SANDBAG_LIMITED - Accounts
SANDBAG_LIMITED - Accounts
The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2022.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ |
Turnover | 31,705,490 | 19,923,808 | 26,650,202 | 20,678,624 | 23,362,585 |
Gross profit | 4,081,794 | 3,180,542 | 3,815,347 | 3,128,175 | 3,859,421 |
Profit/(loss) before tax | 1,207,474 | 592,004 | 552,662 | 32,802 | 933,341 |
FY 2022 was an extremely successful year. E-commerce remained strong with the anniversary release of Radiohead Kid Amnesia with activity ranging from collector’s boxsets to a virtual reality exhibition. We also enjoyed significant e-commerce success with the BTS digital campaign and Bad Bunny physical release. Touring activity started to pick up in the year as Countries and States exited lockdowns and COVID restrictions. We look forward to seeing full touring schedules next year.
The Directors are committed to continued investment in new signings and systems to deliver continued growth and efficiency.
As with many other industries supply chains have tightened due to a rise in demand post Covid lockdown. Freight companies were unable to, or have chosen not to increase capacity (as seen in Sea freight), production facilities were also unable to increase output in step with demand. We are expecting to see a loosening in this during FY22-23.
However supply side inflation has taken over, namely through higher cost of utilities and fuel feeding into higher manufacturing and freight costs. This remains the principle risk to margins in FY22-23.
Foreign exchange also remains a key risk for the business; we trade in a number of countries around the world, the US is a significant market and the pound weakened significantly in the year. However we undertake natural hedging to match to our cost base.
It is very clear that Brexit has brought no benefits to our business but has only increased delays and costs in getting goods into the EU, these will continue until a frictionless solution can be found or we decide to place more work outside the UK and directly into the EU.
Key performance indicators are considered to be cash, turnover and profit. Revenue grew by 59.1% year on year although the FY20-21 comparator year was significantly impacted by the loss of live touring. Most pleasing was that the e-commerce revenue still held up whilst lockdowns were unwinding. Profit before tax improved to 3.8% compared to 3.0% in the prior year, driven by economies of scale achieved through some of the best sellers in the year.
The balance sheet continues to strengthen and total assets have increased by 28.1% over the prior year. Stock has increased in line with trade, and cash has increased on the prior year.
Net current assets have decreased on the prior year, however this is principally driven by the CBILS loan moving to short term liabilities; the loan being repaid in FY22-23. Overall net assets have increased by 22.4% demonstrating the strong position the Group is in.
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.
The results for the year are set out on page 8.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £735,000. 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:
The group's principal financial instruments comprise bank balances, trade creditors and trade debtors. The main purpose of these instruments is to raise funds for the group's operations.
Due to the nature of the financial instruments used by the group there is no exposure to price risk. The group's approach to managing other risks applicable to the financial instruments concerned is shown below.
In respect of the bank balances the liquidity risk is managed by maintaining continuity of funding and the group may make use of money market facilities where funds are available.
Trade debtors are managed in respect of credit and cash flow risk by policies concerning the credit offered to customers and the regular monitoring of amounts outstanding for both time ad credit limits.
Trade creditors liquidity risk is managed by ensuring sufficient funds are available to meet the amounts due.
£1,050,000 of the CBILS loan was repaid in October 2022.
Touring continues to strengthen, although e-commerce has dipped slightly as spend has moved to live events, as was expected.
We are seeing higher costs driven by inflation.
The directors will continue to invest in maintaining the current artist roster and in securing new talent. As previously stated live events business will grow in the coming years post pandemic, the challenge will be to maintain e-commerce where customers now can spend at live events.
The auditor, HW Fisher LLP, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; prepare the on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the group and company will continue in business.
We have audited the financial statements of Sandbag Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise 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 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).
give a true and fair view of the state of the group's and the parent company's affairs as at 31 March 2022 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.
Detection of 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, 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.
As part of our planning process:
We enquired of management the systems and controls the group and company has in place, the areas of the financial statements that are mostly susceptible to the risk of irregularities and fraud, and whether there was any known, suspected or alleged fraud. The group and company did not inform us of any known, suspected or alleged fraud effecting the audit period.
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks applicable to the group and company. We determined that the following were most relevant: FRS 102, Companies Act 2006, GDPR, employment law, and copyright over image rights owned by artists.
We considered the incentives and opportunities that exist in the group and company, including the extent of management bias, which present a potential for irregularities and fraud to be perpetuated, and tailored our risk assessment accordingly.
Using our knowledge of the group and company, together with the discussions held with the group and company at the planning stage, we formed a conclusion on the risk of misstatement due to irregularities including fraud and tailored our procedures according to this risk assessment.
The key procedures we undertook to detect irregularities including fraud during the course of the audit included:
Identifying and testing journal entries and the overall accounting records, in particular those that were significant and unusual.
Reviewing the financial statement disclosures and determining whether accounting policies have been appropriately applied.
Reviewing and challenging the assumptions and judgements used by management in their significant accounting estimates.
Assessing the extent of compliance, or lack of, with the relevant laws and regulations. This included reviewing a sample of contracts with artists and ensuring any stock held at year end was compliant with the agreements in place.
Testing key revenue lines, in particular cut-off, for evidence of management bias.
Performing a physical verification of key assets and stock items.
Obtaining third-party confirmation of material bank balances and loans and stock held at third party warehouses.
Documenting and verifying all significant related party and consolidated balances and transactions.
Reviewing documentation such as the company board minutes for discussions of irregularities including fraud.
Reviewing all material consolidation adjustments.
Owing 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. The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities and fraud rests with the directors.
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 £470,748 (2021 - £367,363 profit).
Sandbag Limited (“the company”) is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 50 Milford Road, Reading, RG1 8LJ.
The group consists of Sandbag 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. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The 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 for parent company information presented within the consolidated financial statements:
Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;
Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues’: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for each category of financial instrument; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;
Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Sandbag Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries).
All financial statements are made up to 31 March 2022. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.
The directors have considered the effect of the Covid-19 outbreak, the subsequent post pandemic period and easing of restrictions. The group successfully focused and grew e-commerce sales whilst the Live business was held in abatement. Live events business have returned fully in the post balance sheet period and the group has supported significant touring activity. Given the strength of the balance sheet, cash and retained earnings in conjunction with sales in FY22-23, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue operation for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Turnover for the group represents amounts receivable for merchandise, physical music and ticket sales net of VAT and trade discounts. Income is recognised on merchandise and physical music at the point the physical product is delivered to the customer. Ticketing revenue is recognised based on the date of performance.
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.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
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.
At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
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 limited liability partnership 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.
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 if, and only if, there is 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 leased asset are consumed.
Government grants, which include amounts received under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and amounts received from the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme that cover interest and fees payable to the lender, are recognised at the fair value of the grant received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.
The income is recognised in other income on a systematic basis over the periods in which the associated costs are incurred, using the accrual model.
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.
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.
The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.
The Group make advances to artists which are recoverable against future royalties over a period, often a few years. Judgement has been used to determine how likely the Group is able to recover these advances. Recoverability has been slowed due to reduced touring over the last few years as a result of Covid-19 restrictions, however the Directors have reasoned that the balances are still recoverable now that touring has resumed.
The Group recognises a stock provision which is calculated based on the demand for stock from the prior 12 months sales. Anything in stock that is in excess of the predicted demand is provided against and written down to its net realisable value. There are some exceptions to the calculation. This is a significant estimate as there is the assumption that the past 12 months demand for a piece of stock will remain the same for the following 12 months.
Bad debt provisions are made against debtors that are not considered recoverable. This is an estimate made by management based on their expectation of recovery and knowledge of the customer.
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:
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 March 2022 are as follows:
The long-term loans are secured by fixed and floating charges over all assets.
The balance is made up of three separate loans, two relating to Sandbag Limited and one relating to the subsidiary, Eleventyfour LP.
The loans with Sandbag Limited are Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans with HSBC. The first loan is for £1.05m and is repayable over two years, with no interest payable by the Company for the first year and a variable rate of 3.49% over the base rate for the remainder of the loan.
The second loan is for £800k and is repayable over six years, with no interest payable by the Company for the first year and a variable rate of 3.99% over the base rate for the remainder of the loan.
The loan with Eleventyfour LP is a Payroll Protection Loan with the Bank of America. The loan is for $175k and is repayable in instalments, with no interest payable by the Company for the first six months and a fixed rate of 1.00% for the remainder of the loan.
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.
Future minimum rental payable under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows: