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Registration number: 01003014

Read Burton Limited
(formerly T.L. Darby Limited)
Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Read Burton Limited

Contents

Company Information | 1
Strategic Report | 2
Directors' Report | 3
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities | 4
Independent Auditor's Report | 5 to 7
Statement of Income and Retained Earnings | 8
Balance Sheet | 9
Statement of Cash Flows | 10
Notes to the Financial Statements | 11 to 21

Read Burton Limited

Company Information

Directors | M Read N Read

Company secretary | N Read

Registered office | Altyre Way Hewitts Avenue Business Park Humberston Grimsby N E Lincolnshire DN36 4RJ

Solicitors | Wilkin Chapman LLP Cartergate House 26 Chantry Lane Grimsby North East Lincolnshire DN31 2LJ

Bankers | Handelsbanken Suite 4, First Floor Origin 2 Genesis Office Park Europarc Grimsby DN37 9TZ

Auditors | Forrester Boyd Robson Limited 26 South St. Mary's Gate Grimsby North East Lincolnshire DN31 1LW

Read Burton Limited

Strategic Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

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

Principal activity

The principal activity of the Company is that of a motor dealership and garage proprietor.

Fair review of the business

The Company performance has been affected by what has been another challenging year for all involved in the motor trade industry with continued volatility around electric vehicles and increasing competition as new brands seek market share in the UK.
Current high interest rates have also impacted on the results.
In addition to all of the above the Company’s ownership changed in March 2024 and this involved a switch from the existing Volkswagen franchise to Hyundai. As normal with such changeovers it will take time for the full benefits of the change to be realized and initially sales have been affected and this is reflected in the significantly lower sales and gross profit levels.
The final net loss of £800k is exceptional and a result of all of the factors mentioned above. The Directors have implemented various strategies to turn the results around and these actions coupled with increased awareness of the Hyundai brand in Burton itself have already led to improved results.
Looking ahead there remain ongoing challenges within the industry but the company is well placed to handle these and improved results are anticipated by the Directors.

The Company's key financial and other performance indicators during the year were as follows:

Financial KPIs | Unit | 2024 | 2023
Turnover | £ | 24,222,502 | 37,399,944
Turnover growth | % | (35) | (17)
Gross profit | £ | 1,450,933 | 2,609,994
Gross profit margin | % | 6 | 7

Principal risks and uncertainties

The ongoing war in Ukraine, US tariffs and economic and political uncertainty in the UK continue to be concerns. Coupled with increased competition particularly from new Chinese brands.
However, the Directors are confident that the business is well placed to deal with these risks and uncertainties as it continues its successful focus on high customer satisfaction levels.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 10 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... M Read Director

Read Burton Limited

Directors' Report for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

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

Directors of the Company

The Directors who held office during the year were as follows:

M Read (appointed 13 March 2024)

N Read - Company secretary and director (appointed 13 March 2024)

R L Darby (resigned 13 March 2024)

Financial instruments

Objectives and policies

The company uses basic financial instruments, comprising cash and other liquid resources and various other items such as trade debtors and creditors that arise directly from its operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to raise finance for the company's operations.

Price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow risk

The business' principal financial instruments comprise of bank balances and loan agreements, trade debtors, trade creditors and vehicle funding agreements.
The liquidity risk is managed by maintaining a balance between the need for continuity of funding and flexibility through the use of loan facilities and vehicle funding agreements. All business cash balances are held in such a way that achieves a competitive rate of interest.
Trade debtors are managed in respect of credit and cash flow risk by policies concerning the credit offered to business customers and the regular monitoring of amounts outstanding for both time and credit limits. The amounts presented in the balance sheet are net of allowances for trade debtors.
Trade creditors liquidity risk is managed by ensuring sufficient funds are available to meet amounts due.

Disclosure of information to the auditors

Each Director has taken steps that they ought to have taken as a Director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditors are aware of that information. The Directors confirm that there is no relevant information that they know of and of which they know the auditors are unaware.

