Registered number:
04212056
MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
COMPANY INFORMATION
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
CONTENTS
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Independent Auditor's Report
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Statement of Changes in Equity
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Notes to the Financial Statements
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
The directors present their report and the financial statements for the period ended 29 December 2020. ("the period").
Mercury Film Productions Limited ("the Company"), a private company limited by shares, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Freeshire Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary within the Fernlakes Limited group ("the Group"). The principal activity of the Company is to undertake film production. The directors are not aware of any likely major changes in the Company's activities in the next year.
The Group manages its operations on a divisional basis. For this reason, the Company's directors believe that further key performance indicators for the Company are not necessary or appropriate for an understanding of its development, performance or position.
The Company’s business activities including the impact of the decisions of the First-tier Tax Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal, together with Partner Payment Notices (as further explained in note 5), and the impact of Brexit and the COVID19 world pandemic have been reviewed by the directors.
Having assessed these risks, its financial position, and results and cash flow forecasts, the directors intend to continue operating its business and have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The going concern basis of accounting is appropriate however there are material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt upon the Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in the future.
Further details regarding the adoption of the going concern basis can be found in note 1.2.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
Principal risks and uncertainties
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The key business risks faced by the Company can be affected by a number of factors some of which may result from matters beyond the Company's control, such as conditions in the domestic and global financial markets and the wider economy, as well as changes in legislation. The financial risk and operational management policies are determined for the Group as a whole and are discussed in the Group's annual report and financial statements.
The directors have specifically considered the impact of Brexit and the COVID19 world pandemic outbreak on the business - please refer to note 1.2 Going concern for further details. The Company is exposed to financial risk through its financial assets and liabilities. The most important components of financial risk are:
Financial risk management
The Company is exposed to financial risk through its financial assets and liabilities. Given the Company's balance sheet and low level of activity no individual financial asset or liability poses a significant risk.
Liquidity risk
The Group operates a group-wide treasury management strategy to manage the liquidity requirements of the Group as a whole (including the Company) and is discussed in the Group’s annual reports and financial statements.
Business risk
Business risk is the failure of the business to execute its business strategy and therefore being unsuccessful in achieving projected returns. This includes changes to tax legislation or financial regulation. Please refer to note 5 for further details.
Future developments and events after the balance sheet date
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The Company intends to continue to undertake its principal activity.
The results for the period are set out on page 7.
The directors do not propose to pay a final dividend (period ended 30 December 2019: £nil).
No interim dividend was paid during the period (period ended 30 December 2019: £nil).
The directors who served during the period were:
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
Directors' responsibilities statement
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The directors are responsible for preparing the Directors' Report and the
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year.
. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
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select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
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make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
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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 to 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.
Provision of insurance to directors
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All directors were covered by Directors and Officers liability insurance, provided by the ultimate parent company Fernlakes Limited, throughout the period and this will continue to remain in force.
Each of the persons who is a director at the date of approval of this report confirms that so far as the director is aware there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditor is unaware and the directors have taken all steps that they ought to have taken to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.
This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the Companies Act 2006.
In the absence of a notice proposing that the appointment be terminated, the auditor, BDO LLP, will be deemed to be re-appointed in accordance with section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
In preparing this report, the directors have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
This report was approved by the board of directors and signed on its behalf by:
D M Reid
Director
15 Golden Square
London
W1F 9JG
Company Registration Number: 04212056 (England and Wales)
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
Opinion on the financial statements
In our opinion the financial statements:
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give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs as at 29 December 2020 and of its loss for the period then ended;
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have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and
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have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements of Mercury Film Productions Limited (“the Company”) for the period ended 29 December 2020 which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102
The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
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 believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Independence
We are independent of the Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
Material Uncertainty relating to going concern
We draw attention to note 1.2 to the financial statements, which indicates that if receivables from Group undertakings are not settled, should there be adverse outcomes of certain tax and civil cases within the Group undertakings, the Company is dependent on financial support from its ultimate parent company which is not guaranteed. As stated in note 1.2, these events or conditions, along with other matters as set forth in note 1.2, indicate that a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt on the 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 Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Emphasis of matter- tax liability
We draw attention to note 5 in the financial statements which highlights the uncertain outcome of the Tax Tribunal and key sources of estimation uncertainties that the directors have made in the process determining the tax liability as at 29 December 2020. Our opinion is not modified in respect of this matter.
Other information
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
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. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Other Companies Act 2006 reporting
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
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the information given in the Directors’ report for the financial period for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
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the Directors’ report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic report or the Directors’ report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
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adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
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the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
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certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
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we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
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the Directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the Directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic report.
Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Extent to which the audit was 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:
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We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the entity. We determined that the most significant which are directly relevant to specific assertions in the financial statements are those related to the reporting framework (FRS 102) and the Companies act 2006;
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We enquired of management to identify how the entity is complying with those legal and regulatory frameworks and whether there were any known instances of non-compliance, or any actual, suspected or alleged fraud. We corroborated our enquiries through review of board minutes;
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We assessed the risk of susceptibility of the entity’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur;
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We considered the entity’s control environment that has been established to prevent, detect and deter fraud;
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In addressing the risk of fraud through management override of controls, we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments in the general ledger and evaluated the business rationale of any significant transactions that were unusual or outside the normal course of business;
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We communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and discussed how and where these might occur and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.
Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that 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, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at:
https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
Peter Smith (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, statutory auditor
London, United Kingdom
Date:
21/12/2021
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
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Loss for the financial period
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The results for the current and prior period is fully attributable to the equity shareholders of the Company.
All of the Company's loss is derived from continuing operations during the current and prior period.
There were no recognised gains and losses for 2020 or 2019 other than those included in the profit and loss account.
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The notes on pages 12 to 20 form part of these financial statements.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
REGISTERED NUMBER:
04212056
BALANCE SHEET
AS AT
29 DECEMBER 2020
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Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
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Total assets less current liabilities
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Provisions for liabilities
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The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors and were signed on its behalf by:
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED
29 DECEMBER 2020
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Loss for the financial period
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Loss for the financial period
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The notes on pages 12 to 20 form part of these financial statements.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
1.
Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have been applied consistently throughout the current and prior period.
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General information and basis of preparation of financial instruments
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Mercury Film Productions Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act. Its place of business and head office address is 15 Golden Square, London, W1F 9JG. The nature of the Company's operations and principal operating activity are set out in the Directors' Report on pages 1 to 3.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 ("FRS 102") issued by the Financial Reporting Council.
The functional currency of the Company is considered to be pounds sterling which is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company operates. Foreign transactions are included in accordance with the policies set out below.
The Company meets the definition of a qualifying entity under FRS 102 and has therefore taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available to it in respect of its financial statements. Exemptions that have been taken in these separate Company financial statements are discussed further down in the accounting policies.
The Company’s business activities including the impact of the decisions of the First-tier Tax Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal, together with Partner Payment Notices (as further explained in note 5), and Brexit and the COVID19 world pandemic have been reviewed by the directors.
The directors have considered the impact of Brexit and the COVID19 world pandemic on the business. The Company is wholly based in the UK and is not taking on any new business, and the main source of any potential revenue in the future is unaffected as it is attributable to transactions that completed in the past and is not dependent on broader economic activity that may be negatively affected by these circumstances. The directors do not believe that any assets on the Balance Sheet will be impaired, the Company does not have any direct employees, and the cost base of the Company should not be affected in any way by the circumstances. Therefore, the directors have concluded that the impact of Brexit and the pandemic on the business is insignificant.
The directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for 12 months following approval of these financial statements assuming a range of operational transactions including HMRC’s determination of the Partner Payment Notices. These cash flow forecasts indicate that if the Company receives its receivables from Group undertakings, which is not guaranteed, the Company can reasonably expect to have sufficient funds to pay the remaining Partner Payment Notices during this period.
Should there be a further adverse outcome in the tax and civil cases in respect of the Group, this could result in the Group undertakings being unable to settle their debt with the Company which will cause the company to require additional funding from its ultimate parent, which though expected has not been guaranteed. This expectation is based on the fact that the Company and the ultimate parent company share common directors and support has been provided in the past. These circumstances therefore indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments should the going concern basis of preparation be inappropriate.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
1.
Accounting policies (continued)
For administrative purposes, the financial year end was shortened from 23 December to 22 December 2020.
The Company has taken advantage of section 390(3)(b) of the Companies Act 2006 in preparing these financial statements to 29 December 2020 which is within seven days of the Company’s 22 December 2020 accounting reference period end.
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Provisions for liabilities and charges
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Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that the Company will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.
The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the balance sheet date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.
When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable is recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.
Current tax, including United Kingdom corporation tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.
Deferred tax is provided in full on timing differences which result in an obligation at the balance sheet date to pay more tax, or a right to pay less tax, at a future date, at rates expected to apply when they crystallise based on current taxable rates and law. Timing differences arise from the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in taxation computations in periods different from those in which they are included in the financial statements.
A net deferred tax asset is regarded as recoverable and therefore recognised only to the extent that, on the basis of all available evidence, it can be regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable tax profits from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset only where the Company has a legally enforceable right to do so and where the assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on the same taxable entity or another entity within the Group.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
1.
Accounting policies (continued)
The Company is a qualifying entity under FRS 102 and it is taking advantage of some of the disclosure exemptions available to such entities in its financial statements. As such, the financial statements do not include a Cash Flow Statement, a note on financial instruments and a reconciliation of number of shares outstanding. Further details can be found in note 11 about the name of the immediate parent company of the Company and details of where the consolidated financial statements of that parent can be obtained.
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Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
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In the application of the Company’s accounting policies, which are described in note 1, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
Critical accounting judgements in applying the accounting policies
The following are the critical judgements that the directors have made in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements:
Tax liability
In estimating the potential tax liability relating to the First-tier Tax Tribunal, the Upper Tribunal and Court of Appeal decisions (refer to note 5), the following key elements as set out in the Tribunal decision were taken into account in calculating the partnerships’ revised profits or losses: treatment of the operator and executive producer fees, deductibility of contracted film cost, recognition of film income and the calculation of the film net realisable values. These reduce the income and expenditure recognised by the partnerships which reduces the losses available to be utilised by the Group.
Aside from the estimated tax liability noted above, there were no other key sources of estimation uncertainty in the Company.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
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The operating loss is stated after charging:
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Fees for the audit of the Company
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The Company incurred no staff costs nor paid any remuneration to its directors during the period (2019: £nil). The Company had no employees during the current and prior period.
The emoluments of the directors were paid and borne by other Group undertakings and none of their remuneration was specifically attributable to their services to the Company.
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Current tax on loss for the period
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
5.
Taxation (continued)
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Factors affecting tax charge for the period
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The tax assessed for the period is higher than
(2019 - higher than)
the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of
19
%
(2019 -
19
%)
. The differences are explained below:
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Loss on ordinary activities before tax
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Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19% (2019 - 19%)
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Total tax charge for the period
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
5.
Taxation (continued)
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In prior accounting periods the Company has received the benefit of tax losses associated with the Group’s investment in a number of film and game production partnerships. The Group has challenged the basis on which the closure notices of the partnerships have been calculated, resulting in a hearing before the First-tier Tax Tribunal (“the Tribunal”). The initial decision of the Tribunal was delivered on 2 August 2016 and a second decision which clarified the findings of the first decision was delivered in May 2017 and an amended decision was received on 16 November 2017. The effect of the decisions is to reduce both the losses available to Group entities that invested in the film and game production partnerships and their share of taxable income from the partnerships. The partnerships received permission to appeal in full on 7 of the 8 grounds requested from the Tribunal and on all aspects of the 8th ground the Upper Tribunal was asked to consider. The appeal hearing before the Upper Tribunal was heard in March and April 2019. On 26 July 2019 the film and game production partnerships received the decision of the Upper Tribunal on their appeals against the decision of the First-tier Tax Tribunal. The Upper Tribunal concluded that the partnerships were not trading and did not have a view to profit. The finding that the partnerships were not trading is sufficient to dispose of the entirety of the partnerships’ appeals. However, mindful that the decision may itself be appealed, the Upper Tribunal went on to briefly consider the remaining questions, where it often corrected the First-tier Tribunal’s approach but generally supported the First-tier Tribunal’s overall conclusions. An application for permission to appeal the Upper Tribunal’s decision was submitted in November 2019 and was refused by the Upper Tribunal. An application was therefore made for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal in December 2019 and authority was granted by the Court of Appeal in February 2020 to appeal the findings on trading and view to profit. The appeal hearing before the Court of Appeal was heard in March 2021. See Post Balance Sheet Events note 12 for the impact of the Court of Appeal decision which was received in August 2021.
The quantum of both tax losses available to the Group and income taxable on Group entities arising from the Group's investment in these partnerships will remain uncertain until the tax cases are finally resolved.
For the period ended 29 December 2020, the directors have estimated an additional tax liability for the Company of £Nil (30 December 2019: £Nil, 31 December 2018: £Nil, 30 June 2017: £Nil, 30 June 2016: £17k) together with a liability for late paid interest of £0.1k (30 December 2019: £0.1k, 31 December 2018: £0.5k, 30 June 2017: £1k, 30 June 2016: £5k) based on the First-tier Tax Tribunal decision. The directors' estimate of the additional tax and interest liability continues to be calculated on the basis of the decision of the First-tier Tax Tribunal as the directors consider that this decision provides the most likely outcome to the litigation. If, at the end of the appeals process, all contested areas of the Tribunal decision are found in favour of HMRC, an additional tax liability of £nil would arise for the Company in addition to the estimate of the liability arising from the Tribunal decision of £17k. These figures are subject to any future court decisions. As at 29 December 2020, we have made payments on account of £11k tax and £4k interest.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
During November 2016, a number of companies, all subsidiaries of Fernlakes Limited, as corporate members of film production partnerships received Partner Payment Notices (“PPNs”), which are demands for payments on account in respect of a tax liability in dispute, from HMRC. These corporate member companies (together the “Members”) submitted written representations to HMRC within the authorised 90 day period. On 10 November 2017 HMRC issued amended PPNs to some Members and as a consequence of the determination, on 13 December 2017, the Group notified HMRC of an intended claim for judicial review of the decision to uphold the PPNs and filed its claim with the court on 5 January 2018. At the date of signing these financial statements the claim for judicial review has not been heard. Meanwhile, as the PPN remains payable, the Company made payments totalling £11k to HMRC in February 2018 together with an associated interest charge on late paid tax. If HMRC issues determinations in respect of representations submitted by other Members, a further payment of £2k will be due to HMRC by the Company together with an associated interest charge. Subject to the final court decision; these payments on account may be repaid so are shown as debtors (note 6) with the gross amount of total taxes provided included in creditors (note 7). When determining the best estimate of the ultimate cash outflows, the directors have considered the effect of the notices received but believe that the best estimate of ultimate cash outflows should still be based on the decision delivered by the First-tier Tax Tribunal as this represents the most likely outcome to the litigation.
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Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year
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Other taxation and social security
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Amounts owed by Group undertakings
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Amounts owed by Group undertakings represents balances receivable in respect of intra-group loans with other subsidiary companies within the Group. There are no fixed terms of repayment.
Tax recoverable relates to the payments on account made in respect of the PPNs.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
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Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
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Accruals and deferred income
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Provision for liabilities
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Interest provision relates to interest on the estimated tax liability (refer to note 2).
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Allotted, called up and fully paid
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1
Ordinary
share of £
1.00
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Related party transactions
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The financial statements do not include disclosure of transactions between the Company and entities that are wholly-owned within the Group. This is because, as a subsidiary whose voting rights are wholly controlled within the Group, it is exempt from the requirement to disclose such transactions under FRS 102 section 33.
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MERCURY FILM PRODUCTIONS LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 29 DECEMBER 2020
During the period the Company was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Freeshire Limited, a company registered in England and Wales. Freeshire Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fernlakes Limited. Fernlakes Limited is the only parent undertaking for which consolidated financial statements are prepared.
The consolidated financial statements of Fernlakes Limited can be obtained from Companies House, Crown Way, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ. The controlling shareholder of Fernlakes Limited during the period was P A McKenna.
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Events after balance sheet date
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On 4 August 2021 the film and game production partnerships received the decision of the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal reversed the decision of the Upper Tribunal and restored the decision of the First-tier Tribunal that the film partnerships were trading with a view to profit. Ingenious Games was found to be in business with a view to profit. The effect of restoring the First-tier Tribunal decision is to reduce both the losses available to Group entities that invested in the film and game production partnerships and their share of taxable income from the partnerships. On receipt of the draft decision HMRC submitted an application to the Court of Appeal to appeal its decision, which was declined on 4 August 2021. In the absence of an HMRC application to appeal to the Supreme Court, the decision of the Court of Appeal on 4 August 2021 represents the final outcome of the tax case (subject to any out of time applications). The impact on the financial statements for the Company of the Court of Appeal decision has not yet been agreed with HMRC but is expected to be consistent with the directors' estimate of the additional tax and interest liability calculated on the basis of the decision of the First-tier Tax Tribunal.
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