Final Results

RNS Number : 1411H
Safestay PLC
30 July 2021
 

30 July 2021

 

Safestay plc

 

("Safestay", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Final Results for the year Ended 31 December 2020

 

Safestay (AIM: SSTY), the owner and operator of an international brand of contemporary hostels, is pleased to announce its Final Results for the 12 months to 31 December 2020.

 

 

2020 Financial highlights

· Government enforced trading restrictions due to Covid-19, meant the Group's 18 hostels were closed for 56% of 2020, reflecting this, total revenues decreased by 74% to £4.8 million (2019: £18.4 million)

· 38% occupancy achieved over the period when the hostels were open (2019: 77%)

· Adjusted EBITDA loss of £2.0 million (2019: £6.1 million)

· Loss before tax of £10.1 million (2019: loss of £0.6 million)

· Loss per share 11.88p (2019: loss of 1.48p)

· In 2019, additions to goodwill were overstated by £368k due to a historic consolidation entry posted to correct an apparent error in opening reserves. This error has been provisionally corrected by restating opening retained earnings at 1 January 2019. This temporary correcting entry to reserves has resulted in a qualification of the 2020 audit report. There has been no impact on net assets reported in 2019, or the results reported for that year.

 

2020 Operational highlights

· Acquired and opened 3 properties in the tourist cities of Athens, Bratislava and Warsaw in January

· Completed the renovation of the Brussels property and increased the capacity to 185 beds in February

· Completed the conversion of the Glasgow hotel into a 251 bed hostel in March

· In response to the pandemic, hostel cost base was reduced by 50% by November

· Monthly cash burn reduced to £0.35 million since November 2020 to mitigate the impact of the latest lockdowns

· The £5 million overdraft agreed in March 2020 with HSBC was converted into a £5 million CBILS in December 2020

 

 

Post-year end - 2021 year to date highlights

· Leasehold in the Barcelona Sea hostel sold on 26 February 2021 for £0.8 million

· Completed sale of the 150-year lease interest in the Edinburgh hostel on 30 June 2021 for £16.0 million

· Combined hostel sales will enable the Group to reduce borrowings by 35% and have sufficient capital to support the Group's transition back to being fully operational

· In July, the bank debt was reduced to £18m, and the Group had cash balances of £6.3m

· Re-opening of the hostels began in May, currently 16 hostels are now trading with the remaining 2 hostels scheduled to open in the summer

 

Larry Lipman, Chairman of the Company, commenting on the results said:

"2020 was an extraordinary year which brought the global travel industry to a near standstill. For Safestay, our hostels closed for more than seven months which is clearly reflected in our trading performance. Like others, our focus switched to first protecting the business and then securing the capital to enable the business to re-emerge strongly. In this we have been successful, through first substantially reducing our cost base, taking advantage of government grants and renegotiating rental terms with our landlords. As a result, our monthly fixed costs reduced from £1.0 million to £0.35 million. More recently, we completed the sale of two assets to raise £16.8 million giving us sufficient capital to compete strongly for when the market recovers, and new opportunities arise."

 

Enquiries

Safestay plc 

+44 (0) 20 8815 1600

Larry Lipman

 

 

 

Liberum Capital Limited

 

(Nominated Adviser and Broker)

+44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Andrew Godber/Edward Thomas

 

 

Novella

 

+44 (0) 20 3151 7008

Tim Robertson

 

Fergus Young

 

 

For more information visit our:

Website www.safestay.com

Vox Markets page https://www.voxmarkets.co.uk/company/SSTY/news/

Instagram page www.instagram.com/safestayhostels/

 

 

 

Chairman's Statement

 

Introduction

Our results for the year to 31 December 2020 reflect the exceptional circumstances our industry has faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our strategy at the outset of 2020 was to continue the expansion of our portfolio and capitalise on the economies of scale available from our growing network of hostels. We pursued this strategy successfully in the first 2 months of 2020 with the opening of 3 new properties in Athens, Bratislava and Warsaw and saw sales increase by 28%. However, from March 2020 onwards, the pandemic began to impact the business which necessitated a change in short term strategy.

Response to COVID-19

On average our hostels were open for just 44% of 2020. They were first closed in April 2020 when lockdowns began in the cities where Safestay operates. The Group re-opened in Berlin on 26 May 2020, in Vienna on 10 June 2020, and all other hostels re-opened by 28 August, except for London Kensington Holland Park and Barcelona Gothic hostels, locations where the Group operates more than one property.

Operational procedures were fully adapted to the new safety protocols and standards to keep both customers and employees safe. Occupancy gradually increased week after week in July and August. However, the second wave of lockdowns led to the commercial decision to close all hostels from November 2020 and only in May 2021 did the reopening programme begin.

The majority of our hostel staff have been furloughed, receiving financial support from the governments in their respective countries and the Company has taken advantage of government reliefs where available. Operational costs associated with the running of the individual sites and our head office have been greatly reduced. Individual agreements have been reached with landlords involving a mix of suspension of rents or rent reductions for a limited period. In total the rental cash charge was reduced by £1.4 million in 2020. In addition, from October 2020 the directors and management agreed to reduce salaries by 40%. As a combined result of all these actions, the monthly fixed cost base of the Group has been significantly lowered from £1.0 million to approximately £0.6 million during the first lockdown and to £0.35m since November 2020.

The Company agreed an additional £5.0 million overdraft from HSBC in the first weeks of the crisis in April 2020. This overdraft was subsequently converted into a £5.0 million government backed CBILS loan in November 2020 providing a longer-term funding structure, reflecting the longer-term impact of the pandemic.

Our hostels commenced re-opening in May 2021 with the initial focus on serving individual domestic customers while demand from groups and international travel remain limited. Safety protocols which had already been successfully implemented and tested during the summer after the first lockdown, are still in place in compliance with local regulations in each country where Safestay operates.

Financial Results

AIM Regulation granted an extension to the 2020 annual reporting deadline beyond 30 June 2021. A delay occurred as additional time was required to complete audit work due to COVID related challenges, mainly resource availability, and completion of technical matters to finalise the audit.

During the audit of the 2020 accounts, it was highlighted that an error in goodwill, reported in 2019, had been identified which was associated with the 2015 Edinburgh hostel acquisition, just before we completed the disposal of the Hostel in June 2021, for a consideration in excess of the carrying value in the accounts. Management have temporarily posted the adjustment against opening retained earnings at 1 January 2019 and have restated the previously reported goodwill balance accordingly. Management will identify the source of this error during the year ended 31 December 2021 and will make any correcting accounting entries that may be required. However, management are satisfied that the error does not affect net assets reported at 31 December 2019 or the loss for that year.

Based on 5 years of audited accounts from Grant Thornton UK LLP, aside from the basis of qualification, the board are satisfied that the integrity of the underlying books and accounts of its subsidiary undertakings remain robust, and that the balances relating to the qualification arise from an error in the consolidation workings, that will be eliminated in 2021 with the accounting for the disposal of the Edinburgh Hostel.

Revenue

Group revenue for the financial year ended 31 December 2020, decreased by 74% to £4.8 million (2019: 18.4 million). The revenue in 2020 does not include the £0.8 million of grants received from governments and local authorities in all locations where Safestay operates, which are reported separately, in administrative expenses for the £0.4 million payroll grants and as exceptional income for the £0.4 million other grants. 49% of the revenue came from non-UK properties (2019: 49%). The reduction in revenue was similar in the UK (-74%) and non-UK properties (-74%).

The reduction in revenue was consistent across all revenue streams. Room revenue reduced by 76% to £3.6 million (2019: £15.1 million) and Food & Beverage revenue as well as ancillary revenue were both down 70%, to £0.7 million (2019: £2.5 million) and £0.1 million (2019: £0.4 million) respectively. The rental income, mainly coming from the rooms let to the University of Edinburgh during the academic year, was stable at £0.4 million.

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA provides a key measure of performance. Adjusted EBITDA for the year to December 2020 was a £2.0 million loss (2019: £6.1 million profit). Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and rent charges in the period.

The Group implemented IFRS16 standard (Lease accounting) in 2019. Since the introduction, the charges relating to leaseholds changed where rental expenses were replaced with an interest charge and depreciation of the leased asset.

Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle leases were transitioned to IFRS16 along with other leaseholds and presented as such in the 2019 audited accounts. The accounting treatment of these leases were revisited as part of a review of the balance sheet, and it was identified the leases should be reclassified. In 2017, Safestay completed financing transactions on these two properties, raising gross cash proceeds of £12.6m. The sale was agreed with an institutional buyer in exchange for 150 year geared ground rent leases. The significant risks and rewards of ownership were retained, and the exercise to repurchase these properties is "almost certain". The contracts took the legal form of the sale and leasebacks. However, the economic substance of the original transactions in 2017 meant that both leases have historically been treated as owned by Safestay. Therefore, the transactions should continue to be accounted for as owned, and the liabilities reported as financial liabilities.

To reflect both Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle financing arrangements in the accounts correctly, there has been a reclassification from the Right of Use assets to leasehold land and buildings, and the Lease Liabilities to property refinancing transactions in Borrowings. On reclassification, there is nil impact on the Consolidated Income Statement and the key performance indicators of the Group. The Adjusted EBITDA below for 2019 was restated to reclassify the depreciation on Edinburgh and Elephant and Castle from Right of Use depreciation to assets under finance lease depreciation. Therefore, there is nil impact on the statement of changes in equity.

Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

 

2020

£'000

Restated

2019

£'000

Operating Profit after exceptional expenses

(7,334)

1,923

Add back:

 

 

Restated Depreciation

1,541

1,185

Restated Right of use depreciation

2,459

2,139

Amortisation

199

189

Impairment

1,491

-

Exceptional expenses

261

585

Rent forgiveness

(904)

-

Share based payment expense

280

34

Adjusted EBITDA

(2,007)

6,055

Rent

(2,844)

(3,242)

EBITDA

(4,851)

2,813

 

The exceptional expenses totalled £0.3 million and included costs in relation to acquisitions made in 2020, and debt fees write off due to re-financing.

Share-based provision was increased partly due to salary replacement with share options during COVID-19.

Following the acquisition of a leasehold in Berlin in 2019 and 3 leaseholds in Athens, Bratislava and Warsaw in 2020, the annual rent charge would have increased from £3.2 million in 2019 to £3.8 million in 2020 in absence of the £0.9 million rent reduction negotiated with the landlords between April and December 2020.

Finance Costs

Finance costs in 2020 were £2.7 million (2019 (restated): £2.6 million) as follows:

 

 

Restated

 

2020

2019

Lease interests

1,558

1,448

Property financing costs

343

337

HSBC debt facility interests

625

589

Other finance charges

224

184

Finance costs

2,750

2,558

 

 

2019 Finance Costs has been restated on reclass of the property finance liabilities on Edinburgh and Elephant and Castle from Lease liabilities resulting in a transfer from Lease interests to Property financing costs.

On 13 January 2020, the Group completed the renewal of its debt facility with HSBC. The £17.9 million facility which was agreed for 5 years in April 2017 for an original amount of £18.4 million, was replaced with a new facility of £22.9 million for 5 years until 2025. The increase was secured against the re-valuation of the London Elephant & Castle property completed in September 2019 for £26.8 million versus £16.0 million when it was last valued in 2017. The terms are similar to the previous facility, with interest cost of 2.45% + LIBOR and the same covenants as before. The impact of the increase in the capital on the interest charge in 2020 was partly offset with the reduction in LIBOR from 0.82% in 2019 to 0.38% in 2020.

The £5.0 million government backed CBILS loan was secured for 6 years on 16 December 2020, to replace the £5.0 million overdraft which was temporarily agreed in April 2020 with HSBC at the start of the pandemic. It is interest free in the first year, increasing to 3.9% + base rate from year 2.

In addition, the Company received two government backed loans in Germany (£0.2 million) and Austria (£0.3 million).

Since the introduction of IFRS 16 from 1 January 2019, our hostel leases have been accounted for as lease liabilities. At the lease commencement date, the Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet. The rental charge is replaced with interest and depreciation. In 2020, the finance costs include £1.5 million of lease interest (2019: £1.4 million), of which £0.1 million interest charge relates to the 3 additional leases signed in January 2020 (Athens, Bratislava and Warsaw).  The £0.9 million reduction negotiated with our landlords in 2020 was treated as a rent forgiveness in administrative expenses in full in 2020.

Earnings per Share

Basic loss per share for the year ended 31 December 2020 was 11.88p (2019: loss 1.48p) based on the weighted number of shares, 64,679,014 (2019: 64,679,014) in issue during the year.

The Company made a £7.7 million net loss in 2020 (2019: £1.0 million).

Cash flow, capital expenditure and debt

Net cash generated from operations was (£4.3) million (2019: £5.2 million). The £13.6 million reduction in income from the hostels was partly offset by a £5.9 million reduction in costs, net of grant income. The hostel and the majority of the central teams were furloughed during the lockdowns, and the head office cost structure has been significantly reduced since November 2020 when the directors and senior management agreed to reduce their salary by 40%. The rental charge was reduced by £1.4 million via a mix of reduction (£0.9 million) and deferments (£0.5 million). In addition, all capital expenditure has been stopped from March 2020.

The Group had cash balances of £2.1 million at 31 December 2020 (2019: £3 million).

Completed Acquisitions in 2020:

· £1.3 million was invested in January in the acquisition of a leasehold of an existing 132 bed hostel in Athens.

· £0.7 million was invested in January in the acquisition of two entities in Slovakia and Poland which owned the leaseholds of an existing 124 bed hostel in Bratislava and an existing 158 bed hostel in Warsaw respectively. These entities were both acquired from the same owner, Dream Management Group Ltd. As part of the transaction, the Company repaid 2 external debts for a total of £1.7 million.

The 3 leases are capitalised in our balance sheet under IFRS 16 and have increased the total lease liability by £3.2 million. All 3 hostels were in a good condition and could be converted to the Safestay brand immediately with no additional work.

The Group completed the renovation of the Brussel property in February 2020 for £0.3 million, taking the opportunity to increase its capacity to 185 beds.

The 51 bedroom hotel which was acquired in Glasgow in 2019 was renovated and converted into a 251 bed hostel in March 2020 for £0.4 million.

In 2019 the Group had started a programme of renovation, which included the renovation of our hostels in Lisbon, Barcelona Passeig de Gracia and Barcelona Gothic, all completed by March 2020. From March 2020, all investment projects were paused and will be reconsidered when the Group has clarity on the hostel re-opening dates, booking levels and availability of funding. This includes the conversion of the 32 Bedroom hotel in Berlin into a 200 bed hostel.

Outstanding bank debt as at 31 December 2020 was £28 million (2019: £17.7 million). This includes a £22.9 million loan with HSBC (2019: £17.9 million), minus the £0.3 million amortised loan fees (2019: £0.2 million), the £5.0 million government backed CBILS loan received in December 2020, and the 2 government backed loans received via our local entities in Germany and Vienna for £0.2 million and £0.3 million respectively.  The lease liabilities amount to £38.6 million (2019: £35.9 million). The liabilities were increased by £3.2 million when the Company acquired 3 leases in Athens, Warsaw and Bratislava in January 2020, and by £1.3 million following the 5 year lease extension agreed for our hostel in Madrid. In addition, the Company benefited from rent forgiveness for £0.9 million in the period.   

The gearing ratio (exclusive of lease liabilities and property financing transactions) has increased from 52% in 2019 to 99% in 2020 following the £10.3 million increase in loans and the £7.3 million decrease in Equity. Subsequent to the year end, following the sale of Edinburgh, the gearing ratio dropped to 73%. The HSBC debt covenants are waived until June 2021, and then adjusted until September 2022 to reflect the current trading performances of the Group.

Net asset value per share reduced to 44p (2019: 55p) as a result of the net loss reported in 2020.

Despite the material uncertainty resulting from the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting travel restrictions and ability to meet bank covenants, the directors believe the existing cash and facilities in place and the £16.0 million proceeds from the Edinburgh disposal, will allow them to continue as a going concern. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going-concern basis in preparing the Company's financial statements.

2020 Qualification

• In 2019, additions to goodwill were overstated by £368k due to a historic consolidation entry posted to correct an apparent error in opening reserves. The original goodwill related to the acquisition of Edinburgh hostel acquisition completed in 2015.

• Management have investigated this error and their findings, to date, and not yet identified sufficient evidence to support the correcting entries required. They have, however, determined that the error does not affect the net assets reported at the end of 2019 or the loss for the year either. Management has, therefore, concluded that the error must relate to earlier periods.

• Management have temporarily posted the adjustment against opening retained earnings at 1 January 2019 and have restated the previously reported goodwill balance accordingly. Management will identify the source of this error during the year ended 31 December 2021 and will make any correcting accounting entries that may be required.

• In view of the material nature of the temporary adjustment, our independent auditors, Grant Thornton UK LLP, have modified their audit opinion because of this.

• As a post balance sheet event, Safestay disposed of Edinburgh for £16m in consideration, significantly more than book value, and all balances relating to Safestay Edinburgh will be subsequently disposed of in 2021 financial statements.

Operational Review

2020 was a frustrating year in many respects especially considering the strong sales momentum being generated across the network up until February 2020 when COVID-19 started to impact the world economy and the travel industry even more so. Until then we had successfully demonstrated that the Safestay model, which was originally developed in the UK, is well suited to the whole of the European market and that we could establish a profitable site in multiple locations.

Safestay is positioned at the premium end of the hostel market and the service offer is of a high standard. In 2019, the Group began a renovation programme to maintain these standards. Once the business returns to normal we expect to re-commence this programme which supports our ability to maintain the Company's premium positioning and guest satisfaction scores in excess of 80 (out of 100).

We have reopened 16 out of 18 properties, and there is naturally a relatively gradual build up in activity. Fortunately, the business is flexible, and we have returned staff from furlough as momentum is building. Our main concern is that once the business reopens it remains open.

Critical to our re-opening plan was our digital marketing team and together with investment into our company website and booking engines, we are targeting individual travellers where we expect most of the initial demand to come from as larger Groups are unlikely to come back in the short term. Ultimately, we are still targeting a revenue split of 40% from a broad range of group bookings, 20% from direct individual bookings and 40% through Online Travel Agencies ('OTAs'). Thereby spreading our revenue generation beyond OTA's to the higher margin direct and group bookings.

Following the last acquisitions in Bratislava, Athens and Warsaw, the Group has built a unique network in Europe which provides the opportunity to offer young travellers and groups visiting Europe, accommodation in multiple cities in one packaged deal. In addition, it provides Safestay with a natural hedge against currency and economic volatility.

The Board

Peter Harvey joined the board as CFO and Company secretary on 21 May 2021. Peter brings with him many years' experience in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors, from both listed and private organisations. His extensive experience in our sector, not only as a CFO but also as a commercial and operational leader will be of great benefit to Safestay as we re-open our hostels and resume our expansion plans. Hervé Deligny has decided to step down from the position of Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary and I would like to thank him, on behalf of the Board, for his contribution over the last 3 years to support the growth of the Company and secure its financial position during the Pandemic. 

Outlook

Safestay has been at the forefront of the modernisation of the hostel market over the last 5 years. Our strategy is to offer a comfortable and safe stay in beautiful, often iconic buildings that are centrally located, in well-known and popular cities but still with a bed rate of around just £20. This has proven to be a successful formula and one which we believe will continue to appeal to our customer base again once the world gets past the current crisis.

From a financial perspective, following the successful sale of the Barcelona and Edinburgh hostels, this has facilitated a 35% reduction in Group borrowings as well as providing us sufficient cash to reset our hostels and re-engage as restrictions lift. Our hostels are now nearly all open and while it is early days we can see a clear path to returning to normality.

 

 

Larry Lipman

Chairman

30 July 2021


Safestay plc

Consolidated Income Statement

Year ended 31 December 2020

 

 

 

Note

2020

£'000

2019

£'000

Revenue

2

4,831

18,379

Cost of sales 

3

(892)

(2,875)

Gross profit

 

3,939

15,504

Administrative expenses

4

(11,460)

(12,996)

Operating profit before exceptional items

 

(7,521)

2,508

Exceptional items - other operating income

4

448

-

Exceptional items - costs

4

(261)

(585)

Operating profit after exceptional items

 

(7,334)

1,923

Finance costs

5

(2,750)

(2,558)

Loss before tax

 

(10,084)

(635)

Tax

7

2,403

(325)

Loss for the financial year attributable to owners of the parent company

 

 

 

(7,681)

 

(960)

 

 



Basic and diluted loss per share

8

(11.88p)

(1.48p)

 

 

There is no difference between the diluted loss per share and the basic loss per share presented. Due to the loss incurred in the year the effect of the share options in issue is anti-dilutive.

The revenue and operating result for the period is derived from continuing operations in the United Kingdom and Europe.

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.


Safestay plc

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Year ended 31 December 2020

 

 

 

 

2020

£'000

Restated

2019

£'000

 

 

 

 

Loss for the year

 

(7,681)

(960)

Other comprehensive income:

Items that will be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss

 

 

 

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

 

(4)

(47)

Property revaluation

 

-

9,253

Total comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year  attributable to owners of the parent company

 

 

(7,685)

8,246

 

 

 

The accompanying accounting policies and notes form an integral part of these financial statements.

The £9.253m property revaluation relates to the leasehold land and buildings in relation to the London Elephant & Castle hostel which was revalued for £9.253m in 2019. The revaluation adjustment was accounted for in revaluation reserve as at 31 December 2019 but was incorrectly not included in the statement of comprehensive Income in 2019. As such the 2019 statement of comprehensive income has been restated in respect of this amount. There is a corresponding adjustment in the statement of changes in equity to reflect the correct classification of the £9.253m in other comprehensive income


Safestay plc 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

31 December 2020 

 

 

Note

 

2020

£'000

Restated

2019

£'000

Restated

1 Jan 2019

£'000

Non-current assets

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment (including right of use asset)

10

89,735

87,366

47,522

Intangible assets

11

921

1,084

1,268

Goodwill

11

13,569

12,235

10,506

Deferred tax asset

17

2,159

-

-

Total non-current assets

 

106,384

100,685

59,296

Current assets

 

 



Stock

 

47

85

45

Trade and other receivables

12

1,884

1,408

832

Current tax asset

 

289

-

1

Cash and cash equivalents

13

2,125

2,954

9,859

Total current assets

 

4,345

4,447

10,737

Total assets

 

110,729

105,132

70,033

Current liabilities

 

 



Restated Borrowings

15

311

267

343

Restated Lease liabilities

16

1,932

1,660

38

Trade and other payables

14

3,008

2,602

1,890

Current liabilities

 

5,251

4,529

2,271

Non-current liabilities

 

 



Restated Borrowings

15

40,043

29,638

28,825

Restated Lease liabilities

16

36,648

34,244

10,123

Deferred tax liabilities

17

-

105

105

Trade and other payables due in more than one year

14

336

767

1,140

Total non-current liabilities

 

77,027

64,754

40,193

Total liabilities

 

82,278

69,283

42,464

Net assets

 

28,451

35,849

27,569

Equity

 

 



Share capital

18

647

647

647

Share premium account

18

23,904

23,904

23,904

Other components of equity

18

16,387

16,104

6,864

Retained earnings

 

(12,487)

(4,806)

(3,846)

Total equity attributable to owners of the parent company

 

28,451

35,849

27,569


2018 and 2019 have been restated to reflect the reclassification of the Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle property financing transactions from Lease liabilities to Borrowings. Please see note 15 and 16 for details of the impact on the statement of financial position.

The impact on 2018;

• A increase in current lease liabilities of £10k and a decrease in current borrowings of £10k

• A reduction in non-current lease liabilities of £11.053m and an increase in non-current borrowings of £11.053m

• There is nil impact on the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity or net asset position

The impact on 2019;

• A increase in current lease liabilities of £12k and a decrease in current borrowings of £12k

• A reduction in non-current lease liabilities of £12.239m and an increase in non-current borrowings of £12.239m

• There is nil impact on the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity or net asset position

Restatement of goodwill

In 2019, additions to goodwill were overstated by £368k due to a historic consolidation entry posted to correct an apparent error in opening reserves. Please refer to note 11 for more information.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 30 July 2021.

Signed on behalf of the Board of Directors 

 

Larry Lipman


Safestay plc

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

31 December 2020 


Share

Capital

 

 

£'000

Share

premium account

 

£'000

Other

Components of

Equity

Re-stated

£'000

Retained earnings

Restated

 

£'000

Total

equity

 

 

£'000

Balance as at 1 January 2019 as previously reported

647

23,904

6,221

(2,836)

27,936

Restatement (adjustment 1)

-

-

643

(642)

1

Restatement goodwill adjustment (adjustment 2)

-

-

-

(368)

(368)

Balance as at 1 January 2019 Restated

647

23,904

6,864

(3,846)

27,569

 






Comprehensive income






Loss for the year

-

-

-

(960)

(960)

Other comprehensive income






Restated revaluation reserve (adjustment 3)

-

-

9,253

-

9,253

Movement in translation reserve

-

-

(47)

-

(47)

Total comprehensive income

-

-

9,206

(960)

8,246

Transactions with owners






Share based payment charge for the period

-

-

34

-

34

Balance at 31 December 2019 restated

647

23,904

16,104

(4,806)

35,849

 






Balance at 31 December 2019 as previously reported

647

23.904

15,461

(3,795)

36,217

Effect of errors

-

-

643

(1,011)

(368)

Balance at 31 December 2019 restated

647

23,904

16,104

(4,806)

35,849

Loss for the year

-

-

-

(7,681)

(7,681)

Other comprehensive income






Movement in translation reserve

-

-

4

-

4

Total comprehensive loss

-

-

4

(7,681)

(7,677)

 






Transactions with owners






Share based payment charge for the period

-

-

279

-

279

Balance at 31 December 2020

647

23,904

16,387

(12,487)

28,451

     


Adjustment 1

In 2015, the Group acquired the trade and assets of the Smart City hostel in Blackfriars Street in Edinburgh, currently trading as Smart City Hostel by Safestay, Edinburgh. Transaction costs of £643k were incorrectly capitalized as part of the cost of the property, plant and equipment acquired rather than recognised as an expense through the application of the guidance set out in paragraph 53 of IFRS 3, 'Business Combinations'.

The effect of this error was to understate both the reported loss and total comprehensive expense for the period attributable to the owners of the parent for the year ended 31 December 2015 by £643k and overstate property, plant and equipment by the same amount.

In 2016, the property acquired in the above-mentioned business combination was revalued. The effect of the uncorrected error above meant that the revaluation movement reported in other comprehensive income and the corresponding increase in the revaluation reserve was understated by £643k for the year ended 31 December 2016.

This error has been corrected in these financial statements by a restatement of prior year balances. The effect of the correction has been to increase previously reported retained losses by £643k with a corresponding increase to the previously reported revaluation reserve.

Adjustment 2

In 2019, additions to goodwill were overstated by £368k due to a historic consolidation entry posted to correct an apparent error in opening reserves. Please refer to note 11 for more information.

Adjustment 3

The Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year has been restated above in respect of the property revaluation in 2019. This was included directly in the statement of changes in equity, as opposed to other comprehensive income. This has led to an increase in the total comprehensive income statement in respect of 2019 of £9.253m. This was incorrectly included in Transactions with owners and therefore has been restated above in 2019. This results in a decrease of £9.253m in the amounts included in transactions with owners and an increase in the other comprehensive income of £9.253m.

As a result of the retrospective restatements of Elephant and Castle and Edinburgh lease liabilities to property financing transactions in borrowings the property financing payments have been separated, and the principal lease payments in 2019 restated to reflect this.


Safestay plc

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Year ended 31 December 2020

 

 

Note

2020

£'000

2019

£'000 Restated

Operating activities

 

 

 

Cash generated from operations

20

(4,228)

5,445

Income tax paid

 

(119)

(217)

Net cash (used in)/generated from operations

 

(4,347)

5,228

Investing activities

 

 


Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(985)

(1,413)

Purchases of intangible assets

 

(36)

(24)

Acquisitions, net of cash acquired

24

(2,003)

(7,122)

Payment of deferred consideration

 

(509)

(395)

Net cash outflow from investing activities

 

(3,533)

(8,954)

Financing activities

 

 


Proceeds from refinancing transaction

 

5,681

-

Fees relating to financing transaction

 

(161)

-

Proceeds from property financing transaction

 

-

1,180

Proceeds from Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

 

5,000

-

Bank loans redeemed

 

-

(528)

Principal elements of lease payments (restated)

 

(2,514)

(2,917)

Property financing payments

 

(331)

(321)

Interest paid

 

(624)

(593)

Net cash generated from financing activities

 

7,051

(3,179)

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

 

2,954

9,859

Net increase /(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

 

(829)

(6,905)

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

13

2,125

2,954


1.   Accounting policies for the group and company FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Safestay plc is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and was incorporated and is domiciled in the UK.

The Group and Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standards in conformity with the requirements of the Company Act 2006.  

The financial statements have been presented in sterling, prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the revaluation of freehold properties and right of use assets.

The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout all periods presented in these financial statements. These accounting policies comply with each IFRS that is mandatory for accounting periods ending on 31 December 2020.

New standards and interpretations effective in the year

The Group has adopted the new accounting pronouncements which have become effective this year, and are as follows:

· IFRS16

The Group has adopted the amendment to IFRS 16 which provides lessees with an exemption from assessing whether a COVID-19-related rent concession is a lease modification.

Applying the practical expedient, the Group has recognised the rent forgiveness as a variable lease payment in accordance with IFRS 16. There is a corresponding adjustment to the lease liability, derecognising the part of the lease liability that has been forgiven, with the corresponding adjustment to operating expenses.

Where amounts have been deferred they do not extinguish the lessee's liability or substantially change the consideration of the lease. These have been accounted for as an increase in the accrual for the rent outstanding.

· IFRS 3: Business combination - amendment effective 1 January 2020

IFRS 3 establishes different accounting requirements for a business combination as opposed to the acquisition of an asset or a group of assets that does not constitute a business. Business combinations are accounted for by applying the acquisition method, which, among other things, may give rise to goodwill. In contrast, when accounting for asset acquisitions, the acquirer allocates the transaction price to the individual identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their relative fair values and no goodwill is recognised. Therefore, whether an acquired set of activities and assets is a business, is a key consideration in determining how the transaction should be accounted for. The amendments made to the IFRS 3 are set out to clarify the definition of a business. The amendment also adds an optional concentration test that allows a simplified assessment of whether an acquired set of activities and assets is not a business.

Acquisitions made in the 12 months to December 2020 have been treated as business combinations under the amended IFRS 3 standard (Note 24).

 

 

 

Going concern

The Company is reporting a significant loss in 2020 when the business was severely impacted by the pandemic and the hostels on average have been open for just 44% of the year. Travel restrictions and local lockdowns are still impacting some of the countries where the Company operates in Europe. As a result of these events, a material uncertainty exists that may cast significant doubt regarding the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.

However, the Group's strategy to develop and expand the premium hostel offering provided by the Group within the UK and through its European acquisitions had proved successful until February 2020 and we expect that the Company will start generating cash from its operation when restrictions are lifted in 2021, and the travel industry recovers in 2022.

The directors have reviewed the measures implemented by management to reduce the cash burn of the Company since the start of the outbreak. The monthly fixed cost base was reduced from £1.0 million to £0.6 million during the first lockdown in the second quarter of 2020, and further reduced to £0.35 million since the second wave of lockdowns were introduced in November 2020. These reductions are the results of the combined impact of the following actions implemented by management during this period:

· The Company has taken advantage of the employment support governmental schemes in all jurisdictions where they were available, including the job retention scheme in the UK and similar schemes in the 10 other countries where Safestay operates hostels.

· Variable operational costs in the hostels were mechanically reduced to zero with the absence of revenue. The fixed operational costs, exclusive of insurance, rent and property taxes, were reduced to £0.15 million during the first lockdown and to less than £0.1 million since November 2020 until hostels reopened. The Company maintains a minimum level of spend in safety, utilities and maintenance to keep the properties in a good condition whilst they are closed.

· The Company has benefited from business rates reliefs for the 5 hostels operated in the UK since April 2020. This scheme is extended with full relief until end of June 2021 and will continue will a 66% relief until March 2022.

· The Company has liaised with landlords to obtain a £0.9 million rent reduction for the period April to December 2020. In addition, the landlords have agreed to defer £0.5 million in rent which will be repaid in majority after 2022. In total, the rental cash payments have reduced by 50% on average per month since April 2020.

· Operating costs in the head office have reduced by 50% to adjust the team and spend to this unprecedented context. This includes a 40% reduction in salaries for Directors and senior management in exchange for share options since October 2020.

The Company received £16.0 million proceeds from the disposal of the Edinburgh hostel which completed on 30 June 2021. Following completion, the £1 million overdraft facility was removed, and £10 million of HSBC debt was repaid. The cash in bank was £6.3 million on 19 July 2021.

Since the start of the Pandemic, management has continuously updated and adjusted the cash forecast for the next months. The most recent forecast prepared in April 2021 for the period to 31 December 2022, assumes as a base case that the hostels would start to operate again from June 2021 in the UK and from July 2021 in the other locations. Under the base case scenario, it is expected that the hostels will operate at a level which will be reduced by 57% in in the second half of 2021 and 10% in 2022 when compared to the revenue achieved in similar periods pre-COVID 19. This reflects the expectation of a slow recovery of the tourism market in general, and the need to implement social distancing and cleaning measures in all properties in the months following the lock down. The additional costs resulting from the implementation of the new safety requirements in the hostels were factored into the budget. Under such assumptions, the Company expects that the cash reserve will stay above £2.0 million until end of 2022 reflecting the Edinburgh sale that completed in June 2021. The sensitivity of the model is such that each 1% variation in the annual revenue versus the base case has a maximum impact of 130k on the annual cash flow, when assuming no reduction in the fixed costs in the same period.

Management has also prepared a worst-case scenario whereby hostels would not re-open. In this scenario, the Company would have a funding shortfall from July 2022.

Both the base case and the worst-case scenarios were built on the assumption that the disposal of Edinburgh which completed in June 2021.

The covenants of the existing debt facility were waived since June 2020. From June 2021 they are adjusted and replaced with adjusted EBITDA targets reflecting the current performances of the hostels since the first lockdown in April 2020. They will revert to the contractual covenants from September 2022 when it is expected that the Group will have enough trading history from the re-opening of the hostels in July 2021 to meet the 12 month historic Interest Cover (ICR) and Debt Service Cover (DSCR) ratios. Although the Company will meet its adjusted EBITDA targets and covenants under the base case scenario, a reduction of 10% in the sales versus base case would trigger a breach in the adjusted EBITDA target test from June 2022 and the DSCR historic ratio from September 2022. A reduction of 20% in the revenue versus base case would trigger a breach in the adjusted EBITDA target test from December 2021. It is expected that the Company would be able to adjust the targets with the bank to prevent a contractual breach if the business continued to be impacted with the travel restrictions beyond the conservative assumptions used in the base case. However, the ability to renegotiate these covenants is not certain.

Despite the material uncertainty resulting from the impact of COVID-19 and the resulting travel restrictions and ability to meet bank covenants, the directors believe the existing cash and facilities in place and the £16.0 million proceeds from the Edinburgh disposal, will allow them to continue as a going concern. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going-concern basis in preparing the Company's financial statements.

Operating segments

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision maker. The chief operating decision makers (CODM), who are responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, have been identified as the executive directors. Currently the operating segments are the operation of hostel accommodation in the UK and Europe. An additional geographical area has been identified in respect of Spain as disclosed in note 2.

Revenue

To determine whether to recognise revenue, the Group follows a 5-step process in accordance with IFRS 15

-  Identifying the contract with a customer

-  Identifying the performance obligations

-  Determining the transaction price

-  Allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations

-  Recognising revenue when/as performance obligation(s) are satisfied.

 

Revenue is stated net of VAT and comprises revenues from overnight hostel accommodation, the sale of ancillary goods and services such as food & beverage and merchandise. Accommodation and the sale of ancillary goods and services is recognised when provided.

Accommodation and the sale of ancillary goods and services is recognised when provided.

Income from the rent of student accommodation is recognised on a straight-line basis over the academic year to which the rent relates. In accordance with IFRS 16, the group accounts for its subleases as operating leases as they do not transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee.

The group recognises income from lease payments from operating leases as income on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract.

The sale of ancillary goods comprises sales of food, beverages, and merchandise.

Deferred income comprises deposits received from customers to guarantee future bookings of accommodation. This is recognised as revenue once the bed has been occupied.

There are no significant judgements or estimations made in calculating and recognising revenue.

Revenue is not materially accrued or deferred between one accounting period and the next.

Government Grants

Monetary resources transferred to the Company by government, government agencies or similar bodies are recognised at fair value, when the Company is certain that the grant will be received. Grants will be recognised in the profit and loss account on a systematic basis, over the same period during which the expenses, for which the grant was intended to compensate, are recognised.

Grants relating to employee costs are disclosed in Staff Costs, note 9 of the accounts. Other grants are disclosed in Exceptional Items shown in note 4 of the accounts.

Exceptional Items

The Group separately discloses on the face of the Income Statement items of income or expense which nature or amount would, without separate disclosure, distort the reporting of the underlying business.

Taxation

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax. The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the statement of financial position date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the statement of financial position liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets are reviewed at each statement of financial position 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 based on tax losses enacted or substantively enacted at the statement of financial position date. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited in other comprehensive income, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in other comprehensive income.

Foreign currency translation

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group's entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates ('the functional currency').  The consolidated financial statements are presented in Sterling which is the Company's functional currency.

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are generally recognised in profit and loss. They are deferred in equity if they relate to qualifying cash flow hedges, qualifying net investment hedges or are attributable to part of the investment in a foreign operation.

Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowings are presented in the statement of profit or loss within finance costs. All other exchange gains and losses are presented in the statement of profit or loss within administrative expenses.

Non-monetary items that are measured at fair-value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when fair-value was determined. Translation differences on assets or liabilities carried at fair-value are reported as part of the fair-value gain or loss.

The results and financial position of foreign operations that have a functional currency different to the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

· assets and liabilities for each statement of financial position are translated using the closing rate at the date of that statement of financial position.

· income and expenses for each statement of profit or loss and statement of comprehensive income are translated at average exchange rates.

· All resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income.

 

Goodwill and fair-value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign operation are treated as the assets and liabilities of the foreign operation and translated at the closing rate.

Business combinations

Acquisitions of subsidiaries and businesses are accounted using the acquisition method. The consideration transferred in a business combination is measured at fair value, which is calculated as the sum of the acquisition-date fair values of assets transferred by the Group, liabilities incurred by the Group to former owners of the acquire and the equity interest issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquire.  Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred.

At the acquisition date, the identifiable assets acquired, and liabilities assumed are recognised at their fair value at the acquisition date.

Deferred Consideration

Deferred payments made in relation to acquisitions of subsidiaries and business are accounted for their discounted value in trade and other payable. Any difference between the discounted value and the cash consideration at the time of the payment, is recognised as an interest charge in the income statement.

Property, plant and equipment

Freehold property and Lease assets are stated at fair value and revalued periodically in accordance with IAS 16 Property Plant and Equipment. Valuation surpluses and deficits arising in the period are included in other comprehensive income. All other property, plant and equipment are recognised at historical cost less depreciation and are depreciated over their useful lives. The applicable useful lives are as follows:

Fixtures, fittings and equipment  3-5 years

Freehold properties  50 years

Leasehold properties  50 years or term of lease if shorter

Land is not depreciated.

 

Leasehold land and buildings relate to Property from financing transactions in relation to Safestay Elephant and Castle and Safestay Edinburgh Hostel. In 2017, Safestay completed financing transactions on these two properties, raising gross cash proceeds of £12.6m. The sale was agreed with an institutional buyer in exchange for 150 year geared ground rent leases. The significant risks and rewards of ownership were retained, and the exercise to repurchase these properties is "almost certain". The contracts took the legal form of the sale and leasebacks. However, the economic substance of the original transactions in 2017 meant that both leases have historically been treated as owned by Safestay. Therefore, the transactions are classified as leasehold land and buildings.

Impairment of property, plant and equipment

At each statement of financial position date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and equipment to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have been adjusted. If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount.

An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease, but a negative revaluation reserve is not created.

For revalued assets, where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (cash-generating unit) in prior years. Any remaining balance of the reversal of an impairment loss is recognised in the income statement. For assets carried at cost, any reversals of impairments are recognised in the income statement.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from a business combination, measured as the excess of the sum of the consideration transferred over the net of the acquisition-date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. A review of the goodwill is carried out annually.

For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to each of the cash-generating units (CGUs), or groups of CGUs, that is expected to benefit from the synergies of the combination. The Directors consider each individual hostel to be a separate cash generating unit for impairment purposes and, as explained in note 11 to the financial statements, each unit or group of units to which the goodwill is allocated represents the lowest level within the entity at which the goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes.

Goodwill impairment reviews are undertaken annually or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate a potential impairment. The carrying value of the CGU containing the goodwill is compared to the recoverable amount, which is the higher of value in use and the fair value less costs of disposal. Any impairment is recognised immediately as an expense and is not subsequently reversed.

Intangible assets

Costs that are directly attributable to a project's development phase, including capitalised internally developed software, are recognised as intangible assets using the cost model, provided they meet all of the following recognised:

• the development costs can be measured reliably

• the project is technically and commercially feasible

• the Group intends to and has sufficient resources to complete the project

• the Group has the ability to use or sell the software, and

• the software will generate probable future economic benefits.

 

Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date, which is deemed to be the cost going forward.

The leasehold rights and tenancy subleases relate to intangible assets acquired in a business combination as outlined in note 11.

Assets with a finite useful life are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the cost of trademarks and licences over their estimated useful lives as set out above.

The following useful lives are applied:

-  10 years for the life of the interest in the head lease

-  13 years for tenancy sublease

-  3 years for website development.

 

Residual values and useful lives are reviewed at each reporting date.

Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset's carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset's fair value less costs of disposal and value in use. For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are largely independent cash inflows (CGUs). Prior impairments of non-financial assets (other than goodwill) are reviewed for possible reversal at each reporting date.

Stock

Stock is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is calculated using the weighted average method. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price.

Financial assets measured at amortised cost

Financial assets held at amortised costs are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments which are not quoted in an active market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non-current assets.

· Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances, deposits held at call wit h banks and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and which form an integral part of the Group's cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

· Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables are measured at initial recognition at transaction price plus transaction costs and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Appropriate allowances for estimated irrecoverable amounts are recognised in profit and loss when there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired.

Credit risk

The Group assesses impairment on a forward-looking basis using the expected credit loss method and has applied the simplified approach which permits the use of the lifetime expected loss provision for all trade and other receivables. The Company has no significant history of non-payment; as a result, the expected credit losses on financial assets are not material.

 

Financial liabilities

The Company classifies its financial liabilities as other financial liabilities. Other financial liabilities are measured at fair value on initial recognition and subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective-interest method.

· Borrowings

Borrowings other than bank overdrafts are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs.  Subsequent to initial recognition, borrowings are stated at amortised cost with any difference between the amount initially recognised and redemption value being recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowings, using the effective interest method.

Where there are extension options, management have made an accounting policy choice that these are loan commitments from the holder of the debt instrument that does not need to be separately accounted for.

Property from financing transactions includes the borrowings for Safestay Elephant and Castle and Safestay Edinburgh Hostel. In 2017, Safestay completed financing transactions on these two properties, raising gross cash proceeds of £12.6m. The sale was agreed with an institutional buyer in exchange for 150 year geared ground rent leases. The significant risks and rewards of ownership were retained, and the exercise to repurchase these properties is "almost certain". The contracts took the legal form of the sale and leasebacks. However, the economic substance of the original transactions in 2017 meant that both leases have historically been treated as owned by Safestay. Therefore, the transactions for as financial liabilities.

· Loan arrangement fees

Loan arrangement fees are amortised over the term of the loan to which they relate.

· Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables are initially measured at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

· Leases

The Group has leases for hostels across Europe. With the exception of short-term leases and leases of low-value underlying assets, each lease is reflected on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Leases of property generally have a lease term ranging from 5 years to 19 years.

For any new property asset contracts entered on or after 1 January 2019, the Group considers whether a contract is, or contains a lease. A lease is defined as 'a contract, or part of a contract, that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period of time in exchange for consideration'. To apply this definition the Group assesses whether the contract meets three key evaluations which are whether:

· the contract contains an identified asset, which is either explicitly identified in the contract or implicitly specified by being identified at the time the asset is made available to the Group

· the Group has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from use of the identified asset throughout the period of use, considering its rights within the defined scope of the contract the Group has the right to direct the use of the identified asset throughout the period of use; and

· The Group has the right to direct the use of the asset. The Group has this right when it has the decision-making rights that are most relevant to changing how and for what purposes the asset is used. In rare cases where all the decisions about how and for what purpose the asset is used are predetermined, the Group has the right to direct the use of the asset if either:

-  The Group has the right to operate the asset; or

-  The Group designed the asset in a way that predetermines how and for what purpose it will be used.

 

Measurement and recognition of leases as a lessee

At lease commencement date, the Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet. The right-of-use asset is measured at cost, which is made up of the initial measurement of the lease liability, any initial direct costs incurred by the Group, an estimate of any costs to dismantle and remove the asset at the end of the lease, and any lease payments made in advance of the lease commencement date (net of any incentives received). The Group depreciates the right-of-use assets on a straight-line basis from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term. The Group also assesses the right-of-use asset for impairment when such indicators exist.

At the commencement date, the Group measures the lease liability at the present value of the lease payments unpaid at that date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily available or the Group's incremental borrowing rate.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are made up of fixed payments (including in substance fixed), variable payments based on an index or rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee and payments arising from options reasonably certain to be exercised.

The lease liability is measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured when there is a change in future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate, or if the Group changes its assessment of whether it will exercise an extension or termination option.

The Group has elected to take the exemption not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term lease of machinery that have a lease term of 12 months or less and leases of low-value assets. The Group defines leases of low value assets as being any lease agreement where the total value of payments made across the lease term is less than £10,000. The Group recognises the lease payments associated with these leases as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease.

On the statement of financial position, right-of-use assets have been included in property, plant and equipment and lease liabilities have been included in trade and other payables.

Measurement of the Right-of-use Assets

Right-of-use assets are generally depreciated over the shorter of the asset's useful life and the lease term on a straight-line basis.

The Group as a lessor

As a lessor the Group classifies its leases as either operating or finance leases.

A lease is classified as a finance lease if it transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership of the underlying asset and classified as an operating lease if it does not.

The group accounts for its subleases as operating leases as they do not transfer substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee.

The group recognises income from lease payments from operating leases as income on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract.

Equity

The total equity attributable to the equity holders of the parent comprises the following:

· Share Capital

Share capital represents the nominal value of shares issued.

· Share premium account

Share premium represents amounts subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value less the related costs of share issues.

· Merger reserve

Merger reserve represents amounts subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value exchanged for the shares in the acquisition of a subsidiary company.

· Revaluation reserve

Revaluation reserves represent the increase in fair value of freehold property and leasehold assets over the value at which it was previously carried on the balance sheet. Any gain from a revaluation is taken to the revaluation reserve. Where it reverses a previous impairment, the impairment is reversed, but any surplus in excess of the amount of the impairment is added to the revaluation reserve.

· Translation Reserve

Translation Reserve comprises foreign currency translation differences arising from the translation of financial statements of the Group's foreign entities into presentational currency.

· Retained earnings

Retained earnings represent undistributed cumulative earnings.

· Equity Instruments

Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

· Share based payments

The equity settled share-based payment reserve arises as the expense of issuing share-based payments is recognised over time. The reserve will fall as share options vest and are exercised but the reserve may equally rise or might see any reduction offset, as new potentially dilutive share options are issued. Balances relating to share options that lapse after they vest are transferred to retained fair value of employee services determined by reference to transfer of instruments granted.

The Group has applied the requirements of IFRS 2 Share based payment to share options. The fair value of the share options is determined at the grant date and are expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group's estimate of shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market-based vesting conditions.

Fair value is measured by use of the Black Scholes model. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on management's best estimate, for the effects on non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

Dividends

Dividend distributions payable to equity shareholders are included in other liabilities when the dividends have been approved in a general meeting prior to the reporting date.

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation and uncertainty

The fair value of the Group's property is the main area within the financial information where the directors have exercised significant estimates.

Judgements

· The Group has identified certain costs and income as exceptional in nature in that, without separate disclosure, would distort the reporting of the underlying business. A degree of judgement is required in determining whether certain transactions merit separate presentation to allow shareholders to better understand financial performance in the year, when compared with that of previous years and trends This is set out in note 4.

· Extension options for leases: In accordance with IFRS 16, when the entity has the option to extend a lease, management uses its judgement to determine whether or not an option would be reasonably certain to be exercised. Management considers all facts and circumstances including their past practice and any cost that will be incurred to change the asset if an option to extend is not taken, to help them determine the lease term. Management generally includes extensions when the option to extend can be unilaterally exercised by the tenant provided the hostel under lease is expected to continue to be profitable for the Group after the extension is exercised.

Estimates

· The fair-value of the assets and liabilities recognised on the acquisition of an operation or entity is determined using both external valuations and directors' valuations. Details of the fair values are set out in the note 23.

· Assessment of impairment of goodwill requires estimation of future cash flows, which are uncertain, discounted to present value which also requires estimation by management. The key assumptions used to calculate the value in use (VIU) to test the goodwill for each cash generating units (CGUs) are detailed in note 11. A Pre-tax discount rate of 11.1% (2019: 8.7%) has been calculated using weighted average cost of capital. An assessment was made on the differing risks between countries in which the hostels operate based on country risks.  Based on the assessment it was concluded that the differences between discount rates between each CGU is not material. The assets are similar in nature, with all CGUs providing the provision of hostel accommodation and therefore similar cashflows and therefore the risk associated with the assets is considered to be consistent between CGUs. As such one discount rate has been utilised for the purposes of performing an impairment review.

· As outlined in the accounting policy, the financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except for the revaluation of the freehold properties and lease assets (in respect of Elephant and Castle and Edinburgh Hostel). The Group is required to value property on a sufficiently regular basis by using open market values to ensure that the carrying value does not differ significantly from the fair value. The valuation, performed by qualified valuers is based on market observations and estimates on the selling price in an arms-length transaction, and includes estimates of future income levels and trading potential for each hostel as other factors including location and tenure. See note 10. The Group has used external valuations on freehold properties and leased assets under financing transactions, as outlined in note 10. Based on the market data assessed and internal assessment of each property, Management does not consider that the fair value differs materially from the carrying value. Management is confident that the carrying value is deemed reasonable at 31st December 2020.



 

· The Group has incurred tax losses, and therefore a material deferred tax asset has been recognised as these can be carried forward indefinitely and offset against probable future taxable profits after the market recovers in 2022 and the Company is expected to generate net profits from 2023 under his forecast model.

2.  Segmental analysis

An analysis of the Group's revenue from external customers for each major product and service category (excluding revenue from discontinued operations) is as follows:

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Hostel accommodation

3,570

15,115

Food and Beverages sales

744

2,492

Other income

120

363

Rental income

397

409

Total Income

4,831

18,379

Like-for-like income

4,002

17,596

 

Included within revenue is £397k of rental income accounted for as operating lease income in accordance with IFRS 16 (2019: £409k).

The group accounts for its subleases as operating leases as they do not transfer substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee.

The group recognises income from lease payments from operating leases as income on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract.

Operating segments are reporting in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM). The CODMs, who monitor the performance of these operating segments as well as deciding on the allocation of resources to them, have been identified as the executive directors. Currently the operating segments are the operation of hostel accommodation in the UK and Europe.

An additional material geographical area has been identified in respect of Spain to meet the disclosure requirements of IFRS 8 due to its significance to group.

Management considers the like-for-like income only for acquisitions and continuing operations that have been operational 12 consecutive months in the prior year. Due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19 the hostels on average our hostels have been open for just 44% of 2020. Different hostels were open for different periods of time throughout the year based on the individual circumstances, responses and policies to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and as such the period of results is not comparable to the prior period and therefore no changes to geographical areas have been identified.

 The Group provides a shared services function to its operating segments and reports these activities separately. Management does not consider there to be any other material reporting segments. Management revisit this at each period end.

The most important measures used to evaluate the performance of the business are revenue and adjusted EBITDA, which is the operating profit after excluding non-cash items such as depreciation and amortisation, and removing non-recurring expenditure which would otherwise distort the cash generating nature of the segment.

Pre-IFRS 16 EBITDA was calculated in the prior period segmental analysis such that the accounts can be understood on a comparable basis and included for information purposes. As this is the second year since transition, pre-IFRS 16 adjusted EBIDTA is not considered in the current year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

UK

Europe

Shared services

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

2,455

2,376

-

4,831

Loss before tax

(3,321)

(6,259)

(504)

(10,084)

Finance costs

963

1,001

786

2,750

Operating Loss after exceptional items

(2,358)

(5,258)

282

(7,334)

Depreciation, Amortisation & disposals

1,465

4,225

-

5,690

Exceptional & Share based payment expense

-

-

541

541

Rent forgiveness

(495)

(409)

-

(904)

Adjusted EBITDA

(1,388)

(1,442)

823

(2,007)

 

 




Total assets

57,744

42,115

10,870

110,729

Total liabilities

22,959

31,242

28,077

82,278

 

 

2019

UK

Europe

Shared services

TOTAL

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

9,401

8,978

-

18,379

Loss before tax

3,347

111

(4,093)

(635)

Finance costs

338

989

1,231

2,558

Operating Profit after exceptional items

3,685

1,100

(2,862)

1,923

Depreciation & Amortisation

1,265

2,247

-

3,512

Exceptional & Share based payment expense

-

-

619

619

Adjusted EBITDA

4,950

3,347

(2,243)

6,054

Rental charges (IFRS 16)

-

(2,248)

-

(2,248)

Adjusted EBITDA (pre-IFRS 16)

4,950

1,099

(2,243)

3,806

 

Total assets

47,597

31,080

26,455

105,132

Total liabilities

12,255

28,979

28,049

69,283

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Group's non-current assets (other than financial instruments, investments accounted for using the equity method, deferred tax assets and post-employment benefit assets) are located into the following geographic regions:

 


31 December 2020

31 December 2019

 

£'000

£'000

UK

59,478

59,894

Spain

21,976

22,558

Rest of Europe

24,088

18,187

Shared services

842

46

Total

106,384

100,685

 

Non-current assets are allocated based on their physical location.

 

Revenues from external customers in the Group's domicile, United Kingdom, as well as its major markets, Spain and the Rest of Europe, have been identified on the basis of the customer's geographical location and are disclosed as follows:

 

 


31 December 2020

31 December 2019

 

£'000

£'000

UK

2,455

9,401

Spain

835

4,909

Rest of Europe

1,541

4,069

Shared services

-

-

Total

4,831

18,379

 

 

 

 

 

3.  COST OF SALES

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Food and drinks

311

794

Direct room supplies and sales commissions

581

2,081

 

892

2,875

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  administrative expenses

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Staff costs (see note 9)

3,823

5,676

Legal and professional fees

521

1,148

Property costs

362

825

Depreciation and amortisation

4,199

3,512

Impairment of goodwill

1,491

-

Share option expenses

279

34

Other expenses

598

2,386

 

11,273

13,581

Add back:

Exceptional items - other operating income

 

(448)

 

585

Exceptional items - costs

261

-

 

11,460 

12,996 

 

Administrative expenses include £(187,000) (2019: £585,000) of exceptional items broken down as follows:

 

2020

2019

 

Exceptional items - other operating income

£'000

£'000

Grant income

 

  Exceptional items - costs

(448)

-

Acquisition and Development costs

74

451

Property costs

4

19

Legal and other

82

115

Refinance related fees write off

101

-

 

 

261

585

Exceptional items comprise of expenses and income that, without separate disclosure, would distort the reporting of the underlying business.

 

The group received £448,000 in grant income from national, regional, and local governmental organisations in 2020 to support the business. This does not include grants relating to employee costs which are disclosed in Staff Costs (Note 9).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  FINANCE COSTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020

  £'000

 

Restated

2019

  £'000

Interest on bank overdrafts and loans

625

589

Amortised loan arrangement fees

92

81

Other interest costs

75

(14)

Interest expense for lease arrangements (note 16)

1,558

1,448

Property financing costs

343

337

Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration

57

117

 

2,750

2,558

 

 

 

2019 has been restated to separate out the property financing costs from lease interest expense for lease arrangements as disclosed in note 16.

Included within borrowings is £5.0 million CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) obtained via HSBC. The government provide lenders with a guarantee on each loan. This was secured for 6 years on 16th December 2020, which is interest free for the first year increasing to 3.9% + base rate from year 2.

 

6.  LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR

 

 

2020

  £'000

Restated

2019

  £'000

Loss for the financial period is arrived at after charging:

 

 

Depreciation on owned assets

1,541

1,185

Depreciation of assets under lease liabilities

2,459

2,139

Amortisation of intangible assets

199

189

Impairment of goodwill

1,491

-

Auditor's remuneration for audit services

92

105

Fees payable to the Company's auditors and its associates for other services

5

47

 

 

2019 has been restated to reflect the reclass of Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle from right of use assets to lease assets due to the nature of the lease where the risks and rewards lie with Safestay and should be treated as owned. The restated amounts above show the transfer of depreciation of assets under lease liabilities and owned assets.

 

Amounts payable in respect of both audit and non-audit services are set out below:

 

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Fees payable to Company's auditors for the audit of the Parent Company

and consolidated financial statements:

  The audit of the Group and Company's annual accounts

70

75

The audit of the subsidiaries' annual accounts

22

30

 

92

105

 

Fees payable to the Company's auditors and its associates for other services:

 

 

Tax advice services

5

22

Taxation compliance services

-

25

 

5

47

 

The audit fees disclosed in 2020 represent the fees payable for the audit for the period ended 31 December 2020 and the non-audit fees are those incurred in the period.

 

 

7.  Tax

In the Spring Budget 2020, the UK Government announced that from 1 April 2020 the corporation tax rate would remain at 19% (rather than reducing to 17%, as previously enacted). This new law was substantively enacted on 17 March 2020. Deferred taxes at the balance sheet date have been measured using these enacted tax rates and reflected in these financial statements.

 

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Current tax

 

 

Corporation tax on profits for the year

-

250

Adjustments for corporation tax on prior periods

(271)

75

Total current tax

(271)

325

Deferred tax

(1,682)

-

Adjustments for deferred tax on prior periods

(450)

 

Total tax charge

(2,403)

325

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The charge for the year can be reconciled to the loss per the consolidated income statement as follows:

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Loss before tax

(10,084)

(635)

 

 

 

Tax at the standard UK corporation tax rate of 19% (2019: 19%)

(1,916)

(120)

Adjustment for tax rate differences in foreign jurisdictions

(167)

28

Adjustments for tax on prior periods

(720)

75

Factors affecting charge for the period

 

 

Non-deductible items and other timing differences

344

155

Depreciation in excess of capital allowances

56

187

Group tax charge

(2,403)

325

The Group has incurred tax losses, and therefore a material deferred tax asset has been recognised as these can be carried forward indefinitely and offset against probable future taxable profits after the market recovers in 2022 and the Company is expected to generate net profits from 2023 under his forecast model. This has resulted in the recognition of deferred tax asset of £2.159m as disclosed in note 16. Amounts in respect of prior period represents deferred tax on brought forward losses.

 

Included within current tax are adjustments for corporation tax on prior periods of £271k. Of this this £192k is due to an adjustment to the 2018 tax provision in line with the revised tax returns. The remaining balance relates to payments made in 2020 relating to 2019, which was subsequently reimbursed when filing the 2019 tax return.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.  LOSS per share

 

The calculation of the basic and diluted loss per share is based on the following data:

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Loss for the period attributable to equity holders of the Company

(7,681)

(960)

 

 

2020

  '000

2019

  '000

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic loss earnings per share

 

64,679

 

64,679

Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares

4,250

2,736

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted

 

 

Loss per share

68,929

67,415

Basic loss per share

(11.88p)

(1.48p)

Diluted loss per share

(11.88p)

(1.48p)

 

There is no difference between the diluted loss per share and the basic loss per share presented. Due to the loss incurred in the year the effect of the share options in issue is anti-dilutive.

 

The total number of shares in issue as at 31 December 2020 was 64,679,014.

9.  STAFF COSTS

 

The average monthly number of employees (including directors) during the period was:

 

 

 

2020

Number

 

2019

Number

Hostel operation

197

222

Directors

5

5

 

202

227

 

The costs incurred in respect of employees (including directors) were:

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Wages and salaries

3,854

4,992

Social security costs

499

638

Pension costs

36

46

Government grants

(566)

-

Total staff costs

3,823

5,676

 

 

Government grants disclosed above are amounts claimed by the company under coronavirus job retention schemes across the Group.

 

The remuneration of the directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below.

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Short term employee benefits

444

432

Pension

16

14

Share based payment charges

257

34

 

717

480

 

Further information about the remuneration of individual directors is provided in the Directors' Remuneration Report.

Details of directors share options is provided in the Directors' Remuneration Report.

 

 

10.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

 

 

 

 

 

Freehold land and buildings

£'000

 

Restated

Right of use assets

buildings

£'000

 

Restated Leasehold, land and buildings

£'000

 

 

Restated

Leasehold improvements

£'000

 

 

Fixtures, fittings and equipment

£'000

 

 

 

Assets under construction

£'000

 

 

 

 

Total

£'000

 

Cost or valuation








 

At 1 January 2019 as restated

2,701

-

44,014

-

2,513

2,062

51,290

 

Transfer (restated)

-

-

614

1,448

-

(2,062)

-

 

Additions

-

-

717

-

696

-

1,413

 

Adjustment on transition to IFRS 16 (restated)

-

37,512

(13,449)

3,149

-

-

27,212

 

Acquired in business combination

5,348

-

-

-

89

-

5,437

 

Revaluation (restated)

-

-

9,253

-

-

-

9,253

 

Exchange movements

(51)

-

(23)

-

(73)

-

(147)

 

At 31 December 2019 (restated)

7,998

37,512

41,126

4,597

3,225

-

94,458

 

Additions

362

1,326

-

106

517

-

2,311

 

Transfer

Acquired in business combination

-

-

-

3,210

-

-

-

711

-

175

-

-

-

4,096

 

Exchange movements

51

-

-

(119)

30

-

(38)

 

At 31 December 2020

8,411

42,048

41,126

5,295

3,947

-

100,827

 









 

Depreciation








 

At 1 January 2019 as restated

84

-

1,910

-

1,774

-

3,768

 

Transfer (restated)

Adjustment on transition to IFRS 16 (restated)

-

-

-

286

(62)

(864)

62

578

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

Charge for the year (restated)

60

2,139

632

55

438

-

3,324

 

At 31 December 2019 (restated)

144

2,425

1,616

695

2,212

-

7,092

 

Transfer

Charge for the year

-

141

-

2,459

-

804

-

102

-

494

-

-

-

4,000

 

At 31 December 2020

285

4,884

2,420

797

2,706

-

11,092

 










Net book value:









At 31 December 2020

8,126

37,164

38,706

4,498

1,241

-

89,735


At 31 December 2019 (restated)

7,854

35,087

39,510

3,902

1,013

-

87,366


 

 

 

 

 

 

Freehold properties

The Freehold values relates to the 3 following hostels:

· The £2.7 million value of the freehold in York is based on the external valuations as at 31 March 2017 prepared by Cushman and Wakefield on behalf of HSBC (the Group's bankers) as part of the security for the Group's bank financing. The historic cost carrying value is £2.4 million which is the acquisition price in 2014.

· The freehold of the Glasgow property acquired in October 2019 for £3.2 million and which has undergone renovation for £0.4 million. The total carrying value is consistent with the £3.7 million valuation performed by Cushman and Wakefield on behalf of HSBC as part of the security for the Group's bank financing in December 2019.

· The hostel in Pisa was acquired in June 2019 for £3 million, of which £2.1 million for the freehold.

Covid-19 rent concessions

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has published 'Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions (Amendment to IFRS 16)' amending the standard to provide lessees with an exemption from assessing whether a COVID-19-related rent concession is a lease modification.

The £42 million right of use assets all relate to properties operated by the Company as hostels.

 

 

Right of use assets as at 31 December 2019 (restated)

37,512

New leases (Athens, Bratislava, Warsaw)

3,210

Lease extension in Madrid

1,326

Right of use assets

42,048

 

Leasehold, land and buildings

The Group has used external valuations on Edinburgh and Elephant & Castle. The Edinburgh leasehold was independently valued on 31 March 2020 at £14.8 million and the London Elephant & Castle leasehold was independently valued on 31 July 2019 at £26.8 million. Both valuations were performed by Cushman and Wakefield on behalf of HSBC (the Group's bankers). The Group has accounted for the finance transactions as interest-bearing borrowings secured on the original properties held.

Leasehold improvements (prior period adjustment 1)

Leasehold improvements comprise the capitalised refurbishment costs incurred by the Company on the leased properties.

Included within the transition adjustment in 2019 to Right of Use Assets is £3.2 million relating to the works completed by the Company in the Kensington Holland Park hostel in 2015. It was incorrectly included in right of use asset buildings until 31 December 2019 and related to leasehold improvements. As such, in 2019, the balance with the accumulated depreciation of £578k has been retrospectively restated in respect of this amount.

 

 

 

Right of use assets (prior period adjustment 2)

In 2019, the Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle leases were incorrectly transitioned to IFRS16 along with other leaseholds. In 2017, Safestay completed financing transactions on these two properties, raising gross cash proceeds of £12.6m. The sale was agreed with an institutional buyer in exchange for 150 year geared ground rent leases. The significant risks and rewards of ownership were retained, and the exercise to repurchase these properties is "almost certain". The contracts took the legal form of the sale and leasebacks. However, the economic substance of the original transactions in 2017 meant that both leases have historically been treated as owned by Safestay. Therefore, the transactions should continue to be accounted for as owned, and should have been accounted for as financial liabilities as opposed to finance leases.

To reflect both Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle long leases in the accounts correctly, there has been a reclass from the Right of use assets to Leasehold, land and buildings, and the Lease Liabilities to Borrowings.

The impact is disclosed below. The amount remaining transferred to IFRS 16 on transition of £13.449m relates to Kensington Holland Park which was correctly included as a finance lease.

Retrospective 2019 restatements

 

 

 

As previously stated at 31 December 2019

 

Prior-period adjustment 1

 

Prior-period adjustment 2

As at 31 December 2019 (restated)



£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000


Right-of-use asset cost

81,787

(3,149)

(41,126)

37,512


Leasehold, land and buildings cost

-

-

41,126

41,126


Leasehold improvements cost

1,448

3,149

-

4,597


Accumulated depreciation right-of-use asset

4,619

(578)

(1,616)

2,425


Accumulated depreciation leasehold land and buildings

-

-

1,616

1,616


Accumulate depreciation leasehold improvements

117

578

-

695


 

2019 restatement reflects the reclass of Edinburgh and Elephant & Castle properties from Right of use asset to Leasehold, land and buildings as discussed above.

 

11.  INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

 

 

 

 

Website Development

£'000

 

Leasehold rights

£'000

 

Restated

Goodwill

£'000

 

Total

£'000

Cost

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2019

72

1,726

10,506

12,304

Restated Additions

26

-

24

50

Arising in business combination (note 24)

-

-

1,705

1,705

Exchange movements

-

(21)

-

(21)

At 31 December 2019

98

1,705

12,235

14,038

Additions

36

-

172

208

Disposals

-

-

(94)

(94)

Arising in business combination (note 24)

-

-

2,747

2,747

Exchange movements

-

(8)

-

(8)

At 31 December 2020

134

1,697

15,060

16,891

 

 

 

 

 

Amortisation and Impairment

 

 

 

At 1 January 2019

24

506

530

Charge for the period

29

160

-

189

At 31 December 2019

53

666

-

719

Charge for the period

39

160

-

199

Impairment

-

-

1,491

1,491

Exchange movements

-

(8)

-

(8)

At 31 December 2020

92

818

1,491

2,401

 

 

 

 

 

Net book value:

 

 

 

 

At 31 December 2020

42

879

13,569

14,490

At 31 December 2019

45

1,039

12,235

13,687

 

Leasehold Rights

 

The directors identified intangible assets in the following transactions:

-  acquisition of the business on Smart City hostel in Edinburgh in 2015 identified an intangible asset in relation the lease with the University of Edinburgh, which terminates in 2027.

-  acquisition of the Barcelona Sea property in 2017 identified a sublease agreement with a tenant in-situ for the duration of the head lease.

Amortisation of leasehold rights is based on a straight-line basis for the term of the lease.  Amortisation is taken to the statement of comprehensive income within administrative expenses.

 

 

 

Goodwill

Goodwill arising from business combinations in the year are disclosed in note 24. Goodwill in a business combination is allocated to the cash generating units (CGUs) that are expected to benefit from that business combination.  The Group's CGUs have been defined as each operating hostel. This conclusion is consistent with the approach adopted in previous years and with the operational management of the business.

Retrospective-restatement

In 2019, additions to goodwill were overstated by £368k due to an erroneous consolidation entry posted to correct an apparent error in opening reserves. The original goodwill related to the Edinburgh hostel acquisition completed in 2015 and the goodwill arising has been correctly stated in all annual reports until 2019. Management have investigated the error and are yet to conclude on how it has originated and, therefore, what the appropriate correcting accounting entries are. However, management have determined that the error neither affects net assets at 31 December 2019 nor the previously reported loss of £960k for the year. Management have temporarily posted the correcting entry as an adjustment to opening retained earnings at 1 January 2019 and will determine the correct accounting entries during the year ending 31 December 2021.

As a result of this adjustment, brought forward goodwill from 2019 is reduced from £12.603m to £12.235m and the additions to goodwill from £392k to £24k.

 

Impairment

Goodwill is not amortised but tested annually for impairment.  The recoverable amount of each CGU is determined from value in use (VIU) calculations based on future expected cash flows discounted to present value using an appropriate pre-tax discount rate.

Goodwill carrying values as at the 31 December 2020 are shown below.

CGU

Goodwill pre-impairment £'000

Impairment £'000

Goodwill carrying value £'000

Edinburgh

  577

  - 

  577

Madrid

  2,234

  - 

  2,234

Paris

  11

  - 

  11

Barcelona Sea

  846

  - 

  846

Gothic

  1,611

  (891)

  720

Lisbon

  1,365

  - 

  1,365

Prague

  805

  (600)

  205

Barcelona Passeig De Gracia

  1,699

  - 

  1,699

Vienna

  5

  - 

  5

Brussels

  1,375

  - 

  1,375

Pisa

  770

  -

  770

Berlin

  1,015

  -

  1,015

Athens

  1,210

  -

  1,210

Bratislava

  917

  -

  917

Warsaw

  620

  -

  620


  15,008

  (1,491)

  13,569

 

The key assumptions used in the VIU calculations for all hostels are based on forecasts approved by management performed for a 5-year period:

· A Pre-tax discount rate of 11.1% (2019: 8.7%) was calculated using weighted average cost of capital. An assessment was made on the differing risks between countries in which the hostels operate.  Based on the assessment it was concluded that the differences between discount rates between each CGU is not material. The assets are similar in nature, with all CGUs providing the provision of hostel accommodation and therefore similar cashflows and therefore the risk associated with the assets is considered to be consistent between CGUs. As such one discount rate has been utilised for the purposes of performing an impairment review.  

· Estimated 2021 average bed rate per property, discounted against 2019 to reflect post covid-19 recovery transaction, and increasing in line with a 2% annual inflation rate in following years.

· Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, and rent (EBITDAR) margin of 2019, adjusted to reflect the post covid-19 transition, an increase up to 2 basis points over 5 years two hotels, the Barcelona Gothic and Prague, show a shortfall between the recoverable value and carrying value.

· Gothic has a recoverable value of £2.7 million against a carrying value of £3.6 million. Management considers that this site has some real estate potential which could be released in the coming years to increase the bed capacity and therefore the income from F&B and accommodation. However, management believes that these development plans have become more uncertain due to the COVID-19 context and therefore decided to post a £0.9 million impairment as at 31 December 2020.

· Prague has a recoverable value of £1.3 million against a carrying value of £1.9 million. The performance of this hostel in 2020 in 2021 is impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic like all other hostels of the Group. However, this property is operated under a lease agreement which terminates in 2029, with no option to extend further. It will be therefore too short to fully recover the £1.9 million carrying value allocated to this asset by the end of the term, unless management can negotiate a further extension, which is currently considered too uncertain. As a result, it was decided to post a £0.6 million impairment in line with the £1.3 million recoverable value as at 31 December 2020.

 

No impairment has been identified for the other assets for the year ended 31 December 2020.

Sensitivity analysis

 

Athens, Bratislava and Warsaw were acquired in January 2020, and were subsequently converted to the Safestay brand. Management have reviewed these properties and do not consider there to be an impairment.

Edinburgh is the only UK CGU with goodwill. Management have agreed there is no need to review impairment as there is sufficient headroom in the cashflows. Sale of Edinburgh Hostel has also been agreed for a higher value than book value as at 31 December 2020, and more information can be found in post balance sheet events.

Headroom between the carrying and recoverable value of an asset is dependent upon sensitivities to the following assumptions:

For each of CGU, a fall in operating margin and occupancy, or an increase in the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) by the following rates of change would result in the carrying value of goodwill falling below its recoverable amount:

CGU

Operating margin

Occupancy

WACC



 

 

Barcelona Sea

400bps

900bps

300bps

Barcelona Passeig De Gracia

100bps

100bps

100bps

Brussels

1100bps

2900bps

1100bps

Lisbon

100bps

200bps

100bps

Madrid

400bps

1500bps

500bps

Vienna

200bps

500bps

200bps

Berlin

500bps

900bps

600bps

Pisa

700bps

2200bps

700bps




 

 

The table above demonstrates the change in assumption required for an impairment to occur. As such, Barcelona Gothic and Prague are excluded above, but included in the analysis below.

A change of 1% in the WACC would have an overall impact of £1.5m in the recoverable value of the CGU tested and would increase impairment needed for Gothic and Prague by £0.13 million.

A change of 1% in the occupancy level would have an overall impact of £0.5m in the recoverable value of the CGU tested and would increase impairment needed for Gothic and Prague by £0.03 million.

A change of 1% in the Operating margin would have an overall impact of £1.1m in the recoverable value of the CGU tested and would increase impairment needed for Gothic and Prague by £0.12 million.

 

12.  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

 

 

 

Trade and other receivables

1,653

988

Other debtors

26

43

Prepayments and accrued income

205

377

 

1,884

1,408

 

Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty does not settle its financial obligation with the Company. At the year end, the Company has assessed the credit risk on amounts due from suppliers, based on historic experience, meaning that the expected lifetime credit loss was immaterial. Cash and cash equivalents are also subject to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 - the identified impairment loss was immaterial.

 

13.  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

 

 

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Cash and cash equivalents

2,125

2,954

 

The directors consider that the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates their fair value. Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash.

 

14.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Due in less than one year

 

 

Trade payables

686

784

Corporation tax

-

32

Social security and other taxes

158

277

Other creditors

563

306

Accruals and deferred income

1,601

1,203

 

3,008

2,602

Due in more than one year

 

 

Other payables

336

767

 

3,344

3,369

 

Payables due in more than one year represents remainder of the discounted present value of deferred consideration due in April 2022 in relation to the Barcelona Passeig de Gracia which was acquired for €3 million in 2017.

 

 

15.  BORROWINGS

 

 

2020

  £'000

Restated 2019

£'000

Restated

1 Jan 2019

  £'000

At amortised cost

 

 

 

Bank Loan

28,380

17,860

18,389

Property financing loans

12,240

12,227

11,043

Loan arrangement fees

(266)

(182)

(264)

 

40,354

29,905

29,168

 

 

 

 

Loans repayable within one year

311

267

343

Loans repayable after more than one year

40,043

29,638

28,825

 

40,354

29,905

29,168

 

Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle leases were transitioned to IFRS16 along with other leaseholds and presented as such in the 2019 audited accounts. Following review of the balance sheet, it was identified the leases should be reclassed. In 2017, Safestay completed financing transactions on these two properties, raising gross cash proceeds of £12.6m. The sale was agreed with an institutional buyer in exchange for 150 year geared ground rent leases. The significant risks and rewards of ownership were retained, and the exercise to repurchase these properties is "almost certain". The substance of the original transactions in 2017 meant that both leases have historically been treated as owned by Safestay. Therefore, the transactions should continue to be accounted for as owned, and the liabilities reported as financing transactions.

 

To reflect both Safestay Edinburgh and Safestay Elephant and Castle long leases in the accounts correctly, there has been a reclass from the Right of use assets to Leasehold, land and buildings, and the Lease Liabilities to Borrowings. The Edinburgh Hostel lease has been subsequently sold as a post balance sheet event. Please see statement of financial position of explanation of total impact.

 

Included within borrowings is £5.0 million CBILS (Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme) obtained via HSBC. The government provide lenders with a guarantee on each loan, and it may be possible that there is a government grant in the form of the lower rate of interest than would likely have been payable in the absence of the government guarantee. However, in the absence of further information the total amounts are disclosed within finance costs.

At 31st December 2020 HSBC bank loans were secured against the freehold property, York hostel and subsidiary investments.

16.  LEASES

Lease liabilities are presented in the statement of financial position as follows:

 

 

2020

  £'000

Restated 2019

£'000

Restated

1 Jan 2019

  £'000

Restated Current

1,932

1,660

38

Restated Non-current

36,648

34,244

10,123

Total

38,580

35,904

10,161

 

Retrospective 2019 restatements

 

 

 

As at 31 December 2019

 

Prior-period adjustment

As at 31 December 2019 (restated)



£'000

£'000

£'000


Lease liabilities

48,131

(12,227)

35,904


 

Retrospective 2018 restatements

 

 

As at 31 December 2018

 

Prior-period adjustment

As at 31 December 2018 (restated)



£'000

£'000

£'000


Lease liabilities

21,204

(11,043)

10,161


 

As described in Note 15, the prior period adjustment represents the reclass of Edinburgh and Elephant and Castle leases to Property Finance Loans within Borrowings. Please see statement of financial position for explanation of total impact. The adjustment made is in respect of prior period adjustment 2 as per note 10.

 

Lease Liabilities as at 31 December 2019 (restated)

35,904

New leases (Athens, Bratislava, Warsaw)

3,210

Payments under lease obligations

(2,514)

Rent forgiveness

(904)

2020 Lease interest charge

1,558

Lease extension in Madrid

1,326

Lease Liabilities as at 31 December 2020

38,580

 

 

The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) has published 'Covid-19-Related Rent Concessions (Amendment to IFRS 16)' amending the standard to provide lessees with an exemption from assessing whether a COVID-19-related rent concession is a lease modification. The impact on the current period was a £0.9 million reduction in lease liability included as rent forgiveness in administrative expenses in 2020, reflecting the temporary reduction in rent agreed with the landlords in the 12 months ending 31 December 2020.

Total cash outflow for leases for the year ended 31 December 2020 was £2.5m (2019: £3.2m).

The Group has leases for hostels across Europe. With the exception of short-term leases and leases of low-value underlying assets, each lease is reflected on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a lease liability. Variable lease payments which do not depend on an index or a rate (such as lease payments based on a percentage of Group sales) are excluded from the initial measurement of the lease liability and asset. The Group classifies its right-of-use assets in a consistent manner to its property, plant and equipment (Note 10).

The hostel in London Kensington Holland Park has a term of 50 years. There is no such purchase option in this lease.

Lease payments are generally linked to annual changes in an index (either RPI or CPI). However, the Group has one lease in Lisbon which a portion of the rentals are linked to revenue. The variable portion of the lease in Lisbon is accounted for as a variable rent over the period it relates to.

Each lease generally imposes a restriction that, unless there is a contractual right for the Group to sublet the asset to another party, the right-of-use asset can only be used by the Group. Leases are either non-cancellable or may only be cancelled by incurring a substantive termination fee. Some leases contain an option to purchase the underlying leased asset outright at the end of the lease, or to extend the lease for a further term. The Group is prohibited from selling or pledging the underlying leased assets as security. For leases over hostels or hotels, the Group must keep those properties in a good state of repair and return the properties in good condition at the end of the lease. Further, the Group must insure items of property, plant and equipment and incur maintenance fees on such items in accordance with the lease contracts.

The table below describes the nature of the Group's leasing activities by type of right-of-use asset recognised on balance sheet:

Right-of-use asset

No of right-of-use assets leased

Range of remaining term

Average remaining lease term

No of leases with extension options

No of leases with options to purchase

No of leases with variable payments linked to an index

No of leases with termination options

Hostel buildings - Operating leases

12

5 - 19 years

12 years

11

0

12

0

 

In addition to the above, there is the London Kensington Holland Park lease which ends in 2064. There are no such options as above.

 

 

 

 

Lease liabilities

 

The lease liabilities are secured by the related underlying assets. The undiscounted maturity analysis of lease liabilities at 31 December 2020 is as follows:

 

 

31-Dec-20








 


Minimum lease payments due

 


Within 1 year

1 - 2 years

2 - 3 years

3 - 4 years

4 - 5 years

After 5 years

Total

 









 

Lease payments

3,466

3,466

3,466

3,467

3,368

47,138

64,371

 

Finance charges

(1,534)

(1,467)

(1,398)

(1,327)

(1,255)

(18,810)

(25,791)

 

Net present values

1,932

1,999

2,068

2,140

2,113

28,328

38,580

 

 

 

31-Dec-19









Minimum lease payments due


Within 1 year

1 - 2 years

2 - 3 years

3 - 4 years

4 - 5 years

After 5 years

Total









Lease payments

3,093

3,111

3,111

3,111

3,111

46,310

61,847

Finance charges

(1,433)

(1,377)

(1,319)

(1,257)

(1,195)

(19,362)

(25,943)

Net present values

1,660

1,734

1,792

1,854

1,916

26,948

35,904

 

 

The Group has elected not to recognise a lease liability for short term leases (leases with an expected term of 12 months or less) or for leases of low value assets.

 

 

17.  DEFERRED INCOME TAX

 

Deferred tax assets

Deferred

tax liabilities

 

 

Total

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 1 January 2019

-

(105)

(105)

Recognised in the income statement

-

-

-

Balance at 31 December 2019

-

(105)

(105)

Recognised in the income statement

2,159

105

2,264

Balance at 31 December 2020

2,159

-

2,159

 

The company has recognised deferred tax assets of £2.2m (2019: £0), which are expected to offset against future profits, in respect of tax losses. This is on the basis that it is probable that profits will arise in the foreseeable future, enabling the assets to be utilised.

 

 

 

 

18.  EQUITY

CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL

 

 

£'000

Allotted, issued and fully paid

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

64,679,014 Ordinary Shares of 1p each as at 1 January 2020

 

647

 

647

 

 

At the 31 December 2020, the ordinary shares rank pari passu. There are no changes to the voting rights of the ordinary shares since the balance sheet date.

 

SHARE PREMIUM

 

 

£'000


 

At 1 January 2020

 

23,904

At 31 December 2020

23,904

 

 

 

 

OTHER COMPONENTS OF EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Merger reserve

Share based payment reserve

Revaluation reserve

Restated

Translation reserve

 

Total

Restated

 

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

 

Cost

 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1 January 2019

1,772

125

4,861

106

6,864

 

Share based payment charge

-

34

-

-

34

 

Property revaluation

-

-

9,253

-

9,253

 

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

-

-

-

(47)

(47)

 

At 31 December 2019

1,772

159

14,114

59

16,104

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Share based payment charge

-

279

-

-

279

 

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

-

-

-

4

4

 

At 31 December 2020

1,772

438

14,114

63

16,387

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In 2015, the Group acquired the trade and assets of the Smart City hostel in Blackfriars Street in Edinburgh, currently trading as Smart City Hostel by Safestay, Edinburgh. Transaction costs of £643k were incorrectly capitalized as part of the cost of the property, plant and equipment acquired rather than recognised as an expense through the application of the guidance set out in paragraph 53 of IFRS 3, 'Business Combinations'.

The effect of this error was to understate both the reported loss and total comprehensive expense for the period attributable to the owners of the parent for the year ended 31 December 2015 by £643k and overstate property, plant and equipment by the same amount.

In 2016, the property acquired in the above mentioned business combination was revalued. The effect of the uncorrected error above meant that the revaluation movement reported in other comprehensive income and the corresponding increase in the revaluation reserve was understated by £643k for the year ended 31 December 2016.

This error has been corrected in these financial statements by a restatement of prior year balances. The effect of the correction has been to increase previously reported retained losses by £643k with a corresponding increase to the previously reported revaluation reserve.

 

 

19.  SHARE BASED PAYMENTS

The Company operates a share-based payments scheme for Directors as outlined in the Directors Remuneration Report. Share options were awarded as part of longer-term incentives.

 

The option holder may only exercise the option if, on the date of exercise, the market value targets are achieved.

 

1,620,400 share options were granted in the period (2019: 1,200,000). In addition to those granted to Directors in January 2020, Directors and 2 persons discharging managerial responsibilities were awarded in lieu of a 40% reduction of salary in 2020. In 2021, the Directors and 1 person discharging managerial responsibility have continued to receive share options in lieu of salary up until June 2021.

 

The average share price target for options issued in 2020 was 19p (2019: 50p).

 

The Company has granted share options to subscribe for ordinary shares of 1p each, as follows:


Grant date

Exercise price per share (pence)

Period within which options are exercisable

Number of share options outstanding

 

 

 

2020

2019

2 May 2014

50p

2/5/2017 to 1/5/2024

396,521

396,521

12 May 2014

50p

12/5/2017 to 11/5/2024

528,695

528,695

21 May 2014

50p

21/5/2017 to 20/5/2024

38,550

38,550

14 July 2017

50p

14/7/2020 to 13/7/2027

250,000

250,000

21 July 2017

50p

21/7/2020 to 20/7/2027

500,000

500,000

11 October 2018

42p

11/10/2021 to 10/10/2028

100,000

100,000

1 January 2019

34p

01/01/2022 to 31/12/2028

500,000

500,000

29 April 2019

34p

29/04/2022 to 28/04/2029

500,000

500,000

26 June 2019

40p

26/06/2022 to 25/06/2029

100,000

100,000

05 Sept 2019

34p

05/09/2022 to 04/09/2029

100,000

100,000

02 Jan 2020

33p

02/01/2023 to 01/01/2030

1,200,000

 

31 Oct 2020

9p

31/10/2021 to 30/10/2028

186,400

 

30 Nov 2020

16p

30/11/2021 to 29/11/2028

104,900

 

31 Dec 2020

13p

31/12/2021 to 30/12/2028

129,100

 

 

 

 

4,634,166

3,013,766

 

The share options are exercisable at a price equal to the average quoted market price of the Company's shares on the date of grant. The vesting period is 3 years from the date of grant and the share price must be a minimum of 60p, with the exception of the options issued since 2018 which have a target price of 50p, and the options issued in 2020 in exchange for salary reduction, which have a 1 year vesting period and no target price. The options are forfeited if the employee leaves the Group before the options vest. Details of these share options are summarised in the table below:

 

 

 

2020

Number of share options

2020

Weighted average exercise price

2019

Number of share options

2019

Weighted average exercise price

Brought forward 1 January

3,013,766

44p

1,907,389

50p

Forfeited in the period

 

 

(93,623)

50p

Issued in the period

1,620,400

28p

1,200,000

35p

Outstanding at 31 December

4,634,166

38p

3,013,766

44p

Exercisable at end of the period

1,713,766

50p

963,766

50p

 

 

No options were exercised in the period.

The fair value of the share options was calculated using the Black Scholes model. There is a charge of £279,756 taken though the income statement (2019: £34,000).

The inputs are as follows:

 

2020

2019

Closing price of Safestay Plc

16.0p

32.5p

Weighted average share price

18.8p

34.5p

Weighted average exercise price

38.0p

43.6p

Expected volatility

40%

37%

Average vesting period

3 years

3 years

 

 

 

Risk free rate

0.50%

0.50%

Expected dividend yield

0.00%

0.00%

 

The expected volatility percentage was derived from the quoted share prices since flotation.

 

 

20.  NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENT

 

 

 

2020

£'000

 

2019

£'000

 

Loss before tax

(10,084)

(635)

Adjustments for:

 

 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortisation and impairment of intangible assets

5,690

3,512

Finance cost

2,693

2,440

  Share based payment charge

279

34

Exchange movements

(8)

(2)

Rent forgiveness

(904)

-

Changes in working capital:

 

 

Decrease/(Increase) in inventory

39

(39)

(Increase) in trade and other receivables

(244)

(170)

(Decrease) in trade and other payables

(1,689)

305

Net cash from operating activities

(4,228)

5,445

 

21.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Group has taken advantage of the exemption contained within IAS 24 - 'Related Party Disclosures' from the requirement to disclose transactions between wholly owned group companies as these have been eliminated on consolidation. 

The remuneration of the directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below.

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Short term employee benefits

444

432

Pension

16

14

Share based payment charges

257

34

 

717

480

 

Further information about the remuneration of individual directors is provided in the Directors' Remuneration Report.

Details of directors share options is provided in the Directors' Remuneration Report on page 30 and has been audited.

22.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Capital management

Total Capital is calculated as equity, as shown in the consolidated statement of financial position, plus debt.

The Board's policy is to maintain a strong capital base with a view to underpinning investor, creditor and market confidence and sustaining the future development of the business. Capital consists of ordinary shares, other capital reserves and retained earnings. To this end, the Board monitors the Group's performance at both a corporate and individual asset level and sets internal guidelines for interest cover and gearing.

The executive directors monitor the Group's current and projected financial position against these guidelines. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

 

 

2020

  £'000

Restated

2019

  £'000

Restated

1 Jan 2019

  £'000

Share capital

647

647

647

Share premium account

23,904

23,904

23,904

Retained earnings

(12,487)

(4,806)

(3,846)

Merger reserve

1,772

1,772

1,772

Share based payment reserve

438

159

125

Revaluation reserve

14,114

14,114

4,861

Translation reserve

63

59

106

Bank loans

28,380

17,860

18,389

Property financing loans

12,240

12,227

11,043

Lease liabilities

38,580

35,904

10,161

 

The Group has no externally imposed capital requirements.

In 2015, the Group acquired the trade and assets of the Smart City hostel in Blackfriars Street in Edinburgh, currently trading as Smart City Hostel by Safestay, Edinburgh. Transaction costs of £643k were incorrectly capitalized as part of the cost of the property, plant and equipment acquired rather than recognised as an expense through the application of the guidance set out in paragraph 53 of IFRS 3, 'Business Combinations'.

 

The effect of this error was to understate both the reported loss and total comprehensive expense for the period attributable to the owners of the parent for the year ended 31 December 2015 by £643k and overstate property, plant and equipment by the same amount.

In 2016, the property acquired in the above-mentioned business combination was revalued. The effect of the uncorrected error above meant that the revaluation movement reported in other comprehensive income and the corresponding increase in the revaluation reserve was understated by £643k for the year ended 31 December 2016.

 

This error has been corrected in these financial statements by a restatement of prior year balances. The effect of the correction has been to increase previously reported retained losses by £643k with a corresponding increase to the previously reported revaluation reserve.

Significant Accounting Policies

Details of the significant accounting policies and methods adopted, including the criteria for recognition, the basis of measurement and the basis on which income and expenses are recognised, in respect of each class of financial asset, financial liability and equity instruments are disclosed in note 1 to these financial statements and in the tables below:

 

 

 

Categories of financial instruments

At 31 December 2020, the Group held the following financial assets:

 

2020

  £'000

2019

  £'000

Trade and other receivables (note 12)

1,679

1,031

Cash and cash equivalents

2,125

2,954

 

3,804

3,985

 

At 31 December 2020, the Group held the following financial liabilities:

 

 

2020

  £'000

Restated

2019

  £'000

Restated

1 Jan 2019

  £'000

Bank loans (note 15)

28,114

17,678

18,125

Property financing loans (note 15)

12,240

12,227

11,043

Lease liabilities (note 16)

38,580

35,904

10,161

Trade and other payables (note 14)

1,386

2,134

2,233

 

80,320

67,943

41,562

 

All financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost.

The carrying amounts of the Group's bank loans and overdrafts, lease obligations and trade and other payables approximate to their fair value.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financial Liability Movements

 

 

Restated

Long term borrowings

Short term borrowings

Total


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

At 1 January 2019 (restated)

28,825

343

10,161

39,329

Cash flows





Repayment of bank loans

(94)

(353)

-

(447)

Repayment of property finance loans (restated)

(331)

10

-

(321)

Repayment of lease liabilities (restated)

-

-

(2,917)

(2,917)

Proceeds received for property financing transaction

1,180

-

-

1,180

Non-cash





Reclassification

(348)

348

27,212

27,212

Imputed interest and amortisation of fees (restated)

406

(81)

1,448

1,773

At 31 December 2019 (restated)

29,638

267

35,904

65,809

 

 





At 1 January 2020

29,638

267

35,904

65,809

Cash flows





Repayment of lease liabilities

-

-

(2,514)

(2,514)

Repayment of property finance loans

(331)

-

-

(331)

Proceeds received

10,361

159

-

10,520

Loan and refinancing fees

(174)

(102)

-

(276)

Non-cash





Reclassification

130

(130)

-

-

Refinance related fees write off

76

25

-

101

New leases and extension

-

-

4,536

4,536

Imputed interest and amortisation of fees

343

92

1,558

1,993

Rent forgiveness

-

-

(904)

(904)

At 31 December 2020

40,043

311

38,580

78,934

 

 

 

The 2019 movements have been restated to reflect the reclass of the property finance transactions relating to Edinburgh and Elephant and Castle to borrowings from lease liabilities.

 

As outlined in note 16 and statement of financial position leases have been retrospectively restated as at 31st December 2018 and 31st December 2019 to reflect the restatement of leases on Edinburgh Hostel and Elephant and Castle property financing to borrowings.

