A.C._ENTERTAINMENT_TECHNO - Accounts

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

The loss for the year, after taxation, is £1,294,758, (2020: £2,090,633 profit). The directors declared and paid a dividend of £350,000 (2020: £800,000).

The Company’s key financial and other performance indicators during the year were as follows:

2021          2020      Change

£’000 £’000 %

Turnover (UK)      9,893     26,232          -62.3%

Turnover (Overseas) 3,820     8,118          -52.9%

Operating (loss)/profit (1,440)          2,639          -154.6%

(Loss)/profit for the financial year (1,295) 2,091          -161.9%

Shareholder’s equity 7,464          9,110         -18.1%

Current assets as % of

current liabilities (‘quick ratio’) 246.9%        262.1%         -5.8%

Average number of employees      110          121          -9.1%

Turnover decreased 62.3% from the UK market and 52.9% from the overseas markets, this was due to the impact of Covid-19 where the entertainment sectors were heavily impacted and were in lockdown for much of the year, it is expected that turnover will increase in the following year as markets re-open.

Turnover for the UK and Overseas business is expected to be higher in 2021/22 as more businesses in the entertainment sector re-open from the impact Covid-19 and the vaccine rollout takes effect.

Operating profit decreased by 154.6% during the year. The decrease can be attributed to the decrease in turnover.

Shareholders’ equity decreased by 18.1% due to retained earnings.

The company’s “quick ratio” (current assets as a percentage of current liabilities) has decreased by 5.8%.

The total average number of employees decreased by 9.1%.

The Company has regular management meetings where the board meet and evaluates the risks faced by the company. The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company are broadly grouped as – competitive, legislative and financial instrument risk.

• Competitive Risks

In the UK the Company has a number of key clients which need to be managed and serviced efficiently to prevent competitors gaining traction within these clients. Key clients are also facing increased competition within their own market places which is leading to increased demands on the level of service and pricing provided.

In overseas markets the principal competitive risk relates to competition from local competitors who may be perceived as being able to offer a better level of service and increased competition on larger one-off spends.

• Legislative Risks

The company predominantly operates in nations where regulations are taken seriously and companies are expected to act on them. Acts such as the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and other legislation in relation to becoming Carbon neutral all have the possibility to make working practices costlier, as more effort needs to be put in to monitoring and ensuring that not only the company is compliant with past and future legislation but that companies within our supply chain also are.

• Exposure to price, credit, liquidity, foreign exchange and cash flow risk

Price risk arises on financial instruments because of changes in, for example, commodity prices or

equity prices. Listed investments with a book value of £72,104 (2020: £46,559) are exposed to price risk but this exposure is within the Company’s risk appetite.

Credit risk is the risk that one party to a financial instrument will cause a financial loss for that other party by failing to discharge an obligation. Company policies are aimed at minimising such losses, and require that deferred terms are only granted to customers who demonstrate an appropriate payment history and satisfy credit worthiness procedures. Details of the Company’s receivables are shown on the face of the balance sheet.

Liquidity risk is the risk that an entity will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities. The Company aims to mitigate liquidity risk by managing cash generation by its operations, applying cash collection targets throughout the Company. The Company also manages liquidity risk via revolving credit facilities and long term debt.

Foreign exchange risk is the risk that an entity will suffer financial loss due to the movement in the strength of its base currency. The company manages this risk through self-hedging and the purchase of forward contracts.

Cash flow risk is the risk of exposure to variability in cash flows that is attributable to a particular risk associated with a recognised asset or liability such as future interest payments on a variability rate debt. The Company manages this risk, where significant, by use of its revolving credit facilities and long term debt.

Future Developments

2022 has seen a remarkable turnaround in both turnover and profitability, with both surpassing pre-Covid levels significantly more than we expected.  Film and TV is expected to remain strong and with Live Events continuing to ramp up we expect another financially strong year for 2023, though supply chain issues could slow this down with a broad range of products in the sector suffering from production issues due to component shortages following the close downs due to Covid.

On behalf of the board

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

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of distribution of stage, studio and event lighting products.

The results for the year are set out on page 9.

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £350,000. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

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

The auditor, Azets Audit Services, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

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 company and of the profit or loss of the company 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;

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

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the 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 company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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 company’s auditor 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 company’s auditor is aware of that information.

We have audited the financial statements of A.C. Entertainment Technologies Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 January 2021 which comprise the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in equity 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 company's affairs as at 31 January 2021 and of its loss 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 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 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, 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

•     certain disclosures of 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 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.

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.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above and on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.

We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework.  Based on this understanding, we 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.  This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:

• Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims as well as actual, suspected and alleged fraud; 

• Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;

• Assessing the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations considered to have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company through enquiry and inspection; 

• Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

• Performing audit work over the risk of management bias and override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for indicators of potential bias. 

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation.  This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance.  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.

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.

The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

A.C. Entertainment Technologies Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Centauri House, Hillbottom Road, Sands Industrial Estate, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom, HP12 4HQ.

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 certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:

• Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;

• Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’ paragraph 33.7.

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of A.C Lighting (Holdings) Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office, Centauri House, Hillbottom Road, Sands Industrial Estate, High Wycombe, HP12 4HQ.

Atruet the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company 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 from the sale of goods is recognised upon delivery of the goods which is the point in time at which the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods are transferred to the customer. Revenue is valued at invoiced amounts, excluding sales taxes and less trade discounts where relevant.

Investments in listed investments and gold bullion are measured at cost less accumulated impairment.

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

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 fair 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:

It is the company's policy to not amortise intangible assets in the course of construction.

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 credited or charged to profit or loss.

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.

Stocks held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured at the lower of cost and replacement cost, adjusted where applicable for any loss of service potential.

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 company 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 company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with 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.

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

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

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.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal 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 company 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.

Short term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at transaction price, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.

Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the company 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 company.

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 company’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.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.

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 company 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 leases asset are consumed.

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.

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 in the period are included in profit or loss.

The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement in applying the Company's accounting policies.

The Company estimates the net realisable value of stock at the end of the reporting period taking into account the age profile of stock and expected demand from customers. The Company also assesses the likelihood of recovering outstanding balances from customers and make a provision against these balances as required.

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

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

The number of directors for whom retirement benefits are accruing under defined contribution schemes amounted to 6 (2020 - 8).

The interest payable to group undertakings is charged at a rate between 6.25% and 6.75% per annum.

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

The standard rate of corporation tax in the UK will change from 19% to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023.

Stock recognised in cost of sales during the year as an expense was £10,044,388 (2020: £23,890,923)

Stocks are stated after provision for impairment of £1,656,600 (2020: £1,356,600)

Amounts owed to group undertakings are unsecured, repayable on demand with interest charged at between 3.25% and 6.75% per annum. Amounts owed to group undertakings include a loan of £nil (2020: £771) from A.C. Lighting (Holdings) Limited.

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

The deferred tax asset set out above is expected to reverse within 12 months and relates to the utilisation of tax losses against future expected profits of the same period. The deferred tax liability set out above is not expected to reverse within 12 months and relates to accelerated capital allowances that are expected to mature over time as the assets to which they relate are replaced in the normal course of business.

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

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

The operating leases represent leases of equipment to third parties. All leases include a provision for five-yearly upward rent reviews according to prevailing market conditions. There are no options in place for either party to extend the lease terms.

At the reporting end date the company had contracted with tenants for the following minimum lease payments:

During the year, a director purchased goods totalling £34 (2020 - £396) from the company.

The parent company and largest and smallest group in which A.C. Entertainment Technologies Limited is consolidated is A.C. Lighting (Holdings) Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales. The registered address of the parent company is Centauri House, Sands Industrial Estate, Hillbottom Road, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP12 4HQ. Copies of the consolidated financial statements can be obtained from this address. The ultimate controlling party is D A Leggett by virtue of his controlling interest in A.C. Lighting (Holdings) Limited.

During the year it has been necessary to reclassify fixed assets which cost £740,303 and which had a net book value of £740,303 from tangible fixed assets to intangible fixed assets. In the opinion of the directors, such reclassification is considered necessary so as to better categorise software costs in the financial statements. As at 1 February 2019, assets with a cost of £369,430 and which had a net book value of £369,430 have been transferred from tangible fixed assets to intangible fixed assets with comparative sums restated accordingly. It has not been necessary to restate opening reserves.