| REGISTERED NUMBER: |
| Strategic Report, |
| Report of the Directors and |
| Audited Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| for |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC |
| REGISTERED NUMBER: |
| Strategic Report, |
| Report of the Directors and |
| Audited Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| for |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Contents of the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| Page |
| Company Information | 1 |
| Strategic Report | 2 |
| Report of the Directors | 7 |
| Report of the Independent Auditors | 9 |
| Statement of Comprehensive Income | 13 |
| Balance Sheet | 14 |
| Statement of Changes in Equity | 15 |
| Cash Flow Statement | 16 |
| Notes to the Cash Flow Statement | 17 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 18 |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC |
| Company Information |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| DIRECTORS: |
| REGISTERED OFFICE: |
| REGISTERED NUMBER: |
| SENIOR STATUTORY AUDITOR: |
| AUDITORS: |
| 42 Lytton Road |
| Barnet |
| Hertfordshire |
| EN5 5BY |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| 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 in the year under review continued to be that of manufacture of brushes and combs for personal grooming. |
| REVIEW OF BUSINESS |
| The year ending December 2024 presented a mix of challenges and strategic advancements for GB Kent and Sons Plc. While we faced a substantial reduction in turnover due to decreased sales from two major customers, strategic initiatives and a focus on resilience paved the way for recovery and growth in key areas. |
| The company's directors believe that, with the continued development of products and new business contracts combined careful management of the company's resources, the company will return to trade profitability and meet its obligations as they fall due. |
| FINANCIAL REVIEW |
| Turnover increased by 20.6% |
| The company saw a significant recovery in turnover during the year, following the loss in orders from a major customer during the year previous year. |
| Gross Profit Margin |
| Gross profit during the year as a percentage of sales was 40% (2023: 38.8%) |
| Profit after taxation |
| The (loss) / profit for the year after taxation was £45,856 (2023: loss - £826,550) |
| Dividend |
| Dividend paid during the year amounted to £283,152 (2023: £333,152) |
| Cash at bank |
| The balance in hand at 31 December 2024 £1,001,634 (2023: £978,930) |
| Shareholders' Funds |
| As at 31 December 2024 these stood at £7,731,157 (2023: £7,968,453) |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Strategic Report |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES |
| The company is exposed to a variety of risks. These could range from the wider effects of the general economy and external competition to those more specific to the company, such as its own financial strength and size. The Board regularly review these risks and their potential impact on the company. |
| The Board monitors the company's performance carefully through the use of regular financial information and management reports. |
| Key risks and the company's response to these risks are shown below. |
| 1- Financial Risk Management |
| The company's financial instruments comprise of cash at bank, loan and overdraft facility at the company's disposal. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to raise adequate finance for the company's operations, together with management of working capital. |
| The main risk arising from the company's financial instruments is liquidity risk. As can be seen from the cash flow notes in the annexed financial statements, the company currently does not suffer from a liquidity problem. It alleviates this risk by agreeing credit terms with its customers and suppliers. |
| 2- Foreign Currency Risk |
| The company is exposed to foreign currency fluctuation as most the company's purchases are in foreign currencies |
| The company minimises this risk by engaging in forward contracts. |
| 3- Customer concentration risk |
| As with any business of its size, the company relies on a relatively small number of customers for a large percentage of its turnover. The loss of a key customer can have a detrimental impact on earnings. |
| The company is focused on customer retention by supplying top rate products and service as well as obtaining new customers thus broadening the number of key customers. |
| 4- Competitive pressure risk |
| The company operates in a highly competitive market environment and performance may suffer if there is a loss of competitiveness vis-a- vis its customers. |
| The company reviews the competitiveness of its services with its clients and customers in the market. The company also has a very strong brand name built over more than 243 years. |
| 5-Credit risk |
| Default by customers on receivables could negatively affect the earnings. |
| Credit is assessed and monitored by the company and where risk is judged to be high, more stringent credit terms are implemented. |
| All major accounts are underwritten by credit insurance to mitigate any adverse effect on its working capital in the unlikely event of a default by major customers. |
| 6- Loss of supply of critical products. |
| Loss of supply of critical products from key suppliers could affect the company's ability to provide the products to its customers. |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Strategic Report |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| Where possible, the company attempts to dual source all key products from multiple suppliers. The company also endeavours to maintain supply contracts with all key suppliers. |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Strategic Report |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| SECTION 172(1) STATEMENT |
| Directors statement of compliance with duty to promote the success of the Company |
| Under Section 172(1) of the companies Act 2006, the Board has a duty to act in good faith and in a way that would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders with having regard to matters set in S172(1) (a-f) of the Act: |
| (a) the likely long-term consequences of decisions; |
| (b) the interest of the Company's employees; |
| (c) the need to foster the Company's business relationship with suppliers, customers and other stakeholders; |
| (d) the impact of the Company's operations on the community and the environment; |
| (e) the desirability of the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business and conduct; and |
| (f) the need to act fairly as between the Company's owners. |
| To discharge their S172(1) duties, the Board had regard to the factors set out above in making the principal decisions taken by the Company. |
| General confirmation of Directors' duties |
| When making decisions, each director ensures that he/she acts in the way he/she considers, in good faith, would most likely promote the Company's success for the benefit of its members as whole, and in doing so have regard (among other matters) to: |
| S172(1) (A) "The likely consequences of any decision in the long-term" |
| The Directors understand the evolving environment in which the business operates, including the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic in the short-term and the long-term. The Directors have taken several decisions which they believe best support the Company's ambitions to survive the pandemic and to grow in order to ensure the best outcome for all stakeholders. |
| S172(1) (B) "The interest of the company's employees" |
| The Directors recognise that the employees are fundamental and core to the business and the delivery of the strategic ambitions. The success of the business depends on attracting, retaining and motivating employees. From ensuring that we remain a responsible employer, pay and benefits, to our health and safety in the workplace environment, which was ever more important during the challenge presented by the Covid19 pandemic. The Directors factor the implications of decisions on employees and the wider workforce, wherever relevant and feasible. |
| S172(1) (C) "The need to foster the Company's business relationships stakeholders |
| Fostering positive relationships with key stakeholders, such as customers and suppliers, is important to the success of the Company's business. With regards to suppliers, the company enjoys close relationship with its suppliers with range from large international manufacturers to local logistics and couriers. With regards to customers, the Company has a diverse range of customers across all sectors of the hair and beauty industry. |
| S172(1) (D) "The impact of the Company's operations on the community and environment" |
| The Board recognises that the environmental impact of the Company's operations is an ever more important consideration and as such they promote green behaviours including implementing policies to help reduce the Company's carbon footprint. The Company uses existing couriers and logistics companies to deliver their products to local customers instead of own delivery vehicles and believe that this helps reduce their carbon footprint. In addition, a green approach is adopted in the warehouse and office by promoting recycling and reducing the use of plastic |
| During the year, the company installed solar panels to generate electricity for their own consumption within their offices, factory and warehouse. Any surplus electricity is given back to the grid. |
| The company believes this also adds to their positive presence in the local community as a responsible employer. |
| S172(1) (E) "The desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct" |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Strategic Report |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| The Directors consider it crucial that the Company maintains a reputation for high standards of business conduct. The Board is responsible for setting, monitoring and upholding the culture, values, standards, ethics, brand and reputation of the Company. Management drives the embedding of the desired culture throughout the organisation and its values of quality, service, honesty, innovation, efficiency and relationships are driven throughout the heart of the business and in everything we do, reflected in our policies and practices and how we deal with others. These values and standards guide decision making and promote success, including the long-term consequences of those decisions. |
| S172(1) (F) "The need to act fairly as between members of the company" |
| After weighing up all relevant factors, the Directors consider which course of action best enables delivery of their strategy through the long-term, taking into consideration the impact on stakeholders. In doing so, the Directors act fairly as between the Company's members but are not required to balance the Company's interest with those of other stakeholders, and this can sometimes mean that certain stakeholders interest may not be fully aligned. |
| ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Report of the Directors |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| The directors present their report with the financial statements of the company for the year ended 31 December 2024. |
| DIVIDENDS |
| The total distribution of dividends for the year ended 31 December 2024 will be £ |
| RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT |
| The Company undertakes research and development on it's products and manufacturing tools and techniques to ensure that it is using the best appropriate materials to deliver high quality products. |
| The factory machines are constantly developed to ensure that they operate with the best tools and materials so that production efficiency is maintained to keep manufacturing costs low and material wastage is kept to a minimum. |
| DIRECTORS |
| The directors shown below have held office during the whole of the period from 1 January 2024 to the date of this report. |
| STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES |
| The directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, the Report of the Directors 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), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. 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 then apply them consistently; |
| - | make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; |
| - | state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; |
| - | 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. |
| STATEMENT AS TO DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO AUDITORS |
| So far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information (as defined by Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of which the company's auditors are unaware, and each director has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken as a director in order to make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the company's auditors are aware of that information. |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Report of the Directors |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| AUDITORS |
| The auditors, JLA (UK) Ltd, will be proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. |
| ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD: |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| G.B. Kent & Sons Plc |
| Opinion |
| We have audited the financial statements of G.B. Kent & Sons Plc (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the Statement of Comprehensive Income, Balance Sheet, Statement of Changes in Equity, Cash Flow Statement and Notes to the Cash Flow Statement, 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 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 UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. |
| Conclusions relating to going concern |
| In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. |
| Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. |
| Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. |
| Other information |
| The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information in the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors, but does not include the financial statements and our Report of the Auditors 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 this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. |
| Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 |
| In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: |
| - | the information given in the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and |
| - | the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| G.B. Kent & Sons Plc |
| Matters on which we are required to report by exception |
| 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 Report of the Directors. |
| 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 seven, 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 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. |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| G.B. Kent & Sons Plc |
| 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 a Report of the Auditors 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: |
| 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 and engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence, capabilities and skills to identify or recognise non-compliance with applicable laws and regulations; |
| We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the company and affect 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. |
| The 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 on 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 measures 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 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 that were |
| indicative of potential bias. |
| - Performed substantive testing on management expenses and 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; |
| - Enquiring of management as to actual and potential litigation and claims |
| - And reviewing available correspondence with HMRC and the company's legal advisors. |
| Report of the Independent Auditors to the Members of |
| G.B. Kent & Sons Plc |
| 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 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. |
