The Limners and Bards Limited

What it is

The Limners and Bards — universally called “The LAB” — runs advertising, media placement and production activities in Jamaica through three segments: Production, Media, and Agency. Its services range from animation, studio space and crew hire to integrated brand campaigns, media planning, and social analytics.

The company was formerly known as The Production Lab Limited, changed its name in April 2014, and was incorporated in 2009, based in Kingston. It made history in 2019 as the first advertising agency of its kind to list on the Junior Market of the Jamaica Stock Exchange.

Who owns it

The Limners and Bards operates as a subsidiary of Kimala Bennett Private Company Limited — a private holding vehicle controlled by its founder and CEO. The exact ownership percentage held by that vehicle is not disclosed in available sources, though the free float of minority shareholders trades on the JSE Junior Market.

The group’s consolidated results also include subsidiary Scope Caribbean Limited, whose principal business is the scouting, placement and management of talent, mainly in the influencer space.

Who runs it

Kimala Bennett is founder and CEO of The LAB. The most recent full-year financials were signed by Bennett, who noted investments in facilities, content, and talent.

Steven Gooden serves as chairman of the company. The CFO is not disclosed in available sources.

The money, in plain words

For the twelve months ended October 31, 2025, The LAB brought in JMD 920.2 million (USD 5.9 million) in sales — a 4% drop from JMD 958.1 million (US$6 mn) the year before. It kept JMD 40.2 million (USD 0.26 million) as net profit — a net margin of 4.4%, thin for a services business, and down sharply from the prior year’s 8.7% (our calculations).

Net profit fell 52%, from JMD 83 million (US$531 k) to JMD 40.2 million (US$257 k). The squeeze came mainly from administrative costs rising 9% to JMD 306 million (US$2 mn), even as revenue fell — the classic shape of a company spending ahead of growth it has not yet captured.

Return on equity, the profit earned per dollar shareholders own, came to about 5.9% — adequate but well below the double-digit levels The LAB posted earlier in the decade (our calculation).

The gross margin — what remains after paying directly for the work — held at 38%, one percentage point better than the prior year, showing the core business still prices its services well. Cash on hand was JMD 327.9 million (USD 2.1 million), down 16% as the company deployed funds into its content strategy.

What it is doing now

As part of a plan to produce five films over the medium term — branded the “Five in ’25” programme — the company had already delivered three films, with a fourth entering production in January 2026. Following the release of Love Offside, which premiered at the American Black Film Festival in Miami, distribution deals are now on the table.

The most recent interim figures, for the six months ended April 30, 2026, show revenue fell a further 27% year-on-year to JMD 337.8 million (US$2 mn), and the group recorded a net loss of JMD 13.5 million (US$86 k) for the half-year — the investment phase is still biting. To drive its next phase of growth, The LAB hired a chief business development officer to spearhead new client acquisitions and strategic partnerships.

What to watch

• Film revenues: The global content market is projected to reach USD 500 billion by 2030, and The LAB invested over JMD 130 million (US$832 k) in content development in 2025. Whether distribution deals convert to real cash flow in FY2026 is the pivotal test.
• Revenue recovery: Jamaica’s advertising market faces cautious client spending; The LAB is broadening into broadcasting and digital platforms to reduce reliance on traditional advertising.
• Cost control: Administrative expenses rose 9% in a year when sales fell 4% — that gap must close for the profit margin to recover toward the 15%+ levels seen in peak years.
• Ownership transparency: The exact stake held by Kimala Bennett Private Company Limited is not yet publicly quantified; greater disclosure would reduce the risk premium investors attach to the stock.
• Valuation: The share price was JMD 1.00 (US$0.01)as at June 12, 2026, implying a trailing price-to-earnings ratio of around 155× on thin earnings — a multiple that only makes sense if the content strategy delivers a meaningful profit rebound.

This is news, not investment advice.