i.        Use of estimates and judgements

In preparing the consolidated and separate financial statements, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect reported income, expenses, assets, liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Use of available information and application of judgment are inherent in the formation of estimates. Actual results in the future could differ from such estimates and the differences may be material to the financial statements. These estimates are reviewed on a regular basis and, if a change is needed, it is accounted for in the year the changes become known. Except for the below, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, the accounting estimates, assumptions and judgements made in the course of preparing these financial statements are not difficult, subjective or complex to a degree which would warrant their description as significant in terms of the requirements of IAS 1 (revised) - ‘Presentation of financial statements’.

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the reporting date, that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities within the next financial year, are described below.

Fair value of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets

The Group and the Company uses the services of professional valuers to revalue property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets. The professional valuers take into account the market participant’s ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.

The highest and best use of a non-financial asset takes into account the use of the asset that is physically possible, legally permissible and financially feasible, as follows:

As described in Notes 9 and 10, the Group and the Company uses valuation techniques that include inputs that are not always based on observable market data in order to estimate the fair value of property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets. This Note also provides detailed information regarding these valuation methods and the key assumptions used in performing such valuations.

However, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, there are no areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements .

ii.       New standards adopted as at 1 January 2024

Some accounting pronouncements which have become effective from 1 January 2024 and have therefore been adopted are:

These amendments do not have a significant impact on these financial statements and therefore no disclosures have been made.

iii.      Standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective and have not been adopted early by the Group and Company

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, several new, but not yet effective, Standards and amendments to existing Standards, and Interpretations published by the IASB or IFRIC include:

None of these Standards or amendments to existing Standards have been adopted early by the Group and Company. Management anticipates that all relevant pronouncements will be adopted for the first period beginning on or after the effective date of the pronouncement.

With the exception of IFRS 18, these amendments are not expected to have a significant impact on the financial statements in the period of initial application and therefore no disclosures have been made. The Group and Company will assess the impact on disclosures from the initial adoption of IFRS 18. IFRS 18 will be effective for annual reporting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2027. The Group and Company are not expected to early adopt this new Standard.

b.       Basis of consolidation

The Group’s consolidated financial statements consolidate those of the parent company and all of its subsidiaries as of 31 December 2024. The subsidiaries have a reporting date of 31 December. Control is achieved when the Company

The Company reassesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control listed above.

When the Company has less than a majority of the voting rights of an investee, it considers that it has power over the investee when the voting rights are sufficient to give it the practical ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee unilaterally. The Company considers all relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether or not the Company’s voting rights in an investee are sufficient to give it power, including:

Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Company obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Company loses control of the subsidiary. Specifically, the results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in profit or loss from the date the Company gains control until the date when the Company ceases to control the subsidiary.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with the Group’s accounting policies.

All intragroup assets and liabilities, equity, income, expenses and cash flows relating to transactions between the members of the Group are eliminated on consolidation.

Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group’s equity therein. Those interests of non-controlling shareholders that are present ownership interests entitling their holders to a proportionate share of net assets upon liquidation may initially be measured at fair value or at the non-controlling interests’ proportionate share of the fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. The choice of measurement is made on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis. Other non-controlling interests are initially measured at fair value. Subsequent to acquisition, the carrying amount of non-controlling interests is the amount of those interests at initial recognition plus the non-controlling interests’ share of subsequent changes in equity.

Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income are attributed to the owners of the Company and to the non-controlling interests. Total comprehensive income of the subsidiaries is attributed to the owners of the Company and to the non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance.

Changes in the Group’s interests in subsidiaries that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions. The carrying amount of the Group’s interests and the non-controlling interests are adjusted to reflect the changes in their relative interests in the subsidiaries. Any difference between the amount by which the noncontrolling interests are adjusted and the fair value of the consideration paid or received is recognised directly in equity and attributed to the owners of the Company.

When the Group loses control of a subsidiary, the gain or loss on disposal recognised in profit or loss is calculated as the difference between (i) the aggregate of the fair value of the consideration received and the fair value of any retained interest and (ii) the previous carrying amount of the assets (including goodwill), less liabilities of the subsidiary and any non-controlling interests. All amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income in relation to that subsidiary are accounted for as if the Group had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities of the subsidiary (i.e. reclassified to profit or loss or transferred to another category of equity as required/permitted by applicable IFRS Accounting Standards). The fair value of any investment retained in the former subsidiary at the date when control is lost is regarded as the fair value on initial recognition for subsequent accounting under IFRS 9 Financial Instruments when applicable, or the cost on initial recognition of an investment in an associate or a joint venture.

c.       Revenue recognition

Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and services in the ordinary course of the company’s activities. Revenue is shown net of value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts.  The company recognises revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, it is probable that future economic benefits will flow to the entity and when the specific criteria have been met as described below.

To determine whether to recognise revenue, the Group follows a 5-step process:

The Group and the Company recognises revenue from the following major sources:

d.       Foreign currencies

Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the Group’s consolidated, and the Company’s separate financial statements are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates.  The Euro is the Group’s and the Company’s functional and presentation currency.

Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency (Euro) using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the transactions.  Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.

e.       Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment, comprising land and building, improvement to premises, furniture and fittings and equipment, are initially recorded at cost and are subsequently stated at cost less depreciation and impairment losses, if any.  Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of items.

Land is revalued once every three years and any revaluation surplus is recognised in other comprehensive income and credited to the revaluation reserve in equity.  To the extent that any revaluation decrease or impairment loss has previously been recognised in profit or loss, a revaluation increase is credited to profit or loss with the remaining part of the increase recognised in other comprehensive income.  Downward valuations of land are recognised upon appraisal or impairment testing, with the decrease being charged to other comprehensive income to the extent of any revaluation surplus in equity relating to this asset and any remaining decrease in profit or loss.  Any revaluation surplus remaining in equity on disposal of asset is transferred to retained earnings.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount, or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group, and the cost of the item can be measured reliably.  All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income during the financial year in which they are incurred.

Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method to allocate the cost of the assets to their residual values over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Freehold land is not depreciated as it is deemed to have an indefinite useful life.

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting year.

Gains and losses on disposal of property, plant and equipment are determined by comparing proceeds with the carrying amount, and are taken into account in determining operating profit.

An asset’s carrying amount is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if its carrying amount is greater than its estimated recoverable amount (Accounting policy (i)).

f.       Leases

The Group as lessee

The Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease, at inception of the contract. The Group recognises a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability with respect to all lease arrangements in which it is the lessee, except for short-term leases (defined as leases with a lease term of 12 months or less) and leases of low value assets (such as tablets and personal computers, small items of office furniture and telephones). For these leases, the Group recognises the lease payments as an operating expense on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease unless another systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leased assets are consumed.

Subsequent to initial measurement, the right-of-use asset is stated at revalued amounts. Revalued amounts are fair values based on appraisals prepared by external professional valuers annually or more frequently if market factors indicate a material change in fair value. Any revaluation surplus is recognised in other comprehensive income and credited to the revaluation reserve in equity. To the extent that any revaluation decrease or impairment loss (note i) has previously been recognised in profit or loss, a revaluation increase is credited to profit or loss with the remaining part of the increase

recognised in other comprehensive income. Downward revaluations of right-of-use assets are recognised upon appraisal or impairment testing, with the decrease being charged to other comprehensive income to the extent of any revaluation surplus in equity relating to this asset and any remaining decrease recognised in profit or loss. Any revaluation surplus remaining in equity on disposal of the asset is transferred to retained earnings.

The company depreciates the right-of-use assets on a straight-line basis from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of the useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term.

The lease liability is initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date, discounted by using the rate implicit in the lease. If this rate cannot be readily determined, the Group uses its incremental borrowing rate.

Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability comprise:

The lease liability is presented as a separate line in the consolidated and separate statement of financial position.

The lease liability is subsequently measured by increasing the carrying amount to reflect interest on the lease liability (using the effective interest method) and by reducing the carrying amount to reflect the lease payments made.

When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment is reflected in the right-of-use asset, or profit and loss if the right-of-use asset is already reduced to zero.

On the statement of financial position, the company has opted to disclose the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities as separate financial statement line items.

g.       Investments in subsidiaries

In the Company’s separate financial statements, investments in subsidiaries are accounted for by the cost method of accounting.  The dividend income from such investments is included in the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.in the accounting year in which the Company’s rights to receive payment of any dividend is established.  The Company gathers objective evidence that an investment is impaired.  On disposal of an investment, the difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount is charged or credited to the statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income.

h.       Investments in associates

An associate is an entity over which the Group and the Company has significant influence and that is neither a subsidiary nor an interest in a joint venture. Significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee but is not control or joint control over those policies.

