Scotts_(2023)_Limited_(Fo - 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.

Scotts (2023) Limited (formerly All About Cashmere 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, United Kingdom, RH15 9NB.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Section 1A of 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.

The financial statements have been prepared under 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 4 ‘Statement of Financial Position’ – Reconciliation of the opening and closing number of shares;

• 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’ – Carrying amounts, interest income/expense and net gains/losses for each category of financial instrument; 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’ – Compensation for key management personnel.

The Company's ultimate parent undertaking, Aurora HoldCo Limited, includes the Company in its consolidated financial statements. The consolidated financial statements of Aurora HoldCo Limited are prepared in accordance with FRS 102 and are available to the public and may be obtained from 1 Chapel Street, Warwick, United Kingdom, CV34 4HL.

In assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, the directors have made reference to the going concern note as disclosed in WoolOvers 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 increases in 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 2024. 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."

In addition the immediate parent company, WoolOvers Limited, have confirmed that the loan of £3.4m (2022: £nil) due by the company will not be recalled for repayment until such time that the company has sufficient resources to do so.

Accordingly the directors 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, 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 mail order sales, 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.

Sale of services

Revenue from the supply of services represents the value of the service provided under contracts to the extent that there is a right to consideration.

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 is 3 years.

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.

Tangible fixed assets 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 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, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

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.

Provisions are recognised when the company has a legal or constructive present obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the company will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the reporting end date, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the amount expected to be required to settle the obligation is recognised at present value. When a provision is measured at present value, the unwinding of the discount is recognised as a finance cost in profit or loss in the period in which it arises.

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.

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 company makes an estimate of the net realisable values of stock which is based on assessments of future sales projections and prevailing market conditions. 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 carrying value of the stock. See note 6 for the carrying value of stock and changes to any provision made in the period.

The company makes an estimate of the post year end sales returns which is based on assessments of the expected level of returns within the 28 day returns policy. The company uses its accumulated historical experience of actual return levels to estimate the number of returns to be provided for. 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 accrual.

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 intangibles is shown at cost less amortisation less provision for impairment. The amortisation policy is set at 3 years.

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

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost or valuation of fixed assets, less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful lives. Amortisation is calculated to write off the cost in equal annual instalments over their estimated useful lives.

The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the company during the 53 weeks was:

The average number of employees represents the average number of employees from the date of the acquisition of the Scotts of Stow trade in March 2023.

The goodwill arose on the acquisition of the trade and assets of Scotts of Stow during the year.

On 10 March 2023 the company acquired the business of Scotts of Stow.

Changes in finished goods recognised as cost of sales in the period amounted to £95k (£2022: £Nil) The stock provision amounted to £254k (2022: £Nil).

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 group bank loan is secured by a fixed and floating charge over the trade and assets of the company.

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

The Company's contractual commitments to purchase tangible fixed assets at the period-end were £nil (2022: £nil). The Company's contractual commitments to purchase stock on order with suppliers at the period-end were £nil (2022: £nil).

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 Woolovers 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 Limted, registered office 1 Chapel Street, Warwick, United Kingdom, CV34 4HL.

The largest and smallest group in which the results of the company are consolidated is that headed by Aurora HoldCo Limited, incorporated in the United Kingdom. The consolidated financial statements of this group are available to the public and may be obtained from 1 Chapel Street, Warwick, United Kingdom, CV34 4HL.