RNS Number : 5398W
Kinovo PLC
19 August 2022
 

19 August 2022

 

Kinovo plc

("Kinovo" or the "Group")

 

Final results for the year ended 31 March 2022

 

Kinovo plc (AIM:KINO), the specialist property services Group that delivers compliance and sustainability solutions, announces its full year results for the twelve months ended 31 March 2022.

 

Financial highlights:

·    Revenue from continuing operations increased by 35% to £53.3 million (2021: £39.4 million)

·    Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations up 102% to £4.2 million (2021: £2.1 million)

·    Underlying operating profit from continuing operations increased by 95% to £4.1 million (2021: £2.1 million)

·    Strong adjusted cash conversion from continuing operations of 223% with £9.4 million in cash generated

·    Cash balance at year end of £2.5 million (2021: £1.3 million)

·    Net debt significantly reduced by approximately £2.4 million to £0.34 million from £2.7 million in 2021

·    Adjusted earnings per share almost doubled from 2.76p in 2021 to 5.33p in 2022

 

Operating highlights:

·    Strong performance from the underlying business despite considerable macro-economic pressures

·    Streamlined operations focus on three core operations:

Regulation: delivered 59% of revenues and grew by 30% year-on-year

Regeneration: grew by 61% during the year, now contributing to 20% of total revenue

Renewables: accounts for 21% of total revenue, reporting 32% growth

·    Investment in the business development team, contributed to winning a considerable number of new contracts during the period, diversifying the client base and increasing three-year visible revenues by 34% year-on-year from £105.0 million to £140.4 million

·    Investment in the training and upskilling of employees led to an improved operational performance

·    Full Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation including PAS2030 installer certification, enables access to further government funding initiatives

·    ESGM strategic report sets out our future commitments and key targets including being carbon neutral in relation to Scope 1 and 2 by March 2023

 

DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB"):

·    Disposal of DCB to MCG Global Limited ("MCG") for deferred consideration of up to £5 million

·    Agreed to provide working capital support to DCB, which was limited to a set time period and forecast to be cash neutral

·    At time of disposal, there were in existence certain pre-existing parent company guarantees from Kinovo in relation to the ongoing projects within DCB, which were to be transferred to MCG following the disposal and expire on completion of the projects

·    DCB did not perform to Kinovo's expectations following the disposal and working capital support totalling £3.7 million was provided

·    In May 2022, DCB went into administration and Kinovo has had to uphold certain parent company guarantees relating to the construction projects in existence at the time of the disposal

·    Dialogue with DCB clients have been positive, outstanding DCB projects are under control with costs to complete expected to be approximately £4 million plus expenses, significantly lower than previous external expectations, and will be fulfilled by our current cashflow.

 

Post-period End:

·    28% year-on-year increase in revenues from continuing operations during Q1 from £10.9 million to £14.0 million

·    Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations for Q1 grew by 24% on the previous year from £668,000 to £827,000

·    Net debt at the end of July 2022 remains comparable to year-end at £345,000 with a positive cash balance of £2.0 million

·    Our banking partner, HSBC UK Bank plc, remains supportive of the Group; refinancing of HSBC £1.5 million term loan and current overdraft facilities have been credit committee approved and formal documentation is in the process of being completed

 

David Bullen, Chief Executive Officer of Kinovo, commented:

"While the last year has been challenging for Kinovo, we are delighted with the performance of the underlying business. Revenues increased by 35% and adjusted EBITDA more than doubled, a direct result of the repositioning announced last year to focus on three key areas: regulation, regeneration and renewables. This streamlining of operations has allowed the underlying business to prioritise what it does best and flourish. Coupled with the significant investment in our people, upskilling of employees and bringing in additional expertise, Kinovo is well positioned to negotiate this difficult macro-economic environment.

 

A key challenge we faced this year was the fall-out from the disposal of DCB. We are confident that Kinovo undertook all necessary due diligence, with the deal being based on sound financial projections that, since completion, have not performed to our expectations. The outstanding DCB projects are now under Kinovo's control and we are pleased that the cost to complete will be significantly lower than previously speculated externally, at around £4 million plus costs, which will be fulfilled by Kinovo's current cashflow. This disposal was a key component of streamlining operations, and we look forward to finalising the DCB projects and focusing on the rest of the business, which is excelling.

 

We are pleased to have received continued support from our banking partner HSBC, with our facilities in the process of being completed.

 

Kinovo is in a strong position moving into FY23, with the revenue and EBITDA growth achieved last year continuing into Q1. We have complete confidence that the Group will continue to grow and develop as we reap the rewards of the team's hard work and investment during the last two years. I look forward to updating the market on this progress in due course."

 



Enquiries

 

 Kinovo plc

Sangita Shah, Chairman

David Bullen, Chief Executive Officer


Canaccord Genuity Limited (Nominated Adviser and Sole Broker)

Corporate Broking:

Andrew Potts

Bobbie Hilliam


Hudson Sandler (Financial PR)

Dan de Belder

Harry Griffiths

 

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as amended by regulation 11 of the Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019/310.  Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 


Chair's statement

 

A future that shows promise and continued growth

 

Sangita Shah

Non-Executive Chair

 

Overview

From the perspective of underlying business results, I am pleased to report the very strong performance amidst challenging macro-economic conditions. We have faced labour availability constraints resulting from Brexit, the continued impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, cost inflation and supply chain issues, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine. Despite all of these uncertainties, the three business divisions reported a combined increase in revenue of 35% and triple digit adjusted EBITDA growth.

However, whilst our underlying business has been a success, we have encountered significant problems relating to the disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited, our former construction division. This is a regrettable situation. Whilst the Company, along with its legal advisers, believe it conducted the necessary due diligence regarding the disposal, we recorded a loss on the disposal of DCB of £12.6 million. Additional details are set out in the Financial Review and notes 30 and 32 of the financial statements.

Repositioning

In last year's Annual Report, Kinovo set out its strategic repositioning to focus on three key pillars: Regulation, Regeneration and Renewables. These pillars are centred around compliance and regulatory work under long-term contracts, being the foundation of our Company.

This streamlining of operations has allowed Kinovo to focus on areas where we possess strength and experience while foreseeing significant future growth opportunities.

Part of this repositioning has allowed us to focus time and capital on these specific areas. By streamlining our operations, we have been able to invest significantly in the bid team, as well as training and marketing. The results of this are evident through the underlying business performance last year, where we signed five contracts with new clients and one renewal.

ESG

ESG and sustainability are vitally important to us and a key tenet of our business ethos. We are authentically committed to our people and communities. For example, Kinovo continues to run prison outreach programmes, visiting prisons and participating in schemes to assist ex-prisoners with their rehabilitation and finding work. We also operate a successful apprenticeship programme that is now in its 30th year, with apprentices making up 10% of our workforce.

We also operate a number of important environmental initiatives. This year we achieved PAS 2030 and MCS accreditations, which set out the requirements and demonstrate the quality for retrofitting domestic low-carbon technologies, and introduced a "Free of Charge" electric vehicle charging installation scheme for retailers and leisure operators. While still in its early stages, we are developing and initiating a free EV charging installation model that sees customers sign long-term deals with Kinovo; this will extend beyond our usual client base of housing associations and councils into hospitality and leisure companies. We also extended our internal environmental credentials, increasingly making our workplaces greener through use of EV chargers and solar panels, and by installing a ground source heat pump at our Head Office.

People

Our people are the lifeblood of the company. They are, and always will be, of utmost importance to us. We believe our employee initiatives to be among the best in the property services sector and on AIM. We pride ourselves on ranking highly in terms of support around mental health and this year we provided training to a number of employees to become mental health workplace responders. We are also proud to have developed our employee bonus scheme, and have run a series of highly effective training programmes and continue to promote diversity and inclusion throughout the Company.

Looking ahead

The considerable difficulties we encountered from the disposal of our construction division sadly marred what was an excellent performance within the underlying business. Having shown the resilience and fortitude to overcome these difficulties, we very much look forward to putting the DCB issue behind us and forging forwards.

Sangita Shah

Non-Executive Chair

19 August 2022



 

Chief Executive Officer's review

Delivered a robust underlying performance

 

David Bullen

Chief Executive Officer

 

Overview

Kinovo delivered a strong financial performance in the current year, with robust underlying growth. The performance of the Group's continuing operations was all the more impressive given the many external challenges affecting the business community in general, including the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Russia's invasion of Ukraine, labour availability, cost inflation and supply chain pressures.

The performance was achieved as a result of the rebranding and repositioning of the Group as reported in last year's Annual Report, with our growth being driven by prioritising and focusing on our core strengths. We are now fully focused on our three strategic pillars ("3Rs"): Regulation, Regeneration and Renewables, and have continued to invest in key personnel and processes while simultaneously winning a considerable number of new contracts as well as extending existing relationships. The significant progress of the underlying business, despite the challenging environment, is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our people.

During the period, revenue from continuing operations increased by 35% to £53.3 million (2021: £39.4 million), with adjusted EBITDA rising by 102% to £4.2 million (2021: £2.1 million). Net debt fell to £0.3 million (2021: £2.7 million); a reduction of £10.5 million since 2019.

Our Regulation pillar, which assures safety and regulatory compliance in homes and workplaces, remains the foundation of our business, contributing to 59% of our revenues and delivering 30% growth during the year. Our Regeneration pillar benefits from remedial works that are borne out of our regulatory compliance focus and also concentrates on planned and reactive maintenance spanning across all three divisions of mechanical, electrical and building services. This pillar grew significantly by 61% during the year and now contributes to 20% of our revenues. Our Renewables pillar has made good progress, growing by 32% during the year and accounting for 21% of our revenues. During the year, we obtained our Microgeneration Certification Scheme accreditation and subsequent PAS2030 certification enabling us access to government funding initiatives as a fully certified installer of solar photovoltaics, air source and ground source heat pumps. We have rolled out a free electric vehicle charger installation pilot scheme, securing customers under long-term contracts including an initial free period. Our opportunities in renewables are expected to continue to grow moving forwards.

Rebranding and repositioning

Following our rebranding and repositioning, Kinovo has provided both a clear understanding of our purpose and a differentiated proposition for our client base, prioritising our people, the quality of our services, the focus on our future and an unstinting commitment to make a positive difference to people's lives and the communities within which we work.

Through our marketing team, this initiative has facilitated deeper engagement and a closer connection with our stakeholders, strengthening our network and relationships. By creating our first Company and employee brochures, to recognising our frontline staff and rewarding individuals who best demonstrate our core values with employee of the month schemes and delivering our first ESGM strategy report, the positive development and progress of Kinovo is favourably recognised.

Business development

Complementing our rebranding and repositioning initiative, as a key driver for our organic growth prospects, we invested to strengthen the breadth and depth of our business development team, which is responsible for sourcing and securing new business opportunities. With the support of our new brand positioning and materials, the business development team have significantly leveraged the quality of our bids and streamlined our new business to target our key focus areas.

The value of this investment has already been demonstrated with a 34% increase on our three-year visible revenues over the year. During the period, Kinovo won, renewed or extended a number of contracts increasing our three-year visible revenues to £140.4 million from £105.0 million in the previous year. Examples of these include the renewal of our British Gas contract for three years, a new contract with London Borough of Wandsworth for up to seven years, and a new contract for up to four years with Sanctuary Housing. A particularly pleasing feature of our wins has been the increasing diversity of new clients that we have gained in the process, broadening the Group's penetration in the South East.

People

Prioritising our people is critical for Kinovo, both in terms of their welfare and career development, and we have enacted a number of initiatives to strengthen our dedication to this, ensuring our employees have access to continued support on both a personal and professional basis, are recognised and rewarded appropriately and have the opportunity to achieve their full development potential.

We have aligned all of our recruitment and appraisal processes with our core values to support our cultural change as an organisation. We have invested in specific training courses for individuals across the Group and all our subsidiary heads and senior managers have attended a bespoke Leadership and Management Training course during the year. This course will be provided to the next tiers of management and supervisors in the forthcoming year.

We are proud of the progress of our apprenticeship scheme, which now stands at 25 apprentices and represents 10% of our workforce. This demonstrates our commitment to developing local people and communities, underpinning our long-term vision for Kinovo. Alongside our apprenticeship scheme, in line with the growth of the Company, we are pleased to have facilitated a number of internal promotions amongst our staff across the different levels of seniority.

The challenges of wage inflation and labour availability in the employment market, coupled with the increasing cost of living crisis, are all well documented. In recognition of this, the Company has been proactive in evaluating its internal position with external benchmarking, which has resulted in an average pay increase across the Group of over 6%, post-appraisals, effective 1 April 2022. Specifically, amongst those who received a pay increase, the average increase equated to almost 9%.

During the year, we also focused on strengthening our wellbeing responsibilities for our staff. The increasing recognition of mental health in society, particularly following the pandemic, needs to be observed and we are playing a leading role among the property services sector in not just advocating awareness but implementing specific initiatives. We enrolled ten members of staff to complete certified level two training with St. John's Ambulance Service as mental health workplace responders and are looking to roll this scheme out further.

DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB")

During the year, we announced the disposal of DCB, a non-core construction division, as part of the streamlining of operations, and in line with our stated focus on our 3Rs. This was a strategic decision following my appointment in April 2019; it was always intended that DCB would be separated from the core operations and was catalysed following the decision by the founders Chris and Caroline Webster, at the end of June 2021, to resign and stand down from the business by the end of the 2021 calendar year.

As part of the disposal to MCG Global Limited ("MCG"), Kinovo agreed to provide working capital support to DCB, which was both time limited and forecasted to be cash neutral. In addition, at the time of the disposal there were in existence certain pre-existing parent company guarantees from Kinovo in relation to the ongoing projects within DCB. These parent company guarantees were to be transferred to MCG following the disposal and expire on completion of the projects. The projects were expected to be completed during 2022, except one project which was expected to complete at the end of 2023. Despite a very robust pipeline of opportunities, disappointingly, DCB did not perform to Kinovo's expectations following the disposal and Kinovo was required to provide working capital support totalling £3.7 million. In May 2022, DCB went into administration and Kinovo has had to uphold certain parent company guarantees relating to nine construction projects in existence at the time of the disposal, none of which were transferred to MCG prior to the administration process. Kinovo has therefore taken control of these projects and is working closely with DCB's clients, making encouraging progress to provide positive solutions to complete the outstanding projects in a timely manner. Working with professional construction experts we have reached agreement, in principle, on a number of projects. We believe the total costs to complete for the nine projects will be approximately £4.0 million and we will be able to conclude these projects without the need for further external funding.

We also advised that we received a Letter Before Action from lawyers acting for MCG. The Company has taken legal advice, considers any claim brought by MCG to be without merit and has responded robustly whilst also considering our own counter claim.

Outlook

We are extremely pleased with the performance of the underlying business and look forward to developing this further during 2022. The Board remains conscious of inflationary headwinds, supply pressures and labour availability, and will maintain a disciplined approach to cost management. Despite these challenges, our performance in 2021/22, as well as the structured framework that we now have in place, leaves us confident that 2022/23 will be another year of strong underlying financial performance with quarter one Adjusted EBITDA 24% ahead of prior year.

We are in constructive discussions with our banking partner, HSBC UK Bank Plc, regarding the continuation of the current borrowing facilities and refinance of the term loan facility due for full repayment in September 2022. HSBC UK Bank Plc remain supportive and the Group has received formal credit approval confirming the renewal and refinance of these facilities. However, documentation is yet to be completed at the date of signing these financial statements.

David Bullen

Chief Executive Officer

19 August 2022

 

 

 



 

Financial review

Strong performance from continuing operations

Clive Lovett

Group Finance Director

 

Trading review

Continuing operations

Kinovo has continued to deliver resilient progress with strong growth in revenues, earnings and cash generation from its continuing operations, despite the market challenges of supply chain inflation and material and labour availability.

Comparative revenues grew 35% to £53.3 million (2021: £39.4 million) for the year ended 31 March 2022, demonstrating robust recovery from the prior year impacts of Covid-19.

Gross profit of £12.8 million (2021: £9.3 million) was achieved at a margin of 23.9% (2021: 23.6%). Underlying administrative expenses of £8.7 million were up £1.4 million compared with the prior period (2021: £7.3 million) reflecting the investment in new staff including business development, bonus provisions and the effect of furlough grants in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA* (after the effect of a charge for lease payments) increased by 102% to £4.2 million (2021: £2.1 million) with operating profit from continuing operations delivering £3.1 million (2021: £67,000).

Underlying operating profit, excluding non-underlying items, increased by 104% to £4.1 million (2021: £2.0 million). Non-underlying items were £1.0 million (2021: £1.9 million) including £nil exceptional restructuring costs (2021: £334,000).

Profit before taxation for continuing operations was £2.8 million (2021: loss £371,000) and profit after tax was £2.3 million (2021: loss £252,000) reflecting the uplift in the performance of the continuing operations.

Discontinued operations

The Group's non-core construction business, DCB (Kent) Limited was disposed of during the year. Loss after tax for the discontinued operations was £549,000 and the loss on disposal amounted to £12.6 million for the year ended 31 March 2022. Further details are set out below and in note 30 to the financial statements.

Financial position and key indicators

Net debt (excluding lease liabilities) reduced £2.4 million from £2.7 million to £339,000 reflecting improved working capital efficiency and robust underlying operational cash generation from the continuing operations despite the cash absorbed by the discontinued operations during the year.

We focus on a range of KPIs to assess our performance. Our KPIs are both financial and non-financial and ensure that the Group targets its resources around its customers, operations and finance. Collectively they form an integral part of the way that we manage the business to deliver our strategic goals.

The key financial performance indicators for the year are set out below and described in more detail on pages 16 to 18.

*    The Board considers Adjusted EBITDA to be a key Alternative Performance Measure ("APM") as it is the basis upon which the underlying management information is prepared and the performance of the business assessed by the Board. It is also the measure for the covenants under our banking arrangements.

 

 

 

Year ended

31 March

2022

£'000

Year ended

31 March

2021

£'000

Continuing operations



Income statement



Revenue

53,325

39,369

Gross profit

12,767

9,291

Gross margin

23.9%

23.6%

EBITDA1 (excluding effect of lease payments)

4,600

2,763

Adjusted EBITDA2 (including effect of lease payments)

4,237

2,096

Underlying operating profit3

4,091

2,010

Underlying profit before taxation4

3,822

1,572

Profit/(loss) after taxation

2,262

(252)

Basic earnings/(loss) per share5

3.66p

(0.42p)

Adjusted earnings per share6

5.33p

2.76p

Cash flow



Net cash generated from operating activities

9,777

5,542

Adjusted net cash generated from operating activities7

9,442

4,360

Adjusted operating cash conversion8 (%)

223%

208%

Financial position



Cash and cash equivalents

2,504

1,293

Term and other loans

(2,843)

(3,966)

Net debt9

(339)

(2,673)

Trade receivables

4,977

5,564

Accrued income

5,247

8,634

Trade payables

(12,552)

(11,082)

Net (liabilities)/assets

(143)

10,862

Discontinued operations



(Loss)/profit after taxation

(549)

409

Loss on disposal

(12,595)

-

Net cash (absorbed)/generated by operating activities

(6,117)

272

 

1.     Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation ("EBITDA") and excluding non-underlying items, as set out in note 8 of the financial statements.

2.     Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-underlying items and is stated after the effect of a charge for lease payments, as set out below.

3.     Underlying operating profit is stated before charging non-underlying items as set out in note 9 of the financial statements.

4.     Underlying profit before taxation is stated after finance costs and before charging non-underlying items.

5.     Basic earnings per share is the profit after tax divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares.

6.     Adjusted earnings per share is the profit before deducting non-underlying items after tax divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares.

7.     Net cash generated from continuing operations before tax and after lease payments and adding back £nil (2021: £334,000) exceptional items in the period ended 31 March 2022. It is also adjusted to reflect the payment of deferred HMRC payments to normal terms.

8.     Adjusted net cash generated from operating activities divided by Adjusted EBITDA.

9.     Net debt includes term and other loans, and overdraft net of cash, and excludes lease obligations.

 

EBITDA reconciliation

Internal financial reporting and reporting under the Group's banking facilities is focused on Adjusted EBITDA of £4.2 million (2021: £2.1 million) which is stated after the effect of a charge for lease payments.

Set out below is the basis for the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA.

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Continuing operations



Profit before tax

2,792

(371)

Add back non-underlying items:



     Amortisation of customer relationships

940

1,582

     Share based payment charge

90

27

     Exceptional items

-

334

Underlying profit before tax

3,822

1,572

EBITDA adjustments:



     Finance costs

269

438

     Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

130

82

     Depreciation of right-of-use assets

336

654

     Amortisation of software costs

44

17

     Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment

(1)

-

EBITDA

4,600

2,763

Adjustment for lease payments

(363)

(667)

Adjusted EBITDA

4,237

2,096

 

Non-underlying items

Non-underlying items are considered by the Board to be either exceptional in size, one-off in nature or non-trading related items and are represented by the following:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Amortisation of customer relationships

940

1,582

Share based payment charge

90

27

Restructuring costs

-

334

Total

1,030

1,943

 

The share based payment charge reflects the impact attributed to the new share schemes established in 2021. Additional information on the schemes is set out in note 28. There is no charge in 2022 for legacy schemes which have completely vested or the options which have been cancelled.

Restructuring costs in 2021 for continuing operations comprise redundancy and notice period costs and other related restructuring costs to align operational skill sets with the strategic repositioning of the business.

Finance costs

Finance expenses were £269,000 (2021: £438,000) and are represented by interest on bank borrowings and loans, other interest costs and other finance costs, being the amortisation of debt issue costs. There was no finance income in the year.

Tax

The Group tax position reflects an underlying charge of £530,000 on continuing activities set off by tax credits of £128,000 on discontinued activities and £1.1 million relating to the loss of disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited. £nil tax was received in the year by continuing operations (2021: £163,000) due to recovery of tax paid in the prior year.

Overall the Group has no tax liability at 31 March 2022 with approximately £1.6 million unused tax losses.

The net deferred tax asset at 31 March 2022 was £306,000 (2021: liability £699,000) comprising a deferred tax liability of £225,000 (2021: £1.1 million), relating to the acquisition of intangible assets, right-of-use assets and short-term timing differences, and a deferred tax asset of £531,000 (2021: £387,000), relating to unused tax losses, lease liabilities and share-based payments.

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share, from continuing operations, was 3.66 pence (2021: loss 0.42 pence), based on profit after tax of £2.3 million (2021: loss £252,000). The weighted average number of shares in issue was adjusted for the SIP share awards in the year as set out in note 24 of the financial statements.

Adjusted earnings per share, from continuing operations, excluding non-underlying items, was 5.33 pence (2021: 2.76 pence). Diluted adjusted earnings per share was 5.15 pence. There was no earnings per share dilution in 2021 as the outstanding share options granted were priced above the average share price for the year.

Cash flow performance

Adjusted cash generated from continuing operations was £9.4 million (2021: £4.4 million) resulting in an adjusted operating cash conversion of 221% (2021: 208%).

Adjusted operating cash conversion is calculated as cash generated from continuing operations (after lease payments), after adding back exceptional item payments of £nil (2021: £334,000) and adjusted for the effects of deferred HMRC repayments of £136,000 (2021: net deferred £686,000), divided by Adjusted EBITDA of £4.2 million (2021: £2.1 million), as set out below.

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Statutory cash generated from operations (see note 25)

3,660

5,814

Adjustment for cash absorbed by/(generated from) discontinued activities

6,117

(272)

Net cash generated from continuing operating activities

9,777

5,542

Less operating lease payments

(471)

(667)

Less corporation tax received

-

(163)


9,306

4,712

Add back exceptional restructuring costs

-

334

Net adjustment for deferred HMRC payments

136

(686)

Adjusted net cash generated from continuing operating activities

9,442

4,360

Adjusted EBITDA (see above and note 8)

4,237

2,096

Adjusted cash conversion (adjusted operating cash/Adjusted EBITDA)

223%

208%

 

Total HMRC VAT liabilities of £1.02 million were deferred at 31 March 2021 and were fully repaid by 31 January 2022. In March 2022, the Group agreed arrangements with HMRC to defer VAT payments and at 31 March 2022 deferred VAT was £887,000. At the date of approval of the financial statements, £770,000 had been repaid and the remaining £117,000 will be fully repaid by 1 September 2022.

Cash conversion excluding the effect of a charge for lease payments was 208% (2021: 181%).

The result reflects a combination of rigorous focus on reducing the time from order to cash receipts by the management teams of the continuing operations, changes to the purchasing card credit terms and facility and timing of staff bonus payments.

The Group has a centralised treasury function and actively manages cash flows on both a daily and longer-term basis. The Group enjoys long-term client relationships with both its customers, being local government organisations and other housing associations, and its supply chain partners.

Cash absorbed by discontinued operations amounted to a total of £6.1 million (2021: cash generated £272,000) including working capital provided post disposal of the business on 12 January 2022 until 31 March 2022 of £2.5 million.

Net debt

Net debt reduced by £2.4 million in the period (2021: reduced by £4.5 million). At 31 March 2022, net debt amounted to £339,000 (2021: £2.7 million) as analysed in the table below and note 21 for full details of borrowings.

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

2020

£'000

2019

£'000

Borrowings





     Term loans

2,534

3,533

3,333

5,000

     Other loans

109

176

235

289

     Mortgage loans

200

257

314

371

     Overdraft

-

-

3,351

5,219


2,843

3,966

7,233

10,879

Cash and cash equivalents

(2,504)

(1,293)

(19)

(21)

Net debt

339

2,673

7,214

10,858

 

Discontinued operations

Following its rebranding and strategic review, Kinovo determined that DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB"), the Company's construction business, was non-core and initiated a process to dispose of the business.

On 12 January 2022, DCB was disposed of for an initial consideration of £1 and deferred consideration of up to a maximum of £5.0 million dependent upon various performance criteria.

Kinovo was committed to providing working capital support (which also included provisions for recovery of any surplus working capital) until 31 July 2022 and retained liability under various parent company guarantees for the DCB construction projects, subject to the acquirer, MCG Global Limited ("MCG"), endeavouring to transfer the guarantees. The Directors expectation for the working capital support was that it would be cash neutral.

Despite a very robust pipeline of opportunities, disappointingly, DCB did not perform to Kinovo's expectations following the disposal and Kinovo was required to provide working capital support totalling £3.7 million.

On 16 May 2022, DCB filed for administration. Kinovo is the largest creditor of DCB according to the preliminary report of the joint administrators. As at the date of the financial statements Kinovo has limited expectation of recovery of the amounts owed or deferred consideration under the terms of the disposal of DCB.

DCB did not perform to Kinovo's expectations following the disposal and working capital funding had been provided, up to the date of administration of DCB, amounting to £3.7 million and no parent company guarantees had been transferred to MCG. Under the terms of the parent company guarantees, Kinovo is responsible for the completion of the projects.

The activities of DCB have been presented as discontinued operations until the effective transfer of control of the business and the comparatives of the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income have been re-presented for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Loss after tax for the discontinued operations was £549,000 (2021: profit £409,000).

The loss on disposal of DCB amounted to £12.6 million including £3.7 million write-off of working capital funding provided between January 2022 and April 2022, disposal of £9.9 million net assets including £2.4 million residual intangible fixed asset comprising goodwill and customer relationship and capitalised inter-company other net assets of £5.5 million, offset by tax losses.

The net cost to complete the construction projects is expected to be approximately £4.0 million plus legal and professional fees and is considered to be a non-adjusting post balance sheet event as the administration of DCB was not envisaged at the balance sheet date. Three of the projects also have performance bonds, which are indemnified by Kinovo plc, totalling £2.10 million. Kinovo has engaged with insurers, underwriters and clients and although these bonds technically could be called at any time, since DCB entered into administration, it is recognised by all parties that whilst discussions are ongoing to identify solutions to enable the projects to be completed that the bonds would not be called.

Full details of the discontinued trading operations and the loss on disposal and the non-adjusting post balance sheet event relating to the net costs to complete the DCB construction projects are set out in notes 30 and 32.

The disposal of DCB has allowed the Group to harmonise its operations and increase the focus on its three strategic workflow pillars: Regulation, Regeneration and Renewables. These pillars are centred on compliance-driven, regulatory-led specialist services that offer long-term contracts, recurring revenue streams and strong cash generation.

Banking arrangements

The Group's debt facilities at 31 March 2022, with HSBC UK Bank Plc, comprised a £2.5 million term loan, £2.5 million overdraft facility and £200,000 mortgage loan. The Group also has a £109,000 legacy loan with Funding Circle. Net debt analysis is set out above and full details of the borrowing facilities are set out in note 21 of the financial statements.

The financial covenants on the HSBC UK Bank Plc term loan facility are tested quarterly and they are: (i) achievement of minimum levels of EBITDA; (ii) debt service cover; and (iii) interest cover. All financial covenants for the year ended 31 March 2022 were achieved as were the financial covenants on the unaudited results for the quarter to 30 June 2022.

The scheduled £500,000 quarterly term loan repayment was made on 31 May 2022. The next quarterly repayment is due on 31 August 2022, which the Group expects to repay, with the balance on the term loan of £1.5 million scheduled to be repaid by 30 September 2022.

 The Group and HSBC UK Bank Plc are in constructive discussions regarding the continuation of the current borrowing facilities and refinance of the term loan facility due for full repayment in September 2022. HSBC UK Bank Plc remain supportive and the Group has received formal credit approval confirming the renewal and refinance of these facilities. However, documentation is yet to be completed at the date of signing these financial statements.

Dividends

A final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2022 was paid in September 2021. No interim dividend was paid. Due to the loss after tax on non-continuing activities, the loss on disposal of DCB and the consequent financial position for Kinovo, the Board does not recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2022. It remains the Board's priority to continue to reduce the level of net debt and to resume the payment of a dividend as soon as financial conditions allow.

Going concern

The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, the commitments to the discontinued operations, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described above.

In assessing the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, the Board reviews and approves the annual budget and longer-term strategic plan, including forecasts of cash flows.

The Board also reviews the Group's sources of available funds and the level of headroom available against its committed borrowing facilities and associated covenants.

After taking into account the above factors, including the expectation that the HSBC UK Bank Plc term loan facility will be refinanced, and possible sensitivities in trading performance, the Board has an expectation that Kinovo and the Group as a whole have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

Although HSBC UK Bank Plc credit approval has been agreed confirming the renewal and refinancing of facilities, as the documentation has yet to be completed and the agreement with clients on the DCB projects was outstanding at the date of signing the financial statements, technically, a material uncertainty remains, which may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern. Discussions are at an advanced stage on each of these matters and the Board is confident that new agreements will be executed. For this reason, the Board continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these accounts do not include any adjustments to the carrying amount or classification of assets and liabilities that would result if the Group were unable to continue as a going concern. Further detail on going concern are set out in note 2.1.

