TIDMWIL

RNS Number : 2739M

Wilmington PLC

20 September 2021

20 September 2021

Wilmington plc

Digitisation drives profits up 27%

Wilmington plc, (LSE: WIL 'Wilmington', 'the Group') the provider of data, information, education and training in the global Governance, Risk and Compliance markets, today announces its full year results for the year ended 30 June 2021.

Financial highlights

- Revenues flat at GBP113.0m (2020: GBP113.1m) despite full 12 months of Covid-19 restrictions

   -       Organic(1) revenue growth 3% (2020: down 8%) demonstrating continued strong demand 

- Adjusted profit before tax(2) up 27% to GBP15.0m (2020: GBP11.9m) reflecting focus on costs and efficiencies realised through conversion to digital

   -       Adjusted basic earnings per share(3) up 27% to 13.62p (2020: 10.71p) 

- Statutory loss before tax GBP2.0m (2020: profit GBP6.4m), basic loss per share of 5.18p (2020: earnings 5.33p) impacted by GBP14.8m non-cash impairment charges

- Dividend reinstated in the year, final dividend at 3.9p (2020: nil); total dividend 6.0p (2020: nil)

   -       Strong cash conversion(4) of 104% (2020: 189%) 

- Significantly reduced Group net debt (excluding lease liabilities) at GBP17.2m (2020: GBP27.7m) reflecting strong trading, effective working capital management and small product disposal.

Operational highlights

   -       Continued strong demand demonstrates success of digitisation strategy 

- Renewed strategic focus on large and growing Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) and Regulatory Compliance markets

- Portfolio of Group businesses reorganised into two divisions: Information & Data and Training & Education, reflecting broad range of complementary GRC solutions

- Operational focus on clearly defined pillars of growth: simplified structure, leadership and people, data and technology, product, and sales and marketing

- Performed ESG materiality assessment in H2, developed roadmap for FY22 progress, and early adopted TCFD.

Mark Milner, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"We have continued to refine and embed our digital capabilities across the business. This reflects our ambition to create a fully digital enterprise whilst retaining the flexibility to offer our customers face-to-face and hybrid solutions.

"These strong results with profitability up 27% demonstrate the continued and growing demand for our information and data products, despite the disruption caused by the pandemic.

"We are now at an inflexion point with a simplified portfolio and are well positioned to address large and growing markets which are increasingly online.

"The current financial year has started well, in line with our expectations."

(1) Organic - eliminating the effects of exchange rate fluctuations and the impact of acquisitions and disposals

(2) Adjusted profit before tax - see note 3

(3) Adjusted earnings per share - see note 10

(4) Cash conversion - see note 19

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

For further information, please contact:

 
 Wilmington plc                            020 7422 6800 
  Mark Milner, Chief Executive Officer 
  Guy Millward, Chief Financial Officer 
  Meare Consulting 
  Adrian Duffield                           07990 858548 
 

Notes to Editors

Wilmington plc is the recognised knowledge leader and partner of choice for data, information, education and training in the global Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) markets. Wilmington employs close to 1,000 people and sells to around 120 countries. Wilmington is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

Chairman's statement

I am pleased to present the results for the year ended 30 June 2021. We made good progress in the year, demonstrating the value of our diversified portfolio and digital-first strategy while we continue to adapt to the impact of Covid-19.

Despite a full 12 months of Covid-19 restrictions we traded strongly in FY21 and delivered revenues unchanged on FY20, despite four months of disruption at the beginning of the pandemic causing an 8% decline in revenues year-on-year. In FY21 organic revenue growth was achieved by our information and data products, and within our training products revenues only decreased in our face-to-face businesses.

Adjusted profits at all levels were up, reflecting a continuous focus on costs and improved margins achieved through the move to virtual solutions. Strong trading combined with a focus on working capital management, and a small product disposal, enabled us to greatly reduce our net debt position (excluding lease liabilities) to GBP17.2m as at 30 June 2021, GBP10.5m better than 30 June 2020. As a result, we honoured our commitment to reinstate the dividend and repaid all amounts received from the UK government's furlough scheme relating to this financial year.

In June 2021 we announced a new group structure and operating model to increasingly focus the business on the resilient and growing GRC and Regulatory Compliance markets. We report here for the first time our new divisions: Information & Data and Training & Education, which reflect the broad range of complementary products and solutions we offer to our customers. In last year's report, I outlined our key areas of strategic focus: organic revenue growth, investing in our business and managing our portfolio. Despite the pandemic, we made good progress in all these areas so that we continue to realise the benefit of recent investments.

Derek Carter and Nathalie Schwarz stood down from the Board at the conclusion of the AGM on 4 November 2020 after completing their full nine-year terms as Independent Non--Executive Directors. I would like to thank them for their outstanding contributions to Wilmington. Nathalie was replaced as Chair of the Remuneration Committee by Helen Sachdev. Paul Dollman, the current Chair of the Audit Committee, has assumed the role of Senior Independent Director. In February 2021 I was delighted to welcome William Macpherson to the Board as Non-Executive Director, the director responsible for worker representation and Chair of the Nominations Committee. William has a strong commercial background in the professional education sector and is providing valuable counsel to the Group.

Most importantly, I would like to thank all our employees for their continued commitment and resilience in these testing and difficult times. Throughout the crisis we have been, and will continue to be, guided first and foremost by the need to protect the health and wellbeing of our employees while remaining focussed on serving our customers to the highest standards.

Martin Morgan

Chairman

Chief Executive's review

Overview

Our diversified portfolio has continued to demonstrate agility and resilience in the face of ongoing disruption caused by the pandemic. The work done over the last 12 months, to refine our digital-first model and to focus the business on the GRC and Regulatory Compliance markets, reflects a period of positive change.

Following the rapid acceleration of our digitisation strategy in the year to June 2020, throughout FY21 we have concentrated on further refining and embedding our strong digital capabilities across the business. This work reflects our ambition to create a fully digital enterprise whilst retaining the flexibility to offer our customers face-to-face and hybrid solutions according to their needs.

Our financial performance demonstrates that demand for our products remains strong, and that our ability to respond to our customers' needs continues to cement our position as their trusted partner when navigating the complexity of the Regulatory Compliance landscape.

Reported Group revenue was flat, but up 3% on an organic basis. This result reflects solid uptake of our core information and data products, strong conversion of new sales opportunities in ICA Singapore, and high demand driving double-digit revenue growth in the legal sector businesses. Growth in these areas was partly offset by the anticipated reduction in face-to-face training and event revenues caused by Covid-19 related restrictions.

A continued focus on cost management and further efficiencies realised through the conversion to digital resulted in adjusted profit before tax (PBT) growth of 27% to GBP15.0m (2020: GBP11.9m) and a corresponding improvement in adjusted PBT margin to 13.3% (2020: 10.5%).

This resulted in adjusted basic earnings per share being up 27%. We also are proposing a final dividend of 3.9p (total of 6.0p). The Group's net debt (excluding lease liabilities) was sharply down at GBP17.2m (2020: GBP27.7m).

Strategy

We announced in June 2021 that our strategic focus will be centred on building upon our already strong presence in the large, growing and rapidly evolving GRC and Regulatory Compliance markets. These markets are the intent of and actions undertaken by organisations, entities and individuals to both understand and align their activities and ethics with the relevant legal, policy and regulatory frameworks within which they operate.

These markets are underpinned by strong macro drivers, particularly the increasing volume and enforcement of regulation, complex geopolitical landscape, increased importance of ESG and widespread adoption of technological and data-driven compliance solutions, all of which align strongly to Wilmington's core offering.

At the heart of this focus on GRC and Regulatory Compliance markets is our ambition to help our customers to do the right business in the right way, by providing a complementary range of information & data and training & education solutions.

We continue to develop new products, identify clear organic growth opportunities and consider acquisition targets which complement and/or extend our capabilities.

Current trading and outlook

We have strong foundations with our leading brands which have shown notable resilience during the pandemic whilst our large markets are seeing strong growth.

We have made the switch to a digital first business with the capability to offer face-to-face and hybrid solutions and have invested in our data capabilities and new product development. We also have a simplified structure and an operational focus on execution excellence.

Trading in the first two months of the year has been encouraging, with both revenue and profits in line with expectation.

Operational review

In order to execute our strategy, we reorganised our portfolio into two divisions: Information & Data and Training & Education. This simplified structure clusters our businesses to drive synergies and provides a scalable platform for acquisitions and strong integration capabilities.

As previously announced, we are actively managing the portfolio by assessing the potential of each business to contribute to the delivery of our strategic objectives over the long term. Consequently, CLT England was closed down in August 2020 and the CLT Scotland business sold. Two product lines, one in the UK Healthcare business, and the other a pension fund product were withdrawn.

Our Information & Data division is addressing the $1bn regulatory intelligence market. The key drivers are the increased importance of independent, authoritative and actionable intelligence; increased investment in technology to solve regulatory compliance challenges; and disruptive technologies that create opportunities and threats.

Our Training & Education division is addressing the $4bn compliance training market. The key drivers are the shift from insourced to outsourced training; the shift from face-to-face to digital and blended training; increased demand for continuous learning and micro-learning; and increased focus on ROI through personalised learning experiences and outcomes-based programmes.

Our strategy is executed via our clearly defined pillars of growth: our simplified structure and key drivers of operational excellence: Leadership and people, data and technology, product, and sales and marketing. We have made progress in all areas in the year.

Our work to embed a positive culture and high employee engagement reflected a focus on Learning and Development and Diversity and Inclusion, whilst we remained committed to enhancing employee experience by delivering a responsive portfolio of wellbeing resources and a broad range of personal development opportunities.

We delivered against our objective to roll out the first phase of the Wilmington Sales Academy and made significant progress enhancing the sales KPI analysis capabilities which are informing our future development in this area. We also started work to embed an improved approach to sales packaging and pricing, which is strongly aligned to our focus on developing consistent and sustainable revenue streams to support long term growth.

Our sales and marketing function has become de-centralised and so much closer to our end-user markets. We have instilled a KPI driven sales culture and as highlighted above have a focus on learning and development. We are also using technology more effectively and are optimising our product pricing and packaging.

The progress we made to drive excellence in product management reflects our commitment to embed a customer-led approach, and throughout the year we engaged closely with our customers as they adapted to changes brought about by the pandemic. This was complemented by our continued investment in strong digital and data capabilities to deliver a dynamic and innovative portfolio of solutions.

We launched the Wilmington Product Academy, specifically designed to build a strong and consistent skills base that will propel our success in this area. We retain a strong focus on development methodologies using minimum viable products (MVPs), iterative roll outs, and insights gained from data generated from our existing processes. The Product Academy also supports our plans to further leverage the success of recently launched products such as the digital learning hub, by informing the development of similar solutions in other parts of the businesses to generate synergistic value across the portfolio.

Responsible business

As we continue to help our customers to do the right business in the right way, we are also committed to holding ourselves accountable and demonstrating the highest standards of responsible business practice.

We have now implemented the actions outlined in the ESG roadmap set in February 2021, which included performing a materiality assessment and defining the agenda for the future. By assessing the key issues that impact our stakeholders, the materiality assessment process led to the refinement of our ESG strategy and concluded that four strategic pillars will drive our progress for the next phase of work. These four pillars, their core objectives and the way that they support our commitment to operational excellence, are outlined below.

 
  Strategic             Cultural                  Customer                 Proactive               Environmental 
    pillar             positivity                empowerment                assurance              responsibility 
Core objective        Create equal         Deliver products that     Uphold high standards      Reduce environmental 
                     opportunities          are accessible, high       related to digital       impact by minimising 
                   and nurture talent         value, up to date      protection, regulatory       carbon footprint 
                 in a safe and mindful     and move with industry         requirements,          and committing to 
                      environment.                 trends.            ethics & production.    responsible procurement. 
                ------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------ 
  Supporting      Fostering a positive    Empowering our customers  Responsible digitisation       Committing to 
  operational     culture will enhance      ensures our products       and ethical conduct         environmental 
  excellence      employee experience       are aligned to their         are fundamental      responsibility protects 
                  and allow our people       needs, and that our         to our data and         the future of our 
                   to perform highly         sales and marketing      technology strategies   people and demonstrates 
                  as they continue to      strategies effectively        as we innovate          to customers that 
                 drive progress against      convey high product         to deliver the         we strive to deliver 
                     our strategic                 value.                 best-in-class        products with minimal 
                      objectives.                                       digital products.      environmental impact. 
                ------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------  ------------------------ 
 

We have established a governance framework around our ESG initiatives, providing sponsorship for each pillar of the strategy from a member of the Executive Committee and oversight from the Board. The executive sponsors will support internal working groups as they implement improvement initiatives to ensure that continued and consistent progress is made to meet the core objectives. The work planned for FY22 includes a focus on refining our approach to data collection, to facilitate effective measurement of outputs and to ensure that we set sufficiently challenging targets to drive long term improvements.

In recognition of the rapidly evolving climate crisis, we have early adopted TCFD and have accelerated our own work to address climate change by committing to carbon neutrality in FY22, with a further commitment to establish a roadmap for action to subsequently become a net zero carbon business.

Review of divisional performance

Information & Data

 
                                           Absolute    Organic 
                             2021   2020    variance   variance 
                             GBP'm  GBP'm      %          % 
---------------------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
Revenue 
Healthcare                   28.9   27.9      4%         3% 
Financial Services & Other   21.3   21.7      -2%        0% 
Identity & Charities          6.6    7.0      -6%        -5% 
---------------------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
Total Revenue                56.8   56.6      1%         1% 
---------------------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
Operating Profit              9.3   11.1     -16%       -13% 
Margin %                      16%    20% 
---------------------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
 

Business model and market

Wilmington offers a wide range of products and services through its Healthcare businesses predominantly around the provision of market and customer intelligence. The core of the data supplied comes primarily from publicly available sources. The value generated by our services is based around its collation, verification, combination with other complementary data sources and then its ease of presentation and usage. In some areas we provide proprietary analysis of the data and editorial comment which constitutes our own intellectual property.

Wilmington's Healthcare businesses operate mainly in the UK and France and provide deep insight information on practitioners, facilities and treatments in the UK and French health sector markets that enable suppliers into those markets, including pharmaceutical companies, to understand and connect better with their customers. Revenue is mainly earned through sales of discrete packages of data or through subscription services for the ongoing provision of information. Additionally, in the UK we publish the Health Service Journal ('HSJ'), the leading online publication in the UK for healthcare leaders, with revenue generated through providing subscriptions to NHS foundation trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups and suppliers to the NHS.

The Financial Services/Other businesses operate in the Insurance, Pensions and Compliance markets. These businesses provide a broad range of information products and services with revenues generated primarily through subscription but also sponsorship, lead generation and event attendance.

The Identity & Charities business consists of a portfolio of data products including charity fund-raising information, and marketing data suppression tools. They include services that are used by organisations to help prevent identify fraud. Revenue is predominantly subscription based. We sold a pension fund product line in this part of the business during the year.

Trading performance

Overall Information & Data revenues grew 1% in the year, although this overall rate masks some more significant movements in the underlying businesses.

Healthcare revenues grew 3% organically in the year despite a significant drop in UK events revenues because no face-to-face events took place. Non-events revenues grew 7% in the period with UK revenues up 10% and French revenues up 7%. We closed a product line during the year (that sold a suite of online learning courses that familiarise UK industry participants with the complexities of the National Health Service) as it was loss-making and we outsourced part of the UK operations to improve future profits.

Financial Services revenues were flat organically (removing the effect of currency) with growth in Axco, Pendragon and Compliance Week offset by a decline in Inese revenues due to the lack of face-to-face events in Spain. We announced last year that we were seeking buyers for the Inese business but this process was delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions and we will resume the process in coming months.

Identity & Charities revenues were down 6%. We have restructured this set of products just before the year end, selling one product line and closing two others to focus the business on areas we believe can grow in the future and to reduce its cost base. The slimmed-down business will now focus on identity revenues and a small line of revenue in the charity sector.

Information & Data divisional operating profit was down on the previous year despite the flat revenue performance as we took restructuring measures (closing product lines and outsourcing some costs) to improve revenues and profits going forward. The cost of these changes has been taken as part of normal operations.

Training & Education

 
                                 Absolute    Organic 
                   2021   2020    variance   variance 
                   GBP'm  GBP'm      %          % 
-----------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
Revenue 
Global             29.2   25.8      13%        16% 
UK & Ireland       22.1   24.6     -10%        0% 
North America       4.9    6.1     -20%       -15% 
-----------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
Total Revenue      56.2   56.5      -1%        6% 
-----------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
Operating Profit   12.2    7.9      54%        65% 
Margin %            22%    14% 
-----------------  -----  -----  ---------  --------- 
 

Business model and market

The Global division comprises three businesses that operate in compliance markets. The largest business, which was developed organically within Wilmington, is the International Compliance Association ('ICA'). It is an industry body and training business that we created in 2002 which offers professional development and support to compliance officers predominantly in the financial services sector. It has offices in the UK, Singapore, Malaysia and Dubai.

Revenue earned by ICA is primarily training income complemented by subscriptions paid by the professional members for their ICA accreditations. The courses ICA run usually extend over several weeks or even months. They traditionally mix distance learning with face-to-face sessions. The distance learning element has transitioned to online and digital variants, and virtual programmes have been offered in place of face-to-face sessions. To support the move to virtual training in ICA a new digital learning platform ('hub') is being built - it was launched at the start of 2021 and further developments are due for release in the coming months.

ICA primarily serves the financial services industry. The material for ICA courses is developed by our own internal R&D team, and external specialists, and we own the associated intellectual property.

The other Global businesses earn revenue from running professional development programmes for wealth managers and training for professionals joining the investment banking industry. Wilmington has an international presence, with centres in UK, Europe, North America and Asia Pacific and consistent investment in technology maintains the Group's competitive positioning.

The North America business is predominantly events based. They serve the US healthcare/ health insurance markets and, to a lesser extent, the US financial and legal service communities. The prime brand is the RISE series of events that address the Medicare and Medicaid markets and is attended by health plans, physician groups and solution partners. The flagship event is RISE National which normally takes place in Nashville in March each year, although it ran online in FY21. Revenue from the US events is generated from both sponsorship and delegate sales.

The UK and Ireland division predominantly provides training for accountants in practice and in business and individuals involved in the legal system, including lawyers. It runs a mix of face to face, online and blended learning for these communities. It provides training at various levels including providing continuing professional development for existing qualified accountants and, in the case of the legal profession, helping them train their clients for interaction with the legal system. Additionally, it provides technical support to accountancy firms which enables them to keep abreast of technical developments and changes to regulation, as well as supporting them to promote the services they then offer to their clients.

The Accountancy and Legal businesses are predominantly UK and Ireland based, reflecting the country specific laws and accounting standards that govern their profession. Revenue in the unit is earned through clients subscribing for ongoing training support and other related activities over a period of time (usually twelve months), with the rest through one-off course attendance fees. Courses are typically single or half day events, and content is a mix of owned and third-party intellectual property. Courses are delivered either by in-house experts or by a network of independent tutors who are paid per course that they deliver.

Before the impact of Covid-19, the Accountancy market was growing, although this was somewhat offset by the continued consolidation of smaller firms, some Brexit uncertainty and a relatively stable backdrop in terms of tax legislation and accounting standards. In contrast the Law for Non-Lawyers market was strong with good demand for existing products as well as successful launches of new training courses. Wilmington exited the CPD training market for lawyers in FY21 when it sold its Central Law Training (CLT) business in Scotland and closed the CLT business in England.

