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Zytronic plc

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FY2014 Annual Report · Zytronic plc
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Zytronic plc
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

A global touch

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Overview

Zytronic is a leading global manufacturer 
of touch-based products for public 
access and industrial applications.

Over 14 years we have developed our patented PCT™ and MPCT™ sensing 
technologies into a family of product offerings. Operating through a network 
of channel partners across the globe, our integrated technologies are being 
used at leisure, on the street and in the workplace.

Unlike the majority of 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.

Areas we operate in 

Gaming

Industrial

Touch tables

Financial

Point of sale

Digital signage

Where our touch sensors are used

At leisure

On the street

In the workplace

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Strategic reportHighlights

C  Group revenue increased by 9% to £18.9m (2013: £17.3m)

C  Touch revenue accounts for 79% (2013: 73%)

C  Touch sensor units sold increased to 139,100 units (2013: 125,500 units)

C  Gross profit margin increased to 36.6% from 28.4% in 2013

C  Profit before tax increased by 68% to £3.3m (2013: £1.9m)

C  Basic earnings per share of 19.6p (2013: 11.1p) with adjusted 

diluted earnings per share of 19.5p (2013: 13.8p)

C  Net cash generated from operating activities of £4.2m (2013: £3.3m)

C  Net cash balances increased by £2.3m to £7.8m

C  Total dividend for the year increased by 10% to 10.0p (2013: 9.1p)

Strategic report
IFC Overview
01  Highlights
02  About us 
04  Chairman’s statement
06   Our strategy and key 

performance indicators 
(“KPIs”)

08  Risk management
09  Operational review
13  Financial review

Corporate governance
15  Board of Directors
16  Corporate governance
18  Directors’ report
20  Remuneration report

Financial statements
Group accounts
23  Independent auditors’ report
24   Consolidated statement 

of comprehensive income

25   Consolidated statement 
of changes in equity

26  Consolidated balance sheet
27   Consolidated cashflow 

Group revenue 

Gross profit margin 

Profit before tax (“PBT”) 

statement

£18.9m
+9%

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36.6%
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£3.3m
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28   Notes to the consolidated 
financial statements 
46  Five-year summaries

Parent Company accounts
 48   Statement of Directors’ 

responsibilities

49  Parent Company balance sheet
50   Notes to the Parent Company 

financial statements

54   Notice of Annual 
General Meeting
56  Corporate information

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Earnings per share 

Dividends 

19.6p
+77%

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Cash generated 
from operating activities

£4.2m
+28%

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www.zytronic.co.uk
In-depth view of our 
technology and applications

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 01

About us

We offer fully customisable 
touch technology solutions.

Our unique touchscreen capabilities are allowing 
us to create more products and meet demands 
in a variety of applications.

Our commitment to innovative touch and composite technology 
development, stringent (ISO approved) quality controls and 
fast‑response customer service is complemented by our own 
dedicated external sales team, undertaking both direct sales 
to major customers and assisting with sales through the 
extensive worldwide network of agents and distributors.

Representation

Channel partner 
agreements

60 countries

37

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Our capabilities

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Profiling

Our long experience in machining glass 
using in‑house CNC controlled equipment 
enables us to provide our clients with 
bespoke touchscreen designs quickly, 
from ground and polished edges, to slots 
for credit card accepters.

Printing

In recent years we have invested in state 
of the art multi‑colour silk‑screen printing 
technology and are able to offer system 
designers with customised touchscreens 
that make their concepts a reality.

Curved

As our gaming clients take advantage 
of the development of curved LCDs 
and OLED displays to differentiate their 
upright cabinet machine designs, our 
glass bending capability allows us to “stay 
ahead of the curve” and provide stunning 
looking interactive player interfaces.

p. 10

Read more about our curved products 
on page 10.

02

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Strategic report 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Cre

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 Creatin

Optical clarity

Zytronic’s proprietary projected capacitive 
touchscreen technology doesn’t rely upon 
surface coatings to function, meaning they 
have inherently high light transmission, 
maximising the performance of high 
brightness displays.

Work outside

Our PCT™ touchscreens are proven in 
some of the most demanding and extreme 
environments, working reliably in applications 
ranging from control panels on North Sea 
oil rigs to external ATM screens in Arizona, 
reducing total cost of ownership and 
increasing end user satisfaction.

Multi-touch

Our newest MPCT™ products are capable 
of detecting up to 40 independent touch 
points, all with millisecond response times, 
in thick, toughened and ultra large glass 
formats. This unrivalled capability means 
that users can experience a “tablet” like 
touch performance, in ruggedised 
self‑service systems.

pp. 10 and 11

Read more about our multi-touch products 
in the case studies on pages 10 and 11.

Large format

Our flexible manufacturing process enables 
an almost limitless range of sizes to be 
produced, currently up to 85 inches, 
allowing our touchscreens to match large 
commercial displays in growing vertical 
markets such as interactive digital signage 
and touch tables.

p. 14

Read more about our large screen 
products in the case study on page 14.

Technical support

Zytronic is one of the very few touchscreen 
manufacturers that develop and design 
both the touchscreens themselves and the 
control electronics and software that links 
them to the outside world. This end‑to‑end 
support means that we can quickly adapt 
our products to provide cost effective 
solutions to our clients.

Our 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 more than 
40 years of operations, 
which are a feature of all 
the Group’s products.

These advantages allow the Group to 
produce products that 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 their not experiencing positional drift and 
therefore not requiring periodic re-calibration.

The growth of the Group and its future 
prospects come from the exploitation of 
this relatively new touch sensor technology. 
Our focus on the development of this 
patented technology has resulted in both 
the continual improvement to the operation 
and functionality of the touch sensors and 
the expansion of the range of different 
glass-based products available.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 03

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman’s statement

Summary
 C Profit after tax increased by 
78% to £3.0m (2013: £1.7m)

 C EPS increased by 77% to 19.6p 

(2013: 11.1p)

 C Total dividend for year increased 
by 10% to 10.0p (2013: 9.1p)

 C Touch revenue accounts for 79% 
of Group revenue (2013: 73%)

 C Gross profit margin increased 

to 36.6% from 28.4%

 C Net cash generated from 

operating activities of £4.2m 
(2013: £3.3m)

 C Net cash balances increased 

by £2.3m to £7.8m

“ Revenues for the year ended 
30 September 2014 increased 
by 9% to £18.9m.”

Dividend
The Directors propose a final dividend of 7.16p 
(2013: 6.35p) payable on 13 March 2015 to 
shareholders on the Register on 27 February 2015, 
which increases the total dividend for the year 
by 10% to 10.0p (2013: 9.1p) at a total cost 
for the year to 30 September 2014 of £1.5m.

Outlook
Whilst we are only a couple of months into the 
new financial year the sales and order book are 
ahead of last year and our focus is on continuing 
to increase value for shareholders now and into 
the future. We shall update shareholders on 
progress and material developments during 
the course of the coming year.

Tudor Davies BSc
Chairman
8 December 2014

We are pleased to announce a significantly 
improved set of results for the year ended 
30 September 2014 with performance benefitting 
from the initiatives taken last year to improve 
production efficiencies and to concentrate on 
the development and growth of our touch products. 

Results
The significant improvement in performance 
this year has principally arisen from a resumption 
in revenue growth driven by demand for our 
proprietary touch sensor products, which accounted 
for 79% of sales and grew by 18%, and also an 
improvement in gross profit from 28.4% to 36.6%. 

As our CEO, Mark Cambridge, explains in the 
comprehensive Operational review that follows, 
we increased sales across all our main sectors 
of financials, vending, industrial, signage and 
gaming, where the unique durability of our 
products is a prerequisite, but also because 
of the appeal of our larger format touchscreens’ 
capabilities and our recently developed 
proprietary multi-touch solutions.

Revenues for the year ended 30 September 2014 
increased by 9% to £18.9m (2013: £17.3m); 
profit before tax increased by 68% to £3.3m 
(2013: £1.9m); and basic earnings per share 
was 19.6p (2013: 11.1p).

The Group continues to convert a high proportion 
of its profits into cash with cash generation 
from operating activities for the year ended 
30 September 2014 being £4.2m (2013: £3.3m). 
We have continued our policy of continuing 
investment in research and development, and 
capital equipment, with investment activities for 
the year totalling £0.5m (2013: £0.6m) and a 
progressive dividend policy with dividends paid 
during the year of £1.4m (2013: £1.3m).

04

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Strategic report2001

2002

2005

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

ZYTOUCH® design wins in 
ATMs (two of global top three) 
and BT Webphone.

ZYTOUCH® design wins in 
petrol pump applications; 
North America sales rep 
network introduced, followed 
by agreements in EMEA and 
APAC over next four years.

2009

2008

2006

Announcement of the 
Coca-Cola Company®’s use 
of ZYPOS® sensor in its new 
Freestyle™ beverage dispenser.

New ZYPOS® manufacturing 
facility becomes operational.

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

2010

ZXY100 Series controllers 
and chipset solution to market.

2011

2012

2014

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

Development and 
introduction of new mutual 
capacitance PCT multi-touch, 
multi-user technology, MPCT™.

Incorporation of Zytronic Inc. 
in Atlanta, Georgia, to focus 
on OEM and channel partner 
technical sales support.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 05

Our strategy

Our mission is to increase the profitability of our 
business by growing revenues from touch sensors 
through continual improvement and development 
of our PCT™ and MPCT™ touch technologies.

Our aim is to continue to roll out sales channels around the world, while investing 
in the manufacturing facilities to enable the Group to meet that sales growth.

Innovate

Grow

We identify development projects that will 
enhance our technology, increase its ease of use 
and functionality for customers and end users, 
and listen to existing and potential customers 
and our markets on future requirements.

We continue to seek opportunities to expand 
our sales channels across the world. We have 
new additions in the USA and China and aim 
to establish representation in new countries, 
for example, Indonesia and in the Middle East.

What we did in 2013/2014

 C We further developed and commercialised our large 

 C We continued to sell more units in 2014 than in 2013.

format curved touch sensors.

 C We continued to develop our encrypted touch sensor 

solutions and progressed our relationship with Cryptera A/S, 
the encrypted device specialist company.

 C We released a new ZXY300 controller providing 

customers with multi‑touch performance characteristics 
at levels similar to that in our present 22–50‑inch range 
using the ZXY200 controller.

Our priorities for 2014/2015

 C We established Zytronic Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, and 

employed our first USA resident to focus on OEM and 
channel partner technical sales support.

 C We signed up for a new initiative in mainland China, referred 
to as FastTrack China, to aid engagement in this market.

 C We will develop a new ZXY150 controller for our MPCT™ 

range for sizes below 19 inches.

 C We will look to develop an MPCT™ Application Specific 

Integrated Chip (“ASIC”) to reduce the footprint and cost 
of our multi‑touch controllers.

 C We will strengthen our presence in the APAC region 
by establishing a sales office in Taiwan to grow our 
business in Greater China.

 C We will continue to engage with potential customers 

to demonstrate our products’ capabilities.

06

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Strategic report 
 
Measuring our performance

Our key performance indicators 
reflect the business’ financial 
success throughout the year.

Commentary on the actual performance of 
the Group against each of these KPIs is set out 
in the Chairman’s statement and the Operational 
and Financial review.
 C  The current KPIs consist of: setting targets for and 

monitoring the level and growth of sales; improving the 
gross profit margin; controlling the level of overheads 
(administration expenses); and managing cashflow from 
operating activities. 

 C  In addition, the Directors review a sales pipeline log 
which the sales team uses to record validated 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.

Group revenue 

Gross profit margin 

£18.9m
+9%

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Invest

We review our manufacturing methods regularly 
to bring through efficiencies in production. We add 
new plant and equipment each year, as necessary, 
to add capacity and replace old equipment. 
We invest in our marketing activities to promote 
our business on a global level.

 C  We increased the number and size of equipment to 

produce large sensors enabling us to respond quicker 
to demand for MPCT™ sensors.

 C We exhibited at G2E, ISE and InfoComm during the year. 
Our products were also well exhibited at a number of 
local trade shows through our regional partners.

 C We introduced microsites in the year in support of China, 

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Japan and the USA to provide local language and 
regional-specific information.

 C We will undertake an expansion and refurbishment of our 
original cleanroom to increase our manufacturing capacity.

 C We will add further equipment within our facilities 

to optimise the manufacturing flow.

Administration expenses 

£3.5m
+21%

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Cash generated 
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£4.2m
+28%

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Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 07

 
 
Risk management

Risk description

Mitigation

Change

Key 

 no change  

 decreased risk  

 increased risk

Advances in competing technologies

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 very 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.

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: new, 
better touch sensor technology is created.

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 enabled the Group to 
reduce the cost of manufacture and therefore the sales price for 
subsequent touch sensor designs and has allowed the Group to enter 
markets that were previously closed to it on price grounds. The Group 
has subsequently taken the touch sensor manufacturing process 
changes and applied them to the re-design and manufacture of the 
optical display filters which it also produces.

Increasing costs of raw material supplies

There are continual upward pressures on the cost of raw 
material supplies, many arising from increases in oil prices 
and energy costs. Raw materials can also be purchased in US 
Dollars and Euros, whereby movements in exchange rates can 
affect the pricing.

Management continually reviews 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. Where 
possible, it has used increases in volume purchases to obtain price 
reductions, discounts and improved specifications. Foreign exchange 
contracts are in place to mitigate FX movements.

Managing increases in the overhead base

With the significant time that may occur between meeting 
potential customers and receiving first orders, management 
must ensure that the capacity of its factories is adequate for 
future growth in sales and the development of the business, 
while managing the profitability of the Group.

Risks associated with currency 
movements

A large proportion of the Group’s sales are denominated in US 
Dollars and Euros, so 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 without taking the risks of speculative positions.

Risks associated with timing 
of customer projects

One of the main risks to the business is that of the timing 
of customer projects, where as a component supplier 
we are wholly reactive to our customer demands.

This is not straightforward when the business is developing new 
products and manufacturing processes and when the visibility and 
timing of orders from customers is unclear. Management uses a 
comprehensive sales pipeline model to monitor potential future sales 
levels and has built in a degree of flexibility to its two main factories.

Natural hedging is adopted to manage currency risk, whereby goods 
and services are sourced from Europe and the USA and the liability 
arises in the respective currencies. Surplus currency is then protected 
through the use of forward foreign exchange contracts for a period 
of twelve months ahead. This ensures the business knows its position 
around FX in the current year.

The demands of our customers is not something we can control so 
in order to mitigate this risk we constantly strive to have a diversified 
customer base with multiple projects over different time periods 
occurring at any one time. 

08

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Strategic reportOperational review

“ The 2014 fiscal year has shown a 
significant improvement in trading over 
the year with sales in the second half 
reaching £10.1m.”

Summary
 C Total revenue grew by 9% 
to £18.9m (2013: £17.3m)

 C Touch revenue accounts for 79% 
of Group revenue (2013: 73%)

 C Touch sensor units sold 

increased to 139,100 units 
(2013: 125,500 units)

 C Gross profit margin increased 
to 36.6% from 28.4% in 2013

 C Profit before tax increased by 
68% to £3.3m (2013: £1.9m)

Group revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Distribution costs

Administration expenses

Group operating profit

Finance costs

Finance revenue

Profit before tax

Tax expense

Profit for the year

2014
H1
£’000

8,828

5,839

2,989

72

1,500

1,417

18

12

1,411

254

1,157

2014
H2
£’000

Total
2014
£’000

10,058

18,886

6,140

11,979

3,918

6,907

84

1,988

1,846

17

21

156

3,488

3,263

35

33

1,850

3,261

47

301

1,803

2,960

Overview
The 2014 fiscal year has shown a significant 
improvement in trading over the previous year 
and has continued the trend of second half 
trading being better in both revenue and 
profitability than the first. 

Total 2014 revenues of £18.9m were stronger 
than that of 2013 by 9% (2013: £17.3m). Touch 
product revenues at £14.9m accounted for 79% 
of total revenues and were £2.3m (18%) higher 
than the prior year (2013: £12.6m). Non-touch 
product revenues of £4.0m showed an expected 
decline from the £4.7m reported for 2013. 

The higher proportion and better mix of touch 
product sales reported in the second half of 2013 
were maintained over the first half of 2014 as 
reported by management at the interim results 
and improved further over the second half of the 
year. This, together with management actions to 
maintain and where possible improve cost 
control and production efficiencies, resulted 
in a significantly higher gross margin of 36.6% 
(2013: 28.4%) and a resultant 68% increase 
in profit before tax to £3.3m (2013: £1.9m).

Sales
Total sales in the year were £18.9m (2013: £17.3m). 
Sales in the first half of the fiscal year at £8.8m 
were only slightly higher than the same period in 
2013 (2013 H1: £8.5m) but showed a considerable 
improvement in the second half of the year at 
£10.1m (2013 H2: £8.8m). 

Non-touch product sales, as management 
has previously indicated, have reduced again 
in 2014 to £4.0m (2013: £4.7m), with product 
revenues from the primary ATM display filter 
glass contributing £2.8m (71%) of the total 
(2013: £3.5m, 75%). Other non-touch products 
– non-ATM display filters, electronic noise filtering 
laminates and light diffusers – maintained 
combined overall sales at £1.2m (2013: £1.2m).

Zytronic continues to be heavily export focused, 
with £17.6m, or 94%, of total invoiced revenues 
being export derived (2013: £15.8m, 92%). The 
EMEA region remains by far our largest exporting 
region, growing by 9% and accounting for £9.2m 
or 52% of the exports (2013: £8.5m, 55%).

The Americas, significantly influenced by 
sales in the gaming market, showed the largest 
revenue growth of nearly £1.0m to £4.3m which 
accounted for 25% of the total exports (2013: 
£3.3m, 21%) whilst the balance of exports were 
to the APAC region, accounting for £4.1m or 23% 
(2013: £4.0m, 25%).

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 09

Operational review continued

Curved products

Combining outstanding durability and lightning fast multi‑touch 
responsiveness, projective capacitive touch technology is leading the 
way in the design of innovative interactive products in recent years.

Standing head and shoulders above the crowd

Large concave touchscreen displays have the ability to absorb the user in an all-encompassing 
environment, immersing them in the content and enhancing their experience. This is seen 
in practice at the Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas 2014 where a number of upright cabinet 
slot machines were on display. Featuring a dual 42-inch display and curved touchscreen, 
the unit stands tall amongst a sea of bright and flashing casino games.

Touchscreen technology like never before

During the design process of a display unit, gaming cabinet, vending machine or a kiosk, 
aesthetics are sometimes secondary to usability. However, with Zytronic projected capacitive 
technology (“PCT™”), incredible functionality and proven performance go hand in hand 
with pioneering near limitless levels of customisation, so design ideas are rarely compromised. 
Combining cutting edge touch sensing electronics, PCT™ allows for beautifully responsive, 
accurate and rugged touch sensing.

Multi-touch sensors can boost the density of touch data captured by the screen, 
significantly increasing touch resolution whilst still maintaining millisecond response times. 
Supporting up to 40 simultaneous touch points, multi-user designed product experiences 
are enriched by the capabilities of MPCT™ multi-touch sensors. By creating these surfaces 
in which multiple users can interact simultaneously, sharing their experiences, new 
opportunities have arisen for companies using touch displays.

MPCT™ touch sensors support large format displays up to 85 inches and will react to a 
finger or a conductive stylus but not a carelessly dropped book, or the brush of a sleeve 
– making them ideal for table applications. As the touch sensors are made from thick 
toughened glass, the Zytronic enabled tables shrug off the kind of abuse that would 
see other touch technologies run for the hills.

As industrial design, marketing and technological concepts collide, the outcome 
is a new innovative digital experience that is equally as beneficial to the vendor 
as it is to the end users. 

10

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Sales continued
Touch sales at £14.9m have increased 18% 
over the £12.6m reported for 2013 and were 
comprised of £13.3m of total sensor revenues 
(2013: £11.4m) and £1.6m of electronic controller 
and component revenues (2013: £1.2m).

Export touch sales were £14.2m, an increase 
of 19% over the £11.9m reported for 2013. 
The EMEA region represented £6.9m of touch 
revenues and a growth of £1.3m over the 
comparable period (2013: £5.6m). As very little 
non-touch product is sold into the Americas, 
a more direct correlation exists between touch 
exports and total exports, with touch revenues 
increasing £0.8m to £4.0m (2013: £3.2m). 

Although the mix of products was different, 
the overall touch revenues generated from 
APAC and the UK remained fairly consistent 
with the comparable period at £3.2m and 
£0.7m respectively (2013: £3.1m and £0.7m).

The total volume of sensor units sold increased 
in 2014 by 11% to 139,100 units (2013: 125,500). 
A total of 93,100 (2013: 81,200) sensor units 
were manufactured with a diagonal size of greater 
than 15 inches and account for over two-thirds 
of the total volume of sensors produced. In the 
ultra-sized sensor size range of greater than 
30 inches, the total volumes produced doubled 
to 6,400 units (2013: 2,300 units).

Generally the smaller sized (smaller than 
15 inches) sensors, are mostly used in applications 
for appliance controls, e.g. the Bosch induction 
cooktop, heavy duty in-vehicle telematics systems 
and service vending, e.g. ticket issuing machines 
and industrial machine controls. Although the 
proportional mix of sensors produced across 
those applications varied in 2014 compared with 
2013, the total unit volumes produced increased 
marginally to 45,900 units (2013: 44,300 units).

The following provides details of the influencing 
factors on the major touch market areas:

Financial applications
Financial applications continues to be our largest 
market, accounting for £5.7m (2013: £5.5m) of 
sales and 49,400 units of the volume manufactured 
(2013: 45,000 units), and includes application 
uses such as ATMs, bill payment kiosks and 
financial point of information (“POI”) kiosks. 

Strategic report“ Significant growth has come 
through the industrial, gaming 
and signage markets.”

This market remains the strongest touch market 
area due to the unique durability and reliability 
of our touch products, especially for high 
volume unattended use and locations. 

The total volume increase was driven by a 
substantial 15,000 unit increase of ATM sensors 
sold to 46,100 units (2013: 31,100 units) as some 
new customer projects moved into production 
and existing customer demand increased after 
the prior year re-designs and cost reduction 
work was fully realised. However, the re-design 
work, coupled with the year on year different 
customer mix of high option and low option value 
sensors, resulted in an approximate 24% (£33) 
reduction in the average selling price (“ASP”) 
across our ATM touch products from that 
of the prior year. 

Non-ATM kiosks, a buoyant application area 
in the former CIS territories in 2012 and 2013, 
countered the ATM unit increase with a 10,500 
unit decline to 3,300 units. This was due to the 
geopolitical conflict effects in the region in 2014, 
which reduced overall infrastructure spend. 

Vending
Vending maintains its ranking as the second largest 
market area in both volume and sales, with revenue 
growth of 20% to £3.0m (2013: £2.5m) and unit 
growth of 26% to 32,100 units (2013: 25,400 units). 
The volume of sensors sold in 2014 for the Coca 
Cola Company® Freestyle™ drinks dispenser 
was in line with expectations for the year and at 
a level similar to 2013 at 4,700 units. Unit sales 
into our fuel vend application area were also similar 
to 2013, albeit with a slightly different customer 
and size mix, whilst growth came mainly from 
sales into the service vend application area 
in Eastern Europe. 

Industrial, gaming and signage
Other significant growth has come through the 
industrial, gaming and signage markets, with 
revenues from sales into the industrial market 
for human machine interface (“HMI”) control 
devices and general application kiosks growing 
by 54% to £2.0m (2013: £1.3m) and in unit terms 
by 61% to 26,300 units (2013: 16,400 units). 

The gaming and signage markets both benefited 
in the year from our ability to manufacture and 

supply ultra large sized (greater than 30 inches) 
sensors coupled with our mutual projected 
capacitive technology (“MPCT™”) multi-touch 
solution, which continues to attain greater market 
acceptance within the touch ecosystem. Gaming 
revenues increased by £1.1m to £1.9m (2013: 
£0.8m) whilst volume increased by 2,700 units, 
all of which is attributable to ultra large sized 
casino upright cabinet “slot” machine designs.

Although as described earlier, sensors smaller than 
15 inches exhibited overall unit growth, the prior 
year volume drivers of the Bosch brands cooktop 
unit and the in-vehicle agricultural telematics 
system both reduced to customer forecasted 
levels. The volume of cooktop units produced 
decreased by more than half to 6,400 units 
(2013: 13,800 units) whilst the agricultural 
telematics project declined by approximately 
one-third to 6,900 units (2013: 10,200 units). 

Strategic initiatives
To maintain our export sales focus we undertook 
further territory reviews, continuing the work 
initiated in 2013 on the Americas and in particular 
the established USA manufacturer’s representative 
channel network and the region critical technical 
sales support. In May, after the establishment 
of the USA entity Zytronic Inc., a wholly owned 
subsidiary of Zytronic Displays Limited earlier in the 
year, we employed our first USA resident employee 
whose focus is on OEM and channel partner 
technical sales support from an Atlanta, 
Georgia, base.

During 2014, we also agreed to participate in 
FastTrack China, a new agency initiative in mainland 
China, organised by the former UKTI northern 
region China representative. The agency has the 
support of regional provinces and Chinese private 
equity funding and is developing a network of 
business centres in mainland China to showcase 
UK SME manufactured products. The first centre 
in the fast growing city of Zhengzhou, Henan 
Province, opened in October 2014. As well as 
offering local sales and marketing support, and 
a year-long showroom, the agency acts as a 
financial trading intermediary, receiving and 
invoicing local customers’ purchase orders in 
Yuan and issuing and paying purchase orders 
on the SME in Sterling.

Multi-touch

Encouraging social interaction 
through advanced touch 
technology in the home 
and leisure environments.

Zytronic, with the assistance of its 
French distributor Eurocomposant, 
has secured ongoing business with 
interactive furniture producer HUMElab. 
The touchscreen manufacturer is now 
producing ultra-durable p-cap sensors 
for a series of multi-touch table 
products, targeted at use in home, 
restaurant and hospitality settings. 

Combining beautifully designed 
furniture with Zytronic’s innovative 
multi-touch solutions, each HUMElab 
TABATA table incorporates a large format, 
HD, touch-enabled display, through 
which users can carry out a wide range 
of exciting functions, such as playing 
complex multi-user games, ordering 
food, surfing the web and connecting 
with friends via social media. 

Supplied to HUMElab in 22, 32 and 
42-inch formats, each sensor features 
elegant customised printed borders 
with sleek polished edges, offering 
an attractive bezel-less design. While 
anti-glare, thermally toughened 4 and 
6mm glass allows for excellent readability 
in all light conditions and protects the 
sensing elements from environmental 
and physical damage.

The technology allows recognition of 
complex gestures and enables up to 
four people to operate the sensor at 
the same time, sharing the exciting, 
immersive experience. Furthermore, 
the state-of-the-art “palm rejection” 
firmware enables the touchscreens to 
ignore anomalous, large touch points.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 11

Operational review continued

“ Our sales efforts during 2014 have been 
underpinned with a more focused marketing effort 
as we strengthen our digital trade PR approach.”

Sales continued
Strategic initiatives continued
The overall channel partner network has 
experienced little change since last reported upon 
in the 2013 review, except for the appointment 
of Priconics, a North American representative 
for the Midwest states, and the termination 
of Nishicom, our previous under-performing 
representative in Brazil. As we look to expand 
the coverage of our Mexican channel partner 
Phoenix in 2015, we anticipate that it will initiate 
coverage for Brazil as well as several other 
South American countries. 

In total we currently have 37 global channel 
partner agreements in place providing active 
coverage across 60 countries.

Marketing
Our sales efforts during 2014 have been 
underpinned with a more focused marketing 
effort as we strengthen our digital trade PR 
approach including YouTube, LinkedIn and 
Twitter to work more in tandem with our traditional 
printed trade PR and Zytronic Displays Limited 
website. Regional trade microsites in support of 
China, Japan and the USA were also introduced 
during the year, with the aim of providing local 
language and regional-specific sales and 
technical information.

As well as undertaking for the first time during 
the financial year the Global Gaming Expo (“G2E”) 
in October 2013, we also for the second time 
exhibited at the European Integrated Systems 
Europe (“ISE”) exhibition in January 2014 and 
for the first time at its sister exhibition InfoComm 
in the USA in June 2014. Our products were 
also well represented at a number of local trade 
shows such as CeBIT Turkey, Touch Panel Korea 
and Display Paris, undertaken by our respective 
local regional partners. In total nine local shows 
were attended during the year.

Projects
Although being a project driven component 
supplier on an average four week order to 
delivery schedule, which creates short order 
book visibility, we have successfully countered 
this through the broad applications base for our 
components and the strength of the developing 
opportunities pipeline.

During the year, a total of 342 enquiries have 
been validated and logged, bringing the total 
of validated enquiries to 718 since the initiation 
of the revised opportunities pipeline logging 
system that was introduced in February 2013. 
120 of these enquiries have been converted 
into customer production and orders throughout 
the current financial year. 

As at 30 September 2014 we have 69 active 
projects. Digital signage remains the strongest 
application area in terms of project volume. 
Strengthening is also observed in the financial, 
gaming and industrial sectors, where the number 
of active projects at the period end is almost double 
in each instance compared with the period start.

Operations
The maintenance and improvement of the cost 
controls and production efficiencies established 
in the second half of 2013 was a major goal for 
2014, particularly as the first half of 2014 was 
expected to perform at similar levels. We have 
continued to implement tight labour controls 
during the year, with a temporary lay-off of FTEs 
occurring in October 2013, reducing the productive 
labour complement by an average of 14 persons 
over the first half period to 91 persons. This 
subsequently increased after the lay-off ended 
in order to accommodate increasing demand 
through the high vacation period months, 
standing at 96 persons at the period end. 

To accommodate an increasing demand 
for MPCT™ sensors in the over 65-inch range, 
a strategic investment was made during the year 
to treble the manufacturing capacity with the 
capital investment of £0.2m for two additional 
large format plotters, with sensor size capabilities 
up to 100 inches diagonally.

A further review of the touch manufacturing 
capacity and capability requirements across the 
full three factory facilities as we look into 2015 
and beyond has also resulted in the initiation of 
a capital project to remove the oldest section of 
our original 1989 cleanroom and refurbish our 
existing 2001 cleanroom to fully expand into the 
floor space created. It is expected that the total 
capital spend will be £0.4m.

Once the revised cleanroom layout is established, 
further manufacturing equipment for plotting, 
lamination and flexi tail bonding will be required 

to meet future capacity demand and optimise 
the facility’s manufacturing flow.

R&D
The research and development team has 
continued to concentrate on further refinements 
in sensor designs and controlling electronics for our 
MPCT™ products during the year, in sizes from 50 
to 90 inches. This culminated in February 2014 
with the release of a new ZXY300 series controller, 
which allowed for the control of up to 15,000 
individual capacitive matrix nodes, providing 
Zytronic customers with multi-touch performance 
characteristics at levels similar to that in our 
present 22 to 50-inch range, using the ZXY200 
series controller.

We still continue to await the outcome of the initial 
MPCT™ development UK patent applications 
made in May 2012, but have progressed to the 
next stages of international patent application, 
having moved forward with the international 
national phase applications for three of the 
key patents for Europe, USA and China.

Significant time was also devoted to the further 
development and commercialisation of our large 
format curved touch solutions, which has culminated 
with several working upright gaming cabinets 
being showcased by new and existing customers 
at the 2014 G2E tradeshow in Las Vegas.

The R&D engineers have also continued the 
significant joint development work with Cryptera 
A/S, a globally renowned company that has over 
30 years’ experience in the development and 
manufacture of encrypted systems and hardware 
for the international payment card industries (“PCI”). 
Their new PCI3 certified encrypted touch solution, 
named CryptoTouch®, has been designed for 
the ATM and unattended self-service payment 
kiosks. This unique product range was formally 
launched at a major payment technology 
exhibition during November 2014.

I would finally like to thank all Zytronic employees 
who have contributed to the improved performance 
of the business during the 2014 fiscal year.

Mark Cambridge BSc (Hons), FIoD
Chief Executive Officer
8 December 2014

12

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Strategic reportFinancial review

Summary
 C Profit after tax increased by 
78% to £3.0m (2013: £1.7m)

 C EPS increased by 77% to 19.6p 

(2013: 11.1p)

 C Total dividend for year increased 
by 10% to 10.0p (2013: 9.1p)

 C Working capital decreased 
by £0.1m (2013: £0.9m)

 C Net cash generated from 

operating activities of £4.2m 
(2013: £3.3m)

 C Net cash balances increased 

by £2.3m to £7.8m

Group revenue 

Gross profit 

£18.9m

£6.9m

Overview
The year ended 30 September 2014 delivered a 
strong financial performance from the Group, with 
sales up 9% to £18.9m and gross profit margin 
significantly improving to 36.6% (2013: 28.4%). 
This has resulted in an increase in Group EBITDA 
to £4.3m (2013: £2.9m), trading profit of £3.3m 
(2013: £1.8m) and profit before tax of £3.3m 
(2013: £1.9m).

Gross margin
Gross margin improved to 36.6% (2013: 28.4%) 
in the year, having been impacted positively by 
the changes in the mix and volumes of touch 
products sold, the year on year decline of our 
legacy product range and the product re-designs 
as described in detail in the Operational review. 
Labour costs remained controlled throughout 
the year and also contributed to the year on year 
increase in margins, despite the increased costs 
for the mandatory introduction of auto-enrolment 
in April. We invested in spend in the maintenance 
of our manufacturing equipment during the year 
to ensure our operations were fully efficient and 
that the risk of downtime was minimised.

Group trading profit
Group trading profit has also increased during 
the year through the increase in sales and gross 
margin, despite the increase in administration 
expenses, which has been impacted by a number 
of factors. Staff costs have increased by £0.4m 
for a bonus provision and £0.1m for a share 
option charge following the implementation of 
the annual bonus and long term incentive plan 
by the remuneration committee to reward 
executives of the Group for enhanced performance. 
The Group has also charged to profit a net £0.2m 
for the year-end FX hedges in place following 
the strengthening of the US Dollar post the 
contracts being entered into. Professional fees 
have increased in the year for additional R&D 
tax relief claims for financial years 2012 to 2014 

inclusive. The benefit of this, however, is a further 
recovery of tax of £0.3m relating to that period. 
Distribution costs show a reduction from the prior 
year, as we have negotiated changes to the way 
in which we are delivering our goods to some 
of our customers.

Taxation
The Group’s taxation charge for the year ended 
30 September 2014 of £0.3m represents an 
effective tax rate of 9.2%, reflecting the benefit 
of the announced changes to the UK corporation 
tax rate, allowances for the exercising of share 
options which occurred during the year and the 
utilisation of R&D tax credits including a recovery 
for under claimed R&D tax relief claims for 
2012 to 2014.

Earnings per share
The issued share capital is 15,193,468 ordinary 
shares of 1.0p each and the resultant EPS for the 
year is 19.6p, which represents a 77% increase 
from that reported last year (2013: 11.1p). 

Capital expenditure
Total additions to capital expenditure in the year 
were £0.3m in property, plant and equipment, 
of which £0.2m was incurred on large format 
plotters to meet increasing demands for larger 
format touch sensors. £0.3m of capital expenditure 
was incurred in intangible assets over a variety 
of development projects. Depreciation and 
amortisation for the year was at similar levels 
to that reported for 2013 at just over £1.0m.

Cash and debt
The Group retains a robust financial position 
and continues to be cash generative, recording 
an increase in cash and cash equivalents in the 
year of £2.3m (2013: £1.3m), enabling it to 
continue to invest in internal R&D, capital 
refurbishments and maintain its progressive 
dividend policy.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 13

“ The Group continues 
to generate cash 
with cash balances 
reported at £7.8m.”

Cash and debt continued
Net cash balances at 30 September 2014 were 
£7.8m (2013: £5.5m), of which £2.6m was held 
between instant access and 95 days’ notice 
interest-bearing deposit accounts with the remainder 
being managed through a set-off arrangement. 

The Group retains a property mortgage with 
Barclays Bank plc, entered into in 2012, which 
is repayable at £0.2m per annum for five years, 
at which time it will either be re-financed or 
repaid. As of the 30 September 2014, the 
outstanding property mortgage is £1.5m. 

There is also an overdraft facility available to the 
Group, which it utilises in US Dollars and Euros, 
as part of the hedging of its FX exposure. Prior 
to the year-end, forward exchange contracts in 
both currencies were in place, with US Dollars 
to the end of September 2015 and Euros to the 
end of March 2015, as a means to further reduce 
the Group’s exposure to currency movements. 
Following the year end the Group has implemented 
a policy whereby we are hedged for a minimum 
period of twelve months ahead and so further 
contracts have been entered into in both currencies.

At 30 September 2014, the Group had cash 
balances net of the property-backed mortgage 
of £6.3m and was therefore not geared.

Claire Smith BA (Hons), ACMA, 
CGMA, CertICM
Group Finance Director
8 December 2014

Financial review continued

Large format

Opticians store wows customers with mirrored point of sale 
system that encourages online social interaction.

Zytronic has built up a strong, widely recognised brand – producing highly responsive, 
accurate and durable touch sensors of sizeable proportions. Through the success of these 
sensors, based on its patented projective capacitive technology (“PCT™”), the company 
now boasts an expansive client base, as well as a series of high profile industry awards. 
Furthermore, the array of end applications its products have been specified for is 
growing constantly.

One area of increasing interest is putting touchscreen functionality into reflective surfaces. 
This is seeing significant uptake in both domestic and retail sectors. Through its integration 
partner Display Technology, Zytronic’s proprietary sensing technology has been involved 
in a recent deployment of this kind, carried out for fashionable high street optician Kite GB. 

The trailblazing, touch-enabled point of sale unit located at Kite’s flagship store in London’s 
East End, utilises a PCT touch sensor with a 42-inch active area, sourced from Zytronic. 
The sensor has been applied to mirror-finished toughened glass and is capable of supporting 
up to 40-point multi-touch operations. Via the unit, customers are able to take photos of 
themselves wearing different frames, then post them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram 
and other social media platforms – so that their friends and family can look at the chosen 
frames and give their opinions.

In addition to the Zytronic PCT sensor, the system consists of an ultra-thin LCD digital 
signage monitor, supplied by Display Technology, with high brightness output, 1920x1080 
pixel resolution and wide viewing angle. Moreover, the Logitech HD Pro C920 web camera 
provides high resolution photos and video that can be stored on the host PC, then manipulated 
and subsequently uploaded. The customised software facilitates social interaction and the 
sharing of content with others.

Zytronic’s PCT touch sensors rely on a matrix of 10μm thick copper capacitors, in an 
XY configuration, embedded inside a laminated substrate. This protects the sensor matrix 
from sources of damage, such as scratches, impacts, extreme temperatures and exposure 
to harsh chemicals that often compromise the lifespan of touch sensors based on resistive 
and surface capacitive technologies. Likewise, in contrast to infrared (“IR”), optical and surface 
acoustic wave (“SAW”) technologies, PCT negates the need for a bezel in which to accommodate 
sensors/emitters, so that sleek, attractive, smooth-fronted designs can be realised. This is 
particularly in keeping with the aesthetic demands of the Kite project.

14

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Strategic reportCorporate governance
Board of Directors

Tudor Griffith Davies BSc (63) • 
Non-executive Chairman
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 Cambridge BSc (Hons), FIoD (50)
Chief Executive
Mark graduated with a BSc (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.

Claire Smith BA (Hons), ACMA, 
CGMA, CertICM (36)
Group Finance Director
Claire graduated in 2000 in Business and Finance, 
attained CIMA accreditation in 2006 and a 
certificate in International Cash Management in 
2011. She held various positions within Procter 
& Gamble and the NAAFI before joining Zytronic 
Displays Limited in April 2007 as Group Financial 
Controller. In 2012, Claire was appointed Finance 
Director of the operating subsidiary Zytronic 
Displays Limited and Finance Director of 
Zytronic plc in January 2014.

David John Buffham (55) • 
Independent Non-executive Director
David is a Director of Newcastle Building Society, 
where he chairs the Group Risk Committee 
and sits on the nominations and remuneration 
committees. He is a Director of William Leech 
(Investments) Ltd, where he additionally sits 
on the investment committee and serves as a 
trustee of the William Leech Foundation. Until 
2010 David worked for the Bank of England. 
This included spells in banking supervision, 
risk management and advising overseas central 
banks on the conduct of monetary policy 
operations. Most recently, he was the Bank’s 
regional agent for the North East for nine years.

Sir David Robert Macgowan Chapman 
Bt., DL, B Comm (73) • 
Senior Independent Non‑executive Director
Sir David, a former Chairman of the CBI North 
East, has held a variety of Non-executive roles 
including Northern Rock Plc and the London 
Stock Exchange. He is currently Chairman of 
Virgin Money Pension Scheme and is an Advisory 
Board member of North East Finance in addition 
to being a Director of several regional venture 
capital funds. A former First Vice President of 
Merrill Lynch International Bank and a consultant 
to UBS Wealth Management, Sir David was a 
member of the Greenbury Committee on Directors’ 
remuneration. He is currently Chairman of the 
remuneration committee.

• Member of audit committee.

 Member of remuneration committee.

All of the Directors served throughout 
the financial year.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 15

Corporate governance

“ 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.”

As an AIM listed company, Zytronic is not obliged 
to comply with The UK Corporate Governance 
Code published in September 2012 (the “Code”) 
but instead uses the provisions of the Code as 
a guide, applying them as the Board considers 
appropriate to the circumstances of the Company.

The workings of the Board 
and its committees
The Board
Throughout the year, Tudor Davies, the 
Non-executive Chairman, Mark Cambridge, 
the Chief Executive, Claire Smith, the Group 
Finance Director and Sir David Chapman, Bt. 
and David Buffham, the two Independent 
Non-executive Directors, were members 
of the Board. 

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, Group 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, is shown on the right.

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. 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, is shown on the right.

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, an Independent Non-executive 
Director. 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, is shown on the right.

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 financial information 
relating to the Group are also available on the 
Group’s website, www.zytronicplc.com.

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 each 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.

16

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Corporate governanceNumber of meetings 
and the attendance 
of Directors

The Board
2014 total: 6 meetings
Tudor Davies (5)

Mark Cambridge (6)

Claire Smith (6)

David Buffham (6)

Sir David Chapman, Bt. (6)

Remuneration committee
2014 total: 2 meetings
Sir David Chapman, Bt. (2)

David Buffham (2)

Audit committee
2014 total: 2 meetings
Tudor Davies (1)

Sir David Chapman, Bt. (2)

David Buffham (2)

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 Thursday 26 February 2015 can be found 
in the Notice of Annual General Meeting on 
pages 54 and 55.

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 Group Finance Director has failed to resolve 
or for which such contact is inappropriate.

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. 

budget, relevant action is taken throughout 
the year and quarterly rolling forecasts are 
prepared. 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 
Strategic report. The financial position of the 
Group, its cashflows, liquidity position and 
borrowing facilities are described within the 
Financial review section of the Strategic report also. 
In addition, note 20 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 continuing 
uncertain economic outlook.

Authority to operate the trading subsidiary, 
Zytronic Displays Limited, is delegated to its 
Board of Directors and through it 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.

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.

Each year the Board approves the annual 
budget. Key risk areas are identified, reviewed 
and monitored. Performance is monitored against 

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 17

Directors’ report

“ The Group will continue to identify further 
opportunities for the development of new 
product groups and expends a considerable 
amount on R&D.”

The Directors present their annual report 
and financial statements for the year ended 
30 September 2014.

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.

Likely future development
Our priorities for 2014/15 are disclosed 
in the Strategic report on pages 6 and 7.

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 
94% of all products are directly exported from 
the UK, with a large proportion of UK sales 
eventually being exported as well.

The Group draws strength from the diverse spread 
of its worldwide selling operations, particularly 
given the current uncertain economic conditions 
affecting different countries. The incorporation of 
Zytronic Inc. has further strengthened the Group’s 
presence in the USA and the employment of a 
local national in the APAC region in the coming 
year will increase our presence there. Management 
is continuing to look for suitable appointees to 
expand the Group’s presence of value added 
resellers (“VARs”) worldwide.

Capital management
Capital management is intended to ensure 
and maintain strong credit ratings and healthy 
capital ratios in order to support the Group’s 
business and maximise shareholder value. 
It includes the monitoring of cash balances, 
available bank facilities, cashflows, dividend 
policy and retained reserves and gearing levels 
(borrowings net of cash balances divided 
by shareholders’ equity).

Management ensures that the Group has sufficient 
facilities to provide the Directors with comfort on the 
Group’s foreseeable needs and its liquidity position. 
The Financial review includes a paragraph referring 
to the continuing strength of cashflows which 
occurred in the year ended 30 September 2014 
and the absence of net gearing.

No changes were made to these objectives, 
policies or processes during the years ended 
30 September 2013 and 2014.

Research and development
The Group has continued with the development 
of its electronic controllers, software and firmware 
used in the touch sensors. The Group has also 
further developed and commercialised its large 
format curved touch sensors during the year.

The R&D team continues to investigate the use 
of other sensor configurations and processing 
media in the manufacture of its touch sensors, 
strengthening its relationship with Cryptera A/S 
in the year. Further details on the Group’s R&D 
activities are included in the Operational review 
section of the Strategic report.

Results and dividends
The consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income is set out on page 24. The Group profit 
after taxation amounted to £3.0m (2013: £1.7m). 
The Directors propose the payment of a final 
dividend of 7.16p per share (2013: 6.35p). Following 
the dividend of 2.85p per share paid in July 2014, 
this will bring the total dividend for the year to 
10.0p per share (2013: 9.1p), an increase of 10%.

Directors
The Directors of the Company are shown on 
page 15. All of the Directors were Directors for the 
whole of the year. 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 and annual report
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 give a true and fair 
view of the state of affairs of the Group and of 
the profit and loss of the Group for that period. 
In preparing those financial statements the 
Directors are required to:

 C present fairly the financial position, financial 
performance and cashflows of the Group;

 C select suitable accounting policies in 

accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, 
Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors 
and then apply them consistently;

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

 C make judgements that are reasonable; 

 C provide additional disclosures when compliance 
with the specific requirements in IFRS, as 
adopted in the European Union, 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; and

 C state whether the Group financial statements 
have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, 
as adopted by the European Union, subject to 
any material departures disclosed and explained 
in the financial statements. 

18

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Corporate governanceSignificant interests 
in shares

On 27 November 2014, the 
following had significant interests in 
the ordinary shares of the Company:

AXA Investment Managers Ltd
1,557,300 shares 

10.2%

Luna Nominees
1,174,197 shares 

Cavendish Opportunities 
and Cavendish AIM Funds
1,100,664 shares 

Vidacos Nominees Ltd
1,079,348 shares 

7.7%

7.2%

7.1%

Barclayshare Nominees Ltd
797,637 shares 

5.2%

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 759,673 ordinary shares, 
being 5% of the issued ordinary share capital of 
the Company at 30 September 2014. The authority 
(special resolution 2 in the Notice of Annual 
General Meeting) will extend until the Annual 
General Meeting held in 2016 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 1,519,346 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 2016. 
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.

On behalf of the Board

Claire Smith BA (Hons), ACMA, 
CGMA, CertICM
Company Secretary
8 December 2014

Registration number
3881244

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 and enable them 
to ensure that the Group financial statements 
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are 
also responsible for safeguarding the assets of 
the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps 
for the prevention and detection of fraud and 
other irregularities. The Directors are responsible 
for the maintenance and integrity of the 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 15. Having made enquiries of 
fellow Directors and of the Company’s auditors, 
each of these Directors confirms that:

 C 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

 C 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.

Special business
Three special resolutions are to be proposed 
at the AGM this year. The special resolutions 
provide for the granting of share allotment and 
share buy-back authorities which are sought by 
the Company on an annual basis at the AGM to 
permit the Company to issue or buy back shares 
in accordance with terms of the authorities 
granted to the Company and its Directors, 
should the need arise.

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 2014, 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 2016 
and is in respect of one-third of the Company’s 
issued share capital.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 19

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.

Directors’ emoluments
Emoluments of the Directors for the year ended 
30 September 2014 are shown in the table on 
the right.

Pension contributions
During the year, the Group made annual 
pension contributions for Mark Cambridge and 
Claire Smith, 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

Claire Smith

Total

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

4

3

7

4

—

4

Remuneration report

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 Section 420(1) 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, as its 
Chairman, 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:

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

 C 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 21.

Annual bonus
During the year the remuneration committee 
implemented a three-year annual bonus plan 
linked to corporate performance targets, being 
the achievement of certain profit before tax 
(“PBT”) measures.

A maximum bonus of 50% of base salary for 
both the Chief Executive and the Group Finance 
Director will be payable if these targets are met.

In the financial year 2014 actual bonus 
payments of 50% of base salary are payable. 
The remuneration committee believes that this 
is a reasonable situation given the financial 
performance of the Group.

The remuneration committee also retains its 
right to provide special discretionary bonuses 
where deemed appropriate.

Long term incentive
The remuneration committee also agreed during 
the year, a long term cumulative cash bonus 
incentive scheme, payable in addition to the 
annual bonus scheme following the finalisation 
of the fiscal year 2016 annual report and financial 
statements, providing certain performance 
measures have been achieved.

A bonus of 60% will be payable to the Chief 
Executive and 45% to the Group Finance Director, 
on achievement of the performance measures.

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 21 and 22.

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.

Service contracts
Mark Cambridge and Claire Smith each 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.

20

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Corporate governance“ The Company 
has executive 
share option and 
incentive schemes, 
which are designed 
to promote long 
term improvement 
in the performance 
of the Group.”

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

Tudor Davies

Mark Cambridge 

Sir David Chapman, Bt.

David Buffham

Claire Smith

30 September 2014

30 September 2013

Number

%

Number

90,909

50,791

40,000

18,500

714

0.60

0.33

0.26

0.12

0.00

90,909

42,958

40,000

18,500

—

%

0.60

0.29

0.27

0.12

—

There has been no change in Directors’ shareholdings since 30 September 2014.

Directors’ emoluments for the year ended 30 September 2014

Non-executive Chairman

Tudor Davies

Executive

Mark Cambridge

Denis Mullan**

Claire Smith***

Non-executive

Sir David Chapman, Bt.

David Buffham

Salary
£’000

Fees
£’000

Benefits
£’000

Bonus
£’000

—

116

—

79

—

—

195

65

—

—

—

28

26

119

—

16

—

10

—

—

26

—

58

—

40

—

—

98

Total
emoluments*

2014
£’000

Total

emoluments*
2013
£’000

65

65

190

—

129

28

26

438

129

161

3

28

26

412

Excluding pension contributions.

* 
**  Denis Mullan retired from the Board on 16 September 2013.
***  Claire Smith joined the Board on 16 September 2013.

The Directors have opted to pay some of their bonus into their pension scheme.

Directors’ share incentive scheme 
The remuneration committee agreed, in March 2014, an incentive award scheme for Mark Cambridge, 
Chief Executive, and Claire Smith, Group Finance Director, to offer them each up to 125,000 shares 
each at a price of 200.0p per share to vest based on specified performance criteria:

 C the consolidated PBT, after bonuses payable to certain individuals, of the Group for the 

accounting period ending 30 September 2016 being in excess of £4.5m; and

 C the consolidated PBT, after bonuses payable to certain individuals, of the Group for the three 
accounting periods ending 30 September 2014, 2015 and 2016 being together at least £10m 
(where a loss in any such period shall be treated as a minus for those three years).

If the performance target set out above is satisfied, option shares will vest on the date on which the 
consolidated accounts for the Group for the accounting period ending 30 September 2016 are finalised.

The exercise of this option shall be conditional on the option holder entering into an agreement with 
the Company pursuant to which the option holder shall agree to retain one-third in aggregate of the 
shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of this option for a period of two years from the date 
of exercise of the option and to deposit the share certificate in respect of such shares with the 
Company Secretary for the retention period.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 21

Remuneration report continued

Share price during the year
During the year to 30 September 2014, the 
highest share price was 268.5p and the lowest 
share price was 163.0p. The market price of 
the shares at 30 September 2014 was 252.5p.

Directors’ interests in material contracts
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.

Directors’ share options

Enterprise
Management
Incentive Scheme

Mark Cambridge*

Mark Cambridge

Mark Cambridge

Claire Smith

Claire Smith**

Claire Smith***

Claire Smith

Claire Smith

Claire Smith

Claire Smith

30 September
2013
Number

27,250

21,750

—

—

—

71,787

5,000

5,000

5,000

10,000

10,000

10,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

67,800

Granted
during
year
Number

Lapsed
during
year
Number

Exercised

during 30 September
2014
Number

year
Number

Exercise dates

Option
price

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

27,250

—

6 October 2013 to 

176.0p

5 October 2016

—

21,750

29 March 2014 to 

172.8p

28 March 2021

—

71,787

December 2016 to

200.0p

 December 2018

—

5,000

28 February 2011 to 

216.5p

5,000

5,000

—

—

27 February 2018

15 July 2013 to 

177.5p

15 July 2020

29 March 2014 to 

216.0p

28 March 2021

—

10,000

25 January 2015 to 

194.8p

24 January 2022

—

10,000

25 January 2016 to 

194.8p

24 January 2022

—

10,000

25 January 2017 to 

194.8p

24 January 2022

—

67,800

December 2016 to

200.0p

 December 2018

*    27,250 shares were exercised at 247.5p, realising a gain of £19,484.
**   5,000 shares were exercised at 246.5p, realising a gain of £3,450.
***  5,000 shares were exercised at 253.0p, realising a gain of £1,850.

Unapproved Scheme

Mark Cambridge

Claire Smith

30 September
2013
Number

—

—

Granted
during
year
Number

53,213

57,200

Lapsed
during
year
Number

Exercised

during 30 September
2014
Number

year
Number

Exercise dates

Option
price

—

—

—

53,213

December 2016 to

200.0p

 December 2018

—

57,200

December 2016 to

200.0p

 December 2018

22

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Corporate governanceFinancial statements
Independent auditors’ report
To the members of Zytronic plc

We have audited the financial statements of Zytronic plc for the year ended 30 September 2014 which comprise the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Balance Sheet and Parent Company Balance Sheet, 
the Consolidated Cashflow Statement and the related notes 1 to 25 for the Group and the related notes 1 to 13 for the Parent Company. The financial 
reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting 
Standards (“IFRSs”) as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Parent 
Company financial statements 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 pages 18 and 19, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of 
the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and 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 and 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 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:

 C the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 30 September 2014 

and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

 C the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; 

 C the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

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

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

 C 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

 C the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

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

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

Stuart Watson (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP, Statutory Auditor
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
8 December 2014

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.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 23

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 30 September 2014

Group revenue

Cost of sales

Exceptional costs

Gross profit

Distribution costs

Administration expenses

Group trading profit

Other operating income

Group operating profit

Finance costs

Finance revenue

Profit before tax

Tax expense

Profit for the year

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

Adjusted earnings per share excluding exceptional costs

Basic

Diluted

All profits are from continuing operations.

Notes

2

3

4

6(a)

6(b)

7

9

9

9

9

2014
£’000

18,886

11,979

—

6,907

156

3,488

3,263

—

3,263

35

33

3,261

301

2,960

19.6p

19.5p

19.6p

19.5p

2013
£’000

17,282

11,961

413

4,908

210

2,858

1,840

94

1,934

39

44

1,939

277

1,662

11.1p

11.0p

13.9p

13.8p

24

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statementsConsolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 30 September 2014

At 30 September 2012

Profit for the year

Tax recognised directly in equity

Exercise of share options

Share-based payments

Dividends

At 30 September 2013

Profit for the year

Tax recognised directly in equity

Exercise of share options

Share-based payments

Dividends

At 30 September 2014

Called
up share
capital
£’000

149

—

—

1

—

—

150

—

—

2

—

—

152

Share
premium
£’000

6,862

—

—

141

—

—

7,003

—

—

287

—

—

7,290

Retained
earnings
£’000

8,569

1,662

(69)

—

80

(1,294)

8,948

2,960

—

—

93

(1,390)

10,611

Total
£’000

15,580

1,662

(69)

142

80

(1,294)

16,101

2,960

—

289

93

(1,390)

18,053

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 25

Consolidated balance sheet
At 30 September 2014

Assets

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Other current financial assets

Cash and short term deposits

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Financial liabilities

Other current financial liabilities

Accruals

Taxation liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Financial liabilities

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities (net)

Total liabilities

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Equity share capital

Share premium

Revenue reserve

Total equity

Notes

10

11

12

13

16(a)

14

15

16(b)

16(b)

15

16(b)

17

19

21

21

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

1,413

7,443

8,856

3,126

3,068

48

7,806

14,048

22,904

1,057

200

224

1,264

30

2,775

1,341

139

596

2,076

4,851

18,053

152

7,290

10,611

18,053

1,453

7,888

9,341

3,509

2,430

—

5,474

11,413

20,754

1,410

200

—

688

192

2,490

1,538

—

625

2,163

4,653

16,101

150

7,003

8,948

16,101

These financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors on 8 December 2014 and signed on its behalf by:

Mark Cambridge BSc (Hons), FIoD 
Chief Executive 
8 December 2014

Claire Smith BA (Hons), ACMA, CGMA, CertICM
Group Finance Director

26

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
 
 
 
Consolidated cashflow statement
For the year ended 30 September 2014

Operating activities

Profit from continuing operations

Net finance costs/(revenue)

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment

Amortisation and impairment of intangible assets

Profit on sale of fixed assets

Amortisation of government grant

Share-based payments

Fair value movement on foreign exchange forward contracts

Working capital adjustments

Decrease/(increase) in inventories

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables and provisions

Cash generated from operations

Taxation paid

Net cashflow from operating activities

Investing activities

Interest received

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from disposal of intangible assets

Payments to acquire 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

Repayment of borrowings

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

14

14

2014
£’000

3,261

2

672

362

—

—

93

176

383

(638)

370

4,681

(497)

4,184

33

36

—

(263)

(322)

(516)

(35)

(1,390)

289

(200)

(1,336)

2,332

5,474

7,806

2013
£’000

1,939

(5)

695

380

(37)

(97)

80

—

(68)

1,073

(86)

3,874

(607)

3,267

44

—

49

(492)

(220)

(619)

(39)

(1,294)

142

(200)

(1,391)

1,257

4,217

5,474

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 27

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
For the year ended 30 September 2014

1. Accounting policies
(a) Authorisation of financial statements and statement of compliance
The financial statements of Zytronic plc and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) for the year ended 30 September 2014 were authorised for issue by the 
Board of Directors on 8 December 2014 and the balance sheet was signed on behalf of the Board by Mark Cambridge and Claire Smith. 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:

IAS 27R

Separate Financial Statements

IAS 32

IAS 36

IAS 39

Amendment of IAS 32 Offsetting of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

Recoverable Amount Disclosures for Non-Financial Assets (amendment)

Novation of Derivatives and Continuation of Hedge Accounting (amendment)

IFRS 10 

Consolidated Financial Statements

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2010–2012 Cycle

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2011–2013 Cycle

IAS 16

Property, Plant and Equipment and IAS 38 Intangible Assets – Clarification of acceptable methods 

of depreciation and amortisation

IFRS 15

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

IFRS 9

Financial instruments

We have not yet done sufficient work to identify the impact of these new standards on the financial statements in future years.

(c) New standards adopted
The following new standards or interpretations are mandatory for the first time for the financial year ended 30 September 2014:

IASB

IFRS 1

IFRS 7

Annual improvements to IFRSs 2009–2011 (issued May 2012)

Amendment to IFRS 1 Government Loans

Amendment to IFRS 7 Disclosures – Offsetting of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities

IFRS 13

Fair Value Measurement

Effective date

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 July 2014

1 July 2014

1 January 2016

1 January 2017

1 January 2018

Adoption of these new standards had no material impact on the financial performance of the Group, other than the additional disclosure requirements 
of IFRS 13.

(d) Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
The preparation of the Group’s consolidated financial statements requires the Directors to make judgements, estimates 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.

Share-based payments
The Group measures the cost of equity-settled transactions with employees by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments at the date at which 
they are granted. Estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions requires determination of the most appropriate valuation model, which is 
dependent on the terms and conditions of the grant. This estimate also requires determination of the most appropriate inputs to the valuation model 
including the expected life of the share option, volatility and dividend yield and making assumptions about them. The assumptions and models used 
for estimating fair value for share-based payment transactions are disclosed in Note 21.

