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

The company continued with its principal activity during the year which was the supply and distribution of domestic and commercial fuels and lubricants along with maintenance of Oil and LPG heating systems. The company continues to offer a reliable and competitive service to its customer base.

The directors are satisfied with the results for the year. The business' key financial and other performance indicators during the year are as follows:

The average number of employees in the year was 92 (2023 - 87).

Turnover increased by 9%, within this, all sectors of the business saw continued growth, reflecting the on-going investment. As a result, the business performed strongly resulting in a favourable level of profitability. During the year, the business acquired the Middlesbrough customer list from JOE Energy Limited as a going concern. Additionally, on 13 September 2024 the company acquired the assets of Connon Oils from Connon Brothers Limited. These acquisitions form part of our growth strategy and further strengthen our commitment to expansion as we continue operations into new locations.

Following the transition of the Ineos refinery in Grangemouth to an import terminal, we confirm that our business operations continue as normal and have remained unaffected by this development, supported by diversified supply arrangements and resilient procurement strategies.

Credit risk

The company continues to maintain a close relationship with its key customers and has long established and stringent credit control parameters.

Health, safety and environmental risk

Due to the nature of the company's activities, there is considerable emphasis on compliance in this area and the highest standards of stewardship are essential. Accordingly, to minimise risk, the provision of best practice training is a top priority and the company looks to ensure that this is incorporated into all of the key processes.

Competitive risk

The company operates in a highly competitive market but is not exposed to over reliance on a small number of customers, nor to a particular business sector. The company also seeks to encourage customer loyalty by providing the highest standard of service.

Legislation risk

The company monitors current and forthcoming legislation both directly and through membership of various trade associations. The company not only seeks to ensure on-going compliance, but strives to ensure that is incorporates best practice.

In line with our growth strategy the company continues to assess new opportunities to expand our UK coverage. In addition, the company will continue to invest in innovation and technology to drive operational efficiencies and improve customer experience within our existing operations.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. In forming this view, the directors have considered the Company's current financial position, including the result for the year ended 31 December 2024, being a profit before tax of £3.6m, the availability of existing overdraft facilities, and prepared forecasts and projections covering a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements.

The forecasts take into account expected future income and expenditure and show that the Company will have sufficient resources to continue to trade and to meet its liabilities, including the service of debt, as they fall due.

Accordingly, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. On this basis the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

On behalf of the board

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

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of selling and distributing oil and gas.

The results for the year are set out on page 12.

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £500,000 (2023: £1,000,000). The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

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

The company has made qualifying third party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its directors during the year. These provisions remain in force at the reporting date.

The company does not use derivatives for either financial risk management or for speculative purposes. The company's financial risk management objectives, policies and exposure to financial risks are not considered material for the assessment of the company's assets, liabilities, financial position or result for the year and as such, no further disclosure is considered necessary.

Members of the senior management team and the board meet regularly with key customers and suppliers to enhance relationships and understand their views. Our relationships with key suppliers are critical and are the responsibility of senior board members. These include regular meetings with their senior staff and our active participation in trade bodies such as the Petroleum Association. 

Company banking facilities are provided by HSBC and senior directors regularly meet with our bankers.

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

The company has taken advantage of the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting disclosure exemptions in preparing these financial statements, as permitted by The Companies (Directors’ Report) and Limited Liability Partnerships (Energy and Carbon Report) Regulations 2018 as this information is included in the Directors’ Report of J.W. Johnston Limited, the ultimate parent undertaking.

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

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

The directors are responsible for preparing the strategic report, directors' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

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

• state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; 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 Johnston Oils Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2024 which comprise the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in equity and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2024 and of its profit for the year then ended;

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

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

Basis for opinion

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

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

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

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report and financial statements other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information contained within the Annual Report and Financial Statements. 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 our 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 and the directors' report.

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

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

• the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

• certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

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

We assessed whether the engagement team collectively had the appropriate competence and capabilities to identify or recognise non-compliance with laws and regulations by considering their experience, past performance and support available.

All engagement team members were briefed on relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks at the planning stage of the audit. Engagement team members were reminded to remain alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

Extent to which the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud (continued)

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the company and the sector in which it operates, focusing on those provisions that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The most relevant frameworks we identified include:

• Companies Act 2006;

• UK Tax legislation;

• UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

• Health and Safety at work Act 1974.

We gained an understanding of how the company is complying with these laws and regulations by making enquiries of management and those charged with governance. We corroborated these enquiries through our review of submitted returns, external inspections, relevant correspondence with regulatory bodies and board meeting minutes.

We assessed the susceptibility of the financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might occur, by meeting with management and those charged with governance to understand where it was considered there was susceptibility to fraud. This evaluation also considered how management and those charged with governance were remunerated and whether this provided an incentive for fraudulent activity. We considered the overall control environment and how management and those charged with governance oversee the implementation and operation of controls. In areas of the financial statements where the risks were considered to be higher, we performed procedures to address each identified risk. We identified a heightened fraud risk in relation to:

• Management override of controls

• Revenue recognition

In addition to the above, the following procedures were performed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free of material fraud or error:

• Reviewing minutes of meetings of those charged with governance for reference to: breaches of laws and regulation or for any indication of any potential litigation and claims; and events or conditions that could indicate an incentive or pressure to commit fraud or provide an opportunity to commit fraud;

• Reviewing the level of and reasoning behind the company’s procurement of legal and professional services;

• Performing audit procedures over the risk of management override of controls, including testing of journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness, evaluating the business rationale of significant transactions outside the normal course of business and assessing judgements made by management in their calculation of accounting estimates for potential management bias;

• Performing audit procedures to address the risk of a material misstatement on the occurrence of revenue transactions, including the use of data analytics procedures over the entire population of sales and sample testing of individual transactions;

• Completion of appropriate checklists and use of our experience to assess the company’s compliance with the Companies Act 2006; and

• Agreement of the financial statement disclosures to supporting documentation.

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to the risk of material misstatements in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it.

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 statement of comprehensive income has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

There were no items of other comprehensive income in either the current or prior year.

Johnston Oils Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated and domiciled in Scotland. The registered office is C/O Brodies LLP, 58 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8BP.

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. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:

• Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures; and

• Section 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: Compensation for key management personnel.

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of J. W. Johnston Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from Companies House.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. In forming this view, the directors have considered the Company's current financial position, including the result for the year ended 31 December 2024, being a profit before tax of £3.6m, the availability of existing overdraft facilities, and prepared forecasts and projections covering a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of these financial statements.true

The forecasts take into account expected future income and expenditure and show that the Company will have sufficient resources to continue to trade and to meet its liabilities, including the service of debt, as they fall due.

Accordingly, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. On this basis the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Turnover from the supply and distribution of domestic and commercial fuels and lubricants is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer, 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.

Turnover is stated at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and is stated net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of 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 5 years.

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

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

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost 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 the statement of comprehensive income.

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.

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. 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. Net realisable value is calculated as estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell.

Stock is valued on a first in, first out basis.

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 the statement of comprehensive income. Reversals of impairment losses are also recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks 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 certain 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.

Financial assets 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 the statement of comprehensive income.

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 the statement of comprehensive income.

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 certain creditors, bank loans and overdrafts and loans from fellow group companies, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

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

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

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

Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the company.

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

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the statement of comprehensive income 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 statement of comprehensive income, 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.

In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.

Motor vehicles are depreciated over their useful lives taking into account residual values, where appropriate. The actual lives of the assets and residual values are assessed annually and may vary depending on a number of factors. Any change within the actual lives of the asset would impact on the net book value of the vehicles. In making these assessments, the directors consider factors such as current market conditions and demand as well as projected disposal values.

The whole of the turnover is attributable to the principal activity of Johnston Oils Limited, being the distribution and sale of oil and gas.

All turnover arose within the United Kingdom.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption from the disclosure of remuneration paid to its auditors for non-audit services. This exemption is available to the company as the parent company prepares consolidated accounts which are required to include such disclosures.

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

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

The number of directors for whom retirement benefits are accruing under defined contribution schemes amounted to 2 (2023 - 2).

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:

A change in the UK Corporation tax rate to 25% took effect from 1 April 2023. This change has had a consequential effect on the tax charge with the standard rate of tax in the current year reflective of a marginal tax rate arising from the period straddling the 19% and 25% tax rates. Deferred tax has been calculated at 25%.

Goodwill outlined above is in relation to the acquisition of Connon Oils Ltd from Connon Brothers Ltd and Joe Middlesbrough customer lists from JOE Energy Limited during the current year. Further details are outlined at note 22.

The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.

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

The bank overdraft is secured by a floating charge over the assets of the company. Obligations under finance leases are secured against the underlying assets concerned.

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

Obligations under finance leases are secured against the underlying assets concerned.

Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company for certain motor vehicles. 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 following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the company and movements thereon:

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund. Contributions outstanding at the reporting date and included in creditors amounted to £25,956 (2023 - £471).

Each Ordinary share holds voting rights.

The profit and loss account reserve includes all current and prior period retained profits and losses, net of dividends paid.

On 13 September 2024 the company acquired the assets of Connon Oils Ltd. The acquisition supports part of the company's growth strategy with the intent for Johnston Oils Ltd to continue operating the Business as a going concern.

The business acquisition has been accounted for under the acquisition accounting method. Goodwill recognised on the acquisition represents the value attributed to the anticipated future economic benefits. Goodwill is being amortised over a period of 5 years following an assessment made by the directors over the period which the economic benefits are expected to be derived.

On 12 June 2024 the group acquired Joe Middlesbrough customer list from Joe Energy Ltd.

The business acquisition has been accounted for under the acquisition accounting method. Goodwill recognised on the acquisition represents the value attributed to the anticipated future economic benefits. Goodwill is being amortised over a period of 5 years following an assessment made by the directors over the period which the economic benefits are expected to be derived.

For both acquisitions, the directors assessed that the book value of the total net identifiable assets was equivalent to their fair value.

The group bank facility is secured by a floating charge over the assets and undertakings of Johnston Oils Limited, along with a composite company unlimited multilateral guarantee given by Johnston Fuels Limited, Johnston Oils Limited, J Gas Limited, Fuel Transport Solutions Limited, Allison & Hunter Oil Limited, Johnston Fuelcards Limited and JOE Energy Limited.

The companies noted above are fellow group undertakings with the exception of JOE Energy Limited, which is related through common directorship.

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

Amounts contracted for but not provided in the financial statements:

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

Other related parties include companies in which have a common directorship.

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

Other related parties include companies in which have a common directorship.

The company has taken advantage of disclosure exemptions available under Section 33 of FRS 102 whereby it has not disclosed transactions entered into with any wholly-owned subsidiary of the group.

Dividends totalling £0 (2023 - £0) were paid in the year in respect of shares held by the company's directors.

The immediate parent undertaking of the company is Johnston Fuels Limited, a company whose registered address is Standhill, Whitburn Road, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 3HR. Johnston Fuels Limited is the smallest group company which prepares consolidated financial statements including Johnston Oils Limited.

The ultimate parent undertaking is J. W. Johnston Limited, a company whose registered address is also Standhill, Whitburn Road, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 3HR. J. W. Johnston Limited is the largest group company which prepares consolidated financial statements including Johnston Oils Limited.

The financial statements of Johnston Fuels Limited and J. W. Johnston Limited can be obtained from Companies House.

The ultimate controlling party is S D Johnston by virtue of his shareholding in the ultimate parent undertaking.