Trading performance

Training & Education revenues grew organically by 6% in the year, representing a significant improvement in the second half as revenues were down 12% in the first half of the year.

ICA revenues were 21% up on FY20 due mainly to very strong growth in Singapore where government funding for compliance training, the rapid adaptation of our services to ensure compliance with government requirements, and a restructuring of our operations, led to a doubling of revenues. AMT saw strong growth in FY21 of 19%, with all its courses being delivered virtually and benefitting from strong demand from its blue-chip customer base. CLTi had a slower year as demand for its international courses dropped during the pandemic.

The legal sector businesses in the UK and Ireland (Bond Solon and LaTouche) saw double-digit growth in FY21, driven by a strong return of demand particularly in the last quarter of the year. Accountancy revenues also had a strong second half and reduced the deficit on FY20 seen in H1 to end the year 9% down on FY20. CLT revenues were GBP0.6m in the year (2020: GBP2.9m) up to the closure of CLT England in August 2020 and the sale of CLT Scotland in December 2020.

In the US, FRA revenues ended the year 15% down on FY20. They were more than 50% down at the half year but a strong digital performance in H2 as well as a return to face-to-face and hybrid events in June 2021 gives the business a strong platform to return to growth provided that face-to-face events continue in the US in FY22.

Overall divisional operating profit increased strongly by 54% on FY20, mainly due to cost efficiencies realised through the lack of face-to-face training (lower venue hire, external tutor and travel costs). The increase also reflects the impact of the closure of CLT, which was loss making in the prior year. As a result, the operating profit margin rose to 22% from 14% in FY20.

Financial review

Overview

The Group performed well during the year, achieving organic revenue growth of 3% (2020: down 8%). Revenue growth was supported by strong cost control and efficiencies realised through conversion to digital, driving increased profitability and a corresponding improvement in adjusted operating margin at 14.7% (2020: 12.4%). This resulted in strong cash generation, reflected in a significantly reduced net debt position (including lease liabilities) at 30 June 2021 of GBP28.0m (2020: GBP40.8m).

Adjusting items, measures and adjusted results

In this financial review reference is made to adjusted results as well as the equivalent statutory measures. Adjusted results, in the opinion of the Directors, provide additional relevant information on our future or past performance where equivalent information cannot be presented using financial measures under IFRS. Adjusted results exclude adjusting items, gain on disposal of subsidiaries and business operations, impairment and amortisation of intangible assets (excluding computer software).

 
                                                                      Organic 
                             2021     2020      Absolute variance     variance 
                           GBP'm    GBP'm      GBP'm         %           % 
------------------------  -------  -------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Revenue                   113.0    113.1      (0.1)      (0.0%)       3.3% 
 Adjusted profit before 
  tax                       15.0     11.9       3.1        26.6%       27.9% 
 Margin %                   13.3     10.5 
------------------------  -------  -------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Variances described as 'organic' are calculated using constant currencies and exclude the impact of the closure and disposal of CLT England and CLT Scotland respectively, as well as the disposal of a pension fund product line within the Information & Data division.

Revenue

Group revenue was flat overall and increased 3% on an organic basis.

Operating expenses before adjusting items, amortisation and impairment

Operating expenses before adjusting items, amortisation of intangible assets (excluding computer software) and impairment, were GBP96.4m (2020: GBP99.0m) down GBP2.6m or 2.6%.

Within operating expenses, staff costs increased GBP1.4m to GBP54.7m (2020: GBP53.3m). This net increase was driven by the full year effect of investments in new roles that have been key to our strategic progress. Discretionary staff bonuses and sales commission payments were also GBP1.7m higher than the prior year supported by a stronger trading performance in FY21. The increases described above were offset by salary cost savings generated from a reduction in the average monthly headcount during the year to 952 from 982 in the prior year. This decrease in headcount was primarily driven by the closure of CLT England as well as the sale of CLS Scotland and AP Pensions. There was also a small saving in share based payment costs of GBP0.2m due to revised vesting assumptions during the year.

Non-staff costs decreased by GBP4.0m to GBP41.7m from GBP45.7m in the prior year. Direct costs made up GBP3.7m of this decrease, demonstrating cost savings from a full 12-month period of running virtual events and training as opposed to traditional, more costly face-to-face variants. A further GBP1.6m cost saving was driven by the closure and sale of CLT England and CLT Scotland, respectively. These, and other cost decreases, were partly offset by an increase in direct costs of GBP2.3m to support organic revenue growth primarily in the Group's Compliance and Global Training businesses.

Unallocated central overheads

Unallocated central overheads, representing Board costs and head office salaries as well as other centrally incurred costs not recharged to the businesses, were flat year-on-year at GBP4.3m (2020: GBP4.3m).

Adjusted profit before tax ('adjusted PBT')

As a result of these changes in revenue, operating expenses and finance costs, adjusted profit before tax, which eliminates the impact of adjusting items, amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer software, other income (when it is material or of a significant nature), and impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment, was up 26.6% to GBP15.0m (2020: GBP11.9m).

Adjusted profit margin (adjusted PBT expressed as a percentage of revenue) also increased to 13.3% (2020: 10.5%).

Amortisation excluding computer software

Amortisation of intangible assets (excluding computer software) was GBP3.4m, compared to GBP4.8m in the previous year. The decrease reflects certain historic assets being fully amortised part way through the prior year.

Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

An impairment charge of GBP3.0m was recognised in relation to the goodwill and intangible assets attributable to a loss-making product line in the Healthcare sub-division that was discontinued during the year. GBP1.5m of this impairment charge was allocated against goodwill, with the remaining GBP1.5m allocated to intangible assets.

The Group's annual impairment review concluded that the carrying value of the UK Healthcare CGU exceeded its recoverable amount. This reflects the ongoing uncertainty around the anticipated timeline for a return to pre-pandemic growth within the UK Healthcare business following Covid-19 related disruption to the healthcare industry. Consequently, an impairment charge of GBP8.4m has been recognised to reduce the carrying value of the CGU, and has been allocated entirely to the associated goodwill.

The right-of-use asset and associated property, plant and equipment relating to the Group's head office premises were impaired during the year following a decision to consolidate office space to reflect a future of flexible working arrangements. Management took the decision to permanently close a portion of the head office and seek a tenant to sublease the closed portion. This resulted in a GBP3.4m impairment charge, GBP2.8m of which was allocated to the head office, with the remaining GBP0.6m allocated to the associated property, plant and equipment.

This resulted in a total impairment charge of GBP14.8m which was recognised within adjusting items for the year ended 30 June 2021.

Adjusting items within operating expenses

Adjusting items in operating expenses are those items that in the opinion of the Directors are one-off in nature and which do not represent the ongoing trading performance of the business. In the year adjusting items within operating expenses were GBP3.0m (2020: GBP0.6m). These items are mainly GBP1.9m (2020: GBPnil) representing an onerous provision for costs associated with the closed portion of the head office and GBP1.1m (2020: GBP0.6m) relating to strategic activities. Costs associated with strategic activities relate to strategic reviews of two of the Group's businesses, Central Law Training Limited and Wilmington Inese SL in addition to costs associated with the disposal of business operations.

Operating loss ('EBITA')

Operating profit decreased from GBP8.6m in the prior year to an operating loss of GBP0.4m for the year ended 30 June 2021. The decrease is driven primarily by the impact of the adjusting items and the GBP14.8m impairment charge detailed above, offset in part by the profit on disposal of CLT Scotland and a pension fund product line within the Information & Data division.

Net finance costs

Net finance costs decreased by GBP0.6m to GBP1.6m (2020: GBP2.2m), within which interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts fell GBP0.2m due to lower average debt balances across the year. In addition to this, the prior year expense includes fees in respect of the renegotiation of the Group's financing arrangements during the year ended 30 June 2020.

Result before taxation

Loss before taxation was GBP2.0m compared to a profit before tax in the prior year of GBP6.4m, a reconciliation of this to adjusted profit before tax can be found in note 3.

Taxation

The tax charge for the year was GBP2.5m compared to GBP1.8m in the prior year. Despite a significant reduction in profit before taxation from GBP6.4m in the prior year to a loss before taxation of GBP2.0m during the year, the main driver of this profit reduction was the impairment charge detailed above which was not deductible for tax purposes.

The underlying tax rate which ignores the tax effects of adjusting items remained essentially unchanged at 20.5% (2020: 20.9%).

Earnings per share

Adjusted basic earnings per share increased by 27.2% to 13.62p (2020: 10.71p), owing to the increase in adjusted profit before tax, a broadly flat underlying tax rate and an essentially unchanged number of issued ordinary shares. Basic loss per share was 5.18p compared to a basic earnings per share of 5.33p in the prior year, wholly reflecting the decrease in profit after tax.

Dividend

A final dividend of 3.9p per share (2020: nil) will be proposed at the AGM. If approved it will be paid on 12 November 2021 to shareholders on the register as at 15 October 2021 with an associated ex-dividend date of 14 October 2021. This will give a full year dividend of 6.0p (2020: nil) and dividend cover of 2.3 times (2020: nil).

Balance sheet

Non-current assets

Goodwill decreased by GBP12.1m from GBP77.9m to GBP65.8m which was primarily due to the GBP8.4m impairment of goodwill relating to the UK Healthcare CGU, as well as the GBP1.5m impairment relating to a discontinued loss-making product line as described above. Additionally, a weakening US Dollar led to a decrease in the Sterling value of the US Dollar portion of the Group's goodwill.

Intangible assets decreased by GBP5.7m from GBP19.7m to GBP14.0m due to amortisation of GBP5.8m and an impairment of GBP1.5m as described above. These decreases were partly offset by additions of GBP2.0m within computer software reflecting the Group's continued strategy to invest in the existing businesses to fuel organic growth. Additions during the year reflect the installation of the new virtual classroom facility in the Birmingham UK office, as well as continued investment in Wilmington's Digital Hub. Internally generated assets accounted for GBP0.5m of additions (2020: GBP0.8m).

