Notes to, and forming part of, the financial statements

for the year ended 30 June 2005

1) Operating revenue CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Operating revenue comprises          
FRST revenue 27,337 25,616   27,337 25,616
Commercial revenue: New Zealand 17,171 15,996   16,746 15,563
Commercial revenue: International 3,422 3,554   1,398 1,611
  47,930 45,166   45,481 42,790
     
2) Operating expenses CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Operating expenses include:          
Depreciation of property, plant & equipment:          
- Buildings 328 332   328 329
- Other 3,039 2,631   3,034 2,610
Bad debts written off 4 7   4 1
Donations 1 3   1 3
Directors’ fees 163 161   157 147
Auditors’ remuneration:          
- Audit New Zealand—audit services 68 59   58 48
- Audit New Zealand—other services 33 -   33 -
Rentals & operating lease costs 665 833   656 827
Employee remuneration 24,748 23,896   24,296 23,569
           
3) Other income and expenses CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Interest and other income include:          
Dividend revenue—related parties - -   90 535
Interest income 19 76   8 56
Gain on disposal of property, plant & equipment 33 33   33 33
Impairment of shares in subsidiary - -   (100) -
Loan to subsidiary written down - -   (289) -
 
Investment project expenditures include:          
Depreciation - 17   - 17
Intra-company overhead recoveries 17 58   17 58
Rentals and lease costs - 3   - 3
Staff costs 192 813   192 813
Revenue (credit) (4) (4)   (4) (4)
 

Shareholding Ministers agreed in 1999 that Landcare Research New Zealand Limited could spend up to $11.8 million in approved investment research projects. As at 30 June 2005, Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has spent a cumulative total of $10.359 million, and will spend a further $250,000 in 2005/06. Investment project expenditures reported in 2003/4 included Commercialisation Project Expenditures totalling $296,000, which are presented within total operating expenses in these financial statements; comparative figures have been restated accordingly.

 
4) Taxation CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Reported net surplus/(deficit) before taxation 115 39   (228) 426
Prima facie taxation @ 33% 38 13   (75) 141
Plus/(less) tax effect of:          
Permanent differences 102 53   106 (174)
Prior year adjustment (6) 6   5 (1)
Group loss offset - -   87 234
Total income tax expense 134 72   123 200
is represented by:          
Current taxation 109 -   - (1)
Deferred taxation 25 72   123 201
  134 72   123 200
Deferred taxation benefit          
Balance at beginning of year 935 1,007   1,033 1,234
Recognised in Statement of Financial Performance (25) (72)   (123) (201)
Balance at end of year 910 935   910 1,033
Tax losses of $279,000 (2004 – $101,000)with a tax effect of $92,000 (2004 – $33,000) have been recognised prior to realisation; subsequent realisation is subject to the requirements of income tax legislation being met.
 
5) Net cash flow from/(used In) operating activities CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Surplus/(deficit) after income tax (19) (33)   (351) 226
Items classified as investing/financing activities          
Gain on sale of non-current assets (33) (33)   (33) (33)
  (33) (33)   (33) (33)
Non-cash items          
Depreciation 3,367 2,980   3,362 2,956
Amortisation of non-current assets 105 15   - -
Impairment of non-current assets - -   100 -
Decrease in deferred taxation 25 72   123 201
  3,497 3,067   3,585 3,157
Movement in working capital          
(Increase)/decrease in inventories (297) 112   2 3
(Increase)/decrease in receivables & prepayments (945) (205)   (730) (565)
(Increase)/decrease in intragroup loans - -   287 -
Increase/(decrease) in creditors, provisions & accruals 146 276   206 436
Increase/(decrease) in revenue in advance 1,075 123   1,139 23
  (21) 306   904 (103)
Net cash from/(used in) operating activities 3,424 3,307   4,105 3,247
           
6) Receivables CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Trade debtors 5,247 4,294   4,626 4,019
Accrued income & sundry debtors 758 928   739 664
Owing by subsidiaries - -   23 57
Prepayments 586 536   563 533
Income tax paid in advance 112 -   50 -
  6,703 5,758   6,001 5,273
           
7) Property, plant and equipment CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Land
At cost 704 695   514 530
Buildings          
At cost (reapportioned) 20,229 19,619   19,974 19,448
Accumulated depreciation (5,243) (4,337)   (5,197) (4,306)
  14,986 15,282   14,777 15,142
Other          
At cost (reapportioned) 26,088 27,949   25,810 27,779
Accumulated depreciation (12,028) (13,399)   (11,862) (13,256)
  14,060 14,550   13,948 14,523
Total net carrying amount 29,750 30,527   29,239 30,195

Comparative values for 2004 have been restated to reflect the results of an exercise to reapportion the cost of buildings plant and fit-out.

The Directors are of the opinion that Net Book Value of Land and Buildings represents the fair value of those assets. Land and Buildings may not be sold without receiving permission from the Crown.

 
8) Library assets, national databases and reference collections

The Crown, when establishing Crown Research Institutes in 1992, transferred various national databases and reference collections to individual Institutes at nil value. Many of these databases and collections were specifically identified by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology as being of significant national importance, and they have covenants attaching to them restricting an Institute’s ability to deal with them.

The National Databases and Reference Collections, which transferred to Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, are listed in Appendix II to the company’s Statement of Corporate Intent.

For the purposes of these financial statements the assets are recorded at their nil transfer value, as Wareham Cameron + Co (professional valuers), have confirmed that they consider there is currently no reliable basis for a valuation to be undertaken of these assets.

A Rare Books Collection, previously considered to be part of the Reference Collections, was introduced in 2002/03 on a market value basis, under the transitional provisions for FRS-3.

9) Intangible assets CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Goodwill          
At cost - 120   - -
Accumulated amortisation - (15)   - -
  - 105   - -
Goodwill on Consolidation arose on the purchase of shares in Fertility Control Pty Ltd. That subsidiary has now been liquidated, and the goodwill has been written off.
 
10) Creditors and borrowings CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Trade creditors 3,033 3,104   2,789 3,047
Owing to subsidiaries - -   181 52
GST and PAYE 860 999   898 969
Sundry creditors & accruals 1,019 1,124   991 1,089
  4,912 5,227   4,859 5,157
           
11) Bank loans CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Current 5,499 3,062   5,499 3,062
Non-current - 4,000   - 4000
  5,499 7,062   5,499 7,062
Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has entered into a credit facility for a total of $8 million. $4 million is fixed at 6.83% for two years until 30 January 2006. The balance is charged interest at a variable rate—7.60% at balance date.
 
12) Revenue in advance CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
FRST Public Good Science Funding 1,548 541   1,547 541
FRST Non-Specific Output Funding 298 175   298 175
Commercial contracts 1,051 1,106   895 885
  2,897 1,822   2,740 1,601
           
13) Equity CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Equity comprises:        
Paid in share capital 8,015 8,015   8,015 8,015
Retained earnings & reserves 14,348 14,341   13,297 13,648
  22,363 22,356   21,312 21,663
Minority interest - 59   - -
Total equity 22,363 22,415   21,312 21,663
The issued capital of the company is 8,015,000 shares, fully paid up, and ranking equally.
 
14) Financial instruments

Credit risk

Financial instruments which potentially subject Landcare Research New Zealand Limited to credit risk principally consist of bank balances, short term deposits, and accounts receivable. The maximum exposure to credit risk at balance date is the fair value of the financial instrument as stated in the Statement of Financial Position.

Significant concentrations of credit risk apply principally in respect of cash. Landcare Research New Zealand Limited reduces this risk by investing with high credit rating institutions.

Fair values

The fair value of financial instruments is equivalent to the carrying amount as stated in the Statement of Financial Position.

Currency risk

Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has minimal currency risk given that financial instruments are transacted principally in New Zealand dollars.

 
15) Commitments CONSOLIDATED   PARENT
2005 2004   2005 2004
$000s $000s   $000s $000s
Capital commitments          
Estimated capital expenditure contracted for at balance date but not paid or provided for 802 269   799 164
Operating lease commitments          
Lease commitments under non-cancellable operating leases:          
within 1 year 418 509   410 503
later than 1 year and not later than 2 years 241 193   241 191
later than 2 years and not later than 5 years 298 270   298 270
later than 5 years 1,554 1,599   1,554 1,599

Other commitments

There were no open foreign exchange contracts as at 30 June 2005 (2004: $114,187).

Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has a commitment at balance date to capitalise Fertility Control Limited, a subsidiary, to the value of $125,500.

 
16. Contingent assets and liabilities
The company is not aware of any significant contingent assets or liabilities as at balance date (2004: nil).
 
17. Related party

The ultimate shareholder of the company is the Crown. The company undertakes many transactions with other CRIs, Government Departments and Crown Agencies. These transactions are carried out on a commercial and arm’s length basis.

Inter-company transactions between Landcare Research New Zealand Limited and its subsidiaries are transacted on a commercial and arm’s length basis.

Landcare Research New Zealand Limited provides management and administration support to Sirtrack Limited, the value of which amounted to $50,600 during the current financial year ($28,000 in 2003/04) and purchased Sirtrack products to the value of $97,000 during the year ($15,000 in 2003/04). Landcare Research New Zealand Limited received dividends totaling $90,000 from Sirtrack Limited during the year ($535,000 in 2003/04).

Landcare Research New Zealand Limited revenue includes $113,000 ($98,000 in 2003/04) billed to Fertility Control Pty Limited, and $19,000 billed to Fertility Control Limited. Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has given Landcare Research International Limited a loan of $412,000 to fund its investment in Fertility Control Pty Ltd. $125,500 was repaid when Fertility Control Pty Limited was liquidated and the balance has been written down.

Shares held by Landcare Research New Zealand Limited in Landcare Research International Limited of $100,000 have also been considered as impaired and written down.

Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has capitalised Landcare Research USA Ltd during the year for a sum of USD 50,000 but the amount has been returned to the parent company pending requirement, and will be paid on request.

No transaction between companies within the Landcare Research group took place at nil or nominal value during the year.

Material transactions between Landcare Research New Zealand Limited and entities in which directors have declared an interest are transacted and carried out on a commercial and arm’s length basis, and are summarised below, for the year ended 30 June 2005:

  Expenditure Income      
NZ Business Council for Sustainable Development $12,000 $17,000      
Haines NZ Ltd $52,000 -      
Landcare Research New Zealand Limited revenue includes $24.553 million received from FRST (Foundation for Research, Science and Technology). Dr A.J. Pearce, Chief Executive of Landcare Research New Zealand Limited during the year is a Board Member of FRST. Transactions between Landcare Research New Zealand Limited and FRST are carried out on a commercial and arm’s length basis.
 
18. Segment information
Landcare Research New Zealand Limited operates predominately in one industry sector—the provision of scientific services focusing on the sustainable management of land-based natural resources and biodiversity protection. Its business is conducted predominantly in New Zealand and is therefore in one geographical area for reporting purposes.
19. International Financial Reporting Standards

Landcare Research New Zealand Limited and subsidiary companies will adopt NZ IFRS with effect from 1 July 2007; the first audited NZ IFRS financial statements will cover the period to 30 June 2008, with comparative information for the period commencing 1 July 2006.

Landcare Research New Zealand Limited, together with other CRIs, have engaged PricewaterhouseCoopers to provide advice for our IFRS implementation project. They are helping to identify the key accounting and business impacts of adopting NZ IFRS, and prioritise first time adoption options and issues for the necessary action to be taken before 1 July 2006. One potential issue identified to date relates to the valuation of employees’ sick leave benefits. Landcare Research New Zealand Limited has made a submission to ICANZ in respect of ED101. That document proposes that Crown Research Institutes be considered as Public Benefit Entities for IFRS purposes, and the submission justifies that Landcare Research should be considered as a profit-oriented entity.

Statement of responsibility

In terms of Section 42 of the Public Finance Act 1989, we hereby certify that:

  1. We have been responsible for the preparation of these financial statements and the judgements used therein.

  2. We have been responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of internal control designed to provide reasonable assurance as to the integrity and reliability of financial reporting.

  3. We are of the opinion that the financial statements of Landcare Research New Zealand Limited fairly reflect the financial position and operations for the year ended 30 June 2005.

Signed - Rob Fenwick  Signed - Warren Parker 
RGM Fenwick
Chairman of Directors
Warren Parker
Chief Executive

Annual Report 2004/05