The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2023.
The results for the year are shown on page 9 of the financial statements.
This represents the second set of results for the Group at this level since the management buyout of the trading group towards the end of February 2021. The comparative results therefore represent the first 13 months since then whilst the current year is a standard 12 month reporting period.
Ignoring the fact the prior period is a 13 month period, the directors are very pleased to report an increase in turnover of £5,443,390 (27%) on the prior year. The groups main and largest subsidiaries in the Group being Acumen Distribution Limited and Acumen Automotive Logistics Limited have both performed very well and have been able to take advantage of a number of opportunities which have helped drive this increase.
These new opportunities have also helped drive an increase in gross profit margin of 18.4% compared to 9.3% last year which is especially pleasing.
Whilst administration costs are showing a reduction compared to the prior year this is partly due to the profit obtained from the disposal of older fleet vehicles as show in note 5 to the accounts. Once these are removed administration costs have remained consistent and well controlled despite the increase in activity.
The reported operating profit of £3,335,681 compared to £527,715 last year is a fantastic achievement by the Group.
The Group balance sheet on page 10 again shows a much-improved position. Cash reserves are healthy at £1,354,238 and the net current asset position has improved to £1,671,354
Following the results achieved this year the company has increased its net asset position to £3,572,944.
Whilst there have been a number of challenges in the industry in recent times with Covid, worldwide microchip shortages, driver shortages the company has done well to come through all of these and the directors are pleased with results that the company has been able to achieve and look forward to the future.
Management continually monitor the key risks facing the Group, together with assessing the controls used for
managing these risks. The board of directors formally reviews and documents the principal risks facing the business at least annually.
Microchip shortage
Since the spring of 2021 all UK automotive manufacturers (and a lot of other sectors) have been affected, to varying degrees, by a global shortage of microchips which is a knock-on effect from the Covid 19 pandemic. As an automotive logistics business, all the company’s activities are impacted by this reduced production to some extent. Although the situation is now easing, the directors will continue to take steps to lessen the financial impact of this issue until the point at which there is a full return to normal trading.
Driver Shortages
As has been well publicised, there is an acute shortage of HGV drivers in the UK, which has put significant upward pressure on wages. As a logistics group the business cannot operate and service its customers without experienced drivers, so the directors have resolved to continue to pay competitive market rates and when contractually possible, pass these increased costs on to customers.
Legislative
The group has systems and procedures in place to ensure compliance with, and to manage, the impact of changes in Government legislation such as the Working Time Directive, TUPE, fuel duty, vehicle operating procedures, environmental and vehicle emission requirements.
Financial and Liquidity
The group's forecasts and projections show that the group will be able to operate within its current facilities for a period of at least the next 12 months. Management continues to monitor and control working capital and capital expenditure requirements very closely.
The directors review internal management accounts on a monthly basis and consider their detailed review of operating margins and compliance as the best indicator of performance and position of the business.
Future Developments
The directors aim to continue in the group’s traditional markets of inbound and outbound automotive logistics but are also well placed to take advantage of new opportunities available. They believe there will be further good opportunities to further develop profitably, with a modern reliable fleet and a stable retained workforce.
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023.
The results for the year are set out on page 9.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £5,714. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
The company is exposed to the following risks from its financial instruments:
- Liquidity risk
- Credit risk
The directors have overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Company's risk management framework.
The exposure to the above risks are monitored by the Board of Directors as part of its daily management of the Company's activities.
Liquidity risk
In order to maintain liquidity to ensure that sufficient funds are available for ongoing operations and future developments, the company uses a mixture of long-term and short-term debt finance.
Credit risk
The company's principal financial assets are bank balances and cash, trade and other receivables.
The amounts presented in the balance sheet are net of allowances for doubtful receivables. An allowance for impairment is made where there is an identified evidence of a reduction in the recoverability of the cash flows.
The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit-ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies.
We have audited the financial statements of Acumen Logistics Group Holdings Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the group profit and loss account, the group balance sheet, the company balance sheet, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity, the group statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group's and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:
the information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
the strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.
As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the parent company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.
We are not responsible for preventing irregularities. Our approach to detecting irregularities included, but was not limited to, the following:
• obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the entity and how the entity is complying with that framework;
• obtaining an understanding of the entity's policies and procedures and how the entity has complied with these, through discussions and walkthrough testing;
• obtaining an understanding of the entity's risk assessment process, including the risk of fraud;
• enquiring of management as to actual and potential fraud, litigation and claims;
• designing our audit procedures to respond to our risk assessment;
• performing audit testing over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness and evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business;
• assessing whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates set out in note 2 were indicative of potential bias; and
• performing analytical procedures to identify any large, unusual or unexpected relationships.
Whilst considering how our audit work addressed the detection of irregularities, we also consider the likelihood of detection based on our approach. Irregularities arising from fraud are inherently more difficult to detect than those arising from error.
Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s profit for the year was £224,339 (2022 - £1,997,507 profit).
Acumen Logistics Group Holdings Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company limited by share capital, domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Acumen House, Park Circle, Tithe Barn Way, Swan Valley, Northampton, NN4 9BH.
The group consists of Acumen Logistics Group Holdings Limited and all of its subsidiaries.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the company. Control is achieved where the company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the Profit and Loss Account from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those used by the group.
The purchase method of accounting is used to account for business combinations that result in the acquisition of subsidiaries by the group. The cost of a business combination is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange, plus costs directly attributable to the business combination. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. Any excess of the cost of the business combination over the acquirer’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised is recorded as goodwill.
Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between the company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, are eliminated in full.
Intra-group losses are also eliminated but may indicate an impairment that requires recognition in the consolidated financial statements.
Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the group. Non-controlling interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are identified separately from the group’s equity therein. Non-controlling interests consist of the amount of those interests at the date of the original business combination and the non-controlling shareholder’s share of changes in equity since the date of the combination.
At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts and settlement discounts.
Sales are recognised in the accounting period in which the service is rendered, by reference to completion of
the specific transaction and from contracts for the provision of services is recognised by reference to the stage
of completion when the stage of completion, costs incurred and costs to complete can be estimated reliably.
When cash inflows are deferred and represent a financing arrangement, the fair value of the consideration is
the present value of the future receipts. The difference between the fair value of the consideration and the
nominal amount received is recognised as interest income.
Negative goodwill arising on an acquisition is recognised on the face of the balance sheet on the acquisition date and subsequently the excess up to the fair value of non-monetary assets acquired is recognised in profit or loss in the periods in which the non-monetary assets are recovered.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets 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 in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.
The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.
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 not 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 (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or 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 (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
The group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the group's balance sheet when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amounts presented in the financial statements when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.
Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the group after deducting all of its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
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 profit and loss account 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 reporting end date.
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end 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. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if, and only if, there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.
The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.
The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.
Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.
Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.
A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.
Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.
In the application of the group’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
The following judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.
In assessing whether there have been any indicators of impairment of assets, the directors have considered both external and internal sources of information such as market conditions, counterparty credit ratings and experience of recoverability. There have been no material indicators of impairments identified during the current financial year other than in respect of bad and doubtful trade debtor balances recognised in the financial statements.
The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.
The company establishes a provision for receivables that are estimated not to be recoverable. When assessing recoverability the directors consider factors such as the ageing of receivables, past experience of recoverability, and the credit profile of individual or groups of customers.
Where an indication of impairment exists the directors will carry out an impairment review to determine the recoverable amount, which is the higher of fair value less cost to sell and value in use. The value in use calculation requires the directors to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the asset or the cash generating unit and a suitable discount rate in order to calculate present value.
Determining residual values and useful economic life of tangible fixed assets (property, plant and equipment).
The company depreciates tangible assets over their estimated useful lives. The estimation of the useful lives of assets is based on historic performance as well as expectations about future use and therefore requires estimates and assumptions to be applied by management. The actual lives of these assets can vary depending on a variety of factors, including technological innovation, product life cycles and maintenance programs.
Judgment is applied by management when determining the residual values for tangible fixed assets. When determining the residual value management aim to assess the amount that the company would currently obtain for the disposal of the asset, if it were already of the condition expected at the end of its useful economic life. Where possible this is done with reference to external market prices.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
The actual charge/(credit) for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 March 2023 are as follows:
All of the subsidiaries disclosed above have the same registered office as the company.
Acumen Automotive Logistics Limited
The principal activity of Acumen Automotive Logistics Limited is that of vehicle transportation and deliveries.
Acumen Distribution Limited
The principal activity of Acumen Distribution Limited is that of transportation services.
Acumen Logistics Group Limited
The principal activity of Acumen Logistics Group Limited is that of transportation services.
J & A Transporters Limited
The principal activity of J & A Transporters Limited is that of transportation services.
Paradigm Fleet Services Limited
The principal activity of Paradigm Fleet Services Limited is that of transporter sale, retail of parts and related services.
Acumen Automotive Limited
The principal activity of Acumen Automotive Limited is that of a dormant company.
VAS Limited
The principal activity of VAS Limited is that of a dormant company.
The company has access to group financing facilities with Barclays Bank Plc of up to £5,400,000. At the reporting date the company had drawn down £1,770.134 (2022 - £2,041,071) under the facility. This liability is included in other creditors.
Bank borrowings
Included within the above in bank borrowings is an amount of £293,190 which has been received during a prior year in one of the subsidiary companies under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) (2022 - £353,333). Under the terms of this loan, the repayment period is 60 months after the loan was drawn. As such with all CBILS loans, the government guarantees 80% of the loan however the company has also provided security over the remainder of the loan by way of a debenture over all assets of the company.
All bank facilities are secured by virtue of a fixed and floating charge over the assets of the company and also an unlimited cross guarantee from certain other members of the same group.
Other borrowings
Amounts owed under Hire Purchase and Finance Lease contracts with a carrying amount of £4,856,844 (2022 - £3,045,430) is denominated in sterling. The amounts owed under Hire Purchase and Finance Lease contracts are secured against the related asset.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:
The amount of the net reversal of deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities expected to occur during the year beginning after the reporting period is £370,601 (2022 - £136,046).
A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.
Rights, preferences and restrictions
Ordinary shares have the following rights, preferences and restrictions:
Each share has full rights in the company with respect to voting, dividends and distributions.
The share premium reserve represents an additional amount of funds received by the company exceeding the par value of its shares.
The profit and loss account represents cumulative profits and losses net of dividends and other adjustments.
At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
Amounts contracted for but not provided in the financial statements:
Since the balance sheet date a subsidiary in the group has acquired, via share buyback, a minority shareholding from a former shareholder.
Acumen Distribution Limited, a subsidiary, paid rent on behalf of the group of £33,929 (2022 - £33,066) to Acumen Partners LLP and the Trustees of C Doughty Private Pension in respect of a property owned by these two entities. J Hodges is a Partner in Acumen Partners LLP. C Doughty is a director of multiple subsidiary companies and a trustee of the pension fund.
The ultimate controlling party is C C C Doughty.