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James Halstead plc

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FY2022 Annual Report · James Halstead plc
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Report & Accounts 2022

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Expona Commercial

Polysafe Wood fx

Beechfield

Hollinhurst Road

Radcliffe

Manchester 

M26 1JN

Tel  +44 (0)161 767 2500

Fax +44 (0)161 766 7499

www.jameshalstead.com

JH-Accounts-Cover-2022-ARTWORK.indd   All Pages
JH-Accounts-Cover-2022-ARTWORK.indd   All Pages

04/10/2022   15:05
04/10/2022   15:05

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nominated adviser and stockbrokers
Panmure Gordon & Co
One New Change
London
EC4M 9AF

Stockbrokers
WH Ireland
24 Martin Lane
London
EC4R 0DR

Auditor
BDO LLP
3 Hardman Street
Spinningfields
Manchester
M3 3AT 

Directors and Advisers 

Directors
J A Wild FCA
M Halstead
G R Oliver FCA MCT
S D Hall
M J Halstead
R P Whiting

Secretary
D N Fletcher ACMA ACG

Registered office
Beechfield
Hollinhurst Road
Radcliffe
Manchester 
M26 1JN

Company registration No.
140269

Website
www.jameshalstead.com

Bankers
National Westminster Bank plc
1 Hardman Boulevard
Manchester 
M3 3AQ

Registrars
Link Group
Central Square
29 Wellington Street
Leeds
LS1 4DL

HM Queen Elizabeth II
1926 – 2022

Polyflor was created in 1950. At the time it seemed to many as if Britain was losing its way in
the post war world, but many more were optimistic. The newly formed NHS and the extension
of the welfare state were part of what was to become the new Elizabethan age. Our company,
and  many  others,  were  engaged  in  a  seller’s  market  exporting  our  goods,  initially  to  the
Commonwealth  countries  and  then  extending  globally. HM  Queen  Elizabeth  II  travelled  the
world throughout the following years as our head of state. Her honesty, sincerity, sense of duty
and service reflected back, in no small way, on the many businesses that exported from this
relatively small nation.

Trusted, reliable and constant.

I had the honour to meet the Queen when we were presented with the Queen’s Award for
Enterprise, as did others from our business as further awards followed. I can speak for all our
employees  from  the  shop  floors  of  Manchester  and  Teesside,  to  our  offices  in  Germany,
Australia,  France,  Asia,  Scandinavia,  New  Zealand,  Canada,  India  and  South  America  –  you
served us well your Majesty.

Thank you. May you Rest in Peace.

Geoffrey Halstead

President

1

Contents

Strategic Report

Chairman’s Statement                                                                       2

Chief Executive’s Review                                                                   5

Financial Director’s Review                                                                7

Section 172 Statement                                                                   11

Governance

Report of the Directors                                                                    13

Board Report on Remuneration                                                       17

Corporate Governance                                                                     18

Financial Statements

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members
of James Halstead plc                                                                      24

Consolidated Income Statement                                                     30

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income                       31

Consolidated Balance Sheet                                                            32

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity                                33

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                                34

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements                            35

Company Balance Sheet                                                                  61

Company Statement of Changes in Equity                                     62

Notes to the Company Financial Statements                                 63

Supplementary Information

Ten Year Summary                                                                           70

Shareholder Information                                                                 71

Notice of Annual General Meeting                                                  72

Chairman’s Statement

Results

Revenue for the year at £291.9m (2021: £266.4m) is 9.6%
ahead of the comparative year.

Underlying  operating  profit  is  £51.1  million  (2021:
£51.3m)  –  0.4  %  below  last  year. The  reported  profit  for
the year of £52.2m differed from this due to the one-off
effect of insurance pay-outs in respect of the breakdown of
one  of  the  major  production  lines  at  our  Radcliffe
manufacturing plant in September 2019.

As  I  wrote  in  our  trading  update  on  1 August  2022,  the
second half of the year has been, on the one hand, a period
of full production for our factories in the UK but also with
its challenges. The optimism at the start of the year on the
decline  of  Covid-19,  related  supply  problems  and  greater
availability  of 
labour  was  offset  by  a  myriad  of
shortages/cost  increases  following  the  invasion  of  the
Ukraine.  Transport,  fuel  and  energy  increases  were
immediately obvious and whilst a significant issue during
the spring/summer period, we have been mindful that the
autumn/winter  period  may  bring  deeper  problems.  The
most obvious effect on our business has been our decision
to  increase  stockholdings  as  we  sought  to  mitigate  the
risks  associated  with 
to
manufacture.  This,  in  our  view,  seemed  judicious  and
hopefully is over-cautious. In the event that the crisis does
not escalate, then it is likely we will temporarily suspend
some production for a period to bring stock levels back to
normal. 

the  potential 

inability 

Trading  margins  during  the  year  decreased  but  are
acceptable given the flood of cost increases that we have
in part passed on. As I noted in the last two years’ trading
updates, this period was again not normal. For example, in
some flooring projects that have been severely delayed, we
have honoured the prices originally quoted to preserve the
volume  needed  to  feed  our  production  lines.  In  other
instances,  we  have  re-priced  to  find  volume  still  goes
elsewhere and in many cases we have re-priced again and
retained  the  business. This  is  the  nature  of  our  industry
with  over-capacity  of  supply  and  at  least  one  global
competitor  has  fallen  into  receivership  on  the  back  of
facing  similar  issues.  Whilst  some  other  industries  have
priced daily on the back of this difficult situation, we have

2

walked  a  more  cautious  path  and  I  commend  our  teams
that  collectively  have  been  successful  in  managing  the
challenges we face.

There have been some positives in the midst of a generally
difficult  trading  environment.  The  general  boycott  in
Russian  trade  has  eased  the  widespread  shortage  of
shipping  containers  that  has  prevailed  since  Covid-19
disrupted  normal  shipping  routes.  Similarly,  with  Russian
bound  supplies  of  certain  raw  materials  facing  export
restrictions  there  was,  at  times,  more  availability  to  our
factories  as  these  were  diverted  back  into  the  European
market. Overall it was a difficult period for manufacturing.

The company and our strategy

James  Halstead  is  a  group  of  companies  involved  in  the
manufacture  and  supply  of  flooring  for  commercial  and
domestic  purposes,  based  in  Bury  UK.  James  Halstead  plc
has been listed on the London Stock Exchange for nearly 75
years.

The  group  was  established  in  1914  and  continues  to
operate out of the original premises in Bury. In its factories
in  Bury  and Teesside  it  manufactures  resilient  flooring  for
distribution in the UK and worldwide. 

The company’s strategy is to constantly develop its brand
identity and its reputation for quality, product innovation,
durability  and  availability,  thereby  enhancing  and
maintaining  goodwill  with  the  aim  of  achieving  repeat
business.  Our  focus  is  to  work  with  stockists  who  in  turn
distribute  those  bulk  deliveries  whilst  promoting  and
representing  the  products  to  the  end  users  and  specifiers
who will purchase the stock from those stockists.

This  approach  is  designed  to  increase  and  secure  revenue
streams and drive profitability and cash flow which enables
the continuation of dividends thereby creating shareholder
wealth. In the normal course of business one key element
of the company ethos is having dedicated sales personnel
to present our product to our customers’ clientele. 

Over many years our strategy has also included a policy of
continual investment in both process improvement and in
product  development  to  improve  output  efficiency  and
product offering.

3

Chairman’s Statement
continued

Corporate governance and corporate
social responsibility and the
environment

The board has over many years recognised its responsibility
towards  good  corporate  governance.  It  is  part  of  our
character and, I believe, contributes to our ability to deliver
long-term  shareholder  value.  Increasingly  companies  are,
quite  rightly,  tasked  with  demonstrating  that  their
environmental  credentials  and  supply  chain  management
are supported by social and sustainability dimensions with
appropriate stewardship. 

We  can  say,  with  some  pride,  that  almost  100%  of  our
electric  usage  is  now  derived  from  renewables.  Our  bi-
annual Sustainability Report was published in 2021 and we
have  this  report  independently  audited  to  further  under-
line our credentials. (Available to download on our website).

PVC  polymer  is  one  of  our  main  raw  materials  and  we
began recycling waste into our processes in the 1950s and
have continued to use waste PVC as part of the process of
manufacturing in ever increasing volumes. For many years
we have funded waste collection with Recofloor – our UK
joint  venture  that  collects  post  installation  waste  PVC
within  our  industry. We  are  also  founder  members  of  the
European PVC recycling venture, the AgPr, which funds the
recycling  of  post-consumer  PVC  waste  and  diverts  waste
from landfill back into the manufacturing process.

An important point to note about PVC is that it has evolved
and  it  is  no  longer  just  derived  from  petrochemicals.  It  is
increasingly produced from bio-mass. Indeed, many of the
by-products of PVC manufacturing are indispensable to the
medical  and  food  industries.  PVC  manufacture  has  the
lowest consumption of primary energy of any of the major
commodity plastics and our PVC flooring is made with over
80% renewable materials. Our recycling initiatives further
reduce our footprint on the environment.

As part of our focus on the future and the footprint of our
industry we are major partners in industry wide bodies. We
are,  for  example,  active  members  of  the  ERFMI  (the
European  Resilient  Flooring  Manufacturing  Institute).
ERFMI activities range from involvement in the EU carbon
neutral  strategy  through  to  funding  new  recycling
initiatives to extend the ability of PVC to be recovered and
recycled. 

The UK may have left the European Union but our work on
standards,  the  circular  economy,  sustainability  and
meaningful  recycling  is  both  Europe  wide  and  globally
focused and is progressing at pace. In no way has “Brexit”
lessened  our  involvement  as  Europeans  in  the  flooring
industry.

Dividend

Our  cash  balances  stand  at  £52.1  million  (2021:  £83.3
million)  with  the  major  reason  for  the  reduction  being,
obviously, increased stock. The inventory at the year end is
£112.3  million  (2021:  £60.7  million)  which  is  about  85%
higher than the prior year comparative.

Also of note regarding the cash flow for the year is taxation
paid of £9.9 million (2021: £9.9 million) – unchanged and
equity dividends paid of £32.3 million (2021: £34.1 million)
– down 5.3%.

Having this large investment in our stockholdings and with
the challenges facing our companies in terms of cash flow,
the  Board  do  not  propose  to  increase  the  final  dividend
which will remain at the level of last year and will be paid
in December 2022.

The  interim  dividend  of  2.25p  (2021:  4.25p)  was  paid  in
June 2022. 

Acknowledgements

As  is  customary,  I  would  like  to  thank  our  staff  for  their
continued efforts in achieving this year’s result.

In  addition,  I  feel  I  must  note  the  death  of  HM  Queen
Elizabeth  II. The  brand  ‘Polyflor’  was  created  in  1950,  just
prior  to  start  of  her  reign.  Her  Majesty’s  service  over  the
years  since  has  no  doubt  been  the  rock  on  which  the
reputation of the United Kingdom has been built and helped
in the growth of our exports over the last 70 years.

Our thanks also to the UK Contract Flooring Association for
their members’ accolades with Polyflor being awarded the
2022  Manufacturer  of  the Year,  as  well  as  the  Healthcare
Installation  of  the  Year  (Kitwood  House  Care  Home  in
Cheshire)  and  International  Installation  of  the  Year  (Live
Sport Offices, Prague).

4

Outlook

Trading from the year-end to date has been positive. Post
year  end,  prices  have  been  increased  and  demand  has
remained strong. 

Sales volume is higher and we have continued to pass on
cost  increases.  Costs,  most  particularly  energy,  have
continued  to  rise.  The  fall  in  the  value  of  sterling,  most
markedly against the US dollar, in recent days will no doubt
have implications to certain input costs but equally, given
our level of exports, will have some positives. 

We  cannot  forecast  the  effects  of  energy  costs  on  the
myriad  of  materials  and  goods  that  are  needed  to
undertake  mass  volume  manufacture  but  with  the  vast
array  of  skills,  knowledge  and  entrepreneurs  within  our
collective, each challenge should be overcome. 

In  the  light  of  current  demand,  with  the  accumulated
industry experience at our disposal, I, and the Board, remain
confident  of  progress  over 
term,
notwithstanding  the  short  term  challenges  I  have
highlighted in my statement.

the  medium 

Anthony Wild
Chairman

30 September 2022

5

Chief Executive’s Review 

As noted by the Chairman, it has been a mixed year. For the
largest  input  costs  to  our  manufacturing  we  have  had  to
accept price increases. Be it energy or raw materials it has
been  a  constant  adverse  situation.  The  simple  idea  that
these costs are passed on is complicated.

(a)

(b)

(c)

Complicated  by  the  project  related  nature  of
quotations  and  the  time  from  quotation  to
supply of the stock, reality of losing business at
high prices or maintaining it at a loss.

Complicated  by  the  fact  that  at  least  two
generations  that  have  never  seen  inflation  of
this scale and who are partly in denial as to its
reality, duration and implications. 

Complicated by the possibility that this may yet
affect  the  continuous  production  we  have
enjoyed over many, many years. 

These  challenges  are  faced  by  many  of  our  European
competitors  and  inevitably  there  is  a  degree  of  margin
erosion which manufacturers from all types of industry face. 

Reviewing the businesses in more detail:

Objectflor/Karndean and James
Halstead France, our European
operations

In  Germany  sales  growth  of  near  12%  came  largely  from
cost surcharges and price increases as costs increased during
the  year.  In  one  of  the  most  competitive  markets  for
flooring, volumes were maintained. The year was one of two
halves  with  the  earlier  part  facing  stock  shortages  due  to
adverse  shipping  conditions.  There  were  key  product
launches  that  were  delayed  by  both  the  availability  of
complete  stock  ranges  and  difficulties  in  supply  of
marketing materials to support launches. The stock situation
improved as the year progressed.

In  France  sales  were  increased  by  18%,  volumes  also
increased  though  by  a  lesser  percentage.  Investments  in
regional  sales  teams  were  key  to  the  sales  growth.  Stock
levels  have  grown,  once  again  largely  planned  in  the
expectation of supply problems.

Polyflor Pacific – encompassing
Australia, New Zealand and Asia

In Australia,  sales  were  some  6%  ahead  of  the  prior  year
with  increases  in  profitability  that  resulted  from  increased
margin  due  to  favourable  product  mix  and  staff  costs
savings compared to the prior year. The staff savings were

the result of difficulties in recruitment leaving vacancies for
periods  of  time.  The  favourable  product  mix  was  due  to
higher margin domestic flooring sales having taken a larger
proportion  of  sales  than  commercial  flooring. This  was,  no
doubt,  in  part  because  Covid-19  restrictions  were  in  place
for a long part of the first half financial year. Freight costs,
as with all markets, were greater. Stock levels increased.

In New Zealand sales were lower than the comparative year.
This market had the longest Covid restrictions of our major
markets.  Operational  restrictions  impacted  the  economy
and the building sector in particular. Supplying New Zealand
was  challenging  with  shipments  of  flooring  from  the  UK
taking  up  to  8  months  from  order  due  to  sea  freight
complexities  such  as  shortages  of  shipping  containers  in
Europe  and  severe  congestion  in  ports  such  as  Singapore.
The  supply  of  flooring  into  nationwide  social  housing
contracts  continues  to  be  an  important  source  of  revenue
and  will  continue  as  backlogs  in  the  roll-out  programme
alleviate. One negative was the supply of cushion vinyl from
European  manufacturers  which  was  severely  disrupted.
Nevertheless, it is pleasing to report increased market share
and  customer  satisfaction  –  largely  due  to  our  company
having  stock  and  offering  service  levels  far  better  than
competitors. Stock levels have been increased.

This was the first full year of our Malaysian business (which
also  covers  the  South  Eastern  markets  of  Indonesia,
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam  and  the  Philippines)  and  we
can be satisfied with the progress made to date. The start of
the  year  was  again  hampered  by  various  lockdowns  and
travel  movements  across  the  territories,  but  as  the  year
progressed, we saw the order book and sales grow, with sales
across the region 153% ahead of last year.

The  order  book  remains  healthy,  and  we  have  every
expectation that sales will continue to grow. At the end of
the financial year, we strengthened the sales team further
by employing salespeople directly in Vietnam and Thailand
to support the distributors, and similar plans are in place for
the Philippines before the end of 2022.

Polyflor & Riverside Flooring, based in
UK
We  continue  to  see  growth  in  the  heterogeneous  ranges
manufactured  at  Teesside,  and  a  falloff  in  certain  of  the
‘older’  ranges  manufactured  in  Radcliffe.  Overall  volumes
were maintained. Output was increased as we returned to a
situation of being able to run all production lines, albeit with
continued absenteeism levels that are above the “normal”
levels that existed prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The  increase  in  energy  and  raw  material  costs  have  put
pressure on our margins and whilst we have a proportion of

6

South  America  up  48%  and  the  Middle  East  up  59%.  In
some instances the comparative for 2021 was affected by
the impact of the Covid-19 virus (most notably in Spain). It
is  pleasing  to  see  these  markets  have  recovered,  this  has
been hard to achieve with the cost of international freight
and  equally  as  problematical  have  been  delays  and
difficulties  in  available  shipping. The  markets  that  did  not
grow in the year were Africa and North Asia. 

The North Asia markets have experienced a challenging year
due to the increase in Covid-19 cases and the “zero-Covid”
policy  adopted  across  China.  This  meant  our  local
warehouse  in  China,  which  became  operational  last  year
supplying smaller and local orders, as well as being able to
support other Asian markets, could not despatch products.
Several larger Asian projects, which are shipped direct, have
been  delayed.  Latterly  we  have  started  to  see  some
improvement  but  sales  for  2022  fell  by  28%  against  the
previous year.

In conclusion

Given  the  circumstances  we  can  only  be  pleased  with  the
results  for  the  year.  The  hard  work,  dedication  and
experience of our subsidiary directors and management has
been a key factor in this achievement. 

However, the challenges have not lessened.

Mark Halstead
Chief Executive  

30 September 2022

our  energy  consumption  on  forward  contracts,  costs
continue  to  rise  to  unprecedented  levels.  The  recent
announcement  by  the  government,  whilst  welcome,  will
only  limit  the  increase,  not  reduce  it.  Availability  of  raw
materials has improved, but costs remain high. The impact
of  rising  energy  costs  on  the  production  costs  has  been  a
significant issue.

We have made several price increases during the year across
our ranges and across all markets to pass on these increases.
This continues to be the case after the year end.

Stocks in the UK also increased, both in manufactured and
merchanted goods. Delays in product launches earlier in the
year  compounded  the  issue  as  we  waited  for  marketing
material,  such  as  shade  cards  and  display  boards. This  was
another fallout of the Ukraine war due to the lack of wood
pulp and related materials.

Polyflor Nordic comprising Polyflor
Norway based in Oslo and Falck
Design based in Sweden

The markets have been re-organised to bring both Norway
and Sweden under one reporting structure. In Norway sales
are 17% ahead of the prior year largely supported by price
increases. Net profit rose by just under 6%. Heterogeneous
flooring  (supplied  by  Riverside)  grew  and  there  has  been
investment in additional staff in internal sales and regional
sales areas. In Sweden, sales increased 37% and the volume
of product supplied from our UK factories increased by near
50%.  It  must  be  noted  that  the  prior  year  comparatives
were subdued by Covid-19 but nevertheless this is a good
result for both countries.

Polyflor Canada, based in Toronto

A record year for sales and a significant increase in net profit
against  a  generally  sluggish  economy.  Our  market  share  is
still embryonic in this market but with the shadow of Covid-
19 having crippled travel for much of the financial year this
was a creditable performance. Our Canadian business is very
largely project based and these have faced delays in funding
and  progress  but  the  business  is  well  placed  for  further
growth.

Rest of the World

Our products are sold in many markets across the globe and
the preceding sections cover some of the key markets where
we  have  a  local  presence  and  warehousing. These  markets
have been long established for the sales of our flooring and
there  has  also  been  significant  growth  in  several  other
markets  when  compared  to  last  year.  Spain  was  up  30%,

7

Financial Director’s Review

As  is  usual,  we  have  prepared  these  accounts  by  the
consistent  application  of  accounting  standards  with  due
appraisal and judicious accrual for known probable liabilities
with  as  yet  uncertain  outcome  at  the  year  end.  As  in
previous years we, as a board, look to be prudent. 

The group operates through separate legal entities in certain
areas  of  the  world  and  though  these  are  discussed  in  the
Chief  Executive’s  Review  we,  as  a  board,  have  concluded
that these operations are one segment for the purposes of
IFRS 8.

Some key statistics:

Group  turnover  at  £291.9  million  (2021:  £266.4
million) was 9.6% higher than last year. 

Profit  before  tax  was  £52.1  million  (2021:  £51.3
million) 1.6% higher than last year.

Selling and distribution costs were 8.6% higher than
last year. Administration expenses were 19.2% lower
than last year

Trade debtors increased to £46.7 million (2021: £39.3
million).  Trade  creditors  increased  to  £61.5  million
(2021: £40.9 million). 

Stock  levels  stand  at  £112.3  million  (2021:  £60.7
million). 

Cash  stands  at  £52.1  million  (2021:  £83.3  million)
even after the payment of £32.3 million in dividends,
£9.9  million  in  tax  and  £3.2  million  of  capital
expenditure.

Key performance indicators 
The board considers growth in profit before tax and growth
in  dividend  key  targets  in  line  with  the  task  of  delivering
shareholder  value.  Control  of  working  capital  continues  to
be important and the level of cash is monitored. Cash flow
has been a key performance measure. 

Rather  than  focus  on  individual  working  capital  targets  or
ratios,  the  board  are  informed  of  all  significant  issues
directly  by  subsidiary  management  by  means  of  monthly
reports  on  the  key  decisions  and  influences  on  working
capital. Our focus at subsidiary level is on stock availability
and  appropriate  credit  given  to  and  received  from
customers  and  suppliers  respectively.  Obviously  sales,
margin  and  profitability  are  monitored  as  well  as  cash,
which  is  the  final  result  of  our  economic  activities.
Appropriate summaries of these statistics are collated into
monthly group reports. These accounts contain analysis and
more importantly we require each director to undertake a
written  report  on  their  area  and  often  these  include  key

indicators (obvious examples are level of absenteeism in the
factories, debtor days and margin by product line but these
are backed up with detail of the key drivers of these ratios
and the planned response).

No individual key performance indicator, or group thereof, is
regarded  as  more  important  than  informed,  in-depth
knowledge  of  the  underlying  businesses.  Subsidiaries
present  key  performance  indicators  on  debtor  days,  stock
turn and creditor days but the consolidation of these for the
whole  group  offers  no  extra  benefit  as  the  component  of
mix can mask underlying effects. One such indicator that is
under close scrutiny is absenteeism. 

