
Independent auditors’ report continued
to the members of Wilmington plc
Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other
information comprises the information included in the Annual Report and
financial statements, other than the financial statements and our Auditors’
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.
Our opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act
2006 are unmodified
In our opinion, the part of the Directors’ remuneration report to be audited
has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:
• the information given in the Strategic report and the Directors’ report
for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is
consistent with the financial statements; and
• the Strategic report and the Directors’ report have been prepared in
accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Matter on which we are required to report under the Companies
Act 2006
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and the
parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit,
we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic report or the
Directors’ report.
Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to
which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:
• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent
company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received
from branches not visited by us; or
• the parent company financial statements and the part of the Directors’
remuneration report to be audited are not in agreement with the
accounting records and returns; or
• certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not
made; or
• we have not received all the information and explanations we require
for our audit.
Corporate governance statement
The Listing Rules require us to review the Directors’ statement in relation
to going concern, longer term viability and that part of the Corporate
Governance Statement relating to the Group’s and the parent company’s
compliance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance
Statement specified for our review.
Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have concluded
that each of the following elements of the Corporate Governance
Statement is materially consistent with the financial statements or our
knowledge obtained during the audit:
• the Directors’ statement in the financial statements about whether the
Directors considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis
of accounting in preparing the financial statements and the Directors’
identification of any material uncertainties to the Group’s and the
parent company’s ability to continue to do so over a period of at least
twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements;
• the Directors’ explanation in the Annual Report as to how they have
assessed the prospects of the Group and the parent company, over
what period they have done so and why they consider that period to be
appropriate, and their statement as to whether they have a reasonable
expectation that the Group and the parent company will be able to
continue in operation and meet their liabilities as they fall due over the
period of their assessment, including any related disclosures drawing
attention to any necessary qualifications or assumptions;
• the Directors’ statement that they consider the Annual Report and
financial statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and
understandable and provides the information necessary for
shareholders to assess the Group’s and the parent company’s
performance, business model and strategy;
• the Directors’ confirmation in the Annual Report that they have carried
out a robust assessment of the principal and emerging risks facing the
Group and the parent company including the impact of Brexit and
Covid-19 and the disclosures in the Annual Report that describe the
principal risks, procedures to identify emerging risks and an
explanation of how they are being managed or mitigated;
• the section of the Annual Report that describes the review of the
effectiveness of the Group’s and the parent company’s risk
management and internal control systems, covering all material
controls, including financial, operational and compliance controls; and
• the section of the Annual Report describing the work of the Audit
Committee, including significant issues that the Audit Committee
considered relating to the financial statements and how these issues
were addressed.
Responsibilities of Directors for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ responsibilities set
out on page 74 the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the
financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair
view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary
to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for
assessing the Group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a
going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern
and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors
either intend to liquidate the Group or the parent company or to cease
operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement,
whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an Auditors’ 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:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our
Auditors’ report.
Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable
of detecting irregularities, including fraud
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. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit,
there is an unavoidable risk that material misstatements in the financial
statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly
planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs (UK).
Strategic Report Financial StatementsOur Governance
73
Wilmington plc
Annual Report and Financial Statements 2022
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