The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Friden Group Holdings Limited (formerly CID Group Holdings Limited) is a private company limited by shares. The principal activity of the company during the year was to act as the holding company for its subsidiary undertakings (“CID Group”), encompassing the principal trading entity CID Trading Limited. CID Group is a leading supplier of site supplies, diamond blades, traffic management, and related products to the civil engineering, utilities, and construction industries.
On the 3 May 2024, the group acquired the share capital of Diatech Holdings Ltd and its subsidiary, Diatech Scotland Ltd for initial consideration of £4,151,768. Following a fair value adjustment £2,837,575 is deferred over 5 years.
On 18 March 2026, following the year end of 31 December 2025, CID Trading Limited and its subsidiaries (Diatech Holdings Ltd and Diatech Scotland Ltd) were demerged from Friden Group Holdings Limited. The individual shareholders of CID Trading Limited, following the demerger, are consistent with the ultimate beneficial shareholders of Friden Group Holdings Limited, prior to the demerger and therefore the businesses remain under common control.
Friden Group Holdings Limited has retained its investment in Mount Machinery Limited, a distributor of specialist excavator attachments for a wide range of industries, through both sale and hire.
Future Developments
Following the group’s demerger, Friden Group are targeting sales and profit growth in the coming years through organic growth of the Mount Machinery business and rental income from its freehold property.
The group operates in a competitive market and has been subject to the challenging macro-economic and industry conditions affecting businesses globally. However, by utilising its dynamic sales team, delivering exceptional customer service, and introducing innovative new products to market, CID Group, including the former trading entity CID Products LLP, has successfully achieved another positive trading performance.
The directors regard the following as key performance indicators:
Turnover
The group turnover for the year was £42.8m, compared with £38.4m in the prior year. The group delivered a pleasing increase in turnover year on year, reflecting continued demand for its products and services.
Gross profit
Gross profit for the year was £15.4m (36%) compared with £13.0m (34%). The directors remain satisfied with the group's gross profit, continuing the group's focus on maximising efficiency.
Profit before tax
Profit before tax for the year was £1.9m compared to £1.9m in the prior year. The directors remain satisfied with the group's profit before tax.
The directors of the CID Group acknowledge their duty to act in a manner consistent with Section 172(1) of the Companies Act 2006. This requires the directors to act in good faith to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its shareholders as a whole, and in doing so the directors have had regard, amongst other things, to the following:
I) Long-term strategy
Processes are in place to ensure the directors seek all relevant information to enable them to make well-judged decisions in respect of the group's long-term success. This can be demonstrated through the move to the new 81,000 sq. ft. warehouse facility in the year, a strategic investment that ensures the group is well-positioned for future growth and enhanced efficiencies.
2) Training and investment in people
We value experience and expertise and we invest in training and professional development. We respect every colleague and see everyone being part of the success of the group. We empower our people to become the best they can be, for their own development and our sustainable future.
3) Engagement with suppliers, customers, and other stakeholders
The group aims to secure long-term relationships with key suppliers to ensure the provision of goods to deliver the group’s strategy.
As a key supplier to the civil engineering, utilities, and construction sectors, we put the customer at the centre of our focus every day. As a reliable partner we honour our obligations and are committed to meeting our customers’ expectations.
4) Community and environmental impact
As part of our commitment to corporate responsibility, the group has implemented several initiatives aimed at reducing its environmental footprint and contributing positively to the local communities where we operate. This includes the launch of a closed loop recycling system for our customers to recycle their traffic cones, plastic road signs, and pedestrian barriers once they reach a state of disrepair.
Through the CID Foundation, the group has made considerable donations to registered charities, either through direct contributions from the company or through its various fundraising initiatives.
5) Business conduct, ethics and reputation
The group prides itself on its professional reputation and ethical processes. We are regularly audited by external bodies to ensure the highest compliance.
6) Fairness between stakeholders
Fairness and equality are a major strength of the group; we work with members at all levels and promote a good working relationship between all colleagues.
On behalf of the board
The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025.
Name change
The company passed a special resolution on 8th June 2026 changing its name from CID Group Holdings Limited to Friden Group Holdings Limited.
The results for the year are set out on page 9.
Dividends were paid amounting to £1,586,506 (2024: £733,818). The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.
The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:
Liquidity risk
The risk that the group is unable to meet its current and future financial obligations as they fall due is mitigated by ensuring working capital levels provide sufficient headroom. The board believes that there is limited exposure here, as the group is generating strong operating profits and has sufficient financing facilities to manage any liquidity requirements.
Interest rate risk
The risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates is predominantly related to the group’s long-term debt obligations agreed with reference to the base interest rates set by the Bank of England. The group manages its interest rate risk by restricting the level of leverage acceptable to the business, and ensuring its forecasts maintain an acceptable amount of headroom to absorb any unexpected adverse changes in the base interest rate.
Foreign exchange risk
The group operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from exposure to fluctuations in US Dollar and Euro currency exchange rates. As the group continues to grow, the board continually assesses and evaluates the options available to mitigate its foreign exchange risk. Future potential risk management strategies to be assessed include the use of forward exchange contracts, natural hedging through the strategic selection of potential overseas investments, and the choice of markets into which the company sells its products. Although the board acknowledges that exchange risk would not be fully eliminated by adopting a combination of the above, it considers that an appropriate balance of exposure to these risks would be achieved in the event of a significant shock devaluation of Sterling.
Credit risk
The risk of financial loss to the group as a result of a customer or other counterparty defaulting on its contractual obligations is mitigated by its diversified customer base, as the group does not significantly rely on any one or a handful of customers, and strong credit management processes, including the credit risk assessment of new customers and ongoing reviews of creditworthiness for existing customers based on trade receivable ageing analysis and the use of industry-leading credit checking software. Nevertheless, the group is exposed to credit risk from credit sales, and the board continually evaluates its credit risk processes and procedure to ensure this risk is managed effectively.
The group's expenditure in relation to research and development amounted to £Nil (2024: £Nil).
On 18 March 2026, following the year end of 31 December 2025, CID Trading Limited and its subsidiaries were demerged from Friden Group Holdings Limited. The individual shareholders of CID Trading Limited, following the demerger, are consistent with the ultimate beneficial shareholders of Friden Group Holdings Limited, prior to the demerger and therefore the businesses remain under common control.
On the 28 January 2026, Friden Group Holdings Limited entered into an asset finance agreement to fund the development of Friden House. The total finance amounted to £1,382,270 net of VAT.
The future developments of the company and the wider Group have been discussed in the Strategic Report.
The auditor, Sedulo Audit Limited, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.
During the period ended 31 December 2025, the group consumed approximately 300,000 kWh of energy. The group continues to evaluate its energy consumption and measures taken to improve energy efficiency include installing smart meters in the warehouses and improving warehouse equipment efficiency to reduce. At the current time, due to system limitations it is not practical for the group to report on carbon emissions, however management are looking at ways to ensure the relevant information is available going forwards.
United Kingdom company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law, the directors have elected to prepare the group and parent company financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law, the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and parent company, and of the profit or loss of the group for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:
select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
state whether applicable United Kingdom Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the group and parent company will continue in business.
The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s and company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and company, and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the group and company, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
We have audited the financial statements of Friden Group Holdings Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the group profit and loss account, the group statement of comprehensive income, the group balance sheet, the company balance sheet, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity, the group statement of cash flows 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).
Basis for opinion
Conclusions relating to going concern
Other information
Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement set out on page 5, 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 group's and parent 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 group or parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
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.
Our approach to identifying and assessing the risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, was as follows:
we identified the laws and regulations applicable to the group and parent company through discussions with directors and other management, and from our commercial knowledge and experience of the construction, civil engineering, and utilities sector;
we focused on specific laws and regulations which we considered may have a direct material effect on the financial statements or the operations of the group and parent company, including the Companies Act 2006 and taxation legislation;
we assessed the extent of compliance with the laws and regulations identified above through making enquiries of management and inspecting legal correspondence; and
identified laws and regulations were communicated within the audit team regularly and the team remained alert to instances of non-compliance throughout the audit.
We assessed the susceptibility of the group's and parent company’s financial statements to material misstatement, including obtaining an understanding of how fraud might occur, by:
making enquiries of management as to where they considered there was susceptibility to fraud, their knowledge of actual, suspected and alleged fraud; and
considering the internal controls in place to mitigate risks of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
To address the risk of fraud through management bias and override of controls, we:
performed analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships;
tested journal entries selected on a risk criteria basis to identify unusual transactions; and
investigated the rationale behind significant or unusual transactions; and
In response to the risk of irregularities and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we designed procedures which included, but were not limited to:
agreeing financial statement disclosures to underlying supporting documentation;
reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance;
enquiring of management as to any actual and potential litigation and claims.
There are inherent limitations in our audit procedures described above. The more removed that laws and regulations are from financial transactions, the less likely it is that we would become aware of non-compliance. Auditing standards also limit the audit procedures required to identify non-compliance with laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and the inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any.
Material misstatements that arise due to fraud can be harder to detect than those that arise from error as they may involve deliberate concealment or collusion.
A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the group's and 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 group's and company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the group and company and the group's and company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The profit and loss account has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.
The notes on pages 16 to 35 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 16 to 35 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 16 to 35 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 16 to 35 form part of these financial statements.
As permitted by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s loss for the year was £2,490,049 (2024 - £587,050 loss).
The notes on pages 16 to 35 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 16 to 35 form part of these financial statements.
The notes on pages 16 to 35 form part of these financial statements.
Friden Group Holdings Limited (“the company”) is a private company limited by shares domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Friden House, Clayton Wood Bank, Leeds, LS16 6QZ.
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 sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £'000.
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.
The company has taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements for parent company information presented within the consolidated financial statements as these consolidated financial statements are publically available therefore the company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS102::
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 33 ‘Related Party Disclosures’: the company has taken advantage of the exemption under FRS 102 paragraph 33.1A and has therefore not disclosed transactions or balances with wholly owned members of the group, nor key management personnel compensation.
The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Friden Group Holdings Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries) and the group’s share of its interests in joint ventures and associates.
All financial statements are made up to 31 December 2025. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.
All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.
Subsidiaries are consolidated in the group’s financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
To determine the going concern status, the directors have considered the group's current and forecast profitability and financing required to operate for a period of no less than 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. The directors are confident that the group possesses sufficient resources to meet its obligations and operate sustainably for the foreseeable future. The group's strong cash, net current asset and net asset position further supports this conclusion. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared under the going concern basis.
Revenue comprises sales of goods or services provided to customers net of value added tax and other sales taxes, less an appropriate deduction for actual and expected returns and discounts. Revenue is recognised when performance obligations are satisfied and the control of goods or services is transferred to the buyer. Where the performance obligation is satisfied over time, revenue is recognised in accordance with its progress towards complete satisfaction of that performance obligation.
When cash inflows are deferred and represent a financing arrangement, the promised consideration is adjusted for the effects of the time value of money, which is recognised as interest income.
Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer (usually on dispatch of the goods), the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.
Research expenditure is written off against profits in the year in which it is incurred. Identifiable development expenditure is capitalised to the extent that the technical, commercial and financial feasibility can be demonstrated.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.
Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.
In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.
A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. 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 group 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 group 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.
The group 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 group's balance sheet when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and 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 group 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 group 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 group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.
Equity instruments issued by the group 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 group.
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 group’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 if, and only if, there is 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 group is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.
The group operates a defined contribution plan for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the group 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 group in independently administered funds.
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.
Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.
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 leased asset are consumed.
In the application of the group’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 Directors regularly review the groups aged receivables. The group has long standing relations with its key customers and credit terms are regularly reviewed thereby provided in reassurance over the recoverability of aged receivables.
By performing regular reviews of sales lines and stock levels the group can, on a timely basis adjust stock values and associated provisions to reduce the group's potential exposure to the risk of stock obsolescence.
The group leases property which requires restoration to its original condition at the end of the lease term. Dilapidation provisions are reviewed annually by the directors and is based on the best estimate of the likely costs required to restore the leased property to its original condition.
Group goodwill is subject to an annual review for indicators of impairment. Based on the evaluation of both external and internal indicators and financial performance, management has concluded that no indicators of impairment were identified as at 31 December 2025.
Their aggregate remuneration comprised:
The number of directors for whom retirement benefits are accruing under defined contribution schemes amounted to nil (2024 -nil).
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:
Included within tangible fixed assets are assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts, as follows:
During the year, two of the company's subsidiaries, Andre Carlos Limited and Greenways Trading Limited, were dissolved and subsequently disposed in the company accounts.
Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 December 2025 are as follows:
On 18 March 2026, following the year end of 31 December 2025, CID Trading Limited and its subsidiaries Diatech Holdings Ltd and Diatech Scotland Ltd were demerged from Friden Group Holdings Ltd (see note 26).
Stocks represent finished goods available for sale. There is no significant difference between carrying cost in the accounts and replacement cost.
Included in the above is a provision for obsolete stock amounting to £57k (2024: £87k).
Included within other debtors are monies due from the group and company directors (see note 26).
Intercompany balances are conducted at arms length, interest free and repayable on demand.
Bank loans and overdrafts are secured on certain assets of the business, and in respect of some loans by personal guarantees of certain directors of subsidiary companies. Bank loans have fixed repayment terms and accrue interest at various rates.
Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the group for certain items of plant and machinery. Leases include purchase options at the end of the lease period, and no restrictions are placed on the use of the assets. The average lease term is 2 years. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.
Finance leases are secured on the asset to which it relates.
The net deferred tax liability set out above is expected to reverse in the next financial period.
A defined contribution pension scheme is operated for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the group in an independently administered fund.
The deferred shares were purchased for £400, resulting in the generation of share premium of £322.
At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:
The company had no operating lease commitments at 31 December 2025 or 31 December 2024.
On 18 March 2026, following the year end of 31 December 2025, CID Trading Limited and its subsidiaries were demerged from Friden Group Holdings Limited. The individual shareholders of CID Trading Limited, following the demerger, are consistent with the ultimate beneficial shareholders of Friden Group Holdings Limited, prior to the demerger and therefore the businesses remain under common control.
On the 28 January 2026, Friden Group Holdings Limited entered into an asset finance agreement to fund the development of Friden House. The total finance amounted to £1,382,270 net of VAT.
At 31 December 2025 the company and group was owed £615,973 (2024: £982,240) from the directors. Interest was charged on the balances overdrawn at a rate of 3.75%.
The group is under the control of the shareholders of Friden Group Holdings Limited.