| Under ISA 240 (UK) there is a presumed risk that revenue may be misstated due to the improper recognition of revenue. To address this risk, we obtained an understanding of the company's revenue recognition policies and compared these to the accounting standard, performed a walkthrough to confirm our understanding of the processes and controls through which the business initiates, records, processes and reports revenue transactions. We tested a sample of revenue transactions to supporting evidence and tested, on a sample basis, revenue related balances in the balance sheet. |
| 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 Report of the Auditors. |
| 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 a Report of the Auditors 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 |
| 42 Lytton Road |
| Barnet |
| Hertfordshire |
| EN5 5BY |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Statement of Comprehensive Income |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ |
| TURNOVER | 3 |
| Cost of sales |
| GROSS PROFIT |
| Distribution costs |
| Administrative expenses |
| 3,697,551 | 3,992,292 |
| (444,233 | ) | (1,373,188 | ) |
| Other operating income |
| OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS) | 6 | ( |
) |
| Interest receivable and similar income |
| PROFIT/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXATION | ( |
) |
| Tax on profit/(loss) | 8 |
| PROFIT/(LOSS) FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR |
( |
) |
| OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | - | - |
| TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR |
( |
) |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Balance Sheet |
| 31 December 2024 |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| Notes | £ | £ | £ |
| FIXED ASSETS |
| Tangible assets | 10 |
| CURRENT ASSETS |
| Stocks | 11 |
| Debtors | 12 |
| Cash at bank and in hand |
| CREDITORS |
| Amounts falling due within one year | 13 |
| NET CURRENT ASSETS |
| TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES |
| PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES | 16 |
| NET ASSETS |
| CAPITAL AND RESERVES |
| Called up share capital | 17 |
| Revaluation reserve |
| Retained earnings |
| SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS |
| The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Statement of Changes in Equity |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| Called up |
| share | Retained | Revaluation | Total |
| capital | earnings | reserve | equity |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Balance at 1 January 2023 |
| Changes in equity |
| Dividends | - | ( |
) | - | ( |
) |
| Total comprehensive income | - | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Balance at 31 December 2023 |
| Changes in equity |
| Dividends | - | ( |
) | - | ( |
) |
| Total comprehensive income | - |
| Balance at 31 December 2024 |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Cash Flow Statement |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| Notes | £ | £ |
| Cash flows from operating activities |
| Cash generated from operations | 1 | ( |
) |
| Tax paid | ( |
) |
| Net cash from operating activities | ( |
) |
| Cash flows from investing activities |
| Purchase of tangible fixed assets | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Interest received |
| Parent Company - Cosby Brushes (CHRH) |
| Net cash from investing activities | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Cash flows from financing activities |
| Amount withdrawn by directors | 60 | 40 |
| Amount withdrawn by directors | (1,005 | ) | (945 | ) |
| Equity dividends paid | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Net cash from financing activities | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | ( |
) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year |
2 |
2,187,729 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of year | 2 | 1,001,634 | 978,930 |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Cash Flow Statement |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 1. | RECONCILIATION OF PROFIT/(LOSS) BEFORE TAXATION TO CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Profit/(loss) before taxation | ( |
) |
| Depreciation charges |
| Finance income | (8,932 | ) | (1,947 | ) |
| 229,890 | (617,149 | ) |
| Decrease in stocks |
| Increase in trade and other debtors | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Increase in trade and other creditors |
| Cash generated from operations | ( |
) |
| 2. | CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
| The amounts disclosed on the Cash Flow Statement in respect of cash and cash equivalents are in respect of these Balance Sheet amounts: |
| Year ended 31 December 2024 |
| 31.12.24 | 1.1.24 |
| £ | £ |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 1,001,634 | 978,930 |
| Year ended 31 December 2023 |
| 31.12.23 | 1.1.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 978,930 | 2,187,729 |
| 3. | ANALYSIS OF CHANGES IN NET FUNDS |
| At 1.1.24 | Cash flow | At 31.12.24 |
| £ | £ | £ |
| Net cash |
| Cash at bank and in hand | 978,930 | 22,704 | 1,001,634 |
| 978,930 | 1,001,634 |
| Total | 978,930 | 22,704 | 1,001,634 |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 1. | STATUTORY INFORMATION |
| G.B. Kent & Sons Plc is a private company , registered in England and Wales. The company's registered number and registered office address can be found on the Company Information page. |
| The presentation currency of the financial statements is the Pound Sterling (£). |
| The financial statements are prepared to the nearest whole (£) pound. |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES |
| Basis of preparing the financial statements |
| Significant judgements and estimates |
| The judgements made by the directors, in the application of the accounting policies and key sources of estimation and uncertainty were as follows. |
| Impairment of trade debtors: |
| A provision for the impairment of trade debtors is established when there is objective evidence that the company will not be able to recover all outstanding amounts due to them in full, or there are indications that collection is doubtful which requires judgement from management. (see note 12) |
| Freehold property valuation: |
| The directors have also made key assumptions in the determination of the fair value of a freehold property in respect of the state of the property market in the location where the property is situated and is respect of the range of reasonable fair value estimates of the asset. |
| Turnover |
| Turnover, stated net of value added tax, represents amounts invoiced to third parties. The company's turnover is derived from its principal activity carried out in worldwide territories. The directors do not consider any one part of the worldwide market to be significantly different from any other. |
| Income is recognised as stock is delivered to or collected by customers. |
| Tangible fixed assets |
| Freehold property | - |
| Plant & Equipment | - |
| Motor vehicles | - |
| Freehold Property |
| Land and buildings include a freehold factory and office building. Land and buildings are carried at their revalued amounts, being fair value at the date of valuation less subsequent depreciation and impairment losses. Revaluations are performed by professional qualified valuers with sufficient regularity to ensure that the carrying amounts do not differ materially from those that would be determined using fair values at the end of each reporting period. |
| Any revaluation increase in the carrying amount of Land and buildings is recognised in other comprehensive income and included in a revaluation reserve in equity, except to the extent that it reverses a revaluation decrease of the same asset previously recognised in profit or loss, in which case the increase is credited to profit and loss to the extent of the decrease previously expended. |
| Decreases that offset previous increases of the same asset are charged in other comprehensive income and debited against revaluation reserve in equity. |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
| Stocks |
| These are valued on a first in first out basis at the lower of cost and net realisable value. In respect of work in progress and finished goods cost includes overheads, transportation and duty costs, where appropriate. Loose tools have been included in stock, where in the opinion of the Directors it is reasonable to do so. |
| Taxation |
| Taxation for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity. |
| Current or deferred taxation assets and liabilities are not discounted. |
| Current tax is recognised at the amount of tax payable using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. |
| Income tax |
| Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date. |
| Timing differences arise from the inclusion of income and expenses in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in financial statements. Deferred tax is measured using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the year end and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference. |
| Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. |
| Research and development |
| Expenditure on research and development is written off in the year in which it is incurred. |
| Foreign currencies |
| Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling and recorded at the rate of exchange ruling at the date of transactions. Balances denominated in foreign currency are translated into sterling at the exchange rate prevailing at the Balance Sheet date. |
| Hire purchase and leasing commitments |
| Assets obtained under hire purchase contracts or finance leases are capitalised in the balance sheet. Those held under hire purchase contracts are depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Those held under finance leases are depreciated over their estimated useful lives or the lease term, whichever is the shorter. |
| The interest element of these obligations is charged to profit or loss over the relevant period. The capital element of the future payments is treated as a liability. |
| Assets acquired under hire purchase contracts and finance leases are capitalised as fixed assets and depreciated in accordance with the above Accounting Policy. Full provision is made for the capital cost outstanding of each assets so acquired, the interest element being written off as incurred. |
| Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits |
| The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the company's pension scheme are charged to profit or loss in the period to which they relate. |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 2. | ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued |
| Financial instruments |
| The company only enters into basic instruments transactions that result in the recognition of financial assets and liabilities like trade and other accounts receivable and payable, loans from bank and other third parties, loans to related parties. |
| Debt instruments like loans and other accounts receivable and payable are initially measured at present value of the future payments and subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method; Debt instruments that are payable or receivable within one year, typically trade payables or receivables, are measured, initially and subsequently, at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received. However if the arrangements of a short term instrument constitute a financing transaction, like the payment of a trade debt deferred beyond normal business terms or financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate or in case of an outright short-term loan not at market rate, the financial asset or liability is measured, initially and subsequently, at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument. |
| Financial assets that are measured at cost and amortised cost are assessed at the end of each reporting period for objective evidence of impairment. If objective evidence of impairment is found, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss. |
| For financial assets measured at amortised cost, the impairment loss is measured as the difference between an asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated cash flows discounted at the asset's original effective interest rate. If a financial asset has a variable interest rate, the discount rate for measuring any impairment loss is the current effective interest rate determined under the contract. |
| For financial assets measured at cost less impairment, the impairment loss is measured as the difference between an asset's carrying amount and the best estimate. Which is an approximation, of the amount that the company would receive for the asset if it were to be sold at the reporting date. |
| Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount reported in the statement of financial position when there is an enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously. |
| Cash and cash equivalents |
| Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and demand deposits and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to a significant risk to changes in value. |
| 3. | TURNOVER |
| The turnover and profit (2023 - loss) before taxation are attributable to the one principal activity of the company. |
| An analysis of turnover by geographical market is given below: |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| United Kingdom |
| Europe |
| United States of America |
| Asia |
| Rest of World | 234,706 | 175,233 |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 4. | EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Wages and salaries |
| Social security costs |
| Other pension costs |
| The average number of employees during the year was as follows: |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| Management | 6 | 6 |
| Production | 25 | 25 |
| Sales | 3 | 2 |
| Administration | 6 | 6 |
| 5. | DIRECTORS' EMOLUMENTS |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Directors' remuneration |
| The number of directors to whom retirement benefits were accruing was as follows: |
| Money purchase schemes |
| 6. | OPERATING PROFIT/(LOSS) |
| The operating profit (2023 - operating loss) is stated after charging: |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Depreciation - owned assets |
| Depreciation - assets on hire purchase contracts or finance leases |
| Auditors' remuneration |
| 7. | EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Exceptional items | 79,659 | (879,251 | ) |
| During the previous year the business fell victim to a sophisticated Authorised Push Payment (APP) scam, resulting in the theft and loss of funds. |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 8. | TAXATION |
| Analysis of the tax charge |
| The tax charge on the profit for the year was as follows: |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Current tax: |
| UK corporation tax |
| Tax on profit/(loss) |
| Reconciliation of total tax charge included in profit and loss |
| The tax assessed for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK. The difference is explained below: |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Profit/(loss) before tax | ( |
) |
| Profit/(loss) multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of |
( |
) |
| Effects of: |
| Depreciation in excess of capital allowances |
| Utilisation of tax losses | ( |
) |
| balancing charges |
| Tax losses carried forward | - | 194,743 |
| Total tax charge | 1,697 | - |
| 9. | DIVIDENDS |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Ordinary shares of 12.5p each |
| Interim |
| Preference shares of 62.5p each |
| Interim |
| C Ordinary share of £1 |
| Interim |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 10. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS |
| Freehold | Plant & | Motor |
| property | Equipment | vehicles | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| COST OR VALUATION |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| Additions |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| DEPRECIATION |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| Charge for year |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| At 31 December 2023 |
| Included in cost or valuation of land and buildings is freehold land of £ 1,500,000 (2023 - £ 1,500,000 ) which is not depreciated. |
| Cost or valuation at 31 December 2024 is represented by: |
| Freehold | Plant & | Motor |
| property | Equipment | vehicles | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ | £ |
| Valuation in 1984 | 498,798 | - | - | 498,798 |
| Valuation in 2013 | 2,437,883 | - | - | 2,437,883 |
| Cost | 1,260,468 | 2,112,314 | 222,513 | 3,595,295 |
| 4,197,149 | 2,112,314 | 222,513 | 6,531,976 |
| Freehold property was valued on an open market basis on 20 June 2019 by Aitchison Rafferty Property Consultants . |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 10. | TANGIBLE FIXED ASSETS - continued |
| Fixed assets, included in the above, which are held under hire purchase contracts or finance leases are as follows: |
| Plant & | Motor |
| Equipment | vehicles | Totals |
| £ | £ | £ |
| COST OR VALUATION |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| and 31 December 2024 |
| DEPRECIATION |
| At 1 January 2024 |
| Charge for year |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| NET BOOK VALUE |
| At 31 December 2024 |
| At 31 December 2023 |
| 11. | STOCKS |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Stocks |
| Raw materials |
| Work-in-progress |
| Finished goods |
| 12. | DEBTORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Trade debtors |
| Amounts owed by group undertakings |
| Other debtors |
| Directors' current accounts | 53,602 | 52,697 |
| Tax |
| Prepayments and accrued income |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 13. | CREDITORS: AMOUNTS FALLING DUE WITHIN ONE YEAR |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Trade creditors |
| Tax | ( |
) | ( |
) |
| Social security and other taxes |
| VAT | 57,109 | 36,464 |
| Proposed dividends | 10,961 | 10,987 |
| Other creditors- pension |
| Directors' current accounts | - | 40 |
| Accruals and deferred income |
| 14. | SECURED DEBTS |
| The bank holds a charge over the freehold land and buildings and floating charge over the company's assets. |
| 15. | FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS |
| The company's financial instruments comprise bank balances, bank overdrafts, trade creditors, trade debtors and loans to the company. The main purpose of these instruments is to finance the company's operations. Due to the nature of the financial instruments used by the group, there is no exposure to price risk. |
| In respect of bank balances, the liquidity risk is managed by maintaining a balance between the continuity of funding, and flexibility through an overdraft facility. The company makes use of money market facilities, as appropriate. |
| The company has a loan from the related pension scheme, on which there is a variable rate of interest. The company manages the liquidity risk by ensuring that there are sufficient funds available to meet the payments due. |
| Trade debtors are managed for credit and cash flow risk by the strict application of policies over the credit offered to customers, and by regular monitoring of amounts outstanding for both time and credit limits. |
| Trade creditors liquidity risk is managed by ensuring sufficient funds are available to meet amounts falling due. |
| Derivatives |
| The company enters into forward foreign currency contracts to mitigate the exchange rate risk for certain foreign currency payables. At 31 December 2023, the company had no outstanding contracts at the year end. The company is committed to buy US$nil and pay a fixed sterling amount. |
| The forward currency contracts are measured at fair value, which is determined using valuation techniques that utilise observable inputs. The key assumptions used in valuing the derivatives are the forward exchange rates for GBP:USD. The fair value, in aggregate, of the forward currency contracts are £nil (2022: £nil). |
| The company has no interest rate derivative financial instruments (2022: none). |
| 16. | PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES |
| 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| £ | £ |
| Deferred tax |
| Accelerated capital allowances |
| Deferred tax | 741,961 | 741,961 |
| 947,292 | 947,292 |
| G.B. KENT & SONS PLC (REGISTERED NUMBER: 00066471) |
| Notes to the Financial Statements - continued |
| for the Year Ended 31 December 2024 |
| 16. | PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES - continued |
| Deferred |
| tax |
| £ |
| Balance at 1 January 2024 |
| Movement in the year |
| Balance at 31 December 2024 |
| 17. | CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL |
| Allotted, issued and fully paid: |
| Number: | Class: | Nominal | 31.12.24 | 31.12.23 |
| value: | £ | £ |
| Ordinary | 12.5p | 7,500 | 7,500 |
| Preference | 62.5p | 125,000 | 125,000 |
| C Ordinary | £1 | 1 | 1 |
| 132,501 | 132,501 |
| 18. | ULTIMATE PARENT COMPANY |
| Cosby Brushes (CHRH) limited (incorporated in England and Wales ) is regarded by the directors as being the company's ultimate parent company. |
| 19. | CONTINGENT LIABILITIES |
| The company has a Customs and Excise deferment guarantee of £10,000 (2023: £10,000). |
| The company received a claim from a former employee in regards to a historic health condition where a potential liability may arise on the company. The company is currently in the process of liaising with legal advisers and insurance providers. It is the opinion of the directors that any such liability will be mainly covered by their insurance providers. |
| 20. | DIRECTORS' ADVANCES, CREDITS AND GUARANTEES |
| At the balance sheet date, the company was owed £53,602 (2023: £52,657) by the directors, interest is charged on the outstanding balance. |
| 21. | ULTIMATE CONTROLLING PARTY |
| The controlling party is Mr A H L Cosby. |