It is with great pleasure that I present the annual Chairman's Statement for AppsAnywhere for the financial year ending December 31, 2023. As we approach our fifteenth year in business working with the global Higher Education markets, our FY23 results have demonstrated once again that AppsAnywhere continues to be a business-critical and highly valued offering amongst our customers. Major changes to the campus computing environment and end user expectations (including hybrid learning and student demands), combined with unrivalled customer retention and growth across all our key markets, provide a huge opportunity for AppsAnywhere in its quest to continue to be the number one platform for Higher Education software access.
Our financial performance for the year is testament to the business’ understanding of its core customer base, showing that by focusing on the needs and requirements of Higher Education, there continues to be very strong growth potential. Thanks to the company’s long-standing reputation in the market, AppsAnywhere has cemented its position as a key strategic supplier, which is keenly evidenced by the proportion of the existing customer based adopting site-wide licenses, as well as more than 95% of new customers choosing the company’s enterprise-level solution on day one. AppsAnywhere’s FY23 revenue and profit figures demonstrate the successes it has seen, all while navigating a difficult economic landscape and a market vertical that has seen its own fair share of financial challenges.
The company also saw success achieving key strategic milestones during the year. The need for the Cloud-hosted product that AppsAnywhere launched in December 2022 has now been validated thanks to uptake from the existing customer base – who are keen to migrate their hosting workloads to the Cloud and for them to be ‘outsourced’ – and by more than 90% of new customers adopting AppsAnywhere during 2023. And thanks to this innovation, we are able to get the value and benefits of AppsAnywhere in our customers’ hands much more quickly during the onboarding process, vastly simplifying the customers’ journey. This is an invaluable achievement to enable the business to scale efficiently over the coming years, all while offering the best possible customer experience, as well as it being another core revenue stream for the company’s offerings.
In addition to our financial and operational successes, AppsAnywhere has continued to expand its global footprint, demonstrating that Higher Education the world over feels the same challenges and seeks a solution to those. Customer growth in the Middle East, Australia and Malaysia are all promising signs of the company’s ability to increase its total addressable market and offer great potential in addition to its core North American and European territories in due course. As part of increasing our potential markets, I’m also thrilled to share that we have established a new partnership with AWS. Thanks to this, AppsAnywhere plans to widen its education market potential by delivering simpler, smaller, easier to adopt solutions to market more quickly, enabling us to address application delivery challenges across more and more territories, in addition to opening up the Further Education and Community College markets – where our customer’s IT Teams are smaller in size for example – and to satisfy additional use cases within our existing customer base, thereby providing an additional revenue stream. By partnering with AWS, AppsAnywhere is able to benefit from both its innovative technology offerings and its commercial standing/market reputation to the benefit of new and existing customers alike.
Looking ahead, we remain focused on our strategic objectives of innovation, simplicity and customer-centricity. We are confident that our knowledge and understanding of the market will continue to yield a valuable product pipeline, that our strong customer relationships will continue to support the business’ investment in growth, and that our dedicated team will continue to drive our success in the coming years, enabling AppsAnywhere to continue to grow in both its core and new markets. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I extend my deepest gratitude to our employees, customers, partners and shareholders for their unwavering support and contribution to another successful year at AppsAnywhere.
The director presents his annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £143,923 (2022: £139,550). The director does not recommend payment of a further dividend.
The director who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements was as follows:
The director is responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the director to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the director has 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 director must not approve the financial statements unless he is satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and company, and of the profit or loss of the group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the director is required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the group and company will continue in business.
The director is responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s and company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. He is also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the group and company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
The current economic conditions present risks for all businesses. In response to such conditions, the directors have carefully considered the risks, including an assessment of uncertainty on future trading projection for a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing the financial statements, and the extent to which they might affect the preparation of the accounts on a going concern basis.
Based on this assessment, the directors consider that the group maintains an appropriate level of liquidity sufficient to meet the demands of the group including any capital and servicing obligations of external liabilities.
The directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and there are no material uncertainties that lead to significant doubt upon the group's ability to continue as a going concern. Thus the directors have continued to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the small companies exemption.
In order to assist you to fulfil your duties under the Companies Act 2006, we have prepared for your approval the financial statements of Software2 Holdings Ltd for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the group statement of comprehensive income, the group balance sheet, the company balance sheet, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity and the related notes from the group's accounting records and from information and explanations you have given us.
As a practising member firm of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), we are subject to its ethical and other professional requirements which are detailed at https://www.icaew.com/regulation
This report is made solely to the board of directors of Software2 Holdings Ltd, as a body, in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 27 June 2022. Our work has been undertaken solely to prepare for your approval the financial statements of Software2 Holdings Ltd and state those matters that we have agreed to state to the board of directors of Software2 Holdings Ltd, as a body, in this report in accordance with ICAEW Technical Release 07/16 AAF. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than Software2 Holdings Ltd and its board of directors as a body, for our work or for this report.
It is your duty to ensure that Software2 Holdings Ltd has kept adequate accounting records and to prepare statutory financial statements that give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and loss of Software2 Holdings Ltd. You consider that Software2 Holdings Ltd is exempt from the statutory audit requirement for the year.
We have not been instructed to carry out an audit or a review of the financial statements of Software2 Holdings Ltd. For this reason, we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the accounting records or information and explanations you have given to us and we do not, therefore, express any opinion on the statutory financial statements.
The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.
For the financial year ended 31 December 2023 the group was entitled to exemption from audit under section 477 of the Companies Act 2006.
Director's responsibilities under the Companies Act 2006:
The members have not required the company to obtain an audit of its financial statements for the year in question in accordance with section 476;
The director acknowledges his responsibilities for complying with the requirements of the Act with respect to accounting records and the preparation of financial statements.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to groups and companies subject to the small companies regime.
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s loss for the year was £80,986 (2022 - £82,419 loss).
Software2 Holdings Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is The Foresters Arms, 35 Kirkgate, Sherburn in Elmet, Leeds, LS25 6BH.
The group consists of Software2 Holdings Limited and all of its subsidiaries.
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, modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Software2 Holdings Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries) and the group’s share of its interests in joint ventures and associates.
All financial statements are made up to 31 December 2023. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.
Subsidiaries are consolidated in the group’s financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
Non-controlling interests, presented as part of equity, represent the portion of a subsidiary's profit or loss and net assets that are not held by the Group. The Group attributes total comprehensive income or loss of subsidiaries between the owners of the Parent and the non-controlling interest based on their retrospective ownership interests.
Entities in which the group holds an interest and which are jointly controlled by the group and one or more other venturers under a contractual arrangement are treated as joint ventures. Entities other than subsidiary undertakings or joint ventures, in which the group has a participating interest and over whose operating and financial policies the group exercises a significant influence, are treated as associates.
Investments in joint ventures and associates are carried in the group balance sheet at cost plus post-acquisition changes in the group’s share of the net assets of the entity, less any impairment in value. The carrying values of investments in joint ventures and associates include acquired goodwill.
If the group’s share of losses in a joint venture or associate equals or exceeds its investment in the joint venture or associate, the group does not recognise further losses unless it has incurred obligations to do so or has made payments on behalf of the joint venture or associate.
Unrealised gains arising from transactions with joint ventures and associates are eliminated to the extent of the group’s interest in the entity.
These financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.
The directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and that there are no material uncertainties that lead to significant doubt upon the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. Thus the directors have continued to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these financial statements.
The Directors acknowledge that the Group is in a net current liabilities position, however this is due to significant levels of deferred income as certain of the Company's revenue recognition policies require up front income to be spread over the life of contract terms. The Directors do not consider that this presents a liquidity risk to the Group.
Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.
Revenue from contracts for the provision of professional services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion when the stage of completion, costs incurred and costs to complete can be estimated reliably. The
stage of completion is calculated by comparing costs incurred, mainly in relation to contractual hourly staff rates and materials, as a proportion of total costs. Where the outcome cannot be estimated reliably, revenue is recognised only to the extent of the expenses recognised that it is probable will be recovered.
With regards to the material streams of turnover for the business:
Fees for installation of on-premise software
Fees for the installation of the software at the customer’s premises are recognised as revenue in full on completion of the installation because during installation the stage of completion cannot be estimated reliably.
Sale of the right to use on-premise licensed software
The Directors have assessed the substance of the commercial and contractual arrangements and concluded that the sale of a license represents a sale satisfied at a point in time and therefore license revenue is recognised in full following successful completion of the installation phase. The license allows the customer to use the installed software for pre-determined period under a non-cancellable contract for a pre-determined fee. In making their assessment the Directors took account of the following:
Once installed on the customer’s premises, the customer controls and is free to use the software and it is considered that the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the installed software have passed to the buyer at this point;
The Company retains neither continuing managerial involvement over the installed software to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the installed software; and
The functionality of the installed software does not substantially change during the license term.
Sale of packaging credits
The sale of credits entitling the customer to receive application packaging activities from the Company are recognised on a usage-basis as the activities are performed and the credits consumed. Any credits sold but not consumed are treated as deferred income until they are consumed or expire, at which point they are recognised as revenue.
Sale of cloud based licensed software
The sale of cloud based licensed software is recognised equally over the period of the license.
Research and development expenditure is written off against profits in the year in which it is incurred.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).
The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
The group 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 group's balance sheet when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amounts presented in the financial statements when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
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 group after deducting all of its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, 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.
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments issued by the group 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 group.
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. 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 costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the spot exchange rates at the dates of the transactions.
At each period end foreign currency monetary items are translated using the closing rate. Nonmonetary items measured at historical cost are translated using the exchange rate at the date of the transaction and non-monetary items measured at fair value are measured using the exchange rate when fair value was determined.
Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of transactions and from the translation at period-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in profit or loss except when deferred in other comprehensive income as qualifying cash flow hedges.
Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings and cash and cash equivalents are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income within 'finance income or costs'. All other foreign exchange gains and losses are presented in profit or loss within 'other operating income'.
On consolidation, the results of overseas operations are translated into Sterling at rates approximating to those ruling when the transactions took place. All assets and liabilities of overseas operations are translated at the rate ruling at the reporting date. Exchange differences arising on translating the opening net assets at opening rate and the results of overseas operations at actual rate are recognised in other comprehensive income.
In the application of the group’s accounting policies, the director is 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.
Critical accounting judgements
The critical accounting judgements that the directors have made in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the statutory financial statements are discussed below.
(i) Assessing indicators of impairment
In assessing whether there have been any indicators of impairment of assets, the directors have considered both external and internal sources of information such as market conditions, counterparty credit ratings and experience of recoverability. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). There have been no indicators of impairments identified during the current financial year.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:
The actual charge 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:
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 December 2023 are as follows:
Companies marked with an asterisk (*) are indirectly owned by Software2 Holdings Limited.
Amounts owed by group undertakings are interest free and repayable on demand.
The bank loans are secured by way of fixed and floating charges over the assets and undertaking of the Company.
Interest is paid on the loan notes at a rate of 3.2% and 2.58%.
Amounts owed to group undertakings are interest free and repayable on demand.
The obligations under finance leases and hire purchase contracts are secured over the assets to which they relate.
The bank loans are secured by way of fixed and floating charges over the assets and undertaking of the Company.
Interest is paid on the loan notes at a rate of 3.2% and 2.58%.
The obligations under finance leases and hire purchase contracts are secured over the assets to which they relate.
At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, as follows:
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption permitted by Section 33 'Related Party Disclosures' not to provide disclosures of transactions entered into with wholly owned members of the Group.
Included in other creditors are outstanding loan notes which are held by a director and an other related party. The loan notes outstanding at the year end were £695,800 (2022: £1,011,400) and interest was paid of £27,456 (2022: £33,127) on the loan notes during the period.