Clive Lovett

Group Finance Director

19 August 2022



 

Independent Auditor's Report to the members of Kinovo plc for the financial year ended 31 March 2022

 

Qualified opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Kinovo Plc (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and UK adopted International Accounting Standards.

In our opinion, except for the effects of the matter described in the Basis for qualified opinion section of our report, the group financial statements:

·    give a true and fair view of the state of the group's affairs as at 31 March 2022 and of its loss for the year then ended;

·    have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standards; and

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

 

Basis for qualified opinion on the group financial statements

DCB (Kent) Limited was disposed of during the year and is consequently presented as a discontinued operation in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, to which it contributed a loss of £13,144,000 during the year. This loss comprises the loss for the period up to the date of disposal of £549,000 and a loss on disposal of £12,595,000, disclosed within note 30. Following its sale and subsequent administration the accounting records and all other supporting documentation needed to audit DCB (Kent) Limited's contribution to the group's comprehensive income during the period were not available to us, and we were unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence in respect of this contribution using alternative means.

In addition, were any adjustment to these figures to be required, the strategic report would also need to be amended.

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the audit of the group financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the group financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our qualified opinion.

 

An overview of the scope of our audit

Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a thorough understanding of the group's business, its environment and risk profile. We conducted substantive audit procedures and evaluated the group's internal control environment. The components of the group are subject to individual statutory audit and were audited to their own individual materiality by the group audit team, with the exception of DCB (Kent) Limited for the reasons set out above.

For all entities that are subject to a full scope audit, we evaluated the controls in place at those components by performing walkthroughs over the financial reporting systems identified as part of our risk assessment. We also reviewed the accounts production process and addressed critical accounting matters. We then undertook substantive testing on significant classes of transactions and material account balances.

 

Emphasis of matter

We draw attention to note 32 in the consolidated financial statements, which describes the costs to complete in relation to the contracts entered into by DCB (Kent) Limited that DCB (Kent) Limited was unable to fulfil due to going into administration. Due to the parent company guarantee put in place prior to the disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited, the group is liable for completion of the contracts and has estimated the costs based on the advice of the external qualified surveyors, who have assessed the net costs to complete for the 9 ongoing projects to be in the region of £4.0 million plus professional fees and expenses.

Whilst the group used an expert to determine this amount, this is a material judgement which we considered needed to be highlighted to the users of the financial statements. Our opinion is not modified in this respect.

 

Key audit matters

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

The key audit matters were:

·    Revenue recognition and valuation of accrued Income

·    Carrying value of intangible fixed assets

·    DCB (Kent) Limited's contribution to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

·    Disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited

·    Going concern

A description of each matter together with our audit approach is set out below.

 

Audit Area and Description

Audit Approach

Revenue recognition and valuation of accrued income

The Group had carried out work for customers during the year that had not been invoiced at the reporting date, which totalled £5,247,000 (2021: £8,634,000), as detailed in note 19. Income has been recognised in respect of work carried out prior to the reporting date in accordance with the Group's income recognition policy, and in line with the income recognition principles outlined in IFRS 15.

We selected a sample of contracts where income had been recognised but not invoiced at the year end and:

·    Confirmed that the calculations were arithmetically correct;

·    agreed the calculations to invoices raised after the year end; and

·    agreed that the work was performed prior to the year end.

In addition, we reviewed the adequacy of the disclosures under IFRS15, and performed revenue cut-off testing to cover the risk of fraud.

 

Carrying value of intangible fixed assets

As a result of the acquisitions made during prior periods, intangible assets represent a significant part of the total assets of the group. The intangible assets arising on acquisition largely comprise goodwill of £4,192,000 (2021: £5,543,000) and customer relationships of £385,000 (2021: £2,489,000), as detailed in note 15.

We critically assessed the Directors' assertion that no impairment was required by reference to trading performance and forecasts.

We considered the appropriateness of the amortisation policy for customer relationships and reviewed the customer contracts to ensure these are still in existence. We have recalculated the amortisation charge.

DCB (Kent) Limited's contribution to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

As stated in the Basis for qualified opinion paragraph above, we have been unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence in respect of the accounting records of DCB (Kent) Limited.

As set out in the Basis for Qualified opinion above, we have qualified our opinion in respect of the contribution of DCB (Kent) Limited to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the reasons set out in that paragraph. 

Disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited

The accounting treatment of the disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited included significant judgements over the timing of the disposal, whether the timing of the costs to complete was an adjusting or non adjusting post balance sheet event and the timing of write offs, as detailed in notes 4(e), 4(f) and 4(g) respectively.

 

We critically assessed the Directors' board papers covering each of these judgement areas, independently evaluating the Directors' assertions in light of the available evidence.

We considered evidence which contradicted the Directors' assertions as part of this process, as well as evidence which corroborated them.

We concluded that the Directors' judgements were on balance appropriate in light of the available evidence, and reviewed the appropriateness of the Directors' financial statement disclosures in respect of these matters.

Going concern

As detailed in note 2.1, there are several significant judgements which have been required to be made in the Directors' assessment of the going concern status of the group and specifically whether a material uncertainty exists in relation to going concern.

As noted in the material uncertainty related to going concern paragraph beneath, there are events or conditions which indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern. The audit work we have conducted in this area is described in the paragraph referred to above.

 

Our application of materiality

The scope and focus of our audit was influenced by our assessment and application of materiality. We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement that could reasonably be expected to influence the readers and the economic decisions of the users of the financial statements. We use materiality to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial statements as a whole.

Due to the nature of the group, we considered income to be the main focus for the readers of the financial statements, accordingly this consideration influenced our judgement of materiality. Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the group to be £669,330 based on one percent of revenue from both continuing and discontinued operations during the period.

On the basis of our risk assessment, together with our assessment of the overall control environment, our judgement was that performance materiality (i.e. our tolerance for misstatement in an individual account or balance) for the Group was 50% of materiality, namely £334,665.

We agreed to report to the Audit Committee all audit differences in excess of £33,470, as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. We also reported to the Audit Committee on disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall presentation of the financial statements.

 

Material uncertainty related to going concern

We draw attention to note 2.1 to the financial statements, which indicates that the group is dependent on the continued support of its bank to continue in business and meet its liabilities as they fall due. The Board is currently in constructive discussions regarding the continuation of the current borrowing facilities and refinance of the term loan facility due for full repayment in September 2022. HSBC UK Bank Plc remain supportive and the group has received written notification that the bank's credit team have approved the renewal and refinance of these facilities. However, documentation is yet to be completed at the date of signing these financial statements.

Note 2.1 also details that following the administration of DCB (Kent) Limited the group has ongoing obligations in relation to a number of DCB (Kent) Limited projects, including £2.10 million of performance bonds, across three clients, which have been technically callable since DCB (Kent) Limited's administration on 16 May 2022. The Board is currently in discussions with the insurers, underwriters and customers to formally agree an optimal way forward for these projects, including cancelling or novating the performance bonds to new agreements. Discussions are ongoing at the date of signing these financial statements although one client has indicated their willingness to cancel their performance bond amounting to £0.95 million, leaving £1.15 million outstanding. Whilst management believe that the borrowing facilities will be able to be refinanced and the performance bonds will not be called, there can be no certainty in this respect.

As stated in note 2.1, these events or conditions, along with the other matters as set forth in note 2.1, indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the group's financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the directors' assessment of the group's ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:

·    a critical assessment of the detailed cash flow projections prepared by the directors, which are based on their current expectations of trading prospects, extending the borrowing facilities and the performance bonds not being called;

·    reviewing the terms of the committed borrowing facilities available to the group;

·    reviewing the Board's assessment of the group's obligations resulting from the administration of DCB (Kent) Limited;

·    understanding the trading results for the first quarter of the 2023 year end; and

·    reviewing the appropriateness of the disclosures in Note 2.1.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

 

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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

As described in the basis for qualified opinion section of our report, our audit opinion is qualified because we were unable to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the amounts presented in discontinued operations relating to the disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited. We have concluded that where the other information refers to these amounts or to related amounts such as the overall loss for the year, it may also be materially misstated for the same reason.

 

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

 

Except for the possible effects of the matter referred to in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, in our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

·    the information given in the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report for the financial year for which the group financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

·    the Strategic Report and the Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

Except for possible effects of the matter referred to in the basis of qualified opinion section of our report, in the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors' Report.

Arising solely from the limitation on the scope of our work relating to the sale of DCB (Kent) Limited, referred to above:

•   we have not obtained all the information and explanations that we considered necessary for the purpose of our audit; and

•   we were unable to determine whether adequate accounting records had been kept.

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

·    certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made.

 

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement set out on page 48 the directors are responsible for the preparation of the group financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of group financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

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

 

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the group financial statements

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

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the FRC's website at:

https://www.frc.org.uk/auditors/audit-assurance/auditor-s-responsibilities-for-the-audit-of-the-fi/description-of-the-auditors-responsibilities-for

This description forms part of our auditor's report.

 

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

The objectives of our audit in respect of fraud, are; to identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the group financial statements due to fraud; to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the assessed risks of material misstatement due to fraud, through designing and implementing appropriate responses to those assessed risks; and to respond appropriately to instances of fraud or suspected fraud identified during the audit. However, the primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud rests with both management and those charged with governance of the parent company.

Our approach was as follows:

·   We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the group and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, the AIM rules, UK-adopted International Accounting Standards and UK taxation legislation.

·   We obtained an understanding of how the group complies with these requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance.

·   We assessed the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, including the risk of material misstatement due to fraud and how it might occur, by holding discussions with management and those charged with governance.

·    We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations, and reviewed board minutes for any evidence.

·    Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

 

Other matter

We have reported separately on the parent company financial statements of Kinovo Plc for the year ended 31 March 2022. That report includes details of the parent company key audit matters, how we applied the concept of materiality in planning and performing our audit and an overview of the scope of our audit. That report includes an emphasis of matter and a material uncertainty in relation to going concern.

 

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken for no purpose other than to draw to the attention of the company's members those matters which we are required to include in an auditor's report addressed to them. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party other than the company and company's members as a body, for our work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

 

Andrew Barford

(Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor

 

6th Floor

9 Appold Street

London

EC1A 2AP

19 August 2022



 

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

for the financial year ended 31 March 2022

 



12 months to 31 March 2022


12 months to 31 March 2021

Continuing operations

Notes

Underlying

items

£'000

Non-

underlying

items

(note 9)

£'000

Total

£'000


Underlying

items

£'000

Non-

underlying

items

(note 9)

£'000

Total

£'000

Revenue

5

53,325

-

53,325


39,369

-

39,369

Cost of sales

 

 (40,558)

-

(40,558)

 

(30,078)

-

(30,078)

Gross profit


12,767

-

12,767


9,291

-

9,291

Administrative expenses

 

 (8,676)

 (1,030)

 (9,706)

 

 (7,281)

 (1,943)

 (9,224)

Operating profit

7

4,091

 (1,030)

3,061


2,010

 (1,943)

67

Finance cost

11

 (269)

-

 (269)

 

 (438)

-

 (438)

Profit /(loss) before tax


3,822

 (1,030)

2,792


1,572

 (1,943)

 (371)

Income tax (expense)/credit

13

 

 

 (530)

 

 

 

119

Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to the equity holders of the parent company from continuing operations

 

 

 

2,262

 

 

 

(252)

Discontinued operations


 

 

 





(Loss)/profit from discontinued operations (note 30)

 

 (549)

 (12,595)

 (13,144)

 

409

-

409

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period attributable to the equity holders of the parent company

 

 

 

 (10,882)

 

 

 

157

Earnings/(loss) per share


 

 

 





From continuing operations:


 

 

 





Basic (pence)

14

 

 

3.66




 (0.42)

Diluted (pence)

14

 

 

3.61




 (0.42)

From total operations:


 

 

 





Basic (pence)

14

 

 

 (17.62)




0.26

Diluted (pence)

14

 

 

 (17.62)

 

 

 

0.26

 

The comparative figures for the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and the related notes have been reanalysed between continuing and discontinued operations to allow for comparability with the year ended 31 March 2022 result.


 

Consolidated statement of financial position

as at 31 March 2022

 

 

Notes

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Assets


 


Non-current assets


 


Intangible assets

15

4,780

8,209

Property, plant and equipment

16

1,103

1,307

Right-of-use assets

17

786

1,688

Total non-current assets

 

6,669

11,204

Current assets


 


Inventories

18

2,454

2,467

Deferred tax asset

29

306

-

Trade and other receivables

19

10,625

16,726

Cash and cash equivalents

20

2,504

1,293

Total current assets

 

15,889

20,486

Total assets

 

22,558

31,690

Equity and liabilities attributable to equity holders of the parent company


 


Issued capital and reserves


 


Share capital

24.1

6,213

6,121

Own shares

24.1

 (850)

 (850)

Share premium

24.2

9,245

9,210

Share based payment reserve

28

74

30

Merger reserve

24.3

 (248)

 (248)

Retained earnings

 

(14,577)

 (3,401)

Total equity

 

 (143)

10,862

Non-current liabilities


 


Borrowings

21

177

2,842

Lease liabilities

22

434

1,183

Deferred tax liabilities

29

-

699

Total non-current liabilities

 

611

4,724

Current liabilities


 


Borrowings

21

2,666

1,124

Lease liabilities

22

362

552

Trade and other payables

23

19,062

14,428

Total current liabilities

 

22,090

16,104

Total equity and liabilities

 

22,558

31,690

 

Approved by the Board on 19 August 2022,

Clive Lovett

Group Finance Director

Company registration number: 09095860

 



 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

for the financial year ended 31 March 2022

 

Issued share

 capital

£'000

Share

 premium

£'000

Own

shares

£'000

Share based

payment

reserve

£'000

Merger

reserve

£'000

Retained

 earnings

£'000

Total

 equity

£'000

At 1 April 2020

5,872

8,609

-

612

 (248)

 (4,221)

10,624

Profit and total comprehensive income for the year

-

-

-

-

-

157

157

Issue of share capital (note 24.1) (net of issue costs)

249

601

 (850)

-

-

-

-

Share based payment charge

-

-

-

30

-

-

30

Deferred tax on share options

-

-

-

-

-

51

51

Transfer to retained earnings for share options cancelled

-

-

-

 (612)

-

612

-

Total transactions with owners recognised directly in equity

249

601

 (850)

 (582)

-

663

81

At 31 March 2021

6,121

9,210

 (850)

30

 (248)

 (3,401)

10,862

Loss and total comprehensive income for the year

-

-

-

-

-

 (10,882)

 (10,882)

Issue of share capital (note 24.1) (net of issue costs)

92

35

-

 (46)

-

-

81

Share based payment charge

-

-

-

90

-

-

90

Deferred tax on share options

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Dividend paid

-

-

-

-

-

(294)

(294)

Total transactions with owners recognised directly in equity

92

35

-

44

-

 (294)

 (123)

At 31 March 2022

6,213

9,245

 (850)

74

 (248)

 (14,577)

 (143)

 



 

Consolidated statement of cash flows

for the financial year ended 31 March 2022

 

 

Notes

12 months

ended

31 March

2022

£'000

12 months

ended

31 March

2021

£'000

Net cash generated from operating activities

25

3,660

5,814

Cash flow from investing activities


 


Purchase of property, plant and equipment


 (253)

 (87)

Purchase of intangible assets


 (142)

 (115)

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

-

20

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 (395)

 (182)

Cash flow from financing activities


 


Proceeds from borrowings


-

7,333

Issue of new share capital (net of share issue costs)

24.1

81

850

Repurchase of own shares for JSOP

24.1

-

 (850)

Repayment of borrowings


 (1,123)

 (7,249)

Interest paid


 (275)

 (461)

Principal payments of leases


 (443)

 (630)

Dividends paid

 

 (294)

-

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 (2,054)

 (1,007)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents


1,211

4,625

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

1,293

 (3,332)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

 

2,504

1,293

 

The cash and cash equivalents for the year ended 31 March 2022 are represented by cash balances of £2,504,000 (2021: £1,293,000).



Notes to the consolidated financial statements

for the financial year ended 31 March 2022

1. Basis of preparation

Kinovo plc and its subsidiaries (together the "Group") operate in the gas heating, electrical and general building services industries. The Company is a public company operating on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange ("AIM") and is incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales (registered number 09095860). The address of its registered office is 201 Temple Chambers, 3-7 Temple Avenue, London EC4Y 0DT. The Company was incorporated on 20 June 2014.

The Group's financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, and in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standards, the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Boards ("IASB") that are effective or issued and early adopted as at the time of preparing these financial statements and in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

The Group has adopted all of the new and revised standards and interpretations issued by the IASB and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") of the IASB, as they have been adopted by the United Kingdom, that are relevant to its operations and effective for accounting periods beginning on 1 April 2021.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed in notes 2 and 4. The functional and presentational currency of the Group is Pounds Sterling (£) rounded to the nearest thousand. The principal accounting policies adopted by the Group are set out in note 2.

2. Summary of significant accounting policies

2.1. Going concern

 

The Directors have adopted the going concern basis in preparing these accounts after assessing the risks as set out below and the Group's business activities, together with factors that are likely to affect its future development and position, as set out in the Group Chief Executive Officer's Review on pages 10 and 11.

During the year Kinovo plc disposed of its non-core construction business, DCB (Kent) Limited. The terms of the disposal allowed for up to £5.0 million deferred consideration and an expectation that Parent Company Guarantees (PCG's) provided by Kinovo, on nine construction projects represented by six clients, would be transferred to the purchaser, or an associate.

On 16 May 2022 DCB entered into administration. The PCG's had not been transferred and Kinovo consequently has ongoing responsibilities to complete the projects.

Third party experts have been retained by Kinovo to assess the cost to complete the projects and Kinovo has engaged with each of the clients of the construction contracts to facilitate the optimum solution for the parties to deliver the projects.

Discussions have significantly progressed and Heads of Terms are being agreed for each of the projects to recommence the construction works and complete the projects for the clients.

The Directors estimate that the net costs to complete the projects will be approximately £4.0 million plus fees and expenses, over a period for completion, ranging from a number of months through to the end of 2023.

Three of the projects also have performance bonds, which are indemnified by Kinovo plc, totalling £2.10 million. Kinovo has engaged with insurers, underwriters and clients and although these bonds technically could be called at any time, since DCB entered into administration, it is recognised by all parties that whilst discussions are ongoing to identify solutions to enable the projects to be completed that the bonds would not be called.One client has indicated their willingness to cancel their performance bond amounting to £0.95 million, subject to contract, and it is expected that the remaining performance bonds amounting to £1.15 million will either be cancelled or novated to new agreements between the parties.

Kinovo has a term loan with HSBC UK Bank Plc which had an outstanding balance of £2.53 million at 31 March 2022. Since the year end a further £500,000 has been repaid and a further instalment of £500,000 is due at the end of August 2022, which Kinovo expects to pay, leaving an outstanding balance of £1.53 million which is due for repayment at the end of September 2022.

The Group and HSBC UK Bank Plc are in constructive discussions regarding the continuation of the current borrowing facilities and refinance of the term loan facility due for full repayment in September 2022. HSBC UK Bank Plc remain supportive and the Group has received formal credit approval confirming the renewal and refinance of these facilities. However, documentation is yet to be completed at the date of signing these financial statements.

The continuing business traded strongly in the year ended 31 March 2022 and is expected to grow further, developing existing strong relationships with its' client base, mobilising the new contracts it has won and securing new business opportunities through the established business development team.

Kinovo continuing operations has traded ahead of expectations in the quarter to 30 June 2022, 24% ahead of prior year Adjusted EBITDA.

In assessing the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, the Board reviews and approves the annual budget and longer-term strategic plan, including forecasts of cash flows.

In building these budgets and forecasts, the Board has considered the expected costs to complete the DCB construction projects, the continuing potential impact of Covid-19 and the market challenges of supply chain inflation and material and labour availability on the trading of the Group.

Whilst these factors have already been felt strongly, the business has demonstrated its resilience. The Group reduced its level of net debt during the year ended 31 March 2022 by £2.4 million reflecting the cash generated by continuing operations, despite the cash absorbed by the discontinued operations during the year.

 

The Directors expect that a combination of the cash generated by the continuing business together with the expected extension of bank facilities will enable Kinovo to fund the costs to complete the construction projects and continue to drive the growth of the core operations.

No equity fund raise is envisaged.

After taking into account the above factors and possible sensitivities in trading performance, the Board has reasonable expectation that Kinovo plc and the Group as a whole have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

Although HSBC UK Bank Plc credit approval has been agreed confirming the renewal and refinancing of facilities, as the documentation has yet to be completed and the agreement with clients on the DCB projects was outstanding at the date of signing the financial statements, technically, a material uncertainty remains, which may cast significant doubt on the group's ability to continue as a going concern. Discussions are at an advanced stage on each of these matters and the Board is confident that new agreements will be executed. For this reason, the Board continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these accounts do not include any adjustments to the carrying amount or classification of assets and liabilities that would result if the Group were unable to continue as a going concern.

 

2.2. Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements consolidate those of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 31 March each year. Subsidiaries are entities that are controlled by the Company. The definition of control involves three elements: power over the investee; exposure or rights to variable returns; and the ability to use power over the investee to affect the amount of the investors' returns. This should be read in conjunction with note 4.1(e). The Group generally obtains power through voting rights.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial information of Kinovo plc and its subsidiaries. Subsidiary companies are consolidated from the date that control is gained. The subsidiaries of the Group are detailed in note 6 of the Company financial statements on page 95. All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expense are eliminated on consolidation.

2.3. Business combinations and goodwill

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method, with the exception of the acquisition of P&R Installation Company Limited. The acquisition method involves the recognition at fair value of all identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the subsidiary at the acquisition date, regardless of whether or not they were recorded in the financial statements of the subsidiary prior to acquisition. On initial recognition, the assets and liabilities of the subsidiary are included in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position at their fair values, which are also used as the bases of subsequent measurement in accordance with the Group accounting policies.

The acquisition of P&R Installation Company Limited did not meet the definition of a business combination as the company was not a business and therefore falls outside the scope of IFRS 3 (Revised) "Business Combinations". As IFRS does not provide specific guidance in relation to Group reorganisations it defers to the next appropriate GAAP, being UK GAAP. The acquisition of P&R Installation Company Limited by the Company has therefore been accounted for in accordance with the principles of merger accounting as set out in Section 19 of FRS 102. Costs relating to acquisitions in the year are expensed and are included in administrative expenses.

Goodwill arising on acquisitions is recognised for an acquisition as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the Group's interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised.

Where applicable, the consideration for an acquisition includes any assets or liabilities resulting from a contingent consideration arrangement, measured at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes in such fair values are adjusted against the cost of acquisition where they result in additional information, obtained within one year from the acquisition date, about facts and circumstances that existed at the acquisition date. All other subsequent changes in fair value of contingent consideration classified as an asset or liability are recognised in accordance with IAS 39, either in profit or loss or as a change to other comprehensive income. Changes in fair value of contingent consideration classified as equity are not recognised.

2.4. Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the provision of the Group's services. Revenue is recognised by the Group, net of value added tax, based upon the following:

•    Mechanical services - Mechanical services are supplied under a term contract or framework agreement with both local authority and corporate customers that usually span three or more years. These contracts will outline a number of services that the Group is retained to provide to the customer ranging from boiler servicing and meter connections to installing central heating solutions. These services will be provided on request from the customer, and work will be charged based on the customer rate card. Each service is considered to have a single performance obligation, and generally takes less than a day to complete. Revenue is only recognised at the point that the service is complete. Invoicing only occurs once the customer has agreed that the relevant service has been received and completed. The invoice is subsequently settled on average within 34 days of issue. Any costs incurred in advance of the performance obligation being completed are recognised as work in progress. Any work completed but not yet agreed with the customer/invoiced is recognised as accrued income.

•    Building services - Building services contracts typically range between one and six years, and can range from ad-hoc maintenance work to long-term construction contracts. Long-term construction contracts are only held within the DCB (Kent) Limited business, and with the disposal of this subsidiary during the year, it is not anticipated to have any such contracts in the future:

•    Long-term construction contracts: During the course of a project an independent surveyor will conduct a monthly valuation of the work done and issue a certification of the stage of completion, which is the trigger for an invoice to be generated and a stage payment to be made as per the terms of the contract. Payment occurs on average within 34 days of the invoice being issued. These monthly valuations are seen to represent the performance obligations that have been satisfied under the terms of the contract, as they reflect the benefit that has been transferred to the customer. The Group thus recognises the revenue in line with the certified stage of completion. If there is a delay in receiving the certification of work, revenue will be recognised based on management's estimate of the value of the performance obligation fulfilled. Any costs incurred in advance of the performance obligation being completed are recognised as work in progress. Revenue recognisable in relation to work completed is recognised as accrued income until invoiced.

A twelve-year warranty is issued on any new build developments completed. Any claims made within the first two years of the warranty are the responsibility of the Group to rectify. The subsequent ten years are then covered by a third-party warranty provider. No warranty claims have previously been made against the Group, and therefore no provision for potential warranty claims is made within these financial statements.

•    Maintenance work: Maintenance work is supplied under a term contract or framework agreement which sets out the range of services the Group is retained to provide to the customer including refurbishments, replacements of kitchens and bathrooms, window installations and painting and decorating. These services will be provided on request from the customer, and work will be charged based on the customer rate card. Each service is considered to have a single performance obligation, and generally take less than a day to complete. Revenue is only recognised at the point that the service is complete. Invoicing only occurs once the customer has agreed that the relevant service has been received and completed. The invoice is subsequently settled on average within 34 days of issue. Any costs incurred in advance of the performance obligation being completed are recognised as work in progress. Any work completed but not yet agreed with the customer/invoiced is recognised as accrued income.

•    Electrical services - Electrical services are supplied under a term contract or framework agreement with both local authority and corporate customers that usually spans three or more years. These contracts will outline a number of services that the Group is retained to provide to the customer including servicing, maintenance, emergency call-outs and rewires. These services will be provided on request from the customer, and work will be charged based on the customer rate card. Each service is considered to have a single performance obligation, and generally takes less than a day to complete. Revenue is only recognised at the point that the service is complete. Invoicing only occurs once the customer has agreed that the relevant service has been received and completed. The invoice is subsequently settled on average within 34 days of issue. Any costs incurred in advance of the performance obligation being completed are recognised as work in progress. Any work completed but not yet agreed with the customer/invoiced is recognised as accrued income.

It is considered by management that the above revenue recognition policies are suitable for recognising revenue arising from the Group's key market verticals. All revenue streams are wholly attributable to the principal activity of the Group and arise solely within the United Kingdom. Note 5 gives further detail of any work in progress and accrued income balances recognised in relation to contracts with customers.

2.5. Operating profit and non-underlying items

Operating profit comprises the Group's revenue for the provision of services, less the costs of providing those services and administrative overheads, including depreciation of the Group's non-current assets.

Underlying operating profit before the deduction of exceptional costs and other adjusting items is one of the key measures used by the Board to monitor the Group's performance. Exceptional costs are disclosed on the face of the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as "non-underlying items".

These non-underlying items comprise costs that are considered by the Board to not relate to the underlying financial performance of the Group and are separately analysed so that the users of the accounts can compare trading performance on a like-for-like basis. Costs falling within this category will have one or more of the following attributes:

•    one-off transactions not relating to current or future trading;

•    non-cash items such as amortisation and impairment of financial assets and share based payment charges; and

•    exceptional in size such that they distort the understanding of underlying trading activities.

2.6. Dividends

The Group has a policy of paying dividends to shareholders in accordance with the amount recommended by the Directors. If the Directors believe the dividends are justified by the profits of the Group available for distribution, they also pay interim dividends. Dividends are recognised when they become legally payable. In the case of interim dividends, this is when dividends are paid. In the case of final dividends, this is when the dividends are approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

2.7. Segmental reporting

The Board of Directors of Kinovo plc (which is considered to be the Chief Operating Decision Maker) has identified the reportable segments to be mechanical services, building services and electrical service. Direct costs are allocated to the appropriate segment as they arise and central overheads are apportioned on a reasonable basis. Operating segments are presented in a manner consistent with internal reporting, with inter-segment revenue and expenditure eliminated on consolidation. The segmental reporting is outlined in note 6.

2.8. Intangible assets

In accordance with IFRS 3, an intangible asset acquired in a business combination is deemed to have a cost to the Group of its fair value at the acquisition date. The fair value of the intangible asset reflects market expectations about the probability that future economic benefits embodied in the asset will flow to the Group.

Software expenditure is capitalised as an intangible asset if the asset created can be identified, if it is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits and if the development cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

Following initial recognition, the carrying amount of an intangible asset is its cost less any accumulated amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation expense is charged to administrative expenses in the income statement on a straight line basis over its useful life.

The identifiable intangible assets and associated periods of amortisation are as follows:

•    Customer relationships                      - over the period expected to benefit, typically seven years.

•    Software and development costs    - over four years.

2.9. Impairment

For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows: cash-generating units ("CGUs"). As a result, some assets are tested individually for impairment, and some are tested at CGU level. Goodwill is allocated to CGUs that are expected to benefit from synergies of the related business combination and represent the lowest level within the Group at which management monitors the related cash flows.

Goodwill or CGUs that include goodwill and those intangible assets not yet available for use are tested for impairment at least annually. All other individual assets or CGUs are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income for the amount by which the asset or CGU's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value, reflecting market conditions less costs to sell, and value in use based on an internal discounted cash flow evaluation. Impairment losses recognised for CGUs to which goodwill has been allocated are credited initially to the carrying amount of goodwill. Any remaining impairment loss is charged pro rata to the other assets in the CGU. With the exception of goodwill, all assets are subsequently reassessed for indications that an impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist.

2.10. Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is calculated to write off the cost of the assets, net of anticipated disposal proceeds, over the expected useful lives of the assets concerned as follows:

· Freehold property

- 2% on freehold building cost.

·   Long leasehold improvements

- 5% on long leasehold improvements cost.

·   Office and computer equipment

- 25% reducing balance.

·   Fixtures and fittings

- 25% reducing balance.

·   Motor vehicles

- 25% reducing balance.

 

Freehold land is not depreciated.

Subsequent expenditure is included in the asset's carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing proceeds with carrying amount and are included in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The residual values and economic lives of assets are reviewed by the Directors on at least an annual basis and are amended as appropriate.

2.11. Impairment of property, plant and equipment

At each Statement of Financial Position date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease. For assets other than goodwill, where conditions giving rise to impairment subsequently reverse, the effect of the impairment charge is also reversed as a credit to the Statement of Comprehensive Income, net of any depreciation or amortisation that would have been charged since the impairment.

2.12. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value is based on estimated selling price less additional costs to completion and disposal.

Work in progress is measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises direct materials and direct labour costs that have been incurred in advance of the performance obligations on contracts being completed.

2.13. Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position when the Group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are de-recognised when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or when the contractual rights to those assets are transferred. Financial liabilities are de-recognised when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expired.

(a) Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method less provision for impairment. Appropriate provisions for expected credit losses are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income when there is objective evidence that the assets are impaired. Interest income is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term trade and other receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial.

The Group incurs costs in advance of new contracts commencing in association with preparatory work to ensure the contract can be delivered from day one. These costs are included within work in progress and released over the life of the contract.

(b) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand, demand deposits and other short-term highly liquid investments that have maturities of three months or less from inception, are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

(c) Equity instruments

An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its liabilities. Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

(d) Trade and other payables

Trade payables are initially measured at their fair value and are subsequently measured at their amortised cost using the effective interest rate method; this method allocates interest expense over the relevant period by applying the "effective interest rate" to the carrying amount of the liability.

(e) Borrowings

Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost; any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method.

2.14. Current and deferred tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.

(a) Current tax

Tax payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit reported in the Statement of Comprehensive Income because it excludes items of income and expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the Statement of Financial Position date. As the Group has made losses during the period there is no tax payable for the year to 31 March 2022. Details of the tax charge on ordinary operations and tax credit on discontinued operations during the year and tax losses available in future periods are outlined in note 13.

(b) Deferred tax

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on temporary differences between the carrying value of assets and liabilities in the financial information and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax assets/liabilities are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised.

Deferred tax is charged or credited to the Statement of Comprehensive Income except when it relates to items credited or charged directly in equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates and laws that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realised or the liability is settled based upon tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

2.15. Leases

The Group leases various premises, vehicles and equipment. Rental contracts are typically made for fixed periods of six months to 20 years, but may have extension options. Contracts may contain both lease and non-lease components. The Group allocates the consideration in the contract to the lease and non-lease components based on their relative stand-alone prices. However, for leases of real estate for which the Group is a lessee, it has elected not to separate the lease and non-lease components and instead accounts for these as a single lease component.

Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. The lease agreements do not impose any covenants other than the security interests in the leased assets that are held by the lessor. Leased assets may not be used as security for borrowing purposes.

Leases are recognised as a right-of-use asset and a corresponding liability at the date which the leased asset is available for use by the Group.

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net present value of the following lease payments:

•    fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable;

•    variable lease payments that are based on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the commencement date;

•    amounts expected to be payable by the Group under residual value guarantees;       

•    the exercise price or a purchase option if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise that option; and

•    payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the Group exercising that option.

Lease payments to be made under reasonably certain extension options are also included in the measurement of the liability.

The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be determined, which is generally the case for leases in the Group, the lessee's incremental borrowing rate is used, being the rate that the individual lessee would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment with similar terms, security and conditions.

To determine the incremental borrowing rate, the Group uses recent third-party financing received by the individual lessee as a starting point, adjusted to reflect changes in the financing conditions since the third-party financing was received.

Lease payments are allocated between principal and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to the profit or loss over the lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period.

Right-of-use assets are measured at cost comprising the following:

•    the amount of the initial measurement of lease liability;

•    any lease payments made at or before the commencement date less any lease incentives received;

•    any initial direct costs; and

•    restoration costs.

Right-of-use assets are depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight line basis. If the Group is reasonably certain to exercise a purchase option, the right-of-use asset is depreciated over the underlying asset's useful life.

Payments associated with short-term leases of equipment and vehicles and all leases of low-value assets are recognised on a straight line basis as an expense in profit or loss. Short-term leases are leases with a lease term of twelve months or less. Low-value assets comprise small items of office equipment and IT.

2.16. Employee benefits

The Group operates defined contribution pension schemes for certain employees of the Group. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the Group in an independently administered fund. The pension costs charged to profit or loss are the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the accounting period.

All Group companies are in compliance with their pension obligations and have auto-enrolled, offering all employees the opportunity to participate.

2.17. Share based payments

The Group issues equity-settled share based payment transactions to certain employees. Equity-settled share-based payment transactions are measured at fair value at the date of grant. The calculation of fair value at the date of grant requires the use of management's best estimate of volatility, risk free rate and expected time to exercise the options. Details regarding the determination of the fair value of equity-settled transactions are set out in note 28.

The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group's estimate of the number of equity instruments that will eventually vest. At each reporting date, the Group revises its estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result of the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions. The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in profit or loss such that the cumulative expense reflects the revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to reserves.

Equity-settled share based payment transactions with parties other than employees are measured at the fair value of the goods or services received, except where that fair value cannot be estimated reliably, in which case they are measured at the fair value of the equity instruments granted, measured at the date the entity obtains the goods or the counterparty renders the service.

For cash-settled share based payments, a liability is recognised for the goods or services acquired, measured initially at the fair value of the liability. At each reporting date until the liability is settled, and at the date of settlement, the fair value of the liability is re-measured, with any changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss for the year.

2.18. New standards and interpretations

The Group has applied the following standards and amendments for the first time for the annual reporting period commencing on 1 April 2021:

•    Interest Rate Benchmark Reform (Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7)

•    Covid-19 Related Rent Concessions (Amendment to IFRS 16)

•    Covid-19 Related Rent Concessions beyond 30 June 2021 (Amendment to IFRS 16)

The amendments listed above did not have any impact on the amounts recognised in prior periods and are not expected to significantly affect the current or future periods.

2.19. New standards and interpretations not yet adopted

The following new accounting standards and interpretations are currently in issue but not effective for accounting periods commencing on 1 April 2021 and therefore have not been early adopted by the Group:

•    Onerous Contracts - Cost of Fulfilling a Contract (Amendments to IAS 37)

•    Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020

•    Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use (Amendments to IAS 16)

•    Reference to the Conceptual Framework (Amendments to IFRS 3)

•    IFRS 17 "Insurance Contracts"

•    Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-Current (Amendments to IAS 1)

•    Amendments to IFRS 17

•    Disclosure of Accounting Policies (Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2)

•    Definition of Accounting Estimate (Amendments to IAS 8)

•    Deferred Tax Related to Assets and Liabilities Arising from a Single Transaction - Amendments to IAS 12 Income Taxes

•    Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture (Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28)

These standards are not expected to have a material impact on the entity in the current or future reporting periods or on foreseeable future transactions.

3. Financial risk management

3.1. Financial risk factors

The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. The Group's overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Group's financial performance.

Risk management is carried out by management under policies approved by the Board of Directors. Management identifies and evaluates financial risks and provides principles for overall risk management, as well as policies covering specific areas, such as interest rate risk, credit risk and investment of excess liquidity.

3.2. Market risk

Market risk is the risk of loss that may arise from changes in market factors such as interest rates, foreign exchange and security prices.

(a) Interest rate risk

The Group has exposure to interest rate risk by virtue of its borrowings with HSBC UK Bank Plc, which attract a variable rate of interest at a mark-up to the base rate. Details of actual interest rates can be found in note 21 to these consolidated financial statements. No hedging arrangements are currently in place but the Board keeps this under constant review.

3.3. Credit risk

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. Credit risk arises principally from the Group's cash balances and trade receivables balances. The Group's customers are primarily local authorities and housing associations with high credit ratings.

The Group has a number of policies for managing the credit risk of its new and existing customers, and has dedicated functions focused on cash conversion, collection and management.

The Group gives careful consideration to which organisations it uses for its banking services in order to minimise credit risk and therefore only financial institutions with a minimum rating of B are used. Currently the Group bank accounts are held primarily with HSBC UK Bank Plc which has a Fitch rating of AA-.

3.4. Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. This risk relates to the Group's prudent liquidity risk management and implies maintaining sufficient cash reserves to meet the Group's working capital requirements. Management monitors rolling forecasts of the Group's liquidity and cash and cash equivalents on the basis of expected cash flow.

As at 31 March 2022, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of £2,504,000 (2021: £1,293,000).

The Group has a centralised treasury function and actively manages cash flows on both a daily and longer-term basis.

3.5. Capital risk management

The Group manages its capital to ensure that it will be able to continue as a going concern whilst maximising the return to shareholders. The Group funds its expenditure on commitments from existing cash and cash equivalent balances.

There are no externally imposed capital requirements.

Financing decisions are made by the Board of Directors based on forecasts of the expected timing and level of capital and operating expenditure required to meet the Group's commitments and development plans.

The capital structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity, comprising issued share capital and retained profits.

4. Critical accounting estimates and judgements

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgements that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of income and expenditure during year. The estimates and associated judgements are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis of making judgements about carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.

The estimates and underlying judgements are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

In the process of applying the Group's accounting policies, management has decided the following estimates and assumptions have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities recognised in the consolidated financial statements.

4.1. Critical judgements in applying the Group's accounting policies

(a) Valuation of accrued income

Work completed under either a framework agreement or term contract for gas services, building services and electrical services is recognised as accrued income until it has been billed to the client. A level of judgement is involved in determining whether the Group has met all of the required performance obligations necessary in order to recognise the revenue. Accrued income of £5.2 million was recognised within the Statement of Financial Position at 31 March 2022 (2021: £8.6 million).

(b) Valuation of amounts due from long-term contracts

Work completed under long-term construction contracts is recognised as amounts due from long-term contracts until billed to the client, and similar to accrued income requires judgement on whether the Group has met all its performance obligations to recognise the revenue. The only long-term contracts held by the Group were within DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB"). Following the disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited as set out in note 4.1 (e), no such contracts are present any longer within the Group. Therefore amounts due from long-term contracts of £nil were recognised within the Statement of Financial Position at 31 March 2022 (2021: £1.5 million).

(c) Share based payment charge

The Black Scholes model and the Monte Carlo simulation have been used to calculate the appropriate charge for the share options issued across the Group's share option plans in the current and previous years. The use of these models to calculate a charge involves using a number of judgements to establish the appropriate inputs to be entered into the models, covering areas such as exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations of scheme members. Full details of judgements used within the calculation to derive the charge are given within note 28. Underlying estimates and a full sensitivity analysis have not been disclosed as management does not feel that any reasonable change would materially influence the interpretation of the charge.

(d) Recoverability of trade receivable balances

Provisions for trade debtors were previously considered to be an area of key judgement for the Group, given the underlying materiality of the associated trade receivable balances. However, given that a large proportion of the customer base are local councils with little risk of default and minimal historical levels of write-off, bad debt provisions are no longer considered an area of key judgement.

(e) Timing of the disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited

During the year the Group disposed of DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB"), the full details of which are set out further in note 30. The disposal was by sale of 100% of the share capital to a third party; however, no completion accounts were required as part of the transaction. Therefore, the sale and purchase agreement had no explicit date of transfer for the business. As such, management has reviewed a number of factors when identifying the effective disposal date, and has determined that control was transferred as at the 30 November 2021. The subsidiary was therefore no longer consolidated within the results from that point onwards.

(f) Non-adjusting post balance sheet event

As part of the obligations under the terms of the sale of DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB") (see note 30 for details on the disposal), the Group continued to provide parent company guarantees ("PCGs") on certain construction projects of DCB (Kent) Limited which run through to their practical completion. On administration of DCB (Kent) Limited the outstanding obligations under the PCGs were assumed by Kinovo plc. The total expected cost to complete the projects has been determined as £4.0 million (plus professional fees and expenses). Please see note 32 for further detail.

As at 31 March 2022 it was anticipated that existing contracts could be completed at reasonable cost, and new business could be secured to support the cash flow of the business. Kinovo continued to provide working capital funding to support the business after the year end. However, DCB was placed into administration on 16 May 2022.

The liability under the PCGs is considered to be a non-adjusting post balance sheet event, and the costs to complete the construction projects will be recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as and when they arise.

(g) Timing of DCB (Kent) Limited impairments

The Group has recognised £12.6 million of exceptional items in the year in relation to losses arising on the disposal of DCB. As management is no longer able to access the accounting records for DCB due to the disposal of the company and its subsequent administration, it is not possible to ascertain whether there is any element of this exceptional cost that should be deemed a change in accounting estimate or relate to other factors. Management considers that the most appropriate treatment is to take the full impact of the write-offs as an exceptional item within the current year Statement of Comprehensive Income.

(h) Tax treatment of disposal

There is a tax credit of £1.1m included in the loss on disposal of £12.6m on DCB as disclosed in note 30. Management have engaged with third party tax specialists to identify the appropriate tax treatment of the different aspects of the loss on disposal and based on relevant judgements and interpretation of tax legislation, it is managements expectation that £1.1 million of tax credits will be recoverable from the losses. If a different viewpoint and interpretation of tax legislation were applied, it might be concluded that the credit would not be recoverable.

 

4.2. Key sources of estimation uncertainty

(a) Customer relationships

Customer relationship assets recognised on acquisition are considered to have the following key areas of estimate:

•    Determining the useful economic life of customer relationships and the corresponding rate of amortisation is considered a critical estimate. Management is required to predict the future time frame over which customer relationships will continue to generate a positive contribution to Group cash flow. This estimate is made on a case-by-case basis and will reflect management's latest plans and long-term forecasts for the related contracts. Amortisation of customer relationships has resulted in a charge to the Statement of Comprehensive Income of £1.1 million during the year (2021: £1.8 million), including the charge allocated to discontinued operations.

•    The valuation of customer relationships requires the use of estimates, as the valuation model utilises assessments of both future cash flows and appropriate discount factors. The valuation of customer relationship assets held within the Statement of Financial Position was £0.4 million (2021: £2.5 million).

No acquisitions have been made in the current year. See note 15.1 for full details on the estimates applied by management in valuing customer relationships arising on past acquisitions.

(b) Impairment of goodwill

Determining whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimate of the value in use of the cash-generating units ("CGUs") to which goodwill has been allocated. The value in use calculation involves an estimate of the future cash flows of the CGUs and also the selection of appropriate discount rates to calculate present values. Future cash flows are estimated based on contract value and duration, together with margin based on past performance. Change in contract values and duration, together with margins achieved, could result in variations to the carrying value of goodwill. In addition, an adverse movement in the discount factor due to an increased risk profile or a change in the cost of debt (increase in interest rates) would also result in a variation to the carrying value of goodwill. The primary sensitivity is the discount rate; however, the Directors consider that there is no reason to believe it is not appropriate. See note 15.2 for details on the key estimates used within the impairment test for goodwill, along with the Group's sensitivity analysis.

(c) Right-of-use assets

Management is required to make a number of estimates in recognising right-of-use assets. These key estimates are considered to be:

•    estimation of the lease term, which is done on a lease-by-lease basis;

•    determination of the appropriate rate to discount the lease payments. This is set with reference to the Group's incremental cost of borrowing. The incremental rate was 3.4% in the current year (2021: 3.4%); and

•    assessment of whether a right-of-use asset is impaired. An impairment is considered to be present where the net present value of future cash benefit of utilising the asset within the business, or if applicable potential sub-lease income if the asset is no longer required, is less than the net present value of future lease payments.

Management considers all facts and circumstances including its past practice and business plans in making this estimate on a lease-by-lease basis.

At 31 March 2022 the Group holds £0.8 million of right-of-use assets (2021: £1.7 million). Management has reviewed the future benefit and costs of the underlying assets and has not identified the need to recognise any impairment.

5. Revenue

All results in the current and prior period derive from continuing operations and all revenues arose in the UK.

There are five customers who individually contributed 21%, 12%, 10%, 8% and 7% respectively towards the revenue (2021: six contributing 13%, 9%, 8%, 6%, 6% and 5%).



 

The Group has recognised the following assets within the Statement of Financial Position related to contracts with customers:

 

 2022

£'000

 2021

£'000

Current assets relating to contracts with customers:

 


Trade receivables

4,977

5,564

Work in progress

2,029

1,561

Accrued income

5,247

8,634

Amounts due from long-term contracts

-

1,461

 

12,253

17,220

 

As set out in note 2.12, work in progress balances arise where costs are incurred in advance of the performance obligations required to recognise revenue having been met, and therefore the costs are recognised as an asset.

Accrued income relates to performance obligations that have been satisfied, but the invoice has not yet been raised to the customer.

Amounts due from long-term contracts relate to performance obligations met in regard to construction contracts, but the invoice has yet to be raised to the customer.

There were no contracts liabilities required to be recognised as at 31 March 2022 (31 March 2021: £nil).

As set out in note 2.4, the Group is party to long-term construction contracts which may have performance obligations spanning a number of years. The following shows unsatisfied performance obligations resulting from these long-term construction contracts:

 

 2022

£'000

 2021

£'000

Aggregate amounts of the transaction price allocated to long-term construction contracts that are partially or fully unsatisfied as at 31 March 2022

-

44,600

 

At 31 March 2021 it was expected that 46.0% of the transaction price allocated to unsatisfied performance obligations would be recognised as revenue during the 2022 financial year. The remaining 54.0% (£24.1 million) would have been recognised over the 2023/24 financial years. These balances all related to contracts held in the DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB") company which has now been disposed.

Other services are provided under framework agreements and therefore not considered to have any unsatisfied performance obligations as at 31 March 2022.

The value of unsatisfied long-term construction contracts in 2021 of £44.6 million formed part of the overall balance of visible revenues of £170.4 million. Page 1 details the full definition of visible revenues.

6. Segmental reporting

The Board of Directors has determined an operating management structure aligned around the three core activities of the Group, with the following operating segments applicable:

•    Mechanical services: the Group offers a range of services within the mechanical services segment which is inclusive but not limited to: boiler servicing, meter connections and installing central heating solutions.

•    Building services: the Group offers a range of services which is inclusive but not limited to: refurbishment, replacements of kitchens and bathrooms, window installations and painting and decorating.

•    Electrical services: the Group offers a range of services within the electrical services segment which is inclusive but not limited to: servicing, maintenance, emergency call-outs and rewires.

The Board adopts the operating profit before exceptional items and amortisation of acquisition intangibles as the profit measure. The following is an analysis of the Group's revenue and operating profit before non-underlying items, for continuing operations, by reportable segment:

 

12 months ended

31 March 2022

£'000

12 months ended

31 March 2021

£'000

Mechanical services

15,418

 12,262

Building services

18,057

 13,185

Electrical services

19,850

13,922

Total revenue

53,325

39,369

 


Reconciliation of operating profit before non-underlying items to profit before taxation from continuing operations:

 

12 months ended

31 March 2022

£'000

12 months ended

31 March 2021

£'000

Operating profit before exceptional items and amortisation of acquisition intangibles by segment

 


Mechanical services

1,981

1,406

Building services

1,576

270

Electrical services

1,903

1,723

Unallocated central costs

(1,369)

(1,389)

Total operating profit before non-underlying items

4,091

2,010

Amortisation of acquisition intangibles

(940)

(1,582)

Share based payment charge

(90)

(27)

Exceptional costs

-

(334)

Operating profit

3,061

67

Finance costs

(269)

(438)

Profit/(loss) before tax

2,792

(371)

 

Only the Group Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker and consequently no segment assets or liabilities are disclosed under IFRS 8.

 

7. Operating profit

Operating profit for the continuing business is stated after charging all costs including non-underlying items which are detailed in note 9.

 

12 months

ended

31 March

2022

£'000

12 months

 ended

31 March

2021

£'000

Inventory recognised as an expense in cost of sales

9,670

6,189

Staff costs1 (note 10)

 9,649

7,389

Depreciation

130

82

Depreciation of right of use assets

336

654

Amortisation of software costs

44

17

(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 (1)

-

Auditor's remuneration

117

100

Tax compliance 2021 and 2022

9

9

Non-audit remuneration

2

2

1.      The Group offset Government grants of £0.8 million in 2021 received through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme against staff costs. No grants were received during the current year.

 

The depreciation and amortisation charges as stated in the table above are included within administrative expenses in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

8. EBITDA for continuing operations

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation ("EBITDA")

EBITDA is calculated as follows:

 

12 months

ended

31 March

2022

£'000

12 months

 ended

31 March

2021

£'000

Underlying profit before tax from continuing operations

3,822

1,572

Finance costs

269

438

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

130

82

Depreciation of right-of-use assets

336

654

Amortisation of software costs

44

17

(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 (1)

-

EBITDA from continuing operations (before lease payment charges)

4,600

2,763

Lease payment charge

 (363)

 (667)

Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations (after lease payment charges)

4,237

2,096

 

 

9. Non-underlying items

Operating profit includes the following items which are considered by the Board to be either exceptional in size, one-off in nature or non-trading related items as defined in note 2.5.

 

12 months

ended

31 March

2022

£'000

12 months

 ended

31 March

2021

£'000

Amortisation of customer relationships (a)

940

1,582

Share-based payment charge (b)

90

27

Exceptional items (c)

-

334

 

1,030

1,943

 

(a) Amortisation and impairment of customer relationships

Amortisation of acquisition intangibles was £940,000 for the year (2021: £1,582,000) and relates to amortisation of the customer relationships identified by the Directors on the acquisition of Purdy and Spokemead. In 2021 the charge related to Purdy, Spokemead and R. Dunham.

(b) Share-based payment charge

A number of Group share option schemes are in place and new options have been granted during the year as detailed in note 28. The share-based payment charge has been separately identified as it is a non-cash expense for the Group.

(c) Exceptional items

For the financial year ended 31 March 2021 the costs comprised restructuring costs (mainly redundancy, notice period and other related costs) to align operational skillsets with the strategic repositioning of the business.

 

10. Employee expenses

The average number of employees (including Directors) employed during the year was:

 

12 months

ended

31 March

2022

No.

12 months

ended

31 March

2021

No.

Management

 36

34

Administration

56

53

Engineers

127

116

 

219

203

 

The aggregate remuneration of the above employees (including Directors) comprised:

 

12 months

ended

31 March

2022

No.

12 months

 ended

31 March

2021

No.

Wages and salaries

8,623

6,524

Social security costs

815

758

Pension costs

211

107

 

9,649

7,389

 

Offset against the staff costs for the year ended 31 March 2021 were grants of £0.8 million received under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. No grants have been received in the current year.

The remuneration of the Directors and other key management personnel of the Group is shown in note 27 and the Remuneration Committee Report.

11. Finance costs and finance income

The Group received no finance income in either the current or prior period.

 

12 months

ended

31 March

2022

£'000

12 months

 ended

31 March

2021

£'000

Interest payable on bank borrowings and loans

161

310

Interest payable on lease liabilities

33

62

Other interest costs

-

24

Other finance costs

75

42

 

269

438

 

12. Dividends

The Directors do not recommend a final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2022. A final dividend of 0.5 pence per share for the year ended 31 March 2021 was paid in September 2022.

No interim dividend was paid in the year or for the previous year.


12 months ended

31 March 2022


12 months ended

31 March 2021

 

 

Per share

p

Total paid

£'000


Per share

p

Total paid

£'000


Dividend paid during the year relating to final dividend declared for previous period

0.5

294


-

-

Interim dividend paid during the year

-

-


-

-

 

0.5

294


-

-

 

13. Income tax

13.1. Components of income tax (credit)/expense

 

12 months

ended

31 March

 2022

£'000

12 months

ended

31 March

 2021

£'000

Current income tax expense

 


Current income tax charge in relation to continuing operations

901

12

Current income tax credit in relation to discontinued operations

 (129)

-

Utilisation of tax losses from disposal

 (772)

-

Total current tax

-

12

Deferred tax

 


Credit in connection with intangible assets acquired

 (243)

 (327)

Charge in relation to use of brought forward tax losses

-

309

Credit for tax losses from disposal not utilised in the year

 (306)

-

Short-term timing differences

(110)

-

Charge for lease liabilities recognised on adoption of IFRS 16

28

55

Credit for right-of-use asset recognised on adoption of IFRS 16

 (28)

 (60)

Credit for share-based payment charge

 (17)

 (6)

Total deferred tax

 (676)

 (29)

Total income tax charge/(credit) for continuing operations

530

 (119)

Total tax (credit)/charge for discontinued operations

 (128)

102

Tax credit recognised on disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited

 (1,078)

-

Income tax credit reported in the statement of comprehensive income

 (676)

 (17)

 

13.2. Tax reconciliation

The tax assessed in each period differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK. The differences are explained below.

 

12 months

ended

31 March

 2022

£'000

12 months

ended

31 March

 2021

£'000

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation

 (11,558)

140

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation multiplied by standard rate of UK corporation tax of 19% (2021: 19%)

 (2,196)

27

Effects of:

 


Exceptional items not allowable for corporation tax

1,530

-

Non-deductible expenses

296

345

Utilisation of brought forward tax losses

-

 (309)

Carry forward of tax losses not utilised in the year

 (306)

 (17)

Research and development claim

-

 (63)

Other tax adjustments

-

-

 

 (676)

 (17)

 

14. Earnings per share

14.1. Basic and diluted earnings per share

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the result attributable to shareholders divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year.

Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing net profit for the year or period attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year. The Group has potentially issuable shares all of which relate to the Group's share options issued to Directors and employees.

 

Basic and diluted profit per share from continuing operations is calculated as follows:

 

12 months

ended

31 March

 2022

£'000

12 months

ended

31 March

 2021

£'000

Profit/(loss) used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for continuing operations

2,262

 (252)

(Loss)/profit used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share for total operations

 (10,882)

157

Number of shares

 


Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of basic earnings per share

61,755,891

58,956,248

Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of diluted earnings per share

62,637,298

58,956,248

Basic earnings/(loss) per share (pence) for continuing operations

3.66

 (0.42)

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share (pence) for continuing operations

3.61

 (0.42)

Basic (loss)/earnings per share (pence) for total operations

 (17.62)

0.26

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share (pence) for total operations

 (17.62)

0.26

 

Options over 5,059,190 ordinary shares remained outstanding as at 31 March 2022 (2021: 5,409,754) as detailed in note 28.

There was no earnings per share dilution in 2021 as the outstanding options granted were priced above the average share price for the year.

Details of (loss)/profit per share for discontinued operations are set out in note 30.

14.2. Adjusted earnings per share

Profit after tax is stated after deducting non-underlying items totalling £1,030,000 (2021: £1,880,000) as set out in note 9 and the impact of these items on corporation tax. Non-underlying items are either exceptional in size, one-off in nature or non-trading related items. These are shown separately on the face of the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

The calculation of adjusted basic and adjusted diluted earnings per share is based on the result attributable to shareholders, adjusted for non-underlying items, divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year.

 

12 months

ended

31 March

 2022

£'000

12 months

ended

31 March

 2021

£'000

Profit /(loss) after tax

2,262

 (252)

Add back:

 


Amortisation of customer relationships

940

1,582

Share-based payment charge

90

27

Exceptional costs

-

334

Impact of above adjustments on corporation tax

-

 (63)

Adjusted profit after tax

3,292

1,628

Number of shares

 


Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of adjusted earnings per share

61,755,891

58,956,248

Weighted average number of shares for the purpose of diluted adjusted earnings per share

62,637,298

58,956,248

Adjusted earnings per share (pence) for continuing operations

5.33

2.76

Diluted adjusted earnings per share (pence) for continuing operations

5.25

2.76

 

15. Intangible assets


Software

Customer




costs

relationships

Goodwill

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Cost





At 1 April 2021

332

14,032

5,543

19,907

Additions in the year

142

-

-

142

Disposals in the year

 (131)

 (2,324)

 (1,351)

 (3,806)

At 31 March 2022

343

11,708

4,192

16,243

Amortisation





At 1 April 2021

155

11,543

-

11,698

Charge for the year

44

1,095

-

1,139

Disposals in the year

 (59)

 (1,315)

-

 (1,374)

At 31 March 2022

140

11,323

-

11,463

Net book value





At 31 March 2021

177

2,489

5,543

8,209

At 31 March 2022

203

385

4,192

4,780

 

15.1. Customer relationships

The customer relationships intangible assets arise on acquisition of subsidiaries when accounted for as a business combination and relate to the expected value to be derived from contractual and non-contractual customer relationships. The value placed on the contractual customer relationship is based on the expected cash revenue inflows over the estimated remaining life of each existing contract. The value placed on the non-contractual customer relationships is based on the expected cash inflows based on past revenue performance by virtue of the customer relationship, but using an attrition rate depending on the length of the relationship. Associated cash outflows have been based on historically achieved margins and overhead run rates per £1 of revenue. The net cash flows are discounted at a rate which the Directors consider is commensurate with the risks associated with capturing returns from the customer relationships.

The estimated life for customer relationships is based on the average of the contracted remaining life of contracted relationships and estimated life of the non-contractual relationships.

 

Purdy

Spokemead

DCB

R. Dunham

Total

Attrition rate where relationship <5 years

80%

n/a

100%

n/a


Attrition rate where relationship >5 years

50%

n/a

100%

n/a


Discount rate

13.30%

12.84%

12.84%

15.79%


Estimated life of relationship at date of acquisition

7 years

7.5 years

1 to 8 years

1.5 years


Remaining life of intangible

1.5 years

0.2 years

5 years

-


Fair value of customer relationships at date of acquisition

£5,586,000

£5,922,000

£2,324,000

£200,000

£14,032,000

Current carrying value of customer relationships

£385,000

-

-

-

£385,000

 

15.2. Goodwill

Goodwill on consolidation arises on the excess of cost of acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired on purchase of the company. Each subsidiary is its own CGU for the purposes of the goodwill calculation and impairment reviews and is monitored on an ongoing basis by the Board.

The goodwill allocated to each subsidiary entity is presented below:

 

Purdy

£'000

Spokemead

£'000

R. Dunham

£'000

Total

£'000

Allocation of goodwill

1,719

1,186

1,287

4,192

 

The Group tests whether goodwill has suffered any impairment on an annual basis. For the 2022 and 2021 reporting periods, the recoverable amount of the cash-generating units ("CGUs") was determined based on the value in use calculations which require the use of key assumptions. The calculations use cash flow projections based on the level of recurring revenue from secured contracts, which have already been won and are expected to be won in the future. Cash flows beyond five years are extrapolated using the estimated growth rates stated below. These growth rates are consistent with forecasts included in industry reports specific to the industry in which the CGU operates.

The following table sets out the key assumptions for those CGUs that have significant goodwill allocated to them. The same assumptions have been used across the CGUs as they are all considered to operate in markets with similar characteristics.

Key assumptions

2022

2021

Long-term growth rate (used after 5 years)

1.5%

1.5%

3 to 5-year growth rate

6.0%

3.0%

Pre-tax discount rate

15.6%

14.7%

 

15.3. Sensitivity review

Management has performed a range of sensitivity analysis around movements in both the discount rates and future growth rates used within the model and does not anticipate that any realistic changes in the assumptions would cause the assets to be impaired.

