The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The group's principal activities continue to be that of the sale of household goods.

We aim to present a balanced and comprehensive review of the development and performance of our business during the year and its position at the year end. Our review is consistent with the size and nature of our business and is written in the context of the risks and uncertainties we face.

As for many businesses of our size, the business environment in which we operate continues to be challenging. In light of the challenging business environment, economic factors and competitive nature of the industry, we consider the group’s results for the year and its financial position at the year end to be satisfactory and believe that the group is well placed to react quickly to any changes in trading conditions and to take advantage of any business opportunities that may arise.

During the year ended 31 March 2025 the business has faced ongoing challenges from the loss of Wilko as a key customer and the subsequent administration of another large customer, Homebase. In addition, our online business has struggled with having enough stock and at the right time. These factors have resulted in turnover falling from £24.6m to £23m. This has inevitably impacted the operating profit of the business, which reduced from £467k in the year to 31 March 2024 to £263k for the year to 31 March 2025. A summary of further items impacting operating profit can be found in note 6 to the financial statements.

To reverse the trend in sales the Directors have discussed and agreed a new 5-year strategy. As part of that strategy, we have increased stock levels at the start of the season and this has already shown positive improvements in the 1st quarter of the 2026 year. This is ahead of the 2025 year at the same point by over £1m.

The level of Gross margin has shown a reduction in overall GM% mainly as a result of higher freight costs and the impact of FX rates on imported goods during the year.

Despite these challenges, the group continued to meet its Bank Covenants throughout the year ended 31 March 2025 and for Q1 2026 and expects this to continue.

The risks facing the business are monitored constantly by the directors. The directors’ believe that the principal risks facing the business relate to the wider economic conditions that will impact the business through sales and gross margin with foreign exchange, freight rates and UK gross domestic product being the key factors being monitored.

Credit risk is closely monitored with regular reviews and all major customers now being monitored by a credit agency.

As part of the Directors’ 5-year plan we are looking to develop new products, markets and investing in new equipment going forward.

We consider that our key financial performance indicators are those that communicate the financial performance and strength of the group as a whole, being turnover and gross profit margin.

            2025        2024

Sales            £23,046,706    £24,552,957    

Gross Profit %        27.5%        29.9%        

Operating Profit        £549,745    £769,648        

Profit before Tax        £292,833    £470,064        

Shareholders Funds    £6,902,992    £6,616,907

Average Employees    133        128

On behalf of the board

The directors present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of acting as a holding company and property rental to its wholly owned trading subsidiary. The principal activity of the group continued to be that of dealing in brushware and other related products.

The results for the year are set out on page 8.

No ordinary dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

Newby Castleman LLP were appointed as auditor to the group and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.

The directors are responsible for preparing the the Strategic Report, the Directors' Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

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

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s and company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and 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 group and company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The truegroup has chosen in accordance with Companies Act 2006, s. 414C(11) to set out in the group's strategic report information required by Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, Sch. 7 to be contained in the directors' report. It has done so in respect of a review of its business for the year, future developments and financial risk management.

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditor of the company is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor of the company is aware of that information.

We have audited the financial statements of Charles Bentley Properties Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2025 which comprise the group Statement of Comprehensive Income, the group Balance Sheet, the company Balance Sheet, the group Statement of Changes in Equity, the company Statement of Changes in Equity, the group Statement of Cash Flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and 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 group's and the parent company's affairs as at 31 March 2025 and of the group's profit for the year then ended;

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

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

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and parent 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 group's and parent company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the annual report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

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 our audit:

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

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

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report or the Directors' Report.

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

• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

• the parent company 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.

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the parent 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 parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. However, responsibility for the prevention and detection of fraud ultimately rests with both those charged with governance and management of the company.

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

• obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the group by considering the nature of the industry in which the group operates and enquiring of management; and

• identifying the key laws and regulations considered to have a direct impact on the financial statements including the UK Companies Act 2006, UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice and UK tax legislation; and

• assessing how the group is complying with the applicable legal and regulatory framework by making further enquiries of management and observing the group's control environment regarding compliance with regulations and fraud prevention; and

• assessing the susceptibility of the group's financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur, by considering the effectiveness of the group's accounting systems and controls and how these were monitored by management. Where the risk of material misstatement was considered to be higher in certain areas, further audit procedures were designed to address this increased risk; and

• discussing amongst the engagement team how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud.

Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

• reviewing financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and

• enquiry of company staff responsible for compliance to identify any instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations; and

• enquiry of management, those charged with governance and other relevant parties around actual and potential litigation claims; and

• performing audit work over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and reviewing accounting estimates for bias; and

• performing audit work over revenue recognition including substantive tests of detail on a sample of revenue transactions; and

• communicating identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and assessing whether there are any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

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

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s profit for the year was £220,095 (2024 - £395,283 profit).

