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FY2022 Annual Report · Cogstate
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Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022

Stock Code: CGS

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An Introduction 
to Castings P.L.C.

Castings P.L.C. is a market leading iron 
casting and machining group based in the 
UK supplying both the domestic and export 
markets.
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. 

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C. Contents 

Strategic Report
Financial Highlights
Chairman’s Statement
Group Overview and Strategy
Business Model
Business and Financial Review
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Environmental, Social and Governance
Viability Statement
S172(1) Statement

Corporate 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 Auditor’s Report

Financial Statements

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

Company Information

Notice of Meeting
Directors, Officers and Advisers
Shareholder Information

02
03
04
05
06
08
12
18
19

20
21
24
26

27
28
30
32
33

38
39
40
41
42
59
60
61
62

68
71
72

01

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial Highlights

Group revenue  
(£m)
£149m 

(2021: £115m)

2022

2021

2020

2019

Profit before tax  
(£m)
£12.1m 

(2021: £5.0m)

2022

2021

2020

2019

5.0

EPS  
(basic)
19.60p 

(2021: 9.51p)

Foundry sales volume  
(tonnes)
49,800 

(2021: 40,100)

Revenue Profile

Geographical revenue split

115

149

139

150

2022

2021

2020

2019

49,800

40,100

47,700

52,200

Profit before tax 
(excluding exceptional items)
£12.1m 

(2021: 4.4m)

12.1

12.7

14.1

2022

2021

2020

2019

4.4

12.1

12.7

15.3

EPS (basic excluding 
exceptional items)
19.59p 

(2021: 8.06p)

United Kingdom 21%

Export 79%

Customer sector profile

2022

2021

2020

2019

19.60

9.51

23.07

25.23

2022

2021

2020

2019

19.59

8.06

23.05

28.16

Commercial vehicle 70%

Automotive 12%

Other 18%

Capital expenditure  
(£m)
£4.4m 

(2021: £5.2m)

Dividend per share (excluding 
supplementary dividend) (pence)
16.23p 

(2021: 15.26p)

4.4

5.2

5.3

2022

2021

2020

2019

8.2

16.23

15.26

14.88

14.78

2022

2021

2020

2019

02

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C. Chairman’s Statement

The turnover of the group 
increased to £149 million  
(£115 million last year) with a rise 
in profit before exceptional items 
and income tax to £12.1 million 
compared to £4.4 million last 
year.

Overview
We have seen an improvement in turnover 
and profit compared with the previous year’s 
trading with output being in line with the three 
year average before COVID.

The year was again affected by problems 
experienced by our major customers in the 
commercial vehicle sector mainly relating 
to semiconductors. However, things are 
improving and it is hoped that this will 
continue.

We have been subjected to large increases 
in raw materials and other input prices in 
order to maintain production. These increases 
are being passed on to our customers, but 
there is a delay in recovery which affects our 
ongoing profits in the short-term.

Foundry businesses

I am pleased to report foundry production has 
improved during the year despite recruitment 
problems which have now mainly been 
solved.

We continue to invest both at Castings 
Brownhills and William Lee to improve 
productivity, reduce labour costs and improve 
working conditions.

CNC Speedwell
It is pleasing to report the losses have 
been reduced from the previous year. The 
profitability of the business is significantly 
impacted at lower output levels because of 
the high capital investment in machinery that 
is underutilised. We are now moving back 
towards full production and we expect the 
result to improve.

Outlook
It is expected that costs will continue to 
increase in the current year, including 
significant electricity rises when our current 
fixed contract comes to an end on 30 
September 2022. Our customers have been 
made aware of the situation and the fact 
that, in order to continue to supply, the cost 
increases will be passed on.  

Our customers are now increasing their 
demand and, in this respect, they are 
more successfully managing the supply of 
semiconductors and other items in the supply 
chain. It is hoped that this will continue so 
we can enjoy improved sales in the current 
financial year.

Underpinning the improved outlook and 
on top of new customer platforms where 
we have greater content, there have been 
a number of market wins in other sectors 
including wind energy, trailer braking and 
coupling systems and innovative agricultural 
products.

Dividend
Once again our conservative financial policy 
has proved to be a strength during these 
difficult times and it is gratifying that, as 
a result, we have been able to maintain 
dividend payments during the COVID-19 
pandemic. 

The directors are recommending the payment 
of a final dividend of 12.57 pence per share to 
be paid on 19 August 2022 to shareholders 
on the register on 22 July 2022. This, 
together with the interim dividend, gives a 
total dividend for the year of 16.23 pence per 
share.

Supplementary dividend
In addition to the final dividend set out above, 
the board has reviewed the cash position 
of the group and considered the balance 
between increasing returns to shareholders 
whilst retaining flexibility for capital and other 
investment opportunities. As a result, the 
directors are declaring a supplementary 
dividend of 15.00 pence per share to be 
paid on 26 July 2022 to shareholders on 
the register on 24 June 2022. This dividend, 
being discretionary and non-recurring, does 
not compromise our commitment to invest in 
market leading technologies to maintain our 
competitive advantage.

It has been another difficult year with the 
ongoing disruption from the pandemic and, 
in this respect, I wish to thank the directors, 
senior management and all of our employees 
for their help and commitment during the 
year.

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

15 June 2022

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03

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic ReportGroup Overview and Strategy

Group overview
Castings P.L.C. is a market leading iron casting and machining group based in the UK, supplying both the domestic and export markets.

The original foundry operation dates back to 1835 and today the group comprises of three trading businesses, employing over 1,000 people in 
the UK.

The group operates two iron foundries – Castings P.L.C. (Brownhills, West Midlands) and William Lee Limited (Dronfield, Derbyshire) – together 
with the CNC Speedwell Limited machining operation which is also based in Brownhills.

The group produces Ductile iron, SG iron, Austempered ductile iron (ADI), SiMo and Ni-resist castings up to 45kg in weight. Our three Disamatic 
moulding machines and three horizontal green sand moulding machines provide a foundry capacity of 70,000 tonnes per annum.

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

Strategy
Our continued strength is largely as a result of our investment in the latest technologies and manufacturing processes. Utilising high volume 
equipment in a medium batch environment, we are perfectly positioned to our commercial vehicle focussed customer base in Europe and 
beyond.

The management team is committed to developing the business for the benefit of shareholders, employees and customers.

Our focus is to deliver long-term sustainable revenues and higher than average margins through the following strategic priorities:

Reinvestment for 
innovation and 
efficiency

We invest in the latest technologies to provide our customers with innovative design 
and production offerings and to ensure we maximise production process efficiencies. 

We seek to strike a balance in the allocation of strong cash flows between reinvestment 
and providing attractive returns for shareholders.

Increase OEM 
market share

By continuing to work collaboratively with customers to develop innovative, cost-
effective solutions, we strive to increase our market share within our existing core 
commercial vehicle customer base.

With our investment in warehousing and logistics systems, we are well placed to take 
advantage of opportunities to bring additional products to our current OEM customers.

Strength of  
balance sheet

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

Investment in  
our people

With over 1,000 employees in the UK, our workforce are a critical element to the 
continued success of the group. We are committed to developing our people through 
targeted and balanced training across all levels whilst maintaining an eye on the future 
with apprenticeship programmes in all companies in the group.

04

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C. Group Overview and Strategy

Business Model

INVESTMENT

D E S I G N   C OLLABORATION
O U R  PEOPLE

R
E
M
O
T
S
U
C
O
T

Y
R
E

V

I

L

E

D

F

O

U

N

D
R
Y

P
R
O
D
U
C
T
IO
N

MACHIN I N G
CAPABILI T I E S

INVESTMENT

VALUE FOR STAKEHOLDERS

Customers

Employees

Shareholders

Flexible, agile and 
cost-effective 
supply of high-
quality and diverse 
product range.

Long-term security 
of supply.

Training and 
investment 
allowing our 
employees to 
develop in a 
challenging 
and ambitious 
environment.

Maintaining 
competitive 
position affords 
us growth 
opportunities to 
increase returns to 
our shareholders.

Strong cash 
generation and 
a progressive 
dividend policy.

Communities 
and 
environment

We aim to 
contribute 
positively to the 
communities and 
environment in 
which we operate.

A recycler of 
steel scrap metal 
produced in 
the UK.

Design collaboration
Work closely with customers to 
develop cost-effective solutions to 
meet their needs.

Use of 3D design simulation and 
rapid prototyping.

Our people
Committed, experienced workforce 
with a high degree of technical 
knowledge.

Foundry production
High-volume moulding equipment 
used in a flexible manner (zero time 
changeovers) to allow production of 
small or large volume batches.

Ability to produce a diverse range of 
parts.

Technical expertise, investment in 
flexible automation and efficient 
working practices ensure cost of 
production is kept low, whilst quality 
of output is very high.

Machining capability
Highly invested machine shop 
focussed on the prismatic machining 
of castings primarily for the group 
customer base.

Robotic feeding of machines being 
rolled out to aid efficiencies and 
quality standards.

Vertical integration of assembly 
processes available.

Delivery to customer
Investment in logistics systems 
ensures a diverse product range is 
managed effectively meeting strict 
customer delivery deadlines.

Experience in managing logistics 
both domestically and for the export 
market.

05

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic Report 
 
 
Business and Financial Review

General overview
The year has been hampered by the fallout 
from the COVID-19 pandemic with supply 
chain restrictions impacting on the ability of 
our customers to satisfy the strong demand 
in the market. 

The first quarter saw commercial vehicle 
customers, which make up approximately 
70% of group revenue, taking product at a 
level commensurate with pre-COVID years. 
However, from the last two weeks of June 
2021 and into the second quarter, the 
OEMs had to reduce truck build rates to 
below their order intake levels, due to supply 
chain restrictions (particularly in respect of 
semiconductors).

These restrictions continued during the 
second half of the year; forward demand 
schedules from our customers remained high, 
but the conversion rate to actual sales was 
significantly below what we would normally 
expect. 

Higher production levels were maintained 
and inventory levels increased to ensure our 
facilities remained as efficient as possible 
and that we would be able to satisfy the high 
demand when it comes through. 

Raw material prices have continued to rise 
throughout the period which, with the time 
lag in the associated sales price increase, has 
continued to put pressure on margins. With 
significant increases coming through at the 
end of the year, measures have been put in 
place to pass on the rises in a more timely 
manner. 

Overview of business 
segment performance

The segmental revenue and results for the 
current and previous years are set out in 
note 2 on pages 45 and 46. An overview 
of the performance, position and future 
prospects of each segment, and the relevant 
KPIs, are set out below. 

Key Performance Indicators
The key performance indicators considered 
by the group are:

•  Segmental revenue
•  Segmental profit
•  EPS
•  Net cash
•  Dividends per share

06

Foundry operations
As set out previously, customer demand was 
strong during the first quarter of the financial 
year but fell in the second quarter and in the 
second half of the year. 

The foundry businesses experienced an 
increase in output of 24% to 49,800 tonnes 
and a rise in external sales revenue of 30% to 
£145.6 million. The output weight is broadly in 
line with the three year average before COVID  
of 49,700 tonnes.

Of the total output weight for the year, 54.0% 
related to machined castings compared to 
57.5% in the previous year. The reduction 
being a reflection of the disrupted customer 
demand patterns in the year as opposed 
to any change in the trend towards more 
complex, machined parts.

The segmental profit has increased to  
£13.1 million, from £6.7 million in the previous 
year, which represents a profit margin of 8.0% 
on total segmental sales (2021 – 5.4%). 

Whilst staff recruitment has been an issue 
during the year, this does now seem to 
be largely behind us following a significant 
recruitment drive. As a result, greater 
production efficiencies have been seen 
towards the end of the year.

Investment of £3.4 million has been made in 
the foundry businesses during the year. This 
included £0.6 million as part of a project to 
partially automate the pouring on one of the 
William Lee production lines. 

Machining
The machining business generated total 
sales of £22.5 million in the year compared to 
£18.3 million in the previous year. Of the total 
revenue, 13.3% was generated from external 
customers compared to 14.8% in 2021. 

The segmental result for the year was a loss 
of £0.9 million (2021 – loss of £2.3 million).

With the higher volumes in the first 
quarter, the benefits of the engineering 
and productivity improvements that have 
been made started to be realised and the 
machining business generated a positive 
result. 

However, the lower volumes in subsequent 
periods have a particularly negative impact on 
such a well-invested business; resulting in a 
breakeven first half and a loss for the full year. 

We have invested £0.9 million during the year, 
which is slightly lower than expected due to 
the increased lead times on new equipment. 
This investment included £0.6 million in the 
roll-out of automation which will continue 
during the current year.

Business review and 
performance
Revenue
Group revenues increased by 29.5% to  
£148.6 million compared to £114.7 million 
reported in 2021, of which 79% was exported 
(2021 – 76%).

The revenue from the foundry operations 
to external customers increased by 30% 
to £145.6 million (2021 – £112.0 million) 
with the dispatch weight of castings to 
third-party customers increasing by 24% to 
49,800 tonnes (2021 – 40,100 tonnes). 

Revenue from the machining operation to 
external customers increased by 9.8% during 
the year to £3.0 million (2021 – £2.7 million).

Operating profit and segmental result
The group operating profit for the year was 
£12.0 million compared to £4.9 million 
reported in 2021, which represents a return 
on sales of 8.1% (2021 – 4.3%). 

Finance income
The level of finance income decreased to 
£0.05 million compared to £0.08 million 
in 2021, reflecting the lower interest rates 
available on deposits for the majority of the 
year as compared to the prior year.

Profit before tax and exceptional items
Profit before tax and exceptional items has 
increased to £12.1 million from £4.4 million.

Taxation
The current year tax charge of £3.52 million 
(2021 – £0.84 million) is made up of a 
current tax charge of £1.89 million (2021 – 
£1.18 million) and a deferred tax charge of 
£1.63 million (2021 – credit of £0.35 million). 

The effective rate of tax of 29.2% (2021 
– 16.8%) is higher than the main rate of 
corporation tax of 19%. The primary reason 
for this is an adjustment to the deferred tax 
rate applied to 25% to reflect the higher rate 
of taxation from April 2023. This has resulted 
in a £1.10 million uplift on opening deferred 
tax balances to the new rate. 

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C. Business and Financial Review

Corporation tax payments during the year 
totalled £2.6 million compared to £0.7 million 
in 2021. 

Capital expenditure during the year amounted 
to £4.4 million (2021 – £5.2 million). This 
included investment of £0.6 million as part of 
a foundry moulding line automation project 
as well as other automation and productivity 
enhancements. The charge for depreciation 
was £8.6 million compared to £8.8 million in 
2021.

In the prior year, proceeds from the 
disposal of an asset held for sale of £1.7 
million represents the sale of the Fradley 
site previously occupied by the machining 
business. The proceeds were shown net of 
disposal costs and a payment to secure the 
freehold of the site.

The company pays pensions on behalf of 
the two final salary pension schemes and 
then reclaims these advances from the 
schemes (as set out in note 6). During the 
year repayments of £2.5 million (2021 – 
£2.8 million) were received from the schemes 
and advances were made to the schemes 
of £2.1 million (2021 – £2.5 million). These 
advances will be repaid to the company 
during the current financial year.

Dividends paid to shareholders were 
£6.7 million in the year (2021 – £6.5 million). 

The company purchased 26,100 shares to 
be held in treasury at a total cost of £0.08 
million.

The net cash and cash equivalents movement 
for the year was a slight decrease of  
£0.3 million (2021 – increase of £2.7 million).

At 31 March 2022, the total cash and 
deposits position was £35.7 million  
(2021 – £36.1 million). 

Pensions
The pension valuation showed a decrease in 
the surplus, on an IAS 19 (Revised) basis, to 
£9.93 million compared to £9.98 million in the 
previous year. 

The majority of the liabilities of the schemes 
are covered by an insurance asset that fully 
matches, subject to final adjustment of the 
bulk annuity pricing, the remaining pension 
liabilities of the schemes. However, there 
remains the uninsured element relating to 
the GMP equalisation liability. This liability 
has increased during the year as a result of 
the change in valuation assumptions (further 
detail is set out in note 6).

The pension 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. 

Balance sheet
Net assets at 31 March 2022 were 
£131.5 million (2021 – £129.5 million). Other 
than the total comprehensive income for 
the year of £8.7 million, the only movement 
relates to the dividend payment of £6.7 
million and the shares purchased in the year 
for £0.08 million.

Non-current assets have decreased to 
£63.2 million (2021 – £67.4 million) primarily 
as a result of investment in property, plant 
and equipment during the year being at a 
level below the depreciation charge. 

Current assets have increased to 
£102.0 million (2021 – £90.2 million). 
The increase to level of inventories and 
receivables make up this movement.

Total liabilities have increased to £33.7 million 
(2021 – £28.1 million), largely as a result of an 
increase in trade payables.

In addition, the company has benefited from 
the super-deduction on plant investment 
during the year which results in a deferred tax 
liability.

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share increased 106% to 
19.60 pence (2021 – 9.51 pence), reflecting 
the 145% increase in profit before tax and 
a higher effective tax rate compared to the 
previous year. 

Options over 32,149 shares were granted 
during the year (2021 – options over 35,292 
shares), as set out on page 30. The company 
purchased 26,100 shares during the year 
as part of a buyback programme to cover 
the outstanding share options. As a result, 
the weighted average number of shares has 
increased to 43,698,986 resulting in a diluted 
earnings per share of 19.57 pence per share 
(2021 – 9.50 pence per share).

Dividends

The directors are recommending a final 
dividend of 12.57 pence per share (2021 
– 11.69 pence per share) to be paid on 19 
August 2022 to shareholders on the register 
on 22 July 2022. This would give a total 
ordinary distribution for the year of 16.23 
pence per share (2021 – 15.26 pence per 
share). 

In addition, a supplementary dividend of 
15.00 pence per share has been declared 
which will be payable on 26 July 2022 to 
shareholders on the register on 24 June 
2022.

Cash flow
The group generated cash from operating 
activities of £12.9 million compared to 
£13.0 million in 2021. When compared 
to 2021, the variance is mainly due to a 
significant increase in operating profit of  
£7.1 million, offset by a working capital 
outflow swing of £7.7 million. 

In the year to 31 March 2022, the main 
working capital movement related to the 
build-up of inventory at higher valuations than 
the prior year, resulting in an outflow of £7.2 
million. The higher levels of activity at the end 
of the year resulted in increases in receivables 
and payables, with a net outflow of  
£0.8 million.

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07

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic ReportPrincipal Risks and Uncertainties

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

The directors regularly assess the principal 
risks facing the entity. Whilst it is difficult 
to completely 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. 
Information is also provided as to how the 
risks are, where possible, being managed or 
mitigated.

The group does not operate a formal internal 
audit function; however, risk management is 

overseen by senior management and group 
risk registers are maintained and regularly 
reviewed, alongside factors which may 
result in changes to risk assessments or 
require additional mitigation measures to be 
implemented.

External consultants are used to assess 
design and effectiveness of controls relating 
to IT security to provide specialist support to 
management in this area. 

Key risks arising or increasing in impact are 
reviewed at both group and subsidiary board 
meetings.

The impact of each risk set out below has 
been described as increased, stable or 
decreased dependent upon whether the 

business environment and group activity has 
resulted in a change to the potential impact 
of that risk. 

Several principal risks have been removed 
which have been key themes in the last 
few years. As the conditions of the United 
Kingdom’s exit from the European Union 
seems to be largely concluded and the 
resulting changes embedded, it is no longer 
considered a principal risk to the business as 
a standalone issue. Similarly, with vaccination 
programmes largely successful in major 
markets, COVID-19 has also been removed 
as a principal risk. Both issues remain subject 
to review as part of the group’s internal risk 
review process.

Risk description

Impact

Mitigation and control

Stable
The group continues to work with key 
customers producing the next generation of 
ICE commercial vehicles, whilst monitoring 
opportunities for the future.

The strategic focus of the group is evaluated 
regularly through group board meetings. 

Consideration is given to what opportunities 
might be available within alternative light-
weight metals, such as aluminium, or 
through value-added opportunities.

The group continues to monitor the 
potential market impacts from hydrogen fuel 
cell deployment (considered to be the most 
likely replacement technology for heavy-duty 
trucks).

Stable
The operational and commercial activity 
of the business is driven by customer 
demand. At present demand has the 
potential to change rapidly dependent 
upon the significant variable factors in 
the macroeconomic environment such 
as conflict in Ukraine, semi-conductor 
shortages, COVID-19 or changing regulatory 
positions.

The group’s operations are set up in 
such a way as to ensure that variation in 
demand can be accommodated and rapidly 
responded to.

Demand is closely reviewed by senior 
management on a constant basis. 

Technological change

Customers continue to invest in the 
development of electric and hydrogen 
powered vehicles to move away from 
internal combustion engines (‘ICE’).

The initial phase of this is focussed on 
passenger cars and smaller, short-range 
trucks which are not key markets for the 
group. However, the continued development 
of new technology does present a medium-
term risk to the group as c. 30% of group 
revenue arises from the supply of cast iron 
powertrain components.

It is important to note that such a change 
also presents an opportunity for the group 
to evolve its product offering, as has always 
been the case over the years.

Operational and commercial

The group’s revenues are principally derived 
from the commercial vehicle markets which 
can be subject to variations in patterns of 
demand. 

Commercial vehicle sales are linked to 
technological factors (for example emissions 
legislation) and economic growth. 

08

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Risk description

Market competition

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. 

Impact

Mitigation and control

Stable
Erosion of market share could result in loss 
of revenue and profit.

Whilst there can be no guarantee that 
business will not be lost on price, we are 
confident that we can remain competitive.

The group continues to mitigate this risk 
through investment in productivity, with a 
strong focus on cost and customer value.

Customer concentration, programme dependencies and relationships

The group has strong relationships with key 
customers in the commercial vehicle market 
which form the majority of the customer 
base.

Stable
The loss of, or deterioration in, any major 
customer relationship could have a material 
impact on the group’s results. 

We build strong relationships with our 
customers to develop products to meet 
their specific needs.

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. 

Stable
Fines or penalties could result in a loss 
of revenue, additional costs and reduced 
profits.

Foreign exchange

The group is exposed to foreign exchange 
risk on both sales and purchases 
denominated in currencies other than 
sterling, being primarily euro and US dollar. 

Stable
The group is exposed to gains or losses that 
could be material to the group’s financial 
results and can increase or decrease how 
competitive the group’s pricing is to overseas 
markets.

Whilst it is a policy of the group to 
endeavour 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.

The group’s foreign exchange risk is well-
mitigated through commercial arrangements 
with key customers.

Foreign exchange rate risk is sometimes 
partially mitigated by using forward foreign 
exchange contracts. Such contracts are 
short term in nature, matched to contractual 
cash flows and non-speculative.

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. 

Stable
A large incident could disrupt business at 
the site affected and result in significant 
rectification costs or material asset 
impairments.

Whilst this risk cannot be entirely mitigated 
without uneconomic duplication of all key 
equipment, all key equipment is maintained 
to a high standard and inventories of 
strategic equipment spares maintained. 

The foundry facilities at Brownhills and 
Dronfield have similar equipment and work 
can be transferred from one location to 
another very quickly. 

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continued

Impact

Mitigation and control

Increased
The risk of a supplier’s business interruption 
remains very high due to the current global 
business environment.

Risk description

Suppliers

The group holds long-standing relationships 
with key suppliers and there is a risk that 
a business which the group is critically 
dependent upon could be subject to 
significant disruption and that this could 
materially impact the operations of the 
group.

There are specifically high risks of semi-
conductor shortages in the supply chain, 
COVID-19 outbreaks, disruption because of 
the conflict in Ukraine or logistical delays.

Commodity and energy pricing

The group is exposed to the risk of price 
inflation on raw materials and energy 
contracts.

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. 

Increased
Changes to the pricing of the group’s 
commodity and energy purchases could 
materially impact the financial performance of 
the group if no mitigating actions were taken.

Power and raw material markets have 
become very volatile because of the current 
conflict in Ukraine and other associated 
supply issues.

Information technology and systems reliability

The group is dependent on its information 
technology (‘IT’) systems to operate its 
business efficiently, without failure or 
interruption.

The group continues to invest in IT systems 
to aid in the operational performance of the 
group and its reporting capabilities. 

There are increasing global threats faced by 
these systems as a result of sophisticated 
cyberattacks.

Stable
Significant failures to the IT systems of 
the group as a result of external factors 
could result in operational disruption and a 
negative impact on customer delivery and 
reporting capabilities.

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 group continues to maintain productive 
dialogue with key suppliers, working 
together to adjust to changes to the 
business environment.

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 typically for a period of 
at least 12 months, although renegotiation 
risks remain at contract maturity dates 
but again this is mitigated through the 
application of price adjustment clauses. 

At 31 March 2022, the group had electricity 
and gas contracts in place until  
30 September 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Whilst data within key systems is regularly 
backed up and systems subject to virus 
protection, any failure of backup systems 
or other major IT interruption could have a 
disruptive effect on the group’s business.

IT projects are reviewed and approved at 
board level and the group continues to 
invest in IT security to improve our resilience 
and response towards such threats.

The group engages with external specialists 
to regularly assess the security of the IT 
network and systems.

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continued

Risk description

Impact

Mitigation and control

Regulatory and legislative compliance

The group must comply with a wide range 
of legislative and regulatory requirements 
including modern slavery, anti-bribery 
and anti-competition legislation, taxation 
legislation, employment law and import and 
export controls.

Stable
Failure to comply with legislation could lead 
to substantial financial penalties, business 
disruption, diversion of management time, 
personal and corporate liability and loss of 
reputation.

The group maintains a comprehensive 
range of policies, procedures and training 
programmes in order to ensure that both 
management and relevant employees are 
informed of legislative changes and it is 
clear how the group’s business is expected 
to be carried out.

Whistleblowing procedures and an open-
door management style are in place 
to enable concerns to be raised and 
addressed.

Specialist advice is made available to 
management when required to ensure that 
the group is up to date with changes in 
regulation and legislation.

A working group has been formed 
to continue to monitor and report on 
developments with regards to climate risk.

As part of the renewal of energy contracts 
the group reviews whether investment in 
renewable energy sources would meet 
the group’s investment criteria and such 
proposals will continue to be considered on 
their commercial merits.

The group will continue to engage with and 
understand the needs of its stakeholders 
with regard to climate risk.

Stable
It is expected that green taxes on energy and 
the compliance cost of meeting developing 
reporting obligations for our stakeholders 
will result in increased energy prices and 
administrative expenses. 

Climate change

The group’s operations are energy-
intensive and whilst the group considers 
that its businesses provide fundamental 
components and services which will prove 
resilient in a transition towards a net zero 
economy, the board recognises the group 
is likely to receive increased scrutiny in the 
future in relation to emissions and climate 
change.

People risk

The group’s operations depend upon the 
availability of both skilled and unskilled 
labour to operate manual equipment and 
fulfil our strategic goals.

Inability to attract and retain talent could 
result in either a shortage of staff or a 
reduction in operating margins.

Increased
The labour market has been extremely 
competitive during the year.

The group looks to provide safe, stable and 
long-term employment at competitive rates 
of pay.

We invest in people development and utilise 
technology and productivity gains to ensure 
that our products remain competitively 
priced.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic ReportEnvironmental, Social and Governance

Our Strategy 
Our approach to ESG and sustainability activities continues to focus on providing safe, long-term employment for the local economy whilst 
generating sustainable value for stakeholders (set out on page 5) in a manner which is consistent with our governance obligations.

The group presents a revised ESG Report for the year to 31 March 2022 taking note of relevant industrial data points suggested in the London 
Stock Exchange guidance on ESG reporting. These metrics are used both in the context of wider ESG reporting and to support our Task Force 
on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (‘TCFD’) metric reporting. 

Environmental
As an energy-intensive industry, we understand that we must evolve in order to meet the needs of our stakeholders. The group continues to 
improve its environmental credentials in a commercially viable manner, with numerous success stories to date. We are taking proactive steps to 
build on this further working in collaboration with customers, suppliers, industry bodies and research organisations as set out in our first report 
under the TCFD framework on pages 16 and 17. The data set out in this section corroborates the strong environmental credentials of the group.

Carbon emissions
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. The group’s total CO2 
emission data is based on Scope 1 and Scope 2. Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions resulting from fuel usage and operation of facilities. 
Scope 2 emissions are indirect energy emissions resulting from purchased electricity and other power for own use.

The group collects monthly consumption information from each facility and converts to tonnes of CO2e (‘tCO2e’) produced using the DEFRA 
published national carbon conversion factors. 

Energy consumption and intensity
A key priority of the company is to manage energy efficiently, thus reducing our carbon footprint and creating value for our stakeholders. It is 
pleasing to report, in the table below, the high level trend of a reducing MWh of energy consumption as a proportion of revenue generated. 

Scope 1
Scope 2
Total energy consumption (MWh)
Total energy intensity (MWh per £’000 revenue)

2022
16,235
132,548
148,783
1.001

2021

12,829
104,644
117,493
1.024

2020

14,910
127,970
142,880
1.030

Greenhouse Gas (‘GHG’) emissions (tCO2e) 
GHG emissions are set out below under both location and market-based methods. The location-based method reflects the average emissions 
intensity of the grids on which energy consumption occurs (using mostly grid-average emission factor data), namely the UK grid for the group.

The market-based method reflects emissions from electricity that companies have specifically chosen. It derives emission factors from 
contractual instruments, which include any type of contract between two parties for the sale and purchase of energy bundled with attributes 
about the energy generation. Market-based emissions are therefore shown net of electricity supplied to the group under OFGEM certified 
renewable contracts.

Location-based 
Scope 1
Scope 2
Total location-based emissions

Market-based 
Scope 1
Scope 2
Total market-based emissions

12

2022
2,974
28,144
31,118

2022
2,974
–
2,974

2021

2,359
24,401
26,760

2021

2,359
–
2,359

2020

2,741
32,709
35,450

2020

2,741
–
2,741

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Environmental, Social and Governance

GHG intensity (location-based)

Revenue intensity (tCO2e per £’000 revenue)
      Foundry operations (gross revenue)
      Machining operations (gross revenue)
      Group total (net revenue)

Production intensity (tCO2e per production tonne)
      Foundry operations
      Group total

2022

2021

2020

0.199
0.088
0.209

0.512
0.547

0.222
0.102
0.233

0.564
0.606

0.242
0.112
0.254

0.613
0.660

For the foundry businesses, the most appropriate metric to measure the intensity of GHG emissions is by production tonne; this has decreased 
to 0.512 (2021 – 0.564) tCO2e per production tonne. We actively seek to minimise energy use in the group, particularly in the foundry 
businesses, so it is pleasing to see a reduction in emissions per tonne produced in each of the last two financial years. Energy efficiency is 
maximised when the plants can operate uninterrupted which has been more achievable this year, after the disruption last year due to COVID-19.

The machining operation does not have a production weight, therefore, the relevant intensity metric used is emissions per thousand pounds of 
machining revenue; emissions have decreased to 0.088 (2021 – 0.102) tCO2e per £000. This reduction has been achieved despite producing at 
lower than optimal volumes for the machining business during the period.

Whilst many foundry competitors still utilise fossil fuels to power furnaces, generating direct emissions, the group’s operations utilise furnaces 
and CNC machines which are powered by purchased electricity. This allows the plant and equipment to be fuelled by power purchased from 
commercial energy providers supplying power from OFGEM certified renewable sources.  

Waste, water and recycling
The group has made significant investments in scrap metal, plastic and cardboard recycling in the last three years. The table below sets out the 
group‘s waste classifications and water use:

Recycled waste (tonnes)
Non-recycled waste (tonnes)
Hazardous waste (tonnes)
Water use (m3)

Intensity
Recycled waste (tonnes per thousand tonnes produced)
Non-recycled waste (tonnes per thousand tonnes produced)
Hazardous waste (tonnes per thousand tonnes produced)
Water use (m3 per thousand tonnes produced)

2022
48
35,070
586
65,689

0.84
615.93
10.30
1.154

2021

31
28,964
418
49,715

0.70
656.33
9.48
1.127

2020

54
35,565
557
63,018

0.99
644.79
10.10
1.143

Significant efforts have been made to increase the recycling of core by-products from the production process and this effort remains part of the 
day-to-day management of the businesses. The group has compacted and sold waste bales of plastic and cardboard for several years and 
continues to seek ways of increasing the recycling profile. 

Another recent investment was c.£0.5 million on scrap metal recycling facilities in the machining business, enabling waste products arising 
during the machining process to be re-melted at the group’s foundry operations as opposed to having to be disposed of externally. The recycling 
process reduces the group’s raw material cost, the volume of raw material required to be produced by the supply chain as a whole and the level 
of energy required to be consumed in the production of machined iron castings. Although this process is more energy efficient for the group, 
the main benefits in GHG emissions are seen through a reduction in the purchasing of materials produced through energy-intensive mining 
processes (which the group purchases in a recycled form) as opposed to a direct reduction in the group’s own GHG output.

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13

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic Report 
 
Environmental, Social and Governance
continued

The vast majority of the non-recycled waste relates to sand. The group is in the process of appraising a sand-reclamation project which, if 
successful, would enable sand to be reused in the foundry processes. In addition, the group is working with industry bodies that sponsor local 
university research projects with an aim to identify a commercial use for this production by-product to further reduce landfill waste.

In recent years the group has been able to reduce the volume of hazardous waste it produces through investments in evaporation and recycling 
equipment, reducing the disposal costs to the group. However, these investments were made prior to 2020 and therefore the improvements 
are not evident in the data above. The group has an ongoing project to assess further ways of extracting hazardous waste from non-hazardous 
elements, thus disposing of a smaller volume of hazardous waste in total. 

The majority of the water consumed by the group is within the foundry production process, particularly within the sand mills. As a result, it is not 
anticipated that the volume of water consumed will reduce significantly other than with variations in production volumes.

There have been no environmental fines in the past three years and NOx, SOx and VOC emissions are not material.

The group’s facilities are ISO 14001 accredited, and our practices and procedures are subject to regular environmental audits by external 
consultants.

The group demands that all activities and services comply with applicable laws and regulations. 

Social 
The foundation of the group’s strength is its people. We strive to support our employees’ health and wellbeing while driving a performance 
culture of business understanding and shared values. 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. 

Proportion of new employees joining on temporary or short-term contracts
Number of apprentices recruited 
Staff turnover*

2022
0.0%
10
21.1%

2021
0.0%
9
17.1%

2020
0.0%
9
20.0%

*  Staff turnover is calculated by reference to the number of people who have left employment (having worked for at least a three month period) 

as a proportion of the average number of employees for the year. 

The group is a significant employer in each of the locations it operates and takes pride in operating its business based on permanent contracts, with 
employees carrying full employee status and without the use of zero hours contracts. As a result, the group traditionally has excellent staff retention 
levels and a dedicated, long-term focussed workforce. In recent years we have seen a number of factors impacting staff turnover levels, including 
structural shift changes, the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated furlough period. The pandemic has influenced employees decisions on earlier 
retirement and recruitment has undoubtedly been challenging in the last twelve months. With greater stability in customer demand and production 
levels, it is anticipated that staff turnover levels will reduce as the workforce becomes more settled.

In addition to the structured apprenticeship training, the group provides internal, external and continuous on-the-job training for all staff as 
required. As a result of the nature of the training carried out, the group does not collate data concerning the number of hours of training 
conducted each year. 

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.

14

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.  
Environmental, Social and Governance

continued

Equality, diversity and inclusion
Recognising the demands of our customers and our strategy, the group’s diversity and recruitment policy is to recruit the best available people 
and to invest in their training and development to enable a high level of retention. We are committed to diversity and equality, judging applications 
for employment neither by race, nationality, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation nor political bias. We have made a commitment to consider 
applicants from a wide range of educational backgrounds and have an active apprenticeship programme.

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 2022 was as follows:

Non-executive directors
Executive directors
Senior managers
Other employees

Male
3
2
25
1,045
1,075

Female
–
–
3
110
113

Human rights
The group’s operations are all based in the United Kingdom. Each of the group’s businesses has a core of long-standing, local suppliers and 
several key partners based in the European Union. The group has minimal activity with suppliers outside of these areas, therefore due to the 
existing regulatory controls in our core areas of geographical activity human rights is not considered to be a material issue. 

Management have a high level of involvement in the day-to-day activities of the business and its suppliers and are trained to identify areas of 
concern which may not align with the standards the group demands. The board receives regular updates on corporate responsibility issues 
including the UK Modern Slavery Act.

We have a Code of Conduct that sets out our policy on compliance with legislation, child labour, anti-slavery and human trafficking and 
conditions of employment. 

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. 

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. Health and safety training is a 
continual process at each site and therefore is done on a regular basis and covering all levels within the group.

Given the reduced activity in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the intensity figures based on million hours worked provide a more 
reasonable comparison from one year to the next in the data below.

Lost time incidents 

Accidents 
RIDDORs 
Near misses (foundries only)

Intensity (per million hours worked)
Accidents
RIDDORs
Near misses (foundries only)

2022
185
10
40

77.0
4.2
23.3

2021
144
6
41

78.2
3.3
32.2

2020
172
4
118

74.2
1.7
70.4

15

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic Report 
Environmental, Social and Governance
continued

We have seen a reduction to both the number of accidents and near misses (foundries only as it is currently reported differently internally within 
the machining business) relative to the number of hours worked, albeit there was a slight increase in the number of RIDDORs (an incident 
resulting in absence of at least seven consecutive shifts). Management will continue to strive to reduce these figures further and investments 

continue to be made in areas where the accident risks are the greatest.

Governance 

Strong and straightforward corporate governance underpins all our business activities. The group’s arrangements are set out in the Corporate 
Governance section on pages 24 and 25. 

There have been no political contributions made in the past three years.

Responsible business
We are committed to conducting business with the utmost integrity and in accordance with the Bribery Act 2010 and have a clear Anti-Bribery 
and Corruption Policy in place, which is available on the company website. 

Non-financial information statement
We comply with the Non-Financial Reporting requirements contained in sections 414CA and 414CB of the Companies Act 2006. Information 
regarding our business model is set out on page 5 and our policies on environmental matters, employees, social matters, human rights and anti-
corruption and anti-bribery matters are disclosed on pages 12 to 16. 

Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures

The group’s audit and risk committee reviews the group risk register at least annually. Climate risk is expected to 
continue to be a principal risk to the business going forward and therefore is expected to continue to form a part 
of this review.

Executive management have formed a working group, which has access to professional advice and support, to 
continue to understand the group’s climate-related risks and opportunities and the associated impacts upon the 
group, its stakeholders and markets.

Significant changes to the group’s climate-related risks and opportunities identified by the working group are 
reported through changes to the group risk register.

Short term (0-2 years)
The group can provide casting, machining, assembly and ancillary services with a low level of transport (and 
therefore GHG emissions emitted) between group sites and with manufacturing powered primarily by electricity 
generated from renewable sources. 

Management believes this places the business in a strong position to support its customers’ and stakeholders’ 
environmental aspirations, particularly when compared to coal-powered or geographically disparate competitors. 

Recycling, energy efficient plant solutions and waste management continue to be areas of focus with regard to 
reducing the group’s carbon footprint and landfill waste. Through its participation in industry bodies the group 
supports several research projects to find commercial uses for remaining waste materials, such as sand.

Medium term (2-8 years)
There is an opportunity for the group to utilise its considerable production experience, financial resource and 
relationships as a supplier to the established commercial vehicle markets to enter new or additional product 
categories as they develop at scale.

Long term (8 years+)
There is a risk that the market for the group’s cast iron internal combustion engine (‘ICE’) products could reduce 
in size because of a transition away from diesel ICEs currently used in heavy commercial vehicles.

Governance

Board oversight and 
management role

Strategy

Climate-related risks 
and opportunities

16

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continued

Impact on the group’s 
strategy and financial 
planning

The group’s plant is depreciated over a maximum life of 15 years and is not considered at risk of impairment 
because of a reduction in cast iron business under currently reasonably foreseeable circumstances. 

Commercial vehicles could in the long term be powered by either batteries or hydrogen fuel cells, meaning 
demand for the group’s diesel combustion engine parts could reduce. However, it is expected that:

•  This transition will be a medium to long-term, gradual strategic issue and therefore investment will be 

appropriately managed to avoid redundant undepreciated plant that may become subject to impairment.

•  Structural parts to heavy goods vehicles will potentially continue to be made from cast iron due to the 

material’s favourable characteristics.

Strategy

Resilience of 
the company’s 
strategy, taking 
into consideration 
different climate-
related scenarios

Process for 
identifying and 
managing risks

The board continues to closely monitor short, medium and long-term market trends as they develop, but has not 
conducted or reported scenario analysis linking the group’s strategy to the possible impacts of climate change. 

The group is working to identify whether it can carry out meaningful scenario analysis of climate-related scenarios, 
including a 2-degree scenario, at a resource level which is in the interests of stakeholders.

The working group formed to review climate-related risks and opportunities identifies and manages climate-
related risks. The working group includes the Group Finance Director, Group Financial Controller, Group Health, 
Safety and Environment Director, the Group CEO where appropriate and other members of the group’s senior 
management team when relevant issues are due for discussion.

The working group has been supported by external advisers both with regard to market developments and ESG 
reporting during the year and following this the working group have established an appropriate internal response 
to developments.

Any significant issues will continue to be raised to the audit and risk committee through the review of the group 
risk register and associated updates.

Metrics and targets

Metrics have been reported within the relevant sections of the group ESG Report. Consideration is being 
given as to the targets that might be used by the group to manage climate-related risks and opportunities and 
performance against those targets.

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17

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic ReportViability Statement

In conducting the review of the group’s long-term prospects, the directors considered economic and market conditions in conjunction with the 
strategy and the principal risks facing the group (as set out in the Strategic Report on pages 2 to 19). This assessment considered the impact of 
the principal risks on the business model and on future performance, liquidity and solvency and was mindful of the limited forward visibility that 
the group has in respect of its major market of commercial vehicles. The review has been performed against the backdrop of uncertain levels of 
demand following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In preparing this statement of viability, the directors have considered the prospects of the group over the threeyear period immediately following 
the financial year ended 31 March 2022. This longer-term assessment process supports the board’s statements on both viability, as set out 
below, and going concern (on page 25).

A three year period was determined as the most appropriate for the purpose of concluding on longer-term viability, given the limited forward 
visibility of the group.

The directors’ viability assessment included a review of three year profit and cash flow estimates, alongside the group’s current position, and 
a review of the sensitivity analysis performed on the three year estimate whereby the principal risks, particularly those related to markets and 
customers, were applied to the plan. The assessment was based on current demand schedules from customers and assumed that these levels 
remained consistent for the three year period. The sensitivity analysis was based on the assumption that demand levels were reduced by 50% 
for the three year period.

In making this viability statement, the directors considered the mitigating actions that would be taken by the group in the event that the principal 
risks of the company become realised. The directors also took into consideration the group’s strong financial position at 31 March 2022, with 
cash and deposits of £35.7 million, no debt and a history of strong cash generation.

The directors have assessed the viability of the group and, based on the procedures outlined above in addition to activities undertaken by the 
board in its normal course of business, confirm that they have a reasonable expectation that the group will be able to continue in operation and 
meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period to 31 March 2025.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C. S172(1) Statement

Principal decisions taken 
during the year
Supplementary dividend
The board declared a supplementary dividend 
of 15.00 pence per share as set out in note 
9. During our engagement with investors, the 
level of cash maintained by the company was 
discussed and the board decided to exercise 
their discretion and return an additional 
£6.5 million to shareholders. In reaching this 
decision the board considered the company’s 
solvency at the time and the impact on 
the creditors of the company. The board 
concluded that the payment of the dividend 
had no material effect on the company’s 
ongoing business and also that the company 
had sufficient distributable reserves to pay the 
dividend.

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

A. Vicary 
Chief Executive Officer

15 June 2022

The following disclosures describe how the 
directors have had regard to the matters set 
out in section 172(1)(a) to (f), relating to the 
directors’ duty to promote the success of the 
company, and forms the directors’ statement 
required under section 414CZA(1) of the 
Companies Act 2006.

Stakeholder engagement
Our success depends on the relationships 
we have with the people, communities 
and organisations that have an interest in 
our business and may be impacted by the 
decisions we take. The key stakeholders are 
set out in the business model on page 5 and 
the manner of our engagement with them is 
described below.

Customers
Dedicated sales, technical and production 
teams engage with customers to foster a 
collaborative working relationship for the long 
term. Investment in the latest production 
technologies ensures we provide the quality, 
efficiency and on-time delivery they require.

Employees
An important part of the culture of the group 
is our open-door style of management. All 
senior personnel are visible throughout the 
business on a daily basis engaging with the 
workforce across all levels; it is important 
to both the company and our employees 
that they have that chance to share their 
opinions. In addition, regular function-specific 
committee meetings take place as well as 
regular information sharing to the whole 
workforce. 

Shareholders
We engage with our shareholders through a 
number of channels which include the Annual 
Report, AGM, investor site visits, one-to-
one meetings and telephone conversations. 
They are interested in the strategy and its 
execution, generating strong returns and 
maintaining financial discipline. We report and 
discuss these areas on a regular basis.

Communities and environment
As a significant employer for each area 
where we are based, we support local 
employment and apprenticeship schemes. 
We seek to engage and collaborate with 
local educational institutes where possible 
and increase the overall visibility of the group. 
The local communities are keen to ensure 
we are supporting and investing in local 
jobs, operating safely and ethically as well 
as reducing our environmental impact. We 
provide direct employment to over 1,000 
people, invest in our facilities to provide a 
safe workplace and consider opportunities to 
ensure a more sustainable strategy.

Suppliers
We seek to improve our business 
relationships with our key suppliers to protect 
the operations of the company. We engage 
with suppliers to ensure they comply with our 
code of conduct to maintain high standards 
of supply.

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19

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Strategic ReportBoard of Directors

Executive directors
Adam Vicary 
Chief Executive Officer
Having obtained a degree in metallurgy and 
a business masters, Adam has worked in 
the foundry industry for all of his career and 
joined the company in September 2010 as 
joint managing director. He was appointed to 
the main board in April 2012, becoming chief 
executive on 31 March 2017.

Steve Mant 
Finance Director 
Steve is a fellow of the ICAEW and joined the 
company in June 2010. He 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. 

Andrew Eastgate 
Independent Non-executive Director 
Andrew was appointed a director on  
1 September 2018 and is an independent 
director. He is a solicitor and was a partner in 
Pinsents and is currently chairman of Epwin 
Group plc. Until 31 May 2019 he was non-
executive director of Headlam Group plc and 
was chairman of the remuneration committee. 
Andrew is chairman of the remuneration and 
nomination committees and is also a member 
of the audit and risk committee.

Non-executive directors
Brian Cooke 
Chairman 
Brian 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 executive 
chairman since 1983, becoming non-
executive chairman on 31 March 2015. 

Alec Jones 
Senior Independent Non-executive 
Director 
Alec 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 
chairman of the audit and risk committee and 
is also a member of the remuneration and 
nomination committees. 

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Board of Directors

Directors’ Report

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; 26,100 shares were purchased during 
the year (2021 – nil) at a total cost of £78,661 (2021 – nil).

Directors

The directors of the company are listed on page 20 and their interests in the ordinary share 
capital at the beginning and end of the year were:

Beneficial holdings

B. J. Cooke
A. Vicary
S. J. Mant
A. K. Eastgate
A. N. Jones

2022
Total 
1,993,936
35,000
9,250
1,000
—

2021
Total 
1,978,936
30,000
5,000
1,000
—

Since the year end, B. J. Cooke and S. J. Mant purchased 5,000 and 3,100 shares 
respectively. There have been no other changes in the shareholdings of directors since the year 
end.

In accordance with Provision 18 of the UK Corporate Governance Code all directors 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.

The unexpired period of the contracts of service for A. Vicary and S. J. Mant is one year. 
B. J. Cooke, A. N. Jones and A. K. Eastgate do not have contracts of service. 

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 a director and the board  
has the power to appoint any person to be a director, but any director so appointed will be 
subject to election at the next Annual General Meeting. 

There is no minimum shareholding requirement for directors.

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 contract of 
the business.

The directors submit the Annual 
Report and audited consolidated 
financial statements of Castings 
P.L.C. for the year ended 
31 March 2022.

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 19.

Financial results and 
dividend
The profit for the year after taxation was 
£8,552,000 (2021 – £4,149,000), full details 
of which are set out in the consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income on page 
38.

An interim dividend of 3.66 pence per share 
was paid in January 2022 in respect of the 
year ended 31 March 2022.

The directors recommend a final dividend of 
12.57 pence per share payable on  
19 August 2022 to shareholders on the 
register on 22 July 2022, making a total 
ordinary distribution of 16.23 pence for the 
year.

A supplementary dividend of 15.00 pence 
per share has been declared which will be 
payable on 26 July 2022 to shareholders on 
the register on 24 June 2022.

Share capital
The company’s capital consists of 
43,632,068 (2021 – 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, Link Asset Services, 

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Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022 
Further details of employee involvement 
and the group’s policy on the employment 
of disabled persons are given under the 
Environmental, Social and Governance 
section on pages 12 to 17 and the S172(1) 
statement on page 19. 

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. Further 
details of health and safety are given under 
the Environmental, Social and Governance 
section on pages 12 to 17.

Financial instruments 

Details of the use of financial instruments 
by the group are contained in note 19 in the 
notes to the financial statements. 

Research & development
Activities and likely future developments for 
the business are described in the Strategic 
Report on pages 2 to 19.

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. 

Post balance sheet events
There were no reportable subsequent events 
following the balance sheet date.

Directors’ Report
continued

Substantial shareholdings 
As at 15 June 2022, the company had been notified, in accordance with DTR Rule 5, of the 
following disclosable interests, including directors, in its voting rights: 

Number
8,749,156
6,107,078
2,191,674
1,993,936
1,600,000

%
20.1
14.0
5.0
4.6
3.7

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 2022. The authority 
is sought by way of a special resolution, 
details of which are also included in the 
Notice of Meeting as item 12. 

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.

Stakeholder engagement
The key stakeholders are set out in the 
Business Model on page 5. The engagement 
and decisions taken during the year are 
set out in the Section 172(1) statement on 
page 19.

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. 

Ruffer LLP 
Aberforth Partners’ Clients
Threadneedle Asset Management Limited
B. J. Cooke 
Rathbone Investment Management Ltd 

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

Directors’ authority to allot shares 
Approval will be sought to renew the authority 
given to the directors to allot shares in the 
company in accordance with section 551 
of the Companies Act 2006. The present 
authority was granted on 19 August 2021 
and under the Companies Act must be 
renewed at least every five years. The 
renewed authority would therefore expire on 
15 August 2027, but will be put to annual 
shareholder approval. 

Authority will also be sought from 
shareholders to allow the directors to allot 
equity securities for cash as if section 561 
of the Act (which gives shareholders certain 
pre-emption rights on the issue of shares) 
did not apply. Such allotments being up to 
a maximum nominal amount of £218,160, 
being approximately 5% of the current issued 
share capital. The renewed authority would 
expire on 15 August 2023.

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

The proposed resolutions are set out as items 
10 and 11 in the Notice of Meeting. 

Authority to purchase own shares 
At the Annual General Meeting in 2021, 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 

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Independent auditor 
The auditor, Mazars LLP, have indicated their 
willingness to continue in office. A resolution 
proposing their reappointment as auditor 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 auditor is 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 auditor is 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 pages 24 and 25.

Greenhouse gas emissions 
Details of the group’s greenhouse gas 
emissions are set out on pages 12 and 13.

Cautionary statement 
Under the Companies Act, a company’s 
Strategic Report and Directors’ Report 
are 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 Environmental, 
Social and Governance section 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 in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006 and UK Financial 
Reporting 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 include 
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. 

The directors consider that the Annual 
Report and financial statements, taken as a 
whole, is fair, balanced and understandable 
and provides the information necessary for 
shareholders to assess the company’s  
and group’s performance, business model 
and strategy.

On behalf of the board 

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

15 June 2022

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23

Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022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 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code and will continue to adhere 
to them where it is in the interests of the 
business, and of the 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. 

Board of directors 
The board meets regularly to monitor the 
current state of business and to determine  
its future strategic direction. 

During the financial year, the board comprised 
two 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. 

The Chairman is a non-executive director. 
However, given that he joined the company 
in 1960 and has previously served as 
chief executive of the company, he is not 
considered to be independent under the UK 
Corporate Governance Code. However, the 
board consider his knowledge of the industry 
and advice to continue to be invaluable to the 
group and that this outweighs concerns as to 
his independence from the company. 

A. N. Jones has served on the board for 
more than nine years, having been appointed 
in April 2012. Notwithstanding the length of 
service, the board considered that he remains 
independent and that the skill and experience 
he brings to his position of chairman of 

the audit and risk committee as well as his 
overall contribution to the board remains of 
significant value to the group.

The directors maintain their knowledge 
through a combination of technical and 
market bulletins and attendance at seminars. 
The company secretary has responsibility for 
bringing new regulatory developments to the 
attention of the board. 

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 26.

Remuneration committee 
Further details are set out in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on page 27. 

Nomination committee 
This committee comprises the two non-
executive directors and is chaired by  
A. K. Eastgate and met once during the 
year. The committee takes an active role in 
considering, with the wider board, the overall 
culture of the company. It is also involved in 
ensuring the company considers equality, 
inclusion and diversity in senior management 
positions. 

The terms of reference for the three 
committees are available on the company’s 

website www.castings.plc.uk.

Effectiveness
The board undertakes an annual assessment 
of its own performance, its committees and 
the directors. The executive directors are 
appraised annually by the chairman and 
the non-executive directors. The chairman 
is appraised annually by the non-executive 
directors. The chairman considers the 

effectiveness of each non-executive director 
annually. 

The results of these appraisals are considered 
by the Remuneration Committee for 
the determination of their remuneration 
recommendations. 

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. The board has an agreed 
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. There have been no conflicts 
identified during the year.

Attendance at board and board committee 
meetings during the year is detailed in the 
table shown below (including attendances 
when not formally a member of a specific 
committee due to corporate governance 
guidelines):

Board

Audit and risk 
committee

Remuneration 
committee

Required to 
attend 
9
9
9
9
9

Attended 
8
9
9
9
9

Required to 
attend 
—
—
—
4
4

Attended 
4
4
4
4
4

Required to 
attend 
—
—
—
2
2

Attended 
2
—
—
2
2

Director 
B. J. Cooke 
A. Vicary
S. J. Mant 
A. N. Jones
A. K. Eastgate

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Relations with 
shareholders 
The company holds meetings from time 
to time with institutional shareholders 
to discuss the company’s strategy and 
financial performance. The board regularly 
receives copies of analysts’ and brokers’ 
briefings. The chairman is available to 
meet major shareholders on request to 
discuss governance and strategy. The 
senior independent director and other 
non-executive director are also available to 
meet shareholders if requested. 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 
financial statements. 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. 

The directors confirm they have established 
procedures necessary to implement the 
internal control guidance for directors such 
that they comply with the 2018 UK Corporate 
Governance Code for the accounting year 
ended on 31 March 2022. 

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. 

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. 

For each business there are regular weekly 
and monthly reports, reviewed by boards 
and management, which contain both written 
reports and management accounts. The 
accounts include income statements and 
balance sheets for the year 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 auditor, who is 
engaged to express an opinion on the group 
financial statements, also considers the 
systems of internal financial control to the 
extent necessary to express that opinion. The 
external auditor reports the results of their 
work to management, including members of 
the board and the audit and risk 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 financial 
statements. 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 financial statements. 

The directors’ assessment of going concern, 
and the viability statement on page 18, 
included a review of the group’s financial 
forecasts and financial instruments for a 
three year period. The directors considered 
a range of potential scenarios including an 
assessment of impacts of COVID-19 on 
future demand 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, 

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 2018 
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 2022 the 
company complied with the 2018 UK 
Corporate Governance Code other than the 
following points: 

•  Whilst there were three non-executive 
directors during the year, two have 
served for more than nine years as at 31 
March 2022 and one of which was not 
independent on appointment. However, 
the board recognises the value they bring 
to the group. 

•  The non-executive directors do not have 

specified term contracts. 

•  The finance director also performs the 

role of company secretary as there is no 
one else within the business qualified to 
fulfil the position. The role of company 
secretary is not full-time.

These are considered acceptable given the 
size of the company and the way in which it 
operates. 

By order of the board 

S. J. Mant  
Company Secretary 

15 June 2022

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Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022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 provide advice on whether 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 auditor; 

to review and monitor the external auditor 
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 auditor to 
supply non-audit services; and 

• 

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

Committee composition 
and meetings
The audit and risk committee comprises the 
two non-executive directors and is chaired by 
A. N. Jones. The chairman, 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 
representatives of the group’s

external auditor. At meetings attended by 
the external auditor time is allowed for the 
committee to discuss issues with the external 
auditor 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 and 
accounting judgements
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 auditor. 

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; and

reviewed the viability statement and 
agreed an appropriate assessment period 
and the reasonableness of the profit and 
loss and cash flow estimates, together 
with an evaluation of the main risks 
affecting the viability of the company over 
that time frame.

Internal control
During the year, the committee reviewed 
the effectiveness of the group’s system of 
internal controls and risk management and 
the disclosures of the results in this Annual 
Report. 

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

External auditor
The committee oversees the relationship with 
the external auditor 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 auditor and the effectiveness 
of the audit process. At the outset of the 
audit process, the committee receives from 
the auditor 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 2022 financial 
year, management was 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; there have been no such services 
provided during the year.

Mazars LLP (‘Mazars’) has been the group’s 
external auditor since 2020. In June 2021 
the committee reviewed the external audit 
mandate and confirmed the continuing 
appointment of Mazars. This was on the 
basis the committee were satisfied with the 
quality of the audit and that the Mazars audit 
team remained objective and independent. 
The committee has 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 UK Corporate Governance Code. 

A. N. Jones 
Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee

15 June 2022

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Audit and Risk Committee Report

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 2022.

The aim of the remuneration policy is to produce an outcome which is sufficiently competitive to retain, motivate and, where necessary, recruit 
executive directors and senior management whilst supporting the business objectives of the group. The remuneration structure is straightforward 
and transparent, striking an appropriate balance between fixed and performance-related remuneration.

When determining the application of the remuneration policy, the committee considered clarity, simplicity, risk, predictability, proportionality and 
alignment to culture as set out in the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code. We operate simple variable pay arrangements which are aligned 
with the group’s strategy and interests of all stakeholders.

Under the remuneration policy, the remuneration committee has the discretion to pay a bonus to the executive directors if, in its opinion, 
the bonus otherwise payable (based on 1% of profit before tax in excess of £10 million) does not adequately recognise the performance 
of the individual. During the year, the executive directors managed the group through not only the continuing effects of the coronavirus 
pandemic but also the consequences of customers’ supply chain issues, particularly relating to semi-conductors. In order to recognise 
their performance, the remuneration committee awarded each of the executive directors a discretionary bonus of £30,000, in addition to 
the bonus  otherwise payable.

By order of the board

A. K. Eastgate 
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 

15 June 2022

Remuneration committee 

The remuneration committee is chaired by A. K. Eastgate and comprises the two non-executive directors. The group chairman, whilst not a 
formal member of the committee, is also invited to attend meetings. The remuneration committee is responsible within the authority delegated 
by the board for determining the remuneration policy and for determining the specific remuneration packages for each of the executive directors 
and the chairman. The committee also monitors the structure of remuneration of senior management. None of the executive directors were 
present at meetings of the committee during consideration of their own remuneration. 

The remuneration committee’s terms of reference are available on the company’s website www.castings.plc.uk. 

Statement of shareholding voting
The voting to approve last year’s annual report on the directors’ remuneration and the directors’ remuneration policy at the respective AGMs are 
set out in the following table:

Annual report on remuneration – approved at AGM on 19 August 2021

Directors’ remuneration policy – approved at AGM on 13 August 2020

Votes for 
(including 
discretionary) 
Number
% 
29,474,776
99.99%
25,638,352
76.78%

Votes 
against 
Number
%
2,140
0.01%
7,751,961
23.22%

Total 
number of 
votes cast
29,476,916

Number 
of votes 
withheld
1,738

33,390,313

—

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27

Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Directors’ Remuneration Report
continued

Remuneration policy
The underlying policy in setting the remuneration of the executive directors is that it shall be designed to attract, retain and motivate the directors 
and be reasonable and fair in relation to their responsibilities. 

Detailed policy
The table below sets out the Directors’ Remuneration Policy for executive directors for the three year period commencing on 13 August 2020.

Remuneration element

Purpose and link to strategy

Operation

Maximum potential value

Base salary

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

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

Benefits

To provide broadly market 
competitive benefits as part of the 
total remuneration package.

Annual bonus

To reward contribution to the 
performance of the group, aligned 
to shareholder interests.

Currently include the provision of 
car benefit, private healthcare, life 
assurance and income protection. 
Benefits are reviewed annually taking 
into account market practice. The 
committee does have discretion to alter 
benefits.

Bonus is based on 1% of the profit 
before tax (excluding exceptional 
items) that is in excess of £10 million, 
subject to variation at the discretion of 
the committee. The committee does 
have discretion to pay an annual bonus 
(not to exceed 50% of base salary) 
if, in its opinion, the bonus otherwise 
payable does not adequately recognise 
the performance of the individual. It is 
anticipated that this discretion would 
only be used in unusual circumstances.

Whilst no absolute maximum is 
prescribed, increases will take 
account of other salary increases 
across the group. However, in 
certain circumstances, including 
changing roles and responsibilities, 
market levels and individual and 
group performance, the committee 
will have discretion to award larger 
increases.

Whilst the committee has not set 
an absolute maximum on the level 
of benefits, these are set at a level 
that the committee considers 
appropriate against the market.

The annual bonus cannot exceed 
125% of base salary.

To provide competitive retirement 
benefits as part of the overall 
remuneration package.

Executive Directors receive 7% of base 
salary as contributions to personal 
pension plans or a cash equivalent.

7% of base salary.

Awards will normally be granted to 
a value of 25% of the base salary 
at the time of granting, though the 
committee has the discretion to 
increase this to 50% of base salary 
in exceptional circumstances.

To provide a mechanism to enable 
executive directors to build a 
shareholding in the company with a 
view to providing a further incentive 
and alignment with the interests of 
shareholders.

Awards will be in the form of nil-cost 
options and will normally vest three 
years after the date of grant, subject to 
continued employment with the group. 
Awards will normally be subject to a 
two year holding period after vesting 
and may be granted on the basis that 
the participant shall be entitled to an 
additional benefit (in cash or shares) 
in respect of dividends paid over the 
subsequent holding period. Awards 
are subject to malus and clawback 
provisions covering such matters as 
material misstatement of financial 
results, material irregularity and 
misconduct.

Pension

Share plan

28

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Directors’ Remuneration Report

continued

Non-executive director remuneration
The fees paid to non-executive directors are set by reference to current levels in the market. Non-executive directors do not receive benefits 
(except for the chairman) or participate in the company’s bonus schemes, nor are they eligible to join a company pension scheme. 

Implementation in 2022/23
The committee has considered market rates and increases awarded to all employees in determining the base salary increases for the executive 
directors for 2022/23. The committee did not consult directly with the workforce or any external consultants. The chief executive officer and 
finance director receive a base salary of £317,452 and £230,890 respectively for the year ending 31 March 2023.

Scenario charts
The following charts set out the potential total remuneration payments for the year ended 31 March 2023 under our remuneration policy based 
on the following assumptions:

•  Minimum – base salary, no bonus payment and no share option award.

•  Prior year – base salary, bonus based on profit as for year ended 31 March 2022 and 25% of base salary as share option award.

•  Maximum – base salary, bonus of 125% of base salary and 25% of base salary as share option award.

Chief Executive Officer

Finance Director

Minimum

100%

Minimum

100%

FY22 result

75%

6%

19%

FY22 result

74%

7% 19%

Maximum

40%

50%

10%

Maximum

40%

50%

10%

0

50

100

150

200 250 300 350

400

450 500 550

600

650

700

750

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

Remuneration £000

Remuneration £000

 Salary 

 Bonus 

 Share option award

Recruitment policy
In the event of the recruitment of a new executive director, the remuneration package would reflect the policy set out above so far as is possible. 
The overall maximum level of variable remuneration which may be granted (excluding “buyout” awards as referred to below) is 175% of salary. 

The committee may make payments or awards in respect of hiring an employee to “buyout” remuneration arrangements forfeited on leaving 
a previous employer. In doing so, the committee will take account of relevant factors, including any performance conditions attached to the 
forfeited arrangements and the time over which they would have vested. The committee will generally seek to structure ‘buyout’ awards or 
payments on a comparable basis to the remuneration arrangement forfeited. Any such payments or awards are excluded from the maximum 
level of variable remuneration referred to above. Fees payable on the appointment of a chairman or non-executive director would be in line with 
the fee policy in place at the time of appointment.

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 21.

Directors’ contracts 
The executive directors entered into new service contracts on 4 June 2020. The contracts are terminable on twelve months’ notice, which is 
considered by the committee to be appropriate, and do not contain any provision for predetermined compensation in the event of termination. 
Any payments for loss of office would be determined at the time taking into account all the circumstances. Non-executive directors do not have 
a contract of service.

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29

Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Directors’ Remuneration Report
continued

Annual Report on Directors’ Remuneration

Directors’ remuneration during the year (audited)
The directors’ remuneration for the year ended 31 March 2022 is set out in the table below.

Salary/fees
Benefits
Pension contributions
Total fixed remuneration
Performance-related bonus
Total variable remuneration
Total remuneration

B. J. Cooke

A. Vicary

S. J. Mant

A. N. Jones

A. K. Eastgate

2022 
£000 
85
9
—
94
—
—
94

2021 
£000
85
9
—
94
—
—
94

2022 
£000 
298
13
12
323
53
53
376

2021 
£000
294
13
12
319
—
—
319

2022 
£000 
217
13
12
242
53
53
295

2021 
£000
214
13
12
239
—
—
239

2022 
£000 
39
—
—
39
—
—
39

2021 
£000
39
—
—
39
—
—
39

2022 
£000 
37
—
—
37
—
—
37

2021 
£000
37
—
—
37
—
—
37

Share options 
Share options granted under the Castings 2020 Restricted Share Plan are nil-cost options which vest three years after the grant date and are 
subject to continued employment with the group. The options are also subject to a two year holding period during which the participant shall be 
entitled to an additional benefit (in cash or shares) in respect of dividends paid in that period. 

The following nil-cost options were granted during the year:

A. Vicary
S. J. Mant

Grant date 
30 June 2021
30 June 2021

Number of 
shares
18,612
13,537

Market price 
at grant date1
£4.004
£4.004

Face value at 
grant date
£74,519
£54,200

1 The average closing share price of the five days preceding the grant date.

In the event that the share price on vesting is 50% higher than the market price at the date of grant, the value of the options granted to A. Vicary 
and S. J. Mant would be higher by £37,260 and £27,100 respectively.

The following nil-cost options are outstanding as at 31 March 2022:

A. Vicary
S. J. Mant

As at 
1 April 2021
20,432
14,860

Options 
granted
18,612
13,537

Options 
exercised
—
—

As at 31 
March 2022
39,044
28,397

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 declared to shareholders 

2022 
£000 
44,018
7,080

2021
£000
33,220
6,658

Change 
£000
10,743
422

Change
%
32.3%
6.3%

30

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Directors’ Remuneration Report

continued

Chief Executive Officer remuneration
The total remuneration paid to the chief executive officer for the last ten years is as follows:

Performance-related bonus1
Total remuneration

2022
£000 
53
376

2021
£000
–
319

2020
£000
30
345

2019
£000
57
357

2018
£000
54
341

2017
£000
61
340

2016
£000
100
372

2015
£000
82
347

2014
£000
123
380

2013
£000
91
341

1 The performance-related bonus represents 14.2% of the maximum (2021 – 0.0%); there was no maximum amount for years 2020 and earlier.

Percentage change in remuneration
The following table sets out the annual percentage change in remuneration from 2021 to 2022 for each of the directors compared to that of an 
average employee.

Salary/fees
Taxable benefits
Performance related bonus

A. Vicary 
1.4%
0.0%
n/a

S. J. Mant
1.4%
0.0%
n/a

B. J. Cooke
0.0%
0.0%
n/a

A. N. Jones
0.0%
n/a
n/a

A. K. Eastgate
0.0%
n/a
n/a

Average 
employee
6.4%
n/a
42.4%

Chief Executive Officer pay ratio
The table below shows the chief executive officer’s pay ratio at 25th, median and 75th percentile of our employees for the year to 
31 March 2022. The ratios have been determined using Option A of The Companies (Miscellaneous Reporting) Regulations 2018.

Year ended 31 March 2022
Year ended 31 March 2021

25th percentile
pay ratio
14.3
13.6

Median pay 
ratio
11.1
9.9

75th percentile 
pay ratio
9.1
8.3

The higher ratios in 2022 compared to 2021 are largely as a result of the increase in the performance related bonus paid to the chief 
executive officer. 

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 350 
– Industrial Engineering Index, 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 TSR performance vs FTSE 350 Industrial Engineering Index (rebased to 100)
200

150

100

50

0
Mar 17

Sep 17

Mar 18

Sep 18

Mar 19

Sep 19

Mar 20

Sep 20

Mar 21

Sep 21

Mar 22

Cas�ngs P.L.C.

FTSE 350 Industrial Engineering Index

31

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Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 
in Respect of the Financial Statements

In the case of each director in office at the 
date the Directors’ Report is approved:

•  so far as the director is aware, there is 

no relevant audit information of which the 
group and parent company’s auditor is 
unaware; and

• 

they have taken all the steps that they 
ought to have taken as a director in order 
to make themselves aware of any relevant 
audit information and to establish that the 
group and parent company’s auditor is 
aware of that information. 

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 regulation.

Company law requires the directors to 
prepare financial statements for each financial 
year. Under that law the directors have 
prepared the group financial statements in 
accordance with UK-adopted international 
accounting standards and parent company 
financial statements in accordance with 
United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 
101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’, 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 parent company 
and of the profit or loss of the group and 
parent company for that period. In preparing 
the financial statements, the directors are 
required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and 

then apply them consistently;

•  state whether UK-adopted international 

accounting standards have been followed 
for the group financial statements and 
United Kingdom Accounting Standards, 
comprising FRS 101, have been followed 
for the company financial statements, 
subject to any material departures 
disclosed and explained in the financial 
statements;

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

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

The directors are also responsible for 
safeguarding the assets of the group and 
parent company and hence for taking 
reasonable steps for the prevention and 
detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are responsible for keeping 
adequate accounting records that are 
sufficient to show and explain the group and 
parent company’s transactions and disclose 
with reasonable accuracy at any time the 
financial position of the group and parent 
company and enable them to ensure that 
the financial statements and the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report comply with the 
Companies Act 2006.

The directors are responsible for the 
maintenance and integrity of the parent 
company’s website. Legislation in the United 
Kingdom governing the preparation and 
dissemination of financial statements may 
differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Directors’ confirmations
The directors consider that the Annual Report 
and accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides 
the information necessary for shareholders 
to assess the group and parent company’s 
position and performance, business model 
and strategy.

Each of the directors, whose names and 
functions are listed in Board of Directors on 
page 20 confirm that, to the best of their 
knowledge:

• 

• 

• 

the parent company financial statements, 
which have been prepared in accordance 
with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards, comprising FRS 
101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’, 
and applicable law), give a true and fair 
view of the assets, liabilities, financial 
position and profit of the company;

the group financial statements, which 
have been prepared in accordance with 
UK-adopted international accounting 
standards, give a true and fair view of the 
assets, liabilities, financial position and 
profit of the group; and

the Business and Financial Review 
includes a fair review of the development 
and performance of the business and the 
position of the group and parent company, 
together with a description of the principal 
risks and uncertainties that it faces. 

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022 
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 

in Respect of the Financial Statements

Independent Auditor’s Report  
to the Members of Castings P.L.C. 

Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Castings P.L.C. (the 
‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 
31 March 2022 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated 
Cash Flow Statement, Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, 
Parent Company Balance Sheet, Parent Company Statement of 
Changes in Equity and notes to the financial statements, including a 
summary of significant accounting policies. 

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their 
preparation is applicable law and UK-adopted international accounting 
standards. The parent company financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards, 
comprising FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”), as applied in 
accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion, the financial statements:

•  Making enquiries of the directors to understand the period 
of assessment considered by them, the assumptions they 
considered and the implication of those when assessing the 
parent company’s and the group’s future financial performance;

•  Challenging the appropriateness of the directors’ key assumptions 

in their cash flow forecasts, by reviewing supporting and 
contradictory evidence in relation to these key assumptions and 
assessing the directors’ consideration of severe but plausible 
scenarios. This included assessing the viability of mitigating 
actions within the directors’ control; 

•  Testing the accuracy and functionality of the model used to 

prepare the directors’ forecasts; 

•  Assessing and challenging key assumptions and mitigating 

actions put in place in response to the issues most relevant to this 
assessment which include rising energy costs, customer demand 
and the supply of materials and labour;

•  Considering the consistency of the directors’ forecasts with other 

areas of the financial statements and our audit; and

•  give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the 

•  Evaluating the appropriateness of the directors’ disclosures in the 

• 

• 

parent company’s affairs as at 31 March 2022 and of the group’s 
profit for the year then ended;

the group financial statements have been properly prepared in 
accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards 

the parent company financial statements, have been properly 
prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards, 
comprising FRS 101 “Reduced Disclosure Framework”); and

•  have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 

Companies Act 2006.

financial statements on going concern.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any 
material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually 
or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the group’s and the 
parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period 
of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are 
authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the directors with 
respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this 
report.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on 
Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under 
those standards are further described in the “Auditor’s responsibilities 
for the audit of the financial statements” section of our report. We are 
independent of the group and the parent company in accordance with 
the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial 
statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied 
to listed entities and public interest entities and we have fulfilled our 
other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. 
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and 
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern 
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the 
directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the 
preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. 

Our audit procedures to evaluate the directors’ assessment of the 
group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the 
going concern basis of accounting included but were not limited to:

•  Undertaking an initial assessment at the planning stage of the 
audit to identify events or conditions that may cast significant 
doubt on the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue 
as a going concern;

In relation to group’s and the parent company’s reporting on how it 
has applied the UK Corporate Governance Code, we have nothing 
material to add or draw attention to in relation to the directors’ 
statement in the financial statements about whether the director’s 
considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of 
accounting.

Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional 
judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) 
we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the 
overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and 
directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were 
addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a 
whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a 
separate opinion on these matters.

We summarise below the key audit matters in forming our opinion 
above, together with an overview of the principal audit procedures 
performed to address each matter and our key observations arising 
from those procedures. 

These matters, together with our findings, were communicated to 
those charged with governance through our Audit Completion Report.

33

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Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Independent Auditor’s Report  
to the Members of Castings P.L.C. 
continued

Key Audit Matter

How our scope addressed this matter

Revenue Recognition
The group’s and the parent company’s accounting policy for revenue 
recognition is set out in the accounting policy notes on pages 42 
and 62 respectively.

Revenue is material for the group and the parent company and 
represents the largest figure in the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income. An error in this balance could significantly 
affect a user’s interpretation of the financial statements.

As a result, we identified revenue recognition, and in particular 
cut-off (where revenue may be manipulated close to the year end to 
record revenue in the incorrect financial period) as a key audit matter.

Our audit procedures included, but were not limited to, the following:

•  Reviewing key controls relating to revenue recognition and 
performing a walkthrough to evaluate their design and 
implementation;

•  Reviewing the contract terms for a selection of customers to 

assess whether revenue was recognised in line with the agreed 
terms; and 

•  Selecting a sample of transactions close to the year-end and 

verifying that they had been posted to the correct financial period. 

Key observations
Based on the procedures performed, we did not identify any material 
misstatements in relation to revenue recognition.

Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of our audit
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality. These, together 
with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures on 
the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial 
statements as a whole. Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Group materiality

Overall materiality

How we determined it

Group

£1,040k

Parent Company

£715k

Materiality has been determined with reference to a benchmark of revenue, of which it represents 
0.7%.

Rationale for benchmark applied

We used revenue to calculate our materiality as, in our review, this is the most relevant and stable 
measure of the underlying financial performance of the group and parent company for this year end.

Performance materiality

Reporting threshold

Performance materiality is set to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the 
aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements in the financial statements exceeds 
materiality for the financial statements as a whole.

On the basis of our risk assessments, together 
with our assessment of the group’s overall 
control environment, our judgement was that 
performance materiality should be set at 70% of 
our financial statement materiality, representing a 
value of £728k.

On the basis of our risk assessments, together 
with our assessment of the group’s overall 
control environment, our judgement was that 
performance materiality should be set at 70% of 
our financial statement materiality, representing a 
value of £500k.

We agreed with the audit committee that we 
would report to them misstatements identified 
during our audit above £31k as well as 
misstatements below that amount that, in our 
view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

We agreed with the audit committee that we 
would report to them misstatements identified 
during our audit above £21k as well as 
misstatements below that amount that, in our 
view, warranted reporting for qualitative reasons.

As part of designing our audit, we assessed the risk of material misstatement in the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and 
then designed and performed audit procedures responsive to those risks. In particular, we looked at where the directors made subjective 
judgements, such as assumptions on significant accounting estimates.

We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed sufficient work to be able to give an opinion on the financial statements as a 
whole. We used the outputs of our risk assessment, our understanding of the group and the parent company, their environment, controls, and 
critical business processes, to consider qualitative factors to ensure that we obtained sufficient coverage across all financial statement line items.

Our group audit scope included an audit of the group and the parent company financial statements. Based on our risk assessment, all entities 

34

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Independent Auditor’s Report  

to the Members of Castings P.L.C. 

continued

within the group, including the parent company, were subject to full scope audit performed by the group audit team.  

Audit work on subsidiary entities for the purpose of obtaining audit coverage over significant financial statement accounts is undertaken based 
on individual statutory performance materiality which is lower than the consolidated materiality set out above. The performance materiality set for 
each subsidiary is based on the relative scale and risk of the subsidiary to the group as a whole and our assessment of the risk of misstatement 
at subsidiary level. The range of financial statement materiality across components, audited to the lower of local statutory audit materiality and 
materiality capped for group audit purposes, was between £449k and £845k, being all below group financial statement materiality. At the parent 
company level, the group audit team also tested the consolidation process and carried out analytical procedures to confirm our conclusion that 
there were no significant risks of material misstatement of the aggregated financial information.

Other information
The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report 
thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information 
and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the 
financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such 
material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in 
the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other 
information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion, the part of the directors’ remuneration report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 
2006.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• 

• 

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 and those reports have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements;

the information about internal control and risk management systems in relation to financial reporting processes and about share capital 
structures, given in compliance with rules 7.2.5 and 7.2.6 in the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook made by 
the Financial Conduct Authority (the FCA Rules), is consistent with the financial statements and has been prepared in accordance with 
applicable legal requirements; and

• 

information about the parent company’s corporate governance code and practices and about its administrative, management and 
supervisory bodies and their committees complies with rules 7.2.2, 7.2.3 and 7.2.7 of the FCA Rules.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we 
have not identified material misstatements in the:

• 

• 

strategic report or the directors’ report; or 

information about internal control and risk management systems in relation to financial reporting processes and about share capital 
structures, given in compliance with rules 7.2.5 and 7.2.6 of the FCA Rules.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our 
opinion:

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from 

branches not visited by us; or

• 

the parent company 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; or

•  a corporate governance statement has not been prepared by the parent company.

35

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Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Independent Auditor’s Report  
to the Members of Castings P.L.C. 
continued

Corporate governance statement
The Listing Rules require us to review the directors’ statement in relation to going concern, longer-term viability and that part of the Corporate 
Governance Statement relating to Castings P.L.C.’s compliance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Statement specified for 
our review.

Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have concluded that each of the following elements of the Corporate Governance 
Statement is materially consistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained during the audit:

•  Directors’ statement with regards the appropriateness of adopting the going concern basis of accounting and any material uncertainties 

identified, set out on page 25;

•  Directors’ explanation as to its assessment of the entity’s prospects, the period this assessment covers and why they consider this period is 

appropriate, set out on page 18;

•  Directors’ statement on fair, balanced and understandable, set out on page 23;

•  Board’s confirmation that it has carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks, set out on page 8;

•  The section of the annual report that describes the review of effectiveness of risk management and internal control systems, set out on 

page 25; and;

•  The section describing the work of the audit committee, set out on page 26.

Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 32, the directors are responsible for the preparation of 
the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the directors determine is 
necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a 
going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors 
either intend to liquidate the group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is 
not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements 
can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the 
economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below.

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, 
outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud.

Based on our understanding of the group and the parent company and their industry, we considered that non-compliance with the following 
laws and regulations might have a material effect on the financial statements: employment regulation and health and safety regulation.

To help us identify instances of non-compliance with these laws and regulations, and in identifying and assessing the risks of material 
misstatement in respect to non-compliance, our procedures included, but were not limited to:

•  Gaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the group and the parent company, the industry in which they 

operate, and the structure of the group, and considering the risk of acts by the group and the parent company which were contrary to the 
applicable laws and regulations, including fraud; 

• 

Inquiring of the directors, management and, where appropriate, those charged with governance, as to whether the group and the parent 
company is in compliance with laws and regulations, and discussing their policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and 
regulations;

• 

Inspecting correspondence with relevant licensing or regulatory authorities; 

•  Reviewing minutes of directors’ meetings in the year; and

•  Discussing amongst the engagement team the laws and regulations listed above, and remaining alert to any indications of non-compliance.

We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct effect on the preparation of the financial statements, such as tax legislation, 
pension legislation and the Companies Act 2006. 

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Castings P.L.C.Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Independent Auditor’s Report  

to the Members of Castings P.L.C. 

continued

In addition, we evaluated the directors’ and management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements, 
including the risk of management override of controls, and determined that the principal risks related to posting manual journal entries to 
manipulate financial performance, management bias through judgements and assumptions in significant accounting estimates, in particular in 
relation to revenue recognition (cut-off), and significant one-off or unusual transactions. 

Our procedures in relation to fraud included but were not limited to:

•  Making enquiries of the directors and management on whether they had knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;

•  Gaining an understanding of the internal controls established to mitigate risks related to fraud;

•  Discussing amongst the engagement team the risks of fraud; 

•  Addressing the risks of fraud through management override of controls by performing journal entry testing;

The primary responsibility for the prevention and detection of irregularities, including fraud, rests with both those charged with governance 
and management. As with any audit, there remained a risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional 
omissions, misrepresentations or the override of internal controls.

The risks of material misstatement that had the greatest effect on our audit are discussed in the “Key audit matters” section of this report. 

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 
This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

Other matters which we are required to address
Following the recommendation of the audit committee, we were appointed by the Audit and Risk Committee on the 8 January 2020 to audit the 
financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2020 and subsequent financial periods. The period of total uninterrupted engagement is 3 
years, covering the years ending 31 March 2020 to date.

The non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the group or the parent company and we remain 
independent of the group and the parent company in conducting our audit.

Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the audit committee.

Use of the audit 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.

Louis Burns (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of Mazars LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor 
Two Chamberlain Square
Birmingham
B3 3AX
15 June 2022

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37

Corporate GovernanceCastings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 31 March 2022

Revenue 
Cost of sales
Gross profit 
Distribution costs
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

Profit for the year attributable to equity 
holders of the parent company
Other comprehensive income/(losses) 
for the year:
Items that will not be reclassified to profit and 
loss:
Movement in unrecognised surplus on 
defined benefit pension schemes net of 
actuarial gains and losses
Defined benefit pension schemes GMP 
equalisation charge

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

Other comprehensive income 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
Diluted
Basic (before exceptional items)

Notes
2

3 
7

8 

6

6

10

2022

Before 
exceptional 
items
£000
148,583
(118,105)
30,478
(3,411)
(15,046)
12,021
47
12,068
(3,522)

Exceptional 
items
(note 4)
£000
—
—
—
—
6
6
—
6
—

Before 
exceptional 
items
£000
114,702
(94,870)
19,832
(2,237)
(13,320)
4,275
79
4,354
(838)

Total
£000
148,583
(118,105)
30,478
(3,411)
(15,040)
12,027
47
12,074
(3,522)

2021

Exceptional 
items
(note 4)
£000
—
—
—
—
633
633
—
633
—

Total
£000
114,702
(94,870)
19,832
(2,237)
(12,687)
4,908
79
4,987
(838)

8,546

6

8,552

3,516

633

4,149

8,552

4,149

119

—
119

88
(22)
66

185

8,737

19.60p
19.57p

142

66
208

(50)
10
(40)

168

4,317

9.51p
9.50p

19.59p

8.06p

Notes to the financial statements are on pages 42 to 58.

38

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C. 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 31 March 2022

ASSETS

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 

Financial assets

Current assets
Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Current tax asset

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 

Treasury shares

Other reserve 

Retained earnings

Total equity 

Notes

2022
£000

2021
£000

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

62,801

396

63,197

25,889

39,874

489

35,745

101,997

165,194

28,477

—

28,477

5,219

33,696

131,498

4,363

874

(79)

13

126,327

131,498

67,112

308

67,420

18,719

35,358

—

36,092

90,169

157,589

24,371

184

24,555

3,570

28,125

129,464

4,363

874

—

13

124,214

129,464

The financial statements on pages 38 to 58 were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 15 June 2022, and were 
signed on its behalf by:

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

S. J. Mant 
Finance Director

Notes to the financial statements are on pages 42 to 58.

Company registration number – 91580.

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39

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsConsolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 31 March 2022

Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before income tax

Adjustments for:

Depreciation

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Profit on disposal of asset held for sale
Finance income

Equity settled share-based payment expense

Pension administrative costs

Pension GMP equalisation charge

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

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
Proceeds from disposal of asset held for sale
Repayments from pension schemes 
Advances to the pension schemes 
Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flow from financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders

Purchase of own shares

Net cash used in financing activities

Net (decrease)/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 financial statements are on pages 42 to 58.

Notes

2022
£000

2021
£000

12,074

4,987

11

8,601

8,802

3

4
7

6

6

7

7

6
6

9

19

62

—
(47)

74

119

—

(7,170)

(4,898)

4,106
12,921

(2,568)

28

10,381

19

(4,379)
27
—
2,496
(2,114)
(3,951)

(6,698)

(79)

(6,777)

(347)

36,092
35,745

17,065

18,680

35,745

3

(658)
(79)

21

142

66

2,456

(6,979)

4,279
13,040

(672)

60

12,428

19

(5,244)
20
1,718
2,778
(2,496)
(3,205)

(6,532)

—

(6,532)

2,691

33,401
36,092

13,062

23,030

36,092

40

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

for the year ended 31 March 2022

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 March 2022

At 1 April 2021

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(losses):
Movement in unrecognised surplus on defined benefit 
pension schemes net of actuarial gains and losses

Change in fair value of financial assets

Tax effect of items taken directly to reserves

Total comprehensive income for the year

Shares acquired in the year

Equity settled share-based payments
Dividends (see note 9)

At 31 March 2022

At 1 April 2020

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(losses):
Movement in unrecognised surplus on defined benefit 
pension schemes net of actuarial gains and losses

Defined benefit pension schemes GMP equalisation charge`

Change in fair value of financial assets

Tax effect of items taken directly to reserves
Total comprehensive income for the year

Equity settled share-based payments

Dividends (see note 9)

At 31 March 2021

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Share
capitala)
£000
4,363

Share
premiumb)
£000
874

Treasury 
sharesc)
£000
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

4,363

874

—

—

—

—

—

(79)

—
—

(79)

Other
reserved)
£000
13
—

Retained
earningse)
£000
124,214

8,552

Total 
equity
£000
129,464

8,552

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

13

119

88

(22)

8,737

—

74
(6,698)

119

88

(22)

8,737

(79)

74
(6,698)

126,327

131,498

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Share
capitala)
£000
4,363

Share
premiumb)
£000
874

Treasury 
sharesc)
£000
—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

4,363

874

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

—

Other
reserved)
£000
13

Retained
earningse)
£000
126,408

—

4,149

Total 
equity
£000
131,658

4,149

—

—

—

—
—

—

—

13

142

66

(50)

10
4,317

21

142

66

(50)

10
4,317

21

(6,532)

(6,532)

124,214

129,464

a)  Share capital (note 17) – The nominal value of allotted and fully paid up ordinary share capital in issue.

b)  Share premium – Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

c)  Treasury shares – Value of shares acquired by the company.

d)  Other reserve – Amounts transferred from share capital on redemption of issued shares.

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

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41

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements

1  Accounting policies
General information
Castings Public Limited Company (the ‘company’, ‘Castings P.L.C.’) is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom and registered in 
England as a public company limited by shares. The company’s registered office is at Lichfield Road, Brownhills, West Midlands, WS8 6JZ, 
United Kingdom. The company’s ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange’s Regulated Market (Premium Listing). There has 
been no change in this information since the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2021.

Basis of preparation
The group financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standard in conformity with the 
requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 

The IFRSs applied in the group financial statements are subject to ongoing amendment by the IASB 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 2022 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 financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention, except where adjusted for revaluations 
of certain assets, and in accordance with applicable Accounting Standards and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies 
reporting under IFRS. A summary of the principal group IFRS accounting policies is set out below. The presentation currency used is sterling and 
the amounts have been presented in round thousands (“£000”).

New standards effective and adopted by the group in the year
There have been no new standards, or amendments to standards, applied in the year.

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated statement of comprehensive income and balance sheet include the financial statements of the parent company and its 
subsidiaries made up to the end of the financial year. These subsidiaries include William Lee Limited and CNC Speedwell Limited, both of which 
are 100% owned, controlled by the company and are based in the UK. Control is achieved where the company has the power to govern the 
financial and operating policies of an investee entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Intercompany transactions and balances between 
group companies are eliminated in full.

Business combinations and goodwill
Shares issued as consideration for the acquisition of companies have a fair value attributed to them, which is normally their 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 
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 is measured at the fair value of consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods and services 
provided in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales-related taxes. Revenue from the sale of goods relates to the 
sale of castings. Revenue from the sale of services relates to machining and minor assembly work performed on a subcontract basis for external 
customers. Revenue is recognised once the performance obligation has been met. This is deemed to be when the goods and services have 
been collected by, or delivered to, the customer in accordance with the agreed delivery terms.

Post-retirement benefits
Two of the group’s pension plans are of a defined benefit type. Under IAS 19 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. Where the 
group cannot benefit from a scheme surplus in the form of refunds from the plans or reductions in future contributions, any asset resulting from 
the above policy is restricted accordingly.

Payments to the defined contribution scheme are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as they become payable.

42

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

1  Accounting policies continued
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment assets are held at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided on property, plant and equipment, 
other than 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 and leasehold buildings over 50 years or the period of the lease, whichever is less.

ii. Plant and equipment over a period of 3 to 15 years.

The group annually reviews the assessment of residual values and useful lives in accordance with IAS 16.

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 other short-term highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of three months or less from inception.

Foreign currencies
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated at the spot rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign 
currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction; all differences are dealt with through the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income.

Financial instruments
a) Financial assets
The group classifies its financial assets into one of the categories discussed below, depending on the purpose for which the asset was acquired. 
The group’s accounting policy for each category is as follows: 

Fair value through other comprehensive income 
Fair value through other comprehensive income 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 in other comprehensive income. The cumulative fair value gains 
and losses are held within retained earnings and are not treated as distributable. Fair value is determined with reference to published quoted 
prices in an active market. The dividend income from listed investments is presented within finance income.

Amortised cost
These assets are held in order to collect contractual cash flows, on specific dates, which are solely payments of the principal and interest on 
the principal amount outstanding. They arise principally through the provision of goods and services to customers (e.g. trade receivables) and 
deposits held at banks and building societies, but may also incorporate other types of contractual monetary asset. 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.

Impairment provisions for trade receivables are recognised based on the simplified approach within IFRS 9 using the lifetime expected credit 
losses. During this process the probability of the non-payment of the trade receivables is assessed. Where specific receivables are known to 
be “bad” or it becomes apparent that payment is “doubtful” then a credit loss allowance of 100% is applied. Such provisions are recorded in 
a separate allowance account with the loss being recognised within administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income. On confirmation that the deposit or receivable will not be collectable, the gross carrying value of the asset is written 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. These derivative financial 
instruments are accounted for at fair value through the consolidated statement of income where material to the financial statements.

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

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43

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
continued

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Financial liabilities include trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities, which are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently 
carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

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 can be utilised.

Deferred tax is measured at the actual tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the temporary differences are expected to 
reverse, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Current tax is provided for on the taxable profits of each company in the group, using current tax rates and legislation that has been enacted or 
substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Government assistance
Economic support provided to the group as part of government initiatives to support employees is recognised in the income statement on the 
date at which conditions attached to the receipt of such assistance have been met in the period it becomes receivable. The income is presented 
net against the applicable staff costs within cost of sales and overheads in the income statement.

Share based payments
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees of the company is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are 
granted and is recognised as an expense over the vesting period, which ends on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled 
to the award. 

The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of awards for which the related service conditions are met, such 
that the amount ultimately recognised as an expense is based on the number of awards that meet the related service conditions at the vesting 
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. 

Finance income and expense
Finance income and expense is recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as it accrues.

Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those significant items which are separately disclosed by virtue of the size or incidence to enable a full understanding of 
the group’s financial performance.

Standards, interpretations and amendments to published standards that are not yet effective
There are no significant IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the group.

44

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

1  Accounting policies continued
Critical accounting estimates and 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 and judgements that have a significant risk of causing 
a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are set out below:

Estimates
Pension assumptions
The costs, assets and liabilities of the defined benefit pension schemes operated by the group are determined using methods relying on actuarial 
estimates and assumptions. Whilst this is a source of estimation uncertainty for the group, the scheme surplus is not recognised on the balance 
sheet (as set out below). Details of the key assumptions are set out in note 6.

Judgements
Pension surplus
In accordance with the winding-up provisions of the Trust Deed and Rules of the final salary pension schemes, management has concluded that 
the company does not have an unconditional right to receive returns of contributions or refunds when the schemes are in surplus. Accordingly, 
the surplus has not been recognised on the balance sheet as set out in note 6.

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, due to the similar nature of the 
businesses, and CNC Speedwell Limited is the Machining operation.

Inter-segment transactions are entered into under the normal commercial terms and conditions that would be available to third parties.

The following shows the revenues, results and total assets by reportable segment in the year to 31 March 2022:

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
Total liabilities

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

Foundry
operations
£000 
145,601
17,037

Machining
operations
£000
2,982
19,488

Elimination
£000
—
—

Total
£000
148,583
36,525

13,084

(894)

(50)

12,140

148,554
3,388
4,790
(31,561)

26,741
991
3,811
(6,977)

(10,101)
—
—
4,842

6
(119)
47
12,074
165,194
4,379
8,601
(33,696)

45

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
continued

The following shows the revenues, results and total assets by reportable segment in the year to 31 March 2021:

Revenue from external customers
Inter-segmental revenue

Segmental result 
Unallocated costs:
Exceptional credit for recovery of Icelandic bank deposits 
previously written off
Profit on disposal of held for sale asset
Defined benefit pension cost
Defined benefit pension GMP equalisation charge
Finance income
Profit before income tax
Total assets
Non-current asset additions
Depreciation
Total liabilities

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

Foundry
operations
£000 
111,987
11,089

Machining
operations
£000
2,715
15,594

Elimination
£000
—
—

Total
£000
114,702
26,683

6,659

(2,255)

13

4,417

140,141
3,744
4,582
(26,525)

28,795
1,500
4,220
(7,725)

41
658
(142)
(66)
79
4,987
157,589
5,244
8,802
(28,125)

2021
£000

26,805

32,237
12,618
14,754
21,435
6,208
645

(11,347)
—
—
6,125

2022
£000

31,319

38,809
20,506
19,907
26,050
11,294
698

The geographical analysis of revenues by destination for the year is as follows:
United Kingdom 

Sweden 
Germany
Netherlands
Rest of Europe 
North and South America 
Other 

All revenue arises in the United Kingdom from the group’s continuing activities. 

Information about major customers
Included in revenues arising from Foundry operations are revenues of approximately £34,435,000, £21,778,000 and £18,037,000 from three 
ultimate customer groups (2021 – £32,042,000, £16,206,000 and £11,128,000 respectively).

148,583

114,702

3   Net operating costs

Raw materials and consumables
Changes in inventories of finished goods and work in progress
Staff costs (note 5)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Light, heat and power
Outside processing
Carriage
Repairs and maintenance
Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Profit on disposal of asset held for sale
Other costs
Total cost of sales, distribution costs and administrative expenses

46

2022
£000
40,960
(5,279)
48,582
8,601
11,069
14,845
3,411
6,764
62
—
7,541
136,556

2021
£000
25,556
2,660
36,881
8,802
9,642
13,470
2,237
4,796
3
(658)
6,405
109,794

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

During the year the group obtained the following services from the company’s auditors:

Fees payable to the company’s auditors for the audit of the parent company and group financial statements
Fees payable to the company’s auditors for other services – the audit of the company’s subsidiaries

4  Exceptional items

Recovery of past provision for losses on deposits with Icelandic banks 
Profit on the disposal of asset classified as held for sale
Defined benefit pension scheme GMP equalisation charge

2022
£000
67
48

2022
£000
(6)
—
—
(6)

2021
£000
62
42

2021
£000
(41)
(658)
66
(633)

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 £3.9 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.

In the prior year, the group completed on the sale of the Fradley site, an asset classified as held for sale, resulting in a profit of £0.66 million.

An additional GMP equalisation charge to that applied in the year ended 31 March 2019 was recognised in the prior year following the High 
Court ruling on 20 November 2020. The ruling clarified that pension equalisation should be applied to past transfer values from the defined 
benefit pension schemes. The best estimate, working with the schemes’ actuaries, is an increase of £66,000 to the pension liabilities.

5   Employee information

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

Staff costs (including directors) comprise:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs – defined contribution plans

Other pension costs – defined benefit plans (note 6)

2022

1,050
117
1,167

2022
£000

42,562
4,445
1,456

119
48,582

2021

996
116
1,112

2021
£000

32,092
3,453
1,128

208
36,881

The directors represent the key management personnel. Details of their compensation are given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on  
page 30. In the prior year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group received, and paid to employees, £6.5 million of payments under the 
UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The amounts received were presented net against the applicable staff costs within cost 
of sales and administrative expenses.

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 Trustee board 
is appointed by both the company and the members of the schemes and acts in the interest of the schemes and all relevant stakeholders, 
including the members and the company. The Trustees are responsible for the investment of the assets of the schemes.

The latest actuarial valuation was performed with an effective date of 6 April 2020 using the defined accrued benefit method. It assumed that the 
rate of return on investments was 0.3% per annum for pre-retirement and 0.6% for post-retirement and price inflation was 2.8% under RPI and 
2.0% under CPI. The demographic assumptions were based on S3PA (YoB) tables with an age rating of -1 year and -2 year being applied to the 
tables for shop floor and staff schemes respectively. The future mortality improvements were based on CMI 2020 projections with a 1.75% per 
annum long-term improvement rate. The next actuarial valuation due will be with an effective date of 6 April 2023. 

47

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
continued

6  Pensions continued 

In order to help optimise the return on assets held by the pension schemes, the pension payments and administration costs incurred by the 
schemes are paid by the company. The net amount due from the schemes (being pension payments made plus administrative costs less 
repayments received from the schemes) are subject to repayment to the company and recorded as amounts receivable from pension schemes 
in the group and company financial statements (notes 14 and 9 respectively). The amounts are recorded as payables 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 £2,114,000 (2021 – £2,496,000) was paid by the company on 
behalf of the schemes in respect of pension payments and administration costs. There are no funding arrangements in place that would impact 
on future contributions and no contributions are expected to be made in the next financial year. The pension schemes made repayments to 
the company during the year of £2,496,000 (2021 – £2,778,000). At 31 March 2022 the outstanding balance due from the schemes to the 
company was £2,114,000 (2021 – £2,496,000) as set out in note 14. In addition, the group made contributions to individual members’ Group 
Personal Pension Plans during the year.

Related risks
Through its defined benefit pension plans, the group was exposed to a number of risks that are inherent in such plans and arrangements. The 
main risks are summarised below and there are no unusual, entity-specific or plan-specific risks and no significant concentration risks:

•  asset value volatility, with the associated impact on the assets held in connection with the funding of pension obligations and the related 

cash flows;

•  changes in bond yields, with any reduction resulting in an increase in the present value of pension obligations, mitigated by an increase in 

the value of some of the plan assets;

inflation, as pension obligations are linked to inflation; and

life expectancy, as pension benefits are generally provided for the life of beneficiaries and their dependants.

• 

• 

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 2020 and updated to 31 March 2022 using the projected unit method by a qualified independent 
actuary. 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)

Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at beginning of year 
Past service cost
Interest cost on defined benefit obligation
Actuarial (gains)/losses arising from changes in financial assumptions
Actuarial gains arising from changes in demographic assumptions
Other experience gains
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 (less)/greater than discount rate
Administrative expenses
Benefits paid
Fair value of plan assets at end of year
Surplus
Unrecognised pension surplus (asset ceiling)
Net amount recognised in the balance sheet

48

2022
3.1%
2.8%
3.7%
3.3%

2022
£000

61,962
—
1,265
(4,641)
(3,643)
(561)
(3,435)
50,947

71,942
1,474
(8,983)
(119)
(3,435)
60,879
9,932
(9,932)
—

2021
3.00%
2.10%
3.20%
2.80%

2021
£000

54,834
66
1,277
9,073
—
—
(3,288)
61,962

66,061
1,544
7,767
(142)
(3,288)
71,942
9,980
(9,980)
—

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

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
Past service cost
Interest cost on defined benefit obligation
Interest income on plan assets
Interest expense on effect of asset ceiling on unrecognised surplus
Administrative expenses
Total pension cost recognised within administrative expenses (note 5)
(Gain)/loss arising from changes in financial assumptions
Gain arising from changes in demographic assumptions
Experience gain
Return on plan assets less/(greater) than discount rate
Changes in asset ceiling on unrecognised surplus
Pension gain shown in statement of comprehensive income
Total defined benefit cost recognised in the year

Defined benefit obligation by participant category

Participant category
Active participants
Deferred participants
Pensioners

Year to 
31 March 
2022
£000

Year to 
31 March 
2021
£000

—
—
1,265
(1,474)
209
119
119
(4,641)
(3,643)
(561)
8,983
(257)
(119)
—

—
66
1,277
(1,544)
267
142
208
9,073
—
—
(7,767)
(1,514)
(208)
—

31 March
2022
£000

31 March
2021
£000

—
24,714
26,233
50,947

—
33,717
28,245
61,962

Scheme assets
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. On 24 March 2020, the Trustees of the schemes completed a bulk annuity insurance buy-in with Aviva Life & Pensions 
UK Limited (‘Aviva’) thus providing certainty and security for all members of the schemes. The buy-in secures an insurance asset from Aviva 
that fully matches, subject to final price adjustment of the bulk annuity pricing, the remaining pension liabilities of the schemes (excluding those 
relating to GMP equalisation). The buy-in covers the investment, longevity, interest rate and inflation risks in respect of the schemes and therefore 
substantially reduces the pension risk to the company. The asset allocations at the year end were as follows:

Assets category
Cash and cash equivalents
Asset held by insurance company

Amounts repayable to the group

Plan
assets at
31 March
2022
£000

Plan
assets at
31 March
2021
£000

13,285
49,708
62,993
(2,114)
60,879

13,971
60,467
74,438
(2,496)
71,942

49

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
continued

6  Pensions continued

In determining the appropriate discount rate, the company considers the interest rates of corporate bonds with at least an ‘AA’ rating.

