The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2023.
Performance
Sales in 2023 were inline with the prior year, Gross margin has decreased by 17.85% due to a change in group pricing structure. Administrative expenses have also increased by 11.06%, resulting in a decrease in net profit before tax on prior year.
2023 saw continued disruption to the UK economy and the continuing war in Europe, also some delays in supply chain due to the current shipping concerns via the Red Sea. The motor industry continues to see some constraints around the world with slow recovery on shortage of raw materials, continuing cost increases and disrupted supply chains causing availability issues. Taking all of these conditions into account, Directors consider the year overall as being very successful.
The first quarter of 2024 shows positive signs of improvement in availability, achieving sales above target and a profit before tax of 4.83%. We are seeing good signs of business returning to more acceptable levels, however we must remain cautious with the continued unrest in Europe and continuing price rises across all sectors around the world.
Directors remain optimistic for 2024 with sales growth anticipated. We hope to achieve the target growth forecast and estimate to be around 17% up on the previous year. Increased costs are being carefully managed and Directors are optimistic that we will continue to achieve PBT above 8.50%.
The directors are satisfied with the position of the company's business at the end of the year having a slight decrease in reserves of £58,000 after the payment of a final dividend of £800,000 in respect of 2022. The directors agreed a final dividend in June 2024 in respect of 2023 of £1,000,000 to be paid in June 2024.
The strength of the pound against the Euro and continuing price rises in every sector are the main risks of exposure for the remainder of 2024. While the above mentioned risks continue to be monitored, procedures are in place with the assistance of ElringKlinger AG. Additional administration strategies have been considered and actioned to ensure the company can operate with minimal disruption. There are additional uncertainties within the aftermarket sector due to the recent international acquisition in 2023 of one of the UK's major buying groups, but we see this as a potential benefit having recently secured a tier 1 supply contract with them.
Measurement
Given the straightforward nature of the business, the company’s directors are of the opinion that analysis using further KPI’s is not necessary for an understanding of the performance or position of the business.
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 9.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £800,000. The directors recommend payment of a final dividend to be paid during the financial year ending 31 December 2024 amounting to £1,000,000.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
The company maintains insurance policies on behalf of all the directors against liability arising from negligence, breach of duty and breach of trust in relation to the company.
The company finances its activities with a combination of finance leases and hire purchase contracts, and cash and short term deposits. Other financial assets and liabilities, such as trade debtors and trade creditors, arise directly from the Company's operating activities.
The company aims to mitigate risk by managing cash generated by its operations.
Expenditure in foreign currencies continue to make up a significant part of the company’s business, these being mainly in Euro’s. The company is therefore exposed to movements in exchange rates. The company maintains a Euro bank account and enters into forward exchange purchases of Euros when rates are favourable which partly mitigates this risk.
The company undertakes assessments of its customers in order to manage credit risk where there is a likelihood of default.
The Company's principle activities continues to be the distribution of engine parts. The Directors are not aware at the date of this report of any intended major changes in the companies activities in the next year.
The Company intends to continue sales growth and increase profitability in 2024.
In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Azets Audit Services be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.
The directors have at the time of approving the financial statements, a reasonable expectation that the company 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
The company meets its day to day working capital requirements through cash generated from operations.
The company’s forecasts and projections for the next twelve months show that the company should be able to continue in operational existence for that period, taking into account reasonable possible changes in trading performance and the potential impact on the business of possible future scenarios. This also considers the effectiveness of available measures to assist in mitigating the impact. In the directors assessment of reasonably possible changes in trading performance for the next twelve months they have considered a fall in demand should the global economic impact widen.
Although the forecasts prepared taking account of the matters above, support the ability of the company to remain a going concern and to be able to trade and meet its debts as they fall due, the underlying trading assumptions used in forecasting are extremely judgemental and difficult to predict and could be subject to significant variation.
We were engaged to audit the financial statements of Elring Parts Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2023 which comprise the income statement, the statement of financial position, the statement of changes in equity, the 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 UK adopted international accounting standards.
In our opinion, except for the effects on the corresponding figures of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, the financial statements:
give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2023 and of its for the year then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 ; and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
Basis for qualified opinion
We were not appointed as auditor of the company until after 31 December 2021 and thus did not observe the counting of physical inventories at the end of that year. We were unable to satisfy ourselves by alternative means concerning the inventory quantities of £2,306,682 held at 31 December 2021 by using other audit procedures. Consequently we were unable to determine whether there was any consequential effect on the cost of sales for the year ended 31 December 2022. In addition, were any adjustment to the cost of sales value to be required, the strategic report would also need to be amended. Our audit opinion on the financial statements for the period ended 31 December 2022 was modified accordingly. Our opinion on the current period's financial statements is also modified because of the possible effect of this matter on the comparability of the current period's figures and the corresponding figures.
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 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 qualified 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 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.
As described in the basis for qualified opinion section of our report, we were unable to satisfy ourselves concerning the inventory quantities of £2,306,682 held at 31 December 2021. We have concluded that where the other information refers to the inventory balance or related balances such as cost of sales, it may be materially misstated for the same reason.
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
Except for the possible effects of the matter described in the basis for qualified opinion section of our report 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.
Except for the matter described in the basis for qualified opinion section of our report, in the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors' report.
In respect solely of the limitation on our work relating to stock, described above:
we have not obtained all the information and explanations that we considered necessary for the purpose of our audit; and
we were unable to determine whether adequate accounting records had been maintained.
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:
returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made.
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 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 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.
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.
Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above and on the Financial Reporting Council’s website, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.
We obtain and update our understanding of the entity, its activities, its control environment, and likely future developments, including in relation to the legal and regulatory framework applicable and how the entity is complying with that framework. Based on this understanding, we identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. This includes consideration of the risk of acts by the entity that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud.
We identified the following applicable laws and regulations as those most likely to have a material impact on the financial statements: Health and Safety; employment law (including the Working Time Directive); and compliance with the UK Companies Act.
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, including fraud, we designed procedures which included:
Enquiry of management and those charged with governance around actual and potential litigation and claims as well as actual, suspected and alleged fraud;
Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
Assessing the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations considered to have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the company through enquiry and inspection;
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
Performing audit work over the risk of management bias and override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for indicators of potential bias.
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 of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
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.
The income statement has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.
The company has no recognised gains or losses for the year other than the results above.
Elring Parts Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 2 Derwent Court, Earlsway, Team Valley Trading Estate, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE11 0TF. The company's principal activities and nature of its operations are disclosed in the directors' report.
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 company meets its day to day working capital requirements through cash generated from operations.
The company’s forecasts and projections for the next twelve months show that the company should be able to continue in operational existence for that period, taking into account reasonable possible changes in trading performance and the potential impact on the business of possible future scenarios. This also considers the effectiveness of available measures to assist in mitigating the impact. In the directors assessment of reasonably possible changes in trading performance for the next twelve months they have considered a fall in demand should the global economic impact widen.
Although the forecasts prepared taking account of the matters above, support the ability of the company to remain a going concern and to be able to trade and meet its debts as they fall due, the underlying trading assumptions used in forecasting are extremely judgemental and difficult to predict and could be subject to significant variation.
The company recognises revenue from the following major sources:
Distribution of engine parts
The nature, timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and significant payment terms of the company's major sources of revenue are as follows:
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised in the income statement when the significant risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred to the buyer. No revenue is recognised if there are significant uncertainties regarding recovery of the consideration due, associated costs or the possible return of goods.
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 income statement.
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.
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.
Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
Debt instruments are classified as financial assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income where the financial assets are held within the company’s business model whose objective is achieved by both collecting contractual cash flows and selling financial assets, and the contractual terms of the financial asset give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.
A debt instrument measured at fair value through other comprehensive income is recognised initially at fair value plus transaction costs directly attributable to the asset. After initial recognition, each asset is measured at fair value, with changes in fair value included in other comprehensive income. Accumulated gains or losses recognised through other comprehensive income are directly transferred to profit or loss when the debt instrument is derecognised.
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or when it transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity.
The company recognises financial debt when the company becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instruments. Financial liabilities are classified as either 'financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss' or 'other financial liabilities'.
Other financial liabilities, including borrowings, trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities, are initially measured at fair value net of transaction costs directly attributable to the issuance of the financial liability. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. For the purposes of each financial liability, interest expense includes initial transaction costs and any premium payable on redemption, as well as any interest or coupon payable while the liability is outstanding.
Financial liabilities are derecognised when, and only when, the company’s obligations are discharged, cancelled, or they expire.
Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
At inception, the company assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease within the scope of IFRS 16. A contract is, or contains, a lease if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Where a tangible asset is acquired through a lease, the company recognises a right-of-use asset and a lease liability at the lease commencement date. Right-of-use assets are included within property, plant and equipment, apart from those that meet the definition of investment property.
The right-of-use asset is initially measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability adjusted for any lease payments made at or before the commencement date plus any initial direct costs and an estimate of the cost of obligations to dismantle, remove, refurbish or restore the underlying asset and the site on which it is located, less any lease incentives received.
The right-of-use asset is subsequently depreciated using the straight-line method from the commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term. The estimated useful lives of right-of-use assets are determined on the same basis as those of other property, plant and equipment. The right-of-use asset is periodically reduced by impairment losses, if any, and adjusted for certain remeasurements of the lease liability.
The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are unpaid at the commencement date, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the company's incremental borrowing rate. Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise fixed payments, variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, amounts expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee, and the cost of any options that the company is reasonably certain to exercise, such as the exercise price under a purchase option, lease payments in an optional renewal period, or penalties for early termination of a lease.
The lease liability is measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. It is remeasured when there is a change in: future lease payments arising from a change in an index or rate; the company's estimate of the amount expected to be payable under a residual value guarantee; or the company's assessment of whether it will exercise a purchase, extension or termination option. When the lease liability is remeasured in this way, a corresponding adjustment is made to the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset, or is recorded in profit or loss if the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset has been reduced to zero.
The company has elected not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for short-term leases of machinery that have a lease term of 12 months or less, or for leases of low-value assets including IT equipment. The payments associated with these leases are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Government grants are recognised based on the accruals model and are measured at the fair value of the asset received or receivable. Grants are classified as related either to revenue or to assets. Grants relating to revenue are recognised in income over the period in which the related costs are recognised. Grants relating to assets are recognised over the expected useful life of the asset. Where part of the grant relating to an asset is deferred, it is recognised as deferred income.
Geographical reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the board, who make strategic operating decisions.
In the current year, the following new and revised Standards and Interpretations have been adopted by the company and do not have a material effect on the current period or a prior period or may have an effect on future periods:
In the application of the company’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, if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
No judgements have been identified which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities.
The company has made an estimate of the value of the value of rebates that are expected to be paid as a result of the revenue generated in the accounting period and the agreements with the relevant customers. This assumption involved reviewing the contracts and revenue in the period.
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
The charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per the income statement as follows:
The proposed final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2023 is:
The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders and has not been included as a liability in these financial statements.
The cost of inventories recognised as an expense in the year amounted to £7,458,984 (2022 - £7,650,036). This is included within cost of sales.
The amount of write-down of inventories recognised as an expense in the year is £9,768 (2022 - £11,063).
The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables is approximately equal to their fair value.
No significant receivable balances are impaired at the reporting end date.
The Company’s exposure to credit risk is influenced mainly by the individual characteristics of each customer. The demographics of the Company’s customer base, including the default risk of the industry' and country in which customers operate, has less of an influence on credit risk. The company has continued to spread the credit risk with 56% of the debt now spread across 7 customers.
The Company has established a credit policy under which each new customer is analysed individually for creditworthiness before the Company’s standard payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered. The Company’s review includes external ratings where available. Purchase limits are established for each customer. These limits are reviewed regularly.
Goods are sold subject to retention of title clauses, so that in the event of non-payment the Company may have a secured claim. The Company does not require collateral in respect of trade and other receivables. The Company does not have insurance in place related to credit risk. The Company ensures that it credit checks new and existing customers as required. A system of collecting outstanding balances is in place to minimise exposure to bad debts.
The directors consider that the carrying amounts of financial liabilities carried at amortised cost in the financial statements approximate to their fair values.
The following table details the remaining contractual maturity for the company's financial liabilities with agreed repayment periods. The contractual maturity is based on the earliest date on which the company may be required to pay.
The Company’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Company’s reputation.
The carrying amounts of the company's foreign currency denominated monetary assets and liabilities at the reporting date are as follows:
An increase or decrease of 1 percent in interest rates during the year ended 31 December 2023 would have increased or decreased equity' and profit before tax by £16,988. The analysis at 31 December 2022 on the basis of a 1 percent increase or decrease in interest rates would have decreased or increased equity and profit before tax by £16,670.
A 10% strengthening or weakening in the value of Sterling against the Euro during the year ended 31 December 2023 would have increased or decreased equity and profit before tax by £821,388. The analysis at 31 December 2022 on the basis of a 10% strengthening or weakening in the value of Sterling against the Euro would have increased or decreased equity and profit before tax by £773,321.
The above calculations assume that the change occurred at the balance sheet date and had been applied to risk exposures existing at that date, assuming all other variables remain constant.
Lease liabilities are classified based on the amounts that are expected to be settled within the next 12 months and after more than 12 months from the reporting date, as follows:
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the company and movements thereon during the current and prior reporting period.
Amounts recognised in profit or loss as an expense during the period in respect of lease arrangements are as follows:
The Board of Directors has overall responsibility' for the establishment and oversight of the Company’s risk management framework.
The Company’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risk faced by the Company, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor risks and adherence to limits. Risk management policies and systems are reviewed regularly to reflect changes in market conditions and the Company’s activities.
The Company’s treasury policy has as its principal objective the achievement of the maximum interest rate on any cash balances whilst maintaining an acceptable level of risk.
There was no change in the Company’s approach to capital management during the year. The Company uses cash held, working capital balances and undrawn facilities to enable the Company to continue as a going concern and to maximise returns for stakeholders. The Company is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.
The remuneration of key management personnel, including directors, is set out below in aggregate for each of the categories specified in IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures.
During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:
The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date: