Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

1.    Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements

 

Merit Group plc is a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales. Its registered office is 9^th Floor, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG.

 

The consolidated financial statements of Merit Group plc have been prepared and approved by the Directors in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting Standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The Company has elected to prepare its Parent Company financial statements in accordance with FRS 102; these are presented after the notes to the consolidated financial statements.

 

The consolidated financial statements consolidate those of the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the "Group"). The Parent Company financial statements present information about the Company as a separate entity and not about its Group.

 

The accounting policies set out below have, unless otherwise stated, or as outlined in the 'Standards adopted' section below, been applied consistently to all periods presented in these Group financial statements. The consolidated financial statements and the Parent Company financial statements are presented in Sterling (£) and are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds (unless stated otherwise).

 

Judgements made by the Directors in the application of these accounting policies that have a significant effect on the financial statements and estimates with a significant risk of material adjustment in the next year are discussed in Note 2.

 

Accounting developments

This report has been prepared based on the accounting policies detailed in the Group's financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 and is consistent with the policies applied in the previous financial year.

 

The following IFRS standards, amendments or interpretations became applicable during the year ended 31 March 2024 but have not had a material effect on the consolidated financial statements:

Standard			Effective Date*
IFRS 17		Insurance Contracts		1 Jan 2023
Amendments to IFRS 17		Disclosure of accounting policies		1 Jan 2023
Amendments to IAS 1		Disclosure of accounting policies		1 Jan 2023
Amendments to IAS 8		Definition of accounting estimates		1 Jan 2023
Amendments to IAS 12		Deferred tax relating to assets and liabilities arising from a single transaction; and International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules		1 Jan 2023

*Effective for accounting periods starting on or after this date

 

There are no other new standards, amendments and interpretations which are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 April 2023, which had any impact on the Group's accounting policies and disclosures in these financial statements.

 

1.    Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

New and revised accounting standards in issue but not yet effective

Accounting standards, amendments and interpretations issued, but not yet effective, up to the date of the issuance of the consolidated financial statements are disclosed below. The Group expects to adopt these standards, if applicable, in the accounting period in which they become effective.

 

Standard		Effective Date*
Amendments to IAS 1	Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-Current; and Non-Current Liabilities with Covenants	1 Jan 2024
Amendments to IAS 16	Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback	1 Jan 2024
Amendments to IAS 7 and IFRS 7	Supplier Finance Arrangements	1 Jan 2024

*Effective for accounting periods starting on or after this date

 

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards, and under the historical cost accounting rules, except for forward contracts (stated at fair value at year end) and defined benefit pension obligations (stated at the projected unit credit method in accordance with IAS 19 at year end).

 

In addition to statutory disclosures, the Group also measures and presents performance in relation to various other non-GAAP measures including Adjusted EBITDA. Adjusted results are not intended to replace statutory results. These have been presented to provide users with additional information and analysis of the Group's performance, consistent with how the Board monitors results.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is presented to provide a more comparable indication of the Group's core business performance by removing the impact of certain items, including non-recurring items, depreciation and amortisation relating to investment activities, share-based payments and other separately reported items.

 

1.   Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Going Concern

The Directors have considered the implications for going concern below, for a period of at least twelve months from the signing of these accounts.

 

The Directors have prepared and approved monthly-phased projections for the 21 months from the balance sheet date. The Directors consider the projections to be reasonable. The Directors have assessed the future funding requirements of the Group within the projections, compared them with the level of available borrowing facilities, and assessed the impact of them on the Group's cash flow, facilities and headroom within its future banking covenants. In addition, the Directors have considered reasonable downside risks and their potential impact on the projections and headroom.

 

Based on this work, the Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

 

In the 12-month period from the balance sheet date, capital repayments of £0.8 million on Term Loans were due to the bank, with the remaining £0.6 million Term Loan due in subsequent periods. The Group's Revolving Credit Facility, of which £1.3 million was drawn and £0.7 million undrawn as at 31 March 2024, is available until July 2027.

 

Basis of consolidation

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control is achieved where the Group is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns and has the ability to affect those returns. The results of subsidiaries acquired or sold are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences to the date that control ceases. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the results of the acquired subsidiaries to align their accounting policies with those of the Group. All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenditure are eliminated on consolidation.

 

Business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method at the acquisition date, which is the date on which control is transferred to the Group. In assessing control, the Group takes into consideration potential voting rights that currently are exercisable.

 

The Group measures goodwill as the fair value of the consideration transferred (including the fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree) and the recognised amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree, less the net recognised amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed, all measured as at the acquisition date. When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognised immediately in the income statement.

 

Any contingent consideration payable is recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. If the contingent consideration is classified as equity, it is not remeasured and settlement is accounted for within equity. Otherwise, subsequent changes to the fair value of the contingent consideration are recognised in the income statement.

 

 

1.  Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Revenue policy

Revenue is the total amount of income generated by the sale of goods or services relating to the Group's primary operations. The Group has multiple revenue streams, being revenue from Data, Software & Technology Resourcing, Political Intelligence, and Political Engagement (now Discontinued - see note 6).

 

Our Merit Data and Technology ("MD&T") business provides services within Data and Software & Technology Resourcing. Across each of these services, the performance obligation is the delivery of the service as agreed with the client in the contract. The performance obligation is satisfied over time as the customer simultaneously receives and consumes the benefits provided by the Group or via periodic delivery of data where that is the contractual requirement. Revenue is recognised either:

 

§ in line with the hours used under the contract for services in line with our right to invoice for the actual hours used at a fixed contractual rate per hour; or

§ on delivery of the data where this reflects the completion of the contractual deliverable;

in each case in accordance with IFRS15 and dependent upon the nature of the contractual arrangement.

 

Political Intelligence is a subscription-based service; the revenue is recognised on a straight-line basis over the life of the subscription. The performance obligation is the provision and availability of the subscription platform; the obligation is deemed to be satisfied as the client has ongoing access to the subscription platform. Where subscriptions are paid in advance, the contract balances for services not yet delivered are treated as deferred income.

 

Leases

A contract contains a lease if the contract gives a right to control the use of an asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases which meet the criteria of "short-term," for which the lease term is less than 12 months, or "low-value assets" are exempt from IFRS 16. Lease payments associated with "short-term" and "low-value assets" are expensed on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease.

 

For all other leases, at the lease commencement date, a right-of-use asset and corresponding lease liability are recognised in the Consolidated statement of financial position. The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the remaining lease payments, discounted using the Group's incremental borrowing rate. Right-of-use assets are measured at the value of the associated lease liability plus any initial direct costs incurred, adjusted for any prepaid or accrued lease payments. The right-of-use asset is initially recognised at cost, and subsequently measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses. Right-of-use assets are depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis. The lease liability is increased by the interest cost and decreased by the lease payments made.

 

Post-retirement benefits - defined contribution

The Group contributes to independent defined contribution pension schemes. The amount charged to the profit and loss account represents the contributions payable to the schemes in respect of the accounting period.

 

1.   Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Defined benefits pensions

The Group operates a defined benefit pension plan for eligible employees based in India. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group.

 

Pension scheme assets are measured using market values. Pension scheme liabilities are measured using the projected unit credit method.

 

Past service cost and settlement gains are recognised immediately in the Consolidated income statement. Remeasurements comprising of actuarial gains and losses as well as the difference between the return on plan assets and the amounts included in net interest on the net defined benefit liability/asset, are recognised in other comprehensive income (OCI), net of income taxes.

 

The pension scheme surplus (to the extent that it is recoverable) or deficit is recognised in full.

 

Non-recurring items

Non-recurring items are items which in management's judgement need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, incidence or nature. Such items are included on the income statement on an independent line to which they relate and are separately disclosed either in the notes to the consolidated financial statements or on the face of the Consolidated income statement.

 

Non-recurring items are not in accordance with any specific IFRS definition and therefore may be different to other companies' definition of non-recurring items.

 

Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

 

Current tax is based on taxable profit for the year and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible.

 

The Group's assets and liabilities for current tax are calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

 

Deferred tax is tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax nor the accounting profit other than in a business combination.

 

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

1.   Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Taxation (continued)

The carrying amount of the deferred tax asset is reviewed at each balance sheet 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 is calculated at the tax rates enacted or that are expected to apply (substantively enacted) at the balance sheet dated when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited to the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

 

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the difference between the cost of acquisition of a business and the fair value of identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired. Identifiable intangibles are those which can be sold separately or which arise from legal rights regardless of whether those rights are separable. Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is allocated to cash generating units and is tested annually for impairment. Any impairment is recognised immediately in profit or loss.

 

Intangible assets

Intangible assets acquired by the Group are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses, if any. Intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their useful lives in accordance with IAS 38 Intangible Assets. Intangible assets are not revalued. The amortisation period and method are reviewed at each financial year end and are changed in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, "Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors" if this is considered necessary. There were no changes from last year. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

 

Publishing rights and brands	20-75 years (one specific right is deemed to have a useful economic life of 75 years)
Customer relationships	1-8 years
Customer list	4-8 years
Other assets	1 year

 

Software which is not integral to a related item of hardware is included in intangible assets and amortised over its estimated useful lives of between 3-10 years. The salaries of staff employed in the development of new software relating to the Group's information services products and salaries of staff employed in building our digital platform architecture within the Group are capitalised into software.

