Company registration number 03145504 (England and Wales)
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
PAGES FOR FILING WITH REGISTRAR
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
CONTENTS
Page
Statement of financial position
1
Notes to the financial statements
2 - 9
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT
31 DECEMBER 2024
31 December 2024
- 1 -
2024
2023
Notes
£
£
£
£
Fixed assets
Investment properties
4
30,296,000
30,296,000
Investments
5
13,016
13,016
30,309,016
30,309,016
Current assets
Debtors
7
105,002,654
100,041,913
Cash at bank and in hand
842,099
1,462,376
105,844,753
101,504,289
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
8
(12,514,256)
(8,330,238)
Net current assets
93,330,497
93,174,051
Total assets less current liabilities
123,639,513
123,483,067
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
9
(57,635,000)
(58,185,000)
Provisions for liabilities
10
(4,261,635)
(4,261,635)
Net assets
61,742,878
61,036,432
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
11
2
2
Investment property revalutation reserve
12
16,865,589
16,865,589
Profit and loss reserves
12
44,877,287
44,170,841
Total equity
61,742,878
61,036,432
The directors of the company have elected not to include a copy of the income statement within the financial statements.true
These financial statements have been prepared and delivered in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.
The financial statements were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 28 October 2025 and are signed on its behalf by:
G H Hedger
Director
Company Registration No. 03145504
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 2 -
1
Accounting policies
Company information
Benchlevel Properties Limited is a private company limited by shares and is incorporated and domiciled in England. The registered office is 2 Leman Street, London, United Kingdom, E1W 9US.
1.1
Accounting convention
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 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.
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 modified to include investment properties at fair value. The principal accounting policies are set out below.
The company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 399 of the Companies Act 2006 not to prepare consolidated accounts, on the basis that the group of which this is the parent qualifies as a small group. The financial statements present information about the company as an individual entity and not about its group.
1.2
Going concern
At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.
1.3
Turnover
Turnover represents rent receivable from letting of investment properties and market stalls. Rent receivable from tenants are measured at fair value. Rental income is recognised in the period to which it arises on an accrual basis and in accordance with the terms of the lease.
1.4
Investment property
Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is measured using the fair value model and stated at its fair value as the reporting end date. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in the income statement.
The fair value model is determined by the directors with the benefit of professional external valuers and derived from the current market rents and investment property yields for comparable real estate, adjusted if necessary for any difference in the nature, location or condition of the specific asset.
1.5
Fixed asset investments
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.
1.6
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash at bank and in hand are basic financial assets and include cash in hand and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 3 -
1.7
Financial instruments
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 statement of financial position 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
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.
Current asset investments are initially measured at transactions price including transaction costs. Subsequently, current assets investments are held at fair value. The surplus or deficit on revaluation is recognised in the income statement.
Classification of financial liabilities
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
Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, 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.
1.8
Equity instruments
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.
1.9
Derivatives
Derivatives, including interest rate swaps 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 income as appropriate. The company does not currently apply hedge accounting for interest rate swaps.
A derivative with a positive fair value is recognised as a financial asset, whereas a derivative with a negative fair value is recognised as a financial liability.
1.10
Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
1
Accounting policies
(Continued)
- 4 -
Current tax
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the income statement 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
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 income statement, 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.
2
Judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
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.
Key sources of estimation uncertainty
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.
Investment Properties
Investment properties are measured at fair value with any movement in valuation at the year-end being taken to profit or loss. The Directors have made key assumptions with the benefit of professional external valuers in the determination of the value of an investment property. The valuation was arrived at by reference to market evidence of transaction prices of similar properties in its location, together with a review of property rental yields.
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 5 -
3
Employees
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the year was:
2024
2023
Number
Number
Total
2
2
4
Investment property
2024
£
Fair value
At 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024
30,296,000
The fair value of investment properties at the reporting date was based on a valuation carried out by the directors. The valuation was arrived at by reference to market evidence of transaction prices for similar properties in its location, together with a review of property rental yields.
