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

The business continues to be that of chemical distribution, most notably of resins, polymers, functional minerals and additives. The business strategy centres on delivering unparalleled value through customer experience, technical knowledge and credibility. This is achieved through providing tailored solutions and regulatory expertise that help our customers overcome challenges in the production of complex formulations whilst building long lasting relationships with our customers and principal partners.

The business aims to partner with likeminded businesses, principals and suppliers to enable sector leading customer service and satisfaction. This approach is confirmed by the investment in Geniechem Limited, Geniechem Europe Limited, Dunwood Specialities Limited and Faber & VanderEnde BV in recent years.

The company has continued to trade profitably throughout the year, and the financial position at the year end was considered satisfactory by the directors.

As shown in the profit and loss account, turnover increased to £16.1m (2023: £15.1m) and operating profit has increased to £1.4m (2023: £0.8m).

The balance sheet has remained strong with net assets of £7.0m compared to £6.0m in 2023.

See key performance indicators below for further details.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the company are as follows, along with the financial management objectives and policies:

Liquidity risk

The company is funded by surplus cash, bank borrowings and working capital, together with intra-group financing arrangements.

The company manages its cash and borrowing requirements in order to maximise interest income and minimise interest expense, whilst ensuring the company has sufficient liquid resources to meet the operating needs of the business.

Interest rate risk

The company manages the risk associated with fluctuations in interest rate by securing a fixed rate in respect of its invoice discounting facility which represents its main source of third party finance.

Foreign currency risk

The company's principal foreign currency exposures arise from trading with overseas companies. The company policy permits but does not demand that these exposures may be hedged in order to fix the cost in sterling. The company also uses a foreign invoice discounting facility to mitigate its risk.

Credit risk

The company monitors credit risk closely and considers that its current policies of credit checks meets its objectives of management exposure to credit risk.

All customers who wish to trade on credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures. Trade debtors are reviewed on a regular basis and provision is made for doubtful debts when necessary.

The profit before tax for the year is £1.0m (2023: £0.6m).

The company strategy is one of growth with improved profitability. The directors monitor progress against this strategy by reference to a number of financial key performance indicators. Performance for the current year, together with comparative data for the previous year, is set out below:

(a) Turnover

Turnover in the year was £16.1m (2023: £15.1m). This continuity is driven by continued relationships with the underlying customer base.

(b) Gross profit %

This is gross profit expressed as a percentage of turnover. Gross profit % is 23.6% (2023: 24.8%) and has reduced slightly. The directors are focussed on streamlining and maximising all product lines across all businesses.

The company plans to grow the business and its reputation throughout the industry. Growth is anticipated to be organic and via future acquisitions.

On 20 March 2025, the company entered into a deed of pledge of shares, whereby they pledged their shares in Faber & VanderEnde B.V to HSBC UK Bank plc as security for obligations under the invoice discounting facility.

This arrangement provides HSBC UK Bank plc with a first ranking right of pledge over the secured assets as security which can be enforced in the event of default under the facility. The deed of pledge does not affect the company’s operational control or shareholding structure as of the balance sheet date.

On behalf of the board

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

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:

The auditor, DSG Audit, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

The company has chosen in accordance with Companies Act 2006, s. 414C(11) to set out in the company'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 the company's principal activity, financial risk management policies and future developments.

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 company’s auditor 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 company’s auditor is aware of that information.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies entitled to the medium-sized companies exemption.

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

In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• 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 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.

We have audited the financial statements of Richard Baker Harrison Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the profit and loss account, the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in equity 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 company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its profit for the year then ended;

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

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

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's 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 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 company and its 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, 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.

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 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.

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.

Discussions were held with, and enquiries made of, management and those charged with governance with a view to identifying those laws and regulations that could be expected to have a material impact on the financial statements. During the engagement team briefing, the outcomes of these discussions and enquiries were shared with the team, as well as consideration as to where and how fraud may occur in the company.

The following laws and regulations were identified as being of significance to the company:

• Those laws and regulations considered to have a direct effect on the financial statements include UK financial reporting standards, Company Law, Tax and Pensions legislation.

• Those laws and regulations for which non-compliance may be fundamental to the operating aspects of the company and therefore may have a material effect on the financial statements include compliance with waste regulations, packaging regulations, UK and EU Reach regulations, quality management and assurance standards, health and safety legislation and General Data Protection requirements.

Audit procedures undertaken in response to the potential risks relating to irregularities (which include fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations) comprised of: enquiries of management and those charged with governance as to whether the company complies with such laws and regulations; enquiries with the same concerning any actual or potential litigation or claims; inspection of relevant legal correspondence; testing the appropriateness of entries in the nominal ledger, including journal entries; reviewing transactions around the end of the reporting period; and the performance of analytical procedures to identify unexpected movements in account balances which may be indicative of fraud.

No instances of material non-compliance were identified. However, the likelihood of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is limited by the inherent difficulty in detecting irregularities, the effectiveness of the company’s controls, and the nature, timing and extent of the audit procedures performed. Irregularities that result from fraud might be inherently more difficult to detect than irregularities that result from error.  As explained above, there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements may not be detected, even though the audit has been planned and performed in accordance with ISAs (UK).

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.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions relating to medium-sized companies.

Richard Baker Harrison Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Ayrton Saunders House, Parliament Business Park, Commerce Way, Liverpool, L8 7BA.

The principal activity of the company is disclosed in the strategic report.

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 £1.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

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 each category of financial instrument; 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’: Compensation for key management personnel.

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of OBG Holding Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office at Ayrton House, 38 Commerce Way, Parliament Business Park, Liverpool, L8 7BA.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 400 of the Companies Act 2006 not to prepare consolidated accounts. The financial statements present information about the company as an individual entity and not about its group.

Richard Baker Harrison Limited is a subsidiary of OBG Pharmaceuticals Limited and the results of Richard Baker Harrison Limited are included in the consolidated financial statements of OBG Holding Limited, which are available from the address above.

The group prepares forecasts, which includes this company, which indicate that the company and the group will continue to generate cash, over the period considered by them in their assessment of the appropriateness of adopting the going concern basis in the preparation of these financial statements. The forecasts also demonstrate that existing group banking facilities will remain adequate and that all associated banking covenants will be satisfactorily met. true

Based on the forecasts and taking into consideration the working capital requirements for the company, the directors believe that there will be sufficient funds available to the company to meet its obligations over the next 12 months. As such, the directors consider it appropriate to prepare these financial statements on a going concern basis.

Turnover represents amounts receivable for goods net of VAT and trade discounts.

Turnover 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.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of unincorporated businesses 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, which is 10 years.

For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the cash-generating units expected to benefit from the acquisition. Cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for impairment at least annually, or more frequently when there is an indication that the unit may be impaired. If the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit and then to the other assets of the unit pro-rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit.

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

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:

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 credited or charged to profit or loss.

Interests in subsidiaries are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the company. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset 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.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

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.

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 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 balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with 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 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 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.

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 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.

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, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, 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.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

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.

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. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account 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.

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. 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.

Provisions are recognised when the company has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the company will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision is measured at present value, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in profit or loss in the period in which it arises.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

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

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

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

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss 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 leases asset are consumed.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing on the date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured at historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items and on the retranslation of monetary items, carried at fair value, are included in the profit and loss account, except for the differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items in respect of which gains and losses are recorded in equity. For such non-monetary items, any exchange component of that gain or loss is also recognised directly in equity.

Exceptional items

Exceptional items are disclosed separately in the financial statements where it is necessary to do so to provide further understanding of the financial performance of the company. They are material items of income or expenditure which are of exceptional size or incidence, and are presented within the line items to which they best relate.

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.

The company makes a provision for certain mandated compliance costs imposed upon companies that import or manufacture certain chemicals under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restricted Chemicals). The provision is based upon current levels of usage or import volumes of chemicals covered by this legislation. As the company is based in the UK, any REACH registrations and notifications will become void after the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU). The company has taken guidance, provided by REACH, that the company will be required to register under UK REACH in order to ensure they are still compliant. Whilst the company has received guidance as to the basis for providing for compliance costs, actual costs are not expected to crystallise until 2025/26 and hence the provision recognised in these financial statements represents a management estimate which is reviewed on an annual basis. See note 19 for further details.

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.

