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Dairy Farm International Holdings

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FY2020 Annual Report · Dairy Farm International Holdings
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Annual Report 2020

“

Our Goal:
To give our customers across Asia a store they TRUST, 
delivering QUALITY, SERVICE and VALUE.”

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited is incorporated in Bermuda 

and has a standard listing on the London Stock Exchange, with secondary 

listings in Bermuda and Singapore.  The Group’s businesses are managed 

from Hong Kong by Dairy Farm Management Services Limited through its 

regional offices.  Dairy Farm is a member of the Jardine Matheson Group.

A member of the Jardine Matheson Group

Contents

2

3

4

6

10

16

20

Corporate Information

Dairy Farm At-a-Glance

Highlights

Chairman’s Statement

46

50

52

54

Financial Review

Directors’ Profiles

Our Leadership

Financial Statements

Group Chief Executive’s Review

122 Independent Auditors’ Report

Sustainable Transformation at Dairy Farm

135 Five Year Summary

Business Review

20 

Food

136 Responsibility Statement

137 Corporate Governance

26  Health and Beauty

149 Principal Risks and Uncertainties

32  Home Furnishings

151 Shareholder Information

38 

Restaurants

152 Retail Outlets Summary

44  Other Associates

153 Management and Offices

 
Corporate Information

Directors

Ben Keswick
Chairman

Dairy Farm Management  
Services Limited

(stepped down as Managing Director on 15th June 2020)

John Witt
Managing Director

(appointed as Managing Director on 15th June 2020)

Directors

John Witt
Chairman

Ian McLeod
Group Chief Executive

Clem Constantine

Mark Greenberg

(stepped down on 31st December 2020)

George J. Ho

Adam Keswick

Simon Keswick

(stepped down on 1st January 2020)

Dr Delman Lee

Anthony Nightingale

Y.K. Pang

Jeremy Parr

(stepped down on 3rd December 2020)

Lord Sassoon, Kt

(stepped down on 9th April 2020)

Clive Schlee

(joined the Board on 6th May 2020)

Percy Weatherall

Company Secretary

Jonathan Lloyd

Registered Office

Jardine House
33-35 Reid Street
Hamilton
Bermuda

(appointed as chairman on 15th June 2020)

Ben Keswick

(stepped down as chairman and director on 15th June 2020)

Ian McLeod
Group Chief Executive

Clem Constantine
Chief Financial Officer

Choo Peng Chee
Chief Executive Officer – North Asia  
& Group Convenience

Sam Kim
Chief Executive Officer – Health & Beauty and  
Chief Marketing & Business Development Officer

Martin Lindström
Group Director – IKEA

Michael Wu
Chairman and Managing Director, Maxim’s

Graham Baker

(joined the board on 15th June 2020)

Mark Greenberg

(stepped down on 31st December 2020)

David Hsu

Anne O’Riordan

Y.K. Pang

Jeremy Parr

Corporate Secretary

Jonathan Lloyd

2

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dairy Farm At-a-Glance

Geographical Locations

Grocery Retail

Convenience Stores

Health and Beauty

Home Furnishings

Restaurants

Other Retailing

Mainland China

 Yonghui 
 7-Eleven
 Mannings
 Maxim’s

Thailand

 Maxim’s

Macau

 San Miu
 7-Eleven
 Mannings
 IKEA
 Maxim’s

Hong Kong 

 Marketplace
 Wellcome
 7-Eleven
 GNC
 Mannings
 IKEA
 Maxim’s

Taiwan

 IKEA

Vietnam

 Guardian
 Maxim’s

The Philippines

 Robinsons 

Brunei

 Guardian

Cambodia

 Lucky 
 Guardian
 Maxim’s

Malaysia

 Cold Storage
 Giant
 Mercato
 Shopsmart
 TMC
 Guardian
 Maxim’s

Singapore

 Cold Storage
 Giant
 Jasons 
 Marketplace
 7-Eleven
 Guardian
 Maxim’s

Indonesia

 Giant
 Hero
 Guardian
 IKEA

12 Asian markets 

and territories 9,997outlets

(Including associates and joint ventures.)

3

 
 
 
Highlights

•  Underlying profit of US$276 million, down 14%

•  Substantial sales and profit growth in Grocery Retail

•  Solid trading in Home Furnishings

•  Health and Beauty, Convenience and Maxim’s significantly impacted  

by COVID-19

Results

Sales
– subsidiaries
– including associates and joint ventures*
Underlying EBITDA†
Underlying profit attributable to shareholders‡
Net non-trading items
Profit attributable to shareholders
Net debt

Underlying earnings per share‡
Basic earnings per share
Dividends per share
Net asset value per share^ 

Store Network# 

Food
– Grocery Retail
– Convenience Stores
Health and Beauty
Home Furnishings
Restaurants
Other Retailing

2020

US$m

10,269
28,159
1,395
276
(5)
271
817

US¢

20.38
20.03
16.50
97.75

2020

5,626
2,294
3,332
2,029
13
1,741
588
9,997

2019

US$m

11,192
27,665
1,439
321
3
324
821

US¢

23.72
23.93
21.00
89.39

Change

%

(8)
2
(3)
(14)
n/a
(16)
–

%

(14)
(16)
(21)
9

2019

Net change

5,503
2,289
3,214
2,110
12
1,753
634
10,012

+123
+5
+118
-81
+1
-12
-46
-15

* On a 100% basis.
†  Underlying EBITDA represents underlying operating profit before depreciation and amortisation.
‡  The Group uses ‘underlying profit’ in its internal financial reporting to distinguish between ongoing business performance and non-trading items, as more fully described in  

note 36 to the financial statements.  Management considers this to be a key measure which provides additional information to enhance understanding of the Group’s underlying 
business performance.

^ Net asset value per share is based on the book value of shareholders’ funds.
#  On a 100% and continuing basis.

4

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Total Sales*

Underlying Profit Attributable to Shareholders

US$28.2 billion

US$b

28

24

20

16

12

8

4

0

US$276 million

US$m

500

400

300

200

100

0

Grocery Retail
Convenience Stores
Health and Beauty
Home Furnishings
Restaurants
Other Retailing

2016

2017

2018

2019 2020

2016

2017

2018

2019 2020

Underlying Earnings per Share

Ordinary Dividends per Share

US¢20.38

US¢

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

US¢16.50

Ordinary Dividends per Share

US¢

24

21

18

15

12

9

6

3

0

At IFRS 16 basis
Before effect of 
adopting IFRS 16

At IFRS 16 basis
Before effect of 
adopting IFRS 16

Interim dividend
Final dividend

2016

2017

2018

2019 2020

2016

2017

2018

2019 2020

Total Sales*

   2%

Number of Stores*

9,997

Underlying Profit

   14%

Profit Attributable to Shareholders

   16%

Number of Employees*

some 220,000 people

5

Chairman’s Statement

“ 2020 was a challenging year for Dairy Farm, with the COVID-19 
pandemic impacting the Group’s operations and, as a result,  
its financial results.  Continued progress in implementing the 
Group’s transformation programme, however, helped the business 
adapt to the rapidly changing environment, while the diversity  
of the Group’s businesses, coupled with the impact of ongoing 
efficiency improvement programmes, supported the Group’s 
overall financial performance.”

Overview
2020 was a challenging year for Dairy Farm, with  
the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the Group’s 
operations and, as a result, its financial results.  
Continued progress in implementing the Group’s 
transformation programme, however, helped the 
business adapt to the rapidly changing environment, 
while the diversity of the Group’s businesses, coupled 
with the impact of ongoing efficiency improvement 
programmes, supported the Group’s overall financial 
performance.  A number of key initiatives gathered 
momentum in the year and the Group is now more 
effectively leveraging scale and developing an improved 
customer proposition across all banners and markets.  

Operating performance
Sales of US$10.3 billion for the year by the Group’s 
subsidiaries were 8% behind those of 2019.  Total sales, 
including 100% of associates and joint ventures, were 
2% higher at US$28.2 billion, primarily due to a higher 
sales contribution from Yonghui.

The Group’s subsidiaries saw underlying operating profit 
of US$412 million, 6% behind the previous year.  Strong 
growth in operating profit for Grocery Retail and IKEA 
was offset by a reduction in profit for the Health and 
Beauty and Convenience businesses.  Among the 
Group’s subsidiaries, disruption caused by the COVID-19 
pandemic has had the greatest impact on our Health 
and Beauty business in Hong Kong.

Underlying profit attributable to shareholders was  
US$276 million, down 14% from US$321 million last  
year.  Underlying earnings per share of US¢20.38 were  
also down 14%.

6

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

The Group maintained solid cash flows from operating 
activities, after lease payments, of US$361 million  
(2019: US$498 million).  Net debt at the end of 2020 was 
US$817 million, down from US$821 million at the end  
of last year.

The Board is recommending a final dividend of US¢11.50 
per share, giving a total dividend of US¢16.50 per share 
for the year, a 21% reduction compared to 2019.

Food – Grocery Retail

Total Grocery Retail sales increased by 3% to US$5.3 billion.  
Strong like-for-like sales growth across both North Asia 
and Southeast Asia was partially offset by the annualisation 
impact of the Group’s space optimisation programme, 
which was executed in 2019.

Operating profit for the Group’s Grocery Retail business 
increased significantly from US$63 million in 2019 to 
US$267 million in 2020, demonstrating the benefit of  
a diversified retail portfolio.  There was strong profit 
growth across both North Asia and Southeast Asia, 
driven by benefits accrued from implementing 
improvement programmes, strong like-for-like sales  
and government subsidies.  Performance in Indonesia, 
however, was negatively impacted by significant 
government restrictions on movement, which affected 
traffic into hypermarkets.

7% 1%

6%

14%

2020
Sales Mix*

15%

7%

13%

2020
Profit Mix†

12%

10%

57%

58%

Grocery Retail

Home Furnishings

Convenience Stores

Restaurants

Health and Beauty

Other Retailing

* Including share of associates and joint ventures.
†  Based on operating profit before effect of adopting 
IFRS 16 and share of results of associates and joint 
ventures, excluding selling, general and administrative 
expenses and non-trading items.

7

Food – Convenience

Associates

Disruption caused by the pandemic impacted customer 
traffic into our Convenience stores, resulting in a 4% 
reduction in sales to US$2.1 billion.  Operating profit 
decreased by 31% to US$57 million, driven primarily by a 
combination of the shortfall in sales and a sales mix shift 
towards lower product margin categories.

The contribution from 50%-owned Maxim’s declined  
to US$36 million, from US$82 million in the prior year,  
as the pandemic, government-imposed restrictions on 
movement and social distancing measures caused a 
significant reduction to customer visits to restaurants,  
as well as leading to some temporary closures. 

Health and Beauty

Total sales for the Health and Beauty Division reduced 
by 35% to US$2.0 billion as the pandemic impacted 
customer traffic across our key markets.  In North Asia, 
enforced border closures have led to a virtual elimination 
of tourism, most notably from the Chinese mainland, 
which has significantly impacted our Mannings business 
in Hong Kong and Macau.  The resultant decline in sales 
performance was the primary cause of a significant 
decrease in operating profit from US$296 million in 2019 
to US$66 million. 

Faced with challenging trading conditions, the Group is 
focusing on ensuring that its customer value proposition  
– from the perspective of pricing, stores and channel  
to market - remains relevant and competitive.  Price 
investment campaigns have been introduced across our 
key markets with encouraging results so far.  The Group 
is also managing costs appropriately.

Home Furnishings

In Home Furnishings, sales for IKEA increased by 9% in 
the year, as new store openings and strong e-commerce 
growth offset pandemic related disruption.  Operating 
profit increased by US$28 million to US$71 million, due 
to a combination of new store profit contribution, lower 
cost of goods, strong cost controls, reduced pre-opening 
expenses for new stores and government support.

The Group’s share of underlying results in Yonghui grew 
from US$23 million in 2019 to US$29 million in 2020, 
primarily due to strong sales growth.  Dairy Farm’s share 
of underlying results in Robinsons Retail fell by 5% to 
US$14 million.  The financial performance of Robinsons 
Retail in the year was impacted by government 
restrictions on movement due to the pandemic, 
particularly with respect to its discretionary formats.

Transformation
During the year, the Group’s transformation gathered 
momentum with the completion of a number of  
key initiatives.

Dairy Farm is accelerating the pace of its digital change 
to adapt to the rapidly changing environment.

The launch of Yuu Rewards in July 2020 represented a 
critical milestone in driving Dairy Farm’s modernisation 
and digital transformation.  Yuu will support a  
more customer-centric approach across all the  
Dairy Farm banners and drive an enhanced level  
of customer engagement.

There has also been continuing investment in 
e-commerce, especially in the Group’s Home 
Furnishings and Health and Beauty businesses, and  
the Group is treating this area as a strategic priority.   
The Group is also investing significantly in existing 
legacy IT systems to improve the digitisation of  
in-store operations. 

8

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Chairman’s StatementDuring the year, the Group also launched Meadows, its 
new Own Brand offering across Hong Kong, Singapore 
and Malaysia.  Over 600 items have already been 
launched across banners and markets at lower prices.  
The future growth of Own Brand will allow the Group  
to leverage scale and gain competitive advantage.

The Group made significant investments in the year  
to address the challenges of COVID-19 and support 
employees, customers and the community.  These costs 
were offset by support received from governments in 
several of our key markets, which has helped maintain 
employment in a number of our businesses.

A number of price investment campaigns were 
introduced across key banners in the year to enhance 
our customer value proposition across our regions.   
In Singapore, the Group’s price reinvestment campaign 
coincided with the relaunch of the Giant banner with  
a major rebrand and space reallocation in refreshed or 
refitted stores.  Initial performance has been encouraging.

Business developments
The Group divested Wellcome Taiwan during the year.  
In October, Dairy Farm deepened its strategic 
partnership with Philippines-listed multi-format retail 
group, Robinsons Retail, by combining its interests  
in the wholly-owned subsidiary Rose Pharmacy through  
a sale to Robinsons Retail’s subsidiary Southstar Drug.

As at 31st December 2020, Dairy Farm, including 
associates and joint ventures, operated 9,997 stores 
across all formats, compared with 10,012 stores at  
31st December 2019 on a continuing basis.

People
Our businesses are operating in extraordinary 
circumstances and our people are facing huge 
challenges.  We would like to express our deep gratitude 
for the continuing dedication and resolve of our team 
members in putting our customers first during these 
difficult times.

We were pleased to welcome Clive Schlee as  
a Non-Executive Director of the Company with effect 
from 6th May 2020.  He brings many years of valuable 
experience within FMCG businesses.  John Witt 
succeeded me as Managing Director on 15th June 2020.  
I will continue as Chairman.  

Jeremy Parr and Mark Greenberg stepped down as 
Directors of the Company on 3rd December and  
31st December 2020 respectively.  We would like to 
thank them both for their contribution to the Board 
during their tenure.

Prospects
We remain confident in the Group’s ability to continue 
to adapt and thrive and achieve long-term sustainable 
growth, with good progress being made in implementing 
the Group’s customer-focused and market-driven 
strategy.  We expect challenging conditions to continue 
in the coming year, however, it is too early to predict 
what the impact of the pandemic will be on the Group’s 
performance in 2021.

Ben Keswick
Chairman
11th March 2021

9

Group Chief Executive’s Review

“ 2020 has been an unprecedented and challenging year for Dairy Farm.  

The Group has had to constantly adapt the management of its operations 
against a backdrop of varying levels of community infection rates  
and rapidly evolving customer behaviours...  Despite these challenges,  
the Group’s transformation plan executed over the past three years  
has supported our ability to adapt to the ever-changing environment.   
In addition, the diversity of the Group’s business mix from the 
perspective of both direct and indirectly managed businesses,  
formats and geographies has provided effective insulation from 
unprecedented trading conditions.”

Introduction
2020 has been an unprecedented and challenging year 
for Dairy Farm.  The Group has had to constantly adapt 
the management of its operations against a backdrop of 
varying levels of community infection rates and rapidly 
evolving customer behaviours.  This was done in the 
context of different and changing approaches to 
managing the pandemic by governments in the regions 
where we operate, as well as the need to invest in and 
ensure our team members’ safety and well-being. 

Despite these challenges, the Group’s transformation 
plan executed over the past three years has supported 
our ability to adapt to the ever-changing environment.  
In addition, the diversity of the Group’s business mix 
from the perspective of both direct and indirectly 
managed businesses, formats and geographies has 
provided effective insulation from unprecedented  
trading conditions.

Underlying operating profit for the Group’s subsidiaries 
reduced by 6% in the year, with strong profit growth in 
Grocery Retail and Home Furnishings offset by reduced 
profitability in Convenience Stores and Health and 
Beauty.  The contribution from key associates decreased 
materially, primarily due to lower profitability from 
Maxim’s (where we own 50%), which was significantly 
impacted by disruption caused by COVID-19.  Total 
underlying net profit for the Group reduced by 14%  
to US$276 million.

Five strategic imperatives
1) Growth in China

7-Eleven South China opened over 200 additional  
new stores during the year despite the challenges  
of movement restrictions.  China’s extremely tight 
lockdown regime significantly impacted foot traffic in 
the early part of the year, with up to 500 stores having  
to close for prolonged periods.  Subsequently, when 
movement restrictions became less severe, regulations 
prohibiting the sale of Ready-to-Eat products impacted 
sales recovery.  Despite the challenges posed by trading 
conditions, strong execution of product innovation and 
promotions led to a significant improvement in sales in 
the second half of the year.  During the year, 7-Eleven 
South China began a project to transform its legacy  
IT systems with a new end-to-end agile IT solution,  
to support both an improved customer shopping 
experience and its future growth ambitions.

Mannings China’s sales performance was impacted 
significantly in the first quarter as restrictions on 
movement led to reduced traffic.  However, the business 
reported improving like-for-like sales trends throughout 
2020.  Mannings China continues to execute its space 
optimisation plan with greater focus around the  
Greater Bay Area, where Mannings has stronger brand 
awareness and can leverage the existing scale of 
7-Eleven.  E-commerce growth continues to be strong, 
with penetration now over double digits.

10

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Yonghui delivered strong sales growth in the first half  
of 2020, driven by good like-for-like sales growth and 
robust e-commerce growth.  Profitability also increased 
significantly over this period.  Tighter family disposable 
income as well as more intense competition, however, 
did contribute to a slowdown in sales performance in 
the third quarter of the year. 

2) Maintaining strength in Hong Kong

Wellcome Hong Kong reported double-digit  
like-for-like sales growth in 2020, driven by a trend 
towards eating-at-home, greater focus on fresh  
quality, strong in-store execution and enhanced  
pricing.  Profitability increased significantly due to  
a combination of strong sales growth and the benefits 
accrued from the improvement programmes which 
have been implemented as part of the Group’s  
multi-year transformation.

However, disruption caused by the pandemic has 
adversely impacted performance for other banners  
in Hong Kong, particularly Mannings and 7-Eleven.   
The virtual elimination of tourist traffic through border 
closures has had a significant impact on Mannings’ sales 
and profitability, and the business has focused strongly 
on investment in value to maximise appeal to the Hong 
Kong customers.  Performance has been encouraging  
so far, with the price initiative underpinning relative 
improvement in both volume and profitability.  
7-Eleven’s performance was also adversely impacted by 
reduced local foot traffic, particularly in MTR locations 
following business and government advice to 
encourage employees to work from home.

IKEA’s Hong Kong sales performance was also impacted 
by COVID-19 in the first quarter.  However, IKEA reported 
improving sales performance over the course of the  
year, driven by both strong e-commerce growth and 
improving offline sales growth.

8% 1%

16%

2%
6%

6%

Total Employees*
some
220,000
people

61%

6%

4%2%

2%
2%

Total Gross 
Trading Area*

>120 million
sq. ft

Grocery Retail

Convenience Stores

Health and Beauty

Home Furnishings

84%

Restaurants

Other Retailing

Store Support Centre and 
Shared Services

* Including 100% of associates and joint ventures

A key area of focus has been and will continue to  
be driving value for customers across Hong Kong.   
In addition to Mannings’ price reinvestment campaign 
launched in June, Wellcome launched its own  
Lower Price Locked campaign in the second half, with 
encouraging sales to date.  The successful launch  
of Meadows Own Brand products, supported by  
a combination of international sourcing credentials, 
competitive shelf price, strong product quality and 
packaging, will continue to strengthen the Group’s 
customer value proposition in Hong Kong.

11

In July, the Group launched the Yuu Rewards programme, 
Hong Kong’s biggest rewards club.  The programme 
links more than ten household brand names, including 
affiliate partners such as Hang Seng Bank and other 
businesses in the wider Jardine Matheson Group such  
as Pizza Hut and KFC, across over 2,000 locations in 
Hong Kong.  For the first time, a CRM programme is 
allowing Dairy Farm to leverage the scale of all its 
banners in Hong Kong.  The programme is both an 
important pillar supporting digital transformation within 
Dairy Farm and a means of maintaining Dairy Farm’s 
strength in Hong Kong.

3) Revitalising Southeast Asia

Profitability in the Group’s Southeast Asian Grocery Retail 
business improved significantly in the year, due to a 
combination of the initiatives implemented as part of 
the Group’s multi-year transformation programme and 
strong like-for-like sales growth.

Despite delays caused by COVID-19 lockdown 
restrictions, the team successfully relaunched all Giant 
Singapore stores in 2020.  This programme involved 
detailed research, combined with in-depth sales and 
merchandise analysis, a detailed plan to reapportion 
space, and investment in new equipment where 
required.  All stores have now either been refreshed  
or refitted with a major brand facelift and space 
reallocation.  There has also been a significant shift in 
emphasis onto Own Brand within Giant stores, and 
results have been encouraging.  The repositioning of  
the Giant brand has been underpinned by a programme 
to re-establish price trust and to invest in lower prices 
on hundreds of frequently purchased items across  
fresh, grocery and chilled categories.  Strong marketing 
execution was also implemented to support the brand 
repositioning.  Whilst still early, these steps have led  
to an improved sales performance, with underlying 
like-for-like sales growing at their strongest rate  
since 2013.

Performance of our upscale Grocery Retail stores 
continues to show good progress.  Improvements  
in range, availability and freshness are supporting 
improved sales performance.  In addition, our new 
concept pilot stores, with much stronger emphasis  
on fresh food, international products, organic, health 
and wellness ranges, have performed very strongly.  
New concept stores have now been introduced in 
Malaysia and Singapore, in addition to those introduced 
in Hong Kong.

Our Guardian Health and Beauty business remains  
a significant growth opportunity for the Group.  
However, like-for-like sales performance and profitability 
have been impacted by government restrictions on 
movement in each of the markets in which we operate.  
Despite the challenging environment, the team 
continues to focus on improving key areas of the 
business, including product range, value, store and sales 
channel development.  Guardian Singapore relaunched 
its e-commerce platform in February, which supported 
around 40% growth in the year.  In addition, new 
shop-in-shop concepts were executed in over 50 Giant 
stores in 2020.  Guardian Malaysia reported triple-digit 
e-commerce growth in the year.  Across our key 
geographies in Southeast Asia, localised versions of 
price reinvestment campaigns were also launched  
to enhance Guardian’s customer offering.  New health 
and beauty concept stores have also been developed 
and will be rolled out in a disciplined manner in 2021.  
Within Guardian Health and Beauty, growth in Own 
Brand is an area of focus, with the team working on a 
number of initiatives to create scale and differentiation.  
In 2020, one highlight in this area was the Group’s new 
partnership with CP All to roll out Guardian products 
into around 12,000 7-Eleven stores across Thailand.

12

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Group Chief Executive’s ReviewRobinsons Retail continued to successfully integrate 
Rustan Supercenters in 2020.  However, its financial 
performance was impacted by restrictions on 
movement caused by COVID-19, particularly with 
respect to its discretionary retail businesses.  In October, 
Dairy Farm deepened its partnership with Robinsons 
Retail by combining its interests in Rose Pharmacy  
with Robinsons Retail’s subsidiary Southstar Drug.   
The combination creates a leading pharmacy chain in 
the Philippines.  The combined business will support 
greater competitiveness, create synergies and allow 
both Dairy Farm and Robinsons Retail to leverage scale.

Our focus on building capability has not been limited  
to management positions above store level.  We have 
also invested in our systems and processes to enhance 
our team members’ skills on the shop floor in an agile 
manner.  In 2020, we rolled out a new software system 
to train team members through mobile devices, which 
enables easy access to training on the shop floor and on 
the job.  Now accessible to over 50,000 team members 
across the Group, the system also enabled the training 
of 22,000 team members within three weeks to  
support the successful and smooth rollout of the  
Yuu Rewards programme.

4) Building capability

5) Driving digital innovation

The Group has balanced internal promotions with the 
introduction of external capability, and the change in 
leadership within the organisation has brought depth  
of experience and thinking to Dairy Farm.  It has also led 
to a cultural shift within the Group in terms of our ways 
of working.  In turn, this has supported the resilience of 
the business and our ability to adapt to rapidly evolving 
challenges posed by the pandemic, including different 
and changing approaches by governments in each  
of the regions in which we operate.  Decisive action  
was taken to ensure joint co-ordination of: resourcing  
to support fluctuations in trading hours; inventory 
procurement to ensure stability of supply; supply of 
health and hygiene products for all team members;  
and clear, regular, consistent communications updates 
to all team members.  One outcome of strong execution  
in this area has been that Dairy Farm has been at the 
forefront of ensuring our people’s safety.

As we move to the next phase of our transformation,  
we are seeking to nurture talent from within through 
the development of our own graduate recruitment 
programmes and through close co-operation with  
the wider Jardine Matheson Group.

Dairy Farm is accelerating the pace of its digital change 
to adapt to the rapidly changing environment.

The Yuu Rewards programme launched in July has  
been highly successful and total membership has  
now reached over three million.  In 2020, the Yuu 
Rewards app was the most downloaded app on the 
Apple appstore in Hong Kong.  Over 50 billion points 
have been earned, highlighting a high level of member 
engagement.  We believe this is just the beginning, and 
we are excited to begin a deeper and more meaningful 
dialogue with our customers.

It has been well documented that the spread of the 
pandemic has led to a global surge in e-commerce 
growth.  Strong online sales growth has supported  
our Home Furnishings business, with e-commerce 
penetration over 10% in 2020.  We have also invested  
in infrastructure supporting e-commerce for Health  
and Beauty in Mannings businesses in both Hong Kong 
and the Chinese mainland, as well as cross-border 
e-commerce and Guardian in Southeast Asia.  An 
all-new Marketplace app was also launched in 2020, 
with enhanced service capability to support fulfilment.  
E-commerce has been an area where Dairy Farm has 
historically lagged.  However, the Group is now treating 
this area as a strategic priority.

13

• 

The consolidation of facilities management which 
has paved the way to the effective implementation 
of best practice energy controls, yielding energy 
cost savings of over US$8 million in 2020.

We continue to see further opportunities for enhanced 
efficiencies in 2021.

The Group has continued to make strong progress  
with respect to a more consistent Own Brand approach.  
Following its soft launch at the end of 2019, the 
Meadows brand was launched across our Grocery Retail 
banners in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia.  The 
number of SKUs in the range has now expanded to over 
600, and where appropriate we have introduced Own 
Brand in other banners such as 7-Eleven and Mannings.  
A combination of international sourcing credentials,  
cost price, shelf price, quality, packaging, in-store 
presentation and marketing, together with a high 
degree of store team launch engagement, has enabled 
a high profile and successful full launch in 2020.  Since 
launch, customer feedback has been very positive  
with strong customer recall and high quality and  
value perception.  Sales performance has been very 
encouraging, and in the space of 12 months:

• 

• 

• 

Meadows potato chips are the number one brand 
in their category.

Meadows nuts are the number one nut brand 
across the Hong Kong market.

Meadows is now the overall number one brand in 
Dairy Farm supermarkets.

We remain very optimistic about the future prospects  
of Meadows and look forward to sharing exciting 
developments.

In addition to growing e-commerce, the Group is 
investing significantly to enhance existing legacy  
IT systems to improve the digitisation of in-store 
operations.  As an example, 7-Eleven South China  
began a project to upgrade its legacy IT systems with  
a new end-to-end agile IT solution to support both an 
improved customer shopping experience and its future 
growth ambitions in 2020.  In Cambodia, Lucky stores 
have also begun introducing new IT systems to support 
their future store development plans, with a new 
point-of-sale system implemented in December across 
the entire store network.

Leveraging scale
The key objective of our transformation is to leverage 
our expertise and scale more effectively across our 
countries and banners by operating more effectively as 
one Group.  While we fully recognise that there needs  
to be a localisation of the offer and proposition at both 
banner and country levels, we also believe there are 
significant opportunities for us to drive efficiency and 
lower costs through a more cohesive approach towards 
leveraging synergy and scale.

Improvement programmes have remained a key area  
of focus in 2020.  We are continuing to make progress  
in improving efficiency and utilising economies of scale 
to lower costs in areas such as Procurement, Category 
Management, People Development, Store Productivity, 
Supply Chain Optimisation and Business Process 
Re-engineering.  Some examples of our progress  
this year include:

• 

• 

Continued improvement in upstream fresh  
food procurement, with 60% of fresh produce 
volumes now jointly sourced across all Dairy Farm 
food businesses.

Completion of a thorough and detailed work 
measurement study across banners and stores  
to understand precisely how long it takes team 
members to perform tasks, which will support 
future opportunities to enhance and improve 
roster planning.

14

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Group Chief Executive’s ReviewYear ahead
Undoubtedly, 2020 was a challenging year.  The extent 
and duration of the impact of the pandemic in 2021 
remains unclear, and this year is likely to remain 
challenging.  Despite the short-term impact from the 
pandemic, however, our team members remain motivated, 
determined and resolute in the continued execution  
of the Dairy Farm multi-year transformation plan.   
We are halfway through that plan and there is much  
still to do.  Despite all adverse external influences, the 
transformation plan remains on track.  While financial 
results do not yet reflect the efforts made to date, we are 
confident that the actions being taken remain the right 
ones and the Company is in a far better shape now to 
face the challenges of the market going forward.

I would like to thank my Leadership Team, their teams 
and every team member in our stores who have worked 
tirelessly for Dairy Farm over the last three years to  
get us this far.  Our store teams do deserve a special 
mention.  In every country where lockdowns were  
put in place and populations were encouraged and 
even mandated to stay home for their safety, our store 
and supply chain teams turned up to do their jobs in 
genuinely dangerous circumstances.  I could not be 
more grateful for their support.

Ian McLeod
Group Chief Executive
11th March 2021

Caring for team members and 
supporting our community
A key priority of the leadership team is to ensure the 
safety and well-being of our team members throughout 
this pandemic.  While lockdowns, social distancing and 
stay at home orders have been in place, our businesses 
across the regions have generally been regarded  
as essential services and remained open.  Our team 
members are therefore placing themselves at risk every 
day and the Group continues investing significantly in  
a number of initiatives to ensure the health, safety and 
well-being of each team member.  

Recognising the hardship faced by all members of  
the community during these challenging times, we 
responded by providing increased support to the 
communities that we serve.  Some examples include 
Wellcome’s significant  ‘Give Back’ programme which 
involves the distribution of over two million cash  
and meal vouchers to the most in need groups in  
Hong Kong; Mannings’ partnership with the Hong Kong 
Hospital Authority to provide medication collection 
services to local residents to reduce the risk of infection 
from hospital visits; and company matching of Yuu 
Rewards points donated by customers.  In addition,  
we have introduced price investment programmes 
across our banners and geographies to drive value  
for customers.

In total, the Group has made over US$50 million of 
direct investments in supporting the health, safety  
and well-being of our team members as well as in 
supporting our communities as a result of COVID-19 in 
2020.  The Group will continue to invest to support our 
team members and community given the gravity of the 
impact of the pandemic. 

I would also like to express my deep gratitude for the 
continuing dedication and resolve of team members in 
putting customers first during these difficult times.

15

Sustainable Transformation at Dairy Farm

Dairy Farm Group is undergoing a significant multi-year 
transformation to address a series of business challenges and in so 
doing ensure that each business is improved to provide it with the 
best opportunity to serve customers in highly competitive markets.  
We are also aware that as a large company operating in many 
countries, we have a responsibility to recognise the increasing 
needs of the communities we serve and look for ways in which we 
can make contributions to help them.  We want to help both our 
customers and our team members (People), we want to help improve 
our supply chain by reducing food waste, lowering plastic usage 
and sourcing ethically (Products).  We want to improve energy 
efficiency, recognising growing concerns over climate change 
(Planet) and we wish to strengthen partnerships with like-minded 
organisations who also wish to make a sustainable difference.

We would be the first to accept that all organisations 
can do more in the area of corporate and social 
responsibility, and we are no exception.  We are 
building greater focus on where we can begin to  
make a difference and demonstrate measured 
progress over time.  Below are some examples of  
the early progress we believe we are making:

People
Helping customers, their communities 
and our team members
We are greatly appreciative of the service our team 
members provide to our customers on the front-line 
day in and day out, therefore making them feel safe is 
our number one priority.  We have invested heavily in 
providing over 440,000 pieces of personal protective 
equipment (masks, hand sanitisers and goggles) for 
our team members to ensure they are protected and 
feel safe when serving customers amidst the pandemic.  

also the first Hong Kong retailer to take on a community 
pharmacy role.  We launched a medication collection 
service in our Mannings stores, thereby reducing 
hospital footfall and the associated risk of infection.  

