N BROWN GROUP PLC
ANNUAL REPORT
& ACCOUNTS 2015
FIT FOR
THE FUTURE
OUR 3 CUSTOMER
CENTRIC SEGMENTS
Power Brands
Support Brands
Specialist Brands
ALL THE RIGHT
MEASURES
This last year was an important one for our
company – a year of transformation.
We are comprehensively modernising the business in terms
of organisation, capability, infrastructure and processes to adopt
a digital-first mindset and to ensure that we are fit for the future
of retail. We are improving our product proposition and competitive
advantage by investing in quality and price.
During the year we also re-phased our seasonal product and
marketing plans to more clearly reflect consumer spending patterns
and to bring the business more in line with a modern clothing retail
model. Our work to rationalise our brand portfolio also continues,
with our focus remaining on our three Power Brands – JD Williams,
Simply Be and Jacamo.
Step-changing the way the business operates and presents itself
to market proved more disruptive than anticipated in some key
areas and this, combined with a very challenging Autumn trading
period across the sector, led to our profit performance falling below
initial expectations. Importantly, however, we are improving the
sustainability of future profit growth. We look to the year ahead
with great confidence and enthusiasm.
Contents
02
Financial Highlights
03
Five Year History
04
The Heart of N Brown
05
Simply Everywhere
06
Man About Town
07
Customer Satisfaction
08
Chairman’s Statement
09
Chief Executive’s Review
15
17
21
Directors and Officers
Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance Statement
33
Directors’ Remuneration Report
50
Independent Auditor’s Report to the
Members of N Brown Group Plc.
54
Consolidated Income Statement
54
Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income
55
Consolidated Balance Sheet
56
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
56
Reconciliation of Operating
Profit to Net Cash from
Operating Activities
57
Consolidated Statement of
Changes in Equity
58
Notes to the Group Accounts
82
Company Balance Sheet
82
Notes to the Company Accounts
IBC Shareholder Information
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
01
FINANCIAL
HIGHLIGHTS
2015
Financial Highlights
Continuing Operations
Revenue
Operating profit before exceptional items
Operating profit
Adjusted profit before taxation*
Profit before taxation
Adjusted basic earnings per share**
Basic earnings per share
Dividends per share
Net assets
Net asset value per share
Gearing
* Excluding fair value adjustments to financial instruments and exceptional items.
** See note 12 on page 66.
2015
2014
£818.0m
£93.8m
£81.2m
£86.2m
£76.3m
20.49p
21.23p
14.23p
£818.9m
£106.5m
£106.5m
£99.6m
£96.8m
27.74p
26.95p
14.23p
£496.6m
£485.3m
175.2p
50%
171.2p
44%
02
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
5 YEAR HISTORY
Revenue –
Continuing operations (£m)
Operating profit –
Continuing operations (£m)
Pre-tax profit* –
Continuing operations (£m)
700.4
736.2 768.6
818.9 818.0
102.0 101.7 101.8
106.5 93.8
97.6
95.3 94.7
99.6
86.2
11
12
13
14
15
11
12
13
14
15
11
12
13
14
15
Adjusted earnings per share**
– Continuing operations (p)
Dividends per share (p)
Net assets (£m)
26.88 28.84 28.04
27.74 20.49
12.41
13.03 13.68
14.23
14.23
360.4 402.3 446.0
485.3 496.6
11
12
13
14
15
11
12
13
14
15
11
12
13
14
15
* Excluding fair value adjustments to financial instruments and exceptional items.
** See note 12 on page 66.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
03
THE HEART
OF N BROWN
JD Williams. Our relaunch in Autumn
Winter 2014 was a great success - despite
the tough market backdrop - with a
double-digit increase in new customer
orders and a step-up in brand awareness.
As our largest brand, JD Williams is a key focus for us and
in Autumn 2014 it was entirely relaunched. We ran TV
advertisements for the first time, featuring our new brand
ambassador Lorraine Kelly. The relaunch has been very
well received by customers and this Spring saw a further
step-on in our product offering and brand awareness.
JD Williams is an online department store for the 50+
female, and we have exciting plans underway to further
improve our offering in the seasons ahead.
04
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
SIMPLY
EVERYWHERE
The opportunity for
the Simply Be brand is
significant. Whilst we made
pleasing progress during
the year our ambitions are
much greater.
To keep Simply Be in the hearts and
minds of our customers, we need to
use every channel available to us,
whether that’s online, on TV or in
key retail locations. So where better
to fly the flag for Simply Be than
Oxford Street in London? The new
store provides a stage to highlight our
fashion credentials to both a national
and international audience and initial
performance has been encouraging.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
05
MAN ABOUT
TOWN
Jacamo. Having enjoyed
revenue growth of 20%
last year, we saw revenue
rise again by 11% this year.
