ANNUAL REPORT 2016 ANNUAL LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report 2016 Blog Contents 2 Corporate Information 3 Summary 5 Chairman’s Statement 14 Group Strategic Report 20 Directors’ Report 25 Report on Corporate Governance 29 Directors’ Remuneration Report 36 Independent Auditor’s Report 38 Group Statement of Comprehensive Income 39 Balance Sheets 40 Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity 41 Statements of Cash Flows 41 Reconciliation of Net Cash Flow to Movement in Net Funds 42 Accounting Policies 47 Notes to the Financial Statements 66 Group Financial Record 67 Notice of 2016 Annual General Meeting 70 Store Locations in UK, Republic of Ireland and France 73 Shareholders’ Information LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report 2016 1 Corporate Information Board of Directors Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Peng*‡ Chairman Mr David Walton Masters*† Deputy Chairman Mr Ng Kwan Cheong Chief Executive Officer Ms Joyce Sit Meng Poh Ms Sally Kealey†‡ Ms Kwa Kim Li*‡ Mr Wong Nyen Faat† * Member of Remuneration Committee ‡ Member of Nomination Committee † Member of Audit Committee Chief Financial Officer & Principal Banker Joint Chief Operating Barclays Bank plc Officer 1 Churchill Place Mr Seán Anglim London E14 5HP Joint Chief Operating Auditor Officer Moore Stephens LLP Mr Nick Kaloyirou Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor Company Secretary 150 Aldersgate Street Mr Fong Sai Hup London EC1A 4AB Registered Office Stockbrokers 27 Bagleys Lane Cantor Fitzgerald Europe Fulham One Churchill Place London SW6 2QA Canary Wharf Tel: 020 7880 5100 London E14 5RB Registered Number Registrar and Transfer Office 1012631 Computershare Investor Services PLC Country of Incorporation The Pavilions Bridgwater Road England and Wales Bristol BS99 6ZZ Website Tel: 0370 707 1110 www.lauraashley.com 2 Annual Report 2016 LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Summary • Profit before tax and exceptional items of £25.8m (2015: £22.9m – 53 week period). • Profit before tax and after exceptional items of £23.9m (2015: £23.5m – 53 week period). • Total like-for-like* retail sales up 4.1% with like-for-like* growth across all categories. • Total Group sales of £400.9m (2015: £303.6m – 53 week period). • Online revenue of £73.5m. (2015: £48.5m – 53 week period). Like-for-like* up 15.7%. • Hotel revenue of £3.5m (2015: £1.9m – 53 week period). • £5.0m net cash balance. • Final dividend of 0.5 pence per share taking total dividends for the period to 2.5p. *All references to “like-for-like” refer to a full 74 week comparison. LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report 2016 3 LAURAASHLEY.COM FASHION HOME ACCESSORIES DECORATING FURNITURE HOTELS Blog CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT Chairman’s Statement Overview Cash Flow and For the 74 weeks to 30 June 2016, Balance Sheet total Group sales were £400.9m As at 30 June 2016, bank borrowings compared with the 53 week period stood at £23.0m and the net cash last year (2015: £303.6m). Like-for- balance was £5.0m. Inventory of like* sales grew by 4.1% over the £51.9m was in line with requirements. same period. e-Commerce sales The bank borrowings reflect the grew to £73.5m (2015: £48.5m). Like- balance of the loan due in respect of for-like* e-Commerce sales grew by the property in Singapore which was 15.7%. acquired during the period. Group profit before taxation, Dividend For the 74 weeks to 30 excluding exceptional items, was The Board has recommended the June 2016, total Group £25.8m (2015: £22.9m). During the payment of a final dividend of 0.5 sales were £400.9m period, the Group incurred pence per share. This will take the exceptional charges of £1.9m, which compared with the 53 total dividends paid for the 74 week included a charge of £1.3m following period to 2.5p (period ended January week period last year a licence partner in Australia being 2015, 2.0p for a 53 week period). The (2015: £303.6m). placed into administration. Group dividend will be proposed at the profit before taxation, including forthcoming AGM and, subject to exceptional items, was £23.9m (2015: shareholders’ approval, will be paid £23.5m). on 27 October 2016 to all shareholders on the Register at the Operating expenses of £143.0m were close of business on 7 October 2016. recorded (2015: £105.3m – 53 week The ex-dividend date will be period). 