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Loop Industries, Inc.

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FY2021 Annual Report · Loop Industries, Inc.
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ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2021

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
At LoopUp, we believe great 
communications are at the heart 
of all successful organisations. 
Our mission is to help them 
communicate and collaborate 
in a secure and effective way 
wherever they may be.

STRATEGIC REPORT

2  Financial Highlights
4  Cloud Telephony
6  Hybridium
8  Co-Chief Executive Officers’ Statement
10  Strategic Priorities
12  Our People and Culture
14  Corporate Social Responsibility
15  Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR)
16  Chief Financial Officer’s Review
18  Principal Risks and Uncertainties
20  Section 172 Statement

GOVERNANCE

22  Board of Directors
24  Chairman’s Statement
25  Corporate Governance Report
34  Audit Committee Report
35  Nomination Committee Report
36  Remuneration Committee and Remuneration 

Report

39  Directors’ Report
41  Directors’ Responsibilities Statement

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

42  Independent Auditor’s Report
50  Consolidated Statement of
  Comprehensive Income
51  Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
52  Company Statement of Financial Position
53  Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
54  Company Statement of Changes in Equity
55  Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
56  Company Statement of Cash Flows
57  Notes to the Financial Statements
88  Company Information and Corporate Advisers

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

1

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

A year of strategic transition  
for the Group

Revenue1

£19.5m

50.2

42.5

34.2

19.5

17.5

M
£

Gross profit1

£13.5m 

35.6

28.2

23.9

13.5

13.4

M
£

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Adjusted EBITDA1,2

£1.2m 

15.3

7.7

6.4

3.5

M
£

1.2

Adjusted operating (loss)/profit1,2

£(6.1)m 

9.0

4.5

M
£

0.7

1.2

(6.1)

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

Cash at 31 December 2021

£5.5m 

(2020: £12.1m)

Notes:
1.   2021 includes 3 months of SyncRTC (Hybridium), acquired in October 2021
2.  Adjusted EBITDA and operating (loss)/profit exclude non-recurring transaction 
costs, exceptional reorganisation costs, non-recurring transaction costs, 
amortisation of acquired intangibles and share-based payments charges

2

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

From our traditional base of 
remote meetings to a broader 
cloud platform for premium 
hybrid communications

REVENUE SEGMENTATION (FY2021) (%)

54%

23%

13%

9%

1%

Graph key: 

Remote Meetings: – £10.56m – 54%
Cloud Telephony: – £2.54m – 13%
Virtual Events: – £1.74m – 9% 
Hybridium: – £0.24m – 1%
WebEx resale: – £4.44m – 23%

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

3

CLOUD TELEPHONY

Next Generation  
Cloud Telephony

In Q3 2020, the Group announced the launch of its Cloud  
Telephony solution, which now sits squarely at the heart  
of the Group’s forward-looking growth strategy. 

LoopUp’s next generation solution is integrated with 
Microsoft Teams and enables users to make phone calls to 
external phone numbers and receive phone calls to their 
own work phone numbers, all seamlessly via their Teams 
enabled devices.

LoopUp’s differentiated platform is targeted at multinational 
enterprises, enabling them to consolidate their telephony 
provision globally with one vendor partner – LoopUp – 
rather than multiple geographic-specific carriers. Specifically, 
LoopUp:
•  expects to be a fully licensed and regulated 

telecommunications service provider in approximately 60 
countries by the end of 2022, including certain 
challenging jurisdictions such as China and India;

•  has built a premium voice platform over the last 15 years 

(originally for the purpose of high quality legal conference 
calls), comprising a private redundant IP backbone 
between seven global data centres, which interconnect 
with 18 carefully selected tier-1 carrier partners with calls 
routed on highest quality basis;

Gold Cloud Productivity
Gold Collaboration and Content
Gold Communications
Gold Messaging
Gold Project and Portfolio Management
Gold Windows and Devices

LoopUp's Advanced Specialization Awards

Calling for Microsoft Teams
Adoption and Change Management
Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams

4

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Forecast Cloud Telephony 
market value by 2025

£29b

(source: Gartner 2022)

•  brings deep, multilingual Microsoft voice expertise to 

assist its customers with solution design, configuration 
and rollout project management across complex global 
deployments. The Group has recently been awarded the 
'Calling for Microsoft Teams Advanced Specialization' by 
Microsoft, which represents the highest competency tier 
above and beyond Microsoft's gold level;

•  has developed a global management and administration 

portal for its customers, enabling visibility and 
management of phone numbers, users and usage/spend 
analysis on a global level; and

•  has introduced differentiated 'PerfectBundleTM' pricing, 
which enables customers to pool their committed 
spend across their international billing entities.

During 2021, the Group closed 31 new Cloud Telephony 
enterprise contracts, with all customer deployments proving 
successful and all rollouts progressing positively. The Group 
is targeting an additional 50 wins during 2022.

The Group’s sales pipeline of direct Cloud Telephony 
opportunities continued to grow and mature, reaching 
approximately £72 million of potential Annual Recurring 
Revenue (ARR) by the end of FY2021.

Gold Cloud Productivity

Gold Collaboration and Content

Gold Communications

Gold Messaging

Gold Project and Portfolio Management

Gold Windows and Devices

LoopUp's Advanced Specialization Awards

Calling for Microsoft Teams
Adoption and Change Management
Meetings and Meeting Rooms for Microsoft Teams

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

5

HYBRIDIUM

Hybrid  
Auditorium  
Technology

(acquired by the Group in October 2021, as SyncRTC)

The post pandemic hybrid workplace is seeking new 
ways to communicate, learn and engage, and yet getting 
large groups of people together is harder than ever. 

6

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Universitas is at the heart of our objective to turn Telefónica’s headquarters 
into a complete and avant-garde technological, disruptive, training and 
creative ecosystem, and we are delighted to partner with Hybridium in this 
endeavour. Hybrid classes will leverage Hybridium’s technology, 
combining virtual and face-to-face sessions in groundbreaking formats 
that honour the essence of the Hub in attracting, fostering and nurturing 
talent. We see Universitas and its technologies as a world reference"

José María Álvarez-Pallete, president of Telefónica

People want flexibility between in-person and remote 
participation and need to feel represented and 
engaged in both settings.

At Hybridium, we understand that sometimes ‘just 
another Teams or Zoom’ simply doesn’t cut it. As 
specialists in hybrid auditorium technology for the last 
decade, we help organisations catapult engagement 
and competitiveness to the next level. 

Hybridium’s large scale video and hologram wall  
unites participants for exceptionally immersive and 
engaging hybrid collaboration, training and events,  
and is designed for: 

• 

• 

• 

Immersive engagement – ultra-low latency at 
ultra-high resolution
  Full video wall layout flexibility – any content of 
any screen
In-person and remote delegate parity – 
neither group should feel second class

•  Driven engagement – facilitating interactions, 
capturing reactions, uniting hybrid audiences
•  Event persistence – content and video wall 

layout continuity for recurring sessions
•  Session analytics – attendee interactions 
tracked providing valuable event insights

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

7

CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS' STATEMENT

Continued execution on  
our strategic transition 

•  Hybrid Auditorium Technology (Hybridium) – enabling 
large scale collaboration and events (20-150 people in 
room and 20-150 people remote) for events such as 
company town halls, management onsites/offsites, 
team kick-offs, capital markets days, product 
launches, corporate training and external 
thought leadership events.

By contrast, the Group’s Remote Meetings business has 
been declining in the post pandemic environment as 
enterprises progressively embrace more holistic Unified 
Communications (UC) platforms, such as Microsoft Teams, 
which incorporate meetings functionality.

Overall, FY2021 Group revenue was £19.5 million (FY2020: 
£50.2 million) and adjusted EBITDA was £1.2 million 
(FY2020: £15.3 million), declines which were exaggerated 
by the material Q2/Q3 2020 spike in Remote Meetings 
business at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which 
peaked at over £7 million per month in each of March 
and April 2020.

We continue to manage our business operations carefully to 
preserve cash during this strategic transition and are excited 
by the forward-looking growth potential of both Cloud 
Telephony and Hybridium.

Strong commercial momentum in Cloud Telephony
In Q3 2020, the Group announced the launch of its Cloud 
Telephony solution, integrated into Microsoft Teams, which 
enables users to make phone calls to external phone 
numbers and receive phone calls to their own work phone 
numbers, all seamlessly via their Teams-enabled devices. 
LoopUp’s differentiated platform enables multinational 
enterprises to consolidate their telephony provision globally 
with one vendor partner – LoopUp – rather than from 
multiple geographic-specific carriers.

Following 31 new Cloud Telephony contract wins during 
FY2021 – the Group’s first full year of trading since the 
launch of its solution for Microsoft Teams – the Group has 
added 16 additional new contract wins as at 7 June 2022. 
This performance places the Group on track to meet its full 
year target of securing 50 additional contract wins during 
the full year.

The post pandemic 
workplace has shone  
a spotlight on hybrid 
communications  
solutions"

Steve Flavell and Michael Hughes

FY2021 has been a challenging year for the Group, as it 
has been executing on a strategic transition to grow its 
forward-looking hybrid communications lines of business 
– Cloud Telephony and Hybridium – as its Remote 
Meetings line of business declines.

The post pandemic workplace has shone a spotlight on 
hybrid communications tools that are equally secure and 
effective in the office, at home and on the road.

The Group has two exciting solutions in hybrid 
communications:
•  Cloud Telephony (LoopUp) – enabling next generation 

phone calls to and from work phone numbers 
independently of the user’s physical location, and in 
LoopUp’s case, enabling multinational enterprises to 
buy telephony globally from one service provider as 
opposed to multiple telecommunications carriers; and

8

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

In aggregate, these 47 contract wins – 31 in FY2021 and 16 in 
FY2022 to date – represent:
•  Minimum Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of c.£0.8 

million and minimum Total Contract Value (TCV) of c.£3.1 
million, based on minimum contracted levels;

•  Expected ARR of c.£1.9 million and expected TCV of 

c.£6.2 million, based on expected rollout levels, where 
LoopUp has relatively strong visibility of customer intent 
based on conversations, planning and pricing; and
•  Potential ARR of c.£4.4 million and potential TCV of 

c.£13.8 million, based on identified potential rollout levels 
but where LoopUp currently has less clear visibility of 
customer intent.

In addition to the 47 contract wins, the Group’s sales pipeline 
of potential new Cloud Telephony opportunities continues 
to grow and now stands in excess of £100 million of 
additional potential ARR, of which 15% is at written 
proposal stage or later. 

Operationally, all customer deployments to date have been 
successful, and all rollouts are progressing positively.

We are excited by the potential of our differentiated solution 
in this large market, which is forecast to grow to c.£29 billion 
by 2025 (source: Gartner 2022).

Acquisition of SyncRTC, since rebranded to Hybridium
In October 2021, the Group acquired SyncRTC Inc., a  
hybrid auditorium technology company, at an enterprise 
value of c.£3.3 million, which the Group has since rebranded 
to Hybridium (www.hybridium.com).

The acquisition stemmed from the Group’s longstanding 
relationship with SyncRTC CEO, Victor Sanchez, who 
founded the company in 2013. Following the acquisition, 
Victor has taken on the combined role of President of 
Hybridium and LoopUp Group CTO.

Hybridium combines video wall and hologram technology, 
bringing unrivaled engagement and analytics to larger scale 
hybrid education, corporate training and events such as 
management onsites, departmental kick-offs, capital markets 
days and thought leadership seminars. Events with 
Hybridium benefit from ultra-low latency at ultra-high 
resolution, with full video wall layout flexibility facilitating 
any content on any screen.

In April 2022, Hybridium signed a landmark deal with 
Telefónica, who is deploying the solution at ‘Universitas’, 
its global innovation and talent hub, located at its Madrid 
headquarters in Distrito Telefónica. The initial 2-year contract 
with Telefónica is for a minimum value of approximately 
EUR 200,000, with potential for expansion and extension.

José María Álvarez-Pallete, president of Telefónica, 
commented, “Universitas is at the heart of our objective to 
turn Telefónica’s headquarters into a complete and avant-
garde technological, disruptive, training and creative 
ecosystem, and we are delighted to partner with Hybridium 
in this endeavour. Hybrid classes will leverage Hybridium’s 
technology, combining virtual and face-to-face sessions in 
groundbreaking formats that honour the essence of the Hub 
in attracting, fostering and nurturing talent. We see 
Universitas and its technologies as a world reference.”

Business priorities and looking ahead
The Group is focused on the following business priorities 
during FY2022:
 Cloud Telephony: driving the next stage of 
commercial traction 
Continuing the rapid flow of new opportunities into the sales 
pipeline; developing the weighting of pipeline opportunities 
to more progressed stages in the sales cycle; generating an 
increasing rate of successful conversions into new customer 
wins; and reaching a state of material predictable revenue 
growth at attractive unit customer acquisition economics;
Cloud Telephony: introducing highly scalable strategic 
distribution partnerships 
Seeking to form strategic partnerships with major global 
Microsoft partners who sell other related Microsoft 
technology but are not licensed to sell cloud telephony, 
particularly on a multi-jurisdictional basis consistent with 
their enterprise customer bases;
Hybridium: extending distribution into the 
enterprise market 
Moving beyond Hybridium’s existing customer base in 
education, and leveraging the post pandemic enterprise 
demand for communications tools that can drive 
communications, learning and engagement in the hybrid 
workplace; and
Hybridium: introducing LoopUp-managed hybrid 
events in London 
Extending the Group’s long-established virtual events 
business by launching a managed hybrid events capability, 
initially as a proof of concept in London.

Looking ahead, we are excited about the potential of our 
forward-looking hybrid communications lines of business – 
Cloud Telephony and Hybridium. We are firmly focused on 
their market success and growth, while leveraging the cash 
generation of our declining Remote Meetings business. This 
transition will extend into FY2022, as the Group continues 
to manage its operations to preserve cash while turning 
the corner back towards strong and sustainable medium 
term growth.

Steve Flavell 
Co-CEO 

Michael Hughes
Co-CEO

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

9

 
STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 

Growing our hybrid 
communications lines of 
business - Cloud Telephony 
and Hybridium

PRIORITY 

EXPLANATION 

1.  CLOUD TELEPHONY 
BUSINESS GROWTH

Building scalable and efficient 
routes to market 

2.  HYBRIDIUM BUSINESS 
GROWTH

Building scalable and efficient 
routes to market 

10

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

ACHIEVEMENTS 

OUTLOOK 

•  Rapid development of Cloud Telephony pipeline, 

•  Targeting 50 additional enterprise 

reaching an estimated £72 million of potential Annual 
Recurring Revenue (ARR) by the end of 2021 

contract wins in 2022 

•  Closed 31 enterprise contracts in 2021 

•  Enter into strategic partnership 

discussions for indirect distribution of 
Cloud Telephony 

•  All deployments successful and all rollouts 

•  Continue to develop and widen 

progressing positively

LoopUp’s product differentiation for its 
multinational target market 

•  Seek cross sale opportunities from 

Hybridium customers

•  Acquired SyncRTC in October 2021 

•  Targeting 8 contract wins in 2022

•  Effective integration of the business into the LoopUp 

Group structure 

•  Launch of a London facility for 
LoopUp-managed events 

•  Reformulated go-to-market strategy to target the 

•  Continue to develop Hybridium’s 

multinational enterprise market alongside Hybridium’s 
existing education market

product differentiation 

•  Seek cross sale opportunities from 

LoopUp Cloud Telephony customers

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

11

OUR PEOPLE AND CULTURE 

Our primary growth markets are in transition, 
but our focus on teamwork remains steadfast.”

Steve Flavell
Co-CEO

KEY STATS

Employees (at year end)

202
46%

Female employees

Percent of employees currently 
with over 2 years’ service

86%

The excellence of our employees has always 
been, and remains, the Group’s primary asset, 
even as we transition into new growth markets. 

Notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic and the new ways of working, teamwork 
has always been at the heart of LoopUp’s culture. Each employee is keen to do 
their part, and collectively employees galvanise to drive success for the company 
and each other. It is this deep-rooted team culture that differentiates our products 
and service to customers in our markets.

Our 5 pillars
During 2021, our People and Culture Team has refocused efforts around 5 key 
pillars which support our culture and values:

1.  Reward and recognition – rewarding individuals and teams for demonstrating 

our values

2.  Learning and Development – encouraging the development and sharing of 
skills amongst employees, and supporting those driven to be industrious, 
ambitious, innovative and curious

3.  Wellbeing – looking after our employees, ensuring equity, respect, 

opportunity and wellbeing

4.  Corporate Social Responsibility – acting with integrity for our employees, 

shareholders, stakeholders and the wider community.

5.  Social – ensuring we have fun along the way. 

Equity incentive schemes
As part of this focus we aim to develop, motivate and reward our employees. In 
July 2021, we launched the LoopUp Employee Share Incentive Scheme (ESIS), 
whereby employees can choose to sacrifice a percentage of their base salary in 
return for equity in LoopUp. The scheme has been highly successful with 
approximately 80 employees taking part. 

In addition, the company has continued to use the approved share options 
schemes to incentivise and retain key employees. The directors consider these 
schemes as a great way to reward employees, while aligning their interest with 
the company and all shareholders.

12

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

New ways of working
We promptly introduced home working for all our offices as 
lockdown measures were introduced in most countries in 
March 2020 and have continued to act in the best interests 
of our employees’ health and our customers’ quality of 
service.

Staff are well equipped and able to work efficiently remotely, 
making the most of the technology available. With the 
pandemic lasting longer than any of us imagined, motivation 
and engagement of employees has been paramount, 
especially during a time of uncertainty. 

Regular communications from our co-CEOs, Executive 
Leadership Team and senior management team have served 
to reassure, support and connect colleagues while they 
were distanced from one another. We are currently working 
in a hybrid mode, with choices being driven by the needs of 
each team to drive productivity, the specific situation and 
preferences of individuals, and the company’s need to retain 
effective communications and guiding culture.

Our values

ACTING WITH 
PROFESSIONALISM 

•  Being accountable  

and reliable

•  Displaying professionalism
•  Acting with integrity

DEMONSTRATING A  
‘ONE TEAM’ ATTITUDE 

•  Treating others with trust 

and respect

•  Being collaborative,  

helpful and supportive

•  Making the job fun

DISPLAYING A  
PASSION FOR RESULTS 

•  Being industrious, 

determined and ambitious 
•  Taking ownership and being 

a self-starter 

•  Being innovative, curious 

and agile 

•  Focusing on business 

outcomes and taking a lean 
approach

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

13

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Focusing on the environment, 
our communities and our future

We recognise that we have a responsibility to our 
employees, to the communities in which we work, 
and to our planet.

At LoopUp, we consider Corporate Social Responsibility 
(CSR) as an intrinsic part of our business. We are committed 
to:
•  promoting equality and social mobility;
• 

reducing the impact of our activities on the  
environment; and

•  supporting entrepreneurial activities.

We contribute through a combination of charitable giving, 
volunteering and mentorship, and we collaborate with 
charities, not-for-profit organisations and community groups.

A spotlight on the Silicon Valley Internship  
Programme (SVIP)

The Silicon Valley Internship Programme (SVIP) was founded 
by LoopUp’s co-CEO, Michael Hughes, in 2013. Michael 
works with a group of volunteers who want to give back to 
the entrepreneurial community with a view to spreading 
innovation, diversity, and entrepreneurship around the world.

The program gives newly graduating software engineering 
students (and related disciplines) the unique experience of 
working with tech companies in the San Francisco Bay Area 
through a one-year paid internship.

The aim is that through this experience, SVIP interns will pick 
up and bring back a little bit of the Silicon Valley culture to 
the entrepreneurial community in their home countries. 
Successful applicants are matched with a tech company in 
the Bay Area and will work as an integral part of that 
engineering team.

SVIP arranges for US work visas, provides flights to and from 
San Francisco, and organises the first month’s 
accommodation. During the programme, SVIP hosts regular 
‘Meet the Entrepreneur’ and ‘Hackathon’ events, which take 
the participants through the company formation process 
from idea to revenue.

SVIP places into small to medium sized high growth software 
companies, ranging from enterprise software to consumer 
offerings, and even tools for developers. SVIP interns gain 
hands-on experience of day-to-day Silicon Valley life, and 
that can sometimes mean shoes in the office being optional 
or high-level meetings conducted over a game of ping pong.

14

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

STREAMLINED ENERGY AND CARBON REPORTING (SECR)

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Group usage of energy varies by office location and is a 
combination of:
•  being metered and paid for by the Group as  

consumed; and

•  being pooled across all building tenants and paid  

for by the Group as part of a service.

Energy consumption across the Group has been estimated 
by calculating electricity usage per employee in our main 
London office, where data is available for energy directly 
consumed. This electricity usage per employee figure has 
then been applied to all employees in the Group.

The greenhouse gas emissions have been calculated using 
a conversion factor of 0.212 tCO2e per MWh. This is the 
greenhouse gas conversion factor recommended by the 
UK Government for company reporting purposes.

The Group has no significant energy consumption which 
falls into scope 1.

LoopUp energy consumption data, 2021

UK 

International 

Total 

Energy consumption 

(MWh)

Scope 2: (tCO2e)
Employees
tCO2e per employee

106
22.5
121
0.19

71
15.0
81
0.19

177
37.5
202
0.19

In 2021 the Group continued its actions to reduce energy 
consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. These include 
increasing the number of employees that work remotely for 
some or all of the week, rather than being present in the 
office. As a result, the Group closed a number of its offices in 
favour of continued remote and hybrid working, resulting in 
reduced energy consumption as well as reduced costs. 
Furthermore, the Group continued to reduce the need for 
employees to travel, especially on international trips. 

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

15

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S REVIEW

A year of transition

After an extraordinary 
2020, it is pleasing to 
see the Group's strategic 
transition progressing well"

Simon Sacerdoti

During 2021, the Group has made 
good progress in its strategic 
transition towards hybrid 
communications and collaboration, 
which began in the latter part of 
2020 with the launch of its Cloud 
Telephony product for Microsoft 
Teams and the acquisition of 
SyncRTC (rebranded as Hybridium 
in 2022) in October 2021 added to 
the Group's product offerings. 

Operating results 
With the acquisition of SyncRTC Inc in 2021 (since rebranded 
to Hybridium), the Group has added a new revenue stream 
hybrid auditorium technology. The segmental reporting now 
considers the following segments:
•  Revenue from our Cloud Telephony, Remote Meetings 
and Managed Events capabilities, all delivered on 
LoopUp’s global technology platform, is categorised as 
LoopUp Platform Capabilities (“LPC”);

•  Revenue from the provision of hybrid auditorium 
technology is categorised as ‘Hybridium’; and

•  Revenue from the resale of Cisco WebEx Meetings is 

categorised as ‘third party resale services’.

16

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Revenue

£19.5m

FY2020: £50.2m

Adjusted EBITDA

£1.2m

FY2020: £15.3m

2020 was an exceptional year due to the global lockdown 
having a hugely positive, but relatively short-lived impact on 
revenues. While revenue spiked in Q2 and Q3 2020, a 
steady decline then set in as enterprises progressively 
moved to more holistic Unified Communications platforms, 
such as Microsoft Teams, rather than using discrete 
meetings products. Relative to that high point, 2021 revenue 
from LPC decreased by 65% to £14.8 million (2020: £43.0 
million), and revenue from third party resale services 
declined by 38% to £4.4 million (2020: £7.2 million).

The Group had an operating cash outflow after capital 
expenditure of £11.4 million (FY2020: £11.4 million inflow).  
This was partly offset by the proceeds of a placing in 
October 2021 which raised £8.85 million and enabled a 
prepayment of £4.1 million of term debt in addition to the  
£1.7 million that was scheduled.

Net debt has risen to £2.4 million as at 31 December 2021 
(2020: £0.7 million).

Included in the LPC figures is £0.74 million of Cloud 
Telephony revenue, for which 2021 was the first year of 
trading (excluding the Group’s legacy cloud telephony 
capability for Skype for Business).

The Group’s overall gross profit decreased by 62% to £13.5 
million (2020: £35.6 million), representing a gross margin of 
69.0% (2020: 70.9%). This slight decrease of two percentage 
points reflects a change in mix between LPC and lower 
margin third party resale services.

The gross profit on LPC business fell by 65% to £11.7 million 
(2020: £33.5 million), at a slightly improved gross margin of 
79.1% (2020: 77.8%).

The adjusted operating expenses of the Group in 2021 
were reduced by 39% on 2020 levels at £12.3 million (2020: 
£20.3 million). Management and the Board have actively 
managed costs in line with the reduced revenues, and this 
has included reorganising staffing levels where necessary. 
Furthermore, the Group’s performance in 2020 gave rise 
to a large bonus accrual, which was not the case in 2021.

Assets and Cash Flow
The Group has reassessed the carrying value of its 
intangible assets as at 31 December 2021, which has led to 
an exceptional impairment charge of £19.6 million in respect 
of the customer relationships asset that arose on the 
acquisition of MeetingZone in 2018. The majority of the 
customers represented by this asset were Remote Meetings 
and Managed Events customers, and the decline in those 
lines of business has resulted in: (1) this asset needing to be 
impaired; and (2) the amortisation period being revised 
down to 6 years from the original 15 years. This does not 
apply to the goodwill recognised on the same acquisition,  
as the technological, telecommunications and operating 
platform acquired is a key part of the Group’s Cloud 
Telephony offering going forward.

In 2018, the Company entered into a term loan with Bank of 
Ireland for £17.0 million, which has since reduced to £6.76 
million as at 31 December 2021, following an additional 
repayment of £4.10 million following the Group’s £8.85 million 
placing in October 2021 (balance at 31 December 2020: 
£12.75 million). Since the year-end, the Group has successfully 
renegotiated and amended this senior debt with Bank of 
Ireland to reflect the Group’s ongoing strategic transition plan. 
Key elements of the amended arrangements include:
•  a holiday on planned principal repayments through to 
June 2023, representing £1.7 million in aggregate 
deferred payments;

•  a margin increase of 2.0 percent, taking the total interest 
rate to 4.5 percent above the Sterling Overnight Index 
Average (SONIA);

•  continuation of the Group's undrawn revolving credit 

facility of £1.5 million;

•  an extension of the term through to September 2023; and
•  a revised set of financial covenants which are more 

concerned with sufficient ongoing cash liquidity and the 
growth objectives for Cloud Telephony and Hybridium in 
the Group’s transition business plan.

Due to the reduced scale of the business since the high 
point in 2020, the Group’s management and Board have 
carefully reviewed both near and mid-term cash forecasts 
and are comfortable with the Group’s application of the 
going concern basis of accounting.

Key performance indicators
As the Group is in a state of strategic transition, the key 
performance indicators (KPIs) used by management to monitor 
the business are being developed in line with the transition.  
The financial indicators currently being used by management 
to monitor performance align closely with the performance 
highlights set out on page 2. There are no non-financial KPIs 
used by management, and accordingly, the Group does not 
report any non-financial KPIs in this report.

Simon Sacerdoti
CFO

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

17

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

As with any business, the Group is subject to a number 
of risks and uncertainties, some of which are outside of 
our control. The Board confirms that there are ongoing 
processes for identifying, evaluating and mitigating the 
significant risks facing the Group. The processes are 
consistent, so far as appropriate given the size and nature 
of the business, with the guidance issued by the Financial 
Reporting Council.

Below, we have identified the principal risks and 
uncertainties which could have an adverse material 
impact on the Group. This list is not exhaustive and it 
should be noted that additional risks, which the Group 
does not consider material, or of which it is not aware, 
could have an adverse impact on the Group.

PRINCIPAL RISK OR UNCERTAINTY

IMPACT

MITIGATION

COMPETITION AND 
TECHNOLOGICAL 
CHANGE

PEOPLE

KEY SYSTEM  
FAILURE OR 
DISRUPTION

 The Group operates in dynamic 
software technology and 
telecommunications markets, which 
may be subject to material change 
in terms of customer demand and 
substitutional technology.

 The Group’s primary competitors are, 
in many cases, significantly larger 
enterprises with greater financial and 
marketing resources. There can be 
no guarantee that the Group’s current 
competitors or new entrants to the 
market will not bring new or superior 
technologies, products or services 
at similar or lower prices.

 While certain products in the Group’s 
portfolio may experience threat and 
decline due to competition and 
technological change from time to 
time, the Group maintains a policy of 
active product development and, if 
appropriate, technology acquisition 
that can promote long term business 
sustainability.

 In 2021, the Group invested materially 
in its Cloud Telephony growth line of 
business, and acquired SyncRTC as 
a further growth line of business in 
hybrid auditorium technology.

 Difficulties encountered in retaining 
senior staff and recruiting appropriate 
employees, and the failure to do so, 
or a change in market conditions that 
renders current incentivisation 
structures lacking, may hinder the 
Group’s ability to grow.

 The Group always seeks to ensure 
that it has appropriate incentivisation 
structures in place to attract and 
retain the calibre of employees 
necessary to ensure the efficient 
management, operation and growth 
of the business.

 Any malfunctioning of the Group’s 
technology and systems, or those 
of key third parties, even for a short 
period of time, could result in a lack 
of confidence in the Group’s services, 
with a consequential material adverse 
effect on operations and results.

 The Group regularly reviews 
the appropriate redundancy and 
resiliency in its network operations, 
is ISO 27001 certified across its global 
operations, and has implemented 
a sophisticated Service Event 
Response Team (SERT) with detailed 
processes and procedures for 
responding to any size or type 
of service outage or disruption.

 Members of the SERT are located 
around the world, enabling 24x365 
coverage.

18

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Key

Increased

Decreased

Unchanged

PRINCIPAL RISK OR UNCERTAINTY

IMPACT

MITIGATION

PRODUCT 
DEVELOPMENT

INTELLECTUAL 
PROPERTY

FOREIGN  
EXCHANGE

 New capabilities and enhancements 
introduced into the Group’s products 
may contain undetected defects that 
fail to meet customers’ performance 
expectations or satisfy contract 
specifications, and this may impact 
the Group’s results and reputation.

 Challenges to the Group’s intellectual 
property or alleged infringements of 
others’ intellectual property, by either 
competitors or other third parties, 
could result in costs, liabilities and 
operational uncertainties for the 
Group and there can be no guarantee 
as to the outcome of any such 
challenge or associated litigation.

 The Group also licenses software 
from third parties and the Group’s 
continuing rights to do so cannot 
be guaranteed.

 Given the Group’s material US sales 
and operations, fluctuations in foreign 
currency exchange rates could have 
a material effect on the Group’s 
revenue and profitability, and there 
can be no guarantee that the Group 
would be able to compensate or 
hedge against such effects.

 All product releases are put through 
rigorous quality assurance cycles, 
followed by internal user acceptance 
testing before release to customers 
in a considered and organised rollout 
strategy. Care is also taken to be able 
to ‘roll back’ to previous versions of 
the product whenever practically 
possible.

 The Group is aware neither of any 
challenges to its intellectual property, 
including its three granted patents, 
nor of any infringements to others’ 
intellectual property. We maintain an 
active policy regarding patents and 
trademarks as appropriate.

 We strive to maintain robust contracts 
with any key software licensed from 
third parties, and are aware of and 
informed about alternative sources 
of supply as necessary.

 The Group’s costs and revenues 
in US Dollars are broadly aligned, 
providing a natural hedge. This 
position is monitored continually 
by management.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

19

SECTION 172 STATEMENT

We believe that proactively engaging with, and 
acting on the needs of, our key stakeholders is 
critical to a culture and strategy that achieves 
long-term sustainable success

The Board identifies the following as its key stakeholders, 
and it is committed to effective engagement with them to 
promote the success of the company for the benefit of  
each group: 

Shareholders
Our aim is to promote long term value and growth to our 
shareholders. Through our AGMs, Capital Markets Days 
(from time to time), investor meetings and other discussions 
with our shareholders, we are able to communicate 
effectively with this group to help shape our commercial 
strategy. Please see our Corporate Governance Report 
on pages 26 to 33 for further information. 

Community
We believe in making a commitment to the communities we 
live and work in, to our planet and to society more broadly. 
Please see our Corporate Social Responsibility section on 
pages 14 and 15 for further information. 

Relevant information obtained from our key stakeholders is 
provided to the Board through reports sent in advance of 
each Board meeting and through in-person presentations. 
As a result of these activities, the Board has an overview of 
engagement with stakeholders, and other relevant factors, 
which enables the Directors to comply with their legal duty 
under section 172 of the Companies Act 2006. 

This strategic report was approved by the Board of Directors 
and authorised for issue on 25 July 2022. 

It was signed on their behalf by: 

Steve Flavell
Co-CEO
25 July 2022

Employees
We are committed to investing in our people and creating 
an environment where every employee can reach their full 
potential. We regularly communicate with our employees 
via face-to-face meetings, employee surveys as well as team 
and company-wide meetings. Such communication drives 
the process on how we can support our employees reaching 
their potential. Please see the section on Our People and 
Culture on pages 12 and 13 and our Corporate Governance 
Report on pages 26 to 33 for further information. 

Customers
We pride ourselves on providing a reliable, secure and 
productive service to customers for business-critical 
communications. As well as the day-to-day contact from our 
Account Managers with customers we also seek feedback at 
the end of each call via LoopUp and host product advisory 
sessions. This information shapes how we innovate and 
develop our services. Please see pages 4 to 7 and our 
Corporate Governance Report on pages 26 to 33 for 
further information. 

20

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

We are committed to investing 
in our people and creating an 
environment where every 
employee can reach their  
full potential."

Steve Flavell and Michael Hughes

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

21

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Non-Executives

Mike Reynolds
Independent Non-Executive Director 
and Non-Executive Chairman

Keith Taylor
Independent Non-Executive Director

Mike most recently held the position of EVP at Syniverse 
Technologies, before which he served as CEO of 2degrees 
Mobile. Prior to 2degrees Mobile, Mike spent more than 
seven years in a variety of senior positions, including 
President at Singapore listed network operator, StarHub. As 
President, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations 
of 2,800 employees and US$1.4bn of revenue.

Previously, Mike spent 24 years at BellSouth, which included 
appointments as President of BellSouth China and CEO of 
BellSouth International Wireless Services.

Keith has extensive experience in finance having operated 
in the industry for over 30 years. He worked for Barclays for 
over 20 years, most recently as a Managing Director within 
the Corporate & Investment Bank. He has also served as a 
Vice Chairman and Board Member of the Loan Market 
Association.

Additional Board experience includes several years as a 
Trustee Director of the Barclays UK Retirement Fund (one of 
the largest UK pension funds). Keith has a first-class honours 
degree from Cambridge University and an MBA with 
distinction from Bayes Business School.

Mike has BBA and MBA degrees, both from the University  
of Georgia.

A

R

N

A

R

N

Nico Goulet
Non-Executive Director

Nico is a managing partner at Adara Ventures where he has 
managed venture capital funds for the last 20 years. Nico 
has been actively involved with more than 40 early-stage 
ventures and served on the boards of 30 companies.

Prior to Adara, Nico was a partner at Monitor Company. Nico 
has a BSc degree in Aerospace Engineering from the École 
Centrale de Paris, an MSc in Aeronautics & Astronautics 
from MIT, and an MBA from INSEAD.

A

R

22

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

 
 
 
 
 
Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Executives

Steve Flavell
Co-CEO

Michael Hughes MBE
Co-CEO

Steve co-founded LoopUp alongside Co-CEO Michael 
Hughes. Based in London, Steve oversees global commercial 
and investor relations activities, and is accountable for setting 
and delivering the Group’s financial plan. Prior to LoopUp, 
Steve was EVP and main board Director at GoIndustry, an 
online industrial auctioneering platform, where as part of its 
founding team, Steve was involved in the company’s organic 
growth and several acquisitions.

Previously, Steve spent time at Monitor Company, Mars & Co, 
and Mobil Oil.

Steve has an MBA from Stanford and an MEng/BA Hons from 
St. John’s College, Cambridge.

N

Michael co-founded LoopUp alongside Co-CEO Steve Flavell. 
Based in San Francisco, Michael oversees the Group’s product 
development, engineering and network operations worldwide. 
Prior to LoopUp, Michael was a founding member and CEO of 
Pagoo, a pioneering VoIP company, overseeing the company’s 
expansion into Europe and Asia.

Prior to Pagoo, Michael was a strategy consultant with 
Monitor. Michael has an MEng from Imperial College, an MBA 
from Stanford as an Arjay Miller Scholar, and was awarded a 
Sainsbury Management Fellowship by the Royal Academy  
of Engineering.

Michael was made a Member of the Order of the British 
Empire (MBE) in Her Majesty’s 2017 New Year’s Honours List 
for services to graduate development via the Silicon Valley 
Internship Programme.

Key to Committees

A

R

Audit 

Remuneration

N

Nomination

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

23

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

I am confident in our ability 
to manage the transition

The team is executing 
well on our transition and 
growth of our forward-
looking lines of business"

Mike Reynolds

In my Chairman’s Statement last year, 
I spoke of the beginning of LoopUp 
Group’s strategic transition from a 
single capability remote meeting 
business into a broader cloud-platform 
based, hybrid communications 
solutions company. The strategic 
transition had already begun with the 
launch of our Cloud Telephony solution 
in the third quarter of 2020. I also 
stated in my Statement that 2021 will 
“inevitably be a transitional year”, 
and it has been just that! 

When a company undertakes a 
strategic transition of this magnitude, it 
will always face significant challenges, 
but also great opportunities. We have 
seen both in 2021. Some challenges 
are a natural part of such a transition, 
and others are a part and parcel of 
anticipating and reacting to a world 
transitioning out of COVID-19 as our 
clients try to solve the puzzles of 
operating in a post-pandemic 
work environment. 

The team is executing well on our 
transition and growth of our forward-
looking lines of business. In addition to 
strong momentum in Cloud Telephony 
we have added a second new line of 
business of Hybrid Auditorium 
Technology. This was one of the 
opportunities discussed above, coming 
to fruition in October 2021 when the 
Group acquired SyncRTC, since 
re-branded as Hybridium. Hybridium 
combines video wall and hologram 
technology enabling large scale 
collaboration and events such as 
company town halls, capital market 
days, corporate training and many 
others use cases. 

While challenging, LoopUp Group’s 
decision to undertake its strategic 
transition is proving to be prescient. 
Cloud Telephony market value is 
forecast to be £29 billion by 2025 
(source: Gartner 2022) and we are 
well positioned to succeed in that 
space. Hybridium is leading edge 
and represents solutions in a post 
pandemic world to allow large groups 
of people to communicate, learn and 
engage. We see both areas having 
tremendous growth opportunities 
for the Group.

While our Remote Meetings 
business has been declining in 
the post pandemic environment as 
enterprises embrace more holistic 
Unified Communications platforms such 
as Microsoft Teams, Remote Meetings 
continues to contribute value to the 
Group as we progress our strategic 
transition and compete in the high 
growth hybrid communications world. 

In 2022 we are laser-focused on 
accelerating the already strong growth 
of Cloud Telephony and establishing 
Hybridium across multiple customer 
segments, achieving both while 
leveraging the cash generation of 
Remote Meetings. We are excited 
about the Group’s potential and 
continue to be focused on its 
growth and success. 

I continue to count on the support of 
the strong and committed members 
of our management team and Board 
of Directors.

Mike Reynolds
Chairman
25 July 2022

24

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Committed to high standards  
of corporate governance

A note on corporate governance 
The Board recognises the importance of, and remains 
committed to, the maintenance of high standards of 
corporate governance. Through these high standards, 
it is the Board’s aim to deliver growth, maintain a dynamic 
management framework and build trust – such matters 
being key ingredients to delivering long-term sustainable 
performance.

After due consideration, the Board continues to report 
against the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate 
Governance Code (“QCA Code”). The following Statement  
of Compliance sets out in broad terms how we comply at this  
point in time against the ten principles set out in the QCA 
Code. The Board shall review and update this Statement 
of Compliance periodically as the business progresses.

The composition of the Board was considered carefully  
prior to the Group’s admission to AIM in 2016 to ensure an 
appropriate mix of skills and experience and again in light  
of the acquisition of MeetingZone in 2018, the acquisition  
of SyncRTC in 2021 and various Board changes. The Board 
holds its strategic decision-making meetings remotely or 
in various Group offices, taking the opportunity to meet 
with members of both the Executive Team and wider senior 
management team, building their knowledge of the business.

We remain of the opinion that LoopUp creates significant 
value for its customers by delivering a premium cloud 
platform with differentiated and specialist communications 
capabilities, which we continue to innovate and improve.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

25

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT  
CONTINUED

QCA Code Statement  
of Compliance

Delivering growth

Principle

Application

Compliance

1. Establish a 
strategy and 
business model 
which promote 
long-term value  
for shareholders.

The Board must be able to express a 
shared view of the Group’s purpose, 
business model and strategy. It should 
go beyond the simple description of 
products and corporate structures and 
set out how the Group intends to deliver 
shareholder value in the medium to 
long-term. It should demonstrate that 
the delivery of long-term growth is 
underpinned by a clear set of values 
aimed at protecting the Group from 
unnecessary risk and securing its long 
term future.

The Group’s strategy is focused on commercialising the 
value created through its cloud platform for specialist 
enterprise communications.

Platform capabilities are carefully selected on the basis 
of being differentiated from and complementary to 
those found in foundational unified communications 
platforms, such as Microsoft Teams.

Critical platform capabilities currently comprise:
•  Cloud Telephony: primarily focused on relatively 
international and fully-managed implementations 
for larger sized enterprises

•  Remote Meetings: primarily focused on business-
critical, external client meetings for Professional 
Services firms 

•  Managed Events and Webcasts: primarily focused 

on a premium end-to-end experience for hosts and 
coordinators of important virtual corporate events 
which has been significantly enhanced following 
the acquisition of SyncRTC in 2021

Details of the Group’s strategic priorities are set out on 
pages 10 and 11. The principal risks and uncertainties 
to the Group (including how they are mitigated) are 
detailed on pages 18 and 19.

2. Seek to 
understand and 
meet shareholder 
needs and 
expectations.

Directors must develop a good 
understanding of the needs and 
expectations of all elements of the 
Group’s shareholder base.

The Board aims to respond promptly and suitably 
to shareholder enquiries and comments. The Board 
periodically meets with the Group’s major shareholders 
and takes on feedback from such meetings.

The Board must manage shareholders’ 
expectations and should seek to 
understand the motivations behind 
shareholder voting decisions.

Shareholders are invited to participate at the Group’s 
AGMs and are encouraged to continue any discussion 
of the Group’s activities following the conclusion of the 
formal AGM agenda.

All queries should be directed to the Company 
Secretary.

26

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Principle

Application

Compliance

3. Take into account 
wider stakeholder 
and social 
responsibilities and 
their implications for 
long-term success.

4. Embed effective 
risk management, 
considering both 
opportunities and 
threats, throughout 
the organisation.

Long-term success relies upon good 
relations with a range of stakeholder 
groups both internal (workforce) and 
external (suppliers, customers, partners, 
regulators and others). The Board 
needs to identify the Group’s 
stakeholders and understand their 
needs, interests and expectations.

Where matters that relate to the Group’s 
impact on society, the communities 
within which it operates or the 
environment have the potential to 
affect the Group’s ability to deliver 
shareholder value over the medium to 
long-term, then those matters must be 
integrated into the Group’s strategy 
and business model.

Feedback is an essential part of all 
control mechanisms. Systems need to 
be in place to solicit, consider and act 
on feedback from all stakeholder 
groups.

The Board needs to ensure that the 
Group’s risk management framework 
identifies and addresses all relevant 
risks in order to execute and deliver 
strategy; the Group needs to consider 
its extended business, including the 
Group’s supply chain, from key 
suppliers to end-customer.

Setting strategy includes determining 
the extent of exposure to the identified 
risks that the Group is able to bear 
and willing to take (risk tolerance 
and risk appetite).

The Group endeavours to keep in regular contact with 
its customers, partners and key suppliers.

LoopUp constantly monitors functionality of its cloud 
communications platform and prides itself on one of 
the best service levels in relation to uptime of services 
in the comparable market.

In addition, there is an ability to rate every LoopUp 
remote meeting call, enabling us to review and improve 
our services.

Additionally, we have dedicated Service Delivery 
managers to provide clarity and assistance wherever 
required by our customers.

The Group is active, both financially and in terms of 
participation, in wider areas of corporate responsibility, 
such as promoting equality in both its workplace and 
the communities in which it operates.

The Board is well advised by its Nomad and maintains 
regular contact with other key stakeholders, which 
enables the Group to evaluate and mitigate risks 
or act on opportunities when they arise.

The Board considers risk and uncertainties at each 
Board meeting. The Board meets at least quarterly, 
however in practice will meet much more frequently. 
Such meetings are typically held remotely.

The Board, together with the Executive Leadership Team 
and senior management, is responsible for reviewing 
and evaluating risks. Additionally, the Information 
Security Management Team (ISMT) meets quarterly 
and assesses risks relating to information security. A 
sub-committee of the ISMT also meets every month to 
review and update the information security risk register. 
The Group is ISO 27001 accredited.

The principal risks and uncertainties to the Group 
(including how they are mitigated) are detailed on 
pages 18 and 19 of this Report.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

27

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT  
CONTINUED

Maintaining a dynamic management framework

Principle

Application

Compliance

5. Maintain the 
Board as a well-
functioning, 
balanced team led 
by the chair.

The Board members have a collective 
responsibility and legal obligation to 
promote the interests of the Group, and 
are collectively responsible for defining 
corporate governance arrangements. 
Ultimate responsibility for the quality of, 
and approach to, corporate governance 
lies with the chair of the Board.

The Board (and any committees) 
should be provided with high quality 
information in a timely manner to 
facilitate proper assessment of the 
matters requiring a decision or insight. 
The Board should have an appropriate 
balance between the executive and 
Non-Executive Directors and should 
have at least two independent Non-
Executive Directors. Independence 
is a Board judgment.

The Board should be supported by 
committees (e.g. audit, remuneration, 
nomination) that have the necessary 
skills and knowledge to discharge their 
duties and responsibilities effectively. 
Directors must commit the time 
necessary to fulfil their roles.

The Board is responsible for the long-term success of 
the Group. It sets strategic objectives and oversees 
implementation within a framework of prudent and 
effective controls, ensuring that only acceptable risks 
are taken. It provides leadership and direction and is 
responsible for the corporate governance and overall 
financial performance of the Group.

The Board comprises two Executive Directors and 
three Non-Executive Directors (including the Chairman). 
Two of the Non-Executive Directors are considered by 
the Board to be independent and are free to exercise 
independence of judgement.

Each of the Audit Committee and Remuneration 
Committee comprises three Non-Executive Directors, 
of which two are deemed independent.

Membership of the Nomination Committee comprises 
two independent Non-Executive Directors and one 
executive director.

The Board and each of its committees receive regular 
and timely reports on the Group’s operational and 
financial performance. Board packs are circulated in 
advance of each Board meeting and minutes reviewed 
and approved following each meeting. The Board 
has direct access to the advice and services of the 
Company Secretary and General Counsel, and is 
able to take independent advice, if required.

The Board considers that each Director has suitable 
knowledge and experience to guide the Group in 
its strategic aims.

Details of Board and committee composition, together 
with attendance records, are set out on page 32 
onwards.

28

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Principle

Application

Compliance

6. Ensure that 
between them the 
Directors have the 
necessary up-to-
date experience, 
skills and 
capabilities.

The Board must have an appropriate 
balance of sector, financial and public 
markets skills and experience, as well 
as an appropriate balance of personal 
qualities and capabilities. The Board 
should understand and challenge its 
own diversity, including gender balance, 
as part of its composition.

7. Evaluate Board 
performance based 
on clear and 
relevant objectives, 
seeking continuous 
improvement.

The Board should not be dominated by 
one person or group of people. Strong 
personal bonds can be important but 
also divide a board.

As companies evolve, the mix of skills 
and experience required on the Board 
will change, and Board composition will 
need to evolve to reflect this change.

The Board should regularly review the 
effectiveness of its performance as a 
unit, as well as that of its committees 
and the individual Directors.

The Board performance review may be 
carried out internally or, ideally, 
externally facilitated from time to time. 
The review should identify development 
or mentoring needs of individual 
Directors or the wider senior 
management team.

It is healthy for membership of the 
Board to be periodically refreshed. 
Succession planning is a vital task 
for boards. No member of the Board 
should become indispensable.

The primary purpose of the Nomination Committee is to 
lead the process for Board appointments and to make 
recommendations to the Board to achieve the optimal 
composition.

The Board believes it is important to reach the correct 
balance of skills, experience, independence and 
knowledge of the Board. All Board appointments are 
made on merit and with the aim of achieving a correct 
balance.

The Group has formal policies in place to promote 
equality of opportunity across the whole organisation, 
and training is provided to assist with this and to 
increase awareness.

The Board operates in a highly collaborative manner, 
and having two Co-CEOs helps to provide balanced 
executive input.

Further details about each of the directors can be found 
on the investor page of the LoopUp website, and on 
page 22 onwards of this report.

The performance of the Board is evaluated on an 
ongoing basis with reference to all aspects of its 
operation including, but not limited to: the 
appropriateness of its skill level; the way its meetings 
are conducted and administered (including the content 
of those meetings); the effectiveness of the various 
committees; whether corporate governance issues are 
handled satisfactorily; and whether there is a clear 
strategy and objectives.

The Co-CEOs’ performance is appraised by the 
Chairman. The Chairman is appraised by the other 
Non-Executive Directors, and the other Non-Executive 
Directors are appraised by the Chairman.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

29

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT  
CONTINUED

Maintaining a dynamic management framework continued

Principle

Application

Compliance

8. Promote a 
corporate culture 
that is based on 
ethical values and 
behaviours.

The Board should embody and promote 
a corporate culture that is based on 
sound ethical values and behaviours 
and use it as an asset and a source of 
competitive advantage.

The Board reviews the Group’s statement that 
embodies its culture and values, and means of 
communicating and instilling these values broadly 
across the organisation.

The Group’s key cultural values include:
•  Teamwork and being collaborative, helpful 

and supportive;

•  Treating others with respect;
•  Acting with integrity, honesty and openness;
•  Displaying professionalism; and
•  Taking ownership and being reliable  

and accountable.

Further details about our people, culture and corporate 
social responsibility strategy are set out from page 12.

Details of the governance structures of the Group are 
set out from page 32 onwards.

The policy set by the Board should be 
visible in the actions and decisions of 
the chief executives and the rest of the 
management team. Corporate values 
should guide the objectives and 
strategy of the Group.

The culture should be visible in every 
aspect of the business, including 
recruitment, nominations, training and 
engagement. The performance and 
reward system should endorse the 
desired ethical behaviours across all 
levels of the Group.

The corporate culture should be 
recognizable throughout the disclosures 
in the annual report, website and any 
other statements issued by the Group.

The Group should maintain governance 
structures and processes in line with its 
corporate culture and appropriate to its: 
(i) size and complexity; and (ii) capacity, 
appetite and tolerance for risk.

The governance structures should 
evolve over time in parallel with its 
objectives, strategy and business 
model to reflect the development  
of the Group.

9. Maintain 
governance 
structures and 
processes that are 
fit for purpose and 
support good 
decision-making  
by the Board.

30

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Building trust

Principle

Application

Compliance

The Board aims to respond promptly and suitably to  
all shareholder enquiries and comments. The Board 
periodically meets with the Group’s major shareholders 
and takes on any feedback from such meetings.

All shareholders are invited to participate at the Group’s 
AGMs and encouraged to continue any discussion of 
the Group’s activities following the conclusion of the 
formal AGM agenda.

Reports from the Audit Committee, Nominations 
Committee and Remuneration Committee are 
set out from page 34 onwards.

10. Communicate 
how the Company  
is governed and  
is performing by 
maintaining a 
dialogue with 
shareholders and 
other relevant 
stakeholders.

A healthy dialogue should exist 
between the Board and all of its 
stakeholders, including shareholders, to 
enable all interested parties to come to 
informed decisions about the Group.

In particular, appropriate communication 
and reporting structures should exist 
between the Board and all constituent 
parts of its shareholder base. This will 
assist: (i) the communication of 
shareholders’ views to the Board; and 
(ii) the shareholders’ understanding 
of the unique circumstances and 
constraints faced by the Group.

It should be clear where these 
communications practices are 
described (annual report or website).

Board composition
The Board currently comprises two Executive and 
three Non-Executive Directors (including the Chairman).  
Simon Healey resigned as director in December 2021. The 
composition of the board will be further considered in 2022.

Mike Reynolds and Nico Goulet remained in place from the 
pre-IPO Ring2 Communications Board, with the former being 
considered independent. Keith Taylor was appointed as an 
Independent Non-Executive Director in 2019.

Steve Flavell and Michael Hughes were co-founders of the 
Group in 2003, and have both served on the Board since 
that time.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

31

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT  
CONTINUED

Board meetings and attendance
The Board meets at least quarterly, with meetings generally 
being held remotely. The table below shows the attendance 
at Board meetings during the year.

Non-Executive Directors
Mike Reynolds
Nico Goulet
Keith Taylor

Executive Directors
Steve Flavell
Michael Hughes
Simon Healey

Mike Reynolds
Nico Goulet
Keith Taylor
Steve Flavell
Michael Hughes
Simon Healey

Board meetings

Possible

Attended

9
9
9

9
9
9

9
9
9

9
8
8

Committee meetings

Audit

Remuneration

Nomination 

Possible

Attended

Possible

Attended

Possible

Attended

3
3
3
3
–
3

3
3
3  
3*
–
3*

2
2
2
2
2
–

2
2
2
2*
2*
–

1
–
1
1
–
–

1
–
1
1
–
–

*  Not a Committee member, but attended by invitation.

Board responsibilities
The Board is responsible for the long-term success of 
the Group. It sets strategic objectives and oversees 
implementation within a framework of prudent and effective 
controls, ensuring that only acceptable risks are taken. It 
provides leadership and direction and is also responsible for 
corporate governance and the overall financial performance 
of the Group.

The Board has agreed the schedule of matters reserved 
for its decision, which includes ensuring that the necessary 
financial and human resources are in place to meet 
obligations to shareholders and others. It also approves 
any acquisitions and disposals, major capital expenditure, 
annual budgets and dividend policy.

Board papers are circulated before Board meetings in 
sufficient time to enable their review and consideration 
in advance of meetings.

Board effectiveness
The performance of the Board is evaluated on an ongoing 
basis with reference to all aspects of its operation including, 
but not limited to: the appropriateness of its skill level; the 
way its meetings are conducted and administered (including 
the content of those meetings); the effectiveness of the 
various Committees; whether corporate governance issues 
are handled satisfactorily; and whether there is a clear 
strategy and objectives.

The Co-CEOs’ performance is appraised by the Chairman. 
The Chairman is appraised by the other Non-Executive 
Directors, and the other Non-Executive Directors are 
appraised by the Chairman.

32

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

  Detailed monthly reporting of trading results and financial 

position, including variances against budget;

  Reporting of any non-compliance with internal financial 

controls; and

  Review of reports issued by external auditors.

The Audit Committee, on behalf of the Board, reviews reports 
from the external auditor together with management’s 
response. In this matter, it has reviewed the effectiveness 
of the system of internal controls for the period.

Shareholder communications
Executive Directors periodically meet with institutional 
shareholders to foster a mutual understanding of objectives. 
In particular, an extensive programme of meetings with 
analysts and institutional shareholders is held following the 
interim and preliminary results announcements. In addition, 
the Executive Directors hosted a shareholder event in 
October 2021 following the acquisition of SyncRTC to 
provide a forum for questions and to present the strategy  
for the group. Feedback from these meetings is presented 
to the Board.

All Directors encourage the participation of all shareholders, 
including private investors, at the AGM. As a matter of policy, 
the level of proxy votes lodged on each resolution is 
declared at the meeting and published by announcement 
to the London Stock Exchange and on the Group’s website.

The Group’s Annual Report and Accounts are published on 
the Group’s website and can be accessed by shareholders.

Directors’ independence
Two of the Non-Executive Directors are considered by 
the Board to be independent and are free to exercise 
independence of judgement. They have never been 
employed by the Group nor do they participate in the 
Group bonus scheme. They receive no remuneration apart 
from their fees and, in some cases, limited options which 
were issued prior to IPO, all of which are fully vested.

Board appointments
On appointment, a new Director is briefed on the activities 
of the Group. Ongoing training is provided as needed. 
Directors are updated on a regular basis regarding the 
Group’s business.

Directors are subject to re-election at the Annual General 
Meeting following their appointment. In addition, at each 
AGM, one-third (or the nearest whole number) of the 
Directors retire by rotation.

Access to independent advice and support
In the furtherance of his or her duties or in relation to acts 
carried out by the Board or the Group, each Director is 
aware that he or she is entitled to seek independent 
professional advice at the expense of the Group. The Group 
maintains appropriate Directors’ and Officers’ insurance in 
the event of legal action being taken against any Director. 
Each Director has access to the advice and services of the 
Company Secretary, if required, who is responsible for 
ensuring that Board procedures are properly followed and 
that applicable rules and regulations are complied with.

Internal controls and risk management
The Board is responsible for the Group’s system of internal 
controls and for reviewing its effectiveness. Such a system 
is designed to mitigate against and manage, rather than 
eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve business objectives 
and can only provide reasonable and not absolute 
assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The Board confirms that there are ongoing processes for 
identifying, evaluating and mitigating the significant risks 
facing the Group. The processes are considered to be 
appropriate given the size and nature of the business. 
The Group’s internal financial control and monitoring 
procedures include:

  Clear responsibility for the maintenance of good financial 

controls and the production of accurate and timely 
financial information;

  The control of key financial risks through appropriate 

authorisation levels and senior management oversight;

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

33

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Committee composition
The Audit Committee (‘the Committee’) was established in 
August 2016, and a similar committee operated under Ring2 
Communications Limited prior to the establishment of the 
Group as it currently stands. Mike Reynolds is Chair of the 
Audit Committee and the other members are Keith Taylor 
and Nico Goulet. The Board considers the members to 
have relevant and recent financial experience, given 
their biographies as set out on pages 22 and 23.

Committee responsibilities
The Committee is appointed by and responsible to  
the Board. It has written terms of reference. Its main 
responsibilities are:

  Monitoring its satisfaction with the truth and fairness of 
the Group’s financial statements before submission to 
the Board for approval, ensuring their compliance with 
appropriate accounting standards, the law and AIM rules;

  Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the 

Group’s systems of internal control;

  Making recommendations to the Board in relation to the 
appointment and remuneration of the external auditor, 
and reviewing the auditor’s objectivity and independence 
on an ongoing basis; and

  Implementing a policy relating to any non-audit services 

performed by the external auditor.

The Committee is authorised by the Board to seek and 
obtain information from any officer or employee of the 
Group and obtain external advice as it deems necessary.

Committee meetings
The Committee aims to meet at least three times per year 
either in person or remotely. These meetings are scheduled 
to coincide with the review of the interim statement, the scope 
and planning of the external audit and, finally, the results  
and observations upon completion of the external audit.

Three meetings were held during the year. These meetings 
were attended by the external auditor, one Co-CEO and 
the CFO, as well as the three committee members. The 
Committee also has the opportunity to meet with the 
external auditor without any Executive Directors present 
if it wishes to do so.

The Committee carried out a full review of the year-end 
results and of the audit, using as a basis the reports to the 
Committee prepared by the CFO and the external auditor. 
Questions were asked of senior management around any 
significant or unusual transactions where the accounting 
treatment could be open to different interpretations.

The Committee received from the external auditor a report 
of matters arising during the audit which the auditor deemed 
to be of significance.

Significant matters considered by the Committee in relation 
to the financial statements and areas of judgement routinely 
considered and challenged were as follows:

  Revenue recognition;
  Capitalisation of development costs;
  Accounting for the acquisition of SyncRTC Inc;
  Impairment of intangible fixed assets; and
  Going concern.

The Committee is satisfied that the judgements made 
by management are reasonable and that appropriate 
disclosures in relation to key judgements and estimates 
have been included in the financial statements. In reaching 
this conclusion, the Committee has considered reports  
and analysis prepared by management and has also 
constructively challenged assumptions. The Committee has 
also considered reports prepared by the external auditor.

Committee performance
The Committee regularly reviews its own performance and 
has concluded that it is performing as expected.

External auditor
The Group reassessed the position of the external auditor 
during 2021 and as a result appointed Moore Kingston Smith 
LLP. To ensure the independence of the external auditor,  
the Group has used KPMG LLP to advise on global tax 
compliance.

As required, the external auditor provided the Committee 
with information for review about policies and processes for 
maintaining its independence and compliance regarding 
the rotation of audit partners and staff. The Committee 
considered all relationships between the external auditor 
and the Group and was satisfied that they did not 
compromise the auditor’s judgement or independence, 
particularly around the provision of non-audit services. 
Management reviewed the effectiveness of the external 
audit process and were satisfied with the external auditor’s 
knowledge of the business and that the scope of the audit 
was appropriate and the audit process effective.

Internal audit function
Given the size and nature of the Group, the Board did not 
consider it necessary to have an internal audit function 
during the year, though this need will be reviewed regularly.

34

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

NOMINATION COMMITTEE REPORT

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Committee composition
The Nomination Committee was established in August 2016. 
Mike Reynolds is Chair of the Nomination Committee and 
the other members are Keith Taylor and Steve Flavell.

Committee responsibilities
The primary purpose of the Committee is to lead the process 
for Board appointments and to make recommendations to 
the Board to achieve the optimal composition of the Board, 
having regard to:

  Its size and composition;
  The extent to which required skills, experience or 

attributes are represented;

  The need to maintain the highest appropriate standard 

of corporate governance; and

  Ensuring that it consists of individuals who are best able 

to discharge the responsibilities of Directors.

It has written terms of reference.

Committee meetings
The Committee met once during 2021.

The Board has considered diversity in broader terms than 
gender and believes it is also important to reach the correct 
balance of skills, experience, independence and knowledge 
on the Board. All Board appointments will be made on merit 
and with the aim of achieving a correct balance. The  
Group has formal policies in place to promote equality of 
opportunity across the whole organisation, and training 
is provided to assist this.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

35

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE AND REMUNERATION REPORT

The Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee was established in  
August 2016.

The Committee’s primary purpose is to assist the Board  
in determining the Company’s remuneration policies and,  
in so doing, agree the framework for Executive Directors’ 
remuneration with the Board. It has written terms of 
reference.

The Committee met twice during 2021, with other Board 
members in attendance as appropriate.

Remuneration Committee report
As an AIM-quoted company, LoopUp Group plc is not 
required to comply with Schedule 8 to the Large and 
Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and 
Reports) Regulations 2008. The content of this report is 
unaudited unless stated otherwise.

Membership of the Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee comprises three Non-
Executive Directors, namely Mike Reynolds as Chair, Nico 
Goulet and Keith Taylor. The Remuneration Committee 
reviews the performance of the Executive Directors and 
makes recommendations to the Board on matters relating 
to remuneration, terms of service, granting of share options 
and other equity incentives.

Directors’ remuneration policy
The objectives of the remuneration policy are to ensure that 
the overall remuneration of Executive Directors is aligned 
with the performance of the Group and preserves an 
appropriate balance of income and shareholder value.

Non-Executive Directors
Remuneration of Non-Executive Directors is negotiated by 
the Executive Directors and agreed by the Board. Non-
Executive Directors are not permitted to participate in 
pensions, annual bonuses or employee benefits. They are 
entitled to participate in share option agreements relating to 
the Company’s shares. Each of the Non-Executive Directors 
has a letter of appointment stating his or her annual fee. 
Their appointment may be terminated with three months’ 
written notice at any time.

Directors’ remuneration
The normal remuneration arrangements for Executive 
Directors consist of basic salary, annual performance-related 
bonuses, participation in share option and incentive 
schemes, and private healthcare benefits. UK Executives 
participate in a company contributory pension scheme, and 
US executives have access to a corporate 401k plan, which 
attracted no employer contribution in 2021 or 2020.

Annual bonuses
The 2021 annual bonus plan comprised a target bonus of 
50% of salary for Steve Flavell and Michael Hughes and 25% 
of salary for Simon Healey. Executive Directors are rewarded 
based on the performance of the Group versus predefined 
targets as well as the achievement of personal objectives.

The Group’s performance in 2021 did not result in the 
payment of any bonuses to the Executive Directors. This 
contrasts with 2020, where the Group’s performance 
significantly exceeded budgeted expectations, which 
resulted in a bonus payment of 175% of target being payable.

Similar bonus principles will be adopted for future years. 
Performance targets around revenue, gross margin and 
EBITDA have been set by the Board. Meeting these targets 
and achieving personal objectives will result in payout 
percentages in line with those outlined above. Payouts 
can exceed these amounts should performance exceed 
these targets, and are capped.

36

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Total Directors’ Remuneration
The table below sets out the total remuneration payable to the Directors:

Audited

Executive
Steve Flavell
Michael Hughes
Simon Healey
Non-Executive
Lady Barbara Judge (until 31 August 2020)
Mike Reynolds
Nico Goulet
Keith Taylor

Salary and 
fees
£000 

Annual 
bonus
£000

Healthcare 
and pension
£000

201
225
145

–
22
–
23

14
13
–

–
–
–
–

8
4
6

–
–
–
–

2021 
total
£000

223
242
151

–
22
–
23

2020 
total
£000

440
514
214

33
23
–
23

Shares held by Directors
The beneficial interests of the Directors in the share capital of the Company at 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2020 
were as follows:

Executive:
Steve Flavell
Michael Hughes
Simon Healey (resigned 12 November 2021)
Non-Executive:
Mike Reynolds
Nico Goulet (as Managing Partner of shareholder,  
Adara Ventures SICAR)
Keith Taylor

31 December 2021

31 December 2020

Number of shares

% of issued 
ordinary 
share capital

Number of shares

% of issued 
ordinary 
share capital

2,660,250
2,657,183
64,500

75,000

6,964,548
133,500

2.7%
2.7%
0.1%

0.1%

7.2%
0.1%

2,625,875
2,616,899
64,500

75,000

4.7%
4.7%
0.1%

0.1%

6,964,548
58,500

12.6%
0.1%

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

37

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE AND REMUNERATION REPORT  
CONTINUED

Directors’ share options
Aggregate emoluments disclosed above do not include any amounts for the value of options to acquire ordinary shares  
in the Group granted to or held by the Directors. Details of option holdings for Directors who served during the year are  
as follows:

Executive:
Steve Flavell

Michael Hughes

Simon Healey (resigned 12 November 2021)

Non-Executive:
Mike Reynolds
Nico Goulet
Keith Taylor

Number of 
options at 
31 December 

2021 Exercise price

199,000
575,000
880,000
199,000
651,769
70,000
82,000
27,500
181,250

75,000
–
–

£1.105
£0.00
£0.75
£1.105
£0.00
£0.50
£0.75
£1.105
£0.00

£0.75
–
–

Following consultation with applicable employees and senior management, it was decided that payments earned under the 
2020 Company Bonus Plan of approximately £1.5 million would be satisfied in share based payments rather than cash.

At the recommendation of the Remuneration Committee, the Company granted nil cost options to eligible employees and 
senior management in lieu of any cash settlement of such bonus entitlements, where the number of options was calculated 
based on the bonus amount earned and the issue price of the capital raising in October 2021. As such grants were in lieu of 
bonus already earned, there were no vesting conditions attached to them. This grant included options granted to the 
following Directors:

  575,000 to Steve Flavell; 
  651,769 to Michael Hughes; and
  181,250 to Simon Healey.

During 2021, Steve Flavell and Michael Hughes each participated in the company’s Employee Share Incentive Scheme 
whereby each Director sacrificed a proportion of their salary and instead were allocated shares in the Company pursuant to 
the scheme rules.

By order of the Board

Mike Reynolds
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
25 July 2022

38

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

DIRECTORS’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

The Directors present their report and the audited financial 
statements for the year ended 31 December 2021.

Principal activity
The principal activity of the Group is the provision of a 
premium cloud communications platform for business-critical 
external and specialist communications.

Business review and future developments
A review of the Group’s operations including strategy and 
markets, and future developments is covered in the Strategic 
Report section of the Annual Report and Accounts on pages 
2 to 21. In accordance with section 414C(11) of the Companies 
Act 2006, the Directors have chosen to include information 
about the future developments and principal risks and 
uncertainties in the Strategic Report.

Details of the Group’s financial results are set out in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income, other 
statements and related notes on pages 42 to 87.

Corporate status
LoopUp Group plc (the ‘Company’ or ‘Group’) is a public 
limited company domiciled in the United Kingdom and was 
incorporated in England and Wales with company number 
09980752 on 1 February 2016. The company has its 
registered office at The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High 
Street, London E1 6JJ. The principal places of business of 
the Group are its offices in London and San Francisco, and it 
also operates a number of other offices in the United States 
and United Kingdom, as well as Germany, Spain, Sweden, 
Australia, Hong Kong and Barbados.

Directors
The following served as Directors during the year:  
Steve Flavell, Michael Hughes, Simon Healey (resigned 
12 November 2021), Mike Reynolds, Nico Goulet,  
Keith Taylor.

The current members of the Group’s Board and Committees 
are set out on pages 22 to 23. One-third of the Directors are 
required to retire at the AGM and can offer themselves for 
re-election.

The Company has agreed to indemnify the Directors against 
third party claims which may be brought against them and 
has put in place a Directors’ and Officers’ insurance policy.

Shares, dividends and significant shareholders
The middle market price of the Company’s shares on 
31 December 2021 was 19.5 pence and the range during 
the year was 17.1 pence to 98.0 pence with an average 
of 54.4 pence.

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend 
(2020: £nil).

The Company is informed that, at 31 May 2022, individual 
registered shareholdings of more than 3% of the Company’s 
issued share capital were as follows:

Andrew Scott(1)
Adara Ventures SICAR
Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management
Interactive Investor
Schroder Investment Management
Herald Investment Management

1.  This includes shares registered in the name of his wife, Rhonda Scott and SFT Capital Limited.

Number of 
shares

% of issued 
ordinary share 
capital

26,555,754
6,964,548
5,980,242
5,722,292
4,289,913
4,200,000

27.4%
7.2%
6.2%
5.9%
4.4%
4.3%

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

39

 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT  
CONTINUED

Going concern
After making enquiries, the Directors believe that the Group 
has adequate resources and prospects to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future. Following 
the balance sheet date, the Group renegotiated and 
amended its banking facilities with Bank of Ireland reflecting 
the Group’s ongoing strategic transition plan. Management 
have prepared detailed stress tested forecasts which 
indicate the Group’s ability to continue to trade with 
sufficient cash resources and within the amended covenant 
tests agreed with Bank of Ireland for the Group’s debt facility. 
For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern 
basis in preparing the Annual Report and Accounts. This is 
described in more detail in note 1.03.

Research and development
Details of the Group’s policy for the recognition of 
expenditure on research and development of its core 
platform are set out in note 2.03 of the consolidated  
financial statements.

Risk management objectives and policies
Details of the Group’s financial risk management and 
policies are set out in note 19 of the consolidated financial 
statements. The key non-financial risks faced by the Group 
are set out in the Strategic Report on page 18.

Related party transactions
Details of the Group’s transactions and balances with  
related parties are set out in note 21 of the consolidated 
financial statements.

Employee involvement
It is the Group’s policy to involve employees in its  
progress, development and performance. This has been 
communicated through both formal and informal meetings  
at all levels throughout the Group. During such meetings,  
employees are encouraged to provide a free flow of 
information and ideas.

Applications for employment by disabled persons are fully 
considered, bearing in mind the respective aptitudes and 
abilities of the applicants concerned. The Group is a 
committed equal opportunities employer and has engaged 
employees with broad backgrounds and skills.

It is the policy of the Group that the training, career 
development and promotion of a disabled person should, as 
far as possible, be identical to that of a person who does not 
have a disability. In the event of members of staff becoming 
disabled, every effort is made to ensure that their 
employment within the Group continues.

Political and charitable donations
The Group does not make political donations. No charitable 
donations were made during the year (2020: £5,000).

Supplier payment policy and practice
The Group does not operate a standard code in respect of 
payments to suppliers. The Group agrees terms of payment 
with each supplier at the start of business and makes 
payments in accordance with these terms. The number of 
creditor days outstanding at 31 December 2021 was 68 days 
(2020: 60 days).

Statement as to disclosure of information to the auditor
The Directors who were in office on the date of the approval 
of these financial statements have confirmed that

  so far as each director is aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the company’s auditor is unaware; 
and

  the directors have taken all the steps that they ought to 
have taken as directors in order to make themselves 
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish 
that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.

40

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic 
Report and Directors’ Report and the financial statements  
in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

The consolidated financial statements of the Group have 
been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International 
Accounting Standards (“IFRS”) and IFRS Interpretations 
Committee (formerly IFRIC) interpretations in accordance 
with international accounting standards in conformity with 
the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The 
consolidated financial statements have been prepared 
under the historical cost basis.

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 and profit or loss 
of the Company and Group 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;

  State whether applicable IFRSs have been followed, 
subject to any material departures disclosed and 
explained in the financial statements; and

  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.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information on 
the Group’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 
governing the preparation and dissemination of financial 
statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

By order of the Board

Mike Reynolds
Chairman
25 July 2022

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

41

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT  
TO THE MEMBERS OF LOOPUP GROUP PLC

We have audited the financial statements of LoopUp Group plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (‘the group’) 
for the year ended 31 December 2021 which comprises the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the 
Consolidated and Company Statements of Financial Position, the Consolidated and Company Statements of Cash Flows, 
the Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity and notes to the financial statements, including significant 
accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the group financial 
statements is applicable law and UK adopted International Accounting Standards and, as regards the parent company 
financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion:

  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 

31 December 2021 and of the group’s loss for the year then ended;

  the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting 

Standards;

  the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted International 

Accounting Standards and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

  the financial statements 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 group and the parent 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 as 
applied to listed entities, 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.

An overview of the scope of our audit
Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a thorough understanding of the group’s business, its 
environment and risk profile. We conducted substantive audit procedures and evaluated the group’s internal control 
environment. The components of the group were evaluated by the group audit team based on a measure of materiality, 
considering each component as a percentage of the group’s total assets, current assets, revenue and gross profit, which 
allowed the group audit team to assess the significance of each component and determine the planned audit response.

For those components that were evaluated as significant components, either a full scope audit or specified audit approach 
was determined based on their relative materiality to the group and our assessment of the level of audit risk. For significant 
components requiring a full scope approach, we evaluated the controls in place at those components by performing 
walkthroughs over the financial reporting systems identified as part of our risk assessment. We also reviewed the accounts 
production process and addressed critical accounting matters. We then undertook substantive testing on significant classes 
of transactions and material account balances.

In order to address the audit risks identified during our planning procedures, we performed a full scope audit of the financial 
statements of the parent company and of the financial information of LoopUp Limited, MeetingZone Limited, Pimco 2711 
Limited, Warwick Holdco Limited, Warwick Debtco Limited and Warwick Bidco Limited. We performed specified audit 
procedures over the other components in the UK and overseas.

42

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the 
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether 
or not due to fraud) we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation 
of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of 
our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate 
opinion on these matters.

Key Audit Matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Revenue recognition
Revenue is a significant item in the consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income and impacts a number of 
management’s key judgements, performance indicators and 
key strategic indicators.

Under ISA 240 (UK) there is a presumed risk that revenue 
may be misstated due to the improper recognition of 
revenue due to fraud or error.

There is a risk of incorrect revenue recognition due to fraud 
or error, arising from:

  recognition of revenue in the wrong period;
  revenue not being recognised in accordance with IFRS 15 

‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’; and

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

  Evaluating the group’s revenue recognition accounting 
policy to check compliance with IFRS 15 and to ensure 
consistency of application;

  Engaging our IT specialists who assessed the design and 
operating effectiveness of the underlying systems on the 
LoopUp platform and tested key IT application controls 
over the revenue recognition process;

  Performing substantive testing on a sample of individual 
revenue transactions throughout the year across the 
significant revenue streams;

  This included agreeing revenue transactions selected for 
testing through to supporting evidence including sales 
invoice, contracts and cash receipts; and

  Performing sales cut off tests to ensure revenue had been 

  manipulation of revenues around the year-end through 

recognised in the correct period.

management override.

We therefore identified incorrect revenue recognition as 
a significant risk.

The group’s accounting policy on revenue recognition is 
shown in note 2.09 to the financial statements and related 
disclosures are included in note 6.

In addition, we reviewed the adequacy of the disclosures 
under IFRS15.

Key observations
Based on our audit testing we did not identify any material 
misstatements of revenue.

We consider the disclosures in accordance with IFRS 15 in 
the notes to the financial statements to be acceptable.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

43

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT  
CONTINUED

Key Audit Matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Impairment of the carrying value of goodwill and other 
intangible assets
The Group has material goodwill and other intangible assets 
balances of £35.425m and £5.638m respectively at 
31 December 2021.

The other intangible assets balance includes customer 
relationships of £4.134m and brand & trademarks of £1.504m.

The directors are required to make an assessment to 
determine whether there are impairment indicators relating 
to the group’s intangible assets.

The process for assessing whether impairment exists 
as set out in International Accounting Standard (IAS) 36 
‘Impairment of Assets’ is complex. The process of 
determining the value in use, through forecasting cash 
flows related to each asset and the determination of the 
appropriate discount rate and other assumptions to be 
applied, can be highly judgemental and can significantly 
impact the results of the impairment review.

Based on the judgemental nature of an impairment review 
and significant impairment adjustments in prior periods, we 
identified impairment of the carrying value of goodwill and 
other intangible assets to be a significant risk.

The group’s accounting for goodwill and other intangible 
assets are shown in notes 2.04 and 2.05 to the financial 
statements and related disclosures are included in note 14.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

  Reviewing the design and implementation of controls 

relevant to the impairment reviews for goodwill and other 
intangible assets;

  Critically assessing management’s assessment of 

impairment including critically reviewing the discounted 
cash flow model and the judgements and estimates 
applied in the model;

  Critically assessing the assumptions underlying the 

discounted cash flow model including growth rate and 
discount rate;

  Performing sensitivity analysis on the discounted cash 

flow model taking into consideration management’s base 
and downside scenarios;

  Evaluating the accounting policy and detailed disclosures 
included in the financial statements to determine whether 
the information provided in the financial statements 
complies with the requirements of IAS 36 and is 
consistent with the results of the impairment review; and

  Considering the appropriateness of the amortisation 

policy for other intangible assets.

Key observations
Following the performance of our audit testing on the 
discounted cash flow model as set out above an impairment 
of £19.597m was identified in respect of the customer 
relationship balance initially recognised on the acquisition of 
MeetingZone. This impairment has been recognised in the 
consolidated financial statements.

We consider the disclosures in the consolidated financial 
statements in respect of impairment of goodwill and other 
intangible assets to be acceptable.

44

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Key Audit Matter – Group

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

  Evaluating the development costs capitalised in the year 
to ensure that the costs can be recognised as an asset in 
accordance with the requirements of IAS 38 ‘Intangible 
Assets’;

  Performing substantive testing on a sample of 

development costs capitalised including reviewing the 
employee contracts of employees whose salaries were 
capitalised;

  Discussing a sample of projects with the relevant 

management personnel to gain an understanding of the 
key developments in the year and milestones achieved;
  Challenging management’s key assumptions to determine 

that the capitalisation of development costs meet the 
technical and feasibility criteria stated in IAS 38; and

  Evaluating the accounting policy and detailed disclosures 
included in the financial statements to confirm whether 
information provided in the consolidated financial 
statements is compliant with the requirements of IFRS.

Key observations
Based on our audit testing we did not identify any material 
misstatements of development costs.

We consider the disclosures in the consolidated financial 
statements to be acceptable.

Our audit work and conclusion in respect of going concern 
has been detailed in the ‘Material uncertainty related to 
going concern’ section of our audit report.

Capitalisation of development costs
The Group capitalises development costs within intangible 
assets. The amount capitalised in the year was £6.919m. 
The carrying value at 31 December 2021 was £12.726m.

The Group has been developing and enhancing its remote 
meetings platform in recent years and continues to enhance 
the platform in the prior and current year to integrate the 
Group’s Cloud Telephony business. The development relates 
primarily to the payroll costs of the developers who work on 
the development projects.

The group’s accounting for development costs is shown in 
note 5.03 to the financial statements and related disclosures 
are included in note 14.

Going concern
Revenue for the year ended 31 December 2021 has declined 
from £50.230m to £19.526m and the Group incurred an 
operating loss of £30.554m (2020:£6.260m operating profit) 
including a £19.597m non-cash exceptional impairment 
charge.

The Group has outstanding borrowings of £7.881m at 
31 December 2021 (2020:£12.750m) and cash funds of 
£5.465m (2020: £12.086m). The Group’s loan facility with 
Bank of Ireland of £6.764m at 31 December 2021 is due for 
repayment in September 2023.

Given the trading performance in the year, including the 
decrease in revenue and cash funds, and the repayment 
date of the loan facility, going concern was considered to be 
a key audit risk area.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

45

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT  
CONTINUED

Key Audit Matter – Company

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Company

Recoverability of amounts owed by subsidiary 
undertakings
The total amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 
recognised in the parent company Statement of Financial 
Position at 31 December 2021 was £69.329m.

The directors are required to make an assessment to 
determine whether the amounts owed by subsidiary 
undertakings are materially recoverable. Due to the size of 
the amounts in question in the context of the parent 
company Statement of Financial Position, the recoverability 
of these amounts was considered to be a key risk area for 
the audit of the parent company.

The company’s disclosures in respect of amounts owed by 
subsidiary undertakings are shown in note 15 to the financial 
statements. 

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to:

  Critically assessing management’s intercompany matrix to 

confirm that all intercompany balances have been 
included and materially reconciled at 31 December 2021;
  Critically assessing the discounted cash flow model and 

the judgements and estimates applied in the model which 
support the ability of the subsidiaries to generate 
sufficient profits and cash flows to enable them to repay 
the amounts owed to the parent company;

  Critically assessing the assumptions underlying the 

discounted cash flow model including growth rate and 
discount rate;

  Performing sensitivity analysis on the discounted cash 

flow model taking into consideration management’s base 
and downside scenarios;

  Challenging key assumptions as to why the management 
consider the amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings to 
be materially recoverable;

  Critically assessing post year end trading and the liquidity 

position of subsidiaries; and

  Evaluating the detailed disclosures included in the 
financial statements to confirm whether information 
provided in the financial statements is compliant with the 
requirements of IFRS.

Key observations
Based on our audit testing we concluded that we agreed 
with management’s assertion that no impairment of amounts 
owed by subsidiary undertakings was required.

We consider the disclosures in the financial statements to 
be acceptable.

46

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Our application of materiality
The scope and focus of our audit was influenced by our assessment and application of materiality. We define materiality as 
the magnitude of misstatement that could reasonably be expected to influence the readers and the economic decisions of 
the users of the financial statements. We use materiality to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and 
extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial statements 
as a whole.

Due to the nature of the Group we considered revenue to be the main focus for the readers of the financial statements, 
accordingly this consideration influenced our judgement of materiality. Based on our professional judgement, we 
determined materiality for the Group and parent to be £195,260 based on a percentage of revenue (1%). Based on our 
professional judgement, we determined materiality for the Parent Company to be £185,497 based on a percentage of gross 
assets (0.25%).

On the basis of our risk assessment, together with our assessment of the overall control environment, our judgement was 
that performance materiality (i.e. our tolerance for misstatement in an individual account or balance) for the Group and Parent 
was 50% of materiality, namely £97,630 and £92,748 respectively.

We agreed to report to the Audit Committee all audit differences in respect of the Group and Parent in excess of £9,763 and 
£9,274 respectively and, as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative 
grounds. We also reported to the Audit Committee on disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall 
presentation of the financial statements.

Material uncertainty related to going concern
We draw attention to note 1.03 to the financial statements, which indicates that the Group may need to raise debt or equity 
funding in order to repay or refinance the Bank of Ireland debt facilities at term in September 2023 and therefore to continue 
in business and meet its liabilities as they fall due after that point. The Group incurred an operating loss of £30.554m 
(2020:£6.260m operating profit) for the year ended 31 December 2021 including a £19.597m non-cash exceptional 
impairment charge.

Subsequent to the reporting date the Group successfully renegotiated and amended its debt facilities with the Bank of 
Ireland as detailed in note 1.03 to the financial statements. However the facilities are due for repayment at term in September 
2023. Although the directors are confident that the Group will be able to repay or refinance the debt facilities at term there 
can be no certainty in this respect and a failure to repay at term or refinance would be material to the Group.

These events or conditions indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast doubt on the Group’s and Parent 
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the use of the going concern basis of accounting in the 
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the directors’ assessment of the entity’s ability to 
continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included a critical assessment of the detailed cash flow projections 
prepared by the directors, which are based on their current expectations of trading prospects, and obtaining an 
understanding of all relevant uncertainties, including those arising as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the 
measures taken by the UK and overseas governments to contain it. We have factored the ongoing impact of COVID-19 into 
our analysis of the risks affecting the ability of the group to continue to trade and meet its liabilities as they fall due for at 
least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant 
sections of this report.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

47

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT  
CONTINUED

Other information
The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the 
annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements 
does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express 
any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

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

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the part of the directors’ remuneration report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the 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 parent company financial statements; and

  the Strategic Report and the Directors’ Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we 
have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or 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 and the part of the directors’ remuneration report to be audited 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.

Responsibilities of directors
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 41, 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 group’s and 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 group or the parent company or to cease 
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
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 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 FRC’s website at https://wwww.frc.org.uk/auditors/auditor-
assurance/auditor-s-responsibilities-for-the-audit-of-the-fi/description-of-the-auditor’s-responsibilities-for

This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

48

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Explanation as to what extent 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, 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.

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

Our approach was as follows:

  We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the group and the parent company 
and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, UK adopted International Accounting Standards, 
the rules of the Alternative Investment Market and UK taxation legislation.

  We obtained an understanding of how the group and the parent company complies with these requirements by 

discussions with management and those charged with governance.

  We assessed the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, including the risk of material misstatement due 

to fraud and how it might occur, by holding discussions with management and those charged with governance.

  We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of non-compliance or 

suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.

  Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance 

with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and 
obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of 
non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial 
statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one 
resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, 
or through collusion.

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 for no purpose other than to draw to the attention of the company’s 
members those matters which we are required to include in an auditor’s report addressed to them. To the fullest extent 
permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party other than the company and company’s members 
as a body, for our work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Matthew Banton (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP  
Chartered Accountants 
Statutory Auditor 
25 July 2022 

6th Floor  
9 Appold Street
London
EC2A 2AP

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

49

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Adjusted operating expenses(i)

Adjusted EBITDA(ii)
Depreciation
Amortisation of development costs

Adjusted operating (loss)/profit(iii)
Exceptional reorganisation costs and tax charge
Exceptional impairment charge
Amortisation of acquired intangibles
Share-based payment charges

Operating (loss)/profit
Finance costs

(Loss)/profit before income tax
Income tax

(Loss)/profit for the year

Currency translation loss

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year attributable to the equity 

holders of the parent

(Loss)/earnings per share from continuing and total operations (pence):
Basic
Diluted

Note

6

7

7
7

7
7
7
20.06

10

11

12

2021
£000

19,526
(6,058)

13,468
(12,272)

1,196
(1,760)
(5,582)

(6,146)
(392)
(19,597)
(2,211)
(2,208)

(30,554)
(465)

(31,019)
6,052

(24,967)

(340)

2020
Restated
(Note 24)
£000

50,230
(14,632)

35,598
(20,270)

15,328
(1,702)
(4,581)

9,045
—
—
(2,210)
(575)

6,260
(599)

5,661
308

5,969

(75)

(25,307)

5,894

(39.0)
(39.0)

10.8
9.9

(i)  Total administrative expenses excluding depreciation, amortisation of development costs and acquired intangibles, exceptional reorganisation and 

tax charge, exceptional impairment charges and share-based payment charges. 

(ii)  Adjusted EBITDA is operating (loss) / profit stated before depreciation, amortisation of development costs and acquired intangibles, exceptional 

reorganisation and tax charge, exceptional impairment charges and share-based payment charges. 

(iii)  Before amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional reorganisation and tax charge, exceptional impairment charges and share-based 

payment charges. 

50

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Assets
Property, plant and equipment
Right of use assets
Development costs
Other intangible assets
Goodwill

Total non-current assets

Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Current tax

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities
Trade and other payables
Accruals and deferred income
Lease liabilities
Borrowings

Total current liabilities

Net current assets

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Lease liabilities
Deferred tax
Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Other reserve
Foreign currency translation reserve
Share-based payment reserve
Retained loss

Shareholders’ funds attributable to equity owners of parent

Note

13
13
14
14
14

15
16
15

17
17
13
18

18
13
26
27

20
20

2021
£000

2,368
2,130
12,726
5,638
35,425

58,287

3,608
5,465
1,862

10,935

69,222

(3,384)
(2,036)
(956)
(1,700)

(8,076)

2,859

(6,181)
(1,463)
(1,721)
(172)

(9,537)

(17,613)

51,609

485
70,860
12,691
(2,749)
3,395
(33,073)

51,609

2020
Restated
(Note 24)
£000

1 January 2020
Restated
(Note 24)
£000

2,663
2,951
11,389
27,446
31,511

75,960

6,875
12,086
1,647

20,608

96,568

(6,303)
(3,607)
(953)
(1,700)

2,737
3,304
9,104
29,656
31,511

76,312

8,652
3,000
1,631

13,283

89,595

(5,415)
(2,578)
(862)
(1,700)

(12,563)

(10,555)

8,045

2,728

(11,050)
(2,372)
(6,099)
—

(19,521)

(32,084)

64,484

277
60,677
12,691
(2,409)
1,354
(8,106)

64,484

(12,750)
(2,656)
(5,709)
—

(21,115)

(31,670)

57,925

276
60,588
12,691
(2,334)
779
(14,075)

57,925

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 25 July 2022. They were 
signed on its behalf by:

Steve Flavell
Director

The notes on pages 57 to 87 form part of these financial statements.

Company number 09980752

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

51

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Assets
Investments

Total non-current assets

Trade and other receivables

Total current assets

Total assets

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Share-based payment reserve 
Retained profit

Shareholders’ funds attributable to equity owners of parent

Note

22

15

20
20

2021
£000

6,248

6,248

68,492

68,492

74,740

74,740

485
70,860
3,395
–

74,740

2020
Restated
(Note 24)

1,493

1,493

60,815

60,815

62,308

62,308

277
60,677
1,354
–

62,308

1 January 2020
Restated
(Note 24)
£000

918

918

60,725

60,725

61,643

61,643

276
60,588
779
–

61,643

Under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company is exempt from the requirement to present its own statement 
of comprehensive income. The result for the year dealt with in the financial statements of the Company was £nil (2020: £nil). 
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 25 July 2022. They were 
signed on its behalf by:

Steve Flavell
Director

The notes on pages 57 to 87 form part of these financial statements.

The Company recorded no profit or loss in the period since incorporation on 1 February 2016.

Company number 09980752

52

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Share
capital
£000

Share
premium
£000

Other
reserve
£000

Note

Foreign
currency
translation
reserve
£000

Share-based
payment
reserve
£000

Shareholders’
funds/deficit
attributable
to equity
owners of
parent
£000

Retained
loss
£000

276

60,588

12,691

(2,334)

779

(14,075)

57,925

–
–

–

–

1

–
–

–

–

89

–
–

–

–

–

–
(75)

(75)

–
–

–

5,969
–

5,969
(75)

5,969

5,894

–

–

575

–

–

–

575

90

277

277

60,677

12,691

(2,409)

60,677

12,691

(2,409)

1,354

1,354

(8,106)

64,484

(8,106)

64,484

–
–

–

4

204

485

20

20

–
–

–

163

10,020

–
–

–

–

–

–
(340)

(340)

–
–

–

(24,967)
–

(24,967)
(340)

(24,967)

(25,307)

–

–

2,041

–

–

–

2,208

10,224

70,860

12,691

(2,749)

3,395

(33,073)

51,609

As at 1 January 2020 
(Restated - Note 24)

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive profit 

for the year

Transactions with owners of 
parent in their capacity as 
owners:

Equity share-based payment 

compensation

Shares issued net of 
transaction costs

As at 31 December 2020 

(Restated - Note 24)

As at 1 January 2021

Loss for the year
Other comprehensive loss

Total comprehensive loss for 

the year

Transactions with owners of 
parent in their capacity as 
owners:

Equity share-based payment 

compensation

Shares issued net of 
transaction costs

As at 31 December 2021

The notes on pages 57 to 87 form part of these financial statements.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

53

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Share capital
£000

Note

Share 
premium
£000

Share-based 
payment 
reserve
£000

Retained 
profit
£000

As at 1 January 2020 (Restated – Note 24)

276

60,588

779

Result for the year

Total comprehensive result for the year

Transactions with owners of parent in their capacity 

as owners:

Equity share-based payment compensation

Shares issued net of transaction costs

20

As at 31 December 2020 (Restated – Note 24)

As at 1 January 2021

Result for the year

Total comprehensive result for the year

Transactions with owners of parent in their capacity 

as owners:

Equity share-based payment compensation

–

–

575

–

1,354

1,354

–

–

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

89

277

277

60,677

60,677

–

–

–

–

4

163

2,041

Shares issued net of transaction costs

20

As at 31 December 2021

204

485

10,020

70,860

–

3,395

The notes on pages 57 to 87 form part of these financial statements.

Shareholders’ 
funds 
attributable  
to equity 
owners of 
parent
£000

61,643

–

–

575

90

62,308

62,308

–

–

2,208

10,224

74,740

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

54

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

Operating activities
(Loss)/profit before income tax
Non-cash adjustments
Depreciation and amortisation
Share based payments charge
Impairment charge
Interest payable
Working capital adjustments
Decrease in trade and other receivables
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables
Net tax received

Net cash generated by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Addition of intangible assets
Payment for acquisition of subsidiary

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from share issue net of issue costs
Repayment of loans
Payments in respect of leases
Loans acquired on acquisition
Interest and finance fees paid

Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities

Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
Exchange differences on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

The notes on pages 57 to 87 form part of these financial statements.

Note

7

13.01
14.01

20
26

16

2021
£000

(31,019)

9,548
2,208
19,597
465

3,377
(4,864)
1,194

506

(586)
(6,919)
(3,574)

(11,079)

10,391
(5,839)
(840)
971
(365)

4,318

(6,255)
12,086
(366)

5,465

2020  
Restated  
(Note 24)

5,661

8,493
575
–
598

1,867
1,310
1,200

19,704

(757)
(6,866)
–

(7,623)

90
(1,700)
(828)
–
(494)

(2,932)

9,149
3,000
(63)

12,086

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

55

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Operating activities
Profit before income tax
Working capital adjustments
Increase in debtors

Net cash used by operations

Net cash from financing activities
Proceeds from share issue net of issue costs

Net cash generated from financing activities 

Cash flows from investing activities
Investment in subsidiary
Payment for acquisition of subsidiary 

Net cash used in investing activities

Net change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

The notes on pages 57 to 87 form part of these financial statements.

2021
£000

–
(7,677)

(7,677)

10,391

10,391

(167)
(2,547)

(2,714)

–
–

–

2020
£000

–

(90)

(90)

90

90

–
–

–

–
–

–

56

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

1. Business description and basis of preparation
1.01 Business description
The principal activity of the Group is the provision of a cloud communications platform for external and specialist communications.

LoopUp Group plc (‘the Group’) is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales, with 
company number 09980752. Its registered office is The Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London, E1 6JJ.

1.02 Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International 
Accounting Standards (“IFRS”) and IFRS Interpretations Committee (formerly IFRIC) interpretations in accordance with 
international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. The consolidated 
financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost basis.

The preparation of financial information requires the Directors to exercise judgements in the process of applying accounting 
policies as outlined in note 5.

Financial information is presented in Pounds Sterling (£) and, unless otherwise stated, amounts are expressed in thousands 
(£000), with rounding accordingly.

Under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company is exempt from the requirement to present its own statement 
of comprehensive income. The result for the year dealt with in the financial statements of the Company was £nil (2020: £nil).

The accounting policies used have been consistently applied throughout all periods presented in the financial statements.

1.03 Going concern
At the 2021 balance sheet date, the Group has cash of £5.5m (2020: £12.1m), net debt of £2.4m (2020: £0.7m), net assets of 
£51.6m (2020: £64.5m), and net current assets of £2.9m (2020: £8.0m). The operating loss for the year was £30.5m (2020: 
£6.3m profit), due to an exceptional non-cash impairment charge and the adjusted operating loss for the year (before 
amortisation of other intangible assets, non-recurring transaction costs, exceptional reorganisation costs, exceptional 
impairment charges and share based payments charges) was £6.1m (2020: £9.0m profit). 

The Directors prepared detailed cash flow forecasts covering the Group’s expected performance and activity over a period 
covering at least the next twelve month from the date of these financial statements. This modelled expected activity in each 
of the business segments of the Group, and also covered a number of scenarios and sensitivities in order for the Board to 
satisfy itself that the Group has sufficient cash resources to continue to trade during this period.

At the balance sheet date, the Group had outstanding borrowings of £7.9m, including £6.9m under a facility agreement with 
Bank of Ireland. These facilities were renegotiated and amended following the balance sheet date to reflect the Group’s 
ongoing strategic transition plan. Key elements of the amended arrangements include a holiday on planned principal 
repayments through to June 2023; a margin increase of 2.0 percent, taking the overall interest rate to 4.5 percent above the 
Sterling Overnight Index Average (SONIA); an extension of the term through to September 2023; and a revised set of 
financial covenants which are more concerned with sufficient ongoing cash liquidity and the growth objectives for Cloud 
Telephony and Hybridium in the Group’s transition business plan.

Management have reviewed forecast cash flows and revenues for at least the next twelve months following the date of 
these financial statements and are confident of remaining within the amended covenant levels and facility limits.

The Bank of Ireland debt facilities will remain available throughout the twelve months following the date of these financial 
statements.  However, in order to repay the Bank of Ireland debt facilities at term in September 2023, the Group may need 
to raise debt or equity funding, or both. The Group has a strong track record of fundraising from a group of consistently 
supportive shareholders, and the Directors are confident that the Bank of Ireland debt facilities will be able to be repaid at 
term. However, because there can be no certainty of this, and because the impact of a failure to refinance would be 
material, a material uncertainty exists in relation to going concern.

As a consequence, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group can continue to operate and to meet its 
commitments and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business for a period of not less than twelve months form 
the date of these financial statements. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these 
Group financial statements.

1.04 Chief operating decision-maker
The chief operating decision-maker is considered to be the Board of Directors acting together.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

57

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

2. Summary of significant accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below:

2.01 Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the 
Company (‘the Subsidiaries’) made up to the accounting reference date each year. Subsidiaries are all entities over which 
the Group has the power to control the financial and operating policies. Control is achieved when the Group has power over 
an entity in which it has invested (‘the Investee’); is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the 
Investee; and has the ability to use its power to affect its returns.

The Group reassesses whether or not it controls an Investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to 
one or more of the three elements of control listed above. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Group obtains 
control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Group losses control of the subsidiary. Specifically, the results of 
subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income from the date the Group gains control until the date when the Group ceases to control the subsidiary.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used 
into line with the Group’s accounting policies.

All intra-group assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between the members 
of the Group are eliminated on consolidation.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and all Group undertakings.

2.02 Currencies
(a) Functional and presentational currency
Items included in the consolidated financial statements are measured using the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the Parent Company operates (‘the functional currency’) which is UK Sterling (£). The consolidated 
financial statements are presented in UK Sterling, as described in note 1.02 (‘the presentational currency’).

(b) Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates 
of the transactions or at an average rate for a period if the rates do not fluctuate significantly. Foreign exchange gains and 
losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at period-end exchange rates of monetary 
assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. 
Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

(c) Group companies that have a functional currency other than the presentational currency of the Group
The results and financial position of all Group companies that have a functional currency different from the presentational 
currency of the Group are translated into the presentational currency as follows:
•  assets and liabilities for each statement of financial position presented are translated at the closing rate at the balance 

sheet date;
income and expenses for each statement of comprehensive income are translated at average exchange rates; and
• 
•  all resulting exchange differences are recognised in the statement of changes in equity as a separate component 

of equity.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of the net investment in foreign operations are 
recognised in other comprehensive income. When a foreign operation is partially disposed of or sold, exchange differences 
that were previously recognised in other comprehensive income are reclassified to the income statement as part of the gain 
or loss on sale.

2.03 Development costs
Expenditure on research activities is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.

Development costs are capitalised when the related projects meet the recognition criteria of an internally generated 
intangible asset, the key criteria being as follows:
(a) technical feasibility of the completed intangible asset has been established;
(b) it can be demonstrated that the asset will generate probable future economic benefits;
(c) adequate technical, financial and other resources are available to complete the development;
(d) the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset can be reliably measured; and
(e) management has the ability and intention to use or sell the asset.

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
These projects are designed to bring new capabilities into the Group’s products. Salaries associated with development time 
and directly attributable overheads are capitalised within intangible assets.

Development costs recognised as assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their expected useful life. Development 
expenditure is only amortised over the period the Group is expected to benefit and is subject to annual impairment testing. 
The estimated useful life and amortisation method are reviewed at the end of each reporting period, with the effect of any 
changes in estimate being accounted for on a prospective basis.

2.04 Goodwill
Goodwill arising on business combinations represents the difference between the consideration for a business acquisition 
and the fair value of the net identifiable assets acquired, less any accumulated impairment losses. The consideration for a 
business acquisition represents the fair value of the assets given and equity instruments issued in return for the assets 
acquired. Goodwill is not amortised but is subject to an impairment review performed at least annually.

2.05 Acquired intangible assets
Acquired intangible assets include customer relationships and brands. Intangible assets acquired in material business 
combinations are capitalised at their fair value as determined by reference to the methodologies, judgements and policies 
disclosed on page 74. Intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their useful economic life of between six 
and 15 years. Amortisation charges are charged to the income statement as other administrative expenses. The table in note 
7 separates out the amortisation of each asset category. 

During 2021, the useful economic life of the customer relationships asset, which was previously assessed at 15 years, was 
reassessed to a total of six years from acquisition in 2018.

2.06 Investments
Investments in subsidiary and associated undertakings are stated at cost less provision for impairment.

2.07 Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any impairment losses. Cost includes 
the original purchase price of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working condition for its 
intended use.

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the costs of assets over their estimated useful lives, on a straight-line basis starting 
from the month they are first used, as follows:
•  Office equipment – 20-33% straight line;
•  Computer equipment – 20-33% straight line; and
•  Certain assets in acquired subsidiaries are depreciated on a reducing balance basis, resulting in an immaterial difference 

in depreciation charges.

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the 
carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

2.08 Impairment of non-current assets
For impairment assessment purposes, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are largely independent cash 
inflows (cash-generating units). As a result, some assets are tested individually for impairment and some are tested at 
cash-generating unit level. Goodwill is allocated to those cash-generating units that are expected to benefit from synergies 
of a related business combination and represent the lowest level within the Group at which management monitors goodwill.

Cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated (determined by the Group’s management as equivalent to its 
operating segments) are tested for impairment at least annually. All other individual assets or cash-generating units are 
tested for impairment whenever events or charges in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be 
recoverable.

An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s (or cash-generating units) carrying amount exceeds its 
recoverable amount, which is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal and value-in-use. To determine the value-in-use, 
management estimates expected future cash flows from each cash-generating unit and determines a suitable discount rate 
in order to calculate the present value of those cash flows. The data used for impairment testing procedures are directly 
linked to the Group’s latest approved budget, adjusted as necessary to exclude the effects of future reorganisations and 
asset enhancements. Discount factors are determined individually for each cash-generating unit and reflect current 
market assessments of the time value of money and asset-specific risk factors.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

59

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Impairment losses for cash-generating units reduce first the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to that 
cash-generating unit. Any remaining impairment loss is charged pro rata to the other assets in the cash-generating unit.

With the exception of goodwill, all assets are subsequently reassessed for indications that an impairment loss previously 
recognised may no longer exist. An impairment loss is reversed if the asset’s or cash-generating unit’s recoverable amount 
exceeds its carrying amount.

2.09 Revenue recognition
Revenue comprises the transaction price, being the amount of consideration the Group expects to be entitled to in 
exchange for transferring promised goods or services to a customer in the ordinary course of the Group’s activities.

Revenue is shown net of value-added tax, returns, rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within the Group.

LoopUp Platform Capabilities revenue arises from the delivery of conferencing services using LoopUp’s proprietary 
products, as well as revenue earned on MeetingZone’s audio conferencing platform and the Group’s Cloud Telephony 
products. The significant majority of revenue arises upon usage by customers of services delivered on a pay as you go 
model, based on seconds of conference time, the number of participants on the conference, and usage of other value-
added services. An increasing proportion of customers are subject to contracted levels of minimum usage, however this is 
still invoiced and recognised on a monthly basis. Revenue is recognised in relation to conferencing services as the service is 
performed, is invoiced to the customer monthly in arrears, and is recognised at a point in time. 

Revenue from Cloud Telephony products arises from subscription and usage charges. Subscription charges are recognised 
in the month to which they relate, and usage charges at the point of billing, which occurs monthly.

Hybridium revenue arises from the licensing of hybrid meetings software, as well as from professional services connected to 
the installation of appropriate hardware on which to run the software. The licensing revenue is recognised monthly over the 
lifetime of the license, and professional services revenue is recognised when delivered.

Subscription revenues are recognised over the life of the subscription term.

Revenue from equipment sales is recognised when delivery is made and the risk in the equipment has passed to the 
customer, with support costs recognised over the period of time to which the charges relate.

Third party resale services revenue arises from a combination of re-sold seat licenses for third party products, sold on a ‘per 
host per month’ basis, typically on twelve month or more committed terms, and minutes and overage charges for usage of 
these products. Revenue from licenses is recognised evenly over the period of time to which the charges relate. Revenue 
from usage is recognised at the time the service is performed.

Any difference between the amount of revenue recognised and the amount invoiced to a customer is included in the 
statement of financial position as accrued or deferred income.

2.10 Cost of sales
Cost of sales consists of fees payable to third parties and other expenses that are directly related to sales.

2.11 Current and deferred tax
The tax expense or credit represents the sum of the tax currently payable or recoverable and the movement in deferred tax 
assets and liabilities.

(a) Current tax
Current tax is based on taxable income for the period and any adjustment to tax from previous periods. Taxable income 
differs from net income in the statement of comprehensive income because it excludes items of income or expense that are 
taxable or deductible in other periods or that are never taxable or deductible. The calculation uses the latest tax rates and 
laws for the period that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

(b) Deferred tax
Deferred tax is calculated at the latest tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting 
date that are expected to apply when settled. It is charged or credited in the statement of comprehensive income, except 
when it relates to items credited or charged directly to equity, in which case it is also dealt with in equity.

60

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable 
income, and is accounted for using the liability method. It is not discounted.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised 
to the extent that it is probable that taxable income will be available against which the asset can be utilised. Such assets are 
reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that the asset can be utilised.

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent it is probable that the underlying deductible temporary differences will be 
able to be offset against future taxable income.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and when the 
deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or 
different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis.

2.12 Leases
The Group is not party to any material leases where it acts as a lessor, but it does have certain material property leases, 
under which it is a lessee.

Following adoption of IFRS16, for any new contracts entered into on or after 1 January 2019, the Group considers whether a 
contract is, or contains, a lease. A lease is defined as “a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset 
(the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration”. To apply this definition the Griup assesses whether 
the contract meets three key evaluations, which are whether:
• 

the contract contains an identified asset, which is ether explicitly identified in the contract or implicitly specified by being 
identified at the time the asset is made available to the Group;
the Group has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefit from the use of the identified asset throughout 
the period of use, considering its rights within the defined scope of the contract; and
the Group has the right to direct the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use, The Group assesses 
whether it has the right to direct “how and for what purpose” the asset is used throughout the period of use.

• 

• 

Measurement and recognition of leases as a lessee
At lease commencement date, the Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the statement of financial 
position. The right-of-use asset is measured at cost, which is made up of the initial measurement of the lease liability, any 
initial direct costs incurred by the Group, an estimate of any costs to dismantle and remove the asset at the end of the lease, 
and any lease payments made in advance of the lease commencement date (net of any incentives received). The Group 
depreciates the right-of-use assets on a straight line basis from lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of the 
useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term. The Group also assesses the right-of-use asset for 
impairment when such indicators exist.

At the commencement date, the Group measures the lease liability at the present value of the lease payments unpaid at that 
date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease, if that rate is readily available or the Group’s incremental 
borrowing rate. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are made up of fixed payments (including 
in substance fixed), variable payments based on an index or rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value 
guarantee and payments arising from options reasonably certain to be exercised.

Subsequent to initial measurement, the liability will be reduced for payments made and increased for interest. It is 
remeasured to reflect any reassessment or modification, or if there are changes in in-substance fixed payments. When the 
lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment is reflected in the right-of-use asset, or profit and loss if the 
right-of-use asset is already reduced to zero.

The Group has elected to account for short term leases and leases of low value assets using the practical expedients. 
Instead of recognising a right-of-use asset and lease liability, the payments in relation to these are recognised as an 
expense to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

On the statement of financial position, right-of-use assets have been disclosed separately within non-current assets and 
lease liabilities have been disclosed separately within current and non-current liabilities.

2.13 Payroll expense and related contributions
Wages, salaries, payroll tax, paid annual leave and sick leave, bonuses, and non-monetary benefits are accrued in the 
period in which the associated services are rendered.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

61

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
2.14 Benefits and pension costs
LoopUp Limited and MeetingZone Limited operate contributory pension schemes under the UK’s auto-enrolment rules. 
Company contributions (3% in 2020 and 2021) are recognised as an expense in the statement of comprehensive income as 
they fall due.

US staff qualify for a non-contributory 401k pension scheme. The Group has no further payment obligations once the 
contributions have been deducted and paid. The costs of administering this scheme are charged as an expense to the 
statement of comprehensive income in the period to which they relate.

2.15 Share-based compensation
The Group issues share-based payments to certain employees and Directors. Equity-settled share-based payments are 
measured at fair value at the date of grant and expensed on a straight-line basis over any vesting period, along with a 
corresponding increase in equity if they are deemed to be material to the Group.

At each reporting date, the Directors revise their estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest as a result 
of the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions. The impact of any revision is recognised in the statement of 
comprehensive income, with a corresponding adjustment to equity reserves.

The fair value of share options is determined using a Black-Scholes model, taking into consideration the best estimate of the 
expected life of the option and the specific terms of the option grant.

The Group operates an Employee Share Incentive Scheme (ESIS) under which employees may sacrifice a portion of their 
base salary, and receive shares in the Group. The fair value of the shares issued is taken to the statement of comprehensive 
income as a share-based payment charge, with a corresponding adjustment to equity reserves.

2.16 Alternative performance measures
The Board assesses the performance of the Group using alternative performance measures (namely Adjusted operating 
expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted operating profit and Adjusted basic/diluted earnings per share) as in the Board’s 
view, these reflect the underlying performance of the business and provides a more meaningful comparison of how the 
business is managed and measured on a day-to-day basis and is used as a basis for incentive compensation arrangements 
for employees.

Adjusted operating expenses represents total administrative expenses excluding depreciation, amortisation and impairment 
of development costs and acquired intangibles, exceptional reorganisation and tax charges, exceptional impairment 
charges and share-based payments charges.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as operating profit stated before depreciation, amortisation and impairment of development 
costs and acquired intangibles, exceptional reorganisation and tax charges, exceptional impairment charges and share-
based payments charges.

Adjusted operating profit is defined as operating profit stated before amortisation of acquired intangibles, exceptional 
reorganisation and tax charges, exceptional impairment charges and share-based payments charges.

Adjusted earnings per share numbers are calculated using profit attributable to shareholders, adjusted for exceptional 
reorganisation costs, amortisation of acquired intangibles, and share-based payment charges.

Exceptional reorganisation costs are considered to be one-off in nature and are of such significance to the performance of 
the Group due to their size, nature or incidence that the board considers it necessary to show them separately on the face 
of the statement of comprehensive income.

It is important to note that alternative performance measures are not defined under IFRS and therefore are defined as 
‘Non-GAAP’ measures. The alternative performance measures used by the Group may not be directly comparable to 
similarly titled measures reported by other companies. They are not intended to be a substitute for, or be superior to, 
GAAP measures of performance.

2.17 Dividends
Dividends are recognised as a liability and deducted from equity at the time they are approved. Otherwise dividends are 
disclosed if they have been proposed before the relevant consolidated financial statements are approved.

62

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

2. Summary of significant accounting policies continued
2.18 Accounting developments
This report has been prepared based on the accounting policies detailed in the Group’s financial statements for the year 
ended 31 December 2021 and is consistent with the policies applied in the previous financial year.

There are no other new standards, amendments and interpretations which are effective for periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2021, which had any impact on the Group’s accounting policies and disclosures in these financial statements.

None of the new standards, amendments and interpretations, which are effective for periods beginning after 1 January 2021 
and which have not been adopted early, are expected to have a significant effect on the consolidated financial statements 
of the Group.

2.19 Segment reporting
IFRS 8 Operating Segments requires operating segments to be identified on the same basis as is used internally for the 
review of performance and allocation of resources by the CODM.  The Directors have identified the segments by reference 
to the principal groups of services offered and the geographical organisation of the business as reported to the CODM.

In July 2020, the Group announced a major extension to the LoopUp proposition to include global cloud voice services via 
Direct Routing integration with Microsoft Teams (known as Cloud Telephony). This capability, alongside the Group’s 
longstanding Remote Meetings and Managed Events capabilities, combine into a category termed LoopUp Platform 
Capabilities (LPC). Revenue from resale of Cisco WebEx services is categorised as ‘third party resale services’.

In addition to the above segments adopted in the 2020 annual report and accounts, this year a new segment exists as a 
result of the acquisition of SyncRTC in October 2021, that of Hybridium.

Segmental revenues are external and there are no material transactions between segments.  

The Group’s largest customer represented less than 5% of total revenue in both years.

No segmental balance sheet was presented to the CODM. It is not possible to allocate overheads, and therefore profits, 
by segment due to the pooled nature of the overhead base and the capital structure. Overheads are not presented to the 
CODM on a segmental basis.

2.20 Adoption of new and revised standards
Standards and amendments that are not yet effective and have not been adopted early by the Group include:
•  Amendments to IAS 1 – Classification of Liabilities as Current or Non-current;
•  Amendments to IAS 8 – Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors;
•  Amendments to IFRS 3 – Reference to the Conceptual Framework;
•  Amendments to IAS 37 – Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract;
•  Annual improvements to IFRS Standards 2018 – 2020;
•  Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 – Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or jount 

venture; and

•  Amendments to IFRS 4, IFRS 7, IFRS 9, IFRS 16 and IAS 39 – Interest Rate Benchmark Reforms – Phase 2.

3. Financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Group’s statement of financial position when the Group 
becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets are de-recognised when the contractual 
rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or when the contractual rights to those assets are transferred. 
Financial liabilities are de-recognised when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled or expires.

3.01 Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold or services performed in the ordinary course of 
business. They are generally due for settlement within 30 days and are therefore all classified as current. Trade receivables 
are recognised initially at the amount of consideration that is unconditional, unless they contain significant financing 
components, when they are recognised at fair value.

The Group makes use of a simplified approach in accounting for trade and other receivables as well as contract assets and 
records the loss allowance as lifetime expected credit losses. These are the expected shortfalls in contractual cash flows, 
considering the potential for default at any point during the life of the financial instrument. In calculating, the Group uses its 
historical experience, external indicators and forward-looking information to calculate the expected credit losses using a 
provision matrix. The Group assesses impairment of trade receivables on a collective basis as they possess shared credit 
risk characteristics and have been grouped based on the days past due.

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63

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

3. Financial instruments continued
3.02 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and demand deposits, together with other short-term, highly liquid 
investments maturing within 90 days from the date of acquisition that are readily convertible into known amounts of cash 
and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

3.03 Financial liabilities
The Group’s financial liabilities comprise borrowings, finance leases and trade and other payables.

Borrowings and trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are initially measured at their fair value and are subsequently measured at their amortised cost 
using the effective interest rate method; this method allocates interest expense over the relevant period by applying the 
‘effective interest rate’ to the carrying amount of the liability.

3.04 Classification as debt or equity
Debt and equity instruments issued are classified as either financial liabilities or as equity in accordance with 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 liabilities.

3.05 Equity instruments
An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its 
liabilities. Equity instruments issued are recognised as the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. The components of 
equity are as follows:

(a) Share capital
The nominal values of equity shares. The rights attributable to the classes of equity in issue are disclosed in note 20.

(b) Share premium
The fair value of consideration received in excess of the nominal value of equity shares, net of expenses of the share issue.

(c) Retained earnings
The retained net profits or losses to date less distributions.

(d) Foreign currency translation reserve
The net foreign exchange gains or losses to date on consolidation of investments in overseas subsidiaries.

(e) Other Reserve
A reserve has been created to enable the reservation of a consolidated balance sheet which combines the equity structure 
of the legal parent with the non-statutory reserves of the legal subsidiary.

(f) Share-based payments reserve
A reserve used to recognise the value of equity-settled share-based payments provided to employees, including Key 
Management Personnel as part of their remuneration.

4. Financial risk management
4.01 Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to certain financial risks: market risk, credit risk and liquidity risk, as explained below. The 
overall risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential 
adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance. Risk management is carried out by the Directors, who identify and 
evaluate financial risks in close cooperation with key staff.
(a)  Market risk is the risk of loss that may arise from changes in market factors, such as competitor pricing, interest rates, 

foreign exchange rates.

(b) Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a client or counterparty to financial instruments fails to meet its 
contractual obligation. Credit risk arises from the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and receivables balances.

(c)  Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. This risk relates to 
the Group’s prudent liquidity risk management and implies maintaining sufficient cash. The Directors monitor rolling 
forecasts of liquidity, cash and cash equivalents based on expected cash flow.

64

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Governance

Financial Statements

4. Financial risk management continued
4.02 Capital risk management
The Group is funded by equity and loans.

The objective when managing capital is to maintain adequate financial flexibility to preserve the ability to meet financial 
obligations, both current and long term. The capital structure is managed and adjusted to reflect changes in economic 
conditions. Expenditures on commitments are funded from existing cash and cash equivalent balances, primarily received 
from issuances of shareholders’ equity.

Financing decisions are made based on forecasts of the expected timing and level of capital and operating expenditure 
required to meet commitments and development plans.

Aside from the contractual conditions of the Group’s loan facilities, which include certain financial covenants, there are no 
externally imposed capital requirements.

4.03 Fair value estimation
The carrying value less impairment provision of trade receivables and payables are assumed to approximate to their fair 
values because the short-term nature of such assets renders the impact of discounting to be negligible.

5. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of financial statements under UK adopted IFRS required the Group to make estimates and assumptions that 
affect the application of policies and reported amounts. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based 
on historical experience and other factors including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under 
the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates. The estimates and assumptions which have a risk of 
causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are discussed below.

Judgements
5.01 Functional currency
The functional currency is deemed to be Sterling, as the Directors consider that the primary economic environment.

5.02 Recognition of deferred tax assets
Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is considered probable that those assets will be recoverable. This 
involves an assessment of when those assets are likely to reverse, and a judgement as to whether there will be sufficient 
taxable income available to offset the assets when they do reverse.

This requires assumptions regarding the future profitability of the Group for the 12 months from the date of signing of the 
financial statements, and as this is inherently uncertain, no deferred tax asset in relation to tax losses has been recognised 
in the financial statements. The Group has trading losses of £12.3m (2020: £8.5m) and non-trading losses of £0.5m (2020: 
£1.4m) carried forward.

5.03 Capitalised development costs
Capitalisation of development costs requires the Directors to make judgements in allocating staff time appropriately to 
relevant projects and in assessing the technical feasibility and economic potential of those projects.

These judgements have resulted in the intangible assets as set out in note 14.

5.04 Valuation of acquired intangibles
Management identified and valued acquired intangible assets on acquisitions made during the period. Management has 
applied judgements in identifying and valuing intangible assets separate from goodwill that consist of assessing the value of 
brands and customer relationships. The Board has a policy of engaging professional advisors on acquisitions with a 
purchase price greater than £5 million to advise and assist in calculating intangible asset values. The Group consistently 
applies the following methodologies for each class of identified intangible:
•  Customer relationships – Net present value of future cash flows 
• 
•  Brands – Royalty relief method

Intellectual Property – Cost to recreate the asset

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

65

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

5. Critical accounting estimates and judgements continued
Estimates 
5.05 Useful economic life of intangible assets
Assumptions are made on the useful life of an intangible and if shortened, would increase the amortisation charge 
recognised in the income statement. The identified intangibles are set out in note 14. There are a number of assumptions in 
estimating the present value of future cash flows including management’s expectation of future revenue, renewal rates for 
subscription customers, costs, timing and quantum of future capital expenditure, long-term growth rates and discount rates.

During the year, the useful economic life of the customer relationships asset was reassessed, and amended from 15 years to 
six years from acquisition.

5.06 Carrying value of goodwill and other intangibles
The carrying value of goodwill and other intangibles is assessed at least annually to ensure that there is no need for 
impairment. Performing this assessment requires management to estimate future cash flows to be generated by the related 
cash generating unit, which entails making judgements including the expected rate of growth of sales, margins expected to 
be achieved, the level of future capital expenditure required to support these outcomes and the appropriate discount rate to 
apply when valuing future cash flows.

The Group now considers that it has two cash generating units in the Group as a whole. 

LoopUp Platform
In the years since the acquisition of MeetingZone, the vast majority of MeetingZone’s audio revenue customer base has 
been transitioned onto the LoopUp platform. The growing cloud telephony business also relies on infrastructure created 
within both the LoopUp and MeetingZone businesses. Staff and overhead costs have also been amalgamated such that it is 
not possible to separately identify the acquired MeetingZone business. This is entirely in line with the intention at the time of 
the acquisition. Impairment testing has therefore been carried out on this basis.

Hybridium
Hybridium (previously known as MashMe) revenues are delivered through a distinct technology platform, which was 
acquired with SyncRTC in October 2021. As this cash generating unit was acquired in the year, it is not required to be 
assessed for impairment.

5.07 Intangible asset life
Intangible assets are amortised over their estimated useful lives.

5.08 Share based payments
The Group operates a share-based compensation plan under which the entity receives services from employees as 
consideration for equity instruments (options) of the Group. The fair value of the employee services received in exchange 
for the grant of the options and awards is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by 
reference to the fair value of the options granted, excluding the impact of any non-market service and performance vesting 
conditions (for example, profitability, sales growth targets and remaining an employee of the entity over a specified time 
period). Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options and awards that are 
expected to vest. The total amount expensed is recognised over the vesting period, which is the period over which all the 
specified existing conditions are to be satisfied. At each reporting date, the entity revises its estimates of the number of 
options and awards that are expected to vest based on the non-market vesting conditions. It recognises the impact of the 
revision to original estimates, if any, in the income statement, with a corresponding adjustment to equity. The significant 
judgements involved in calculating the share based payments charge are the fair value at the date of grant which is 
determined by using the Black-Scholes model, the staff retention rate which is determined with reference to historical churn 
and the estimated vesting periods which are determined with reference to the Group’s forecasts. Additional disclosures on 
the calculation of share-based payments are provided in note 20.

The Group also operates an employee share incentive scheme (ESIS) pursuant to which employees can choose to sacrifice 
a percentage of their base salary in respect of an ESIS period (calendar quarters) and receive shares in the Group. The fair 
value of the shares issued in respect of each ESIS period is charged to the statement of comprehensive income as a 
share-based payment, with a corresponding increase in issued share capital and share premium account.