 

1.   Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Intangible assets - research and development

Research costs are expensed as incurred. Development expenditure on an individual project is recognised as an intangible asset when the Group can demonstrate:

 

§ the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that the asset will be available for use;

§ its intention to complete and its ability and intention to use the asset;

§ how the asset will generate future economic benefits;

§ the availability of resources to complete the asset; and

§ the ability to measure reliably the expenditure during development.

 

Following initial recognition of the development expenditure as an asset, the asset is carried at cost less any accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

 

Amortisation of the asset begins from the date development is complete and the asset is available for use. It is amortised over the period of expected future benefit. Amortisation is charged to the income statement. During the period of development, the asset is tested for impairment.

 

The Directors assess the useful life of the completed capitalised projects to be 3-10 years from the date of when benefits begin to be realised and amortisation will begin at that time.

 

Intangible assets - Impairment

The carrying amounts of the Group's intangible assets are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any indication of possible impairment. If any such indication of possible impairment exists, then the asset's recoverable amount is estimated and compared with the asset's carrying value. For goodwill, the recoverable amount is estimated each year at each balance sheet date.

 

The recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit (CGU) is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell.

 

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 the purpose of impairment testing, assets are grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows of other assets or groups of assets (the CGU). The goodwill acquired in a business combination, for the purpose of impairment testing, is allocated to cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination.

 

An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in profit or loss. Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the units and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the unit (group of units) on a pro rata basis.

1.    Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Intangible assets - Impairment (continued)

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other intangible assets, impairment losses recognised in prior periods are assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount.

 

An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset's carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

 

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, if any.

 

Depreciation is provided to write off the cost less estimated residual value of property, plant and equipment by equal instalments over their estimated useful economic lives as follows:

 

Leasehold improvements	Over the shorter of the life of the asset or lease period
IT Equipment, fixtures & fittings	3-10 years

 

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each balance sheet date.

 

Cash

Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.

Foreign currencies

The individual financial statements of each Group Company are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each Group Company are expressed in Pounds Sterling, which is the presentation currency of the Group.

 

In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity's functional currency (foreign currencies) are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.

 

Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated but remain at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction.

 

1.    Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Foreign currencies (continued)

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included in profit or loss for the period. Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items carried at fair value are included in the income statement for the period except for differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items in respect of which gains and losses are recognised directly in equity. For such non-monetary items, any exchange component of that gain or loss is also recognised directly in equity.

 

For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group's foreign operations are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period ended on the balance sheet date. Exchange rate differences arising, if any, are recognised directly in equity in the Group's translation reserve. Such translation differences are recognised as income or as expense in the income statement in the period in which the operation is disposed of.

 

Provisions

A provision is recognised on the balance sheet when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation.

 

Financial Instruments

Financial assets

Financial assets are recognised on the Group's Consolidated statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

 

Financial liabilities and equity instruments

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

 

Derivative financial instruments

All of the Group's derivatives and forward contracts are measured at their fair value at the end of each period. Derivatives and forward contracts that mature within one year are classified as current.

 

Financial assets

Financial Assets are measured at amortised cost, fair value through other comprehensive income (FVTOCI) or fair value through income statement (FVTPL). The measurement basis is determined by reference to both the business model for managing the financial asset and the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. The Group's financial assets comprise of trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents.

 

Trade receivables

Trade receivables are measured at amortised costs and are carried at the original invoice amount less allowances for expected credit losses.

 

1.   Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Trade receivables (continued)

Expected credit losses are calculated in accordance with the simplified approach permitted by IFRS 9, using a provision matrix applying a historical credit loss experience to the trade receivables. The expected credit loss rate varies depending on whether, and the extent to which, settlement of the trade receivables is overdue, and it is also adjusted as appropriate to reflect current economic conditions and estimates of future conditions. For the purpose of determining credit loss rates, customers are classified into groupings that have similar loss patterns. The key driver of the loss rates is the ageing of the debtor. When a trade receivable is determined to have no reasonable expectation of recovery it is written off, firstly against any credit loss allowance available, and then to the income statement.

 

Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously provided for or written off are credited to the income statement. Long term receivables are discounted where the effect is material.

 

Financial Liabilities

The Group's financial liabilities consist of trade payables, loans and borrowings, and other financial liabilities. Trade payables are non-interest bearing. Trade payables are initially recognised at their fair value and subsequently measured at their amortised cost. Loans and borrowings and other financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Interest expense is measured on an effective interest rate basis and recognised in the income statement over the relevant period.

 

Fixed asset investments

Investments in unlisted entities which are held for long term investment purposes are held at fair value through profit and loss ("FVTPL"). The carrying amount of the Group's fixed asset investments are reviewed at each reporting date with changes in fair value recognised in other gains/(losses) in the consolidated income statement.

 

Associated companies

Associated companies are entities over which the Group has significant influence, but not control, generally accompanied by a shareholding giving rise to voting rights of 20% and above, but not exceeding 50%. Investments in associated companies are accounted for in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting less impairment losses.

 

Investments in associated companies are initially recognised at cost. The cost of an acquisition is measured at the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued, or liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange, plus costs directly attributable to the acquisition. Periodically management assesses whether there is any sign of impairment in the investment in Associate, management make judgement in regard to the investee's ability to fulfil financial obligations, significant adverse changes in the environment where the investee operate. If management judges that evidence of impairment exists, an impairment test will be conducted. The entire carrying amount of the investment is tested for impairment as a single asset by comparing its carrying amount to its recoverable amount. Recoverable amount is the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell. If the carrying amount of an investment in Associate is higher than its recoverable amount, an impairment charge is recognised in the Consolidated income statement.

 

1.   Statement of significant accounting policies and judgements continued

 

Associated companies (continued)

In applying the equity method of accounting, the Group's share of its associated companies' post-acquisition profits or losses are recognised in the income statement and its share of post-acquisition other comprehensive income is recognised in other comprehensive income. These post-acquisition movements and distributions received from the associated companies are adjusted against the carrying amount of the investment. When the Group's share of losses in an associated company equals or exceeds its interest in the associated company, including any other unsecured non-current receivables, the Group does not recognise further losses, unless it has obligations or has made payments on behalf of the associated company.

 

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its associated companies are eliminated to the extent of the Group's interest in the associated companies. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

 

Gains and losses arising from partial disposals or dilutions in investments in associated companies are recognised in the income statement. Investments in associated companies are derecognised when the Group loses significant influence. Any retained interest in the entity is remeasured at its fair value. The difference between the carrying amount of the retained investment at the date when significant influence is lost and its fair value is recognised in profit or loss.

 

Share based payments

Where share options are awarded to employees, the fair value of the options at the date of grant is charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. Fair value is calculated using the Monte Carlo simulation model, details of which are given in Note 26.

 

Non-market vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number of options expected to vest at each statement of financial position date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest. Market vesting conditions are factored into the fair value of the options granted. The cumulative expense is not adjusted for failure to achieve a market vesting condition.

 

2.   Critical accounting estimates and judgements and adopted IFRS not yet effective

 

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation and judgements at the balance sheet date that have a risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below.

 

Significant Judgements and Estimates

a)   Continuing and Discontinued Operations

During the prior year, the Group completed the disposal of the Media, Events and Training operations of its Dods segment, including the trade and assets of Le Trombinoscope SAS, which together constituted the entire Media, Events and Training operations of the Group. Further details of the disposals are disclosed in Note 6. Whilst these operations were only part of the Dods CGU, they generated approximately 60% of the revenues of that CGU and 35% of total Group revenues. It was management's judgement that these operations represented separate major lines of business, were part of a single coordinated plan to dispose of that line of business, and given the scale of these operations, it was appropriate to consider the disposed activities as Discontinued Operations under IFRS 5.  Accordingly, management adopted IFRS 5 disclosures in presenting the Consolidated Income Statement and supporting Notes on a Continuing Operations basis, including the results of the Discontinued Operations as a single line within the Consolidated Income Statement and restating the comparative figures accordingly.

b)   Going concern

Management applies judgement when determining to apply the going concern basis for preparation of the financial statements, through evaluation of financial performance and forecasts. See "Going concern" section on pages 41 to 42 for further details.

c)   Non-recurring administrative expenses

Due to the Group's significant restructuring and acquisition related activity in recent years, there are a number of items which require judgement to be applied in determining whether they are non-recurring in nature. In the current year these relate largely to disposals, restructuring and redundancy costs. See Note 5 for further details.

d)   Impairment testing

Where indicators of a possible impairment are identified, the Directors use the value in use or fair value less costs to sell to determine recoverable value.

In the current year, the Directors have used the value in use model. The key judgements and estimates required in this model are:

·    the identification of cash-generating units (CGUs). The Directors have judged that the primary CGUs used for impairment testing should be MD&T and Dods;

·    the assessment of value in use, which was derived from a discounted cashflow model using the expected post-tax earnings and cashflows of each CGU; and

·    the estimated discount rate, which was based on management's estimate of the long-term cost of capital available to the Group to fund each CGU.

In the prior year, the Directors used the fair value less costs to sell model. The key judgements and estimates required in this model are:

 

2.   Critical accounting estimates and judgements and adopted IFRS not yet effective continued

 

Significant Judgements and Estimates continued

d)  Impairment testing (continued)

·    the identification of cash-generating units (CGUs). The Directors have judged that the primary CGUs used for impairment testing should be MD&T and Dods;

·    the assessment of fair value, which was assessed using the expected recurring earning of the CGUs and the average earnings multiples for a group of listed businesses which the Directors consider comparable to the MD&T and Dods CGUs and for which published information allowing a comparable assessment is available, with the key judgement being the identification of comparable entities for which the Directors used their own experience to identify entities that could be considered comparable;

·    the estimate of costs to sell, which was based on management's knowledge and experience of costs incurred on transactions to buy and sell similar assets.

See Note 14 for further details.

e)  Capitalisation of development costs

Management applies judgement when determining the value of development costs to be capitalised as an intangible asset in respect of its product development program. Judgement includes the technical feasibility, intention and availability of resources to complete the intangible asset so that the asset will be available for use and assessment of likely future economic benefits. Details of intangible assets capitalised are available in Note 15.

f)  Recognition of deferred tax assets

Judgement is applied in the assessment of deferred tax assets in relation to losses to be recognised in the financial statements. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. 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. See Note 23 for further details.

g)  Investments

The Group takes into account the power over its investee, its exposure and rights to variable returns from its involvement with the investee, and its ability to use the power over the investee to affect the amount of the investor's return to determine whether the investment is treated as an Associate or a controlling interest. See Note 18 for further details. Where a controlling interest exists, the investee is consolidated.

 

Adopted IFRS not yet applied

This report has been prepared based on the accounting policies detailed in the Group's financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024 and is consistent with the policies applied in the previous financial year. There are no other new standards, amendments and interpretations which are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 April 2023, which had any impact on the Group's accounting policies and disclosures in these financial statements. None of the new standards, amendments and interpretations, which are effective for periods beginning after 1 April 2023 and which have not been adopted early, are expected to have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.

 

 

 

 

3.   Segmental information

 

The basis on which operating results are reviewed and resources allocated is examined from both a business and geographic perspective by the senior management team.

 

Business segments

The Group considers that it has two operating business segments, Merit Data & Technology (MD&T) and Dods, plus a (non-revenue generating) central corporate segment.

 

§ The Merit Data & Technology business segment focuses on the provision of data, data engineering and machine learning, and on the provision of software and technology resourcing.

 

§ The Dods business segment concentrates on the provision of key information and insights into the political and public policy environments around the UK and the European Union.

 

§ The central corporate segment contains the activities and costs associated with the Group's head office functions.

 

On 30 November 2022, the Group completed the disposal of the Media, Events and Trading operations (the 'MET operations') of its Dods segment. On 13 January 2023, the Group completed the disposal of the trade and assets of Le Trombinoscope from its Dods segment. Prior year figures are presented on a Continuing Operations basis, excluding the results of these disposed operations (the "Discontinued Operations"), as outlined in Note 6.

 

The following table provides an analysis of the Group's segment revenue by business segment.

 

Revenue by business segment - continuing operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Merit Data & Technology	12,869	11,644
Dods	7,026	6,941
	19,895	18,585

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

No client accounted for more than 10 percent of total revenue.

Revenue by stream - continuing operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Data	6,760	6,743
Software & Technology Resourcing	6,109	4,901
Political Intelligence	7,026	6,941
	19,895	18,585

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

3.   Segmental information continued

 

2024 Profit/(loss) before tax by business segment   Continuing operations	MD&T 2024 £'000	Dods 2024 £'000	Central 2024 £'000	Total 2024 £'000
Adjusted EBITDA	2,761	2,249	(1,021)	3,989
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	(98)	(75)	-	(173)
Depreciation of right-of-use assets	(517)	(316)	-	(833)
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations	(510)	(77)	-	(587)
Amortisation of software intangible assets	(61)	(284)	-	(345)
Share based payments	-	-	(63)	(63)
Non-recurring items
Profits and losses on disposals	-	-	-	-
People-related costs	-	(27)	(175)	(202)
Other non-recurring items	-	-	(125)	(125)
Operating profit/(loss)	1,575	1,470	(1,384)	1,661
Net finance expense	(297)	(98)	(382)	(777)
Share of profit of Associate	-	-	-	-
Profit/(loss) before tax from continuing operations	1,278	1,372	(1,766)	884

 

 

 

 

 

 

2023 Profit/(loss) before tax by business segment   Continuing operations(1)	MD&T 2023 £'000	Dods 2023 £'000	Central 2023 £'000	Total 2023 £'000
Adjusted EBITDA	1,809	1,838	(995)	2,652
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	(252)	(368)	-	(620)
Depreciation of right-of-use assets	(552)	(517)	(244)	(1,313)
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations	(510)	(77)	-	(587)
Amortisation of software intangible assets	-	(314)	-	(314)
Share based payments	-	-	(63)	(63)
Non-recurring items
Profits and losses on disposals	-	-	(3,230)	(3,230)
People-related costs	(35)	10	(98)	(123)
Other non-recurring items	-	-	(62)	(62)
Operating profit/(loss)	460	572	(4,692)	(3,660)
Net finance expense	83	(226)	(106)	(249)
Share of profit of Associate	-	-	252	252
Profit/(loss) before tax from continuing operations	543	346	(4,546)	(3,657)

 

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

3.   Segmental information continued

 

Geographical segments      

 

The following table provides an analysis of the Group's segment revenue by geographical market. Segment revenue is based on the geographical location of customers.

Revenue by geographical segment - continuing operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
UK	15,811	15,333
Belgium	1,857	1,707
USA	619	662
Germany	475	424
France	322	321
Rest of world	811	138
	19,895	18,585

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

Non-current assets by geographical segment(2)	2024   £'000	2023 (restated *) £'000
UK	34,928	35,136
Goodwill	26,919	26,919
Intangible assets	7,267	7,873
Property, plant and equipment	61	76
Right-of-use asset	681	268
India	1,789	1,906
Intangible assets	33	35
Property, plant and equipment	523	265
Right-of-use asset	1,233	1,606
	36,717	37,042

⁽²⁾        Excluding Investments held as non-current assets (see Note 18) and deferred tax assets (see Note 23).

 

* Prior period numbers have been restated to correctly disclose £35,000 of intangible assets held in India, which had previously been categorised as held within the UK.

 

 

 

3.   Segmental information continued

 

Group Deferred revenue

 

The following table provides an analysis of the Group's deferred revenue:

 

Aggregate Deferred Revenue	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Merit Date & Technology	-	10
Dods	3,073	3,132
	3,073	3,142

 

Of revenue deferred at the year-end date, the Group expects to recognise £2,830,000 over the next year ending 31 March 2025.

 

During the current year, the Group recognised £2,882,000 of deferred revenue from the prior period, based on the performance obligation being satisfied. The remaining £260,000 is yet to be recognised, and is expected to be recognised in the year ending 31 March 2025. This also forms part of the current year balance.

 

 

4.   Other operating income

 

During the year and the prior year, the Group provided transitional services to the Political Holdings Limited group, the purchaser of the disposed Media, Events and Training operations, as part of the agreed disposal. These services included finance, IT and occupancy services, for which the costs are primarily incurred within the Dods segment. The fees of £346,000 arising in the year have been recognised within Other operating income (4 months to 31 March 2023: £416,000).

 

 

 

5.   Non-recurring items

 

Continuing operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Fair value movement on Investments	(125)	-
People-related costs	(202)	(123)
Other: Professional services, consultancy and finance fees	-	(62)
Transaction-related non-recurring items:
Loss on disposal of investments in Associates	-	(303)
Loss on disposal of Shard lease	-	(2,927)
	(327)	(3,415)

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

Fair value movements on investments relate to the valuation of the Group's investment in unlisted entities (see Note 18).

 

People-related costs include redundancy costs reflecting the effect of Group initiatives to appropriately restructure the Board and the business.

 

Other non-recurring costs in the prior year relate to one-off professional fees in respect of the debt refinancing associated with the assignment of the former London lease. These costs are classified as non-recurring as they related to a one-off exercise, and are therefore highly unlikely to arise again.

 

 

6.   Disposal

 

On 30 November 2022, the Group completed the disposal of the Media, Events and Training operations of its Dods segment (together, the "MET Operations") for a cash consideration of £4.5 million to Political Holdings Limited.

 

On 12 January 2023, the Group completed the disposal of the trade and assets of Le Trombinoscope SAS, the Paris-based activities of the Dods segment ("Le Trombinoscope") to Trombimedia Limited for £0.1 million cash consideration.

 

As a consequence of the disposals, the activities of the MET Operations and Le Trombinoscope were classified as Discontinued Operations in the Consolidated income statement.

 

6.   Disposal continued

 

The results of Discontinued Operations for the year, which for 2023 includes the results of the MET operations for 8 months and Le Trombinoscope for 9.5 months, are as follows:

 

6(a) - Profit from Discontinued Operations

 

Discontinued Operations	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Revenue	-	6,913
Cost of sales	-	(5,861)
Gross profit	-	1,052
Administrative expenses	-	(1,450)
Other operating income	-	-
Operating loss	-	(398)
Memorandum:
Adjusted EBITDA	-	(69)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	-	(58)
Depreciation of right-of-use assets	-	(25)
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations	-	(183)
Amortisation of software intangible assets	-	(8)
Non-recurring items - people-related costs	-	(55)
Operating loss	-	(398)
Net finance expense	-	(66)
Loss before tax	-	(464)
Income tax credit	-	58
Loss for the period from Discontinued Operations	-	(406)
(Loss)/profit on disposal of Discontinued Operations after tax (see note 6(c))	(354)	1,290
(Loss)/profit from Discontinued Operations for the period	(354)	884

 

 

6.   Disposal continued

 

 

6(b) - Cashflows from Discontinued Operations

 

Cashflows generated by the Discontinued Operation for the period were as follows:

 

Discontinued Operations	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Net cash outflow from operating activities	-	(1,621)
Net cash inflow from investing activities	450	3,846
Net cash outflow from financing activities	-	(95)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts from Discontinued Operations	450	2,130

 

6(c) Disposal details

	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Consideration received and receivable:
Cash (net of transaction costs)	-	3,846
Deferred consideration	-	450
Total disposal consideration	-	4,296
Carrying amount of net assets sold	354	2,290
(Loss)/gain on disposal before tax and reclassification of foreign currency translation reserve	(354)	2,006
Reclassification of foreign currency translation reserve	-	68
Tax charge on disposal	-	(784)
(Loss)/profit on disposal of Discontinued Operations after tax	(354)	1,290

 

 

7.   Profit/(loss) before tax

 

Profit/(loss) before tax from Continuing Operations⁽¹⁾ has been arrived at after charging / (crediting):

 

Continuing Operations(1):	Note	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	16	173	620
Depreciation of right-of-use assets	25	833	1,313
Amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations	15	587	587
Amortisation of software intangible assets	15	345	314
Staff costs	9	11,296	11,991
Non-IFRS16 operating lease expense	25	41	40
Non-recurring items	5	327	3,415
Share of profit of Associate	18	-	252
Interest income	10	(26)	(77)
Interest expense	11	531	607
Net foreign exchange loss/(gain)	10	250	(297)
Loss on disposal of fixed assets	16	2	-

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

 

 

Profit/(loss) before tax has been arrived at after charging:

Auditor's remuneration		2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the Company's annual          accounts		50	51
Fees payable to the Company's auditor and its associates for other services:
- The audit of the Company's subsidiaries, pursuant to legislation		50	137
- Non-audit services in relation to review of interim accounts		-	5
- Non-audit services in relation to review of ERS tax returns		-	4
		100	197

 

 

 

8.   Directors' remuneration

 

The remuneration of the Directors of the Group for the years ended 31 March 2024 and 31 March 2023 is set out below:

				Salaries /fees £	Bonus £	Committee fees £	Pension Contrib'ns £	Other Benefits(8) £	Total £
Executive Directors
Philip Machray(1)	2024		212,083		28,500	-	8,483	2,284	251,350
CEO and CFO	2023		197,900		25,000	-	658	2,071	225,629
Cornelius Conlon	2024		151,372		-	-	3,375	33,532	188,279
Managing Director	2023		153,459		-	-	3,375	270,708	427,542
David Beck(2)	2024		189,583		-	-	7,583	150,977	348,143
Former CEO	2023		227,820		25,000	-	-	2,379	255,199
Munira Ibrahim(3)	2024		-		-	-	-	-	-
Former Managing Director	2023		145,000		-	-	5,800	149,379	300,179
Non-Executive Directors
Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC(4)	2024		-		-	-	-	-	-
Non-Executive Director	2023		-		-	-	-	-	-
Richard Boon(5)	2024		2,083		-	417	-	-	2,500
Non-Executive Director	2023		25,000		-	5,000	-	-	30,000
Angela Entwistle(6)	2024		25,000		-	5,000	-	-	30,000
Non-Executive Director	2023		25,000		-	5,000	-	-	30,000
Diane Lees	2024		25,000		-	5,000	-	9,500	39,500
Non-Executive Director	2023		25,000		-	5,000	-	-	30,000
Mark Smith	2024		50,000		-	5,000	-	-	55,000
Non-Executive Chairman	2023		50,000		-	5,000	-	-	55,000
Vijay Vaghela(5)	2024		2,083		-	833	-	-	2,916
Non-Executive Director	2023		25,000		-	10,000	-	-	35,000
Tim Briant(7)	2024		2,276		-	455	-	-	2,731
Non-Executive Director	2023		-		-	-	-	-	-
Total for 2024			659,480		28,500	16,705	19,441	196,293	920,419
Total for 2023			874,179		50,000	30,000	9,833	424,537	1,388,549

 

1    Chief Financial Officer additionally appointed as Chief Executive Officer from 26 January 2024.

2    Resigned as Chief Executive Officer on 26 January 2024.

3    Resigned as a Director on 30 November 2022.

4    Lord Ashcroft was appointed to the Board on 13 December 2022 and resigned on 26 April 2024. During the period he received £nil remuneration.

5   Resigned as a Director on 31 January 2023.

6  The £30,000 (2023: £30,000) paid for the services of Angela Entwistle as a Non-Executive Director is paid to Deacon Street Partners Limited. See also related party transactions - Note 28.

7   Appointed as a Director on 28 February 2024.

8   Other benefits are health insurance, overseas living allowance, and (i) deferred cash consideration on acquisition of Meritgroup Limited in respect of Cornelius Conlon, and (ii) redundancy and compensation for loss of office payments in respect of David Beck and Munira Ibrahim.

 

During FY24, the highest paid Director received remuneration of £348,143, which included pension contributions of £7,583. In 2023, the highest paid Director received remuneration of £427,542, which included pension contributions of £3,375.

 

During the year, three (2023: three) directors accrued benefits under money purchase pension schemes.

 

The current Directors and their interests in the share capital of the Company at 31 March 2024 are disclosed within the Directors' Report on page 26.

9.   Staff costs

 

The average number of persons employed by the Group (including Executive Directors) during the year within each category was:

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 Number	2023 Number
Editorial and production staff	41	39
Sales and marketing staff	30	17
Managerial and administration staff	100	17
Technology and support staff	788	904
	959	977

 

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Wages and salaries	10,319	10,810
Social security costs	783	976
Pension and other costs	131	142
Share-based payment charge/(credit)	63	63
	11,296	11,991

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

Staff costs do not include deferred cash consideration in relation to the Meritgroup Limited acquisition. This is treated as non-recurring (see Note 5) and is included in Directors' Remuneration (see Note 8).

 

 

10. Finance income

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Bank interest income	26	77
Pension finance credit	3	8
Net foreign exchange gain(2)	-	297
	29	382

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

⁽²⁾        Net foreign exchange gain/(loss) includes £203k FX loss on derivatives (2023: £5k FX loss).

 

11. Finance expense

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Bank interest expense	407	313
Pension finance charge	25	24
Lease interest expense	124	294
Net foreign exchange loss(2)	250	-
	806	631

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

⁽²⁾        Net foreign exchange gain/(loss) includes £203k FX loss on derivatives (2023: £5k FX loss).

 

⁽³⁾       

12. Income tax credit

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Current tax
Current tax on income for the year at 25% (2023: 19%)	-	32
Adjustments in respect of prior periods	13	10
	13	42
Overseas tax
Current tax expense on income for the year	424	364
Total current tax expense	437	406
Deferred tax (see Note 23)
Origination and reversal of temporary differences	(120)	(416)
Effect of change in tax rate	-	-
Adjustments in respect of prior periods	19	(78)
Total deferred tax income	(101)	(494)
Total income tax charge/(credit)	336	(88)

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

The tax charge for the year differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25% (2023: 19%). A reconciliation is provided in the table below:

 

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Profit/(loss) before tax	884	(3,657)
Notional tax charge/(credit) at standard rate of 25% (2023: 19%)	221	(695)
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes	63	429
Non-qualifying depreciation	7	-
Adjustments to brought forward value	19	(78)
Non-taxable income	(5)	-
Deferred tax not recognised	-	32
Utilisation of losses not provided for	(81)	5
Tax losses carried forward	56	104
Adjustment to agree foreign tax charge	42	119
Other	14	(4)
Total income tax charge/(credit)	336	(88)

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

13. Earnings per share

 

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Profit/(loss) attributable to shareholders	548	(3,569)
Add: non-recurring items	327	3,415
Add: amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations	587	587
Add: net exchange losses/(gains) (Note 11 / Note 10)	250	(297)
Add: share-based payment expense	63	63
Adjusted post-tax profit attributable to shareholders	1,775	199

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

 

Discontinued Operations	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
(Loss)/profit attributable to shareholders	(354)	884
Add: non-recurring items	354	(2,019)
Add: amortisation of intangible assets acquired through business combinations	-	183
Adjusted post-tax profit/(loss) attributable to shareholders	-	(952)

 

 

 

	2024 Ordinary shares	2023 Ordinary shares
Weighted average number of shares
In issue during the year - basic	23,956,124	23,956,124
Adjustment for share options	-	-
In issue during the year - diluted	23,956,124	23,956,124

 

Performance Share Plan (PSP) options over 1,420,791 Ordinary shares have not been included in the calculation of diluted EPS for the year ended 31 March 2024 because their exercise is contingent on the satisfaction of certain criteria that had not been met at that date.

 

 

13. Earnings per share continued

Continuing Operations(1)	2024 Pence per share	2023 Pence per share
Earnings per share - continuing operations
Basic	2.29	(14.90)
Diluted	2.29	(14.90)
Adjusted earnings per share - continuing operations
Basic	7.41	0.83
Diluted	7.41	0.83

⁽¹⁾        Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2023 include Continuing Operations only, as outlined in Note 6.

 

Discontinued Operations	2024 Pence per share	2023 Pence per share
Earnings per share - discontinued operations
Basic	(1.48)	3.69
Diluted	(1.48)	3.69
Adjusted earnings per share - discontinued operations
Basic	-	(3.97)
Diluted	-	(3.97)

 

 

TOTAL	2024 Pence per share	2023 Pence per share
Earnings per share
Basic	0.81	(11.21)
Diluted	0.81	(11.21)
Adjusted earnings per share
Basic	7.41	(3.14)
Diluted	7.41	(3.14)

 

14. Goodwill

	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Cost as at 1 April	26,919	28,911
Disposals in the year	-	(1,992)
Cost as at 31 March	26,919	26,919

 

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated at acquisition to the cash-generating units (CGUs) that are expected to benefit from that business combination. The CGU is the smallest identifiable group of assets that generates cash inflows that are largely independent of the cashflows from other groups of assets. Management determined that the smallest level that they could reasonably allocate the group of assets to was MD&T CGU and Dods CGU.

 

Of the carrying value of goodwill, £15.6 million has been allocated to the MD&T CGU (2023: £15.6 million), and £11.3 million had been allocated to the Dods CGU (2023: £11.3 million).

 

Goodwill is not amortised but is tested annually for impairment.

 

In the prior year, the assessment for impairment was undertaken with the recoverable amount being determined as fair value less costs to sell, under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy of IFRS 13, the key assumptions being the assessment of fair value and the estimate of costs to sell. The Group assessed fair value using the expected recurring earnings of the CGUs, based on the Board's approved projections, and the average earnings multiples for a group of listed businesses which the Directors considered comparable to the MD&T and Dods CGUs and for which published information allowing a comparable assessment was available. The estimate of costs to sell was based on management's knowledge and experience of costs incurred on transactions to buy and sell similar assets.

 

In the current year, the assessment for impairment has been undertaken with the recoverable amount being determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding the discount rate, growth rates and forecasts of income and costs. The Group assessed whether the carrying value of goodwill was supported by the discounted cash flow forecasts of the Group based on financial forecasts approved by management covering a five-year period, considering past performance, known developments and committed plans, and expectations for future business developments. Management selected a pre-tax discount rate (14.3%) reflective of the Group's estimated weighted average cost of capital and the cost of debt financing for the Group, which it considered reflected the market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to each separate business.

 

The Directors have changed the basis for assessment as they consider the value in use method to be more applicable to the Group's circumstances and strategy.

 

Based on the above assessments, the Directors concluded at each year-end that the recoverable amount for each CGU was in excess of their carrying value, including the value of goodwill, for both the MD&T and Dods CGUs. Therefore no impairment charge was recognised in the year (2023: £nil).

 

 

15. Intangible assets

		Assets acquired through business combinations1	Software	Under construction capitalised costs	Total
		£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Cost
At 1 April 2022		28,042	6,074	-	34,116
Transferred from tangible fixed assets		-	-	70	70
Additions - internally generated		-	101	74	175
Disposals		(16,833)	(3,999)	-	(20,832)
At 31 March 2023		11,209	2,176	144	13,529
Additions - internally generated		-	22	302	324
Software brought into use		-	144	(144)	-
At 31 March 2024		11,209	2,342	302	13,853

 

 

Accumulated amortisation
At 1 April 2022		20,145	4,145	-	24,290
Charge for the year		770	322	-	1,092
Disposals		(15,825)	(3,936)	-	(19,761)
At 31 March 2023		5,090	531	-	5,621
Charge for the year		587	345	-	932
At 31 March 2024		5,677	876	-	6,553

 

 

Net book value
At 31 March 2023		6,119	1,645	144	7,908
At 31 March 2024		5,532	1,466	302	7,300

 

 

¹ Assets acquired through business combinations, summarised in the table below, comprise:

 

15. Intangible assets continued

 

 

Assets acquired through business combinations:	Publishing rights and brands	Brand names	Customer relationships and lists	Other assets	Total
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Cost
At 1 April 2022	18,934	1,277	7,677	154	28,042
Disposals	(13,451)	(1,277)	(2,051)	(54)	(16,833)
At 31 March 2023	5,483	-	5,626	100	11,209
At 31 March 2024	5,483	-	5,626	100	11,209

 

 

Accumulated amortisation
At 1 April 2022	13,742	1,277	4,972	154	20,145
Charge for the year	260	-	510	-	770
Disposals	(12,443)	(1,277)	(2,051)	(54)	(15,825)
At 31 March 2023	1,559	-	3,431	100	5,090
Charge for the year	76	-	511	-	587
At 31 March 2024	1,635	-	3,942	100	5,677

 

 

 

Net book value
At 31 March 2023	3,924	-	2,195	-	6,119
At 31 March 2024	3,848	-	1,684	-	5,532

 

 

 

The carrying value of publishing rights with a useful economic life of 75 years is £3.8 million (2023: £3.9 million).

 

Included within intangible assets are internally generated assets with a net book value of £1.9 million (2023: £1.8 million).

 

During the period there was an expense of £0.4 million to the Consolidated income statement for Research & Development (2023: £nil).

 

 

 

 

16. Property, plant and equipment

 

		Leasehold Improvements	IT Equipment and Fixtures and Fittings	Total
		£'000	£'000	£'000
Cost
At 1 April 2022		2,037	2,521	4,558
Transferred to intangible fixed assets		-	(70)	(70)
Additions		-	69	69
Foreign exchange differences		-	(1)	(1)
Disposals		(2,037)	(1,070)	(3,107)
At 31 March 2023		-	1,449	1,449
Additions		93	325	418
Disposals		-	(4)	(4)
At 31 March 2024		93	1,770	1,863

 

 

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 April 2022				1,128	1,623	2,751
Charge for the year				209	469	678
Disposals				(1,337)	(984)	(2,321)
At 31 March 2023			-		1,108	1,108
Charge for the year				23	150	173
Disposals				-	(2)	(2)
At 31 March 2024				23	1,256	1,279

 

 

Net book value
At 31 March 2023		-	341	341
At 31 March 2024		70	514	584

 

17. Subsidiaries

 

 

Company	Activity	% holding	Country of registration
Dods Group Limited1	Political monitoring	100	England and Wales
Le Trombinoscope SAS2	Political monitoring	100	France
Merit Data & Technology Limited1	Data and technology	100	England and Wales
Merit Data and Technology Private Limited3	Data and technology	99.99	India
European Parliamentary Communications Services SPRL4	Dormant	100	Belgium

 

1   Registered address: 9th Floor, The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG.

2   Registered address: Tour Voltaire, 1 place des Degrés - La Défense, 92800 Puteaux, Paris, France.

3   Registered address: SP 52, 3^rd Street, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Chennai 600 058.

4   Registered address: Boulevard Charlemagne 1, 1041 Bruxelles, Belgium.

 

 

 

18. Investments

 

Investments are presented on the balance sheet as follows:

 

	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Non-current asset investments
Investments in Associates	-	-
Other Unlisted Investments	350	450
	350	450

 

The above balances are represented by:

	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Investments in Associates	-	-
Other unlisted investments	350	450
	350	450

 

 

18. Investments continued

 

Investments in Associates

 

During the prior year, the Group disposed of its shareholdings in both of its former Associates, Sans Frontières Associates Ltd (SFA) and Social 360 Limited. The entities each had share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares, which were held directly by the Group prior to disposal. The Group accounted for both entities as equity-accounted Associates up to the date of disposal.

 

The total share of profit recognised from Associates during the prior year, which was based on the unaudited management accounts as 31 March 2023, was £220k. The Group recognised a loss on disposal of Associates of £303k during the prior year.

 

 

Other unlisted Investments

 

Fair value		2024 £'000	2023 £'000
At 01 April		450	450
Additions		75	51
Disposals		(50)	-
Unrealised losses recognised though profit and loss		(125)	(51)
At 31 March		350	450

 

In 2019, The Group acquired a 13.3% stake in Acolyte Resource Group Limited as part of the acquisition of Meritgroup Limited. Acolyte Resource Group Limited is an unlisted business registered in and operated from England & Wales and is engaged in the development and operation of an online recruitment platform. The Group's investment was written down to £nil on acquisition.

 

During the prior year, the Group participated in a fundraising round by Acolyte Resource Group Limited via a debt-for-equity swap and increased its shareholding to 13.5%. The £51k book cost of this investment was written off during the year.

 

During the current financial year, the Group consented to the conversion of £50,000 of trade debts owed to it from Acolyte Resources Group Limited into Convertible Loan Notes in that company. This was treated as an acquisition of investment with a cost equivalent to the fair value of those trade debts.

 

The Group subsequently sold its entire equity holding in Acolyte Resources Group Limited for deferred, contingent consideration, including the repayment of the Convertible Loan Note.  The directors consider the fair value of this consideration at the date of disposal and at the balance sheet date to be £50,000.  The consideration remains outstanding at the balance sheet date.

 

 

 

 

 

 

18. Investments continued

 

In 2022, the Group acquired a 9.2% stake in Web Data Works Limited ("DataWorks") for £450k. DataWorks is an unlisted business registered in and operated from the Republic of Ireland, engaged in the development of e-commerce data management software and applications.

 

After taking into account the Group's voting rights, exposure and rights to variable returns from its involvement with the investee, and its ability to use the power over the investee to affect the amount of investor's return, the Directors have concluded that the Group does not have a significant influence over DataWorks. The investment is therefore carried as a fixed asset investment at fair value through profit and loss.

 

The Directors' assessment of the fair value of other unlisted investments falls within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy of IFRS 13. This assessment has been based on management's experience of investing in unlisted investments and the financial information, including financial projections, received from the investee companies. As such, the fair value can be subject to material change as the investee business develops and performs over time.

 

The Directors have determined that the fair value (FVTPL) of each investment is as follows:

 

Investee entity		2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Acolyte Resource Group Limited		-	-
Web Data Works Limited		350	450

 

A loss of £125,000 in respect of these investments has been recognised in the year (2023: loss of £51,000).

 

 

 

19. Financial instruments

 

The carrying amount of financial assets and liabilities recognised at the balance sheet date of the reporting periods under review may also be categorised as follows:

 

	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Financial assets
Trade and other receivables (amortised cost)	3,627	4,342
Deferred consideration receivable (amortised cost)	50	450
Cash and cash equivalents (amortised cost)	782	2,144
	4,459	6,936
Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables (amortised cost)	(2,416)	(3,501)
Derivative Contracts (FVTPL*)	(203)	(5)
Lease liabilities (amortised cost)	(1,870)	(1,880)
Bank loan & RCF (amortised cost)	(2,643)	(4,715)
	(7,132)	(10,101)

 

 

Net financial liabilities

(2,673)

(3,165)

 

*FVTPL stands for "Fair value through profit and loss".

 

The deferred consideration receivable at 31 March 2024 was due within the next 12 months and accrued no interest (2023: same). Its fair value was therefore the same as the booked value with no discounting of the outstanding amount.

 

Between 9 June 2023 and 5 March 2024, the Group signed forward contracts for a total value of approximately £7.2 million with maturity dates ranging from 25 April 2024 to 25 March 2025. The forward contracts are for currency pairing of GBP to INR.

 

The Group has exposure to several forms of risk through its use of financial instruments. Details of these risks and the Group's policies for managing these risks are included below.

 

 

19. Financial instruments continued

 

Credit risk

 

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations. The Group's principal financial assets are trade and other receivables, and cash.

 

The Group's credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables. The amounts presented in the Consolidated statement of financial position are net of allowances for doubtful receivables. The Group has no significant concentration of credit risk, with exposure spread over a large number of counterparties and customers.

 

At 31 March 2024, £485,000 of the Group's trade receivables were exposed to risk in countries other than the United Kingdom (2023: £422,000).

 

The ageing of trade receivables at the reporting date was:

	Gross	Provided Loss Allowance	Gross	Provided Loss Allowance
	2024 £'000	2024 £'000	2023 £'000	2023 £'000
Trade Receivables	3,034	(82)	3,682	(82)
	3,034	(82)	3,682	(82)

 

The maximum credit risk exposure for which the Group has made provision is £82,000 (2023: £82,000).

 

 

	Gross carrying amount £'000	Default rate	Lifetime expected credit losses* £'000
Current	1,817	2.8%	50
1-30 days past due	1,024	0.8%	8
31-60 days past due	92	5.4%	5
61-90 days past due	36	9.9%	4
More than 90 days past due	65	22.7%	15
	3,034		82

* Expected credit losses = Gross carrying amount x Default rate.

 

The movement in allowance for doubtful accounts in respect of trade receivables during the year was as follows:

			2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Balance at the beginning of the year			82	103
Charged in the year			-	-
Released in the year			-	(21)
Balance at the end of the year			82	82

 

 

19. Financial instruments continued

 

Liquidity risk

 

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The contractual cash flows of each financial liability are materially the same as their carrying amount.

 

A reconciliation of the Group's liabilities arising from financing activities is disclosed below.

 

	Bank Loan and RCF £'000	Lease Liabilities £'000	Total Financing Liabilities £'000
At 31 March 2022	4,378	6,721	11,099
Cash movements:
Repayment of 2019 Loan and RCF	(4,378)	-	(4,378)
Drawdown of 2022 Term Loan and RCF	5,000	-	5,000
Repayment and cancellation of 2022 Term Loan	(2,000)	-	(2,000)
Repayments of Term Loan principal	(85)	-	(85)
Drawdown of 2023 Property Term Loan	1,800	-	1,800
Lease payments	-	(1,897)	(1,897)
Non-cash movements:
Lease disposals	-	(3,242)	(3,242)
Lease interest	-	298	298
At 31 March 2023	4,715	1,880	6,595
Cash movements:
Repayment of Term Loan principal	(172)	-	(172)
Repayment of 2023 Property Term Loan	(1,200)	-	(1,200)
Repayment of RCF	(700)	-	(700)
Lease payments	-	(1,007)	(1,007)
Non-cash movements:
New leases	-	873	873
Lease interest	-	124	124
At 31 March 2024	2,643	1,870	4,513

 

 

19. Financial instruments continued

 

Banking covenants

Under the Group's bank facilities (see Note 22), the Group is subject to selected covenant compliance tests on a rolling 12 month basis and at each quarter end date. These covenant compliance tests are as follows:

 

Covenant	Compliance test
Leverage ratio	Gross debt shall not be more than x Adjusted EBITDA
Profit Cover Ratio	Gross financing costs (capital & interest) shall not be less than x Adjusted EBITDA
Cashflow Cover Ratio	Gross financing costs (capital & interest) shall not be less than x cashflow before financing

 

Adjusted EBITDA: earnings before interest, tax, depreciation & amortisation adjusted for share based payments and non-recurring items.

 

 

Rolling 12 month basis, ending on:	Leverage Ratio	Profit Cover Ratio	Cashflow Cover Ratio
30 June 2024	1.5x	1.5x	n/a
30 September 2024	1.5x	1.5x	n/a
31 December 2024	1.5x	1.5x	n/a
31 March 2025	1.5x	3.0x	1.5x
30 June 2025	1.0x	3.0x	1.5x
30 September 2025	1.0x	3.0x	1.5x
31 December 2025 and thereafter	1.0x	3.0x	1.5x

 

The Directors have prepared and approved monthly-phased projections for the 21 months from the balance sheet date. The Directors consider the projections to be reasonable.

 

In agreeing to the above covenants, the projections were sensitised to ensure suitable headroom to enable compliance with the covenant tests.

 

Based on this work the Directors are satisfied that the Group is unlikely to breach any of the above covenants.

 

 

19. Financial instruments continued

 

Maturity of financial liabilities:

The table below analyses the Group's financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on their contractual maturities as at 31 March 2024. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

 

		Due within 1 year £'000	Due 2-5 years £'000	Due after 5 years £'000	Total £'000
Trade and other payables	2,619		-	-	2,619
Derivative contracts	203		-	-	203
Bank loan/RCF	2,091		552	-	2,643
Lease liabilities	1,069		1,123	-	2,192

 

The Group has a long standing and supportive relationship with Barclays, having agreed secured loan facilities for a five-year period to 2027 in July 2022 and an additional 18-month facility to part fund the disposal of the Group's lease of premises in The Shard, London in March 2023. The Group has a five-year plan that has been shared with Barclays and formed the basis of the banking arrangements that have been put in place.

 

The Group has a strong track record on cash and working capital management and carefully monitors its aged debtors to ensure its cash receipts are as expected. The Group does not anticipate paying dividends to shareholders at this time.

 

Currency risk

The Group is exposed to currency risk on transactions denominated in Euros, US Dollars and Indian Rupees; see Notes 20 and 21.

 

Share capital

The holders of ordinary shares are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share at meetings of the Company. For further details of share capital, see Note 24.

 

Sensitivity analysis

In managing interest rate and currency risks, the Group aims to reduce the impact of short-term fluctuations on the Group's earnings. Over the longer term, however, changes in foreign exchange and interest rates would have an impact on consolidated earnings. The balances of the financial assets and liabilities exposed to these sensitivities are £478,000 Trade receivables, £448,000 Cash and cash equivalents and £193,000 Trade payables for the year.

At 31 March 2024, it is estimated that a general increase of one percentage point in interest rates would have decreased the Group's profit before tax by approximately £26,000 (2023: £47,000).

 

It is estimated that a general increase of one percentage point in the value of the Euro and Dollar against Sterling would have increased the Group's profit before tax by approximately £24,000 (2023: £23,000).

 

It is estimated that a general increase of one percentage point in the value of the Rupee against Sterling would have decreased the Group's profit before tax by approximately £90,000 (2023: £84,000).

 

 

19. Financial instruments continued

 

Fair values

The Directors consider that the fair value of financial instruments is materially the same as their carrying amounts.

 

Capital management

The Group manages its capital to ensure that all entities will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising return to stakeholders, as well as sustaining the future development of the business. The capital structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to the owners of the parent, comprising issued share capital, other reserves and retained earnings.

 

Capital Management	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Cash & cash equivalents	782	2,144
Share Capital	6,708	6,708
Other reserves	14,610	14,699
Retained Earnings	10,586	10,976
	32,686	34,527

 

 

20. Other financial assets

 

Trade and other receivables	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Trade receivables	2,952	3,600
Other receivables	675	742
Deferred consideration receivable	50	450
Prepayments and accrued income	622	710
	4,299	5,502

 

Trade and other receivables denominated in currencies other than Sterling comprise £386,000 (2023: £137,000) denominated in Euros, £92,000 (2023: £24,000) denominated in USD and £nil (2023: £23,000) denominated in Indian Rupees.

 

The Group had a balance of £141,000 of accrued income relating to contract assets (2023: £56,000).

 

Cash related	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Cash and cash equivalents	782	2,144
	782	2,144

 

Cash includes £101,000 (2023: £251,000) denominated in Euros, £20,000 (2023: £29,000) denominated in USD and £327,000 (2023: £541,000) denominated in Indian Rupees.

 

 

21. Trade and other payables

Current	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Trade creditors	679	490
Other creditors including tax and social security	873	1,058
Accruals and deferred income	4,140	5,100
	5,692	6,648

 

Current liabilities denominated in currencies other than Sterling compromise £55,000 (2023: £21,000) denominated in Euros, £nil (2023: £7,000) denominated in USD and £138,000 (2023: £235,000) denominated in Indian Rupees.

 

The Group had a balance of £3,073,000 of deferred revenue relating to contract liabilities (2023: £3,142,000).

 

 

22. Net debt

	2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Bank loan / RCF due within one year	2,091	3,373
Bank loan due after more than one year	552	1,342
	2,643	4,715
Cash and cash equivalents	(782)	(2,144)
Net debt	1,861	2,571

 

 

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings

 

On 22 July 2022, the Company agreed new secured loan facilities with Barclays which include:

 

§ Term Loan: a £3 million, five-year term loan, amortising on a straight-line basis at £150,000 per quarter;

§ RCF: a £2 million non-amortising, revolving credit facility for the five-year duration of the Term Loan;

§ Both the Term Loan and RCF accruing interest at 4.75% above Bank of England base rate.

 

On 1 December 2022, the Company repaid and cancelled £2 million of the Term Loan following receipt of the proceeds of disposals.

 

On 22 March 2023, the Company secured a further £1.8 million 18-month Term Loan, amortising on a straight-line basis at £300,000 per quarter, in order to fund the disposal of the Company's Shard lease.

 

 

22. Net debt continued

 

At 31 March 2024, the balances outstanding on the Company's loan and RCF facilities were as follows:

Facility		Outstanding at 31 March 2024 £'000	Outstanding at 31 March 2023 £'000
£1 million Term Loan:		743	915
£1.8 million Term Loan:		600	1,800
RCF		1,300	2,000
Total Term Loans and RCF		2,643	4,715

 

See Note 19 for the maturity analysis of the bank loan.

 

 

23. Deferred taxation

 

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group, and movements thereon during the current year and prior year:

 

		Liabilities		Assets
	Intangible assets arising on consolidation £'000		Other timing differences £'000	Accelerated capital allowances £'000	Tax losses £'000	Total £'000
At 31 March 2022	(1,058)		86	62	1,325	415
(Charge)/credit in the year		165	(83)	119	352	553
Derecognised on disposal		252	-	-	(1,036)	(784)
At 31 March 2023		(641)	3	181	641	184
(Charge)/credit in the year		144	1	74	(126)	93
At 31 March 2024		(497)	4	255	515	277

 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset in both the current year and preceding year as the current tax assets and liabilities can be legally offset against each other, and they relate to taxes levied by the same taxation authority or the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

 

At the balance sheet date, the Group has total carried forward tax losses of £9.3 million (2023: £9.6 million) available to offset against future taxable profits. Of these, the Group has recognised deferred tax assets of £515,000 (2023: £641,000) in respect of carried forward tax losses of £2.1 million (2023: £2.2 million) as it is probable that these assets shall be recovered against the taxable profits over the foreseeable period. On the remaining £7.2 million (2023: £7.4 million) carried forward taxable losses, the Group has not recognised a deferred tax asset as it is less probable that the potential asset would be utilised.

 

24. Issued capital

			28p ordinary shares Number	Total £'000
Issued share capital as at 31 March 2023			23,956,124	6,708
Issued share capital as at 31 March 2024			23,956,124	6,708

 

 

 

25. Leases

 

The Group held leased assets accounted for under IFRS16 with the following net book value and associated lease liabilities:

 

		Right-of-use assets £'000	Lease liabilities £'000
As at 1 April 2022		5,660	(6,721)
Depreciation		(1,338)	-
Lease Interest		-	(298)
Lease payments		-	1,897
Disposals		(2,448)	3,242
As at 31 March 2023		1,874	(1,880)
Additions		873	(873)
Depreciation		(833)	-
Lease Interest		-	(124)
Lease payments		-	1,007
As at 31 March 2024		1,914	(1,870)
Current			(977)
Non-current			(893)

 

The right-of-use assets relate to office space in four locations and at the balance sheet date have remaining terms ranging up to 5 years.

Lease liabilities includes liabilities in respect of IT equipment with a cost of £77,000 (2023: £77,000). These assets are capitalised within IT equipment (see Note 16).

The Consolidated income statement includes the following amounts relating to leases:

		2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Depreciation charge of right-of-use assets		833	1,338
Interest expense (included in finance cost)		124	298

 

 

25. Leases continued

 

Lease payments not recognised as a liability

The group has elected not to recognise a lease liability for short term leases (leases of expected term of 12 months or less) or for leases of low value assets. Payments made under such leases are expensed on a straight-line basis. In addition, certain variable lease payments are not permitted to be recognised as lease liabilities and are expensed as incurred.

The expense relating to payments not included in the measurement of the lease liability for the year was £41,000 (2023: £40,000) and the minimum commitments under such leases at 31 March 2024 were:

Land and Buildings		2024 £'000	2023 £'000
Within one year		31	31
Between two and five years		15	40
		46	71

 

 

26. Share-based payments

 

 

Performance Share Plan (PSP)

In January 2022, the Company granted a conditional award to two executive Directors under a performance share plan as below. No awards were made in the current year.

 

 

Date of grant	Director	Outstanding Options at 1 April 2023	Granted during the year	Lapsed During the year	Outstanding options at 31 March 2024
28 January 2022	David Beck (former CEO)	762,376	-	-	762,376
28 January 2022	Philip Machray (CEO and CFO)	658,415	-	-	658,415
		1,420,791	-	-	1,420,791

 

On 30 April 2024, following the appointment of Philip Machray as Chief Executive Officer, the Company amended the terms of the above awards as follows:

 

Director	Outstanding Options at 31 March 2024	Original Performance Period	Amended Performance Period
David Beck (former CEO)	762,376	From 17 Nov 2021 to 17 Nov 2024	From 17 Nov 2021 to 31 Jan 2025
Philip Machray (CEO and CFO)	658,415	From 17 Nov 2021 to 17 Nov 2024	From 17 Nov 2021 to 17 Nov 2027
	1,420,791

 

 

 

26. Share-based payments continued

 

A Monte Carlo Arithmetic Brownian Motion simulation model has been used to determine the fair value of the share options on the date of grant. The fair value is expensed to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The model assesses a number of factors in calculating the fair value. These include the market price on the day of grant, the exercise price of the share options, the expected share price volatility of the Company's share price, the expected life of the options, the risk-free rate of interest and the expected level of dividends in future periods. The inputs into the model were as follows:

 

 

Date of grant	Risk free rate	Share price volatility	Share price at date of grant
28 January 2022	2.3%	40.0%	50.5p

 

Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Company's share price for three years prior to the date of grant. The expected life used in the model is the term of the options. The PSP share options outstanding during the year were as follows:

 

 

	Number of Ordinary shares	Weighted average exercise price (pence)
As at 31 March 2023	1,420,791	n/a
Granted during the year	-	n/a
As at 31 March 2024	1,420,791	n/a

 

The following options were outstanding under the Company's PSP scheme as at 31 March 2024:

 

Date of grant	Number of Ordinary shares	Exercise price per share (pence)	Exercise period
28 January 2022	1,420,791	nil	Nov 2024
	1,420,791

 

 

The income statement charge in respect of the PSP for the year was £63,000 (2023: £63,000).

 

27. Pensions

 

Defined benefit pension

The Group operates a defined benefit pension scheme for qualifying employees based in India known as Gratuity Benefits which is classified as Post-Retirement Benefits under IAS19 (revised). Under the scheme, the eligible employees are entitled to a retirement benefit in cash based on final salary on attainment of retirement age (or earlier withdrawal/resignment or death) after 5 years of continual service. The assets of the scheme are held separately to the assets of the Group in a trustee administered fund.

 

The Group employed an independent actuary to update the Gratuity Benefits valuation to measure the scheme's liabilities.

 

The present value of the defined benefit obligation, the related current service cost and past service cost were measured using the projected unit credit method. The projected unit credit method is based on the plan's accrual formula and upon services as of the beginning or end of the year, but using a member's final compensation, projected to the age at which the employee is assumed to leave active service. The plan liability is the actuarial present value of the "projected accrued benefits" as of the beginning of the year for active members.

 

The scheme's costs are borne by the Group. Any surplus or deficits in the scheme may affect the Group through periodic adjustments to the Group's contribution rate as determined by the actuary.

 

The plan exposes the Group to actuarial risks such as interest rate risk, investment risk, longevity risk and inflation risk.

§ Interest rate risk - The present value of the defined benefit liability is calculated using a discount rate determined by reference to market yields of high quality corporate bonds.

§ Investment risk - The entire plan assets at 31 March 2024 comprise an insurance policy. The value of assets certified by the insurer may not be the fair value of instruments backing the liability. In such cases the present value of the asset is independent of the future discount rate. This can result in wide fluctuations in the net liability or the funded status if there are significant changes in the discount rate during the valuation period.

§ Longevity risk - The Group is required to provide benefits for the members in the gratuity scheme. Increases in the continual tenure of employment will increase the defined benefit liability.

§ Inflation risk - A significant proportion of the defined benefit liability is linked to inflation. An increase in the inflation rate will increase the Group's liability. High salary growths will lead to higher level of benefits to be paid by the Group.

 

The significant actuarial assumptions for the determination of the defined benefit obligation are the discount rate, the salary growth rate, and the withdrawal rates. The assumptions used for the valuation of the defined benefits obligation are as follows in the table "Principal actuarial assumptions" on page 104.

 

27. Pensions continued

 

Funded status of the plan
	2024		2023
	£'000		£'000
Present value of defined benefit obligations	(419)		(374)
Fair value of plan assets	57		49
Present value of unfunded defined benefit obligations	(362)		(325)
Current	(79)		(76)
Non-current	(283)		(249)
Net Deficit	(362)		(325)
Net Liability	(362)		(325)

 

 

Movement in present value of obligation	2024		2023
	£'000		£'000
At 1 April	(374)		(392)
Current service cost	(75)		(83)
Interest cost	(25)		(24)
Remeasurement (gains)/losses (OCI)
Due to changes in financial assumptions	(4)		41
Due to experience adjustments	(11)		28
Benefits paid from fund	57		50
Foreign exchange revaluation	13		6
At 31 March	(419)		(374)

 

 

Movement in fair value of plan assets	2024		2023
	£'000		£'000
At 1 April	49		110
Net interest Income	3		8
Return on plan assets	-		(24)
Contribution by employer	65		6
Benefits paid	(57)		(50)
Foreign exchange revaluation	(3)		(1)
At 31 March	57		49

 

The plan asset relates 100% to an insurance policy. The plan assets are all based geographically in India.

 

 

27. Pensions continued

 

The amounts included in the Consolidated income statement, Consolidated statement of other comprehensive income and Consolidated statement of financial position arising from the Group's obligations in respect of its defined benefit pension scheme are as follows:

 

Amounts recognised in Consolidated income statement	2024		2023
	£'000		£'000
Service cost	75		83
Interest cost	25		24
Interest income	(3)		(8)
Foreign exchange revaluation	(10)		(5)
Total expense recognised in Consolidated income statement	87		94

 

 

Amounts recognised in Consolidated statement of OCI	2024		2023
	£'000		£'000
Actuarial changes in financial assumptions	4		(41)
Actuarial experience adjustments	11		(28)
Return on plan assets	-		24
Total credit recognised in Consolidated statement of OCI	15		(45)

 

 

Movement in pension scheme net deficit	2024		2023
	£'000		£'000
Opening pension scheme net deficit	(325)		(282)
Contributions by employer	65		6
Consolidated income statement	(87)		(94)
Consolidated statement of OCI	(15)		45
Closing pension scheme net deficit	(362)		(325)

 

Principal actuarial assumptions (expressed as weighted averages) are as follows:

 

Principal Actuarial assumptions	2024		2023
	p.a.		p.a.
Discount rate	7.20%		7.35%
Salary growth rate	7.00%		7.00%
Withdrawal rates by age
Below 35	25.00%		25.00%
35 to 45	15.00%		15.00%
Above 45	10.00%		10.00%
Rate of return on plan assets	7.20%		7.35%

 

 

27. Pensions continued

 

In valuing the liabilities of the pension fund, mortality assumptions have been made as indicated below.

 

Mortality rates
Age (in years)		2024		2023
20		0.09%		0.09%
30		0.10%		0.10%
40		0.17%		0.17%
50		0.44%		0.44%
60		1.12%		1.12%

 

At 31 March 2024 the mortality rates were derived from the Indian Assured Lives Mortality (2012-2014) report.

 

The Group expects to contribute approximately £79,000 in the next financial year.

 

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit plan obligation at the end of the reporting period is 6.22 years (2023: 6.15 years).

 

The calculation of the defined benefit obligation (DBO) is sensitive to the assumptions set out above. The following table summarises how the define benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period would have been because of a change in the respective assumptions.

 

 

Sensitivity to key assumptions	2024		2023
	£'000		£'000
	p.a.		p.a.
Discount rate
Increase by 0.5%	408		364
Decrease by 0.5%	431		385
Salary growth rate
Increase by 0.5%	429		383
Decrease by 0.5%	410		366
Withdrawal rate (W.R)
W.R x 110%	417		373
W.R x 90%	421		375

 

 

28. Related party transactions

 

MET operations

On 30 November 2022, the Group completed the disposal of the Media, Events and Training operations of its Dods Political Engagement business (together, the "MET Operations") to Political Holdings Limited, a private company owned by Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC, a substantial shareholder in the Company as defined by the AIM Rules, and of which Angela Entwistle, a non-executive director of the Company, is a director. During the year, the remaining deferred consideration for the disposal of £450,000 was settled, £350,000 in cash and £100,000 offset against funds held on trust for Political Holdings Limited (see below).

As part of the disposal of the MET Operations, the Group agreed to provide transitional services to the Political Holdings Limited group of companies covering areas such as occupancy, IT systems and support and finance and accounting services. In total, the Group charged £346,000 (2023: £416,000) for these services during the year, which has been recognised as Other Operating Income within the Income Statement. At 31 March 2024, a balance of £72,799 (at 31 March 2023: £145,991) was outstanding in respect of invoicing for these services.

Since its acquisition of the MET operations, the Political Holdings Limited group has been a customer of MD&T and was billed £109,594 during the year (2023: £35,336) for marketing and data services. At 31 March 2024, there was a balance of £62,302 due (at 31 March 2023: £16,094).

Further, as part of the disposal, the Group has continued to act as agent for the political Holdings Limited group, invoicing customers, collecting book debts and paying for services under contracts which were pending legal novation to Political Holdings Limited group companies.  During the year, revenue of £1,409,154 was invoiced (2023: £7,722,749), cash of £2,618,217 was collected (2023: £5,010,321), and payments for purchases and payroll amounting to £1,450,914 were made by the Group on behalf of Political Holdings Limited group companies (2023: £3,776,250). None of these revenues or costs, all of which arose post disposal, are recognised within the Income Statement of the Group. At 31 March 2024, £12,946 of funds were held on trust for Political Holdings Limited group companies (at 31 March 2023: £233,053).

 

Investments and Associates

During the prior year, the Group received a repayment of £210,000 of its interest free loan to its then Associate, Sans Frontières Associates (SFA), reducing the balance outstanding to £nil.

On 3 March 2023, the Company disposed of its 40% equity stake in SFA for cash consideration of £250,000 via a share repurchase by SFA.

28. Related party transactions continued

 

Investments and Associates continued

During the year, an amount of £nil (2023: £18,000) was billed in relation to recruitment services charged by Acolyte Resource Group Limited, a company in which the Group has a 13.5% investment, and of which Cornelius Conlon was a Director until the Group disposed of its investment on 5 March 2024. At 5 March 2024 and at 31 March 2024, there was a balance of £nil (2023: £nil) outstanding.

Acolyte Resource Group Limited is also a customer of MD&T and was billed £164,395 (2023: £237,201) for Software and Technology Resourcing services. During the year, £50,000 of this trading debt was exchanged for convertible loan notes in Acolyte Resource Group Limited. In addition to the loan notes, at 31 March 2024 there was a balance of £52,514 (2023: £63,989) due.

Meritgroup Limited acquisition

Cornelius Conlon, a Director of the Company was entitled to shares and a cash consideration on the first 3 anniversaries of the Meritgroup Limited acquisition in 2019. During the year, Cornelius Conlon received cash consideration of £nil (2023: £220,000).

On acquisition of Meritgroup Limited, an arm's length non-repairing 7-year lease was entered into between a Merit subsidiary (Letrim Intelligence Services Private Limited) and Merit Software Services Private Limited. Cornelius Conlon, a Director of the Group, is the beneficial owner of Merit Software Services Private Limited. The lease relates to the Chennai office of MD&T. During the year, payments of £833,560 (2023: £726,000) were made to Merit Software Services Private Limited in relation to the lease and other property-related costs.

Other related party transactions

During the year, an amount of £136,374 (2023: £141,181) was billed for Software and Technology Resourcing services to System1 Group plc, a company of which Philip Machray is a Non-Executive Director and shareholder. At 31 March 2024, there was a balance of £16,800 (2023: £44,423) outstanding.

During the current and previous years, Deacon Street Partners Limited, a company related by virtue of Angela Entwistle, a Director of the Company also being a Director, invoiced £30,000 (2023: £30,000) to the Company for the services of Angela Entwistle as a Non-Executive Director. At 31 March 2024, the balance outstanding was £2,500 (2023: £2,500).

The Spouse of Cornelius Conlon, a Director of the Company, is employed by a subsidiary of the Company and received £51,273 remuneration in the year (2023: £44,873).

The Son of Cornelius Conlon, a Director of the Company, was temporarily engaged by a subsidiary of the Company and received £500 in fees in the year (2023: £nil).

The Executive Directors of the Group are considered key management personnel. See Note 8 for details of Directors' remuneration.

 

ENDS