6 October 2016. LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report 2016 5 FURNITURE Blog LAURAASHLEY.COM CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT CONTINUED Chairman’s Statement continued UK Retail As at 30 June 2016, the property portfolio in the UK comprised 192 stores (January 2015: 205). The portfolio is as follows: 117 Mixed Product stores, 48 Home stores, 25 concession stores, 1 Gifts & Accessories store and 1 Clearance Total e-Commerce sales outlet. During the reporting period, of £73.5m were five stores were opened and recorded during the eighteen were closed, reducing total selling space by 4.2% to 729,000 period (2015: £48.5m – square feet. 53 weeks). On a like- Total UK retail sales of £363.2m were for-like* basis, sales recorded during the period (2015: grew by 15.7% £267.4m - 53 weeks). Our UK retail business performed in line with the overall retail market and ahead of market in some product categories. Total e-Commerce sales of £73.5m were recorded during the period (2015: £48.5m – 53 weeks). On a like- for-like* basis, sales grew by 15.7% LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report 2016 7 HOME ACCESSORIES Blog LAURAASHLEY.COM Chairman’s Statement continued Product Home Accessories Fashion The UK business is split into four The Home Accessories product This category includes adult fashion, main categories. For the 74 weeks category includes lighting, gifts, bed fashion accessories and perfumery. ended 30 June 2016, the relative split linen, rugs, throws, cushions and children’s accessories. Fashion sales for the 74 weeks to 30 of UK sales was as follows: Home June 2016 decreased by 3.9% over Accessories 30%, Furniture 30%, Home Accessories sales for the 74 the same period last year with like- Decorating 23% and Fashion 17%. All weeks to 30 June 2016 increased by for-like* sales up 2.2%. categories recorded like-for-like* 3.4% over the same period last year growth. with like-for-like* performance up by We have started to partner with selected British retailers to give Furniture 6.8%. The continued growth of this category is based on range additions, broader exposure to our fashion The Furniture product category ranges. includes upholstered and cabinet new and innovative product furniture, beds and mirrors. categories such as cookware and kitchen products as well as an Furniture sales for the 74 weeks to 30 enhanced seasonal offering. As June 2016 increased by 2.1% over the always, these products are designed same period last year with like-for- to work with our decorating themes. like* sales up 4.3%. The depth of choice and diversity of style has Decorating enabled the furniture business to This category includes fabric, flourish. New finishes, textures and curtains, wallpaper, paint and materials have complemented what decorative accessories. was already a comprehensive range. Decorating sales for the 74 weeks to The availability of finance products 30 June 2016 fell by 1.2% with like- has also helped this category to for-like* sales up 1.6%. This category grow. draws on a combination of brand heritage and contemporary classic design to give a rich and varied choice to our customers. We are extremely proud that our wide variety of made-to-measure curtains, wallpapers and growing paint ranges are all manufactured by ourselves in the UK. LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report 2016 9 DECORATING Blog LAURAASHLEY.COM Chairman’s Statement continued Hotel We will continue to work closely with our partners and are confident that The Laura Ashley hotel recorded the Franchising and Licensing sales of £3.5m (2015: £1.9m) over the business will continue to grow and period, reflecting the continued develop. growth trend of recent years. International Operations We are pleased to announce that we have acquired a new licence partner Contributing 7.7% of total Group in Australia and are making good revenue, our international Franchise The Laura Ashley hotel progress in a number of other and Licensing channels are an recorded sales of territories. important and strategic part of our £3.5m (2015: £1.9m) business. As at 30 June 2016, there over the period, were 252 franchised stores (303 as at reflecting the 31 January 2015) in 29 territories worldwide. continued growth trend of recent years. Franchise and Licensing revenue of £30.7m was recorded during the period to 30 June 2016. (2015: £31.2m). This was below expectation primarily due to the performance of a sluggish Japanese market and also due to continued political instability and economic difficulties in other territories. LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report 2016 11 FASHION Blog LAURAASHLEY.COM Chairman’s Statement continued Current Trading Acknowledgements and Outlook The success of the Group is due, in Trading for the six weeks to 13 no small part, to the hard work and August 2016 is performing in line commitment of the staff, with management expectations. management and my fellow board We will continue to members. For this, I wish to convey We will continue to focus on my thanks and appreciation. focus on enhancing the enhancing the design and quality of design and quality of our product ranges upon whose For their continued support and our product ranges provenance the Brand has been built. loyalty to the Group, I would like to In a time of uncertainty for retail and thank our customers, shareholders upon whose the global economy at large, we are and suppliers.