Logistics Development Group plc
Annual Report 2021

Loading PDF...

More annual reports from Logistics Development Group plc:

2023 Report
2022 Report
2021 Report
2020 Report
2019 Report

Share your feedback:


Plain-text annual report

Logistics Development Group plc Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 November 2021 Table of contents Strategic Report Letter from Chairman (cid:149) (cid:149) Business and Financial review (cid:149) Risk management and principal risks The Board of Directors Governance (cid:149) (cid:149) Chairman’s governance statement (cid:149) (cid:149) Audit Committee report (cid:149) Remuneration committee report (cid:149) Directors’ report (cid:149) The Board Statement of Directors' responsibilities in respect of the financial statements Independent Auditor’s report Financial Statements (cid:149) Company Statement of Comprehensive Income (cid:149) Company Statement of Financial Position (cid:149) Company Statement of Changes in Equity (cid:149) Company Cash Flow Statement (cid:149) Notes to the Company Financial Statements (cid:149) Glossary (cid:149) Advisors 1 3 8 10 11 13 15 17 19 21 22 29 30 31 32 33 42 44 Strategic Report Letter from Chairman Dear Shareholders I am pleased to present the annual report and the audited financial statements for Logistics Development Group b^U ’rDda_ fZW Ua_T[‘Sf[a‘ aX DJKs(+ The Financial Statements are presented in pounds sterling, rounded to the nearest thousand, unless otherwise stated. As at 30 November 2021, the Company has no subsidiaries and, as such, no consolidated financial statements have been presented. The Financial Statements therefore present Company only information for the current and comparative periods. The Financial Statements were prepared under the historical cost convention, except for financial assets recognised at fair value through profit or loss, which have been measured at fair value. The Company is not registered for VAT and therefore all expenses are recorded inclusive of VAT. Significant holdings in undertakings other than subsidiary undertakings As at 30 November 2021 the Company had a significant holding in Marcelos Limited ’rESdUW^aes(, incorporated in the Isle of Man. Marcelos has 100 £1 ordinary shares in issue, of which the Company held 49 shares. Its registered address is First Names House, Victoria Road, Douglas, Isle of Man IM2 4DF. Going concern The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has sufficient resources to continue in operation for the foreseeable future, a period of at least 12 months from the date of this report. The Directors have prepared a cash flow forecast for a period of 3 years which indicates that available funds significantly exceed anticipated expenditure. Consequently, the Directors of the Company continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements. 2. Significant accounting policies (a) Investments in associates - associates are all entities over which the Company has significant influence but not control or joint control. Investments in associates are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. (b) Fair value measurement q fZW XS[d hS^gW _WSegdW_W‘f aX fZW ;a_bS‘kue [‘hWef_W‘fe gf[^[eWe _Sd]Wf aTeWdhST^W inputs and data as far as possible. Inputs used in determining fair value measurements are categorised into different ^WhW^e TSeWV a‘ Zai aTeWdhST^W fZW [‘bgfe geWV [‘ fZW hS^gSf[a‘ fWUZ‘[cgW gf[^[eWV SdW ’fZW tXS[d hS^gW Z[WdSdUZku(7 - Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical items (unadjusted); - Level 2: Observable direct or indirect inputs other than Level 1 inputs; - Level 3: Unobservable inputs (i.e. not derived from market data and may include using multiples of trading results or information from recent transactions). The classification of an item into the above levels is based on the lowest level of the inputs used that has a significant effect on the fair value measurement of the item. Transfers of items between levels are recognised in the period they occur. (c) Financial instruments - Financial assets q other receivables and amounts owed to related undertakings. Such assets are recognised initially at fair value plus any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, such assets are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses. - Cash and cash equivalents q in the Statement of Financial Position, cash includes cash and cash equivalents excluding bank overdrafts. No expected credit loss provision is held against cash and cash equivalents as the expected credit loss is negligible. 33 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 2. Significant accounting policies (c) Financial instruments (continued) - Financial liabilities q other payables and amounts owed to related undertakings. Such liabilities are initially recognised on the date that the Company becomes party to contractual provisions of the instrument. The Company derecognises a financial liability when its contractual obligations are discharged, cancelled or expire. Such financial liabilities are recognised initially at fair value less any directly attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, these financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. - Share capital q Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of ordinary shares are recognised as a deduction from equity, net of any tax effects. (d) Exceptional items q items that are material in size or nature and non-recurring are presented as exceptional items in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. The Directors are of the opinion that the separate recording of exceptional items provides helpful information abagf fZW ;a_bS‘kue g‘VWd^k[‘Y Tge[‘Wee bWdXad_S‘UW+ =hW‘fe iZ[UZ _Sk Y[hW d[eW to the classification of items as exceptional include restructuring of business units and the associated legal and employee costs, costs associated with business acquisitions, impairments and other significant gains or losses. (e) Alternative performance measures (APMs) - APMs, such as underlying results, are used in the day-to-day management of the Company, and represent statutory measures adjusted for items which, in the Directodeu h[Wi) Uag^V influence the understanding of comparability and performance of the Company year on year. These items include non- recurring exceptional items and other material unusual items. (f) Tax q tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Current tax and deferred tax are recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity or in other comprehensive income. Deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised. (g) Operating segments q the Company has a single operating segment on a continuing basis, namely investment in a portfolio of assets. (h) Fund raise costs q transaction costs incurred in anticipation of an issuance of equity instruments are recorded as a deduction from the retained earnings reserve in accordance with IAS 32 and the Companies Act 2006. (i) Own shares reserve q transfer of shares from the trust to employees is treated as a realised loss and recognised as a deduction from the retained earnings reserve. New and amended standards adopted by the Company There are no IFRS standards or IFRIC interpretations that are mandatory for the year ended 30 November 2021 that have a material impact on the financial statements of the Company. 34 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 2. Significant accounting policies (continued) Critical judgements in applying the Company’s accounting policies A‘ Sbb^k[‘Y fZW ;a_bS‘kue SUUag‘f[‘Y ba^[U[We) fZW <[dWUfade ZShW _SVW fZW Xa^^ai[‘Y \gVYW_W‘fe fZSf ZShW fZW _aef significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements (apart from those involving estimations, which are dealt with below) and have been identified as being particularly complex or involve subjective assessments. (i) Measurement of the investments q during the prior year, the Company elected to measure its investment in Marcelos, the intermediate holding company of the GWSA Group, at fair value through profit and loss. The election is taken on the TSe[e aX fZW [‘hWef_W‘f TW[‘Y S thW‘fgdW USb[fS^u [‘hWef_W‘f g‘VWd A9K /5 tA‘hWef_W‘fe [‘ 9eeaU[SfWe S‘V Ba[‘f NW‘fgdWeu+ The strategy of the Company as an Investing Company is to generate value though holding investments for the short to medium term. Therefore, the Directors believe that the fair value method of accounting for the investments is in line with the strategy of the Company. Had the election not been made, the investment in Marcelos would have been subject to equity accounting that involves recognition of the investment at cost and subsequent measurement at cost plus a share of profits and losses of the GWSA Group, less dividends received. (ii) Fair value of the investments q the Directors have recorded the investment in Marcelos at fair value. The fair value at the period end was calculated on the basis of the net assets of Marcelos, and represents the guaranteed expected future cashflows relevant to the Company. The fair value at the prior period end was calculated on the basis of the market capitalisation of the Company, which was considered to be the most suitable valuation methodology as at 30 November 2020. The Directors reviewed other valuation metrics such as peer group trading multiples. Based on these metrics the valuation was justifiable, albeit at the lower end of the range of possible values. The Directors believed that this valuation approach represented the price of the Company that would be received in an orderly transaction between market participants. Key sources of estimation in applying the Company’s accounting policies The Directors believe that there are no key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year. 35 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 3. Alternative performance measures reconciliations Alternative performance measures (APMs), such as underlying results, are used in the day-to-day management of the Company, S‘V dWbdWeW‘f efSfgfadk _WSegdWe SV\gefWV Xad [fW_e iZ[UZ) [‘ fZW <[dWUfadeu h[Wi) Uag^V influence the understanding of comparability and performance of the Company year on year. The reconciliation of APMs to the reported results is detailed below: Profit/(Loss) before tax Exceptional income Underlying EBIT Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares q Basic Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares q Diluted Underlying Basic earnings/(loss) per share for total operations Underlying Diluted earnings/(loss) per share for total operations 4. Employees and Directors 2021 £’000 84,655 90 84,565 2020 nu--- (7,899) 3,415 (11,314) 2021 (in thousands) 702,206 2020 (in thousands) 379,347 702,206 379,347 12.0p 12.0p (3.0p) (3.0p) Staff costs and the average number of persons (including Directors) employed by the Company during the year are detailed below: Staff and Director costs for the Company during the year Wages and salaries Social security costs Average monthly number of employees and Directors Employees and Directors 9 eg__Sdk aX <[dWUfadeu dW_g‘WdSf[a‘ ’]Wk _S‘SYW_W‘f bWdea‘‘W^( [e VWfS[^WV TW^ai7 Emoluments, bonus and benefits in kind Total Directors’ remuneration Remuneration of the highest paid Director is detailed below: Emoluments, bonus and benefits in kind 5. Exceptional items 2021 £’000 250 19 269 4 2021 £’000 194 194 2021 £’000 93 2020 nu--- 292 26 318 4 2020 nu--- 245 245 2020 nu--- 64 During the year, the Company recognised exceptional income in relation to a VAT refund of £90,000 associated with the disposal of GWSA. During the prior year, the Company recognised exceptional income in relation to reimbursed transaction costs of £2,845,000 associated with the disposal of GWSA and 2019-related audit fees of £570,000. The costs were incurred by the Company in 2019 and ultimately borne by GWSA upon completion of the transaction in accordance with deal arrangements. 36 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 6. Audit fees WWe bSkST^W Xad fZW SgV[f aX fZW ;a_bS‘kue S‘‘gS^ X[‘S‘U[S^ efSfW_W‘fe Audit-related assurance services Other assurance services (fund raise expenses) LafS^ XWWe bSkST^W fa ;a_bS‘kue SgV[fade 7. Income tax charge 2021 £’000 119 - - 119 2020 nu--- 114 96 554 764 The Company did not recognise current and deferred income tax charge or credit (2020: nil). In 2021, the deferred tax asset of £412,050 (2020: £219,000) was not recognised as the Directors do not consider that there is sufficient certainty over its recovery. The underlying tax losses can be carried forward indefinitely. The income tax charge for the year included in the statement of comprehensive income can be reconciled to loss before tax multiplied by the standard rate of tax as follows: Profit/(loss) before tax Expected tax charge/(credit) based on a corporation tax rate of 19% (2020: 19%) Effect of expenses not deductible in determining taxable profit Effect of income not taxable in determining taxable profit Unused tax losses for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised Effect of a change in future corporation tax rate on the deferred tax asset Income tax charge 2021 £’000 84,655 16,084 98 (16,276) 94 - - 2020 nu--- (7,899) (1,501) 1,282 - 219 - - The current effective UK corporation tax rate for the financial year is 19%. The UK corporation tax rate will remain at 19% until 31 March 2022. On 3 March 2021, it was announced that the main rate of corporation tax will increase to 25% from 1 April 2023. As a result, the deferred tax asset has been calculated using the 25% rate. 8. Dividends At the date of approving these Financial Statements, no final dividend has been approved or recommended by the Directors (2020: £Nil). 37 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 9. Earnings per share Basic earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing profit/(loss) for the period attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the 12 months to the period end. Diluted earnings per share amounts are calculated by dividing the profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on conversion of all the potentially dilutive instruments into ordinary shares. The Company has no dilutive instruments to be included in the calculation. Profit/(loss) attributed to equity shareholders Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares q Basic Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares q Diluted Basic earnings/(loss) per share for total operations Diluted earnings/(loss) per share for total operations 10. Investments at fair value through profit or loss 2021 £’000 84,655 2021 (in thousands) 702,206 702,206 12.1p 12.1p 2020 nu--- (7,899) 2020 (in thousands) 379,347 379,347 (2.1p) (2.1p) 1 December 