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

The principal activity of the company is the manufacture and distribution of automotive and industrial refinish coatings, including aerosol products and paint mixing systems. The company operates under the Capella Solutions Group brand and supplies both domestic and international markets across a range of specialist paint, primer, and refinishing products.

Alpha Coatings Ltd (hereafter referred to as 'the company' or 'Alpha Coatings')operates as a specialist manufacturer and wholesaler within the automotive aftermarket, primarily focused on supplying refinishing aerosols used in body repair and paintwork restoration. The product portfolio includes paint aerosols, primers, clear coats, panel wipes, adhesion promoters, and other essential consumables.

The company’s customer base comprises distributors and motor factors that supply trade repairers, along with a growing segment of semi-professional users. Alpha Coatings differentiates itself through rapid and reliable B2B fulfilment, strong private-label production capability, and consistently high stock availability enabled by automated order workflows.

Market Context and Trends
The UK automotive refinishing market remained stable during the year. Growth was supported by an increasing number of vehicles on the road, greater public awareness of vehicle aesthetics and repairs, and continued demand from insurance-led repair networks.

However, the company faced several external challenges, including rising raw material and freight costs, regulatory pressure on VOC emissions and propellant usage, and labour shortages in skilled auto body repair trades. In response, Alpha Coatings strengthened its supplier relationships to protect continuity of supply, invested in compliant aerosol technologies, and developed end-user training resources to support product adoption.

The company continues to monitor a range of key risks and uncertainties that may impact its operational and financial performance. One of the primary risks is supply chain disruption, which is mitigated through the use of multiple suppliers and the maintenance of strategic stockholding levels to ensure continuity. Regulatory changes affecting product formulation and packaging also present an ongoing challenge; these are addressed through regular compliance audits and the continued development of low-VOC product alternatives to ensure adherence to environmental standards.

Customer concentration remains a business risk, and the company is actively diversifying its revenue base by developing new sales channels, including partnerships with e-commerce resellers. In addition, the company is exposed to currency volatility, particularly relating to imports denominated in USD and EUR. This risk is managed through forward planning and, where appropriate, hedging strategies to minimise the impact of exchange rate fluctuations.

Management actively reviews its risk register throughout the year and continues to refine its mitigation strategies in line with changes in market conditions and operational priorities.

In the short term, Alpha Coatings aims to increase its market share through targeted promotions and an expansion of its distribution partnerships. Efforts will also focus on growing the average basket size by encouraging cross-selling and strengthening the value proposition of its own-brand products to drive loyalty and premium positioning. Digital sales performance will be optimised through improvements in user experience, product bundling and conversion tracking across e-commerce platforms.

Stocks Opening Balances
The directors note that the company appointed its current auditors in December 2024, after the commencement of the financial year. As a result, the auditors were unable to observe the physical inventory count at 1 January 2024 or perform alternative procedures to verify the opening inventory balances. This limitation has been acknowledged in the audit report and relates solely to the opening stock position. The directors are satisfied that appropriate procedures were followed during the year to ensure the accuracy of inventory records and valuation as at 31 December 2024.

Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment, the company delivered a strong operational performance during the year. Turnover and gross margin remained resilient, supported by the continued diversification of the product range, targeted upselling of premium products, and greater efficiency within warehouse operations, achieved through enhancements to the company’s digital infrastructure. Operational improvements in areas such as order tracking and fulfilment also contributed positively to profitability and helped strengthen customer retention.

Key financial indicators for the year included turnover of £12.78m, a gross margin of 31.8%, and a operating profit margin of 4%. These results reflect the company's ability to adapt to changing market conditions while maintaining a consistent focus on margin protection and service quality.

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.

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £201,977. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.

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

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.

Investments of cash surpluses, borrowings and derivative instruments are made through banks and companies which must fulfil credit rating criteria approved by the Board.

All customers who wish to trade on credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures. Trade debtors are monitored on an ongoing basis and provision is made for doubtful debts where necessary.

Details of future developments are given in the Strategic report

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 Alpha Coatings 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, the 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, except for the possible effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion section of our report, 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 qualified opinion

We were appointed as auditors of the Company in December 2024 and were therefore unable to observe the counting of physical inventories as at 1 January 2024, or to perform alternative procedures to verify the existence and completeness of the opening inventory quantities, which are stated at £1,704,404 in the financial statements.

As opening inventories enter into the determination of the results of operations, we were unable to determine whether adjustments might have been necessary in respect of the profit for the year reported in the statement of comprehensive income and the related elements in the balance sheet and statement of changes in equity.

Our audit opinion on the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024 is therefore qualified due to a limitation of scope in respect of opening inventories.

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.  We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our qualified 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.

• the directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies’ exemptions in preparing the directors’ report and from the requirement to prepare a strategic report.

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.

Based on our understanding of the company and its financial operations we have considered the initial risks of non-compliance with the UK regulators, predominantly HM Revenue and Customs and the Companies Act. We have assessed the impact of any breaches in such laws and regulations, based on the results of audit testing and enquiries made with management, and considered whether any such findings would have a material impact on these financial statements. We have considered the risk of those charged with management overriding internal controls and the opportunity for financial manipulation. We have considered the effect of any accounting estimates included within these accounts and the effect this may have on our audit opinion.

Our audit procedures together with our assessment of risks identified at planning were transparent to the company and we have communicated with the client throughout the audit as well as the audit engagement team, and this includes such matters as fraud and irregularity. The above procedures do however have their limitations as we can only work on a sample of financial transactions. Ultimately it is the responsibility of those charged with management for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. 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 . This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.A further description of our responsibilities is available on the FRC’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditors/audit-assurance/auditor-s-responsibilities-for-the-audit-of-the-fi/description-of-the-auditor%E2%80%99s-responsibilities-for. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

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.