16. Property, plant and equipment

At 31 March 2022

 

Freehold

land

£'000

Freehold

property

£'000

Long

leasehold

improvements

£'000

Motor

 vehicles

£'000

Fixtures

and

fittings

£'000

Office and

 computer

 equipment

£'000

Total

£'000

Cost








At 1 April 2021

300

555

198

237

93

1,203

2,586

Additions

-

62

-

15

58

118

253

Disposals

-

-

 (198)

 (252)

 (96)

 (725)

 (1,271)

At 31 March 2022

300

617

-

-

55

596

1,568

Depreciation








At 1 April 2021

-

123

118

132

86

820

1,279

Charge for the year

-

25

15

22

10

119

191

Disposals

-

-

 (133)

 (154)

 (67)

 (651)

 (1,005)

At 31 March 2022

-

148

-

-

29

288

465

Net book value








At 1 April 2021

300

432

80

105

7

383

1,307

At 31 March 2022

300

469

-

-

26

308

1,103

 


At 31 March 2021

 

Freehold

land

£'000

Freehold

property

£'000

Long

leasehold

improvements

£'000

Motor

 vehicles

£'000

Fixtures

and

fittings

£'000

Office and

 computer

 equipment

£'000

Total

£'000

Cost








At 1 April 2020

300

523

198

291

91

1,163

2,566

Additions

-

32

-

-

2

53

87

Disposals

-

-

-

 (54)

-

 (13)

 (67)

At 31 March 2021

300

555

198

237

93

1,203

2,586

Depreciation








At 1 April 2020

-

100

95

172

53

728

1,148

Charge for the year

-

23

23

8

33

92

179

Disposals

-

-

-

 (48)

-

-

 (48)

At 31 March 2021

-

123

118

132

86

820

1,279

Net book value








At 1 April 2020

300

423

103

119

38

435

1,418

At 31 March 2021

300

432

80

105

7

383

1,307

 

Freehold land and building property was included at its net book value of £784,000 at the date of acquisition, being the fair value of the land and buildings at £815,000, less accumulated depreciation of £31,000. The property was valued by an independent valuer with a recognised and relevant professional qualification and with recent experience in the location and category of investment property being valued, Savills (UK) Limited, as at 22 May 2015 on the existing use value basis in accordance with the Appraisal and Valuation Manual of The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The critical assumptions made relating to its valuation are the market rent at £65,000 per annum and the yield at 8.00%.

The bank loans detailed in note 21 are secured on the property, plant and equipment of the Group. The bank facility does not impose any restrictions of use on the assets.

 

17. Right-of-use assets

 

Leasehold

property

£'000

Motor

 vehicles

£'000

Office and

computer

 equipment

£'000

Total

£'000

Cost





At 1 April 2021

1,251

1,119

164

2,534

Additions

 261

300

3

 564

Disposals

 (1,249)

 (427)

 (111)

 (1,787)

At 31 March 2022

263

992

56

1,311

Depreciation





At 1 April 2021

285

475

86

846

Charge for the year

 77

333

35

 445

Disposals

 (355)

 (340)

 (71)

 (766)

At 31 March 2022

7

468

50

525

Net book value





At 1 April 2021

966

644

78

1,688

At 31 March 2022

256

524

6

786

 

 

Leasehold

property

£'000

Motor

 vehicles

£'000

Office and

computer

 equipment

£'000

Total

£'000

Cost





At 1 April 2020

1,320

1,275

201

2,796

Additions

-

277

-

277

Disposals

 (69)

 (433)

 (37)

 (539)

At 31 March 2021

1,251

1,119

164

2,534

Depreciation





At 1 April 2020

202

449

66

717

Charge for the year

152

459

57

668

Disposals

 (69)

 (433)

 (37)

 (539)

At 31 March 2021

285

475

86

846

Net book value





At 1 April 2020

1,118

826

135

2,079

At 31 March 2021

966

644

78

1,688

 

18. Inventories

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Raw materials

425

906

Work in progress

2,029

1,561

 

2,454

2,467

 

19. Trade and other receivables

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Current

 


Trade receivables

4,977

5,564

Other receivables

122

473

Prepayments

279

594

Accrued income

5,247

8,634

Amounts due from long-term contracts

-

1,461

 

10,625

16,726

 

The ageing of trade receivables that are past due but not impaired is shown below:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Between 1 and 2 months

813

262

Between 2 and 3 months

74

65

More than 3 months

1

252

 

888

579

 

An allowance for expected credit loss of £nil (2021: £nil) has been recognised in the above balance for trade receivables. Management does not consider that there are any issues over recoverability, due to the creditworthiness of the customer profile and little historical issue of default.

The Group's exposure to credit risk is discussed in note 26 to the consolidated financial statements, including how the Group assesses the credit quality of potential new customers and its policy for providing against overdue invoices.

The average credit period taken on invoiced sales of services as at 31 March 2022 is 34 days (31 March 2021: 26 days). No interest was charged on overdue receivables during the year.

The Directors believe that the carrying value of the trade and other receivables is considered to represent its fair value. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable shown above. The Group does not hold any collateral as security. The bank loans detailed in note 21 are secured on trade receivables of £4,977,000 (2021: £5,564,000).

The Group's trade and other receivables are all denominated in Pounds Sterling.

20. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank. The Group's cash and cash equivalents are held at floating interest rates and are primarily held at HSBC UK Bank Plc which has an AA- credit rating as assessed by Fitch Ratings. The Directors consider that the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates to their fair value.

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Cash at HSBC UK Bank Plc

2,495

1,285

Other cash and bank balances

9

8

 

2,504

1,293

 

21. Borrowings

The maturity analysis of borrowings, inclusive of finance charges, is included below. All of the loans are denominated in Pounds Sterling.

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Non-current borrowings

 


Bank and other borrowings:

 


Term loans

-

2,533

Other loans

34

109

Mortgage loans

143

200

Total non-current borrowings

177

2,842

Current borrowings:

 


Bank and other borrowings:

 


Term loans

2,534

1,000

Other loans

75

67

Mortgage loan

57

57

Total current borrowings

2,666

1,124

Bank and other borrowings:

 


Term loans

2,534

3,533

Other loans

109

176

Mortgage loans

200

257

Total borrowings

2,843

3,966

 

The fair value of the borrowings outstanding as at 31 March 2022 is not materially different to its carrying value since interest rates applicable on the loans are close to the current market rates.

On 26 March 2021 the Group amended and restated the facility agreement. This was required to facilitate early repayment of part of the term loan aligned to changes to covenant tests. On 31 March 2021, the Group repaid £2.3 million of the term loan. £1.3 million related to the contractual repayment based on the adjusted cash balances in the Group as at 31 March 2021 and £1.0 million related to the accelerated repayment of the scheduled quarterly repayments in May 2021 and August 2021 of £0.5 million each. The first covenant test was amended to be as at 31 December 2021. As part of the restated agreement, the Group agreed the transition from LIBOR to an interest measure based on Sterling Overnight Interbank Average Rate ("SONIA"), effective from 30 September 2021.

(a) Working capital facilities

At 31 March 2022 the Group had an unused £2.5 million working capital facility with HSBC UK Bank Plc. The facility has an interest rate of 2.5% above base rate and is repayable on demand. All cash at bank balances are denominated in Pounds Sterling.

(b) Bank and other loans

Term loans

At 31 March 2022 the Group had a term loan in place with HSBC UK Bank Plc with an original principal value of £7.3 million repayable by quarterly instalments. As at 31 March 2022 £2.53 million of the loan remained outstanding. Interest is payable at 3.75% plus compounded reference rate based on SONIA.

Mortgage loan

A ten-year mortgage loan of £570,000 with HSBC UK Bank Plc was drawn down in July 2015, with interest payable at 1.9% above base rate. The mortgage is held over the freehold property of Purdy known as Brooklyn Lodge, Mott Street, Chingford, London E4 7RW. £200,000 remained unpaid at the end of the period.

Other loan

A five-year term loan, originally drawn down in September 2018 of £317,000 with Funding Circle, was assumed by the Group on the acquisition of R. Dunham in November 2018 and is unsecured. The loan is repayable by fixed monthly instalments of £7,024 and interest is at a fixed rate of 11.9%. £109,000 remained unpaid at the end of the period.

(c) Security

Bank loans are secured on related property, plant and equipment and debtor books of the Group.

In respect of bank debt there is an Unlimited Composite Company Guarantee given by Kinovo plc, Purdy, P&R, Spokemead and R. Dunham to secure all liabilities of each borrower.

22. Lease liabilities

As at 31 March 2022 the following amounts are included in the Statement of Financial Position in relation to non-cancellable leases:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Lease liabilities

 


Current

362

552

Non-current

434

1,183

 

796

1,735

 

The maturity analysis of obligations under non-cancellable leases is shown in the following table:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

No later than 1 year

362

552

Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

434

837

After 5 years

-

346

 

796

1,735

 

The interest expense recognised through the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income during the year in relation to lease liabilities was £33,000 (2021: £62,000).

23. Trade and other payables

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Trade payables

12,552

11,082

Other payables

388

21

Other taxation and social security

3,167

2,450

Accruals

2,955

875

 

 19,062

14,428

 

Trade and other payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. They are non-interest bearing.

The Directors consider that the carrying value of trade and other payables approximates their fair value as the impact of discounting is insignificant.

The Group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure that all payables are paid within the credit time frame and no interest has been charged by any suppliers as a result of late payment of invoices.

Included within trade payables is a balance of £3,077,000 (2021: £2,555,000) on a purchasing card facility provided by HSBC UK Bank Plc. The purchasing card is typically used to facilitate administration and reporting of costs on maintenance contracts at a granular level. Payment terms for Kinovo plc on the purchasing cards are typically 60-90 days, which aligns with existing credit terms with suppliers. Approved suppliers benefit from increased volumes and receive funds upfront from HSBC UK Bank Plc. Based on the nature of the transactions the Board considers it appropriate to disclose the balance within trade creditors.

The average credit period taken on trade purchases (excluding those settled on purchasing card) is 85 days (2021: 65 days). Trade purchases include the purchase of materials and subcontractor costs.

At 31 March 2022 deferred Covid-19 related HMRC liabilities amounted to £nil (2021: £1,023,000).

24. Share capital and reserves

24.1. Ordinary shares

 

Ordinary shares of £0.10 each

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

At the beginning of the year

6,121

5,872

Issued in the year

92

249

At the end of the year

6,213

6,121

Number of shares

 


At the beginning of the year

61,214,703

58,721,845

Issued in the year

923,054

2,492,858

At the end of the year

62,137,757

61,214,703

 

Issued in the year

During the year the Company issued 923,025 shares to allocate to members of the SIP scheme (please see note 28 for further details on the SIP). 17.5 pence was paid for 461,527 of these shares, a total consideration of £81,000. This was allocated as £46,000 of share capital, and £35,000 of share premium. The remaining 461,527 shares were a share-based payment for the members of the scheme, and therefore 10 pence per share (a total consideration of £46,000) was transferred to share capital from the share-based payment reserve as payment for these.

During the year ended 31 March 2021, the Company issued a total of 2,492,858 ordinary shares to RBC Cees Trustee (Nominees) Limited for £850,000. These shares are to be held for future redemption by members of the JSOP scheme subject to successful achievement of vesting conditions. Within the Group accounts the share trust is consolidated and the £850,000 value of shares is shown in equity as the Group ownership of own share capital.

24.2. Share premium

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

At the beginning of the year

9,210

8,609

Issued in the year (net of share issue costs)

35

601

At the end of the year

9,245

9,210

 

24.3. Merger reserve

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

At the end of the year

 (248)

 (248)

 

25. Note to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 

12 months

ended

31 March

 2022

£'000

12 months

ended

31 March

 2021

£'000

Cash flow from operating activities

 


(Loss)/profit before income tax

 (11,558)

140

Adjustments for:

 


Net finance cost

275

461

Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 (1)

 (2)

Depreciation

636

847

Amortisation of intangible assets

1,139

1,843

Loss on disposal of intangible assets

2,296

-

Share based payments

90

30

Movement in receivables

6,101

2,580

Movement in payables

4,670

 (1,561)

Movement in inventories

12

1,313

Tax reclaimed

-

163

 

3,660

5,814

 

26. Financial instruments

The Group's principal financial assets are cash and cash equivalents and trade and other receivables. All financial assets are classified as loans and receivables.

The Group's principal financial liabilities are financing liabilities and trade and other payables. All financial liabilities are held at amortised cost.

The Group is exposed to the risks that arise from its use of financial instruments. This note describes the objectives, policies and processes of the Group for managing those risks and the methods used to measure them. Further quantitative information in respect of these risks is presented throughout these consolidated financial statements.

26.1. Principal financial instruments

The principal financial instruments used by the Group, from which financial instrument risk arises, are as follows:

•    cash and cash equivalents;

•    trade and other receivables;

•    trade and other payables;

•    borrowings; and

•    leases.

The Group held the following financial assets at each reporting date:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Loans and receivables:

 


Trade receivables

4,977

5,564

Accrued income

5,247

8,634

Amounts due from long-term contracts

-

1,461

Other receivables

401

1,067

Cash and cash equivalents

2,504

1,293

 

13,129

18,019

 

The Group held the following financial liabilities at each reporting date:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Held at amortised cost:

 


Bank and other loans

2,843

3,966

Lease liabilities

796

1,735

Accruals

2,955

875

Trade payables

12,552

11,082

Other payables including tax and social security

3,555

2,471

 

22,701

20,129

 

26.2. Financial risk management

The Group's treasury function monitors and manages the financial risks in relation to its operations. These risks include those arising from interest rate risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and capital risk. The Group seeks to minimise the effects of these risks by using effective control measures. The Group's policies for financial risk management are outlined below.

(a) Interest rate risk management

The Group finances its operations through a combination of retained earnings and bank borrowings from major financial institutions, with a minimum Fitch rating of B, at floating rates of interest above the Bank of England base rate. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk. Borrowings issued at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk.

The Group's treasury function reviews its risk management strategy on a regular basis and gives careful consideration to interest rates when considering its borrowing requirements and where to hold its excess cash.

The Group currently has loans totalling £2.8 million (2021: £4.0 million) at variable interest rates. The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on some of its financial assets, being its cash and cash equivalents. The interest rate receivable on these balances at 31 March 2022 was at an average rate of less than 1% (2021: less than 1%).

The Group's policy is to minimise interest charges through active cash management. Interest charged on the Group's borrowings is kept under constant review.

(b) Credit risk management

Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. Credit risk arises principally from the Group's trade and other receivables and its cash balances. The Group has an established credit policy under which each new customer is analysed for creditworthiness before the Group's standard payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered.

The maximum exposure the Group will bear with a single customer is dependent upon that customer's credit rating, the level of anticipated trading and the time period over which the relationship is likely to run.

Social housing customers are typically local authorities or housing associations and the nature of which means the credit risk is minimal. Other trade receivables contain no specific concentration of credit risk with amounts recognised representing a large number of receivables from various customers.

(c) Trade and other receivables

The Group is exposed to the risk of default by its customers. At 31 March 2022, the Group had three customers with an outstanding balance over £250,000 (31 March 2021: three). An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows. No specific provision against receivables has been recognised (2021: £nil) in the Statement of Financial Position as outlined in note 19.

There are no other significant concentrations of credit risk at the balance sheet date.

At 31 March 2022, the Group held no collateral as security against any financial asset. The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the consolidated financial statements, net of any allowances for losses, represents the Group's maximum exposure to credit risk without taking account of the value of any collateral obtained.

(d) Liquidity risk management

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Group's approach to managing liquidity risk management is to ensure it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet the Group's working capital requirements. Management monitors rolling forecasts of the Group's liquidity and cash and cash equivalents on the basis of expected cash flow.

The Directors manage liquidity risk by regularly reviewing cash requirements by reference to short-term cash flow forecasts and medium-term working capital projections prepared by management and operate a centralised treasury function and actively manage cash flows on both a daily and longer-term basis.

The Group had total available working capital facilities at an interest rate of 2.5% over base rate amounting to £2,500,000 with HSBC UK Bank Plc as at 31 March 2022. The Group maintains a good relationship with its bank, which has a high credit rating. As at 31 March 2022, the Group had cash and cash equivalents of £2,504,000 (2021: £1,293,000).