In terms of non-financial KPIs brand awareness, reputation,
customer  satisfaction  and  market  share  are  all  important
but difficult to assess. We do not believe that surveys and
market share data, to the extent that they are collated by
various  trade  bodies,  is  complete  and  wholly  accurate.
Consequently  little  reliance  is  placed  upon  this  data.  We
subscribe  to  various  third  party  reports  on  the  flooring
industry which to an extent match and compare us to our
competitors and whilst valid snap-shots of the sector they
are  limited.  Customer  satisfaction  awards  are  always
welcome and we note these in our strategic report.

Principal decisions
The strategic report notes our approach to our Section 172
of  the  Companies  Act  2006  and  we  have  faced  many
decisions in the year. We define principal decisions as those
that have a significant impact on the company and/or group
and/or  our  stakeholders.  Principal  decisions  that  are
currently confidential to the group are not included in the
list  below. Any  such  decision  would  be  included  in  future
report and accounts if and when confidentiality is no longer
a factor. 

The potential impact of principal decisions on stakeholders is
assessed  in  detail  by  the  board.  Obviously  a  significant
number  of  decisions  had  to  be  made  in  the  period  of  the
lockdown and principally the level of manufacturing activity.
The  executive  directors  kept  the  board  appraised  and  these
actions  are  described  in  the  strategic  review  and  in  our
interim  reporting. To  the  extent  that  these  decisions  affect
employees there is a bi-annual update on group performance.
Each of the principal decisions has an effect on employment
and hence employees as a whole so this high level update is
important to provide context for the individuals.

During the year the following were considered by the board.

Payment of dividends 

The  board  considered  shareholder  expectations  in  setting
these  dividends,  along  with  the  cash  position  of  the
company.  Cash  flow  projections  are  an  important  part  of

8

this, particularly in the current economic environment - the
executive  directors  were  tasked  with  keeping  the  board
appraised of the working capital position. 

Defined benefit (DB) pension scheme

Further  to  the  triennial  valuation  of  the  last  year  and  the
adoption of the new funding arrangements the DB scheme
has  remained  under  review. The  board  had  discussed  with
the trustees the future accrual of benefits and the trustees
made clear that an equitable payment by members would
see an increase in member contributions of around 12-15%.
The  view  was  that  the  members  would  not  consider  this
appropriate  and  as  a  consequence  the  board  tasked  the
executive  directors  with  entering  consultation  with  the
employees  over  the  closure  to  future  accrual  of  the  final
salary pension scheme.

Post Covid-19 immunisation manufacturing

The success of the initial vaccine rollout in the UK, the very
high  efficacy  of  this  vaccine  and  the  alteration  to  self-
isolation rules provided the opportunity, in the early part of
the financial year, to return to more normal shift patterns
and  to  increase  output  from  our  UK  manufacturing  sites.
The board, however, needed to consider the impact of the
lesser  efficacy  of  vaccines  in  the  Far  East,  from  which  we
also source goods, and the ongoing lock-downs of a region
that continued to take a zero-tolerance approach to Covid-
19  cases.  In  order  to  mitigate  possible  supply  shortages
stock levels were raised over a period of several months.

Some  progress  has  been  made  on  this  project.  The  land
identified  has  been  granted  approval  and  environmental
considerations  are  being  addressed  and  the  scale  of  the
project agreed.

Price increases 

The  increase  in  costs  over  many  months  has  been  widely
reported and, we, in common with many other companies
have had to increase our prices and will undoubtedly have
to  do  so  again.  The  board  has  been,  and  remains,  ever
conscious of the effect of price increases on demand and it
was  resolved  that  price  increases  should,  to  an  extent,  lag
cost  increases  to  mitigate  this  risk.  As  manufacturers  we
make  no  holding  gain  on  stock  on  hand  subsequent  to  a
price increase. Many stockists make gains on the stock they
hold,  in  effect  increasing  prices  to  their  customers  in
advance of the adverse margin effect and this can give us a
degree of knowledge of the effect of increases. The increases
in cost and availability concerns that were constant through
the Covid-19 crisis did seem to alleviate in the autumn of
2021 though the cost of international freight continued to
climb into early 2022. This situation significantly worsened
since February 2022 – when the Ukraine was invaded.

Price  increases  have  been  several  during  the  year  and
continue to the time of writing. Flooring contracts can take
several months from initial quotation to supply and it has
become ever more difficult to hold to the initial quotations.
To the extent that we have tried to work with end users on
these projects margins have eroded.

Approval of group budget 

Ukraine conflict

A key process is to each year agree budgets with our trading
subsidiaries and this is presented to the board towards the
end  of  each  trading  year.  Having  regard  to  the
unprecedented  situation  across  our  markets  regarding
ongoing  supply  chain  issues  re  the  pandemic  and  the
Ukrainian conflict with the energy crisis a budgetary process
this year would be neither accurate nor a useful use of time.
The Board, therefore, has assessed progress against the prior
year  comparative.  This  year  a  budget  (i.e.  for  2022/23)
process has been followed but, again, the flow of trade is still
far from normal. In the normal course of budget preparation
manning  levels  and  shift  patterns  are  assessed  and  this
effect  of  working  hours  disseminated  to  the  various
departmental  employees.  Our  business,  as  with  many
others,  is  still  experiencing  unprecedented  levels  of
absenteeism  and  huge  increases  in  energy  costs  both  of
which present challenges to the manufacturing process.

Warehouse expansion 

In  2020  the  board  appraised  the  need  for  increased
warehouse capacity in the UK and plans are being finalised
for final approval. The board has agreed this in principle and
the cost of this expansion will be in excess of £15 million
(excluding stock holdings).

Since  February  2022  the  fragility  of  global  supply  markets
has  worsened  as  the  implications  of  the  Ukraine  conflict
became clearer. 

The board resolved that we should cease to undertake sales
of  flooring  to  Russia  and  given  the  close  involvement  of
Belarus  to  only  supply  the  latter  with  healthcare  related
products (after a review by the board of individual projects).

The effects on UK energy costs have been widely reported
but  the  implications  to  UK  manufacture  go  much  deeper.
Certainly  the  cost  of  our  UK  energy  of  both  gas  and
electricity  has  been  significant  but  the  effects  on  raw
material  supplies  have  also  been  significant.  The
dependency  of  many  industries  in  Europe  on  the  large
refinery  and  chemical  plants  being  fed  oil  and  gas  from
Russia  made  it  immediately  apparent  that  the  conflict
would lead to major disruptions in supply beyond the cost
of  energy.  The  Nord  Stream  1  pipe  line  supplying  gas  is
significant  but  more  disruptive  to  our  supply  chain  is  the
Druzhba oil pipe line. For these reasons the board resolved
to try and increase stock levels. The resultant record level of
year end stock is a consequence.

9

Financial Director’s Review
continued

Principal business risks and
uncertainties 
The  ongoing  pandemic  continues  to  be  an  uncertainty,
though  very  much  lower  in  our  risk  analysis  given  the
vaccine roll outs across the globe. The actions we take will
necessarily evolve. We have detailed procedures to minimise
risk  of  transmission  within  our  business.  During  the  year
with  employees  self-isolating  and  shielding  we  have
struggled to run all of our production lines at once and there
has  been  overtime  costs  of  employees  covering  for  those
absent. Many governments have offered a range of financial
support  packages  to  help  companies  and  these  have  been
taken advantage of where appropriate. There is little doubt
that whilst we offered secure employment there was among
a  number  of  people  a  degree  of  resentment  that  other
people  were  paid  to  stay  at  home,  not  within  the
organisation but within the economy in general. 

The situation regarding the UK leaving the EU (“Brexit”) is
still an ongoing uncertainty. The availability and free flow of
raw  materials  has  been  disrupted  and  where  the
complexities  of  the  pandemic  have  superimposed
themselves  on  the  issue  of  border  controls. The  transport
industry has not seen a normal period of activity and in the
melee  includes  a  mix  of  increased  paperwork,  employee
shortages  and  excess  demand.  The  increases  in  fuel  and
energy  costs,  most  particularly  since  February  2022,  has
added to the uncertainties.

The  Ukraine  conflict  has  become  a  significant  risk  and
uncertainty  and  the  inter-dependencies  of  global  markets
goes  far  beyond  energy.  Just  one  example  is  the  effect  on
wood pulp and the manufacture of wood laminate flooring.
This is not a flooring that we manufacture or supply but it
has vastly increased in cost as a direct result of the Ukraine
invasion.  Across  Europe  the  production  of  urea  has  been
disrupted in Croatia, Spain, Italy and Germany which affects
to  availability  of  “ad-blue”  which  is  essential  to  vehicle
transport.  Just  one  example  of  the  risks  that  indirectly
impact  on  our  group.  The  point  is  reported  in  the  key
decisions of the year.

The board constantly assesses risks and discusses business
issues regularly. To the extent risk is insurable the board is
risk averse and the group is widely insured. A comprehensive
insurance  appraisal  takes  place  annually  to  mitigate
exposure to risks, such as business interruption and fire but
obviously  key  risks  such  as  escalating  raw  material  prices
and energy costs fall outside any insurable event. Inevitably
the unexpected cannot be anticipated but given the depth
of  understanding  of  our  principal  business  by  the  senior
management,  and  the  board,  risk  is  ameliorated  but  not
eliminated. 

Our  goals  are  simple  and  we  avoid  over-stretching  our
capabilities. During the year the unknowns associated with
the pandemic were a key unknown and consequently a key
risk.  Our  plans  are  not  limited  to  a  twelve  month  set  of
figures, though budgets are prepared and monitored, and we
look to benefit from decisions over a longer time frame. A
major  mitigation  of  risk  is  a  close  understanding  of  our
people,  their  motivations,  experience  and  limitations.  In
general  it  is  in  the  nature  of  the  board  to  talk  about  and
focus on the problems of our business. This is the major way
in which risk is not merely identified but mitigated. Excess
capacity exists in our businesses and across Europe.

The  risks  identified  beyond  insured  events  include  foreign
exchange risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and key management.
There  are,  additionally,  key  customers  and  key  suppliers
which  create  dependencies.  Sales  and  purchasing  policies
are  under  regular  review  to  assess  these  dependencies.  In
the main, risk and control are measured and assessed from
a  financial  perspective,  but  this  is  not  to  the  exclusion  of
non-financial  risks  and  uncertainties.  It  is  clear  that
scenarios can be envisaged where the group’s activities may
be  disrupted  and  little  could  be  done  to  mitigate  the
negative effects.

In terms of credit risk certain companies have insurance in
place  and  where  there  is  no  insurance  we  often  require
letters  of  credit  or  bills  of  exchange  but  fundamentally
credit  control  and  market  awareness  are  important.  Our
cash  balances,  and  bank  facilities  combined  with  a  robust
balance sheet are buffers against liquidity risk.

respect  of  exchange 

In 
risk,  the  group  operates
internationally  and  is  exposed  to  foreign  exchange  risk  on
both  sales  and  purchases  that  are  denominated  in
currencies other than sterling. Those giving rise to the most
significant risk are US dollar, euro and Australian dollar. To
mitigate risk associated with exchange rate fluctuations the
group’s policy is to hedge known and forecast transactions.
This hedging is at least 25% and on occasion, albeit rarely,
more  than  100%  of  the  next  year’s  anticipated  exposure.
IFRS  7  dictates  several  disclosures  on  risk  and  we  have
undertaken a market risk sensitivity analysis on fluctuations
in  our  major  currency  exposure  and  the  effects  on  the
financial assets and liabilities in the balance sheet (which is
included in the notes to the accounts).

Several external factors can be envisaged that would affect
operating activities. These include technical failures, labour
disputes  outside  our  businesses,  availability  of  raw
materials, and import or customs delays. Given the spread
of  our  operating  activities  there  is  a  reduced  risk  of  any
single event being catastrophic, but external factors are an
area  of  risk  that  continues  to  be  monitored.  Certain
suppliers would be difficult to replace or their products to
substitute  and  delays  could  be  of  several  weeks  duration,

10

consultation with members over the closure of the scheme to
ongoing accrual and given the large changes in interest rates, gilt
yields and the upswing in non Covid-19 related excess death we
have instigated another formal valuation of the scheme. It may
well  be  that  the  “deficit”  identified  at  the  last  valuation  has
significantly dwindled or may be a “surplus”. 

Accounting for this defined benefit scheme is prescribed by IAS
19  and  the  quantum  of  the  deficit  or  surplus  is  ever  more
volatile  due  to  the  nature  of  using  current  (higher  –  but  still
historically  low)  gilt  yields  and  arguably  over  prudent
assumptions as driven by the actuarial profession.  

The  scheme  comprises  active  members  (existing  employees),
deferred members (past employees not yet in retirement) and
pensioners. Under the current accounting standard for pensions
the current service costs of active members are dealt with in the
income  statement  with  actuarial  gains/losses  on  the  accrued
benefits  dealt  with  through  the  Consolidated  Statement  of
Comprehensive Income. This year there is a net actuarial gain of
£7.1 million against a net actuarial gain in 2021 of £12.7 million.

Gordon Oliver
Finance Director

30 September 2022

which  wouldn’t  be  covered  by  our  current  levels  of  stock
holding.  Given  the  length  of  service  of  many  senior
managers,  succession  planning  becomes  a  risk  and/or  an
uncertainty but again the open style of decision making and
collaboration mitigate the risk.

The activity and progress of our competitors is a significant
risk.  Whether  there  is  a  new  innovation  or  a  gain  in
competitive  advantage  by  a  new  process,  or  the  loss  of
market  share  by  any  means,  any  effect  on  our  volume
throughput  will  have  an  effect  on  profitability. The  board
looks for market intelligence, and devotes significant time to
understanding  the  strategy  of  our  competitors.  It  is  clear
that  the  success  this  business  has  achieved  over  the  last
twenty years leads our competitors to scour all information
we publish for data on our activities. 

I  would  note  that  we  have  overseas  subsidiaries  with
significant profit and assets which are translated at average
exchange rates (in the case of profit and loss items) and at
year  end  rates  (in  the  case  of  balance  sheet  items).  The
effect  of  this  is  shown  annually  in  the  Consolidated
Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income.  Inevitably  there  is  a
translational exposure on these items and since they are not
necessarily  cash  flows  (excepting  dividend  payments)  the
consolidated net worth of the group varies over time. We do
not hedge this translational exposure though we have in the
past hedged overseas assets with matching debt. At present
the cost and complexity in terms of arranging facilities and
complying  with  local  taxation  rules  would  seem  to
outweigh the benefits.

The  last  five  years  of  these  exposures  in  terms  of
increase/(decrease) in the value of our overseas assets are as
follows:

2022
2021
2020
2019
2018

£’000
926
(615)
336
(170)
(759)

Aside  from  the  strategic,  operational  and  financial  risks
described  there  are  also  compliance  risks  relating  to  the
legal and regulatory requirements of the various markets in
which  we  operate.  Directors  and  senior  management  are
involved in health and safety, duty and customs clearance,
waste management and other such issues.

Defined benefit pension scheme 
In common with other long established businesses we have the
complications and uncertainty associated with having a “final
salary”  pension  scheme. The  scheme  has  been  closed  to  new
entrants  since  2002  and  was  only  offered  to  UK  based
employees;  of  our  UK  based  work  force  around  20%  of
employees  are  members  of  this  scheme. We  are  currently  in

11

Section 172 Statement

The directors and the board as a collective consider that they acted in a way that would be most likely to promote the success
of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole (having regard to the stakeholders and matters set out in S172(1)
(a) to (f) of the Act) in the decisions taken during the year ended 30 June 2022.    

The group comprises business units in various locations worldwide, all of which have engagement with their local stakeholders
and other companies within the group structure. The group’s governance delegation of authority allows decisions to be made
at business unit level up to defined limits, which allows them to take account of the needs of their local stakeholders through
their decisions implemented locally. The board routinely monitors these decisions and ultimately takes responsibility for the
interaction with all stakeholders. 

In consideration of major matters discussed at board level, the likely impact on all stakeholders are carefully considered and
where possible, decisions are carefully explained and discussed with affected stakeholders before actions are implemented to
ensure they understand and have any necessary support.

The group’s key stakeholders and how we engage with them are set out below. 

Stakeholder group

How do we engage with them?

How has the board considered their interests?

Shareholders

Members of the board have regular dialogue
with institutional Investors and individual
shareholders in order to develop an
understanding of their views.

The AGM is an important forum for private
shareholders to meet the board and ask any
questions they may have, directly.

The company’s website has an investors
section which gives investors direct access to
reports, press releases and business
information. There is also a contact mailbox
facility.

Customers

We interact with our customers through:

   Regular visits and meetings

   Industry exhibitions 

   Customer site tours and presentations

   Business unit websites

   Supplying  extensive  samples  and

supporting literature 

   Delivering a high standard of technical

support

   Providing  enhanced  digital  design

services and support 

The board understands that shareholders
require sustainable growth and value
creation. In recognising this, it has
implemented a policy which has resulted in
increasing dividend returns and incremental
shareholder returns over a sustained period. 

Shareholder views, together with movements
in the shareholder base, are regularly
reported to and discussed by the board and
their views are considered. 

Our NOMAD’s views on market sentiment
are fed back on a regular basis, and are
considered by the board where it impacts
strategy.

Our strategy of attaining sustainable growth
in profit and building goodwill in our brands
will only be achieved through an
understanding of the needs of our customers
and the markets we serve.

The board regularly considers the impact on
customers when considering strategic
decisions, for instance the major investment
in a new warehousing facility has been driven
by the need to improve customer service.   

Suppliers

Employees

Communities

Engagement with suppliers and business
partners is achieved by holding regular
meetings, regular evaluation reviews and
through audits of the supplier base.

We engage with our employees through site
communications, briefings, performance
reviews, newsletters and notice boards.
Employees are also written to individually on
matters which are deemed important. 

We operate from multiple sites and seek to
be a good neighbour with the local
communities. Where possible we create
opportunities to recruit and develop local
people, which helps support the local
economy and look after the environment. We
also support local charities through
fundraising and donations.

12

The board recognises that relationships with
the supplier base is important to the
reputation and long term success of the
group. There is regular dialogue between our
management team and our suppliers, where
quality, price, sustainability and health and
safety are key to the discussions. Any matters
which the board needs to be aware of are
reported back as appropriate. 

The board is aware that our employees are
critical to the successful achievement of the
strategic aims. The group prides itself on
providing a friendly and safe working
environment for all employees, and given the
nature of our manufacturing process, health
and safety is taken extremely seriously. There
are a number of employees who have
achieved thirty, forty and even fifty years’
service. The group has operated a share
scheme which enabled employees to build up
personal shareholding in James Halstead plc
and participate in its expansion and success.    

The board has a full understanding of the
importance of good community relations
with both internal and external stakeholders.
The impact of our operations from an
environmental perspective is recognised on a
local and global level. Capital expenditure
projects, for example, focus on improving
energy efficiency and reducing environmental
emissions.      

The corporate social responsibility section of the latest Polyflor Sustainability Report outlines in further detail, the group’s
commitment to its stakeholders, including the supply chain, employees and the communities.

The principal decisions in the year are included in the Financial Director’s Review.

The  strategic  report  was  approved  by  the
board of directors and signed on behalf of the
board.

D N Fletcher
Secretary

30 September 2022

13

Report of the Directors

The  directors  are  pleased  to  present  their  report,  together
with the audited accounts for the year ended 30 June 2022.

Substantial interests

Results and dividends

The group results for the year and the financial position at
30  June  2022 are  shown  in  the  consolidated  income
statement on page 30 and the consolidated balance sheet
on page 32.

The  directors  are  recommending  a  final  dividend  of 5.50p
(2021: 11.00p)  per share  on  the  ordinary  share  capital  for
payment on 16 December 2022 to those shareholders on the
register  at 18 November  2022. This  final  dividend  together
with  the interim  dividend of 2.25p (2021: 4.25p) per  share
paid  on 10 June  2022 makes  a  total  dividend  of 7.75p
(2021: 15.25p) per share for the year.

Directors

The  directors  who  held  office  during  the  year  were  as
follows:

J A Wild
M Halstead
G R Oliver
S D Hall
M J Halstead
R P Whiting

Mr G R Oliver and Mr S D Hall are the directors retiring by
rotation, and offer themselves for re-election at the annual
general meeting.

The interests of the directors and their families in the share
capital of the company were as follows:

                           30 June 2022                30 June 2021
                      Beneficial   As Trustee    Beneficial   As Trustee

J A Wild              300,600  23,950,720       150,300  11,975,360
M Halstead   26,505,604  22,250,344  13,252,567  11,126,112
G R Oliver            430,988         258,188         215,259         130,034
S D Hall                11,400                  –           5,700                  –
M J Halstead   1,376,234                  –       688,117                  –
R P Whiting                   –                  –                  –                  –

The  directors  consider  that  the board  of directors  include
key management for all areas of the business and that there
are no other key management which require disclosure.

Details  of  the  directors’  options  under  the  terms  of  the
executive share option scheme are set out in note 27.

As at 16 September 2022 the company had been notified of
the following interests which represent 3% or more of the
existing issued share capital:

                                                              Number                % 

Rulegale Nominees                           73,582,520            17.7
John Halstead Settlement                 70,894,436            17.0
Octopus Investment Nominees        26,250,579              6.3
Nortrust Nominees                           12,555,794              3.0

Share capital

During  the  year  new  ordinary  shares  were  issued  and
allotted as fully paid to enable share options to be exercised
as follows:

11 November 2021
12 November 2021
15 November 2021

100,000
50,000
62,110

212,110

The issued share capital was increased by a bonus issue of
one  ordinary  share  for  each  ordinary  share  held  at
14 January 2022, amounting to 208,372,026 shares.

Special business at the annual general
meeting

Resolution 6 renews  the  directors’  authority  to  offer
ordinary  shareholders  the  opportunity  to  take  ordinary
shares in lieu of any cash dividends which may be payable
prior to the Annual General Meeting in 2023.

Resolution 7 authorises  the  directors  to  allot  relevant
securities  pursuant  to  section  551  of  the  Companies  Act
2006  up  to  a  maximum  nominal  amount  of  £6,945,901
representing approximately  33.33%  of  the  total ordinary
share  capital. The  authority  will  expire  at  the  next Annual
General Meeting of the company to be held in 2023 or six
months  after  the  next  accounting  reference  date  of  the
company (whichever is the earlier).

Except for the issue of shares to satisfy the exercise of share
options granted under the share schemes, the board has no
present intention of issuing any ordinary share capital of the
company. As  at  the  date  of  this  document,  the  company
holds no treasury shares.

Resolution 8 invites  shareholders  to  renew  the  board’s
authority  to  issue  shares  for  cash  without  first  being
required  to  offer  them  pro  rata to  existing  shareholders.
The proposed  authority  will  terminate  at  the  next Annual
General Meeting of the company to be held in 2023 or six

14

months  after  the  next  accounting  reference  date  of  the
company  (whichever  is  earlier). The  authority  is  limited  to
equity  securities  up  to  an  aggregate  nominal  amount  of
5.0%  of  the  company’s  issued  ordinary  share  capital. The
resolution also contains provisions to enable the directors to
deal  with  fractional  entitlements  and  other  practical
difficulties which could arise in the event of a rights issue or
similar pre-emptive offer.

Resolution 9 seeks to renew the authority of shareholders to
allow the company to purchase its own shares in respect of
up to 10% of the issued capital at prices not exceeding 5%
above the average of the middle market quotations for the
five  business  days  preceding  the  purchase. The  directors
undertake that the authority would only be exercised if the
directors were satisfied that a purchase would result in an
increase in expected earnings per share and was in the best
interests  of  the  company  at  that  time. The  directors  may
choose to hold shares purchased under such authority in the
form of treasury shares (subject to a maximum of 10% of
the issued ordinary share capital at any one time).

Going concern

The directors have reviewed current performance and forecasts,
combined  with  capital 
investment  and  expenditure
commitments, and a range of trading scenarios. The group has
no  net  borrowings  and  owns  the  freeholds  on  many  of  its
premises  (the  most  significant  being  four  UK  operating  sites
and two sites in Germany).

After  considering  current  trading  and  forward  forecasts,  the
directors have the reasonable expectation that the group has
adequate financial resources to continue in operation, including
contractual and commercial commitments, for the foreseeable
future.

As the global pandemic recedes, but with many markets now
facing high energy costs and supply chain concerns, the directors
have considered that there may be a weakening of demand for
flooring products in arriving at the conclusion above.

Fluctuations  in  exchange  rates  have  been  a  constant  factor
since sterling floated in 1971. Our hedging delays the effect of
sharp changes.

Working  with  our  senior  executives  we  have  considered
scenarios  for  the  purpose  of  the  statutory  audit  that  involve
layoffs and cessation of production in the winter months and,
whilst we do not believe they are likely, have been considered
to assess the going concern concept. The cost and availability of
international freight has continued to frustrate export sales and
as  part  of  the  going  concern  review  we  have  factored  in  the
scenario that this will continue for several months.

Based  on  the  above  the  directors  are  satisfied  the  group  has
adequate resources to continue as a going concern for at least
one year from the date of approval of the financial statements.

Employment involvement

Within the UK we have both 25 year clubs and 40 year clubs
for all employees. Many employees have worked their entire
career for the group, and retaining an experienced workforce
is  important  to  our  long  term  success.  Our  workforce
retention rate is very high. Recruitment is biased to the local
area,  and  we  have  a  number  of  graduate  recruits  and  offer
internships  to  support younger  people  looking  to  develop
their employment skills. We look to pass on knowledge and
we  are  involved  in  skills  training  to  the  flooring  industry,
technical  knowledge  to  the  industry  in  general  and
involvement  in  the  Chartered  Institute  of  Human  Resource
Management’s  “Skills Ahead  Mentoring  Project”. We  have  a
floor fitting school for the industry and this is accessible to
employees allowing them to gain skills for use in their own
homes.

Promotion  or  opportunities  in  different  departments  are
often recruited from within the business and is preferred to
external  candidates.  The  senior  management  and  the
directors  having,  in  the  main,  come  from  lower  positions
within the business, including the executive directors of the
main company. Our recycling partnership presents to senior
management and staff on a regular basis to promote a better
understanding of achievements and goals to involve more of
our staff in sustainability. 

We have a firm belief in equality and our main subsidiaries are
SA8000  accredited  (an  independent  standard  for  decent
working  environments). Also  BS  OHAS  18001  accredits  our
occupational and safety management protocols.

All  our  UK  employees  are  offered  pension  scheme  benefits
with  company  contribution  and  the  majority  of  UK
employees  are  shareholders  in  the  company  by  virtue  of  a
long  standing  employee  participation  scheme.  This  is
currently being reviewed to make it even more relevant to the
group  today.  On  the  more  personal  level  we  operate  a
company  supported  social  club  for  employees,  we  have
outdoor  seating,  we  offer  bike  sheds  and  there  are  shower
facilities  at  most  sites. Also  there  are  break  out  zones  and
facilities  to  either  buy  or  prepare  food  at  all  our  sites. The
company looks favourably on providing time for employees
to undertake voluntary work.

15

Report of the Directors
continued

(some  with 

representatives 

Across our sites there are regular consultation meetings with
employee 
trade  union
representatives). Our employees are an important asset and
are kept abreast of group performance at least twice a year.
In  terms  of  decisions  directly  affecting  employees,
communication is by line managers in the first instance, but
the  directors  will  discuss  overall  matters  with  designated
representatives.  In  regard  to  the  principal  decisions  of  the
business the board has considered the employees as a group
and their wellbeing as a whole.

Health and safety

The health and safety of the group’s employees, customers
and members of the general public who may be affected by
the  group’s  activities  continue  to  be  matters  of  primary
concern.  It  is  therefore  the  group’s  policy  to  manage  its
activities  so  far  as  to  avoid  causing  any  unnecessary  or
unacceptable  risk  to  the  health  and  safety  of  all  those
affected by its activities. In order to ensure that the group’s
high  standards  in  this  area  are  maintained,  a  substantial
programme  of  training  and  retraining  of  employees  took
place throughout the year.

Research and development

We 
remain  totally  committed  to  the  continuing
development  of  our  processes  and  our  products  to  both
satisfy  the  needs  of  our  customers  and  ensure  that  we
remain at the forefront of our industry.

Environmental policy
A policy has been issued and implemented on safeguarding
against air, water, noise and land pollution. The management
implements  at  every
team  constantly  reviews  and 
opportunity the most effective use of materials and energy.
A  number  of  control  measures  have  been  introduced  and
these,  combined  with  materials  storage  and  handling
methods,  together  with  training,  form  the  basis  of  the
environmental  programme. The  policy  is  fully  endorsed  by
the  directors  and  is  under  constant  review  to  ensure  full
compliance with the UK Environmental Protection Act 1990.
All employees, suppliers and contractors are made aware of
the  environmental  policy  which  is  also  freely  available  to
the general public and regulatory authorities.

Emissions and energy consumption
Scope  1  and  2  consumption  and  carbon  dioxide  emission
data  has  been  calculated  in  line  with  the  2019  UK

Government  environmental  reporting  guidance.  Emissions
Factor Database 2021 version 1 has been used, utilising the
published  kWh  gross  calorific  volume  and  kgCO2e
emissions factors relevant for the reporting period.

Year ended 30 June
2021
Tonnes
of CO2e

2022
Tonnes
of CO2e

9,370

9,488

5,464

5,775

15,263

Scope 1 - direct emissions
(UK facilities and vehicles)
Scope 2 - indirect emissions
(UK purchased electricity)

Total Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions

14,834

Intensity metric – total scope
1 & 2 emissions per metric tonne
produced

0.25

0.28

Total UK energy consumption
(kWh)  

74,936,963 74,343,719

Total  Scope  1  and  Scope  2  emissions  figures  for  the  year
ended 30 June 2021 have been restated by 1,992 Tonnes of
CO2e for comparability.

The  group  is  committed  to  year  on  year  improvements  in
operational energy efficiency. A number of energy efficiency
projects continued in the year. These included the installation
of  LED  lighting,  in  conjunction  with  PIR  sensors  to  ensure
that lighting is not in use when not required, and lagging for
extruder barrels. The group is mandated to comply with the
Energy  Savings  Opportunity  Scheme  (ESOS),  and  the
available energy efficiency improvements identified in phase
2  reporting  are  being  reviewed  and  implemented  where
possible. Training  in  energy  conservation  and  sustainability
awareness is being considered for all staff across the business
in the coming year. All these projects and initiatives reinforce
the commitment to implementing an Energy & Environment
strategy, which reduces energy and carbon usage, and is in
line with the UK’s 2050 net zero targets.    

Risk management

Information  in  relation  to  risk  management  and  future
developments can be found in the financial director’s review
in the strategic report.

Directors’ responsibilities statement

The directors are responsible for preparing the annual report
and the financial statements in accordance with applicable
law and regulations. 

16

Company  law  requires  the  directors  to  prepare  financial
statements  for  each  financial  year.  Under  that  law  the
directors have, as required by the AIM Rules of the London
Stock  Exchange,  elected  to  prepare  the  group  financial
statements  in  accordance  with UK  adopted  international
accounting standards. The directors have elected to prepare
the  parent  company  financial  statements  in  accordance
with  United  Kingdom  Generally  Accepted  Accounting
Practice  (United  Kingdom  Accounting  Standards  and
applicable law) including Financial Reporting Standard 101
Reduced  Disclosure  Framework.  Under  company  law  the
directors must not approve the financial statements unless
they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the
state  of  affairs  of  the  group  and  the  company  and  of  the
profit or loss of the group for that period.

The  directors  are  also  required  to  prepare  financial
statements  in  accordance  with  the  rules  of  the  London
Stock  Exchange  for  companies  trading  securities  on  the
Alternative Investment Market.

In  preparing  these  financial  statements  the  directors  are
required to:

select  suitable  accounting  policies  and  then  apply
them consistently;

make judgements and accounting estimates that are
reasonable and prudent;

state  whether  the  group  financial  statements  have
been  prepared  in  accordance  with UK  adopted
international  accounting  standards subject  to  any
material  departures  disclosed  and  explained  in  the
financial statements; and

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

The  directors  are  responsible  for  keeping  adequate
accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain
the  company’s  transactions,  to  disclose  with  reasonable
accuracy at any time the financial position of the company
and  enable  them  to  ensure  that  the  financial  statements
comply  with  the  Companies  Act  2006.  They  are  also

responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and
the  group  and  hence  for  taking  reasonable  steps  for  the
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The directors are responsible for ensuring the annual report
and  financial  statements  are  made  available  on  a  website.
Financial  statements  are  published  on  the  company’s
website  in  accordance  with  legislation  in  the  United
Kingdom  governing  the  preparation  and  dissemination  of
financial  statements  which  may  vary  from  legislation  in
other jurisdictions.

The  directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  and
integrity of the corporate and financial information included
on  the  company's  website. The  directors’  responsibilities
also  extend  to  the  ongoing  integrity  of  the  financial
statements contained therein.

Auditor

A resolution  to  re-appoint BDO  LLP  as  auditor  will  be
proposed at the forthcoming annual general meeting.

Directors’ statement as to the disclosure
of information to the auditor

All of the current directors have taken all the steps that they
ought  to  have  taken  to  make  themselves  aware  of  any
information  needed  by  the  company’s  auditor  for  the
purposes  of  their  audit  and  to  establish  that  the  auditor  is
aware of that information. The directors are not aware of any
relevant audit information of which the auditor is unaware.

Approved by the board of directors and signed on behalf of
the board.

D N Fletcher
Secretary

30 September 2022                                                               

17

Board Report on Remuneration

the aggregate price payable on the exercise of all options or
rights  to  subscribe  for  ordinary  shares  granted  to  an
individual employee under the share option plan and under
all other discretionary schemes.

Pensions

The  company  operates  Inland  Revenue  Approved  defined
benefit  and  defined  contribution  pension  schemes. The
group  chief  executive  and  group  finance  director  are
members  of  the  defined  benefit  scheme.  Pension
entitlements are calculated on basic salary only.

All  members  of  the  schemes  are  required  to  contribute  a
percentage  of  their  pensionable  earnings.
Increase  in
pensionable  salary is restricted  to  the increase in  the
consumer price index.

Other benefits within the schemes are death in service lump
sums, spouse’s and dependant’s pensions following death in
service of the member and ill health early retirement where
the appropriate circumstances arise.

Service agreements

The  chairman  and  the  group  chief  executive  do  not  have
service agreements. The group finance director has a service
agreement which terminates within or is terminable by the
company  and  the  executive  on  not  more  than  one  year’s
notice.  The  remuneration  committee  has  taken  the  view
that  notice  periods  of  one  year  are  reasonable  and  in  the
interests  of  both  the  company  and  its  executive  directors
having  regard  to  prevailing  market  conditions  and  current
practice. Mr S D Hall, Mr M J Halstead and Mr R P Whiting
each has a service contract for an initial term of two years
from the date of his appointment, which can be terminated
by either party by one month’s written notice.

S D Hall
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

Remuneration committee

The remuneration committee comprises the non-executive
directors,  with  Mr S  D  Hall,  as  chairman.  The  committee
meets  at  least  once  a  year,  although  usually  more
frequently, to determine the remuneration packages of the
executive directors of the group.

The remuneration policy for the non-executive directors is
determined by the board as a whole by reference to market
rates. They  do not  participate  in  the  group  bonus  scheme,
pension  scheme  or  share  option  scheme.  No  director  can
vote in regard to his own remuneration.

Remuneration policy

The remuneration policy is to provide terms of employment
such that the recruitment, motivation and retention of high
calibre personnel is achieved and maintained to the mutual
benefit  of  shareholders  and  employees. The  committee  is
assisted from time to time by data supplied by independent
professional  remuneration  consultants  as  to  comparable
companies,  although  identical  circumstances  are  rarely
found.

Basic salary and bonus payments

The directors’ salaries and fees for the year are disclosed in
note 14. Annual bonus schemes are in place which reward
the  executive  directors  on  achieving  performance
objectives. Performance is determined by index-linked profit
improvements through a trend of earnings per share growth.
UK based executives are eligible members of the employee
share scheme. Performance bonuses of £500,000 to each of
the group chief executive and group finance director were
paid  during  the  year. These  related  to  the  2021  financial
year.

Share option schemes

The  remuneration  committee  believes  that  share  option
plans  are  an  important  long  term  incentive  to  executive
directors and other senior employees. They are intended to
link the exercise of the option to a sustained and significant
improvement in the underlying financial performance of the
group.

The  share  option  plan  is  reviewed  by  the  remuneration
committee and is open to executive directors and selected
employees of the group. The option price per ordinary share
will not be less than the market value on the day of grant. A
limit of four times earnings has been placed on the value of

18

Corporate Governance

Chairman’s introduction to
governance

The board

The role of the board is summarised as follows:

The board has over many years recognised its responsibility
towards  good  corporate  governance.  It  is  part  of  our
character and, I believe, contributes to our ability to deliver
long-term  shareholder  value. The  Financial  Reporting
Council and the Quoted Company Alliance have both issued
guidance  on  governance  and  having  assessed  these  codes
we have aligned our approach to the latter. In many ways
this is a continuing process but in the following paragraphs
we  outline  how  we  effect  this  code  and  I  trust  our
shareholders will take the time to review our comments.

It  is  my  belief  that  good  governance  is  accountability  to
shareholders as a whole over time rather than being swayed
by  current  short  term  objectives  of  individual  holders.  For
many companies some shareholders are transient and focus
short  term,  looking  for  ambitious  acquisitions  or  risky
strategies and yet quick to exit at the first sign of problems.
Management  need  to  be  focused  on  the  medium  to  long
term goal as much as current issues. 

Anthony Wild
Chairman

Directors and committees

The company  is  controlled  by  the  board  of  directors. The
board consists of a non-executive chairman, two executive
directors,  a  senior  independent  director  and  two  non-
executive directors. 

The  board  has  two  sub  committees:  a  remuneration
committee and an audit committee.

The directors are named below along with their membership
of board committees.

Director

Role

Mr Anthony Wild

Mr Mark Halstead

Mr Gordon Oliver

Mr Steve Hall

Non-executive
Chairman
Chief
Executive
Finance
Director
Senior
Independent
Director

Mr Michael Halstead Non-executive

Mr Russell Whiting

Director
Non-executive
Director

Remuneration

Audit

Committee

Committee

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

To establish and maintain the group’s vision, mission
and values

Decide on the current and future strategy to ensure
the group’s longevity

To  delegate  to  management  the  implementation  of
policies, strategies and business plans while ensuring
the framework of internal controls is effective

Account to shareholders and stakeholders to promote
their interests and the goodwill to the group

The board comprises two executive directors and four non-
executive  directors.  The  roles  of  chairman  and  chief
executive are separated. 

Directors
Mr Anthony Wild – non-executive Chairman

Mr Wild  was  appointed  to  the  board  as  senior  independent
director  in 2001  and  chairman  in 2017.  He  is  a  Chartered
Accountant and was senior partner in a local firm for many
years offering management consultancy services. He brings a
long  and  in  depth  knowledge  of  James  Halstead  plc,  its
heritage  and  strategy  over  many  years  along  with  business
and commercial knowledge obtained in a career of business
advice. A  key  responsibility  of  the  chairman  is  to  lead  the
board  effectively  and  to  oversee  the  adoption,  delivery  and
communication  of  the  company’s  corporate  governance
model.  The  chairman  as  a  non-executive  director  has
adequate separation from the day-to-day business to be able
to have an independent view. The chairman ensures that the
board  receives  accurate,  timely  and  clear  information  and
there should be good information flows within the board and
its  committees  as  well  as  between  the  NEDs  and  senior
management.

Mr Mark Halstead – Chief Executive

Mr  Halstead  has  over  30  years’  experience  in  the  group
holding  senior  management  positions  within  Polyflor  prior
to his appointment as group chief executive in 2002. Having
gained his grounding in many aspects of the group’s flooring
activities Mr Halstead focused on exports and founded our
operations  in  Europe.  He  brings  unparalleled  knowledge  of
the  group’s  activities,  the  products  and  positioning  in
markets  and  experience  to  allow  for  the  assessment  of
future opportunities for the group both in commercial terms
and product related. Mr Halstead is tasked with the delivery
of the business model agreed within the strategy set by the
board.

19

Corporate Governance
continued

Mr Gordon Oliver – Finance Director

Mr Russell Whiting – non-executive director

Mr Oliver is a Chartered Accountant. He trained with KPMG
and held a number of financial positions in industry prior to
joining James Halstead in 1987 as group financial controller.
He was instrumental in the disposal of non-core businesses
in the UK and overseas and became finance director of the
group 
in  1999.  He  brings  knowledge  of  financial
management  and  control,  corporate  governance  and
business acumen to the business as well as development of
future strategy arising from a long period as a member of
the  board.  During  his  time  with  the  company  Mr  Oliver’s
standing  has  been  recognised  by  several  awards  from  his
peers  and  the  financial  press.  Mr  Oliver  is  tasked  with
working  closely  with  the chief executive  to  progress  the
business and to have regard to mitigation of risk. In addition
a  key  role  is  integrity  of  the  financial  information  and
communicating  to  the  board  the  financial  implications  of
areas of subjective judgement.

Mr Steve Hall – Senior independent director

Mr  Hall  was  appointed  to  the  board  in  2012  as  a  non-
executive director. He has 21 years’ experience as a director
of corporate banking for the Royal Bank of Scotland where
he was responsible for corporate SMEs and quoted clients.
For  several  years  he  has  acted  as  a  consultant  outside  of
banking  and  is  a  non-executive  director  to  a  large  retail
chemist chain. He brings with him this banking experience
as  well  as  broad  experience  of  mergers,  acquisitions  and
disposals  and  the  financing  thereof.  One  of  the  key
responsibilities  of  the  SID  is  leading  the  performance
evaluation  of  the  chairman,  or  the  search  for  a  new
chairman.  As SID, Mr Hall is an alternative route of access
for  shareholders  and  other  directors  who  have  a  concern
that cannot be raised through the normal channels of the
chair or the executive directors. Mr Hall is chairman of the
remuneration and the audit committees.

Mr Michael Halstead – non-executive director

Mr  Halstead  was  appointed  to  the  board  in  2017.  He  has
many  years’  experience  in  the  advertising  industry  having
been an account director for Saatchi and Saatchi and more
recently  running  his  own  company  HH&S  Group  Limited.
He brings general business acumen to the board along with
specifics  relating  to  marketing  and  public  relations  arising
from  his  background.  Mr  Halstead  provides  oversight  and
scrutiny  of  the  performance  of  the  executive  directors,
whilst  both  constructively  challenging  and  inspiring  them,
thereby ensuring the business develops, communicates and
executes the agreed strategy and operates with reference to
the risk management framework. Mr Halstead is in the 4th
generation  after  the  founder  and  has  never  worked  within
the business but is passionate to preserve the principles of
the company and to contribute to its continued success.

Mr Whiting  was  appointed  to  the  board  in  2017.  He  is  a
local businessman and is director of a company involved in
leasing of assets, Associated Credits Holdings Ltd. As well as
general business acumen he brings specific understanding of
business and asset financing to a broad range of commercial
enterprises. He has known the group for a number of years
through his business. Mr Whiting possesses the critical skills
that are relevant to modern companies, which includes both
technical experience and the ability to positively challenge
and to listen in equal measure.

Attendance at the six board meetings during the year was as
follows:

                                                               Possible         Actual 
J A Wild                                                             6                 6
M Halstead                                                       6                 6
G R Oliver                                                         6                 6
S D Hall                                                             6                 5
M J Halstead                                                     6                 6
R P Whiting                                                       6                 6

Senior management team

Mr David Drillingcourt – Corporate development director

Mr Drillingcourt is a Chartered Accountant and trained with
KPMG  before  joining  the company  in  1996  as group
accountant.  He  served  as finance director  at  two  of  the
company’s subsidiaries, Phoenix Distribution (NW) Limited
(1999-2005) and Polyflor Limited (2005 – 2013). He served
as company secretary (2013  – 2021).  He  was  appointed
corporate development director  in  2019.  Working  closely
with the board and subsidiary directors, the role is designed
to help support the future growth of the business across the
globe.

Internal control
The  board  has  ultimate  responsibility  for  the  system  of
internal  control  operating  throughout  the  group  and  for
reviewing its effectiveness. Internal control systems in any
group  are  designed  to  meet  the  particular  needs  of  that
group  and  the  risks  to  which  it  is  exposed.  No  system  of
internal  control  can  provide  absolute  assurance  against
material  misstatement  or  loss.  The  group’s  system  is
designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure
in  order  to  achieve  business  objectives  and  to  provide  the
board  with  reasonable  assurance  that  potential  problems
will normally be prevented or will be detected in a manner
which will enable appropriate action to be taken.

