The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The directors are satisfied with the performance of all the group’s activities during the year.
The results for the year show a slight decrease in turnover to £20.76m from £20.79m. Gross profit over the year has increased to £3.1m from £2.1m.
Performance from Britdeals Ltd, the parent of the group, assisted by dividends received by subsidiary company Eurotronics EOOD, enabled Britdeals Ltd to pay dividends in 2023 to the parent company.
The Group's principal risk is considered to be the impairment of stock and exposure to fluctuating currency exchange rates.
The operations of the holding company are based in the UK. The Group's two subsidiaries have major operations which are located in Bulgaria and Panama respectively, with trade being conducted in their functional currency.
The operations in Panama are currently dormant while management determines the next course of action in the region.
At each reporting date, the results of these overseas entities are translated into sterling, being the presentation and functional currency for Britdeals Ltd.
Any fluctuations in currency exchange rates increase the risk of the Group incurring significant foreign exchange losses which risk eroding the Group's overall profitability and ability to pay dividends.
Britdeals Limited is relatively a new operation within the UK that has accumulated losses since incorporation.
Our key operation in the UK involves significant trading with Amazon which matches our worldwide operations. The Group as a whole is involved with acquiring excess inventory from Amazon at discounted prices and then reselling it to wholesalers and retailers at a premium or mark up. The balance of the Group's business consists of the wholesaling of brand name consumer goods purchased from various general merchandise vendors when they are in an overstocked position, hence our ability to acquire such products for a discounted price.
Instinctively, the ability to become well established in any market takes time and patience, mainly because the manufacturers and distributors at first are unaware of our presence as we enter a new market. Typically, it takes a few years to acquire sufficient products and to develop markets for our products. In addition, the uncertainties created by Brexit also contributed to the slower than expected growth in the business.
The company had refrained from making long-term business commitments to vendors even though these opportunities presented significant value to the company in terms of sales and profits. The company continued operation as much as possible throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, with no employees furloughed. Sales slowed, but the company survived the pandemic without significant impairment to the business.
In our opinion, these are the reasons why UK operations have accumulated losses since incorporation. However, the post year-end performance is strong and management is confident that the company will continue to build on the profitable performance achieved in 2023.
From a group wide perspective, we are now at a point where our core suppliers can adequately supply us with sufficient product bases that are for the most part well known branded items which we will be selling to our developing customer base.
Our employee base is sufficient in number and adequately trained such that as we increase our business, they will be able to cope with the increased demand. Our warehouse and office staff levels are sufficient for the foreseeable future.
Knight Rock Holdings Corp (the US parent company) has assigned its most experienced senior executive to directly oversee the day to day operation of the business.
Knight Rock Holdings Corp has sufficient assets and strong cash reserves to sustain this operation for the foreseeable future and, if necessary, provide adequate resources to fund the Group. We anticipate developing operations in the UK and Bulgaria such that the Group will be sufficiently profitable in 2024 .
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The results for the year are set out on page 8.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £728,472. 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:
Lopian Gross Barnett & Co were appointed as auditor to the group and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.
We have audited the financial statements of Britdeals Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the group profit and loss account, the group statement of comprehensive income, 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, the company 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.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
We obtained an understanding of laws and regulations that affect the entity, focusing on those that had a direct effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on its operations.
Where considered necessary we enquired of the those charged with governance, reviewed correspondence and reviewed meeting minutes for evidence of non-compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
We gained an understanding of the controls environment which includes the controls in place to prevent and detect fraud. We enquired of the those charged with governance about any incidences of fraud that had taken place during the accounting period.
The risk of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud was discussed within the audit team and tests were planned and performed to address these risks.
We reviewed financial statements disclosures to assess compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
We enquired of those charged with governance about actual and potential litigation and claims.
We performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that might indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud.
In addressing the risk of fraud due to management override of internal controls we tested the appropriateness of journal entries and assessed whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates were indicative of a potential bias.
Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations and cannot be expected to detect all fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
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.
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions relating to medium-sized groups.
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 £957,123 (2022 - £280,174 profit).
Britdeals Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 100 New Bridge Street, London, United Kingdom, EC4V 6JA.
The group consists of Britdeals 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.
The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of Britdeals Limited and all of its subsidiaries (ie entities that the group controls through its power to govern the financial and operating policies so as to obtain economic benefits). Subsidiaries acquired during the year are consolidated using the purchase method. Their results are incorporated from the date that control passes.
All financial statements are made up to 31 December 2023.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.
Subsidiaries have been included in the group financial statements using the purchase method of accounting. Accordingly, the group profit and loss account and statement of cash flows include the results and cash flows of subsidiaries.The purchase consideration has been allocated to the assets and liabilities on the basis of fair value at the date of acquisition.
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 represents amounts received for wholesale and retail sale of goods.
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer (usually on dispatch of the goods), the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.
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.
Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use.
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.
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.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the group.
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.
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.
Impairment of stock: FRS102 requires that stock is held at lower of cost & NRV. A provision is required as necessary. The directors have objective criteria in order to impair stock, however, the directors acknowledge that there is a degree of estimation uncertainty in calculating impairing slow & non-moving stock or loss making stock.
Exchange differences recognised in profit or loss during the year amounted to a gain of £54,678 (2022 - £14,724 loss).
In the Statement of Comprehensive Income the £29,596 loss on currency translation arises from the consolidation of the foreign entities into the group accounts. The £54,678 relates to foreign exchange and losses arises out of trading of the group entities.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
As total directors' remuneration was less than £200,000 in the current year, no disclosure is provided for that year.
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:
There are £985,475 of unutilised tax losses within the parent company (2022: £1,342,883 ).
Foreign currency translation differences have occurred in the current and prior year because Britdeals Ltd's subsidiaries operate in overseas jurisdictions under their jurisdiction's functional currency and present their Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet items in those respective currencies. Eurotronics EOOD operates in Bulgaria and presents its Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet in Bulgarian Lev, while Electro Int SRL operates in Panama and presents its Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet in US Dollars.
At each reporting date, the overseas subsidiaries' Profit and Loss and Balance Sheet is translated into Sterling with the resulting gain or loss on translation being recognised in Other Comprehensive Income.
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 December 2023 are as follows:
There are no financial instruments held at fair value.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:
The deferred tax asset set out above is expected to reverse in more than 12 months and relates to the utilisation of tax losses against future expected profits of the same nature of trading.
Merger relief reserve
A merger relief reserve is recognised in the group to the sum of £22,075,978 following Britdeals acquiring Electro and Eurotronics in a share exchange in a previous year.
There is no corresponding reserve/investment in the parent company due to the investments becoming impaired in previous years.
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:
During the year the group entered into the following transactions with related parties:
The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:
The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:
Dividends of £728,472 (2022: £194,804) were paid to the controlling party during the year.