Approved and authorised by the Board on 10 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... M Read Director

Read Burton Limited

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:

• | select suitable accounting policies and apply them consistently;

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

• | state whether applicable United Kingdom 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.

Read Burton Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Read Burton Limited

Opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Read Burton Limited (the 'Company') for the year ended 31 December 2024, which comprise the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings, Balance Sheet, Statement of Cash Flows, and Notes to the Financial Statements, including a summary of 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 loss 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 original financial statements were 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 Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• | the information given in the Strategic Report and Directors' Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• | the Strategic Report and Directors' Report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Read Burton Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Read Burton Limited

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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 where 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.

Responsibilities of Directors

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities [set out on page 4], 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.

Auditor Responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

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.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

• | Discussions with management held, including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance.
• | Enquiries of management and the company's solicitors of actual and potential litigation claims.
• | Challenging assumptions and judgements made within significant accounting estimates and judgements such as vehicle stock valuation.
• | Identification of key laws and regulations central to the Company's operations and review of compliance with such laws including a review of FCA website and correspondence to identify any disciplinary action or ongoing issues.
• | Testing of journal entries and potential override of systems.
| Because of the inherent limitations of an audit, there is a risk that we will not detect all irregularities, including those leading to a material misstatement in the financial statements or non-compliance with regulation. This risk increases the more that compliance with a law or regulation is removed from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, as we will be less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance. The risk is also greater regarding irregularities occurring due to fraud rather than error, as fraud involves intentional concealment, forgery, collusion, omission or misrepresentation.

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

Read Burton Limited

Independent Auditor's Report to the Members of Read Burton Limited

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.

......................................
Neal Watford ACA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of Forrester Boyd Robson Limited, Statutory Auditor
26 South St. Mary's Gate
Grimsby
North East Lincolnshire
DN31 1LW

10 October 2025

Read Burton Limited

Statement of Income and Retained Earnings for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

| Note | 2024 £ | 2023 £
Turnover | 3 | 24,222,502 | 37,399,944
Cost of sales |  | (22,771,569) | (34,789,950)
Gross profit |  | 1,450,933 | 2,609,994
Administrative expenses |  | (2,125,545) | (2,819,629)
Other operating income | 4 | 61,644 | 106,491
Operating loss | 5 | (612,968) | (103,144)
Interest payable and similar charges | 6 | (187,104) | (288,911)
Loss before tax |  | (800,072) | (392,055)
Taxation | 9 | 113,000 | -
Loss for the financial year |  | (687,072) | (392,055)
Retained earnings brought forward |  | 869,497 | 1,261,552
Dividends paid |  | (495,155) | -
Retained earnings carried forward |  | (312,730) | 869,497

Read Burton Limited

(Registration number: 01003014)
Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2024

| Note | 2024 £ | 2023 £
Fixed assets |  |  |
Tangible assets | 10 | 139,138 | 183,823
Investments | 11 | 915,995 | 854,351
|  | 1,055,133 | 1,038,174
Current assets |  |  |
Stocks | 12 | 3,972,764 | 3,886,442
Debtors | 13 | 2,744,818 | 424,465
Cash at bank and in hand |  | 110 | 103
|  | 6,717,692 | 4,311,010
Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year | 15 | (8,048,871) | (4,428,836)
Net current liabilities |  | (1,331,179) | (117,826)
Total assets less current liabilities |  | (276,046) | 920,348
Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year | 15 | - | (14,167)
Net (liabilities)/assets |  | (276,046) | 906,181
Capital and reserves |  |  |
Called up share capital | 17 | 36,684 | 36,684
Retained earnings | 18 | (312,730) | 869,497
Shareholders' (deficit)/funds |  | (276,046) | 906,181

Approved and authorised by the Board on 10 October 2025 and signed on its behalf by:

......................................... M Read Director

Read Burton Limited

Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

| Note | 2024 £ | 2023 £
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss for the year |  | (687,072) | (392,055)
Adjustments to cash flows from non-cash items |  |  |
Depreciation and amortisation | 5 | 49,688 | 64,702
Loss on disposal of tangible assets |  | 28,291 | 26,116
Finance costs | 6 | 187,104 | 288,911
Income tax expense | 9 | (113,000) | -
|  | (534,989) | (12,326)
Working capital adjustments |  |  |
(Increase)/decrease in stocks | 12 | (86,322) | 2,100,044
(Increase)/decrease in trade debtors | 13 | (2,320,353) | 83,176
Increase/(decrease) in trade creditors | 15 | 3,631,067 | (1,454,660)
Cash generated from operations |  | 689,403 | 716,234
Income taxes received | 9 | 113,000 | -
Net cash flow from operating activities |  | 802,403 | 716,234
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |
Acquisition of subsidiaries | 11 | (61,644) | (106,491)
Acquisitions of tangible assets |  | (33,294) | (28,494)
Net cash flows from investing activities |  | (94,938) | (134,985)
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |
Interest paid | 6 | (187,104) | (288,911)
Repayment of bank borrowing |  | (24,167) | (10,000)
Dividends paid |  | (495,155) | -
Net cash flows from financing activities |  | (706,426) | (298,911)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents |  | 1,039 | 282,338
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January |  | (41,460) | (323,798)
Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December | 14 | (40,421) | (41,460)

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

1 | General information

The Company is a private company limited by share capital, incorporated in England.

The address of its registered office is:
Altyre Way
Hewitts Avenue Business Park
Humberston
Grimsby
N E Lincolnshire
DN36 4RJ

The principal place of business is:
5 Eighth Ave
Burton-on-Trent
DE14 2WG

These financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board on 10 October 2025.

2 | Accounting policies

Summary of significant accounting policies and key accounting estimates

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

Statement of compliance

These financial statements were prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and the Companies Act 2006'.

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared using the historical cost convention except that as disclosed in the accounting policies certain items are shown at fair value.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling which is the functional currency of the company and have been rounded to the nearest pound.
The financial statements cover Read Burton Limited as an individual entity and not the results of any wider Group that the Company is part of.

Group accounts not prepared

The company has taken exemption from preparing group accounts as it is included in consolidated accounts for a larger group which are drawn up as full consolidated accounts.

Going concern

Not withstanding the negative profit and loss reserves at 31 December 2024 the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which the directors consider to be appropriate for the following reasons;
The directors have prepared budgets and forecasts for a period of 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements which indicate that the Company will have sufficient funds to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Results for the new year are promising and the directors believe the Company can return to profitability in the short term.
The Company also has the financial support of its fellow Group Companies as necessary with the Group having sufficient financial headroom to provide any financial assistance required to support the day to day operations of the Company.

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Reclassification of comparative amounts

Amounts totalling £964,250 have been re-classified as administrative costs in the comparative period. These costs relate to employment costs which previously had been recognised as costs of sale however to align the new Company with other training entities within the Group these costs have now been re-classified for both the current and preceding accounting period.

Judgements

The Directors have made a number of judgements in applying the Company's accounting policies, the most significant of which is in relation to the valuation of vehicle stocks. The Company holds a considerable amount of vehicle stocks which is held at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The net realisable value of vehicle stocks is impacted by a number of factors including the condition of the vehicle and general economic factors outside of the Directors' control. The calculation of the net realisable value of individual vehicles and stock provisions is closely controlled by the Directors' and involves significant judgments made utilising the years of experience and knowledge of the industry held.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

The key sources of estimation uncertainty surround the net realisable value of year end stocks and in the last few years, the impact of major events such as the Ukraine war and the ongoing cost of living crisis on the future trading. See the Strategic Report for the Directors' assessment of the potential future impact of such events on the future trading of the Company and the year end stock valuation. .

Revenue recognition

Turnover comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and provision of services in the ordinary course of the company’s activities. Turnover is shown net of sales/value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within the company.
The company recognises revenue when:
The amount of revenue can be reliably measured;
it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the entity;
and specific criteria have been met for each of the company's activities.
Specifically for the sale of new and used motor vehicles revenue is recognised when a valid sales contract exists and significant risks and rewards of ownership have transferred to the buyer, e.g. the vehicle is registered in the customer’s name. Revenue from service and repair work is recognised upon completion of the work and customer acceptance, where applicable.
Any manufacturer bonuses or incentives are recognised when entitlement is established, typically upon satisfaction of sales volume thresholds or specific conditions.

