CCL_Stressing_Internation - Accounts

The directors present the strategic report for the year ended 31 December 2019.

The following report reflects the size and shareholding structure of the Company, the Company being a sub-holding of a larger group with the ultimate holding company as its major shareholder. Reports to shareholders are prepared at the ultimate holding level and therefore a summary is offered to meet the requirements of section 172 of the Companies Act 2006. The information at present is limited as no other Stakeholders except Employees and trade creditors rely on this.

Strategy remains the same as previous years and the following extract is from our 2018 report

“The Company is the head office for the CCL group. The key strategy of the group is to increase turnover by

100% every 5 years by diversification into new territories and service areas. CCL Stressing International will

implement the strategy through investment from the UK in regional operations and new acquisitions, the

Company will service the increased operations through its central operations based in Leeds.”

Risk review forms part of all Board meetings that are held bi-annually and executive meeting held quarterly. Risk is analysed into discreet areas such as Geo Political, Financial, Supply Chain, Internal control, Interest and Exchange rates. The largest risk for the group is exchange rates and geo-political risk, this is mitigated by expansion into new regions to balance the portfolio. Exchange risk is managed mainly by balancing payments and receipts and taking options on large investments.

Risk is monitored on a monthly basis in procurement and exchange rates risk, increased diligence in this area reflects the increased volatility in markets due to Brexit, Politics in the MEA and gulf areas.

Our continued investment in new areas has created a diversified portfolio of operations, internal reporting and control is monitored by the Executive Committee with delegation to 5 key reporting regions.

The financial position cannot be viewed as a single entity and must be viewed within the group context. CCL Stressing International will report a loss of £0.3m, this is an improvement on 2019 due to reduction in costs and improved dividend payments.

No dividend payments are planned.

Key performance measures are recorded through operating subsidiaries and at group level, their inclusion in this report has no relevance. The key performance measures used within the group are as follows; Working Capital as a % turnover, Return on Shareholders’ Funds, Profit after Tax, Current Ratio, Acid Ratio, Cash Ratio. All measures are checked for trend and against best practice. In order to mitigate risks a diversified portfolio is maintained, with Sales and Profits measured by region and service offering. Sales and Profit are also measured against a five year strategic growth plan.

The impact of COVID 19 and the impact on our group is under continual assessment, our plans strike a balance that protects our workforce and stakeholders whilst ensuring the ongoing business is fit for purpose. Working in a global environment, we were prepared for the outbreak due to early disruptions in supply chain. CCL is a forward-thinking group, homeworking is part of our culture and our IT infrastructure is based around these working arrangements. Our factories worldwide are automated and therefore rely on few employees, we adopted safe working procedures before government lockdown. In terms of construction sites, we are guided by each jurisdiction and comply with each country's COVID policies.

In terms of financial forecasting and stress-testing, the group has put in the following policies;

• Created a COVID forecast based on 30% reduction in 2020 budget.

• Stress-tested cash in each region and ensured liquidity within the group, the group as large cash reserves that can help impact any short-term losses.

• Emergency planning is in place for each Company with a coordinated executive committee at group level, the following measures are reviewed monthly:

Company

• Supplier disruption and impact.

• Review and delay of incoming inventory.

• Customer review.

• Government grants and assistance.

• Government guidance on welfare and safety.

Group

• Forecast update.

• Review of markets by region and impact across group companies.

• Actions taken to reduce impact of losses.

The executive committee meets once a month and reviews the above, changes in market conditions are reflected in revised forecasts. The overall group position is assessed each month to ensure long term viability.

Actions taken:

• Stop variable overhead, central services costs reduced by 50%.

• Staff furloughed depending on country.

• Salary reduction of up to 50% imposed where furlough is not possible.

• Rent reduction agreed.

• All discretionary spend and capital projects suspended.

Our revised forecasts and actions should ensure we manage to maintain a breakeven position with a 30% reduction in turnover against budget. Should the outbreak impact the economy further, we will reduce our overheads further and restructure the group to work in a subdued global economy.

On behalf of the board

The directors present their annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2019.

The principal activity continues to be that of a management company providing head office function support for subsidiaries.

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

The results for the year are set out on page 7.

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

Subsequent to the year end, coronavirus Covid-19 has resulted in a global pandemic affecting economies globally.  The speed and severity of the impact has been unprecedented but many Governments, including within the UK, have introduced considerable measures to help businesses through this extremely challenging time.  At the time of approval of these accounts, the full effect of the pandemic is uncertain, but it continues to impact trading within the company’s subsidiaries and associates through 2020.  As a consequence, asset values, particularly the carrying value of investments in subsidiaries and associates, have been impacted, although it is not possible to assess the extent of this impact at the present time. Furthermore, the central costs incurred by this company may not be fully recoverable from group companies.  Nonetheless, as noted in note 1.3 the directors consider that the company remains a going concern.

The auditor, Garbutt & Elliott Audit Limited, is deemed to be reappointed under section 487(2) of the Companies Act 2006.

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 company’s auditor 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 company’s auditor is aware of that information.

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 company and of the profit or loss of the company for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

•     select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

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

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

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

We have audited the financial statements of CCL Stressing International Limited (the 'company') for the year ended 31 December 2019 which comprise the Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Statement Of Financial Position, the 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 United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 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 company's affairs as at 31 December 2019 and of its 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 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

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

• the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

• the directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Other information

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, 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 audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. 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 company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors' report.

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

•     adequate accounting records have not been kept, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or

•     the financial statements 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 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 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.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: http://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

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.

The statement of comprehensive income has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations.

CCL Stressing International Limited is a private company limited by shares incorporated in England and Wales. The registered office is Unit 8 Millennium Drive, Holbeck, Leeds, LS11 5BP.

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with “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 £1.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain financial instruments at fair value. The principal accounting policies are set out below.

On the grounds that the company's results are consolidated into its parent, as disclosed in note 26, the company has taken advantage of certain exemptions conferred by section 1.11 of FRS 102 as follows:

• Exemption from presenting a statement of cash flows as a primary note to the financial statements;

• Exemption from disclosing details of its financial instruments;

• Exemption from disclosing key management personnel remuneration.

The financial statements present information about the company as an individual undertaking and not about its group.

CCL Stressing International Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of DH Holding SAL and its results are included in the consolidated financial statements of DH Holding SAL, the registered office of which is Derviche Haddad Building, NDU Street, Zouk Mosbeh, Keserwan, Lebanon.

A reclassification of income has been made in respect of the comparative figures in these accounts. Income of £92,654, previously treated as dividend income, has been reclassified to revenue as it related to consultancy fees. This has had no affect on prior period profits or the balance sheet.

Atruet 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.

Whilst the company has negative profit and loss reserves, profits are expected in 2020. The loss generated in the year mainly represents the write off of investments. Additionally the company continues to receive the support of subsidiaries and the parent company.

Furthermore, subsequent to the year end the coronavirus COVID-19  has resulted in a global pandemic affecting trading businesses globally and within the UK. The speed and severity of the impact has been unprecedented but the UK Government has introduced considerable measures to help business through this extremely challenging time.

In response to the current developments, the company, as part of the wider group, have put in place policies to mitigate the short to medium term effects of the global pandemic, including updated forecasting and stress-testing to ensure sufficient cash reserves to cover the impact of any short-term losses. Further information on this is disclosed within the Strategic Report on page 2.

As a result of the actions taken by the company and the group as a whole, the directors believe that the company has sufficient resources to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Revenue is recognised at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for management charges and consultancy provided to group companies, and is shown net of VAT and other sales related taxes.

Research expenditure is written off against profits in the year in which it is incurred. Identifiable development expenditure is capitalised to the extent that the technical, commercial and financial feasibility can be demonstrated.

Property, plant and equipment 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:

Assets under construction are transferred to the appropriate asset category once completed and ready for use, at which point they are depreciated over their useful economic life.

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 credited or charged to profit or loss.

Interests in subsidiaries are initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. The investments are assessed for impairment at each reporting date and any impairment losses or reversals of impairment losses are recognised immediately in profit or loss.

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

At each reporting period end date, the company reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible 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).

If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset 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 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 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.

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 company 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 company's statement of financial position when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets and liabilities are offset, with 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 trade and other receivables 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.

Trade receivables, loans and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market are classified as 'loans and receivables'. Loans and receivables are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term receivables when the recognition of interest would be immaterial. The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a debt instrument and of allocating the interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the debt instrument to the net carrying amount on initial recognition.

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 company 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 company after deducting all of its liabilities.

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, bank loans and loans from fellow group companies, 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 payables 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 payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Derivatives, including interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts, are not basic financial instruments. Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at their fair value. Changes in the fair value of derivatives are recognised in profit or loss in finance costs or finance income as appropriate, unless hedge accounting is applied and the hedge is a cash flow hedge.

Debt instruments that do not meet the conditions in FRS 102 paragraph 11.9 are subsequently measured at fair value through profit or loss. Debt instruments may be designated as being measured at fair value though profit or loss to eliminate or reduce an accounting mismatch or if the instruments are measured and their performance evaluated on a fair value basis in accordance with a documented risk management or investment strategy.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the company’s contractual obligations expire or are discharged or cancelled.

Equity instruments issued by the company 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 company.

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 income statement 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 company’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 income statement, 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 when the company has 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 inventories or non-current 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.

Rentals payable under operating leases, including any lease incentives received, are charged to profit or loss on a straight line basis over the term of the relevant lease except where another more systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern in which economic benefits from the leases asset are consumed.

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 company’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 following judgements (apart from those involving estimates) have had the most significant effect on amounts recognised in the financial statements.

Investments are reviewed for signs of impairment, such as loss making investments that are not expected to turn around into being profit making, or investments which no longer fit in the global strategy of the group.

Identification and calculation of the impairment requires judgements to be made based on a number of factors including projected profits and future plans of the subsidiaries.

An analysis of the company's revenue is as follows:

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

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Investment income includes the following:

The actual 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:

Further information regarding the subsidiary capital contribution can be found in note 17.

Details of the company's subsidiaries at 31 December 2019 are as follows:

(1) This company has a controlling interest (85%) in CCL Scandanavia AS, the parent company which has a controlling interest (55%) of these companies. Treatment is therefore to recognise investments as subsidiaries as this company has an overall controlling influence.

(2) These companies are 100% controlled through management agreements, with treatment being to recognise the investment as a subsidiary.

(3) This company owns 49% of the shares, and the ultimate parent company DH Holding SAL holds an additional 2% of shares, meaning the group controls this investment, with treatment being to recognise the investment as a subsidiary.

A list of all subsidiary registered office addresses is available from https://www.cclint.com/locations

The bank overdraft is secured by a fixed and floating charge over all assets of the company, and through multilateral cross company guarantees as disclosed in notes 21 and 23.

Bank loans and overdrafts are secured by a fixed and floating charge over all assets of the company, and through multilateral cross company guarantees detailed below.

The intercompany loan is from the parent company DH Holding SAL, with interest payable at 5% above base rate. There is no fixed date for repayment.

During the year ended 31 December 2017, the company entered into a share based payment arrangement, which is described below.

A bonus award of shares in recognition of performance was granted over 215,532 shares in CCL Stressing International Limited. The market value of each share at the date of award was £2.39. This transaction gave rise to an increase in share capital and share premium of £215,532 and £299,724 respectively, whilst creating a "Subsidiary capital contribution" investment for the non-cash share premium element of the transaction. The corresponding entry is to recognise this cost in the income statements of the subsidiaries who employ these staff members, as the awards were in respect of the performance of those companies.

During the current year ended 31 December 2019 there have been no changes.

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.

All shares rank pari passu.

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

The company is party to a multilateral guarantee given to its bankers as disclosed in note 25. The total contingent liability of the company relating to bank indebtedness at the year end date amounted to £157,009 (2018 - £576,349). As no default had occurred on any of the debt, no liability arises.

The number of directors for whom retirement benefits are accruing under defined contribution schemes amounted to 1 (2018 - 1).

Subsequent to the year end, coronavirus Covid-19 has resulted in a global pandemic affecting economies globally.  The speed and severity of the impact has been unprecedented but many Governments, including within the UK, have introduced considerable measures to help businesses through this extremely challenging time.  At the time of approval of these accounts, the full effect of the pandemic is uncertain, but it continues to impact trading within the company’s subsidiaries and associates through 2020.  As a consequence, asset values, particularly the carrying value of investments in subsidiaries and associates, have been impacted, although it is not possible to assess the extent of this impact at the present time. Furthermore, the central costs incurred by this company may not be fully recoverable from group companies.  Nonetheless, as noted in note 1.3 the directors consider that the company remains a going concern.

During the year the company entered into the following transactions with related parties:

During the year the company also received £23,644 (2018 - £137,941) in respect of corporation tax group relief from entities over which the entity has control, joint control or significant influence.

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

The following amounts were outstanding at the reporting end date:

The company is party to an unlimited multilateral guarantee given to its bankers by the company, CCL Stressing Systems Limited, DHCCL Limited (BVI) and DH Holding SAL.

Details of outstanding balances owed by or to related companies as at the year end are given in note 14, note 15 and note 16.

The company's immediate and ultimate parent company and ultimate controlling party is DH Holding SAL, a company incorporated in Lebanon. The consolidated accounts of the group, into which the company is consolidated, can be obtained from its registered office of Derviche Haddad Building, NDU Street, Zouk Mosbeh, Keserwan, Lebanon.