The Loch Lomond Distillery Company has reported a near £25 million gain during the period it was sold to a private equity firm for an undisclosed sum.

Annual accounts for the Largs business, now known as LLDY Alexandria, show £24.8m of other operating income in the 12 months to March 31, 2014.

That sum is believed to be related to the sale of the business.

Private equity group Exponent bought the Scotch whisky distiller in February last year.

The LLDY accounts show turnover of £19.9m, down from £23.56m.

But boosted by the additional operating income total pre-tax profits soared from £469,003 to £24.3m.

Writing in the accounts the directors, including veteran drinks entrepreneur Sandy Bulloch, said they were happy with the performance of the business and are seeking new development opportunities.

Staff numbers were steady at 56 with employee costs also relatively flat at £1.87m.

The accounts show directors' remuneration fell from £124,839 to £107,126.

More than £6.2m of debt was paid off during the 12 months leaving the business with a net debt of £1.89m at the end of the period.

The assets acquired by Exponent included the Loch Lomond Distillery at Alexandria, the Glen Scotia malt distillery in Campbeltown and the Glen Catrine packaging plant at Mauchline.

Among the brands produced from those locations are the Glen Scotia single malt, Loch Lomond single malt, the High Commissioner and Clansman blends and Glen's Vodka.

Inverarity Morton, the Glasgow-based drinks wholesaler, remained under the ownership by the Bulloch family.