ASCENTIAL PLC — A REPORT OF THE YEAR 2015 — A REPORT ASCENTIAL PLC ASCENTIAL PLC A REPORT OF THE YEAR 2015 Ascential plc The Prow 1 Wilder Walk London W1B 5AP ascential.com WELCOME Strategic report Ascential is an international business to business 01 Highlights media company with a focused portfolio of essential, 02 Company overview 03 Top five products market-leading products that connect and inform 04 History 05 Key strengths business professionals in more than 150 countries. 06 Chairman’s statement 10 Chief Executive’s review We employ more than 1,500 people and our Group’s headquarters are 12 Strategy summary 14 Financial review in London. We have offices in 14 countries, and our main operational 20 Risk management locations are in the UK, US and UAE. 24 Segmental review Exhibitions & Festivals Information Services We serve customers in 150 countries through market-leading 30 People review Exhibitions, Festivals and Information Services. 23 of Ascential’s 31 Sustainability 32 product lines are number one in their respective markets. Governance 34 Board of Directors Our products are organised under two reportable segments based on Financial statements operational expertise: Exhibitions & Festivals and Information Services. 37 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 38 Report of KPMG LLP to the Directors of Ascential Holdings Limited In the Exhibitions & Festivals segment, we organise large scale exhibitions, 39 Consolidated profit and loss statement and other comprehensive income congresses and festivals where customers come together to form business 40 Consolidated statement of relationships and transact. Key products in this segment are Cannes Lions, financial position Spring and Autumn Fair and Money20/20. 41 Consolidated statement of changes in equity 42 Consolidated statement of cash flows In Information Services, we provide high quality, industry-specific 43 Notes to the non-statutory business intelligence, and forecasting via digital subscription products. financial statements In some product lines, customers can also purchase print subscriptions, attend conferences and award ceremonies, and promote their services. Key products in this segment are WGSN and Groundsure. ASCENTIAL PLC — A REPORT OF THE YEAR 2015 STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HIGHLIGHTS 2015 was another strong year for Ascential and we grew both revenues and profits driven by our focus on our top products, customer retention and increasing customer volumes. Financial highlights 2015 2014 Growth – Growth – £m £m Reported Organic Revenue 319.1 312.7 2.1% 6.1% Exhibitions & Festivals 150.4 138.8 8.4% 13.1% Information Services 168.7 173.9 (3.0%) 0.5% Adjusted EBITDA 90.9 85.3 6.6% 14.0% Group Margin 28.5% 27.3% Exhibitions & Festivals 56.9 55.3 2.8% 10.5% Margin 37.8% 39.9% Information Services 42.8 38.9 10.0% 15.4% Margin 25.4% 22.4% Free cash flow 79.9 68.3 Free cash flow conversion 88% 80% Net debt (383.7) (408.3) Leverage 4.2x 4.8x New launches Lions Innovation Retail Week Prospect Data and technology are redefining creativity, and the Lions Retail Week Prospect is an intelligence tool providing accurate, Innovation Festival explores exactly what these changes mean today up-to-date insight into retailers and their decision-makers. Prospect and in the future. The Innovation Lions awards honour innovative, allows unique access to the people and technology strategies of the brand-aligned ideas and business solutions. Standalone technological UK’s most innovative retailers, enabling users to pinpoint the best solutions including tools, models, platforms and other forms of opportunities and to initiate earlier and more valuable client adtech are also recognised. conversations. China Textile Information Center JV CWIEME Istanbul WGSN has worked with CTIC since 2011 and in 2015 announced a Launched in 2015, CWIEME Istanbul is a unique platform dedicated new partnership to better serve and increase the number of WGSN to the coil winding, electric motor and transformer manufacturing customers in this pivotal market. In addition, the new partnership will industries in the region. Exhibitors from 18 countries showcased co-develop a new colour product for customers around the world. latest products and technologies and the majority of 2015 exhibitors are already booked for the 2016 event. ASCENTIAL PLC — A REPORT OF THE YEAR 2015 01 STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COMPANY OVERVIEW TOP FIVE PRODUCTS We put our customers first and by By offering world class content and connections Customer value retention increased in 2015, listening and focusing on them we we help businesses to be the best informed and best through a combination of product enhancements connected. Business professionals rely on us