 

Repayment of property finance loans of £331k have been separated from the payment of lease liabilities in 2019. This has resulted in a reduction of repayment of lease liabilities from (£3.239m) to (£2.917m), with the corresponding difference included within repayment of property finance

Loans in 2019.

 

 

 

2020

   '000

 2019

  £'000

 

 

 

Total liabilities

(78,934)

(65,809)

Cash and cash equivalents

2,125

2,954

Net Debt

76,809

62,855

 

 

 

 

Financial risk management

The Group's financial instruments comprise bank loans and overdrafts, Lease liabilities, cash and cash equivalents, and various items within trade and other receivables and payables that arise directly from its operations.

The main risks arising from the financial instruments are credit risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk. The Board reviews and agrees policies for managing these risks which are detailed below.

Credit risk

The principal credit risk arises from bookings where the customer does not show up and the beds cannot be resold. The terms and conditions of any future booking received in advance requires the payment of a 10% deposit which is non-refundable. This policy ensures that the risk of customers not fulfilling their booking is reduced.

The Group does not have a significant concentration of credit risk, as the majority of its revenue is in cash. At the balance sheet date, the Company was exposed to a maximum credit risk of £1.7m, of which £0.02m was overdue. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of receivable.

The Group's policy is to write off trade receivables and other receivables when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery of the balance due. Indicators that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery depend on the type of debtor/customer and include a debt being over 12 months old, the failure of the debtor to engage in a repayment plan and the failure to recover any amounts through enforcement activity. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against other net operating charges in the income statement.

If there is no independent rating, an assessment is made of the credit quality of the customer, taking into account its financial position, past experience and other factors. Individual credit limits are set based on internal or external ratings in accordance with limits set by the Board. The utilisation of and adherence to credit limits is regularly monitored.

The financial assets of the Group which are subject to the expected credit loss model under IFRS 9 'Financial Instruments' comprise finance lease receivables, trade receivables and other receivables. Other cash deposits and cash and cash equivalents are also subject to the impairment requirements of IFRS 9 however the impairment loss is immaterial.

Cash deposits with financial institutions and derivative transactions are permitted with investment-grade financial institutions only. There have been no such significant increase in credit risk of financial instruments since initial recognition

Interest rate risk

The Group's interest rate risk arises from long-term borrowings.  Borrowings at variable rate expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk which is partially offset by cash held at variable rates. 

Liquidity risk

All of the Group's long-term bank borrowings are secured on the Group's property portfolio. If the value of the portfolio were to fall significantly, the Group risk breaching borrowing covenants. The Board regularly review the Group's gearing levels, cash flow projections and associated headroom and ensure that excess banking facilities are available for future use.

As outlined in going concern note 1, the business has been severely impacted by the travel restrictions and ability to meet its banking covenants as a result of Covid-19. The company produces an annual cashflow forecasts based on agreed budgets, and as a result of Covid-19 have monitored the cashflow forecasts on a weekly basis.

The business continued to manage its liquidity risk with the renewal of its debt facility with HSBC on the 13th January 2020 with a new facility of £22.9m for 5 years until 2025. In addition, a £5.0m bank CBILs facility was secured for 6 years on 16th December 2020, which is interest free for the first year increasing to 3.9% + base rate from year 2.

The business continues to service is debt and make the interest payments as they fall due. There are no off balance sheet financing arrangements or contingent liabilities.

While liquidity remains closely monitored the Sea Hostel was sold February 2021 for a £0.8m consideration, and Edinburgh Hostel was sold for £16m. The monthly cost base was reduced from £1.0 million to £0.6 million during the first lockdown, and further reduced to £0.35 million since the second wave of lockdowns in November 2020. The Sea disposal and sale of Edinburgh would provide sufficient headroom to manage liquidity in the short term, through to the end of December 2022, even if the impact of Covid-19 continued or the hostels remained closed. See note 1 going concern accounting policy.

However, the covenants of the existing debt facility were waived since June 2020. From June 2021 they are adjusted and replaced with adjusted EBITDA targets reflecting the current performances of the hostels since the first lockdown in April 2020. They will revert to the contractual covenants from September 2022 when it is expected that the Group will have enough trading history from the re-opening of the hostels in July 2021 to meet the 12 month historic Interest Cover (ICR) and Debt Service Cover (DSCR) ratios. Although the Company will meet its adjusted EBITDA targets and covenants under the base case scenario, a reduction of 10% in the sales versus base case would trigger a breach in the adjusted EBITDA target test from June 2022 and the DSCR historic ratio from September 2022. See note 1 going concern accounting policy.

Foreign currency risk

The group is exposed to foreign currency risk from overseas subsidiaries with group transactions carried out in Euros. Exposures to currency exchange rates arise from the Group's overseas sales and purchases, which are primarily denominated in Euros.

This risk is mitigated by each hostel holding a denominated bank account in the country of operation. The group monitors cashflows and considers foreign currency risk when making intra-group transfers.

Foreign transactions are translated into the functional currency at the exchange rate ruling when the transaction is entered. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions, and from the translation at year end exchange rates, of monetary assets and liabilities are recognised in the income statement.

Interest rate risk management

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on its borrowings. The £22.9 million main facility has an interest rate of 2.45% above the London inter-bank offer rate (LIBOR). When the £10 million from Edinburgh sale proceeds is used to reduce the debt in July 2021, LIBOR will be replaced with 2.95% SONIA. The £5 million CBILS in interest free in year 1 and has an interest rate of 3.9% above base rate from year 2 until it is fully repaid at the end of year 6. The Group carefully manages its interest rate risk on an ongoing basis.

Interest rate sensitivity

The sensitivity analysis in the paragraph below has been determined based on the exposure to interest rates for all borrowings subject to interest charges at the statement of financial position date. For floating rate liabilities, the analysis is prepared assuming the amount of the liability outstanding at the statement of financial position date was outstanding for the whole year. A 0.25% increase or decrease is used when reporting interest rate risk internally to key management and represents management's assessment of the reasonably possible change in interest rates.

Based on bank borrowings, at 31 December 2020, if interest rates were 0.5% higher or (lower) and all other variables were held constant, the Group's net profit would increase or decrease by £140,000 (2019: £90,000). This is attributable to the Group's exposure to interest rates on its variable rate borrowings.

Credit risk management

Credit risk refers to the risk that counterparties will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. Customers' bookings received in advance are made with a 10% non-refundable deposit to reduce the risk of lost revenue from a cancellation. The Group is not exposed to any other material credit risk.

Liquidity risk management

Ultimate responsibility for liquidity risk management rests with the Board of directors. The Board manages liquidity risk by regularly reviewing the Group's gearing levels, cash flow projections and associated headroom and ensuring that excess banking facilities are available for future use. All of the Group's long-term bank borrowings are secured on the Group's property portfolio.

Liquidity and interest risk analysis

The following tables detail the Group's remaining contractual maturity for all financial liabilities. The tables have been drawn up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group can be required to pay including interest.

 

 

 

 

Less than 1 year

£'000

 

1-2 years

£'000

 

3-5 years

£'000

Later than

5 years

£'000

 

Total

£'000

 

 

 

 

 

 

Variable interest rate borrowings

389

1,624

4,453

21,914

28,380

Property financing borrowings

331

331

993

18,016

19,671

Trade and other payables

1,407

336

-

-

1,743

Lease liabilities

3,466

3,466

10,301

47,138

64,371

 

5,593

5,757

15,747

87,068

114,165

 

The above amounts reflect the contractual undiscounted cash flows, which may differ to the carrying values of the liabilities at the reporting date.

The repayment of the £5 million CBILS will start in April 2022. The repayment under 1 year relates to the £22.9 million debt facility for £57,500 per quarter, and the repayment of the government backed loan in Vienna for £80,000 per semester. It was however agreed with HSBC that the main debt facility would be interest only from July 2021 after the disposal of Edinburgh which involves a £10.0 million debt repayment to HSBC.

23.  FAIR VALUES OF NON-FINANCIAL ASSETS

The following table shows the levels within the hierarchy of non-financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

 

 

 

Level 1

£'000

Level 2

£'000

Level 3

£'000

Total

£'000

2019

 

 

 

 

Freehold Property

-

-

7,998

7,998

Leasehold Property

-

-

41,126

41,126

 

-

-

49,124

49,124

2020

 

 

 

 

Freehold Property

-

-

8,411

8,411

Leasehold Property

-

-

41,126

41,126

 

-

-

49,537

49,537

 

The group's freehold and leasehold property asset is estimated based on appraisals performed by independent, professionally qualified property valuers. The significant inputs and assumptions are developed in close consultation with management. The valuation process and fair value changes are reviewed by the directors at each reporting date.

At 31 December 2020 no adjustment to the fair value of leasehold properties was required.

 

24.  Business combinations

See accounting policy in note 1.

· On 14th January 2020, the Group acquired the leasehold of an existing 132 bed hostel in Athens via a newly registered Greek subsidiary of Safestay plc, for a consideration of €1.5m paid in full at acquisition.

· On 30th January 2020, the Group acquired an existing entity registered in Poland which owned the leasehold of a 158 bed hostel in Warsaw. At the same date, the Group acquired an existing entity registered in Slovakia which owned the leasehold of a 124 bed hostel in Bratislava. Both entities were acquired from the same party, Dream Management Group Ltd, for a consideration with €0.6m paid at completion and the outstanding amount in November 2020 for €0.3m.


Athens

Warsaw

Bratislava

2020

2019

Number of sites purchased




3

3

Fair value

£'000 

£'000 

£'000 

 '000

 '000

Property, plant & equipment

  2,092

1,179 

  825

4,096

5,437

Intangible assets

-

-

-

-

2

Current assets

1

233

-

234

40

Cash

-

64

4

68

192

Debt

(1,964)

(732)

(515)

(3,211)

-

Deferred revenue, trade & other payables

(9)

(1,351)

(503)

(1,863)

(104)

Goodwill

1,210

620

917

2,747

1,747

Consideration






Net cash paid on acquisition

1,330

13

728

2,071

7,314

Total Consideration

1,330

13

728

2,071

7,314

 

 

Goodwill recognised on each acquisition reflects the future growth of the Group and represent the first stage in establishing a pan-European network of Safestay Hostels. All goodwill acquired has been allocated to a cash generating unit.

The Board reviewed each business on acquisition for its separately identifiable assets:

· Brand - the hostels were purchased from two selling entities, each with a large portfolio of hostels that are continuing to trade under their original brand names.  For this reason, management do not attribute the future earnings to the brands purchased; the key asset purchased is the future potential of each hostel as operated under the Safestay management team, and as an extension of the existing Safestay portfolio.

· Advanced deposits - each acquisition resulted in the purchase of advanced deposits taken under previous management that would result in potential sales whilst under Safestay control.  The Board quantified the value of contracted sales under their original terms of sale and found the contracts to be immaterial at acquisition. 

· Property, plant and equipment - the Board reviewed the asset registers of each entity and performed an impairment of each.  The book value of assets was agreed to represent the fair value of each asset class.

· Intangible assets - the Board reviewed the agreements with customers and found no intangible assets for capitalisation.

 

The Group incurred acquisition costs of £0.1 million on legal fees and due diligence costs. These have been charged to operating exceptional items in the Consolidated Income Statement.

The acquisitions have contributed the following revenue and operating profits to the Group in the year ended 31 December 2020 from the date of acquisition.

 

 

 


Athens

Warsaw

Bratislava


£'000

£'000

£'000

Revenue

115

129

31

Operating profit

(179)

(201)

(151)

 

It is not practicable to identify the related cash flows, revenue and profit on an annualised basis as the months for which the businesses have been controlled by Safestay are not indicative of the annualised figures especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pre-acquisition trading results are not indicative of the trading expectation under Safestay's stewardship; the Group deployed its Property Management System and digital marketing platform and updated internal processes.

 

25.  POST REPORTING DATE EVENTS

· On 2 March 2021, the Group completed the disposal of the smallest of its three hostels in Barcelona, called Barcelona Sea to Beds and Foods Barcelona s.l.u. The consideration for the leasehold site with 96 beds was £0.8 million. The sale proceeds were used to repay the majority of the final element of the acquisition consideration due to Equity Point Holding Empresarial totalling £1.0 million, for the purchase in 2018 of the Barcelona hostel located in the avenue of Passeig de Gràcia, a much larger hostel offering 351 beds.

 

· On 26 March 2021, the Group entered into a sale and purchase Agreement to sell the Edinburgh Hostel to A&O for a cash consideration of £16.0 million. The transaction involved the sale of the Safestay Edinburgh Holdings Ltd entity, which owns the 150 year lease interest in the building under a ground lease agreement with Imperial Tobacco, and the transfer of the Hostel business from Safestay Edinburgh Hostel Ltd. Part of the proceeds of the disposal will be used to reduce debt with HSBC by £10.0 million. The Transaction was conditional upon Shareholder approval which was obtained at a general meeting of the Company held on 30 April 2021. The agreement includes other conditions precedent which are listed In the General Meeting Notice released on 1 April 2021. The sale completed on 30th June 2021.

 

· The Group is currently not committed to any future acquisition projects or development.

 

· In March 2021, the Chancellor has confirmed an increase in the main CT rate from 19 to 25 percent with effect from 1 April 2023. This would have a £0.4 million positive impact on the amount of Company deferred tax.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

RNS may use your IP address to confirm compliance with the terms and conditions, to analyse how you engage with the information contained in this communication, and to share such analysis on an anonymised basis with others as part of our commercial services. For further information about how RNS and the London Stock Exchange use the personal data you provide us, please see our Privacy Policy.
 
END
 
 
FR QBLFXFDLBBBV

Companies

Safestay (SSTY)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings