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Zytronic plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · Zytronic plc
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9

Zytronic plc
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2019

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pioneering the 
touchscreen  
revolution  
for 20 years

Zytronic’s vision is to make its unique 
touch sensor technology pre-eminent in 
markets that require medium to large 
sized touch interactive systems.

OUR TOUCHSCREENS ARE EVERYWHERE

  GAMING

  OTHER

  SIGNAGE

Our highly durable and customisable 
touch sensors are used in a variety 
of gaming applications, from betting 
terminals to slot machines. With reliable 
performance and engaging designs, 
our products offer an unbeatable 
player experience.   

Our award-winning multi-touch  
MPCTTM touch sensors are available  
in any shape or size up to 86”, perfect 
for multi-user touch tables in retail, 
leisure and commercial applications.

Our large format PCTTM touchscreens 
are increasingly used in digital signage, 
helping advertisers to engage directly 
with individual customers outdoors and 
indoors, and are reliable in all conditions.

INDUSTRIAL

  VENDING

  BANKING

Our rugged, reliable PCTTM touch 
sensors are used in a variety of 
workplace applications, from medical 
diagnostic equipment to oil field 
machinery controls, providing low 
maintenance, year-round performance 
in all environments.

Our tough, customisable PCTTM 
touchscreens enable self-service 
equipment to be deployed at the point 
of sale irrespective of the location and 
to provide 24/7 customer access in the 
harshest environments and climates.

Our vandal-resistant PCTTM touch 
sensors have been trusted by global 
ATM and financial kiosk manufacturers 
for over a decade to provide reliable 
self-service performance both indoors 
and outdoors.

See our business model P12–13

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OUR YEAR IN BRIEF

CONTENTS

STRATEGIC REPORT

Our year in brief  

Zytronic at a glance  

About our technology  

Chairman’s statement  

Chief Executive Officer’s review 

Our markets  

Our business model  

Our strategy  

Key performance indicators 

Risk management  

Sustainability  

Financial review  

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Board of Directors 

Corporate governance  

Audit Committee report 

Remuneration report  

Directors’ report  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Group accounts

Independent auditor’s report  

Consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income  

Consolidated statement 
of changes in equity  

Consolidated statement of  
financial position  

Consolidated cashflow statement  

Notes to the consolidated  
financial statements  

Five-year summaries  

Parent Company accounts

Parent Company statement of  
financial position  

Parent Company statement 
of changes in equity  

Notes to the Parent Company 
financial statements  

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

 Corporate information  

1

2

4

6

7

11

12

14

17

18

22

24

26

27

30

31

33

35

40

41

42

43

44

59

61

62

63

67

IBC

f Group revenue of £20.1m (2018: £22.3m), impacted 
by a reduction in revenues in the gaming market

f Gross margin reduced to 33.7% (2018: 37.0%) due to 

the change in product mix sold, with fewer large format 
sensors being invoiced in the year

f Profit before tax of £3.1m (2018: £4.2m), reflecting 

reduced revenue and lower gross margin

f Basic earnings per share of 16.8p (2018: 22.7p)

f Final dividend of 15.2p proposed (2018: 15.2p), bringing 

total dividends for the year to 22.8p (2018: 22.8p) 

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Group revenue 
(£m)

£20.1m

Gross profit  
margin (%)

33.7%

15

16

17

18

19

21.3

21.1

22.9

22.3

20.1

15

16

17

18

19

41.9

42.8

41.1

37.0

33.7

Earnings per  
share (p)

16.8p

Dividends (p)

22.8p

15

16

17

18

19

24.7

26.6

29.0

22.7

16.8

15

16

17

18

19

12.0

14.4

19.0

22.8

22.8

Profit before tax 
(£m)

£3.1m

Cash generated 
from operating 
activities (£m)

£2.8m

15

16

17

18

19

4.5

4.3

5.4

4.2

3.1

15

16

17

18

19

4.9

5.6

4.7

4.8

2.8

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

1

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTZYTRONIC AT A GLANCE

Our technology  
empowers people  
all over the world

From finding the way to a departure gate  
to picking the right books for school, 
touchscreens help people every day  
and everywhere.

What we do

Why invest in Zytronic?

 X   Strong balance sheet and 
cash provide sound basis 
for growth

 X   Diversified technologies, 
products, markets and 
applications

 X   Investment in our already 

proven and trusted 
technology

 X   Strength of opportunities 

pipeline

 X   Excellence in 

manufacturing

DESIGN 

SERVICE 

PERFORMANCE 

 X  Unique touchscreen designs with no/

 X Global pre/post-sales support

 X Unsurpassed reliability and durability

low tooling fees

 X Over 50 years of glass processing 

 X Capable of detecting 80+ touches 

 X Any quantity you need, 1 or 1,000s

experience

with millisecond response

 X 100% manufactured in our state-of-

 X Many years’ expertise in touch 

the-art facilities

controller and firmware development

 X All-weather functionality and 
unaffected by surface dirt

 X Toughened, curved, printed and 

 X Rapid prototyping capability

 X Vandal resistant and gloved hand 

machined options

operation

2

ZYTRONIC PLC

Market area

Our products

1. 

4. 

5.  6. 

32+

1. GAMING

2. 

3. 

Sales

4. INDUSTRIAL

Sales

£6.4m

32% of total revenue  
(£8.5m sales in 2018, 38% 
of total revenue).

£1.7m

9% of total revenue  
(£1.9m sales in 2018, 9% 
of total revenue).

2. FINANCIAL

Sales

£6.2m

31% of total revenue  
(£6.4m sales in 2018, 29% 
of total revenue).

3. VENDING

Sales

£4.0m

20% of total revenue  
(£3.0m sales in 2018, 13% 
of total revenue).

5. SIGNAGE

Sales

£1.1m

5% of total revenue  
(£1.2m sales in 2018, 5% 
of total revenue).

6. OTHER

Sales

£0.7m

3% of total revenue  
(£1.3m sales in 2018, 6% 
of total revenue).

Some of our customers

Touch sensors 

At Zytronic we are leaders in projected 
capacitive touch technology, specialising 
in highly durable and reliable products, 
where our proprietary PCT™ touch sensing 
products, provide both precision and 
resilience at the fingertips of the end-user.

Touch controllers 

We have developed an extensive range 
of touch controllers to work with our 
portfolio of highly durable, projected 
capacitive touch sensing products. 
Supporting sizes from 5–86” our 
controllers offer single or full multi-touch 
functionality, and benefits including 
smart, “plug and play” operating system 
support (making it quick and easy to set 
up our touch sensors), and outstanding 
“palm rejection” capability (to help reduce 
incidents of “false” touches, when users 
lean on a touch sensor).

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

3

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT31
+
20
+
9
+
5
+
3
+
J
ABOUT OUR TECHNOLOGY

Our technology 
is proven, trusted 
and unique

Single touch

Multi-touch

PCT™ self–capacitive touch sensing 
technology provides the durability  
needed for the toughest industrial  
and self-service applications.

MPCT™ mutual capacitive technology 
offers most of the durability advantages 
of PCT™ projected capacitive 
technology, but with added multi–touch 
capability, and provides the same level 
of sensitivity experienced on 
smartphones and tablets.

Customisation options 

Reliability 

Sensitivity

High-impact resistance

Our vast experience in glass 
processing paired with our 
comprehensive in-house glass 
machining equipment allows 
us to manufacture touchscreen 
glass in near limitless forms, 
print borders, logos and other 
features onto the rear face of 
the glass, bend glass to produce 
curved touch sensors and 
thermally toughen glass to suit 
international safety standards.

With its unrivalled durability, 
PCT™ and MPCT™ provide 
24/7 functionality in the 
most difficult of environments, 
minimising system downtime, 
reducing maintenance and 
maximising return on system 
investment. It is proven, 
dependable, vandal resistant 
and is practically immune 
to most types of physical, 
mechanical and chemical abuse.

Zytronic touch technology 
will detect fingers, conductive 
stylus and even gloved hands, 
through glass thicknesses of 
10mm or more. Yet, it ignores 
raindrops, leaves, dirt, ice, etc., 
making the touch sensors ideal 
for self-service and public 
use, in any environment.

The MPCT™ multi-touch 
sensors are typically 
constructed from a laminated 
toughened glass substrate of 
up to 10mm thick, meaning 
they are durable enough to 
withstand most impacts and 
extreme environments. Our 
PCT™ sensors can be made 
from even thicker glass, and 
are unaffected by rain.

4

ZYTRONIC PLC

All ar19 text to be provided.Internationally award-winning and patented technologies

We develop and manufacture highly durable 
and adaptable touchscreens in a near limitless 
range of shapes and sizes, ideally suited for the 
most demanding self-service, industrial and 
public-facing interactive systems. We have been 
developing and manufacturing touch sensors for 
over 15 years (and processing glass components 
for decades before that). Our range of patented 
and award-winning projected capacitive 
technology (PCT™ and MPCT™) touchscreens 
offer the ultimate solution for challenging 
environments in signage, gaming, vending, 
financial and industrial applications.

More detail P12

Interactive signage

Self-service

Damage resistance

Highly durable 

Our large format PCT™ touch 
sensors are increasingly used 
in digital signage, and are 
reliable in all conditions.

Our durable, customisable 
touchscreens enable self-
service equipment to be 
deployed in any location.

Our vandal-resistant touch 
sensors have been trusted by 
global ATM manufacturers for 
over a decade.

Our sensors provide unrivalled 
performance in some of the 
harshest environments.

Our unique approach

Any shape or size

A variety of materials

Expertise and experience

Flexible manufacturing 

Our award-winning multi-touch 
MPCT™ touch sensors are 
available in any size or shape 
up to 86”.

Our products can be 
specified in a wide range 
of glass thicknesses and 
strengthening treatments.

Our experienced engineers  
create bespoke products to 
the exact requirements of our 
clients and their customers.

Our highly flexible 
manufacturing processes 
allow custom designs, 
irrespective of the 
number required.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

5

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTCHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Strong pipeline of 
opportunities

As announced in May this year, trading results 
have been lower than the prior year, but our 
strong liquidity position has enabled us to 
maintain the dividend at the same level as 
last year.

Results
There was improvement in trading in 
the second half of the year with profits 
improving by 21% on revenues 12% 
ahead of the first half.

Revenue for the year ended 
30 September 2019 was £20.1m 
(2018: £22.3m) and profit for the year 
after tax was £2.7m (2018: £3.6m).

The decline in revenue was principally 
due to a fall in sales to our largest 
market, the gaming sector, where 
revenues reduced from £8.5m to £6.4m. 
The lack of growth this year has resulted 
not from a lack of opportunities, but 
from a slower than normal conversion 
of the larger projects into sales. 
As Mark Cambridge, CEO, explains in 
his review, in terms of opportunities 
the number of live projects has 
increased by 41% during the year.

Cash generation
The cash position has reduced over 
2019 to £13.1m (2018: £14.6m) as cash 
generation was negative by £1.5m 
after payment of dividends of £3.7m 
(2018: £3.7m).

Dividend
The Directors have recommended a 
final dividend of 15.2p, which, together 
with the interim dividend of 7.6p paid in 
July 2019, will result in a total dividend 
of 22.8p (2018: 22.8p).

Shareholder value
Over the last four years, we have 
pursued a policy of increasing the 
dividend considerably ahead of earnings, 
principally because our trading and 
cash generation were strong and we 
have had the additional comfort of a 
growing cash balance.

However, the last two years’ results 
have been lower than expected, and 
dividends at current levels compared 
with performance are only sustainable 
by our strong liquidity position. We are 
also cognisant of the potential effect 
on the share price with a current yield 
of 11%* from an uncovered dividend.

The Board is already undertaking a 
strategic review of its operations to 
improve future returns for shareholders 
and, as part of that review, the subject 
of the appropriate level of future 
distributions compared with earnings 
and cash resources is under 
consideration.

Outlook
On the basis of the first two months 
of trading being at lower levels than last 
year, we are cautious about the short 
term. However, as we have seen in prior 
years, trading results in the second half 
can improve as the year progresses and 
the level of enquiries for new projects 
are higher than last year.

Our culture and values

We believe in the following 
three core values to serve as 
the guidelines for our conduct 
as an organisation and for the 
behaviour of our employees.

Integrity

Building relationships of mutual 
respect with colleagues, customers, 
suppliers, advisers and investors, 
ensuring that we conduct ourselves 
at all times in an open, honest and 
ethical manner.

Quality

Providing customer satisfaction 
through the continual improvement 
of our products and processes and 
the capabilities of our employees, 
through innovation, development 
and training. We work with both 
our customers and suppliers to 
meet their and our needs in 
delivering exceptional products 
tailored exactly to our 
customers’ requirements.

Performance

Driving for profitable growth 
and increasing shareholder value 
through the balance of short term 
demands and long term strategies.

Tudor Davies
Chairman
9 December 2019

Our strategy P14–16

Sustainability P22–23

6

ZYTRONIC PLC

* 

 Note – dividend yield is calculated using 
a share price of 200p as at mid-morning 
on 3 December 2019.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW

Investing in new products 
and opportunities

The information detailed in the review provides insights 
into the various operational aspects of Zytronic Displays 
Ltd (“ZDL”), our wholly owned operating subsidiary, that 
have influenced the reported trading performance of 
Zytronic over the fiscal year, drawing comparisons with 
the prior periods where necessary.

Sales
Revenue for the year was £20.1m, 
compared with £22.3m in 2018, with 
the historical norm of a stronger 
performing H2 repeating itself with 
H1 and H2 contributing £9.5m and 
£10.6m respectively (2018 H1: £10.6m; 
H2: £11.7m). 

However, unlike the prior year, where 
a reduction in financial touch product 
revenue impacted the performance, 
the issue in 2019 was not associated 
with the financial market, which did decline 
by £0.2m due to a further £0.6m reduction 
in ATM display filter sales, but was related 
to the £2.1m reduction in the revenue 
generated from the casino-based gaming 
market. As a consequence of the casino 
revenue reduction, export revenue 
declined to £18.0m (2018: £19.5m), 
as this impacted Asia Pacific (“APAC”) 
sales, reducing by £2.0m to £6.5m 
(2018: £8.5m), as this is where the majority 
of the integration of our products with 
display units for that market occurs. Sales 
to the Americas region (North, Central and 
South America) were £3.7m (2018: £4.3m) 
and affected by financial sales, and the 
Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”) 
region were £7.8m (2018: £6.7m) as 
discussed under vending.

When evaluating ZDL’s sales mix, 
several intrinsically linked factors have 
a significant and well-documented 
influence, primarily the number of touch 
sensor units produced and their mix 
based on size, shape and sensing 
technology formats, across the diverse 
set of applications and markets. 

The volumes and respective revenue 
generated from sensors based on size 
are presented in the table overleaf. 

From the data, it is evident that it is 
the large format sensors that exhibited 
the greatest proportional reduction 
in both units sold and consequently 
revenue generated. 

Within the size ranges ZDL produces 
several shape and technology variants 
in the medium and large sensor 
categories, where the sensors can 
be any combinations of either flat or 
curved and either PCT™ (single-touch) 
or MPCT™ (multi-touch) in functionality. 

Of the total units supplied, 17,000 units 
were of an MPCT™ configuration 
(2018: 17,000), although after the 2018 
release of our ZXY500 series controllers, 
incorporating the MPCT™ Application 
Specific Integrated Circuit (“ASIC”), 
we saw a 2,000-unit increase in the 
volume of medium-sized MPCT™ sensors 
supplied to 7,000 units. Of sensors with 
a curved shape we shipped 7,000 units, 
of which 96% were of an MPCT™ type 
(2018: 10,000, 99%). 

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

7

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW CONTINUED

The strategic 
sales and marketing 
initiatives during 2019 
and going forward 
in 2020 continue to 
be centred around 
advancing the organic 
growth potential of 
our touch interactive 
component solutions 
for self-service and 
commercial use, with 
a continued focus 
on large format, curved 
shaped and MPCT™ 
designs.

Sales continued
Gaming, which is predominantly 
casino-based upright cabinet designs, 
has continued to be our top revenue-
generating market, albeit with a marked 
reduction of £2.1m against the prior year 
to £6.4m (2018: £8.5m). In total 19,000 
touch units were produced, 56% being 
large format (2018: 23,000, 66%), and 
8,000 units being large MPCT™ designs, 
of which 7,000 units were curved 
(2018: 10,000, 10,000). The revenue 
and volume drop being related to two 
existing projects moving significantly 
towards end of life (“EOL”) which, 
combined, contributed to a reduction 
of £3.3m against the prior year, some of 
which was offset by a number of newer 
projects as they moved into production. 

Financial, which are ATM products, 
exhibited a slight decline in revenue 
of £0.2m to £6.2m (2018: £6.4m), but 
maintained its position as our second 
largest revenue-generating market. 
However, although exhibiting year-on-
year touch growth, the underlying ATM 
market and its supply chain continue to 
be eroded by the effects of the expansion 
of the cashless, mobile and digital 
banking society.

Vending remained our third market 
in terms of revenue at £4.0m (2018: £3.0m) 
and continued to be our second highest 
market in terms of touch units produced 
at 32,000 units (3,000 MPCT™; 2018: 
3,000), 4,000 units higher than the 
prior year. The year benefited from a 
completed project for a Spanish customer 
which supplied a new rail information 
and ticketing hardware system into 
Saudi Arabia.

Industrial revenue was £1.7m 
(2018: £1.9m), comprising applications 
for human machine interface (“HMI”) 
control panels and non-transactional 
kiosks. The volume of touch sensors sold 

decreased by 4,000 units to 20,000 units, 
of which 57% were small PCT™ format 
and 43% medium PCT™ (2018: 53%, 47%). 

Signage market revenue was 
£1.1m (2018: £1.2m), with product size 
and configuration mix having a large 
effect as we saw a near 50% reduction 
in the volume of units sold to 3,000 
units, of which 40% were of a large 
MPCT™ format (2018: 6,000, 17%). 

The other markets, which are 
predominantly small PCT™ format 
touch products and various niche 
display products, are open to much 
greater alternative supplier competitive 
pressures in total, saw a further decrease 
in revenue to £0.7m (2018: £1.3m), 
as touch units supplied for the long 
running cooktop project went EOL 
(2019: 0 units; 2018: 5,000). 

Strategic sales and 
marketing initiatives
The strategic sales and marketing 
initiatives during 2019 and going 
forward continue to be centred around 
advancing the organic growth potential 
of our touch interactive component 
solutions for self-service and commercial 
use, with a continued focus on large 
format, curved shapes and MPCT™ 
designs to provide our bespoke touch 
componentry to equipment designers 
and manufacturers across several markets, 
as detailed above, whilst increasing the 
volume and level of opportunities across 
all geographies. 

As a UK operating business with 90% of 
sales represented by exports, we employ 
a team of sales and business development 
managers located at our headquarters to 
manage EMEA, and similar in international 
locations to manage locally our major 
markets, being the USA, SE Asia 
and Japan. 

Sensor size

Small (≤14.9”)

Medium (15.0–29.9”)

Large (≥30.0”)

2019

Units
(’000)

30

79

15

Sales
(£m)

1.6

8.7

6.0

Units
(’000)

35

79

19

Sales
(£m)

1.7

8.5

7.2

2018

Variance

Units
(’000)

Sales
(£m)

(5)

—

(4)

(9)

(0.1)

0.2

(1.2)

(1.1)

Total

124

16.3

133

17.4

8

ZYTRONIC PLC

To advance the customer engagement 
process, we have also invested in a 
bespoke demonstration room within 
our development facility, to showcase 
our technical capabilities and 
advancements in several simulated 
real-world market uses.

Opportunities analysis
Due to the bespoke, long maturation 
and project based nature of our 
business, the creation, evaluation and 
monitoring of opportunities is critical to 
the ongoing business performance. 

The procedure for the analysis of 
opportunities within Zytronic has been 
well documented in prior years and we 
continue to utilise our tailored customer 
relationship management (“CRM”) 
system to manage their dynamically 
changing status from lead generation 
through “Enquiry”, “Prospect” and 
“Project” status to production with 
only the sensitised data of Projects 
incorporated into our active quarterly 
forecasting model. 

As at 30 September 2019, there were 
494 opportunities in the system with 
a projected value of £83m, 58 classified 
as Projects, and are expected to 
generate £13.4m of sales over their 
production cycle. This compares with 
data as at 30 September 2018 of 414, 
£65m, 41 and £8.0m respectively.

In support of the sales and marketing 
function, we have built a global network 
of channel partners, which we continually 
address for suitability based upon their 
performance, as well as local market 
preference and requirements. 
These partners are a combination 
of commissioned manufacturers’ 
representatives or agents, who aid 
our direct sales team, and value-added 
resellers (“VARs”), which buy and resell 
our products (indirect sales). The type 
and choice of channel partner varies by 
what is the right construct for each specific 
territory. The current composition of our 
global channel partners is presented on 
the ZDL website and can be found at 
https://zytronic.co.uk/where-to-buy/. 

During the year we changed our trade 
public relations company to one that 
was able to provide unified global 
coverage across the regions and 
market-specific areas in which we trade. 
Several new international case studies 
were also issued during the year, 
highlighting various applications of our 
technology, plus whitepapers, “thought 
leadership” articles and new technology 
advancements. These can be viewed 
online at https://zytronic.co.uk/about-us/.

We continue to see the benefits of directly 
participating in relevant market trade 
shows, primarily as regional networking 
opportunities with customers, suppliers 
and channel partners. In 2019, ZDL 
exhibited at several events: Global 
Gaming Exhibition, October 2018, USA; 
Integrated Systems Europe, February 
2019, Netherlands; and Digital Signage 
Exhibition, March 2019, USA. Additionally, 
our products were also well represented 
at numerous other regional tradeshows 
around the world by both our channel 
partners and our customers. 

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

9

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S REVIEW CONTINUED

Operations
Over the course of 2019, the productive 
labour headcount was steadily reduced 
to align with the demand cycles. The 
higher headcount at the beginning 
of the year was associated with the 
continuation of the Q4 yield issues 
reported last year. However, with the 
observed reductions in gaming, and 
expected reduction in the financial 
market, we have undertaken a further 
review of production staffing levels, 
which has resulted in a temporary 
reduction in headcount.

During the year, we have continued 
with our tailored apprenticeship scheme 
and with two former apprentices having 
successfully finalised their schemes and 
taking permanent roles within the 
business, we initiated schemes for a 
further two new apprentices. In total we 
have three active apprentice schemes 
running covering, technical, quality and 
maintenance roles. 

With regards to the Q4 2018 yield issues, 
significant work continued in the early 
part of the year to understand the issues 
observed and bring the yields of the 
affected processes back in line with 
expectations. This work was not fully 
concluded until November 2018. For the 
remainder of the year we have observed 
an average 34% yield improvement 
compared to the Q4 period, across the 
range of touch sensing products 
produced. 

Finally, I would like to conclude the review, 
by thanking all Zytronic employees, for 
their valued contribution to the business 
over the course of the reporting period 
and their continuing commitment.

Mark Cambridge
Chief Executive Officer
9 December 2019

Strategic research 
and development 
The research and development team has 
undertaken a number of activities during 
the course of the year, in particular one 
development relates to the use of our 
unique micro-fine filament system to not 
only provide our unique touch sensing 
capability, but also to provide invisible 
micro-tracks to allow for power and data 
transfer from mechanical devices such 
as buttons, and LED lighting features 
which appear unconnected and floating 
within the touch active and display 
viewable area. This work has resulted 
in a further UK patent application being 
made during the year. The casino 
cabinet market is showing interest in 
this type of technology as they look 
to further enhance the functionality 
experience and aesthetics of its video 
button deck player area.

Development continued with third party 
providers on the further evaluation of 
alternative materials and processes 
to our present micro-fine filament 
system as a sensing medium, particularly 
around the well-established solution 
of mixed metal oxide coatings as a 
conductive medium. To determine the 
potential of market acceptance of a ZDL 
derived product, a soft launch pack, 
incorporating datasheets and samples is 
being established and feedback sought 
from several of our channel partners.

Significant firmware development 
continued on the MPCT™ ASIC ZXY500 
series controllers to develop an enhanced 
functionality which will support on a single 
piece of glass an active multi-touch sensor 
area, in combination with a separate touch 
sensing fully functioning keyboard and 
configurable function keys, for industrial 
type HMI control panels. Demonstration 
systems have been provided to several 
of our channel partners.

The team has also worked closely 
with operations on the design and 
development of bespoke fourth 
industrial revolution (“4IR”) data 
acquisition systems, for integration 
on our filament dispensing and 2D 
writing equipment to measure and 
improve upon the overall equipment 
efficiencies of these devices.

10

ZYTRONIC PLC

Case study

Location:
Worldwide

Sector:
Vending

Fast charging stations 
for electric vehicles 
incorporate Zytronic 
touch technology

EV charging stations must be robust 
enough to work in any weather, all year 
round, and provide an easy to use, customer 
friendly interface. Circontrol’s e-mobility 
division manufactures a wide range of 
EV charging stations and, when evaluating 
options for its third-generation DC Raption 
50 quick chargers, it approached 
touchscreen specialist Iberhermes.

In partnership with Iberhermes, Zytronic 
designed a bespoke, printed touchscreen 
that incorporates UV and IR filters to aid 
thermal management of the charging 
terminal and to help protect the underlying 
display. To aid daylight readability of the 
display, Zytronic designed a custom printed 
anti-glare glass 8.5” ZYBRID® touch sensor, 
paired with a ZXY110 controller for its 
innovative EMI “noise” immunity technology 
and gestural functionality.

Read more at 
zytronic.co.uk/case-studies/
detail/circontrol_fast_
charging_stations/

OUR MARKETS

Operating globally

Key:

 Americas

 UK

 EMEA

 APAC

We sell all over the world, with 90% of our products 
sold in the year being exports. To facilitate this, we 
have a strong network of VARs, local sales and 
technical personnel in key territories and UK-based 
key account managers to support our EMEA region.

Americas

UK

EMEA

APAC

14% reduction in revenues to 
the Americas in 2019 mainly 
as a result of fewer sales into 
the financial market in 
that territory.

Sales to a large UK-based 
gaming customer reduced 
over the year as the project 
nears its natural completion.

Our biggest market over 2019 
with revenues exceeding last 
year by 16%, due to a new 
project with a Spanish 
customer commencing 
and concluding in the year.

Reduction in sales over the 
year due to lower volumes 
of sensors sold into the 
gaming market. 

Total revenue from 
invoiced sales to the 
Americas was 

£3.7m(2018: £4.3m)

which represented 21% 
of total export revenue 
(2018: 22%).

Total revenue from 
invoiced sales to UK 
customers was

£2.1m(2018: £2.8m)

The year-on-year decline 
was attributable to a large 
gaming project reaching the 
mature stage of its life cycle.

Total revenue from 
invoiced sales to the 
EMEA region was 

£7.8m(2018: £6.7m)

which represented 43% 
of total export revenue 
(2018: 35%).

Total revenue from 
invoiced sales to the 
APAC region was 

£6.5m(2018: £8.5m)

which represented 36% 
of total export revenue 
(2018: 43%). The largest 
revenue generator was still 
from sales into the gaming 
market for ultra-large format 
MPCT™ products.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

11

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTOUR BUSINESS MODEL

Competitive advantages 
stem from our technology

We are global leaders in providing touch solutions 
that are incredibly durable and exceptionally 
responsive. Our products are proven in the 
toughest environments and are trusted by 
major corporations around the globe.

OUR KEY RESOURCES AND RELATIONSHIPS

OUR MANUFACTURING CAPABILITIES

Proprietary PCT™ 
technology

Patented MPCT™ 
technology

1

new patent applied 
for in 2018–2019

8

patents granted 
in total

Our products

We know glass. Our in-house facilities include 
automated cutting, edge grinding, polishing and 
drilling machines, complemented by bending and 
thermal tempering ovens and screen printing 
equipment. Our dedicated and talented manufacturing 
team has decades of experience in glass processing 
and lamination.

Diverse product range

Since the turn of the century, Zytronic has 
concentrated on the development and marketing 
of its range of interactive touch sensor products 
based upon its unique projected capacitive 
technologies (PCT™ and MPCT™) to industrial, 
public access and self-service equipment designers 
and end-users, in market areas such as financial, 
retail, leisure, signage, industrial, medical, etc.

A diverse team of experts which continuously 
develops processes, materials and functionality in:

Design options

Zytronic’s PCT™ and MPCT™ products offer equipment 
designers and end-users a unique blend of high 
durability and environmental stability, in customer 
and application specific designs in a limitless 
variety of shapes, sizes, thicknesses, strengths, 
colours, etc., and capable of use in any location.

Location

The Group is headquartered and operates from 
three modern factories totalling 80,000 sq ft, 
which are all located on a single site in the UK.

Mechanical

Electronic

Software 

Firmware

In-house facilities:

ISO-approved quality 
and environmental 
systems 

Multi-lingual/
multi-national sales, 
customer service and 
technical support

12

ZYTRONIC PLC

Case study

Location:
Worldwide

Sector:
Gaming

Unique J-curved multi-touch technology

Aruze gaming Technologies wanted 
to create an unrivalled design for its 
flagship slot machine, the Muso Curve 
43. It is designed around a vertical 43” 
(110 cm) touch screen curved 
asymmetrically into a ‘J’ shape, with a 
more pronounced curve at the bottom. 
In addition to the shape of the main 
display, 500 candelas of luminous 
intensity ensures that it has an 
eye-catching brightness.

Zytronic’s patented and award-winning 
projected capacitive touch sensing 
technology (MPCT™) forms the primary 

interface between the Muso Curve 43 and 
the player. In addition to the company’s 
experience and technology, Zytronic 
brought its ability to provide a completely 
customised design in an extremely short 
space of time. With minimal tooling costs 
and no restriction on quantities, its flexible 
approach to manufacturing enabled the Aruze 
product development team to bring the new 
slot machine to market incredibly quickly.

Read more at 
zytronic.co.uk/case-studies/
detail/j-curved_touchsensor/

HOW WE ADD VALUE

RE-INVESTMENT

Customers

Employees

We have been honoured to 
work with dynamic and prestigious 
companies, which are global leaders 
in their respective fields. We do this 
by putting our customers’ needs 
at the forefront of our business. 

With well over half a century of 
glass processing and laminating 
experience, and over 17 years of 
experience developing our touch 
controllers, our employees are 
experts in their fields.

Shareholders

Partners

We continue to deliver value 
for our shareholders and have 
returned considerable dividends 
over the years.

We have an ever-expanding 
network of specialists, international 
representatives and resellers, all of 
which are dedicated to meeting 
the needs of our customers.

From “force sensing” to “object 
recognition” touch control firmware, 
or from curved to “explosion resistant” 
glass touchscreens, we constantly 
strive to be ahead of the trends, and 
bring our customers the most up-to-date 
advancements in touch technology. We 
do this by continually re-investing into 
the development of new technology, 
products and processes.

ROUTE TO MARKET

Direct presence

We have key account managers on the 
ground in the locations where we see 
the biggest growth opportunities. Our 
experienced personnel can react quicker 
to customers’ needs and ensure the 
Zytronic brand continues to be 
globally recognised.

Sales channel partnerships

We have 37 sales channel partnerships 
to sell our products around the world.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

13

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTOUR STRATEGY

Targeting growth application 
areas to create value

The Group’s strategy is to progress shareholder value 
through the further development of its touch technology 
product offerings, targeting growth application areas 
and expanding its global sales channel footprint.

INNOVATE

Case study

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

What we did in 2018/2019

 X We analysed the production of mixed metal oxide glass 
sensors and have recently targeted some customers 
for sampling.

 X We concluded our work within the H2020 Hi-Response 
consortium project which unfortunately did not reach 
a commercial outcome.

 X We further developed our unique micro-fine filament 

system to provide micro-tracks to allow for power and 
data transfer from mechanical devices such as buttons 
and LED lighting features. These appear “floating” 
and “unconnected” within the touch active and display 
viewable area. We have applied for a patent on this work.

Our priorities for 2019/2020

 X We are developing a unique interactive video wall 
solution with narrow border configuration and the 
ability to drag and drop multiple objects around the 
multiple sensors whilst maintaining continuous contact.

 X We have engaged with a product designer to evaluate 
if a mixed metal oxide glass laminate solution can be 
used as a transparent surface power supply for 
bespoke lighting and table design opportunities.

Link to KPIs
 Group revenue, gross profit margin, administration expenses, 
cash generated from operating activities and order intake 
over the year

Link to risks
Advances in competing technologies and cyber security risk

14

ZYTRONIC PLC

Location:
Australia

Sector: 
Signage

Ultra-slim Blade kiosk in 
Volkswagen showroom trials

Design to Production’s Blade double-sided display unit 
with interactive touch technology has been selected 
by Volkswagen for a 20-unit pilot trial in showrooms 
around Australia.

The Blade features an incredibly small footprint and slim 
silhouette, at just 40mm thick, yet with a generous 55” 
double-sided HD multi-touch display. The high-performance 
capacitive touchscreens are powered by the latest 
ZXY500™ projected capacitive touch controller. With the 
proprietary ASIC coupled with custom touch-detection 
algorithms, the touch sensors can be mounted almost 
directly in contact with the display surface, reducing 
parallax and enabling the super-slim form factor.

Read more at 
zytronic.co.uk/case-studies/
detail/ultra-slim-blade-kiosk-
volkswagen-showroom-trials/

GROW

Case study

We continue to seek opportunities to expand our sales 
channels and direct presence across the world and aim 
to establish representation in additional countries, for 
example Indonesia, and in the Middle East.

