BENTLEY_DESIGNS_(UK)_LIMI - Accounts

The director presents the strategic report and financial statements of Bentley Designs (UK) Limited ('the company') for the year ended 30 September 2020.

Principal activities

The principal activity of the company continued to be that of design, import and wholesale of ready-to-assemble furniture.

The results for the company for the year, set out on page 7, show a profit before tax of £450,748 (2019: £11,296).

The results for the year were below expectations due to the significant financial impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Turnover declined by 21% as a result of government lockdown restrictions preventing non-essential business from opening for significant period from the end of March 2020 to the middle of 2021. Other countries also followed a similar path in enforcing lockdown. This had a direct impact on our turnover and supply chain, particularly in manufacturing, shipping and logistics. This has created unprecedented challenges in getting the goods manufactured and then bringing them to our UK warehouse and then distributing it to our customers.

The director immediately responded to the changing business environment by cutting costs and by driving efficiencies to negate the effect of decrease in turnover. These steps have had a positive impact on company's result.

The company will continue its focus on product development, new innovative designs and customer service. The directors expect the business environment to remain challenging for the foreseeable future.

Financial key performance indicators

The company monitors a variety of financial key performance indicators including the followings.

Sales for the year: £16.3.m (2019: £20.8m)

Gross profit margin: 21% (2019: 18.79%)

Stock turnover period: 168 days (2019: 96 days)

Sales credit period: 48 days (2019: 34 days)

Purchase credit period: 32 days (2019: 90 days)

Non-financial

The company uses the following non-financial indicators:

(1) Responding to customers' feedback and meeting their requirements is considered as critical for the growth of the business.

(2) Monitoring of customer complaints and reviewing the reasons for returns from customers is routinely undertaken. This information is broken down by range, by product and by customer for investigative purposes aimed at satisfactory resolution.

(3) Monitoring of product quality at production level and the securing of timely deliveries from the manufacturer aimed at customer satisfaction.

The following are considered by the director to be the principal risks and uncertainties for the company and the group:

COVID-19: The risk of the Covid-19 pandemic continuing to disrupt business performance during 2021 and beyond is a major concern. The potential for further government imposed restrictions and unplanned lockdown measures remain a very significant risk to the business profitability.

Currency: The company sources its finished goods from overseas suppliers and which are priced in US Dollars, and is thus exposed to the financial risk of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Logistics: During the Covid-19 related global lockdown a significant amount of shipping capacity was lost. As the global trade picked up, the shipping industry does not seem to have the capacity to deliver all the goods on a timely manner. Consequently the process and cost of shipping containers from the Far East to the UK has become a major challenge which is not expected to be resolved until the middle of 2023. Lack of stock and higher shipping costs will affect both company's turnover and profitability.

Supplier risk: The company is reliant upon its main supplier, with whom it has had excellent trading relationship for over 20 years, for manufacturing and supplying its products.

Credit risk: Trade debtors are managed closely by reference to the credit risk, and credit limits are reviewed regularly.

Competitors: The highly unusual market conditions caused by Covid-19 has affected both supply chain and consumer buying behaviour, and the evolution of the competitors cohort remains uncertain.

Future Developments

The company's objective is for its continued organic growth based on the high quality of its products and customer service. 

On behalf of the board

The director presents his report and financial statements of Bentley Designs (UK) Limited ( 'the company' ) for the year ended 30 September 2020.

The results for the year are set out on page 8.

The company did not pay any dividend during the year.

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

At the balance sheet date, the company had forward contracts to purchase US$10.45 m at agreed contracted rates. These forward contracts were revalued using the currency exchange rate applicable at the balance sheet date and which resulted in a gain of £23,225.

The company's principal financial assets are trade debtors and stock. In order to manage the risks, the directors monitor stocks and debtors on a monthly basis and set appropriate credit limits for customers based on payment history and credit worthiness.

Hardy & Company, having expressed their willingness to continue in office, will be deemed reappointed for the next financial year in accordance with section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006 unless the company receives notice under section 488(1) of the Companies Act 2006.

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 director is responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the director to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the director has 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 director must not approve the financial statements unless he is 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 director is required to:

•     select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

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

•     prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the company will continue in business.

The director is 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. He is 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 Bentley Designs (UK) Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 30 September 2020 which comprise the profit and loss account, the statement of comprehensive income, the balance sheet, the statement of changes in equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of 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 30 September 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

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

• the director's use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

• the director has not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

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 director is responsible for the other information. 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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 director's report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• the strategic report and the director's 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 director's 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 director's 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 director's responsibilities statement, the director is 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 director determines 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 director is 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 director either intends to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or has 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.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located 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 member 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 member those matters we are required to state to him 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 member 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.

