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Registered number: 06795479
Kent Union Trading Limited
Directors' report and financial statements
For the year ended 31 July 2025
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Company Information
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Himadri Himadri (appointed 30 June 2025)
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Laurel Wood (appointed 9 October 2024)
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Contents
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Directors' responsibilities statement
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Independent auditors' report
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Statement of income and retained earnings
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Notes to the financial statements
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Directors' report
For the year ended 31 July 2025
The directors present their report and the financial statements for the year ended 31 July 2025.
Kent Union Trading Limited was incorporated on 20th January 2009 for the provision of management services and marketing activities. During 2019 the company began operating a nursery having taken over operation of this activity from Kent Union and from 1 November 2020, the company took over the retail operations from Kent Union. The marketing activity has established a brand SU Networks who act as a media partner for a number of other Students’ Unions, providing them with Business Development, Marketing and Finance services through managing their advertising and media sales channels. 1 August 2021 saw the Licence Trade and Catering function of Kent Union also transfer to Kent Union Trading Ltd, meaning all commercial services that sit outside Kent Union’s charitable purpose are together in Kent Union Trading Ltd.
The directors who served during the year were:
Himadri Himadri (appointed 30 June 2025)
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Louise Collins (resigned 30 June 2025)
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Laurel Wood (appointed 9 October 2024)
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Disclosure of information to auditors
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Each of the persons who are directors at the time when this Directors' report is approved has confirmed that:
∙so far as the director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditors are unaware, and
∙the director has taken all the steps that ought to have been taken as a director in order to be aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditors are aware of that information.
The auditors, Kreston Reeves Audit LLP, will be proposed for reappointment in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006.
The audit registration of Kreston Reeves LLP was transferred to Kreston Reeves Audit LLP on 6 October 2025. Kreston Reeves Audit LLP were formally appointed as auditor to the company on 6 October.
Charitable donation
The company intends to make a charitable donation of £32,905 to its parent company, Kent Union, comprising of profits from 2024/2025.
In preparing this report, the directors have taken advantage of the small companies exemptions provided by section 415A of the Companies Act 2006.
Page 1
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Directors' report (continued)
For the year ended 31 July 2025
This report was approved by the board and signed on its behalf.
Page 2
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Directors' responsibilities statement
For the year ended 31 July 2025
The directors are responsible for preparing the Directors' report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), including Financial Reporting Standard 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland'. 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 for the Company's financial statements and then apply them consistently;
∙make judgments 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 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 to 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.
Page 3
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Independent auditors' report to the members of Kent Union Trading Limited
We have audited the financial statements of Kent Union Trading Limited (the 'Company') for the year ended 31 July 2025, which comprise the Statement of income and retained earnings, the Balance sheet and the related notes, 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 July 2025 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.
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 Auditors' 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 United Kingdom, including the Financial Reporting Council'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
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In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our Auditors' report thereon. The directors are 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.
Page 4
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Independent auditors' report to the members of Kent Union Trading Limited (continued)
Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
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In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
∙the information given in the Directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and
∙the Directors' report has been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
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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 Directors' report.
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
∙adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or
∙the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
∙certain disclosures of directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or
∙we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
∙the directors were not entitled to prepare the financial statements in accordance with the small companies regime and take advantage of the small companies' exemptions in preparing the Directors' report and from the requirement to prepare a Strategic report.
Responsibilities of directors
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As explained more fully in the Directors' responsibilities statement set out on page 3, 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.
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Independent auditors' report to the members of Kent Union Trading Limited (continued)
Auditors' responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
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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 Auditors' report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:
Capability of the audit in detecting irregularities, including fraud
Based on our understanding of the company and industry, and through discussion with the directors and other management (as required by auditing standards), we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to health and safety, anti-bribery and employment law. We considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to management bias in accounting estimates and judgemental areas of the financial statements. Audit procedures performed by the engagement team included:
∙Discussions with management and assessment of known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations (including health and safety) and fraud, and review of the reports made by management; and
∙Assessment of identified fraud risk factors; and
∙Performing analytical procedures with automated data analytics tools to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships, including related party transactions, that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud; and
∙Confirmation of related parties with management, and review of transactions throughout the period to identify any previously undisclosed transactions with related parties outside the normal course of business; and
∙Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance, reviewing internal audit reports and reviewing correspondence with relevant tax and regulatory authorities; and
∙Review of significant and unusual transactions and evaluation of the underlying financial rationale supporting the transactions; and
∙Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any manual entries made at the year end for financial statement preparation.
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.
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Independent auditors' report to the members of Kent Union Trading Limited (continued)
As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs (UK), we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also:
∙Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
∙Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion of the effectiveness of the Company's internal control.
∙Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.
∙Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our Auditors' report to the related disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our Auditors' report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
∙Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.
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 Auditors' 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.
Samantha Rouse FCCA DChA (Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of
Kreston Reeves Audit LLP
Statutory Auditor
Canterbury
12 November 2025
Page 7
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Statement of income and retained earnings
For the year ended 31 July 2025
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Distribution of charitable donation
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Retained earnings at the end of the year
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The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
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Page 8
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Registered number: 06795479
Balance sheet
As at 31 July 2025
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Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
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Total assets less current liabilities
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The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime and in accordance with the provisions of FRS 102 Section 1A - small entities.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf by:
The notes on pages 10 to 14 form part of these financial statements.
Page 9
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 July 2025
Kent Union Trading Limited is a company, limited by shares, incorporated in England and Wales.
The company's registered office is Mandela Building, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NW,
The principal activities of the company are the provision of management services, marketing activities, nursery, commercial services and retail activity.
2.Accounting policies
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Basis of preparation of financial statements
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The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention unless otherwise specified within these accounting policies and in accordance with FRS 102 'The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and the Republic of Ireland' and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 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 preparation of financial statements in compliance with FRS 102 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise judgment in applying the Company's accounting policies (see note 2.11).
The company's functional currency is Pounds Sterling.
The company's financial statements are presented to the nearest pound.
The following principal accounting policies have been applied:
Revenue is recognised to the extent that it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Company and the revenue can be reliably measured. Revenue is measured as the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, excluding discounts, rebates, value added tax and other sales taxes. The following criteria must also be met before revenue is recognised:
Sale of goods
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when all of the following conditions are satisfied:
∙the Company has transferred the significant risks and rewards of ownership to the buyer;
∙the Company retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold;
∙the amount of revenue can be measured reliably;
∙it is probable that the Company will receive the consideration due under the transaction; and
∙the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.
Defined contribution pension plan
The Company operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the Company pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the Company has no further payment obligations.
The contributions are recognised as an expense in profit or loss when they fall due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals as a liability in the Balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the Company in independently administered funds.
Page 10
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 July 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Tax is recognised in profit or loss except that a charge attributable to an item of income and expense recognised as other comprehensive income or to an item recognised directly in equity is also recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity respectively.
The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date in the countries where the Company operates and generates income.
Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value, being the estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost is based on the cost of purchase on a first in, first out basis. Work in progress and finished goods include labour and attributable overheads.
At each balance sheet date, stocks are assessed for impairment. If stock is impaired, the carrying amount is reduced to its selling price less costs to complete and sell. The impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss.
Short-term debtors are measured at transaction price, less any impairment. Loans receivable are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.
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Cash and cash equivalents
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Cash is represented by cash in hand and deposits with financial institutions repayable without penalty on notice of not more than 24 hours. Cash equivalents are highly liquid investments that mature in no more than three months from the date of acquisition and that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash with insignificant risk of change in value.
Short-term creditors are measured at the transaction price. Other financial liabilities, including bank loans, are measured initially at fair value, net of transaction costs, and are measured subsequently at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
Page 11
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 July 2025
2.Accounting policies (continued)
Basic financial assets
Basic financial assets, which include trade and other receivables, cash and bank balances, are initially measured at their transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at their amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any provision for impairment, 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.
Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial. The Company's cash and cash equivalents, trade and most other receivables due with the operating cycle fall into this category of financial instruments.
Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instruments any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Company after the deduction of all its liabilities.
Basic financial liabilities, which include trade and other payables, bank loans and other loans are initially measured at their transaction price after transaction costs. When this constitutes a financing transaction, whereby the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.
Debt instruments are subsequently carried at their amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Trade payables are classified as current liabilities if the payment is due within one year. If not, they represent non-current liabilities. Trade payables are initially recognised at their transaction price and subsequently are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial.
The company will distribute its annual profits under a deed of covenant to Kent Union upon a members' resolution being passed by the board of Directors.
Management considers there not to be any significant judgements.
Kent Union Trading Limited pays Asset Management charges for the use of assets owned by Kent Union and charges these to the profit and loss account across the period.
Page 12
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 July 2025
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The average monthly number of employees, including directors, during the year was 231 (2024 - 258).
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Stock valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Stock held in Retail and Licence Trade and Catering outlets. Valuations supplied by Venners Limited, for Licenced Trade & Catering Stock and Orridge & Company Limited for Retail Stock.
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Licence Trade & Catering Stock
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Prepayments and accrued income
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Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year
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Amounts owed to group undertakings
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Accruals and deferred income
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Page 13
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Kent Union Trading Limited
Notes to the financial statements
For the year ended 31 July 2025
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Allotted, called up and fully paid
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1 (2024 - 1) Ordinary Share share of £1.00
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Related party transactions
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The company has taken advantage of the exemption in section 33 of FRS 102 that is applied not to disclose related party transactions with other group entities, as the parent entity is preparing consolidated accounts.
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In the opinion of the directors, the Controlling Party of the company is Kent Union, which controls 100% of the allotted share capital of the company.
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