BOLTON_ENGINEERING_(HOLDI - Accounts

The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 March 2022.

Principal activities

The principal activities of the company in the year under review remain the manufacture of high complexity components and assemblies for the aero-engine industry and, chain and conveyor systems used in the bakery, cereal and food processing, chemical and general processing industries.

Review of business

The directors aim to present a balanced and comprehensive review of the development and performance of the business during the year under review and its position at the year end.

The turnover of the two divisions was as follows:-

Aerospace Division.

The year was again dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on the aviation industry. Activity in all sectors of the industry was reduced significantly compared to pre pandemic levels. The Company had to adjust its operations accordingly with a focus on cash flow.

The Company completed the restructuring of its cost base and progressively returned to full time working patterns as capacity was aligned with demand. The Company has incurred one off costs associated with the reduction of personnel and production capacity but will benefit from the reduced cost structure moving forward.

Throughout this period the Company had the full support of its key customers in terms of planning workload and stability of schedule, albeit at the reduced levels.

Production levels this year (FY23) are largely stable as sales are currently at a similar level to the final period of FY22, with increased output in the last quarter reflecting a forecast sales growth of 15%- 20%. Management believe the Aerospace sector will continue to recover, as we see increases in the order book for 2023.

The activities of the Chain and Conveyor System Division continue largely unaffected.

Trading Performance.

During the year ended 31 March 2022 turnover decreased by 7.5%, however the gross profit margin increased to 13.4% (2021: 7.1%). Due to the restructuring and cost savings initiated, gross margins returned to pre-Covid levels.

However it should be noted that the company made continued use of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, claiming an amount of £168k (2021: £679.9k) during the year. Had this been included above the gross profit line, then the company would have reported a gross profit margin of 15.4%.(2021:13.3%)

Distribution and administration costs were 3.2% (2021: 3.3%) and 10.3% (2021: 11.9%) of turnover respectively

Other operating income refers to the government CJRS.

Exceptional items referred to the continuation of the restructuring costs of £235k (2021: £345k), this is now complete and therefore these costs will not be incurred in future years.

Finance costs decreased by £94k and were 2.8% of turnover (2021: 3.4%).

The reduction in planned work, and exceptional restructuring costs, meant that loss before tax was £356k (2021: loss of £921k).

The existing final salary pension scheme has recovered from the adverse valuation at 31 March 2020 when investment values were affected by the pandemic. The accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022 are reporting an actuarial gain of £585k helped by the stock market recovery, plus a change in investment strategy.

Cash flow

The key risk identified by management is business cash flow, the risk is mitigated by the preparation and review of a 12 week cashflow forecast, updated weekly and measures needed, actioned.

This is in addition to the Company preparing its annual budget statements every year, including a comprehensive cash flow projection, and reforecasts. Cash and working capital management remain a priority for directors.

Operating risks

The directors review the performance of the business on a monthly basis with comprehensive management accounts and written reports from divisional directors and managers. The accounts and reports cover, amongst other things, customer activity, internal performance, cash position and the financial performance of each division against budgets.

Financial risks

The company’s activities expose it to a number of financial risks including foreign currency risk, credit risk and liquidity risk.

Foreign currency risk

The company has both receipts and payments in $US, and payments in Euros. Fluctuations in the $US exchange rate are partially hedged by matching the $US assets and liabilities. The company purchases Euros at spot rates when required.

Credit risk

The company’s principal financial assets are bank balances, trade and other receivables. The credit risk is attributable to trade receivables which are hedged by the use of trade credit insurance. The company may, for relatively small amounts, extend trade credit to non-insured customers after appropriate credit checks have been made.

Liquidity risk

The company has an invoice discounting facility which provides access to funds for working capital. The cash position and availability of funds are monitored daily. A short-term 13 week cash flow forecast is regularly reviewed to ensure that the company has adequate funds available to meet future requirements.

Commercial risk

The Company agrees long term supply agreements with its major customers. This gives certainty on the specific products to be supplied. It does not guarantee volumes. Some of the company’s long term agreements with its customers contain clauses that allow the customer to levy liquidated damages in the event of late delivery. The potential effect of this is mitigated by the inclusion of a cap on the amount of liquidated damages that could be levied. The company will not be subject to LD charges when it can be demonstrated that delays have been caused by acts or omission of the Customer Direct Buy Supplier.

Pension scheme

The company sponsors a defined benefit pension scheme which was closed to future accrual on the 31st March 2006. Details of the funding position on the FRS102 basis are shown in the notes to the accounts. The funding position of the scheme can be significantly affected by movements in interest rates, investment returns and changes in actuarial assumptions.

