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Mulberry Group Plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · Mulberry Group Plc
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FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 MARCH 2019

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26853.04   19 August 2019 8:23 am   Proof 61Mulberry Group plc53 weeks ended 30 March 2019HighlightsFINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS• Revenue of £166.3 million (2018: £169.7 million) with International up 7% and UK down 6%• Adjusted profit before tax of £1.0 million (2018: £8.0 million)• Reported loss before tax of £5.0 million (2018: profit before tax of £6.9 million) • Adjusting items* of £6.0 million (2018: £1.1 million)• Inventory reduced by 11% to £39.7 million (2018: £44.6 million)• Dividend 5.0p per share (2018: 5.0p)OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS• New subsidiaries established in Japan and South Korea• Digital sales increased by 27%, representing 22% of Group revenue (2018: 17%)• Direct to customer strategy progressed through successful conversion of John Lewis from Wholesale to Retail with approximately 90% of Group revenue now generated through Mulberry channels• Disruption from House of Fraser administration materially affected the Group’s UK performance• Lifestyle offering enhanced with successful launch of eyewear collection under licence during February 2019CURRENT TRADING AND OUTLOOK• New global concession launched on Farfetch.com during April 2019 • New stores opened in New York City and Dubai featuring the new store concept• Retail total sales up 13% for the 11 weeks to 15 June 2019 with International up 31% and UK up 7%*  Adjusted profit before tax is stated before South Korea launch costs (£1.8 million), a profit write-back on the conversion of John Lewis from a wholesale to concession business model (£1.3 million), House of Fraser administration write-offs (£2.1 million) and fixed asset impairment costs of (£0.8 million).TEN YEAR REVENUE REVIEW180160140120100806040200£m2010201120122013201420152016201720182019Mulberry AR2019 web ready.indd   119/08/2019   08:26:02Contents

Directors, secretary and advisers

Strategic report

Corporate governance

Directors’ remuneration report

Directors’ report

Directors’ responsibilities statement

Independent auditor’s report

Group income statement

Group statement of comprehensive income

Group balance sheet

Group statement of changes in equity

Group cash flow statement

Notes to the Group financial statements

Company balance sheet

Company statement of changes in equity

Notes to the Company financial statements

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Explanatory notes

Group five year summary

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Directors:

Registered Office:

Directors, secretary and advisers

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Godfrey Pawle Davis FCA

Thierry Patrick Andretta

Neil James Ritchie FCA

Andrew Christopher (Chris) Roberts FCCA

Steven Grapstein CPA

Melissa Ong

Christophe Olivier Cornu

Julie Gilhart

The Rookery

Chilcompton

Bath

Somerset

BA3 4EH

Company Secretary:

Kate Anthony Wilkinson LLB

Nominated Adviser: 

Nominated Broker:

Registered Auditor:

Solicitors:

Principal Bankers:

GCA Altium Limited

London

Barclays Bank PLC

London

Deloitte LLP

Bristol

Osborne Clarke

Bristol

HSBC Bank plc

Bristol

Registrars:

Computershare Investor Services PLC

PO Box 82

The Pavilions

Bridgwater Road

Bristol

BS99 7NH

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Strategic report

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

1. BUSINESS REVIEW

Mulberry, founded in Somerset in 1971, is a British luxury brand with a rich heritage in leather craftsmanship. With a strong 
following in the UK, the Group is pursuing a strategy to become a global luxury brand through international expansion 
and extension of its lifestyle ranges. Mulberry operates a direct to customer model with 103 owned stores and 22 franchise 
partner stores across 25 countries, with a focus on developing its Digital business and its leading omni channel capability.

During  the  period,  the  Group  continued  to  progress  its  International  and  direct  to  customer  strategy,  establishing  new 
business entities in Japan and South Korea, and held a significant consumer focused event in Seoul during September 2018 
to launch the new business.

With  the  digital  network  and  subsidiary  company  development  phase  largely  complete,  the  Group  operates  directly  in 
all major markets and generates approximately 90% of revenue through Mulberry owned and franchise partner channels. 
Looking  ahead,  investment  in  International  markets  will  be  focused  on  brand  development  and  leveraging  the  Group’s 
Digital and omni-channel network and recently established Digital partnerships.

The new businesses in Asia have supported the growth in International revenue which increased by 7% and represented 
31% of Group revenue for the period (2018: 28%).

In the UK, the Group’s performance was materially affected by House of Fraser entering into administration during August 
2018 and general weakness in the wider UK retail environment resulting in a 6% decline in revenue. During the second 
half  of  the  financial  period,  the  Group’s  business  with  John  Lewis  was  converted  from  Wholesale  to  retail  concession, 
allowing the Group to recover a significant proportion of lost revenue associated with the House of Fraser disruption whilst 
progressing the Group’s direct to customer model.

Global Digital revenue continued to grow strongly, increasing by 27% to £36.9 million (2018: £29.0 million), helped further 
by the contribution of the strategic partnerships established during the second half of the period, including johnlewis.com, 
Tmall and Secoo.

As the Group advances its International and direct to customer strategy, it continues to take back ownership of distribution 
in target markets and launch new businesses. As these new ventures are undertaken, the Group plans investment to fund 
working capital and meet business launch requirements, including the repurchase of inventory previously sold to former 
distributors. During the period, several transactions were completed and non-trading financial effects resulted. In addition 
to these effects, the Group has also incurred debt write-off relating to House of Fraser’s entry into administration and fixed 
asset impairment charges. The Group has isolated these effects to report an adjusted profit in order to provide clarity on 
underlying business performance.

Adjusted profit before tax for the period was £1.0 million (2018: £8.0 million).

The reported loss before tax for the period was £5.0 million (2018: profit before tax of £6.9 million).

The  implementation  of  agile  supply  chain  processes  contributed  to  a  reduction  in  inventory  of  11%  to  £39.7  million  at 
30  March  2019  (24  March  2018:  £44.6  million).  Net  cash  balances  at  30  March  2019  were  £11.1  million  (24  March  2018: 
£25.1 million).

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Revenue
Total Group revenue for the period was £166.3 million (2018: £169.7 million) with Retail revenue up 2%, including Digital 
revenue up 27%, and Wholesale revenue down 16%.

International Retail Revenue* 

International Wholesale Revenue

Total International Revenue

UK Retail Revenue*

UK Wholesale Revenue

Total UK Revenue

Total Retail Revenue*

Total Wholesale Revenue†

Total Group Revenue†

52 weeks to 
24 March 
2018 
(£ millions)

53 weeks to 
30 March 
2019 
(£ millions)

Total change 
(this period  
vs last year)

25.7

22.4

48.1

106.3

15.3

121.6

132.0

37.7

169.7

31.3

20.4

51.7

103.5

11.1

114.6

134.8

31.5

166.3

+22%

–9%

+7%

–3%

–27%

–6%

+2%

–16%

–2%

* Regional splits include Digital revenue; Global Digital revenue increased by 27% during the period to 30 March 2019.
† Excluding the 53rd week, Total Group revenue decreased by 3% during the comparable 52 week period.

Product
The  Group’s  core  focus  on  leather  goods  is  complemented  by  a  lifestyle  range,  with  design  and  product  development 
based in London and Somerset.

In  leather  goods,  the  Amberley  family  has  cemented  its  status  as  a  bestselling  handbag  and  further  animations  were 
introduced to enhance the range during the period. Other newly launched handbag styles which gained momentum during 
the period include the Seaton, Leighton and Hampstead bag families. The category of mini-bags was further enhanced and 
developed, appealing to the modern customer’s needs.

The  Artisan  studio,  which  is  based  in  the  Somerset  factories,  provided  several  unique  and  limited  edition  collections 
including products to support the Korea business launch and the opening of the Regent Street store.

During  the  period,  the  Group  successfully  launched  its  first  eyewear  collection  which  includes  iconic  and  fashionable 
sunglasses as well as optical frames. These ranges are distributed across the Mulberry store network as well as selected 
opticians  in  the  UK.  Other  lifestyle  categories  saw  further  newness  with  a  rotation  of  technology,  soft  accessories  and 
jewellery as well as a new direction introduced for the men’s leather accessories range.

Brand and Marketing
Mulberry proudly celebrates its British heritage with a unique fusion of tradition and innovation while aspiring to offer the 
highest craft standards and value in its products. With a customer-centric focus, social and digital media play an increasingly 
important role in the Group’s marketing strategy.

SeoulxMulberry was held during September 2018 to coincide with the establishment of the new business entity, Mulberry 
Korea, with a pop-up shop offering a limited edition bag collection and other interactive features.

In London, #MulberryLights (November 2018) featured a series of illuminating interactive experiences to coincide with the 
festive season whilst #MulberryReflections marked the official launch of the first Mulberry sunglass collection which was 
introduced during London Fashion Week (February 2019).

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Strategic report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Digital and Omni-channel Platform
The Group continued to develop its own global Digital and Omni-channel business model whilst also establishing a network 
of strategic digital partnerships in key territories to provide high quality revenue and marketing reach.

In addition to its continued geographic expansion, several enhancements were introduced to the mulberry.com platform 
including improved search functionality, brand and product stories, live chat, the launch of a local currency and language 
site in Japan and local fulfilment services in Japan and Australia.

Strategic digital concessions have been established to complement the mulberry.com platform, build brand awareness and 
enhance the customer experience, particularly in strategic markets across Asia. As part of this initiative, new digital concessions 
were initiated with Tmall (Alibaba) and Secoo in China during the period. In the UK and as part of the transition of John Lewis 
stores to a concession arrangement, johnlewis.com converted to a new digital concession during November 2018.

Retail Store Network
The directly operated store network was further expanded and enhanced during the period.

The focus of the expansion was in Asia, where the Group increased its retail estate from 6 to 34 stores, acquiring 23 new 
stores as part of the new subsidiaries created in Japan (5) and South Korea (18) with 7 new stores opened in China (3), Japan 
(2) and South Korea (2). The Group closed its pop up location in Hong Kong and its store in Sydney as the Australia business 
transitioned to a franchise partner arrangement with Luxury Retail Group (“LRG”).

In North America and Europe, the Group continued to refine and rotate the portfolio with a net decrease of 3 stores to 
14 stores at the end of the period.

The UK network increased by 9 to 55 retail points of sale, reflecting the conversion of 15 John Lewis concessions and a new 
store on Regent Street whilst 2 non-strategic locations in York and London Stratford were closed and 4 House of Fraser 
concessions were closed as a result of the department store entering into administration.

During the period, the Group continued to operate 17 stores at House of Fraser under a concession arrangement following 
its acquisition by Sports Direct plc.

The  new  store  concept  was  introduced  with  the  opening  of  the  store  on  Regent  Street  during  September  2018.  The 
concept is a collaboration between British architect Faye Toogood and Johnny Coca, the Group’s Creative Director, and 
features  design  elements  that  represent  the  brand’s  distinctive  British  heritage.  The  concept  has  introduced  advanced 
technology features, including an innovative customer-facing mobile point of sale which has enabled traditional EPOS tills 
to be completely removed and created an enhanced customer experience in store.

At 30 March 2019 there were 103 directly operated stores (2018: 69 stores), of which 48 stores were in International markets 
(24 March 2018: 23 stores) with 6 stores fitted out in the new concept.

Selective Wholesale and Franchise
As part of the Group’s strategy to improve customer experience, further Wholesale and Franchise business converted to 
Retail during the period. This included the formation of subsidiaries in Japan and South Korea, which were previously run 
by franchise partners, as well as the conversion of the Group’s business with John Lewis in the UK which was previously 
operated as a Wholesale partner.

As noted above and as a result of these changes, 23 stores from the franchise network transferred to own retail during the 
period and Wholesale revenue reduced.

Whilst  the  Group  has  transitioned  several  markets  and  the  John  Lewis  business  to  Retail,  highly  valued  multi-brand 
wholesale and Mulberry franchise partner businesses remain in place in the USA, Scandinavia, Australia, Southeast Asia, 
the UK and Europe.

Elsewhere in the network, 2 new franchise partner stores have been opened in Australia with LRG and 1 franchise partner 
store was opened in Dubai.

The franchise partner store network at the period end totalled 22 stores in Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East (2018: 
45 stores), of which 3 stores are in the new concept.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Financial
During the period, the Group made progress in developing its international business and growing Digital whilst managing 
a challenging UK environment.

International revenue continued to grow as a result of expansion into Asia and the establishment of new subsidiaries in 
Japan,  South  Korea,  China,  Hong  Kong  and  Taiwan,  over  the  past  three  years.  In  addition  to  the  scaling  up  benefit  of 
converting revenue from Wholesale to Retail, growth is attributed to a greater focus on merchandising, development of 
the Group’s digital sales and selective store openings. At the same time, the Group has closed a number of stores in non-
strategic locations across Europe and North America.

The expansion into Asia has required significant investment over the past three years to repurchase previously sold stock, 
acquire assets and to provide funds for working capital. During the period under review, £1.8 million was expensed relating 
to the set-up and launch of Mulberry Korea. Future investment in Asia will be focused on further developing the brand 
through marketing and the expansion of the digital and omni-channel platform.

In the UK, the retail market was challenging. In particular, House of Fraser’s entry into administration has materially affected 
revenue in addition to the bad debt and fixed asset write-off of £2.1 million. Although the Group entered into an agreement 
with Sports Direct plc upon its acquisition of House of Fraser, the business continued to trade below previous levels.

The conversion of John Lewis from Wholesale to Retail during November 2018 has been a significant step in recovering UK 
revenue and improving profitability. Transitional costs of £1.3 million were incurred as part of the transaction relating to the 
write back of profit on inventories previously sold to John Lewis whilst it was a wholesale account.

Gross margin for the period to 30 March 2019 decreased to 61.5% (2018: 63.5%), primarily due to the write back of profit 
on the repurchase of previously sold inventory from John Lewis and the South Korean distributor when converting these 
businesses from Wholesale to Retail.

As described above, due to the expansion phase of the business and challenging UK conditions, the Group incurred a 
significant level of adjusting items during the period which totalled £6.0 million (2018: £1.1 million). The Group has isolated 
these effects to report an adjusted profit before tax in order to provide clarity on underlying business performance.

The adjusted profit before tax was £1.0 million (2018: £8.0 million).

The reported loss before tax was £5.0 million (2018: profit before tax of £6.9 million).

A tax credit of £0.2 million arose during the period (2018 tax expense: £2.0 million) and relates to an adjustment of £1.6 million 
in the treatment of foreign currency in previous tax submissions. This is not anticipated to be a recurring item.

Adjusted EBITDA was £8.4 million (2018: £15.4 million) and although reduced, conversion of EBITDA to cash has remained 
consistent with previous periods.

Capital  expenditure  during  the  period  increased  to  £11.9  million  (2018:  £5.4  million),  highlighting  the  Group’s  current 
investment phase. This included £9.3 million related to stores (including Digital), £1.8 million in IT systems and £0.5 million 
in the Group’s factories.

Inventory reduced by 11% to £39.7 million at the end of the period (2018: £44.6 million) despite the Group’s expansion into 
Asia and the John Lewis transition to a concession model, and reflects management’s focus on agile supply chain processes 
and inventory control.

The Group’s net cash balances at the period end were £11.1 million (2018: £25.1 million).

The Board of Mulberry seeks to balance paying dividends to shareholders with investing in the business. The Board remains 
confident of the medium term outlook and is recommending the payment of a dividend of 5.0p per ordinary share (2018: 
5.0p) which will be paid on 21 November 2019 to shareholders on the register at 25 October 2019.

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Strategic report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

2. CURRENT TRADING AND OUTLOOK

Retail Sales
Total Retail sales (including Digital) were up 13% for the 11 weeks to 15 June 2019 with International Retail up 31% and UK 
Retail up 7%. During the same period, Digital sales increased 53%.

This period vs. last period(%)

UK Retail Revenue*

International Retail Revenue*

Total Group Retail Revenue

* Regional analysis includes Digital sales.

Retail total sales

53 weeks to 
30 March 
2019

11 weeks 
to 15 June
2019

–3%

+22%

+2%

+7%

+31%

+13%

UK Retail
As has been widely reported, the UK retail environment has remained challenging with lower domestic footfall and reduced 
tourist spending.

However, the newly created John Lewis concession has performed ahead of expectations and a further 4 concessions have 
been opened since 30 March 2019, bringing the total number of physical locations with John Lewis to 19 as at 18 June 2019. 

Looking ahead, the Group remains focused on maximising profitability in its home market whilst continuing to meet the 
demands of its customers through enhancing and developing Mulberry Retail stores and the Group’s Digital and omni-
channel offering.

International Retail
International Retail revenue has grown due  to the  expansion  of  space  over  the  last  year  and  growth  in Digital  revenue 
where the Group’s own platform growth has been complemented with sales from new concession agreements with leading 
fashion sites including Tmall and since the end of the period, from Farfetch.

Looking  ahead,  International  development  will  continue  to  be  a  key  strategic  priority.  Investment  will  be  focused  on 
marketing, with a customer event planned for Japan during August 2019, and continued fast rotation of seasonal inventory.

Since  the  end  of  the  period,  the  store  network  continues  to  be  enhanced  and  extended  across  key  markets.  In  North 
America, a store was opened in Rockefeller Center, New York on 5th Avenue during April 2019, a location with high visibility 
for both domestic customers and tourists.

The Group anticipates that International revenue will continue to increase as a proportion of Group revenue.

Digital and Omni-channel
Further enhancements to the mulberry.com platform are planned including the roll-out of omni-channel services in strategic 
Asian and Middle Eastern markets as well as local fulfilment in South Korea. There are also plans for additional languages 
and currencies to be offered on mulberry.com.

In addition, the complementary network of strategic digital concessions is also being developed further. During April 2019, 
the Mulberry global digital store was launched on Farfetch, the leading global technology platform for the luxury fashion 
industry. The partnership is expected to further enhance Mulberry’s direct to customer model and advance the Group’s 
International growth strategy. The partnership with Farfetch follows other digital concessions which have been established 
over the last year in China including Tmall (Alibaba) and Secoo.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Selective Wholesale and Franchise
The Group continues to partner with selective, high quality wholesale and franchise partners.

Wholesale and Franchise revenue for the current financial period will reflect the transfer of revenue to Retail resulting from 
the conversion of South Korea during August 2018 and John Lewis during November 2018.

During the period, LRG plans to open a number of stores in Australia and these will feature the new store concept.

The recently opened store at Dubai Mall also features the new store concept.

Capital expenditure
The selective roll-out of the new store concept will continue during the period to March 2020 and will continue during the 
next few years.

Capital expenditure for the period ending 31 March 2020 is expected to be in the region of £6.0 million (2019: £11.9 million), 
of which the majority will be on stores.

Brexit
The ongoing delay in agreeing the nature of the UK’s potential exit from the European Union continues to create uncertainty 
that could impact the performance of the business. 

The Group operates an internal Brexit Committee which meets regularly to assess the primary impacts which are considered 
to be a potential deterioration in UK consumer sentiment, foreign currency risk, import and export duty rate changes and 
supply chain disruption.

The Committee reports to the Board on a regular basis and continues to monitor the ongoing negotiations between the 
UK and the EU to assess the potential impact and any transitional arrangements that may be agreed.

IFRS 16
The Group intends to implement IFRS 16, Leases, for the financial period to 31 March 2020 on a modified retrospective 
basis. 

The application of IFRS 16 will result in the recognition of a lease liability and a corresponding right of use asset on the 
Group’s balance sheet which the Board estimates to be between £118.0 million and £123.0 million. The adoption of the 
Standard is anticipated to result in a non-cash impact on the income statement of between £1.0 million and £2.0 million due 
to the reclassification of rental cost to depreciation and interest charge.

Changes to Board of Directors
As previously announced, Neil Ritchie, Chief Financial Officer, will step down from his role on 30 June 2019. The Board 
would like to express its thanks to Neil for his valuable contribution to the Group over the past three years and wish him 
every success in his future endeavours.

The Board is well advanced in identifying a successor and a further announcement will be made in due course.

3. STRATEGY

The  Board’s  long  term  objective  is  to  create  shareholder  value  by  growing  Mulberry  as  a  global  luxury  brand  through 
International expansion and a direct to customer strategy, remaining focused on leather accessories as the core commercial 
focus  and  centered  on  innovation,  British  craftsmanship  and  design  with  an  accessible  luxury  positioning.  The  Group 
considers that revenue growth is the key performance indicator with which this goal can be measured.

To achieve this objective, the Group remains focused on four core strategic pillars:

1. British luxury brand with global aspirations
Mulberry’s Somerset manufacturing base and distinctive British heritage in leather craftsmanship will remain a key focus and 
a point of distinction for the brand. Innovation and creativity are central to the Group’s customer-led product strategy which 
focuses on anticipating the evolving needs of its existing and aspirational customers. 

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Strategic report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

The Group will continue to focus on creating distinctive leather goods with an accessible luxury positioning for women 
and men whilst further enhancing and developing  its  complementary  lifestyle  ranges.  This  is  supported  by  the  Group’s 
integrated marketing approach which aims to drive engagement and relevance with its customers.

The  successful  launch  of  eyewear  represents  a  major  step  in  enhancing  the  brand’s  lifestyle  offering  with  plans  to  add 
further depth to other ranges including trainers, men’s leather accessories and luggage.

With  a  focus  on  its  unique  British  positioning,  international  marketing  investment  is  increasing  as  part  of  the  focus  on 
acquiring  international  customers  and  raising  brand  awareness  in  key  markets.  The  recently  adopted  customer  event 
format for new collection launches will continue to be part of a 360 degree approach using experiences, partnerships and 
storytelling.

2. British Manufacturing
The Group will continue to maintain its distinctive “Made in England” positioning through further enhancement of its two 
UK factories in Somerset. Investment in the most advanced technology will continue to ensure high productivity levels are 
maintained. 

In  addition,  the  Group  will  continue  to  run  an  extensive  apprentice  programme  to  develop  the  next  generation  of 
craftspeople.

The Group expects its UK factories to continue to manufacture approximately 50% of bags. 

3. International development with focus on Asia Pacific
Over the past three years, the Group has made significant progress in International development by creating a directly 
operated presence in strategic markets in Asia Pacific through newly established subsidiaries. 

With this direct to customer framework now in place in key markets in Asia, the Digital and omni-channel network will be 
further developed and enhanced with select store openings in high visibility and high traffic locations, the roll-out of omni-
channel services and the expansion of the newly introduced Digital concession model. Investment will also be focused on 
marketing, with a customer event planned for Japan during August 2019.

In North America and Europe, selective rotation of stores will continue to improve profitability and provide a base for long 
term growth.

International represented 31% of Group revenue during the period under review (2018: 28%) and is expected to continue 
to increase as a proportion of total Group revenue.

4. Direct to customer model
The Group plans to continue to invest in Digital and Omni-channel and its global store network to further develop its direct 
to  customer  model.  On  a  global  basis,  approximately  90%  of  revenue  is  generated  through  Retail,  Digital  and  partner 
stores.

The global store network will continue to be developed and expanded on a selective basis. The new store concept has 
been established and represents a different experience for our customer with distinctive decoration and fit-out of the space 
and introduces innovative, customer-facing technology features.

