The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.
Petrochemical market overview
In 2024, the global petrochemical industry continued to face significant headwinds, shaped by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, and structural shifts in supply and demand.
Geopolitical and market dynamics
The oil and gas market remained volatile. OPEC+ maintained its output cuts through the first half of the year, with Brent crude reaching nearly $90 per barrel in April. This decision, driven by tighter supply and disruptions in Russian energy infrastructure and Middle Eastern conflicts, kept global markets tight and prices elevated.
The Israel–Iran conflict intensified, raising concerns over potential disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical chokepoint for global oil supply. While OPEC’s spare capacity helped mitigate immediate supply shocks, shipping costs and transit times were affected, especially for routes involving Asia and Europe.
Despite a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Taiwan, petrochemical operations remained largely unaffected, showcasing the resilience of Asian producers. Meanwhile, China continued to expand its petrochemical production capacity, contributing to global oversupply and pressuring prices and margins.
Economic conditions and consumption trends
Europe’s petrochemical sector remained under pressure. High energy costs, inflation, and subdued consumer spending persisted, with steam cracker margins for naphtha and butane falling. Although propane margins offered temporary relief, the overall sentiment remained weak, and rationalisation of high-cost assets became increasingly necessary.
Global demand for petrochemical products remained flat, with utilisation rates below 82%. Oversupply, particularly in olefins and derivatives, led to low profitability and project delays. European producers faced mounting competition from low-cost regions like North America and the Middle East.
Strategic response
Opes maintained its resilience through a diversified product portfolio and a well-established global distribution network. This enabled the company to navigate regional downturns and ensure reliable delivery despite market disruptions.
Customer loyalty remained strong, supported by Opes’s commitment to responsive service and strategic pricing. The company’s cost structure was adapted to manage the elevated oil prices and shipping challenges seen in 2024.
Despite the challenging environment, Opes retained its market share from 2023, trading consistent volumes and reinforcing its reputation for reliability and customer satisfaction.
Vision statement
Opes aims to become the most trusted strategic partner in the global monomer market by fostering enduring relationships. This goal is achieved by understanding and managing stakeholder expectations, sharing expertise, and consistently fulfilling our commitments. We are committed to upholding our core values—relationships, trust, entrepreneurial spirit, sustainability, quality, and positive solutions—which we believe are crucial for our business success.
Trading risks
The petrochemical sector in 2024 continued to experience significant volatility due to global oversupply, subdued demand, and aggressive capacity expansion in Asia, particularly China. These factors have led to persistent downward pressure on margins and increased competition, especially for European producers. Opes’s revenue is highly sensitive to fluctuations in both demand and supply, as well as to changes in raw material prices and customer preferences. To mitigate these risks, Opes maintains a diversified product portfolio and leverages strong, long-term relationships with a broad network of suppliers. This approach ensures a stable and adaptable supply chain, enabling the company to respond quickly to market disruptions, secure competitive pricing, and maintain continuity of supply even in challenging conditions.
Foreign currency risk
Operating in international markets exposes Opes to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, particularly between the US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), and Pound Sterling (GBP). Volatility in currency markets can significantly impact both revenues and costs, especially given the global nature of raw material sourcing and product sales. To manage this risk, Opes employs a proactive hedging strategy, utilising forward contracts and other financial instruments to lock in exchange rates where possible. The company regularly reviews its currency exposures and adjusts its hedging approach in response to market developments, thereby protecting profit margins and reducing the impact of adverse currency movements on financial performance.
Credit risk
To minimise credit risk associated with the credit terms offered to our customers, a non-cancellable limit credit insurance policy is maintained.
Liquidity risk and cash flow
The group regularly reviews liquidity and stress-tests financial models to ensure operational stability.
In 2024, Opes International Limited operated in a challenging global environment for petrochemicals, marked by persistent oversupply, subdued demand, and margin pressure across key markets. The company responded by prioritizing operational efficiency, cost control, and strategic expansion.
Opes invested in high-quality personnel, upgraded IT systems, and secured additional raw material capacity to support its diversified sales strategy. These initiatives were designed to enhance productivity, streamline processes, and ensure the group remained agile in responding to market volatility.
