The lease premium and lease inducement fee are detailed in the notes to the accounts of ACL. Copies are available to download from Companies House
Isle of Capri paid an upfront lease premium of circa £6m in 2005/06. This was been allocated to profits over the period of the lease but as the description implies it was paid in full at the start of the lease. It was non returnable and it is quite usual to amortise (or include in profit) such sums on the basis of the length of the lease.
2008 Isle of Capri wanted out of the lease. The remaining lease premium of £4.9m was taken to the profit & loss account in the year to 31/05/09. To get released from the lease Isle of Capri negotiated a lease transfer inducement fee of £6.7m. This sum was paid in full but taken as profit over a period of 7 years (I assume on basis of period left on the lease or till break clause)all perfectly legal, above board and disclosed in the accounts. Had it all gone to profit in 2009 then that year would have shown net profits of £10m for ACL. The effect of that would have been a corporation tax bill plus the trigger of payment to CCC of a super profit levy.
Just to get the accounting right. Yes the £961k each year does contribute to profits. The effect was far greater in the early years than now because of the lower turnovers. There is nothing unusual in the transaction and ACL being a landlord and holding company would be reasonably expected to deal in lease premiums, lease inducement fees and allocating to its best advantage. Whilst you could argue that it distorts profits or turnover, taken over the period of the write downs does it ? (ie start of ACL to 31/05/16 when lease income write off ceases) Because you either take the income as a one off or spread it over the years, the end balance sheet position (ignoring CCC super profits levy and corporation tax) 2016 would be the same.
In fact if they were to write off now in one go what is left of it they could guarantee a profit over £2.7m and a balance sheet of circa £10m in net assets worth
The current key to ACL is not profit in any case it is cash flow. Since 2006 ACL have accumulated reserves (that's all known profits less all foreseeable losses) of £3.8m and a cash surplus over that time of £624k. It has reinvested any profits and cash flow in to its assets and paying down loans but still is on the plus side in all the years to 31/05/13 in total of £624k. The purchase of assets whilst improving the place also increases the depreciation charge and so reduces profit. Each year ACL has a depreciation charge of over £1.3m it deducts from profits, however depreciation is not a sum of money paid over each year it is an accounting estimate of wear and tear. The assets (fixtures, equipment, computers) have been purchased from the cash flow generated
As with SBS&L it pays to look at the whole group because of the various charges etc between individual companies. 2013 was per the accounts produced a year of reorganisation and there are costs and moving of costs to different cost centres that reflect that. Did Compass pay £4m for 23% of IEC Experience Ltd yes - that does not value IEC at £16m it isn't that simple. Has turnover increased yes - from 2006 to 2011 it bumped along at 6 to 7m. Does that turnover include the lease write down each year of £960k yes.
ACL is a very different company to when it negotiated the lease for Isle of Capri.
Question - who is it that actually owes the £590k to ACL ?
Second Question - how much do you think the next four days are worth to ACL compared to one football match over Easter? (and yes I appreciate football in Coventry supporting CCFC is priceless to the fans)