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FY2014 Annual Report · Cogstate
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Castings P.L.C.
Annual Report for the 
year ended 31 March 2014

Stock Code: CGS

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

An Introduction to 
Castings P.L.C.

Castings P.L.C. is a market leading UK iron 
casting and machining group. 

Our continued strength is largely as a result of 
our investment in the latest technologies and 
manufacturing processes. Maintaining an ungeared 
balance sheet provides investment flexibility, 
enabling us to maximise commercial opportunities 
to generate strong returns for the benefit of 
shareholders, customers and employees alike.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Contents

Contents 

Strategic Report
Financial Highlights
Chairman’s Statement
Objectives and Strategy
Business Model
Business and Financial Review
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Corporate Social Responsibility

Governance

Board of Directors
Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance
Audit and Risk Committee Report
Directors’ Remuneration Report

Annual Statement
Remuneration Policy
Annual Report on Directors’ Remuneration

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
Independent Auditors’ Report

Financials

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Notes to the Accounts
Five Year Financial History
Parent Company Balance Sheet
Notes to the Parent Company Accounts

Other

Notice of Meeting
Directors, Officers and Advisers
Shareholder Information

02
03
04
04
05
06
08

10
11
14
16

18
19
21
23
24

27
28
29
30
31
51
52
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58
60
61

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014 
Financial Highlights

Group revenue
£137m

(2013: £122m)

Profit before tax
£21.8m

(2013: £19.2m)

Capital expenditure
£9.7m

(2013: £6.9m)

2014

2013

2012

2011

137

2014

122

126

105

2013

2012

2011

21.8

19.2

2014

2013

23.1

2012

15.5

2011

6.9

9.7

9.9

12.6

Foundry sales volume (tonnes) EPS (basic and diluted)
57,600

39.55p

(2013: 52,700)

(2013: 33.89p)

Dividend per share
12.96p

(2013: 12.34p)

2014

2013

2012

2011

57,600

2014

52,700

2013

57,200

2012

39.55

2014

33.89

2013

40.32

2012

12.96

12.34

11.75

50,600

2011

26.71

2011

10.75

Revenue Profile

Geographical revenue split Customer sector profile

United Kingdom 33%

Commercial vehicle 52%

Export 67%

Automotive 31%

Other 17%

02

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Chairman’s Statement

The turnover of the group 
increased to £137.4m with profits 
of £21.8m.

As previously reported, the 
results were affected by the 
disruption following the change 
in European exhaust emissions 
regulations from Euro 5 to Euro 
6.  The increase in demand at 
short notice created excessive 
manufacturing and transport 
costs to meet our customers’ 
requirements.  Business 
has since returned to more 
predictable levels without 
exceptional disruptions.

Outlook 
Customer requirements have slightly 
reduced at the present time from the high 
levels achieved last year.  However, several 
of our major customers have forecast that 
demand will increase during quarters 3 
and 4 of the current financial year.  We 
await further developments and hope the 
economic recovery in Europe continues.

The company continues to invest in the 
most up to date machinery both in the 
foundries and the machining operations 
and is in a sound financial position to react 
at short notice for any future investments 
required.

In conclusion I would like to thank all our 
employees who have reacted well to the 
variable demands from our customers.

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

11 June 2014

Foundry Production
The foundries at Brownhills and Dronfield 
have enjoyed high levels of production 
during most of the year and £3.4m has 
been invested to increase capacity for core 
production and finishing.

Further prudent investments will be made 
to improve productivity in order to maintain 
our position in a highly competitive market.

CNC Speedwell
Once again it is pleasing to report that 
CNC has increased sales both from 
machining castings for our foundries 
and also for external customers.  £6.1m 
has been invested during the year on 
new machines and improved inspection 
equipment.  Further investments in plant 
and equipment will be made as and when 
new orders are obtained.

Dividend
I am pleased to report that the directors 
recommend an increase in the final 

dividend to 9.83 pence per share. This, 
together with an increased interim 

dividend, gives a total for the year of 12.96 
pence per share. 

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

03

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsObjectives and Strategy

Group objective
Our objective is to generate shareholder 
value through the delivery of innovative 
design and flexible production solutions 
to global markets, delivering long-term 
sustainable revenues at higher than 
average margins through investment in 
market leading technologies.

We maintain sufficient available funds to 
be able to make strategic decisions to 
support customer demand increases and 
new orders. We are always mindful of 
our competitor activity and invest in the 
latest technology to maintain our market 
advantage.

Group strategy
Our strategy is to invest in the latest 
technologies to provide our customers 
with state-of-the-art design and flexible 
production offerings.

We invest to match the capacity of the 
foundries with the requirements of our 
major customers with the aim of building 
long-term supply relationships.

Our machining operation is invested to 
support both the capacity requirements 
of the foundry customer base and also to 
expand general machining in alternative 
materials with blue chip customers.

The Group balance sheet is managed to 
ensure long-term financial stability and 
the ability to make efficient investment 
decisions to support our objectives.

We measure progress against our strategic 
priorities by reference to our financial 

performance as shown on page 27.

Business Model

We seek to enhance our strong 
margins by continually striving 
for further operational 
efficiencies. These efficiencies 
also provide the opportunity to 
invest in growth.

Group structure
Castings P.L.C. is an established iron 
casting and machining group based in 
the UK, supplying both the domestic and 
export markets. The group comprises of 
three trading operations:

•	 Castings (Brownhills) supplies 

spheroidal graphite iron castings to 
a variety of manufacturing industries 
from its highly mechanised foundries.

•	 William Lee Limited supplies 

spheroidal graphite iron castings 
from its well invested foundries in 
Dronfield, Derbyshire.

•	 CNC Speedwell Limited is a highly 

invested machining operation primarily 
focused on the prismatic machining of 
iron and aluminium castings from its 
sites in Brownhills and Fradley.

Management structure
Our board manages overall control of 
the Group’s affairs and is responsible for 
delivering on the Group’s objectives.

The Group Executive team includes a 
Managing Director from each of the three 
trading operations who are responsible 
for assisting the Chief Executive in 
implementing our strategy and the day-to-
day management of the Group.

Each Managing Director is supported by a 
local senior management team who are all 

directly involved in the detailed operations 
at their respective sites.

Group business model
Our trading operations share the common 
business model of working closely with 
customers in developing products to 
meet their specific needs. As part of this 
process we:

•	 Undertake the design, including 

virtual analyses, of ductile and SG iron 
castings.

•	

•	

Produce rapid prototypes and pre-
series castings using full production 
processes as well as serial quantities 
of fully machined ductile iron castings 
and sub-assemblies.

Provide vertical and horizontal 
machining capacity together with 
5-axis prototyping.

•	 Maintain international and customer 
specific quality and process control 
standards incumbent on a first tier 
supplier.

We seek to enhance our strong margins by 
continually striving for further operational 
efficiencies. These efficiencies also provide 
the opportunity to invest in growth.

We ensure the latest environmental 
standards are achieved in all areas of 
activity.

04

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Business and Financial Review

Revenue has increased by 
12% to £137.5 million of 
which 67% (2013 – 65%) 
was exported.

Profit before taxation increased 
to £21.8 million from £19.2 
million.

The dispatch weight of castings to third 
party customers was 57,600 tonnes, being 
an increase of 4,900 tonnes from the 
previous year.

Revenue from the machining operation, 
CNC Speedwell, to external customers 
increased by 13% during the year.

During the year we have received £0.36 
million (2013 – £0.15 million) from the 
administrators of the UK subsidiaries of 
the Icelandic banks. This brings the total 
sums received to-date, of the original 
balance of £5.7 million, to £3.26 million 
which is £1.4 million in excess of the 
original estimate of recoverable amounts. 
Given the uncertainty over the quantum 
and timing of any possible further receipts, 
no allowance has been made for future 
recoverable amounts.

The reduction in the level of finance 
income reflects the lower interest rates 
available during the year.

Operationally the group generated £19.2 
million in cash (after tax payments) which, 
after investment of £9.7 million in property, 
plant and equipment and £5.4 million 
in dividend payments, resulted in an 
increase in cash of £4.1 million in the year 
(excluding the impact of the £5 million long 
term deposit that matured during the year). 

This results in a total cash and deposits 
position at the balance sheet date of £27.8 
million. 

The pension valuation showed an increase 
in the surplus, on an IAS 19 (Revised) 
basis, to £14.6 million. This improvement 
has been aided by additional contributions 
of £4 million by the company during the 
year. The surplus continues not to be 
shown on the balance sheet due to the IAS 
19 (Revised) restriction of recognition of 
assets where the company does not have 
an unconditional right to receive returns of 
contributions or refunds.

Overall the group returned a profit before 
taxation of £21.8 million (2013 – £19.2 
million) for the year. This includes a £0.1 
million charge in respect of the defined 
benefit pension schemes (as set out in 
note 6) in accordance with IAS 19 (Revised)
and £0.36 million credit for Icelandic bank 
receipts.

The directors are recommending a final 
dividend that will be paid in August which, 
with the interim dividend paid in January, 
will result in the return of £5.65 million to 
shareholders.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

05

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsPrincipal Risks and Uncertainties

Customer concentration, 
programme dependencies 
and relationships
The loss of, or deterioration in, any major 
customer relationship could have a 
material impact on the group’s results.

Product quality and 
liability
The group’s businesses expose it to certain 
product liability risks which, in the event of 
failure, could give rise to material financial 
liabilities. Whilst it is a policy of the group 
to limit its financial liability by contract in 
all long-term agreements (‘LTAs’), it is not 
always possible to secure such limitations 
in the absence of LTAs. The group’s 
customers do require the maintenance of 
demanding quality systems to safeguard 
against quality-related risks and the group 
maintains appropriate external quality 
accreditations. The group maintains 
insurance for public liability-related claims 
but does not insure against the risk of 
product warranty or recall.

Foreign exchange
Foreign exchange rate risk is sometimes 
partially hedged using forward foreign 
exchange contracts. Translational risk arises 
as a consequence of applying different 
exchange rates to net assets denominated 
in currencies other than sterling and, not 
being an exposure that results in an actual 
cash flow, is not hedged.

Equipment
The group operates a number of specialist 
pieces of equipment, including foundry 
furnaces, moulding lines and CNC milling 
machines which, due to manufacturing 
lead times, would be difficult to replace 
sufficiently quickly to prevent major 
interruption and possible loss of business 
in the event of unforeseen failure. Whilst 
this risk cannot be entirely mitigated 
without uneconomic duplication of all key 
equipment, all key equipment is maintained 
to the highest possible standards and 
inventories of strategic equipment spares 
maintained. The facilities at Brownhills 
and Dronfield have similar equipment and 
work can be transferred from one location 
to another very quickly. The machining 
business also operates from two separate 
locations enabling the transfer of some 
production if required.

Suppliers and trade credit
Although the group takes care to ensure 
alternative sources of supply remain 
available for materials or services on 
which the group’s businesses are critically 
dependent, this is not always possible 
to guarantee without risk of short-term 
business disruption, additional costs and 
potential damage to relationships with key 
customers. The ability of our suppliers to 
maintain credit insurance on the group 
and its principal operating businesses 
is an important issue. We have excellent 
relationships with our suppliers and we 
continue to work closely with them on a 
normal commercial basis. A reduction in 
the level of cover available to suppliers 
may impact on our trading relationship 
with them and may have a significant 
effect on cash flows.

Risk
In common with all trading business, the 
group is exposed to a variety of risks in the 
conduct of its normal business operations.

The group maintains a range of insurance 
policies against major identified insurable 
risks, including (but not limited to) those 
related to business interruption, damage 
to property and equipment, products and 
employment.

Whilst it is not possible to either 
completely record or to quantify every 
material risk that the group faces, below is 
a summary of those risks that the directors 
believe are most significant to the group’s 
business and could have a material impact 
on future performance, causing it to 
differ materially from expected or historic 
achieved results.

Operational and 
commercial
The group’s revenues are principally derived 
from commercial vehicle and automotive 
markets. Both markets, and therefore group 
revenues, can be subject to variations 
in patterns of demand. Commercial 
vehicle sales are linked to technological 
factors (e.g. emission legislations) and 
economic growth. Passenger vehicle sales 
are influenced, inter alia, by consumer 
preferences, incentives and the availability 
of consumer credit.

Market competition
Automotive and commercial vehicle 
markets are, by their nature, highly 
competitive, which has historically led to 
deflationary pressure on selling prices. 
This pressure is most pronounced in 
cycles of lower demand. A number of 
the group’s customers are also adopting 
global sourcing models with the aim to 
reduce bought out costs. Whilst there can 
be no guarantee that business will not be 
lost on price, we are confident that we can 
remain competitive.

06

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Commodity and 
energy pricing
The principal metal raw materials used by 
the group’s businesses are steel scrap and 
various alloys. The most important alloy 
raw material inputs are premium graphite, 
magnesium ferro-silicon, copper, nickel 
and molybdenum. Wherever possible, 
prices and quantities (except steel) are 
secured through long-term agreements 
with suppliers. In general, the risk of 
price inflation of these materials resides 
with the group’s customers through price 
adjustment clauses. Energy contracts 
are locked in for at least twelve months, 
although renegotiation risks remain at 
contract maturity dates but again this is 
mitigated through the application of price 
adjustment clauses.

Information technology 
and systems reliability
The group is dependent on its information 
technology (‘IT’) systems to operate 
its business efficiently, without failure 
or interruption. Whilst data within key 
systems is regularly backed up and 
systems subject to virus protection, any 
failure of back-up systems or other major 
IT interruption could have a disruptive 
effect on the group’s business.

Short-term deposits
A review of credit ratings is undertaken 
prior to making new deposits and the 
maximum exposure to any one counter-
party is restricted. However, institutions can 
be downgraded before maturity therefore 
possibly placing these deposits at risk.

Environmental
The group’s businesses are subject to 
compliance with many different laws and 
requirements in the UK, Europe, North 
America and elsewhere. Great care is 
made to act responsibly towards the 
environment to achieve compliance with all 
relevant laws and to establish a standard 
above the minimum level required. Whilst 
the group’s manufacturing processes are 
not generally considered to provide a high 
risk of harm to the environment, a major 
control failure leading to environmental 
harm could give rise to a material financial 
liability as well as significant harm to 
the reputation of our business. Further 
information is set out on page 8.

Pension scheme funding
The fair value of the assets and liabilities 
of the group’s defined benefit pension 
schemes is substantial. As at 31 March 
2014 the schemes were in surplus on an 
IAS 19 (Revised) basis. Further details 
are set out in note 6 to the accounts. 
The potential risks and uncertainties 
resulting from factors such as investment 
return, interest rates and mortality rates 
are mitigated by careful management 
and continual monitoring of the schemes 
and by appropriate and timely action 
to ensure as far as possible that the 
defined benefit pension liabilities do not 
increase disproportionately. The company 
works closely with the scheme trustees 
and specialist advisers in managing the 
inherent risks of such schemes.

The schemes were closed to future 
accruals from 6 April 2009 which only 
leaves past service liabilities to be funded.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

07

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsCorporate Social Responsibility

General 
As a long-standing and principled 
company, we place great importance 
on our responsibilities to all our key 
stakeholders, whether shareholders, 
employees, customers, suppliers or the 
communities in which we operate. The 
group works hard to meet the legitimate 
expectations of these stakeholder groups 
whilst at the same time seeking to fulfil 
our objective of creating outstanding 
and enduring value through commercial 
success based on superior performance. 

The group has a network of policies and 
strategies through which we seek to 
ensure that our values form part of the 
culture of each of our operations. 

The environment 
We recognise our duty and responsibility 
towards protecting the environment 
wherever we conduct our business and 
strive to adopt the highest standards of 
environmental practices with the aim of 
minimising the impact of our commercial 
activities on the surrounding environment. 
Thus, we aim to meet, and wherever 
possible exceed, the standards demanded 
by applicable environmental legislation 
and operate a policy of effecting continual 
improvement in all of our processes 
that have the potential to impact the 
environment. 

Specifically, the company is committed to: 

•	

•	

Implementing and maintaining an 
Environmental Management System 
in accordance with the ISO 14001 
standard. 

Establishing procedures to review the 
impact of current or new activities or 
processes on the environment. 

•	 Reviewing audit results and initiating 
corrective action to address any 
deficiencies found within the group’s 
environmental management system, 
policy, objectives or targets. 

•	 Using techniques to avoid, reduce or 

control pollution. 

•	 Complying with all relevant legal 
requirements, process, planning 
and discharge authorisations, as 
appropriate to its operations. 

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

Pursuing best practice techniques in 
the use of energy and raw materials. 

Encouraging the beneficial reuse, 
recycling and recovery of its waste 
products. 

Ensuring that environmental issues 
are considered when making 
decisions to invest in capital plant 
and in the planning and controlling of 
manufacturing processes. 

Promoting environmental awareness 
throughout the group and ensuring 
that personnel whose activities have 
the potential to cause a significant 
impact on the environment receive 
appropriate training. 

Ensuring that suppliers and 
contractors adopt environmental 
practices on-site that are compatible 
with our exacting environmental 
standards. 

Establishing and maintaining 
adequate contingency procedures 
and plans to deal effectively with any 
accidental discharge or emission of 
pollutants. 

•	 Communicating our Environmental 

Policy Statement to any persons 
working on our behalf and any 
interested parties. 

The group demands that all activities and 
services will comply with applicable laws 
and regulations and that all substances 
and materials will be continually reviewed 
to ensure that only those that have the 
lowest impact on the environment will 
be used. In addition, where it is possible 
for us to assess, only waste disposal 
companies and facilities where the level 
of operational control and environmental 
compliance meets legislative requirements 
are used by our businesses. Noise 
from operations is kept to a level below 
legislative requirements to ensure 
the minimum of nuisance to the local 
environment. Appropriate and adequate 
environmental information and training is 
given to all employees and contractors. 

Both of our foundry sites are ISO 
14001:2004 accredited. The group’s 
practices and procedures are subject to 
regular environmental audits by external 
consultants. 

The group has also in place an energy 
policy which requires each company to 
make continuing efforts to achieve the 
following objectives: 

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

To monitor and record energy and 
water consumption. 

To reduce the consumption of 
fossil fuels and utilise energy 
from sustainable sources where 
practicable. 

To examine ways of reducing water 
consumption. 

To promote energy awareness 
amongst employees and contractors. 

To identify and implement energy 
saving measures and practise energy 
efficiency throughout all group 
premises, plant and equipment. 

To incorporate environmentally 
sensitive designs into both new and 
refurbished buildings. 

To target a reduction in energy 
consumption in line with the 
Government’s goal of cutting carbon 
dioxide emissions to counter the 
threat of climate change. 

Greenhouse gas emissions
Our gross greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions for the year ended 31 March 
2014 was 72,101 tonnes of CO2 (2013 
-  63,586 tonnes of CO2).  Our material 
emissions arise entirely from indirect 
emissions that come from our use of 
electricity, gas and water (Scope 2). 

We have calculated our carbon footprint 
according to the World Resources Institute 
(WRI) and World Business Council for 
Sustainable Development (WBCSD) GHG 
Protocol, which is the internationally 
recognised standard for corporate carbon 
reporting.

For the foundry businesses, the most 
appropriate metric to measure the level 
of GHG emissions is per production 
tonne. The metric used for the machining 
operation is emissions per thousand 
pounds of sales revenue. The foundry 
emissions results for the year being 1.06 
tonnes/production tonne and 0.19 tonnes/ 
£’000 of machining revenue respectively.  

08

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014•	

Induction training both job and hazard 
specific and refresher training. 

•	 Maintenance, inspection and statutory 

inspection of work equipment. 

•	

Providing appropriate personal 
protective equipment and rules for 
its use. 

•	 Occupational health including health 
surveillance and exposure monitoring 
as required. 

•	

•	

The control of visitors and 
contractors. 

Incident reporting, recording and 
investigation. 

•	 Routine workplace inspections. 

•	

Performance monitoring and 
evaluation. 

The Strategic Report was approved by the 
board and signed on its behalf by

D. J. Gawthorpe 
Chief Executive Officer

11 June 2014

Employees 
The group’s policy is to employ 
people who embody its core values of 
commitment and excellence. These values 
apply to all employees regardless of 
seniority or position, including directors. 

The group seeks to communicate with 
its employees in a structured open 
manner, including regular briefings and 
dissemination of relevant information on 
the group and business unit. 

Employees are informed weekly of 
production levels and the relative 
production performance. Similarly, they are 
kept informed of any factor affecting the 
group and the industry generally. 

Their involvement in the group’s 
performance is encouraged by means of a 
production bonus and at the time of annual 
wages and salaries review they are made 
aware of all economic factors affecting 
the previous year’s performance and the 
outlook for the ensuing year. 

Recognising the demands of our 
customers and our strategy, the group’s 
policy is to recruit the best available 
people and to invest in their training and 
development to enable a high level of 
retention. In this regard, we are committed 
to equality, judging applications for 
employment neither by race, nationality, 
gender, age, disability, sexual orientation 
nor political bias. 

The group gives full consideration to 
employment applications by disabled 
persons where they can adequately 
fulfil the requirements of the position. If 
necessary, we endeavour to retrain any 
employee who becomes disabled during 
their period of employment with the group. 

The gender of our staff at 31 March 2014 
was as follows:

Health and Safety 
The board regards the promotion of 
health and safety measures as a mutual 
objective for management and employees 
at all levels. It is our policy to do all that 
is practicable to prevent personal injury 
and damage to property and to protect 
everyone from foreseeable hazards, 
including third parties in so far as they 
come into contact with the group’s 
activities. In particular, we aim to fulfil our 
responsibilities: 

•	

•	

•	

•	

To provide and maintain safe and 
healthy working conditions complying 
with all statutory conditions. 

To provide training and instruction to 
enable employees to perform their 
work safely and efficiently. 

To make available all necessary safety 
devices and protective equipment and 
to supervise their use. 

To maintain a constant and continuing 
interest in health and safety matters 
applicable to the group’s activities, 
consulting and involving employees 
wherever possible. 

The group has clearly defined health 
and safety policies and we operate 
a system of strict reporting. Regular 
audits of health and safety at the group’s 
manufacturing operations are carried out 
using independent agencies who make 
recommendations for improvements 
to achieve best practice wherever 
appropriate. The group’s health and safety 
policy is regularly reviewed and modified 
as circumstances and experiences dictate.

The group encourages the maintenance of 
consistent high standards and each site is 
required to develop a safety management 
system that includes: 

•	 Health and safety planning and 

Male

Female

objective setting. 

Non-executive 
directors
Executive directors
Senior managers
Other employees

3
6
12
1,006

1,027

—
—
2
103

105

•	 Carrying out risk assessments, both 

general and hazard specific. 

•	

Producing and issuing safe systems 
of work. 

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

09

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportGovernanceFinancials 
Board of Directors

Executive Directors

Non-Executive Directors

Mark Lewis 
Managing Director — CNC Speedwell Ltd 

Aged 50, he joined CNC Speedwell in 
1990 becoming their managing director 
in 1996. He has overseen the machining 
requirements for the group and was 
appointed a director in 2003. 

Graham Cooper 
Managing Director — William Lee Ltd 

Aged 60, he joined William Lee in 1977 
becoming operations director there in 2003 
and their managing director in 2005, when 
he was appointed to the main board. He is 
due to retire on 30 September 2014.

Adam Vicary 
Managing Director — Brownhills 

Aged 46, he joined the company in 
September 2010 as joint managing 
director and was appointed to the main 
board in April 2012. 

Brian Cooke 
Chairman 

Aged 74, he joined the company in 1960 
after attending foundry college and 
serving an engineering apprenticeship. He 
worked in all departments of the company 
and was appointed a director in 1966, 
becoming joint managing director in 1968 
and managing director in 1970. He ceased 
to be chief executive in 2007. He has been 
chairman since 1983. 

David Gawthorpe 
Chief Executive Officer 

Aged 52, he joined the company in 1984 
and became local technical director at 
Brownhills in 1994. He was appointed 
a director in 2003 and became chief 
executive in April 2007 and is the director 
with environmental and human resource 
responsibility. 

Steve Mant 
Finance Director 

Aged 38, he joined the company in 
June 2010 and was appointed company 
secretary and finance director on  
1 November 2010. Prior to joining the 
company he had been working for BDO 
LLP specialising in manufacturing, 
international and listed companies. 

Gerard Wainwright 
Senior Independent Non-executive 
Director 

Aged 64, he was appointed a director 
in 1998 and is the senior independent 
director. He has been chief executive 
of a wide range of manufacturing 
companies for over 25 years together with 
international experience. He is chairman 
of the remuneration committee and a 
member of the audit and nomination 
committees. 

Paul King 
Non-executive Director 

Aged 77, he was appointed a director 
in 1998 and is an independent director. 
He retired from practice as a partner 
with Coopers & Lybrand and has been 
a member of the boards of a number of 
companies. He is chairman of the audit 
committee and is also a member of the 
remuneration and nomination committees. 

Alec Jones 
Non-executive Director 

Aged 62, he was appointed a director 
in April 2012 and is an independent 
director. He was a partner in 
PricewaterhouseCoopers for 27 years until 
his retirement in 2010. He is a member of 
the audit, remuneration and nomination 
committees.

10

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Directors’ Report

The directors submit the annual 
report and audited financial 
statements of Castings P.L.C. for 
the year ended 31 March 2014.

Strategic report
The Strategic Report, which contains 
a review of the group’s business, 
a description of the principal risks 
and uncertainties facing the group 
and commentary on the likely future 
developments, is set out on pages 2 to 9.

Financial results and 
dividend
The profit for the year after taxation 
was £17,258,000 (2013 – £14,786,000), 
full details of which are set out in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income on page 27.

An interim dividend of 3.13 pence per 
share was paid in January 2014 in respect 
of the year ended 31 March 2014.

The directors recommend a final dividend 
of 9.83 pence per share payable on  
22 August 2014 to shareholders on the 
register on 11 July 2014, making a total 
distribution of 12.96 pence for the year.

Share capital
The company’s capital consists of 
43,632,068 (2013 – 43,632,068) ordinary 
shares of 10 pence each with voting rights. 
There are no restrictions on voting rights.

There are no restrictions on the transfer of 
shares in the company and in particular 
there are no limitations on the holding 
of shares and no requirements to obtain 
the approval of the company, or of other 
shareholders, for a transfer of shares.

Beneficial owners of shares who have 
been nominated by the registered holder 
of those shares to receive information 
rights under section 146 of the Companies 
Act 2006 are required to direct all 
communications to the registered holder of 
their shares rather than to the company’s 
registrar, Capita Registrars, or to the 
company directly.

Subject to legislation and to any resolution of the company in general meeting, all unissued 
shares are at the disposal of the board who may allot, grant options over or otherwise 
dispose of them to such persons, on such terms and at such times as it may think fit.

The company is authorised to purchase its own shares.

Directors
The directors of the company are listed on page 10 and their interests in the ordinary share 
capital at the beginning and end of the year were:

Beneficial Holdings

B. J. Cooke
G. B. Wainwright
D. J. Gawthorpe
A. Vicary
G. Cooper
M. A. Lewis
S. J. Mant 
C. P. King
A. N. Jones

2014
Total 
1,959,636
84,261
29,379
14,000
8,000
3,025
1,000
—
—

2013
Total 
1,956,636
59,261
29,379
14,000
8,000
3,025
1,000
—
—

There have been no changes in the shareholdings of directors since the year end.

The following directors retire under the provisions of the Articles of Association and 
provision B.7.1 of the UK Corporate Governance Code for non-executive directors having 
served more than nine years and, being eligible, offer themselves for re-election:

•	

S. J. Mant – by rotation

•	 G. B. Wainwright – annual re-election

•	 C. P. King – annual re-election

The unexpired period of the contracts of service for B. J. Cooke, S. J. Mant, D. J. 
Gawthorpe, M. A. Lewis, G. Cooper and A. Vicary is one year. A. N. Jones,  
G. B. Wainwright and C. P. King do not have contracts of service. G. Cooper is due to retire 
on 30 September 2014.

The company has made qualifying third-party indemnity provisions for the benefit of its 
directors which were in force during the year and exist at the date of this report.

There are no agreements between the company and its directors or employees providing 
for compensation for loss of office or employment that occurs because of a takeover bid.

The number of directors is not subject to any maximum but shall not be less than two. The 
company may by ordinary resolution elect any person to be director and the board has 
the power to appoint any person to be director, but any director so appointed shall retire 
from office at the next Annual General Meeting. A director is not required to hold any share 
qualification.

One-third of the directors retire from office at every Annual General Meeting and are 
eligible for reappointment. In addition, non-executive directors with service greater than 
nine years are subject to annual re-election.

The board considers that the performance of those directors proposed for re-election 
continues to be effective, that they remain independent in judgement and that they 
demonstrate a strong commitment to their role.

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11

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancials 
Directors’ Report
continued

The business of the company is managed by the board who may exercise all such powers 
of the company as are not by legislation or by the company’s Articles required to be 
exercised in general meeting. The board may make such arrangements as it thinks fit 
for the management and transaction of the company’s affairs and may for that purpose 
appoint local boards, managers and agents and delegate to them any of the powers of 
the board (other than the power to borrow and make calls on shares) with power to sub-
delegate.

Other than the directors’ service contracts the directors have no interests in any other 
contract of the business.

Substantial shareholdings 
The directors have been notified that the following investors, including directors, held 
interests in 3% or more of the company’s issued share capital at 11 June 2014: 

Delta Lloyd Asset Management NV 
Aberforth Partners’ Clients 
Ruffer LLP 
B. J. Cooke 
Hamstall Investments Inc. 
Rathbone Investment Management Ltd 

Number
5,129,737
4,341,407
4,287,711
1,959,636
1,949,900
1,600,000

%
11.8
10.0
9.8
4.5
4.5
3.7

During the period between 31 March 2014 and 11 June 2014, Ruffer LLP sold 300,000 
shares, their shareholding at the year end being 4,587,711 (10.5%).

Special business 
There will be two items of special business 
at the Annual General Meeting. 

Directors’ authority to allot shares 
Approval will be sought for a special 
resolution to renew the authority given 
to the directors to allot shares in the 
company. The present authority was 
granted on 13 August 2013 and under 
the Companies Act must be renewed at 
least every five years. Authority will also 
be sought from shareholders to allow the 
directors to issue new shares for cash to 
persons other than to existing members 
up to a maximum nominal amount of 
£218,160, being approximately 5% of the 
current issued share capital. 

In any three year period no more than 
7.5% of the issued share capital will be 
issued on a pre-emptive basis. 

Both authorities are to be for the period 
commencing on the date of passing of the 
resolution until 18 August 2019 but will be 
put to annual shareholder approval. The 
proposed resolutions are set out as items 
9 and 10 in the Notice of Meeting. 

Authority to purchase own shares 
At the Annual General Meeting in 2013, the 
board was given authority to purchase and 
cancel up to 4,358,844 of its own shares 
representing 9.99% of the company’s 
existing shares, through market purchases 
on The London Stock Exchange. The 
maximum price to be paid on any exercise 
of the authority was restricted to 105% 
of the average of the middle market 
quotation for the shares for the five dealing 
days immediately preceding the day of a 
purchase. The minimum price which may 
be paid for each share is 10 pence. 

The current authority to make market 
purchases expires at the forthcoming 
Annual General Meeting. The directors are 
now seeking the approval of shareholders 
for the renewal of this authority upon the 
same terms, namely to allow the company 
to purchase and cancel up to 4,358,844 
of its own shares, representing 9.99% 
of its issued share capital at 31 March 
2014. The authority is sought by way of 
a special resolution, details of which are 
also included in the Notice of Meeting as 
item 11. 

This authority will only be exercised if the 
directors, in the light of market conditions 
prevailing at the time, expect it to result 
in an increase in future earnings per 
share, and if it is in the best interests of 
shareholders generally.

Employee involvement 
Employees are informed weekly of 
production levels and the relative 
production performance. Similarly, they are 
kept informed of any factor affecting the 
group and the industry generally. 

Their involvement in the group’s 
performance is encouraged by means of a 
production bonus and at the time of annual 
wages and salaries review they are made 
aware of all economic factors affecting 
the previous year’s performance and the 
outlook for the ensuing year. 

Further details of employee involvement 
are given under the Corporate Social 
Responsibility section on pages 8 and 9. 

Health and safety 
As required by legislation, the group’s 
policy for securing the health, safety and 
welfare at work of all employees has been 
brought to their notice. In addition, safety 
committees hold regular meetings. 

Financial instruments 
Details of the use of financial instruments 
by the group are contained in note 19 in 
the Notes to the Accounts. 

Articles of Association 
Any amendments to the Articles of 
Association have to be adopted by the 
members by a special resolution in general 
meeting. The current articles were adopted 
in August 2011. 

12

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Auditors 
The auditors, BDO LLP, have indicated 
their willingness to continue in office. A 
resolution proposing their reappointment 
as auditors of the company and 
authorising the directors to determine 
their remuneration will be submitted at the 
Annual General Meeting. 