The results and assets and liabilities of associates are incorporated in these financial statements using the equity method of accounting, except when the investment is classified as held for sale, in which case it is accounted for in accordance with IFRS 5.

Under the equity method, an investment in an associate s recognized initially in the consolidated and separate statement of financial position at cost and adjusted thereafter to recognize the Group’s and the Company’s share of the profit or loss and other comprehensive income of the associate. When the Group’s and the Company’s share of losses of an associate exceeds the Group’s and the Company’s interest in that associate (which includes any long-term interests that, in substance, form part of the Group’s and the Company’s net investment in the associate or joint venture), the Group and the Company discontinue recognising its share of further losses. Additional losses are recognised only to the extent that the Group and the Company has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate or joint venture.

An investment in an associate is accounted for using the equity method from the date on which the investee becomes an associate. On acquisition of the investment in an associate, any excess of the cost of the investment over the Group’s and the Company’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of the investee is recognised as goodwill, which is included within the carrying amount of the investment. Any excess of the Group’s and the Company’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities over the cost of the investment, after reassessment, is recognised immediately in profit or loss in the period in which the investment is acquired.

If there is objective evidence that the Group’s and the Company’s net investment in an associate is impaired, the requirements of IAS 36 are applied to determine whether it is necessary to recognise any impairment loss with respect to the Group’s and the Company’s investment. When necessary, the entire carrying amount of the investment (including goodwill) is tested for impairment in accordance with IAS 36 as a single asset by comparing its recoverable amount (higher of value in use and fair value less costs of disposal) with its carrying amount. Any impairment loss recognised is not allocated to any asset, including goodwill that forms part of the carrying amount of the investment. Any reversal of that impairment loss is recognised in accordance with IAS 36 to the extent that the recoverable amount of the investment subsequently increases.

The Group and the Company discontinues the use of the equity method from the date when the investment ceases to be an associate. When the Group and the Company retains an interest in the former associate and the retained interest is a financial asset, the Group and the Company measures the retained interest at fair value at that date and the fair value is regarded as its fair value on initial recognition in accordance with IFRS 9. The difference between the carrying amount of the associate at the date the equity method was discontinued, and the fair value of any retained interest and any proceeds from disposing of a part interest in the associate is included in the determination of the gain or loss on disposal of the associate. In addition, the Group and the Company accounts for all amounts previously recognised in other comprehensive income in relation to that associate on the same basis as would be required if that associate had directly disposed of the related assets or liabilities. Therefore, if a gain or loss previously recognised in other comprehensive income by that associate would be reclassified to profit or loss on the disposal of the related assets or liabilities, the Group and the Company reclassifies the gain or loss from equity to profit or loss (as a reclassification adjustment) when the associate is disposed of.

When the Group and the Company reduces its ownership interest in an associate or a joint venture but the Group continues to use the equity method, the Group and the Company reclassifies to profit or loss the proportion of the gain or loss that had previously been recognised in other comprehensive income relating to that reduction in ownership interest if that gain or loss would be reclassified to profit or loss on the disposal of the related assets or liabilities.

When a Group and the Company entity transacts with an associate of the Group and the Company, profits and losses resulting from the transactions with the associate are recognised in the Group’s and the Company’s consolidated and separate financial statements only to the extent of interests in the associate that are not related to the Group and the Company.

The Group and the Company applies IFRS 9, including the impairment requirements, to long-term interests in an associate to which the equity method is not applied and which form part of the net investment in the investee. Furthermore, in applying IFRS 9 to long-term interests, the Group and the Company does not take into account adjustments to their carrying amount required by IAS 28 Investments in Associates (i.e. adjustments to the carrying amount of long-term interests arising from the allocation of losses of the investee or assessment of impairment in accordance with IAS 28).

i.         Impairment of non-financial assets

At each reporting date, the Group and the Company reviews the carrying amounts of its assets that have an indefinite useful life 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 to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group and the Company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs. When a reasonable and consistent basis of allocation can be identified, corporate assets are also allocated to individual cash-generating units, or otherwise they are allocated to the smallest group of cash-generating units for which a reasonable and consistent allocation basis can be identified.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs of disposal 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 and to the extent that the impairment loss is greater than the related revaluation surplus, the excess impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

(d)     Impairment