20

The  key  procedures  which  the  directors  have  established
with  a  view  to  providing  effective  internal  control  are  as
follows:

the  audit  committee  keeps  under  review  the
effectiveness  of  the  system  of  internal  control  and
reports its conclusions to the full board;

the  group  directors  are  responsible  for  establishing,
maintaining  and  reviewing  the  group’s  system  of
internal control and meet regularly to consider group
financial  performance,  business  development  and
management  issues,  and  to  review  these  against
predetermined objectives;

the  group  board  establishes  corporate  strategy  and
business  objectives.  Management  of  subsidiary
companies  integrate  these  objectives  into  their
business  strategies  for  presentation  to  the  group
board with supporting financial objectives;

subsidiary company budgets, containing financial and
operating  targets,  capital  expenditure  proposals  and
performance/profitability indicators, are presented to
and  reviewed  by  the  group  executive  directors. The
consolidated group budget is approved by the group
board;

there is an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating
and managing the significant risks faced by the group.
These  risks  are  appraised  and  evaluated  by
responsible  executives  and  endorsed  by  subsidiary
and  group  management.  This  process  has  been  in
place  throughout  the  year  and  up  to  the  date  of
approval of the annual accounts;

as  part  of  the  regular  monitoring  and  review,  the
group executive directors hold regular meetings with
the  management  of  the  subsidiary  companies  at
which  reports  covering  such  areas  as  forecasts,
business  development,  strategic  planning,  risk
exposure  and  performance  against  budget,  are
presented and discussed. These are then reported to
the group board, on a quarterly basis;

the  group  board  reviews  and  considers  any  major
problem which may have occurred and assesses how
the risks have changed in the period under review;

there is a group-wide policy governing appraisal and
approval of capital expenditure and asset disposals;

to  underpin  the  effectiveness  of  controls,  it  is  the
group’s  policy  to  recruit  management  and  staff  of
high  calibre,  integrity  and  appropriate  disciplines.
High  standards  of  integrity,  business  ethics  and
compliance  with  laws,  regulations  and  internal
policies are demanded from staff at all levels;

the  board  also  conducts  an  assessment  of  the
effectiveness  of  the 
internal  control  system.
This assessment  consists  of  a  review  of  all  the
significant  areas  of  internal  control,  including  risk
assessment,  the  control  environment,  control
activities,  information  and  communication,  and
monitoring.

The Quoted Company Alliance Code
(“QCA code”)
The  directors  recognise  the  importance  of  good  corporate
governance and have chosen to apply the QCA code as their
framework  to  do  so. The  QCA  code  was  developed  by  the
Quoted Company Alliance in consultation with a number of
institutional small company investors as an alternative code
applicable to AIM companies. The QCA code was published
in April 2018.

The QCA code sets out ten principles which seek to ensure
that  the  overall  framework  for  corporate  governance  is
robust.  The  directors  believe  that  this  framework  is
appropriate to the size and operations of the business and
each of the principles is commented on below. Many of the
disclosures  relevant  to  the  code  are  already  made  in  our
annual report and accounts. 

The  chairman  has  the  responsibility  for  corporate
governance  and  has  taken  a  lead  on  this  matter.  The
executive team are directed with day to day management
and are accountable to the rest of the board. The chairman
expects and demands open discussion of issues facing the
business and in the application of this code has sought input
from the auditors, the company’s advisors and a review by
the  company  lawyer. The  board  is  tasked  with  continuing
the  success  of  the  business  over  time  and  through
successive generations of management and the importance
of  corporate  governance  is  to  oversee  the  division  of
ownership and stewardship. The executive directors have the
day to day responsibility of stewardship and the chairman
and non-executives monitor and evaluate this on behalf of
the owners. 

James  Halstead  plc  has  been  listed  on  the  London  stock
exchange for over 70 years and continues to look for growth
in sales and profit to continue its strong record of reward to
shareholders in the form of dividend. Whilst this is a primary
role, the board is proud of its reputation within its industry
and the financial markets and corporate control is central to
the ethos.

21

Corporate Governance
continued

The disclosures below were last reviewed and approved by
the board on 30 September 2022.

QCA Principles and James Halstead
plc’s approach

1. Establish a strategy and business model which promote

long-term value for shareholders

James  Halstead  plc’s  strategy  is  explained  fully  within  our
Strategic  Report  section  in  our  Report  and Accounts  each
financial year. 

Our  strategy  is  focussed on  stable  profitable  growth  from
building the goodwill in our brands and products leading to
increasing dividends over time.

Key  risks  and  mitigating  factors  to  our  business  are  also
detailed annually in our Report and Accounts.

2. Seek  to  understand  and  meet  shareholder  needs  and

expectations

The  board  has  a  track  record  of  increasing  dividends  over
many  years.  Where  the  business  has  generated  funds  in
excess  of  its  medium-term  requirements  and  no  specific
investment  requirements  exist  the  board  has  also
encouraged the payment of special dividends over the years.

Members  of  the  board  talk  regularly  to  both  institutional
and private investors and the financial press to ensure that
company’s strategy and objectives are communicated. The
group has a large number of shareholders and regular broker
updates are published. 

The  company  regularly  hosts  institution  and  broker  site
visits to update on progress and the executive directors are
in  ongoing  contact  with  the  nominated  advisor  who
communicates more closely with the market.

Shareholders  can  contact  the company secretary  with
questions and may be referred to the directors.

In addition, the AGM acts as a forum for all shareholders to
meet with the board and raise any questions they may have.

3. Take  into  account  wider  stakeholder  and  social
responsibilities  and  their  implications  for  long-term
success.

The board recognises that the group has responsibilities to
many stakeholders other than its shareholders. This includes
employees, customers, suppliers and the wider societies in
which we operate.

In terms of communications with stakeholders this is done
in  ways  appropriate  to  the  stakeholder  and  may  take  the

form  of  formal  announcements,  individual  meetings  (for
example appraisals with employees) and negotiations with
other stakeholders.

The  environmental  impact  of  our  manufacturing  and  our
output  is  of  significant  importance  to  our  medium  term
prospects not only to demonstrate our commitment to the
community at large but also to customers who increasingly,
and rightly, look for suppliers with strong ethical values. 

As a member of the communities in which we operate the
board takes seriously the impact the business has, positively
in  terms  of  being  an  employer  and  seeking  continuous
impact  on  the
improvement  with  respect  to  the 
environment  and  communities.  This  is  illustrated  by  our
annual “Sustainability Report” copies of which are available
on  www.polyflor.com  which  outlines  the  impact  of  our
manufacturing  operations  on  the  wider  environment  and
local
improvements  over  time.  Feedback  from  the 
community  is  received  directly  to  the  head  office.  This
report has been published for nearly two decades and is now
an annual report.

We  understand  continuous  development  of  our  products
also contributes to our responsibilities as well as the success
of  the  business.  This  is  illustrated,  for  example,  by
development of “dementia friendly” flooring in recent years.

The  operating  businesses  encourage  feedback  from
customers  through  their  relationship  managers  in  the
business and customer service teams.

4. Embed  effective  risk  management,  considering  both
opportunities and threats, throughout the organisation.

Risk  management  is  reported  annually  in  our  Report  and
Accounts along with how those risks are mitigated and how
they change over time. 

The board meets six times a year during which business and
other  risks  are  assessed.  Key  subsidiaries  have  their  own
management  boards  which  meet  regularly  and  assess  the
risks  relevant  to  that  specific  business  and  relevant
responses.  These  are  communicated  to  the  main  board
either  by  direct  representation  or  via  group  management
structures  that  are  in  place.  There  are  also  formal  and
informal  communication  routes  that  allow  for  risks  to  be
communicated to board members in a timely manner from
all operational entities.

5. Maintain  the  board  as  a  well-functioning,  balanced

team led by the chair.

Anthony Wild, the non-executive chairman is responsible for
the  running  of  the  board  and  Mark  Halstead  as  chief
executive  has  responsibility  for  implementation  of  the
board’s direction.

22

A monthly report is provided to the board of the financial and
operational  performance  of  the  group.  Information  is
provided in advance of meetings.

The  board  is  responsible  for  all  strategic  decisions  and  the
overall governance and culture of the group. 

All the directors have access to the services and advice of the
company  secretary  and  are  able  to  take  independent
professional advice to enable them to do so. This may be done
at the group’s expense. 

The  board  has  a  majority  of  non-executive  directors  and
consider that they bring independent thought and judgement
to bear as well as business experience out-with the group.

The  board  has  sub  committees  with  specific  remits,
specifically remuneration and audit committees and detail of
the number of meetings and attendance by directors is noted
in the Annual Report.

6. Ensure  that  between  them  the  directors  have  the
necessary up-to-date experience, skills and capabilities

The  board  evaluates  consistently  those  skills  that  are
required  and  whether  they  are  adequately  provided  for.  In
doing so and where relevant it will consider guidance available
on appointment and training of board members. The Company
Secretary  has  the  responsibility  to  make  the  board  aware  of
legal changes and will advise on the company’s approach. For
example  the  recent  GDPR  requirements  and  previously  the
Market Abuse Regulations (MAR).

The company secretary supports the chairman in addressing
the  training  and  development  needs  of  the  directors.  In  the
case of new directors there is an induction process to ensure
they become aware of the operations of the group. 

The  directors  are  aware  of  their  individual  responsibility  to
undertake appropriate continuing development.

7. Evaluate board performance based on clear and relevant

objectives seeing continuous improvement.

The  board  will  take  account  of  the  Financial  Reporting
Council’s Guidance on Board Effectiveness as it evaluates on
a regular basis its performance. The remuneration committee
meets formally and is tasked with not only the remuneration
of the executive directors but also evaluation of performance.
To this end the board is circulated with press comment and
market feedback on the business. Market share data and peer
group analysis is available.

In terms of the financial performance the auditors meet the
audit  committee  (comprising  the  non-executives)  bi-
annually and beyond the audit report do comment on the
systems,  procedures  and  efficacy  of  the  management. The
nominated advisor has access to the Chairman and meets
the non-executives annually.

A  rigorous  recruitment  process  is  undertaken  for  new
directors prior to their proposal and election. In terms of re-
election  their  performance  is  reconsidered  prior  to  them
being proposed to ensure they remain effective in their role
and that they retain their independence.

Re-election is considered by the shareholders at the AGM at
which  shareholders  have  the  opportunity  as  a  body  to
approve  or  otherwise  board  membership.  Succession
planning  for  the  board  and  as  importantly  the  key
executives around the world who manage our businesses is
an ongoing topic of discussion. 

8. Promote  a  corporate  culture  that  is  based  on  ethical

values and behaviours.

The  board  expects  the  highest  ethical  standards  of  its
members and management across the group.

The  group  has  documented  procedures  with  respect  to  its
responsibilities  regarding  ethical  behaviour,  specifically
bribery and corrupt practices and modern slavery and these
are  applicable  across  its  operations  including  supply  and
customer chains.

The  board  also  takes  seriously  its  responsibilities  towards
sustainability  of  its  operations  and  the  impact  of  our
operations  on  the  environment.  This  is  documented  and
reported on annually in Polyflor’s Sustainability Report.

As  an  employer  and  member  of  many  communities
throughout the world, the board consider that strong ethical
values to be a good member of these communities is a mind-
set not one underpinned by rules and procedures. Ensuring,
via  recruitment  processes  and  cultural  values  that  this
cascades  through  the  business  is  critical  to  ensuring  the
group is a “good member of the community”. All directors of
the group’s companies are expected to comply and are given
a  manual  on  procedures  and  expectations.  This  covers
authority levels and gives guidance on appropriate behaviour. 

Ultimately  service  contracts  underpin  this  by  indicating
behaviour that can be deemed a breach of contract and the
directors are clear about their statutory duties as formally
set out in sections 171 – 177 of the Companies Act 2006.

23

Corporate Governance
continued

9. Maintain governance structures and processes that are
fit for purpose and support good decision making by the
board

10. Communicate  how  the  company  is  governed  and  is
performing by maintaining a dialogue with shareholders
and other relevant stakeholders

The  AGM  is  a  key  forum  for  communications  with  any
shareholders  who  wish  to  attend,  and  the  directors  are
available here to listen to views expressed both formally and
informally.  This  combined  with  the  normal  cycle  of
announcements is the key method of communication. The
outcome of resolutions put to the AGM are published and
are available on the company website. 

In terms  of  publication  of  results,  the  company  uses  the
Stock Exchange regulatory news service (RNS) to advise the
market  (i.e.  shareholders  and  others)  of  performance  and
significant matters. As a group we do not find social media
(Facebook,  twitter  etc.)  an  appropriate  medium  for
dissemination of news due to the “sound-bite” nature of the
medium. Brokers are updated and circulate notes regularly.

The  group  has,  where  appropriate,  communications  with
major institutional and private shareholders and encourages
dialogue.

Corporate  governance  disclosures  are  assessed  at  least
annually, including whether the structures and processes are
fit for purpose. 

The  board  retains  ultimate  accountability  for  maintaining
good governance. The executive directors are responsible for
the day-to-day operational management of the group and
the  non-executive  directors  are  responsible  for  bringing
their  independent  and  objective  judgement  to  board
discussions  and  decisions. The  roles  of  chairman  and  chief
executive  are  split  in  accordance  with  best  practice.  The
board  are  responsible  for  the  implementation  of  strategy,
the  achievement  of  performance  and  ensuring  the
framework  of  internal  controls  is  effective. The  board  has
delegated  specific  responsibilities  to  the  audit  and
remuneration committees.

The audit committee assists the board by ensuring that the
financial  performance  of  the  group  is  properly  reported.  It
oversees  and  reviews  the  internal  control  processes,  its
relationship  with  external  auditors  and  the  process  for
ensuring  compliance  with  laws,  regulations  and  corporate
governance.

The remuneration committee is responsible for establishing
a formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on
remuneration  and  to  set  the  remuneration  packages  of
individual  directors,  including,  where  appropriate,  bonuses,
incentive payments and share options.

Due the nature and size of the company, the directors have
determined that a nomination committee is not necessary
and that issues concerning the nomination of directors will
be dealt with by the board directly. 

24

Independent  Auditor’s  Report  to  the  Members  of
James Halstead plc
Opinion on the financial statements
In our opinion:

Independence

the financial statements give a true and fair view of
the state of the group’s and of the parent company’s
affairs as at 30 June 2022 and of the group’s profit for
the year then ended;

the  group  financial  statements  have  been  properly
prepared 
in  accordance  with  UK  adopted
international accounting standards;

the parent company financial statements have been
in  accordance  with  United
properly  prepared 
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

the  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in
accordance with the requirements of the Companies
Act 2006.

We  have  audited  the  financial  statements  of  James
Halstead plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the
‘group’)  for  the  year  ended  30  June  2022  which  comprise
the  Consolidated  Income  Statement,  the  Consolidated
Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated and
the Parent Company Balance Sheets, the Consolidated and
Parent  Company  Statement  of  Changes  in  Equity,  the
Consolidated  Cash  Flow  Statement  and  notes  to  the
consolidated  and  Parent  Company  financial  statements,
including a summary of significant accounting policies. 

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in
the  preparation  of  the  group  financial  statements  is
applicable  law  and  UK  adopted  international  accounting
standards. The financial reporting framework that has been
applied in the preparation of the parent company financial
statements 
law  and  United  Kingdom
including  Financial  Reporting
Accounting  Standards, 
Standard  101  Reduced  Disclosure  Framework  (United
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

is  applicable 

Basis for opinion

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

We  remain  independent  of  the  group  and  the  parent
company in accordance with the ethical requirements that
are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the
UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed
entities,  and  we  have 
fulfilled  our  other  ethical
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

Conclusions relating to going concern

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.
Our  evaluation  of  the  directors’  assessment  of  the  group
and the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the
going concern basis of accounting included:

Examining  the  directors’  business  plan  covering  the
period to October 2023. We examined the cash flow
forecasts for key judgements, verifying to source data
as  appropriate,  as  well  as  considering  downside
sensitivities to these;

Testing  their  mechanical  accuracy  and  assessing
historical forecast accuracy;

Challenge  of  the  directors’  stress  test  scenarios
including levers available to the directors to mitigate
the impacts; 

Challenge  of  the  directors  on  the  key  assumptions
included in the scenarios and confirmed the directors’
mitigating actions are within their control; and

Assessing the adequacy of the disclosures within the
financial  statements  relating  to  the  directors’
assessment of the going concern basis of preparation.

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  and  the  parent  company’s
ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least
twelve  months  from  when  the  financial  statements  are
authorised for issue.

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

25

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of
James Halstead plc continued
Overview

Coverage

99% (2021: 97%) of Group profit before tax

90% (2021: 90%) of Group revenue

95% (2021: 96%) of Group total assets

Key audit matters

Inventory provisioning
Pension scheme assumptions

Materiality

2022
(cid:0)(cid:0)
(cid:0)(cid:0)

2021
(cid:0)(cid:0)
(cid:0)(cid:0)

Group  financial  statements  as  a  whole: £2.60m  (2021:
£2.56m)  based  on  5%  of  profit  before  tax  (2021:  5%  of
profit before tax).

An overview of the scope of our audit

Our group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding
of  the  group  and  its  environment,  including  the  group’s
system  of  internal  control,  and  assessing  the  risks  of
material misstatement in the financial statements. We also
addressed  the  risk  of  management  override  of  internal
controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of
bias  by  the  directors  that  may  have  represented  a  risk  of
material misstatement.

Our  group  audit  scope  focused  on  the  group’s  principal
operating  locations  being  the  United  Kingdom,  Germany
and Australia. The operations in the United Kingdom, which
were deemed to be significant components, were subject to
a  full  scope  audit  given  the  statutory  audit  requirements
whilst the significant components in Germany and Australia
were  also  subject  to  a  full  scope  audit  to  component
materiality. The German component was audited by a non-
BDO member firm. The Australian component was audited
by a BDO member firm. The remaining components of the
these
group  were  considered  non-significant  and 
components  were  principally  subject  to  analytical  review
procedures by the group engagement team.

Our involvement with component auditors

For  the  work  performed  by  component  auditors,  we
determined the level of involvement needed in order to be
able  to  conclude  whether  sufficient  appropriate  audit
evidence has been obtained as a basis for our opinion on the
group  financial  statements  as  a  whole.  Our  involvement
with component auditors included the following:

The  German  operations  form  a  significant  part  of  group
turnover and profitability. As part of our audit strategy, the
Responsible  Individual  and  senior  members  of  the  group
audit  team  were  involved  during  the  planning  and  risk
assessment process of the German component in addition
to during the completion of detailed audit procedures. We
attended key meetings with component management and
auditors, and reviewed component auditor work papers.

The Australian operations form a further significant part of
group turnover and profits. Again the Responsible Individual
and senior members of the group audit team were involved
at all stages of the audit process, directing the planning and
risk  assessment  work  performed  through  calls  with  the
component auditors and local management. Reviews of the
component auditor working papers were also completed.

Key audit matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional
judgement,  were  of  most  significance  in  our  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) that we identified, 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
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.

Key audit matter – Inventory provisioning

As  described  in  Note  2  (accounting  policies)  and  Note  19
(inventories),  the  group  carries  inventory  at  the  lower  of
cost and net realisable value. 

Provision  is  made  against  slow  moving,  obsolete  and
damaged  inventories. As  at  30  June  2022,  the  group  held
inventories of £112.3m (2021: £60.7m). 

judgement 

This  area  represented  a  key  audit  matter  as  significant
management 
is  required  to  assess  the
appropriate  level  of  provisioning  for  items  which  may  be
sold below cost or written off as a result of a reduction in
consumer  demand  particularly  in  light  of  changing
consumer  tastes  and  new  products  being  developed.  Such
judgements include management’s expectations for future
sales.

26

How  the  scope  of  our  audit  addressed  the  key
audit matter

We  obtained  evidence  concerning  management’s
assumptions  applied  in  calculating  the  value  of  inventory
provisions by:

Challenging the group’s inventory provisioning policy
with  specific  consideration  given  to  slow  moving  or
obsolete  stock  lines.  This  involved  a  review  of
production and sales records for a sample of products
to  ascertain  when  they  were  last  made  or  sold  and
whether they had been appropriately provided for;

assessing  the  appropriateness  of  the  percentages
applied  within  the  provision  by  reviewing  historic
sales and the ageing of stock; and

testing of a sample of inventory to confirm it is held
at the lower of cost and net realisable value, through
comparison to invoices for cost and sales prices.

We also audited the basis of stock provisioning applied by
all group entities and considered whether these were being
applied  consistently  and  reflected  the  nature  of  the  stock
held in each location.

Key observation: Our work did not highlight evidence that
the method of inventory provision was inappropriate.

Key audit matter – Pension scheme
assumptions

As  described  in  Note  2  (accounting  policies)  and  Note  26
(retirement  benefit  obligations),  the  group  has  a  defined
benefit pension plan in the UK.

At  30  June  2022,  the  group  recorded  a  net  retirement
benefit  of  £6.1m  (2021:  £4.4m  obligation),  comprising
scheme  assets  of  £69.2m  (2021:  £77.3m)  and  scheme
liabilities of £63.1m (2021: £81.6m).

The  pension  valuation  is  dependent  on  market  conditions
and  key  assumptions  made  by  management,  in  particular
relating  to  investment  markets,  discount  rate,  inflation
expectations and life expectancy assumptions.

This area and the related disclosures represented a key audit
matter  given  that  the  setting  of  these  assumptions  is
complex  and 
requires  the  exercise  of  significant
management  judgement  with  the  support  of  third  party
actuaries.

In  testing  the  pension  valuation,  with  the  help  of  external
pension  actuarial  experts,  we  reviewed  the  key  actuarial
assumptions  used,  both  financial  and  demographic,  and
considered the appropriateness of the methodology utilised
to derive these assumptions.

We  benchmarked  the  scheme  assumptions  against  other
schemes  of  a  similar  size  and  profile.  Specifically,  we
challenged  the  discount  rate,  inflation  and  mortality
assumptions  applied  in  the  calculation  by  using  pension
experts  to  benchmark  the  assumptions  applied  against
comparable 
the
appropriateness  of  the  assumptions  in  the  context  of  the
group’s  own  position. We  have  also  performed  sensitivity
analysis on the assumptions determined by the directors.

third  party  data  and  assessed 

We  have  tested  the  accuracy  of  the  scheme  asset
statements  by  reference  to  service  organisation  control
reports  to  gain  assurance  over  the  robustness  of  the
provider’s internal controls. Further, we have sample tested
assets to third party sources in order to confirm ownership
and valuation 

Furthermore,  we  have  assessed  the  disclosure  of  the  net
pension asset and the related assumptions and sensitivities
in the financial statements against the relevant accounting
framework.

Key  observation:  We  have  not  identified  any  evidence  to
suggest that the methodology and assumptions applied in
relation to determining the pension valuation are not within
an acceptable range. Furthermore, the disclosures made are
in accordance with the relevant accounting framework.

Our application of materiality

We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and
performing  our  audit,  and  in  evaluating  the  effect  of
misstatements.  We  consider  materiality  to  be  the
magnitude  by  which  misstatements,  including  omissions,
could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users
that are taken on the basis of the financial statements. 

In  order  to  reduce  to  an  appropriately  low  level  the
probability  that  any  misstatements  exceed  materiality,  we
use  a  lower  materiality  level,  performance  materiality,  to
determine  the  extent  of  testing  needed.  Importantly,
misstatements  below  these  levels  will  not  necessarily  be
evaluated  as  immaterial  as  we  also  take  account  of  the
nature  of  identified  misstatements,  and  the  particular
circumstances  of  their  occurrence,  when  evaluating  their
effect on the financial statements as a whole. 

27

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of
James Halstead plc continued

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

Group financial statements

2022
£2.60m

Materiality
Basis for determining
materiality
Performance materiality £1.69m

5% of profit before tax

2021
£2.56m

5% of profit before tax
£1.67m

Parent company financial statements

Materiality
Basis for determining
materiality

2022
£1.61m
5% of profit before tax. 

.

Performance materiality £1.05m

2021
£1.66m
5% of profit before tax.
For the purposes of
the group audit, the
amount above was 
restricted to
component materiality.
£1.08m

Rationale  for  the  benchmark  applied – Pre-tax  profit  is
determined  to  be  a  stable  basis  of  assessing  business
performance  and  is  considered  to  be  the  most  significant
determinant of performance used by shareholders.

Basis for determining performance materiality – 65% of the
above  materiality  level. This  is  considered  the  appropriate
basis given the multiple significant components across three
geographic  regions  (United  Kingdom,  Germany  and
Australia),  the  level  of  misstatements  in  the  past  and  our
overall risk assessment.

Other information

The directors are responsible for the other information. The
other  information  comprises  the  information  included  in
the  Report  and  Accounts  2022  other  than  the  financial
statements  and  our  auditor’s  report  thereon.  Our  opinion
on  the  financial  statements  does  not  cover  the  other
information  and,  except  to  the  extent  otherwise  explicitly
stated  in  our  report,  we  do  not  express  any  form  of
assurance conclusion thereon. 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
course  of  the  audit,  or  otherwise  appears  to  be  materially
misstated.  If  we  identify  such  material  inconsistencies  or
apparent  material  misstatements,  we  are  required  to
determine  whether  this  gives  rise  to  a  material
misstatement  in  the  financial  statements  themselves.  If,
based  on  the  work  we  have  performed,  we  conclude  that
there is a material misstatement of this other information,
we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Other Companies Act 2006 reporting

Based on the responsibilities described below and our work
performed during the course of the audit, we are required by
the Companies Act 2006 and ISAs (UK) to report on certain
opinions and matters as described below.

Component materiality

Strategic report and directors’ report 

We  set  materiality  for  each  significant  component  of  the
group based on a percentage of between 20% and 70% of
group materiality dependent on the size and our assessment
of  the  risk  of  material  misstatement  of  that  component.
Component materiality ranged from £0.52m to £1.82m. In
the  audit  of  each  component,  we  further  applied
performance  materiality  levels  of  65%  of  the  component
materiality  to  our  testing  to  ensure  that  the  risk  of  errors
exceeding  component  materiality  was  appropriately
mitigated.

Reporting threshold 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report
to them all individual audit differences in excess of £52,000
(2021: £51,260). We also agreed to report differences below
this  threshold  that,  in  our  view,  warranted  reporting  on
qualitative grounds.

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course
of the audit:

the information given in the Strategic report and the
Directors’ report for the financial year for which the
financial  statements  are  prepared  is  consistent  with
the financial statements; and

the  Strategic  report  and  the  Directors’  report  have
been  prepared  in  accordance  with  applicable  legal
requirements.

In  the  light  of  the  knowledge  and  understanding  of  the
group and parent company and its environment obtained in
the  course  of  the  audit,  we  have  not  identified  material
misstatements  in  the  Strategic  report  or  the  Directors’
report.

28

Matters  on  which  we  are  required  to  report  by
exception

Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting
irregularities, including fraud

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

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

the  parent  company  financial  statements  are  not  in
agreement  with  the  accounting  records  and  returns;
or

certain  disclosures  of  directors’  remuneration
specified by law are not made; or

we  have  not  received  all  the  information  and
explanations we require for our audit.

Responsibilities of directors

As  explained  more  fully  in  the  directors’  responsibilities
statement, the directors are responsible for the preparation
of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they
give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the
directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation
of  financial  statements  that  are  free  from  material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In  preparing  the  financial  statements,  the  directors  are
responsible  for  assessing  the  group’s  and  the  parent
company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing,
as  applicable,  matters  related  to  going  concern  and  using
the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors
either intend to liquidate the group or the parent company
or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to
do so.

Auditor’s 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  auditor’s  report  that  includes  our  opinion.
Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not
a  guarantee  that  an  audit  conducted  in  accordance  with
ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when
it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are
considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they
could  reasonably  be  expected  to  influence  the  economic
decisions  of  users  taken  on  the  basis  of  these  financial
statements.

Irregularities,  including  fraud,  are  instances  of  non-
laws  and  regulations.  We  design
compliance  with 
procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above,
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 and accumulated knowledge of
the group and the sector in which it operates we considered
the  risk  of  acts  by  the  group  which  were  contrary  to
applicable laws and regulations, including fraud and whether
such  actions  or  non-compliance  might  have  a  material
effect on the financial statements. These included but were
not limited to those that relate to the form and content of
the  financial  statements,  such  as  the  group  accounting
policies,  international  accounting  standards,  the  UK
Companies Act 2006 and the QCA Code; those that relate to
the  payment  of  employees;  and  industry  related  such  as
compliance with health and safety requirements. 

We  assessed  the  susceptibility  of  the  financial  statements
to  material  misstatement  including  fraud  and  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  posting  inappropriate  journal  entries,
revenue  recognition  and  management  bias  in  accounting
estimates.

Our audit procedures included, but were not limited to:

Obtaining  an  understanding  of 
the  control
environment in monitoring compliance with laws and
regulations;

Enquiring  of  management  concerning  potential
litigations and claims;

Performing  analytical  procedures  to  identify  any
unusual  or  unexpected  relationships  that  may
indicate risks of material misstatement due to fraud;

Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with
governance;

in 

their 

Challenging  assumptions  and  judgements  made  by
management 
significant  accounting
estimates,  in  particular  in  relation  to  the  group’s
defined  benefit  pension  scheme  liabilities,  accruals,
stock provisions (as set out in the key audit matters
section above) and forecasts used within impairment
models utilised to assess goodwill impairment;

29

Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of
James Halstead plc continued

A  critical  assessment  of  the  consolidation  and
consideration  of  manual  or  late  journals  posted  at
consolidation level;

Identification  and  testing  of  journal  entries,  in
particular  any  journal  entries  posted  with  unusual
account combinations or including specific keywords
using data analytics; and

Agreement of the financial statement disclosures to
underlying supporting documentation.

We communicated relevant identified laws and regulations
and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members,
including  the  component  auditors,  and  remained  alert  to
any  indications  of  fraud  or  non-compliance  with  laws  and
regulations  throughout  the  audit.  Our  audit  procedures
were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement
in the financial statements, recognising that 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,  misrepresentations  or  through  collusion. There  are
inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed 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  are  to  become
aware of it.

Financial 

A  further  description  of  our  responsibilities  is  available  on
the 
at:
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.  This  description
forms part of our auditor’s report.

Reporting  Council’s  website 

Use of our report

This  report  is  made  solely  to  the  parent  company’s
members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16
of  the  Companies  Act  2006.  Our  audit  work  has  been
undertaken so that we might state to the parent company’s
members those matters we are required to state to them in
an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest
extent  permitted  by  law,  we  do  not  accept  or  assume
responsibility to anyone other than the parent company and
the  parent  company’s  members  as  a  body,  for  our  audit
work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Stuart Wood (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor
Manchester
United Kingdom
30 September 2022

BDO  LLP  is  a  limited  liability  partnership  registered  in
England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

30

Consolidated Income Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2022

                                                                                                      Note                                       2022                                  2021

                                                                                                                                                    £’000                                  £’000

Revenue                                                                                                   5                                        291,860                             266,362
Cost of sales                                                                                                                                     (178,355)                           (154,722)

Gross profit                                                                                                                                        113,505                             111,640

Selling and distribution costs                                                                                                             (50,316)                             (46,335)
Administration expenses                                                                                                                    (10,931)                             (13,532)

Operating profit                                                                                                                                  52,258                                51,773

Finance income                                                                                       9                                                 42                                       48
Finance cost                                                                                             10                                            (237)                                  (553)

Profit before income tax                                                                         7                                          52,063                                51,268

Income tax expense                                                                                11                                       (11,735)                             (11,407)

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders                                                                      40,328                                39,861

Earnings per ordinary share of 5p
– basic                                                                                                      12                                            9.7p                                    9.6p
– diluted                                                                                                  12                                            9.7p                                    9.6p

All amounts relate to continuing operations.

Details of dividends paid and proposed are given in note 13.

The earnings per ordinary share of 5p for the year ended 30 June 2021 have been restated for the effect of the one-for-one bonus
issue on 14 January 2022

31

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the year ended 30 June 2022

                                                                                                      Note                                       2022                                  2021

                                                                                                                                                    £’000                                  £’000

Profit for the year                                                                                                                       40,328                             39,861

Other comprehensive income net of tax:

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently
to the income statement:

Remeasurement of the net defined benefit liability                          26                                          7,090                                12,708

                                                                                                                                                               7,090                                12,708

Items that could be reclassified subsequently
to the income statement if specific conditions are met:

Foreign currency translation differences                                                                                             926                                   (615)
Fair value movements on hedging instruments                                                                                 (111)                                1,089

                                                                                                                                                                  815                                     474

Other comprehensive income for the year net of tax                                                                         7,905                                13,182

Total comprehensive income for the year                                                                                          48,233                                53,043

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the company                                                                                                          48,233                                53,043

Items in the statement above are disclosed net of tax. The income tax relating to each component of other comprehensive income
is disclosed in note 11.

32

Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2022

                                                                                                      Note                                       2022                                  2021
                                                                                                                                                    £’000                                  £’000

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment                                                               15                                        36,671                                37,242
Right of use assets                                                                                  16                                          5,634                                  6,015
Intangible assets                                                                                      17                                          3,232                                  3,232
Retirement benefit obligations                                                               26                                          6,144                                         –
Deferred tax assets                                                                                  18                                             234                                     254

                                                                                                                                                            51,915                                46,743

Current assets
Inventories                                                                                               19                                      112,279                                60,684
Trade and other receivables                                                                    20                                        51,171                                42,949
Derivative financial instruments                                                             29                                          2,166                                     848
Cash and cash equivalents                                                                      21                                        52,144                                83,261

                                                                                                                                                          217,760                             187,742

Total assets                                                                                                                                       269,675                             234,485

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables                                                                        22                                        84,507                                65,551
Derivative financial instruments                                                             29                                             517                                       92
Current income tax liabilities                                                                                                                2,097                                  1,160
Lease liabilities                                                                                         23                                          2,166                                  2,948

                                                                                                                                                            89,287                                69,751

Non-current liabilities
Retirement benefit obligations                                                               26                                                 –                                  4,357
Other payables                                                                                        22                                             453                                     447
Deferred tax liabilities                                                                             18                                          2,929                                         –
Lease liabilities                                                                                         23                                          3,548                                  3,236
Preference shares                                                                                     24                                             200                                     200

                                                                                                                                                              7,130                                  8,240

Total liabilities                                                                                                                                    96,417                                77,991

Net assets                                                                                                                                         173,258                             156,494

Equity
Equity share capital                                                                                 27                                        20,837                                10,408
Equity share capital (B shares)                                                                27                                             160                                     160

                                                                                                                                                             20,997                                10,568
Share premium account                                                                                                                                –                                  4,122
Capital redemption reserve                                                                                                                          –                                  1,174
Currency translation reserve                                                                                                                 5,912                                  4,986
Hedging reserve                                                                                                                                        941                                  1,052
Retained earnings                                                                                                                              145,408                             134,592

Total equity attributable to shareholders of the parent                                                               173,258                             156,494

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on 30 September 2022.

M Halstead                                                                                  G R Oliver
Director                                                                                        Director

James Halstead plc           Registration Number 140269 

33

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 30 June 2022

                                                                                                     Capital       Currency                                                                
                                                             Share             Share  redemption    translation        Hedging        Retained              Total
                                                           capital       premium          reserve          reserve          reserve        earnings           equity
                                                            £'000             £'000            £'000            £'000            £’000            £’000             £'000

Balance at 30 June 2020                       10,567              4,072              1,174              5,601                 (37)        116,098         137,475

Profit for the year                                           –                     –                     –                     –                     –           39,861           39,861
Remeasurement of the net defined
benefit liability                                                –                     –                     –                     –                     –           12,708           12,708
Foreign currency translation
differences                                                       –                     –                     –               (615)                    –                     –               (615)
Fair value movements on
hedging instruments                                       –                     –                     –                     –              1,089                     –              1,089

Total comprehensive income for
the year                                                           –                     –                     –               (615)            1,089           52,569           53,043
Transactions with equity shareholders
Dividends                                                        –                     –                     –                     –                     –          (34,083)         (34,083)
Issue of share capital                                      1                   50                     –                     –                     –                     –                   51
Share based payments                                    –                     –                     –                     –                     –                     8                     8

Balance at 30 June 2021                       10,568              4,122              1,174              4,986              1,052         134,592         156,494

Profit for the year                                           –                     –                     –                     –                     –           40,328           40,328
Remeasurement of the net defined
benefit liability                                               –                     –                     –                     –                     –              7,090              7,090
Foreign currency translation
differences                                                       –                     –                     –                926                     –                     –                926
Fair value movements on
hedging instruments                                       –                     –                     –                     –               (111)                    –               (111)

Total comprehensive income for
the year                                                           –                     –                     –                926               (111)          47,418           48,233
Transactions with equity shareholders
Dividends                                                        –                     –                     –                     –                     –          (32,298)         (32,298)
Issue of share capital                                    11                812                     –                     –                     –                     –                823
Bonus issue of share capital                  10,418            (4,934)           (1,174)                    –                     –            (4,310)                    – 
Share based payments                                    –                     –                     –                     –                     –                     6                     6

Balance at 30 June 2022                       20,997                     –                     –              5,912                941         145,408         173,258

34

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 30 June 2022

                                                                                                                                                     2022                                  2021

                                                                                                                                                    £’000                                  £’000

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders                                                                      40,328                                39,861
Income tax expense                                                                                                                            11,735                                11,407

Profit before income tax                                                                                                                     52,063                                51,268
Finance cost                                                                                                                                              237                                     553
Finance income                                                                                                                                         (42)                                    (48)

Operating profit                                                                                                                                  52,258                                51,773
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment                                                                                   3,794                                  3,541
Depreciation of right of use assets                                                                                                       3,139                                  3,115
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment                                                                                    (198)                                    (64)
Defined benefit pension scheme service cost                                                                                         500                                     620
Defined benefit pension scheme employer contributions paid                                                          (1,970)                               (4,144)
Changes in fair value of financial instruments                                                                                         703                                     (90)
Share based payments                                                                                                                                  6                                         8
(Increase)/decrease in inventories                                                                                                      (50,272)                                6,346
(Increase) in trade and other receivables                                                                                             (7,451)                             (15,573)
Increase in trade and other payables                                                                                                  15,905                                20,248

Cash inflow from operations                                                                                                               16,414                                65,780
Taxation paid                                                                                                                                        (9,879)                               (9,895)

Cash inflow from operating activities                                                                                                   6,535                                55,885

Purchase of property, plant and equipment                                                                                        (3,248)                               (2,811)
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment                                                                     280                                     131

Cash outflow from investing activities                                                                                                (2,968)                               (2,680)

Interest received                                                                                                                                         42                                       48
Interest paid                                                                                                                                               (20)                                    (26)
Lease interest paid                                                                                                                                  (143)                                  (173)
Lease capital paid                                                                                                                                 (3,233)                               (3,010)
Equity dividends paid                                                                                                                         (32,298)                             (34,083)
Shares issued                                                                                                                                            823                                       51

Cash outflow from financing activities                                                                                              (34,829)                             (37,193)

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents                                                                      (31,262)                              16,012

Effect of exchange differences                                                                                                                  145                                   (196)
Cash and cash equivalents at start of year                                                                                         83,261                                67,445

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year                                                                                          52,144                                83,261

35

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

1. General information
James  Halstead  plc  (“the  company”  or “the  parent  company”)  is  a  limited  liability  company, registered  in  England  and Wales,
domiciled in the United Kingdom and listed on AIM on the London Stock Exchange. The address of its registered office is Beechfield,
Hollinhurst Road, Radcliffe, Manchester, M26 1JN.

2.

Accounting policies

Basis of preparation
On 31 December 2020, IFRS as adopted by the European Union at that date was brought into UK Law and became UK adopted
international accounting standards, with future changes being subject to endorsement by the UK Endorsement Board. The group
transitioned to UK adopted international accounting standards in its consolidated financial statements on 1 July 2021. There was
no impact or changes in accounting from the transition.

The  group  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with UK  adopted  international  accounting  standards. The
company  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  Financial  Reporting  Standard  101  Reduced  Disclosure
Framework, and are presented separately following the group financial statements.

The group financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and on the historical cost basis as modified by the
valuation of certain financial assets and financial liabilities (being derivative instruments) at fair value.

Going concern

The directors have reviewed current performance and forecasts, combined with capital investment and expenditure commitments,
and a range of trading scenarios. The group has no net borrowings and owns the freeholds on many of its premises (the most
significant being four UK operating sites and two sites in Germany).

After considering current trading and forward forecasts, the directors have the reasonable expectation that the group has adequate
financial resources to continue in operation, including contractual and commercial commitments, for the foreseeable future.

As the global pandemic recedes, but with many markets now facing high energy costs and supply chain concerns, the directors have
considered that there may be a weakening of demand for flooring products in arriving at the conclusion above.

Fluctuations in exchange rates have been a constant factor since sterling floated in 1971. Our hedging delays the effect of sharp
changes.

Working with our senior executives we have considered scenarios for the purpose of the statutory audit that involve layoffs and
cessation of production in the winter months and, whilst we do not believe they are likely, have been considered to assess the going
concern concept. The cost and availability of international freight has continued to frustrate export sales and as part of the going
concern review we have factored in the scenario that this will continue for several months.

Based on the above the directors are satisfied the group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for at least one
year from the date of approval of the financial statements.

Recent accounting developments
The financial statements are prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards and interpretations in
force at the reporting date. The group has not adopted any standards or interpretations in advance of the required implementation
dates.

36

2.

Accounting policies (continued)

Recent accounting developments (continued)
The following standards were adopted in the period.

Amendments  to IFRS 9, IAS 39, IFRS 7, IFRS 4 and IFRS 16 Interest Rate Benchmark Reform – Phase 2

There were no new standards, interpretations and amendments, which are not yet effective and have not been adopted early in
these financial statements, which will or may have an effect on the group’s future financial statements.

Basis of consolidation
The group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of the parent company and all its subsidiaries, as if they formed
a single entity. Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the group. Control exists if all three of the following elements are present:
power  over  the  entity,  exposure  to  variable  returns  from  the  entity,  and  the  ability  to  affect  those  variable  returns.  Control  is
reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate that there may be a change in any of these elements of control. Control is
normally achieved by a majority shareholding. The company, directly or through an intermediate subsidiary owned 100% of the
share capital of all of its subsidiaries. The results of subsidiaries acquired are consolidated from the date on which control passes to
the group. The results of disposed subsidiaries are consolidated up to the date on which control passes from the group. All intra-
group transactions and balances are eliminated on consolidation.

Segment reporting

Operating segments are those segments for which results are reviewed by the group’s chief operating decision maker (CODM) to
assess performance and make decisions about resources to be allocated. The CODM is the group board which meets regularly
throughout the year to discuss the performance and results of the group as a whole. The business of the group is the manufacture
and distribution of flooring products. The group operates through separate legal entities in certain areas of the world and in order
to  provide  information  in  a  structured  manner  to  readers  of  the  accounts  who  are  unfamiliar  with  the  internal  management
reporting of the group, these operations are discussed by the chief executive in his report. However, the directors consider that
under the definitions contained within IFRS 8 there is only one reportable segment, which is the group as a whole. This is consistent
with the core principle of IFRS 8, which is to disclose information to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature
and financial effects of the business activities in which the group engages and the economic activities in which it operates.

Foreign currencies

Functional  and  presentation  currency  –  the  group’s  consolidated  financial  statements  are  presented  in  pounds  sterling,  the
functional currency of the parent company, being the currency of the primary economic environment in which the parent company
operates.

Transactions  and  balances  –  transactions  in  foreign  currencies  are  recorded  at  the  rate  ruling  at  the  date  of  the  transaction.
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at the balance
sheet date. Exchange differences on retranslating monetary assets and liabilities are recognised in the income statement except
where they relate to qualifying cash flow hedges, in which case the exchange differences are deferred in equity.

Foreign subsidiaries – the results of foreign subsidiaries (none of which has the currency of a hyperinflationary economy), that have
a functional currency different from the group’s presentation currency, are translated at the average rates of exchange for the year.

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, that have a functional currency different from the group’s presentation currency, are
translated at the exchange rates prevailing at the balance sheet date. Exchange differences arising from the translation of the results
of foreign subsidiaries and their opening net assets are recognised as a separate component of equity.

When a foreign subsidiary is sold the cumulative exchange differences relating to the retranslation of the net investment in that
foreign subsidiary are recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on disposal. This applies only to exchange
differences recorded in equity after 1 July 2006. Exchange differences arising prior to 1 July 2006 remain in equity on disposal as
permitted by IFRS 1.

37

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

2.

Accounting policies (continued)

Intangible assets

Goodwill – goodwill arising on the acquisition of a subsidiary undertaking is the excess of the aggregate of the fair value of the
consideration transferred, the fair value of any previously held interests, and the recognised value of the non-controlling interest in
the acquiree over the net of the acquisition date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Goodwill is
reviewed for impairment at least annually and when there are indications that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. For
the  purpose  of  impairment  review,  goodwill  is  allocated  to  the  relevant  cash  generating  unit  (CGU)  within  the  group. An
impairment loss is recognised if the carrying value of the goodwill or its CGU exceeds its recoverable amount. Any impairment
loss  is  recognised  immediately  in  the  income  statement  and  is  not  subsequently  reversed.  On  disposal  of  a  subsidiary,  the
attributable amount of goodwill is included in the calculation of the profit or loss on disposal. Goodwill arising on acquisitions
before the date of transition to IFRS has been retained at the UK GAAP value as at that date having been reviewed for impairment
at that date and subsequently at least annually.

Taxation

Income tax on the profit for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax is recognised in the income statement except
to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income.

Current tax assets and liabilities are measured at the amount expected to be recovered from or paid to taxation authorities based
on tax rates and laws that are enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method,
on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their corresponding book values as recorded in
the group’s financial statements with the following exceptions:

where the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or of an asset or liability in a transaction that
is not a business combination that at the time of the transaction affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss;

deferred income tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against
which the deductible temporary differences can be utilised;

deferred income tax is not provided on unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries where there is no likelihood to remit the
earnings.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are based on tax rates and laws that are substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Share-based payments

The group grants share options to certain of its employees. An expense in relation to such options based on their fair value at the
date of grant, is recognised over the vesting period. The group uses the Black Scholes model for the purpose of computing fair value.

Inventories

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value on a weighted average cost basis. Cost includes expenditure
incurred in acquiring the inventories and bringing them to their existing location and condition. In the case of finished and partly
finished goods, cost represents the cost of raw materials, direct labour, other direct costs and related production overheads on bases
consistently applied from year to year. In all cases provision is made for obsolete, slow-moving or defective items where appropriate.

Financial assets and liabilities

Financial assets comprise trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents. Financial liabilities comprise trade and other
payables.

38

2.

Accounting policies (continued)

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables are non-interest bearing and are initially stated at fair value and then subsequently at amortised cost
less provision for lifetime expected credit losses using the simplified approach in IFRS 9. Estimated irrecoverable amounts are based
on historical experience and forward looking information, together with specific amounts that are not expected to be collectable.
Individual amounts are written off when management deems them not to be collectible.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, short-term (with an original maturity of three
months or less) deposits and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are disclosed as current liabilities except where the group participates
in  offset  arrangements  with  certain  banks  whereby  cash  and  overdraft  amounts  are  offset  against  each  other.  Cash  and  cash
equivalents are held at amortised cost.

Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables are non-interest bearing and are initially stated at fair value and then subsequently at amortised cost.

Pension scheme arrangements

The group operates several defined contribution pension schemes and a defined benefit pension scheme for certain of its United
Kingdom domiciled employees.

A defined contribution scheme is a scheme in which the group pays contributions into publicly or privately administered schemes
on a voluntary, statutory or contractual basis. The group has no further payment obligations once the contributions have been
made. The amount charged to the income statement is the contribution payable in the year. Differences between contributions
payable in the year and contributions actually paid are shown as receivables or payables in the balance sheet.

A defined benefit scheme is a scheme in which the amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement is
defined. For the defined benefit scheme, pension costs and the costs of providing other post retirement benefits are charged to the
income statement in accordance with the advice of qualified independent actuaries. Past service costs are recognised immediately
in the income statement. The service cost is charged against operating profit and the net interest cost is charged as a finance cost.
The  net  interest  cost  is  calculated  using  the  discount  rate  at  the  beginning  of  the  period. The  retirement  benefit  obligations
recognised on the balance sheet represent the difference between the fair value of the scheme’s assets and the present value of
the scheme’s defined benefit obligations measured at the balance sheet date. The defined benefit obligation is calculated annually
by independent actuaries using the projected unit method. Remeasurements of the net defined benefit obligations are recognised
in the period in which they arise in other comprehensive income. A net defined benefit obligations asset is recognised to the extent
that the group can realise an economic benefit from that asset.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is recorded at cost less subsequent depreciation and impairment except for land which is shown at
cost less any impairment. Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset. Depreciation is
calculated on the depreciable amount (being cost less the estimated residual value) on a straight line basis over the estimated
useful lives of the assets as follows:

Freehold land: Not depreciated
Freehold buildings: 10 to 50 years
Plant and equipment: 2 to 20 years

Residual values and useful lives are reviewed at each group balance sheet date for continued appropriateness and indications of
impairment and adjusted if appropriate.

39

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

2.

Accounting policies (continued)

Right of use assets and lease liabilities

A right of use asset and a lease liability are recognised for all leased asset contracts on their commencement, except for low value
leases and short term leases of one year or less.

On recognition, the right of use asset and lease liability are measured at the present value of the lease payments discounted over
the lease term. The discount rate used is the rate inherent in the lease if this can be determined, or the incremental borrowing rate.

Subsequent to initial recognition, the right of use assets are depreciated on a straight line basis over the shorter of the lease term
or the useful life of the asset. The lease liabilities are increased by the interest cost and reduced by the lease payments made. A
depreciation charge and an interest cost are recognised in the income statement.

The lease payments for low value and short term leases are expensed in the income statement on a straight line basis over the
lease term.

Revenue recognition

Revenue  is  from  the  sales  of  flooring  products  and  is  recognised  at  the  point  in  time  when  control  of  the  products  has  been
transferred to the customer. Sales are recognised on despatch of the goods to the customer. Control passes to the customer at the
point terms of despatch are met. Sales are invoiced at the time of despatch and payment terms are based on the invoice date.
Payment terms vary by customer, but do not exceed six months. Revenue is stated after provision for trade discounts and rebates
due on the sales. Revenue excludes VAT and sales taxes.

Research and development

Expenditure  on  research  activities,  undertaken  with  the  prospect  of  gaining  new  scientific  or  technical  knowledge  and
understanding, is recognised in the income statement as an expense as incurred.

Development expenditure not meeting all the criteria for capitalisation contained in IAS 38 – Intangible Assets, is recognised in the
income statement as an expense as incurred.

Grants

Grants  that  compensate  for  expenses  are  recognised  in  the  income  statement  in  the  same  period  and  category  in  which  the
expenses are recognised.

Dividends

Interim dividends are recognised when they are paid. Final dividends are recognised when they are approved by the shareholders.

Derivative financial instruments and hedging
The group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to foreign currency transactional risk. In accordance with its
treasury policy the group does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Derivative financial instruments are recorded at fair value on the date the derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently
remeasured at fair value at each group balance sheet date.

The method by which any gain or loss arising from remeasurement is recognised depends on whether the instrument is designated
as  a  hedging  instrument  and,  if  so,  the  nature  of  the  item  being  hedged. The  group  recognises  an  instrument  as  a  hedging
instrument by documenting at the inception of the transaction the relationship between the instrument and the hedged items and
the objectives and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction. To be designated as a hedging instrument, an instrument must
also be assessed, at inception and on an ongoing basis, to be highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items.

40

Accounting policies (continued)

2.
Derivative financial instruments and hedging (continued)
For derivatives not used in hedging transactions, the gain or loss on remeasurement of fair value is recognised immediately in the
income statement.

Where a derivative financial instrument is designated as a hedge of the variability in cash flows of a recognised asset or liability, or
of a highly probable forecast future transaction, the gain or loss on remeasurement which relates to the portion of the hedge which
is deemed effective is recognised directly in equity, with the balance of the gain or loss, relating to the ineffective portion, being
recognised immediately in the income statement.

Amounts accumulated in equity are recycled in the income statement in the periods when the hedged item affects profit or loss.
The fair value of forward foreign exchange contracts is determined using forward exchange market rates at the balance sheet date.

Financial risk management

3.
Financial risk and treasury policies
A full description of the James Halstead plc group’s treasury policy is contained in the financial director’s review.

The group’s activities expose it to a number of financial risks as detailed below. These risks are managed, with the objective of
limiting adverse effects, from the group’s head office in accordance with policies determined by and decisions made by the group
board.

There have been no changes in financial risks from the previous year.

Market risks
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as currency exchange rates and interest rates will affect the group’s results.
The objective of market risk management is to control it within suitable parameters.

(a)    Foreign exchange risk
The  group  operates  internationally  and  is  exposed  to  foreign  currency  risk  on  sales  and  purchases  that  are  denominated  in  a
currency other than the functional currency of the entity making the sale or purchase. There are a range of currencies giving rise to
this risk, but most significant is the euro. To mitigate risks associated with future exchange rate fluctuations, the group’s policy is
to use forward exchange contracts to hedge its known and certain forecast transaction exposures based on historical experience
and projections. The group hedges at least 25% but rarely more than 100% of the next twelve months’ anticipated exposure.

(b)    Interest rate risk
The group does not use derivative financial instruments to mitigate its exposure to interest rate risk. The main element of interest
rate risk concerns sterling deposits which are made on floating market based rates and short-term overdrafts in foreign currencies
which are also on floating rates.

41

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

3.

Financial risk management (continued)

Credit risk

Credit  risk  is  the  risk  of  financial  loss  to  the  group  if  a  customer  or  counterparty  to  a  financial  instrument  fails  to  meet  its
contractual  obligations  and  arises  principally  from  the  group’s  trade  receivables  from  customers  and  monies  on  deposit  with
financial institutions.

With regard to trade receivables, the group is not subject to significant concentration of credit risk. Exposure is spread across a large
number of companies and the underlying local economic and sovereign risks vary across the world. Trade receivable exposures are
managed  locally  in  the  individual  operating  units  where  they  arise  and  credit  limits  are  set  as  deemed  appropriate. Where
practicable and deemed necessary the group endeavours to minimise credit risks by the use of trade finance instruments such as
letters of credit and insurance.

The group controls credit risk in relation to counterparties to other financial instruments by dealing only with highly rated financial
institutions.

The group’s maximum credit exposure on financial assets is represented by their book value.

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The group’s approach to
managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due.

Capital risk

The group’s objectives in managing capital are to safeguard the ability of all entities within the group to continue as going concerns,
whilst maximising the overall return to shareholders over time. The capital structure of the group consists of equity attributable
to equity holders of the parent company less cash and cash equivalents.

The group will only usually take on borrowings where those borrowings would be financed by the cash expected to be generated
by the related investment opportunity and where the borrowing would not significantly increase the group’s exposure to risk.

At the year end the group had preference shares classified as debt of £200,000.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements

4.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of certain
estimates and associated assumptions that affect the application of policies, the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although these
estimates are based on management’s best assessments of amounts, events or actions, actual results may ultimately differ from
those estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on a regular and ongoing basis. There are no significant
judgements.

The estimates that have had the most significant effect on the amounts included in these consolidated financial statements are as
follows:

42

4.

Critical accounting estimates and judgements (continued)

Inventories

For financial reporting purposes the group evaluates its inventory to ensure it is carried at the lower of cost or net realisable value.
Provision is made against slow moving, obsolete and damaged inventories. Damaged inventories are identified and written down
through the inventory counting procedures conducted within each business. Provision for slow moving and obsolete inventories is
assessed by each business as part of their ongoing financial reporting. Obsolescence is assessed based on comparison of the level
of inventory holding to the projected likely future sales. Future sales are assessed based on historical experience, and adjusted where
the  market  conditions  are  known  to  have  changed. To  the  extent  that  future  events  impact  the  saleability  of  inventory  these
provisions could vary significantly. For example, changes in specifications or regulations may render inventory, previously considered
to have a realisable value in excess of cost, obsolete and require such inventory to be fully written off.

Expected credit losses

Provision is made against trade receivables for lifetime expected credit losses using the simplified approach in IFRS 9. Within each
of the operating units, assessment is made locally of the recoverability of trade receivables based on a range of factors including
the age of the receivable, the creditworthiness of the customer and forward looking information. Determining the recoverability of
an account involves estimation as to the likely financial condition of the customer and their ability to subsequently make payment.
If the group is cautious as to the financial condition of the customer the group may provide for accounts that are subsequently
recovered. Similarly, if the group is optimistic as to the financial condition of the customer, the group may not provide for an
account that is subsequently determined to be irrecoverable. In recent years the group has not experienced significant variation in
the amount charged to the income statement in respect of doubtful accounts, when compared to sales. Further details are provided
in note 20.

Income taxes

In determining the group’s provisions for income tax and deferred tax it is necessary to consider transactions in a small number of
key tax jurisdictions for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. To the extent that the final outcome differs from the
tax  that  has  been  provided,  adjustments  will  be  made  to  income  tax  and  deferred  tax  provisions  held  in  the  period  the
determination is made.

Retirement benefit obligations

The liability recognised in respect of retirement benefit obligations is dependent on a number of estimates including those relating
to mortality, inflation, salary increases, and the rate at which liabilities are discounted. Any change in these assumptions would
impact the retirement benefit obligations recognised. Further details on these estimates are provided in note 26.

43

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

Segmental information

5.
Operating segments are  those segments for which results are reviewed by the group’s chief operating decision maker (CODM) to
assess performance and make decisions about resources to be allocated. The CODM is the group board which meets regularly
throughout the year to discuss the performance and results of the group as a whole. The business of the group is focussed almost
entirely on the manufacture and distribution of flooring products. The directors consider that under the definitions contained within
IFRS 8 there is only one reportable segment, which is the group as a whole. This is consistent with the core principle of IFRS 8, which
is to disclose information  to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business
activities in which the group engages and the economic activities in which it operates. Therefore the majority of the disclosures
required under IFRS 8 have already been given in these financial statements.

Segment assets comprise property, plant and equipment, right of use and intangible assets. Geographical disclosures in respect of
revenues and segment assets are provided below and include revenue for Germany of £62,553,000 (2021: £55,656,000) and assets
in Germany of £9,016,000 (2021: £10,560,000).

Revenue

United Kingdom
Europe and Scandinavia
Australasia and Asia
Rest of the World

Assets

United Kingdom
Europe and Scandinavia
Australasia and Asia
Rest of the World

Total segment assets
Retirement benefit obligations
Deferred tax assets

Total non-current assets

2022
£’000

110,612
121,109
38,021
22,118

2021
£’000

98,243
111,863
38,386
17,870

291,860

266,362

2022
£’000

30,018
10,544
4,870
105

45,537
6,144
234

51,915

2021
£’000

30,213
12,021
3,900
355

46,489
–
254

46,743

Revenue is by location of customer. Assets are by location of asset.

Employee profit share

6.
Profit for the year is after charging the cost of the James Halstead plc share ownership plan. Since 1980 the group has operated an
employee share scheme, approved under the Finance Act 1978. In December 2001 the shareholders approved a new share ownership
plan in line with the requirements of legislative changes. The aim of this scheme is to enable employees to build up a personal
shareholding in James Halstead plc and to participate in its continued expansion and success as shareholders as well as employees.

As members of the scheme the following directors received shares to the value of, Mr M Halstead £nil and Mr G R Oliver £nil.

Profit before income tax

7.
Profit before tax is stated after charging/(crediting) the following:

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Depreciation of right of use assets
Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Research and development
Government grant income for business support UK and overseas
Fees payable to the group’s auditor for the audit of the parent company and
consolidated financial statements
Fees payable to the group’s auditor and its associates for other services:
The audit of the group’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation
Taxation compliance
Other services

8.

Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs comprised:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs – defined benefit scheme

– defined contribution schemes

Share based payments

The average monthly number of employees during the year was:

Manufacturing, selling and distribution
Administration

The directors’ remuneration was:

Salary or fees
Bonuses
Benefits

Total remuneration excluding pension contributions
Pension contributions

44

2021
£’000

3,541
3,115
(64)
1,484
(1,668)

50

122
39
3

2021
£’000

36,284
4,353
620
836
8

42,101

2022
£’000

3,794
3,139
(198)
1,549
(112)

55

148
–
–

2022
£’000

37,092
4,564
500
907
6

43,069

2022
Number

2021
Number

654
165

819

2022
£’000

1,004
1,000
25

2,029
25

2,054

660
159

819

2021
£’000

968
926
24

1,918
25

1,943

Social security costs related to this remuneration

272

257

45

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

9.

Finance income

Bank deposit interest
Other interest
Finance income 

10. Finance cost

Other interest
Preference share dividend

Lease interest
Net pension interest cost

Finance cost

11.

Income tax expense

Current tax
Current tax – current year
Current tax – adjustments in respect of prior years

Deferred tax
Deferred tax – current year temporary differences
Deferred tax – current year tax rate difference
Deferred tax – adjustments in respect of prior years

Total taxation

2022
£’000

36
6
42

2022
£’000

9
11

20
143
74

237

2022
£’000

11,310
(516)
10,794

565
137
239
941
11,735

2021
£’000

44
4
48

2021
£’000

15
11

26
173
354

553

2021
£’000

10,733
(415)
10,318

650
224
215
1,089
11,407

Current tax includes £3,737,000 (2021: £3,666,000) of overseas tax.

The effective tax rate for the year to 30 June 2022 is higher (2021: higher) than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK. The
differences are explained below:

Profit before tax
Profit before tax multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in
the UK of 19% (2021: 19%)
Effects of:
Adjustments to tax in respect of prior periods
Overseas tax rates
Disallowable items
Deferred tax rate difference
Total taxation

2022
£’000

52,063

2021
£’000

51,268

9,892

9,741

(277)
1,659
324
137
11,735

(200)
1,469
173
224
11,407

In addition to the amounts above £2,015,000 has been charged (2021: £2,981,000 charged) as other comprehensive income in
respect of the remeasurement of the net defined benefit liability, and has been netted off the amounts shown in the Consolidated
Statement of Comprehensive Income.

At 30 June 2022 the UK corporation tax rate was enacted to change to 25% on 1 April 2023. The UK deferred tax balances at 30
June 2022 were measured at 25%. On 23 September 2022 the UK government proposed to keep the UK corporation tax at 19%,
and this is still to be enacted.

12. Earnings per share

Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders

Weighted average number of shares in issue

Dilution effect of outstanding share options

Diluted weighted average number of shares

Basic earnings per 5p ordinary share
Diluted earnings per 5p ordinary share

46

2022
£’000

40,328

2021
£’000

39,861

416,586,675

416,283,040

201,425

246,330

416,788,100

416,529,370

9.7p
9.7p

9.6p
9.6p

The earnings per 5p ordinary share are attributable to equity shareholders.

The figures for the year ended 30 June 2021 have been restated for the effect of the one-for-one bonus issue on 14 January 2022.

13. Dividends

Equity dividends
Interim dividend for previous year of nil (2021: 2.125p)
Final dividend for previous year of 11.00p (2021: 10.00p)
Interim dividend for current year of 2.25p (2021: 4.25p)

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity shareholders in the year

2022
£’000

–
22,921
9,377

32,298

2021
£’000

4,423
20,814
8,846

34,083

A final dividend of 5.50p per share for the year ended 30 June 2022, amounting to £22,921,000 will be proposed at the Annual
General Meeting.

14. Profit of the parent company
The company has taken advantage of the provisions of Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and elected not to present its own
profit and loss account. The profit after taxation for the  financial year dealt with in the financial statements of the company was
£30,797,000 (2021:  £43,332,000). The  aggregate  amount  of  directors’  emoluments  excluding  pension  contributions  was
£2,029,000 (2021: £1,918,000) of which the highest paid director’s emoluments were £978,000 (2021: £922,000). The directors’
salaries or fees for the year ended 30 June 2022 were Mr J A Wild £40,000, Mr M Halstead £463,000, Mr G R Oliver £436,000,
Mr S D Hall £25,000, Mr M J Halstead £20,000 and Mr R P Whiting £20,000.

47

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

15. Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 30 June 2020
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2021
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2022

Depreciation
At 30 June 2020
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2021
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2022

Net book value
At 30 June 2020

At 30 June 2021

At 30 June 2022

Freehold
land and
buildings
£’000

Plant and
equipment
£’000

28,215
406
–
(579)

28,042
311
–
27

28,380

10,573
680
–
(199)

11,054
676
–
13

11,743

17,642

16,988

16,637

74,399
2,405
(733)
(341)

75,730
2,937
(783)
119

78,003

53,521
2,861
(666)
(240)

55,476
3,118
(701)
76

57,969

20,878

20,254

20,034

Total
£’000

102,614
2,811
(733)
(920)

103,772
3,248
(783)
146

106,383

64,094
3,541
(666)
(439)

66,530
3,794
(701)
89

69,712

38,520

37,242

36,671

16. Right of use assets

Cost
At 30 June 2020
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2021
Additions
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2022

Depreciation
At 30 June 2020
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2021
Charge for the year
Disposals
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2022

Net book value
At 30 June 2020

At 30 June 2021

At 30 June 2022

17.

Intangible assets

Cost and net book value at 30 June 2020, 2021 and 2022

48

Right of use
assets
£’000

8,883
3,471
(696)
(332)

11,326
2,641
(1,276)
251

12,942

3,011
3,115
(675)
(140)

5,311
3,139
(1,276)
134

7,308

5,872

6,015

5,634

Goodwill
£’000

3,232

An impairment review of goodwill was done by reference to value in use. Value in use was determined using conservative five year
plus terminal value cash flow projections, based on current levels of profitability and assumed conservative growth rates of 0% to
5% and discount rates of 7% to 11%. The result of the review indicated that no impairment was required with no reasonable
sensitivities indicating an impairment.

49

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

18. Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities

At 30 June 2020
Credited/(charged) to income 
Charged to other comprehensive income
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2021
Credited/(charged) to income 
Charged to other comprehensive income
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2022

2022
£’000

234
(2,929)

(2,695)

Retirement
benefit
obligations
£’000

Accelerated
tax
depreciation
£’000

Other
timing
differences
£’000

4,411
(602)
(2,981)
–

828
(349)
(2,015)
–

(1,536)

(1,124)
(585)
–
–

(1,709)
(87)
–
–

(1,796)

1,047
98
–
(10)

1,135
(505)
–
7

637

2021
£’000

254
–

254

Total
£’000

4,334
(1,089)
(2,981)
(10)

254
(941)
(2,015)
7

(2,695)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax
liabilities and the deferred income taxes relate to the same tax authority. All deferred tax assets and liabilities are analysed as non-
current.

19.

Inventories

Raw materials and consumables
Work in progress
Finished goods

2022
£’000

8,161
2,258
101,860

112,279

2021
£’000

4,726
1,262
54,696

60,684

An  amount  of  £1,283,000 has  been charged (2021:  £904,000 credited) to  the  income  statement  in  respect  of  movements  in
inventory write-downs. The cost of inventory recognised as an expense was £178,355,000 (2021: £154,722,000).

20. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Prepayments

50

2022
£’000

46,734
1,781
2,656

51,171

2021
£’000

39,262
1,258
2,429

42,949

All amounts within trade and other receivables are due within one year. The fair value of amounts included in trade and other
receivables approximates to book value. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the fair value of each class
of receivable. The group does not hold any collateral as security.

The group’s trade receivables are stated after a provision for expected credit losses of £1,820,000 (2021: £1,746,000). The provision
against trade receivables for expected credit losses is based on specific risk assessments taking into account past default experience
and appropriate forward looking information. The provision is analysed as follows:

Opening balance
Exchange differences
Debts written off
Charged to income

Closing balance

Not past due
Up to three months past due
Over three months past due

Loss rate
2022
%

2
5
93

Gross
2022
£’000

34,143
13,736
675

48,554

Provision
2022
£’000

541
651
628

1,820

Loss rate
2021
%

2
21
100

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade and other receivables by currency was:

Sterling
Euro
Australian Dollar
New Zealand Dollar
Canadian Dollar
Norwegian Krone
US Dollar
Hong Kong Dollar
Other currencies

Total

2022
£’000

1,746
12
(135)
197

1,820

Gross 
2021
£’000

38,013
2,433
562

41,008

2022
£’000

22,896
13,985
3,650
844
792
977
3,818
221
1,332

48,515

2021
£’000

1,588
(14)
(66)
238

1,746

Provision
2021
£’000

674
512
560

1,746

2021
£’000

19,852
11,574
3,429
1,012
1,057
586
1,178
753
1,079

40,520

51

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

21. Cash and cash equivalents
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents approximate to book value due to their short maturities.

The currency analysis of cash and cash equivalents is as follows:

Sterling
Euro
Australian Dollar
New Zealand Dollar
Canadian Dollar
Norwegian Krone
US Dollar
Other currencies                                                                             

Total

22. Trade and other payables

Amounts falling due within one year
Trade payables
Value added, payroll and other taxes
Other payables
Accruals

2022
£’000

29,483
3,533
2,023
599
1,396
335
13,223
1,552

52,144

2022
£’000

61,466
5,565
1,355
16,121

84,507

2021
£’000

64,530
3,258
2,615
161
808
805
10,061
1,023

83,261

2021
£’000

40,949
6,238
2,594
15,770

65,551

Amounts falling due after more than one year
Other payables

453

447

The fair value of amounts included in trade and other payables approximates to book value.