Each of the persons who are directors at 
the date when this report was approved 
confirms that so far as each of the 
directors is aware, there is no relevant 
audit information of which the group’s 
auditors are unaware, and each of the 
directors has taken all steps that he ought 
to have taken as a director to make himself 
aware of any relevant audit information and 
to establish that the auditors are aware of 
that information. 

Significant agreements 
There are no significant agreements to 
which the company is party that take 
effect, alter or terminate upon a change 
of control of the company following a 
takeover bid. 

Corporate Governance 
Details of the group’s corporate 
governance policies are dealt with on 
page 14.

Greenhouse gas emissions 
Details of the group’s greenhouse gas 
emissions are dealt with on page 8.

Cautionary statement 
Under the Companies Act, a company’s 
directors’ report is required, among other 
matters, to contain a fair review by the 
directors of the group’s business through 
a balanced and comprehensive analysis of 
the development and performance of the 
business of the group and the position of 
the group at the year end, consistent with 
the size and complexity of the business. 

The Directors’ Report set out above, 
including the Chairman’s Statement, 
the Principal Risks and Uncertainties 
and Corporate Social Responsibility 
incorporated into it by reference (together, 
the Directors’ Report), has been prepared 
solely to provide additional information 
to shareholders to assess the company’s 
strategies and the potential for those 
strategies to succeed. The Directors’ 
Report should not be relied upon by any 
other party or for any other purpose. 

The Directors’ Report (as defined) contains 
certain forward looking statements. These 
statements are made by the directors 
in good faith based on the information 
available to them up to the time of 
their approval of this report and such 
statements should be treated with caution 
due to the inherent uncertainties, including 
both economic and business risk factors, 
underlying any such forward looking 
information. 

Approval of Directors’ 
Report and Responsibility 
Statement 
Each of the persons who is a director at 
the date of approval of this report confirms 
that to the best of his knowledge: 

a.  each of the group and parent financial 
statements, prepared in accordance 
with International Financial Reporting 
Standards as adopted by the EU and UK 
Accounting Standards respectively, gives 
a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, 
financial position and the profit or loss of 
the issuer and the undertakings included in 
the consolidation taken as a whole; and 

b.  the Chairman’s Statement, Strategic 
Report and Directors’ Report includes 
a fair review of the development and 
performance of the business and 
the position of the company and the 
undertakings included in the consolidation 
taken as a whole, together with a 
description of the principal risks and 
uncertainties they face. 

By order of the board 

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

11 June 2014

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13

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsCorporate Governance

General 
Castings P.L.C. recognises the importance 
of high standards of Corporate 
Governance. The board has considered 
the principles and provisions of the 2012 
UK Corporate Governance Code and 
will continue to adhere to them where it 
is in the interests of the business, and of 
shareholders, to do so. 

The manner in which the board provides 
leadership of the company within a 
framework of prudent and effective 
controls is set out in this section and also 
within the Remuneration report. 

Board of directors 
The board meets regularly to monitor the 
current state of business and to determine 
its future strategic direction. During the 
year the board comprised six executive 
directors and three non-executive 
directors. The non-executive directors are 
independent of executive management 
and none of the non-executive directors 
participate in share option or other 
executive remuneration schemes nor do 
they qualify for pension benefits. 

Although two of the non-executive 
directors have served for more than ten 

Director 
B. J. Cooke 
D. J. Gawthorpe 
S. J. Mant 
M. A. Lewis 
G. Cooper 
A. Vicary 
C. P. King 
G. B. Wainwright 
A. N. Jones 

years their knowledge, advice and controls 
are considered invaluable to the group. 

Directors receive regular updates 
appropriate to the business throughout 
the year. 

To assist with the conduct of their 
function, the non-executive directors 
are able to obtain professional advice 
at the company’s expense if required in 
connection with their duties. In addition, 
all directors have access to the services of 
the company secretary. 

Board committees 
The principal committees established by 
the directors are: 

Audit and Risk committee 
Further details are contained within the 
Audit and Risk Committee report on  
page 16.

Remuneration committee 
Further details are set out in the 
remuneration report on page 18. 

Nomination committee 
This committee comprises the three non-
executive directors and is chaired by  
G. B. Wainwright. The chairman may 
attend meetings as appropriate to the 

business in hand but is not a member of 
the committee. The committee did not 
meet during the year. 

Directors’ conflicts of 
interest 
A director has a statutory duty to avoid 
a situation in which he has, or can have, 
an interest that conflicts or possibly may 
conflict with the interests of the company. 
A director will not breach that duty if the 
relevant matter has been authorised in 
accordance with the Articles of Association 
by the other directors. 

The board has conducted a review of 
actual or possible conflicts of interest in 
respect of each director. At its meeting on 
22 May 2013, the board considered the 
process for identifying current conflicts, 
authorised conflicts that have been 
identified and stipulated conditions in 
accordance with the guiding principles and 
agreed a process to identify and authorise 
future conflicts. In practice, directors are 
asked to consider and disclose actual or 
potential conflicts at the beginning of each 
meeting and as and when a matter arises.

Attendance at board and board committee 
meetings during the year is detailed in the 
table shown below:

Board

Audit and Risk 
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Eligible to 
attend 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 

Attended 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
8 
7
8 
7

Eligible to 
attend 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
3
3 
3 

Attended 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
3
2
3

Eligible to 
attend 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
1 
1 
1 

Attended 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
— 
1 
1 
1 

Relations with 
shareholders 
The company holds meetings from time 
to time with institutional shareholders 
to discuss the company’s strategy and 
financial performance. The Annual General 
Meeting is used to communicate with 
private and institutional investors.

Internal control 
The board is ultimately responsible for 
the group’s system of internal controls, 
including internal financial control, and 
for monitoring its effectiveness. There 
is a continuous process for identifying, 
evaluating and managing the significant 
risks faced by the group which is regularly 
reviewed and has been in place throughout 

the year under review and up to the date of 
approval of the annual report and accounts. 
However, such a system is designed to 
manage rather than eliminate the risk of 
failure to achieve business objectives 
and can provide only reasonable and 
not absolute assurance against material 
misstatement or loss. The review covers 
all controls including financial, operational, 
compliance and risk management. 

14

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014•	

•	

•	

•	

There were three non-executive 
directors during the year. Although 
two of these directors have served 
for more than ten years the board 
recognises the value they bring 
and believes it is important too that 
shareholders have the reassurance of 
non-executives on the board whose 
independence is beyond question. 

The non-executive directors do not 
have specified term contracts. 

The chairman is also regarded as an 
executive director but on reduced 
hours. However, the chief executive 
is responsible for the day-to-day 
running of the group through the 
managing directors of each location. 
The chairman concentrates on the 
effective working of the board and 
overall group strategies and remains 
a high level contact with our main 
customers. 

The role of the financial director and 
company secretary are fulfilled by 
the same person as there is no one 
else within the group qualified to do 
the job and it would not be a full-time 
position. The board monitors the 
effectiveness of this arrangement 
annually. 

These are considered appropriate in 
relation to the size of the company and the 
way in which it operates. 

By order of the board 

S. J. Mant  
Company Secretary 

11 June 2014

The directors confirm that they have 
established procedures necessary to 
implement the internal control guidance for 
directors such that they fully comply with 
the 2012 UK Corporate Governance Code 
for the accounting period ended on  
31 March 2014. 

Internal financial control 
The directors are responsible for 
maintaining the group’s systems of internal 
financial control. These controls are 
designed to both safeguard the group’s 
assets and ensure the reliability of financial 
information used within the business and 
for publication. As with any such systems, 
controls can only provide reasonable and 
not absolute assurance against material 
misstatement or loss. 

Internal financial control is operated within a 
clearly defined organisational structure with 
clear control responsibilities and authorities, 
and a practice throughout the group of 
regular management and board meetings to 
review all aspects of the group’s businesses 
including those aspects where there is a 
potential risk to the group. 

For each business there are regular 
weekly and monthly reports, reviewed by 
boards and management, which contain 
both written reports and accounts. The 
accounts include profit and loss accounts 
and balance sheets for the period under 
review, year to date and previous year and 
are compared with expected results. A 
variety of operational and financial ratios 
are also produced. 

Continual monitoring of the systems of 
internal financial control is conducted by all 
management. The external auditors, who 
are engaged to express an opinion on the 
group accounts, also consider the systems 
of internal financial control to the extent 
necessary to express that opinion. The 
external auditors report the results of their 
work to management, including members 
of the board and the audit committee. 

The board does not consider there is a 
need for an internal audit function due to 
the size and non-complexity of the group. 

Going concern 
The directors have assessed the future 
funding requirements of the group and 
the company and compared them to the 
level of funding available. Details of the 
cash position are set out in note 19 to the 
Accounts. The group’s objectives, policies 
and processes for managing its capital, 
its financial risk management objectives, 
details of its financial instruments and 
hedging activities, and its exposure to 
credit risk and liquidity risk are also set out 
in notes 17 and 19 to the accounts. 

The directors’ assessment included a 
review of the group’s financial forecasts, 
and financial instruments for the 15 
months from the balance sheet date. The 
directors considered a range of potential 
scenarios within the key markets the group 
serves and how these may impact on cash 
flow. The group and company’s business 
activities, together with the factors likely to 
affect its future development, performance 
and position are set out in the Strategic 
Report. The directors also considered what 
mitigating actions the group could take to 
limit any adverse consequences. 

After making these enquiries, the directors 
have a reasonable expectation that the 
company and the group have adequate 
resources to continue operations for the 
foreseeable future. For this reason, they 
continue to adopt the going concern basis 
in preparing the financial statements. 

Summary 
The board takes its responsibilities 
seriously even though there are a number 
of areas in which it does not comply fully 
with the 2012 UK Corporate Governance 
Code. It does not feel that the size or 
complexity of the group and the way in 
which it governs would be enhanced 
or strengthened by further changing 
the already existing high standards of 
corporate governance practised. 

For the year ended 31 March 2014 the 
company complied with the 2012 UK 
Corporate Governance Code other than 
the following points: 

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

15

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsAudit and Risk Committee Report

Responsibilities
The main responsibilities of the audit and 
risk committee are:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

to monitor the integrity of the financial 
statements of the company and any 
formal announcements relating to the 
company’s financial performance, 
reviewing significant financial reporting 
judgements contained in them;

to ensure the company’s annual report 
is fair, balanced and understandable;

to review the company’s internal 
financial controls and internal control 
and risk management systems;

to review the need for an internal audit 
function;

to make recommendations to the 
board, for it to put to the shareholders 
for their approval in general meeting, 
in relation to the appointment, 
reappointment and removal of the 
external auditor and to approve 
the remuneration and terms of 
engagement of the external auditors; 

to review and monitor the external 
auditors’ independence and objectivity 
and the effectiveness of the audit 
process, taking into consideration 
relevant UK professional and 
regulatory requirements; 

to develop and implement policy 
on the engagement of the external 
auditors to supply non-audit services, 
taking into account relevant ethical 
guidance regarding the provision of 
non-audit services by the external 
audit firm; and to report to the board, 
identifying any matters in respect 
of which it considers that action or 
improvement is needed and making 
recommendations as to the steps to 
be taken; and 

•	

to report to the board on how it has 
discharged its responsibilities.

Committee composition 
and meetings
The audit and risk committee comprises 
the three non-executive directors and is 
chaired by C. P. King. The finance director 
and other executive directors may also 
attend meetings as appropriate to the 
business in hand but are not members of 
the committee. 

The board considers that A. N. Jones has 
the most recent and relevant financial 
experience as required by the code.

The committee meets at least three times 
a year. Meetings are also attended by the 
executive directors and on at least one 
occasion by representatives of the Group’s  
external auditors. At meetings attended 
by the external auditors time is allowed 
for the committee to discuss issues with 
the external auditors without the executive 
directors being present.

The committee operates under formal 
terms of reference and these are reviewed 
annually. The committee considers that it 
has discharged its responsibilities as set 
out in its terms of reference to the extent 
appropriate during the year. There were no 
changes to the terms of reference in the 
year under review. 

Financial reporting
During the year the committee reviewed 
the appropriateness of the Group’s half 
year and full year financial statements, 
taking into account the reports of the group 
Finance Director and external auditors. 

The main areas of focus considered by the 
committee during the year were as follows: 

•	 Revenue recognition processes have 
been reviewed to ensure revenue has 
been recognised appropriately and 
consistency of policy applied across 
the group;

•	

•	

Final salary pension scheme matters, 
in particular the financial reporting 
treatment of the balances due from 
the pension schemes to the company; 
and

Valuation of inventory, which involved 
understanding the approach to 
updating the standard costs used 
within the foundry businesses and 
ensuring a materially correct cost 
valuation at the year end.

Internal control
During the year the committee reviewed 
the effectiveness of the group’s system of 
internal controls and risk management. 

The committee again concurred with the 
boards view that there is no requirement 
for an internal audit function due to the 
size and non-complex nature of the group.

16

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014BDO LLP (‘BDO’) have been the group’s 
external auditors since 2006. In June 2014 
the committee reviewed the external audit 
mandate and confirmed the continuing 
appointment of BDO. This was on the 
basis that the committee was comfortable 
that the BDO audit team remained 
objective and independent on the basis 
of the rotation of the audit partner every 
five years. The committee has therefore 
recommended to the board that a 
resolution be put to shareholders for the 
reappointment of the auditor at the Annual 
General Meeting.

As part of its work, and in line with its terms 
of reference, the committee also considers 
the discharge of the board’s responsibilities 
in the areas of corporate governance, 
financial reporting and internal control, 
including the internal management of risk, 
as identified in the Turnbull Guidance. 

C. P. King 
Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee

11 June 2014

External auditors
The committee oversees the relationship 
with the external auditors and monitors 
all services provided by and fees payable 
to them, to ensure that potential conflicts 
of interest are considered and that an 
objective and professional relationship is 
maintained.

In particular the committee reviews 
and monitors the independence and 
objectivity of the external auditors and the 
effectiveness of the audit process. At the 
outset of the audit process, the committee 
receives from the auditors a detailed 
audit plan, identifying their assessment of 
the key risks and their intended areas of 
focus. This is agreed with the committee to 
ensure coverage is appropriately focused. 

Feedback on the audit process is requested 
from management and for the 2014 
financial year, management were satisfied 
that there had been appropriate focus and 
challenge on the primary areas of audit 
risk and assessed the quality of the audit 
process to be satisfactory. The committee 
concurred with the view of management. 

The committee also keeps under review 
the nature, extent, objectivity and cost 
of non-audit services provided by the 
external auditors which has again been 
minimal this year.

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17

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsDirectors’ Remuneration Report

Annual Statement
On behalf of the board, I am pleased to 
present the directors’ remuneration report 
for the year ended 31 March 2014 which 
sets out the remuneration policy for the 
directors and the amounts earned during 
the current year.

Remuneration committee 
This committee comprises the three 
non-executive directors and is chaired 
by G. B. Wainwright. The chairman of the 
group is invited to attend meetings where 
appropriate but is not a member of the 
committee. 

The aim of the Group’s remuneration policy 
is to produce an outcome which supports 
the business objectives of the group whilst 
remaining straightforward and transparent.

None of the executive directors were 
present at meetings of the committee 
during consideration of their own 
remuneration. 

No advice has been provided by external 
advisers or consultants. 

During the year the remuneration 
committee considered all aspects of its 
policy on executive director remuneration, 
including the appropriateness of long-term 
incentive plans (‘LTIPs’). The conclusion 
of this review is that the current policy is 
in line with the strategy of the group and, 
accordingly, no substantial changes have 
been made. 

The remuneration committee welcomes 
any feedback on the disclosures made 
in this report. As the remuneration policy 
is unchanged, we have not consulted 
specifically with shareholders during the 
year, but will do so in the future where 
appropriate.

By order of the board

G. B. Wainwright  
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 

11 June 2014

18

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Remuneration Policy
The underlying policy in setting the remuneration of the executive directors is that it shall be designed to retain and motivate the directors 
and be reasonable and fair in relation to their responsibilities. 

Detailed policy
The table below summarises the main components of the remuneration policy for executive directors for the three year period commencing 
19 August 2014 and highlights any changes to the policy when compared to that in operation for the current financial year.

Element of remuneration

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum potential value

Base salary

Benefits

To provide competitive fixed 
remuneration. To attract and retain 
high calibre directors to deliver 
growth for the business.

To aid retention and remain 
competitive within the 
marketplace.

Annual bonus

Rewards contribution to 
performance of the group and 
aligned to shareholder aspirations.

Pension

To reward sustained contribution 
by providing retirement benefits.

Whilst no absolute maximum 
exists, increases will be referenced 
to other salary increases across 
the group, although discretion may 
be applied.

Car benefit increase in line with 
salary increases across the group. 
It is not possible to provide a 
maximum figure for the other 
insured benefits.

There is no maximum in place, 
however, there is discretion for 
the threshold level to be adjusted 
to restrict the maximum bonus 
payable.

Maximum of 7% of notional 
earnings cap.

Reviewed with effect from 1 April 
each year taking into account 
market rates, performance of the 
individual, performance of the 
company and the rates of salary 
increase across the group.

Currently include the provision of 
car benefit, private health care, life 
assurance and income protection. 
Benefits are reviewed annually 
and in comparison with other 
companies with discretion for the 
provided benefits to alter.

Chairman – Bonus is based on 
0.5% of PBIT (before exceptional 
items) in excess of a threshold of 
£10m. Other executives – Bonus 
is based on 1% of PBIT (before 
exceptional items) in excess of 
£10m threshold.

B. J. Cooke does not receive 
pension benefits. D. J. Gawthorpe, 
G. Cooper and M. A. Lewis 
are deferred members of the 
now closed final salary pension 
scheme. All executive directors 
(excluding B. J. Cooke) receive 
7% of base salary as contributions 
into personal pension plans.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

19

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsDirectors’ Remuneration Report
continued

Scenario charts
The following set out the potential 
remuneration payments for the year ended 
31 March 2015 under two scenarios (as 
there is no set maximum bonus, such a 
scenario cannot be shown):

•	 Minimum – assuming no bonus 

payment due to group profits being 
below the thresholds.

•	 Market expectations – based on profit 
before tax and exceptional items of 
£19.4 million, being the estimate of 
the company broker (prior to the issue 
of this annual report).

As no element of remuneration is linked 
to performance measures in excess of 
one year, only fixed and annual variable 
elements have been shown.

Recruitment policy
In the event of the recruitment of a new 
executive director, the remuneration 
package would reflect the policy set out 
above. There have been no instances 
where additional upfront payments have 
been required to obtain the services of 
a director; however, discretion may be 
applied in this area. 

Non-executive director 
remuneration
The fees paid to non-executive directors 
are set out in the annual report on 
directors’ remuneration and are set by 
reference current levels in the marketplace. 
Non-executive directors do not receive 
other benefits, or participate in the 
company’s bonus schemes nor are they 

eligible to join a company pension scheme.

Directors’ contracts 
Executive directors have contracts 
of service terminable on one year’s 
notice. These contracts are considered 
appropriate in the context of the overall 
remuneration policy as, in the opinion 
of the board, it encourages directors to 
take a long-term rather than a short-term 
view of their conduct and planning of the 
company’s affairs. None of the contracts 
contain any provision for predetermined 
compensation in the event of termination. 
The date of contracts currently in place 
for the executive directors is 1 April 2014. 
The non-executive directors do not have a 
contract of service and do not participate 
in the company’s bonus schemes and are 
not eligible to join a company pension 
scheme. 

Chairman

Chief Executive Officer

0
0
0
£
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
R

200

150

100

50

0

100%

£000
Minimum

34%

66%

£000
Market
expectations

0
0
0
£
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
R

400

300

200

100

0

100%

28%

72%

£000
Minimum

£000
Market
expectations

Finance Director

Managing Director

0
0
0
£
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
R

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

36%

64%

100%

£000
Minimum

£000
Market
expectations

0
0
0
£
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
n
u
m
e
R

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

100%

£000
Minimum

34%

66%

£000
Market
expectations

20

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014 
 
 
 
Annual Report on Directors’ Remuneration 

Directors’ remuneration during the year (subject to audit)
The directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2014 is set out in the table below.

B. J. Cooke 
D. J. Gawthorpe 
S. J. Mant 
M. A. Lewis 
G. Cooper 
A. Vicary 
G. B. Wainwright 
C. P. King 
A. N. Jones 

Salary/fees

Benefits

Performance related 
bonus

Pension 
contributions

Total 
remuneration

2014 
£000 
89
237
165
178
178
178
34
31
31
1,121

2013 
£000
86 
230
160
173
173
160
33
30
30
1,075

2014 
£000
5
11
11
11
11
11
—
—
— 
60

2013 
£000
5
10
10
10
11
10
—
—
—
56

2014 
£000
69
123
123
123
123
123
—
—
— 
684

2013 
£000
53
91
91
91
91
91
— 
— 
— 
508

2014 
£000
—
9
9
9
9
9
—
—
— 
45

2013 
£000
—
10
10
10
10
10
— 
—
—
50

2014 
£000
163
380
308
321
321
321
34
31
31
1,910 

2013 
£000
144
341
271
284
285
271
33 
30
30
1,689

Directors’ pension entitlements (subject to audit) 
The pension contributions set out in the above table relate to company contributions into personal pension plans. The Castings P.L.C. 
Staff Pension and Life Assurance Scheme was closed to future accrual of benefits on 5 April 2009. The table below sets out the pension 
entitlement which would be paid annually on retirement based on service to the end of the company financial year for those directors who 
were members of the scheme.

Increase 
in accrued 
pension 
during 
year net of 
inflation
£
— 
— 
— 
— 

Transfer 
value  
of increase 
net of 
inflation and 
directors’ 
contributions
£
— 
— 
— 
— 

Increase 
in accrued 
pension 
during the 
year
£
1,341
623
756
2,720 

Directors’
contributions 
in the year
£
— 
— 
—
— 

Accumulated 
total accrued 
pension at 
31/03/2014
£
51,011 
23,714
28,748
103,473

Accumulated 
total accrued 
pension at 
31/03/2013
£ 
49,670
23,091
27,992

Transfer 
Transfer 
value of 
value of 
accrued 
accrued 
benefits 
benefits 
31/03/2013
31/03/2014
£
£
617,939
627,594
282,457
284,795
455,143
468,692
100,753 1,381,081 1,355,539

Difference 
in transfer 
values less 
contributions
£
9,655
2,338
13,549
25,542

Name of director
D. J. Gawthorpe 
M. A. Lewis 
G. Cooper 

Age at 
year end
52
50
60

The accumulated accrued pension figures shown above are what would be paid annually on retirement based on service to the end of the 
financial year. No additional benefits are payable on early retirement.

Relative importance of spend on pay
The following table shows actual expenditure of the Group and change in spend between the current and previous financial years on 
remuneration paid to all employees compared to distributions to shareholders.

Remuneration of all employees
Dividends to shareholders

2014 
£000 
37,073
5,654

2013 
£000
32,601
5,384

Change 
£000
4,472
270

Change
%
13.7%
5.0%

Chief Executive Officer remuneration
The total remuneration paid to the Chief Executive Officer for the last five years is as follows:

Remuneration

2014 
£000 
380

2013 
£000
341

2012 
£000
370

2011 
£000
289

2010 
£000
184

The total remuneration (including performance bonus) paid to the Chief Executive Officer in the current year represents an increase of 
11.4% compared to the prior period. The corresponding increase in average pay to all employees in the same period is, on average, 8.9%.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

21

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsDirectors’ Remuneration Report
continued

Directors’ shareholdings (subject to audit)

The directors’ interests in the ordinary share capital of the company (including the interest of connected persons) are set out in the 
Directors’ Report on page 11.

Total shareholder return performance graph
The following graph shows the company’s performance, measured by total shareholder return, compared with the performance of 
the FTSE All Share Index — Engineering sub-sector, also measured by total shareholder return. This index has been selected for this 
comparison because this is the most relevant index in which the company’s shares are quoted.

Castings PLC - Total Return on Investment 

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

01 April 2009

01 April 2010

01 April 2011

01 April 2012

01 April 2013

01 April 2014

Castings PLC

FTSE 350 INDS ENG

22

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

The directors are 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 and, as regards the group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS 
Regulation. They are 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. 

Website publication 
The directors are responsible for 
ensuring the annual report and the 
financial statements are made available 
on a website. Financial statements are 
published on the company’s website in 
accordance with legislation in the United 
Kingdom governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements, 
which may vary from legislation in other 
jurisdictions. The maintenance and 
integrity of the company’s website is 
the responsibility of the directors. The 
directors’ responsibility also extends 
to the ongoing integrity of the financial 
statements contained therein.

The directors are responsible for preparing 
the annual report and the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations. 

Company law requires the directors 
to prepare financial statements for 
each financial year. Under that law the 
directors are required to prepare the group 
financial statements in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union 
and have elected to prepare the company 
financial statements in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards and applicable law). 
Under company law the directors must not 
approve the financial statements unless 
they are satisfied that they give a true and 
fair view of the state of affairs of the group 
and company and of the profit or loss for 
the group and company for that period. 

In preparing these financial statements, the 
directors are required to: 

•	

select suitable accounting policies 
and then apply them consistently; 

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

•	

•	

•	

state whether they have been 
prepared in accordance with IFRSs 
as adopted by the European Union, 
subject to any material departures 
disclosed and explained in the 
financial statements; 

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

prepare a directors’ report and 
directors’ remuneration report which 
comply with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006. 

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23

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsIndependent Auditors’ Report  
to the Members of Castings P.L.C.

Opinion on financial 
statements
In our opinion:

•	

•	

•	

•	

the financial statements give a true 
and fair view of the state of the 
group’s and the company’s affairs as 
at 31 March 2014 and of the group’s 
profit for the year then ended;

the group financial statements have 
been properly prepared in accordance 
with IFRSs as adopted by the 
European Union; 

the parent company financial 
statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with United 
Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice; and 

the financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with the 
requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006 and, as regards the group 
financial statements, Article 4 of the 
IAS Regulation.

What we have audited
We have audited the financial statements 
of Castings P.L.C. for the year ended 
31 March 2014 which comprise the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income, the consolidated balance sheet, 
the consolidated cash flow statement, 
the consolidated statement of changes 
in equity, the company balance sheet 
and the related notes. The financial 
reporting framework that has been 
applied in the preparation of the group 
financial statements is applicable law 
and International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 
European Union. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in 
preparation of the parent company 
financial statements is applicable law and 
United Kingdom Accounting Standards 
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice).

Our assessment of risks of 
material misstatement and 
an overview of the scope 
of our audit
We identified the following risks that we 
believe have had the greatest impact on 
our audit strategy and scope:

•	 Revenue recognition. For two of 
the three significant components 
within the group we performed audit 
procedures to understand and test the 
design and operating effectiveness of 
controls established by management 
over the completeness, accuracy 
and existence of sales recording. For 
the other component we performed 
substantive procedures on individual 
transactions to test the completeness 
and accuracy of sales recording. For 
all components we also selected a 
sample of trade debtors and agreed 
to after date cash receipts and / or to 
confirmation of the receipt of goods 
from the customer as part of our 
testing of the existence of revenue 
and trade debtors. We performed 
sales cut-off procedures on sales 
and dispatch documentation prior to 
and post the year end which included 
agreement to customer signed 
delivery notes  and ensuring revenue 
was recognised appropriately. We 
also reviewed after-date credit notes 
and rebates to ensure completeness 
of the sales provision. Finally we 
reviewed the appropriateness of the 
revenue recognition policy compared 
to the requirements of accounting 
standards and that the policy was 
being complied with. 

•	

Valuation of inventory. The group 
uses a standard cost approach 
to valuing inventories throughout 
the year and then ensures that 
this standard cost is materially 
correct by comparison to actual 
costs calculated from production 
and cost records for the month of 
March which is considered to be the 
period when year-end stocks are 

manufactured.  We performed audit 
procedures to understand the method 
for calculating standard and actual 
costs to ensure that the calculations 
performed were based on underlying 
management information and also 
checked the arithmetic accuracy of 
the calculations within the standard 
and actual cost calculations. As part 
of this work we performed sample 
tests on the inputs to the calculation 
and we challenged management on 
the key assumptions and estimates 
(such as percentage of inclusion of 
overheads and the impact of use of 
subcontractors) which are contained 
within the calculations.

•	 Risk of management override of 
internal controls. We performed 
specific audit procedures on all 
areas of the financial statements 
that involved the use of significant 
management judgement and 
estimation. These areas include but 
were not restricted to: provision for 
doubtful debts, warranty provision, 
accruals and inventory valuation. 
For doubtful debt provisions we 
ensured that the debts provided 
had not been collected subsequent 
to the year end and that there 
was specific objective evidence to 
support the debt provisions made. 
In respect of the warranty provision 
we reviewed customer contracts to 
ensure that there was an obligation 
to recognise a liability, checked 
that the basis of calculation was 
appropriate and arithmetically 
correct and compared the estimate 
of expected future warranty costs 
to historical patterns. We agreed 
material accruals to supporting audit 
evidence and checked that there was 
reasonable basis for recognising a 
liability, including reviewing after-date 
information where available. Our work 
on inventory valuation is described 
above. In addition to these matters 
connected to management override 
of controls we note that two members 

24

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014To the extent that they consider 
appropriate, the Audit and Risk 
Committee’s consideration of these risks 
and other risks facing the group is set out 
on page 16.

Purpose of this report
This report is made solely to the 
company’s members, as a body, 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 members those 
matters we are required to state to them 
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 members as 
a body, for our audit work, for this report, 
or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective responsibilities 
of directors and auditor
As explained more fully in the statement 
of directors’ responsibilities, the directors 
are responsible for the preparation of 
the financial statements and for being 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view. 
Our responsibility is to audit and express 
an opinion on the financial statements 
in accordance with applicable law and 
International Standards on Auditing (UK 
and Ireland). Those standards require us 
to comply with the Financial Reporting 
Council’s (FRC’s) Ethical Standards for 
Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the 
financial statements
A description of the scope of an audit 
of financial statements is provided on 
the FRC’s website at www.frc.org.uk/
auditscopeukprivate. 

•	

of the senior management team at a 
significant component are related. As 
part of our response to this particular 
matter we extended our audit 
procedures to include: understanding 
the procedures adopted by those 
charged with governance to assess 
the procedures implemented by the 
group’s executive directors to mitigate 
this risk, testing the robustness of the 
independent review of the financial 
records of this component performed 
by the group finance director and 
examining revenue recognition, 
significant transactions, accounting 
estimates, judgments and journals 
made by component management for 
evidence of management override of 
controls.

Pension scheme receivables. There 
are material receivables recorded 
within other debtors due from the 
two final salary pension schemes in 
respect of payments to pensioners 
and pension administration costs 
paid by the group on behalf of the 
schemes. We obtained written 
confirmation of the balance due from 
the schemes to the group and the 
intention and ability to repay all funds 
from the trustees of the schemes. We 
considered, by review of the accounts 
of the pensions schemes, whether 
the schemes had sufficient assets to 
make repayment of the loan amounts. 
We obtained representations from 
the directors for the reasons that 
significant funds had been advanced 
to the schemes without short term 
repayment and their intention to 
recover the receivable balances from 
the schemes. We also requested that 
the directors obtain confirmation from 
an appropriate legal advisor that the 
loans were appropriate in accordance 
with the pension schemes rules 
and did not contravene pension or 
corporate laws and regulations. We 
reviewed the disclosure of these 
matters in the financial statements.

Our application of 
materiality 
We apply the concept of materiality both in 
planning and performing our audit, and in 
evaluating the effect of misstatements on 
our audit and on the financial statements.  
We define planning materiality as the 
magnitude by which misstatements, 
including omissions, could influence 
the economic decisions of reasonable 
users that are taken on the basis of the 
financial statements. We also determine 
a level of performance materiality which 
we use to determine the extent of testing 
needed to reduce to an appropriately 
low level the probability that the 
aggregate of uncorrected and undetected 
misstatements exceeds materiality for the 
financial statements as a whole. 

We determined planning materiality for the 
group financial statements as a whole to 
be £1,374,000 and based this assessment 
at a level of 1% of the Group’s revenue. On 
the basis of our risk assessments and our 
assessment of the control environment, 
our judgment was that performance 
materiality for the audit should be set at 
75% of materiality - being £1,030,000. 
Our objective in adopting these levels 
of materiality is to ensure that our audit 
procedures were designed to select 
appropriate sample sizes for detailed 
testing work performed, that our analytical 
review procedures were performed at 
an appropriate level and to reduce to an 
appropriately low level the probability that 
detected and undetected misstatements 
do not exceed our materiality of 
£1,374,000 for the financial statements 
as a whole. Importantly, misstatements 
below these levels will not necessarily 
be evaluated as immaterial as we also 
take account of the nature of identified 
misstatements, and the particular 
circumstances of their occurrence, when 
evaluating their effect on the Financial 
Statements. We agreed with the Audit 
Committee that we would report to the 
Committee all audit differences in excess 
of £27,000, as well as differences below 
that threshold that, in our view, warranted 
reporting on qualitative grounds. 

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

25

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Strategic ReportStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsIndependent Auditors’ Report  
to the Members of Castings P.L.C.
continued

Opinion on other matters 
prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion:

•	

•	

the part of the directors’ remuneration 
report to be audited has been 
properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006; and

the information given in the strategic 
report and the directors’ report for the 
financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent 
with the financial statements. 

Matters on which we 
are required to report by 
exception
Under the ISAs (UK and Ireland), we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion, 
information in the annual report is:

•	 materially inconsistent with the 

information in the audited financial 
statements; or 

•	

apparently materially incorrect based 
on, or materially inconsistent with, our 
knowledge of the company acquired 
in the course of performing our audit; 
or 

•	

is otherwise misleading.

In particular, we are required to 
consider whether we have identified any 
inconsistencies between our knowledge 
acquired during the audit and the 
directors’ statement that they consider 
the annual report is fair, balanced and 
understandable and whether the annual 
report appropriately discloses those 
matters that we communicated to the 
Audit Committee which we consider 
should have been disclosed. 

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 
required 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 and the part 
of the directors’ remuneration report 
to be audited are not in agreement 
with the accounting records and 
returns; or

certain disclosures of directors’ 
remuneration specified by law are not 
made; or

•	 we have not received all the 

information and explanations we 
require for our audit.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to 
review: 

•	

•	

the directors’ statement, set out on 
page 15, in relation to going concern; 
and

the part of the corporate governance 
statement relating to the company’s 
compliance with the nine provisions of 
the UK Corporate Governance Code 
specified for our review.

We have nothing to report in respect of 
these matters.

Thomas Lawton (senior statutory auditor)  
For and on behalf of BDO LLP  
Statutory auditor  
Birmingham 
United Kingdom  
11 June 2014

BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership 
registered in England and Wales (with 
registered number OC305127).

26

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 31 March 2014

Revenue 
Cost of sales
Gross profit 
Distribution costs
Administrative expenses
Excluding exceptional
Exceptional
Total administrative expenses
Profit from operations

Finance income
Profit before income tax 

Income tax expense
Profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent company

Other comprehensive income for the year:
Items that will not be reclassified to profit and loss:
Net actuarial loss and movement in unrecognised surplus on defined 
benefit pension schemes
Tax effect of items that will not be reclassified

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss:
Change in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets
Tax effect of items that may be reclassified

Total other comprehensive losses for the year (net of tax)
Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the  
equity holders of the parent company
Earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the  
parent company
Basic and diluted

Notes to the accounts are on pages 31 to 50.

Notes
2

4

3 

7

8 

6

2014
£000
137,466
(101,424)
36,042
(2,722)

(12,034)
363
(11,671)
21,649

184
21,833

(4,575)
17,258

(3,872)
853
(3,019)

28
(6)
22
(2,997)

2013
£000
122,215
(90,479)
31,736
(1,553)

(11,481)
149
(11,332)
18,851

306
19,157

(4,371)
14,786

(138)
—
(138)

4
(1)
3
(135)

14,261

14,651

10

39.55p

33.89p

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

27

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancials 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet
31 March 2014

ASSETS

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 

Financial assets

Current assets
Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Other current interest-bearing deposits 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets

LIABILITIES

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables

Current tax liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent company
Share capital 

Share premium account 

Other reserve 

Retained earnings

Total equity 

Notes

2014
£000

2013
£000

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

65,195

522

65,717

12,621

32,753

—

27,780

73,154

138,871

21,076

2,615

23,691

4,271

27,962

110,909

4,363

874

13

105,659

110,909

61,676

494

62,170

10,642

33,326

5,000

18,654

67,622

129,792

19,686

2,950

22,636

5,058

27,694

102,098

4,363

874

13

96,848

102,098

The accounts on pages 27 to 50 were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 11 June 2014, and were signed  

on its behalf by:

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

S. J. Mant 
Finance Director

Notes to the accounts are on pages 31 to 50.

28

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 31 March 2014

Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before income tax

Adjustments for:

Depreciation

Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Finance income

Excess of employer pension contributions over income statement charge

Increase in inventories

Decrease/(increase) in receivables

Increase in payables

Cash generated from operating activities
Tax paid 

Interest received

Net cash generated from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities
Dividends received from listed investments

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

Transfer from/(to) other current interest-bearing deposits 

Proceeds from disposal of financial assets 
Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flow from financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders

Net cash used in financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
Cash and cash equivalents:
Short-term deposits

Cash available on demand

Notes to the accounts are on pages 31 to 50.

Notes

2014
£000

2013
£000

21,833

19,157

6,046

94

7,416

(19)

(184)

(306)

(3,872)

(1,979)

573
1,390
23,901
(4,850)
162
19,213

22
(9,668)

9

5,000

—
(4,637)

(5,450)
(5,450)

9,126
18,654
27,780

27,113

667

27,780

(138)

(1,332)

(3,135)

823

22,466

(4,925)

285

17,826

21

(6,865)

19

(5,000)

5
(11,820)

(5,157)

(5,157)

849

17,805

18,654

18,263

391

18,654

19

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

29

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsConsolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 March 2014

At 1 April 2013
Total comprehensive income for the period ended  
31 March 2014
Dividends (see note 9)

At 31 March 2014 

At 1 April 2012
Total comprehensive income for the period ended  
31 March 2013

Dividends (see note 9)

At 31 March 2013 

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Share
capitala)
£000
4,363

—
—

4,363

Share
premiumb)

£000
874

—
—

874

Other
reservec)
£000
13

—
—

13

Retained
earningsd)
£000
96,848

14,261
(5,450)

Total 
equity
£000
102,098

14,261
(5,450)

105,659

110,909

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Share
capitala)
£000

4,363

—

—

4,363

Share
premiumb)
£000

Other
reservec)
£000

874

—

—

874

13

—

—

13

Retained
earningsd)
£000

87,354

14,651

(5,157)

96,848

Total 
equity
£000

92,604

14,651

(5,157)

102,098

a) 

b) 

Share capital — The nominal value of allotted and fully paid up ordinary share capital in issue.

Share premium — Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

c)  Other reserve — Amounts transferred from share capital on redemption of issued shares.

d)  Retained earnings — Cumulative net gains and losses recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

30

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Notes to the Accounts

1  Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The group financial statements have 

been prepared in accordance with 

International Financial Reporting Standards, 

International Accounting Standards (‘IAS’) 

and Interpretations (collectively ‘IFRS’), as 

endorsed for use in the EU.

The IFRSs applied in the group 

financial statements are subject to 

ongoing amendment by the IASB and 

subsequent endorsement by the European 

Commission and therefore subject to 

possible change in the future. Further 

standards and interpretations may be 

issued that will be applicable for financial 

years beginning on or after 1 April 2014 

or later accounting periods but may be 

adopted early.

The preparation of financial statements 

in accordance with IFRS requires the 

use of certain accounting estimates. It 

also requires management to exercise its 

judgement in the process of applying the 

group’s accounting policies.

The primary statements within the financial 

information contained in this document 

have been presented in accordance 

with IAS 1: Presentation of Financial 

Statements. 

The accounts are prepared under the 

IAS 19 Employee Benefits (Revised 
2011) (IAS 19R) includes a number of 
amendments to the accounting for defined 
benefit pension schemes, including 
actuarial gains and losses are now 
required to be recognised in the statement 
of comprehensive income and excluded 
permanently from profit and loss; expected 
returns on plan assets will no longer be 
recognised in profit or loss. Expected 
returns are replaced by recording interest 
income in profit or loss, which is calculated 
using the discount rate used to measure 
the pension obligation; and unvested past 
service costs can no longer be deferred 
and recognised over the future vesting 
period. Instead, all past service costs will 
be recognised at the earlier of when the 
amendment/curtailment occurs or when 
the entity recognises related restructuring 
or termination costs. The transition to 
IAS 19R has had no impact on the group 
balance sheet position as actuarial gains 
and losses were previously reflected 
within other comprehensive income and 
the impact on the amounts included 
within profit and loss or statement of 
comprehensive income are not considered 
material so no prior year restatement has 
been made (see note 6).

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated statement of 

comprehensive income and balance 

sheet include the accounts of the parent 

company and its subsidiaries made up 

to the end of the financial year. These 

historical cost convention, except where 

subsidiaries include William Lee Limited 

adjusted for revaluations of certain 

and CNC Speedwell Limited, both of which 

assets, and in accordance with applicable 

are 100% owned and are based in the UK. 

to the post-acquisition income statement.

Under UK GAAP, goodwill arising on 

acquisitions prior to 1998 was written 

off to reserves. There have been no 

acquisitions since 1998. Following the 

exemption in IFRS 1 this treatment has 

continued to be followed.

Revenue recognition
Revenue, which excludes value added 

tax and intra-group sales, represents the 

invoiced value of goods and services 

sold to customers. Services relate to the 

machining of parts which is recognised 

as the work is performed. Appropriate 

provisions for returns and other allowances 

are deducted from revenue as appropriate. 

The group has no barter transactions.

The group’s revenue has been recognised 

when goods have been dispatched.

Post-retirement benefits
Two of the group’s pension plans are of 

a defined benefit type. Under IAS19R 

Employee Benefits the employer’s 

portion of the current service costs and 

curtailment gains are charged to operating 

profit for these plans, with the net interest 

also being charged/credited to operating 

profit subject to the asset ceiling. Actuarial 

gains and losses are recognised in other 

comprehensive income and the balance 

sheet reflects the schemes’ surplus or 

deficit at the balance sheet date. A full 

valuation is carried out triennially using the 

projected unit credit method.

Accounting Standards and those parts 

of the Companies Act 2006 applicable 

Intercompany transactions and balances 

Where the group cannot benefit from a 

between group companies are eliminated 

scheme surplus in the form of refunds 

to companies reporting under IFRS. A 

in full.

summary of the principal group IFRS 

accounting policies is set out below.

New standards effective and adopted by 

the group in the year
IAS 1 Presentation of Items in Other 

Comprehensive Income (Amendments 

to IAS 1) introduces grouping of items in 

other comprehensive income. Items that 

may be reclassified to profit and loss in 

subsequent years are presented separately 
from items that will never be reclassified.

Business combinations and goodwill
Shares issued as consideration for the 

from the plans or reductions in future 

contributions, any asset resulting from the 

above policy is restricted accordingly.

acquisition of companies have a fair value 

Payments to the defined contribution 

attributed to them, which is normally their 

scheme are charged to the consolidated 

statement of comprehensive income as 
they become payable.

market value at the date of acquisition. Net 

tangible assets acquired are consolidated 

at a fair value to the group at the date of 

acquisition. All changes to these assets and 

liabilities, and the resulting gains and losses 

that arise after the group has gained control 

of the subsidiary, are credited and charged 

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

31

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment assets 

economic hedges of currency rate risk, 

within administrative expenses in the 

it does not hedge account for these 

consolidated statement of comprehensive 

are held at cost less accumulated 

transactions and the amounts are not 

income. On confirmation that the deposit 

depreciation. Depreciation is provided on 

material. The group has not classified any 

or receivable will not be  collectable, the 

property, plant and equipment, other than 

of its financial assets as held to maturity.

gross carrying value of the asset is written 

freehold land and assets in the course of 

construction, on a straight-line basis. The 

periods of write-off used are as follows:

i.  Freehold buildings over 50 years.

ii.  Leasehold land and buildings over 

50 years or the period of the lease, 

whichever is less.

iii.  Plant and equipment over a period of 

3 to 15 years, straight-line or unit of 

production method if more appropriate.

The group annually reviews the 

Available-for-sale assets
Available-for-sale financial assets 

comprise the group’s strategic investments 

in entities not qualifying as subsidiaries. 

They are carried at fair value with changes 

in fair value recognised directly in the 

consolidated statement of comprehensive 

income. Fair value is determined with 

reference to published quoted prices in an 

active market.

Loans and receivables
These assets are non-derivative financial 

assessment of residual values and useful 

assets with fixed or determinable 

lives in accordance with IAS 16.

payments that are not quoted in an active 

off against the associated provision.

b) Financial liabilities
The group classifies its financial liabilities 

into liabilities measured at amortised 

cost. Although the group uses derivative 

financial instruments in economic hedges 

of currency risk, it does not hedge account 

for these transactions, and the amounts 

are not material.

Unless otherwise indicated, the carrying 

amounts of the group’s financial liabilities 

are a reasonable approximation of their fair 

values.

market. They arise principally through 

the provision of goods and services to 

customers (e.g. trade receivables) and 

Financial liabilities measured at 
amortised cost
Financial liabilities include trade payables 

deposits held at banks and building 

and other short-term monetary liabilities, 

societies, but may also incorporate other 

which are initially recognised at fair value 

types of contractual monetary asset. 

and subsequently carried at amortised 

They are initially recognised at fair value 

cost using the effective interest method.

Inventories
The group’s inventories are valued at the 

lower of cost on a first in, first out basis 

and net realisable value. Cost includes a 

proportion of production overheads based 

on normal levels of activity. Provision is 

made for obsolete and slow-moving items.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash 

in hand, deposits at call with banks and 

plus transaction costs that are directly 

attributable to the acquisition or issue and 

subsequently carried at amortised cost 

using the effective interest rate method, 

other short-term highly liquid investments 

less provision for impairment.

with original maturities of three months or 

less from inception.

Foreign currencies
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies 

The effect of discounting on these financial 

instruments is not considered to be 

material.

are translated at the spot rates of 

Impairment provisions are recognised 

exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. 

when there is objective evidence (such as 

Transactions in foreign currencies are 

significant financial difficulties on the part 

recorded at the rate ruling at the date of 

of the counterparty or default or significant 

the transaction, all differences are dealt 

delay in payment) that the group will 

with through the consolidated statement of 

be unable to collect all of the amounts 

due under the terms of the deposit or 

Fair value is calculated by discounting 

estimated future cash flows using a market 

rate of interest.

c) Share capital
The group’s ordinary shares are classified 

as equity instruments. Share capital 

includes the nominal value of the shares 
and any share premium attaching to the 

shares.

Current and deferred tax
Deferred tax is provided using the liability 

method. Deferred income tax assets are 

recognised to the extent that it is probable 

that future taxable profit will be available 

against which the temporary differences 

comprehensive income.

Financial Instruments

a) Financial assets
The group’s financial assets relate to loans 

and receivables and available-for-sale 

assets. Although the group occasionally 

uses derivative financial instruments in 

32

receivable. The amount of such a provision 

can be utilised.

is the difference between the net carrying 

amount and the present value of the 
future expected cash flows associated 

Deferred tax is measured at the actual 
tax rates that are expected to apply in the 

with the impaired asset. Such provisions 

periods in which the temporary differences 

are recorded in a separate allowance 

account with the loss being recognised 

are expected to reverse, based on tax 

rates and laws that have been enacted 

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014or substantively enacted by the balance 

There are a number of further standards, 

Useful lives of property, plant and 

has been enacted or substantively enacted 

Critical accounting estimates and 

sheet date.

Current tax is provided for on the taxable 

profits of each company in the group, 

using current tax rates and legislation that 

by the balance sheet date.

Dividends
Equity dividends are recognised when they 

become legally payable. Interim equity 

dividends are recognised when paid. 

Final equity dividends are only recognised   

when approved by the shareholders at the 

Annual General Meeting. 

Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those significant 

interpretations and amendments to 

published standards not set out above 

equipment
Property, plant and equipment are 

which the directors consider not to be 

depreciated over their useful lives 

relevant to the group.

judgements
The group makes certain estimates and 

judgements regarding the future. Estimates 

and judgements are continually evaluated 

based on historical experience and other 

factors, including expectation of future 

events that are believed to be reasonable 

under the circumstances. In the future, 

actual experience may differ from these 

estimates and judgements. The estimates 

based on management’s estimates of 

the period that the assets will generate 

revenue, which are periodically reviewed 

for continued appropriateness. Changes 

to estimates can result in significant 

variations in the carrying value and 

amounts charged to the consolidated 

income statement in specific periods. 

More details, including carrying values, are 

included in note 11.

Pension assumptions
The costs, assets and liabilities of the 

and assumptions that have a significant 

defined benefit pension schemes operated 

items which are separately disclosed by 

risk of causing a material adjustment to the 

by the group are determined using 

virtue of the size or incidence to enable a 

carrying amounts of assets and liabilities 

methods relying on actuarial estimates 

full understanding of the group’s financial 

within the next financial year are discussed 

and assumptions. Details of the key 

performance.

below.

assumptions are set out in note 6.

Standards, interpretations and 

amendments to published standards that 

are not yet effective
The following new standards, amendments 

and interpretations have been issued but 

are not yet effective and therefore have not 

been adopted in these financial statements. 

Management are considering the impact of 

the changes on future reporting. 

•	

•	

IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’; 

IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial 

Statements’ (1 January 2014); and

•	

IFRS 12 ‘Disclosures of Interests in 

Other Entities’.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

33

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

2   Operating segments
For internal decision making purposes, the group is organised into three operating companies which are considered to be the operating 

segments of the group: Castings P.L.C. and William Lee Limited are aggregated into Foundry operations and CNC Speedwell Limited is the 

Machining operation.

The following shows the revenues, results and total assets by reportable segment in the year to 31 March 2014:

Revenue from external customers
Inter-segmental revenue

Segmental result 
Unallocated costs:
Exceptional credit for recovery of Icelandic Bank deposits 
previously written off
Defined benefit pension cost
Finance income
Profit before income tax
Total assets
Non-current asset additions
Depreciation

All non-current assets are based in the United Kingdom. 

Foundry
operations
£000 

119,893
23,070

Machining
£000

Elimination
£000

17,573
13,915

16,225

5,187

—
—

—

121,153
3,531
3,031

30,529
6,137
3,015

(12,811)
—
—

Total
£000

137,466
36,985

21,412

363
(126)
184
21,833
138,871
9,668
6,046

34

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 20142   Operating segments continued
The following shows the revenues, results and total assets by reportable segment in the year to 31 March 2013:

Revenue from external customers
Inter-segmental revenue

Segmental result 
Unallocated costs:
Exceptional credit for recovery of Icelandic Bank deposits 
previously written off
Defined benefit pension credit
Finance income
Profit before income tax
Total assets
Non-current asset additions
Depreciation

All non-current assets are based in the United Kingdom.

Foundry
operations
£000 
106,674
19,166

Machining
£000
15,541
11,615

Elimination
£000
—
—

Total
£000
122,215
30,781

14,656

3,803

105

18,564

114,690
1,141
4,169

27,575
5,724
3,247

(12,473)
—
—

149
138
306
19,157
129,792
6,865
7,416

2013
£000

42,353
23,893
19,024
31,520
4,042
1,383

The geographical analysis of revenues by destination for the year is as follows:
United Kingdom 
Sweden 
Netherlands
Rest of Europe 
North and South America 
Other 

2014
£000

44,824
28,391
19,448
39,444
3,182
2,177

All revenue arises in the United Kingdom from the group’s continuing activities. Inter-company sales are priced on an arm’s length basis.

Information about major customers
Included in revenues arising from Foundry operations are revenues of approximately £33,748,000, £16,158,000 and £15,600,000 from 

three customers (2013 – £28,932,000, £16,638,000 and £12,667,000).

137,466

122,215

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

35

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

3   Profit from operations

This has been arrived at after charging/(crediting):
Staff costs (note 5)
Cost of inventories recognised as an expense
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Fees payable to the company’s auditors for the audit of the company’s annual accounts
Fees payable to the company’s auditors for other services:
— The audit of the company’s subsidiaries
— Tax compliance services
Loss/(profit) on disposal of property, plant and equipment

4  Exceptional items

Recovery of past provision for losses on deposits with Icelandic banks 

2014
£000

41,102
56,642
6,046
26

30
9
94

2014
£000
(363)
(363)

2013
£000

35,831
57,765
7,416
25

26
10
(19)

2013
£000
(149)
(149)

The company reported in the year ended 31 March 2009 that £1.86 million was included in other receivables as the net recoverable after 

provision from various Icelandic banks. So far £3.26 million has been received of the original balance of £5.7 million with the excess over 

the £1.86 million being shown as an exceptional credit.

5   Employee information

Average number of employees during the year was: 
Production
Management and administration

Staff costs (including directors) comprise:
Wages and salaries
Defined contribution pension costs
Defined benefit pension cost/(credit) (note 6)
Employer’s national insurance contributions and similar taxes

2014

994
105
1,099

2014
£000

36,262
811
126
3,903
41,102

2013

950
102
1,052

2013
£000

31,841
760
(138)
3,368
35,831

In addition to the wages and salaries disclosed above, the group incurred costs of £1,145,000 (2013 – £296,000) in respect of agency 

workers.

The directors represent the key management personnel. Details of their compensation are given in the Remuneration Report on page 21.

36

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 20146   Pensions
The group operates two pension schemes providing benefits based on final pensionable pay, which are closed to new entrants and were 

closed to future accruals on 6 April 2009. The assets are independent of the finances of the group and are administered by Trustees. 

The latest actuarial valuation was performed with an effective date of 6 April 2011 using the attained unit method. It assumed that the rate 

of return on investments was 5.8% per annum for pre-retirement and 4.9% for post-retirement and price inflation was 3.5% under RPI and 

3.1% under CPI. The demographic assumptions are based on S1NA tables with an age rating of -1 year being applied to the birth tables 

for the Staff Scheme. The Staff Scheme has assumed long cohort projected improvements of 1% per annum on future life expectancy, 

with the Shopfloor Scheme being based on CMI projections with a 1.5% per annum long-term rate of improvement. 

The next actuarial valuation will be performed with an effective date of 6 April 2014. 

In order to help optimise the return on assets held by the pension schemes, the pension and administration costs incurred by the schemes 

are paid by the company. The net amount due from the schemes (being payments made less repayments received from the schemes) 

are subject to repayment at the demand of the company and recorded as amounts receivable from pension schemes in the group and 

company accounts (notes 14 and 7 respectively). The amounts are recorded as payable by the schemes and shown as a reduction to 

asset values in the pension disclosures set out below. 

The pension schemes are related parties of the company and during the year £1,948,000 (2013 - £1,559,000) was paid by the company 

on behalf of the schemes in respect of pension payments and administration costs. The company also paid £3,998,000 (2013 - £nil) in 

additional contributions to the schemes. There are no funding arrangements in place that would impact on future contributions.

The schemes made repayments to the company during the year of £3,998,000 (2013 - £nil) with the balance due from the schemes to the 

company at 31 March 2014 being £3,431,000 (2013 - £5,481,000). 

In addition, the group made contributions to individual members’ Group Personal Pension Plans during the year.

Composition of the schemes

The group operates defined benefit schemes (in addition to a defined contribution scheme) in the UK. Full actuarial valuations of the 

defined benefit schemes were carried out at 6 April 2011 and updated to 31 March 2014 using the projected unit method by a qualified 

independent actuary. The service cost has been calculated using the projected unit method. The major assumptions used by the actuary 

were (in nominal terms):

Rate of increase of pensions in payment
Discount rate
Inflation assumption (RPI)
Inflation assumption (CPI)

2014
2.6%
4.5%
3.3%
2.6%

2013
2.6%
4.2%
3.3%
2.6%

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

37

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

6   Pensions continued

Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year 
Current service cost 
Past service cost
Interest cost on defined benefit obligation
Member contributions
Actuarial (gain)/loss – financial assumptions
Benefits paid
Benefit obligation at end of year
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year
Interest income on plan assets
Return on plan assets greater than discount rate
Employer contribution
Member contributions
Administrative expenses
Benefits paid
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Funded status
Unrecognised pension surplus (asset ceiling)
Net amount recognised in the balance sheet

2014
£000

48,748
—
—
2,011
—
(2,439)
(1,738)
46,582

55,403
2,374
1,341
3,998
—
(209)
(1,738)
61,169
14,587
(14,587)
—

2013
£000

42,295
—
—
2,040
—
5,753
(1,340)
48,748

49,063
2,371
5,527
—
—
(218)
(1,340)
55,403
6,655
(6,655)
—

The pension surplus has not been recognised as the group does not have an unconditional right to receive returns of contributions or 

refunds under the scheme rules.

Components of pension cost
Current service cost
Recognition of past service cost
Interest cost on defined benefit obligation
Interest income on plan assets
Interest expense on effect of asset ceiling on unrecognised surplus
Total net interest cost
Administrative expenses
Total pension cost recognised within administrative expenses (note 5)
Actuarial (gain)/loss – financial assumptions
Return on plan assets greater than discount rate
Changes in asset ceiling on unrecognised surplus
Pension cost shown in statement of comprehensive income
Total defined benefit cost recognised in the year

Year to 
31 March 
2014
£000

Year to 
31 March 
2013
£000

—
—
2,011
(2,374)
280
(83)
209
126
(2,439)
(1,341)
7,652
3,872
3,998

—
—
2,040
(2,371)
331
—
218
218
5,753
(5,527)
(444)
(218)
—

Under IAS19 (Revised 2011) the total pension cost recognised within administrative expenses and the net actuarial loss and movement 

in unrecognised surplus on defined benefit pension schemes for the year ended 31 March 2013 is a charge of £218,000 and a credit of 

£218,000 respectively as set out above. The Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for 2013 has not been restated to reflect 

these amounts on the basis that such adjustments are not considered to be material. As a result the total pension cost recognised within 

administrative expenses for 2013 remains as a credit of £138,000 as shown in note 5 and a charge of £138,000 to other comprehensive 

income.

38

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 20146   Pensions continued
Defined benefit obligation by participant category

Participant category
Active participants
Deferred participants
Pensioners

Plan assets

31 March
2014
£000

31 March
2013
£000

—
27,247
19,335
46,582

—
28,227
20,521
48,748

Investments of the defined benefit schemes are diversified, such that failure of any single investment would not have a material impact 

on the overall level of assets. The largest proportion of assets are invested in equities, although the schemes also invest in other assets 

including debt securities and managed property. The asset allocations at the year end were as follows:

Assets category
Equities
Bonds
Real estate

Plan
assets at
31 March
2014
£000

42,207
17,127
1,835
61,169

Plan
assets at
31 March
2013
£000

37,120
16,621
1,662
55,403

The equities are invested in UK equity index (62%), World equity index (33%) and Europe equity index (5%). Within the bond asset 

category, the risk is concentrated in over 15 year gilts and active corporate bond over 10 year which comprise 75% of the bond asset 

allocation. 

In determining the appropriate discount rate, the company considered the current level of expected returns on risk-free investments 

(primarily government bonds), the historical level of risk premium associated with the other asset classes in which the portfolio is invested 

and the expectations for future returns of each asset class. 

The projected pension cost for the year ending 31 March 2015 is £214,000.

Weighted average life expectancy for mortality tables* used to determine benefit obligations at:

Scheme member age 65 

(current life expectancy)

Scheme member age 45 

(life expectancy at age 65)

2014

2013

Male
Staff/
Shopfloor

Female
Staff/
Shopfloor

Male
Staff/
Shopfloor

Female
Staff/
Shopfloor

23.7/22.9

26.6/25.8

23.6/22.8

26.5/25.7

25.8/24.9

28.6/27.7

25.7/24.8

28.5/27.6

*  Mortality tables are S1NA (YOB) Long Cohort Projections with a 1% underpin have been used for both schemes, with a -1 age rating 

applied to the Staff scheme.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

39

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

6   Pensions continued
Sensitivities
The calculations of the defined benefit obligations are sensitive to the assumptions set out on pages 37 to 39. The following table sets 

out the estimated impact of a change in the assumptions on the defined benefit obligation at 31 March 2014, while holding all other 

assumptions constant. The sensitivity analysis may not be representative of the actual change in defined benefit obligation as it is unlikely 

that the change in assumptions would occur in isolation of another as some of the assumptions may be correlated.

Increase in defined benefit obligation as a result of:
Reduction in the discount rate of 0.25%
Increase in inflation of 0.25%
One year increase in life expectancy

Maturity profile of defined benefit obligation

Expected benefit payments during
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
Year 5
Years 6 – 10

£000

2,232
1,550
1,205

31 March
2014
£000

31 March
2013
£000

1,769
1,800
1,832
1,864
1,897
10,005

1,381
1,402
1,424
1,445
1,467
7,672

The maturity profile shown above is not the full maturity profile but that of the next ten years, based on an analysis of the present value of 
the defined benefit obligation.

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation of the schemes is 16 years.

7   Finance income

Interest on short-term deposits
Income from listed investments

2014
£000
162
22
184

2013
£000
285
21
306

40

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 20148   Income tax

Corporation tax based on a rate of 23% (2013 – 24%)
UK corporation tax
Current tax on profits for the year
Adjustments to tax charge in respect of prior periods

Deferred tax
Current year origination and reversal of temporary differences
Prior year deferred tax movement
Change in rate of corporation tax

Taxation on profit on ordinary activities

Profit on ordinary activities before tax 

Tax on profit on ordinary activities at the standard rate of corporation tax 
in the UK of 23% (2013 – 24%)
Effect of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Adjustment to tax charge in respect of prior periods
Adjustment to deferred tax charge in respect of prior periods
Change in rate of future tax
Pension adjustments
Total tax charge for period
Effective rate of tax (%)

2014
£000

5,007
(184)
4,823

145
307
(700)
(248)
4,575

2013
£000

5,075
(184)
4,891

(300)
12
(232)
(520)
4,371

21,833

19,157

5,022

4,598

101
(184)
307
(700)
29
4,575
21.0

210
(184)
12
(232)
(33)
4,371
22.7

A reduction in the UK corporation tax rate from 24% to 23% was substantively enacted in July 2012 and was effective from 1 April 2013. 

Further reductions from 23% to 21% and 21% to 20% were substantively enacted in July 2013 and will be effective from 1 April 2014 and 

1 April 2015 respectively. Accordingly, the substantively enacted rate of 20% has been applied in the measurement of the group’s deferred 

tax assets and liabilities at 31 March 2014.

9   Dividends

Final paid of 9.36p per share for the year ended 31 March 2014 (2013 – 8.84p)
Interim paid of 3.13p per share (2013 – 2.98p)

2014
£000
4,084
1,366
5,450

2013
£000
3,857
1,300
5,157

The directors are proposing a final dividend of 9.83 pence (2013 – 9.36 pence) per share totalling £4,288,160 (2013 – £4,083,962). This 

dividend has not been accrued at the balance sheet date. 

10  Earnings per share 
Earnings per share is calculated on the profit on ordinary activities after taxation of £17,258,000 (2013 – £14,786,000) and on the weighted 
average number of shares in issue at the end of the year of 43,632,068 (2013 – 43,632,068). There are no share options, hence the diluted 
earnings per share is the same as above.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

41

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

11 Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 April 2013

Additions during year 

Disposals

At 31 March 2014

Depreciation and amounts written off
At 1 April 2013

Charge for year 
Disposals
At 31 March 2014

Net book values
At 31 March 2014

At 31 March 2013

Cost
At 1 April 2012

Additions during year 

Disposals

Adjustment to opening position 

At 31 March 2013

Depreciation and amounts written off
At 1 April 2012

Charge for year 

Disposals

At 31 March 2013

Net book values
At 31 March 2013

At 31 March 2012

Land and
buildings
£000

Plant and 
other
equipment
£000

Total
£000

30,083

103,100

133,183

867

—

8,801

(1,531)

9,668

(1,531)

30,950

110,370

141,320

4,625

775
—

5,400

25,550
25,458

29,337

746

—

—

66,882

5,271
(1,428)

70,725

39,645
36,218

97,482

6,145

(502)

(25)

71,507

6,046
(1,428)

76,125

65,195
61,676

126,819

6,891

(502)

(25)

30,083

103,100

133,183

3,988

637

—

4,625

25,458

25,349

60,605

6,779

(502)

66,882

36,218

36,877

64,593

7,416

(502)

71,507

61,676

62,226

The net book value of group land and buildings includes £2,527,000 (2013 – £2,527,000) for land which is not depreciated. The cost of 
land and buildings includes £359,000 for property held on long leases (2013 – £359,000). 

42

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201412  Financial assets

Available-for-sale assets

At 1 April 2013
Disposals
Net gains transferred to statement of comprehensive income
At 31 March 2014

2014
£000

522

2014
£000
494
—
28
522

2013
£000

494

2013
£000
495
(5)
4
494

Available-for-sale financial assets are UK quoted equity securities and are denominated in sterling. The fair value of the securities is based 

on published market prices.

13  Inventories

Raw materials 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 

Inventories are net of impairment provisions of £216,000 (2013 – £235,000).

14  Trade and other receivables

Due within one year:
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Receivable from pension schemes (see note 6)
Prepayments 

15  Trade and other payables

Current trade and other payables:
Trade payables
Social security
Other payables
Accruals

2014
£000
2,478
4,207
5,936
12,621

2014
£000

26,658
1,144
3,431
1,520
32,753

2014
£000

12,864
2,175
433
5,604
21,076

2013
£000
2,730
2,920
4,992
10,642

2013
£000

24,895
945
5,481
2,005
33,326

2013
£000

11,687
1,731
614
5,654
19,686

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

43

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

16  Deferred tax
Deferred tax is calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using the large company tax rate applicable in future 

years of 20% (2013 – 23%). The movement on the deferred tax account is shown below:

Deferred tax – net

At 1 April 2013
(Credited)/charged to other comprehensive income
Credited to profit
At 31 March 2014

The movement in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year is shown below: 

Deferred tax – liabilities

At 1 April 2013
Credited to profit
Credited to other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2014

The movement in the deferred tax assets and liabilities during the prior year is shown below:

At 1 April 2012
Charged to profit
Charged to other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2013

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
£000
5,160
(305)
—
4,855

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
£000
5,731
(571)
—
5,160

The deferred tax (credited)/charged to other comprehensive income during the year is as follows:

Tax on change in fair value of available-for-sale financial assets
Tax on change in pension scheme
Tax on items taken directly to other comprehensive income

2014
£000
5,058
(539)
(248)
4,271

Other
£000
(102)
57
(539)
(584)

Other
£000
(154)
51
1
(102)

2014
£000
6
(545)
(539)

2013
£000
5,577
1
(520)
5,058

Total
£000
5,058
(248)
(539)
4,271

Total
£000
5,577
(520)
1
5,058

2013
£000
1
1
1

44

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201417 Share capital

Authorised 50,000,000 10p ordinary shares
Allotted and fully paid 43,632,068 10p ordinary shares

2014
£000
5,000
4,363

2013
£000
5,000
4,363

The group considers its capital to comprise its ordinary share capital, share premium and accumulated retained earnings. In managing its 

capital, the group’s primary objective is to ensure its continued ability to provide a consistent return for its equity shareholders through a 

combination of capital growth and distributions. Each share entitles the holder to receive the amount of dividends per share declared by 

the company and a vote at any meetings of the company.

In order to achieve this objective, the group monitors its gearing to balance risks and returns at an acceptable level and also to maintain 

a sufficient funding base to enable the group to meet its working capital and strategic investment needs. In making decisions to adjust 

its capital structure to achieve these aims, either through altering its dividend policy or new share issues, the group considers not only its 

short-term position but also its long-term operational and strategic objectives.

18  Commitments

Capital commitments contracted for by the group but not provided for in the accounts

2014
£000
3,047

2013
£000
2,571

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

45

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

19 Financial instrument risk exposure and management
In common with all other businesses, the group is exposed to risks that arise from its use of financial instruments. This note describes 

the group’s objectives, policies and processes for managing those risks and the methods used to measure them. Further quantitative 

information in respect of these risks is presented throughout these financial statements.

There have been no substantive changes in the group’s exposure to financial instrument risks, its objectives, policies and processes for 

managing those risks or the methods used to measure them from previous periods unless otherwise stated in this note.

Principal financial instruments
The principal financial instruments used by the group, from which financial instrument risk arises, are as follows:

•	

trade receivables

•	 other receivables

•	 cash at bank

•	 other interest-bearing deposits

•	

trade and other payables

General objectives, policies and processes
The board has overall responsibility for the determination of the group’s risk management objectives and policies and, whilst retaining 

ultimate responsibility for them, it has delegated the authority for designing and operating processes that ensure the effective 

implementation of the objectives and policies to the group’s finance function. The board receives reports through which it reviews the 

effectiveness of the processes put in place and the appropriateness of the objectives and policies it sets.

The overall objective of the board is to set policies that seek to reduce risk as far as possible without unduly affecting the group’s 

competitiveness and flexibility. Further details regarding these policies are set out below:

Categories of financial assets and financial liabilities

Current financial assets
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Other interest-bearing deposits
Total current financial assets

The maximum exposure to credit risks is detailed in the above table.

Loans and receivables

2014
£000

26,658
4,575
27,780
—
59,013

2013
£000

24,895
945
18,654
5,000
49,494

46

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201419 Financial instrument risk exposure and management continued

Current financial liabilities
Trade payables
Other payables
Accruals
Total current financial liabilities

Financial liabilities measured  
at amortised cost

2014
£000

12,864
433
5,604
18,901

2013
£000

11,687
614
5,654
17,955

Credit risk
Credit risk arises principally from the group’s trade receivables. It is the risk that the counterparty fails to discharge its obligation in respect 

of the instrument.

As at 31 March 2014, trade receivables of £26,418,000 (2013 – £24,628,000) were not past due. 

Trade receivables
Credit risk is managed locally by the management of each subsidiary. Prior to accepting new customers, credit checks are obtained from a 

reputable external source (for example Creditsafe and trade references).

Based on this information, credit limits and payment terms are established, although for some large customers and contracts, credit risk is 

not considered to be high risk, and credit limits can sometimes be exceeded. These exceeded accounts are closely monitored and if there 

is a concern over recoverability accounts are put on stop and no further goods will be sold before receiving payment. Pro forma invoicing 

is sometimes used for new customers, or customers with a poor payment history until creditworthiness can be proven or re-established.

Management teams at each subsidiary receive regular ageing reports, and these are used to chase relevant customers for outstanding 

balances.

Impairment provisions are made against trade receivables when considered appropriate based upon objective evidence.

No major renegotiation of terms has taken place during the year. 

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

47

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

19 Financial instrument risk exposure and management continued
At 31 March 2014 trade receivables of £240,000 (2013 – £267,000) were past due but not impaired. They relate to customers with no 

default history. The ageing of these receivables is as follows:

30–60 days
60–90 days
90+ days

2014
£000
—
25
215
240

The group records impairment losses on its trade receivables (including an impairment provision for trade receivables not past due) 

separately from gross receivables. The movements on this allowance account during the year are summarised below:

Opening balance 
(Decrease)/increase in provisions
Written off against provisions
Recovered amounts reversed
Closing balance

2014
£000
488
(147)
(22)
—
319

2013
£000
3
25
239
267

2013
£000
385
103
—
—
488

Impairment losses on trade receivables of £169,000 (2013 – £103,000) were recognised in administrative expenses.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk arises from the group’s management of working capital. It is the risk that the group will encounter difficulty in meeting its 

financial obligations as they fall due. The group’s policy is to ensure that it will always have sufficient cash to allow it to meet its liabilities 

when they become due.

To achieve this aim, it seeks to maintain cash balances to meet expected requirements for a period of at least 90 days. The cash position is 

continuously monitored to ensure that there is sufficient cash and that the optimum interest rate is obtained.

Based on projected cash flows, the group expected to have sufficient liquid resources to meet its obligations under all reasonably  

expected circumstances.

48

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 201419 Financial instrument risk exposure and management continued
Market risk
Market risk arises from the group’s use of interest-bearing and foreign currency financial instruments. It is the risk that the fair value or 

future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in interest rates (interest rate risk), foreign exchange rates 

(currency risk) or other market factors (other price risk).

Where the group has generated a significant amount of surplus cash it will invest in term deposits if liquidity risk is not unduly 

compromised. Whilst a review of credit ratings is performed for each counterparty, there will always remain an element of risk over 

deposits. The directors believe that the exposure to market price risk from these activities is acceptable in the group’s circumstances.

Interest rate and currency risk
The group does not have any financial liabilities subject to interest rate risk at the balance sheet date (2013 – £nil).

Foreign exchange risk arises when individual group operations enter into transactions denominated in a currency other than their 

functional currency. It is the group’s policy to convert all non-functional currency to sterling at the first opportunity after allowing 

for similar functional currency outlays. It does not consider the use of hedging facilities would significantly minimise this risk. At the 

balance sheet date the group had forward contracts in place to sell euros with a sterling value of £2,086,000 (2013 – £2,030,000). 

The fair value adjustment associated with these contracts is not considered material and has therefore not been recognised in these 

financial statements. At the balance sheet date foreign exchange facilities of £1.9 million (2013 – £1.9 million) were unused and available  

to the group to enable it to enter into forward exchange contracts.

The currency and interest profile of the group’s financial assets (less other receivables) and liabilities (less social security, other payables 

and accruals) are as follows:

Sterling
US$
Euro

Sterling
US$
Euro

Floating rate 
assets 
2014
£000
5
54
653
712

Floating rate 
assets 
2013
£000
106
40
2,152
2,298

Fixed rate 
assets 
2014
£000
26,293
—
774
27,067

Interest-free 
assets
2014
£000
23,691
185
2,783
26,659

Fixed rate 
assets 
2013
£000
20,145
—
1,211
21,356

Interest-free 
assets
2013
£000
21,551
47
3,297
24,895

Total
2014
£000
49,989
239
4,210
54,438

Total
2013
£000
41,802
87
6,660
48,549

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

49

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Accounts
continued

19 Financial instrument risk exposure and management continued

Sterling
US$
Euro

Interest-free 
liabilities 
2014
£000
11,665
—
1,199
12,864

Interest-free 
liabilities 
2013
£000
9,471
—
2,216
11,687

Fixed rate assets attracted interest rates between 0.50% to 1.25% (2013 – 0.75% to 3.15%) on sterling deposits.

Floating rate assets consisted of overnight cash at bank at nominal interest rates.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents generally comprise short-term deposits that have fixed interest rates and maturity periods within three months.

The effect of a +50/(50) increase/(decrease) in basis points with all other variables held constant would have the effect of increasing/

(decreasing) profit before tax by £121,000/(£121,000) (2013 – £96,000/(£96,000)).

The group believes that movements on exchange rates of +/–5% could be possible, the effect of which is that profit before tax would 

increase/(decrease) by £133,000/(£146,000) (2013 – £157,000/(£174,000)).

Fair value
Unless otherwise indicated, the carrying amounts of the group’s financial instruments are a reasonable approximation of their fair values.

50

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Five Year Financial History – unaudited

For the years ended 31 March
Trading results
Revenue
Profit before tax
Profit after tax
Dividends paid

Balance sheet summary
Equity
Share capital
Reserves
Total equity
Assets
Property, plant and equipment
Financial assets
Deferred tax asset

Current assets
Total liabilities

Dividends and earnings
Pence per share declared
Number of times covered (dividend paid)
Earnings per share — basic and diluted

2014
£000

137,466
21,833
17,258
5,450

4,363
106,546
110,909

65,195
522
—
65,717
73,154
(27,962)
110,909

2013
£000

122,215
19,157
14,786
5,157

4,363
97,735
102,098

61,676
494
—
62,170
67,622
(27,694)
102,098

2012
£000

126,271
23,093
17,591
4,778

4,363
88,241
92,604

62,226
495
—
62,721
57,306
(27,423)
92,604

2011
£000

105,368
15,501
11,652
4,363

4,363
75,752
80,115

55,889
467
—
56,356
56,065
(32,306)
80,115

2010
£000

60,649
9,804
7,638
4,363

4,363
68,872
73,235

51,596
480
—
52,076
41,685
(20,526)
73,235

12.96
3.2
39.55p

12.34
2.9
33.89p

11.75
3.7
40.32p

10.75
2.7
26.71p

10.0
1.7
17.51p

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

51

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsParent Company Accounts Under UK GAAP
The company has elected to prepare its financial statements under UK GAAP

Parent Company Balance Sheet
31 March 2014

Fixed assets
Tangible assets
Investments

Current assets
Stocks 
Debtors
Deposits
Cash at bank and in hand

Creditors — amounts falling due within one year
Net current assets
Total assets less current liabilities 
Deferred taxation

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium 
Other reserve
Retained earnings
Shareholders’ funds

Notes

4
5

6
7

8

9

10
11
11
11

2014
£000

15,968
5,803
21,771

8,168
26,603
18,372
150
53,293
15,308
37,985
59,756
—
59,756

4,363
874
13
54,506
59,756

2013
£000

15,019
5,775
20,794

6,356
27,363
15,828
131
49,678
12,942
36,736
57,530
(309)
57,221

4,363
874
13
51,971
57,221

The parent company accounts on pages 52 to 57 were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 11 June 2014, and 

were signed on its behalf by:

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

S. J. Mant 
Finance Director

Notes to the accounts are on pages 53 to 57.

52

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014 
 
 
Notes to the Parent Company Accounts
The Directors’ Report is on pages 11 to 13 of the Annual Report and Accounts

1   Accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The accounts are prepared under the 

historical cost convention except for 

revaluation of certain financial instruments 

as required by FRS 26 and in accordance 

with applicable UK Accounting Standards 

and the Companies Act 2006.

Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated on the straight-

line basis to write off the initial cost of fixed 

assets at the following rates per annum:

•	 Buildings at 2%

Foreign currencies
Monetary assets and liabilities 

Available-for-sale assets
Available-for-sale financial assets comprise 

denominated in foreign currencies are 

the company’s strategic investments in 

translated at the rate of exchange ruling 

entities not qualifying as subsidiaries. They 

at the balance sheet date. Transactions 

are carried at fair value with changes in fair 

in foreign currencies are recorded at the 

value recognised directly in the statement 

rate ruling at the date of the transaction, 

of comprehensive income. Fair value is 

all differences being taken to the profit and 

determined with reference to published 

loss account.

quoted prices in an active market.

Deferred tax
Deferred tax is recognised in respect of 

Loans and receivables
These assets are non-derivative financial 

all timing differences that have originated 

assets with fixed or determinable 

but not reversed at the balance sheet date 

payments that are not quoted in an active 

where transactions or events that result in 

market. They arise principally through 

•	 Plant and other equipment between  

an obligation to pay more tax in the future 

the provision of goods and services to 

7% to 33%

Freehold land is not depreciated.

Pension costs
The cost of providing retirement pensions 

and related benefits is charged to the 

profit and loss account over the periods 

benefiting from the employees’ services 

in accordance with FRS 17. Where 

defined benefit pension schemes are 

multi-employer schemes and it is not 

possible to identify the company’s share 

of assets and liabilities of those schemes 

on a reasonable and consistent basis, the 

company contributions payable to those 

schemes during the year are charged to 

the profit and loss account.

Turnover
Turnover is the aggregate of the invoiced 

values of sales (less returns and 

or a right to pay less tax in the future have 

customers (e.g. trade receivables and 

occurred at the balance sheet date. Timing 

amounts owed by subsidiary companies) 

differences are differences between the 

and deposits held at banks and building 

company’s taxable profits and its results 

societies, but may also incorporate other 

as stated in the accounts. 

types of contractual monetary asset. 

Deferred tax is measured at the actual 

tax rates that are expected to apply in the 

periods in which the timing differences 

are expected to reverse, based on tax 

rates and laws that have been enacted 

or substantively enacted by the balance 

They are initially recognised at fair value 
plus transaction costs that are directly 

attributable to the acquisition or issue and 

subsequently carried at amortised cost 

using the effective interest rate method, 

less provision for impairment.

sheet date. Deferred tax is measured on a 

The effect of discounting on these  

non-discounted basis.

financial instruments is not considered to  

be material.

Investments
Listed investments are accounted for 

at fair value in accordance with FRS 26 

‘Financial Instruments: Measurement’. 

Investments in subsidiaries are held at cost 

and reviewed for impairment annually.

allowances) charged to external customers 

Financial Instruments

of the company, excluding value added 

tax. Turnover is recognised when goods 

are dispatched.

Stocks
Stock and work in progress have been 

consistently valued at the lower of cost 

and net realisable value. The valuation 

of work in progress and finished stocks 

includes appropriate manufacturing and 

works overheads computed on the basis 

of normal activity.

a) Financial assets
The company’s financial assets relate 

to loans and receivables. Although the 

company occasionally uses derivative 

financial instruments in economic hedges 

of currency rate risk, it does not hedge 

account for these transactions and the 

amounts are not material. The company 

has not classified any of its financial assets 

as held to maturity.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

53

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Parent Company Accounts
continued

The Directors’ Report is on pages 11 to 13 of the Annual Report and Accounts

Impairment provisions are recognised 

Financial liabilities measured at 

when there is objective evidence (such as 

significant financial difficulties on the part 

amortised cost
Financial liabilities include trade payables 

Dividends
Equity dividends are recognised when they 

become legally payable. Interim equity 

of the counterparty or default or significant 

and other short-term monetary liabilities, 

dividends are recognised when paid. Final 

delay in payment) that the group will be 

which are initially recognised at fair value 

equity dividends are recognised when 

unable to collect all of the amounts due 

and subsequently carried at amortised 

approved by the shareholders at an Annual 

under the terms receivable, the amount 

cost using the effective interest method.

General Meeting. 

of such a provision being the difference 

between the net carrying amount and 

the present value of the future expected 

cash flows associated with the impaired 

receivable. For trade receivables, such 

provisions are recorded in a separate 

Fair value is calculated discounting 

estimated future cash flows using a market 

rate of interest.

c) Share capital
The company’s ordinary shares are 

allowance account with the loss being 

classified as equity instruments. Share 

recognised within administrative expenses 

capital includes the nominal value of the 

in the income statement. On confirmation 

shares and any share premium attaching 

that the trade receivable will not be 

to the shares.

Related party transactions
The company has taken advantage of 

the exemption conferred by Financial 

Reporting Standard 8 ‘Related party 

disclosures’ not to disclose transactions 

with members of the group on the grounds 

that 100% of the voting rights in the 

company are controlled within that group.

collectable, the gross carrying value of the 

asset is written off against the associated 

provision.

b) Financial liabilities
The company classifies its financial 

liabilities into liabilities measured at 

amortised cost. Although the company 

uses derivative financial instruments in 

economic hedges of currency risk, it does 

not hedge account for these transactions 

and the amounts are not material.

54

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 20142   Company profit and loss account
Castings P.L.C. has taken advantage of section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not included its own profit and loss account in 

these accounts. The company’s profit after tax was £7,957,000 (2013 – £11,038,000).

The profit and loss account includes £26,000 (2013 – £25,000) for audit fees.

3   Dividends

Final paid of 9.36p per share for the year ended 31 March 2013 (2013 – 8.84p)
Interim paid of 3.13p per share (2013 – 2.98p)

2014
£000
4,084
1,366
5,450

2013
£000
3,857
1,300
5,157

The directors are proposing a final dividend of 9.83 pence (2013 – 9.36 pence) per share totalling £4,288,160 (2013 – £4,083,962). This 

dividend has not been accrued at the balance sheet date. 

4   Tangible assets

Cost
At 1 April 2013
Additions during year
Disposals
At 31 March 2014
Depreciation and amounts written off
At 1 April 2013
Charge for year 
On Disposals
At 31 March 2014
Net book values
At 31 March 2014
At 31 March 2013

Land and 
buildings 
£000

Plant and 
other 
equipment 
£000

15,907
281
—
16,188

2,614
281
—
2,895

13,293
13,293

24,735
1,587
(70)
26,252

23,009
634
(66)
23,577

2,675
1,726

Total
£000

40,642
1,868
(70)
42,440

25,623
915
(66)
26,472

15,968
15,019

The net book value of land and buildings includes £2,127,000 (2013 – £2,127,000) for land which is not depreciated. The cost of land and 

buildings includes £359,000 for property held on long leases (2013 – £359,000).

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

55

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotes to the Parent Company Accounts
continued

The Directors’ Report is on pages 11 to 13 of the Annual Report and Accounts

5  Investments

Subsidiary companies
At cost
Listed investments at market value

2014
£000

5,281
522
5,803

2013
£000

5,281
494
5,775

The company owns 100% of the issued share capital of William Lee Limited, CNC Speedwell Limited and W. H. Booth & Co. Limited, 

companies which operate in the United Kingdom. William Lee Limited supplies spheroidal graphite iron castings from Dronfield, Sheffield 

and CNC Speedwell Limited is a machinist operation. W. H. Booth & Co. Limited does not trade and is dormant.

During the year the company disposed of listed investments of £nil (2013 – £5,000) and the change in fair value taken to equity is  

£nil (2013 – £4,000).

6   Stocks

Raw materials 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 

7   Debtors

Due within one year:
Trade debtors
Amounts receivable from subsidiary companies
Other debtors
Amounts receivable from pension schemes (see note 6 of group accounts)
Prepayments and accrued income 
Deferred taxation

8   Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Due within one year:
Trade creditors
Amounts owed to subsidiary companies
Corporation tax
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income

2014
£000
879
3,051
4,238
8,168

2014
£000

17,783
3,688
1,143
3,431
460
98
26,603

2014
£000

6,027
3,563
1,436
1,057
218
3,007
15,308

2013
£000
916
2,246
3,194
6,356

2013
£000

15,498
4,477
944
5,481
963
—
27,363

2013
£000

4,673
2,457
1,752
787
434
2,839
12,942

56

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 20149   Deferred taxation

Deferred taxation
At 1 April 2013
Taxation deferred this year
At 31 March 2014
Deferred tax is provided as follows:
Accelerated capital allowances
Other timing differences

10 Called up share capital

Allotted and fully paid 43,632,068 10p ordinary shares

11 Reserves

At 1 April 2013
Profit retained
Changes in fair value of investments
At 31 March 2014

2014
£000

309
(407)
(98)

435
(533)
(98)

2014
£000
4,363

Share 
capital
£000
4,363
—
—
4,363

Share 
premium
£000
874
—
—
874

Other
reserves
£000
13
—
—
13

Retained
earnings
£000
51,971
2,507
28
54,506

12 Reconciliation of movements in shareholders’ funds

Profit for the year
Changes in fair value of investments
Dividends
Net increase in shareholders’ funds
Opening shareholders’ funds
Closing shareholders’ funds 

2014
£000
7,957
28
(5,450)
2,535
57,221
59,756

2013
£000

594
(285)
309

326
(17)
309

2013
£000
4,363

Total
equity
£000
57,221
2,507
28
59,756

2013
£000
11,038
4
(5,157)
5,885
51,336
57,221

13  Pensions
It is not possible to identify the company’s share of the underlying assets and liabilities in respect of the group defined benefit schemes on 

a consistent and reasonable basis. Contributions to the schemes by the company are based on professional and independent actuarial 

advice. During the year the contributions payable by the company to the funds amounted to £3,998,000 (2013 – £nil). The last valuation 

was performed with an effective date of 6 April 2011. Further details of the schemes are contained in note 6 to the group accounts.

14  Capital commitments

Authorised, but not provided in the accounts

2014
£000
325

2013
£000
—

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

57

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014FinancialsStrategic ReportGovernanceFinancialsNotice of Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the one 

(b) 

the foregoing authority shall expire 

shares then held by such 

hundred and seventh Annual General 

on 18 August 2019 save that the 

shareholders; and

Meeting of Castings P.L.C. (the 

Company may before such expiry 

‘Company’) will be held at Holiday Inn, 

make an offer or enter into an 

Birmingham M6, Junc. 7, Chapel Lane, 

agreement which would or might 

Great Barr, Birmingham, West Midlands, 

require relevant securities to be 

B43 7BG, on 19 August 2014 at 3.30 pm 

allotted after the expiry of such 

period and the directors may allot 

relevant securities in pursuance 

of any such offer or agreement as 

if the authority conferred had not 

expired;

(b)  to the allotment (otherwise than 

pursuant to subparagraph (a) of 

this resolution) of equity securities 

having, in the case of relevant 

shares, an aggregate nominal 

amount, or, in the case of other 

equity securities, giving the 

right to subscribe for or convert 

into relevant shares having an 

aggregate nominal amount not 

for the following purposes:

As ordinary business

1  To receive and adopt the directors’ 

report and audited accounts for the 

year ended 31 March 2014. 

2  To declare a final dividend. 

3  To re-elect S. J. Mant as a director.

4  To re-elect G. B. Wainwright as a 

director.

5  To re-elect C. P. King as a director.

2014.

8  To reappoint BDO LLP as auditors of 

the company at a fee to be agreed 

with the directors. 

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the 

following resolutions, of which resolution 9 

will be proposed as an ordinary resolution 

and resolutions 10 and 11 will be proposed 

as special resolutions.

6  To approve the remuneration policy.

shareholder approval.

save that the Company shall be 

7  To approve the directors’ remuneration 

As special business

report for the year ended 31 March 

As special resolutions

(c) 

the foregoing authority shall be 

exceeding £218,160, which 

in substitution for the authorities 

represents approximately 5% of 

given to the directors under the 

the current issued share capital of 

Companies Act 2006 on  

the Company,

13 August 2013, which authorities 

are accordingly hereby revoked;

and shall expire at the conclusion 

of the next Annual General Meeting 

(d) 

this authority will be put to annual 

following the date of this resolution 

10   THAT the directors be and are 

hereby empowered pursuant to the 

Companies Act 2006 to allot equity 

entitled before such expiry to make 

an offer or agreement which would 

or might require equity securities to 

be allotted after such expiry and the 

directors shall be entitled to allot 

equity securities in pursuance of such 

securities (within the meaning of that 

offer or agreement as if the power 

Act) for cash pursuant to the general 

conferred hereby had not expired. In 

authority conferred by the ordinary 

any three year period no more than 

resolution numbered 9 set out in the 

7.5% of the issued share capital will be 

notice convening this meeting as if 

issued on a pre-emptive basis.

the said Act did not apply to any such 

allotment provided that this power 

11  THAT the Company be and is 

hereby generally and unconditionally 

authorised for the purposes of the 

Companies Act 2006 to make one 

or more market purchases of any of 

its ordinary shares of 10p each (the 

‘ordinary shares’), provided that:

The share capital consists of 43,632,068 

shall be limited:

ordinary shares with voting rights.

(a)  to allotments in connection with 

As an ordinary resolution

9  THAT:

(a) 

the directors be and are hereby 

generally and unconditionally 

an offer of equity securities to 

the ordinary shareholders of the 

Company where the securities 

respectively attributable to the 

interests of such holders are 

authorised in accordance with the 

proportionate (as nearly as may be 

Companies Act 2006 to exercise 

and subject to such exclusions or 

all the powers of the Company to 

other arrangement as the directors 

allot relevant securities provided 

may consider appropriate, 

that the aggregate nominal value 
of such securities shall not exceed 

£636,793, which represents 

approximately 14.6% of the 

necessary or expedient to deal 
with any fractional entitlements 

or with any legal or practical 

difficulties in respect of overseas 

current issued share capital of the 

holders or otherwise) to the 

Company;

respective numbers of ordinary 

58

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014(a)  the maximum number of ordinary 

Information about the meeting can be 

Persons nominated to receive information 

shares hereby authorised to 

found on the Company’s website (www.

rights under Section 146 of the Act who 

be purchased is 4,358,844 

castings.plc.uk). The right to vote at the 

have been sent a copy of this notice 

representing 9.99% of the issued 

meeting is determined by reference to the 

of meeting are hereby informed, in 

share capital at 31 March 2014;

register of members as it stands on  

accordance with Section 149 (2) of the 

(b)  the minimum price which may be 

paid for each ordinary share is 

15 August 2014. Shareholders have the 

Act, that they may have a right under an 

right to ask questions at the meeting.

agreement with the registered member 

by whom they were nominated to be 

appointed, or to have someone else 

appointed, as a proxy for this meeting. If 

they have no such right, or do not wish to 

exercise it, they may have a right under 

such an agreement to give instructions to 

the member as to the exercise of voting 

rights.

Nominated persons should contact 

the registered member by whom they 

were nominated in respect of these 

arrangements.

In Accordance with Regulation 41 of the 

Uncertified Securities Regulations 2001, 

only those members entered on the 

Company’s register of members at  

6.00 pm on the day which is two days 

before the day of the meeting or, if the 

meeting is adjourned, shareholders 

entered on the Company’s register of 

members at 6.00 pm on the day two 

days before the date of any adjournment 

shall be entitled to attend and vote at the 

meeting.

10p, exclusive of the expenses of  

By order of the board

purchase;

S. J. MANT 

(c)  the maximum price (exclusive 

Company Secretary

of expenses) which may be paid 

for each ordinary share is an 

amount equal to 105% of the 

average of the middle market 

quotations for the ordinary shares 

as derived from the Daily Official 

Registered Office: 
Lichfield Road, 
Brownhills, 
West Midlands, WS8 6JZ 
11 June 2014

List of the London Stock Exchange 

Note:

Limited for the five business days 

immediately preceding the day of 

purchase;

(d)  unless previously revoked or 

varied, the authority hereby 

conferred shall expire at the 

conclusion of the next Annual 

General Meeting of the Company 

following the date of this 

resolution, unless such authority is 

renewed on or prior to such date;

(e)  the Company may, before the 

expiry of this authority, conclude 

a contract to purchase ordinary 

Any member of the Company entitled 

to attend and vote at this meeting may 

appoint one or more proxies, who need 

not also be a member, to attend and vote, 

on a poll, in his stead. The instrument 

appointing a proxy, including authority 

under which it is signed (or a notarially 

certified copy of such authority), must be 

deposited at the offices of the Company’s 

registrars: Capita Asset Services, PXS,  

34 Beckenham Road, Kent, BR3 4TU, 

not less than 48 hours before the time 

appointed for the meeting.

Beneficial owners:

shares under this authority which 

In accordance with Section 325 of the 

will or may be executed wholly 

Companies Act 2006, the right to appoint 

or partly after such expiry and 

proxies does not apply to persons 

may make a purchase of ordinary 

nominated to receive information rights 

shares pursuant to any such 

under Section 146 of the Act.

contract, as if such authority had 

not expired.

The record date for payment of the final 

dividend is 11 July 2014. Assuming the 

final dividend is approved by the members, 

the dividend will be paid on  

22 August 2014.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

59

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Directors, Officers and Advisers

Directors

B. J. Cooke, AdvDipNFC, FICME    Chairman

D. J. Gawthorpe, BSc (Hons), MICME    Chief Executive

S. J. Mant, BSocSc (Hons) FCA    Finance Director

M. A. Lewis    Managing Director, CNC Speedwell Limited

G. Cooper, BSc, MSc, FICME    Managing Director, William Lee Limited

A. Vicary, BEng, MSc, FICME    Managing Director, Brownhills

G. B. Wainwright, MCMI, MIEx, FRSA    Senior Independent Non-executive

C. P. King, FCA    Non-executive

A. N. Jones, BA (Hons), FCA    Non-executive

Secretary and
Registered Office

S. J. Mant, FCA

Lichfield Road,

Brownhills,

Registrars

Auditors

Solicitors

Bankers

Stockbrokers

West Midlands, WS8 6JZ

Tel: 01543 374341

Fax: 01543 377483

Web: www.castings.plc.uk

Capita Asset Services

The Registry,

34 Beckenham Road,

Beckenham,

Kent, BR3 4TU

Tel: 0871 664 0300 (Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras,

lines are open 8.30 am to 5.30 pm Mon–Fri)

Fax: 020 8658 3430

BDO LLP

Chartered Accountants

125 Colmore Row,

Birmingham, B3 3SD

Enoch Evans LLP

St Paul’s Chambers,

6/9 Hatherton Road,

Walsall,

West Midlands, WS1 1XS

Pinsent Masons LLP

3 Colmore Circus,

Birmingham, B4 6BH

HSBC Bank plc

High Street,

Brownhills,

West Midlands, WS8 6HJ

Arden Partners plc

Arden House,

Highfield Road,

Edgbaston,

Birmingham, B15 3DU

Registered No.

91580

60

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Shareholder Information

More detailed information on this or similar 
activity can be found on the FCA website 
www.fca.org.uk/consumers/scams

Website
Castings P.L.C.’s website www.castings.
plc.uk gives additional information on the 
group. Notwithstanding the references we 
make in this Annual Report to Castings 
P.L.C.’s website, none of the information 
made available on the website constitutes 
part of this Annual Report or shall be 
deemed to be incorporated by reference 
herein.

Capital gains tax
The official price of Castings P.L.C. 
ordinary shares on 31 March 1982, 
adjusted for bonus issues, was 4.92 
pence.

Warning to shareholders
The following guidance has been issued by 
the Financial Conduct Authority:

Over the last year many companies have 
become aware that their shareholders 
have received unsolicited phone calls or 
correspondence concerning investment 
matters. These are typically from 
overseas-based ‘brokers’ who target UK 
shareholders offering to sell them what 
often turned out to be worthless or high 
risk shares in US or UK investments. They 
can be very persistent and extremely 
persuasive and a 2006 survey by the then 
Financial Services Authority (FSA) has 
reported that the average amount lost by 
investors is around £20,000. It is not just 
the novice investor that has been duped 
in this way; many of the victims had been 
successfully investing for several years. 
Shareholders are advised to be very 
wary of any unsolicited advice, offers to 
buy shares at a discount or offers of free 
reports into the company.

If you receive any unsolicited investment 
advice:

•	 Make sure you get the correct name 
of the person and organisation.

•	 Check that they are properly 

authorised by the FCA before getting 
involved. You can check at http://
www.fca.org.uk/register/

•	

The FCA also maintains on its website 
a list of unauthorised overseas firms 
who are targeting, or have targeted, 
UK investors and any approach 
from such organisations should be 
reported to the FCA so that this list 
can be kept up to date and any other 
appropriate action can be considered. 
If you deal with an unauthorised firm, 
you would not be eligible to receive 
payment under the Financial Services 
Compensation Scheme. 

•	

If the calls persist, hang up.

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2

61

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014Castings P.L.C.
Lichfield Road
Brownhills
West Midlands
WS8 6JZ

23415.04 — 16 June 2014 7:27 AM — Proof 2