The table below shows the maturity profile of the Group's non-derivative financial liabilities:

2022

Within

1 year

£'000

1-2 years

£'000

2-5 years

£'000

Over

5 years

£'000

Total

£'000

Non-derivative financial liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

HSBC mortgage

57

57

86

-

200

HSBC term loan

2,534

-

-

-

2,534

Funding Circle unsecured loan

75

34

-

-

109

Trade payables

12,552

-

-

-

12,552

 

15,218

91

86

-

15,395

 

2021

Within

1 year

£'000

1-2 years

£'000

2-5 years

£'000

Over

5 years

£'000

Total

£'000

Non-derivative financial liabilities






HSBC mortgage

57

57

143

-

257

HSBC term loan

1,000

2,533

-

-

3,533

Funding Circle unsecured loan

67

109

-

-

176

Trade payables

11,082

-

-

-

11,082

 

12,206

2,699

143

-

15,048

 

(e) Capital management risk

The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern so that it can continue to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders through the optimisation of debt and equity.

The capital structure of the Group consists of net debt as disclosed below and equity as disclosed in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity.

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Net debt is comprised as follows:

 


Cash and cash equivalents

2,504

1,293

Bank borrowings and overdrafts

 (2,843)

 (3,966)

Lease liabilities

 (796)

 (1,735)

 

 (1,135)

 (4,408)

 

The movement in the net debt position for the year can be reconciled as follows:

 

2021

£'000

Cash movements

 £'000

Interest charges

£'000

New lease

 agreements

£'000

Disposals

£'000

2022

£'000

Cash and cash equivalents

1,293

1,211

-

-

-

2,504

Bank borrowings and overdrafts

 (3,966)

1,123

-

-

-

 (2,843)

Lease liabilities

 (1,735)

471

33

 (564)

999

 (796)

 

 (4,408)

2,805

33

(564)

999

 (1,135)

 

27. Related party transactions

There were no related party transactions in the period.

27.1. Key management compensation

The Group's key management is considered to comprise the Directors of Kinovo plc and the Chief Operating Officer. The aggregate remuneration of the key management is as follows:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

The aggregate remuneration comprised:

 


Aggregate emoluments

764

771

Share-based payments

36

6

Total remuneration

800

777

 

The remuneration of the highest paid Director during the year was £262,000 (2021: £218,000). The remuneration of individual Directors is disclosed in the Remuneration Committee Report.

There were no other transactions with Directors or key personnel to disclose.

28. Share-based payments

As at 31 March 2022 the Group maintained four share-based payment schemes for employee remuneration, a Share Incentive Plan ("SIP"), Company Share Option Plan ("CSOP"), Joint Share Ownership Plan ("JSOP") and Enterprise Management Incentive ("EMI").

Share Incentive Plan ("SIP")

The SIP is an HMRC-approved plan open to all employees. The plan was established on 1 August 2020. Employees were invited to buy shares in the Company at a price of 17.5 pence, being the market price immediately prior to the date of establishment of the plan. The acquisition of the shares is funded through a salary sacrifice scheme with monthly deductions taken through payroll over a twelve-month accumulation period. At the end of the accumulation period the SIP Trust used the contributions to acquire the shares on behalf of the employees ("partnership shares"). A further tranche was rolled out on 1 August 2021, operating on the same basis as the original, but with a share purchase price of 34.0 pence. At 31 March 2022 employees had accumulated contributions of £49,585.

Employees are also awarded a matching share for each partnership share acquired. Once awarded these shares are held in trust, and are subject to forfeiture, in accordance with the scheme rules, for three years. The retention rate has been estimated as 82%.

The SIP is considered a hybrid financial instrument with characteristics of both share and option awards and linked to a twelve-month accumulation contract. The obligation of the Company arose when the plan was established, at the beginning of the accumulation period. The employee pays the market value for the partnership shares and therefore no share-based payment charge is recognised. The matching shares give rise to a share-based payment charge based on the market value of the shares at the date the plan was established adjusted for the risk of forfeiture.

Company Share Option Plan ("CSOP")

The CSOP is open to all employees at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. In the year ended 31 March 2021, the Company issued four CSOP awards totalling 1,772,142 ordinary shares at market prices ranging from 20.50 pence to 35.00 pence.

There were no CSOP awards in the year ended 31 March 2022.

The vesting period is for three years, during which the holder must remain in the employment of the Group. There are no performance conditions attached to the awards. No shares have vested yet.

The CSOP and EMI schemes were valued using the Black Scholes model. The use of this model to calculate a charge involves using a number of estimates and judgements to establish the appropriate inputs to be entered into the model, covering areas such as the use of an appropriate interest rate and dividend rate, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. A significant element of judgement is therefore involved in the calculation of the charge.

Joint Share Ownership Plan ("JSOP")

The JSOP is open to certain senior Executives at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. In the year ended 31 March 2021, the Company issued two JSOP awards, 250,000 ordinary shares of 10 pence each on 21 December 2020 at the market price of 26.0 pence and 2,242,858 ordinary shares of 10 pence each on 5 March 2021 at the market price of 35.0 pence, to three senior Executives. There were no JSOP awards in the year ended 31 March 2022.

Under the JSOP, shares in the Company are jointly purchased at fair market value by the participating Executives and the trustees of the JSOP trust, with such shares held in the JSOP trust.

Under IFRS, the awards are treated as a share-based payment arrangement. The JSOP trust holds the shares of the JSOP until such time as the JSOP shares are vested and the participating Executives exercise their rights under the JSOP.

The JSOP trust is granted a non-interest-bearing loan by the Company in order to fund the purchase of its interest in the JSOP shares. The loan held by the trust is eliminated on consolidation in the financial statements of the Group.

The Company funded portion of the share purchase price is deemed to be held as own shares until such time as they are transferred to the employee and is recorded as a reduction in equity.

The award on 21 December 2020 had no performance conditions. The awards on 5 March 2021 vest based on certain non-market conditions and specific fair market share price hurdles, as defined by the plan.

Under the JSOP and subject to the vesting of the participants' interest, participating Executives will, when the JSOP shares are sold, be entitled to a share of the proceeds of sale equal to the growth in market value of the JSOP shares versus the exercise price, net of Executives' cash contribution at inception, as agreed for each grant (the "Carry Charge").

The balance of the proceeds will remain to the benefit of the JSOP trust and will be applied to the repayment of the loan originally made by the Company to the JSOP trust. Any funds remaining in the JSOP trust after settlement of the loan and any expenses of the JSOP trust are for the benefit of the Company. No shares have vested at 31 March 2022.

The JSOP awards are valued based on the component conditions comprising each of the awards. Components of awards containing non-market-based conditions and awards with no performance conditions are valued using the Black Scholes model. Components of awards with market-based performance conditions are determined by the Monte Carlo simulation.

A number of estimates and judgements are required to establish the appropriate inputs to be entered into the model, covering areas such as the use of an appropriate interest rate and dividend rate, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations. A significant element of judgement is therefore involved in the calculation of the charge.

Having established the full value of the JSOP awards using the Black Scholes model and Monte Carlo simulation outlined above, a deduction is made in respect of the anticipated Carry Charge in order that the expense recorded in the financial statements only represents the participating Executives' net interest in the awards.

Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme ("EMI")

The EMI options scheme was open to all employees at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. In the year ended 31 March 2022, no grants were awarded and the majority of the grants have now been cancelled.

The vesting period is for three years, during which the holder must remain in the employment of the Group subject to the discretion of the Remuneration Committee. They can be exercised at any time from the date of vesting to the day before the tenth anniversary of their grant and are not subject to performance conditions.

The net charge recognised for share-based payments in the year was £90,000 (2021: £30,000) including discontinued operations analysed as follows:

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

SIP

19

16

CSOP

24

10

JSOP

47

4

EMI/unapproved

-

-

 

90

30

 

In the year ended 31 March 2022, options were granted in respect of the SIP only. During the prior year, options were granted for the CSOP and JSOP schemes in addition to the SIP. All share-based employee remuneration will be settled in equity. Options are generally exercisable at a price equal to the market price of the Kinovo plc shares on the day immediately prior to the date of the grant. Options are forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before the options vest except in specific circumstances allowed by the terms of the schemes.

 

SIP

CSOP

JSOP

EMI/

unapproved

Total

Number






At 1 April 2020

-

-

-

750,000

750,000

Granted

644,754

1,772,142

2,492,858

-

4,909,754

Lapsed

-

-

-

 (250,000)

 (250,000)

At 31 March 2021

644,754

1,772,142

2,492,858

500,000

5,409,754

Granted

610,185

-

-

-

610,185

Exercised

 (531,944)

-

-

-

 (531,944)

Lapsed

 (83,805)

 (345,000)

-

-

 (428,805)

At 31 March 2022

639,190

1,427,142

2,492,858

500,000

5,059,190







Weighted average exercise price (pence)






At 1 April 2021

-

24.3

34.1

95.0


Granted

-

-

-

-


Lapsed

-

22.5

-

-


At 31 March 2022

-

24.8

34.1

95.0








Assumptions used in estimating the fair value






Exercise price (pence)

17.5-34.0

20.5-35.0

26.0-35.0

95.0


Expected dividend yield

n/a

1.00%

1.00%

2.15%


Risk free rate

n/a

0.50%

0.50%

4.00%


Expected volatility

n/a

35.00%

35.00%

45.70%


Expected life

4 years

3 years

3 years

6.5 years


 

Expected volatility for the CSOP and JSOP awards is based upon the historical volatility as adjusted for management expectations over the life of the schemes. The expected life is based upon scheme rules and reflects management's best estimates for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

The risk free interest rate for the CSOP and JSOP awards is based upon the expected yield of UK gilts over the expected life of the awards.

The Company has applied an expected dividend yield of 1% for the CSOP and JSOP awards as the Company anticipates making dividend payments during the expected life of the awards.

During 2021 £612,000 was transferred from the share-based payment reserve to retained earnings in relation to tranches where all options have now been cancelled.

29. Deferred tax

The following are the significant deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group and the movements thereon during the current and prior reporting period.

 

Intangible

assets

acquired

£'000

Unused

 tax losses

£'000

Short-term

timing

 differences

£'000

Right-of-use

 assets

£'000

Lease

 liabilities

£'000

Share-based

payments

£'000

Total

£'000

At 1 April 2020

 (947)

309

 (145)

 (381)

385

-

 (779)

Credit/(charge) to Statement of Comprehensive Income or recognised directly through shareholders, equity

327

 (309)

-

60

 (55)

57

80

At 31 March 2021

 (620)

-

 (145)

 (321)

330

57

 (699)

Credit/(charge) to Statement of Comprehensive Income or recognised directly through shareholders, equity

243

306

112

28

 (28)

17

678

Disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited

305

-

30

143

 (151)

-

327

At 31 March 2022

 (72)

306

 (3)

 (150)

151

74

306

 

 

2022

£'000

2021

£'000

Deferred tax asset

531

387

Deferred tax liability

 (225)

 (1,086)

Net deferred tax asset/(liability)

306

 (699)

 

30. Sale of business

On 12 January 2022, the Group disposed of 100% of the share capital of DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB"). As set out in note 4.1, the effective date of transfer of control was as at 1 December 2021 and is accounted for as disposed as at that date.

A total deferred consideration of up to £5 million was due on the sale consisting of:

•    £1.9 million payable on successful completion of current projects;

•    £2.1 million payable on trade settlements of these current projects; and

•    £0.5 million payable on the results of the next two years dependent on achievement of performance targets.

However, DCB went into administration on 16 May 2022. Management therefore does not expect that any of this consideration will be receivable, and as such has not recognised any anticipated proceeds from the sale of the business.

Loss on disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited

 

2022

£'000

Consideration received or receivable:

 

Cash

-

Cash fair value of contingent consideration

-

Total disposal consideration

-

Carrying amount of net assets disposed

 (9,930)

Other write-offs and provisions required as a result of disposal

 (3,743)

Tax credit from disposal

1,078

Total loss on disposal of DCB (Kent) Limited

 (12,595)

 

As part of the sale agreement, Kinovo plc and the purchaser agreed a working capital mechanism with DCB (Kent) Limited to facilitate completion of ongoing projects. From the date of sale up to 31 March 2022, £2.5 million of working capital had been provided by Kinovo plc to DCB (Kent) Limited. A further £1.2 million of funding was provided post year end prior to the company entering administration. The full value of these facilities has been written off in the loss on disposal for the year.

As part of the obligations under the terms of the sale, the Group continued to provide parent company guarantees ("PCGs") on DCB (Kent) Limited which run through to practical completion on each of the construction projects that were in existence at the time of the disposal. On administration of DCB (Kent) Limited the obligations under the PCGs were assumed by Kinovo plc. Note 32 provides further details on how these have been treated within the financial statements.

 

Financial performance and cash flow information from discontinued operations

 

8 months to

30 November 2021

£'000

12 months to

31 March 2021

£'000

Revenue

13,432

20,817

Cost of sales

 (11,780)

 (17,210)

Gross profit

1,652

3,607

Underlying administrative expenses

 (2,168)

 (2,793)

Operating (loss)/profit before non-underlying items

 (516)

814

Non-underlying administrative expenses:



Amortisation of customer relationships

 (155)

 (232)

Share-based payment charge

-

 (3)

Loss on disposal

 (12,595)

-

Restructuring costs

-

 (45)

Total non-underlying administrative expenses

 (12,750)

 (280)

Operating (loss)/profit

 (13,266)

534

Finance costs

 (6)

 (23)

(Loss)/profit before taxation

 (13,272)

511

Income tax credit/(expense)

128

 (102)

(Loss)/profit for the period

 (13,144)

409

(Loss)/earnings per share from discontinued operations



Basic (pence)

 (21.28)

0.69

Diluted (pence)

 (21.28)

0.69

Cash flows from discontinued operations



Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities

 (1,453)

272

Net cash outflow from investing activities

 (10)

 (40)

Net cash outflow from financing activities

 (16)

 (44)

Net (reduction)/increase in cash generated by the subsidiary

 (1,479)

188

 

31. Ultimate controlling party              

The Directors consider that there is no ultimate controlling party of Kinovo plc.

32. Events after the balance sheet date

As part of the obligations under the terms of the sale of DCB (Kent) Limited ("DCB") see note 30 for details on the disposal), the Group continued to provide parent company guarantees ("PCGs") on certain construction projects of DCB (Kent) Limited which run through to their practical completion. On administration of DCB (Kent) Limited the outstanding obligations under the PCGs were assumed by Kinovo plc.

As at 31 March 2022 it was anticipated that existing contracts could be completed at reasonable cost, and new business could be secured to support the cash flow of the business. Kinovo continued to provide working capital funding to support the business after the year end. However, DCB was placed into administration on 16 May 2022.

The liability under the PCGs is considered to be a non-adjusting post balance sheet event, and the costs to complete will be recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as and when they arise.

The total expected cost to complete the projects has been determined as £4.0 million (plus professional fees and expenses). The cost to complete is based on nine ongoing projects which are guaranteed by the Group. External quantity surveyors have been appointed who have engaged with the existing supply chain and agreed subcontractor packages, attended sites and completed full surveys, established any known defects, and prepared a full plan to complete for each project. The combined value of this planned work across all contracts has identified the gross cost to complete of £18.8 million, which is offset by amounts recoverable on the contracts of £14.8 million. A further £0.3 million of legal fees are expected to be incurred in relation to the disposal.

 

 

 

 

 

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