If investment properties were stated on an historical cost basis rather than a fair value basis, the amounts would have been included as follows:
2024
2023
£
£
Cost
9,618,777
9,618,777
Accumulated depreciation
-
-
Carrying amount
9,618,777
9,618,777
5
Fixed asset investments
2024
2023
£
£
Shares in group undertakings and participating interests
13,016
13,016
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
5
Fixed asset investments
(Continued)
- 6 -
Movements in fixed asset investments
Shares in subsidiaries
Other investments
Total
£
£
£
Cost or valuation
At 1 January 2024
13,016
-
13,016
Additions
-
236,260
236,260
Disposals
-
(236,260)
(236,260)
At 31 December 2024
13,016
-
13,016
Carrying amount
At 31 December 2024
13,016
-
13,016
At 31 December 2023
13,016
-
13,016
6
Financial instruments
2024
2023
£
£
Carrying amount of financial assets
Instruments measured at fair value through profit or loss
2,720,021
2,889,353
7
Debtors
2024
2023
Amounts falling due within one year:
£
£
Trade debtors
51,837
87,620
Amounts owed by group undertakings
56,745,387
54,102,446
Other debtors
45,485,409
42,962,494
102,282,633
97,152,560
2024
2023
Amounts falling due after more than one year:
£
£
Financial instruments
2,720,021
2,889,353
Total debtors
105,002,654
100,041,913
Included within amounts owed by group undertakings are loans that are unsecured, interest free, has no fixed date of repayment and is repayable on demand.
Included within other debtors are loans totalling £44,884,971 (2023: £42,341,832) with connected entities. The loans are unsecured, interest free, has no fixed date of repayment and is repayable on demand.
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
- 7 -
8
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
2024
2023
£
£
Bank loans
540,000
540,000
Amounts owed to group undertakings
9,054,992
4,954,386
Corporation tax
82,126
Other creditors
2,837,138
2,835,852
12,514,256
8,330,238
Included within amounts owed to group undertakings are loans that are unsecured, interest free, has no fixed date of repayment and is repayable on demand.
Included within other creditors are loans totalling £1,477,876 (2023: £1,084,405) with connected entities. The loans are unsecured, interest free, has no fixed date of repayment and is repayable on demand.
The bank loan is secured by a debenture and first legal charges over some of the properties of the company together with guarantees provided by its subsidiary undertakings.
The aggregate of secured liabilities is £540,000 (2023: £540,000).
9
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
2024
2023
£
£
Bank loans and overdrafts
57,635,000
58,185,000
There are two bank loans:
The first bank loan is secured by a debenture and first legal charges over some of the properties of the company together with guarantees provided by its subsidiary undertakings.
The second bank loan is secured by a debenture and first legal charge over one of the properties of the company together with personal guarantees of the directors (as described in note 15).
The aggregate of secured liabilities is £57,635,000 (2023: £58,185,000).
10
Provisions for liabilities
2024
2023
£
£
Deferred tax liabilities
4,261,635
4,261,635
11
Called up share capital
2024
2023
2024
2023
Ordinary share capital
Number
Number
£
£
Issued and fully paid
Ordinary shares of £1 each
2
2
2
2
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
11
Called up share capital
(Continued)
- 8 -
There is a single class of ordinary shares. There are no restrictions on the distribution of dividends and repayment of capital.
12
Reserves
Investment property revaluation reserve
Investment property revaluation reserve relates to non-distributable reserves arising from revaluation of investment property less deferred tax.
Profit and loss reserves
Retained earnings represents accumulated comprehensive income for the year and prior periods less dividends paid.
13
Audit report information
As the income statement has been omitted from the filing copy of the financial statements, the following information in relation to the audit report on the statutory financial statements is provided in accordance with s444(5B) of the Companies Act 2006.
The auditor's report is unqualified and includes the following:
Opinion
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.
Senior Statutory Auditor:
Bashir Khan ACCA
Statutory Auditor:
Gravita Audit II Limited
Date of audit report:
29 October 2025
14
Financial commitments, guarantees and contingent liabilities
The company has given a guarantee by a fixed and floating charge over its assets and over the shares held in WBG Retail Limited to secure the borrowings of its subsidiary WBG Retail Limited. At the balance sheet date WBG Retail Limited's indebtedness in respect of this guarantee was £6,273,750.
The company has given a guarantee by a fixed and floating charge over the shares held in Portobello Properties (London) Limited. At the balance sheet date Portobello Properties (London) Limited's indebtedness in respect of this guarantee was £6,855,750.
15
Related party transactions
Transactions with related parties
The company has taken advantage of the exemption available under section 1A C.35 of FRS 102 “Related party disclosures” whereby it has not disclosed transactions with the ultimate parent company or any wholly owned subsidiary of the group.
BENCHLEVEL PROPERTIES LIMITED
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024
15
Related party transactions
(Continued)
- 9 -
The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:
2024
2023
Amounts due to related parties
£
£
Other related parties
1,477,876
1,084,405
The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:
2024
2023
Amounts due from related parties
£
£
Other related parties
44,884,971
42,341,832
Directors' guarantees
The directors have provided guarantees of up to £5,687,500 each to one of the company's bankers.
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