PARAFIX_TAPES_AND_CONVERS - Accounts

The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2020.

The results for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 are set out in the statement of comprehensive income. Sales for the year amounted to £8,050k (2019 - £9,017k). Profit for the financial year amounted to £203k (2019 - £348k).

Commercial performance was adversely affected by the impact of COVID-19 with year on year sales contracting by 10.7% (£967k). Sales across all market sectors experienced a significant downturn in trade with the performance of healthcare, aerospace, automotive & electronics markets particularly constrained by the global impact of the pandemic.

The emergence of temporary PPE manufacturing opportunities enabled the Company to partially combat the loss of traditional manufacturing with revenues of c. £0.6m achieved.

A gross margin improvement of 1.5% compared to 2019 was achieved with gains in manufacturing throughput. The sales/direct labour ratio improved by 6.7%. This is reflected in the employee numbers which illustrate an average reduction of 5 production staff compared to the prior year.

The Directors consider the year-end financial position to be satisfactory given the unpredictable global landscape. Covid support measures provided stability and were able to mitigate the impact of reduced trading.

Contributions of £69k were received in the year in respect of the job retention scheme implemented by the Government. A Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) loan & payment holidays against existing asset finance agreements were agreed to maintain working capital.

Management of risk remains critical for the company in delivering growth plans.

Throughout the pandemic, continuity of human resource has been vital. Post-Brexit, the availability of staff has been reduced & successful recruitment to meet increasing demands of a wide customer base is essential. Partnerships with recruitment agencies have been established to mitigate the threat of a shortfall in labour.

Brexit threats have been well managed with no adverse impacts reported. Foreign exchange is scrutinised to mitigate the threat of losses. Contingency plans are in place to manage threats that may be posed from the supplier base.

Operational, financial and commercial risks are considered to be well managed with appropriate safeguarding in place to mitigate any threats.

Performance to August 2021 has returned to pre-2020 levels with year on year sales increasing by 15%. Sales orders have reached record levels with all market sectors reporting an increased demand. Throughout the economic uncertainty, customer retention has remained high and the Company is cautiously optimistic that the current level of commercial activity will continue into 2022 & beyond. Further growth is expected from strategically focussed markets and from continued investment in research and development.

Apart from those measures identified above in the business review, the directors are of the opinion that no further inclusion of financial key performance indicators is necessary for an understanding of the development, performance or position of the company’s business.

On behalf of the board

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2020.

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of the conversion and distribution of self-adhesive materials.

The results for the year are set out on page 9.

Ordinary dividends were paid amounting to £100,000. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

The directors who held office during the year and up to the date of signature of the financial statements were as follows:

The company operates management policies designed to minimise its exposure to financial risk:

The company operates a range of policies to ensure there is sufficient liquidity and cash to meet its liabilities as they fall due. Regular cash flow forecasts are prepared to ensure the company is able to pay its debts as they fall due.

The principal foreign currency exposures arise from trading with overseas companies, including a fellow subsidiary. Company policy permits but does not demand that these exposures may be hedged in order to fix the cost in sterling. This hedging activity would involve the use of foreign exchange forward contracts.

Research and development expenditure amounts to £119,616 (2019 - £113,982). The directors consider that research and development will continue, in order to enhance the technical knowledge and product range currently available to customers.

In accordance with the company's articles, a resolution proposing that Carpenter Box be reappointed as auditor of the company will be put at a General Meeting.

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the company’s auditor is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the company’s auditor is aware of that information.

The directors have undertaken a robust assessment of the company's future trading prospects and have concluded that the company remains a going concern. See note 1.2 to the financial statements for further detail.

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual 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 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 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 and then apply them consistently;

•     make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

•     state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements;

•     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 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.

We have audited the financial statements of Parafix Tapes and Conversions Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2020 which comprise the statement of comprehensive income, the statement of financial position, 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 the financial statements:

•     give a true and fair view of the state of the company's affairs as at 31 December 2020 and of its profit for the year then ended;

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

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

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the 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.

Other information

The other information comprises the information included in the annual report other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. The 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.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of our audit:

• the information given in the strategic report and the directors' report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

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

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

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where 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.

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, 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.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

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.

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and

non-compliance with laws and regulations, our procedures included the following:

• Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework that the company operates in, focusing on those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the financial statements and operations;

• Obtaining an understanding of the company’s policies and procedures on fraud risks, including knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and

• Discussing among the engagement team how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud through our knowledge and understanding of the company and our sector-specific experience

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the company for fraud. We are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override. As a result of performing the above, we identified the following areas as those most likely to have an impact on the financial statements: health & safety, employment law and compliance with the UK Companies Act.

In addition to the above, our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

• Making enquiries of management about any known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;

• Reviewing minutes of meetings of the board and senior management.

• Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates, particularly in relation to stock provisions.

• Auditing the risk of management override of controls, including through testing journal entries and other adjustments for appropriateness.

Due to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK). For instance, the further removed non-compliance is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the auditor is to become aware of it or to recognise the non-compliance.

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

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company’s 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 auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

The statement of comprehensive income has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

Parafix Tapes and Conversions Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is 53 Spencer Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UA.

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 £1.

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

This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:

• Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’ – Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;

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

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of Parafix Holdings Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office, 53 Spencer Road, Lancing Business Park, Lancing, West Sussex, BN15 8UA.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The directors have considered relevant information, including the annual budget, forecast future cash flows and the impact of subsequent events in making their assessment. true

The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing economic shutdown has had a significant impact on the company’s operations as detailed by the directors within the strategic report. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the directors have performed a robust analysis of forecast future cash flows taking into account the potential impact on the business of possible future scenarios arising from the impact of COVID-19. This analysis also considers the effectiveness of available measures to assist in mitigating the impact.

Based on these assessments and having regard to the resources available to the entity, the directors have concluded that there is no material uncertainty in relation to the appropriateness of continuing to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements.

Revenue represents amounts receivable for goods net of VAT and trade discounts. Revenue is recognised when the company obtains the right to consideration in exchange for the goods provided.

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.

Property, plant and equipment are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation 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:

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 credited or charged to profit or loss.

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

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 is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset 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.

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition.

At each reporting date, an assessment is made for impairment. Any excess of the carrying amount of inventories over its estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell is recognised as an impairment loss in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses are also recognised in profit or loss.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include deposits held at call with banks, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

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 statement of financial position 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 trade and other receivables 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.

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.

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 trade and other payables, 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.

Trade payables 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 payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

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 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.

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 non-current 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.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due. Differences between contributions payable in the year and contributions actually paid are shown as either accruals or prepayments in the balance sheet.

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 statement of financial position as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to the income statement 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 income 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 lease asset are consumed.

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

Foreign currency

Research and development

Research and development expenditure is written off in the year in which it is incurred.

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 estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.

Due to the nature of the company's operations, excess material may remain upon completion of specific projects. It may be possible to use this material on future projects, but often this is not possible due to the unique nature of many of the materials ordered. Where this is the case management makes a full provision for these stock lines. Management also provide for slow moving or obsolete stock lines identified during their stock reviews. Additionally management apply a 10% provision to all older and low value stock lines, which are at a greater risk of obsolescence.

An analysis of the company's revenue is as follows:

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

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

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:

The company has estimated trading and non-trading losses of £198,000 and £67,000 (2019: £476,000 and £67,000) respectively available for carry forward against future income.

The net carrying value of tangible fixed assets includes the following in respect of assets held under finance leases or hire purchase contracts.

Bank loans and overdrafts have been secured by an unlimited debenture over the company's assets, together with an unlimited all monies guarantee from Parafix Holdings Limited, the parent company. Interest is charged on the bank loan at a fixed rate of 8.9% per annum.

Finance lease payments represent rentals payable by the company 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 3 years. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered into for contingent rental payments.

The net obligations under hire purchase contracts are secured upon the assets to which the finance relates.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where the company has a legally enforceable right to do so. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances for financial reporting purposes:

The deferred tax asset set out above is expected to reverse within 12 months on utilisation of taxable losses against future expected profits.

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund.

Ordinary shares have attached to them full voting, dividend and capital distribution (including on winding up) rights.

The company has given its bankers an unlimited guarantee in respect of the borrowings of Parafix Holdings Limited, which amounted to £620,863 at 31 December 2020 (2019 - £663,766). This guarantee is secured by an unlimited debenture over the company's assets.

At the reporting end date the company had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

Since the balance sheet date dividends totalling £100,000 have been declared and paid.

During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

The loans with key management personnel are repayable on demand and bear no interest.

The ultimate controlling party is Mr M Punter by virtue of his majority shareholding in the ultimate parent company, Parafix Global Limited, a company registered in England and Wales.