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Registration number: 08579241

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Annual Report and Financial Statements

for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Contents

Company Information

1

Strategic Report

2 to 5

Directors' Report

6 to 7

Independent Auditor's Report

8 to 11

Profit and Loss Account and Statement of Retained Earnings

12

Balance Sheet

13

Notes to the Financial Statements

14 to 22

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Company Information

Directors

D J Tilling

D J Cottenden

J S McDonald

A K Taylor

P Dahill

Company secretary

Speafi Secretarial Limited

Registered office

1 London Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 4PN

Auditors

Xeinadin Audit Limited
Chartered Accountants and Statutory AuditorsLeavesden Park
5 Hercules Way
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD25 7GS

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

The directors present their strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Principal activity

The principal activity of the company is to provide Receivables finance solutions and services to small and medium-sized businesses.

Fair review of the business

The business has provided value-driven, dependable, and flexible financial solutions to SMEs for 24 years, differentiating our service and product suite through a commitment to a geographical and traditional relationship model. This approach enables us to remain close to our customers in everything we do.

We service over 1800 business clients from five regional businesses, providing funding of over £190m and employing a team of around 200 people.

The Directors are pleased to report a further strengthening of our business, with another successful year for the group. This demonstrates strong growth across all five operating offices in the UK, marking 13 consecutive years of strong organic growth exceeding the market average. We have continued to increase our client base, growing both our revenues and profits, enabling us to strengthen the operational proposition, resilience, and systems. which has seen revenue grow to £49m (12%). We continue to rank high in the intermediatory index, indicating that we are delivering strong outcomes for our introducers through a strong service ethos and client retention.

In October, we acquired 100% of the issued share capital of Optimum SME Finance Limited, a competitor business based in Bristol. The business not only provides scale but further develops our regional strategy in the Southwest and Wales. The strong management team brings exciting innovation to the group, introducing new product and service automation that will accelerate the change in our core technological platforms.

Group Mission

We continue in our ambition to be a leading independent provider of working capital solutions to small-to-medium size businesses. The group mission is to “build a great company with great people and great results”, balancing the values and opportunity of the business to our clients and our team.

Purpose: Our purpose is to address the funding needs in the SME market by helping our clients develop and grow their businesses through cost-effective, flexible, and dynamic working capital products that support their cash flow requirements, combined with first-class credit management services. In doing so we will differentiate ourselves by developing our unique combination of resources to be one of the most successful and respected companies in the independent sector of our industry.

We continue to build on our unique geographical and entrepreneurial operating model, which enables our teams to remain close to our clients in both service and risk management. We differentiate ourselves through our people and our relationships with both clients and intermediaries. We continue to invest in best-in-class technology-led service solutions.

Within the year, we announced our new local charity initiative, with each Regional Office nominating a Charity for which they will raise funds through sponsored events. This is match funded by eCapital. Throughout the year, the group raised £35,482 for our chosen charities.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Outlook

The Board remains confident in its outlook for the year ahead and over the next three years as we deliver our 3-year plan. We continue to invest in our operating model and a culture that drives and supports exceptional results and commitment from the team.

We are supported by our parent company, eCapital Group, a North American specialty finance provider with over £3 billion under management. This enables our businesses not only to leverage the corporate infrastructure but also to invest in cutting-edge technologies that will advance the product for the market and our clients.

Our business model and portfolios have remained robust over the past few challenging trading years, with revenues remaining strong and client and staff retention rates positive. The prevailing economic conditions remain uncertain, and we anticipate a difficult trading environment in 2025. However, our products are successful in a fluctuating economy and are robust through any cyclical downturns. We remain confident in our ability to grow and capitalize on the opportunities that the coming year presents.

Our relationship with our funding syndicate remains strong, and we have sufficient resources to support growth.
 

Financial Key Performance Indicators

The group monitors a range of financial and non-financial Key Performance indicators (KPIs), reported on a periodic basis. The key measures include Revenue, EBITDA and PBT.

The Directors are satisfied with the performance of the company based on the selected financial indicators: -
 

Financial KPIs

Unit

2024

2023

Revenue

£m

20

18

EBITDA

£m

10

7

PBT

£m

7

4

Revenue has increased due to an increase in client numbers and deal sizes.

The position of the Company at the year-end is set out in the accompanying Financial Statements and related notes to the Financial Statement.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Principal risks and uncertainties

Risk mitigation is a key part of the management of the Company, and the Company has a consistent process to identify, manage, and help mitigate exposure to issues that may have a negative impact on the business. Summarised below are some of the key risks that may affect the Company’s business.

The commercial finance sector is influenced by macroeconomic factors and business confidence, both in the UK and the global economy. These factors impact our client base and can lead to higher business costs, as well as supply chain and demand issues. Our products are secured by the client's receivables. Revenues are dependent on the success of our clients, and we closely monitor new and existing risks to ensure that appropriate mitigation is in place and that we meet the objectives of our clear strategic plan.

Currency risk
The group operates solely in the UK but has some clients with foreign currency receivables. The company, therefore, maintains foreign currency bank accounts in a number of denominations. The group does not currently hedge its foreign currency cash flows, and therefore, it is exposed to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, but this is not a significant risk to the Company.

Credit Risk
The company has an appropriate sanctioned credit policy, which guides our approach to risk. eCapital manages credit risk in line with the credit policy and the Board's risk appetite, ensuring the correct level of oversight and governance. The portfolio is well-diversified, with a low concentration and a positive debt turn. All clients are tied into a detailed enabling contract in place to mitigate the company's exposure to credit risk.

Interest rate risk
The company uses financial instruments to facilitate onward lending which are subject to variable interest rates. The company minimises interest rate risk by passing on any increased rate costs to customers in accordance with their factoring agreement.

Competition risk
The market is mature, and as a result, we face competition from other companies and products within the invoice finance market. This can impact profitability and growth. eCapital is well-positioned, both in terms of reputation and competitiveness, through its strategic approach and provision of best-in-class product services to deliver on both new client acquisition and client retention programs. We continually reach out to the market, either directly or through interaction with introducers, clients, and other partners.

Liquidity risk
The risk of the company failing to meet its financial obligations when they become due. The company funds its clients through a back-to-back facility and its own reserves. The company minimises liquidity risk by constantly monitoring its funding availability and requirements.

Operational risk
The risk to the company of loss resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, people, systems, or external events. The company minimises operational risk by ensuring internal processes are streamlined and efficient, investing in and training people, updating and maintaining IT systems and monitoring external events.

Cyber risk
The risk to a company from of damage through its information systems. The company mitigates this risk by multi-layers of protection software and training to all employees.

The group's policy for payment of creditors
The group pays all invoices in the month they are received unless the supplier offers fixed instalment settlement.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Environment

The company's policy about the environment is to ensure that we understand and effectively manage the
actual and potential environmental impact of our activities. Our operations are conducted in a manner that ensures compliance with all legal requirements and new ways of multi-functional working.

People

We remain committed to fostering an inclusive and dynamic culture within our teams and among our people. Our people strategy is defined in our core mission and is at the front of all we do. Our structure enables close teams and high engagement in the business while providing opportunities for good careers within the company and the wider group. This is further ensured by our participation in both our Clifton Strengths and Gallup Engagement Program, with scores in the upper quartile.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 25 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
 

.........................................
A K Taylor
Director

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Directors of the company

The directors who held office during the year were as follows:

N Errington (ceased 15 April 2024)

D J Tilling

D J Cottenden

C Neely (ceased 21 August 2024)

J S McDonald

A K Taylor

P Dahill (appointed 16 October 2024)

Third party indemnities

The Group has made qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the benefit of the Company’s directors during the year, which remain in force as of the reporting date.

Results and dividends

The profit for the year after tax, amounted to £5,267,614 (2023: £3,366,377).

The company has paid dividends of £724,992 (2023: £1,485,500) during the year.

Political and charitable donations

The company did not make any political or charitable donations within the year (2023: £NIL).

Statement of directors' responsibilities

The directors acknowledge their responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the company's transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Disclosure of information to the auditors

Each director has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. The directors confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditors are unaware.

Reappointment of auditors

The auditors Xeinadin Audit Limited are deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 25 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
 

.........................................
A K Taylor
Director

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Profit and Loss Account and Statement of Retained Earnings, Balance Sheet, and Notes to the Financial Statements, 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).

In our opinion the financial statements:

give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its profit for the year then ended;

have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

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 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 opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

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 original financial statements were 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 directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

the information given in the Strategic Report and Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

the Strategic Report and Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

In the light of our 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 and the Directors' Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

adequate accounting records have not been kept, or 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; or

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of directors

As explained more fully in the statement of directors' responsibilities [set out on page 6], 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.

Auditor Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities,
including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:

• the engagement partner ensured that the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence,
capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations;
• we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the company through discussions with directors and other
management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the sector;
• we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the
financial statements or the operations of the company, including the Companies Act 2006, taxation legislation
and data protection, anti-bribery, employment, environmental and health and safety legislation;
• we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries
of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
• identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained
alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including
obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
• making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their
knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
• considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and
regulations.

To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:

• performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
• tested journal entries to identify unusual transactions;
• assessed whether judgements and assumptions made in determining the accounting estimates were indicative
of potential bias; and
• investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions.

In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures
which included, but were not limited to:

• agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
• reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
• enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims; and
• reviewing correspondence with HMRC, relevant regulators, and the company’s legal advisors.

There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and
regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance.
Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations
to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if
any.

Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they
may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

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.

......................................
Philip Cole (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Xeinadin Audit Limited
Chartered Accountants
Statutory Auditors
Leavesden Park
5 Hercules Way
Watford
Hertfordshire
WD25 7GS

25 April 2025

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Profit and Loss Account and Statement of Retained Earnings
for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Note

2024
£

2023
£

Turnover

3

19,519,525

18,078,019

Administrative expenses

 

(9,264,933)

(10,683,766)

Operating profit

4

10,254,592

7,394,253

Other interest receivable and similar income

5

52,571

-

Interest payable and similar charges

6

(3,280,652)

(2,996,746)

 

(3,228,081)

(2,996,746)

Profit before tax

 

7,026,511

4,397,507

Taxation

10

(1,758,897)

(1,031,130)

Profit for the financial year

 

5,267,614

3,366,377

Retained earnings brought forward

 

10,912,960

9,032,083

Dividends paid

 

(724,992)

(1,485,500)

Retained earnings carried forward

 

15,455,582

10,912,960

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

(Registration number: 08579241)
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024

Note

2024

2023

   

£

£

£

£

Fixed assets

   

 

Tangible assets

11

 

71,049

 

85,777

Current assets

   

 

Debtors

12

72,364,215

 

62,253,502

 

Cash at bank and in hand

13

393,237

 

52,843

 

 

72,757,452

 

62,306,345

 

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

14

(57,362,919)

 

(51,469,162)

 

Net current assets

   

15,394,533

 

10,837,183

Net assets

   

15,465,582

 

10,922,960

Capital and reserves

   

 

Called up share capital

10,000

 

10,000

 

Retained earnings

15,455,582

 

10,912,960

 

Shareholders' funds

   

15,465,582

 

10,922,960

Approved and authorised by the Board on 25 April 2025 and signed on its behalf by:
 

.........................................
A K Taylor
Director

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

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:
1 London Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 4PN
England

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 were prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006'.

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention except that as disclosed in the accounting policies certain items are shown at fair value.

The presentational currency of these accounts is pound sterling. The level of rounding is to the nearest one pound.

Revenue recognition

Turnover comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the provision of services in the ordinary course of the company’s activities. Turnover is shown net of sales value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts.

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.

Foreign currency transactions and balances

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the functional currency rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated into the respective functional currency of the entity at the rates prevailing on the reporting period date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate on the date when the fair value is re-measured.

Non-monetary items measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Tax

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

The current income 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.

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, other than land and properties under construction over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class

Depreciation method and rate

Office equipment

20% straight line

Leasehold improvements

Straight line over 10 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 services performed in the ordinary course of business.

Trade debtors are recognised initially at the transaction price. They are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less provision for impairment. 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 receivables.

Trade creditors

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for 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 subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the profit and loss account over the period of the relevant borrowing.

Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

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.

Dividends

Dividend distribution to the company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the reporting period in which the dividends are declared.

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.
 Recognition and measurement
Basic financial instruments are recognised at amortised cost.

FRS 102

As the consolidated financial statements of eCapital Commercial Finance Holdings UK Limited, the parent company, are prepared according to the full recognition, measurement and disclosure requirements of FRS 102 and therefore include equivalent disclosures, the company has taken the available exemptions under FRS 102 in respect of the following areas:

• Disclosures relating to the requirements of section 7 statement of cash flows;
• The disclosure requirements of section 11 and section 12, where disclosures equivalent to those required by
FRS 102 are included in the consolidated financial statements of the group; and
• Disclosure requirements of section 33 related party disclosures, regarding disclosure of related party
transactions between wholly owned members of the same group.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

3

Turnover

The analysis of the company's Turnover for the year from continuing operations is as follows:

2024
£

2023
£

Rendering of services

19,519,525

18,078,019

The analysis of the company's Turnover for the year by market is as follows:

2024
£

2023
£

UK

19,519,525

18,078,019

4

Operating profit

Arrived at after charging/(crediting)

2024
£

2023
£

Depreciation expense

25,317

24,707

5

Other interest receivable and similar income

2024
£

2023
£

Other finance income

52,571

-

6

Interest payable and similar expenses

2024
£

2023
£

Interest on bank overdrafts and borrowings

3,267,675

2,983,497

Interest expense on other finance liabilities

5,258

10,868

Foreign exchange gains

7,719

2,381

3,280,652

2,996,746

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

7

Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs (including directors' remuneration) were as follows:

2024
£

2023
£

Wages and salaries

3,419,902

3,055,676

Social security costs

328,032

283,586

Pension costs, defined contribution scheme

183,656

164,167

Other employee expense

108,947

102,757

4,040,537

3,606,186

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

2024
No.

2023
No.

Administration and support

66

66

66

66

8

Directors' remuneration

The directors' remuneration for the year was as follows:

2024
£

2023
£

Remuneration

283,715

305,312

Contributions paid to money purchase schemes

15,750

14,864

299,465

320,176

During the year the number of directors who were receiving benefits and share incentives was as follows:

2024
No.

2023
No.

Accruing benefits under money purchase pension scheme

1

1

In respect of the highest paid director:

2024
£

2023
£

Remuneration

283,715

305,312

Company contributions to money purchase pension schemes

15,750

14,864

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

9

Auditors' remuneration

2024
£

2023
£

Audit of the financial statements

45,000

15,300

Other fees to auditors

Taxation compliance services

3,500

1,500

All other assurance services

16,100

6,700

19,600

8,200


 

10

Taxation

Tax charged/(credited) in the profit and loss account

2024
£

2023
£

Current taxation

UK corporation tax

1,756,866

1,031,130

UK corporation tax adjustment to prior periods

2,031

-

1,758,897

1,031,130

The tax on profit before tax for the year is higher than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (2023 - lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK) of 25% (2023 - 23.5%).

The differences are reconciled below:

2024
£

2023
£

Profit before tax

7,026,511

4,397,507

Corporation tax at standard rate

1,756,628

1,033,414

Increase in UK and foreign current tax from adjustment for prior periods

2,031

-

Tax increase/(decrease) from effect of capital allowances and depreciation

3,682

(8,828)

Effect of expense not deductible in determining taxable profit (tax loss)

8,386

6,544

Further item of tax decrease

(11,830)

-

Total tax charge

1,758,897

1,031,130

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

11

Tangible assets

Leasehold improvements
£

Office equipment
 £

Total
£

Cost or valuation

At 1 January 2024

6,174

140,392

146,566

Additions

-

10,589

10,589

Disposals

-

(790)

(790)

At 31 December 2024

6,174

150,191

156,365

Depreciation

At 1 January 2024

360

60,429

60,789

Charge for the year

618

24,699

25,317

Eliminated on disposal

-

(790)

(790)

At 31 December 2024

978

84,338

85,316

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2024

5,196

65,853

71,049

At 31 December 2023

5,814

79,963

85,777

Included within the net book value of land and buildings above is £5,196 (2023 - £5,814) in respect of short leasehold land and buildings.
 

12

Debtors

Current

Note

2024
£

2023
£

Trade debtors

 

71,296,760

60,893,172

Prepayments

 

328,987

342,166

Income tax asset

10

738,468

1,018,164

   

72,364,215

62,253,502

13

Cash and cash equivalents

2024
£

2023
£

Cash at bank

393,237

52,843

Bank overdrafts

(122,792)

-

Cash and cash equivalents in statement of cash flows

270,445

52,843

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

14

Creditors

Note

2024
£

2023
£

Due within one year

 

Loans and borrowings

17

53,105,512

46,417,397

Trade creditors

 

65,610

19,138

Amounts owed to group undertakings

19

2,506,662

3,542,823

Social security and other taxes

 

472,214

407,122

Accruals

 

1,212,921

1,082,682

 

57,362,919

51,469,162

15

Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the company to the scheme and amounted to £183,656 (2023 - £164,167).

Pension commitments

Commitments provided for in the accounts amounted to £Nil (2023 - £2,000).

16

Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares

2024

2023

No.

£

No.

£

Ordinary shares of £1 each

10,000

10,000

10,000

10,000

       

17

Loans and borrowings

Current loans and borrowings

2024
£

2023
£

Bank borrowings

52,982,720

46,417,397

Bank overdrafts

122,792

-

53,105,512

46,417,397

The bank facility is secured by a fixed and floating charge over all current and future assets of the company.

 

eCapital Commercial Finance (North) Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

18

Obligations under leases and hire purchase contracts

Operating leases

The total of future minimum lease payments is as follows:

2024
£

2023
£

Not later than one year

93,387

146,079

Later than one year and not later than five years

127,400

227,219

220,787

373,298

The amount of non-cancellable operating lease payments recognised as an expense during the year was £122,785 (2023 - £222,328).

19

Related party transactions

Summary of transactions with other related parties

Subsidiary companies within the same group

Expenditure with and payables to related parties

2024

Parent
£

Other related parties
£

Rendering of services

-

1,315,659

Amounts payable to related party

338,342

2,168,320

2023

Parent
£

Other related parties
£

Rendering of services

-

1,290,522

Amounts payable to related party

441,653

3,101,169

20

Parent and ultimate parent undertaking

eCapital Commercial Finance Holdings UK Limited is the parent that produces consolidated financial statements, where these financial statements are consolidated. These are available from:

1 London Street
Reading
Berkshire
RG1 4PN


 The company's immediate parent is eCapital 3415 Limited, incorporated in England and Wales.

 The ultimate parent is eCapital Finance Corp, incorporated in United States of America.