The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

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

Alpha Coatings Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 6, Walbrook Business Park, Queenborough Road, Sheerness, Kent, ME12 3XS.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, [modified to include the revaluation of freehold properties and to include investment properties and certain financial instruments at fair value]. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

Atruet the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company 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.

The nature, timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and significant payment terms of the company's major sources of revenue are as follows:

Research expenditure is written off against profits in the year in which it is incurred. Identifiable development expenditure is capitalised to the extent that the technical, commercial and financial feasibility can be demonstrated.

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 ten 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.

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

Intangible assets acquired on business combinations are recognised separately from goodwill at the acquisition date where it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity and the fair value of the asset can be measured reliably; the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights; and the intangible asset is separable from the entity.

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 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.

From July 2022, the company decided to vacate its existing leasehold property, with the relocation completed during 2024. Following this decision, the directors reassessed the remaining useful life of the property and determined that the asset should be depreciated evenly over a revised period of 21 months, commencing from July 2022. The property has now been fully depreciated on a straight-line basis in line with that revised estimate.

A new leasehold property was brought into use during 2024 and is being depreciated on a reducing balance basis at 10%, reflecting its longer-term usage profile and expected pattern of economic benefit.

These adjustments represent a change in accounting estimate under FRS 102 Section 17, and have been applied prospectively from the date of reassessment.

Interests in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities 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.

An associate is an entity, being neither a subsidiary nor a joint venture, in which the company holds a long-term interest and where the company has significant influence. The company considers that it has significant influence where it has the power to participate in the financial and operating decisions of the associate.

Entities in which the company has a long term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement are classified as jointly controlled entities.

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.

Stocks held for distribution at no or nominal consideration are measured at the lower of cost and replacement cost, adjusted where applicable for any loss of service potential.

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.

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, 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 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.

Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.

Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value through profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.

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.

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.

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 profit or loss 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 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.

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.

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 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.

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

During the year, the company recognised a provision of £275,000 against an amount of £302,581 due from Peticular (2022) Ltd, a related party by virtue of common directorship and shareholding.

This provision reflects the directors’ assessment of recoverability at the reporting date, taking into account the financial position of the counterparty. The remaining net balance of £27,581 is included within trade and other debtors.

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:

Factors that may affect future tax charges
Future tax charges may be affected by changes in corporation tax rates, the utilisation of capital allowances on qualifying plant and property investments, and the treatment of expenditure incurred in the year relating to repairs and refurbishments. No material unrecognised deferred tax assets or liabilities exist at the reporting date, and the group does not anticipate significant movements outside normal trading activity.

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

The impairment losses in respect of financial assets are recognised in other gains and losses in the profit and loss account.

During the year, the company recognised an impairment charge of £200 in respect of its investment in Infinity Paint Company Ltd (company number: 08327503), which had been previously recorded at cost. Although the investee company was formally dissolved in 2019, the amount remained carried in the balance sheet. Following a review during the current year, management concluded that the balance was no longer recoverable and therefore an impairment has been recognised in full in the year ended 31 December 202

More information on impairment movements in the year is given in note 12.

Tangible fixed assets includes assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts, as follows:

Included within fixed asset investments is an amount of £74 representing the cost of shares held by Alpha Coatings Ltd, stated at historical cost based on the original share subscription in USD, converted at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of issue.

Also included is an investment of £40 representing the acquisition cost of 20% of the ordinary share capital bearing right to vote of Unova Ltd, accounted for as an associate using the equity method. The investment reflects significant influence, but not control, over the investee company.

No indicators of impairment were identified at the reporting date in relation to these investments.

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

Inventories recognised as an expense during the year amounted to £7,309,133 (2023: £6,853,186) and are included within cost of sales in the statement of profit and loss.

Included within other debtors is an amounts due from Peticular(2022) Ltd which is connected to the directors with a balance £27,581 due from them, against which a provision of £275,000 has been recognised at the reporting date.

Further details are provided in Note 24 – Related Party Transactions.

The company has entered into finance arrangements with HSBC Equipment Finance and other financial institutions to fund the acquisition of plant and equipment. These borrowings are secured on the underlying assets financed and are separate from the company’s primary banking facilities. The total amount outstanding under these arrangements, included within other loans, is £540,687.

Assets held under finance leases are capitalised and depreciated over the shorter of their useful lives or the lease term. The corresponding liability is recognised within creditors, and lease payments are apportioned between capital and interest.

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

The deferred tax liability set out above relates to temporary differences arising from accelerated capital allowances. These timing differences are expected to unwind over the useful lives of the related assets.

Included within other debtors are loans due from the related company of £ 27,581(2023: £ 342,117), all of which is due within one year. During the year, the company had an amount receivable of £302,581 from Peticular (2022) Ltd, a related party by virtue of common directorship and shareholding. Following an assessment of the recoverability of the balance, and taking into account the financial position of the counterparty, the directors have recognised a provision of £275,000 against this receivable.

Included within other debtors is an amount of £17,210 due from a shareholder entity that is not part of the group as at the reporting date. The balance is unsecured, interest free, and repayable on demand.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption available under paragraph 1.12 of FRS 102 and has not disclosed transactions with other wholly owned members of the group headed by Alpha Coatings Investments Ltd, whose consolidated financial statements are publicly available.