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Registration number: 02502293

Blackout Limited

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

 

 

Blackout Limited

Contents

Company Information

1

Strategic Report

2 to 4

Directors' Report

5

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

6

Independent Auditor's Report

7 to 10

Statement of Income and Retained Earnings

11

Statement of Financial Position

12

Notes to the Financial Statements

13 to 23

 

Blackout Limited

Company Information

Directors

C R Brain

K G Monks

R S Ward

T Searle

H Hillman

Registered office

130 Shaftesbury Avenue
2nd Floor
London
W1D 5EU

Accountants

Brebners
Chartered Accountants
130 Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1D 5AR

Auditor

Moore Kingston Smith LLP
Chartered Accountants & Statutory Auditor
6th Floor
9 Appold Street
London
EC2A 2AP

 

Blackout Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

The directors present their strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Principal activity

The principal activity of the company is that of the manufacture, hire, and sale of drapes, starcloths and other rigging equipment.

Fair review of the business

Blackout Limited, founded in 1990, has grown to become the industry’s largest and most trusted supplier of drapes, rigging and other related products. From straight forward dry-hire to full event installations and bespoke pieces. We deliver a high-quality service across a wide range of sectors, from conferences, concerts, exhibitions and product launches to theatre, film, television and more.

At Blackout, we believe people make the difference. We are well known for our hard-working and good-humoured crew, and we pride ourselves on the close working relationships we have established with long term and new clients alike. We are committed to the recruitment and continuous training of our staff to the highest standard.

Blackout operates in a competitive market which is subject to commercial pressures from both our competition and the current economic uncertainty.

The directors are satisfied with the company’s performance for the year, which reflects the significant time, effort and investment made to enhance its offering and support to customers, consolidating the company’s strong and healthy position in the market and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders.

The company's key financial and other performance indicators during the year were as follows:

Financial KPIs

Unit

2025

2024

Turnover

£

8,602,945

8,808,708

Profit before tax

£

1,155,410

1,618,538

Net assets

£

944,583

1,408,613

There are numerous non-financial performance indicators used by the directors but none are considered to be key.

2025 was predominantly a year of consolidation and stabilisation for the company, whilst continuing to invest in back-end people and processes. As a result, both turnover and margins remained stable, with turnover decreasing ever so slightly and gross profit margins slightly improving. The increase in administrative costs primarily reflects the strategic investment in people, which is expected to strengthen the company’s competitive position and support sustained long-term success within the industry.

The directors are also satisfied with the statement of financial position at 31 December 2025 which shows £944,583 (2024 - £1,408,613) of net assets and £304,630 (2024 - £382,765) cash at bank.

With these significant financial resources available, the directors feel the company remains well-placed to exploit future opportunities as and when they arise. Blackout continues to expand its operations throughout the UK and worldwide, demonstrating the directors positive outlook for the company. The directors also believe the company will continue to trade profitably in the coming years.
 

 

Blackout Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Principal risks and uncertainties

The company uses basic financial instruments, other than derivatives, comprising borrowings, cash and various items, such as trade debtors and trade creditors that arise directly from its operations. The main purposes of these financial instruments is to raise finance for the company's operations.

The company had no hedging arrangements at 31 December 2025.

The management of the business is subject to a number of risks, which are reviewed by the board and appropriate procedures put in place to monitor and mitigate. The key risks are liquidity risk, foreign currency exposure and customer credit exposure.

In respect of bank balances the company had no overdraft facility during the period and the company maintained significant cash at bank balances throughout the period.

Liquidity and cash flow risks are managed by the directors.

Liquidity risk

The objective of the company in managing liquidity risk is to ensure that it can meet its financial obligations as and when they fall due. The company expects to meet its financial obligations through operating cash flows. In the event that the operating cash flows would not cover all of the financial obligations, the company has credit facilities available. The company policy throughout the year has been to ensure continuity of funding so that at least a significant part of its borrowings should mature in more than one year.

Customer credit exposure

The company may offer credit terms to its customers which allow payment of the debt after delivery of the goods or services. The company is at risk to the extent that a customer may be unable to pay the debt on the specified due date. This risk is mitigated by maintaining strong on-going customer relationships and closely monitoring outstanding debts from all sources.

Interest rate risk

The company finances its operations through a mixture of working capital, and other borrowings. At present, given the size and nature of the company's operations, all bank borrowings are at floating rates. It is company policy to ensure that sufficient resources are available from cash balances, cash flows and near cash liquid investments to ensure all obligations can be met when they fall due, and to invest in cash assets safely and profitably.

Future developments

The principal activity and trading performance of the company is expected to remain consistent for the foreseeable future.

Summary

The board continuously monitor and respond to changes in the company's risk environment, so ensuring that the company remains well placed to address operational, reputational, financial and business risks in a timely and appropriate manner.

 

Blackout Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Approved by the Board on 19 August 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

.........................................
C R Brain
Director

 

Blackout Limited

Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.

Directors of the company

The directors who held office during the year were as follows:

C R Brain

K G Monks

R S Ward

T Searle (appointed 1 May 2025)

H Hillman (appointed 1 May 2025)

Information included in the Strategic Report

The company has chosen in accordance with Section 414C(11) Companies Act 2006 to set out in the company's strategic report information required by Schedule 7 of the large and medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 to be contained in the directors' report.

Directors' liabilities

As permitted by the Articles of Association, the Directors have the benefit of an indemnity which is a qualifying third party indemnity provision as defined by Section 234 of the Companies Act 2006. The indemnity was in force throughout the last financial year and is currently in force.

Disclosure of information to the auditor

Each director has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. The directors confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditors are unaware.

Approved by the director on 19 August 2026 and signed by:



 

.........................................
C R Brain
Director

 

Blackout Limited

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities 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:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

Blackout Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackout Limited
for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Blackout Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2025, which comprise the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings, Statement of Financial Position, 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).

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2025 and of its profit for the year then ended;

have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the 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 director's 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 matters

The comparative figures for the prior period were not audited and accordingly, no audit opinion is expressed on these figures.

 

Blackout Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackout Limited
for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

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 there is 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 the audit:

the information given in the Strategic Report and Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

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

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our 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 and the Directors' Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities (set out on page 6), 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.

 

Blackout Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackout Limited
for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK) we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:

• Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

• Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purposes of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the company’s internal control.

Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.

• Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the company’s ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor’s report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor’s report. However, future events or conditions may cause the company to cease to continue as a going concern.

• Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

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

 

Blackout Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Blackout Limited
for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Our approach was as follows:

• We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements applicable to the company and considered that the most significant are the Companies Act 2006, UK financial reporting standards as issued by the Financial Reporting Council, and UK taxation legislation.

• We obtained an understanding of how the company complies with these requirements by discussions with management and those charged with governance.

• We assessed the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements, including the risk of material misstatement due to fraud and how it might occur, by holding discussions with management and those charged with governance.

• We inquired of management and those charged with governance as to any known instances of non-compliance or suspected non-compliance with laws and regulations.

• Based on this understanding, we designed specific appropriate audit procedures to identify instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. This included making enquiries of management and those charged with governance and obtaining additional corroborative evidence as required.

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

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken for no purpose other than to draw to the attention of the company’s members those matters which we are required to include in an auditor’s report addressed to them. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to any party other than the company and company’s members as a body, for our work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

......................................
Kevin Veitch (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of

Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor
6th Floor
9 Appold Street
London
EC2A 2AP

19 August 2026

 

Blackout Limited

Statement of Income and Retained Earnings for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Note

2025
£

2024
£

Turnover

3

8,602,945

8,808,708

Cost of sales

 

(2,202,081)

(2,366,811)

Gross profit

 

6,400,864

6,441,897

Administrative expenses

 

(5,350,716)

(4,913,807)

Other operating income

4

7,685

3,084

Operating profit

6

1,057,833

1,531,174

Income from shares in group undertakings

 

81,688

80,190

Other interest receivable and similar income

7

15,889

15,171

Interest payable and similar charges

8

-

(7,997)

 

97,577

87,364

Profit before tax

 

1,155,410

1,618,538

Taxation

12

(269,440)

(379,548)

Profit for the financial year

 

885,970

1,238,990

Retained earnings brought forward

 

1,393,613

704,623

Dividends paid

 

(1,350,000)

(550,000)

Retained earnings carried forward

 

929,583

1,393,613

 

Blackout Limited

Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2025

Note

2025
£

2024
£

Fixed assets

 

Tangible assets

13

1,351,811

1,226,868

Investments

14

1

-

 

1,351,812

1,226,868

Current assets

 

Debtors

15

752,720

1,407,376

Cash at bank and in hand

16

304,630

382,765

 

1,057,350

1,790,141

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

17

(1,198,139)

(1,317,918)

Net current (liabilities)/assets

 

(140,789)

472,223

Total assets less current liabilities

 

1,211,023

1,699,091

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

17

(14,507)

(72,553)

Provisions for liabilities

18

(251,933)

(217,925)

Net assets

 

944,583

1,408,613

Capital and reserves

 

Called up share capital

20

15,000

15,000

Retained earnings

929,583

1,393,613

Shareholders' funds

 

944,583

1,408,613

Approved and authorised by the Board on 19 August 2026 and signed on its behalf by:

 

......................................................................

C R Brain

Director

Company registration number: 02502293

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

1

General information

The company is a private company limited by share capital, incorporated in England and Wales.

The address of its registered office is:
130 Shaftesbury Avenue
2nd Floor
London
W1D 5EU

The principal place of business is:
280 Western Road
London
SW19 2QA

The principal activity of the company is that of the manufacture, hire, and sale of drapes, starcloths and other rigging equipment.

2

Accounting policies

Statement of compliance

These financial statements were prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'.

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention except any items disclosed in the accounting policies as being shown at fair value and are presented in sterling, which is the functional currency of the entity.

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Summary of disclosure exemptions

The company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 400 of the Companies Act 2006 not to prepare consolidated accounts.

The entity satisfies the criteria of being a qualifying entity as defined in FRS 102. Its financial statements are consolidated into the financial statements of Blackout International Limited which can be obtained from Companies House. As such, advantage has been taken of the following disclosure exemptions available under paragraph 1.12 of FRS 102:

(a) No cash flow statement has been presented for the company.
(b) No disclosure has been made of financial instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss.
(c) No disclosure has been given for the aggregate remuneration of key management personnel..

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Going concern

The company made a profit of £885,970 (2024 - £1,238,990), for the year ended 31 December 2025 and had net assets at that date of £944,583 (2024 - £1,408,613) including cash at bank amounting to £304,630 (2024 - £382,765).

Having reviewed the company's trading and cash flow forecasts, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company will generate sufficient cash to meet its obligations as they fall due.

On the basis of the above, and after making enquiries, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Significant judgements and estimates

The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. These estimates and judgements are continually reviewed and are based on experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

Accounting estimates and assumptions are made concerning the future and, by their nature, will rarely equal the related actual outcome. Key assumptions and other estimation uncertainties provide a risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities.

Judgements and estimates that management has made in the process of applying the entity's accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements are as follows:

The annual depreciation charge for tangible assets is sensitive to changes in the estimated useful economic lives and residual values of the assets. The useful economic lives and residual values are re-assessed annually. They are amended when necessary to reflect current estimates, based on technological advancement, future investments, economic utilisation and the physical condition of the assets.

The company makes an estimate of the recoverable value of trade debtors. When assessing any potential impairment of trade debtors, management considers factors including the ageing profile of debtors and historical
experience.

Revenue recognition

Turnover is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods supplied and services rendered in the ordinary course of the company's activities. Turnover is shown net of Value Added Tax.

In respect of long-term contracts and contracts for on-going services, turnover represents the value of work done in the year, including estimates of amounts not invoiced. Turnover in respect of long-term contracts and contracts for on-going services is recognised by reference to the stage of completion.

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have transferred to the buyer, usually on despatch of the goods, the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the associated economic benefits will flow to the entity, and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transactions can be measured reliably.

Revenue from the rendering of services is measured by reference to the stage of completion of the service transaction at the end of the reporting period provided that the outcome can be reliably estimated. When the outcome cannot be reliably estimated, revenue is recognised only to the extent that expenses recognised are recoverable.

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Foreign currency transactions and balances

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the functional currency rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated into the respective functional currency of the entity at the rates prevailing on the reporting period date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate on the date when the fair value is re-measured.

Non-monetary items measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in profit or loss, except that a charge attributable to an item of income or expense recognised as other comprehensive income is also recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences between taxable profits and profits reported in the financial statements.

Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised when it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.

Deferred tax is measured using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are stated in the statement of financial position at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

The cost of tangible assets includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than land and properties under construction over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class

Depreciation method and rate

Leasehold property improvements

Over the length of the lease

Plant and machinery

20-50% straight line; 15-33% reducing balance

Motor vehicles

25% reducing balance

Drapes and trusses

10% straight line

Business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the purchase method. The consideration for each acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values at acquisition date of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the group in exchange for control of the acquired, plus any costs directly attributable to the business combination. When a business combination agreement provides for an adjustment to the cost of the combination contingent on future events, the group includes the estimated amount of that adjustment in the cost of the combination at the acquisition date if the adjustment is probable and can be measured reliably.

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Investments

Investments in equity shares which are not publicly traded and where fair value cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Dividends on equity securities are recognised in income when receivable.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments are measured at the fair value of the cash or other resources received or receivable, net of the direct costs of issuing the equity instruments. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis.

Financial instruments

Basic financial instruments are recognised at amortised cost, with changes recognised in profit or loss. Derivative financial instruments are initially recorded at cost and thereafter at fair value with changes recognised in profit or loss.

Financial instruments are recognised when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument and derecognised when, in the case of assets, the contractual rights to cash flows from the assets expire or substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are transferred to another party and in the case of liabilities, when the group's obligations are discharged, expire or are cancelled.

Dividends

Dividend distribution to the company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the reporting period in which the dividends are declared.

Defined contribution pension obligation

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

3

Turnover

The analysis of the company's Turnover for the year from continuing operations is as follows:

2025
£

2024
£

Sale of goods

684,589

600,507

Rendering of services

7,918,356

8,208,201

8,602,945

8,808,708

The company has not disclosed an analysis of turnover by geographical market, as in the opinion of the directors this would be seriously prejudicial to the interests of the company.

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

4

Other operating income

The analysis of the company's other operating income for the year is as follows:

2025
 £

2024
 £

Miscellaneous other operating income

7,685

3,084

5

Other gains and losses

The analysis of the company's other gains and losses for the year is as follows:

2025
 £

2024
 £

Gain/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

9,277

9,990

6

Operating profit

Arrived at after charging/(crediting)

2025
£

2024
£

Depreciation expense

273,088

241,808

Impairment reversal

(1)

-

Foreign exchange (gains)/losses

(25)

2,399

7

Other interest receivable and similar income

2025
£

2024
£

Other finance income

15,889

15,171

8

Interest payable and similar expenses

2025
£

2024
£

Interest on bank overdrafts and borrowings

-

7,197

Interest expense on other finance liabilities

-

800

-

7,997

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

9

Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs (including directors' remuneration) were as follows:

2025
£

2024
£

Wages and salaries

3,033,352

2,854,164

Social security costs

420,340

327,367

Pension costs, defined contribution scheme

624,377

491,036

4,078,069

3,672,567

The average number of persons employed by the company (including directors) during the year, analysed by category was as follows:

2025
No.

2024
No.

Administration and support

13

13

Sales and operations

48

46

61

59

10

Directors' remuneration

The directors' remuneration for the year was as follows:

2025
 £

2024
 £

Remuneration

971,435

824,697

Contributions paid to money purchase schemes

401,889

170,543

1,373,324

995,240

During the year the number of directors who were receiving benefits and share incentives was as follows:

2025
 No.

2024
 No.

Accruing benefits under money purchase pension scheme

5

3

In respect of the highest paid director:

2025
£

2024
£

Remuneration

413,246

404,252

Company contributions to money purchase pension schemes

44,658

36,550

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

11

Auditor's remuneration

2025
 £

2024
 £

Audit of the financial statements

12,240

-

Other fees to auditors

Other audit services

1,020

-


 

12

Taxation

Tax charged/(credited) in the income statement

2025
£

2024
£

Current taxation

UK corporation tax

235,432

280,739

UK corporation tax adjustment to prior periods

-

851

235,432

281,590

Deferred taxation

Arising from origination and reversal of timing differences

34,008

97,958

Tax expense in the income statement

269,440

379,548

The tax on profit before tax for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (2024 - lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK) of 25% (2024 - 25%).

The differences are reconciled below:

2025
£

2024
£

Profit before tax

1,155,410

1,618,538

Corporation tax at standard rate

288,853

404,635

Increase in UK and foreign current tax from adjustment for prior periods

-

851

Effect of amounts not deductible/(taxable) in determining taxable profit

1,009

(5,890)

Tax decrease from effect of dividends from UK companies

(20,422)

(20,048)

Total tax charge

269,440

379,548

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

Deferred tax

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

2025

Asset
£

Liability
£

Accelerated capital allowances

-

269,036

Other timing differences

17,103

-

17,103

269,036

2024

Asset
£

Liability
£

Accelerated capital allowances

-

229,805

Other timing differences

11,880

-

11,880

229,805

13

Tangible assets

Land and buildings
£

Plant and machinery
£

Motor vehicles
 £

Trusses
 £

Total
£

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2025

428,307

635,208

633,097

2,304,901

4,001,513

Additions

-

16,249

140,365

260,641

417,255

Disposals

-

-

(104,653)

-

(104,653)

At 31 December 2025

428,307

651,457

668,809

2,565,542

4,314,115

Depreciation

At 1 January 2025

408,093

555,449

277,483

1,533,620

2,774,645

Charge for the year

7,610

23,062

104,361

138,055

273,088

Eliminated on disposal

-

-

(85,429)

-

(85,429)

At 31 December 2025

415,703

578,511

296,415

1,671,675

2,962,304

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2025

12,604

72,946

372,394

893,867

1,351,811

At 31 December 2024

20,214

79,759

355,614

771,281

1,226,868

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

14

Investments in subsidiaries

2025
 £

2024
 £

Investments in subsidiaries

1

-

Subsidiaries

£

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2025

1

Provision

At 1 January 2025

1

Impairment reversal

(1)

At 31 December 2025

-

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2025

1

At 31 December 2024

-

The Company holds 95% of the ordinary share capital of Blackout SARL, a company incorporated in France with registered office at 53 Rue De Verdun, 93120 La Courneuve.

15

Debtors

2025
£

2024
£

Trade debtors

666,207

342,238

Amounts owed by group undertakings

791

867,125

Other debtors

118

10,642

Prepayments and accrued income

85,604

187,371

752,720

1,407,376

16

Cash and cash equivalents

2025
£

2024
£

Cash at bank and in hand

304,630

382,765

 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

17

Creditors

2025
£

2024
£

Due within one year

Trade creditors

87,631

98,991

Amounts owed to group undertakings

25,575

7,312

Social security and other taxes

782,229

797,322

Other payables

89,957

115,570

Accruals and deferred income

212,747

298,723

1,198,139

1,317,918

Due after one year

Other financial liabilities

14,507

72,553

18

Deferred tax

Deferred tax
£

At 1 January 2025

217,925

Increase (decrease) in existing provisions

34,008

At 31 December 2025

251,933

19

Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the company to the scheme and amounted to £624,377 (2024 - £491,036).

Contributions totalling £74,179 (2024 - £47,521) were payable to the scheme at the end of the year and are included in creditors.

20

Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares

2025

2024

No.

£

No.

£

Ordinary A Shares of £1 each

15,000

15,000

15,000

15,000

       
 

Blackout Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2025

21

Obligations under leases and hire purchase contracts

Operating leases

The total of future minimum lease payments is as follows:

2025
£

2024
£

Not later than one year

330,750

330,750

Later than one year and not later than five years

82,688

413,438

413,438

744,188

The amount of non-cancellable operating lease payments recognised as an expense during the year was £272,704 (2024 - £273,067).

22

Dividends

2025

2024

£

£

Interim dividends

1,350,000

550,000

 

 

23

Related party transactions

In accordance with FRS102 paragraph 33.1A exemption is taken not to disclose transactions or amounts due between wholly owned undertakings.

During the year ended 31 December 2025, the company generated turnover of £23,756 (2024 - £40,978) from trading transactions with a group undertaking that is not wholly owned.

During the same period, purchases from this group undertaking amounted to £60,501 (2024 - £42,722).

All transactions were conducted on normal commercial terms.

24

Relationship between entity and parents

The parent of the smallest group preparing group accounts including the results of the company is Blackout International Limited.

The registered address of Blackout International Limited is 130 Shaftesbury Avenue, 2nd Floor, London, W1D 5EU.

25

Non adjusting events after the financial period

Dividends of £600,000 were voted by the company post year end.