Fair value measurement of financial instruments
The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are recorded in the statement of financial position and measured by the financial institutions using 
valuation techniques based on market practice. Judgements include considerations around foreign exchange spot and forward rates and interest rate curves.

28

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements1. Accounting policies continued
(d) Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty continued
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.

(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.

(f) Exceptional items
The Group presents as exceptional items on the face of the income statement those material items of income and expense which, because of the nature 
and expected infrequency of the events giving rise to them, merit separate presentation to allow shareholders to understand better the elements of financial 
performance in the year, so as to facilitate comparison with prior periods and to assess better trends in financial performance.

(g) 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.

(h) 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.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 29

 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

1. Accounting policies continued
(i) 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:

Patents 

Licences   

Capitalised development expenditure 

Software   

– 

– 

– 

– 

20 years

period of licensing agreements (10 and 17 years)

4 or 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.

Patent applications
The cost associated with the drafting and filing of patent applications are capitalised as incurred.

Those costs are not amortised until the patent has been granted, after which they will be amortised over its useful economic life of 20 years. 
If the application fails, the capitalised costs will then be impaired and written off.

(j) 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. 

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.

(k) 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.

(l) 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.

(m) 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 or for a longer period but with the ability to break the deposit with a similar notice period. Bank overdrafts are shown within financial assets on 
the balance sheet as the Group has a set-off arrangement in place. For the purpose of the cashflow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise 
these balances, net of outstanding bank overdrafts.

(n) 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.

30

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Accounting policies continued
(o) 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.

(p) Financial instruments
Fair value measurement of financial instruments
The Group measures financial instruments, such as, derivatives, at fair value at each balance sheet date. Fair value is the price that would be received 
to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.

The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair value, 
maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs.

All assets and liabilities for which fair value is measured or disclosed in the financial statements are categorised within the fair value hierarchy, 
described as follows, based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole:

Level 1: quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly observable; and

Level 3: valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable.

(q) 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.

(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.

(s) Employee benefits 
Certain employees of the Group participate in a long term incentive scheme, whereby they will achieve additional remuneration in the form of a cash 
bonus and share options, on achievement of predetermined performance measures. The bonus payable and options exercisable are considered in 
conjunction with assumptions over potential leavers and also the likelihood of performance targets being met. Bonuses expected to become payable 
are attributed to each of the years in which the award is earned.

(t) 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.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 31

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

1. Accounting policies continued
(u) Government grants and subsidies
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.

The interest rate subsidy received, as a discounted upfront cash sum, by the Group under the National Loan Guarantee Subsidy Scheme has been 
credited to a deferred interest subsidy account and will be released to the income statement over the life of the loan upon which it is based.

(v) 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 that 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.

(w) 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:

 C 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;

 C 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

 C 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.

The Board 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.

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:

30 September 2014

30 September 2013

Sale of goods

– UK

– Americas

– EMEA (excluding UK)

– APAC

Revenue

Finance revenue

Total revenue

£’000

1,240

4,299

9,244

4,103

18,886

33

18,919

%

6

23

49

22

100

£’000

1,460

3,361

8,476

3,985

17,282

44

17,326

%

8

20

49

23

100

Individual revenues from three major customers exceed 10% of total revenue for the year. The total amount of revenue is £8.1m (2013: £8.1m).

The individual revenues from each of these three customers were £4.2m (2013: £3.9m); £2.1m (2013: £2.1m); and £1.8m (2013: £2.1m).

32

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
 
3. Exceptional costs
Exceptional costs of £413,000 in 2013 relate to the write-off of royalty payments on account made to a patent holder in respect of technology used 
in our touch products (as set out in note 1(v)). Reductions in forecast sales of this product meant that the prepayment held at the year end 2012 would 
not be recoverable and so was written off in financial year 2013.

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

R&D costs

Amortisation and impairment of development expenditure

Auditors’ remuneration – in respect of audit services*

– in respect of taxation compliance services

– in respect of taxation advisory services

– in respect of other assurance services

Depreciation of owned assets

Amortisation of software 

Amortisation and impairment of licences 

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense including:

– write-down of inventories to net realisable value

– the net movement in the stock provision

Hire of plant and machinery

Gain on disposal of plant and machinery

Operating lease rentals – minimum lease payments

Amortisation of capital grants

Net foreign currency differences

*  £13,500 of this relates to the Company (2013: £12,700).

5. Staff costs and Directors’ emoluments

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other pension costs

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

296

206

502

54

9

93

2

672

43

113

6,405

6

(38)

1

—

45

—

20

355

178

533

52

12

—

6

695

45

157

6,590

137

(99)

—

(49)

51

(94)

(123)

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

4,601

383

96

5,080

4,147

380

63

4,590

Included in wages and salaries is a total charge for share-based payments of £93,000 (2013: £80,000) all of which arises from transactions accounted 
for as equity-settled share-based payment transactions.

The total of Directors’ emoluments is £438,000 (2013: £412,000). The aggregate value of contributions paid to money purchase pension schemes 
includes £7,000 (2013: £8,000) in respect of two Directors (2013: three).

Amounts paid to the highest paid Director are £209,000 (2013: £197,000) plus a contribution paid to the money purchase pension scheme of £4,000 
(2013: £4,000).

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

Production

Administration and sales

30 September
2014
Number

30 September
2013
Number

128

41

169

140

42

182

The information required by AIM rule 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.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 33

 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

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

Interest payable

Bank loans and overdrafts

(b) Finance revenue

Interest receivable

Bank interest receivable

7. Taxation

Current tax

UK corporation tax

Corporation tax 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 credit

Tax charge in the income statement

Tax relating to items credited to equity

Deferred tax

Tax on share-based payments

Total deferred tax debit

Tax charge in the statement of changes in equity

30 September
2014
£’000

35

30 September
2014
£’000

33

30 September
2013
£’000

39

30 September
2013
£’000

44

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

549

(218)

331

—

(30)

(30)

301

372

(47)

325

(54)

6

(48)

277

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

—

—

—

69

69

69

Reconciliation of the total tax charge
The effective tax rate of the tax expense in the income statement for the year is 9.2% (2013: 14.3%) compared with the average rate of corporation tax 
in the UK of 22.0% (2013: 23.5%). The differences are reconciled below:

Accounting profit before tax

Accounting profit multiplied by the UK average rate of corporation tax of 22.0% (2013: 23.5%)

Effects of:

(Income not chargeable) for tax purposes/expenses not deductible

“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 over provided in prior years

Total tax expense reported in the income statement

30 September
2014
£’000

3,261

717

30 September
2013
£’000

1,939

456

(14)

(25)

42

(199)

(2)

(218)

301

29

(29)

46

(140)

(4)

(81)

277

34

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
7. Taxation continued
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 125% on qualifying R&D expenditure for tax purposes incurred from 1 April 2012. 
Until the financial year 2006, where R&D expenditure has been capitalised, the benefit of the 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 2014 was £11,000 (2013: £23,000). 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 tax 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 to carry forward at 30 September 2014 (2013: £Nil).

The UK government has announced its intention to reduce the UK corporation tax rate to 20% by 1 April 2015. The main rate from 1 April 2013 
to 31 March 2014 was 23% and this rate was substantively enacted on 3 July 2012. The main rate reduced to 21% from 1 April 2014 and will further 
reduce to 20% from 1 April 2015; this was substantively enacted on 17 July 2013. This rate of 20% has been applied to the deferred tax assets/liabilities 
arising at the balance sheet date.

8. Dividends
The Directors propose the payment of a final dividend of 7.16p per share (2013: 6.35p), payable on 13 March 2015 to shareholders on the Register of 
Members on 27 February 2015. This dividend has not been accrued in these financial statements. The dividend payment will amount to some £1.08m.

.

Ordinary dividends on equity shares

Final dividend of 5.90p per ordinary share paid on 15 March 2013

Interim dividend of 2.75p per ordinary share paid on 26 July 2013

Final dividend of 6.35p per ordinary share paid on 14 March 2014

Interim dividend of 2.85p per ordinary share paid on 25 July 2014

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

—

—

958

432

1,390

880

414

—

—

1,294

9. 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. Adjusted EPS reflects the adding back of the exceptional costs.

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation

Basic EPS

Adjusted EPS

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September 
2014
Thousands

Earnings
30 September 
2014
£’000

EPS
30 September 
2014
Pence

Earnings
30 September 
2013
£’000

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September 
2013
Thousands

2,960

15,098

2,960

15,098

2,960

15,098

19.6

19.6

19.6

1,662

14,943

1,662

14,943

2,075

14,943

EPS
30 September 
2013
Pence

11.1

11.1

13.9

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 35

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

9. Earnings per share continued
The weighted average number of shares for diluted EPS is calculated by including the weighted average number of potentially dilutive shares under option.

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation

Weighted average number of shares under option

Diluted EPS

Adjusted diluted EPS

10. Intangible assets

Cost

At 30 September 2012

Additions

Disposals

At 30 September 2013

Additions

Disposals

At 30 September 2014

Amortisation and impairment

At 30 September 2012

Provided during the year

Impaired during the year

Disposals

At 30 September 2013

Provided during the year

Impaired during the year

Disposals

At 30 September 2014

Net book value at 30 September 2014

Net book value at 30 September 2013

Net book value at 30 September 2012

Earnings
30 September 
2014
£’000

2,960

—

2,960

2,960

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September 
2014
Thousands

15,098

95

15,193

15,193

EPS
30 September 
2014
Pence

Earnings
30 September 
2013
£’000

19.6

(0.1)

19.5

19.5

1,662

—

1,662

2,075

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September 
2013
Thousands

14,943

120

15,063

15,063

EPS
30 September 
2013
Pence

11.1

(0.1)

11.0

13.8

Software
£’000

Goodwill 
£’000

Patents and 
licences
 £’000

Development
 expenditure 
£’000

Total
 £’000

472

23

—

495

59

—

554

374

45

—

—

419

43

—

—

462

92

76

98

235

—

—

235

—

—

1,893

2,058

4,658

39

(29)

158

(142)

220

(171)

1,903

2,074

4,707

21

—

242

(71)

322

(71)

235

1,924

2,245

4,958

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

235

235

235

1,254

1,417

3,045

107

50

(29)

1,382

107

6

—

178

—

(142)

330

50

(171)

1,453

3,254

179

27

(71)

329

33

(71)

1,495

1,588

3,545

429

521

639

657

621

641

1,413

1,453

1,613

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 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 the cash-generating unit have been discounted using a discount rate of 10%, derived from the Group’s weighted average cost of capital.

36

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements10. Intangible assets continued
Impairment of goodwill continued
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 around revenue and costs 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.

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

Cost

At 30 September 2012

Additions

Disposals

At 30 September 2013

Additions

Disposals

At 30 September 2014

Depreciation and impairment

At 30 September 2012

Provided during the year

Disposals

At 30 September 2013

Provided during the year

Disposals

At 30 September 2014

Net book value at 30 September 2014

Net book value at 30 September 2013

Net book value at 30 September 2012

12. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables

Work in progress

Finished goods

Freehold
 property
 £’000

Long
leasehold 
property 
 £’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

Total
£’000

3,070

2,309

8,312

13,898

—

—

125

(21)

239

(10)

364

(31)

3,070

2,413

8,541

14,231

—

—

11

—

252

(38)

263

(38)

Land
£’000

207

—

—

207

—

—

207

3,070

2,424

8,755

14,456

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

207

207

207

278

61

—

339

61

—

400

231

70

(9)

292

80

—

372

2,670

2,052

2,731

2,792

2,121

2,078

5,158

5,667

564

(10)

5,712

531

(2)

6,241

2,514

2,829

3,154

695

(19)

6,343

672

(2)

7,013

7,443

7,888

8,231

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

1,970

409

747

3,126

2,092

357

1,060

3,509

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

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 37

 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

13. Trade and other receivables
Current assets

Trade receivables

VAT recoverable

Prepayments

Trade receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

US Dollar

Euro

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

2,784

123

161

3,068

2,038

260

132

2,430

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

735

861

1,188

2,784

790

678

570

2,038

Out of the carrying amount of trade receivables of £2.8m (2013: £2.0m), £1.5m (2013: £0.9m) 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-day terms. They are shown net of a provision for impairment.

As at 30 September 2014, trade receivables at a nominal value of £23,000 (2013: £35,000) were impaired due to poor payment history. 
Movements in the provision for impairment of trade receivables were as follows:

At 30 September 2012

Charge for the year

Utilised

At 30 September 2013

Charge for the year

Utilised

At 30 September 2014

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

2014

2013

Neither past due
nor impaired

1,736

1,375

Past due but not impaired

<3 months
£’000

1,031

579

>3 months
£’000

17

84

£’000

15

33

(13)

35

—

(12)

23

Total
£’000

2,784

2,038

Credit limits are set for each customer, using Dun & Bradstreet credit reports as appropriate, or pro-forma invoices are raised, or cash upfront 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.

38

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements14. Cash and short term deposits

Cash at bank and in hand

Short term deposits

Bank overdrafts

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

6,950

2,560

(1,704)

7,806

3,716

2,534

(776)

5,474

Cash at bank earns interest at floating rates based on daily bank deposit rates. Short term deposits are made for variable lengths being overnight, three 
months or one year (with break conditions), depending on the immediate cash requirements of the Group, and earn interest at variable rates.

At 30 September 2014, the Group had available a net £1.0m (total cash less overdrawn accounts) overdraft facility from Barclays Bank plc which will fall 
for review in January 2015.

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is £7.8m (2013: £5.5m).

15. Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Other taxes and social security costs

Accruals

Terms and conditions of the above financial liabilities:

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

16. Financial assets and financial liabilities
(a) Financial assets
Financial assets at fair value through the income statement

Derivatives not designated as hedges

Foreign exchange forward contracts

(b) Financial liabilities

Loans

Bank loan – current

Bank loan – non-current

Foreign exchange forward contracts

Total

Total current

Total non-current

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

961

96

1,057

1,264

2,321

1,312

98

1,410

688

2,098

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

48

—

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

200

1,341

224

1,765

424

1,341

200

1,538

—

1,738

200

1,538

Financial assets and liabilities through the income statement reflect the positive change in fair value of the Group’s foreign exchange forward contracts. 
These contracts are not designated in hedge relationships, but are, nevertheless, intended to reduce the level of foreign currency risk for expected sales 
and purchases.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 39

 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

16. Financial assets and financial liabilities continued
(b) Financial liabilities continued
Property mortgage
On 29 June 2012, Zytronic plc borrowed £2.0m under a ten-year mortgage (to be refinanced after five years) with Barclays Bank plc to re-mortgage the 
borrowings on its three properties. The funds are repayable in quarterly instalments of £50,000. Interest is payable at 2.35% above three-month LIBOR, 
offset by a National Loan Guarantee Scheme subsidy. The balance is shown net of issue costs which are being amortised over five years.

(c) Fair values
The fair value of the financial assets and liabilities is included at the amount at which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction 
between willing parties, other than in a forced or liquidation sale.

Management assert that the fair value of cash, trade debtors and trade creditors approximate to their carrying amounts largely due to the short term 
maturities of these instruments.

The Group uses the following hierarchy for determining and disclosing the fair value of financial instruments by valuation technique:

Level 1: quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: other techniques for which all inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, either directly or indirectly; and

Level 3: techniques which use inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on observable market data.

At 30 September 2014, the Group has used a Level 2 valuation technique to determine the fair value of all forward exchange contracts and loans.

Derivative financial instruments
The Group enters into derivative financial instruments with financial institutions. Derivatives valued using valuation techniques with market observable 
inputs are foreign exchange forward contracts. The most frequently applied valuation techniques include forward pricing and swap models, using 
present value calculations prepared by the financial institutions. The models incorporate foreign exchange spot and forward rates, and interest rate 
curves. These derivatives are valued externally by the financial institutions using both intrinsic value and time value which is standard market practice. 

Loans
The fair value of the Group’s interest-bearing loans are determined by discounting future cash flows using rates currently available for debt on similar 
terms, credit risk and remaining maturities. The fair value of the loan outstanding at 30 September 2014 is not significantly different to its book value.

17. Provisions

At 1 October 2013

Arising during the year

At 30 September 2014

Non-current

Holiday pay 
£’000

Long term incentive
£’000

—

71

71

71

—

68

68

68

Total
£’000

—

139

139

139

Holiday pay
The holiday pay provision relates to the estimated exposure to additional costs in relation to inclusion of overtime in holiday payments as a result of recent 
rulings on the interpretation of the Working Time Directive.

Long term incentive
The provision for the long term incentive scheme relating to the Chief Executive, Group Finance Director and other management personnel is calculated 
based on future expectations that the bonus will be payable. Management has assessed the criteria that determines the payout and taken a view that a 
proportion of the bonus should be provided for in the year ended 30 September 2014.

The provisions included in the table above are expected to be utilised after twelve months with the long term incentive provision being utilised after the 
announcement of the financial year 2016 results provided the performance targets have been achieved.

40

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements18. Obligations under 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

19. 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

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

30

28

58

37

40

77

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

496

128

14

638

(40)

(2)

(42)

596

498

117

12

627

(1)

(1)

(2)

625

30 September
2014
£’000

30 September
2013
£’000

(3)

10

(39)

4

(28)

(2)

(30)

(18)

—

20

4

6

(54)

(48)

20. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise one secured bank loan, 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.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 41

 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

20. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments continued
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, Barclays Bank plc. This facility extends until January 2015 
and is to provide funding for working capital.

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. In June 2012 these two loans were repaid and were replaced by a new secured property loan of £2.0m repayable in 20 quarterly 
instalments of £50,000, with the balance of £1.0m to be refinanced in 2017.

Maturity profile of financial liabilities
Year ended 30 September 2014

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Trade and other payables 

Foreign exchange forward contracts – outflows

Total

On
demand
£’000

—

1,738

—

1,738

<3 months
£’000

3–12 months
£’000

1–5 years
£’000

61

487

1,323

1,871

182

—

3,970

4,152

1,488

—

—

1,488

Total
£’000

1,731

2,225

5,293

9,249

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings comprise principal repayments due of £1.5m and contractual interest payments of £0.2m. Interest is calculated 
based on interest rates prevailing at the balance sheet date.

Year ended 30 September 2013

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

Trade and other payables 

Total

On
demand
£’000

—

1,485

1,485

<3 months
£’000

3–12 months
£’000

1–5 years
£’000

63

515

578

190

—

190

1,752

—

1,752

Total
£’000

2,005

2,000

4,005

Foreign exchange risk 
The Group has a policy in that forward contracts are used to sell surplus US Dollars and Euros, generated from sales less purchases in those currencies. 
Contracts are in place at 30 September 2014 for a period of up to twelve months ahead so that the budgeted US Dollar and Euro rates are known. Any 
additional surplus currency at the end of each month is dealt with at spot rates.

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 Group entered into forward extra exchange contracts during the year in both US Dollars and Euros. A series of twelve one-monthly contracts may 
be triggered for the US Dollar depending on the movement of the US Dollar rate within each month. A protection rate of $1.70 offers the worst case 
scenario for exchange with the trigger being granted at $1.613. Movements between these two rates offer the best possible outcome. The same 
contracts apply to the Euro over a six month period with the protection rate being €1.22 and the trigger rate granted at €1.1665. 

The following table demonstrates the sensitivity to a reasonably possible change in the US Dollar and Euro exchange rates, 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).

2014

Sterling

2013

Sterling

Change in
US Dollar rate

Effect on profit
before tax
£’000

+5%

–5%

+5%

–5%

13

(12)

(3)

4

Change in
Euro rate

+5%

–5%

+5%

–5%

Effect on profit
before tax
£’000

(14)

13

4

(5)

Post balance sheet events
Following 30 September 2014, the Group agreed on a policy whereby its foreign currency risk should be protected for a rolling period of twelve months 
ahead. It has since entered into further forward extra exchange contracts to protect both the US Dollars and Euros. The US Dollar is protected at a rate of 
$1.615 with a trigger rate of $1.5215 and the Euro is protected at a rate of €1.275 with a trigger rate of €1.205. Both of these contracts are in place until 
31 December 2015.

42

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
20. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments continued
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 and 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 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.

2014

Sterling

2013

Sterling

Increase/
decrease in
basis points

+100

–100

+100

–100

Effect
on profit
before tax
£’000

(18)

18

(19)

19

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

Capital management
The Group’s policies on capital management are included in the Directors’ report on page 18.

21. 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 2013

Increase for cash on exercise of share options

At 30 September 2014

2014
Number
Thousands

25,000

15,193

2013
Number
Thousands

25,000

15,032

2014
£’000

250

152

2013
£’000

250

150

£’000

7,003

287

7,290

(c) Share-based payments
Senior Executive Plans and EMI Scheme – pre-2014 awards
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. In most instances the options vest three years from the date of grant, and the contractual life of each option 
granted is ten years. There are no cash settlement alternatives.

Senior Executive plans and EMI Scheme – 2014 awards
The remuneration committee agreed, in March 2014, an incentive award scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive and Claire Smith, Group Finance 
Director, to offer them each up to 125,000 shares each, and to other Executives, a combined volume of 275,000 shares, at a price of 200.0p per share 
to vest based on specified performance criteria:

 C the consolidated PBT, after bonuses payable to certain individuals, of the Group for the accounting period ending 30 September 2016 being 

in excess of £4.5m; and 

 C the consolidated PBT, after bonuses payable to certain individuals, of the Group for the three accounting periods ending 30 September 2014, 

2015 and 2016 being together at least £10m (where a loss in any such period shall be treated as a minus for those three years).

If the performance target set out above is satisfied, option shares will vest on the date on which the consolidated accounts for the Group for the 
accounting period ending 30 September 2016 are finalised.

The exercise of this option shall be conditional on the option holder entering into an agreement with the Company pursuant to which the option holder 
shall agree to retain one-third in aggregate of the shares acquired pursuant to the exercise of this option for a period of two years from the date of 
exercise of the option and to deposit the share certificate in respect of such shares with the Company Secretary for the retention period.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 43

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

21. Share capital and share-based payments continued
(c) Share-based payments continued 
During the year the Group had two share option schemes in place: an Unapproved Executive Option Scheme and an Enterprise Management Incentive 
(“EMI”) Scheme. Under these schemes, options to subscribe for the Company’s shares have been granted as follows:

Unapproved Executive Scheme

EMI Scheme

30 September
2013
Number

12,700

10,000

20,000

Granted
during 
year
 Number

—

—

—

— 141,861

Exercised
during 
year
 Number

12,700

10,000

—

—

Lapsed
during 
year
 Number

30 September
2014
Number

Exercise
dates

Option
 price

—

—

—

—

—

28 February 2011 to  216.5p

27 February 2018

29 March 2014 to  172.8p

28 March 2021

20,000

29 March 2016 to  172.8p

28 March 2021

— 141,861

December 2016 to  200.0p

December 2018

17,182

38,000

17,300

77,500

75,250*

44,850

42,000

82,823

20,000

20,000

20,000

7,500

20,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

— 383,139

17,182

—

—

18 January 2008 to  145.5p

17 January 2015 

—

14,000

24,000

11 January 2009 to  274.5p

2,300

45,000

51,250

13,100

10,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

10 January 2016 

15,000

28 February 2011 to  216.5p

27 February 2018 

32,500

15 July 2013 to  177.5p

15 July 2020 

24,000

6 October 2013 to  176.0p

5 October 2016 

31,750

29 March 2014 to  172.8p

28 March 2021

32,000

29 March 2014 to  216.0p

28 March 2021

82,823

25 January 2015 to  243.5p

24 January 2022

20,000

25 January 2015 to  195.0p

24 January 2022

20,000

29 March 2015 to  172.8p

28 March 2021

20,000

25 January 2016 to  195.0p

24 January 2022

7,500

25 January 2016 to  243.5p

24 January 2022

20,000

25 January 2017 to  195.0p

24 January 2022

— 383,139

December 2016 to  200.0p

December 2018

*   Of the 75,250 shares issued on 5 October 2010, 40,000 shares are “parallel” shares issued to recipients of similar sized grants in 2006 (exercisable between 11 January 2009 
and 10 January 2016 at 274.5p). 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.

There are no performance conditions attached to any share options awarded prior to the grant of options in this year.

Income statement expense for year ended 30 September 2014
The expense recognised for share-based payments in respect of employee services received during the year to 30 September 2014 is £93,000 
(2013: £80,000).

44

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
 
21. Share capital and share-based payments continued
(c) Share-based payments continued
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 

2014
Number

525,105

525,000

14,000

161,532

874,573

159,250

2014
WAEP 
Pence

201.0

200.0

274.5

179.0

203.3

202.4

2013
Number

855,851*

—

(202,000)

(128,746)

525,105

162,682

2013
WAEP 
Pence

163.9

—

27.5

110.1

201.0

204.0

*  Included within this balance are 200,000 shares belonging to the Director’s previous share incentive scheme that has now lapsed.

For the share options outstanding as at 30 September 2014, the weighted average remaining contractual life is 3.8 years (2013: 7.0 years).

There was one grant of options during the year. The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year was 53.0p (2013: Nil). The range 
of exercise prices for options outstanding at the end of the year was 172.8p to 274.5p (2013: 145.5p 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 year ended 30 September 2014:

Dividend yield 

Expected share price volatility

Risk-free interest rate 

Expected life of option (years)

2014

3.7%

46.0%

2.6%

3

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.

22. Capital commitments
Amounts contracted for at 30 September 2014 but not provided in the financial statements amounted to £419,000 (2013: £26,000) for the Group.

23. Pension scheme commitments
Contributions for the year ended 30 September 2014 amounted to £96,000 (2013: £63,000) and the outstanding contributions at the balance sheet 
date were £10,000 (2013: £5,000). 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. The increase in contributions for the year 
arises due to auto-enrolment being mandatory as of April 2014.

24. 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 which is recorded 
in the income statement to the Directors:

Salaries/fees

Bonuses

Pension contributions

Share-based payments

2014
£’000

388

112

8

14

522

2013
£’000

458

—

8

2

468

25. Guarantees
Zytronic plc has given a guarantee to Barclays Bank plc in connection with the overdraft facility detailed in note 14.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 45

Five-year summaries

Consolidated income statement
For the five years ended 30 September 2010 to 2014

Group revenue

Cost of sales

Exceptional costs

Gross profit

Distribution costs

Administration expenses

Group trading profit

Other operating income

Group operating profit

Finance costs 

Finance revenue

Profit before tax

Tax expense

Profit for the period

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

Adjusted basic

Adjusted diluted

Dividends per share

All profits are from continuing operations.

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

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

2012
£’000

2011
£’000

2010
£’000

18,886

17,282

20,424

20,488

18,483

11,979

11,961

13,008

13,574

12,589

—

413

6,907

4,908

156

3,488

3,263

—

210

2,858

1,840

94

—

7,416

243

3,089

4,084

187

—

6,914

239

3,194

3,481

187

—

5,894

231

2,738

2,925

112

3,263

1,934

4,271

3,668

3,037

35

33

3,261

301

2,960

19.6p

19.5p

19.6p

19.5p

9.1p

39

44

1,939

277

1,662

11.1p

11.0p

13.9p

13.8p

8.7p

91

15

4,195

898

3,297

22.2p

21.9p

22.2p

21.9p

8.2p

112

1

3,557

865

2,692

18.3p

18.1p

18.3p

18.1p

7.1p

126

13

2,924

736

2,188

14.9p

14.8p

14.9p

14.8p

5.8p

46

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statementsConsolidated balance sheet
At 30 September 2010 to 2014

Assets

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Trade and other receivables

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Other current financial assets

Cash and short term deposits

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Financial liabilities

Other current financial liabilities

Accruals

Taxation liabilities

Government grants

Non-current liabilities

Financial liabilities

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities (net)

Government grants

Total liabilities

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Equity share capital

Share premium

Revenue reserve 

Total equity

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

2012
£’000

2011
£’000

2010
£’000

1,413

7,443

—

1,453

7,888

—

1,613

8,231

413

1,811

8,113

296

1,869

8,387

198

8,856

9,341

10,257

10,220

10,454

3,126

3,068

48

3,509

2,430

—

3,441

3,090

—

2,754

4,021

—

7,806

5,474

4,217

4,513

14,048

11,413

10,748

11,288

2,588

3,466

—

1,505

7,559

22,904

20,754

21,005

21,508

18,013

1,057

1,410

1,299

200

224

1,264

30

—

200

—

688

192

—

1,778

2,266

—

200

—

1,016

1,118

476

97

502

192

1,582

669

—

600

357

192

2,775

2,490

3,088

5,856

3,400

1,341

1,538

1,735

1,722

2,045

139

596

—

2,076

1,937

—

625

—

2,163

4,653

—

602

—

2,337

5,425

—

726

97

2,545

8,401

—

827

289

3,161

6,561

18,053

16,101

15,580

13,107

11,452

152

7,290

10,611

150

7,003

8,948

149

6,862

8,569

147

6,588

6,372

147

6,550

4,755

18,053

16,101

15,580

13,107

11,452

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 47

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). 
Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state 
of affairs of the Company and the profit or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing those financial statements, the Directors are required to:

 C select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

 C make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

 C state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial 

statements; and

 C 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.

48

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statementsParent Company balance sheet
At 30 September 2014

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

2014
£’000

4,739

9,855

14,594

6

1,178

5,671

6,855

438

6,417

21,011

1,341

102

19,568

152

7,290

12,126

19,568

2013
£’000

4,853

9,766

14,619

8

2,000

4,063

6,071

478

5,593

20,212

1,538

108

18,566

150

7,003

11,413

18,566

These financial statements have been approved by the Board of Directors on 8 December 2014 and signed on its behalf by:

Mark Cambridge BSc (Hons), FIoD 
Chief Executive 
8 December 2014

Claire Smith BA (Hons), ACMA, CGMA, CertICM
Group Finance Director

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 49

 
 
 
Notes to the Parent Company financial statements
For the year ended 30 September 2014

1. Accounting policies
(a) Basis of preparation
The financial statements of Zytronic plc were approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 8 December 2014. 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) 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.

(c) 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 

Freehold property 

Long leasehold property 

– 

– 

– 

Nil

50 years

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. 

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

50

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
 
1. Accounting policies continued
(e) 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.

(f) 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 2014 was £13,500 (2013: £12,700).

3. Tangible fixed assets

Cost 

At 30 September 2013 and 2014

Depreciation

At 30 September 2013

Provided during the year

At 30 September 2014

Net book value at 30 September 2014

Net book value at 30 September 2013

4. Investments
Investments in subsidiary companies

Shares in subsidiary companies

At beginning of year

Share options granted to subsidiary employees

At end of year

Land
 £’000

207

—

—

—

207

207

Freehold
property
£’000

3,070

339

62

401

2,669

2,731

Long
leasehold
property
£’000

2,097

182

52

234

1,863

1,915

2014
£’000

9,766

89

9,855

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

Zytronic Displays Limited

Zytronic Inc.

Intasolve Limited

Zytronic Glass Products Limited

Holding

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Proportion of
voting rights and
shares held

100%

100%

100%

100%

The trading subsidiary is incorporated in England.

Zytronic Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zytronic Displays Limited.

Manufacture of transparent composites, 
including touch sensors 

Technical sales support

Dormant

Dormant

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 51

Total
 £’000

5,374

521

114

635

4,739

4,853

2013
£’000

9,690

76

9,766

Nature of 
business

Notes to the Parent Company financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 September 2014

5. Debtors

Trade debtors

Prepayments and accrued income

Amounts falling due after more than one year are:

Amounts owed by Group undertakings

6. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Bank loan (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 loan (note 8)

2014
£’000

—

6

6

2014
£’000

1,178

2014
£’000

200

1

126

81

30

438

2014
£’000

1,341

2013
£’000

3

5

8

2013
£’000

2,000

2013
£’000

200

9

179

81

9

478

2013
£’000

1,538

8. Bank loan
On 29 June 2012, Zytronic plc borrowed £2.0m under a ten-year mortgage (to be refinanced after five years) with Barclays Bank plc to re-mortgage 
the borrowings on its three properties. The funds are repayable in quarterly instalments of £50,000. Interest is payable at 2.35% above three-month 
LIBOR, offset by a National Loan Guarantee Scheme Subsidy. The balance is shown net of issue costs which are being amortised over five years.

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

Accelerated capital allowances

At 1 October

Credit in the profit and loss account

At 30 September

2014
£’000

102

108

(6)

102

2013
£’000

108

114

(6)

108

52

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

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

Authorised

Ordinary shares of 1p each

Allotted, called up and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 1p each

2014
Number
Thousands

2013
Number
Thousands

25,000

25,000

15,193

15,032

2014
£’000

250

152

2013
£’000

250

150

Note 21(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 21(c) in the Group financial statements identifies the basis of the Senior Executive Plans and the EMI Scheme. It also contains a table that 
illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices of, and movements in, share options during the year.

(c) Directors’ share incentive scheme
Note 21(c) in the Group financial statements sets out the details of the Share Incentive Award Scheme for Mark Cambridge, Chief Executive, 
and Claire Smith, Group Finance Director, in shares of the Parent Company.

11. Reconciliation of movements in shareholders’ funds

At 30 September 2012

Exercise of share options

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation

Share-based payments

Dividends

At 30 September 2013

Exercise of share options

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation

Share-based payments

Dividends

At 30 September 2014

Called
up share
capital 
£’000

149

1

—

—

—

150

2

—

—

—

152

Share
premium
£’000

6,862

141

—

—

—

7,003

287

—

—

—

7,290

Profit
and loss
account
£’000

11,786

—

841

80

(1,294)

11,413

—

2,010

93

(1,390)

12,126

Total
£’000

18,797

142

841

80

(1,294)

18,566

289

2,010

93

(1,390)

19,568

A profit of £2,010,000 (2013: £841,000), before payments of dividends of £1,390,000 (2013: £1,294,000), 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 2014 amounted to £Nil (2013: £4,400) and the outstanding contributions at the balance sheet date 
were £Nil (2013: £Nil).

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

(a) Borrowing facilities
The Group has an unsecured overdraft facility of £1.0m arranged with its principal banker, Barclays Bank plc. This facility extends until January 2015. 
This facility is to provide funding for working capital.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 53

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 Thursday 26 February 2015 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 2014 and the reports of the Directors and auditors thereon.

2. 

 To pay a final dividend of 7.16p per ordinary share of 1.0p for the year ended 30 September 2014 on Friday 13 March 2015 to members 
on the Register at the close of business on Friday 27 February 2015.

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

4.  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 £50,138.42 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 2016 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 2016 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 £7,596.73.

 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.

54

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statements 
 
 
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 1,519,346; 

3.2. 

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

3.3. 

3.4. 

 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

 unless previously renewed, revoked or varied, the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General 
Meeting held in 2016 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

Claire Smith BA (Hons), ACMA, CGMA, CertICM
Company Secretary
Zytronic plc
Whiteley Road
Blaydon-on-Tyne
Tyne and Wear NE21 5NJ
8 December 2014

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.

2.   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 Tuesday 24 February 2015 
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.

3.  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:

  3.1. 
  3.2. 

4.00pm on 24 February 2015; or 
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 Tuesday 24 February 2015 shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend 
or vote at the meeting.

4.   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.

Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014 Zytronic plc 55

 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate information

Websites
www.zytronicplc.com

www.zytronic.co.uk 

Secretary
Claire Smith, BA (Hons) ACMA, CGMA, CertICM

Email: claire.smith@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
N+1 Singer
150 Aldersgate Street 
London 
EC1A 4AB

Registrars
Computershare Investor  
Services PLC
The Pavilions 
Bridgwater Road 
Bristol 
BS13 8AE

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

Bankers
Barclays Bank plc
71 Grey Street 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
NE99 1JP

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

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

Regions Bank
2653 Marietta Hwy  
Canton, GA  
30114  
USA

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

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

56

Zytronic plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2014

Financial statementsKeep in touch

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Zytronic plc
Whiteley Road 
Blaydon-on-Tyne 
Tyne and Wear 
NE21 5NJ
Tel:  0191 414 5511
Fax:  0191 414 0545
Web:  www.zytronicplc.com