KNG_Securities_LLP - Accounts

The members present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021.

The partnership has this year continued to develop opportunities as a full-scope BIPRU 730k Investment Firm. This included the expansion into additional business sectors, and increasing the number of clients to which the firm provides its services. The firm has also responded to the challenges posed by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on both its personnel and its clients. This required considerable reorganisation of working practices and security procedures but the combined efforts of the team has meant there has been very limited disruption to the firm’s regular business. Happily, the customer base has also adapted well to the challenges posed, and business has continued apace.

In addition the firm has been dealing with market and regulatory developments and requirements, principally as a consequence of the implementation of Brexit. The Designated Members had prepared for, and implemented, operational changes to mitigate the impact of the hard Brexit out-turn and the consequent loss of regulatory equivalence with many of the countries into which the firm provides its services. There has been some interruption in the provision of services to a portion of the firm's client base as a consequence of the political horse-trading around Brexit, but the firm is confident that the steps that have been taken will mean that a full reinstatement of services will shortly be in place for all its customers. While acknowledging that the increased regulatory and operational requirements have led to, and will continue to impose, additional costs and demands on senior management’s time, the firm remains confident that the changes will not pose meaningful risks to the limited liability partnership’s ability to deliver a high quality service.

The limited liability partnership's turnover, £9,632,376 in this financial period, is again a meaningful increase compared to the previous period, reflecting continued implementation of the firm’s expansion plans, and also greater customer activity in the bond markets in terms of overall volumes. This greater activity and profitability means that the partnership continues to maintain a healthy balance sheet. The designated members remain focused on providing a quality service to the firm’s clients via a credit / fixed income / convertible bond product focused strategy.

The designated members' drawings policy allows each designated member to draw a proportion of their profit share, subject to the cash requirements of the business. There is no opportunity for appreciation of capital subscribed. Non-designated members drawings are determined by the direct contribution they make to the firms profitability. Non-designated members' drawings are calculated on the basis of the limited liability partnerships' revenue sharing guidelines or by general agreements by the designated members.

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

Moore Kingston Smith LLP were appointed as auditor to the limited liability partnership and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006 (as applied by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008), They are deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006 (as applied by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008).

The members are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law (as applied by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008) requires the members to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the members have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice. Under company law (as applied by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008) the members 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 limited liability partnership and of the profit or loss of the limited liability partnership for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the members 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 financial statements;

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the limited liability partnership will continue in business.

The members are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the limited liability partnership’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the limited liability partnership and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006 (as applied by The Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008). They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the limited liability partnership and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Each of the members in office at the date of approval of this annual report confirms that:

• so far as the members are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the limited liability partnership's auditor is unaware, and

• the members have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as members in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the limited liability partnership's auditor is aware of that information.

Approved by the members on 23 July 2021 and signed on their behalf by:

We have audited the financial statements of KNG Securities LLP (the 'limited liability partnership') for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the reconciliation of members' interests, the statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 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 limited liability partnership's affairs as at 31 March 2021 and of its 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 as applied to limited liability partnerships.

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 limited liability partnership 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 members' 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 limited liability partnership’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 members with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The members are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the members' report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

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

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

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

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

As explained more fully in the Members' Responsibilities Statement set out on pages 1 - 2, the members 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 members 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 Members' are responsible for assessing the limited liability partnership’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 Members' either intend to liquidate the limited liability partnership 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.

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

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

Our approach was as follows:

• We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the limited liability partnership and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006 as applied to limited liability partnerships by the Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008, the Limited Liability Partnerships SORP, and UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council and regulations applicable to companies regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

• We obtained an understanding of how the limited liability partnership complies with these requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance.

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

• We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.

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

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the limited liability partnership’s internal control.

• Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the members.

• Conclude on the appropriateness of the members’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the limited liability partnership’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the limited liability partnership to cease to continue as a going concern.

• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

This report is made solely to the limited liability partnership's members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 as applied by the Limited Liability Partnerships (Accounts and Audit) (Application of Companies Act 2006) Regulations 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the limited liability partnership'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 limited liability partnership and the limited liability partnership's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

KNG Securities LLP is a limited liability partnership incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 6 Broad Street Place, London, EC2M 7JH.

The limited liability partnership's principal activities are disclosed in the Members' Report.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the Statement of Recommended Practice "Accounting by Limited Liability Partnerships" issued in December 2018, together 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 limited liability partnership. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements, which are those of KNG Securities LLP as an individual entity, have been prepared on the historical cost convention, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the members have a reasonable expectation that the limited liability partnership has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least one year from the signing of these financial statements. Thus the members continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Whilst the UK departure from the European Union ("Brexit") has not had any adverse impact on the result for the year, the members expect to continue to undertake business with EU countries and measures have been put in place and are ongoing to facilitate that.

The members continue to monitor the risk posed by the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. Contingency planning put in place to help protect staff and to manage the ability to continue business under a range of circumstances has been successful in mitigating the effects of COVID 19. The members are satisfied that any ongoing adverse impacts can continue to be managed and will not affect the longer term prosperity of the business. An adequate financial buffer remains in place to address any potential continuing financial shock.

Turnover represents brokerage income. Revenue is recognised when it is probable that economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the partnership and the revenue can be measured reliably. Where revenue is subject to contractual performance obligations the amount of revenue recognised reflects the extent to which those obligations have been met and the consideration to which the partnership expects to be entitled in exchange for services.

Members' participation rights are the rights of a member against the LLP that arise under the members' agreement (for example, in respect of amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed remuneration and profits).

Members' participation rights in the earnings or assets of the LLP are analysed between those that are, from the LLP's perspective, either a financial liability or equity, in accordance with section 22 of FRS 102. A member's participation rights including amounts subscribed or otherwise contributed by members, for example members' capital, are classed as liabilities unless the LLP has an unconditional right to refuse payment to members, in which case they are classified as equity.

All amounts due to members that are classified as liabilities are presented within 'Loans and other debts due to members' and, where such an amount relates to current year profits, they are recognised within ‘Members' remuneration charged as an expense’ in arriving at the relevant year’s result. Undivided amounts that are classified as equity are shown within ‘Members' other interests’. Amounts recoverable from members are presented as debtors and shown as amounts due from members within members’ interests.

Where there exists an asset and liability component in respect of an individual member’s participation rights, they are presented on a gross basis unless the LLP has both a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts, and it intends either to settle on a net basis or to settle and realise these amounts simultaneously, in which case they are presented net.

Once an unavoidable obligation has been created in favour of members through allocation of profits or other means, any undrawn profits remaining at the reporting date are shown as ‘Loans and other debts due to members’ to the extent they exceed debts due from a specific member.

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.

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.

Debtors

Short term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans and other debtors receivable are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Creditors

Short term trade creditors and other current creditors payable on demand are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

The taxation payable on the partnership profits is solely the personal liability of the individual members consequently neither partnership taxation nor related deferred taxation arising in respect of the partnership are accounted for in these financial statements.

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.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the limited liability partnership is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

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

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation are included in the profit and loss account for the period.

In the application of the limited liability partnership’s accounting policies, the members 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.

The members do not consider there to be any key estimates or judgements applicable to the company.

An analysis of the limited liability partnership's turnover is as follows:

The average number of persons (excluding members) employed by the partnership during the year was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Bank deposits of £50,000 used to support credit card facilities are subject to a charge in favour of the bank.

The limited liability partnership operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the limited liability partnership in an independently administered fund.

The charge to profit or loss in respect of defined contribution schemes was £7,215 (2020 - £6,190).

In the event of a winding up the amounts included in "Loans and other debts due to members" will rank equally with unsecured creditors.

Any reduction in members' other interests are subject to approval by the limited liability partnership's managing committee.

At the reporting end date the limited liability partnership had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

At the year end a balance of £nil (2020: £100,000) was owed from a company over which the entity has significant influence.

The Limited Liability Partnership is under the control of the designated members. There is no overall controlling party.