Registered number:
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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COMPANY INFORMATION
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CONTENTS
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STRATEGIC REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
The principal activity of the company is that of road haulage contractors.
The director is satisfied with the trading results for the year. Turnover increased during the year and together with a more stable fuel price during the year resulted in a return to profitability for the company. Activity has remained positive in 2024 and the director is forecasting continued profitability for 2024.
Turnover for the year was £8.4m compared with £7.8m for the previous year. The EBITDA for the year was £1.45m which was a significant increase compared with £560k in 2022. This has resulted in the company returning to profitability with a profit before tax of £471k for the financial year compared with a loss of £301k in the previous year, which included a significant debtor write off amounting to £290k. The company’s fleet investment programme was hampered during the previous two years due to delays in assets being delivered. During 2023 the delayed assets started arriving and capital investment in 2023 was more than £1.3m for the year. Since the year end further capital investment of £1.5m has been made. The catch up has ensured the company is close to the original investment plan prior to Covid.
The volatility in the fuel price continues to be the company’s principal risk given fuel is a significant proportion of the company’s costs. The company constantly monitors its sales price to mitigate the risk.
With our key customers operating within the energy sector a significant risk remains the fluctuation of the oil price and the transition to greener energy. We continue to support our customers during this transition. The director’s policy of reinvesting profits back into the company over the years ensures the company maintains a low net debt position. The director believes the company is still well placed to take advantage of any opportunities that will arise in the market from increased customer demands.
The director closely monitors the trading performance of the business and considers the key performance indicators to be:
∙Sales;
∙Gross profit;
∙EBITDA;
∙Total net assets; and
∙Customer retention.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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DIRECTOR'S REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
The director presents his report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The profit for the year, after taxation, amounted to £325,075 (2022 - £247,401).
During the year the company paid a dividend of £70,000 (2022 - £80,000).
The director who served during the year was:
The director does not anticipate any changes to his business plan in the foreseeable future.
The auditors, Anderson Anderson & Brown Audit LLP, will be proposed for reappointment in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
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DIRECTOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COLIN LAWSON TRANSPORT LIMITED
We have audited the financial statements of Colin Lawson Transport Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2023, which comprise the Statement of comprehensive income, the Balance sheet, the Statement of cash flows, the Statement of changes in equity and the related notes, including a summary of 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).
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 Auditors' 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 United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the director's 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 director with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' report thereon. The director is 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.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COLIN LAWSON TRANSPORT LIMITED (CONTINUED)
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
∙the information given in the Strategic report and the Director's report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
∙the Strategic report and the Director's report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
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 Director's report.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COLIN LAWSON TRANSPORT LIMITED (CONTINUED)
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 Auditors' 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 the legal and regulatory frameworks within which the company operates, focusing on those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The laws and regulations we considered in this context were the Companies Act 2006, haulage, employment and Taxation legislation. We identified the greatest risk of material impact on the financial statements from irregularities including fraud to be:
∙Management override of controls to manipulate the company's key performance indicators to meet targets;
∙Timing and completeness of revenue recognition;
∙Management judgement applied in calculating provisions; and
∙Compliance with relevant laws and regulations which directly impact the financial statements and those that the company needs to comply with for the purpose of trading.
Our audit procedures to respond to these risks included:
∙Testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness;
∙Evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business;
∙Reviewing judgements made by management in their calculation of accounting estimates for potential management bias;
∙Enquiries of management about litigation and claims and inspection of relevant correspondence;
∙Reviewing legal and professional fees to identify indications of actual or potential litigation, claims and any non-compliance with laws and regulations; and
∙Performing a disclosure checklist on the financial statements to ensure Companies Act 2006 requirements are satisfied.
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 for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our Auditors' report.
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INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF COLIN LAWSON TRANSPORT LIMITED (CONTINUED)
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 Auditors' 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.
for and on behalf of
Statutory Auditor
Kingshill View
Prime Four Business Park
Kingswells
AB15 8PU
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STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2023
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf by:
The notes on pages 13 to 29 form part of these financial statements.
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STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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ANALYSIS OF NET DEBT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Colin Lawson Transport Limited (the 'company') is incorporated in Scotland. The registered office is Crawpeel Road, Altens Industrial Estate, Aberdeen, AB12 3LG.
2.Accounting policies
The director, having made due and careful enquiry, is of the opinion that the company has adequate working capital to execute its operations for at least a period of 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. The director, therefore, has made an informed judgement, at the time of approving the financial statements, that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
As a result of the director’s assessment, the director has adopted the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified within these accounting policies and in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006.
The preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgement in applying the company's accounting policies (see note 3).
Defined contribution pension plan
The company contributes to a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the company has no further payment obligations. The contributions are recognised as an expense in the Statement of comprehensive income when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals as a liability in the Balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the company in independently administered funds.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
2.Accounting policies (continued)
The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Statement of comprehensive income, except that a charge attributable to an item of income and expense recognised as other comprehensive income or to an item recognised directly in equity is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.
The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date in the countries where the company operates and generates income.
Deferred tax balances are recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed by the Balance sheet date, except that:
∙The recognition of deferred tax assets is limited to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits; and
∙Any deferred tax balances are reversed if and when all conditions for retaining associated tax allowances have been met.
Deferred tax balances are not recognised in respect of permanent differences except in respect of business combinations, when deferred tax is recognised on the differences between the fair values of assets acquired and the future tax deductions available for them and the differences between the fair values of liabilities acquired and the amount that will be assessed for tax. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the difference between amounts paid on the cost of a business combination and the acquirer's interest in the fair value of its identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquiree at the date of acquisition. Subsequent to the initial recognition, Goodwill is amortised on a straight line basis to the Income statement over its useful economic life. Other Intangible assets
All intangible assets are considered to have a finite useful life. If a reliable estimate of the useful life cannot be made, the useful life shall not exceed ten years.
Depreciation is charged so as to allocate the cost of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, using the straight-line method.
Depreciation is provided on the following basis:
The assets' residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted prospectively if appropriate, or if there is an indication of a significant change since the last reporting date.
Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised in profit or loss.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Provisions are measured as the best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation, taking into account the related risks and uncertainties.
The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 “Basic Financial Instruments” of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the company's Balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Basic financial assets
Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial. The company's cash and cash equivalents, trade and most other receivables due with the operating cycle fall into this category of financial instruments.
Impairment of financial assets
Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date.
If there is a favourable change in relation to the events surrounding the impairment loss then the impairment can be reviewed for possible reversal. The reversal will not cause the current carrying amount to exceed the original carrying amount had the impairment not been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in the profit or loss.
Financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, which include trade and other payables, bank loans and other loans are initially measured at their transaction price after transaction costs. When this constitutes a financing transaction, whereby the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at their amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Trade payables are classified as current liabilities if the payment is due within one year. If not, they represent non-current liabilities. Trade payables are initially recognised at their transaction price and subsequently are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Derecognition of financial instruments
Derecognition of financial assets
Financial assets are derecognised when their contractual right to future cash flow expire, or are settled, or when the company transfers the asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another party. If significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained after the transfer to another party, then the company will continue to recognise the value of the portion of the risks and rewards retained.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Impairment of debtors The company makes an assessment of the recoverable value of trade and other debtors. When assessing impairment of trade and other debtors, management consider various factors including the ageing profile of debtors, credit rating of customers and historical experience. Valuation of investment property The investment property is carried at fair value based on an independent valuation. The director has made an assessment of this valuation with due consideration given to the correct property market and comparable yields of similar properties and concluded theses to be no material change at the year end.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Analysis of turnover by country of destination:
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
The investment property was valued by the director in consultation with independent chartered surveyors in earlier periods. All valuations were prepared on an open market value basis for existing use and are recorded in these accounts.
The director considers that there has been no material change in property values at the year end. No depreciation is charged on investment properties.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
Following a road traffic accident the company is subject to an investigation by the Procurator Fiscal. The investigation is still on-going and any financial liability is still unknown. As such no liability has been recognised at 31 December 2023.
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NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023
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