The group continued to pursue growth opportunities in the USA, Middle East, and Asia, strengthening relationships with existing customers and suppliers while exploring new market segments. This geographic diversification helped to mitigate risks associated with regional downturns and positioned Opes for future growth.
The following key performance indicators are used by the group to monitor its performance:
2024 2023
€ €
|
|
|
Gross Profit | 4,566,071 | 5,775,241 |
EBITDA | 487,684 | 1,659,020 |
Net Assets | 11,334,446 | 11,961,840 |
Customer Service
Opes International Limited continued to prioritise exceptional customer service throughout 2024. The company maintained a high level of customer satisfaction, as evidenced by an average score of 9 out of 10 in its annual customer survey. This strong performance reflects Opes’s commitment to understanding and responding to customer needs, providing timely deliveries, and offering tailored solutions. The group’s proactive approach to gathering and acting on customer feedback has helped to strengthen long-term relationships and reinforce its reputation for reliability and responsiveness, even amidst ongoing supply chain challenges.
Compliance
The group retained its ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications in 2024, underscoring its ongoing commitment to quality management, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance. These accreditations are not only a testament to the robustness of Opes’s internal processes but also provide assurance to customers and stakeholders regarding the company’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards. Regular internal and external audits were conducted to ensure continued adherence to these standards, and any areas for improvement were promptly addressed.
Health and safety remained a priority for Opes in 2024. The leadership team implemented comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure safe working conditions across the office.
Corporate Social Responsibility
Opes continued to integrate sustainability into its daily operations, maintaining its gold rating on the EcoVadis Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform.
The group actively pursued initiatives to reduce its environmental footprint, promote ethical business practices, and support the well-being of employees and the wider community. These efforts are central to Opes’s long-term strategy and are regularly reviewed by the Board to ensure ongoing progress and alignment with stakeholder expectations.
Group's employees
Opes International Limited recognises that its employees are fundamental to the group’s ongoing success and resilience. The company is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and high-performing workplace where every team member is valued and empowered to contribute to the group’s objectives.
In 2024, Opes continued to prioritise employee engagement and well-being, offering a range of training, mentoring, and professional development opportunities. Regular communication and consultation ensured that staff were actively involved in management decisions and business improvements. The group’s approach to people management is underpinned by a culture of respect, collaboration, and continuous feedback, which has helped to maintain high levels of motivation and retention.
The expertise, dedication, and adaptability of Opes’s employees have been instrumental in delivering excellent customer service and navigating the challenges of a volatile market. The Board remains committed to investing in its people, recognising that their knowledge of products, customers, and markets is a key differentiator for the business.
Going concern
The directors have prepared these financial statements on a going concern basis. In making this assessment, they have reviewed detailed trading and cashflow forecasts through to 31 December 2026, including scenario analyses that consider potential reductions in trading activity and the effectiveness of mitigating actions.
During the year, the group maintained adequate funding facilities, further strengthening its liquidity position. Together with existing resources and prudent financial management, this provides the directors with confidence in the group’s ability to meet its obligations as they fall due and to continue operating as a going concern for the foreseeable future.
The directors of the group, as those of all UK companies, must act in accordance with a set of general duties, as detailed in section 172 of the UK Companies Act 2006.
A director of a group must act in the way they consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the group for the benefit of its shareholders as a whole and, in doing so have regard (amongst other matters) to:
The likely consequences of any decisions in the long term.
The interests of the group's employees.
The need to foster the group's business relationships with suppliers, customers, and others.
The impact of the group's operations on the community and environment.
The desirability of the group maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct; and
The need to act fairly between shareholders of the group.
Other details of how the directors fulfil their duties in each of the areas set out above are:
Consequences of decisions in the long term
Annually, the board conducts a review of the group's strategic direction, including plans for the upcoming year. Once the board approves these plans, they lay the groundwork for the financial budgets, resource allocations, and investment choices for the year ahead. In shaping these plans and future strategies, the board considers a range of factors including stakeholder interests, the long-term implications of their decisions, and the group's long-term reputation.
Furthermore, the board has established specific targets to ensure the group maintains an adequate level of financial resilience and liquidity. It routinely assesses the group's projected cash flows, funding needs, debt capacity, and financing alternatives to sustain its financial health.
Interests of the company's employees
The directors recognise the critical role that employees play in the long-term success of the group. To achieve this success, it is essential to manage employee performance effectively and support their personal development, while ensuring operations remain efficient and safe.
The directors regularly review and assess performance in these areas to ensure ongoing improvement and alignment with the group's goals.
Business relationships
The board consistently evaluates how the group fosters and maintains robust relationships with all its stakeholders.
Recognising the group's core focus on the chemical trading market, the board understands that relationships with manufacturers, end-product producers, financial institutions, and both local and international authorities are crucial to the group's operations.
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 10.
Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to €406,560. 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 auditor, Mercer & Hole LLP, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
As the group has not consumed more than 40,000 kWh of energy in this reporting period, it qualifies as a low energy user under these regulations and is not required to report on its emissions, energy consumption or energy efficiency activities.
We have audited the financial statements of Opes International Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 December 2024 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).
Basis for 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
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.
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the group and the industry in which it operates and considered the risk of acts by the group that were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. These included, but were not limited to, the Companies Act 2006 and tax legislation.
We evaluated management's incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements and the financial report (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate entries including journals to overstate revenue or understate expenditure and management bias in accounting estimates.
Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
discussions with management, including considerations of known or suspected instances of non- compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;
gaining an understanding of management's controls designed to prevent and detect irregularities; and
identifying and testing journal entries.
Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non- compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.
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 loss for the year was €255,608 (2023 - €810,962)
Opes International Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 43 De Tany Court, St Albans, Herts, AL11TX.
The group consists of Opes International Limited and all of its subsidiaries.
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 euros 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. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The 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 for parent company information presented within the consolidated financial statements:
Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;
Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;
Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share-based payment expense charged to profit or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and weighted average exercise price of share options, how the fair value of options granted was measured, measurement and carrying amount of liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, explanation of modifications to arrangements;
Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Opes International Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries).
All financial statements are made up to 31 December 2024. 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.
Subsidiaries are consolidated in the group’s financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. In making this assessment, the directors have prepared detailed trading and cashflow forecasts for the period to 31 December 2026. These have been flexed to take into account the possible impact of a decrease in trading activities and mitigating actions that can be taken. These show the group has the ability to meet its liabilities as they fall due and allow the directors to be very confident in the business for the future.
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 delivery 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.
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.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. 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 group 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.
The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.
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.
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 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 group 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 group after deducting all of its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors and bank loans, 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.
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 group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments issued by the group 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 group.
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 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. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset if, and only if, there is 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.
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.
Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at fair value at the date of grant by reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted using the Black-Scholes model. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the estimate of shares that will eventually vest. A corresponding adjustment is made to equity.
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 leased asset are consumed.
Transactions in currencies other than euros 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 average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group and company during the year was:
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
The actual (credit)/charge for the year can be reconciled to the expected (credit)/charge for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 December 2024 are as follows:
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and company, and movements thereon:
The deferred tax asset set out above is expected to reverse within 24 months and relates to the utilisation of tax losses against future expected profits.
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.
The Ordinary shares, A Ordinary shares and B Ordinary shares rank separately in respect of dividends and on a return of capital the shares are entitled to varying amounts dependent on the amount distributed. The B Ordinary shares carry no voting rights.
In 2022, options over 50 B ordinary shares of £0.10 each were granted to certain of the company's employees. The options can be exercised in tranches over a 4 year period at an exercise price of £0.10 per share. During the year, 10 options were exercised leaving 20 outstanding at the year end.
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:
The remuneration of key management personnel is as follows.
Dividends totalling €406,560 (2023 - €1,451,815) were paid in the year in respect of shares held by the company's directors.
Included in debtors are balances owed by Mr N A Dudman of €3,368 (2023: €533,036 included in creditors), Ms D Almeida of €102,573 (2023: €89,097 included in creditors) and Mrs H Watson of €16,170 (2023: €41,257 included in creditors). Included in creditors is a balance owed to Mr J James of €8,344 (2023: €3,276).
During the year dividends totaling €406,560 (2023 - €1,451,815) were credited as paid to directors' loan accounts.