The annual amortisation charge for intangible assets is sensitive to changes in estimated useful life and continued value of goodwill to the business. The useful economic life and values are re-assessed annually. They are amended when necessary to reflect current estimates based on value to the business. The remaining useful life is considered a source of significant estimation uncertainty.

Changes in the useful economic life of assets are accounted for by amending the prospective useful economic life and the annual depreciation charge over the remaining useful life of the asset.

An analysis of the company's turnover is as follows:

Exceptional items relates to staff restructuring costs of £96,480 and legal matters credit of £18,059 (2023: £101,663 charge).

The average monthly number of persons employed by the company during the year was:

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

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:

Impairment tests have been carried out where appropriate and the following impairment losses have been recognised in profit or loss:

More information on impairment movements in the current and prior year is given in note 10.

These financial statements are separate company financial statements for Richard Baker Harrison Limited.

Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 December 2024 are as follows:

Amounts owed by group undertakings are unsecured, interest free, and repayable on demand.

Amounts owed to group undertakings are unsecured, interest free, and payable on demand.

Invoice discounting facility with HSBC Bank plc is secured via a debenture including First Fixed Charge over book and other debts, chattels, goodwill and uncalled capital, both present and future; and First Floating Charge over all assets and undertaking both present and future.

The company makes a provision for certain mandated compliance costs imposed upon companies that import or manufacture certain chemicals under REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restricted Chemicals). The provision is based upon current levels of usage or import volumes of chemicals covered by this legislation. As the company is based in the UK, any REACH registrations and notifications will become void after the UK's withdrawal from the European Union (EU). The company has taken guidance, provided by REACH, that the company will be required to register under UK REACH in order to ensure they are still compliant. Whilst the company has received guidance as to the basis for providing for compliance costs, actual costs are not expected to crystallise until 2025/26 and hence the provision recognised in these financial statements represents a management estimate which is reviewed on an annual basis.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where the company has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes:

The deferred tax asset set out above is expected to reverse and relates to timing issues in relation to pension payments and the unwinding of differences between capital allowances and depreciation.

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. Contributions amounting to £2,469 (2023: £2,444) were payable by the company to the fund and are included within other creditors.

Ordinary shares have attached to them full voting rights.

Ordinary B shares have no right to receive notice or to attend and vote at any general meeting or written resolution of the company. The shares shall not be entitled to participate in any dividend declared or distributed.

The company is party to a multilateral guarantee in respect of amounts owed to HSBC Bank plc by OBG Holding Limited and its subsidiaries listed below:

OBG Pharmaceuticals Limited

Ayrton Saunders and Company Ltd

RBH Repacking Services Ltd

Ransom Naturals Limited

Richard Baker Harrison Limited

OBG Holding Limited

There is also a Group Class Guarantee Facility in favour of HM Revenue & Customs for £200,000.

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

On 20 March 2025, the company entered into a deed of pledge of shares, whereby they pledged their shares in Faber & VanderEnde B.V to HSBC UK Bank plc as security for obligations under the invoice discounting facility.

This arrangement provides HSBC UK Bank plc with a first ranking right of pledge over the secured assets as security which can be enforced in the event of default under the facility. The deed of pledge does not affect the company’s operational control or shareholding structure as of the balance sheet date.

The company is exempt from disclosing transactions with group companies that are wholly owned within the same group.

The company is owed £259,884 (2023: £553,121) from group companies within the OBG Holding Limited group which are not 100% owned but have common shareholders and directors.

The company owes £799,913 (2023: £204,085) to group companies within the OBG Holding Limited group which are not 100% owned but have common shareholders and directors.

The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of OBG Pharmaceuticals Limited which itself is a wholly owned subsidiary of the ultimate parent company, OBG Holding Limited. This parent company, which prepares consolidated financial statements, is registered in England and Wales at Ayrton House, 38 Commerce Way, Parliament Business Park, Liverpool, L8 7BA. The parent company also has the same registered office as the ultimate parent company.

The smallest and largest group into which the results of this entity are consolidated is that headed by OBG Holding Limited.

The ultimate controlling party as at the year end 31 December 2024 and up to 31 March 2025 was Mr G F O'Brien. The ultimate controlling party from 1 April 2025 is Mr P M O'Brien.