The director presents the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2024.

The results for the year show a profit before tax of £239,945 (2023: £285,561) and turnover of £31,414,811 (£17,025,482). The director considers the results for the year and the position of the company at the end of the year to be satisfactory. The company will continue to seek every opportunity to increase profitable turnover.

The director anticipates that the company will remain profitable in 2025. The director has plans in place to ensure the company is strongly placed going forward.

Future Developments

The director considers results for the year and the position of the Company at the end of the year to be satisfactory. The Company will continue to seek every opportunity to increase profitable turnover.

Health and Safety

The company are committed to achieving the highest practicable standards in health and safety management and strive to make all sites and offices safe environments for employees and customers alike.

Environment

The company recognises their corporate responsibility to carry out their operations whilst minimising environmental impacts. The continued aim of the director is to comply with all applicable environmental legislation, prevent pollution and reduce waste wherever possible.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company are described below:

Price Risk

Market conditions, competitive pressures, and the cost of shipping and labour continue to present key challenges for Freeburn Transport Ltd.

Credit Risk

The company has established robust policies requiring due diligence and senior-level approval before entering into contracts or agreements with new customers.

Liquidity Risk

Freeburn Transport Ltd maintains sufficient cash reserves to support the efficient operation of its daily activities. Detailed cash flow forecasts are prepared on a weekly, quarterly, and annual basis to ensure that adequate funds are available for both routine operations and any planned expenditures. In addition, the company operates an invoice discounting facility, which can be accessed if required.

Customs Legislation

A qualified in-house Customs department has been developed to mitigate any risks arising from changes to Irish Sea trading arrangements following Brexit.

On behalf of the board

The director presents his annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024.

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of freight transport by road.

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

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £75,400. The director does not recommend payment of a further dividend.

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

Despite rising costs, the company has remained dedicated to advancing efficiency and value through strategic investments. Collaborating with clients and consultants, the company continues to address complex logistic challenges by enhancing fleet capabilities, optimising routes, and implementing advanced logistics technology to improve efficiency and service reliability.

There have been no significant post balance sheet events.

The company plans to continue its present activities and current trading levels. Employees are kept fully informed as practicable about developments within the business.

SCC Chartered Accountants Ltd were appointed as auditor to the company and in accordance with section 485 of

the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.

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 director is responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the director to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the director has 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 director must not approve the financial statements unless he is 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 director is required to:

• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The director is 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. He is 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 Freeburn Transport 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 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 director's 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 director 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 director is 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 director's report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the director's report has 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 director's 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 director's 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 director's responsibilities statement, the director is 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 director determines 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 director is 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 director either intends to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or has 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 designed 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 industry, we identified the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to road safety and transport laws, health and safety and environmental law. We also considered those laws that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006 and Financial Reporting Standards.

We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements and determined that the principal risks related to fraudulent financial reporting and management bias in accounting estimates. We communicated the identified laws and regulations throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit.

Audit procedures performed by the auditors included, but were no limited to:

• Discussions with management including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;

• Reviewing key correspondence with external legal advisors;

• Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates; and

• Identifying and testing of unusual journal entries

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to 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 Financial Reporting Council’s website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our responsibilities

This report is made solely to the company's member 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 member those matters we are required to state to the member 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 member, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

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

Freeburn Transport Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in Northern Ireland. The registered office is Unit 1 Charlemont Industrial Estate, Ballycullen Road, Moy, N. Ireland, BT71 7SD.

The current year financial statements represent results for the year ended 31 December 2024. The prior period relates to a nine month accounting period to 31 December 2023.

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 on a going concern basis and in accordance with the historical cost convention except for certain properties and financial statements that are measured at revalued amounts or fair values, as explained in the accounting policies below. Historical cost is generally based on the fair value of consideration given in exchange for assets.

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for 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.

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.

The carry value of tangible assets are reviewed annually for impairment in period if events or changes i circumstances indicate the carry value may not be recoverable.

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible 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.

Where a reasonable and consistent basis of allocation can be identified, assets are allocated to individual cash-generating units, or otherwise they are allocated to the smallest group of cash-generating units for which a reasonable and consistent allocation basis can be identified.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The ordinary share capital of the company is presented as an equity.

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.

Current tax represents the amount expected to be paid or recovered in respect of taxable profits for the financial year and is calculated using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantially enacted at the Balance Sheet date.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date where transactions or events have occurred at that date that will result in an obligation to pay more tax in the future, or a right to pay less tax in the future. Timing differences are temporary differences between the company's taxable profits and its results as stated in the financial statements.

Deferred tax is measured on an undiscounted basis at the tax rates that are anticipated to apply to the periods in which the timing differences are expected to reverse, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the Balance Sheet date.

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independent administered fund. The company also operates a defined benefit pension scheme for its employees providing benefits based on final pensionable pay. The assets of this scheme are also held separately from those of the company, , being invested with pension fund managers.

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.

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.

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.

Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the Balance Sheet date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical costs in a foreign currency are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the date of the transaction. Non-monetary items that are measured at fir value in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value was determined. The resulting exchange difference are dealt with in the Profit and Loss Account.

Dividends

Equity dividends are recognised when they become legally payable. Interim equity dividends are recognised

when paid. Final equity dividends are recognised when approved by the shareholders at an annual general

meeting.

In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the director is 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 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 depreciation charge is a key accounting estimate and is calculated based on the entity's assessment of useful economic lives for each category of asset and the residual value of fixed assets. These are both reviewed annually and updates are made if required.

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

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:

Included within the carrying value of tangible assets is an amount of £6,595,572 (2023 - £2,175,958) relating to assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.

Invoice discounting arrangements are in place in relation to the debtor book of the company.

The long-term borrowings are secured by floating charges that covers all the property or undertaking of the company.

The Company complied with all banking covenants during the year. The directors consider that the carrying amounts of borrowings approximate to their fair values.

Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company for certain items of plant and machinery. Leases include purchase options at the end of the lease period, and no restrictions are placed on the use of the assets. The average lease term is 5 years. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.

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. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the company to the fund and amounts to £14,125 for the period ended 31 December 2024 (2023: £2,020). There were outstanding payments of £2,763 as at 31 December 2024 (2023: Nil).

There is a Director Current Account Balance of £160,423 (2023: £150,969) due to the Director. The amount is payable on demand, interest free and unsecured.

There was no known capital commitments known after the Balance Sheet date.

There have been no significant events affecting the company since the year end.

During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

During the year, Kilmore Driver Hire Limited invoiced Freeburn Transport Limited £15,731,174 for the supply of goods and services. During the year payments were made of £15,183,244 leaving a closing creditor balance of £669,652 (2023: £121,722.)

As at 31 December 2024 there was a related party balance of £669,652 owed to Kilmore Driver Hire Limited (A company registered in Northern Ireland, registration number: NI669853). The company is fully owned by the Director.

The key management personnel is regarded as the director of the company.

The ultimate controlling party is Christopher Freeburn.