Property, plant and equipment decreased by GBP7.6m from GBP16.9m in the prior year to GBP9.3m in the year ended 30 June 2021. Of this decrease, GBP5.2m was attributable to right-of-use assets.

The GBP2.4m decrease in purchased property, plant and equipment was attributable to depreciation of GBP1.2m and impairment of GBP0.6m, partly offset by GBP1.0m of additions during the year. Furthermore, the carrying value of GBP1.6m relating to a building marketed for sale at 30 June 2021, as part of the exercise to consolidate our office space, was transferred from property, plant and equipment to assets held for sale.

As detailed above, right-of-use assets decreased by GBP5.2m to GBP6.6m (2020: GBP11.8m) during the year. This decrease is primarily due to the GBP2.8m impairment of the Group's head office detailed above as well as depreciation of GBP2.2m during the year.

Deferred consideration receivable

The deferred consideration receivable balance relates to the disposal of ICP in July 2018. At 30 June 2021 the Group recognised a total of GBP1.8m (2020: GBP2.2m) of deferred consideration receivable, with GBP1.6m recognised within non-current assets and the remaining GBP0.2m recognised within current assets. During the year, a GBP0.1m unwind of the discount was offset by an increase of GBP0.5m reflecting an agreed adjustment to the phasing of the settlement plan.

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables were up GBP3.2m at GBP28.7m (2020: GBP25.5m). This increase was due in large to increased billings compared to the prior year. The increase was partly offset by the closure and disposal of CLT England and CLT Scotland respectively, which collectively comprised GBP0.3m within trade receivables in the prior year.

Current tax asset

At 30 June 2021 the Group recognised an asset relating to current tax of GBP0.3m (2020: GBP1.3m). The net asset position reflects a claim to carry back US losses against prior year returns resulting in a net repayment position.

Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables decreased by GBP3.5m from GBP58.5m to GBP55.0m. Within this, subscriptions and deferred revenue decreased GBP1.4m or 4.3% to GBP30.1m (2020: GBP31.5m) and trade and other payables decreased GBP2.2m to GBP24.8m (2020: GBP27.0m).

This decrease in subscriptions and deferred revenue was driven in large by the delayed RISE Nashville event which has resulted in fewer prepayments from event sponsors or delegates being held than in the prior year. In addition to this, subscriptions and deferred revenue in the prior year included GBP0.6m of deferred revenue in respect of CLT England which was GBPnil for the year ended 30 June 2021 following its closure.

The decrease in trade and other payables was primarily driven by the unwind of deferred VAT and payroll tax payments which were on the balance sheet in the prior year in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. A further driver of the decrease was less spend on venues and related costs during the year following the transition to virtual of many of the Group's training and events.

Provisions

At 30 June 2021 a provision of GBP1.8m has been recognised in respect of future committed cost associated with the closed portion of the head office space.

Net debt, lease liabilities and cash flow

Net debt, which includes cash and cash equivalents, bank loans (excluding capitalised loan arrangement fees) and bank overdrafts, and lease liabilities was GBP28.0m (2020: GBP40.8m). This significant decrease in net debt is driven by a strong trading performance delivering improved profits, deployment of effective cash management strategies as well as a small product disposal during the year which has enabled the business to reduce the level of drawdown debt.

Lease liabilities decreased during the year by GBP2.4m to GBP10.7m (2020: GBP13.1m) which represents cash payments in relation to contractual lease obligations, offset in part by GBP0.3m of notional interest on lease liabilities reported within net finance costs.

Cash conversion for the year ended 30 June 2021 was 104% (2020: 189%), although year-on-year comparison of the percentages has been impacted by the unusual movement in working capital, driven by delayed 2020 payments of UK VAT and payroll tax of GBP5.7m in the prior year.

Derivative financial instruments

The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risks, liquidity and capital risks and credit risks . The Group has policies that mitigate these risks which include the use of derivative products such as forwards and swaps subject to Board approval . The Group uses interest rate swap contracts to mitigate part of the interest rate volatility risk. These swaps have resulted in an asset of GBP0.1m (2020: GBP0.1m liability) at 30 June 2021.

On 1 July 2021 the Group entered into a number of foreign currency transactions to mitigate possible exchange rate fluctuations on its FY22 financial results. $8.5m USD were sold forward to mature during the 2021/2022 financial year at an average rate of $1.38.

Share capital

During the year nil (2020: 64,350) new ordinary shares of GBP0.05 were issued. Shares which vested during the year under the Group's Performance Share Plan were settled via the Wilmington Group plc Employee Share Ownership Trust.

In the year the Wilmington Group plc Employee Share Ownership Trust purchased 129,903 ordinary shares for the purpose of future settlement of employee share schemes. At 30 June 2021 it held 329,903 shares (2020: 200,000).

Statement of Directors' responsibilities in respect of the financial statements

The statement of directors' responsibilities below has been prepared in connection with the Group's full Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 2021. Certain parts of the Annual Report have not been included in this announcement as set out in note 1 of the financial information.

We confirm to the best of our knowledge that:

-- the consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the United Kingdom, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group;

-- the management report represented by the report of the Directors, and material incorporated by reference, includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face; and

-- the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to access the company's performance, business model and strategy.

This responsibility statement was approved by the board of Directors on 17 September 2021 and is signed on its behalf by

Guy Millward

Chief Financial Officer

Consolidated income statement

for the year ended 30 June 2021

 
                                                                     Year ended     Year ended 
                                                                   30 June 2021   30 June 2020 
                                                           Notes        GBP'000        GBP'000 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 Continuing operations 
 Revenue                                                       4        113,027        113,075 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 Operating expenses before amortisation of intangibles 
  excluding computer software, impairment and adjusting 
  items                                                                (96,378)       (99,044) 
 Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, 
  plant and equipment                                         5a       (14,834)              - 
 Amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer 
  software                                                    5b        (3,400)        (4,797) 
 Adjusting items                                              5b        (2,970)          (625) 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 Operating expenses                                            6      (117,582)      (104,466) 
 Other income - gain on disposal of business operations       11          3,394              - 
 Other income - gain on disposal of subsidiary                11            770              - 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 Operating (loss)/profit                                                  (391)          8,609 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 Net finance costs                                             7        (1,634)        (2,175) 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 (Loss)/profit before tax                                               (2,025)          6,434 
 Taxation                                                      8        (2,522)        (1,760) 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 (Loss)/profit for the year attributable to owners 
  of the parent                                                         (4,547)          4,674 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 (Loss)/earnings per share: 
 Basic (p)                                                    10         (5.18)           5.33 
 Diluted (p)                                                  10         (5.18)           5.26 
 --------------------------------------------------------  -----  -------------  ------------- 
 
 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

for the year ended 30 June 2021

 
                                                       Year ended  Year ended 
                                                          30 June     30 June 
                                                             2021        2020 
                                                          GBP'000     GBP'000 
 ----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 (Loss)/profit for the year                               (4,547)       4,674 
 Other comprehensive (expense)/income: 
 Items that may be reclassified subsequently to the 
  income statement 
 ----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Fair value movements on interest rate swaps, net of 
  tax                                                          93         116 
 Currency translation differences                         (1,732)         513 
 Fair value movements of net investment hedges, net 
  of tax                                                      762       (237) 
 ----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year, 
  net of tax                                                (877)         392 
 ----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the year 
  attributable to owners of the parent                    (5,424)       5,066 
 ----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Items in the statement above are disclosed net of tax. The income tax relating to each component of other comprehensive income is disclosed in note 8.

Consolidated balance sheet

as at 30 June 2021

 
 
                                               2021       2020 
                                    Notes   GBP'000    GBP'000 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Non-current assets 
Goodwill                               12    65,833     77,876 
Intangible assets                      13    14,000     19,712 
Property, plant and equipment          14     9,277     16,894 
Deferred consideration receivable             1,585      2,163 
Derivative financial instruments                 57          - 
Deferred tax assets                           1,364      1,189 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
                                             92,116    117,834 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Current assets 
Trade and other receivables            15    28,698     25,526 
Deferred consideration receivable               250          - 
Current tax assets                              312      1,314 
Cash and cash equivalents                     7,374     21,426 
Assets held for sale                   14     1,588          - 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
                                             38,222     48,266 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Total assets                                130,338    166,100 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables               16  (54,959)   (58,495) 
Lease liabilities                      17   (2,356)    (2,660) 
Derivative financial instruments                  -       (59) 
Borrowings                                  (3,644)          - 
Provisions                             18     (461)          - 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
                                           (61,420)   (61,214) 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Non-current liabilities 
Borrowings                                 (20,430)   (48,495) 
Lease liabilities                      17   (8,386)   (10,461) 
Deferred tax liabilities                    (2,054)    (2,524) 
Provisions                             18   (1,381)          - 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
                                           (32,251)   (61,480) 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Total liabilities                          (93,671)  (122,694) 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Net assets                                   36,667     43,406 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Equity 
Share capital                                 4,380      4,380 
Share premium                                45,225     45,225 
Treasury and ESOT reserves                    (701)      (590) 
Share based payments reserve                  1,390      1,195 
Translation reserve                           2,069      3,801 
Accumulated losses                         (15,696)   (10,605) 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
Total equity                                 36,667     43,406 
----------------------------------  -----  --------  --------- 
 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

for the year ended 30 June 2021

 
                                        Share capital, 
                                        share premium, 
                                           ESOT shares  Share based 
                                          and treasury     payments  Translation  Accumulated 
                                                shares      reserve      reserve       losses  Total equity 
                                               GBP'000      GBP'000      GBP'000      GBP'000       GBP'000 
-------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 
At 30 June 2019                                 49,506          839        3,288     (10,765)        42,868 
Effect of initial application 
 of IFRS 16                                          -            -            -        (180)         (180) 
Tax relating to initial 
 application of IFRS 16                              -            -            -           34            34 
-------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
At 1 July 2019                                  49,506          839        3,288     (10,911)        42,722 
Profit for the year                                  -            -            -        4,674         4,674 
Other comprehensive income/(expense) 
 for the year                                        -            -          513        (121)           392 
-------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
                                                49,506          839        3,801      (6,358)        47,788 
Transactions with owners: 
Dividends paid                                       -            -            -      (4,378)       (4,378) 
Issue of share capital                               3        (242)            -          239             - 
ESOT share purchases                             (497)            -            -            -         (497) 
Sale of treasury shares                              3            -            -            -             3 
Share based payments                                 -          598            -            -           598 
Tax on share based payments                          -            -            -        (108)         (108) 
-------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
At 30 June 2020                                 49,015        1,195        3,801     (10,605)        43,406 
Loss for the year                                    -            -            -      (4,547)       (4,547) 
Other comprehensive (expense)/income 
 for the year                                        -            -      (1,732)          855         (877) 
-------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
                                                49,015        1,195        2,069     (14,297)        37,982 
Transactions with owners: 
Dividends paid                                       -            -            -      (1,829)       (1,829) 
Performance share plan awards 
 vesting settled via ESOT                          137        (241)            -          104             - 
ESOT share purchases                             (263)            -            -            -         (263) 
Sale of treasury shares                             15            -            -            -            15 
Share based payments                                 -          436            -            -           436 
Tax on share based payments                          -            -            -          326           326 
-------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
At 30 June 2021                                 48,904        1,390        2,069     (15,696)        36,667 
-------------------------------------  ---------------  -----------  -----------  -----------  ------------ 
 

Consolidated cash flow statement

for the year ended 30 June 2021

 
 
                                                                Year ended  Year ended 
                                                                   30 June     30 June 
                                                                      2021        2020 
                                                         Notes     GBP'000     GBP'000 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Cash generated from operations before adjusting 
  items                                                     19      17,290      26,512 
 Cash flows for adjusting items - operating 
  activities                                                         (339)       (293) 
 Cash flows from share based payments                                    9        (16) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash generated from operations                                     16,960      26,203 
 Interest paid                                                     (1,196)     (1,632) 
 Tax paid                                                          (2,697)     (4,377) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Net cash generated from operating activities                       13,067      20,194 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Disposal of subsidiary                                     11         400           - 
 Disposal of business operations                            11       4,144           - 
 Deferred consideration paid                                             -     (1,957) 
 Deferred consideration received                                       250         200 
 Cash flows for adjusting items - investing 
  activities                                                         (151)       (217) 
 Purchase of property, plant and equipment                         (1,047)       (538) 
 Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and 
  equipment                                                            103          27 
 Purchase of intangible assets                                     (1,969)     (3,315) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Net cash generated from/(used in) investing 
  activities                                                         1,730     (5,800) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Dividends paid to owners of the parent                            (1,829)     (4,378) 
 Share issuance costs                                                    -         (3) 
 Payment of lease liabilities                                      (2,530)     (2,392) 
 Purchase of shares by ESOT                                          (263)       (497) 
 Fees relating to new and extended loan facility                     (191)       (741) 
 Increase in bank loans                                              2,000      14,000 
 Decrease in bank loans                                           (29,181)     (7,000) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Net cash used in financing activities                            (31,994)     (1,011) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents, 
  net of bank overdrafts                                          (17,197)      13,383 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents, net of bank overdrafts 
  at beginning of the year                                          21,426       7,921 
 Exchange (loss)/gain on cash and cash equivalents                   (499)         122 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents, net of bank overdrafts 
  at end of the year                                                 3,730      21,426 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Reconciliation of net debt 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the 
  year                                                              21,426       7,921 
 Bank overdrafts at beginning of the year                                -           - 
 Bank loans at beginning of the year                              (49,082)    (41,790) 
 Lease liabilities at beginning of the year                       (13,121)           - 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Net debt at beginning of the year                                (40,777)    (33,869) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents, 
  net of bank overdrafts                                          (17,696)      13,505 
 Net repayment/(drawdown) in bank loans                             27,181     (7,000) 
 Exchange gain/(loss) on bank loans                                    941       (292) 
 Movement in lease liabilities/(transition to 
  IFRS 16)                                                           2,379    (13,121) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year                        7,374      21,426 
 Bank overdrafts at end of the year                                (3,644)           - 
 Bank loans at end of the year                                    (20,960)    (49,082) 
 Lease liabilities at end of the year                             (10,742)    (13,121) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 Net debt at end of the year                                      (27,972)    (40,777) 
 ------------------------------------------------------  -----  ----------  ---------- 
 

Notes to the financial statements

1. Nature of the Financial Statements

The following financial information does not amount to full financial statements within the meaning of Section 434 of Companies Act 2006. The financial information has been extracted from the Group's Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2021 on which an unqualified report has been made by the Company's auditors.

Financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2020 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies; the report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006. The 2021 statutory accounts will be delivered in due course.

Copies of the Annual Report and Financial Statements will be made available to shareholders shortly and printed copies will be available from the Company's registered office at 10 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 8QS.

2. Statement of accounting policies

The preliminary announcement for the year ended 30 June 2021 has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the United Kingdom. The accounting policies applied in this preliminary announcement are consistent with those reported in the Group's Annual Financial Statements for the year ended 30 June 2020. There was no material effect from the adoption of new standards or interpretations in the year ended 30 June 2021.

3. Measures of profit

Reconciliation to profit on continuing activities before tax

To provide shareholders with additional understanding of the trading performance of the Group, adjusted EBITA has been calculated as profit before tax after adding back:

   --     impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment; 
   --     amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer software; 
   --     adjusting items (included in operating expenses); 
   --     other income - gain on disposal of subsidiary; 
   --    other income - gain on disposal of business operations; and 
   --     net finance costs. 

Adjusted profit before tax, adjusted EBITA and adjusted EBITDA reconcile to profit on continuing activities before tax as follows:

 
                                                          Year ended  Year ended 
                                                             30 June     30 June 
                                                                2021        2020 
                                                             GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
(Loss)/profit before tax                                     (2,025)       6,434 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, 
 plant and equipment                                          14,834           - 
Amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer 
 software                                                      3,400       4,797 
Adjusting items (included in operating expenses)               2,970         625 
Other income - gain on disposal of business operations       (3,394)           - 
Other income - gain on disposal of subsidiary                  (770)           - 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Adjusted profit before tax                                    15,015      11,856 
Net finance costs                                              1,634       2,175 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Adjusted operating profit ('adjusted EBITA')                  16,649      14,031 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment included 
 in operating expenses                                         3,399       3,199 
Amortisation of intangible assets - computer software          2,416       2,080 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Adjusted EBITA before depreciation ('adjusted EBITDA')        22,464      19,310 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

4. Segmental information

In accordance with IFRS 8 the Group's operating segments are based on the operating results reviewed by the Board, which represents the chief operating decision maker.

During the year, the Group reorganised its business into two Divisions (Training & Education and Information & Data).

The Group's dynamic portfolio provides customers with a range of information, data, training and education solutions. The two divisions (Training & Education and Information & Data) are the Group's segments and generate all of the Group's revenue. The Board considers the business from both a geographic and product perspective. Geographically, management considers the performance of the Group between the UK, Europe (excluding the UK), North America and the Rest of the World.

a) Business segments

 
                                                  Revenue         Profit        Revenue         Profit 
                                               Year ended     Year ended     Year ended     Year ended 
                                             30 June 2021   30 June 2021   30 June 2020   30 June 2020 
                                                  GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000 
------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  ------------- 
Training & Education                               56,211         12,197         56,474          7,933 
Information & Data                                 56,816          9,320         56,601         11,077 
------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  ------------- 
Group total                                       113,027         21,517        113,075         19,010 
Unallocated central overheads                           -        (4,302)              -        (4,255) 
Share based payments                                    -          (566)              -          (724) 
------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  ------------- 
                                                  113,027         16,649        113,075         14,031 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible 
 assets and property, plant and equipment                       (14,834)                             - 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
 excluding computer software                                     (3,400)                       (4,797) 
Adjusting items (included in operating 
 expenses)                                                       (2,970)                         (625) 
Other income - gain on disposal of 
 business operations                                               3,394                             - 
Other income - gain on disposal of 
 subsidiary                                                          770                             - 
Net finance costs                                                (1,634)                       (2,175) 
------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  ------------- 
(Loss)/profit before tax                                         (2,025)                         6,434 
Taxation                                                         (2,522)                       (1,760) 
------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  ------------- 
(Loss)/profit for the financial year                             (4,547)                         4,674 
------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  -------------  ------------- 
 

There are no intra-segmental revenues which are material for disclosure. Unallocated central overheads represent central costs that are not specifically allocated to segments. Total assets and liabilities for each reportable segment are not presented; as such, information is not provided to the Board.

b) Segmental information by geography

The UK is the Group's country of domicile and the Group generates the majority of its revenue from external customers in the UK. The geographical analysis of revenue is on the basis of the country of origin in which the customer is invoiced:

 
                            Year ended  Year ended 
                               30 June     30 June 
                                  2021        2020 
                               GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
UK                              61,999      65,793 
Europe (excluding the UK)       23,304      21,037 
North America                   15,042      18,042 
Rest of the World               12,682       8,203 
--------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Total revenue                  113,027     113,075 
--------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

c) Timing of revenue recognition

The timing of the Group's revenue recognition is as follows:

 
                                                      Year ended  Year ended 
                                                         30 June     30 June 
                                                            2021        2020 
                                                         GBP'000     GBP'000 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Revenue from products and services transferred at 
 a point in time                                          41,583      59,524 
Revenue from products and services transferred over 
 time                                                     71,444      53,551 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Total revenue                                            113,027     113,075 
----------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

The value of revenue recognised in the year which was included in subscriptions and deferred revenue at the start of the year was GBP31,465,000 (2020: GBP30,794,000).