The projected pension cost for the year ending 31 March 2023 is £123,000.

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)

2022

2021

Male
Staff/
Shopfloor

Female
Staff/
Shopfloor

Male
Staff/
Shopfloor

Female
Staff/
Shopfloor

23.1/22.2

25.7/24.8

23.8/23.0

26.0/25.1

24.7/23.8

27.4/26.5

26.1/25.2

28.3/27.4

*  Mortality tables 102% for Males and 99% for Females of S3PA CMI 2020 projections with a 1.5% long-term rate of improvement have been 

used for both schemes, with a -1 age rating applied for the staff scheme.

Sensitivities
The calculations of the defined benefit obligations are sensitive to the assumptions set out on pages 47 to 50. The following table sets out 
the estimated impact of a change in the assumptions on the defined benefit obligation at 31 March 2021, whilst 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

31 March
2022 
£000

1,843
1,158
1,911

31 March
2022
£000

31 March
2021
£000

1,951
1,992
2,035
2,154
2,314
12,968

1,872
1,951
1,992
2,035
2,154
12,513

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

50

2022
£000
28
19
47

2021
£000
60
19
79

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

8   Income tax expense

Corporation tax based on a rate of 19% (2021 – 19%)
UK corporation tax
Current tax on profits for the year
Adjustments to tax charge in respect of prior years

Deferred tax
Current year origination and reversal of temporary differences
Adjustment to deferred tax charge in respect of prior years
Adjustment to deferred tax charge in respect of change in tax rate

Taxation on profit

Profit before income tax 

Tax on profit at the standard rate of corporation tax 
in the UK of 19% (2021 – 19%)
Effect of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Adjustment to tax charge in respect of prior years
Adjustment to deferred tax charge in respect of prior years
Adjustment to deferred tax charge in respect of change in tax rate
Pension adjustments
Total tax charge for the year
Effective rate of tax (%)

2022
£000

2,050
(155)
1,895

624
(107)
1,100
1,627
3,522

2021
£000

1,220
(32)
1,188

(196)
(154)
—
(350)
838

12,074

4,987

2,294

357
(155)
(107)
1,110
23
3,522
29.2

948

36
(32)
(154)
—
40
838
16.8

Changes to the UK corporation tax rates were substantively enacted as part of Finance Bill 2021 on 24 May 2021, the applicable main rate 
increasing from the current level of 19% to 25% from 1 April 2023. Deferred taxes at the balance sheet date have been measured using these 
enacted tax rates and reflected in these financial statements.

9   Dividends

Final paid of 11.69p per share for the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020 – 11.40p)
Interim paid of 3.66p per share (2021 – 3.57p)

2022
£000
5,101
1,597
6,698

2021
£000
4,974
1,558
6,532

The directors are proposing a final dividend of 12.57 pence (2021 – 11.69 pence) per share totalling £5,484,551 (2021 – £5,100,589). In 
addition, the directors have declared a supplementary dividend of 15.00 pence per share, totalling £6,544,810. These dividends have not been 
accrued at the balance sheet date. 

10  Earnings per share and diluted earnings per share
The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following data:

Profit after taxation (£000)
Weighted average number of shares – basic calculation
Earnings per share – basic calculation (pence per share)
Number of dilutive share options in issue
Weighted average number of shares – diluted calculation
Earnings per share – diluted calculation (pence per share)

2022
8,552
43,631,545
19.60p
67,441
43,698,986
19.57p

2021
4,149
43,632,068
9.51p
35,292
43,667,360
9.50p

51

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
continued

10  Earnings per share and diluted earnings per share continued

Earnings per share (basic) excluding exceptional items of 19.59 pence per share (2021 – 8.06 pence per share) is calculated on the profit on 
ordinary activities before exceptional items after taxation of £8,546,000 (2021 – £3,516,000), using the basic weighted average number of 
shares of 43,631,545. The corresponding diluted earnings per share excluding exceptional items, using the weighted average number of shares 
of 43,698,986 is 19.57 pence per share (2021 – 8.05 pence per share).

11 Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 April 2021

Additions during the year

Disposals
At 31 March 2022

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 April 2021

Charge for year 
Disposals

At 31 March 2022

Net book values
At 31 March 2022

At 31 March 2021

Cost
At 1 April 2020
Additions during the year

Disposals

At 31 March 2021

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 April 2020

Charge for year 

Disposals

At 31 March 2021

Net book values
At 31 March 2021

At 31 March 2020

Freehold and 
leasehold 
land and
buildings
£000

40,357

163

(410)
40,110

11,632

1,073
(410)

12,295

27,815
28,725

40,183
584

(410)

40,357

10,941

1,101

(410)

11,632

28,725

29,242

Plant and 
equipment
£000

151,831

4,216

(451)
155,596

Total
£000

192,188

4,379

(861)
195,706

113,444

125,076

7,528
(362)

8,601
(772)

120,610

132,905

34,986
38,387

62,801
67,112

147,449
4,660

(278)

187,632
5,244

(688)

151,831

192,188

105,998

116,939

7,701

(255)

8,802

(665)

113,444

125,076

38,387

41,451

67,112

70,693

The net book value of land and buildings includes £2,169,000 (2021 – £2,169,000) for land which is not depreciated. 

Included within plant and equipment are assets in the course of construction with a net book value of £1,043,000 (2021 – £464,000) which are 
not depreciated.

52

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

12  Financial assets

Financial assets at FVOCI

At 1 April 2021
Net losses recognised in other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2022

2022
£000

396

2022
£000
308
88
396

2021
£000

308

2021
£000
358
(50)
308

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) are UK quoted equity securities and are denominated in sterling. The 
fair value of the securities is based on published quoted prices in an active market.

The cumulative fair value gains and losses which are undistributable and held within retained earnings totalled £239,000 (2021 – £151,000).

13  Inventories

Raw materials 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 

2022
£000
7,001
8,893
9,995
25,889

2021
£000
4,994
6,016
7,709
18,719

Inventories are net of impairment provisions of £759,000 (2021 – £852,000). The cost of inventories recognised as an expense is £30,158,000 
(2021 – £18,228,000).

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

Included within accruals is a warranty provision that is not material to the financial statements.

2022
£000

30,779
2,090
2,114
4,891
39,874

2022
£000

18,186
1,958
959
7,374
28,477

2021
£000

27,383
1,535
2,496
3,944
35,358

2021
£000

15,533
1,692
664
6,482
24,371

53

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
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 
25% (2021 – 19%). The movement on the deferred tax account is shown below:

Deferred tax – net

At 1 April 2021
Charged/(credited to other comprehensive income
Charged/(credited) to profit
At 31 March 2022

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

Deferred tax – liabilities

At 1 April 2021
Charged/(credited) to profit
Charged to other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2022

2022
£000
3,570
22
1,627
5,219

Other
£000
(20)
(13)
22
(11)

2021
£000
3,930
(10)
(350)
3,570

Total
£000
3,570
1,627
22
5,219

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
£000
3,590
1,640
—
5,230

Of the deferred tax liabilities, £903,000 (2021 – £713,000) is expected to be recovered within 12 months with £4,316,000 (2021 – £2,857,000) 
expected to be recovered after more than 12 months.

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

At 1 April 2020
(Credited)/charged to profit
Credited to other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2021

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

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
£000
3,981
(391)
—
3,590

Tax on change in fair value of financial assets
Tax on items taken directly to other comprehensive income

17 Share capital

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

Other
£000
(51)
41
(10)
(20)

2022
£000
22
22

2022
£000
5,000
4,363

Total
£000
3,930
(350)
(10)
3,570

2021
£000
(10)
(10)

2021
£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.

54

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

18  Commitments and contingencies

Capital commitments contracted for by the group but not provided for in the financial statements

2022
£000
1,637

2021
£000
1,784

As set out on page 9, the group does not insure against the potential cost of product warranty or recall. Accordingly, there is always the 
possibility of claims against the group for quality related issues on parts supplied to customers. As at 31 March 2022, the directors do not 
consider any significant liability will arise in respect of any such claims (2021 – £nil).

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 years 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

Financial assets measured at amortised cost
Trade receivables
Other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current financial assets
Non-current financial assets
Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income
Total non-current financial assets
Total financial assets

Financial assets

2022
£000

30,779
4,204
35,745
70,728

396
396
71,124

2021
£000

27,383
4,031
36,092
67,506

308
308
67,814

The maximum exposure to credit risks is detailed in the above table, being the total financial assets excluding those at fair value through other 
comprehensive income. 

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55

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
continued

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

2022
£000

18,186
959
7,374
26,519

2021
£000

15,533
664
6,482
22,679

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 2022, trade receivables of £28,539,000 (2021 – £26,145,000) were not past due. 

Apart from the largest customers set out in note 2, the group does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any 
group of counterparties having similar characteristics, being related entities. Concentration of credit risk to the direct customers included in note 
2 did not exceed 29% of trade receivables at any time during the year. Concentration of credit risk to any other counterparty did not exceed 5% 
of trade receivables at any time during the year.

The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit-ratings assigned by international credit-rating 
agencies.

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 (e.g. 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. Proforma 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 there is no reasonable expectation of recovery based upon objective evidence. 
Impairment provisions are also recognised based on the simplified approach within IFRS 9 using the lifetime expected credit losses. To measure 
the expected credit losses, trade receivables have been grouped based on shared credit risk and the days past due. The expected loss rates 
are based on the payment profiles and historical credit losses experience over a three year period. The historical loss rates are adjusted to reflect 
current and forward looking information on macroeconomic factors affecting the ability of the customers to settle the receivables, including the 
continuing potential financial impact of COVID-19.

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

The credit quality of financial assets that are neither past due nor impaired can be assessed by reference to external credit-ratings (if available) or 
to historical information about default rates. The credit quality of trade receivables that are neither past due nor impaired are all assessed to be 
virtually fully recoverable (2021 – virtually fully recoverable).

At 31 March 2022 trade receivables of £2,240,000 (2021 – £1,238,000) 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

56

2022
£000
324
553
1,363
2,240

2021
£000
114
449
675
1,238

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

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 in provisions
Written off against provisions
Closing balance

2022
£000
486
(35)
(4)
447

2021
£000
597
(49)
(62)
486

Impairment losses on trade receivables of £39,000 (2021 – £111,000) 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. 

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 (2021 – £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 did 
not have any forward contracts in place to sell euros (2021 – £nil).

At the balance sheet date foreign exchange facilities of £1.9 million (2021 – £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 and financial liabilities are as follows:

Sterling
US$
Euro

Floating rate 
assets 
2022
£000
0
73
928
1,001

Fixed rate 
assets 
2022
£000
34,743
—
—
34,743

Interest-free 
assets
2022
£000
29,679
2,023
3,678
35,380

Total
2022
£000
64,422
2,096
4,606
71,124

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57

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Financial Statements
continued

19 Financial instrument risk exposure and management continued

Sterling
US$
Euro

Sterling
US$
Euro

Floating rate 
assets 
2021
£000
5
1,566
2,352
3,923

Fixed rate 
assets 
2021
£000
32,034
—
136
32,170

Interest-free 
assets
2021
£000
27,238
1,513
2,970
31,721

Interest-free 
liabilities 
2022
£000
25,999
75
445
26,519

Total
2021
£000
59,277
3,079
5,458
67,814

Interest-free 
liabilities 
2021
£000
21,770
80
829
22,679

Fixed rate assets attracted interest rates of between 0.05% and 0.75% (2021 – 0.05% and 0.25%) on sterling deposits.

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

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand, deposits on call with banks and short-term deposits that have fixed interest rates and 
original maturities of three months or less on inception.

The effect of a +25/(25) increase/(decrease) in basis points with all other variables held constant would have the effect of increasing/(decreasing) 
profit before tax by £84,000/(£84,000) (2021 – £80,000/(£80,000)).

The group believes that movements on exchange rates of +/–5% could be possible, the effect of which is that profit before tax would (decrease)/
increase by (£175,000)/£194,000 (2021 – (£141,000)/£156,000).

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

20 Related party transactions
The group has a related party relationship with its directors; details of salaries and other benefits paid to directors are disclosed in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 27 to 31.

Transactions with the group’s pension schemes and balances owed to the company by the schemes are disclosed in note 6.

Controlling party
The company’s shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange’s Regulated Market (Premium Listing) and are widely held. There is no one 
controlling party or group of related parties who have control of the group.

58

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Financial Statements

continued

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
Other receivables

Current assets
Total liabilities

Dividends and earnings
Pence per share declared
Number of times covered (dividend paid, excluding special)
Earnings per share – basic
Earnings per share – diluted 
Earnings per share – basic excluding exceptional items

2022
£000

148,583
12,074
8,552
6,698

4,363
127,135
131,498

62,801
396
—
63,197
101,997
(33,696)
131,498

16.23
1.3
19.60p
19.57p
19.59p

2021
£000

114,702
4,987
4,149
6,532

4,363
125,101
129,464

67,112
308
—
67,420
90,169
(28,125)
129,464

15.26
0.6
9.51p
9.50p
8.06p

2020
£000

138,667
12,700
10,066
13,037

4,363
127,295
131,658

70,693
358
—
71,051
84,629
(24,022)
131,658

14.88
1.6
23.07p
23.07p
23.05p

2019
£000

150,236
14,050
11,010
6,327

4,363
130,026
134,389

71,438
380
—
71,818
92,116
(29,545)
134,389

14.78
1.7
25.23p
25.23p
28.16p

2018
£000

133,276
12,077
9,798
6,095

4,363
123,779
128,142

75,448
336
1,135
76,919
78,448
(27,225)
128,142

14.50
1.6
22.46p
22.46p
22.21p

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59

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsParent Company Balance Sheet
as at 31 March 2022

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments
Financial assets

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
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 the equity holders of the company
Share capital
Share premium account
Treasury shares
Other reserve
Retained earnings
Total shareholders’ funds

Notes

2022
£000

2021
£000

5
6
7

8
9

10

11

12

21,394
4,995
396
26,785

17,630
27,394
30,878
75,902
102,687

16,435
39
16,474

1,131
17,605
85,082

4,363
874
(79)
13
79,911
85,082

22,085
4,995
308
27,388

13,227
26,760
27,207
67,194
94,582

13,850
278
14,128

684
14,812
79,770

4,363
874
—
13
74,520
79,770

The company’s profit for the financial year was £11,949,000 (2021 – £6,015,000).

The parent company financial statements on pages 60 to 67 were approved and authorised for issue by the board of directors on 15 June 2022, 
and were signed on its behalf by:

B. J. Cooke 
Chairman

S. J. Mant 
Finance Director

Notes to the financial statements are on pages 62 to 67.

Registered number – 91580.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C. 
 
Parent Company Balance Sheet

as at 31 March 2022

Parent Company Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 31 March 2022

At 1 April 2021

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(losses):

Change in fair value of financial assets

Tax effect of items taken directly to reserves

Total comprehensive income for the year
Shares acquired in the year
Equity settled share-based payments
Dividends (see note 4)

At 31 March 2022

At 1 April 2020

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income/(losses):

Change in fair value of financial assets

Tax effect of items taken directly to reserves
Total comprehensive income for the year
Equity settled share-based payments

Dividends (see note 4)

At 31 March 2021

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Share
capitala)
£000
4,363

Share
premiumb)
£000
874

Treasury 
sharesc)
£000
—

Other
reserved)
£000
13

—

—

—

—
—
—
—

—

—

—

—
—
—
—

4,363

874

—

—

—

—
(79)
—
—

(79)

—

—

—

—
—
—
—

13

Retained
earningse)
£000
74,520

11,949

88

(22)

12,015
—
74
(6,698)

79,911

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent

Share
capitala)
£000
4,363

Share
premiumb)
£000
874

Treasury 
sharesc)
£000
—

Other
reserved)
£000
13

—

—

—
—
—

—

—

—

—
—
—

—

4,363

874

—

—

—
—
—

—

—

—

—

—
—
—

—

13

Retained
earningse)
£000
75,056

6,015

(50)

10
5,975
21

(6,532)

74,520

Total 
equity
£000
79,770

11,949

88

(22)

12,015
(79)
74
(6,698)

85,082

Total 
equity
£000
80,306

6,015

(50)

10
5,975
21

(6,532)

79,770

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

b)  Share premium – Amount subscribed for share capital in excess of nominal value.

c)  Treasury shares – Value of shares acquired by the company.

d)  Other reserve – Amounts transferred from share capital on redemption of issued shares.

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

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61

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Parent Company Financial Statements
The Directors’ Report is on pages 21 to 23 of the Annual Report and Financial Statements

1   Accounting policies
General information
Castings Public Limited Company (the ‘company’, ‘Castings P.L.C.’) is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom and registered in 
England as a public company limited by shares. The company’s registered office is at Lichfield Road, Brownhills, West Midlands, WS8 6JZ, 
United Kingdom. The Company’s ordinary shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange’s Regulated Market (Premium Listing). There has 
been no change in this information since the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2020.

Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice) including Financial Reporting Standard 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework (‘FRS 101’). The principal accounting policies 
adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. The policies have been consistently applied to all years presented, 
unless otherwise stated. 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention, except for the revaluation of 
certain financial instruments, and in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

As permitted by FRS 101, the company has taken advantage of certain disclosure exemptions available under that standard and, therefore, 
these financial statements do not include:

•  certain comparative information otherwise required;

•  certain disclosures regarding the company’s capital;

•  a statement of cash flows;

• 

• 

the effect of future accounting standards not yet adopted;

the disclosure of the remuneration of key management personnel; and

•  disclosure of related party transactions with other wholly owned members of the group headed by the company.

In addition, and in accordance with FRS 101, further disclosure exemptions have been adopted because equivalent disclosures are included 
in the group financial statements. Therefore, these financial statements do not include certain disclosures in respect of business combinations, 
financial instruments (other than certain disclosures required as a result of recording instruments at fair value), impairment of assets and pension 
schemes.

Revenue
Revenue is measured at the fair value of consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods provided in the 
normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales-related taxes. Revenue is recognised once the performance obligation has 
been met. This is deemed to be when the goods and services have been collected by, or delivered to, the customer in accordance with the 
agreed delivery terms.

Post-retirement benefits
For defined benefit schemes, current service costs and curtailment gains are charged to operating profit, 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. Where the company cannot benefit from a scheme surplus, in the form of refunds from the plans or reduction in future 
contributions, any asset resulting from the above policy is restricted accordingly. Contributions to defined contribution pension schemes are 
charged to the income statement as they become payable.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment assets are held at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided on property, plant and equipment, 
other than freehold land and assets in the course of construction, on a straight-line basis. The periods of write-off used are as follows:

•  Freehold and leasehold land and buildings over 50 years

•  Plant and equipment over a period of 3 to 10 years

Inventories
The company’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 other short-term highly liquid investments with original 
maturities of three months or less from inception.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.1   Accounting policies continued
Foreign currencies
Assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated at the spot rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in  
foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling at the date of the transaction; all differences are dealt with through the statement of 
comprehensive income.

Financial instruments
a) Financial assets
The group classifies its financial assets into one of the categories discussed below, depending on the purpose for which the asset was acquired. 
The group’s accounting policy for each category is as follows: 

Fair value through other comprehensive income 
Fair value through other comprehensive income 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 in other comprehensive income. The cumulative fair value gains 
and losses are held within retained earnings and are not treated as distributable. Fair value is determined with reference to published quoted 
prices in an active market. 

Amortised cost
These assets are held in order to collect contractual cash flows, on specific dates, which are solely payments of the principal and interest on 
the principal amount outstanding. They arise principally through the provision of goods and services to customers (e.g. trade receivables) and 
deposits held at banks and building societies, but may also incorporate other types of contractual monetary asset. 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.

Impairment provisions for trade receivables are recognised based on the simplified approach within IFRS 9 using the lifetime expected credit 
losses. During this process the probability of the non-payment of the trade receivables is assessed. Where specific receivables are known to 
be “bad” or it becomes apparent that payment is “doubtful” then a credit loss allowance of 100% is applied. Such provisions are recorded in 
a separate allowance account with the loss being recognised within administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income. On confirmation that the deposit or receivable will not be 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.

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost
Financial liabilities include trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities, which are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently 
carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Fair value is calculated by discounting estimated future cash flows using a market rate of interest.

c) Share capital
The company’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 can be utilised.

Deferred tax is measured at the actual tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the temporary differences are expected to 
reverse, based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Current tax is provided for on the taxable profits of each company in the group, using current tax rates and legislation that has been enacted or 
substantively enacted 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 recognised when approved by the shareholders at an Annual General Meeting. 

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63

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Parent Company Financial Statements
continued

The Directors’ Report is on pages 21 to 23 of the Annual Report and Financial Statements

Government assistance
Economic support provided to the group as part of government initiatives to support employees is recognised in the income statement on the 
date at which conditions attached to the receipt of such assistance have been met in the period it becomes receivable. The income is classified 
as other operating income.

Share based payments
The cost of equity-settled transactions with employees of the company is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are 
granted and is recognised as an expense over the vesting period, which ends on the date on which the relevant employees become fully entitled 
to the award. 

The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of awards for which the related service conditions are met, such 
that the amount ultimately recognised as an expense is based on the number of awards that meet the related service conditions at the vesting 
date.

Investments
Investments in subsidiaries are held at cost and reviewed for impairment annually.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The company 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 and assumptions that have a significant risk of 
causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are set out on page 45 of the group 
financial statements.

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 
financial statements. The company’s profit for the financial year was £11,949,000 (2021 – £6,015,000).

The profit and loss account includes £67,000 (2021 – £62,000) for audit fees.

The cost of inventories recognised as an expense during the year was £50,292,000 (2021 – £37,234,000).

3   Employee information

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

Staff costs (including directors) comprise:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs

2022

2021

359
27
386

2022
£000

16,593
1,794
646
19,033

348
24
372

2021
£000

14,994
1,570
595
17,159

The directors represent the key management personnel. Details of their compensation are given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on 
page 30.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements

continued

The Directors’ Report is on pages 21 to 23 of the Annual Report and Financial Statements

4   Dividends

Final paid of 11.69p per share for the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020 – 11.40p)
Interim paid of 3.66p per share (2021 – 3.57p)

2022
£000
5,101
1,597
6,698

2021
£000
4,974
1,558
6,532

The directors are proposing a final dividend of 12.57 pence (2021 – 11.69 pence) per share totalling £5,484,551 (2021 – £5,100,589). In 
addition, the directors have declared a supplementary dividend of 15.00 pence per share, totalling £6,544,810. These dividends have not been 
accrued at the balance sheet date. 

5  Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 April 2021
Additions during year
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
Accumulated depreciation
At 1 April 2021
Charge for year
Disposals
At 31 March 2022
Net book values
At 31 March 2022
At 31 March 2021

Freehold and 
leasehold 
land and 
buildings 
£000

Plant and 
equipment 
£000

21,286
61
—
21,347

4,846
387
—
5,233

16,114
16,440

34,540
1,120
(190)
35,470

28,895
1,431
(136)
30,190

5,281
5,645

Total
£000

55,826
1,181
(190)
56,817

33,741
1,818
(136)
35,423

21,394
22,085

The net book value of land and buildings includes £1,768,000 (2021 – £1,768,000) for land which is not depreciated. Included within plant and 
other equipment are assets in the course of construction with a net book value of £136,000 (2021 – £185,000) which are not depreciated. 

6  Investments

Subsidiary companies
At cost

At 1 April 2021
Impairment losses
At 31 March 2022

2022
£000

4,995
4,995

2022
£000
4,995
—
4,995

2021
£000

4,995
4,995

2021
£000
4,995
—
4,995

The company owns 100% of the issued share capital of William Lee Limited, CNC Speedwell Limited, W. H. Booth & Co. Limited and Castings 
Property Limited, companies which operate in the United Kingdom. William Lee Limited supplies spheroidal graphite iron castings and CNC 
Speedwell Limited is a machinist operation. W. H. Booth & Co. Limited and Castings Property Limited do not trade and are dormant. The 
registered office of William Lee Limited is Callywhite Lane, Dronfield, Sheffield, S18 2XU. The registered office for all other subsidiaries is Lichfield 
Road, Brownhills, West Midlands, WS8 6JZ.

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65

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotes to the Parent Company Financial Statements
continued

The Directors’ Report is on pages 21 to 23 of the Annual Report and Financial Statements

7   Financial assets

Financial assets at FVOCI

At 1 April 2021
Net gains/(losses) recognised in other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2022

2022
£000

396

2022
£000
308
88
396

2021
£000

308

2021
£000
358
(50)
308

Financial assets at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) are UK quoted equity securities and are denominated in sterling. The 
fair value of the securities is based on published quoted prices in an active market.

The cumulative fair value gains and losses which are undistributable and held within retained earnings totalled £239,000 (2021 – £151,000).

8   Inventories

Raw materials 
Work in progress 
Finished goods 

Inventories are net of impairment provisions of £241,000 (2021 – £150,000).

9   Trade and other receivables

Due within one year:
Trade receivables
Amounts receivable from subsidiary companies
Other receivables
Receivable from pension schemes (see note 6 of group financial statements)
Prepayments

Trade receivables are net of impairment provisions of £203,000 (2021 – £259,000). 

Amounts receivable from subsidiary companies are interest free and have no fixed repayment terms.

10  Trade and other payables

Current trade and other payables
Trade payables
Amounts owed to subsidiary companies
Social security
Other payables
Accruals

Amounts owed to subsidiary companies are interest free and have no fixed repayment terms.

2022
£000
3,934
4,733
8,963
17,630

2022
£000

21,836
—
1,623
2,114
1,821
27,394

2022
£000

8,844
3,344
737
360
3,150
16,435

2021
£000
2,431
4,158
6,638
13,227

2021
£000

19,621
2,133
1,167
2,496
1,343
26,760

2021
£000

7,642
2,461
658
284
2,805
13,850

66

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notes to the Parent Company Financial Statements

continued

The Directors’ Report is on pages 21 to 23 of the Annual Report and Financial Statements

11 Deferred tax liabilities
Deferred tax is calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using the large company tax rate applicable in future years of 
25% (2021 – 19%). The movement on the deferred tax account is shown below:

Deferred tax liabilities

At 1 April 2021
Charged/(credited) to other comprehensive income
Charged/(credited) to profit
At 31 March 2022

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

Deferred tax liabilities

At 1 April 2021
Charged to profit
Charged to other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2022

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

At 1 April 2020
Credited to profit
Credited to other comprehensive income
At 31 March 2021

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
£000
656
415
—
1,071

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation
£000
815
(159)
—
656

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

Tax on change in fair value of financial assets
Tax on items taken directly to other comprehensive income

12 Share capital

Allotted and fully paid 43,632,068 (2021 – 43,632,068) 10p ordinary shares

2022
£000
684
22
425
1,131

Other
£000
28
10
22
60

Other
£000
38
—
(10)
28

2022
£000
22
22

2022
£000
4,363

2021
£000
853
(10)
(159)
684

Total
£000
684
425
22
1,131

Total
£000
853
(159)
(10)
684

2021
£000
(10)
(10)

2021
£000
4,363

13  Pensions
Castings P.L.C. has no contractual agreement or stated policy for charging its subsidiary entities for the net defined benefit cost on an IAS 19 
Employee Benefits measurement basis. Legally, Castings P.L.C. is the sponsoring employer for the plan, so it recognises the full defined benefit cost 
or asset (where recoverable) in its financial statements. The last valuation was performed with the effective date of 6 April 2020. Further details of the 
schemes are contained in note 6 to the group financial statements.

14  Capital commitments and contingencies

Authorised, but not provided in the financial statements

2022
£000
318

2021
£000
436

The company does not insure against the potential cost of product warranty or recall. Accordingly, there is always the possibility of claims 
against the company for quality-related issues on parts supplied to customers. As at 31 March 2022, the directors do not consider any 
significant liability will arise in respect of any such claims (2021 – £nil).

67

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Financial StatementsNotice of Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the one hundred and fifteenth Annual General Meeting of Castings P.L.C. (the ‘company’) will be held at Fairlawns Hotel 
& Spa, Little Aston Road, Aldridge, West Midlands, WS9 0NU on 16 August 2022 at 3.30 pm for the purposes set out below. 

As ordinary business

1  To receive and adopt the Directors’ Report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022. 

2  To declare a final dividend. 

3  To re-elect B. J. Cooke as a director.

4  To re-elect A. Vicary as a director.

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

6  To re-elect A. N. Jones as a director.

7  To re-elect A. K. Eastgate as a director.

8  To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 March 2022.

9  To reappoint Mazars LLP as auditors of the company at a fee to be agreed with the directors. 

As special business

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, of which resolution 10 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions and resolutions 11 
and 12 will be proposed as special resolutions.

The share capital consists of 43,632,068 ordinary shares with voting rights.

As ordinary resolutions
10  THAT:

(a)  the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 to exercise all 
the powers of the company to allot relevant securities provided that the aggregate nominal value of such securities shall not exceed 
£636,793, which represents approximately 14.6% of the current issued share capital of the company;

(b)  the foregoing authority shall expire on 15 August 2027 save that the company may before such expiry make an offer or enter into an 

agreement which would or might require relevant securities to be 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;

(c)  the foregoing authority shall be in substitution for the authorities given to the directors under the Companies Act 2006 on  

19 August 2021, which authorities are accordingly hereby revoked; and

(d)  this authority will be put to annual shareholder approval.

As special resolutions
11   THAT the directors be and are hereby empowered pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 to allot equity securities (within the meaning of that 
Act) for cash pursuant to the general authority conferred by the ordinary resolution numbered 10 set out in the notice convening this meeting 
as if the said Act did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited:

(a)  to allotments in connection with an offer of equity securities to the ordinary shareholders of the Company where the securities respectively 
attributable to the interests of such holders are proportionate (as nearly as may be and subject to such exclusions or other arrangement 
as the directors may consider appropriate, necessary or expedient to deal with any fractional entitlements or with any legal or practical 
difficulties in respect of overseas holders or otherwise) to the respective numbers of ordinary shares then held by such shareholders; and

(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 exceeding £218,160, which represents approximately 5% of the current issued share 
capital of the company,

and shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting following the date of this resolution save that the company shall be 
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 offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not 
expired. In any three year period no more than 7.5% of the issued share capital will be issued on a pre-emptive basis.

68

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notice of Meeting

12   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:

(a)  the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 4,358,844, representing 9.99% of the issued share 

capital at 31 March 2022;

(b)  the minimum price which may be paid for each ordinary share is 10p, exclusive of the expenses of purchase;

(c)  the maximum price (exclusive 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 List of the London Stock Exchange 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 shares under this authority which will or 
may be executed wholly or partly after such expiry and may make a purchase of ordinary shares pursuant to any such contract, as if 
such authority had not expired.

The record date for payment of the final dividend is 22 July 2022. Assuming the final dividend is approved by the members, the dividend will be 
paid on 19 August 2021.

Information about the meeting can be found on the company’s website (www.castings.plc.uk). The right to vote at the meeting is determined by 
reference to the register of members as it stands on 12 August 2022. 

By order of the board

S. J. Mant 

Company Secretary 
Registered Office: 
Lichfield Road, Brownhills, 
West Midlands, WS8 6JZ 
15 June 2022

Note 1 - Proxy voting:
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 their 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: Link Group, PXS 1, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, 
Leeds, LS1 4DL, not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting.

CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so for the Meeting (and 
any adjournment of the Meeting) by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual (available from www.euroclear.com/site/public/EUI). 
CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a service provider(s), should 
refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.

In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate CREST message (a ‘CREST Proxy 
Instruction’) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s specifications and must contain the information 
required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer’s agent (ID 
RA10) by 3.30 pm on 12 August 2022. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to mean the time (as determined by the timestamp applied 
to the message by the CREST application host) from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner 
prescribed by CREST. After this time, any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee 
through other means.

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does 
not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will, therefore, apply in relation 
to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST 
personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that their CREST sponsor or voting service 
provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. 
In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting system providers are referred, in particular, to those 
sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST 
Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Company InformationNotice of Meeting
continued

Note 2 - Beneficial owners:
In accordance with Section 325 of the Companies Act 2006, the right to appoint proxies does not apply to persons nominated to receive 
information rights under Section 146 of the Act.

Persons nominated to receive information rights under Section 146 of the Act who have been sent a copy of this notice of meeting are hereby 
informed, in accordance with Section 149 (2) of the Act, that they may have a right under an 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 the close of business 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 the close of business on the day two days before the date of any adjournment shall be entitled to attend 
and vote at the meeting.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Notice of Meeting

continued

Directors, Officers and Advisers

Directors

B. J. Cooke, AdvDipNFC, FICME Non-executive Chairman
A. Vicary, BEng, MSc, FICME Chief Executive Officer
S. J. Mant, BCom (Hons) FCA Finance Director
A. N. Jones, BA (Hons), FCA Senior Independent Non-executive
A. K. Eastgate, BA (Hons) Non-executive

Secretary and
Registered Office

S. J. Mant, FCA
Lichfield Road,
Brownhills,
West Midlands, WS8 6JZ
Tel: 01543 374341
Fax: 01543 377483
Web: www.castings.plc.uk

Registrars

Auditors

Solicitors

Bankers

Stockbrokers

Link Group
10th Floor,
Central Square,
29 Wellington Street,
Leeds, LS1 4DL
Tel: 0371 664 0300 (Calls are charged at the standard 
geographic rate and will vary by provider. Calls outside 
the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate.
Lines are open 9.00 am to 5.30 pm Mon – Fri)
Email: shareholderenquiries@linkgroup.co.uk

Mazars LLP
Two Chamberlain Square,
Birmingham, B3 3AX

Enoch Evans LLP
St Paul’s Chambers,
6/9 Hatherton Road,
Walsall,
West Midlands, WS1 1XS

Pinsent Masons LLP
55 Colmore Row,
Birmingham, B3 2FG

HSBC Bank plc
49 Market Street,
Lichfield,
Staffordshire, WS13 6LB

Canaccord Genuity Limited
88 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7QR

Zeus Capital Limited
10 Old Burlington Street
London
WS1 3AG

Registered No.

91580

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71

Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Company InformationShareholder Information

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 
turn 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.

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.

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Castings P.L.C. Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022Castings P.L.C.Company Information

The production of this report supports the work of the Woodland Trust, 
the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. Each tree planted will 
grow into a vital carbon store, helping to reduce environmental impact 
as well as creating natural havens for wildlife and people.

Castings P.L.C. 
Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2022

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Castings P.L.C. 
Lichfield Road 
Brownhills 
West Midlands 
WS8 6JZ

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