With demand increasing significantly at the start of  
the COVID-19 pandemic, we needed to quickly bring 
additional help onboard to better serve our customers.  
Based on these needs, we saw an opportunity in 
Singapore to support other affected industries by 
offering recruitment opportunities to their teams.   
We first started the initiative with Fairmont Singapore, 
then the Food Drinks Allied Workers’ Union (FDAWU) 
came onboard in support of our efforts and expanded  
the outreach to more hotel partners, such as the  
Four Seasons and other international hotel chains.  
Through this initiative, we provided support to those  
in the tourism and hospitality industry who have been 
impacted by COVID-19.  We also donated care packs  
to those in need within our communities.

In a year like no other, we prioritised helping our 
communities.  We were the first retailer in Hong Kong, 
Malaysia and Indonesia to implement priority shopping 
hours in our supermarkets for the most vulnerable 
members of our communities, ensuring they can shop 
safely, secure in the knowledge that we are putting their 
health and wellbeing first.  Mannings Hong Kong was 

We place huge significance on access to education for 
all, which meant stepping up when the pandemic forced 
school closures in Indonesia.  Hero Group partnered 
with Human Initiative to launch online learning centres, 
equipping underprivileged students with smartphones, 
computer laptops and free internet access so they can 
thrive academically without obstacles.

16

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Preparing care packs for local communities.

Meat-free IKEA ‘Plant Balls’ –  a more sustainable choice.

Products
Sourcing more sustainable choices for 
our customers 
We are determined to allow customers to make 
sustainable choices, and we have been leveraging  
our partnerships to source products that treat animals  
in a humane and dignified manner.  

Part of our ‘Products’ focus is paying attention to  
animal welfare and we have been working closely with 
Humane Society International (HSI) to make a change.  
Together with HSI, we are working to drive long-term 
change in the supply chain.  As part of this, we will be 
launching a new value range of cage-free eggs under 
our Meadows Brand in Hong Kong and Singapore in 
2021, whilst introducing cage-free eggs into all ten of  
our IKEA restaurants in 2021 in Hong Kong and Taiwan.  

Our IKEA meatballs are enjoyed around the world,  
and we listened to our customers to provide them  
with a more sustainable version of a well-loved classic.  
Launched in October 2020, the IKEA ‘Plant Balls’ still 
deliver the great taste and texture of the IKEA meatballs 
whilst being responsible for just 4% of its predecessors 
climate footprint.  In this way, we are proud to continue 
innovating in this field and giving our customers the 
choice to make more environmentally friendly decisions.

We do not just focus on life on land.  We look to source 
seafood sustainably, making a concerted effort to 
protect threatened species and promote products 
which are MSC, ASC and BAP certified.  

Our customers also rely on us to provide them with 
fresh and high-quality products, and we want to ensure 

we provide that constantly.  Our ‘Fresher for Customers’ 
programme improves the shopping experience for our 
customers by managing inventory better to improve 
freshness and at the same time minimise waste.   
Through this programme, we have reduced food waste  
by nearly 10,000 tonnes in the last two years across  
our markets.  

Donating food offers a further opportunity to minimise  
food waste in our stores, whilst having a positive effect  
on the welfare of those in need within our communities.  
For example in Malaysia, Giant collaborated with The Lost  
Food Project to ensure food is not wasted but delivered  
to those who need it most.  In total, the partnership  
saw RM50,000 worth of food supplies donated through  
26 charity organisations across Klang Valley and Negeri 
Sembilan.  PT Hero partnered with Taman Safari Indonesia  
to donate fresh produce to animals in conservation.   
With COVID-19 putting an intense strain on business  
for zoos and aquariums, this partnership demonstrates  
a forward-thinking scheme to meet two distinct needs 
with one fantastic solution.  

In Singapore, the installation of a food waste management 
machine, known as an ecoDigester, enables the  
conversion of organic waste into water for washing.   
In Hong Kong, our collaboration with O · Park allows us  
to divert organic waste for conversion into biogas and 
compost.  Moreover, Giant are currently trialling a new 
composting method with our NGO partner in Indonesia, 
where larvae decompose food waste into organic fertiliser.  
We endeavour to roll out similar sustainable technologies  
in other markets and work towards developing a circular 
economy within our operations.  

17

Planet
Climate change and environmental 
waste are a concern for everyone 
Taking responsibility for our plastic consumption  
has been an important initiative over the past year.   
In Hong Kong, alongside our involvement with the  
Drink Without Waste initiative, we installed Reverse 
Vending Machines in our stores to kick off our pilot 
programme.  In six months, our machines saved  
over 50,000 plastic bottles from going to landfill.   
This ensures that more plastic bottles are recycled 
properly whilst making it easier for the public to 
participate in environmentally friendly practices.

In other plastic reduction efforts, we have reviewed  
tray thickness in our Hong Kong Fresh Food Centre, 
reducing plastic usage by 14% without compromising 
on food hygiene.  We have sought to reduce plastic 
usage in stores, resulting in a 24% reduction from the 
previous year.  

50,000 plastic bottles were saved from going to landfill  
via the Reverse Vending Machine trial programme.

In Taiwan, IKEA launched the very first ‘circular leasing’ 
business model in partnership with Taipei 101.  Taipei 
101 leases furniture from IKEA on a three-year contract, 
after this ends IKEA Taiwan will take back all the 

furniture, refurbish the items and resell them to new 
customers.  This project minimises waste and maximises 
the lifespan and uses of our earth’s natural resources.  

We protect our environment:

nearly

10,000 tonnes  

of food waste reduced or  
diverted from landfill

8 million kg  

of CO2 emissions reduced

24%  reduced  

in unnecessary plastic in stores

50,000   

plastic bottles recycled

Our eco-friendly IKEA Taoyuan store opened last year 
has many sustainable installations, including LOW-E 
insulating glass windows for reducing energy 
consumption associated with air conditioning.   
The building also features a total of 802 solar panels  
on its roof, supplying energy equivalent to the amount 
used by nearly 70 households per year.  Similarly, the 
IKEA Qingpu store was awarded the ‘Taiwan EEWH 
Green Building Gold Certificate’ due to the installation  
of 802 EV panels and 4 wind turbines on its roof.   
Thanks to these additions, the building generates  
10% of its total electricity usage in renewable energy.

Over the past year, we have instigated encouraging 
reductions in our energy consumption.  For example,  
we have introduced energy awareness campaigns  
in our stores and installed speed doors in our  
Fresh Food Centre to improve temperature control.  
Overall, we reduced our energy consumption in  
Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia by 16 million kWh, 
equal to reducing our CO2 emissions by over 8 million kg.

18

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Sustainable Transformation at Dairy FarmPartnerships
Working with like-minded partners to  
create a bigger impact
In Hong Kong, we launched a HK$120 million ‘Heartfelt 
Give-Back’ programme, including the donation of  
1 million cash vouchers and 1 million meal vouchers  
to those most in need.  We collaborated with over  
250 charity partners who helped identify 250,000 
beneficiaries for the voucher donations.  The programme 
also consists of a donation of up to HK$5 million by 
matching donations that our customers make through 
our ‘Yuu Give-Back’ programme – a voluntary donation 
feature released as part of the Yuu app launch.

Running since 2009, the ‘Surplus Bread Donation 
Programme’ made Maxim’s Group the first bakery chain  
in Hong Kong to donate surplus bread to charity groups.  
Maxim’s Cakes and Arome Bakery work with over  
90 charitable organisations to donate surplus bread, 
amounting to a total 5.35 million pieces of bread 
donated at the end of 2020.  

In summary, as a large company, we recognise we also 
have a responsibility to take our corporate and social 
responsibility seriously.  Through our People, Products, 
Planet and Partnerships approach, we want to make  
a positive difference.

Team members distributing care packs to frontline workers who serve  
our communities.

We enabled our team 
members across all 12 of 
our markets to support 
our communities as 
much as we can.

We support our communities:

US

 $50 million

Cash

1,925,000

Meals

440,000

Masks and hand sanitisers

80,000

Daily necessity care packs

35,000

Cups of tea and coffee

Our efforts did not go unnoticed:
 • Caring Company Scheme Award –  

Anti-epidemic Campaign Recognition 
‘Outstanding Partnership’ in Hong Kong

 • Top CSR Awards 2020 from TOP Business 
Magazine and Indonesia CSR Society

 • Indonesia’s Best Corporate Sustainability 
Initiative 2020 for category ‘The Best  
Circular Economy (Special Award)’

 • Taiwan EEWH Green Building Gold  
Certificate for IKEA Qingpu store

19

20

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Food
Operating profit for Grocery Retail 
increased significantly, underpinned 
by strong sales performance and 
cost benefits from our improvement 
programmes.  Convenience sales 
were impacted by disruption 
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, 
which significantly impacted traffic 
into stores.

Group Sales*

Group Profit†

72%

15%

57%

10%

68%

58%

Grocery Retail

Convenience Stores

* Including share of associates and joint ventures.
†  Based on operating profit before effect of adopting IFRS 16 and share of results of associates and joint ventures, 

excluding selling, general and administrative expenses and non-trading items.

21

Business ReviewBusiness ReviewMainland China

Hong Kong

Taiwan

Macau

Cambodia

The Philippines

Malaysia

Singapore

Indonesia

Grocery Retail
Convenience Stores

US$ 22.1 billion

Total Sales‡

US$ 324 million

Operating Profit

5,626 stores

Store Network‡

‡  Including 100% of associates and joint ventures.

22
22

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020
Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

23

Business Review FoodGrocery Retail
Dairy Farm’s Grocery Retail 
business has been serving our 
customers for over 70 years.  
Today we lead the industry  
in Asia, offering the freshest 
produce, excellent service and 
great value through a range of 
iconic brands.

Total Grocery Retail sales increased by 3% to US$5.3 billion.  
This performance was driven by strong double-digit 
like-for-like sales growth, partially offset by the 
annualisation impact of the Group’s space optimisation 
programme, which was executed in 2019.  The strong 
like-for-like sales performance was driven by a 
combination of a shift in customer behaviour towards 
eating-at-home and operational improvements to our 
range, quality and pricing.  Operating profit increased 
from US$63 million to US$267 million, primarily driven 
by strong sales performance and cost benefits from  
our improvement programmes.

Sales in Hong Kong and Macau were significantly  
ahead of the prior year, with strong double-digit 
like-for-like sales growth.  Reported profitability was 
supported by strong sales growth, the ongoing 
execution of improvement programmes as well  
as government subsidies.  

Our price reinvestment campaign in Taiwan, as well as 
changing customer behaviours, supported strong sales 
growth for Wellcome Taiwan.  During the year, the Group 
announced that it had entered into an agreement with 
Carrefour for them to acquire 100% of Wellcome Taiwan.  

Double-digit  
like-for-like sales 
growth drives strength 
in Grocery Retail 
performance.

22

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

23

Business Review  Food

By bringing these businesses together, team members 
and customers will benefit from being served by a larger 
group that can use its combined strength and scale to 
improve quality, service and price competition.  The 
transaction completed on 31st December 2020 and the 
combined entity now becomes the largest multi-format 
food retailer in Taiwan.

In Southeast Asia, strong like-for-like sales performance 
in Singapore and Malaysia was partially offset by 
challenging trading conditions in Indonesia.  Profitability 
for Southeast Asia was supported by strong sales 
performance, as well as key programmes implemented 
as part of the Group’s multi-year transformation.   
In particular, performance from the Group’s store 
revitalisation and price reinvestment programmes has 
been encouraging.  Profitability in Indonesia, however, 
reduced significantly due to weak sales performance.

During the year, the Group launched price reinvestment 
campaigns across key regions to continue to support 
our customer value proposition. 

Meadows is now  
the number 1 brand 
across Dairy Farm.

24

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

25

Business Review FoodConvenience
With over 30 years of delivering the convenience 
shopping experience, Dairy Farm operates  
the 7-Eleven franchise in Hong Kong, Macau,  
South China and Singapore and offers innovative  
products and services to customers.

Convenience sales were impacted by disruption  
caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly 
impacted traffic into stores.  Total sales reduced by 4%  
to US$2.1 billion, with reduced like-for-like sales partially 
offset by some new store growth in South China.  
Operating profit reduced to US$57 million, driven by  
a combination of a shortfall in sales, store disruption  
and a product mix shift towards lower margin  
product categories.

We continue to invest in the growth of our 7-Eleven 
store network in Guangdong.  During the year, 7-Eleven 
South China began a project to significantly upgrade  
its legacy IT systems with a new end-to-end agile  
IT solution to support both an improved customer 
shopping experience and its future growth ambitions.  
Upon implementation the system will support  
the business in scaling up both its company-owned  
and franchise store networks.

24

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

25

26

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Health and Beauty
Sales for our Health and Beauty 
Division were impacted significantly 
by disruption caused by the 
COVID-19 pandemic.  Faced with 
difficult trading conditions and  
a lack of tourist traffic, the Health 
and Beauty Division has focused  
on price investment to ensure 
relevance to our customers.

Group Sales*

Group Profit†

14%

12%

Health and Beauty

* Including share of associates and joint ventures.
†  Based on operating profit before effect of adopting IFRS 16 and share of results of associates and joint ventures, 

excluding selling, general and administrative expenses and non-trading items.

27

Business ReviewBusiness ReviewMainland China

Hong Kong

Macau

Cambodia

Vietnam

Malaysia

Singapore

Brunei

The Philippines

Indonesia

Health and Beauty

US$ 2.4 billion

Total Sales‡

US$ 66 million

Operating Profit

2,029 stores

Store Network‡

‡  Including 100% of associates and joint ventures.

28

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Business Review Health and BeautyHealth and Beauty
Dairy Farm’s Health and Beauty 
business operates across Asia 
through well-established and 
trusted brands such as Mannings 
and GNC in North Asia, and 
Guardian in Southeast Asia, 
serving our customers with  
a wide range of health, beauty, 
personal care and baby  
care products.

Sales for our Health and Beauty Division were impacted 
significantly by disruption caused by the COVID-19 
pandemic.  The performance of Mannings in North Asia 
was impacted by reduced foot traffic from a lack of 
visitors into both Hong Kong and Macau.  Following 
strong like-for-like sales performance in the first quarter, 
Guardian’s sales growth decelerated significantly  
due to government restrictions on movement for the 
remainder of the year.  Reported sales for the Health and 
Beauty Division were US$2.0 billion in 2020, 35% below 
the prior year.

29

Mannings continued  
to focus on building  
its customer value 
proposition across 
key operating markets.

Operating profit was US$66 million in 2020, a significant 
reduction relative to the US$296 million reported  
in the prior year.  The reduction in profitability was 
primarily due to a shortfall in sales, partially offset by 
government subsidies.

Faced with difficult trading conditions and a lack  
of tourist traffic, the Health and Beauty Division has 
focused on price investment to ensure relevance to our 
customers.  In addition, the Group believes investments 
in digital, store design, the Yuu Rewards programme  
and Own Brand development will support market  
share growth.

In October, the Group deepened its partnership with 
Robinsons Retail by combining its interests in Rose 
Pharmacy with Robinsons Retail’s subsidiary Southstar 
Drug.  The combination creates a leading pharmacy 
chain in the Philippines. 

30

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Business Review Health and Beauty31

32

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

33

Home Furnishings
Despite the challenges posed by 
COVID-19, we continued to invest  
in the future growth of our Home 
Furnishings business in 2020.  Sales 
grew by 9% to a record US$832 million.  
The contribution of new stores and 
strong e-commerce growth more than 
offset the negative effect on like-for-like 
sales from COVID-19 related impacts on 
traffic and operations.

Group Sales*

Group Profit†

6%

13%

Home Furnishings

* Including share of associates and joint ventures.
†  Based on operating profit before effect of adopting IFRS 16 and share of results of associates and joint ventures, 

excluding selling, general and administrative expenses and non-trading items.

32

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

33

Business ReviewBusiness ReviewHong Kong

Taiwan

Macau

Indonesia

Home Furnishings

US$ 832 million

Total Sales‡

US$71 million

Operating Profit

13 stores

Store Network‡

‡  Including 100% of associates and joint ventures.

34

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Business Review Home FurnishingsHome Furnishings
The world’s largest furniture 
retailer, IKEA, is operated by  
Dairy Farm in Hong Kong, Macau, 
Taiwan and Indonesia.  Renowned 
for design, functionality and 
quality at affordable prices, IKEA 
offers a comprehensive range  
of attractive home furnishing 
products, underpinned by a solid 
commitment to sustainability.

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, we 
continued to invest in the future growth of our Home 
Furnishings business in 2020.  Sales grew by 9% to a 
record US$832 million.  The contribution of new stores 
and strong e-commerce growth more than offset the 
negative effect on like-for-like sales from COVID-19 
related impacts on traffic and operations.  Trading in 
Indonesia was most impacted by the pandemic due to 
operating capacity limitations and intermittent 
temporary store closures.  

The Home Furnishings business has been proactive in 
developing online capability and has been evolving  
its online template to build a new website proposition 
within each of our markets.  This initiative has facilitated 
strong growth in online penetration since 2017, with 
overall online penetration now over 10% of sales.

35

Business Review  Home Furnishings

36

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

37

Business Review Home FurnishingsOperating profit was US$71 million 
for the year, a significant increase of 
US$28 million from the prior year.

Operating profit was US$71 million for the year, a 
significant increase of US$28 million from the prior year.  
The strong profit growth was driven by an incremental 
profit contribution from new stores opened, reduced 
cost of goods, strong operating cost control, lower 
pre-opening expenses for new store openings and 
some benefits from government subsidies.  Store trading 
disruption due to COVID-19 did partially impact profit 
performance, particularly in Indonesia.

During 2020, we opened one new store in Macau 
during the height of the pandemic, as well as a new 
larger replacement store in Taiwan, with performance 
for both stores encouraging.  The pandemic has 
impacted the timeline for our new planned store 
openings in Indonesia and we now expect two 
additional store openings in 2021.  By the end of 2021, 
we will have 15 stores opened across our markets 
against a base of 10 at the end of 2017.  This represents 
the fastest growth in IKEA in our 42 years of franchise 
ownership and will make Dairy Farm the second largest 
IKEA franchise globally.

Double-digit 
e-commerce 
penetration.

36

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

37

38

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020
Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

39

Restaurants
The global pandemic has caused a 
significant reduction in customer 
visits to Maxim’s restaurants, as well as 
leading to some temporary closures 
and adjusted operating hours.  Whilst 
trading conditions were challenging, 
Maxim’s remains committed to 
pursuing its multi-brand strategy.

Group Sales*

Group Profit†

7%

7%

Restaurants

* Including share of associates and joint ventures.
†  Based on operating profit before effect of adopting IFRS 16 and share of results of associates and joint ventures, 

excluding selling, general and administrative expenses and non-trading items.

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

39

Business ReviewBusiness ReviewMainland China

Hong Kong

Macau

Thailand

Cambodia

Vietnam

Malaysia

Singapore

Restaurants

US$ 2.1billion

Total Sales‡

US$ 36 million

Share of Results

1,741 stores

Store Network‡

‡  Including 100% of associates and joint ventures.

40

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020
Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

41

Business Review RestaurantsRestaurants
Founded in 1956, Maxim’s is a 
household name in Hong Kong, 
famous for its mooncakes and 
successful restaurants, bakeries, 
cafes and catering.  The Maxim’s 
network has expanded across 
Asia Pacific, with over 1,700 
outlets in Hong Kong, Macau, 
mainland China, Vietnam, 
Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore 
and Malaysia.

The global pandemic, which has led to government-
imposed restrictions on movement and social distancing 
measures, has caused a significant reduction in customer 
visits to Maxim’s restaurants, as well as leading to some 
temporary closures and adjusted operating hours.  
Maxim’s reported sales of US$2.1 billion in 2020, a 24% 
reduction compared to the prior year.  

Weak sales performance led to a significant reduction  
in profitability, with Dairy Farm’s share of Maxim’s profits 
reducing by US$46 million to US$36 million.  Maxim’s 
profitability was supported by strong cost control, 
reduced rental expenses and government support  
in the year.

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

41

Maxim’s mooncake sales 
during Mid-Autumn 
Festival were encouraging.

Whilst trading conditions were challenging, Maxim’s 
remains committed to pursuing its multi-brand strategy.  
During the year, Maxim’s announced that it had expanded 
its partnership with Shake Shack across China.  The first 
Beijing store opened in the third quarter and there are 
plans to open more stores in South China including 
locations in Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Xiamen.  
Maxim’s has also secured the Starbucks franchise in  
Laos, with the first store planned to be opened in 2021.  
Maxim’s has now secured the Starbucks franchise in 
seven markets.

42

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

43

Business Review RestaurantsMaxim’s remains committed 
towards pursuing its  
multi-brand strategy.

42

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

43

44

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

45

Business Review

Other Associates
The Group’s investment in  
Yonghui and Robinsons Retail 
continued to support profitability 
and deliver encouraging returns, 
demonstrating the benefit of  
a diversified business portfolio.

Mainland China

The Philippines

Other Associates

Yonghui delivered significant sales growth in  
the first six months of 2020, driven by robust 
like-for-like sales growth and strong e-commerce 
growth.  Profitability also increased strongly over 
this period.  Tighter family disposable income as 
well as more intense competition, however, did 
contribute to a slowdown in sales performance 
in the third quarter of the year.

Robinsons Retail’s financial performance in 2020 
was impacted by government restrictions on 
movement due to the pandemic, particularly 
with respect to its discretionary formats.  
Robinsons Retail’s core supermarket format 
reported strong growth in sales and profitability 
driven by a combination of changing customer 
behaviours and the successful integration of 
Rustan Supercenters.  

44

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

45

Business ReviewBusiness ReviewFinancial Review

“ 2020 was a 
challenging year for 
Dairy Farm, with  
the COVID-19 
pandemic impacting 
the Group’s 
operations and, as a 
result, its financial 
results.”

30%

2020
Sales Mix*

70%

57%

43%

2020
Retail Outlet Mix†

North Asia

Southeast Asia

* Including share of associates and joint ventures.
†  On a 100% basis.

Accounting policies
The accounting policies are consistent with those of  
the previous year.  The Directors continue to review  
the appropriateness of the accounting policies adopted 
by the Group, regarding developments in International 
Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’).  In 2020, the 
Group has early adopted the COVID-19 Related Rent 
Concessions: Amendment to IFRS 16 Leases.  The 
Amendment allows rent concessions, which are granted 
as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic,  
to be recognised in the profit and loss over the period  
to which they relate, subject to satisfying specific 
conditions, rather than as a modification of the lease 
following IFRS 16 ‘Leases’.  Adoption of the Amendment 
results in the recognition of US$69 million of rent 
concessions in other operating income.

Results
2020 was a challenging year for Dairy Farm, with  
the COVID-19 pandemic impacting the Group’s 
operations and, as a result, its financial results.  
Continued progress in implementing the Group’s 
transformation programme, however, helped the 
business adapt to the rapidly changing environment, 
while the diversity of the Group’s businesses, coupled 
with the impact of ongoing improvement programmes, 
supported the Group’s overall financial performance.

Sales, excluding those of associates and joint ventures, 
totalled US$10.3 billion, down 8% on last year.  Total 
sales, including 100% of associates and joint ventures, 
were 2% higher at US$28.2 billion, due primarily to  
a higher sales contribution from Yonghui.

46

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Underlying operating profit amounted to US$412 million, 
a reduction of 6% compared with last year.  Strong growth 
in operating profit for Grocery Retail and IKEA was  
offset by a reduction in profit for the Health and Beauty 
and Convenience businesses.  Among the Group’s 
subsidiaries, disruption caused by the COVID-19 
pandemic has had the greatest impact on our Health 
and Beauty and Convenience businesses.

Significant sales and profit growth was seen in the 
Grocery Retail business, driven by changing customer 
behaviours in response to the pandemic.  There was 
strong profit growth across North Asia and Southeast 
Asia, driven by benefits accrued from implementing 
improvement programmes, strong sales and government 
subsidies.  Performance in Indonesia, however, was 
impacted negatively by government restrictions on 
movement, which affected traffic into hypermarkets.

Home Furnishings traded strongly, benefitting from 
strong e-commerce growth and an increase in the store 
network, which offset the pandemic-related disruption.

Performance for the Health and Beauty business was 
impacted adversely by COVID-19 due to a lack of tourist 
travel, reduced footfall in shopping malls and temporary 
store closures because of government measures to 
counter the pandemic.  In North Asia, enforced border 
closures have led to impacted tourism, which has 
impacted our Mannings business significantly.  
Government imposed restrictions on movement and 
reduction in foot traffic impacted performance for the 
Convenience business.

Net financing charges decreased by US$16 million 
compared with 2019, in part reflecting a reduced 
borrowing level and lower interest rates.

The Group’s share of the results of associates and  
joint ventures decreased by 33% to US$85 million 
compared with 2019, principally due to a significantly 
lower contribution from Maxim’s, as the pandemic, 
government-imposed restrictions on movement  
and social distancing measures caused a substantial 
reduction to customer visits to restaurants, as well  
as leading to some temporary closures.  Following 
Yonghui’s cancellation of treasury shares in July 2020, 

Underlying EBITDA

Underlying EBITDA

US$m
1,800

1,500

1,200

900

600

300

0

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Before effect of  
adopting IFRS 16

At IFRS 16 basis

Net Asset Value per Share

Net Asset Value per Share

US¢
150

120

90

60

30

0

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Before effect of  
adopting IFRS 16

At IFRS 16 basis

the Group’s interest in Yonghui, which saw strong sales 
growth in 2020, increased from 19.99% to 20.10%.  The 
financial performance of Robinsons Retail was impacted 
adversely by government restrictions on movement  
due to the pandemic, particularly with respect to its 
discretionary formats.

The tax charge for 2020 was US$74 million, 7% higher 
than 2019, mainly due to an additional tax provision for 
intra-group royalties.

A one-off pre-tax charge of US$59 million was reported, 
which included predominantly non-cash charges to write 
down the value of assets to the recoverable amounts, 
and business restructuring costs relating to certain 
stores that have been identified for store closure 
following a review of Grocery Retail in Indonesia.  The 
net cost after tax and non-controlling interests was 

47

US$51 million.  These charges have been classified as 
non-trading items due to the scale of the plan and the 
impact that it will have on the business.  The net cash 
impact is expected to be less than US$10 million.  The 
goodwill associated with PT Hero was also impaired  
in full.

Underlying profit attributable to shareholders was 
US$276 million, down 14% from US$321 million in 2019.  
Underlying earnings per share of US¢20.38 were also 
down by 14%, as compared with US¢23.72 in 2019.

Cash flow

The Group maintained solid cash flows from operating 
activities after lease payments of US$361 million in  
the year, compared with US$498 million in 2019.   
The unfavourable movement in working capital in  
the year was due principally to investments to maintain 
availability during the early part of the pandemic, 
inventory stockpiling as a result of government policies 
in Singapore, settlement of supplier purchase obligations 
with respect to an earlier 2020 Chinese New Year as well 
as lower sales churn in the Health and Beauty business.  
Normal capital expenditure was lower at US$248 million 
versus US$305 million in 2019 due principally to tighter 
control on new store expansions and refurbishment of 
the existing store estate.  The tax payment was higher  
at US$110 million versus US$25 million in 2019 due  
to a delay in the timing of the 2019 Hong Kong tax 
payment to 2020.

6%

24%

2020 Normal
Capital Expenditure:

US$248
million

50%

12%

8%

2020
US$m

2019
US$m

412

983
(17)

(102)

(143)
(110)

68
(24)

437

1,002
33 

(77)

(160)
(25)

89
(11)

1,067

1,288

Convenience Stores

Store Support Centre

Grocery Retail

Home Furnishings

Health and Beauty

(706)

(790)

361

498

(248)

(305)

154
8

(6)
28

(86)

(283)

275

215

During the year, the Group deepened its strategic 
partnership with Robinsons Retail, by combining its 
interest in the wholly-owned subsidiary, Rose Pharmacy, 
through a sale to Robinsons Retail’s subsidiary,  
South Star Drug, for cash proceeds of US$84 million.   
In addition, the Group divested its 100% interest in 
Wellcome Taiwan to Carrefour for US$109 million and 
invested US$15 million in a newly established digital 
joint venture to support its e-commerce development 
and drive digital innovation.

Summarised Cash Flow

Underlying operating  
  profit
Depreciation and  
  amortisation
Other non-cash items
Increase in working  
  capital
Net interest and other  

financing charges paid

Tax paid
Dividends received  
from associates

Other
Cash flows from  
  operating activities
Principal elements  
  of lease payments
Cash flows from  
  operating activities  
  after lease payments
Normal capital  
  expenditure
Sales of subsidiaries,  
  net of investments
Disposals
Cash flow from  

investing activities

Cash flow before  

financing but after  
lease payments

48

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Financial Review 
 
 
 
 
Where required, and typically for working capital 
purposes, borrowings are normally taken out in  
local currencies by the Group’s operating subsidiaries  
to fund daily operations.  Borrowings to fund any 
strategic expansion of the Group are managed centrally 
and typically funded in United States dollars and Hong 
Kong dollars, with hedging of foreign exchange and 
interest rate risk as may be appropriate depending on 
the investment.

Financial risk management
A comprehensive discussion of the Group’s financial  
risk management policies is included in note 38 to the 
financial statements.  The Group manages its exposure 
to financial risk using a variety of techniques and 
instruments.  The main objectives are to limit exchange 
and interest rate risks and to provide a degree of certainty 
about costs.  It is our policy not to engage in speculative 
derivative transactions.  The investment of the Group’s 
cash resources is managed to minimise risk while 
seeking to enhance yield.  Overall, the Group’s funding 
arrangements are designed to keep an appropriate 
balance between equity and debt (short and long-term), 
to maximise flexibility for the future development of  
the business.

Principal risks and uncertainties
A review of the principal risks and uncertainties facing 
the Group is set out on pages 149 to 150.

Clem Constantine
Chief Financial Officer
11th March 2021

At 31st December 2020, the Group’s businesses, including 
associates and joint ventures, operated a total of 9,997 
stores across all formats in 12 markets, compared with 
10,012 stores on a continuing basis at the end of 2019.  
Included in this total are 1,371 Yonghui stores, 1,741 
Maxim’s stores and 1,853 Robinsons Retail stores.

Balance sheet
Total assets, excluding cash and bank balances, of 
US$7.6 billion were broadly in line with 2019.  Inventory 
was down by 13% to US$779 million, reflecting the 
continuous effort to manage inventory and clear 
poor-quality stocks.  Net operating assets were  
US$1.3 billion at the end of 2020, an 8% increase  
versus the previous year.

The Group ended the year with net debt of  
US$817 million, broadly in line with last year’s level.

Dividend
The Board is recommending a final dividend of 
US¢11.50 per share, giving a total dividend of 
US¢16.50 per share for the year, a 21% reduction 
compared with 2019.

Financing
The Group, excluding associates and joint ventures, had 
gross debt of US$1,094 million at 31st December 2020,  
a drop of US$28 million from 2019.  The gross debt is 
funded by total committed and uncommitted lines of 
US$3,091 million.  At the end of 2020, US$1,319 million 
of committed and US$676 million of uncommitted 
facilities were unused and available.  The Group had 
cash balances of US$278 million at 31st December 2020.  
The Group has implemented a global liquidity cash 
pooling scheme which enables the Group to manage 
and optimise its working capital funding requirements 
daily.  The available undrawn committed facilities and 
the cash pooling scheme provide good support and 
flexibility to the Group for the cash in need for the 
operation.  The Directors believe that the Group has 
strong liquidity to run the business during the pandemic 
and beyond.

49

Directors’ Profiles

Ben Keswick
Chairman

John Witt *
Managing Director

Ian McLeod *
Group Chief Executive

Clem Constantine *
Chief Financial Officer

George J. Ho

Adam Keswick

Mr Keswick joined the Board as Managing Director in April 2012 and held the position until 
June 2020.  He has been Chairman since 2013.  He was also managing director of Jardine 
Matheson, Jardine Strategic, Hongkong Land and Mandarin Oriental from 2012 to 2020.   
Mr Keswick has held a number of executive positions since joining the Jardine Matheson 
group in 1998, including finance director and then chief executive officer of Jardine Pacific 
between 2003 and 2007 and, thereafter, group managing director of Jardine Cycle & Carriage 
until 2012.  He is executive chairman of Jardine Matheson and Jardine Strategic, and chairman 
of Hongkong Land, Jardine Cycle & Carriage and Mandarin Oriental.  Mr Keswick is also a 
director of Yonghui Superstores and a commissioner of Astra.  He has an MBA from INSEAD. 

Mr Witt joined the Board in 2016 and was appointed Managing Director in June 2020.  He has 
been with the Jardine Matheson group since 1993 and has held a number of senior finance 
positions, including group finance director of Jardine Matheson from 2016 to 2020 and the 
chief financial officer of Hongkong Land from 2010 to 2016.  Mr Witt is chairman of Jardine 
Matheson Limited, group managing director of Jardine Matheson and managing director of 
Jardine Strategic, Hongkong Land and Mandarin Oriental.  He is also a director of Jardine 
Pacific and Jardine Motors, and a commissioner and chairman of the executive committee of 
Astra.  Mr Witt is a Chartered Accountant and has an MBA from INSEAD.  

Mr McLeod joined the Board as Group Chief Executive in 2017.  He has extensive experience 
in the retail sector and was previously chief executive of Southeastern Grocers in the United 
States, before which he was managing director of Coles in Australia.  He is also a director of 
Yonghui Superstores and a commissioner of Hero.

Mr Constantine joined the Board as Chief Financial Officer in 2019, having joined the Dairy 
Farm leadership team as Group Property Director in 2018.  He is a Chartered Accountant with 
extensive experience in senior finance and property roles in the retail sector.  He has 
previously held finance, international and property directorships with Marks and Spencer,  
the Arcadia group, Debenhams and the Burton Group in the United Kingdom.

Mr Ho joined the Board in 1998.  He was previously engaged in private law practice in  
San Francisco and is currently engaged in the broadcasting and multi-media industries.   
Mr Ho is also chairman of Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Company and president  
of Hong Kong Red Cross.

Mr Keswick joined the Board in 2012.  Having joined Jardine Matheson in 2001, he was 
appointed to the Jardine Matheson board in 2007 and was deputy managing director from 
2012 to 2016.  Mr Keswick is a director of Hongkong Land, Jardine Strategic and Mandarin 
Oriental.  He is also a director of Ferrari NV and Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum and vice 
chairman of the supervisory board of Rothschild & Co.

* Executive Director

50

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Dr Delman Lee

Dr Lee joined the Board in 2018.  He is currently the vice chairman of TAL Apparel,  
an independent non-executive director of The Bank of East Asia and a director of Tradelink 
Electronic Commerce.  He is also a council member of The Hong Kong Management Association.

Anthony Nightingale

Y.K. Pang

Clive Schlee

Percy Weatherall

Mr Nightingale joined the Board in 2006 and was Managing Director of the Company from 
2006 to 2012.  He is also a director of Hongkong Land, Jardine Cycle & Carriage, Jardine 
Matheson, Jardine Strategic, Mandarin Oriental, Prudential, Shui On Land and Vitasoy, and  
a commissioner of Astra.  He is chairperson of The Sailors Home and Missions to Seafarers  
in Hong Kong.

Mr Pang joined the Board in 2016.  He is deputy managing director and chairman of Hong 
Kong of Jardine Matheson, and chairman of Jardine Pacific.  He previously held a number of 
senior executive positions in the Jardine Matheson group, which he joined in 1984, including 
chief executive of Hongkong Land between 2007 and 2016.  Mr Pang is also deputy chairman 
of Jardine Matheson Limited, and a director of Gammon, Hongkong Land, Jardine Matheson 
(China), Jardine Strategic, Mandarin Oriental and Greatview.  He is chairman of the Hong Kong 
Tourism Board, deputy chairman of the Hong Kong Management Association, a member of 
the Council and General Committee of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and 
the Employers’ Federation of Hong Kong.

Mr Schlee joined the Board in May 2020.  He has extensive experience in the retail food 
industry.  Mr Schlee joined the Jardine Matheson Group in 1980 where he held a number of 
senior executive positions and led Jardine Pacific’s restaurant businesses.  He co-founded Itsu 
in 1997 before joining Pret A Manger as CEO in 2003.  Mr Schlee retired as Pret’s CEO in 2019 
and remains a director and an owner of Itsu.

Mr Weatherall joined the Board in 2000 and was Managing Director from 2000 to 2006.   
He first joined the Jardine Matheson group in 1976 and retired from executive office in 2006.  
He is also a director of Hongkong Land, Jardine Matheson, Jardine Strategic and Mandarin 
Oriental.  He is chairman of Corney & Barrow and the Nith District Salmon Fishery Board.

51

Our Leadership

Ian McLeod
Group Chief Executive

Chris Bush
Chief Executive Officer –  
South East Asia Food

Choo Peng Chee
Chief Executive Officer –  
North Asia & Group  
Convenience

Clem Constantine
Chief Financial Officer

Ian was named Group Chief Executive of Dairy Farm in September 2017, having spent  
the previous two years as CEO of Southeastern Grocers, the fifth largest supermarket chain  
in the United States.  With over 30 years retail experience, Ian began his career with Asda 
(subsequently Wal-Mart) in 1981, where he spent 20 years working in the United Kingdom  
and Germany.  Following this, he moved to Halfords where he became CEO in 2005.  In 2008, 
he moved to Australia as Managing Director of Coles, overseeing 2,200 outlets and 100,000 
employees.  Whilst there he oversaw fundamental improvements in product quality and  
value as well as customer service.  This resulted in Coles producing substantial increases in 
both turnover and profits, as well as significant market outperformance.

Ian attended the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program in 1999 and  
was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in his native Scotland in 2010 for services to Business  
and Retail.

Chris Bush was appointed CEO – South East Asia Food in August 2019.

Chris is a highly experienced senior food retailer with an impressive track record in leadership 
roles in Tesco for over 30 years, including CEO roles in Malaysia, Thailand, Korea and the U.K.  
After a period of time in a consultancy role for a major retailer in the United States, Chris joined 
Dairy Farm in 2018 to lead the transformation of the food business in Indonesia.

Chris has Business background and executive training from Manchester Business school in 
United Kingdom.

Choo was appointed Chief Executive Officer – North Asia & Group Convenience in May 2018, 
covering all food retail operations (grocery retail and convenience stores) in Hong Kong, 
Macau, China and Taiwan, also the convenience format in Singapore.

He joined Dairy Farm in 2000 and was the Chief Executive Officer of Cold Storage, Market Place 
and Shop N Save in Singapore from 2005 to 2009.  He subsequently served as the Chief Executive 
Officer for Wellcome Hong Kong from 2010, and was appointed as the Regional Director,  
North Asia (Food) in 2013.

Choo brings with him more than 35 years of retail experience to this role and has an MBA in 
Retailing from the University of Stirling, Scotland.

Mr Constantine took up the position of Chief Financial Officer in November 2019, having 
joined the Dairy Farm leadership team as Group Property Director in September 2018.   
He is a Chartered Accountant with extensive experience of senior finance and property roles  
in the retail sector.  He has previously held finance, international and property directorships 
with Marks and Spencer, the Arcadia Group, Debenhams and the Burton Group in the  
United Kingdom.

52

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Sam Kim
Chief Executive Officer –  
Health & Beauty and  
Chief Marketing & Business 
Development Officer

Sam was appointed Chief Executive Officer – Health & Beauty and Chief Marketing & Business 
Development Officer in August 2019.

Sam joined Dairy Farm as Chief Executive Officer – Southeast Asia Division in April 2018.   
Prior to joining Dairy Farm, he was the Chief Executive Officer at Home plus (formerly Tesco)  
in South Korea where he launched the “Minus is Plus” campaign leading to a transformation  
of the corporate culture, improving organisational capabilities and eventually, performance  
of the business.

Before that, Sam spent 30 years at P&G, where he was one of the top Asian executives having 
assumed many senior leadership positions including Regional Head for P&G ASEAN and Asia 
Development Markets from 2008 to 2015.  He personally helped start up P&G Korea in 1989, 
and later also served as the President of P&G Korea from 2003 to 2008.

Sam has dual degrees in Political Science and Management from Wharton School, University  
of Pennsylvania, where he also serves currently on the Board of Advisors for Penn’s Huntsman 
Program.  He is also an advisor to the Asian Alumni Council of Phillips Academy, Andover, and  
a member of the Andover Development Board.

Martin Lindström
Group Director – IKEA

Martin was appointed Group Director – IKEA in January 2013 with responsibilities for the Group’s 
IKEA operations in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Indonesia.  Prior to that, he was General Manager  
of IKEA Taiwan in 2007 and subsequently CEO of the Dairy Farm IKEA business in 2010.

Martin has more than 20 years’ experience in a variety of senior positions with the IKEA 
business in Europe, Eastern Europe and more than a decade in the Asia Pacific region.

Judith Nelson
Group Human Resources 
Director

Judith joined Dairy Farm as the Group Human Resources Director in July 2018.

Judith is an experienced HR leader who has led significant transformation and change across 
the UK and various international markets.  More recently she has been a director and consultant 
to a number of businesses, including the e-commerce delivery enterprise, Deliveroo.

Marcus Spurrell
Chief Digital Officer

Prior to this, Judith built a remarkable career with Tesco where she started as a trainee and 
ultimately led the people function for their international business comprising 12 markets 
across Asia and Europe, before her appointment as HR Director for Tesco UK where she 
transformed the function, built HR capabilities across Tesco, and created a people strategy  
and people operating model that delivered on the business’ long-term plan.

Marcus joined Dairy Farm as the Chief Digital Officer in October 2018.

Marcus has over 25 years direct management experience in this field, having held a number  
of positions working in a digital environment from website development, e-commerce data 
analytics to personalised customer communication.  Prior to joining Dairy Farm, he was the 
Senior Vice President for Digital, Loyalty and e-commerce at Ahold Delhaize Group where  
he led a transformation of its loyalty programmes that delivered strong business results.   
Marcus previously held several Digital and e-commerce leadership roles for Adidas Group 
across Asia Pacific, USA, and Europe.

Marcus has a joint honours degree in Japanese and Economics from SOAS London University, 
and have lived in Asia for 13 years.

Charlie Wood
Group Counsel

Charlie was appointed Group Counsel in January 2007.  He was initially recruited in September 
1999 to set up a legal department for Dairy Farm in Hong Kong, and subsequently became 
responsible for the legal affairs of Dairy Farm in North Asia before assuming his current role.

Charlie qualified as a solicitor in England and worked in private practice in London for three 
years before moving to Vietnam in 1995 to work for an international law firm.

53

Consolidated Profit and Loss Account

for the year ended 31st December 2020

Underlying 
business 
performance

Note

US$m

2020

Non- 
trading  
items

US$m

Total

US$m

10,268.5

(7,077.7)

3,190.8

355.4

–

–

–

75.2

10,268.5

(7,077.7)

3,190.8

430.6

Underlying 
business 
performance

US$m

11,192.3

(7,658.5)

3,533.8

189.8

2019

Non- 
trading  
items

US$m

–

–

–

19.3

Total

US$m

11,192.3

(7,658.5)

3,533.8

209.1

(2,575.8)

–

(2,575.8)

(2,700.7)

–

(2,700.7)

(558.8)

411.6

(145.1)

2.4

(142.7)

76.0

344.9

(74.2)

270.7

275.7

(5.0)

270.7

US¢

20.38

20.37

(98.7)

(23.5)

–

–

–

8.9

(14.6)

0.4

(14.2)

(4.7)

(9.5)

(14.2)

(657.5)

388.1

(145.1)

2.4

(142.7)

84.9

330.3

(73.8)

256.5

271.0

(14.5)

256.5

US¢

20.03

20.03

(586.4)

436.5

(164.9)

6.7

(158.2)

114.9

393.2

(69.5)

323.7

320.9

2.8

323.7

US¢

23.72

23.71

(30.2)

(10.9)

–

–

–

11.4

0.5

0.8

1.3

2.9

(1.6)

1.3

(616.6)

425.6

(164.9) 

6.7

(158.2)

126.3

393.7

(68.7)

325.0

323.8

1.2

325.0

US¢

23.93

23.92

2

3

4

5

6

Sales

Cost of sales

Gross margin

Other operating income

Selling and  
  distribution costs

Administration and  
  other operating  
  expenses

Operating profit

Financing charges

Financing income

Net financing charges

Share of results of  
  associates and  
joint ventures

Profit before tax

Tax

Profit after tax

Attributable to:

Shareholders of  
the Company

Non-controlling interests

Earnings per share

7

– basic

– diluted

54

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

 
 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 

for the year ended 31st December 2020

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss:

Remeasurements of defined benefit plans

Tax relating to items that will not be reclassified

Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Net exchange translation differences

– net gain arising during the year

– transfer to profit and loss

Cash flow hedges

– net loss arising during the year

– transfer to profit and loss

Tax relating to items that may be reclassified

Share of other comprehensive income of associates and joint ventures

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to:

Shareholders of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Note

22

2020

US$m

256.5

16.3

(2.7)

13.6

2.2

15.8

109.4

(16.9)

92.5

(11.6)

2.8

(8.8)

1.8

0.5

86.0

101.8

358.3

373.9

(15.6)

358.3

2019

US$m

325.0

15.9

(2.4)

13.5

0.7

14.2

25.5

3.4

28.9

(2.6)

(5.5)

(8.1)

1.6

2.8

25.2

39.4

364.4

362.1

2.3

364.4

55

Consolidated Balance Sheet

at 31st December 2020

Net operating assets

Intangible assets

Tangible assets

Right-of-use assets

Associates and joint ventures

Other investments

Non-current debtors

Deferred tax assets

Non-current assets

Stocks

Current debtors

Current tax assets

Cash and bank balances

Non-current assets held for sale

Current assets

Current creditors

Current borrowings

Current lease liabilities

Current tax liabilities

Current provisions

Current liabilities

Net current liabilities

Long-term borrowings

Non-current lease liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Pension liabilities

Non-current creditors

Non-current provisions

Non-current liabilities

56

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Note

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

14

16

17

18

19

20

21

19

20

15

22

18

21

2020

US$m

420.6

771.9

2,872.1

2,256.5

6.0

114.8

15.5

2019

US$m

589.2

820.2

3,186.3

2,101.9

6.8

142.4

18.2

6,457.4

6,865.0

778.7

303.6

28.0

277.6

1,387.9

55.2

1,443.1

896.1

281.3

26.1

301.4

1,504.9

–

1,504.9

(2,060.5)

(2,315.4)

(852.0)

(684.1)

(84.7)

(43.8)

(938.2)

(728.3)

(126.5)

(56.0)

(3,725.1)

(4,164.4)

(2,282.0)

(2,659.5)

(242.3)

(2,386.3)

(44.3)

(13.4)

(43.2)

(110.0)

(2,839.5)

1,335.9

(184.0)

(2,577.5)

(34.9)

(31.3)

(13.2)

(125.1)

(2,966.0)

1,239.5

Note

23

25

2020

US$m

75.1

59.6

1,187.6

1,322.3

13.6

1,335.9

2019

US$m

75.1

59.2

1,074.9

1,209.2

30.3

1,239.5

Total equity

Share capital

Share premium and capital reserves

Revenue and other reserves

Shareholders’ funds

Non-controlling interests

Approved by the Board of Directors

Ian McLeod
Clem Constantine
Directors

11th March 2021

57

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the year ended 31st December 2020

Share 
premium

Capital 
reserves

Attributable 
to 
shareholders 
of the 
Company

Attributable 
to non-
controlling 
interests

Revenue  
and other 
reserves

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

Share  
capital

US$m

Total  
equity

US$m

75.1

34.1

25.1

1,074.9

1,209.2

30.3

1,239.5

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.2

–

–

(0.8)

25.5

373.9

373.9

(15.6)

358.3

(263.8)

(263.8)

0.5

–

0.5

1.2

–

–

–

(263.8)

0.5

1.2

(0.8)

(0.8)

(1.1)

(1.9)

2.1

0.8

2.1

–

–

–

2.1

–

1,187.6

1,322.3

13.6

1,335.9

75.1

33.9

24.4

993.0

1,126.4

35.5

1,161.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

34.1

–

–

–

0.9

–

–

(0.2)

25.1

362.1

362.1

2.3

364.4

(284.0)

(284.0)

0.1

–

0.8

2.9

–

0.1

0.9

0.8

2.9

–

–

–

–

(284.0)

0.1

0.9

(7.5)

(6.7)

–

–

2.9

–

1,074.9

1,209.2

30.3

1,239.5

2020

At 1st January

Total comprehensive  

income

Dividends paid by  
the Company

Unclaimed dividends  

forfeited

Share-based long-term  

incentive plans

Change in interest  
in a subsidiary

Change in interests  
in associates and  
joint ventures

Transfer

2019

At 1st January

Total comprehensive  

income

Dividends paid by  
the Company

Unclaimed dividends  

forfeited

Share-based long-term  

incentive plans

Change in interests  
in subsidiaries

Change in interests  
in associates and  
joint ventures

Transfer

At 31st December

75.1

34.1

At 31st December

75.1

Revenue and other reserves at 31st December 2020 comprised revenue reserves of US$1,417.5 million (2019: US$1,388.5 million), 
hedging reserves of US$9.4 million loss (2019: US$0.7 million gain) and exchange reserves of US$220.5 million loss (2019:  
US$314.3 million loss).

58

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

for the year ended 31st December 2020

Operating activities

Operating profit

Depreciation and amortisation

Other non-cash items

Increase in working capital

Interest received

Interest and other financing charges paid

Tax paid

Dividends from associates and joint ventures

Cash flows from operating activities

Investing activities

Purchase of subsidiaries

Purchase of associates and joint ventures

Purchase of intangible assets

Purchase of tangible assets

Additions to right-of-use assets

Sale of subsidiaries

Sale of a property

Sale of tangible assets

Cash flows from investing activities

Financing activities

Change in interest in a subsidiary

Drawdown of borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Net decrease in other short-term borrowings

Principal elements of lease payments

Dividends paid by the Company

Cash flows from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at 1st January

Effect of exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at 31st December

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

388.1

983.4

(16.6)

(102.1)

3.5

(146.3)

(110.4)

999.6

67.6

1,067.2

(21.4)

(18.3)

(20.7)

(227.2)

–

193.1

2.8

5.3

425.6

1,002.2

33.2

(76.7)

7.1

(166.7)

(25.1)

1,199.6

88.5

1,288.1

(2.6)

(3.8)

(53.2)

(233.3)

(18.4)

–

22.6

5.7

(86.4)

(283.0)

(1.9)

1,115.9

(918.5)

(268.1)

(706.5)

(263.8)

(6.7)

1,778.4

(1,662.6)

(42.4)

(790.3)

(284.0)

(1,042.9)

(1,007.6)

(62.1)

288.3

8.0

234.2

(2.5)

284.5

6.3

288.3

Note

3

29(a)

29(b)

29(c)

29(d)

29(e)

29(f )

29(g)

29(h)

19

19

19

26

29(j)

59

Notes to the Financial Statements

1.  Basis of Preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’), including 
International Accounting Standards (‘IAS’) and Interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board.  Having 
considered the impact arising from COVID-19 pandemic and the current economic environment on the Group’s performance and 
cash flows, the Directors believe that the Group has strong liquidity to run the business during the pandemic and beyond and 
accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention except 
as disclosed in the accounting policies.

Details of the Group’s principal accounting policies are included in note 36.

The Group has elected to early adopt the ‘Interest Rate Benchmark Reform  – Phase 1: Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7’ 
(effective 1st January 2020) in relation to hedge accounting for the Group’s annual reporting period commencing 1st January 2019.

The Group has adopted the following changes in relation to rent concessions for the annual reporting period commencing  
1st January 2020.

COVID-19 Related Rent Concessions: Amendment to IFRS 16 Leases 
The Group has early adopted the Amendment, which is effective 1st June 2020.  Where the Group is a lessee, the practical expedient 
is applied to account for the change in lease payments resulting from rent concessions granted as a direct consequence of the 
COVID-19 pandemic and elects not to assess these concessions as lease modifications when all of the following conditions are met:

(i) 

(ii) 
(iii) 

the revised lease payments are substantially the same as, or less than, the consideration for the lease immediately preceding 
the change;
reduction in lease payments relates to payment due on or before 30th June 2021; and
there is no substantive change to the other terms and conditions of the lease.

Rent concessions fulfilling the above conditions are recognised in the profit and loss over the period in which they cover.

Apart from the above, there are no other amendments which are effective in 2020 and relevant to the Group’s operations, that have 
a significant impact on the Group’s results, financial position and accounting policies.

The Group has not early adopted any other standards, interpretations or amendments that have been issued but not yet effective 
(note 37).

The principal operating subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures have different functional currencies in line with the economic 
environments of the locations in which they operate.  The functional currency of the Company is United States dollars.  The 
consolidated financial statements are presented in United States dollars.

The Group’s reportable segments are set out in notes 2, 3 and 5 and are described on page 61.

60

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

2.  Sales

Analysis by operating segment:

Food

– Grocery retail

– Convenience stores

Health and Beauty

Home Furnishings

Restaurants

Other Retailing

Including associates  
and joint ventures

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

22,106.2

19,900.5

2,205.7

2,400.8

831.6

2,064.2

756.3

19,907.3

17,603.4

2,303.9

3,400.8

765.7

2,701.2

890.0

Subsidiaries

2020

US$m

7,447.2

5,347.5

2,099.7

1,989.7

831.6

–

–

2019

US$m

7,375.6

5,190.2

2,185.4

3,051.0

765.7

–

–

28,159.1

27,665.0

10,268.5

11,192.3

Sales including associates and joint ventures comprise 100% of sales from associates and joint ventures.

Operating segments are identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly reviewed by 
the Board for the purpose of resource allocation and performance assessment.  Dairy Farm operates in five segments: Food, Health 
and Beauty, Home Furnishings, Restaurants and Other Retailing.  Food comprises grocery retail and convenience store businesses 
(including the Group’s associate, Yonghui, a leading grocery retailer in mainland China).  Health and Beauty comprises the health 
and beauty businesses.  Home Furnishings is the Group’s IKEA businesses.  Restaurants is the Group’s food and beverage associate, 
Maxim’s, a leading Hong Kong restaurant chain.  Other Retailing represents the department stores, specialty and Do-It-Yourself (‘DIY’) 
stores of the Group’s Philippines associate, Robinsons Retail.

Sales and share of results of Yonghui represent 12 months from October 2019 to September 2020 (2019: October 2018 to  
September 2019) and that of Robinsons Retail represent 12 months from October 2019 to September 2020 (2019: 11 months  
from date of acquisition, November 2018 to September 2019), based on their latest published announcements (note 5).

Set out below is an analysis of the Group’s sales by geographical locations:

Analysis by geographical area:

North Asia

Southeast Asia

Including associates  
and joint ventures

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

Subsidiaries

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

21,122.6

7,036.5

28,159.1

20,560.3

7,104.7

27,665.0

6,802.9

3,465.6

7,339.5

3,852.8

10,268.5

11,192.3

The geographical areas covering North Asia and Southeast Asia, are determined by the geographical location of customers.   
North Asia comprises Hong Kong, mainland China, Macau and Taiwan.  Southeast Asia comprises Singapore, Cambodia, the 
Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brunei.

61

3.  Operating Profit

Analysis by operating segment:

Food

– Grocery retail

– Convenience stores

Health and Beauty

Home Furnishings

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Underlying operating profit before IFRS 16*

IFRS 16 adjustment†

Underlying operating profit

Non-trading items:

– business restructuring costs

– impairment of intangible assets

– profit on sale of businesses

– (loss)/profit on sale of a property

– loss on reclassification of a joint venture as a subsidiary

– adjustment to deferred consideration for acquisition of a subsidiary

– fair value loss on equity investments

Set out below is an analysis of the Group’s underlying operating profit by geographical locations:

Analysis by geographical area:

North Asia

Southeast Asia

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Underlying operating profit before IFRS 16*

IFRS 16 adjustment†

Underlying operating profit

2020

US$m

324.2

267.4

56.8

65.7

70.5

460.4

(119.8)

340.6

71.0

411.6

(58.8)

(38.6)

75.2

(0.5)

–

–

(0.8)

388.1

2020

US$m

388.5

71.9

460.4

2019

US$m

145.1

63.1

82.0

295.5

42.7

483.3

(143.4)

339.9

96.6

436.5

(15.6)

–

–

15.7

(13.9)

3.6

(0.7)

425.6

2019

US$m

443.4

39.9

483.3

(119.8)

(143.4)

340.6

71.0

411.6

339.9

96.6

436.5

* Property lease payments and depreciation of reinstatement costs under the lease contracts were included in the Group’s analysis of operating and geographical segments’ results.
†  Represented the reversal of lease payments which were accounted for on a straight-line basis, adjusted by the lease contracts recognised under IFRS 16 ‘Leases’, primarily for the 

depreciation charge on right-of-use assets.

62

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements3.  Operating Profit continued

The following items have been (charged)/credited in arriving at operating profit:

Cost of stocks recognised as expense

Amortisation of intangible assets (note 9)

Depreciation of tangible assets (note 10)

Depreciation of right-of-use assets (note 11)

Impairment of intangible assets (note 9)

(Impairment)/reversal of impairment of tangible assets (note 10)

Impairment of right-of-use assets (note 11)

Write down of stocks

Reversal of write down of stocks

Employee benefit expense

– salaries and benefits in kind

– share options and share awards granted (note 25)

– defined benefit pension plans (note 22)

– defined contribution pension plans

Lease expense

– short-term leases

– variable lease payments

– sublease income

Auditors’ remuneration

– audit

– non-audit services

Concession and service income

Rental income from properties

Net foreign exchange (losses)/gains

Loss on sale of tangible and intangible assets

Gain on lease modification and termination

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

(7,021.4)

(7,617.6)

(34.2)

(160.1)

(789.1)

(49.5)

(23.7)

(47.6)

(16.3)

1.3

(27.1)

(160.2)

(814.9)

(20.7)

4.4

(1.9)

(5.7)

6.3

(1,106.9)

(1,131.9)

(1.2)

(23.3)

(41.2)

(2.0)

(37.7)

(49.8)

(1,172.6)

(1,221.4)

(51.2)

(23.8)

23.8

(51.2)

(4.7)

(1.0)

(5.7)

126.8

12.3

(4.0)

(7.7)

13.1

(47.3)

(51.3)

43.7

(54.9)

(4.9)

(1.9)

(6.8)

159.3

23.3

2.6

(3.4)

4.1

In relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Group had received government grants of US$138.7 million, the majority of which were 
in support of employee retention, and rent concessions of US$68.5 million for the year ended 31st December 2020.  These subsidies 
were accounted for as other operating income.

63

4.  Net Financing Charges

Interest expense

– bank loans and advances

– lease liabilities

– other loans

Commitment and other fees

Financing charges

Financing income

5.  Share of Results of Associates and Joint Ventures

Analysis by operating segment:

Food

– Grocery retail

– Convenience stores

Health and Beauty

Restaurants

Other Retailing

2020

US$m

(28.3)

(111.0)

(0.8)

(140.1)

(5.0)

(145.1)

2.4

(142.7)

2019

US$m

(41.8)

(119.2)

–

(161.0)

(3.9)

(164.9)

6.7

(158.2)

2020*

US$m

2019*

US$m

46.7

47.5

(0.8)

1.3

36.4

0.5

84.9

40.9

40.7

0.2

(1.4)

82.1

4.7

126.3

Share of results of associates and joint ventures included the following gains/(losses) from non-trading items (note 8):

Change in fair value of Yonghui’s equity investments

Change in fair value of Robinsons Retail’s equity investments

Net gains from divestment of an investment/partial divestment of a subsidiary by Yonghui

Net gain from divestment of a subsidiary by Robinsons Retail

2020*

US$m

2019*

US$m

0.6

0.3

7.8

0.2

8.9

(0.4)

–

11.8

–

11.4

Results are shown after tax and non-controlling interests in the associates and joint ventures.

In relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, included in share of results of associates and joint ventures were the Group’s share of the 
government grants of US$76.1 million, the majority of which were in support of employee retention, and rent concessions of 
US$28.6 million for the year ended 31st December 2020.

* Included Yonghui’s 12 months results from October 2019 to September 2020 (2019: October 2018 to September 2019) and Robinsons Retail’s 12 months results from October 2019 

to September 2020 (2019: 11 months results from November 2018 to September 2019) (note 2).

64

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements6.  Tax

Tax charged to profit and loss is analysed as follows:

Current tax

Deferred tax

Reconciliation between tax expense and tax at the applicable tax rate†:

Tax at applicable tax rate

Income not subject to tax

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Tax losses and temporary differences not recognised

Utilisation of previously unrecognised tax losses

(Under)/over provision in prior years

Withholding tax

Change in tax rate

Other

Tax relating to components of other comprehensive income is analysed as follows:

Remeasurements of defined benefit plans

Cash flow hedges

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

(64.4)

(9.4)

(73.8)

(36.1)

57.5

(20.6)

(39.7)

0.1

(2.5)

(13.8)

(1.3)

(17.4)

(73.8)

(2.7)

1.8

(0.9)

(76.7)

8.0

(68.7)

(42.5)

14.0

(26.8)

(7.4)

0.1

1.6

(10.2)

–

2.5

(68.7)

(2.4)

1.6

(0.8)

Share of tax charge of associates and joint ventures of US$9.9 million (2019: US$30.7 million) is included in share of results of 
associates and joint ventures.

†  The applicable tax rate for the year was 13.7% (2019: 16.3%) and represented the weighted average of the rates of taxation prevailing in the territories in which the Group 

operates.  The decrease in applicable tax rate was mainly attributable to a change in the geographic mix of the Group’s profit.

65

7.  Earnings per Share

Basic earnings per share are calculated on profit attributable to shareholders of US$271.0 million (2019: US$323.8 million), and  
on the weighted average number of 1,352.7 million (2019: 1,352.7 million) shares in issue during the year.

Diluted earnings per share are calculated on profit attributable to shareholders of US$271.0 million (2019: US$323.8 million),  
and on the weighted average number of 1,353.3 million (2019: 1,353.4 million) shares in issue after adjusting for 0.6 million  
(2019: 0.7 million) shares which are deemed to be issued for no consideration under the share-based long-term incentive plans 
based on the average share price during the year.

The weighted average number of shares is arrived at as follows:

Ordinary shares in millions

2020

2019

Weighted average number of shares for basic earnings per share calculation

1,352.7

1,352.7

Adjustment for shares deemed to be issued for no consideration under  

the share-based long-term incentive plans

Weighted average number of shares for diluted earnings per share calculation

0.6

1,353.3

0.7

1,353.4

Additional basic and diluted earnings per share are also calculated based on underlying profit attributable to shareholders.   
A reconciliation of earnings is set out below:

2020

Basic 
earnings 
per share

Diluted 
earnings 
per share

2019

Basic 
earnings  
per share

Diluted 
earnings  
per share

US$m

US¢

US¢

US$m

US¢

US¢

271.0

4.7

20.03

20.03

323.8

(2.9)

23.93

23.92

Profit attributable to  

shareholders

Non-trading items (note 8)

Underlying profit attributable  

to shareholders

275.7

20.38

20.37

320.9

23.72

23.71

66

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements 
 
 
8.  Non-trading Items

An analysis of non-trading items in operating profit and profit attributable to shareholders is set out below:

Business restructuring costs

– impairment of right-of-use assets

– (impairment)/reversal of impairment of tangible assets

– other

Impairment of intangible assets

Profit on sale of businesses

(Loss)/profit on sale of a property

Loss on reclassification of a joint venture as a subsidiary

Adjustment to deferred consideration for acquisition  
  of a subsidiary

Share of net gains from divestment of an investment/ 
  partial divestment of a subsidiary by Yonghui

Share of net gain from divestment of a subsidiary  
  by Robinsons Retail

Other

Operating profit

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

Profit attributable to 
shareholders

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

(30.5)

(18.8)

(9.5)

(58.8)

(38.6)

75.2

(0.5)

–

–

–

–

(0.8)

(23.5)

(1.9)

4.4

(18.1)

(15.6)

–

–

15.7

(13.9)

3.6

–

–

(0.7)

(10.9)

(27.2)

(16.7)

(7.0)

(50.9)

(36.6)

75.2

(0.5)

–

–

7.8

0.2

0.1

(4.7)

(1.9)

4.4

(15.7)

(13.2)

–

–

15.7

(13.9)

3.6

11.8

–

(1.1)

2.9

Following a store performance review of the Grocery Retail business in Indonesia in late 2020, certain non-performing stores have 
been identified for closure with restructuring costs of US$34.5 million recorded, comprising of impairments against certain tangible  
assets and right-of-use assets, rent compensation and the expected payments to employees.  Impairments of US$29.9 million were 
recorded against other tangible assets and right-of-use assets as a result of the review, whereby the carrying value of the assets were 
not supported by their value-in-use. 

In addition, certain balance of restructuring costs relating to the Group’s 2018 restructuring of its Southeast Asia Food business was 
included in other restructuring cost in 2020 and 2019.  There were also costs related to exit of some stores in mainland China in 2019.

Impairment of intangible assets related to the impairment of goodwill associated with PT Hero Supermarket Tbk (‘PT Hero’) after the 
impairment review (note 9).

Profit on sale of businesses in 2020 comprised US$97.2 million profit on disposal of 100% interest in Wellcome Taiwan Company 
Limited (‘Wellcome Taiwan’) to a third party in December and US$22.0 million loss on disposal of 100% interest in Rose Pharmacy, 
Inc. (‘Rose Pharmacy’) to a subsidiary of Robinsons Retail, in October (note 29(f )).

