MAYNEWS_LIMITED - Accounts

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.

Maynews Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Hazel Court, Midland Way, Barlborough Links, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S43 4FD.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime. The disclosure requirements of section 1A of FRS 102 have been applied other than where additional disclosure is required to show a true and fair view.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £000.

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

Maynews Limited is a member of a group headed up by James Convenience Retail Limited. The company's financial position is very closely linked to that of the group.

At 26 March 2023 the group's balance sheet showed shareholders' funds of deficit £573,000 (2022: £272,000). The directors are mindful that at 26 March 2023 the group had net currents liabilities of £1,076,000 (2022: net current liabilities of £1,070,000).

The year was one of growth and optimism as the group returned to a profitable EBITDA following on from several years of difficult trade due to the Covid pandemic. Locations situated in passenger interchanges, town centres and shopping centres experienced considerable growth on recent years as customer confidence returned and footfall through these locations increased.

During the year the group successfully managed to dispose of several loss making stores that had become commercial unviable given the lasting impact of Covid on trade in those locations. This has helped bolster the stability of the group and further the store EBITDA projections for the upcoming financial year.

Working closely with our wholesale partner, Bestway Wholesale Limited and its subsidiaries, the group have been able to refurbish and refit several of its convenience stores to the Costcutter brand. The result of which has significantly increased turnover in these locations through an improved range of product available and a recognised brand for our customer base.

In addition to the rebranding of stores, the group has also spent capital in order to refurbish existing sites and investment in its food to go offer, which has helped to establish a sustainable business model for the long term.

The board have prepared detailed profit and cashflow for the years ending March 2024 and March 2025 which shows the group continuing to generate an EBITDA profit. The forecasts are based on the director’s experience of trading during the last 9 months and anticipated costs increases such as National Minimum Wage.

The forecasts show that the group is expected to operate within existing borrowing facilities. On the basis of the forecasts the directors are satisfied that the group is able to meet its liabilities as they fall due for the foreseeable future and such as the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

Maynews Limited has various other income streams which are complementary to operating convenience store such as commissions, rental income and news delivery charges. News delivery charges are shown net of expenses.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of unincorporated businesses 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 20 years.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost 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 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).

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials.

At each reporting date, an assessment is made for impairment. Any excess of the carrying amount of stocks 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.

The company has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the company's balance sheet when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with the net amounts presented in the financial statements, when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors, 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.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors 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.

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.

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.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

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.

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

Amounts owed to group undertakings are shown as falling due within one year as there is no set repayment date and there is no formal agreement in place. Commercially there are no plans for these amounts to be recalled within the next 12 months by the other group company.

Central costs and associated liabilities are borne by other group companies and recharged as appropriate.

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 unqualified.

The company is party to an omnibus guarantee covering the bank borrowings of the wider group. As at 27 March 2023 these borrowings totalled £nil (2022: £2,136,756).

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

As the company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of a company whose consolidated accounts include the results of the subsidiary and are publicly available, the company has taken advantage of FRS 102 Section 1AC:35 exemption from disclosing transactions with group undertakings where 100% of the voting rights are held within the group.

The company's immediate parent company is First Stop News Limited. The ultimate parent company is James Convenience Retail Limited.

Both First Stop News Limited and James Convenience Retail Limited are incorporated in England and Wales and share the registered office of the company as detailed on the company information page.

The smallest and largest group for which group financial statements are prepared is James Convenience Retail Limited. Consolidated accounts are available from Companies House, Cardiff, CF14 3UZ.

James Convenience Retail Limited is controlled by J M James.