The mulberry.com platform trades in nine currencies, five languages, ships to over 190 countries and offers integrated omni-
channel services. Following the recent launch of local fulfilment in Japan and Australia, mulberry.com sites with enhanced 
and localised customer experiences are due to launch in China. These services will continue to be expanded and enhanced.

The recently established Digital concession model offers a fully integrated and complementary network to the mulberry.com 
platform,  aiming  to  increase  brand  reach  and  awareness,  particularly  in  high  growth,  strategic  markets.  Under  the  new 
agreement, 19 John Lewis concessions have been opened since November 2018. The global store on Farfetch was launched 
during April 2019.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The  management  of  the  business  and  the  execution  of  the  Group’s  growth  strategies  are  subject  to  a  number  of  risks 
and  uncertainties  which  could  adversely  affect  the  Group’s  future  development.  The  principal  risks  are  uncertainties  for 
the  Group,  and  the  key  mitigating  actions  used  to  address  them,  together  with  an  indicator  of  the  Board’s  assessment 
regarding the change in risk level from the prior period are outlined below. The risks have been listed in descending order 
of level of assessed risk.

Change in 
risk level 
from prior 
period

Increased

Risk

Economic climate
The  Group  may  be  impacted 
by  a  downturn  in  the  UK  or 
the  wider  global  economic 
climate.

Potential impact

Mitigation

A  significant  amount  of  Mulberry 
sales are generated in the UK and, 
as  has  been  widely  reported,  the 
UK  retail  environment  remains 
very challenging. 

The  Group’s  UK  business 
is 
experiencing  significantly  softer 
trade  at  House  of  Fraser  since 
it  went 
in 
August  2018  and  UK  consumer 
demand and lower tourist footfall 
has  reduced  spending  on  luxury 
goods. 

into  administration 

The  Group’s  strategy  to  increase 
the  proportion  of  sales 
from 
international markets is expected 
to reduce this risk over time.

Lewis 

from 
converted 
John 
Wholesale 
concession, 
to 
recovering a significant proportion 
of  lost  revenue  associated  with 
the House of Fraser disruption.

The Group’s strong digital channel 
and  omni-channel  capability  will 
offset in part, softer physical store 
revenues.

International 
subsidiaries
With  the  strategic  goal  of 
international  expansion,  there 
is a risk that subsidiaries in new 
markets will not develop in line 
with expectations.

Increased

Should subsidiaries in international 
markets  not  grow  in  line  with 
impact  on 
plans, 
profitability  and  may  represent  a 
draw on cash reserves.

this  would 

Failure  to  generate  anticipated 
revenue could result in impairment 
of fixed asset values.

performs 

Management 
pre-
transaction  due  diligence  and 
a 
prepares 
comprehensive  business  plan  for 
each individual market. 

and  maintains 

to  ensure 

Financial  performance  is  closely 
monitored by senior management 
each  month, 
that 
financial and operational plans are 
adapted  and  sufficient  funding 
is  in  place  to  maintain  adequate 
working capital.

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Strategic report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Change in 
risk level 
from prior 
period

Increased

Risk

Brexit implications
Until  clear  proposals  with 
regard  to  transitional  rules 
and  the  terms  of  an  exit 
plan  are  announced  by  the 
UK  Government, 
is 
significant  uncertainty  about 
the longer term implications of 
Brexit for the Group. 

there 

Potential impact

Mitigation

Employees:  The  Group  has  a 
dedicated and talented workforce, 
some of whom are EEA nationals 
working  across  different  business 
areas.  Their  ability  to  work  in  the 
UK could be impacted if there are 
any post-Brexit restrictions on the 
ability of EEA nationals to work in 
the UK. 

Supply  Chain:  Mulberry  imports 
a  significant  proportion  of 
its 
raw  materials  from  the  EU,  and 
if  import  tariffs  are  introduced, 
cost  prices  will  increase  and,  if 
border  checks  cause  delays  to 
these  imports,  this  could  cause 
disruption  to  the  supply  chain, 
the  UK  manufacturing  base,  and 
ultimately  to  sales  to  customers. 
Due  to  the  lead  times  for  and 
seasonality  of  leather  and  other 
components,  it  is  not  possible 
to 
significant  buffers 
of  certain  core  raw  materials. 
Higher 
trade 
tariffs  or  other 
barriers  would  increase  our  cost 
base  and  potentially  reduce  our 
competitiveness. 

create 

economic 

to  prepare 

The 
implications 
resulting from the impact of Brexit 
are  largely  beyond  the  control 
of  the  Group.  A  Brexit  readiness 
committee  was  established 
in 
the  Group 
2016, 
for 
the  post-Brexit  economic 
arrangements,  which  continues 
to  closely  monitor  the  legal  and 
the 
political  developments 
process  by  maintaining  an  open 
dialogue  regarding  the  impact 
of  Brexit  with  key  suppliers, 
stakeholders  and  professional 
advisers.

in 

The  Group  has  significant  stock 
to  meet  immediate  commercial 
requirements.  The  agile  supply 
chain  in  operation  at  Mulberry 
should  be  able 
to  provide 
reactivity 
for  a  number  of 
scenarios. The Board has assessed 
the potential worst case impact of 
Brexit on its profitability and cash 
flow forecasts as part of its going 
concern  review  and  concluded 
that  this  did  not  change  the 
appropriateness of preparing the 
financial  statements  on  a  going 
concern basis.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Change in 
risk level 
from prior 
period

Unchanged

Potential impact

Mitigation

Such  a  deterioration  would  lead 
to  a  loss  of  customers,  which 
would  negatively 
impact  sales 
and profits. 

into 

The  Group  makes  ongoing 
investment 
product 
development,  marketing,  retail 
estate  and  the  consumer  and 
digital  experience.  These  are 
all  key  to  maintaining  brand 
position,  along  with  the  opening 
of  flagship  stores 
in  strategic 
global locations, and maintaining 
strong relations with customers.

Risk

Brand,  competition  and 
emerging technologies 
The  Group  operates  in  the 
luxury  fashion  sector  and  is 
subject  to  a  risk  of  change 
in  fashions  and  demand  for 
its  products.  There  is  risk  of 
potential  deterioration  in  the 
Group’s  luxury  brand  position 
competitors, 
compared 
establishing 
difficulty 
brand  awareness 
in  new 
markets,  or  failing  to  invest 
in 
focused 
technologies.

latest  customer 

to 
in 

Competitive pressures, changes 
in  luxury  fashion  trends,  and 
consumer  demand, 
hence 
to  emerging 
in  addition 
improve 
to 
technologies 
customer 
are 
experience 
continuing risks. 

Cash and credit risk
The  management  of  cash  is 
of  fundamental  importance  in 
ensuring the Group’s ability to 
pay  its  ongoing  commitments 
to suppliers and employees.

A downturn in trade or a delay 
or  default  in  payment  from 
a  debtor  may  significantly 
impact 
the  Group’s  cash 
balances.

Increased

In  the  event  of  a  significant 
downturn in trading or the effects 
of  seasonality,  the  Group’s  cash 
facilities may be insufficient. 

As previously reported, the Group 
suffered  a  significant  bad  debt 
when  House  of  Fraser  went  into 
administration. If other wholesale 
or concession debtors default on 
payment terms, this would impact 
further  on 
the  Group’s  cash 
reserves.

The  Group  performs 
regular 
cash  forecast  analysis  to  manage 
working capital requirements.

The  Group  has  a  £15.0  million 
revolving  credit  facility  in  place 
with HSBC until 31 October 2021, 
in addition to a £4.0 million multi-
currency overdraft facility in place 
until May 2020. As such, the Group 
is  on  a  firm  financial  footing  and 
confident of its ability to continue 
as a going concern.

Credit insurance was implemented 
in November 2018 for the Group’s 
wholesale 
concession 
and 
debtors. Appropriate credit limits 
are set and continually reviewed.

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Strategic report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Change in 
risk level 
from prior 
period

Unchanged

Potential impact

Mitigation

increase 
in 

If  Sterling  weakens  against  the 
Euro  and  US  Dollar  there  is  a 
in 
consequent 
raw 
materials  bought 
foreign 
currency  which 
increases  cost 
revenues 
of 
earned  in  foreign  currency  also 
appreciate when Sterling weakens 
from  revaluation  gain  creating 
some natural currency hedge.

sales.  However, 

Increased

If  cost  increases  exceed  revenue 
growth,  this  will  impact  on  cash, 
the  Group’s 
profitability,  and 
ability 
continued 
to 
international expansion.

fund 

Increased

Loss of key members of the senior 
management 
team  or  other 
qualified  employees  could  be 
detrimental to the business.

The  Group’s  Treasury  Committee 
manages its Treasury policy which 
incorporates  a  hedging  strategy 
to reduce the risk of exchange rate 
volatility.  The  policy  is  reviewed 
periodically  to  optimise  hedging 
efficiency and ensure compliance 
with best practice.

of 

Whilst trading remains challenging, 
management 
operating 
costs  is  a  key  focus  to  maximise 
financial performance. The Group 
reviews  costs  and 
continually 
relevant  KPIs  in  order  to  operate 
as efficiently as possible. The store 
portfolio is regularly appraised to 
ensure profitability is maintained, 
and  where  necessary,  stores  may 
be  closed.  Where  effective  cost 
savings are identified, these have 
been  and  will  continue  to  be 
executed.

is  mitigated  by 

regular 
This 
reviews of remuneration packages 
incentive 
long  term 
(including 
schemes) 
succession 
and 
planning  within  the  management 
team. For each new management 
role,  a  comprehensive  induction 
programme  is  in  place  followed 
by  a  detailed  handover  period 
where possible.

Risk

sales 

are  made 

Currency risk
The  Group’s 
and 
in 
purchases 
Sterling, Euros and US Dollars 
and therefore it is exposed to 
fluctuations in these exchange 
rates.

Ineffective  hedging  arrange-
ments  may  not  fully  mitigate 
foreign  exchange  losses,  or 
may increase them.

Management of 
operating costs
The  Group  has  experienced 
a  sustained  period  of  rising 
costs  over  the  last  five  years, 
particularly  in  the  UK,  due  to 
increased  rent  and  business 
rates.  This 
in  addition 
is 
to  the 
introduction  of  the 
apprenticeship  levy,  statutory 
pension  costs  and  adverse 
exchange differences. 

success 

Key employees
is 
The  Group’s 
dependent to a certain extent 
the  continued  services 
on 
its  Directors  and  senior 
of 
have 
management 
substantial experience in their 
specific 
in  operation 
of  and  management  of  the 
business.

roles 

who 

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Risk

Information  technology 
(“IT”)
The  integrity  and  integration 
of  the  Group’s 
IT  systems 
and  operational  infrastructure 
is  critical  to  its  trading  and 
operations.

security 

Cyber 
and 
General  Data  Protection 
Regulation (“GDPR”)
All business sectors are at risk 
of  increasingly  sophisticated 
cyber security attacks.

Increased  use  of  mobile 
and  digital  sales  channels, 
together  with  marketing  via 
social  media,  result  in  large 
amounts  of  customer  data 
being  gathered.  The  risk  of 
unauthorised access to or loss 
of  data,  including  data  held 
in  respect  of  employees  and 
customers is growing.

UK production
The  proportion  of  products 
in  Mulberry’s 
being  made 
own  UK  based  factories  has 
increased to 50% over the last 
five years.

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Change in 
risk level 
from prior 
period

Unchanged

Unchanged

Potential impact

Mitigation

There  is  a  risk  that  the  business’s 
ability  to  sell  and  deliver 
its 
products  would  be  adversely 
impacted 
the  event  of  a 
significant IT failure.

in 

The  Group  continually  reviews 
its  IT  and  systems  capabilities 
to  maintain  the 
integrity  and 
reliability of its business.

A number of controls are in place 
which  would  be  implemented  in 
the event of a major failure. 

crime 
risk 

represents 
through 

an 
Cyber 
increasing 
threat 
of  deletion,  theft,  disruption  or 
integrity of data, which could also 
result in reputational damage.

A  failure  to  comply  with  GDPR, 
which  came  into  effect  in  May 
2018,  could  result  in  penalties 
impact 
and  have  an  adverse 
on  consumer  confidence  in  the 
Group.

firewalls 

protection. 

IT security is continually reviewed 
and  updated.  Networks  are 
and 
protected  by 
anti-virus 
Threat 
detection  systems  are  in  place 
across  the  Group.  Vigilance  and 
security  improvements  must  be 
maintained to ensure these are up 
to date and best practice.

Unchanged

There  is  a  risk  that  the  Group 
gross margin may be diluted due 
to  currency  risk  and  the  higher 
relative cost of UK manufacturing.

Factory  efficiency  is  monitored 
on a weekly basis and production 
techniques 
continually 
are 
reviewed  and  refined  to  ensure 
we  are  creating  quality  products 
in  an  efficient  manner,  and  by 
assessing whether to manufacture 
product internally or externally.

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Mulberr y Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Change in 
risk level 
from prior 
period

Potential impact

Mitigation

Unchanged

This  may  lead  to  a  significant  fall 
in footfall, or potential closure of a 
store, or a loss of IT systems. 

has  developed  
The  Group 
a  business  continuity  plan  to 
mitigate 
impact,  as  well 
as  making  sure  that  adequate 
business insurance is in place.

the 

Unchanged

Any  infringement  of  the  Group’s 
IP  could  lead  to  a  loss  of  profits 
and  have  a  negative  impact  on 
image.

Trademarks  are  registered  and 
infringements  are 
where  any 
identified, 
legal 
appropriate 
action is taken.

Risk

Terrorist activity or 
major incident
A  major  terrorist  attack  near 
to  one  of  the  Group’s  offices 
or  production  facilities  could 
seriously  affect  the  Group’s 
operations,  as  would  a  fire  or 
significant  disruption  to  the 
Group’s warehouse. 

Trademarks
As  with  all  brands,  the  Group 
from 
is  exposed 
risk 
to 
unauthorised  use  of 
the 
Group’s  trademarks  and  other 
intellectual property (“IP”).

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Mulberr y Group plc

 
 
 
53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The  Group’s  approach  is  based  on  a  simple  principle:  that  Mulberry  will  make  a  positive  difference  to  its  people,  the 
environment and the communities in which it works. Employees are actively encouraged to find new ways of meeting our 
wider responsibilities, and as such have focused our initiatives in the following key areas:

•  Climate change – investing in the latest technologies to help reduce energy consumption and impact on the 

environment and sourcing purchases from sustainable or renewable sources wherever possible;

•  Reducing waste – there is a continuous process to identify ways to reduce waste, as well as recycling as much 

material as possible from our UK sites, especially to community arts and crafts groups;

•  Manufacturing  and  apprentices  –  Mulberry  is  proud  to  produce  approximately  50%  of  its  leather  goods  in  its 
own British factories where it employs nearly 550 people. Since 2006 it has run an award-winning apprenticeship 
programme at these factories to train young people to become accomplished craftsmen and craftswomen;

•  Fair partners – ensuring by way of regular audits that suppliers adhere to the Mulberry Global Sourcing Principles 
which help to create a suitable environment for their workers, including working hours and child labour provisions. 
Under the UK Modern Slavery Act, UK companies with a turnover of more than £36 million are obliged to publish 
an annual Slavery and Human Trafficking statement which can be found on the Group’s website, mulberry.com;

•  Animal welfare – commitment to ethical practices and traceability in our leather, fur and exotic skins supply chains;

•  Community  involvement  –  Mulberry  actively  donates  money,  product  and  support  to  charities  in  our  local 
communities.  Each  year  charities  are  selected  by  employees  for  the  Group  to  support.  For  the  period  under 
review these were Freewheelers, a South West based charity whose volunteers transport blood, pathology and 
other medical supplies by motorbike free of charge to the NHS, and Rhythms of Life, a London based charity 
providing meals, clothing and bedding for the homeless.

General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”)
The Group takes its responsibility in handling an individual’s data seriously. The security and use of data is discussed at 
Board level and the Group is compliant with relevant legislation and acts in a manner in keeping with the high expectations 
of our staff and customers.

Gender Pay
We are proud of our diverse workforce and believe fair and equal reward is vital to our success as an international luxury 
fashion business. Full details of our gender pay report for 2017/18 can be found on our website.

People
During the period, the Group has launched a significant number of new products and progressed several strategic projects. 
We would like to thank the entire Mulberry team for their continuing hard work and commitment to the brand.

The Strategic Report was approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 June 2019.

Thierry Andretta
Chief Executive
19 June 2019

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Mulberr y Group plc

Corporate governance

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

The Company is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”). In accordance with the AIM rules for companies and 
their  requirement  to  adopt  a  recognised  corporate  governance  code,  the  Board  has  adopted  the  Quoted  Companies 
Alliance  Corporate  Governance  Code  (“the  Code”).  The  Code  is  based  on  ten  principles,  aimed  at  delivering  growth, 
maintaining a dynamic management framework and building trust. 

Further details can be found online at Mulberry.com

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board comprises two Executive Directors and six Non-Executive Directors. Thierry Andretta acts as Chief Executive, 
Neil Ritchie as Chief Financial Officer and Godfrey Davis acts as Non-Executive Chairman.

The  Directors  consider  it  important  that  the  Board  should  include  Non-Executive  Directors  who  bring  considerable 
knowledge and experience to the Board’s deliberations. The Board meets formally on a bi-monthly basis and is responsible 
inter alia for overall Group strategy, investments and capital projects and for ensuring that an appropriate framework of 
internal control is in place throughout the Group.

The Executive Directors are each employed under a contract of employment which can be terminated with 12 months’ 
notice. The Non-Executive Directors provide their services under 12 month agreements renewed annually on 1 April.

NOMINATIONS AND REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

Details  of  the  composition  and  role  of  the  Nominations  and  Remuneration  Committee  are  provided  in  the  separate 
Directors’ remuneration report.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee was chaired throughout the period by Steven Grapstein. The other members of the Committee were 
Chris Roberts and Christophe Cornu.

During the period all Directors have been encouraged to attend Audit Committee meetings where possible as part of the 
programme to maintain the Group’s systems of internal control. The Committee may examine any matters relating to the 
financial affairs of the Group. This includes the review of the annual financial statements, the interim financial statements 
and other financial announcements, prior to their approval by the Board, together with accounting policies and compliance 
with accounting standards, and of internal control procedures and monthly financial reporting, and other related functions 
as the Committee may require. 

The  Non-Executive  Directors  have  access  to  the  Group’s  auditor  and  legal  advisers  at  any  time  without  the  Executive 
Directors being present.

INTERNAL FINANCIAL CONTROL

The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s systems of internal financial control and for monitoring their effectiveness.

The Directors place considerable importance on maintaining full control and direction over appropriate strategic, financial, 
organisational  and  compliance  issues,  and  have  put  in  place  an  organisational  structure  with  formally  defined  lines  of 
responsibility  and  delegation  of  authority.  Any  system  of  internal  financial  control  is  designed  to  manage,  rather  than 
eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business objectives, and can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance 
against material misstatement or loss.

There  are  established  procedures  for  business  planning,  for  information  and  reporting  and  for  monitoring  the  Group’s 
business and its performance. Adherence to specified procedures is required at all times and the Board actively promotes a 
culture of quality and integrity. Compliance is monitored by the Directors. This includes comprehensive budgeting systems 
with an annual budget approved by the Board, monthly consideration of actual operational results compared with budgets, 
forecasts and regular reviews by the Board of year end forecasts. The Board reports to shareholders half-yearly.

The  Group’s  control  systems  address  key  business  and  financial  risks.  Matters  arising  are  reviewed  on  a  regular  basis. 
Performance indicators are reviewed at least monthly to assess progress towards objectives. Variances from approved plans 
are followed up vigorously.

18

Mulberr y Group plc

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Directors’ remuneration report

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Mulberry Group plc is listed on the Alternative Investment Market and therefore is not required to prepare a Directors’ 
remuneration report. The following narrative disclosures are prepared on a voluntary basis and are not subject to audit.

At the period end, the Nominations and Remuneration Committee comprised:

Chris Roberts (Chairman and Non-Executive Director);
Melissa Ong (Non-Executive Director); and
Julie Gilhart (Non-Executive Director)

The Committee is responsible for nominating Directors to the Board and then determining the remuneration and terms and 
conditions of employment of Directors and senior employees of the Group.

The Committee meets at least once a year in order to consider and set the annual salaries and performance incentives for 
Executive Directors and senior management, including grants of share options and bonus schemes. Executive Directors’ 
salaries are reviewed annually each year, along with the remuneration of all other Group employees.

REMUNERATION OF NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

The Non-Executive Directors each receive a fee for their services, which is agreed by the Board taking into account the 
role to be undertaken. They do not receive any pension or other benefits from the Company apart from a small allowance 
of Mulberry products, nor do they participate in any of the equity or bonus schemes. As an exception, on becoming Non-
Executive Chairman in June 2012, Godfrey Davis retained his vested and unvested options and share awards as they were 
granted to him whilst he was Chief Executive.

The Non-Executive Directors are appointed for a 12 month term.

REMUNERATION POLICY FOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

The Company’s remuneration policy for Executive Directors considers a number of factors and is designed to:

•  have regard to the Director’s experience and the nature and complexity of their work in order to pay a competitive 

salary, consistent to comparable companies, that attracts and retains Directors of the highest quality;

•  reflect the Director’s personal performance;

•  link individual remuneration packages to the Group’s long term performance and continued success of the Group 

through the award of annual bonuses and share-based incentive schemes;

•  provide post-retirement benefits through contributions to an individual’s pension schemes; and

•  provide employment-related benefits including the provision of a company car or cash alternative, life assurance, 
insurance relating to the Director’s duties, housing allowance, medical insurance and permanent health insurance.

SALARIES, BONUSES AND OTHER INCENTIVE SCHEMES

Each Executive Director receives a base salary, the opportunity to earn an annual bonus and a long term incentive. Typically, 
the annual bonus will not exceed 100% of the annual salary.

There are four long term incentive arrangements. These are as follows:

An Unapproved Share Option Scheme which was introduced in April 2008. Options granted in this scheme typically vest 
after three years. For the grant made during April 2015 this has been reduced to 2.5 years because the grant was originally 
intended to take place six months earlier but was delayed whilst its quantum was discussed and agreed by the Nominations 
and Remuneration Committee.

A Deferred Bonus Plan which represents a long term award scheme where participants receive all or part of their annual 
bonus in shares. These shares are held as deferred shares in the Mulberry Group plc Employee Share Trust for a vesting 
period of two years. Matching shares are then granted and vest after a period of two years conditional upon the participant 
remaining an employee of the Group and the original deferred shares remaining in the Trust. There were no granted, lapsed 
or exercised share options under this Plan during the period.

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Mulberr y Group plc

Directors’ remuneration report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

A  Co-ownership  Equity  Incentive  Plan  where  participants  are  granted  an  interest  in  shares  which  are  co-owned  by  the 
Mulberry Group plc Employee Share Trust and participate in the value to the extent that the Mulberry share price exceeds 
20% above the market price at the date of grant. The vesting period is generally three years, after which the employee has 
the right to sell the beneficial interest in the shares. This plan was established in August 2009.

A Long Term Incentive Plan, adopted on 19 December 2012 as the Mulberry Group plc Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) and 
amended and renamed on 10 July 2017 as the Mulberry Group plc 2017 Performance Share Plan. This plan was designed 
and  introduced  by  the  Remuneration  Committee  to  align  management  and  shareholders’  interests  through  rewarding 
participants for growth in Mulberry’s revenue and profit before interest and tax (“PBIT”) above specified thresholds over 
the vesting period. The performance conditions are split equally between revenue growth and PBIT growth compared to 
targets set in the plan’s performance conditions. The vesting period is typically three years from the date of grant of options.

The following information is required by the Companies Act and AIM rules and is subject to audit.

Basic 
salary/fees
 £’000

Bonus
 £’000

Taxable 
benefits
 £’000

Pension

contributions(2)

£’000

53 weeks
ended
 30 March 
2019
Total
£’000

983

462

200

50

45

45

46

45

314

13

–

–

–

–

1

–

10

10

–

–

–

–

–

–

328

20

1,876

Executive Directors
Thierry Andretta (1)

Neil Ritchie (3)

Non-Executive Directors

Godfrey Davis

Chris Roberts

Steven Grapstein

Melissa Ong

Christophe Cornu

Julie Gilhart

659

439

200

50

45

45

45

45

1,528

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Notes:
(1)  Thierry Andretta was the highest paid Director during the period. He was appointed as Chief Executive on 7 April 2015, after serving as a Non-Executive 

Director until that date. 

(2)  Pension contributions are paid into defined contribution schemes.
(3)  Neil Ritchie gave notice on 19 March 2019 of his notice to step down on 30 June 2019. As part of contractual arrangements between him and the Group, a 

one-off payment of £189,000 was agreed to reflect incentive and notice period.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Basic 
salary/fees
 £’000

Bonus
 £’000

Taxable 
benefits
 £’000

Pension

contributions(2)

£’000

622

235

200

50

45

45

45

45

300

80

318

13

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1

–

1

1

4

10

10

–

–

–

–

–

–

52 weeks
ended
 24 March 
2018
Total
£’000

1,250

338

200

51

45

46

46

49

Executive Directors
Thierry Andretta (1)

Neil Ritchie

Non-Executive Directors

Godfrey Davis

Chris Roberts

Steven Grapstein

Melissa Ong

Christophe Cornu

Julie Gilhart

1,287

380

338

20

2,025

The emoluments disclosed do not include any amounts for the value of share options or share awards granted to or held 
by the Directors. These are detailed as follows:

(a) Options granted under the 2008 Unapproved Share Option Scheme

Thierry Andretta (1)

Thierry Andretta (2)

Neil Ritchie (2)

24 March 
2018

230,415

70,000

24,500

Granted

Exercised

30 March 
2019

Exercise 
price (£) 

Date of 
exercise 

–

–

–

–

–

–

230,415

70,000

24,500

8.680

10.342

10.342

n/a

n/a

n/a

Average 
market 
price on 
exercise 
(£)

n/a

n/a

n/a

Notes:
(1)  For the options granted to Thierry Andretta on 10 April 2015, the market price on the date of grant was £8.68 and may be exercised at any time between 

1 January 2018 and 1 January 2025.

(2)  For the options granted to Thierry Andretta and Neil Ritchie on 1 July 2016, the market price on the date of grant was £10.342 and may be exercised at any 

time between 1 July 2019 and 1 July 2026.

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Directors’ remuneration report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

(b) Jointly owned shares under the Co-ownership Equity Incentive Plan

24 March 
2018

Granted

Exercised

30 March 
2019

Exercise 
price (£) 

Date of 
exercise 

Average 
market 
price on 
exercise 
(£)

Godfrey Davis

300,000

–

–

300,000

1.458

n/a

n/a

The right to exercise the interest in these shares vested on 9 October 2012 and remains exercisable until 9 October 2019. 
The market price of these shares at the date of the award was £1.215.

(c) Options granted under the 2018 Performance Share Plan

Thierry Andretta

Neil Ritchie

24 March 
2018

200,000

50,000

Granted

Lapsed

30 March 
2019

Exercise 
price (£) 

–

–

–

–

200,000

50,000

nil

nil

For the options granted on 10 July 2017, the market price on the date of grant was £9.89 and may be exercised after the 
Group’s financial results for the financial period ended 28 March 2020 have been announced, and up to 10 years from the 
date of grant, upon attainment of the relevant performance conditions.

Share price information
The market price of Mulberry Group plc ordinary shares at 30 March 2019 was £2.94 (2018: £7.74) and the range during the 
period was £2.60 to £8.03 (2018: £7.00 to £11.49).

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Directors’ report

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

The  Directors  present  their  report  on  the  affairs  of  the  Group,  together  with  the  financial  statements  and  independent 
auditor’s report, for the period ended 30 March 2019.

RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS

The results for the period are set out in the Group income statement. The Directors are recommending the payment of 
a final dividend of 5.0p per ordinary share (2018: 5.0p) to be paid on 21 November 2019 to ordinary shareholders on the 
register on 25 October 2019.

GOING CONCERN

The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and financial 
position,  are  set  out  in  the  Strategic  report.  The  risks  that  the  business  faces  in  the  coming  year,  including  the  current 
economic climate, Brexit, uncertainty around the UK retail market and management of cash, and the mitigating actions 
which address these risks are set out in pages 11 to 16. 

The Group had net cash of £11.1 million (2018: £25.1 million) at 30 March 2019. In September 2018, it signed a new £10.0 
million revolving credit facility with HSBC until October 2021. This facility was increased to £15.0 million in May 2019. It 
also has a £4.0 million overdraft facility until May 2020, which is renewed annually. The Group meets its day-to-day working 
capital requirements through operating cash flows and free cash balances, and occasionally its revolving credit facility and 
overdraft. Capital expenditure and financing for its overseas operations is financed through a combination of these facilities 
and cash.

The Directors have reviewed the Group’s budgets and cash flow forecasts for the period to December 2020 and in doing so 
considered reasonable possible changes over the forecast period. The review considered the forecast operating cash flows 
generated, cash flow implications of the Group’s plans including funding requirements of its international joint ventures, 
capital expenditures, committed debt facilities at both the period end and post period end and compared these with the 
Group’s cash requirements. The Directors also considered its forecast covenant compliance.

The review showed that when reasonable possible changes were modelled, including a decline in revenue due to challenges 
in the economic environment and lower demand, the Directors would need to carefully manage cash through detailed cost 
control in the short to medium term, although the Group was able to operate within its committed banking facilities during 
the period under review.

After reviewing the Group’s cash flow forecasts to December 2020, including a downside case and potential mitigating 
actions,  the  Directors  have  a  reasonable  expectation  that  the  Group  has  adequate  resources  to  continue  to  meet  its 
liabilities as they fall due, taking into account reasonably possible changes in trading conditions. Accordingly, they have 
adopted the going concern basis in preparing the annual report and financial statements.

DIRECTORS AND THEIR INTERESTS

The Directors who served during the period and subsequently are detailed below.

Thierry  Andretta,  62,  was  appointed  as  Chief  Executive  on  7  April  2015,  following  his  appointment  to  the  Board  as  an 
independent Non-Executive Director on 9 June 2014. He has previously held a number of senior roles at brands including 
Lanvin, Moschino, Kering, LVMH Fashion Group and Céline, and was Chief Executive of Buccellati. He is a director (gérant) 
of SCI TMLS and was a non-executive director of Acne Studios Holding AB (until March 2017). Mr Andretta has extensive 
experience across the luxury sector, with particular focus on international expansion.

Neil Ritchie, FCA, 48, is the Chief Financial Officer, having joined Mulberry and been appointed as a Director on 16 May 
2016. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants having trained professionally with PriceWaterhouseCoopers. 
He spent 15 years with Dyson in various financial and commercial roles across UK, Europe North America and Asia, most 
recently  as  Global  Commercial  Finance  Director.  Mr  Ritchie  has  broad  operational  experience  including  in  relation  to 
supply chain and new business start-ups, and extensive financial experience including business performance management, 
taxation strategy and treasury management. Mr Ritchie will stand down as Chief Financial Officer and a member of the 
Board with effect from 30 June 2019.

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Directors’ report

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Non-Executive Directors
Godfrey Davis, FCA, 70, is Chairman of the Board, having been appointed in June 2012. Prior to this he had performed 
the role of Chief Executive from 2002 until June 2012. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England 
and  Wales  and  joined  Mulberry  as  Group  Finance  Director  in  1987  after  15  years  at  Arthur  Andersen,  where  he  was  an 
international partner. He is a director of Pittards plc, King’s Schools Taunton Limited and Hestercombe Gardens Limited, 
KST International Limited and he is a trustee of Hestercombe Gardens Trust. Mr Davis is an experienced leader of private 
and publicly owned entities and has a strong understanding of the UK AIM market. He has a deep knowledge of the leather 
goods sector over many years.

Andrew Christopher Roberts, FCCA, 55, is Chairman of the Nominations and Remuneration Committee (appointed on 
7  May  2013).  He  was  appointed  to  the  Board  on  6  June  2002.  He  is  a  Fellow  of  the  Chartered  Association  of  Certified 
Accountants. He is managing director of Como Holdings (UK) Ltd which has retail, hotel and real estate operations in the 
UK  and  was  formerly  Finance  Director  of  an  AIM  listed  financial  services  group.  Como  Holdings  (UK)  Ltd  is  a  company 
ultimately  owned  by  Mr  Ong  Beng  Seng  and  Mrs  Christina  Ong.  Mr  Roberts  has  a  broad  experience  of  international 
property markets, the branded luxury hospitality sector and global financial markets.

Steven Grapstein, CPA, 61, was appointed as a Director on 17 November 2003 and was appointed as Chairman of the 
Audit Committee on 7 May 2013. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Como Holdings USA Inc., an international 
investment group with extensive interests in the retail and hotel industries. He serves on the Board of Directors of Urban 
Edge, a US publicly listed company on the NY Stock Exchange and is the Chairman of their Governance Committee and 
a  member  of  their  Audit  committee.  He  also  serves  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  David  Yurman  Corp.,  a 
privately held US entity and creator of luxury jewellery and time pieces where he is Chairman of the Audit Committee and a 
member of the Governance Committee. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr 
Grapstein served as a member of the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Board (2010-2015) of Tesoro Corporation, 
a US publicly held Fortune 100 company engaged in the oil and gas industry. He also served as Chief Executive Officer 
(1994-2005) and Chairman of Presidio International dba A/X Armani Exchange, a fashion retail company until its sale on 
15 May 2014. Como Holdings USA Inc. is ultimately owned by Mr Ong Beng Seng and Mrs Christina Ong. Mr Grapstein has 
extensive knowledge of the North American retail market and is experienced in corporate finance and US capital markets.

Melissa  Ong,  45,  was  appointed  on  7  September  2010.  She  is  currently  the  VP  of  Business  Development  and  Director 
of  Activities  of  Como  Hotels  and  Resorts,  a  company  ultimately  owned  by  Mr  Ong  Beng  Seng  and  Mrs  Christina  Ong, 
overseeing  the  experiential  element  of  hospitality  in  each  destination.  She  is  a  director/manager  of  Mojo  Pte  Ltd,  an 
investment holding company managing investments in technology, food and beverage, hospitality, real estate and public 
securities and funds. She manages the endowment portfolio of COMO Foundation where she serves as a director. She is 
also a director of Knowhere Pte Ltd, and a director of each of Will Focus Ltd, Club 21 Pte Ltd and Como Holdings Pte Ltd, 
companies which are ultimately owned by Mr Ong Beng Seng and Mrs Christina Ong. Ms Ong is highly experienced in the 
luxury hospitality sector and brings insight into the Asian market. Her knowledge of relevant technology and application to 
digital and social media marketing is valuable in relation to enhancing the luxury customer experience.

Christophe Cornu, 55, was appointed on 7 May 2013 and is an independent director. With effect from 1 July 2018 Mr Cornu 
became  CEO  of  Nestlé  France  SA,  having  previously  served  as  CEO  of  Nestlé  Suisse  SA,  and  been  Chief  Commercial 
Officer  for  Nestlé  Nespresso  SA.  Mr  Cornu  is  a  marketing  leader  with  a  track  record  of  developing  major  brands  and 
breakthrough  concepts.  He  is  consumer  focused,  with  a  complete  view  from  brand  purpose  development  through  to 
marketing execution and provides valuable insight and challenge on brand and marketing related issues.

Julie Gilhart, 61, was appointed on 1 December 2014 and is an independent director. She is the founder of Julie Gilhart 
Consulting, Inc, a boutique consultancy that creates, connects and develops designers and brands with a mission to have 
a positive impact. Previously Ms Gilhart was the Senior Fashion Director at Barneys New York for 18 years where she was 
involved in all aspects of fashion brand building, marketing and business direction, including identifying and building brand 
relationships with up-and-coming designers. She serves as a member on the Boards of Parsons-New School, Tomorrow 
London  Ltd  and  The  Montauk  Oceans  Institute  and  is  an  advisor  to  Global  Fashion  Agenda,  the  Council  for  Fashion 
Designers  America  and  Lexus  Fashion  Initiative.  She  is  a  respected  leader  within  the  fashion  sector  and  is  known  as  a 
pioneer of sustainability and the circular economy, with a history of finding talent and advising and developing growth of 
businesses.  Her  expertise  relates  to  the  emerging  customer,  social  trends  and  adaptation  of  business  models  to  future 
requirements  including  focus  on  sustainability,  advising  companies  how  to  incorporate  sustainable  practices  as  a  core 
component of their operations. 

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Executive Directors
Directors’ beneficial interests in the shares of the Company at the period end were as follows:

Godfrey Davis

Steven Grapstein

Melissa Ong

5p ordinary 
shares 
2019

5p ordinary 
shares 
2018

718,527

10,000

10,000

718,527

10,000

10,000

The  other  Directors  had  no  interests  in  the  shares  of  the  Company.  Details  of  Directors’  share  options,  share  awards 
(including  jointly  owned  shares  issued  under  the  Co-ownership  Equity  Incentive  Plan)  and  other  interests  in  shares  are 
disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report.

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS

At  30  March  2019  the  Company  had  been  notified  of  the  following  interests  of  3%  or  more  of  the  share  capital  of  the 
Company, other than those of the Directors above:

Name of holder

Challice Limited (1)

Banque Havilland SA

Tybourne Capital Management (HK) Limited (2)

Percentage of 
voting rights and 
issued share capital

No. of ordinary 
shares

Nature of holding

56.17%

24.29%

11.04%

33,726,444 Controlling shareholder

14,585,720

6,628,979

Investor

Investor

(1) Challice Limited is controlled by Mr Ong Beng Seng and Mrs Christina Ong.
(2) Notification was made when the shareholding of Tybourne Capital Management (HK) Limited exceeded 11.0%.

At 19 June 2019 the interest held by Tybourne Capital Management (HK) Limited was 6,621,789 ordinary shares representing 
11.03% of the voting rights and issued share capital. There were no changes in the interests held by Challice Limited and 
Banque Havilland SA.

The Group is party to, and has complied with, a relationship agreement with Challice Limited which includes undertakings 
that transactions and relationships will be conducted on an arm’s length basis on normal commercial terms.

MOVEMENT IN THE COMPANY’S OWN SHAREHOLDING

Please refer to notes 25 and 26.

FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS

For further details please refer to the Strategic report.

BRANCHES

The Group operates branches, as defined in s1046(3) of the Companies Act 2006, in Eire, Netherlands and Taiwan.

DIRECTORS’ INSURANCE AND INDEMNITIES

The Group maintains Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance which gives appropriate cover for any legal action brought 
against its Directors. In accordance with Section 236 of the Companies Act 2006, qualifying third party indemnity provisions 
are in place for the Directors in respect of liabilities incurred as a result of their office to the extent permitted by law. Both 
the  insurance  and  indemnities  applied  throughout  the  financial  period  ended  30  March  2019  and  through  to  the  date  of 
this report.

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Mulberr y Group plc

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Directors’ report

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT

The Group is committed to an active equal opportunities policy. It is the Group’s policy to promote an environment free 
from  discrimination,  harassment  and  victimisation,  where  everyone  will  receive  equal  treatment  regardless  of  gender, 
colour,  ethnic  or  national  origin,  disability,  age,  marital  status,  sexual  orientation  or  religion.  Employment  practices  are 
applied which are fair, equitable and consistent with the skills and abilities of our employees and the needs of the business.

The  Group  places  considerable  value  on  the  involvement  of  its  employees  and  has  continued  its  previous  practice  of 
keeping them informed on matters affecting them as employees and on the various factors affecting the performance of 
the Group, which is achieved through formal and informal meetings. Employee representatives are consulted regularly on 
a wide range of matters affecting their current and future interests. Employee Committees have been established covering 
each of our main sites.

DISABLED PERSONS

Applications for employment by disabled persons are always fully considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant 
concerned.  In  the  event  of  members  of  staff  becoming  disabled,  every  effort  is  made  to  ensure  that  their  employment 
with the Group continues and that appropriate training is arranged. It is the policy of the Group that the training, career 
development and promotion of disabled persons should, as far as possible, be identical with that of other employees.

CHARITABLE AND POLITICAL DONATIONS

The Group made charitable donations of £55,020 (2018: £71,000) during the period. The Group made no political donations 
in either period.

RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group’s risk management policies can be found in note 32.

AUDITOR

In the case of each of the persons who are Directors of the Company at the date when this report was approved:

•  so far as each of the Directors is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditor is 

unaware; and

•  each of the Directors has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have taken as a Director to make himself/herself 
aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of Section 418 of the Companies 
Act 2006.

Deloitte LLP have expressed their willingness to continue as auditor and a resolution to reappoint them will be proposed 
at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

The Directors’ Report was approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 19 June 2019.

Neil Ritchie
Director
19 June 2019

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Directors’ responsibilities statement

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial period. Under that law the Directors 
are  required  to  prepare  the  Group  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and 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 FRS 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’. Under company 
law the Directors must not approve the accounts unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of 
affairs of the Company and of the profit or loss of the Company for that period.

In preparing the Parent Company 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  applicable  UK  Accounting  Standards  have  been  followed,  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 

Company will continue in business.

In preparing the Group financial statements, International Accounting Standard 1 requires that Directors:

•  properly select and apply accounting policies;

•  present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and 

understandable information;

•  provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRSs are insufficient to enable 
users to understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the entity’s financial 
position and financial performance; and

•  make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  keeping  adequate  accounting  records  that  are  sufficient  to  show  and  explain  the 
Company’s  transactions  and  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 hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud 
and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the 
Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements 
may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Responsibility statement
We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

•  the  financial  statements,  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  relevant  financial  reporting  framework,  give  a  true 
and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss of the Company and the undertakings 
included in the consolidation taken as a whole;

•  the Strategic report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position 
of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description 
of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face; and

•  the Annual Report and financial statements, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide 
the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

This responsibility statement was approved by the Board of Directors on 19 June 2019 and is signed on its behalf by:

Thierry Andretta 
Chief Executive 

Neil Ritchie
Chief Financial Officer

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Independent auditor’s report

To the members of Mulberry Group plc

REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Opinion
In our opinion:

•  the financial statements of Mulberry Group plc (the “parent company”) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) give a 
true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 30 March 2019 and of the 
Group’s loss for the 53 week period then ended;

•  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 

Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union;

•  the  parent  company  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  United  Kingdom 
Generally  Accepted  Accounting  Practice,  including  Financial  Reporting  Standard  101  “Reduced  Disclosure 
Framework”; and

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

We have audited the financial statements which comprise:

•  the Group income statement;

•  the Group statement of comprehensive income;

•  the Group and parent company balance sheets;

•  the Group and parent company statements of changes in equity;

•  the Group cash flow statement; and

•  the related notes 1 to 47.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable 
law and IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation 
of the parent company financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including FRS 101 
“Reduced Disclosure Framework” (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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 are 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 Financial Reporting Council’s (the “FRC’s”) Ethical Standard as 
applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We 
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

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Mulberr y Group plc

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

SUMMARY OF OUR AUDIT APPROACH

Key audit matters

The key audit matters that we identified in the current period were:

•  Impairment  of  property,  plant  and  equipment  in  stores  where  there  are  indicators  of 

impairment; and

•  Accounting for acquisitions and the impairment of related goodwill. 

The key audit matters identified are similar to those identified in the prior period.

Materiality

The materiality that we used for the group financial statements was £850,000 which was determined 
on a combination of benchmarks used by stakeholders in the business.

Scoping

Materiality represents 0.5% of revenue and 1% of net assets. (2018: 0.5% of revenue and 1% of 
net assets.)

Based on our assessment, we identified three components which, in our view, required full scope 
audit of their financial information in order to ensure sufficient appropriate audit evidence was 
obtained. Our full scope audit covered 92% of Group revenue, 81% of Group profit before tax* 
and 78% of Group net assets*.

*  Percentages  are  disclosed  on  an  absolute  basis  to  give  an  appropriate  indication  of  the  contribution  and  size  of  the 

component to the Group as a whole.

Significant changes in 
our approach

For the first time, we have included the North Asia component within the scope of requiring a full 
scope audit and have performed analytical review procedures on the newly acquired Japan and 
Korea businesses. 

There have been no other significant changes to our audit approach in the current period.

CONCLUSIONS RELATING TO GOING CONCERN
We are required by ISAs (UK) to report in respect of the following matters where:

•  the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in preparation of the financial 

statements is not appropriate; or 

•  the  Directors  have  not  disclosed  in  the  financial  statements  any  identified  material 
uncertainties  that  may  cast  significant  doubt  about  the  Group’s  or  the  parent  company’s 
ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least 12 
months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

We have nothing to 
report in respect of 
these matters. 

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. These matters included 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.

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Mulberr y Group plc

 
Independent auditor’s report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Impairment of property, plant and equipment in stores where there are indicators of impairment 

Key audit matter 
description

The Group owns store property, plant and equipment with a net book value of £13.6 million (2018: 
£10.9 million) and has recognised an impairment charge of £0.8 million (2018: £0.4 million) against 
these assets. 

Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for indicators of impairment. Certain stores within the 
Group generate operating losses and accordingly there is a key audit matter that the in-store fixed 
assets, being the property, plant and equipment, are impaired. 

Certain stores are designated as flagship stores and generate losses. There is a key audit matter 
that indicators of impairment for the flagship stores are identified and that the in-store fixed assets 
are also impaired. 

Where  a  cash  generating  unit  has  an  indicator  of  impairment  and  an  impairment  review  is 
performed, we have identified a key audit matter around key assumptions applied in management’s 
impairment  model.  Specifically  around  the  revenue  growth  assumptions  over  the  impairment 
review period 

A cash-generating unit for the Group is considered to be an individual store. 

Impairment of property, plant and equipment (which includes those assets held in loss making and 
flagship stores) is included as an area of critical judgement in note 4 to the financial statements. 
The net book value of store property, plant and equipment and the impairment charge for the 
period is disclosed in note 17. 

We have performed the following procedures around this key audit matter:

•  Assessed the design and implementation of relevant controls around management’s process for 
identifying stores with indicators of impairment and for determining the key assumptions that 
require judgement, being the projected revenue growth over the impairment review period. 

•  Challenged  management’s  identification  of  stores  with  indicators  of  impairment  through 

reviewing store profitability. 

