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Registration number: 05069848

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Contents

Company Information

1

Balance Sheet

2

Notes to the Financial Statements

3 to 9

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Company Information

Directors

C A McCormack

I P Plumb

Registered office

Sidney House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 3SP

Auditors

Hazlewoods LLP
Windsor House
Bayshill Road
Cheltenham
GL50 3AT

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

(Registration number: 05069848)
Balance Sheet as at 11 July 2023

Note

11 July 2023
 £

30 September 2022
 £

Fixed assets

 

Intangible assets

4

60,438

72,887

Tangible assets

5

184,630

192,752

 

245,068

265,639

Current assets

 

Stocks

6

67,222

62,826

Debtors: Amounts falling due within one year

7

1,287,221

251,853

Debtors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

7

-

943,977

Cash at bank and in hand

 

616,304

247,959

 

1,970,747

1,506,615

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

8

(834,263)

(735,292)

Net current assets

 

1,136,484

771,323

Total assets less current liabilities

 

1,381,552

1,036,962

Deferred tax liabilities

(31,389)

(34,668)

Net assets

 

1,350,163

1,002,294

Capital and reserves

 

Called up share capital

9

30,600

30,600

Share premium reserve

13,824

13,824

Capital redemption reserve

866

866

Profit and loss account

1,304,873

957,004

Total equity

 

1,350,163

1,002,294

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the special provisions relating to companies subject to the small companies regime within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006.

These financial statements have been delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime and the option not to file the Profit and Loss Account has been taken.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 10 April 2024 and signed on its behalf by:
 


C A McCormack
Director

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

 

1

General information

The company is a private company limited by share capital, incorporated in England and Wales.

The address of its registered office is:
Sidney House
Western Way
Bury St Edmunds
IP33 3SP

 

2

Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 Section 1A smaller entities - 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland' and the Companies Act 2006 (as applicable to companies subject to the small companies' regime).

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention.

The presentational currency of the financial statements is Pounds Sterling, being the functional currency of the primary economic environment in which the company operates. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest Pound.

Disclosure of long or short period

The financial statements cover a period of 284 days. The accounting period has been shortened to bring the year end in line with the date of acquisition by Wick Bidco Limited, the company's new parent undertaking.

Going concern

After reviewing the company's forecasts and projections, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The company therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis in preparing its financial statements.

Prior period errors

Following the acquisition of the company by Wick Bidco Limited, the directors have reallocated the comparative administrative wage costs of £393,495 to cost of sales, in relation to certain categories of practice staff. This has no impact on the overall profit for the comparative period.

Judgements and estimation uncertainty

These financial statements do not contain any significant judgements or estimation uncertainty.

Revenue recognition

Turnover comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and provision of services in the ordinary course of the company’s activities. Turnover is shown net of sales/value added tax, returns and discounts and after eliminating sales within the company. The company recognises revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the entity and specific criteria have been met for each of the company's activities.

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

Tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the profit and loss account, except that a charge attributable to an item of income or expense recognised as other comprehensive income is also recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

The current tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.

Deferred tax is recognised on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements and on unused tax losses or tax credits in the company. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets are reviewed at each reporting date and a valuation allowance is set up against deferred tax assets so that the net carrying amount equals the highest amount that is more likely than not to be recovered based on current or future taxable profit.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are stated in the balance sheet at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.

The cost of tangible assets includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class

Depreciation method and rate

Short leasehold property

Over the term of the lease

Fixtures and surgery equipment

Straight line over 5 years

Motor vehicles

Straight line over 5 years

Intangible assets

Goodwill arising on the acquisition of an entity represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the company’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the entity recognised at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is held in the currency of the acquired entity and revalued to the closing rate at each reporting period date.

Amortisation

Amortisation is provided on intangible assets so as to write off the cost, less any estimated residual value, over their useful life as follows:

Asset class

Amortisation method and rate

Goodwill

Straight line over 5 years

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Trade debtors

Trade debtors are amounts due from customers for merchandise sold or services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. All trade debtors are repayable within one year and hence are included at the undiscounted cost of cash expected to be received. A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the company will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the debtors.

Stocks

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method.

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if the company does not have an unconditional right, at the end of the reporting period, to defer settlement of the creditor for at least twelve months after the reporting date. If there is an unconditional right to defer settlement for at least twelve months after the reporting date, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade creditors are recognised initially at the transaction price and all are repayable within one year and hence are included at the undiscounted amount of cash expected to be paid.

Leases

Leases in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments are measured at the fair value of the cash or other resources received or receivable, net of the direct costs of issuing the equity instruments. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis.

Defined contribution pension obligation

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.

Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

Financial instruments

Classification
Financial instruments are classified and accounted for according to the substance of the contractual arrangement, as financial assets, financial liabilities or equity instruments. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities. Where shares are issued, any component that creates a financial liability of the company is presented as a liability on the balance sheet. The corresponding dividends relating to the liability component are charged as interest expenses in the profit and loss account.

 Recognition and measurement
All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

Financial instruments (continued)

Impairment
Assets, other than those measured at fair value, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each balance sheet date. If there is objective evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss as described below.

A non financial asset is impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after initial recognition, the estimated recoverable value of the asset has been reduced. The recoverable amount of an asset is the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use.

The recoverable amount of goodwill is derived from measurement of the present value of the future cash flows of the cash-generating units ('CGUs') of which the goodwill is a part. Any impairment loss in respect of a CGU is allocated first to the goodwill attached to that CGU, and then to other assets within that CGU on a pro-rata basis.

Where indicators exist for a decrease in impairment loss, the prior impairment loss is tested to determine reversal. An impairment loss is reversed on an individual impaired asset to the extent that the revised recoverable value does not lead to a revised carrying amount higher than the carrying value had no impairment been recognised. Where a reversal of impairment occurs in respect of a CGU, the reversal is applied first to the assets (other than goodwill) of the CGU on a pro-rata basis and then to any goodwill allocated to that CGU.

For financial assets carried at amortised cost, the amount of an impairment is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate.

For financial assets carried at cost less impairment, the impairment loss is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the best estimate of the amount that would be received for the asset if it were to be sold at the reporting date.

Where indicators exist for a decrease in impairment loss, and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the prior impairment loss is tested to determine reversal. An impairment loss is reversed on an individual impaired financial asset to the extent that the revised recoverable value does not lead to a revised carrying amount higher than the carrying value had no impairment been recognised.

 

3

Staff numbers

The average number of persons employed by the company (including directors) during the period, was as follows:

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

 

4

Intangible assets

Goodwill
 £

Cost

At 1 October 2022 and at 11 July 2023

800,000

Amortisation

At 1 October 2022

727,113

Amortisation charge

12,449

At 11 July 2023

739,562

Carrying amount

At 11 July 2023

60,438

At 30 September 2022

72,887

 

5

Tangible assets

Short leasehold property
£

Fixtures and surgery equipment
 £

Motor vehicles
 £

Total
£

Cost

At 1 October 2022

398,611

694,312

10,500

1,103,423

Additions

-

63,123

-

63,123

At 11 July 2023

398,611

757,435

10,500

1,166,546

Depreciation

At 1 October 2022

391,872

508,298

10,500

910,670

Charge for the period

524

70,722

-

71,246

At 11 July 2023

392,396

579,020

10,500

981,916

Carrying amount

At 11 July 2023

6,215

178,415

-

184,630

At 30 September 2022

6,739

186,013

-

192,752

 

6

Stocks

11 July 2023
 £

30 September 2022
 £

Finished goods and consumables

67,222

62,826

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

 

7

Debtors

11 July 2023
 £

30 September 2022
 £

Trade debtors

39,677

109,450

Other debtors

-

100,475

Prepayments

71,096

41,928

Amounts owed by group undertakings

1,176,448

943,977

 

1,287,221

1,195,830

Less non-current portion

-

(943,977)

Total current trade and other debtors

1,287,221

251,853

Details of non-current trade and other debtors

£Nil (2022 - £943,977) of amounts owed by group undertakings is classified as non-current.

 

8

Creditors

11 July 2023
 £

30 September 2022
 £

Due within one year

Trade creditors

366,595

188,598

Amounts due to group undertakings

95,837

78,711

Social security and other taxes

275,125

283,879

Outstanding defined contribution pension costs

-

7,366

Other creditors

-

45,863

Accrued expenses

96,706

130,875

834,263

735,292

 

9

Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares

 

11 July 2023

30 September 2022

 

No.

£

No.

£

Ordinary A shares of £1 each

16,000

16,000

16,000

16,000

Ordinary B shares of £1 each

14,500

14,500

14,500

14,500

Ordinary C shares of £1 each

100

100

100

100

 

30,600

30,600

30,600

30,600

Rights, preferences and restrictions

The different classes of share referred to above carry separate rights to dividends but, in all other significant respects, rank pari passu.

 

Mercer & Hughes Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Period from 1 October 2022 to 11 July 2023

 

10

Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the period represents contributions payable by the company to the scheme and amounted to £17,680 (2022 - £21,404).

Contributions totalling £nil (2022 - £7,366) were payable to the scheme at the end of the period and are included in creditors.

 

11

Financial commitments

Amounts not provided for in the balance sheet

The total amount of financial commitments not included in the balance sheet is £1,880,961 (2022 - £1,985,625).

 

12

Parent and ultimate parent undertaking

Up to 11 July 2023, the immediate parent company was Independent Vetcare Limited, incorporated in England and Wales.

The ultimate parent was Islay New Group Holding SA, incorporated in Luxembourg.

From 12 July 2023, the immediate parent company is Wick Bidco Limited, incorporated in England and Wales.

The ultimate parent is Wick Topco Limited, incorporated in England and Wales.

 

13

Disclosure under Section 444(5B) CA 2006 relating to the independent auditor's report

As permitted by Section 444 CA 2006, these accounts do not contain a copy of the company’s Profit and Loss account or a copy of the Directors’ Report. Accordingly, the Independent Auditors’ Report has also been omitted.

The Independent Auditor's Report was unqualified. The name of the Senior Statutory Auditor who signed the audit report on 10 April 2024 was Simon Worsley, who signed for and on behalf of Hazlewoods LLP.