Charles Bentley Properties Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 1 Monarch Way, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 5XG.

The group consists of Charles Bentley Properties Limited and all of its subsidiaries.

The company's and the group's principal activities and nature of its operations are disclosed in the Directors' Report.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards including 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, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated.

In accordance with FRS 102, the company has taken advantage of the exemptions from the disclosure requirements of:

• Section 7 'Statement of Cash Flows' - Presentation of a Statement of Cash Flow and related notes and disclosures;

• Section 33 'Related Party Disclosures' - Compensation for key management personnel.

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in these financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of Charles Bentley Properties Limited and all of its subsidiaries (i.e. entities that the group controls through its power to govern the financial and operating policies as to obtain economic benefits).

The merger method of accounting was applied to the 2016 group reconstruction as if the entities had always been combined. The total comprehensive income, assets and liabilities of the entities are amended, where necessary to align the accounting policies. The carrying values of the entities' assets and liabilities are not adjusted to fair value. Any difference between the nominal value of shares issued plus the fair value of other consideration and the nominal value of shares received is taken to other reserves in equity. Any existing balances on the share premium account or capital redemption reserve of the legal subsidiary are shown as a movement on other reserves.

All financial statements are made up to 31 March 2025. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.

All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer (usually on dispatch of the goods), the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.

Rental Income

Rental income on assets leased under operating leases is recognised on a straight-line basis over the lease term and is presented within other operating income.

Commission income

Commission income is recognised on an accruals basis and is presented within other operating income.

Government grants

Grants relating to assets are classified as deferred income and recognised in income over the expected useful life of the asset to which they relate.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of a business over the fair value of net assets acquired. It is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is considered to have a finite useful life and is amortised on a systematic basis over its expected life, being 5 years, which in the opinion of the directors is the period over which the goodwill is expected to give rise to economic benefits.

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Tangible fixed assets are measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

The company has elected to treat mixed-use investment properties as property, plant and equipment.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

Residual value is calculated on prices prevailing at the reporting date, after estimated costs of disposal for the asset as if it were at the age and in the condition expected at the end of its useful life.

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.

In its separate financial statements, a parent may elect to measure all of its investments in subsidiaries, and/or all of its investments in associates and/or all of its investments in jointly controlled entities at cost less impairment, fair value through other comprehensive income (the "fair value model") or fair value through profit or loss.

Interests in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at transaction price, excluding transaction costs, and are subsequently measured at fair value at each reporting date. Changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss. Transaction costs are expenses to profit or loss as incurred.

An assessment is made at each reporting date of whether there are indications that a fixed asset may be impaired or that an impairment loss previously recognised has fully or partially reversed. If such indications exist, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the asset or, for goodwill, the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which goodwill belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition. Provision is made for damaged, obsolete and slow-moving stock where appropriate. Cost is calculated using the weighted average cost method.

At each reporting date, an assessment is made for impairment. Any excess of the carrying amount of stocks over its estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell is recognised as an impairment loss in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses are also recognised in profit or loss.

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 group 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 group's balance sheet when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amounts presented in the financial statements when there is a legally 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.

Basic financial assets, which include trade and other debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the financial asset is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest.

Other financial assets, including trade investments, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

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.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of 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.

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 group after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other creditors, bank loans and loans from fellow group companies, 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.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Derivatives, being forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are measured at their fair value.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when, and only when, the group's contractual obligations are discharged, cancelled, or they expire.

Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at fair value of 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 group.

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting end date. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing of the recognition in profit or loss depends on the nature of the hedge relationship.

A derivative with a positive fair value is recognised as financial asset, whereas a derivative with a negative fair value is recognised as a financial liability.

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

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 profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

When employees have rendered service to the company, short-term employee benefits to which the employees are entitled are recognised at the undiscounted amount expected to be paid in exchange for that service.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee's services are received.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to the profit and loss account so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to the profit and loss account on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased asset are consumed.

Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Initial direct costs incurred in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are added to the carrying amount of the leased asset and recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term.

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.

In the application of the group’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.

The following judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

In categorising leases as finance leases or operating leases, management make judgements as to whether significant risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the company as the lessee.

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.

Stocks are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value includes, where necessary, provisions for slow moving and obsolete stocks. Calculation of these provisions requires judgements to be made, in which forecasts of consumer demand, the promotional, competitive and economic environment and stock loss trends.

The assessment of the useful economic lives and the method of depreciating fixed assets requires judgement. Depreciation is charged to the profit or loss based on the useful economic life selected, which requires an estimation of the period and profile over which the company expects to consume the future economic benefits embodied in the assets.

Debtors are stated at recoverable amounts, after appropriate impairment for bad and doubtful debts. Calculation of the bad debt impairment, requires judgement from the management team, based on the creditworthiness of the debtor, the agency profile of the debtor, and the historical experience.

