The Directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Corporate Governance
Responsibility for robust and strong corporate governance lies with the Board and the Board recognises in full its obligation and continuing responsibility for organising and directing the overall affairs of the Company in a way that is in the best interests of the shareholders. This involves detailed discussion and strategic review of the financial and operational performance of the Company as well as review of risk and internal controls.
In particular, the Company adopts an entrepreneurial business approach, providing leadership and expertise to other related party companies.
The Board is also responsible for the overall management of the Company’s business and is accountable to the shareholders as well as for the setting out the Company strategy and performance review and for the long-term success of the Company. This includes ensuring that the Company is adequately resourced, that the appropriate skills in place and that the management team are meeting their objectives whilst ensuring that shareholder value is maintained.
The Company reported £196m revenue for the year ended 31 December 2024 compared to £186m for the previous year, which represents an increase of 5%.The gross profit margin has increased to 66% in the year ended 31 December 2024 from 58% in the year ended 31 December 2023. The increase in revenue is driven by higher data usage in line with market demand and increase in support services..
The Company made a loss for the year after taxation of £4m (year ended 31 December 2023: loss: £44.5m), mainly due to improving gross margins.
The Company adopts a usage policy for recognising income. The amounts of income which are deferred until future use are held within the deferred income account in the Statement of Financial Position. The Company defers the recognition of income until such time as the customers use their balances or or when the balances expire after a period of non-utilisation as set in the terms and conditions of the customers contract. All amounts held in deferred income relating to future usage are identifiable to individual customers.
The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company have been reviewed in detail by the Directors and no material additional risk or uncertainty has been identified other than those detailed below. These risks are broadly grouped within competitive, operational, regulatory and financial risk. The Directors' risk management objectives consist of identifying and monitoring those risks which could have an adverse impact on the Company's assets, profitability or cash flows.
Competitive Risk
The United Kingdom MVNO market remains competitive with new entrants able to join relatively easily, resulting in pricing risk. It has proven difficult for any new entrant to achieve any scale, however, and the combination of any new entrant's inability to match Lycamobile's tariff rates for any length of time as well as a lack of national distribution mitigates this risk. This competitive risk is further mitigated by regular reviews of competitive offerings and changes market providers. Actions are taken immediately where possible.
Operational Risk
The main operational risk relating to the Company is the operation of the telecommunication service agreement with Mobile Network Operator. The Company's ability to provide services to its customers depends on maintaining an agreement with Mobile Network Operator or acquiring a new agreement with other Mobile Network Operators for network services. The Company currently operates solely within a long-term telecommunication service agreement for the network services. The Company does not have any dependency on voice or non-voice services from the Mobile Network Operator which it provides to its customers itself. This overall operational risk is mitigated by ensuring that the term on the network service agreement is extended to a duration of 12 months wherever possible.
Compliance Risk & Regulatory Risk
Subsequent to the UK exiting from the European Union, EU-derived rules applicable to communication providers and Ofcom's governance and regulations on telecoms markets have been implemented in UK law. Additionally, UK telecom operators will continue to be able to provide cross-border telecoms services and operate within the EU, under the World Trade Organisation's General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS). The Company is monitoring the situation closely and remain vigilant to any future regulatory and compliance risks as a consequence of the UK officially exiting the EU.
The Company's principal activities are regulated by the Office of Communications (OFCOM). Regulatory changes may have adverse financial effects on prices, for example, regulating certain charges on mobile termination revenue and roaming charges. This has an impact on the Company and implies a loss of revenue in the future. These overall regulatory changes are not specific to Lycamobile and affects telecom companies across the world. However, to mitigate this potential loss of future revenue, termination costs of outgoing calls will reduce, which will partly offset the revenue decline. The overall effect of this revenue decline is not regarded as significant to the Company which, as with other telecom companies, will be seeking to replace the loss of revenue from alternative sources, for example data services.
