Company Registration No. 06756602 (England and Wales)
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Annual report and financial statements
for the year ended 28 April 2023
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Company information
Directors
Paul Steinke
Russell Haywood
Tracy Bermingham
Chakira Gavazzi
Nicholas Rush
Company number
06756602
Registered office
3 Queen Caroline Street
Hammersmith
London
W6 9PE
Independent auditor
Saffery LLP
71 Queen Victoria Street
London
EC4V 4BE
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Contents
Page
Directors' report
1
Directors' responsibilities statement
2
Independent auditor's report
3 - 5
Profit and loss account
6
Balance sheet
7
Notes to the financial statements
8 - 13
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Directors' report
For the year ended 28 April 2023
1

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 28 April 2023.

Principal activities

The principal activity of the company during the year was that of motion picture and video production.

Directors

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

Paul Steinke
Russell Haywood
Tracy Bermingham
Chakira Gavazzi
Nicholas Rush
Results and dividends

No ordinary dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

Auditor

The auditor, Saffery LLP, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

Statement of disclosure to auditor

So far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company's auditor are unaware. Additionally, the directors have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.

On behalf of the board
Tracy Bermingham
Director
31 January 2024
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Directors' responsibilities statement
For the year ended 28 April 2023
2

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

 

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law).

 

Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

 

 

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.

Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Independent auditor's report
To the member of Blackbeard Productions Ltd
3
Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Blackbeard Productions Ltd for the year ended 28 April 2021 which comprise of profit and loss account, balance sheet and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

 

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

Other information

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

 

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

 

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

 

Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Independent auditor's report (continued)
To the member of Blackbeard Productions Ltd
4
Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the directors' report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

 

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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 the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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 specific procedures for this engagement and the extent to which these are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

 

Identifying and assessing risks related to irregularities:

We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement and how fraud might occur, including through discussions with the directors, discussions within our audit team planning meeting, updating our record of internal controls and ensuring these controls operated as intended. We evaluated possible incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements. We identified laws and regulations that are of significance in the context of the company by discussions with directors and updating our understanding of the sector in which the company operates.

 

Laws and regulations of direct significance in the context of the company include The Companies Act 2006, and UK Tax legislation, specifically legislation relating to creative industry tax credits.

 

Audit response to risks identified:

We considered the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our audit procedures on the related financial statement items including a review of financial statement disclosures. We reviewed the company’s records of breaches of laws and regulations, minutes of meetings and correspondence with relevant authorities to identify potential material misstatements arising. We discussed the company’s policies and procedures for compliance with laws and regulations with members of management responsible for compliance. We have reviewed management’s assessment of how the company, and production, comply with the relevant laws and regulations governing access to the creative industry tax credits.

Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Independent auditor's report (continued)
To the member of Blackbeard Productions Ltd
5

During the planning meeting with the audit team, the engagement partner drew attention to the key areas which might involve non-compliance with laws and regulations or fraud. We enquired of management whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations or knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud. We addressed the risk of fraud through management override of controls by testing the appropriateness of journal entries and identifying any significant transactions that were unusual or outside the normal course of business. We assessed whether judgements made in making accounting estimates gave rise to a possible indication of management bias. At the completion stage of the audit, the engagement partner’s review included ensuring that the team had approached their work with appropriate professional scepticism and thus the capacity to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above 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 would become aware of it. 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.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's member in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company's member those matters we are required to state to the member in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's member, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

John Graydon (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Saffery LLP
7 February 2024
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditors
71 Queen Victoria Street
London
EC4V 4BE
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Profit and loss account
For the year ended 28 April 2023
6
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
Turnover
3
11,019,349
2,872,071
Cost of sales
(12,179,304)
(3,141,025)
Gross loss
(1,159,955)
(268,954)
Administrative expenses
(19,558)
(21,000)
Loss before taxation
(1,179,513)
(289,954)
Taxation
6
1,191,996
300,985
Profit for the financial year
12,483
11,031

The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Balance sheet
As at 28 April 2023
7
2023
2022
Notes
£
£
£
£
Current assets
Debtors
7
12,297,027
2,691,388
Cash at bank and in hand
49,220
587,787
12,346,247
3,279,175
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
8
(12,213,857)
(3,159,268)
Net current assets
132,390
119,907
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
9
1
1
Profit and loss reserves
132,389
119,906
Total equity
132,390
119,907

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

The financial statements were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 31 January 2024 and are signed on its behalf by:
Tracy Bermingham
Director
Company Registration No. 06756602
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 28 April 2023
8
1
Accounting policies
Company information

Blackbeard Productions Ltd is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 3 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London, W6 9PE.

1.1
Accounting convention

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

1.2
Going concern

Atruet the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

1.3
Turnover

In respect of long-term contracts for ongoing services, turnover represents the value of work done in the period, including estimates of amounts not invoiced. Value of work done in respect of long-term contracts and contracts for ongoing services is determined by reference to the stage of completion.

 

The "percentage of completion method" is used to determine the appropriate amount to recognise in a given period. The stage of completion is measured by the proportion of contract costs incurred for work performed to date compared to the estimated total contract costs. Costs incurred in the period in connection with future activity on a contract are excluded from contract costs in determining the stage of completion. These costs are presented as stocks, prepayments, or other assets depending on their nature, and provided it is probable they will be recovered.

1.4
Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and deposits held at call with banks.

1.5
Financial instruments

The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

 

Financial instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

 

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 28 April 2023
1
Accounting policies (continued)
9
Basic financial assets

Basic financial assets, which include debtors, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Classification of financial liabilities

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

 

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

 

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

1.6
Equity instruments

Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.

1.7
Taxation

The tax credit represents the sum of the tax currently recoverable and deferred tax.

Current tax

The tax currently recoverable is based on relievable losses arising in the year as the result of film tax relief legislation. Relievable losses differ from net losses as reported in the profit and loss account because they include an additional deduction relating to qualifying film development expenditure and exclude items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years, as well as items that are never taxable or deductible. The company's tax position is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

 

Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 28 April 2023
1
Accounting policies (continued)
10
Deferred tax

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

 

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Where items recognised in other comprehensive income or equity are chargeable to or deductible for tax purposes, the resulting current or deferred tax expense or income is presented in the same component of comprehensive income or equity as the transaction or other event that resulted in the tax expense or income. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.

1.8
Foreign exchange

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions where practicable, else at the average rate over the period in which the transactions were incurred. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation are included in the profit and loss account for the period.

 

2
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty

In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.

Tax credit estimate

The key accounting estimate within the financial statements for this Company is the valuation of the film tax relief available. The estimate is based on the assessment of the value of qualifying expenditure as per HMRC legislation and guidance plus assessment of the qualification of the underlying film as eligible for the tax relief.

 

In the director's opinion, there were no other critical judgements or other estimation uncertainties in these financial statements.

Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 28 April 2023
11
3
Turnover and other revenue

An analysis of the company's turnover is as follows:

2023
2022
£
£
Turnover
Sale of film rights
11,006,865
2,861,040
Production service fee
12,484
11,031
11,019,349
2,872,071
Turnover analysed by geographical market
2023
2022
£
£
United States of America
11,019,349
2,872,071
4
Operating loss
2023
2022
Operating loss for the year is stated after charging:
£
£
Fees payable to the company's auditor for the audit of the company's financial statements
14,558
14,000
Fees payable to the company's auditor for non-audit services
5,000
7,000
The directors did not receive remuneration from the company in the current or the prior year.
5
Employees

The company had no employees in either the current year or the prior year.

6
Taxation
2023
2022
£
£
Current tax
UK corporation tax on profits for the current period
(1,191,996)
(300,985)
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 28 April 2023
6
Taxation (continued)
12

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

2023
2022
£
£
Loss before taxation
(1,179,513)
(289,954)
Expected tax credit based on the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.46% (2022: 19.00%)
(229,533)
(55,091)
Enhanced losses arising from the film tax credit
(930,279)
(230,845)
Difference between the rate of corporation tax and the rate of relief under the film tax credit
(32,184)
(15,049)
Taxation for the year
(1,191,996)
(300,985)
7
Debtors
2023
2022
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Corporation tax recoverable
1,492,981
300,985
Amounts owed by group undertakings
10,800,996
2,390,177
Other debtors
3,050
226
12,297,027
2,691,388
8
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2023
2022
£
£
Trade creditors
18,298
1,411
Amounts owed to group undertakings
12,178,059
3,140,357
Other creditors
17,500
17,500
12,213,857
3,159,268
9
Called up share capital
2023
2022
2023
2022
Issued and fully paid
Ordinary share of £1 each
1
1
1
1
Blackbeard Productions Ltd
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 28 April 2023
13
10
Financial commitments, guarantees and contingent liabilities

Walt Disney Pictures, Inc., holds a fixed charge and security assignment over Blackbeard Productions Ltd in respect of all rights, title and interest in and to a feature film, with the benefit of all agreements, undertakings and warranties.

11
Related party transactions

 

The company has taken advantage of the exemption under paragraph 1AC.35 of FRS 102 from disclosing transactions entered into between two or more members of a group, where any subsidiary undertaking which is party to the transaction is a wholly owned member of that group.

12
Ultimate Controlling party

The company's immediate parent undertaking is Banner Productions Ltd, a company registered in England and Wales.

 

The directors consider the ultimate controlling company to be The Walt Disney Company, a company incorporated in the United States of America.

 

The largest group for which accounts are prepared and of which the company is a member, is The Walt Disney Company. Copies of group accounts of The Walt Disney Company can be obtained from 500 Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California, 91521, USA.

 

 

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