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Touchstar Plc

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FY2018 Annual Report · Touchstar Plc
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  Registered Number SC005543 

Touchstar plc  

Annual report and financial statements 

for the year ended 31 December 2018 

 
 
Touchstar plc 

Annual report and financial statements 
for the year ended 31 December 2018 

Contents 

Chairman's statement for the year ended 31 December 2018 ............................................................................ 3 
Strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2018 ...................................................................................... 7 
Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 ................................................................................... 12 
Statement of directors' responsibilities in respect of the financial statements ................................................. 20 
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Touchstar plc ....................................................................... 22 
Consolidated income statement for the year ended 31 December 2018 .......................................................... 28 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 December 2018 ...................................... 29 
Company statement of change in equity for the year ended 31 December 2018 ............................................. 29 
Consolidated and Company statement of financial position as at 31 December 2018 ...................................... 30 
Consolidated and Company cash flow statements for the year ended 31 December 2018 .............................. 32 
Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2018 ............................................. 33 

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Touchstar plc 

Chairman’s statement for the year ended 31 December 2018 

The year ended 31 December 2018 was a very important one for Touchstar. The year began with a successful 
fund raising of £1.3 million the purpose of which was to enabled Touchstar to accelerate, complete and launch 
the next generation of Touchstar products and solutions. This fundraising put Touchstar in a fortunate position 
and we are very mindful that this is due to the support and understanding of shareholders, who were willing 
to invest in the business and to give the Group time to complete its transformation.  

I am pleased to report that, while not everything has gone according to plan, during the year we have taken to 
market a new generation of products and solutions in each of our business units, and our user base is growing.  

Our business now needs to be larger and while it would be fair to observe we are yet to give evidence the 
business  can  be  scaled,  we  are  heading  in  the  right  direction  and  remain  broadly  on  track.  The  Group  is 
positioned in a growth market of data capture, mobile devices and expanding customer desire to use digital 
information. Our products are now developed, we are customer focused, proud of what we do and we know 
what is required. We are ready to go and it is down to us. 

My objective in this statement is to report how the year played out, how our intentions have altered in light of 
our experience and our current thoughts on the outlook for 2019. As ever I intend to be open, balanced and 
clear about where I believe the business to be. My report is ordered in the following manner: 

1.  What we said we would do, and what we did. 
2.  What were the financial results. 
3.  Lessons learnt and how we are reshaping the business for the future. 
4.  How did the Operational Review announced in February conclude, and  
5.  What is the outlook for 2019. 

What we said we would do and what we did 

In January 2018 we raised £1.3million before expenses by issuing 2,166,327 new ordinary shares at 60p per 
share. This consisted of a firm placing of 630,840 shares, a conditional placing of 639,158 shares and a further 
896,329 shares pursuant to an open offer. The Directors’ participation in the fundraising amounted to 407,999 
new ordinary shares. 

The  proceeds  of  the  placing,  together  with  the  natural  underlying  positive  cash  flow  of  the  business,  have 
enabled  the  Group  to  accelerate  development,  boost  underlying  pipeline  on  new  products  and  marketing 
activity, invest in customer support and complete the solution upgrade cycle. In 2018, we invested £1.5m in 
development, successfully launching new products and solutions into each of the markets we operated in. We 
now have modern, relevant products in each. This is exactly what we set out to achieve. 

In 2018 we moved a suite of products from development, through beta testing, client pilot schemes to actual 
sales to customers. In addition, to allow us to support applications in different market sectors we built on an 
android operating system, developed on generic technology using similar architecture, and made use of the 
Azure cloud to move the data, from the device to wherever a customer needs it.  

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Touchstar plc 

Chairman’s statement for the year ended 31 December 2018 
(continued) 

What we said we would do and what we did (continued) 

To  capitalise  on  these  products  we  have  implemented  a  “hybrid”  operating  model  whereby  the  customer 
contact  is  direct  with  the  Group,  but  elements  of  our  support  and  development  are  delivered  through  an 
outsourcing partner – this has given us the ability to “scale up or scale down” our capacity and deliver projects 
effectively. 

What were the financial results 

The Group results for the year ended 31 December 2018 are shown below. It should be noted that the historical 
analysis is not strictly comparing like with like,  as this year’s results now incorporate the impact of IFRS 15 
(Revenue from Contracts with Customers); the prior year comparable figures do not. The deferring of some 
contracted revenues required under IFRS15 had a negative impact on both the top and bottom line in 2018 but 
cash generation is unaltered. The impact of IFRS 15 should lessen as the Group’s recurring revenue builds. 

2018 revenues fell 12% to £6.9m (2017: £7.9m), which was below what we hoped to achieve. The short fall was 
due mainly to a weak first half performance from Access Control and sales not materialising to the extent we 
had hoped for in our On-Board business.  Margins rose to 51.1% (2017: 49.45%) due to a better product mix 
which reflects moving the business towards software and solution sales. Costs were higher than in the previous 
year as we invested as planned in people, increased our  support structure ahead of product launches, and 
invested aggressively in development. Overall the Group recorded an after-tax trading loss of £582,000 (2017: 
trading profit £381,000), somewhat better than we expected at the beginning of the year.  

Adjusted earnings per share was negative 6.95p compared to a positive 6.02p in the year ended 31 December 
2017. 

Even  after  the  increased  spending  on  solutions  development,  the  Group  maintained  a  reasonably  robust 
financial position, helped by the fund raising and the underlying cash generation within the trading business. 
The group ended the year with Net Cash in the bank of £296,000 (2017: Net Debt £336,000). 

With these results in mind we have again taken a hard look at each business to ensure assumptions remain 
valid, now we have real experience.  

Lessons learnt and how we are reshaping the business for the future 

We  have  developed  a  complete  management  suite  of  software  in  the  transportation  and  proof  of  delivery 
market (PODStar). PODstar was originally aimed at the small to medium fleet operators (10 -100 vehicles). From 
a standing start we now have an installed base of 14 customers. The financial model is for the customer to pay 
an installation set up fee, then a monthly charge per vehicle per month.  

We originally targeted smaller fleet operators, as it was the quickest way to market and to establish an installed 
user base. However, our solution is very scalable and we are now starting to see enquiries from much larger 
fleet owners. This is encouraging, although we recognise that decision timelines of these organisations tend to 
be much longer.  

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Touchstar plc 

Chairman’s statement for the year ended 31 December 2018 
(continued) 

Lessons learnt and how we are reshaping the business for the future (continued) 

PODStar has now been further enhanced to cater for the fuel delivery sector, a market in which Touchstar has 
major clients over a long period of time. In recent years, however, there has been some erosion of our market 
share, but we are now fighting back. Our early adoption of Android based technology – both in software and 
with new rugged hardware devices – has been well timed as we appear to be at the beginning of an upgrade 
cycle, both from our existing user base and from some former major customers that are returning. We expect 
this trend to accelerate as Microsoft, who have had the dominant operating system in this market to date, has 
recently announced it will not be supporting its mobile products beyond 2020. This could be very beneficial for 
Touchstar. 

The performance of Access Control highlights why investment in the next generation product is so important. 
Its first half result was poor, as our customers waited for the launch of our new product – Evolution. Since its 
launch, the performance of Access Control has returned to plan and, although some orders slipped into 2019, 
the second half was strong enough to bring that business close to breakeven for the year as a whole. 

The logistics and warehouse businesses were steady, although the traditionally strong trading in November 
and December did not materialise. This is a very transactional bias business and is probably being affected by 
Brexit uncertainty. 

In our trading update of the 12 February 2019 we informed shareholders that a further  operational review was 
being undertaken. Although our goal is to build top line growth, it is nevertheless important we are realistic, 
focused,  apply  resources  in  areas  where  we  have  the  ability  to  compete,  and  where  we  can  generate 
satisfactory returns on investment in the medium term. 

The  conclusion  of  this  review  was  to  rethink  On  Board.    On  Board  sells  to  airlines  and  it  has  developed 
NOVOStar, a software suite that facilitates the sales of in-flight duty–free, catering and ancillary products. It 
has had a difficult 2018. We underestimated the bespoke nature of the required solutions, were over optimistic 
in the speed of adoption of our solution and the slow growth in the market has brought focus upon our existing 
operation.  

We have therefore taken corrective action.  The cost base has been significantly reduced, customer support 
improved; clients will now being serviced out of our main office in Manchester and the Kenilworth office closed.  
Additional support when needed will be made available from our resource partner in India. The decision has 
also  been  taken  to  impair  the  carrying  value  of  the  development  in  2018  which  has  been  identified  as  an 
exceptional  cost  on  the  Consolidated  income  statement.  As  a  result  of  these  changes  and  based  purely  on 
existing revenue we expect this business to be close to breakeven in 2019, before taxation and any exceptional 
items. 

Outlook and Expectations for 2019 

Our focus now is simple – we need to scale the business. With our solutions in the market, we are better placed 
than  a  year  ago.  It  is  now  down  to  management  to  grow  the  top  line.  If  this  is  achieved,  we  should  see 
substantially improved performance this year.  

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Touchstar plc 

Chairman’s statement for the year ended 31 December 2018 
(continued) 

Outlook and Expectations for 2019 (continued) 

The open question is  will this growth come through?  Investment cycles have undoubtedly become longer, 
which has impacted the business over the last few years.  However, Touchstar’s fuel sector customers are at 
last entering an upgrade cycle, PODStar is established and growing its recurring revenues, and Access Control 
is back on plan. These are all positive factors and with On Board’s significantly reduced costs we have the basis 
of a reasonable year. Trading in Q1, typically our weakest quarter, has been ahead of the equivalent period 
with revenues approximately 14% ahead and trading losses some £175k lower. We expect to accelerate this 
improvement in the remainder of the year.   

With Brexit uncertainty continuing, there will be political and economic factors at play. As a business we are 
aware of them, and focused on things we can influence, fighting for market share, and getting your Group to 
scale.  

The growth of Touchstar’s top line over the next few years will determine what level of success we achieve. I 
remain hopeful that the journey we have begun will reach the right destination, and reward the patience of 
shareholders and the many people whom work so hard every day to try to make this happen.  

I Martin 
Executive Chairman 
8 May 2019 

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Touchstar plc 

Strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

Business review and principal activities 

The  Group  supplies,  installs  and  maintains  software  applications  and  hardware  solutions  for  mobile 
applications in the airline, transport, logistics and access control industries.  Our strategy is to provide complete 
operational  solutions  as  this  provides  a  continuing  long-term  relationship  with  the  customer  and  repeat 
revenues through software licenses and managed service support agreements.    

Despite the lower revenue, 2018 saw a positive uptake on the sale of our new software platforms that were 
developed in preceding years. The Group focussed on the promotion of two major software solutions within 
their  existing  markets  and  also  commenced  the  strengthening  of  the  Sales  Department  and  Project 
Management  Team  within  the  business.    Although  our  turnover  was  reduced  as  older  generation  products 
were retired, the growth in sales of the new systems demonstrates we made the correct decision to re-invent 
ourselves with new software products, complimenting the specialist hardware we design and build.  

The ability to offer a total solution optimises our offering and increases the success rate of our products to be 
adopted.    The  customer  can  purchase  the  total  solution  from  their  ERP  interface  through  to  the  mobile 
workforce with Touchstar’s  sophisticated cloud-based packages.  All these Touchstar products are in house 
owned (IPR) and this reduces reliance on 3rd party suppliers.   

 Although a competitive industry, our extensive experience and knowledge of the markets allows us to operate 
successfully with our new products, and we continue to secure large contracts with blue chip companies across 
Europe and beyond.  Customers secured with the new solutions at this stage are predominantly based in the 
UK, however our success in the export market includes; Australia, Denmark and Belgium. Product acceptance 
has been good. 

In addition to traditional pricing models where hardware and software is a capital sale and paid upfront, the 
market place is moving to a SaaS (Software as a Service) environment, whereby the software is licenced on a 
subscription basis.  In some sectors we can continue to secure payments in advance, whilst the newer market 
areas we are penetrating are based on monthly direct debit invoicing and payment.  As a business having the 
existing payments still evident, this allows us to maintain the strength to move to the new monthly payment 
systems – so assisting cash flow greatly and allowing us to push the monthly model without penalising our cash 
in the medium term. 

The  Group  operates  under  the  Touchstar  brand  providing  consistent  brand  awareness  of  the  operating 
companies which has been successful in promoting a cohesive and singular business and all can be accessed 
under one web site: www.touchstar.co.uk.    

Business environment 

The  Group’s  operations  remain  focused  on  the  logistics,  transport  distribution  and  secure  access  control 
markets.  Although servicing different customers, the nature of the products, services and channels to market 
are comparable and hence the directors regard the Group as operating in one primary segment, where the 
risks and returns are similar.  

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Touchstar plc 

Strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Business environment (continued) 

The new product set within the Transport marketplace has seen a great deal of interest with over a dozen 
companies  adopting  the  Transport  Management  and  Proof  of  Delivery  system.    Developed  and  deployed 
utilising modern cloud-based services has increased user acceptance and faster deployment. 

In  the  Warehouse  and  Logistics  market,  the  Group  provides  mobile  computing  solutions  for  warehouse 
operations for both truck-mounted and hand-held applications. These solutions communicate using wireless 
technology and provide real time data. This technology improves supply chain management and significantly 
reduces warehouse operating costs.  During 2018 we invested in the product set, by introducing new designs 
running on the Android operating system.  A timely development and launch as Microsoft publicly announced 
in 2018 their complete withdrawal from the Mobile device marketplace beyond 2020. 

The Group designs and supplies Access Control Systems for industrial and retail environments.  An active and 
competitive market, the Group solution comprises hardware such as CCTV, entry barriers and door controllers, 
all of which are interfaced to the data capture control software application to allow for control and monitoring 
of  personnel  within  the  operation.    Recent  enhancements  and  improvements  on  the  software  set  has 
generated some real interest within the existing customer base and we are starting to see some solid projects 
for 2019. 

Air travel market, where we supply an onboard retail system has been a tough environment for a number of 
years.  Touchstar also lost a couple of key accounts as a result of the airlines going out of business.  Our offering 
in this market is comprehensive, however the forecast for new business is not healthy as many of the upgrade 
cycles are 2 years away.  We have taken the decision to reduce the running costs of the business by closing the 
regional office and support from the Head Office.  We will watch the market and remain active in the area so 
that we are able to re-assess any upturn and interest in our product set. 

Strategy 

The Group’s overriding strategy is to achieve attractive and sustainable rates of growth and returns through 
organic means. Whilst presently the Group is not actively looking for acquisitions, any opportunity that should 
arise  will  be  assessed  and  considered  on  merit.    During  2018  after  securing  financial  backing  from  the 
shareholders,  we  significantly  increased  speed  of  product  development  along  with  recruiting  a  number  of 
skilled and experienced individuals to enhance the strategic growth plan for the new product suit in Transport, 
Warehouse and Logistics and Access Control. 

Organic growth 

Whilst the Group has considerable strength in the markets it operates within, it is imperative to continue to 
develop  and  enhance  the  products  we  offer  to  the  customer.    We  have  taken  advantage  of  the  latest 
development  advancements  in  the  IT  world,  for  example  ‘cloud’  based  solutions  and  additional  operating 
systems  such  as  Android  and  iOS  –  incorporating  these  into  our  solutions  has  already  taken  place  and  the 
directors are confident this will continue to generate additional sales revenues and further secures our position 
in a competitive market. 

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Touchstar plc 

Strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Organic growth (continued) 

Revenue  growth  will  come  in  the  form  of  capital  sales,  but  an  increasing  element  of  the  sale  will  focus  on 
recurring revenue extended into three and five year minimum terms.   Pricing policies will allow for annual 
upfront payment as well as monthly licence payment for software usage (SAAS). 

Product range 

The  Group  product  range  include  elements  in  three  distinct  sets;  Software  applications,  Mobile  computer 
hardware and Managed services.   The Group will continue to invest in these core areas and to reduce product 
costs where possible. 

In-house  designed  hardware  and  application  software  gives  the  business  the  opportunity  to  create  market 
specific  solutions  backed  by  a  complete  managed  service.    This  provides  an  offering  far  better  than  the 
competition, who rely on elements of third-party product to construct their solution and aftersales support 
programme.  

Environmental 

The Group recognises the importance of managing consumption of the world’s natural resources as well as 
providing a safe and healthy working environment for its employees. The Group consumes non-replaceable 
raw materials and energy and clearly the successful growth of the Group will lead to an increased consumption 
of raw materials on an absolute basis. We therefore seek to reduce the amount of resources consumed on a 
unit by unit basis to limit the size of our environmental footprint. 

Principal risks and uncertainties 

The directors recognise there are a number of risks  within the business  which may  significantly impact the 
performance of the business. These risks are subjected to regular review and, where appropriate, processes 
are established to minimise the level of exposure. These are summarised below: 

1.  People 

The principal asset of the Group is the commitment and skill of its people. The retention of these people is 
therefore key to the success of the business. The Group monitors closely the satisfaction of its employees and 
ensures that remuneration packages match both contribution and the wider employment market. In addition, 
the  Group  has  in  place  schemes  which  are  related  to  Group  results  and  which  allow  key  employees  to 
participate in the success of the Group as a whole. 

2.  Technology changes 

Changes in technology occur at an ever-increasing rate. Through its technical functions the business monitors 
emerging technologies and seeks to understand how these technologies will impact our current business and 
how they may be incorporated in designs of future product offerings. 

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Touchstar plc 

Strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Principal risks and uncertainties (continued) 

3.  Competition  

The Group recognises that it operates on a global basis and as such is subject to competitive global pricing as 
well as service and performance criteria in local markets. Margins are monitored on a contract by contract basis 
and  commercial  decisions  are  adjusted  accordingly.  The  Group  recognises  that  a  global  strategy  will  create 
issues  of  foreign  exchange  fluctuations  but  that  the  overall  contribution  from  such  markets  more  than 
compensates for the level of risk. 

4.  Key commercial relationships 

The Group has a diverse range of customers and suppliers, and whilst these relationships are of  significant 
importance to the Group’s development, no single customer or supplier is of critical importance to the ongoing 
success of the Group. 

5.  Business partners 

The Group operates through business partners in certain parts of the world. The retention of their loyalty to 
the Group’s product offering is important. The business is in frequent contact with these companies and regular 
visits are made. The Group also encourages these partners to supply local services, and hence earn a revenue 
stream, for contracts that the Group may have secured on a worldwide basis. The financial risks faced by the 
Group are detailed in the Directors report on page 17. 

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Touchstar plc 

Strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Key performance indicators 

The Group have adopted both financial and non-financial measures to achieve a balanced view of performance. 

Sales and order 
pipeline 

To  justify  continued  development  expenditure  the  forecast  order  pipeline  for  our 
various products is actively monitored.  During the year turnover fell by £970,000 from 
£7,868,000 in 2017 to £6,898,000 in 2018. The shortfall in the first half of the year was 
indicative  of  the  investment  required  in  the  development  of  Evolution,  an  Access 
Control  product,  which  brought  the  pipeline  for  that  product  back  on  plan  for  the 
second half of the year and beyond.  In contrast, the Onboard pipeline for NOVOStar 
was very light compared to our remaining product pipeline therefore the decision was 
taken by the Board to significantly reduce costs with support for our existing clients 
being moved to our main offices in Manchester. 

Gross margin 

Gross  margins  increased  slightly  to  51.1%  (2017:  49.45%)  as  the  business  moves 
towards a more software and end to end solution-based provider. 

Cash 

Customer 
retention 

Recurring revenue 

Future outlook 

Cash generation continues to be of prime importance to the business, after having 
raised £1.3m, before expenses earlier in the year. This enables effective use of our 
working  capital,  continued  development  and  minimises  the  reliance  on  external 
facilities. 

The  year  ended  with  the  Group  being  in  a  positive  cash  position  of  £296,000 
compared to £336,000 overdrawn at the end of 2017.  

Retention of customers nearing the end of their contract is of significant importance 
for  the  Group.  The  business  is  benefiting  from  many  of  its  existing  clients  going 
through the process of an upgrade cycle with us. We also have a number of returning 
customers upgrading to our new solution, which is testament to our ongoing quality 
service and support offering and thus enhancing the future pipeline for the Group.  

An important aspect of the business is to generate new types of recurring revenue, 
namely  charging  for  ongoing  licencing,  use  of  our  new  suite  of  software  solutions 
along  with  the  traditional  hardware  support/maintenance  contracts.  It  is  our 
intention to increase recurring revenue to become a more significant portion of our 
future turnover. 

Across all markets serviced by the Group there is a sustained drive to reduce costs and to improve customer 
service.  This  can  only  be  achieved  by  continued  investment  in  the  most  modern  technologies  providing 
instantaneous information between back office applications and field-based functions. The Group recognises 
that competition will continue to impose challenges on margins. With investment in product offering, however, 
a robust commercial approach to the marketplace and above all a strong desire to succeed, we are confident 
about our prospects. 

On behalf of the board 

M W Hardy 
Chief Executive Officer   8 May 2019 

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Touchstar plc 

Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 

The directors present their Directors’ report and the audited financial statements of the Group and the Group 
for the year ended 31 December 2018.  

Quoted Companies Alliance Code 
As an AIM listed Group, the Group is required to adopt a recognised corporate governance code and disclose 
any deviations from the chosen code. The Group has decided to adopt the Quoted Companies Alliance 
(“QCA”) code. High standards of Corporate Governance are a key priority of the Board and details of how the 
Group addresses key governance issues are set out in the Corporate Governance section of its website by 
reference to the 10 principles of Corporate Governance developed by the QCA. 
http://www.touchstarplc.com/about/governance 

Business model and strategy 
The Group’s vision, together with its partners, is to create innovative data capture solutions that enhance 
business intelligence for our client base. Touchstar’s mission is to deliver innovative products and solutions 
on a ‘turnkey’ basis, underpinned by an unparalleled attention to detail and customer-centred philosophy. 

To achieve this, the Group will focus on five key business strategies; 

 

 

 

 

Further penetrating existing markets by forging stronger customer and partner relationships, 
including alliances with independent software vendors and third-party hardware manufacturers 
Expanding into new markets, where the Group will offer compelling solutions set to meet specific 
sector / geographical customer requirements 
Inspiring Touchstar personnel and clients by building on the Group’s track record of high-
performance teamwork and collaboration 
Intensifying R&D innovation throughout the organisation and delivering unsurpassed quality and 
performance in the Group’s products and solutions 

  Maximising operational effectiveness with lean, world-class operations underpinned by an 
investment in personnel, appropriate technologies and business tools to improve functional 
performance across the Group 

This strategy is intended to deliver long-term growth in shareholder value. 

Effective risk management 
The Board has an established Audit, Remuneration, and Executive Committees. 

The Group receives regular feedback from its external auditors on the state of its risk management and 
internal controls. The Board does not consider it to be appropriate to have its own internal audit function at 
the present time, given the Group’s size and nature of its business. 

The annual budget setting process examines all areas of the Group’s operations both operationally and 
financially. 

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Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

The Group has clear, documented procedures in place to assess and progress opportunities arising, whether 
for process improvement, product enhancement, new business or any other matter. 

Board of directors 
The Board is comprised of a non-executive Chairman, two executive directors, and an independent non-
executive director. The Board considers that of its two non-executive directors, only one is independent 
however they are considered independent in terms of character and judgement in how they conduct their 
roles, giving a balance between executive and non-executive directors. 

The Chairman is responsible for leading the Board, facilitating the effective contribution of all members and 
ensuring that it operates effectively in the interests of the shareholders. The Chief Executive Officer is 
responsible for the leadership of the business and implementation of the strategy. The Group Secretary is 
responsible, on behalf of the Chairman, for ensuring that all Board and Committee meetings are conducted 
properly, that the Directors receive the appropriate information prior to the meeting, for ensuring that 
governance requirements are considered and implemented and for accurately recording each meeting. The 
Directors may have access to independent professional advice, where needed, at the Group’s expense. 

The Board has an established Audit, Remuneration, and Executive Committee further details of which are 
contained in the Corporate Governance section. 

A description of the roles of the Directors is included on the website. The directors are aware of, and 
committed to, the time requirements needed to fulfil their roles. 

Frequency of meetings 
The Board meets at least four times a year with relevant information distributed to the Directors in advance 
of each meeting. 
All members attended each meeting held during the year. 
The Board makes decisions on all material matters including long term and commercial strategy, annual 
operating and capital budgets along with capital and financial structure. 

Board Performance 
The Board judges its own performance by reference to the Group’s progress against the targets set out in the 
Group’s strategic plan. 

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Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

The Group undertakes regular monitoring of personal and corporate performance using agreed key 
performance indicators and detailed financial reports. Responsibility for assessing and monitoring the 
performance of the executive directors lies with the Chairman and the independent non-executive director. 

The Board and the Remuneration Committee evaluate the Board performance, including but not limited to 
Board balance, Board skills and remuneration, to ensure that the Board is fit for purpose and is appropriate 
for the Group’s ongoing development and growth. 

Corporate culture 
The Board is committed to embodying and promoting a sound corporate culture and has endorsed various 
policies which require ethical behaviour of staff and relevant counterparties. 

The Board and management conduct themselves ethically at all times and promote a culture in line with the 
standards set out on the website. 

Communication with shareholders and other relevant stakeholders 
The Board attaches great importance to providing shareholders with clear and transparent information on 
the Group’s activities, strategies and financial position, in addition to having regard to its obligations 
as a quoted public Group and the AIM Rules.  

The Group holds meetings with significant shareholders on a regular basis and regards the Annual General 
Meeting as a good opportunity to communicate directly with shareholders via an open question and answer 
session. 

The Group lists contact details on its website should shareholders wish to communicate with the Board.  All 
announcements and results, including those released via RNS and RNS Reach, are available on the 
Group’s website. 

Employees 
The Group recognises that the contribution made by its skilled and committed workforce is the business’s most 
valuable asset. The Group will continue to provide its people with a challenging environment and to provide 
rewards which recognise their achievements. The Group recognises that the needs of the business will continue 
to change. As such, training is and will continue to be offered such that employees are able to enhance their 
skill base to assist the business in meeting future challenges. 

The  Group  has  an  established  policy  of  encouraging  the  employment  of  disabled  persons  wherever  this  is 
practicable and endeavours to ensure that disabled employees benefit from training and career development 
programmes  in  common  with  all  other  employees.  The  Group’s  policy  includes,  where  practicable,  the 
continued employment of those who may become disabled during their employment. 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Touchstar plc 

Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Dividends 
The directors do not recommend a final dividend (2017: £Nil).   

Financial instruments 
The Group’s operations expose it to a variety of financial risks that include the effects of changes in credit risk, 

liquidity risk and exchange rate risk.  The policies set by the Board of Directors are implemented by the Group’s 

finance  department  and  are  detailed  in  note  3  to  the  Group  financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  31 

December 2018. 

Board of directors  
The directors who held office during the year and to the date of this report are given below: 

I P Martin - Chairman 
Ian has worked in the Insurance and Media industries for over 30 years. More recently, as Chairman and CEO 
of Avesco (2002 to 2012) the quoted provider to the event and broadcast industry, Ian led the transformation 
of the company from a faltering company to a vibrant business, with revenues rising from around £50 million 
to £140 million and a profit that grew at a compound profit of 20% per annum. 
Prior to this period, Ian has held board positions at Ascot Underwriting and Brockbank Group plc, where he was 
CEO and he helped form Admiral Insurance the FT 100 Company. Ian also holds a number of executive and non-
executive directorships, including as a non-executive Director of Chelverton Growth. 

M W Hardy - Chief Executive Officer 
Mark  joined  the  company  in  1992  and  has  been  involved  in  the  mobile  communications  market  since 
graduating from University with a BA Honours degree in Business Studies in 1986. Prior to joining the company, 
Mark worked for American based companies and was instrumental in driving sales of high-tech products into 
developing markets. 
With overall responsibility for the commercial running of Touchstar since 1997, Mark remains extremely active 
in the sales and key account management aspects of the business. 

Non-Executive Director 

J L Christmas - 
John is a chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience as finance director of UK listed businesses, most 
recently at Avesco Group plc, whom he joined in 2004. 
He was Group Finance Director at Boosey & Hawkes plc and previously held positions as Group Finance Director 
at MediaKey plc and Video Arts Ltd. 

J S Hall – Chief Operating Officer 
Jon’s career spans 45 years, working within the electronics and software industries. Jon joined the company as 
Director of Sales in 1996 and then subsequently moved to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, responsible for the 
research and development, embracing cutting edge technologies to develop innovative solutions for all the 
divisional companies across the group. 
Prior  to  joining  the  company,  Jon  gained  wide  technical  and  commercial  experience  in  manufacturing  and 
development within technology companies in the UK, Europe and America. 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Purchase of own shares 
The Group did not purchase any of its own shares in 2018. 

Shares issued during the year 
On  13  February  2018  the  Group  completed  its  fundraising  of  approximately  £1,300,000  by  offering  new 
ordinary 5 pence shares at an issue price of 60 pence each. Refer to note 26 for further details. 

Research and development 
The Group is continually developing its products and services to meet the increasing demands of the markets 
in which the Group operates. During the year, the Group incurred total research and development costs of 
£1,519,000 (2017: £1,153,000), of which £900,000 (2017: £547,000) has been capitalised. 

Statutory records 
The Company is registered in Scotland and its registered number is SC005543. 

Substantial shareholdings 
As at 18 April 2019, the Company had been notified of the following interests representing 3% or more of the 
issued ordinary share capital: 

I P Martin 

Chelverton Growth Trust plc 

Thomas William George Charlton 

Interactive Investor Trading Ltd 

R D McDougall  

Killik & Co 

Spreadex Ltd/Cleveland Capital 

Hargreaves Lansdown 

Charles Stanley & Co 

Unicorn Asset Management 

Ordinary 
shares 

735,250 

850,000 

850,000 

378,028 

368,500 

368,000 

333,333 

315,034 

293,928 

290,000 

  Percentage 
of ordinary 
share capital 

8.68% 

10.03% 

10.03% 

4.46% 

4.35% 

4.34% 

3.93% 

3.72% 

3.47% 

3.42% 

Except for those disclosed above, the directors are not aware of any shareholding which represents 3% or more 
of the present issued ordinary share capital of the Company. 

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Matters covered in the Strategic report 
Statutory disclosures required under Company law within the Directors’ report are included where relevant in 
the Strategic report. 

Directors’ indemnities 
As permitted by the Articles of Association, the directors have the benefit of an indemnity which is a qualifying 
third-party indemnity provision as defined by Section 234 of the Companies Act 2006. The indemnity was in 
force throughout the last financial year and is currently in force. The Company also purchased and maintained 
throughout the financial year directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in respect of itself and its directors. 

Financial risk management 
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including foreign exchange risk, cash 
flow  and  fair  value  interest  rate  risk),  credit  risk  and  liquidity  risk.  The  Group’s  overall  risk  management 
programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects 
on the Group’s financial performance. 

(a)  Market risk 
(i) 

Foreign exchange risk 

The  Group  operates  internationally  and  is  exposed  to  foreign  exchange  risk  arising  from  various  currency 
exposures,  principally  with  respect  to  the  euro  and  the  US  dollar.  Foreign  exchange  risk  arises  from  future 
commercial transactions and recognised assets and liabilities. 
Natural  hedging  occurs  through  the  matching  of  foreign  currency  income,  expenditure  and  commitments. 
When projected foreign currency balances are not anticipated to be covered through this natural matching 
process, the Group may choose to enter into forward foreign exchange contracts through its bankers and other 
financial institutions. 

 (ii) 

Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk 

As  the  Group  has  no  significant  interest-bearing  assets,  the  Group’s  income  and  operating  cash  flows  are 
substantially independent of changes in market interest rates.  

(b) 

Credit risk 

The Group has a customer credit policy in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing 
basis.  
At  31  December  2018  there  were  no  significant  concentrations  of  credit  risk  (2017:  £nil).  The  maximum 
exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying amount of each financial asset included in the balance 
sheet. Management does not expect any losses from non-performance by these counterparties.  Due to the 
nature of the Group’s business, credit risk is assessed on a customer by customer basis prior to entering into 
contractual  arrangements  and  on  an  expected  credit  loss  basis  inline  with  IFRS9.  See  note  2.1  for  impact 
assessment. 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Financial risk management (continued) 

(c)  

Liquidity risk 

The Group maintains short-term cash deposits and unutilised banking facilities to mitigate any liquidity risk it 
may face.  Management monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity reserves on the basis of forecast 
cash flow.  

The  table  below  analyses  the  Group’s  financial  liabilities  into  relevant  maturity  groupings  based  on  the 
remaining  period  at  the  balance  sheet  date  to  the  contractual  maturity  date.  Impact  on  discounting  is  not 
deemed material/relevant in respect of trade and other payables since this relates predominantly to deferred 
revenue  for  which  the  cash  has  already  been  received  and  the  balance  is  being  released  to  the  income 
statement in line with the contract. 

At 31 December 2018 

Bank overdraft 

Trade and other payables 

Contract liabilities  

At 31 December 2017 

Bank overdraft  

Trade and other payables 

Contract liabilities 

Less than      
 one year 
£’000 

Between one and 
four years 
£’000 

1,816 

1,444 

1,365 

2,495 

1,382 

1,237 

- 

- 

188 

- 

- 

151 

Contract liabilities have been separately presented as a result of the Group’s implementation of IFRS 15. Note 
23 provides specific detail on adjustments made to comparative financial information. 

Capital risk management 
The  Group’s  objectives  when  managing  capital  are  to  safeguard  the  Group’s  ability  to  continue  as  a  going 
concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an 
optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the 
Group  may  adjust  the  amount  of  dividends  paid  to  shareholders,  return  capital  to  shareholders,  issue  new 
shares or sell assets to reduce debt.  
The Group monitors capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total 
capital. Net debt is calculated as total borrowings (including ‘current and non-current borrowings’ as shown in 
the consolidated balance sheet) less cash and cash equivalents. Total capital is calculated as ‘equity’ as shown 
in the consolidated balance sheet plus net debt. 

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Directors’ report for the year ended 31 December 2018 (continued) 

Capital risk management (continued) 

The gearing ratios at 31 December 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Net debt 

Total equity 

Total capital  

Gearing ratio 

2018 

£’000  

- 

2,392 

2,392 

-% 

2017 

£’000 

336 

2,171 

2,507 

13% 

As at 31 December 2018, borrowings (which constitute bank overdrafts) were entirely offset by positive cash 
balances, meaning the Group had no net debt, and therefore no gearing ratio, at the reporting date. 

Fair value estimation 
The carrying value, less impairment provision of trade receivables and payables are assumed to approximate 
to their fair value. The carrying values of borrowings approximate to their fair value due to their short-term 
maturity. 

Disclosure of information to auditors 
Each director at the date of approval of this report confirms that:  

 

 

so far as each director is aware, there is no relevant audit information (that is, information needed by 
the auditors in connection with preparing their report) of which the auditors are unaware; and 

each director has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a director in order to make himself 
aware  of  any  relevant  audit  information  and  to  establish  that  the  auditors  are  aware  of  that 
information. 

This  statement  is  given  and  should  be  interpreted  in  accordance  with  the  provision  of  Section  418  of  the 
Companies Act 2006. 

Independent auditors 
The  auditors,  PricewaterhouseCoopers  LLP,  have  indicated  their  willingness  to  continue  in  office,  and  a 
resolution that they be reappointed will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. 

By order of the Board 

N M Rourke 
Company Secretary 
 8 May 2019 

19 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial 
statements 

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

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the 
directors have prepared the Group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and Company financial statements in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. 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 Company and of the profit or loss of the Group and Company for that 
period. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are required to: 

 
 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

state whether applicable IFRSs as adopted by the European Union have been followed for the Group 
financial  statements  and  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  have  been  followed  for  the 
Company  financial  statements,  subject  to  any  material  departures  disclosed  and  explained  in  the 
financial statements; 

  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and 
  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that 

the Group and Company will continue in business. 

The directors are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and Company and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain 
the Group and Company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position 
of  the  Group  and  Company  and  enable  them  to  ensure  that  the  financial  statements  comply  with  the 
Companies Act 2006. 

The directors of the ultimate parent company are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the ultimate 
parent company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of 
financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

20 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Statement of directors’ responsibilities in respect of the financial 
statements (continued) 

Each of the directors, whose names and functions are listed in the Directors' Report confirm that, to the best 
of their knowledge: 

 

 

 

the Company financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and result of 
the Company; 

the Group financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of 
the Group; and 

the Directors' Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and 
the  position  of  the  Group  and  Company,  together  with  a  description  of  the  principal  risks  and 
uncertainties that it faces.  

By order of the Board 

N M Rourke 
Company Secretary 
8 May 2019 

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Touchstar plc 

Report on the audit of the financial statements 

Opinion 
In our opinion, Touchstar plc’s group financial statements and company financial statements (the “financial 
statements”): 

 

 

 

give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the company’s affairs as at 31 December 
2018 and of the group’s loss and the group’s and the company’s cash flows for the year then ended; 

have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
adopted by the European Union and, as regards the company’s financial statements, as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and 

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

We have audited the financial statements, included within the Annual Report and Financial Statements  (the 
“Annual Report”), which comprise: the Consolidated and Company Statements of Financial Position as at 31 
December 2018; the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated and Company Cash Flow Statements, 
and the Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity for the year then ended; and the notes 
to the financial statements, which include a description of the significant accounting policies. 

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and 
applicable law. Our responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for 
the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have 
obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

Independence 
We remained independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our 
audit of the financial statements in the UK, which includes the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applicable to listed 
entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. 

Material uncertainty related to going concern – Group and company 
In forming our opinion on the group and company financial statements, which is not modified, we have 
considered the adequacy of the disclosure made in note 2 to the financial statements concerning the group’s 
and company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The group’s forecast for the 12 months from approval 
of these financial statements contains assumptions over the growth of the existing business and the 
achievements of cost saving measures. Each of these items is subject to a level of uncertainty. If the group’s 
forecast is not achieved, there is a risk that the group will require further funding and if this situation 
materialised, the bank could choose to withdraw the on demand overdraft facilities. Without these facilities, 
and without alternative finance being obtained, the group and company will be unable to meet their liabilities 
as they fall due. These conditions, along with the other matters explained in note 2 to the financial 
statements, indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt about the 
group’s and company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include the 
adjustments that would result if the group and company were unable to continue as a going concern. 

Explanation of the material uncertainty 
Note 2 to the financial statements details the Directors’ disclosure of the material uncertainty relating to 
going concern in respect of the on demand overdraft facility. In forming their conclusions regarding going 
concern of the group and company, and as described in Note 2, the Directors have considered various 
matters including, but not limited to, a range of scenarios modelling the key assumptions within the forecast 
including:  
• growth of the sales pipeline in 2019 and 2020; and  
• mitigation of the potential impact of not achieving the growth by implementing costs savings. 

22 

 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Touchstar plc 
(continued) 

Given the timing and execution risks associated with achieving the forecast and therefore remaining within 
the on demand overdraft facility, the Directors have drawn attention to this as a material uncertainty relating 
to going concern in the basis of preparation. 

What audit procedures we performed 

In concluding there is a material uncertainty, our audit procedures included: 

 • obtaining the Directors’ financial forecast for the next 20 months and future periods, challenging the 
assumptions used in building the forecasts by considering the latest information available and latest market 
trends;  

• verifying the relationship between management’s cash flow model and the financial forecasts through 
analytical procedures and agreeing forecast cash flows back to supporting information, where possible;  

• in the event of under-performance against the forecast, considering the potential mitigating actions 
available to manage remaining within the on-demand facility. 

Having performed the above procedures, we concluded there is a reasonably possible scenario where the 
facility would be insufficient for the Group’s and company’s needs. On this basis, we agree with 
management’s assessment that a material uncertainty exists on the group’s and company’s ability to 
continue as a going concern. 

Our audit approach 

Overview 

  Overall group materiality: £67,000 (2017: £78,000), based on 1% of Total Revenues. 
  Overall company materiality: £16,200 (2017: £70,000), based on 1% of Net Liabilities. 

  We conducted our audit work over three financially significant companies within the 

Group.  

Recoverability of capitalised development costs (Group). 

 
  Going concern (see above). 

23 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Touchstar plc 
(continued) 

The scope of our audit 
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in 
the financial statements. In particular, we looked at where the directors made subjective judgements, for 
example in respect of significant accounting estimates that involved making assumptions and considering 
future events that are inherently uncertain. As in all of our audits, we also addressed the risk of management 
override of internal controls, including evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that 
represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.  

Key audit matters 
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ professional judgement, were of most significance 
in the audit of the financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of 
material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by the auditors, 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, and any comments we make on the results of our 
procedures thereon, were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in 
forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. In addition to 
going concern, described in the Material uncertainty related to going concern section above, we determined 
the matter described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report. This is not a 
complete list of all risks identified by our audit.  

Key audit matter 

How our audit addressed the key audit matter 

Recoverability of capitalised development costs (Group) 

The Group has capitalised development costs of 
£1,352,000. This represents costs incurred on development 
projects that meets the criteria as set out in 'IAS 38: 
Intangible assets'. 

The decision whether to capitalise and how to determine 
the period of economic benefit requires some judgement, 
including an assessment of the commercial viability of the 
project, and the prospect of future sales. 

Costs capitalised represent both internal staff costs (time) 
capitalised, as well as third party costs. These costs are 
allocated on a project basis. 

For internal staff costs capitalised, we have understood the 
employees' specific roles and work, and the allocation 
between project and non-project activities. We have 
discussed these allocations with management. 

Third party costs capitalised have been agreed to invoice. 
The nature of these costs have been tested to confirm they 
are used in viable projects. 

In addition, we have understood the status of each project, 
and compared this to the requirements of IAS 38 to ensure 
that capitalisation is appropriate. 

We have challenged managements' assessment of the 
commercial viability of each active project, to ensure that 
capitalised costs are recoverable. This was done by 
reviewing specific sales ambitions for each significant 
project, and challenging assumptions included in that 
analysis. 

We concur with management's assessment that these 
costs meet the requirements of IAS 38. 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Touchstar plc 
(continued) 

How we tailored the audit scope 
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion 
on the financial statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of the group and the company, the 
accounting processes and controls, and the industry in which they operate. 

The Group comprises three financially significant companies: two principal trading companies and one 
holding company, all of which are based in the UK. We performed audits of the three financially significant 
companies in the Group, giving us the evidence we needed for our opinion on the Group financial statements. 
All work was performed by the Group engagement team.  

Materiality 
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative 
thresholds for materiality. These, together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope 
of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures on the individual financial statement 
line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both individually and in aggregate on 
the financial statements as a whole.  

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

Group financial statements 

Company financial statements 

Overall materiality 

£67,000 (2017: £78,000). 

£16,200  (2017: £70,000). 

How we determined it 

1% of Total Revenues. 

1% of Net Liabilities. 

Rationale for benchmark 
applied 

Based on the benchmarks used in the annual 
report, total revenues is a primary measure 
used by the shareholders in assessing the 
performance of the group, and is a generally 
accepted auditing benchmark. 

We believe that net liabilities is a primary 
measure used by the shareholders in 
assessing the performance of the entity 
given the lack of assets in the company. Net 
liabilities is a generally accepted auditing 
benchmark. 

For each component in the scope of our group audit, we allocated a materiality that is less than our overall 
group materiality. The range of materiality allocated across components was between £16,200 and £67,000. 
Certain components were audited to a local statutory audit materiality that was also less than our overall 
group materiality. 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during our 
audit above £3,300 (Group audit) (2017: £3,900) and £800 (Company audit) (2017: £3,500) as well as 
misstatements below those amounts that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons. 

Reporting on other information  
The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial 
statements and our auditors’ report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our 
opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not express 
an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance 
thereon.  

25 

 
 
 
   
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Touchstar plc 
(continued) 

Reporting on other information (continued) 
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information 
and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial 
statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we 
identify an apparent material inconsistency or material misstatement, we are required to perform procedures 
to conclude whether there is a material misstatement of the financial statements or a material misstatement 
of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report based 
on these responsibilities. 

With respect to the Strategic Report and Directors’ Report, we also considered whether the disclosures 
required by the UK Companies Act 2006 have been included.   

Based on the responsibilities described above and our work undertaken in the course of the audit, ISAs (UK) 
require us also to report certain opinions and matters as described below. 

Strategic Report and Directors’ Report 
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the 
Strategic Report and Directors’ Report for the year ended 31 December 2018 is consistent with the financial 
statements and has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.  

In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and company and their environment obtained in 
the course of the audit, we did not identify any material misstatements in the Strategic Report and Directors’ 
Report.  

Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit 

Responsibilities of the directors for the financial statements 
As explained more fully in the Statement of directors' responsibilities in respect of the financial statements, 
the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the 
applicable framework and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. The directors are also 
responsible for such internal control as they 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 
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 company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Auditors’ 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 auditors’ 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  

26 

 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Touchstar plc 
(continued) 

Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements (continued) 
from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.  

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

Use of this report 
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the company’s members as a body in 
accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in 
giving these opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom 
this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in 
writing.  

Other required reporting 

Companies Act 2006 exception reporting 
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion: 

  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or 

 

 

 

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the company, or returns adequate for our audit 
have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

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

the company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns.  

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.  

Hazel Macnamara (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 
Manchester 
8 May 2019 

27 

 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Consolidated income statement for the year ended 31 December 2018 

Continuing operations 
Revenue  

Cost of sales 

Gross profit  

Distribution costs 

Administrative expenses  

Operating (loss)/profit before exceptional items  

Exceptional costs included in administrative expenses 

Operating loss 

Finance costs 

Loss before income tax 

Income tax credit 

Loss for the year attributable to the owners of the parent 

Note 
4 

5 

6 

11 

12 

2018 

£’000 

6,898 

(3,370) 

3,528 

(66) 

(4,778) 

(982) 

(334) 

(1,316) 

(4) 

(1,320) 

404 

(916) 

2017 

£’000 

7,868 

(3,977) 

3,891 

(79) 

(7,666) 

111 

(3,965) 

(3,854) 

(11) 

(3,865) 

280 

(3,585) 

(Loss)/earnings per ordinary share (pence) attributable to owners of the parent during the year (note 13): 

Basic 

Adjusted 

2018 
(10.94)p 

(6.95)p 

2017 
(56.83)p 

6.02p 

There is no other comprehensive income or expense in the current year or prior year and consequently no 
statement of other comprehensive income or expense has been presented. 

The Company has elected to take the exemption under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present 
the parent Company income statement. The loss for the Company is detailed in the Statement of financial 
position and the Company statement of changes in shareholders’ equity. 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 
December 2018 

              Share       

capital 

£’000 

Share 
premium 
account 

£’000 

At 1 January 2017 

Loss for the year 

At 31 December 2017 

Effect of revenue recognised 
under IAS 18 adjusted for IFRS 
15 (note 2.1) 

Restated balance 1 January 
2018 

Share Issue  

Cost of share issue 

Loss for the year 

At 31 December 2018 

315 

- 

315 

- 

315 

109 

- 

- 

424 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1,191 

(72) 

- 

1,119 

Retained 
earnings 

£’000 

5,441  

(3,585) 

1,856 

Total equity 

£’000 

5,756 

(3,585) 

2,171 

(91) 

1,765 

- 

- 

(916) 

849 

(91) 

2,080 

1,300 

(72) 

(916) 

2,392 

Company statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 
December 2018 

Share 
premium 
account 

Retained 
earnings

Total equity 

£’000 

£’000

773 

1,088 

- 

- 

- 

1,191 

(72) 

4,483 

(3,710) 

- 

- 

- 

(3,476) 

1,119 

(2,703) 

£’000 

4,798 

(3,710) 

1,300  

(72) 

(3,476) 

(1,160) 

At 1 January 2017 

Loss for the year 

At 31 December 2017 

Share Issue 

Cost of share issue 

Loss for the year 

At 31 December 2018 

Share       
capital 

£’000 

315 

- 

315 

109 

- 

424 

29 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
              
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Consolidated and Company statements of financial position as at 31 
December 2018 

Group 

Company 

              2018 

               2017 

            2018 

             2017 

Note 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets 

Investments 

Property, plant and equipment 

Deferred tax assets 

Current assets 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Corporation tax receivable 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Contract liabilities 

Borrowings 

Non-current liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Contract liabilities  

Total liabilities 

14 

15 

16 

18 

19 

20 

21 

22 

23 

24 

18 

23 

1,352 

1,136 

- 

228 

157 

- 

237 

168 

1,737 

1,541 

1,210 

1,928 

487 

2,112 

5,737 

7,474 

1,444 

1,365 

1,816 

4,625 

269 

188 

1,387 

2,256 

272 

2,159 

6,074 

7,615 

1,382 

1,237 

2,495 

5,114 

179 

151 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

706 

- 

- 

706 

706 

50 

- 

1,816 

1,866 

- 

- 

- 

3,474 

- 

7 

3,481 

- 

227 

- 

- 

227 

3,708 

125 

- 

2,495 

2,620 

- 

- 

5,082 

5,444 

1,866 

2,620 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Consolidated and Company statement of financial position as at 31 
December 2018 (continued) 

Group 

Company 

           2018 

Note 

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

       2018 

           2017 

£’000 

£’000 

1,856 

5,441 

773 

4,483 

Capital and reserves attributable 
to owners of the parent 

Retained earnings at 31 
December 2017/2016 

Effect of IFRS 15 adjustment* 

(91) 

- 

- 

- 

Loss for the year 

(916) 

(3,585) 

(3,476) 

(3,710) 

Retained earnings at 31 
December 2018/2017 

Share capital  

Share premium 

Total equity 

Total equity and liabilities 

25 

26 

26 

849 

1,856 

(2,703) 

773 

424 

1,119 

2,392 

7,474 

315 

- 

2,171 

7,615 

424 

1,119 

(1,160) 

706 

315 

- 

1,088 

3,708 

The notes on pages 33 to 61 are an integral part of these Group financial statements. 

The Company reported a loss for the financial year of £3,476,000 (2017: £3,710,000) 

The Group and Company financial statements on pages 28 to 61 were approved by the Board of Directors on      
8 May 2019 and were signed on its behalf by: 

M W Hardy 
Director 
Registered number Scotland: SC005543 

* See note 2.1 for details regarding restatements arising from changes in accounting policies. 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Consolidated and Company cash flow statement for the year ended 31 
December 2018 

Group 

Company 

Note 

2018 

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

2018 

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

(1,316) 

(3,854) 

(3,465) 

(3,710) 

70 

379 

334 

- 

- 

177 

328 

136 

108 

(4) 

290 

394 

(929) 

(61) 

(990) 

1,300 

(72) 

1,228 

632 

(336) 

296 

91 

400 

- 

3,824 

- 

(128) 

(248) 

326 

411 

(11) 

231 

631 

(547) 

(91) 

(638) 

- 

- 

- 

(7) 

(329) 

(336) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3,474 

3,824 

- 

(479) 

(75) 

(545) 

(4) 

- 

(549) 

- 

- 

- 

1,300 

(72) 

1,228 

- 

(3) 

(71) 

40 

- 

- 

40 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

679 

40 

(2,495) 

(2,535) 

(1,816) 

(2,495) 

Cash flows from operating activities 

Operating loss 

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Development expenditure impairment 

Goodwill impairment 

Investment impairment 

Movement in: 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

16 

14 

14 

14 

15 

19 

20 

Trade and other payables and contract liabilities  22,23 

Cash generated from/(used in) operations 

Interest paid 

Corporation tax received/(paid) 

Net cash generated from/(used in) operating 
activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Purchase of intangible assets  

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

14 

16 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Proceeds from issue of shares  

Costs of issue of shares 

Net cash generated from financing activities 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash 
equivalents  

Cash and cash equivalents at start of the year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year 

21 

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 

1 

General information 

Touchstar  plc  (the  ‘Company’)  and  its  subsidiaries  (together  ‘the  Group’)  design  and  build  rugged  mobile 
computing devices and develop software solutions used in a wide variety of field-based delivery, logistics and 
service applications. The Company is a public company limited by share capital incorporated and domiciled in 
the  United  Kingdom.  The  Company  has  its  listing  on  the  Alternative  Investment  Market.  The  address  of  its 
registered office is 1 George Square, Glasgow, G2 1AL.   

2 

Summary of significant accounting policies 

The  principal  accounting  policies  applied  in  the  preparation  of  these  consolidated  and  Company  financial 
statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless 
otherwise stated. 

2.1 Basis of preparation 

The annual report and financial statements of the Company and the Group have been prepared in accordance 
with IFRS as adopted by the European Union (IFRS), IFRS IC interpretations, the Companies Act 2006 applicable 
to  companies  reporting  under  IFRSs  and  the  AIM  rules  for  companies.  The  annual  report  and  financial 
statements have been prepared under the historic cost convention.  

The annual report and financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The Company has 
elected  to  take  the  exemption  under  section  408  of  the  Companies  Act  2006  not  to  present  the  parent 
Company income statement. The loss for the Company is detailed in the Statement of changes in shareholders’ 
equity. 

The presentational currency of the Group and Company is pounds sterling. The Company’s functional currency 
is pounds sterling. All amounts included in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest thousand 
pounds sterling, except where explicitly stated otherwise. 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates.  It  also  requires  management  to  exercise  its  judgement  in  the  process  of  applying  the  Group’s 
accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where 
assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in note 3.  

Going concern 

These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Group will 
be able to meet its liabilities when they fall due. As at 31 December 2018, a total of £nil was drawn down from 
the £1 million on demand overdraft facility (£104,000 in April 2019).  

Towards the end of 2017 Touchstar embarked on a change of strategy, moving from a hardware-based business 
model to a software based one. This envisaged 2018 being a year of declining growth and negative cash flow 
as the company focused on completing its software projects, with growth to come thereafter. Consequently, 
the company embarked on a capital raising exercise in early 2018, raising £1.2m net of expenses.   

33 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.1 Basis of preparation (continued) 

Going concern (continued) 

The company met its profit target in 2018, achieved through lower sales than expected (due mainly to delays 
in project completion) combined with lower costs. The loss was as a result of significant investment in resource 
for development, sales & marketing and project management to implement the software solutions enabling 
the Group to grow. These have now been completed and are expected to drive the company’s growth in 2019. 
During 2018, the Group performed comfortably within its £1m overdraft facility, although 2019 is expected to 
see a greater reliance on the overdraft facility in place. 

The Group benefits from a supportive bank who have provided the borrowing facility since 2005.  In assessing 
the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Board has reviewed the Group’s cash flow and profit 
forecasts  against  this  facility.  The  impact  of  potential  risks  and  related  sensitivities  to  the  forecasts  were 
considered in assessing the likelihood of additional facilities being required, whilst identifying what mitigating 
actions are available to the Group to avoid additional facilities and the potential withdrawal of the facility by 
the bank. Specifically, a range of assumptions underpin the profit and cash flow forecasts for the period to 31 
December 2020, including: 

 

growth of the sales pipeline in 2019 and 2020 deriving mainly from the completed software projects; 
and  

  mitigation of the potential impact of not achieving the growth by implementing costs savings.  

Failure to achieve one or more of the above would result in lower EBITDA with a consequent negative impact 
on cash generation. If the Group’s forecast is not achieved, there is a risk that the Group will require additional 
facilities that it has not secured or the bank withdraws the existing facility. Without the support of the bank, 
the Group and Parent Company would be unable to meet their liabilities as they fall due.  

Given the timing and execution risks associated with achieving the forecast and therefore remaining within the 
facility, the directors have concluded that it is necessary to draw attention to this as a material uncertainty 
which may cast significant doubt about the Group’s and the Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern in the basis of preparation to the financial statements. The directors have confirmed that, after due 
consideration, they have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources 
to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the 
going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. 

34 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.1 Basis of preparation (continued) 

Changes in accounting policies and disclosures 

(a) New standards, amendments to standards or interpretations adopted by the Group and Company 

The  accounting  policies  adopted  are  consistent  with  those  of  the  previous  financial  year  except  for  the 
following new and amended standards and interpretations during the year that are applicable to the Group or 
Company,  effective  for  the  first  time  for  periods  beginning  on  (or  after)  1  January  2018.  New  standards 
impacting  the  Group  that  have  been  adopted  in  the  annual  financial  statements  for  the  year  ended  31 
December 2018, and which have given rise to changes in the Group’s accounting policies are: 

 
 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective 1 January 2018) 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective 1 January 2018) 

Impact of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers 

Previously, income arising from the sale of hardware and software was recognised in accordance with IAS 18 
at the point of delivery to the customer. Under IFRS 15 this revenue is shown within contract liabilities in the 
statement  of  financial  position  and  released  to  revenue  over  the  length  of  the  contract  in  line  with  the 
substance of the relevant agreement, as the Group meets its performance obligations. 

The Group has elected to adopt the modified retrospective approach in the adoption of IFRS 15.   

The cumulative effect of the changes made to the consolidated 1 January 2018 statement of financial position 
for the adoption of IFRS 15 Revenue – Revenue from Contracts with Customers were as follows:  

Balance at  
 31 December 
2017 

Adjustments due 
to IFRS 15 

Balance at  
 1 January 2018 

£’000 

£’000  

£’000 

Consolidated statement of financial position  

Current liabilities 

  Contract liabilities  

Equity  

 Retained earnings  

1,237 

91 

1,328 

1,856 

(91) 

1,765 

No adjustment has been made to the parent Company retained earnings position. 
In  implementing  IFRS  15,  these  financial  statements  separately  present  contract  liabilities  associated  with 
performance  obligations  yet  to  be  met  by  the  Group.  This  includes  changes  to  comparative  financial 
information, where such amounts were previously included within deferred income. Note 23 provides more 
detail in relation to specific presentational adjustments. 

35 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.1 Basis of preparation (continued) 

Impact of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (continued) 

As at 1 January 2018, the Group assessed the requirements of IFRS 9. The standard includes requirements for 
impairment, hedge accounting and classification and measurement. 

IFRS 9 introduces an ‘expected loss’ model for recognising impairment of financial assets held at amortised 
cost. This is different from IAS 39, which had an incurred loss model where provisions were recognised only 
when there was objective evidence of impairment. This change of approach requires the Group to consider 
forward-looking  information  to  calculate  expected  credit  losses  regardless  of  whether  there  has  been  an 
impairment trigger.  Given the general quality and short-term nature of trade receivables  within the  group, 
there is no expected change to the level of impairment recognised and as such no adjustment has been made 
to the opening balance of retained earnings as at 1 January 2018. 

The  application  of  IFRS  9  has  also  not  resulted  in  a  significant  increase  in  impairment  of  financial  assets 
measured  at  amortised  cost  in  the  current  year  as  compared  to  impairment  recognised  under  previous 
accounting policies. 

In accordance with the transition provisions of IFRS 9 for hedge accounting, the group has applied the IFRS 9 
hedge accounting requirements prospectively from the date of initial application on 1 January 2018 with all 
hedging relationships continuing to be effective under the effectiveness assessment requirements of IFRS 9. 

The Group has considered the changes to classification and measurement of financial assets and liabilities and 
has concluded that these changes do not impact the Group. 

(b)  New  standards,  amendments  to  standards  or  interpretations  not  yet  adopted  by  the  Group  and 

Company 

Certain  new  accounting  standards  and  interpretations  have  been  published  that  are  not  mandatory  for  31 
December 2018 reporting periods and have not been early adopted by the Group. The Group’s assessment of 
the impact of these new standards and interpretations is set out below. 

IFRS 16 Leases 
This standard is mandatory for financial years commencing on or after 1 January 2019. It will result in almost 
all  leases  being  recognised  on  the  Balance  Sheet  as,  from  a  lessee  perspective,  the  distinction  between 
operating and finance leases is removed. Under the new standard, an asset (the right to use the item) and a 
financial liability to pay rentals are recognised. The only exceptions are short-term and low-value leases. The 
accounting for lessors will not significantly change. 

36 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.1 Basis of preparation (continued) 

IFRS 16 Leases (continued) 
The Group currently leases both properties and vehicles under a series of operating lease contracts which will 
be impacted by the new standard. These types of leases can no longer re recognised as operating leases and 
will need to be brought onto the Group’s Balance Sheet from the date of adoption of the new standard. The 
Group has elected to apply the following practical expedients: 

 

 

 

In determining whether existing contracts meet the definition of a lease, the Group will not reassess 
these contracts previously identified as leases and will not apply the standard to those contracts not 
previously identified as leases. 

Short-term leases (leases of less than 12 months remaining) as at the date of adoption of the new 
standard will not be within the scope of IFRS 16. 

Leases for which the asset is of low value, for example IT equipment, will not be within the scope of 
IFRS 16. 

The  Group  has  elected  to  apply  the  modified  retrospective  approach  with  the  cumulative  effect  of  initially 
applying this standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as at 1 January 2019. As a 
consequence of this, there is likely to be a material impact on the Balance Sheet with a lease liability and a 
corresponding right of use asset to be recognised on the Balance Sheet. There is anticipated to be a limited 
impact on the net assets of the Group at the date of adoption. Based on the current definition of adjusted 
operating profit, there is likely to be an increase in the group’s adjusted operating profit as operating lease 
costs are replaced by a lower depreciation charge. There will also be an additional interest charge, however, 
there will be no material effect on the overall income statement. The changes will not impact the overall cash 
flow of the group. 

As at the reporting date, the Group has non-cancellable operating lease commitments of £896,000, see note 
27. Of these commitments, approximately £29,000 relate to short-term leases which will be recognised on a 
straight-line basis over the remaining life of the lease as an expense in profit or loss. 

For  the  remaining  lease  commitments,  the  group  estimates  that  the  right-of-use  assets  of  approximately 
£716,000  will  be  recognised  on  1  January  2019  and  lease  liabilities  of  approximately  £722,000  (after 
adjustments for prepayments and accrued lease payments recognised as at 31 December 2018). 

The following standards have been published but are not yet effective, and in the opinion of the Directors will 
not have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements: 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements (effective 1 January 2020) 
IAS 12 Income Taxes (effective 1 January 2020) 
IAS 19 Employee Benefits (effective 1 January 2019) 
IAS 23 Borrowing Costs (effective 1 January 2019) 
IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (effective 1 January 2019) 

37 

 
 
 
 
  
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.2 Consolidation 

Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when the Group is 
exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect 
those returns through its power over the entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which 
control is transferred to the Group. 

The financial statements consolidate the accounts of Touchstar plc and all of its subsidiary undertakings. Intra-
Group sales and profits are eliminated fully on consolidation.  

Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies 
adopted by the Group. 

2.3 Segment reporting 

In accordance with IFRS 8 operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting 
provided to the directors who are considered to be the chief operating decision makers (CODM). The CODM’s, 
who are deemed to be the executive board i.e. Directors, are responsible for allocating resources and assessing 
performance  of  the  operating  segments,  these  have  been  identified  as  the  Executive  Board.  The  Executive 
Board  considers  that  the  Group  comprises  one  segment,  being  the  supply  and  maintenance  of  real  time 
electronic data systems, and this is how results are reported to the Executive Board. 

2.4 Foreign currency translation 

(a) Functional and presentation currency 
Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of 
the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (‘the functional currency’). The consolidated 
financial statements are presented in sterling, which is the Company’s functional and presentation currency. 

(b) Transactions and balances 
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing 
at  the  dates  of  the  transactions.  Foreign  exchange  gains  and  losses  resulting  from  the  settlement  of  such 
transactions  and  from  the  translation  at  year-end  exchange  rates  of  monetary  assets  and  liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the income statement. 

38 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended                   
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.5 Property, plant and equipment 

Property,  plant  and  equipment  is  stated  at  historical  cost  less  accumulated  depreciation.  Historical  cost 
includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.  

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, 
only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the 
cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. All other 
repairs and maintenance are charged to the income statement during the financial period in which they are 
incurred. 

Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method to reduce an asset’s cost to its residual value over its 
estimated useful life, as follows: 

Plant and machinery   
Fixtures, fittings, tools and equipment 

over 2-5 years 
over 4-5 years 

Residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance sheet date. 

An  asset’s  carrying  amount  is  written  down  immediately  to  its  recoverable  amount  if  the  asset’s  carrying 
amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount. 

2.6 Intangible assets 

Development expenditure 
Development  expenditure  is  stated  at  historic  cost  less  accumulated  amortisation.  Costs  incurred  on 
development  projects  (relating  to  the  design  and  testing  of  new  or  improved  products)  are  recognised  as 
intangible assets when the following criteria are fulfilled: 

it is technically feasible to complete the intangible asset so that it will be available for use; 

 
  management intends to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it; 
 
 
 

there is an ability to use or sell the intangible asset; 
it can be demonstrated how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits; 
adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the 
intangible asset are available; and 
the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development can be reliably measured. 

 

Other development expenditure that does not meet the criteria is recognised as an expense as incurred.  
Development costs previously recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in a subsequent period. 
Capitalised development expenditure is recorded as an intangible asset and amortised from the point at which 
the asset is ready for use on a straight-line basis over its useful life, not exceeding five years 

39 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended                   
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.7 Inventories  

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises actual costs incurred in 
bringing each product to its present location and condition as follows: 

- 
Raw materials and consumables : 
-  Work in progress and finished goods: 

Purchase cost on a weighted average basis 
Cost of direct materials 

The cost of work in progress and finished goods excludes direct labour and related production overheads as 
the directors consider that this element is not material. 

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less applicable variable 
selling expenses.  Provision is made where necessary for obsolete, slow moving and defective inventory. 

2.8 Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost 
using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. 

Under IFRS 9, effective from 1 January 2018, the Group elected to use the simplified approach to measure the 
loss allowance at an amount equal to lifetime expected credit losses for trade receivables and contract assets 
that  result  from  transactions  that  are  within  the  scope  of  IFRS  15,  irrespective  of  whether  they  contain  a 
significant financing component or not. 

Under  the  new  accounting  standard,  the  Group  continues  to  establish  a  provision  for  impairment  of  trade 
receivables  when  there  is  objective  evidence  that  the  Group  will  not  be  able  to  collect  all  amounts  due 
according  to  the  original  terms  of  the  receivables.  Significant  financial  difficulties  of  the  counterparty, 
probability that the counterparty will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganisation, and default or delinquency 
in payments are considered indicators that the trade receivable is impaired. In addition, IFRS 9 requires the 
group to consider forward looking information and the probability of default when calculating expected credit 
losses. The measurement of expected credit losses reflects an unbiased and probability-weighted amount that 
is determined by evaluating the range of possible outcomes as well as incorporating the time value of money. 
The Group considers reasonable and supportable customer-specific and market information about past events, 
current conditions and forecasts of future economic conditions when measuring expected credit losses. 

The amount of the provision is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of estimated 
future cashflows of the asset, discounted, where material, at the original effective interest rate. The carrying 
amount  of  the  asset  is  reduced  through  the  use  of  an  allowance  account,  and  the  amount  of  the  loss  is 
recognised in the Income Statement within ‘administrative costs’. When a trade receivable is uncollectable, it 
is  written  off  against  the  allowance  account  for  the  trade  receivables.  Subsequent  recoveries  of  amounts 
previously written off are credited against ‘administrative costs’ in the Income Statement. 

They are included within current assets, except where the receivables are expected to be settled in more than 
12 months in which case they are classified as non-current assets. 

40 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended                   
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.9 Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid 
investments  with  original  maturities  of  three  months  or  less,  and  bank  overdrafts.  Bank  overdrafts  where 
applicable are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on the balance sheet and where appropriate the 
right of offset has been taken. 

2.10 Share capital 

Ordinary shares are classified as equity.  

Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, 
net of tax, from the proceeds. 

2.11 Trade and other payables 

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of 
business from suppliers. Trade and other payables are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within 
one year or less. If not they are presented as non-current liabilities. 

Trade payables are recognised at fair value and subsequently held at amortised cost. 

2.12 Borrowings 

Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently 
stated at amortised cost; any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption 
value is recognised in the income  statement over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest 
method. 

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement 
of the liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date. 

41 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended                   
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.13 Current and deferred tax 

The tax expense for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement, 
except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In 
this case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively. 

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at 
the  balance  sheet  date.  Management  periodically  evaluates  positions  taken  in  tax  returns  with  respect  to 
situations  in  which  applicable  tax  regulation  is  subject  to  interpretation.  It  establishes  provisions  where 
appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities. 

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between 
the  tax  bases  of  assets  and  liabilities  and  their  carrying  amounts  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements. 
However, the deferred income tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability 
in a transaction other than a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting 
nor  taxable  profits  or  losses.  Deferred  income  tax  is  determined  using  tax  rates  (and  laws)  that  have  been 
substantively enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income 
tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled. 

Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be 
available against which the temporary differences can be utilised. 

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, except where 
the timing of the reversal of the temporary difference is controlled by the Group and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. 

2.14 Employee benefits 

(a) Pension obligations 
The  Group  operates  various  pension  schemes.  The  schemes  are  generally  funded  through  payments  to 
insurance companies. The Group has only defined contribution plans. A defined contribution plan is a pension 
plan under which the Group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity.  

The Group pays contributions to privately administered pension insurance plans on a contractual or voluntary 
basis. The Group has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid. The contributions 
are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an 
asset to the extent that a cash refund or a reduction in the future payment is available. 

 (b) Profit-sharing and bonus plans 
The Group recognises a liability and an expense for bonuses and profit-sharing, based on a formula that takes 
into consideration the profit attributable to the Company’s shareholders after certain adjustments. The Group 
recognises  a  provision  where  contractually  obliged  or  where  there  is  a  past  practice  that  has  created  a 
constructive obligation. 

42 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

2 

Summary of accounting policies (continued) 

2.15 Revenue recognition 

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and 
services in the ordinary course of the Group’s activities. Revenue is shown net of value added tax, returns, 
rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within the Group. All Group revenue is derived from contracts 
with customers. 

The Group recognises revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future 
economic benefits will flow to the relevant entity and the Group has satisfied its performance obligations as 
laid  out  in  contracts  with  its  customers.  Any  revenue  received  from  customers  in  advance  of  the  Group 
satisfying its performance obligations is classified as a contract liability and carried in the Statement of Financial 
Position until it is appropriate to recognise the corresponding revenue. 

Revenue recognised over time relates to fixed term maintenance and software contracts and is recognised on 
a  straight-line  basis  over  the  life  on  an  agreement.  All  other  revenue  relates  to  Group  activities  that  are 
recognised at a point in time, with consideration falling due as performance obligations are satisfied within 
pre-existing credit terms. 

Transaction  prices  are  determined  with  references  to  contracted  consideration.  No  element  of  financing  is 
deemed  present  as  sales  are  typically  made  with  30-90-day  credit  terms,  which  is  consistent  with  market 
practice.  Where  longer  term  arrangements  do  arise,  the  impact  of  the  time  value  of  money  on  contract 
liabilities is considered immaterial and therefore no adjustment is made to reflect this. 

2.16 Leases 

Leases  in  which  a  significant  portion  of  the  risks  and  rewards  of  ownership  are  retained  by  the  lessor  are 
classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the 
lessor) are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. 

2.17 Dividend distribution 

Any annual final dividend is  not provided for until approved at the Annual General  Meeting, whilst interim 
dividends are charged in the period they are paid. 

2.18 Exceptional items 

Items which are both material and non-recurring in nature are presented as exceptional items so as to provide 
a better indication of the Group's underlying business performance and are shown separately on the face of 
the income statement.   

43 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

3 

Critical accounting estimates and judgements 

The Group and Company makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting 
estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have 
a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the 
next financial year are discussed below. 

(a) Development expenditure 
The  Group  recognises  costs  incurred  on  development  projects  as  an  intangible  asset  which  satisfies  the 
requirements of IAS 38. The calculation of the costs incurred includes the percentage of time spent by certain 
employees on the development project.  The decision whether to capitalise and how to determine the period 
of economic benefit of a development project requires an assessment of the commercial viability of the project 
and the prospect of selling the project to new or existing customers.   

(b) Impairment of intangibles 
Judgement  is  required  in  the  impairment  of  assets,  notably  intangible  software  development  costs. 
Recoverable amounts are based on a calculation of expected future cash flows, which require assumptions and 
estimates of future performance to be made. Cash flows are discounted to their present value using pre-tax 
discount rates based on the Directors market assessment of risks specific to the asset. 

4 

Segmental information 

The Group has two trading subsidiaries, Touchstar ATC Limited and Touchstar Technologies Limited, however 
the Executive Board who are deemed to be the CODMs consider that both companies are engaged in the same 
market and therefore the Executive Board review the results of the Group as a whole.  

Consequently,  the  Executive  Board  regard  the  Group  as  operating  in  one  segment,  being  the  supply  and 
maintenance of real time electronic data systems.  All of the Group’s revenue, expenses, results, assets and 
liabilities are in respect of the supply and maintenance of real time electronic data systems and are presented 
on pages 28 to 32.  

All revenue is generated within the UK. A geographical analysis of revenue delivered by destination is given 
below: 

UK 

Europe 

Rest of World 

2018 

£’000 

6,027 

689 

182 

6,898 

2017 

£’000 

6,635 

971 

262 

7,868 

44 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

5 

Exceptional costs 

2018 

£’000 

- 

- 

- 

334 

334 

2018 

£’000 

70 

379 

- 

334 

156 

151 

619 

2,372 

186 

3,306 

9 

2017 

£’000 

77 

64 

3,824 

- 

3,965 

2017 

£’000 

91 

400 

11 

3,965 

155 

160 

606 

2,687 

86 

3,024 

1 

Restructuring expenses: 

    Redundancy costs 

Onerous lease costs 

Goodwill impairment (note 14) 

Development expenditure impairment (note 14) 

6 

Operating loss 

Operating loss is stated after charging: 

Depreciation: 

Owned assets (note 16) 

Development expenditure amortisation (note 14) 

Impairment of trade receivables 

Exceptional costs (note 5) 

Operating lease rentals: 

Plant and machinery 

Land and buildings 

Research and development expenditure 

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense 

Write down of inventory as an expense 

Staff costs (note 8) 

Loss on foreign exchange 
7  Auditors’ remuneration 

45 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

7 

Auditors’ remuneration 

During the year the Group obtained the following services from the Company’s auditors at costs as detailed 
below: 

Audit services: 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of the Parent 
Company and consolidated financial statements 

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

Audit of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation 

No non-audit services were provided by the auditors during the period. 

2018 

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

9 

36 

45 

8 

35 

43 

8 

Employee benefit expense 

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the Group and Company during 
the year was: 

Administrative, management and sales 

Manufacturing  

Staff costs for the above persons were: 

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 
Other pension costs – defined         
contribution plans 

Group 

2018 

2017 

Number 

Number 

64 

14 

78 

61 

14 

75 

2018 

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

3,216 

2,887 

373 

140 

327 

165 

3,729 

3,379 

As at 31 December 2018 the Group and Company had accrued pension costs of £19,000 (2017: £19,000). 
Staff costs are inclusive of capitalised salaries amounting to £423,000 (2017: £403,000). 

46 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

9  Directors’ emoluments 

Aggregate emoluments 

Pension costs – defined contribution plans 

2018 

£’000 

425 

10 

435 

2017 

£’000 

351 

38 

389 

Three of the four Directors are remunerated through the parent company. One Director is remunerated 
through its subsidiary Touchstar Technologies Limited.  2017 figures included Jon Hall for the period of his 
directorship in plc only (appointed director 28 April 2018) hence the apparent increase from 2017 to 2018. 
There have been no pay rises attributed to the directors in either periods.  

The emoluments of the individual Directors were as follows: 

Salaries, fees and bonuses: 

Executive directors 

I P Martin  

M W Hardy  

J S Hall  

Non-executive directors 

J L Christmas  

2018 

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

50 

205 

142 

28 

425 

50 

177 

96 

28 

351 

Salaries  and  fees  are  inclusive  of  car  allowances  for  M  W  Hardy  and  J  S  Hall  of  £18,000  and  £9,000  (2017: 
£16,000 and £8,000). 

M W Hardy is also accruing benefits under a defined contribution pension scheme. During the year the amount 
paid into the pension scheme reduced from £38,000 in 2017 to £10,000 in 2018 with the remainder of his salary 
sacrifice of £28,000 being payrolled.  No other directors receive contributions to any pension scheme. 

47 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc 

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended                   
31 December 2018 (continued) 

10  Key management compensation 

Key management consists of the directors and three key departmental managers (2017:  four). 

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Pension costs – defined contribution plans 

11  Finance costs 

Bank interest 

12 

Income tax credit 

Corporation tax 

Current tax 

Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Deferred tax 

Total tax credit 

2018 

£’000 

678 

81 

21 

780 

2018 

£’000 

4 

2017 

£’000 

715 

83 

53 

851 

2017 

£’000 

11 

2018 

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

(468) 

(37) 

101 

(404) 

(254) 

(29) 

3 

(280) 

Corporation tax is calculated at 19% (2017: 19.25%) of the estimated assessable profit for the year.  This is the 
weighted average tax rate applicable for the year.  

48 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

12 

Income tax credit (continued) 

Factors affecting the tax credit for the year  

The tax credit for the year is different (2017: different) from the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 
19% (2017: 19.25%). The differences are explained below: 

Loss before income tax 

Multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19% 
(2017: 19.25%) 

Effects of: 

Items not deductible for tax purposes 

Enhanced research and development deduction 

Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Losses surrendered through R&D tax credit 

Recognition of unrelieved tax losses 

Capital allowances claimed in year less than/(in excess of) 
depreciation 
Adjustment to deferred tax arising from changes in tax rate 

Total tax credit for the year 

2018  

£’000 

2017 

£’000 

(1,320) 

(3,865) 

(251) 

(744) 

68 

(368) 

(37) 

150 

- 

20 
14 

(404) 

738 

(261) 

(29) 

95 

(131) 

56 
(4) 

(280) 

Factors affecting the future tax charge 
The Chancellor’s budget of March 2016 announced that corporation tax rates will ultimately fall to 17% on 1 
April 2020. Consequently, deferred taxation has been calculated with reference to this ultimate tax rate of 17%. 
The Directors do not expect timing differences arising in the intervening period, when higher taxation rates 
apply, to have a significant effect on the Group’s future tax charge. 

49 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended    
31 December 2018 (continued) 

13 

(Losses)/earnings per share 

Basic 

Adjusted 

     2018 

2017    

(10.94)p 

(56.83)p 

(6.95)p 

6.02p 

Basic  earnings  per  share  is  calculated  by  dividing  the  earnings  attributable  to  ordinary  shareholders  by  the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year. The calculation of adjusted earnings per 
share excludes exceptional costs of £334,000 (2017: £3,965,000) (note 5). 

Reconciliations of the earnings and weighted average number of shares used in the calculation are set out 
below: 

2018 

2017 

Weighted 
average 
number of 
shares (in 
thousands) 

Weighted 
average 
number of 
shares (in 
thousands) 

Earnings 
£’000 

Earnings 
£’000 

(916) 

334 

8,374 

(3,585) 

3,965 

6,308 

(582) 

8,374 

380 

6,308 

Basic EPS 
Loss attributable to owners of the 
parent 

Exceptional costs (note 5) 

Adjusted EPS 

(Loss)/earnings attributable to owners of 
the parent before exceptional items 

The Group does not operate a share option scheme and as a result diluted earnings per share are not presented. 

Non – GAAP financial measures 
For  the  purposes  of  the  annual  report  and  financial  statements,  the  Group  uses  alternative  non-Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice (‘non-GAAP’) financial measures which are not defined within IFRS. The Directors 
use the measures in order to assess the underlying operational performance of the Group and as such, these 
measures are important and should be considered alongside the IFRS measures.  

The following non-GAAP measure referred to in the Chairman’s statement relates to trading loss or profit. 

‘Trading  loss  or  profit’  is  separately  disclosed,  being  defined  as  loss  or  profit  after  tax  adjusted  to  exclude 
exceptional costs such as development expenditure impairment, goodwill impairment and restructuring costs. 
These exceptional costs relate to items which the management believe do not accurately reflect the underlying 
trading performance of the business in the period.  The Directors believe that the trading loss or profit is an 
important measure of the underlying performance of the Group. 

50 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

14 

Intangible assets 

Cost 

At 1 January 2017 

Additions 

At 31 December 2017 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2018 

Accumulated amortisation 

At 1 January 2017 

Impairment 

Amortisation charge 

At 31 December 2017 

Amortisation charge 

Impairment 

Eliminated on disposal 

At 31 December 2018 

Net book value 

At 1 January 2017 

At 31 December 2017 

At 31 December 2018 

Group 

Development 
expenditure 
£’000 

Goodwill 
£’000 

9,904 

- 

9,904 

- 

- 

9,904 

6,080 

3,824 

- 

9,904 

- 

- 

- 

3,011 

547 

3,558 

929 

(352) 

4,135 

2,022 

- 

400 

2,422 

379 

334 

(352) 

Total 
£’000 

12,915 

547 

13,462 

929 

(352) 

14,039 

8,102 

3,824 

400 

12,326 

379 

334 

(352) 

9,904 

2,783 

12,687 

3,824 

- 

- 

989 

1,136 

1,352 

4,813 

1,136 

1,352 

Amortisation  of  £379,000  (2017:  £400,000)  is  included  within  administrative  expenses  in  the  income 
statement. 

51 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

14  Intangible assets (continued) 

Development expenditure 

The  calculation  of  the  costs  incurred  includes  the  percentage  of  time  spent  by  certain  employees  on  the 
development project.  The decision whether to capitalise and how to determine the period of economic benefit 
of a development project requires an assessment of the commercial viability of the project and the prospect 
of selling the project to new or existing customers.  

Management determined budgeted sales growth based on historic performance and its expectations of market 
development via each product set’s underlying pipeline 

In reviewing these pipelines management found that the sales pipeline for Onboard did not support the level 
of carrying value for the NOVOStar development therefore management made the decision to fully impair this 
product set.   

A review of each of the remaining product sets did not result in any further impairment. 

Development  expenditure  has  been  capitalised  on  an  ongoing  basis  and  therefore  has  a  remaining  useful 
economic life ranging from 0 to 5 years. 

52 

 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

15 

Investments 

Cost  

At 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2018 

Accumulated amortisation and impairment  

At 1 January 2018 

Impairment 

At 31 December 2018 

Net book value 

31 December 2018 
31 December 2017 

Shares in 
subsidiary 
undertakings 
£’000 

19,798 

16,324 

3,474 

19,798 

- 

3,474 

Following  a  review  by  management  the  remaining  carrying  amount  of  the  investments  held  in  regard  to 
Touchstar  Technologies  Limited  and  Touchstar  ATC  Limited  have  been  fully  impaired  by  £3,474,000  (2017: 
£3,824,000) to their recoverable amount of nil as the investment related to legacy hardware business solutions. 