•  Challenged  the  classification  of  stores  as  flagship  stores  and  reviewed  the  performance  of 

these stores against budget.

•  Challenged  the  revenue  growth  rates  with  reference  to  historical  trading  performance  and 

external economic benchmarking data. 

•  Assessed the mechanical accuracy of the impairment models and the methodology applied by 

management for consistency with the requirements of IAS 36 ‘Impairment of assets’.

•  Assessed  the  completeness  and  accuracy  of  the  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements  in 

accordance with the relevant IFRS’s. 

How the scope of our 
audit responded to 
the key audit matter

Key observations

We  were  satisfied  that  management’s  judgements  applied,  the  impairment  recorded  and  the 
related disclosures in the financial statements are materially appropriate. 

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3 0

Mulberr y Group plc

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Accounting for acquisitions 

Key audit matter 
description

In August 2018 Mulberry Korea, a 60% subsidiary of the Group, acquired the trade and assets of 
the previous Mulberry franchise in Korea. 

The  acquisition  of  the  trade  and  assets  by  Mulberry  Korea  has  been  accounted  as  a  business 
combination.  The  trade  and  assets  acquired  were  £1  million  of  fixed  assets,  £0.9  million  of 
liabilities, £1.6 million of acquired stock and £2.6 million of goodwill. No other intangible assets 
were recognised as part of the acquisition. 

We have identified a key audit matter as follows: 

•  The identification of acquired intangibles being goodwill; and

•  The revenue growth assumptions used in the goodwill impairment review at the period end. 

International subsidiaries is included as a principal risk in the Strategic report on page 11. Goodwill 
and  associated  disclosures  on  impairment  reviews  performed  are  included  in  note  16  and  the 
results associated with the acquisitions in the period are shown in note 34.

We have performed the following procedures around this key audit matter:

•  Assessed  the  design  and  implementation  of  relevant  controls  in  respect  of  acquisition 

accounting. 

•  Inspected the Sale and Purchase Agreement and supporting contracts to validate the terms of 
the acquisition has been appropriately treated in line with the requirements of IFRS 3 Business 
Combinations. 

•  Challenged the identification of intangible acquired, being goodwill. 

•  Challenged the growth rates included in the discounted cash flow prepared by management to 

support the carrying value of goodwill recognised at the period end. 

•  Assessed  the  completeness  and  accuracy  of  the  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements  in 

accordance with relevant IFRS’s. 

How the scope of our 
audit responded to 
the key audit matter

Key observations

We  were  satisfied  that  management’s  judgements  in  respect  of  accounting  for  acquisitions  is 
considered reasonable and the accounting and disclosures for the acquisitions made in the period 
and the goodwill impairment review are appropriately stated.

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Mulberr y Group plc

Independent auditor’s report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY 

We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the 
scope of our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work.

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

Group financial statements

Parent company financial statements

Materiality

£850,000 (2018: £850,000)

£722,500 (2018: £756,500)

Basis for 
determining 
materiality

The  basis  for  determining  materiality  has  taken 
into  account  key  drivers  of  the  business  such  as 
revenue, income before tax and net assets. 

The  basis  for  determining  materiality  has  taken 
into  account  the  net  assets  of  the  Company  and 
also the Group materiality set. 

The  determined  materiality  equates  to  0.5%  of 
revenue and 1.0% of net assets. 

The determined materiality equates to 1.6% of the 
parent company’s net assets. 

Rationale for 
the benchmark 
applied

This  approach  has  been  taken  to  consider  a 
balanced  portfolio  of  benchmarks  used  by 
stakeholders in the business. A balanced portfolio 
approach has been used to take into account the 
ongoing expansion in overseas markets. 

The parent company is a holding company, which 
does  not  trade.  It  has  therefore  been  considered 
that a materiality determined on net assets is the 
most appropriate basis for an investment holding 
entity. 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the Committee all audit differences in excess of £34,000 
(2018: £40,000) for the Group, as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative 
grounds.  We  also  report  to  the  Audit  Committee  on  disclosure  matters  that  we  identified  when  assessing  the  overall 
presentation of the financial statements. 

AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT

The scope of the Group audit is as follows; 

•  Full scope audit by the Group audit team for all UK and US registered companies;

•  Full scope audit by a component audit team for all companies and branches registered in Hong Kong, China and 

Taiwan (North Asia component); 

•  Analytical review procedures performed by the Group audit team for all remaining companies, being those in 

Europe, Japan and Korea; and 

•  Audit of the consolidation. 

Component materialities, excluding parent company materiality, were capped at £722,500, giving the range £340,000 to £722,500.

The audit team has visited the components and attended meetings with the component auditor in North Asia and has met 
with the component management team in the US and North Asia. 

The scoping decisions made provide the following coverage of revenue, income before tax and net assets across the Group. 

•  Full scope audit by Group team – 89% revenue, 76% profit before tax* and 76% net assets* (2018: 94% revenue, 

82% profit before tax* and 86% net assets)

•  Full scope audit by component team – 3% revenue, 5% profit before tax* and 2% net assets* (2018: No component 

team was engaged)

•  Analytical review procedures – 8% revenue, 19% profit before tax* and 22% net assets* (2018: 6% revenue, 18% 

profit before tax* and 14% net assets*)

* Percentages are disclosed on an absolute basis to give an appropriate indication of the contribution and size of the component to the Group as a whole. 

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Mulberr y Group plc

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

OTHER INFORMATION

The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information 
included in the annual report, 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.

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information 
and,  in  doing  so,  consider  whether  the  other  information  is  materially  inconsistent  with  the  financial 
statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.

We have 
nothing to 
report in 
respect of 
these matters.

If  we  identify  such  material  inconsistencies  or  apparent  material  misstatements,  we  are  required  to 
determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement 
of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material 
misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

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.

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

REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

OPINIONS ON OTHER MATTERS PRESCRIBED BY THE COMPANIES ACT 2006

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

•  the information given in the strategic report and the Directors’ report for the 53 week financial period ending 
30 March 2019 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 of the parent company and their environment obtained 
in the course of the audit, we have not identified any material misstatements in the strategic report or the Directors’ report.

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and of the parent company and their environment obtained 
in the course of the audit, we have not identified any material misstatements in the strategic report or the Directors’ report.

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Mulberr y Group plc

Independent auditor’s report (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT BY EXCEPTION

Adequacy of explanations received and accounting records

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

•  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.

We have nothing to report 
in respect of these matters.

Directors’ remuneration
Under  the  Companies  Act  2006  we  are  also  required  to  report  if  in  our  opinion  certain 
disclosures of Directors’ remuneration have not been made.

We have nothing to report 
in respect of this matter.

USE OF OUR REPORT

This report is made solely to the 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 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 Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit 
work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Delyth Jones (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Statutory Auditor
Bristol, United Kingdom
19 June 2019

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34

Mulberr y Group plc

Group income statement

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Operating expenses

Other operating income

Operating (loss)/profit
Share of results of associates

Finance income

Finance expense

(Loss)/profit before tax
Tax

(Loss)/profit for the period

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

(Loss)/profit for the period

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share

All activities arise from continuing operations.

Reconciliation to adjusted profit before tax:

(Loss)/profit before tax

Impairment charge related to retail property, plant and equipment

Bad debt and other expenses from House of Fraser administration

Write-back of profit on reacquired stock and set-up costs relating to 
conversion of John Lewis to concession

Launch costs relating to Mulberry Korea

Store closure costs

Adjusted profit before tax – non-GAAP measure

Adjusted basic earnings per share

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

35

Mulberr y Group plc

Note

5

7

5

19

11

12

13

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

166,268

(63,984)

102,284

(107,702)

438

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

169,718

(62,000)

107,718

(101,464)

482

(4,980)

6,736

90

140

(258)

(5,008)

157

114

96

(29)

6,917

(2,011)

(4,851)

4,906

(2,479)

(2,372)

6,391

(1,485)

(4,851)

4,906

15

15

(8.2p)

(8.1p)

8.3p

8.2p

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

(5,008)

795

2,073

1,323

1,821

–

1,004

 0.9p

 0.9p

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

6,917

378

–

–

 –

675

7,970

10.0p

10.0p

7

7

7

7

7

15

15

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Group statement of comprehensive income

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

(Loss)/profit for the period

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Losses on cash flow hedges

Income tax relating to items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the period

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

Total comprehensive (expense)/income for the period

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

(4,851)

4,906

151

(3)

 (30)

(447)

(115)

107

(4,733)

4,451

(2,394)

(2,339)

6,031

(1,580)

(4,733)

4,451

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36

Mulberr y Group plc

Group balance sheet

At 30 March 2019

Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Interests in associates
Deferred tax asset

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Current tax asset
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Current tax liabilities
Borrowings

Net current assets

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Own share reserve
Capital redemption reserve
Cash flow hedge reserve
Foreign exchange reserve
Retained earnings

Equity attributable to holders of the parent
Non-controlling interests

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

Note

16
17
19
23

20
21

21

24

22

13,970
26,171
337
1,102

10,362
21,971
306
1,782

41,580

34,421

39,740
13,688
1,785
12,377

44,647
15,196
–
25,071

67,590

84,914

109,170

119,335

(23,984)
–
(2,709)

(28,814)
(893)
 – 

(26,693)

(29,707)

40,897

55,207

22

(1,770)

(1,385)

(28,463)

(31,092)

80,707

88,243

25

26
26
26
26

3,002
12,072
(1,378)
154
(100)
821
67,555

82,126
(1,419)

3,001
11,961
(1,388)
154
(98)
701
73,165

87,496
747

Total equity

80,707

88,243

The financial statements of Mulberry Group plc (company number 01180514) were approved by the Board of Directors and 
authorised for issue on 19 June 2019.

They were signed on its behalf by:

Thierry Andretta 
Director 

Neil Ritchie
Director

37

Mulberr y Group plc

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Group statement of changes in equity

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Share 

Own 

Capital 

Cash flow 

Foreign 

Share 

premium 

share 

redemption 

hedge 

exchange 

Retained 

capital 

account 

reserve 

reserve 

reserve 

reserve 

earnings 

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

Non-

controlling 

interests 

£’000

Total 

£’000

Total 

equity 

£’000

Balance at 26 March 2017 3,000
–
Profit for the period

Other comprehensive 
expense for the year

Total comprehensive 
(expense)/income for the 
period

Issue of share capital

Charge for employee share-
based payments

Exercise of share options

Own shares

Adjustment arising 
from movement in non-
controlling interests

Dividends paid

–

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

11,961 (1,461)

154

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

73

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5)

–

1,063

69,957 84,669

975

85,644

–

6,391

6,391

(1,485)

4,906

(93)

(267)

–

(360)

(95)

(455)

(93)

(267)

6,391

6,031

(1,580)

4,451

–

–

–

–

1

291

(505)

73

–

–

–

–

(95)

–

1

291

291

(505)

(505)

73

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(95)

1,352

1,257

–

(2,969)

(2,969)

–

(2,969)

Balance at 24 March 2018 3,001

11,961 (1,388)

154

(98)

701

73,165

87,496

747

88,243

Loss for the period

Other comprehensive 
(expense)/income for the 
period

Total comprehensive 
(expense)/income for the 
period

Issue of share capital

Credit for employee share-
based payments

Exercise of share options

Own shares

Adjustment arising 
from movement in non-
controlling interests

Dividends paid

 –

–

 –

1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

111

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

10

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(2,479)

(2,479)

(2,372)

(4,851)

(2)

87

 –

85

 33

118

(2)

87

(2,479)

(2,394)

(2,339)

(4,733)

–

–

–

–

112

(138)

(23)

10

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

33

–

–

112

(138)

(138)

(23)

10

(23)

–

–

33

173

206

(2,970)

(2,970)

–

(2,970)

Balance at 30 March 2019 3,002

12,072 (1,378)

154

(100)

821

67,555

82,126

(1,419) 80,707

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Mulberr y Group plc

Group cash flow statement

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Operating (loss)/profit for the period

Adjustments for:
Depreciation and impairment of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets
Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment
Share-based payments (credit)/charge

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital
Decrease/(increase) in inventories
Decrease/(increase) in receivables
(Decrease)/increase in payables

Cash generated from operations
Income taxes paid
Interest paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Investing activities:
Interest received and gains on foreign exchange contracts
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment
Acquisition of intangible assets
Acquisition of subsidiary 

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities:
Dividends paid
Proceeds on issue of shares
Increase in loans from non-controlling interests
Increase in related party loan
Investment from non-controlling interests
New borrowings 
Settlement of share awards

Net cash used in financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Restated* 
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

(4,980)

6,736

6,999
1,082
395
(138)

3,358
7,714
1,541
(6,682)

5,931
(1,730)
(258)

6,124
1,796
13
291

14,960
(464)
(2,059)
1,571

14,008
(2,553)
(29)

3,943

11,426

140
(9,455)
60
(2,234)
(5,741)

96
(4,689)
53
(1,605)
(1,629

(17,230)

(7,774)

(2,970)
1
1,771
–
173
1,231
(23)

(2,969)
1
–
1,385
2,675
–
(505)

183

587

(13,104)

4,239

25,071
410

21,093
(261)

17
16

30

34

14

22
22

22

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

21

12,377

25,071

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and short term bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. 
The carrying amount of these assets at the end of the reporting period as shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows 
can be reconciled to the related items in the consolidated balance sheet position as shown above.

*  The cash flow in relation to investment from non-controlling interest has been restated to reflect that the nature of the cash flow is in relation to financing 

activities, rather than investing activities where it was previously disclosed.

39

Mulberr y Group plc

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Notes to the Group financial statements 

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Mulberry Group plc is a public company, limited by shares, incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act, 
and is registered in England and Wales. The address of the registered office is given on page 3. The nature of the Group’s 
operations and its principal activities are set out in note 6 and in the Strategic report.

These  financial  statements  are  presented  in  pounds  Sterling  because  that  is  the  currency  of  the  primary  economic 
environment in which the Group operates. Foreign operations are included in accordance with the policies set out in note 3.

2. ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS

In the current period the Group has applied a number of amendments to IFRSs issued by the International Accounting 
Standards Board (IASB) that are mandatorily effective for an accounting period that begins on or after 1 January 2018. 

The Group has applied the first time, IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ and IFRS 9 ‘Financial Instruments’. 
The details of the new accounting standards and the impact to the Group financial statements are set out below:

IFRS 9 – Financial Instruments
IFRS 9 Financial Instruments replaces IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement for periods beginning 
on or after 1 January 2018, bringing together all three aspects of accounting for financial instruments: classification and 
measurement; impairment; and hedge accounting. 

In relation to the impairment of financial assets, IFRS 9 requires an expected credit loss model as opposed to an incurred 
credit loss model under IAS 39. The expected credit loss model requires the Group to account for expected credit losses 
and changes in those expected credit losses at each reporting date to reflect changes in credit risk since initial recognition 
of the financial assets. In other words, it is no longer necessary for a credit event to have occurred before credit losses are 
recognised. 

As  at  25  March  2018,  the  Directors  of  the  Company  reviewed  and  assessed  the  Group’s  existing  trade  receivables  for 
impairment using reasonable and supportable information that is available without undue cost or effort in accordance with 
the requirements of IFRS 9 to determine the credit risk of the respective items at the date they were initially recognised. 
There is no material change to the amount of the provision after undertaking of this exercise.

IFRS 15 – Revenue from Contracts with Customers
IFRS 15 establishes a comprehensive framework for determining whether, how much and when revenue is recognised, and 
replaces IAS 18: revenue, and IFRIC 18: transfers of assets from customers.

The principles of IFRS 15 have been applied using the five step model:

Identify the contract with a customer
Identify the performance obligations in the contract

1. 
2. 
3.  Determine the transaction price
4.  Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract
5.  Recognise revenue when or as the entity satisfies its performance obligations.

There has been no material impact on the Group financial statements from the implementation of these new standards. 

Amendments to IAS 7: Disclosure Initiative
The Group has adopted the amendments to IAS 7 for the first time in the current period. The amendments require an entity 
to  provide  disclosures  that  enable  users  of  financial  statements  to  evaluate  changes  in  liabilities  arising  from  financing 
activities, including both cash and non-cash changes. The Group’s liabilities arising from financing activities consist of loans 
from related parties (note 33). A reconciliation between the opening and closing balances of these items is provided in note 
33. Consistent with the transition provisions of the amendments, the Group has not disclosed comparative information for 
the prior period. Apart from the additional disclosure in note 33, the application of these amendments has had no impact 
on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

2. ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS (CONTINUED)

Amendments to IAS 12: Disclosure Initiative
The Group has adopted the amendments to IAS 12 for the first time in the current period. The amendments clarify how 
an  entity  should  evaluate  whether  there  will  be  sufficient  future  taxable  profits  against  which  it  can  utilise  a  deductible 
temporary  difference.  The  application  of  these  amendments  has  had  no  impact  on  the  Group’s  consolidated  financial 
statements  as  the  Group  already  assesses  the  sufficiency  of  future  taxable  profits  in  a  way  that  is  consistent  with  these 
amendments.

At the date of approval of these financial statements, the Group has not applied the following new and revised IFRSs that 
have been issued but are not yet effective:

•  IFRS 16: Leases;

•  IFRS 10 and IFRS 28 (amendments): Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint 

Venture; and

•  IFRIC 23: Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments.

The  Directors  do  not  expect  the  adoption  of  the  Standards  listed  above  will  have  a  material  impact  on  the  financial 
statements of the Group in future periods, except as noted below:

Classification and measurement
With  respect  to  the  classification  of  and  measurement  of  financial  assets,  the  number  of  categories  of  financial  assets 
under IFRS 9 has been reduced compared to IAS 39. Under IFRS 9 the classification of financial assets is based on both the 
business model within which the asset is held and the contractual cash flows of the asset.

There  will  be  no  impact  on  the  financial  assets  held  by  the  Group  (trade  receivables)  or  the  financial  liabilities  (trade 
payables).

IFRS 16 Leases
IFRS  16  introduces  a  comprehensive  model  for  the  identification  of  lease  arrangements  and  accounting  treatments  for 
both  lessors  and  lessees.  IFRS  16  will  supersede  the  current  lease  guidance  including  IAS  17  Leases  and  the  related 
interpretations  when  it  becomes  effective  for  accounting  periods  beginning  on  or  after  1  January  2019.  The  Group  will 
adopt IFRS 16 for the period ending 28 March 2020 on a modified retrospective approach whereby assets equal liabilities 
at the date of transition.

IFRS 16 distinguishes between leases and service contracts on the basis of whether an identified asset is controlled by a 
customer. Distinctions of operating leases (off balance sheet) and finance leases (on balance sheet) are removed for lessee 
accounting, and are replaced by a model where a right-to-use asset and a corresponding liability have to be recognised for 
all leases by lessees (i.e. all on balance sheet except for short term leases and leases of low value assets). Lease incentives 
relating  to  rent  free  periods  will  be  recognised  as  part  of  the  measurement  of  right  of  use  assets  and  lease  liabilities, 
whereas  under  IAS  17  these  resulted  in  the  recognition  of  a  lease  liability  incentive,  amortised  as  a  reduction  of  rental 
expenses on a straight-line basis.

The right-to-use asset is initially measured at cost and subsequently measured at cost (subject to certain exceptions) less 
accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, adjusted for any remeasurement of the lease liability. The lease liability is 
initially measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at that date. Subsequently, the lease liability 
is adjusted for interest and lease payments, as well as the impact of lease modifications, amongst others. Furthermore, the 
classification of cash flows will also be affected because operating lease payments under IAS 17 are presented as operating 
cash flows; whereas under the IFRS 16 model, the lease payments will be split into a principal and an interest portion which 
will be presented as financing and operating cash flows respectively. Furthermore, extensive disclosures are required by 
IFRS 16.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

2. ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS (CONTINUED)

As at 30 March 2019, the Group had non-cancellable operating lease commitments of £127 million. IAS 17 does not require 
the  recognition  of  any  right-to-use  asset  or  liability  for  future  payments  for  these  leases;  instead,  certain  information  is 
disclosed as operating lease commitments in note 28. A preliminary assessment indicates that on the application of IFRS 
16 these arrangements will meet the definition of a lease under IFRS 16 and hence the Group will recognise a right-to-use 
asset and corresponding lease liability of between £118 million and £123 million in respect of all these leases unless they 
qualify for low value or short term leases. The adoption of the standard is anticipated to result in a non-cash impact on 
the income statement of between £1 million and £2 million due to a decrease of between £22 million and £25 million in 
rent expenses and an increase of between £23 million and £24 million in interest and amortisation expense. Lease liability 
incentives of £3 million previously recognised in respect of operating leases will be derecognised and the amount factored 
into the measurement of right of use assets and lease liabilities.

Under IAS 17, all lease payments on operating leases are presented as part of cash flows from operating activities. The 
impact of the changes under IFRS16 would be to increase the cash generated by operating activities by between £22 million 
and £24 million and to increase net cash used in financing activities by between £23 million and £24 million.

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs adopted by the European Union.

For the period ended 30 March 2019, the financial period runs for the 53 weeks to 30 March 2019 (2018: 52 weeks ended 
24 March 2018).

The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost basis except for financial instruments that are measured 
at fair values at the end of each reporting period as explained in the accounting policies below. The principal accounting 
policies adopted are set out below.

Going concern
The Directors have, at the time of approving the financial statements, a reasonable expectation that the Company and the 
Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. As a result, they continue 
to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. Further detail is contained in the 
Directors’ report.

Basis of consolidation
The Group financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company 
(its subsidiaries) made up to the 52 or 53 weeks ending closest to 31 March each year. Control is achieved when the Company:

•  has power over the investee;

•  is exposed, or has rights, to variable return from its involvement with the investee; and

•  has the ability to use its power to affect its returns.

The Company reassesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes 
to one or more of the three elements of control listed above.

When  the  Company  has  less  than  a  majority  of  the  voting  rights  of  an  investee,  it  considers  that  it  has  power  over  the 
investee when the voting rights are sufficient to give it the practical ability to direct the relevant activities of the investee 
unilaterally. The Company considers all relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether or not the Company’s voting 
rights in an investee are sufficient to give it power including:

•  the size of the Company’s holding of voting rights relative to the size and dispersion of holdings of the other vote 

holders;

•  potential voting rights held by the Company, other vote holders or other parties;

•  rights arising from other contractual arrangements; and

•  any additional facts and circumstances that indicate that the Company has, or does not have, the current ability 
to direct the relevant activities at the time that decisions need to be made, including voting patterns at previous 
shareholder meetings.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Company obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Company 
loses control of the subsidiary. Specifically, the results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the period are included 
in the consolidated income statement from the date the Company gains control until the date when the Company ceases 
to control the subsidiary.

Profit or loss and each component of other comprehensive income are attributed to the owners of the Company and to the 
non-controlling interests. Total comprehensive income of the subsidiaries is attributed to the owners of the Company and 
to the non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring the accounting policies used 
into line with those used by the Group.

All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group’s equity therein. Those interests of non-
controlling shareholders that are present ownership interests entitling their holders to a proportionate share of net assets 
upon  liquidation  may  initially  be  measured  at  fair  value  or  at  the  non-controlling  interests’  proportionate  share  of  the 
fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. The choice of measurement is made on an acquisition-by-acquisition 
basis. Other non-controlling interests are initially measured at fair value. Subsequent to acquisition, the carrying amount of 
non-controlling interests is the amount of those interests at initial recognition plus the non-controlling interests’ share of 
subsequent changes in equity.

Business combinations
Acquisitions of subsidiaries and businesses are accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration transferred 
in a business combination is measured at fair value, which is calculated as the sum of the acquisition date fair value of assets 
transferred by the Group, liabilities incurred by the Group to the former owners of the acquiree and the equity interest 
issued by the Group. Acquisition related costs are recognised in profit or loss as incurred.

At the acquisition date, the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed are recognised at their fair value at the 
acquisition date.

Investments in associates
An  associate  is  an  entity  over  which  the  Group  is  in  a  position  to  exercise  significant  influence,  but  not  control  or  joint 
control, through the participation in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee. Significant influence is 
the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee but is not control or joint control 
over these policies. The results and assets and liabilities of associates are incorporated in these financial statements using 
the equity method of accounting. Investments in associates are carried in the balance sheet at cost as adjusted by post-
acquisition changes in the Group’s share of the net assets of the associate, less any impairment in the value of individual 
investments. Losses of the associates in excess of the Group’s interest in those associates are recognised only to the extent 
that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of the associate.

Any  excess  of  the  cost  of  acquisition  over  the  Group’s  share  of  the  net  fair  values  of  the  identifiable  net  assets  of  the 
associate at the date of acquisition is recognised as goodwill. Any deficiency of the cost of acquisition below the Group’s 
share of the fair values of the identifiable net assets of the associate at the date of acquisition (i.e. discount on acquisition) 
is credited in profit or loss in the period of acquisition.

Where a Group entity transacts with an associate of the Group, profits and losses are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s 
interest in the relevant associate.

Intangible assets
Intangible  assets  that  are  acquired  by  the  Group  are  stated  at  cost  less  accumulated  amortisation  and  any  recognised 
impairment loss. Amortisation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of 
the asset. Assets in the course of construction are carried at cost less any recognised impairment loss.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Lease costs comprise the lease premium and related costs associated with the Group’s Paris store. The costs relating to 
the store at 275 Rue Saint-Honoré are not being amortised but are subject to annual impairment review. The intangible is 
considered to have an indefinite economic life because it is associated with the location of the store. The value is supported 
by an annual external valuation.

Included in software is computer software and website development costs which are amortised over the estimated useful 
life  of  the  asset  (typically  four  to  five  years).  Computer  software  which  is  considered  integral  to  an  item  of  hardware  is 
included as property, plant and equipment.

Goodwill
Acquired goodwill is not amortised, and is subject to impairment review at each reporting date. Goodwill acquired through 
business combinations has been allocated to separate CGU’s based on the acquisition date on which the goodwill arose, 
as they are monitored at this level by the Board.

Property, plant and equipment
Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost or deemed cost less accumulated depreciation and any recognised 
impairment loss. Assets in the course of construction are carried at cost less any recognised impairment loss. Cost includes 
professional fees incurred directly in relation to construction of assets.

Depreciation is charged to write off the cost or valuation of assets less their residual value over their estimated useful lives, 
using the straight-line method, on the following bases:

Freehold buildings 
Short leasehold land and buildings 
Fixtures, fittings and equipment 
Plant and equipment 
Motor vehicles 

4% to 5%
Over the term of the lease
10% to 50%
14% to 25%
25%

Freehold land and assets under the course of construction are not depreciated. Depreciation on assets commences when 
the assets are ready for intended use.

The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an asset is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds 
and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in income.

Impairment of tangible and intangible assets
The  Group  reviews  the  carrying  amounts  of  its  tangible  and  intangible  assets  annually  (or  more  frequently  if  there  are 
indications that assets might be impaired), to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an 
impairment loss. For store fit-out costs, these reviews are undertaken after the store has been trading for two years. Fit-out 
costs for flagship stores are considered after taking into consideration their contribution to the marketing of the Mulberry 
brand.

If  any  such  indication  exists,  the  recoverable  amount  of  the  asset  is  estimated  in  order  to  determine  the  extent  of  the 
impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group 
estimates  the  recoverable  amount  of  the  cash-generating  unit  to  which  the  asset  belongs.  An  intangible  asset  with  an 
indefinite useful life is tested for impairment annually and whenever there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.

The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments 
of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been 
adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying 
amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an 
expense immediately. Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating 
unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not 
exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (cash-
generating unit) in prior periods. 

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost comprises materials, direct labour costs and those 
overheads incurred in bringing the inventories to their current location and condition. Cost is calculated using the standard 
cost method. Net realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs to 
be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

Taxation
The tax expense/(credit) represents the sum of the tax currently payable/(receivable) and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable/(receivable) is based on taxable profit/(loss) for the period. Taxable profit/(loss) differs from net 
profit/(loss)  as  reported  in  the  income  statement  because  it  excludes  items  of  income  or  expense  that  are  taxable  or 
deductible  in  other  periods  and  it  further  excludes  items  that  are  never  taxable  or  deductible.  The  Group’s  liability  for 
current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred  tax  is  the  tax  expected  to  be  payable  or  recoverable  on  differences  between  the  carrying  amounts  of  assets 
and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and 
is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable 
temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be 
available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the 
temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business 
combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, 
and interests in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is 
probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no 
longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred  tax  is  calculated  at  the  tax  rates  that  are  expected  to  apply  in  the  period  when  the  liability  is  settled  or  the 
asset is realised based on tax laws and rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. 
Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited in other 
comprehensive income in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in Other Comprehensive Income.

The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the manner 
in which the Group expects at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and 
liabilities.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to 
settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Leases
Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of 
ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to income on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease. 
Contingent  lease  rentals  arising  under  operating  leases  are  recognised  as  an  expense  in  the  period  in  which  they  are 
incurred. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to enter into an operating lease are also spread on a straight-line 
basis over the lease term.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Provisions
A provision is recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, and 
where it is probable that an outflow will be required to settle the obligation. Provisions are measured at the Directors’ best 
estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation at the balance sheet date and are discounted to present value 
where the effect is material.

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, 
a receivable is recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the 
receivable can be measured reliably.

Present obligations arising under onerous contracts are recognised and measured as provisions. An onerous contract is 
considered to exist where the Group has a contract under which the unavoidable costs of meeting the obligations under 
the contract exceed the economic benefits expected to be received under it.

Share-based payments
The Group issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain employees and a non-employee. Equity-settled share-
based payments are measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non market-based vesting conditions) at the date of 
grant. The fair value determined at the grant date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-
line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of the proportion of shares that will eventually vest and 
adjusted for the effect of non market-based vesting conditions.

The impact of the revision of the original estimates, if any, is recognised in profit or loss such that the cumulative expense 
reflects the revised estimate, with a corresponding adjustment to equity reserves.

Fair value is measured by use of the Black–Scholes model. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based 
on  management’s  best  estimate,  for  the  effects  of  non-transferability,  performance  conditions,  exercise  restrictions  and 
behavioural considerations.

Retirement benefit costs
The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Payments to employees’ personal pension plans are charged 
as an expense as they fall due. Differences between contributions payable in the period and contributions actually paid are 
shown as accruals in the balance sheet.

Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods provided 
in the normal course of business, net of discounts, VAT and other sales-related taxes and intra-group transactions. Sales of 
goods are recognised at the point of sale, or for the wholesale and online businesses, when goods are despatched. Sales of 
gift vouchers are recognised on presentation of the voucher for payment of goods. There are no contracts identified which 
would change the current accounting policy for revenue recognition under IFRS 15. 

Interest  income  is  accrued  on  a  time  basis  by  reference  to  the  principal  outstanding  and  at  the  effective  interest  rate 
applicable. This is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial 
asset to that asset’s net carrying amount.

Royalty  income  is  recognised  on  an  accruals  basis  in  accordance  with  the  substance  of  the  relevant  agreement  and  is 
disclosed as other operating income.

Operating profit
Operating profit is stated before the share of results of associates, finance income and finance expense.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Alternative performance measures
The main alternative performance measure used by the Group is adjusted profit before tax. 

Adjusted  profit  before  tax  is  stated  after  adjusting  statutory  profit  before  tax  for  fixed  asset  impairment,  the  cost  of 
acquisitions, including the write-back of profit previously earned on sale of inventories that are subsequently reacquired 
and the impact of events which are irregular in nature or beyond the control of the Board and significant debt or other asset 
write-off. 

Foreign currencies
The  individual  financial  statements  of  each  Group  company  are  presented  in  the  currency  of  the  primary  economic 
environment in which it operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the Group financial statements, the results 
and financial position of each Group company are expressed in pounds Sterling, which is the functional currency of the 
Company and the presentation currency for the Group financial statements.

In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity’s functional 
currency (foreign currencies) are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions.

At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at 
the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign 
currencies are translated at the rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that 
are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the retranslation of monetary items, are included 
in profit or loss for the period exchange differences and are included in the same line item as other movements in monetary 
balances. Exchange differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items carried at fair value are included in profit 
or loss for the period except for differences arising on the retranslation of non-monetary items in respect of which gains and 
losses are recognised directly in Other Comprehensive Income. For such non-monetary items, any exchange component of 
that gain or loss is also recognised directly in Other Comprehensive Income. 

For the purposes of presenting the Group financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations 
are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the 
average exchange rates for the period, unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly during that period, in which case the 
exchange rates at the date of the transactions are used. Exchange differences arising, if any, are classified as equity and 
transferred to the Group’s foreign exchange reserve. Such translation differences are recognised as income or as expenses 
in the period in which the operation is disposed of.

Financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Group’s balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the 
contractual provisions of the instrument.

Derivative financial instruments and hedge accounting
Derivative financial instruments (“derivatives”) are used to manage risks arising from changes in foreign currency exchange 
rates relating to the purchase of overseas sourced raw materials and finished products. The Group does not enter into 
derivatives for speculative purposes. Foreign currency derivatives are stated at their fair value, being the estimated amount 
that the Group would receive or pay to terminate them at the balance sheet date based on prevailing foreign currency 
rates.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Foreign currency derivatives
Changes  in  the  fair  value  of  foreign  currency  derivatives  which  are  designated  and  effective  as  hedges  of  future  cash 
flows are recognised in equity in the cash flow hedge reserve, and subsequently transferred to the carrying amount of the 
hedged item or the income statement. Realised gains or losses on cash flow hedges are therefore recognised in the income 
statement in the same period as the hedged item. Hedge accounting is discontinued when the hedging instrument expires 
or is sold, terminated or exercised, or no longer qualifies for hedge accounting. At that time, any cumulative gain or loss 
on the hedging instrument previously recognised in equity is retained in equity until the hedged transaction occurs. If the 
hedged transaction is no longer expected to occur, the net cumulative gain or loss recognised in equity is then transferred 
to the income statement.

Derivatives  are  initially  recognised  at  fair  value  at  the  date  a  derivative  contract  is  entered  into  and  are  subsequently 
remeasured to their fair value at each balance sheet date. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately 
unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing of the recognition in 
profit  or  loss  depends  on  the  nature  of  the  hedge  relationship.  The  Group  designates  derivatives  as  hedges  of  highly 
probable forecast transactions.

Changes in the fair value of foreign currency derivatives which are ineffective or do not meet the criteria for hedge accounting 
in IAS 39 are recognised in the income statement.

Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables do not carry any interest. The Group uses the simplified approach to impairment and trade receivables 
are stated after a recognising a lifetime expected loss allowance.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and demand deposits, and other short term highly liquid investments 
that are readily convertible to a known amount of cash and are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

Derecognition of financial assets
The Group derecognises financial assets when the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire, or when it 
transfers the financial asset and substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership of the asset to another entity.

Financial liabilities and equity
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered 
into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all of 
its liabilities.

Equity instruments issued by the Group are recognised at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Bank borrowings
Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the fair value of the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. 
Finance charges, including premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs, are accounted for on an 
accruals basis against profit or loss using the effective interest rate method and are added to the carrying amount of the 
instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise.

Trade payables
Trade payables are not interest-bearing and are stated at their amortised cost.

Derecognition of financial liabilities
The Group derecognises financial liabilities when, and only when, the Group’s obligations are discharged, cancelled or they 
expire.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

4. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY

In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, the Directors are required to make judgements (other than those 
involving  estimations)  that  have  a  significant  impact  on  the  amounts  recognised  and  to  make  assumptions  about  the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated 
assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may 
differ from these estimates.

The  estimates  and  underlying  assumptions  are  reviewed  on  an  ongoing  basis.  Revisions  to  accounting  estimates  are 
recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the 
revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Critical judgements in applying the Group’s accounting policies
The following are the critical judgements, apart from those involving estimations (which are dealt with separately below), 
that the Directors have made in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies and that have the most significant 
effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements. 

Alternative performance measures
The  Annual  Report  and  other  communication  with  investors  contains  certain  financial  performance  measures  which  are 
not defined by IFRS, but which are used to assess the financial and operational performance of the Group. Management 
believes that such non-IFRS financial performance measures provide useful information regarding the Group’s performance, 
although such measures may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

The main alternative performance measure used by the Group is adjusted profit before tax. Adjusted profit before tax is 
stated after adjusting statutory profit before tax for fixed asset impairment, the cost of acquisitions, including the write-
back of profit previously earned on sale of inventories that are subsequently reacquired and the impact of events which are 
irregular in nature or beyond the control of the Board and significant debt or other asset write-off.

The  Directors  believe  that  the  reporting  of  adjusted  profit  before  tax  gives  better  visibility  and  understanding  of  the 
underlying performance of the business. The Directors also report adjusted earnings per share on the same basis.

Control over Mulberry Japan Co. Limited
Note 39 describes that Mulberry Japan Co. Limited is a subsidiary of the Group which has a 50% ownership interest and 
50% of the voting rights.

Based on the requirements of IFRS 10, the Directors of the Company are satisfied that the Group has control over Mulberry 
Japan Co. Limited and has therefore treated the entity as a subsidiary. Control is demonstrated both by the terms of the 
shareholders agreement and the relationship the Group has as the provider of distribution rights to Mulberry Japan Co. 
Limited,  such  that  it  has  power  over  the  entity,  there  is  exposure  to  variable  returns  and  there  is  a  link  between  power  
and returns.

Key sources of estimation uncertainty
The key assumptions concerning the future, and other key sources of estimation uncertainty at the balance sheet date, that 
may have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial period, are discussed below.

Impairment of property, plant and equipment and goodwill
Property, plant and equipment are reviewed for impairment if there are indicators of impairment indicating that the carrying 
amount may not be recoverable. Goodwill is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis. 

When a review for impairment is conducted, the recoverable amount is determined based on the higher of value in use and 
fair value less costs to sell. The value in use method requires the Directors to determine appropriate assumptions (which 
are sources of estimation uncertainty) in relation to:

•  the cash flow projections over the budgeted and forecast period of two years and the long term growth rate to 

be applied beyond this period and

•  the risk-adjusted pre-tax discount rate used to discount the assumed cash flows to present value.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

4. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY 
(CONTINUED)

The Directors will assess the results of these valuation methods alongside their judgment of the future prospects in relation 
to that asset in order to determine whether to impair its carrying value.

A number of variables are involved in this assessment including current and future market conditions, cost of capital used in 
discounted cashflows, future sales growth rate assumptions and underlying and price cost inflation factors. 

A future change to the free cash flow assumption for any cash-generating unit (CGU) could give rise to a significant impairment 
of property, plant and equipment and goodwill. See notes 16 and 17 for further details on the Group’s assumptions and 
associated sensitivities.

Share based payments – likelihood of vesting criteria for Performance Share Plans
The  Directors  review  the  vesting  criteria  of  performance  share  plans  and  assess  a  range  of  potential  outcomes.  A  mid 
point of these outcomes will typically be taken in assessing the likelihood that the vesting criteria will be met. The primary 
performance  targets  for  the  vesting  criteria  are  revenue  and  profit  targets.  The  Remuneration  Committee  may  make  a 
discretionary award if the vesting criteria are not fully met.

5. TOTAL REVENUE

Revenue

Sale of goods

Other operating income

Royalty income

Other income

Finance income

Interest income on cash balances

Other interest income

Gains on foreign exchange forward contracts

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

166,268

169,718

187

251

438

58

70

12

201

281

482

38

47

11

Total revenue

166,846

170,296

The Group has assessed that the disaggregation of revenue by operating segments is appropriate in meeting this disclosure 
requirement as this is the information regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker in order to evaluate the 
financial performance of the Group.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

6. BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS

IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that 
are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision maker, defined as the Chief Executive, to allocate resources to the 
segments and to assess their performance.

(a) Business segments
For management purposes, the Group is currently organised into two operating divisions – the Retail business and the 
Design business. These divisions are the basis upon which the Group reports its primary segment information. The principal 
activities are as follows:

•  Retail – sale of Mulberry branded fashion accessories, clothing and footwear through a number of shops and 

department store concessions.

•  Design – brand management, marketing, product design, manufacture, sourcing and wholesale distribution for 

the Mulberry brand.

Inter-segment sales for both periods are charged at market prices in line with third party wholesale customers.

Segment information about these businesses is presented below:

Design 
53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Retail 
53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Eliminations 
53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Group  
53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

30,691

65,233

135,577

–

(65,233)

166,268

–

95,924

135,577

(65,233)

166,268

6,791

(10,551)

–

(3,760)

(1,220)

90

(118)

(5,008)

Revenue
External sales (1)

Inter-segment sales

Total revenue

Segment result

Central administration costs

Share of results of associate

Net finance expense

Loss before tax

Included within the Retail segment depreciation and amortisation is £795,000 (2018: £378,000) relating to impairment.

(1) Included within Retail external sales is £767,000 (2018: £623,000) of wholesale sales which have been invoiced by Retail companies within the Group.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

6. BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS (CONTINUED)

Design 
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Retail 
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Eliminations 
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018
£’000

Group  
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

37,107

64,460

132,611

–

169,718

– 

(64,460)

–

101,567

132,611

(64,460)

169,718

7,397

381

–

7,778

 (1,042)

114

67

6,917

Revenue
External sales (1)

Inter-segment sales

Total revenue

Segment result

Central administration costs

Share of results of associate

Net finance income

Profit before tax

Design 
53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Retail 
53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Total 
53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Design 
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Retail 
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Total 
52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Other information

Additions to non-current 
assets

Depreciation, amortisation 
and impairment

2,695

8,969

11,664

2,144

2,949

5,093

2,040

5,737

7,777

2,368

4,655

7,023

In addition, £243,000 (2018: £354,000) of capital expenditure and £304,000 (2018: £897,000) of depreciation was incurred by 
the Parent Company which is not included in the segments above.

(1) Included within Retail external sales is £767,000 (2018: £623,000) of wholesale sales which have been invoiced by Retail companies within the Group.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

6. BUSINESS AND GEOGRAPHICAL SEGMENTS (CONTINUED)

Design 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Retail 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Total  
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Design 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Retail 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Total 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Balance sheet

Segment assets

31,838

69,447

101,285

50,166

62,483

112,649

Interests in associates

Unallocated corporate 
assets

Consolidated assets

337

7,548

109,170

306

6,380

119,335

Segment liabilities

8,519

19,366

27,885

15,116

13,887

29,003

Unallocated corporate 
liabilities

Consolidated liabilities

578

28,463

2,089

31,092

For the purposes of monitoring the segment performance and allocating resources between segments the Group’s Chief 
Executive monitors the tangible, intangible and financial assets attributable to each segment. All assets are allocated to 
reportable  segments  with  the  exception  of  investments  in  associates,  other  financial  assets  (except  for  trade  and  other 
receivables) and tax assets.

(b) Geographical markets

Sales revenue by
geographical market(1)

Non-current assets
by geographical market

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000 

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

114,455

121,650

22,751

18,606

10,039

417

25,170

11,500

10,840

558

166,268

169,718

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

24,974

10,035

5,671

900

–

41,580

21,398

10,654

1,078

1,291

–

34,421

UK

Rest of Europe

Asia

North America

Rest of world

Total revenue

(1) Revenue by geographical market includes wholesale sales based on the location of the customer.

(c) Product categories
Leather accessories account for over 90% of the Group’s revenues, of which bags represent over 70% of revenues. Other 
important product categories include small leather goods, shoes, soft accessories and women’s ready-to-wear. Net asset 
information is not allocated by product category.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

7. ADJUSTED PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Operating expenses for the period include the following:

•  An impairment charge of £795,000 (2018: £378,000) relating to the retail assets of two international stores. These 

stores had not been trading in line with their expected potential (see note 17).

•  Bad debt and other expenses from House of Fraser administration of £2,073,000 (2018: £nil)

•  Write-back of profit on reacquired stock and set-up costs relating to conversion of John Lewis to concession of 

£1,323,000 (2018: £nil)

•  Launch costs relating to Mulberry Korea of £1,821,000 (2018: £nil)

•  Closure costs of £nil (2018: £675,000) relating to two international stores which had not been trading in line with 

expectations.

8. (LOSS)/PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD

(Loss)/profit for the period has been arrived at after charging(crediting):

Net foreign exchange loss

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (see note 17)

Amortisation of intangible assets (see note 16)

Impairment of property, plant and equipment (see note 17)

Write-downs of inventories recognised as an expense 

Cost of inventories recognised as an expense

Staff costs (see note 10)

Store closure costs

Bad debt and other expenses from House of Fraser administration

Write-back of profit on reacquired stock and set up costs relating to conversion of John 
Lewis to concession

Licence income

Launch costs relating to Mulberry Korea 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

91

6,204

1,081

795

458

64,260

43,978

–

2,073

1,323

(471)

1,821

395

355

5,746

1,796

378

259

63,214

43,298

675

–

–

(443)

–

13

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

9. AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION

The analysis of auditor’s remuneration is as follows:

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and their associates for the audit of the

Company’s subsidiaries

Total audit fees

Other taxation advisory services

Other services

Total non-audit fees

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

75

200

275

70

107

177

£’000

£’000

12

–

12

16

7

23

Deloitte LLP has not performed tax compliance services since 26 March 2017 for Mulberry Group plc in line with the ethical 
standard restrictions on use of auditors for non-audit services, but has provided tax compliance services to some non-UK 
subsidiary companies.

Tax services in both periods include advice in relation to international tax compliance and Company share schemes.

10. STAFF COSTS

The average monthly number of employees (including Executive Directors and those on a part-time basis) was:

Production

Sales and distribution

Administration

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Number

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Number

548

662

260

641

548

255

1,470

1,444

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

10. STAFF COSTS (CONTINUED)

Their aggregate remuneration comprised:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other pension costs (see note 31)

Share-based payments (see note 30)

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

38,461

4,451

1,204

(138)

36,993

4,517

899

889

43,978

43,298

Details of Directors’ remuneration and interests are provided in the audited section of the Directors’ remuneration report 
and should be regarded as part of these financial statements.

11. FINANCE INCOME

Gains on foreign exchange forward contracts

Other interest income

Interest income on cash balances

12. FINANCE EXPENSE

Interest on bank overdraft

Interest arising on adjustment form the hedged item in a designated fair value hedge 
accounting relationship

Other interest expense

Interest paid to related parties

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

12

70

58

140

11

47

38

96

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

77

25

45

111

258

3

26

–

–

29

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

13. TAX

Current tax

Corporation tax

Current tax on income

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

Deferred tax (note 23)

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

738

(1,575)

130

550

2,811

(518)

(5)

(277)

(157)

2,011

The charge for the period can be reconciled to the profit per the Group income statement as follows:

(Loss)/profit before tax

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 19% (2018: 19%)

Tax effect of share of results of associate

Tax effect of expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable profit

Tax effect of differences in overseas tax base

Change in unrecognised deferred tax assets 

Effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions 

Effect of differences between deferred tax and current tax rates

Adjustments in respect of prior periods

Tax (credit)/expense for the period

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

(5,008)

(952)

(9)

575

(6)

1,087

44

129

(1,025)

6,917

1,314

(22)

921

(206)

515

19

17

(547)

(157)

2,011

Current tax of £31,000 has been recognised directly in Other Comprehensive Income in relation to foreign currency 
movements (2018: £85,000) and £1,000 credit (2018: £22,000 charge) in relation to losses on a hedge of a net investment 
(see note 26).

The Finance Act 2016 which was enacted on 15 September 2016 reduced the main rate of corporation tax from 20% to 
19% with effect from 1 April 2017 and from 19% to 17% with effect from 1 April 2020. Accordingly, UK deferred tax has been 
provided and recognised at the rates applicable to the periods in which temporary differences are expected to occur. The 
Directors are not aware of any other factors that will materially affect the future tax charge.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

13. TAX (CONTINUED)

Deferred tax assets of £1,102,000 (2018: £1,782,000) have been recognised in respect of accelerated tax depreciation and 
short term temporary differences, as set out in note 23. 

Deferred tax assets are recognised for tax losses carried forward to the extent that the realisation of the related benefit 
through the future taxable profits is probable. In 2019 the Group recognised deferred tax assets of £nil (2018: £192,000) 
in respect of losses that are expected to be set off against future taxable income. In 2019 the Group did not recognise 
deferred tax assets of £879,000 (2018: £457,000) in respect of current period losses of £4,626,000 (2018: £2,405,000) that can 
be set off against future taxable income. Total cumulative losses on which no deferred tax asset has been recognised is 
£28.5 million (2018: £24.1 million). 

The change in unrecognised deferred tax assets relates to current period overseas losses arising in the period which have 
not been recognised as deferred tax assets as it is not considered probable that sufficient future taxable profits will be 
available in each overseas entity against which these assets can be utilised. 

The adjustments in respect of prior period affecting current tax have arisen on finalisation of corporation tax computations 
for the three financial periods ended 24 March 2018 when compared with the estimated tax provision previously calculated 
and relate primarily to treatment of unrealised foreign currency gains or losses, as well as the treatment of share option 
charges. The adjustments in respect of unrealised foreign currency gains and losses is not expected to recur. Deferred tax 
prior period adjustments are derived from the finalisation of capital allowances, the tax treatment of provisions and the 
recognition of overseas tax losses.

The tax effect of expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable profits relates mainly to non-qualifying deprecation, 
impairments and share based payments. 

The prior period comparatives have been restated to provide additional disclosures in respect of the tax effect of associates’ 
results, differences in overseas subsidiary tax rates and deferred tax assets not recognised and to reflect the movement in 
prior period overseas tax losses not recognised as a prior period adjustment. 

14. DIVIDENDS

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Dividend for the period ended 24 March 2018 of 5p (2017: 5p) per share paid on 
23 November 2018

2,970

2,969

Proposed dividend for the period ended 30 March 2019 of 5p per share (2018: 5p)

2,970

2,969

This proposed dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and has not been included 
as a liability in these financial statements.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

15. EARNINGS PER SHARE (“EPS”)

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share

Adjusted basic earnings per share

Adjusted diluted earnings per share

Earnings per share is calculated based on the following data:

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
pence

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
pence

(8.2)

(8.1)

0.9

0.9

8.3

8.2

10.0

10.0

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

(Loss)/profit for the period for basic and diluted earnings per share

(4,851)

4,906

Adjusting items:

Impairment relating to retail assets

Bad debt and other expenses from House of Fraser administration*

Write-back of profit on reacquired stock and set-up costs relating to conversion of John 
Lewis to concession*

Korea launch costs 

Loss on disposal of retail stores

795

1,679

1,072

1,821

–

378

–

–

–

675

Adjusted profit for the period for basic and diluted earnings per share

516

5,959

* These items are included net of tax.

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of basic EPS

Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares : share options 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of diluted EPS

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Million

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Million

59.4

0.3

59.7

59.4

0.2

59.6

The weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period excludes those held by the Mulberry Group plc 
Employee Share Trust. Please refer to note 26.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

16. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Cost

At 26 March 2017

Additions

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 24 March 2018

Additions

Acquisition of subsidiaries (note 34)

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 30 March 2019

Amortisation

At 26 March 2017

Charge for the period

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 24 March 2018

Charge for the period

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 30 March 2019

Carrying amount

At 30 March 2019

At 24 March 2018

At 25 March 2017

Goodwill 
£’000

Software 
£’000

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,629

–

(91)

11,896

1,263

(8)

–

13,151

2,235

–

(13)

(1)

Lease 
costs 
£’000

8,001

–

–

70

8,071

–

–

–

(70)

Total 
£’000

19,897

1,263

(8)

70

21,222

2,235

2,629

(13)

(162)

2,538

15,372

8,001

25,911

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,438

–

–

9,064

1,796

–

–

10,860

1,081

–

–

11,941

3,431

2,291

2,832

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

9,064

1,796

–

–

10,860

1,081

–

–

11,941

8,001

13,970

8,071

10,362

8,001

10,833

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

16. INTANGIBLE ASSETS (CONTINUED)

Goodwill
Goodwill acquired during the period arose on the acquisition of Mulberry (Korea) Co., Ltd (see note 34). Goodwill represents 
the opportunity to grow by utilising an established distribution network in Korea. The recoverable amount of the goodwill 
is determined based on a value in use calculation which uses cash flow projections based on financial projections approved 
by the Directors covering a two-year period, and using a discount rate of 2% per annum. Acquired goodwill is regarded 
as having an indefinite life and under IFRS 3 is not subject to amortisation, but is subject to annual tests for impairment. 

Key assumptions used in value in use calculations
Existing goodwill of £2.6 million (2018: £nil) is all allocated to the acquisition of the Korea business. The recoverable amount 
of goodwill is determined based on a value in use calculation using cash flow projections to March 2020 from financial 
budgets approved by the Board. The pre-tax discount rate applied to cash flow projections is 10% and cash flows beyond 
December 2020 are extrapolated using a 2% growth rate. 

The discount rate calculation is based on the specific circumstances of the Korea business and is derived from its weighted 
average cost of capital (WACC). The WACC takes into account both debt and equity where the cost of equity is derived 
from the expected return on investment by the Group’s investors and the cost of debt is based on the interest bearing 
borrowings the Group is obliged to service.

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions
With regard to the assessment of value in use, a change in any of the above key assumptions could have a material impact 
on the carrying value of the cash-generating unit. A 12% decrease in the short term growth rate would result in a reduction 
in the head room from £0.5 million to £nil. 

Software
At 30 March 2019, the Group had entered into contractual commitments for the acquisition of software of £347,000 (2018: 
£58,000). Included within software is £397,000 of projects still in development, where amortisation will not commence until 
the projects are complete and the assets come into use (2018: £226,000). The carrying value of website development costs 
within software is £1,611,000 (2018: £1,115,000). The estimated useful life of such assets is estimated as four to five years.

Lease costs
Lease costs comprise the lease premium and related costs associated with the Group’s Paris store and are recorded at 
historic cost with no amortisation charge. Recoverable amounts are confirmed by an annual third party valuation of the 
lease premium.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

17. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Freehold 
land and 
buildings
 £’000

Short 
leasehold 
land and 
buildings 
 £’000

Plant and 
equipment 
£’000

Fixtures, 
fittings and 
equipment 
 £’000

Motor 
vehicles 
 £’000

Total 
£’000

12,121

7

(5)

–

21,723

1,631

(67)

(1,017)

8,940

1,013

(321)

(66)

30,604

1,533

(877)

(649)

50

73,438

–

–

–

4,184

(1,270)

(1,732)

12,123

22,270

9,566

30,611

50

74,620

38

–

(3)

–

3,694

1,550

(1,696)

498

965

–

(908)

34

4,975

367

(1,475)

256

–

–

–

–

9,672

1,917

(4,082)

788

Cost

At 26 March 2017

Additions

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 24 March 2018

Additions

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 30 March 2019

12,158

26,316

9,657

34,734

50

82,915

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

At 26 March 2017

Charge for the period

Impairment charge

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

At 24 March 2018

Charge for the period

Impairment charge

Disposals

Foreign currency translation

3,463

424

–

(1)

–

3,886

423

–

(2)

–

17,611

1,459

4

(32)

(876)

18,166

1,858

735

(1,475)

457

5,842

1,026

–

(299)

(63)

6,506

1,138

1

(874)

32

22,336

2,837

374

(872)

(634)

24,041

2,785

59

(1,285)

243

50

49,302

–

–

–

–

50

–

–

–

–

5,746

378

(1,204)

(1,573)

52,649

6,204

795

(3,636)

732

At 30 March 2019

4,307

19,741

6,803

25,843

50

56,744

Carrying amount

At 30 March 2019

7,851

6,575

2,854

At 24 March 2018

8,237

4,104

3,060

8,891

6,570

At 25 March 2017

8,658

4,112

3,098

8,268

–

–

–

26,171

21,971

24,136

Included within the table above are the following assets under the course of construction which are not being depreciated:

At 30 March 2019

At 24 March 2018

404

346

63

–

–

–

710

539

–

–

243

193

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

17. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT (CONTINUED)

The Group has the following contractual commitments:

Freehold 
land and 
buildings
 £’000

Short 
leasehold 
land and 
buildings 
 £’000

Plant and 
equipment 
£’000

Fixtures, 
fittings and 
equipment 
 £’000

Motor 
vehicles 
 £’000

At 30 March 2019

At 24 March 2018

–

349

42

30

57

94

913

Freehold land of £2,029,000 (2018: £2,029,000) has not been depreciated.

Total 
£’000

473

–

1,012

The  Group  reviews  property,  plant  and  equipment  at  each  reporting  period  end  for  indicators  of  impairment.  Where 
indicators of impairment are identified, the recoverable amounts of the cash-generating units (‘CGU’) are determined from 
value in use calculations and are compared to the assets’ carrying values at 30 March 2019.

During the period, an impairment charge of £795,000 (2018: £378,000) was identified as part of the Directors’ impairment 
review of the retail store assets relating to the stores in Yorkdale and Las Vegas. In the prior period the Hamburg store was 
impaired. The total recoverable amount for this store at the balance sheet date is considered to be £nil.

The  key  assumptions  for  the  value  in  use  calculations  are  those  regarding  the  discount  rates,  and  sales  growth  rates. 
Management estimates discount rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks 
specific to the CGUs. Pre-tax rates are used where the local entity is not expected to be tax paying and pre-tax where tax 
is  predicted  in  the  period  being  reviewed.  The  cash  flow  projections  were  based  on  the  most  recent  financial  budgets 
approved by the Board for the next 12 months, the Group’s five-year strategic plan for years two to five and subsequent to 
this a nominal growth rate is used. 

The growth rates reflect expectations of future changes in the market. After five years this rate reduces to 3%, being the 
approximate average long term growth rate for the relevant markets.

The pre-tax discount rates used in these calculations were between 8.6% and 10.9% (2018: 9.0% and 9.5%). This is based on 
the Group’s weighted average cost of capital adjusted for country specific risks.

The Group reviews the property, plant and equipment in flagship stores with a net book value of £2.7 million for indicators 
of impairment at each reporting period end. 

The Group reviewed the property, plant and equipment in retail stores with a net book value of £1.0 million for impairment 
at the period end. No impairment has been recognised in respect of these stores. If revenue fails to meet forecast threshold 
there is a risk of impairment of up to £1.0 million.

18. SUBSIDIARIES

A list of the investments in subsidiaries, including the name, country of incorporation and proportion of ownership interest, 
is given in note 40 to the Company’s separate financial statements.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

19. INTERESTS IN ASSOCIATES

Total assets

Total liabilities

Total net assets

Group’s share of net assets of associate

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

1,420

(307)

1,113

1,299

(324)

975

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

337

306

The above carrying value represents the initial cost of the investment undertaken, as well as any subsequent change in net 
assets of the associate, as at 30 March 2019.

Total revenue

Profit for the period

Group’s share of profit of associate

20. INVENTORIES

Raw materials

Work-in-progress

Finished goods

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

2,047

181

90

2,022

208

114

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

2,337

735

36,668

2,432

994

41,221

39,740

44,647

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

21. OTHER FINANCIAL ASSETS

Trade and other receivables

Amount receivable for the sale of goods*

Allowance for doubtful debts

Amounts owed by associate undertakings

Other debtors

Prepayments

* These include amounts due to related parties. 

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

7,041

(311)

6,730

40

3,293

3,625

9,058

(269)

8,789

87

2,910

3,410

13,688

15,196

Trade receivables
The average credit period taken on the sale of goods is 51 days (2018: 62 days). No interest is charged on the outstanding 
receivables. The carrying amount of receivables approximates to their fair value.

The Group has provided for the estimated irrecoverable amount from the sale of goods, where there is doubt as to the 
recoverability of the receivables balance. Before accepting any new customer, the Group assesses the potential customer’s 
credit quality and defines individual credit limits by customer.

The  Group’s  receivables  comprise  primarily  department  stores,  franchisee  partners  and  associates,  and  wholesale 
customers. A UK customer with concession revenue of £9,466,000 during the period had a balance of £816,000 which is 
more than 10% of trade receivables at the period end. There are no other customers with a balance greater than 10% of 
the trade receivables.

Included in the Group’s trade receivables balance are debtors with a carrying amount of £506,000 (2018: £2,771,000) which 
are past due at the reporting date for which the Group has not provided as there has not been a significant change in credit 
quality and the amounts are still considered recoverable.

Ageing of past due but not impaired receivables:

0 to 30 days overdue

31 to 60 days overdue

61 to 90 days overdue

91 to 120 days overdue

121 or more days overdue

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

232

309

7

6

(48)

506

598

833

85

137

1,118

2,771

Given the relatively small nature of the provision for receivables, no further analysis is provided.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

21. OTHER FINANCIAL ASSETS (CONTINUED)

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

12,377

25,071

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash held by the Group and short term bank deposits with an original maturity of three 
months or less. The carrying amount of these assets approximates to their fair value.

22. BORROWINGS

Bank overdrafts

Loans from related parties (see note 35)

Loans from non-controlling interests

Unsecured borrowings at amortised cost

Amounts due for settlement within 12 months

Amounts due for settlement after 12 months 

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

1,231

1,478

1,770

4,479

2,709

1,770

–

1,385

–

1,385

–

1,385

Loans from related parties and non-controlling interests are due for repayment on the following dates:

Loan repayment date

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

Related party

Challice Limited 

31 March 2020

1,478

1,385

Non-controlling interest

Onward Global Fashion Co., Limited

31 March 2022

SHK Holdings Limited

31 March 2013

680

1,090

3,248

–

–

1,385

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

22. BORROWINGS (CONTINUED)

Analysis of borrowings by currency:

Bank overdrafts

Loans from related parties

Loans from non-controlling interest

Carrying amount

At 30 March 2019

Analysis of borrowings by currency:

Loans from related parties

Carrying amount

At 30 March 2018

Hong 
Kong 
Dollars
£’000

Japanese 
Yen 
£’000

South 
Korean 
Won 
£’000

Chinese 
Renminbi 
£’000

–

1,478

–

–

–

1,231

680

1,090

–

Total 
£’000

1,231

1,478

1,770

1,478

680

1,090

1,231

4,479

1,385

1,385

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,385

1,385

On 27 September 2018, the Group replaced the £7,500,000 revolving credit facility with a new facility of £10,000,000. The 
interest rate when drawn down is 1.25% over LIBOR and incurs a commitment fee of 35% of the margin above LIBOR when 
unutilised. The facility was increased to £15,000,000 in May 2019 and expires on 27 September 2021.

In May 2019 the Group renewed its overdraft facilities to include trade facilities of £500,000 (2018: £500,000) together with 
a multi-currency overdraft facility of £4,000,000 (2018: £4,000,000) which would be repayable on demand. The interest rates 
are determined based on 1.25% over base. The overdraft facility has been agreed until 31 May 2020.

In April 2018 the Group opened a £1,493,000 mixed US Dollar revolving credit facility and RMB overdraft in China which 
would be payable on demand. The interest rate on the revolving credit facility is 3% over LIBOR and the overdraft 5.75%. 
The facility has no expiration date and availability is subject to an annual financial review by the lender. 

The revolving credit facilities and the overdrafts are secured with Group cross guarantees.

At 30 March 2019 the Group had £3,248,000 (2018: £1,385,000) of related party loans payable at commercial rates within 
each country.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

23. DEFERRED TAX

At 26 March 2017

(Credit)/charge to income

At 24 March 2018

Charge/(credit) to income

Deferred tax asset as at 30 March 2019

Losses in 
overseas 
territories
£’000

Accelerated 
tax
depreciation
£’000

Short term 
timing 
differences 
 £’000

(360)

168

(192)

192

–

(946)

(498)

(1,444)

363

(1,081)

(194)

48

(146)

125

(21)

Total
£’000

(1,500)

(282)

(1,782)

680

(1,102)

£1,081,000 (2018: £1,615,000) of the deferred tax asset is expected to unwind in more than one year.

At the balance sheet date, the Group has cumulative unused tax losses of £28.5 million (2018: £24.1 million) arising from 
overseas  territories.  A  deferred  tax  asset  has  been  recognised  in  respect  of  £nil  (2018:  £1.0  million)  of  such  losses.  No 
deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of the £28.5 million (2018: £23.1 million) due to uncertainty of the timing 
of future taxable profits available to offset against these losses. 

24. OTHER FINANCIAL LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Accruals

Financial guarantee

Other payables

Lease incentives (see note 28)

Derivative financial instruments

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

9,334

8,513

1,000

986

4,021

130

7,758

16,671

–

1,117

3,137

131

23,984

28,814

Trade payables and accruals principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The average 
credit period taken for trade purchases is 17 days (2018: 19 days). For most suppliers, no interest is charged on the trade 
payables for the first 60 days from the date of the invoice. Thereafter, interest is charged on the outstanding balances at 
various interest rates. The Group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure that all payables are paid within 
the credit time frame.

Foreign exchange contracts are forward contracts, which are used to hedge exchange risk arising from the Group’s purchase 
of overseas sourced raw materials and finished products (note 32). These instruments are for US Dollars and Euros.

The financial guarantee of £1.0 million (2018: £nil) is a cash sum received from a new customer in order to provide security for 
the trading relationship. This guarantee is repayable on renewal of the trading agreement which is currently in negotiation.

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

25. SHARE CAPITAL

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

Authorised

65,000,000 ordinary shares of 5p each (2018: 65,000,000)

3,250

3,250

Issued and fully paid

60,047,458 ordinary shares of 5p each (2018: 60,017,458)

3,002

3,001

On 10 December 2018, 30,000 5p ordinary shares were issued at par to one of the Group’s significant strategic suppliers.

The Company has granted nil options in respect of 5p ordinary shares during the period (2018: 377,500).

26. RESERVES

Own share reserve
The Own share reserve represents 622,336 5p ordinary shares (2018: 626,717 5p ordinary shares) at a cost of £1,378,035 
(2018: £1,387,736). The shares have been purchased in the market or issued as new shares by the Company, and are held by 
the Mulberry Group plc Employee Share Trust to satisfy the deferred and matching shares under the Deferred Bonus Plan 
and Co-ownership Equity Incentive Plan.

During the period, nil 5p shares (2018 : 20,000) at a cost of £nil (2018: £1,000) were issued to the Mulberry Group plc Employee 
Share Trust. The reserve reduced as a result of the transfer of 4,381 shares with a value of £9,701 (2018: 33,127 shares with 
a value of £74,553) to satisfy the vesting of share awards. The maximum number of own shares held during the period was 
626,717 (2018: 642,582).

Capital redemption reserve
The  Capital  redemption  reserve  arose  following  a  capital  reconstruction  on  admission  of  the  Company’s  shares  to  the 
Alternative Investment Market on 23 May 1996. The Company purchased 3,074,396 of its own 5p ordinary shares at par.

Cash flow hedge and foreign exchange reserves

Cash flow 
hedge 
reserve 
£’000

Foreign 
exchange 
reserve 
£’000

(5)

–

(115)

22

(98)

–

(3)

1

(100)

1,063

(447)

–

85

701

151

–

(31)

821

Total 
£’000

1,058

(447)

(115)

107

603

151

(3)

(30)

721

At 26 March 2017

Exchange differences on translating the net assets of foreign operations

Foreign currency forward contracts

Current tax recognised on above

At 24 March 2018

Exchange differences on translating the net assets of foreign operations

Foreign currency forward contracts

Current tax recognised on above

At 30 March 2019

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

26. RESERVES (CONTINUED)

Cash flow hedge reserve
The  cash  flow  hedge  reserve  represents  the  cumulative  amount  of  gains  and  losses  on  hedging  instruments  deemed 
effective in cash flow hedges. The cumulative deferred gain or loss on the hedging instrument is recognised in profit or loss 
only when the hedged transaction impacts the profit or loss.

Translation reserve
Exchange differences relating to the translation of the net assets of the Group’s foreign operations, from their functional 
currency  into  the  Parent  Company’s  functional  currency,  being  pounds  Sterling,  are  recognised  directly  in  the  foreign 
exchange reserve.

(Losses)/gains reclassified from the hedging and translation reserves into profit or loss during the period are included in the 
following line items in the income statement:

Cost of sales

Other expenses

27. NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS

At 26 March 2017

Share of losses for the period

Foreign currency translation

Increase in non-controlling interests on set-up

At 24 March 2018

Share of losses for the period

Foreign currency translation

Increase in non-controlling interests on set-up

At 30 March 2019

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

(85)

146

61

Mulberry 
(Asia)
Limited
£’000

Mulberry 
Japan Co. 
Limited
£’000

Mulberry 
(Korea) 
Co., Ltd
£’000

975

(1,062)

(80)

–

(167)

(1,340)

9

–

(1,498)

–

(423)

(15)

1,352

914

(389)

22

–

547

–

–

–

–

–

(643)

2

173

(576)

(29)

(2)

(31)

Total
£’000

975

(1,485)

(958)

1,352

747

(2,372)

33

173

(1,419)

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

28. OPERATING LEASE ARRANGEMENTS

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised as an expense in the period

18,010

18,185

At  the  balance  sheet  date,  the  Group  had  outstanding  commitments  for  future  minimum  lease  payments  under  non-
cancellable operating leases, which fall due as follows:

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

Within one year

In the second to fifth years inclusive

After five years

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

18,767

57,483

 50,511

17,671

61,354

59,048

126,761

138,073

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for certain of its retail stores, warehouses and offices. 
The leases are for a varied length of time with the longest lease running until 2035. Leases are typically subject to rent 
reviews at specified intervals and some payments are contingent upon levels of revenue above minimum thresholds. The 
amount paid under this contingent element in the period was £1,103,000 (2018: £986,000).