Another of the key governing bodies relevant to the Company is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO). The regulations and laws that the Company must comply with, including Ofcom General Conditions and data legislation, are designed to support customers. Failure to comply with data protection and privacy obligations may result in financial penalties, regulatory oversight, significant brand damage and legal action. To mitigate the risk, the Company has a centralised legal team who monitor the Company's compliance to regulations. The Company continues to invest to meet GDPR requirements and has a dedicated Data Protection Officer to monitor compliance.
Financial Risk
The Company has undertaken a risk assessment within the non-trading areas of the business, which could have a material effect on the performance of the business. These are classified under financial risk, categorised into foreign exchange, credit risk and liquidity risk.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The Company's sales continue to be made in British pounds sterling. The Company also has certain balances due to or from related parties in other currencies, primarily Euros, and the Company is therefore exposed to currency movements. As a matter of policy, the Company chooses not to currently use financial derivatives or currency hedging to manage its exposure.
Credit Risk
The Company's principal financial assets are cash in bank, trade and other receivables. the Company's credit risk is primarily attributable to the amounts due from related parties. The amounts presented in the Statement of Financial Position are presented net of any impairment. Each balance is reviewed and an assessment of recoverability of the balance has been made individually, with any impaired amount taken directly to profit and loss. The credit risk on bank balances is considered limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit ratings. The Company has a significant concentration of credit risk as a result of significant balances due to and from related parties.
The Company has undergone a process to review the recoverability of intercompany balances owing at the year end. In doing so it has taken the step to reduce the value of the debtors outstanding based upon various criteria, including the counterparties' profitability, financial stability and subsequent repayment.
Liquidity Risk
The Company's policy on liquidity risk is to ensure that sufficient cash is available to fund on-going operations. The Company, in conjunction with related parties, monitors rolling forecasts to ensure it has sufficient cash to meet operational needs.
Active subscribers represent active customers as at 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2023. Subscribers are defined as active customers if they have made an outbound call, text or used data in the preceding 90 days' period.
Churn is a measure of the number of customers that have been inactive on the network during the last 90 days as a percentage of the active subscriber base.
The Company has net current liabilities of £42.1m as at 31 December 2024 from a net current liabilities of £37.4m in year ended 31 December 2023.
The loss for the year after taxation is £4m (year ended 31 December 2023: loss of £44.5m)
The Company trades with other affiliated and related party companies (see note 21) and the Company, its affiliates and related parties are included in an operating model that ensures revenue and profits are economically allocated to the company which has earned them.
Future Development
The Director remains optimistic for the operational and financial outlook in 2026 across all key performance indicators. With continued investment in new products and technologies, the Company will ensure delivery of low cost, high quality services to its customers whilst improving its competitive advantage against its direct competitors.
The Company will undertake a strategic transformation during 2026 designed to streamline operations, enhance digital capabilities, improve customer service and position the company for sustainable growth in a competitive market.
This transformation is designed to:
Improve efficiency and deliver significant cost savings.
Boost innovation by leveraging advanced digital capabilities and automation.
Enhance customer service across all markets.
In addition, some roles have been made redundant in the UK as they are duplicated with the support centre in Chennai, India. We are also restructuring the Group overall with an offshore global service centre located in Dubai and a Dutch NV holding company. This restructuring is in process, but as a result, some headcount in the UK is being relocated. There is no impact at all on the UK business -most of the roles concerned are either duplicated or relocated roles.
This is a seamless transition with no disruption to our high standards of service and collaboration. Points of contact and service levels remain unchanged.
Lyca continues to be financially strong and focused on long-term growth. These strategic changes will allow Lyca to reinvest in key areas, strengthen our operations, and deliver even greater value to our partners and customers worldwide.
Post Balance Sheet Events
Transformation Program
As a result of the transformation program detailed above, some roles have been made redundant in the UK during 2025 and the first half of 2026 as they are duplicated in other areas of the organisation. There is no impact at all on the UK business, most of the roles concerned being either duplicated or relocated roles. This is a seamless transition with no disruption to the Company’s high standards of service and collaboration.