The  Parent  Company  has  the  following  wholly  owned  trading  subsidiary  undertakings,  incorporated  and 
operating in Great Britain, which are registered in England and Wales: 

Name of company and registered address 

Nature of business 

Description of shares held 

Touchstar Technologies Limited 
7 Commerce Way, Trafford Park, 
Manchester, M17 1HW 

Real time electronic data 
systems 

100,000 ordinary £1 shares 

Touchstar ATC Limited  
Maple Barn, Beeches Farm Road, Uckfield, 
TN22 5QD 

Real time electronic data 
systems 

140,000 ordinary £1 shares 

NOVO IVC Limited 
7 Commerce Way, Trafford Park, 
Manchester, M17 1HW 

Belgravium Limited 
7 Commerce Way, Trafford Park, 
Manchester, M17 1HW 

Access Fire and Security Limited 
7 Commerce Way, Trafford Park, 
Manchester, M17 1HW 

Dormant 

600,000 ordinary £1 shares 

Dormant 

6,000,000 ordinary £1 
shares 

Dormant 

4 ordinary £1 shares 

53 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 31 
December 2018 (continued) 

16  Property, plant and equipment 

Group 

Fixtures, 
fittings, 
tools and 
equipment 
          £’000 

Plant and 
machinery 

£’000 

Company 

Fixtures, 
fittings, 
tools and 
equipment 
          £’000 

Total              
£’000 

Cost  

At 1 January 2017 

1,283 

1,055 

2,338 

466 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2017 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2018 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 1 January 2017 

Charge for the year 

Disposals  

At 31 December 2017 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2018 

Net book value 

At 1 January 2017 

At 31 December 2017 

At 31 December 2018 

64 

(825) 

522 

40 

(217) 

345 

1,220 

45 

(825) 

440 

14 

(217) 

237 

63 

82 

108 

27 

91 

(646) 

(1,471) 

(466) 

436 

21 

(73) 

384 

882 

46 

958 

61 

(290) 

729 

2,102 

91 

(647) 

(1,472) 

281 

56 

(73) 

264 

173 

155 

120 

721 

70 

(290) 

501 

236 

237 

228 

- 

- 

- 

- 

466 

- 

(466) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Depreciation expenditure of £70,000 (2017: £91,000) has been split between administrative expenses and cost 
of sales. 

54 

 
 
 
 
 
 
          
                       
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

(a) Financial instruments by category 

17 
The accounting policies for financial instruments have been applied to the line items below: 

Financial assets     

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents  

Total 

Group 

Company 

2018 
£’000 

2017 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

2017 
£’000 

1,696 

2,112 

3,808 

2,002 

2,159 

4,161 

706 

- 

706 

- 

- 

- 

note 

20 

21 

Group 

Company 

2018 
£’000 

2017 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

2017 
£’000 

Financial liabilities 

Trade and other payables (excluding tax and 
social security payable) 

Contract liabilities 

Borrowings 

Total 

22 

23 

24 

1,028 

1,033 

1,553 

1,816 

4,397 

1,388 

2,495 

4,916 

50 

- 

1,816 

1,866 

57 

- 

2,495 

2,552 

Contract liabilities have been separately presented as a result of the Group’s implementation of IFRS 15. Note 
23 provides specific detail on the adjustments made to comparative financial information. 

17 

(b) Credit quality of financial assets 

Credit risk is managed on a Group basis and arises  from cash and cash equivalents and credit exposures to 
customers. For banks, only independently rated parties with a minimum rating of ‘A’ are acceptable. The Group 
has dealt with one (2017: one) bank during the year. For customers the directors consider that, based on the 
historical  information  about  default  rates  and  the  current  strength  of  customer  relationships,  a  number  of 
which are recurring long-term customers, the credit quality of financial assets that are neither past due nor 
impaired is good.  

None of the financial assets that are fully performing have been renegotiated in the last twelve months. 

55 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 31 
December 2018 (continued) 

18  Deferred tax 

18.1  Deferred tax asset 

                        Group 

                      Company 

  2018 

£’000 

168 

(11) 

157 

 2017 

£’000 

67 

101 

168 

  2018 

£’000 

 2017 

£’000 

7 

(7) 

- 

7 

- 

7 

At 1 January 

(Charged)/credited to income 

At 31 December  

The deferred tax asset for the Group relates to unused tax losses of £804,000 (2017: £802,000).   

18.2  Deferred tax liability 

There has been movement of £90,000 in deferred tax liability during the year. 

  2018 

£’000 

179 

90 

269 

  2018 

£’000 

(269) 

157 

 2017 

£’000 

75 

104 

179 

 2017 

£’000 

      (179) 

168             

At 1 January  

Charged to income statement 

At 31 December 

Deferred tax (liability)/asset analysis: 

Amount in respect of fixed assets 

Amount in respect of losses 

56 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 31 
December 2018 (continued) 

19 

Inventories  

Raw materials and consumables 

Finished goods and goods for resale 

Provision  

  2018 

£’000 

934 

456  

(180) 

1,210 

 2017 

£’000 

652 

803 

(68) 

1,387 

The cost of inventories recognised as an expense amounted to £2,372,000 included within cost of sales (2017: 
£2,687,000).  Provisions  of  £131,000  were  recognised  in  the  income  statement  within  cost  of  sales  (2017: 
£86,000). No finished goods are held at fair value less cost to sell (2017: £nil). 

20  Trade and other receivables 

Group 

Company 

  2018 

£’000 

 2017 

£’000 

  2018 

£’000 

 2017 

£’000 

Trade receivables 

1,694 

2,002 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

Prepayments and accrued income 

Other debtors 

- 

232 

2 

- 

254 

- 

1,928 

2,256 

- 

693 

11 

2 

706 

- 

217 

10 

- 

227 

The amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are interest free, unsecured and repayable on demand.  

The fair value of trade and other receivables is the same as the book value. Total trade receivables are stated 
after provision for impairment of £nil (2017: £11,000) relating to one customer. 

Trade receivables that are less than three months past due are not considered impaired. As of 31 December 
2018, trade receivables of £95,000 (2017: £48,000) were past due but not impaired. These relate to a number 
of independent customers for whom there is no recent history of default. The ageing analysis of these trade 
receivables is as follows: 

Up to 3 months past due 

Over 3 months past due 

57 

  2018 

£’000 

22 

73 

 2017 

£’000 

42 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 31 
December 2018 (continued) 

20  Trade and other receivables (continued) 

As of 31 December 2018, no trade receivables (2017: £11,000) were impaired and provided for. No bad debt 
expenses (2017: £11,000) has been recognised in the income statement. 

The carrying amount of the trade and other receivables denominated in the following currencies is: 

Sterling 

Euros 

Australian dollars 

Group 

Company 

  2018 

£’000 

1,868 

36 

24 

 2017 

£’000 

2,149 

95 

12 

2018 

£’000 

706 

- 

- 

2017 

£’000 

227 

- 

- 

1,928 

2,256 

706 

227 

The other classes within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets. The maximum exposure 
to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable mentioned above. The Group 
does not hold any collateral as security. 

21  Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash at bank and in hand 

Less : bank overdraft (included 
within borrowings note 24) 

Group 

Company 

  2018 

              2017 

              2018 

                 2017 

£’000 

2,112 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

2,159 

- 

- 

  (1,816) 

  (2,495) 

296 

(336) 

(1,816) 

(2,495) 

(1,816) 

(2,495) 

The above balances are not offset in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and are included for 
illustrative purposes only. 

58 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

22   Trade and other payables  

Trade payables 

Other taxes and social security 

Other payables 

Customer deposits 

Accruals  

Group 

Company 

  2018 

£’000 

802 

416 

28 

25 

173 

 2017 

£’000 

751 

349 

56 

26 

200 

1,444 

1,382 

  2018 

£’000 

 2017 

£’000 

13 

- 

- 

- 

37 

50 

25 

68 

- 

- 

32 

125 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings are interest free, unsecured and repayable on demand. 

23  Contract liabilities  

The group has recognised the following liabilities related to contracts with customers: 

Current liabilities:  

  Contract liabilities  

Non-current contract liabilities:  

Contract liabilities  

Total contract liabilities 

  31 December 
2018 

 31 December 
2017 

£’000 

£’000 

        1 January 

2018*    

£’000 

1,365 

1,237 

1,328 

188 

1,553 

151 

1,388 

151 

1,479 

*reclassified and remeasured amounts see note 2 2.1(a) 

Contract  liabilities  relate  to  unsatisfied  performance  obligations  from  maintenance  and  software  licensing 
contracts.  Contract liabilities that existed at 31 December 2017 were previously presented within accruals and 
deferred income. 

59 

 
 
                                                                                                                                                                            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

24  Borrowings 

Total borrowings 

Group 

Company 

2018 

£’000 

1,816 

2017 

£’000 

2,495 

  2018 

£’000 

 2017 

£’000 

1,816 

2,495 

The carrying amounts of borrowings approximate to their fair value due to their short-term maturity, 
meaning that the impact of discounting is not significant. The carrying amounts of the Group’s borrowings are 
denominated solely in sterling. 

The Group bank overdraft facility is secured by a bond and floating charge over the entire assets of the 
Group. At 31 December 2018, the Group had total committed undrawn facilities of £980,000 (2017: 
£980,000).  

The Group operates within a £1,000,000 net overdraft facility which takes into account both the gross cash 
position of each Group entity netted off against any borrowings. As at the 31 December 2018, this represents 
the net cash balance of £296,000 (2017: net debt of £336,000) in Note 21.  

The Company and its subsidiaries have given a guarantee in relation to the overdraft facilities extended to The 
Group. The net overdraft of the Group at 31 December 2018 amounted to £nil (2017: £336,000).  

25  Reserves 

The following describes the nature of each reserve within equity: 

Reserve 

Share premium 

Retained earnings 

Description and purpose 

Amount  subscribed  for  share  capital  in  excess  of 
nominal value. 

All  other  net  gains  and  losses  and  transactions  with 
owners (e.g. dividends) not recognised elsewhere. 

26  Share capital and share premium 

Group and company 

At 1 January 2018 

Share issue 

Cost of share issue 

At 31 December 2018 

  Number of 
shares 

(thousands) 

Ordinary 
shares 

Share 
premium 

£’000 

£’000 

6,309 

2,166 

- 

8,475 

60 

315   

109 

- 

424 

- 

1,191 

(72) 

1,119 

Total 

£’000 

315 

1,300 

(72) 

1,543 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
 
 
 
 
Touchstar plc  

Notes to the Group financial statements for the year ended 
31 December 2018 (continued) 

26  Share capital and share premium (continued) 

On 17 January 2018 630,840 new Ordinary Shares of 5 pence each were issued at a price of 60 pence per share. 

On 13 February 2018 1,535,487 new Ordinary Shares were issued at a price of 60 pence per share. 

27  Operating lease commitments – minimum lease payments 

The Group’s aggregate commitment under non-cancellable operating leases is as follows:  

Leases expiring within one year 

Leases expiring later than one year 
but no later than five years 

Over five years 

2018 

2017 

Land and 
buildings 
£’000 

18 

89 

605 

712 

Other 
£’000 

11 

173 

- 

184 

Land and 
buildings 
£’000 

139 

96 

126 

361 

Other 
£’000 

74 

153 

- 

227 

The Group leases various offices under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The leases have various 
terms, escalation clauses and renewal rights.  

28  Capital commitments 

At the year end, the Group and Company had no capital commitments (2017: £nil). 

61 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Secretary and Registered Office 
N M Rourke   
1 George Square 
Glasgow 
G2 1AL 

Bankers 
Barclays Corporate Bank  
2nd Floor 
1 Park Row 
Leeds 
LS1 5AB 

Stockbroker and Financial Advisors 
WH Ireland Limited 
3rd Floor 
Royal House 
28 Sovereign Street 
Leeds 
LS1 4BJ 

Touchstar plc  

Group Information 

Registered Number in Scotland SC005543 

Touchstar plc 
7 Commerce Way 
Trafford Park 
Manchester 
M17 1HW 
T: +44 (0) 1274 741860 
E: investor@touchstar.com 
www.touchstar.com 

Independent Statutory Auditors 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and  
Statutory Auditors’ 
1 Hardman Square 
Manchester 
M3 3EB 

Solicitors 
Harrison Clark Rickerbys Limited 
5 Deansway  
Worcester 
WR1 2JG 

Registrars 
Nevilles Registrars Ltd 
Neville House 
18 Laurel Lane 
Halesowen 
B63 3DA 

62