5. (Loss)/profit from continuing operations

a) (Loss)/profit for the year from continuing operations is stated after charging/(crediting):

 
                                                           Year ended  Year ended 
                                                              30 June     30 June 
                                                                 2021        2020 
                                                              GBP'000     GBP'000 
---------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment - included 
 in operating expenses                                          3,399       3,199 
Short term and low-value leases                                   486         308 
Amortisation of intangible assets - computer software           2,416       2,080 
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and 
 equipment                                                          2         (7) 
Share based payments (including social security costs)            566         724 
Amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer 
 software                                                       3,400       4,797 
Adjusting items (included in operating expenses)                2,970         625 
Gain on disposal of business operations                       (3,394)           - 
Gain on disposal of subsidiary                                  (770)           - 
Research and development expenditure credit                     (290)           - 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, 
 plant and equipment                                           14,834           - 
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss                                     (24)          14 
Fees payable to the auditors for the audit of the 
 Company and consolidated financial statements                     95          87 
Fees payable to the auditors and their associates 
 for other services: 
- The audit of the Company's subsidiaries pursuant 
 to legislation                                                   182         152 
- Audit related other services                                     15          15 
---------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

The impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment relates to:

 
                                Year ended  Year ended 
                                   30 June     30 June 
                                      2021        2020 
                                   GBP'000     GBP'000 
------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Goodwill                             9,873           - 
Intangible assets                    1,516           - 
Property, plant and equipment        3,445           - 
------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                    14,834           - 
------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

b) Adjusting items

The following items have been charged to the income statement during the year but are considered to be adjusting so are shown separately:

 
                                                          Year ended  Year ended 
                                                             30 June     30 June 
                                                                2021        2020 
                                                             GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Costs relating to strategic activities                         1,128         218 
Increase in liability for deferred consideration                   -         407 
Costs relating to the consolidation of office space            1,842           - 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Other adjusting items (included in operating expenses)         2,970         625 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, 
 plant and equipment                                          14,834           - 
Amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer 
 software                                                      3,400       4,797 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Total adjusting items (classified in profit before 
 tax)                                                         21,204       5,422 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

The costs relating to strategic activities in the year to 30 June 2021 are in respect of strategic reviews of two of the Group's businesses, Central Law Training Limited and Wilmington Inese SL, in addition to strategic costs associated with the disposal of business operations . The costs relating to the consolidation of office space relate to the recognition of an onerous provision in respect of future costs associated with the portion of the head office no longer in use.

6. Operating expenses

 
                                              Year ended 30 June 2021             Year ended 30 June 2020 
                                         ----------------------------------  ---------------------------------- 
                                          Cost of                             Cost of 
                                            sales  Administration     Total     sales  Administration     Total 
                                          GBP'000         GBP'000   GBP'000   GBP'000         GBP'000   GBP'000 
---------------------------------------  --------  --------------  --------  --------  --------------  -------- 
Operating expenses before depreciation 
 and amortisation                          86,167           4,396    90,563    89,363           4,402    93,765 
Depreciation of property, plant 
 and equipment                              3,399               -     3,399     3,199               -     3,199 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets - computer software                 2,416               -     2,416     2,080               -     2,080 
---------------------------------------  --------  --------------  --------  --------  --------------  -------- 
Operating expenses before amortisation 
 of intangibles excluding computer 
 software, impairment and adjusting 
 items                                     91,982           4,396    96,378    94,642           4,402    99,044 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets - databases                           826               -       826     1,673               -     1,673 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets - customer relationships            1,052               -     1,052     1,309               -     1,309 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets - brands                            1,016               -     1,016     1,241               -     1,241 
Amortisation of intangible 
 assets - publishing rights 
 and titles                                   506               -       506       574               -       574 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible 
 assets and property, plant 
 and equipment                                  -          14,834    14,834         -               -         - 
Other adjusting items (note 
 5b)                                            -           2,970     2,970         -             625       625 
---------------------------------------  --------  --------------  --------  --------  --------------  -------- 
Operating expenses                         95,382          22,200   117,582    99,439           5,027   104,466 
---------------------------------------  --------  --------------  --------  --------  --------------  -------- 
 

7. Net finance costs

 
                                                           Year ended  Year ended 
                                                              30 June     30 June 
                                                                 2021        2020 
                                                              GBP'000     GBP'000 
---------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Net finance costs comprise: 
Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts                   1,437       1,587 
Unwinding of the discount on royalty payments receivable        (139)       (142) 
Bank arrangement fees                                               -         388 
Notional interest on lease liabilities                            336         342 
---------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                                1,634       2,175 
---------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

8. Taxation

 
                                                    Year ended  Year ended 
                                                       30 June     30 June 
                                                          2021        2020 
                                                       GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Current tax 
UK corporation tax at current rates on UK profits 
 for the year                                            2,327       1,859 
Adjustments in respect of previous years                    30          30 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
                                                         2,357       1,889 
Foreign tax                                                993         769 
Adjustments in respect of previous years                  (21)        (75) 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Total current tax                                        3,329       2,583 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Total deferred tax                                       (807)       (823) 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Taxation                                                 2,522       1,760 
--------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Factors affecting the tax charge for the year:

The effective tax rate is higher (2020: higher) than the average rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.00% (2020: 19.00%). The differences are explained below:

 
                                                          Year ended  Year ended 
                                                             30 June     30 June 
                                                                2021        2020 
                                                             GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
(Loss)/profit before tax                                     (2,025)       6,434 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
(Loss)/profit before tax multiplied by the average 
 rate of corporation tax in the year of 19.00% (2020: 
 19.00%)                                                       (385)       1,222 
Tax effects of: 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, 
 plant and equipment                                           2,818           - 
Foreign tax rate differences                                     177          48 
Adjustment in respect of previous years                            9        (45) 
Other items not subject to tax                                 (230)         328 
Effect on deferred tax of change of corporation tax 
 rate                                                            133         207 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Taxation                                                       2,522       1,760 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the rates that are expected to apply in the periods of the reversal.

The Company's profits for this accounting year are taxed at an effective rate of -125.0% (2020: 27.4%).

Included in other comprehensive income are a tax charge of GBP22,000 (2020: GBP27,000) and a tax debit of GBP179,000 (2020: credit of GBP55,000) relating to the interest rate swaps and net investment hedges respectively.

The tax effect of adjusting items as disclosed in note 10 is a credit of GBP558,000 (2020: GBP712,000).

9. Dividends

Amounts recognised as distributions to owners of the parent in the year:

 
                                                Year ended  Year ended 
                                                   30 June     30 June  Year ended  Year ended 
                                                      2021        2020     30 June     30 June 
                                                 Pence per   Pence per        2021        2020 
                                                     share       share     GBP'000     GBP'000 
----------------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
Final dividends recognised as distributions 
 in the year                                             -         5.0           -       4,378 
Interim dividends recognised as distributions 
 in the year                                           2.1           -       1,829           - 
----------------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
Total dividends paid                                                         1,829       4,378 
----------------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
Final dividend proposed                                3.9           -       3,415           - 
----------------------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 

10. (Loss)/earnings per share

Adjusted earnings per share has been calculated using adjusted earnings calculated as profit after taxation attributable to owners of the parent but before:

   --     impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment; 
   --     amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer software; 
   --     adjusting items (included in operating expenses); 
   --     other income - gain on disposal of subsidiary; and 
   --    other income - gain on disposal of business operations. 

The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following data:

 
                                                          Year ended  Year ended 
                                                             30 June     30 June 
                                                                2021        2020 
                                                             GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
(Loss)/earnings from continuing operations for the 
 purpose of basic earnings per share                         (4,547)       4,674 
Add/(remove): 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and property, 
 plant and equipment                                          14,834           - 
Amortisation of intangible assets excluding computer 
 software                                                      3,400       4,797 
Adjusting items (included in operating expenses)               2,970         625 
Other income - gain on disposal of business operations       (3,394)           - 
Other income - gain on disposal of subsidiary                  (770)           - 
Tax effect of adjustments above                                (558)       (712) 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Adjusted earnings for the purposes of adjusted earnings 
 per share                                                    11,935       9,384 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 
                                                            Number      Number 
------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the 
 purposes of basic and adjusted earnings per share      87,603,917  87,590,511 
Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares: 
Future exercise of share awards and options                410,301   1,254,878 
------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the 
 purposes of diluted and adjusted diluted earnings 
 per share                                              88,014,218  88,845,389 
------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Basic (loss)/earnings per share                            (5.18p)       5.33p 
Diluted (loss)/earnings per share                          (5.18p)       5.26p 
Adjusted basic earnings per share ('adjusted earnings 
 per share')                                                13.62p      10.71p 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share                         13.56p      10.56p 
------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Potentially dilutive share options are only considered in relation to adjusted earnings per share as the Group made a basic loss per share.

11. Disposals

In the year ended 30 June 2021 the Group disposed of the following subsidiary and business operations:

 
                                                          Share/asset 
                               Country  Date of disposal   deal 
-----------------------------  -------  ----------------  ----------- 
Central Law Training Scotland 
 Limited                       UK       16 December 2020  Share deal 
AP Pensions                    UK       28 May 2021       Asset deal 
Ark Publishing book list       UK       30 April 2021     Asset deal 
-----------------------------  -------  ----------------  ----------- 
 

The disposals were executed in line with the Group's strategy to simplify its structure and to focus attention on businesses that operate in the GRC and Regulatory Compliance markets. These business operations were classified as continuing operations until their respective disposal dates. In total the Group recognised a gain on disposal of GBP4.2m presented as adjusting items.

a) Disposals of a subsidiary - Central Law Training Scotland

On 16 December 2020 the Group disposed of Central Law Training Scotland. The disposal was executed by way of the sale of

100% of the equity shares. As at the disposal date, the net assets of Central Law Training Scotland were as follows:

 
                                          GBP'000 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
Property, plant and equipment                  71 
Trade and other receivables                   138 
Amounts due from subsidiaries               1,190 
Trade and other payables                    (247) 
Deferred income                             (432) 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
Net assets disposed                           720 
Directly attributable costs of disposal       100 
Gain on disposal                              770 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
Fair value of consideration                 1,590 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
 
Satisfied by: 
Cash and cash equivalents                     400 
Settlement of intercompany balances         1,190 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
                                            1,590 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
 

b) Disposal of a business operation - AP Pensions

On 28 May 2021 the Group disposed of AP Pensions, a business operation within Wilmington Publishing & Information Limited. At the disposal date, the net assets of AP Pensions were as follows:

 
                                          GBP'000 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
Goodwill                                      861 
Deferred income                             (406) 
Net assets disposed                           455 
Directly attributable costs of disposal       295 
Gain on disposal                            3,344 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
Fair value of consideration                 4,094 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
 
Satisfied by: 
Cash and cash equivalents                   4,094 
                                            4,094 
----------------------------------------  ------- 
 

c) Disposal of a business operation - ARK Publishing book list

In addition to the above, the Group disposed of the ARK Publishing book list, a business operation within Ark Conferences Limited, on 30 April 2021 for GBP50,000, settled in cash with net assets of GBPnil.

12. Goodwill

 
                                   GBP'000 
---------------------------------  ------- 
Cost 
At 1 July 2019                     110,256 
Exchange translation differences       341 
---------------------------------  ------- 
At 30 June 2020                    110,597 
Disposals                          (1,192) 
Exchange translation differences   (1,309) 
---------------------------------  ------- 
At 30 June 2021                    108,096 
---------------------------------  ------- 
Accumulated impairment 
At 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020     32,721 
Disposals                            (331) 
Impairment                           9,873 
---------------------------------  ------- 
At 30 June 2021                     42,263 
---------------------------------  ------- 
Net book amount 
At 30 June 2021                     65,833 
---------------------------------  ------- 
At 30 June 2020                     77,876 
---------------------------------  ------- 
At 30 June 2019                     77,535 
---------------------------------  ------- 
 

Goodwill arising on business combinations is not amortised but reviewed for impairment on an annual basis, or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill may be impaired. Determining whether the carrying value of acquired goodwill is recoverable is a significant judgment given the material nature of the goodwill balance and the significant assumptions underpinning management's impairment assessment of the Group's cash generating units ('CGUs'). The Group identifies its CGUs on a business operation and geographic level. This is consistent with the way the chief operating decision maker reviews performance.

Indication of impairment

During the year, a decision was taken to discontinue the delivery of a loss-making product line in the Healthcare sub-division. This decision indicated that the associated goodwill may be impaired. Following a review, management concluded that it was appropriate to impair the remaining GBP1.5m goodwill relating to the investment in the discontinued product. This resulted in a reduction to the carrying value of the UK Healthcare CGU used in the annual impairment review.

Disposal

During the year a pension fund product line within the Healthcare sub-division was disposed of, which resulted in the disposal of the carrying value of goodwill associated with this product line. At the date of disposal the carrying value of this goodwill was GBP0.9m.

Annual impairment review

The recoverable amount for each CGU has been determined using value in use calculations. These calculations use the pre-tax future cash flow forecasts covering a three year period based on Board approved budgets. Pre-tax cash flows beyond the three year period are then extrapolated using an estimated long term growth rate of 2.0% (2020: 2.0%), providing a 'base case' scenario for the purpose of the impairment review. Key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding discount rates, three year cash flow forecasts and long term growth rates.

Discount rates

Management has applied pre-tax discount rates as follows:

 
                    Year ended     Year ended 
                  30 June 2021   30 June 2020 
Territory                  (%)            (%) 
---------------  -------------  ------------- 
United Kingdom            11.8           11.2 
United States             12.9           12.1 
Spain                     12.4           11.8 
France                    12.6           12.4 
---------------  -------------  ------------- 
 

Pre-tax discounts rates are calculated on a company specific participant basis, movements in the pre-tax discount rates for CGUs since the prior year are driven by changes in Company specific market-based inputs. Management considers the pre-tax discount rates to be calculated using appropriate methodology. The rates are in in line with its peers, and the Board views the rates as accurately reflecting the return expected by a market participant.

Three year cash flow forecasts

The three year cash flow forecasts which drive the value in use calculations take into account the impact of Covid-19. They assume a return to face-to-face training or events during the year ended 30 June 2022, albeit with flexibility built into the cost base to reduce the downside impact on profit if restrictions return. Cash flow forecasts also reflect detailed consideration of the current economic environment in the relevant markets, and external projections for wider market recovery from Covid-19. When preparing forecasts management have also benefitted from customer and market insights gained in the year ended 30 June 2021, which was impacted by a full twelve month period of Covid-19 related restrictions. Whilst acknowledging the inherent ongoing economic uncertainty, management believe the cash flows reflect a reasonable scenario on which to base the valuation of CGUs.

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions

The Group has performed sensitivity testing to assess the impact of changes in assumptions on the value in use of each CGUs. The sensitivity analysis performed assessed the impact of pessimistic but reasonably possible changes to future cash flows, long term growth rates and pre-tax discount rates. With the exception of UK Healthcare, all other CGUs retained significant headroom in these sensitised calculations, leading to the conclusion that there is no realistic change of assumption that would result in carrying value to exceed its recoverable amount.

UK Healthcare

The UK Healthcare CGU has a relatively high goodwill carrying value, partly due to its composition of predominantly acquired, rather than internally generated, assets. As a result, the headroom on this CGU has historically been at a lower level than that related to the Group's other assets. The sensitivity analysis performed as part of the annual impairment review demonstrated that reasonably possible changes in the assumptions used resulted in the carrying value of the CGU exceeding its recoverable amount.

Whilst management are confident that the 'base case' cash flows used in the impairment assessment reflect a reasonable and likely scenario on which to base the valuation of CGUs, it also recognises that the uncertain economic environment in which the Group operates presents inherent risk to these forecasts. The healthcare industry in particular, and consequently our Healthcare business, has been disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and therefore uncertainty remains about the anticipated timeline for a return to pre-pandemic growth projections in this part of the Group.

Management have therefore produced a set of risk adjusted cash flows, reflecting more prudent growth assumptions in the three year forecasts for the UK Healthcare CGU. These risk adjusted cash flows are based on minimal growth assumptions for mature products, and more conservative growth assumptions for new and emerging products than those reflected in the base case forecast. The risk adjusted cash flows reflect a reduction in revenue growth from 7.6% CAGR to 4.9% CAGR over the 3 year assessment period. Management consider the risk adjusted cash flows to reflect a reasonably possible downside scenario to generate the reasonable minimum value in use for the CGU. The carrying value of the UK Healthcare CGU exceeds this risk adjusted value in use by GBP8.4m and therefore management have impaired the associated goodwill by this amount.

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions of risk adjusted case

The Group subsequently performed sensitivity testing to assess the impact of changes in assumptions on the revised value in use of the UK Healthcare CGU, as detailed below:

 
                                                                 Effect on 
                                     Increase/(decrease)          value in 
                                           in assumption   use calculation 
                                                       %              GBPm 
-----------------------------------  -------------------  ---------------- 
Long term growth rate                             (25.0)             (0.7) 
Pre-tax discount rate                                5.0             (1.0) 
Reduction in discounted cash flows                 (5.0)             (0.9) 
-----------------------------------  -------------------  ---------------- 
 

Change to cash generating units

Consistent with the disclosure made in the Group's prior year Annual Report, Interactive Medica has now been included in the UK Healthcare CGU. Management consider this appropriate following the increased integration of the UK Healthcare businesses into one single UK Healthcare business which means it is no longer possible to identify cash flows generated by Interactive Medica independently from other UK Healthcare businesses.

The following table details the net book value of each CGU:

 
                         30 June   30 June 
                            2021      2020 
CGU                      GBP'000   GBP'000 
----------------------  --------  -------- 
UK Healthcare             11,877    21,770 
Axco and Pendragon        11,150    11,150 
Accountancy                8,307     8,307 
Legal                      6,830     6,830 
AMT                        6,203     6,203 
Compliance                 7,972     7,972 
Compliance Week            4,342     4,854 
FRA                        6,773     7,550 
Business Intelligence      2,379     3,240 
----------------------  --------  -------- 
                          65,833    77,876 
----------------------  --------  -------- 
 

13. Intangible assets

 
                                                                                    Publishing 
                                    Computer                   Customer             rights and 
                                    software  Databases   relationships    Brands       titles     Total 
                                     GBP'000    GBP'000         GBP'000   GBP'000      GBP'000   GBP'000 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
Cost 
At 1 July 2019                        12,174     16,771          24,969    13,757       30,393    98,064 
Additions                              3,215          -               -         -          100     3,315 
Disposal                                (62)          -               -         -            -      (62) 
Exchange translation differences         111         24             135       100            -       370 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
At 30 June 2020                       15,438     16,795          25,104    13,857       30,493   101,687 
Additions                              1,969          -               -         -            -     1,969 
Disposal                             (2,130)          -               -         -            -   (2,130) 
Write-off of fully amortised 
 intangible assets                         -    (2,940)        (15,549)   (3,672)     (20,808)  (42,969) 
Exchange translation differences       (139)       (90)           (399)     (237)            -     (865) 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
At 30 June 2021                       15,138     13,765           9,156     9,948        9,685    57,692 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
Accumulated amortisation 
At 1 July 2019                         7,850     13,810          18,720     6,782       27,689    74,851 
Charge for the year                    2,080      1,673           1,309     1,241          574     6,877 
Disposals                               (62)          -               -         -            -      (62) 
Exchange translation differences         135         13              73        88            -       309 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
At 30 June 2020                       10,003     15,496          20,102     8,111       28,263    81,975 
Charge for the year                    2,416        826           1,052     1,016          506     5,816 
Impairment                                 -          -               -     1,516            -     1,516 
Disposals                            (2,010)          -               -         -            -   (2,010) 
Write-off of fully amortised 
 intangible assets                         -    (2,940)        (15,549)   (3,672)     (20,808)  (42,969) 
Exchange translation differences        (80)       (70)           (276)     (210)            -     (636) 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
At 30 June 2021                       10,329     13,312           5,329     6,761        7,961    43,692 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
Net book amount 
At 30 June 2021                        4,809        453           3,827     3,187        1,724    14,000 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
At 30 June 2020                        5,435      1,299           5,002     5,746        2,230    19,712 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
At 30 June 2019                        4,324      2,961           6,249     6,975        2,704    23,213 
---------------------------------  ---------  ---------  --------------  --------  -----------  -------- 
 

The impairment of GBP1,516,000 in the year relates to the assets associated with a discontinued loss-making product line in the Healthcare sub-division.

