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Tungsten Corporation Plc

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FY2014 Annual Report · Tungsten Corporation Plc
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Tungsten Corporation plc
Annual report and accounts 2014

Monetising the global  
supply chain

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Tungsten Corporation plc is 
a global electronic trading 
network headquartered 
in London, UK, with offices 
in Europe, North America 
and Asia Pacific. 

Our key business areas:
•  Tungsten Network: connecting buyers and 

suppliers through our global, fully compliant 
electronic invoicing network 

•  Tungsten Network Finance: automated 

supply chain finance. Includes UK-regulated 
Tungsten Bank

•  Tungsten Network Analytics: line-level 
spend analysis automating better buying 
decisions

We have built the first global, integrated 
network combining e-Invoicing, supply chain 
finance and spend analytics. With these 
capabilities, we aim to monetise the world’s 
supply chain and deliver:

•  $1,000 billion in annual invoice 

transaction value

•  $100 billion in annual financing 
•  $10 billion of annual cost savings 

Group overview
01  Highlights
02  Group at a glance

 Chief Executive’s review

Strategic report
04  Chairman’s statement
06  Business model
07  Group strategy
08 
10  Our markets
12  Financial review
16  Corporate social responsibility
17  Our employees
18  Principal risks and uncertainties

Directors’ report

20  Board of Directors 
22  Corporate governance report
26  Audit Committee report
27  Remuneration Committee report
28  Nomination Committee report
29  Accountability

Relations with shareholders
 Directors’ remuneration report

30 
33  Directors’ report
36 

 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Financial statements

37 
39 
40 

41 

42 

43 
44 

66 

Independent auditors’ report
 Consolidated income statement
 Consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income
 Consolidated statement of financial 
position
 Consolidated statement of  
changes in equity
 Consolidated statement of cash flows
 Notes to the consolidated financial 
statements
 Parent Company Independent 
auditors’ report

68  Parent Company balance sheet
69 

 Notes to the Parent Company financial 
statements

77  Shareholder information

 
Highlights

Tungsten Network
Invoice volume FY2014

Tungsten Network
Invoice value FY2014

12.5m e-Invoicing
0.9m Other – paper/PDF
13.4m

Total

$152.0bn e-Invoicing
$35.4bn Other – paper/PDF
$187.4bn

Total

Financial highlights

 > Listed on AIM, raising £160m of gross new money
 > FY2014 proforma Tungsten Network revenue growth 

of 11%

 > Post-tax loss for the year of £11.0m (prior period: £9.9m)

Operational highlights

 > Legal and tax-compliant invoicing in 46 countries
 > Transactions across 161 countries
 > 168,000 suppliers registered on our network 
 > Tungsten Network serves 55% of the Fortune 500 and 

67% of the FTSE 100 

 > $700bn Tungsten Network Analytics invoice repository

Business highlights

 > Acquired OB10, the global e-Invoicing platform. 

Rebranded as Tungsten Network

 > Completed the acquisition of a fully regulated and 
licensed UK bank. Rebranded as Tungsten Bank

 > Financed the first invoices through Tungsten Network 
Finance, an automated supply chain finance offering, 
built on and integrated with Tungsten Network 

 > Enhanced data and system security to a best-in-class 

level to achieve ISO 27001 certification 

 > New Tungsten Network buyer agreements with access 

to a potential £120bn of supplier invoices

 > First customers trialling our revolutionary Tungsten 

Network Analytics product

01

Chairman’s statement

“ The year will be remembered 
for many highlights: our 
admission to AIM, the 
acquisition of the world’s 
largest compliant e-Invoicing 
network and the development 
of Tungsten Bank.”

  p04 Read more about this

Chief Executive’s review

“ Financing our first invoices 
represents a watershed 
moment in Tungsten’s 
development and leaves us 
well positioned for an 
exciting year ahead.”

  p08 Read more about this

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements02

Group at a glance

Tungsten Corporation plc, admitted to AIM on 16 October 
2013, combines Tungsten Network, the global e-Invoicing 
network, Tungsten Network Finance, our supply chain 
finance service that includes Tungsten Bank, and Tungsten 
Network Analytics, a powerful product that identifies cost-
saving opportunities in real time.

Our business areas

Founded in 2000, Tungsten Network is 
the global e-Invoicing network built on 
OB10 that was bought by Tungsten in 
October 2013. Sitting at the heart of 
the Tungsten offering, it simplifies and 
streamlines the complex invoice-to-
pay process, offering legal and 
tax-compliant invoicing across 
multiple jurisdictions.

Tungsten Network connects many of 
the world’s largest companies and 
government agencies to their suppliers 
around the globe. It serves 55% of the 
Fortune 500 and 67% of the FTSE 100, 
enabling customers to send and 
receive compliant invoices. Buyers can 
reduce invoice-processing costs by 
60%; while suppliers gain efficiencies 
and peace of mind from greater 
visibility of the payment status of 
their invoices.

FY2014 highlights 
 › 124 buyers on the network
 › 168,000 suppliers registered to 

send invoices through the network

 › 13.4m invoices processed
 › Over $187bn of total invoice value

Tungsten aims to displace traditional 
lending institutions by offering 
supplier customers access to early 
payment on their approved invoices 
on the Tungsten Network Portal.

Tungsten Network Analytics 
combines our invoice archive of 
$700bn with a significantly enhanced 
spend analytics technology and 
powerful reporting interface. 

We are determined to meet and exceed 
the highest standards everywhere we 
operate and in June 2014 completed 
the acquisition of the fully licensed and 
regulated FIBI Bank (UK) plc, renamed 
Tungsten Bank plc.

FY2014 highlights
 › Built out the supply chain financing 
technical infrastructure to meet the 
UK’s stringent regulatory regime

 › Launched Tungsten Network 

Finance to selected suppliers on 
Tungsten Network

 › Completed the acquisition of 
Tungsten Bank post year end
 › Progressed key partnerships to 
support our financing capacity 
and operations 

Available real-time, Tungsten Network 
Analytics provides Tungsten Network 
buyer customers with line-level 
analysis that identifies price variances 
and supports contract compliance. It 
enables a four-way match of purchase 
orders, goods receipts, invoices and 
the lowest price previously paid for 
goods or services. The results of this, 
in turn, encourage buyers to bring 
more invoices onto the Tungsten 
Network to maximise cost savings.

FY2014 highlights
 › Agreed a five-year licensing 

 ›

agreement for spend 
analytics algorithms
Integrated technology with 
Tungsten Network and deployed a 
sophisticated reporting interface to 
launch Tungsten Network Analytics 
 › Commenced pilot projects with key 

Tungsten Network buyers 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201403

Monetising the global  
supply chain

Our global network

■  e-Invoicing compliant countries
■  Pipeline for future countries
  Location of key operations

We pride ourselves on our global reach 
and operations. With key offices in the 
UK, US, Bulgaria and Malaysia, we 
communicate with customers in 12 
core languages while using many 
more on a daily basis. To reflect and 
support our customer base, we recruit 
multi-cultural, multi-lingual staff, and 
continue to add new territories to the 
46 countries where we are compliant 
with e-Invoicing regulations around 
the world.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements04

Chairman’s statement

I am delighted to welcome you to 
Tungsten Corporation’s first Annual 
Report, and provide an update on 
the strategic and operational 
developments over the year and 
outline our plans for the future.

£160M

Money raised (gross)

£225M

Market capitalisation on admission

It has been a year of fantastic 
progress. We started with a vision to 
take advantage of the opportunities 
created by the economic crisis to 
acquire undervalued segments of the 
financial market and transform them 
through the application of disruptive 
technology and smarter management. 
We ended the year with a business that 
integrates an e-Invoicing network with 
supply chain finance and a spend 
analytics tool.

Tungsten’s admission to the Alternative 
Investment Market of the London Stock 
Exchange raised £160m in new money 
and was one of the largest since 2008. 
With a market capitalisation on 
admission of £225m, the placing was 
oversubscribed by high-calibre 
institutional investors. We are 
delighted with our shareholder base. 

We are well positioned to take advantage 
of the continued constriction of 
traditional bank lending to businesses; 
help organisations make more effective 
use of their data; and support 
governments as they drive process 
automation and tax compliance. 

By combining Tungsten Network Finance, 
Tungsten Network and our Tungsten 
Network Analytics product, we have 
introduced an unrivalled value-creation 
proposition to corporations and 
governments around the world. 

New talent
To complement the depth of experience 
of our Board, we welcomed Lincoln 
Jopp as COO in April. Having run 
international operations around the 
world, he is well qualified to support 
Tungsten in the delivery of our goals. 
Luke McKeever left the Board in April 
and I would like to thank him for his 
significant contribution to the business.

We have recruited many talented 
people to support the growth of 
Tungsten Network, Tungsten Bank and 
Tungsten Network Finance and I would 
like to take this opportunity to welcome 
them all to our business. I would also 
like to thank all our staff members 
around the world who are helping us 
break new ground as we realise our 
ambition to build the world’s largest 
electronic trading network. 

The year ahead
The new financial year has started 
positively with the completed acquisition 
of Tungsten Bank demonstrating our 
adherence and commitment to the 
highest standards of the Bank of 
England as our regulator.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201405

We have also launched the Tungsten 
Network Finance offering to select 
suppliers and will focus on controlled 
growth for our financing balance sheet 
over the year.

We will continue to invest in the 
development of Tungsten Network 
to improve the buyer and supplier 
experience, and complement our 
best-in-class security and compliance 
infrastructure. Our new buyer pipeline 
is strong and we look forward to 
welcoming new organisations to 
the network.

On behalf of the Board, I should like to 
thank our shareholders for their 
continued support.

Annual General Meeting
Our AGM will be on 22 September 2014 
at 88 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7QR, 
UK. 

Arnold Hoevenaars
Non-Executive Chairman 
Tungsten Corporation plc
7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements06

Business model

Building the world’s largest 
electronic trading network

We have introduced an unparalleled proposition to the 
market by combining an e-Invoicing supplier network, invoice 
financing with access to dedicated funds and market-leading 
spend analytics.

Buyers

FINANCE

TUNGSTEN  
NETWORK

ANALYTICS

Suppliers

Tungsten Network connects buyers 
to their thousands of suppliers 
around the world. 

Suppliers can raise invoices either 
directly through an integrated 
connection between their accounting 
systems and Tungsten Network or they 
can submit invoices through our online 
portal. Through our powerful rules
engine, Tungsten Network enables
suppliers to send tax-compliant 
invoices, while highlighting errors and
incomplete information. Through 
touchless invoice processing, buyers 
can reduce their costs by 60%.

Tungsten Network Finance offers 
suppliers the option to take early 
payment on approved invoices. This is 
facilitated by the Invoice Status Service 
on the Tungsten Network portal that 
allows suppliers to see the status of 
their invoices and when they will be 
paid. 

For buyers, Tungsten Network 
Analytics identifies real-time 
instances of price variance and 
opportunities for cost savings and 
improved spend management as they 
build up greater volumes of line-level 
invoice data in our repository.

124BUYERS

International and national corporations,  
and government bodies

168,000

SUPPLIERS
Small, medium and large corporations, 
government bodies and NGOs

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
07

Group strategy

Why do our 
customers  
use Tungsten?

Secure

 > Stable and secure systems
 > Experts in legal, tax and process compliance

Smart

 > Real-time insights 
 > Intelligent invoicing and cash management

Fast

 > Streamlined processes 
 > Faster payment
 > Automated, real-time analytics

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements08

Chief Executive’s review

Our goal of integrating e-Invoicing,  
spend analytics and supply chain  
finance became reality in FY2014. 

Tungsten Corporation has come a long 
way in a short time. Since our 
successful admission to AIM and 
completing the acquisition of OB10, we 
have developed and grown Tungsten 
Network while building the capacity to 
deliver both Tungsten Network Finance 
and Tungsten Network Analytics.

As indicated at the IPO, we have made 
significant investment in our people, 
systems and products in FY2014 and 
plan to do so further in FY2015. Our 
vision is to be a market-leading global 
force and we recognise the need to 
build a scalable platform, capable of 
sustaining 10 times the current volume. 
As well as a significant investment in 
systems and people, we are simplifying 
the network offering to give customers 
the best possible experience when they 
enrol and transact with Tungsten. 
These actions impact profitability in the 
short-term and are reflected in our 
EBITDA loss of £10.2m for the year. 

Current trading and recent events
Since the year end, we completed the 
acquisition of Tungsten Bank; our 
supply chain financing services will 
begin in July. 

Tungsten Network has increased 
adoption among existing buyer 
customers of its Invoice Status Service, 
which gives suppliers visibility of when 
invoices are approved, due to be paid 
or available for early payment. 

Typical new buyer earnings profile
Figure 1

Profit/
Loss

Time

* Not to scale

Six to nine months until
transactions are first processed

Notes:
1  http://spendmatters.com/2013/02/10/e-Invoicing-

2013-battle-barbarians-vikings-aliens/

We continue to attract high-calibre 
new buyers, including GE, which 
intends to rollout a multi-year global 
e-Invoicing programme, and 
Caterpillar, which is providing 
e-Invoicing to suppliers in the UK and 
Poland. Six additional buyers are at the 
implementation stage. We have 
redefined our buyer groups to align to 
our new customer relationship 
managment (CRM) strategy. Once all 
organisations are live, we will count 
124 buyers on Tungsten Network.

Revenue from new buyers is 
recognised over periods of up to three 
years so will not be immediately 
apparent in our reported results, 
which include up-front implementation 
costs (see figure 1). We expect to 
recognise revenues from the new 
buyers in implementation towards the 
end of FY2015. 

Once we achieve tax compliance in new 
countries, such as the recent additions of 
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, we will work 
with buyers and suppliers to increase 
network usage. We will continue our 
multi-million pound investment in 
compliance, rules mapping and CRM, 
which are key building blocks in achieving 
our growth targets. 

We have talked to many of our current 
and prospective customers in the 
private and public sectors, and are 
encouraged by their appetite for 
automation, analytics and alternative 
sources of finance. They tell us that 
they want to work smartly by 
eliminating waste and fraud, make 
better-informed decisions and pursue 
growth through greater access to 
finance. Our ambition to monetise the 
global supply chain will help 
customers meet these aims, reduce 
uncertainty and improve compliance.

At its core, Tungsten Corporation 
features an integrated global 
e-Invoicing network, innovative spend 
analytics technology and automated 
supply-chain finance with dedicated 
funding. Standalone, each element is a 
market-leading offering, but combined, 
we have created a unique proposition 
that has been described as ‘the shot 
heard around the world’.1

We have a clear vision for each of our 
business areas with well-defined paths 
towards achieving them.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201409

Tungsten Network 
Aim: to achieve $1,000 billion in 
annual invoice flow
Tungsten Network, built on OB10 
e-Invoicing, sits at the heart of our 
business. Our e-Invoicing services 
deliver efficiencies to our customers 
from touchless, paperless processing. 
The network also provides the invoice 
transaction data for Tungsten Network 
Analytics, and the portal that introduces 
the Tungsten Network Finance early 
payment proposition to suppliers. 

Our focus for the coming year is to 
increase the volume of invoices through 
the network by attracting new 
corporate and governmental buyers 
and suppliers, and increasing the 
proportion of existing buyers’ invoices 
that flow through the network. We 
believe we can grow volumes to our 
$1,000bn goal just by rolling out 
e-Invoicing to our current buyers 
globally and fully penetrating their 
supply base. A particular focus is on 
extending our Invoice Status Service 
(ISS) to more buyers, which gives 
suppliers visibility of the progress of 
their invoices and payment dates and 
reduces their accounts payable queries. 
Initially, only ISS-enabled invoices will 
be considered for early payment by 
Tungsten Network Finance.

Maintaining our rigorous adherence to 
local tax and commercial compliance 
will remain a priority so that our 
customers can continue to trade with 
confidence through our network. To 
meet their demands for expansion we 
will increase the number of countries 
where we provide compliant invoicing 
and have recently added Brazil, Turkey, 
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, taking our 
portfolio to 46 countries. With greater 
geographic coverage, more of our 
customers can extend their 
programmes globally giving us access to 
more suppliers to enrol on the network.

We intend to make our registration 
process simpler and swifter by 
investing in fully automated enrolment 
for suppliers, and are reviewing our 
pricing structures to match the price 
our customers pay with the 
considerable value that we provide. We 
are confident in our value provision and 
will not offer uneconomic services in 
the future. Accordingly, we have started 
to convert those customers for whom 
we process ‘paper’ invoices to 
electronic invoices and have made 
considerable strides in this area.

We intend to stay at the forefront of the 
global adoption of e-Invoicing by working 
with Fortune 2000 companies and G20 
governments. We will continue to grow 
our capabilities and partnerships, such 
as the reseller agreements we formed 
this year with PNC Bank in the US and 
Buzón E in Mexico. In preparation for 
the recent EU Directive on e-Invoicing 
in Public Procurement that will mandate 
the acceptance of e-Invoicing by public 
bodies, we have secured accreditation 
by the UK Government’s G-Cloud 5 
Framework and have commenced a pilot 
project for the German government with 
potential roll-out to the whole public 
sector. In addition, the US Department of 
Veterans Affairs has secured 
congressional approval to mandate the 
use of e-Invoicing. Tungsten Network is 
the sole e-Invoicing network supported 
for use by its suppliers.

Integral to all of our activities will 
be to maintain our stringent focus on 
data and network security. We have 
upgraded the network protections, 
put network integrity at the top of 
the management agenda and ended 
interoperation agreements with 
networks that do not reach our 
high standards.

Tungsten Network Finance
Aim: $100 billion annual finance flow
Subsequent to the year-end, in June 
2014, we were delighted to secure 
approval from the Prudential Regulatory 
Authority (PRA) of the Bank of England 
to acquire FIBI Bank (UK) plc, now 
renamed Tungsten Bank plc. This was 
one of the first applications to be 
approved for change in control since 
formation of the PRA and FCA, and 
demonstrates the capability of our 
technical infrastructure, risk 
management compliance and oversight.

We invested heavily in developing the 
operational, technological and 
governance structures to operate 
Tungsten Bank and Tungsten Network 
Finance to the highest standards and 
have conducted successful live trials to 
selected suppliers. We will increase the 
global availability of finance for invoice 
discounting, especially for the growing 
volume of cross-border trade. Our 
simple and transparent transactional 
experience is supported by a dynamic 
pricing model that is flexed by time, 
supplier demand and credit worthiness.

To enable us to offer early payment to 
suppliers around the world, we are 
establishing financing structures in new 
geographies through Tungsten Bank and 
other financing vehicles or partnerships. 
We are doing this while maintaining our 
governance standards to meet and 
exceed current and potential future 
regulatory requirements.

Tungsten Network Analytics
Aim: $10 billion annual cost savings
The development of a powerful, 
real-time spend analytics product as 
part of our Tungsten Network services 
has generated significant interest 
among our existing customers and 
industry commentators.

By analysing line-level invoice data, 
customers can quickly review price-
variance information that has been 
difficult for procurement and finance 
teams to access. Traditional price-
variance tools have tended to operate 
at a category level based on, at best, 
month-old data. To enhance the 
product we have built and introduced 
an intuitive user interface and deployed 
the system to the cloud. 

Our tool can also automatically 
check invoices as they are received 
by the network, highlighting any that 
appear to have an adverse price 
variance. This drives cost savings and 
reduces the workload for the buyers’ 
procurement departments.

Our work with six pilot customers has 
identified price variances of $1.7bn to 
date, with possible savings of between 
0.5% and 4.2% of spend processed 
through Tungsten Network. Using 
these results, we will move to full 
product deployment across Europe 
and the US. We also intend to improve 
the product’s functionality to deliver 
even greater insights. 

Tungsten Network Analytics will prove 
to be a driver for increasing 
transaction flow across Tungsten 
Network as procurement teams seek 
further data for the line-item visibility 
we provide.

Edmund Truell
Group Chief Executive Officer
7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements10

Our markets

The global opportunity

e-Invoicing has passed the 
tipping point with businesses 
and governments around the 
world adopting it as the 
cornerstone for efficient, 
accurate and transparent 
invoice processing.

Global market for receivables financing 
(in the form of factoring)

€2.2TR
170BN

Invoices sent globally

We operate in a diverse range of 
markets with significant political, 
commercial and regulatory activity 
that we seek to influence.

Estimated market sizes
Electronic invoicing
There is limited reliable research into 
the size of the global e-Invoicing 
market. Billentis estimates that at least 
170bn invoices (excluding invoices to 
consumers) will be exchanged around 
the world in 2014 with over 8% (14bn) 
of these sent electronically.2 The level 
of penetration across territories varies 
significantly with an estimated 17bn 
of invoices expected in Europe in 2014, 
of which 24% (4bn) is expected to 
be electronic. 

Billentis includes PDFs (electronic 
paper) within its estimate. PDFs offer 
few process efficiencies to buyers. 
We believe that the Billentis European 
estimate could be reduced to c1.7bn 
of true e-Invoices, as below.

Billentis and Spend Matters predict 
that the proportion of e-Invoicing will 
continue to show strong growth by 
replacing paper.3 We expect electronic 
data interchange (EDI) connections to 
move to network-based e-Invoicing. 
While PDF usage will continue to 
grow, it will primarily be low-value 
transactions between SMEs.

“It very well could be the 
future of how procurement 
and finance organisations 
together look at spend and 
supplier analytics on a near 
real-time basis using network 
data exhaust rather than 
taking an ‘extract, transform, 
load’ or batch-based 
approach to manually 
extracting data 
from systems.”7 

Jason Busch
Spend Matters

availability of traditional forms of 
financing and the ease of use and 
low operational cost advantages of 
the new Tungsten Network Finance 
technology platform.

The global market for receivables 
financing in the form of factoring was 
over €2.2tr in 2013, an increase of 4.6% 
from 2012.8 Of this, €1.2tr was in the 
EU, including €300bn in the UK.9 
Factoring excludes other forms of 
receivables financing therefore the 
total addressable market for supply 
chain financing globally is in excess 
of €2.2tr.

Tungsten is ideally placed with our 
unique proposition and our customer 
profile of governmental bodies, 
and global and national corporates 
to take advantage of the market’s 
continued growth.

An average of £14bn of asset-based 
finance was in use at any one time in the 
UK over the 12 months to May 2014, an 
increase of 29% since the height of the 
recession in 2009/10. In the same period 
net traditional lending fell by 19%.10

Receivables financing
Tungsten Network Finance aims to 
disrupt the market for receivables 
financing, driven by the constrained 

Spend analytics
Within the procurement market, 68% 
of Chief Procurement Officers are 
investing in supplier insight through 

Estimated European invoicing market size

Addressable volume

Non-addressable

True e-Invoicing (including EDI)
Paper and PDF

1.7bn4
9.9bn

0.04bn5
5.4bn6 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
 
11

Global factoring industry 2013 by region

Global factoring industry
2013 by region

All figures given in €bn

2013

1,354
599
192
23
62

2,230

2012

% Change

1,298
572
188
23
50

2,132

4.3%
4.7%
2.1%
0%
24%

4.6%

Tax collection
The use of e-Invoicing supports 
government visibility of all invoices and 
tax obligations before delivery to the 
customer. This fiscal ‘clearance’ model 
has already been mandated in Mexico 
and Brazil. In Mexico, between 2007 
and 2009, the Tax Administration 
Service lost $3.4bn through 
‘apocryphal invoicing’.14 With estimates 
that £1 in every £10 of sales in the UK 
are undeclared to tax authorities we 
expect more countries to follow.15

The results of mandating e-Invoicing 
can be significant for governments: 
Brazil’s e-Invoicing mandate has 
helped to reduce the gap created by 
the shadow economy from 20.1% of 
GDP in 2006 to 16.2% in 2013.16

Tungsten will continue to actively work 
with global governments and influential 
industry bodies to promote the 
e-Invoicing mandate and the promotion 
of alternative sources of finance. 

Europe
Asia
Americas
Africa
Others

Total

Source: Factors Chain International

analytics.11 In addition, overall IT 
investment in B2B analytics is set 
to grow 10.6% in 2014.12 Tungsten 
Network Analytics is the only spend 
analytics provider that can offer 
line-level analysis in real time.

Other market dynamics
Governments around the world are 
helping to develop the market by 
mandating the use of electronic 
invoicing. Tungsten’s offering is ideally 
placed to take advantage of these events.

Process efficiency
Governments have a responsibility to 
taxpayers to operate efficiently. The 
recent EU Directive on e-Invoicing in 
Public Procurement requires that all 
EU administrations accept electronic 
invoices based on a common standard 
by 2018. 

In the US, certain government 
departments have mandated 
electronic submission, including the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, which 
directs suppliers to Tungsten Network.

The UK government also recognised 
the cost savings from e-Invoicing in the 
recent Parliamentary Inquiry into the 
slow adoption of e-Invoicing in the 
public sector, to which we were 
delighted to contribute.13

60% Europe
27% Asia
9%
1% Africa
3% Others

Americas

Notes:
2.   Koch, Bruno, e-Invoicing/e-Billing, Key Stakeholders 

as Game Changers, Billentis, 6 May 2014

3.   Busch, J & Mitchell, P, Supplier Network Forecast: 
2014 Market Growth, Analysis, and Predictions, 21 
February 2014, www.spendmatters.com
4.   Compares to the FY2014 Tungsten Network 

European volume of 6.5m

5.  EDI relationships that we consider are unlikely to 

move to true e-Invoicing

6.  Our estimate of the number of invoices sent 
between SMEs, which is not an active target 
market for Tungsten Network 

7.   Busch, J, Tungsten/OB10 Releases Networked, 

Invoice-Based Spend Analytics: Impressions and 
Implications, 13 May 2014, www.spendmatters.com 

8.   Factors Chain International, FCI’s Much Awaited 
Figures for 2013 Worldwide Factoring Industry, 8 
April 2014, www.fci.nl

9.   EU Federation for the Factoring and Commercial 
Finance Industry, Factoring Turnover in EU, http://
www.euf.eu.com/factoring-turnover/facts-and-
figures/factoring-turnover-in-eu/menu-id-18.html 
10.  Asset Based Finance Association, Record Year for 
Asset Based Finance as Businesses Step Up 
Borrowing Against Invoices to Fund Growth, 27 
May 2014, www.abfa.org.uk

11.   Deloitte, Global CPO Survey 2013, www.deloitte.com
12.  Gartner, Gartner Says Worldwide IT Spending on 

Pace to Reach $3.8 Trillion in 2014, 6 January 2014, 
www.gartner.com

13.  McPartland, S, Electronic Invoicing: The next 

Steps Towards Digital Government, 30 April 2014
14.  The Economist, Electronic Arm-Twisting, 17 May 

2014

15.  Tax Research UK, In the Shade: Research on the UK’s 
Missing Economy, May 2014, www.taxresearch.org.uk
16.  Brazilian Institute for Ethics in Competition (ETCO) 
and the Brazilian Institute of Economics, Getulio 
Vargas Foundation (FGV / IBRE), Underground 
Economy Index, 28 May 2013, www.etco.org.br 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements 
12

Financial review

Investment in growth

Highlights

 > £160m equity funding raised on admission to AIM
 > Completed acquisition of OB10 (now Tungsten 
Network) for £73m in cash and £28m in equity
 > Tungsten Network proforma revenue increased 

by 11% to £19.5m (FY2013: £17.6m)

 > Tungsten Group EBITDA loss of £10.2m 

(FY2013: loss of £9.9m)

 > Post-tax loss of £11.0m (prior period: £9.9m)

Overview and Group trading performance
On 19 March 2013, we reached an agreement for the 
acquisition of FIBI Bank (UK) plc, subject to the necessary 
regulatory clearances. A deposit of £1.2m was paid at that 
time. Over the period 1 May 2013 to 30 April 2014, further 
deposit payments of £2.8m were made. The acquisition was 
completed after the end of the FY2014 reporting period, on 
10 June 2014. All deposit payments made were deductible 
against the final consideration of £29.3m.

On 16 October 2013, we were admitted to AIM, raising £160m 
(£149m net of costs), and completed the acquisition of OB10 
Limited for a total of £73m in cash and £28m in equity. Our 
reported results include the results of OB10 Limited (now 
Tungsten Network Limited) only for the period since 
the acquisition.

On 22 October 2013, we announced our agreement with @UK 
plc (now Cloudbuy plc) for the licensing of spend analytics 
algorithms. To date we have made payments totaling £0.5m to 
Cloudbuy pursuant to our five-year licensing agreement. The 
spend analytics software forms part of Tungsten Network 
Analytics, which sits in our Tungsten Network business.

Since our admission to AIM we have made significant 
investment in the people, infrastructure and working capital 
of Tungsten Network Finance, Tungsten Network and 
Tungsten Network Analytics, and the integration between 
them. We spent £9m in FY2014 on customer acquisition, 
systems development and the global expansion of the Group 
and expect to make additional investments in these areas in 
FY2015.

At 30 April 2014, the Group had cash balances of £62.6m. In 
June 2014, we invested £25.1m on the acquisition of 
Tungsten Bank into which we have injected a further £5m of 
capital. At 30 June 2014, the Bank held cash or cash 
equivalents of £25m. We do not consider cash held by 
Tungsten Bank when reviewing the Group’s cash 
requirements.

Earnings summary

Tungsten Network
Tungsten Network Finance
Corporate
Non-cash share-based payments

EBITDA

FY2014
£’000

(1,288) 
(1,851) 
(7,035) 
 – 

FY2013
£’000

 – 
 – 
(4,905) 
(5,040) 

(10,174) 

(9,945) 

Depreciation and amortisation

(765) 

 – 

Loss from operations

(10,939) 

(9,945) 

Net finance (cost)/income 
Taxation

Loss for the year

(201) 
125

 20 
 – 

(11,015) 

(9,925) 

Group EBITDA
Tungsten Network reflects the results of Tungsten Network 
Limited for the period from 16 October 2013 to 30 April 2014.

Tungsten Network Finance reflects costs incurred by 
Tungsten Corporation plc in the acquisition of Tungsten Bank 
and the development of our supply chain finance business.

Corporate reflects the costs incurred in making our 
acquisitions, the Board, Group management and head office 
running costs.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
13

Tungsten Network

Tungsten Network Finance

As reported (post acquisition only)
Revenue
Operating costs

EBITDA

Pro-forma (full 12 months)
Revenue
Operating costs

EBITDA – excluding non-cash 

share-based payments

EBITDA – including non-cash 

share-based payments

FY2014
£’000

FY2013
£’000

 10,767 
(12,055) 

(1,288) 

 – 
 – 

 – 

FY2014
£’000

FY2013
£’000

 19,501 
(26,324) 

 17,631 
(20,700) 

(2,747) 

(2,564) 

(6,823) 

(3,069) 

Tungsten Group’s reported EBITDA loss for the period 
includes an EBITDA loss in respect of Tungsten Network of 
£1.3m (prior period: nil).

On a pro-forma annualised basis, the Tungsten Network 
EBITDA loss for the year to 30 April 2014 was £2.7m (prior 
period: £2.6m loss). This is before a share-based payment 
charge of £4.1m, which was incurred in October 2013 prior to 
the acquisition by Tungsten (2013: £0.5m). 

Pro-forma annualised revenue for Tungsten Network for the 
year to 30 April 2014 was £19.5m (prior period: £17.6m), an 
increase of 11%.

Revenue
Overheads

EBITDA

FY2014
£’000

–
(1,851)

(1,851)

FY2013
£’000

–
–

–

Tungsten Group incurred costs associated with the Tungsten 
Network Finance business totalling £1.9m in the year (prior 
period: nil). This includes regulatory costs, costs of the 
development of policies and procedures, software 
development and staffing costs.

Tungsten Network Finance did not earn any revenue in the 
period.

Corporate

Revenue
Staff costs
Professional support
Office accommodation and services
Transaction cost
IT costs
Irrecoverable VAT
Other

FY2014
£’000

2
(1,620)
(1,593)
(417)
(2,300)
(191)
(740)
(176)

FY2013
£’000

–
(592) 
 (358) 
 (277) 
 (3,340) 
 – 
 (134) 
 (204) 

EBITDA

(7,035)

 (4,905) 

The corporate EBITDA loss totalled £7.0m (prior period: £4.9m).

This excludes £10.8m of costs incurred in connection with 
the admission onto AIM, which have been taken directly to 
the share premium account.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements14

Financial review continued

Balance sheet
Non-current assets

Non-current assets
  Goodwill
  Customer relationships
  IT platform
  Capitalised software
  Software development

Total intangible assets

  Property, plant and equipment
  Trade and other receivables

Total non-current assets

FY2014
£’000

FY2013
£’000

 98,695 
 10,703 
 3,970 
 500 
 331 

 114,199 

 1,734 
 – 

 115,933 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 220 

 220 

Non-current assets have increased by £115.7m to £115.9m 
driven by the acquisition of OB10 Limited, which as at 30 
April 2014 comprised £114.2m. 

Current assets

Trade receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Prepaid consideration for 

acquisition

Other current assets

Total current assets

FY2014
£’000

 3,529 
 62,646 

 3,990 
 2,496 

 72,661 

FY2013
£’000

 – 
 3,397 

 1,200 
 85 

 4,682 

a)   Trade receivables

Trade receivables of £3.5m (prior period: nil) reflect amounts owed to 
Tungsten Network by its customers, net of impairment loss provision.

b)   Cash and cash equivalents.

Cash and short term deposits of £62.6m (prior period: £3.4m) was primarily 
held in sterling at the Group’s banks, HSBC and SG Hambros.

c)   Prepaid consideration for acquisition

Prepaid consideration reflects amounts paid as deposits for the acquisition of 
FIBI Bank (UK) and totalled £4.0m at 30 April 2014 (prior period: £1.2m).

d)  Other current assets 

Represent £1.1m of prepayments, £0.4m of VAT receivable and £1m other, 
which includes rent deposit.

The Group incurred software costs associated with the 
building of the Tungsten Network Finance infrastructure 
totalling £0.3m.

Liabilities

The Group incurred £1.3m of costs associated with the 
redevelopment of our new head office, Pountney Hill House, 
to house Tungsten Corporation, Tungsten Bank and the 
operation of Tungsten Network London.

Trade and other payables
Deferred revenue

Current liabilities

Deferred taxation

Non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

a)  Trade and other payables

FY2014
£’000

6,774
 7,797 

 14,571 

 2,935 

 2,935 

FY2013
£’000

 177 
– 

 177 

0

 – 

 17,506 

 177 

Trade and other payables include £3.9m owed by Tungsten Network and 
£2.8m owed by Tungsten Corporation on its own behalf and on behalf of 
Tungsten Network Finance.

b)  Deferred revenue

Deferred revenue represents the fair value of Tungsten Network revenue 
invoiced to customers for services to be performed in subsequent periods.

c)   Deferred taxation

Represents £3.06m recognised on the acquisition of Tungsten Network less 
£0.13m credited to the income statement in the period.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15

Forward-looking information
This document contains certain statements that are neither 
reported financial results nor other historical information. 
These statements are forward-looking in nature and are 
subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual future results 
may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by 
these statements.

Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that 
are beyond Tungsten’s ability to control or estimate 
precisely, such as future market conditions, currency 
fluctuations, the behaviour of other market participants, the 
actions of governmental regulators and other risk factors 
such as changes in the political, social and regulatory 
framework in which the Group operates or in economic or 
technological trends or conditions, including inflation and 
consumer confidence, on a global, regional or national basis.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these 
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date 
of this document. Tungsten does not undertake any 
obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-
looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after 
the date of this document. Information contained in this 
document relating to the Group should not be relied upon as 
a guide to future performance.

Cash flow

Cash flow from operating activities
Cash flow from investing activities
Cash flow from financing activities
Increase in cash

Opening cash
Closing cash

FY2014
£’000

(8,094)
(77,030)
144,373
59,249

FY2013
£’000

(5,013)
(1,200)
9,610
3,397

3,397
62,646

–
3,397

Cash outflow from operating activities increased to £8.1m 
(prior period: £5.0m), reflecting investment in systems, 
products and working capital.

We are implementing a number of working capital initiatives 
that we expect to have a positive impact on our future trade 
debtor position.

Liquidity and going concern
At 30 April 2014, the Group had cash on hand and short-
term deposits of £62.6m. The Group has no borrowings.

We expect to have sufficient cash resources to fund the 
committed activities of the Group for at least 12 months 
from the date of these financial statements. Additional 
funding to support the lending capacity of Tungsten Network 
Finance will be sought from external sources with a range of 
funding sources being considered.

The Group’s forecasts and projections, taking account of 
reasonably possible changes in trading performance and 
the timing of the growth in Tungsten Network Finance, show 
that the Group has sufficient liquidity to fund its committed 
expenditure. Accordingly, the Group continues to adopt the 
going concern basis.

Treasury management
The Group’s treasury management process is outlined on 
pages 61–63.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements 
16

Corporate social responsibility

A socially responsible 
company and service

Our services reduce the impact that paper-based processes 
have on the environment, and our own operations 
and employees around the world are dedicated to supporting 
their local environment and communities.

Our community
Our employees are also aware of their 
environment and support their local 
communities. Our team in Atlanta 
recently volunteered over a weekend 
at a local food bank where they sorted 
12,329lbs of food and prepared 
10,000 meals. 

Employees in Sofia have volunteered 
for the Cedar Foundation, a charity that 
brings community services to children 
and young adults deprived of parental 
care. They helped with gardening, 
decorating and taking the children on 
outings. In London, various activities 
have raised money for charities 
including Macmillan Cancer Support.

A traditional invoice typically uses 
three pieces of paper – the original, 
a copy and an envelope – and then 
requires transportation and storage.

In Europe alone there is an estimated 
15.3bn paper invoices still in 
circulation. This volume will cost our 
planet 5.5m trees. The energy required 
to ship and store these invoices could 
run the average car for 408m miles 
(more than the distance between Earth 
and Jupiter) and equates to 19.4m 
pounds of air pollution. 

These environmental benefits form 
part of the business case for most 
businesses to adopt electronic 
invoicing. At our annual customer 
event in February 2014, the Tungsten 
Green Awards recognised the 
organisations that have significantly 
reduced their impact on the 
environment through our services.

The associated reduction in tax evasion 
and purchasing fraud from the 
transparency and control provided by 
e-Invoicing also generate broad social 
benefits. Governments make better 
decisions on behalf of their citizens and 
it enables all organisations to avoid 
making improper payments.

Our environment
Concern for the environment is a core 
element of Tungsten’s corporate 
culture. All of our offices use energy 
and paper conscientiously with a 
paperless office rule. 

Tungsten Corporation recently moved 
into new headquarters in London. 
Plans for the building’s refit aimed to 
keep the environmental impact to a 
minimum. Key elements include the 
use of LED light fittings, which use 
40% less energy, and occupation 
sensors that ensure lighting is only 
used when required. Careful water and 
heating management also keep overall 
consumption levels low. 

The core applications and production 
environments that support our services 
are almost 100% virtualised externally. 
Where we do require servers, they are 
in data centres that are designed to 
maintain a low carbon footprint, and 
actively manage their own carbon 
monitoring and reporting through 
power-metering at device level. 

Internally, Tungsten Network uses 
virtualisation technology wherever 
possible and will be 100% virtual by 
August 2014. This has significantly 
reduced the power used by our 
corporate network and the level of 
cooling required in our server facility. 
We also use recycled paper, and web 
and telephone conference facilities 
where possible.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
17

period. The plan will launch in 
July 2014

 – Employee matched share 

scheme: Existing employees 
must buy and hold Tungsten 
shares for 54 months to 
benefit from a matched option 
exercisable at an option price 
that has been set at a hurdle 
to the current market value. 
Up to 3m shares to satisfy the 
options will all be sold by 
Rockhopper Investments 
Limited, the vehicle of the 
Truell family, to an employee 
benefit trust at the same 
market value option price. The 
plan will launch in July 2014
Improving employee recruitment 
and management: The organisation 
has to grow quickly. In response, we 
are expanding our talent sources, 
improving our hiring and 
onboarding processes and making 
our talent management and 
development systems more robust. 
We have budgeted for and will be 
committing greater resources to 
the training and development of 
our people

 › Customer and service delivery: we 
have reshaped Tungsten Network to 
emphasise the importance of the 
customer, with clear responsibilities 
for our relationships with both 
buyers and suppliers

Our employees

We are Tungsten

Tungsten Corporation supports our customers in 12 
languages. We are proud of the high-calibre, culturally 
diverse people who have elected to work with us, and share 
their skills and knowledge with our customers and partners.

We are bringing onboard people who 
value teamwork, innovation and 
integrity, and display passion for 
delivering the best.

We are committed to rewarding our 
employees with competitive 
compensation and promoting a 
pay-for-performance culture. Key 
initiatives include:

 › Performance management: we 
have upgraded our performance 
management system and appraisal 
process to ensure we are 
transparent in how we monitor and 
evaluate staff at regular intervals 
throughout the year

 › Compensation review: We have 

 ›

amended our compensation plans 
to promote superior client service, 
transparency, and greater 
collaborative working and 
alignment with our KPIs:
•  Spot bonus plan: We have 
introduced the ability for 
managers to quickly and visibly 
recognise specific achievements 
or behaviours by teams or 
individuals

•  Share-based plans: 

 – Save as you earn (SAYE): A 
tax-efficient share-savings 
plan offering options over 
Tungsten shares at 20% 
discount in exchange for 
savings over a three-year 

Number of employees (30 April 2014)

Values and culture
Following the acquisitions of OB10 and 
FIBI, we are an organisation in 
transition. The culture of the newly 
combined businesses is aligned to the 
needs of our clients and our people.

Our values describe our underlying 
code of practice and behaviour as 
members of Tungsten Corporation, to 
which we require adherence:

 ›

Integrity – We do the right thing, for 
the right reasons

 › Empathy – We approach everything 
from our customers’ perspectives 
to help achieve their goals

 › Confidence – Our market-leading 

network and best practices give us 
and our customers confidence 
 › Simplicity – We remove complexity 
and create clarity for customers
 › Reliability – We are great to work 
with, and ensure our services and 
technology deliver our promises 
every time

 › Foresight – We give customers the 
information they need to make 
smarter decisions

 › Flexibility – We are comfortable 

with change and are ready to adapt 
to an evolving market. That is how 
we stay ahead

Refocusing HR
A key priority for FY2015 is to improve 
our ability to recruit, incentivise, retain 
and develop our key personnel. We are 
overhauling the legacy HR processes 
inherited through the acquisitions and 
seek to build trust in the Board and 
management. 

In FY2015, we will create over 100 new 
jobs throughout Tungsten Corporation. 

Full time
Part time

UK

87
3

90

Europe

3
–

3

US

39
1

40

Bulgaria

APac

6
–

6

89
–

89

Total

224
4

228

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements18

Principal risks and uncertainties

Managing the financial, operational and reputational risks across each 
of our businesses and operations is critical to our success. We consider 
these risks in accordance with our governance procedures set out on 
page 29.

Our risk management processes include having employees dedicated to:

Identifying and evaluating risks

 ›
 › Anticipating new risks or changes to risk profiles
 › Monitoring risks and mitigants

Our customers and other stakeholders expect us to maintain the highest standards of risk management. Below we highlight 
the key areas of risk that we have identified in our business and on the following pages provide further detail.

Risk profile
Increasing
 › Availability of sufficient liquidity to 

meet growth expectations

 › Compliance with local tax, legal and 

regulatory regimes

 › Data protection and security 

Risk

Strategic

IT systems failure 

Stable
 ›
 › Political 
 › Retention of key personnel
 › Commercial failure of products

Decreasing
 › Concentration on major customer(s)
 › Failure of critical supplier 
 › Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption

Impact

Mitigation

Tungsten delivers new and market-changing 
products and services that rely on legal 
frameworks to permit use of its services. There 
is a risk that political factors influence the 
development of services.

We are subject to governmental action that 
restricts our growth.

Customers use Tungsten Network as it offers 
full tax and legal compliance for e-Invoicing. We 
could fail to comply with changes in this area.

Loss claims from customers. Damage to 
reputation. 

Tungsten’s supply chain financing will operate 
under a strict regulatory regime. There is a risk 
that we do not meet regulatory standards.

Our products become unavailable. Failure to 
meet our growth plans. Reputational damage. 
Significant fines.

Tungsten is adding new products and services in 
Tungsten Network Finance and Tungsten 
Network Analytics. There is a risk that these are 
not commercially successful.

Failure to meet our growth plans.

In many global jurisdictions there is currently no 
regulation of supply chain finance. There is a risk 
that this is introduced.

Our products become unavailable. Failure to 
meet our growth plans. Reputational damage. 
Significant fines.

We have employees and use external advisers to 
work with governments in our key operating 
jurisdictions to support policy development. 
There is ever increasing governmental support 
for both e-Invoicing and alternative sources of 
finance. 

We work with some of the world’s leading tax 
and compliance advisers who support our 
country compliance and new country roll-out 
programme.

The PRA and FCA approved our acquisition of 
Tungsten Bank. We have appointed an 
independent Board to Tungsten Bank that 
actively monitors compliance with ongoing 
regulatory requirements and other key risks.

We conducted significant due diligence prior to 
our admission to AIM to understand the market 
opportunities. Subsequently we have designed 
our products to meet the market needs and 
received positive feedback in initial trials. We will 
continue to monitor and if necessary amend our 
new products.

We are developing our Tungsten Network 
Finance products and policies to comply with 
relevant regulatory regimes. We shall ensure 
that we consider any newly introduced global 
regulation as part of our risk infrastructure.

Tungsten works with some of the world’s biggest 
companies. There is a risk that these companies 
may stop doing business with Tungsten.

Failure to meet our growth plans.

No one customer accounts for greater than 5% of 
revenues. We have created a new CRM structure 
to improve service to our current customer base.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201419

Risk

Impact

Mitigation

Technological & Operational

Tungsten Network has a highly developed and 
complex IT infrastructure. There is a risk of 
information security breach or cyber attack.

Our products become unavailable. Reputational 
damage. Loss claims. 

Tungsten Network has processed over $700bn 
of invoices and holds a significant volume of 
customer data. There is a risk of data protection 
breach.

Uninsured loss claims from customers. 
Reputational damage.

We use multiple hosting centres and have 
developed a detailed disaster recovery plan. We 
have been awarded ISO 27001 certification, the 
international standard describing best practice 
for an Information Security Management System.

We have extensive controls to ensure adherence 
to data protection and security awareness 
policies. We received a clean report under 
International Standards for Assurance 
Engagements (ISAE) 3402 Assurance Reports on 
Controls at a Service Organisation.

Tungsten has built Tungsten Network with the 
support of market-leading external IT suppliers. 
There is a risk of failure/closure of a supplier.

Our products become unavailable. Reputational 
damage.

We review the relationship with and financial 
position of our key suppliers on a regular basis. 
Our key suppliers have ISO 27001 certification.

Tungsten Network uses third-party software to 
interact with some buyers. There is a risk of 
failure or underperformance of this software.

Our products become unavailable. Reputational 
damage.

Financial

Tungsten Network Finance is a new offering to 
the lending market. We could have insufficient 
financial resources to meet demand.

Liquidity constraints. Failure to meet our growth 
plans.

The additional liquidity that Tungsten will seek to 
meet growth plans will be subject to unknown 
pricing or availability.

Failure to meet our growth plans.

Tungsten Network Finance may be subject to 
non-payment by its customers.

Failure to meet our growth plans.

People

Tungsten has customers in 161 countries around 
the world. While we have governance processes 
in place to mitigate the risk of fraud, corruption 
and other unethical behaviour, these do not 
guarantee this will not take place.

Fraudulent acts could result in financial loss. 
Reputational damage.

We review the relationship with and financial 
position of our key suppliers on a regular basis. 
Our key suppliers have ISO 27001 certification.
We constantly review ways to develop our 
software to reduce reliance on third parties. 

We have agreed liquidity levels with the PRA and 
have held initial discussions with a range of 
funding providers to augment and diversify our 
capital base. These will be progressed at the 
appropriate time to meet liquidity requirements.

We have held initial discussions with a range of 
funding providers to assess appetite and 
funding. We believe that the pricing of funding 
will decrease once we are able to demonstrate a 
fully operational business model.

All lending by Tungsten Network Finance will be 
against invoices that have been approved for 
payment by the buyers on Tungsten Network.
We have introduced credit analytics procedures 
to assess the credit of both buyers and suppliers 
and the pricing of lending will be flexed to 
recognise this.

We have documented policies relating to 
business conduct, adopt a zero-tolerance 
approach to deviations and have whistle-blowing 
procedures in place. 

Tungsten Network Finance conducts ‘know your 
customer’ and anti-money laundering checks on 
all customers.

Tungsten relies on high-performing personnel to 
manage and grow our business. We could suffer 
unplanned departures.

Loss of knowledge/skills within the business and 
delayed project delivery.

We promote personal development, and offer 
training to nurture and retain employees.

We carry out regular reviews of remuneration 
and will be launching a new remuneration plan, 
including incentive packages, in July 2014.

Succession planning for key management is an 
important issue on the Board agenda.

Edmund Truell
Group Chief Executive Officer
7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements20

Board of Directors

Arnold Hoevenaars
Non-Executive Chairman
(Age 65)

Among other positions, 
Arnold is Chairman of the 
Internal Supervisory 
Committee for 
Pensioenfonds Zorg & 
Welzijn (PFZW), which had 
over €143bn of assets as at 
the end of Q1 2014. Arnold is 
also a member of the 
Supervisory Board of the 
Unilever Pension Fund. 

Arnold has previously had 
the following positions: from 
2003 to 2004 Chief Financial 
Officer of Royal Boskalis 
Westminster; from 2002 to 
2003 Chief Executive Officer 
and Chairman of Eureko 
B.V.; from 1992 to 2000 
various roles to become 
Executive Chairman of 
Achmea.

Peter Kiernan
Non-Executive  
Director
(Age 53)

Danny Truell
Non-Executive  
Director
(Age 50)

Peter has over 30 years’ 
experience in professional 
services including 28 years 
in investment banking. He 
is currently Chairman of 
European Investment 
Banking at Canaccord 
Genuity and a member of 
the Advisory Board of Bell 
Pottinger. Previously, Peter 
was a Managing Director at 
both Lazard (where he was 
Head of UK Investment 
Banking between 2004 and 
2006) and Goldman Sachs. 

He started his investment 
banking career at SG 
Warburg & Co Ltd. where 
he was a Director and 
he became a Managing 
Director of UBS Warburg. 
Peter qualified as a 
Chartered Accountant (FCA) 
with Peat, Marwick, Mitchell 
& Co. and read Natural 
Sciences (Chemistry) at 
Downing College, 
Cambridge.

Danny Truell serves in a 
diverse range of roles in the 
investment and charitable 
community. He is the Chief 
Investment Officer and a 
member of the Board of the 
Wellcome Trust, a leading 
medical research charitable 
foundation based in London. 
He and his team are 
responsible for assets 
exceeding $30bn, which are 
invested in a broad range of 
investments. 

Danny is also a co-founder 
of Pension Insurance 
Corporation, an insurer with 
assets exceeding $16bn, 
where he chairs the Asset/
Liability Committee. 

Danny is the Chair of the 
World Economic Forum’s 
Long-Term Investment 
Council and a co-Chair of 
the G20/B20 Investment 
Group. He is a Trustee of 
The Truell Charitable 
Foundation and Chair of the 
charity Debate Mate. He is a 
member of the Investment 
Committees of the 
Wellington College 
Endowment and is a 
graduate of Balliol College, 
Oxford University. 

Edmund Truell
Group Chief Executive 
Officer, Tungsten 
Corporation and Non-
Executive Chairman, 
Tungsten Bank
(Age 51)

Edmund has over 30 years 
of financial services 
experience including 
leadership positions in 
banking, private equity, 
pensions, insurance and 
debt investment. He trained 
at Bankers Trust Co in New 
York, following which he 
was appointed a Director of 
Hambros Bank in 1991; 
Chief Executive of Hambro 
European Ventures in 1994; 
led the 1998 buyout and 
formation of Duke Street 
Capital (DSC); and was 
responsible in 2000 for 
creating and building DSC 
Debt Management, which 
was sold to Babson Capital 
in 2004.

He was Chairman of the 
British Venture Capital 
Association from 2001 to 
2002. After selling out of 
DSC in March 2007, he 
co-founded a regulated 
insurance company, 
Pension Insurance 
Corporation, which now has 
over $16bn in assets under 
management and has 
insured over 100,000 
pension fund members. In 
January 2013, he was 
appointed as Chairman of 
the London Pension Fund 
Authority, which has grown 
to £4.8 billion of assets. He 
is qualified as a Chartered 
Financial Analyst and is a 
Trustee of The Truell 
Charitable Foundation.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201421

Michael Spencer
Non-Executive  
Director
(Age 59)

Michael has been Group 
Chief Executive Officer of 
ICAP since 1998 following 
the Exco/Intercapital 
merger. Over this period 
Michael took ICAP from 
start-up to FTSE 100 as the 
world leading inter-dealer 
broker. 

Michael was Non-Executive 
Chairman of Numis 
Securities from April 2003 
to May 2009 and Treasurer 
of the Conservative Party 
from 2006 until October 
2010. He was named 
Entrepreneur of the Year at 
the European Business 
Leader Awards and Ernst & 
Young World Entrepreneur 
of the year in 2010. He read 
Physics at Oxford.

Philip Ashdown
Executive Director, Chief 
Executive Officer, Tungsten 
Network Finance
(Age 54)

Philip has over 30 years’ 
diverse experience gained 
within commercial banking 
and leverage finance, M&A 
advisory, restructuring and 
hedge fund management 
businesses. Highly skilled in 
project and risk management 
with substantial presentation, 
negotiation and transaction 
closing experience across 
diverse transactions and 
sectors, globally. He trained 
as a corporate banker at 
Midland Bank. 

He has been a Director at 
Hill Samuel Bank, Managing 
Director and Head of 
Leverage Finance and 
Sponsor Coverage at ING 
Barings and Fund Manager 
at Altima Partners LLP. 
Philip is an Honorary 
Professor at Warwick 
University Business School 
and Founding Partner of 
Silvermine Partners LLP. 
He became an Associate of 
Chartered Institute of 
Bankers (ACIB) in 1987. He 
has an MBA with distinction.

Jeffrey Belkin 
Group Chief Financial  
Officer
(Age 53)

Lincoln Jopp
Group Chief Operating  
Officer
(Age 46)

A former career soldier, 
Lincoln has a wealth of 
experience in running 
international operations 
across the globe and led the 
1st Battalion Scots Guards 
in Afghanistan. After 
command he became 
Assistant Head of the UK 
Ministry of Defence’s 
Strategy Unit. 

Lincoln joins Tungsten from 
Truell International Permit 
Systems Ltd where he was 
CEO. In June 2014, he stood 
down from his role as 
Non-Executive Director of 
AIM-listed Impellam to 
concentrate on his main 
board responsibilities at 
Tungsten.

Jeffrey has over 30 years’ 
experience in the financial 
services industry and was 
Group Finance Partner at 
Duke Street Capital, the 
private equity manager, 
from 2001 to 2009, where he 
was responsible for 
reporting to investors and 
stakeholders. Jeffrey 
previously had responsibility 
for group reporting in 
various roles at HSBC and 
then at Schroders, where he 
was head of management 
reporting for the Investment 
Banking Group and for the 
consolidated Schroders plc 
group.

Since 2009 Jeffrey has 
worked for Edmund Truell 
and Disruptive Capital LLP 
on all aspects of family and 
professional asset 
management. Jeffrey 
qualified as a Chartered 
Accountant with Peat, 
Marwick, Mitchell & Co. in 
1986. Jeffrey studied 
Economics and History at 
Cambridge.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements22

Corporate governance report
Chairman’s introduction to governance

Dear Shareholder,

Principles of corporate governance
As a Board we recognise the importance of high standards 
of corporate governance. The Company considers the UK 
Corporate Governance Code (the UK Code) as a basis for 
guiding its governance structures. However, it is recognised 
that some aspects of the UK Code are not relevant for AIM 
companies such as Tungsten and in this financial year we 
have not voluntarily chosen to comply with all aspects of 
the UK Code. We have therefore decided that we will also 
measure our governance policies and structure against 
the Quoted Companies Alliance corporate governance code 
(the QCA Code) as we consider that the QCA Code is more 
applicable for small and medium-sized companies. We 
believe we have achieved the 12 principles of corporate 
governance recommended by the QCA Code. 

The Company and its advisers carried out a review of its 
governance procedures and practices at the time of the 
admission to AIM in October 2013 and took the opportunity to 
adopt a number of new policies. Further information is given 
in the report below. We believe this has given us a firm 
foundation for working towards compliance with the UK 
Code in the medium term. 

The Board
The Board consists of the Chairman, four Executive 
Directors and three Non-Executive Directors. As a 
consequence of their holdings of LTIP Securities, none of 
Arnold Hoevenaars, Peter Kiernan or Michael Spencer are 
considered to be independent under the QCA Code. However, 
on account of such Directors’ robustness of character and 
judgement, the Board considers these Directors to be 
independent notwithstanding their holdings of LTIP 
Securities. We believe that the Directors have the optimum 
balance of skills and experience to lead the Company and 
challenge management.

As Chairman I should like to state my full commitment to 
maintaining high standards of corporate governance and to 
being transparent about our arrangements and intentions 
for future improvement. This report should be seen as a 
step towards these goals which will develop further as our 
Company evolves.

Arnold Hoevenaars
Non-Executive Chairman
7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201423

Appointments to the Board and re-election
The Board has delegated the tasks of reviewing Board 
composition, searching for appropriate candidates and 
making recommendations to the Board on candidates to be 
appointed as Directors to the Nomination Committee. 
Further details on the role of the Nomination Committee 
may be found on page 28. 

With regard to re-election of Directors the Company is 
governed by its Articles of Association (‘Articles’). Under the 
Articles, the Board has the power to appoint a Director 
during the year but any person so appointed must stand for 
election at the next Annual General Meeting. At each Annual 
General Meeting, one-third (or the number nearest to 
one-third) of the Directors must retire from office and, if 
willing, may offer themselves for re-election. Jeffery Belkin, 
Philip Ashdown and Lincoln Jopp will stand for election at 
the 2014 Annual General Meeting having been appointed as 
Directors since the last Annual General Meeting. The 
following Directors will also retire and stand for re-election 
at the next Annual General Meeting: Peter Kiernan and 
Michael Spencer. The Board considers that each Director 
offering himself for election or re-election continues to 
make a valuable contribution to the deliberations and 
continues to demonstrate commitment.

The role of the Board
During the year the Board approved a new Schedule of 
Matters Reserved for the Board, which sets out the Board’s 
responsibilities. The key tasks of the Board are:

 > Responsibility for the overall leadership of the Group and 

setting the Group’s values and standards

 > Approval of the Group’s strategic aims and objectives
 > Approvals of the annual operating and capital 

expenditure budgets and any material changes to them
 > Oversight of the Group’s operations ensuring competent 
and prudent management, sound planning, maintenance 
of sound management and internal control systems, 
adequate accounting and other records and compliance 
with statutory and regulatory obligations

 > Review of performance in light of the Group’s strategic 
aims, objectives and business plans and budgets and 
ensuring that any necessary corrective action is taken

 > Extension of the Group’s activities into new areas
 > Decisions to cease to operate any material part of the 

Group’s business

 > Changes to the Group’s capital structure
 > Approval of the financial statements, Annual Report and 

Accounts, material contracts and major projects

 > Approval of the dividend policy and dividend payments
 > Approval of the Group’s internal control and risk 

management systems and structures

 > Approval of major capital projects, contracts and 

investments

 > Approval of communications with shareholders and the 

market

 > Approval of Board membership and other senior 

appointments and any changes

Composition of the Board
The Board consists of eight Directors: the Non-Executive 
Chairman, four Executive Directors, and three Non-
Executive Directors. Details of each of the Directors’ 
experience and background is given in their biographies on 
pages 20 to 21. 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements24

Corporate governance report continued

Division of responsibilities 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The division of responsibilities between the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer have been agreed and approved by the 
Board. A summary of the main responsibilities of each role is given below:

Role of the Chairman

Role of the Chief Executive

 > Upholding the highest levels of integrity, probity and 
corporate governance throughout the Company, 
particularly at Board level

 > Chairing the Board meetings, setting the Board agenda 
and ensuring the Directors receive accurate, timely, and 
clear information to enable the Board to make sound 
decisions, monitor effectively and promote the success of 
the Company

 > Running of the business of the Group within the 

authorities delegated to him by the Board

 > Ensuring implementation across the Group of the 

policies and strategy agreed by the Board

 > Facilitating the effective contribution of and active 
engagement of all the Directors and ensuring 
constructive relationships between the Non-Executive 
Directors and the Executive Directors

 > Leading the development of the Group’s future strategy, 
including identifying and assessing opportunities for the 
growth of its business, and putting in place the long-
term capital to support such development 

 > Considering succession planning and ensuring the 

 > Reviewing the performance of the businesses, 

composition of the Board meets the needs of the business

 > Ensuring the appropriate balance is maintained between 
the interests of shareholders and other stakeholders

managing and holding to account the Executive and 
senior management teams

 > Ensuring the Chairman is kept appraised in a timely 

manner of the issues facing the Group and of any events 
and developments

 > Ensuring the developmental needs of the Directors are 

 > Ensuring the market and regulators are kept appraised 

identified and that these needs are met to enable 
Directors to update their skills and knowledge of the 
Group in order to carry out their duties as Directors

 > Ensuring the performance of the Board, Audit Committee 
and individual Directors are evaluated once a year and 
acting on the results of the evaluation

 > Ensure effective communication with shareholders and 
other stakeholders and ensure the Board is aware of the 
views of the shareholders

 > Chairing the AGM and other general meetings of the 

Company

in a timely manner of any material events and 
developments

 > Ensuring that all major transactions are conducted with 
the commercial interests of the Group at the forefront of 
negotiations, commensurate with the need to always 
treat customers fairly

Senior Independent Director
The Company does not have a Senior Independent Director. Given the small number of Non-Executive Directors, the 
appointment of a Senior Independent Director would not currently add value to the operation of the Board. In addition, the 
Chairman and Non-Executive Directors are available to shareholders as communication channels if required. The 
appointment of a Senior Independent Director will be kept under review. 

Non-Executive Directors
Each of the Non-Executive Directors has entered into a letter of appointment with the Company. The appointment of each of 
the Non-Executive Directors is stated to be for a fixed term, expiring after 12 months (in the case of Peter Kiernan, Arnold 
Hoevenaars and Michael Spencer) or after 36 months (in the case of Danny Truell), in each case from the date of admission of 
the ordinary shares to trading on AIM. The Non-Executive Directors’ letters of appointment set out the duties of the Director 
and commitment expected. They are expected to commit around 24 days per annum to their role. Key elements of the 
Non-Executive Director’s role are to constructively challenge and help provide the Board with effective leadership in relation 
to the Company’s strategy, performance, risk and people management, and ensuring high standards of financial probity and 
corporate governance.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201425

Development, information and support
The Directors are encouraged to attend training and continuing professional development courses as required. Updates are 
given to the Board on developments in governance and regulations as appropriate. An induction programme is provided for 
any Directors joining during the year. 

Samantha Sears is the General Counsel and Company Secretary and supports the Chairman in ensuring that the Board 
receives the information and support it needs to carry out its roles. 

Conflicts of interest
Under the Articles, the Directors may authorise any actual or potential conflict of interest a Director may have and may 
impose any conditions on the Director that are felt to be appropriate. Directors are not able to vote in respect of any contract, 
arrangement or transaction in which they have a material interest and they are not counted in the quorum.

A process has been developed to identify any of the Directors’ potential or actual conflicts of interest. This includes declaring 
any new conflicts before the start of each Board meeting.

Performance evaluation
A formal performance evaluation has not been carried out during the year as many of the Board members, including the Chairman, 
are new to the Company. There needs to be a period of time over which the Board operates together before any meaningful 
assessment can be made. An evaluation exercise will be considered by the Board and its committees during 2015.

How the Board operates
The Board meets at regular intervals and met four times between admission to AIM and 30 April 2014. Directors also have 
ongoing contact on a variety of issues between formal meetings. There are a number of standing and routine items included 
for review on each Board agenda. These include the CEO’s report and operations reports, financial reports, consideration of 
reports from the Board Committees and investor relations updates. Directors are encouraged to question and voice any 
concerns they may have on any topic put to the Board for debate.

The Board is supported in its work by Board Committees, which are responsible for a variety of tasks delegated by the Board. 
Attendance at Board and Committee meetings by the Directors is shown below.

Arnold Hoevenaars

Edmund Truell

Luke McKeever1

Philip Ashdown

Jeffrey Belkin

Peter Kiernan

Danny Truell

Michael Spencer

Lincoln Jopp2

Board  
4 meetings

Audit Committee 
3 meetings

Remuneration 
Committee 
2 meetings

Nomination 
Committee 
2 meetings

4/4

4/4

3/3

3/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

3/4

1/1

3/3

2/2

2/2

–

–

–

–

3/3

–

1/3

–

–

–

–

–

2/2

–

2/2

–

–

–

–

–

2/2

–

2/2

–

Notes: 
The number of meetings attended is reported out of the number of the meetings that the Director was eligible to attend since admission to AIM.
1.   Resigned 28 April 2014.
2.  Appointed to the Board on 28 April 2014.

The Board Committees
Membership of all three Board Committees is composed of the Chairman and two Non-Executive Directors. As such they are 
compliant with both the UK and QCA Codes.

Each Board Committee has approved Terms of Reference setting out their responsibilities. New Terms of Reference were 
approved by the Board during the year. These are available on the Company’s website www.tungstencorporationplc.com. 
Details of the operation of the Board Committees are set out in their respective reports below. All of the Board Committees 
are authorised to obtain, at the Company’s expense, professional advice on any matter within their Terms of Reference and to 
have access to sufficient resources in order to carry out their duties.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements26

Audit Committee report

Members of the Audit Committee
The committee consists entirely of Non-Executive Directors. 
The Chairman, Peter Kiernan, has extensive financial 
experience and is a Chartered Accountant.

Principal activities during the year
The main items of business considered by the Audit 
Committee during the year included:

 > Peter Kiernan (Chairman)
 > Arnold Hoevenaars
 > Michael Spencer

Duties
The main duties of the Audit Committee are set out in its 
Terms of Reference and include the following:

 > To monitor the integrity of the financial statements of the 
Company, including its annual and half-year reports
 > To review and challenge where necessary any changes 
to, and consistency of, accounting policies, whether the 
Company has followed appropriate accounting standards 
and made appropriate estimates and judgements, taking 
into account the views of the external auditor, the going 
concern assumption and all material information 
presented with the financial statements

 > To keep under review the effectiveness of the Company’s 
internal control systems (including financial, operational 
and compliance controls and risk management) and 
to review and approve the statements to be included 
in the Annual Report concerning internal controls 
and risk management

 > To review the adequacy of the Company’s compliance, 
whistleblowing and procedures for detecting fraud

 > To regularly assess the need for an internal audit function
 > To consider and make recommendations to the Board, to 
be put to shareholders for approval at the Annual General 
Meeting, in relation to the appointment, reappointment 
and removal of the Company’s external auditor

 > To oversee the relationship with the external auditor 
including approval of their remuneration, approval of 
their terms of engagement, annual assessment of their 
independence and objectivity taking into account relevant 
professional and regulatory requirements and the 
relationship with the auditor as a whole, including the 
provision of any non-audit services

 > To meet regularly with the external auditor and at least 
once a year, without any Executive Director or other 
member of management present to discuss any issues 
arising from the audit

 > To review and approve the Audit Plan and review the 

findings of the audit

 > Going concern review
 > Review of the financial statements and Annual Report
 > Consideration of the external Audit Report
 > Audit Committee membership
 > Review of interim results announcement
 > Review of the Audit Plan

Role of the external auditor
The Audit Committee monitors the relationship with the 
external auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, to ensure 
that auditor independence and objectivity are maintained. As 
part of its review the committee monitors the provision of 
non-audit services by the external auditor and has, during 
the year, adopted a policy on non-audit services that clearly 
sets out prohibited services and also a financial quantum of 
services that must be approved by the Audit Committee. The 
breakdown of fees between audit and non-audit services is 
provided on page 54. The Audit Committee also assesses 
the auditor’s performance. The Committee has adopted a 
formal policy on its responsibilities in relation to the external 
auditors. This policy includes recommendations on 
appointment, tendering, scope and remuneration as well as 
the assessment of external auditor independence. Having 
reviewed the auditor’s independence and performance the 
Audit Committee is recommending that 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be reappointed as the 
Company’s auditors at the next Annual General Meeting.

Internal audit
The Audit Committee has reviewed the adequacy of the 
Group’s internal processes and controls and has considered 
whether there is a need to establish an internal audit 
function. In view of the expected development of the 
business, the Group will employ an internal auditor in-house 
in the near term.

Prior to this and in light of the acquisition of Tungsten Bank, 
KPMG has been appointed to provide interim internal audit 
services for Tungsten Bank. 

Audit process
The external auditors prepare an Audit Plan for their review 
of the full year and half year financial statements. The Audit 
Plan sets out the scope of the audit, areas to be targeted and 
audit timetable. This plan is reviewed and agreed in advance 
by the Audit Committee. Following their review the auditors 
presented their findings to the Audit Committee for 
discussion. No major areas of concern were highlighted by 
the auditors during the year. 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201427

Remuneration Committee report

Members of the Remuneration Committee
The committee consists entirely of Non-Executive Directors 
as follows: 

Principal activities during the year
The main items of business considered by the Remuneration 
Committee during the year included:

 > Michael Spencer (Chairman)
 > Arnold Hoevenaars
 > Peter Kiernan

 > Remuneration strategy and policy
 > Group compensation proposals for 2014/15
 > Executive Director salary reviews and annual bonus

Duties
The main duties of the Remuneration Committee are set out 
in its Terms of Reference and include the following:

 > Setting the remuneration policy for the Executive 
Directors and the Company’s Chairman, including 
pension rights and compensation payments 

 > In determining such policy, to take into account relevant 
legal and regulatory requirements, and the provisions 
and recommendations of the QCA Code, the QCA’s 
Remuneration Committee Guide and associated guidance
 > Recommending and monitoring the level and structure of 

remuneration for senior management

 > When setting the remuneration policy for Executive 
Directors, to review and have regard to pay and 
employment conditions across the Group

 > To review the ongoing appropriateness and relevance of 

the remuneration policy 

 > To appoint and determine the terms of reference for any 
remuneration consultants who advise the committee
 > To approve the design of and determine the targets for 

any schemes of performance-related remuneration and 
approve the total remuneration paid under such schemes

 > To review the design of all share incentive plans for 

approval by the Board and shareholders
 > To determine the policy and scope of pension 

arrangements for Executive Directors and other 
designated senior executives

 > To oversee any major changes in employee benefits 

structure throughout the Group

 > To agree the policy for authorising claims for expenses 

from the Executive Directors and Chairman

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements28

Nomination Committee report

Principal activities during the year
 > New appointments, including Tungsten Bank and 

subsidiary appointments
 > Re-election of Directors
 > Directors’ training
 > Succession planning

Members of the Nomination Committee
The members of the committee consists of Non-Executive 
Directors:

 > Arnold Hoevenaars (Chairman)
 > Michael Spencer
 > Peter Kiernan

Duties
The main duties of the Nomination Committee are set out in 
its Terms of Reference and include:

 > To regularly review the structure, size and composition 

(including the skills, knowledge, experience and diversity) 
required of the Board compared to its current position 
and make recommendations to the Board with regard to 
any changes

 > To give full consideration to succession planning for 

Directors and other senior executives in the course of its 
work, taking into account the challenges and 
opportunities facing the Company, and the skills and 
expertise needed on the Board in the future

 > To keep under review the leadership needs of the 

organisation, both executive and non-executive, with a 
view to ensuring the continued ability of the organisation 
to compete effectively in the marketplace

 > To keep up to date and fully informed about strategic 

issues and commercial changes affecting the Company 
and the market in which it operates

 > To be responsible for identifying and nominating for the 

approval of the Board, candidates to fill Board vacancies 
as and when they arise

 > To formulate plans for succession for both Executive and 
Non-Executive Directors and in particular for the key 
roles of Chairman and Chief Executive

 > To assess the reappointment of any Non-Executive 

Director at the conclusion of their specified term of office 
having given due regard to their performance and ability 
to continue to contribute to the Board in the light of the 
knowledge, skills and experience required

 > To assess the re-election by shareholders of any Director 
having due regard to their performance and ability to 
continue to contribute to the Board in the light of the 
knowledge, skills and experience required and the need 
for progressive refreshing of the Board

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014Accountability

Relations with 
shareholders

29

The Board is committed to maintaining regular and clear 
communication with its shareholders. The Board receives 
regular reports on investor relations matters. The Directors 
are keen to build a mutual understanding of objectives with 
its institutional shareholders and a regular dialogue with 
institutional investors has been maintained throughout the 
year. The Directors also encourage communications with 
private shareholders and encourage their participation in 
the Company’s Annual General Meeting. The Chief Executive 
has met a significant majority of shareholders during the 
second half of the financial year.

The Company uses its corporate website  
(www.tungstencorporationplc.com) to communicate with 
institutional shareholders and private investors. It contains 
the latest announcements, press releases, published 
financial information, current projects and other information 
about the Company.

The Annual Report and Accounts is a key communication 
document and is also available on the Company’s website. 

This year’s Annual General Meeting of the Company will be 
held on 22 September 2014. The Notice of Annual General 
Meeting is included with the Annual Report and is available 
on the Company’s website at www.tungstencorporationplc.
com. The Notice of AGM will be sent out at least 20 working 
days before the meeting. Separate resolutions are provided 
on each issue so that they can be given proper 
consideration. Proxy votes are counted and the level of 
proxies lodged on each resolution reported after it has been 
dealt with on a show of hands. 

Internal controls and risk management
The Company has in place a system of internal financial 
controls commensurate with its current size and activities, 
which is designed to ensure that the possibility of 
misstatement or loss is kept to a minimum. These 
procedures include the preparation of management 
accounts, forecast variance analysis and other ad-hoc 
reports. There are clearly defined authority limits 
throughout the Group, including those matters that are 
reserved specifically for the Board. A Financial Procedures 
Manual sets out minimum reporting standards. Risks 
throughout the Group are considered and reviewed on a 
regular basis. Risks are identified and mitigating actions put 
into place as appropriate. Principal risks identified are set 
out in the strategic report on pages 18 and 19.

Internal control and risk management procedures can only 
provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against 
material misstatement. The internal control procedures 
were in place from Admission to AIM to the date of approval 
of this report and have been reviewed by the Board in 
accordance with the Financial Reporting Council’s guidance 
on internal control (the Turnbull Guidance). 

Financial and business reporting
The Board seeks to present a fair, balanced and 
understandable assessment of the Group’s position and 
prospects in all half-year, final and any other ad-hoc reports 
and other information as may be required from time to time. 
The Board receives a number of reports, including those from 
the Audit Committee, to enable it to monitor and clearly 
understand the Group’s financial position. A Disclosure Policy 
is in place to ensure that price-sensitive information is 
identified effectively and all communications with the market 
are released in accordance with expected time scales.

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

Anti-fraud, bribery and corruption
The Company has adopted anti-corruption procedures, 
that state that the Company and its subsidiaries intends 
to conduct business in an honest and ethical manner. A 
zero-tolerance approach is taken to bribery and corruption 
and the Company is committed to acting professionally, 
fairly and with integrity in all its business dealings and 
relationships wherever it operates and to implementing 
and enforcing effective systems to counter bribery and 
corruption.

Whistleblowing
The Company has whistleblowing procedures under which 
staff may report any suspicion of fraud, financial irregularity 
or other malpractice to any Executive Director.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements30

Directors’ remuneration report

Introduction
This is the Company’s first Directors’ remuneration report since the Company was admitted to AIM in October 2013. One of 
the main purposes of the report is to support the Board’s goals of working towards best practice corporate governance 
standards. We are also keen to promote transparency about how our Directors are rewarded. 

The Remuneration Committee will play an important role in ensuring that remuneration policy underpins strategy and the 
long-term visionary goals of the Company.

The Remuneration Committee
The Board has delegated certain responsibilities for executive remuneration to the Remuneration Committee. Details of the 
Remuneration Committee, its remit and activities are set out in the Corporate Governance report on page 27.

Remuneration policy
The objective of the Company’s remuneration policy is to attract, retain and motivate executive management of the quality 
required to run the Company successfully.

Executive Directors
Current components of the Executive Directors remuneration are base salary, annual bonus and LTIP. The Directors will not 
be receiving an annual bonus for the year ended 30 April 2014.

Service agreements and termination payments
Details of the Executive Directors’ service agreements are set out below.

Director

Date of contract

Unexpired term

Edmund Truell, Chief Executive Officer

16 October 2013 Rolling contract

Jeffrey Belkin, Finance Director

16 October 2013 Rolling contract

Philip Ashdown

Lincoln Jopp

16 October 2013 Rolling contract

28 April 2014 Rolling contract

Notice period by 
Company

Notice period by 
Director

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

12 months

The Executive Directors may be put on gardening leave during their notice period, and the Company can elect to terminate 
their employment by making a payment in lieu of notice of up to 12 months’ basic salary. 

Employees’ pay
Employees’ pay and conditions across the Group are considered when reviewing remuneration policy for Executive Directors. 
Since the admission to AIM the Remuneration Committee has focused on considering and developing a new structure for 
Group compensation to take effect for FY2015 that is designed to achieve staff alignment, engagement and collaboration.

Non-Executive Directors
The remuneration payable to Non-Executive Directors is decided by the Chairman and Executive Directors.

Fees

Chairman

Non-Executive Director

FY2014
£

125,000

100,000

Terms of appointment
The appointment of each of the Non-Executive Directors is stated to be for a fixed term, expiring 12 months (in the case of 
Peter Kiernan, Arnold Hoevenaars and Michael Spencer) or 36 months (in the case of Danny Truell), in each case from the 
date of admission of the ordinary shares to trading on AIM. The appointments for each Non-Executive Director may be 
terminated by either party giving three months’ notice. 

Annual remuneration report
The annual remuneration report sets out details of Directors’ remuneration payments during the year and information in 
respect of share awards and Directors’ shareholdings.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201431

Directors’ remuneration table

Executive Directors
Edmund Truell
Jeffrey Belkin1
Philip Ashdown1
Lincoln Jopp2

Non-Executive Directors
Arnold Hoevenaars
Peter Kiernan
Michael Spencer 
Danny Truell

Past Directors
Luke McKeever3

Total

Base salary
£’000

Benefits in 
kind
£’000

Pensions
£’000

Annual 
performance 
bonus
£’000

Total 
FY2014
£’000

FY2013
£’000

242
115
115
1

125
100
100
100

122

1,020

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

23

23

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–

–

242
115
115
1

125
100
100
100

145

1,043

101
–
–
–

125
101
101
101

–

529

Notes:
1.  Appointed as a Director 16 October 2013
2.  Appointed as a Director 28 April 2014
3.  Appointed as a Director 16 October 2013. Resigned 28 April 2014.

Operation of LTIP
Pursuant to the LTIP, in FY2013 Directors acquired interests in the B ordinary shares (the “LTIP Shares”) and C ordinary 
shares (the “LTIP Securities”) of Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited, a subsidiary of the Company. 

The LTIP Shares were all exchanged into ordinary shares of the Company as part of the admission process. 

The LTIP Securities are exchangeable into ordinary shares of the Company once the price per ordinary share of the Company has 
reached (for any 20 trading days out of 30 successive trading days, the last of such days falling not less than five and not more than 
10 years following admission) a closing price equal to the price resulting from applying an equivalent of a compound rate of return 
from the date of the admission to the adjusted issue price equal to 8.25% per annum accrued daily and compounded quarterly.

The LTIP Securities exchange into ordinary shares of the Company worth 15% of the increase in the share price (adjusted for 
any capital reorganisations or issues).

LTIP shares table

Director

Arnold Hoevenaars

Edmund Truell1

Jeffrey Belkin

Philip Ashdown

Lincoln Jopp

Peter Kiernan

Michael Spencer

Danny Truell

Held as at 
1 May 
 2013

Acquired/ 
(disposed) on 
15 July 2013

Acquired/ 
(disposed) on 
20 September 
2013 

Exchanged 
into ordinary 
shares on 
16 October 
2013

Held as at 
30 April 2014

–

17,948

–

(17,948)

4,548,940

(540,960)

(123,441)

(3,884,539)

232,000

232,000

–

–

–

464,000

–

–

–

185,585

337,427

–

24,778

(256,778)

–

–

–

–

–

(232,000)

–

(185,585)

(337,427)

(464,000)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Value of 
Company 
ordinary 
shares 
acquired on 
exchange of 
LTIP shares
£’000

35

7,534

498

450

–

360

654

900

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements32

Directors’ remuneration report continued

LTIP Securities table

Director

Arnold Hoevenaars

Edmund Truell1

Jeffrey Belkin

Philip Ashdown

Lincoln Jopp

Peter Kiernan

Michael Spencer

Danny Truell

Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company

Director

Executive Directors
Edmund Truell
Jeffrey Belkin1
Philip Ashdown1
Lincoln Jopp2

Non-Executive Directors
Arnold Hoevenaars
Peter Kiernan
Michael Spencer
Danny Truell

Held as at 
1 May 
 2013

Acquired/ 
(disposed) 
on 15 July 
2013

Acquired/ 
(disposed) 
on 20 
September 
2013 

Exchanged 
into 
ordinary 
shares on 
16 October 
2013

Held as at 
30 April 
2014

25,000

(17,948)

–

2,177,060

540,960 (154,666)

–

7,052

– 2,563,354

37,600

37,600

–

–

–

–

258,500 (185,585)

470,000 (337,427)

526,400

–

14,900

24,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

52,500

61,600

–

72,915

132,573

526,400

Number of 
ordinary shares 
held on date of 
Admission

Bought/sold 
during the 
year

Number of 
ordinary 
shares held 
on 30 April 
2014

Percentage 
of issued 
share 
capital

14,753,284
221,359
200,000
8,720

114,400 14,867,684

–
–
–

221,359
200,000
8,720

15,472
15,472
175,987
175,987
780,485 1,050,000 1,830,485
400,000
400,000

–
–

–

14.9%
0.2%
0.2%
0.01%

0.02%
0.2%
1.8%
0.4%

1.  The aggregate number of LTIP Shares, LTIP Securities and ordinary shares in which Edmund Truell is interested, directly or indirectly, includes amounts registered 
in the name of Rockhopper Investments Limited. Danny Truell also has an interest in Rockhopper Investments Limited, although this is not aggregated with his 
holdings.

2.  Ordinary shares held on appointment to the Board on 28 April 2014.

This report was approved by the Board of Directors and signed on its behalf by:

Michael Spencer
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201433

Directors’ report

The Directors of Tungsten Corporation plc present their 
report for the year ended 30 April 2014. 

Directors
Biographichal details of the Directors currently serving on the 
Board are set out on pages 20 and 21. 

The Directors who served throughout the year, except as 
stated below, are as follows:

Executive Director

Philip Ashdown1 

Jeffrey Belkin1 

Lincoln Jopp2

Edmund Truell

Luke McKeever1,3

Non-Executive Directors

Arnold Hoevenaars 

Peter Kiernan 

Michael Spencer 

Danny Truell

1.  Appointed to the Board on 16 October 2013.
2 .  Appointed to the Board on 28 April 2014.
3.  Resigned on 28 April 2014.

The Company’s Articles of Association require (i) Philip 
Ashdown, (ii) Jeffrey Belkin and (iii) Lincoln Jopp to seek 
election at the 2014 Annual General Meeting. 

The Company’s approach to the appointment and replacement 
of Directors is governed by its Articles (together with relevant 
legislation) and takes into consideration any recommendations 
of the UK code.

Subject to any restrictions in its Articles and the Companies 
Act 2006, the Directors may exercise any powers which are not 
reserved for exercise by the shareholders.

Results and dividend
Results for the year ended 30 April 2014 are set out in the 
consolidated income statement on page 39. 

The Board is not recommending the payment of a dividend 
for the year ended 30 April 2014. 

Change of control/significant agreements
Should the Company be subject to a change of control, the 
following represents the likely effect on significant agreements: 

 > The LTIP Securities will become exchangeable into 

ordinary shares in Tungsten, with a value equal to 15% of 
the increase in the actual market capitalisation of 
Tungsten since admission, subject to:
1.   The value of Tungsten having risen by over 8.25% per 
annum since admission (the ‘Threshold Price’) and
2a. Where the change of control results from, or triggers, 

an offer to holders of the ordinary shares of the 
Company, that offer being at an equivalent price per 
ordinary share of the Company equal to (or greater 
than) the Threshold Price or

2b. Where the change of control results from, or in, the 
removal of either of Danny Truell or Edmund Truell 
(the Founders) from the Board of the Company, and 
the Threshold Price having been previously reached 
for any 20 trading days out of 30 successive trading 
days

 > Control of a UK financial services institution requires the 
approval of the PRA and, accordingly, any proposed bid 
for Tungsten Corporation plc would require the approval 
from the PRA with regard to its holding in its subsidiary 
Tungsten Bank plc. Accordingly, any potential bidder 
would have to take this consideration into account in its 
strategy for gaining control of Tungsten Corporation plc 

Other than the above the Company does not have any 
agreements with any Non-Executive Director, Executive 
Director or employee requiring compensation for loss of 
office resulting from a change of control. 

Articles of Association 
Any amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company 
may be made by Special Resolution of the shareholders. 

Share capital
Details of the Company’s share capital are set out in note 17 to 
the consolidated financial statements. The Company’s share 
capital consists of one class of ordinary shares which do not 
carry rights to fixed income. As at 30 April 2014, there were 
100,000,000 ordinary shares of £0.00438 each in issue. 

Ordinary shareholders are entitled to receive notice and to 
attend and speak at general meetings. Each shareholder 
present in person or by proxy (or by duly authorised 
corporate representatives) shall, on a show of hands, have 
one vote. On a poll, each shareholder present in person or 
by proxy shall have one vote for each share held. 

Other than the general provisions of the Articles (and prevailing 
legislation) there are no specific restrictions of the size of a 
holding or on the transfer of the ordinary shares. 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements34

Directors’ report continued

Each of the Directors on the Board at the time of admission 
undertook at that time that he will not for a period of 12 
months from the date of admission, directly or indirectly 
transfer, sell, mortgage, charge or otherwise dispose of the 
legal and/or beneficial ownership (or any interest therein) in 
any ordinary shares of the Company owned by him or a 
connected person at the date of the admission except, inter 
alia, to a connected person of the Director, to any person 
acting in the capacity of trustee of a trust created by that 
Director, in acceptance of any takeover offer or pursuant to 
any scheme or reconstruction under section 110 of the 
Insolvency Act 1986.

The Directors are not aware of any agreements between 
holders of the Company’s shares that may result in the 
restriction of the transfer of securities or on voting rights. 
No shareholder holds securities carrying any special rights 
or control over the Company’s share capital. 

Authority to purchase own shares
The Company was authorised by shareholder resolution at 
the 2013 Annual General Meeting to purchase up to 15% of 
its issued share capital. A resolution will be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting and authority will be 
sought to purchase up to 10% of its issued share capital. 
Under this authority, any shares purchased must be held 
as treasury shares or, otherwise, cancelled resulting in a 
reduction of the Company’s issued share capital.

No shares were purchased by the Company during the year.

Directors’ interests
The number of ordinary shares of the Company in which the 
Directors are beneficially interested at 16 October 2013 (date 
of admission) or date of appointment if later and 30 April 
2014 is set out in the Directors’ Remuneration report on 
page 32. 

No Director had any dealings in the shares of the Company 
between 30 April 2014 and 7 July 2014.

Director indemnities and insurance
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and the 
Company’s Articles of Association, the Company has 
purchased Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Insurance, which 
remains in place at the date of this report. The Company 
reviews its insurance policies on an annual basis in order to 
satisfy itself that its level of cover remains adequate. 

Employee policies and involvement
The Company’s disclosures on employee policies and 
involvement can be found in the strategic report and 
financial statements on pages 17 and 53 respectively. 

Significant shareholders
As at 2 July 2014 the Company had been advised of the 
following notifiable direct and indirect interests in the share 
capital of the Company.

Number of 
ordinary 
shares of 
£0.00438 
pence each

% of total 
voting rights

14,867,684

14.9%

Notification received from:

Edmund Truell1

Fidelity Worldwide Investment

FIL Limited

TT International

Kames Capital

Wellington Management  

Company, LLP

7,200,000

6,110,400

5,608,064

4,894,677 

5,049,000

Schroder Investment Management 4,448,000

GLG Partners

Legal & General Investment 

Management

Four Capital

3,626,667

3,517,200

3,400,000

7.2%

6.1%

5.6%

4.9%

5.0%

4.4%

3.6%

3.5%

3.4%

1.   The aggregate number of ordinary shares in which Edmund Truell is 

interested, directly or indirectly, includes shares registered in the name of 
Rockhopper Investments Limited. 

The shares were admitted to AIM at an initial price of 225p. 

Financial risk management
The Company’s objectives and policies on financial risk 
management including information on the exposure of the 
Company to credit risks, liquidity risks and capital 
management risks is set out in note 22 of the consolidated 
financial statements and in the managing Group risk section 
on pages 18 to 19.

Political donations
The Company has made no political donations during the year. 

Going concern statement
The Audit Committee reviewed financial forecasts provided 
by management, including sensitivity analysis, to assess 
downside risk and its reasonably possible impact on 
committed liquidity. In addition, the Committee reviewed 
detailed reporting from the external auditor. The Committee 
concluded, taking into account reasonable possible changes 
in trading performance and possible mitigating actions, that 
the Group has sufficient committed liquidity to fund its 
committed expenditure.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201435

Audit information 
Each of the persons who is a Director at the date of approval 
of this Annual Report confirms that:

 > So far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit 

information of which the Company’s auditors are 
unaware

 > The Director has taken all the reasonable steps that he/
she ought to have taken as a Director in order to make 
himself/herself aware of any relevant audit information 
and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of 
that information

The above confirmation is given and should be interpreted in 
accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the 
Companies Act 2006. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has expressed its willingness 
to continue in office as auditors and a resolution seeking to 
reappoint them will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual 
General Meeting. 

Post balance sheet events
On 10 June 2014 the Company completed the acquisition of 
the entire share capital of FIBI Bank (UK) plc (subsequently 
renamed Tungsten Bank plc). The total consideration paid on 
or prior to completion was £29.3m and is subject to a net 
asset adjustment within 30 days of completion. £1.0m of the 
consideration is held in escrow for 18 months in lieu of any 
warranty claims.

Annual General Meeting
The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held at 
88 Wood Street, London EC2V 7QR, UK on 22 September 
2014. Details of the venue and the resolutions to be 
proposed are set out in a separate Notice of Meeting,  
which accompanies this report.

This report was approved by the Board of Directors of 
Tungsten Corporation plc and signed on its behalf by:

Samantha Sears 
General Counsel and Company Secretary 

7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements36

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

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

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 the  
Parent Company financial statements in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice 
(United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). 
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 
Parent Company and of the profit or loss of the Group and 
Parent Company for that period. The Directors are also 
required to prepare financial statements in accordance with 
the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies 
trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market. 

In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are 
required to: 

 > Select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

consistently 

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

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the Parent Company’s website. Legislation in the 
UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial 
statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

By order of the Board

Samantha Sears
General Counsel and Company Secretary

 > Make judgements and accounting estimates that are 

7 July 2014

reasonable and prudent

 > State whether they have been prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, and 
applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed 
subject to any material departures disclosed and 
explained in the Group and Parent Company financial 
statements respectively

 > Prepare the financial statements on the going-concern 
basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the 
Parent Company will continue in business

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201437

Independent auditors’ report
to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc

Report on the Group financial statements
Our opinion
In our opinion the financial statements, defined below:

 > Give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs 
as at 30 April 2014 and of its loss and 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

 > Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements 

of the Companies Act 2006

What an audit of financial statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (ISAs (UK & Ireland)). 
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and 
disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give 
reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free 
from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or 
error. This includes an assessment of:

 > Whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the 
Group’s circumstances and have been consistently 
applied and adequately disclosed

 > The reasonableness of significant accounting estimates 

This opinion is to be read in the context of what we say in the 
remainder of this report.

made by the Directors

 > The overall presentation of the financial statements

What we have audited
The Group financial statements (the financial statements), 
which are prepared by Tungsten Corporation plc, comprise:

 > The Consolidated statement of financial position as at 

30 April 2014

 > The Consolidated income statement and Consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income for the year then 
ended

 > The Consolidated statement of cash flows for the year 

then ended

 > The Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the 

year then ended

 > The notes to the consolidated financial statements, which 
include a summary of significant accounting policies and 
other explanatory information

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in 
their preparation is applicable law and IFRSs as adopted by 
the European Union.

In applying the financial reporting framework, the Directors 
have made a number of subjective judgements, for example 
in respect of significant accounting estimates. In making 
such estimates, they have made assumptions and 
considered future events.

Certain disclosures required by the financial reporting 
framework have been presented elsewhere in the Annual 
Report and Accounts (the Annual Report), rather than in the 
notes to the financial statements. These are cross-
referenced from the consolidated financial statements and 
are identified as audited.

In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial 
information in the Annual Report to identify material 
inconsistencies with the audited financial statements and to 
identify any information that is apparently materially 
incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the 
knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the 
audit. If we become aware of any apparent material 
misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the 
implications for our report.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies 
Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Strategic Report 
and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the 
consolidated financial statements are prepared is consistent 
with the consolidated financial statements.

Other matters on which we are required to report 
by exception
Adequacy of information and explanations received
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. We have no 
exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to 
you if, in our opinion, certain disclosures of Directors’ 
remuneration specified by law are not made. We have no 
exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit
Our responsibilities and those of the Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities set out on page 36, the Directors are 
responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial 
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and 
fair view.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements38

Independent auditors’ report continued
to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the 
consolidated financial statements in accordance with 
applicable law and ISAs (UK & Ireland). Those standards 
require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s 
Ethical Standards for Auditors.

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 matter
We have reported separately on the Parent Company 
financial statements of Tungsten Corporation plc for the year 
ended 30 April 2014.

Nigel Reynolds (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
London

7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014Consolidated income statement

Revenue

Administrative expenses
Share-based compensation

Operating loss

Finance costs
Finance income

Net finance (costs)/income

Loss before taxation
Taxation

Loss for the period

Loss per share (expressed in pence per share):
Basic and diluted loss per share

The notes on pages 44 to 65 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

39

Period
2 February 
2012 to
30 April 
2013
£’000

 – 

Year ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

 10,769 

 (21,708)
–

 (4,905)
 (5,040)

 (10,939)

 (9,945)

 (323)
 122 

 (201)

–
 20 

 20 

 (11,140)
 125 

 (9,925)
 – 

 (11,015)

 (9,925)

Note

3

7

10
10

11

18

 (18.60)

 (87.02)

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements40

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Loss for the period
Other comprehensive income: 
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Exchange differences arising on retranslation of the net assets of foreign subsidiaries

Total comprehensive loss for the period

Items in the statement above are disclosed net of tax.

The notes on pages 44 to 65 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Period  
2 February 
2012 to  
30 April 
 2013
£’000

Year ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

(11,015) 

(9,925) 

78

–

(10,937) 

(9,925)

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014Consolidated statement of financial position

41

Assets
Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Trade and other receivables

Total non-current assets

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Deposit paid for acquisition
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Capital and reserves attributable to the equity shareholders of the parent
Share capital
Share premium
Shares to be issued
Merger reserve
Share-based payment reserves
Other reserves
Accumulated losses

Total equity

Non-current liabilities
Deferred taxation

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Deferred income

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

Note

12  114,199 
 1,734 
13
 – 
14

 115,933 

 – 
 – 
 220 

 220 

14
15
16

 6,025 
 3,990 
 62,646 

 72,661 

 188,594 

 438 
17
17  160,127 
 3,760 
 28,035 
 5,040 
(5,372) 
(20,940) 

 85 
 1,200 
 3,397 

 4,682 

 4,902 

 9,610 
 – 
 – 
 – 
 5,040 
 – 
(9,925) 

 171,088 

 4,725 

11

 2,935 

2,935

19
20

 6,774 
 7,797 

 14,571 

17,506

 – 

 – 

 177 
 – 

 177 

 177 

 188,594 

 4,902 

The notes on pages 44 to 65 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements on pages 39 to 65 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 7 July 2014 
and were signed on its behalf by:

Edmund Truell 
Group Chief Executive Officer  

Jeffrey Belkin
Group Chief Financial Officer

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements 
42

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

Share
capital
£’000

Share
premium
£’000

Merger
reserve
£’000

Note

Shares
to be
issued
£’000

Share- 
based
payment
reserve
£’000

Other
reserve
£’000

Accumulated 
losses
£’000

Total equity
£’000

 – 
 – 

 – 

17

 9,610 

 – 

9,610

 9,610 

–
 – 

 – 

(9,560) 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

–
 – 

 – 

 – 

 312 

 159,688 

Balance at 2 February 2012 
Loss for the period

Total comprehensive loss

Transactions with owners
Issue of share capital
Fair value of Founder 
shares and Founder 
securities

Transactions with owners

Balance as at 30 April 2013

Currency translation 

differences

Loss for the period

Total comprehensive loss

Transactions with owners
Reclassification
Proceeds from shares 

issued

TCGL ordinary B shares 

exchanged into Tungsten 
ordinary shares
Shares issued on 

acquisition of subsidiary

Issue costs

17

17

17
17

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

–
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

–
 – 

 – 

 9,560 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 5,040 

5,040

 5,040 

–
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

 78 
 – 

78 

 – 

 – 

(5,450) 

 – 
 – 

(5,450) 

 – 
(9,925) 

 – 
(9,925) 

(9,925) 

(9,925) 

 – 

 9,610 

 – 

–

 5,040 

14,650

(9,925) 

 4,725 

–

(11,015) 

 78 
(11,015) 

(11,015) 

(10,937) 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 160,000 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

 28,089 
(10,789) 

 177,300 

 22 

 11,228 

 – 

(5,800) 

 54 
 – 

 – 
(10,789) 

 28,035 
 – 

 – 
 – 

Transactions with owners

 (9,172) 

 160,127 

 28,035 

3,760 

Balance as at 30 April 2014

 438 

 160,127 

 28,035 

 3,760 

 5,040 

(5,372) 

(20,940)   171,088

The notes on pages 44 to 65 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014Consolidated statement of cash flows

43

Cash flows used in operating activities
Loss before taxation
Adjustments for:
Depreciation and amortisation
Share-based payment expense
Finance costs
Finance income

Changes in working capital:
Increase in trade and other receivables
Increase in trade and other payables
Interest received

Net cash flows used in operating activities

Cash flows used in investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Purchases of intangibles
Deposit paid for acquisition
Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired

Net cash outflow used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds of share issue
Repayment of debt acquired

Net cash inflow generated from financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

The notes on pages 44 to 65 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Period 
2 February 
2012 to 
30 April 
2013
£’000

Year ended 
30 April 
2014 
£’000

(11,140)

(9,925)

765 
 – 
 323 
(122) 

 – 
 5,040 
 –
(20) 

(10,174) 

(4,905) 

(1,329) 
3,287
 122 

(305) 
 177 
20

(8,094) 

(5,013) 

(1,492) 
(805) 
(2,790) 
(71,943) 

 – 
–

(1,200) 
 – 

(77,030) 

(1,200) 

149,211 
(4,838) 

 144,373 

 9,610 
 – 

 9,610 

Note

7

13
12

5

17

59,249 
3,397 

 3,397 
 – 

16

62,646 

 3,397

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements44

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1. General information
Tungsten Corporation plc (the Company) and its subsidiaries (together, the Group) is a global e-Invoicing network that offers 
supply chain financing and spend analytics.