23. Lease liabilities

Opening balance
Leases started
Leases cancelled
Lease interest
Lease payments
Exchange differences

Closing balance

Amounts payable in less than one year
Amounts payable in more than one year

All amounts are payable within five years.

2022
£’000

6,184
2,641
–
143
(3,376)
122

5,714

2,166
3,548

5,714

2021
£’000

5,939
3,471
(21)
173
(3,183)
(195)

6,184

2,948
3,236

6,184

24. Preference shares

Preference shares

52

2022
£’000
200

2021
£’000
200

The cumulative preference shares have no fixed repayment date. They are not listed and therefore no market price is available. At
30 June 2022 and 30 June 2021 the fair value of the preference shares was not materially different from their book value.

25. Net cash analysis

At 30 June 2020
Cash flow
Other changes
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2021
Cash flow
Other changes
Exchange differences

At 30 June 2022

Cash
and cash
equivalents
£’000

67,445
16,012
–
(196)

83,261
(31,262)
–
145

52,144

Lease
liabilities
£’000

Preference
shares
£’000

(5,939)
3,183
(3,623)
195

(6,184)
3,376
(2,784)
(122)

(5,714)

(200)
–
–
–

(200)
–
–
–

(200)

Net
cash
£’000

61,306
19,195
(3,623)
(1)

76,877
(27,886)
(2,784)
23

46,230

26. Retirement benefit obligations
In the UK the group operates a defined benefit pension scheme which was closed to new members in 2002. In addition some
employees  both  in  the  UK  and  overseas  are  provided  with  retirement  benefits  through  defined  contribution  arrangements.
Executive directors Mr M Halstead and Mr G R Oliver are members of the defined benefit scheme and the employer pension
contributions  for  the  year  were  £25,000 and £nil respectively. At  30  June  2022 the accrued  pension  for  the  highest  paid
director was £131,000 and the transfer value of this accrued benefit was £2,557,000.

Disclosures relating to the defined benefits pension scheme are as follows: 

The company sponsors the Halstead Group Pension Scheme, a funded defined benefit pension scheme in the UK. The scheme is
administered within a trust which is legally separate from the company. Trustees are appointed by both the company and the
scheme’s membership and act in the interest of the scheme and all relevant stakeholders, including the members and the company.
The trustees are also responsible for the investment of the scheme’s assets.

Existing members accrue an annual pension of 1/60th or 1/80th (depending on category) of final salary for each year of pensionable
service, increasing in line with inflation whilst in payment. On the death of an active member the scheme provides the widow(er)
a lump sum and a spouse’s pension. Members who leave service before retirement are entitled to a deferred pension.

Active  members  of  the  scheme  pay  contributions  at  the  rate  of  either  7.5%  or  6%  of  salary  depending  on  category  and  the
company pays the balance of the cost as determined by regular actuarial valuations.

The scheme poses a number of risks to the company, for example, longevity risk, investment risk, interest rate risk, inflation risk and
salary risk. The trustees are aware of these risks and use various techniques to control them. The trustees have a number of internal
control policies including a risk register, which are in place to manage and monitor the various risks they face.

53

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

26. Retirement benefit obligations (continued)
The scheme is subject to regular actuarial valuations, which are usually carried out every three years. These actuarial valuations are
carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Pensions Act 2004 and so include margins for prudence. This contrasts with
these accounting disclosures, which are determined using best estimate assumptions.

The last formal actuarial valuation was carried out as at 5 April 2020. The results of that valuation have been projected forward to
30 June 2022 by a qualified independent actuary. The figures in the following disclosure were measured using the Projected Unit
Method.

On 26 October 2018, the High Court reached a judgement in relation to Lloyds Banking Group’s defined benefit pension schemes
which concluded that schemes should equalise pension benefits for men and women as regards guaranteed minimum pension
benefits. The impact of this judgement on the scheme has been estimated and included in the pension liability.

At the end of the reporting period the scheme was in surplus as measured under the principles of IAS19. Under the accounting
standard an entity is allowed to recognise a pension scheme surplus on its balance sheet to the extent that it is able to realise an
economic benefit from that surplus.

The directors have reviewed the rules of the scheme and have concluded that the company can gain full economic benefit from
the scheme on the basis that the rules provide it access to any surplus after the last member has no further benefits in the scheme
(referred to in the standard as gradual settlement). Furthermore, the rules are such that the trustees are not able to take any actions
that would reduce the accounting surplus, such as benefit augmentations or triggering a scheme wind-up, without the company’s
action or consent.

Principal actuarial assumptions at the balance sheet date
Discount rate at end of year
Future salary increases
Future pension increases
Rate of inflation – RPI
– CPI

Future expected lifetime of current pensioner at age 65:

Male born in 1957
Female born in 1957

Future expected lifetime of future pensioner at age 65:

Male born in 1977
Female born in 1977

The sensitivities of the principal assumptions used to measure the scheme liabilities are as follows:

Assumption
Discount rate
Rate of inflation
Expected lifetime

Change in assumption
Decrease by 0.1%
Increase by 0.1%
Increase by 1 year

2022

2021

4.00%
2.45%
2.95%
3.05%
2.45%

2.05%
2.55%
3.00%
3.15%
2.55%

21.0 years
23.4 years

20.9 years
23.3 years

22.3 years
24.9 years

22.3 years
24.8 years

Impact on scheme liabilities
Increase by £0.8m
Increase by £0.5m
Increase by £2.7m

The sensitivities may not be representative of the actual change in the present value of the scheme obligations, as it is unlikely that
the change in assumptions would occur in isolation of each other, as the assumptions may be linked.

Amounts recognised in the balance sheet

Present value of funded obligations
Fair value of scheme assets

Net asset/(liability) before deferred taxation
Related deferred tax (liability)/asset

Net asset/(liability) after deferred taxation

2022
£’000

(63,092)
69,236

6,144
(1,536)

4,608

2021
£’000

(81,622)
77,265

(4,357)
828

(3,529)

26. Retirement benefit obligations (continued)

Amounts recognised in the income statement

Current service cost
Net interest cost

Amounts recognised in other comprehensive income
Return on assets excluding amount included in net interest cost
Gain arising from changes in financial assumptions
Gain arising from changes in demographic assumptions
Experience (loss)/gain

Deferred tax

Remeasurement of the net defined benefit liability

The actual return on the scheme assets in the year was a £6,980,000 loss (2021: £10,118,000 gain).

Changes in the present value of the scheme assets
Opening fair value of scheme assets
Interest income
Return on assets excluding interest income
Employer contributions
Employee contributions
Benefits paid

Changes in the present value of the scheme obligations
Opening defined benefit obligations
Service cost
Interest cost
Employee contributions
Gain arising from changes in financial assumptions
Gain arising from changes in demographic assumptions
Experience (loss)/gain
Benefits paid

54

2021
£’000

(620)
(354)

(974)

2021
£’000

9,009
877
3,405
2,398

15,689
(2,981)

12,708

2021
£’000

67,272
1,109
9,009
4,144
181
(4,450)

77,265

2021
£’000

(90,488)
(620)
(1,463)
(181)
877
3,405
2,398
4,450

2022
£’000

(500)
(74)

(574)

2022
£’000

(8,553)
18,303
–
(645)

9,105
(2,015)

7,090

2022
£’000

77,265
1,573
(8,553)
1,970
152
(3,171)

69,236

2022
£’000

(81,622)
(500)
(1,647)
(152)
18,303
–
(645)
3,171

(63,092)

(81,622)

55

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

26. Retirement benefit obligations (continued)

Changes in the net defined benefit asset/(liability)
Opening net defined benefit liability
Service cost
Net interest cost
Return on assets excluding interest income
Gain arising from changes in financial assumptions
Gain arising from changes in demographic assumptions
Experience (loss)/gain
Employer contributions

Major categories of scheme assets

UK and overseas equities
Diversified growth fund
Liability driven assets
Cash

Total market value of assets

The scheme has no investments in the company or in property occupied by the company.

Scheme liabilities by category of membership

Active members
Deferred pensioners
Pensions in payment

Average duration of scheme liabilities

Active members
Deferred pensioners
Pensions in payment
All scheme liabilities

2022
£’000

(4,357)
(500)
(74)
(8,553)
18,303
–
(645)
1,970

6,144

2022
£’000

–
55,154
6,256
7,826

69,236

2022
£’000

22,559
7,883
32,650

63,092

2022
years

15
16
9
12

2021
£’000

(23,216)
(620)
(354)
9,009
877
3,405
2,398
4,144

(4,357)

2021
£’000

17,023
51,090
8,057
1,095

77,265

2021
£’000

28,842
11,877
40,903

81,622

2021
years

17
18
11
14

Normal company contributions of £1,907,000 are expected to be paid into the scheme during the year ended 30 June 2023.

27. Share capital
Ordinary shares – allotted, issued and fully paid

Opening ordinary shares of 5p each
Ordinary shares of 5p each issued
Ordinary shares of 5p each bonus issue

Closing ordinary shares of 5p each

Ordinary B shares of 1p each

Total allotted, issued and fully paid

2022
Number

2021
Number

208,159,916
212,110
208,372,026

208,141,108
18,808
–

416,744,052

208,159,916

16,042,530

16,042,530

2022
£’000

10,408
11
10,418

20,837

160

20,997

56

2021
£’000

10,407
1
–

10,408

160

10,568

The ordinary shares of 5p each were issued during the year for a consideration of £823,000 (2021: £51,000).

The issued share capital was increased by a bonus issue of one fully paid ordinary share for each fully paid ordinary share held on
the register at 14 January 2022.

The preference shares detailed below are included as financial instruments within creditors. Full details of these are given in note
11 of the financial statements of the company.

Allotted, issued and fully paid
200,000 5.5% preference shares of £1 each

2022
£’000

200

2021
£’000

200

Throughout the remainder of this note all share numbers and share prices have been adjusted for the effect of the one-for-one
bonus issue on 14 January 2022.

Ordinary shares under option
Under the terms of the executive share option scheme approved on 3 December 1998, share options were granted and exercised
during the year. The share options outstanding are as follows:

Date of
grant

Date
exercisable

21 Jul 14
12 Jun 17
18 Oct 18

21 Jul 14
12 Jun 17
18 Oct 18

21 Jul 17
12 Jun 20
18 Oct 21

21 Jul 17
12 Jun 20
18 Oct 21

Date of
expiry

20 Jul 24
11 Jun 27
17 Oct 28

20 Jul 24
11 Jun 27
17 Oct 28

Exercise
price
(pence)

135.145
238.250
195.415

135.145
238.250
195.415

21 Jul 14
12 Jun 17
22 Dec 17
18 Oct 18
4 Oct 21
27 Jun 22

21 Jul 17
12 Jun 20
22 Dec 20
18 Oct 21
4 Oct 24
27 Jun 25

20 Jul 24
11 Jun 27
21 Dec 27
17 Oct 28
3 Oct 31
26 Jun 31

135.145
238.250
218.040
195.415
262.665
205.330

Director

M Halstead

G R Oliver

Total – directors

Employees

Total – employees

Grand total

Number
30.06.21

Exercised
in the year

Granted
in the year

17,802
100,000
120,000

24,582
100,000
120,000

482,384

10,000
340,000
40,000
650,000
–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–
–
–

–

(10,000)
–
–
(414,220)
–
–

–
–
–
–
690,000
20,000

Number
30.06.22

17,802
100,000
120,000

24,582
100,000
120,000

482,384

–
340,000
40,000
235,780
690,000
20,000

1,040,000

(424,220)

710,000

1,325,780

1,522,384

(424,220)

710,000

1,808,164

57

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

27. Share capital (continued)
The market price of the shares at 30 June 2022 was 203p (2021: 260p). The share price during the year ranged from 200p to 314p.

Directors exercised nil (2021: 37,616) share options during the year. Aggregate gains on exercising the share options by directors in
the year amounted to £nil (2021: £46,000) of which £nil (2021: £27,000) related to the highest paid director.

A summary of movements in numbers of share options is as follows:

At 30 June 2020
Exercised in the year
Lapsed in the year

At 30 June 2021
Exercised in the year
Granted in the year

At 30 June 2022

Weighted
average
exercise
price

208p
135p
239p

209p
194p
261p

231p

Number of
options

1,600,000
(37,616)
(40,000)

1,522,384
(424,220)
710,000

1,808,164

At  30  June  2022 there  were 1,098,164 (2021: 52,384)  share  options  exercisable  at  a  weighted  average  exercise  price  of 215p
(2021: 135p).

The weighted average remaining contractual life of share options outstanding at 30 June 2022 was 7.0 years (2021: 6.7 years).

Share based payments
The group’s equity settled share based payments comprise the grant of share options to certain employees under the group’s
executive share option scheme. Details of such options are given above. The group calculated the fair value of the options at the
date of grant using the Black Scholes model.

An expense based on the fair value calculated at the date of grant was recognised in the income statement over the vesting period
of the options. The share based payment expense for the year ended 30 June 2022 was £6,000 (2021: £8,000).

The inputs into the Black Scholes model for the share options granted in the year were as follows:

Expected life of option
Expected share price volatility
Expected dividend yield
Risk free interest rate
Exercise price

3 Years
17.5%
3.5%
0.8%
263p

3 Years
17.5%
3.9%
1.9%
205p

58

28. Reserves
The nature and purpose of each reserve within equity is as follows.

Reserve

Equity share capital

Share premium account

Capital redemption reserve

Currency translation reserve

Hedging reserve

Retained earnings

Description and purpose

Nominal value of equity share capital issued.

Amount subscribed for equity share capital in excess of nominal value.

Amounts transferred from share capital on redemption of issued shares.

Cumulative  currency  translation  gains  and  losses  arising  on  the
retranslation of the net assets of the group’s foreign operations.

Gains and losses arising on the fair value of financial instruments in an
effective designated cash flow hedging relationship.

All  other  gains  and  losses  and  transactions  with  owners,  such  as
dividends, not recognised in other reserves.

The share premium account and capital redemption reserve were utilised in paying up at par the new ordinary shares issued for
the bonus issue on 14 January 2022.

29. Derivative financial instruments
The group is exposed to foreign currency risk on sales and purchases that are denominated in a currency other than the functional
currency of the entity concerned. The currencies giving rise to this risk are various, but the most significant are the US Dollar and
the Euro. Forward exchange contracts are used to manage this exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The group buys
or sells foreign currency at spot where necessary to address any short-term imbalances.

The  group  hedges,  using  forward  exchange  contracts,  transactions  denominated  in  a  foreign  currency  which  are  not  matched
against other transactions in the same currency within the group. The forward exchange contracts have maturities of less than one
year after the balance sheet date.

The group classifies its forward exchange contracts hedging forecasted transactions as cash flow hedges and states them at fair
value. The hedged cash flows are expected to occur within one year after the balance sheet date.

The  fair  values  have  been  calculated  by  applying  (where  relevant),  for  equivalent  maturity  profiles,  the  rate  at  which  forward
currency contracts with the same principal amounts could be acquired at the balance sheet date.

Changes in the fair value of forward exchange contracts for which no hedge accounting is applied or where the hedge is considered
ineffective are recognised in the income statement.

Other than the use of forward exchange contracts as detailed above,  the group does not make use of derivative financial
instruments.

59

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
continued

30. Financial instruments
For cash and cash equivalents and trade and other payables and receivables the fair value approximates to their book value due to the
short maturity profile of these financial instruments. On receivables, allowances are made within the book value for credit risk. The fair
value of forward exchange contracts is determined by reference to spot rates adjusted for the forward points to the contract value date.

The book values and fair values of financial instruments are set out below:

Current:
Trade and other receivables
Forward exchange contracts
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade and other payables
Forward exchange contracts
Lease liabilities

Total

Non-current:
Other payables
Lease liabilities
Preference shares

Total

2022
Book value
£’000

2022
Fair value
£’000

2021
Book value
£’000

2021
Fair value
£’000

48,515
2,166
52,144
(78,942)
(517)
(2,166)

21,200

(453)
(3,548)
(200)

(4,201)

48,515
2,166
52,144
(78,942)
(517)
(2,166)

21,200

(453)
(3,548)
(200)

(4,201)

40,520
848
83,261
(59,313)
(92)
(2,948)

62,276

(447)
(3,236)
(200)

(3,883)

40,520
848
83,261
(59,313)
(92)
(2,948)

62,276

(447)
(3,236)
(200)

(3,883)

Other than forward exchange contracts which are categorised as derivative instruments, all financial assets are categorised as financial
assets measured at amortised cost and all financial liabilities are categorised as financial liabilities measured at amortised cost.

The following table provides an analysis of financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value.
IFRS 7 requires that these be grouped into Levels 1 to 3 based on the degree to which the fair value is observable. All items in the
table below are categorised as Level 2 which, as defined by IFRS 7, refers to those items whose fair value measurement is derived
from inputs other than that are observable for the asset or liability either directly or indirectly.

Forward exchange contracts at fair value through profit and loss account
Forward exchange contracts at fair value through hedging reserve

2022
£’000 

24
1,625

1,649

2021
£’000

8
749

757

Sensitivity analysis

The group’s principal exposures in relation to market risks are to changes in the euro exchange rate against sterling and to changes
in UK interest rates. The group does not fix the interest rate receivable on its sterling balances, and based on balances held at the
year  end,  a  1%  increase  or  decrease  in  sterling  interest  rates  would  lead  to  an  increase  or  decrease  in  post-tax  earnings  of
£239,000 (2021: £523,000). The table below details the notional impact of changes in the euro exchange rate against sterling on
the group’s post-tax profit and equity. The gains and losses arise from the translation of receivables, payables, cash and forward
exchange contracts which are denominated in currencies other than each subsidiary’s reporting currency.

Euro 5% stronger against sterling
Euro 5% weaker against sterling

2022
Post-tax profits
£’000

2021
2022
Equity Post-tax profits
£’000
£’000

36
(32)

36
(32)

2
(2)

2021
Equity
£’000

2
(2)

60

Proportion
owned
(%)

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

31. Group companies
At 30 June 2022, the trading subsidiaries of the group were:

Name of subsidiary

Activity

Polyflor Limited
Riverside Flooring Limited 
Polyflor Australia Pty Limited
Polyflor New Zealand Limited
Polyflor Canada Inc
Polyflor India Pvt Limited
Polyflor (M) SDN BHD
Objectflor Art und Design Belags GmbH
Karndean International GmbH
James Halstead France SAS
Falck Design AB

Flooring manufacturing and distribution
Flooring manufacturing
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution

Country of 
incorporation

England
England 
Australia
New Zealand
Canada
India
Malaysia
Germany
Germany
France
Sweden

A complete list of the group’s subsidiaries is provided in note 4 of the financial statements of the company.

32. Exchange rates
The currency exchange rates used to translate the results, assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries were:

Euro
Australian dollar
New Zealand dollar
Canadian dollar
Swedish krona
Indian rupee
Malaysian ringgit
UAE dirham

2022
Closing 

1.16
1.77
1.95
1.57
12.44
95.91
5.35
4.46

2022
Average

1.18
1.83
1.96
1.68
12.18
100.05
5.62
4.89

2021
Closing 

1.16
1.84
1.98
1.71
11.81
102.68
5.74
5.07

2021
Average

1.13
1.80
1.94
1.73
11.53
99.11
5.55
4.95

33. Related parties
Transactions between the company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed in this note.
The group’s contributions to the defined benefit pension scheme are disclosed in note 26.

Details of other related party transactions for the group are shown in the directors' report, board report on remuneration and in
the notes to the financial statements. The key management personnel are the directors.

Polyflor Limited, a subsidiary of the company, leases cars from a company of which Mr Russell Whiting is a director. The lease
payments during the year were £41,000 (2021 £81,000) and the maximum outstanding lease commitments at 30 June 2022 were
£128,000 (2021: £18,000).

61

Company Balance Sheet
as at 30 June 2022

Fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets
Investments

Current assets
Debtors due within one year
Debtors due after one year
Retirement benefit obligations

Total debtors
Derivative financial instruments
Cash at bank and in hand

Total current assets
Creditors due within one year
Derivative financial instruments

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors due after more than one year
Provision for liabilities
Retirement benefit obligations

Net assets

Capital and reserves
Equity share capital
Equity share capital (B shares)

Called up share capital
Share premium account
Capital redemption reserve
Hedging reserve
Profit and loss account

Total shareholders’ funds

Note

3
4

5
5
10

7

8
7

9
6
10

11

2022
£’000

4,291
40,152

44,443

63,042
–
6,144

69,186
2,166
41,171

112,523
(11,063)
(517)

100,943

145,386
(200)
(1,765)
–

143,421

20,837
160

20,997
–
–
1,625
120,799

143,421

2021
£’000

4,363
40,152

44,515

36,148
615
–

36,763
848
69,860

107,471
(11,210)
(92)

96,169

140,684
(200)
–
(4,357)

136,127

10,408
160

10,568
4,122
1,174
749
119,514

136,127

The company has taken advantage of the provisions of Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has elected not to present its
own profit and loss account. The profit after taxation for the financial year dealt with in the financial statements of the company
was £30,797,000 (2021: £43,332,000).

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the board and were signed on its behalf on 30 September 2022.

M Halstead
Director

G R Oliver
Director

James Halstead plc           Registration Number 140269 

62

Company Statement of Changes in Equity
for the year ended 30 June 2022

Share 
capital 
£'000 

Share 
premium 
£'000 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£'000 

Hedging
reserve
£’000

Profit
and loss
account
£’000

Total
shareholders’
funds
£'000

Balance at 30 June 2020

10,567

4,072

1,174

(805)

97,549

112,557

Profit for the year 
Remeasurement of the net defined
benefit liability
Fair value movements on
hedging instruments

Total comprehensive income for
the year
Transactions with equity shareholders
Dividends
Issue of share capital 
Share based payments

–

–

–

–

–
1
–

–

–

–

–

–
50
–

–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–

–

43,332

43,332

12,708

12,708

1,554

–

1,554

1,554

56,040

57,594

–
–
–

(34,083)
–
8

(34,083)
51
8

Balance at 30 June 2021

10,568

4,122

1,174

749

119,514

136,127

Profit for the year 
Remeasurement of the net defined
benefit liability
Fair value movements on
hedging instruments

Total comprehensive income for
the year
Transactions with equity shareholders
Dividends
Issue of share capital 
Bonus issue of share capital
Share based payments

Balance at 30 June 2022

–

–

–

–

–
11
10,418
–

20,997

–

–

–

–

–
812
(4,934)
–

–

–

–

–

–

–
–
(1,174)
–

–

–

30,797

30,797

7,090

7,090

876

–

876

876

37,887

38,763

–
–
–
–

(32,298)
–
(4,310)
6

(32,298)
823
–
6

–

1,625

120,799

143,421

63

Notes to the Company Financial Statements

1.

Accounting policies

Basis of preparation

The separate financial statements of the company are presented as required by the Companies Act 2006. The company meets the
definition of a qualifying entity under FRS 100 Application of Financial Reporting Requirements issued by the Financial Reporting
Council. Accordingly, the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with FRS 101 Reduced Disclosure Framework as
issued by the Financial Reporting Council.

The company has used the disclosure exemptions available under FRS 101 in relation to presentation of a cash flow statement,
comparative information for certain assets, capital management, transactions with other group companies, compensation of key
management personnel and the effects of new but not yet effective IFRS.

As  the  consolidated  financial  statements  include  the  equivalent  disclosures,  the  company  has  used  the  disclosure  exemptions
available under FRS 101 in relation to share based payments, and financial instruments. The disclosures for the defined benefit
retirement obligations are included in the consolidated financial statements.

The financial statements are prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with the historical cost convention, except for
certain financial instruments that have been measured at fair value.

The  statement  on  going  concern  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements  also  justifies  the  going  concern  basis  used  for  the
company financial statements.

The  accounting  policies  of  the  company  are  the  same  as  those  set  out  in  the  consolidated  financial  statements. The  critical
accounting estimates and judgements are income taxes and retirement benefit obligations as set out in the consolidated financial
statements.

The following additional accounting policies are specific to the company’s financial statements.

Investments

Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost less provision for impairment in value.

Investment land and buildings

Investment land and buildings are stated at cost less depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is calculated to
write off the buildings on a straight line basis over their estimated economic life of fifty years. No depreciation is charged in respect
of land.

Group debtors

Amounts owed by group undertakings are stated after any provision for expected credit loss in line with the three stage model in
IFRS 9.

2.

Staff costs and numbers

Staff costs comprised:
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Share based payments

The average monthly number of employees during the year was 22 (2021: 22).

3.

Tangible fixed assets

2022
£’000

3,493
472
98
6

4,069

Cost
At 30 June 2021
Additions

At 30 June 2022

Depreciation
At 30 June 2021
Charge for the year

At 30 June 2022

Net book value
At 30 June 2022

At 30 June 2021

Investment
land and
buildings
£’000

7,978
113

8,091

4,796
158

4,954

3,137

3,182

Freehold
land and
buildings
£’000

1,311
15

1,326

325
25

350

976

986

Plant and
equipment
£’000

581
15

596

386
32

418

178

195

64

2021
£’000

3,105
399
99
8

3,611

Total
£’000

9,870
143

10,013

5,507
215

5,722

4,291

4,363

The investment land and buildings relates to a freehold property that is occupied by a subsidiary company. The rental income was
£600,000 (2021: £600,000).

65

Notes to the Company Financial Statements
continued

4.

Investments

Cost
At 30 June 2021

At 30 June 2022

Provision for impairment
At 30 June 2021

At 30 June 2022

Net book value
At 30 June 2022

At 30 June 2021

Shares in
subsidiary
undertakings
£’000

49,552

49,552

9,400

9,400

40,152

40,152

At 30 June 2022, the company held directly and indirectly 100% of the equity and voting rights of the following undertakings:

Subsidiary

Owned by the company

Polyflor Limited
Riverside Flooring Limited
Titan Leisure Group Limited
Halstead Flooring International Limited
Expona Limited
JHL Limited
Arai (UK) Limited
James Halstead Pension Co Limited
Halstead Floorings Limited
Halstead Flooring Concepts Pty Limited
Polyflor Canada Inc
Polyflor India Pvt Limited
Polyflor (M) SDN BHD
Objectflor Art und Design Belags GmbH
James Halstead France SAS
Falck Design AB

Owned by subsidiaries

Phoenix Distribution (NW) Limited
Polyflor Australia Pty Limited
Colonia Flooring Pty Limited
Polyflor New Zealand Limited
Karndean International GmbH
Polyflor FZE

Activity

Flooring manufacturing and distribution
Flooring manufacturing
Holding company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Dormant company
Holding company
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution

Dormant company
Flooring distribution
Dormant company
Flooring distribution
Flooring distribution
Sales office

Country of 
incorporation

Proportion
owned
(%)

England
England
England
England
England
England
England
England
Ireland
Australia
Canada
India
Malaysia
Germany
France
Sweden

England
Australia
Australia
New Zealand
Germany
UAE

100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100
100
100
100
100
100

66

Investments continued

4.
Subsidiary

Polyflor Limited
Riverside Flooring Limited
Titan Leisure Group Limited
Halstead Flooring International Limited
Expona Limited
JHL Limited
Arai (UK) Limited
James Halstead Pension Co Limited
Phoenix Distribution (NW) Limited

Halstead Floorings Limited

Halstead Flooring Concepts Pty Limited
Polyflor Australia Pty Limited
Colonia Flooring Pty Limited

Polyflor Canada Inc

Polyflor India Pty Limited

Polyflor (M) SDN BHD

Objectflor Art und Design Belags GmbH
Karndean International GmbH

James Halstead France SAS

Falck Design AB

Polyflor New Zealand Limited

Polyflor FZE

Registered office

Beechfield
Hollinhurst Road
Radcliffe
Manchester
M26 1JN
England

24/26 City Quay
Dublin 2
D02NY19
Ireland

101 Prosperity Way
Dandenong
VIC 3175
Australia

3209 Orlando Drive
Mississauga
Ontario L4V IC5
Canada

B-408 Knox Plaza
Mindspace, Malad West
Mumbai 400 064
India

802, 8th Floor, Block C
Kelana Square
17 Jalan 557/26
Petaling Jaya
Salangor 47301
Malaysia

Wankelstrasse 50
D 50996 Koln
Germany

Parc Saint Christophe
10 Avenue de l’Enterprise
95861 Cergy Pontoise
France

Box 102 51
434 23 Kungsbacka
Besoksadress
Energigatan 9
Sweden

2 Narek Place
Manukau City
Auckland 2104
New Zealand

Office No LB16112
PO Box 17054
Jafza 16 Building
Jebel Ali Free Zone
Dubai
UAE

67

Notes to the Company Financial Statements
continued

5.

Debtors

Trade debtors
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Corporation tax
Other debtors
Prepayments

Debtors due within one year

Deferred tax assets (note 6)

Debtors due after one year

6.

Deferred tax assets/(liabilities)

At 30 June 2021
Charged to income
Charged to other comprehensive income

At 30 June 2022

2022
£’000

172
62,084
544
86
156

63,042

–

–

Retirement
benefit
obligations
£’000

Accelerated
tax
depreciation
£’000

Other
timing
differences
£’000

828
(349)
(2,015)

(1,536)

(231)
2
–

(229)

18
(18)
–

–

Derivative financial instruments

7.
Derivative financial instruments are forward foreign exchange contracts recognised in the balance sheet at fair value.

8.

Creditors due within one year

Trade creditors
Amounts due to group undertakings
Other taxation and social security
Other creditors
Accruals

2022
£’000

370
6,631
122
427
3,513

2021
£’000

26
35,691
90
86
255

36,148

615

615

Total
£’000

615
(365)
(2,015)

(1,765)

2021
£’000

241
7,367
117
601
2,884

11,063

11,210

9.

Creditors due after more than one year

Preference shares

10. Retirement benefit obligations

Present value of funded obligations
Fair value of scheme assets

Net asset/(liability)

68

2021
£’000

200

2021
£’000

(81,622)
77,265

(4,357)

2022
£’000

200

2022
£’000

(63,092)
69,236

6,144

The company sponsors the Halstead Group Pension Scheme. Disclosure information is provided in note 26 to the consolidated
financial statements.

11. Share capital
Ordinary shares – allotted, issued and fully paid

Opening ordinary shares of 5p each
Ordinary shares of 5p each issued
Ordinary shares of 5p each bonus issue

Closing ordinary shares of 5p each

Ordinary B shares of 1p each

Total allotted, issued and fully paid

2022
Number

2021
Number

208,159,916
212,110
208,372,026

208,141,108
18,808
–

416,744,052

208,159,916

16,042,530

16,042,530

2022
£’000

10,408
11
10,418

20,837

160

2021
£’000

10,407
1
–

10,408

160

20,997

10,568

The ordinary shares of 5p each were issued during the year for a consideration of £823,000 (2021: £51,000).

The issued share capital was increased by a bonus issue of one fully paid ordinary share for each fully paid ordinary share held on
the register at 14 January 2022.

Shareholders approved a proposal for the return of capital (“return of capital”) at an extraordinary general meeting on 6 December
2004. This resulted in the creation of the 1 pence B ordinary shares (“B shares”), which were issued on 14 January 2005. Following
the issue of the B shares, holders received a single dividend of 60 pence per B share. The B shares are not listed, have extremely
limited rights and are of negligible value.

The preference shares detailed below are included as financial instruments within creditors.

Allotted, issued and fully paid
200,000 5.5% preference shares of £1 each

2022
£’000

2021
£’000

200

200

69

Notes to the Company Financial Statements
continued

11. Share capital (continued)
The 5.5% cumulative preference shares of £1 shall confer on the holders thereof the right to receive in priority to all other shares
in the capital of the company out of the profits of the company which it shall be determined to distribute, a fixed cumulative
preferential dividend at the rate of 5.5% per annum on the capital for the time being paid up thereon and the right in the event of
a winding up, in priority to all other shares in the capital of the company, to repayment of the capital paid up thereon together
with a premium of 5p per share and a sum equivalent to any arrears and accruals of the said fixed cumulative preferential dividend
thereon (whether earned or declared or not) calculated up to the date of such repayment of capital but shall not confer any further
right to participate in profits or assets of James Halstead plc.

The company shall not be at liberty to create or issue any further shares ranking in priority to or pari passu with the preference
shares  without  the  consent  in  writing  of  the  holders  of  three-fourths  of  the  issued  preference  shares  or  the  sanction  of  an
extraordinary  resolution  of  the  holders  of  such  preference  shares  passed  at  a  separate  general  meeting  of  such  holders. The
preference shares shall not confer upon the holders thereof the right to attend or vote at any general meeting of the company or
to receive notice thereof, unless either:

(i)  At the date of the notice convening the meeting the fixed cumulative preferential dividend on the preference shares is six
months in arrears and then so long only as such dividend shall remain unpaid, and so that for this purpose the dividend on the
preference shares shall be deemed to accrue due and be payable by equal half-yearly instalments on 30 June and 31 December in
every year, or

(ii)  The business of the meeting includes the consideration of a resolution for reducing the capital or winding up the company or
for the sale of its undertaking or of any resolution directly abrogating or varying any of the special rights or privileges attached to
the preference shares.

The  preference  shares  shall  nevertheless  entitle  the  holders  thereof  to  receive  notice  of  every  general  meeting. At  a  general
meeting at which the holders of preference shares are entitled to attend and vote, the preference shares shall entitle a holder
thereof, or his proxy, to vote only for every preference share held by him.

12. Related party transactions
The company has taken advantage of the exemption granted by FRS 101 not to disclose transactions and balances with other group
companies.

70

Ten Year Summary (Unaudited)

2013
£’000

2014
£’000

2015
£’000

2016
£’000

2017
£’000

2018
£’000

2019
£’000

2020
£’000

2021
£’000

2022
£’000

Revenue

217,082 223,488 227,261 226,141 240,784 249,510 253,038 238,630 266,362 291,860

Profit before income tax

40,495

41,753

44,184

45,499

46,616

46,702

48,276

43,857

51,268

52,063

Income tax

(10,446) (10,301) (10,250) (10,243) (10,106)

(9,994) (10,484)

(9,502) (11,407) (11,735)

Profit after income tax

30,049

31,452

33,934

35,256

36,510

36,708

37,792

34,355

39,861

40,328

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Basic earnings per 5p share
Dividends per 5p share

7.3p
4.4p

7.6p
5.0p

8.2p
5.5p

8.5p
6.0p

8.8p
6.5p

8.8p
6.8p

9.1p
7.0p

8.3p
7.1p

9.6p
7.6p

9.7p
7.8p

Figures for the previous years have been restated to take account of the one-for-one bonus share issue in the year ended 30 June
2022.

Special dividends are not included.

71

Shareholder Information

Financial calendar

Annual general meeting

Announcement of results

For the half year

For the full year

Dividend payments

Ordinary shares – interim

– final

1 December 2022

March

September

June
December

Preference shares

June and December

Share dealing information

The ordinary shares of the company are traded on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.

Information concerning the day-to-day movement of the share price can be found on the London Stock Exchange website.

Shareholder analysis

as at 16 September 2022

By size of holding
1-20,000
20,001-100,000
100,001-200,000
200,001-1,000,000
1,000,001 and over

By category
Private individuals
Banks and nominee companies
Other limited companies/corporate bodies
Miscellaneous bodies/pension funds
Investment trusts and funds

Number of
holders

Number of
shares

1,392
431
65
80
52

8,566,346
19,697,283
8,887,594
35,349,844
344,252,985

%

2.1
4.7
2.1
8.5
82.6

2,020

416,754,052

100.0

Number of
holders

Number of
shares

1,709
268
29
9
5

203,466,777
211,324,700
1,463,777
333,966
164,832

%

48.8
50.7
0.4
0.1
0.0

2,020

416,754,052

100.0

72

Notice of Annual General Meeting

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the ONE HUNDREDTH and SEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the company will be
held at Platinum Suite, The University of Bolton Stadium, De Havilland Way, Bolton, BL6 6SF, on 1 December 2022 at 12pm.

Ordinary business
1

To  receive  and  adopt  the  report  of  the  directors  and  the  statement  of  accounts  for  the  year  ended  30  June  2022
together with the report of the auditors.

2

3

4

5

To declare a final dividend on the ordinary shares in the capital of the company for the year ended 30 June 2022.

To re-elect Mr G R Oliver who is retiring by rotation under the articles of association as a director.

To re-elect Mr S D Hall who is retiring by rotation under the articles of association as a director.

To  re-appoint BDO  LLP  as  auditors  of  the  company  and  authorise  the  directors  to  fix  their  remuneration  for  the
ensuing year.

Special business
To  consider  and,  if  thought  fit,  pass  the  following  resolutions  of  which  resolutions 6 and 7 shall  be  proposed  as  ordinary
resolutions and resolutions 8 and 9 will be proposed as special resolutions:

6

That, subject to the passing of the ordinary and special resolutions numbered 8 and 9 below, the directors be and they
are hereby authorised, pursuant to article 35.14 of the company’s articles of association:

7

8

(i)

(ii)

to exercise the power contained in article 35.14 so that, to the extent determined by the directors, the holders of
ordinary shares be permitted to elect to receive new ordinary shares of 5.0p each in the capital of the company,
credited as fully paid, instead of all or part of any interim or final dividends which shall be declared before the
conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the company after the passing of this resolution; and

to capitalise the appropriate amount of new ordinary shares falling to be allotted pursuant to any elections made
as aforesaid out of profits, or sums standing to the credit of any share premium account or capital reserves of
the company, to apply such sums in paying up such new ordinary shares and to allot such new ordinary shares
to the members of the company making such elections in accordance with their respective entitlements.

That in substitution for all existing and unexercised authorities and powers, the directors of the company be and they
are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised for the purpose of section 551 Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”)
to exercise all or any of the powers of the company to allot shares of the company or to grant rights to subscribe for,
or to convert any security into, shares of the company (such shares and rights being together referred to as “Relevant
Securities”) up to an aggregate nominal value of £6,945,901 to such persons at such times and generally on such
terms and conditions as the directors may determine (subject always to the articles of association of the company)
PROVIDED THAT this authority shall, unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the company in general meeting,
expire  at  the  conclusion  of  the  next  annual  general  meeting  or  on  the  date  which  is  six  months  after  the  next
accounting reference date of the company (if earlier) save that the directors of the company may, before the expiry
of such period, make an offer or agreement which would or might require relevant securities or equity securities (as
the case may be) to be allotted after the expiry of such period and the directors of the company may allot relevant
securities  or  equity  securities  (as  the  case  may  be)  in  pursuance  of  such  offer  or  agreement  as  if  the  authority
conferred hereby had not expired.

That  subject  to  the  passing  of  the  ordinary  resolution  numbered 8  above  the  directors  be  and  they  are  hereby
empowered  pursuant  to  Section  570  of  the  Companies Act  2006  to  allot  equity  securities  (within  the  meaning  of
Section 560 subsection (1) of the said Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution numbered 6
above as if Section 561 of the said Act did not apply to any such allotment provided that this power shall be limited
to:

(i)

(ii)

the allotment of equity securities in connection with an offer of such securities by way of rights to holders of
ordinary shares in proportion (as nearly as may be practical) to their respective holdings of such shares, but
subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation
to  fractional  entitlements  or  any  legal  or  practical  problems  under  the  laws  of  any  territory,  or  the
requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and

the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) above) of equity securities up to an aggregate
nominal amount of 5% of the ordinary share capital of the company in issue at the date of the passing of this
resolution

73

Notice of Annual General Meeting
continued

and shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting or on the date which is six months after the next
accounting reference date of the company (if earlier) save that the company may before such expiry make an offer or
agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot
equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired.

9

That the company is hereby generally and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of section 693 and 701 of the
Companies Act 2006 to make one or more market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the said Act)
of fully paid ordinary shares of 5 pence each in the capital of the company (“ordinary shares”) provided that:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(v)

the maximum aggregate number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 10% of the ordinary
shares in issue at the date of passing of this resolution;

the maximum price (exclusive of any expenses) which may be paid for an ordinary share shall not be more
than 5% above the average of the middle market quotations for an ordinary share as derived from the Daily
Official List of The London Stock Exchange plc for the five business days immediately preceding the day on
which the ordinary share is purchased;

the minimum price which may be paid for each ordinary share is 5 pence (exclusive of any expenses);

unless previously revoked or varied, the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next
annual general meeting of the company or twelve months from the date, if earlier, of passing this resolution;

the company may make a contract or contracts to purchase its ordinary shares under the authority hereby
conferred prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry
of such authority and the company may make a purchase of its ordinary shares in pursuance of such contract
as if the authority hereby conferred had not expired; and

(vi)

the directors may elect to hold shares purchased under this authority in the form of treasury shares (subject
to a maximum of 10% of the issued ordinary share capital of the company at any one time).

By order of the board
D N Fletcher
Secretary

14 October 2022

Beechfield
Hollinhurst Road
Radcliffe
Manchester
M26 1JN

Notes
1

At the date of this notice, Covid-19 is still affecting people, although there are no public health restrictions in place. The situation will
be continued to be monitored and the right to attend the meeting will be in accordance with the UK Government's guidance in force
at the time. 

Preference shareholders are advised that they are not entitled to attend or vote at the annual general meeting.

2

3

You can vote either:
i.

By  logging  on  to  www.signalshares.com  and  following  the  instructions.  If  you  experience  difficulties  in  logging  in  or  require
assistance, please contact Link Group directly on Tel: 0371 664 0300 (Calls are charged at the standard geographic rate and will
vary by provider. Calls outside the United Kingdom will be charged at the applicable international rate. Lines are open between
09:00 – 17:30, Monday to Friday excluding public holidays in England and Wales).
By appointing a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on their behalf at the meeting. A
shareholder may appoint more than one proxy in relation to the meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the
rights attached to a different share or shares held by that shareholder. A proxy need not be a shareholder of the company. Please
consider appointing the Chairman of the AGM as your proxy, with voting instructions, to ensure your vote is counted. You may
request  a form  of  proxy  directly  from  the  registrars,  Link  Group  using  the  telephone  number  above  (same  call  terms  and
conditions apply). In order for a proxy appointment to be valid a form of proxy must be completed. In each case the form of proxy
must be received by Link Group, Central Square, 29 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 4DL by 12pm on 29 November 2022.
By  attending  the  meeting  in  person  at  the  address  and  time  set  out  at  the  beginning  of  this  notice,  bringing  either  your
attendance  card  or  other  appropriate  form  of  identification  so  that  you  can  be  identified  by  the  company’s  registrars.  It  is
recommended that you arrive at least 15 minutes before the time appointed for the meeting to begin. To be entitled to attend
and vote at the meeting (and for the purpose of the determination by the company of the votes they may cast), shareholders
must be entered in the register of members of the company at close of business on 29 November 2022. 
In the case of CREST members, by utilising the CREST electronic proxy appointment service in accordance with the procedures
set out below.

ii

iii 

iv. 

74

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If you return more than one proxy appointment, either by paper or electronic communication, the appointment received last by the
Registrar before the latest time for the receipt of proxies will take precedence. You are advised to read the terms and conditions of use
carefully. Electronic communication facilities are open to all shareholders and those who use them will not be disadvantaged

CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so for the
Meeting  (and  any  adjournment  of  the  Meeting)  by  using  the  procedures  described  in  the  CREST  Manual  (available  from
www.euroclear.com/site/public/EUI). CREST Personal Members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who
have appointed a service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take the
appropriate action on their behalf. In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made by means of CREST to be valid, the appropriate
CREST  message  (a ‘CREST  Proxy  Instruction’)  must  be  properly  authenticated  in  accordance  with  Euroclear  UK  &  Ireland  Limited’s
specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as described in the CREST Manual. The message must
be transmitted so as to be received by the issuer’s agent (ID RA10) by 12pm on 29 November 2022. For this purpose, the time of receipt
will be taken to mean the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST application host) from which
the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time, any change
of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through other means.

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited
does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and limitations will, therefore,
apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the
CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that their
CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means
of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting
system providers are referred, in particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system
and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the
Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

Any corporation which is a shareholder can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its
powers as a shareholder provided that no more than one corporate representative exercises powers in relation to the same shares.

As at 29 September 2022 (being the latest practicable business day prior to the publication of this Notice), the company’s ordinary
issued share capital consisted of 416,754,052 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the company
as at 29 September 2022 were 416,754,052.

You may not use any electronic address (within the meaning of Section 333(4) of the Companies Act 2006) provided in either this
Notice or any related documents (including the form of proxy) to communicate with the company for any purposes other than those
expressly stated.

A copy of this Notice, and other information required by Section 311A of the Companies Act 2006, can be found on the company’s
website at www.jameshalstead.com.

The documents listed below will be available for inspection at an agreed time at the registered office of the company during the usual
business  hours  on  any  weekday  except  bank  holidays.  Please  e-mail  secretary@jameshalstead.plc.uk  (Label  your  e-mail  “AGM
documents”) to book an appointment to view the following documents:

i.

ii.

The register of interests of the directors in the share capital of the company: and

Copy of the service contract of Mr G R Oliver.

12

The final dividend, if approved, will be paid on 16 December 2022 to shareholders on the register as at 18 November 2022.

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Report & Accounts 2022

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Expona Commercial

Polysafe Wood fx

Beechfield

Hollinhurst Road

Radcliffe

Manchester 

M26 1JN

Tel  +44 (0)161 767 2500

Fax +44 (0)161 766 7499

www.jameshalstead.com

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