This will allow the Company to reinvest in key areas, strengthen operations, and deliver even greater value to partners and customers worldwide.
VAT Case
The Company has an ongoing VAT dispute with HMRC. On the 18th of July 2024, the First-Tier Tribunal made an in-principal decision based on important points of law as to how Lyca, and other telecommunication providers, should provide for VAT. The Tribunal acknowledged the difficulty in deciding the case which raised complicated points of law and Lyca was pleased that the Tribunal found that there should be an adjustment to the amount of VAT assessed in relation to some of the products. The Tribunal did not make a ruling on the final amount of VAT for accounting and compliance purposes however, Lyca has accounted for the provision in full. The Tribunal granted Lyca leave to appeal on the basis that the Company had raised arguable errors of law.
The Appeal to the Upper Tier Tribunal was heard in late November 2025 and the decision was made by decision of the Upper Tier Tax (“UTT”) Tribunal on 16 February 2026. The decision upholds certain decisions in principle which were decided partly in HMRC’s favour, and partly in LMUK’s favour, by the First-Tier Tax Tribunal on 18 July 2024. In respect of the decisions which were decided in favour of HMRC, LMUK disagrees with the ruling and sought permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The UTT Tribunal granted LMUK permission to appeal the decision. The hearing is listed for January 2027 and the decision will be expected mid-2027.
On behalf of the board
The Directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.
The results for the year are set out on page 14.
The director who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements was as follows:
The auditor, UHY Hacker Young, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
We are pleased to report on our energy and carbon report for the financial year ended 31 December 2024.
Lycamobile UK Limited and its related parties (Lycamobile Group) operates in the same premises in its London Headquarters and share office spaces for its centralised employees. Statement of carbon emmissions in compliance with Streamlined Energy Carbon Reporting (SECR) covering energy use and associated greenhouse gas emissions relating to gas, electricity and transport, intensity ratios and information relating to energy efficiency actions are as follows:
The calculation approach is based on invoicing/mileage (where applicable) and emissions factors have been taken from the Conversion Factors 2024 published in June 2024 by Department for Energy Security & Net Zero.
We have followed the 2019 HM Government Environmental Reporting Guidelines. We have also used the GHG Reporting Protocol – Corporate Standard and have used the 2020 UK Government’s Conversion Factors for Company Reporting.
The chosen intensity measurement ratio is total gross emissions in metric tonnes CO2e per sqft, the recommended ratio for the sector.
We are committed to responsible energy management and will practice energy efficiency throughout our group entities, whatever it's cost impact. We recognise that climate change is one of the most serious environmental challenges currently threatening the global community and we understand we have a role to play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Some measures have been taken to increase our energy efficiency include the upgrade to motion triggered LED lighting in Lycamobile Head quarters and encourage remote working where possible.
Disclaimer of opinion
Basis for disclaimer of opinion
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
As explained more fully in the director's responsibilities statement, the director is 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 director determines 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 director is 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 director either intends to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
Detecting fraud and irregularities
Notwithstanding our disclaimer of opinion on the financial statements, based on our understanding of the company and the industry, we identified the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a direct effect on the financial statements. We obtained our understanding in this regard through discussions with management, industry research, and application of cumulative audit knowledge and experience of the sector.
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.
We determined the principal laws and regulation relevant to the company in this regard to be those arising from Companies Act 2006, FRS 102, telecommunications statutes and regulations, tax legislation, and employment laws.
We designed our audit procedures to ensure the audit team considered whether there were any indication of non-compliance by the company with those laws and regulations. These procedures included, but were not limited to:
• making enquires of management and legal counsel;
• reviewing legal/ regulatory correspondence received in the financial period and subsequent to the year end;
• reviewing legal and professional expenses
• Discussing with management their policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations;
• Communicating identified laws and regulations throughout our engagement team and remaining alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout our audit; and
• Considering the risk of acts by the company which were contrary to the applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.
We also identified the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements due to fraud. We considered, in addition to the non-rebuttable presumption of a risk of fraud arising from management override of controls, that revenue recognition was also a risk and we performed substantive testing with no issues found. We also tested accounting estimates and judgements relating to VAT provision and fair valuation of interest free loans to directors , which we concluded were reasonable; and
We addressed the risk of fraud arising from management override of controls by performing audit procedures which included, but were not limited to the testing of journals; reviewing accounting estimates for evidence of bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. The more removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by forgery or intentional misrepresentation, for example, 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 so that we might state to the company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The income statement has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.
Lycamobile UK Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 3rd Floor, Walbrook Building, 195 Marsh Wall, London, E14 9SG.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional and presentational currency of the Company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £1,000 unless otherwise stated.
Based on these consideration the Directors have prepared forecast trading cash inflows and outflows for the Company and have no reason to believe cash generated for operating activities will be less than that historically generated.
The Directors have reviewed these trading and operational cashflow forecasts for the Company for the period to 31 December 2028 including in the forecast those factors which the Directors consider could materially affect cashflow during the period, both positively and negatively.
This review has included an overlay of probable sensitivity analysis to key assumption changes, including potential market tariff and market share changes, and demonstrates that there are no material variations to the forecast cashflow generated from operations.
The Directors have also reviewed the asset and liability bases of the Company as at the date of approval of these financial statements and separately considered those which are third party and those which are 'related' to other companies controlled by the same ultimate shareholder.
The Company and its related parties form an operating model that ensures revenue and profits are economically allocated to the group which has earned them. As such the Company has substantial trading transactions with other related party companies and there may be significant amounts due to or from those parties that are repayable on demand. The Company may also be called upon to fund related parties however there is no obligation to do so.
Third party cash related liabilities settled from the cash flow forecasts as they fall due in the normal course of business via MVNO group Treasury function. Related party liabilities will be settled only when sufficient surplus working capital is available.
The Directors have additionally concluded, following a review of related party receivables, that whilst operational cash headroom would be significantly reduced in the event of difficulty collecting these balances, this would not itself jeopardise the going concern conclusion that the Directors have reached.
The Company is in dispute with HM Revenue and Customs ("HMRC"), in relation to treatment of VAT on certain classes of transactions. A provision has been recorded of £148m (inclusive of interest and penalties) to reflect the Company's current best estimate of the potential exposure as at 31 December 2024. The Directors have increased the provision in line with the VAT position taken by the Company since that date. The full amount provided within creditors is currently under appeal with HMRC. HMRC has raised protective assessments in prior years and 2024 in relation to this dispute. In accordance with required practice, the Company has in both instances sought to postpone the collection of these amounts. The postponement of the prior year assessment has been accepted by HMRC while the postponement of 2024 assessment is currently being reviewed.
These financial risks have been further mitigated by the availability of financial support from related parties, should it be required. The Directors have confirmed the validity of this conclusion by undertaking a review of the cashflows for the related party companies within the MVNO group which show sufficient cashflow headroom for this potential provision to be met from wider operational cashflow.
On the basis of their assessment of the Company's financial position, the Directors consider that the Company is well placed to manage its business risks successfully and have a reasonable expectation that the Company will be able to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.
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 credited or charged to profit or loss.
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 are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the Company 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 Company 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 Company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
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.
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.
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.
The Company applies a market rate of interest to loans provided to associates and related parties at rates less than market rate. The Company reviews available rates in the market-place for comparable loans, giving consideration to the risk, term and security offered for the loan, and applies this rate to discount the loans based upon the expected repayment.
The change in respect of periodic depreciation is derived after determining an estimate of an asset's expected useful life and the residual value at the end of its life. Increasing an asset's expected life and the expected residual value at the end of its life. Increasing an asset's expected life or its residual value would result in a reduced depreciation charge in the statement of comprehensive income.
The useful lives and residual values of tangible fixed assets are determined by management at the time the asset is acquired and reviewed annually for appropriateness. The lives are based on historical experience with similar assets as well as anticipation of future events which may impact their life such as technology.
Historically changes in useful lives and residual values have not resulted in material changes to the depreciation charge.
The Company makes an estimate of the recoverable value of trade and other debtors. When assessing impairment of trade and other debtors, management considers factors including the current credit rating of the debtor, the ageing profile of debtors and historical experience. See note 14 for the net carrying amount of the debtors which is net of associated impairment provision.
Included within creditors due within one year is an amount of £148m relating to certain VAT positions (inclusive of interest and penalties) taken by the Company between 1 July 2012 and 31 December 2024. The full VAT amount provided within creditors is currently under appeal. The Directors have subsequently increased the provision in line with the VAT position taken by the Company.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the Company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
The Company employed on average 111 employees, but has outsourced all its administrative and support services to other related parties. The transactions are disclosed in Note 21.
The Director's remuneration during the year ended 31 December 2024 consisted of payments to the two Directors who were active during the period for qualifying services. This amounted to £1,584,501 (2023: £2,275,086).
Remuneration for the key management personnel for services provided to Lycamobile UK Limited was £1,684,599 (2023: 2,696,366).
Total remuneration paid to the highest paid director of Lycamobile UK Limited was £1,189,159 (2023: £2,182,363). No amount was paid in terms of long-term incentive schemes or any pension contributions were made on behalf of the director. All Directors' emoluments are aggregate remuneration in respect of qualifying services.
In 2021, legislation was substantively enacted to increase the corporation tax rate to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023. Accordingly, the 25% rate has been used to measure UK deferred tax balances in 2024. In 2023, a blended rate of 23.5% was applied, reflecting nine months at the new 25% rate and three months at the previous 19% rate, based on when the related timing differences were expected to reverse after 1 April 2023.
The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge/(credit) for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
The 2024 valuations were made by external valuers Taylor Surveyors, on an open market value for existing use basis. The freehold investment properties have been valued at £2,500,000.
The valuation has been carried out in accordance with the current UK edition of the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards published by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ("the Red Book"). The valuation was performed by an appropriately qualified valuer who has relevant and recent experience in the sector.
The valuation of the investment property has been prepared on the basis of fair value which is the market value of the property defined as 'the amount for which an asset could be exchanged, or a liability settled, between knowledgeable, willing parties, in an arm's length transaction'.
Financial assets
Financial assets measured at amortised cost held as of year ended 31 December 2024 is £151,676,308 (2023: £138,521,452 )
Financial Liabilities
Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost held as of year ended 31 December 2024 is £74,157,834 (2023: £66,639,762 )
The balances in other debtors due after more than one year represent deposits on telecommunications services which are not refundable until the contract term expires, which in this case is greater than one year.
Long term loans to related parties were initially at a rate that is less than market value and have been discounted back at a commercial rate over the term of the loan. The difference between the fair value of the loan and the original loan value at the transition date has been recorded as a capital contribution within equity (see note 21 for details).
Loans to Directors and Parties Associated to Directors
Loans to parties listed below represent transactions that had initially been provided at a rate that is less than market value and have been discounted back at a commercial rate over the expected term of the loan. Transactions that fall under this category are as follows:
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Company and movements thereon:
The Company makes contributions to defined contribution pension schemes. The assets of the schemes are held separately from those of the Company in independently administered funds. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Company to the funds and amounted to £297,000 (2023: £247,000). Contributions amounting to £103,000 (2023: £57,000) were payable at the reporting date.
The company has one class of ordinary shares which carry no right to fixed income.
During the year £2,007,936 (year ended 31 December 2023: £2,161,967) was recognised as an expense in profit and loss in respect of operating lease rentals.
At the reporting end date the Company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
VAT Case
The Company has an ongoing VAT dispute with HMRC. On the 18th of July 2024, the First-Tier Tribunal made an in-principal decision based on important points of law as to how Lyca, and other telecommunication providers, should provide for VAT. The Tribunal acknowledged the difficulty in deciding the case which raised complicated points of law and Lyca was pleased that the Tribunal found that there should be an adjustment to the amount of VAT assessed in relation to some of the products.
The Tribunal did not make a ruling on the final amount of VAT for accounting and compliance purposes however, Lyca has accounted for the provision in full. The Tribunal granted Lyca leave to appeal on the basis that the Company had raised arguable errors of law.
The Appeal to the Upper Tier Tribunal was heard in late November 2025 and the decision was made by decision of the Upper Tier Tax (“UTT”) Tribunal on 16 February 2026. The decision upholds certain decisions in principle which were decided partly in HMRC’s favour, and partly in LMUK’s favour, by the First-Tier Tax Tribunal on 18 July 2024. In respect of the decisions which were decided in favour of HMRC, LMUK disagrees with the ruling and sought permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.
The UTT Tribunal granted LMUK permission to appeal the decision. The hearing is listed for January 2027 and the decision will be expected mid-2027.
Transformation Program
The Company has embarked on a strategic transformation project in conjunction with its related parties which began during the year to the 31st December 2024
The benefits of the transformation will be to:
• Improve efficiency and deliver significant cost savings.
• Boost innovation by leveraging advanced digital capabilities and automation.
• Enhance customer service across all markets
As a result of the transformation program detailed above, some roles have been made redundant in the UK during 2025 and the first half of 2026 as they are duplicated in other areas of the organisation. There is no impact at all on the UK business, most of the roles concerned being either duplicated or relocated roles. This is a seamless transition with no disruption to the Company’s high standards of service and collaboration.
This will allow the Company to reinvest in key areas, strengthen operations, and deliver even greater value to partners and customers worldwide.
The Company's individual shareholders have similar interests in a range of related companies. As these companies are under common control, transactions between Lycamobile UK Ltd and these companies are related party transactions. These are set out below:
Mr A Subaskaran owns 100% of the issued share capital of Lyca Group Holdings Limited which in turn owns 100% of the issued shares of Lyca Finance Limited and Lycamobile Holdings Limited.
During the year, the Company made a donation of £1,080,882 (2023: £401,588) to Gnanam Foundation.
Lycatel (Ireland) Limited, Lycatel Services Limited, Switchware Limited, Lyca Media II Limited and Lycatelcom Lda are wholly owned subsidiaries of WWW Holding Company Limited in which Mr A Subaskaran owns 98.4% of the issued share capital directly and the remaining 1.6% indirectly through Lyca Group Holdings Limited.
Mrs. P. Subaskaran and her children are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Samra Trust, a Jersey-incorporated entity that owns Cyprus-registered Salinasco Holdings Limited, which owns 100% of the issued share capital of Lycamobile USA Inc, Lycamobile Switzerland Limited, Lycamobile Belgium Limited, Lycamobile Norway Limited, Lycamobile Norway Nuf, Lycamobile Denmark Limited, Lycamobile Ireland Ltd, Lycamobile Denmark ApS, Lycamobile sp z.o.o, Lycamobile SRL (Romania), Mr A Subaskaran owns 98.5% (1.5% of issued share capital through Lyca Group Holdings Limited ) of the issued share capital of Lycatel Distribution UK Limited, Docklands Data Centre Ltd, Lyca Health Limited.
