THE_MAILING_ROOM_HOLDINGS - Accounts

The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 July 2021.

The principal activities of the group comprise of the supply and servicing of mailing equipment solutions, other office systems and consumable goods, with a division that provides financing and product replacement cover for the mailing solutions.

The Group successfully integrated the acquisitions made in the previous financial year resulting in substantial increases in sales of the major products and services. Despite the ongoing effects of the COVID pandemic both sales and profit were at record levels.

The business was streamlined during the year with all trading going through The Mailing Room Limited, TMR Executive Agency Limited and The Mailing Room Finance Limited.

Overall external sales increased by 41% in the year to £14,001,264 (2020: £9,915,248), with an operating profit of £3,021,576 (2020: £1,056,576).

The Company made charitable donations of £64,000 during the year.

The principal risks and uncertainties of the business relate to the general economic environment in the United Kingdom created by the COVID pandemic. The Company continues to take substantial actions to mitigate these risks by taking tight control of cash flow and expenditure and ensuring that employees have a safe working environment. All employees are actively encouraged to take up the vaccine when offered and take regular lateral flow tests,

Declining postal volumes could have an adverse effect on business profits, however the rate of decline remains much slower than forecasted and new product opportunities continue to be developed.

The group continues to manage and mitigate this risk by offering our customers, superior customer experience and support from within the UK along with competitive pricing.

The financial position of the group is set out in the balance sheet on page 10. Net assets at 31 July 2021 were £1,826,766 (2020: Net assets of £828,232), an increase of 121% on the previous year.

A dividend of £1,000,000 was paid during the year (2020: £1,000,000).

The strategy of growth through both organic and acquisitions allied with the review and refinement of our systems continues to be reflected in current performance. Trading to date is above our budget expectations.

On behalf of the board

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2021.

The principal activity of the company and group continued to be that of the rental of postal franking machines and sale of associated equipment

The results for the year are set out on page 8.

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £1,000,000. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.

The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

Lopian Gross Barnett & Co were appointed as auditor to the group and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditor of the company is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor of the company is aware of that information.

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and company, and of the profit or loss of the group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

•     select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•     make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

•     state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the ;

•     prepare the on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the group and company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s and company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the group and company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

We have audited the financial statements of The Mailing Room Holdings Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 July 2021 which comprise the group profit and loss account, the group statement of comprehensive income, the group balance sheet, the company balance sheet, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity, the group statement of cash flows, the company statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

•     give a true and fair view of the state of the group's and the parent company's affairs as at 31 July 2021 and of the group's profit for the year then ended;

•     have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

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

Basis for opinion

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

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

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

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

• the information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors' report.

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

• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the parent company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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

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

• We obtained an understanding of laws and regulations that affect the entity, focusing on those that had a direct effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on its operations.

• Where considered necessary we enquired of those charged with governance, reviewed correspondence and reviewed meeting minutes for evidence of non-compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

• We gained an understanding of the controls environment which includes the controls in place to prevent and detect fraud. We enquired of those charged with governance about any incidences of fraud that had taken place during the accounting period.

• The risk of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations was discussed within the audit team and tests were planned and performed to address these risks.

• We reviewed financial statements disclosures to assess compliance with relevant laws and regulations.

• We enquired of those charged with governance about actual and potential litigation and claims.

• We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that might indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.

• In addressing the risk of fraud due to management override of internal controls we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates were indicative of a potential bias.

Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations and cannot be expected to detect all fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

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

As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s profit for the year was £1,448,224 (2020 - £1,018,498 profit).

The Mailing Room Holdings Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Bevan Kidwell LLP, 113-117 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3BX.

The group consists of The Mailing Room Holdings Limited and all of its subsidiaries.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

In the parent company financial statements, the cost of a business combination is the fair value at the acquisition date of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed, plus costs directly attributable to the business combination. The excess of the cost of a business combination over the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired is recognised as goodwill.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of The Mailing Room Holdings Limited and all of its subsidiaries (ie entities that the group controls through its power to govern the financial and operating policies so as to obtain economic benefits). Subsidiaries acquired during the year are consolidated using the purchase method. Their results are incorporated from the date that control passes.

All financial statements are made up to 31 July 2021.

All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Revenue represents the amounts received or receivable for the rental of postal franking machines and the sale of associated equipment and is recognised net of VAT.

Intangible assets acquired on business combinations are recognised separately from goodwill at the acquisition date where it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity and the cost or value of the asset can be measured reliably; the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights; and the intangible asset is separable from the entity.

Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.

In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at fair value. Any fair value gains or losses are recognised in the profit or loss.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition.

At each reporting date, an assessment is made for impairment. Any excess of the carrying amount of stocks over its estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell is recognised as an impairment loss in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses are also recognised in profit or loss.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the group's balance sheet when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amounts presented in the financial statements when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.

Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the group after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the group.

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

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

Government grants relate to furlough income under Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Cash payments were made to compensate for part of the wages, associated national insurance and employer contributions of employees who have been placed on furlough.

This grant income has been recognised on a straight line basis over the furlough period for each relevant employee under the performance model as per Section 24 Government Grants of FRS 102.

Grants received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability. There were no grants received before recognition criteria's were satisfied.

Covid-19

The Directors have closely monitored the Government guidance in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic and have implemented measures in line with Governmental guidelines.

The Directors have assessed the impact of Covid-19 on the Company and as a result of the Covid-19 Pandemic, furlough income was received under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Other than this factor there were no other matters which require disclosure at the balance sheet date.

Brexit

The directors have considered the impact of Brexit on the company and have concluded that there are no impacts as a result of Brexit which require disclosure at the balance sheet date.

There was a change in accounting policy whereby fixed asset investments in the Company, which were previously held at cost less impairment, are now held at fair value with any fair value gains or losses being recognised in the profit or loss. There were no fair value gains or losses during the year and no financial impact on the comparatives.

In the application of the group’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

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

Government grant income relates to furlough income recognised on a straight line basis under the performance model. Income has been recognised when each recognition criterium has been satisfied. There was no income received before satisfaction of criteria.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:

The customer list asset addition relates to deferred consideration on an acquisition from a previous year which became due throughout the financial period

Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 July 2021 are as follows:

The registered office for all subsidiaries is as follows:

C/o Bevan Kidwell

113-117 Farrington Road

London

EC1R 3BX

There are no financial instruments held at fair value.

The company refinanced its bank loan facility with HSBC UK Bank Plc. A new loan for £3.6m was taken out in July 2021 on a 48 month month term at a fixed interest rate of 3.18% per annum, comprising 2.99% margin and 0.19% fixed cost of funds.

The loan carries a fixed and floating charge which covers the property and undertakings of the company.

The outstanding bank loans are measured at amortised cost.

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:

A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.

During the course of the year 1,543 Ordinary D shares of 1p each were cancelled which reduced the share capital by £15.

This reserve records the amount above the nominal value received for shares sold, less transaction costs.

This reserve records the value of asset revaluations and fair value movements on assets recognised in other comprehensive income.

There were no events which occurred after the reporting period end which require disclosure at the balance sheet date.

At the year end there were no outstanding director's loan accounts (2020: £73 in credit).

Dividends of £1,000,000 were paid out to shareholders (2020: £1,000,000).

There were no other related party transactions outside the normal course of business.

Specific related party disclosure for group subsidiaries can be obtained from the relevant company accounts.