2019 Disposals during the year Additions during the year Change in fair value 30 November 2020 Additions during the year Change in fair value Dividends 30 November 2021 GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions Limited £’000 Alpha Persei Limited £’000 Marcelos Limited £’000 Total investments £’000 45,000 (45,000) - - - - - - - - - - - - 6,000 287 (6,287) - - - 45,000 (9,152) 35,848 - 85,378 (119,008) 2,218 45,000 (45,000) 45,000 (9,152) 35,848 6,000 85,665 (125,295) 2,218 During the year, the Company acquired for £6.0 million a 10.9% equity interest in Alpha Persei Limited which held an 18% PIK Loan note with indirect exposure to the performance of GWSA. During the year, the Company announced the disposal of its interest in GWSA Group, held through its investments in Marcelos and ESdUW^aeu iZa^^k ai‘WV egTe[V[Sdk 9^bZS ;See[abW[SW D[_[fWV+ The disposal resulted in the Company receiving a dividend of £6,287,000 from Alpha Persei Limited and a dividend of £119,008,000 from Marcelos. These dividends were considered to be a return of capital and have been offset against the carrying value of the investment. As at 30 November 2021, the Company's investment in Marcelos was revalued to £2,218,000 as a result of a dividend proposed to be paid to the Company from Marcelos during the next financial year. 38 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 11. Financial assets and liabilities Financial assets at fair value through the profit or loss Investments in associate (see note 10) Financial assets at amortised cost Other receivables Total financial assets Financial liabilities at amortised cost Amounts owed to related undertakings (see note 13) Other payables Total financial liabilities Cash and cash equivalents Net funds 2021 £’000 2020 nu--- 2,218 35,848 114 2,332 - (290) (290) 131,902 131,902 28 35,876 (1,235) (2,184) (3,419) 652 652 All financial assets and liabilities mature within one year. The fair value of those assets and liabilities approximates their book value. Other receivables represent prepayments. Other payables include accruals of £216,000 (2020: £2,122,000 with £1,369,000 relating to the accrued fund raise costs). LZW ;a_bS‘kue ahWdS^^ d[e] _S‘SYW_W‘f bdaYdS__W XaUgeWe a‘ dWVgU[‘Y X[‘S‘U[S^ d[e] Se XSd as possible and therefore seeks to _[‘[_[eW bafW‘f[S^ SVhWdeW WXXWUfe a‘ fZW ;a_bS‘kue X[‘S‘U[S^ bWdXad_S‘UW+ LZW ba^[U[We S‘V efdSfWY[We Xad _S‘SY[‘Y ebWU[X[U financial risks are summarised as follows: Liquidity risk The Company finances its operations by equity. The Company undertakes short-term cash forecasting to monitor its expected cash flows against its cash availability. The Company also undertakes longer-term cash forecasting to monitor its expected funding requirements in order to meet its current business plan. Credit risk LZW ;a_bS‘kue bd[‘U[bS^ WjbaegdW fa UdWV[f d[e] [e [‘ fZW S_ag‘fe aiWV Tk dW^SfWV g‘VWdfS][‘Ye. There are no related undertakings in the current year. Capital management Capital comprises share capital of £7.0m (2020: £3.8m) and share premium of £157.5m (2020: £146.0m). 39 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 12. Capital and reserves Ordinary shares of 1p each in issue at 30 November 2020 Ordinary shares of 1p each in issue at 30 November 2021 No of shares ‘000 379,347 702,206 Called up share capital £’000 3,793 7,022 Share premium account £’000 146,002 157,477 All of the ordinary shares in issue referred to in the table above were authorised and are fully paid. During the prior year, costs in relation to the fund raise of £1.5m in December 2020 were deducted from the retained earnings reserve. During the year, these costs were reclassified from retained earnings to be offset against share premium. Own treasury shares Included in the total number of ordinary shares outstanding above are 535,440 (2020: 1,634,304) ordinary shares held by the Company's employee benefit trust. The ordinary shares held by the trustee of the Company's employee benefit trust pursuant to the SIP SdW fdWSfWV Se Gi‘ eZSdWe [‘ fZW ;a_bS‘kue :S^S‘UW KZWWf [‘ SUUadVS‘UW i[fZ IAS 32. During the year, 1,098,864 (2020: 55,696) shares were transferred to employees of the GWSA Group. 13. Related party transactions During the year, the Company settled the amount due to related party GWSA as at the prior year end, for the value £1,235,000. The Company did not enter into any other related party transactions. During the prior year, from the date of the disposal of the investment in its subsidiary, GWSA, the Company entered into commercial transactions with GWSA as follows: 9 December 2019 Purchases from related parties Reimbursement from related parties 30 November 2020 14. Capital commitments Amounts owed to related parties £’000 - 385 850 1,235 At 30 November 2021, the Company had no commitments (2020: £Nil). 15. Contingent liabilities At 30 November 2021, the Company had no contingent liabilities (2020: £Nil). 16. Subsequent events On 14 January 2022, the Company received a dividend from Marcelos Limited of £2,218,000. Fa^^ai[‘Y eZSdWZa^VWdeu SbbdahS^ Tk S ebWU[S^ dWea^gf[a‘ a‘ 0. BS‘gSdk /-//) fZW ;agdf SbbdahWV S dWVgUf[a‘ aX fZW ;a_bS‘kue share premium on 22 February 2022 of £157,477,000 to distributable reserves. The distributable reserve will allow the Company to proceed with an on-market purchase of up to 20% aX fZW ;a_bS‘kue [eegWV eZSdW USb[fS^. On 10 March 2022, the Company announced that it had acquired 1,000,000 ordinary shares in Caretech Holdings PLC at £6.335 per share, for a total consideration of £6.3m. This was its first investment since becoming an Investing Company and is consistent with its investing policy as amended after the General Meeting held on 31 January 2022. 40 Logistics Development Group plc Notes to the Company Financial Statements (continued) for the year ended 30 November 2021 16. Subsequent events (continued) On 1 April 2022, the Company announced that it had acquired a further 974,130 shares in Caretech Holdings Plc at an average price of £6.95 per share, for a total consideration of £6,769,069. 41 GLOSSARY Term Definition Accounts Admission AGM AIM AIM Rules The financial statements of the Company The admission of the issued ordinary shares in the Company admitted to trading on AIM that became effective on 31 December 2020 Annual general meeting of the Company Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange The AIM Rules for Companies published by the London Stock Exchange from time to time (including, without limitation, any guidance notes or statements of practice) which govern the rules and responsibilities of companies whose shares are admitted to trading on AIM AIM Investing Company An Investing Company as defined by the AIM rules. APMs Board CAGR CGU Company DBAY Alternative Performance Measures The Board of Directors of the Company Compound annual growth rate Cash Generating Unit Logistics Development Group plc, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 08922456 DBAY Advisors Limited and/or any fund(s) or entity(ies) managed or controlled by DBAY Advisors Limited as appropriate in the relevant context DBAY Transaction On 9 December 2019 DouglasBay Capital III Fund LP, a fund managed by DBAY Advisors Limited completed the acquisition of an indirect 51% equity stake in GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions Limited. Directors EBITDA The Directors of the Company as at the date of this document, as identified on page 10 Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation Eddie Stobart Businesses Eddie Stobart, The Pallet Network, iForce, Eddie Stobart Europe and The Logistics People EPS FY20 FY21 GWSA Earnings per share Financial Year ended 30 November 2020 Financial Year ended 30 November 2021 GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions Limited, the operational holding company of the Eddie Stobart trading entities; Eddie Stobart Limited, iForce Limited, The Pallet Network Limited and The Logistic People Limited. GWSA Group GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions Limited and all of its subsidiaries from time to time HY20 HY21 IAS IFRS Six month period ended 31 May 2020 Six month period ended 31 May 2021 International Accounting Standards International Financial Reporting Standards Investment Management Agreement An investment management agreement entered into between the Company and DBAY, pursuant to iZ[UZ <:9Q ZSe TWW‘ Sbba[‘fWV Se fZW ;a_bS‘kue [‘hWef_W‘f _S‘SYWd Investing Policy LZW ;a_bS‘kue [‘hWef[‘Y ba^[Uk _adW bSdf[Ug^Sd^k eWt out on pages 6 and 7 LTIP Marcelos The Long Term Incentive Plan Marcelos Limited, a company incorporated on the Isle of Man (company no. 016829v), whose registered office is at First Names House, Victoria Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 4DF 42 Ordinary Shares/Shares Ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company PIK Loan note PWC QCA Loan of £55m used to effect the DBAY transaction, which carries interest at 18% compounding quarterly, maturing in November 2025. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP - tZW ;a_bS‘kue SgV[fads Quoted Companies Alliance QCA Governance Code QCA Corporate Governance Code for Small and Mid-Size Quoted Companies published by the QCA SIP Share Incentive Plan 43 Advisors Registrars for Logistics Development Group plc Link Asset Services The Registry 34 Beckenham Road Beckenham Kent BR3 4TU Nomad Strand Hanson Limited 26 Mount Row London W1K 3SQ Broker Investec plc 30 Gresham Street London EC2V 7QP Independent Auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP No 1 Spinningfields 1 Hardman Square Manchester M3 3EB Solicitors Fladgate LLP 16 Great Queen Street London WC2B 5DG Public Relations FTI Consulting 200 Aldergate Street London EC1A 4HD 44

Continue reading text version or see original annual report in PDF format above