Mr A Subskaran also owns 98.5% of the issued capital of and Thames Quay Properties Holdings Limited, which in turn owns 100% of the share capital of Thames Quay Properties III Ltd. Thames Quay Properties III owns Thames Quay Properties Limited, which in turn owns 100% of the share capital of Thames Quay Properties II Limited
Mr. A. Subaskaran and his children are the ultimate beneficiaries of the Albena and Ceuta Trust, incorporated in Cyprus, which owns 100% issued share capital of Agadirco Holdings Limited, which in turns own 100% of issued share capital of Catalinaco Holdings Limited (both also incorporated in Cyprus). Catalinaco Holdings Limited directly owns 100% of the issued share capital of Pettigo Comércio Internacional Lda (a company registered in Portugal- formerly known as Hastings Trading E Servicos Lda)
Pettigo Comércio Internacional Lda owns 100% of the issued share capital of U Can Fly Limited and Onestopsim Lda. Pettigo Comércio Internacional Lda also owns 63.05% of the issued share capital of Lycatel BPO Pvt Ltd (a company registered in India) and 99.99% of the issued share capital of Lyca Digital Pvt Ltd (a company registered in India). Also, Pettigo Comércio Internacional Lda owns 100% of the issued share capital of Proton Global Investments Limited (a company registered in the United Arab Emirates) which holds 60% of ordinary share capital of Plintron Holding Pte. Limited (a company registered in Singapore) which in turn owns Plintron Mobility Solutions Pvt Ltd (a company registered in India, formerly known as Plintron Gobal Technologies Pvt Ltd
Gnanam Properties Limited is owned by Mr and Mrs Subaskaran. The director of Switchware Limited and the director Lycatel Property Services Limited jointly own Anglo-Indian Beverage Limited.The director of Lycatel Distribution UK limited owns Universal Marketing Services SUARL.
Mr A Subaskaran also owns 61% of the issued share capital of Lycatech Services Pvt Limited (Formerly known a Plintron Technologies Pvt Limited, a company registered in India).
During the period, the Company purchased airtime from Lycatelcom Lda for its termination of international minutes. In addition, management fees were received or paid to Lycatelcom Lda for its administrative support and IT support service. Outsourced support service fees were charged by Lycatel BPO Pvt Ltd for its back-office function. Network operational support service fees were charged by Plintron Mobility Solutions Pvt Ltd for managing its telecom switches and network. Switching maintenance support service fees were charged by Lycatech Services Pvt Ltd, marketing support service fees were charged by Lycatel Distribution UK Limited for its outdoor branding of products, Digital marketing fees were charged by Lyca Digital Pvt, marketing fees were charged by Lycamedia II Ltd and Lyca Media Limited, space rental was charged by Docklands Data Centre Ltd for its telecom equipment location, travel management fees were charged by U Can Fly Ltd for its business related travel by employees, rent was charged by Gnanam Properties Limited, printing & marketing materials were provided by Lycatel Services Limited and annual rent was charged by Thames Quay Properties II Ltd for its office supplies.
During the period the Company made administrative and telecom equipment & network provider support services and termination of airtime to Lycatelecom Lda, administrative support to Pettigo Comercio International, Lda and WWW Holding Company Limited. The Company also recharged specific expenses to Lycatel Services Limited.
During the year, the Company made sales of sim cards to OneStopsim LDA.
The Company granted loans to Mr. A Subaskaran and to parties associated to Mr. A Subaskaran. The terms of the loans and the balances are disclosed in note 14.
During the period the Company outsourced all of the administrative and support services to Lycatelecom Lda, a company with common directors and shareholders.
During the year the Company exchanged funds with various entities, which are summarised below.
As a part of its year-end procedures, the Company performed an assessment of the recoverability of the amounts due from its related companies. An intercompany and related party receivable is assessed at the reporting date to determine whether there is objective evidence that it is impaired. Intercompany and related party receivable assets are impaired if there is objective evidence indicating that a loss event has occurred after the initial recognition of the assets. As a result of the assessment of recoverability of intercompany balances, £19.17m (2023: £41.3m) of impairment losses recognised against intercompany receivables during the year, details of which are shown in the following table.
A summary of the transactions with the related parties during the current and prior period is below: