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

Metroyard Limited continues to operate on a profitable and stable basis and the operation continues to be run by a strong team, including Directors and senior management, offering strategic advice.

We have a clear business model to increase company profitability. Our business plan is underpinned by clear assumptions and our strong, experienced team have the expertise to flex these plans and respond proactively to opportunities as well as challenges as they are identified.

What we achieved in year ended 2024

The group has solidified its client base and expect the business to grow further in the forthcoming years.

Group working capital is provided via an overdraft facility secured against debtors.

Cash management has been arranged via the notional pooling pooling of group funds providing a flexible and efficient method of maximising cash usage. These arrangements continue in use. The main business risk is increased competition in our markets. As we have flexible business plans to cater for most eventualities.

The key risks for the group are the ability of customers to pay and the fluctuation of the Euro exchange rate with the British Pound. All new customers are carefully credit checked and exchange risk is minimised by ensuring client and contractor currencies are matched.

The group operates an effective credit control process and clients are contacted before payments are due, to minimise any late queries, Most clients pay within the agreed terms and any overdue payment are vigorously monitored and pursued. This policy has reduced the risk of incurring bad debts.

We, as a Board are closely monitoring our operations and cashflow on a regular basis to ensure we identify any potential issues. Additionally, we have taken steps to assess the impact that the current economic instability within the UK will have on the Group in all countries it operates within. Despite the challenges presented by the economic uncertainty, we remain in a sound financial position with strong reserves and strength in our customer base.

Total revenues generated from investments were €16.9m (2023: €0.4m) for the year ended 31 December 2024.

Pre tax profit for the year amounted to €16.7m (2023: €0.4m).

Net assets at the balance sheet date were €0.2m (2023: €16.4m).

Gross revenues from investments increased which can mostly be attributed to sales proceeds following disposal of several subsidiaries during the period. The company's net asset position has fallen due to the declaration of dividends to the parent company.

The group looks to maintain strong financial performance and will continue to develop where markets remain supportive, we will continue to focus on driving fee and profit growth as we work towards these objectives. Additionally, the group will continue to seek other business opportunities, to enhance its profitability in the UK and Europe.

Investment in people

Recruitment Policy

The group operates a policy of recruiting staff from all nationalities, background and ages. Nationalities include British, Dutch, German, Indian, French, Belgium and Swiss, and their ages ranged from early 20s to 65.

Training

The group continues to train and motivate the sales team and expand the development of long term relationships with new clients as well as provide a focused and dedicated resource with which to service its existing base of major clients.

Full training is given to administrative staff.

Staff Objectives

The group had maintained its sales force to ensure there is sufficient resource to match the group's commitment to serving its existing clients and develop new relationships in other areas. As a result, the group has continued to provide first class support and the sourcing of highly skilled personnel to customer.

The directors, in line with their duties under s172 of the Companies Act 2006, act individually and collectively in the way they consider, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the group for the benefit of its stakeholders, and in doing so have regard, amongst other matters, to the:

• Likely consequences of any decision in the long term, in respect of our strategy and other goals. We will continue to adhere to the needs of our Corporate Governance.

• Interests of the group's employees, as they are fundamental assets to the success of the Group. We will continue to monitor their working environment and welfare.

• Need to foster the group's business relationships with suppliers, partners and others, especially our Clients and Contractors, who in themselves lead to the success of the Group.

• Impact of the group's operations on the community and the environment, as we are in consultancy, our operations impact direct stakeholders only and have no effect on the environment. However, we try to reduce our impact of the environment by controlling our use of non-recyclable products.

• Desirability of the group maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct, especially towards our Stakeholders.

• Need to act fairly as between members of the group, the Management feel internal employees are fundamental to the success of the business and will endeavour to monitor their welfare and well-being.

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 an investment holding company.

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

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to €32,947,217 (2023: nil). 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:

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

Kirk Rice LLP 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.

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.

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.

We have audited the financial statements of Metroyard 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'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 strategic report and the director's report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the strategic report and the director's report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the 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.

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

Our audit approach was developed by obtaining an understanding of the Company's activities, the key functions undertaken on behalf of the Board by management and by service organisations, and the overall control environment. Based on this understanding we assessed those aspects of the Company's transactions and balances which were most likely to give rise to a material misstatement and were most susceptible to irregularities including fraud or error. Specifically, we identified what we considered to be key audit risks and planned our approach accordingly.

We gained an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the company and the industry in which it operates, and considered the risk of acts by the company which were contrary to applicable laws and regulations, including fraud. These included but were not limited to compliance with Companies Act 2006 and FRS 102.

We designed audit procedures to respond to the risk, 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 deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion.

We focused on laws and regulations that could give rise to a material misstatement in the company financial statements. Our tests included, but were not limited to:

-              agreement of the financial statements disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;

-              enquiries of management;

-              considering the effectiveness of control environment in monitoring compliance with laws and regulations.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above 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. As in all of our audits we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing journals and evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

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

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company's 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.

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

Metroyard Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 12 Brook House, Chapel Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3SJ.

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

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

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

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;

• Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;

• Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share-based payment expense charged to profit or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and weighted average exercise price of share options, how the fair value of options granted was measured, measurement and carrying amount of liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, explanation of modifications to arrangements;

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

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of MBA Holding 3 Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office, 12 Brook House, Chapel Place, Rivington Street, London, United Kingdom, EC2A 3SJ.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 400 of the Companies Act 2006 not to prepare consolidated accounts. The financial statements present information about the company as an individual entity and not about its group.

Metroyard Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of MBA Holding 3 Limited and the results of Metroyard Limited are included in the consolidated financial statements of MBA Holding 3 Limited which are available from Companies House.

Atruet the time of approving the financial statements, the director has a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the director continues to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Interests in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the company. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

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.

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.

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

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

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.

Transactions in currencies other than euros are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.

Group accounts

Metroyard Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of MBA Holding Company 3 Limited. The results of Metroyard Limited are included in the consolidated financial statements of MBA Holding Company 3 Limited, the ultimate holding company, which are available from 12 Brook House, Chapel Place, Rivington Street, London, EC2A 3SJ.

Dividend income

Dividend income is recognised when the stakeholder's rights to receive payment have been established (provided that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the company and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably).

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 company's only income is the investment income shown above. There is no turnover and therefore no split by class or geographical region is presented in these financial statements.

Audit fees are borne entirely within other group entities and not recharged, therefore no auditors' remuneration is included in these financial statements.

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:

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

The company has one class of ordinary shares which have attached to them full voting, dividend and capital distribution rights (including on winding up), and do not confer any rights of redemption.

Metroyard Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBA Holding Company 3 Limited, and the ultimate controlling party is MBA Trustee Company Limited. The results of Metroyard Limited are included in the consolidated financial statements of MBA Holding Company 3 Limited which are available from 12 Brook House, Chapel Place, Rivington Street, London, EX24 3SJ. MBA Holding Company 3 Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MBA Trustee Company Limited, which holds the group on behalf of The MBA Employee Ownership Trust.

The company has taken advantage of the exemption available in accordance with FRS 102 'Related party disclosures' not to disclose transactions with other wholly owned group companies on the grounds that consolidated financial statements are prepared by the ultimate parent company.

Included in other creditors within the balance sheet is an amount of €173,354 (2023: €173,354) owed to Everlasting Property Company Limited, a related party with common director's ownership.

At 31 December 2024 the Director of the company owed the company €57,748 (2023: €57,748) for monies lent. This loan is interest free and repayable on demand. The company was previously owed amounts from companies based overseas which are under common control as Metroyard Limited. At 31 December 2024 the company is owed €nil from these overseas companies (2023: €512,350).