In classifying the investments held in associates and joint ventures, management make judgements as to whether the company has significant influence over the entity's operation.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

The only employees of the company in the current and prior period were the directors, and they did not receive any remuneration for their services as directors, as they were remunerated through the subsidiary.

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:

Amortisation is included within administrative expenses.

The carrying amount of freehold property of £4,127,200 relates to investment property rented to another group entity, for which the company has chosen to account for using the cost model.

The carrying value of land and buildings comprises:

The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases:

Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 March 2025 are as follows:

The group also has significant holdings in undertakings which are not subsidiaries and are not classified as joint ventures or associated undertakings:

Group

Included within finished goods stocks above were goods on the water at the year end date totalling £1,344,169 (2024: £1,020,667).

Group

Included within other creditors is £2,739,440 (2024 - £2,163,550), which relates to the RBS invoice discounting facility, this is secured by fixed and floating charges over all the assets of the company.

The net obligations under finance leases are secured on the assets to which they relate.

The bank loans are secured by fixed and floating charges over the assets of the group, a legal charge over the property at Monarch Way and personal guarantee of a director.

The repayment terms of bank loans are as follows:

Group

The bank loan has been split into two separate parts. Loan 1 totalling £91,326 is repayable in monthly instalments of £7,418 over the next 2 years and incurs interest at 3.2% above bank base rate. Loan 2 totalling £1,062,464 is repayable in April 2026 and incurs interest at 3.2% above bank base rate.

Company

A bank loan totalling £2,205,344 as at 31 March 2025 is repayable in monthly instalments of £20,601 until 22 September 2035 and incurs interest at 3.15% above bank base rate.

Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company for certain items of plant and machinery. Leases include purchase options at the end of the lease period, and no restrictions are placed on the use of the assets.

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:

The group's deferred tax liability set out above relates to timing differences which are expected to reverse in future periods.

A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.

Contributions totalling £11,006 (2024 - £8,853) were payable to the fund at the period end and are included within creditors.

Each share is entitled to one vote in any circumstance and ranked pari passu in respect to dividend payments and any other distribution.

Advances or credits have been granted by the group to its directors as follows:

At the year end date the group had foreign exchange commitments, being US Dollar forward contracts which would mature at various dates after the year end. The group had £983,329 (2024 - £1,112,328) of US Dollar forward contracts at the year end. These are stated in the financial statements at £Nil (2024 - £Nil). There is no material difference between the fair value (value based on available market data) of these contracts and the value carried in the financial statements.

At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

At the reporting end date the group had contracted with tenants for the following minimum lease payments:

Charles Bentley & Son Limited owns a 33% shareholding in Warna Exporters (PVT) Limited, a company incorporated in Sri Lanka.

Charles Bentley & Son Limited made purchases from this company during the year amounting to £785,870 (2024 - £593,101) and made sales in the year amounting to £1,006 (2024 - £1,018). At the year end Warna Exporters (PVT) Limited owed Charles Bentley & Son Limited £79,821 (2024 - £Nil).

Charles Bentley & Son Limited own a 50% shareholding in Summerland Brush Co, a company incorporated in the USA.

Charles Bentley & Son Limited made sales to this company during the year amounting to £Nil (2024 - £Nil). At the year end Summerland Brush Co owed Charles Bentley & Son Limited £243,378 (2024 - £Nil) after reversing a previous impairment of the balance.

During the year Charles Bentley Properties Limited paid £45,000 (2024 - £45,000) to CW Bentley for the rent of the company premises.

CW Bentley has personally guaranteed the bank debt of the group to the value of £2,000,000.

At the year end CW Bentley was owed by Charles Bentley & Son Limited £519,106 (2024 - £49,670), and this amount is included within other creditors. Interest has been charged at the official HMRC beneficial loan rate.

During the year rent of £207,360 (2024 - £207,360) was paid to The Charles Bentley Self-Administered Pension Scheme, to which CW Bentley is the main beneficiary. No amounts were due to or from the fund at the year end.

During the year Charles Bentley & Son Limited paid £Nil (2024 - £Nil) to S Pollard as a director's loan. After repayments of £5,293 were made in the year a balance of £Nil (2024 - £5,293) was owed at the year end. Interest has been charged at 2.25% per annum.

During the year Charles Bentley & Son Limited paid £Nil (2024 - £Nil) to J Bentley as a director's loan. After repayments of £1,393 were made in the year a balance of £4,123 (2024 - £5,860) was owed at the year end. Interest has been charged at 2.25% per annum.

This is the smallest and largest group which prepares consolidated accounts in which the results of the company are included. The financial statements of Charles Bentley Properties can be obtained from Companies House or the registered office.

CW Bentley is the ultimate controlling party of Charles Bentley Properties Limited.