14. Property, plant and equipment

 
                                                                             Right-of-use 
                           Land, freehold   Fixtures                               assets 
                            and leasehold        and    Computer      Motor      Land and 
                                buildings   fittings   equipment   vehicles     buildings      Total 
                                  GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000       GBP'000    GBP'000 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
Cost 
At 30 June 2019                     5,531      3,585       3,745        397             -     13,258 
Transition to IFRS 
 16                                 (273)          -           -          -        11,043     10,770 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
At 1 July 2019                      5,258      3,585       3,745        397        11,043     24,028 
Additions                               -        126         369         43         2,854      3,392 
Disposals                               -       (23)       (114)       (63)             -      (200) 
Exchange translation 
 differences                            2         17          17          -          (43)        (7) 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
At 30 June 2020                     5,260      3,705       4,017        377        13,854     27,213 
Additions                             468        253         326          -           449      1,496 
Disposals                               -      (774)       (258)       (60)         (109)    (1,201) 
Lease modifications                     -          -           -          -         (725)      (725) 
Asset transferred to 
 held for sale                    (2,243)       (17)           -          -             -    (2,260) 
Exchange translation 
 differences                          (3)       (45)        (35)          -         (191)      (274) 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
At 30 June 2021                     3,482      3,122       4,050        317        13,278     24,249 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
Accumulated depreciation 
At 30 June 2019                     1,284      2,770       3,065        172             -      7,291 
Charge for the year                   287        263         483         72         2,094      3,199 
Disposals                               -       (14)       (114)       (52)             -      (180) 
Exchange translation 
 differences                          (5)         35        (20)        (1)             -          9 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
At 30 June 2020                     1,566      3,054       3,414        191         2,094     10,319 
Charge for the year                   436        254         421         63         2,225      3,399 
Disposals                               -      (774)       (159)       (51)          (41)    (1,025) 
Lease modifications                     -          -           -          -         (337)      (337) 
Impairment                            523        103          33          -         2,786      3,445 
Asset transferred to 
 held for sale                      (660)       (12)           -          -             -      (672) 
Exchange translation 
 differences                          (9)       (84)        (64)          -             -      (157) 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
At 30 June 2021                     1,856      2,541       3,645        203         6,727     14,972 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
Net book amount 
At 30 June 2021                     1,626        581         405        114         6,551      9,277 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
At 30 June 2020                     3,694        651         603        186        11,760     16,894 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
At 30 June 2019                     4,247        815         680        225             -      5,967 
-------------------------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ---------  ------------  --------- 
 

Included in land, freehold and leasehold buildings is GBP570,000 (2020: GBP970,000) of non-depreciated land.

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is charged to operating expenses within the income statement.

As at 30 June 2021, assets classified as held for sale relate to a building marketed for sale at 30 June 2021 with a carrying value of GBP1,588,000. Subsequently the assets were sold on 31 August 2021.

The impairment in the year of GBP3,445,000 relates to the impairment of assets associated with the head office property, recognised as a result of the exercise performed to consolidate the Group's office space.

15. Trade and other receivables

 
 
                                     30 June   30 June 
                                        2021      2020 
                                     GBP'000   GBP'000 
----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Current 
Trade receivables                     23,202    20,752 
Prepayments and other receivables      5,496     4,774 
----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
                                      28,698    25,526 
----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

16. Trade and other payables

 
 
                                      30 June   30 June 
                                         2021      2020 
                                      GBP'000   GBP'000 
-----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
Trade and other payables               24,835    27,030 
Subscriptions and deferred revenue     30,124    31,465 
-----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
                                       54,959    58,495 
-----------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

17. Lease liabilities

The Group enters into leases of buildings in relation to offices & business premises in the geographical locations in which they operate.

The following table shows the discounted lease liabilities included in the Group balance sheets:

 
 
               30 June   30 June 
                  2021      2020 
               GBP'000   GBP'000 
------------  --------  -------- 
Current          2,356     2,660 
Non-current      8,386    10,461 
------------  --------  -------- 
                10,742    13,121 
------------  --------  -------- 
 

A reconciliation of the movement in the right-of-use assets is included in note 14. The interest expense in relation to lease liabilities is included in note 7. Amounts recognised through the consolidated income statement in respect of short term leases and low-value leases are included in note 5. The total cash outflow for leases was GBP3,352,000 (2020: GBP3,040,000).

Contracts entered into by the Group have a wide range of terms and conditions but generally do not impose any additional covenants. Extension and terminations options provide the Group with additional operational flexibility. These options are included in the lease term if the Group considers it reasonably certain that the lease will be extended or terminated.

18. Provisions

 
Property and other                 GBP'000 
---------------------------------  ------- 
At 1 July 2020                           - 
Additional provision in the year     1,842 
---------------------------------  ------- 
At 30 June 2021                      1,842 
---------------------------------  ------- 
 
 
                                      GBP'000 
------------------------------------  ------- 
Included in current liabilities           461 
Included in non-current liabilities     1,381 
------------------------------------  ------- 
                                        1,842 
------------------------------------  ------- 
 

The provision included in the year is in respect of anticipated costs expected to be incurred in relation to the closed proportion of the head office for the period from 1 July 2021 until the end of the contractual lease term. The charge to recognise the provision has been included in adjusting items in the income statement.

The provision is based on assumptions and estimates where the ultimate outcome may be different from the amount provided. The provision reflects the Group's best estimate of the probable exposure as at 30 June 2021. This assessment has been made having considered the sensitivity of the provision for possible changes in key assumptions.

19. Cash generated from operations

 
 
                                                     Year ended  Year ended 
                                                        30 June     30 June 
                                                           2021        2020 
                                                        GBP'000     GBP'000 
---------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
(Loss)/profit from continuing operations before 
 income tax                                             (2,025)       6,434 
Gain on disposal of subsidiary                            (770)           - 
Gain on disposal of business operations                 (3,394)           - 
Adjusting items                                           2,970         625 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
 included in operating expenses                           3,399       3,199 
Amortisation of intangible assets                         5,816       6,877 
Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and 
 property, plant and equipment                           14,834           - 
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant 
 and equipment                                                2         (7) 
Share based payments (including social security 
 costs)                                                     566         724 
Net finance costs                                         1,634       2,175 
---------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Operating cash flows before movements in working 
 capital                                                 23,032      20,027 
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables      (3,619)       3,279 
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables         (2,123)       3,206 
---------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Cash generated from operations before adjusting 
 items                                                   17,290      26,512 
---------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

Cash conversion is calculated as a percentage of cash generated by operations to adjusted EBITA as follows:

 
                                                          Year ended  Year ended 
                                                             30 June     30 June 
                                                                2021        2020 
                                                             GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Funds from operations before adjusting items: 
Adjusted EBITA (note 3)                                       16,649      14,031 
Share based payments (including social security costs)           566         724 
Amortisation of intangible assets - computer software          2,416       2,080 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment included 
 in operating expenses                                         3,399       3,199 
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and 
 equipment                                                         2         (7) 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Operating cash flows before movement in working capital       23,032      20,027 
Net working capital movement                                 (5,742)       6,485 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Funds from operations before adjusting items                  17,290      26,512 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Cash conversion                                                 104%        189% 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 
                                                          Year ended  Year ended 
                                                             30 June     30 June 
                                                                2021        2020 
                                                             GBP'000     GBP'000 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Free cash flow: 
Operating cash flows before movement in working capital       23,032      20,027 
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment            103          27 
Net working capital movement                                 (5,742)       6,485 
Interest paid                                                (1,196)     (1,632) 
Payment of lease liabilities                                 (2,530)     (2,392) 
Tax paid                                                     (2,697)     (4,377) 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment                    (1,047)       (538) 
Purchase of intangible assets                                (1,969)     (3,315) 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
Free cash flow                                                 7,954      14,285 
--------------------------------------------------------  ----------  ---------- 
 

20. Events after the reporting period

Forward contracts

On 1 July 2021 the following forward contracts were entered in order to provide certainty in Sterling terms of 80% of the Group's expected net US Dollar income:

 
 Currency     Amount (GBP'm)   Maturity date      Foreign exchange 
                                                   rate 
-----------  ---------------  -----------------  ----------------- 
 US Dollar    1.0              29 October 2021    1.3792 
 US Dollar    1.0              30 November 2021   1.3793 
 US Dollar    1.0              31 December 2021   1.3795 
 US Dollar    1.0              31 January 2022    1.3801 
 US Dollar    1.0              28 February 2022   1.3802 
 US Dollar    2.0              31 March 2022      1.3803 
 US Dollar    1.5              29 April 2022      1.3805 
 

END

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(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 20, 2021 02:00 ET (06:00 GMT)

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