Accsys Tech Regulatory News (AXS)

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20 June 2017

Accsys Technologies PLC ("Accsys" or the "Company")

Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 March 2017

Accsys, the chemical technology group, focused on the highly sustainable acetylation of wood, today announces preliminary results for the twelve months ended 31 March 2017, with revenue and volumes in line with the market trading update on 24 April 2017.

Note *: Underlying EBITDA excludes exceptional items of €0.1m, reflecting a €0.6m gain on the sale of land off-set by one-off advisory fees associated with business development activities.

Strategic Highlights:

· Transformational, fully funded production capacity expansions underway:

o Agreements to build and operate new 30,000 metric tonne Tricoya® chip plant in Hull; work has commenced with the plant expected to be completed in early 2019;

o Expansion of Arnhem Accoya® plant continues to progress with completion of the first stage of expansion to 60,000 cubic meters capacity expected by the end of 2017;

· Future success of the projects is reinforced by minimum offtake agreements with Medite in addition to existing agreement with Rhodia Acetow (formerly Solvay Acetow); and

· Sale and leaseback of land in Arnhem completed, with significant new warehouse facilities under construction by our landlord to improve our operating environment.

Financial and Operational Highlights:

· Total revenue increased by 7% notwithstanding the previous year reflected a greater contribution from one-off licensing income; Accoya revenue increased by 17%;

· Accoya® sales volumes have grown by 18% to 39,790 cubic meters in the year and strong performance in the second half with volumes up 31%;

· Gross margin decreased as expected from 34% to 25% for a number of reasons including prior year one-off licensing income, full year of discounted prices to Rhodia Acetow, higher sales to Medite for Tricoya and a small increase in raw wood prices;

· 30% gross margin from the manufacturing of Accoya continues to be achievable;

· Positive underlying EBITDA of €0.4m in second half of the year, resulting in underlying EBITDA loss of €1.2m for the full year;

· Balance sheet significantly strengthened through €82m of funding in transformational deal:

o €68m of equity and debt from Medite , BP, Business Growth Fund, Volantis and RBS to fund the building of the world's first Tricoya® wood chip acetylation plant in Hull; €37m of this was received in the financial period; and

o €12m (net) from a Placing and Open Offer providing additional working capital in the context of the two significant capital projects, with proceeds received post year-end

Paul Clegg, Chief Executive commented: "I am delighted to report that this has been a transformational year for the Group. We have received great support from existing and new industry and financial partners, including our shareholders to increase our manufacturing capacity to meet demand from the growing markets for Accoya and Tricoya.

We have seen encouraging underlying revenue and sales trends, which have continued beyond the year end. We look forward to updating shareholders with progress, both on sales and our building projects and we are excited about our prospects for the future."

There will be a presentation relating to these results at 10:00 BST on Tuesday 20 June 2017. The presentation will take the form of a web based conference call, details of which are below:

Webcast link:

Click here or copy and paste ALL of the following text into your browser:

http://edge.media-server.com/m/p/7d5a7j9p

Conference call details for participants:

Participant Telephone Number:

Confirmation Code: 9636955

 Participants will have to quote the above code when dialling into the conference.

Accsys Technologies PLC management will be appearing at the ED Investor Forum on Wednesday, 21st June in London at 5.30pm where they will present their preliminary results. Please register for this event here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/equity-development-investor-forum-june-2017-tickets-34745006249?ref=ebtn

For further information, please contact:

Accsys Technologies PLC

Chairman's Statement

A transformational year

This has been a transformational year for Accsys, with capacity expansion agreed for both Accoya and Tricoya, a total of €82m of new financing secured and a continued growth in demand for our products. Partnerships and commercial terms with BP, Medite and Rhodia Acetow (formerly Solvay Acetow) also endorse Accsys' patented Accoya® and Tricoya® technology and our prospects for the future.

The expanded Group and the Accsys team are now very well positioned to take advantage of the opportunities that we have been nurturing since the Company's inception. I have confidence that the market opportunity remains substantial and conclude that the additional capacity, new financing and partnerships have put us in a strong position to exploit this in the most efficient way possible for the benefit of our shareholders.

As a small company the increased workload of negotiating and finalising the Tricoya Consortium and expanding our Accoya facility in Arnhem fell on a small management team. At the same time, our employees were being tasked with maximising the output from our existing facilities. They were all unwavering in their determination to deliver the best result for Accsys. My colleagues and I on the Board wish to thank all our employees for the diligence and commitment they have shown throughout the year.

Sales growth

10 years have passed since our existing Accoya manufacturing facility in Arnhem started operations. Since then we have carried out many improvements to our process which enabled us to increase capacity from the same two chemical reactors. As a result this year, we sold 39,790 cubic meters of Accoya, an 18% increase compared to last year, and 60% more than was even thought possible 10 years ago. Sales by Medite of Tricoya panels increased by 32% to 5,806 cubic meters last year.

Sales volumes in the second half of the financial year grew by 31% compared to the same period last year. This increase was possible following the resolution of the supply chain bottleneck issues in the first half of the year which we had highlighted in November.

We continue to believe the total market for Accoya and Tricoya is in excess of 2.6 million cubic meters per annum, based upon detailed market assessments. This figure still represents a small fraction of the overall solid wood and wood panel industries.

Additional manufacturing capacity

In March we formed the Tricoya Consortium, with agreements to build, operate and fund a new Tricoya chip acetylation plant in Hull. This includes €68m of comprehensive financing arrangements including debt and equity from BP, Medite, BGF and Volantis and debt from RBS. In addition, these transformational agreements have recognised a pre-funding valuation of the Tricoya business of €35m with Accsys retaining a 74.6% interest in the Tricoya licensing business and a 46% interest in the new Tricoya plant.

The plant will have an initial design capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes and is expected to be operational in the first half of 2019. Medite has signed an off-take agreement to purchase a minimum of 20% of the capacity in the first year, rising to a minimum of 40% after the fourth year of commercial production. The plant is expected to be EBITDA positive operating at 40% capacity.

During the year we have also made significant progress with the expansion of our Accoya plant in Arnhem, from its current capacity of approximately 40,000 cubic meters to 60,000 cubic meters per annum in the first of a two part expansion, with a further 20,000 cubic meters to follow.

The sale and leaseback of the land in Arnhem has been completed. Detailed engineering work has progressed and continues on site, with the third reactor itself having been delivered to site on 8 June 2017. We continue to expect the construction to be complete by the end of the calendar year 2017, with the benefit of the additional capacity and resulting sales growth expected in the financial year ending March 2019.

The fourth reactor will be added at a later date to meet demand, increasing capacity to 80,000 cubic meters, with the potential to generate in excess of €120m of Accoya revenue and Accoya manufacturing EBITDA in excess of €30m.

Financial Results

Revenue for the year ended 31 March 2017 increased by 7% to €56.5m (2016: €52.8m). Within this total, Accoya® wood revenue increased by 17% to €50.7m (2016: €43.5m) as a result of an 18% increase in sales volume, while licence and licensing related income decreased from €5.3m to €1.9m as expected, following the receipt of higher one-off fees in the prior year, including those from our Accoya licensee Rhodia Acetow.

Gross profit margin decreased from 34% to 25% for a number of reasons including one-off licensing income in the previous year, together with the full year impact of discounted prices to Rhodia Acetow, a higher proportion of sales to Medite in respect of Tricoya (also at a lower sales price) and a small increase in raw material prices. Other operating costs (excluding exceptional items) remained consistent at €18.5m.

The above resulted in a €3.8m decrease in underlying Group EBITDA to €1.2m loss (2016: EBITDA profit of €2.4m). Underlying EBITDA improved from €1.6m loss in the first half of the year to €0.4m profit in the second half as a result of higher licensing income and sales volumes.

Balance sheet

The increase in the cash balance to €41.2m at 31 March 2017 (2016: €8.2m) reflects the first part of the funding received in respect of the Tricoya Consortium, including €18.6m proceeds of Loan Notes issued to BGF and Volantis and net €18.3m received in respect of equity in the Tricoya subsidiary companies issued to the investors in the Tricoya Consortium.

During the period €2m was drawn down under the Rhodia Acetow loan facility and €4.2m was received in respect of the sale of the land in Arnhem. €6.2m was invested in property plant and equipment including both the Tricoya project and Arnhem expansion. The balance was principally attributable to the €1.1m EBITDA loss in the period and a €1.5m increase in working capital.

The net cash balance was €20.1 million (2016: €8.2 million). The balance excludes €12.4m net proceeds of the Firm Placing and Open Offer which was completed after the year-end in April 2017.

Outlook

I believe we have now reached a solid platform for future growth, both in respect of our products and intellectual property but also in respect our business model, reflecting our ambition to retain a direct interest in manufacturing as we continue to grow to maximise returns for our shareholders.

By building on our achievements so far we are now well positioned to focus on bringing the new manufacturing capacity on-line and growing sales and demand for our products globally.

The Firm Placing and Open Offer, which was launched successfully and completed in April, with the Open Offer having been four times oversubscribed has also put the Group in a firm financial position. I am confident that as we continue to invest in growth, and as we benefit from the additional manufacturing capacity, we will become cash-flow generative.

The new financial year has started well, with growth in Accoya sales being comparable to growth seen in the second half of last year. Sales growth will be temporarily restricted for the year as a whole until the new capacity becomes available in early 2018 calendar year. Demand for Accoya continues to increase and we expect sales to grow further thereafter.

Patrick Shanley

Non-executive Chairman

19 June 2017

Accsys Technologies PLC

Our market

The superior qualities that our technology brings are driving customers to choose our materials over established wood and non-wood products giving enormous scope to increase our penetration of this vast global market.

Our technology

Accoya is based upon our proprietary wood acetylation technology.

The physical properties of any material are determined by its chemical structure. Wood contains an abundance of chemical groups called "free hydroxyls". Free hydroxyl groups absorb and release water according to changes in the climatic conditions to which the wood is exposed. This is the main reason why wood shrinks and swells. It is also believed that the digestion of wood by enzymes initiates at the free hydroxyl sites - which is one of the principal reasons why wood is prone to decay.

Acetylation effectively changes the free hydroxyls within the wood into acetyl groups, which already naturally exist in wood at lower levels. This is done by reacting the wood with acetic anhydride, which comes from acetic acid (commonly known as vinegar when in its dilute form). When the free hydroxyl group is transformed to an acetyl group, boosting the acetyl level, the ability of the wood to absorb water is greatly reduced, rendering the wood more dimensionally stable and, because it is no longer digestible, extremely durable.

Market

We believe the potential market for Accoya and Tricoya is in excess of 2.6 million cubic meters annually.

Last year we sold 39,790 cubic meters of Accoya, however the total global solid wood market is understood to exceed 400 million cubic meters annually and we believe sales in excess of 1 million cubic meters annually are ultimately achievable. While it may take some time for Accoya to reach its full market potential, we are confident that continued strong sales growth can be generated.

Accoya captures the market share in those applications which require rot, insect and water resistance, i.e. primarily outdoor products. The Group is focused on the higher-value end of these applications, where the dual qualities of durability and dimensional stability offered by

Accoya are most highly valued.

The majority of our Accoya sales is to a network of timber distributors which in turn supply a variety of industries, principally for joinery (windows and doors) and for decking and cladding. As we expand, we expect that new opportunities will also be developed as we become able to meet the demands of larger scale manufacturers and also as we continue to develop our product and its applications.

Tricoya panels' enhanced performance and moisture resistance makes them particularly suited to external applications including facades and cladding, soffits and eaves, exterior joinery, wet interiors, door skins, flooring, signage and marine uses. Tricoya displaces alternative more expensive or less easily handled products and opens up major new market opportunities in the construction sector.

The global market for Tricoya panel products is estimated in excess of 1.6 million cubic meters and up to approximately 4.5 million cubic meters per annum. This would equate to around 1% of global MDF manufacturing capacity. Tricoya panels were introduced to the market by Medite in 2012, manufactured using chipped Accoya as a production solution in the period before the dedicated wood chip acetylation plant is built. Sales have increased significantly each year since, and total panel sales to date exceed 17,200m3 / 1,585,000m2, representing a sales value of approximately €26m. Last year sales grew by 32% to 5,806m3.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Business model

Sustainability

Accoya and Tricoya are high performance building solutions which are environmentally friendly over their full life cycle. They are made from abundantly available, fast growing, sustainable, renewable resources with durability and dimensional stability exceeding the best performing tropical and temperate hardwoods and manufactured wood and non-wood panels.

They are natural building materials with low maintenance and consistent qualities of the highest performing non-sustainable man-made materials. They benefit from all positive attributes of wood (sustainability, strength, beauty) without the downfalls (poor durability & stability).

Our Key Strengths

Intellectual property, expertise and innovation

Our IP is protected on different levels and is exploited in different ways. We have developed families of patents relating to our products and processes which provide robust protection and enable us to market to third parties. Equally important is know-how and trade secrets covering our process, raw materials, equipment and products which provide commercial protection and value generation as well as a basis for on-going innovation.

Branding

Our brands Accoya® wood and Tricoya® are registered trademarks in over 50 countries world-wide.

Strong branding and trade mark protection is vital and has enabled our products to generate a significant presence in a relatively short time in what is otherwise a fragmented market place. We portray that our products are high performance, class leading and sustainable while offering value for money when considering performance benefits and the product lifecycle.

Business partners

Third parties have contributed to our success and help us meet our long term strategic targets.

Particular importance is placed upon those which help develop our technology, products and their place in the market including equipment manufacturers, wood suppliers, the acetyls industry, testing and certification bodies as well as wood coating, adhesives and other system supply specialists. We will continue to work with others to ensure we develop larger scale manufacturing capacity.

Our people

Our people are key to our success, with high staff retention and a commitment to the future of the Company.

Our focus on R&D, innovation and developing long-term growth market opportunities to exploit our first mover advantage is dependent on our employees. Value is generated from know-how; from working with wood products, understanding our brand on a global basis, to optimising the acetylation process. We develop, motivate and retain a committed team with necessary skills to help us meet our objectives.

Our Technology

Our wood processing technology is a platform with application for use on different solid woods and multiple different panel products.

We believe wood acetylation is applicable to multiple wood products and species and that we have established a platform technology that can be developed to generate additional products and uses. Different species of wood will enable Accoya to be used for new purposes while opening up greater supply chain opportunities. Our Tricoya process also has the potential to be used for particle board manufacture.

How we Create Value

Manufacturing

Accsys's Accoya plant has been improved and had capacity increased through constant process improvements. This has demonstrated our process works on an industrial scale and has confirmed the commercial viability of Accoya and Tricoya.

The plant returns will be further improved as capacity is improved and expanded. In addition it is a centre for carrying out commercial level R&D and for evaluating further improvements to our processes.

Working with third parties

Working with third parties provides the greatest prospect for taking advantage of a substantial global market opportunity.

Manufacturing our products provides the greatest opportunity for generating profit given the value added via our process, and manufacturing directly ourselves offers significant long term rewards. We will continue to work with appropriate third parties in order to achieve our objective of expanding the production footprint globally, in particular where such parties have resources or technologies which complement our own.

Our ambition to retain a direct interest in manufacturing whilst fully exploiting the value of our IP is characterised by our relationship with Rhodia Acetow in Europe and in respect of Tricoya, where the new consortium builds upon a broader level of experience and capabilities in the acetyls and panel industries.

Outcome

Increasing revenue and returns enable continued investment in R&D, people and partnerships in order to take advantage of the substantial opportunity which we believe exists.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Our strategy

Further considerations of Risks can be found in the Directors report.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Chief Executive's report

Introduction

I am very pleased to report upon what has been a truly transformational year for Accsys which I believe has put us in an excellent position to continue to grow and take advantage of our unique assets.

The new Tricoya Consortium agreed on 29 March 2017, which will lead to the Group's second commercial acetylation plant, marks a major step forward in our objective in establishing acetylated wood as the leading modified wood technology in the building materials sector.

Our focus on safety remains our top priority and during the year we commenced an extensive new safety awareness programme involving all of our employees.

I would like to thank all of our staff for their hard work and continued dedication, which has helped make last year a truly transformational year. I would also like to welcome Martin Robinson, who joined our Senior Management Team in April 2017 as Head of Group Operations. I believe his wealth of experience from a career at BP will be invaluable during our next period of growth.

Accoya sales growth

Total Accoya sales volume for the year ended March 2017 increased by 18% to 39,790 cubic meters (2016: 33,847 cubic meters) and total Accoya revenue increased by 17% to €50.7m (2016: €43.4m). The smaller increase in revenue compared to volume was attributable to the full year impact of sales to Rhodia Acetow (formerly Solvay Acetow) which are at a discount, reflecting Rhodia Acetow's marketing and sales commitment and responsibility for their region. Excluding sales to Medite for Tricoya, sales volumes increased by 18% to 31,532 cubic meters (2016: 26,789 cubic meters).

The overall increase in sales volume in the year reflects the continued increase in demand for our products. The strength of demand has reconfirmed the need for additional manufacturing capacity and until the additional capacity becomes available early next calendar year, we are operating at or near capacity utilisation. As a result we are seeking to manage demand and our customers' expectations during this challenging period, during which we have seen an increase in forward orders.

The increase in sales, particularly in the second half of the year which saw an increase of 31% compared to the same period the year before, continues to be very encouraging. We expect growth to be effected by the timing of the commissioning of the third reactor. We are increasingly focussed on the longer term market and new opportunities expected to result from the increased capacity. We also expect to benefit from potential customers gaining greater confidence of Accoya's enduring position in the market place.

The overall increase in sales is largely due to repeat business driven by the joinery industry's need for high performance material, by greater acceptance of Accoya in our target markets as well as resulting from the direct activities undertaken by our sales and marketing teams where our resources are relatively limited compared to the overall market opportunity.

Sales growth has also continued to vary in different regions due either to specific circumstances or as a result of an allocation of our sales and marketing resources.

UK and Ireland remains our largest region, with sales volumes increasing by 24% to 12,021 cubic meters, excluding sales to Medite for Tricoya. All of this growth has been driven through existing distributors. Over the last few years we have developed a successful model of working with these distributors to develop marketing campaigns together with indirect sales methods such as architect briefings and a detailed and on-going campaign to target and inform the fragmented joinery market. This success has led us to estimate Accoya now represents approximately 12% of the UK joinery market. Demand was unaffected by the strengthening of the Euro against sterling following the Brexit vote, noting also that the weakening of sterling also impacted all timber imports.

We sold 8,531 cubic meters to Rhodia Acetow in the financial year, following Rhodia Acetow assuming responsibility for their exclusive region in January 2016. This represented a 17% increase compared to sales to customers in the equivalent region in the previous year. The increase masks that sales in their region decreased immediately following the transition and therefore I am very pleased that the transition has progressed well since with the deployment of Rhodia Acetow's sales team and I look forward to further future growth. As a reminder, Rhodia Acetow agreed a five year, 76,000 cubic meter off-take agreement effective from January 2016, with the annual minimum volumes increasing each calendar year and in total representing approximately €100m of Accoya.

Sales in the Americas increased by 38% to 3,846 cubic meters. North America in particular represents the largest potential market for Accoya, and I am pleased that the changes made to the sales team over the last two years has resulted in an increase in momentum ahead of the new manufacturing capacity becoming available. We will continue to focus on this region applying where possible the same successful sales and marketing techniques that we have developed in the UK market.

Sales to the Benelux area increased 10% to 3,682 cubic meters, however sales in the Netherlands were disappointing, recording a decrease compared to the prior year. As a result, we have reviewed our approach to the Netherlands and have made changes to the sales team, launched a new marketing campaign and commenced a new approach to the key housing association market. As a result, I am confident that we will be in a good position to take advantage of the additional Accoya manufacturing capacity when it becomes available.

Sales to the Asia-Pacific region decreased by 16% to 2,812 cubic meters. Within this, sales to customers within Diamond Wood's exclusive region decreased by 31% and sales outside of this, including to Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India decreased by 7%, reflecting several larger projects in the previous year, noting that we continue to believe this region has the potential for substantial sales growth in the longer term.

Sales to customers elsewhere, including Eastern Europe and the Middle East remain relatively small at this time, however we continue to develop relationships with distributors so as to increase awareness of Accoya generally, ahead of additional capacity becoming available and with a belief that many of these regions also represent excellent longer term markets.

Accoya sold to Medite for the manufacture of Medite Tricoya® increased by 17% to €7.8m (2016: €6.6m). The margin for this material continues to be below that achieved for the majority of Accoya we sell, reflecting our investment in the Tricoya project and that the current manufacturing process is in place only until the first dedicated Tricoya plant is operational. We continue to expect volumes sold to Medite for the manufacture of Tricoya panels to increase marginally in the new financial year, given temporary capacity limitations in Arnhem, noting that sales by Medite of Tricoya panels increased by 31% to 5,806 cubic meters in the year to 31 March 2017.

We have 61 Accoya distributor, supply and agency agreements in place covering most of Europe, Australia, Canada, Chile, China, India, Israel, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, South Africa, parts of South-East Asia and Middle-East and the USA.

Accoya pricing and margin

The marginally smaller increase in Accoya revenue (17%) compared to volume (18%) reflects a full year of sales to Rhodia Acetoc, who receive a discount as a result of its obligations under the committed off-take agreement and to reflect the sales and marketing expenditure that it incurs directly. This was partly off-set by a small increase in prices to UK customers earlier in the year. A similar price increase to the majority of remaining customers is being implemented in the first half of the new financial year.

The Accoya gross margin, excluding licencing income, decreased from 27% to 23% as a result of full year impact of the Rhodia Acetow discount, the volume of lower margin material sold to Medite and the higher cost of raw wood. Part of this higher raw wood cost was due to an increase in prices from New Zealand suppliers and part was attributable to short term changes to the product mix used in production resulting from supply chain issues but which enabled us to maintain production volumes.

Expansion of Accoya manufacturing plant

I am very pleased by the progress made in the year in respect of our project to expand the production capacity of the Arnhem plant from the current levels of approximately 40,000 cubic meters per annum to 80,000 cubic meters in a two-stage expansion programme. We expect to invest approximately €22m towards the capital costs of the first stage, which includes the installation of a third reactor, increasing the capacity to 60,000 cubic meters, together with the back-bone infrastructure for a fourth reactor.

Work has progressed well in respect of the first stage of the expansion which comprises two key phases: the first, which involved the reconfiguring of chemical infrastructure stations, has been completed. Significant work has also been completed in respect of detailed engineering and ground works, and all key items of equipment have been ordered. The third reactor itself was delivered on 8 June 2017 enabling the remainder of the chemical construction work to progress. Detailed engineering is now underway by the Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor Fabricom with the construction due to be completed by the end of 2017 calendar year, ahead of a period of commissioning.

During the year we also completed the sale and leaseback of the remaining freehold land in Arnhem to Bruil, the same group to which we sold land and buildings in 2011. Bruil in turn, have made excellent progress in the construction of a significant new warehouse and office facilities which will be adjacent to the chemical plant and are due to be completed in the same timeframe. These facilities, which will improve and contribute to better logistics and should improve productivity, will be leased to Accsys once the expansion is complete.

The fourth reactor is expected to be added at a later date, as demand requires. As this will use the same back-bone infrastructure as is currently being constructed for the third reactor, it is expected to be added at relatively low cost, funded from internal resources.

Tricoya® Consortium

Introduction

I was delighted that we announced in March 2017 the completion of agreements in respect of the construction, operation and financing of the world's first dedicated Tricoya wood chip acetylation plant, to be located in Hull. Under the new agreements, Accsys owns 74.6% of Tricoya Technologies Limited which in turn owns 62% of the Hull plant.

We have established the Tricoya Consortium to exploit Tricoya globally and to fund, build and operate the Hull plant. This is expected to have an initial capacity of 30,000 metric tonnes of acetylated Tricoya chips per annum, enough to produce approximately 40,000 cubic meters of Tricoya panels.

Sales of Tricoya to date have been relatively small scale for market development and based upon Accoya manufactured in Arnhem. The new plant will produce acetylated wood chips as feedstock for Tricoya panels which will be approximately 35% cheaper than the current market seeding production from Arnhem.

The total funding requirements for the Tricoya project are expected to be approximately €68m. Pre-construction engineering work was completed in 2016, land clearance of the plot at the Saltend Chemicals Park is expected to be shortly completed and detailed engineering work has commenced. The plant is expected to be completed in early 2019.

The Hull plant is expected to reach EBITDA breakeven at approximately 40% of its capacity and to take approximately four years to reach full capacity following completion. The designs and the plot allow for expansion at a later date.

Tricoya Consortium structure

The Tricoya Consortium members and funding is set out below.

The investment into the Tricoya Consortium has been split between two entities, Tricoya Technologies Limited ('TTL') and Tricoya Ventures UK Limited ('TVUK'). TVUK will own and operate the Hull plant and TTL will continue to exploit all Tricoya related intellectual property and benefit from any future Tricoya related revenues outside of the Hull plant.

a) BP has been a key supplier of acetic anhydride, the key chemical raw material for acetylation, for a number of years. Under the Consortium arrangements, they will be the sole supplier to the Hull plant from its adjacent acetic anhydride production facility under a minimum six year supply agreement.

BP will invest a total of €20.3m, with BP Chemicals investing €13.7m into TVUK aligning its interest with the plant it is supplying. BP Ventures, BP's venture capital arm, has invested €6.6m into TTL to benefit from the long term Tricoya opportunity.

b) Medite, part of the Coillte group, has been working with Accsys on Tricoya since 2009 and has been successfully selling Tricoya panels since 2012. Sales to date exceed 17,200 cubic meters.

Medite has agreed an off-take agreement which includes a minimum obligation to purchase 20% of the plant capacity in the first year of production, ramping up to 40% after the fourth year of production.

Medite will invest €11m of equity into the Tricoya Consortium, with €7m having been invested into TTL in the year and €4m to be invested in total into TVUK, aligning its interests with the manufacturing and longer term success of Tricoya.

c) Accsys has contributed all of the Tricoya intellectual property and work undertaken previously, which has been attributed a pre-money value of €35m under the Tricoya Consortium arrangements.

In addition, Accsys has contributed €18.4m of equity into TTL, which was achieved by issuance of €18.9m of Loan Notes to the Business Growth Fund and Volantis, details of which are set out below.

Together the pre-money value and cash investment has resulted in Accsys retaining a 74.6% equity interest in TTL and therefore Accsys has continued to control and fully consolidate TTL, and in turn TVUK.

d) Business Growth Fund ('BGF') and Volantis have invested a total of €22m as financial investors.

BGF and Volantis have in aggregate subscribed for a total of €18.9m of Loan Notes in Accsys Technologies PLC (the 'Loan Notes'). In turn, €18.4m of the proceeds, after fees, has been invested by Accsys as equity into TTL, as described above. The Loan Notes are unsecured and with no interest repayments due until January 2019

In addition BGF and Volantis have invested a total of €3.2m directly as equity into TTL. As part of the overall financing package (which has been divided 65%/35% between BGF and Volantis respectively), BGF and Volantis have also been granted options over 14% of the issued share capital of Accsys.

In addition, the Tricoya Consortium has agreed a six year, €17.2m (€15m net) finance facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland ('RBS'). Interest payments due under the facility are rolled up until the Hull plant is expected to be cash-flow generative.

Global exploitation

TTL has granted TVUK an sub-licence to manufacture Tricoya at the Hull plant and sell the same on an exclusive basis in the UK and non-exclusive basis in certain other countries (the 'Production Licence'), but only when customers have also first entered a licence agreement with TTL for the use of Tricoya in the production and marketing of panels (the 'User Licence').

TTL will therefore receive up-front licence fees and on-going royalties from TVUK under the Production Licence as well as royalties under the User Licence from third party customers buying Tricoya chips from TVUK.

TTL is expected to agree additional licence agreements in the future elsewhere in the world to exploit the market which is believed to be in excess of 1.6 million cubic meters per annum.

Intellectual Property

We continue to focus on and invest heavily in the generation and protection of intellectual property relating to the innovation associated with our acetylation processes and products to ensure ongoing differentiation and competitive advantage in the market place. Whilst each new innovation is carefully considered, patenting and/or maintaining valuable know-how as a trade secret remains the typical route through which our innovation is protected.

Accsys has an extensive and growing patent portfolio with over 60 granted patents in various countries throughout the world and over 170 pending patent applications across more than 20 patent families covering all major markets, with particular emphasis having recently been placed on extending the geographic spread of the Tricoya® patent portfolio. Significant R&D resources are employed to maximise the scope of our patent rights to not only cover the products we and our distributors and licensees sell, and the processes by which these products are made, but also to prevent competitors from commercialising similar products and processes.

Management of Company know-how remains an essential element of safeguarding our innovation, with confidentiality protocols in place to prevent unauthorised access to such know-how and to place strict contractual obligations on third parties collaborating with Accsys. Increasing Company-wide awareness of the importance of protecting and controlling our know-how is a key initiative with particular focus on minimising risks when collaborating with third parties.

Our well established trade mark portfolio continues to grow geographically and covers the key distinctive brands Accoya®, Tricoya® and the Trimarque Device under which products are marketed, alongside the corporate Accsys® brand, including transliterations in Ductch, Arabic, Chinese and Japanese. All of our key brands have now been registered in over 50 countries, and have become valuable house-hold names in the timber and panel industries.

Accsys continues to maintain an active watch on the commercial and IP activity of third parties to monitor and take actions if its IP rights are being infringed, to identify potentially valuable third party IP which could be exploited via a strategic alliance, in-licence or purchase of third party IP and to obtain an early insight into third party IP which could potentially hinder our proposed commercial activity.

Both the patent and trade mark portfolios, together with other protected IP, including material under copyright and domain names, continue to be regularly reviewed to ensure alignment with the Company objectives and to confirm obligations to licensees are being fulfilled.

Careful IP management, effected via our qualified in-house IP manager working in close conjunction with our technology, engineering, product development, marketing and commercial groups, and supported where appropriate by external patent and trade mark attorneys, ensures our IP portfolio is not only maintained and protected, but is grown in a cost effective manner, adding value to our manufacturing and licensing businesses.

Outlook

The creation of the Tricoya Consortium and expansion of the plant in the Netherlands are both substantial and hugely exciting projects for Accsys. In total, they will enable the Accsys Group to grow significantly over the next few years to meet the increasing demand for Tricoya and Accoya, which we continue to believe, having undertaken detailed market assessments, is in excess of 2.6 million cubic meters per annum.

The new financial year has started well, with Accoya sales growth comparable to the second half of the last financial year, although growth will be temporarily constrained as the year progresses now that we will be operating at or near our capacity. Our immediate focus is therefore on ensuring the expansion in Arnhem is completed and in this respect, we continue to expect the construction to be completed by the end of 2017 calendar year. Following a period of commissioning, we expect the full benefit of the expansion to be obtained in the financial year ending March 2019, with demand expected to result in further sales growth.

Paul Clegg

Chief Executive Officer

19 June 2017

Accsys Technologies PLC

Financial review

Income statement

Revenue

Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2017 increased by 7% to €56.5m (2016: €52.8m). Within this total, Accoya® wood revenue increased by 17% to €50.7m (2016: €43.5m) as a result of sales volumes increasing by 18%. Accoya® revenue includes €7.8m of sales to Medite for the manufacture of Tricoya, a 18% increase (2016: €6.6m). Licence income decreased from €2.8m to €1.6m, where the higher revenue in 2016 reflected the new agreements with our Accoya licensee Rhodia Acetow (formerly Solvay Acetow) in the prior period. 

Other revenue of €4.3m (2016: €6.5m) included €0.3m relating to the Sales & Marketing agreement with Solvay, which was agreed at the same time as the 76,000 cubic meter off-take agreement. The remainder is largely attributable to sales of acetic acid, a by-product from the acetylation process. The prior year included €1.3m in respect of the expired Global Marketing agreement with Solvay, with a further €0.9m of income recorded in respect of monies received attributable to the Tricoya project, neither of which was repeated in the current period, as expected.

Gross margin

Gross profit margin reduced from 34% to 25%, as a result of lower licence and other revenue as set out above, and an increase in cost of sales. The Accoya gross manufacturing margin decreased from 27% to 23% as a result of full year impact of the Solvay discount, the volume of lower margin material sold to Medite and the higher cost of raw wood. Part of this higher raw wood cost was due to an increase in prices from New Zealand suppliers and part was attributable to short term changes to the product mix used in production resulting from supply chain issues but which enabled us to maintain production volumes. We continue to expect a gross margin from the manufacture of Accoya of 30% to be achievable as we benefit from the additional manufacturing capacity and improved sales mix.

Following the additional capacity from the third reactor becoming available but in advance of the Hull plant being completed, our percentage gross margin will depend on our customer sales mix. We continue to expect a gross margin from the manufacture of Accoya of 30% to be achievable thereafter as we benefit from the additional manufacturing capacity and improved sales mix.

Other operating costs

Other operating costs (excluding exceptional items) reduced by 1% to €18.3m (2016: €18.5m). The reduction in operating costs is largely due to foreign exchange movements, with a €0.3m decrease in staff costs and a further €0.4m decrease in other operating costs attributable to foreign exchange resulting from the weakening of sterling following the Brexit vote in June 2016. This is off-set by increased office and facility costs of €0.5m due to the head office move to London and increasing costs for our expanding plant in Arnhem. In addition, payroll, intellectual property ('IP') and legal costs increased as a result of higher activity levels, including increased Tricoya related IP costs in the period. Headcount increased to an average of 124 (2016: 121), with staff costs excluding the impact of foreign exchange, increasing by 3% to €11.3m. This included a share based payment charge of €0.9m (2016: €1.0m).

Exceptional items

An exceptional gain of €0.6m arose on the sale of the land in Arnhem for €4.2m, which had a book value of €3.6m. The sale to Bruil was subject to a lease arrangement. See note 5.

An exceptional expense of €0.5m also recorded in the period, in relation to advisory fees for business development activities as the Group pursued a one-off long-term opportunity.

Loss from operations

The loss from operations increased to €3.8m (2016: loss of €0.3m) due to the reduction in gross margin described above, offset by the decrease in operating costs, as explained above. Excluding exceptional items, the loss from operations increased to €3.9m (2016: €0.3m).

Finance income

Finance income of €2,000 (2016: €10,000) represents interest receivable on bank deposits.

Finance expense

The finance expense of €0.6m (2016: €0.2m) includes the interest element arising on the payments attributable to the sale and leaseback of part of the Group's land and buildings in Arnhem, together with finance charges arising on the London office fit-out lease. The balance also includes interest and other finance charges relating to the Loan Notes issued to in the period to Business Growth Fund and Volantis relating to the Tricoya project (€0.3m) (see note 29). This also includes any finance charges payable in respect of the Group's working capital facilities.

Research & Development expenditure

€1.8m was incurred on research and development activities in the period (2016: €2.0m). €0.2m (2016: €0.1m) has been capitalised as an intangible asset (see note 16).

Taxation

The net tax charge of €0.7m (2016: €0.4m) primarily represents a tax charge arising from manufacturing offset by R&D tax credits of €0.2m (2016: €0.2m) attributable to activities carried out in the current year.

Dividends

No final dividend is proposed in 2017 (2016 final dividend: €Nil). The Board deems it prudent for the Company to maintain as strong a balance sheet as possible during the current phase of the Company's growth strategy.

Earnings per share

Basic and diluted loss per share was €0.05 (2016 basic and diluted loss per share was €0.01).

Balance sheet

Intangible assets

Intangible asset additions of €0.4m (2016: €1.5m) predominantly relate to capitalised internal development costs for both Accoya and Tricoya related activities. The prior period included €1.0m relating to the Front End Engineering Design package for the construction of the world's first Tricoya® plant.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment balance increased by €1.4m to €21.7m (2016: increase of €2.8m). The increase was due to additions of €4.1m relating to the on-going project to expand the Arnhem Accoya plant through the addition of the third reactor, including €0.6m relating to capitalised internal staff costs. A further €1m is attributable to new finance lease arrangement (see note 28). €1.4m relates to the construction of the Tricoya plant in Hull and €0.5m relates to technology improvements and significant maintenance items at the Arnhem plant.

This is off-set by €3.6m relating to the disposal of the land in Arnhem to Bruil for proceeds of €4.2m, which resulted in an exceptional gain of €0.6m. Bruil has also agreed to construct and lease a significant new warehouse and office facility which is expected to be completed in the new financial year. The total depreciation charge in the year of €2.1m relates predominantly to the existing Arnhem plant.

Available for sale investments

Accsys Technologies PLC has previously purchased a total of 21,666,734 unlisted ordinary shares in Diamond Wood China Limited. The historical cost of the unlisted shares held at 31 March 2017 is €10m (2016: €10m). However, a provision for the impairment of the entire balance of €10m continues to be recorded as at 31 March 2017 (see note 18).

Inventory

The Group had total inventory balances of €11.8m (2016: €8.3m). Finished goods consisting of Accoya represented €5.3m (2016: €5.8m) and raw materials and work in progress, primarily consisting of unprocessed lumber, being €6.5m (2016: €2.5m). The increase is attributable to the planned increase in inventory in light of the bottleneck issues reported in the first half of the year, together with the planned increase in sales in the new financial year. 

Cash and cash equivalents

The Group had cash of €41.2m at 31 March 2017 (2016: €8.2m). The increase in the year is mainly due to €19.8m net proceeds from the issue of Loan Notes and borrowings (see note 29, €18.3m net proceeds from issue of share capital in Tricoya Technologies Limited and Tricoya Ventures UK Limited to non-controlling interests (see note 9) and €4.2m proceeds from the sale and leaseback of land in Arnhem as part of our plant expansion project.

€0.3m of cash out-flow was attributable to cash-flows from operating activities before changes in working capital (excluding exceptional items) (2016: €3.5m in-flow), as a result of the increase in operating loss to €3.9m (excluding exceptional items).

€0.5m of cash-outflow was attributable to changes in working capital (2016: €3.0m out-flow), including €3.3m increase in inventories, €2.9m increase in trade and other receivables off-set by €5.7m increase in trade and other payables.

€2.6m out-flow in respect of investing activities (2016: €4.0m), included €0.4m in respect of capitalised development costs (2016: €0.4m) and €4.7m in respect of tangible fixed assets (2016: €2.6m) including in respect of the expansion of plant in Arnhem and initial work for the plant in Hull, off-set by €4.2m proceeds from the sale of the land in Arnhem.

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables have increased to €7.6m (2016: €5.6m). Within this, prepayments increased from €0.7m to €3.3m, in part due to costs being incurred in respect of the Company's Firm Placing and Open Offer which completed in April 2017.

Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables increased to €12.5m (2016: €8.1m). Included within this, trade payables increased to €6.6m (2016: €4.7m), due to an increase in expenditure on tangible fixed assets for both the Accoya plant in Arnhem, and the Tricoya plant in Hull. In addition accruals increased from €2.1m to €4.7m due in part to the costs associated with the Company's capital raise.

Finance lease creditor

The Group has previously entered into a sale and leaseback agreement for part of the Arnhem land and buildings. The first phase resulted in proceeds of €2.2m which has been accounted for as a finance lease. At 31 March 2017 there are €1.9m of payments committed to over the remaining life of the lease (2016: €2.0m) (see note 28). The second part of the previous sale and leaseback of the land in Arnhem was completed in February 2013 and accounted for as an operating lease.

The sale of the remaining plot of land completed in August 2016 and under the agreement with the purchaser, Bruil, they will construct and then lease to Accsys new warehouse and office facilities. The construction is not expected to complete until later in the new financial year and therefore no lease has been recognised in the period. A further lease agreement with Bruil was entered into in the period relating directly to infrastructure work associated with the expansion of the chemical plant. This has been accounted for as a finance lease, with a new asset and liability of €0.9m being recognised as at 31 March 2017.

Long Term Borrowing

Amounts payable under loan agreements increased to €20.1m (2016:€nil). The Group has entered into loan arrangements during the period:

A €17.2m project finance facility with the Royal Bank of Scotland Plc was entered into but remained undrawn as at 31 March 2017. The facility has been agreed at the Tricoya Consortium level and is secured upon the Tricoya plant, with the proceeds to be applied to the construction of the Tricoya plant and working capital.

€18.1m net proceeds were received in respect of Loan Notes issued by Accsys Technologies PLC to to Business Growth Fund ('BGF') and Volantis. The loan notes are unsecured, with interest of 7-9% payable after two years. The net proceeds have been applied by the Group within the Tricoya Consortium, enabling Accsys to retain a 74.6% interest in TTL.

€2.0m was drawn down in the period under the Rhodia Acetow loan facility, which was entered into in the previous period. The loan facility is secured upon the Arnhem plant, with interest of 7.5%, expected to be payable after the expected start-up of the third reactor. A further €7.5m of the facility remains available and is expected to be utilised to fund the remaining cost of the third reactor.

Non-controlling interests

Part of the agreements relating to the formation of the Tricoya Consortium on 29 March 2017 included equity investment by the consortium members. During the period a total of €19.1m of equity was issued by TTL and TVUK to BP, Medite, BGF and Volantis. (see CEO's report for further details). This has resulted in an increase in the non-controlling interest of €12.6m as at 31 March 2017 (2016: €0.1m). The difference between the cash received and non-controlling interest recorded arises from the Tricoya Consortium agreements recognising Accsys's contribution of IP and historical development work, with an implied pre-funding valuation of €35m.

Capital structure

Details of the issued share capital, together with the details of the movements in the Company's issued share capital in the year are included in note 24. The Company has one class of ordinary shares which carry no right to fixed income. Each share carries the right to one vote at general meetings of the Company. Details of non-controlling interests associated with TTL and TVUK are summarised above and set out in note 9.

There are no specific restrictions on the size of a holding nor on the transfer of the Company's shares, which are both governed by the general provisions of the Articles of Association and prevailing legislation. The Directors are not aware of any agreements between holders of the Company's shares that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or on voting rights.

Details of employee share schemes are set out in note 15. No person has any special rights of control over the Company's share capital and all issued shares are fully paid.

Going concern

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Group will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, and at least 12 months from the date these financial statements are approved.

As part of the Group's going concern review, the Directors have reviewed the Group's trading forecasts and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future, including taking into account the proceeds from the Firm Placing and Open offer which was successfully completed on 23 April 2017. These forecasts indicate that, in order to continue as a going concern, the Group is dependent on the achievement of certain operating performance measures relating to the production and sales of Accoya wood from the plant in Arnhem and the collection of ongoing working capital items in line with internally agreed budgets.

The Directors have considered the internally agreed budgets and performance measures and believe that appropriate controls and procedures are in place or will be in place to make sure that these are met. The Directors believe, while some uncertainty inherently remains in achieving the budget, in particular in relation to market conditions outside of the Group's control, that there are a sufficient number of alternative actions and measures that can be taken in order to achieve the Group's medium and long term objectives.

Therefore, the Directors believe that the going concern basis is the most appropriate on which to prepare the financial statements.

William Rudge

Finance Director

19 June 2017

Accsys Technologies PLC

Directors Report for the year ended 31 March 2017

The Directors present their report together with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2017.

Results and dividends

The consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year is shows the loss for the year.

The Directors do not recommend the proposal of a final dividend in respect of the current year, consistent with the prior year.

Principal activities and review of the business

The principal activities of the Group are the production and sale of Accoya® solid wood and Tricoya® wood elements, technology and product development as well as the licensing of technology for the production and sale of Accoya® and Tricoya® via the Company's subsidiaries, Titan Wood Limited, Titan Wood B.V., Titan Wood Technology B.V., Titan Wood Inc., Tricoya Technologies Limited and Tricoya Ventures UK Limited (collectively the 'Group'). Manufactured through the Group's proprietary acetylation processes, these products exhibit superior dimensional stability and durability compared with alternative natural, treated and modified woods as well as more resource intensive man-made materials. A review of the business is set out in the Chairman's statement and the Chief Executive's report. Accsys Technologies PLC is incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Business model and Strategy

The Business model and Strategy section sets out the Company's strategy, business model and key performance indicators.

Financial instruments

Details of the use of financial instruments by the Company and its subsidiary undertakings are set out in Note 31 of the financial statements.

On 4 July 2016, a total of 673,355 of €0.05 Ordinary shares were issued to an Employee Benefit Trust ('EBT').

On 15 August 2016, a total of 63,909 of €0.05 Ordinary shares were issued and released to employees together with 63,909 of €0.05 Ordinary shares issued to an employee trust on 14 August 2015.

On 9 February 2017, a total of 16,302 of €0.05 Ordinary shares were issued and released to employees together with 16,302 of €0.05 Ordinary shares issued to an employee trust on 26 January 2016.

A further 20,323,986 €0.05 Ordinary shares were issued after the year end, on 24 April 2017, following the Company successfully completing a Firm Placing and Open Offer, raising €14m (before fees).

Principal risks and uncertainties

The business, financial condition or results of operations of the Group could be adversely affected by any of the risks set out below. The Group's systems of control and protection are designed to help manage and control risks to an appropriate level rather than to eliminate them.

The Directors consider that the principal risks to achieving the Group's objectives are those set out below.

(a) Economic and market conditions

The Group's operations comprise the manufacture of Accoya® wood and Tricoya® wood elements, technology and product development and licensing the technology to manufacture and sell Accoya® and Tricoya® wood elements to third parties. The cost and availability of key inputs affects the profitability of the Group's own manufacturing whilst also impacting the potential profitability of third parties interested in licensing the Group's technology. The price of key inputs and security of supply are managed by the Group, partly through the development of long term contractual supply agreements.

An element of the Group's strategy for growth envisages the Group selling new or existing products and services into other countries or into new markets. However, there can be no assurance that the Group will successfully execute this strategy for growth. The development of a mass market for a new product or process is affected by many factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Group, including the emergence of newer and more competitive products or processes and the future price of raw materials. If a mass market fails to develop or develops more slowly than anticipated, the Group may fail to achieve sustainable profitability.

(b) Regulatory, legislative and reputational risks

The Group's operations are subject to extensive regulatory requirements, particularly in relation to its manufacturing operations and employment policies. Changes in laws and regulations and their enforcement may adversely impact the Group's operations in terms of costs, changes to business practices and restrictions on activities which could damage the Group's reputation and brand.

(c) Employees

The Group's success depends on its ability to continue to attract, motivate and retain highly qualified employees. The highly qualified employees required by the Group in various capacities are sometimes in short supply in the labour market. There are risks associated with operating a chemical plant and accordingly the health and safety of our staff is made a priority. We continuously seek improvements to exceed industry expectations by challenging our methods, improving our reporting and continuing to learn

(d) Intellectual property

The Group's strategy of exploiting its technology via manufacturing, partnerships and licensing depends upon maintaining effective protection of its intellectual properties worldwide. Protection is afforded by a combination of trademarks, patents, confidentiality agreements and the structuring of legal contracts relating to key licensing, engineering and supply arrangements. Unauthorised use of the Group's intellectual property may adversely impact its ability to exploit the technology and lead to additional expenditure to enforce legal rights. The wide geographical spread of our products increases this risk due to the increasingly varied and complex laws and regulations in which we seek to protect the Group's intellectual property.

Further details of how risks and uncertainties relate to our strategy and performance in the year are shown in the Strategic report.

Greenhouse gas ('GHG') emissions

The table below represents all the emission sources required under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Reports) Regulations 2013 for our manufacturing facility in Arnhem, the Netherlands.

Notes:

- We have reported on all the emission sources required under the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors' Reports) Regulations 2013 for our manufacturing facility in Arnhem, the Netherlands.

- Due to unavailability of data, GHG emissions related to our offices and staff travel our not included in the figures above.

- Emissions have been calculated following the GHG Protocol - Corporate Accounting and Reporting (revised edition) using the following databases: IPCC 2006 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, 2007 IPCC Fourth Assessment Report and Eco-Invent v3.3.

- Note that following Environmental Reporting Guidelines of Defra (2013), carbon offsets may be accounted for separately as a "NET" figure, while the original electricity consumption figures should be presented as a "GROSS" figure.

- Following the same (Defra 2013) guidelines, the emissions associated with our supply chain (inputs and outputs) are not included in the figures above, for readers that are interested in the supply chain related figures we refer to our publicly available carbon footprint report: http://www.accoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Verco-Cradle-to-gate-carbon-footprint-update-2012.pdf and Environmental Product Declaration (EN 15804): https://www.accoya.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/NEPD-376-262-EN-Accsys-Technologies-Accoya-Wood.pdf.

- For 2014, following Environmental Reporting Guidelines of Defra (2013), carbon offsets due to e.g. purchase of Renewable Energy Credits may be accounted for separately as a "NET" figure, while the original electricity consumption figures are presented as a "GROSS" figure.

- In the current and prior year, Accsys has offset its CO2 emissions mainly through investing in verified carbon offset projects instead of through Renewable Energy Credits (see external carbon offsets) resulting in an amended presentation as recommended under the Defra guidelines.

Further details concerning the environmental impact of our products as a whole are detailed in the Sustainability Report, including an assessment of the overall life cycle of Accoya.

Directors

The Directors of the Company during the year and up to the date of signing the financial statements were:

Sean Christie

Paul Clegg

Sue Farr

Montague John 'Nick' Meyer

Hans Pauli

William Rudge

Patrick Shanley

Directors' indemnities

The Company maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance which gives appropriate cover for legal action brought against its Directors.

Employment policies

The Group operates an equal opportunities policy from recruitment and selection, through training and development, appraisal and promotion to retirement. It is our policy to promote an environment free from discrimination, harassment and victimisation, where everyone will receive equal treatment regardless of gender, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, marital status or sexual orientation. All decisions relating to employment practises will be objective, free from bias and based solely upon work criteria and individual merit.

17% of employees in the period were female. 10% of the senior management team were female and one of the Board of Directors was female.

Health and safety

Health and safety is the priority at all levels of the Group, in particular taking into account the chemical industry in which Accsys operates. Group companies have a responsibility to ensure that all reasonable precautions are taken to provide and maintain working conditions for employees and visitors alike, which are safe, healthy and in compliance with statutory requirements and appropriate codes of practice.

The avoidance of occupational accidents and illnesses is given a high priority. Detailed policies and procedures are in place to minimise risks and ensure appropriate action is understood in the event of an incident. A dedicated health and safety officer is retained at the Group's manufacturing facilities in Arnhem and Hull.

Significant shareholdings

So far as the Company is aware (further to formal notification), the following shareholders held legal or beneficial interests in ordinary shares of the Company exceeding 3%:

· Todlin N.V. 6.50%

· Henderson Group PLC 5.94%

· Royal Bank of Canada 5.73%

· Majedie UK Equity Fund 5.06%

· Invesco Limited 4.87%

· The London & Amsterdam Trust Company Limited 4.51%

· FIL Limited (formerly known as Fidelity International Limited) 4.26%

· INEOS 4.24%

· Saad Investments Company Limited 3.92%

· Zurab Lysov 3.71%

There are no restrictions in respect of voting rights.

Going concern

The Directors have formed a judgement, at the time of approving the financial statements, including taking into account the proceeds from the Firm Placing and Open offer which was successfully completed on 23 April 2017, that there is a reasonable expectation that the Group has access to adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least the next 12 months. Further details are set out in note 1 to these financial statements.

Corporate Governance

The Company's statement on corporate governance can be found in the corporate governance report of these financial statements. The corporate governance report forms part of this directors' report and is incorporated into it by cross-reference.

Disclosure of information to auditors

Each of the persons who is a Director at the date of the approval of the Annual Report confirms that:

· So far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's Auditors are unaware; and

· The Director has taken all the steps that he ought to have taken as a Director in order to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's Auditors are aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of s418 of the Companies Act 2006.

Independent Auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have expressed their willingness to continue in office as auditors and a resolution to re‑appoint them will be proposed at the annual general meeting.

Directors' responsibilities pursuant to DTR4

The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge:

· The Group financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRSs') as adopted by the European Union and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Group.

· The annual report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the financial position of the Group and the parent Company, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

By order of the Board

Angus Dodwell

Company Secretary

19 June 2017

Accsys Technologies PLC

Corporate Governance

Details of the Company's corporate governance arrangements are set out below. The Board of Directors acknowledges the importance of the Principles set out in The UK Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council. Neither the 2010 or 2012 UK Corporate Governance Code are compulsory for AIM listed or Euronext listed companies. The Board has applied the principles as far as practicable and appropriate for a relatively small public company.

The Board of Directors

During the period the Board comprised a Non-executive Chairman, three Non-executive Directors and three Executive Directors.

The Board meets regularly and is responsible for strategy, performance, approval of major capital projects and the framework of internal controls. To enable the Board to discharge its duties, all Directors receive appropriate and timely information. Briefing papers are distributed to all Directors in advance of Board meetings. All Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary. The appointment and removal of the Company Secretary is a matter for the Board as a whole. In addition, procedures are in place to enable the Directors to obtain independent professional advice in the furtherance of their duties, if necessary, at the Company's expense.

During the year, all serving Directors attended the quarterly Board meetings that were held. In addition to the scheduled meetings there is frequent contact between all the Directors in connection with the Company's business including Audit and Nomination and Remuneration committee meetings which are held as required, but as a minimum twice per annum.

Directors are subject to re-election by the shareholders at Annual General Meetings. The Articles of Association provide that Directors will be subject to re-election at the first opportunity after their appointment and the Board submit to re-election at intervals of three years.

Day to day operating decisions are made by the Senior Management Team of which the Chief Executive Officer, the Executive Director, Corporate Development and Finance Director are members.

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee consisted of Sean Christie (Chairman), Patrick Shanley, Nick Meyer and Sue Farr. The Audit Committee meets at least twice a year and is responsible for monitoring compliance with accounting and legal requirements and for reviewing the annual and interim financial statements prior to their submission for approval by the Board. The Committee also discusses the scope of the audit and its findings and considers the appointment and fees of the external auditors. The Audit Committee continues to believe that it is not currently appropriate for the Company to maintain a dedicated internal audit function due to its size.

The Audit Committee considers the independence and objectivity of the external auditors on an annual basis, with particular regard to non-audit services. The non-audit fees are considered by the Board not to affect the independence or objectivity of the auditors. The Audit Committee monitors such costs in the context of the audit fee for the period, ensuring that the value of non-audit service does not increase to a level where it could affect the auditors' objectivity and independence. The Board also receives an annual confirmation of independence from the auditors.

Nominations & Remuneration Committee

The Nominations and Remuneration Committee consists of Sue Farr (Chairman), Patrick Shanley, Sean Christie and Nick Meyer. The Committee's role is to consider and approve the nomination of Directors and the remuneration and benefits of the Executive Directors, including the award of share options and bonus share awards. In framing the Company's remuneration policy, the Nominations & Remuneration Committee has given full consideration to Section D of The UK Corporate Governance Code.

Internal Financial Control

The Board is responsible for establishing and maintaining the Company's system of internal financial control and places importance on maintaining a strong control environment. The key procedures which the Directors have established with a view to providing effective internal financial control are as follows:

· The Company's organisational structure has clear lines of responsibility;

· The Company prepares a comprehensive annual budget that is approved by the Board. Monthly results are reported against the budget and variances are closely monitored by the Directors; and

· The Board is responsible for identifying the major business risks faced by the Company and for determining the appropriate courses of action to manage those risks.

The Directors recognise, however, that such a system of internal financial control can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.

Relations with shareholders

Communications with shareholders are given high priority.

There is regular dialogue with shareholders including presentations after the Company's preliminary announcement of the year-end results and six monthly results. The Board uses the Annual General Meeting to communicate with investors and welcomes their participation. The Chairman aims to ensure that the Directors are available at Annual General Meetings to answer questions.

Directors' attendance record

The attendance of individual Directors at meetings of the Board and its committees in the year under review was as follows:

Whilst all Directors are not members of the Board Committees they attend by invitation.

Figures in the left hand column denote the number of meetings attended and figures in the right hand column denote the number of meetings held whilst the individual held office.

Notes

1. During the year there were 9 full board meetings and 4 meetings of a committee of the board. Patrick Shanley attended all 9 board meetings and 1 committee meeting. Hans Pauli attended 9 board meetings and one committee meeting. Nick Meyer attended 8 out of 9 board meetings as did Sue Farr. Sean Christie attended 8 out of 9 board meetings and one committee meeting.

2. Messrs Clegg, Pauli and Rudge attended part of an audit committee meeting on 7 June 2016, 16 November 2016 and 8 March 2017.

3. Paul Clegg was in attendance for part of 2 meetings of the Nomination and Remuneration Committee.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 March 2017

The figures for the year ended 31 March 2017 include exceptional costs (see note 5).

The notes on pages 29 to 55 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 March 2017

Registered Company 05534340

The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 19 June 2017, and signed on its behalf by

Paul Clegg

William Rudge Directors

The notes on pages 29 to 55 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 31 March 2017

Share capital is the amount subscribed for shares at nominal value (note 24). 

Share premium account represents the excess of the amount subscribed for share capital over the nominal value of these shares, net of share issue expenses. Share issue expenses comprise the costs in respect of the issue by the Company of new shares.

See note 25 for details concerning Other reserves

Non-controlling interests relates to the investment of various parties into Tricoya Technologies Limited and Tricoya Ventures UK Limited (notes 9 and 25).

Own shares represents a total of 673,355 shares issued to an Employee Benefit Trust ('EBT') at nominal value on 4 July 2016 and 6,080 shares issued to the EBT at nominal value on 6 July 2015. These shares shall vest if the employees, including the Executive Directors, remain in employment with the Company to the vesting date, being 1 July 2017 (subject to certain other provisions including good-leaver, take-over and committee discretion provisions). (note 15).

Foreign currency translation reserve arises on the re-translation of the Group's USA subsidiary's net assets which are denominated in a different functional currency, being US dollars.

Accumulated losses represent the cumulative loss of the Group attributable to the owners of the parent.

The notes on pages 29 to 55 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Consolidated statement of cash flow for the year ended 31 March 2017

*Cash out-flows from operating activities after changes in working capital included €128,000 in respect of exceptional costs (2016: €nil).

The notes on pages 29 to 55 form an integral part of these financial statements.

Accsys Technologies PLC

Notes to the financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2017

1. Accounting Policies

General information

The financial information set out in these preliminary results does not constitute the company's statutory accounts for the periods ended 31 March 2017 or 31 March 2016. Statutory accounts for the period ended 31 March 2016 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies and those for the period ended 31 March 2016 will be delivered to the Registrar in due course; both have been reported on by the auditors. The auditors' report on the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2016 was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis, and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The auditors' report on the Annual Report and Financial Statements for the period ended 31 March 2017 is unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis, and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis of accounting

The Group's financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention (except for certain financial instruments and equity investments which are measured at fair value), in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as endorsed by the European Union, interpretations issued by the IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC) and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies preparing their financial statements under adopted IFRS.

Going Concern

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Group will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, and at least 12 months from the date these financial statements are approved.

As part of the Group's going concern review, the Directors have reviewed the Group's trading forecasts and working capital requirements for the foreseeable future, including taking into account the proceeds from the Firm Placing and Open offer which was successfully completed on 23 April 2017. These forecasts indicate that, in order to continue as a going concern, the Group is dependent on the achievement of certain operating performance measures relating to the production and sales of Accoya® wood from the plant in Arnhem and the collection of on-going working capital items in line with internally agreed budgets.

The Directors have considered the internally agreed budgets and performance measures and believe that appropriate controls and procedures are in place or will be in place to make sure that these are met. The Directors believe that while some uncertainty inherently remains in achieving the budget, in particular in relation to market conditions outside of the Group's control, that there are a sufficient number of alternative actions and measures that can be taken in order to achieve the Group's medium and long term objectives.

Therefore the Directors believe that the going concern basis is the most appropriate on which to prepare the financial statements.

Changes in accounting policies

No new accounting standards, amendments or interpretations have been adopted in the period which have any impact on these financial statements.

Exceptional Items

Exceptional items are events or transactions that fall outside the ordinary activities of the Group and which by virtue of their size or incidence, have been separately disclosed in order to improve a reader's understanding of the financial statements. These include items relating to the restructuring of a significant part of the Group, impairment losses (or the reversal of previously recorded exceptional impairments), expenditure relating to the integration and implementation of significant acquisitions and other one-off events or transactions. See note 5 for details of exceptional items.

Business combinations

Where the Company has the power, either directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of another entity or business so as to obtain benefits from its activities, it is classified as a subsidiary. The consolidated financial statements present the results of the Group as if they formed a single entity. Inter-company transactions and balances between Group companies are therefore eliminated in full.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the results of business combinations using the purchase method. In the consolidated statement of financial position, the acquirer's identifiable assets, liabilities, and contingent liabilities are initially recognised at their fair values at the acquisition date. The results of acquired operations are included in the consolidated income statement from the date on which control is obtained.

As allowed under IFRS 1, some business combinations effected prior to transition to IFRS, were accounted for using the merger method of accounting. Under this method, assets and liabilities are included in the consolidation at their book values, not fair values, and any differences between the cost of investment and net assets acquired were taken to the merger reserve. The majority of the merger reserve arose from a corporate restructuring in the year ended 31 March 2006 which introduced Accsys Technologies PLC as the new holding company.

Further details concerning the Tricoya Consortium are included in note 9.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration receivable. Revenue is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefit will flow to the Group and that the revenue can be reliably measured. The following specific recognition criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised.

Manufacturing revenue

Revenue is recognised in respect of the sale of goods when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have been passed to the buyer, the timing of which is dependent on the particular shipment terms. When a customer provides untreated wood to be processed by the Group in order to produce Accoya®, revenue is recognised when the Group's obligations under the relevant customer contract have been substantially completed, which is before the finished Accoya® has been collected by the customer. Manufacturing revenue includes the sale of Accoya® wood and other revenue, principally relating to the sale of acetic acid.

Licensing fees and Marketing income

Licence fee and marketing income is recognised over the period of the relevant agreements according to the specific terms of each agreement or the quantities and/or values of the licensed product sold. The accounting policy for the recognition of licence fees is based upon an assessment of the work required before the licence is signed and subsequently during the design, construction and commissioning of the licensees' plant, with an appropriate proportion of the fee recognised upon signing and the balance recognised as the project progresses to completion. Marketing revenue when the company acts as principal is recognised based on the actual work completed in the period. The amount of any cash or billings received but not recognised as income is included in the financial statements as deferred income and shown as a liability.

Finance income

Interest accrues using the effective interest method, i.e. the rate that discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial instrument to the net carrying amount of the financial asset.

Finance expense

Finance expenses include the fees, interest and other finance charges associated with the Group's loan notes and credit facilities, which are expensed over the period that the Group has access to the loans and facilities.

Foreign exchange gains or losses on the loan notes are included within finance expenses.

Interest on the £16.25 million unsecured fixed rate loan notes issued to Business Growth Fund ('BGF') and Volantis on 29 March 2017 has been expensed. Interest on the €2 million term loan drawn down from Solvay Acetow GmBH (now known as Rhodia Acetow GmBH) on 29 December 2016, to part-finance capital expenditure at the Arnhem plant, has been capitalised as it is directly attributable to the expansion.

Finance expenses also include an allocation of finance charges in respect of the sale and leaseback of the Arnhem land and buildings, and the lease of London Office fit out and furniture, accounted for as a finance lease. The total finance charge (calculated as the difference between the total minimum lease payments and the liability at the inception of the lease) is allocated over the life of the lease using the sum-of-digits method.

Share based payments

The Company awards nil cost options to acquire shares of the Company to certain Directors and employees. The Company also awards bonuses to certain Directors and employees in the form of the award of deferred shares of the Company.

The fair value of options, deferred shares and matching shares granted are recognised as an employee expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and is charged to the statement of comprehensive income over the vesting period during which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the options or shares.

The fair value of share options granted is measured using a modified Black Scholes model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of share options that vest only where vesting is dependent upon the satisfaction of service and non-market vesting conditions.

Non-market vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to vest at each balance sheet date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options which 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.

Dividends

Equity dividends are recognised when they become legally payable. Interim equity dividends are recognised when paid. Final equity dividends are recognised when approved by the shareholders at an annual general meeting.

Pensions

The Group contributes to certain defined contribution pension and employee benefit schemes on behalf of its employees. These costs are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on an accruals basis.

Taxation

Tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date together with any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years. Current tax includes the expected impact of claims submitted by the Group to tax authorities in respect of enhanced tax relief for expenditure on research and development.

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not provided for:

· the initial recognition of goodwill,

· the initial recognition of assets or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination, and

· differences relating to investments in subsidiaries to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Recognition of deferred tax assets is restricted to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Foreign currencies

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

In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity's functional currencies are recognised 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 at that date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Exchange differences are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

For the purposes 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 monthly exchange rates prevailing in the month in which the transaction took place. Exchange differences arising, if any, are recognised in other comprehensive income, finance expense and the foreign currency translation reserve.

Government grants

Government grants are recognised at their fair value where there is reasonable assurance that the grant will be received and the Group will comply with the attached conditions. When the grant relates to an expense item, it is recognised as income over the period necessary to match the grant on a systematic basis to the costs that it is intended to compensate. Where the grant relates to an asset they are credited to a deferred income account and released to the statement of comprehensive income over the expected useful life of the relevant asset on a straight line basis.

Goodwill

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of a subsidiary undertaking is the difference between the fair value of the consideration paid and the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired. It is capitalised, and is subject to annual impairment reviews by the Directors. Any impairment arising is charged to the statement of comprehensive income. Where the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired is greater than the fair value of consideration paid, the resulting amount is treated as a gain on a bargain purchase and has been recognised in the income statement.

Other intangible assets

Intellectual property rights, including patents, which cover a portfolio of novel processes and products, are shown in the financial statements at cost less accumulated amortisation and any amounts by which the carrying value is assessed during an annual review to have been impaired. At present, the useful economic life of the intellectual property is considered to be 20 years.

Internal development costs are incurred as part of the Group's activities including new processes, process improvements, identifying new species and improving the Group's existing products. Research costs are expensed as incurred. Development costs are capitalised when all of the criteria set out in IAS 38 'Intangible Assets' (including criteria concerning technical feasibility, ability and intention to use or sell, ability to generate future economic benefits, ability to complete the development and ability to reliably measure the expenditure) have been met. These internal development costs are amortised on a straight line basis over their useful economic life, between 10 and 20 years.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment charged. Cost includes the original purchase price of the asset as well as costs of bringing the asset to the working condition and location of its intended use. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset, except freehold land, over its expected useful life on a straight line basis, as follows:

Plant and machinery These assets comprise pilot plants and production facilities. These facilities are depreciated from the date they become available for use at rates applicable to the asset lives expected for each class of asset, with rates between 5% and 20%.

Office equipment Between 20% and 50%.

Leased land and buildings Land held under a finance lease is depreciated over the life of the lease.

Freehold land Freehold land is not depreciated.

Impairment of non-financial assets

The carrying amount of the non-current non-financial assets of the Group is compared to the recoverable amount of the assets whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net book value may not be recoverable, or in the case of goodwill, annually. The recoverable amount is the higher of value in use and the fair value less cost to sell. In assessing the value in use, the expected future cash flows from the assets are determined by applying a discount rate to the anticipated pre-tax future cash flows. An impairment charge is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the assets' recoverable amount. The revised carrying amounts are amortised or depreciated in line with Group accounting policies. A previously recognised impairment loss, other than on goodwill, is reversed if the recoverable amount increases as a result of a reversal of the conditions that originally resulted in the impairment. This reversal is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income and is limited to the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised in prior years. Assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash generating units) for purposes of assessing impairment.

Leases

Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets of the Group at their fair value or, if lower, at the present value of the minimum lease payments, each determined at the inception of the lease. The corresponding liability to the lessor is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are apportioned between finance expenses and reduction of lease obligation so as to achieve a constant rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Inventories

Raw materials, which consist of unprocessed timber and chemicals used in manufacturing operations are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The basis on which cost is derived is a first-in, first-out basis.

Finished goods, comprising processed timber, are stated at the lower of weighted average cost of production or net realisable value. Costs include direct materials, direct labour costs and production overheads (excluding the depreciation/depletion of relevant property and plant and equipment) absorbed at an appropriate level of capacity utilisation. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all expected costs to completion and costs to be incurred in selling and distribution.

Financial assets

Financial assets are classified as cash and cash equivalents, available for sale investments and loans and receivables, depending on the purpose for which the asset was acquired. When financial assets are recognised initially, they are measured at fair value plus, in the case of investments not at fair value, through profit or loss directly attributable transaction costs.

Except where a reliable fair value cannot be obtained, unlisted shares held by the Group are classified as available for sale investments and are stated at fair value. Gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are recognised directly in equity, with the exception of impairment losses which are recognised directly in profit or loss. Where an investment is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, the cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in the profit or loss in the year. Where it is not possible to obtain a reliable fair value, these investments are held at cost less provision for impairment.

Loans and receivables, which comprise non-derivative financial assets with fixed and determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition or issue, and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment.

Trade and other receivables

These assets are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market. They arise principally from the provision of goods and services to customers. Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value less an allowance for any uncollectible amounts. A provision for impairment is made when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect debts. Bad debts are written off when identified.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of financial position comprise cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposits, including liquidity funds, with an original maturity of three months or less. For the purpose of the statement of consolidated cash flow, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and cash equivalents as defined above, net of outstanding bank overdrafts.

Financial liabilities

Other financial liabilities

Trade payables and other financial liabilities are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Loans and other borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value of amounts received net of transaction costs and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Share capital

Financial instruments issued by the Group are treated as equity only to the extent that they do not meet the definition of a financial liability. The Group's shares are classified as equity instruments.

Segmental Reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief executive. The chief executive is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as steering the committee that makes strategic decisions.

2. Accounting estimates and judgements

In preparing the Consolidated Financial Statements, management has to make judgments on how to apply the Group's accounting policies and make estimates about the future. The critical judgments that have been made in arriving at the amounts recognised in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the key sources of estimation and uncertainty that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying value of assets and liabilities in the next financial year are discussed below:

Revenue recognition

The Group has considered the criteria for the recognition of fee income from licensees over the period of the agreement and is satisfied that the recognition of such revenue is appropriate. The recognition of fees is based upon an assessment of the work required before the licence is signed and subsequently during the construction and commissioning of the licensees' plant, with an appropriate proportion of the fee recognised upon signing and the balance recognised as the project progresses to completion. The Group also considers the recoverability of amounts before recognising them as income.

Goodwill

The Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered any impairment in accordance with the accounting policy stated above. The recoverable amounts of cash-generating units have been determined based on value in use calculations. These calculations require the use of judgements in relation to discount rates and future forecasts (See note 16). The recoverability of these balances is dependent upon the level of future licence fees and manufacturing revenues. While the scope and timing of the production facilities to be built under the Group's existing and future agreements remains uncertain, the Directors remain confident that revenue from own manufacturing, existing licensees, new licence or consortium agreements will be generated, demonstrating the recoverability of these balances.

Intellectual property rights and property, plant and equipment

The Group tests the carrying amount of the intellectual property rights and property, plant and equipment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net book value may not be recoverable. These calculations require the use of estimates in respect of future cash-flows from the assets by applying a discount rate to the anticipated pre-tax future cash-flows. The Group also reviews the estimated useful lives at the end of each annual reporting period (See note 16 & 17). The price of the Accoya wood and the raw materials and other inputs vary according to market conditions outside of the Group's control. Should the price of the raw materials increase greater than the sales price or in a way which no longer makes Accoya competitive, then the carrying value of the property, plant and equipment or IPR may be in doubt and become impaired. The Directors consider that the current market and best estimates of future prices mean that this risk is limited.

Inventories

The Group reviews the net realisable value of, and demand for, its inventory on a monthly basis to provide assurance that recorded inventory is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value after taking into account the age and condition of inventory.

Available for sale investments

The Group has an investment in unlisted equity shares carried at nil value. The investment is valued at cost less any impairment as a reliable fair value cannot be obtained since there is no active market for the shares and there is currently uncertainty around the future funding of the business. The Group makes appropriate enquiries and considers all of the information available to it in order to assess whether any impairment has occurred (See note 18).

New standards and interpretations in issue but not yet effective at the date of authorisation of these financial statements: 

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following Standards and Interpretations which have not been applied in these financial statements were in issue but not yet effective (and in some cases had not yet been adopted by the EU).

• IFRS 9 'Financial Instruments'

• IFRS 11 (amendments) 'Joint arrangements'

• IFRS 14 'Regulatory deferral accounts'

• IFRS 15 'Revenue from contracts with customers'

• IFRS 16 'Leases'

• IAS 1 (amendments) 'presentation of financial statements'

• IAS 7 (amendments) 'Cash flow statements'

• IAS 12 (amendments) 'Income taxes'

• IAS 19 (amendments) 'Employee contributions'

• IAS 16 (amendments) 'property plant and equipment'

• IAS 38 (amendments) 'Intangible assets'

• IAS 27 (amendments) 'Separate financial statements'

• IAS 28 (amendments) 'Associates and joint ventures'

The Directors do not expect that the adoption of the Standards and Interpretations listed above will have a material impact on the financial statements of the Group in future periods.

3. Segmental reporting

The Group's business is the manufacturing of and development, commercialisation and licensing of the associated proprietary technology for the manufacture of Accoya wood, Tricoya wood elements and related acetylation technologies. Segmental reporting is divided between corporate activities, activities directly attributable to Accoya, to Tricoya or research and development activities. This note has been represented and restated following the formation of the Tricoya Consortium to more appropriately reflect costs associated with Accoya and Tricoya.

Note in respect of restatement of segmental reporting note: In the previous year the results had been allocated between Manufacturing, R&D and Administation/Business Development segments. Following the formation of the Tricoya Consortium, results have been allocated to reflect the business more appropriately. As a result €1.9m of Accoya related licence and other revenue previously included in the Licensing, Management and Business Development segment has been included the Accoya segment (2016: €4.3m). In addition all Accoya specific costs previously included in the Licensing, Management and Business Development segment including €3.5m of Sales & Marketing, Information Technology and Intellectual Property costs have been allocated to the Accoya segment (2016: €3.4m). 

Corporate

Corporate costs are those costs not directly attributable to Accoya, Tricoya or Research and Development activities. This includes management and the Group's corporate and general administration costs including the head office in London. Headcount = 15 (2016: 14)

Accoya

Revenue includes the sale of Accoya®, licence income and other revenue, principally relating to the sale of acetic acid and other licensing related income.

All costs of sales are allocated against manufacturing activities in Arnhem unless they can be directly attributable to a licensee. Other operating costs include depreciation of the Arnhem property, plant and equipment together with all other costs associated with the operation of the Arnhem manufacturing site, including directly attributable administration, sales and marketing costs. Headcount = 96 (2016: 92)

The below table shows details of reconciling items to show both Accoya EBITDA and Accoya Manufacturing gross profit, both including and excluding licence and licensing related income, which has been presented given the inclusion of items which can be more variable or one-off.

Tricoya

Revenue and costs are those attributable to the business development of the Tricoya® process and establishment of Tricoya Hull Plant. Headcount = 4 (2016: 3), noting a substantial proportion of the costs to date have been incurred via recharges from other parts of the Group or have resulted from contractors.

Research and Development

Research and Development costs are those associated with the Accoya® and Tricoya® processes. Costs exclude those which have been capitalised in accordance with IFRS. (see note 16). Headcount = 9 (2016: 12)

Assets and liabilities cannot be readily allocated to the three segments and therefore no additional segmental information has been disclosed.

Revenue generated from three customers exceeded 10% of Group revenue of 2017. This included 93% of the revenue from the rest of Europe and relates to a mixture of Accoya and licensing revenue. In addition two other customers represented 33% and 31% respectively, of the revenue from the United Kingdom and Ireland and relates to Accoya revenue. Revenue generated from three customers exceeded 10% of Group revenue in 2016. (47% of the revenue from the rest of Europe, and 38% and 32% respectively, of the revenue from the United Kingdom and Ireland). 

The segmental assets in the current year and the previous year were predominantly held in Europe. Additions to property, plant, equipment and intangible assets in the current year and the previous year were predominantly incurred in Europe. There are no significant intersegment revenues.

4. Other operating costs

Other operating costs consist of the operating costs, other than the cost of sales, associated with the operation of the plant in Arnhem and the offices in Dallas and London (pre December 2015 Windsor):

Note: allocation of operating costs includes representing of 2016 numbers in line with the updated segmental analysis as per note 3.

During the period, €525,000 (2016: €420,000) of development costs were capitalised and included in intangible fixed assets, including €462,000 (2016: €282,000) which were capitalised within Tricoya Technologies Limited ('TTL'). In addition €637,000 of internal costs have been capitalised and are included within tangible fixed assets in relation to the expansion of our plant in Arnhem, Netherlands (2016: €367,000).

Other operating costs largely relate to costs associated with the Group's manufacturing office in the Netherlands, excluding research & development costs.

Administration costs also include the costs associated with the Group's head office in London, the US office in Dallas together with business development and management costs. Exceptional costs in the current year are set out in note 5.

5. Exceptional items

Agreements were reached in August 2016 for the sale and leaseback for the land in Arnhem, resulting in proceeds of €4.2m received in the period and a gain of €0.6m as a result of the book value of the land being lower. Under the arrangements, the landlord has agreed to construct a new warehouse and office building which will be connected to the Group's existing manufacturing site. This building will be built by the landlord and leased to the Group over a 20 year period with further option to renew. The landlord is the same landlord that the Group sold land and buildings to in 2011 and 2012 associated with the existing manufacturing plant.

The above exceptional gain was partly offset by €0.5m of costs incurred in the period in relation to advisory fees for business development activities as the Group pursued a one-off long-term opportunity.

6. Employees

7. Directors' remuneration

Compensation of key management personnel included the following amounts: