 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.

•  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 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.

CORPOR ATE 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.

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.

32

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

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.

Customers

•  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, 
South 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.

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.

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.

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 modest quantity of share 
options as disclosed.

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 monthly 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 Company has procured appropriate Directors and Officers 
liability insurance. Each of the Directors benefit from deeds of 
indemnity provided by the Company.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

33

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  CORPOR ATE GOVERNANCE continued

Maintain the Board as a well-functioning, balanced 
team led by the Chairman continued
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 2023, 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
Jeremy Millard

Jag Grewal

Chris Lea

Board
meetings

Audit
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

11/11
11/11

11/11

11/11

3/3
3/3

—

—

2/2
2/2

—

—

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 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:

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.

•  attending continuing professional development courses as 

part of a professional qualification; and

•  attending industry trade shows and exhibitions to remain up 

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.

to date with competitor activities.

The Board seeks advice from external advisors where necessary. 
This includes its nominated adviser/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.

34

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

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; and

•  reviewing and approving acquisitions.

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. RSM UK Audit 
LLP were appointed in March 2023 to replace Ernst & Young LLP 
and will be proposed for re-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 
Director 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. 

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.

The Board delegates authority to two committees which operate 
under terms of reference and include:

By order of the Board

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. 

Chris Lea
Company Secretary
2 August 2023

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

35

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE  DIRECTORS’ REMUNER ATION 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’ 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. His salary was increased to £195,000 on 18 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 
£36,000. 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 £57,000. The agreement will continue until terminated by 
either party giving to the other not less than one month’s notice 
in writing.

Directors’ emoluments

Fees/basic

salary Bonuses
£’000
£’000

Benefits
in kind
£’000

Total
2023
£’000

Total
2022
£’000

Executive
Kieron Harbinson*

Jag Grewal

Colin King**

Chris Lea***

Non-Executive
Simon Douglas

William Rhodes****

Jeremy Millard

—

195

—

185

57

—

36

—

150

—

150

—

—

—

473

300

—

6

—

—

—

—

—

6

—

351

—

335

57

—

36

71

166

443

106

55

46

35

779

922

*  Resigned 30 August 2021. 

**  Resigned 18 January 2022.

***  Appointed 30 August 2021.

**** Resigned 28 February 2022.

Bonus awards were granted on the successful disposal of the CD4 
business and the receipt of the £4.0 million deferred consideration. 
A condition of these awards was that the Executive Directors 
were required to purchase shares in the Company equivalent to 
approximately half of the net cash bonuses. These shares were 
purchased in the market on 26 January 2023.

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

Directors’ pension contributions

Jag Grewal

Colin King

Chris Lea

2023
£’000

10

—

9

19

2022
£’000

8

9

5

22

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

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 £187,000. 
The agreement will continue until terminated by either party giving 
to the other not less than six months’ notice in writing.

Simon Douglas

Jag Grewal

Chris Lea

Jeremy Millard

31 March 
2023

760,001

2,025,834

2,030,908

1,025,000

31 March
2022

—

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.

36

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ share options

At
1 April 
2022

Granted
during
the year

Lapsed
during
the year

Exercised
during
the year

Waived
during
the year

At
31 March
2023

Jag Grewal

Chris Lea

90,000

610,000

500,000

—

—

—

—

4,700,715

— 1,200,000

—

4,339,121

— 1,000,000

Jeremy Millard

333,334

Simon Douglas

200,000

—

—

—

200,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

4,700,715

1,200,000

4,339,121

1,000,000

(90,000)

(610,000)

(500,000)

—

—

—

—

—

Option
price

14.5p

30.5p

15.4p

0.0p

0.0p

0.0p

0.0p

Date of
grant

Earliest
exercise
date

Expiry
date

05/07/12

05/07/15

05/07/22

25/02/14

25/02/17

25/02/24

23/01/20

23/01/22

23/01/30

08/06/22

08/06/25

08/06/32

08/06/22

08/06/25

08/06/32

08/06/22

08/06/25

08/06/32

08/06/22

30/08/24

08/06/32

333,334

10.0p

02/12/19

02/12/20

02/12/29

(200,000)

—

89.0p

05/03/21

05/03/22

05/03/31

—

200,000

4.0p

09/06/22

09/06/25

09/06/32

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

Awards made to Simon Douglas and Jeremy Millard are granted under the Third Unapproved Option Scheme and 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 2023 was 3.1 pence. The highest and lowest share prices during the year were 5.7 pence and 
2.1 pence respectively.

Approved by the Board

Simon Douglas
Chairman
2 August 2023

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

37

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE   
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors present their Annual Report and Group Financial 
Statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.

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.

Results and dividends
The result for the year is a loss of £3.9 million (2022: £11.3 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 profit for the year ended 31 March 2023 is 
£22,000 (2022: loss of £2.8 million).

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.

Research and development
Details of research and development activity are contained in the 
Financial Review. Costs in the year amounted to £0.5 million 
(2022: £1.2 million). Costs of £0.4 million in relation to research 
and development activities (2022: £0.6 million) were expensed 
through the statement of comprehensive income and costs of 
£0.1 million in relation to product development (2022: £0.6 million) 
were capitalised and included within intangible assets as detailed 
in Note 9.

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

•  Simon Douglas;

•  Jag Grewal;

•  Jeremy Millard; and

•  Chris Lea.

Biographies of all Directors serving at the year end are on page 31.

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: 

Number of 
shares held at
31 March
2022

Number of 
shares
purchased
in year

Number of 
shares sold
in year

Number of
shares held at 
31 March
2023

Simon Douglas

—

760,001

Jag Grewal

235,746

1,800,088

Jeremy Millard

525,000

500,000

Chris Lea

— 2,030,908

—

—

—

—

760,001

2,035,834

1,025,000

2,030,908

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.

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. 

Auditor
A resolution for the appointment of RSM UK Audit LLP as auditor 
of the Company will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual 
General Meeting.

38

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
The Directors have prepared trading and cash flow base case 
forecasts to 31 August 2024 and have applied reverse stress 
tests to the base case forecasts. The 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:

•  The reverse stress test indicates revenue could fall by a further 
45% 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 there will be no cash outflow in 
the form of a repayment to the DHSC in the going concern period 
and repayment is not included in the base case or as a sensitivity. 
However, the Directors 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 Board has a reasonable expectation that the Company and 
Group have adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the period to 31 August 2024. 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
2 August 2023

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 2023, 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)

48,851,207

20.55%

Interactive Investor (EO)

Spreadex Limited

IG Markets, stockbrokers (EO)

HSDL, stockbrokers (EO)

AJ Bell, stockbrokers (EO)

Barclays Smart Investors (EO)

Dowgate Capital

27,681,207

26,209,022

21,829,155

20,909,261

11,902,860

11,679,000

9,466,426

11.65%

11.20%

9.18%

8.80%

5.01%

4.91%

3.98%

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 
31 August 2024. The Group realised a loss of £3.9 million for the 
year ended 31 March 2023 (2022: loss of £11.3 million). As at 
31 March 2023, the Group had net current assets of £6.7 million, 
including a cash balance of £5.1 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 2023

39

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 (IFRS). 
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 IFRS 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. 

40

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

to the members of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Opinion
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 2023 which comprise Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated and Company 
Statements of Changes in Equity, Consolidated and Company Balance Sheets, Consolidated and Company Cash Flow Statements and 
Notes to the Financial Statements, including 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 the Parent Company financial 
statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion: 

•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 March 2023 

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 and as applied in accordance with the Companies Act 2006; and

•  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements 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 the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of 
the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities and we have fulfilled our other ethical 
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Summary of our audit approach

Key audit matters

Group
•  Goodwill impairment

Materiality

Group
•  Overall materiality: £75,000 (2022: £96,000)

•  Performance materiality: £48,700 (2022: £48,000)

Parent Company
•  Overall materiality: £230,000 (2022: £200,000)

•  Performance materiality: £149,000

Scope

Our audit procedures cover 100% of revenue, 98% of absolute loss before tax and 97% of total assets.

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

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

41

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued

to the members of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Key audit matters continued

Key audit matter description Refer to Note 2 – Use of estimates and judgements and Note 9 – Intangibles

How the matter was 
addressed in the audit

The Group has a Goodwill balance of £3.0 million (2022: £3.0 million) relating to historic acquisitions as 
described in Note 9 in the consolidated financial statements.

Management assess goodwill for impairment using a discounted cash flow (DCF) model to estimate 
the value in use of the Group’s cash-generating unit (CGU) and compare this to the carrying values of 
the CGU.

The use of a DCF model requires management to make estimates involving judgement, including 
forecasts of revenue and profitability and application of appropriate discount rates and as a result the 
matter was considered to be one of most significance in the Group audit and therefore determined to 
be a key audit matter.

Our work included:

1.  Corroborating of inputs to the DCF models to relevant external and internal financial information and 

challenging of management assumptions.

2.  Comparison of historical forecast performance to current year actual financial performance to 

assess reliability of forecasting.

3.  Comparison of forecast performance to post-year-end trading performance to assess reliability 

of forecasting. 

4. Verification of management’s discount rate to externally available sources.

5.  Engagement with internal valuation specialist in regard to consideration of the discount rate applied 

in management’s DCF models.

6.  Challenge of forecasts focused on ability to achieve revenue levels and maintain cost base. 

7.  Audit of management’s sensitivity analysis including challenging the reasonableness of the range 

applied to key assumptions.

8. Checking the arithmetic accuracy of the DCF models.

9.  Reviewing of the disclosures in the financial statements and considering of their completeness, 

accuracy and appropriateness including disclosure of key inputs and sensitivity analysis.

Our application of materiality
When establishing our overall audit strategy, we set certain thresholds which help us to determine the nature, timing and extent of our 
audit procedures. When evaluating whether the effects of misstatements, both individually and on the financial statements as a whole, 
could reasonably influence the economic decisions of the users we take into account the qualitative nature and the size of the 
misstatements. Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality as follows:

Overall materiality

£75,000 (2022: £96,000) 

£230,000 (2022: £200,000) 

Group

Parent Company

Basis for determining 
overall materiality

1% of Revenue

1% of Total Assets

Rationale for 
benchmark applied

Revenue is the key benchmark against which the 
business is assessed by management and investors.

The holding company is primarily focused 
on the investments that it holds.

Performance materiality

£48,700 (2022: £48,000)

£149,000

Basis for determining 
performance materiality

Reporting of misstatements 
to the Audit Committee

65% of overall materiality

65% of overall materiality

Misstatements in excess of £3,750 and 
misstatements below that threshold that, in our 
view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. 

Misstatements in excess of £11,500 and 
misstatements below that threshold that, in our 
view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. 

42

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

An overview of the scope of our audit
The Group consists of three components, two of which are based in the UK, one in India.

The coverage achieved by our audit procedures was:

Full scope audit

Specific audit procedures

Total

Number of
components

1

2

3

Revenue

94%

6%

100%

Loss
before tax

Total assets

63%

35%

98%

91%

6%

97%

All of the above was undertaken by the Group audit engagement team.

Specific audit procedures were undertaken to achieve sufficient Group coverage. They included revenue and cash in the Indian 
component, and costs and cash in the UK component.

Conclusions relating to going concern 
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation 
of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group’s and Parent Company’s ability to continue 
to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:

•  A review of the forecasts prepared by management for the period to 31 August 2024, including challenging the key assumptions;

•  A review of post-year-end trading performance of the Group and comparison to the forecasts prepared by management; 

•  Assessing the sufficiency and appropriateness of the going concern disclosures in the financial statements; and

•  Confirmation of the current cash balances and comparison with the forecast.

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

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

Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the financial statements and our Auditor’s Report 
thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other information contained 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 our report, we do not express any form of 
assurance conclusion thereon. 

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

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 the 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 their 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.

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities set out on page 40 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 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

43

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued

to the members of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether 
due to fraud or error.

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

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

The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. The objectives of our audit are to obtain sufficient appropriate 
audit evidence regarding compliance with laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and 
disclosures in the financial statements, to perform audit procedures to help identify instances of non-compliance with other laws and 
regulations that may have a material effect on the financial statements, and to respond appropriately to identified or suspected 
non-compliance with laws and regulations identified during the audit. 

In relation to fraud, the objectives of our audit are to identify and assess the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements due to 
fraud, to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud through designing 
and implementing appropriate responses and to respond appropriately to fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. 

However, it is the primary responsibility of management, with the oversight of those charged with governance, to ensure that the entity’s 
operations are conducted in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations and for the prevention and detection of fraud.

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud, the Group audit engagement team: 

•  obtained an understanding of the nature of the industry and sector, including the legal and regulatory framework that the Group 

and Parent Company operate in and how the Group and Parent Company are complying with the legal and regulatory frameworks;

• 

inquired of management, and those charged with governance, about their own identification and assessment of the risks of 
irregularities, including any known actual, suspected or alleged instances of fraud; and

•  discussed matters about non-compliance with laws and regulations and how fraud might occur including assessment of how and 

where the financial statements may be susceptible to fraud.

44

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

The extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud continued
The most significant laws and regulations were determined as follows:

Legislation/Regulation

Additional audit procedures performed by the audit engagement team 

UK-adopted International Accounting 
Standards, the Companies Act 2006 
and AIM Rules

•  Review of the financial statement disclosures and testing to 

supporting documentation.

•  Completion of disclosure checklists to identify areas of non-compliance. 

Tax compliance regulations

• 

Inspection of advice received from external tax advisors.

The areas that we identified as being susceptible to material misstatement due to fraud were:

Risk

Revenue recognition

Audit procedures performed by the audit engagement team: 

•  For a sample of transactions, in the identified cut-off period, verifying that 

revenue had been recognised in the correct reporting period.

Management override of controls

•  Testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments.

•  Assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates 

are indicative of a potential bias.

•  Evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are 

unusual or outside the normal course of business.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s 
website at: http://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. 

Alan Aitchison (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of RSM UK Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants
Third Floor, Centenary House, 
69 Wellington Street, 
Glasgow, G2 6HG
2 August 2023

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

45

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the year ended 31 March 2023

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 credit/(expense) 

Loss for the year from continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Loss after tax for the year from discontinued operations

Loss for the year

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

in subsequent periods
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Other comprehensive (losses)/income 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 for the year from continuing operations

Note

3,6

6 

6

6

4

5

7

8

8

2023
£’000

7,546

(4,001)

3,545

(4,755)

(1,530)

25

(2,715)

(524)

(3,239)

(13)

(3,252)

80

(3,172)

(688)

(3,860)

(15)

(15)

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

(3,875)

(11,323)

(1.7)p

(6.2)p

(1.4)p

(0.9)p

46

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED BAL ANCE SHEE T

as at 31 March 2023

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

Simon Douglas 
Non-Executive Chairman 
2 August 2023 

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer
2 August 2023

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC 
Registered number: 5017761

Note

9

10

10

11

13

14

 15

7

16 

17

10

18

17

10

19

7

 2023
£’000

4,525

567

21

997

6,110

777

2,403

5,115

8,295

—

14,405

10,244

25,072

(25,319)

(46)

9,951

19

—

2,500

2,519

32

23

1,525

1,580

355

4,454

14,405

 2022
£’000

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

17,835

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

47

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUIT Y

for the year ended 31 March 2023

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

Issue of share capital for cash consideration

Share-based payments

Deferred tax charge related to share-based payments

Balance at 31 March 2022

Loss for year ended 31 March 2023

Other comprehensive loss – net exchange adjustments

Total comprehensive losses for the year

Issue of share capital for cash consideration

Expenses in connection with share issue

Share-based payments

Share
premium
£’000

Retained
deficit
£’000

Translation
reserve
£’000

Total
£’000

25,288

(9,891)

(41)

23,384

Share
capital
£’000

8,028

—

—

—

16

—

—

—

—

—

52

—

—

(11,333)

—

(11,333)

—

282

(595)

8,044

25,340

(21,537)

—

—

—

2,200

—

—

—

—

—

—

(268)

—

(3,860)

—

(3,860)

—

—

78

—

10

10

—

—

—

(31)

—

(15)

(15)

—

—

—

(11,333)

10

(11,323)

68

282

(595)

11,816

(3,860)

(15)

(3,875)

2,200

(268)

78

Balance at 31 March 2023

10,244

25,072

(25,319)

(46)

9,951

48

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

for the year ended 31 March 2023

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

– Impairment of assets relating to aborted Ely relocation

– Share-based payments

– Taxation

– Omega Diagnostic GmbH liability settlement

– Finance costs

Cash outflow from operating activities before working capital movement

Decrease in trade and other receivables

Decrease in inventories

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
Finance income

Income from sale of property, plant and equipment

Income from sale of the CD4 business

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

Purchase of intangible assets

Net cash generated from/(used in) investing activities

Financing activities
Finance costs

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Expenses in connection with share issue

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 generated from/(used in) financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) 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

Note

10

9

9

7

10

10

4

 2023
£’000

(3,172)

(688)

—

—

219

372

15

176

399

78

(380) 

—

16

(2,965)

812

128

(1,466)

(139)

—

478

(3,152)

19

—

5,315

(25)

(128)

5,181

(1)

2,200

(268) 

(314)

(25)

(97)

(9)

1,486

3,515

(5)

1,605

5,115

 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

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

49

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY BAL ANCE SHEE T

as at 31 March 2023

ASSETS

Non-current assets
Investments

Intercompany receivables

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

2023
£’000

2022
£’000

12

14

14

 15

16 

19

3,101

19,067

22,168

85

717

802

22,970

10,616

25,689

(13,627)

22,678

292

292

292

3,100

—

3,100

16,898

1,045

17,943

21,043

8,416

25,957

(13,727)

20,646

397

397

397

22,970

21,043

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

The Company profit in the year was £22,000 (2022: loss of £2,832,000).

Simon Douglas 
Non-Executive Chairman 
2 August 2023 

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer
2 August 2023

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC 
Registered number: 5017761

50

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUIT Y

for the year ended 31 March 2023

Balance at 31 March 2021

Loss for the year ended 31 March 2022

Share options exercised

Share-based payments as restated

Deferred tax charge related to share-based payments

Balance at 31 March 2022

Profit for the year ended 31 March 2023

Issue of share capital for cash consideration

Expenses in connection with share issue

Share-based payments

Note

3

Share
capital
£’000

8,400

—

16

—

—

Share

Retained 
premium surplus/(deficit)
£’000

£’000

Total 
£’000

25,905

(10,785)

23,520

—

52

—

—

(2,832)

(2,832)

—

282

(392)

68

282

(392)

8,416

25,957

(13,727)

20,646

—

2,200

—

—

—

—

(268)

—

22

—

—

78

22

2,200

(268)

78

Balance at 31 March 2023

10,616

25,689

(13,627)

22,678

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

51

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  COMPANY CASH FLOW STATEMENT

for the year ended 31 March 2023

Cash flows generated from operations
Profit/(loss) for the year

Adjustments for:

– Taxation

– Impairment of subsidiaries

– Share-based payments

– Finance costs

Cash inflow/(outflow) before working capital movement

Increase in trade and other receivables excluding intercompany financing

Decrease in trade and other payables

Cash outflow 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

Net cash inflow from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

2023
£’000

22

—

—

78

—

100

(14)

(104)

(18)

—

(6,482)

4,240

—

(2,242)

—

2,200

(268)

1,932

(328)

1,045

717

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

52

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

for the year ended 31 March 2023

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 2023 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 2 August 2023, 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.

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 7. 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 

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 2023

53

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  2 Accounting policies continued
Going concern continued

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 31 August 2024. The Group realised a loss of £3.9 million for the year ended 31 March 2023 
(2022: loss of £11.3 million). As at 31 March 2023, the Group had net current assets of £6.7 million, including a cash balance of £5.1 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.

The Directors have prepared trading and cash flow base case forecasts to 31 August 2024 and have applied reverse stress tests to the 
base case forecasts. The 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:

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

further 45% 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 
that there will be no cash outflow in the form of a repayment to the DHSC in the going concern period and repayment is not included 
in the base case or as a sensitivity. However, the Directors 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 Board has a reasonable expectation that the Company and Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence 
for the period to 31 August 2024. 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.

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.

54

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
2 Accounting policies continued
Intangible assets continued
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.

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.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

55

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  2 Accounting policies continued
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.

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.

56

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20232 Accounting policies continued
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 our performance obligations have been met. This will be when goods have been despatched and the 
collection of the related receivable is reasonably assured. Sale of goods relates to the sale of medical diagnostic kits. Revenue relating 
to CNSLab laboratory services is recognised on communication of test results.

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

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.

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.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

57

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  2 Accounting policies continued
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 CGU. 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.

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.

58

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20232 Accounting policies continued
Use of estimates and judgements continued
Deferred tax continued

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 2023, 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 31 March 2022 was £5.0 million (see Note 7), 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 2022 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 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.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

59

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  3 Segmental information continued
Business segment information 

2023

Revenue
Inter-segment revenue

Total revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Operating costs

Operating loss before exceptional items
Exceptional items

Operating 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

Loss before tax
Exceptional items
Share-based payment charges
Amortisation

Adjusted loss before tax

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

Share-based payment charges
Exceptional items

Adjusted EBITDA

Share-based payment charges
Depreciation
Amortisation
Net finance costs
Exceptional items

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

Adjusted profit/(loss) before tax

60

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

Total 
£’000

7,742
(196)

7,546
(4,001)

3,545
(6,260)

(2,715)
(524)

(3,239)

219
372

—
—

—
—

—
(1,107)

(1,107)
—

(1,107)

—
—

7,742
(196)

7,546
(4,001)

3,545
(5,153)

(1,608)
(524)

(2,132)

219
372

(1,541)

524
1

(1,107)

(2,648)

—
77

524
78

(1,016)

(1,030)

(2,046)

(1)
(219)
(372)
(13)
(524)

(2,145)
524
1
109

(1,511)

(77)
—
—
—
—

(1,107)
—
77
—

(78)
(219)
(372)
(13)
(524)

(3,252)
524
78
109

(1,030)

(2,541)

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

8,779
(240)

8,539
(3,437)

5,102
(4,137)

965
—

965

194
353

1,512

58
—

1,570

(58)
(194)
(353)
(21)
—

944
—
58
99

1,101

—
—

—
—

—
(1,557)

(1,557)
(337)

(1,894)

—
—

(1,894)

158
337

(1,399)

(158)
—
—
—
(337)

(1,894)
337
158
—

(1,399)

Total 
£’000

8,779
(240)

8,539
(3,437)

5,102
(5,694)

(592)
(337)

(929)

194
353

(382)

216
337

171

(216)
(194)
(353)
(21)
(337)

(950)
337
216
99

(298)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
3 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:

2023

Segment assets

Unallocated assets

Total assets

Segment liabilities

Unallocated liabilities

Total liabilities

Health and
Nutrition
£’000

Corporate
£’000

8,208

—

8,208

1,307

—

1,307

85

—

85

292

—

292

The assets and liabilities held for sale at 31 March 2022 are detailed in Note 7 – discontinued operations.

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

8,293

6,112

14,405

1,599

2,500

4,099

Total 
£’000

10,128

2,712

12,840

2,905

2,639

5,544

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 £839,000, 11.0% (2022: £1,369,000, 16.0%) 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.

Revenues
UK

Rest of Europe

North America

South/Central America

India

Asia and the Far East

Africa and the Middle East

2023

Assets
UK

India

Unallocated assets

Total assets

 2023
£’000

975

2,311
1,143

301

529

1,726

561

7,546

Intangibles
£’000

Property, 
plant and
equipment
£’000

Inventories
£’000

Trade
and other
receivables
£’000

4,524

1

—

4,525

586

2

—

588

724

53

—

777

2,312

91

—

2,403

14,405

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

61

 2022
£’000

470

2,605

1,742

500

513

1,503

1,206

8,539

Total
£’000

8,146

147

6,112

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Intangibles
£’000

4,743

2

—

4,745

Property, 
plant and
equipment
£’000

1,241

3

—

1,244

Inventories
£’000

1,084

10

—

1,094

Trade
and other
receivables
£’000

2,938

107

—

3,045

 2023
£’000

1,531

68

2,500

4,099

25

—

25

128

—

128

Total
£’000

10,006

122

2,712

12,840

 2022
£’000

2,829

76

2,639

5,544

275

693

968

92

489

581

 2023
£’000

 2022
£’000

1

9

3

13

 2023
£’000

169
(89)

—

80

2

15

4

21

 2022
£’000

—

(455)

(4)

(459)

3 Segmental information continued
Geographical information continued

2022

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

4 Finance costs

Consolidated

Interest payable on bank overdraft

Interest payable on lease liabilities

Interest on hire purchase and asset finance arrangements

5 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

62

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 Taxation continued

Consolidated – continuing operations

(b) Reconciliation of total tax (credit)/charge
Factors affecting the tax (credit)/charge 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

Utilisation of tax losses

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 timing differences

Adjustment due to different overseas tax rate

Impact of UK rate change on deferred tax

Research and development - prior year adjustment

Tax (credit)/charge for the year

The UK’s main corporation tax rate increased from 19% to 25%, from 1 April 2023. 

6 Revenue and expenses

Consolidated – continuing operations

Revenue and other income
Revenue – sales of goods

Revenue – provision of services

Other income

Total revenue and other income

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

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

 2023
£’000

 2022
£’000

(3,252)

19%

(618)

166

—

—

—

437

102

5

(3)

(169)

(80)

 2023
£’000

6,598

948

25

7,571

 2023
£’000

2,730

219

372

(39)

274

17

78

40

50

10

—

—

(950)

19%

(180)

34

—

369

(4)

235

—

5

—

—

459

 2022
£’000

8,055

484

—

8,539

 2022
£’000

2,107

194

353

10

343

15

216

65

85

10

10

—

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

63

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
6 Revenue and expenses continued
Exceptional items summary

Management consider exceptional items to be income or expenditure which are material and non-recurring in nature.

Aborted relocation costs

Compensation for loss of office

Aborted placing costs

Total

2023
Continuing 
operations
£’000

2022
Continuing 
operations
£’000

(524)

—

—

(524)

—

(287)

(50)

(337)

The aborted relocation costs relate to the proposed new manufacturing facility in Ely which is now considered unlikely to proceed.

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

 2023
Number

 2022
Number

43

48

91

 2023
£’000

3,559

380

129

78

4,146

42

43

85

 2022
£’000

3,492

352

129

216

4,189

Whilst three directors are employed by the Company, 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

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.

64

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
 
 
6 Revenue and expenses continued
Equity-settled share-based payments continued
Consolidated and Company 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, 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 2022 LTIP

Granted during the year under the TUOS

Exercised during the year

Lapsed during the year under the EMI Option Scheme

Lapsed during the year under the TUOS

Waived during the year under the EMI Option Schemes

Waived during the year under the TUOS

Outstanding at 31 March 2023

Exercisable at 31 March 2023

 2023
Number

7,838,740

14,239,836

200,000

—

(4,135,000)

(1,080,406)

(1,515,000)

(200,000)

15,348,170

908,334

 2023
WAEP

19p

—

4p

—

15p

15p

22p

89p

1p

24p

 2022
Number

9,827,074

—

—

(50,000)

(1,938,334)

—

—

—

7,838,740

7,472,073

 2022
WAEP

19p

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

19p

19p

The following table lists the inputs to the model used for the year ended 31 March 2023. 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

 2023

—

46%

4.15%

9.3 years

11.5p

11.5p

Black-Scholes

The expected volatility is based on the nine months from the date of disposal of the CD4 business to 31 March 2023, which reflects the 
volatility of a stand alone Health and Nutrition business.

Directors’ remuneration

Consolidated

Fees

Emoluments

Contributions to personal pension

Members of a defined contribution pension scheme at the year end

 2023
£’000

93

686

779

19

798

2

 2022
£’000

136

786

922

22

944

2

Information in respect of individual Directors’ emoluments, including highest paid Director, is provided in the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

65

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
7 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.

The sale of the CD4 business was completed effective 31 July 2022 at which time net assets, less cost of disposal, were 
£5,486,000. Net cash proceeds of £5,315,000 have been received and the Company is entitled to a royalty of 4% of Accubio’s test 
revenues to 31 December 2026, capped at £1.0 million in aggregate. In calculating the loss on disposal an estimated £171,000 of 
future royalty income was assumed based on CD4 sales for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit/(loss)

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 (income)/expense

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

Amortisation of intangible assets

Share-based payment charges

 2023
£’000

640

(184)

456

(1,195)

(223)

2

(960)

150

(810)

(2)

(176)

(988)

267

33

(688)

 2023
£’000

(688)

(150)

176

—

—

 2022
£’000

3,789

(4,773)

(984)

(4,832)

(640)

8

(6,448)

(1,028)

(7,476)

(159)

(1,915)

(9,550)

(738)

364

(9,924)

 2022
£’000

(9,924)

1,028

1,915

6

66

Adjusted loss for the year from discontinued activities

(662)

(6,909)

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

Cash flows

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

Operating

Investing

Financing

Net cash inflow/(outflow)

66

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 2023

(0.3)p

(0.3)p

(0.3)p

2023
£’000

200

5,335
(129)

5,406

 2022

(5.4)p

(5.4)p

(3.8)p

2022
£’000

(4,064)

(126)

(412)

(4,602)

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20237 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:

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.

Total liabilities directly associated with the assets held for sale at 31 March 2023 were £355,000 (2022: £475,000).

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 income/(expense)

2023
£’000

—

—

—

150

—

150

Held for sale
£’000

3,784

395

9

664

4,852

—

143

143

4,995

(10)

(465)

(475)

4,520

2022
£’000

(399)

158

(723)

(190)

126

(1,028)

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

8 Earnings per share 
Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the loss 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 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 attributable to equity holders of the Group
Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Loss attributable to equity holders of the Group for basic earnings

 2023
£’000

(3,172)

(688)

(3,860)

 2022
£’000

(1,409)

(9,924)

(11,333)

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

67

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  8 Earnings per share continued

Basic average number of shares

Share options

Diluted weighted average number of shares

Basic and diluted EPS on loss for the year

Basic and diluted EPS on loss for the year from continuing operations

 2023
Number

 2022
Number

231,263,884

575,000

182,638,427

4,359,653

231,838,884

186,998,080

(1.7)p

(1.4)p

(6.2)p

(0.9)p

Adjusted earnings per share on profit for the year

The Group presents adjusted earnings per share, which are calculated by taking adjusted loss 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

 2023
£’000

(3,860)

550

109

78

(3,123)

 2022
£’000

(11,333)

3,280

105

282

(7,666)

* 

 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 for the year from continuing operations
Exceptional items

Amortisation of intangible assets

Share-based payment charges

Adjusted loss for the year from continuing operations

Adjusted EPS on loss for the year

Adjusted EPS on loss for the year from continuing operations

 2023
£’000

(3,172)

524

109

78

(2,461)

(1.4)p

(1.1)p

 2022
£’000

(1,409)

337

99

216

(757)

(4.2)p

(0.4)p

Adjusted loss 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.

68

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 20239 Intangibles

Cost
At 31 March 2021

Additions

Additions – internally generated

Currency translation

Reclassified as assets held for sale

Disposals

At 31 March 2022

Additions

Additions – internally generated

Reallocated from property, plant and equipment

Goodwill
£’000

Licences/
software
£’000

Technology
assets
£’000

Customer
relationships
£’000

Development
costs
£’000

Total
£’000

3,017

1,633

1,975

100

14,337

21,062

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

3,017

1,634

1,975

—

—

—

50

—

42

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

100

—

—

—

—

581

—

(5,706)

(31)

—

581

1

(5,706)

(31)

9,181

15,907

66

12

—

116

12

42

At 31 March 2023

3,017

1,726

1,975

100

9,259

16,077

Accumulated amortisation
At 31 March 2021

Amortisation charge in the year

Impairment charge

Reclassified as assets held for sale

At 31 March 2022

Amortisation charge in the year

Impairment charge

Reallocated from property, plant and equipment

Currency translation

At 31 March 2023

Net book value

At 31 March 2023

At 31 March 2022

At 31 March 2021

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1,597

6

16

—

1,341

99

—

—

1,619

1,440

10

15

4

(1)

99

—

—

—

100

—

—

—

100

—

—

—

—

8,132

513

—

(642)

8,003

263

—

—

—

11,170

618

16

(642)

11,162

372

15

4

(1)

1,647

1,539

100

8,266

11,552

3,017

3,017

3,017

79

15

36

436

535

634

—

—

—

993

1,178

6,205

4,525

4,745

9,892

The net book value of goodwill at 31 March 2023 all relates to the Health and Nutrition segment.

The development costs brought forward, all relate to Health and Nutrition projects, £752,000 of which has a further amortisation period 
of 33 months. The development costs of £241,000 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 53 months.

None of the additions (2022: £71,000) 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 2024 to 31 March 2028 based on an organic sales growth rate of 18% for the year ending 
31 March 2024 based in part on the order book of £2.4 million as at 1 April 2023, which is £1.0 million higher than the prior year, 11% for 
the year ending 31 March 2025 and 5% thereafter, forecast margin of between 63-68% based on an improved production yield, and 
cost inflation of 5% per annum. 

A pre-tax discount rate of 13.6% (2022: 10.8%) 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% (2022: 2%) has been applied.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

69

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9 Intangibles continued
Impairment testing of goodwill and intangibles continued 

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 in 2022, 100% (2022: 100%) 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 base case model indicated headroom of £1,241,000. The discount rate for the CGU would need to increase by 
approximately 160 basis points, or the perpetuity growth rate would need to fall by 250 basis points before the recoverable amount 
would equal the carrying value. An increase of 200 basis points in the discount rate would require an £312,000 impairment in the 
carrying value of goodwill as at 31 March 2023. A reduction of 2% per annum in the future revenue growth rate would require an 
impairment of £706,000 or a reduction of 2% in the forecast gross margin percentage would require an impairment of £351,000.

10 Property, plant and equipment

Consolidated

Cost
At 31 March 2021

Additions

Disposals
Reclassified as assets held for sale

Currency translation

At 31 March 2022

Additions

Reallocated to intangible assets

Currency translation

At 31 March 2023

Accumulated depreciation
At 31 March 2021

Charge in the year

Disposals

Reclassified as assets held for sale

Currency translation

At 31 March 2022

Charge in the year

Impairment to fair value

Reallocated to intangible assets

Currency translation

At 31 March 2023

Net book value

At 31 March 2023

At 31 March 2022

At 31 March 2021

Leasehold
improvements
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

1,409

394

(1,107)
—

—

696

—

—

—

5,411

574

(1,378)
(2,147)

1

2,461

25

(42)

1

696

2,445

Total
£’000

6,820

968

(2,485)
(2,147)

1

3,157

25

(42)

1

3,141

3,742

506

(1,256)

(974)

1

2,019

134

426

(4)

(1)

679

91

(286)

—

—

484

—

210

—

—

694

2

212

730

3,063

415

(970)

(974)

1

1,535

134

216

(4)

(1)

1,880

2,574

565

926

2,348

567

1,138

3,078

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.

The impairments of leasehold improvements and plant and machinery include £210,000 and £189,000 respectively which relate to 
expenditure previously capitalised in respect of the proposed new Ely manufacturing facility. As the Group is now highly unlikely to enter 
into a lease for this property, all assets associated with the new site have been fully impaired and these impairments are included within 
the exceptional aborted relocation costs of £524,000 (2022: £nil).

None of the annual depreciation charge (2022: £71,000) relates to assets utilised for development activities; therefore, this depreciation has 
been capitalised and included within intangible assets.

70

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10 Property, plant and equipment continued
Leases

Right of use assets

Consolidated

At 31 March 2022

Depreciation

At 31 March 2023

Lease liabilities

Consolidated

At 31 March 2022

Interest expense

Lease payments

At 31 March 2023

Land and
property
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

104

(83)

21

2

(2)

—

Land and
property
£’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

114

9

(100)

23

1

—

(1)

—

Total
£’000

106

(85)

21

Total
£’000

115

9

(101)

23

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

11 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/P&L tax

2023
£’000

23

—

23

2022
£’000

92

23

115

Consolidated balance sheet

 2023
£’000

2

1,477

1,479

80

402

—

482

997

 2022
£’000

1

2,753

2,754

102

417

1,128

1,647

1,107

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 £102,000.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

71

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
11 Deferred taxation continued
This judgement is based on a review of the risk-adjusted forecast model, considering the forecast taxable profits for an appropriate period.

The deferred tax asset at 31 March 2023 will be offset against future profits. Deferred tax assets not recognised as recoverable amount 
to £4,987,000 (2022: £2,938,000), which includes £1,474,000 (2022: £1,479,000) in relation to the Company.

No deferred tax asset has been recognised in relation to losses based on the forecast profitability of the Company. 

12 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) Pvt Limited(4)

Country of
incorporation

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

India

 2023
£’000

2,792

— 

 —

—

—

—

309

3,101

 2022
£’000

2,791

—

—

—

—

—

309

3,100

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 £1,000 (2022: £124,000) 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. 

(1)  Registered office address – 9 Haymarket Square, Edinburgh EH3 8FY

(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.

The carrying value of investments has been tested for impairment applying the value in use model assumptions disclosed in Note 9, 
adjusted for the fair value of the intercompany receivable. The fair value of the intercompany receivable was arrived at by discounting at 
13.6% per annum over the 14 year repayment period.

13 Inventories

Raw materials

Work in progress

Finished goods and goods for resale

The write-down of inventories to net realisable value amounted to £104,000 (2022: £nil).

14 Trade and other receivables

Consolidated

Trade receivables

Less provision for impairment of receivables

Trade receivables – net

Prepayments

Other receivables

 2023
£’000

482

160

135

777

 2023
£’000

2,033

(126)

1,907

74

422

2,403

 2022
£’000

325

488

281

1,094

 2022
£’000

2,601

(190)

2,411

201

433

3,045

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.

72

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
 
 
14 Trade and other receivables continued
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

 2023
£’000

1,847

60

1,907

 2023
£’000

60

—

—

60

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

 2023
£’000

71

14

—

85

 2022
£’000

1,579

832

2,411

 2022
£’000

364

4

464

832

 2022
£’000

60

13

16,825

16,898

The intercompany receivable of £19,067,000 due from Omega Diagnostics Limited at 31 March 2023 is stated net of an expected credit 
loss of £200,000 (2022: £200,000). This is determined by applying the probability of default to the receivables due from subsidiaries. 
These amounts are repayable on demand, but the expectation is that a proportion will be repaid in more than one year and as such the 
balance has been presented within non-current assets. The balance is expected to be recovered in full over a period of 14 years.

15 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

Company

Cash and cash equivalents

16 Capital and reserves

Authorised share capital
Ordinary shares of 4.0 pence each

Deferred shares of 0.9 pence each

Company

Issued and fully paid ordinary capital
At 1 April 2021

Issued during the year

At 31 March 2022

Issued during the year

At 31 March 2023

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

 2023
£’000

5,115

 2023
£’000

717

 2022
£’000

1,605

 2022
£’000

1,045

 2023
Number of 
shares

 2022
Number of 
shares

323,278,493

123,245,615

323,278,493

123,245,615

Number of 
shares

182,255,306

427,098

182,682,404

55,002,776

237,685,180

£’000

7,290

17

7,307

2,200

9,507

123,245,615

1,109

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

73

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
16 Capital and reserves continued
The deferred shares do not confer any voting rights. The holders of deferred shares have a first entitlement to a dividend of 0.000001p 
per share but thereafter are not entitled to any participation in the profits or assets of the Company. The deferred shares do not confer 
any rights as respect capital to participate in a distribution (including on winding up). The deferred shares are not redeemable.

17 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings and financial instruments

Consolidated

Current
Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements

Non-current
Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements

2023
£’000

 2022
£’000

32

32

19

19

204

204

51

51

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:

 2023

 2022

Asset finance
 and hire
 purchase 
 £’000

Lease
liabilities
 £’000

Asset finance
 and hire
 purchase 
 £’000

Lease
liabilities
 £’000

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

Changes in liabilities

Opening lease, hire purchase and asset finance obligations

New leases 

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

34

19

— 

53

(2)

51

32

19

—

51

25

—

— 

25

(2)

23

23

—

—

23

222

53

—

275

(20)

255

204

51

—

255

 2023
£’000

370

—

(101)

9

(207)

3

—

—

74

99

26

—

125

(10)

115

92

23

—

115

 2022
£’000

2,843

64

(336)

144

(232)

34

(1,672)

(475)

370

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

18 Deferred income

Consolidated

Deferred income

 2023
£’000

2,500

 2022
£’000

2,500

Under the contract dated 12 February 2021, the Company has received £2,500,000 (2022: £2,500,000) 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. 

74

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18 Deferred income continued
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.

19 Trade and other payables

Consolidated

Trade payables

Social security costs

Accruals and other payables

 2023
£’000

853

158

514

1,525

 2022
£’000

448

193

2,033

2,674

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 £54,000 (2022: £62,000) relating to customer advance payments.

Company

Trade payables

Accruals and other payables

 2023
£’000

83

209

292

 2022
£’000

44

353

397

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.

20 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 2023 (2022: £60,000).

21 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

 2023
£’000

878

77

19

974

 2022
£’000

987

160

22

1,169

Included within short-term employee benefits are £Nil (2022: £37,000) paid to Third Day Advisors LLC, a company controlled by William 
Rhodes. Following Colin King’s resignation on 18 January 2022 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 2022
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

Balance at 31 March 2023

 2023
£’000

16,825

1,385

(543)

5,097

(3,697)

—

19,067

 2022
£’000

12,830

1,377

(632)

18,429

(14,979)

(200)

16,825

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

75

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
22 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. 

23 Financial instruments
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise leases, asset finance arrangements 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

Sundry debtors at fair value through the Statement of Comprehensive Income

Company

Due from subsidiary companies at amortised cost

2023
£’000

1,907

148

2023
£’000

19,067

2022
£’000

2,411

—

2022
£’000

16,825

Amounts due by the Company from subsidiary companies are repayable on demand, but the expectation is that a proportion will be repaid 
in more than one year, and are not subject to interest.

Consolidated

Trade payables
Obligations under leases and asset finance loan arrangements

Company

Trade payables

Financial risk management

2023
£’000

853
74

927

2023
£’000

83

2022
£’000

448
370

818

2022
£’000

44

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 2023 and 31 March 2022 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 2023 and 31 March 2022 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 14.

76

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
23 Financial instruments continued
Financial risk management continued
Customer concentration risk

The Group’s largest single customer accounts for 11% of revenue (2022: 9%).

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

2023
Trade
receivables
£’000

 2022
Trade
receivables
£’000

801
180
80
792
180

2,033

1,240
585
113
399
74

2,411

2023
Trade
receivables
ECL
£’000

 2022
Trade
Receivables
ECL
£’000

(190)
(86)
150

(126)

—
(190)
—

(190)

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

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

2023
Trade payables

Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements 

Obligations under leases

Bank overdraft

2022
Trade payables

Obligations under asset finance loan arrangements 

Obligations under leases

Bank overdraft

Less than
3 months
£’000

3 to 12
months
£’000

1 to 5
years
£’000

>5
years
£’000

Total 
£’000

853

8

25

—

886

448

21

25

—

494

—

25

—

—

25

—

201

75

—

276

—

20

—

—

20

—

53

25

—

78

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

853

53

25

—

931

448

275

125

—

848

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

77

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 Financial instruments continued
Financial risk management continued
Liquidity risk continued

The table below summarises the maturity profile of the Company’s financial liabilities at 31 March 2023 based on the undiscounted cash 
flows of liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Company can be required to pay.

Company

2023
Trade payables

2022
Trade payables

Interest rate risk

Less than
3 months
£’000

3 to 12
months
£’000

83

44

—

—

1 to 5
years
£’000

—

—

Total 
£’000

83

44

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

2023
Cash and cash equivalents

2022
Cash and cash equivalents

Effect on profit
before tax 
and equity
£’000

Change in 
basis points

25

25

8

9

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

2023
Cash and cash equivalents

2022
Cash and cash equivalents

Fair values

Change in 
basis points

Effect on profit
before tax 
and equity
£’000

25

25

2

8

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 2023 and 
31 March 2022. 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.

78

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continuedfor the year ended 31 March 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENER AL MEE TING

(Incorporated in England & Waled, registered number 5017761)

Notice is hereby given that an Annual General Meeting of Omega Diagnostics Group PLC (the Company) will be held at Poets House, 
St Mary’s Street, Ely CB7 4EY at 11.00am (UK time) on 6 September 2023 for the following purposes:

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

 To receive and adopt the Company’s accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2023, together with the Directors’ Report 
and the Auditor’s Report on those accounts.

2. 

 To re-elect Jag Grewal, who retires by rotation at the Annual General Meeting, as a Director of the Company. 

3. 

 To re-appoint RSM UK Audit LLP as auditor of the Company. 

4. 

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

5.  That:

(a) 

 the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised to allot shares in the Company, or to grant rights to subscribe for or 
to convert any security into shares in the Company:

(1) 

(2) 

 up to a maximum nominal amount of £3,169,135.00 (or £129,882.00 in the event that Resolution 8 set out in the notice 
of Annual General Meeting dated 3 August 2023 is passed and becomes effective) (such amount to be reduced by the 
aggregate nominal amount allotted or granted under paragraph (a)(2) below in excess of such sum); and

 comprising equity securities (within the meaning of section 560(1) of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act)) up to a 
maximum nominal amount of £6,338,271.00 (or £259,765.00 in the event that Resolution 8 set out in the notice of Annual 
General Meeting dated 3 August 2023 is passed and becomes effective) (such amount to be reduced by the aggregate 
nominal amount allotted or granted under paragraph (a)(1) above) in connection with a Pre-Emptive Offer;

(b) 

the authorities given in this Resolution:

(1) 

 are given pursuant to section 551 of the Act and shall be in substitution for all pre-existing authorities under that section; and

(2) 

 unless renewed, revoked or varied in accordance with the Act, shall expire on 30 September 2024, or, if earlier, at the end 
of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2024, save that the Company may before such expiry 
make an offer or agreement which would or might require the allotment of shares in the Company, or the grant of rights to 
subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company, after such expiry; and

(c) 

 for the purpose of this Resolution, “Pre-Emptive Offer” means an offer of equity securities to:

(1) 

(2) 

 holders of ordinary shares (other than the Company) on a fixed record date in proportion to their respective holdings of 
such shares; and

 other persons entitled to participate in such offer by virtue of, and in accordance with, the rights attaching to any other 
equity securities held by them;

 in each case, subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or appropriate in 
relation to fractional entitlements, legal, regulatory or practical problems under the laws or the requirements of any regulatory 
body or stock exchange of any territory or otherwise.

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following as a special resolutions:
6.  That:

(a) 

 subject to the passing of Resolution 5 set out in the notice of Annual General Meeting dated 3 August 2023 (the Allotment 
Authority), the Directors be given power pursuant to section 570 of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act) to allot equity 
securities (within the meaning of section 560(1) of the Act) for cash, pursuant to the Allotment Authority, and to sell treasury 
shares wholly for cash, as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment or sale, provided that such power 
shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities or the sale of treasury shares:

(1) 

 in the case of paragraph (a)(1) of the Allotment Authority:

(a) 

 in connection with a Pre-Emptive Offer (as defined in the Allotment Authority);

(b) 

(c) 

 otherwise than in connection with a Pre-Emptive Offer, up to a maximum nominal amount of £950,740.00 
(or £38,964.79 in the event that Resolution 8 set out in the notice of Annual General Meeting dated 4 August 2023 
is passed and becomes effective); and

 otherwise than in connection with a Pre-Emptive Offer or under paragraph 1(b) above of this Resolution 6, up to 
a nominal amount equal to 20% of any allotment of equity securities (or sale of treasury shares) from time to 
time under paragraph 1(b) of this Resolution 6, such authority to be used only for the purposes of making a 
follow-on offer which the Board of the Company determines to be of a kind contemplated by paragraph 3 of 
Section 2B of the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the 
Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this notice,

(2) 

 in the case of paragraph (a)(2) of the Allotment Authority, in connection with a Pre-Emptive Offer; and

(b) 

 the power given in this Resolution:

(1) 

 shall be in substitution for all pre-existing powers under section 570 of the Act; and

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

79

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENER AL MEE TING continued

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following as a special resolutions: continued

(2) 

 unless renewed in accordance with the Act, shall expire at the same time as the Allotment Authority, save that the  
Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be 
allotted or treasury shares to be sold after such expiry.

7.  That:

(a) 

 subject to the passing of Resolution 5 set out in the notice of Annual General Meeting dated 3 August 2023 (the Allotment 
Authority), the Directors be given power pursuant to section 570 of the Companies Act 2006 (the Act), in addition to any 
authority granted under Resolution 6, to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560(1) of the Act) for cash, pursuant 
to the Allotment Authority, and to sell treasury shares wholly for cash, as if section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such 
allotment or sale, provided that such power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities or the sale of treasury shares:

(1) 

(2) 

 up to a maximum nominal amount of £950,740.00 (or £38,964.79 in the event that Resolution 8 set out in the notice of Annual 
General Meeting dated 3 August 2023 is passed and becomes effective) used only for the purposes of financing (or refinancing, 
if the authority is to be used within twelve months after the original transaction) a transaction which the Board of the Company 
determines to be an acquisition or a specified capital investment of a kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles on 
Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this notice; and

 otherwise than under paragraph (1) above of this Resolution 7, up to a nominal amount equal to 20% of any allotment of 
equity securities (or sale of treasury shares) from time to time under paragraph (1) above of this Resolution 7 above, such 
authority to be used only for the purposes of making a follow-on offer which the Board of the Company determines to be 
of a kind contemplated by paragraph 3 of Section 2B of the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights 
most recently published by the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this notice; and

(b) 

 the power given in this Resolution shall expire at the same time as the Allotment Authority, save that the Company may before 
such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be 
sold after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities and sell treasury shares under any such offer or agreement 
as if the power conferred by this resolution had not expired.

8.    That, subject to and conditional on the admission of the New Ordinary Shares (as defined in this Resolution 8) to trading on AIM, a 

market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc, becoming effective at 8.00am on 7 September 2023 (or such later time and / 
or date as the Directors may in their absolute discretion determine) (Admission):

(a) 

 every 61 ordinary shares of 4 pence each in the capital of the Company (the Existing Ordinary Shares) in issue as at 
6.00pm on 6 September 2023 be consolidated into an intermediate share of £2.44 each in the capital of the Company 
(an Intermediate Share), provided that where such consolidation results in any member being otherwise entitled to a 
fraction of an Intermediate Share such fraction shall be consolidated with any fractions of an Intermediate Share to which the 
other members would also otherwise be entitled; and

(b) 

 each Intermediate Share resulting from paragraph (a) of this Resolution be sub-divided and reclassified into:

(1) 

 one ordinary share of 10 pence each in the capital of the Company (a New Ordinary Share), such New Ordinary Shares 
having the same rights and being subject to the same restrictions (save as to nominal value) as the Existing Ordinary 
Shares, as set out in the Articles of Association of the Company; and

(2) 

 260 deferred shares of 0.9 pence each in the capital of the Company, having the same rights and being subject to the 
same restrictions as the existing deferred shares, as set out in the Articles of Association of the Company,

 provided further that, notwithstanding the provisions of article 40 of the Articles of Association of the Company:

(3) 

 the Directors be authorised to sell (or to appoint any other person to sell), on behalf of the relevant members, any New 
Ordinary Shares resulting from the sub-division and reclassification of any Intermediate Shares representing fractions at 
the best price reasonably obtainable, with the proceeds of sale (net of expenses) being retained by the Company for its 
use, and that any Director (or any person appointed by the Directors) be authorised to execute an instrument of transfer in 
respect of such shares on behalf of the relevant members and to do all acts and things the Directors consider necessary 
or desirable to effect the transfer of such shares; and

(4) 

 any deferred shares of 0.9 pence each in the capital of the Company resulting from the sub-division and reclassification 
of any Intermediate Shares representing fractions shall, immediately upon their creation, vest in and be registered in the 
name of such person or persons as shall be nominated by the Directors.

9. 

 That the name of the Company be changed to Cambridge Nutritional Sciences PLC.

By order of the Board

Chris Lea
Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary
3 August 2023

Registered Office: 

1 Fleet Place, London EC4M 7WS

80

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
E XPL ANATORY NOTES TO THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENER AL MEE TING

General
The notes on the following pages give an explanation of the 
proposed resolutions. Resolutions 1 to 5 are proposed as ordinary 
resolutions. This means that for each of those resolutions to be 
passed, more than half of the votes cast must be in favour of the 
resolution. Resolutions 6 to 10 are proposed as special resolutions. 
This means that for each of those resolutions to be passed, at least 
three quarters of the votes cast must be in favour of the resolution.

Resolution 1 – Annual report and accounts
The Directors must lay the Company’s accounts, the Directors’ 
Report and the auditor’s Report before the shareholders in a 
general meeting. This is a legal requirement after the Directors 
have approved the accounts and the Directors’ Report, and the 
auditor have prepared its report.

Resolution 2 – Re-election of Jag Grewal
In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association, a 
proportion of the Directors must retire by rotation at the Annual 
General Meeting each year. Jag Grewal is required to retire this 
year. Being eligible, he offers himself for re-election. Biographical 
details of Jag Grewal are set out on page 31 of the Annual Report 
and accounts. 

Resolutions 3 and 4 – Re-appointment and 
remuneration of auditor
The Company is required to appoint an auditor for each financial 
year of the Company. Resolution 3 proposes the re-appointment 
of RSM UK Audit LLP as the Company’s auditor for the current 
financial year of the Company ending 31 March 2024. Resolution 4 
seeks authority for the Directors to decide the auditor’s remuneration.

Resolution 5 – Authority to allot shares 
The purpose of this resolution is to grant the Directors power to 
allot shares. Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 provides 
that the Directors may not allot new shares (other than for employee 
share schemes) without shareholder approval. The Directors 
currently have authority to allot relevant securities up to a maximum 
amount of £3,169,135.73. This resolution proposes that a similar 
authority be granted in substitution of the existing authority to allot 
securities up to a maximum amount of £3,169,135.00 (or £129,882.00 
in the event that Resolution 8 is passed and becomes effective) 
(as reduced by the aggregate nominal amount allotted or granted 
under paragraph (a)(2) of this resolution in excess of such sum), 
representing (before any such reduction) approximately one third 
of the Company’s total issued ordinary share capital (excluding 
treasury shares) as at 2 August 2023, being the latest practicable 
date prior to publication of this document (or as it is expect to be 
of resolution 8 is passed and becomes effective). 

In addition, the Company is seeking additional authority to 
allot securities in connection with a pre-emptive offer up to 
a maximum amount of £6,338,271.00 (or £259,765.00 in the 
event that Resolution 8 is passed and becomes effective) (as 
reduced by the aggregate nominal amount allotted or granted 
under paragraph (a)(1) of this resolution), representing (before 
any such reduction) approximately two thirds of the Company’s 
total issued ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) 
as at 2 August 2023, being the latest practicable date prior to 
publication of this document (or as it is expect to be of resolution 8 
is passed and becomes effective). The benefit to the Company of 
obtaining such authority on an annual basis is that it would allow 
the Company to implement a rights issue of an amount equal to 
two thirds of the issued Ordinary Share capital without the need 

to call an additional general meeting. This would shorten the 
implementation timetable of such a rights issue. This is in 
accordance with best practice guidance issued by the Investment 
Association.

The Directors have no present intention of exercising this authority. 
The authority will expire at the end of the 2024 Annual General 
Meeting or, if earlier, on 30 September 2024, unless previously 
cancelled or varied by the Company in general meeting. It is the 
intention of the Directors to renew this authority annually at each 
Annual General Meeting. 

As at 2 August 2023, the Company did not hold any shares 
in treasury.

Resolutions 6 and 7 – Disapplication of  
pre-emption rights
Section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 provides that if the 
Directors wish to allot any equity securities, or sell any treasury 
shares (if it holds any), for cash, it must first offer them to existing 
shareholders in proportion to their existing shareholdings. Section 
561 does not apply in connection with an employee share scheme. 
The purpose of these two resolutions is to allow the Directors to 
allot equity securities or sell any treasury shares for cash as if 
section 561(1) of the Companies Act 2006 does not apply, in 
connection with rights issues, open offers and other pre-emption 
offers pursuant to the authority granted by Resolution 5, and 
otherwise up to a total amount of £2,281,777.73 (in aggregate) 
representing approximately 24% of the Company’s total issued 
Ordinary Share capital as at 2 August 2023 (being the latest 
practicable date prior to publication of this document) (or £93,515.50 
in the event that resolution 8 is passed and becomes effective). 

In accordance with the Pre-Emption Group’s Statement of Principles 
issued in November 2022, two separate resolutions are being 
proposed in connection with the disapplication of pre-emption rights: 

•  the first, resolution 6, is being proposed to disapply pre-emption 

rights on up to approximately 10% of the Company’s total 
issued ordinary share capital, with a further disapplication for 
2% of the Company’s total issued ordinary share capital to be 
used only for the purposes of a follow-on offer; and

•  the second, Resolution 7, is being proposed to disapply 

pre-emption rights for a further 10% of the Company’s total 
issued ordinary share capital for transactions which the Board 
determines to be an acquisition or specified capital investment 
as defined by the Pre-Emption Group’s Statement of Principles, 
with a further disapplication for 2% of the Company’s total 
issued ordinary share capital to be used only for the purposes 
of a follow-on offer.

In accordance with the Pre-Emption Group’s Statement of 
Principles, the Directors confirm that, to the extent that the 
authority in Resolution 7 is used for an issue of shares, the 
Directors intend that such authority will be used only in connection 
with an acquisition or specified capital investment that is announced 
contemporaneously with the issue, or that has taken place in the 
preceding twelve-month period and is disclosed in the announcement 
of the issue. 

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

81

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  E XPL ANATORY NOTES TO THE NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENER AL MEE TING continued

In order that the issued share capital immediately prior to the 
consolidation is divisible by 61 (being the consolidation factor), 
it may be necessary for the Company to issue up to 60 existing 
ordinary shares prior to the record time for the consolidation 
(being 6.00pm on 6 September 2023). Any shareholder not 
holding a number of existing ordinary shares that is exactly 
divisible by 61 will be left with a fractional entitlement to a new 
ordinary share (and to new deferred shares). Any such fractions 
resulting from the consolidation will be combined into new 
ordinary shares, which will be sold with the net proceeds being 
retained by the Company for its use. Assuming a share price of 
2.5 pence, the maximum value of the fractional entitlements which 
any individual shareholder may lose would be £1.50. Fractional 
entitlements to deferred shares will be combined and the 
deferred shares representing such fractions will immediately vest 
in such person or persons as may be nominated by the Directors.

The rights and restrictions attaching to the new ordinary shares 
will be identical in all respects (save as to nominal value) to those 
of the existing ordinary shares. The rights and restrictions attaching 
to the new deferred shares resulting from the consolidation will be 
identical in all respects to those of the existing deferred shares. 

Application will be made for the new ordinary shares to be admitted 
to trading on AIM in place of the existing ordinary shares. Subject 
to shareholder approval of resolution 8, it is expected that admission 
will become effective and that dealings in the new ordinary shares 
will commence at 8.00am on 7 September 2023. As is the case 
with the existing deferred shares in the capital of the Company, 
no application for admission will be made in respect of the new 
deferred shares. The ISIN Code for the new ordinary shares will be 
GB00BNG2WW67 and the SEDOL Code will be BNG2WW6.

Shareholders who hold existing ordinary shares in uncertificated 
form will have such shares disabled in their CREST accounts at 
the record time, and their CREST accounts will be credited with 
the new ordinary shares following admission, which is expected 
to take place on 7 September 2023. Existing share certificates will 
cease to be valid following the consolidation. New share certificates 
in respect of the new ordinary shares are expected to be issued 
by post at the risk of the shareholders within ten business days of 
admission. No share certificates will be issued in respect of the 
new deferred shares.

Following the consolidation, all mandates and other instructions, 
including communication preferences given to the Company by 
shareholders and in force at the record time shall, unless and 
until revoked, be deemed to be valid and effective mandates or 
instructions in relation to the new ordinary shares.

Resolution 9 – Change of name
Recognising the recent refocusing of the Group’s activities on its 
Health and Nutrition business, the Directors propose that the 
name of the Company be changed to Cambridge Nutritional 
Sciences PLC. If the proposed change of name is approved by 
shareholders, then it is intended that the new London Stock 
Exchange ticker for the Company will be LON: CNSL.

Resolutions 6 and 7 – Disapplication of  
pre-emption rights continued
The Pre-Emption Group’s Statement of Principles provide that it 
may be appropriate for a follow-on offer to made to retail investors 
and other existing investors not allocated shares as part of a 
placing. Resolutions 6 and 7 each provide authority to disapply 
pre-emption rights for 2% of the Company’s ordinary issued 
share capital for the purposes of the Company making a follow-on 
offer. The Company intends to comply with the expected features 
of any follow-on offer as set out in the Pre-Emption Group’s 
Statement of Principles.

The authority will expire at the end of the 2024 Annual General 
Meeting or, if earlier, on 30 September 2024, unless previously 
cancelled or varied by the Company in general meeting. It is the 
intention of the Directors to renew this authority annually at each 
Annual General Meeting.

Resolution 8 – Consolidation of share capital
As at 2 August 2023, being the latest practicable date prior to 
publication of this document, the issued share capital of the Company 
comprised 237,685,180 ordinary shares of 4 pence each and 
123,245,615 deferred shares of 0.9 pence each. The middle 
market share price (on AIM) of an ordinary share as at the close 
of business on 2 August 2023 was 2.5 pence, implying a market 
capitalisation of the Company of approximately £5.94 million. The 
Directors consider that this number of existing ordinary shares is 
excessive for a Company of Omega Diagnostics’ market capitalisation. 
In addition, that price per share is less than the nominal value of 
an ordinary share (being 4 pence). The Companies Act 2006 
provides that a company may not issue shares at a discount to 
nominal value. Accordingly, given the discount, the Company is 
not presently practicably able to raise further equity investment. 
Whilst the Directors have no current intention to seek to do so, it 
would be preferable for the Company to be in a position to raise 
equity investment in the future if that was considered to be in the 
best interests of the Company at that time.

Resolution 8 seeks to address both these points by consolidating 
the ordinary share capital and by converting part of the nominal 
capital of the Company into deferred share capital. The proposed 
consolidation is on a 61 for 1 basis - meaning that for every 61 
existing ordinary shares of 4 pence each in the capital of the 
Company held, a shareholder will receive one new ordinary share 
of 10 pence. The conversion of part of the nominal capital of the 
Company into deferred share capital is proposed to be achieved 
by converting the balance of the nominal capital remaining after the 
creation of the new ordinary shares of 10 pence each into deferred 
shares of 0.9 pence in the capital of the Company. Put another way, 
for every 61 existing ordinary shares of 4 pence each held, a 
shareholder will receive one new ordinary share of 10 pence and 
260 deferred shares of 0.9 pence in the capital of the Company.

If resolution 8 is passed and becomes effective, then (assuming 
that no further existing ordinary shares of 4 pence each are issued 
between 2 August 2023, being the latest practicable date prior to 
publication of this document, and the time at which such resolution 
becomes effective) it is expected that the number of ordinary 
shares in the capital of the Company will decrease from 237,685,180 
existing ordinary shares of 4 pence to 3,896,479 new ordinary 
shares of 10 pence. Assuming a market capitalisation of the 
Company of approximately £5.94 million, that would imply a price 
per share of approximately £1.53 pence (being at a premium to 
the nominal value of a new ordinary share).

82

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

SHAREHOLDER NOTES

Appointment of proxy 
Any shareholder who is entitled to attend and vote at the 
Annual General Meeting is entitled appoint one or more proxies 
(who need not be shareholders) to attend the Annual General 
Meeting and speak and vote instead of the shareholder. If more 
than one proxy is appointed each proxy must be appointed to 
exercise rights attached to different shares. Appointment of a 
proxy will not preclude a shareholder from attending and voting in 
person at the Annual General Meeting.

In order for a proxy form to be valid, it must be completed and 
signed and returned to the Company’s registrars, Share Registrars 
Limited at 3 The Millennium Centre, Crosby Way, Farnham, 
GU9 7XX so they receive it no later than 11.00am (UK time) on 
4 September 2023 (or, if the meeting is adjourned, the time that 
is 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting). 

A shareholder wishing to appoint multiple proxies should contact 
the Shareholder Helpline on 01252 821390 or e-mail enquiries@
shareregistrars.uk.com to obtain additional proxy forms. It will be 
necessary for the shareholder to indicate on each separate proxy 
form the number of shares in relation to which each proxy is 
authorised to act. 

Electronic appointment of proxy
As an alternative to completing a hard-copy proxy form, shareholders 
can appoint a proxy online at www.shareregistrars.uk.com 
(clicking on the “Proxy Vote” button and following the on-screen 
instructions). For an electronic proxy appointment to be valid, the 
Registrars must receive the proxy appointment no later than 
11.00am (UK time) on 4 September 2023 (or, if the meeting is 
adjourned, the time that is 48 hours before the time fixed for the 
adjourned meeting).

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

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 11.00am (UK time) on 4 September 
2023 (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.

Changing proxy instructions
To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy 
appointment using one of the methods set out above. Note that 
the cut-off time for receipt of proxy appointments (see above) 
also apply in relation to amended instructions; any amended 
proxy appointment received after the relevant cut-off time will 
be disregarded.

Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard-copy proxy 
form and would like to change the instructions using another 
hard-copy proxy form, please contact Shareholder Helpline on 
01252 821390 or e-mail enquiries@shareregistrars.uk.com to 
obtain another proxy form.

If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment 
received last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will 
take precedence.

Corporate representatives
Any corporation which is a shareholder can appoint one or more 
corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its 
powers as a shareholder provided that they do not do so in 
relation to the same shares. 

Record date
To be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting 
(and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the 
votes they may cast), shareholders must be registered in the 
register of members of the Company at 11.00am on 4 September 
2023 (or, in the event of any adjournment, on the date which is two 
days before the time of the adjourned meeting). Changes to the 
register of members after the relevant deadline shall be disregarded 
in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at 
the meeting. 

Statement of capital and voting rights
As at 2 August 2023 (being the latest practicable date prior to 
publication of this Notice) the Company’s issued share capital 
consisted of 237,685,180 ordinary shares of 4 pence each and 
123,245,615 deferred shares of 0.9 pence each. Each ordinary 
share carries one vote. The deferred shares do not confer any voting 
rights. No shares are held in treasury. Accordingly, total voting 
rights in the Company as at 2 August 2023 were 237,685,180.

Annual Report and Group Financial Statements 2023

83

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  ADVISORS

Nominated adviser and broker
finnCap Limited

1 Bartholomew Close
London EC1A 7BL

Auditor
RSM UK Audit LLP

Third Floor 
Centenary House 
69 Wellington Street
Glasgow G2 6HG

Solicitors
Shepherd & Wedderburn LLP

9 Haymarket Square 
Edinburgh EH3 8FY

Registrars
Share Registrars Limited

3 The Millennium Centre
Crosby Way
Farnham
Surrey GU9 7XX

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

84

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

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.

O

m

e

g

a

D

i

a

g

n

o

s

t

i

c

s

G

r

o

u

p

P

L

C

A

n

n

u

a

l

R

e

p

o

r

t

a

n

d

G

r

o

u

p

F

i

n

a

n

c

i

a

l

S

t

a

t

e

m

e

n

t

s

2

0

2

3

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC
Eden Research Park 
Henry Crabb Road 
Littleport 
Cambridgeshire 
CB6 1SE 
United Kingdom

www.omegadx.com

Tel: +44 (0)1353 862220