Company registration number SC209009 (Scotland)
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
ANNUAL REPORT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
COMPANY INFORMATION
Directors
John Cavill
Carl Dix
Secretary
Infrastructure Managers Limited
Company number
SC209009
Registered office
2nd Floor, Drum Suite
Saltire Court
20 Castle Terrace
Edinburgh
EH1 2EN
Independent Auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Atria One
144 Morrison Street
Edinburgh
EH3 8EX
Bankers
Bank of Scotland plc
155 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 3UB
Solicitors
Dentons UK and Middle East LLP
9 Haymarket Square
Edinburgh
EH3 8RY
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
CONTENTS
Page
Directors' report
1 - 2
Directors' responsibilities statement
3
Independent auditors' report
4 - 7
Statement of comprehensive income
8
Statement of financial position
9
Statement of changes in equity
10
Notes to the financial statements
11 - 20
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 1 -
The directors present their annual report and the audited financial statements of Robertson Education (Aberdeenshire) Limited ("the Company") for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Principal activities
The principal activity of the Company is the finance, operation and maintenance of schools in Aberdeenshire for Aberdeenshire Council under the Governments Private Finance Initiative scheme. The contract is in year 23 of its term expiring on 18 February 2027.
Results and dividends
The results for the year are set out on page 8.
The profit for the financial year, after taxation, amounted to £956,936 (2023: profit of £826,016).
The directors are satisfied with the overall performance of the Company and do not foresee any significant change in the Company's activities in the coming financial year.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £1,151,178 (2023: £626,854). The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.
Directors
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of approval of the financial statements were as follows:
John Cavill
Carl Dix
Qualifying third party indemnity provisions
The company has made qualifying third party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its directors during the year. These provisions remain in force at the reporting date.
Financial instruments
Many of the cash flow risks are addressed by means of contractual provisions. The Company's liquidity risk is principally managed through the Company by means of borrowings.
The financial risk management objectives of the Company are to ensure that financial risks are mitigated by the use of financial instruments. The Company used interest rate swaps to reduce its exposure to interest rate movements until the term loan was repaid on 15th July 2024. Financial instruments are not used for speculative purposes.
Auditors
The independent auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, are deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
Statement of disclosure to auditors
In the case of each director in office at the date the Directors' Report is approved:
so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditors are unaware; and
they have taken all the 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.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 2 -
Key performance indicators
The performance of the Company from a cash perspective is assessed six monthly on a group basis.
The directors believe that the analysis using key performance indicators for the Company is not necessary or appropriate for an understanding of the performance or position of the Company.
Climate change
The directors recognise that it is important to disclose their view of the impact of climate change on the Company. The Company's key operational contracts are long-term and with a small number of known counterparties. In most cases, the cashflows from these contracts can be predicted with reasonable certainty for at least the medium-term. Having considered the Company's operations, its contracted rights and obligations and forecast cash flows, there is not expected to be a significant impact upon the Company's operational or financial performance arising from climate change.
Going concern
These financial statements have been prepared on the going concern basis for the reasons set out in the Accounting Policies.
Small companies exemption
This report has been prepared in accordance with the special provisions applicable to small companies within Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006. Exemption has also been taken from the requirement to prepare a Strategic Report.
This report was approved by the board of directors on 10 April 2025 and signed by order of the board by:
Chris Richardson
For and on behalf of Infrastructure Managers Limited
Secretary
10 April 2025
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 3 -
The directors are responsible 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 prepared the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland", and applicable law).
Under company law, 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 the financial statements, the directors are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards, comprising FRS102 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 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 safeguarding the assets of the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The directors are also 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.
Carl Dix
Director
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
- 4 -
Report on the Audit of the Financial Statements
Opinion
In our opinion, Robertson Education (Aberdeenshire) Limited's 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 (United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS102 "The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland" Section 1A, and applicable law); and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements, included within the Annual Report and Financial Statements (the "Annual Report"), which comprise: the Statement of financial position as at 31 December 2024; the Statement of comprehensive income and the Statement of changes in equity for the year then ended; and the notes to the financial statements, which include a description of the significant accounting policies.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) ("ISAs (UK)") and applicable law. Our responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described in the Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Independence
We remained independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, which includes the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
Conclusions relating to going concern
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.
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.
However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 5 -
Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditors' report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form of assurance 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 an apparent material inconsistency or material misstatement, we are required to perform procedures to conclude whether there is a material misstatement of 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 based on these responsibilities.
With respect to the Directors' report, we also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK Companies Act 2006 have been included.
Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain opinions and matters as described below.
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the Directors' report for the year ended 31 December 2024 is consistent with the financial statements and has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we did not identify any material misstatements in the Directors' report.
Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit
Responsibilities of the directors for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable framework and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. The directors are also responsible for such internal control as they 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.
Auditors' 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 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.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 6 -
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.
Based on our understanding of the company and industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to Companies Act 2006 and UK tax legislation, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We evaluated management's incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to inappropriate journal entries and the risk of management bias in accounting estimates. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
Enquiries of management around known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations, claims and litigation, and instances of fraud;
Understanding of management's controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities;
Review of board minutes;
Challenging management on assumptions and judgements made in their significant accounting estimates, in particular in relation to the fair value of derivative financial instruments;
Testing journal entries to assess whether any appeared unusual, in particular any affecting revenue or distributable reserves;
Reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation, where appropriate, to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC's website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditors' report.
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the company's members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.
Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:
we have not obtained all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
adequate accounting records have not been kept by the company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns.
We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
TO THE MEMBERS OF ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED (CONTINUED)
- 7 -
Entitlement to exemptions
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion, the directors were not entitled to: take advantage of the small companies exemption in preparing the Directors' report; and take advantage of the small companies exemption from preparing a strategic report. We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.
Paul Cheshire (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Edinburgh
10 April 2025
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 8 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Turnover
3
3,631,221
2,976,697
Cost of sales
(1,973,271)
(1,547,199)
Gross profit
1,657,950
1,429,498
Administrative expenses
(171,080)
(154,389)
Operating profit
4
1,486,870
1,275,109
Interest receivable and similar income
6
427,147
500,997
Interest payable and similar expenses
7
(345,046)
(465,163)
Profit before taxation
1,568,971
1,310,943
Taxation on loss
8
(603,035)
(484,927)
Profit for the financial year
965,936
826,016
Other comprehensive income
Fair value gain on cash flow hedging instruments, net of tax
475
13,906
Total comprehensive income for the year
966,411
839,922
All the activities of the company are from continuing operations.
The notes on pages 11 to 20 form part of these financial statements.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT
31 DECEMBER 2024
31 December 2024
- 9 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Current assets
Debtors: amounts falling due within one year
10
1,659,721
1,533,856
Debtors: amounts falling due after more than one year
10
2,169,186
3,777,507
Cash at bank and in hand
2,533,392
2,667,191
6,362,299
7,978,554
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
11
(1,692,843)
(2,328,086)
Net current assets
4,669,456
5,650,468
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
12
(1,463,848)
(2,110,871)
Provisions for liabilities
Deferred taxation
14
(349,336)
(498,558)
(349,336)
(498,558)
Net assets
2,856,272
3,041,039
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
15
1,000
1,000
Share premium account
99,000
99,000
Hedging reserve
(475)
Profit and loss reserve
2,756,272
2,941,514
Total shareholders' funds
2,856,272
3,041,039
The notes on pages 11 to 20 form part of these financial statements.
The financial statements were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 10 April 2025 and are signed on its behalf by:
Carl Dix
Director
Company registration number SC209009 (Scotland)
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 10 -
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Hedging reserve
Profit and loss reserve
Total
Notes
£
£
£
£
£
Balance at 1 January 2023
1,000
99,000
(14,381)
2,742,352
2,827,971
Year ended 31 December 2023:
Profit for the financial year
-
-
-
826,016
826,016
Other comprehensive income:
Fair value movements on cash flow hedging instruments, net of tax
-
-
13,906
-
13,906
Total comprehensive income for the year
-
-
13,906
826,016
839,922
Dividends
9
-
-
-
(626,854)
(626,854)
Balance at 31 December 2023
1,000
99,000
(475)
2,941,514
3,041,039
Year ended 31 December 2024:
Profit for the financial year
-
-
-
965,936
965,936
Other comprehensive income:
Fair value movements on cash flow hedging instruments, net of tax
-
-
475
-
475
Total comprehensive income for the year
-
-
475
965,936
966,411
Dividends
9
-
-
-
(1,151,178)
(1,151,178)
Balance at 31 December 2024
1,000
99,000
2,756,272
2,856,272
Included in the fair value movement on cash flow hedging instrument is £442 (2023: £15,143) that was recycled through Interest Payable in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.
The notes on pages 11 to 20 form part of these financial statements.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 11 -
1
Accounting policies
Company information
Robertson Education (Aberdeenshire) Limited ("the Company") is a private company limited by shares incorporated in the United Kingdom and is registered in Scotland. The registered office is located at 2nd Floor, Drum Suite, Saltire Court, 20 Castle Terrace, Edinburgh, EH1 2EN.
The principal activity of the Company is the finance, operation and maintenance of schools in Aberdeenshire for Aberdeenshire Council under the Governments Private Finance Initiative scheme. The contract is in year 23 of its term expiring on 18 February 2027.
1.1
Accounting convention
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial assets and liabilities. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below and have been consistently applied to the years presented, unless otherwise stated.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 12 -
This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:
Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;
Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;
Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Not to disclose transactions with wholly owned members of a group.
The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of BIIF Holdco Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office 8th Floor, 6 Kean Street, London, WC2B 4AS.
1.2
Going concern
The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis which the directors believe to be appropriate for the following reasons.true
The Company prepares cash flow forecasts covering the expected life of the asset and so including the 12 month period from the date the financial statements are signed. In drawing up these forecasts, the Directors have made assumptions based upon their view of the current and future economic conditions that will prevail over the forecast period. Based on these forecasts the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.
In light of this, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the Company's annual financial statements.
1.3
Turnover
Turnover represents the services' share of the management services income received by the Company for the provision of a PFI (Private Finance Initiative) asset to the customer. This income is received over the life of the concession period. Management service income is allocated between turnover, finance debtor interest and reimbursement of the finance debtor so as to generate a constant rate of return in respect of the finance debtor over the life of the contract.
1.4
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
The Company is obligated to keep cash reserves as at the balance sheet date in respect of requirements in the company's funding agreements. This restricted cash balance, which is shown within the "cash at bank and in hand" balance amounts to £1,066,069 (2023: £1,916,126).
1.5
Financial instruments
The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.
Financial instruments are recognised in the company's statement of financial position when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 13 -
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include debtors , cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and debtors are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.
Other financial assets
Other financial instruments are subsequently measured at fair value, with any changes recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, with the exception of hedging instruments in a designated hedging relationship.
Impairment of financial assets
Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.
Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.
If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.
Derecognition of financial assets
Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the company transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.
Classification of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities
Basic financial liabilities, including Creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.
Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 14 -
Other financial liabilities
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value at each reporting date. The fair values of the derivatives have been calculated by discounting the fixed cash flows at forecasted forward interest rates over the term of the financial instrument. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.
Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.
Derecognition of financial liabilities
Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
1.6
Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.
1.7
Hedge accounting
The Company entered into an arrangement with third parties that is designed to hedge future cash flows arising on variable rate interest loan arrangements, with the net effect of exchanging the cash flows arising under those arrangements for a stream of fixed interest cash flows ("interest rate swaps"). This arrangement ended on 15th July 2024, when the loan was repaid.
To qualify for hedge accounting, documentation is prepared specifying the hedging strategy, the component transactions and methodology used for effectiveness measurement. Changes in the carrying value of financial instruments that are designated and effective as hedges of future cash flows ("cash flow hedges") are recognised directly in a hedging reserve in equity and any ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the Statement of Comprehensive Income. Amounts deferred in equity in respect of cash flow hedges are subsequently recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the same period in which the hedged item affects net profit or loss or the hedging relationship is terminated and the underlying position being hedged has been extinguished.
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges are recognised in the Statement of comprehensive income immediately, together with any changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk.
1.8
Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
Current tax
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the Statement of comprehensive income because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 15 -
Deferred tax
Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the Statement of comprehensive income, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.
1.9
Finance debtor
The Company has taken the transition exemption in FRS102 Section 35.10(i) that allows the Company to continue the service concession arrangement accounting policies from previous UK GAAP.
The Company accounts for the concession asset based on the ability to substantially transfer all the risks and rewards of ownership to the customer, with this arrangement the costs incurred by the Company on the design and construction of the asset have been treated as a finance debtor within these financial statements.
2
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
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 where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.
Key sources of estimation uncertainty
The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows:
Far value of derivative contracts
Fair values for derivative contracts were based on mark-to-market valuations provided by the contract counterparty. Whilst these can be tested for reasonableness, the exact valuation methodology and forecast assumptions for future interest rates or inflation rates are specific to the counterparty.
Service concession contract
Accounting for the service concession contract and finance debtor requires estimation of service margin, finance debtor interest rates and associated amortisation profile which is based on projected trading results to the end of the contract.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 16 -
3
Turnover
2024
2023
£
£
Turnover analysed by class of business
Rendering of services
3,631,221
2,976,697
The whole of the turnover is attributable to the principal activity of the Company wholly undertaken in the United Kingdom.
4
Operating profit
2024
2023
Operating profit for the year is stated after charging:
£
£
Fees payable to the company's auditors for the audit of the company's financial statements
13,630
13,100
Included in the fee above is £2,770 (2023: £2,660) for the audit of the immediate parent entity Robertson Education (Aberdeenshire) Holdings Limited.
5
Employees
The average number of persons employed by the Company during the financial year amounted to nil (2023: nil). The directors are not employed by the Company and receive remuneration from another company for their services as directors of this entity and a number of fellow subsidiaries. It is not possible to make an accurate apportionment of their remuneration in respect of each of the subsidiaries.
6
Interest receivable and similar income
2024
2023
£
£
Interest income
Interest on bank deposits
105,833
81,645
Interest received on finance debtor
321,314
419,352
427,147
500,997
7
Interest payable and similar expenses
2024
2023
£
£
Interest on bank overdrafts and loans
43,045
169,663
Interest payable to group undertakings
296,309
295,500
Other interest payable and similar expenses
5,692
345,046
465,163
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 17 -
8
Taxation on profit
2024
2023
£
£
Current tax
UK corporation tax on profits for the current year
752,415
631,313
Deferred tax
Origination and reversal of timing differences
(149,380)
(146,386)
Total taxation charge
603,035
484,927
The actual charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
2024
2023
£
£
Profit before taxation
1,568,971
1,310,943
Expected tax charge based on the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 25.00% (2023: 23.52%)
392,243
308,341
Tax effect of expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable profit
210,646
185,257
Adjustments in respect of prior years
146
(283)
Effect of change in corporation tax rate
(8,388)
Taxation charge for the year
603,035
484,927
In 2021 an increase in the corporation tax rate to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023 was substantively enacted. The 23.52% rate used above in the prior year reflected 9 months of this new rate and 3 months of the previous rate of 19%.
9
Dividends
2024
2023
2024
2023
Per share
Per share
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
Ordinary shares
Final paid
11.51
6.27
1,151,178
626,854
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 18 -
10
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Trade debtors
34,162
4,544
Corporation tax recoverable
14,013
Finance debtor
1,608,397
1,503,602
Other debtors
3,648
Prepayments and accrued income
13,514
11,697
1,659,721
1,533,856
2024
2023
Amounts falling due after more than one year:
£
£
Finance debtor
2,169,186
3,777,507
Total debtors
3,828,907
5,311,363
11
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Bank loans
13
1,633,432
Other borrowings
13
646,390
Trade creditors
475,537
175,175
Amounts owed to Group undertakings
62,325
62,324
Corporation tax
8,160
Other taxation and social security
158,529
194,243
Other creditors
315,081
219,497
Accruals and deferred income
26,821
43,415
1,692,843
2,328,086
Amounts owned to Group undertakings are £62,325 (2023: £62,324) which relates to the coupon on unsecured loan stock. All amounts are non interest bearing, unsecured and repayable on demand.
Other creditors relates to the Unitary charge control account.
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 19 -
12
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
Other borrowings
13
1,463,848
2,110,238
Derivative financial instruments
633
1,463,848
2,110,871
13
Loans and overdrafts
2024
2023
£
£
Bank loans
1,633,432
Loans from Group undertakings
2,110,238
2,110,238
2,110,238
3,743,670
Payable within one year
646,390
1,633,432
Payable after one year
1,463,848
2,110,238
Other borrowings in notes 11 and 12 relate to loans from Group undertakings. Between March 2001 and June 2002 the Company issued a total of £1,900,000 in Coupon Bearing Investment Sums (CBIS) to its immediate parent company, Robertson Education (Aberdeenshire) Holdings Limited. This is included above as amounts owed to Group undertakings. The CBIS bears a Coupon of 14% per annum, and payment of capital falls due in the year 2025. The Company capitalised an additional £210,238 in relation to interest during the construction phase which has been added to the loan principal. The Coupon on the principal amount accrues daily and is payable in cash on 15 January, 15 April, 15 July and 15 October each year. The investment sum was advanced under a subordinated loan agreement, is unsecured, and would rank alongside ordinary creditors in the event of a winding up.
14
Deferred taxation
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the company and movements thereon:
Liabilities
Liabilities
2024
2023
Balances:
£
£
Accelerated capital allowances
349,336
498,485
Short term timing differences
-
231
Derivative financial instruments
-
(158)
349,336
498,558
ROBERTSON EDUCATION (ABERDEENSHIRE) LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
14
Deferred taxation
(Continued)
- 20 -
2024
Movements in the year:
£
Liability at 1 January 2024
498,558
Credit to profit or loss
(149,380)
Charge to other comprehensive income
158
Liability at 31 December 2024
349,336
The net deferred tax liability expected to reverse in 2025 is £167,661 (2024: £177,479). This primarily relates to the reversal of timing differences on capital allowances offset by short term timing differences.
15
Called up share capital
2024
2023
2024
2023
Ordinary share capital
Number
Number
£
£
Issued and fully paid
Ordinary shares of 1p each
100,000
100,000
1,000
1,000
There is a single class of ordinary share. There are no restrictions on the distribution of dividends and the repayment of capital.
16
Ultimate controlling party
The immediate parent undertaking is Robertson Education (Aberdeenshire) Holdings Limited.
The intermediate parent undertaking is BIIF Holdco Limited, which is the parent undertaking of the smallest and largest Group to consolidate these financial statements. Copies of BIIF Holdco Limited consolidated financial statements can be obtained from the Company Secretary at 8th Floor, 6 Kean Street, London, WC2B 4AS.
The ultimate parent and controlling party is BIIF L.P. BIIF L.P. is owned by a number of investors with no one investor having individual control.
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