66

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Governance

Financial Statements

6. Revenue and segmental reporting
The Group’s revenue disaggregated by primary geographical markets is as follows:

LoopUp
Platform
Capabilities
£000

Third party
Resale
Services
£000

Hybridium
£000

Total
£000

For the year ended 31 December 2021:
UK
EU
North America
Rest of World

Total

For the year ended 31 December 2020:
UK
EU
North America
Rest of World

Total

7,027
2,181
5,363
269

14,840

22,634
6,217
13,258
940

43,049

The Group’s revenue disaggregated by pattern of revenue recognition is as follows:

For the year ended 31 December 2021:
Services transferred at a point in time
Services transferred over time

Total

For the year ended 31 December 2020:
Services transferred at a point in time
Services transferred over time

Total

The Group’s gross profit disaggregated by segment is as follows:

LoopUp
Platform
Capabilities
£000

12,740
2,100

14,840

40,774
2,275

43,049

LoopUp Platform Capabilities
Third Party Resale Services
Hybridium

Total

1,624
1,136
1,684
–

4,444

2,957
1,573
2,651
–

7,181

Third party
Resale
Services
£000

10
4,434

4,444

599
6,582

7,181

13
138
61
30

242

–
–
–
–

–

8,664
3,455
7,108
299

19,526

25,591
7,790
15,909
940

50,230

Hybridium
£000

Total
£000

–
242

242

–
–

–

2021
£000

11,740
1,487
241

13,468

12,750
6,776

19,526

41,373
8,857

50,230

2020
£000

33,497
2,101
–

35,598

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

67

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

6. Revenue and segmental reporting continued
The Group’s non-current assets disaggregated by primary geographical markets are as follows:

Geographical analysis of non-current assets:
UK
EU
North America
Rest of World

7. Administrative expenses
The (loss)/profit from operations is stated after charging amounts as follows:

Staff costs (note 9)
Auditor’s remuneration (note 8)
Foreign exchange loss
Other administrative expenses

Total adjusted operating expenses
Depreciation of owned property, plant and equipment (note 13)
Amortisation of right of use assets (note 13)
Amortisation of development costs (note 14)
Amortisation of acquired intangibles (note 14)
Exceptional reorganisation costs and tax charge
Exceptional impairment charge
Share-based payment charge (note 20)

Total administrative expenses

2021
£000

2020
£000

56,851
253
1,181
2

58,287

2021
£000

7,223
211
24
4,814

12,272
934
826
5,582
2,211
392
19,597
2,208

44,022

74,230
24
1,701
5

75,960

2020
Restated
£000

13,773
135
65
6,297

20,270
818
884
4,581
2,210
–
–
575

29,338

Exceptional reorganisation costs are legal and professional fees and staff termination costs incurred in relation to 
restructuring the Group in line with the strategic transition. The reorganisation impacted entities throughout the group, but 
principally LoopUp Limited and LoopUp LLC, where the majority of staff are employed. These are not expected to recur.

The exceptional impairment charge arose from an assessment of the carrying value of the customer relationships asset 
conducted in the year. As a result of this assessment, the value of the asset was impaired, and the useful economic life 
shortened (see note 14.03).

8. Auditor’s remuneration
The Group obtained the following services from the auditor and their associates:

Fees payable to the Group’s auditor for the audit of the consolidated financial statements
Fees payable to the Group’s auditor for the audit of the Parent Company’s financial 

statements

Audit-related assurance services
Other professional services
Tax compliance services

Total auditor’s remuneration (included within adjusted operating expenses)

2021
£000

150

10
8
43
–

211

2020
£000

115

10
10
–
–

135

Other professional services related to due diligence work on acquisition which took place prior to appointment as auditor.

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Governance

Financial Statements

9. Staff and remuneration
9.01 Number of staff

Average number of employees (including Directors):
Executive Directors
Non-executive Directors
Commercial
Engineering and development
Other

9.02 Remuneration

Aggregate remuneration of staff (including Directors):
Short-term remuneration
Social security costs
Benefits in kind

Capitalisation as development costs (note 14)

Included in adjusted operating expenses

2021
Number

2020
Number

3
3
62
60
72

200

2021
£000

10,906
1,333
1,017

13,256
(6,028)

7,228

3
3
104
53
78

241

2020
£000

16,952
1,532
1,265

19,749
(5,976)

13,773

In addition to the staff costs above, £738,000 (2020: £844,000) of outsourced contractor costs and £nil (2020: £46,000) of 
other, non-salary costs were incurred and capitalised as development costs.

9.03 Directors’ remuneration
Remuneration of the Directors included within the statement of comprehensive income is as follows:

Short-term remuneration
Share based payments
Benefits in kind
Non-Executive Director fees

2021
£000

572
27
18
45

662

2020
£000

1,149
–
19
79

1,247

The highest paid director received remuneration in 2021 of £225,000 (2020: £514,000) including pension contributions of 
£nil (2020: £nil). The remuneration of key management personnel is shown in note 21.01.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

69

 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

10. Finance costs

Interest on loans
Loan facility fees
Interest charges on right of use assets

11. Taxation
11.01 Income tax credit

Current tax
Current period UK income tax
Current period foreign income tax
Adjustment for prior periods

Total current tax
Deferred tax adjustments (note 26)

Net income tax credit

2021 
£000

300
49
116

465

2021
£000

(1,878)
151
53

(1,674)
(4,378)

(6,052)

2020
Restated 
£000

424
49
126

599

2020 
Restated
£000

(1,450)
530
222

(698)
390

(308)

11.02 Factors affecting the tax charge
The income tax charge differs from the theoretical charge arising from applying UK corporate tax rates to the profits for the 
reasons below:

UK corporate tax average rate

(Loss)/profit before income tax

Tax at the UK corporate tax rate
Effects of:
Expenses deductable
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Losses surrendered for R&D credit
Additional reduction for R&D expenditure
Losses carried forward
Set against brought forward losses
Effect of foreign tax rates
Adjustment for prior periods
Deferred tax adjustments
Other differences

Net income tax credit

2021
£000

19%

(31,019)

(5,894)

(1,930)
5,976
2,461
(1,391)
(862)
(89)
55
(16)
(4,378)
16

(6,052)

2020 
Restated
£000

19%

5,661

1,076

–
13
–
(1,451)
–
(713)
22
40
390
315

(308)

11.03 Factors that may affect future tax charges
The effective rate of UK corporate tax at the period end was 19%. An increase in the rate to 25% for the financial year 
commencing 1 April 2023 had been substantively enacted at the date of these financial statements.

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Governance

Financial Statements

12. Earnings per share
The basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net (loss)/profit attributable to equity holders of the Group by the 
weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year.

(Loss)/profit attributable to equity holders (£000)
Adjusted (loss)/profit attributable to equity holders (£000)(i)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue (000)
Basic adjusted earnings per share (pence)(ii)
Basic earnings per share (pence)

2021

(24,967)
(4,938)
63,992
(7.7)
(39.0)

2020
Restated

5,969
9,144
55,330
16.5
10.8

The diluted earnings per share have been calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to equity holders of the Group by 
the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year, adjusted for potentially dilutive shares that are not 
anti-dilutive.

2021
000

2020
000

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue
Adjustment for share options

Weighted average number of potential ordinary shares in issue

Diluted adjusted earnings per share (pence)(ii)
Diluted earnings per share (pence)

63,992
–

63,992

(7.7)
(39.0)

55,330
5,065

60,395

15.1
9.9

(i)  Calculated as (loss)/profit attributable to equity holders adjusted for exceptional reorganisation costs, amortisation of 

acquired intangibles and share based payments charges. 

(ii)  Basic adjusted and diluted adjusted earnings per share are calculated using the (loss)/profit above and adjusting for 
exceptional reorganisation and tax charges, exceptional impairment charges, amortisation of acquired intangibles 
and share based payments charges. 

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

71

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

13. Property, plant and equipment
13.01 Property, plant and equipment (Group)

Cost:
As at 1 January 2020
Additions
Disposals
Net exchange difference

As at 31 December 2020
Additions
Acquired on acquisition of SyncRTC (Note 22.02)
Disposals
Net exchange difference

As at 31 December 2021

Accumulated depreciation:
As at 1 January 2020
Charge for the year
Disposals
Net exchange difference

As at 31 December 2020
Charge for the year
Acquired on acquisition of SyncRTC (Note 22.02)
Disposals
Net exchange difference

As at 31 December 2021

Carrying amount:
As at 1 January 2020

As at 31 December 2020

As at 31 December 2021

13.02 Property, plant and equipment (Company)
The Company held no property, plant and equipment during the period.

13.03 Right of use assets
The balance sheet shows the following amounts in relation to leases:

Right-of-use assets

Buildings

Lease liabilities
Current
Non-current

Computer
equipment
£000

Office
equipment
£000

8,559
753
(575)
(83)

8,654
614
79
(30)
20

9,337

6,525
600
(575)
(73)

6,477
815
51
(30)
26

7,339

2,034

2,177

1,998

1,482
4
(551)
(6)

929
3
–
(15)
1

918

779
218
(551)
(3)

443
119
-
(15)
1

548

703

486

370

Total
£000

10,041
757
(1,126)
(89)

9,583
617
79
(45)
21

10,255

7,304
818
(1,126)
(76)

6,920
934
51
(45)
27

7,887

2,737

2,663

2,368

2021
£000

2020
Restated
£000

2,130

2,951

956
1,463

2,419

953
2,372

3,325

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Governance

Financial Statements

13. Property, plant and equipment continued 
There were no additions to the right-of-use assets during 2021 (2020 restated: £558,000).

The income statement shows the following amounts relating to leases:

Amortisation of right-of-use assets Buildings

Interest expense

2021
£000

826

826

116

2020
Restated
£000

884

884

126

The aggregate cash outflow in respect of leases in the year was £840,000 (2020: £828,000). 

The Group’s leases include various office premises, typically on rental contracts from three to ten years. Lease terms are 
negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions. The lease arrangements do 
not impose any covenants other than the security interests in the leased assets held by the lessor. Leased assets may not 
be used as security for borrowing purposes.

Assets and liabilities arising from a lease are initially measured on a present value basis. Lease liabilities include the net 
present value of the future expected lease payments. The lease payments are discounted using the Group’s incremental 
borrowing rate, estimated at 3.5%. The loan interest rate increased after the year-end to 4.5% above SONIA. The Directors 
will reassess the discount rate used in 2022 in the light of this change.

Lease payments are allocated between principal and finance costs. The latter is charged to the income statement over the 
lease period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period.

Right of use assets are generally depreciated over the shorter of the asset’s useful life and the lease term on a straight line 
basis. Payments associated with short-term or low value leases are recognised on a straight line basis as an expense on the 
income statement. The right of use assets balances were subject to prior year adjustments which are explained more fully in 
Note 24.01.

14. Intangible assets
14.01 Intangible assets (Group)

Cost:
As at 1 January 2020
Additions

As at 31 December 2020
Additions

As at 31 December 2021

Accumulated amortisation:
As at 1 January 2020
Charge for the year

As at 31 December 2020
Charge for the year
Exceptional impairment charge

As at 31 December 2021

Carrying amount:
As at 1 January 2020

As at 31 December 2020

As at 31 December 2021

Customer
relationships
£000

Brand and
trademarks
£000

Acquired
goodwill
£000

Development
costs
£000

31,178
–

31,178
–

31,178

3,290
2,078

5,368
2,079
19,597

27,044

27,888

25,810

4,134

1,977
–

1,977
–

1,977

209
132

341
132
–

473

1,768

1,636

1,504

31,511
–

31,511
3,914

35,425

–
–

–
–
–

–

31,511

31,511

35,425

23,251
6,866

30,117
6,919

37,036

14,147
4,581

18,728
5,582
–

24,310

9,104

11,389

12,726

Total
£000

87,917
6,866

94,783
10,833

105,616

17,646
6,791

24,437
7,793
19,597

51,827

70,271

70,346

53,789

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

73

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

14. Intangible assets continued
14.02 Development costs
Amortisation and any impairment charges are included in operating expenses in the statement of comprehensive income. 
Intangible assets not yet ready for use are tested for impairment at least annually. Amortisation of each asset begins from 
the date the asset becomes available for use.

14.03 Goodwill, customer relationships and brands and trademarks
The addition to acquired goodwill in 2021 arose on the acquisition of SyncRTC. Aside from that, there were no additions to 
these assets in 2021 or 2020. 

The customer relationships and brands and trademarks assets relate to the acquisiton of MeetingZone in 2018. The 
acquisition consisted of a single identifiable cash generating unit. The Group used specialist external advisors to value the 
separately identifiable assets acquired using an income approach to identify the present value of the future economic value 
of these assets and the resulting goodwill. Detailed three-year cash flow forecasts were produced at the time of the 
acquisition to support these valuations. The acquired customer relationships and brand assets were considered to have a 
useful economic life of at least 15 years when acquired. 

The useful economic life of the customer relationships was reassessed in 2021, and it was determined that the churn in 
customers in the period since the acquisition results in a reduced assessment of the economic life of this customer book to 
six years (with 2.5 years remaining at 31 December 2021). 

There was also determined to be an impairment in the value of the customer relationships asset, which was assessed by 
considering a discounted cash flow calculation of those acquired customers remaining, and making assumptions about 
future churn. This impairment resulted in an exceptional impairment charge of £19.6 million in 2021.

14.04 Impairment testing
The Group tests goodwill for impairment on an annual basis by considering the recoverable amount of each cash generating 
unit. The Hybridium cash generating unit was not tested for impairment in 2021, being the year of acquisition. There are no 
intangible assets with indefinite useful lives (other than goodwill).

For the purpose of impairment testing, the recoverable amount of the LPC cash-generating unit has been calculated with 
reference to value in use. The key assumptions for the period over which management approved forecasts are based and, 
beyond this, for the value in use calculations overall, are those regarding discount rates, growth rates and achievement of 
future revenues. In arriving at the values assigned to each key assumption management make reference to past experience 
and external sources of information regarding the future. The assumptions have been reviewed in light of the current 
economic environment. The key features of these calculations are shown below:

Period over which management approved forecasts are based
Growth rate applied beyond approved forecast period for both costs and revenues
Pre-tax discount rate

5 years
2%
8.8%

The discount rates used in each value in use calculation have been based upon divisional specific risk, taking account of 
factors such as the nature of service user need, cost profiles and the barriers to entry into each market segment as well as 
other macro-economic factors.

The Directors believe that, even in the current economic environment and taking into account the nature of the Group’s 
operations, any reasonably possible change in the key assumptions on which the recoverable amounts are based would not 
cause the cash-generating units’ carrying amount to exceed the recoverable amount.

14.05 Intangible assets (Company)
The Company held no intangible assets during the period.

74

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

15. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Accrued revenue
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Other receivables
Deposits and prepayments

Current corporate tax

Group
2021
£000

2,298
83
–
–
1,227

3,608

1,862

Group
2020  
Restated
£000

4,804
222
–
8
1,841

6,875

1,647

Company
2021
£000

–
–
69,329
–
–

69,329

–

Company
2020
£000

–
–
60,815
–
–

60,815

–

The Directors believe that the carrying value of receivables represents their fair value. In determining the recoverability of a 
receivable, the Directors consider any change in its credit quality from the date credit was granted up to the reporting date.

The largest single receivable at any time would typically constitute no more than 3% of total receivables and would relate to 
a blue-chip customer. As such, the concentrated credit risk is considered minimal.

Details of the credit risk management policies are shown in note 19.05. No collateral is held as security for trade or other 
receivables. The ageing analysis of trade receivables is as follows:

Not overdue
Up to 30 days overdue
Between 30 and 60 days overdue
Over 60 days overdue

Provision for credit losses

Group
2021
£000

1,226
697
127
465

2,515
(217)

2,298

Group
2020
£000

2,067
1,675
499
1,027

5,268
(464)

4,804

Company
2021
£000

Company
2020
£000

–
–
–
–

–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–
–

–

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings are repayable on demand and are interest free.

16. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

Group
2021
£000

5,465

5,465

Group
2020
£000

12,086

12,086

Company
2021
£000

–

–

Company
2020
£000

–

–

The cash and cash equivalents do not currently earn interest. The Directors consider that the carrying value of cash and 
cash equivalents approximates to their fair value.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

75

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

17. Trade and other payables

Current:
Trade payables
Other tax and social security

Accruals
Deferred income

Lease liabilities (note 13.03)

Borrowings (note 18)

Total current liabilities

18. Borrowings
Borrowings held at amortised cost

Current:
Bank loan

Total current borrowings

Non-current:
Bank loan
Debt acquired in SyncRTC acquisition 

Total non-current borrowings

Total of current and non-current borrowings

Group
2021
£000

2,320
1,064

3,384

1,148
888

2,036

956

956

1,700

1,700

8,076

Group
2021
£000

1,700

1,700

5,218
963

6,181

7,881

Group
restated
2020
£000

3,650
2,653

6,303

2,927
680

3,607

953

953

1,700

1,700

12,563

Group
2020
£000

1,700

1,700

11,050
–

11,050

12,750

Company
2021
£000

Company
2020
£000

–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–

–

–
–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Company
2021
£000

Company
2020
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

The Group’s bank loan is a £17m facility arranged with the Bank of Ireland in June 2018 in connection with the acquisition of 
MeetingZone, and was amended in October 2021 in connection with the acquisition of SyncRTC. 

The facility is a 5-year term loan – 50% amortising, 50% bullet repayment at maturity, at a floating interest rate of 2.5% over 
LIBOR, with a zero LIBOR floor. Repayments of £0.85m are made every six months, and a prepayment of £4.1 million was 
made in October 2021. As at 31 December 2021, the maturity date for the facility was 30 June 2023.

Subsequent to the year-end the facility was further amended. These amendments include extending the term of the loan 
to 30 September 2023, the removal of capital repayments until June 2023, an increase in the interest rate to 4.5% above 
SONIA, and the adoption of a different suite of covenants.

The Group also has access to a £1.5m revolving credit facility which has been reconfirmed in the amended facility 
agreement.

The facility includes security over the assets of LoopUp Limited and certain other subsidiary companies. The Group is 
required to ensure that it complies with covenants governing net debt/Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA/gross 
interest for the period of the loan. The Group has complied with all covenant tests up to the balance sheet date.

76

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Governance

Financial Statements

18. Borrowings continued
Debt acquired in SyncRTC acquisition comprises several loans, as below:
•  Unsecured bank loans from Banco Sabadell, as below:

 – €40,000 taken in May 2020. Interest only for the first twelve months, following which the loan is repayable in  

48 monthly instalments of interest and capital. The interest rate is 3.5% per annum.

 – €90,000 taken in May 2021. Interest only for the first eleven months, following which the loan is repayable in a  

single payment on the anniversary of the loan. The interest rate is 3.5% per annum.

•  Unsecured bank loans from La Caixa, as below:

 – €100,000, taken in October 2019. Repayable in 48 monthly payments of interest and capital. Interest rate is 3.0%.
 – €120,000, taken in July 2020.  Interest only for twelve months, following which the loan is repayable in 48 monthly 

instalments of interest and capital. The interest rate is 1.5%.

 – €40,000, taken in March 2021.  Interest only for twelve months, following which the loan is repayable in 48 monthly 

instalments of interest and capital. The interest rate is 2.5%.

•  An unsecured, non-bank loan from European Regional Development Fund, FEDER as part of a RETOS R&D project, 

which included grant and loan funding. The loan was made in three tranches: €180,000 in June 2016, €318,000 in June 
2017 and €316,000 in June 2018. The tranches are each repayable in even annual payments, beginning around four 
years after drawdown of the tranche. The interest rate on each tranche is 0.06%.

•  A non-bank loan from The European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA) for €200,000, made in November 2016. 

Repayable in 16 quarterly payments, which began in February 2019. Interest rate is 3.68%.

•  A non-bank loan from the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) a Spanish public sector 

organisation. The loan was initially created in November 2015, with drawdowns in 2016 (€124,000) and 2021 (€109,000). 
The loans are secured on a cash deposit of €124,000, held by Banco Santander. The loans are repayable in six-monthly 
payments of interest and capital. The interest rate is 0.163%.

Maturity analysis showing the contractual undiscounted cash flows.

The Group’s non-derivative financial liabilities have contractual maturities as summarised below:

31 December 2021:
Trade payables
SyncRTC acquired debt
Bank loan

31 December 2020:
Trade payables
Bank loan

Within
six months
£000

Six to
twelve months
£000

2,320
–
850

3,170

3,650
850

4,500

–
–
850

850

–
850

850

One to
five years
£000

–
963
5,218

6,181

–
12,750

12,750

Non-current
later than
five years
£000

–

–

–

–
–

–

The above amounts reflect the contractual undiscounted cash flows, which may differ to the carrying values of the liabilities 
at the reporting date.

The changes in the Group’s liabilities arising from financing activities can be classified as follows:

At 1 January 2020
Cash flows:
– Repayment

At 31 December 2020

At 1 January 2021
Cash flows:
– Repayment
– Reclassification
– SyncRTC acquired debt

At 31 December 2021

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Long-term
borrowings
£000

12,750

(1,700)

11,050

11,050

(4,132)
(1,700)
963

6,181

Short-term
borrowings
£000

1,700

–

1,700

1,700

(1,700)
1,700
–

1,700

Total
£000

14,450

(1,700)

12,750

12,750

(5,832)
–
963

7,881

77

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

19. Financial instruments
There is an exposure to the risks that arise from the financial instruments. The policies for managing those risks and the 
methods to measure them are described in note 4.

19.01 Capital risk management
Funding to date has been by equity (note 20) and loans (note 18).

19.02 Financial assets
The following financial assets were held, all classified as loans, cash or receivables:

Cash and cash equivalents
Trade receivables
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Other receivables
Deposits

Group
2021
£000

5,465
2,298
–
–
262

8,025

19.03 Financial liabilities
The following financial liabilities were held, all classified as other financial liabilities:

Trade payables
Loans
Other payables

Group
2021
£000

2,320
7,881
–

10,201

Group
2020
£000

12,086
4,804
–
8
342

17,240

Group
2020 
(Restated)
£000

3,650
12,750
–

16,400

Company
2021
£000

–
–
69,329
–
–

69,329

Company
2020
£000

–
–
60,815
–
–

60,815

Company
2021
£000

Company
2020
£000

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

19.04 Market risk
There is an exposure to the financial risk of changes in exchange rates impacting overseas revenues and costs. The 
Directors do not consider it appropriate to engage in hedging activities at this point in time, as the Group’s US Dollar 
revenues and costs are naturally hedged, to a large degree.

19.05 Credit risk
Careful consideration is given to the choice of bank in order to minimise credit risk. Cash is held at different banks in 
each local jurisdiction. The amounts of cash held with those banks at the reporting date can be seen in the financial 
assets table above. Cash is held in local currency in each jurisdiction. Amounts held in non-sterling accounts are 
minimised where possible.

There was no significant concentration of credit risk at the reporting date other than as described at note 15.

The carrying amount of financial assets, net of any allowances for losses, represents the maximum exposure to credit risk 
without taking account of the value of any collateral obtained.

A provision of £217,000 (2020: £464,000) has been made for impairment losses in relation to trade receivables.  
This represents 8.6% of gross outstanding trade receivables (2020: 8.8%). The Group considers the current level of  
this provision to be adequate to cover expected credit losses on trade receivables. Bad debt expenses are reported in 
the income statement.

In the Directors’ opinion, there has been no other impairment of financial assets. An allowance for impairment is made where 
there is an identified loss event which, based on previous experience, is evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the 
cash flows. The Directors consider the above measures to be sufficient to control the credit risk exposure. No collateral is 
held as security in relation to its financial assets.

Amounts owed by subsidiaries are unsecured, have no fixed date of repayment and are repayable on demand.

78

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Governance

Financial Statements

19. Financial instruments continued
19.06 Liquidity risk management
The Directors manage liquidity risk by regularly reviewing cash requirements by reference to short-term cash flow forecasts 
and medium-term working capital projections.

19.07 Maturity of financial assets and liabilities
The maturity of non-derivative financial liabilities and assets at the reporting date are shown in note 18.

19.08 Fair value
The fair values of all the financial assets and liabilities on the balance sheet are considered to approximate to their 
carrying values.

Financial instruments are either carried at amortised cost, less any provision for impairment, or fair value. The fair value of 
long-term borrowings is the same as the carrying value of long-term borrowings as at 31 December 2021. The Group uses 
the following hierarchy for determining and disclosing the fair value of financial instruments by valuation technique:
•  Level 1: quoted (unadjusted) prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
•  Level 2: other techniques for which all inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value are observable, 

either directly or indirectly; and

•  Level 3: techniques which use inputs which have a significant effect on the recorded fair value that are not based on 

observable market data.

There were no financial instruments which met any of the above classifications as at 31 December 2021 or 2020.

Where market values are not available, fair values of financial assets and liabilities have been calculated by discounting 
expected future cash flows at prevailing interest rates with the following assumptions being applied:
• 

for trade and other receivables and payables with a remaining life of less than one year the carrying amount is deemed 
to reflect the fair value; and
for cash and cash equivalents the amounts reported on the balance sheet approximate to fair value.

• 

20. Share capital and share premium
20.01 Number of shares in issue

Ordinary shares of 0.5p each

20.02 Share capital at par, fully paid

Carried forward:
Ordinary shares of 0.5p each

Movement in year:
Shares issued:
– Ordinary shares of 0.5p each

2021
Number

2020
Number

97,001,114

55,441,182

97,001,114

55,441,182

2021
£000

485

485

208

208

2020
£000

277

277

1

1

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

79

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

20. Share capital and share premium continued
20.03 Changes to shares in issue

Shares at the start of the year
Ordinary shares issued at £0.0128 - exercise of share options
Ordinary shares issued at £0.5000 - exercise of share options
Ordinary shares issued at £0.7500 - exercise of share options
Ordinary shares issued at £0.3730 - consideration for SyncRTC acquisition
Ordinary shares issued at £0.25 - placing
Ordinary shares issued at £0.2201 - pursuant to the ESIS

Shares at the end of the year

20.04 Share premium account

Brought forward
Arising during the year on issue of shares
Costs of share issue

Carried forward

2021
Number

2020
Number

55,441,182
–
–
–
5,374,050
35,400,000
785,882

55,245,182
75,000
9,000
112,000
–
–

97,001,114

55,441,182

2021
£000

60,677
10,183
—

70,860

2020
£000

60,588
89
–

60,677

20.05 Share options
The Group operates a shared-based payment scheme for employee remuneration, which is settled in equity. Options are 
granted to the majority of employees on a periodic basis. Options under the scheme will vest if certain conditions, as 
defined in the scheme, are met. Upon vesting, each option allows the holder to purchase one ordinary share at a price 
determined upon the issue of the option.

Outstanding share options were as follows:

Outstanding at 1 January
Granted at £nil
Granted at £1.10
Cancelled and not replaced
Lapsed
Exercised (note 20.03)

Outstanding at 31 December

Number of options exercisable at the balance sheet date

At £nil
At £0.0128
At £0.50
At £0.75
At £1.105
At £3.175
At £4.40

Options outstanding at 31 December

2021
Number

5,459,929
5,412,538
–
–
(242,703)
–

2020
Number

4,992,645
–
1,195,700
(360,000)
(172,416)
(196,000)

10,629,764

5,459,929

2021
Number

2020
Number

9,026,017

2,669,108

2021
Number

5,412,538
127,387
88,000
3,877,030
1,084,705
2,500
37,604

2020
Number

–
127,387
88,000
4,020,280
1,181,450
2,500
40,312

10,629,764

5,459,929

80

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Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

20. Share capital and share premium continued

Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options carried forward

£

0.41

£

0.83

In May 2020, the Group issued a total of 1,195,000 new share options at a strike price of £1.105, equal to the market price 
at the date of grant. These options vest over a four-year period with a one year cliff.

In October 2021, the Group issued a total of 5,412,538 new share options at a nil strike price, in lieu of paying bonuses 
relating to 2020 in cash. These options vested in full on issue.

20.06 Share-based payments
The fair values of the options granted have been calculated using a Black-Scholes model. Assumptions used were an 
option life of five years, a risk-free rate of 1.007%, a volatility of 25% and zero dividend yield. Other inputs were as follows:

Number granted in year

Share price at grant date
Exercise price
Fair value of each issued option
Vesting period (years)
Allowance for leavers and failed vestings
Total charge for grant

Charge for the year:

– 2021 grant
– 2020 grant
– 2019 grant
– 2018 grant

Charge in relation to share options
Charge in relation to employee share incentive scheme

2021
Number

2020
Number

5,412,538

1,195,700

£0.27
£0.005
£0.27
1
0%
£1,436,000

£1,436,000
£57,000
£144,000
£398,000

£2,035,000
£173,000

£1.105
£1.105
£0.265
4
10%
£285,000

–
£33,000
£144,000
£398,000

£575,000
–

£2,208,000

£575,000

21. Related party transactions
21.01 Remuneration of key personnel
Key management of the Group are the members of the executive leadership team. Key management personnel 
remuneration includes the following expenses:

Short-term remuneration
Share based payments
Benefits in kind

Total remuneration

21.02 Transactions and balances with key management personnel

Amounts owed by/(to) key personnel:
Steve Flavell
Michael Hughes
Mike Reynolds

These amounts represent unpaid expense claims or fee invoices.

2021
£000

1,604
59
59

1,722

2021
£000

(19)
(36)
(4)

(59)

2020
£000

2,850
–
62

2,912

2020
£000

(13)
(29)
(4)

(46)

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

81

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

21. Related party transactions continued
21.03 Transactions with related companies and businesses
The Group has purchased services in the normal course of business from Silicon Valley Internship Program, a company of 
which Michael Hughes is the sole director and shareholder.

The purchases from this related party and the balance owed at year end are set out below:

Purchases from related parties:
Silicon Valley Internship Program

Amounts owed to (by) related parties:
Silicon Valley Internship Program

22. Subsidiary undertakings and business combinations
22.01 Subsidiary undertakings

At the start of the year
Additions – acquisition of subsidiary
Additions – issue of share-based payments in own shares  

to employees of Group undertakings

At the end of the year

2021
£000

–

–

–

–

2021
£000

1,493
2,547

2,208

6,248

2020
£000

(46)

(46)

–

–

2020 
£000

918
–

575

1,493

The Company owns 100% of the issued shares of the following telephony and conferencing services subsidiaries which, 
taken with the amounts of share-based payments relating to shares in the parent but awarded to employees of subsidiaries, 
make up the carrying value of £6,248,000 (2020 Restated: £1,493,000).

82

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Governance

Financial Statements

22. Subsidiary undertakings and business combinations continued

Country of 
incorporation and 
principal place of 
business

Principal activity

2021

2020

Proportion of ownership  
interests held by Group at year end

Owned directly by LoopUp 

Group plc:

LoopUp Limited
SyncRTC Inc
Owned indirectly by LoopUp 

UK
USA

Telephony and conferencing services
Hybrid meetings and events services

Group plc

Held in LoopUp Limited:
LoopUp LLC
LoopUp (Barbados) Limited
LoopUp (HK) Limited
LoopUp Australia Pty Ltd
Pimco 2711 Limited*
Warwick Holdco Limited*
Warwick Debtco Limited*
Warwick Bidco Limited*
MeetingZone Limited
MeetingZone GmbH
MeetingZone Inc
MeetingZone Canada Limited
Confy MeetingZone AB
LoopUp South Africa
LoopUp SG Pte Ltd
LoopUp India Private Limited
Loopup Brasil Solucoes Em
Technologia Ltda
Loopup Estonia OÜ
Held in SyncRTC Inc:
MashMe Group SL
SyncRTC Limited*

Telephony and conferencing services
Telephony and conferencing services
Telephony and conferencing services
Telephony and conferencing services
Dormant company
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Telephony and conferencing services
Telephony and conferencing services
Telephony and conferencing services
Telephony and conferencing services
Telephony and conferencing services

USA
Barbados
Hong Kong
Australia
UK
UK
UK
UK
UK
Germany
USA
Canada
Sweden
South Africa Dormant company
Dormant company
Singapore
Dormant company
India

Brazil
Estonia

Spain
UK

Dormant company
Dormant company

Hybrid meetings and events services
Hybrid meetings and events services

100%
100%

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

100%
100%

100%
100%

100%
–

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%

100%
100%

–
–

* The company’s subsidiary SyncRTC Limited is exempt from the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 relating to the audit of their individual accounts by 

virtue of section 479A of the Companies Act 2006.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

83

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

22. Subsidiary undertakings and business combinations continued
The registered offices of the companies in the Group are:

All UK subsidiaries

LoopUp LLC

Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JJ, UK

282 2nd Street, Suite 200, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA

LoopUp (Barbados) Limited

1st Floor, One Welches, St Thomas 220025, Barbados

LoopUp (HK) Limited

LoopUp Australia Pty Ltd

46/F Lee Garden One, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong

Level 10, 580 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

MeetingZone Canada Limited

11-1155 North Service Road West, Oakville, ON L6M 3E3, Canada

MeetingZone Inc

MeetingZone GmbH

Confy MeetingZone AB

LoopUp South Africa

LoopUp SG Pte Ltd

LoopUp India Private Limited

One Mifflin Place, Suite 40, Cambridge MA 02138, USA

Hardenbergstr 32, 10623 Berlin, Germany

Sodra Forstadsgatan 40A, 21143 Malmo, Sweden

4 Lisbon Lane, Waterfall Coty, Jukskei View, Gauteng 2090, South Africa

6 Battery Road #42, Singapore 049909

Plot No 66, Lower Ground Floor, #TheHub, Okhla Phase III, 
Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi 110020, India

LoopUp Brasil Solucoes Em Technologia Ltda

LoopUp Estonia OÜ

MashMe Group SL

venida Paulista No 2064, 14 andar, Bela Vista, 
São Paulo - SP - CEP 01310-200, Brazil

Padriku tee 12/3-4, 11912 Tallinn, Estonia

C/Cronos 20 bloque 2 1º4 28037, Madrid

22.02 Acquisition
On 1 October 2021, the Company acquired the entire share capital of SyncRTC Inc. The consideration of £2,547,000 million 
was comprised of cash of £542,000 and the issue of 5,374,500 shares at a price of £0.37303 each, being the market price, to a 
total of £2,005,000 paid on completion. In addition, the Group assumed £1 million of cash indebtedness of SyncRTC Inc.

The consideration for the acquisition was as follows:

Cash consideration – paid
Equity consideration – issued

£000

542
2,005

2,547

SyncRTC Inc, together with its subsidiaries MashMe Group SL and SyncRTC Limited (together “SyncRTC”) provides a 
best-in-class experience for larger scale hybrid education and corporate training implementations. At the time of acquisition, 
SyncRTC had a customer base of approximately 30 education and corporate training customers including Said Business 
School at the University of Oxford, NYU Stern School of Business, Colorado State University, Saudi Aramco and Grupo 
Santander. SyncRTC brings meaningful differentiation to both LoopUp’s Collaboration and Managed Events strategic rings 
by taking both into hybrid as well as purely virtual implementations. The Group plans to continue to target new business in 
higher education and increase investment into targeting new business in both corporate training and hybrid events 
leveraging cross-selling opportunities with its existing enterprise customer base.

84

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Governance

Financial Statements

22. Subsidiary undertakings and business combinations continued
The fair value of the assets acquired, and liabilities assumed was as follows:

Goodwill
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax

Book value 
£000

Fair Value 
Adjustment 
£000

–
467
28
401
(56)
(882)
(768)
271

(539)

3,914
(467)
–
(73)
–
(17)
–
(271)

3,086

Fair Value 
£000

3,914
–
28
328
(56)
(899)
(768)
–

2,547

Trade and other receivables shown above at a fair value of £328,000 has a gross contractual value of £401,000. The best 
estimate at the acquisition date of the contractual values not to be collected was £73,000. The goodwill represents the 
acquired workforce and the product synergies with the Group’s business and customer-base.

SyncRTC contributed £242,000 revenue and £100,000 to the Group’s loss between the date of acquisition and the 
reporting date. If the acquisition had completed on the first day of the financial year, the Group’s revenue for the year would 
have been £20,205,000 and the Group’s loss would have been £25,711,000.

The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income includes nil of acquisition costs.

23. Dividends
The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend (2020: £nil).

24. Prior Year Restatements
24.01 Right of use assets
During the year, the Group identified that certain assets, liabilities and charges relating to right of use assets had been 
misstated in prior years. These balances have been restated as at 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2020, and the 
adjustments at each date are set out below:

Right of use asset
Lease liabilities
Prepayments
Trade creditors
Opening reserves
Depreciation of right of use assets
Finance charges
Exchange differences

31 December
2020
£000

1 January
2020
£000

527
(687)
131
60
–
3
31
(65)

76
(290)
–
–
214
–
–
–

Basic and diluted earnings per share were each decreased by this adjustment by 0.06p in 2020.

24.02 Share-based payments
During the year, the Group discovered that the share-based payment expense had been erroneously recognised in LoopUp 
Group plc instead of in the subsidiaries in which the relevant employees were employed. Under IFRS 2 Share-based 
Payments, when a parent grants rights to its equity instruments to employees of its subsidiaries, this arrangement should be 
accounted for as equity-settled in the consolidated financial statements, but results in an investment being created in the 
parent’s own statement of financial position. The subsidiaries concerned should measure the services received from the 
employees in their own financial statements in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 2 applicable to equity-settled 
transactions, which results in a corresponding increase being recognised in equity as a capital contribution from the parent.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

85

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

There has been no impact on the prior year’s Group profit or earnings per share for the year, however in the Company 
statement of financial position, the following adjustments have been made:

Investments in subsidiaries
Share-based payments reserve

31 December
2020
£000

575
(575)

1 January
2020
£000

779
(779)

24.03 Deferred tax
During the year, the Group identified that in 2020 the deferred tax liability relating to the customer relationship and brand 
assets recognised on the acquisition of MeetingZone had been calculated at the incorrect main corporation tax rate.  This 
deferred tax liability was intially calculated using a tax rate of 17%, as the reduction to this rate had been substantively 
enacted through parliament. However, in 2020, the UK government announced that the rate would remain at 19%. An 
adjustment should have been made in 2020, through the deferred tax charge, to reflect the new tax rate. 

The adjustment results in an increase of £518,000 in the Group’s deferred tax charge and deferred tax liability in 2020.

Basic and diluted earnings per share were reduced by this adjustment by 0.94p and 0.86p respectively in 2020.

25. Recognition of liabilities arising from financing activities

The change in the Group’s liabilities arising from financing activities can be classified as:

1 January 2021
Cash flows:
– repayment
– reclassification
– acquired on acquisition of SyncRTC

31 December 2021

26. Deferred Tax
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

Balance as at 1 January 2020 (Restated)

Timing differences recognised on tax losses
Timing differences recognised on intangible assets
Reduction in timing differences on amounts amortised

Balance as at 31 December 2020 (Restated)

Balance as at 1 January 2021

Timing differences recognised on tax losses
Timing differences recognised on intangible assets
Reduction in timing differences on amounts amortised

Balance as at 31 December 2021

Long-term
borrowing
£000

11,050

(4,132)
(1,700)
963

6,181

Short-term
borrowing
£000

1,700

(1,700)
1,700
–

1,700

Intangible assets 
timing differences
£000

Timing differences 
on tax losses
£000

(5,709)

–
(2,238)
422

(7,525)

(7,525)

–
(1,155)
3,805

(4,875)

–

1,426
–
–

1,426

1,426

1,728
–
–

3,154

Total
£000

12,750

(5,832)
–
963

7,881

Total
£000

(5,709)

1,426
(2,238)
422

(6,099)

(6,099)

1,728
(1,155)
3,805

(1,721)

86

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

Strategic Report

Governance

Financial Statements

27. Provisions

At the start of the year
Provision in year

At the end of the year

2021
£000

–
172

172

2020
£000

–
–

–

Under three of its office leases, the Group is required to restore the leased premises to their original condition at the 
end of the respective lease terms. A provision has been recognised for the present value of the estimated expenditure 
required to do so. The provision as at 31 December 2021 is £172,000 (2020: £nil). The expiry dates of these leases fall 
between June 2023 and September 2024.

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

87

COMPANY INFORMATION AND CORPORATE ADVISERS

Legal Counsel
White & Case
5 Old Broad Street 
London  
EC2N 1DW 
020 7532 1000

Financial Public Relations
FTI Consulting
200 Aldersgate Street
London
EC1A 4HD 
020 7979 7400

Financial Adviser, NOMAD, Joint Broker
Panmure Gordon
1 New Change
London
EC4M 9AF
020 7886 2500

Joint Broker
Cenkos Securities
6-8 Tokenhouse Yard 
London  
EC2R 7AS 
020 7397 8900

Auditor
Moore Kingston Smith LLP
6th Floor
9 Appold Street
London
EC2A 2AP
020 7566 4000

Registrars
Neville Registrars
Neville House
Steelpark Road
Halesowen
B62 8HD
0121 585 1131

Company Registration Number: 09980752

88

LoopUp Group plc | Annual Report & Accounts 2021

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LoopUp Group plc 

The Tea Building  
56 Shoreditch High Street
London
United Kingdom
E1 6JJ

Tel: +44 (0)20 3107 0206
Email: ir@loopup.com 

www.loopup.com