Research and development

The company has undertaken forms of manufacturing R&D to include development, trialling and testing of new products and manufacturing processes during the last few years, improving manufacturing capabilities.

Future developments

The company will continue to pursue its objective of being a centre of excellence for the production of complex aero-engine rings and invest in the manufacturing technology required to achieve that objective. It will continue to promote activities that increase its customer service and value to customers. The Chain Division is continuing to focus on its service to an established base while strategically adding to a loyal customer base.

On behalf of the board

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.

The principle activities of the group in the year under review were those of the manufacture of high complexity components and assemblies for the aero-engine industry and, chain and conveyor systems used in the bakery, cereal and food processing, chemical and general processing industries.

The results for the year are set out on page 10.

No ordinary dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a further dividend.

No preference dividends were paid. The directors do not recommend payment of a final dividend.

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

PM+M Solutions for Business LLP were appointed as auditor to the group and in accordance with section 485 of the Companies Act 2006, a resolution proposing that they be re-appointed will be put at a General Meeting.

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

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the financial statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and company, and of the profit or loss of the group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

•     select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

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

•     state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the ;

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

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s and company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the group and company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

So far as each person who was a director at the date of approving this report is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditor of the company is unaware. Additionally, the directors individually have taken all the necessary steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of all relevant audit information and to establish that the auditor of the company is aware of that information.

We have audited the financial statements of Bolton Engineering (Holdings) Limited (the 'parent company') and its subsidiaries (the 'group') for the year ended 31 March 2022 which comprise the group statement of comprehensive income, the group balance sheet, the company balance sheet, the group statement of changes in equity, the company statement of changes in equity, the group statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

In our opinion the financial statements:

•     give a true and fair view of the state of the group's and the parent company's affairs as at 31 March 2022 and of the group's loss for the year then ended;

•     have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

•     have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the group and 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, 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.

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 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.

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 contained within the annual report. 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 the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether 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, based on the work undertaken in the course of our 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

• the strategic report and the directors' report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

In the 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.

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 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.

As explained more fully in the directors' responsibilities statement, 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 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 parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

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

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

We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Identifying and assessing potential risks related to irregularities

In identifying and assessing risks of material misstatement in respect of irregularities, including fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations, we have considered the following:

• the nature of the industry and sector, control environment and business performance including the design of the Group's remuneration policies, key drivers for directors’ remuneration, bonus levels and performance targets;

• results of our enquiries of management about their own identification and assessment of the risks of irregularities;

• the matters discussed among the audit engagement team including significant component audit teams and involving relevant specialists regarding how and where fraud might occur in the financial statements and any potential indicators of fraud;

• any matters we identified having obtained and reviewed the Group's documentation of their policies and procedures relating to:

  • identifying, evaluating and complying with laws and regulations and whether they were aware of any instances of non-compliance;

  • detecting and responding to the risks of fraud and whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud;

  • the internal controls established to mitigate risks of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations.

As a result of these procedures, we considered the opportunities and incentives that may exist within the organisation for fraud and identified the greatest potential for fraud in the following areas: timing of recognition of commercial income, posting of unusual journals and complex transactions; and manipulating the Group's performance profit measures and other key performance indicators to meet remuneration targets and externally communicated targets. In common with all audits under ISAs (UK), we are also required to perform specific procedures to respond to the risk of management override.

We also obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that the Group operates in, focusing on provisions of those laws and regulations that had a direct effect on the determination of material amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The key laws and regulations we considered in this context included UK Companies Act, employment law, health and safety regulations, pensions legislation and tax legislation.

Audit response to risks identified

Our procedures to respond to risks identified included the following:

• reviewing the financial statement disclosures and testing to supporting documentation to assess compliance with provisions of relevant laws and regulations described as having a direct effect on the financial statements;

• enquiring of management concerning actual and potential litigation and claims;

• performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships that may indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;

• reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance and reviewing correspondence with HMRC; and

• in addressing the identified risks of fraud through management override of controls, testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias; and evaluating the business rationale of any significant transactions that are unusual or outside the normal course of business.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with all laws and regulations.

Use of our 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.

As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company’s profit for the year was £0 (2021 - £0 profit).

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the provisions applicable to companies subject to the small companies regime.

Bolton Engineering (Holdings) Limited (“the company”) is a private limited company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Victoria Mill, Piggot Street, Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 9QN.

The group consists of Bolton Engineering (Holdings) Limited and all of its subsidiaries.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland” (“FRS 102”) and the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements are prepared in sterling, which is the functional currency of the company. Monetary amounts in these financial statements are rounded to the nearest £.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, including the exemption to use the fair value of the freehold land and buildings at the date of transition to FRS 102 as deemed cost, but modified to include the defined benefit pension liability which is stated as detailed in accounting policy 1.12. The principal accounting policies adopted are set out below.

The company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements for parent company information presented within the consolidated financial statements:

• Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;

• Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;

• Section 26 ‘Share based Payment’: Share-based payment expense charged to profit or loss, reconciliation of opening and closing number and weighted average exercise price of share options, how the fair value of options granted was measured, measurement and carrying amount of liabilities for cash-settled share-based payments, explanation of modifications to arrangements;

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

This company is a qualifying entity for the purposes of FRS 102, being a member of a group where the parent of that group prepares publicly available consolidated financial statements, including this company, which are intended to give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the group. The company has therefore taken advantage of exemptions from the following disclosure requirements:

• Section 7 ‘Statement of Cash Flows’: Presentation of a statement of cash flow and related notes and disclosures;

• Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instrument Issues: Interest income/expense and net gains/losses for financial instruments not measured at fair value; basis of determining fair values; details of collateral, loan defaults or breaches, details of hedges, hedging fair value changes recognised in profit or loss and in other comprehensive income;

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

As permitted by s408 Companies Act 2006, the company has not presented its own profit and loss account and related notes. The company's profit for the year was nil (2021:£nil).

In the parent company financial statements, the cost of a business combination is the fair value at the acquisition date of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed, plus costs directly attributable to the business combination. The excess of the cost of a business combination over the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired is recognised as goodwill. The cost of the combination includes the estimated amount of contingent consideration that is probable and can be measured reliably, and is adjusted for changes in contingent consideration after the acquisition date. Provisional fair values recognised for business combinations in previous periods are adjusted retrospectively for final fair values determined in the 12 months following the acquisition date. Investments in subsidiaries, joint ventures and associates are accounted for at cost less impairment.

The consolidated group financial statements consist of the financial statements of the parent company Bolton Engineering (Holdings) Limited together with all entities controlled by the parent company (its subsidiaries) and the group’s share of its interests in joint ventures and associates.

All financial statements are made up to 31 March 2022. Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by other members of the group.

All intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus the directors continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

The aerospace division order book stability has returned and the relationship between the company and its main customers remains strong. therefore the company continues to plan and operate with a 12 month rolling committed order horizon, which allows it to plan and forecast its activities.

The forecasts demonstrate that, subject to the support required in the short term, for a period of at least twelve months form the date of approval of these financial statements, the company should have sufficient resources to meet all financial obligations as they fall due for payment.

The financial statements do not include any adjustments that would result from the basis of preparation being inappropriate.

Turnover is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for goods and services provided in the normal course of business, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes. The fair value of consideration takes into account trade discounts, settlement discounts and volume rebates.

Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods have passed to the buyer (usually on dispatch of the goods), the amount of revenue can be measured reliably, it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity and the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition of a business over the fair value of net assets acquired. It is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is considered to have a finite useful life and is amortised on a systematic basis over its expected life, which is 20 years.

Tangible fixed assets are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost or valuation, net of depreciation and any impairment losses.

Depreciation is recognised so as to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual values over their useful lives on the following bases:

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the sale proceeds and the carrying value of the asset, and is recognised in the profit and loss account.

At the date of transition to FRS 102, the freehold land and buildings had a fair value of £960,000 based

upon an external third party valuation. The company has taken the exemption to use the fair value of the

freehold land and buildings at the date of transition as deemed cost under FRS 102 section 35.10(c).

Equity investments are measured at fair value through profit or loss, except for those equity investments that are not publicly traded and whose fair value cannot otherwise be measured reliably, which are recognised at cost less impairment until a reliable measure of fair value becomes available.

In the parent company financial statements, investments in subsidiaries, associates and jointly controlled entities are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.

A subsidiary is an entity controlled by the group. Control is the power to govern the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

An associate is an entity, being neither a subsidiary nor a joint venture, in which the company holds a long-term interest and where the company has significant influence. The group considers that it has significant influence where it has the power to participate in the financial and operating decisions of the associate.

Investments in associates are initially recognised at the transaction price (including transaction costs) and are subsequently adjusted to reflect the group’s share of the profit or loss, other comprehensive income and equity of the associate using the equity method. Any difference between the cost of acquisition and the share of the fair value of the net identifiable assets of the associate on acquisition is recognised as goodwill. Any unamortised balance of goodwill is included in the carrying value of the investment in associates.

Losses in excess of the carrying amount of an investment in an associate are recorded as a provision only when the company has incurred legal or constructive obligations or has made payments on behalf of the associate.

In the parent company financial statements, investments in associates are accounted for at cost less impairment.

Entities in which the group has a long term interest and shares control under a contractual arrangement are classified as jointly controlled entities.

At each reporting period end date, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount of an individual asset, the company estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

The carrying amount of the investments accounted for using the equity method is tested for impairment as a single asset. Any goodwill included in the carrying amount of the investment is not tested separately for impairment.

Recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Recognised impairment losses are reversed if, and only if, the reasons for the impairment loss have ceased to apply. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised immediately in profit or loss, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.

Stocks are stated at the lower of cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell. Cost comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labour costs and those overheads that have been incurred in bringing the stocks to their present location and condition.

At each reporting date, an assessment is made for impairment. Any excess of the carrying amount of stocks over its estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell is recognised as an impairment loss in profit or loss. Reversals of impairment losses are also recognised in profit or loss.

Cash and cash equivalents are basic financial assets and include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

The group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 ‘Basic Financial Instruments’ and Section 12 ‘Other Financial Instruments Issues’ of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Financial instruments are recognised in the group's balance sheet when the group becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amounts presented in the financial statements when there is a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or to realise the asset and settle the liability simultaneously.

Basic financial assets, which include debtors and cash and bank balances, are initially measured at transaction price including transaction costs and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial assets classified as receivable within one year are not amortised.

Other financial assets, including investments in equity instruments which are not subsidiaries, associates or joint ventures, are initially measured at fair value, which is normally the transaction price. Such assets are subsequently carried at fair value and the changes in fair value are recognised in profit or loss, except that investments in equity instruments that are not publicly traded and whose fair values cannot be measured reliably are measured at cost less impairment.

Financial assets, other than those held at fair value through profit and loss, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting end date.

Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows have been affected. If an asset is impaired, the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been, had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets are derecognised only when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled, or when the group transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to another entity, or if some significant risks and rewards of ownership are retained but control of the asset has transferred to another party that is able to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the group after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including creditors, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest. Financial liabilities classified as payable within one year are not amortised.

Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Trade creditors are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Amounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade creditors are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

The company does not have any non-basic financial instruments.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the group's contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. Dividends payable on equity instruments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the group.

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

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the profit and loss account because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting end date.

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

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

The costs of short-term employee benefits are recognised as a liability and an expense, unless those costs are required to be recognised as part of the cost of stock or fixed assets.

The cost of any unused holiday entitlement is recognised in the period in which the employee’s services are received.

Termination benefits are recognised immediately as an expense when the company is demonstrably committed to terminate the employment of an employee or to provide termination benefits.

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged as an expense as they fall due.

The cost of providing benefits under defined benefit plans is determined separately for each plan using the projected unit credit method, and is based on actuarial advice.

The change in the net defined benefit liability arising from employee service during the year is recognised as an employee cost. The cost of plan introductions, benefit changes, settlements and curtailments are recognised as an expense in measuring profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

The net interest element is determined by multiplying the net defined benefit liability by the discount rate, taking into account any changes in the net defined benefit liability during the period as a result of contribution and benefit payments. The net interest is recognised in profit or loss as other finance revenue or cost.

Remeasurement changes comprise actuarial gains and losses, the effect of the asset ceiling and the return on the net defined benefit liability excluding amounts included in net interest. These are recognised immediately in other comprehensive income in the period in which they occur and are not reclassified to profit and loss in subsequent periods.

The net defined benefit pension asset or liability in the balance sheet comprises the total for each plan of the present value of the defined benefit obligation (using a discount rate based on high quality corporate bonds), less the fair value of plan assets out of which the obligations are to be settled directly. Fair value is based on market price information, and in the case of quoted securities is the published bid price. The value of a net pension benefit asset is limited to the amount that may be recovered either through reduced contributions or agreed refunds from the scheme.

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessees. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Assets held under finance leases are recognised as assets at the lower of the assets fair value at the date of inception and the present value of the minimum lease payments. The related liability is included in the balance sheet as a finance lease obligation. Lease payments are treated as consisting of capital and interest elements. The interest is charged to profit or loss so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability.

Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Initial direct costs incurred in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are added to the carrying amount of the leased asset and recognised on a straight line basis over the lease term.

Government grants are recognised at the fair value of the asset received or receivable when there is reasonable assurance that the grant conditions will be met and the grants will be received.

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

Transactions in currencies other than pounds sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing at the dates of the transactions. At each reporting end date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the reporting end date. Gains and losses arising on translation in the period are included in profit or loss.

In the application of the group’s accounting policies, the directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised where the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods where the revision affects both current and future periods.

The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets and liabilities are as follows.

In order to adhere to the criteria of FRS 102, Section 28 'Employee Benefits' the company uses the services of an independent external actuary to deliver the calculation of the defined benefit scheme deficit as at the reporting day.

The valuation is dependent upon, and highly sensitive to, a number of key actuarial assumptions including the life expectancy, discount rate, price inflation rate, and deferred pension increase rate. Further details of the actuarial assumptions used in respect of the valuation are provided in note 21.

At each balance sheet date, management undertake an assessment of the value at which stock items are held within the accounts.

Using the costs incurred against stock items and the orders outstanding, an estimation is made by management as to whether the value of the stock is impaired and if a provision is required.

The company was adversely impacted by the COVID pandemic, with the aerospace division experiencing an unplanned reduction in activity as a result of scheduled orders being reduced and deferred by its major customer. As a result, the company underwent a period of restructuring, to the extent that some employees could not be redeployed and so redundancy terms were agreed.

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

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

The actual charge/(credit) for the year can be reconciled to the expected credit for the year based on the profit or loss and the standard rate of tax as follows:

In addition to the amount charged to the profit and loss account, the following amounts relating to tax have been recognised directly in other comprehensive income:

Factors affecting future tax and charges

Subsequent to the balance sheet date, the Chancellor confirmed an increase in the main corporation tax rate from 19% to 25% with effect from 1 April 2023. Therefore, deferred tax has been provided for at 25% in the 2022 financial statements.

Freehold land and buildings with a carrying value amount of £892,800 have been pledged to secure borrowings of the company.

The freehold land and buildings were independently valued on 1 June 2021 and were assessed as having a market value of £1,100,000. The directors are holding the land and buildings at deemed cost and so this valuation has not been recognised in the accounts.

At the date of transition to FRS 102, the freehold property had a fair value of £960,000 based upon an external third party valuation. The company took the exemption to use the fair value of the freehold property at the date of transition as deemed cost under FRS 102 section 35.10(c).

The carrying value of freehold land and buildings comprises land with a deemed cost of £480,000.

If revalued assets were stated on an historical cost basis rather than a fair value basis, the total amounts included would have been as follows:

The following assets are carried at valuation. If the assets were measured using the cost model, the carrying amounts would be as follows:

Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 March 2022 are as follows:

The registered office for the above companies is Piggot Street, Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire, BL4 9QN.

Included within the above bank borrowings is an invoice discounting facility and a bank loan.

The invoice discounting loan is secured by a fixed and floating charge over the assets of the company.

The bank loan is secured by a first legal charge over the property. The bank loan is repayable in

variable monthly instalments. The final maturity date per the original loan agreement was February 2022 and therefore the loan balance has been presented within current creditors at the balance sheet date. Post year end the bank has extended the loan term by a further 12 months, extending the maturity date to February 2023.

The finance lease creditor is secured by the underlying assets to which it relates.

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

It is impractical to estimate the movement of the deferred tax asset relating to retirement obligations in the twelve months following the balance sheet date, due to the estimation uncertainty over the related obligations, which can only be assessed following the next balance sheet date. Furthermore as at the signing date of these financial statements, as the company has not finalised its capital expenditure programme for the coming year, an assessment as to the likely movement of other related timing differences cannot be made.

The company operates a defined contribution pension scheme for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the company in an independently administered fund.

The company operates a defined benefit scheme for qualifying employees. The scheme was closed to future accrual of benefits with no linking of future benefits to future salary from 31 March 2006.

The statutory funding valuation was last carried out as at 31 March 2017.

Assumed life expectations on retirement at age 65:

The amounts included in the balance sheet arising from obligations in respect of defined benefit plans are as follows:

Amounts recognised in the profit and loss account

The statutory funding valuation was last carried out as at 31 March 2017.

Amounts taken to other comprehensive income

Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations

The defined benefit obligations arise from plans funded as follows:

Movements in the fair value of plan assets

The actual return on plan assets £245,000 (2021 - £4,699,000).

Fair value of plan assets at the reporting period end

At the reporting end date the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

The directors of Silcoms Limited are considered to be the only key management personnel within the group.

Their remuneration, including employer's national insurance, is as follows:

Company

The company has taken advantage of the exemption permitted under Section 33 'Related Party Disclosures' paragraph 33.1A from disclosing transactions with group undertakings.