Tax

The tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the statement of income and retained earnings.
The current tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date in the countries where the company operates and generates taxable income.

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Deferred tax represents the future tax consequences of transactions and events recognised in the financial statements of current and previous periods. It is recognised in respect of all timing differences, with certain exceptions. Timing differences are differences between taxable profits and total comprehensive income as stated in the financial statements that arise from the inclusion of income and expense in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in the financial statements. Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.
Deferred tax is measured using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date that are expected to apply to the reversal of timing differences. Deferred tax on revalued
non-depreciable tangible fixed assets and investment properties is measured using rates and allowances that apply to the sale of the asset.

Tangible assets

Tangible assets are stated in the statement of financial position at cost, less any subsequent accumulated depreciation and subsequent accumulated impairment losses.
The cost of tangible assets includes directly attributable incremental costs incurred in their acquisition and installation.

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of assets, other than land and properties under construction over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Asset class | Depreciation method and rate
Short leasehold | in accordance with the property lease
Plant and machinery | 10% straight line basis
Fixtures and fittings | 10% straight line basis
Motor vehicles | 10% straight line basis
Computer equipment | 33% straight line basis

Business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the purchase method. The consideration for each acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values at acquisition date of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Company in exchange for control of the acquired, plus any costs directly attributable to the business combination. When a business combination agreement provides for an adjustment to the cost of the combination contingent on future events, the Company includes the estimated amount of that adjustment in the cost of the combination at the acquisition date if the adjustment is probable and can be measured reliably.

Investments

Investments in equity shares which are publicly traded or where the fair value can be measured reliably are initially measured at fair value, with changes in fair value recognised in the statement of income and retained earnings. Investments in equity shares which are not publicly traded and where fair value cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.
Interest income on debt securities, where applicable, is recognised in income using the effective interest method. Dividends on equity securities are recognised in income when receivable.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and call deposits, and other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of change in value.

Stocks

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell.
At each reporting date, stocks are assessed for impairment. If stocks are impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to complete and sell; the impairment loss is recognised immediately in the statement of income and retained earnings.

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Borrowings

Interest-bearing borrowings are initially recorded at fair value, net of transaction costs. Interest-bearing borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised cost, with the difference between the proceeds, net of transaction costs, and the amount due on redemption being recognised as a charge to the statement of income and retained earnings over the period of the relevant borrowing.
Interest expense is recognised on the basis of the effective interest method and is included in interest payable and similar charges.
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least twelve months after the reporting date.

Leases

Leases in which substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. Payments made under operating leases are charged to the statement of income and retained earnings on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

Share capital

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Equity instruments are measured at the fair value of the cash or other resources received or receivable, net of the direct costs of issuing the equity instruments. If payment is deferred and the time value of money is material, the initial measurement is on a present value basis.

Dividends

Dividend distribution to the Company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the financial statements in the reporting period in which the dividends are declared.

Defined contribution pension obligation

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which fixed contributions are paid into a pension fund and the Company has no legal or constructive obligation to pay further contributions even if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and prior periods.
Contributions to defined contribution plans are recognised as employee benefit expense when they are due. If contribution payments exceed the contribution due for service, the excess is recognised as a prepayment.

3 | Turnover

The analysis of the Company's Turnover for the year from continuing operations is as follows:

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Sale of goods | 22,056,883 | 34,456,756
Rendering of services | 1,963,531 | 2,387,995
Commissions received | 202,088 | 555,193
| 24,222,502 | 37,399,944

4 | Other operating income

The analysis of the Company's other operating income for the year is as follows:

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Share of LLP profits | 61,644 | 106,491

5 | Operating loss

Arrived at after charging/(crediting)

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Depreciation expense | 49,688 | 64,702
Operating lease expense - other | 18,918 | 22,691
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | 28,291 | 26,116

6 | Interest payable and similar expenses

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Interest on bank overdrafts and borrowings | 101 | 740
Other finance costs | 187,003 | 288,171
| 187,104 | 288,911

7 | Staff costs

The aggregate payroll costs (including Directors' remuneration) were as follows:

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Wages and salaries | 1,035,298 | 1,425,705
Social security costs | 98,530 | 140,511
Pension costs, defined contribution scheme | 22,964 | 30,817
| 1,156,792 | 1,597,033

The average number of persons employed by the Company (including Directors) during the year, analysed by category was as follows:

| 2024 No. | 2023 No.
Administration and support | 5 | 8
Sales | 10 | 13
Other departments | 18 | 26
| 33 | 47

8 | Auditors' remuneration

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Audit of the financial statements | 6,500 | 15,950

Information relating to remuneration paid to auditors for other services is disclosed in the consolidated Group accounts of Read Motor Group Limited.

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

9 | Taxation

Tax charged/(credited) in the profit and loss account

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Current taxation |  |
UK corporation tax | (113,000) | -

The tax on profit before tax for the year is higher than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (2023 - higher than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK) of 25% (2023 - 23.5%).
The differences are reconciled below:

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Loss before tax | (800,072) | (392,055)
Corporation tax at standard rate | (200,018) | (92,133)
Effect of expense not deductible in determining taxable profit (tax loss) | 730 | 826
Increase from tax losses for which no deferred tax asset was recognised | 86,716 | 91,307
Tax decrease arising from group relief | (428) | -
Total tax credit | (113,000) | -

On 24 May 2021 the UK Government enacted a bill which increased the main rate of corporation tax in the UK from 19% to 25% from 1 April 2023. The standard rate of tax for the 2024 calendar year has therefore increased being the first full year after implementation of the new rate.

Deferred tax

There are £1,419,611 of unused tax losses (2023 - £1,259,365) for which no deferred tax asset is recognised in the balance sheet.

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

10 | Tangible assets

| Short leasehold land and buildings £ | Fixtures and fittings £ | Plant and machinery £ | Office equipment £ | Motor vehicles £ | Total £
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2024 | 268,816 | 311,437 | 264,042 | 174,024 | 2,142 | 1,020,461
Additions | - | 8,969 | 12,878 | 11,447 | - | 33,294
Disposals | (6,408) | (92,219) | (22,449) | (6,653) | (2,142) | (129,871)
At 31 December 2024 | 262,408 | 228,187 | 254,471 | 178,818 | - | 923,884
Depreciation
At 1 January 2024 | 179,511 | 256,653 | 240,336 | 160,138 | - | 836,638
Charge for the year | 20,743 | 8,997 | 11,016 | 8,932 | - | 49,688
Eliminated on disposal | (4,272) | (71,571) | (20,490) | (5,247) | - | (101,580)
At 31 December 2024 | 195,982 | 194,079 | 230,862 | 163,823 | - | 784,746
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024 | 66,426 | 34,108 | 23,609 | 14,995 | - | 139,138
At 31 December 2023 | 89,305 | 54,784 | 23,706 | 13,886 | 2,142 | 183,823

11 | Investments

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Investments in subsidiaries | 910,995 | 849,351
Other investments | 5,000 | 5,000
| 915,995 | 854,351

Subsidiaries | £
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2024 | 849,351
Additions | 61,644
At 31 December 2024 | 910,995
Provision
At 1 January 2024 | -
At 31 December 2024 | -
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024 | 910,995
At 31 December 2023 | 849,351

Details of undertakings

Details of the investments in which the Company holds 20% or more of the nominal value of any class of share capital are as follows:

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Undertaking | Registered office | Holding | Proportion of voting rights and shares held
|  |  | 2024 | 2023
Subsidiary undertakings
Darby TPS LLP | United Kingdom | Designated member of LLP | 90% | 90%

12 | Stocks

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Vehicle and parts stock | 3,972,764 | 3,886,442

The carrying amount of stocks pledged as security for liabilities amounted to £3,618,610 (2023 - £2,640,231).

13 | Debtors

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Trade debtors | 2,421,935 | 248,153
Other debtors | 213,289 | 59,643
Prepayments | 109,594 | 116,669
| 2,744,818 | 424,465

14 | Cash and cash equivalents

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Cash on hand | 110 | 103
Bank overdrafts | (40,531) | (41,563)
Cash and cash equivalents in statement of cash flows | (40,421) | (41,460)

15 | Creditors

| Note | 2024 £ | 2023 £
Due within one year |  |  |
Loans and borrowings | 19 | 40,531 | 51,563
Trade creditors |  | 7,116,108 | 3,805,370
Amounts due to related parties | 22 | 750,730 | 260,645
Social security and other taxes |  | 46,145 | 128,347
Accruals |  | 95,357 | 182,911
|  | 8,048,871 | 4,428,836
Due after one year |  |  |
Loans and borrowings | 19 | - | 14,167

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

16 | Pension and other schemes

Defined contribution pension scheme

The Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme. The pension cost charge for the year represents contributions payable by the Company to the scheme and amounted to £22,964 (2023 - £30,817).

17 | Share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid shares

| 2024 | 2023
| No. | £ | No. | £
Ordinary shares of £1 each | 36,684 | 36,684 | 36,684 | 36,684

Rights, preferences and restrictions

Ordinary shares have the following rights, preferences and restrictions: Full voting and participation rights with no restriction on distribution of dividends or repayment of capital.

18 | Reserves

Share capital

Share capital comprises of the value of issued share capital at par.

Revaluation reserve

The revaluation reserve is made up of a previous revaluation adopted, less deferred tax recognised on this revaluation.

Profit and loss account

The profit and loss account consists of profits made by the company attributable to the shareholders of the company.

19 | Loans and borrowings

Non-current loans and borrowings

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Bank borrowings | - | 14,167

Current loans and borrowings

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Bank borrowings | - | 10,000
Bank overdrafts | 40,531 | 41,563
| 40,531 | 51,563

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

Secured Creditors
Included within loans and borrowings are overdrafts which are denominated in sterling. The carrying amount at the year end is £40,531 (2023: £41,563).
The amounts are secured at the balance sheet date by a cross guarantee over the assets of the Group.
Trade creditors are denominated in sterling. The carrying amount of the secured element at the year end is £3,711,065 (2023: £2,268,370).
Secured trade creditors are secured against the assets to which they relate.

20 | Obligations under leases and hire purchase contracts

Operating leases

The total of future minimum lease payments is as follows:

| 2024 £ | 2023 £
Not later than one year | 160,000 | 160,000
Later than one year and not later than five years | 626,667 | 640,000
Later than five years | - | 146,667
| 786,667 | 946,667

The amount of non-cancellable operating lease payments recognised as an expense during the year was £160,000 (2023 - £160,000).

21 | Analysis of changes in net debt

| At 1 January 2024 £ | Financing cash flows £ | At 31 December 2024 £
Cash and cash equivalents |  |  |
Cash | 103 | 7 | 110
Overdrafts | (41,563) | 1,032 | (40,531)
| (41,460) | 1,039 | (40,421)
Borrowings |  |  |
Long term borrowings | (14,167) | 14,167 | -
Short term borrowings | (10,000) | 10,000 | -
| (24,167) | 24,167 | -
| (65,627) | 25,206 | (40,421)

22 | Related party transactions

The company has taken advantage of the exemption in section 33 of FRS 102 'Related Party Disclosures' from disclosing transactions with other members of the group in which any subsidiary which is a party to the transaction is wholly owned by the group.

Read Burton Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements for the Year Ended 31 December 2024

23 | Parent and ultimate parent undertaking

The Company's immediate parent is Read Motor Group Limited, incorporated in England. A copy of the consolidated group accounts can be obtained from the registered office address on page 1, which is also the registered office address of the parent company.
The ultimate controlling party is the directors who own 100% of the share capital in Read Motor Group Limited.