In 2019, the Group acquired the remaining 70% shareholding in Jutaria Gemilang Sdn. Bhd. (‘Jutaria’) which resulted in a loss on 
deemed disposal of US$9.5 million.  Following the acquisition, the Group disposed of its 30% economic interest to a third party  
at no consideration.  Together with the full impairment charge on the goodwill arising from acquisition of US$4.4 million, a loss  
on reclassification of a joint venture as a subsidiary of US$13.9 million was recorded (note 29(d)).

67

9. 

Intangible Assets

2020

Cost

Amortisation and impairment

Net book value at 1st January

Exchange differences

Additions

Disposal of subsidiaries

Disposals

Amortisation

Impairment charge

Net book value at 31st December

Cost

Amortisation and impairment

2019

Cost

Amortisation and impairment

Net book value at 1st January

Exchange differences

New subsidiary

Additions

Disposals

Amortisation

Impairment charge

Net book value at 31st December

Cost

Amortisation and impairment

Goodwill

Computer 
software

US$m

US$m

Other

US$m

Total

US$m

565.9

(121.3)

444.6

5.5

–

(104.1)

–

–

(38.6)

307.4

453.8

(146.4)

307.4

553.4

(115.5)

437.9

6.7

4.4

–

–

–

(4.4)

444.6

565.9

(121.3)

444.6

257.9

(121.2)

136.7

1.1

18.1

(1.0)

(0.3)

(33.0)

(10.9)

110.7

232.4

(121.7)

110.7

203.5

(80.0)

123.5

1.2

–

53.7

(0.2)

(25.2)

(16.3)

136.7

257.9

(121.2)

136.7

19.3

(11.4)

7.9

0.2

–

(4.4)

–

(1.2)

–

2.5

13.6

(11.1)

2.5

18.8

(9.2)

9.6

0.2

–

–

–

(1.9)

–

7.9

19.3

(11.4)

7.9

843.1

(253.9)

589.2

6.8

18.1

(109.5)

(0.3)

(34.2)

(49.5)

420.6

699.8

(279.2)

420.6

775.7

(204.7)

571.0

8.1

4.4

53.7

(0.2)

(27.1)

(20.7)

589.2

843.1

(253.9)

589.2

68

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements9. 

Intangible Assets continued

Goodwill is allocated to groups of cash-generating units (‘CGU’) identified by banners or group of stores acquired in each territory.  
The table below analyses the carrying value of goodwill by groups of CGU.

San Miu Macau

Rose Pharmacy, the Philippines

Giant Singapore

Other

Total

2020

US$m

181.9

–

43.5

82.0

307.4

2019

US$m

181.1

86.9

42.7

133.9

444.6

Management has assessed the recoverable amount of each CGU based on value-in-use calculations using cash flow projections 
based on approved budgets and projections based on the weighted average of remaining lease terms ranging from five to  
15 years.

Following the impairment review, goodwill relating to PT Hero amounted US$38.6 million was fully impaired and charged to  
the profit and loss during the year.  In 2019, goodwill arising from the acquisition of the remaining 70% shareholding in Jutaria 
amounted to US$4.4 million (note 29(d)) was fully impaired after the impairment review.

During the year, the Group disposed of its 100% interest in Rose Pharmacy to a subsidiary of Robinsons Retail (note 29(f )).

Key assumptions used for value-in-use calculations for the significant balances of goodwill in 2020 include budgeted gross margins 
between 22% and 26% (2019: 18% and 31%) and average sales growth rates are between 1.0% and 5.0% (2019: 1.0% and 2.7%) to 
project cash flows, which vary across the Group’s business segments and geographical locations, over the weighted average of 
remaining lease terms, and are based on management expectations for the market development; and pre-tax discount rates of 
between 5% and 12% (2019: 5% and 14%) applied to the cash flow projections.  The discount rates used reflect business specific  
risks relating to the relevant industry, business life-cycle and geographical location.  On the basis of this review, management 
concluded that no further impairment charge is required.

Other intangible assets comprise mainly trademarks.

The amortisation charges are all recognised in arriving at operating profit and are included in selling and distribution costs, and 
administration expenses.

The remaining amortisation periods for intangible assets are as follows:

Computer software

Trademarks

up to 7 years

up to 11 years

69

10. Tangible Assets

2020

Cost

Depreciation and impairment

Net book value at 1st January

Exchange differences

Additions

Disposal of subsidiaries

Disposals

Depreciation charge

(Impairment charge)/reversal of 

impairment charge

Reclassified to non-current assets
  held for sale

Net book value at 31st December

Cost

Depreciation and impairment

2019

Cost

Depreciation and impairment

Net book value at 1st January

Exchange differences

New subsidiary

Additions

Disposals

Depreciation charge

Reversal of impairment charge/ 

(impairment charge)

Net book value at 31st December

Cost

Depreciation and impairment

Buildings 
on 
leasehold 
land

Freehold 
properties

Leasehold 
improvements

Plant & 
machinery

Furniture, 
equipment 
& motor 
vehicles

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

Total

US$m

134.8

(28.2)

106.6

3.0

–

(10.8)

(3.4)

(1.3)

(1.6)

(35.4)

57.1

73.0

(15.9)

57.1

133.4

(26.4)

107.0

1.5

–

–

(0.5)

(1.4)

–

106.6

134.8

(28.2)

106.6

411.2

(227.3)

183.9

1.8

66.1

–

(1.6)

(6.9)

1.3

(7.2)

237.4

403.3

(165.9)

237.4

398.1

(226.7)

171.4

4.7

–

26.3

(17.8)

(8.0)

7.3

183.9

411.2

(227.3)

183.9

872.9

(617.9)

255.0

9.1

71.0

(10.1)

(1.6)

(65.4)

701.2

(502.6)

198.6

2.7

47.2

(7.0)

(8.1)

(64.4)

518.7

2,638.8

(442.6)

(1,818.6)

76.1

0.6

23.2

(3.2)

(0.8)

(22.1)

820.2

17.2

207.5

(31.1)

(15.5)

(160.1)

(4.0)

(2.1)

(17.3)

(23.7)

–

–

254.0

166.9

–

56.5

(42.6)

771.9

833.0

(579.0)

254.0

802.2

(595.1)

207.1

3.5

0.1

116.4

(5.0)

(64.6)

(2.5)

255.0

872.9

(617.9)

255.0

765.2

(598.3)

166.9

691.9

(497.3)

194.6

1.8

0.5

73.0

(7.5)

(63.4)

(0.4)

198.6

701.2

(502.6)

198.6

347.9

2,422.4

(291.4)

(1,650.5)

56.5

771.9

503.2

(426.7)

2,528.8

(1,772.2)

76.5

1.1

–

21.9

(0.6)

(22.8)

–

76.1

518.7

(442.6)

76.1

756.6

12.6

0.6

237.6

(31.4)

(160.2)

4.4

820.2

2,638.8

(1,818.6)

820.2

70

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements 
 
10. Tangible Assets continued

Rental income from properties amounted to US$12.3 million (2019: US$23.3 million) which had no contingent rents (2019: nil).

The maturity analysis of the undiscounted lease payments to be received after the balance sheet date is as follows:

Within one year

Between one and two years

Between two and five years

Beyond five years

2020

US$m

9.6

5.6

3.2

1.5

19.9

There were no tangible assets pledged as security for borrowings at 31st December 2020 and 2019.

11. Right-of-use Assets

2020

Net book value at 1st January

Exchange differences

Additions

Disposal of subsidiaries

Depreciation charge

Impairment charge

Reclassified to non-current assets held for sale

Other movements

Net book value at 31st December

Leasehold 
land

Properties

Furniture, 
equipment 
& other

US$m

US$m

US$m

196.1

(0.8)

–

–

(3.9)

(1.0)

(12.6)

–

2,988.1

54.8

195.3

(105.1)

(784.2)

(46.6)

–

390.7

177.8

2,693.0

2.1

0.1

0.3

–

(1.0)

–

–

(0.2)

1.3

2019

US$m

16.2

9.7

6.0

1.8

33.7

Total

US$m

3,186.3

54.1

195.6

(105.1)

(789.1)

(47.6)

(12.6)

390.5

2,872.1

71

11. Right-of-use Assets continued

2019

Net book value at 1st January

Exchange differences

New subsidiary

Additions

Depreciation charge

Impairment charge

Other movements

Net book value at 31st December

Leasehold 
land

Properties

Furniture, 
equipment 
& other

US$m

US$m

US$m

176.9

3,251.7

5.3

–

18.4

(4.0)

–

(0.5)

196.1

26.3

1.7

142.5

(809.6)

(1.9)

377.4

2,988.1

2.3

0.1

–

0.8

(1.3)

–

0.2

2.1

Total

US$m

3,430.9

31.7

1.7

161.7

(814.9)

(1.9)

377.1

3,186.3

Furniture, equipment and other comprise furniture, equipment, plant and machinery, motor vehicles and other.

Other movements comprise mainly the increase of right-of-use assets from the lease renewals for the existing store sites.

The typical lease terms associated with the right-of-use assets are as follows:

Leasehold land

Properties

Furniture, equipment & other

25 to 860 years

1 to 40 years

1 to 10 years

There was no leasehold land pledged as security for borrowings at 31st December 2020 and 2019.

12. Associates and Joint Ventures

2020

US$m

986.3

489.6

1,475.9

759.6

2,235.5

2019

US$m

928.1

466.7

1,394.8

701.9

2,096.7

21.0

5.2

2,256.5

2,101.9

Listed associates

Unlisted associate

Share of attributable net assets

Goodwill on acquisition

Unlisted joint ventures

72

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements12. Associates and Joint Ventures continued

Associates

Joint ventures

Movements of associates and joint ventures during the year:

At 1st January

Exchange differences

Share of results after tax and non-controlling interests

Share of other comprehensive income after tax  
  and non-controlling interests

Dividends received

Acquisition and capital injections

Reclassification of a joint venture as a subsidiary

Other

At 31st December

Fair value of listed associates

2020

US$m

2,096.7

114.2

87.4

2.7

(67.6)

–

–

2.1

2019

US$m

2,018.9

14.1

130.8

3.5

(88.5)

15.0

–

2.9

2,235.5

2,096.7

2,534.0

2,565.4

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

5.2

–

(2.5)

–

–

18.3

–

–

21.0

12.0

–

(4.5)

–

–

3.8

(6.1)

–

5.2

At 31st December 2020, the Group had 20% (2019: 20%) interest in Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc. (‘Robinsons Retail’), one of  
the largest retailers in the Philippines, listed on the Philippines Stock Exchange.  The fair value of the Group’s interest in Robinsons 
Retail was US$426.8 million (2019: US$497.7 million) and the carrying amount of the Group’s interest was US$650.4 million  
(2019: US$612.2 million) at 31st December 2020.

(a) Investment in associates
The material associates of the Group are listed below.  These associates have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares,  
which are held directly by the Group.  The country of incorporation is also their principal place of business, and the proportion  
of ownership interest is the same as the proportion of voting rights held.

Nature of investments in material associates in 2020 and 2019:

Name of entity

Nature of business

Country of incorporation/ 
  place of listing

Maxim’s Caterers Limited  

Restaurants

Hong Kong/Unlisted

(‘Maxim’s’)

% of ownership interest

2020

50

2019

50

Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd  

Grocery retail

Mainland China/Shanghai

20.10

19.99

(‘Yonghui’)

The Group’s interest in Yonghui held by the Group increased from 19.99% to 20.10% following the cancellation of shares after a share 
buy-back scheme by Yonghui in July 2020.

73

 
 
12. Associates and Joint Ventures continued

(a) Investment in associates continued
Summarised financial information for material associates

Summarised balance sheets at 31st December (unless otherwise indicated):

Non-current assets

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Other current assets

Total current assets

Non-current liabilities

Financial liabilities†

Other non-current liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Financial liabilities†

Other current liabilities

Total current liabilities

Non-controlling interests

Net assets

Maxim’s

Yonghui

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

2020*

US$m

2019*

US$m

2,762.6

2,848.0

7,276.8

7,074.7

219.6

238.8

458.4

235.9

234.7

470.6

1,651.0

2,854.8

4,505.8

870.1

2,555.0

3,425.1

(1,153.2)

(200.5)

(799.4)

(252.7)

(3,739.0)

(3,753.8)

(66.3)

(48.6)

(1,353.7)

(1,052.1)

(3,805.3)

(3,802.4)

(621.6)

(123.5)

(745.1)

(143.1)

979.1

(1,022.5)

(169.5)

(1,192.0)

(141.1)

933.4

(1,903.4)

(2,786.1)

(4,689.5)

(102.8)

3,185.0

(1,081.9)

(2,495.4)

(3,577.3)

(29.9)

3,090.2

* Based on unaudited summarised balance sheet at 30th September 2020 and 2019, adjusted by the effect of adopting IFRS 16.
†  Excluded trade and other payables and provisions, which are presented under other current and non-current liabilities.

74

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements12. Associates and Joint Ventures continued

(a) Investment in associates continued
Summarised financial information for material associates continued

Summarised statements of comprehensive income for the year ended 31st December (unless otherwise indicated):

Sales

Depreciation and amortisation

Interest income

Interest expense

Profit from underlying business performance

Income tax expense

Profit after tax from underlying business performance

Profit after tax from non-trading items

Profit after tax

Non-controlling interests

Profit after tax and non-controlling interests

Other comprehensive income/(expense)

Total comprehensive income

Dividends received from associates

Maxim’s

Yonghui

2020

US$m

2,064.2

(448.6)

1.8

(48.7)

69.1

2.6

71.7

–

71.7

1.0

72.7

20.9

93.6

25.8

2019

US$m

2,701.2

(431.2)

3.1

(40.2)

208.7

(38.0)

170.7

–

170.7

(6.5)

164.2

0.3

164.5

53.6

2020‡

US$m

2019‡

US$m

13,422.6

11,822.8

(573.0)

29.3

(230.7)

166.1

(34.8)

131.3

42.3

173.6

9.1

182.7

(0.6)

182.1

35.5

(387.7)

5.9

(223.2)

110.9

(28.4)

82.5

56.2

138.7

32.8

171.5

–

171.5

30.5

‡  Based on unaudited summarised statement of comprehensive income for the 12 months ended 30th September 2020 and 30th September 2019, adjusted by the effect of 

adopting IFRS 16.

The information contained in the summarised balance sheets and statements of comprehensive income reflect the amounts 
presented in the financial statements of the associates adjusted for differences in accounting policies between the Group and  
the associates, and fair value of the associates at the time of acquisition.

75

12. Associates and Joint Ventures continued

(a) Investment in associates continued
Reconciliation of the summarised financial information 

Reconciliation of the summarised financial information presented to the carrying amount of the Group’s interests in its material 
associates for the year ended 31st December:

Maxim’s

Yonghui

Total

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

Net assets

979.1

933.4

3,185.0*

3,090.2*

Interests in associates (%)

Group’s share of net assets in associates

Goodwill

Other reconciling items

Carrying value

50

489.6

–

–

50

466.7

–

–

20.10

640.2

427.0

28.3

19.99

617.7

386.7

13.4

1,129.8

1,084.4

427.0

28.3

386.7

13.4

489.6

466.7

1,095.5

1,017.8

1,585.1

1,484.5

Fair value

n/a

n/a

2,107.2

2,067.7

* Based on unaudited summarised balance sheet at 30th September 2020 and 2019, adjusted by the effect of adopting IFRS 16.

Contingent liabilities in respect of associates

There were no contingent liabilities relating to the Group’s interests in associates at 31st December 2020 and 2019.

(b) Investment in joint ventures
In the opinion of the Directors, none of the Group’s interests in unlisted joint ventures are considered material.

Commitments and contingent liabilities in respect of joint ventures

There were no commitments and contingent liabilities relating to the Group’s interests in joint ventures at 31st December 2020  
and 2019.

13. Other Investments

Movements during the year:

At 1st January

Exchange differences

Change in fair value recognised in profit and loss

At 31st December

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

6.8

–

(0.8)

6.0

7.4

0.1

(0.7)

6.8

Other investments are unlisted non-current equity investments measured at fair value through profit and loss.  The fair value is 
based on observable current market transactions.

76

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements14. Debtors

Trade debtors

Third parties

Joint ventures

Less: provision for impairment

Other debtors

Third parties

Less: provision for impairment

Non-current

Current

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

86.2

0.1

86.3

(8.5)

77.8

345.0

(4.4)

340.6

418.4

114.8

303.6

418.4

95.8

0.2

96.0

(7.4)

88.6

337.6

(2.5)

335.1

423.7

142.4

281.3

423.7

Trade and other debtors, other than derivative financial instruments, are stated at amortised cost.  The fair values of these debtors 
approximate their carrying amounts.  Derivative financial instruments are stated at fair value.

Other debtors are further analysed as follows:

Derivative financial instruments

Rental and other deposits

Other receivables

Financial assets

Prepayments

Other

2020

US$m

1.2

164.3

21.1

186.6

53.9

100.1

340.6

2019

US$m

0.3

176.9

14.8

192.0

50.6

92.5

335.1

Trade and other debtors
Sales to customers are mainly made in cash or by major credit cards.  The average credit period on sale of goods and services varies 
among Group businesses and is normally not more than 30 days.  The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying 
amount of trade debtors after deducting the impairment allowance.

Significant financial difficulties of the debtor, probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganisation, and default 
or delinquency in payment are considered indicators that the debtor is impaired.  An allowance for impairment of trade and other 
debtors is made based on the estimated irrecoverable amount.

77

14. Debtors continued

Impairment of trade and other debtors
At 31st December 2020, trade debtors of US$8.5 million (2019: US$7.4 million) were impaired, which have been fully provided for in 
both years.  The ageing analysis of these debtors is as follows:

Below 30 days

Between 31 and 60 days

Between 61 and 90 days

Over 90 days

Trade debtors

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

2.6

–

–

5.9

8.5

–

–

–

7.4

7.4

The Group has assessed the expected impairment of other debtors, including rental and other deposits, based on the likelihood of 
collection of the balances at the time at which they are due.  As 31st December 2020 and 2019, total amounts deemed uncollectible 
were immaterial.

Movements in the provisions for impairment are as follows:

At 1st January

Exchange differences

Additional provisions

Unused amounts reversed

Amounts written off

At 31st December

Trade debtors

Other debtors

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

(7.4)

(0.1)

(2.3)

1.3

–

(8.5)

(2.5)

(0.1)

(4.9)

–

0.1

(7.4)

(2.5)

(0.1)

(3.8)

1.0

1.0

(4.4)

(2.0)

–

(1.7)

0.3

0.9

(2.5)

There were no debtors pledged as security for borrowings at 31st December 2020 and 2019.

78

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements15. Deferred Tax Assets/(Liabilities)

2020

At 1st January

Exchange differences

(Charged)/credited to profit and loss

Credited/(charged) to other 
  comprehensive income

Disposal of subsidiaries

At 31st December

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

2019

At 1st January

Exchange differences

Credited/(charged) to profit and loss

Credited/(charged) to other  
  comprehensive income

Other movements

At 31st December

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation

Fair value 
gains/ 
(losses)

Employee 
benefits

Provisions 
and other 
temporary 
differences

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

(13.3)

0.3

(15.4)

–

(2.6)

(31.0)

8.7

(39.7)

(31.0)

(20.8)

(0.3)

7.8

–

–

(13.3)

10.3

(23.6)

(13.3)

(1.5)

0.1

–

1.8

–

0.4

2.3

(1.9)

0.4

(2.9)

(0.2)

–

1.6

–

(1.5)

0.5

(2.0)

(1.5)

7.4

0.1

0.9

(2.7)

(2.0)

3.7

0.5

3.2

3.7

9.4

0.1

0.3

(2.4)

–

7.4

2.4

5.0

7.4

(9.3)

0.3

5.1

–

2.0

(1.9)

4.0

(5.9)

(1.9)

5.3

0.5

(0.1)

–

(15.0)

(9.3)

5.0

(14.3)

(9.3)

Total

US$m

(16.7)

0.8

(9.4)

(0.9)

(2.6)

(28.8)

15.5

(44.3)

(28.8)

(9.0)

0.1

8.0

(0.8)

(15.0)

(16.7)

18.2

(34.9)

(16.7)

79

15. Deferred Tax Assets/(Liabilities) continued

Deferred tax balances predominantly comprise non-current items.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are netted when the taxes 
relate to the same taxation authority and where offsetting is allowed.

Deferred tax assets of US$75.7 million (2019: US$46.3 million) arising from unused tax losses of US$328.2 million (2019: US$192.1 million) 
have not been recognised in the financial statements.  Included in the unused tax losses, US$22.1 million have no expiry date and 
the balance will expire at various dates up to and including 2030. 

At 31st December 2020, no deferred tax liabilities arising on temporary differences associated with investment in subsidiaries  
had been recognised as there were no undistributed earnings of these subsidiaries.  At 31st December 2019, deferred tax liabilities 
of US$1.8 million arising on temporary differences associated with investment in subsidiaries of US$18.4 million had not been 
recognised as there was no intention of remitting the retained earnings of these subsidiaries to the holding companies in  
the foreseeable future.

16. Cash and Bank Balances

Deposits with banks

Bank balances

Cash balances

Analysis by currency:

Australian dollar

Chinese renminbi

Hong Kong dollar

Indonesian rupiah

Macau patacas

Malaysian ringgit

New Taiwan dollar

Philippine peso

Singapore dollar

United States dollar

Other

2020

US$m

89.7

81.0

106.9

277.6

–

14.8

87.9

19.3

40.4

8.5

76.0

0.6

13.4

11.5

5.2

2019

US$m

72.2

113.9

115.3

301.4

2.9

25.8

87.0

15.2

30.9

18.5

36.2

8.2

16.3

57.5

2.9

277.6

301.4

The weighted average interest rate on deposits with banks at 31st December 2020 was 0.4% (2019: 2.2%) per annum.

17. Non-current Assets Held for Sale

At 31st December 2020, the non-current assets held for sale represented six retail properties in Malaysia and three properties  
in Taiwan.  The sale of these properties is highly probable in 2021 at amounts not materially different from their carrying values.

80

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements18. Creditors

Trade creditors

– third parties

– associates

Accruals

Rental and other refundable deposits

Deferred consideration for acquisition of a subsidiary

Derivative financial instruments

Other creditors

Financial liabilities

Contract liabilities

Rental income received in advance

Other

Non-current

Current

2020

US$m

1,174.9

2.5

1,177.4

707.0

28.9

–

13.0

12.4

1,938.7

160.4

0.6

4.0

2019

US$m

1,394.0

2.4

1,396.4

727.1

27.8

21.4

4.0

15.0

2,191.7

136.0

0.9

–

2,103.7

2,328.6

43.2

2,060.5

2,103.7

13.2

2,315.4

2,328.6

Derivative financial instruments are stated at fair value.  Other creditors are stated at amortised cost.  The fair values of these creditors 
approximate their carrying amounts.

Contract liabilities principally include payments received in advance from customers for sale of unredeemed gift vouchers and 
loyalty points.

During the year, sales recognised related to carried-forwarded contract liabilities amounted to US$134.3 million (2019: US$94.7 million).  

19. Borrowings

Current

– bank overdrafts

– other bank advances

Current portion of long-term borrowings

– bank loans

– other loans

Long-term borrowings

– bank loans

– other loans

2020

US$m

43.4

568.1

611.5

213.0

27.5

240.5

214.7

27.6

242.3

1,094.3

2019

US$m

13.1

925.1

938.2

–

–

–

184.0

–

184.0

1,122.2

81

19. Borrowings continued

All borrowings are unsecured.  The fair values of bank borrowings are not materially different from their carrying amounts.

Other loans represented the balance drawn from the interest-free facility.  In 2020, an interest-free loan facility amounted to  
US$75.7 million was offered by the Singapore government via Singapore Economic Development Board to the Group in response  
to the COVID-19 pandemic with the aim to ensure sufficient supply of essential food commodities and confidence markers as and 
when required by the government for the nation’s consumption within an agreed time frame. 

The Group’s borrowings are further summarised as follows:

Fixed rate borrowings

Weighted 
average 
interest 
rates

Weighted 
average 
period 
outstanding

Floating 
rate 
borrowings

Other 
borrowings

%

4.4

1.0

6.9

2.9

1.3

–

0.7

4.4

4.0

4.1

2.1

3.9

2.5

Year

US$m

US$m

US$m

–

–

–

–

–

–

0.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

100.0

100.0

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

46.8

365.3

38.2

212.0

64.1

–

212.8

939.2

14.3

536.4

192.3

10.7

4.0

364.5

1,122.2

–

–

–

–

–

55.1

–

55.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total

US$m

46.8

365.3

38.2

212.0

64.1

55.1

312.8

1,094.3

14.3

536.4

192.3

10.7

4.0

364.5

1,122.2

By currency

2020

Chinese renminbi

Hong Kong dollar

Indonesia rupiah

Malaysian ringgit

New Taiwan dollar

Singapore dollar

United States dollar

2019

Chinese renminbi

Hong Kong dollar

Malaysian ringgit

New Taiwan dollar

Philippine peso

United States dollar

The weighted average interest rates and period of fixed rate borrowings were stated after taking into account hedging transactions.

82

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements19. Borrowings continued

The exposure of the Group’s borrowings to interest rate changes and the contractual repricing dates at 31st December after taking 
into account hedging transactions is as follows:

Floating rate borrowings

Fixed rate borrowings

– within one year

The movements in borrowings are as follows:

2020

At 1st January

Exchange differences

Transfer

Change in fair value

Change in bank overdrafts

Drawdown of borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Net decrease in other short-term borrowings

At 31st December

2019

At 1st January

Exchange differences

Change in bank overdrafts

Drawdown of borrowings

Repayment of borrowings

Net decrease in other short-term borrowings

At 31st December

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

939.2

1,122.2

100.0

1,039.2

–

1,122.2

Total

US$m

1,122.2

16.5

–

(1.6)

27.9

184.0

4.3

(201.4)

(1.6)

–

257.0

1,115.9

–

–

(918.5)

(268.1)

242.3

1,094.3

14.5

0.3

–

308.7

(139.5)

–

184.0

1,040.2

7.1

1.5

1,778.4

(1,662.6)

(42.4)

1,122.2

Bank 
overdrafts

Short-term 
borrowings

Long-term 
borrowings

US$m

US$m

US$m

13.1

2.4

–

–

27.9

–

–

–

43.4

11.7

(0.1)

1.5

–

–

–

13.1

925.1

9.8

201.4

–

–

858.9

(918.5)

(268.1)

808.6

1,014.0

6.9

–

1,469.7

(1,523.1)

(42.4)

925.1

Net change in other short-term borrowings represents the aggregated net drawdown and repayment movement under the Group’s 
global liquidity cash pooling scheme, which is implemented for enhancing the daily cash flow management.

83

20. Lease Liabilities

At 1st January

Exchange differences

New subsidiaries

Additions

Disposal of subsidiaries

Lease payments

Interest expense

Other movements

At 31st December

Non-current

Current

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

3,305.8

3,552.6

62.9

–

191.6

(111.2)

(817.5)

111.0

327.8

29.7

1.8

139.3

–

(909.5)

119.2

372.7

3,070.4

3,305.8

2,386.3

684.1

3,070.4

2,577.5

728.3

3,305.8

Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contain a wide range of different terms and conditions.  The lease agreements 
do not impose any covenants other than the security interests in the leased assets that are held by the lessor.

The Group was not exposed to any residual guarantees in respect of the leases entered into at 31st December 2020 and 2019.

The Group has not entered into any material lease contracts which have not commenced at 31st December 2020 (2019:  
US$107.6 million).

84

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements21. Provisions

2020

At 1st January

Exchange differences

Additional provisions

Disposal of subsidiaries

Unused amounts reversed

Utilised

At 31st December

Non-current

Current

2019

At 1st January

Exchange differences

New subsidiary

Additional provisions

Unused amounts reversed

Utilised

At 31st December

Non-current

Current

Closure 
cost 
provisions

Reinstatement 
and 
restoration 
costs

US$m

US$m

28.5

(0.3)

14.2

(0.3)

(13.5)

(14.6)

14.0

0.1

13.9

14.0

65.3

1.2

–

10.6

(8.7)

(39.9)

28.5

0.3

28.2

28.5

152.6

1.4

4.2

(5.7)

(8.5)

(4.2)

139.8

109.9

29.9

139.8

153.6

1.4

0.1

5.4

(1.3)

(6.6)

152.6

124.8

27.8

152.6

Total

US$m

181.1

1.1

18.4

(6.0)

(22.0)

(18.8)

153.8

110.0

43.8

153.8

218.9

2.6

0.1

16.0

(10.0)

(46.5)

181.1

125.1

56.0

181.1

Closure cost provisions are established when legal or constructive obligations, and obligations from restructuring plans, arise from 
store closure or disposal of businesses. 

Provisions for reinstatement and restoration costs comprise the estimated costs, to be incurred by the Group as lessees, in 
dismantling and removing the underlying assets, restoring the sites on which they are located or restoring the underlying assets  
to the condition required by the terms and conditions of the leases.

85

22. Pension Plans

The Group operates defined benefit pension plans in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Taiwan and the Philippines, with the major plan in 
Hong Kong.  These plans are final salary defined benefits, calculated based on members’ lengths of service and their salaries in  
the final years leading up to retirement.  All pension benefits are paid in one lump sum.  With the exception of certain plans, all  
the defined benefit plans are closed to new members.  In addition, all plans are impacted by discount rate while liabilities are  
driven by salary growth.

The Group’s defined benefit plans are both funded and unfunded, with the assets of the funded plans held independently of  
the Group’s assets in separate trustee administered funds.  Plan assets held in trusts are governed by local regulations and practices 
in each country.  Responsibility for governance of the plans, including investment decisions and contribution schedules, lies jointly 
with the company and the boards of trustees.  The Group’s major plans are valued by independent actuaries annually using  
the projected unit credit method.

The amounts recognised in the consolidated balance sheet are as follows:

Fair value of plan assets

Present value of funded obligations

Present value of unfunded obligations

Net pension liabilities

Analysis of net pension liabilities:

Pension assets

Pension liabilities

2020

US$m

187.9

(194.7)

(6.8)

(6.6)

(13.4)

–

(13.4)

(13.4)

2019

US$m

183.2

(208.0)

(24.8)

(6.5)

(31.3)

–

(31.3)

(31.3)

86

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements22. Pension Plans continued

The movements in the net pension liabilities are as follows:

2020
At 1st January
Current service cost
Interest income/(expense)
Past service cost
Administration expenses

Exchange differences
Disposal of subsidiaries
Remeasurements
– return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest income
– change in financial assumptions
– experience gains

Contributions from employers
Contributions from plan participants
Benefit payments
Settlements
Transfer (to)/from other plans
At 31st December

2019
At 1st January
Current service cost
Interest income/(expense)
Past service cost
Administration expenses

Exchange differences
Remeasurements
– return on plan assets, excluding amounts included in interest income
– change in financial assumptions
– experience gains

Contributions from employers
Contributions from plan participants
Benefit payments
Settlements
Transfer (to)/from other plans
At 31st December

Fair value 
of plan 
assets

Present 
value of 
obligations

US$m

US$m

Total

US$m

183.2
–
5.3
–
(1.1)
4.2
187.4
1.4
(10.1)

13.1
–
–
13.1
12.4
0.1
(1.1)
(14.1)
(1.2)
187.9

169.3
–
5.7
–
(1.2)
4.5
173.8
1.2

15.8
–
–
15.8
17.9
0.1
(1.5)
(21.6)
(2.5)
183.2

(214.5)
(17.7)
(5.9)
(3.9)
–
(27.5)
(242.0)
(1.9)
18.3

–
(1.0)
4.2
3.2
–
(0.1)
1.4
18.6
1.2
(201.3)

(216.9)
(17.9)
(7.0)
(17.3)
–
(42.2)
(259.1)
(1.8)

–
(6.5)
6.6
0.1
–
(0.1)
3.0
40.9
2.5
(214.5)

(31.3)
(17.7)
(0.6)
(3.9)
(1.1)
(23.3)
(54.6)
(0.5)
8.2

13.1
(1.0)
4.2
16.3
12.4
–
0.3
4.5
–
(13.4)

(47.6)
(17.9)
(1.3)
(17.3)
(1.2)
(37.7)
(85.3)
(0.6)

15.8
(6.5)
6.6
15.9
17.9
–
1.5
19.3
–
(31.3)

87

22. Pension Plans continued

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligations at 31st December 2020 was 7.1 years (2019: 7.6 years).

Expected maturity analysis of undiscounted pension benefits at 31st December is as follows:

Within one year

Between one and two years

Between two and five years

Between five and ten years

Between ten and fifteen years

Between fifteen and twenty years

Beyond twenty years

2020

US$m

17.1

19.6

65.3

103.7

96.6

58.3

46.7

407.3

2019

US$m

17.1

18.8

70.9

123.9

116.7

89.2

125.3

561.9

The principal actuarial assumptions used for accounting purposes at 31st December are as follows:

Hong Kong

Indonesia

Taiwan

The Philippines

2020

2019

2020

2019

2020

2019

2020

2019

%

1.9

3.8

%

3.0

4.8

%

6.3

4.2

%

7.0

5.7

%

0.5

2.1

%

0.8

1.8

%

4.0

4.0

%

5.2

4.9

Discount rate

Salary growth rate

The sensitivity of the defined benefit obligations to changes in the weighted principal assumptions is as follows:

Discount rate

Salary growth rate

(Increase)/decrease on 
defined benefit  
obligations

Change in 
assumption

Increase in 
assumption

Decrease in 
assumption

%

1

1

US$m

US$m

13.4

(15.4)

(15.1)

13.7

The above sensitivity analyses are based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant.  In practice, 
this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated.  When calculating the sensitivity of the defined 
benefit obligations to significant actuarial assumptions, the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligations calculated 
with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as when calculating the pension 
liabilities recognised within the balance sheet.

88

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements22. Pension Plans continued

The analysis of the fair value of plan assets at 31st December is as follows:

Equity investments

  Asia Pacific

Debt investments

  Asia Pacific

Investment funds

  Asia Pacific

  Europe

  North America

  Global

Total investments

Cash and cash equivalents

Benefits payable and other

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

–

–

51.3

35.1

79.0

18.8

184.2

184.2

14.5

(10.8)

187.9

0.3

2.1

47.4

37.6

71.1

17.2

173.3

175.7

11.4

(3.9)

183.2

At 31st December 2020, 92% of investment funds were quoted on active markets.  In 2019, 100% of equity investments and debt 
investments, and 94% of investment funds were quoted on active markets. 

The strategic asset allocation is derived from the asset-liability modelling (‘ALM’) review, completed triennially to ensure the plans 
can meet future funding and solvency requirements.  The last ALM review was completed in 2018, with the modified strategic asset 
allocation adopted in 2018.  The next ALM review is scheduled for 2021.

At 31st December 2020, the Hong Kong plans had assets of US$185.3 million (2019: US$171.5 million).

The Group maintains an active and regular contribution schedule across all the plans.  The contributions to all its plans in 2020 were 
US$12.4 million and the estimated amounts of contributions expected to be paid to all its plans in 2021 are US$11.2 million.

89

23. Share Capital

Authorised:

2,250,000,000 shares of US¢5 5/9 each

500,000 shares of US$800 each

2020

US$m

125.0

400.0

525.0

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

125.0

400.0

525.0

2019

US$m

Ordinary shares in millions

2020

2019

Issued and fully paid:

Ordinary shares of US¢5 5/9 each

  At 31st December

1,352.7

1,352.7

75.1

75.1

24. Share-based Long-term Incentive Plans

Share-based long-term incentive plans (‘LTIP’) have been put in place to provide incentives for selected executives.  Awards take  
the form of share options to purchase ordinary shares in the Company with exercise prices based on the then prevailing market 
prices, however, share awards which will vest free of payment may also be made.  Awards normally vest on or after the third 
anniversary of the date of grant and may be subject to the achievement of performance conditions.

An LTIP was adopted by the Company on 5th March 2015.  Under these awards, free shares are received by the participants to  
the extent the award vests.  Conditions, if any, are at the discretion of the Directors.  There were no share awards granted in 2020  
and 2019.  

Prior to the adoption of the LTIP, The Dairy Farm International Share Option Plan 2005 provided selected executives with options  
to purchase ordinary shares in the Company.  The exercise prices of the granted options were, in general, based on the average 
market prices for the five trading days immediately preceding the dates of grant of the options.  Options are normally vested over  
a period of up to three years and are exercisable for up to ten years following the date of grant.

The fair value of options granted during the year, determined using the trinomial valuation model, was US$0.1 million.  The 
significant inputs into the model, based on the number of options issued, were share price of US$4.46 at the grant date, exercise 
price of US$5.93, expected volatility based on the last five years of 24.21%, dividend yield of 4.33%, option life of six years, and  
annual risk-free interest rate of 0.35%.  Options are assumed to be exercised at the end of the fifth year following the date of grant.  
No options were granted in 2019.

90

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements24. Share-based Long-term Incentive Plans continued

Movements of the outstanding conditional awards during the year:

At 31st December 2020, the outstanding conditional awards amounted to 0.6 million (2019: 0.6 million).  There was no movement 
during the year.

Outstanding conditional awards at 31st December:

Awards vest date

2021

2022

2023

Total outstanding

Movements of the outstanding options during the year:

At 1st January

Granted

Exercised

Lapsed

At 31st December

Ordinary shares in millions

2020

2019

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.6

0.2

0.2

0.2

0.6

2020

2019

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

US$

8.5014

5.9320

–

7.3315

8.4746

Options  
in millions

1.7

0.4

–

(0.8)

1.3

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price

US$

8.2155

–

7.7907

7.7249

8.5014

Options  
in millions

2.7

–

(0.1)

(0.9)

1.7

The average share price during the year was US$4.51 (2019: US$7.36) per share.

91

24. Share-based Long-term Incentive Plans continued

Outstanding options at 31st December:

Expiry date

2023

2026

2027

Total outstanding

of which exercisable

Exercise price

Options in millions

US$

2020

2019

12.1580

5.9320

8.9060

0.2

0.4

0.7

1.3

1.3

0.2

0.5

1.0

1.7

0.9

A new LTIP 2018-2022 was adopted by the Company on 5th December 2018.  The cash-settled scheme has been designed to  
align management’s reward with shareholders’ interests, over a five-year period, while also considering how management delivers 
earnings growth.  This scheme is aimed at investing in new people capabilities as well as retaining high potential individuals for 
stronger succession planning.  The scheme has been designed to appropriately compensate, attract and retain experienced senior 
management.

The scheme will be predominantly measured based on compound growth in underlying earnings per share.  To ensure that  
the growth is delivered appropriately, another measure based on health of business (focused on areas such as quality of earnings 
and balance sheet strength) is also incorporated.  Finally, a sustainability check will be applied after the end of the five-year period  
to ensure that the results are sustainable.

25. Share Premium and Capital Reserves

Share 
premium

Capital 
reserves

US$m

US$m

Total

US$m

34.1

25.1

59.2

–

–

34.1

33.9

–

–

0.2

34.1

1.2

(0.8)

25.5

24.4

2.0

(1.1)

(0.2)

25.1

1.2

(0.8)

59.6

58.3

2.0

(1.1)

–

59.2

2020

At 1st January

Share-based long-term incentive plans

– value of employee services

– share options lapsed

At 31st December

2019

At 1st January

Share-based long-term incentive plans

– value of employee services

– share options lapsed

Transfer

At 31st December

92

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements25. Share Premium and Capital Reserves continued

Capital reserves comprise contributed surplus of US$20.1 million (2019: US$20.1 million) and other reserves of US$5.4 million  
(2019: US$5.0 million), which represent the value of employee services under the Company’s share-based long-term incentive plans.  
The contributed surplus principally arose from the conversion of convertible preference shares in 1989 and, under the Bye-laws of 
the Company, is distributable.

26. Dividends

Final dividend in respect of 2019 of US¢14.50 (2018: US¢14.50) per share

Interim dividend in respect of 2020 of US¢5.00 (2019: US¢6.50) per share

2020

US$m

196.1

67.7

263.8

2019

US$m

196.1

87.9

284.0

A final dividend in respect of 2020 of US¢11.50 (2019: US¢14.50) per share amounting to a total of US$155.6 million (2019:  
US$196.1 million) is proposed by the Board.  The dividend proposed will not be accounted for until it has been approved at the  
2021 Annual General Meeting.  This amount will be accounted for as an appropriation of revenue reserves in the year ending  
31st December 2021.

27. Non-controlling Interests

Summarised financial information on a subsidiary with material non-controlling interests

The following is the summarised financial information for PT Hero, a subsidiary with non-controlling interests that is material to  
the Group.

Summarised balance sheet at 31st December:

Current

Assets

Liabilities

Total current net (liabilities)/assets

Non-current

Assets

Liabilities

Total non-current net assets

Net assets

Non-controlling interests

2020

US$m

106.9

(166.1)

(59.2)

180.3

(39.9)

140.4

81.2

(10.4)

2019

US$m

180.6

(155.8)

24.8

239.3

(47.7)

191.6

216.4

(24.7)

93

27. Non-controlling Interests continued

Summarised financial information on a subsidiary with material non-controlling interests continued

Summarised statement of comprehensive income for the year ended 31st December:

Sales

(Loss)/profit after tax from underlying business performance

Loss after tax from non-trading items

(Loss)/profit after tax

Other comprehensive (expense)/income

Total comprehensive (expense)/income

Total comprehensive (expense)/income allocated to non-controlling interests

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

Summarised cash flows for the year ended 31st December:

Cash generated from operations

Interest received

Interest and other financing charges paid

Tax received/(paid)

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at 1st January

Effect of exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at 31st December

2020

US$m

607.2

(36.0)

(65.1)

(101.1)

(6.1)

(107.2)

(13.6)

–

2019

US$m

868.2

16.9

(10.9)

6.0

9.9

15.9

2.0

–

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

(17.7)

0.1

(1.9)

1.1

(18.4)

(11.0)

17.1

(12.3)

12.1

(0.6)

(0.8)

36.4

0.8

(5.5)

(5.9)

25.8

(33.7)

(15.5)

(23.4)

34.5

1.0

12.1

The information above is the amount before intercompany eliminations.

28. Geographical Analysis of Non-current Assets

Set out below is an analysis of the Group’s non-current assets, excluding financial instruments, non-current debtors and deferred tax 
assets, by geographical area:

North Asia

Southeast Asia

At 31st December

94

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

2020

US$m

3,914.4

2,406.7

6,321.1

2019

US$m

4,344.2

2,353.4

6,697.6

Notes to the Financial Statements29. Notes to Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

(a) Depreciation and amortisation

Food

– Grocery retail

– Convenience stores

Health and Beauty

Home Furnishings

Selling, general and administrative expenses

(b) Other non-cash items

By nature:

Profit on sale of businesses

Loss on reclassification of a joint venture as a subsidiary

Loss on sale of tangible and intangible assets

Fair value loss on other investments

Adjustment to deferred consideration for acquisition of a subsidiary

Impairment of tangible and intangible assets

Impairment of right-of-use assets

Write down of stocks

Reversal of write down of stocks

Change in provisions

Gain on lease modification and termination

Share-based payment

Business correction provisions

Fair value loss on fair value hedges

Rent concessions received

Notional interest expense on other loans

Amortisation of government grant on other loans

(c) Increase in working capital

Decrease in stocks

(Increase)/decrease in debtors

Decrease in creditors

2020

US$m

652.7

406.8

245.9

222.6

86.5

21.6

983.4

(75.2)

–

7.7

0.8

–

73.2

47.6

16.3

(1.3)

(7.7)

(13.1)

1.2

2.4

–

(68.5)

0.8

(0.8)

(16.6)

2019

US$m

663.8

418.8

245.0

248.9

72.2

17.3

1,002.2

–

13.9

5.1

0.7

(3.6)

11.9

1.9

2.5

(6.3)

(6.7)

(4.1)

0.9

16.3

0.7

–

–

–

33.2

52.1

(4.4)

(149.8)

(102.1)

30.7

52.1

(159.5)

(76.7)

95

29. Notes to Consolidated Cash Flow Statement continued

(d) Purchase of subsidiaries
Net cash outflow for purchase of a subsidiary of US$21.4 million in 2020 represented the settlement of deferred consideration for 
the Group’s acquisition of the 100% interest in San Miu Supermarket Limited, a supermarket chain in Macau, in 2015.

Net cash outflow in 2019 represented US$2.6 million for the acquisition of the remaining 70% shareholding in Jutaria which 
operates mini-marts in Malaysia (note 8).

The fair values of the identifiable assets and liabilities at the acquisition date of the subsidiary acquired during 2019 were provisional 
and finalised in 2020 with no change to the provisional values. 

(e) Purchase of associates and joint ventures in 2020 mainly related to capital injections of US$15.0 million in a newly established 
digital joint venture to support the Group’s e-commerce development and drive its digital innovation, and US$3.3 million in  
the Group’s newly set up health and beauty joint venture in Thailand.

Purchase in 2019 mainly related to capital injection of US$3.8 million in the Group’s business in Vietnam.

(f ) Sale of subsidiaries

Intangible assets

Tangible assets

Right-of-use assets

Non-current debtors

Deferred tax assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets disposed of

Release of exchange reserves

Profit on disposals

Net sale proceeds

Cash and cash equivalents of the subsidiaries disposed of

Costs payable

Net cash inflows

2020

US$m

109.5

31.1

105.1

8.3

2.6

105.6

(111.2)

(94.5)

156.5

(16.9)

75.2

214.8

(35.1)

13.4

193.1

In October 2020, the Group deepened its strategic partnership with Robinsons Retail, an associate of the Group, by disposing  
of its 100% interest in Rose Pharmacy, operating a health and beauty chain in the Philippines, to a subsidiary of Robinsons Retail,  
for a net cash inflow of US$83.8 million (note 8).

In December 2020, the Group disposed of its 100% interest in Wellcome Taiwan, operating a supermarket chain in Taiwan,  
to a third party, for a net cash inflow of US$109.3 million (note 8).

96

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements29. Notes to Consolidated Cash Flow Statement continued

(g) Sale of a property
Sale of a property in 2020 and 2019 related to disposal of a property in Malaysia and Singapore, respectively.

(h) Change in interest in a subsidiary
In 2020, the Group acquired an additional 0.8% interest in PT Hero for a total consideration of US$1.9 million.  In 2019, an additional 
2.75% interest was acquired for US$6.7 million.

(i) Cash outflows for leases

Lease rentals paid

Additions to right-of-use assets

The above cash outflows are included in

– operating activities

– investing activities

– financing activities

(j) Analysis of balances of cash and cash equivalents

Cash and bank balances (note 16)

Bank overdrafts (note 19)

2020

US$m

(817.5)

–

(817.5)

(111.0)

–

(706.5)

(817.5)

2020

US$m

277.6

(43.4)

234.2

2019

US$m

(909.5)

(18.4)

(927.9)

(119.2)

(18.4)

(790.3)

(927.9)

2019

US$m

301.4

(13.1)

288.3

97

30. Derivative Financial Instruments

The fair values of derivative financial instruments at 31st December are as follows:

Designated as cash flow hedges

– forward foreign exchange contracts

– interest rate swaps

Designated as fair value hedges

– forward foreign exchange contracts

2020

2019

Positive 
fair value

Negative 
fair value

Positive  
fair value

Negative 
fair value

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

1.2

–

1.2

–

–

12.6

0.4

13.0

–

–

0.3

–

0.3

–

–

3.3

–

3.3

0.7

0.7

Forward foreign exchange contracts
The contract amounts of the outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts at 31st December 2020 were US$761.6 million  
(2019: US$568.0 million).

Interest rate swaps
The notional principal amounts of the outstanding interest rate swap contracts were US$100.0 million at 31st December 2020,  
and the fixed interest rates relating to interest rate swaps at 0.39% per annum.  The fair values of interest rate swaps were based  
on the estimated cash flows discounted at market rate at 2.4% per annum.

The outstanding interest rate swaps contracts of an aggregate notional principal and contract amount of US$100.0 million at 
31st December 2020 are impacted by the IBOR reform.

31. Commitments

Capital commitments

Authorised not contracted

Contracted not provided

2020

US$m

89.0

48.5

137.5

2019

US$m

227.4

111.4

338.8

Operating lease commitments for short-term and low-value asset leases which were due within one year amounted to 
US$3.1 million (2019: US$1.3 million).

Total future sublease payments receivable amounted to US$29.3 million (2019: US$16.3 million).

98

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements32. Contingent Liabilities

Various Group companies are involved in litigation arising in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.  Having reviewed 
outstanding claims and taking into account legal advice received, the Directors are of the opinion that adequate provisions have 
been made in the financial statements.

33. Related Party Transactions

The parent company of the Group is Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited and the ultimate parent company is Jardine Matheson 
Holdings Limited (‘JMH’).  Both companies are incorporated in Bermuda.

In the normal course of business the Group undertakes a variety of transactions with JMH and certain of its subsidiaries, associates 
and joint ventures.  The more significant of such transactions are described below.

Under the terms of a Management Services Agreement, the management fee payable by the Group was US$1.4 million (2019:  
US$1.6 million) to Jardine Matheson Limited (‘JML’), a wholly-owned subsidiary of JMH, based on 0.5% of the Group’s profit 
attributable to shareholders in consideration for certain management consultancy services provided by JML.  The Group also  
paid directors’ fees of US$0.4 million in 2020 (2019: US$0.5 million) to JML.

The Group rents properties from Hongkong Land Holdings Limited (‘HKL’), a subsidiary of JMH.  The lease payments paid by  
the Group to HKL in 2020 were US$2.6 million (2019: US$3.3 million).  The Group’s 50%-owned associate, Maxim’s, also paid  
lease payments of US$10.2 million (2019: US$13.5 million) to HKL in 2020.

The Group obtains repairs and maintenance services from Jardine Engineering Corporation (‘JEC’), a subsidiary of JMH.   
The total fees paid by the Group to JEC in 2020 amounted to US$1.2 million (2019: US$4.9 million).

Maxim’s supplies ready-to-eat products at arm’s length to certain subsidiaries of the Group.  In 2020, these amounted to  
US$28.8 million (2019: US$32.4 million).

In October 2020, the Group disposed of its 100% interest in Rose Pharmacy to its associate, Robinsons Retail, and a loss of 
US$22.0 million was recognised.

Amounts of outstanding balances with associates and joint ventures are included in debtors and creditors, as appropriate.

Balances with group companies of JMH at 31st December 2020 and 2019 are immaterial, unsecured, and have no fixed terms  
of repayment.

Details of Directors’ remuneration (being key management personnel compensation) are shown on page 145 under the heading  
of ‘Remuneration in 2020’.

99

34. Summarised Balance Sheet of the Company

Included below is certain summarised balance sheet information of the Company at 31st December disclosed in accordance with 
Bermuda law.

Subsidiaries, at cost less provision*

Current liabilities

Net operating assets

Share capital (note 23)

Share premium and capital reserves (note 25)

Revenue and other reserves

Shareholders’ funds

* Included intercompany balances due from/(to) subsidiaries.

35. Principal Subsidiaries

The Group’s principal subsidiaries at 31st December 2020 are set out below:

2020

US$m

473.7

(2.5)

471.2

75.1

59.6

336.5

471.2

2019

US$m

462.7

(1.4)

461.3

75.1

59.2

327.0

461.3

Proportion of ordinary 
shares and voting powers 
at 31st December 2020  
held by

Attributable 
interests

Company name

incorporation

Nature of business

Country of  

2020
%

2019
%

the Group
%

Dairy Farm Management Limited†

Bermuda

Holding

Dairy Farm Management Services Limited† Bermuda

Group management

DFI Treasury Limited†

British Virgin Islands

Treasury

Mainland China

Investment holding

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

100

DFI (China) Commercial Investment 
  Holding Company Ltd

Guangdong Sai Yi Convenience  
  Stores Limited

Mannings Guangdong Retail  
  Company Limited

Mainland China

Convenience stores

65

65

Mainland China

Health and beauty stores

100

100

non-
controlling 
interests
%

–

–

–

–

35

–

–

100

100

100

100

65

100

100

The Dairy Farm Company, Limited

Hong Kong

100

100

Investment holding,  
  grocery retail,  
  convenience, health  
  and beauty and home  

furnishings stores

100

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements 
 
35. Principal Subsidiaries continued

Proportion of ordinary 
shares and voting powers 
at 31st December 2020  
held by

Attributable 
interests

Company name

incorporation

Nature of business

Country of 

2020
%

2019
%

the Group
%

Wellcome Company Limited

Hong Kong

Property and  

100

100

San Miu Supermarket Limited

DFI Home Furnishings Taiwan Limited

GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

Guardian Health And Beauty  
  Sdn. Bhd.

Macau

Taiwan

Malaysia

Malaysia

PT Hero Supermarket Tbk

Indonesia

food processing

Grocery retail

Home furnishings stores

Grocery retail

Health and beauty stores

Grocery retail, health  
  and beauty and home  

furnishings stores

100

100

85

100

100

100

85

100

89

89

Brunei

Health and beauty stores

100

100

Guardian Health And Beauty (B)  
  Sdn. Bhd.

Cold Storage Singapore (1983)  
  Pte Limited

DFI Lucky Private Limited

Cambodia

All subsidiaries are included in the consolidation.

Singapore

100

100

Grocery retail,  
  convenience and  
  health and beauty stores

Grocery retail and health  
  and beauty stores

70

70

70

30

non-
controlling 
interests
%

–

–

–

30

–

11

–

–

100

100

100

70

100

89

100

100

Attributable interests represent the proportional holdings of the Company, held directly or through its subsidiaries, in the issued 
share capitals of the respective companies, after the deduction of any shares held by the trustees of the employee share option 
schemes of any such company and any shares in any such company owned by its wholly-owned subsidiaries.

†  Directly held by the Company.  

101

 
 
 
36. Principal Accounting Policies

Basis of consolidation
(i) 

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Group’s 
interests in associates and joint ventures.

(ii)  A subsidiary is an entity over which the Group has control.  The Group controls an entity when the Group is exposed to,  

or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its 
power over the entity.

The purchase method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group.  The cost of  
an acquisition includes the fair value at the acquisition date of any contingent consideration.  The Group recognises  
the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the recognised identifiable net assets of the acquired subsidiary.   
In a business combination achieved in stages, the Group remeasures its previously held interest in the acquiree at its 
acquisition-date fair value and recognises the resulting gain or loss in profit and loss.  Changes in a parent’s ownership  
interest in a subsidiary that do not result in the loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions.  When control over  
a previous subsidiary is lost, any remaining interest in the entity is remeasured at fair value and the resulting gain or loss is 
recognised in profit and loss.

All material intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised surpluses and deficits on transactions between Group 
companies have been eliminated.

(iii)  An associate is an entity, not being a subsidiary or a joint venture, over which the Group exercises significant influence.   

A joint venture is a type of joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights  
to the net assets of the joint venture.  Joint control is the contractually agreed sharing of control of an arrangement, which 
exists only when decisions about the relevant activities require unanimous consent of the parties sharing control.

Associates and joint ventures are included on the equity basis of accounting.

Profits and losses resulting from upstream and downstream transactions between the Group and its associates and joint 
ventures are recognised in the consolidated financial statements only to the extent of unrelated investor’s interests in the 
associates and joint ventures.

(iv)  Non-controlling interests represent the proportion of the results and net assets of subsidiaries and their associates and joint 

ventures not attributable to the Group.

(v)  The results of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are included or excluded from their effective dates of acquisition or 
disposal, respectively.  The results of entities other than subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are included to the extent  
of dividends received when the right to receive such dividend is established.

102

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements 
 
 
 
36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Foreign currencies
Transactions in foreign currencies are accounted for at the exchange rates ruling at the transaction dates.

Assets and liabilities of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, together with all other monetary assets and liabilities expressed  
in foreign currencies, are translated into United States dollars at the rates of exchange ruling at the year end.  Results expressed  
in foreign currencies are translated into United States dollars at the average rates of exchange ruling during the year, which 
approximate the exchange rates at the dates of the transactions.

Exchange differences arising from the retranslation of the net investment in foreign subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, and  
of financial instruments which are designated as hedges of such investments, are recognised in other comprehensive income and 
accumulated in equity under exchange reserves.  On the disposal of these investments, such exchange differences are recognised  
in profit and loss.  All other exchange differences are recognised in profit and loss.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisition of a foreign entity after 1st January 2003 are treated as assets and 
liabilities of the foreign entity and translated into United States dollars at the rates of exchange ruling at the year end.

Impairment of non-financial assets
Assets that have indefinite useful lives are not subject to amortisation and are tested for impairment annually and whenever there is 
an indication that the assets may be impaired.  Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events 
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  For the purpose of assessing impairment, 
assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there is a separately identifiable cash flow.  Cash-generating units or groups of 
cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for impairment annually and whenever there is an indication 
that the units may be impaired.  An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset 
exceeds its recoverable amount, which is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value-in-use.  Non-financial assets 
other than goodwill that suffered an impairment are reviewed for possible reversal of the impairment annually.

Intangible assets
(i)  Goodwill represents the excess of the sum of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interests in  

the acquiree, and the acquisition-date fair value of any previously held equity interest in the acquiree over the acquisition-date 
fair value of the Group’s share of the net identifiable assets acquired.  Non-controlling interests are measured at their proportionate 
share of the net identifiable assets at the acquisition date.  If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets 
acquired, the difference is recognised directly in profit and loss.  Goodwill on acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in 
intangible assets.  Goodwill on acquisitions of associates and joint ventures is included in investment in associates and joint 
ventures.  Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units or groups of cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment 
testing and is carried at cost less accumulated impairment loss.

The profit or loss on disposal of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures is stated after deducting the carrying amount of 
goodwill relating to the entity sold.

103

 
36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Intangible assets continued
(ii)  Other intangible assets, consisting of trademarks and computer software, are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and 

impairment.  Amortisation is calculated on the straight-line basis to allocate the cost of intangible assets over their estimated 
useful lives.  Trademarks with indefinite useful lives are not subject to amortisation.

Tangible assets and depreciation
Freehold properties comprised land and buildings.  Freehold land is stated at cost less any impairment.  No depreciation is provided 
on freehold land as it is deemed to have an indefinite life.  Buildings on freehold and leasehold land are stated at cost less any 
accumulated depreciation and impairment.  Other tangible assets are stated at cost less amounts provided for depreciation  
and impairment.

Depreciation of tangible assets is calculated on the straight-line basis to allocate the cost of each asset to its residual value over  
its estimated useful life.  The residual values and useful lives are reviewed at each balance sheet date.  The estimated useful lives are 
as follows:

Freehold buildings

Buildings on leasehold land

Leasehold improvements

Plant and machinery

Furniture, equipment and motor vehicles

25 to 40 years

Shorter of the lease term or useful life

Shorter of unexpired lease term or useful life

3 to 15 years

3 to 7 years

Where the carrying amount of a tangible asset is greater than its estimated recoverable amount, it is written down immediately  
to its recoverable amount.

The profit or loss on disposal of tangible assets is recognised by reference to their carrying amounts.

Leases
At inception of a contract, the Group assesses whether a contract is, or contains, a lease.  A contract is, or contains, a lease if  
the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.

Lease contracts may contain lease and non-lease components.  The Group allocates the consideration in the contract to lease and 
non-lease component based on their relative stand-alone prices.  For property leases where the Group is a lessee, it has elected not 
to separate lease and immaterial non-lease components and accounts for these items as a single lease component.

As a lessee, the Group enters into property leases for use as retail stores, distribution centres and offices.  The Group recognises 
right-of-use assets and lease liabilities at the lease commencement dates, that is the dates the underlying assets are available for use.  
Right-of-use assets are measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and impairment, and adjusted for any remeasurement 
of lease liabilities.  The cost of the right-of-use assets includes amounts of the initial measurement of lease liabilities recognised,  
lease payments made at or before the commencement dates less any lease incentives received, initial direct costs incurred and 
restoration costs.  Right-of-use assets are depreciated using the straight-line method over the shorter of their estimated useful lives 
and the lease terms.

104

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Leases continued
The Group also has interests in leasehold land for use in its operations.  Lump sum payments are made upfront to acquire these  
land interests from their previous registered owners or governments in the jurisdictions where the land is located.  There are no 
ongoing payments to be made under the term of the land leases, other than insignificant lease renewal costs or payments based  
on rateable value set by the relevant government authorities.  These payments are stated at cost and are amortised over the term  
of the lease which includes the renewal period if the lease can be renewed by the Group without significant cost.

Lease liabilities are measured at the present value of lease payments to be made over the lease terms.  Lease payments include  
fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments) less any lease incentives receivable, variable lease payments that depend 
on an index or a rate, and amounts expected to be paid under residual value guarantees.  The lease payments also include the 
exercise price of a purchase option reasonably certain to be exercised and payments of penalties for terminating a lease, if the  
lease term reflects the Group exercising that option.  The variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a rate are 
recognised as expenses in the period on which the event or condition that triggers the payment occurs.

In calculating the present value of lease payments, the Group uses the incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement 
date if the interest rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable.  Lease liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest rate method.  After the commencement date, the amount of lease liabilities is increased by the interest costs on 
the lease liabilities and decreased by lease payments made.

The carrying amount of lease liabilities is remeasured when there is a change in the lease term, or there is a change in future lease 
payments arising from a change in an index or a rate, or there is a change in the Group’s estimate of the amount expected to be 
payable under a residual guarantee, or there is a change arising from the reassessment of whether the Group will be reasonably 
certain to exercise an extension or a termination option.  When the lease liability is remeasured, a corresponding adjustment is 
made to the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset, or is recorded in profit or loss if the carrying amount of right-of-use asset  
has been reduced to zero.

The Group has elected not to recognise right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases of low-value assets (i.e. US$5,000 or less) 
and short-term leases.  Low-value assets comprise IT equipment and small items of office furniture.  Short-term leases are leases  
with a lease term of 12 months or less.  Lease payments associated with these leases are recognised on a straight-line basis as  
an expense in profit and loss over the lease term.

Lease liabilities are classified as non-current liabilities unless payments are due within 12 months from the balance sheet date.

105

36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Investments
The Group’s investments are measured at fair value through profit and loss.  The classification is based on the management’s 
business model and their contractual cash flow characteristics.

Equity investments are measured at fair value with fair value gains and losses recognised in profit and loss.  Transaction costs of 
investments carried at fair value through profit and loss are expensed in profit and loss.

Investments are classified as non-current assets.  All purchases and sales of investments are recognised on the trade date, which  
is the date that the Group commits to purchase or sell the investments.

Stocks
Stocks, which principally comprise goods held for resale, are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.  Cost is determined 
on a weighted average cost basis and comprises purchase price less rebates.  A stock provision is recognised when the net realisable 
value from sale of the stock is estimated to be lower than the carrying value.

Debtors
Trade and other debtors, excluding derivative financial instruments, are measured at amortised cost except where the effect of 
discounting would be immaterial.  Provision for impairment is established by considering potential financial difficulties of the debtor, 
probability that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganisation, and default or delinquency in payments.  The carrying 
amount of the asset is reduced through the use of an allowance account and the amount of the loss is recognised in arriving at 
operating profit.  When a debtor is uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance account.  Subsequent recoveries of amount 
previously written off are credited to profit and loss.

Debtors with maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date are classified under non-current assets.

Cash and cash equivalents
For the purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise deposits with banks, and cash and bank balances, 
net of bank overdrafts.  In the balance sheet, bank overdrafts are included in current borrowings.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has present legal or constructive obligations as a result of past events, it is probable  
that an outflow of resources embodying economic benefits will be required to settle the obligations, and a reliable estimate of  
the amount of the obligations can be made.  Obligations arising from restructuring plans are recognised when detailed formal  
plans have been established and when there is a valid expectation that such plans will be carried out by either starting to 
implement them or announcing their main features to those affected by it.

Borrowings and borrowing costs
Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred.  In subsequent periods, borrowings are stated  
at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.  All borrowing costs are expensed as incurred.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for  
at least 12 months after the balance sheet date.

106

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Current and deferred tax
The tax expense for the year comprises current and deferred tax.  Tax is recognised in profit and loss, except to the extent that it 
relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.  In this case, the tax is also recognised in other 
comprehensive income or directly in equity, respectively.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date 
in the countries where the Group operates and generates taxable income.  Management periodically evaluates positions taken in 
tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation.  It establishes provisions where 
appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

Deferred tax is provided, using the liability method, for all temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and 
liabilities and their carrying values.  Deferred tax is determined using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantially 
enacted by the balance sheet date and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realised or the deferred tax 
liability is settled.

Provision for deferred tax is made on the revaluation of certain non-current assets and, in relation to acquisitions, on the difference 
between the fair value of the net assets acquired and their tax bases.  Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences associated 
with investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the 
temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.  Deferred tax assets 
relating to the carry forward of unused tax losses are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be 
available against which the unused tax losses can be utilised.

Employee benefits
(i) Pension obligations

The Group operates a number of defined benefit and defined contribution plans, the assets of which are held in trustee 
administered funds.

Pension accounting costs for defined benefit plans are assessed using the projected unit credit method.  Under this method,  
the costs of providing pensions are charged to profit and loss spreading the regular cost over the service lives of employees in 
accordance with the advice of qualified actuaries, who carry out a full valuation of major plans every year.  The pension obligations 
are measured as the present value of the estimated future cash outflows by reference to market yields on high quality corporate 
bonds which have terms to maturity approximating the terms of the related liability.  Plan assets are measured at fair value.

Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are recognised in other 
comprehensive income in the year in which they occur.

Past service costs are recognised immediately in profit and loss.

The Group’s total contributions relating to the defined contribution plans are charged to profit and loss in the year to which  
they relate.

107

36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Employee benefits continued
(ii) Share-based compensation

The Company operates a number of equity-settled employee share option schemes.  The fair value of the employee services 
received in exchange for the grant of the share options or the share awards in respect of options or awards granted after  
7th November 2002 is recognised as an expense.  The total amount to be expensed over the vesting period is determined  
by reference to the fair value of the share options or share awards granted as determined on the grant date.  At each balance  
sheet date, the Group revises its estimates of the number of share options that are expected to become exercisable and  
the number of share awards which will be vested free of payment.  The impact of the revision of original estimates, if any,  
is recognised in profit and loss.

Non-current assets and disposal group held for sale
Non-current assets and disposal group are classified as held for sale and stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value less 
costs to sell if their carrying amounts are expected to be recovered principally through a sale transaction rather than through 
continuing use.  Once classified as held for sale, the assets are no longer amortised or depreciated.

Derivative financial instruments
The Group only enters into derivative financial instruments in order to hedge underlying exposures and not as speculative 
investments.  Derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered  
into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair values.  The method of recognising the resulting gain or loss is dependent  
on the nature of the item being hedged.  The Group designates certain derivatives as a hedge of the fair value of a recognised  
asset or liability (‘fair value hedge’), or a hedge of a forecasted transaction or of the foreign currency risk on a firm commitment  
(‘cash flow hedge’).

At inception of the hedge relationship, the Group documents the economic relationship between hedging instruments and 
hedged items including whether changes in the cash flows of the hedging instruments are expected to offset changes in the cash 
flows of hedged items.  The Group documents its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking its hedge transactions.

Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualified as fair value hedges and that are highly effective, are 
recognised in profit and loss, along with any changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that is attributable to the 
hedged risk.  The gain or loss relating to the effective portion of interest rate swaps hedging fixed rate borrowings is recognised  
in profit and loss within finance costs, together with changes in the fair value of the hedged fixed rate borrowings attributable to 
interest rate risk.  The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognised in profit and loss.  When a hedging instrument 
expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, the cumulative adjustment to the carrying 
amount of a hedged item for which the effective interest rate method is used is amortised to profit and loss over the residual period 
to maturity.

108

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Derivative financial instruments continued
Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualified as cash flow hedges and that are highly effective, are 
recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity under hedging reserves.  Changes in the fair value relating 
to the ineffective portion are recognised immediately in profit and loss.  Where the hedged item results in the recognition of  
a non-financial asset or a non-financial liability, the deferred gains and losses are included in the initial measurement of the cost  
of the asset or liability.  The deferred amounts are ultimately recognised in profit and loss as the hedged item affects profit and loss.  
Otherwise, amounts deferred in hedging reserves are transferred to profit and loss in the same periods during which the hedged 
firm commitment or forecasted transaction affects profit and loss.  The gain or loss relating to the effective portion of the interest 
rate swaps hedging variable rate borrowings is recognised in profit and loss within finance cost at the same time as the interest 
expense on the hedged borrowings.  When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria 
for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing in hedging reserves at that time remains in the hedging reserves and is 
recognised in profit and loss when the committed or forecasted transaction occurs.  When a committed or forecasted transaction is 
no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in hedging reserves is immediately transferred to profit 
and loss.

Certain derivative transactions, while providing effective economic hedges under the Group’s risk management policies, do not 
qualify for hedge accounting under the specific rules in IFRS 9.  Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do not 
qualify for hedge accounting under IFRS 9 are recognised immediately in profit and loss.

The fair value of derivatives which are designated and qualified as effective hedges are classified as non-current assets or liabilities if 
the remaining maturities of the hedged assets or liabilities are greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date.

Offsetting financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount is reported in the balance sheet when there is a legally enforceable  
right to offset the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realise the asset and settle the liability 
simultaneously.  The legally enforceable right must not be contingent on future events and must be enforceable in the normal 
course of business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the company or the counterparty.

Non-trading items
Non-trading items are separately identified to provide greater understanding of the Group’s underlying business performance.  
Items classified as non-trading items include fair value gains and losses on equity investments which are measured at fair  
value through profit and loss; gains and losses arising from the sale of businesses, investments and properties; impairment of 
non-depreciable intangible assets, associates and joint ventures, and other investments; provisions for the closure of businesses; 
acquisition-related costs in business combinations; and other credits and charges of a non-recurring nature that require inclusion  
in order to provide additional insight into underlying business performance.

109

36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share are calculated on profit attributable to shareholders and on the weighted average number of shares in issue 
during the year.  The weighted average number excludes the shares held by the Trustee under the Share-based Long-term Incentive 
Plans.  For the purpose of calculating diluted earnings per share, profit attributable to shareholders is adjusted for the effects of the 
conversion of dilutive potential ordinary shares, and the weighted average number of shares is adjusted for the number of shares 
which are deemed to be issued for no consideration under the share-based long-term incentive plans based on the average share 
price during the year.

Dividends
Dividends proposed or declared after the balance sheet date are not recognised as a liability at the balance sheet date.

Sales recognition
Sales consist of the fair value of goods sold to customers, net of returns, discounts and sales related taxes.  These do not include  
sales generated by associates and joint ventures.  Sale of goods is recognised at the point of sale, when the control of the asset is 
transferred to customers, and is recorded at the net amount received from customers.

Buying income
Supplier incentives, rebates and discounts are collectively referred to as buying income.  Buying income is recognised when earned 
by the Group, which occurs when all obligations conditional for earning income have been discharged, and the income can be 
measured reliably based on the terms of the contract.

The income is recognised as a credit within cost of sales.  Where the income earned relates to stocks which are held by the Group  
at period ends, the income is included within the cost of those stocks, and recognised in cost of sales upon sale of those stocks.   
The accrued value at the reporting date is included in trade debtors or trade creditors, depending on the right of offset.

The key types of buying income which the Group receives include:

– Discounts and incentives relate to individual unit sales.
– Sales volume-based incentives based on achieving certain purchases on promotion for an event or a period.
– Conditional incentives subject to satisfaction of certain conditions by the Group.
– Fixed amounts agreed with suppliers for supporting in-store activity.

Government grants
Grants from government are recognised at their fair values where there is reasonable assurance that the grants will be received, and 
the Group will comply with the conditions associated with the grants.  

Grants that compensate the Group for expenses incurred are recognised in the profit and loss as other income on a systematic basis 
in the period in which the expenses are recognised.  Unconditional grants are recognised in the profit and loss as other income 
when they become receivable.

Grants related to assets are deducted in arriving at the carrying value of the related assets.

110

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements  
36. Principal Accounting Policies continued

Other operating income
Other operating income primarily comprises income from concessions, service income, rental income, government grants and rent 
concessions received in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic.  Concessions and service income are based on the Group’s contractual 
commission.  Rental income is accounted for as earned.

Rent concessions received as a direct consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic are recognised in the profit and loss over the period 
in which they cover when the specific conditions are met.

Pre-operating costs
Pre-operating costs are expensed as incurred.

37. Standards and Amendments Issued But Not Yet Effective

A number of amendments effective for accounting periods beginning after 2020 have been published and will be adopted by  
the Group from their effective dates.  The Group is currently assessing the potential impact of these standard and amendments but 
expects the adoption will not have a significant impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.  The more important 
amendments are set out below.

(i) 

Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2: Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 (effective from  
1st January 2021) provides practical expedients as a result of the reform which affect the measurement of financial  
assets, financial liabilities and lease liabilities, and a number of reliefs for hedging relationships.  The Group will apply the 
amendments from 1st January 2021, but it is not expected the adoption will have a significant impact on the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements.

(ii)  Amendment to IFRS 9: ‘Fees in the ’10 per cent’ Test for Derecognition of Financial Liabilities’ (effective from 1st January 2022) 
clarifies the requirement to derecognise the original financial liability and recognise a new financial liability where there is an 
exchange between an existing borrower and lender of debt instrument with substantially different terms.  The amendment 
clarifies that the terms are substantially different if the discounted present value of the cash flows under the new terms  
using the original effective interest rate, including any fees paid net of any fees received, is at least 10 per cent different  
from the discounted present value of the remaining cash flows of the original financial liability.  The Group will apply the 
amendment from 1st January 2022, but it is not expected the adoption will have a significant impact on the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements.

(iii)  Amendments to IAS 37: Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract (effective from 1st January 2022) clarifies that for  

the purpose of assessing whether a contract is onerous, the cost of fulfilling the contract includes both the incremental  
costs of fulfilling that contract and an allocation of other costs that relate directly to fulfilling contracts.  The Group will apply 
the amendments from 1st January 2022, but it is not expected the adoption will have a significant impact on the Group’s 
consolidated financial statements.

111

38. Financial Risk Management

Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including foreign exchange risk and interest rate risk),  
credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group’s treasury function co-ordinates financial risk management policies and their implementation on a group-wide basis.   
The Group’s treasury policies are designed to manage the financial impact of fluctuations in interest rates and foreign exchange 
rates and to minimise the Group’s financial risks.  The Group uses derivative financial instruments, principally interest rate swaps, 
forward foreign exchange contracts and foreign currency options as appropriate for hedging transactions and managing the 
Group’s assets and liabilities in accordance with the Group’s financial risk management policies.  Financial derivative contracts are 
executed between third party banks and the Group’s entity that is directly exposed to the risk being hedged.  Hedge accounting  
is applied to remove the accounting mismatch between the hedging instrument and the hedged item.  The effective portion of  
the change in the fair value of the hedging instrument is deferred into the cash flow hedge reserve through other comprehensive 
income and will be recognised in profit and loss when the hedged item affects profit and loss.  In general, the volatility in profit or 
loss can be reduced by applying hedge accounting.

Hedge effectiveness is determined at the inception of the hedge relationship, and through periodic prospective effectiveness 
assessments to ensure that an economic relationship exists between the hedged item and hedging instrument.

For hedges of foreign currency purchases, the Group enters into hedge relationships where the critical terms of the hedging 
instrument match exactly with the terms of the hedged item.  The Group assesses whether the derivative designated in each 
hedging relationship has been and expected to be effective in offsetting changes in cash flow of the hedged item using the 
hypothetical derivative method.

Ineffectiveness may arise if the timing of the forecast transaction changes from what was originally estimated for hedges of foreign 
currency purchases, or if there are changes in the credit risk of the Group or the derivative counterparty.

The Group enters into interest rate swaps that have similar critical terms as the hedged item, such as reference rate, reset dates, 
payment dates, maturities and notional amount.  The Group does not hedge 100% of its loans, therefore the hedged item is 
identified as a proportion of the outstanding loans up to the notional amount of the swaps.  As all critical terms matched during  
the year, effective economic relationship existed between the swaps and the loans.

Hedge ineffectiveness for interest rate swaps is assessed using the same principles as for hedges of foreign currency purchases.   
It may occur due to:

(i) 

The credit value/debit value adjustment on the interest rate swaps which is not matched by the loan;

(ii)  Differences in critical terms between the interest rate swaps and loans; and

(iii)  The effects of the forthcoming reforms to IBOR, because these might take effect at a different time and have a different impact 
on the hedged item (the floating-rate debt) and the hedging instrument (the interest rate swap used to hedge the debt).

The ineffectiveness during 2020 in relation to interest rate swaps was not material while there was no interest rate swap in 2019.

112

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements38. Financial Risk Management continued

Financial risk factors continued
(i) Market risk

Foreign exchange risk
Entities within the Group are exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from future commercial transactions, net investments  
in foreign operations and net monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s  
functional currency.

The Group uses forward foreign exchange contracts and foreign currency options in a consistent manner to hedge firm and 
anticipated foreign exchange commitments and manage foreign exchange risk arising from future commercial transactions.   
The purpose of these hedges is to mitigate the impact of movements in foreign exchange rates on assets and liabilities and  
the profit and loss account of the Group.

Currency risks as defined by IFRS 7 arise on account of monetary assets and liabilities being denominated in a currency that is not 
the functional currency.  There are no significant monetary balances held by Group companies at 31st December 2020 that are 
denominated in a non-functional currency.  Differences resulting from the translation of financial statements into the Group’s 
presentation currency are not taken into consideration.

Interest rate risk
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk through the impact of rate changes on interest-bearing assets and liabilities.  These 
exposures are managed partly by using natural hedges that arise from offsetting interest rate sensitive assets and liabilities, and 
partly through fixed rate borrowings and the use of derivative financial instruments including interest rate swaps.  The Group 
monitors interest rate exposure on a regular basis by currency and business unit, taking into consideration proposed financing and 
hedging arrangements.  The Group’s guideline is to maintain 40% to 60% of its long-term non-working capital gross borrowings in 
fixed rate instruments.  At 31st December 2020, the Group’s fixed rate borrowings were 9% on total borrowings, with an average 
tenor of 0.2 year.  At 31st December 2019, the Group had no outstanding fixed rate borrowings.  The interest rate profile of the 
Group’s borrowings after taking into account hedging transactions is set out in note 19.

Cash flow interest rate risk is the risk that changes in market interest rates will impact cash flows arising from variable rate financial 
instruments.  Borrowings at floating rates therefore expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk.  The Group manages this risk  
by entering into interest rate swaps for a maturity of up to three years.  Interest rate swaps have the economic effect of converting 
borrowings from floating rate to fixed rate.  Details of interest rate swaps are set out in note 30.

Fair value interest rate risk is the risk that the value of a financial asset or liability and derivative financial instruments will fluctuate 
because of changes in market interest rates.  The Group manages its fair value interest rate risk by entering into interest rate swaps 
which have the economic effect of converting borrowings from fixed rate to floating rate, to maintain the Group’s fixed rate 
instruments within the Group’s guideline.

113

38. Financial Risk Management continued

Financial risk factors continued
(i) Market risk continued

Interest rate risk continued
At 31st December 2020, if interest rates had been 100 basis points higher/lower with all other variables held constant, the Group’s 
profit after tax would have been US$7.7 million (2019: US$9.2 million) higher/lower, and hedging reserves would have been  
US$2.5 million lower/higher (2019: no change), as a result of fair value changes to cash flow hedges.  The sensitivity analysis has  
been determined assuming that the change in interest rates had occurred at the balance sheet date and had been applied to the 
exposure to interest rate risk for both derivative and non-derivative financial instruments in existence at that date.  The 100 basis 
point increase or decrease represents management’s assessment of a reasonably possible change in those interest rates which have 
the most impact on the Group, specifically the Hong Kong, United States and Malaysian rates, over the period until the next annual 
balance sheet date.  In the case of effective fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the hedged items caused by interest rate 
movements balance out in the profit and loss account against changes in the fair value of the hedging instruments.  Changes in 
market interest rates affect the interest income or expense of non-derivative variable-interest financial instruments, the interest 
payments of which are not designated as hedged items of cash flow hedges against interest rate risks.  As a consequence, they are 
included in the calculation of profit after tax sensitivities.  Changes in the market interest rate of financial instruments that were 
designated as hedging instruments in a cash flow hedge to hedge payment fluctuations resulting from interest rate movements 
affect the hedging reserves and are therefore taken into consideration in the equity-related sensitivity calculations.

(ii) Credit risk

The Group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to deposits with banks and derivative financial instruments with a positive fair value.  
The Group has credit policies in place and the exposures to these credit risks are monitored on an ongoing basis.

The Group manages its deposits with banks and transactions involving derivative financial instruments by monitoring credit ratings 
and capital adequacy ratios of counterparties, and limiting the aggregate risk to any individual counterparty.  The utilisation of  
credit limits is regularly monitored.  Similarly, transactions involving derivative financial instruments are with banks with sound  
credit ratings and capital adequacy ratios.  In developing countries it may be necessary to deposit money with banks that have  
a lower credit rating, however, the Group only enters into derivative transactions with counterparties which have credit ratings of  
at least investment grade.  Management does not expect any counterparty to fail to meet its obligations.

Sales to customers are made in cash or by major credit cards.  The maximum exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying 
amount of each financial asset in the balance sheet after deducting any impairment allowance.

(iii) Liquidity risk

Prudent liquidity risk management includes managing the profile of debt maturities and funding sources, maintaining sufficient 
cash and ensuring the availability of funding from an adequate amount of committed credit facilities and the ability to close out 
market positions.  The Group’s ability to fund its existing and prospective debt requirements is managed by maintaining diversified 
funding sources with adequate committed funding lines from high quality lenders, and by monitoring rolling short-term forecasts 
of the Group’s cash and gross debt on the basis of expected cash flows.  Long-term cash flows are projected to assist with the Group’s 
long-term debt financing plans.  In addition, the Group has implemented a global liquidity cash pooling scheme, which enables  
the Group to manage and optimise its working capital funding requirement on a daily basis.

114

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements38. Financial Risk Management continued

Financial risk factors continued
(iii) Liquidity risk continued

At 31st December 2020, total available borrowing facilities amounted to US$3,091.4 million (2019: US$2,344.0 million), of which  
US$2,074.7 million (2019: US$1,452.8 million) were committed facilities.  A total of US$1,094.3 million (2019: US$1,122.2 million) from 
both committed and uncommitted facilities was drawn down.  Undrawn committed facilities, in the form of revolving credit 
facilities, totalled US$1,319.0 million (2019: US$462.2 million).

The following table analyses the Group’s non-derivative financial liabilities, net-settled derivative financial liabilities and gross-settled 
derivative financial instruments into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to  
the contractual maturity date.  Derivative financial liabilities are included in the analysis if their contractual maturities are essential  
for an understanding of the timing of the cash flows.  The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted  
cash flows.

Within 
one year

Between 
one and 
two years

Between 
two and 
three 
years

Between 
three and 
four years

Between 
four and 
five years

Beyond 
five years

Total 
undiscounted 
cash flows

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

1,885.5

860.7

773.1

–

422.3

421.8

2,174.5

956.6

869.5

–

423.5

425.1

18.8

82.9

587.9

10.6

103.0

435.8

10.5

64.8

323.3

–

–

0.3

–

246.3

1,192.0

–

–

–

8.9

176.2

713.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

1.3

0.2

–

–

–

0.2

0.1

–

–

–

0.2

9.1

–

–

–

2.6

–

537.4

399.8

291.9

1,231.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,925.7

1,111.4

3,558.4

–

422.3

421.8

2,187.7

1,142.2

4,044.2

–

423.5

425.1

At 31st December 2020

Creditors

Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Net-settled derivative  
financial instruments

Gross-settled derivative  
financial instruments

– inflow

– outflow

At 31st December 2019

Creditors

Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Net-settled derivative  
financial instruments

Gross-settled derivative  
financial instruments

– inflow

– outflow

There were no borrowings impacted by the IBOR reform at 31st December 2020.

115

 
 
 
 
38. Financial Risk Management continued

Capital management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern whilst seeking  
to maximise benefits to shareholders and other stakeholders.  Capital is equity as shown in the consolidated balance sheet plus  
net debt.

The Group actively and regularly reviews and manages its capital structure to ensure optimal capital structure and shareholder 
returns, by taking into consideration the future capital requirements of the Group and capital efficiency, prevailing and projected 
profitability, projected operating cash flows, projected capital expenditures and projected strategic investment opportunities.   
In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, repurchase 
Company shares, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

The Group monitors capital on the basis of the Group’s consolidated gearing ratio and consolidated interest cover.  The gearing  
ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total equity.  Net debt is calculated as total borrowings less cash and bank balances.  
Interest cover is calculated as the sum of underlying operating profit, before the deduction of depreciation and impairment  
charges of right-of-use assets, net of actual lease payments, and share of results of associates and joint ventures, divided by net 
financing charges excluding interest on lease liabilities.  The Group does not have a defined gearing ratio or interest cover 
benchmark or range.

The ratios at 31st December 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

Gearing ratio (%)

Interest cover (times)

2020

2019

61

15

66

12

Fair value estimation
(i) Financial instruments that are measured at fair value

For financial instruments that are measured at fair value in the balance sheet, the corresponding fair value measurements are 
disclosed by level of the following fair value measurement hierarchy:

(a)  Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (‘quoted prices in active markets’)
The fair values of listed securities are based on quoted prices in active markets at the balance sheet date.

(b) 

Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly 
(‘observable current market transactions’)
The fair values of derivative financial instruments are determined using rates quoted by the Group’s bankers at the balance 
sheet date.  The rates for interest rate swaps and forward foreign exchange contracts are calculated by reference to market 
interest rates and foreign exchange rates.

The fair values of unlisted equity investments, mainly include club debentures, are determined using prices quoted by 
brokers at the balance sheet date.

116

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements 
 
 
38. Financial Risk Management continued

Fair value estimation continued
(i) Financial instruments that are measured at fair value continued

(c) 

Inputs for assets or liabilities that are not based on observable market data (‘unobservable inputs’)
The fair values of other unlisted equity investments are determined using valuation techniques by reference to observable 
current market transactions or the market prices of the underlying investments with certain degree of entity specific 
estimates or discounted cash flow by projecting the cash inflows from these investments.

There were no changes in valuation techniques during the year.  The table below analyses financial instruments carried at fair value 
measured by observable current market transactions.

Assets

Other investments

– equity investments (note 13)

Derivatives designated at fair value (note 30)

– through other comprehensive income

– through profit and loss

Liabilities

Derivatives designated at fair value (note 30)

– through other comprehensive income

– through profit and loss

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

6.0

1.1

0.1

7.2

(12.7)

(0.3)

(13.0)

6.8

0.3

–

7.1

(3.3)

(0.7)

(4.0)

(ii) Financial instruments that are not measured at fair value

The fair values of current debtors, cash and bank balances, current creditors, current borrowings and current lease liabilities are 
assumed to approximate their carrying amounts due to the short-term maturities of these assets and liabilities.

The fair values of long-term borrowings are based on market prices or are estimated using the expected future payments 
discounted at market interest rates.  The fair values of non-current lease liabilities are estimated using the expected future payments 
discounted at market interest rates.

117

 
38. Financial Risk Management continued

Fair value estimation continued
Financial instruments by category

The carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities at 31st December 2020 and 2019 are as follows:

Fair value of 
hedging 
instruments

Fair value 
through 
profit  
and loss

Financial 
assets at 
amortised 
cost

Other 
financial 
liabilities

Total 
carrying 
amounts

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

2020

Financial assets measured at fair value

Other investments

– equity investments

Derivative financial instruments

Financial assets not measured at fair value

Debtors

Cash and bank balances

Financial liabilities measured at fair value

Derivative financial instruments

Financial liabilities not measured at fair value

Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables excluding  
  non-financial liabilities

–

1.1

1.1

–

–

–

6.0

0.1

6.1

–

–

–

(12.7)

(12.7)

(0.3)

(0.3)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

263.2

277.6

540.8

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6.0

1.2

7.2

263.2

277.6

540.8

(13.0)

(13.0)

(1,094.3)

(3,070.4)

(1,094.3)

(3,070.4)

(1,925.7)

(1,925.7)

(6,090.4)

(6,090.4)

118

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements38. Financial Risk Management continued

Fair value estimation continued
Financial instruments by category continued

2019

Financial assets measured at fair value

Other investments

– equity investments

Derivative financial instruments

Financial assets not measured at fair value

Debtors

Cash and bank balances

Financial liabilities measured at fair value

Derivative financial instruments

Financial liabilities not measured at fair value

Borrowings

Lease liabilities

Trade and other payables excluding  
  non-financial liabilities

Fair value of 
hedging 
instruments

Fair value 
through 
profit  
and loss

Financial 
assets at 
amortised 
cost

Other 
financial 
liabilities

Total  
carrying 
amounts

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

US$m

–

0.3

0.3

–

–

–

6.8

–

6.8

–

–

–

(3.3)

(3.3)

(0.7)

(0.7)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

280.3

301.4

581.7

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6.8

0.3

7.1

280.3

301.4

581.7

(4.0)

(4.0)

(1,122.2)

(3,305.8)

(2,187.7)

(6,615.7)

(1,122.2)

(3,305.8)

(2,187.7)

(6,615.7)

The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities approximate their carrying amounts.

119

39. Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements

Estimates and judgements used in preparing the financial statements are continually evaluated and are based on historical 
experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable according to circumstances 
and conditions available.  The existing and potential impacts arising from the COVID-19 pandemic have been considered when 
applying estimates and assumptions in the preparation of the financial statements, including the Group’s assessment of impairment 
of assets.  Given the uncertainty of the impact of COVID-19, the actual results may differ from these accounting estimates.

The estimates and assumptions that have a significant effect on the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and income and 
expenses are discussed below.

Acquisition of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures
The initial accounting on the acquisition of subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures involves identifying and determining the fair 
values to be assigned to the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquired entities.  The fair values of tangible 
assets and right-of-use assets are determined by independent valuers by reference to market prices or present value of expected net 
cash flows from the assets.  Any changes in the assumptions used and estimates made in determining the fair values, and management’s 
ability to measure reliably the contingent liabilities of the acquired entity will impact the carrying amount of these assets and liabilities.

On initial acquisition or acquisition of further interests in an entity, an assessment of the level of control or influence exercised by  
the Group is required.  For entities where the Group has a shareholding of less than 50%, an assessment of the Group’s level of 
voting rights, board representation and other indicators of influence is performed to consider whether the Group has de facto 
control, requiring consolidation of that entity, or significant influence, requiring classification as an associate, or joint control, 
requiring classification as a joint venture.

Leases
Liabilities and the corresponding right-of-use assets arising from leases are initially measured at the present value of the lease payments 
at the commencement date, discounted using the interest rates implicit in the leases, or if that rate cannot be readily determinable, 
the Group uses the incremental borrowing rate.  The Group generally uses the incremental borrowing rate as the discount rate.

The Group applies the incremental borrowing rate with reference to the rate of interest that the Group would have to pay to borrow, 
over a similar term as that of the lease, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in the country 
where it is located.

Lease payments to be made during the lease term will be included in the measurement of a lease liability.  The Group determines 
the lease term as the non-cancellable term of the lease, together with any periods covered by an option to extend the lease if  
it is reasonably certain to be exercised, or any period covered by an option to terminate the lease, if it is reasonably certain not to  
be exercised.

The Group has the option, under some of its leases to lease the assets for additional terms.  The Group applies judgement in 
evaluating whether it is reasonably certain to exercise the option to renew.  That is, the Group considers all relevant factors that 
create an economic incentive for it to exercise the renewal.  After the commencement date, the Group reassesses the lease term  
if there is a significant event or change in circumstances that is within its control and affects its ability to exercise or not to exercise 
the option to renew.  The assessment of whether the Group is reasonably certain to exercise the options impacts the lease terms, 
which significantly affects the amount of lease liabilities and right-of-use assets recognised.

Pension obligations
The present value of the pension obligations depends on a number of factors that are determined on an actuarial basis using  
a number of assumptions.  The assumptions used in determining the net cost/income for pensions include the discount rate.   
Any changes in these assumptions will impact the carrying amount of pension obligations.

120

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Notes to the Financial Statements39. Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements continued

Pension obligations continued
The Group determines the appropriate discount rate at the end of each year.  This is the interest rate that should be used  
to determine the present value of estimated future cash outflows expected to be required to settle the pension obligations.   
In determining the appropriate discount rate, the Group considers the interest rates of high-quality corporate bonds that are 
denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid and that have terms to maturity approximating the terms of the 
related pension obligations.

Other key assumptions for pension obligations are based in part on current market conditions.

Impairment of assets
The Group tests annually whether goodwill and other assets that have indefinite useful lives suffered any impairment.  Other assets 
are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset exceeds 
its recoverable amount.  The recoverable amount of an asset or a cash-generating unit is determined based on the higher of its fair 
value less costs to sell and its value-in-use, calculated on the basis of management’s assumptions and estimates.  Changing the key 
assumptions, including the discount rates or the growth rate assumptions in the cash flow projections, could materially affect the 
value-in-use calculations.

Income taxes
The Group is subject to income taxes in numerous jurisdictions.  Significant judgement is required in determining the worldwide 
provision for income taxes.  There are many transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain 
during the ordinary course of business.  Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially 
recorded, such differences will impact the current and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made.

Provision of deferred tax follows the way management expects to recover or settle the carrying amount of the related assets or 
liabilities, which the management may expect to recover through use, sale or combination of both.  Accordingly, deferred tax will  
be calculated at income tax rate, capital gains tax rate or combination of both.

Recognition of deferred tax assets, which principally relate to tax losses, depends on the management’s expectation of future taxable 
profit that will be available against which the tax losses can be utilised.  The outcome of their actual utilisation may be different.

Buying income
The Group receives buying income, including supplier incentives, rebates and discounts, which are deducted from cost of sales on 
an accrual basis.  Management is required to make estimates in determining the expected entitlement which has been earned up 
to the balance sheet date for each relevant supplier contract and the timing of recognition.

There is limited estimation involved in recognising income for fixed amounts agreed with suppliers.

In 2020, the Group recognised a charge in underlying profit for the reversal of buying income recognised incorrectly in prior years.  
The Group has assessed the impact of buying income recognised incorrectly in prior years on the consolidated financial statements 
and determined that the impact was not material to the consolidated financial statements of any prior financial years and therefore 
did not require a prior year restatement.  The amount has been recorded through underlying results.

Non-trading items
The Group uses underlying business performance in its internal financial reporting to distinguish between the underlying profits 
and non-trading items.  The identification of non-trading items requires judgement by management, but follows the consistent 
methodology as set out in the Group’s accounting policies.

121

Independent Auditors’ Report

To the members of Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited

Report on the audit of the financial statements

Opinion
In our opinion, Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited’s Group (‘the Group’) financial statements (the ‘financial statements’):

• 

• 

• 

give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 31st December 2020 and of its profit and cash flows for the year 
then ended;
have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRSs’) as issued by the International 
Accounting Standards Board (‘IASB’); and
have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 1981 (Bermuda).

We have audited the financial statements, included within the Annual Report, which comprise: the Consolidated Balance Sheet  
as at 31st December 2020; the Consolidated Profit and Loss Account, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the 
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, and the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the year then ended; and the notes  
to the financial statements, which include a description of the significant accounting policies (‘the Principal Accounting Policies’).

Certain required disclosures have been presented in the Corporate Governance section, rather than in the notes to  
the financial statements.  These disclosures are cross-referenced from the financial statements and are identified as audited.

Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (‘ISAs (UK)’) and applicable law.  Our 
responsibilities under ISAs (UK) are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section 
of our report.  We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Independence

We remained independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial 
statements in the UK, which includes the Financial Reporting Council’s (‘FRC’s’) Ethical Standard as applicable to listed entities, and 
we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

122

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Our audit approach 
Overview

Materiality
• 
• 

Overall Group materiality: US$18.5 million (2019: US$19.6 million)
Based on 5% of a three-year average of underlying profit before tax

Audit scope
• 
• 

A full scope audit was performed on seven entities including six subsidiaries and one associate, Maxim’s.
These entities, together with procedures performed on central functions and at the Group level, accounted for 89% of  
the Group’s revenue, 86% of the Group’s profit before tax, and 82% of the Group’s underlying profit before tax.

Key audit matters
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Carrying value of investment in Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. (‘Robinsons Retail’) 
Buying income
IT environment
Impairment of assets in PT Hero 
Impact of COVID-19

The scope of our audit

As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements.

Capability of the audit in 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 in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section, 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.

Based on our understanding of the Group and industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and 
regulations related to, but were not limited to, the Companies Act 1981 (Bermuda), the Listing Rules, tax regulations, employment 
regulation, health and safety regulation and equivalent local laws and regulations applicable to significant reporting component 
teams, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements.   
We also considered those laws and regulations that have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements such  
as the Companies Act 1981 (Bermuda).

123

We evaluated management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including  
the risk of override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to the posting of inappropriate journal  
entries and management bias in accounting estimates and judgements.  The Group engagement team shared this risk assessment 
with the component auditors so that they could include appropriate audit procedures in response to such risks in their work.   
Audit procedures performed by the Group engagement team and/or component auditors included:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Gaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework applicable to the Group and the industries in which  
its businesses operate, and considering the risk of any acts by the Group which may be contrary to applicable laws and 
regulations, including fraud.
Discussions with management and internal audit, including consideration of known or suspected instances of non-compliance 
with laws and regulation and fraud;
Understanding the results of whistleblowing procedures and related investigations.  We focused on known and suspected 
instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations that could give rise to a material misstatement in the Group and 
company financial statements, including, but were not limited to, the Companies Act 1981 (Bermuda), the Listing Rules, tax 
legislation, employment regulation, health and safety regulation and equivalent local laws and regulations applicable  
to significant reporting component teams.
Review of reporting component auditors’ work, including any matters reported by component auditors’ relating to  
non-compliance with laws and regulations or fraud;
Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant accounting estimates that involved 
making assumptions and considering future events that are inherently uncertain.  In particular, in relation to the impairment 
assessments related to the carrying value of investments in associates and joint ventures, the impairment assessments related 
to the carrying value of intangible assets, tangible assets and right-of-use assets, and recognition of buying income (see related 
key audit matters below);

•  We did not identify any key audit matters relating to irregularities, including fraud.  As in all of our audits we also addressed  
the risk of management override of internal controls, including testing journals, and evaluated whether there was evidence  
of bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above and the further removed non-compliance with laws and 
regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it.  
Also, the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, 
as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.

Key audit matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of the 
financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not 
due to fraud) identified by the auditors, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of 
resources in the audit and directing the efforts of the engagement team.  These matters, and any comments we make on the results 
of our procedures thereon, were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our 
opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.

124

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Independent Auditors’ ReportThe impairment of assets in PT Hero and the impact of COVID-19 are new key audit matters.  Right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, 
which was a key audit matter last year, is no longer included because this key audit matter was relevant for the adoption of IFRS 16 
‘Leases’ last year.  Otherwise, the key audit matters below are consistent with last year.

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Carrying value of investment in Robinsons Retail Holdings 
Limited (‘Robinsons Retail’)

Refer to note 39 (Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements) 
and note 12 (Associates and Joint Ventures) to the financial 
statements.

As at 31st December 2020, the carrying value of the Group’s 
20% investment in its associate, Robinsons Retail, was higher 
than its fair value based on its prevailing market share price.

Management undertook an impairment assessment, as 
required by accounting standards as there was an indicator  
of impairment.

There is inherent estimation uncertainty in determining the 
recoverable amount of the carrying value of the investment  
as significant judgements are required by management in 
preparing their value-in-use models, particularly management’s 
view on key internal inputs and external market conditions 
which impact future cash flows, the discount rate and the 
long-term growth rate.

We focused on the carrying value of the Group’s investment  
in Robinsons Retail due to the significant judgements and 
estimates involved to determine whether the carrying value  
of the investment was supportable.

We assessed the inherent risk of material misstatement by 
considering the degree of estimation uncertainty and the 
judgement involved in determining the assumptions to be 
applied.  We have understood and reviewed management’s 
impairment assessment process, including what indicators of 
impairment had been identified and the appropriateness of the 
valuation model used, including the assessment of the future 
impact of COVID-19.  As we identified a heightened risk of 
impairment we performed the following procedures.

We benchmarked and challenged key assumptions in 
management’s valuation model used to determine  
recoverable amount against market data.  This included 
whether the assumptions of projected cash flows of the 
business, the long-term growth rate and the discount rate  
were appropriate, using our knowledge and experience.

We tested the discounted cash flow model used in the 
assessment, checked the accuracy of the calculations, 
compared historical budgeted performance with actual results 
and agreed the figures used with the detailed management 
approved budgets to assess the reasonableness of the cash 
flows used in the model.

Our challenge focused particularly on the discount rate and 
long-term growth rate used.  With the support of our valuations 
specialists, we compared the discount rates used with the  
range of typical discount rates used in similar businesses and, 
considered whether management had incorporated all relevant 
macro-economic and country-specific factors, as well as those 
specific to Robinsons Retail, in determining its discount rate.

125

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Carrying value of investment in Robinsons Retail Holdings 
Limited (‘Robinsons Retail’) continued

For the growth rate we assessed whether management had 
considered macro-economic and country-specific factors 
specific to the relevant businesses, including the future impact 
of COVID-19.  We also compared the rate used with the range  
of growth rates used by similar businesses.

We tested management’s historical estimation accuracy by 
comparing previous projected growth rates to the actual 
growth achieved.  Where differences were identified we 
understood management’s rationale and the evidence, such as 
actual recent performance, to support management’s estimates.

We evaluated the sensitivity analysis performed by management 
and performed our independent sensitivity analysis on the  
key assumptions above and considered a range of alternative 
outcomes to determine the sensitivity of the valuation model  
to changes in assumptions.

Overall, we found that the judgements and estimates made  
by management to determine the discount rate, long-term 
growth rate and the cash flows used in the valuation model 
were reasonable.

We assessed the adequacy of the disclosures related to the 
carrying value of investments in associates and joint ventures  
in the context of IFRS disclosure requirements and agreed 
disclosures in the financial statements to the model tested and 
the assumptions applied in the model.  Overall, we are satisfied 
that appropriate disclosure has been made.

126

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Independent Auditors’ ReportKey audit matter

Buying income

Refer to note 36 (Principal Accounting Policies) and  
note 39 (Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements)  
to the financial statements.

The Group has arrangements with suppliers whereby  
volume-based discounts and incentives, promotional and 
marketing incentives and various other rebates and discounts 
are earned in connection with the purchase of goods for resale 
from those suppliers.  As such, the Group recognises a net 
deduction from cost of sales as a result of amounts receivable 
from suppliers.

The individual supplier arrangements in place across the Group 
vary in nature.  The majority of buying income is driven by 
volume-based measures or event-driven schemes, with the 
remainder being ad-hoc and promotional buying income.

Buying income is material to the financial statements and given 
the types of buying income arrangements as well as various 
performance criteria which differ by suppliers, we identified 
buying income as a key audit matter.

The level of judgement in each category of buying income is 
noted below:

Volume-based income

Volume-based rebates are generally driven by achieving 
purchase volume targets set with individual suppliers for 
specific products over a pre-set period of time.  In instances 
where the rebate agreement does not fully coincide with the 
period-end, the key judgement that we focused on was the 
estimate of expected purchase volumes in the period covered 
by the rebate agreement.

Ad-hoc and promotional income

The remainder of the Group’s buying income is associated with 
ad-hoc and promotional income.  The nature of this income and 
the manner in which it is recognised varies depending on the 
nature of the agreement with the individual supplier.  The income 
is earned as the relevant performance criteria are met.  Due to 
the significant number of transactions and individual agreements 
and the potential for manual calculations, we focused effort on 
assessing the appropriateness of amounts recognised.  Our 
focus was on the underlying agreements associated with the 
income earned, and assessing whether the income recorded 
was in accordance with those agreements.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

We gained an understanding of and evaluated the key controls 
in place within the buying income process and tested those 
controls in certain components of the business.  We performed 
a detailed analytical review of buying income by type and 
location to identify whether there were any unusual trends 
were present.

On a sample basis:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

we traced the reconciliation of supplier deductions or 
payments recognised in the income statement to cash 
receipts or supplier contracts;
we selected amounts recognised in debtors and creditors 
and agreed the amounts to supporting documentation.  
Where buying income amounts were offset against 
outstanding amounts payable to suppliers we assessed 
whether there was a right to offset, based on the 
contractual terms with suppliers;
we assessed whether the performance criteria of the  
items selected had been met and where buying income 
amounts were estimated, that there was appropriate 
supporting evidence in determining those estimates;
we assessed the appropriateness of manual journal entries 
and adjustments associated with buying income by 
tracing them to supporting documentation; and
we assessed supplier dispute logs and management’s 
supplier statement reconciliations to determine whether 
material disputes or disagreements with suppliers existed.  
Where significant disputes or disagreements existed,  
we understood the nature of these disputes through 
discussions with management and obtained 
documentation to assess whether the amounts 
recognised by management were reasonable.

Overall, we found the amounts recognised in the financial 
statements in respect of buying income to be supportable.

We assessed the adequacy of the disclosures related  
to the buying income in the context of IFRS disclosure 
requirements and consider the disclosures to be appropriate.

127

Key audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Impairment of assets in PT Hero

Refer to note 39 (Critical Accounting Estimates and Judgements), 
note 8 (Non-trading items), note 9 (Intangible Assets), note 10 
(Tangible Assets) and note 11 (Right-of-use Assets) to the 
financial statements.

The Group has recognised asset impairment charges of  
US$103 million in relation to the Indonesian Grocery Retail 
business for the year ended 31st December 2020 following  
a store performance review. 

These costs comprise of US$39 million relating to the 
impairment of intangible assets and US$64 million for the 
impairment of tangible assets, impairment of right-of-use  
assets, redundancy provisions, and other provisions. 

As required by accounting standards, management performed 
a detailed impairment assessment of the intangible assets, 
tangible assets and right-of-use assets having identified 
impairment indicators arising from the financial performance  
of the Indonesian Grocery Retail business.  The determination  
of the recoverable amount of intangible assets requires 
significant judgements, particularly management’s view on  
key inputs and assumptions made in the cash flow forecasts 
including long-term growth rates.

Impairment of tangible assets and right-of-use assets were 
recorded in respect of underperforming or loss-making 
locations, where management identified that the expected 
future cash inflows were lower than the contractual lease 
obligations.  The impairment charges were calculated based on 
the terms of rental agreements and the earlier of the remaining 
lease term or possible exit date.

Determining the provisions required management to make 
judgements over the key inputs and assumptions, including  
the amount and timing of expected costs that will be incurred.

We assessed the inherent risk of material misstatement by 
considering the degree of estimation uncertainty and the 
judgement involved in determining assumptions to be applied.  
We have understood and reviewed management’s impairment 
assessment process for assessing the carrying value of 
intangible assets, tangible assets and right-of-use assets, 
including the identification of indicators of impairment and 
appropriateness of the valuation models used, including the 
assessment of the future impact of COVID-19.  

We have considered and scrutinised management’s store 
performance review for the Indonesian Grocery Retail business.

On a sample basis, we agreed the carrying value of tangible 
assets and right-of-use assets that were assessed for impairment 
to underlying financial records. 

We tested the discounted cash flow models used by 
management to determine the amount of intangible asset, 
tangible asset and right-of-use asset impairment required.   
We assessed the cash flow forecasts by comparing historical 
budgeted performance to actual results, agreeing the financial 
information used to the Board approved budget, and checked 
the accuracy of the calculations. 

We tested the accuracy and completeness of the data used by 
management in the models by agreeing key inputs, such as the 
cash flow forecasts for individual stores, to the detailed budget 
approved by the Board.  In addition, on a sample basis, we 
agreed the inputs used in the calculations to the underlying 
lease contracts. 

We assessed the key inputs and assumptions used by 
management in calculating the redundancy and other 
provisions with reference to actual historical performance and 
underlying contractual agreements.  We evaluated whether the 
assumptions were appropriate based on the evidence available. 

128

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Independent Auditors’ ReportKey audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Impairment of assets in PT Hero continued

IT environment

The Group is heavily reliant on its IT infrastructure and systems 
for the daily operations of its business.

We focused on IT systems as the systems across the Group are 
complex and there are varying levels of standardisation and 
integration between new and legacy IT systems.  The systems 
are vital to the ongoing operations of the business and to the 
integrity of the financial reporting process.

We considered that the key assumptions used, and calculations 
prepared by management to determine the intangible asset, 
tangible asset and right-of-use asset impairments, redundancy 
provisions and other provisions to be supportable based on 
available evidence.

We assessed the adequacy of the disclosures related to the 
carrying value of intangible assets, tangible assets and  
right-of-use assets and the other provisions made in the context 
of IFRS disclosure requirements and agreed disclosures in the 
financial statements to the models tested and the assumptions 
applied in those models.  We are satisfied that appropriate 
disclosure has been made.

We updated our understanding of the IT environment through 
discussions with management and walked-through the key 
financial processes to understand the relevant IT systems which 
were integral to the Group’s controls over financial reporting.  
These procedures allowed us to determine which IT systems, 
processes and controls to rely upon.

We tested key controls over user access to programs and data; 
program development; program changes made to IT systems; 
and IT operations.

The key automated controls operating within IT systems that 
we rely on were also tested.

Where we noted deficiencies which affected IT systems or  
controls on which we planned to place reliance, we tested 
mitigating controls or extended the scope of our substantive 
audit procedures.

129

Key audit matter

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on  
the performance of the Group.  The extent of the negative 
impact of the pandemic on future trading performance is 
difficult to predict.  Therefore, there is inherent uncertainty in 
determining the impact of the pandemic on certain aspects  
of the financial statements.

The key impact of COVID-19 on the financial statements are:

• 

• 

• 

Management’s assessment of the carrying values of the 
Group’s goodwill in subsidiaries and the carrying values of 
its investments in associates and joint ventures as a result 
of a reduction to the valuations at the year end, in part 
arising due to the impact of COVID-19 on the underlying 
businesses, as described in the related key audit matter 
above.  In particular, we focused on the carrying value of 
goodwill held in respect of PT Hero and the carrying value 
of the Group’s investment in its associate, Robinsons Retail.
The budgets and models supporting the tangible assets 
and right-of-use assets reflect management’s best estimate 
of the impact of COVID-19.  The assumptions applied in 
this analysis have been determined internally, but they 
incorporate other third-party data sources where relevant.
The models and related assumptions that underpin 
management’s going concern assessment.  Having 
considered the impact of COVID-19 on liquidity models, 
management has concluded that the Group remains a 
going concern, and that there is no material uncertainty  
in respect of this conclusion.  

Management’s way of working, including the operation of 
controls, has been impacted by COVID-19 as a result of a large 
number of staff working remotely.

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Our procedures in respect of impairment assessments related  
to carrying value of the Group’s investment in Robinsons Retail 
and impairment of the assets in PT Hero are covered in the 
related key audit matters above.

We performed procedures to assess the recoverability  
of tangible assets and right-of-use assets.  Where these  
involved management’s impairment assessment, we  
assessed the appropriateness of valuation models used  
and assumptions applied. 

With the support of our valuation specialists, we benchmarked 
and challenged key assumptions in management’s valuation 
models used to determine recoverable amounts against market 
data.  This included whether assumptions of projected cash 
flows of stores, long-term growth rates and discount rates were 
appropriate taking into account the impact of COVID-19, using 
our knowledge and experience, for the tangible assets and 
right-of-use assets under review.

We tested the discounted cash flow models used in the 
assessments, checked the accuracy of the calculations, 
compared historical budgeted performance with actual results 
to assess the reasonableness of the cash flows used in the 
models.  We performed an independent sensitivity analysis  
on the key assumptions and considered a range of alternative 
outcomes to determine the sensitivity of the valuation models 
to changes in assumptions. 

Where the recoverable amount was lower than the carrying 
amount of the cash generating unit (‘CGU’), we checked the 
calculation of the impairment charge recognised.

We found that the judgements and estimates made by 
management to determine the discount rates, long-term 
growth rates and cash flows used in the valuation models  
were reasonable.

130

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Independent Auditors’ ReportKey audit matter

How our audit addressed the key audit matter

Impact of COVID-19 continued

With respect to management’s going concern assessment, we 
evaluated management’s model and the key assumptions and 
considered the Group’s available financing to assess liquidity 
through the assessment period.  Our conclusions in respect of 
going concern are set out separately within this report.

We performed additional procedures to assess any control 
implications arising from the impact of COVID-19, including 
inquiries with respect to the operation of IT and business 
process controls, and whether there has been any impact  
on the Group.  We instructed our component teams to  
perform additional procedures to understand if there were  
any changes to management’s planned operation of controls  
or monitoring activities.

We did not identify any evidence of material deterioration in  
the control environment.

We increased the frequency and extent of our oversight  
over component audit teams, using video conferencing and 
remote working paper reviews, to satisfy ourselves as to the 
appropriateness of audit work performed at significant and 
material components.

We considered the appropriateness of disclosures in the 
financial statements in respect of the impact of the current 
environment and the increased uncertainty on certain 
accounting estimates and consider these to be appropriate.

131

How we tailored the audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the financial 
statements as a whole, taking into account the structure of the Group, the accounting processes and controls, and the industries  
in which it operates.

The Group’s accounting processes are structured around finance functions, which are responsible for their own accounting records 
and controls, which in turn report financial information to the Group’s finance function in Hong Kong to enable them to prepare 
consolidated financial statements.

In establishing the overall approach to the Group audit, we determined the type of work that needed to be performed by members 
of the Group engagement team or by component auditors from member firms within the PwC Network operating under our 
instruction.  Where the work was performed by component auditors, we determined the level of involvement we needed to have  
in the audit work at those components to be able to conclude whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence had been obtained  
as a basis for our opinion on the financial statements as a whole.  The Group engagement team was involved in the significant 
reporting entities in scope for Group reporting during the audit cycle through a combination of meetings and conference calls.  
Due to the current restrictions on travel and social distancing measures, enacted as a response to COVID-19, the lead Group audit 
partner and other senior team members were involved throughout the year through the regular use of conference calls and other 
forms of communication to direct and oversee the audit, including the remote review of the work of component teams.

A full scope audit was performed on seven entities including six subsidiaries and one associate, Maxim’s.  These entities, together 
with procedures performed on central functions and at the Group level (on the consolidation and other areas of significant 
judgement), accounted for 89% of the Group’s revenue, 86% of the Group’s profit before tax, and 82% of the Group’s underlying  
profit before tax.  This gave us the evidence we needed for our opinion on the financial statements as a whole.

Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality.  We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality.   
These, together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of 
our audit procedures on the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, 
both individually and in aggregate on the financial statements as a whole.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:

Overall Group materiality

How we determined it

Rationale for benchmark applied

US$18.5 million (2019: US$19.6 million)

5% of a three-year average of underlying profit before tax

Profit before tax is a primary measure used in assessing the performance of the Group 
which has been adjusted by adding back non-trading items.

We set an overall Group materiality level of US$18.5 million (2019: US$19.6 million).  This was based upon 5% of the Group’s 
consolidated three-year average underlying profit before tax for the years ended 31st December 2018, 31st December 2019 and  
31st December 2020.  In arriving at this judgement we had regard to the fact that underlying profit is an important financial  
indicator of the Group.

For each component in the scope of our Group audit, we allocated a materiality that is less than our overall Group materiality.   
The range of overall materiality allocated across components was US$1.9 million to US$18.0 million.

132

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Independent Auditors’ ReportWe use performance materiality to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and 
undetected misstatements exceeds overall materiality.  Specifically, we use performance materiality in determining the scope of  
our audit and the nature and extent of our testing of account balances, classes of transactions and disclosures, for example in 
determining sample sizes.  Our performance materiality was 75% of overall materiality, amounting to US$13.8 million.

In determining the performance materiality, we considered a number of factors – the history of misstatements, risk assessment and 
aggregation risk and the effectiveness of controls – and concluded that an amount in the middle of our normal range was appropriate.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above US$925,000 
(2019: US$1.0 million), other than classifications within the Consolidated Profit and Loss Account or Consolidated Balance Sheet, 
which were only reported above US$18.5 million.  We also reported misstatements below this amount that in our view, warranted 
reporting for qualitative reasons.

Conclusions relating to going concern

Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:

• 

• 

Evaluating the inherent risks to the Group’s and its businesses’ business models and analysed how those risks might affect  
the Group’s financial resources or ability to continue operations over the going concern period.
Considering sensitivities over the level of available financial resources indicated by the Group’s financial forecasts taking 
account of reasonably possible, but not unrealistic, adverse effects that could arise from adverse trading conditions as a result 
of COVID-19 and impact the Group’s liquidity position over the going concern period.

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 ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least  
12 months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

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.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the Group’s ability to 
continue as a going concern.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of 
this report.

Reporting on other information

The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditors’ 
report thereon.  The Directors are responsible for the other information.  Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover  
the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or any form of assurance 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 an apparent material inconsistency or material misstatement, we are 
required to perform procedures to conclude whether there is a material misstatement of 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 based on these responsibilities.

133

Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit

Responsibilities of the Directors for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Responsibility Statement and the Corporate Governance section, the Directors are responsible for  
the preparation of the financial statements in accordance with the applicable framework and for being satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view.  The Directors are also responsible for such internal control as they 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 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 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.

Our audit testing might include testing complete populations of certain transactions and balances, possibly using data auditing 
techniques.  However, it typically involves selecting a limited number of items for testing, rather than testing complete populations.  
We will often seek to target particular items for testing based on their size or risk characteristics.  In other cases, we will use audit 
sampling to enable us to draw a conclusion about the population from which the sample is selected.

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

Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the Company’s members as a body in accordance with 
Section 90 of the Companies Act 1981 (Bermuda) and for no other purpose.  We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume 
responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save 
where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

Partner responsible for the audit
The engagement partner responsible for this independent auditors’ report is John Waters.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants
London
11th March 2021

a.  

The maintenance and integrity of the Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited website is the responsibility of the Directors; 
the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept  
no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on  
the website. 

b.  

Legislation in Bermuda governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in 
other jurisdictions.

134

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Independent Auditors’ ReportFive Year Summary

Profit and Loss *

Sales

Sales including associates and joint ventures

Profit attributable to shareholders

Underlying profit attributable to shareholders

Underlying earnings per share (US¢)

Basic earnings per share (US¢)

Dividends per share (US¢)

Balance Sheet *

Total assets

Total liabilities

Net operating assets

Shareholders’ funds

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Net debt

Net asset value per share (US¢)

Cash Flow *

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash flows before financing activities

2020

US$m

2019

US$m

2018

US$m

2017

US$m

2016

US$m

10,268.5

28,159.1

11,192.3

27,665.0

11,749.3

21,957.2

11,288.7

21,827.0

11,200.7

20,423.6

271.0

275.7

20.38

20.03

16.50

323.8

320.9

23.72

23.93

21.00

7,900.5

8,369.9

(6,564.6)

(7,130.4)

1,335.9

1,239.5

1,322.3

13.6

1,335.9

(816.7)

97.75

1,067.2

(86.4)

980.8

1,209.2

30.3

1,239.5

(820.8)

89.39

1,288.1

(283.0)

1,005.1

84.8

358.2

26.48

6.27

21.00

8,533.0

(7,371.1)

1,161.9

1,126.4

35.5

1,161.9

(744.0)

83.27

1,458.1

(500.9)

957.2

402.4

402.6

29.77

29.75

21.00

5,467.2

(3,711.5)

1,755.7

1,690.0

65.7

1,755.7

(599.1)

124.95

671.3

(280.6)

390.7

469.0

460.2

34.03

34.69

21.00

5,128.9

(3,549.5)

1,579.4

1,505.3

74.1

1,579.4

(640.8)

111.32

542.9

(428.0)

114.9

Cash flow per share from operating activities (US¢)

78.89

95.22

107.80

49.64

40.15

* Figures in 2018 have been restated due to the change in accounting policy upon adoption of IFRS 16 ‘Leases’.  Figures in 2017 have been restated due to changes in accounting 

policies upon adoption of IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’ and IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’.  Figures in 2016 have not been restated.  

135

Responsibility Statement

The Directors of the Company confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

a. 

b. 

the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards, 
including International Accounting Standards and Interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board; and

the sections of this Report, including the Chairman’s Statement, Group Chief Executive’s Review, Business Review and the 
Principal Risks and Uncertainties, which constitute the management report, include a fair review of all information required to 
be disclosed by the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules 4.1.8 to 4.1.11 issued by the Financial Conduct Authority in 
the United Kingdom.

For and on behalf of the Board

Ian McLeod
Clem Constantine
Directors

11th March 2021

136

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Corporate Governance

Overview of Governance Approach 

The Dairy Farm Group (Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited and its subsidiaries together known as the ‘Group’) understands 
the value of good corporate governance to long-term sustainable success and attaches importance to the corporate stability that 
strong governance brings, as well as the opportunities that result from it being part of the Jardine Matheson Holdings Limited 
(‘Jardine Matheson’) group.

The Group is committed to high standards of governance.  The system of governance it has adopted has been developed over 
many years by the members of the Jardine Matheson group which both the Group and its stakeholders regard as appropriate to  
the nature of its business and the long-term strategy it pursues in its Asian markets, and is tailored to the Group’s size, ownership 
structure, complexity and breadth of businesses.  It enables the Company to benefit from Jardine Matheson’s strategic guidance  
and professional expertise, while at the same time ensuring that the independence of the Board is respected and clear operational 
accountability rests with the Company’s executive management teams.  Having an effective corporate governance framework 
supports the Board in the delivery of the Group’s strategy and supports long-term sustainable growth.

Group Structure

Jardine Matheson is the ultimate holding company of the Group.  The structural relationship between Jardine Matheson group and 
the Group is considered to be a key element of the Group’s success.  By coordinating objectives, establishing common values and 
standards, and sharing experience, contacts and business relationships, the Jardine Matheson group companies aim to optimise 
their opportunities across the Asian countries where they operate. 

The Company is incorporated in Bermuda.  The retailing interests of the Dairy Farm Group are entirely in Asia.  The Company’s  
equity shares have as their primary listing a standard listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange (the ‘LSE’), and the 
Company’s primary regulator is the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom (the ‘FCA’).

The Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules (the ‘DTRs’) issued by the FCA require that this Report addresses all relevant 
information about the corporate governance practices applied by the Company and the Group beyond the requirements under 
Bermuda law.

The Company also has secondary listings in Singapore and Bermuda.  As the Company has only secondary listings on these 
exchanges, the listing rules of such exchanges are not generally applicable.  Instead, the Company must release the same 
information as it is required to release under the rules applicable to it as a standard listed company on the LSE, in compliance  
with the rules applicable to those exchanges in Singapore and Bermuda.

Governance and Legal Framework

As a company incorporated in Bermuda, the Company is governed by:

• 
• 

• 

The Bermuda Companies Act 1981 (the ‘Companies Act’);
The Bermuda Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited Consolidation and Amendment Act 1988 (as amended), pursuant  
to which the Company was incorporated and the Bermuda Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited Regulations 1993  
(as amended) was established; and
The Company’s Memorandum of Association and Bye-laws.

137

Governance and Legal Framework continued

The Bye-laws of the Company can be amended by the shareholders by way of a special resolution at a general meeting of  
the Company.

The Company’s standard listing in London means that it is bound by many of the same rules as premium-listed companies under 
the UK Listing Rules, the DTRs, the Market Abuse Regulation¹ (‘MAR’) and the Prospectus Regulation Rules, including in relation to 
continuous disclosure, periodic financial reporting, disclosure of interests in shares, market abuse and the publication and content  
of prospectuses in connection with admission to trading or offering securities to the public.  The Company is subject to regulatory 
oversight from the FCA, as the Company’s principal securities regulator, and is required to comply with the Admission and 
Disclosure Standards of the Main Market of the LSE.  The Company and its Directors are also subject to legislation and regulations  
in Singapore relating to insider dealing.

The Company is not required to comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code (the ‘Code’), which applies to all premium-listed 
companies and sets out the governance principles and provisions which are expected to be followed by companies which are 
subject to the Code.

When the shareholders approved the Company’s move to a standard listing from a premium listing in 2014, the Company stated 
that it intended to maintain certain governance principles on the basis as was then applicable to the Company’s premium listing.  
As a result, the Company has adopted a number of governance principles (the ‘Governance Principles’) based on the then applicable 
requirements for a premium listing, which go further than the standard listing requirements.  

The key elements of the Governance Principles are as follows:

•  When assessing a significant transaction (a larger transaction which would be classified as a class 1 transaction under the 

provisions of the UK Listing Rules), the Company will engage an independent financial adviser to provide a fairness opinion  
on the terms of the transaction.

• 

• 

• 

• 

If the Company carries out a related party transaction which would require a sponsor to provide a fair and reasonable opinion 
under the provisions of the UK Listing Rules, it will engage an independent financial adviser to confirm that the terms of the 
transaction are fair and reasonable as far as the shareholders of the Company are concerned.

Further, as soon as the terms of a significant transaction or a related party transaction are agreed, an announcement will be 
issued by the Company providing such details of the transaction as are necessary for investors to evaluate the effect of the 
transaction on the Company.

At each annual general meeting (‘AGM‘), the Company will seek shareholders’ approval to issue new shares on  
a non-pre-emptive basis for up to 33% of the Company’s issued share capital, of which up to 5% can be issued for  
cash consideration.

The Company adheres to a set of Securities Dealing Rules which follow the provisions of MAR with respect to market abuse 
and disclosure of interests in shares.

1  The EU Market Abuse Regulation and, with effect from 1st January 2021, the UK Market Abuse Regulation.

138

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Corporate GovernanceThe Management of the Group

The Board
The Board is responsible for ensuring that the Group is appropriately managed and achieves the strategic objectives it sets, in a way 
that is supported by the right culture, values and behaviours throughout the Group.

The Directors have the full power to manage the business affairs of the Company, with the exception of matters reserved to  
be exercised by the Company in general meeting under Bermuda legislation or the Company’s Bye-laws.  Key matters for which  
the Directors are responsible include:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

Responsibility for the overall strategic aims and objectives of the Group;
Establishing the Company’s purpose and values;
Approval of the Group’s strategy and risk appetite to align with the Group’s purpose and values;
Approval and oversight of the Group policy framework and approval of appropriate Group policies;
Approval of the Annual Budget and monitoring of performance against it;
Oversight of the Group’s operations;
Approval of major changes to Group’s corporate or capital structure;
Approval of major capital expenditure and significant transactions (in terms of size or reputational impact);
Approval of interim and final financial statements upon recommendation from the Audit Committee, and interim 
management statements;
Approval of Annual Report and Accounts;
Approval of dividend policy and amount and form of interim and final dividend payments for approval by shareholders  
as required;
Any significant changes to the Company’s accounting policies or practices upon recommendation from the Audit Committee;
Appointment, reappointment or removal of the external auditor, subject to shareholder approval, upon recommendation from 
the Audit Committee;
Approval of matters relating to the AGM (resolutions and shareholder documentation);
Approval of all shareholder circulars, prospectuses and listing particulars issued by the Company; and
Approval of material public announcements concerning matters decided by the Board.

Responsibility for certain matters, including the approval of borrowing facilities and of capital expenditure (other than major capital
expenditure which is required to be approved by the Board) has been delegated to the finance committee established within the 
Hong Kong-based Group management company, Dairy Farm Management Services Limited (‘DFMS’).

Board Composition and Operational Management
The Board’s composition and the way it operates provide stability, allowing the Company to take a long-term view as it seeks to 
grow its businesses and pursue investment opportunities.

The Chairman has been appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Bye-laws of the Company, which provide that the 
chairman of Jardine Matheson, or any Director nominated by him, shall be the Chairman of the Company.

139

Board Composition and Operational Management continued
The Company has a dedicated executive management team led by the Group Chief Executive.  The Memorandum of Association of 
the Company, however, provides for the chairman of Jardine Matheson to be, or to appoint, the Managing Director of the Company.  
Reflecting this, and the Jardine Matheson group’s 78% interest in the Company’s share capital, the Group Chief Executive and  
the Managing Director meet regularly.  Similarly, the board of DFMS, and its finance committee are chaired by the Managing 
Director and include Dairy Farm Group executives as well as Jardine Matheson’s deputy managing director, group finance director 
and group general counsel.

The presence of Jardine Matheson representatives on the Board of the Company and on the board of DFMS, as well as on its audit 
and finance committees, provides an added element of stability to the Company’s financial planning and supervision, enhancing  
its ability to raise finance and take a long-term view of business development.  The presence of Jardine Matheson representatives  
on the Company’s Board and nominations committee and DFMS’ audit, finance and remuneration committees also strengthens  
the ability of management to work effectively together in exploiting the full range of the Jardine Matheson group’s commercial 
strengths.

As at 11th March 2021, the Company comprises 11 Directors, two of whom (18%) – Dr Delman Lee and Clive Schlee – are regarded 
as Independent Non-Executive Directors.  Three further Non-Executive Directors – George J. Ho, Anthony Nightingale and Percy 
Weatherall – do not have any executive responsibilities, nor have they been an employee of the Company or the Group within the 
past five years, and they are sufficiently distanced from the day-to-day operations of the Company for the Company to take the view 
that they are independent Directors, even though they have served on the Board for over nine years.  The names of all the Directors 
and brief biographies appear on pages 50 and 51 of this Report.

Ben Keswick has been Chairman of the Board since 16th May 2013.  John Witt has held the role of Managing Director from  
15th June 2020.  Ian McLeod has been Group Chief Executive since 18th September 2017.  Ben Keswick previously held the roles  
of Chairman and Managing Director on a combined basis from 16th May 2013.  The Board considers that there is a clear division  
of responsibilities among the Chairman, the Managing Director and the Group Chief Executive in order to ensure an appropriate 
balance of power and authority.

Chairman
The Chairman’s role is to lead the Board, ensuring its effectiveness while taking account of the interests of the Group’s various 
stakeholders, and promoting high standards of corporate governance.  The Chairman’s principal responsibilities are in the areas of 
strategy, relationships, governance and people.  He leads the Board in overseeing the long-term strategic direction of the Group and 
approving its key business priorities.  His key responsibilities also include:

• 
• 

• 

• 
• 
• 

• 
• 

Leading the development of the culture and values of the Group;
Supporting the development and maintenance of relationships with existing and new key business partners, governments 
and shareholders;
Ensuring (together with the Managing Director and the Group Chief Executive) an appropriate focus on attracting and 
retaining the right people and carrying out succession planning for senior management positions;
Creating a culture of openness and transparency at Board meetings;
Building an effective Board supported by a strong governance framework;
Ensuring all Directors effectively contribute to discussions and feel comfortable in engaging in healthy debate and  
constructive challenge;
Ensuring all Directors receive accurate, timely and clear information; and
Promoting effective communication between Executive and Non-Executive Directors.

140

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Corporate GovernanceManaging Director
The Managing Director acts as chairman of DFMS and of its finance committee, as well as being a member of the Company’s 
nominations committee and the remuneration committee established in DFMS.  He has responsibility for representing Jardine 
Matheson, as the major shareholder in the Company, in its oversight of the day-to-day management by the Group Chief Executive 
and his leadership team of the businesses. 

Group Chief Executive
The responsibility for running the Group’s business and all the executive matters affecting the Group rests with the Group Chief 
Executive.  The implementation of the Group’s strategy is delegated to the Company’s executive management, with decision-making 
authority within designated financial parameters delegated to the DFMS finance committee.  The Group Chief Executive has 
day-to-day responsibility for:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

• 

The effective management of the Group’s businesses;
Leading the development of the Company’s strategic direction and implementing the agreed strategy;
Identifying and executing new business opportunities;
Managing the Group’s risk profile and implementing and maintaining an effective framework of internal controls;
Developing targets and goals for his executive team;
Ensuring effective communication with shareholders and key stakeholders and regularly updating institutional investors on 
the business strategy and performance; 
Providing regular operational updates to the Board on all matters of significance relating to the Group’s business or reputation;
Overseeing the Group’s capital allocation, business planning and performance;
Ensuring (together with the Chairman and the Managing Director) an appropriate focus on attracting and retaining the right 
people and carrying out succession planning for senior management positions; and
Fostering innovation and entrepreneurialism to drive the Group’s businesses forward.

Non-Executive Directors
The Non-Executive Directors bring insight and experience to the Board.  They have responsibility for constructively challenging  
the strategies proposed by the Executive Directors and scrutinising the performance of management in achieving agreed goals  
and objectives.

Board Meetings
The Board usually holds four meetings each year and ad hoc procedures are adopted to deal with urgent matters which arise 
between scheduled meetings.  The majority of Board meetings are usually held in different locations around Asia and one Board 
meeting is usually held in Bermuda, at the same time as the Company’s AGM each May.

In 2020, due to travel restrictions imposed as a result of the pandemic, it was necessary to hold all four Board meetings virtually.   
The Board receives high quality, up to date information for each of its meetings, which is provided to Directors via a secure online 
board information portal.

The Company’s Directors who do not serve on the board of DFMS and who are based outside Asia will usually visit Asia and 
Bermuda to discuss the Group’s businesses, as well as to participate in the four strategic reviews that precede the regular Board 
meetings.  In 2020, all of these strategic reviews were held virtually as a result of the pandemic.  These Directors are not directly 
involved in the operational management of the Group’s business activities, but their knowledge of the Group’s affairs, as well as their 
experience of the wider Jardine Matheson group, provide significant value to the ongoing review by the Company of the Group’s 
businesses and reinforces the Board oversight process.

141

Board and Committee Attendance
Directors are expected to attend all Board and Audit Committee meetings.  The table below shows the attendance at the scheduled 
Board and Audit Committee meetings:

Board

Audit Committee

Current Directors of the Company

Ben Keswick

John Witt

Ian McLeod

Clem Constantine

George J. Ho

Adam Keswick

Dr Delman Lee

Anthony Nightingale

Y.K. Pang

Clive Schlee

Percy Weatherall

Directors of DFMS

Graham Baker 1

Jeremy Parr 2

Former Directors of the Company

Mark Greenberg 3

Lord Sassoon 4

1  Graham Baker joined the board of DFMS on 15th June 2020.
2  Jeremy Parr stepped down as a Director of the Company on 3rd December 2020, but remains a director of DFMS.
3  Mark Greenberg stepped down as a Director on 31st December 2020.
4  Lord Sassoon retired from the Board on 9th April 2020.

4/4

4/4

3/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

4/4

2/2

4/4

-

4/4

4/4

1/1

-

2/2

-

-

-

-

-

-

2/2

-

-

1/1

2/2

2/2

-

Appointment and Retirement of Directors
Each new Director is appointed by the Board and the Nominations Committee has been established to assist the Board in such 
matters.  In accordance with the Company’s Bye-laws, each new Director is subject to retirement and re-appointment at the first 
AGM after appointment.  Thereafter, Directors are subject to retirement by rotation requirements under the Bye-laws whereby 
one-third of the Directors retire at the AGM each year.  These provisions apply to both Executive and Non-Executive Directors, but 
the requirement to retire by rotation does not extend to the Chairman or Managing Director.

142

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Corporate GovernanceAppointment and Retirement of Directors continued
Simon Keswick and Lord Sassoon retired from the Board on 1st January 2020 and 9th April 2020, respectively.  Clive Schlee was 
appointed to the Board with effect from 6th May 2020.  Ben Keswick stepped down as Managing Director of the Company  
on 15th June 2020 and remains as the Chairman.  He was succeeded as Managing Director by John Witt.  Jeremy Parr and  
Mark Greenberg stepped down from the Board with effect from 3rd and 31st December 2020, respectively.

In accordance with Bye-law 85, Anthony Nightingale and Percy Weatherall retire by rotation at this year’s AGM and, being eligible, 
offer themselves for re-election.  In accordance with Bye-law 92, Clive Schlee will also retire and, being eligible, offers himself for 
re-election.  None of the Directors proposed for re-election has a service contract with the Company or its subsidiaries.

Company Secretary
All Directors have access to the advice of the Company Secretary, who is responsible for advising the Board on all governance 
matters.

Committees
The Board is supported by the activities of its Committees (the Nominations, Remuneration and Audit Committees), which  
ensure the right level of attention and consideration are given to specific matters.  Matters considered by each of the Committees 
are set out in its respective terms of reference.  Copies of these documents can be obtained from the Company’s website at  
www.dairyfarmgroup.com.

Nominations Committee

The Board established a Nominations Committee (the ‘Nominations Committee’) in March 2021.  The key responsibilities of the 
Nominations Committee are to:

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

Review the structure, size and composition of the Board and its committees and make recommendations on any 
appointments in order to maintain a balance of skills, knowledge and experience, as well as a diversity of perspectives;
Lead the process for Board appointments and nominate suitable candidates to the Board; 
Assess suitable candidates based on merit and objective criteria (giving consideration to the promotion of diversity of 
backgrounds, knowledge, experience and skills), taking into account their ability to meet the required time commitments;
Oversee the development of succession pipelines for both the Board and senior management positions, to ensure talent is 
identified and nurtured to meet the challenges and opportunities facing the Group; and
Satisfy itself that any skill gaps are addressed in the reviews of Board composition, and that appropriate development 
opportunities are in place for Directors to keep abreast of market knowledge and industry trends to perform their role effectively.

The Nominations Committee consists of a minimum of three members, selected by the Chairman of the Board.  The Chairman of 
the Board is the chairman of the Nominations Committee.  The current members of the Nominations Committee are Ben Keswick, 
Adam Keswick and John Witt.  The Nominations Committee meets at least annually and more often if necessary.  It plays a key role 
in the process of recruiting senior executives.  Candidates for appointment as Executive Directors of the Company or for other senior 
management positions may be sourced internally or externally, including by using the services of specialist executive search or 
recruitment firms.  The aim is to appoint individuals who combine international business knowledge and experience, industry 
knowledge and experience if possible, and familiarity with, or adaptability to, Asian markets.  When appointing Non-Executive 
Directors, the Committee pays particular attention to the Asian business experience and relationships that they can bring.

143

Committees continued
Remuneration Committee

The Board established a Remuneration Committee (the ‘Remuneration Committee’) within DFMS in March 2021.  The key 
responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee are to:

• 

• 
• 

• 
• 

Oversee the formulation of a Group-wide reward strategy and ensure the business implements the reward strategy in 
alignment with its industry-specific needs;
Review and approve the compensation of the Group Chief Executive and leadership team of the business;
Review the terms of and design of performance related incentives (both short- and long-term), including the review and 
approval of any changes to plan design, targets and metrics;
Review and approve the overall compensation costs, including salary and bonus budgets, of the business; and
Remain abreast of trends and developments in executive compensation and corporate governance as they relate to the 
Group’s industry and countries of operation.

The Remuneration Committee consists of a minimum of three members, selected by the Chairman of the Board.  The Chairman of 
the Board is the chairman of the Committee.  The current members of the Remuneration Committee are Ben Keswick, John Witt, 
Graham Baker and John Nolan (Jardines group human resources director).  The Group Chief Executive and the Group Human 
Resources Director will generally attend meetings of the Remuneration Committee.  The Remuneration Committee meets at least 
twice annually and more often if necessary, with its meetings aligned with the key events in the Group’s annual remuneration cycle.  

Audit Committee

The Board has established within DFMS an Audit Committee (the ‘Audit Committee’), the current members of which are Y.K. Pang, 
Graham Baker, Jeremy Parr and John Witt.  None of them is directly involved in operational management.  Graham Baker was 
appointed as a member of the Audit Committee with effect from 15th June 2020.  Mark Greenberg retired as a member of the  
Audit Committee on 31st December 2020.

The chairman, group chief executive and chief financial officer of DFMS, together with representatives of the internal and external 
auditors, also attend the Audit Committee meetings by invitation.  Other individuals may attend part of a meeting for specific 
agenda items as appropriate.  The Audit Committee meets twice a year and reports to the Board after each meeting.

The role of the Audit Committee is governed by its terms of reference.  The Committee’s remit includes:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Independent oversight and assessment of financial reporting processes including related internal controls;
Risk management and compliance;
Overseeing the effectiveness of the internal and external audit functions;
Considering the independence and objectivity of the external auditors; and
Reviewing and approving the level and nature of non-audit work performed by the external auditors.

Prior to completion and announcement of the half-year and year-end results, a review of the Company’s financial information and of 
any issues raised in connection with the preparation of the results, including the adoption of new accounting policies, is undertaken  
by the Audit Committee with the executive management and a report is received from the external auditors.  The external auditors 
also have access to the full Board when necessary, in addition to the Group Chief Executive, Chief Financial Officer and other  
senior executives.

144

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Corporate GovernanceCommittees continued
Audit Committee continued

The matters considered by the Audit Committee during 2020 included:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Reviewing the 2019 annual financial statements and 2020 half-yearly financial statements, with particular focus on the impact 
of COVID-19, provisioning and impairment assessments, assumptions that underpinned key valuation models and 
effectiveness of financial controls;
Reviewing the actions and judgements of management in relation to changes in accounting policies and practices, to ensure 
clarity of disclosures and compliance with new accounting standards;
Receiving reports from internal audit on the status of the control environment of the Group and its business divisions, and 
progress made in resolving matters identified in the reports; 
Reviewing the principal risks, evolving trends and emerging risks that affect the Group, and monitoring changes to the risk 
profile, as well as the effectiveness of risk management measures and crisis management arrangements;
Receiving updates on the cybersecurity threat landscape and the Group’s cybersecurity environment, risk management 
approach, priorities and control effectiveness;
Receiving reports from risk management and legal functions on key legal matters and compliance and code of conduct issues, 
and the actions taken in addressing those issues and strengthening controls; 
Reviewing the annual internal audit plan and status updates; 
Reviewing and approving the revised terms of reference of the Group’s internal audit and risk management functions;
Reviewing the biennial assessment of the effectiveness of PwC; 
Reviewing the independence, audit scope and fees of PwC, and recommending their re-appointment as the external auditor; and 
Conducting a review of the terms of reference of the Audit Committee.

Remuneration
The Board has overall responsibility for setting remuneration across the Group, ensuring it is appropriate and supports the  
Group’s strategy, creating value for stakeholders.  The Remuneration Committee has been established to assist the Board in these 
remuneration matters.  The Company’s policy is to offer competitive remuneration packages to its senior executives.  It is recognised 
that, due to the nature of the Group and its diverse geographic base, a number of its senior executives are required to be offered 
international terms and the nature of the remuneration packages is designed to reflect this.  Executive Directors joining from outside 
the Group may be offered an initial fixed-term service contract to reflect any requirement for them to relocate.

Directors’ fees, which are payable to all Directors other than the Group Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer, are decided 
upon by shareholders in general meeting as provided for by the Company’s Bye-laws.

Remuneration in 2020

For the year ended 31st December 2020, the Directors received from the Group US$8.5 million (2019: US$8.5 million) in Directors’ fees 
and employee benefits, being:

• 
• 

• 
• 

US$0.8 million (2019: US$0.8 million) in Directors’ fees; and
US$6.4 million (2019: US$6.3 million) in short-term employee benefits including salary, bonuses, accommodation and deemed 
benefits in kind;
US$0.1 million (2019: US$0.1 million) in post-employment benefits; and
US$1.2 million (2019: US$1.3 million) in share-based payments.

The information set out in the section above headed ‘Remuneration in 2020’ forms part of the audited financial statements.

145

Share Schemes
Share-based long-term incentive plans have also been established to provide incentives for Executive Directors and senior 
managers.  Share options are granted by the scheme trustee after consultation between the Chairman and the Group Chief 
Executive as well as other Directors as they consider appropriate.  Share options are not granted to Non-Executive Directors.   
In December 2018 a new cash-based long-term incentive plan was implemented for senior management, in order to align  
their remuneration with shareholders’ interests by rewarding the delivery of strong EPS growth over the next five years.  Payouts 
under the plan will also be dependent on the achievement of appropriate targets linked to the health of the business and the 
sustainability of earnings growth.

Insurance and Indemnification
The Company purchases insurance to cover its Directors against their costs in defending themselves in civil proceedings taken 
against them in that capacity and in respect of damages resulting from the unsuccessful defence of any proceedings.  To the extent 
permitted by law, the Company also indemnifies its Directors.  Neither insurance nor indemnity arrangements provide cover where 
the Director has acted fraudulently or dishonestly.

Risk Management and Internal Control
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s systems of risk management and internal control.  The Board has delegated to 
the Audit Committee responsibility for providing oversight in respect of risk management activities.  The Audit Committee considers 
the Group’s principal risks and uncertainties and potential changes to the risk profile and reviews the operation and effectiveness  
of the Group’s systems of internal control (financial, operational and compliance) and the procedures by which these risks are 
monitored and mitigated.

The Audit Committee considers the systems and procedures on a regular basis, and reports to the Board semi-annually.  The systems 
of internal control are designed to manage, rather than eliminate, business risk; to help safeguard the Group’s assets against fraud 
and other irregularities; and to give reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material financial misstatement or loss.

Executive management is responsible for the implementation of the systems of internal control throughout the Group, and a series 
of audit committees at an operational level and the internal audit function monitor the effectiveness of the systems.

The Group has an established risk management process which is reviewed on a regular basis and covers all business units within  
the Group.  This includes the maintenance of risk registers which detail the emerging and existing risks to the future success of the 
business and the relevant key controls and mitigating factors which address those risks.  These are reviewed on a regular basis.

The internal audit function also monitors the approach taken by the business units to risk.  The internal audit function is 
independent of the operating businesses and reports its findings, and recommendations for any corrective action required,  
to the Audit Committee.

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company are set out on pages 149 and 150.

146

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Corporate GovernanceDelegations of Authority
The Group has in place an organisational structure with defined lines of responsibility and delegation of authority.  There are 
established policies and procedures for financial planning and budgeting, information and reporting systems, assessment of risk; 
and monitoring the Group’s operations and performance.  The information systems in place are designed to ensure that the financial 
information reported is reliable and up to date.

The Group’s 50% associate, Maxim’s Caterers Limited (‘MCL’), has a separate board, audit committee, risk management and internal 
audit structure.  The Group is represented on the board of MCL, at which reviews of strategy, operations, budgets and major 
investments are undertaken.  The MCL board has delegated to the MCL group’s audit and risk management committees and  
its audit department responsibility for reviewing areas of major risk and the effectiveness of the internal control procedures.

Whistleblowing Policy
The Group has a whistleblowing policy covering the process by which employees can report, in confidence, matters of serious 
concern.  The Audit Committee has responsibility for overseeing the effectiveness of the formal procedures for employees to raise 
such matters and is required to review any reports made under those procedures which are referred to it by the internal audit 
function.

Directors’ Responsibilities in respect of the Financial Statements
The Directors are required under the Companies Act to prepare financial statements for each financial year and to present them 
annually to the Company’s shareholders at the AGM.  The financial statements are required to present fairly, in accordance with 
International Financial Reporting Standards (‘IFRS’), the financial position of the Group at the end of the year and the results of  
its operations and its cash flows for the year then ended.  The Directors consider that applicable accounting policies under IFRS, 
applied on a consistent basis and supported by prudent and reasonable judgements and estimates, have been followed in 
preparing the financial statements.  The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

Code of Conduct
The Group conducts business in a professional, ethical and even-handed manner.  Its ethical standards are clearly set out in its  
Code of Conduct, which is a set of guidelines to which every employee must adhere and is reinforced and monitored by an annual 
compliance certification process, and is modelled on the Jardine Matheson group’s code of conduct.  The Code of Conduct requires 
that all Group companies comply with all laws of general application, all rules and regulations that are industry specific and proper 
standards of business conduct.  The Code of Conduct prohibits the giving or receiving of illicit payments and requires that all 
managers must be fully aware of their obligations under the Code of Conduct and establish procedures to ensure compliance  
at all levels within their organisations.

The Company’s policy on commercial conduct underpins the Group’s internal control process, particularly in the area of compliance.  
The policy is set out in the Group’s Code of Conduct.

Inclusion and Diversity
The Code of Conduct also encourages inclusion and diversity, and requires all employees to be treated fairly, impartially and  
with dignity and respect.  As a multinational Group with a broad range of businesses operating across Asia, the Group believes in 
promoting equal opportunities in recruiting, developing and rewarding its people regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, 
sexual orientation, disability, age or background.  The scale and breadth of the Group’s businesses necessitate that they seek the best 
people from the communities in which they operate most suited to their needs.

147

Directors’ Share Interests
The Directors of the Company in office on 11th March 2021 had interests* as set out below in the ordinary share capital of the 
Company.  These interests include those notified to the Company in respect of the Directors’ closely associated persons*.

Ian McLeod 
Clem Constantine 
George J. Ho 
Anthony Nightingale 
Percy Weatherall 

* Within the meaning of MAR

199,171
100,000
2,098,804
34,183
200,000

In addition, Ian McLeod held deferred share awards in respect of 398,343 ordinary shares issued pursuant to the Company’s 
share-based long-term incentive plans.

Substantial Shareholders
As a non-UK issuer, the Company is subject to the provisions of the DTRs which require that a person must in certain circumstances 
notify the Company of the percentage of voting rights attaching to the share capital of the Company that person holds.  The 
obligation to notify arises if that person acquires or disposes of shares in the Company which results in the percentage of voting 
rights which the person holds reaching, exceeding, or falling below, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 50% and 75%.

The Company has been informed of the holding of voting rights of 5% or more attaching to the Company’s issued ordinary share 
capital by Jardine Strategic Holdings Limited (‘Jardine Strategic’), which is directly interested in 1,049,589,171 ordinary shares carrying 
77.58% of the voting rights.  By virtue of its interest in Jardine Strategic, Jardine Matheson is also interested in the same ordinary 
shares.  Apart from this shareholding, the Company is not aware of any holders of voting rights of 5% or more attaching to the 
issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 11th March 2021.

There were no contracts of significance with corporate substantial shareholders during the year under review.

Related Party Transactions
Details of transactions with related parties entered into by the Company during the course of the year are included in note 33 to  
the financial statements on page 99.

Securities Purchase Arrangements
The Directors have the power under the Companies Act and the Company’s Memorandum of Association to purchase  
the Company’s shares.  Any shares so purchased shall be treated as cancelled and, therefore, reduce the issued share capital  
of the Company.  When the Board reviews the possibility for share repurchases, it will take into consideration the potential for  
the enhancement of earnings or asset values per share.  When purchasing such shares, the Company is subject to the provisions  
of MAR.

Annual General Meeting
The 2021 AGM will be held on 5th May 2021.  The full text of the resolutions and explanatory notes in respect of the meeting are 
contained in the Notice of Meeting which accompanies this Report.  A corporate website is maintained containing a wide range of 
information of interest to investors at www.dairyfarmgroup.com.

148

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Corporate GovernancePrincipal Risks and Uncertainties

The Board has overall responsibility for risk management and internal control.  The process by which the Group identifies and 
manages risk is set out in more detail on page 146 of the Corporate Governance section of this Report.  The following are the 
principal risks and uncertainties facing the Company as required to be disclosed pursuant to the Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules issued by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom and are in addition to the matters referred  
to in the Chairman’s Statement, the Group Chief Executive’s Review and other parts of the Annual Report.

Economic Risk

Most of the Group’s businesses are exposed to the risk of negative developments in global and regional economies and financial 
markets, either directly or through the impact such developments might have on the Group’s joint venture partners, associates, 
franchisors, bankers, suppliers or customers.  These developments could include recession, inflation, deflation, currency fluctuations, 
restrictions in the availability of credit, business failures, or increases in financing costs, oil prices, the cost of raw materials or finished 
products.  Such developments might increase operating costs, reduce revenues, lower asset values or result in some or all of the 
Group’s businesses being unable to meet their strategic objectives.

Commercial Risk and Financial Risk

Risks are an integral part of normal commercial activities, and where practicable steps are taken to mitigate them.  Risks can be more 
pronounced when businesses are operating in volatile markets.  While the Group’s regional diversification does help to mitigate 
some risks, a significant portion of the Group revenues and profits continue to be derived from our operations in Hong Kong.

A number of the Group’s businesses make significant investment decisions in respect of developments or projects and these are 
subject to market risks.  This is especially the case where projects are longer-term in nature and take more time to deliver returns.

The Group’s businesses operate in areas that are highly competitive, and failure to compete effectively, whether in terms of price, 
product specification, technology, property site or levels of service or to adapt to changing consumer behaviours, including  
new shopping channels and formats, can have an adverse effect on earnings.  Significant competitive pressure may also lead  
to reduced margins.

It is essential for the products and services provided by the Group’s businesses to meet appropriate quality and safety standards and 
there is an associated risk if they do not, including the risk of damage to brand equity or reputation, which might adversely impact 
the ability to achieve acceptable revenues and profit margins.

While social media presents significant opportunities for the Group’s businesses to connect with customers and the public, it also 
creates a whole new set of potential risks for companies to monitor, including damage to brand equity or reputation, which could 
affect the Group’s profitability.

The steps taken by the Group to manage its exposure to financial risk are set out in the Financial Review on page 49 and note 38 to 
the financial statements on pages 112 to 119.

Concessions, Franchises and Key Contracts

A number of the Group’s businesses and projects are reliant on concessions, franchises, management or other key contracts.  
Cancellation, expiry or termination, or the renegotiation of any such concessions, franchises, management or other key contracts, 
could have an adverse effect on the financial condition and results of operations of certain subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures 
of the Group.

149

Regulatory and Political Risk

The Group’s businesses are subject to a number of regulatory regimes in the territories in which they operate.  Changes in such 
regimes, in relation to matters such as foreign ownership of assets and businesses, exchange controls, licensing, imports, planning 
controls, emission regulations, tax rules and employment legislation, could have the potential to impact the operations and 
profitability of the Group’s businesses.

Changes in the political environment, including political or social unrest, in the territories where the Group operates could adversely 
affect the Group’s businesses.

Terrorism, Pandemic and Natural Disasters

The Group’s operations are vulnerable to the effects of terrorism, either directly through the impact of an act of terrorism or 
indirectly through the effect on the Group’s businesses of generally reduced economic activity in response to the threat, or an actual 
act, of terrorism.

The Group’s businesses could be impacted by a global or regional pandemic which seriously affects economic activity or the ability 
of businesses to operate smoothly.  In addition, many of the territories in which the Group operates can experience from time to 
time natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanoes and typhoons.

Technology Risk

The Group has invested significantly in and is heavily reliant on its IT infrastructure and systems for the daily operation of its business.  
Any major disruption to the Group’s IT systems could have a significant impact on operations.  The ability to anticipate and adapt to 
technology advancements or threats is an additional risk that may also have an impact on the business.  

Cybersecurity Risk

The Group faces increasing numbers of cyberattacks from groups targeting both individuals and businesses.  The privacy and 
security of customer and corporate information is at risk of being compromised through a breach of our or our suppliers’ IT systems 
or the unauthorised or inadvertent release of information, resulting in brand damage, impaired competitiveness or regulatory 
action.  Cyberattacks may also adversely affect our ability to manage our business operations, or operate information technology 
and business systems, resulting in business interruption, lost revenues, repair or other costs.  

150

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Principal Risks and UncertaintiesShareholder Information

Financial Calendar

2020 full-year results announced 

Shares quoted ex-dividend

Share registers closed

Annual General Meeting to be held

2020 final dividend payable

2021 half-year results to be announced

Shares quoted ex-dividend

Share registers to be closed

2021 interim dividend payable

* Subject to change

Dividends

11th March 2021

25th March 2021

29th March to 2nd April 2021

5th May 2021

12th May 2021

29th July 2021*

19th August 2021*

23rd to 27th August 2021*

13th October 2021*

Shareholders will receive their cash dividends in United States Dollars, except when elections are made for alternate currencies  
in the following circumstances.

Shareholders on the Jersey Branch Register
Shareholders registered on the Jersey branch register will have the option to elect for their dividends to be paid in Sterling.   
These shareholders may make new currency elections for the 2020 final dividend by notifying the United Kingdom transfer agent  
in writing by 28th April 2021.  The Sterling equivalent of dividends declared in United States Dollars will be calculated by reference  
to a rate prevailing on 3rd May 2021.

Shareholders holding their shares through CREST in the United Kingdom will receive their cash dividends in Sterling only as 
calculated above. 

Shareholders on the Singapore Branch Register who hold their shares through The Central Depository (Pte) Limited (‘CDP’)
Shareholders who are on CDP’s Direct Crediting Service (‘DCS’)
For those shareholders who are on CDP’s DCS, they will receive their cash dividends in Singapore Dollars unless they opt out of CDP 
Currency Conversion Service, through CDP, to receive United States Dollars.

Shareholders who are not on CDP’s DCS
For those shareholders who are not on CDP’s DCS, they will receive their cash dividends in United States Dollars unless they elect, 
through CDP, to receive Singapore Dollars. 

Registrars and Transfer Agent

Shareholders should address all correspondence with regard to their shareholdings or dividends to the appropriate registrar  
or transfer agent.

Principal Registrar
Jardine Matheson International Services Limited
P.O. Box HM 1068
Hamilton HM EX
Bermuda

Jersey Branch Registrar
Link Market Services (Jersey) Limited
12 Castle Street
St Helier, Jersey JE2 3RT
Channel Islands

Singapore Branch Registrar
M & C Services Private Limited
112 Robinson Road #05-01
Singapore 068902

United Kingdom Transfer Agent
Link Group
The Registry
10th Floor
Central Square
29 Wellington Street
Leeds LS1 4DL, United Kingdom

Press releases and other financial information can be accessed through the internet at www.dairyfarmgroup.com.

151

Retail Outlets Summary

Net change over 2019

5

118

(81)

Food

Grocery 
 Retail

Convenience 
Stores

Health  
and  
Beauty

Home 

Furnishings Restaurants

Other 
Retailing

322
20
1,371
101
115
68
–
–
263
–
34
–

974
51
1,403
423
–
–
–
–
481
–
–
–

350
20
116
114
314
463
24
–
521
95
12
–

2,294

3,332

2,029

4
1
–
–
2
–
–
6
–
–
–
–

13

1

794
21
250
160
–
2
–
–
–
67
24
423

1,741

(12)

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
588
–
–
–

588

(46)

Food

Grocery 
 Retail

Convenience 
Stores

Health  
and  
Beauty

Home 
Furnishings

Restaurants

Other 
Retailing

328
20
1,351
103
122
84
–
–
258
–
23
–

2,289

29

962
51
1,281
411
–
–
–
–
509
–
–
–

3,214

241

374
19
198
115
293
458
23
–
517
102
11
–

2,110

50

4
–
–
–
2
–
–
6
–
–
–
–

12

2

822
22
261
157
–
1
–
–
–
62
20
408

1,753

455

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
634
–
–
–

634

(9)

768

Total

2,444
113
3,140
798
431
533
24
6
1,853
162
70
423

9,997

(15)

Total

2,490
112
3,091
786
417
543
23
6
1,918
164
54
408

10,012

Net  
change

(46)
1
49
12
14
(10)
1
–
(65)
(2)
16
15

(15)

Net  
change

22
5
282
19
(28)
(19)
–
1
40
35
12
399

768

2020

Hong Kong
Macau
Mainland China
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Brunei
Taiwan
The Philippines
Vietnam
Cambodia
Thailand

Total

2019

Hong Kong
Macau
Mainland China
Singapore
Indonesia
Malaysia
Brunei
Taiwan
The Philippines
Vietnam
Cambodia
Thailand

Total

Net change over 2018

Store Network

10,012

9,997

9,244

6,676

6,052

Stores
12,000

10,000

8,000

6,000

4,000

2,000

0

Other Retailing
Restaurants
Home Furnishings
Health and Beauty
Convenience Stores
Grocery Retail

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Note: Includes associates and joint ventures and excludes discontinued operations.

152

Dairy Farm International Holdings Limited  Annual Report 2020

Management and Offices

Leadership Team
Ian McLeod 
Chris Bush 
Choo Peng Chee  
Clem Constantine 
Sam Kim 

Martin Lindström 
Judith Nelson 
Marcus Spurrell 
Charlie Wood 

Brunei
Guardian Health And Beauty (B) 
Sdn Bhd
Giant Hypermarket Tasik Rimba
Lot 58865 Kampong Rimba
Mukim Gadong
Bandar Seri Begawan
BE 3119
Negara Brunei Darussalam
Tel : (673) 246 0820
Fax : (673) 246 0821

Cambodia
DFI Lucky Private Limited
#01, Street 55P
Sangkat Tuek Thla
Khan Sen Sok
Phnom Penh
Tel : (855 23) 885 722
Website : www.dfilucky.com

Hong Kong and Macau
The Dairy Farm Company, Ltd
5/F Devon House
Taikoo Place
979 King’s Road
Quarry Bay
Tel : (852) 2299 3888
Fax : (852) 2299 2888

Maxim’s Caterers Ltd*
18/F Maxim’s Centre
17 Cheung Shun Stree
Cheung Sha Wan
Kowloon
Tel : (852) 2523 4107
Fax : (852) 2216 7883
Website : www.maxims.com.hk

Group Chief Executive
Chief Executive Officer – South East Asia Food
Chief Executive Officer – North Asia & Group Convenience
Chief Financial Officer
Chief Executive Officer – Health & Beauty and Chief Marketing & 
Business Development Officer 
Group Director – IKEA
Group Human Resources Director
Chief Digital Officer
Group Counsel

Corporate Office
11/F Devon House, Taikoo Place
979 King’s Road, Quarry Bay
Hong Kong
P.O. Box 286, G.P.O.
Tel : (852) 2299 1888
Fax : (852) 2299 4888
Website : www.dairyfarmgroup.com

Taiwan
DFI Home Furnishings Taiwan Ltd
4/F 1 Zhong Zheng Road
XinZhuang District
New Taipei City 24243
Tel : (886 2) 8069 9005
Fax : (886 2) 2276 0698
Website : www.ikea.com.tw

Vietnam
Pan Asia Trading And Investment 
One Member Company Limited*
L2-VP-01, 346 Ben Van Don
Ward 1, District 4
Ho Chi Minh City
Tel : (84 28) 3832 8272
Fax : (84 28) 3832 8448
Website : www.guardian.com.vn

Indonesia
PT Hero Supermarket Tbk
Graha Hero
KO. Komersial CBD Bintaro
Sektor VII B.7/A.7, Pondok Jaya
Pondok Aren, Tangerang Selatan
Banten 15224
Tel : (62 21) 8378 8000
Website : www.hero.co.id

Mainland China
Guangdong Sai Yi Convenience 
Stores Ltd
3/F Guangdong Mechanical
Sub-Building
185 Yue Hua Road
Yue Xiu District
Guangzhou 510030
Tel : (86 20) 8364 7118
Fax : (86 20) 8364 7436
Website : www.7-11.cn

Mannings Guangdong Retail 
Company Ltd
2/F Guangdong Mechanical
Main-Building
185 Yue Hua Road
Yue Xiu District
Guangzhou 510030
Tel : (86 20) 8318 1388
Fax : (86 20) 8318 2388
Website : www.mannings.com.cn

Yonghui Superstores Co., Ltd*
120 Hutou Street
Fuzhou 350002
Tel : (86 591) 8376 2200
Fax : (86 591) 8378 7308
Website : www.yonghui.com.cn

Malaysia
GCH Retail (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Mezzanine Floor
Giant Hypermarket Shah Alam 
Stadium
Lot 2, Persiaran Sukan, Seksyen 13 
40100 Shah Alam
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel : (603) 5544 8888
Fax : (603) 5511 0164
Website : www.giant.com.my

Guardian Health And Beauty  
Sdn Bhd
Mezzanine Floor
Giant Hypermarket Shah Alam 
Stadium
Lot 2, Persiaran Sukan, Seksyen 13 
40100 Shah Alam
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Tel : (603) 5544 8400
Fax : (603) 5518 1131
Website : www.guardian.com.my

The Philippines
Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.*
43F Robinsons Equitable Tower
ADB Avenue cor Poveda St.
Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Metro Manila
Tel : (63 2) 635 0751 to 64
Website : www.robinsonsretail 
holdings.com.ph

Singapore
Cold Storage Singapore (1983) 
Pte Ltd
21 Tampines North Drive 2
#03-01
Singapore 528765
Tel : (65) 6891 8000
Fax : (65) 6784 3623

* Associates or joint ventures

The ‘Dairy Farm’ trade and service marks are properties of the Nestlé, S.A. group

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