every day aim to create new products that fulfil for our knowledge and access. and extensions, as well as account management their needs and the needs of their and customer service improvements. organisation and industry. We help drive their success, which drives our own growth, and we create value for them and for our own business. Exhibitions & Festivals Cannes Lions Page 25 for more info WGSN Page 27 for more info Exhibitions Congresses Festivals How Ascential helps its customers How Ascential helps its customers • Spring and • Money20/20 • Cannes Lions The largest and most recognised WGSN is a leading provider of market • Autumn Fair • World Retail • Lions Regionals festival for creativity in the branded intelligence and trend forecasts to the • Bett Congress communications industry. Delegates fashion industry and to businesses in • Pure attend to experience the best creativity other design-led industries. WGSN helps • CWIEME in branded communications, learn from fashion brands and retailers design, buy • RWM workshops and presentations, network, and price ‘on trend’. WGSN offers a • Glee and celebrate success. Advertising range of services and products to • BVE agencies and creatives enter their work inspire, validate and benchmark design • Naidex 94% to win Lions awards, which are a 92% and commercial decisions. • UKTI Customer value benchmark of creativity. Customer value retention retention Page 25 for more info Page 25 for more info 47% 57% Money20/20 Spring and Autumn Fair £150.4m How Ascential helps its customers How Ascential helps its customers Group revenue Group EBITDA revenues Money20/20 is the leading US Spring Fair is the UK’s largest trade congress in the payments innovation exhibition and Autumn Fair is the UK’s sector, focusing on the evolution of second largest serving suppliers to the payments and financial services through retail industry. Each cover key buying sectors including gifts, homewares, Information Services mobile, retail, marketing services data and technology. The event is held in Las jewellery and greeting products. Both Vegas every October and helps the attract UK and international buyers, Subscription • MEED • LGC 94% payments industry connect and 93% from independent and major multiple • WGSN • Nursing Times • MRW Customer value conduct business. Money20/20 Europe Customer value retailers to e-commerce specialists and • Planet Retail • Drapers • Retail Jeweller retention will launch in Copenhagen in April 2016. retention department stores. • Glenigan • Construction • Ground • DeHavilland News Engineering • NCE • HVN/RAC Subscription-led • Architects’ Groundsure Page 27 for more info • Health Service Journal Transactional Journal • Architecture • Groundsure • Retail Week portfolio How Ascential helps its customers Groundsure works to help solicitors, homebuyers, businesses, consultants, surveyors and lenders make more informed property-transaction decisions. It provides precise, up-to-date, digitally delivered environmental reports through access to its comprehensive contemporary and historic environmental £168.7m 53% 43% and land-use datasets. revenues Group revenue Group EBITDA 02 ASCENTIAL PLC — A REPORT OF THE YEAR 2015 ASCENTIAL PLC — A REPORT OF THE YEAR 2015 03 STRATEGIC REPORT | GOVERNANCE | FINANCIAL STATEMENTS COMPANY OVERVIEW TOP FIVE PRODUCTS We put our customers first and by By offering world class content and connections Customer value retention increased in 2015, listening and focusing on them we we help businesses to be the best informed and best through a combination of product enhancements connected. Business professionals rely on us every day aim to create new products that fulfil for our knowledge and access. and extensions, as well as account management their needs and the needs of their and customer service improvements. organisation and industry. We help drive their success, which drives our own growth, and we create value for them and for our own business. Exhibitions & Festivals Cannes Lions Page 25 for more info WGSN Page 27 for more info Exhibitions Congresses Festivals How Ascential helps its customers How Ascential helps its customers • Spring and • Money20/20 • Cannes Lions The largest and most recognised WGSN is a leading provider of market • Autumn Fair • World Retail • Lions Regionals festival for creativity in the branded intelligence and trend forecasts to the • Bett Congress communications industry. Delegates fashion industry and to businesses in • Pure attend to experience the best creativity other design-led industries. WGSN helps • CWIEME in branded communications, learn from fashion brands and retailers design, buy • RWM workshops and presentations, network, and price ‘on trend’. WGSN offers a • Glee and celebrate success. Advertising range