Location:
USA

Sector: 
Signage

What we did in 2018/2019

 X We have grown our opportunities log over the year 
from 414 open opportunities at 30 September 2018 
to 494 open opportunities at 30 September 2019. 

 X We have recruited two additional apprentices into 

the Group over the year.

Our priorities for 2019/2020

 X We will continue to identify new channel partner 

representation in countries where we have 
less coverage.

 X We will look to strengthen our R&D department by 
recruiting additional engineers with different skills 
and experience.

Link to KPIs
Group revenue, gross profit margin, administration expenses, 
cash generated from operating activities and order intake 
over the year

Link to risks
  Downward price pressures from competing technologies, 
reliance on key customers, increasing costs of raw material supplies, 
cyber security risk, managing increases in the overhead base, risks 
associated with currency movements, risks associated with timing 
of customer projects and price reductions and Brexit

Gizmo Bar introduces new tech 
repair concept

Gizmo Bar offers an exciting glimpse into the future of 
personal tech repair by combining the function of a tech 
repair facility with the inviting comfort of a plush lounge.

The 3,000 sq ft space is outfitted with interactive 
technology powered by Zytronic ZYBRID® multi-touch 
sensors and the ZXY500 touch controllers, delivering 
the perfect mix of durability and interactive responsiveness.

Gizmo Bar patrons can take a seat at the bar while their 
repairs are underway and enjoy a diverse selection of 
local craft brews. The bar itself is comprised of interactive 
touchscreens which enable guests to browse the web 
and catch up on work while they wait. A total of six 50” 
uniquely designed multi-touch touchscreens span the 
length of the bar, making it possible for twelve or more 
people to utilise the screens’ interactive capabilities 
simultaneously. For added convenience, patrons can use 
the touchscreens to order in food from local restaurants 
using popular dining delivery platforms such as 
UberEats, BiteSquad and Grubhub.

The most common repairs made at Gizmo Bar – such 
as phone and tablet screen replacement – can be done 
on site, usually within an hour. Staff are trained to repair 
not just phones and tablets, but drones as well.

Read more at 
zytronic.co.uk/case-studies/
detail/gizmo_bar/

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

15

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTOUR STRATEGY CONTINUED

INVEST

Case study

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. We invest in our employees to ensure we 
have the necessary calibre of people in the organisation.

What we did in 2018/2019

 X We invested in a new glass cutting table and profiling 
machine, the latter enabling us to offer additional 
product enhancements.

 X We committed to developing our production employees 
by enabling training courses for a number of people, 
upskilling them to a level three diploma in management.

Our priorities for 2019/2020

 X We will look to invest in a further bespoke laser soldering 

machine following the successful implementation of the first 
one, which has significantly improved scrap at the flexi-tail 
jointing stage of production. 

 X We are proposing a review of our websites to determine 

how we can strengthen our SEO rankings to attract further 
new customers.

Link to KPIs
Group revenue, gross profit margin, administration expenses, 
cash generated from operating activities, order intake over 
the year and recorded accidents

Link to risks
  Reliance on key customers, cyber security risk, risks associated 
with timing of customer projects and price reductions and Brexit

16

ZYTRONIC PLC

Location:
USA

Sector: 
Signage

Multi-touch technology delivers 
interactive creative experiences 
in new sensory room

A facility at Canopy Children’s Solutions, Mississippi’s 
most comprehensive provider of children’s behavioural 
health, educational and social service solutions, wanted 
to bring multi-touch interactivity into a new sensory 
room at Canopy’s Jackson, MS, facility. It serves a critical 
role at the facility and is instrumental in encouraging 
children to play freely as well as providing them with 
structured professional therapy.

When developing the Ucreate digital play panel, NunoErin, 
a Jackson, MS, based developer and manufacturer of 
wall-mounted and tabletop interactive solutions, opted 
for Zytronic’s high-performance, multi-touch projected 
capacitive technology. It is now one of the favoured 
elements of the room, sought out by youngsters who 
want to draw or play games, either by themselves or 
together with others.

The Ucreate wall panel is built on a 40” (100cm) 
industrial-grade interactive display, with interactivity 
powered by a Zytronic custom, printed multi-touch 
sensor. NunoErin’s Ucreate platform also includes a 
library of interactive games, painting and drawing apps, 
animated puzzles and open-ended collaborative 
experiences for creative social play, accessed through 
an attractive, engagingly designed touchscreen.

Read more at 
zytronic.co.uk/case-studies/detail/
multi-touch-technology-delivers-
interactive-creative-experiences-
in-new-sensory-room/

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Measuring our 
performance

Commentary on the actual performance of the Group 
against these KPIs is set out in the Chairman’s statement 
and the Chief Executive Officer’s and Financial reviews.

Key:

Innovate

Grow

Invest

Group revenue 
(£m)

-10%

Gross profit 
margin (%)

-9%

Administration  
expenses (£m)

-5%

15

16

17

18

19

21.3
21.1
22.9
22.3
20.1

15

16

17

18

19

41.9
42.8
41.1
37.0
33.7

15

16

17

18

19

4.1
4.4
3.6
3.6
3.5

Link to strategy

Link to strategy

Link to strategy

Definition

Definition

Definition

The total amount the Group earns 
from the sale of its products.

The gross amount of margin earned from 
the sale of the Group’s products.

The indirect costs incurred in running 
the Group.

Our performance

Our performance

Our performance

Timing issues from new customer product 
introduction have adversely impacted 
sales in the gaming market over the year.

The difference in mix of products sold 
has impacted margin over the year.

Year-on-year cost savings have arisen 
due to fewer legal fees as a result of 
the successful conclusion of the 
patent litigation.

Cash 
generated (£m)

-43%

Order intake 
(£m)

-13%

Recorded  
accidents

+9%

15

16

17

18

19

4.9
5.6
4.7
4.8
2.8

15

16

17

18

19

21.6
21.5
23.6
21.6
18.7

15

16

17

18

19

28
10
19
11
12

Link to strategy

Link to strategy

Link to strategy

Definition

Definition

Definition

Cashflow from operating activities 
adjusted for non-cash items.

Orders received during the financial year.

Total number of accidents recorded in the 
business over the year.

Our performance

Lower profits and an increase in working 
capital has impacted cash generated 
from operations.

Our performance

Year-on-year decline driven by timing 
issues impacting the gaming market.

Our performance

Increase in accidents occurring over the 
year, none of which were reportable 
to RIDDOR.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

17

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTRISK MANAGEMENT

Continually  
assessing risks

The Board regularly carries out a robust assessment of the 
principal risks facing the Group, including those that threaten 
the business model, strategy, future performance, solvency 
and liquidity. Principal risks have been identified based on the 
likelihood of occurrence and the severity of the impact on the 
Group, and have been identified through the application of 
policies and processes outlined below.

Managing our risks
The nature of the risk is reviewed including the possible 
triggering events and the aggregated impacts before setting 
appropriate mitigation strategies directed at the causes and 
consequences of each risk.

The risk is assessed in relation to the likelihood of occurrence 
and the potential impact of the risk upon the business and 
against a matrix scoring system which is then used to 
escalate risks within the Group.

Risk management structure
The responsibility for risk identification, analysis, evaluation 
and mitigation rests with the operational management team 
of the businesses and is regularly communicated to and 
reviewed by the Board. 

Board of Directors

Non-executive Directors

Audit  
committee

Remuneration 
committee

The operational management team is also responsible 
for reporting and monitoring key risks in accordance with 
established processes under the Group operational policies. 
Reporting within the Group is structured so that key issues 
can be escalated rapidly through the management team 
to the Board where appropriate.

H
G
H

I

T
C
A
P
M

I

W
O
L

Risk heat map 

1.    Downward price pressures 

from competing technologies

2.  Reliance on key customers

3.   Advances in competing 

technologies

4.   Increasing costs of raw 

material supplies

5.   Cyber security risk

6.   Managing increases 
in the overhead base

7. 

 Risks associated with 
currency movements

8.   Risks associated with timing 

of customer projects

9.   Brexit

18

ZYTRONIC PLC

 4

 3

 8

 6

 7

 2

 1

 5

 9

LOW

LIKELIHOOD

HIGH

RISK DESCRIPTION

MITIGATING ACTIONS

Downward price pressures from competing technologies

POTENTIAL 
FINANCIAL 
IMPACT

CHANGE

This is most prevalent in the 
lower valued touch sensor sector 
dominated by resistive, capacitive 
and surface acoustic wave 
touchscreens. However, price 
pressures in those markets do 
have a knock-on effect on prices 
throughout the industry.

Management has successfully met these challenges to date by 
re-designing and re-engineering the ZYTOUCH® touch sensor 
and in developing the ZYPOS® touch sensor. This has 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. 

Over the prior year the Group introduced its new MPCT™ 
ASIC and family of controllers under the ZXY500 series and, 
in conjunction, new FPC tail designs and sensor configurations 
were also introduced. These provided industry leading narrow 
border considerations, which had been configured based on 
years of customer feedback and market desire. 

During the year the Group has been developing its own mixed 
metal oxide coating as a conductive medium solution to enable 
it to offer an alternative to its micro-fine filament sensing system, 
which will allow it to compete with other solution providers at 
a different price point.

Reliance on key customers

At present the Group gets 49% 
of its revenue from three key 
customers. The risk to the Group 
is the loss of one or more of these 
customers with revenues not being 
replaced by others.

The nature of the business often means that when a customer 
is brought into the Group they stay loyal for a long period due 
to the lengthy engagement process from initial discussion 
to the raising of the purchase order. It is also difficult for a 
customer to design out the product once it has been chosen to 
be incorporated into their product offering. Zytronic’s record 
of excellent customer service pre and post product sale is a 
big factor in maintaining the strong relationship that occurs 
with most of its customers. These factors help mitigate the 
risk of losing key customers and should protect the Group 
against any changes to trade agreements in regards to a “no 
deal” Brexit outcome. The Group constantly seeks new and 
increasing opportunities to replace and add to revenue when 
existing projects naturally come to their conclusion. The Group 
constantly strives to have a diversified customer base with multiple 
projects over different time periods occurring at any one time.

This remains a high 
profile area which is why 
the Group continues to 
advance and develop 
its product offering to 
enable it to continue 
to be a market leader.

Whilst still a high risk, 
the Group can often have 
numerous projects with 
any particular customer 
which helps to reduce 
the overall reliance.

Advances in competing technologies

A 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. In order to protect itself the Group has 
applied for and had patents successfully granted. Another patent 
application has been initiated during the year and the Group has 
eight patents granted in total.

The Group is always 
looking to develop its 
product offerings and 
to protect itself from its 
competition through its 
internally generated 
intellectual property.

Impact and change key:

Link to strategy key:

Unchanged

Major

Innovate

Adverse

Moderate

Improved

Minor

Grow

Invest

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

19

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

RISK DESCRIPTION

MITIGATING ACTIONS

Increasing costs of raw material supplies

POTENTIAL 
FINANCIAL 
IMPACT

CHANGE

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

Cyber security risk

The risk to the Group is that of 
unauthorised access to or external 
disclosure of Group information, 
including those caused by 
“cyber attacks”.

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 their manufacture. 
Where possible, it uses increases in volume purchases to 
obtain price reductions, discounts and improved specifications.

Management has implemented technical and procedural 
controls to minimise the occurrence of information and financial 
security and data protection breaches. Access to information is 
only provided on a “need-to-know” and “least privilege” basis 
consistent with the user’s role and also requires the appropriate 
authorisation. Where sensitive data is made available to third 
parties it is done under confidentially agreements.

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.

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 that is supported by 
a CRM system to monitor potential future sales levels. It has built 
in a degree of flexibility in its two main factories by ensuring 
that all products can be processed across its two buildings to 
continue to meet variable demand. Management continues 
to consider the space requirements in its buildings should 
increased raw materials need to be held to mitigate against any 
possible changes to customs clearance procedures when Brexit 
occurs or new manufacturing processes are added.

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.

Natural hedging is adopted to manage currency risk, whereby 
goods and services are sometimes sourced in Euros and US 
Dollars. Surplus currency is then protected through the use of 
forward foreign exchange contracts for a period of up to four 
months ahead in line with the working capital cycle.

Risks associated with timing of customer projects and price reductions

One of the main risks to the 
business is that of the timing 
of customer projects, where as a 
component supplier the Group 
is wholly reactive to its customer 
demands. The Group has to also 
consider the impact of customer 
price reduction requests.

The demands of the Group’s customers are not something that 
can be controlled, so in order to mitigate this risk the Group 
constantly strives to have a diversified customer base with 
multiple projects over different time periods occurring at 
any one time. A project log, via the CRM system, is regularly 
reviewed to ensure that up-to-date information regarding 
pipeline projects is captured. The Group considers any price 
reduction requests from its customers and tries to offset this 
with product redesigns.

20

ZYTRONIC PLC

No change to the risk 
but management is 
continually reviewing the 
supply arrangement 
particularly around the 
possible implications 
of Brexit.

No change to the risk 
but management 
continues to take 
appropriate action 
to minimise any 
potential threat.

Management does not 
consider a change to 
this risk but is constantly 
monitoring and reviewing 
the processes it has in 
place to determine 
their applicability.

The Group sees this as a 
moderate risk due to the 
protection mechanisms 
in place, but will be 
impacted by any 
movements in currency. 

This risk remains 
unchanged but 
management continually 
tries to identify new 
customers and markets 
to further mitigate 
against this in the future.

   
 
RISK DESCRIPTION

MITIGATING ACTIONS

Brexit

POTENTIAL 
FINANCIAL 
IMPACT

CHANGE

The result of the EU referendum in 2016 increased the level of macroeconomic uncertainty for the Group and the Group has since then 
continued to consider the impact of what could be a “no deal” scenario. The Directors believe that the Group’s unique positioning as a niche 
player in a global market with a diverse revenue base means it is well placed to minimise any negative impacts. However, some of the risk 
areas are considered as follows:

Customs delays in importing and 
exporting goods into the UK, 
delaying raw materials in and 
finished goods out to customers.

Fluctuating exchange rates which 
in turn could impact cashflows.

Delayed payments from customers 
subject to working capital stresses.

The Group is a big importer and exporter of goods into and 
out of the country. There is a risk that goods inward could be 
impacted by delays at borders, meaning raw materials are 
delayed going into production. The Group has assessed its 
space requirements to ensure it can hold higher levels of raw 
material stock should it need to. The Group also has sufficient 
cash resources to enable it to do this.

At present, 39% of the Group’s sales go into the EU and over 
90% of these sales are made on an ex-works basis where the 
customer is responsible for the delivery. This is a mitigating 
factor as our obligation to the customer in terms of delivery 
is when the goods are made available for collection.

The Group has also considered applying for the Authorised 
Economic Operator (“AEO”) status but, given that the majority 
of its EU sales are on an ex-works basis, it would have no 
control over who its customers choose to use as carriers 
and therefore could not guarantee that AEO status for those 
shipments could be maintained. 

The Group transacts in three currencies: Pounds, US Dollars 
and Euros, and adopts natural hedging where possible to 
mitigate against exchange rate movements. A weakened 
Pound as a result of a “no deal” scenario would likely have a 
positive impact on the Group due to the high levels of exports. 
The Group also has sufficient cash resources to protect against 
any short term volatility.

The Group has very good credit control policies and, while this 
may impact internal working capital in the short term, it has 
sufficient cash resources to mitigate against this. The Group 
also regularly reviews customer’s credit arrangements to 
ensure they are reflective of the business needs.

No change to the risk 
but management 
continues to keep 
abreast of any 
developments.

The risk remains 
unchanged as the 
ongoing Brexit 
discussions continue.

Management does not 
consider a change to this 
risk and continues to 
monitor as appropriate.

Impact and change key:

Link to strategy key:

Unchanged

Major

Innovate

Adverse

Moderate

Improved

Minor

Grow

Invest

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

21

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
SUSTAINABILITY

People are at the heart 
of our business

We have three core values which serve as the guidelines for 
our conduct as an organisation and for the behaviour of 
our employees.

1. INTEGRITY

2. QUALITY

Building relationships of mutual respect with colleagues, customers, 
suppliers, advisers and investors, ensuring that we conduct ourselves 
at all times in an open, honest and ethical manner.

Providing customer satisfaction through the continual improvement 
of our products and processes and the capabilities of our employees, 
through innovation, development and training.

3. PERFORMANCE

Driving towards profitable growth and increasing shareholder 
value through the balance of short term demands and long 
term strategies.

Environmental
At Zytronic we are committed to working towards a 
cleaner and greener future for all.

We endeavour to comply with all relevant environmental 
legislation and regulation. It is our goal to attain higher 
standards of environmental performance where practical 
and appropriate.

We are fully compliant with BSI Environmental Management 
System ISO 14001:2015 and have regular external audits to 
support this.

Training
Employee training and development is one of the key 
factors to our success. Comprehensive training programmes 
allow us to advance workplace safety, productivity and 
satisfaction, as well as creating an informed and inspired 
workforce which can contribute to the advancement of 
our touch technology. We regularly review this across all 
departments to ensure that we continue to meet the needs 
of the Group and also to assist in succession planning. Over 
the year, training commenced for some production 
personnel to obtain a Level three Diploma in Management.

Recycling
We promote environmental awareness throughout the 
Group and have introduced a number of activities which 
include the recycling of paper, cardboard, plastics, cans, 
bottles, metals, etc. Since introducing these recycling 
activities, Zytronic has reduced pollution into the 
environment by diverting 95% of its waste away from 
landfill with the remaining 5% being used as RDF fuel.

22

ZYTRONIC PLC

Diversity
We pride ourselves on our diversity. Varying characteristics 
of our employees include, but are not limited to: religious 
and political beliefs, gender, ethnicity, education, 
socio-economic background, sexual orientation and 
geographic location.

Health and safety
We are committed to meeting the highest safety standards 
for all the employees and visitors to our site. We have a 
dedicated health and safety committee which meets on a 
regular basis over the year and reports back to the Board 
of Directors. We continue to reinforce and develop the 
safety processes in the business and develop a competent 
workforce with a view to achieving long term improvement 
gains. During the year, the Board of Directors of ZDL 
undertook training and obtained certification in IOSH 
Safety for Executives and Directors.

Apprenticeships
We are committed to training and have embarked on  
an apprenticeship scheme to train our engineers of  
the future. We believe this will help to mitigate against 
a possible longer term skills gap and encourage more 
apprentices to join the Group.

Zytronic has reduced pollution into the environment 
by diverting 95% of its waste away from landfill with 
the remaining 5% being used as RDF fuel.

Zytronic apprenticeship scheme 
Zytronic is engaged with a local apprenticeship training 
scheme TDR Training, an approved training provider based 
in North East England which provides apprenticeships 
in Engineering and Manufacturing at Level 3, amongst 
other apprenticeships. 

Zytronic currently employs three apprentices to serve as a 
multi-skilled Maintenance Technician, a Production Technician 
and a Quality Technician, all of which are at different stages in 
their training. Previously, there were two other apprentices, 
both of whom have successfully completed their training and 
are now full-time employees within the Group. 

The Group has identified the benefits of recruiting through an 
apprenticeship scheme and will be looking to maintain this 
where necessary in the future.

Employee engagement
We strive to create the right conditions for all members 
of our organisation to give their best, be committed to 
our goals and values, and be motivated to contribute  
to the organisational success, with an enhanced sense 
of wellbeing. We ensure we communicate with our 
employees on a regular basis and we consider their 
feedback and knowledge when making changes to our 
processes. We have a good mix of long serving employees 
and newer recruits which brings a good perspective when 
it comes to business development. When recruiting new 
or replacement personnel we ensure we enhance upon 
the skills and expertise already in place.

Customer engagement
Our workstreams are project orientated and we therefore 
rely heavily on customer engagement and feedback on 
delivering exceptional products tailored exactly to our 
customers’ requirements. We do not sell one standard 
product and therefore our relationships with our customers 
pre and post-sale are essential to the future business 
development. We continue to advise and support our 
customers following a sale in order to assist with the 
integration of our sensors into their final products. 
We often provide troubleshooting advice on areas that 
are not related to our core business to assist the customer 
and maintain our reputation of providing excellent customer 
service. Other than delivering exceptional quality, it is 
because of this engagement and level of support that 
our customers come back to us for new and innovative 
future projects.

Supplier engagement
We have very good relationships with our suppliers and we 
work in conjunction with them to ensure our raw materials 
are delivered to our exact specification in the quantities in 
which we require at the times we require them. As a Group 
whose USP is the quality and durability of its products we 
must ensure the components of our product meet the 
requirements of ourselves and our customers. We also 
liaise with our suppliers on the development of new 
materials to ensure the relationships continue to strengthen. 
We do not engage with suppliers that do not abide with the 
Modern Slavery Act guidance and we do not buy conflict 
materials. We also prohibit the use of child labour in our 
supply chain.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

23

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTFINANCIAL REVIEW

The Group remains 
debt free

The Group remains debt free and had 
cash and cash equivalents of £13.1m at 
30 September 2019 (2018: £14.6m). 

Group revenue
Total Group revenue for the year 
decreased by £2.2m to £20.1m 
(2018: £22.3m), due to a reduction 
in revenues from both the touch and 
traditional non-touch elements of the 
business. The Operational review 
explains in detail the reasons for this, 
with the performance in the gaming 
market, where a long running project is 
coming to the end of its life and the new 
projects in the pipeline not commencing 
in sufficient time to compensate, 
affecting margin. 

Gross margin
The reported gross margin for the 
year ended 30 September 2019 was 
33.7% (2018: 37.0%). The reduction is 
a result of the change in the mix of 
sensors sold over the year with 4,000 
less units of the larger format sensors 
being invoiced compared to that in 2018 
and thereby adversely impacting margin.

Group trading profit
With reduced levels of revenue and the 
gross margin reduction noted above, 
Group trading profit decreased to £3.0m 
(2018: £4.1m). However, distribution 
costs show a year-on-year saving of 
£0.1m due to the lower volume of sales 
into the gaming market, in which the 
Group was responsible for the costs of 
carriage. Administration costs also show 
a year-on-year saving of £0.2m due to 
lower professional fees incurred (£0.4m 
saving), which impacted the previous 

year due to the litigation claim being 
successfully defended. Some of this 
saving was offset in increased salary and 
other overseas support costs. Net finance 
income also increased over 2019 giving 
profit before tax of £3.1m (2018: £4.2m).

Tax
The Group continues to benefit from 
the many reliefs available to it and the 
reported tax charge of £0.4m represents 
an effective tax rate of 12.0% for the 
year, compared to the £0.5m and 13.0% 
recorded in the prior year. In the year, 
the Group claimed relief under the 
Patent Box regime and utilised the R&D 
tax credits allowance, which has been 
beneficial in lowering the effective rate 
of tax payable. 

Earnings per share
The issued share capital of 
16,044,041 ordinary shares of 1.0p 
has remained constant over the year 
and the associated EPS recorded is 
16.8p, which is lower than that reported 
for last year (2018: 22.7p) by 26%. 
The recorded decline arises wholly 
due to lower profits over 2019. 

Dividend
During the year the Group paid a final 
dividend for 2018 of 15.2p per share and 
a 2019 interim dividend of 7.6p per share 
totalling £3.7m of cash (2018: £3.7m). 
The Directors have assessed the position 
of the Group’s cash balances and reserves 
and are recommending the payment of 

a final dividend of 15.2p per share for the 
year ended 30 September 2019 giving 
a total dividend for the year of 22.8p 
per share (2018: 22.8p). Subject to 
approval by shareholders, the dividend 
will be paid on Friday 7 February 2020 
to shareholders on the register as at the 
close of business on Friday 10 January 
2020. Although the dividend is uncovered 
this year, the Directors think it is an 
appropriate consideration, whilst the 
ongoing review of the Group’s 
operations, cash balances, reserves, 
future trading and dividend policy 
position is undertaken.

Capital expenditure
Spend on capital expenditure over the 
year totalled £0.6m (2018: £0.7m) and 
was weighted considerably to tangible 
assets at £0.5m (2018: £0.3m). Items 
added in the year included a new glass 
storage racking system, a new glass 
cutting table and a replacement glass 
profiling machine which in combination 
cost £0.3m, the latter giving the benefit 
of additional functionality to enhance 
product offerings. Further small items 
of equipment were also added as 
necessary, to either replace dilapidated 
equipment, improve process efficiencies 
or on the grounds of health and safety 
improvements. Intangible spend was 
lower than in previous years at £0.1m 
(2018: £0.4m) with more of the cost 
being expensed through the statement 
of comprehensive income. Depreciation 
and amortisation for the year was similar 
to last year at £1.2m (2018: £1.1m).

24

ZYTRONIC PLC

Cash and debt
The Group continues to turn profit into 
cash despite the increase in working 
capital over last year which arose due 
to several reasons. Inventory levels 
remained constant year on year, but 
the Group saw an increase in debtors of 
£0.4m at the end of September due to 
accepting a one-off different payment 
request from one of its customers for 
a large project. This debt has now been 
settled in full. Creditors decreased over 
the year due to a reduction in accruals 
required and trade balances being 
settled. Net cashflow used in investing 
and financing activities remained the 
same as the previous year at £0.6m and 
£3.7m respectively. The Group continues 
to assess its level of cash holdings and 
will continue its policy to invest in 
internal R&D and capital refurbishments 
to drive growth and to pay a return to 
its shareholders.

The Group maintains an overdraft 
facility, which is available for use in any 
of its three currencies. The Group also 
has an FX policy in place whereby it is 
hedged in both US Dollars and Euros 
for a period of four months ahead to 
correspond with its working capital 
policies and currency requirements. 

The Group remains debt free and had 
cash and cash equivalents of £13.1m at 
30 September 2019 (2018: £14.6m). 

Claire Smith
Group Finance Director
9 December 2019

Case study

Location:
Hong Kong

Sector: 
Signage

Interactive touch technology 
helps patients take control of 
health and wellbeing

LifeHub’s interactive touchscreen required some 
advanced technology, with a large screen to allow 
patients to make selections by simply touching the 
screen but, when not in use, the screen acts as a large 
impressive mirror – rather than “just” a blank screen.

With its experience, technology and flexibility regarding 
low-volume custom solutions, Zytronic was the natural 
provider of choice. In fact, Zytronic was probably the 
only choice as few companies were able to handle the 
size and no other company would consider a custom 
production for just two units.

The solution was a 55” multi-touch screen that mounts 
on the wall in LifeHub’s reception area, with a second unit 
elsewhere in the practice. A 700cd/m2 high brightness LCD 
display panel was mounted behind the mirrored surface; the 
specially mirrored glass becomes reflective when the display 
is unpowered or showing a dark screen, but still allows 
enough light to transmit through when content is displayed.

Read more at 
zytronic.co.uk/case-studies/
detail/lifehub/

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

25

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTBOARD OF DIRECTORS

About our  
leadership team

The Board brings a balance of relevant backgrounds 
and experience to their discussions.

Tudor Griffith Davies
Non-executive Chairman 
A R

Mark Cambridge
Chief Executive

Claire Smith
Group Finance Director

Experience and skills
Tudor has wide industry 
experience at boardroom level 
as Chairman, Chief Executive 
and Executive and Non-executive 
Director of several public 
companies. He is currently 
Chairman of Assetco plc and was 
formerly Chairman and/or Chief 
Executive of Hicking Pentecost plc, 
Stratagem plc, Dowding & Mills 
Ltd and 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.

Experience and skills
Claire graduated in 2000 
in Business and Finance and 
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 trading 
subsidiary, Zytronic Displays 
Limited, and Finance Director 
of Zytronic plc in January 2014. 
Claire is also the Group Company 
Secretary and advises the Group 
on its regulatory and legal matters. 

Experience and skills
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 on 21 January 2008 was 
promoted to Chief Executive.

David John Buffham
Independent Non-executive 
Director 
A R

Experience and skills
David has held a number of 
Non-executive Director positions. 
Until earlier this year David 
was a Director of William Leech 
(Investments Ltd), where he 
additionally sat on the investment 
committee and served as a trustee 
of the William Leech Foundation. 
He was also a Non-executive 
Director of Newcastle Building 
Society and sat on the Society’s 
board risk committee, which he 
chaired for eight years until 2018. 
He has corporate governance 
experience in his roles as the 
Society’s Senior Independent 
Director and Deputy Chairman. 
He also has remuneration 
and nominations committee 
experience, sitting on both 
of these for the Society. Until 
2010 David worked for the 
Bank of England, most recently 
as the Bank’s regional agent for 
the North East for nine years. 
During his time with the Bank, 
David covered a wide range of 
areas, including risk management, 
macroeconomic policy and 
treasury operations.

Board composition

Board meetings

Key:

Number of  
Directors

J50+
100+

2
Executive  
Non-executive   2

Number of  
meetings in 2019

4

4

Attendance 
100%

26

ZYTRONIC PLC

A   Member of audit committee
R   Member of 

remuneration committee

  Committee Chairman

All of the Directors served 
throughout the financial year and 
up until the date of signing these 
financial statements. 

50
+
J
 
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Achieving high standards of 
corporate governance

As an AIM-listed company, and in line with the London Stock Exchange’s 
changes to the AIM rules requiring all AIM-listed companies to adopt and 
comply with a recognised corporate governance code, the Board has adopted 
the Quoted Companies Alliance (“QCA”) Corporate Governance Code.

Tudor Davies
Chairman

This Corporate governance statement, 
together with the information provided 
below and in the Audit committee report, 
explains how Zytronic’s governance 
framework works and how it applies the 
principles of business integrity, high 
ethical values and professionalism in all 
its activities. As a Board, we recognise 
that we are accountable to shareholders 
for good corporate governance, and we 
seek to promote consistently high 
standards of governance throughout the 
Group that are recognised and 
understood by all. The Group promotes 
this culture within its strategy and 
management of risks and is continually 
analysing this, from information 
provided by the executive management 
team, to ensure compliance.

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 David Buffham, the Independent 
Non-executive Director, were 
members of the Board. 

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

The Directors’ qualifications are listed on 
page 26. They keep their skills relevant 
and up to date by continuous 
professional development, attending 
seminars and reading financial and trade 
publications. Mark Cambridge is also a 
Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

The Board met four times over the year. 
Its direct responsibilities include reviewing 
annual and quarterly forecasts, 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, the 
Chief Executive, the Group Finance 
Director and the Non-executive Director. 

Role

Responsibilities

The Chairman

 X leadership of the Board and ensuring open and effective communication between the Executive 

and Non-executive Directors; and

 X ensuring Board meetings are effective by setting appropriate and relevant agenda items, creating an atmosphere 

whereby all Directors are engaged and free to enter healthy and constructive debate.

The Chief  
Executive

 X day-to-day management of the Group’s business and implementation of the Board-approved strategy;

 X acting as Chairman of the Executive committee and leading the senior management team in devising 

and reviewing Group development for consideration by the Board;

The Non-executive 
Director

The Company 
Secretary

 X responsibility for the operations and results of the Group; and

 X promoting the Group’s culture and standards.

 X constructively challenging management proposals and providing advice in line with their respective skills 

and experience;

 X helping develop proposals on strategy; and

 X having an integral role in succession planning.

 X responsible for advising the Board on all governance matters; and

 X ensuring that good information flows within the Board and its committees, and between senior management 
and the Non-executive Director, as well as facilitating induction processes and assisting with professional 
development as required.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

27

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTCORPORATE GOVERNANCE CONTINUED

The workings of the Board 
and its committees continued
The Board continued
The Chairman and the Non-executive 
Director have a particular responsibility 
to ensure that the strategies proposed 
by the Executive Directors are 
fully considered.

The Board members acknowledge that 
they have a collective responsibility and 
legal obligation to promote the interests 
of the Group and are collectively 
responsible for defining corporate 
governance arrangements. However, 
the Chairman acknowledges that the 
ultimate responsibility for the quality of, 
and approach to, corporate governance 
lies with him.

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 Group’s expense. This 
has not been requested during the year.

The standing committees established 
by the Board are the remuneration 
committee and the 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 
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 page 26.

Audit committee
The Audit committee report and 
information is disclosed on page 30.

Remuneration committee
The Remuneration report and 
information is disclosed on pages 31 
and 32.

Board effectiveness 
The Board does not have a formal Board 
effectiveness process but the Chairman 
believes the Board has performed 
effectively over the year. The key 
strategic issues and risks have been 
discussed in an open and honest forum 
with decisions being made based on 
the factual data presented. Each Board 
member has a particular area of 
expertise and has utilised this to provide 
insightful comment and contribution to 
the business demands of the Group. 
The Group is mindful of succession 
planning and has discussions on this 
matter. The Board feels it has a good 
balance of skills and expertise; however, 
all members are regularly challenged 
and assessed at the Board meetings. 

Relations with shareholders
Communication with shareholders is 
given high priority. There is regular 
dialogue with major and/or institutional 
shareholders, including presentations 
after the Group’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 Group’s Nomad produces a 
feedback report from those meetings 
which is made available to all Directors. 
The Executive Directors also report 
to the Board on any meetings with 
shareholders or institutional investors 
that may take place at other times of 
the year.

The Board uses both the annual report 
and financial statements and the Annual 
General Meeting to communicate 
directly with private and institutional 
investors and welcomes their 
participation. The Chairman aims to 
ensure that the Chairman of the audit 
and remuneration committees is 
available at the Annual General Meeting 
to answer questions. 

Details of resolutions to be proposed 
at the Annual General Meeting on 
4 February 2020 can be found in the 
Notice of Annual General Meeting on 
pages 67 and 68.

In addition, the Independent Non-
executive Director is available to 
shareholders if they have any concerns 
which contact through the normal 
channels of the Chairman, the 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 
has adopted the QCA Code and follows 
its guidance. The Directors set out below 
and overleaf some of the key aspects of 
the Group’s internal control procedures.

28

ZYTRONIC PLC

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.

After making enquiries, the Directors 
have a reasonable expectation that 
the Group has 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.

An ongoing process, in accordance with 
the guidance of the Turnbull Committee 
on internal control, has been established 
for identifying, evaluating and managing 
the significant risks faced by the Group.

The process has been in place for the 
full year under review and up to the date 
of approval of the annual report and 
financial statements. The Board regularly 
reviews this process as part of its review 
of such risks within Board meetings. 
Where any weaknesses are identified, 
an action plan is prepared to address 
the issues and is then implemented.

The Board has overall responsibility for 
the Group and there is a formal schedule 
of matters specifically reserved for 
decision by the Board.

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

Each year the Board approves the 
annual budget. Key risk areas are 
identified, reviewed and monitored. 
Performance is monitored against 
budget, relevant action is taken 
throughout the year and quarterly 
rolling forecasts are prepared to capture 
more accurate and up-to-date information. 
The reports reviewed by the Board 
include reports on operational as well 
as financial matters.

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 Group has a whistle-blowing policy 
and procedures to encourage staff to 
contact the Chairman if they need to 
raise matters of concern 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 also described 
within the Financial review section of 
the Strategic report. In addition, note 19 
to the financial statements includes the 
Group’s objectives and policies of its 
financial risk management and details 
of its financial instruments and hedging 
activities and its exposure to credit risk 
and liquidity risk.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

29

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTAUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The audit committee comprises the 
Non-executive Director, David Buffham 
(Chairman) and Tudor Davies, the 
Non-executive Chairman. The Board 
considers that the members 
collectively have the balance of skills 
and experience required to discharge 
their duties effectively.

The audit committee is responsible for 
reviewing a wide range of matters, 
including the half-year and annual 
financial statements, 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 the external auditor and on its 
remuneration both for audit and 
non-audit work, and discusses the 
nature, scope and results of the 
audit with the auditor. 

The audit committee keeps under review 
the cost effectiveness of the auditor. It 
also reviews the extent of the non-audit 
services provided by the auditor and 
reviews with it its 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 committee meets officially twice a 
year, once to review the audit planning 
document and once to review the annual 
financial statements and has direct 
access to Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”), the 
Group’s external auditor, at any point 
during the year. The committee extends 
its invitation to attend the audit 
committee meetings to the Executive 
Directors, once the reviews of the annual 
audit process have been concluded. Any 
issues arising from these papers can be 
communicated to the Group’s auditor 
either by the audit committee Chairman 
or the Group Finance Director.

Audit committee meetings

Attendance 
100%

Number of  
meetings in 2019

100+

2

30

ZYTRONIC PLC

The number of meetings of the 
committee, and the attendance of 
members, is shown below.

The following key areas of risk and 
judgement have been identified and 
considered in relation to the business 
activities and financial statements of 
the Group:

Risk of fraud in revenue 
recognition and cut-off
Under ISA (UK and Ireland) 240 there is 
a presumed risk that revenue may be 
misstated due to improper recognition 
of revenue. The Group has varying 
incoterms (e.g. EXW, DAP, CPT and 
DDP) and supplier and vendor managed 
inventory arrangements in place for key 
customers which management considers 
increases the risk around performance 
conditions being incorrectly applied, 
resulting in the incorrect cut-off of 
revenue at the year end. The audit focus 
was around the overstatement of 
revenue through incorrect cut-off, and 
management override, where there are 
manual adjustments posted to revenue. 
The committee concurred with the 
management and auditor’s assessment 
that revenue has been recognised in 
accordance with the requirements of the 
accounting standard IFRS 15 and that 
there are no cut-off errors or indicators 
of fraudulent reporting.

Capitalisation of development 
expenditure
Product development is critical to 
the Group to maintain and advance 
its product offering to its customers. 
The Group capitalises development 
expenditure on ongoing and new 
projects in the year, which can be of 
considerable expense and open to 
management judgement. The audit 
findings have concluded that the costs 
of development have been appropriately 
considered under the accounting 
standard IAS 38. The committee has 
concurred with this outcome following 
its own review of the papers presented.

The Group’s management and auditor 
confirmed to the audit committee that 
they were not aware of any material 
misstatements in the reported financial 
statements. Having reviewed the reports 
received from management and the 

auditor, the committee is satisfied that 
the key areas of risk and judgement have 
been appropriately addressed in the 
financial statements and that the 
significant assumptions used in 
determining the value of assets and 
liabilities have been properly appraised 
and are sufficiently robust.

Response to key audit matters
The committee considers that EY has 
carried out its duties as the auditor in 
a diligent and professional manner. 
As part of the review of auditor 
independence, EY has confirmed that 
it is independent of the Group and has 
complied with applicable auditing 
standards. EY has held office as the 
auditor for 19 years; in accordance with 
professional guidelines, the engagement 
partner is rotated after five years at 
most and the current partner is in their 
first year of the engagement. In assessing 
the auditor’s effectiveness, the committee: 

 X challenged the work undertaken by 
the auditor to test management’s 
assumptions and estimates in the 
key risk areas; 

 X reviewed reports received from the 
auditor on these and other matters;

 X received and considered feedback 

from management; and

 X held private meetings with the auditor 

that provided the opportunity for 
open dialogue and feedback between 
the committee and the auditor 
without management being present. 

In addition, the Chairman of the 
committee has the ability to discuss by 
telephone and in person with the audit 
lead partner outside the formal 
committee process throughout the year. 

Having completed its review, the audit 
committee is satisfied that EY remained 
effective and independent in carrying 
out its responsibilities up to the date of 
signing this report.

After careful consideration of the advice 
of the audit committee, the Board has 
concluded that the 2019 annual report is 
fair, balanced and understandable and 
provides the necessary information for 
the Group’s shareholders to assess the 
Group’s risks, performance, business 
model and strategy. 

J
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 
(audited)
Emoluments of the Directors for the 
year ended 30 September 2019 are 
shown in the table overleaf.

Pension contributions (audited)
During the year, the Group made annual 
pension contributions for Mark Cambridge 
and Claire Smith, Executive Directors, 
to a group 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

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

12

8

20

12

8

20

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 the Directors of its 
trading subsidiary, Zytronic Displays 
Limited. The committee is composed of 
the Independent Non-executive Director, 
David Buffham, as its Chairman, and the 
Group’s Chairman, Tudor Davies. In 
determining remuneration for the year, 
the committee has given full consideration 
to the requirements of the UK Corporate 
Governance Code.

The number of meetings of the 
committee, and the attendance of 
members, is shown below.

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

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

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

 X 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 health insurance and 
contributions to a group personal 
pension scheme. Details of emoluments 
for the Directors of Zytronic plc are set 
out on page 32.

Annual bonus
In 2019, the remuneration committee 
implemented an annual bonus plan 
linked to corporate performance targets, 
being the achievement of certain profit 
before tax (“PBT”) measures.

A maximum bonus of 25% of base salary 
for both the Chief Executive and the 
Group Finance Director will be payable 
if these targets are met.

For the financial year 2019 there are 
no bonus payments 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.

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.

Remuneration committee meetings

Number of  
meetings in 2019

100+

1

Attendance 
100%

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

31

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTJ
REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Directors’ shareholdings (audited)
Beneficial interests of the Directors in the shares of the Company, including those of their immediate families, are shown below:
30 September 2018

30 September 2019

Mark Cambridge

Tudor Davies

Claire Smith

David Buffham

Number

92,458

90,909

42,381

18,500

%

0.58

0.57

0.26

0.12

Number

92,458

90,909

42,381

18,500

%

0.58

0.57

0.26

0.12

There has been no change in Directors’ shareholdings since 30 September 2019.

Directors’ emoluments for the year ended 30 September 2019 (audited)

Salary
£’000

Fees
£’000

Benefits
£’000

Total

emoluments *

2019
£’000

Total
emoluments*
2018
£’000

Non-executive Chairman

Tudor Davies

Executive

Mark Cambridge

Claire Smith

Non-executive

Sir David Chapman, Bt.**

David Buffham

—

155

94

—

—

249

81

—

—

—

36

117

—

2

1

—

—

3

81

157

95

—

36

369

78

152

97

46

31

404

*  Excluding pension contributions.

**  Sir David Chapman, Bt. retired from the Board on 21 September 2018.

Share price during the year
During the year to 30 September 2019, the highest share price was 447.5p and the lowest share price was 197.5p. The market 
price of the shares at 30 September 2019 was 215.0p.

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.

32

ZYTRONIC PLC

 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT

The Directors present their annual 
report and financial statements for 
the year ended 30 September 2019.

The Group has chosen to, in accordance 
with Section 414c(ii) of the Companies 
Act 2006, set out in the Strategic report 
the following, which the Directors 
believe to be of strategic importance:

 X review of the business; and

 X financial risk management policy/
principal risks and uncertainties.

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 2019/20 are 
disclosed in the Strategic report on 
pages 14 to 16.

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 
90% 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. The 
employment of Taiwanese and Japanese 
nationals in the APAC region has also 
increased the Group’s presence in that 
region. Management continues to look 
for and engage with suitable appointees 
to expand the Group’s network 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 and to consider any acquisition 
possibilities. The Financial review 
includes a paragraph discussing the 
cashflows which occurred in the year 
ended 30 September 2019 and the 
overall net funds position.

No changes were made to these 
objectives, policies or processes 
during the years ended 30 September 
2018 and 2019.

Research and development
Over the course of the year the Group 
has been active in a number of projects, 
the main one being related to the use of 
its unique micro-fine filament system 
which not only provides its unique touch 
sensing capability, but to also provide 
invisible micro-tracks to allow for power 
and data transfer from mechanical 
devices such as buttons, and LED 
lighting features which appear 
unconnected and floating within the 
touch active and display viewable area. 

Further details on the Group’s R&D 
activities are included in the Chief 
Executive Officer’s review section 
of the Strategic report.

Results and dividends
The consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income is set out 
on page 40. The Group profit after tax 
amounted to £2.7m (2018: £3.6m). The 
Directors propose the payment of a final 
dividend of 15.2p per share (2018: 15.2p). 
Following the dividend of 7.6p per share 
paid in July 2019, this will bring the total 
dividend for the year to 22.8p per 
share (2018: 22.8p). 

Directors
The Directors of the Company are 
shown on page 26. 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 and Parent 
Company financial statements 
and annual report
The Directors are responsible for 
preparing the annual report and the 
Group and Parent Company 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 and Parent 
Company financial statements unless 
they are satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view of the state of affairs of the 
Group and Parent Company and of the 
profit or loss of the Group and Parent 
Company for that period. In preparing 
those financial statements the Directors 
are required to:

 X present fairly the financial position, 

financial performance and cashflows 
of the Group and Parent Company;

 X select suitable accounting policies in 
accordance with IAS 8 Accounting 
Policies, Changes in Accounting 
Estimates and Errors and then apply 
them consistently;

 X present information, including 

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

 X make judgements that are reasonable; 

 X provide additional disclosures when 

compliance with the specific 
requirements of 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 and Parent Company’s 
financial position and financial 
performance; and

 X state whether the Group and Parent 
Company 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.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

33

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTAnnual General Meeting 
(“AGM”)
The AGM will be held at the office 
of Zytronic plc on 4 February 2020 
at 9.30 am. The Notice of Meeting 
accompanies this annual report and is 
also available on the Group’s website at 
www.zytronicplc.com. Four resolutions 
will be proposed as special business. 

The Directors consider that all the 
resolutions to be proposed at the AGM 
are in the best interests of the Group 
and it is their recommendation that 
shareholders support these proposals as 
they intend to do so in respect of their 
own holdings.

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

On behalf of the Board

Claire Smith
Company Secretary
9 December 2019

Registration number
03881244

DIRECTORS’ REPORT CONTINUED

Statement of Directors’ 
responsibilities in relation 
to the Group and Parent 
Company financial statements 
and annual report continued
The Directors are responsible for 
keeping adequate accounting records 
that are sufficient to show and explain 
the Group’s and Parent Company’s 
transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the Group and 
Parent Company and enable them 
to ensure that the Group and Parent 
Company financial statements comply 
with the Companies Act 2006. They 
are also responsible for safeguarding 
the assets of the Group and Parent 
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.

Disclosure of information to 
the auditor
The Directors who were members of 
the Board at the time of approving the 
Directors’ report are listed on page 26. 
Having made enquiries of fellow 
Directors and of the Company’s auditor, 
each of these Directors confirms that:

 X to the best of each Director’s 

knowledge and belief, there is no 
information (that is, information 
needed by the Company’s auditor in 
connection with preparing its report) 
of which the Company’s auditor is 
unaware; and

 X 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 auditor 
is aware of that information.

34

ZYTRONIC PLC

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ZYTRONIC PLC

Opinion
In our opinion:

 X Zytronic plc’s Group financial statements and Parent Company financial statements (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 2019 and of the Group’s 
profit for the year then ended;

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

 X the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally 

Accepted Accounting Practice; and

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

We have audited the financial statements of Zytronic plc which comprise:

Group

Parent Company

Consolidated statement of financial position 
as at 30 September 2019

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for 
the year then ended

Statement of financial position as at 30 September 2019

Statement of changes in equity for the year then ended

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year 
then ended

Related notes 1 to 9 to the financial statements including 
a summary of significant accounting policies

Consolidated statement of cashflows for the year then ended

Related notes 1 to 24 to the financial statements, including 
a summary of significant accounting policies

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, including FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework” (United Kingdom Generally 
Accepted Accounting Practice).

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. 
Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial 
statements section of our report below. We are independent of the Group and Parent Company in accordance with the ethical 
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as 
applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

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

Conclusions relating to going concern
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

 X the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

 X the Directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant 
doubt about the Group’s or the Parent Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for 
a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Overview of our audit approach
Key audit matters

 X Inappropriate measurement and recognition of revenue

 X Inappropriate capitalisation of development costs

Audit scope

 X We performed an audit of the complete financial information of Zytronic plc and 

Zytronic Displays Limited and audit procedures on specific balances for Zytronic Inc.

 X Zytronic Displays Limited and Zytronic Inc. contributed 98% (2018: 98%) of the Group’s 
profit before tax, 100% (2018: 100%) of the Group’s revenue and 99% (2018: 99%) of the 
Group’s total assets

Materiality

 X Overall Group materiality of £153,000 (2018: £225,000) which represents 5% (2018: 5%) 

of profit before tax

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

35

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED
TO THE MEMBERS OF ZYTRONIC PLC

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not 
due to fraud) that we identified. These matters included those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the 
allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the 
context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate 
opinion on these matters.

Key observations communicated 
to the audit committee 

Based on the procedures performed, we 
did not identify any evidence of material 
misstatement in the revenue recognised 
in the year ended 30 September 2019.

We conclude that revenue has been 
recognised in accordance with the 
requirements of IFRS 15.

Risk

Our response to the risk

Inappropriate measurement and 
recognition of revenue

(Revenue – 2019: £20.1m; 2018: £22.3m) 

Refer to the Audit committee report 
(page 30); accounting policies (page 
48); and note 2 of the consolidated 
financial statements (page 49)

Revenue can only be recognised at the 
point where Zytronic has fulfilled all of its 
obligations and has therefore earned the 
right to consideration. 

The timing of when revenue is 
recognised is relevant to the Group 
performance. There are a variety of 
customer arrangements in place at 
30 September 2019, which have different 
points when the performance obligation 
has been satisfied with the customer.

There is opportunity through management 
override or error to overstate revenue by 
recognising revenue ahead of fulfilment 
of performance obligations to the customer 
and/or misstate allocation of revenue 
between periods. The timing of revenue 
recognition, including around year end, 
is a significant focus for the audit.

We performed a walkthrough of the 
revenue process and assessed the design 
effectiveness of key controls.

We have gained an understanding of 
trading terms and conditions with key 
customers, in accordance with the 
requirements of IFRS 15. We have 
tested the application of these terms 
through our sample testing. 

We have performed analytical procedures 
on significant revenue accounts, by 
understanding movements in revenue 
balances for the year compared to the 
prior year and obtained explanations from 
management where there are significant 
variances. In addition, we reviewed 
revenue by customer to activity in the 
prior year to understand revenue trends 
and movements.

We tested revenue using data analytic 
techniques focusing our detailed testing 
on unexpected trends and outliers. We 
confirmed our understanding of the 
revenue transaction flow, by testing a 
sample of 25 transactions, which were 
agreed to invoice and cash recovery. 
Where there were differences, these were 
explained as exchange rate differences, 
which we verified through our testing.

To address the risk of management override 
in revenue, we examined a sample of manual 
journal entries that were posted to revenue 
accounts. These manual adjustments which 
impact revenue, including the credit note 
provisions, were substantively tested. 

We performed tests on sales transactions 
posted near to the year end to ensure that 
cut-off is correctly applied. In addition, 
we extended the cut-off procedures, by 
testing key items selected (covering 
August and September 2019 invoices) 
in the trade receivables cash after date 
testing to dispatch records and for 
vendor/supplier managed inventory, 
third party documentation, and agreed 
that revenue has been recognised ahead 
of year end.

36

ZYTRONIC PLC

Key observations communicated 
to the audit committee 

Based on our procedures, the accounting 
for research and development costs is 
in accordance with the requirements of 
IAS 38 Intangible Assets.

Key audit matters continued

Risk

Our response to the risk

Inappropriate capitalisation 
of development costs

(NBV of development expenditure 
– 2019: £0.8m, 2018: £1.1m)

(Capitalised in year – 2019: £0.1m, 
2018: £0.3m)

Refer to the Audit committee report 
(page 30); accounting policies (page 
47); and note 9 of the consolidated 
financial statements (page 52)

Zytronic capitalises development 
expenditure on ongoing and new projects 
in the year. The costs include internal 
labour incurred on projects which either 
are currently income generating or will 
become so in the future. 

Under IAS 38 Intangible Assets, labour 
costs can only be capitalised when the 
product is viable and the associated costs 
are developmental in nature, rather than 
research. There is a risk that costs are 
capitalised during the research phase, 
rather than expensed to the statement 
of comprehensive income, resulting in 
overstatement of profit and the amounts 
capitalised within the statement of 
financial position.

We have assessed the appropriateness 
of development cost capitalisation during 
our audit to assess whether costs are 
being capitalised in accordance with 
IAS 38 Intangible Assets. 

Development costs capitalised in the 
year amount to £130,000, predominantly 
relating to internal salary costs. We 
substantively tested significant projects 
agreeing external costs to supporting 
invoices, and agreed amounts recorded 
in respect of internal time, to supporting 
payroll records to assess whether 
capitalised costs meet the requirements 
of IAS 38 Intangible Assets.

We have corroborated management’s 
assessment of the appropriateness 
of development costs capitalised on 
significant projects by reviewing the 
status of key projects, understanding 
where the technology is being used within 
the production process and confirming 
that there is customer demand and sales 
for the product. We have corroborated 
this to our substantive testing of revenue 
and inventory. 

Key audit matters
In the prior year, our Auditor’s report included a key audit matter in relation to risk of management override of controls in 
relation to expense accruals and provisions. In the current year, we have refined the risk of management override to manual 
adjustments to revenue, as stated above. We consider the accruals and provisions within Zytronic to be largely routine and 
non-judgemental, and the risk of management override is considered to be low.

An overview of the scope of our audit
Tailoring the scope
Our assessment of audit risk, our evaluation of materiality and our allocation of performance materiality determine our audit 
scope for each entity within the Group. Taken together, this enables us to form an opinion on the consolidated financial 
statements. We take into account size, risk profile, the organisation of the Group and effectiveness of Group-wide controls, 
changes in the business environment and other factors such as recent internal audit results when assessing the level of work 
to be performed at each entity.

We performed an audit of the complete financial information of Zytronic plc and the two components, Zytronic Displays 
Limited and Zytronic Inc. Zytronic Displays Limited is a full scope component; audit procedures were performed on these 
directly by the Group audit team. Zytronic Inc. is review scope. 

For the current year, Zytronic Displays Limited and Zytronic Inc. contributed 98% (2018: 98%) of the Group’s profit before tax, 
100% (2018: 100%) of the Group’s revenue and 99% (2018: 99%) of the Group’s total assets. We have performed a full scope 
audit on Zytronic Displays Limited, testing significant balances to an assigned performance materiality of £115,000, which is 
lower than the statutory materiality. We have performed review scope procedures on Zytronic Inc., in accordance with an 
assigned performance materiality of £11,000.

Involvement with component teams 
In establishing our overall approach to the Group audit, we determined the type of work that needed to be undertaken at each 
of the components by us, as the primary audit engagement team. 

All audit work performed for the purposes of the audit of Zytronic plc, Zytronic Displays Limited and Zytronic Inc. was 
undertaken by the Group audit team.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

37

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTINDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED
TO THE MEMBERS OF ZYTRONIC PLC

Our application of materiality 
We apply the concept of materiality in planning and performing the audit, in evaluating the effect of identified misstatements 
on the audit and in forming our audit opinion. 

Materiality
The magnitude of an omission or misstatement that, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to influence 
the economic decisions of the users of the financial statements. Materiality provides a basis for determining the nature and 
extent of our audit procedures.

We determined materiality for the Group to be £153,000 (2018: £225,000), which is 5% (2018: 5%) of profit before tax. We believe that 
profit before tax provides us with the most relevant performance measure, consistent with that to the stakeholders of the Group. 

We determined materiality for the Parent Company to be £501,000 (2018: £483,000), which is 2% (2018: 2%) of equity. 

During the course of our audit, we reassessed initial materiality and changed the final materiality from original assessment at 
planning, to reflect lower profitability for the year.

Performance materiality
The application of materiality at the individual account or balance level. It is set at an amount to reduce to an appropriately low 
level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceeds materiality.

On the basis of our risk assessments, together with our assessment of the Group’s overall control environment, our judgement 
was that performance materiality was 75% (2018: 75%) of our planning materiality, namely £115,000 (2018: £168,000). We have set 
performance materiality at this percentage which reflects our expectation of the level of audit differences based on the prior year. 

Audit work at component locations for the purpose of obtaining audit coverage over significant financial statement accounts is 
undertaken based on a percentage of total performance materiality. The performance materiality set for each component is based 
on the relative scale and risk of the component to the Group as a whole and our assessment of the risk of misstatement at that 
component. In the current year, the performance materiality allocated to Zytronic Displays Limited was £115,000 (2018: £168,000) 
and represents 100% of Group performance materiality due to this component being the trading entity of the Group. The 
performance materiality allocated to Zytronic Inc. was a review threshold of £11,000 (2018: £16,000) due to the limited 
transactions within this Company.

Reporting threshold
An amount below which identified misstatements are considered as being clearly trivial.

We agreed with the audit committee that we would report to them all uncorrected audit differences in excess of £7,650 
(2018: £11,000), which is set at 5% of planning materiality, as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, 
warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. 

We evaluate any uncorrected misstatements against both the quantitative measures of materiality discussed above and in light 
of other relevant qualitative considerations in forming our opinion.

Other information 
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our 
auditor’s report thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other information. 

Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly 
stated in this report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in 
the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material 
misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material 
misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of the other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

 X the information given in the Strategic report and the Directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements 

are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and 

 X the Strategic report and Directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

38

ZYTRONIC PLC

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the Parent Company and its environment obtained in the 
course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic report or the Directors’ report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to 
report to you if, in our opinion:

 X 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

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

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

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

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement set out on pages 33 and 34, the Directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal 
control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group and Parent Company’s ability to 
continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of 
accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no 
realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance 
is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a 
material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or 
in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these 
financial statements. 

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

Use of our report 
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 auditor’s 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. 

Mark Morritt
(Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Ernst & Young LLP
Statutory Auditor
Newcastle upon Tyne
9 December 2019

Notes:

1.   The maintenance and integrity of the Zytronic plc website is the responsibility of the Directors; the work carried out by the auditor does not 
involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditor accepts 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 2019

39

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

Group revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Distribution costs

Administration expenses

Group trading profit

Finance costs

Finance revenue

Profit before tax

Tax expense

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

All activities are from continuing operations.

Notes

2

3

5(a)

5(b)

6

8

8

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

20,104

22,288

(13,311)

(14,047)

6,793

(350)

8,241

(461)

(3,462)

(3,639)

2,981

4,141

—

76

3,057

(366)

2,691 

—

2,691

16.8p

16.8p

(21)

68

4,188

(541)

3,647

—

3,647

22.7p

22.7p

40

ZYTRONIC PLC

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

At 1 October 2017

Profit for the year

Dividends

At 1 October 2018

Profit for the year

Dividends

Called
up share
capital
 £’000

160

—

—

Share
premium
£’000

8,994

—

—

160

8,994

—

—

—

—

Retained
earnings
£’000

17,622

3,647

Total
£’000

26,776

3,647

(3,658)

(3,658)

17,611

2,691

26,765

2,691

(3,658)

(3,658)

At 30 September 2019

160

8,994

16,644

25,798

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

41

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

Assets

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and short term deposits

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Derivative financial liabilities

Accruals

Tax liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Government grants

Deferred tax liabilities (net)

Total liabilities

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Equity share capital

Share premium

Retained earnings

Total equity

Notes

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

14

16

18

20

20

1,299

6,385

7,684

3,034

4,127

13,143

20,304

27,988

962

21

499

192

1,585

6,605

8,190

3,021

3,738

14,626

21,385

29,575

1,446

7

767

13

1,674

2,233

—

516

516

15

562

577

2,190

2,810

25,798

26,765

160

8,994

16,644

25,798

160

8,994

17,611

26,765

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

Mark Cambridge  
Chief Executive 
9 December 2019

Claire Smith
Group Finance Director

Zytronic Group plc: Registered number 03881244

42

ZYTRONIC PLC

 
CONSOLIDATED CASHFLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

Operating activities

Profit before tax

Net finance income

Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment

Amortisation, impairment and write-off of intangible assets

Amortisation of government grant

Fair value movement on foreign exchange forward contracts

Working capital adjustments

Increase in inventories

Increase in trade and other receivables

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables and provisions

Cash generated from operations

Tax paid

Net cashflow from operating activities

Investing activities

Interest received

Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment

Payments to acquire intangible assets

Net cashflow used in investing activities

Financing activities

Interest paid

Dividends paid to equity shareholders of the Parent

Net cashflow used in financing activities

(Decrease)/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

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

3,057

4,188

(76)

726

430

(15)

14

(13)

(389)

(742)

2,992

(238)

2,754

71

(506)

(144)

(579)

(47)

709

438

(10)

61

(25)

(232)

295

5,377

(573)

4,804

65

(273)

(390)

(598)

—

(21)

(3,658)

(3,658)

(3,658)

(3,679)

(1,483)

14,626

13,143

527

14,099

14,626

13

13

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

43

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

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 2019 were authorised 
for issue by the Board of Directors on 9 December 2019 and the statement of financial position was signed on behalf of the Board 
by Mark Cambridge and Claire Smith. Zytronic plc is a public limited company, limited by shares, incorporated, domiciled and 
registered in England and Wales (company registration number 03881244). The Company’s ordinary shares are traded on AIM. 
The address of the registered office is Whiteley Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne NE21 5NJ.

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) Adoption of new and revised standards 
During the year the Group has applied the following accounting standards that are mandatorily effective for an accounting 
period that begins on or after 1 January 2018. The adoption of these standards has had no impact on the amounts reported 
in the financial statements. There was also no impact on the consolidated statement of other comprehensive income or the 
consolidated cashflow statement.

 X IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

 X IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

 X IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advanced Consideration

 X Annual Improvements to IFRSs: 2014–2016 Cycle – IFRS 1 and IAS 28 Amendments

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments
The Group has adopted IFRS 9 Financial Instruments which is mandatory for years commencing on or after 1 January 2018. 
The Group has confirmed that the new classification requirements have not had an impact on its accounting for financial assets 
and financial liabilities that are managed on a fair value basis. At the end of both reporting periods the Group only had a small 
financial liability recognised.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
In May 2014, the IASB issued IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers. This standard applies to annual reporting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 and has been endorsed by the EU. This standard replaces IAS 18 Revenue. 
The Group has adopted IFRS 15 in these financial statements. The scope of IFRS 15 includes all orders where the Group has 
agreed to provide goods or services to a customer, except for the following:

 X financial instruments (IAS 39/IFRS 9); and

 X leases (IAS 17).

IFRS 15 establishes principles for determining when and how revenue arising from contracts with customers should be 
recognised. Zytronic should recognise revenue when it transfers goods or services to a customer based on the amount of 
consideration to which it expects to be entitled from a customer in exchange for fulfilling its performance obligations. 

During the year, the Group has undertaken a review of all income streams against the requirements of IFRS 15. Management 
has undertaken an assessment of all revenue streams across the business using the five-step approach specified by IFRS 15:

 X identify the contract/order(s) with the customer; 

 X identify the performance obligations in the contract; 

 X determine the transaction price; 

 X allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract/order; and

 X recognise revenue when (or as) a performance obligation is satisfied. 

In determining the appropriate method of recognising revenue, management is required to make judgements as to whether 
performance obligations are satisfied over a period of time or at a point in time. Zytronic has no performance obligations that 
are satisfied over a period of time and therefore recognises revenue at a point in time. 

Sale of finished goods product
Sales of finished goods product to customers are recognised when control of the product has transferred to the third party. 
This is usually when title passes to the customer, either on shipment or on receipt of goods depending on the delivery terms 
of the customer order. The performance obligation is satisfied when control has passed to the customer. The transaction price 
is specified in confirmation of the customer order. This treatment has not changed following the adoption of IFRS 15.

Sale of vendor managed inventory
Zytronic supports two of its customers by holding inventory in third party locations near to the customer’s production facility. 
Revenue is recognised when the goods have been moved out of the location by the customer and a purchase order has been 
provided or if a maximum stock holding period has arisen. The performance obligation is satisfied when control has passed to 
the customer or the stock holding period reached. There is an immaterial impact on revenue following the adoption of IFRS 15.

44

ZYTRONIC PLC

1. Accounting policies continued
(b) Adoption of new and revised standards continued
IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers continued
Sale of vendor managed inventory continued
The management review of the IFRS 15 five-step approach concluded that there are no material contracts/orders which would 
require different treatment under IFRS 15 versus IAS 18 Revenue in the financial year.

IFRIC 22 Foreign Currency Transactions and Advanced Consideration
This amendment clarifies the accounting for transactions that include the receipt or payment of advance consideration in a 
foreign currency. The Group has noted the requirements of this new amendment and confirms that all foreign currency transactions 
or parts of transactions which are received in advance are recorded at the date of the transaction. For the purpose of determining 
the exchange rate, this is the date of initial recognition of the non-monetary prepayment asset or deferred income liability. 
Where there are a number of payments or receipts in advance, the date of transaction will be established for each payment 
or receipt.

(c) New standards issued but not yet effective
IFRS 16 Leases
IFRS 16 Leases has an effective date for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. The standard replaces IAS 17 
and establishes principles for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of leases. 

IFRS 16 eliminates the classification of leases as either operating leases or finance leases and introduces a single lessee 
accounting model. Lessees will recognise a right-of-use asset and a corresponding financial liability on the statement of 
financial position. The asset will be amortised over the length of the lease and the financial liability measured at amortised cost. 
Lessor accounting remains substantially the same as under IAS 17. This will result in a change in the costs in the statement of 
comprehensive income over the life of the lease as depreciation and interest charges will replace the lease costs currently 
charged. The depreciation will be charged on a straight-line basis; however, interest is charged on the outstanding lease 
liabilities and will therefore be higher in the earlier years and decrease over time. 

The Group will adopt the modified approach to transition where the initial asset values will be equal to the present value of 
the future lease payments as at the date of transition. This will result in all existing operating leases being capitalised over their 
remaining lives, should they fall into scope, as if they had just been entered into, and the Group accounts will reflect an elevated 
interest charge following adoption. The cumulative effect of initially applying it is recognised as an adjustment to the opening 
balance of retained earnings and comparatives are not restated. 

The implementation is not expected to materially impact the Group accounts as at 1 October 2019. The Group is to apply 
practical expedients available for low value and short-life assets on transition to IFRS 16. 

The Group does, however, have an intercompany lease between the Parent Company and the trading subsidiary. This is 
eliminated upon consolidation in the Group accounts. 

(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 amounts, 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.

Development costs
Development costs are capitalised in accordance with the accounting policy given overleaf. 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 and there is commercial interest in the product. Management applies 
judgement in determining that its development costs are development but as the nature of its development is progression 
from existing products it is comfortable in this judgement. Management applies judgement in the review of costs capitalised 
to determine whether any impairment should be recognised. Management also applies judgement in its impairment of its 
development costs and assesses this on a regular basis to ensure that any costs still capitalised continue to be commercially 
viable. As the development of products is progressive and there are still sales of legacy products, management is comfortable 
with this judgement.

(e) Key sources of estimation uncertainty
There are no key sources of estimation uncertainty at the statement of financial position date.

(f) 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.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

45

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT1. Accounting policies continued
(f) Basis of consolidation and goodwill continued
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.

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 the statement of 
comprehensive income.

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.

(g) Foreign currencies
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the Group’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 statement of financial position date. All differences are taken to the statement of comprehensive income. 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. The Group enters into forward exchange contracts for up to four months ahead to manage its foreign 
exchange risk. Refer to note 19.

(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

40 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 statement of comprehensive income 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 statement of comprehensive income in those expense categories consistent with the function of the impaired asset.

(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 statement of comprehensive income 
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 (between ten and 17 years)

three to ten years

four years

Capitalised development expenditure in relation to electronics and software is usually amortised over a period of up to five years 
as the shelf life of such technology is shorter. Hardware development is usually amortised over a period of up to ten years.

46

ZYTRONIC PLC

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1. Accounting policies continued
(i) Intangible assets continued
Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, such as goodwill, are tested for impairment annually and are 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 costs 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 three to ten years.

(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  

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) Financial instruments
A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity 
instrument of another entity. The Group’s financial assets include trade receivables and cash and cash equivalents.

(m) Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are recognised and carried at their original amount less expected credit losses.

(n) Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and short term deposits in the statement of financial position 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 statement of financial position 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.

The Group’s financial liabilities include trade and other payables and derivative financial instruments. The derivative financial 
instruments are measured at fair value through the statement of comprehensive income. The Group uses derivative financial 
instruments, such as forward currency contracts, interest rate swaps and forward commodity contracts, to hedge its foreign 
currency risks, interest rate risks and commodity price risks, respectively. Such derivative financial instruments are initially 
recognised at fair value on the date on which a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at fair value. 
Derivatives are carried as financial assets when the fair value is positive and as financial liabilities when the fair value is negative.

Fair value measurement of financial instruments
The Group remeasures its derivatives at fair value at each statement of financial position date and for disclosure purposes 
estimates the fair value of its remaining financial instruments. 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 is 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.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

47

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
1. Accounting policies continued
(o) 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 statement of comprehensive income 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.

(p) 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 or 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 
statement of comprehensive income.

(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 statement of comprehensive income as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

(r) Revenue recognition
Revenue from the sale of goods under IAS 18 is recognised when the transfer of control of the goods has 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.

The adoption of IFRS 15 has been documented with section 1b.

(s) 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 statement of 
comprehensive income over the life of the projects to which they relate.

(t) Leases
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis over the 
period of the lease. Operating lease income is credited to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis over 
the duration of the related contracts.

(u) Tax
Current tax
Current tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the tax authorities. 
The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting 
date in the countries where the Group operates and generates taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions 
taken in the tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulations are subject to interpretation and 
establishes provisions where appropriate.

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:

 X 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;

 X 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

 X deferred tax 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 statement of financial position date.

48

ZYTRONIC PLC

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019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 Chief Operating Decision Maker 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 2019

30 September 2018

Sale of goods – Americas (excluding USA)

– USA

– EMEA (excluding UK and Hungary)

– Hungary

– UK

– APAC (excluding South Korea)

– South Korea

Touch
£’000

300

3,152

5,735

1,718

1,609

1,883

4,327

Non-touch
£’000

23

257

223

172

455

174

76

18,724

1,380

Touch
£’000

541

3,449

4,224

1,602

2,119

2,652

5,531

20,118

Non-touch
£’000

39

302

396

473

667

239

54

2,170

Total revenue 

  20,104

  22,288

Individual revenues from three major customers exceeded 10% of total revenue for the year. The total amount of revenue was 
£9.7m (2018: £10.8m).

The individual revenues from each of these three customers were: £3.8m (2018: £5.0m); £2.4m (2018: £3.0m); and £3.5m 
(2018: £2.8m).

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

R&D costs

Amortisation and impairment of development expenditure

Auditor’s remuneration – in respect of audit services*

– in respect of taxation compliance services

– in respect of taxation advisory services

Depreciation of owned assets

Amortisation of software 

Amortisation, impairment and write-off of licences

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense including:

– the net movement in the stock provision

Operating lease rentals – minimum lease payments

Amortisation of capital grants

Net foreign currency contract differences

Net foreign currency revaluation differences

*  £14,000 of this relates to the Company (2018: £13,000).

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

454

385

839

69

1

8

726

6

26

359

348

707

63

1

10

709

17

73

7,037

7,835

64

17

(15)

15

—

13

17

(10)

36

(79)

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

49

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT4. Staff costs and Directors’ emoluments

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other pension costs

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

5,348

5,408

476

191

493

174

6,015

6,075

There are no charges for share-based payments included in wages and salaries.

The total of Directors’ emoluments is £369,000 (2018: £404,000). The aggregate value of contributions paid to money 
purchase pension schemes includes £20,000 (2018: £20,000) in respect of two Directors (2018: two).

Amounts paid to the highest paid Director are £157,000 (2018: £152,000) plus a contribution paid to the money purchase 
pension scheme of £12,000 (2018: £12,000).

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

Production

Administration and sales

30 September
2019
Number

30 September
2018
Number

143

43

186

149

46

195

The information required by AIM rule Schedule 5 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and 
Reports) Regulations 2009 is contained in the Remuneration report under Directors’ emoluments, pension contributions, 
Directors’ shareholdings and Directors’ share options.

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

Interest payable

Bank overdrafts

(b) Finance revenue

Interest receivable

Bank interest receivable

6. Tax

Current tax

UK corporation tax

Tax due on foreign subsidiary 

Corporation tax over-provided in prior years

Total current tax charge

Deferred tax

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Total deferred tax credit*

Tax charge in the statement of comprehensive income

*  Note 18.

50

ZYTRONIC PLC

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

—

21

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

76

68

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

420

2

(10)

412

(46)

(46)

366

621

—

(35)

586

(45)

(45)

541

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 20196. Tax continued
Reconciliation of the total tax charge
The effective tax rate of the tax expense in the statement of comprehensive income for the year is 12% (2018: 13.0%) compared 
with the average rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19% (2018: 19%). The differences are reconciled below:

Accounting profit before tax

Accounting profit multiplied by the average UK rate of corporation tax of 19% (2018: 19%)

Effects of:

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Depreciation in respect of non-qualifying items

Enhanced tax reliefs – R&D

Enhanced tax reliefs – Patent Box

Effect of deferred tax rate reduction and difference in tax rates 

Tax over-provided in prior years

Tax due on foreign subsidiary

Total tax expense reported in the statement of comprehensive income

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

3,057

581

4,188

796

1

22

(147)

(70)

(13)

(10)

2

366

8

24

(169)

(79)

(4)

(35)

—

541

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

There are no tax losses to carry forward at 30 September 2019 (2018: £Nil).

The main rate of corporation tax in the UK reduced to 19% with effect from 1 April 2017. The rate will be reduced to 17% from 
1 April 2020. Both of these lower rates have been substantively enacted by the statement of financial position date. As the 
majority of the temporary differences will reverse when the rate is 17%, this rate has been applied to the deferred tax assets 
and liabilities arising at the statement of financial position date.

The Patent Box regime allows companies to apply a rate of corporation tax of 10% to profits earned from patented inventions 
and similar intellectual property. Zytronic generates such profits from the sale of products incorporating patented components. 
The Group has determined that all relevant criteria have been satisfied for bringing income within the regime. Consequently, 
Patent Box claims have been made for the 2014 to 2018 accounting periods, and the 2019 benefit has been estimated.

7. Dividends
The Directors propose the payment of a final dividend of 15.2p per share (2018: 15.2p), payable on 7 February 2020 to 
shareholders on the Register of Members on 10 January 2020. This dividend has not been accrued in these financial 
statements. The dividend payment will amount to some £2.4m.

Ordinary dividends on equity shares

Final dividend of 15.2p per ordinary share paid on 9 March 2018

Interim dividend of 7.6p per ordinary share paid on 20 July 2018

Final dividend of 15.2p per ordinary share paid on 22 February 2019

Interim dividend of 7.6p per ordinary share paid on 19 July 2019

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

—

—

2,439

1,219

3,658

2,439

1,219

—

—

3,658

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

51

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

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September
2019
Thousands

Earnings
30 September
2019
£’000

EPS
30 September
2019
Pence

Earnings
30 September
2018
£’000

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September
2018
Thousands

EPS
30 September
2018
Pence

Profit on ordinary activities after tax

Basic EPS

2,691

2,691

16,044

16,044

16.8

16.8

3,647

3,647

16,044

16,044

22.7

22.7

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

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September
2019
Thousands

Earnings
30 September
2019
£’000

EPS
30 September
2019
Pence

Earnings
30 September
2018
£’000

Weighted
 average
number
of shares
30 September
2018
Thousands

EPS
30 September
2018
Pence

Profit on ordinary activities after tax

2,691

16,044

Weighted average number of shares under option

—

—

Diluted EPS

2,691

16,044

16.8

—

16.8

3,647

16,044

—

—

3,647

16,044

9. Intangible assets

Cost

At 1 October 2017

Additions

Disposals

At 1 October 2018

Additions

Disposals

At 30 September 2019

Amortisation and impairment

At 1 October 2017

Provided during the year

Disposals during the year

At 1 October 2018

Provided during the year

Disposals during the year

At 30 September 2019

Net book value at 30 September 2019

Net book value at 1 October 2018

Net book value at 1 October 2017

22.7

—

22.7

Total
 £’000

6,192

390

(91)

Software
£’000

Goodwill
£’000

Patents and
licences
 £’000

Development
 expenditure
£’000

598

—

—

598

—

—

598

575

17

—

592

6

—

598

—

6

23

235

2,032

3,327

—

—

77

(91)

313

—

235

2,018

3,640

6,491

—

—

15

(27)

130

—

145

(27)

235

2,006

3,770

6,609

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

235

235

235

1,805

21

(39)

2,179

348

—

4,559

386

(39)

1,787

2,527

4,906

26

(13)

385

—

1,800

2,912

206

231

227

858

1,113

1,148

417

(13)

5,310

1,299

1,585

1,633

Included within cost is £0.5m (2018: £0.5m) relating to capitalised development costs which have been fully amortised but 
continue to be utilised in the business.

52

ZYTRONIC PLC

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 20199. Intangible assets continued
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 continuing strength 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 pre-tax discount rate of 6%, derived from the Group’s 
weighted average cost of capital.

The calculation of value in use is most sensitive to the forecast operating cashflows, the discount rate and the growth rate of 
3% 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.

10. Property, plant and equipment
The amounts carried in the statement of financial position comprise:

Cost

At 1 October 2017

Additions

Disposals

At 1 October 2018

Additions

Disposals

At 30 September 2019

Depreciation and impairment

At 1 October 2017

Provided during the year

Disposals

At 1 October 2018

Provided during the year

Disposals

At 30 September 2019

Net book value at 30 September 2019

Net book value at 1 October 2018

Net book value at 1 October 2017

Land
£’000

Freehold
 property
 £’000

Long
leasehold
property
 £’000

Plant and
machinery
£’000

Total
£’000

207

3,070

2,463

10,427

16,167

—

—

—

—

—

—

287

(111)

287

(111)

207

3,070

2,463

10,603

16,343

—

—

—

—

—

—

513

513

(2,310)

(2,310)

207

3,070

2,463

8,806

14,546

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

207

207

207

584

61

—

645

61

—

706

2,364

2,425

2,486

613

82

—

695

79

—

774

1,689

1,768

1,850

7,940

566

(108)

8,398

586

9,137

709

(108)

9,738

726

(2,303)

(2,303)

6,681

2,125

2,205

2,487

8,161

6,385

6,605

7,030

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

53

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT11. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables

Work in progress

Finished goods

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

2,414

2,026

349

271

3,034

427

568

3,021

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

12. 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
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

3,883

3,420

36

208

109

209

4,127

3,738

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

1,360

1,861

662

3,883

784

1,647

989

3,420

Out of the carrying amount of trade receivables of £3.9m (2018: £3.4m), £2.3m (2018: £2.1m) is the amount of debts owed 
by four major customers (2018: 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. Some customers, with whom there is 
a long-standing relationship, are on 90-day terms. They are shown net of a provision for impairment.

As at 30 September 2019, trade receivables at a nominal value of £Nil (2018: £1,000) were impaired due to poor payment history. 
Movements in the provision for impairment of trade receivables were as follows:

At 1 October 2017

Utilised

At 1 October 2018

Utilised

At 30 September 2019

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

2019

2018

Neither past
due nor
impaired 

Past due but not impaired

<3 months
£’000

>3 months
£’000

2,599  

2,941

1,270

464

14

15

£’000

6

(5)

1

(1)

—

Total
£’000

3,883

3,420

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 nor 
impaired is assessed by reference to external credit ratings where available; otherwise, historical information relating to 
counterparty default rates is used.

54

ZYTRONIC PLC

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 201913. Cash and short term deposits

Cash at bank and in hand

Short term deposits

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

7,351

5,792

13,143

8,580

6,046

14,626

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

At 30 September 2019, 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 July 2020.

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents is £13.1m (2018: £14.6m).

14. Trade and other payables

Trade payables*

Other taxes and social security costs

Accruals

*  Trade payables are non-interest bearing and are normally settled on 30-day terms.

15. Financial liabilities

Foreign exchange forward contracts 

Total

Total current

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

861

101

962

499

1,461

1,322

124

1,446

767

2,213

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

21

21

21

7

7

7

The foreign exchange forward contract liabilities above are measured at fair value through the statement of comprehensive 
income as they are not in designated hedge relationships. They are, nevertheless, intended to reduce the level of foreign 
currency risk for expected sales and purchases.

The fair value of the financial 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 asserts that the fair values of cash, trade receivables and trade payables approximate to their carrying amounts 
largely due to the short term maturities of these instruments.

At 30 September 2019, 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.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

55

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT16. Government grants

At 1 October

Released to the statement of comprehensive income

At 30 September

Non-current

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

15

(15)

—

—

25

(10)

15

15

The government grant was received as part of R&D work on a European Commission (“EC”) consortium project.

There are no unfulfilled obligations or contingencies attached to this grant and our involvement in this project has now concluded.

17. 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

There are no non-cancellable property leases in place.

18. Deferred tax liability/(asset)
The deferred tax included in the statement of financial position is as follows:

Deferred tax liability

Accelerated capital allowances

Capitalised R&D

Other

Fair value movement on currency contracts

Deferred tax asset

Pension asset

Disclosed on the statement of financial position

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

Deferred tax in the statement of comprehensive income

Fair value movement on currency contracts

Accelerated capital allowances

R&D tax credits

Other

Deferred income tax credit

56

ZYTRONIC PLC

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

6

7

13

6

13

19

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

362

144

12

1

519

(3)

(3)

516

360

193

9

3

565

(3)

(3)

562

30 September
2019
£’000

30 September
2018
£’000

2

2

(49)

(1)

(46)

(6)

(43)

(7)

11

(45)

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019 
19. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments
The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise an overdraft facility, cash and forward foreign exchange contract 
derivatives. 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 statement of financial position date.

Liquidity risk
The Group 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 July 2020 and is to provide funding for working capital.

Maturity profile of financial liabilities
Year ended 30 September 2019

Trade and other payables

Foreign exchange forward contracts – outflows

Total

Year ended 30 September 2018

Trade and other payables

Foreign exchange forward contracts – outflows

Total

On
demand
£’000

884

—

884

On
demand
£’000

1,391

—

1,391

<3 months
£’000

3–12 months
£’000

476

1,795

2,271

—

572

572

<3 months
£’000

3–12 months
£’000

698

1,370

2,068

—

635

635

Total
£’000

1,360

2,367

3,727

Total
£’000

2,089

2,005

4,094

Derivatives comprise both cashflows from derivative financial instruments with negative fair values and cashflows from derivatives 
with positive fair values for which gross settlement has been agreed. The cash outflows from derivatives for which gross settlement 
has been agreed are matched in part by cash inflows. These cash inflows are not reported in the maturity analysis above. If these 
cash inflows were recognised, the cashflows presented would be substantially lower.

Foreign exchange risk
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 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 2019 for a period of up to four months ahead in line with working 
capital requirements. Any additional surplus currency at the end of each month is dealt with at spot rates.

The Group entered into forward vanilla contracts during the year in both US Dollars and Euros. The US Dollar forward vanilla 
contracts are fixed over a series of five individual contracts over a period of four months at rates between $1.2768 and $1.2314 
and are in place until January 2020. The Euro forward vanilla contracts are fixed over a series of four one-monthly contracts at 
rates between €1.1250 and €1.1087 and are also in place until January 2020.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

57

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT19. Financial risk management policy and financial instruments continued
Foreign exchange risk continued
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).
Effect on profit
before tax
£’000

Effect on profit
before tax
£’000

 Change in
US Dollar rate

Change in
Euro rate

2019

Sterling

2018

Sterling

+10%

-10%

+10%

-10%

(139)

170

(150)

183

+10%

-10%

+10%

-10%

(63)

77

(76)

93

Capital management
The Group’s policies on capital management are included in the Directors’ report on page 33.

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

Allotted, called up and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 1p each

(b) Share premium

At 1 October 2018

At 30 September 2019

2019
Number
Thousands

2018
Number
Thousands

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

16,044

16,044

160

160

£’000

8,994

8,994

21. Capital commitments
Amounts contracted for at 30 September 2019 but not provided for in the financial statements amounted to £26,000 (2018: £238,000) 
for the Group.

22. Pension scheme commitments
Contributions for the year ended 30 September 2019 amounted to £191,000 (2018: £174,000) and the outstanding contributions 
at the statement of financial position date were £15,000 (2018: £15,000). The Group is a member of a group personal pension 
scheme which is a defined contribution scheme. Contributions are charged to the statement of comprehensive income as they 
become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme. 

23. 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 statement of comprehensive income to the Directors:

Salaries/fees

Pension contributions

2019
£’000

419

23

442

2018
£’000

459

23

482

24. Guarantees
Zytronic plc has given a guarantee to Barclays Bank plc in connection with the overdraft facility detailed in note 13.

58

ZYTRONIC PLC

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019FIVE-YEAR SUMMARIES

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the five years ended 30 September 2019

Group revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Distribution costs

Administration expenses

Group trading profit

Finance costs 

Finance revenue

Profit before tax

Tax expense

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

Dividends per share

2019
£’000

20,104

(13,311)

6,793

(350)

(3,462)

2,981

—

76

3,057

(366)

2,691

—

2,691

16.8p

16.8p

22.8p

2018
£’000

2017
£’000

2016
£’000

2015
£’000

22,288

22,892

21,087

21,267

(14,047)

(13,481)

(12,071)

(12,366)

8,241

(461)

9,411

(393)

9,016

(378)

8,901

(278)

(3,639)

(3,591)

(4,365)

(4,073)

4,141

5,427

4,273

4,550

(21)

68

4,188

(541)

(24)

10

5,413

(825)

(23)

20

(29)

23

4,270

4,544

(183)

(775)

3,647

4,588

4,087

3,769

—

—

—

—

3,647

4,588

4,087

3,769

22.7p

22.7p

22.8p

29.0p

28.8p

14.7p

26.6p

26.1p

12.3p

24.7p

24.3p

10.3p

All activities are from continuing operations.

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

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

59

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
FIVE-YEAR SUMMARIES CONTINUED

Consolidated statement of financial position
At 30 September 2015 to 2019

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

2017
£’000

2016
£’000

2015
£’000

1,299

6,385

7,684

3,034

4,127

—

1,585

6,605

8,190

3,021

3,738

—

1,633

7,030

8,663

2,996

3,506

54

13,143

14,626

14,099

21,385

20,655

1,457

7,389

8,846

2,760

3,745

—

12,763

19,268

1,427

7,807

9,234

3,214

3,055

—

9,833

16,102

29,575

29,318

28,114

25,336

962

1,446

1,042

—

7

—

767

13

—

—

—

862

3

1,302

1,148

959

205

834

122

2,233

1,907

4,570

—

—

15

562

577

—

—

25

610

635

—

—

48

260

308

2,810

2,542

4,878

971

200

89

—

1,201

255

2,716

1,144

136

59

590

1,929

4,645

26,765

26,776

23,236

20,691

160

8,994

17,611

160

8,994

17,622

154

7,766

15,316

26,765

26,776

23,236

153

7,552

12,986

20,691

20,304

27,988

—

21

—

499

192

1,674

—

—

—

516

516

2,190

25,798

160

8,994

16,644

25,798

Assets

Non-current assets

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Derivative financial assets

Cash and short term deposits

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Financial liabilities

Derivative financial liabilities

Provisions

Accruals

Tax liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Financial liabilities

Provisions

Government grants

Deferred tax liabilities (net)

Total liabilities

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Equity share capital

Share premium

Retained earnings 

Total equity

60

ZYTRONIC PLC

PARENT COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

Assets

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investments

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

– amounts falling due within one year

– amounts falling due after one year

Cash and short term deposits

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities (net)

Total liabilities 

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Equity share capital

Share premium

Retained earnings

Total equity

Notes

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

8

4,174

10,106

14,280

10

538

10,451

10,999

25,279

192

163

355

4,287

10,106

14,393

12

135

9,847

9,994

24,387

220

170

390

24,924

23,997

160

8,994

15,770

24,924

160

8,994

14,843

23,997

The Company’s profit for the year was £4,585,000 (2018: £3,546,000).

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

Mark Cambridge  
Chief Executive 
9 December 2019

Claire Smith
Group Finance Director

Zytronic Group plc: Registered number 03881244

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

61

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
PARENT COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

At 1 October 2017 

Profit for the year

Dividends

At 1 October 2018 

Profit for the year

Dividends

Called
up share
capital
 £’000

160

—

—

Share
premium
£’000

8,994

—

—

160

8,994

—

—

—

—

Retained
earnings
£’000

14,955

3,546

Total
£’000

24,109

3,546

(3,658)

(3,658)

14,843

4,585

23,997

4,585

(3,658)

(3,658)

At 30 September 2019

160

8,994

15,770

24,924

62

ZYTRONIC PLC

NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

1. Accounting policies
The preparation of the Company’s 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 amounts, events or actions, actual results may differ from those estimates.

(a) Judgements and key sources of estimation
In the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies, the Directors have considered that there are no judgements or 
other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the statement of financial position date which have a significant effect on the 
amounts recognised in the financial statements.

(b) Basis of preparation
The financial statements of Zytronic plc were approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 9 December 2019. The financial 
statements are prepared in accordance with FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework.

A statement of comprehensive income is not presented for the Company as permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. 

The financial statements are presented in Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds (£’000) except 
where otherwise indicated.

The accounting policies which follow set out those policies which apply in preparing the financial statements for the year 
ended 30 September 2019.

In these financial statements, the Company has taken advantage of the following disclosure exemptions available under FRS 101:

 X the requirements of IFRS 7 Financial Instruments. The disclosures are available in the Group financial statements of Zytronic plc;

 X the requirements in paragraph 38 of IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements to present comparative information in 

respect of:

 X paragraph 73(e) of IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment; and

 X paragraph 79(a)(iv) of IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements;

 X the requirements of paragraphs 10(d), 16, 111 and 134–136 of IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements;

 X the requirements of IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows;

 X the requirements of paragraphs 30 and 31 of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors;

 X the requirement of paragraph 17 of IAS 24 Related Party Transactions;

 X the requirements in IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures to disclose related party transactions entered into between two or 

more members of a group, provided that any subsidiary which is party to the transaction is wholly owned by such a member;

 X the requirements of IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards paragraphs 6–21 to present an 

opening statement of financial position at transition; and

 X the requirements of paragraphs 91–99 of IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement.

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

63

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORTNOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019

1. Accounting policies continued
(c) 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 

– 

– 

– 

nil

40 years

30–50 years

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 statement of comprehensive income 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 Company assesses at each reporting date whether there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. If any 
such indication exists the Company 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 statement of comprehensive income in those expense categories consistent with the function of the impaired asset.

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

(e) Financial instruments
A financial instrument is any contract that gives rise to a financial asset of one entity and a financial liability or equity 
instrument of another entity. The Company’s financial assets include cash and cash equivalents.

The Company’s financial liabilities include trade and other payables.

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and short term deposits in the statement of financial position 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 statement of financial position as the Company 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.

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 statement of comprehensive income 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 in which they occur. Borrowing costs consist of interest and other costs that an entity incurs in 
connection with the borrowing of funds.

(f) Tax
Current tax
Current tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to the tax authorities. 
The tax rates and tax laws used to compute the amount are those that are enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting 
date in the countries where the Group operates and generates taxable income. Management periodically evaluates positions 
taken in the tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulations are subject to interpretation and 
establishes provisions where appropriate.

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:
 X 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;

 X 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

 X deferred tax 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.

64

ZYTRONIC PLC

 
 
 
 
1. Accounting policies continued
(f) Tax continued
Deferred tax continued
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 statement of 
financial position date.

2. Auditor’s remuneration
Auditor’s remuneration for the year ended 30 September 2019 was £14,000 (2018: £13,000).

3. Property, plant and equipment

Land
£’000

Freehold
property
£’000

Long
leasehold
property
£’000

Total
 £’000

Cost 

At 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2019

207

3,070

2,097

5,374

Depreciation

At 1 October 2018

Provided during the year

At 30 September 2019

Net book value at 30 September 2019

Net book value at 1 October 2018

4. Investments
Investments in subsidiary companies

Shares in subsidiary companies

At beginning of year

At end of year

—

—

—

207

207

645

61

706

2,364

2,425

442

52

494

1,603

1,655

1,087

113

1,200

4,174

4,287

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

10,106

10,106

10,106

10,106

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

 Incorporated in

Holding

Zytronic Displays Limited

UK Ordinary shares

Proportion
of voting rights
 and shares held

Nature of business

100% Manufacture of transparent composites,
including touch sensors

Zytronic Inc. 

Intasolve Limited

USA Ordinary shares

UK Ordinary shares

Zytronic Glass Products Limited

UK Ordinary shares

100%

100%

100%

Technical sales support

Dormant

Dormant

Zytronic Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zytronic Displays Limited. The registered office address for all of the subsidiaries 
is Whiteley Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne NE21 5NJ.

5. Trade and other receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

VAT

Amounts falling due after more than one year are:

Amounts owed by Group undertakings

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

9

1

10

2019
£’000

538

12

—

12

2018
£’000

135

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

65

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT6. Trade and other payables

Trade creditors

Other creditors and accruals

Other amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Corporation tax

7. Deferred tax liability
The deferred tax included in the statement of financial position is as follows:

Accelerated capital allowances

At 1 October

Credit in the statement of comprehensive income

At 30 September

8. Equity share capital
(a) Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 1p each

(b) Share premium

At 1 October 2018

At 30 September 2019

2019
£’000

7

59

81

45

192

2019
£’000

163

170

(7)

163

2018
£’000

2

76

117

25

220

2018
£’000

170

177

(7)

170

2019
Number
Thousands

2018
Number
Thousands

2019
£’000

2018
£’000

16,044

16,044

160

160

£’000

8,994

8,994

9. 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 July 2020. This facility is to provide funding for working capital.

66

ZYTRONIC PLC

NOTES TO THE PARENT COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2019NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT the Annual General Meeting of Zytronic plc (the “Company”) will be held at the Company’s 
registered office at Whiteley Road, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Tyne and Wear NE21 5NJ, at 9.30 am on 4 February 2020 to consider 
and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions:

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

1. 

 To receive the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2019 and the reports of the Directors and auditor thereon.

2.   To pay a final dividend of 15.2p per ordinary share of 1.0p for the year ended 30 September 2019 on Friday 7 February 2020 

to members on the Register at the close of business on Friday 10 January 2020.

3.   To re-elect David Buffham as a Director.

4.  To re-elect Claire Smith as a Director.

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

Special business
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolution number 1 as an ordinary resolution of the Company and the 
following resolutions numbered 2, 3 and 4 as special resolutions of the Company:

1. 

 That, pursuant to Section 551 of the Act, the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers 
of the Company to allot Relevant Securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of £52,945.34, provided that (unless 
previously revoked, varied or renewed) this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General 
Meeting held in 2021 (or, if earlier, at the close of business on the date which is 15 months after the date of this Annual 
General Meeting), but in each case prior to its expiry the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which 
would, or might, require Relevant Securities to be allotted after the authority expires and the Directors may allot Relevant 
Securities under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.

 In this resolution, “Relevant Securities” means shares in the Company or rights to subscribe for or to convert any security 
into shares in the Company; a reference to the allotment of Relevant Securities includes the grant of such a right; and a 
reference to the nominal amount of a Relevant Security which is a right to subscribe for or to convert any security into 
shares in the Company is to the nominal amount of the shares which may be allotted pursuant to that right. 

2.   That if special business resolution 1 above is passed, the Directors be authorised to allot equity securities (as defined in the 
Act) for cash under the authority given by that resolution and/or to sell ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury 
shares for cash as if Section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment or sale, such authority to be limited to:

(a) 

 the allotment of equity securities in connection with an offer of equity securities (whether by way of a rights issue, 
open offer or otherwise):

(i) 

 to holders of ordinary shares in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares 
held by them; and

(ii)   to holders of other equity securities in the capital of the Company, as required by the rights of those securities or, 

subject to such rights, as the Directors otherwise consider necessary,

 but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to 
treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or any legal or practical problems under the laws of any territory 
or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and

(b) 

 the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares (otherwise than under paragraph 2(a) above) up to a 
nominal amount of £8,022.02,

 such authority to expire at the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General Meeting held in 2021 (or, if earlier, at the close 
of business on the date which is 15 months after the date of this Annual General Meeting) but, in each case, prior to its expiry 
the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be allotted 
(and treasury shares to be sold) after the authority expires and the Directors may allot equity securities (and sell treasury 
shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.

3.   That if special business resolution 1 is passed, the Directors be authorised in addition to any authority granted under special 
business resolution 2 to allot equity securities (as defined in the Act) for cash under the authority given by that resolution 
and/or to sell ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury shares for cash as if Section 561 of the Act did not apply to 
any such allotment or sale, such authority to be:

(a) 

limited to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of £8,022.02; and

ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2019

67

FINANCIAL STATEMENTSCORPORATE GOVERNANCESTRATEGIC REPORT 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CONTINUED

Special business continued

(b) 

 used only for the purposes of financing (or refinancing, if the authority is to be used within six months after the original 
transaction) a transaction which the Directors of the Company determine to be an acquisition or other capital investment 
of a kind contemplated by the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by 
the Pre-Emption Group prior to the date of this notice,

 such authority to expire at the conclusion of the Company’s Annual General Meeting held in 2021 (or, if earlier, at the close 
of business on the date which is 15 months after the date of this Annual General Meeting) but, in each case, prior to its 
expiry the Company may make offers, and enter into agreements, which would, or might, require equity securities to be 
allotted (and treasury shares to be sold) after the authority expires and the Directors may allot equity securities (and sell 
treasury shares) under any such offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.

4.   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 provided that:

(a) 

the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 1,604,404; 

(b)  the minimum price which may be paid for an ordinary share shall be 1p; 

(c) 

(d) 

 the maximum price which may be paid for an ordinary share shall be not more than 5% above the average of the middle 
market quotations for ordinary shares as derived from the London Stock Exchange daily official list for securities 
admitted to AIM of the London Stock Exchange for the five business days immediately preceding the date of the 
purchase of the ordinary 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 2021 (or, if earlier, at the close of business on the date which is 15 months 
after the date of this Annual General Meeting) save that the Company may, prior to such expiry, enter into a contract to 
purchase ordinary shares which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority and may 
purchase ordinary shares pursuant to such contract as if such authority has not expired, and that all ordinary 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 
Company Secretary 
Zytronic plc 
Whiteley Road 
Blaydon-on-Tyne 
Tyne and Wear 
NE21 5NJ

9 December 2019 

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 accompanies this document.

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 9:30am on Friday 31 January 2020 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 1p each of the Company registered in the Register of Members of the Company:

(a)  as at close of business or 6:00pm on 31 January 2020; or 

(b) 

if this meeting is adjourned, at close of business two working days prior to the adjourned meeting,

 shall be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in respect of the number of ordinary shares of 1.0p each in the capital 
of the Company registered in their name at that time. Changes to entries on the Register of Members after 4:00pm on 
Friday 31 January 2020 shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting.

4.   Copies of contracts of service between the 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.

68

ZYTRONIC PLC

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CORPORATE INFORMATION

Websites
www.zytronicplc.com 
www.zytronic.co.uk 
www.zytronic-inc.com 
www.zytronic.cn 
www.zytronic.jp

Secretary
Claire Smith  
Email: claire.smith@zytronic.co.uk

Registered office
Whiteley Road 
Blaydon-on-Tyne 
Tyne and Wear 
NE21 5NJ

Tel:  
Fax:  

0191 414 5511 
0191 414 0545

Registration number
03881244

Stockbrokers and  
nominated adviser
N+1 Singer
One Bartholomew Lane 
London 
EC2N 2AX

KEEP IN TOUCH

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

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

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

Handelsbanken
8 Keel Row 
The Watermark 
Gateshead 
NE11 9SZ

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

Yorkshire Bank
131–135 Northumberland Street 
Newcastle-upon-Tyne 
NE1 7AG

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

Find out more about our latest products, business news 
and touchscreen developments online.

Find us on Facebook
@ZytronicDisplaysLtd

Connect with us on
LinkedIn

Follow us on Twitter
@Zytronic

Follow us on Twitter
@Zytronic

Follow us on Pinterest
Pinterest/Zytronic

View a range of corporate and product 
videos on our YouTube channel
youtube.com/ZytronicTouchSensor

Visit our investor site at
www.zytronicplc.com

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

0191 414 5511 

Tel: 
Fax:  0191 414 0545 
Web:  www.zytronicplc.com