Bentley Designs (UK) Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit A1, Symmetry Park, Morrell Way, Bicester, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, OX26 6GF.

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 pound.

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 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: The disclosure requirements of paragraphs 11.42, 11.44, 11.45, 11.47, 11.48(a)(iii), 11.48(a)(iv), 11.48(b), 11.48(c), 12.26, 12.27, 12.29(a), 12.29(b), and 12.29A;

• Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share based payment arrangements required under FRS 102 paragraphs 26.18(b), 26.19 to 26.21 and 26.23;

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

The financial statements of the company are consolidated in the financial statements of Bentley Designs Investments Limited. These consolidated financial statements are available from its registered office, Unit 1, Symmetry Park, Morrell Way, Bicester, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom.

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The director has reviewed and considered relevant information, including annual budget and future cash flows to 30 September 2022 in making his assessment. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in the director testing the cash flow analysis to take into account the impact on their business and possible scenarios brought on by the impact of Covid-19, as well as evaluating the measures that he can take to mitigate the impact. Based on these assessments, the director has concluded that adopting the going concern basis for the preparation of financial statements is appropriate.

Turnover represents amounts receivable for goods net of VAT and trade discounts.

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognized upon the delivery of goods to customers when all the risks and rewards are transferred to the customer.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at historical cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to bringing the asset to the location and condition necessary for it to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management.

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 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 net realisable value. Cost is determined on a first in, first out basis and comprises the purchase price of the goods and the cost of shipping to the UK.

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.

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.

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 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 company 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 company 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 company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

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.

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to fair value at each reporting end date. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing of the recognition in profit or loss depends on the nature of the hedge relationship.

A derivative with a positive fair value is recognised as a financial asset, whereas a derivative with a negative fair value is recognised as a financial liability.

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

Due to trading losses brought forward from earlier years, the company has no corporation tax liability. Taxable profit or loss differs from net profit or loss as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The company’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all timing differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the timing difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting end date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset is realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the profit and loss account, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when the company has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities and the deferred tax assets and liabilities relate to taxes levied by the same tax authority.

The 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.

The company operates a defined contribution scheme for the benefit of its employees. Contributions payable are charged to the profit and loss account in the year they are payable. The company also makes contributions to an approved self-administered pension scheme, the beneficiary of which is a director.

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.

A grant that specifies performance conditions is recognised in income when the performance conditions are met. Where a grant does not specify performance conditions it is recognised in income when the proceeds are received or receivable. A grant received before the recognition criteria are satisfied is recognised as a liability.

The company is exposed to the volatility in exchange rates as its stock purchases are made in a foreign currency. The directors forward purchase foreign currency when the exchange rates are favourable.

The directors use a pre-determined fixed rate of exchange to convert stock purchases into sterling during the year. All other monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are restated into pound sterling at the exchange rate at the balance sheet date.

In the application of the company’s accounting policies, the director is 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 items in the financial statements where these judgements and estimates have been made include:

Stock provision

The company has included a stock provision within the financial statements at balance sheet date after reviewing stock lines and identifying those which are slow moving or have been discontinued. Provision is made for the diminution in the value of stock when the net realisable value falls below cost or the carrying value of that stock item, if lower.

Operating lease commitments

The company has entered into commercial leases as a lessee on warehousing units and vehicles. The classification of such leases as operating or finance leases is required by the company. Based on an evaluation of the terms and conditions of the leases, whether it retains or acquires the significant risk and rewards of ownership and accordingly whether the lease requires an asset and liability to be recognised in the statement of financial position, it has been established that these leases meet the classification of operating leases.

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

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

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

The number of directors for whom retirement benefits are accruing under defined contribution schemes amounted to 2 (2019 - 2).

Investment income includes the following:

The actual charge/(credit) 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 entered into foreign currency forward contracts of US$ 10.45m (2019: US$5.78m with Habib Bank Zurich PLC during the year. These contracts were revalued using the currency rates applicable at the year end date and gave rise to a Gain of £23,225 (2019: Loss £23,081) which is included in the accounts.

Habib Bank AG Zurich('the bank') has a fixed and floating charge over the company's leasehold property, receivable debts and the designated bank accounts where the money received from debtors is banked, as security for the overdraft and other facilities the bank provides to the company. Additionally, the bank has a personal guarantee from Mr AM Lalani, a director, in respect of these facilities.

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the company and movements thereon:

The deferred tax liability set out above relates to accelerated capital allowances that are expected to mature within foreseeable future.

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.

All of the above classes of shares rank pari passu.

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:

As explained in the strategic report, the Covid-19 restrictions and the supply chain disruptions continued after the reporting date of 30 September 2020. In order to ensure the company has sufficient liquidity to cover any unexpected cash requirement, the company has negotiated a further borrowing facility of £1m with its bankers.