The notes on pages 3 to 12 form part of these financial statements.

The directors of the company have elected not to include a copy of the profit and loss account 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.

Chester Berry Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Woolovers House, Victoria Gardens, Burgess Hill, West Sussex, RH15 9NB.

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 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 £000's.

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

The Company is a trading company within the Wourth Group Limited group, which provides a treasury function for the wider group. The Company has net current assets of £0.1m (2024: £0.09m) when including amounts due from group undertakings totalling £0.3m (2024: £0.02m). true

During the year, the Company ceased its trading activities and all results for the year relate to a discontinued operation. As at the reporting date, the Company has no continuing trading activities and certain liabilities remain outstanding. The directors have considered the Company’s financial position, its ongoing obligations, and the availability of financial support from the wider group. The Company continues to operate as an acquisition vehicle, with the objective of identifying potential opportunities to acquire assets or businesses within the trading industry. The parent group confirmed that it will provide financial support if required for a period of at least 12 months from the anticipated sign off date of the financial statements.

The directors have prepared cash flow forecasts for the Group which show that even when factoring in a possible downturn in consumer spending and the seasonality around product purchasing and sales, sufficient cash resources are available to finance its own trading for a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements without the need for amounts owed by group undertakings to be repaid. These cash flow forecasts are before any additional amounts are transferred out as part of the group treasury function.

Furthermore, in assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, given the existence of a group treasury function and the support this can provide, the directors have made reference to the going concern note as disclosed in Wourth Group Limited as shown below:

“The Group is exposed to trading risk in a highly competitive retail sector. The Group is susceptible to a possible downturn in consumer spending, influenced by factors such as a reduction in disposable income and changing interest rates. The Directors have assessed, and stress tested the group’s financial position, budgets and cash flow forecasts for the period up to 31 December 2026.

All forecasts have also factored in the seasonality around revenue and stock purchases. Cash levels are expected to be at their lowest in August and September each year when the group are purchasing seasonal stock which is then converted to cash in a strong October to December period. This is particularly pertinent in WoolOvers Limited and Pure Collection Cashmere Limited. Even when flexed for underperformance on revenue targets, the cash forecasts remain in a positive position, in part due to the availability of a £12.5m revolving credit facility that is due to expire in April 2028.

The parent group has also confirmed it will provide financial support if required for a period of at least 12 months from the anticipated sign off date of the financial statements. Consequently, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for more than one year from the date of approval of these financial statements."

Accordingly, given the directors know of no reason why financial support will not be forthcoming in relation to the group treasury function, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the Company's financial statements.

Turnover represents amounts receivable, net of value added tax and trade discounts, in respect of the sale of goods to customers.

Sale of goods

For sale of goods to retail customers and concession customers, revenue is recognised when control of the goods has transferred, being at the point the customer purchases the goods at the retail store. Payment of the transaction price is due immediately at the point the customer purchases the goods.

For internet and wholesale customers, revenue is recognised when the goods are despatched to customers, being at the point the goods are delivered to the customer. Delivery occurs when the goods have been shipped to the customer's specific location. When the customer initially purchases the goods, the transaction price receivable is recognised as a payment in advance in other creditors until the goods have been delivered to the customer.

Under the company's standard contract terms, customers have a right to return within 28 days. At the reporting date, a refund liability and a corresponding adjustment to revenue is recognised for those products expected to be returned. At the same time, the company has a right to recover the product when customers exercise their right of return so consequently recognises a right to returned goods and corresponding adjustment to cost of sales. The net value of the returns provision is recognised in other creditors based on the estimated returns after the reporting date of sales that occurred in the period. The company uses its accumulated historical experience to estimate the number of returns to be provided for.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of trade and assets over the fair value of net assets acquired. It is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is considered to have a finite useful life and is amortised on a systematic basis over its expected life, which is 1 year.

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

Intangible assets acquired separately from a business are recognised at cost and are subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses.

Intangible assets acquired on business combinations are recognised separately from goodwill at the acquisition date where it is probable that the expected future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity and the fair value of the asset can be measured reliably; the intangible asset arises from contractual or other legal rights; and the intangible asset is separable from the entity.

Amortisation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost includes expenditure incurred in acquiring the stocks, conversion costs and other costs in bringing them to their existing location and condition.

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.

Basic financial instruments are measured at amortised cost. The company has no other financial instruments or basic financial instruments measured at fair value.

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.

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leases asset are consumed.

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling 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.

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

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

The following judgements have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

The recoverability of trade debtors is regularly reviewed in the light of available economic information specific to each receivable and provisions are recognised for balances considered to be irrecoverable.

The value of goodwill is shown at cost less amortisation less provision for impairment. The amortisation policy is set at 1 year.

The carrying value of goodwill is reviewed for impairment when an event or changes in trading circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be fully recoverable.

Amortisation is provided at rates calculated to write off the valuation of the intangible fixed assets over their expected useful lives. Management makes an estimate of the expected useful life of intangible assets based on the nature of each asset, and their expectations for how long each asset will generate future economic benefits for the entity.

The company makes an estimate of the post year end usage of gift cards which is based on assessments of the expected level of usage within the 12 month usage policy. The company uses its accumulated historical experience of actual gift card usage to estimate the value of gift cards to be recognised as a future liability. These are re-assessed annually and amended where necessary to reflect current estimates. Changes to these estimates could result in changes to the profit and loss for the period and to the value of the liability.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the 52 weeks was:

Cessation of trade

During the period ended 29 March 2025, The company transferred all of its remaining inventories to WoolOvers Limited, a fellow subsidiary within the Group. Following this transaction, the company ceased trading and no longer carries on operations as at the reporting date.

All of the profit and loss activities in 2025 and 2024 relate to discontinued operations and is indicated in the profit and loss account in accordance with FRS 102.5.13–5.16.

Notwithstanding the cessation of trading, the Company continues to exist as an acquisition vehicle, with the intention of identifying and, where appropriate, acquiring assets or businesses within the trading industry. Accordingly, the directors consider that the Company retains the ability to recommence trading in the future.

In accordance with FRS102 section 33 paragraph 33.1A, the company has not disclosed transactions with wholly owned subsidiaries or its parent company within the same group.

The company is a subsidiary undertaking of Wourth Group Limited, registered office Woolovers House, Victoria Gardens, Burgess Hill, RH15 9NB.

The ultimate controlling party is a fund managed by Verdane Fund Manager AB, an investment management firm, by virtue of its majority shareholding in Aurora Holdco Limited, registered office 1 Chapel Street, Warwick, United Kingdom, CV34 4HL.

The results are included in the consolidated financial statements of Wourth Group Limited. The consolidated financial statements of Wourth Group Limited are prepared in accordance with FRS 102 and are available to the public and may be obtained from Woolovers House, Victoria Gardens, Burgess Hill, RH15 9NB.

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 was qualified and the auditor reported as follows:

Qualified opinion

We have audited the financial statements of Chester Berry Limited for the 52 week period ended 29 March 2025 which comprise the Profit and Loss Account, 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 FRS 102 ‘The Financial Reporting Standard Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion, except for the effects of the matter described in the Basis for qualified opinion section of our report, the financial statements:

• give a true and fair view of the state of the company’s affairs as at 29 March 2025 and of its loss for the 52 week period then ended;

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

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

Basis for qualified opinion on financial statements

We were not appointed as auditor of the company until after 30 March 2024 and thus did not observe the counting of physical inventories at the end of that 56 week period. We were unable to satisfy ourselves by alternative means concerning the inventory quantities of £316,833 held at 30 March 2024 by using other audit procedures. Consequently we were unable to determine whether any adjustment to this amount at 30 March 2024 was necessary or whether there was any consequential effect on the cost of sales for the 52 week period ended 29 March 2025. Our audit opinion on the financial statements for the 52 week period ended 29 March 2025 was modified accordingly.

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 qualified opinion.