Company Registration No. 13505179 (England and Wales)
Born Free Productions Limited
Financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2024
Pages for filing with the registrar
Born Free Productions Limited
Contents
Page
Statement of financial position
1
Notes to the financial statements
2 - 6
Born Free Productions Limited
Statement of financial position
As at 31 December 2024
1
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Current assets
Debtors
4
10,184,826
5,618,178
Cash at bank and in hand
68,784
277,808
10,253,610
5,895,986
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
5
(9,841,268)
(5,895,985)
Net current assets
412,342
1
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
1
1
Profit and loss reserves
412,341
-
0
Total equity
412,342
1

The directors of the company have elected not to include a copy of the income statement within the financial statements.true

These financial statements have been prepared and delivered 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 13 March 2025 and are signed on its behalf by:
Alastair Fothergill
Director
Company Registration No. 13505179
Born Free Productions Limited
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2024
2
1
Accounting policies
Company information

Born Free Productions Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Berkshire House, 168-173 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7AA.

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, [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.

This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:

 

 

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of DLG Acquisitions Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office, Berkshire House, 168-173 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7AA.

1.2
Turnover

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for services provided in the normal course of business.

Turnover 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, Turnover is recognised only to the extent of the expenses recognised that are recoverable.

Born Free Productions Limited
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2024
1
Accounting policies (continued)
3
1.3
Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

1.4
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 statement of financial position 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.

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 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.

1.5
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.

1.6
Taxation

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

Born Free Productions Limited
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2024
1
Accounting policies (continued)
4
Current tax

The tax currently recoverable is based on relievable losses arising in the period as the result of high-end television 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 television 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.

 

 

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.

1.7
Government grants

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

 

A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.

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.

Born Free Productions Limited
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2024
2
Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty (continued)
5
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.

AVEC

A key accounting estimate within the financial statements for this company is the valuation of the Audio Visual Expenditure Credit available. The estimate is based on the assessment of the value of qualifying expenditure as per HMRC legislations and guidance plus assessment of the qualification of the underlying production as eligible for the tax credit.

 

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

 

3
Employees

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was nil. All payroll runs through the parent company.

2024
2023
Number
Number
Total
-
0
-
0
4
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Corporation tax recoverable
-
0
386,467
Amounts owed by group undertakings
-
0
9,187
Other debtors
10,184,826
5,222,524
10,184,826
5,618,178
5
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
£
£
Trade creditors
7,808
11,516
Taxation and social security
1,505,831
-
0
Other creditors
8,327,629
5,884,469
9,841,268
5,895,985

Natixis Coficiné S.A. hold a fixed and floating charge over loans made to the company to the value of £8,157,719 which are included in other creditors. The charge contains a negative pledge.

Born Free Productions Limited
Notes to the financial statements (continued)
For the year ended 31 December 2024
6
6
Audit report information

As the income statement has been omitted from the filing copy of the financial statements, the following information in relation to the audit report on the statutory financial statements is provided in accordance with s444(5B) of the Companies Act 2006:

The auditor's report was unqualified.

Senior Statutory Auditor:
Moses Nyachae
Statutory Auditors:
Saffery LLP
Date of audit report:
17 March 2025
7
Related party transactions

The company has taken advantage of the exemption under paragraph 33.1a of FRS 102 from disclosing transactions entered into between two or more members of a group, where any subsidiary undertaking which is a party to the transaction is wholly owned by a member of that group.

 

The company has also taken advantage of the exemption under paragraph 1AC.35 of FRS 102 from disclosing transactions with related parties that have been carried out on an arm's length basis.

8
Parent company

The company's immediate parent is Silverback Films Limited, a company registered in England and Wales. Its ultimate parent undertaking is DLG Acquisitions Limited, also registered in England and Wales.

 

The directors do not consider there to be an ultimate controlling party.

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