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XP Power

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FY2017 Annual Report · XP Power
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XP POWER LIMITED
401 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE
HAW PAR TECHNOCENTRE
LOBBY B #02-02
SINGAPORE 149598
T: +65 6411 6900
F: +65 6479 6305

XP POWER
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 
for the year ended 31 December 2017

stock code: XPP

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Introduction

OUR PURPOSE
We provide our customers in the Healthcare, Industrial and Technology 
sectors with solutions to power their critical systems and get their 
products to market in the shortest possible time. 

Electronic equipment cannot operate directly from the electricity 
provided by the mains supply which is a relatively high voltage 
alternating current. All electronic equipment requires a stable, direct 
current in order to operate. Our electronic power converters are 
designed-in to our customers’ end equipment, often with the aid of our 
engineering expertise, to provide this stable direct current. These power 
solutions also provide the vital safety barrier between the potentially 
lethal mains supply and the user of the end equipment. 

Our target customers provide vital equipment where the cost of 
downtime or implications of failure are significant.

We power the world’s critical systems.

OUR VISION
To be the first choice power solutions provider delivering the ultimate 
experience for our customers and our people.

OUR CORE VALUES
Our core values of INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE, FLEXIBILITY, SPEED and 
CUSTOMER FOCUS are our DNA and are fundamental to our success. 

CUSTOMER 

FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

CUSTOMER 
CUSTOMER 
CUSTOMER 
INTEGRITY
FOCUS
FOCUS
FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY
FLEXIBILITY
FLEXIBILITY

SPEED
SPEED
SPEED

CUSTOMER 
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

INTEGRITY

Printed on Cocoon Silk 60.

A recycled paper containing 60% recycled waste and 40% virgin fibre and manufactured  
at a mill certified with ISO 14001 environmental management standard.

The pulp used in this product is bleached using an Elemental Chlorine Free process. (ECF)

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CONTENTS

OVERVIEW
IC 

Introduction

2  Highlights in 2017

3  Our Investment Proposition

4  XP Power at a Glance

6  Chairman’s Statement

STRATEGIC REPORT
Our Marketplace
8 

10  Our Growth Drivers

12  Our Business Model

14  Our Strategy

16  Our Strategy in Action

18  Our Key Performance Indicators

20  Performance: Operational Review

24  Performance: Financial Review

28  Managing Our Risks

32  Our Commitments to Sustainability

35  Our Core Values in Action

36  Our People and their Health and Safety

38  Our Customers

39  Our Suppliers

40  Our Communities

41  Our Environment

GOVERNANCE REPORT
42   Chairman’s Introduction to Governance
44   Directors and Officers
46   Corporate Governance Report
50   Audit Committee Report
54   Remuneration Committee Report
55   Remuneration Policy
60   Remuneration Report – Annual Report
69   Other Governance and Statutory  

Disclosures

70   Statement by Directors

Independent Auditor’s Report

FINANCIALS
71  
77   Consolidated Statement of  
Comprehensive Income
78   Consolidated Balance Sheet
79  

 Consolidated Statement of Changes  
in Equity

2017 has been another excellent year for  
XP Power as we have successfully grown order 
intake, revenues and earnings across all sectors 
and geographies. Whilst we have benefited from 
market growth it has been encouraging that we 
captured further market share. We achieved this by 
being customer focused and ensuring we remain 
an attractive power partner to our customers 
through the products and innovation we offer. The 
completion of the Comdel acquisition in September 
allows us to further expand our offering to our 
target customers and support future growth.

Our people, across the three continents where we 
have a presence, lie at the heart of our success. Our 
lean, flat, fast and flexible structure allows delivery 
of excellent service and support and these are the 
key ingredients for our continued growth.

As part of our continued drive for improvement, we 
have rolled out some high quality employee training 
designed around our Core Values of INTEGRITY, 
KNOWLEDGE, FLEXIBILITY, SPEED and CUSTOMER 
FOCUS. These values are our DNA and fundamental 
to our continued success.

We look forward to further success in 2018.

Duncan Penny
Chief Executive Officer

1 March 2018

80   Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
81  

 Notes to the Consolidated Financial 
Statements

118   Company Balance Sheet
119   Notes to the Company Balance Sheet
129   Five Year Review
130   Advisers

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  
for the year ended 31 December 2017 
stock code: XPP

01

 
  
Highlights in 2017

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 

Order Intake
(£ MILLIONS)

+38%

184.3

133.5

103.7

105.1

110.5

Revenue
(£ MILLIONS)

+29%

166.8

129.8

101.1

101.1

109.7

(+31% in constant currency)

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

(+22% in constant currency)

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Earnings Per 
Share (PENCE)
+32%

148.3

102.1

103.7

95.8

112.0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Adjusted 
Earnings Per 
Share (PENCE)
+27%

147.0

95.1

101.1

115.3

104.3

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

(after adjusting for one-off  
costs, non recurring tax benefits 
and intangibles amortisation)

Dividend Per 
Share (PENCE) 
+10%

78

71

66

61

55

Employee 
Cultural 
Survey (SCORE)

62.9

63.0

62.0

59.2

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016

2017

2018

In order to provide readers with a more comprehensive view of our business 
and performance, we have presented a number of alternative performance 
measures (see page 93). We use constant currency to provide comparison 
using the prior year information translated at current year exchange rates. 

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
 ¼ Record order intake, revenues and earnings achieved 

in 2017

 ¼ Order intake of £184.3 million (2016: £133.5 million) 
– an increase of 38% (31% in constant currency)

 ¼ Full year revenues increased by 29% (22% in constant 

currency) to £166.8 million (2016: £129.8 million)

 ¼ Growth in all industry sectors and geographies
 ¼ Acquisition of Comdel adds Radio Frequency power 
capability to our product portfolio expanding our 
available market. 

 ¼ Revenues from XP Power’s own-designed products 
increased by 34% (24% in constant currency) to 
£127.4 million (2016: £95.3 million) to reach a record 
76% of total revenue (2016: 73%)

 ¼ Sales of high efficiency XP “Green Power” products 
grew by 31% (22% in constant currency) in 2017 to 
£39.7 million (2016: £30.2 million)

 ¼ Balance sheet remains robust, with a lower level of 

net debt of £9.0 million at year end (2016: net cash of 
£3.7 million)

 ¼ Commenced construction of a second production 

facility in Vietnam to expand manufacturing capacity – 
new factory to be completed by end 2018

02

HeadingOur Investment Proposition

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Exposure to a broad cross section of end markets – 
Industrial, Healthcare and Technology – but with no direct 
exposure to consumer electronics. Read more on page 8

A diverse customer base of over 4,500 active customers, 
with no single customer accounting for more than 11%  
of revenue. Read more on page 8

Growing penetration of a global, blue-chip  
customer base. Read more on page 9

Powerful Customer Relationship Management tools 
which allow the efficient management of our customer 
base and identification of pricing and product trends  
that enable the development of appropriate, innovative 
new products. Read more on page 21

An established pipeline of best in class “Green” products 
which operate at high efficiency. Read more on pages 13 and 32

Revenue annuity – although design-in cycles are often 
long, once our power converters are approved for use 
in our customer’s end equipment, XP Power enjoys 
a revenue annuity for the lifetime of the customer’s 
equipment, which is typically seven years. Read more on page 13

Attractive margins and lower capital investment 
requirements when compared to many manufacturing 
industries, resulting in strong free cash flow and margins 
that are amongst the highest in the industry. Read more on page 21

Progressive dividend – the business model allows for a 
progressive dividend which is paid quarterly. Read more on page 13

03

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPXP Power at a Glance

XP Power’s portfolio of leading edge, ultra-high efficient products are 
helping the world’s leading manufacturers to create new technologies 
and products.

Our power converters live inside the world’s critical systems,  
taking the electrical mains supply from the grid and converting it  
into the correct form of electricity to power our customers’ 
equipment in critical applications in the industrial, healthcare and 
technology industries.

The design and integration of these essential power conversion 
devices into the end equipment they power involves many 

challenges and trade-offs. The result is a unique set of requirements 
from the customers who themselves are constantly attempting to 
differentiate their equipment from their competitors.

Our long-term investment in research and development has 
positioned XP Power as a key partner for the world’s leading 
manufacturers of critical capital equipment.

MEETING OUR CUSTOMERS’ REQUIREMENTS WITH OUR POWERFUL OFFERING 
 } Broad, leading-edge product line with ultra-high efficiency

 } Class-leading manufacturing ensuring excellent quality, reliability and competitive cost

 } Class-leading customer service and support through our highly knowledgeable and 

experienced sales team and power systems engineers

 } Engineering on three continents providing excellent support during design-in to reduce 

time to market

POWER OF OUR GLOBAL REACH
Our global reach and target sectors help insulate us from market volatility

Our customers manufacture capital equipment and we target the 
healthcare, industrial and technology markets. We do not have any 
direct exposure to consumer electronics or high volume low margin 
business seen in the computing and data centre industries. The 
equipment our products power is often mission-critical so quality 
and reliability are paramount.

Increasingly, the design and manufacturing process of major 
international Original Equipment Manufacturers takes place across 
different continents, with these blue-chip companies demanding 
global support. In response, XP Power has established an 
international network of offices which offers the necessary customer 
support across technical sales, design engineering, logistics  
and operations. 

This network gives XP Power a strong competitive advantage 
over both its smaller competitors, who do not have the scale 
and geographic reach to serve global customers, and its larger 
competitors, who often lack the operational flexibility to provide 
excellent service and speed. We believe that this balance is key 
to our success in winning new contracts and offers XP Power the 
opportunity to further increase its market share.

04

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05

NORTH 
AMERICA
18 Sales Offices
57%

OF REVENUE

EUROPE

9 Sales Offices
34%

OF REVENUE

ASIA

5 Sales Offices
9%

OF REVENUE

UP 

29%

2016 REVENUE 
US$93.7 million

2017 REVENUE 
US$121.3 million

UP 

16%

2016 REVENUE 
GB£49.4 million
2017 REVENUE 
GB£57.5 million

UP 

18%

2016 REVENUE 
US$16.1 million
2017 REVENUE 
US$19.0 million

NORTH AMERICA
The North American network consists of 
18 sales offices; an extensive engineering 
solutions function based in Northern 
California with production facilities in 
Nevada and Massachusetts.

EUROPE
In Europe, the network consists of nine 
direct sales offices and a further nine 
distributor offices. In addition, XP Power 
has engineering solutions centres in 
Germany and in the UK.

This network allows XP Power to provide 
its major customers with local, face-to-face 
support and rapid response times.

With good coverage across Europe we 
have the operational flexibility to provide 
good quality and timely service.

ASIA
We have five direct sales offices in Asia run 
from Singapore, where we also manage 
a network of seven distributors serving 
the region. We have engineering solutions 
capability in Singapore and South Korea  
to complement our offering to  
customers in the region.

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPOur Progress in 2017
2017 was another year of significant progress in the development 
of the Company. We have continued to execute well against our 
strategy and favourable market conditions, combined with new 
design wins entering into production, generated another set of 
strong results. We delivered record order intake, revenues, profits 
and earnings per share in the year. We also acquired Comdel, 
another business that significantly expands our addressable market 
by strengthening our capability in higher power applications.  
We believe we now have the most comprehensive product  
offering in our industry, making XP Power a compelling partner to 
provide power solutions to our target customers to power their 
critical systems.

Results
Our financial performance in the year was strong. Revenues were 
£166.8 million, exceeding the prior year of £129.8 million. This was 
an increase of 22% in constant currency. Order intake also set a 
new record of £184.3 million, exceeding the £133.5 million achieved 
in 2016, and representing a 31% increase in constant currency.

Reported profit before tax was £32.2 million (2016: £27.8 million). 
After adding back acquisition costs, both completed and aborted, 
of £3.3 million (2016: £0.4 million) and amortisation of intangible 
assets of £0.6 million (2016: £0.4 million), adjusted profit before tax 
was £36.1 million (2016: £28.6 million), an increase of 26% over 
that reported in 2016. Basic earnings per share increased by 32% 
to 148.3 pence (2016:112.0 pence). Diluted adjusted earnings per 
share increased by 27% to 147.0 pence (2016: 115.3 pence).

Acquisition
We have been clear for some time that we intend to use the strength 
of our balance sheet and cash generation to acquire complementary 
businesses that expand our product portfolio and engineering 
capabilities. I was pleased to report the acquisition of Comdel, a 
company specialising in Radio Frequency (RF) power, in September 
2017. This strategic acquisition fulfils our ambition to add a high 
power capability to our product portfolio and is an excellent fit with 
the rest of the XP Power family. We are very excited about the 
prospects for these products and the additional value we can now 
provide to our customers. 

For more information please  
see pages 10 and 11

Chairman’s Statement

“ 2017 WAS ANOTHER YEAR 
OF SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS 
IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF 
OUR COMPANY. WE HAVE 
CONTINUED TO EXECUTE 
OUR STRATEGY WELL AND 
FAVOURABLE MARKET 
CONDITIONS COMBINED WITH 
NEW DESIGN WINS ENTERING 
INTO PRODUCTION HAVE 
DRIVEN ANOTHER SET OF 
STRONG RESULTS.”
James Peters  
Chairman

06

HeadingOur People and Our Values
The success of an organisation is 
dependent on the people and talent within 
it. We have significant strength and depth 
within our Company, with the majority of 
our Executives boasting long tenures with 
XP Power. We have conducted annual 
employee engagement surveys since 2015 
and I am pleased that we have shown 
strong scores each time we repeat the 
survey, having taken actions to address any 
issues arising from the results of the prior 
survey. One of the main findings from these 
employee surveys was that our employees 
are proud to be part of our Company, 
highlighting the significant engagement we 
have between the business and our people. 
Our cultural survey score is one of our non-
financial key performance indicators.

As the Company grows we continually look 
to acquire more talent across the business 
to build even greater strength and depth. 
A key focus is engineering, which remains 
a constraint on our ability to address all the 
opportunities we see before us. Recruiting 
and on-boarding more engineering 
colleagues will be a priority for 2018. 

Manufacturing Capacity
Our continued growth means we need to 
add manufacturing capacity. We therefore 
commenced construction of a second 
manufacturing facility in Ho Chi Minh City, 
Vietnam in October 2017 which we expect 
to complete in the second half of 2018.

For more information please  
see page 23

Outlook
We are encouraged by the strong 
performance in 2017 and a good start 
to 2018. The Group entered 2018 with a 
strong order backlog and will also benefit 
from a full year’s trading from the acquired 
Comdel business which expands our 
addressable market.

Although we cannot be immune from all 
external economic shocks resulting from 
cyclicality in the capital equipment markets 
we serve, we are optimistic regarding our 
prospects for 2018.

We are continuing to build a leading position 
in our industry to realise our vision of 
becoming the first choice power solutions 
provider delivering the ultimate experience 
to our customers and to our people.

James Peters
Chairman

Board Changes
I would like to welcome Gavin Griggs, who 
joined us on 31 October 2017, to the Board 
as Chief Financial Officer. Gavin has worked 
in a range of acquisitive businesses, both 
public and private and with an international 
footprint, most recently Daisy Group Ltd, 
where he was Group Finance Director. 
Gavin’s wide-ranging financial, commercial 
and M&A experience, will be an asset 
to XP Power in the next phase of our 
development.

In December 2017 Peter Bucher, a Non-
Executive Director, informed the Board that 
he would retire in December 2018 and step 
down from the Board. 

We will begin a search for a new Non-
Executive Director later this year.

For more information please  
see pages 44 and 45

Dividend
Our continued strong financial performance, 
strong cash flows and confidence in the 
Group’s long-term prospects have enabled 
us to increase dividends consistently 
over a sustained period. The Board is 
recommending a final dividend of 29 pence 
per share for the fourth quarter of 2017. 
This dividend will be payable to members 
on the register on 16 March 2018 and will 
be paid on 20 April 2018. When combined 
with the interim dividends for the previous 
quarters, the total dividend for the year will 
be 78 pence per share (2016: 71 pence), an 
increase of 10%.

The compound average growth rate of 
 our dividend has been 15% over the  
last ten years, demonstrating the  
Board’s commitment to our progressive 
dividend policy.

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XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPOur Marketplace

We continue to expand our product portfolio to grow our addressable 
market and provide more products to our key customers where we are 
already an approved or preferred supplier. 

THE MARKETS WE SERVE

We have a broad exposure to the Healthcare, Industrial and 
Technology markets. Our customers are manufacturers of capital 
equipment and their end markets all exhibit different degrees of 
cyclicality. Generally, the Technology markets are most cyclical but 
it is clear that the long-term growth prospects for technology are 
robust. Healthcare is our least cyclical sector with Industrial lying 
between Technology and Healthcare. 

We have a diverse customer base of over 4,500 customers that  
we deal with directly and many more customers serviced through 
our distribution channels which have been growing strongly in  
recent years. 

The diversity of our business is a significant strength with no single 
customer exceeding more than 11% of revenue. Further, there is 
no single dominant player in the markets we address due to the 
diversity of customer requirements. 

We have no direct exposure to consumer products.

MARKET SIZE AND OPPORTUNITY

We estimate that XP Power has a 7% share of its addressable global market (excluding RF Power).

11% SHARE

11% SHARE

2% SHARE

3% SHARE*

TOTAL MARKET VALUE

TOTAL MARKET VALUE

TOTAL MARKET VALUE

US$1067
MILLION

US$657
MILLION

US$1210
MILLION

TOTAL MARKET VALUE

US$800
MILLION

NORTH AMERICA
North America is a significant 
market for power electronics 
with many large customers, 
particularly in Technology  
and Healthcare.

EUROPE
The European market is much 
more fragmented than North 
America or Asia. In particular  
it contains numerous  
smaller industrial companies 
as well as a number of larger 
medical companies.

ASIA
Although Asia is a large 
market, much of it is not 
readily available to XP Power. 
Although XP Power has a 
factory in China the regulations 
require our product to be 
exported and re-imported into 
China. This means we are at 
a tax and duty disadvantage 
to local manufacturers who 
are generally competing on 
cost. We are able to service 
customers who demand high 
quality and reliability and who 
value the engineering solutions 
and support we provide.

RF POWER
Following the acquisition of 
Comdel in September 2017 
we now have RF Power 
products in our portfolio 
which significantly increases 
our addressable market. We 
believe the market for RF 
Power to be approximately 
US$800 million. This presents 
a significant opportunity for 
long-term growth.

* Share is based on annualised revenue

Source: MicroTech Consultants 2017 Report and management estimates

08

Heading 
REVENUE TRENDS 

Revenue trends by sector are set out below.

Industrial Revenue (£ millions)
59.8

65.6

47.5

49.1

48.6

Healthcare Revenue (£ millions)

51.0

Technology Revenue (£ millions)

50.2

37.9

34.3

30.2

31.0

32.1

26.8

23.4

21.0

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

INDUSTRIAL
Reported revenues from industrial customers 
grew 10% in 2017. There appears to have 
been a broad recovery in the Industrial 
markets. Industrial is the most fragmented 
sector we deal in and very few of our top 30 
accounts are industrial companies despite 
the fact that Industrial makes up 39% of our 
total revenues in 2017. 

HEALTHCARE
Reported revenue from healthcare 
customers grew 35% in 2017. This 
growth was driven by a number of new 
programmes entering the production phase 
from a collection of accounts. We have 
built a compelling offering for healthcare 
customers due to our product focus in this 
area and excellent service and support. 
Medical customers also value the high 
efficiency products which can operate 
without the need for fan cooling. This has a 
number of benefits but importantly make the 
power system much more reliable as it has 
no moving parts. 

TECHNOLOGY
Reported revenues from technology 
customers grew by 56% in 2017. This 
growth was aided by the acquisition 
of Comdel in September 2017 which 
contributed £4.1 million of revenue in 2017. 
Without Comdel, technology still grew 
44% due to very strong performance from 
a number of semiconductor equipment 
manufacturers. Semiconductor equipment 
manufacturing customers contributed 
US$37.3 million (2016: US$20.8 million ) of 
revenue in 2017.

Revenue by geography is set out as follows expressed in US Dollars to highlight the underlying trends in North America and Asia and 
Sterling in Europe.

North America Revenue
(US$ millions)

84.9

85.5

78.4

93.7

121.3

Europe Revenue (£ millions)

57.5

Asia Revenue (US$ millions)

19.0

43.7

42.2

45.1

49.4

16.1

13.7

12.6

11.5

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

NORTH AMERICA
North America revenues grew by 29% in 
2017. The growth was driven by strong 
performance from semiconductor equipment 
manufacturers and new healthcare 
programmes entering production. The 
acquisition of Comdel also contributed 
US$5.4 million of revenue in 2017. 

EUROPE
European revenues grew 16% on a 
reported basis. Europe benefitted from a 
general recovery in the Industrial sector 
plus a number of new medical programmes 
entering the production stage. 

ASIA
Asia revenues grew by 18% in 2017.  
Asia growth was fuelled by programmes in  
the Healthcare and Industrial sectors.

09

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTOur Growth Drivers

DRIVER

HOW WE’RE RESPONDING

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RELIABILITY
The requirement from customers and legislation for products to consume 
and waste less energy is driving demand for more efficient power 
converters. This goes hand in hand with reliability for critical applications 
as ultra-high efficiency products do not require relatively unreliable fans to 
cool them, and cooler systems mean key components such as electrolytic 
capacitors have longer lifetimes.

INNOVATION
Our customers possess a competitive need to launch new products 
offering increased productivity and functionality whilst reducing harmful 
environmental impacts. In addition, our customers are trying to differentiate 
their products from their competitors which frequently results in different or 
new power conversion requirements.

NEW PRODUCTS
The diverse product requirements of XP Power’s target market provide 
opportunities to enter new niches and provide flexible solutions.

PENETRATION
Our blue-chip customer base provides good opportunities to win additional 
new product programmes from multiple engineering teams across the 
globe. We have gained corporate approval at many blue-chip companies 
over the past few years. We are now capitalising on these approvals to win 
a larger share of the business that is available.

HEALTHCARE
A global population that is both increasing and ageing, coupled with 
increased legislation, is driving the deployment of more healthcare devices, 
particularly in the home. This, in combination with new technologies and 
treatments becoming available, makes Healthcare an excellent sector for 
XP Power. The customers in this area demand the ultimate quality and 
reliability and appreciate and value XP Power’s value proposition.

We have developed a 
portfolio of XP “Green” 
Power products with class-
leading efficiencies.

With the acquisition of 
EMCO in November 2015 and 
Comdel in September 2017  
we now have five design 
centres around the globe.

We have the broadest range 
of standard products in our 
industry which are designed 
to be easy to modify to power 
the customer’s specific 
application.

High voltage modules from 
the acquisition of EMCO 
in November 2015 and RF 
Power from the acquisition of 
Comdel in September 2017 
increase our available market 
and potential.

We have the broadest, most 
up-to-date range of medically 
approved power converters 
in our industry.

10

HeadingDRIVER

HOW WE’RE RESPONDING

PROLIFERATION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Electronic devices are becoming more and more pervasive in our lives 
as new technologies and innovation emerges. This trend is accelerating 
with the adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Intelligence 
(AI) and big data. These devices drive demand for semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment which is a key focus area for XP Power.

LEGISLATION
Our industry continues to be the subject of an increasing raft of legislation 
from numerous countries and standard setters relating to areas such 
as environmental impacts, safety requirements, and above all energy 
efficiency. The compliance costs of keeping up with this legislation favour 
a company the size of XP Power, where we are large enough to be able 
to devote resources to this, yet agile enough to respond quickly with new 
products or documentation as required.

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT
Our products are designed into and power capital equipment and as such 
are subject to the capital equipment cycles. While industrial company 
investment in capital has been subdued over recent history due to global 
economic conditions, new capital investment generally leads to greater 
productivity. We consider that the medium and long-term opportunities 
remain positive for capital equipment. This is particularly the case in 
emerging markets as we see labour costs rising significantly.

EXPANSION OF “GREEN” PRODUCTS
Climate change and emission of greenhouse gases is becoming an 
increasingly significant issue as emerging countries develop and urbanise. 
XP Power has taken a leading role in developing ultra-efficient products 
which consume and waste less energy and that are suitable for use in 
healthcare and industrial applications.

We have the broadest range 
of standard products in our 
industry which are designed 
to be easy to modify to 
power the customer’s 
specific application. Many 
of our products are suitable 
to power semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment.

We have dedicated resources 
devoted to safety legislation 
which we are expanding.

We have the largest direct 
sales force in our industry 
together with the broadest 
product portfolio so are well 
positioned to take advantage 
of any recovery in the capital 
equipment markets.

We have developed a 
portfolio of XP “Green” 
Power products with class-
leading efficiencies and have 
the most environmentally 
friendly manufacturing facility 
in our industry.

11

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTOur Business Model

Our model is to sell directly to our key customers, offering excellent service 
and support combined with a broad range of class-leading products

WE MANAGE OUR RELATIONSHIPS

WE ADD VALUE THROUGH  
OUR SALES CYCLE

Our customers are at the  
heart of what we do
Our model is to sell directly to our key customers where we 
can add genuine value, offering excellent service and support 
combined with class-leading products. 

We have carved out a leading position in our industry. An up-to-
date, high efficiency product offering, delivered to our customers 
by the largest and most technically competent sales engineering 
team in the industry, backed up by highly-skilled power systems 
engineers, combined with the safety and reliability benefits 
of world-class manufacturing provide a compelling value 
proposition to our customers.

Having evolved from a sales and marketing background as a 
specialist distributor of power conversion products, then moving 
into design and then later into manufacturing, we have a unique 
understanding of our customers and the market compared to 
much of our competition. We are now expanding our engineering 
solutions group to further enhance the value we can deliver to 
our key customers.

We manage our supply chain carefully
The management of our supply chain is critical to our success. 
Quality and reliability are paramount to our customers who often 
provide critical healthcare or industrial systems. For that reason, 
we need excellent suppliers with high quality standards.

We have a rigorous approval process which looks at all aspects 
of a supplier before we engage with them. This not only includes 
a prospective supplier’s quality systems and standards, but 
also their financial viability and, of course, their environmental 
performance and treatment of their people.

We are a full member of the Responsible Business Alliance  
(RBA) and have adopted the RBA Code of Conduct throughout 
our organisation. This not only deals with environmental 
standards but also treatment of people, health and safety and 
business ethics. 

Our customers demand excellent quality and security of supply 
and strong corporate social responsibility standards.

12

Our sales process is generally a technical sale, between XP Power sales 
engineer and customer design engineer. Our customers are typically 
experts in their field, whether it is a drug delivery device, a piece of 
complex factory control machinery or a high-end communications device 
operating in a harsh environment. They will approach a company such 
as ours to recommend and assist them to design a power converter into 
their end system to allow it to function. 

Generally, with larger customers it is not possible to engage on a 
specific opportunity until we are on an approved or preferred vendor 
list. This will involve qualification by the customer’s technical, quality 
and purchasing teams and may often involve a physical audit of our 
quality systems and a factory audit.

IDENTIFICATION

OUR SALES 
CYCLE IN 
STEPS AS 
FOLLOWS:

PRODUCTION

QUOTATION

SALES CYCLE

APPROVAL

SAMPLE

1

IDENTIFICATION

A new design programme is identified at a customer where we are an approved or preferred 
vendor. This is typically quite late in the customer’s development cycle as they will not usually 
know the total power requirement of their system until they have a working prototype.

2

QUOTATION

An XP Power sales person will work with the customer to understand the requirements 
including the power requirements at different voltages, communication required between 
the power converter and end system, any specific safety agency requirements and the 
physical dimensions. XP Power will then advocate a solution and provide a quotation to 
the customer. This solution could be a modification of one of our standard products.

3

 SAMPLE

One or more samples are provided to the customer for them to evaluate in their system. 
This is a critical stage of the sale and we often find that the first company providing a sample 
that works in the equipment will win the design slot. Speed is therefore critical. Our power 
systems engineers will often work closely with the customer at this stage to assist them with 
any issues they might experience such as dealing with electrical noise.

4

 APPROVAL

The power converter is approved for use in the customer system following the customer’s 
technical evaluation and external safety agency approval. This is generally the longest part 
of the sales cycle as the technical and safety evaluation are very time consuming for the 
customer. XP Power will often add value by providing technical assistance during this stage 
and it is not unusual for us to have a technical power systems engineer working directly 
with the customer.

5  PRODUCTION

The customer commences production of their product and XP Power’s revenue stream 
starts. This is typically around seven years depending on the application and end market.

HeadingWe have successfully transitioned the business from a specialist distributor, to designer,  
to design manufacturer ascending the value chain to grow our revenues and margins

WE DIFFERENTIATE 
OURSELVES THROUGH... 

WE GENERATE LONG-TERM REVENUE 
ANNUITIES AND SHAREHOLDER VALUE

Our people
As in any business the most important asset is our people. 
We have a large and highly technically trained sales force. Our 
customers deal directly with a sales engineer that can solve their 
power conversion problems. We do not put our key customers 
through distribution channels. We also provide global support.

Our Executive Leadership Team, located on three different 
continents, is not only talented but given a relatively young 
average age has an impressive average length of service. The 
breadth and depth of experience and collective teamwork of our 
people deliver genuine value to our customers.
Our products
We have the broadest, most up-to-date product offering in 
the industry with over 250 product families in our portfolio. 
Our products are specific to the requirements of the various 
industries and applications we target. Our philosophy is to 
provide highly flexible products which are easy to modify.  
This saves our customers the cost, time and risk of pursuing 
a fully customised solution. Our product portfolio has been 
enhanced with high voltage modules following the acquisition  
of EMCO in November 2015 and Radio Frequency power from 
Comdel in September 2017.
Our design engineering
We have design engineering teams on three continents – this 
allows us to release a high number of innovative new products 
required by this highly diversified market. These products often 
have class-leading energy efficiency and small footprints to 
meet the ever-higher demands of our key customers. Additional 
engineering service teams in Germany, North America, 
Singapore and the UK are able to provide value added services 
close to our key customers. We are able to provide modified 
product solutions which allow the customer to more easily 
integrate the power converter into their equipment, therefore 
delivering a cost saving.
Our green innovation
Environmental considerations are becoming increasingly 
important to our customers. There is strong demand for 
products that consume less material, including harmful 
chemicals, and power converters that consume less energy.  
Our product portfolio reflects this with many products having 
class-leading efficiencies and low stand-by power consumption.
Our manufacturing
Our Asian manufacturing bases in China and Vietnam are not 
only low cost but best-in-class. This capability is instrumental to 
winning new programmes with larger blue-chip customers that 
require the ultimate in quality and reliability. We also offer highly 
competitive lead times and flexible logistics arrangements.
Our quality
Our stringent quality standards ensure the ultimate in quality  
and reliability. This is vital to our customers. This starts  
from the design phase right through to production and after 
sales support.

Generating revenue streams  
with strong annuity
Although the time from identification of a customer programme can be 
very long (typically 18 to 30 months), once the product is designed into 
our customers’ equipment we enjoy an on-going revenue annuity for 
a large number of years. Typically, this is around seven years but can 
be longer or shorter depending on the industry sector and particular 
application. Our pipeline of programme wins with significant customers 
continues to build.

Revenue life cycle from ECM40/60 product family

£ million

8.0

7.0

6.0

5.0

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

0.0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 2017

XP “Green” Power product Revenue Growth
“Green” product revenue (£ million)

39.7

30.2

23.6

18.6

13.7

5.0

2.8

8.1

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

Progressive dividend policy
Our business model and clear strategy, consistently applied, has 
resulted in long-term growth and profitability and also strong free cash 
flow. This has enabled us to adopt a progressive approach to the 
dividend which is paid quarterly.

Ten year dividend history (pence per share)

66

61

55

50

78

71

45

33

21

22

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

The compound average growth rate of the dividend per share has been 
9% over the last five years and 15% over the last ten years. 

13

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
Our Strategy

XP Power has followed a clear and consistent dual track strategy of moving 
up the value chain through its internally developed products and adding 
complementary products through acquisitions to target key accounts where 
we can add genuine value. 

The key elements of our strategy are as follows and are derived from our vision:

DEVELOP A BROAD 
RANGE OF COMPETITIVE 
PRODUCTS

TARGET ACCOUNTS 
WHERE WE CAN  
ADD VALUE

VERTICAL PENETRATION 
OF FOCUS ACCOUNTS

RATIONALE

PAST  
PERFORMANCE

PLANNED  
FUTURE ACTIONS

LINK TO KPIs
(see pages 18 and 19)

14

We need a broad product range 
due to the fragmented nature 
of the markets we serve which 
have a multitude of product 
requirements. 

The broader and more up-to-
date our product range the more 
chance we will have something 
that will work effectively in our 
target customers’ applications.

We pride ourselves in the level of 
service and support we offer to 
our customers, particularly during 
the design-in stage. 

We have a compelling proposition 
where customers expect excellent 
quality and reliability to power 
their mission-critical equipment, 
but in particular where they face 
a power problem due to either 
heat dissipation or electrical noise. 
These are the type of customers 
that we target.

We still have a relatively small 
share of the available business 
in some of the accounts we call 
on. We are continuing to expand 
our product portfolio so we can 
address more of the opportunities 
that are available in these 
accounts to grow our revenues.

Over the past few years we have 
been expanding our product 
portfolio and have developed a 
number of highly efficient, leading 
edge products.

We have targeted customers for 
which reliability is key or where 
their equipment may be located 
in harsh environments. These 
customers value the support and 
service that our highly trained 
sales force and power systems 
engineers deliver.

We have spent the last few 
years gaining approved or 
preferred supplier status at the 
key customers in the Industrial, 
Healthcare and Technology 
sectors. We are focused on this 
existing customer base in order to 
grow our revenues.

Emphasis has now shifted 
towards products which still have 
leading efficiencies but which are 
more mainstream and attractive 
from a cost perspective.

We are prioritising our resource 
on the customers that fit our 
value proposition. We are de-
emphasising customers that may 
have significant revenue potential 
but where cost is a more critical 
factor than quality and reliability 
or engineering support during the 
design phase.

As we expand our product offering 
through continued product 
development and acquisitions, 
we aim to address an increasing 
proportion of our customers’ 
requirements with our excellent 
service and support.

NEW PRODUCT FAMILIES 
RELEASED AND PROPORTION 
OF OWN-DESIGNED REVENUE

REVENUE

REVENUE FROM  
TOP 30 CUSTOMERS

HeadingOUR VISION

THE FIRST CHOICE POWER SOLUTIONS PROVIDER 
DELIVERING THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR 
PEOPLE AND CUSTOMERS

ENHANCE BRAND 
AWARENESS

ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL 
EXCELLENCE

LEAD OUR INDUSTRY 
ON ENVIRONMENTAL 
MATTERS

ACQUIRE BUSINESSES TO 
EXPAND OUR OFFERING

In what is a highly fragmented 
industry, we are still a relatively 
new player. We have the 
advantage of a broad and up-
to-date product portfolio and 
excellent service and support. 
Awareness of our brand in the 
market is key if we are to achieve 
our vision of being the first choice 
power solutions provider in the 
market.

It is challenging to grow in 
industrial markets which have 
intrinsically low growth rates. 
To do this we need an excellent 
product range and we need to 
deliver the ultimate experience 
in service and support for our 
customers. We need operational 
excellence in order to deliver this 
and to transform incremental 
revenues into strong profit and 
cash flow streams.

Strong corporate social 
responsibility is not only important 
to our key customers but also 
to our employees and the 
communities in which we operate. 
This incorporates not only 
environmental performance but 
also health and safety, treatment 
of our people and business ethics.

Our strong balance sheet and 
cash generative business model 
allow us the capacity to pursue 
business acquisitions. This is 
another avenue to expand our 
product offering and therefore 
addressable market.

Our increasing presence within  
the online distribution networks 
and our recent acquisitions  
have continued to enhance the  
XP brand. 

We recognise the value of our 
people, the lifeblood of the 
Company, as the main asset that 
can drive operational excellence.

Over the past two years we have 
introduced improved training 
and development opportunities 
and better communication and 
collaboration.

We have been a full member of 
the Responsible Business Alliance 
(RBA). The RBA Code of Conduct 
to which we comply addresses 
all of these important ethical and 
environmental matters which we 
strongly endorse.

Through acquisitions in the past 
30 months, we have added both 
high voltage products and RF 
(Radio Frequency) power to our 
product range.

We are able to further enhance our 
brand awareness through further 
expansion of distribution channels 
and use of our digital marketing 
tools.

We aim to provide more training 
courses to employees to nurture 
talent, encourage leadership, 
and discuss career progression. 
We are also looking to improve 
processes for managing 
performance of our people.

We will remain a committed 
member of the RBA.

We strive to lead our industry on 
environmental matters and have 
a committee dedicated to raising 
awareness of “green” initiatives, 
however small.

We continue to look for 
acquisitions to expand our 
product offering and other 
capabilities.

REVENUE

CULTURAL SURVEY SCORE

LIFETIME CO2 EMISSION 
SAVINGS FROM “GREEN” 
PRODUCTS

NEW PRODUCT  
FAMILIES RELEASED

15

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTOUR STRATEGY
IN ACTION

COMDEL 
ACQUISITION

MIKE LAVER
PRESIDENT, 
CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT

“ Acquisitions are a key element of our  
strategy in order to expand our product 
offering so we can expand our addressable 
market and be a more attractive partner to  
our key customers. We are proud to bring  
Comdel into the XP Power family. This 
business is a landmark taking us significantly 
up in power level, providing products that we  
can sell to our existing customers.”

16

XP Comdel 
Providing our customers with Radio 
Frequency (RF) power technology
The acquisition of Comdel gives XP Power the 
capability to provide our customers with RF 
generating power supplies and RF matching 
systems. This acquisition expands XP Power’s 
portfolio in our existing customer base and 
brings new customers that we can offer our 
comprehensive range of AC-DC products. 

Radio frequency generation is used in a variety 
of applications. The most common are plasma 
generation for deposition or etch of materials 
in semiconductor equipment manufacturing 
or industrial processes, induction heating, and 
dielectric heating. RF power is also used in 
industrial lasers, medical equipment and ion 
beam inspection equipment. Ultra-sonic welding 
is used to splice wires to terminals, weld thin foils 
with precision, and to weld aluminium parts in 
automotive applications.

Comdel not only provides XP Power with more 
capabilities for our semiconductor equipment 
manufacturing customers, it gives our technical 
sales team the ability to sell RF power to our vast 
Industrial and Healthcare customer base. 

VOLTAGE

20KV

0.2KV

0.6KV

10KW+

2.5KW

0.03KW

XP

RF
(Comdel)

HV
(EMCO)

POWER

T
R
O
P
E
R
C
G
E
T
A
R
T
S

I

DESIGN AND 
SOLUTION 
BASED

JAY WARNER
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, 
US SALES

“ We deliver genuine value to 
our customers through our 
engineering solutions groups.”

XP POWER’S SOLUTION

Working closely with the customer’s 
design team, our engineering solutions 
group provided an engineered power 
solution for the gateway control system 
to handle the rugged environment in 
order to meet the customer’s reliability 
requirements. We used off-the-shelf 
power supplies (CCM250 and GCS350) 
which were modified with specialised 
components to operate below 
-40ºC while custom heatsink plates 
were utilised to handle the extreme 
temperatures up to 70ºC. The fact we 
already had standard products with 
industry leading power density (small 
size), high efficiency, high reliability 
and green mode allowed us to win 
this business and get the customer to 
market quickly. 

INTERNET

OVERVIEW: XP Power partnered with a leading provider of 
broadband satellite services and managed network solutions.

PROBLEM: Over half the world is without reliable broadband 
access. High-speed internet is key to so many things 
including education, healthcare, emergency services and 
communication.

SOLUTION: Our customer provides a global communications 
solution utilising a constellation of hundreds of low earth 
orbit satellites and thousands of ground-based gateway end 
base stations capable of supporting seamless handoff of 
broadband traffic between satellites to reach hundreds of 
millions of potential users residing in places without existing or 
reliable broadband access.

POWER CHALLENGE: The gateway end base stations 
will be located at the far corners of the planet, and subject 
to inhospitable environments, harsh temperatures and 
challenging serviceability. A highly reliable power conversion 
solution is a critical requirement.

SATELLITE CONSTELLATION

TERRESTRIAL GATEWAY

USER TERMINAL

STANDARD 
ACCESS NODES

WI-FI

17

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORT 
Our Key Performance Indicators

We have defined a number of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), both financial 
and non-financial, which are closely aligned with our strategy and core values. 
Our performance over the years demonstrates significant and consistent progress.

FINANCIAL

NEW PRODUCT  
FAMILIES RELEASED

REVENUE (£ MILLIONS)

REVENUE FROM  
TOP 30 CUSTOMERS (%)

47 

31

26

22

27

166.8

129.8

101.1

101.1

109.7

50

44

44

40

40

DEFINITION

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

We target revenue growth of 10% 
per annum. Whether we achieve 
this or not can depend on market 
cyclicality and exchange rates.

We expect revenue from our top 
30 customers to increase as we 
pursue our strategy.

Not all products are equal in 
terms of their complexity to 
develop or their revenue potential. 
In assessing new product 
opportunities, we consider the 
potential revenue from a new 
product family as well as the 
absolute number of new product 
introductions.

TARGET ACHIEVED

NO

YES

YES

OUR PROGRESS  
IN 2017

OUR PLANS  
FOR 2018

LINK TO STRATEGY
(see pages 14 and 15)

LINK TO  
CORE VALUES
(see page 34)

LINK TO RISK
(see pages 28 to 31) 

18

 ¼ We released 27 new product 
families in 2017 (2016: 47 - 
driven by the addition of a new 
third party supplier to enhance 
our DC-DC offering).

 ¼ 19 of the 2017 new product 
families can be classified as 
ultra-high efficiency.

 ¼ Acquired Radio Frequency  
(RF) products offering  
RF power generation and  
RF matching systems.

 ¼ We targeted the semiconductor 

 ¼ Revenue from the top 30 

customers represented 50%  
of revenue (2016: 44%).

manufacturing equipment 
market, which is currently 
enjoying a strong upturn.

 ¼ Strong growth through our 

expanded distribution channels 
reaching smaller customer 
accounts.

 ¼ We continue to concentrate 

our resources on the accounts 
where we can add value 
by having a direct sales 
engagement.

 ¼ Target 30 new product releases 

in 2018 with continued 
emphasis on higher power 
products.

 ¼ Consider further suitable  

bolt-on acquisitions to expand 
the offering.

 ¼ Provide increasing support to 
our customers through our 
engineering solutions group.

 ¼ Provide existing customers with 
our expanding product offering.

 ¼ Continue to grow our share of 
customers’ business where 
we are preferred or approved 
suppliers.

 ¼ Expansion of our product 
portfolio to increase our 
addressable market in our 
existing customer base.

DEVELOP A BROAD RANGE OF 
COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS

TARGET ACCOUNTS WHERE WE 
CAN ADD VALUE

VERTICAL PENETRATION OF 
FOCUS ACCOUNTS

CUSTOMER 
CUSTOMER 
FOCUS
FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY
FLEXIBILITY

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

SPEED
SPEED

KNOWLEDGE

INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

FLEXIBILITY

KNOWLEDGE

SPEED

INTEGRITY
FLEXIBILITY

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

SPEED

CUSTOMER 
KNOWLEDGE
FOCUS

INTEGRITY

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

SPEED
INTEGRITY

INTEGRITY

2

3

9

1

2

3

4

5

9

10

1

2

3

5

9

HeadingIn addition to these quantitative KPIs, we track important governance metrics as follows:

 } No significant environmental issues

 } No serious health and safety events

 } No breaches of the Company’s ethics policy

PROPORTION OF OWN-
DESIGNED REVENUE (%)

64

66

68

73

76

NON-FINANCIAL

EARNINGS PER  
SHARE (PENCE) 
after adjusting for one-off costs,  
non-recurring tax benefits and intangibles 
amortisation

CULTURAL  
SURVEY SCORE
(index out of 100)

LIFETIME CO2 EMISSION 
SAVINGS FROM “GREEN” 
PRODUCTS (TONNES)

147.0

62.9

63.0

62.0

59.2

291,000

101.1

104.3

95.1

115.3

158,000

133,000

102,200

84,000

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016

2017

2018

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

We have now achieved 76% 
which is close to the 80% target 
we had set ourselves. 

We target to grow this metric by a 
double digit percentage each year.

We target to improve this score 
each year with the long-term aim 
to achieve a score of 67 which 
will put us in the “clearly the 
best” category as defined by the 
external consultant assisting us 
with the survey.

We have set a target to increase 
the lifetime CO2 emissions savings 
from XP “Green” Power products 
by at least 5% per annum.

NO

YES

NO

YES

 ¼ Continuous improvements 

 ¼ We continue to undertake 

 ¼ In 2017 revenue from  
our own-designed/ 
own-manufactured products 
grew 34% from £95.3 million in 
2016 to £127.4 million in 2017. 
This now represents 76%  
of revenue.

 ¼ The revenue from the Comdel 

business acquired at the end of 
September 2017 has increased 
the own design percentage.

to our customer relationship 
management system including 
enhanced reporting.

 ¼ Implemented lean cell 

manufacturing at our Asia 
factories to reduce lead times 
and find efficiencies.

 ¼ Balanced the requirement to 
invest in additional resource 
and capital equipment to 
support future growth.

 ¼ Continued investment in 

our product development 
groups and those of the 
newly acquired business, 
combined with growth from our 
Engineering Solutions Group 
will drive this metric.

 ¼ Roll out lean principles to North 
America manufacturing sites.

 ¼ Upgrade and harmonise 

the ERP system to include 
manufacturing.

 ¼ Excellent operational 

processes should enhance 
customer experience and drive 
improvement in revenue growth 
and operating/EBITDA margins.

an annual employee cultural 
survey to identify the areas our 
people tell us where we can 
improve to drive operational 
excellence.

Using the results of this survey we 
have introduced:
 ¼ More collaborative and  
focused management 
performance appraisal.

 ¼ Leadership development 
training courses for both 
managers and those with 
management aspirations.

 ¼ Harmonise and improve the 

on-boarding process to attract 
and retain talented employees.

 ¼ Continue training and 

development for employees 
and managers to extract 
maximum benefit and provide 
career progression.

 ¼ We continued to launch a 
number of high efficiency 
products which bring high 
efficiency at lower cost points. 
Of the 27 product families 
released in 2017, 19 were 
ultra-high efficiency products.

 ¼ We saw our revenues  

from XP “Green” Power 
products increase 32% to  
24% of revenue.

 ¼ We will continue to release 
products with class-leading 
efficiency suitable for use 
in healthcare and industrial 
applications.

DEVELOP A BROAD RANGE OF 
COMPETITIVE PRODUCTS

ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL 
EXCELLENCE

ACHIEVE OPERATIONAL 
EXCELLENCE

LEADING OUR INDUSTRY ON 
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

FLEXIBILITY

KNOWLEDGE

SPEED

CUSTOMER 
FLEXIBILITY
FOCUS

INTEGRITY

SPEED
KNOWLEDGE

INTEGRITY
FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

INTEGRITY

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

SPEED

INTEGRITY

INTEGRITY

1

2

5

9

1

6

2

7

3

8

4

9

5

10

7

9

5

7

19

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTPERFORMANCE
Operational Review

“ WE CONTINUE TO BE EXCITED 
AND CONFIDENT REGARDING 
THE FUTURE PROSPECTS FOR 
OUR BUSINESS.”
Duncan Penny
Chief Executive

20

Review of Our Year
XP Power has enjoyed another excellent year, achieving record 
order intake, revenues, profits and earnings per share. Improvement 
in our underlying markets started to take hold from the third quarter 
of 2016 and continued throughout 2017. Layered on top of this 
recovery were new design wins entering production, particularly in 
the healthcare sector, and a strong upturn in the semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment market. These factors combined to 
produce an excellent set of results. We continued to move our 
product portfolio up to higher power and technically more complex 
applications and to expand the number of design wins with higher 
engineering solutions content.

We announced the acquisition of Comdel in September 2017. This 
business gives XP Power a foothold in the Radio Frequency (RF) 
power market and meets our strategic aim of moving up the power 
scale to expand our addressable market and provide a broader 
product offering to our key customers. 

We made strong progress toward expanding our manufacturing 
capacity in Vietnam when we commenced construction of an 
additional facility on our existing Ho Chi Minh City site during the 
year. We expect this new facility to come on stream in the second 
half of 2018. The expected capacity increase from this new facility 
will be phased over a number of years but has the potential to 
double our existing Vietnamese manufacturing capabilities in the 
longer term.

We continue to be excited by the future prospects for our business. 

Marketplace
All industry sectors and all geographies experienced revenue growth 
in 2017 over 2016 and, significantly, sequential growth in the second 
half of 2017 over the first half. The order performance was also 
strong, with order intake up 38% on the prior year (2016: 21%) and 
31% ahead in constant currency (2016: 9%) which resulted in a 
book to bill ratio of 1.11 (2016: 1.03), demonstrating the strength of 
the 2017 performance. We enter 2018 with good momentum and a 
healthy order book.

During 2017 we specifically targeted the semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment market. This market is traditionally cyclical 
and is currently enjoying a strong upturn which has benefitted the 
Group. Despite its historic cyclicality this market remains highly 
attractive due to its robust fundamentals, which are being driven by 
the proliferation of applications involving the internet of things (IoT), 
augmented intelligence (AI), autonomous vehicles and big data.

North America revenues were US$121.3 million in 2017 (2016: 
US$93.7 million), an increase of 29%. The acquisition of Comdel at 
the end of September 2017 contributed US$5.4 million (2016: nil) 
to North American revenues. As well as a general recovery in the 
capital equipment markets, our North American business benefited 
from a very strong performance in the semiconductor manufacturing 
equipment sector which contributed US$37.3 million to revenues 
(2016: US$20.8 million). Order intake in North America was also very 
strong at US$139.2 million (2016: US$98.6 million), an increase of 
41%. The acquisition of Comdel contributed US$7.7 million (2016: 
nil) to North American order intake in 2017. The strong book to bill 
ratio of 1.15 for North America bodes well for 2018.

HeadingHowever, our exposure to a large number 
of end markets helps mitigate the cyclicality 
in any particular sector, producing an 
underlying resilience in our diversified 
business model. 

Adapting to the Market  
and the Competition
Since listing on the London Stock Market in 
2000, XP Power has evolved from a specialist 
distributor of power conversion products to 
a designer and then manufacturer of power 
solutions for the industrial, healthcare and 
technology markets. 

We continue to perform well against our 
traditional established competition. Our 
broad range of standard products, now 
augmented by recent acquisitions, and 
excellent customer service delivered by 
the largest direct sales force in our industry 
is a compelling proposition. We expect 
future competitors to emerge from Asia as 
companies with low cost manufacturing and 
engineering attempt to enter parts of the 
industrial and healthcare markets in Europe 
and North America. We need to continually 
adapt our product offering and services to 
respond to this threat.

Low cost Asian competitors continue to 
become more prevalent, particularly in 
the low power/low complexity end of the 
market. It is straightforward to source low 
cost/low power products directly from Asian 
manufacturers. Engineering solutions are 
not so easily managed remotely and work 
most effectively when situated close to the 
customer so design discussions and design 
reviews can take place face-to-face. We 
continue to add more and more value to our 
customers as we expand our engineering 
service groups across the globe.

Our European business grew by 16% to 
£57.5 million (2016: £49.4 million) which 
is the third successive year of growth. The 
industrial, healthcare and technology sectors 
all saw growth in Europe but healthcare 
showed the highest growth rate at 27%, as 
a number of significant new programmes at 
blue-chip customers entered production.

Asia revenues grew 18% in 2017 to 
US$19.0 million (2016: US$16.1 million). 
Healthcare displayed particularly good 
growth in 2017 in the Asia region.

Overall, North America represented 57% 
of revenue (2016: 53%), Asia represented 
9% of revenue (2016: 9%) and Europe 
represented 34% of revenue (2016: 38%). 
The average exchange rate for the US 
Dollar compared to Sterling was 1.28 in 
2017 versus 1.38 in 2016, representing 
a 7% weakening of Sterling following the 
Brexit vote in June 2016. This caused North 
America and Asia revenues to be inflated, 
due to translation, but similarly all of our US 
Dollar denominated product costs to also  
be inflated when translated to Sterling. We 
discuss the potential impact of the Brexit 
vote and foreign exchange volatility in more 
detail in our Financial Review.

Every sector grew in absolute terms 
but technology grew most strongly 
due to the strength of semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment sector demand, 
and also healthcare due to a number of 
new programme wins entering production. 
Industrial represented 39% of revenue 
(2016: 46%), healthcare represented 31% 
of revenue (2016: 29%) and technology 
represented 30% of revenue (2016: 25%). 
All our products are designed into capital 
equipment so our revenues will inevitably 
be affected by capital equipment cycles. 
This is particularly so in the semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment sector which 
made up 17% of our revenues in 2017 
(2016: 12%), although this industry has 
more recently put forward the argument 
that the sector will be much less cyclical 
in the future due to the prevalence of 
semiconductor devices in our modern world. 

As well as providing a higher content of 
engineering solutions we have moved our 
product portfolio up in terms of power level 
and complexity to help protect our business 
from low cost Asian competition, which 
remains a significant threat. Specifically, 
we have expanded the capability within 
our product portfolio with the acquisition of 
Comdel which gives us Radio Frequency (RF) 
power at high power levels. 

We are building a broad and compelling 
product offering which will make us an 
increasingly attractive partner to leading 
companies in the industrial, healthcare and 
technology sectors in order to power their 
mission-critical applications.

Strategic Progress
We have followed a consistent strategy 
which has enabled us to produce strong 
results over a sustained period of time. 
The fundamental essence of the strategy 
– targeting key accounts where we can 
add value and gaining more of the available 
business in those accounts – continues to 
remain appropriate and effective. 

Our strategy can be summarised as follows:

 } Develop a broad range of  
competitive products;

 } Target accounts where we can  

add value;

 } Increase vertical penetration of 

target accounts;

 } Enhance brand awareness;

 } Accelerate operational excellence; 

 } Lead our industry on environmental 

matters; and

 } Make selective acquisitions in  

identified strategic markets or of 
complementary businesses to  
expand our product offering.   

We continue to make significant progress 
against each of these strategic objectives. 
We believe we have the broadest, most 
up-to-date portfolio of products, many of 
which are class-leading in terms of efficiency 
and low stand-by power. Our portfolio of XP 
“Green” Power products grew by 31% in 
2017 to £39.7 million (2016: £30.2 million) 
demonstrating how well these products have 
been adopted by our customers. We also 
continue to see revenues from our own-
designed/manufactured products grow at a 
faster rate than those from other products. 

21

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTPERFORMANCE
Operational Review

We consider that our transition from a 
specialist distribution company, through the 
addition of a design capability, to designer 
and manufacturer is now complete. We are 
now clearly recognised as both a designer 
and manufacturer by key customers in 
our target markets. Revenues from our 
own-designed products set a new record 
of £127.4 million in the year (2016: £95.3 
million), representing 76% of revenue (2016: 
73%). We expect further improvement in the 
mix of own-designed products in 2018. We 
are now moving our business further up the 
value chain by providing our key customers 
with higher levels of engineering solutions 
where we add value, enabling the customer 
to more easily integrate the power solution 
into their critical systems. These services 
range from providing simple voltage and 
connector changes, through to changes in 
mechanical format, the addition of thermal 
management, communication to the 
customer’s end equipment utilising firmware 
and ultimately full custom designs. This is 
a much more engineering intense activity 
but does mean we work very closely with 
the customer’s design engineers to provide 
them with a complete power solution  
in the shortest possible time, delivering 
genuine value. 

Acquisition of Comdel  
– Radio Frequency (RF) Power 
On 29 September 2017 XP Power acquired 
the assets and business of Comdel, 
a company based in Massachusetts,  
USA, specialising in Radio Frequency 
(RF) power generation products which it 
supplies to the industrial and technology 
sectors. Total consideration of US$25.2 
million (£18.8 million) was paid in cash on 
completion. 

Radio frequency power  is used in a variety 
of applications. The most common are 
plasma generation for deposition or etching 
of materials in semiconductor manufacturing 
equipment or industrial processes, ultra-
sonic welding, induction heating, and 
dielectric heating. RF power is also used 
in industrial lasers, medical equipment and 
ion beam inspection equipment. Ultra-sonic 
welding is used to splice wires to terminals, 
weld thin foils with precision, and to weld 
aluminium parts in automotive applications.

Comdel and XP Power share several 
customers, and while there is no direct 
overlap in product lines, the power supply 
solutions of the two companies are highly 
complementary. Comdel’s products and 

engineering capabilities will enhance the 
Group’s ability to implement its strategy of 
winning a greater share of business from its 
target customers by achieving wider vertical 
penetration of these accounts. As well as 
a product offering suitable for an array of 
applications used by some of XP Power’s 
existing customer base, Comdel also brings 
a number of new customers to the Group. 

The acquisition will enable XP Power 
to provide its existing customers with a 
comprehensive product offering in RF power 
generation and RF matching systems, 
a market segment with robust demand 
fundamentals but one in which we did not 
previously operate. 

XP-Comdel has already experienced 
excellent growth in orders since the 
acquisition, benefiting from the favourable 
conditions in the semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment sector.

We are delighted to welcome Comdel to  
the XP Power Group and are excited 
about the opportunity of offering their 
complementary product ranges through  
our global sales channel. 

The combination of XP Power’s existing 
low voltage power offering with the high 
voltage/low power DC-DC converters 
acquired through the acquisition of EMCO 
in November 2015 and now the RF 
power from Comdel substantially expands 
XP Power’s addressable market and 
makes us a compelling power solutions 
provider for many customers involved in 
industrial, healthcare and semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment.

Engineering Solutions 
As well as expanding our product 
offering we have continued to expand 
our engineering solutions groups in Asia, 
Europe and North America. Our customers 
frequently require a high degree of 
customisation to allow the power conversion 
system to operate within their end 
equipment or simply to make it easier for the 
customer to integrate the power conversion 
solution into their application. Our 
engineering solutions groups work closely 
with the customer’s engineering teams to 
provide these customised solutions. 

22

HeadingSpeed and proximity to the customer are 
critical as the power solution is often one of 
the last parts of the system to be designed 
so is invariably one of the gating items to get 
the end product to market. This is an area 
where XP Power add significant value to 
the customer and we are seeing increasing 
demand for these services. The addition of 
high voltage and now RF power allows our 
engineering solutions groups to leverage 
off additional standard products as building 
blocks to expand our addressable market.

We will expand these resources in 2018  
to address the opportunities we continue  
to identify.

Research and Development
We have continued to invest in research and 
development to further expand our portfolio 
of products and the size of our addressable 
market opportunity. In particular, we 
increased  our design engineering resource 
and capabilities during 2017. We released 
27 new product families in 2017 (2016: 47) 
and 19 (2016: 33) of these can be classified 
as ultra-high efficiency.

The high level of new product introductions 
in 2016 was driven by the addition of a new 
third-party supplier to enhance our DC-DC 
product offering.

Manufacturing – Vietnam II
In 2012, we expanded our manufacturing 
footprint outside China when we started 
manufacturing magnetic windings in a new 
Vietnamese facility situated close to Ho Chi 
Minh City. This added much needed capacity 
and also enhanced our cost competitiveness 
as production costs primarily labour in 
Vietnam are significantly lower than those of 
our existing Chinese facility.

Production volumes of magnetics windings 
at our Vietnam facility have continued to 
climb and in 2017 we produced 6.7 million 
windings compared to 4.9 million in 2016. 
We have been actively transferring the 
lower power/lower complexity products 
from China to Vietnam to improve our cost 
position and free up capacity in China. In 
2017, we manufactured 1.0 million power 
supplies in our Vietnam facility compared to 
0.4 million in 2016. 

Outlook for 2018
We enter 2018 with a strong order book 
and good momentum in our business and 
a strong position in our marketplace. We 
also have the benefit of a full 12 months 
contribution from the acquisition of Comdel, 
providing us with RF Power capability. While 
we cannot be immune from any economic 
shocks or cyclicality in our end markets, 
and in particularly the semiconductor 
manufacturing equipment sector which 
represented 17% of our business in 2017, 
we are optimistic regarding the outlook  
for 2018. 

We remain excited and confident regarding 
the long-term prospects for our Group.

Duncan Penny
Chief Executive Officer

We continue to make process 
improvements in our manufacturing facilities, 
where we are applying more lean process 
principles. Our internal yields continue to 
improve and we have redesigned some of 
our processes to reduce product lead times 
to provide improved customer service and 
reduced freight costs.

In October 2017, we commenced 
construction of a second manufacturing 
facility on our existing site in Vietnam. 
Our Vietnamese site currently houses a 
2,100m2 administration building and a three-                  
storey 9,260m2 manufacturing facility. The 
new Vietnamese facility will be a four-storey 
building with 11,000m2 of floor area. We 
have spent US$0.3 million in 2017 and 
anticipate a further spend of US$5.0 million 
in 2018 to complete the project. Our 
longer-term planning indicates we will need 
this additional manufacturing capacity in the 
first half of 2019. 

Our key operational challenge in 2017 has 
been keeping pace with the growth in the 
business. Our lean manufacturing initiatives 
have helped in that regard but we still have 
opportunities to improve our supply chain 
and planning processes to reduce our lead 
times and make our supply chain more agile. 

23

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORT 
PERFORMANCE
Financial Review

“ 2017 FINANCIAL RESULTS HAVE 
DEMONSTRATED THAT OUR 
STRATEGY IS WORKING AND WE 
HAVE ENDED THE YEAR IN A 
STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION.”
Gavin Griggs  
Chief Financial Officer

24

XP Power delivered a strong performance in 2017. The significant 
order and revenue growth coupled with effective control of operating 
expenditure, has delivered strong year-on-year growth in profits. 
We have also made further investment in capital projects in order to 
build the capabilities necessary to support our future sales growth. 
The business exited the year with a robust financial position.

Revenue and Order Intake
The Group generated revenue growth of 29% during the year on a 
reported basis (22% in constant currency and 19% on an organic 
constant currency basis). The Group’s performance was driven by 
revenue growth from XP Power’s own-designed products, a key 
indicator of XP Power’s strategy in action, which grew 34% (or 
approximately 24% in constant currency) to £127.4 million (2016: 
£95.3 million) representing 76% of revenue (2016: 73%).

Regionally, North America grew strongly, up 38% (29% in constant 
currency and 24% on an organic constant currency basis), 
supported by good revenue growth performances in Europe of 16% 
(12% in constant currency) where the Nordic markets and Italy were 
standout performers, up 21% and 26% respectively, and Asia, up 
26% (18% constant currency), with a notable performance in South 
Korea, which was up 50%.

This performance was driven strong order performance of £184.3 
million, an increase of 38% over 2016 on a reported basis, or 31% 
in constant currency.

Orders and revenue for 2017 represent a full year book to bill ratio of 
1.11 (2016: 1.03) reflecting the strength of customer demand across 
the year.

Gross Profitability
Gross margin declined slightly to 46.5% (2016: 47.8%), largely 
due to product mix and the effect of the depreciation of Sterling 
versus the US Dollar. Proportionately more of our product costs are 
denominated in US Dollars compared to our revenues. As Sterling 
weakens, our reported revenue increases due to the translation 
benefit but so does our cost of sales, although at a greater rate. The 
result is higher gross margin in absolute terms but the gross margin 
percentage declines. The average exchange rate for converting 
US Dollars into Sterling in 2017 was 1.28 (2016: 1.38). Operating 
margins declined from 21.6% in 2016 to 19.5%. This was largely 
due to weakness of Sterling.

Operating Expenses
The Group increased its investment in operating resources by 29.9% 
to £44.8 million, with the total operating costs to revenue ratio 
increasing by 0.3% to 26.9% (2016: 26.6%). Payroll and staff costs 
increased by 20.3% and were 17.1% of revenue as a result of cost 
leveraging. Headcount has increased 29.7% (2017: 1,953; 2016: 
1,506). Non-cash share-based payment charges amounted to £0.1 
million (2016: nil) and related to a grant to senior management under 
the Long-Term Incentive Scheme during the year. Other operating 
costs up 60.3% and represented 7.0% of revenue. Depreciation 
and amortisation increased by 28.6% and was 2.7% of revenue, a 
consequence of the strong sales growth versus prior year together 
with a significant element of capital expenditure being in relation to 
projects which go live in the next financial year. 

HeadingExceptional Items
Exceptional items are excluded from 
management’s assessment of profit 
because by their size or nature they could 
distort the Group’s underlying earnings. In 
2017, the Group incurred £3.3 million of 
exceptional costs, predominantly related 
to costs associated with acquisitions, both 
completed and aborted, and £0.6 million for 
intangible assets amortisation. 

Income statement
The Group generated continuing profit 
before tax and exceptional items of £36.1 
million, up 26.2% compared to last year, 
lower than revenue growth due to a gross 
margin dilution of 130bps and an increase  
of 299bps investment in operating costs.

When reviewing XP Power’s performance, 
the Board and management team 
particularly focus on adjusted results rather 
than statutory results. There are a number 
of items that are included in statutory results 
but which are considered to be one-off in 
nature or not representative of the Group’s 
performance and which are excluded from 
adjusted results. The tables on pages 94 
and 95 show the full list of adjustments 
between statutory operating profit and 
adjusted operating profit by business, as well 
as between statutory profit before tax and 
adjusted profit before tax at Group level for 
both 2017 and 2016.

For the current financial year, adjusted 
EBITDA was up 26.4% to £41.7 million and 
adjusted operating profit was 26.4% ahead 
at £36.4 million. Both metrics demonstrate 
the strength of performance that the Group 
delivered in 2017.

Taxation
The effective tax rate from continuing 
operations before exceptional items 
decreased by 1,220bps to 10.1% (2016: 
22.3%). This arose mainly from the recently 
enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the 
United States, and prior year refunds 
predominantly in Singapore. The Tax Cuts 
and Jobs Act has resulted in a non-cash 
tax credit in 2017 relating to the revaluation 
of US deferred tax balances of circa £1.3 
million, based on the net deferred tax liability 
at the end of 2017. This credit is as a result 
of the reduction in the federal tax rate from 
35% to 21% and will be excluded from 
adjusted earnings. 

The effective tax rate from continuing 
operations after exceptional items 
decreased by 1,150bps to 11.2% (2016: 
22.7%). Going forward, XP Power expects 
the effective tax rate to be approximately 
15-17% depending predominantly on the 
regional mix of profits. 

Earnings Per Share
Basic and diluted earnings per share from 
continuing operations before exceptional 
items increased by 32% and 31% to 148.3 
pence and 146.0 pence respectively (2016: 
112.0 pence and 111.2 pence). This was 
driven by the increase in continuing profit 
before tax during the year. 

After adding back costs associated with 
acquisitions of £3.3 million (2016: £0.4 
million), £3.7 million non-recurring tax 
benefits (2016: nil) and intangible assets 
amortisation of £0.6 million (2016: £0.4 
million), adjusted diluted earnings per share 
was 147.0 pence (2016: 115.3 pence), an 
increase of 27%.

Statement of 
Financial Position
The Group continues to enjoy a healthy 
financial position including a low level of net 
debt at £9.0 million (2016: net cash at £3.7 
million). The reduction in cash includes the 
consideration for Comdel at £18.2 million 
(excluding associated legal fees of £0.2 
million and consideration payable of £0.6 
million) and the dividend paid out of £14.0 
million, partially offset by the free cash flow 
generated of £19.4 million. Net assets 
increased by £10.0 million to £116.9 million 
during the year (2016: £106.9 million). 

As part of the acquisition of Comdel, XP 
Power entered into a revolving credit facility 
of US$40 million with a further US$20 
million accordion structure for a further four 
years (with a potential one year extension) 
to September 2021. The finance charge 
associated with this facility was £0.2 million 
in 2017. Due to the average level of debt in 
2018, the charge in 2018 is expected to be 
double the 2017 level.

At the forthcoming AGM, the Board is 
proposing an ordinary resolution to change 
the borrowing restriction currently stipulated 
in the Company’s Articles of Association in 
order to make it more appropriate for the 
size of business that XP Power has become. 
The resolution proposes that Group 
borrowings must not exceed the greater 
of £125 million (previously £50 million) and 
three times adjusted capital. This is to 
provide sufficient headroom in the Articles 
to support future growth through external 
borrowing, should the Board consider this 
appropriate in the future. It should be noted 
that the Board will continue to use net 
debt / EBITDA as the primary metric with 
which to measure and control the Group’s 
leverage. The Board believes this proposed 
amendment to the Articles of Association to 
be in the best commercial interests of the 
Group. As at 1st March 2018, the Group 
has available to its committed external 
borrowing facilities of up to US$40 million. 

25

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTPERFORMANCE
Financial Review

Fixed Asset Additions
We continue to invest in our business with the majority of spend on 
manufacturing and supporting our future sales growth. The majority of the 
manufacturing spend relates to our new Vietnam site located adjacent to our 
current facility. We plan to invest circa £10 million during the new financial year,  
a £4 million increase on 2017. This acceleration is principally due to the building 
of our new Vietnam site and an investment in upgrading our ERP system.

Statement of Cash Flows
Our high margin business model, with modest capital requirements, continues 
to produce excellent free cash flows. 

We finished 2017 in a net debt position of £9.0 million compared with a net 
cash position of £3.7 million at the end of 2016. This position was achieved after 
funding the acquisition of Comdel (£18.2 million) and returning £14.0 million 
to Shareholders in the form of dividends. There was a working capital outflow 
which is predominately made up of higher inventory which reflects a high level 
of orders to be shipped in early 2018, offset by a movement in trade and other 
payables £5.3 million.i

Dividends
The attractive cash flow generated by the XP Power business model has enabled 
the Company to pursue a progressive dividend policy over a sustained period of 
time.

The policy is to increase dividends progressively whilst maintaining an appropriate 
level of cover. This year’s financial performance in terms of both profitability and 
cash flow has enabled us to recommend a final dividend of 29 pence per share 
which, together with the quarterly dividends already paid, gives a total dividend for 
the year of 78 pence per share (2016: 71 pence per share), an increase of 10%. 
Dividend cover for the year was 2.0 times.

Financial Instruments
The Group’s financial instruments consist of cash, money market deposits, and 
various other items such as trade receivables and trade payables that arise 
directly from its business operations.

The Group uses forward currency contracts to hedge highly probable forecast 
transactions. The instruments purchased are denominated in the currencies of 
the Group’s principal markets. The Group had £13.7 million of forward currency 
contracts outstanding at 31 December 2017 (2016: £11.5 million).

Substantial Interests
Other than the Directors’ interests, at 31 December 2017 the Company was 
aware of the following interests in 3% or more of the issued ordinary share 
capital of the Company:

Number of 
shares 

3,156,588

1,693,093

1,670,917

1,488,000

734,563

724,246

Percentage 
of shares in 
issue

16.4%

8.8%

8.7%

7.7%

3.8%

3.8%

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

Hargreave Hale

Mawer Investment Management

Capital Group Companies

BlackRock Investment Mgt (UK)

Old Mutual Global Investors

26

HeadingAs at 27 February 2018, the following information had been received in accordance with the 
Disclosure and Transparency Rules:

Standard Life Aberdeen plc

Hargreave Hale

Mawer Investment Management

Capital Group Companies

BlackRock Investment Mgt (UK)

JP Morgan Asset Management

Old Mutual Global Investors

Number of 
shares   

3,104,302

1,686,807

1,661,458

1,488,000

780,508

673,103

644,864

Percentage 
of shares in 
issue

16.1%

8.8%

8.6%

7.7%

4.1%

3.5%

3.4%

Brexit and Foreign Exchange
The weakening of Sterling versus the US Dollar in the period following the United Kingdom 
Referendum on EU membership in June 2016 had a material effect on the presentation of 
our financial results in both 2016 and 2017.

Approximately 82% of our revenues (2016: 75%) are denominated in US Dollars and the 
translation of these revenues into Sterling for reporting purposes has had a beneficial effect. 
However, the majority of our cost of sales and a large proportion of our operating expenses 
are also denominated in US Dollars. While a stronger US Dollar helps our overall gross 
margin in absolute terms (albeit to a limited degree) it also has the effect of reducing the 
gross margin percentage as costs rise disproportionately to the revenues. We estimate that 
our reported 2017 gross margin percentage could be approximately 60bps (2016: 130bps)  
lower as a result.

In terms of the broader economic impacts of Brexit on our business, we do not consider 
that they will be material. Our products are made in Asia and are already imported into 
Europe where we have warehouses in both Germany and the United Kingdom and hence 
we could ship our product destined for the European Union directly into Germany or another 
appropriate location.

Systems Development 
Efficient and robust systems are essential 
in order for us to manage an international 
business and supply chain with a highly 
diverse customer base. We operate a global 
Customer Relationship Management system 
covering all three regions which allows us to 
collaborate, share information and provide 
efficient and effective customer service. The 
cornerstone of our supply chain is built on 
the SAP Enterprise Resource Management 
System. In 2018, we are embarking on a 
project to implement the latest version of 
SAP across our entire global supply chain 
with the first focus being on our China and 
Vietnam manufacturing facilities. We expect 
this first stage to have significant benefits in 
terms of factory planning and will of course 
give us significant operational advantages 
with the factory systems running on the 
same platform as sales companies. Further 
gains will be realised when we migrate the 
supply chain across.

This integrated approach ensures that we 
have the robust systems and reporting 
necessary to support our future growth.

Outlook
We have started the new financial year well 
with continuing momentum in new orders 
and revenue. We intend to invest further 
capital expenditure in our business in key 
areas such as supply chain, manufacturing 
and systems to support the anticipated 
growth of our business. We currently 
anticipate that orders and revenue in 2018 
will be above the level seen in 2017.

Gavin Griggs
Chief Financial Officer

27

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTManaging Our Risks

OUR RISK ASSESSMENT
The Group has well-established annual and ongoing risk management 
processes to identify and assess risks. Nonetheless, renewed emphasis, 
encouraged by the more recently appointed Non-Executive Directors, coupled 
with the introduction of internal audit reviews, has strengthened these 
processes. The Group’s principal risks have been mapped onto a detailed risk 
universe from which key areas for business focus can be identified. This helps 
facilitate further discussions on risk appetite and draws out the risks that 
require a greater level of attention in terms of audit or assessment. A robust 
risk assessment has been carried out at Board level and where possible 
actions set to mitigate and/or reduce the identified risk.

The key risks that have been identified and 
the mitigating actions are summarised on 
the following pages classified according to:

 } The assessment of their level of impact 
to the viability of the business if they 
occurred – ranging from severe to minor; 

 } The likelihood of a risk occurring – 
ranging from high to low; and

 } The direction in which they are trending 
– risks are classified according to 
whether they are assessed as becoming 
more likely to occur, less likely to occur 
or whether the risk of occurrence 
remains unchanged.

Although the attributes assigned to the 
identified risks are judgemental and 
qualitative in nature, the Board regards the 
methodology as useful in determining the 
focus that should be given to each risk.

This is not an exhaustive list of risks that 
the Board has identified and considered but 
does include all risks which are assessed as 
having a severe or moderate impact to the 
business if they occurred.

HEAT MAP OF THE IDENTIFIED RISKS INDICATING 
THE LIKELIHOOD AND LEVEL OF IMPACT

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

An event that causes a disruption to one of 
our manufacturing facilities.

Product recall.

Competition from new market entrants  
and new technologies.

Fluctuations of revenues, expenses and 
operating results due to an economic shock.

Dependence on key customers/suppliers.

Cybersecurity/information  
systems failure.

Risks relating to regulation, compliance  
and taxation.

Strategic risk associated with valuing or 
integrating new acquisitions.

Loss of key personnel or failure to attract 
new personnel.

High

Likelihood

10

Exposure to exchange rate fluctuations.

1

2

2

6

5

7

4

9

3

8

10

Impact

Severe

Minor

Low

28

HeadingRisks that could have a severe impact on the Company’s business and possibly on the viability of the Company’s business

Risk

Mitigation

1

AN EVENT CAUSES A DISRUPTION TO OUR 
MANUFACTURING FACILITIES

An event that results in the temporary or permanent loss 
of a manufacturing facility would be a serious issue. As 
the Group manufactures 76% of revenues, this would 
undoubtedly cause at least a short-term loss of revenues 
and profits and disruption to our customers and therefore 
damage to reputation.

 ¼ We now have two facilities (China and Vietnam) 
where we are able to produce power supplies. 
However, not all power converter series can be 
produced in both facilities.

 ¼ We have disaster recovery plans in place for 

both facilities.

 ¼ We have undertaken a risk review with the 
manufacturing management to identify and 
assess risks which could cause a serious 
disruption to manufacturing, and then identified 
and implemented actions to reduce or mitigate 
these risks where possible.

Assessed Trend

UNCHANGED

2

PRODUCT RECALL

A product recall due to a quality or safety issue would  
have serious repercussions to the business in terms of 
potential cost and reputational damage as a supplier to 
critical systems.

 ¼ We perform 100% functional testing on all own-

UNCHANGED

manufactured products and 100% hi-pot testing, 
which determines the adequacy of electrical 
insulation, on own-manufactured products. 
This ensures the integrity of the isolation barrier 
between the mains supply and the end user 
of the equipment. We also test all the medical 
products we manufacture to ensure the leakage 
current is within the medical specifications.

 ¼ Where we have contracts with customers,  

we limit our contractual liability regarding  
recall costs.

 ¼ No single customer project accounts for more 

than 4% of overall revenue.

Risks that could have a moderate impact on the Company’s business

Risk

Mitigation

3

COMPETITION FROM NEW MARKET ENTRANTS 
AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES

The power supply market is diverse and competitive. The 
Directors believe that the development of new technologies 
could give rise to significant new competition to the Group, 
which may have a material effect on its business. At the 
lower end of the Group’s target market, in terms of both 
power range and programme size, the barriers to entry 
are lower and there is, therefore, a risk that competition 
could quickly increase, particularly from emerging low cost 
manufacturers in Asia.

 ¼ The Group reviews activities of its competition, in 
particular product releases, and stays up-to-date 
with new technological advances in our industry, 
especially those relating to new components 
and materials. The Group also tries to keep its 
cost base competitive by operating in low cost 
geographies where appropriate.

 ¼ The general direction of our product roadmap is 

to move away from lower complexity products 
and to increase our engineering solutions 
capabilities so reducing the inherent market 
competitiveness.

Assessed Trend

MORE LIKELY

29

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTManaging Our Risks

Risks that could have a moderate impact on the Company’s business

Risk

4

 FLUCTUATIONS OF REVENUES,  
EXPENSES AND OPERATING RESULTS  
DUE TO AN ECONOMIC SHOCK

The revenues, expenses and operating results of the Group 
could vary significantly from period to period as a result of 
a variety of factors, some of which are outside its control. 
These factors include: general economic conditions; 
adverse movements in interest rates; conditions specific to 
the market; seasonal trends in revenues, capital expenditure 
and other costs; and the introduction of new products or 
services by the Group, or by their competitors. In response 
to a changing competitive environment, the Group may 
elect from time to time to make certain pricing, service, 
marketing decisions or acquisitions that could have a 
short-term material adverse effect on the Group’s revenues, 
results of operations and financial condition.

5

DEPENDENCE ON KEY  
CUSTOMERS/SUPPLIERS

The Group is dependent on retaining its key customers 
and suppliers. Should the Group lose a number of its key 
customers or key suppliers, this could have a material impact 
on the Group’s financial condition and results of operations. 
However, for the year ended 31 December 2017, no single 
customer accounted for more than 11% of revenue.

6

CYBERSECURITY/INFORMATION  
SYSTEMS FAILURE

The Group is reliant on information technology in multiple 
aspects of the business from communications to data 
storage. Assets accessible online are potentially vulnerable 
to theft and customer channels are vulnerable to disruption. 
Any failure or downtime of these systems or any data theft 
could have a significant adverse impact on the Group’s 
reputation or on the results of operations.

Assessed Trend

UNCHANGED

Mitigation

 ¼ Although not immune from an economic shock 
or the cyclicality of the capital equipment 
markets, the Group’s diverse customer base, 
geographic spread and revenue annuities reduce 
exposure to this risk.

 ¼ The Group’s business model is not capital 

intensive and the strong profit margins lead 
to healthy cash generation which also helps 
mitigate risks from these external factors.

 ¼ The Group benefits from good order exposure 
12 months out allowing it to recognise market 
changes and mitigate the impact.

UNCHANGED

 ¼ The Group mitigates this risk by providing 

excellent service. Customer complaints and 
non-conformances are reviewed monthly by 
members of the Executive Leadership team.

 ¼ As the proportion of our own-manufactured 

products has increased, the reliance on suppliers 
for third party product has been mitigated 
proportionally. There has been a shift from a 
finished goods risk to a raw materials risk.

 ¼ We conduct regular audits of our key suppliers 
and in addition keep large amounts of safety 
inventory of key components.

 ¼ The Group has a defined Business Impact 

UNCHANGED

Assessment which identifies the key information 
assets; replication of data on different systems or 
in the Cloud; an established backup process in 
place as well as a robust anti-malware solution 
on our networks.

 ¼ Internally produced training materials are used 
to educate users regarding good IT security 
practice and to promote the Group’s IT policy.

 ¼ A cyber assessment carried out by the 
outsourced internal auditor resulted in 
recommendations that are being implemented 
to further mitigate cyber risk and safeguard the 
Group’s assets. 

7

RISKS RELATING TO REGULATION,  
COMPLIANCE AND TAXATION

The Group operates in multiple jurisdictions with applicable 
trade and tax regulations that vary. Failing to comply with local 
regulations or a change in legislation could impact the profits 
of the Group. In addition, the effective tax rate of the Group is 
affected by where its profits fall geographically. The Group’s 
effective tax rate could therefore fluctuate over time and have 
an impact on earnings and potentially its share price.

 ¼ An outsourced internal audit function has been 
introduced to provide risk assurance in targeted 
areas of the business and recommendations 
for improvement. The scope of these reviews 
includes behaviour, culture and ethics.

 ¼ The Group hires employees with relevant  
skills and uses external advisers to keep  
up-to-date with changes in regulations and  
to remain compliant.

UNCHANGED

30

HeadingRisks that could have a moderate impact on the Company’s business

Risk

Mitigation

8

STRATEGIC RISK ASSOCIATED WITH VALUING  
OR INTEGRATING NEW ACQUISITIONS

The Group may elect from time to time to make strategic 
acquisitions. A degree of uncertainty exists in valuation 
and in particular in evaluating potential synergies. Post-
acquisition risks arise in the form of change of control  
and integration challenges. Any of these could have an 
effect on the Group’s revenues, results of operations and 
financial condition.

9

LOSS OF KEY PERSONNEL OR FAILURE  
TO ATTRACT NEW PERSONNEL

The future success of the Group is substantially dependent 
on the continued services and continuing contributions of its 
Directors, senior management and other key personnel. The 
loss of the services of key employees could have a material 
adverse effect on own business.

10 EXPOSURE TO EXCHANGE 
RATE FLUCTUATIONS

The Group deals in many currencies for both its purchases 
and sales including US Dollars, Euros and its reporting 
currency Pounds Sterling. In particular, North America 
represents an important geographic market for the Group 
where virtually all the revenues are denominated in US 
Dollars. The Group also sources components in US 
Dollars and the Chinese Yuan. The Group therefore has an 
exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. This could lead to 
material adverse movements in reported earnings.

Assessed Trend

UNCHANGED

 ¼ Preparation of robust business plans and cash 
projections with sensitivity analysis and the help 
of professional advisers if appropriate.

 ¼ Post-acquisition reviews are performed to extract 

“lessons learned”.

 ¼ The Group undertakes performance evaluations 
and reviews to help it stay close to its key 
personnel as well as annual employee 
engagement surveys. Where considered 
appropriate, the Group also makes use of 
financial retention tools such as equity awards.

MORE 
UNLIKELY

 ¼ The Group reviews balance sheet and cash 

UNCHANGED

flow currency exposures and where considered 
appropriate, uses forward exchange contracts 
to hedge these exposures. Any forward contract 
requires the approval of both the Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer.

 ¼ The Group does not hedge any translation of 

its subsidiaries’ results to Sterling for reporting 
purposes.

Viability Statement
In accordance with provision C.2.2 of the 2016 revision of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code, the Directors are required to assess 
the prospects of the Company over a period longer than the 
12 months required by the “Going Concern” provision.

Various options were considered, taking into account the Group’s 
identified risks, its current borrowing arrangements and capacity to 
extend borrowing and after consideration the Directors are of the 
opinion that the Company is viable for at least a period of three years 
to 31 December 2020. This timeframe is within the Group’s strategic 
financial planning period used to evaluate performance and liquidity 
and aligns with the design-in cycle for which the Group has visibility.

The Company has a business model where the Company’s product 
is designed into numerous applications, with numerous customers, 
in numerous geographies. The Company’s products are all designed 
into capital equipment which is generally in production for a number 
of consecutive years, resulting in a revenue annuity. This diversity 
and revenue annuity are both deemed important factors in mitigating 
many of the risks that could affect the long-term viability of the Group. 
Nevertheless, the Directors’ obligation is to assess the Company’s 
viability in conjunction with the principal risks that could cause a 
severe but plausible threat. The major risks set out on pages 28 to 
31 were each modelled in a hypothetical and deliberately austere 
scenario to help determine the potential effect, primarily to cash flow. 

Certain subjective assumptions and judgments were made to achieve 
this. Given the cash generative nature of the business, each risk 
scenario occurring in isolation did not breach the Group’s theoretical 
borrowing facility headroom, though factors such as a temporary 
dividend reduction or temporary reduction in capital expenditure may 
be necessary. The most severe threats occurring in isolation were 
found to be a serious and prolonged systems failure, such as to our 
ERP or CRM systems, or a temporary or permanent disruption at one 
of our manufacturing facilities.

Scenarios were also prepared to model the unlikely event of more 
than one risk occurring at the same time. A combination of a 
temporary or permanent disruption at one of our manufacturing 
facilities together with a serious and prolonged economic shock 
was found to compromise the viability of the Company, if mitigating 
actions such as expanding the debt facility were unsuccessful.

In determining the viability term, the Board assessed the deliberately 
austere scenarios against the controls in place to prevent or mitigate 
the risks occurring. It also considered them against the Group’s 
current banking facilities, a revolving credit facility of US$40 million 
with a US$20 million additional accordion, and in relation to its 
capacity to potentially extend borrowing. The current facility without 
the accordion represents 0.78 times the 2017 EBITDA.

31

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTOur Commitments to Sustainability

Our Commitment
As a member of the Responsible Business Alliance,  we strive 
to advance sustainability initiatives globally within XP Power. We 
are fully committed to leading our industry on Corporate Social 
Responsibility matters.

Within the organisation we have established an Environmental 
Committee that helps with our vision to be the industry leader. This 
group helps further develop plans on key initiatives within the Group 
and set best-in-class practices. As part of our communiqué within 
the organisation, there are periodic newsletters and communication 
meetings to convey the message. All of our key locations are 
represented by a local committee member.

Our Impacts
We performed our own internal risk assessment of the most 
significant impact that we as an organisation have on environment. 
The greatest environmental contributor is the efficiency of the power 
converter products we provide to our customers. This past year 
we continued to expand our portfolio by increasing our offering 
of “Green XP Power” products. This includes products that have 
ultra-high efficiency and/or have low stand-by power mode. These 
products are good for the environment as they are void of hazardous 
material, consume less material and require less energy during 
use. We continue to promote the benefits and the use of these 
“Green XP Power” products to our internal and external customers. 
Original Equipment Manufacturers that utilise these products will 
see significant energy savings when incorporated into their end 
equipment compared to other power products in the industry.

Our Sustainability Strategy
Our strategy is to continue to focus on developing new product 
that can provide industry leading efficiencies and/or low stand-by 
power. This helps reduce the amount of heat loss and wastage 
during operation within the customer system. XP Power has been 
successful in developing products that can achieve efficiencies of 
up to 95% which is a considerable improvement compared to most 
other power supply converters on the market. To further expand on 
the significance of the impact of a 15% difference in efficiency, the 
following example is provided:

 } Utilising a power converter with 80% efficiency would require 
input power of 125 watts to provide 100 watts of output 
power as there is a waste of 25 watts. Utilising an XP Power 
converter with 95% efficiency would require input power of 
105 watts to provide 100 watts of output power as there is a 
waste of 5 watts.

The waste heat as highlighted above is calculated in watts. There is 
a significant difference considering there is a five-fold improvement 
in energy wastage and the overall potential for savings will be 
throughout the entire lifetime of electronic equipment. To achieve 
these efficiency gains requires a greater number of higher cost 
components and more complex circuits.

The return on investment of a higher efficiency product can be 
captured in terms of consumption of electricity. The full payback 
on electricity costs is usually within the first year of use. Therefore,  
we continue to promote and encourage the use of these high 
efficiency products.

“ ANOTHER STRONG 
PERFORMANCE WITH 
RECORD REVENUES FROM ‘XP 
POWER GREEN PRODUCT’ OF 
£39.7 MILLION.”
Sean Ross  
Environmental Committee Chairman and  

Vice-President of Quality Assurance

32

HeadingThe market trend through both demand 
and legislation for higher efficiency products 
is expected to continue in the electronics 
industry. These legislation requirements 
are projected to extend from consumer 
equipment to the industrial and healthcare 
markets that we serve.

Our Key Achievements  
in 2017
We established new records for revenues 
of XP Green Products shipped in 2017. 
In 2017, we shipped £39.7 million of high 
efficiency products to our customer base. 
This represents an increase of 31% from 
2016 and currently is 23.8% of our overall 
revenue. Of the new 27 product families we 
launched during this past year, 19 meet our 
“Green XP Power” criteria.

The annual savings in CO2 emissions from 
these products compared to a standard 
80% efficient converter are quite significant. 
Based on our calculations, we estimate that 
the annual emission savings from the “Green 
XP Power” converters we sold in 2017 is 
41,500 tonnes.

The annual savings will recur each year 
for the lifetime of the product, which we 
estimate conservatively as seven years. This 
would result in lifetime savings of 291,000 
tonnes of CO2. This helps demonstrate the 
environmental impact that we can make 
by providing these types of products. XP 
Power also invested in LED (light-emitting 
diode) lighting within our Bremen, Germany 
location. This new lighting system will add 
additional energy savings which is a positive.

Sustainability Initiative  
– Earth Day 2017
In April, we celebrated Earth Day by having 
an entire week of activities coordinated 
across the different XP Power locations. 
Some of the activities planned by the local 
environmental representatives included:

 } Clean up activities at public parks  

and beaches.

 } Vegetable picking to support locally 
sourced materials which are used to 
feed the homeless.

 } Office and household E-waste  

collection centres.

 } Ride share and public transportation 

campaign.

Our Plans for the Year Ahead
Products: There currently are additional high 
efficiency products that are on our road map 
for 2018.

Facilities: At the facilities that we are 
currently utilising we are evaluating which 
locations we could add solar panels and/
or Electric Vehicle Charging stations. This 
would complement those existing locations 
in which these are already established.

Manufacturing: Further expansion of our 
Vietnam manufacturing location will utilise 
the same industry leading environmental 
design as the original building envelope.

OUR VALUES
See page 34

READ MORE:

OUR PEOPLE AND THEIR  
HEALTH AND SAFETY
See page 36

OUR CUSTOMERS
See page 38

OUR SUPPLIERS
See page 39

OUR COMMUNITIES
See page 40

33

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORT 
OUR CORE VALUES

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

SPEED

INTEGRITY

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

INTEGRITY

CUSTOMER 

FOCUS

Honest in all our interactions with our colleagues, customers and suppliers

Always doing the right thing

Taking care of our people-ensuring XP Power is a great place to work where we trust the 
people we work with, have pride in what we do and gain enjoyment from our work

Delivering genuine value to our customers through our knowledge and experience

KNOWLEDGE

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

Continually developing our skills and capabilities as individuals and as an organisation
INTEGRITY
FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

Receptive to the needs of our customers to provide outstanding customer service

Willing to challenge the way we do things and adapt to constantly improve and innovate

Collaborating with our colleagues and customers for better results
CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

INTEGRITY

SPEED

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

CUSTOMER 

FOCUS

SPEED

Responding to our customers and colleagues with impressive speed

Constantly looking at faster and more efficient ways of delivering value in everything we do
INTEGRITY

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

CUSTOMER 
FOCUS

SPEED

INTEGRITY

Always considering our customer’s experience in everything we do

Never forgetting that without our customer we do not have a business

34

HeadingOur Core Values in Action

“ WE ARE PLEASED WITH THE 
RESULTS OF OUR EFFORTS, 
BUT KNOW THAT WE MUST 
KEEP PRESSING ON TO 
ENSURE THAT WE DELIVER 
THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE 
TO OUR PEOPLE, SO THEY 
WILL DELIVER THE ULTIMATE 
EXPERIENCE TO OUR 
CUSTOMERS!”
Heather Murdock  
Vice President, Human Resources

CULTURAL SURVEY SCORE

59.2

62.9

63.0

62.0

2015

2016

2017

2018

Last year we increased our focus on developing our people and 
improving operational excellence in our Human Resources function. 
We created a new global performance management system called 
People Power that enables our employees to engage in frequent 
feedback, goal setting and training and development planning. This 
process is designed to customise training and development plans 
around the specific skills required for their position. We anticipate 
this will equip and grow our employees as we rise to meet the 
demands that face a fast-growing organisation. This is a new 
programme, but we are already receiving positive feedback from our 
global teams.

Employee engagement is a top priority at XP Power and we are 
in the process of transforming our recruiting and onboarding 
processes so that our employees truly enjoy the ultimate experience. 
When employees get off to a great start, they become productive 
faster and are more likely to commit to the organisational vision. We 
design our onboarding strategies with that in mind. 

At XP Power, we believe that you don’t have to have a title 
to be a leader. Leadership development is a key strategy in 
growing our organisational capability. This year we will offer 
customised leadership training to not only management, but also 
anyone who aspires to grow their leadership skills. There are 
significant differences between management and leadership, and 
understanding the differences can be critical to effective leadership.

We are pleased with the results of our efforts, but know that we 
must keep pressing on to ensure that we deliver the ultimate 
experience to our people, so they will deliver the ultimate experience 
to our customers!

35

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTOur People and their Health and Safety

Our people are our most important asset and we make great efforts to ensure 
we have policies in place to provide a safe working environment to protect 
our employees. As an organisation, it is important that XP Power promotes 
workforce diversity, integrity and a safe and healthy work environment.

Health and Safety
As an organisation, XP Power seriously 
considers the suitability of our Health and 
Safety programme. The programme we 
have in place focuses on preventive action 
to ensure that we are being proactive and 
therefore reducing the risk of incidents 
from occurring. In addition to meeting the 
requirements set out in the Responsible 
Business Alliance Code of Conduct, there 
are local requirements that we continuously 
set out to comply with and keep abreast 
of any changes. There are Committee 
members at each of our key sites that 
ensure any accidents are reported, acted 
upon and analysed for management 
review. The accidents and their severity 
are periodically reported to the Board of 
Directors to ensure visibility throughout all 
levels of the organisation. 

HEALTH AND SAFETY
Number of incidents

14

9

9

ASIA

EUROPE

NORTH 
AMERICA

Integrity
It is imperative that all of our employees are 
ethical. This is one of our corporate core 
values and is communicated throughout 
the organisation. We have also posted the 
core values throughout our facilities and 
embedded them into our performance 
appraisal process as a reminder of the 
importance of these values throughout our 
day-to-day activities. The expectation for 
integrity is as follows:

 } Honest in all our interactions with our 
colleagues, customers and suppliers.

 } Always doing the right thing.

 } Taking care of our people to ensure XP 

Power is a great place to work where 
we trust the people we work with, have 
pride in what we do and gain enjoyment 
from our work.

36

HeadingDiversity
We operate in a global market and 
recognise the benefits of a diverse and 
talented workforce and consider this a 
key competitive advantage. Our business 
success is a reflection of the quality and skill 
of our people and the Group is committed 
to seeking out and retaining the finest talent.

XP Power believes in treating all people 
with respect and dignity. We strive to create 
and foster a supportive and understanding 
environment in which all individuals realise 
their maximum potential within the Company 
regardless of their differences.

We believe our diversity benefits all our 
stakeholders and our Company as a whole. 
We recognise that each employee brings 
their own unique capabilities, experiences 
and characteristics to their work and we 
value diversity at all levels of the Company.

MALE

Asia

Europe

North America

Total Male

FEMALE

Asia

Europe

North America

Total Female

Non-
Executive 
Board

–

3

–

3

Non-
Executive 
Board

–

1

–

1

Executive Management

All Other

Total

2

8

3

13

22

14

26

62

593

91

158

842

617

116

187

920

Executive Management

All Other

Total

–

1

1

2

3

4

14

21

881

40

88

884

46

103

1,009

1,033

Modern Slavery Act 2015
The United Kingdom has enacted legislation to address abhorrent abuse of human rights. XP Power does not  
engage in any slavery or human trafficking activities and is strongly against any offences of slavery, servitude forced labour and/or human 
trafficking. XP Power has also adopted a corporate policy which has been communicated to all employees. 

Modern Slavery Policy

XP Power is committed to a work environment that is free from modern slavery. This is achieved by:

 } Communicating that as an organisation we do not engage and are strongly against any offences of slavery, servitude forced labour and/

or human trafficking. 

 } Performing due diligence on our supply chain. We would immediately disengage with any supplier that does not have the same vision on 

forced labour as XP Power. 

 } Complying with all relevant legislation including the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

 } Adopting this policy within our Corporate Sustainability and Code of Ethics programme.

This policy is supported by all levels of the XP Power organisation. Any abuse of human rights would be acted upon immediately and 
appropriate action taken.

It is critical that we continue to convey to our staff that any ideas or areas of concern should be brought to the attention of our management 
team. XP Power has a “whistleblowing” policy that has been communicated to the entire organisation and encourages individuals to come 
forward with any suspicious activity, without fear of repercussion. 

37

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTOur Customers

Customer Focus
Customers have helped drive our growth 
with our “Green XP Power” offering. 
This is demonstrated by the increase in 
revenues year over year since 2010 of these 
product offerings. This aligns with one of 
our organisation’s core values, customer 
focus. Customers clearly see the benefit of 
ultra-high efficiency power converters and 
this has allowed us to be more focused 
on delivering these products to meet the 
customer expectations. The feedback we 
have also received is that customers are 
willing to pay a premium for these “Green” 
products due to the higher performance. 
One of the underlying benefits of a high 
efficiency product is that the product is 
inherently more reliable. Once the power 
converter gets to a level of efficiency that 
we are achieving, there is very little waste 
energy as heat, and there is no longer 
a need for a mechanical fan for cooling 
(which also consumes power). If the system 
engineer can design-in a power converter 
without a mechanical fan they have now 
removed the most unreliable part of the 
power system. 

Furthermore, as the power converter runs 
cooler the electronic components which 
are sensitive to heat, such as electrolytic 
capacitors, have longer lifetimes. The 
result is that not only is the power system 
consuming and wasting less energy it has 
also become significantly more reliable. This 
is of particular benefit when we consider 
that many of our products are designed into 
critical applications in the healthcare and 
high end industrial sectors where product 
failure and downtime are not acceptable. It 
is with this understanding of the customer’s 
expectation for an ultra-high efficiency, 
extremely reliable power supply that we 
have been able to focus on providing 
the best solution for the customer’s 
requirements.

Key Achievements
We have added 19 additional product series 
to our portfolio of “Green XP Power” during 
2017. One example is a 65 watt desktop 
product that has the IP32 Environmental 
rating in addition to Energy Efficiency Level 
VI. This is the first product family that was 
introduced to be manufactured directly out 
of our environmentally friendly manufacturing 
facility located in Vietnam.

Our Plans Ahead
Our plan is to continue to invest in products 
we can bring to market that provide the 
most benefit to customers in terms of the 
high efficiency, and low stand-by power that 
meet our customers’ cost expectations.

38

HeadingOur Suppliers

Responsible Business 
Alliance (RBA)
Since 2010, XP Power has been a member 
of the RBA, formerly known as the 
Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition. 
We continue to promote the benefits of 
being a member to all of our stakeholders 
and encourage active participation from 
our supplier base. We visit and audit our 
suppliers to ensure they share the same 
vision consistent with the RBA Code of 
Conduct. We would disengage our business 
relationship with those suppliers that are not 
committed to continuously work towards 
compliance with the Code of Conduct. 

Supply Chain Ethics
One of the key elements of XP Power’s 
core values is integrity. We work towards 
ensuring our supply chain partners have the 
same approach towards ethical business 
practices as XP Power. This is done by 
a stringent on-site qualification process 
of potential new suppliers. It includes 
an assessment regarding environmental 
performance, treatment of labour, health and 
safety and business ethics standards. As the 
suppliers we engage with are considered 
long-term partners it is imperative that these 
suppliers share our vision. 

The XP Power ethics policy is included 
within our Corporate Sustainability Manual 
and includes the following requirements as it 
pertains to suppliers:

 } We will uphold high levels of business 

ethics in dealing with our suppliers; and

 } We will not at any time take or give, 

bribes or other means of inducement to 
obtain improper advantage. 

These requirements have been actively 
communicated and the policy is readily 
available to our supply chain employees.

Our Plans for the Year Ahead 
The supply chain programme we have 
in place has been extremely effective in 
promoting industry leading sustainable 
programmes with our suppliers. 

We will continue to expand this programme as 
we determine additional ethical requirements 
that are in alignment with our core values.

The new legislation such as the Modern 
Slavery Act of 2015 will also be a focus  
for the coming year to ensure proper  
due diligence.

Supply Chain Due Diligence
As part of our due diligence process within 
our supply chain, we have updated our 
qualification process to include an evaluation 
to ensure our suppliers do not engage in 
or support any slavery, human trafficking, 
servitude or forced labour. We disengage 
with suppliers that fail to meet our vision on 
ethical standards.

In 2010 the US Dodd-Frank Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Action 
was passed concerning “conflict minerals” 
originating from the Democratic Republic 
of the Congo or adjoining countries. XP 
Power has worked with our suppliers to try 
and eliminate using those sources that have 
originated from those countries in question. 
We have adopted the reporting template 
issued by the Global e-Sustainability 
Initiative (GeSI) and Responsible Business 
Alliance which we provide to our customers 
so they gain the necessary assurance  
we are not using conflict minerals in  
our products.

39

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORT 
Our Communities

Second Harvest Food Bank
Volunteers from the Orange County office, 
California office helped again at the second 
harvest foodbank.

 } Employees from our Sunnyvale office, 
California handed out race shirts, bibs 
and guided participants at a “Turkey 
Trot” – an event that raises money for 
charities and other good causes.

 } Supporting families in Reading, UK, via 

the Home Start charity, three employees 
helped clear up an untidy backyard via 
our community service policy.

Our Plans for the Year Ahead
The local representatives that coordinate 
activities continue to be fully engaged within 
the community. These include opportunities 
for volunteering, raising funds to support 
local charities, simply promoting awareness 
of events or activities that will enhance our 
environments. This is an ongoing agenda 
item as part of our local environmental 
teams’ periodic meetings to see how 
we can make a difference within the 
communities in which we operate.

Community Policy
Last year we implemented a new policy 
for community service. The organisation 
allows for paid time off to support local 
community activities. This shows a level of 
commitment by the organisation to allow 
our employees to give back to the local 
communities in which we operate. This has 
been a successful programme and we have 
seen lots of enthusiasm for this new policy. 
Some of the activities that took place in 
2017 included:

 } Supporting the upkeep and 

maintenance of water passageways in 
the United Kingdom, in collaboration 
with the Canal and River Trust 
Foundation,

 } Supporting a Rescue Mission Center in 
Orange County, California by donating 
time to stock shelves and serve food for 
those in unfortunate situations. This is 
the second year in a row supporting this 
organisation.

 } Beach clean up’s. Members of the 
Singapore office volunteered in  
the National Environment Agency’s 
Clean Singapore Learning Trail. Also, 
in the United Kingdom employees 
devoted time picking up plastics, drink 
containers, rope and other debris from  
a Devon beach. 

40

HeadingOur Environment

CO2 Emissions
In 2009 we set ourselves a target of reducing CO2 emissions per unit of revenue by 5% per 
annum. This aligns with the Chinese Government’s target of reducing carbon emissions per 
unit of GDP by 40% to 45% between 2005 and 2020. We measure our CO2 emissions in 
accordance with the internationally recognised Green House Gas (GHG) Protocol and our 
metrics include scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. The CO2 emissions data shows the three-
month moving average of CO2 emissions per unit of revenue at our Kunshan facility. Our 
total Green House Gas emissions for 2017 were 3,906 tonnes of CO2 compared to 3,581 
tonnes in 2016. This increase is lower than our revenue increase for the year, demonstrating 
some efficiency gains. CO2 emissions per unit of revenue also declined in China and 
Vietnam.

Water
We have determined that our operations are considered as low water usage. Water is not 
used in the design, manufacturing or services of our products. We are cognisant of the fact 
that there is some level of water usage at our facilities and try to limit the use and employ 
best practices. Our water usage is tracked and monitored as one of our key environmental 
metrics across the business. The necessary actions are taken to reduce usage as needed 
and consistent with our corporate water policy.

CO2 Emissions Data
CO2 Emissions (tonnes) –  
China and Vietnam facility

CO2 Emissions per unit of factory 
revenue (kg/$1,000) – China facility

CO2 Emissions per unit of factory 
revenue (kg/$1,000) – Vietnam facility

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

3,906

 3,581

3,361

3,068

2,598

54

81

56

82

47 

46

141

110

46

–

Water Data
Average number of employees

2017

1,953

2016

1,506

2015

1,448

2014

1,160

2013

1,081

Water consumed (thousand litres)

39,480

32,582

32,220

25,300

21,200

Water consumed per employee 
(thousand litres)

20.2

21.6

22.3

21.8

19.6

Carbon Disclosure Project
Annually we participate and report our 
environmental data to the Carbon Disclosure 
Project. The data is publicly available on 
the Carbon Disclosure Project website at 
www.cdproject.net.

Harmful Substances
In 2005 new legislation was introduced in 
Europe which limited the levels of certain 
hazardous substances. The European 
legislation, Restriction of Hazardous 
Substances (RoHS) has been implemented 
in the design and manufacture of XP Power 
products. XP took the initiative to be compliant 
with this legislation not just for our European 
customer base, but for our customers in Asia 
and North America.

The RoHS directive was recast with additional 
requirements which came into effect in July 2011. 
We are pleased to report that with the exception 
of recently acquired Comdel, we are compliant 
with the latest RoHS directive as of July 2014.

Our Plans For The Year Ahead
 } Assessment of facilities that currently do 
not have solar panels to determine the 
suitability.

 } Utilising environmentally friendly design 
concepts during expansion of the XP 
Power Vietnam manufacturing location.

 } Expand on our “XP Power Green” product 

portfolio.

41

XP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPSTRATEGIC REPORTChairman’s Introduction to Governance

The Board of Directors’ primary remit is to provide direction to 
help shape the strategy of the Group and ensure that this is being 
executed effectively within a structure that is well controlled, 
mitigates risk and is compliant with corporate and social 
responsibility. Good corporate governance emanates from the top 
which is why the Board gives continued prominence to this area.

I am pleased to welcome Gavin Griggs to the Board who joined 
us on 31 October 2017 as Chief Financial Officer. Gavin is a CIMA 
qualified accountant and has worked in a range of acquisitive 
businesses with an international footprint, most recently Daisy Group 
Ltd, where he was Group Finance Director. Gavin’s wide-ranging 
financial, commercial and M&A experience, gained within a number 
of international businesses, will be an asset to XP Power in the next 
phase of our development. Jonathan Rhodes stepped down from 
the Board on Gavin’s appointment, but will remain with the Group in 
a senior finance position.

In the following pages we set out our approach to corporate 
governance. Under the Singapore Companies Act, Chapter 50, 
the Company is not required to follow the Singapore Corporate 
Governance Code. The Company has voluntarily agreed to the 
principles of corporate governance contained in the UK Corporate 
Governance Code (the “Code”) as required under the Listing Rules 
of the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom.

We have tried to clearly lay out how we meet the five sections of the 
Code, namely leadership, effectiveness, accountability, remuneration 
and relations with Shareholders. For the benefit of Shareholders who 
are not familiar with the Code we have set out the main principles of 
the Code in detail and have stated how we have addressed them in 
this report.

“ THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ 
PRIMARY REMIT IS TO 
PROVIDE DIRECTION TO HELP 
SHAPE THE STRATEGY OF THE 
GROUP AND ENSURE THAT 
THIS IS BEING EXECUTED 
EFFECTIVELY WITHIN A 
STRUCTURE THAT IS WELL 
CONTROLLED, MITIGATES 
RISK AND IS COMPLIANT 
WITH CORPORATE AND 
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.”
James Peters  
Non-Executive Chairman

42

HeadingIN THIS SECTION...
42 Chairman’s Introduction to Governance

44 Directors and Officers

46 Corporate Governance Report

50 Audit Committee Report

54 Remuneration Committee Report

55 Remuneration Policy

60 Remuneration Report – Annual Report

69  Other Governance and  
Statutory Disclosures

70 Statement by Directors

43

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPDirectors and Officers

Duncan Penny
CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
OFFICER

Appointed 3 February 2003

Gavin Griggs
CHIEF FINANCIAL 
OFFICER

Mike Laver
PRESIDENT, CORPORATE 
DEVELOPMENT

Andy Sng
EXECUTIVE VICE 
PRESIDENT, ASIA

Appointed 31 October 2017

Appointed 20 August 2002

Appointed April 2007

XP POWER
Duncan joined as Group 
Finance Director, a position 
he held between April 2000 
and February 2003 before 
being promoted to Chief 
Executive Officer.

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
Extensive experience of 
corporate finance matters.

Between 1985 to 1990, he 
spent five years at Coopers 
& Lybrand in general 
practice and corporate 
finance.

Worked for LSI Logic 
Corporation for eight years 
where he held senior 
financial positions in both 
Europe and Silicon Valley.

From October 1998 to 
March 2000, he was the 
Controller for the European, 
Middle Eastern and African 
regions for Dell Computer 
Corporation.

XP POWER
Gavin has recently joined 
the Group.

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
CIMA qualified accountant 
who has worked in a range 
of acquisitive businesses 
with an international 
footprint.

Held senior finance roles at 
Logica, Sodexo, PepsiCo 
and SABMiller.

Served as CFO of Alternative 
Networks plc, a listed 
Information Technology 
and Telecommunications 
provider, prior to its 
acquisition by Daisy in 
December 2016 when he 
became Group Finance 
Director for Daisy Group.

XP POWER
Mike joined the Group as 
a result of the acquisition  
of ForeSight Electronics 
in 2000.

Mike was responsible for 
global sales and marketing 
prior to becoming Corporate 
Development Officer in 
November 2017.

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
Over 28 years’ experience in 
the power converter industry.

After completing his degree 
in Electrical Engineering 
at UC Santa Barbara, he 
held several sales and 
technical positions with: 
Power Systems Distributors, 
Compumech and Delta  
Lu Research.

Mike joined ForeSight 
Electronics in 1991 and held 
various senior roles prior 
to their acquisition by XP 
Power in 2000.

XP POWER
Andy joined the Group 
in July 2005 as General 
Manager for Asia where he 
started up the Shanghai 
operation.

He currently oversees the 
sales and marketing for 
Singapore, China, Japan, 
South Korea and India.

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
Over 15 years in the power 
converter industry.

Graduated from Nanyang 
Technological University with 
a degree in Electrical and 
Electronic Engineering and 
an MBA from Manchester 
Business School.

Prior to joining the Group, 
he held technical and 
commercial roles with 
companies such as
Silicon Systems (Singapore) 
and Advanced Micro 
Devices (Singapore).

44

HeadingJames Peters
NON-EXECUTIVE 
CHAIRMAN

Terry Twigger
SENIOR NON-
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Peter Bucher
NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR 

Polly Williams
NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTOR

Appointed 30 June 2014

Appointed 1 January 2015

Appointed 1 January 2014*

Appointed 1 January 2016

COMMITTEES
Audit (Chair)
Nomination
Remuneration

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
Between July 1993 and 
May 2013, Terry spent 20 
years with Meggitt PLC, the 
FTSE100 global engineering 
group specialising in extreme 
environment components 
and smart sub-systems for 
aerospace, defence and 
energy markets.

For the last 12 years at 
Meggitt, Terry was Chief 
Executive Officer and grew 
its revenues from £0.4 
billion to £1.6 billion through 
a combination of organic 
growth and numerous 
successful acquisitions.

On 19 April 2018, Terry is 
retiring from his position as 
a Non-Executive Director of 
Essentra plc, the supplier of 
specialist plastic, fibre, foam 
and packaging products.

COMMITTEES
Nomination (Chair)

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
James has over 35 years' 
experience in the power 
converter industry.

Trained as an electronics 
engineer with Marconi 
Space and Defence 
Systems followed by roles 
at TDK-Lambda, a global 
power converter company.

Joined Powerline 
Electronics shortly after its 
formation in 1980 where he 
was involved in all aspects 
of their power business.

XP POWER
James founded XP Power 
in November 1988. 

Appointed European 
Managing Director in April 
2000, responsible for the 
development of the Group’s 
European business.

Became Deputy Chairman 
in February 2003 and 
moved to a non-executive 
role in May 2012, before 
his appointment as 
Non-Executive Chairman in 
June 2014.

COMMITTEES
Remuneration
Audit

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
Peter joined Traco Electronic 
AG in 1967 and was 
appointed Managing Director 
in 1985, a position he held 
until his retirement in 2009.

Under Peter’s leadership 
Traco was built into a 
highly respected company 
with revenues in excess of 
US$100 million.

Peter is well known within 
the power converter industry 
with excellent product 
knowledge.

COMMITTEES
Remuneration (Chair)
Audit
Nomination

SKILLS AND BUSINESS 
EXPERIENCE
Polly is a chartered 
accountant and a former 
Partner at KPMG LLP. 
She resigned from her 
partnership in 2003 and 
has held a number of non-
executive directorship roles. 

She is currently a Non-
Executive Director at Jupiter 
Fund Management plc, 
TSB Group plc and Royal 
Bank of Canada Europe Ltd.  
She is also a Trustee of the 
Guide Dogs for the Blind 
Association.

*  Tendered his resignation 

in December 2017 and will 
retire from the Board on  
31 December 2018.

45

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPCorporate Governance Report

THE BOARD 
OF DIRECTORS
Non-Executive 
Chairman 
James Peters 

AUDIT COMMITTEE
Chair: Terry Twigger  

Financial reporting
Compliance

External audit
Internal controls

REMUNERATION 
COMMITTEE
Chair: Polly Williams  
Directors’ fixed and 
variable pay

Share Incentive Plans
Key employee retention

NOMINATION 
COMMITTEE
Chair: James Peters   

Board composition
Board appointments

SUSTAINABILITY 
COMMITTEE

Chair: Sean Ross
Corporate social 
responsibility
Sustainability 
initiatives

INTERNAL AUDIT

EXECUTIVE  LEADERSHIP TEAM

Risk framework
Internal audits
Process improvements
Continous improvement

Executing the Board’s strategy

Assessment and mitigation of risk

Managing the control environment

Promoting the culture, core values and ethics

TOP-DOWN

Oversight, 
governance, 
strategic direction, 
risk appetite at 
corporate level

BOTTOM-UP

Execution of strategy, 
compliance, control 
environment, 
assessment and 
mitigation of risk 
across functional areas

LEADERSHIP
A.1 The Role of the Board
Main Principle:

Every company should be headed by 
an effective board which is collectively 
responsible for the long-term success 
of the company.

The Directors have considered the 
composition and structure of the Board 
and have concluded that it is appropriate 
for a company of the size and complexity 
of XP Power. Despite not being considered 
independent by the Corporate Governance 
guidelines, the involvement of James Peters 
(Non-Executive Chairman) as a founder with 
a substantial shareholding is considered 
of benefit to Shareholders, aligning the 
interests of Shareholders with the Board. 
The Senior Non-Executive Director is an 
independent Director.

The following matters are specifically 
reserved for the Board’s decision:

 } Opinion of the Group’s viability and 

going concern.

 } Approval of strategic plans, financial 
plans and budgets and any material 
changes to them.

 } Oversight of the Group’s operations, 
ensuring competent and prudent 
management, sound planning, an 
adequate system of internal control and 
adequate accounting and other records.

 } Changes to the structure, size and 

composition of the Board.

 } Consideration of  the independence of 

Non-Executive Directors.

 } Review of management structure and 
senior management responsibilities.

 } With the assistance of the Remuneration 
Committee, approval of remuneration 
policies across the Group.

 } Final approval of annual financial 

statements and accounting policies.

 } Approval of the dividend policy.

 } Approval of the acquisition or disposal 
of subsidiaries and major investments 
and capital projects.

 } Delegation of the Board’s powers and 
authorities including the division of 
responsibilities between the Chairman, 
Chief Executive Officer  and the other 
Executive Directors.

A.2 Division of Responsibilities
Main Principle:

There should be a clear division of 
responsibilities at the head of the 
Company between the running of the 
Board and the executive responsibility 
for the running of the Company’s 
business. No one individual should have 
unfettered power of decision.

The roles of Non-Executive Chairman 
(James Peters) and Chief Executive Officer 
(Duncan Penny) are separate and clearly 
defined. The Chairman is responsible for the 
running of Board meetings as well as taking 
the lead on strategy. The Chief Executive 
Officer is responsible for the day-to-day 
running of the Company and the execution 
of the strategy.

46

HeadingTHE BOARD 

OF DIRECTORS

Non-Executive 

Chairman 

James Peters 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

Chair: Terry Twigger  

Financial reporting

Compliance

External audit

Internal controls

REMUNERATION 

COMMITTEE

Chair: Polly Williams  

Directors’ fixed and 

variable pay

Share Incentive Plans

Key employee retention

NOMINATION 

COMMITTEE

Chair: James Peters   

Board composition

Board appointments

SUSTAINABILITY 

COMMITTEE

Chair: Sean Ross

Corporate social 

responsibility

Sustainability 

initiatives

INTERNAL AUDIT

EXECUTIVE  LEADERSHIP TEAM

Risk framework

Internal audits

Process improvements

Continous improvement

Executing the Board’s strategy

Assessment and mitigation of risk

Managing the control environment

Promoting the culture, core values and ethics

TOP-DOWN

Oversight, 

governance, 

strategic direction, 

risk appetite at 

corporate level

BOTTOM-UP

Execution of strategy, 

compliance, control 

environment, 

assessment and 

mitigation of risk 

across functional areas

A.3 The Chairman
Main Principle:

The Chairman is responsible for the 
leadership of the Board and ensuring its 
effectiveness on all aspects of its role.

The Chairman sets the calendar and agenda 
of the Board and facilitates the discussions. 
The Chairman also initiates and coordinates 
the processes defined below which evaluate 
the effectiveness of the Board and of the 
individual Directors.

A.4 Non-Executive Directors
Main Principle:

As part of their role as members of a 
unitary board, Non-Executive Directors 
should constructively challenge and 
help develop proposals on strategy.

Other than their normal attendance and 
participation in discussions at Board 
meetings the Non-Executive Directors 
actively participate in the Company’s 
strategy meetings and are able to question, 
challenge and coach the managers 
attending these meetings.

During the year the Non-Executive 
Directors convened to assess the roles and 
responsibilities of the senior management 
team with effective succession plans.

Terry Twigger is the Senior Independent 
Non-Executive Director.

EFFECTIVENESS
B.1 The Composition of the Board
Main Principle:

The Board and its Committees should 
have the appropriate balance of 
skills, experience, independence and 
knowledge of the Company to enable 
them to discharge their respective 
duties and responsibilities effectively.

The Directors consider that the Board 
and Committees have the appropriate 
balance of skills, experience, independence 
and knowledge to discharge their duties 
effectively. 

B.2 Appointments to the Board
Main Principle:

B.3 Commitment
Main Principle:

There should be a formal, rigorous 
and transparent procedure for the 
appointment of new Directors to the 
Board. 

Nomination Committee
The Nomination Committee consists of 
James Peters (Chair), Terry Twigger and 
Polly Williams. The Committee reviews and 
considers the appointment of new Directors. 
All Non-Executive Directors are given the 
opportunity to interview any proposed 
candidates. Any appointment of a new 
Director is voted on by the whole Board. 

The Nomination Committee met twice 
during the year. The attendees were as 
follows:

All Directors should be able to allocate 
sufficient time to the Company to 
discharge their responsibilities 
effectively.

There were five Board meetings during the 
year. The attendees were as follows:

Date

Attendees

7 March 2017

All

15 May 2017

All except Polly 
Williams. By invite: 
Operations Director 
and VP Global 
Manufacturing.

28 July 2017

6 October 2017

8 December 2017

All

All

All

The Board considers Peter Bucher, 
Terry Twigger and Polly Williams to be 
independent.

Date

Attendees

27 July 2017

All and  
Duncan Penny (guest)

Polly Williams was unable to attend the May 
meeting due to a prior commitment.

The Corporate Governance guidelines 
do not consider James Peters to be 
independent by virtue of his previous 
executive roles. However, as a founder and 
substantial Shareholder, his membership 
of the Board is considered beneficial to 
Shareholders as a whole.

07 December 
2017

All

The Terms of Reference of the Nomination 
Committee are available in the Corporate 
Governance section of the Company’s 
website www.xppower.com.

47

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPCorporate Governance Report

B.4 Development
Main Principle:

All Directors should receive induction 
on joining the Board and should 
regularly update and refresh their 
knowledge and skills.

Directors receive a full induction on joining 
the Board. The programme is tailored to the 
individual needs of each Director.

A visit to the Group’s North American 
facilities is planned in 2018. Non-Executive 
Directors will be able to update and refresh 
their knowledge of the business first-hand 
and will be able to interact with the 
management team and employees helping 
them gain a deeper understanding of the 
business and allowing them to contribute 
ideas.

During the year, the Directors also received 
presentations from the Operations Director 
and the Executive VP, Global Manufacturing. 
These presentations reported on systems 
security and the plans for expanding the 
Vietnam manufacturing facility, respectively.

B.5 Information and Support
Main Principle:

The Board should be supplied in a 
timely manner with information in a 
form and of a quality appropriate to 
enable it to discharge its duties.

The Board receives “flash” reports, 
detailed management accounts and 
detailed financial forecasts prepared on a 
monthly basis to enable it to review trading 
performance, forecasts and strategy 
implementation. Board meeting materials 
are provided in advance of Board meetings 
to allow Directors sufficient time to prepare 
adequately. The Board also received 
specific presentations and information from 
management during the year covering the 
results and actions of the employee survey, 
the results of a strengths, weaknesses, 
opportunities and threats review by the 
executive management team, compliance 
exception reports, insurance coverage and 
the sustainability policy and metrics.

B.6 Evaluation
Main Principle:

The Board should undertake a formal 
and rigorous annual evaluation of 
its own performance and that of its 
Committees and individual Directors.

The Board’s evaluation of its own 
performance and that of its Committees 
is conducted annually using a Board 
effectiveness questionnaire. The 
questionnaire was revamped in 2016 
with the help of an independent external 
consultant to ensure that it covered all 
aspects of effectiveness: capabilities and 
communication; culture and practice; 
process and organisation; as well as 
meeting rigour and relationships. With 
respect to continually improving Board 
effectiveness, the questionnaire also asked 
Directors to comment on what it should 
stop doing, start doing and continue doing.

The questionnaire was circulated to each 
Director in relation to the Board and the 
Committees on which they serve. The 
independent consultant collated the 
responses into an anonymous report for the 
Board to consider and discuss at a Board 
meeting.

There were no significant issues or  
concerns raised in the report.

B.7 Re-election 
Main Principle:

All Directors should be submitted for re-
election at regular intervals, subject to 
continued satisfactory performance.

All Directors voluntarily offer themselves 
for re-election annually. This is in spite of 
the Company’s Articles of Association 
which require Directors to retire and offer 
themselves for re-election on a rotation 
basis and at least every three years. 

ACCOUNTABILITY
C.1 Financial and Business 
Reporting
Main Principle:

The Board should present a balanced 
and understandable assessment of the 
Company’s position and prospects.

The Board considers that both the Interim 
Report and Annual Report and Accounts, 
supported by quarterly trading updates which 
are timetabled at the beginning of each year, 
comprehensively fulfil this requirement. The 
Annual Report includes a detailed description 
of the Group’s strategy and business model 
which has enabled it to generate significant 
value over a prolonged period of time. It 
also details the significant risks that the 
Group faces and how these are mitigated 
and includes the Board’s assessment of the 
longer term viability of the Group. 

The Company also makes available a 
number of videos on its investor relations 
website at the time of its interim and 
annual reporting as well as investor videos 
describing products, markets, strategy, 
business model, growth drivers and its 
investment proposition.

Going Concern

The Directors, after making enquiries, are 
of the view, as at the time of approving 
the accounts, that there is a reasonable 
expectation that the Company will have 
adequate resources to continue operating 
for the foreseeable future and therefore the 
going concern basis has been adopted in 
preparing these accounts. In addition, in 
accordance with C.2.2 of the revision of the 
Code, the Directors have considered the 
prospects of the Company over the longer 
term and provided a viability statement on 
page 31.

C.2 Risk Management and 
Internal Control
Main Principle:

The Board is responsible for 
determining the nature and extent of 
the significant risks it is willing to take 
in achieving its strategic objectives. 
The Board should maintain sound risk 
management  and internal control 
systems.

The Board acknowledges that it is 
responsible for the Group’s internal controls 
and for reviewing their effectiveness. The 
Group’s internal controls are designed to 
manage rather than eliminate the risk of 
failure to meet business objectives, and 
can only provide reasonable not absolute 
assurance against material misstatement 
or loss.

An on going process for identifying, 
evaluating and managing the significant risks 
faced by the Group was in place during the 
entire financial year and has remained in 
place up to the approval date of the Annual 
Report and Financial Statements. The 
identified risks and the processes by which 
these are addressed are documented, 
reviewed and updated at Board meetings. 
The Directors confirm that an assessment 
of the principal risks facing the Group 
was reviewed, further details of which are 
included in the Managing Our Risks and 
Viability Statement sections within the 
Strategic Report on pages 28 to 31.

48

HeadingAs might be expected in a group of this size, 
a key control procedure is the day-to-day 
supervision of the business by the Executive 
Directors supported by managers within the 
Group companies. Examples of key controls 
with respect to ongoing processes include:

 } Authority matrices are in place to clearly 
define who is able to authorise particular 
transactions, transfer funds, commit 
Company resources and enter into 
particular agreements.

 } Monthly reporting of management 
accounts and key metrics to senior 
management with performance 
measured to budget and material 
variances reported to the Board.

 } Quality control checks throughout 

our manufacturing process, burn in, 
electrical testing to detect early failures, 
100% functional testing, and quality 
inspection. 

 } Disaster recovery and business 
continuity plans are in place at 
all facilities, documented and 
communicated to key personnel to help 
cope with unexpected events.

 } The Audit Committee reviews the 
effectiveness of internal controls. 

 } An internal audit and risk assurance 

programme is operating.

C.3 Audit Committee and Auditor
Main Principle:

The Board should establish formal 
and transparent arrangements for 
considering how it should apply 
the corporate reporting and risk 
management and internal control 
principles, and for maintaining an 
appropriate relationship with the 
Company’s Auditor.

The Audit Committee Report on pages 
50 to 53 sets out in detail the Group’s 
arrangements to ensure corporate reporting 
complies with legal and accounting 
standards together with effective risk 
management and internal control 
processes and appropriate supervision and 
performance of the external Auditor.

The Terms of Reference of the Audit 
Committee are available in the Corporate 
Governance section of the Company’s 
website www.xppower.com.

REMUNERATION
D.1 The Level and Components of 
Remuneration
Main Principle:

Levels of remuneration should be 
sufficient to attract, retain and motivate 
Directors of the quality required to 
run the Company successfully, but a 
company should avoid paying more 
than is necessary for this purpose. 
A significant proportion of Executive 
Directors’ remuneration should be 
structured so as to link rewards to 
corporate and individual performance.

The Remuneration Committee report on 
pages 54 to 68 sets out in detail the Group’s 
approach to remuneration. 

D.2 Procedure
Main Principle:

There should be a formal and 
transparent procedure for developing 
policy on executive remuneration and 
for fixing the remuneration packages of 
individual Directors. No Director should 
be involved in deciding his or her own 
remuneration.

The Report of the Remuneration Committee 
on pages 54 to 68 sets out in detail the 
Group’s policy on remuneration and the 
remuneration packages for the Board. No 
Director participates in the deciding of their 
own remuneration. Polly Williams is Chair of 
the Remuneration Committee.

The Terms of Reference of the 
Remuneration Committee are available in 
the Corporate Governance section of the 
Company’s website www.xppower.com.

RELATIONS WITH 
SHAREHOLDERS
E.1 Dialogue with Shareholders
Main Principle:

There should be a dialogue with 
Shareholders based on the mutual 
understanding of objectives. The 
Board as a whole has responsibility for 
ensuring that a satisfactory dialogue 
with Shareholders takes place.

The Group engages in two-way 
communication with both its institutional 
and private investors and responds quickly 
to all queries received. The Group uses its 

website www.xppower.com to give private 
investors access to the same information 
that institutional investors receive in terms 
of investor presentations. This includes 
video interviews with the Chief Executive 
Officer and Chief Financial Officer available 
on the morning of the day that the interim 
and annual results are published. The 
Company also makes available a number of 
informational videos on its investor relations 
website which cover products, markets, 
strategy, business model, growth drivers 
and its investment proposition.

Interested parties are also able to register 
for the Group’s email alert service on this 
website to receive timely announcements 
and other information published from time 
to time. 

The Chairman and Senior Independent 
Director are available to meet Shareholders 
if required.

The Board members receive any feedback 
prepared by brokers or our financial 
PR company following meetings with 
Shareholders in order to keep in touch with 
Shareholders’ opinions.

The Remuneration Committee consulted 
with major Shareholders in respect 
of significant decisions on Executive 
remuneration.

E.2 Constructive Use of the 
Annual General Meeting
Main Principle:

The Board should use the Annual 
General Meeting to communicate 
with investors and to encourage their 
participation.

The Annual General Meeting is an 
opportunity to communicate with 
Shareholders and certain Directors are 
available to answer any questions.

49

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPAudit Committee Report

Dear Shareholder
As Chairman of the XP Power Audit Committee, I am pleased to 
present the 2017 Audit Committee Report to Shareholders and to 
be able to confirm, on behalf of the Board, that the Annual Report is 
fair, balanced and understandable. 

The report aims to provide the following information:

 } The Audit Committee’s principal responsibilities and  

its governance.

 } The key activities which were reviewed by the Audit Committee, 
including those items of regular annual review and other current 
areas of focus.

 } The discussions and actions undertaken, in conjunction with the 
external Auditor, on any significant judgements and/or issues.

 } Details of the on going review of the external Auditor and the 

amount of non-audit work undertaken.

The year has seen considerable activity with substantial organic 
and acquisition-led growth together with the appointment of Gavin 
Griggs as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) during the final months of 
the year. As a consequence, during the year the Audit Committee 
has, in addition to monitoring the integrity of the financial reporting, 
devoted considerable time to developing a more mature risk 
management environment and to ensure controls remain robust 
as the Company grows. This is being accomplished primarily as a 
result of the internal audit programme which has been outsourced to 
Deloitte. During the year Deloitte completed the following reviews:

 } Regional reviews of the financial controls in place.

 } Assessment of the controls and capabilities of the Asian  

supply chain.

 } Cybersecurity controls in place.

 } Assessment of the effectiveness of the monitoring of customer 

contractual obligations.

 } An assessment of the Group’s maturity to compliance 

procedures. 

“ FURTHER PROGRESS HAS 
BEEN MADE DURING  
THE YEAR IN DEVELOPING  
A MORE MATURE RISK 
MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT 
AND TO ENSURE CONTROLS 
REMAIN ROBUST.”
Terry Twigger
Audit Committee Chair

50

HeadingThese reviews continue to provide 
insightful perspectives and are leading to 
improvements in processes and controls; 
actions that are all the more necessary 
given the significant organic and acquisition 
growth of the Group.

In addition, during the year Ernst & Young 
carried out a review of the Company’s 
documented transfer pricing model in 
the light of the significant changes in 
international tax legislation in recent years 
and the Audit Committee received internal 
presentations on Tax and Treasury and 
Systems security.

I believe the Audit Committee has 
the necessary experience, expertise 
and financial understanding to fulfil its 
responsibilities and to continue to monitor 
and contribute into the various improvement 
initiatives. 

The Audit Committee is satisfied that the 
Company has maintained adequate internal 
financial controls throughout the year, and 
that the internal audit programme has been 
devised and sufficiently resourced to confirm 
that these controls are effective.

The Audit Committee has proposed to 
the Board that the reappointment of 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP should be 
proposed at the forthcoming Annual General 
Meeting, and I hope that you will support 
me in this resolution.

Terry Twigger
Audit Committee Chairman
01 March 2018 

Members of the  
Audit Committee
Terry Twigger (Chair),  
Independent Non-Executive Director
Peter Bucher, Independent Non-Executive 
Director 
Polly Williams, Independent Non-Executive 
Director 

Governance
The current Audit Committee members are 
all independent Non-Executive Directors 
and have financial and/or related business 
experience gained in senior positions in 
other diverse organisations. Terry Twigger 
has been the Audit Committee Chair since 
2015 and the Board is satisfied that Terry 
has recent and relevant financial experience.

Performance Evaluation of 
the Audit Committee
During the year, the Audit Committee 
reviewed its performance as part of the 
Board’s updated evaluation process. 
The Audit Committee considered it had 
adequate qualifications and skills to perform 
its responsibilities, particularly through 
Terry Twigger’s financial and management 
background and Polly Williams’ financial and 
audit experience.

Meetings of the Audit 
Committee
The Audit Committee met four times during 
2017 on the dates as follows:

Date

19 January 2017

6 March 2017

26 July 2017

19 October 2017

Attendees

All except 
Peter Bucher

All

All

All

Peter Bucher was unable to attend the 
January meeting due to a prior commitment. 

The Finance Director and Group Financial 
Controller were involved at each of the 
meetings as were the external Auditor, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, and the 
outsourced internal audit firm, Deloitte 
LLP. The Audit Committee also discussed 
matters with the external Auditor without the 
Group’s management being present.

The Audit Committee supports the Board 
and reports to it on a regular basis, certainly 
no less frequently than at every Board 
meeting following a meeting of the Audit 
Committee.

There is an annual cycle of items that are 
considered by the Audit Committee. The 
timetable of these items is scheduled 
in accordance with the requirement of 
the annual audit cycle and any other 
requirements of the Audit Committee.

Responsibilities of the 
Audit Committee
The Terms of Reference of the Audit 
Committee were reviewed during the 
year and are available in the Corporate 
Governance section of the Company’s 
website www.xppower.com.

The Audit Committee is responsible for, 
amongst other things:

 } Ensuring that the financial performance 
of the Group is properly reported and 
monitored;

 } Advising the Board on whether it 

believes the Annual Report and 
Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable;
 } Compliance with legal requirements;
 } Adoption and correct implementation of 

accounting standards; 

 } Meeting the requirements of the UK 

Listing Authority; 

 } Assessing the Group’s internal control 
processes and assurance framework;

 } Supervising the relationship and 

performance of the external Auditor; 
and 

 } Reviewing the nature and extent of audit 

and non-audit services provided to the 
Group by the external Auditor. 

Activities of the 
Audit Committee
 } Reviewing and challenging the  

31 December 2016 Annual Report and 
the 30 June 2017 Half Year Report 
to assess whether the reports, taken 
as a whole, were fair, balanced and 
understandable prior to recommending 
these to the Board for approval.

 } Reviewing and challenging areas of 

significant risk and judgement and the 
level of disclosure. Some of these are 
described in the ‘Significant risks and 
judgements in the financial reporting’ 
section below.

 } Probing and recommending for approval 
the going concern basis of preparation, 
the accounting policies and disclosures, 
the financial reporting issues and the 
assumptions and adjustments made. 

51

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPAudit Committee Report

 } Continuing to develop the Group’s risk 
and compliance framework by guiding 
the outsourced internal auditors, 
Deloitte LLP, and reviewing the work 
scopes of the target areas.

 } Reviewing the findings of the internal 

audit work and the follow ups of reviews 
done in the previous year.

 } Reviewing the effectiveness of 

the Group’s internal controls and 
disclosures made in the Annual Report 
and Financial Statements.

 } Challenging the assumptions and 

analysis produced by management in 
relation to the Group’s going concern 
and long-term viability statement.

 } Reviewing the results of the finance 

functions’ peer to peer balance sheet 
reviews.

 } Appraising the Group’s tax and treasury 
functions with a focus on areas prone to 
significant change.

 } Assessing the accounting principles to 
be adopted in the preparation of the 
2017 accounts including any new IFRS 
pronouncements.

The Audit Committee is satisfied that the 
Company has maintained appropriate risk 
management and internal controls for a 
company of its size throughout the year.

Significant Risks and 
Judgements in the Financial 
Reporting
In relation to the 31 December 2017 Annual 
Financial Statements included in this report 
on pages 77 to 117, the Audit Committee 
considered the following topics: 

Goodwill
The carrying value of goodwill is a significant 
item within the Group’s balance sheet 
and is prone to further increase while the 
Group remains acquisitive. Impairment 
assessments, performed annually, require 
judgements in relation to discount rates 
and future growth forecasts to generate 
discounted cash flows for the cash 
generating units. The Audit Committee 
ascertains that appropriate sensitivity 
analysis is conducted by the external 
Auditor on the Company’s impairment 
calculations. It also assesses the carrying 
value in the context of the Group's wider net 
asset value and market capitalisation. After 
consideration, the Audit Committee were 
satisfied that there was no indication  
of impairment.

Capitalised product development
The Group’s product development activity 
leads to direct costs associated with new 
products being capitalised and amortised 
over the useful life of the products. The 
carrying value of the product development 
costs is rising in line with increased product 
development. The future success and the 
useful lives of these products require a 
degree of judgement. The Audit Committee 
regularly assesses the revenue streams 
of capitalised products that have been 
released for sale against their carrying 
value. The Audit Committee also reviews a 
projection of the estimated future carrying 
values. The Audit Committee were satisfied 
with the judgements used.

Deferred tax on  
unremitted earnings
The Group does not currently record 
deferred tax on the unremitted earnings 
held in Group subsidiaries. The Board 
recognises that where there is no intention 
to repatriate these earnings back to the 
parent Company, deferred tax should not 
be provided. The Audit Committee receive 
periodic updates on the unremitted earnings 
position including forward projections. The 
Audit Committee determined that there is 
no specific requirement to move earnings 
currently held in subsidiaries.

Inventory
The carrying value of the Group’s inventory 
has been a focus for the Audit Committee 
and significant progress has been made in 
improving finished goods inventory turns 
during the year. The high product mix and 
the effect of certain service level agreements 
with customers are recognised factors in the 
inventory levels. In addition, rapid growth 
and an acquisition are further reasons 
for an overall increase in inventory during 
the year. Exposure to the risk of inventory 
obsolescence remains an area of ongoing 
review. The Company’s peer to peer balance 
sheet reviews, which are reviewed by 
the Audit Committee, includes testing of 
the provision. The Audit Committee were 
satisfied with the provision.

Business combination
Following the acquisition of the business 
and assets of Comdel Inc. on 29 September 
2017, the Company has performed an 
assessment of identifying and valuing 
the intangible assets with the help of a 
third party valuer; a process that involves 
judgement. The use of an independent 
valuer that has expertise in such judgements 
combined with recent experience from 
valuation of the EMCO intangible assets 
helped balance these judgements. The 
Audit Committee verified that the external 
Auditor had independently assessed these 
calculations and were satisfied with the 
values attributed to the intangible assets.

Internal Control
The Board is ultimately responsible for the 
Group’s system of internal controls and 
the on going assessment of these further 
details of which are included in C.2 Risk 
Management and Internal Control of the 
Corporate Governance section on page 48.

IFRS 9 Financial 
Instruments 
(effective for annual periods 
beginning on or  
after 1 January 2018) 
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments is effective for 
accounting periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2018 and replaces the existing 
guidance in IAS 39 Financial Instruments: 
Recognition and Measurement. 

IFRS 9 includes revised guidance on 
the classification and measurement of 
financial instruments, impairment on 
financial assets and new general hedge 
accounting requirements. IFRS 9 relaxes 
the requirements for hedge effectiveness by 
replacing the bright line hedge effectiveness 
tests. It requires an economic relationship 
between the hedged item and hedging 
instrument and for the "hedged ratio" to be 
the same as the one management actually 
use for risk management purposes. 

The Group has completed an initial impact 
assessment of IFRS 9 and determined that 
there will be no change in the classification 
and measurement of financial assets. The 
Group’s hedging arrangements will continue 
to qualify for hedge accounting upon the 
adoption of IFRS 9.

52

HeadingIFRS 15 Revenue from 
Contracts with Customers 
(effective for annual periods 
beginning on or  
after 1 January 2018)
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with 
Customers is effective for accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2018 and establishes a comprehensive 
framework for determining whether, how 
much and when revenue is recognised. 
Based on an initial assessment of the 
adoption of IFRS 15, the Group quantify 
the impact as a de minimis (circa 0.02%) 
reduction of the total revenue as a result 
of the timing of the recognition of early 
payment discounts and volume rebate. 
This results in a de minimis timing impact 
on operating profit (less than 0.1%). On this 
basis, the Group does not believe it to be 
likely that there will be a significant impact 
on its consolidated financial statements.

IFRS 16 Leases (effective for 
annual periods beginning on or 
after 1 January 2019)
IFRS 16 Leases is effective for accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2019. There will be changes to the Group’s 
net assets due to bringing the right of use 
asset relating to operating leases onto the 
balance sheet, and to the Group’s profit 
before tax as a result of the change in the 
treatment of the interest implicit in the lease 
and associated depreciation rather than the 
straight-line recognition of operating lease 
costs as they are currently recognised. The 
quantification of these changes and other 
effects on the Group is currently being 
assessed. The Group does not consider 
that any other standards, amendments or 
interpretations issued by the IASB, but not 
yet applicable, will have a significant impact 
on the financial statements.

Internal Audit
As the Group continues to expand in scale 
and complexity, the remit of the independent 
internal audit process by Deloitte LLP 
has also increased. The Audit Committee 
reviewed the risk framework that was 
developed last year in combination with the 
Board’s risk monitoring process to identify 
areas for risk assurance work and internal 
audits to be carried out. These included 
an assessment of the Group’s maturity to 
compliance; a review of the financial controls 
and capital management in the UK and USA 
regions; a follow up to the cybersecurity 
review; a logistics review comprising 
finished goods management, warehouse 
management and customer delivery; and 
a site visit to the Vietnam factory to assess 
business continuity and disaster recovery.

Findings and control observations from the 
reviews are rated and presented to the Audit 
Committee for comment or further action. 
The recommendations made by the internal 
auditors are assessed by management and 
addressed accordingly within an agreed 
timeline. The internal auditor regularly 
follows up on these actions and keeps the 
Audit Committee informed on progress 
against the agreed timeline.

In addition to the internal audit, the Group’s 
Financial Controllers conduct a formal 
process of peer to peer balance sheet 
reviews, the results of which are reported to 
the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee 
reviews and approves the scope and 
schedule for these reviews as a means of 
providing a secondary level of comfort over 
the financial controls.

External Audit
The current external Auditor, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, was 
appointed in 2007. The current audit 
engagement partner term began in 2014 
with a maximum term of five years. In line 
with best practice, as recommended by the 
Financial Reporting Guideline, the external 
audit is anticipated to be re-tendered in 

2019 at the latest. The Audit Committee 
has reported to the Board that the 
reappointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers 
LLP should be proposed at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting.

The Audit Committee keeps under review 
the role and independence of the external 
Auditor. A formal statement of independence 
is received each year together with a 
report on the safeguards that are in place 
to maintain their independence and the 
internal measures to ensure their objectivity. 
The Audit Committee is satisfied that this 
independence has been maintained.

The Audit Committee has formalised its 
policy and approved a set of procedures in 
relation to the appointment of external  
Auditors to undertake audit and non-audit 
work. Under this policy:

 } The award of audit-related services to 
the Auditor in excess of £50,000 must 
first be approved by the Chairman 
of the Audit Committee, who in his 
decision to approve will take into 
account the aggregate of audit-
related revenue already earned by 
the Auditor in that year. Audit-related 
services include formalities relating 
to borrowing, shareholder and other 
circulars, regulatory reports, work 
relating to disposals and acquisitions, 
tax assurance work and advice on 
accounting policies; 

 } The award of tax consulting services 
to the Auditor in excess of £50,000, 
subject to compliance with the EU 
member state restrictions, must first be 
approved by the Chairman of the Audit 
Committee; 

 } The award of other non-audit related 

services to the Auditor in excess of 
£20,000 must first be approved by the 
Chairman of the Audit Committee.

During the year, no non-audit fees were paid 
to the Auditor (2016: £25,000).

53

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPRemuneration Committee Report

w

“ THE REMUNERATION 
POLICY AND THE 
LONG-TERM 
INCENTIVE PLAN 
(LTIP) DESIGNED TO 
REPLACE THE SHARE 
OPTION PLAN WERE 
BOTH APPROVED AT 
THE LAST ANNUAL 
GENERAL MEETING.”
Polly Williams 
Remuneration Committee Chair

54

As Chair of the XP Power Remuneration 
Committee, I am pleased to present the 
2017 Remuneration Committee Report on 
behalf of the Board.

The Remuneration Policy and the Long-
Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) designed to 
replace the Share Option Plan were both 
approved at the 2017 Annual General 
Meeting. LTIP awards under the new plan 
were made during the year to Executive 
Directors and key management personnel. 
As well as the incentive and retention 
benefits these awards provide, they also 
align rewards with the long-term nature of 
the Group’s design-in cycles and revenue 
annuities. 

The Remuneration Committee's main focus 
during the year was on the fixed elements 
of the Executive Directors’ remuneration. 
Following the benchmarking report that the 
Remuneration Committee commissioned 
the previous year, it was evident that 
these elements of pay were not in line 
with market rates for a company with the 
scale and complexity of XP Power. The 
practical implications of this were clear 
during our search to attract a new Chief 
Financial Officer (CFO) with the appropriate 
experience to complement both the organic 
and acquisition growth aspirations of the 
Group and our discussions with him. In 
addition, a significant increase has been 
made to the base pay of the Chief Executive 
Officer (CEO) with effect from 1 January 
2018. Further details of the remuneration 
packages of the CEO and CFO are in the 
Remuneration Report on pages 60 to 68.

As well as reviewing the Directors’ 
remuneration packages, the Remuneration 
Committee also keeps under review the 
fixed and variable elements of the key 
management personnel within the Group to 
ensure they comprise sufficient reward to 
motivate and retain.

The Group performed strongly during 2017 
with adjusted pre-tax profits rising from 
£28.6 million in 2016 to £36.1 million in 
2017, an increase of 26.2%. As a result of 
this strong performance, annual bonuses will 
be paid to Executive Directors at the upper 
end of the spectrum with the CEO’s bonus 
at the 100% cap of salary of £260,000. No 
long-term incentive awards were due to vest 
in 2017.

The Remuneration Committee was pleased 
that the revised policy and new LTIP 
received strong Shareholder support with 
96.2% of votes cast being in favour of both 
resolutions. The level of support for the 
advisory vote on the Remuneration Report 
was lower, at 90.5%, and the Remuneration 
Committee recognised that proxy advisers 
and some Shareholders made some 
comments on our Executive remuneration, 
principally on our disclosures on annual 
bonuses. We have therefore reviewed all 
disclosures thoroughly with an advisor, and 
increased the level of disclosure on annual 
bonuses in this report. We communicated 
with our largest Shareholders, covering over 
57% of the register, on these changes and 
also informed them of the details of the new 
packages of the CEO and CFO. 

We seek your support for the Annual Report 
on Remuneration and the Remuneration 
Committee welcomes any further comments 
from Shareholders with respect to our 
approach to remuneration.

Introduction
This report is on the activities of the 
Remuneration Committee for the period 
to 31 December 2017. It sets out the 
Remuneration Policy and remuneration 
details for the Executive and Non-Executive 
Directors of the Company. It has been 
prepared in accordance with Schedule 8 of 
The Large and Medium-sized Companies 
and Groups (Accounts and Reports) 
(Amendment) Regulations 2013. 

The report is split into two areas:

 } The annual report on remuneration; and 

 } The policy report.

The policy report was approved by a binding 
Shareholder vote at the 2017 Annual 
General Meeting and the policy took effect 
from the date on which that resolution was 
passed. The policy report is not subject to 
audit.

The annual report on remuneration provides 
details on remuneration in the period 
together with other information required 
by the Regulations. It will be subject to 
an advisory Shareholder vote at the 2018 
Annual General Meeting. The Auditor has 
reviewed certain parts of the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report and is required 
to report if the information is materially 
inconsistent with the financial statements. 

Polly Williams
Remuneration Committee Chair

HeadingRemuneration Policy

The information in this section of the Directors’ Remuneration Report is not subject to audit.

The objectives of the Remuneration Policy are as follows:
 } To reward employees and Executives appropriately for the work they do (base salary);
 } To provide market competitive remuneration packages to enable retention or recruitment (base salary plus benefits);
 } To incentivise the employees and Executives to perform at their best consistently (bonus/Long-Term Incentive Plan);
 } To align Shareholders' and senior management’s interests (bonus in shares, Long-Term Incentive Plan and shareholding guidelines); and 
 } To retain key staff (long-term structures with delayed vesting).

The following table provides a summary of the key components of the remuneration package for:

Executive Directors

Applicable 
performance 
measures

n/a

Recovery

n/a

n/a

n/a

Component

Purpose

Operation

Opportunity

Base salary

To help recruit, retain 
and motivate high 
performing Executives.

Reflects the individual 
experience, role and 
importance of the 
Executive Director to 
the business.

Base salaries are set by the 
Remuneration Committee 
and reviewed annually and 
increases are effective from 1 
January, although increases 
may be awarded at other times 
if the Remuneration Committee 
considers it appropriate.

A market benchmarking exercise 
will be undertaken periodically as 
determined by the Remuneration 
Committee to ensure that base 
salary remains around the median 
of the market level for roles of a 
similar nature and to reflect the 
individual’s skills, experience and 
performance.

Benefits

To help recruit, 
retain and motivate 
high performing 
Executives.

To provide market 
competitive benefits.

Benefits are set by the 
Remuneration Committee and 
reviewed annually.
Benefits currently received by 
the Directors include:

 } Paid holidays

 } Life insurance

 } Private medical cover

 } Housing allowance

 } Car allowance

Base salaries are 
reviewed annually. 
Increases will not 
normally exceed the 
range of increases 
awarded to other 
employees within  
the Group.

The Remuneration 
Committee may also 
increase a Director’s 
salary should there 
be a change in the 
scope of their role, the 
scale or complexity 
of the business or if 
significant changes 
to market practice 
arise, which the 
Remuneration 
Committee believes 
justifies a further 
increase in base salary.

The Company 
provides a range of 
market-benchmarked 
benefits. The costs 
of these benefits may 
change year-on-year 
due to external costs.

The Remuneration 
Committee has 
flexibility to provide 
benefits which 
would typically have 
been available to an 
Executive Director 
in an overseas 
jurisdiction when 
recruiting from outside 
of the UK.

55

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPRemuneration Policy

Applicable 
performance 
measures

Specific targets and 
weightings may vary 
according to strategic 
priorities and may 
include:

 } Financial 

performance

 } Attainment 
of personal 
objectives

Weighting will focus 
on Group financial 
performance.

It is the Remuneration 
Committee's intention 
to set relative TSR 
targets for 50% 
of the award and 
absolute EPS growth 
targets for the other 
50%, although 
the Remuneration 
Committee will 
set appropriate 
performance 
conditions and 
weightings each year 
prior to awards being 
made. 

Recovery

The Remuneration 
Committee has the 
power to reduce 
unpaid annual bonuses 
and clawback bonuses 
already paid on a net 
basis in circumstances 
of material financial 
misstatement, a 
major environmental 
event, a breach of 
the Company’s code 
of ethics or a serious 
health and safety issue. 

The Remuneration 
Committee has the 
discretion to clawback 
some or all of the 
awards granted under 
the LTIP by reducing 
unvested awards or 
requiring the return 
of the net value of 
vested awards to 
the Company in 
circumstances of 
material financial 
misstatement, a 
major environmental 
event, a breach of 
the Company’s code 
of ethics or a serious 
health and safety 
issue.

Component

Purpose

Operation

Opportunity

Annual 
bonuses

Align interests of 
Executive Directors 
and Shareholders in 
the short-and medium-
terms.

Long-term 
incentive plan 
(LTIP)

Align the interests of 
Executive Directors 
and Shareholders in 
the long-term.
Incentivises long-term 
value creation.

Up to 100% of base 
salary.

The maximum award 
level under the LTIP is 
100% of base salary 
or such higher amount 
as the Remuneration 
Committee in its 
absolute discretion 
may determine, up to 
a maximum of 200% 
of base salary.

The 200% cap 
is restricted 
to exceptional 
circumstances only.

The annual bonus scheme 
participation levels (including 
maximum opportunities) are 
determined by the Remuneration 
Committee following the end of 
the year, based on performance 
achieved against the performance 
metrics set.

Awards are split equally between 
(i) cash and (ii) shares vesting over 
two years, subject to continued 
employment.

The XP Power Long-Term 
Incentive Plan was approved 
at the 2017 Annual General 
Meeting. This replaced the 
Company’s share option 
scheme for awards to Executive 
Directors.

LTIP awards may be made in 
the form of conditional share 
awards, nil or nominal cost 
options. The LTIP also provides 
for awards to be structured as 
stock appreciation or phantom 
rights, which may be suitable 
for awards granted in overseas 
jurisdictions.

Performance is typically 
measured over three financial 
years starting with the year or 
date of grant, or any longer 
period as the Remuneration 
Committee may decide.

50% of a vested award will be 
distributed at that time, with the 
remaining 50% distributed after 
a period of one year. 
Amounts equivalent to any 
dividends or Shareholder 
distributions made in respect 
of awards at vesting, are at the 
discretion of the Remuneration 
Committee. 

56

HeadingComponent

Purpose

Operation

Opportunity

Share option 
plan

Align the interests of 
Executive Directors 
and Shareholders in 
the long-term.

Incentivises long-term 
value creation.

Prior to the adoption of the XP 
Power Long-Term Incentive Plan, 
market value share options were 
granted with 50% options vesting 
after three years from date of 
grant and 50% options vesting 
after four years.

No further options are 
intended to be granted 
to Executive Directors.

Applicable 
performance 
measures

Vesting of outstanding 
options is based on 
total Shareholders' 
return relative to the 
FTSE 350 Electronic 
and Electrical 
Equipment Sector. 
Top 20th percentile: 
100% vest. Between 
median and top 20th 
percentile: vest on 
a straight line basis 
between 25% and 
100%. Below median: 
zero vest.

Pensions

Shareholding 
(minimum)

Provide a basic 
pension benefit that 
would be expected for 
the position.

Align the interests of 
Executive Directors 
and Shareholders in 
the long-term.

Percentage of base salary paid 
into a defined contribution 
scheme.

2–3% depending on 
geography.

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

To build a minimum shareholding 
equivalent to two years’ salary. 
Directors have a period of five 
years from 1 April 2016 (the date 
of approval) to achieve this.

Restricted shares awarded under 
the annual bonus plan can be 
included in this measure.

Recovery

The Remuneration 
Committee has the 
discretion to clawback 
unvested options 
or require the return 
of the net value of 
vested options in 
circumstances of 
material financial 
misstatement, a major 
environmental event 
or a breach of the 
Company’s code of 
ethics or a serious 
health and safety issue. 

There are no provisions 
for recovery of 
pension payments 
contributions.

The performance targets above were chosen as they are considered suitable for aligning the interests of the Executives with those  
of Shareholders.

Use of Discretion
The Company’s incentive plans including the annual bonus scheme, share option scheme and LTIP will be operated within the rules of the 
relevant scheme, together with all applicable laws and regulations. The Remuneration Committee may operate the discretion contained in 
the relevant plan in order to facilitate its administration and operation. Discretion includes (but is not limited to) who is invited to participate 
or receive awards, the size and timing of awards or payments, the setting of appropriate performance measures and targets for annual 
bonuses and incentive schemes from year to year and any adjustment of these to take account of market conditions, the annual review of 
performance against targets for the determination of bonuses and awards, the determination of vesting and performance periods and the 
treatment of leavers, and discretion when dealing with adjustments in respect of corporate events (such as changes in control, rights issues, 
de-mergers, acquisitions etc).

57

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPRemuneration Policy

Non-Executive Directors

Component

Purpose

Operation

Opportunity

Applicable 
performance 
measures

Fees

Fees are set at a level 
which is sufficient to 
attract, motivate and 
retain quality Non-
Executive Directors.

Fees are reviewed periodically. 
The Board (excluding the 
Non-Executive Directors) is 
responsible for setting Non-
Executive Directors’ fees.

n/a

The total amount 
of Non-Executive 
Directors’ fees shall 
not exceed £300,000. 

Recovery

n/a

Non-Executive Directors are 
not entitled to participate in the 
Group’s incentive plans.

Approach to Executive Recruitment
Where a new director is to be appointed, a candidate profile is developed based on a review of future business requirements against the 
experience and skills of existing Board members. This is used to brief external recruitment consultants appointed by the Remuneration 
Committee to undertake the selection process. Initial meetings with prospective candidates are held by the Chief Executive Officer. A 
shortlist is selected to meet other Board members and a number of executive managers. The Remuneration Committee then meets and 
decides which candidate, if any, will be recommended to join the Board.

For our recruitment activities in relation to Gavin Griggs, we appointed The Zygos Partnership to assist us. Zygos Partnership is accredited 
under the Enhanced Code of Conduct for search firms and does not have any other connection to the Company, and are therefore fully 
independent. Any appointments to the Board receive an induction in respect of their directorship. This will typically include meetings with 
senior management and our corporate advisers, presentations from key business areas, and visits to our overseas businesses.

In the event of the recruitment of a new Executive Director, the Remuneration Committee would take into consideration the structure and 
levels of the remuneration for existing Directors and prevailing market together with the skills and value it believed the new Director would 
bring to the Company. It is therefore expected that a new Director’s package would include the same elements as existing Directors and the 
maximum level of variable remuneration for annual bonus and LTIP would also be capped as it is for existing Executive Directors. 

In addition, the Remuneration Committee will have discretion to make payments or awards to buy out incentive arrangements forfeited on 
leaving a previous employer, i.e. over and above the approach outlined in the table above, and may exercise the discretion available under 
Listing Rule 9.4.2R if necessary to do so. In doing so, the Remuneration Committee will seek, to the best possible extent, to do no more 
than match the fair value of the awards forfeited, taking account of the applicable performance conditions, the likelihood of those conditions 
being met and the proportion of the applicable vesting period remaining. 

Where an Executive Director appointment is an internal candidate, the Remuneration Committee will honour any pre-existing remuneration 
obligations or outstanding variable pay arrangements that relate to the individual’s previous role.

The Remuneration Committee retains the discretion to offer appropriate remuneration outside the standard policy where an interim 
appointment is made to fill an Executive role on a short-term basis or where exceptional circumstances require that the Chairman or a Non-
Executive Director takes on an Executive function.

Executive Directors’ Contracts
The Executive Directors’ contracts run for an indefinite period, with the Company being able to terminate the contracts without cause giving 
12 months’ notice. When a Director is terminated without cause, the Director is entitled to a termination payment of 12 months of basic pay. 
Directors’ service contracts are available for inspection at the Annual General Meeting of the Company. Directors are able to terminate the 
contracts giving 12 months’ notice.

Non-Executive Directors’ Contracts
The Non-Executive Directors’ contracts run for an indefinite period, with the Company being able to terminate the contracts without cause 
giving 12 months’ notice. If the Shareholders do not re-elect a Non-Executive Director, or they are retired from office under the Articles, their 
appointment terminates automatically, with immediate effect and without compensation. Non-Executive Directors are not entitled to share 
option awards, Long-Term Incentive Plans or pensions.

Shareholder Consultation
The Remuneration Committee's policy is to consult with major Shareholders in respect of significant decisions on Executive remuneration. 
The Company communicated with Shareholders representing 57% of its register in respect of making changes to its disclosures on annual 
bonus and the new packages of the CEO and CFO. 

58

HeadingCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER  
Duncan Penny

PRESIDENT, CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT  
Mike Laver

£400,756

100%

£400,756

£292,500

£97,500

51%

37%

12%

£277,341

100%

£277,341

£128,500

£64,250

59%

27%

14%

Minimum

On target

£400,756

£390,000

£390,000

34%

33%

33%

Maximum

£277,341

£257,000

£257,000

36%

32%

32%

Minimum

On target

Maximum

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER 
Gavin Griggs (appointed 31 October 2017)
£310,358

Minimum

100%

£310,358

£210,00

£70,000

53%

35%

12%

£310,358

£280,000

36%

32%

£280,000

32%

On target

Maximum

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, ASIA 
Andy Sng

£193,443

100%

£193,443

£70,327

£35,163

65%

23%

12%

£193,443

£140,653

£140,653

40%

30%

30%

Minimum

On target

Maximum

Fixed (£)

Annual variable (£) 

LTIP

Statement of Consideration of Employment Conditions Elsewhere in the Company 

Pay and conditions throughout the Group are taken into consideration when setting remuneration policy. The Remuneration Committee does 
not consult other employees when setting Executive Director remuneration.

Illustration of the Application of the Remuneration Policy
The charts above give an indication of the level of remuneration that would be received by each Executive Director in accordance with the 
Directors’ remuneration policy (excluding share price movement).

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

The charts provide estimates of the potential future reward opportunities for each Executive Director, and the potential split between the 
different elements of remuneration under three different performance scenarios: “Minimum”; “On target”; and “Maximum”.

The “On target” scenario has been calculated based on the 2018 approved budget and threshold vesting of normal LTIP awards.

The “Maximum” scenario has been calculated assuming that the Directors achieve the maximum allowed variable bonus which is capped 
at 100% of their respective base salaries and maximum vesting of normal LTIP awards under the plan. In order for Directors to achieve the 
maximum bonus, profit before tax would have to reach £45.1 million in 2018.

The fixed element of remuneration includes base salary, benefits-in-kind and pension contributions. The benefits-in-kind are measured 
according to their taxable value as follows:

Position

Name

Base salary

Benefits

Pension

Total fixed pay

Chief Executive Officer

Duncan Penny

£390,000

£2,956

£7,800

£400,756

Chief Financial Officer (appointed 31 October 2017)

Gavin Griggs

£280,000

£21,958

£8,400

£310,358

President, Corporate Development

Mike Laver

US$330,000

US$17,642

US$8,100

US$355,742

Executive Vice President, Asia

Andy Sng

S$250,000

S$76,663

S$17,167

S$343,830

59

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPRemuneration Report – Annual Report

Responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee
Executive remuneration packages are prudently designed to attract, motivate and retain Directors of the high calibre needed to maintain the 
Group’s position and to reward them for enhancing Shareholder value. It is the responsibility of the Remuneration Committee to consider 
the experience and value the individual Directors contribute to the Group; measure the performance of the Executive Directors and key 
members of senior management and determine of their annual remuneration package.

Members of the Remuneration Committee
Polly Williams (Chair), Independent Non-Executive Director

Peter Bucher, Independent Non-Executive Director

Terry Twigger, Independent Non-Executive Director

Meetings of the Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee met four times during 2017 with attendance on the dates as follows:

Date

6 March 2017

9 June 2017

6 October 2017

8 December 2017

Attendees

All

All except Peter Bucher

All

All

Peter Bucher was unable to attend the June meeting due to a prior commitment. 

Performance Evaluation of the Remuneration Committee
During the year, the Remuneration Committee reviewed its performance as part of the Board’s evaluation process. The Remuneration 
Committee considered it had adequate skills and experience to perform its responsibilities and, where considered appropriate, employs the 
services of outside remuneration consultants. The Remuneration Committee used advisory services as outlined on page 68.

Remuneration for the Executive Directors
There are five main elements of the remuneration package for Executive Directors and senior management:

 } Basic annual salary;

 } Benefits-in-kind;

 } Pension arrangements;

 } Annual bonus; and

 } Long-term share incentives.

The Company’s policy is that a significant proportion of the remuneration of the Executive Directors should be performance-related. As 
described below, Executive Directors may earn an annual bonus together with the long-term benefits of participation in share award schemes.

The Remuneration Committee makes recommendations to the Board. No Director plays a part in any discussion regarding his or her  
own remuneration.

Basic salary
Directors’ basic salaries are reviewed by the Remuneration Committee each year and when an individual changes position or responsibility. 
Basic salaries for all Directors were reviewed against a benchmarking study that had been commissioned by the Remuneration Committee 
at the end of the previous year. The companies used in the study were assessed for their suitability and relevance to the Company. No 
changes were made to base salaries for the year commencing 1 January 2017.

Gavin Griggs was appointed CFO on 31 October 2017 with a base salary of £280,000.

60

HeadingBenefits-in-kind
The Executive and Non-Executive Directors receive certain benefits-in-kind, principally life assurance and private medical insurance. In 
addition, Gavin Griggs receives a car allowance and Andy Sng receives a housing allowance relating to his relocation to Shanghai where he 
spends approximately half his time. 

Pension Arrangements
In the UK, the Group operates a “Stakeholder Pension Scheme” and contributes 3% of base salary into this scheme on behalf of the 
participants including Executive Directors.

In the USA, the Group operates a defined contribution “401K Plan”. The Group matches the participants’ contribution to this plan, includes 
Executive Directors, up to 3% of the Director’s salary and bonus.

Annual Bonuses
The Remuneration Committee establishes the profit thresholds that must be met for each financial year before a cash or share bonus is to 
be paid. Account is also taken of the relative success of the different parts of the business for which the Executive Directors are responsible.

2017 performance targets for Executive Directors other than Andy Sng

Target

Adjusted profit before tax

Percentage of salary for Executive Directors  
at different levels of performance

Duncan Penny

Gavin Griggs (appointed 31 October 2017)

Mike Laver

Jonathan Rhodes (resigned from Board 31 October 2017)

Weighting

Threshold 

Target

Stretch / max

Actual

100%

£25.7m

£31.5m

£35.3m – £44.9m

£36.1m

£260,000

£47,744

£257,272

£140,000

0%

0%

0%

0%

60%

40%

30%

40%

100%*

100%

100%*

100%*

100%

72%

54%

72%

2017 performance target for Andy Sng – Executive Vice President, Asia

Target

Asia gross margin

Weighting

Threshold 

Target

Stretch / max

Actual

100%

US$2.0m US$6.4m

US$22.9m US$6.8m

Percentage of salary paid for Andy Sng at different levels 
of performance

£126,608

0%

21%

100%

22%

*  To meet the 100% bonus pay out for each of these Executive Directors, the corresponding adjusted profit before tax target are as follows: Duncan Penny - £35.3 million, Mike Laver - 

£44.9 million and Jonathan Rhodes - £40.1 million.

The 2017 annual bonus for Duncan Penny, Jonathan Rhodes and Mike Laver was based solely on the Group’s adjusted profit before tax. 
The threshold for bonuses to start was £25.7 million with on-target performance set at £31.5 million, 10% ahead of adjusted profit before 
tax achieved in 2016. The bonus was structured on a linear pro-rata basis. Gavin Griggs’ 2017 bonus was pro-rated to reflect his date of 
joining of 31 October 2017. 

In line with the Remuneration Policy, 50% of annual bonuses will be paid out and the remaining 50% will be awarded in shares vesting over 
two years from 31 December 2017. The details of each Executive Director are shown in the table on page 65.

61

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPRemuneration Report – Annual Report

Long-Term Share Incentives
Details of all outstanding long-term incentive awards and deferred bonus awards held by Executive Directors are laid out later in this report. 
Details of the terms and performance conditions applied to each round of awards are set out below.

Long-Term Incentive Plan
The Group operated the XP Power Limited Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP) as approved by Shareholders at the 2017 Annual General 
Meeting. This replaced the Company’s Share Option Plan for equity awards to Executive Directors.

LTIP awards may be made in the form of conditional share awards, nil or nominal cost options or deferred cash. The LTIP will also provide 
for awards to be structured as stock appreciation or phantom rights, which may be suitable for awards granted in overseas jurisdictions.

The vesting of these awards depends on two separate performance conditions over a three-year period as outlined below. 50% of the 
award will vest three years after the grant date with the remaining 50% vesting 12 months later. Vesting at threshold performance levels is 
25% of the maximum.

Up to 50% of the total Shares subject to the Award will vest dependent upon compound annual growth rates of adjusted Earnings Per 
Share (EPS) over a three-year period.

Adjusted EPS performance

10% compound annual growth

5% compound annual growth

Below 5% compound annual growth

Vesting

100%

25%

No vesting

Vesting between the 5% and 10% adjusted EPS targets will be measured on a straight-line basis.

Up to 50% of the total Shares subject to the Award will vest dependent upon the achievement of the Company’s Total Shareholder Return 
(“TSR”) measured against that of the FTSE 250 over the same three-year period.

TSR performance

75th percentile

Median (50th percentile)

Below the median

Vesting

100%

25%

No vesting

Vesting between the median and the 75th percentile will be measured on a straight-line basis.

On 30 May 2017, 39,400 nominal-priced options were awarded under this plan including to Executive Directors. The performance period for 
the EPS and TSR condition is measured from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2019.

On 1 November 2017, 8,000 nominal-priced options were awarded to Gavin Griggs under this plan. The performance period for the EPS 
and TSR condition is measured from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2020.

The detail of the LTIP awards by Executive Director is shown in the table on page 66.

Share Option Plans
The Group operated The XP Power Share Option Plan (the “Plan”) as approved by the Shareholders on 2 April 2012. This Plan allowed the 
Company to grant options up to 1,924,229 shares, representing 10% of the issued share capital at the time the Plan was set up.

Some of the share options awarded to Executive Directors under this Plan have not vested. The share options granted in February 2016 
vest 50% after three years and 50% after four years, subject to the performance condition being met. Vesting of these outstanding options 
is based on Total Shareholder Return relative to the FTSE 350 Electronic and Electrical Equipment Sector.

No awards were due to vest in 2017. 

At 31 December 2017, the total number of unvested share options in this scheme was 385,000. Their potential value, assuming 100% of 
the awards vest using the closing share price of £34.30 on 31 December 2017, was £7,266,875.

The detail of historic Share Option Plan awards by Executive Director is shown in the table on page 66.

No further options are intended to be granted to Executive Directors or employees under this Plan.

62

HeadingPerformance Graph
The Company’s Total Shareholder Return performance compared with the FTSE 350 Electronic and Electrical Equipment Index. 

r
e
w
o
P
P
X
o
t
d
e
s
a
b
e
r
n
r
u
t
e
R

l
a
t
o
T

1600

1400

1200

1000

800

600

400

200

0

F E B-16

A P R-16

J U N -16

A U G-16

O C T-16

F E B-17

A P R-17

J U N -17

A U G-17

O C T-17

D E C-17

XP Power

FTSE 350 Electronic and 
Electrical Equipment 

Deferred Payment Share Plan
The Group had operated a deferred payment share plan which gave participants the opportunity to purchase shares in the Company at 
market value with payment deferred until the shares are sold. This arrangement strongly aligned the interest of the participant directly with 
those of the Shareholders with the participant exposed to any increase or decrease in the market value of the shares concerned. Shares 
purchased under this arrangement could not be sold for four years from the date of the award. Dividends accruing on the shares are paid to 
the participants. Executive Directors have no remaining share awards under this plan.

Chief Executive Officer Remuneration
The table below sets out the details of the Director undertaking the role of Chief Executive Officer.

£ Thousands

Base salary

Pension

Benefits

Annual 
bonus 

Total CEO 
remuneration

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

260

260

260

260

260

8

8

8

8

8

3

3

3

3

3

–

–

39

71

260

271

271

310

342

531

63

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPP 
 
 
 
 
Remuneration Report – Annual Report

i.   

14.4

9.1

8.2

Total pay for 
manufacturing
(£ millions)

58%

2015

2016

2017

Total pay  
for sales, 
administration 
and R&D
(£ millions)

19.7

20% 2015

29.0

24.2

Total  
employee pay
(£ millions)

43.4

33.3

27.9

30%

2016

2017

2015

2016

2017

Operating 
income
(£ millions)

16%

28.0

25.6

32.5

Dividends
(£ millions)

14.0

12.9

12.0

9%

2015

2016

2017

2015

2016

2017

The table below shows the percentage change in remuneration of the Director undertaking the role of Chief Executive Officer and the 
Company’s employees as a whole in 2017.

Percentage increase in remuneration in 2017 
compared with 2016

Base salary

All taxable benefits

Annual bonus

Total

CEO

0%

0%

266%

55%

Chosen employee group Note 1

3%

3%

5%

4%

Note 1 - The chosen employee group for this comparison excludes Chinese employees where there has been significant salary inflation.

Non-Executive Directors
All Non-Executive Directors have specific terms of engagement and their remuneration is determined by the Board within the limits set by the 
Articles of Association. The annual fee for each Non-Executive Director is set out below:

Non-Executive

James Peters

Peter Bucher

Terry Twigger

Polly Williams

Fee

£50,000

£40,000

£45,000

£40,000

Date of last review Effective date of last change

25 November 2016

25 November 2016

25 November 2016

25 November 2016

25 July 2014

1 January 2015

1 March 2016

1 January 2016

James Peters is the Chairman of the Board. Terry Twigger is the Senior Independent Non-Executive Director.

64

Headingi.   

Aggregate Directors’ Remuneration
The total amounts for Directors’ remuneration were as follows:

£

Basic salaries 

Benefits-in-kind 

Annual bonus

Money purchase pension contributions 

Non-Executive Director fees

Total remuneration 

Directors’ Remuneration for 2017

Name of Director

£

Executive

Duncan Penny

Gavin Griggs  
(appointed 31 October 2017)

Mike Laver

Andy Sng

Jonathan Rhodes  
(resigned from Board 31 October 2017)

Non-Executive

Peter Bucher

James Peters

Terry Twigger

Polly Williams

Directors’ Remuneration for 2016

2017

831,624 

66,234

561,706

29,383

177,393

2016

758,255

 46,285

192,149

 26,678

186,155

1,666,340

1,209,522

Salary 
and fees

Annual 
bonus

Pension

Benefits

2017 
Total 

260,000

260,000

7,800

3,322

531,122

47,744

257,272

126,608

33,704

139,356

27,535

1,400

6,315

9,668

3,631

13,754

43,104

86,479

416,697

206,915

140,000

101,111

4,200

2,423

247,734

40,000

50,000

45,000

40,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,393

–

–

40,000

52,393

45,000

40,000

Name of Director

£

Executive

Duncan Penny

Mike Laver

Andy Sng

Jonathan Rhodes 

Non-Executive

Peter Bucher

John Dyson (chose not to stand for 
re-election at last AGM)

James Peters

Terry Twigger

Polly Williams

Salary 
and fees

Annual 
bonus

Pension

Benefits

2016 
Subtotal

Share 
options*

2016
Total 

260,000

239,491

118,764

140,000

40,000

10,000

50,000

44,167

40,000

71,601

48,122

20,749

51,677

7,800

5,770

8,908

4,200

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,594

12,276

29,237

2,178

–

–

1,988

–

–

341,995

305,659

177,658

198,055

40,000

10,000

51,988

44,167

40,000

496,328

496,328

132,354

132,354

–

–

–

–

–

–

838,323

801,987

310,012

330,409

40,000

10,000

51,988

44,167

40,000

*The value of the share options has been restated to reflect the number of shares that vested in that year. The value has been calculated by taking the market share price at the date of 
vesting less the exercise price when the awards were made, multiplied by the number of shares that vested. The awards are subject to malus and clawback provisions.

65

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPRemuneration Report – Annual Report

In the year under review, the base salary of the Chief Executive Officer, Duncan Penny, and Andy Sng, Executive Vice President, Asia 
were increased as described on page 67. There were no increases to the base salaries of the other Executive Directors. For all other staff 
(excluding Chinese and Vietnamese manufacturing staff) the average increase was approximately 3%.

Directors’ Interests in Ordinary Shares of XP Power Limited
The Directors’ interests shown below do not include deferred bonus shares.

Executive 

Mike Laver (a)

Duncan Penny (b)

Andy Sng (c)

Non-Executive 

James Peters (d)

At  
31 December 
2017

At  
1 January 
2017

 39,500

206,990

30,000

 119,969

326,990

41,000

1,529,279

1,929,279

Executive Directors have a period of five years from 1 April 2016 (the date of approval) or from when they join the Board to build a minimum 
shareholding equivalent to two years’ salary. Restricted shares awarded under the annual bonus plan can be included in this measure. 

(a)  Mike Laver sold 8,475 shares at a price of £24.95 on 24 April 2017 and a further 71,994 shares at a price of £24.00 on 20 June 2017.
Mike Laver previously participated in the deferred payment share scheme. As at 31 December 2017, there is no outstanding balance 
owed.

(b)  Duncan Penny sold 120,000 shares at a price of £24.00 on 20 June 2017.

(c)  Andy Sng sold 11,000 shares at a price of £24.00 on 20 June 2017. 

(d)  James Peters sold 400,000 shares at a price of £24.00 on 20 June 2017.

In addition to the Directors’ interests in the ordinary shares of the Company, the following Directors have interests in share options, nominal-
priced options and deferred bonus shares:

Executive

Duncan Penny

Plan

Date of grant

Exercise 
Price

Expiry date of 
option

Share option plan 2012

10 October 2012

£9.46

10 October 2022

Share option plan 2012

23 February 2016

£15.425

23 February 2026

Deferred bonus plan 2016

17 March 2017

–

–

LTIP 2017

30 May 2017

£0.01

30 May 2022

Gavin Griggs (appointed 
31 October 2017)

LTIP 2017

1 November 2017

£0.01

1 November 2022

Mike Laver

Share option plan 2012

10 October 2012

£9.46

10 October 2022

Share option plan 2012

23 February 2016

£15.425

23 February 2026

Deferred bonus plan 2016

17 March 2017

–

–

LTIP 2017

30 May 2017

£0.01

30 May 2022

Andy Sng

Share option plan 2012

10 October 2012

£9.46

10 October 2022

Share option plan 2012

23 February 2016

£15.425

23 February 2026

Deferred bonus plan 2016

17 March 2017

–

–

LTIP 2017

30 May 2017

£0.01

30 May 2022

At 
31 December 
2017
No. of 
shares

At 
1 January 
2017
No. of 
shares

60,750

50,000

1,776

6,000

8,000

60,750

25,000

1,191

3,000

–

10,000

514

2,000

60,750

50,000

–

–

–

60,750

25,000

–

–

16,200

10,000

–

–

Jonathan Rhodes

Share option plan 2012

10 October 2012

£9.46

10 October 2022

16,200

16,200

(resigned from Board  
31 October 2017)

Share option plan 2012

23 February 2016

£15.425

23 February 2026

20,000

20,000

Deferred bonus plan 2016

17 March 2017

–

–

LTIP 2017

30 May 2017

£0.01

30 May 2022

1,282

2,000

–

–

66

HeadingOn 3 May 2017, Andy Sng exercised 16,200 options granted on 10 October 2012 at a price of £9.46.

The share options granted on 10 October 2012 vested four years after the award date.

The share options granted on 23 February 2016 vest 50% after three years and 50% after four years and are subject to the performance 
criteria outlined in the Remuneration Policy on page 57.

The awards granted on 17 March relate to 50% of the bonus earned in the financial year 2016 and are deferred for two years after 
31 December 2016. 

The nominal-priced options awarded on 30 May 2017 and on 1 November 2017 vest 50% after three years and 50% after four years and 
are subject to the performance criteria outlined in the Remuneration Policy on page 56.

The highest and lowest closing mid-market prices of the shares of XP Power Limited during 2017 were £36.20 and £17.30 per share 
respectively. The closing mid-market price on 29 December 2017 was £34.30 per share.

Relative Importance of Spend on Pay

£ Millions

Distribution to Shareholders 

Dividends1

Share buyback2

Group employment costs3

2017

2016

Change %

14.0

1.6

43.4

12.9

0.1

33.3

8%

1500%

30%

1 

2 

3 

Refer to Financial Statements – Note 9 for more details.
Refer to Financial Statements – Note 24 for more details.
Group employment costs includes Directors’ remunerations. Refer to Financial Statements - Note 5 for more details.

Remuneration in 2018 
Salary
The Remuneration Committee reviewed the basic salaries of the existing Executive Directors in June 2017 and determined to make a 
number of changes effective 1 January 2018. The basic salary for the Chief Executive Officer which had remained unchanged at £260,000 
since 2012, was increased effective 1 January 2018 to reflect the current scale and complexity of the Group. The basic salary for the 
Executive Vice President, Asia, which had remained unchanged at Singapore $225,000 since 1 January 2008, was also increased. The 
salaries of the other Executive Directors were left unchanged.

Executive

Duncan Penny

Gavin Griggs (appointed 31 October 2017)

Mike Laver 

Andy Sng

Base salary

Date of last review

Effective date of last 
increase

£390,000

£280,000

9 June 2017

1 January 2018 

6 October 2017

31 October 2017

US$330,000

9 June 2017

1 January 2012

S$250,000

21 December 2017

1 January 2018

Jonathan Rhodes (resigned from Board on 31 October 2017)

£140,000

9 June 2017

1 July 2014

Executive Directors’ contracts of service, which include details of remuneration, will be available for inspection at the  
Annual General Meeting.

Annual bonus
For 2018, the maximum bonus opportunity of the executive directors will again be capped at 100% of salary with on target pay-outs at 75% 
for the CEO, 75% for CFO, 50% for the President, Corporate Development, and 50% for the Executive Vice President, Asia. Bonuses are 
based on the Group’s adjusted profit before tax in respect of the CEO, CFO and President, Corporate Development and operating profit of 
the Asia sales business in respect of the Executive Vice President, Asia. The Company’s targets are deemed sufficiently stretching to justify a 
pay out at 75% of maximum for the CEO and CFO for on target performance.

The Remuneration Committee is of the opinion that given the commercial sensitivity arising in relation to the financial targets used for the 
annual bonus, disclosing precise targets for the bonus plan in advance would not be in shareholders’ interests. The threshold targets for 
bonus pay-outs in 2018 will be set at a level ahead of performance in 2017. Actual targets, performance achieved and awards made will be 
published at the end of the performance periods so Shareholders can fully assess the basis of any pay-outs.

67

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPRemuneration Report – Annual Report

Long-term incentive awards
2018
The Remuneration Committee expects to make further awards to Executive Directors under the 2017 LTIP during 2018. The precise 
performance conditions attached to awards will be determined immediately before the awards are made and disclosed when the awards are 
made and in the 2018 annual report. 

Non-Executive remuneration
No changes were made to the fees of Non-Executive Directors for 2018.

Advice on Remuneration
During the year, h2glenfern Remuneration Advisory provided advice to the Company with respect to the Executive Directors’ remuneration. 
Fees were charged on a cost incurred basis and totalled £10,400 in the year to 31 December 2017. h2glenfern Remuneration Advisory had 
previously provided advice to the Company on remuneration and has no other connection with the Company. 

h2glenfern Remuneration Advisory has confirmed that it has operated in accordance with the Code of Conduct of the Remuneration 
Consultants’ Group in relation to Executive remuneration consulting in the United Kingdom. The Remuneration Committee has therefore 
satisfied itself that all advice provided by h2glenfern was objective and independent.

Statement of Voting at the Annual General Meeting
The following table sets out actual voting in respect of the approval of the 2017 Remuneration Policy, the remuneration report and the 
Long-Term Incentive Plan:

Approval of Remuneration Policy

Approval of Remuneration Report

Approval of the Long-Term Incentive Plan

Number of 
votes cast in 
favour

Percentage 
of votes cast 
for

Number of 
votes cast 
against

Percentage 
of votes cast 
against

14,034,082

13,161,504

14,036,112

96.2%

90.5%

96.2%

561,028

1,373,868

560,498

3.84%

9.45%

3.84%

Number 
of votes 
withheld

2,266

62,003

266

The Group is committed to on going Shareholders dialogue and takes an active interest in voting outcomes. Where there are substantial 
votes against resolutions in relation to Directors’ remuneration, the reasons for any such vote will be sought, and any actions in response will 
be detailed here.

Whilst the voting at the last Annual General Meeting was mostly favourable, some areas of concern arose from low disclosure on annual 
bonus targets and the disclosure of the potential value of share option awards made in the year.

The disclosure issues have been addressed in this report with improved detail on bonus awards. The Remuneration Committee 
communicated with its major Shareholders in relation to the remuneration package of the CFO, the increase in the salary of the CEO and the 
issues set out above in advance of the publication of this annual report.

Statement of Consideration of Employment Conditions Elsewhere in the Company
The Remuneration Committee takes account of the pay and employment conditions of employees elsewhere in the Company when setting 
the remuneration of Executive Directors. However, it does not consult other employees when setting Executive Directors’ remuneration.

Statement of Shareholder Views
The Company has received views from Shareholders that James Peters was not considered independent by virtue of him previously holding 
an executive position within the Company. James Peters is a major Shareholder and the Board considers that his interests would therefore 
be strongly aligned with all Shareholders.

Approval
This report was approved by the Board of Directors on 1 March 2018. 

68

HeadingOther Governance and Statutory Disclosures

Directors
The Directors of the Company in office at the date of this report are as follows:

Peter Bucher

Gavin Griggs (appointed 31 October 2017)

Mike Laver

Duncan Penny

James Peters

Andy Sng

Terry Twigger

Polly Williams

All Directors will retire and being eligible offer themselves for re-election at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting on 6 April 2018.

Directors’ Interests in Shares or Share Options
The present membership of the Board and the interests of the Directors in the shares of XP Power Limited are set out in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report.

Dividends
Interim dividends were paid and are proposed as follows:

Period

First Quarter

Second Quarter

Third Quarter

Fourth Quarter (proposed)

Total

Payment date

Amount

2016 Comparative

10 July 2017

15.0 pence

12 October 2017

16.0 pence

11 January 2018

18.0 pence

20 April 2018

29.0 pence

14.0 pence

15.0 pence

16.0 pence

26.0 pence

78.0 pence

71.0 pence

We are proposing a final dividend of 29.0 pence per share which would be payable to members on the register on 16 March 2018 and will 
be paid on 20 April 2018. This would make the total dividend for the year 78.0 pence (2016: 71.0 pence) which is an increase of 10%.

Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee at the end of the financial year were as follows:

Terry Twigger (Chair)
Peter Bucher 
Polly Williams

All members of the Audit Committee were Non-Executive Directors. 

The Audit Committee carried out its functions in accordance with Section 201B(5) of the Singapore Companies Act. In performing those 
functions, the Audit Committee reviewed:

 } The audit plan of the Company’s independent Auditor and its report on internal accounting controls arising from the statutory audit;

 } The assistance given by the Company’s management to the independent Auditor; and

 } The balance sheet of the Company and the consolidated financial statements of the Group for the financial year ended 31 December 
2017 before their submission to the Board of Directors, as well as the independent Auditor’s report on the balance sheet of the 
Company and the consolidated financial statements of the Group.

The Audit Committee has recommended to the Board that the independent Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, be nominated for 
reappointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Company.

Independent Auditor
The independent Auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has expressed its willingness to accept reappointment.

On behalf of the Directors

James Peters
Chairman
1 March 2018

Duncan Penny
Chief Executive Officer

69

GOVERNANCEXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPStatement by Directors

In the opinion of the Directors,
a. 

the balance sheet of the Company and the consolidated financial statements of the Group as set out on pages 77 to 128 are drawn up 
so as to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the Group as at 31 December 2017 and of the results of 
the business, changes in equity and cash flows of the Group for the financial year then ended; and

b.  at the date of this statement, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the Company will be able to pay its debts as and when they 

fall due.

On behalf of the Directors

James Peters 
Non-Executive Chairman 
8 March 2017

James Peters
Non-Executive Chairman
1 March 2018

Duncan Penny
Chief Executive Officer

70

Heading 
Independent Auditor’s Report
TO THE MEMBERS OF XP POWER LIMITED

Report on the Financial Statements
Our Opinion
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated financial statements of XP Power Limited (the “Company”) and its subsidiary corporations 
(“the Group”) and the balance sheet of the Company are properly drawn up in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act, 
Chapter 50 (the “Act”) and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the European Union, so as to give a true and 
fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group and the financial position of the Company as at 31 December 2017, and of the 
consolidated financial performance, consolidated changes in equity and consolidated cash flows of the Group for the financial year ended 
on that date. 

What we have audited

The financial statements of the Company and the Group comprise:

 } the consolidated statement of comprehensive income of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2017;

 } the balance sheet of the Group as at 31 December 2017;

 } the balance sheet of the Company as at 31 December 2017;

 } the consolidated statement of changes in equity of the Group for the year then ended;

 } the consolidated statement of cash flows of the Group for the year then ended; and
 } the notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant policies.

The basis for our opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (“ISAs”). Our responsibilities under those standards are 
further described in the What are we responsible for section of our report.

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

Independence
We are independent of the Group in accordance with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority’s Code of Professional Conduct 
and Ethics for Public Accountants and Accounting Entities (“ACRA Code”) together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our 
audit of the consolidated financial statements in Singapore, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these 
requirements and the ACRA Code. 

Our audit approach – overview

Materiality

Audit Scope

Key Audit 
Matters

Materiality
The overall materiality which we have used to plan our work amounted to £1.45 million, which 
represented 5% of profit before taxation.

Audit Scope
We performed an audit of the complete financial information and of significant financial statement 
line items of significant reporting units which included operations based in North America, Europe 
and Asia. This accounted for approximately 87% of Group revenues and 94% of Group assets.

Key Audit Matters
We identified the following key audit matters: 

 } Goodwill; 

 } Capitalised product development; and 

 } Business combination.  

71

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPIndependent Auditor’s Report
TO THE MEMBERS OF XP POWER LIMITED

How we determined materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality. These, together 
with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and 
to evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial statements as a whole. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined that the benchmark of profit before taxation is appropriate as it reflects the Group’s 
growth and investment plans. We believe this is a key measure used by Shareholders in assessing the performance of the Group.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above £145,000 as well as 
misstatements below that amount that, in our view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons. 

How we tailored the audit scope
The Group operates across North America, Europe and Asia. In establishing the overall approach to the Group audit, we determined the 
type of work that needed to be performed at the local operations by us, as the Group engagement team, or component auditors from 
other PwC network firms operating under our instruction. Where the work was performed by component auditors, we determined the 
level of involvement we needed to have in the audit work at those local operations to be able to conclude whether sufficient appropriate 
audit evidence had been obtained as a basis for our opinion on the Group financial statements as a whole. In the current year, the Group 
engagement team visited the Group’s offices in North America.

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

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

Having obtained sufficient appropriate audit evidence of the local operations, we performed audit procedures at the Group level over the 
consolidation process, goodwill, capitalised product development, taxation and business combination.  

What are the key audit matters
The matters that had the greatest effect on our audit for the year ended 31 December 2017, including the allocation of our resources and 
effort, are identified as “Key Audit Matters” in the table below. We have also set out how we tailored our audit to address these specific areas 
in order to provide an opinion on the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate 
opinion on these matters. 

72

HeadingKey audit matters

Goodwill

Refer to page 52 (Report from the Chair of the Audit Committee), 
page 90 (Critical accounting judgements and key sources of 
estimation uncertainty – Impairment of Goodwill) and page 98 (Note 
11 – Goodwill).

The Group has goodwill of £40.4 million at 31 December 2017 
contained within three cash-generating units (“CGUs”) defined by 
its geographical split – North America, Europe and Asia. 

We focused on this area due to the relative size of the carrying 
amount of goodwill, which represented 23% of total assets, and 
because management’s assessment of the “value-in-use” of the 
Group’s CGUs involves significant judgements about the future 
results of the business and the discount rates applied to future 
cash flow forecasts. 

Key judgements about the future results of the business include: 
revenue and profit growth rates, expected changes to overhead 
costs as well as risks specific to the three geographical areas.

Capitalised product development

Refer to page 52 (Report from the Chair of the Audit Committee), 
page 90 (Critical accounting judgements and key sources of 
estimation uncertainty – Recoverability of Capitalised R&D) and 
page 99 (Note 12 – Intangible assets).

Part of the Group’s strategy is to invest in research and 
development to create new products. As at 31 December 2017, 
the carrying value of product development costs capitalised as 
an intangible asset is £16.0 million, of which £5.2 million was 
capitalised in the current financial year. 

We focused on the appropriateness of capitalisation of product 
development costs due to the relative size of the carrying amount 
of this intangible asset, which represented 9% of total assets, and 
because significant judgement is involved in determining whether 
the criteria to capitalise such product development costs, as set 
out in IAS 38, have been fulfilled. 

We also identified the useful lives of the capitalised product 
development costs as an area involving significant judgement. 
The carrying value of the capitalised product development costs is 
heavily dependent on the useful lives of the developed products. 
Management determined the useful lives of the developed  
products based on the expected life cycle of these products,  
taking into consideration expected customer demand and 
technological innovation. 

How did our audit address these

We assessed the appropriateness of management’s identification of 
the Group’s CGUs and the process to test for goodwill impairment. 
There were no significant issues noted.  

We evaluated the suitability and appropriateness of the  
impairment model as prepared by management and noted no 
significant exceptions.  

We assessed the reasonableness of the inputs used in the 
derivation of the discount rates. We also focused on understanding 
and challenging management’s plans for future growth for each 
of the three CGUs. Forecasted growth in revenue and profits are 
driven by constant innovation in the development of new product 
families as well as the broadening of the customer base in the 
three geographical areas. We benchmarked key market-related 
assumptions in management’s forecasts such as revenue and 
profit growth rates and changes in the overhead costs with relevant 
economic and industry indicators and considered that such targets 
as set by management were achievable. Sensitivity analyses were 
also performed on the discount rates and growth rates. We agreed 
with management that no impairment was required. 

We assessed the appropriateness of capitalisation of product 
development costs by ensuring compliance with the criteria to 
capitalise product development costs as set out in IAS 38, and 
challenged management through discussions and qualitative 
reviews of the products’ feasibility.  We also tested the accuracy 
and allocation of capitalised material costs and labour costs. 
Management was able to support the capitalisation of product 
development costs.

In the assessment of the useful lives of the capitalised product 
development costs, we performed a benchmarking exercise to 
compare the useful lives of the capitalised product development 
costs against other companies within the same industry. For 
selected samples of developed products, we reviewed the actual 
sales during the year to ensure that the capitalised development 
costs are supported by demand. For products in development, we 
noted the existence of customer demand for selected samples, 
by perusing sales quotations and/or correspondences between 
the customers and the Group. The useful lives as determined by 
management are in line with that of the industry and consistent with 
our understanding of the life cycle of the products. 

73

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPIndependent Auditor’s Report
TO THE MEMBERS OF XP POWER LIMITED

Key audit matters

Business combination

Refer to page 52 (Report from the Chair of the Audit Committee), 
page 99 (Note 12 – Intangible assets) and page 116 (Note 31 – 
Business combination).

On 29 September 2017, the Group announced the acquisition of 
the assets and business of Comdel, Inc (“Comdel”), a US-based 
designer and manufacturer of radio frequency power supplies. The 
final purchase consideration was US$25.2 million (£18.8 million). 
Management assessed that the acquisition of Comdel qualifies as a 
business combination by applying the definition in IFRS 3. 

Management determined that the fair value of the net identifiable 
assets acquired was US$20.0 million (£14.9 million) with US$9.3 
million (£6.9 million) relating to intangible assets that arose from the 
business combination. The valuation of the intangible assets was 
performed as part of the Purchase Price Allocation. 

We focused on the intangible assets arising from the business 
combination as a significant area of judgement. The valuation 
methodology, as well as the inputs and assumptions in the model, 
will affect the fair value of the intangible assets.  

The goodwill arising from the acquisition of Comdel of US$5.2 
million (£3.9 million) is also highly dependent on the fair value of 
the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed at the 
acquisition date. 

How did our audit address these

We reviewed management’s assessment that the acquisition of 
Comdel should be accounted for as a business combination and 
determined that it was appropriately performed in accordance with 
the definition set out in IFRS 3. 

We assessed the appropriateness of the identifiable assets 
acquired and the liabilities assumed at the acquisition date by 
reviewing the clauses laid out in the purchase agreement. We also 
reviewed management’s procedure for determining the fair value 
of the net identifiable assets acquired and noted no significant 
exceptions. 

We reviewed the appropriateness of recognition of the identified 
intangible assets in accordance with IAS 38. We agreed with 
management’s assessment that the intangible assets are separately 
identifiable and the Group has control over the future economic 
benefits flowing from the intangible assets. 

We reviewed the useful lives of the identified intangible assets as 
determined by management and consider them to be reasonable.

The valuation methodologies used for determining the fair values 
of the identified intangible assets were also assessed to be 
appropriate. 

We focused on understanding and challenging management’s 
inputs into the valuation model, which will have an impact on the 
fair value of the intangible assets. We assessed the projected 
future revenue growth and margins based not only on the 
historical performance of Comdel, but also relevant economic and 
industry indicators and considered such projections, as set by 
management, to be reasonable. 

We tested the calculation of the goodwill arising from the 
acquisition of Comdel, being the difference between the total 
purchase consideration and the fair value of the net identifiable 
assets and noted that management’s computation was in line with 
IFRS 3. 

Also, the goodwill arising from the acquisition has been determined 
by management to be part of the North American CGU (please 
see key audit matter “Goodwill” on Page 73). We have assessed 
management’s determination of the CGU and noted no significant 
exceptions. 

74

HeadingInformation other than the Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report thereon
Going concern
Under the UK Listing Rules (“Listing Rules”) we are required to review the Directors’ statement, set out on page 70, in relation to going 
concern. We have nothing to report having performed our review. 

The Directors’ assessment of the prospects of the Group 
Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the Directors’ statement that they have carried out a robust assessment of the principal 
risks facing the Group and the Directors’ statement in relation to the longer-term viability of the Group, set out on page 31. Our review 
was substantially less in scope than an audit and only consisted of making enquiries and considering the Directors’ process supporting 
their statements; checking that the statements are in alignment with the relevant provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code; and 
considering whether the statements are consistent with the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing our audit. We have 
nothing to report having performed our review. 

Corporate governance statement
Under the Listing Rules, we are required to review the part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to eleven further provisions of 
the UK Corporate Governance Code, set out in the “Accountability” section on pages 48 to 49. We have nothing to report having performed 
our review. 

Other information
Management is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the “Overview” section set out on pages 1 to 7, 
“Strategic Report” set out on pages 8 to 41, “Governance Report” set out on pages 42 to 70, and the “Financials” section on page 129 of 
the Annual Report. Other information, as defined in this section, does not include matters that we are required to review and report on under 
the Listing Rules, as described above. 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not and will not express any form of assurance 
conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether 
the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to 
be materially misstated. 

If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to 
report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit
What are Management and Directors responsible for
Management is responsible for the preparation of financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance with the provisions of 
the Act and IFRS as adopted by the European Union, and for devising and maintaining a system of internal accounting controls sufficient 
to provide a reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorised use or disposition; and transactions are 
properly authorised and that they are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of true and fair financial statements and to maintain 
accountability of assets.

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

The Directors are responsible for overseeing the Group’s financial reporting process. 

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

75

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPIndependent Auditor’s Report
TO THE MEMBERS OF XP POWER LIMITED

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. 
We also: 

 } Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and 
perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our 
opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may 
involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control. 

 } Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the 

circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group’s internal control. 

 } Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made 

by management. 

 } Conclude on the appropriateness of management’s use of the going concern basis of accounting and based on the audit evidence 

obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group’s ability to 
continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report 
to the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our 
conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may 
cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern. 

 } Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether 
the consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation. 

 } Obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the Group to 
express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the 
Group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion. 

We communicate with the Audit Committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit 
findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit. 

We also provide the Audit Committee with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, 
and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where 
applicable, related safeguards. 

From the matters communicated with the Audit Committee, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the 
consolidated financial statements of the current year and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor’s 
report, unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that 
a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to 
outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.

Report on other legal and regulatory requirements
In our opinion, the accounting and other records required by the Act to be kept by the Company and by those subsidiaries incorporated in 
Singapore of which we are the auditors, have been properly kept in accordance with the provisions of the Act. 

The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this independent auditor’s report is Hans Koopmans. 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Public Accountants and Chartered Accountants
Singapore
1 March 2018 

76

HeadingConsolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

£ Millions

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Expenses

Distribution and marketing

Administrative

Research and development

Operating profit

Finance charge

Profit before income tax

Income tax expense

Profit after tax

Other comprehensive income:

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Cash flow hedges

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Other comprehensive (loss)/income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Profit attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive income attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Note

4

 2017

166.8

(89.2)

77.6

2016

129.8

(67.8)

62.0

(31.7)

(26.6)

7

6

8

24

24

24

24

(4.6)

(8.8)

32.5

(0.3)

32.2

(3.6)

28.6

(0.5)

(3.9)

(4.4)

24.2

28.3

0.3

28.6

23.9

0.3

24.2

(1.5)

(5.9)

28.0

(0.2)

27.8

(6.3)

21.5

0.2

8.8

9.0

30.5

21.3

0.2

21.5

30.3

0.2

30.5

Earnings per share attributable to equity holders of the Company (pence per share)

– Basic earnings per share

– Diluted earnings per share

10

10

148.3

146.0

112.0

111.2

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

77

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPConsolidated Balance Sheet
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2017

£ Millions

ASSETS

Current assets

Corporate tax recoverable

Cash and cash equivalents 

Inventories

Trade receivables

Other current assets

Derivative financial instruments 

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Goodwill

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred income tax assets

ESOP loan to employees

Total non-current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Current income tax liabilities

Trade and other payables

Accrued consideration

Borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Accrued consideration

Borrowings

Deferred income tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

NET ASSETS

EQUITY

Equity attributable to equity holders of the Company

Share capital

Merger reserve

Treasury shares

Hedging reserve

Translation reserve

Other reserve

Retained earnings 

Non-controlling interests

TOTAL EQUITY

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

78

Note

 2017

2016

8

15

16

17

18

22

11

12

13

23

26

8

19

20

21

22

20

21

23

24

24

24

24

24

24

24

2.9

15.0

37.8

23.8

3.8

0.2

83.5

40.4

23.5

22.5

1.4

0.3

88.1

171.6

3.5

21.4

–

–

0.2

25.1

1.4

24.0

4.2

29.6

54.7

116.9

27.2

0.2

0.4

(0.2)

(0.4)

(0.8)

89.6

116.0

0.9

116.9

–

9.2

32.2

21.5

2.4

0.4

65.7

37.7

15.3

19.1

0.4

0.7

73.2

138.9

3.3

16.1

0.5

5.5

0.4

25.8

1.5

–

4.7

6.2

32.0

106.9

27.2

0.2

(0.5)

0.3

3.5

–

75.4

106.1

0.8

106.9

Heading 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

Attributable to equity holders of the Company

Share 
capital

Treasury 
shares

Merger 
reserve

Hedging 
reserve

Translation 
reserve

Other 
reserve

Retained 
earnings Total

Note

Non-
controlling 
interests

Total 
equity

0.2

0.1

(5.3)

(1.0)

0.3

(0.1)

0.3

–

27.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

27.2

(0.5)

0.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.0

(1.6)

1.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

0.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

8.8

3.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

67.1

88.3

0.8

89.1

(0.1)

0.2

–

(0.1)

–

0.3

–

–

–

0.2

(0.1)

0.3

(12.9)

(12.9)

(0.2)

(13.1)

21.3

30.3

0.2

30.5

75.4 106.1

0.8

106.9

(0.1)

0.9

–

(1.6)

–

1.5

–

–

–

0.9

(1.6)

1.5

(14.0)

(14.0)

(0.2)

(14.2)

(0.8)

–

(0.8)

–

(0.8)

(0.5)

(3.9)

–

28.3

23.9

0.3

24.2

£ Millions

Balance at  
1 January 2016

Sale of treasury shares

24

Purchase of treasury 
shares

Employee share option 
plan expenses, net 
of tax

Dividends paid

Total comprehensive 
income for the year

Balance at  
31 December 2016

24

9

24

Sale of treasury shares

24

Purchase of treasury 
shares

Employee share option 
plan expenses, net 
of tax

Dividends paid

Future acquisition of 
non-controlling interest

Total comprehensive 
income for the year

Balance at  
31 December 2017

24

9

24

24

27.2

0.4

0.2

(0.2)

(0.4)

(0.8)

89.6 116.0

0.9

116.9

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

79

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPP 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

£ Millions

Cash flows from operating activities

Profit after tax

Adjustments for:

– Income tax expense

– Amortisation and depreciation

– Finance charge

– Equity award charges, net of tax

– Fair value (gain)/loss of derivative financial instruments

– Unrealised currency translation (gain)/loss

Change in working capital, net of effects from acquisitions:

– Inventories

– Trade and other receivables

– Trade and other payables

– Provision for liabilities and other charges

Cash generated from operations

Income tax paid

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired

Purchases and construction of property, plant and equipment

Capitalisation of research and development expenditure

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

Repayment of ESOP loans

Payment for accrued consideration

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Proceeds from borrowings 

Repayment of borrowings 

Sale of treasury shares

Purchase of treasury shares by ESOP

Interest paid

Dividend paid to equity holders of the Company

Dividend paid to non-controlling interests

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of financial year

Effects of currency translation on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at end of financial year

Note

 2017

28.6

3.6

5.9

0.3

0.4

(0.5)

(2.9)

(2.5)

(1.6)

5.3

(0.8)

35.8

(0.8)

29.7

(18.2)

(4.9)

(5.2)

0.4

0.4

(0.5)

(28.0)

25.2

(5.4)

1.0

(1.6)

(0.2)

(14.0)

(0.2)

4.8

6.5

9.2

(0.7)

15.0

8

7

6

8

31

13

12

9

24

15

2016

21.5

6.3

4.6

0.2

0.3

0.2

5.0

(3.5)

(4.0)

1.5

(0.1)

32.0

(4.1)

27.9

–

(2.6)

(4.2)

0.1

–

–

(6.7)

–

(3.7)

0.3

(0.1)

(0.2)

(12.9)

(0.2)

(16.8)

4.4

4.3

0.5

9.2

Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities

£ Millions

1 January 
2017

Principal 
and interest 
payments

Proceeds 
from 
borrowings

Acquisition

Bank borrowings

5.5

(5.6)

25.2

–

Interest 
expense

0.2

Foreign 
exchange 
movement

31 December 
2017

(1.3)

24.0

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

Non-cash changes

80

HeadingNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

1.  General Information

XP Power Limited (the “Company”) is listed on the London Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in Singapore. The 
address of its registered office is 401 Commonwealth Drive, Lobby B, #02-02, Haw Par Technocentre, Singapore 149598.

The nature of XP Power Limited and its subsidiaries’ operations and its principal activities are set out in the Markets and Products 
sections of the Annual Report on pages 8 to 9.

2.  Summary of significant accounting policies

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

2.1  Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of XP Power Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) have been prepared in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the European Union (IFRS as adopted by the EU).

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost convention except as disclosed in the accounting 
policies below.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and 
assumptions that affect the application of these accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and 
expenses. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed 
to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which forms the basis of making the judgements about carrying amounts of 
assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. 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.

(a)  Going concern

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. The Group therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its consolidated 
financial statements.

(b)  Changes in accounting policy and disclosures

i.  New and amended standards adopted by the Group

There are no IFRS or International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) interpretations that are effective for the first 
time for the financial year beginning on 1 January 2017 that have a material impact on the Group.

ii.  New standards and interpretations issued not yet adopted

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018)

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 and replaces the existing 
guidance in IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement.

IFRS 9 includes revised guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments, impairment on financial assets and 
new general hedge accounting requirements. IFRS 9 relaxes the requirements for hedge effectiveness by replacing the bright line 
hedge effectiveness tests. It requires an economic relationship between the hedged item and hedging instrument and for the “hedged 
ratio” to be the same as the one management actually use for risk management purposes.

The Group has completed an initial impact assessment of IFRS 9 and determined that there will be no changes in the classification 
and an insignificant change in the measurement of financial assets. The Group’s hedging arrangements will continue to qualify for 
hedge accounting upon the adoption of IFRS 9.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018)

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 and 
establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether, how much and when revenue is recognised. Based on an initial 
assessment of the adoption of IFRS 15, the Group quantified the impact as a de minimis (circa 0.02%) reduction of the total revenue 
as a result of the timing of the recognition of early payment discounts and volume rebate. This results in a de minimis timing impact on 
operating profit (less than 0.1%). On this basis, the Group does not believe it to be likely that there will be a significant impact on its 
consolidated financial statements.

81

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

2.1  Basis of preparation (continued)
(b)  Changes in accounting policy and disclosures (continued)

ii.  New standards and interpretations issued not yet adopted (continued)

IFRS 16 Leases (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019)

IFRS 16 Leases is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. There will be changes to the Group’s net 
assets due to bringing the right of use asset relating to operating leases onto the balance sheet, and to the Group’s profit before tax 
as a result of the change in the treatment of the interest implicit in the lease and associated depreciation rather than the straight-line 
recognition of operating lease costs as they are currently recognised. The quantification of these changes and other effects on the 
Group is currently being assessed. The Group does not consider that any other standards, amendments or interpretations issued by 
the IASB, but not yet applicable, will have a significant impact on the financial statements.

2.2  Foreign currency translation
(a)  Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of each entity in the Group are measured using the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the entity operates (“functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Pounds 
Sterling, which is different from the Company’s functional currency. The Company’s functional currency is the United States Dollar.

The financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling, as the majority of the Company’s Shareholders are based in the UK and 
the Company is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It is the currency that the Directors of the Group use when controlling and 
monitoring the performance and financial position of the Group.

(b)  Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the 
transactions or valuation where items are remeasured. 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 statement of comprehensive income, except when deferred in other currency translation reserve as qualifying 
cash flow hedges.

Non-monetary items measured at fair value in foreign currencies are translated using exchange rates at the date when the fair values 
are determined. Currency translation differences on these items are included in other comprehensive income.

(c)  Translation of Group entities’ financial statements

The results and financial position of all the Group entities that have a functional currency different from the presentation currency are 
translated into the presentation currency as follows:

i.   assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date;

ii.   income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly 
and the average rate is not considered a reasonable approximation of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on the transaction 
dates in which case income and expenses are translated using the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions;

iii.  exchange differences arising, if any, are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the currency translation 

reserve. These currency translation differences are reclassified to profit or loss on disposal or partial disposal of the entity giving rise 
to such reserve; and

iv.  goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign 
entity and translated at the closing rate at the date of the balance sheet. The Group has elected to treat goodwill and fair value 
adjustments arising on the acquisitions before the date of transition to IFRS as Pound Sterling denominated assets and liabilities 
converted using the exchange rates at the dates of acquisition.

82

Heading2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

2.3  Revenue recognition
Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods provided in the ordinary course of the Group’s 
business, net of discounts, Value Added Tax/Goods and Services Tax, returns and rebates, and after eliminating sales within the 
Group. The Group recognises revenue when the amount of revenue and related cost can be reliably measured, it is probable that the 
collectability of the related receivables is reasonably assured and when the specific criteria for each of the Group’s activities are met as 
follows:

(a) 

 Sales of goods are recognised when a Group entity has shipped the goods to locations specified by its customers in 
accordance with the sales contract and the collectability of the related receivable is reasonably assured.

(b) 

Interest income is recognised using the effective interest method.

2.4  Group accounting
(a)  Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are all entities (including special purpose entities) over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when 
the Group is exposed to, or has the rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those 
returns through its power over the entity. The existence and effect of potential voting rights that are currently exercisable or convertible 
are considered when assessing whether the Group controls another entity. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which 
control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases.

The Group uses the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for the 
acquisition of a subsidiary comprises the fair value of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by 
the Group. The consideration transferred also includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration 
arrangement and the fair value of any pre-existing equity interest in the subsidiary. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. 
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair 
values at the acquisition date. On an acquisition-by-acquisition basis, the Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree 
either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets.

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair 
value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired, is recorded as 
goodwill. If this is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is 
recognised directly in the statement of comprehensive income.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised 
losses are also eliminated. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the 
policies adopted by the Group.

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost less impairment in the separate financial statements. This cost of investment is 
subsequently adjusted to reflect changes in contingent consideration, if any. In the separate financial statements, cost of investment in 
subsidiaries also includes directly attributable acquisition costs.

(b)  Transactions with non-controlling interests

Non-controlling interests comprise the portion of a subsidiary’s net results of operations and its net assets, which is attributable to the 
interests that are not owned directly or indirectly by the equity holders of the Company. They are shown separately in the consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity, and balance sheet. Total comprehensive income is attributed to 
the non-controlling interests based on their respective interests in a subsidiary, even if this results in the non-controlling interests having 
a deficit balance.

The Group treats transactions with non-controlling interests as transactions with equity owners of the Group. For purchases of shares 
from non-controlling interests, the difference between any consideration paid and the relevant share acquired of the carrying value of 
net assets of the subsidiary, is recorded in equity. Gains or losses on disposals to non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.

When the Group ceases to have control or significant influence, any retained interest in the entity is remeasured to its fair value, with 
the change in carrying amount recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. The fair value is the initial carrying amount for 
the purposes of subsequently accounting for the retained interest as an associate, joint venture or financial asset. In addition, any 
amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income in respect of that entity are accounted for as if the Group had directly 
disposed of the related assets or liabilities. This may mean that amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income are 
reclassified to the statement of comprehensive income.

83

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

Inventories

2.5 
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The cost of finished goods and work-in-progress comprises raw 
materials, direct labour, other direct costs and related production overheads (based on normal operating capacity) but excludes 
borrowing costs.

Cost is calculated using the weighted average method. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated 
costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

2.6  Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment, including land and buildings, are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and 
any recognised impairment losses.

The historical cost of an item of property, plant and equipment initially recognised includes its purchase price and any cost that is 
directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner 
intended by management.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount, 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. All other repairs and maintenance are 
charged to the statement of comprehensive income during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Freehold land and property under development are not depreciated. Depreciation on other items of property, plant and equipment is 
calculated using the straight-line method to allocate their cost over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Plant and equipment 
Motor vehicles 
Building improvements 
Buildings 
Leasehold land and buildings 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

10 – 33%
20 – 25%
10 – 33%
2 – 5%
2 – 5%

The residual values, estimated useful lives and depreciation method of property, plant and equipment are reviewed, and adjusted as 
appropriate, at each balance sheet date. The effects of any revision are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income when 
the changes arise.

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

Gains or losses arising on the disposal or retirement of an asset are determined as the difference between the sale proceeds less cost 
to sell and the carrying amount of the asset, and are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

Intangible assets

2.7 
(a)  Goodwill

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition-date fair value 
of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the Group’s share of identifiable net assets acquired, is recorded as 
goodwill.

Goodwill is tested annually for impairment and whenever there is an indication that the goodwill may be impaired. Goodwill is carried 
at cost less accumulated impairment losses. Impairment losses on goodwill are not reversed. Gains and losses on the disposal of an 
entity include the carrying amount of goodwill relating to the entity sold.

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment testing. The allocation is made to those cash-generating 
units or groups of cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the business combination in which the goodwill arose, 
identified according to operating segment.

84

Heading2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

2.7 Intangible assets (continued)
(b) 

Internally generated intangible assets – research and development expenditure

Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense as incurred.

An internally generated intangible asset arising from the Group’s product development is recognised only if all of the following criteria 
are met:

 } There is an ability to use or sell the asset;

 } Management intends to complete the asset and use or sell it;

 } It can be demonstrated the asset will generate probable future economic benefits;

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

 } Adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the asset are available; and

 } The expenditure attributable to the asset during its development can be reliably measured.

Internally generated intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their useful lives, which vary between four and seven 
years depending on the exact nature of the project undertaken. Amortisation commences when the product is ready and available for 
use.

(c)  Other intangible assets

Other intangible assets that are acquired by the Group are initially recognised at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a 
business combination is its fair value as at the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less 
any accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the 
estimated useful lives, which vary between two and ten years, of the intangible assets.

2.8   Impairment of non-financial assets
(a)  Goodwill

Goodwill recognised separately as an intangible asset is tested for impairment annually and whenever there is indication that the 
goodwill may be impaired.

For the purpose of impairment testing of goodwill, goodwill is allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating units (“CGU”) expected 
to benefit from synergies arising from the business combination.

An impairment loss is recognised when the carrying amount of a CGU, including the goodwill, exceeds the recoverable amount of the 
CGU. The recoverable amount of a CGU is the higher of the CGU’s fair value less cost to sell and value-in-use.

The total impairment loss of a CGU is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of goodwill allocated to the CGU and then to the 
other assets of the CGU pro-rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the CGU.

An impairment loss on goodwill is recognised as an expense and is not reversed in a subsequent period.

(b) 

Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments in subsidiaries

Assets that are subject to amortisation and depreciation 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.

2.9  Fair value estimation of financial assets and liabilities
The fair values of financial instruments traded in active markets (such as exchange-traded and over-the-counter securities and 
derivatives) are based on quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. The quoted market prices used for financial assets are the 
current bid prices; the appropriate quoted market prices used for financial liabilities are the current asking prices.

The fair values of currency forwards are determined using actively quoted forward exchange rates.

The fair values of current financial assets and liabilities carried at amortised cost approximate their carrying amounts.

85

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

2.10  Financial assets
(a)  Classification

The Group classifies its financial assets depending on the nature of the asset and the purpose for which the assets were acquired. 
Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition. The Group’s financial assets comprise loans and 
receivables.

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active 
market. They are presented as current assets, except for those maturing later than 12 months after the balance sheet date, which are 
presented as non-current assets. Loans and receivables are presented as “trade receivables”, “other current assets”, “cash and cash 
equivalents” and “ESOP loans to employees” in the balance sheet.

(b)  Recognition/derecognition

Regular purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on the trade-date – the date on which the Group commits to purchase 
or sell the asset. Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the financial assets have expired or have 
been transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all risks and rewards of ownership. On disposal of a financial asset, the 
difference between the carrying amount and the sale proceeds is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. Loans and 
receivables are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs and subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method.

(c) 

Impairment

The Group assesses at the end of each reporting period whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial 
assets is impaired. A financial asset or a group of financial assets is impaired and impairment losses are incurred only if there is 
objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the asset (a “loss event”) 
and that loss event (or events) has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset or group of financial assets that 
can be reliably estimated.

The amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future 
cash flows (excluding future credit losses that have not been incurred) discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate. 
The carrying amount of the asset is reduced and the amount of the loss is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

If, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event 
occurring after the impairment was recognised (such as an improvement in the debtor’s credit rating), the reversal of the previously 
recognised impairment loss is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

(d)  Offsetting financial instruments

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the balance sheet when there is a legally enforceable right to 
offset and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realise the asset and the liability simultaneously.

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

Trade and other payables are initially recognised at fair value, and subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest 
method.

2.12  Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events, and it is more likely 
than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount has been reliably estimated.

Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditure expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax 
discount rate that reflects the current market assessment of the time value of money and the risks specific to the obligation. The 
increase in the provision due to the passage of time is recognised as a finance expense. Changes in the estimated timing or amount of 
the expenditure or discount rate are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income when the changes arise.

86

Heading2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

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

Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is probable that 
some or all of the facility will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the drawdown occurs. To the extent there is no 
evidence that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down, the fee is capitalised as a prepayment for liquidity 
services and amortised over the period of the facility to which it relates.

Borrowings are presented as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least 12 months 
after the balance sheet date, in which case they are presented as non-current liabilities.

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

2.15  Derivative financial instruments and hedging activities
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date the contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair 
value. The method of recognising the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, 
and if so, the nature of the item being hedged.

The Group designates certain derivatives as hedges of a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability or a highly 
probable forecast transaction (cash flow hedge).

The Group documents at the inception of the transaction the relationship between the hedging instruments and hedged items, as 
well as its risk management objective and strategies for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Group also documents its 
assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, on whether the derivatives designated as hedging instruments are 
highly effective in offsetting changes in fair value or cash flows of the hedged items.

The Group’s activities expose it primarily to the financial risks of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The 
Group periodically uses foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge the foreign currency exposures.

Cash flow hedge

i.   Currency forwards

The Group has entered into currency forwards that qualify as cash flow hedges against highly probable forecasted transactions in 
foreign currencies. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges 
is recognised in other comprehensive income. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the 
statement of comprehensive income.

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative 
gain or loss existing in equity at that time is recognised when the forecasted transaction is ultimately recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income. When a forecasted transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gains and losses that were 
previously recognised in equity are transferred to the statement of comprehensive income immediately.

Certain derivative instruments do not qualify for hedge accounting. Changes in the fair value of these derivative instruments are 
recognised immediately in the statement of comprehensive income.

Amounts accumulated in equity are reclassified to the statement of comprehensive income in the periods when the hedged item 
affects profit or loss.

The fair values of various derivative instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in Note 22. Movements on the hedging 
reserve in other comprehensive income are shown in Note 24. The full fair value of a hedging derivative is classified as a non-current 
asset or liability when the remaining expected life/or maturity of the hedged item is more than 12 months, and as a current asset or 
liability when the remaining maturity of the hedged item is less than 12 months.

87

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

2.16  Current and deferred income tax
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

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

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in 
the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the 
balance sheet liability method.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the 
extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such 
assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a 
business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and 
interests in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. 
Deferred tax is charged or credited in the statement of comprehensive income, except when it relates to items charged or credited 
directly to equity in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax 
liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax 
assets and liabilities on a net basis.

As the timing of the tax deduction and the recognition of the employee share option expense differs, FRS 12 requires the recognition 
of the related deferred tax asset if the deferred tax asset recognition criteria are met. For an equity-settled share-based payment, if the 
cumulative amount of tax deduction exceeds the tax effect of the related cumulative remuneration expense at the reporting date, the 
excess of the associated deferred tax shall be recognised directly in equity. All taxes related to cash-settled share-based payments 
shall be recognised in profit or loss.

2.17  Cash and cash equivalents
For the purpose of presentation in the consolidated cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits 
with financial institutions and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are presented as current liabilities on the balance sheet.

2.18  Share-based payments
The Group issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain employees. Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at 
fair value at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on 
a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest. The vesting conditions 
are service conditions and performance conditions only. At each balance sheet date, the Group revises its estimates of the number 
of shares under options that are expected to become exercisable on the vesting date and recognises the impact of the revision of 
the estimates in the statement of comprehensive income, with a corresponding adjustment to the treasury share reserve over the 
remaining vesting period.

When the options are exercised, the proceeds received (net of transaction costs) and the related balance previously recognised in the 
share option reserve are credited to share capital account, when new ordinary shares are issued, or to the “treasury shares” account, 
when treasury shares are reissued to the employees.

88

Heading2.  Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)

2.19  Defined contribution plans
The Group operates several defined contribution plans. Defined contribution plans are post-employment benefit plans under which the 
Group pays fixed contributions into separate entities on a mandatory, contracted or voluntary basis. The Group has no further payment 
obligations once the contributions have been paid.

2.20  Employee leave entitlements
Employee entitlements to annual leave are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income when they accrue to employees. A 
provision is made for the estimated liability for leave as a result of services rendered by employees up to the balance sheet date.

2.21  Share capital and treasury shares
Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new ordinary shares are shown in equity, 
net of tax, from the proceeds.

When any entity within the Group purchases the Company’s ordinary shares (“treasury shares”), the consideration paid, including any 
directly attributable incremental cost (net of income taxes), is deducted from equity attributable to the Company’s equity holders, until 
they are cancelled, sold or reissued.

When treasury shares are subsequently cancelled, the cost of treasury shares are deducted against the share capital account if the 
shares are purchased out of capital of the Company, or against the retained earnings of the Company if the shares are purchased out 
of earnings of the Company.

When treasury shares are subsequently sold or reissued pursuant to the employee share option scheme, the cost of treasury shares 
is reversed from the treasury share reserve and the realised gain or loss on sale or reissue, net of any directly attributable incremental 
transaction costs and related income tax, is recognised in the retained earnings of the Company.

Other reserve comprises future transactions with the non-controlling interest. The amount that may become payable under the 
agreement is initially recognised at the present value of the redemption amount within liabilities with a corresponding charge directly to 
equity. The liability is subsequently accreted through finance charges up to the redemption amount that is payable at the date at which 
the agreement first becomes exercisable.

2.22  Dividend distribution
Dividend distributions to the Company’s Shareholders are recognised when the dividends are approved for payment or, in the case of 
interim dividends, when paid.

2.23  Segment reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Chief Operating Decision Makers 
who are responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments. Segment reporting is disclosed in 
Note 4.

89

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3.  Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, as described in Note 2, management has made the following judgements 
and estimations that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.

(a)  Recoverability of Capitalised R&D

During the year £5.2 million (2016: £4.2 million) of development costs were capitalised, bringing the total amount of development costs  
capitalised as intangible assets as at 31 December 2017 to £16.0 million (2016: £14.2 million), net of amortisation. Management has 
reviewed the balances by project, compared the carrying amount to expected future revenues and profits and is satisfied that no 
impairment exists and that the costs capitalised will be fully recovered as the products are launched to market. New product projects 
are monitored regularly and should the technical or market feasibility of a new product be in question, the project would be cancelled 
and capitalised costs to date will be removed from the balance sheet and charged to the statement of comprehensive income.

(b) 

Impairment of Goodwill

The Group tests annually for impairment of goodwill, or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill might be impaired.

An impairment loss is recognised when the carrying amount of a CGU, including the goodwill, exceeds the recoverable amount of the 
CGU. The recoverable amount of a CGU is the higher of the CGU’s fair value less cost to sell and value-in-use.

The recoverable amount of the goodwill is determined from value-in-use calculations. The key assumptions and estimates for the 
value-in-use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes to sales and overheads during 
the period. Management estimates discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of 
money and the risks specific to the cash generating units.

The Group prepares cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent financial results and takes into account industry growth 
forecasts for the next five years and extrapolates cash flows for the following five years assuming no growth from that date. The 
carrying amount of goodwill as at 31 December 2017 was £41.0 million (2016: £37.7 million) with no impairment adjustment required 
for 2017.

Management assessed that there are no realistic foreseeable changes that will result in impairment loss on the goodwill allocated to 
the North America, Europe and Asia operating segments.

(c)  Estimation of future accrued consideration payments

As at the balance sheet date, the Group has recorded an estimated future payment related to the acquisition of the final 10.1% of 
Powersolve Electronics Limited. The Group will acquire the remaining 10.1% of Powersolve Electronics Limited in early 2022. When 
discounted to present value, the total of these payments is estimated at £0.6 million and that amount is reflected on the balance sheet. 
Since the final payment will be dependent on the actual financial performance of the business, an estimate is required to approximate 
future business conditions. Refer to Note 20 for more details.

As at the balance sheet date, the Group has recorded an estimated future payment related to the acquisition of additional 30.0% of 
Hanpower Co., Ltd. The Group will acquire 15.0% of Hanpower Co., Ltd in early 2020 and the remaining 15.0% in early 2025. When 
discounted to present value, the total of these payments is estimated at £0.9 million and that amount is reflected on the balance sheet. 
Since the final payment will be dependent on the actual financial performance of the business, an estimate is required to approximate 
future business conditions. Refer to Note 20 for more details.

90

Heading4.  Segmental reporting

Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Makers (CODM) 
that are used to make strategic decisions. The Chief Operating Decision Makers are the Executive Board of Directors who will review 
the operating results and forecasts to make decisions about resources to be allocated to the segments and assess their performance.

The Executive Board of Directors considers and manages the business on a geographic basis. Management manages and monitors 
the business based on the three primary geographic areas: North America, Europe and Asia. All geographic locations market the same 
class of products to their respective customer base.

The Executive Board of Directors assesses the performance of the operating segments based on net sales and operating income. 
Net sales for geographic segments are based on the location of the design win rather than where the end sale is made. The operating 
income for each segment includes net sales to third parties, related cost of sales, operating expenses directly attributable to the 
segment, and a portion of corporate expenses. Costs excluded from segment operating income include stock-based compensation 
expense, income taxes, various non-operating charges, and other separately managed general and administrative costs.

Segment assets consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, goodwill, intangible assets, inventories, receivables, cash and cash 
equivalents, derivative financial instruments and exclude tax assets.

Segment liabilities comprise trade and other current liabilities, derivative financial instruments, borrowings, accrued contingent 
consideration and exclude tax liabilities.

Capital expenditure comprises additions to property, plant and equipment.

The segment information provided to the CODM for the reportable segments for the year ended 31 December 2017 and prior year 
comparatives is as follows:

£ Millions

Revenue

Europe

North America

Asia

Total revenue

The Group operates in the following regions and countries:

£ Millions

North America

United Kingdom

Singapore

Germany

Switzerland

France

Other countries

Total revenue

The majority of North America’s revenue is generated from the United States of America.

 2017

2016

57.5

94.4

14.9

166.8

 2017

94.4

28.7

12.1

13.3

3.2

4.1

11.0

166.8

49.4

68.6

11.8

129.8

2016

68.6

24.0

10.1

11.4

3.8

3.4

8.5

129.8

91

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPP 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

4.  Segmental reporting (continued)
Reconciliation of segment results to profit after tax:

£ Millions

Europe 

North America

Asia

Segment results

Research and development 

Finance charge

Corporate cost from operating segment

Profit before income tax

Income tax expense

Profit after tax

 2017

14.6

27.6

5.9

48.1

(8.8)

(0.3)

(6.8)

32.2

(3.6)

28.6

2016

11.6

21.6

3.5

36.7

(5.9)

(0.2)

(2.8)

27.8

(6.3)

21.5

£ Millions

Other Information

Capital additions

Depreciation

Intangible assets additions

Amortisation

Balance sheet

Goodwill

Other non-current assets

Inventories

Trade receivables

Cash

Other current assets

Derivative financial instruments

Year to 31 December 2017

Year to 31 December 2016

Europe

North 
America

Asia

Total

Europe

North 
America

Asia

Total

0.7

0.6

0.4

–

9.8

3.6

1.5

7.6

3.3

0.8

–

4.1

0.7

8.6

1.8

29.0

21.0

12.9

13.4

5.2

0.5

–

3.0

1.5

3.1

1.3

1.6

21.7

23.4

2.8

6.5

2.5

0.2

7.8

2.8

12.1

3.1

40.4

46.3

37.8

23.8

15.0

3.8

0.2

1.0

0.4

0.4

–

9.9

3.5

1.6

7.9

3.3

0.8

–

0.4

0.5

1.5

1.5

25.6

11.6

9.9

9.2

1.2

0.6

–

1.2

1.3

2.3

0.9

2.2

20.0

20.7

4.4

4.7

1.0

0.4

2.6

2.2

4.2

2.4

37.7

35.1

32.2

21.5

9.2

2.4

0.4

Segment assets

26.6

82.0

58.7

167.3

27.0

58.1

53.4

138.5

4.3

171.6

(21.4)

(24.0)

(0.2)

(1.4)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5.3)

(24.0)

–

–

(13.4)

–

(0.2)

(0.8)

(2.7)

–

–

(0.6)

(3.3)

(3.1)

(5.5)

–

–

(10.9)

–

(0.4)

(0.8)

(2.1)

–

–

(1.2)

(3.3)

(29.3)

(14.4)

(47.0)

(8.6)

(12.1)

(24.0)

–

–

–

(7.7)

(54.7)

–

–

–

(8.0)

(32.0)

0.4

138.9

(16.1)

(5.5)

(0.4)

(2.0)

Unallocated deferred income tax 
and current income tax

Consolidated total assets

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Derivative financial instruments

Accrued consideration

Segment liabilities

Unallocated deferred and current 
income tax

Consolidated total liabilities

92

Heading4.  Segmental reporting (continued)

Analysis by class of customer
The revenue by class of customer is as follows:

£ Millions

Technology

Industrial

Healthcare

Total

Year to 31 December 2017

Year to 31 December 2016

Europe

North 
America

Asia

Total

Europe

7.7

33.7

16.1

57.5

39.2

24.2

31.0

94.4

3.3

7.7

3.9

50.2

65.6

51.0

14.9

166.8

7.1

29.6

12.7

49.4

North 
America

21.4

23.7

23.5

68.6

Asia

3.6

6.5

1.7

Total

32.1

59.8

37.9

11.8

129.8

There is no individual external customer that represents 11% (2016: 7%) or more of the Group’s total revenue. Revenues of £17.0 
million (2016: £9.3 million) are derived from a single external customer. These revenues are attributable to the technology segment.

Non-current assets, other than deferred income tax assets, by countries:

£ Millions

North America

United Kingdom

Singapore

Germany

Switzerland

France

Other countries

Total non-current assets

 2017

50.0

4.7

12.0

0.3

3.6

0.2

15.9

86.7

2016

37.2

4.6

10.5

0.3

3.6

0.2

16.4

72.8

93

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

4.  Segmental reporting (continued)
Reconciliation of adjusted measures
The Group presents adjusted operating profit, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted profit before tax by making adjustments for costs and 
profits which management believes to be significant by virtue of their size, nature or incidence or which have a distortive effect on 
current year earnings. Such items may include, but are not limited to, costs associated with business combinations, gains and losses 
on the disposal of businesses, fair value movements, exceptional operating costs, and amortisation of intangible assets arising on 
business combinations. Exceptional operating costs include reorganisation costs, acquisition related charges and similar items of a 
significant and a non-recurring nature. 

The Group discloses adjusted EBITDA, being adjusted operating profit before depreciation of property, plant and equipment and 
amortisation of intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA is broadly used by analysts, rating agencies, investors and the Group’s banks as 
part of their assessment of the Group’s performance. A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA from operating profit is shown below.

In addition, the Group presents an adjusted profit after tax measure by making adjustments for certain tax charges and credits which 
management believe to be significant by virtue of their size, nature or incidence or which have a distortive effect.

The Group uses these adjusted measures to evaluate performance and as a method to provide shareholders with clear and consistent 
reporting. See below for a reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating profit, a reconciliation of profit 
before tax to adjusted profit before tax and a reconciliation of profit after tax to adjusted profit after tax.

i.    A reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) is as follows:

£ Millions

Operating Profit

Amortisation of intangible assets

Depreciation

EBITDA

Adjusted for:

Acquisition costs

Adjusted EBITDA

ii.  A reconciliation of operating profit to adjusted operating profit is as follows:

£ Millions

Operating Profit

Adjusted for:

Acquisition costs

Amortisation of intangible assets

Adjusted Operating Profit

iii.  A reconciliation of profit before income tax to adjusted profit before tax is as follows:

£ Millions

Profit before income tax (“PBT”)

Adjusted for:

Acquisition costs

Amortisation of intangible assets

Adjusted PBT 

94

 2017

32.5

3.1

2.8

38.4

3.3

41.7

 2017

32.5

3.3

0.6

3.9

36.4

 2017

32.2

3.3

0.6

3.9

36.1

2016

28.0

2.4

2.2

32.6

0.4

33.0

2016

28.0

0.4

0.4

0.8

28.8

2016

27.8

0.4

0.4

0.8

28.6

Heading4.  Segmental reporting (continued)

iv.  A reconciliation of profit after tax to adjusted profit after tax is as follows:

£ Millions

Profit after tax (“PAT”)

Adjusted for:

Acquisition costs

Amortisation of intangible assets

Non-recurring tax benefits1

Adjusted PAT

 2017

28.6

3.3

0.6

(3.7)

0.2

28.8

1   Adjusted for tax on exceptional expense for both completed and aborted acquisitions of £1.1 million (2016: nil), one-off tax adjustment of £1.3 million  

(2016: nil) and tax effect of change in US federal tax of £1.3 million (2016: nil).

5.  Employee compensation (including Directors)

£ Millions

Wages and salaries

Employers’ contribution to defined contribution plans

Share option expense

Total

For further information regarding Directors’ remuneration, refer to the Directors’ Remuneration Report.

6.  Finance charge

£ Millions

Interest expense on bank loans and overdrafts

Unwinding of discount on accrued consideration (Note 20)

Total

7.  Expenses by nature

£ Millions

Profit after tax is after charging:
Amortisation of intangible assets 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Employee compensation (Note 5)

Foreign exchange gain

Gain/(Loss) on foreign exchange forwards

Purchases of inventories

Changes in inventories

Fees payable to the Group’s Auditor for the audit of the Group’s accounts

Tax fees payable to other firms for services provided to the Group

Rent/lease expense

Finance charge

Other charges

Total

Fees payable to the Group’s Auditor for non-audit services is nil (2016: 8.1%) of their total audit fees.

2016

21.5

0.4

0.4

–

0.8

22.3

2016

28.2

4.8

0.3

33.3

2016

0.1

0.1

0.2

 2017

36.8

6.2

0.4

43.4

 2017

0.2

0.1

0.3

 2017

2016

3.1

2.8

43.4

–

0.2

80.3

(5.5)

0.4

0.2

1.6

0.3

7.8

2.4

2.2

33.3

(0.1)

(0.5)

62.2

(3.5)

0.3

0.1

1.5

0.2

3.9

134.6

102.0

95

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

7.  Expenses by nature (continued)

Included in the above is net research and development expenditure as follows:

£ Millions

Gross research and development expenditure

Development expenditure capitalised

Amortisation of development expenditure capitalised

Net research and development expenditure

8. 

Income taxes

£ Millions

Singapore corporation tax

– current year

– over-provision in prior financial year

Overseas corporation tax

– current year

– over-provision in prior financial year

Current income tax

Deferred income tax

– current year

– adjustment in respect of prior year

– change in tax rate

Income tax expense

 2017

11.5

(5.2)

2.5

8.8

2016

8.1

(4.2)

2.0

5.9

 2017

2016

3.1

(1.5)

2.6

(0.4)

3.8

1.1

–

(1.3)

3.6

2.6

(0.1)

3.5

(0.2)

5.8

0.6

(0.1)

–

6.3

Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions at the balance sheet date.

During the financial year, the United States of America (“USA”) Government announced changes to the USA tax laws, which reduces 
the federal tax rate to 21% with effect from financial year 2018. The deferred tax expense for the financial year ended 31 December 
2017 has taken into consideration the change in the federal tax rate which resulted in a reduction of deferred tax liability by £1.3 
million.

Upon finalisation of the financial year 2014, 2015 and 2016 Singapore tax assessment, there is an approximate tax credit of £1.3 
million to be recoverable from the Singapore tax authority.

The differences between the total income tax expense shown above and the amount calculated by applying the standard rate of 
Singapore income tax rate to the profit before income tax are as follows:

£ Millions

Profit before income tax

Tax on profit at standard Singapore tax rate of 17% (2016: 17%)

Tax incentives

Higher rates of overseas corporation tax

Deduction for gain on employee share options

Adjustment in respect of prior year

Change in tax rate

Income tax expense 

 2017

32.2

5.5

(0.9)

2.0

0.2

(1.9)

(1.3)

3.6

2016

27.8

4.7

(0.4)

2.4

–

(0.4)

–

6.3

96

Heading8. 

Income taxes (continued)
Movement in corporate tax recoverable:

£ Millions

At 1 January

Over-provision in prior financial year

Income tax paid in excess

At 31 December

Movement in current income tax liabilities:

£ Millions

At 1 January

Currency translation differences

Income tax paid 

Income tax payable

– current year 

– prior year

At 31 December

 2017

2016

–

1.5

1.4

2.9

 2017

(3.3)

0.4

4.7

(5.7)

0.4

(3.5)

–

–

–

–

2016

(1.2)

(0.4)

4.1

(6.1)

0.3

(3.3)

There is no (2016: nil) tax (charge)/credit relating to components of other comprehensive income.

Aggregate deferred tax arising in the reporting period and not recognised in net profit or loss or other comprehensive income but 
directly debited or credited to equity:

£ Millions

Deferred tax asset – share option plan expenses

Total

9.  Dividends

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the period:

 2017

1.1

1.1

2016

–

–

Prior year third quarter dividend paid

Prior year final dividend paid

First quarter dividend paid

Second quarter dividend paid

Total

*  Dividends in respect of 2016 (71.0p).
^  Dividends in respect of 2017 (78.0p).

2017

2016

Pence per 
share

£ Millions

Pence per 
share

£ Millions

16.0*

26.0*

15.0^

16.0^

73.0

3.0

5.0

2.9

3.1

14.0

15.0

24.0

14.0*

15.0*

68.0

2.8

4.6

2.6

2.9

 12.9

The third quarter dividend of 18.0 pence per share was paid on 11 January 2018. The proposed final dividend of 29.0 pence per 
share for the year ended 31 December 2017 is subject to approval by Shareholders at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for 
6 April 2018 and has not been included as a liability in these financial statements. It is proposed that the final dividend be paid on 
20 April 2018 to members on the register as at 16 March 2018.

97

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

10. Earnings per share

The calculations of the basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company are based on 
the following data:

£ Millions

Earnings

Earnings for the purposes of basic and diluted earnings per share  
(profit attributable to equity holders of the Company)

Earnings for earnings per share

Number of shares

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share (thousands)

Effect of potentially dilutive share options (thousands)

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of dilutive earnings  
per share (thousands)

Earnings per share from operations

Basic

Diluted

Diluted adjusted*

*  Reconciliation to compute the diluted adjusted earnings per share from operations is as per below:

£ Millions

Earnings for the purposes of basic and diluted earnings per share  
(profit attributable to equity holders of the Company)

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Acquisition costs

Non-recurring tax benefits

11. Goodwill

£ Millions

Cost 

At 1 January 

Accrued consideration (Note 20)

Recognised on acquisition of business

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December

Accumulated impairment loss

At 31 December

Carrying amount

At 31 December

Goodwill arises on the consolidation of business/subsidiary undertakings.

98

 2017

2016

28.3

28.3

19,082

306

21.3

21.3

19,015

147

19,388

19,162

148.3p

146.0p

147.0p

112.0p

111.2p

115.3p

 2017

2016

28.3

0.6

3.3

(3.7)

28.5

21.3

0.4

0.4

–

22.1

 2017

2016

37.7

(0.2)

3.9

(1.0)

40.4

–

35.9

0.5

–

1.3

37.7

–

40.4

 37.7

Heading 
11. Goodwill (continued)

As at the balance sheet date, the Group has recorded an estimated future payment related to the acquisition of the final 10.1% of 
Powersolve Electronics Limited. The Group will acquire the remaining 10.1% of Powersolve Electronics Limited in early 2022. When 
discounted to present value, the total of this payment is estimated at £0.6 million and that amount is reflected on the balance sheet. 
Since the final payment will be dependent on the actual financial performance of the business, an estimate is required to approximate 
future business conditions. A change in accrued consideration of £0.2 million in 2017 was due to a decrease in the forecast earnings.

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill has been allocated to the operating segments identified in Note 4.

The recoverable amount of the goodwill is determined from value-in-use calculations. The key assumptions and estimates for the 
value-in-use calculations are those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and expected changes to sales and overheads during 
the period. Management estimates discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of 
money and the risks specific to the cash-generating units (a rate of 5.5% was used for 2017 and for 2016, the rate was 5.7%).

The Group prepares cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent financial results and takes into account industry growth forecasts 
for five years and estimates cash flows based on these forecasts assuming no growth after five years. Management has forecast year-
on-year increases in sales and overheads averages of 5.0% and 3.0% respectively. The carrying amount of goodwill as at 31 December 
2017 was £40.4 million (2016: £37.7 million) with no impairment adjustment required for 2017 (2016: no impairment).

For the purpose of the impairment test, the Group has adopted what it believes to be reasonable Earnings Before Interest, Tax, 
Depreciation, Amortisation assumptions for the period from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021. Management believes that any 
reasonable possible change in the key assumptions on which the recoverable amount is based would not cause the carrying amount 
of goodwill to exceed its recoverable amount.

12. Intangible assets

£ Millions

Cost

At 1 January 2016

Additions

Foreign currency translation

31 December 2016

Additions

Acquisition of business

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2017

Amortisation

At 1 January 2016

Charge for the year

Foreign currency translation

31 December 2016

Charge for the year

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2017

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2017

 At 31 December 2016

Development 
costs

Trademarks

Technology

Customer 
relationships

Customer 
contracts

Total

19.3

4.2

1.5

25.0

5.2

–

(1.2)

29.0

8.3

2.0

0.5

10.8

2.5

(0.3)

13.0

16.0

14.2

1.0

–

–

1.0

–

–

–

1.0

1.0

–

–

1.0

–

(0.1)

0.9

0.1

–

0.6

–

0.1

0.7

–

1.7

–

2.4

–

0.1

–

0.1

0.1

–

0.2

2.2

0.6

0.6

–

0.1

0.7

–

4.9

(0.1)

5.5

–

0.2

–

0.2

0.4

(0.1)

0.5

5.0

0.5

0.1

–

–

0.1

–

0.3

–

0.4

–

0.1

–

0.1

0.1

–

0.2

0.2

–

21.6

4.2

1.7

27.5

5.2

6.9

(1.3)

38.3

9.3

2.4

0.5

12.2

3.1

(0.5)

14.8

23.5

15.3

The amortisation period for development costs incurred on the Group’s products varies between four and seven years according to 
the expected useful life of the products being developed.

Amortisation commences when the product is ready and available for use.

99

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

13. Property, plant and equipment

Freehold 
land

Leasehold 
land and 
buildings

Buildings

Plant and 
equipment

Motor 
vehicles

Building 
improvements

Projects 
under 
development

£ Millions

Cost

At 1 January 2016

Additions

Disposals

Transfer

Foreign currency 
translation

At 31 December 
2016

Acquisition of business

Additions

Disposals

Transfer

Foreign currency 
translation

At 31 December 
2017

Depreciation

At 1 January 2016

Charge for the year

Disposals

Foreign currency 
translation

At 31 December 
2016

Charge for the year

Disposals

Foreign currency 
translation

At 31 December 
2017

0.5

–

–

–

0.1

0.6

0.2

–

(0.2)

–

–

8.8

0.2

–

–

1.5

10.5

–

–

–

–

(0.4)

0.6

10.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.2

0.2

–

0.3

1.7

0.3

–

0.1

2.1

8.0

8.8

15.4

1.4

(0.3)

0.6

2.6

19.7

0.3

3.5

(0.3)

0.7

0.8

0.2

(0.4)

–

–

0.6

–

0.1

–

–

2.2

0.2

–

–

0.3

2.7

2.0

0.5

–

–

Total

29.6

2.6

(0.7)

–

0.1

0.6

–

(0.6)

–

4.9

0.1

–

0.8

–

(0.7)

36.4

2.8

4.9

(0.7)

–

(1.2)

(0.1)

(0.3)

–

(2.0)

22.7

0.6

10.0

1.6

(0.3)

1.6

12.9

2.0

(0.3)

(0.7)

13.9

8.8

6.8

0.4

0.1

(0.3)

–

0.2

0.1

–

–

0.3

0.3

0.4

4.9

1.7

0.2

–

0.2

2.1

0.3

–

(0.3)

2.1

2.8

0.6

0.2

41.4

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

0.1

13.5

2.2

(0.6)

2.2

17.3

2.8

(0.3)

(0.9)

18.9

22.5

19.1

1.8

–

–

–

0.4

2.2

0.3

–

(0.2)

–

–

2.3

0.2

0.1

–

0.1

0.4

0.1

–

–

0.5

1.8

1.8

Carrying amount 
At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

0.6

0.6

The Group has entered into agreements to lease land and buildings ranging from 35 years to 999 years.

100

Heading14. Subsidiaries

Details of principal subsidiaries as at 31 December 2017, all of which are consolidated, are as follows:

Name of Subsidiary

XP Power AG

XP Power LLC

XP PLC

XP Power ApS

XP Power GmbH

XP Power Norway AS

XP Power SA

XP Power Sweden AB

Place of 
incorporation/
ownership (or 
registration) 
and operation

Switzerland

USA

UK

Denmark

Germany

Norway

France

Sweden

Powersolve Electronics Limited*

UK

XP Power (Shanghai) Co., Limited

China

XP Power Srl

XP Power (Hong Kong) Limited

Italy

HK

XP Power Singapore Holdings Pte 
Limited

Singapore

XP Power (Vietnam) Co., Limited

Vietnam

XP Power Singapore Manufacturing 
Pte. Ltd.

Singapore

XP Power (Israel) Ltd

XP Power Japan K.K.

Israel

Japan

Hanpower Co., Ltd

South Korea

Proportion of 
Ownership
2017
(%)

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

51

Proportion of 
Ownership 
2016

(%) Statutory Auditor of subsidiaries

100 Karpf Treuhand & Revisions AG

100 Exempted to be audited by local statutory law

100 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100 Bierholm

100 Exempted to be audited by local statutory law

100 BDO AS

100 Deloitte 

100 Rodl & Partner Nordic AB

100 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100 Shanghai Jahwa CPAs

100 Exempted to be audited by local statutory law

100 PricewaterhouseCoopers Limited

100 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100 PricewaterhouseCoopers (Vietnam) Limited

100 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100 Ernst and Young Solutions LLP

100 Exempted to be audited by local statutory law

51 Exempted to be audited by local statutory law

*  The legal shareholding and the proportion of voting power held is 89.9% (2016: 84%). Refer to Note 20.

15. Cash and cash equivalents

£ Millions

Cash at bank and on hand

Short-term bank deposits

Total

 2017

14.4

0.6

15.0

For the purpose of presenting the consolidated cash flow statement, the consolidated cash and cash equivalents comprise the 
following: 

£ Millions

Cash at bank and on hand (as above)

Cash and cash equivalents per consolidated cash flow statement

 2017

15.0

15.0

2016

8.4

0.8

9.2

2016

9.2

9.2

101

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

15. Cash and cash equivalents (continued)

Reconciliation of changes in cash and cash equivalents to movements in net cash/(debt) 

£ Millions

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Proceeds from borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Effects of currency translation – Cash and cash equivalents

Effects of currency translation – Loan and borrowings

Movement in net (debt)/cash

Net cash/(debt) at start of year

Net (debt)/cash at end of year

Reconciliation to free cash flow 

£ Millions

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Purchases and construction of the property, plant and equipment

Research and development expenditure capitalised

Interest paid

Free cash flow

Reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents to balance sheet

£ Millions

Cash and cash equivalents per consolidated cash flow statement

Less: Bank loan

– current (Note 21)

– non-current (Note 21)

Net (debt)/cash at end of year

 2017

6.5

(25.2)

5.4

(0.7)

1.3

(12.7)

3.7

(9.0)

 2017

29.7

(4.9)

(5.2)

(0.2)

19.4

 2017

15.0

–

(24.0)

(9.0)

2016

4.4

–

3.7

0.5

(1.2)

7.4

(3.7)

3.7

2016

27.9

(2.6)

(4.2)

(0.2)

20.9

2016

9.2

(5.5)

–

3.7

102

Heading15. Cash and cash equivalents (continued)

Acquisition of business
On 29 September 2017, the Group acquired a 100% assets and business of Comdel Inc. ("XP Comdel"). The principal activity of 
XP Comdel is to provide Radio Frequency (RF) power supplies to the semiconductor, thin film, photovoltaics, and induction heating 
industries.

Details of the consideration paid, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed and the effects on the cash flows of the Group, at the 
acquisition date, are as follows:

£ Millions

(a) Purchase consideration

Cash paid

Consideration payable

Total purchase consideration

Consideration transferred for the business

(b) Effect on cash flows of the Group

Cash paid (as above)

Less: cash and cash equivalents in business acquired

Cash outflow on acquisition

(c) Assets acquired and liabilities assumed

Cash and cash equivalents

Property, plant and equipment

Technology, Customers’ Relationships, Contracts and Brand

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Total assets

Total net assets

Add: Goodwill

Consideration transferred for the business

Please refer to Note 31 for the effects of business combination on the cash flows of the Group.

16. Inventories

£ Millions

Goods for resale

Raw materials

Work-in-progress

Total

 2017

16.7

18.9

2.2

37.8

The cost of inventories recognised as an expense and included in “cost of sales” amounts to £89.2 million (2016: £67.8 million).

17. Trade receivables

£ Millions

Trade receivables

Total 

 2017

23.8

23.8

18.2

0.6

18.8

18.8

18.2

–

18.2

–

2.8

6.9

3.1

2.1

14.9

14.9

3.9

18.8

2016

19.0

12.1

1.1

32.2

2016

21.5

21.5

The average credit period taken on sales of goods is 52 days (2016: 60 days). No interest is charged on the outstanding receivables 
balance. The carrying amounts of trade receivables approximate their fair values.

103

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

18. Other current assets

£ Millions

Other receivables and prepayments

Total 

19. Total current liabilities

£ Millions

Current income tax liabilities

Trade and other payables

Accrued consideration (Note 20)

Borrowings (Note 21)

Derivative financial instruments

Total

 2017

3.8

3.8

 2017

3.5

21.4

–

–

0.2

25.1

2016

2.4

2.4

2016

3.3

16.1

0.5

5.5

0.4

25.8

Trade and other payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The carrying amounts of 
trade and other payables approximate their fair values.

20. Accrued consideration

£ Millions

At 1 January

Movement in provision during the year

Payment

Adjustment for unwinding of discount rate

At 31 December

Current portion of accrued consideration

Non-current portion of accrued consideration

Total

 2017

2016

2.0

(0.2)

(0.5)

0.1

1.4

–

1.4

1.4

1.5

0.4

–

0.1

2.0

0.5

1.5

2.0

The Group owns 89.9% (2016: 84.0%) of the shares of Powersolve Electronics Limited (“Powersolve”) and entered into an amended 
agreement on 29 October 2016 to purchase the remaining 10.1% of the shares in 2022. The Group owns 51% (2016: 51%) of the 
shares of Hanpower Co, Ltd (“Hanpower”) and entered into an agreement on 20 May 2015 to purchase an additional 15.0% of the 
shares in 2020 and another 15.0% of the shares in 2025.

The commitment to purchase the remaining ownership interests has been accounted for as accrued consideration and is calculated 
based on the expected future payment which will be based on a predefined multiple of the average earnings for three years.

The future payment is discounted to the present value, with the discount amortised to interest expense each period as the payment 
draws nearer. At each reporting period, the anticipated future payment is recalculated and an adjustment made accordingly, with 
a corresponding adjustment to goodwill for Powersolve. For Hanpower, the amount that is payable under the agreement is initially 
recognised at the present value of the redemption amount within liabilities with a corresponding charge directly to equity. The liability 
is subsequently accreted through finance charges up to the redemption amount that is payable in 2020 and 2025. As a result of the 
purchase commitment and the amount of control XP Power Limited exerts over both subsidiaries, their results are fully consolidated in the 
Group. Dividends are attributed to the non-controlling interests based on their respective interests in the subsidiaries.

104

Heading21. Borrowings

The borrowings are repayable as follows:

£ Millions

On demand or within one year

In the second year

In the third year

In the fourth year

Total

The carrying amounts of the Group’s borrowings are denominated in the following currency:

£ Millions

Bank loans

Total

Undrawn borrowing facilities

£ Millions

Expiring within one year

Expiring beyond one year

Total

The average interest rates paid were as follows:

This is in style marked up on go-proof...think it should be in body text

£ Millions

Bank overdrafts

Bank loans

 2017

–

–

–

24.0

24.0

 2017
USD

24.0

24.0

2016

5.5

–

–

–

5.5

2016
USD

5.5

5.5

 2017

2016

–

5.4

5.4

 2017

1.8%

2.1%

–

–

–

2016

1.9%

1.6%

The fair value of the Group’s bank loans and overdrafts approximates their book value.

The other principal features of the Group’s borrowings are as follows:

(1)  The Group had a term loan facility of US$12.0 million (£8.0 million) with Bank of Scotland on 20 November 2015. The facility was 
repayable in equal quarterly instalments of US$1.7 million which commenced in June 2016 and the Group has repaid the balance 
of the term loan in September 2017. The term loan was priced at LIBOR plus a margin of 0.95% (2016: priced at LIBOR plus a 
margin of 0.95%).

(2)  The Group has entered into a new revolving credit facility of US$40.0 million with a US$20.0 million additional accordion option 
with HSBC and Fifth Third Bank on 27 September 2017. The facility has no fixed repayment terms until maturity. The revolving 
loan is priced at LIBOR plus a margin of 1% for the utilisation facility and a margin of 0.4% for the unutilised facility.

(3)  Management assessed all loan covenants have been complied with as at 31 December 2017.

105

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

22. Derivative financial instruments
Forward foreign exchange contracts
The Group utilises currency derivatives to hedge highly probable forecast transactions. The instruments purchased are denominated in 
the currencies of the Group’s principal markets.

(a)  Qualify for hedge accounting

In 2017, the total notional amount of outstanding currency forward contracts that the Group has committed is £7.3 million (2016: £5.8 
million). These contracts are to hedge against exchange rate movements on future sales and qualify for hedge accounting.

December 2017
£ Millions

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Current portion

Total

December 2016
£ Millions

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Current portion

Total

(b)  Do not qualify for hedge accounting

Contract 
notional 
amount

Fair value 
(liability)

7.3

7.3

7.3

(0.2)

(0.2)

(0.2)

Contract 
notional 
amount

Fair value 
asset

5.8

5.8

5.8

0.4

0.4

0.4

Certain currency forward contracts were taken up to protect against exchange rate movements on future purchases of goods. These 
contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting.

The total notional amount and fair value asset/(liability) of these forward contracts are as follows:

December 2017
£ Millions

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Current portion

Total

December 2016
£ Millions

Forward foreign exchange contracts

Current portion

Total

Assets

Liabilities

Contract 
notional 
amount

Fair value 
asset

Contract 
notional 
amount

Fair value 
(liability)

5.9

5.9

5.9

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.5

0.5

0.5

–

–

–

Assets

Liabilities

Contract 
notional 
amount

Fair value 
asset

Contract 
notional 
amount

Fair value 
(liability)

0.4

0.4

0.4

–

–

–

5.3

5.3

5.3

(0.4)

(0.4)

(0.4)

106

Heading23. Deferred income taxes

The following are the major deferred tax assets and (liabilities) recognised by the Group and movements thereon during the current and 
prior reporting period.

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation

Goodwill 
amortisation

Share-based 
payment

Capitalised 
development 
costs

Other 
temporary 
differences

(0.7)

0.1

(0.1)

(0.7)

–

–

–

(0.7)

(1.3)

–

(0.2)

(1.5)

0.6

–

0.1

(0.8)

0.4

–

–

0.4

(0.1)

1.1

–

1.4

(2.9)

(0.6)

(0.2)

(3.7)

0.1

–

0.2

(3.4)

1.0

–

0.2

1.2

(0.4)

–

(0.1)

0.7

Total

(3.5)

(0.5)

(0.3)

(4.3)

0.2

1.1

0.2

(2.8)

£ Millions

At 1 January 2016

Charge to statement of 
comprehensive income

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2016

Charge to statement of 
comprehensive income

Charge to equity

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2017

£ Millions

Deferred tax assets

– To be recovered after more than 12 months

Deferred tax liabilities

– To be settled after more than 12 months

Deferred tax liabilities (net)

24. Share capital and reserves

Called up share capital

£ Millions

Allotted and fully paid 19,242,296 ordinary shares (2016: 19,242,296)

 2017

2016

1.4

1.4

(4.2)

(4.2)

(2.8)

0.4

0.4

(4.7)

(4.7)

(4.3)

 2017

27.2

2016

27.2

As at 31 December 2017, the Group’s Employee Share Ownership Plan (ESOP) held 134,540 (2016: 193,720) shares carrying a value 
of £1,788,783 (2016: £1,211,696) owned by the Trust.

Merger reserve

£ Millions

Balance at 31 December

Treasury shares

£ Millions

Balance at 1 January

Sale of treasury shares

Purchase of treasury shares

Employee share option plan expenses, net of tax

Balance at 31 December

 2017

0.2

2016

0.2

 2017

2016

(0.5)

1.0

(1.6)

1.5

0.4

(1.0)

0.3

(0.1)

0.3

(0.5)

107

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

24. Share capital and reserves (continued)

Hedging reserve

£ Millions

Balance at 1 January

Fair value (loss)/gain 

Balance at 31 December

Translation reserve

£ Millions

Balance at 1 January

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Balance at 31 December

Other reserve

£ Millions

Balance at 1 January

Future acquisition of non-controlling interest

Balance at 31 December

 2017

0.3

(0.5)

(0.2)

 2017

3.5

(3.9)

(0.4)

2016

0.1

0.2

0.3

2016

(5.3)

8.8

3.5

 2017

2016

–

(0.8)

(0.8)

–

–

–

The Group has an agreement with the non-controlling Shareholders of its Hanpower Co. Ltd (“Hanpower”) subsidiary to purchase an 
additional 15.0% of the shares in 2020 and another 15.0% of the shares in 2025.

Retained earnings

£ Millions

Balance at 1 January

Dividend paid

Profit for the year

Loss on treasury shares

Balance at 31 December

 2017

75.4

(14.0)

28.3

(0.1)

89.6

2016

67.1

(12.9)

21.3

(0.1)

75.4

Non-controlling interests
The non-controlling Shareholders are entitled to their share of any dividend declared. £0.2 million was paid to Powersolve and 
Hanpower non-controlling Shareholders in 2017. The balance payable for 2017 is £nil (2016: £0.1 million).

25. Operating leases and other commitments

At the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under operating leases which 
fall due as follows:

£ Millions

Within one year

In the second to fifth years inclusive

After five years

Total

 2017

2016

1.6

5.2

0.9

7.7

1.6

3.7

0.5

5.8

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for certain of its office properties and warehouses.

The Group has entered into a contract for the construction of a factory in Vietnam for a consideration of £2.7 million.

108

Heading26. ESOP loan to employees

£ Millions

ESOP loan to employees

Total

 2017

0.3

0.3

2016

0.7

0.7

The Group offers interest free loans to employees to purchase company shares under a deferred payment scheme managed through 
the XP Employees’ Share Ownership Plan Trust (ESOP). Under this scheme, payment is deferred until the shares are sold. The shares 
cannot be sold until four years from the date of acquisition. However, the loan becomes interest bearing after ten years. The Group 
does not classify a portion of this loan under current assets as the Company cannot predict when the employees will repay their loans.

27. Defined contribution plans

The total cost recognised is £6.2 million (2016: £4.8 million) for the Group.

In the USA, the Group operates a defined contribution “401K Plan”. The Group must contribute an amount matching the employees’ 
contribution of up to 3% of the employees’ total earnings. The total cost charged to the statement of comprehensive income of £3.6 
million (2016: £2.5 million) represents the Group’s “matching” contribution.

In the United Kingdom and Europe, the Group operates defined contribution pension schemes for its employees with contributions 
amounting to £1.5 million (2016: £1.3 million).

In Asia, the Group contributes to the defined contribution plans regulated and managed by the governments of the countries in which 
the Group operates. The Group’s contribution to the defined contribution plans is charged to the statement of comprehensive income 
in the period to which the contributions relate. The total cost charged to the statement of comprehensive income was £1.1 million 
(2016: £1.0 million).

28. Related party transactions

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties of the Company, have been eliminated on 
consolidation and are not disclosed in this note.

As at 31 December 2017, the Company’s Employee Share Ownership Plan provided no interest-free loans to Directors 
(2016: £0.1 million to 1 Director) for the deferred payment share scheme. The detailed information is provided for in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 60 to 68.

The remuneration of the Directors of the Group who are considered to be key management is set out below for each of the categories 
specified in IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’. Further information about the remuneration of the individual Directors is provided in the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 60 to 68.

£ Millions

Short-term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

Total Directors’ remuneration

* Balances are less than £100,000.

29. Share-based payments

2017

1.7

*

1.7

2016

1.2

*

1.2

Share Option Plans
Options have been granted under the Company’s Approved Share Option Schemes. The number of shares outstanding, subscription 
prices and exercise periods are as follows:

Number of shares

–

183,550

385,000

568,550

Exercise Price 
(pence)

507

946

Grant Date

Expiry Date 

26 April 2007*

26 April 2017

10 October 2012*

10 October 2022

1,543

23 February 2016*

23 February 2026

*  Approved option schemes, vesting in four equal annual instalments from the exercisable date.

109

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPP 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

29. Share-based payments (continued)

Outstanding at beginning of the year

Granted during the year

Forfeited during the year

Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

2017

2016

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(pence)

1,278

–

1,543

883

1,350

946

Number 
of share 
options

687,650

–

(9,000)

(110,100)

568,550

183,550

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(pence)

877

1,543

1,101

535

1,278

920

Number 
of share 
options

408,850

418,000

(88,550)

(50,650)

687,650

292,650

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for the share options exercised during the period was £25.68 (2016: £16.83). 
The options outstanding at 31 December 2017 had a weighted average exercise price of £13.50 (2016: £12.78), and a weighted 
average remaining contractual life of 7.1 years.

For options granted in 2016, the Group has taken a charge of £0.2 million (2016: £0.2 million). The fair value of options was 
determined using the Black–Scholes Model with a share price of £15.425 and a weighted average exercise price of £15.425, standard 
deviation of expected share returns of 0.292, and an annual risk free interest rate of 0.28%.

For options granted in 2012, which vested in the current financial year, the Group has taken a charge of £Nil million (2016: 
£0.1 million). The fair value of options was determined using the Black–Scholes Model with a share price of £10.09 and a weighted 
average exercise price of £9.46, standard deviation of expected share returns of 0.276, and an annual risk free interest rate of 0.33%.

The volatility measured as the standard deviation of expected share price returns was based on statistical analysis of the Company’s 
share price over the last year.

Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”)
The Group has introduced a LTIP scheme to replace the Share Option Plan. Under the scheme, conditional awards of share options 
are made to the scheme participants at nil or nominal cost options or deferred cash.

Number of shares

39,400

2,250

8,000

49,650

Exercise Price 
(pence)

1 

1

1

Grant Date

Expiry Date 

30 May 2017

30 May 2022

12 October 2017 

12 October 2022

01 November 2017

01 November 2022

110

Heading 
29. Share-based payments (continued)

At the vesting date, the share award will either vest, in full or in part, or lapse depending on the outcome of the performance 
conditions. The performance conditions of the awards made in 2017 are based on the growth in Earnings Per Share (“EPS”) and the 
Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) of the Group measured against that of the FTSE 250 over the Performance Period. For LTIP granted 
in 2017, the Group has taken a charge of £0.1 million. The fair value of the equity-settled LTIP options was calculated at the grant date 
using the Monte Carlo model and the Black–Scholes model based on the assumptions below.

Options granted

Fair value at grant date

Assumption used:

Share price

Exercise price

Expected volatility

Expected option life

Expected dividend yield

Risk free interest rate

LTIP
2017

49,650

£17.13

£26.77

£0.01

27.69%

3 years

3.75%

0.99%

Volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility of the shares over a three year period prior to grant date.

Outstanding at beginning of the year

Granted during the year

Forfeited during the year

Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

 2017

Number of 
LTIP
Options

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (pence)

–

49,650

–

–

49,650

–

–

1

–

–

1

–

50% of the share awards will vest after the third year and the remaining 50% of the share awards will vest after the fourth year. Upon 
vesting, employees will receive one share for each vested share award.

30. Financial risk management

The Group’s activities expose it to capital risk, currency risk (including both transactional and translational currency risk), interest rate 
risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group seeks to minimise adverse effects from the unpredictability of financial markets on the 
Group’s financial performance.

(a)  Capital risk

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

The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, which includes the borrowings disclosed in Note 21, cash and equity attributable 
to equity holders of the parent, comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in Note 24.

The Board reviews the capital structure of the business and considers the cost of capital and risks associated with each class of 
capital. The Group aims to balance its overall capital structure through the payment of dividends, new share issues and share buyback 
as well as the issue of new debt or the redemption of existing debt.

111

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

30. Financial risk management (continued)

(b)  Currency risk

The Group operates in North America, Europe and Asia and its activities expose it to transactional risks resulting from changes 
in foreign currency exchange rates. The Group monitors and manages these transactional foreign exchange risks relating to the 
operations of the Group through internal reports analysing major currency exposures. Where possible, the Group seeks to offset 
exposures by matching monetary asset and liability exposures in like currencies against each other, often using its bank facilities 
to square off or reduce exposures. To manage the currency risk, the Group manages the overall currency exposure mainly through 
currency forwards. The Group’s risk management policy is to hedge a portion of highly probable forecast purchase transactions by our 
customers.

In addition, the Group is exposed to translation risk when the results of its various operations are translated from their local functional 
currencies to Sterling, the Group’s reporting currency. In particular a significant proportion of the Group’s revenues and earnings are 
derived in US Dollars. The Group is therefore exposed to risk when these US Dollar revenue streams are translated into Sterling for 
Group reporting purposes. The Group regards this as a fundamental consequence of operating in markets which are dominated by US 
Dollar transactions. The Group does not hedge this translational risk as there is no underlying mismatch of foreign currencies as the 
translation is merely performed for reporting the Group’s results in Sterling.

The Group’s transactional currency exposure based on the information provided to key management is as follows:

£ Millions 

At 31 December 2017

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade receivables

Other current assets

ESOP loan to employees

Subtotal

Financial liabilities

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Other financial liabilities

Subtotal

Net financial assets/(liabilities) 

Add: Firm commitments and highly probable 
forecast transactions in foreign currency

Currency forwards 

Currency profile excluding non-financial 
assets and liabilities

Less: Financial assets/(liabilities) denominated in 
the respective entities’ functional currencies

Currency exposure of financial assets

GBP

EUR

USD

Others

Total

0.8

1.6

1.4

0.3

4.1

–

(2.4)

(0.6)

(3.0)

1.1

–

5.9

7.0

1.0

6.0

0.8

2.3

0.1

–

3.2

–

(0.7)

–

(0.7)

2.5

10.9

(7.8)

5.6

1.9

3.7

11.5

19.6

2.1

–

33.2

(24.0)

(17.7)

(0.8)

 (42.5)

(9.3)

–

–

(9.3)

(15.0)

5.7

1.9

0.3

0.2

–

2.4

–

(0.6)

–

(0.6)

1.8

–

–

1.8

1.4

0.4

15.0

23.8

3.8

0.3

42.9

(24.0)

(21.4)

(1.4)

(46.8)

(3.9)

10.9

(1.9)

5.1

(10.7)

15.8

112

Heading 
 
 
 
 
30. Financial risk management (continued)

(b)  Currency risk (continued)

£ Millions

At 31 December 2016

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade receivables

Other current assets

ESOP loan to employees

Subtotal

Financial liabilities

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Other financial liabilities

Subtotal

Net financial assets

Add: Firm commitments and highly probable forecast 
transactions in foreign currency

Currency forwards

Currency profile excluding non-financial assets 
and liabilities

Less: Financial assets/(liabilities) denominated in the 
respective entities’ functional currencies

Currency exposure of financial assets/(liabilities)

GBP

EUR

USD

Others

Total

1.1

1.8

0.9

0.7

4.5

–

(1.3)

(1.2)

(2.5)

2.0

–

5.3

7.3

1.8

5.5

0.5

2.0

–

–

2.5

–

(0.6)

–

(0.6)

1.9

8.7

(6.2)

4.4

1.7

2.7

5.6

17.2

1.3

–

24.1

(5.5)

(13.7)

–

(19.2)

4.9

–

–

4.9

(0.5)

5.4

2.0

0.5

0.2

–

2.7

–

(0.5)

(0.8)

(1.3)

1.4

–

–

1.4

1.9

(0.5)

9.2

21.5

2.4

0.7

33.8

(5.5)

(16.1)

(2.0)

(23.6)

10.2

8.7

(0.9)

18.0

4.9

13.1

If the US Dollar and Euro change against Sterling by 7% and 8% respectively (2016: US Dollar 10%, Euro 10%) with all other variables, 
including tax rates, being held constant, the effects arising from the net financial asset/(liability) position will be as follows:

£ Millions

Group

EUR against GBP

— strengthened

— weakened

USD against GBP

— strengthened

— weakened

2017 
Profit after tax

2016 
Profit after tax

0.3

(0.3)

0.4

(0.4)

0.2

(0.2)

0.4

(0.4)

The impact of the currency risk on the other comprehensive income is not significant.

c) 

Interest rate risk

The Group’s borrowings are at variable interest rates and are denominated in US Dollars. If the average interest rates on these 
borrowings increased/decreased by 0.5% (2016: 0.5%) with all other variables, including tax rates, being held constant, the profit after 
tax will be lower/higher by £123,000 (2016: £30,000) as a result of higher/lower interest expense on these borrowings.

113

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPP 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

30.  Financial risk management (continued)

(d)  Credit risk

Credit risk refers to the risk that the counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in a financial loss to the Group. For 
trade receivables the Group adopts a policy of only dealing with customers of appropriate credit history or rating. For other financial 
assets, the Group adopts the policy of only dealing with high credit quality counterparties.

The Group’s business is highly fragmented, reducing the credit exposure to any one customer. At the balance sheet date no individual 
trade receivable represented more than 11% (2016: 7%) of the total trade receivables balance.

The credit risk for trade receivables, which are all with non-related parties, by geographical area is as follows:

£ Millions

By geographical areas

Europe

North America

Asia

 2017

2016

7.6

13.4

2.8

23.8

7.9

9.2

4.4

21.5

Bank deposits that are neither past due nor impaired are mainly deposits with banks with high credit-ratings assigned by international 
credit-rating agencies. Trade receivables that are neither past due nor impaired are substantially with companies with a good collection 
track record with the Group.

The age analysis of trade receivables past due and/or impaired is as follows:

£ Millions

Past due 0 – 2 months

Past due 3 – 4 months

Past due over 4 months

 2017

2016

6.5

0.6

0.3

7.4

5.7

0.5

0.3

6.5

The carrying amount of trade receivables individually determined to be impaired and the movement in the related allowance for 
impairment are as follows:

 2017

2016

0.9

(0.5)

0.4

(0.4)

(0.2)

–

0.1

(0.5)

0.7

(0.4)

0.3

(0.3)

(0.1)

0.1

(0.1)

(0.4)

£ Millions

Gross amount

Less: Allowance for impairment

Beginning of financial year

Allowance made

Allowance utilised

Foreign currency translation

End of the financial year

114

Heading30.  Financial risk management (continued)

(e)  Liquidity risk

Prudent liquidity risk management includes maintaining sufficient cash, the availability of funding through an adequate amount of 
committed credit facilities (Note 21) and the ability to close out market positions at a short notice. At the balance sheet date, assets 
held by the Group and the Company for managing liquidity risk included cash and short-term deposits as disclosed in Note 15.

The table below analyses the maturity profile of the Group’s non-derivative financial liabilities at the balance sheet date based on 
contractual undiscounted cash flows. Balances due within 12 months equal their carrying amounts as the impact of discounting is not 
significant.

£ Millions

Group

At 31 December 2017

Trade and other payables

Accrued consideration

Borrowings

Total

£ Millions

Group

At 31 December 2016

Trade and other payables

Accrued consideration

Borrowings

Total

Less than 
1 year

Between
1 and 2
 years

Between 
2 and 5 
years

Over 
5 years

21.4

–

–

21.4

–

–

–

–

–

1.0

24.0

25.0

–

0.4

–

0.4

Less than 
1 year

Between 
1 and 2 
years

Between 
2 and 5 
years

Over 
5 years

16.1

0.5

5.5

22.1

–

–

–

–

–

1.2

–

1.2

–

0.3

–

0.3

Total

21.4

1.4

24.0

46.8

Total

16.1

2.0

5.5

23.6

The Group manages the liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash and bank facilities to enable it to meet its normal operating 
commitments.

(f)  Fair value measurements

The table below analyses financial instruments carried at fair value, by valuation method. The different levels have been defined as 
follows:

i.  Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1);

ii.  Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or 

indirectly (i.e. derived from prices) (Level 2); and

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

The following table presents the assets and liabilities measured at fair value at 31 December 2017.

2017
£ Millions

Assets

Derivative financial instruments

Liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

 Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

–

–

0.2

(0.2)

–

–

0.2

(0.2)

115

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

30.  Financial risk management (continued)

(f)  Fair value measurements (continued)

2016
£ Millions

Assets

Derivative financial instruments

Liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

–

–

0.4

(0.4)

–

–

0.4

(0.4)

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market (for example, over-the-counter derivatives) is determined 
by using valuation techniques. The Group uses a variety of methods and makes assumptions that are based on market conditions 
existing at each balance sheet date. The fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts is determined using quoted forward 
exchange rates at the balance sheet date. These derivative financial instruments are included in Level 2.

(g)  Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities

The Group has no financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting arrangements.

31. Business combination

On 29 September 2017, the Group acquired 100% assets and business of Comdel Inc. (“XP Comdel”). The principal activity of 
XP Comdel is to provide Radio Frequency (RF) power supplies to the semiconductor, thin film, photovoltaics, and induction heating 
industries.

Details of the consideration paid, the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, and the effects on the cash flows of the Group, at the 
acquisition date, are as follows:

(a) Purchase consideration

Cash paid

Consideration payable

Total purchase consideration 

Consideration transferred for the business

(b) Effect on cash flows of the Group

Cash paid (as above)

Less: cash and cash equivalents in subsidiary acquired

Cash outflow on acquisition

(c)

Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed

Property, plant and equipment (Note 13)

Technology, Customers’ Relationships, 
Contracts and Brand (included in intangibles – Note 12)

Inventories

Trade receivables

Total assets

Total identifiable net assets

Add: Goodwill (Note 11)

Consideration transferred for the business

116

£ Millions

18.2

0.6

18.8

18.8

18.2

–

18.2

Fair value recognised on acquisition (final) 
2017 
£ Millions

2.8

6.9

3.1

2.1

14.9

14.9

3.9

18.8

Heading(d) 

31. Business combination (continued)
Acquisition-related costs 
 Acquisition-related costs of £0.2 million are included in “administrative expenses” in the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income and in operating cash flows in the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year ended 
31 December 2017.

(e) 

(f) 

(g) 

(h) 

Acquired receivables 
 The fair value of trade receivables is £2.1 million. The gross contractual amount for trade receivables due is £2.2 million, of 
which £0.1 million is expected to be uncollectible.

Final fair values 
 The fair value of the acquired identifiable intangible assets of £6.9 million (brand, technology, customers’ relationships and 
contracts) has been determined.

Goodwill 
 The goodwill of £3.9 million arising from the acquisition is attributable to the distribution network in America and the synergies 
expected to arise from the economies of scale in combining the operations of the Group with those of XP Comdel.

Revenue and profit contribution 
 The acquired business contributed revenue of £4.1 million and net profit of £0.7 million to the Group from the period from 
29 September 2017 to 31 December 2017. Had XP Comdel been consolidated from 1 January 2017, consolidated revenue 
and consolidated profit before tax for the year ended 31 December 2017 would have been £177.2 million and £31.7 million 
respectively.

32. Other information

These financial statements were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Board of Directors of XP Power Limited on 
1 March 2018.

117

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPP 
 
 
 
 
Company Balance Sheet
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2017

£’000

ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Other current assets

Derivative financial instruments

Inventories

Corporation tax recoverable

Total current assets

Non-current assets

Investments in subsidiaries

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Long-term receivable

Total non-current assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Current income tax liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

Total current liabilities

Non-current liability

Deferred income tax liabilities

Total non-current liability

Total liabilities

NET ASSETS

EQUITY

Share capital

Treasury shares

Hedging reserve

Translation reserve

Retained earnings

TOTAL EQUITY

118

Note

2017

2016

4

5

6

7

8

14

3

9

10

13

12

14

7

11

15

15

15

15

15

4,633

20,963

1,092

154

10,434

1,291

38,567

3,211

20,885

549

362

10,564

–

35,571

29,786

29,786

2,299

7,564

6,713

46,362

84,929

21,210

3,146

248

24,604

1,419

1,419

26,023

58,906

2,072

5,946

7,273

45,077

80,648

19,357

3,060

414

22,831

1,136

1,136

23,967

56,681

29,786

29,786

5

(239)

3,364

25,990

58,906

–

332

5,442

21,121

56,681

Heading 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company Balance Sheet
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

1.  General information

XP Power Limited (the “Company”) is listed on the London Stock Exchange and incorporated and domiciled in Singapore. The 
address of its registered office is 401 Commonwealth Drive, Lobby B, #02-02, Haw Par Technocentre, Singapore 149598.

The nature of the Company’s operations and its principal activities are manufacturing, providing power supply solutions and acting as 
an investment holding company.

2.  Basis of accounting policies

The principal accounting policies are set out in Note 2 under the Group Consolidated Financial Statements.

3. 

Investment in subsidiaries

£’000

Cost at carrying value

At 1 January 

At 31 December 

2017

2016

29,786

29,786

29,786

29,786

Name of Subsidiary

XP Power Plc

XP Power Singapore Holdings Pte 
Limited

Place of incorporation/
Ownership (or 
registration) and 
operation

Proportion of 
Ownership % 
2017

Proportion of 
Ownership % 
2016

Auditor of Subsidiaries

UK

Singapore

100

100

100

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

100

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

4.  Cash and cash equivalents

£’000

Cash at bank

Total 

2017

4,633

4,633

2016

3,211

3,211

The Company’s cash at bank is denominated in the following currencies:

GBP
£’000

USD
£’000

EUR
£’000

SGD
£’000

JPY
£’000

SEK
£’000

DKK
£’000

NOK
£’000

TOTAL
£’000

At 31 December 2017

Cash at bank

81

4,079

208

253

–

–

12

–

4,633

GBP
£’000

USD
£’000

EUR
£’000

SGD
£’000

JPY
£’000

SEK
£’000

DKK
£’000

NOK
£’000

TOTAL
£’000

At 31 December 2016

Cash at bank

138

2,753

122

115

3

–

–

80

3,211

119

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPP 
 
 
 
Notes to the Company Balance Sheet
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

5.  Trade and other receivables

£’000

Trade receivables

Trade receivables from related parties

Total 

 2017

2,520

18,443

20,963

2016

3,996

16,889

20,885

The average credit period taken on sales of goods is 41 days (2016: 67 days). No interest is charged on the outstanding receivables 
balance.

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

6.  Other current assets

£’000

Deposit

Other receivables and prepayments

Total 

 2017

61

1,031

1,092

2016

68

481

549

 7.  Derivative financial instruments

The total notional amount of outstanding currency forward contracts that the Company has committed is £7.3 million (2016: 
£5.8 million). These contracts are to hedge against exchange movements on future sales and qualify for hedge accounting.

As at 31 December 2017, the fair value (liability)/asset of the currency forward contracts recognised under a hedging reserve is 
(£239,000) (2016: £332,000) (Note 15).

Contract 
notional 
amount

7,313

7,313

Contract 
notional 
amount

5,818

5,818

Fair value 
liability

(239)

(239)

Fair value 
asset

332

332

December 2017
£’000

Current portion

Total

December 2016
£‘000

Current portion

Total

120

Heading7.  Derivative financial instruments (continued)

Certain currency forward contracts were taken up to protect against exchange movements on future sales. These contracts did not 
qualify for hedge accounting.

December 2017
£’000

Current portion

Total

December 2016
£’000

Current portion

Total

8. 

Inventories

£’000

Goods for resale

Assets

Liabilities

Contract 
notional 
amount

5,900

5,900

Fair Value 
asset

154

154

Contract 
notional 
amount 

532

532

Fair Value 
(liability)

(9)

(9)

Assets

Liabilities

Contract 
notional 
amount

422

422

Fair Value 
asset

30

30

Contract 
notional 
amount 

5,300

5,300

Fair Value 
(liability)

(414)

(414)

 2017

10,434

2016

10,564

121

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Company Balance Sheet
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

9.  Property, plant and equipment

Freehold 
land

Building

Plant and 
equipment

Motor 
vehicles

Building 
improvements

1,558

1,404

195

–

–

41

236

–

–

(19)

217

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

331

1,889

–

–

(146)

1,743

334

51

–

77

462

55

–

(38)

479

217

236

1,264

1,427

52

(215)

281

1,522

557

(45)

(139)

1,895

1,045

127

(215)

212

1,169

132

(45)

(94)

1,162

733

353

10

40

–

7

57

–

(12)

(4)

41

10

1

–

2

13

9

(12)

(1)

9

32

44

364

12

–

78

454

55

–

(38)

471

364

1

–

77

442

11

–

(35)

418

53

12

Total

3,531

104

(215)

738

4,158

612

(57)

(346)

4,367

1,753

180

(215)

368

2,086

207

(57)

(168)

2,068

2,299

2,072

£’000

Cost

At 1 January 2016

Additions

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2016

Additions

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2017

Depreciation

At 1 January 2016

Additions

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2016

Additions

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 31 December 2017

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2017

At 31 December 2016

122

Heading10. Intangible assets

£’000

Cost

Balance at 1 January

Additions

Foreign currency translation

Balance at 31 December

Amortisation

Balance at 1 January

Additions

Foreign currency translation

Balance at 31 December

Carrying amount

Balance at 31 December

2017

2016

9,139

3,491

(861)

11,769

3,193

1,321

(309)

4,205

5,059

2,697

1,383

9,139

1,765

930

498

3,193

7,564

5,946

Intangible assets arise from development costs incurred on the Group’s products. The amortisation period for development costs 
incurred varies between four and seven years according to the expected useful life of the products being developed.

Amortisation commences when the products are ready for sale.

11. Deferred income taxes

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities recognised by the Company and movements thereon during the current and prior 
reporting period.

£’000

At 1 January 2016

Charge to statement of comprehensive income

Exchange difference

At 31 December 2016

Charge to statement of comprehensive income

Exchange difference

At 31 December 2017

£’000

Deferred tax liabilities – to be settled after more than 12 months

Total 

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation

Capitalised 
development 
costs

Other 
temporary 
differences

(74)

14

(15)

(75)

(71)

4

(550)

(296)

(150)

(996)

(343)

67

(142)

(1,272)

(42)

(13)

(10)

(65)

53

7

(5)

2017

(1,419)

(1,419)

Total

(666)

(295)

(175)

(1,136)

(361)

78

(1,419)

2016

(1,136)

(1,136)

123

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Company Balance Sheet
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

12. Trade and other payables

£’000

Trade payables and other creditors

Amount payable to related parties

Total 

2017

5,579

15,631

21,210

2016

4,843

14,514

19,357

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

The Company borrows from subsidiaries at an interest rate of 1.5% – 2.0% above LIBOR. The borrowing is repayable upon demand.

13. Long-term receivable

£’000

Loans to related parties

Total 

Loan to XP Power Vietnam bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.5% – 2.0% per annum.

Loan to XP Power (Israel) Ltd bears interest at LIBOR plus 1.5% per annum.

14. Corporate tax recoverable/Current income tax liabilities

Movement in corporate tax recoverable:

£’000

At 1 January

Income tax paid in excess

At 31 December

Movement in current income tax liabilities:

£’000

At 1 January

Currency translation differences

Income tax paid

Current year tax expense

Over-provision in prior financial year

At 31 December

15. Share capital and reserves

Share capital
£‘000

Allotted and fully paid 19,242,296 ordinary shares

Treasury shares
£’000

Balance at 1 January

Share option expense 

Balance at 31 December

124

2017

6,713

6,713

2016

7,273

7,273

2017

-

1,291

1,291

2017

3,060

(315)

(2,552)

3,085

(132)

3,146

2016

-

-

-

2016

1,857

483

(1,796)

2,592

(76)

3,060

2017

29,786

2016

29,786

2017

2016

–

5

5

–

–

–

Heading15. Share capital and reserves (continued)

Hedging reserve
£’000

Balance at 1 January

Fair value (loss)/gain 

Balance at 31 December

Translation reserve 
£’000

Balance at 1 January

Exchange differences on translation

Balance at 31 December

Retained earnings 
£’000

Balance at 1 January

Dividends paid

Profit for the year

Balance at 31 December 

 2017

332

(571)

(239)

2017

5,442

(2,078)

3,364

2017

21,121

(13,921)

18,790

25,990

2016

157

175

332

2016

1,513

3,929

5,442

2016

18,654

(12,919)

15,386

21,121

16. Financial risk management

The Company’s activities expose it to capital risk, currency risk (including both transactional and translational currency risk), interest 
rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Company seeks to minimise adverse effects from the unpredictability of financial markets on 
the Company’s financial performance.

(a) Capital risk
The Company manages its capital to ensure that it will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the return to 
Shareholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance.

The capital structure of the Company consists of debt, cash and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent, comprising issued 
capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in Note 15.

(b) Currency risk
The Company operates in North America, Europe and Asia and its activities expose it to transactional risks resulting from changes 
in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company monitors and manages these transactional foreign exchange risks relating to the 
operations of the Company through internal reports analysing major currency exposures. Where possible the Company seeks to offset 
exposures by matching monetary asset and liability exposures in like currencies against each other often using its bank facilities to 
square off or reduce exposures. To manage the currency risk, the Company manages the overall currency exposure mainly through 
currency forwards. The Company’s risk management policy is to hedge a portion of highly probable forecast sales transactions.

In addition, the Company is exposed to translation risk when the results of its operations and balance sheet are converted from its 
functional currency to Sterling, the Group’s reporting currency. In particular a significant proportion of the Company’s revenues and 
earnings are derived in US Dollars. The Company regards this as a fundamental consequence of operating in markets which are 
dominated by US Dollar transactions. The Company does not hedge this translational risk as there is no underlying mismatch of 
foreign currencies as the translation is merely performed for reporting the Company’s results in Sterling.

125

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Company Balance Sheet
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

16. Financial risk management (continued)

(b) Currency risk (continued)
The Company’s currency exposure based on the information provided to key management is as follows:

At 31 December 2017
£’000 

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other receivables

Other current assets

Long-term receivables

Subtotal

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Subtotal

Net financial (liabilities)/assets

Add: Firm commitments and highly probable 
forecast transactions in foreign currency

Currency forwards

Currency profile excluding non-financial 
assets and liabilities 

Less: Financial assets denominated in the entity’s 
functional currencies

Currency exposure of financial assets 

At 31 December 2016 
£’000

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents 

Trade and other receivables

Other current assets

Long-term receivables

Subtotal

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Subtotal

Net financial (liabilities)/assets

Add: Firm commitments and highly probable 
forecast transactions in foreign currency

Currency forwards

Currency profile excluding non-financial 
assets and liabilities 

Less: Financial assets denominated in the entity’s 
functional currency

Currency exposure of financial assets

126

GBP

EUR

USD

Others

Total

81

393

745

–

208

964

28

–

1,219

1,200

4,079

19,459

200

6,713

30,451

(14,729)

(14,729)

15,722

–

–

14

14

1,214

10,935

(7,844)

4,305

15,722

–

4,305

15,722

–

(6,311)

(6,311)

(5,092)

–

5,900

808

–

808

265

147

119

–

531

(184)

(184)

347

–

–

347

–

347

4,633

20,963

1,092

6,713

33,401

(21,210)

(21,210)

12,191

10,935

(1,944)

21,182

15,722

5,460

GBP

EUR

USD

Others

Total

138

1,812

314

–

2,264

(4,716)

(4,716)

(2,452)

–

5,300

122

1,234

(87)

–

1,269

93

93

1,362

8,687

(6,240)

2,753

17,556

206

7,273

27,788

(14,593)

(14,593)

13,195

–

–

2,848

3,809

13,195

–

2,848

–

3,809

13,195

–

198

283

116

–

597

(141)

(141)

456

–

–

456

–

456

3,211

20,885

549

7,273

31,918

(19,357)

(19,357)

12,561

8,687

(940)

20,308

13,195

7,113

Heading 
 
 
 
 
16. Financial risk management (continued)

(c) Interest rate risk
The Company borrows from subsidiaries at an interest rate of 1.5% - 2.0% above LIBOR.

If the average interest rates on these borrowings increased/decreased by 0.5% (2016: 0.5%) with all other variables, including tax 
rates, being held constant, the profit before tax will be lower/higher by £20,183 (2016: £21,372) as a result of higher/lower interest 
expense on these borrowings.

(d) Credit risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that the counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in a financial loss to the Company. 
For trade receivables the Company adopts a policy of only dealing with customers of appropriate credit history or rating. For other 
financial assets, the Company adopts the policy of only dealing with high credit quality counterparties.

The Company is not exposed to significant credit risk as a majority of the sales are made to the subsidiaries. Trade receivables are 
neither past due nor impaired are substantially companies with a good collection track record with the Company.

The Company does not hold any collateral and the maximum exposure to credit risk for each class of financial instruments is the 
carrying amount of that class of financial instruments on the balance sheet.

(e) Liquidity risk
The table below analyses the maturity profile of the Company’s financial liabilities at the balance sheet date based on contractual 
undiscounted cash flows. Balances due within 12 months equal their carrying amounts as the impact of discounting is not significant.

£’000

At 31 December 2017
Trade and other payables
Total

£‘000

At 31 December 2016

Trade and other payables

Total

Less than
1 year

21,210
21,210

Less than 
1 year

19,357

19,357

Between
 1 and 2 
years

Between 
2 and 5 years

Over
5 years

–
–

–
–

–
–

Between
 1 and 2 
years

Between 
2 and 5 
years

Over
 5 years

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

21,210
21,210

Total

19,357

19,357

The Company manages the liquidity risk by maintaining sufficient cash and bank facilities to enable it to meet its normal operating 
commitments.

The Company has issued a multilateral guarantee to HSBC and Fifth Third Bank for the revolving credit facility entered into by the 
Group. The revolving credit facility amounts to US$40 million with a US$20 million additional accordion option and have a tenure of 
four years from the loan agreement date, 27 September 2017, with a potential one year extension.

(f) Fair value measurements
The table below analyses financial instruments carried at fair value, by valuation method. The different levels have been defined as follows:

i.   Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1);

ii.   Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (i.e. as prices) or 

indirectly (i.e. derived from prices) (Level 2); and

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

The following table presents the assets measured at fair value at 31 December 2017:

£‘000 
2017

Assets
Derivative financial instruments
Liabilities
Derivative financial instruments

 Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

–

–

154

(248)

–

–

154

(248)

127

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPNotes to the Company Balance Sheet
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

16. Financial risk management (continued)
(f) Fair value measurements (continued)

£’000 
2016

Assets

Derivative financial instruments

Liabilities

Derivative financial instruments

 Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Total

–

–

362

(414)

–

–

362

(414)

(g) Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities
(i) Financial assets

The Company has the following financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements as 
follows:

Related amounts 
set off in the balance sheet

Related amounts 
not set off in the balance sheet

Gross 
amounts 
– financial 
assets

Gross 
amounts 
– financial 
liabilities

1,592

1,592

152

152

(168)

(168)

(9)

(9)

Net amounts 
– financial 
assets 
presented in 
the balance 
sheet

1,424

1,424

143

143

Financial 
assets /
liabilities

17,019

17,019

16,746

16,746

Financial 
collateral 
received

Net amount

–

–

–

–

18,443

18,443

16,889

16,889

£’000
At 31 December 2017

Trade receivables

Total

At 31 December 2016

Trade receivables 

Total

(ii) Financial liabilities

The Company has the following financial instruments subject to enforceable master netting arrangements or similar agreements as 
follows:

Related amounts 
set off in the balance sheet

Related amounts 
not set off in the balance sheet

Gross 
amounts 
- financial 
liabilities

Gross 
amounts 
– financial 
assets

Net amounts 
– financial 
liabilities 
presented in 
the balance 
sheet

(168)

(168)

(9)

(9)

168

168

9

9

–

–

–

–

Financial 
assets /
liabilities

(15,631)

(15,631)

(14,514)

(14,514)

Financial 
collateral 
pledged

Net amount

–

–

–

–

(15,631)

(15,631)

(14,514)

(14,514)

£’000
At 31 December 2017

Trade payables

Total

At 31 December 2016

Trade payables 

Total

128

HeadingFive Year Review
CONSOLIDATED INFORMATION

Results

Revenue

Profit from operations

Profit before tax

Assets employed

Non-current assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Financed by

Equity

Non-controlling interests

Key statistics (pence)

Earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Diluted adjusted earnings per share

Share price in the year (pence)

High

Low

Dividends per share (pence)

2017
£ Millions

2016
£ Millions

2015
£ Millions

2014
£ Millions

2013
£ Millions

166.8

32.5

32.2

88.1

83.5

(25.1)

(29.6)

116.9

116.0

0.9

116.9

148.3

146.0

147.0

129.8

28.0

27.8

73.2

65.7

(25.8)

(6.2)

106.9

106.1

0.8

106.9

112.0

111.2

115.3

109.7

25.6

25.4

65.4

53.5

(19.8)

(10.0)

89.1

88.3

0.8

89.1

103.7

102.8

104.3

101.1

24.5

24.3

56.1

47.0

(18.6)

(4.2)

80.3

80.2

0.1

80.3

102.1

101.1

101.1

101.1

23.3

22.9

53.3

42.2

(22.4)

(3.7)

69.4

69.2

0.2

69.4

95.8

95.1

95.1

3,626.0

1,725.0

78.0

1,845.0

1,410.0

71.0

1,750.0

1,375.0

66.0

1,798.0

1,340.0

61.0

1,630.0

972.0

55.0

129

FINANCIALSXP Power Annual Report & Accounts  for the year ended 31 December 2017 stock code: XPPXP Power Limited Advisers

Company Brokers
Investec
2 Gresham Street
London
EC2V 7QP
United Kingdom

Principal Bankers
HSBC Bank plc
Level 7
Thames Tower
Station Road
Reading

Solicitors
Osborne Clarke
2 Temple Back East
Temple Quay
Bristol
BS1 6EG
United Kingdom

Registrars
Link Asset Services
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent
BR3 4TU
United Kingdom

Company Secretary
M & C Services Private Limited
112 Robinson Road #05-01
The Corporate Office
Singapore 068902

Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
7 Straits View
Marina One, East Tower, Level 12
Singapore 018936

130

HeadingIntroduction

OUR PURPOSE
We provide our customers in the Healthcare, Industrial and Technology 
sectors with solutions to power their critical systems and get their 
products to market in the shortest possible time. 

Electronic equipment cannot operate directly from the electricity 
provided by the mains supply which is a relatively high voltage 
alternating current. All electronic equipment requires a stable, direct 
current in order to operate. Our electronic power converters are 
designed-in to our customers’ end equipment, often with the aid of our 
engineering expertise, to provide this stable direct current. These power 
solutions also provide the vital safety barrier between the potentially 
lethal mains supply and the user of the end equipment. 

Our target customers provide vital equipment where the cost of 
downtime or implications of failure are significant.

We power the world’s critical systems.

OUR VISION
To be the first choice power solutions provider delivering the ultimate 
experience for our customers and our people.

OUR CORE VALUES
Our core values of INTEGRITY, KNOWLEDGE, FLEXIBILITY, SPEED and 
CUSTOMER FOCUS are our DNA and are fundamental to our success. 

CUSTOMER 

FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

CUSTOMER 
CUSTOMER 
CUSTOMER 
INTEGRITY
FOCUS
FOCUS
FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE
KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY
FLEXIBILITY
FLEXIBILITY

SPEED
SPEED
SPEED

CUSTOMER 
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
INTEGRITY
FOCUS

KNOWLEDGE

FLEXIBILITY

SPEED

INTEGRITY

Printed on Cocoon Silk 60.

A recycled paper containing 60% recycled waste and 40% virgin fibre and manufactured  
at a mill certified with ISO 14001 environmental management standard.

The pulp used in this product is bleached using an Elemental Chlorine Free process. (ECF)

X
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7

XP POWER LIMITED
401 COMMONWEALTH DRIVE
HAW PAR TECHNOCENTRE
LOBBY B #02-02
SINGAPORE 149598
T: +65 6411 6900
F: +65 6479 6305

XP POWER
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 
for the year ended 31 December 2017

stock code: XPP