The Company is a public limited company, which is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office 
is Pountney Hill House, 6 Laurence Pountney Hill, London, EC4R 0BL, UK.

2. Accounting policies
(a) Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of Tungsten Corporation plc have been prepared in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRSs as adopted by the EU), the Companies Act 2006 that 
applies to companies reporting under IFRS, and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC). The principal accounting policies 
have been applied consistently throughout the period. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the 
historical cost convention.

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.

(b) Going concern
The consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2014 have been prepared under the assumption that the 
Group will continue as a going concern. Such assumption contemplates the realisation of assets and the satisfaction of 
liabilities in the normal course of business. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might 
be necessary should the Group be unable to continue as a going concern as the Directors do not consider these necessary.

(c) New standards, amendments and interpretations
The Group applied all applicable IFRS standards and all applicable interpretations published by the IASB and as endorsed by 
the European Union for the period beginning 1 May 2013.

Adoption of new and revised accounting standards and interpretations:

 > IFRS 13 Fair value measurement. This standard aims to improve consistency and reduce complexity by providing a precise 
definition of fair value and a single source of fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across IFRSs.

 > Amendment to IAS 1, Financial statement presentation. The main change resulting from these amendments is a 

requirement for entities to group items presented in other comprehensive income (OCI) on the basis of whether they are 
potentially reclassifiable to profit or loss subsequently (reclassification adjustments).

 > Amendment to IFRS 7, Financial instruments: disclosures on offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities. This 

amendment reflects the joint IASB and FASB requirements to enhance current offsetting disclosures and enables users 
of an entity’s financial statements to evaluate the effect or potential effect of netting arrangements.

 > Amendment to IAS 36, Impairment of assets: regarding the recoverable amount disclosures for non-financial assets. This 
amendment removed certain disclosures of the recoverable amount of cash generating units (CGUs) which had been 
included in IAS 36 as a result of the issue of IFRS 13. The amendment is not mandatory for the Group until 1 April 2015, 
however the Group has decided to early adopt the amendment as of 1 May 2013.

The adoption of the new applicable standards have not had any impact on the financial reporting of the Group.

Standards, amendments and interpretations which are not effective nor early adopted by the Group:

 > IAS 27 (revised 2011), ‘Separate financial statements’ (endorsed for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014). 

This clarifies that the consequential amendments from IAS 27 to IAS 21 ‘The effect of changes in foreign exchanges rates’, 
IAS 28 ‘Investments in associates’, and IAS 31 ‘Interests in joint ventures’, apply prospectively for annual periods beginning 
on or after 1 July 2009.

 > IAS 28 (revised 2011), ‘Investments in associates and joint ventures’ (endorsed for annual periods beginning on or after 

1 January 2014). This standard includes the requirements for joint ventures, as well as associates, to be equity accounted 
following the issue of IFRS 11.

 > IAS 32 (amendment), ‘Financial instruments – Presentation’ on asset and liability offsetting (endorsed for annual periods 
beginning on or after 1 January 2014). This amendment clarifies some of the requirements for offsetting financial assets 
and financial liabilities on the balance sheet.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201445

2. Accounting policies continued
(c) New standards, amendments and interpretations continued
 > IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated financial statements’ (endorsed for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014). This standard 

builds on existing principles by identifying the concept of control as the determining factor in whether an entity should be included 
within the Consolidated financial statements. The standard provides additional guidance to assist in determining control where this 
is difficult to assess. This new standard is not expected to have a material impact on the consolidation of subsidiaries.

 > IFRS 11 ‘Joint arrangements’ (endorsed for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014). This standard provides 
for a more realistic reflection of joint arrangements by focusing on the rights and obligations of the arrangement, rather 
than its legal form. There are two types of joint arrangements: joint operations and joint ventures. Proportional 
consolidation of joint ventures is no longer allowed.

 > IFRS 12 ‘Disclosure of interests in other entities’ (endorsed for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014). This 
standard includes the disclosure requirements for all forms of interests in other entities, including joint arrangements, 
associates, special purpose vehicles and other off balance sheet vehicles.

 > Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 11 and IFRS 12 (endorsed for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2014). These 
amendments provide additional transition relief to IFRSs 10, 11 and 12, limiting the requirement to provide adjusted 
comparative information to only the preceding comparative period.

 > IFRS 9 ‘Financial instruments’, on ‘Classification and measurement’ (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2018 and not yet endorsed by EU). This is the first part of a new standard on classification and measurement of financial assets 
that will replace IAS 39. IFRS 9 has two measurement categories: amortised cost and fair value. All equity instruments are 
measured at fair value. A debt instrument is at amortised cost only if the entity is holding it to collect contractual cash flows and 
the cash flows represent principal and interest. Otherwise it is at fair value through profit or loss. Amortised cost accounting 
will also be applicable for most financial liabilities, with bifurcation of embedded derivatives. The main change is that in cases 
where the fair value option is taken for financial liabilities, the part of a fair value change due to an entity’s own credit risk is 
recorded in other comprehensive income rather than the income statement, unless this creates an accounting mismatch.
 > IASB issues narrow-scope amendments to IAS 36, ‘Impairment of assets’ (effective for annual periods beginning on or 
after 1 January 2014 and not yet endorsed by EU) These amendments address the disclosure of information about the 
recoverable amount of impaired assets if that amount is based on fair value less costs of disposal.

 > Amendments to IAS 39: Novation of derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting (effective for annual periods 

beginning on or after 1 January 2014 and not yet endorsed by EU). These amendments aims to provide an exception to the 
requirement for the discontinuation of hedge accounting in IAS 30 in circumstances when a hedging instrument is 
required to be novated to a central counterparty as a result of laws or regulations.

None of the above standards and interpretations are expected to have a significant impact on the financial reporting of the Group.

(d) Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries are those entities over which the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies generally 
accompanying an interest of more than one half of the voting rights. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which 
control is transferred to the Company (acquisition date) and are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases. The financial 
statements of subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting year as the Company, using consistent accounting policies.

Inter-company transactions, balances, income and expenses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. 
Profits and losses resulting from inter-company transactions that are recognised in assets are also eliminated. Accounting 
policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

(e) Revenue
Services rendered
Revenue is the total amount receivable by the Group for services provided less VAT and trade discounts.

Revenue is recognised as follows:

 > Transaction fees in the period in which the customer transacts unless there is evidence that transactions sold will never 

be utilised

 > Initial fees, annual subscriptions and other e-Invoicing delivery related services over the period that the service is delivered

Deferred revenue is recognised to the extent that revenue has been invoiced to customers but not recognised in accordance 
with the above. Deferred revenue is discounted where the time value of money is material.

(f) Employee benefits
Defined contribution plans
The Group pays contributions to publicly or privately administered pension plans. The Group has no further payment 
obligations once the contributions have been paid. Contributions are recognised in the income statement as an employee 
benefit expense in the period when they are due. Prepaid contributions are recognised as an asset to the extent that a cash 
refund or a reduction in the future payments is available.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements46

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

2. Accounting policies continued
(f) Employee benefits continued
Share-based payments
The Group issues equity-settled share-based awards to certain employees. The fair value of share-based awards is 
determined at the date of grant and expensed based on the Group’s estimate of the shares that will eventually vest, on a 
straight-line basis over the vesting period with a corresponding increase in equity. At each balance sheet date, the Group 
revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on service and other non-market performance 
conditions. The amount expensed is adjusted over the vesting period for changes in the estimate of the number of shares 
that will eventually vest, save for changes resulting from any market-related performance conditions.

(g) Foreign currency translation
The functional currency of the Company is pounds sterling as that is the currency of the primary economic environment in 
which the Company operates. The Group’s presentation currency is pounds sterling.

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 consolidated income statement.

Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings and cash and cash equivalents are presented in the 
consolidated income statement within finance income or costs. All other foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in 
the consolidated income statement within ‘administrative expenses’.

Group companies
The results and financial position of all the Group entities (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy) that 
have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

 > Assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet
 > Income and expenses for each income statement presented are translated at average exchange rates unless this average 
is not a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction dates, in which case 
income and expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of the transactions
 > All resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income

The following exchange rates were applied for £1:

United States dollar
Euro
Mexican peso
Bulgarian lev
Malaysian ringgit

As at 
30 April 
2014

As at 
30 April 
2013

1.6886
1.2178
22.1015
2.3818
5.5140

1.5564
1.1806
18.9205
2.3090
4.7354

(h) Finance income and costs
Finance costs comprise interest payable on borrowings, interest expense on unwinding of discount on deferred income, 
direct issue costs and foreign exchange losses. Finance income comprises interest receivable on funds invested, and foreign 
exchange gains. Interest income and expenses are recognised on a time apportioned basis, using the effective interest method.

(i) Current and deferred income tax
Income tax for the years presented comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in profit or loss except to 
the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantially enacted at 
the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet liability method, providing for temporary differences between the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201447

2. Accounting policies continued
(i) Current and deferred income tax continued
The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial recognition of other 
assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit; nor differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to 
the extent that they are unlikely to reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the 
expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or 
substantially enacted at the balance sheet date.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against 
which the asset can be utilised. Deferred tax assets are reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the related tax 
benefit will be realised.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets 
against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the 
same taxation authority on either the taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the 
balances on a net basis.

Deferred income tax is provided on temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, except for 
deferred income tax liability 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.

Additional income taxes that arise from the distribution of dividends are recognised at the same time as the liability to pay the 
related dividend.

(j) Business combinations
The Group applies the acquisition method to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the 
acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred to the former owners of the 
acquiree and the equity interests issued by the Group. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities 
assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. The Group recognises 
any non-controlling interest in the acquiree on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, either at fair value or at the non-
controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognised amounts of acquiree’s identifiable net assets.

Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred.

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the Group is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent 
changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration that is deemed to be an asset or liability are recognised in the 
income statement. Contingent consideration that is classified as equity is not remeasured and its subsequent settlement is 
accounted for within equity.

(k) Property, plant and equipment
Owned assets
Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or deemed cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment 
losses. Cost includes the original purchase price of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working 
condition for its intended use. When parts of an item of property, plant and equipment have different useful lives, those 
components are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and equipment.

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.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in 
the income statement.

Leased assets
Leases under which the Group assumes substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset are classified as 
finance leases. Property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases are recorded at fair value or, if lower, the 
present value of minimum lease payments at inception of the lease, less depreciation and any impairment.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements48

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

2. Accounting policies continued
(k) Property, plant and equipment continued
Each lease payment is allocated between the liability and finance charges. The corresponding rental obligations, net of 
finance charges, are included in the other long-term payables. The interest element of the finance cost is charged to the 
income statement over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the 
liability for each period.

Depreciation
Depreciation is charged to consolidated income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each 
part of an item of property, plant and equipment. The property, plant and equipment acquired under finance leases are 
depreciated over the shorter of the useful life of the asset and the lease term. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 > Leasehold improvements: depreciated over term of lease
 > Fixture and fittings: 25% on cost
 > Computer equipment: 20% to 50% on cost

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

(l) Intangible assets
Goodwill
Goodwill is initially measured as the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the fair value of non-
controlling interest over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If this consideration is lower than the fair 
value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a 
potential impairment. The carrying value of goodwill is compared to the recoverable amount, which is the higher of value in 
use and the fair value less costs of disposal. Any impairment is recognised immediately as an expense and is not 
subsequently reversed.

Non-financial assets purchased or acquired in a business combination
Customer relationships and the IT platform purchased or acquired in a business combination are recognised at fair value at 
the acquisition date. The customer relationships and IT platform have finite useful lives and are carried at cost less 
accumulated amortisation.

Amortisation on the assets is calculated using the straight-line method over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Customer relationships
IT platform

Estimated 
useful lives 
(years)

20
7

Computer software
Costs associated with maintaining computer software programmes are recognised as an expense as incurred. Development 
costs that are directly attributable to the design and testing of identifiable and unique software products controlled by the 
Group are recognised as intangible assets when the following criteria are met:

 > It is technically feasible to complete the software product so that it will be available for use
 > Management intends to complete the software product and use or sell it
 > There is an ability to use or sell the software product
 > It can be demonstrated how the software product will generate probable future  economic benefits
 > Adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development  and to use or sell the software product 

are available

 > The expenditure attributable to the software product during its development can  be reliably measured

Other development expenditures that do not meet these criteria are recognised as an expense as incurred. Development 
costs previously recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in a subsequent period.

Computer software development costs recognised as assets are amortised over their estimated useful lives, which does not 
exceed seven years.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201449

2. Accounting policies continued
(l) Intangible assets continued
Acquired computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and bring to use the 
specific software.

Computer software costs are amortised over their estimated useful lives, which does not exceed five years.

(m) Impairment of non-financial assets
Assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment. Assets that 
are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying 
amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and 
value in use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are 
separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units). Non-financial assets other than goodwill that suffered impairment 
are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment at each reporting date.

(n) Prepaid consideration
Deposits paid for acquisitions are held as prepayments until such time as the acquisition is completed (i.e. meets the 
definition of an acquisition under IFRS 3, Business Combinations) or a decision is reached by the Board not to proceed with 
the acquisition, at which time the deposit is either refunded or charged to the income statement if not refundable.

(o) Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are stated initially at fair value and subsequently at their amortised cost less provision for 
impairment. A provision for impairment of receivables is recognised when there is evidence that the Group will not be able to 
collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. The movement in the provision from the previous 
reporting period is recognised in the income statement. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are 
credited against ‘general and administrative expenses’ in the consolidated income statement.

(p) Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are initially stated at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.

(q) 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.

(r) Leases
Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

(s) Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

3. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements and estimates that affect the 
application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses.

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including 
expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

The Group 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 impact on the financial 
statements are highlighted below.

Revenue recognition
The Group recognises revenue in respect in respect of e-Invoicing related services over the period the services are delivered. 
Where transactions are paid for but not processed, such revenue is deferred according to contractual terms representing 
the anticipated period for transactions being processed. Management reviews the historical record of transactions 
processed under each contract and relevant estimates to determine whether the deferral period for the revenue recognition 
is appropriate or any changes to the existing deferral period are required. In relation to transaction fees, management 
considers that a period of inactivity of more than 12 months indicates that any unutilised transactions on that account will 
never be redeemed and as such any deferred revenue is released to the profit or loss.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements50

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

3. Critical accounting estimates and judgements continued
Impairment of assets
The Group assesses the carrying value of its intangible assets at the end of each reporting period to determine whether there 
is an indication of impairment. The recoverable amount of those assets is measured at the higher of their fair value less costs 
to sell or value in use. Management applies judgement in estimating the probability, timing and value of underlying cash 
flows and in selecting appropriate discount rates and useful economic lives to be used in value in use calculation. Refer to 
note 12, Intangible assets, for further information.

Going concern
The Group going concern assessment is based on forecasts and projections of anticipated trading performance and timing of 
growth within Tungsten Network Finance. The assumptions applied are subjective and management applies judgement in 
estimating the probability, timing and value of underlying cash flows.

Deferred taxation
The determination of the Group’s deferred tax assets involves judgements for determining the extent of its recoverability at 
each balance sheet date. The Group assesses recoverability with reference to Board approved forecasts of future taxable 
profits. These forecasts require use of assumptions and estimates.

4. Segment report
Management have determined the operating segments based on the operating reports reviewed by the Board of Directors 
that are used to assess both performance and strategic decisions. Management has identified that the Board of Directors is 
the chief operating decision maker (CODM).

The Board of Directors reviews financial information for three segments: Tungsten Network (which includes the e-Invoicing 
and spend analytics business of Tungsten Network, formerly OB10 Limited), Tungsten Network Finance (which includes the 
supply chain finance business Tungsten Network Finance) and Corporate (which includes overheads and general corporate 
costs). Intersegment revenue from management fees is eliminated below. For the period ended 30 April 2013, the Group had 
one reportable segment due to the sole business activity being the identification and acquisition of companies.

Year ended 30 April 2014

Revenue
Inter-segment revenue

Segment revenue

Tungsten 
Network
£’000

 10,767 
 – 

 10,767 

Tungsten 
Network 
Finance
£’000

Corporate
£’000

Intra Group 
eliminations
£’000

Total
£’000

 – 
 – 

 – 

 2 
 750 

 752 

 – 
(750) 

 10,769 
 – 

(750) 

 10,769 

EBITDA – excluding non-cash share-based payments
EBITDA – including non-cash share-based payments

(1,288) 
(1,288) 

(1,851) 
(1,851) 

(7,035) 
(7,035) 

 – 
 – 

(10,174) 
(10,174) 

Depreciation and amortisation
Finance income
Finance cost

Loss before taxation
Income tax credit

Loss for the year

Capital expenditure
Total assets
Total liabilities

(765) 
 122 
(323) 

(11,140) 
 125 

(11,015) 

117,194
 120,087 
14,613

–
 – 
 – 

1,721
68,507
 2,893 

–
 – 
 – 

118,915
 188,594 
17,506

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
51

Total
£’000

 – 
 – 

 – 

(4,905) 
(9,945) 

 – 
20 
 – 

(9,925) 
 – 

(9,925) 

4. Segment report continued
Period ended 30 April 2013

Revenue
Inter-segment revenue

Segment revenue

EBITDA – excluding non-cash share-based payments
EBITDA – including non-cash share-based payments

Tungsten 
Network
£’000

Tungsten 
Network 
Finance
£’000

Corporate
£’000

Intra Group 
eliminations
£’000

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
 – 

 – 

(4,905) 
(9,945) 

 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 
–

Depreciation and amortisation
Finance income
Finance cost

Loss before taxation
Income tax expense

Loss for the year

Capital expenditure
Total assets
Total liabilities

–
– 
 – 

–
 – 
 – 

–
 4,902 
 177 

–
 – 
 – 

–
 4,902 
 177

Geographical information
The Group’s revenue from external customers and non-current assets by geographical location is detailed below.

Revenue by geographical location is allocated based on the location in which the sale originated.

United Kingdom
United States of America
Rest of Europe
Malaysia

Revenue from  
external customers

Year
ended
30 April
2014
£’000

6,383
3,448
706
232

10,769

Period
2 February 
2012 to
30 April
2013
£’000

–
–

–

–

Non-current assets are allocated based on the geographical location of those assets and exclude other financial assets, 
loans receivables and deferred tax.

United Kingdom
United States of America
Malaysia

Non-current assets

As at
30 April
2014
£’000

115,821
71
41

115,933

As at
30 April
2013
£’000

–
–
–

–

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements 
52

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

5. Business combinations
On 16 October 2013 the Group completed its acquisition of 100% of the issued ordinary share capital of Tungsten Network 
Limited (formerly OB10 Limited) in consideration of the payment of £73.0m in cash and the issue to the vendors of 12,484,143 
ordinary shares of the Company. The primary reason for the acquisition was to support the growth of a global integrated 
supply chain platform.

In the period from 16 October 2013 to 30 April 2014, Tungsten Network has contributed £10.77m of revenues and a  
£1.29m EBITDA loss.

If the acquisition had occurred on the first day of this reporting period, being 1 May 2013, the contributions would have been 
£19.45m of revenues and a £6.56m EBITDA loss.

The methodologies for arriving at the fair values of assets acquired, intangible asset values and residual goodwill are described in note 
2 to these consolidated financial statements. The table below sets out the final fair values at the acquisition date. The goodwill of 
£98.7m arising on acquisition principally relates to skills and know how present within the assembled workforce, customer service 
capability and the future opportunities available once the Group completes its acquisition of a bank to provide a financing platform.

The fair value adjustments consist of the harmonisation with the Group’s IFRS compliant accounting policies and the 
recognition of intangible assets (customer relationships and IT platform).

Transaction costs of £2.1m have been expensed and are included in administrative expenses.

Non-current assets

Goodwill arising on acquisition 
Customer relationships
IT platform
Capitalised software
Property, plant and equipment 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 

Trade and other receivables 
Other current asset 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 
Deferred revenue
Current taxation payable 

Total current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net attributable assets including goodwill 

Consideration satisfied by

Cash paid
Fair value of shares issued

Total consideration 

Final fair 
value at 
acquisition
£’000

98,695
11,000
4,300
36
377

114,408

3,648
754
1,098

5,500

119,908

(7,645)
(7,700)
(373)

(15,718)

(3,060)

(3,060)

(18,778)

101,130

73,041
28,089

101,130

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201453

Period 
2 February 
2012 to 
30 April 
2013
£’000

–

Year ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

10,769 

Period
2 February 
2012 to
30 April 
2013
£’000

Year ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

 8,374 
4,022 
1,978
2,376 
2,048 
740 
636 
129 
1,405

 592 
 358 
 277 
 3,340 
 – 
 134 
 – 
 – 
 204 

21,708 

 4,905

Period
2 February 
2012 to
30 April 
2013
£’000

 529 
 63 
 – 

 592 

 – 
 – 
 5 

 5

Year ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

 6,432 
684 
341 

 7,457 

 225 
 2 
 8 

235 

6. Revenue

Provision of e-Invoicing services

7. Administrative expenses

Staff costs
Professional support
Office accommodation and services1
Transaction cost
IT costs
Irrecoverable VAT
Amortisation
Depreciation
Other

1 

Includes operating lease rental expense of £0.5m (2013: £nil)

8. Employee benefit expenses

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Contributions to defined contribution plans

Number of employees 
The average monthly number of people employed (from 16 October 2013): 
Network
Finance
Corporate

Total average headcount

Refer to note 23 for details of remuneration in respect of key management.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements54

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

9. Auditors’ remuneration
During the period the Group (including overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from the Company’s auditor 
and its associates:

Audit of the parent company and consolidated accounts
Audit of accounts of any associate of the Company
Audit-related assurance services
Taxation compliance services
Taxation advisory services 
Services relating to corporate finance transactions entered into, or proposed to be entered into, 

by or on behalf of the Company or any of its associates 

All other non-audit services

10. Finance income and costs

Finance income
Interest income on short-term deposits

Total finance income

Unwinding of discount on deferred revenue
Foreign exchange losses

Total finance cost

Net finance(cost)/income

Year  
ended
30 April 
2014
£’000

Period 
2 February 
2012 to 
30 April 
2013
£’000

60
59
26
6
260

1,877
196

 2,484 

25
 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 
 – 

 25 

Period 
2 February 
2012 to 
30 April 
2013
£’000

Year ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

122 

122 

(109) 
(214) 

(323) 

(201) 

 20 

 20 

–
 – 

 – 

 20

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201411. Income taxes
Income tax comprises the following:

Current tax
Corporate income tax

Deferred tax
Deferred tax

Total income tax credit

Tax charge reconciliation
Loss before tax

Loss before tax multiplied by the rate of corporation tax in the UK 23.1% (2013: 24.2%)
Items not deductible for tax purposes
(Gains)/Losses in Guernsey subject to 0% corporation tax
Tax losses for which no deferred income tax asset was recognised
IFRS 2 Share-based payment expense not deductible for tax purposes

Income tax credit

55

Period 
2 February 
2012 to 
30 April 
2013
£’000

Year ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

–

(125)

(125)

–

–

–

(11,140)

(9,925)

(2,573)
 766 
(8) 
 1,690 
–

(125) 

(2,402)
–
 694 
 488 
 1,220 

–

The standard rate of Corporation Tax in the UK changed from 24% to 23% with effect from 1 April 2013 and changed to 21% 
with effect from 1 April 2014.

In addition to the changes in rates of Corporation tax disclosed above a further change to the UK Corporation tax system  
was announced in the March 2014 UK Budget Statement. A reduction to the main rate is proposed to reduce the rate by  
1% per annum to 20% by 1 April 2015. This further change has been substantively enacted at the balance sheet date and, 
therefore, is included in these financial statements for the purposes of calculating deferred tax. 

Deferred tax
Deferred tax liability movement for the year

As at 1 May 2013
On acquisition of subsidiaries 
Credited to income statement

As at 30 April 2014

Intangibles
£’000

–
 3,060 
(125) 

 2,935 

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for tax losses carried forward to the extent that the realisation of the related tax 
benefit through future taxable profits is considered more likely than not. The Group has unrecognised deferred tax assets of 
£12.9m (2013: £0.5m) in respect of losses that can be carried forward against future taxable income for the period between 
one year and an indefinite period of time.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements56

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

12. Intangible assets

Cost
Balance at 1 May 2013
On acquisition of subsidiaries
Additions
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2014

Accumulated amortisation
Balance at 1 May 2013
On acquisition of subsidiaries
Amortisation
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2014

Goodwill
£’000

Customer 
relationships
£’000

IT platform
£’000

Software
licences
£’000

Software 
development
£’000

Total
£’000

– 
 98,695 
 – 
–

 – 
 11,000 
 – 
–

 – 
 4,300 
 – 
–

98,695 

 11,000 

 4,300 

– 
– 
– 
–

– 

 – 
 – 
 297 
–

 297 

 – 
 – 
 330 
–

 330 

 – 
 248 
 474 
(5) 

 717 

 – 
 212 
 9 
(4)

 217 

 – 
 500 

 – 
 – 
 331 
–

 – 
 114,243 
 805 
(5) 

 331 

 115,043 

 – 
–
 – 
–

 – 

 – 
 212 
 636 
(4)

 844 

 – 
 331 

 – 
 114,199

Net asset value as at 30 April 2013
Net asset value as at 30 April 2014

 – 
 98,695 

 – 
 10,703 

 – 
 3,970 

Goodwill impairment review
Impairment testing is carried out at cash generating unit (CGU) level on an annual basis. The following is a summary of the 
goodwill allocation for each reporting segment:

Tungsten Network (‘TN’)

April
2014
£’000

98,695

April
2013
£’000

–

The Group estimates the recoverable amount of a CGU using a value-in-use model by projecting cash flows for the next five 
years together with a terminal value using a growth rate. The five-year plans used in the impairment models are based on 
Board approved budgets and management’s past experience and future expectations of performance. The cash flow 
projections are based on the following key assumptions: 

 > Revenue, including the forecast amount of Tungsten Network Analytics revenue and Tungsten Network Finance (TNF) 

access fees. The level of TNF access fees included in the model is based on an estimate of the number of eligible suppliers 
on the network who elect to take early settlement discounts (penetration rate) which is forecast at 4.6%. The Board 
considers this to be a conservative estimate.

 > Pre-tax discount rate of 12.5% (2013: n/a), being based on the Group’s weighted average cost of capital (WACC). 
 > Growth rate used in the annuity of 2% (2013: n/a). This does not exceed the long-term economic average growth of the 

territories that the Group operates in.

Based on the above assumptions the recoverable amount exceeded the carrying value of the CGU by £54.0m. 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
57

12. Intangible assets continued
Sensitivity to changes in key assumptions 
The impairment test for the TN CGU was particularly sensitive to changes in the penetration rate relating to the TNF access 
fee. While the Directors are confident in the assumptions used in the recoverable amount computations, reasonably possible 
changes in these assumptions could result in the carrying value of the CGU exceeding its recoverable amount. At a TNF 
penetration rate of 2.4%, the recoverable amount would equal the carrying value of the CGU. Additionally, and in isolation of 
changes in other assumptions, an increase in the discount rate to 20.6% would cause the recoverable amount to equal the 
carrying value of the CGU. 

13. Property, plant and equipment

Cost
Balance at 1 May 2013
On acquisition of subsidiaries
Additions
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2014

Accumulated depreciation
Balance at 1 May 2013
On acquisition of subsidiaries
Depreciation
Exchange differences

Balance at 30 April 2014

Net asset value as at 30 April 2013
Net asset value as at 30 April 2014

Leasehold 
improvements
£’000

Fixtures  
and fitting
£’000

Computer 
equipment
£’000

Total
£’000

–
543 
1,332

(8) 

–
 303 
 6 
(9) 

–
 1,529 
 154 
(58) 

– 
 2,375 
 1,492 
(75) 

1,867

 300 

 1,625 

 3,792 

–
355 
38 
(8) 

385 

–
 292 
 5 
(9) 

–
 1,351 
 86 
(52) 

 – 
 1,998 
 129 
(69) 

 288 

 1,385 

 2,058 

 – 
1,482

–
 12 

 – 
 240 

 – 
 1,734

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements58

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

14. Trade and other receivables
Non-current assets

Loans to related party

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

–

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

220

The amount due from Disruptive Capital Finance LLP at 30 April 2013 bore an interest rate of three month LIBOR plus 1%. 
The loan was repaid in November 2013.

Current assets

Trade receivables
Less: impairment loss provision
Prepayments
VAT
Other
Other receivable-related party

15. Deposit paid for acquisition

Prepaid consideration for acquisition

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

3,802 
(273)
1,114 
385 
 997 
– 

6,025 

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

–
–
3
40
18
24

 85

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

3,990

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

1,200

The prepaid consideration relating to the acquisition of Tungsten Bank plc (formerly FIBI Bank (UK) plc) is non-refundable. 
Subsequent to year end, the acquisition of Tungsten Bank plc was approved by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA). 
Refer to note 26 Events after balance sheet date for further details.

16. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank 
Short-term deposits

Cash and cash equivalents

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

4,632
58,014

62,646

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

3,397
–

3,397

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201459

17. Share capital and share premium

Issued and fully paid

Tungsten Corporation plc 
Ordinary B Class shares TCGL
Ordinary C Class shares TCGL

Balance as at 1 May 2013 
Share consolidation prior to initial placement offering (IPO)
Reclassification of TCGL Ordinary B Class and Ordinary C shares
Reorganised share capital prior to IPO
Ordinary shares issued on IPO
TCGL Ordinary B shares exchanged into Ordinary shares
Shares issued as consideration given
Share issue costs

Balance as at 30 April 2014

Ordinary shares
Number

Nominal 
value

500,010
5,800,000
3,760,000

£0.10
£1.00
£1.00

10,060,010
£0.10
(500,010)
£1.00
(9,560,000) 
11,404,746 £0.00438
71,111,111 £0.00438
5,000,000 £0.00438
12,484,143 £0.00438
–
–

100,000,000

Share 
capital
£’000

 50 
 5,800 
 3,760 

9,610
(50)
(9,560) 

Share 
premium
£’000

–
–
–

–
–

50
312
22
54
–

438

–
159,688
11,228
–
(10,789)

160,127

The presentation of capital and reserves has been restated to separate out the ordinary B and C shares in TCGL to show 
these as shares to be issued in Tungsten Corporation plc. Accordingly, a shares-to-be-issued reserve of £3.8m is presented 
on the consolidated statement of financial position together with an other reserve of (£5.4)m being the difference between the 
premium on the Tungsten Corporation plc ordinary shares issued in exchange for the TCGL ordinary B shares at the date of 
issue and the previously recorded premium in shares to be issued. 

On 10 October 2013 the Company’s 500,010 ordinary shares were consolidated into one ordinary share and immediately 
divided into 11,404,746 ordinary shares of 50,001/11,404,746 pence (approximately £0.00438) each.

On 16 October 2013 the Company issued 71,111,111 shares of £0.00438 for total proceeds of £160m and a further 12,484,143 
shares of £0.00438 to the vendors of Tungsten Network (formerly OB10 Limited). On the same date the holders of all of the 
Class B ordinary shares of TCGL exchanged these shares into 5,000,000 shares of the Company.

The merger reserve arises on consolidation and represents the amount of share premium relating to the shares that were 
issued by the Company to acquire OB10 Limited. It arises because the Company has applied merger relief under section 612 
of the Companies Act 2006 and has recorded the element of its investment made in shares in its consolidated financial 
statements at nominal value.

Of the total costs of £11.1m associated with the raising of the £160m of share proceeds, £10.8m has been recognised against 
the share premium account.

18. Loss per share
Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to the ordinary shareholders by the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.

Basic and diluted

(11,015) 

59,222

(18.60) 

(9,925) 

11,405

(87.02) 

EPS may be subject to future dilution as a result of the issue of shares pursuant to the LTIP Securites (see note 21).

30 April 2014

30 April 2013

Loss
£’000

Shares
thousand 

EPS
p

Loss
£’000

Shares
thousand 

EPS
p

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements60

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

19. Trade and other payables

Accrued expenses
Trade payables
Social security and other taxes
Provision for lease obligations
Other liabilities

20. Deferred income

As at 1 May 
On acquistion of subsidiaries on 16 October 2013
Invoiced during the period
Released to revenue
Exchange differences
Unwinding of discount

As at 30 April 

As at 30 
April 2014
£’000

As at 30 
April 2013
£’000

3,549 
2,615 
309 
201
100 

6,774

136
–
18
–
23

 177

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

 – 
 7,700 
 10,858 
 (10,769)
 (101)
 109 

 7,797 

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

 – 

21. Share-based payments
In May 2012, the Group offered two schemes under which the founder shareholders, the other Directors, members and 
employees of Disruptive Capital Finance LLP (DCF) and other associates of the founders were entitled to participate. 

The Company invited the founders of the Group (Edmund Truell and Danny Truell), the other Directors, members and 
employees of DCF and other associates of the founders to subscribe for B ordinary shares in TCGL, under the terms of the 
TCGL Articles of Association. These Founder Shares were designed to reward the subscribers for their initial capital 
commitment to the Company and were exchanged into ordinary shares of the Company as part of the admission process. 

In addition, the founders, the other Directors, members and employees of DCF and other associates of the founders were 
invited to subscribe to Founder Securities which are C ordinary shares in TCGL. The Founder Securities are designed to 
encourage the subscribers to use their best efforts to grow the Company within five to ten years following admission to AIM 
and to maximise value for holders of ordinary shares, by entitling the founders to a 15% of the increase in the Company’s 
share price once a hurdle TSR rate of 8.25% has been achieved.

The Founder Shares and Founder Securities were treated as equity settled share-based payments and are considered to 
have vested at time of grant as there are no service conditions attaching to them. 

The fair value of the Founder Shares in 2012 were determined using an expected returns approach which considers the 
probability weighted expected return from a number of possible scenarios to arrive at the fair value. The Founder Shares are 
assumed to be auto converted to a percentage which depends upon the size of the acquisition of the then issued ordinary 
shares of Tungsten on the satisfaction of the non-vesting conditions within two years. No dividend was assumed. If the 
venture was not successful, some capital would have been returned to the Founder Shares, after costs.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201461

21. Share-based payments continued
The Founder Securities also have a non-vesting condition. The fair value of the Founder Securities were determined using a 
model derived from the Black-Scholes option pricing model using the following assumptions:

Founder securities

Risk-free interest rate
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility

1.3%
–
30%

The risk-free interest rate was based on the UK Gilt rates on date of grant in May 2012. No dividends were expected. The 
expected equity volatility was estimated by considering the historic share price volatility of listed comparable companies. 
The number of shares and the share price is determined by the IPO price. The expected time from the date of admission 
to the date of exercise for the Founder Securities is estimated at 10 years.

Share-based payment expense of £nil (2013: £5.0m) has been recognised in the consolidated income statement. The table 
below sets out the movement in shares granted under the Founder Shares and Founder Securities:

Number

As at 2 February 2012
Granted – May 2012

As at 30 April 2013
Exercised – 16 October 2013

As at 30 April 2014

Founder 
shares

Founder 
Securities

Total

–
5,800,000

–
3,760,000

–
9,560,000

 5,800,000  3,760,000
(5,800,000)

9,560,000
– (5,800,000)

–

3,760,000

3,760,000

22. Financial instruments, risk management and exposure
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks, predominantly credit and liquidity risk. Risk management is 
carried out by the Board of Directors. The Group uses financial instruments to provide flexibility regarding its working capital 
requirements and to enable it to manage specific financial risks to which it is exposed. Transactions are only undertaken if 
they relate to actual underlying exposures and hence cannot be viewed as speculative.

(a) Credit risk
The Group has no significant concentration of credit risk. The Group has policies in place to ensure that sales of services are 
made to clients with an appropriate credit history. No credit limits were exceeded during the reporting year, and management 
does not expect any losses from non-performance by these counterparties. Management believe there is no further credit risk 
provision required in excess of normal impairment loss provision.

Cash and cash equivalents maintains relationships with reputable financial institutions. It is policy to invest surplus funds 
with good quality banks.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements62

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

22. Financial instruments, risk management and exposure continued
(a) Credit risk continued
The fair value of trade and other receivables (financial assets) approximates their carrying value. As at 30 April 2014, trade 
and other receivables of £1.4m (2013: £nil) were past due but not impaired. With respect to trade and other debtors that are 
neither impaired nor past due, there are no indications as at the reporting date that the customers will not meet their 
payment obligations. The overdue analysis of these receivables is as follows:

Current and not impaired

Less than 1 months overdue
Between 2 and 3 months overdue
Over 3 months overdue

Total past due but not impaired

Individually determined to be impaired

Total trade and other receivables

Less impairment loss provision

Total trade and other receivables

As at
30 April 
2014
£’000

4,604

782
349
290

1,421

273

6,298

(273)

6,025

As at
30 April 
2013
£’000 

85 

–
–
–

–

–

85

–

85

The following represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk related to uncollaterised balances:

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Deposit paid for acquisition

Note

16
14
15

As at
30 April 
2014
£’000

62,646
6,025
3,990

72,661

As at
30 April 
2013
£’000 

3,397
305
1,200

4,902

(b) Liquidity risk
The Group aims to mitigate liquidity risk by carefully selecting acquisitions and creditors. This is managed via authorisation 
limits operating up to Group Board level. Cash flow forecasting is performed in the operating entities of the group and 
aggregated by Group finance. Group finance monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s liquidity requirements to ensure it has 
sufficient cash to meet operational needs.

The following table summarises the maturity of the Group’s non-derivative financial assets and liabilities based on 
contractual undiscounted cash flows.

Non-derivative financial assets and liabilities

As at 30 April 2014

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables1
Deposit paid for acquisition
Trade and other payables

Net position

1  Excludes prepayments.

Note

16
14
15
19

Carrying 
amount
£’000

62,646
4,911
3,990
(6,774)

Total 
contractual 
cash flows
£’000

62,646
4,911
3,990
(6,774)

Less than 
3 months
£’000

62,646
4,911
3,990
(5,930)

64,773

64,773

65,617

3 to 12 
months
£’000

–
–
–
(844)

(844)

1 to 5
years
£’000

Over
5 years 
£’000

–
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201463

22. Financial instruments, risk management and exposure continued
(b) Liquidity risk continued

As at 30 April 2013

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other receivables
Deposit paid for acquisition
Trade and other payables

Net position

Note

16
14
15
19

Carrying 
amount
£’000

Total 
contractual 
cash flows
£’000

Less than 
3 months
£’000

3 to 12 
months
£’000

3,397
305
1,200
(177)

4,725

3,397
305
1,200
(177)

4,725

3,397
85
–
(177)

3,305

–
220
–
–

220

1 to 5
years
£’000

–
–
1,200
–

1,200

Over
5 years 
£’000

–
–
–
–

–

Capital risk management
The aim of the Group is to maintain sufficient funds to enable it to meet working capital requirements, make suitable 
investments and incremental acquisitions while minimising recourse to external funders and/or shareholders. Capital 
managed by the Group at April 2014 consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the 
parent. The capital structure is reviewed by management through regular internal financial reporting and forecasting. 
Capital risk measures such as gearing ratios are not currently relevant to the Group.

The Group considers the following balances as a part of its capital management:

Cash and cash equivalents
Share capital and premium
Reserves1

Note

16
17

As at
30 April 
2014
£’000

62,646
160,565
10,523

233,734

As at
30 April 
2013
£’000 

3,397 
9,610 
(4,885)

8,122

1  Reserves include shares to be issued, merger reserve, share-based payments reserve, other reserves and accumulated losses.

23. Related-party transactions
The Group entered into the following transactions with related parties in the ordinary course of business:

Purchase of services

The outstanding balances with related parties at 30 April 2014 and 30 April 2013 were as follows:

Loans receivable

Other receivable

For the 
period 
2 February 
2012 to 
30 April 
2013
£’000

For the 
year ended 
30 April
2014
£’000

8,311

3,528

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

–

–

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

220

24

DCF, a limited liability partnership set up and controlled by a charity founded by Edmund Truell and Danny Truell (The  
Truell Charitable Foundation) provided services to the Group for the purposes of identifying, recommending and executing 
investment opportunities and also provided office and administrative services. The Group received services totalling £2.8m 
for the year ended 30 April 2014 (period ended 30 April 2013: £1.2m). The service agreement between Tungsten and DCF  
has now ended and no further services have been provided by DCF since 16 October 2013. The loan balance owed by DCF  
to Tungsten of £0.2m was repaid in full in November 2013.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements64

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
continued

23. Related-party transactions continued
Prior to 16 October 2013, 100% of the ordinary B shares of TCGL were jointly owned by Rockhopper Investments Limited (RIL) 
and Tungsten Corporation Investment Limited Partnership (TCILP). RIL is the wholly owned subsidiary of the Rockhopper 
Cell of Barclays Wealth PCC (No 1) Limited, the investment vehicle of Edmund Truell and his wider family, including Danny 
Truell. TCILP holds the investment on behalf of certain partners, employees and advisers of DCF and Directors of Tungsten. 
On 16 October 2013 all of the ordinary B shares of TCGL were exchanged for 5,000,000 ordinary A shares of Tungsten. These 
shares continue to be held by RIL and TCGL. The Group received no services from RIL for the year ended 30 April 2014 
(period ended 30 April 2013: £2.3m).

Canaccord acted as sole bookrunner, financial adviser and joint broker to the Group on the IPO and continues to be retained 
as joint broker to the Group. Peter Kiernan is the Chairman of European Investment Banking at Canaccord, and as a 
consequence of this role, Canaccord is considered a related party of the Tungsten Group. Mr Kiernan took no part in the 
negotiation of the terms of the Canaccord engagement letter or the terms of the Placing Agreement. The Group received 
services totalling £5.5m for the year ended 30 April 2014 (period ended 30 April 2013: £nil).

Transactions between Group entities are eliminated on consolidation and are not included in this note.

Key management personnel
Key management includes Directors – Executive and Non-Executive – who are responsible for controlling and directing the 
activities of the Group. The compensation paid or payable to key management for employee services is shown below:

Short-term employee benefits
Share-based payments

Total

24. Commitments
Operating leases
The table below sets out the future minimum lease commitments:

Less than 1 year
Between 1 and 2 years
Between 3 and 5 years
After 5 years

Capital commitments

Property, plant and equipment
Intangibles

For the 
period 
2 February 
2012 to 
30 April 
2013
£’000

592
1,256

1,848

For the year 
end ended 
30 April 
2014
£’000

1,043
–

1,043

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

 441 
 724 
 1,980 
 6,879 

 10,024 

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

 443 
 157 

 600 

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

 – 
 – 
 – 
 – 

 – 

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

 – 
 – 

 – 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201465

25. Principal subsidiary undertakings of the Group
The Group discloses only those companies that have a more significant impact on the profit or assets of the Group. A full list 
of companies is filed along with the annual return registered with Companies House.

Subsidiary

Nature of business

Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited (TCGL)
Tungsten Network Limited (formerly OB10 Limited)
Tungsten Network Inc (formerly OB10 Inc)
OB10 Sdn Bhd

OB10 GmbH
OB10 (Schweiz) GmbH
OB10 S.A.P.I.
OB10 EOOD

Intermediate holding company
Electronic invoice delivery
Electronic invoice delivery
Electronic invoice delivery
Shared services office
Electronic invoice delivery
Shared services office 
Electronic invoice delivery
Shared services office 

Country of 
incorporation

Guernsey
UK
USA
Malaysia

Germany
Switzerland
Mexico
Bulgaria

Proportion of 
ordinary shares 
held by the 
Group %

100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100

26. Events after balance sheet date
Bank purchase
On 10 June 2014, the Group completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of FIBI Bank (UK) plc (subsequently renamed 
Tungsten Bank plc). The total consideration paid on or prior to completion was £29.3m and is subject to a net asset 
adjustment within 30 days of completion. £1.0 million of the consideration is held in escrow for 18 months in lieu of any 
warranty claims.

At the date of these financial statements it has not been possible to determine the fair value of assets and liabilities acquired 
due to the timing of the acquisition. Accordingly, no such information has been presented in these financial statements.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements66

Independent auditors’ report
to the members of Tungsten Corporation plc

Report on the Parent Company financial statements
Our opinion
In our opinion the financial statements, defined below:

 > Give a true and fair view of the state of the Parent 

Company’s affairs as at 30 April 2014

 > Have been properly prepared in accordance with United 

Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice

 > Have been prepared in accordance with the requirements 

of the Companies Act 2006

This opinion is to be read in the context of what we say in the 
remainder of this report.

What we have audited
The Parent Company financial statements (the “financial 
statements”), which are prepared by Tungsten Corporation 
plc, comprise:

 > The Parent Company balance sheet as at 30 April 2014
 > The notes to the financial statements, which include a 
summary of significant accounting policies and other 
explanatory information

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in 
their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice).

In applying the financial reporting framework, the Directors 
have made a number of subjective judgements, for example 
in respect of significant accounting estimates. In making 
such estimates, they have made assumptions and 
considered future events.

What an audit of financial statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance with International 
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & 
Ireland)”). An audit involves obtaining evidence about the 
amounts and disclosures in the financial statements 
sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the financial 
statements are free from material misstatement, whether 
caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of:

 > Whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the 

Parent Company’s circumstances and have been 
consistently applied and adequately disclosed

 > The reasonableness of significant accounting estimates 

made by the Directors

 > The overall presentation of the financial statements

In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial 
information in the Annual Report and Accounts (the “Annual 
Report”) to identify material inconsistencies with the audited 
financial statements and to identify any information that is 
apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially 
inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the 
course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any 
apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we 
consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies 
Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Strategic Report 
and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the 
financial statements are prepared is consistent with the 
financial statements.

Other matters on which we are required to report 
by exception
Adequacy of accounting records and information and 
explanations received
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

 > Adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 
Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have 
not been received from branches not visited by us

 > The financial statements are not in agreement with the 

accounting records and returns

We have no exceptions to report arising from this 
responsibility.

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to 
you if, in our opinion, certain disclosures of Directors’ 
remuneration specified by law are not made. We have no 
exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit
Our responsibilities and those of the Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities on page 36, the Directors are responsible for 
the preparation of the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and 
ISAs (UK & Ireland). Those standards require us to comply 
with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards 
for Auditors.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201467

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 matter
We have reported separately on the Group financial 
statements of Tungsten Corporation plc for the year ended 
30 April 2014.

Nigel Reynolds (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
London

7 July 2014

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements68

Parent Company balance sheet
Registered number: 07934335

Fixed assets
Investments
Tangible assets
Intangible assets

Total fixed assets

Current assets
Amount owed by Group undertaking
Prepaid consideration for acquisition
Debtors
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Creditors – amounts falling due within one year
Amount owed to Group undertaking
Creditors

Total creditors falling due within one year

Net current liabilities

Total assets less current liabilities

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 
Share premium account
Shares to be issued
Other reserves
Profit and loss account

Total shareholders’ funds

As at
30 April 
2014
£’000

As at
30 April 
2013
£’000
(as restated)

Note 

2
3
4

5
6
7

8
9

150,223
1,363
355

151,941

6,820
3,990
1,099
301

12,210

12,999
2,793

15,792

9,560
- 
- 

9,560

- 
1,200
175
- 

1,375

3,181
160

3,341

(3,582) 

(1,966) 

148,359

 7,594 

11
10
10
10
10

438
160,127
3,760
(5,450) 
(10,516) 

9,610
–
–
–

(2,016) 

148,359

7,594

The financial statements on pages 68 to 73 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 7 July 2014 and were 
signed on its behalf by:

Edmund Truell 
Group Chief Executive Officer  

Jeffrey Belkin
Group Chief Financial Officer

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014 
 
69

Notes to the Parent Company financial statements
for the year ended 30 April 2014 

1. Accounting policies
Accounting basis
These separate financial statements of the Parent Company are presented as required by the Companies Act 2006. The 
separate financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and applicable accounting 
standards in the United Kingdom. The principal accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the period. 
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention.

The Tungsten Corporation plc consolidated financial statements for the period ended 30 April 2014 contain related party 
disclosures. The Company has taken advantage of the exemption in FRS 8, ‘Related Party Disclosures’ not to disclose 
transactions with other members of the Tungsten Group.

As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Parent Company’s profit and loss account has not been 
presented separately in these financial statements. The retained profit is show in Note 10.

In accordance with the exemption under FRS 1(Revised 1996), “Cash Flow Statements”, the Company’s cash flow statement 
has not been separately presented in these financial statements. 

Share-based payments
The Company issues equity-settled share-based awards to certain employees. The fair value of share-based awards is 
determined at the date of grant and expensed based on the Company’s estimate of the shares that will eventually vest, on a 
straight-line basis over the vesting period with a corresponding increase in equity. At each balance sheet date the Company 
revises its estimates of the number of options that are expected to vest based on service and non-market performance 
conditions. The amount expensed is adjusted over the vesting period for changes in the estimate of the number of shares that 
will eventually vest, save for changes resulting from any market-related performance conditions.

Further details on the share-based payments can be found in the Directors’ Remuneration report and notes to the 
Consolidated financial statements of this Annual Report and Accounts.

Tangible assets
Tangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is charged to profit or loss on a straight-line 
basis of the estimated useful lives of each item of tangible asset. Depreciation commences when an assets is brought into 
use over the following estimated useful lives:

 > Leasehold improvement: depreciated over the term of lease
 > Computer equipment: 50% on cost

Intangible assets
Intangible assets are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation. Computer software development costs recognised as 
assets are amortised over their estimated useful lives, which does not exceed seven years. Acquired computer software 
licences are amortised over their estimated useful lives, which does exceed five years. Amortisation commences when an 
intangible assets are brought into use. 

Prepaid consideration
Deposits paid for acquisitions are held as prepayments until such time as the acquisition is completed or a decision is 
reached by the Board not to proceed with the acquisition, at which time the deposit is either refunded or charged to the profit 
and loss account if not refundable.

Debtors
Debtors are stated initially at fair value and subsequently at their amortised cost less impairment losses.

Creditors
Creditors are initially stated at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost.

Investments in subsidiary undertakings
Investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less provisions for impairment. Investments are reviewed for 
impairment if there are indicators that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements70

Notes to the Parent Company financial statements 
continued

2. Investments

Cost
As at 1 May 2013 – restated1
Additions

As at 30 April 2014

Net book value
As at 30 April 2014
As at 30 April 2013 – restated1

Company
£’000

9,560
140,663

150,223

150,223
9,560

1  The restatement reflects the Company’s investment in Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited ordinary B shares and ordinary C shares. Refer to note 10 for 

further details

The Company has the following subsidiaries:

Name

% ownership in ordinary shares

Country of incorporation

Principal activity

Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited

100

Guernsey

Intermediate holding company

The Directors believe that the carrying value of the investments is supported by their underlying net assets.

3. Tangible assets

Cost
Balance at 1 May 2013
Additions

Balance at 30 April 2014

Accumulated depreciation
Balance at 1 May 2013
Depreciation

Balance at 30 April 2014

Net asset value as at 30 April 2013
Net asset value as at 30 April 2014

Leasehold 
improvements
 £’000

Computer 
equipment 
£’000

–
1,332

1,332

–
–

–

–
1,332

–
34

34

–
3

3

–
31

Total 
£’000

–
1,366

1,366

–
3

3

–
1,363

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 20144. Intangible assets

Cost
Balance at 1 May 2013
Additions

Balance at 30 April 2014

Accumulated amortisation
Balance at 1 May 2013
Amortisation

Balance at 30 April 2014

Net asset value as at 30 April 2013
Net asset value as at 30 April 2014

5. Amount owed by Group undertaking

Tungsten Network Limited

71

Software 
development 
£’000

Software 
licences 
£’000

331

331

–
–

–

–
24

24

24

–
–

–

–
331

Total 
£’000

–
355

355

–
–

–

–
355

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

6,820

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

–

The amount due from Tungsten Network Limited as at 30 April 2014 is non-interest bearing and is repayable on demand.

6. Prepaid consideration for acquisition

Prepaid consideration for acquisition

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

3,990

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

1,200

The prepaid consideration relates to the acquisition of Tungsten Bank plc (formerly FIBI Bank (UK) plc). The consideration is 
non-refundable. Refer to note 12 – Events after balance sheet date for further details.

7. Debtors

Other debtors
VAT
Prepayments
Trade debtors
Other receivable-related party

As at 
30 April 
2014
 £’000

600
275
221
3
–

1,099

As at 
30 April 
2013
 £’000

48
–
3
100
24

175

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements72

Notes to the Parent Company financial statements 
continued

8. Amount owed to Group undertaking

Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

12,999

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

3,181

The amount due to Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited as at 30 April 2014 (2013: £3.2m) is non-interest bearing and is 
repayable on demand.

9. Creditors

Trade creditors
Social security and other taxes
Accrued expenses
Other creditors 

10. Reconciliation of reserves and movement in shareholders’ funds

Balance at 2 February 2012
Loss for the period
Issue of share capital
Representation of TCGL ordinary B shares 

and ordinary C Shares1

Fair value of Founder Shares and Founder 

Securities

Balance as at 30 April 2013 – as restated

Loss for the period
Proceeds from shares issued
TCGL ordinary B shares exchanged into 

Tungsten ordinary shares

Shares issued on acquisition of subsidiary
Reclassification1
Issue costs

Note

11

11

11
11

As at 
30 April 
2014
£’000

568
101
2,124
–

2,793

As at 
30 April 
2013
£’000

–
18
136
6

160

Share 
premium
account
£’000

Shares to
be issued
£’000

Other 
reserves
£’000

Profit and 
loss account
£’000

Total 
shareholders’ 
funds
£’000

Share 
capital
£’000

–
–
50

9,560

–

9,610

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
312

–
159,688

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
–

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
–

–
(7,056)
–

–
(7,056)
50

–

9,560

5,040

(2,016)

5,040

7,594

(8,500)
–

(8,500)
160,000

22
54
(9,560)
–

11,228
–
–
(10,789)

(5,800)
–
9,560
–

(5,450)
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

–
54
–
(10,789)

Balance at 30 April 2014

438

160,127

3,760

(5,450)

(10,516) 148,359

1  The presentation of capital and reserves has been restated to separate the ordinary B shares and ordinary C shares of Tungsten Corporation Guernsey Limited to 
show these as shares to be issued by the Company. Accordingly, a shares-to-be-issued reserves of £3.8m is presented on the consolidated statement of financial 
position together with an other reserve of (£5.4)m being the difference between the premium on the Tungsten Corporation plc ordinary shares issued in exchange for 
the TCGL ordinary B shares at the date of issue and the previously recorded premium in shares to be issued. 

The Company recognised a net amount of £nil (2013: £5m) to the profit and loss account in relation to share-based payments. 
Details of the share-based payments are disclosed in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

The fee for the statutory accounts audit of the Company for April 2014 is £69 thousand (2013: £25 thousand). Disclosure of 
fees payable to the auditor and its associates for other (non-audit) services has not been made because the Company’s 
consolidated accounts are required to disclose such fees on a consolidated basis. 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201473

11. Called up share capital

Issued and fully paid

Tungsten Corporation plc 
Ordinary B Class shares TCGL
Ordinary C Class shares TCGL

Balance as at 1 May 2013 
Share consolidation prior to initial placement offering (IPO)
Reclassification of TCGL Ordinary B Class and Ordinary C shares
Reorganised share capital prior to IPO
Ordinary shares issued on IPO
TCGL ordinary B shares exchanged into ordinary shares
Shares issued as consideration given
Share issue costs

Balance as at 30 April 2014

Ordinary shares
Number

Nominal 
value

500,010
5,800,000
3,760,000

£0.10
£1.00
£1.00

10,060,010
£0.10
(500,010)
£1.00
(9,560,000) 
11,404,746 £0.00438
71,111,111 £0.00438
5,000,000 £0.00438
12,484,143 £0.00438
–

100,000,000

Share 
capital
£’000

 50 
 5,800 
 3,760 

9,610
(50)
(9,560) 

Share 
premium
£’000

–
–
–

–
–

50
312
22
54
–

438

–
159,688
11,228
–
(10,789)

160,127

Ordinary shares
On 10 October 2013, the Company’s 500,010 ordinary shares were consolidated into one ordinary share and immediately 
divided into 11,404,746 ordinary shares of 50,001/11,404,746 pence (approximately £0.00438) each.

On 16 October 2013, the Company issued 71,111,111 shares of £0.00438 for total proceeds of £160m and a further 12,484,123 
shares of £0.00438 to the vendors of Tungsten Network Limited (formerly OB10 Limited). On the same date the holders of all 
of the Class B ordinary shares of TCGL exchanged these shares into 5,000,000 shares of the Company.

12. Events after balance sheet date
Bank purchase
On 10 June 2014, the Company completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of FIBI Bank (UK) plc (subsequently 
renamed Tungsten Bank plc). The total consideration paid on or prior to completion was £29.3m and is subject to a net asset 
adjustment within 30 days of completion. £1.0m of the consideration is held in escrow for 18 months in lieu of any 
warranty claims.

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements74

Notes 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201475

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 2014StrategicreportGroup overviewDirectors’reportFinancial statements76

Notes 

Tungsten Corporation plcAnnual report and accounts 201477

Tungsten Corporation plc
Annual report and accounts 2014

Shareholder information

Nominated adviser and joint broker
Charles Stanley Securities
131 Finsbury Pavement
London
EC2A 1NT
UK

Joint broker
Canaccord Genuity Limited
88 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7QR
UK

Registrar
Equiniti
Aspect House
Spencer Road
Lancing
West Sussex
BN99 6DA
UK

0871 384 2030* 
Overseas helpline +44 (0)121 415 7047

*Calls cost 8p per minute plus network extras. Lines open 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Registered office
Tungsten Corporation plc
Pountney Hill House
6 Laurence Pountney Hill
London 
EC4R 0BL
UK

Tungsten Corporation plc is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in the UK, with registered 
number 07934335.

< 7mm SPINE

< PRINTER TO ADJUST

 
 
 
 
Tungsten Corporation plc
Pountney Hill House
6 Laurence Pountney Hill
London EC4R 0BL
UK

E: info@tungstencorporationplc.com
www.tungstencorporationplc.com
T: +44 20 7280 7807

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