THE_LONDON_TUNNELS_PLC - Accounts

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2023.

The Company intends to restore, adaptively reuse and bring back to life the dis-used Kingsway tunnels underneath Central London, offering a combination of historical heritage experiences and an immersive, professionally designed, multi-sensory, digital experience.

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

Royce Peeling Green Limited were appointed as the first auditor to the company in July 2023 and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.

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 The London Tunnels Plc (the 'company') for the period ended 31 March 2023 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 Financial Reporting Standard 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 March 2023 and of its loss for the period 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 directors' report for the financial period for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the directors' report has 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 directors' report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which 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; or

•     the directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemption in preparing the directors' report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

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.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

• At the planning stage of the audit we gain an understanding of the laws and regulations which apply to the company and how management seek to comply with them. This helps us to make appropriate risk assessments.

• We focus our work on relevant risk areas and review compliance with laws and regulations through making relevant enquiries and corroboration by, for example, reviewing Board Minutes and other documentation.

• We assess the risk of material misstatement in the financial statements including  as a result of  fraud and undertake procedures such as:

  1. Review of controls set in place by management

  2. Enquiry of management as to whether they consider fraud or other irregularities may have occurred or where such opportunity might exist

  3. Challenge of management assumptions with regard to accounting estimates

  4. Identification and testing of journal entries, particularly those which may appear to be unusual by size or nature.

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 are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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 member 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 member those matters we are required to state to the member 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 member, 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.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

The London Tunnels Plc is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 2nd Floor, Nicola Jane House, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SE.

The company has changed its accounting reference date from 31 December to 31 March in order to coincide with the accounting period of its parent undertaking. Theses financial statements therefore cover a period of 15 months from 1 January 2022 to 31 March 2023. The comparative period ran from incorporation on 27 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 hence the comparative amounts presented in the financial statements (including the related notes) are not entirely comparable.

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.

The company’s business activities including the proposed development of the Kingsway Exchange Tunnels, together with the factors likely to affect this future development, including the timing of the project to start generating revenues have been discussed by the directors. The company has the financial resources based on commitments by investors which are expected to include a fund raising in Q4 2023 to achieve the ownership and development of the Tunnels without the requirement to borrow further money. true

As a consequence, the directors believe that the company is well placed to manage its business risks successfully despite the current uncertain economic outlook. The directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements.

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

Research expenditure is written off against profits in the year in which it is incurred. Identifiable development expenditure is capitalised to the extent that the technical, commercial and financial feasibility can be demonstrated.

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

Amortisation will be recognised so as to write off the cost of assets less their residual values over their useful lives once the relevant assets are brought into use. The directors do not expect this to begin before 2026.

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible 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.

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.

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.

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 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 company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans and loans from fellow group companies, 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.

The component parts of compound instruments issued by the company are classified separately as financial liabilities and equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement. At the date of issue, the fair value of the liability component is estimated using the prevailing market interest rate for a similar non-convertible instrument. This amount is recorded as a liability on an amortised cost basis using the effective interest method until extinguished upon conversion or at the instrument's maturity date. The equity component is determined by deducting the amount of the liability component from the fair value of the compound instrument as a whole. This is recognised and included in equity net of income tax effects and is not subsequently remeasured.

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.

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.

Liability limitation agreement

The company has entered into a liability limitation agreement with Royce Peeling Green Limited, the statutory auditor, in respect of the statutory audit for the period ended 31 March 2023. The proportionate liability agreement follows the standard terms in Appendix B to the FRC's June 2008 Guidance on Auditor Liability Agreements, and has been approved by the shareholders.

In the application of the company’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 periods.

The company is at a pre revenue stage and hence turnover to date is nil.

The average monthly number of persons (including the Board) employed by the company in the period was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

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

The company has carried forward tax losses of £357,970 (2021: £nil). No deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of these losses due to uncertainty around the timing of generation of future profits.

See notes 17 and 20.

The loan from the parent company does not bear interest and is repayable in full at an agreed future date. The directors of Cupcake Partners Limited have confirmed that there is no intention for repayment to be required within 12 months of approval of these financial statements.

On 28 November 2022, the company created 6,000 unsecured zero coupon convertible bonds of £600 each. The bonds are repayable on 30 September 2024 at an agreed price of £1,000 per bond plus £0.60 per bond conversion price. The conversion price will be withheld by the company and converted into equity shares of the company such that for every 5 bonds redeemed the company will issue 3 equity shares of £1 each fully paid.

During the period the company issued 5,000 of the bonds for £3,000,000 in five separate tranches between the date of the instrument and the accounting period end.

The net proceeds received from the issue of the convertible loan notes have been split between the financial liability element and an equity component, representing the fair value of the embedded option to convert part of the financial liability into equity.

The liability component is measured at amortised cost, and the difference between the carrying amount of the liability at the date of issue and the amount reported in the Balance Sheet represents the effective interest rate less interest paid to that date.

The effective rate of interest is 35.70% - 39.16% across the various dates of draw down of the tranches of bonds issued.

The equity component of the convertible loan notes has been credited to the equity reserve.

In the prior year the shareholder made a capital contribution of £7,000,000 to the equity reserves of the company. This was not a cash transaction.

In the current year an amount of £332,017 has been credited to equity reserve as the fair value of the non liability element of the Zero Coupon Convertible Bonds issued in the period.

The company is seeking to obtain planning permission for a venue from which to establish and operate the business in future. The outcome of this application is currently uncertain. Should the planning process be successful, professional fees totalling £1,494,768 (2021: £410,034 restated) will become payable.

Post period end the company has issued a further tranche of 1,000 bonds for £600,000.

Dividends totalling £0 (2021 - £0) were paid in the period in respect of shares held by the company's directors.

Sundry income of £89,210 in the year ended 31 March 2023 comprises the forgiveness of a debt owed to A.S.D. Murray at 31 December 2021.

The parent company of The London Tunnels Plc is Cupcake Partners Ltd and its registered office is 20th Floor, 283 Lockhart Road, Wah Hing Commercial Building, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.

During the period the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

In addition to the amounts charged by Client Services (Global) Limited shown above, there are contingent liabilities of £1,494,768 (2021: £410,034) payable to Client Services (Global) Limited upon the granting of planning permission for the Company's planned development by the authorities.

A. S. D. Murray is a director of Cupcake Partners Limited, the parent company.

K. J. Leo is a director of Client Services (Global) Limited.

The financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2021 were unaudited.

It was subsequently identified by management that certain significant transactions had been omitted from the 2021 financial statements in error.

As a consequence the comparative data in respect of the period ended 31 December 2021 has been restated as shown below: