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Zytronic plc

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FY2011 Annual Report · Zytronic plc
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In TOUCH  
with global markets

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zytronic is the developer and manufacturer 
of a unique range of internationally 
award-winning touch sensor products 
based on patent-protected projected 
capacitive technology (PCT™). 

Zytronic’s products incorporate an embedded array of metallic micro-sensing 
electrodes which offer significant durability, environmental stability and optical 
enhancement benefits to designers of system-integrated interactive displays 
for public access and industrial type applications.

Zytronic operates from a single site outside Newcastle-upon-Tyne in the 
United Kingdom, comprising three modern factories and environmentally 
controlled clean room suites, where it manufactures its range of PCT touch 
assemblies using specialist glass and plastic materials.

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more 
about Zytronic or alternatively go to www.zytronic.co.uk

Review of the year

Financial statements

Highlights ............................................................................01
Zytronic at a glance ...........................................................02
Chairman’s statement ........................................................04
Business review .................................................................06

Corporate governance

Board of Directors ..............................................................14
Directors’ report..................................................................15
Corporate governance .......................................................18
Remuneration report .........................................................21

Group accounts
Independent auditors’ report ............................................25
Consolidated income statement .......................................26
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income .......26
Consolidated statement of changes in equity ................27
Consolidated balance sheet ..............................................28
Consolidated cashflow statement ....................................29
Notes to the consolidated financial statements  ............30
Five-year summaries .........................................................52

Company accounts
 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in relation  
to the parent company financial statements ..................54
Parent company auditors’ report ......................................55
Parent company balance sheet ........................................56
Notes to the parent company financial statements .......57
Notice of annual general meeting ...................................62
Corporate information .......................................................64

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

01

Highlights

 > Group revenue increased by 11% to £20.5m (2010: £18.5m)
 > Touch product sales increased by 38% to £14.2m (2010: £10.3m)
 > Touch revenue now accounts for 70% of Group revenue (2010: 56%)
 > Profit before tax increased by 22% to £3.6m (2010: £2.9m) 
 > EPS increased by 23% to 18.3p (2010: 14.9p)
 >  Final dividend proposed of 5.6p (2010: 5.0p) – total for year increased by 10% to 7.7p (2010: 7.0p)
 > Net cash generated from operations of £4.5m (2010: £3.8m) 
 >  Group now ungeared (2010 gearing: 11%); positive cash balances less borrowings

Sales revenue (£’m)

£20.5m +11%

Gross profit margin (%)

33.7%

2011 
2010 
2009 
2008 
2007 

15.9m

14.7m

11.4m

20.5m

18.5m

2011 
2010 
2009 
2008 
2007 

Profit from continuing operations (“PBT”) (£’m)

£3.6m +22%

3.6m

2.9m

2.3m

1.7m

2011 
2010 
2009 
2008 
2007  0.7m

Dividends (pence)

7.7p +10%

Earnings per share (pence)

18.3p +23%

2011 
2010 
2009 
2008 
2007 

7.3p

3.6p

Cashflow from operating activities (£’m) 

£3.7m +16%

33.7%

31.9%

34.0%

32.2%

30.3%

18.3p

14.9p

11.6p

2011 
2010 
2009 
2008 
2007 

5.0p

4.0p

3.0p

7.7p

7.0p

2011 
2010 
2009 
2008 
2007 

2.5m

2.0m

1.3m

3.7m

3.1m

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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02

Zytronic at a glance

Delivering 
innovative 
touch technology 
to a global 
client base

Our touch technology

Over the last eleven years we have developed our 
patented PCT touch technology into a family of product 
offerings for use in a wide range of applications.

Touch sensors
PCT is unique to Zytronic and offers significant benefits to traditional 
users of resistive, capacitive and Surface Acoustic Wave (“SAW”) 
technologies. Unlike other touch technologies, the active component of 
Zytronic’s technology is embedded behind the glass front for protection, 
providing a true safety laminated, pure glass fronted construction.

Zytronic’s touch sensor technology is also readily scalable in size, 
allowing customers to use sensors ranging in size from 6 inches to 
82 inches. Additional customisation can be provided, including printed 
borders, logos, etc.; non-rectangular shapes; shaped polished edges; 
and different glass substrate thicknesses from 1mm to 12mm.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

A strong global network to 
leverage business growth

With the expansion of our customer base, 
distribution and representation networks 
over recent years, we are well positioned 
as a global supplier to continue to strengthen 
and grow the business.

25%

Americas sales and growth:

£5.1m +37%

Americas
Sales in North and South America showed very 
strong growth across a number of applications. 
In particular we saw strong growth from the 
continuation of the roll-out of The Coca-Cola 
Company® Freestyle™ drinks dispenser. 
There was also strong growth in sales of touch 
sensors in the ATM market in North America 
in FY2011.

03

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Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more 
about Zytronic or alternatively go to www.zytronic.co.uk

UK sales and growth:

£1.7m –1%

8%

United Kingdom
Invoiced sales within the UK have continued 
to decrease as UK manufacturers “export” 
their manufacturing overseas and the UK 
economy suffers from the impact of the 
economic recession.

49%

EMEA sales and growth:

£10.0m +18%

EMEA (excluding UK)
The EMEA region, by sales value, continues 
to represent the largest market for Zytronic 
products and continues to exhibit good growth. 
This year’s sales growth benefited from the 
launch of BSH’s Gaggenau-branded cooktop in 
January 2011. So, as well as home automation 
applications, direct product sales to EMEA 
countries are represented by a broad range 
of application uses, such as ATMs, information 
kiosks, self-service and vending.

18%

APAC sales and growth:

£3.7m –19%

APAC
Revenue in the APAC region decreased 
from £4.5m to £3.7m reflecting very different 
performances in individual countries. There 
was a very significant reduction in sales to India 
and a reasonable reduction in China (both 
related to ATMs), but sales increased strongly 
in Japan, Korea and Taiwan and reasonably 
well in Australia. 

Cover photograph

The front cover photograph shows an interactive 
dining table in use in the exclusive Mojo restaurant 
in Taipei. The 22 inch ZYBRID® touch sensor has been 
used by Samsung Technology to create a new, 
entertaining, interactive experience for diners. 

Learn more:
Read on to find 
out more about four 
major application 
markets in which 
our touch sensor 
technology is 
increasingly applied.

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
04

Chairman’s statement

In summary

 >  Group revenue increased 

by 11% to £20.5m (2010: £18.5m)

 >  Touch product sales increased 

by 38% to £14.2m (2010: £10.3m)

 >  Gross profit margin recovered 

to 33.7% (2010: 31.9%)

 >  Profit before tax increased 

by 22% to £3.6m (2010: £2.9m)

 >  EPS increased by 23% to 18.3p 

(2010: 14.9p)

 >  Final dividend proposed of 5.6p 

(2010: 5.0p); total for year increased 
by 10% to 7.7p (2010: 7.0p)

We have been encouraged by the progress 
that we have made during the past financial year 
in our touch product sales and are also pleased with 
levels of current trading and the increasing market 
acceptance of our touch products that should enable 
further progress in creating shareholder value.

I am pleased to report on the results for the year ended 
30 September 2011, which show a continuation of the positive 
progress made over the last few years in line with our stated 
strategy to roll out the Group’s unique projected capacitive 
touch sensor products on a worldwide basis.

Results
Revenues have increased by 11% to £20.5m 
(2010: £18.5m); operating profits increased 
by 21% to £3.7m (2010: £3.0m); profit 
before taxation increased by 22% to £3.6m 
(2010: £2.9m); and, after taxation of 24%, 
resulted in profits after taxation of £2.7m 
(2010: £2.2m) and an increase in earnings 
per share of 23% to 18.3p (2010: 14.8p).

Strategy
The continuing growth and improvement in 
profitability is a result of pursuing a strategy of 
concentrating on the further development of 
worldwide markets for our touch sensor products 
and diversifying away from our traditional lower 
growth standard laminate products. Touch sensor 
products account for 70% of revenues this year.

Touch sensors
Revenues from our touch sensor products have 
risen 38% to £14.2m (2010: £10.3m) reflecting 
the growth in applications for our products 
across a number of market sectors and across 
several geographic regions.

Our products continue to be principally 
suitable for applications involving more rugged 
environments including outdoor applications 

such as ATMs, self-service and vending, 
automation and ticketing.

More importantly, our products are being 
adopted increasingly for use in the emerging 
high public usage applications of self-service 
and vending, gaming and entertainment, digital 
signage, industrial automation and home 
automation, where our more durable touch 
solution has added environmental performance 
benefits over those used in the wider consumer 
electronic markets.

Cash generation
The Group continues to generate significant 
cash from operations and has generated £4.5m 
(2010: £3.8m) before an investment of £0.8m 
in plant and machinery and research and 
development; and after debt service costs of 
£0.5m and taxation of £0.8m, the overall cash 
position improved by £2.4m from which a 
dividend of £1.0m was paid.

The position as at 30 September 2011 was 
cash and short term deposits of £4.5m and 
a current net financial asset position of £2.2m. 
The Group also has non-current financial 
liabilities represented by two mortgages 
secured on the Group’s freehold properties and 
payable over the next eight years, of £1.7m.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

Dividend
The Board proposes a final dividend of 5.6p 
(2010: 5.0p) which, together with the interim 
dividend of 2.1p (2010: 2.0p), results in a full 
year dividend of 7.7p (2010: 7.0p) being an 
increase of 10%.

Outlook
We have been encouraged by the progress 
that we have made during the past financial 
year in our touch product sales and are also 
pleased with levels of current trading and 
the increasing market acceptance of our touch 
products that should enable further progress 
in creating shareholder value.

Tudor Davies B.Sc
Non-executive Chairman
14 December 2011

05

Touch sensors
The Coca-Cola Company® 
Freestyle™ beverage dispenser

Coca-Cola has continued the roll-out 
of its proprietary Freestyle™ beverage 
dispenser and Zytronic has manufactured 
increasing volumes in FY2011. 

The 15.1 inch ZYBRID touch sensor 
is mounted behind a moulded 
polycarbonate full-front facia that 
can easily be wiped clean. Uniquely, 
ZYBRID sensors are able to work 
through this overlying material 
facilitating a design without the 
need for a display bezel which is 
both stylish and hygienic. 

By touching the sensor, the customer 
or restaurant employee is able to 
select a drink from over 125 different 
beverage combinations, simply 
by touch. 

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For more information about our 
touch sensors view our case studies  
on pages 7, 9, 11 and 13.

p7-13

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
06

Business review

In summary

 >  Record orders placed in year 
of £21.5m (2010: £19.8m)

 >  Orders for touch products increased 
substantially by 41% to £15.8m 
(2010: £11.2m) 

 >  Export sales now represent 92% 

of Group sales (2010: 90%)

 >  Touch products sales increased 

by 38% to £14.2m (2010: £10.3m)

 >  Profit before tax increased 

by 22% to £3.6m (2010: £2.9m) 

 >  Net cash outflow from operations 

of £4.5m (2010: £3.8m) 

 >  Group now ungeared 

(2010 gearing: 11%); positive cash 
balances less borrowings

Our clear focus on R&D developments, 
the continuing growth of our touch 
sensors sales across an expanding number 
of geographic regions and applications and the 
current healthy inflow of orders provides a good 
platform for continuing growth of Zytronic in FY2012.

The following review provides information on the sales, 
profitability, research and development and operational activities 
of the business during FY2011.

Strategy for sales growth
Our strategy for continued sales growth 
in our touch products is underpinned by the 
strength of our global sales channel network 
of representatives and value added resellers. 
As part of this process, we have continued our 
work with UK Trade & Investment (“UKTI”) to 
evaluate new export markets and opportunities 
during the year. We have commissioned further 
Overseas Market Introduction Service (“OMIS”) 
reports for several regions within China and for 
Thailand during 2011 to identify “partners” 
and made visits to those countries. 

In October 2010, we further increased our direct 
sales team by recruiting a Regional Sales Manager 
for the APAC region. As well as driving sales in 
our existing territories, he is also challenged with 
growing the sales channel network in countries 
where we are presently not represented, 
including Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.

However, this overall net increase does not 
adequately demonstrate the underlying 
performance of touch sales as management 
continues its drive to exploit its PCT touch 
technology into appropriate application areas 
globally. The level of orders for touch products 
has increased substantially by 41% to £15.8m 
from £11.2m.

Conversely, orders placed for non-touch 
products have reduced, as expected and 
as anticipated during the 2010 preliminary 
results and re-affirmed in the 2011 interims. 
The total order intake for these products 
reduced by 34% to £5.7m (2010: £8.7m), 
reverting to a more normal historical level 
for such products. 

2011 performance
The key influencing factors on the reported 
2011 performance include:

The Group has global sales channel 
agreements covering 39 countries and this 
spread of agreements and countries contributes 
increasingly to our significant level of export 
sales of 92%.

Touch products
>   Touch product export sales achieved a record 
high of 94% (2010: 93%), the split being 17% 
into the APAC region, 33% into the Americas 
and 44% into the combined EMEA region. 

Orders taken in the year
Orders placed during the fiscal year were £21.5m, 
showing an 8% net increase against the 
comparative period last year (2010: £19.9m).

>   Total touch units sold increased by around 

65% to 121,000 units. This has been driven 
by a substantial 123% increase in units sold 
through our global network of value added 
resellers, which accounted for 52% of all 
of the units sold (2010: 39%).

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

07

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more  
about Zytouch or alternatively go to www.zytronic.co.uk/products

Self-service and vending
Our touch sensors are increasingly adopted in self-service and vending applications. As already highlighted 
on page 5, a 15.1 inch ZYBRID touch sensor is used in The Coca-Cola Company® Freestyle™ beverage 
dispenser. Two other examples are shown below where different sizes and types of sensor have been 
used as the customer interface in bicycle rental systems in London and France and elsewhere abroad. 
Increasing opportunities are being seen in vending machine systems including a Blockbuster-branded 
DVD rental system for NCR and new vending machines developed by several Japanese manufacturers. 

JC Decaux gets French cities moving
JC Decaux has used a 10.4 inch ZYTOUCH® 
touch sensor in some of its cyclocity urban 
bike hire schemes. JC Decaux has rolled out 
several services across France (as shown 
below on a Lyon street) and abroad. 

Boris’ BIXI Bikes
The photograph on the left shows a sight that 
is now very familiar to Londoners and has been 
strongly endorsed by the mayor, Boris Johnson. 
The Canadian company, Public Bike System 
Company, has used a 12.8 inch ZYBRID 
customised touch sensor with a protective 
overlay of 6mm thick toughened glass to 
provide the user interface for its bike rental 
system. The BIXI is in use also in Australia, 
the US and Canada. 

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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08

Business review continued

Some of our milestones

2001
First commercial PCT-based product to 
market – trade named ZYTOUCH sensor.

2002
ZYTOUCH design wins for ATMs (two 
of global top three) and BT Webphone.

2005
ZYTOUCH design wins for Petrol Pump 
applications; North America Sales Rep 
Network introduced, followed by 
agreements in EMEA and APAC over 
next four years.

2006
New design of ZYPOS® touch sensor 
launched, opening way to new 
application markets.

2008
New ZYPOS manufacturing facility 
becomes operational.

2009
Announcement of The Coca-Cola 
Company® use of ZYPOS sensor in 
new Freestyle™ beverage dispenser.

2010
ZXY100 Series controllers and chipset 
solution to market.

2011
Announcement of ZYPOS design 
win for Bosch Siemen’s Gaggenau 
induction cooktop.

2011 performance continued
Touch products continued
>   The application markets, other than our 
longstanding ATM markets, in which the 
volume of units sold gained further momentum 
during 2011, were in self-service and vending, 
home automation and industrial automation.

  1.   Self-service and vending was influenced 

by an increase in deployments for fuel 
dispensing terminals in the Benelux 
region and home finance bill payment 
terminals in the former CIS territories, 
as well as an increasing level of unit 
sales to The Coca-Cola Company® 
for its Freestyle™ drinks fountain. 

  2.   Home automation sales were significantly 
driven by the January 2011 launch of the 
Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH 
(“BSH”) new induction cooktop under 
its premium Gaggenau brand.

  3.   Sales to customers in our industrial 

automation markets exhibited increases 
in several ruggedised and durable kiosk 
and control system applications.

>   We also experienced a 20% increase in 

the volume of touch products sold for ATM 
applications, against the 25,000 units produced 
in 2010. We have seen substantial increases 
for these touch products into North America 
of 70% and Europe of 47% driven by the 
increasing deployments of a new breed of 
more sophisticated transactional ATM which 
meets customers’ increased functionality 
requirements. However, in Asia we observed a 
36% reduction, as our global ATM customers 
face increasing competition in that region from 
the well-established local suppliers.

 >   Gaming is showing a relatively level 

performance to that of 2010, as there has 

been little movement in the unregulated fixed 
odds betting terminal applications (“FOBTs”), 
although continuing strides are being made 
by us in the regulated casino based gaming 
arena, especially in North America.

Non-touch products
>   Continued customer-led cost reduction drives, 
within our ATM markets for the non-touch 
optical display filters, resulted in us 
implementing further design simplifications, 
to enable us to continue to manufacture 
these products profitably while meeting 
the customers’ needs. Looking forward, 
we expect that over time this product line, 
which is in a more competitive and lower 
margin sector than our touch sensor products, 
will become an increasingly small part 
of the overall business. This is a natural 
consequence of the successful development 
of Zytronic’s touch-focused strategy.

Financial review
a)  Revenue growth was consistent throughout 
the year with an 11% increase during H1 
(£9.1m compared to £8.2m in 2010 H1), 
followed by an increase of 10% in H2 
(£11.4m compared to £10.3m in 2010 H2). 
Total revenue growth for the full year was 
11% to £20.5m (2010: £18.5m). 

b)  Touch product growth was 38% (£14.2m 
compared to £10.3m). However, the total 
touch growth masked a more significant 
uplift in H2. Touch product revenue 
increased 29% in H1 (£6.0m compared 
to £4.6m in 2010 H1), followed by a much 
more substantial increase of 47% in H2 
(£8.2m compared to £5.6m in 2010 H2). 
Touch product revenue accounted for 70% 
of total Group revenue in 2011, compared 
with 56% in the prior year.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more  
about ZYTOUCH or alternatively go to www.zytronic.co.uk/products

Digital signage
A unique feature of Zytronic’s PCT sensor technology is its ready scalability from sensor sizes 
of 6 inches to 82 inches. These larger sized touch sensors are enabling designers to look at new 
applications in providing interactive information and entertainment to users. In particular, large sizes 
over 40 inches are increasingly being used in “retail” situations, in shops and shopping malls and 
outdoors to provide 24/7 information to users. The two examples below show exciting applications. 

Yeahpoint and SingTel
Sydney-based Yeahpoint has used Zytronic’s 
ZYBRID PCT touch sensor technology in its 
interactive project on behalf of SE Asian 
telecom operator SingTel. In a major update 
to its chain of retail outlets, SingTel will 
provide customers with a stunning degree 
of interaction; allowing customers to browse 
through information of SingTel’s full range of 
products and services. Yeahpoint has used 
a range of traditional vertical displays, as 
in the photograph on the right, as well as 
developing a number of 42 inch ZYBRID 
touch-enabled interactive tables. 

Infinitus of Slovenia
The photograph on the right shows a 
65 inch ZYTOUCH touch sensor supporting 
the interactive capabilities of iMotion®, an 
advanced, high-definition outdoor display. 
The system is created by Infinitus of 
Slovenia. Crucially important in this 
application, PCT touch sensors can be 
sealed to IP67/NEMA4 levels to prevent 
ingress of moisture or particles. 

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www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
10

Business review continued

As the volume of touch products continues 
to increase and the mix of sensor type and size 
changes, we added additional production 
equipment during FY2011 to further improve 
the manufacturing flow and efficiencies.

2011 performance continued
Financial review continued
c)  Profit before tax also increased more strongly 
in H2, fuelled by the increasing mix towards 
touch product sales. There was a 19% 
increase in H1, at £1.3m (2010 H1: £1.1m), 
but H2 increased more significantly by 25% 
to £2.3m (2010 H2: £1.8m). The total 
increase for the full year was 22% to £3.6m 
(2009: £2.9m).

d)  Our gross profit margin recovered much 

of the ground lost in FY2010, increasing to 
33.7% (FY2010: 31.9%; FY2009: 34.0%). 

e)  Earnings per share increased significantly 
by 23% from 14.8p to 18.3p. The increase 
arises from both the increase of 22% in the 
profit before tax of the Group, as outlined 
above, and also from the benefit of a reduction 
in the effective taxation rate for the year. 
With the reduction of the standard rate 
of corporation tax from 28% to 26% from 
1 April 2011, and the further reduction to 
25% from 1 April 2012, the corporation tax 
charge and deferred tax charges are both 
lower than in the prior year and the effective 
tax rate for the year is 24% (25%).

f)   In 2006 and 2007 the Group borrowed 

£2.3m to fund the purchase of the freehold 
of our ZYPOS manufacturing facility and the 
fitting out and equipping of it, together with 
£2.2m for the purchase in 2009 for £3.4m 
of the freeholds of our two leased factories, 
resulting in gearing reaching a peak at an 
unaudited maximum of 41% in June 2009. 
Since then, with strengthening cash generation 
and regular repayments of the debt, we are 
delighted to see net cash balances once again 
exceed outstanding debt, so that gearing has 
now reduced below zero (to -4.0%). 
Net cashflow from operating activities has 
increased again, from £3.2m to £3.7m. 
Net cash balances at 30 September 2011 
were £2.6m and the remaining balances 

on the two ten-year mortgages (of which 
4 and 8 years remain) have reduced to £2.1m.

Much of the recovery is due to the absence 
of the features which affected FY2010’s margin, 
and, in particular, to the increasing proportion 
of touch products within total revenues.

Foreign exchange
With increasing levels of exports, and the switch 
by one of our larger customers from trading in 
Sterling to being invoiced in Euros, our exposure 
to foreign currencies increased in FY2011. 
We continue to rely on natural hedging as our 
main method of minimising FX risk, but we used 
forward exchange contracts in the last quarter 
to assist. Looking ahead to FY2012, we have 
already taken out monthly forward exchange 
contracts for both US Dollars and Euros, which 
we consider will protect a large proportion of 
the budgeted FX income not used to pay for 
purchases of raw materials in those currencies.

Production
Production management was strengthened 
in January 2011 with the recruitment of a 
Production Manager specifically for touch 
sensor products, to work under the former 
group Production Manager who was promoted 
to Production Director. The incumbent 
Production Director has taken on a new role 
as Operations Director.

Management has continued to make significant 
strides in operational efficiencies during FY2011, 
especially as the volume of the manufacturing 
output of our touch products continued to 
increase significantly quarter by quarter during 
the year. The weekly paid productive headcount 
was increased from an average of 146 persons 
during Q1 to 160 persons during Q4 to cope 
with the increasing sales levels. 

The Electronic, Industrial, Material and 
Mechanical Engineers within the Development 
Team in our production department have 

continued to evaluate new process improvements 
and alternative material solutions throughout 
the year, as a means of offering and meeting 
internal and customer-specific cost reduction 
programmes and to continue generating 
efficiency improvements.

As the volume of touch products continues to 
increase and the mix of sensor type and size 
changes, we added additional production 
equipment during FY2011 to further improve 
the manufacturing flow and efficiencies. Two 
new automatic laminating machines were 
brought into service, a large 65" panel sized 
laminator in December 2010, to accommodate 
the increasing ultra large format products, and 
a second, more efficient but smaller 32" panel 
sized laminator in January 2011. These were 
the two most significant items of capital 
expenditure on plant and machinery during 
the year, together costing £295,000 from 
a total spend of £534,000.

As part of our annual impairment review, 
we also considered our future manufacturing 
needs given the increasing move towards 
our ZYPOS style manufacturing processes. 
This year, we decided that it was appropriate to 
impair the carrying value of specific equipment 
by £131,000. The major item was a Klopper 
hot roller laminating machine, against which 
the impairment was £74,000. It is used much 
less and we are trying to find a buyer for it. 
We have also written down, to Nil value, 
a TEC conveyor system (£37,000) and our 
two (of four) oldest autoclaves (£16,000). 

In October 2011, following our reviews on future 
space requirements, we began a refurbishment 
and expansion programme of the original 1990s 
clean room facilities in the main factory. 
This will provide a doubling of the productive 
clean room floor area in that facility for touch 
product manufacture. It is anticipated that this 
increased facility will be operational by 
January 2012.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

11

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more  
about ZYTOUCH or alternatively go to www.zytronic.co.uk/products

Industrial automation
Zytronic’s PCT touch sensors are able to cope with the harshest of environments making them very at 
home in hard industrial applications. With the ability to operate them with a gloved or ungloved 
hand, the sensors can withstand very high and low temperatures, high humidity and can be fully 
waterproofed. The two examples below give an indication of their use in very different situations. 

Advantech of Taiwan
Taiwan’s leading embedded computing 
manufacturer, Advantech, uses a ZYPOS 
sensor in the 17 inch ruggedised panel PC, 
shown below. It is designed for use in the 
harshest industrial environments, from 0°C 
through to 50°C, in humidity levels of 85% and 
is capable of withstanding up to 10G of shock. 

FM Scanu and BHP Billiton
FM Scanu, a leading Australian kiosk 
manufacturer, has chosen Zytronic’s PCT 
technology for the 17 inch ZYPOS touch 
sensor used in its kiosk for the mining giant 
BHP Billiton (see photograph on left).

The system will be used by BHP to supply 
occupational health and safety information 
in a busy mine environment, where it will be 
constantly exposed to coal dust, grit, moisture 
and heavy use. It also needs to work when 
touched by gloved or dirty hands, playing 
to the strengths of PCT technology. 

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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12

Business review continued

nano-particulates, as a further alternative 
to our standard wire-based electrodes. 

Our clear focus on R&D developments, the 
continuing growth of our touch sensor sales 
across an expanding number of geographic 
regions and applications and the current 
healthy inflow of orders, provides a good 
platform for continuing growth of Zytronic 
in FY2012.

Finally, on behalf of the Group’s management, 
we would like to take this opportunity to thank 
all employees for their contribution to the 
successful outcome of this fiscal year.

Mark Cambridge B.Sc 
Chief Executive Officer 

Denis Mullan B.Sc, FCA
Finance Director
14 December 2011

Protecting our environment
For many years, we have recycled wood and 
glass waste from our manufacturing processes. 
As pressure increases on businesses to become 
ever more environmentally aware, we have 
extended our approach to environmental 
matters where practical, seeking to recycle 
more items and become more energy efficient. 

To formalise our approach we are currently 
applying for the British Standard on environmental 
matters and expect to achieve the standard, 
ISO14001:2004, during 2012. 

Management and information systems
We continue to invest in the underlying computer 
systems of Zytronic for the better management 
of our complex manufacturing processes and 
the continued improvement of management 
information. To underline the importance of this 
continuing development, in March 2011 we 
promoted our Management Accounts Controller 
to the newly created position of Director of 
Management Information and Systems. We also 
recruited a further IT technician to join our 
IT team. 

Promoting our R&D efforts
During 2011, the R&D team has continued 
to drive forward the underlying technology 
behind Zytronic’s touch products, to satisfy 
both customer expectations and service 
requirements. We capitalised some £224,000 
of R&D spend and expensed £308,000 to the 
consolidated income statement. 

In August 2011 we strengthened the R&D team 
with the recruitment of a Software Engineer, 
to further develop the software support for our 
range of touch products, and a Mechanical 
Engineer to foster better customer interaction 
with regards to product integration. A new 
Electronic Engineer is also due to join us soon.

Work has continued on further refinements 
of the Zytronic bespoke firmware provided 
in the ARM® core processor and the ASIC 
(Application Specific Integrated Circuit) chip 
solution which were launched in mid-2010. 
Several programmes have moved into production 
where a chipset solution has been favoured 
by the customer and is used as an alternative 
to our standard controller board.

The development of the operating system 
touch driver software, which was initiated at 
the beginning of the fiscal year, is now nearing 
completion. A Zytronic developed source code 
for Win CE platforms has been tested and 
approved, whilst a more universal open source 
Linux platform driver is now nearing sign off. 
Further development work is presently being 
undertaken in preparation for the release of 
the forthcoming Windows 8 operating system. 
We capitalised some £102,000 on this project 
during the year, and expect to capitalise a further 
£90,000 in FY2012, to complete the project. 

In the second half of the fiscal year, the R&D 
team initiated a new project to develop and 
evaluate new multi-touch interactive projected 
capacitive solutions for large to ultra-large format 
sized systems. Although very much still at 
an early stage of development, the team has 
successfully used multiple wire electrode 
arrays to provide simultaneous ten touch 
point activations. 

In June 2011, at the Society of Information 
Display Expo in Los Angeles, we introduced 
our new transparent metallic oxide thin-film 
touch solution as an alternative to our standard 
wire-based products. This solution had been 
specifically developed for small sized, very large 
volume applications and is being actively 
evaluated by several potential customers.

Work is also continuing to evaluate other possible 
sensing media, such as printable silver or copper 

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to find out more  
about ZYTOUCH or alternatively go to www.zytronic.co.uk/products

Home automation
The use of touch sensors in the home environment is increasing rapidly. We show below two 
examples of such uses, but others include their use in shower controls (resistance to water); behind 
mirrored surfaces in vanity units and fridge doors, to control lighting, heating and music systems etc.; 
and in high-end audio systems. 

The IP-Touch System
Switch Automation, an Australian designer, 
created the IP-Touch interface system, 
shown below. It is designed for use in access 
control applications including multi-residential 
apartments, hotels and businesses. 

BSH’s flagship induction cooktop
For the development of its latest full surface 
induction cooktop (the CX480) for its premium 
Gaggenau brand, Bosch and Siemens 
Hausgeräte GmbH (BSH) has chosen the 
6.5 inch customised ZYBRID sensor. 

The hob has an edge-to-edge cooking area, 
with an array of induction elements mounted 
beneath a durable glass ceramic surface. 
The cooktop is operated by an intuitive user 
interface operated through a touch-enabled 
TFT display. With the touch sensor embedded 
below the ceramic surface it is effectively 
invulnerable to wear and tear. 

13

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www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
14

Board of Directors

Tudor Griffith Davies B.Sc (60)(1)
Non-executive Chairman

Mark Cambridge B.Sc (47)
Chief Executive

Tudor has wide industry experience at boardroom 
level, as Chairman, Chief Executive and Executive 
and Non-executive Director of several public 
companies. These have included Hicking 
Pentecost plc, Stratagem plc, Dowding & Mills plc 
and Castle Support Services plc. He was formerly 
a partner in Arthur Young (a predecessor firm 
of Ernst & Young LLP) specialising in corporate 
finance and recovery. Tudor is Chairman of the 
audit committee.

Mark graduated with a B.Sc (Hons) in Materials 
Science in 1986 and has a Securities Institute 
Certificate in Corporate Finance (2003). Joining 
the Romag Group of companies in 1991, he 
held the positions of Technical Manager, Quality 
Manager and Technical and Quality Director, 
up to the demerger and flotation of Zytronic plc. 
Since 2000 he has overseen the development, 
market introduction and sales of the ZYTOUCH 
touch sensor product and the market launch 
of ZYPOS touch sensors. Mark was Sales and 
Marketing Director of Zytronic Displays Limited 
from 2002 until his appointment as its Managing 
Director in February 2006. On 1 June 2007 
Mark was appointed to the Board and promoted 
to Chief Executive on 21 January 2008.

Denis Gerald Wilson Mullan B.Sc, FCA 
(57)
Finance Director

Denis was formerly a partner in Ernst & Young LLP, 
specialising in corporate finance. He was 
based successively in its offices in London, 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne and finally Bristol. While 
based in Ernst & Young’s Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
office, he led its work on the demerger of 
Zytronic Displays Limited in June 2000 and 
the subsequent admission to AIM of Zytronic plc 
in July 2000. Shortly thereafter he transferred 
to Ernst & Young’s Bristol office, at which time 
his formal advisory role to the Group ceased. 
He joined the Group in August 2003.

David John Buffham (52)(1)(2)
Independent Non-executive Director

Sir David Robert Macgowan Chapman 
Bt., DL, B Comm (70)(1)(2)
Senior Independent Non-executive Director

David worked at the Bank of England (the “Bank”) 
for 32 years until mid-2010. He held several 
roles in the Bank, including working in the 
Banking Supervision Division for five years 
following the changes to banking regulations 
introduced in 1987 and as a Credit Risk Manager. 
In addition, he advised overseas central banks 
on the conduct of monetary policy operations. 
Most recently he was the Bank’s Agent for the 
North East of England for nine years.

Sir David is a former Director of Northern Rock plc 
and the London Stock Exchange and a member 
of the Greenbury Committee on Directors’ 
Remuneration. He is a Director of a number 
of regional venture capital funds. A former 
Chairman of CBI – North East and a First Vice 
President of Merrill Lynch International Bank, 
Sir David is currently a consultant with UBS 
Wealth Management (UK) Limited. Sir David 
is Chairman of the remuneration committee.

Since leaving the Bank, David has been appointed 
a Non-executive Director of Newcastle Building 
Society, where he has joined the audit committee. 
He is also a Governor and audit committee 
member of Northumbria University and a visiting 
fellow at Teesside University. Until 2006, 
he was a Director of The Northumbria 
Coalition Against Crime.

(1) Member of audit committee.
(2) Member of remuneration committee.

All of the Directors served throughout 
the financial year.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

Directors’ report

15

The Directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2011.

Business review
Details of developments and the progress of the Group are contained within this Directors’ report as well as in the Chairman’s statement 
and Business review.

Principal activities
Zytronic is the developer and manufacturer of a unique range of internationally award-winning touch sensor products. Zytronic’s products incorporate 
an embedded array of metallic micro-sensing electrodes which offer significant durability, environmental stability and optical enhancement benefits 
to designers of system-integrated interactive displays for public access and industrial type applications.

Competitive advantages
The Group’s competitive advantages are based upon both the patented technology relating to the operation of the touch sensors and the lamination 
techniques and processes, built up over 40 years of operations, which are a feature of all the Group’s products. These advantages allow the Group 
to produce products which have optical clarity and ruggedness and can be customised to include individual features for customers, including 
privacy filters and anti-reflective and anti-glare properties. In the case of touch sensors, these advantages also result in the significant ability for them 
to be used by bare fingers and gloved hands and result in them not experiencing positional drift and therefore not requiring periodic re-calibration.

The growth of the Group and its future prospects comes from the exploitation of this relatively new touch sensor technology. Differing adaptations 
of this patented technology have resulted in four different product groups being developed: ZYTOUCH touch sensors and keypads; ZYPOS, and its 
derivative ZYBRID, touch sensors; ZYSWITCH® touch-switch sensors; and ZYFILM® and ZYPROFILM® plastic-based touch sensors. ZYTOUCH, ZYPOS 
and ZYBRID touch sensors are designed to work in front of LCDs or other electronic devices where optical clarity is paramount. Conversely, 
the technology has been adapted to produce ZYTOUCH keypads and ZYSWITCH touch-switch sensors which are not required to be transparent.

The Group’s Intellectual Property Rights include confidential operations and processes, technology covered by patents and licensed technology, 
trademarks and copyrights. Over recent years the Group has taken significant steps to register its trademarks. 

The Group will continue to identify further opportunities for the development of new product groups and expends a considerable amount on R&D. 
By continually developing and adapting its technologies the Group has been able to expand the applications of the touch sensors into a widening 
range of applications and new sectors of business and to promote the Group’s products on a global basis. At present 92% of all products are directly 
exported from the UK, with a large proportion of UK sales eventually being exported as well.

The Group has continued the expansion of its worldwide selling operations, including expanding its direct sales force, based at the Group’s head office 
at Blaydon-on-Tyne. Management is continuing to look for suitable appointees to expand the Group’s presence of Value Added Resellers worldwide.

Business risks
The main risk to the Group’s business is that of advances in competing technology, whereby a new, better touch sensor technology is created. 
Management is conscious of this and monitors competitors’ developments and changes within the whole industry. By continually developing and 
evolving its own technologies, the Group expects to build upon its competitive strengths and thereby keep its technology ahead of its competitors.

Another competitive risk arises from downward price pressures from competing technologies. This is most prevalent in the lower valued touch sensor 
sector dominated by resistive, capacitive and surface acoustic wave touchscreens. However, price pressure in those markets does have a knock-on 
effect on prices throughout the industry. 

Management has successfully met these challenges to date by re-designing and re-engineering the ZYTOUCH touch sensor in developing the ZYPOS 
touch sensor. This has enabled the Group to reduce the cost of manufacture and therefore the sales price for ZYPOS touch sensors and is allowing 
the Group to enter markets that were previously closed to it on price grounds. The Group has also re-designed optical filters to enable it to take 
advantage of the new manufacturing processes first developed for making ZYPOS touch sensors.

Management is also continually reviewing the sources and costs of raw material supplies, the design of the Group’s products and the operational 
processes that are used in the manufacture of all of the Group’s products.

A further risk, which is directly within the control of management, is that of managing increases in the overhead base to coincide with the growth 
in turnover, thereby maintaining the growth in profitability. This is not straightforward when the business is developing new products and 
manufacturing processes.

A fourth risk is that, as a growing proportion of the Group’s sales are denominated in US Dollars and Euros, the Group is subject to risks associated 
with currency movements. It is the Group’s policy to manage these risks and provide a degree of certainty for cashflows into the UK. Note 21 sets 
out details of the Group’s financial risk management policy and financial instruments, including its management of its foreign exchange risk. 

Natural hedging is adopted where possible to manage currency risk, whereby goods and services are sourced from Europe and the USA and the liability 
arises in the respective currencies. This is especially relevant with specialised glass, some electronic components and certain other raw materials. 
The Group also enters into forward contracts to manage foreign currency exposure risk. 

The Group does not hold speculative positions against movements in foreign currencies or interest rates.

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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Directors’ report continued

Business review continued
Capital
The primary objective of the Group’s capital management is to ensure that it maintains a strong credit rating and healthy capital ratios in order 
to support its business and maximise shareholder value.

As part of its capital management the Group monitors its overall level of borrowings and its gearing ratio, which is borrowings net of cash balances 
divided by shareholders’ equity, and ensures that it is kept within acceptable bounds. The Group also ensures that it has sufficient committed and 
unused banking facilities to provide the Directors with comfort on the Group’s foreseeable needs and its liquidity position. The Business review 
includes a paragraph referring to the strengthening cashflows and reduced gearing which occurred in the year ended September 2011.

No changes were made to these objectives, policies or processes during the years ended 30 September 2010 and 2011.

Research and development
The Group has continued with the development of its electronic controllers, software and firmware used in the touch sensors. It launched a new 
sensor format in May 2011 and has developed its own suite of open source drivers.

The R&D team is continuing to investigate the use of other sensor configurations and processing media in the manufacture of its touch sensors.

Further details on the Group’s R&D activities are included in the Business review.

Key performance indicators (“KPIs”)
The KPIs for the business are primarily financial. 

The current KPIs consist of setting targets for and monitoring the level and growth of sales; improving the gross profit margin; and controlling the 
level of overheads. The Directors set targets for operating management in terms of sales growth and margin improvement. The actual performance 
of the Group against each of these KPIs is set out in the Chairman’s statement and Business review. 

In addition, the Directors review an “activity monitor” which the sales team uses to record significant sales opportunities, the key dates in the 
development of each sale’s prospect with the customer, volumes and values of the opportunities and expected production commencement dates. 

The Directors have not developed KPIs relating to environmental matters, the Group’s employees, or social and community issues. 

The Directors maintain a close watch on the level and competitiveness of wages paid to factory staff and the market level of staff salaries to ensure 
that the Group is not at a disadvantage when seeking to recruit or to retain staff. The Group also uses share option schemes to incentivise employees. 
The Remuneration report summarises the policies relating to executive management.

Results and dividends
The consolidated income statement is set out on page 26. The Group profit after taxation amounted to £2.7m (2010: £2.2m). The Directors propose 
the payment of a final dividend of 5.6p per share (2010: 5.0p). Following the dividend of 2.1p per share paid in July 2011, this will bring the total 
dividend for the year to 7.7p per share (2010: 7.0p), an increase of 10%.

Directors
The Directors of the Company are shown on page 14. All of the Directors were Directors for the whole of the year. In addition, John Kennair MBE 
was a Director of the Company until the AGM on 10 February 2011 when he withdrew from re-election. David Banks, the former Chairman, resigned 
on 4 March 2011. The emoluments and interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company are set out in the Remuneration report.

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in relation to the Group financial statements
The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the Group financial statements in accordance with UK law and those International 
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the European Union.

Under company law the Directors must not approve the Group financial statements unless they are satisfied that they present fairly the financial position of 
the Group and the financial performance and cashflows of the Group for that period. In preparing those financial statements the Directors are required to:

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

them consistently;

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

 >  provide additional disclosures when compliance with specific requirements in IFRS is insufficient to enable users to understand the impact 

of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Group’s financial position and financial performance; 

 > state that the Group has complied with IFRS, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

 > make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent.

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

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

17

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities in relation to the Group financial statements continued
The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company’s website. 
Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Disclosure of information to auditors
The Directors who were members of the Board at the time of approving the Directors’ report are listed on page 14. Having made enquiries of fellow 
Directors and of the Company’s auditors, each of these Directors confirms that:

 >  to the best of each Director’s knowledge and belief, there is no information (that is, information needed by the Company’s auditors in connection 

with preparing their report) of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and

 >  each Director has taken all the steps a Director might reasonably be expected to have taken to be aware of relevant audit information 

and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

Significant interests in shares
On 5 December 2011, the following had significant interests in the ordinary shares of the Company:

Shareholders 

AXA S.A. (Framlington Investment Management Limited) 

Henderson Volantis 

Hargreave Hale 

John Kennair, MBE – past Chairman (beneficial and non-beneficial)  

Blackrock Investment Managers 

Williams de Broe 

Saracen Investment Funds – Growth Fund 

Number of  
 shares 

2,646,706 

1,647,000 

1,536,913 

1,187,708 

963,650 

828,952 

617,404 

Percentage
holding

18.0%

11.2%

10.4%

8.1%

6.5%

5.6%

4.2%

Creditor payment policy and practice
It is the Group’s policy that payments to suppliers are made in accordance with those terms and conditions agreed between the Group and its suppliers, 
provided that all trading terms and conditions have been complied with. At 30 September 2011, the Company had an average of 30 days’  
(2010: 30 days’) purchases outstanding in trade creditors. 

Political and charitable contributions
The Group did not make any political or charitable contributions during the year (2010: £Nil). 

Special business
A resolution will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting to renew the existing authority of the Directors, last conferred by a resolution 
passed at the Annual General Meeting held in 2011, to allot unissued ordinary shares of the Company. The authority (special resolution 1 in the Notice 
of Annual General Meeting) will extend until the Annual General Meeting held in 2013 and is in respect of one-third of the Company’s issued share capital.

The Directors consider it advisable that they continue to have power to make allotments of ordinary shares of the Company for cash without reference 
to the statutory pre-emption rights, up to a maximum of 736,676 ordinary shares, being 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company at 
30 September 2011. The authority (special resolution 2 in the Notice of Annual General Meeting) will extend until the Annual General Meeting held 
in 2013 and also would enable the Directors to implement a rights issue.

In addition, the Directors consider it advisable that the Company has the authority to make market purchases of its own shares up to a maximum 
of 1,473,352 ordinary shares of the Company, being 10% of the issued ordinary share capital. The authority (special resolution 3 in the Notice of 
Annual General Meeting) will extend until the Annual General Meeting held in 2013. The power conferred by this authority would only be used after 
careful consideration by the Directors, having taken into account market conditions prevailing at the time, the investment needs of the Company, 
its opportunities for expansion and its overall financial position. The authority would only be exercised by the Directors if they considered it to be 
in the best interests of shareholders generally and if the purchase(s) could be expected to result in an increase in EPS. 

Auditors
A resolution to re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP as the Company’s auditors will be put to the shareholders at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

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By order of the Board

Denis Mullan, B.Sc, FCA
Company Secretary
14 December 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
18

Corporate governance

As an AIM listed company, Zytronic is not obliged to comply with The UK Corporate Governance Code published in June 2010 (the “Code”) 
but instead uses its provisions as a guide, but only as considered appropriate to the circumstances of the Company.

The Company is committed to high standards of corporate governance. The Directors consider that, except for the matters noted below, the Company 
has, throughout the year, been in full compliance with the provisions set out in the Code. 

 > B2.1  – 

For reasons explained below, the Company does not have a separate nominations committee.

 > B2.3  – 

The Non-executive Directors have not been appointed for a specific term, but their contracts are terminable with six months’ notice.

 > B6 

– 

The Board has not undertaken a formal evaluation of its own performance and that of its committees and individual members.

 > C3.1  – 

 The Company Chairman may sit on the audit committee, but he shouldn’t chair it. Tudor Davis became Chairman of Zytronic plc on 
4 March 2011, at which date he was already Chairman of the audit committee. As the only Non-executive Director on the Board with 
an accountancy background it was considered to be beneficial to the Company for him to remain in that position for the time being. 
David Buffham, who became a Non-executive Director only in September 2010, has subsequently joined the audit committee.

In view of the size and structure of the Group, the Board does not believe that these exceptions had any detrimental effect on the control 
environment and corporate governance.

The workings of the Board and its committees
The Board
Throughout the year, Tudor Davies, the Non-executive Chairman, Mark Cambridge, the Chief Executive, Denis Mullan, the Finance Director, 
Sir David Chapman, Bt., and David Buffham, the two Independent Non-executive Directors, were members of the Board. David Banks, the former 
Non-executive Chairman and John Kennair, MBE, a Non-independent Non-executive Director left the Board on 4 March 2011 
and 10 February 2011 respectively.

The Non-executive Directors demonstrate a range of experience and sufficient calibre to bring independent judgement on issues of strategy, 
performance, resources and standards of conduct which are vital to the success of the Group.

The Board normally meets at least five times per year. Its direct responsibilities include setting annual budgets, reviewing trading performance, approving 
significant capital expenditure, ensuring adequate funding, setting and monitoring strategy, examining major acquisition possibilities and reporting 
to shareholders. Between meetings there is regular informal discussion between the Chairman, Chief Executive, Finance Director and individual 
Non-executive Directors. The Non-executive Directors have a particular responsibility to ensure that the strategies proposed by the Executive Directors 
are fully considered. 

To enable the Board to discharge its duties, all Directors receive appropriate and timely information. Briefing papers are distributed by the Company 
Secretary to all Directors in advance of Board meetings. The Chairman ensures that the Directors are able to take independent professional advice 
as required, at the Company’s expense.

The standing committees established by the Board are the remuneration committee and audit committee, each of which operates within defined 
terms of reference.

A nominations committee has not been established as the Board is small. The nominations process prior to Board appointments takes into account 
the views of all existing Board members and some advisers. Any Director appointed to the Board since the last Annual General Meeting is required 
to seek re-election at the subsequent Annual General Meeting. All Directors are subject to re-election at least once every three years. 

The number of meetings of the Board, and the attendance of Directors, was as follows:

Directors 

Tudor Davies 

Mark Cambridge 

Denis Mullan 

David Buffham 

Sir David Chapman, Bt. 

David Banks 

John Kennair, MBE 

Number of 
meetings 

Attendance

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

2 

1 

4

5

5

5

5

2

1

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
19

The workings of the Board and its committees continued
Remuneration committee
The remuneration committee is chaired by Sir David Chapman, Bt., the Senior Independent Non-executive Director. The other member is David Buffham, 
an Independent Non-executive Director who was appointed during the year. Tudor Davies stepped down from the remuneration committee following 
his appointment to Chairman on 4 March 2011. The committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board, within agreed terms 
of reference, on the Company’s framework of executive remuneration and its cost, including the remuneration of some subsidiary Directors. 
The committee determines the contract terms, remuneration and other benefits for each of the Executive Directors, including performance related 
bonus schemes, pension rights and compensation payments. Further details of the Company’s policies on remuneration, service contracts and 
compensation payments are given in the Remuneration report. The Chairman’s remuneration is determined by a sub-committee comprising only 
the Independent Non-executive Directors. 

The number of meetings of the committee, and the attendance of members, was as follows:

Committee members 

Sir David Chapman, Bt.  

David Buffham 

Tudor Davies 

David Banks 

Number of 
 meetings 

Attendance

2 

1 

1 

1 

2

1

1

1

Audit committee
The audit committee is chaired by Tudor Davies. The other members are Sir David Chapman, Bt., the Senior Independent Non-executive Director, 
and David Buffham, who was appointed during the year. The Independent Non-executive Directors’ meetings are also attended, by invitation, 
by the other Directors. The committee meets at least twice a year. The committee provides a forum for reporting by the Group’s external auditors.

The audit committee is responsible for reviewing a wide range of matters including the half year and annual financial statements before their submission 
to the Board and monitoring the controls which are in force to ensure the integrity of the information reported to the shareholders. The audit committee 
advises the Board on the appointment of external auditors and on their remuneration both for audit and non-audit work and discusses the nature, 
scope and results of the audit with the auditors.

The audit committee keeps under review the cost effectiveness of the auditors. It also reviews the extent of the non-audit services provided by the 
auditors and reviews with them their independence and objectivity. The Chairman of the audit committee reports the outcome of audit committee 
meetings to the Board and the Board receives minutes of the meetings.

The number of meetings of the committee, and the attendance of members, was as follows:

Committee members 

Tudor Davies 

Sir David Chapman, Bt. 

David Buffham 

Number of 
 meetings 

Attendance

2 

2 

1 

1

2

1

Relations with shareholders
Communication with shareholders is given high priority. There is regular dialogue with major and/or institutional shareholders including presentations 
after the Company’s announcements of the half year and full year results in May and December respectively. Presentations are also made to analysts 
and journalists at those times to present the Group’s results and report on developments. This assists with the promotion of knowledge of the Group 
in the investment marketplace and with shareholders. The financial statements include a review of the business and future developments. These 
financial statements, the presentations and other information relating to the Group are also available on the Group’s website, www.zytronic.co.uk.

Following the half year and year-end presentations of results, the Executive Directors report to the Board on the feedback received from journalists, 
analysts and shareholders. In addition, the Company’s financial PR advisers and the Company’s NOMAD also produce a feedback report from those 
meetings which is made available to all Directors. The Executive Directors also report to the Board on any meetings with shareholders or institutional 
investors that may take place at other times of the year.

The Board uses both the annual report and financial statements and the Annual General Meeting to communicate directly with private and institutional 
investors and welcomes their participation. The Chairman aims to ensure that the chairmen of the audit and remuneration committees are available 
at the Annual General Meeting to answer questions. Details of resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 21 February 2012 
can be found in the Notice of Annual General Meeting on pages 62 and 63.

In addition, the Senior Independent Director is available to shareholders if they have any concerns which contact through the normal channels 
of the Chairman, Chief Executive or the Finance Director has failed to resolve or for which such contact is inappropriate.

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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Corporate governance continued

Internal control
The Board is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. The system 
is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve the Group’s strategic objectives and can only provide reasonable and not 
absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. As an AIM listed company, the Company does not need to comply with Code provision 
C2.1 regarding the Directors giving a summary of the process applied by the Board in reviewing the effectiveness of the system of internal control. 
Instead, the Directors set out below some of the key aspects of the Group’s internal control procedures.

An ongoing process, in accordance with the guidance of the Turnbull Committee on internal control, has been established for identifying, evaluating 
and managing the significant risks faced by the Group. The process has been in place for the full year under review and up to the date of approval 
of the annual report and financial statements. The Board regularly reviews this process as part of its review of such risks within Board meetings. 
Where any weaknesses are identified, an action plan is prepared to address the issues and is then implemented.

The Board has overall responsibility for the Group and there is a formal schedule of matters specifically reserved for decision by the Board. Authority 
to operate the trading subsidiary, Zytronic Displays Limited, is delegated to its Board of Directors and through them it is run by its management 
within limits set by the Board. The appointment of Executives to the most senior positions within the Group requires the approval of the Board.

Each year the Board approves the annual budget. Key risk areas are identified, reviewed and monitored. Performance is monitored against budget, 
relevant action is taken throughout the year and updated forecasts are prepared as appropriate. The reports reviewed by the Board include reports 
on operational as well as financial issues.

Capital and development expenditure is regulated by a budgetary process and authorisation levels. For expenditure beyond specified levels, 
detailed written proposals have to be submitted to the Board for approval. Reviews are carried out after the purchase is complete. The Board 
requires management to explain any major deviations from authorised capital proposals and to seek further sanction from the Board.

Due diligence work is carried out if a business is to be acquired.

The Board has reviewed the need for an internal audit function and concluded that this is not currently necessary in view of the small size of the Group 
and the close supervision by senior management of its day-to-day operations. The Board will continue to keep this under review.

The Group has a whistle-blowing policy and procedures to encourage staff to contact the Chairman if they need to raise matters of concerns other 
than via the Executive Directors and senior management.

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position are set out in the Business 
review on pages 6 to 13. The financial position of the Group, its cashflows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described within the Business 
review also. In addition, note 21 to the financial statements includes the Group’s objectives, policies, its financial risk management objectives, 
details of its financial instruments and hedging activities and its exposure to credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group’s business is well diversified, with relationships with customers and suppliers across different geographic areas and industries. It also has 
considerable financial resources. As a consequence, the Directors believe that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully 
despite the current uncertain economic outlook.

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
Remuneration report

21

As the Company is AIM listed, the Directors are not required, under Section 420(1) of the Companies Act 2006, to prepare a Directors’ Remuneration 
report for each financial year of the Company and so Zytronic plc makes the following disclosures voluntarily, which are not intended to, and indeed 
do not, comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The remuneration committee is responsible for determining the remuneration and other terms of employment for the Executive Directors of Zytronic plc 
and some of the Directors in its trading subsidiary, Zytronic Displays Limited. The committee is composed of the Senior Independent Non-executive 
Director and the Independent Non-executive Director. In determining remuneration for the year, the committee has given full consideration to the 
requirements of the Combined Code.

Remuneration policy
The remuneration of Executive Directors is determined by the committee and the remuneration of Non-executive Directors is approved by the full 
Board of Directors. The remuneration of the Chairman is determined by the Independent Non-executive Directors.

The key objectives of the committee in determining the remuneration packages of Executive Directors are:

 > the recruitment, retention and incentivisation of executive management of the right calibre; and

 > the alignment of executive management and shareholder interests.

The remuneration packages of Executive Directors comprise the following elements:

Basic salary and benefits
Basic salaries for Executive Directors are reviewed annually having regard to individual performance and market practice. In most cases benefits 
provided to Executive Directors comprise the provision of a company car, or appropriate allowance, health insurance and contributions to a Group 
personal pension scheme. Details of emoluments for the Directors of Zytronic plc are set out on page 22.

Annual bonus
A discretionary bonus may be awarded by the remuneration committee to reward exceptional individual performance.

Share options and incentive schemes
The Company believes that share ownership by Executive Directors and employees strengthens the link between their personal interests and those 
of the Company and the shareholders.

The Company has executive share option and incentive schemes, which are designed to promote long term improvement in the performance of the 
Group, sustained increase in shareholder value and clear linkage between executive reward and the Group’s performance. The share options and 
incentive schemes of the Directors of Zytronic plc are set out on pages 23 and 24.

It will normally be the case that, on the option holder ceasing employment with the Group, the options will be terminated. In some circumstances, 
the Board may have discretion to waive this where the past contribution to the business by the option holder justifies it.

The Company also has a sharesave option scheme. Membership is open to all eligible employees, including Directors, who have more than three 
months’ employment with the Group at the time options are offered under a scheme. In compliance with the Combined Code the Board has agreed 
that it will not grant share options to Non-executive Directors.

Service contracts
Mark Cambridge and Denis Mullan both have a service contract with a notice entitlement of six months.

The committee considers the Directors’ notice entitlements to be appropriate as they are in line with the market and take account of the Directors’ 
knowledge and experience. There are no special provisions for predetermined compensation in the event of loss of office.

Non-executive Directors
The fees of the Non-executive Directors are determined by the full Board within the limits set out in the Memorandum and Articles of Association. 
The Non-executive Directors are not eligible for bonuses, pension benefits or share options.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
22

Remuneration report continued

Directors’ emoluments
Emoluments of the Directors for the year ended 30 September 2011 are:

Non-executive Chairman 
Tudor Davies 

David Banks** 
Executive 
Mark Cambridge 

Denis Mullan 
Non-executive 
Sir David Chapman, Bt. 

David Buffham*** 

John Kennair, MBE**** 

Salary  
£’000 

Fees 
 £’000 

Benefits 
 £’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

Total 
emoluments* 
2011 
£’000 

Total
emoluments*

2010
 £’000

— 

— 

108 

93 

— 

— 

11 

212 

49 

60 

— 

— 

27 

25 

— 

161 

— 

— 

9 

11 

— 

— 

— 

20 

— 

— 

27 

19 

— 

— 

— 

46 

49 
60 

144 
123 

27 
25 
11 

439 

26

46

131

107

26

1

72

409

* 

** 

Excluding pension contributions.

 Fees were paid to David Banks Associates, a partnership in which David Banks is a partner. David Banks resigned from the Board on 4 March 2011. 
Fees include payment for contractual notice.

***  David Buffham joined the Board on 22 September 2010.

****  John Kennair, MBE withdrew from re-election at the AGM on 10 February 2011. 

Pension contributions
During the year, the Group made annual pension contributions for Mark Cambridge and Denis Mullan, Executive Directors, to a personal pension 
scheme (i.e. a defined contribution scheme). Neither benefits in kind nor bonuses are pensionable.

Details of contributions payable by the Company are:

Director 

Mark Cambridge 

Denis Mullan 

Total 

2011 
£’000 

3 
3 

6 

Directors’ shareholdings
Beneficial interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company, including those of their immediate families, were:

Denis Mullan 

Tudor Davies 

Sir David Chapman, Bt. 

Mark Cambridge  

David Buffham 

There has been no change in Directors’ shareholdings since 30 September 2011.

30 September 2011 

30 September 2010

Number 

140,109 

90,909 

40,000 

36,113 

12,500 

% 

0.95 
0.62 
0.27 
0.25 
0.08 

Number 

140,109 

90,909 

40,000 

36,113 

5,000 

2010
£’000

3

3

6

%

0.95

0.62

0.27

0.25

0.03

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23

Exercised 

during  30 September 
2011 
Number 

year 
Number 

— 

100,000 

Exercise dates 

16 March 2006 to  

15 March 2014  

Option
price

70.0p

— 

17,182 

18 January 2008 to  

145.5p

— 

— 

— 

17 January 2015 

2,300 

28 February 2011 to  

216.5p

7,500 

3,100 

27 February 2018 

15 July 2013 to 

15 July 2020 

177.5p

29 March 2014 to 

172.8p

28 March 2021 

— 

17,182 

18 January 2008 to  

145.5p

17 January 2015 

Granted 
during 
year 
Number 

Lapsed 
during 
year 
Number 

Directors’ share options

Enterprise 
Management 
Incentive Scheme 

Denis Mullan 

Denis Mullan 

Denis Mullan 

Denis Mullan 

Denis Mullan 

  30 September 
2010 
Number 

100,000 

17,182 

2,300 

7,500 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

3,100 

Mark Cambridge 

17,182 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Mark Cambridge 

27,250 

— 

27,250 

— 

— 

11 January 2009 to 

274.5p

Mark Cambridge 

— 

27,250 

Mark Cambridge 

— 

21,750 

— 

— 

— 

27,250 

10 January 2016 

6 October 2013 to 

5 October 2016 

176.0p

— 

21,750 

29 March 2014 to 

172.8p

28 March 2021 

Unapproved Scheme 

Denis Mullan 

12,700 

— 

Denis Mullan 

— 

10,000 

30 September 
2010 
Number 

Granted 
during 
year 
Number 

Lapsed 
during 
year 
Number 

Exercised 

during  30 September 
2011 
Number 

year 
Number 

Exercise dates 

— 

— 

— 

12,700 

28 February 2011 to  

— 

10,000 

27 February 2018 

29 March 2014 to 

28 March 2021 

Option
price

216.5p

172.8p

Director’s share incentive scheme 
Share incentive scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive 
The remuneration committee agreed an incentive award scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive, to offer him up to 200,000 shares at a price 
of 25.0p per share to vest based on specified performance criteria.

These are measured by an EPS, calculated on the audited pre-tax profit and a standard 28% tax charge. The EPS criteria are shown below:

Performance criteria 

Lower limit 

Upper limit

EPS 
Pence 

13.5 

18.3 

24.5 

Shares 
to vest 

80,000 

60,000 

60,000 

EPS 
Pence 

15.0 

22.0 

24.5 

Shares
to vest

100,000

80,000

20,000

Year to 30 September 2009 (year 1) 

Year to 30 September 2010 (year 2) 

Year to 30 September 2011 (year 3) 

Vesting is:

 > the entitlement to buy, which doesn’t disappear once earned;

 > pro rata between the upper and lower limits;

 > timed on signature of audited accounts with a clean audit report; and

 > cumulative, e.g. 200,000 shares can vest in year 3 if the upper limit is reached, even if the lower limits have not been achieved in the previous years.

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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24

Remuneration report continued

Director’s share incentive scheme continued
Share incentive scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive continued
If the 24.5p EPS criteria is not achieved in year 3, there will still be an opportunity for shares to vest in year 4 (to 30 September 2012) or year 5 
(to 30 September 2013) on the achievement of 24.5p EPS on the basis that, on achievement, the maximum total entitlement reduces 
to 125,000 shares or 50,000 shares respectively, or the number of shares already vested if that is greater.

As at 30 September 2011, no shares had vested under this incentive scheme.

Vesting will also take place in the event of a successful takeover and will be based on the takeover price, with full vesting at a share price of 500p 
and pro rata vesting down to a price of 300p as follows:

 > 1,000 shares for each 1p above 300p up to 500p until 30 September 2011, reduced for any shares which have already vested;

 >  625 shares for each 1p above 300p up to 500p between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2012, reduced for any shares which have already 

vested; and

 > 250 shares for each 1p above 300p up to 500p between 1 October 2012 and 30 September 2013, reduced for any shares which have already vested.

Share price during the year
During the year to 30 September 2011, the highest share price was 246.0p and the lowest share price was 155.5p. The market price of the shares 
at 30 September 2011 was 195.0p.

Directors’ interests in material contracts
As noted on page 22, the Company paid Directors’ fees to David Banks Associates, a partnership in which David Banks is a partner. 
David Banks resigned on 4 March 2011 and at 30 September 2011 the amount due to David Banks Associates was £Nil (2010: £6,365).

No Director was materially interested either at the year end or during the year in any contract of significance to the Group other than their 
employment or service contract. 

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
Independent auditors’ report
To the members of Zytronic plc

25

We have audited the Group financial statements of Zytronic plc for the year ended 30 September 2011 which comprise the Consolidated Income 
Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Balance 
Sheet, the Consolidated Cashflow Statement and the related notes 1 to 26. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their 
preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

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

Respective responsibilities of Directors and auditors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on pages 16 and 17, the Directors are responsible for the preparation 
of the Group financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion 
on the Group financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards 
require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the 
financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting 
policies are appropriate to the Group’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant 
accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial and 
non-financial information in the Zytronic plc annual report and financial statements to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial 
statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion the Group financial statements:

 > give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 30 September 2011 and of its profit for the year then ended;

 > have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; and 

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

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

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

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

 > we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Other matter
We have reported separately on the Parent Company financial statements of Zytronic plc for the year ended 30 September 2011.

Annie Graham (Senior statutory auditor) 
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
14 December 2011 

Notes

1.   The maintenance and integrity of the Zytronic plc website is the responsibility of the Directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters 
and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

2.  Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
26

Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 30 September 2011

Group revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Distribution costs 

Administration expenses 

Group trading profit 

Other operating income 

Group operating profit from continuing operations 

Finance costs 

Finance revenue 

Profit from continuing operations 

Tax expense 

Profit for the year from continuing operations 

Earnings per share 

Basic 

Diluted 

Notes 

2 

3 

5(a) 

5(b) 

6 

8 

8 

2011 
£’000 

20,488 

13,574 

6,914 

239 

3,194 

3,481 

187 

3,668 

112 

1 

3,557 

865 

2,692 

18.3p 

18.1p 

2010
£’000

18,483

12,589

5,894

231

2,738

2,925

112

3,037

126

13

2,924

736

2,188

14.9p

14.8p

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 30 September 2011

There are no recognised gains or losses other than the profit attributable to shareholders of the Company as presented in the consolidated 
income statement above.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
For the year ended 30 September 2011

At 30 September 2009 

Profit for the year 

Tax recognised directly in equity 

Exercise of share options 

Refund of VAT on flotation expenses previously disallowed 

Share-based payments 

Dividends 

At 30 September 2010 

Profit for the year 

Tax recognised directly in equity 

Exercise of share options 

Share-based payments 

Dividends 

At 30 September 2011 

Called 
up share 
capital* 
£’000 

147 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Share 
premium** 
£’000 

6,479 

— 

— 

40 

31 

— 

— 

147 

6,550 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

38 

— 

— 

147 

6,588 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

3,372 

2,188 

5 

— 

— 

42 

(852) 

4,755 

2,692 

7 

— 

(38) 

(1,044) 

6,372 

*  Share capital represents proceeds on issue of the Company’s equity share capital.

** Share premium comprises the excess in proceeds on issue of the Company’s equity share capital above the nominal value of the shares issued. 

27

Total
£’000

9,998

2,188

5

40

31

42

(852)

11,452

2,692

7

38

(38)

(1,044)

13,107

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28

Consolidated balance sheet
At 30 September 2011

Assets 

Non-current assets 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Trade and other receivables 

Current assets 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and short term deposits 

Total assets 

Equity and liabilities 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Financial liabilities 

Accruals 

Taxation liabilities 

Government grants 

Non-current liabilities 

Financial liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities (net) 

Government grants 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 

Equity share capital 

Share premium 

Revenue reserve 

Total equity 

Notes 

9 

10 

12(b) 

11 

12(a) 

13 

14 

15 

14 

16 

17 

20 

16 

22 

22 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

1,811 

8,113 

296 

1,869

8,387

198

10,220 

10,454

2,754 

4,021 

4,513 

11,288 

21,508 

1,778 

2,266 

1,118 

502 

192 

5,856 

1,722 

726 

97 

2,545 

8,401 

2,588

3,466

1,505

7,559

18,013

1,582

669

600

357

192

3,400

2,045

827

289

3,161

6,561

13,107 

11,452

147 

6,588 

6,372 

147

6,550

4,755

13,107 

11,452

These financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors on 14 December 2011 and signed on its behalf by:

Mark Cambridge, B.Sc 
Chief Executive 
14 December 2011 

Denis Mullan, B.Sc, FCA
Finance Director

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated cashflow statement
For the year ended 30 September 2011

29

Operating activities 

Profit from continuing operations 

Net finance costs 

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment 

Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets 

Amortisation of government grant   

Share-based payments 

Working capital adjustments 

Increase in inventories 

Increase in trade and other receivables 

Increase in trade and other payables 

Cash generated from operations 

Taxation paid 

Net cashflow from operating activities 

Investing activities 

Interest received 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Receipt of government grant 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment 

Payments to acquire intangible assets 

Net cashflow from investing activities 

Financing activities 

Interest paid 

Dividends paid to equity shareholders of the parent 

Proceeds from share issues re. options 

Refund of VAT on flotation expenses previously disallowed 

Repayment of borrowings 

Repayment of capital element of hire purchase contracts 

Net cashflow from financing activities 

Increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 

Cash and cash equivalents at the year end 

Notes 

2011 
£’000 

2010
£’000

3,557 

2,924

111 

802 

355 

(192) 

(38) 

(166) 

(647) 

697 

4,479 

(821) 

3,658 

1 

11 

— 

(525) 

(297) 

(810) 

(110) 

(1,044) 

38 

— 

(323) 

(45) 

113

654

333

(102)

42

(85)

(356)

279

3,802

(655)

3,147

13

—

540

(640)

(228)

(315)

(128)

(852)

40

31

(342)

(476)

(1,484) 

(1,727)

1,364 

1,214 

2,578 

1,105

109

1,214

10 

13 

13 

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Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
For the year ended 30 September 2011

1. Accounting policies
(a) Authorisation of financial statements and statement of compliance
The financial statements of Zytronic plc and it subsidiaries (the “Group”) for the year ended 30 September 2011 were authorised for issue by the 
Board of Directors on 14 December 2011 and the balance sheet was signed on behalf of the Board by Tudor Davies and Denis Mullan. Zytronic plc 
is a public limited company incorporated, domiciled and has its registered office, in England and Wales. The Company’s ordinary shares are traded 
on AIM. The address of its registered office and principal place of operation are disclosed in the Corporate information section of this report.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted for use in the European Union and as applied 
in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. The Directors consider the following accounting policies to be relevant in relation 
to the Group’s financial statements.

(b) New standards and interpretations not applied
The International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) have issued 
the following standards and interpretations with an effective date after the date of these financial statements:

IASB 

IAS 1 

IAS 12 

IAS 19 

IAS 24 

IAS 27R 

IAS 28R 

IFRS 1 

IFRS 7 

IFRS 9 

IFRS 10  

IFRS 11  

IFRS 12  

IFRS 13 

IFRIC 

IFRIC 14 

IFRIC 20 

 Amendments to IAS 1 Presentation of Items of Other Comprehensive Income 

 Amendment to IAS 12 Deferred Tax-Recovery of Underlying Assets 

 Amendments to IAS 19 Employee Benefits 

 Amendment to IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures  
 Improvements to IFRS (May 2010)  

 Separate Financial Statements 

 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures 

Effective date

1 July 2012

  1 January 2012

  1 January 2013

  1 January 2011 
  1 January 2011

  1 January 2013

  1 January 2013

 Amendment to IFRS 1 Severe Hyperinflation and Removal of Fixed Dates for First Time Adopters  

 Amendment to IFRS 7 Disclosures – Transfers of Financial Assets 

 Financial Instruments: Classification and Measurement   

 Consolidated Financial Statements 

 Joint Arrangements 

 Disclosures of Interests in Other Entities 

 Fair Value Measurement 

 Prepayments of a Minimum Funding Requirement (Amendment) 

 Shipping Costs in the Production Phase of a Surface Mine 

1 July 2011

1 July 2011

  1 January 2013

  1 January 2013

  1 January 2013

  1 January 2013

  1 January 2013

Effective date

  1 January 2011

  1 January 2013

The Directors do not anticipate adoption of these standards and interpretations will have a material impact on the Group financial statements.

(c) New standards adopted
The following new standards or interpretations are mandatory for the first time for the financial year ended 30 September 2011:

IASB 

IFRS 1 

IFRS 2 

IAS 32  

IFRIC 19 

 2009 Improvements to IFRS

 2010 Improvements to IFRS

 Amendments to IFRS 1 Additional Exemptions for First Time Adopters

 Amendments to IFRS 2 Group Cash-settled Share-based Payment Transactions

 Amendment to IAS 32 Classification of Rights Issues

 Extinguishing Financial Liabilities with Equity Instruments

Adoption of the remaining new standards and interpretations did not have a material impact on the financial performance of the Group.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
31

1. Accounting policies continued
(d) Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the Directors to make judgements and 
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and disclosures at the date of the financial statements and the reported income 
and expense during the year. Although these judgements and assumptions are based on the Directors’ best knowledge of the amount, events or 
actions, actual results may differ from those estimates.

In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, the Directors have made the following judgements concerning the future and other key 
sources of estimation uncertainty at the statement of financial position date which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in 
the financial statements:

Impairment of non-financial assets
The Group assesses whether there are any indicators of impairment for all non-financial assets at each reporting date. Goodwill is tested for impairment 
annually and at other times when such indicators exist. Other non-financial assets are tested for impairment when there are indicators that the carrying 
amounts may not be recoverable.

When value-in-use calculations are undertaken, management must estimate the expected future cashflows from the asset or cash-generating unit 
and choose a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present value of those cashflows.

Development costs
Development costs are capitalised in accordance with the accounting policy given below. Initial capitalisation of costs is based on management’s 
judgement that technological and economical feasibility is confirmed, usually when a product development project has reached a defined milestone.

Accounting for income tax
As part of the process of preparing financial statements, the Group estimates income tax in each of the jurisdictions in which the Group operates. 
This process involves estimating actual current tax expense and temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for tax 
expense and financial reporting purposes. Temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and liabilities, which are included in the statement 
of financial position. Further details are contained in note 6.

Royalty prepayment 
In accounting for the impairment of any prepayment that arises on the payment of royalties, management prepares forecasts of its future sales 
of touch products to assess royalty prepayment recoverability. Any prepayment which is not considered to be recoverable over the period 
of the licence is provided against. 

(e) Basis of consolidation and goodwill
The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of Zytronic plc and its subsidiaries as at 30 September each year. 
They are presented in Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds (£’000) except where otherwise indicated.

All intra-group balances and transactions, including unrealised profits arising from them, are eliminated. 

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the aggregate of the consideration 
transferred, measured at acquisition date fair value and the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. For each business combination, 
the acquirer measures the non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net 
assets. Acquisition costs incurred are expensed and included in administrative expenses.

When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate classification and designation in accordance 
with the contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent conditions as at the acquisition date. 

Any contingent consideration to be transferred by the acquirer will be recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes to the fair 
value of the contingent consideration which is deemed to be an asset or liability, will be recognised in accordance with IAS 39 either in profit or loss 
or as a change to other comprehensive income. If the contingent consideration is classified as equity, it should not be remeasured until it is finally 
settled within equity.

Goodwill is initially measured at cost being the excess of the aggregate of the consideration transferred and the amount recognised for non-controlling 
interest over the net identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If this consideration is lower than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary 
acquired, the difference is recognised in profit or loss.

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill 
acquired in a business combination is, from the acquisition date, allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating units that are expected to benefit 
from the combination, irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquiree are assigned to those units.

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Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
32

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

1. Accounting policies continued
(f) Foreign currencies
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the Company’s functional and presentation currency. Transactions in foreign 
currencies are initially recorded in the functional currency at the rate ruling at the date of transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated 
in foreign currencies are retranslated at the functional currency rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. All differences are taken to the 
income statement. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates 
as at the dates of the initial transactions. 

(g) Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment charges. Such costs include those directly attributable 
to making the asset capable of operating as intended and the cost of replacing significant parts of such plant and equipment when that cost is incurred, 
if the recognition criteria are met. Depreciation is provided on all property, plant and equipment, other than freehold land, at rates calculated to write 
off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over its expected useful life, as follows:

Freehold land 

Freehold property 

Long leasehold property 

Plant and machinery 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Nil

50 years

50 years

varying rates between 5% and 25% per annum

Any gain or loss arising on disposal of an asset (calculated as the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset) 
is included in the income statement in the year the asset is derecognised. 

The assets’ residual values, useful lives and methods of depreciation are reviewed at each financial year end and adjusted, if appropriate. The Group 
assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any such indication exists the Group makes an estimate 
of the asset’s recoverable amount. An asset’s recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s fair value, or the cash-generating unit’s fair value of which 
it forms part, less costs to sell and its value-in-use and is determined for an individual asset, unless the asset does not generate cash inflows that are 
largely independent of those from other assets or groups of assets. Where the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount, the asset 
is considered impaired and is written down to its recoverable amount. Impairment losses of continuing operations are recognised in the income 
statement in those expense categories consistent with the function of the impaired asset.

(h) Intangible assets
Intangible assets acquired separately are measured on initial recognition at cost. The cost of intangible assets acquired in a business combination 
is deemed to be their fair value as at the date of acquisition. Following initial recognition, intangible assets are carried at cost less any accumulated 
amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Other than capitalised development costs, internally generated intangible assets are not capitalised.

Intangible assets are amortised on a straight line basis over their useful economic lives and reviewed for impairment at each financial year end. 
The amortisation expense on intangible assets is recognised in the income statement in the expense category consistent with the function of the 
intangible asset. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Licences 

Capitalised development expenditure 

Software 

– 

– 

– 

period of licensing agreements (10 and 17 years)

4 to 10 years

4 years

Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, such as goodwill, are tested for impairment annually and not amortised. The useful life of an intangible 
asset with an indefinite life is reviewed annually to determine whether indefinite life assessment continues to be supportable.

(i) Research and development costs
Research expenditure is written off as incurred. An intangible asset arising from development expenditure on an individual project is recognised only 
when the Group can demonstrate the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale, its intention 
to complete and its ability to use or sell the asset, how the asset will generate future economic benefits, the availability of resources to complete 
the asset and the ability to measure reliably the expenditure during the development. 

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

33

1. Accounting policies continued
(i) Research and development costs continued
During the period of development, the asset is tested annually for impairment. Following the initial recognition of the development expenditure, 
the cost model (as defined in IFRS) is applied, requiring the asset to be carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and accumulated 
impairment losses. Amortisation of the asset begins when development is complete and the asset is available for use. It is amortised over 
the period of expected future sales.

(j) Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs incurred in bringing each product to its present location and condition 
are accounted for as follows:

Raw materials and consumables 

Finished goods and work in progress 

– 

– 

purchase cost on a first-in, first-out basis

 cost of direct materials and labour and a proportion of manufacturing overheads based on normal 
operating capacity but excluding borrowing costs

Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less estimated costs of completion and the estimated costs 
necessary to make the sale.

(k) Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are recognised and carried at original amount less an allowance for any uncollectable amounts. An estimate for doubtful debts is made 
when collection of the full amount is no longer probable. Bad debts are written off when identified. Trade and other receivables do not carry interest.

(l) Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and short term deposits in the balance sheet comprise cash at bank and in hand and short term deposits with an initial maturity of three 
months or less. Bank overdrafts are shown within financial liabilities, in current liabilities, on the balance sheet. For the purpose of the cashflow 
statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise these balances, net of outstanding bank overdrafts.

(m) Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
All loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received less directly attributable transaction costs. After initial 
recognition, interest-bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

Gains and losses are recognised in the income statement when the liabilities are derecognised, as well as through the amortisation process.

Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of an asset that necessarily takes a substantial period of time to 
get ready for its intended use are capitalised as part of the costs of the respective assets. All other borrowing costs are expensed in the period they 
occur. Borrowing costs consist of interest and other costs that an entity incurs in connection with the borrowing of funds.

(n) Derecognition of financial assets and liabilities
A financial asset or financial liability is derecognised when the contract that gives rise to it is discharged, sold, cancelled or expires.

Where an existing financial liability is replaced by another from the same lender on substantially different terms, or the terms of an existing liability 
are substantially modified, such an exchange or modification is treated as a derecognition of the original liability and the recognition of a new liability, 
and the difference in the respective carrying amounts is recognised in the income statement.

(o) Financial instruments
The Group uses derivative financial instruments such as forward currency contracts to hedge its risks associated with foreign currency fluctuations. 
Derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently 
remeasured at fair value. Derivatives are carried as assets when the fair value is positive and as liabilities when the fair value is negative.

The fair value of forward currency contracts is calculated by reference to current forward exchange rates for contracts with similar maturity profiles.

The Group does not apply any hedge accounting.

(p) Pension scheme
The Group operates a group personal pension scheme, which is a defined contribution scheme, for its employees. Contributions are recognised 
in the income statement as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
34

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

1. Accounting policies continued
(q) Leases
Group as a lessee
Finance leases, which transfer to the Group substantially all the risks and benefits incidental to ownership of the leased item, are capitalised at the 
inception of the lease at the fair value of the leased asset or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are 
apportioned between the finance charges and reduction of the lease liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of 
the liability. Finance charges are charged directly against income. Assets held under finance leases are depreciated over the shorter of the estimated 
useful life of the asset and the lease term.

Leases where the lessor retains a significant portion of the risks and benefits of ownership of the asset are classified as operating leases and 
payments are recognised as an expense in the income statement on a straight line basis over the lease term.

(r) Share-based payment transactions
Equity-settled transactions
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are granted and is recognised 
as an expense over the vesting period, which ends on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award. Fair value is 
determined using an appropriate pricing model. In valuing equity-settled transactions, no account is taken of any service performance conditions 
(vesting conditions), other than performance conditions linked to the price of the shares of the Company (market conditions). Any other conditions 
which are required to be met in order for an employee to become fully entitled to an award are considered to be non-vesting conditions. Like market 
performance conditions, non-vesting conditions are taken into account in determining the grant date fair value.

No expense is recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a market vesting condition, 
which are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market vesting condition or non-vesting condition is satisfied, provided that all other 
non-market vesting conditions are satisfied.

At each balance sheet date before vesting, the cumulative expense is calculated, representing the extent to which the vesting period has expired 
and management’s best estimate of the achievement or otherwise of non-market vesting conditions and the number of equity instruments that will 
ultimately vest or, in the case of an instrument subject to a market vesting condition or a non-vesting condition, be treated as vesting. The movement 
in cumulative expense since the previous balance sheet date is recognised in the income statement, with a corresponding entry in equity.

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

Where an equity-settled award is cancelled (including when a non-vesting condition within the control of the entity or employee is not met), it is 
treated as if it had vested on the date of cancellation and any cost not yet recognised in the income statement for the award is expensed immediately. 
Any compensation paid up to the fair value of the award at the cancellation or settlement date is deducted from equity, with any excess over fair 
value being treated as an expense in the income statement.

IFRS 2 Share-based Payments has only been applied to grants of equity instruments after 7 November 2002 that had not vested at 1 October 2006. 
For awards granted before 7 November 2002, the Group recognises only the intrinsic value or cost of these potential awards as an expense. 
This is accrued over the performance period of each plan based on the intrinsic value of the equity-settled awards.

(s) Revenue recognition
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer. 
This is when the goods have been dispatched or made available to the customer, an invoice has been raised for them and the Group’s obligations 
to the customer have been met. There is not usually any significant delay between the occurrence of these three events.

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received, excluding discounts, rebates and other sales taxes. Appropriate provisions 
for known returns are deducted from revenue.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

35

1. Accounting policies continued
(t) Government grants
Government grants are recognised where there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and all attaching conditions will be complied 
with, normally when a grant claim has been approved by the government authority and the grant monies have been received. The fair value of grants 
is credited to a deferred income account and released to the income statement over the life of the projects to which they relate.

(u) Royalty payments
Under the terms of its patent licence, Zytronic Displays Limited pays royalties to the patent owner on the value of the touch sensors which it sells. 
An agreed annual payment is made by monthly instalment under the licence.

In the event that the actual quarterly royalties due from Zytronic Displays Limited exceed the payments on account for that quarter, Zytronic Displays 
Limited pays the balance to the patent owner.

In the event that the payments on account for that quarter exceed the actual royalties due to that date, the excess payment is treated by Zytronic 
Displays Limited as a prepayment of royalties that will become due in the future. Similarly, should the annual agreed payment be in excess 
of the royalties due for the year, the difference is rolled over and deducted from future years’ royalty calculations.

Management reviews its forecasts of future sales to determine whether any impairment has occurred which might affect the carrying value 
of the prepayment.

From 1 January 2008, and for each subsequent calendar year, the annual payment will increase either by the greater of RPI or to the level 
of the previous year’s actual royalties.

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

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

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

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

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

 >  deferred taxation assets are recognised only to the extent that the Directors consider that it is more likely than not that there will be suitable 

taxable profits from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted.

Deferred tax is measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the related asset or liability 
is settled, based on tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

2. Group revenue and segmental analysis
Revenue represents the invoiced amount of goods sold and services provided, stated net of value added tax, rebates and discounts.

For management purposes, the Group considers that it has a single business unit comprising the development and manufacture of customised 
optical filters to enhance electronic display performance. All revenue, profits or losses before tax and net assets are attributable to this single 
reportable business segment.

Management monitors the operating results of its entire business for the purposes of making decisions about resource allocation and performance 
assessment. Business performance is evaluated based on operating profits.

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Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
36

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

2. Group revenue and segmental analysis continued
All manufacturing takes place in the UK and accordingly all segment assets are located in the UK. The analysis of segment revenue by geographical 
area based on the location of customers is given below:

Sale of goods 

– UK 

– Americas 

– EMEA (excluding UK) 

– APAC 

Revenue 
Finance revenue 

Total revenue 

30 September 2011 

30 September 2010

£’000 

1,748 

5,055 

10,030 

3,655 

20,488 
1 

20,489 

% 

8 
25 
49 
18 

100 

£’000 

1,762 

3,682 

8,516 

4,523 

18,483 

13 

18,496 

%

10

20

46

24

100

Individual revenues from three major customers exceed 10% of total revenue for the year. The total amount of revenue is £9.5m (2010: £9.5m).

The individual revenues from each of these three customers were: £4.1m (2010: £3.4m); £3.3m (2010: £3.2m); and £2.1m (2010: £2.9m).

3. Group operating profit
This is stated after charging/(crediting):

R&D costs 

Amortisation of development expenditure 

Impairment of development expenditure 

Auditors’ remuneration  – in respect of audit services* 

– in respect of taxation services 

Depreciation of owned assets 

Impairment of owned assets 

Depreciation of assets held under HP agreements 

Amortisation of licences  

Impairment of licences 

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense including: 

– write-down of inventories to net realisable value 

– reversals of impairments in inventories** 

Hire of plant and machinery 

Operating lease rentals – minimum lease payments 

Amortisation of capital grants 

Net foreign currency differences 

Rental income 

*  £13,000 of this relates to the Company (2010: £15,000).

** The reversal of impairments in inventories has arisen as a result of previously impaired stock being utilised.

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

308 
164 
11 

483 

44 
14 
671 
131 
— 
125 
1 
7,615 
58 
(152) 
2 
40 
(192) 
26 
— 

215

153

—

368

46

17

494

—

160

125

—

7,222

118

(12)

2

44

(102)

49

(3)

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Staff costs and Directors emoluments

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Other pension costs 

37

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

4,663 
418 
56 

5,137 

4,121

379

54

4,554

Included in wages and salaries is a total credit for share-based payments of £38,000 (2010: £42,000 charge) all of which arises from transactions 
accounted for as equity-settled share-based payment transactions.

The total of Directors’ emoluments is £439,000 (2010: £409,000). The aggregate value of contributions paid to money purchase pension schemes 
includes £6,000 (2010: £6,000) in respect of two Directors (2010: two).

Amounts paid to the highest paid Director are £144,000 (2010: £131,000) plus a contribution paid to the money purchase pension scheme 
of £3,000 (2010: £3,000).

The average number of employees during the year was made up as follows:

Production 

Administration and sales 

30 September 
2011 
Number 

30 September
2010
Number

171 
40 

211 

156

37

193

The information required by Schedule 5 of the Large and Medium Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 is 
contained in the Remuneration report under Directors’ emoluments, pension contributions, Directors’ shareholdings and Directors’ share options.

5. Finance costs payable and revenue receivable
(a) Finance costs

Interest payable 

Finance charges payable under HP agreements 

Bank loans and overdrafts 

(b) Finance revenue

Interest receivable 

Bank interest receivable 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

— 
112 

112 

15

111

126

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

1 

13

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Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
38

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

6. Taxation

Current tax 
UK corporation tax 

Corporation tax under/(over) provided in prior years 

Total current tax charge 

Deferred tax 
Effect of change in tax rates 

Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Total deferred tax charge 

Tax charge in the income statement 

Tax relating to items charged or credited to equity

Deferred tax 

Tax on share-based payment 

Total deferred tax charge 

Tax charge in the statement of comprehensive income 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

941 
18 

959 

(56) 
(38) 

(94) 

865 

728

(4)

724

(20)

32

12

736

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

7 

7 

7 

5

5

5

Reconciliation of the total tax charge
The effective tax rate of the tax expense in the income statement for the year is 24% (2010: 25%) compared with the average rate of corporation tax 
in the UK of 27% (2010: 28%). The differences are reconciled below:

Accounting profit before tax 

Accounting profit multiplied by the UK average rate of corporation tax of 27% (2010: 28%)   
Effects of: 
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 

“Gain” on exercise of share options allowable for taxation purposes but not reflected in the income statement 

Depreciation in respect of non-qualifying items 

Enhanced tax reliefs 

Difference in tax rates 

Tax under provided in prior years 

Total tax expense reported in the income statement 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

3,557 

960 

2,924

819

(8) 
(29) 
49 
(93) 
4 
(18) 

865 

4

(22)

51

(93)

(11)

(12)

736

Factors that may affect future tax charges
Under current tax legislation, some of the amortisation of licences will continue to be non-deductible for tax purposes.

Under HMRC’s R&D tax credit scheme, the Group will receive an uplift of 75% on qualifying R&D expenditure for tax purposes incurred in the six months 
ended 31 March 2011 and 100% on expenditure incurred from 1 April 2011. Until the financial year 2006, where R&D expenditure has been capitalised, 
the benefit of this uplift is only recognised as the asset is amortised. The unrecognised element, relating to the year ended 30 September 2005 and prior, 
at 30 September 2011 was £50,000 (2010: £100,000). Following changes to HMRC’s rules which took effect for financial year 2006, the uplift on 
expenditure which has been capitalised in any year is recognised in that year.

The “gain” on the exercise of share options, being the difference between the grant/exercise price and the market value at the time of exercise, 
is allowable as a taxable deduction from profits although it is not reflected within the income statement. These gains will arise in future years 
but their timing and amount is uncertain. 

There are no tax losses carried forward at 30 September 2011 (2010: £Nil).

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
39

6. Taxation continued
Factors that may affect future tax charges continued
Following announcements in the 2011 Budget on 23 March 2011, it was proposed that the full rate of corporation tax be reduced for four years from 
1 April 2011, ultimately bringing the corporation tax rate down to 23%. A reduction from 28% to 27% was substantively enacted on 20 July 2010 
and was intended to take effect from 1 April 2011, however the 2011 Budget announced instead that this would be reduced to 26% and this was 
enacted on 29 March 2011. A further reduction to 25%, taking effect from 1 April 2012, was also enacted on 19 July 2011. The enacted reduction 
at the balance sheet date to 25% has been applied to the deferred tax assets and liabilities arising at the balance sheet date. The effect of the rate 
change to 23%, if it had been enacted at the balance sheet date, would have reduced the deferred tax liability by £38,000.

The Finance Act 2011 also confirmed previously announced proposed changes to capital allowances. The rate of writing down allowances 
on the main pool will reduce from 20% to 18% with effect from 1 April 2012.

7. Dividends
The Directors propose the payment of a final dividend of 5.6p per share (2010: 5.0p), payable on Friday 24 February 2012 to shareholders 
on the Register of Members on Friday 14 February 2012. This dividend has not been accrued in these financial statements. The dividend payment 
will amount to some £825,000.

Ordinary dividends on equity shares  
Final dividend of 3.8p per ordinary share paid on 26 February 2010 

Interim dividend of 2.0p per ordinary share paid on 25 June 2010 

Final dividend of 5.0p per ordinary share paid on 25 February 2011 

Interim dividend of 2.1p per ordinary share paid on 29 July 2011 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

— 
— 
735 
309 

1,044 

558

294

—

—

852

8. Earnings per share
Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary 
shares in issue during the year. All activities are continuing operations and therefore there is no difference between EPS arising from total operations 
and EPS arising from continuing operations. 

Weighted 
 average 
number 
of shares 
30 September 
2011 
Thousands 

14,718 

14,718 

Earnings 
30 September  
2011 
£’000 

2,692 

2,692 

EPS 
30 September 
2011 
Pence 

18.3 

18.3 

Earnings 
30 September  
2010 
£’000 

2,188 

2,188 

Weighted 
 average 
number 
of shares 
30 September 
2010 
Thousands 

14,696 

14,696 

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 

Basic EPS 

The weighted average number of shares for diluted EPS is calculated by including the weighted average number of shares under option.

Earnings 
30 September  
2011 
£’000 

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation  
attributable to ordinary equity holders 
2,692 
Weighted average number of shares under option  — 

Diluted EPS 

2,692 

Weighted 
 average 
number 
of shares 
30 September 
2011 
Thousands 

14,718 

124 

14,842 

EPS 
30 September 
2011 
Pence 

Earnings 
30 September  
2010 
£’000 

18.3 
(0.2) 

18.1 

2,188 

— 

2,188 

Weighted 
 average 
number 
of shares 
30 September 
2010 
Thousands 

14,696 

111 

14,807 

EPS
30 September
2010
Pence

14.9

14.9

EPS
30 September
2010
Pence

14.9

(0.1)

14.8

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
40

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

9. Intangible assets

Cost 
At 30 September 2009 

Additions 

At 30 September 2010 

Additions 

At 30 September 2011 

Amortisation and impairment 
At 30 September 2009 

Provided during the year 

At 30 September 2010 

Provided during the year 

Impairment 

At 30 September 2011 

Net book value at 30 September 2011 

Net book value at 30 September 2010 

Net book value at 30 September 2009 

Software 
£’000 

Goodwill  
£’000 

Licences 
 £’000 

Development 
 expenditure  
£’000 

327 

47 

374 

68 

442 

219 

55 

274 

54 

— 

328 

114 

100 

108 

235 

— 

235 

— 

235 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

235 

235 

235 

2,119 

9 

2,128 

5 

2,133 

1,094 

125 

1,219 

125 

1 

1,345 

788 

909 

1,025 

1,652 

172 

1,824 

224 

2,048 

1,046 

153 

1,199 

164 

11 

1,374 

674 

625 

606 

Total
 £’000

4,333

228

4,561

297

4,858

2,359

333

2,692

343

12

3,047

1,811

1,869

1,974

As from the date of transition to IFRS, goodwill is no longer amortised but is now subject to an annual impairment test.

Impairment of goodwill
The goodwill of £235,000 relates to the operations of Intasolve Limited, which were merged into the business of Zytronic Displays Limited 
on 1 September 2002.

Zytronic Displays Limited operates in one continuing area of activity, which is the lowest level at which goodwill is monitored for internal purposes. 
That activity has demonstrated underlying growth in sales revenues, gross profit margins, profitability before tax and cash generation over recent years. 

The recoverable amount of goodwill has been determined based on a value in use calculation for the cash-generating unit, using cashflow 
projections based on financial budgets and forecasts approved by senior management covering a three-year period. Growth has been extrapolated 
forward from the end of the forecasts, using a growth rate of 3% which reflects the Directors’ view of the long term growth rate in the business.

The cashflows for all cash-generating units have been discounted using a discount rate of 10%, based on the Group’s weighted average cost of capital.

The calculation of value in use is most sensitive to the forecast operating cashflows, the discount rate and the growth rate used to extrapolate cashflows 
beyond the budget period. The operating cashflows are based on assumptions of revenue, cost of sales and general overheads. These assumptions 
are influenced by several factors both internally and externally.

The Directors consider the assumptions used to be consistent with the historical performance and to be realistically achievable in light of economic 
and industry measures and forecasts. It is believed that any reasonably possible movement on assumptions will not lead to an impairment and 
we have therefore not presented any sensitivity analysis.

Impairment of licences
Licences include intangible assets acquired through business combinations. These licences have been acquired for a period of 10 and 17 years 
and are subject to annual impairment.

Impairment of software and development expenditure
Software and development expenditure are subject to annual impairment over a period of four years and four to ten years respectively.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
10. Property, plant and equipment
The amounts carried in the balance sheet comprise:

Cost 
At 30 September 2009 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2010 

Additions 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2011 

Depreciation and impairment 
At 30 September 2009 

Provided during the year 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2010 

Impairment 

Provided during the year 

Disposals 

At 30 September 2011 

Net book value at 30 September 2011 

Net book value at 30 September 2010 

Net book value at 30 September 2009 

Land 
£’000 

207 

— 

— 

207 

— 

— 

207 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

207 

207 

207 

Freehold 
 property 
 £’000 

Long 
leasehold 
property  
 £’000 

Plant and  
machinery 
£’000 

2,960 

108 

— 

3,068 

2 

— 

3,070 

96 

59 

— 

155 

— 

61 

— 

216 

2,854 

2,913 

2,864 

2,149 

6 

— 

2,155 

3 

— 

2,158 

67 

54 

— 

121 

— 

55 

— 

176 

1,982 

2,034 

2,082 

9,033 

552 

(1,727) 

7,858 

534 

(148) 

8,244 

5,811 

541 

(1,727) 

4,625 

131 

555 

(137) 

5,174 

3,070 

3,233 

3,222 

41

Total
£’000

14,349

666

(1,727)

13,288

539

(148)

13,679

5,974

654

(1,727)

4,901

131

671

(137)

5,566

8,113

8,387

8,375

Included in the amounts for plant and machinery are the following amounts relating to assets acquired under HP agreements:

The impairment charge of £131,000 relates to assets written down to Nil net book value as these assets have been scrapped or are no longer 
required within production.

Cost  

Accumulated depreciation 

11. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables 

Work in progress 

Finished goods 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

— 

— 

2,241

853

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

1,847 
472 
435 

2,754 

1,674

639

275

2,588

The difference between purchase price or production cost of stocks and their replacement cost is not material.

The amount of write-down of inventories recognised as an expense is £58,000 (2010: £118,000), which is recognised in cost of sales.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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42

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

12. Trade and other receivables
(a) Current assets

Trade receivables 

VAT recoverable 

Prepayments 

Trade receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling 

US Dollar 

Euro 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

3,752 
129 
140 

4,021 

3,200

107

159

3,466

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

1,011 
1,521 
1,220 

3,752 

1,628

1,242

330

3,200

£’000

10

52

(10)

52

24

(39)

37

Total
£’000

3,752

3,200

Out of the carrying amount of trade receivables of £3.8m (2010: £3.2m), £2.0m (2010: £1.7m) is the amount of debts owed by three major 
customers. Regular reviews are undertaken on these major customers so as to ascertain that there are no going concern issues with them.

Trade receivables are non-interest bearing and are generally on 30 to 60 days’ terms. They are shown net of a provision for impairment.

As at 30 September 2011, trade receivables at a nominal value of £37,000 (2010: £52,000) were impaired due to poor payment history. 
Movements in the provision for impairment of trade receivables were as follows:

At 30 September 2009 

Charge for the year 

Utilised 

At 30 September 2010 

Charge for the year 

Utilised 

At 30 September 2011 

At 30 September, the ageing analysis of trade receivables overdue but not impaired is as follows:

2011 

2010 

Past due but not impaired 

Neither past due 
nor impaired 

0–3 months 
£’000 

>3 months 
£’000 

2,871 

2,186 

890 

1,036 

(9) 

(22) 

The good credit quality of trade receivables at 30 September 2011 is reflected in the improved ageing of the year-end receivables, in comparison 
to the prior year, and the reduction of the impairment provision. Credit limits are set for each customer, using Dun & Bradstreet credit reports as 
appropriate, or pro-forma invoices are raised, or cash up front is received for a new customer where a credit limit is not easily established. Slow 
payers are chased vigorously, including making use of solicitors in the collection process. The credit quality of trade receivables that are neither past 
due or impaired is assessed by reference to external credit ratings where available, otherwise historical information relating to counterparty default 
rates is used.

(b) Non-current assets

Royalty prepayments 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

296 

198

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13. Cash and short term deposits

Cash at bank and in hand 

Short term deposits 

43

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

1,302 
3,211 

4,513 

1,505

—

1,505

Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. Short term deposits are made overnight, depending on the immediate 
cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at base rate.

At 30 September 2011, the Group had available £3.1m (2010: £2.7m) of undrawn committed borrowing facilities in respect of which all conditions 
precedent had been met. £3.1m (2010: £0.7m) of these facilities fall for review within one year.

For the purpose of the consolidated cashflow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise the following:

Cash at bank and in hand 

Short term deposits 

Bank overdraft 

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is £2.6m (2010: £1.2m).

14. Trade and other payables

Trade payables 

Other taxes and social security costs 

Accruals 

Terms and conditions of the above financial liabilities:

 > trade payables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 30-day terms.

15. Financial liabilities – current

Bank loan (note 18(a)) 

Bank loans (notes 18(b) and 18(c)) 

Obligations under HP agreements (notes 18(d) and 19(a)) 

Bank overdrafts 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

1,302 
3,211 
(1,935) 

2,578 

1,505

—

(291)

1,214

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

1,647 
131 

1,778 
1,118 

2,896 

1,449

133

1,582

600

2,182

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

— 
331 
— 
1,935 

2,266 

6

327

45

291

669

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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44

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

16. Government grants

At 1 October 
Received during the year 

Released to the income statement   

At 30 September 

Current 

Non-current 

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

481 
— 
(192) 

289 

192 
97 

289 

43

540

(102)

481

192

289

481

Government grants have been received following the purchase of certain items of property, plant and equipment and the protection of jobs in the Company.

There are no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies attached to these grants.

17. Financial liabilities – non-current

Bank loans (note 18(b) and 18(c))  

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

1,722 

1,722 

2,045

2,045

18. Bank loans
(a) Chattel mortgage
On 28 September 2004, Zytronic Displays Limited entered into a term loan with Yorkshire Bank which was secured by a Chattel mortgage over certain 
items of plant and machinery. The original loan of £250,000 was paid off in November 2007. On 23 November 2007 an additional amount of £100,000 
was borrowed under the terms of this same Chattel mortgage, repayable by 36 equal monthly instalments. This loan was paid off in November 2010.

(b) Property mortgage
On 13 January 2006, Zytronic plc drew down funds under a ten-year mortgage with Lloyds TSB Bank plc under which it borrowed £750,000, 
repayable by monthly instalments. The loan is secured against its freehold interest in Britannia Court, the freehold factory premises which it acquired 
in January 2006. Interest is payable at 1.25% above that bank’s base rate.

(c) Property mortgage
On 4 June 2009, Zytronic plc borrowed £2.25m under a ten-year mortgage with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, repayable by monthly 
instalments. The loan is secured against its freehold interest in Haworth Court and its interest in a 999-year long leasehold on its third factory. 
Previous to the acquisitions of these interests, the Group occupied these premises on leases expiring in 2019. Interest is payable at 2.5% 
above three-month LIBOR. The balance is shown net of issue costs which are being amortised over the life of the loan.

(d) HP agreements
As at 30 September 2011, there were no outstanding HP agreements, having been fully paid off in February 2011. 

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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19. Obligations under HP agreements and leases
(a) Obligations under HP agreements

Minimum HP payments: 

– not later than one year 

(b) Obligations under operating leases
Minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Group as lessee 

Operating leases which expire: 

– not later than one year 

– later than one year and not later than five years 

– later than five years 

20. Deferred taxation liability/(asset)
The deferred tax included in the balance sheet is as follows:

Deferred tax liability 
Accelerated capital allowances 

R&D tax credit 

Other 

Deferred tax asset 
Share-based payment 

Pension asset 

Disclosed on the balance sheet 

The deferred tax included in the Group income statement is as follows:

Deferred tax in the income statement 
Accelerated capital allowances 

R&D tax credits 

Share-based payment 

Other 

Effect of change in tax rates 

Deferred income tax expense 

45

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

— 

— 

45

45

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

23 
21 
6 

50 

30

40

6

76

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

614 
152 
11 

777 

(51) 
— 

(51) 

726 

711

138

20

869

(40)

(2)

(42)

827

30 September 
2011 
£’000 

30 September
2010
£’000

(51) 
25 
(6) 
(6) 

(38) 
(56) 

(94) 

15

25

(9)

1

32

(20)

12

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

21. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise two secured bank loans, an overdraft facility and cash. The main purpose of these financial 
instruments is to raise finance for the Group’s operations. The Group has various other financial instruments, such as trade receivables and trade 
payables that arise directly from its operations.

The main risks associated with the Group’s financial assets and liabilities are set out below:

Credit risk
The risk of financial loss due to a counterparty’s failure to honour its obligations arises principally in relation to transactions where the Group provides 
goods on deferred terms. 

Group policies are aimed at minimising such losses and require that deferred terms are granted only to customers who demonstrate an appropriate 
payment history and/or satisfy creditworthiness procedures. Individual exposures are monitored with customers subject to credit limits to ensure that 
the Group’s exposure to bad debts is not significant. Goods may be sold on a cash-with-order basis to mitigate credit risk. 

Management’s assessment of the maximum credit risk exposure relating to financial assets is represented by the carrying value as at the balance 
sheet date.

Liquidity risk
The Company aims to mitigate liquidity risk by managing cash generated by its operations. Capital expenditure is approved at Group level. 

Flexibility is maintained by retaining surplus cash in readily accessible bank accounts.

The Group has an unsecured Net overdraft facility of £1.0m arranged with its principal banker, Lloyds TSB Bank plc. This facility extends until 
30 April 2012 and is to provide funding for working capital. On 28 April 2009, the Group renegotiated its other facility with Lloyds TSB Bank plc, 
being a revolving credit facility for £2.0m, which extends until 30 June 2012. This facility is to provide additional working capital and funding for 
further capital expenditure, should it be required.

In January 2006, the Company acquired a freehold property and in May and June 2009 the Company acquired the freehold of, and a 999-year 
lease on, its existing two leased factories. To manage liquidity risk, the Company part-funded these acquisitions using two secured property loans, 
each repayable over ten years.

The Group entered into a USD forward extra contract in September 2011 to protect itself against adverse movements in the exchange rate. 
A series of 12, one monthly contracts may arise depending on the movement of the USD rate within each month. A protection rate of $1.6000 offers 
the worst case scenario for exchange with the trigger rate being granted at $1.4975. Movements between these two rates offer the best possible outcome.

The following table demonstrates the possible outcomes based on the worst case scenario rate of $1.6000.

Year ended 30 September 2011

Derivative financial liabilities 

Gross settled 

Foreign exchange forward contracts – outflow 

Foreign exchange forward contracts – inflow 

Total 

Year ended 30 September 2010

Derivative financial liabilities 

Gross settled 

Foreign exchange forward contracts – outflow 

Foreign exchange forward contracts – inflow 

Total 

On 
demand 
£’000 

— 

— 

— 

On 
demand 
£’000 

— 

— 

— 

<3 months 
£’000 

3–12 months 
£’000 

1–5 years 
£’000 

>5 years 
£’000 

(1,500) 

1,500 

— 

(4,500) 

4,500 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

<3 months 
£’000 

3–12 months 
£’000 

1–5 years 
£’000 

>5 years 
£’000 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

Total
£’000

(6,000)

6,000

—

Total
£’000

—

—

—

The maturity profile in the above tables reflects only one side of the Group’s liquidity position.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
47

21. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments continued
Foreign exchange risk 
The Group’s policy is that no trading in financial instruments should be undertaken. Spot contracts and forward currency contracts may be used 
to sell surplus US Dollars and Euros, generated from sales less purchases in those currencies. However, the Group uses natural hedging as the main 
basis of minimising its exposure to these currencies.

Foreign currency risk is the risk that the fair value of future cashflows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange 
rates. The Group’s exposure to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates relates primarily to the Group’s operating activities (when revenue or 
expense are denominated in a different currency from the Group’s functional currency).

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in the US Dollar and Euro exchange rate, with all other variables 
held constant, of the Group’s profit before tax (due to changes in the fair value of monetary assets and liabilities and fair value movements on 
forward currency contracts).

2011 
Sterling 

2010 

Sterling 

Change in 
US Dollar rate 

Effect on profit 
before tax 
£’000 

Change in 
Euro rate 

Effect on profit
before tax
£’000

+ 5% 

– 5% 

+ 5% 

– 5% 

(1) 

2 

(19) 

20 

+ 5% 

– 5% 

+ 5% 

– 5% 

(1)

1

(24)

27

Interest rate risk
The Group has not sought to tie itself into fixed rate debt but has instead accepted a degree of interest rate risk from having only floating rate debt. 
This is because the Group has positive net cash balances, a relatively low level of borrowings and estimates that an increase of 1% in interest rates 
would not have a material effect on the Group’s pre-tax profits.

The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are as follows:

 > foreign currency risk – the magnitude of this risk that has arisen over the period is detailed below; and

 >  interest rate risk on floating rate financial liabilities to the extent not covered by interest rate benefit on floating rate financial assets – details of floating 

rate financial liabilities and assets are below.

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in interest rates, with all other variables held constant, of the 
Group’s profit before tax (through the impact on floating rate borrowings). There is no impact on the Group’s equity.

2011 
Sterling 

2010 

Sterling 

Increase/ 
decrease in 
basis points 

Effect
on profit
before tax
£’000

+ 100 

– 100 

+ 100 

– 100 

(19)

19

(23)

23

The floating rate financial assets comprise cash. The benchmarks for floating rates on both liabilities and assets is LIBOR and Bank of England base rate.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
48

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

21. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments continued
Currency exposures
The table below shows the Group’s currency exposures; in other words, those transactional exposures that give rise to the net currency gains 
and losses recognised in the income statement. Such exposures comprise the monetary assets and monetary liabilities of the Group that are not 
denominated in the operating currency of the Group.

These currency exposures were:

30 September 2011 

30 September 2010 

Net foreign currency monetary asset

US Dollar 
£’000 

43 

613 

Euro 
£’000 

23 

608 

Total
£’000

66

1,221

The year-end net foreign currency monetary assets comprise cash and trade receivable balances less trade payable balances. These are the inherent 
constituents of the natural hedging policy whereby foreign currency sales are turned into cash for the settlement of purchases of goods denominated 
in those foreign currencies. Cash at a month end is held to settle creditors’ payments due in the next two months and to meet future anticipated 
capital expenditure in those currencies.

Maturity profile of financial liabilities
Year ended 30 September 2011

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 

Trade and other payables  

Total 

On 
demand 
£’000 

1,935 

2,470 

4,405 

<3 months 
£’000 

3–12 months 
£’000 

74 

426 

500 

293 

— 

293 

1–5 years 
£’000 

1,809 

— 

1,809 

>5 years 
£’000 

66 

— 

66 

Total
£’000

4,177

2,896

7,073

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings comprise principal repayments due of £4.0m and contractual interest payments of £188,000. Interest is 
calculated based on interest rates prevailing at the balance sheet date.

Year ended 30 September 2010

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 

Trade and other payables  

Total 

On 
demand 
£’000 

291 

1,618 

1,909 

<3 months 
£’000 

3–12 months 
£’000 

96 

564 

660 

316 

— 

316 

1–5 years 
£’000 

1,897 

— 

1,897 

>5 years 
£’000 

369 

— 

369 

Total
£’000

2,969

2,182

5,151

Fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities
The fair value of all financial assets and liabilities is not significantly different to their carrying amount.

Capital management
The Group’s policies on capital management are included in the Directors’ report on page 16.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22. Share capital and share-based payments
(a) Share capital

Authorised 
Ordinary shares of 1p each 

Allotted, called up and fully paid 
Ordinary shares 1p each 

(b) Share premium

At 1 October 2010 

Increase for cash on exercise of share options 

At 30 September 2011 

2011 
Number 
Thousands 

2010 
Number 
Thousands 

25,000 

25,000 

14,734 

14,710 

2011 
£’000 

250 

147 

49

2010
£’000

250

147

£’000

6,550

38

6,588

(c) Share-based payments
Senior Executive Plans and EMI Scheme
Share options are granted to senior executives at the discretion of the remuneration committee. The exercise price of the options is based on the market 
price of the shares at the date of grant. The options vest three years from the date of grant. The contractual life of each option granted is ten years. 
There are no cash settlement alternatives.

All Employee Share-option Plan, the Sharesave Scheme
Periodically the Board of Directors will agree to the setting up of a new Sharesave Scheme for all employees under the SAYE regulations. All employees 
are entitled to apply for a grant of options once they have been in service for three months. The options will vest if the employee remains in service 
for a period of three or five years from the date of grant. The exercise price of the options is equal to the market price of the shares less a discount 
decided by the Board of Directors on the date of grant. The contractual life of the options is three or five years with a six-month exercise period.

During the year the Group had three share option schemes: an Unapproved Executive Option Scheme, an Enterprise Management Incentive (“EMI”) 
Scheme and a Sharesave Scheme. Under these schemes, options to subscribe for the Company’s shares have been granted as follows:

  30 September 
2010 
Number 

Granted 
during  
year 
 Number 

Exercised 
during  
year 
 Number 

Lapsed 
during   30 September 
2011 
Number 

year 
 Number 

Exercise 
dates 

Option
 price

Unapproved  
Executive Scheme 

Sharesave Scheme  
(2009)  – 3-year term 
– 5-year term 

EMI Scheme 

12,700 
— 

— 
30,000 

— 
— 

— 
— 

12,700 
30,000 

28 February 2011 to 27 February 2018 
29 March 2014 to 28 March 2021 

216.5p
172.8p

48,511 
19,546 
100,000 
91,408 
82,250 
87,800 
36,500 
82,500 
— 
— 
— 

— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
77,250 
64,850 
46,000 

6,980 
— 
— 
16,058 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

41,531 
— 
— 
— 
42,250 
2,500 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 

— 
19,546 
100,000 
75,350 
40,000 
85,300 
36,500 
82,500 
77,250(1) 
64,850 
46,000 

1 April 2011 to 30 September 2011 
1 April 2013 to 30 September 2013 
16 March 2006 to 15 March 2014  
18 January 2008 to 17 January 2015  
11 January 2009 to 10 January 2016  
28 February 2011 to 27 February 2018  
19 February 2012 to 18 February 2019  
15 July 2013 to 15 July 2020  
6 October 2013 to 5 October 2016  
29 March 2014 to 28 March 2021 
29 March 2014 to 28 March 2021 

220.0p
220.0p
70.0p
145.5p
274.5p
216.5p
106.0p
177.5p
176.0p 
172.8p
216.0p

(1)  Of the 77,250 shares issued on 5 October 2010, 40,000 shares are “parallel” shares issued to recipients of similar sized grants in 2006. Each individual is allowed 

to exercise the appropriate number of shares under either the 2006 grant or the 2010 grant (hence the term “parallel”) but not under both. The exercise of one grant 
automatically terminates the other grant.

Performance conditions have not been attached to the share options awarded under the EMI Scheme.

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

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50

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

22. Share capital and share-based payments continued
(c) Share-based payments continued
Income statement expense for year ended 30 September 2011
The expense recognised for share-based payments in respect of employee services received during the year to 30 September 2011 is a credit 
of £38,000 (2010: charge of £42,000) to correct the cumulative position.

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

Outstanding at 30 September* 

Granted during the year 

Lapsed during the year 

Exercised during the year 

Outstanding at 30 September 

Exercisable at 30 September 

2011 
Number 

761,215*** 

218,100 

(86,281) 

(23,038) 

869,996*** 

501,604 

2011 
WAEP  
Pence 

155.2 
120.7 
128.1 
168.1 

167.6 

166.8 

2010 
Number 

727,598 

82,500 

(12,520) 

(36,363) 

761,215*** 

273,658 

2010
WAEP 
Pence

151.2

177.5

220.0

110.0**

155.2

156.7

* 

 Included within this balance are options over 100,000 (2010: 100,000) shares that have not been recognised in accordance with IFRS 2 as the options had vested 
before 1 October 2006. These options have not been subsequently modified and therefore do not need to be accounted for in accordance with IFRS 2.

** 

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for the options exercised is 110.0p.

*** 

Included within this balance are 200,000 shares belonging to the Director’s share incentive scheme.

For the share options outstanding as at 30 September 2011, the weighted average remaining contractual life is five years (2010: five years).

There were four grants of options during the year. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was 64.4p (2010: 41.7p). 
The range of exercise prices for options outstanding at the end of the year was 70.0p to 274.5p (2010: 70.0p to 274.5p).

The fair value of equity-settled share options granted is estimated as at the date of grant using a model designed by the Quoted Company Alliance 
(based on a Black-Scholes-Merton model), taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. The following table 
lists the inputs to the model used for the years ended 30 September 2011 and 30 September 2010:

Dividend yield  
Expected share price volatility 
Risk-free interest rate  
Expected life of option (years) 

2011 

3.3% 
35.0% 
4.8% 
3.0 to 5.0 

2010

3.4%
35.0%
4.0%
3.0 to 5.0

The expected life of the options is based on historical data and is not necessarily indicative of exercise patterns that may occur. The expected 
volatility reflects the assumption that the historical volatility is indicative of future trends, which may also not necessarily be the actual outcome.

No other features of options grant were incorporated into the measurement of fair value.

(d) Director’s share incentive scheme 
Share incentive scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive 
The remuneration committee agreed an incentive award scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive, to offer him up to 200,000 shares at a price 
of 25.0p per share to vest based on specified performance criteria.

These are measured by an EPS calculated on the audited pre-tax profit and a standard 28% tax charge. The EPS criteria are shown below:

Year to 30 September 2009 (year 1) 

Year to 30 September 2010 (year 2) 

Year to 30 September 2011 (year 3) 

Performance criteria

Lower limit 

Upper limit

EPS 
Pence 

13.5 

18.3 

24.5 

Shares 
to vest 

80,000 

60,000 

60,000 

EPS 
Pence 

15.0 

22.0 

24.5 

Shares
to vest

100,000

80,000

20,000

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
51

22. Share capital and share-based payments continued
(d) Director’s share incentive scheme continued
Share incentive scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive continued
Vesting is:

 > the entitlement to buy, which doesn’t disappear once earned;

 > pro rata between the upper and lower limits;

 > timed on signature of audited accounts with a clean audit report; and

 >  cumulative, e.g. 200,000 shares can vest in year 3 if the upper limit is reached, even if the lower limits have not been achieved in the previous years.

If the 24.5p EPS criteria is not achieved in year 3, there will still be an opportunity for shares to vest in year 4 (to 30 September 2012) or year 5 
(to 30 September 2013) on the achievement of 24.5p EPS on the basis that, on achievement, the maximum total entitlement reduces 
to 125,000 shares or 50,000 shares respectively, or the number of shares already vested if that is greater.

Vesting will also take place in the event of a successful takeover and will be based on the takeover price, with full vesting at a share price of 500p 
and pro rata vesting down to a price of 300p as follows:

 > 1,000 shares for each 1p above 300p up to 500p until 30 September 2011, reduced for any shares which have already vested;

 >  625 shares for each 1p above 300p up to 500p between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2012, reduced for any shares which have already 

vested; and

 >  250 shares for each 1p above 300p up to 500p between 1 October 2012 and 30 September 2013, reduced for any shares which have already vested.

23. Capital commitments
Amounts contracted for at 30 September 2011 but not provided in the financial statements amounted to £267,000 (2010: £428,000) for the Group.

24. Pension scheme commitments
Contributions for the year ended 30 September 2011 amounted to £56,000 (2010: £54,000) and the outstanding contributions at the balance sheet 
date were £5,000 (2010: £6,000). The Group is a member of a group personal pension scheme which is a defined contribution scheme. 
Contributions are charged to the income statement as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

25. Related party transactions
There are no related party transactions required to be disclosed in the financial statements.

The key management personnel are considered to be the Directors of the Group. The following table highlights the remuneration payable to the Directors:

Salaries/fees 

Bonuses 

Pension contributions 

Share-based payments 

2011 
£’000 

393 
46 
6 
2 

447 

2010
£’000

394

15

6

2

417

26. Guarantees
Zytronic plc has given a guarantee to Lloyds TSB Bank plc in connection with the overdraft facility and the revolving credit facility detailed in note 21.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
52

Five-year summaries

Consolidated income statement
For the five years ended 30 September 2007 to 2011

Group revenue 
Cost of sales 

Gross profit 
Distribution costs 

Administration expenses 

Group trading profit 
Other operating income 

Group operating profit from continuing activities 
Finance costs  

Finance revenue 

Profit from continuing operations 
Tax expense 

Profit for the period from continuing operations 

Earnings per share 
Basic 

Diluted 

Dividends per share 

2011 
£’000 

20,488 
13,574 

6,914 
239 
3,194 

3,481 
187 

3,668 
112 
1 

3,557 
865 

2,692 

18.3p 
18.1p 

7.1p 

2010 
£’000 

18,483 

12,589 

5,894 

231 

2,738 

2,925 

112 

3,037 

126 

13 

2,924 

736 

2,188 

14.9p 

14.8p 

5.8p 

2009 
£’000 

15,921 

10,514 

5,407 

183 

2,850 

2,374 

20 

2,394 

98 

4 

2,300 

593 

1,707 

11.6p 

11.5p 

4.2p 

2008 
£’000 

14,717 

9,978 

4,739 

217 

2,675 

1,847 

27 

1,874 

146 

12 

1,740 

677 

1,063 

7.3p 

7.2p 

3.0p 

2007
£’000

11,437

7,971

3,466

197

2,556

713

36

749

73

7

683

149

534

3.6p

3.6p

3.0p

The results for all the above years derive from continuing operations.

Dividends are shown in the accounts in the year in which they are paid.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated balance sheet
At 30 September 2007 to 2011

Assets 
Non-current assets 
Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment 

Trade and other receivables 

Current assets 
Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and short term deposits 

Total assets 

Equity and liabilities 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 

Financial liabilities 

Accruals 

Taxation liabilities 

Government grants 

Non-current liabilities 
Financial liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities (net) 

Government grants 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 
Equity share capital 

Share premium 

Revenue reserve  

Total equity 

53

2011 
£’000 

2010 
£’000 

2009 
£’000 

2008 
£’000 

2007
£’000

1,869 

8,387 

198 

10,454 

2,588 

3,466 

1,505 

7,559 

1,974 

8,375 

210 

10,559 

2,503 

3,110 

739 

6,352 

2,058 

5,315 

210 

7,583 

2,496 

3,039 

1,260 

6,795 

2,122

5,208

194

7,524

1,828

2,767

317

4,912

18,013 

16,911 

14,378 

12,436

1,306 

1,442 

574 

300 

— 

3,622 

2,428 

820 

43 

3,291 

6,913 

9,998 

147 

6,479 

3,372 

9,998 

1,480 

1,182 

533 

341 

— 

3,536 

1,088 

817 

55 

1,960 

5,496 

8,882 

147 

6,479 

2,256 

8,882 

1,376

621

399

—

—

2,396

1,340

479

—

1,819

4,215

8,221

147

6,473

1,601

8,221

1,811 
8,113 
296 

10,220 

2,754 
4,021 
4,513 

11,288 

21,508 

1,778 
2,266 
1,118 
502 
192 

5,856 

1,722 
726 
97 

2,545 

8,401 

1,582 

669 

600 

357 

192 

3,400 

2,045 

827 

289 

3,161 

6,561 

13,107 

11,452 

147 
6,588 
6,372 

13,107 

147 

6,550 

4,755 

11,452 

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
54

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities
In relation to the parent company financial statements

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare 
the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards 
and applicable law). These financial statements are required by law to give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit 
or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Directors are required to:

 > select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

 > make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

 >  state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained 

in the financial statements; and

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

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

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

The Directors confirm that the financial statements comply with the above requirements.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

Parent company auditors’ report
To the members of Zytronic plc

55

Independent auditors’ report to the members of Zytronic plc
We have audited the Parent Company financial statements of Zytronic plc for the year ended 30 September 2011 which comprise the balance sheet 
and the related notes 1 to 13. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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

Respective responsibilities of Directors and auditors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 54, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the Parent 
Company financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the 
Parent Company financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards 
require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the 
financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: whether the accounting 
policies are appropriate to the Parent Company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness 
of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read all the financial 
and non-financial information in the Zytronic plc annual report and financial statements to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial 
statements. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion the Parent Company financial statements:

 > give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs as at 30 September 2011;

 > have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

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

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion:

 > the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006; and

 >  the information given in the Directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with 

the Parent Company financial statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

 >  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received 

from branches not visited by us; or

 >  the Parent Company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited are not in agreement 

with the accounting records and returns; or

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

 > we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Other matter
We have reported separately on the Group financial statements of Zytronic plc for the year ended 30 September 2011.

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Annie Graham (Senior statutory auditor) 
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
14 December 2011 

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
56

Parent company balance sheet
At 30 September 2011

Fixed assets 
Tangible assets 

Investments 

Current assets 
Debtors: 

– amounts falling due within one year 

– amounts falling due after one year 

Cash at bank and in hand 

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

Net current assets 

Total assets less current liabilities   
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 
Provisions for liabilities and charges 
Deferred tax 

Capital and reserves 
Called up share capital 

Share premium 

Profit and loss account 

Shareholders’ funds 

Notes 

3 

4 

5 

5 

6 

7 

9 

10 

11 

11 

2011 
£’000 

4,926 
9,625 

14,551 

1,323 
2,000 
1,183 

4,506 
498 

4,008 

18,559 
1,722 

119 

16,718 

147 
6,588 
9,983 

16,718 

Restated
2010
£’000

5,022

9,650

14,672

822

2,000

630

3,452

486

2,966

17,638

2,045

76

15,517

147

6,550

8,820

15,517

These financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors on 14 December 2011 and signed on its behalf by:

Mark Cambridge, B.Sc 
Chief Executive 
14 December 2011

Denis Mullan, B.Sc, FCA
Finance Director

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the parent company financial statements
For the year ended 30 September 2011

57

1. Accounting policies
(a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements of Zytronic plc were approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 14 December 2011. The financial statements are 
prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards.

A profit and loss account is not presented for the Company as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and the Company has taken 
the exemptions under FRS 1 not to present a cashflow statement.

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption available to parent companies under FRS 29 Financial Instruments: Disclosures so as not to 
provide the information otherwise required by the standard, as the Group’s consolidated financial statements, in which the Company is included, 
provide equivalent disclosures under IFRS 7 Financial Instruments and Disclosure.

(b) Changes in accounting policy – FRS 20 Share-based payment
In light of the amendment to FRS 20 “Group cash settled share-based payment arrangements” effective for the first time this year, the Company 
has amended their accounting policy for share-based payment schemes settled in the Company’s equity where services are received by subsidiary 
entities. To reflect this change, the Company has recorded an increase in investments in subsidiary companies of £161,000 as at 1 October 2010 
with a corresponding credit to equity. An increase of £41,000 and a credit of £25,000 have been recorded in the periods to 30 September 2010 
and 2011 respectively, with a corresponding entry to equity.

(c) Share-based payments
Equity-settled transactions
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are granted and is 
recognised as an expense over the vesting period, which ends on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled to the award. 
Fair value is determined using an appropriate pricing model. In valuing equity-settled transactions, account is not taken of any service performance 
conditions (vesting conditions), other than performance conditions linked to the price of the shares of the Company (market conditions). Any other 
conditions which are required to be met in order for an employee to become fully entitled to an award are considered to be non-vesting conditions. 
Like market performance conditions, non-vesting conditions are taken into account in determining the grant date fair value.

An expense is not recognised for awards that do not ultimately vest, except for awards where vesting is conditional upon a market vesting condition, 
which are treated as vesting irrespective of whether or not the market vesting condition or non-vesting condition is satisfied, provided that all other 
non-market vesting conditions are satisfied.

At each balance sheet date before vesting, the cumulative expense is calculated, representing the extent to which the vesting period has expired 
and management’s best estimate of the achievement or otherwise of non-market vesting conditions and the number of equity instruments that will 
ultimately vest, or in the case of an instrument subject to a market vesting condition or a non-vesting condition, be treated as vesting as described 
above. The movement in cumulative expense since the previous balance sheet date is recognised in the income statement, with a corresponding 
entry in equity.

Where the terms of an equity-settled award are modified or a new award is designated as replacing a cancelled or settled award, the cost based 
on the original award terms continues to be recognised over the original vesting period. In addition, an expense is recognised over the remainder 
of the new vesting period for the incremental fair value of any modification, based on the difference between the fair value of the original award and 
the fair value of the modified award, both as measured on the date of the modification. A reduction is not recognised if this difference is negative.

Where an equity-settled award is cancelled (including when a non-vesting condition within the control of the entity or employee is not met), it is treated 
as if it had vested on the date of cancellation, and any cost not yet recognised in the profit and loss account for the award is expensed immediately. 
Any compensation paid up to the fair value of the award at the cancellation or settlement date is deducted from equity, with any excess over fair 
value being treated as an expense in the profit and loss account.

The Company records an increase in its investment in subsidiaries with a credit to equity equivalent to the FRS 20 costs in the subsidiary undertakings.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
58

Notes to the parent company financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

1. Accounting policies continued
(d) Tangible fixed assets
Property is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. Such cost includes costs directly attributable to making 
the asset capable of operating as intended. Borrowing costs attributable to assets under construction are recognised as an expense when incurred.

Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets, at rates calculated to write off the costs, less estimated residual value, of each asset evenly over 
its expected useful life, as follows:

Freehold land 

–  Nil

Freehold property 

–  50 years

Long leasehold property  –  50 years

The carrying values of tangible fixed assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may 
not be recoverable. The expected useful lives of assets are reviewed annually. 

(e) Investments
Fixed asset investments in subsidiaries are shown at cost less provision for impairment.

(f) Deferred taxation
The charge for taxation is based on the profit for the year and takes into account taxation deferred because of timing differences between the 
treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting purposes.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date where transactions or 
events that result in an obligation to pay more, or a right to pay less, tax in the future have occurred at the balance sheet date, with the exception of 
deferred tax assets which are recognised only to the extent that the Directors consider that it is more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable 
profits from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted.

Deferred tax is measured on a non-discounted basis at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which timing differences reverse, 
based on tax rates and laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

(g) Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
All interest-bearing loans and borrowings are initially recognised at net proceeds, being fair value of the consideration received net of issue costs 
associated with the borrowings. Finance costs (including issue costs) are taken to the profit and loss account over the term of the debt at a constant 
rate on the balance sheet carrying amount. The carrying amount is increased by the finance charges amortised and reduced by payments made 
in respect of the accounting period. 

2. Auditors’ remuneration
Auditors’ remuneration for the year ended 30 September 2011 was £13,000 (2010: £15,000).

3. Tangible fixed assets

Cost 
At 30 September 2010 

Additions 

At 30 September 2011 

Depreciation 
At 30 September 2010 

Provided during the year 

At 30 September 2011 

Net book value at 30 September 2011 

Net book value at 30 September 2010 

Land 
 £’000 

207 

— 

207 

— 

— 

— 

207 

207 

Freehold 
property 
£’000 

3,068 

2 

3,070 

156 

61 

217 

2,853 

2,912 

Long 
leasehold 
property 
£’000 

1,955 

3 

1,958 

52 

40 

92 

1,866 

1,903 

Total
 £’000

5,230

5

5,235

208

101

309

4,926

5,022

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
59

Restated
2010
£’000

9,609

41

9,650

Nature of 
business

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4. Investments
Investments in subsidiary companies

Shares in subsidiary companies 
At beginning of year 

Share options granted to subsidiary employees 

At end of year 

2011 
£’000 

9,650 
(25) 

9,625 

Details of the investments in which the Company holds 20% or more of the nominal value of any class of share capital are as follows:

Name of company 

Proportion of 
voting rights and 
shares held 

Holding 

Zytronic Displays Limited 

  Ordinary shares 

Intasolve Limited 

  Ordinary shares 

Zytronic Glass Products Limited 

  Ordinary shares 

100% 

100% 

100% 

The trading subsidiary is incorporated in England.

5. Debtors

Trade debtors 

Amounts owed by Group undertakings 

Prepayments and accrued income  

Amounts falling due after more than one year included above are:

Amounts owed by Group undertakings 

6. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Bank loans (note 8) 

Trade creditors 

Other creditors and accruals 

Other amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings 

Corporation tax 

7. Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

Bank loans (note 8) 

Manufacture of transparent composites, including touch sensors

Dormant

Dormant

2010
£’000

2

2,803

17

2,822

2010
£’000

2,000

2010
£’000

327

20

53

81

5

486

2010
£’000

2,045

2011 
£’000 

2 
3,304 
17 

3,323 

2011 
£’000 

2,000 

2011 
£’000 

331 
7 
79 
81 
— 

498 

2011 
£’000 

1,722 

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60

Notes to the parent company financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2011

8. Bank loans
On 13 January 2006, Zytronic plc drew down funds under a ten-year mortgage with Lloyds TSB Bank plc under which it borrowed £750,000, 
repayable by monthly instalments. The loan is secured against its freehold interest in Britannia Court, the freehold factory premises which 
it acquired in January 2006. Interest is payable at 1.25% above that bank’s base rate.

On 4 June 2009, Zytronic plc borrowed £2.25m under a ten-year mortgage with Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank, repayable by monthly 
instalments. The loan is secured against its freehold interest in Haworth Court and its interest in a 999-year long leasehold on its main factory. 
Previous to the acquisitions of these interests, the Group occupied these premises on leases expiring in 2019. Interest is payable at 2.5% above 
three-month LIBOR. The balance is shown net of issue costs which are being amortised over the life of the loan.

9. Deferred taxation liability
The deferred tax included in the balance sheet is as follows:

Accelerated capital allowances 

Other timing differences 

At 1 October 

Charged in the profit and loss account 

Other 

At 30 September 

2011 
£’000 

119 
— 

119 

76 
46 
(3) 

119 

2010
£’000

74

2

76

65

11

—

76

Following announcements in the 2011 Budget on 23 March 2011, it was proposed that the full rate of corporation tax be reduced for four years from 
1 April 2011, ultimately bringing the corporation tax rate down to 23%. A reduction from 28% to 27% was substantively enacted on 20 July 2010 
and was intended to take effect from 1 April 2011; however, the 2011 Budget announced instead that this would be reduced to 26% and this was 
enacted on 29 March 2011. A further reduction to 25%, taking effect from 1 April 2012, was also enacted on 19 July 2011. The enacted reduction 
at the balance sheet date to 25% has been applied to the deferred tax assets and liabilities arising at the balance sheet date.

10. Share capital and share-based payments
(a) Share capital

Authorised 
Ordinary shares of 1p each 

Allotted, called up and fully paid 
Ordinary shares 1p each 

2011 
Number 
Thousands 

2010 
Number 
Thousands 

25,000 

25,000 

14,734 

14,710 

2011 
£’000 

250 

147 

2010
£’000

250

147

Note 22(c) in the Group financial statements sets out the details of the share option schemes of the Group and the numbers of shares 
in the Parent Company which are contingently exercisable under them.

(b) Share-based payments
Note 22(c) in the Group financial statements identifies the basis of the Senior Executive Plans and the Sharesave Scheme. It also contains a table 
which illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices of, and movements in, share options during the year.

(c) Director’s share incentive scheme
Note 22(d) in the Group financial statements sets out the details of the Share Incentive Award Scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive, 
in shares of the Parent Company.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11. Reconciliation of movements in shareholders’ funds

At 30 September 2009 – as previously stated 

Prior year adjustment 

At 30 September 2009 – as restated 

Exercise of share options 

Refund of VAT on flotation expenses previously disallowed 

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 

Share-based payments 

Dividends 

At 30 September 2010 

Exercise of share options 

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 

Share-based payments 

Dividends 

At 30 September 2011 

Called 
up share 
capital  
£’000 

147 

— 

147 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

147 

— 

— 

— 

— 

147 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

6,479 

— 

6,479 

40 

31 

— 

— 

— 

6,550 

38 

— 

— 

— 

6,588 

Profit 
and loss 
account 
£’000 

8,998 

161 

9,159 

— 

— 

471 

42 

(852) 

8,820 

— 

2,245 

(38) 

(1,044) 

9,983 

61

Total
£’000

15,624

161

15,785

40

31 

471

42

(852)

15,517

38

2,245

(38)

(1,044)

16,718

A profit of £2,245,000 (2010: £471,000), before payments of dividends of £1,044,000 (2010: £852,000), has been dealt with in the financial 
statements of the Company which, under the exemption contained in Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, has not presented its own profit 
and loss account.

Included in the Company’s opening and closing profit and loss account reserves is an amount of £8,919,000, which was a dividend received 
from a subsidiary company in a prior year. This is not included in Group reserves and does not form part of the Company’s distributable reserves.

12. Pension scheme commitments
Contributions for the year ended 30 September 2011 amounted to £2,800 (2010: £2,700) and the outstanding contributions at the balance sheet 
date were £Nil (2010: £1,800).

13. Guarantees
Zytronic plc has given guarantees, regarding funding advanced to Zytronic Displays Limited by Lloyds TSB Bank plc in connection with an overdraft 
facility and a revolving credit facility detailed in note (a) below.

(a) Borrowing facilities
The Group has an unsecured overdraft facility of £1.0m arranged with its principal banker, Lloyds TSB Bank plc. This facility extends until 30 April 2012. 
This facility is to provide funding for working capital. On 28 April 2009, the Group entered into an additional facility with Lloyds TSB Bank plc, being 
a revolving credit facility for £2.0m, which extends until 30 June 2012. This facility is to provide additional working capital and funding for capital 
expenditure, should it be required.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

Notice of annual general meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at Whiteley Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE21 5NJ 
on Tuesday 21 February 2012 at 2.00pm for the following purposes:

Ordinary business
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions as ordinary resolutions of the Company:

1. To receive the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2011 and the reports of the Directors and auditors thereon.

2.  To pay a final dividend of 5.6p per ordinary share of 1.0p for the year ended 30 September 2011 on Friday 24 February 2012 to members 

on the Register at the close of business on Friday 14 February 2012.

3. To re-elect Tudor Davies as a Director.

4. To re-elect Denis Mullan as a Director.

5. To re-appoint Ernst & Young LLP as auditors and to authorise the Directors to fix their remuneration.

Special business
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions as special resolutions of the Company:

1.  The Directors of the Company be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised (in substitution for any previous authority) for the purposes 
of Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (as amended) (the “Act”) to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company, 
or to grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares in the Company (such shares and such rights to subscribe for or to convert 
any security into shares in the Company being “relevant securities”) on such terms and in such manner as they shall think fit, up to a maximum 
aggregate nominal amount of £49,111.74 at any time (unless and to the extent previously revoked, varied or renewed by the Company in general 
meeting) during the period from the date hereof until the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General Meeting held in 2013 provided that the 
Directors of the Company may make an offer or enter into an agreement which would or might require relevant securities to be allotted offered 
or otherwise dealt with or disposed of after the expiry of such authority and the Directors may allot any relevant securities after the expiry of such 
authority in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if this authority had not expired. 

2.  Subject to and conditional upon the passing of special resolution 1 above, the Directors of the Company be given power pursuant to Sections 570 

and 573 of the Act to allot equity securities (as defined in Section 560 of the Act) of the Company for cash pursuant to the authority, conferred by 
special resolution 1 above, as if Section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, such power to expire at the conclusion of the Company’s 
Annual General Meeting held in 2013 provided that before such expiry the Directors of the Company may make an offer or enter into an agreement 
which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after the expiry of such power and the Directors may allot equity securities after such 
expiry under this power in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if this power had not expired. This power is limited to:

  2.1   the allotment of equity securities for cash in connection with a rights issue or other pre-emptive offer to holders of ordinary shares of 1.0p each 
in the capital of the Company where the equity securities respectively attributable to the interests of such holders are proportionate (as nearly 
as may be practicable) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares of 1.0p each in the capital of the Company held by them but subject to 
such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient to deal with any fractional entitlements or any legal 
or practical problems under the laws of, or the requirements of any regulatory body or any recognised stock exchange in, any territory; and

  2.2   the allotment (other than pursuant to 2.1 of this special resolution) of equity securities up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount 

of £7,366.76.

 This power applies in relation to any sale of shares which is an allotment of equity securities by virtue of Section 560(3) of the Act as if in the first 
paragraph of this resolution the words “pursuant to the authority conferred by special resolution 1 above,” were omitted.

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

 
63

Special business continued
3.  That the Company be and is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to Section 701 of the Act to make market purchases 

(within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the Act) of ordinary shares of 1.0p each in the capital of the Company (for the purposes of this special 
resolution 3 “Shares”) provided that:

  3.1  the maximum number of Shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 1,473,352; 

  3.2  the minimum price which may be paid for a Share shall be 1.0p; 

  3.3   the maximum price which may be paid for a Share shall be not more than 5% above the average of the middle market quotations for Shares as 

derived from the London Stock Exchange daily list for securities admitted to the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange for the five business 
days immediately preceding the date of the purchase of the Share; and

  3.4   unless previously renewed, revoked or varied, the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General Meeting 

held in 2013 save that the Company may, prior to such expiry, enter into a contract to purchase Shares which will or may be executed 
wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority and may purchase Shares pursuant to such contract as if such authority has not expired,

 and that all Shares so purchased in pursuance of this authority shall be held as Treasury Shares (as defined by Section 724 of the Act) for future 
resale for cash; transfer for the purposes of an employees’ share scheme; or for cancellation.

By order of the Board

Denis Mullan, B.Sc, FCA
Company Secretary
Zytronic plc
Whiteley Road
Blaydon-on-Tyne
Tyne and Wear NE21 5NJ
14 December 2011

Notes
1.  Every member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting may appoint a proxy or proxies to attend, speak and vote (whether on a show 

of hands or on a poll) at the meeting on their behalf. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. A prepaid form of proxy is enclosed. 
Completed forms of proxy must be returned to the Company’s Registrars at the address shown on the form of proxy not later than 4.00pm 
on Friday 17 February 2012 or two working days prior to any adjourned meeting or, in the case of a poll taken more than 48 hours after it 
is demanded, one working day before the time appointed for the taking of the poll. The sending of a completed form of proxy to the Company’s 
Registrars will not preclude members from attending and voting at the meeting, or any adjournment thereof, in person, should they so wish.

2.  The Company, pursuant to Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (as amended), specifies that only those holders 

of ordinary shares of 1.0p each of the Company registered in the Register of Members of the Company as at:

  2.1  4.00pm on Friday 17 February 2012; or 

  2.2  if this meeting is adjourned, at 4.00pm two working days prior to the adjourned meeting; 

 shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in respect of the number of ordinary shares of 1.0p each in the capital of the Company 
registered in their name at that time. Changes to entries on the Register of Members after 4.00pm on Friday 17 February 2012 shall 
be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting.

3.  Copies of contracts of service between Directors and the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings will be available for inspection during 
normal business hours by members at the registered office of the Company on each business day from the date of this notice until the date 
of the Annual General Meeting, and at the place of the Annual General Meeting for at least 15 minutes prior to, and during, that meeting.

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Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64

Corporate information

Website 
www.zytronic.co.uk

Secretary
Denis G W Mullan, B.Sc, FCA
Email: denis.mullan@zytronic.co.uk

Registered office
Whiteley Road
Blaydon-on-Tyne
Tyne and Wear
NE21 5NJ
Tel: 0191 414 5511
Fax: 0191 414 0545

Registration number
3881244

Stockbrokers and nominated adviser
Brewin Dolphin Limited
48 St Vincent Street
Glasgow
G2 5TS

Registrars
Computershare Investor Services PLC
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol
BS99 7NH

Auditors
Ernst & Young LLP
Citygate
St James’ Boulevard
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 4JD

Bankers
Lloyds TSB Bank plc
PO Box 686
First Floor
Black Horse House
91 Sandyford Road
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE99 1JW

Santander Corporate Banking
Baltic Place
South Shore Road
Gateshead
NE8 3AE

Yorkshire Bank
Quayside House
110 Quayside
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 3DX

Solicitors
Ward Hadaway
Sandgate House
102 Quayside
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 3DX

Muckle LLP
Time Central
32 Gallowgate
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE1 4BF 

Zytronic plc 
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2011

www.zytronic.co.uk

Zytronic plc
Whiteley Road
Blaydon-on-Tyne
Tyne and Wear NE21 5NJ

Tel: 0191 414 5511
Fax: 0191 414 0545
Web: www.zytronic.co.uk