Liabilities recognised in respect of non-cancellable leases:

Current

Non-current 

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

644

 3,377

4,021

346

2,791

3,137

29. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Mulberry Group plc has acted as a guarantor on various property leases entered into between its subsidiaries and third 
party lessors. No amounts were outstanding at the period end in respect of such guarantees (2018: £nil).

In  prior  periods  the  Group  received  £2,500,000  of  Government  grants  towards  the  operating  costs  of  a  new  factory  in 
Bridgwater, Somerset. The Group has to fulfil certain requirements through to June 2020, which if not met will mean some 
or  all  of  the  grant  will  need  to  be  repaid.  The  Group  is  currently  in  compliance  with  these  requirements  and  does  not 
envisage that this situation will change and therefore there are no outstanding liabilities at the period end (2018: £nil).

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

30. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The Group operated the following schemes during the period:

Mulberry Group plc 2008 Unapproved Share Option Scheme
The scheme was established on 14 April 2008 and is open to all employees of Mulberry Group plc and its subsidiaries. The 
exercise price is equal to the market value of the shares on the date of grant. The vesting period is generally three years 
after the date of grant of options, and can be exercised for a period of 10 years from the date of grant. If the options remain 
unexercised for a period of 10 years from the date of grant, they expire. Options may be forfeited if the employee leaves 
the Group prior to vesting.

Details of the share options movements during the period are as follows:

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Number 
of share 
options

608,215

–

(58,500)

(6,400)

543,315

380,315

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £) 

9.36

–

10.13

7.58

9.29

8.76

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Number 
of share 
options

827,715

–

(18,500)

(201,000)

608,215

345,215

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

8.79 

–

9.91

6.97

9.36

8.85

Outstanding at the beginning of the period

Granted during the period

Forfeited during the period

Exercised during the period

Outstanding at the end of the period

Exercisable at the end of the period

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the period was £7.78 (2018: 
£10.91). The options outstanding at 30 March 2019 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 0.2 years (2018: 
0.6 years).

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

30. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)

Mulberry Group plc 2008 Deferred Bonus Plan
The plan was established on 8 August 2008 and is open to all employees of Mulberry Group plc and its subsidiaries. The 
share-based payments charge relates to the cost of matching shares awarded to employees participating in this plan. The 
vesting period is two years after the date of grant of options and can be exercised for a period of 10 years from the date of 
grant. If the matching shares remain unexercised after a period of 10 years from the date of grant, the award expires. The 
matching shares may be forfeited if the employee leaves the Group prior to vesting.

Details of the share options outstanding during the period are as follows:

Outstanding at the beginning of the period

Exercised during the period

Outstanding at the end of the period

Exercisable at the end of the period

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Number of 
matching
 shares

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Number of 
matching
 shares

10,796

(8,702)

2,904

2,904

10,796

–

10,796

10,796

The weighted average share price at the date of exercise for share options exercised during the period was £3.02 (2018: 
£nil).  The  options  outstanding  at  30  March  2019  had  a  weighted  average  remaining  contractual  life  of  nil  years  (2018: 
nil years) and have an exercise price of £nil.

Mulberry Group plc 2009 Co-ownership Equity Incentive Plan
The plan was established on 20 August 2009. The vesting period is generally three years after the date of grant of options 
and  can  be  exercised  for  a  period  of  10  years  from  the  date  of  grant.  The  jointly  owned  shares  may  be  forfeited  if  the 
employee leaves the Group prior to vesting and the rights of the participant lapse if the award has not been exercised after 
a period of seven years from the date of vesting.

Details of the share awards outstanding during the period are as follows:

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Number 
of share 
options

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £) 

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Number 
of share 
options

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

Outstanding at the beginning of the period

300,000

1.458

300,000

1.458

Exercised during the period

–

–

Outstanding at the end of the period

300,000

1.458

300,000

Exercisable at the end of the period

300,000

1.458

300,000

1.458

1.458

The co-owned share rights outstanding at 30 March 2019 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of nil years 
(2018: nil years).

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

30. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)

Mulberry Group plc Idea’Spring Option Plan
This option grant was made on 11 August 2015. The vesting period is at the discretion of the Board and upon the attainment 
of certain performance conditions, including achievement of Group revenue. These were not met during the period, and 
therefore the option lapsed as a result.

Details of the share options movements during the period are as follows:

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £) 

–

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
Number 
of share 
options

–

–

–

–

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Number 
of share 
options

110,622

(110,622)

–

–

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (in £)

0.05

–

–

Outstanding at the beginning of the period

Lapsed during the period

Outstanding at the end of the period

Exercisable at the end of the period

Mulberry Group plc 2018 Performance Share Plan
This option grant was made on 10 July 2017 and may be exercised after the Group’s financial results for the financial period 
ended 30 March 2020 have been announced, and up to 10 periods from the date of grant, upon attainment of the relevant 
performance conditions.

Details of the share options movements during the period are as follows:

Outstanding at the beginning of the period

Granted during the period

Lapsed during the period

Outstanding at the end of the period

Exercisable at the end of the period

53 weeks 
ended
30 March
2019 
Number of 
shares

368,000

–

(8,000)

52 weeks 
ended
24 March
2018
Number of 
shares

–

377,500

(9,500)

360,000

368,000

–

–

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

30. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)

The Group recognised the following (credit)/expense related to share-based payments:

Mulberry Group plc 2008 Unapproved Share Option Scheme

Mulberry Group plc 2008 Deferred Bonus Plan

Mulberry Group plc 2009 Co-ownership Equity Incentive Plan

Mulberry Group plc Long Term Incentive Plan

Mulberry Group plc 2018 Performance Share Plan

Employee related (credit)/expense

Mulberry Group plc Idea’Spring Option Plan

Total share option (credit)/expense 

53 weeks 
ended
30 March
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended
24 March
2018
£’000

 109

–

–

–

 (247)

 (138)

 –

 (138)

469

–

–

–

 420

 889

 (598)

 291

The Group accounts for its share schemes as equity-settled but during the prior period some exercises were settled in cash 
and therefore the Directors have needed to consider whether these should now be accounted for as cash-settled options. 
Settling the equity-settled share options for a cash alternative was at the Directors’ discretion and was due to the very small 
number of exercises, the fact that the Group had sufficient cash at the time and this was administratively easier. In making 
their judgement to account for the share options as equity-settled share options the Directors are satisfied that the Group 
has no constructive obligation to settle in cash and as such the schemes can continue to be accounted for as equity-settled.

31. RETIREMENT BENEFIT SCHEMES

The  Group  contributes  to  personal  pension  plans  for  all  qualifying  employees.  The  total  cost  charged  to  income  of 
£1,204,000 (2018: £899,000) represents contributions payable to these personal plans by the Group at rates contractually 
agreed. As at 30 March 2019, contributions due in respect of the current reporting period which had not been paid over to 
the plans were £152,000 (2018: £121,000).

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

32. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Capital risk management
The  Group  manages  its  capital  to  ensure  that  entities  in  the  Group  will  be  able  to  continue  as  going  concerns  while 
maximising the return to shareholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The capital structure of 
the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent, comprising issued 
capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the Group statement of changes in equity and notes 25 and 26.

Externally imposed capital requirement
The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

Significant accounting policies
Details  of  the  significant  accounting  policies  and  methods  adopted,  including  the  criteria  for  recognition,  the  basis  of 
measurement  and  the  basis  on  which  income  and  expense  are  recognised,  in  respect  of  each  class  of  financial  asset, 
financial liability and equity instrument, are disclosed in note 3 to the financial statements.

Categories of financial instruments

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables at amortised cost

Financial liabilities

Amortised cost

Derivatives in designated hedging relationships

30 March
2019
£’000

24 March
2018
£’000

12,377

13,688

25,071

15,196

26,065

40,267

23,854

130

28,683

131

23,984

28,814

Fair value measurements
The information set out below provides information about how the Group determines fair values of derivatives in designated 
hedging relationships. These are within the Level 2 fair value measurement hierarchy derived indirectly from quoted prices.

Financial 
assets/
financial 
liabilities

Derivatives in 
designated 
hedging 
relationships

Fair value
as at
2019
£’000

Assets 
– £nil 
Liabilities 
– £130

Fair value
as at
2018
£’000

Assets 
– £nil  
Liabilities 
– £131

Significant 
unobservable 
inputs

Relationship of 
unobservable 
inputs to fair 
value

n/a

n/a

Valuation techniques
and key inputs

Discounted cash flow. Future 
cash flows are estimated based 
on forward exchange rates (from 
observable forward exchange 
rates at the end of the reporting 
period) and contract forward rates, 
discounted at a rate that reflects the 
credit risk of various companies.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

32. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

Financial risk management objectives
The Group’s Chief Financial Officer is responsible to the Board for the Group’s financial risk management. This includes 
analysing the Group’s exposure by degree and magnitude of risks. These risks include market risk (including currency risk 
and interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group seeks to minimise the effects of these risks where possible. It does this by maintaining bank accounts in all of 
the major currencies in which it trades and it operates its own internal hedging by offsetting currency receipts on sales 
against purchases in related currencies. Where there is significant risk remaining, and the Group deems it necessary, it uses 
derivative financial instruments to hedge these risk exposures. The Group does not enter into or trade financial instruments, 
including derivative financial instruments, for speculative purposes.

Market risk
The Group’s activities expose it primarily to the financial risks of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and interest 
rates. In accordance with the Board approved foreign currency risk management policy, the Group uses derivative financial 
instruments  to  manage  its  foreign  currency  exposure.  The  Group  is  not  significantly  exposed  to  interest  rate  risk  on  its 
financial liabilities and continues to seek to maximise the returns from its bank deposits.

Foreign currency risk management
The  Group  undertakes  certain  transactions  denominated  in  foreign  currencies.  Hence,  exposures  to  exchange  rate 
fluctuations arise. The Group’s principal foreign currency exposure arises from purchase of overseas sourced raw materials 
and finished products. The Board regularly reviews the Group’s foreign currency exposure, including the current market 
value of outstanding foreign exchange contracts, and sets an appropriate hedging strategy for the near term future. This 
is determined in conjunction with percentage cover taken by season and financial period and current market conditions.

The following table details the foreign currency contracts outstanding as at the period end:

Average 
exchange 
rate 
30 March
2019 

Average 
exchange 
rate 
24 March
2018 

Foreign 
currency
 30 March
2019 
£’000

Foreign 
currency
 24 March
2018 
£’000

Notional 
value
30 March
2019
£’000

Notional 
value
24 March 
2018
£’000

Fair value
30 March 
2019
£’000

Fair value
24 March 
2018
£’000

Outstanding contracts 

Cash flow hedges

Buy US Dollar
Less than 3 
months 

3 to 6 months 

Buy Euro

Less than 3 
months

3 to 6 months 

1.3053

1.3093

1.4172

1.4210

2,250

1,500

3,000

1,000

1,705

1,136

2,128

709

1.1587

1.1565

1.1431

1.1405

3,000

1,000

4,000

1,000

2,586

862

3,478

870

(12)

(12)

(24)

(74)

(32)

(106)

(130)

(80)

(13)

(93)

(44)

(3)

(47)

(140)

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

32. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

The carrying amounts of the Group’s foreign currency denominated monetary assets and monetary liabilities at the reporting 
date are as follows:

Euro

US Dollar

Hong Kong Dollar

South Korean Won

Chinese Renminbi

Australian Dollar

Japanese Yen

Taiwan Dollar

Canadian Dollar

Swedish Krona

Liabilities 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Liabilities 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

Assets 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

Assets 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

2,315

1,911

1,716

2,281

1,511

26

1,041

34

284

–

3,642

2,073

2,304

–

1,461

45

208

494

325

–

4,586

2,357

653

1,323

1,520

325

1,128

220

387

385

6,251

2,673

1,932

–

448

251

2,726

725

305

28

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis
The Group is mainly exposed to the US Dollar, Euro Hong Kong Dollar and South Korean Won currencies.

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% increase or decrease in Sterling against the relevant foreign 
currencies. A sensitivity rate of 10% represents management’s assessment of the reasonably possible change in foreign 
exchange  rates.  The  sensitivity  analysis  includes  only  outstanding  foreign  currency  denominated  monetary  items  and 
adjusts their translation at the period end for a 10% change in foreign currency rates. A positive number below indicates an 
increase in profit and other equity where Sterling strengthens 10% against the relevant currency. For a 10% weakening of 
Sterling against the relevant currency, there would be an equal and opposite impact on the profit and other equity, and the 
balances below would be negative or positive.

Euro

US Dollar

Hong Kong Dollar

South Korean Won

Chinese Renminbi

Australian Dollar

Japanese Yen

Taiwan Dollar

Canadian Dollar

Swedish Krona

Impact
on profit
53 weeks 
ended
30 March 
2019
£’000

Impact
on profit
52 weeks 
ended
24 March 
2018
£’000

(207)

(41)

97

87

(1)

(27)

(8)

(17)

(9)

(35)

(237)

(54)

34

–

–

(19)

(229)

(21)

2

(3)

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

32. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

Interest rate risk management and sensitivity analysis
The Group’s exposures to interest rates on financial assets and financial liabilities are detailed in the liquidity risk management 
section of this note.

The Group’s sensitivity to changes in interest rates has been illustrated based on a 1% increase or decrease in interest rates. 
For floating rate deposits and liabilities, the analysis is prepared assuming the amount of liability outstanding at the balance 
sheet date was outstanding for the whole period. A 1% increase or decrease has been applied to represent management’s 
assessment of the reasonably possible change in interest rates.

If interest rates had been 1% higher and all other variables were held constant, the Group’s profit for the period ended 
30 March 2019 would have decreased by £2,000 (2018: profit increased by £93,000). This is mainly attributable to the Group’s 
exposure to interest rates on its overdraft facility.

Credit risk management
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the 
Group. The Group has adopted a policy of only dealing with creditworthy counterparties and obtaining letters of credit 
where deemed appropriate, as a means of mitigating the risk of financial loss from defaults.

Trade  receivables  consist  of  a  large  number  of  customers.  Credit  evaluation  is  performed  on  the  financial  condition  of 
accounts receivable and, where appropriate, credit insurance cover is purchased.

The Group does not have any significant credit risk exposure to any single counterparty or any group of counterparties 
having  similar  characteristics,  other  than  as  disclosed  in  note  21.  The  Group  defines  counterparties  as  having  similar 
characteristics if they are connected entities.

Liquidity risk management
Ultimate  responsibility  for  liquidity  risk  management  rests  with  the  Board  of  Directors,  which  has  built  an  appropriate 
liquidity risk management framework for the management of the Group’s short, medium and long term funding and liquidity 
management requirements. The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate reserves and banking facilities by 
continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities. 
Included in note 22 is a description of additional undrawn facilities that the Group has at its disposal to reduce further 
liquidity risk.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

32. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (CONTINUED)

Liquidity and interest risk tables
The Group’s financial assets all contractually mature within the next period. Trade receivables do not accrue interest. The 
weighted average interest rate on cash and cash equivalents was -1.41% (2018: +0.29%).

The  following  tables  detail  the  Group’s  remaining  contractual  maturity  for  its  financial  liabilities.  The  tables  have  been 
drawn up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group can 
be required to pay. The tables include both interest and principal cash flows.

30 March 2019

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Derivatives: gross settled

Cash inflows

Cash outflows

Less
than 1
year 
 £’000

1 to 2 
years
£’000 

2 to 3 
years 
 £’000

3 to 4 
years 
£’000

4 to 5 
years 
 £’000

(19,833)

(2,708)

–

(1,771)

–

–

6,289

(6,453)

Less
than 1
year 
 £’000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1 to 2 
years
£’000 

2 to 3 
years 
 £’000

3 to 4 
years 
£’000

4 to 5 
years 
 £’000

24 March 2018

Current liabilities

Borrowings

Derivatives: gross settled

Cash flows

Cash outflows

(25,546)

–

–

(1,385)

7,252

(7,336)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Total 
£’000

(19,833)

(4,479)

6,289

(6,453)

Total 
£’000

(25,546)

(1,385)

7,252

(7,336)

Fair value of financial instruments
The  carrying  amounts  of  financial  assets  and  financial  liabilities  recorded  at  amortised  cost  in  the  financial  statements 
approximate to their fair value, except for derivatives in designated hedging relationships which are valued at fair value.

The  carrying  amounts  of  financial  assets  and  financial  liabilities  recorded  at  amortised  cost  in  the  financial  statements 
approximate to their fair value, except for derivatives in designated hedging relationships which are valued at fair value.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

33. NOTES TO THE CASH FLOW STATEMENTS

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and bank balances

Bank overdrafts (see note 22)

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018
£’000

12,377

(1,231)

25,071

–

11,146

25,071

Changes in liabilities arising from financing activities

25 March 
2018 
£’000

Financing 
cash flows 
£’000

Fair value 
adjustments 
£’000

Foreign 
exchange 
£’000

30 March 
2019 
£’000

Borrowings (note 22)

–

1,231

Loans from related parties and non-controlling 
interests (note 35)

1,385

1,771

Total liabilities from financing activities

1,385

3,002

–

–

–

–

92

92

1,231

3,248

4,479

26 March
2017
£’000

Financing 
cash flows 
£’000

Fair value 
adjustments
£’000

Foreign 
exchange
£’000

24 March 
2018
£’000

Loans from related parties and non-controlling 
interests (note 35)

Total liabilities from financing activities

–

–

1,385

1,385

–

–

–

–

1,385

1,385

34. ACQUISITIONS AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

With effect from 1 May 2018 Mulberry Japan Co. Limited, a 50% owned subsidiary of Mulberry Trading Holding Company 
Ltd, acquired 6 stores in Japan previously owned by Onward Global Fashion Co., Limited a subsidiary of Onward Holdings 
Co., Limited.

The amounts recognised in respect of the identifiable assets acquired are set out in the table below:

Property, plant and equipment

Inventory

Fair value of identifiable assets

Satisfied by:

Cash

£’000

931

864

1,795

1,795

1,795

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

34. ACQUISITIONS AND BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (CONTINUED)

These stores have contributed £2,616,000 to revenue and incurred a loss before tax of £639,000 for the period. Had the 
acquisitions happened on 1 April 2018 the revenue and loss would not have been materially different.

On 13 August 2018 Mulberry (Korea) Co., Ltd, a 60% owned subsidiary of Mulberry Trading Holding Company Ltd, acquired 
17 stores in Korea previously owned by SHK Holdings Limited.

The amounts recognised in respect of the identifiable assets acquired are set out in the table below:

Property, plant and equipment

Inventory

Fair value of identifiable assets

Fair value of liabilities acquired

Net assets acquired

Goodwill

Satisfied by:

Deferred consideration

Cash

£’000

987

1,656

2,643

(892)

1,751

2,629

434

3,946

4,380

Goodwill  represents  the  opportunity  to  grow  by  utilising  an  established  distribution  network  in  Korea.  The  recoverable 
amount  of  the  goodwill  is  determined  based  on  a  value  in  use  calculation  which  uses  cash  flow  projections  based  on 
financial projections approved by the Directors covering a two-year period, and using a discount rate of 2% per annum. 
Acquired goodwill is regarded as having an indefinite life and under IFRS 3 is not subject to amortisation, but is subject to 
annual tests for impairment. 

These stores have contributed £3,996,000 to revenue and incurred a loss before tax of £854,000 for the period. Had the 
acquisitions happened on 25 March 2018 the revenue would have been £6,600,000 and the loss would have been £1,800,000.

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35. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation 
and are not disclosed in this note. Transactions between the Group and its associates are disclosed below

Trading transactions
During the period, Group companies entered into the following transactions with related parties which are not members 
of the Group:

Sale of
goods
53 weeks 
ended
30 March
2019
£’000

Sale of
goods
52 weeks 
ended
24 March 
2018
£’000

Purchases
of goods, 
services, 
fixed assets 
and stock
53 weeks 
ended
30 March 
2019
£’000

Purchases
of goods, 
services, 
fixed assets 
and stock 
52 weeks 
ended
24 March 
2018
£’000

Amounts 
owed 
(to)/from 
related 
parties 
30 March
2019
£’000

Amounts
owed 
(to)/from 
related 
parties 
24 March 
2018
£’000

Mulberry Oslo AS

1,195

1,084

Club 21 Retail (Hong Kong) 
Limited*

Club 21 Shanghai Limited*

Club 21 Pte Limited*

Club 21 (Thailand) Co 
Limited*

Club 21 Pte Limited Taiwan 
Branch*

Club Twenty-One Retail (M) 
Sdn Bhd*

Club 21 Australia Pty 
Limited*

Club 21 Japan Company 
Limited*

Challice Limited

–

–

923

393

–

392

–

–

–

–

781

1,206

368

61

225

(2)

(98)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

973

301

–

–

355

–

–

–

–

40

–

–

20

4

–

11

–

–

87

(1)

853

12

22

(566)

16

–

–

(1,478)

(1,385)

* These are related parties of the Group as they are all related companies of Challice Limited, the majority shareholder of the Company.

All sales of goods have been made on an arm’s length basis. The amounts outstanding are unsecured and will be settled 
in cash. No guarantees have been given or received. No provisions have been made for doubtful debts in respect of the 
amounts owed by related parties.

During  the  period  Mulberry  Company  (USA)  Inc  paid  rent  of  £126,638  (2018:  £124,621)  to  Como  Holdings  USA  Inc,  a 
company which is a related party to Challice Limited, the majority shareholder of the Company, and whose Chief Executive 
Officer is Steven Grapstein. No amounts were outstanding in relation to this at the period end or prior period end.

Transactions with the Group’s Employee Benefit Trust are disclosed in note 26.

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Notes to the Group financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

35. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)

Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below in aggregate for 
each of the categories specified in IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’. The Directors’ remuneration report on pages 19 to 
22 of this Annual Report forms part of these financial statements. Further information about the remuneration of individual 
Directors is provided within the audited section of the Directors’ remuneration report.

Short term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

36. CONTROLLING PARTY

53 weeks 
ended 
30 March 
2019 
£’000

52 weeks 
ended 
24 March 
2018 
£’000

1,856

20

1,876

2,005

20

2,025

At  the  period  end  and  at  the  date  of  this  report,  Challice  Limited  controlled  56.17%  of  the  issued  share  capital  of  the 
Company. The ultimate controlling parties of Challice Limited are Mr Ong Beng Seng and Mrs Christina Ong.

Challice  Limited  is  registered  outside  the  UK  and  is  not  required  to  prepare  consolidated  accounts.  Therefore,  the 
consolidated financial statements of Mulberry Group plc represent the highest and lowest level at which a consolidation is 
prepared for the Group.

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Company financial statements

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Company balance sheet 

Company statement of changes in equity 

Notes to the Company financial statements 

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Group five year summary 

Page

86

87

88

94

98

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Company balance sheet

At 30 March 2019

Note

39

40

43

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

10,358

3,892

78

22,162

3,951

18

14,328

26,131

41

83,490

74,957

97,818

101,088

42

(53,164)

(66,086)

44,654

35,002

25

26

26

3,002

12,072

(1,378)

154

30,804

3,001

11,961

(1,388)

154

21,274

44,654

35,002

Non-current assets

Investments

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

Total assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Own share reserve

Capital redemption reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

The Company reported a profit for the financial period ended 30 March 2019 of £12,661,000 (2018: profit of £20,471,000). 
The financial statements of Mulberry Group plc (company number 01180514) were approved by the Board of Directors and 
authorised for issue on 19 June 2019.

They were signed on its behalf by:

Thierry Andretta 
Director 

Neil Ritchie
Director

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Company statement of changes in equity

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Share
 capital 
£’000

Share 
premium 
account 
£’000

Own 
share 
reserve 
£’000

Capital
redemption 
reserve 
£’000

 Retained 
earnings 
£’000

As at 26 March 2017

Profit for the period

Total comprehensive income for the period

Issue of shares

Charge for employee share-based 
payments

Exercise of share options

Own shares

Ordinary dividends paid

Balance at 24 March 2018

Profit for the period

Total comprehensive income for the period

Issue of shares

Charge for employee share-based 
payments

Exercise of share options

Own shares

Ordinary dividends paid

3,000

11,961

(1,461)

154

−

−

1

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

73

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

−

Total
£’000

17,640

20,471

3,986

20,471

20,471

20,471

−

291

(505)

−

1

291

(505)

73

(2,969)

(2,969)

3,001

11,961

(1,388)

154

21,274

35,002

−

–

1

–

–

–

–

−

–

111

–

–

–

–

−

–

–

–

–

10

–

−

–

–

–

–

–

12,661

12,661

12,661

12,661

–

112

(138)

(138)

(23)

–

(23)

10

(2,970)

(2,970)

Balance at 30 March 2019

3,002

12,072

(1,378)

154

30,804

44,654

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Notes to the Company financial statements

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

37. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of accounting
Please refer to note 1 for full details of the Company’s incorporation, registered office, operations and principal activity.

Please refer to note 36 regarding the Company’s ultimate controlling party.

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  101  (Financial  Reporting  Standard  101)  issued  by  the  Financial 
Reporting Council. The financial statements have therefore been prepared in accordance with FRS 101 (Financial Reporting 
Standard 101) ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ as issued by the Financial Reporting Council.

As permitted by FRS 101, the Company has taken advantage of the disclosure exemptions available under that Standard 
in relation to share-based payments, financial instruments, capital management, presentation of comparative information 
in respect of certain assets, presentation of a cash flow statement and certain related party transactions. Where required, 
equivalent disclosures are given in the Group financial statements.

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis. The principal accounting policies, and critical 
accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty adopted are the same as those set out in notes 3 and 
4 to the Group financial statements except as noted below. These have been applied consistently throughout the period 
and the preceding period.

In the current period the Company has applied a number of amendments to IFRS standards issued by the IASB that are 
mandatorily  effective  for  an  accounting  period  that  begins  on  or  after  1  January  2018.  Their  adoption  has  not  had  any 
material impact on the disclosures or on the amounts reported in these financial statements.

Investments
Fixed asset investments in subsidiaries and associates are shown at cost less provision for impairment.

38. PROFIT FOR THE PERIOD

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company has elected not to present its own profit and loss 
account for the period. Mulberry Group plc reported a profit for the financial period ended 30 March 2019 of £12,169,000 
(2018:  profit  of  £20,471,000).  Included  in  the  profit  for  the  period  is  a  provision  of  £187,000  (2018:  profit  of  £1,268,000) 
against intercompany balances.

The auditor’s remuneration for audit and other services is disclosed within note 9 to the Group financial statements. The 
only employees of the Company are the Directors whose emoluments are disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report.

Dividends declared and paid during the financial period are disclosed in note 14 to the financial statements.

Details of share based payments made during the financial period and outstanding options are disclosed in note 30 to the 
financial statements. 

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39. INVESTMENTS

Cost

At 25 March 2018

Additions

Disposals

At 30 March 2019

Provision for impairment

At 25 March 2018

Charge for the period

At 30 March 2019

Net book value

At 30 March 2019

At 24 March 2018

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Subsidiaries 
shares
£’000

Subsidiaries 
loans
£’000

12,227

–

–

12,227

1,869

–

1,869

10,358

10,358

11,804

–

(11,804)

–

–

–

–

–

11,804

Total 
£’000

24,031

–

(11,804)

12,227

1,869

–

1,869

10,358

22,162

The Company has investments in the ordinary shares of the following subsidiaries and associates which contributed to the 
results or net assets of the Group at the period ended 30 March 2019 and 24 March 2018 (except as highlighted):

Subsidiaries

Country of 
incorporation

Principal activity

Proportion 
of ownership 
interest and 
voting power

Mulberry Company (Design) Limited (1)

England and Wales Design and manufacture of clothing 

100% π

Mulberry Company (France) SARL (2)

France

and fashion accessories in the UK

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in France

Mulberry Company (Sales) Limited (1)

England and Wales Establishment and operation of retail 
shops in the UK

Mulberry Company (Europe) Limited (1)

England and Wales Intermediary holding company

Mulberry Group Holding Company 
Limited ¶ (1)

Mulberry Trading Holding Company 
Limited ¶ (1)

England and Wales Intermediary holding company

England and Wales Intermediary holding company

KCS Investments Limited ¶ (1)

England and Wales Intermediary holding company

100%

100% †

100% π

100%

100% Ω

100% Ω

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Notes to the Company financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

39. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)

Subsidiaries

Country of 
incorporation

Principal activity

Fashion AZ Limited ¶ (1)

England and Wales Dormant company

Mulberry Company (USA) Inc (3)

USA

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in the USA

Proportion 
of ownership 
interest and 
voting power

100% β

100% π

Mulberry Group Plc Employee Share 
Trust (4)

Guernsey

Operation of an employee share trust

100% 

Mulberry Company (Germany) GmbH (5) Germany

Mulberry Company (Switzerland)  
GmbH (6)

Switzerland

Mulberry Company (Austria) GmbH (7)

Austria

Mulberry Company (Canada) Inc (8)

Canada

Mulberry France Services SARL (2)

Mulberry Company (Australia)  
Pty Limited (9)

France

Australia

Mulberry (Asia) Limited (10)

Hong Kong

Mulberry Trading (Shanghai) Company 
Limited ¶(11)

China

Mulberry Japan Co. Limited ¶ # (12)

Japan

Mulberry (Korea) Co., Ltd ¶ (14)

Korea

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Germany

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Switzerland

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Austria

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Canada

Operation of non-retail services

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Australia

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Asia

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in China

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Japan

Establishment and operation of retail 
stores in Korea

Mulberry Company (Shoes) Limited (1)

England and Wales Dormant company

Mulberry Company (Holdings) Limited (1) England and Wales Dormant company

Mulberry Fashions Limited (1)

England and Wales Dormant company

Mulberry Leathers Limited (1)

England and Wales Dormant company

Mulberry (UK) Limited (1)

England and Wales Dormant company

100% π

100%

100%

100% π

100%

100%

60% π

100% §

50% π

60% π

100%

100%

100% ‡

100% ‡

100%

Associates
Mulberry Oslo AS * (13)

Norway

Operation of retail store in Oslo

50% †

*  Mulberry Oslo AS is treated as an associate as, while the Group effectively owns 50% of the issued ordinary share capital, the entity is controlled by a third 

party. It has an accounting reference date of 30 September.

† Owned by Mulberry Company (Europe) Limited.
‡ Owned by Mulberry Company (Holdings) Limited.
§ Owned by Mulberry (Asia) Limited.
Ω Owned by Mulberry Group Holding Company Limited.
π Owned by Mulberry Trading Holding Company Limited.
β Owned by KCS Investments Limited.
¶ New company formed in the period ended 30 March 2018.
#  Mulberry Japan Co. Limited is treated as a subsidiary of Mulberry Group plc.

9 0

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

39. INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED) 

The registered offices of the subsidiaries and associates are as follows:

(1)  The Rookery, Chilcompton, Bath, Somerset, BA3 4EH
(2)  51 Rue Étienne Marcel, 75001, Paris, France
(3)  475 Park Avenue South, New York 10016, USA
(4)  Cambridge House, Le Truchot, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 3UW
(5)  c/o Osborne Clarke, Innere Kanalstrasse 15, 50823 Cologne, Germany
(6)  Storchengasse 4, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland
(7)  Seitzergasse 2-4, 1010 Vienna, Austria
(8)  340 Albert Street, Suite 1400, Ottawa, Ontario K1R 0A5, Canada
(9)  225 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000, Australia
(10)  Suite 10B, 10/F, Tower 2, China Hong Kong City, 33 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong
(11)  Shop No B130, Plaza 66, No 1266, West Nanjing Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai, 200041
(12)  3-26-8 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan 151-0051
(13)  Akersgata 18, 0158 Oslo, Norway
(14)  401,Samseong-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea 06195

Subsidiaries designated as dormant companies have taken advantage of S394A of the Companies Act 2006 and are exempt 
from preparing individual accounts.

40. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Cost

At 25 March 2018

Additions

Disposals

At 30 March 2019

Depreciation

At 25 March 2018

Charge for the period

Disposals

At 30 March 2019

Net book value

At 30 March 2019

At 24 March 2018

Freehold 
land and 
buildings 
 £’000

Short 
leasehold
land and 
buildings 
£’000

Fixtures 
and 
fittings 
 £’000

Total 
£’000

14,780

244

(70)

711

–

(67)

644

14,954

711

–

(67)

10,829

303

(70)

6,639

38

(3)

6,674

3,030

242

(3)

7,430

206

–

7,636

7,088

61

–

3,269

7,149

644

11,062

3,402

3,609

487

342

–

–

3,892

3,951

Freehold land of £997,000 (2018: £997,000) has not been depreciated.

At 30 March 2019, the Company had entered into contractual commitments for the acquisition of property of £nil (2018: 
£nil) and there were assets under the course of construction where depreciation has not yet commenced of £nil (2018: £nil).

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Notes to the Company financial statements (continued)

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

41. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Amounts falling due within one year:

Amounts owed by Group undertakings 

Prepayments and accrued income

Current tax

42. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Amounts falling due within one year:

Amounts owed to Group undertakings

Accruals and deferred income

Current tax

43. DEFERRED TAX

Deferred tax – accelerated capital allowances

Deferred tax liability at 25 March 2018

Credit for the period

Deferred tax asset at 30 March 2019

44. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

82,269

74,108

761

460

849

–

83,490

74,957

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

52,586

65,383

578

–

538

165

53,164

66,086

30 March 
2019 
£’000

24 March 
2018 
£’000

–

–

(18)

(60)

(78)

Details of related party transactions are provided in note 35 to the Group financial statements. The Company has taken 
advantage of the exemption in FRS 101:8 not to disclose details of transactions with other wholly owned Group companies.

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53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

45. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Mulberry Group plc has acted as a guarantor on various property leases entered into between its subsidiaries and third 
party lessors. No amounts were outstanding at the period end in respect of such guarantees (2018: £nil).

Mulberry Group plc has acted as guarantor on a £2.5 million Regional Growth Fund grant received by its subsidiary, Mulberry 
Company (Design) Limited, towards the operating costs of a new factory in Bridgwater, Somerset. The Group has to fulfil 
certain requirements through to June 2020, which if not met will mean some or all of the grant will need to be repaid. 
The Group is currently in compliance with these requirements and does not envisage that this situation will change and 
therefore there are no outstanding liabilities at the period end (2018: £nil).

There is no expectation that any liabilities or cash outflows will arise for the Company as a result of such guarantees.

46. SHARE CAPITAL

The movements in share capital are disclosed in note 25 to the Group financial statements.

47. RESERVES

The movements in the Own share reserve are disclosed in note 26 to the Group financial statements.

Details of the Capital redemption reserve are disclosed in note 26 to the Group financial statements.

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Notice of Annual General Meeting

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

Notice  is  given  that  the  Annual  General  Meeting  of  Mulberry  Group  plc  will  be  held  at  Mulberry  Group  plc’s  offices, 
30 Kensington Church Street, London, W8 4HA on 17 September 2019 at 11 am for the following purposes:

ORDINARY BUSINESS:

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, which will be proposed as ordinary resolutions:

Adoption of financial statements

1.  That the report of the Directors and the financial statements for the period ended 30 March 2019 together with 

the independent auditor’s report be received and adopted.

Dividend declaration

2.  To declare a final dividend of 5.0 pence per ordinary share for the period ended 30 March 2019.

Re-election of retiring Directors

3.  That Ms J Gilhart who retires as a Director by rotation in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association 

be re-elected as a Director.

4.  That Mr S Grapstein who retires as a Director by rotation in accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association 

be re-elected as a Director.

Appointment of auditor

5.  That Deloitte LLP be reappointed as auditor of the Company until the conclusion of the next general meeting 

before which accounts are laid, and that their remuneration be agreed by the Directors.

SPECIAL BUSINESS:

To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, of which resolution 6 will be proposed as an ordinary resolution, 
and resolutions 7 and 8 will be proposed as special resolutions:

Directors’ power to allot relevant securities

6.  That, in substitution for any equivalent authorities and powers granted to the Directors prior to the passing of this 
resolution, the Directors be and they are generally and unconditionally authorised pursuant to Section 551 of the 
Companies Act 2006 (“the Act”) to exercise all powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company, and grant 
rights to subscribe for or to convert any security into shares of the Company (such shares, and rights to subscribe 
for or to convert any security into shares of the Company being “relevant securities”) up to an aggregate nominal 
amount of £1,000,791, provided that, unless previously revoked, varied or extended, this authority shall expire 
on the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2020, except that the Company 
may at any time before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require relevant securities 
to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot relevant securities in pursuance of such an offer or 
agreement as if this authority had not expired.

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Waiver of statutory pre-emption rights

7.  That the Directors be and they are empowered pursuant to Section 570(1) of the Act to allot equity securities (as 
defined in Section 560(1) of the Act) of the Company wholly for cash pursuant to the authority of the Directors 
under Section 551 of the Act conferred by resolution 6 above, and/or by way of a sale of treasury shares (by virtue 
of Section 573 of the Act), in each case as if Section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to such allotment, provided 
that: 

(a)  the power conferred by this resolution shall be limited to:

(i) 

the allotment of equity securities in connection with an offer of equity securities to the holders of ordinary 
shares in the capital of the Company in proportion as nearly as practicable to their respective holdings of 
such shares, but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary 
or expedient to deal with fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems arising under the laws or 
requirements of any overseas territory or by virtue of shares being represented by depository receipts or 
the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange or any other matter whatsoever; and

(ii)  the allotment, otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (i) above, of equity securities up to an aggregate 

nominal value equal to £150,119; and

(b)  unless  previously  revoked,  varied  or  extended,  this  power  shall  expire  on  the  conclusion  of  the  Annual 
General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2020 except that the Company may before the expiry of this 
power 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 this power 
had not expired.

AUTHORITY TO PURCHASE ORDINARY SHARES (MARKET PURCHASES)

8.  That the Company be and is hereby unconditionally and generally authorised for the purposes of Section 701 of 
the Act to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the Act) of its ordinary shares of 5p 
each (“Ordinary Shares”) provided that:

(a)  the maximum number of Ordinary Shares authorised to be purchased is 3,002,373;

(b)  the minimum price which may be paid for any such Ordinary Share is 5p;

(c)  the maximum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share shall be an amount equal to 105% of the average 
middle market prices for an Ordinary Share as derived from the London Stock Exchange Daily Official List 
for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the Ordinary Share is contracted to be 
purchased; and

(d)  this authority shall, unless previously renewed, revoked or varied, expire on the earlier of the date falling 18 
months after the date of the passing of this resolution and the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of 
the Company to be held in 2020, but the Company may enter into a contract for the purchase of Ordinary 
Shares before the expiry of this authority which would or might be completed (wholly or partly) after its expiry.

By order of the Board

Kate Anthony Wilkinson
Secretary
19 June 2019

Registered office: The Rookery, Chilcompton, Bath, Somerset, BA3 4EH

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Notice of Annual General Meeting (continued)

NOTES:

All members holding ordinary shares are entitled to attend, speak and vote at the meeting. Such members may appoint a 
proxy to attend, speak and vote instead of them. A proxy need not also be a member of the Company but must attend the 
AGM in order to represent his appointer. A member may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to 
exercise rights attached to different shares (so a member must have more than one share to be able to appoint more than 
one proxy). A form of proxy is enclosed. The notes to the form of proxy include instructions on how to appoint the Chairman 
of  the  AGM  or  another  person  as  proxy.  To  be  effective  the  form  must  reach  the  Company’s  registrar,  Computershare 
Investor Services PLC at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY by 11 am on 13 September 2019.

Pursuant to regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, the Company specifies that only those persons 
registered in the register of members of the Company at 6 pm on 13 September 2019 (or if the AGM is adjourned, 48 hours 
before the time fixed for the adjourned AGM) shall be entitled to attend and vote at the AGM in respect of the number of 
shares registered in their name at that time. Any changes to the register of members after such time shall be disregarded 
in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the AGM.

Please  note  that  communications  regarding  the  matters  set  out  in  this  Notice  of  Annual  General  Meeting  will  not  be 
accepted in electronic form other than as specified in the enclosed form of proxy.

As at 19 June 2019 (being the last business day prior to the publication of this Notice) the Company’s issued share capital 
consists  of  60,047,458  ordinary  shares,  carrying  one  vote  each.  Therefore,  the  total  voting  rights  in  the  Company  as  at 
19 June 2019 are 60,047,458.

The following documents are available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during the usual business 
hours on any weekday (Saturday, Sunday or public holidays excluded) from the date of this Notice until the conclusion of 
the AGM and will also be available for inspection at the place of the AGM from 10.45 am on the day of the AGM until its 
conclusion:

(a)  the register of Directors’ interests in the shares of the Company; and

(b)  copies of the Executive Directors’ service contracts with the Company and letters of appointment of the Non-

Executive Directors.

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EXPLANATORY NOTES TO THE SPECIAL BUSINESS TO BE TRANSACTED AT THE MEETING

Resolution 6 – Directors’ power to allot relevant securities
Resolution 6, which will be proposed as an ordinary resolution, grants the Directors authority to allot shares in the capital 
of the Company and other relevant securities up to an aggregate nominal value of £1,000,791, representing approximately 
one-third of the nominal value of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 19 June 2019, being the latest 
practicable  date  before  publication  of  this  Notice.  The  Directors  do  not  have  any  present  intention  of  exercising  the 
authorities conferred by this resolution but they consider it desirable that the specified amount of unissued share capital is 
available for issue so that they can more readily take advantage of possible opportunities in the future.

Unless revoked, varied or extended, this authority will expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the 
Company or the date falling 18 months from the passing of the resolution, whichever is the earlier.

Resolution 7 – waiver of statutory pre-emption rights
Resolution  7,  which  will  be  proposed  as  a  special  resolution,  authorises  the  Directors  in  certain  circumstances  to  allot 
equity  securities  for  cash  other  than  in  accordance  with  statutory  pre-emption  rights  (which  require  a  company  to  offer 
all allotments for cash first to existing shareholders in proportion to their holdings). The relevant circumstances are either 
where the allotment takes place in connection with a rights issue or the allotment is limited to a maximum nominal amount 
of £150,119, representing approximately 5% of the nominal value of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company as at 
19 June 2019, being the latest practicable date before publication of this Notice. Unless revoked, varied or extended, this 
authority will expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company or 18 months after the passing of the resolution, 
whichever is the earlier.

The  Company  may  hold  any  shares  it  buys  back  “in  treasury”  and  then  sell  them  at  a  later  date  for  cash  rather  than 
simply cancelling them. Any such sales are required to be made on a pre-emptive, pro rata basis to existing shareholders 
unless shareholders agree by special resolution to disapply such pre-emption rights. Accordingly, in addition to giving the 
Directors power to allot unissued ordinary shares on a non pre-emptive basis, resolution 7 will also give the Directors power 
to sell ordinary shares held in treasury on a non pre-emptive basis, subject always to the limitations noted above.

The Directors consider that the power proposed to be granted by resolution 7 is necessary to retain flexibility in relation to 
the management of the Company’s share capital, although they do not have any intention at the present time of exercising 
such power.

Resolution 8 – authority to purchase ordinary shares (market purchases)
Resolution 8, which will be proposed as a special resolution, authorises the Directors to make market purchases of up to 
3,002,373  ordinary  shares  (representing  approximately  5%  of  the  Company’s  issued  ordinary  shares  as  at  19  June  2019, 
being  the  latest  practicable  date  before  publication  of  this  Notice).  Shares  so  purchased  may  be  cancelled  or  held  as 
treasury shares as noted above. The authority will expire at the end of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or 
18 months from the passing of the resolution, whichever is the earlier. The Directors intend to seek renewal of this authority 
at subsequent Annual General Meetings.

The minimum price that can be paid for an ordinary share is 5p, being the nominal value of an ordinary share. The maximum 
price that can be paid is 5% over the average of the middle market prices for an ordinary share, derived from the Daily 
Official List of the London Stock Exchange, for the five business days immediately before the day on which the share is 
contracted to be purchased.

The Directors intend to exercise this right only when, in light of the market conditions prevailing at the time and taking into 
account all relevant factors (for example, the effect on earnings per share), they believe that such purchases are in the best 
interests of the Company and shareholders generally. The overall position of the Company will be taken into account before 
deciding upon this course of action. The decision as to whether any such shares bought back will be cancelled or held in 
treasury will be made by the Directors on the same basis at the time of the purchase.

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Mulberr y Group plc

Group five year summary

53 weeks ended 30 March 2019

2015
 £’000

2016
 £’000

2017
 £’000

2018
 £’000

2019
£’000

Results

Revenue

148,680

155,867

168,121

169,718

166,268

Operating profit/(loss)

4,362

7,725

8,194

6,736

(4,980)

Profit/(loss) before tax

1,700

6,110

7,107

6,917

(5,008)

Profit/(loss) attributable to equity shareholders

(1,392)

2,685

5,338

6,391

(2,479)

Loss attributable to non-controlling interests

–

–

(348)

(1,485)

(2,372)

Assets employed

Non-current assets

Current assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Net assets

Key statistics

Earnings/(loss) per share

Diluted earnings/(loss) per share

47,355

62,539

40,904

69,159

36,667

78,584

34,421

84,914

41,580

67,590

(31,205)

(30,147)

(29,607)

(29,707)

(26,693)

–

–

–

(1,385)

(1,770)

78,689

79,916

85,644

88,243

80,707

(2.3p)

(2.3p)

4.5p

4.5p

8.4p

8.4p

8.3p

8.2p

(8.2p)

(8.1p)

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Mulberr y Group plc

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M

U

L

B

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R

R

Y

A

N

N

U

A

L

R

E

P

O

R

T

A

N

D

A

C

C

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3

0

M

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2

0

1

9

TEL +4 4 (0)1761 23450 0  MULBERRY.COM

FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 MARCH 2019

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