The introduction of two new labels
to the Jacamo portfolio has helped
attract even more customers to the
brand. Both Label J and Black Label
have built on the continued success
of the Flintoff range. We are also
driving brand awareness here too,
with TV advertising used for the first
time, showcasing the great range of
sizes, styles and brands available.
06
CUSTOMER SATISFACTION
Last year, we ranked
among the top 5 UK
clothing retailers for
customer satisfaction.
This year, we’re
number 3.
Ours is truly a customer-
focused operation. The absolute
foundation of our business
is genuinely understanding
the needs of our customers and
delighting them with every
purchase. We’re extremely proud
that they’ve placed N Brown
even higher up the rankings for
customer satisfaction this year.
There’s no room for complacency
though, because we will always
look for ways to serve our
customers better.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
07
Chairman’s Statement
The UK retail sector is changing at a pace, and we are changing even faster
to ensure that we compete effectively and prosper in this digital-first world.
Our catalogue heritage and niche position gives us many strengths — data analysis,
understanding our customers and tailoring our offer to them, fit capabilities
and our financial services offering. Our strategy has, and remains, to maintain
these significant advantages, whilst addressing our weaknesses and investing
behind the opportunities available to us.
We also, however, needed to
modernise the business, and this has
been a pivotal year for the company
on this journey. A combination of
a very difficult Autumn across the
sector and the short-term impact
of some of the changes we are
making led to a disappointing profit
performance, however, importantly,
we are improving the sustainability
of future profit growth.
Dividend
In addition to investing in the
business, in particular in our strategic
transformation plan Fit for the Future,
we also continue to recognise the
importance of cash returns to our
shareholders. We intend to pay a final
dividend of 8.56p this year, taking the
total dividend to 14.23p, unchanged
from last year.
Board composition
We have had a number of changes
to the N Brown Group Board this
year. Lesley Jones joined the board
as a Non-Executive in October.
She is a financial services executive
with over 35 years of marketing and
risk management experience.
In January we announced that Dean
Moore would be stepping down to
pursue other opportunities. Dean
has been Chief Financial Officer for
11 successful years and the Board
would like to thank him for his
very significant contribution to the
company during that time and wish
him every success in the future.
I am very pleased to say Craig
Lovelace joined us in May as the
new Chief Financial Officer of the
group. Craig was previously Group
Chief Financial Officer of BMI
Healthcare, and brings with him
significant experience in multi-site,
multi-platform businesses of scale.
His sector experience includes
technology, B to C interactive and
online media, and healthcare.
Finally, following the retirement of
Philip Harland, Theresa Casey was
appointed as our new Company
Secretary and Head of Legal Services
in March this year. We thank Philip
for his significant contribution during
his 15 years of service and welcome
Theresa to the role.
Outlook
The scale and pace of change required
to modernise the business put a great
deal of strain on our performance in
a difficult year for the clothing sector.
The fall in profits was nevertheless
a disappointment. However, we laid
important foundations for profit
recovery and long-term growth.
We have now bedded in many of these
changes and this year will see us push
on with executing our strategy.
The board remains confident in the
outlook for the business, and we
believe that we have the right strategy
in place to drive sustainable profitable
growth. I would like to thank all
stakeholders in the business, and in
particular the staff, for all of their
hard work, passion and dedication
throughout the year.
Andrew Higginson
08
Chief Executive’s Review
Our strategy remains
unchanged, and we are
convinced that we are
taking the right actions
to fundamentally improve
our business and its
prospects. Over the
course of the past year
we have worked hard
in three areas.
Firstly, the group has always had a
number of important strengths. These
include our customer demographics,
our extensive customer file, our
product fit capabilities, CRM and
our credit book. We have been very
careful to maintain these strengths.
Secondly, however, we had a number of
weaknesses, namely: merchandising,
the value for money of some of our
products, our digital marketing
capability, low brand awareness and an
under-invested systems infrastructure.
We have made progress in all of these
areas, and will continue to focus on
them going forward.
Finally, we have a business with
significant growth opportunities.
These include, but are not limited to,
capitalising on our attractive market
niches, broadening our appeal and
growing scale. We have therefore been
investing behind these opportunities
– improving product quality and
investing in price, introducing cash
payment options to allow us to gain
incremental customers, expanding
internationally and in stores.
Our performance against the KPIs we
use to assess long-term progress has
been mixed this year:
• We have delivered an excellent
performance in customer
satisfaction, and we are now ranked
third of all UK multi-channel
clothing retailers.
• In market share terms we have
seen gains of 20bps in 16-plus
Ladieswear and +10bps in Menswear
in the second half and, whilst
encouraged by these small gains,
we believe there is significantly
more growth potential here.
• Our online penetration has stepped
up strongly again, up over 2ppts to
59%, and we exited the year with Q4
penetration of 62%, up 3ppts.
• Our homewares strategy, to focus on
‘Famous Five’ categories (bedding,
home décor, homewares, outdoor
living and family gifts), is working
well, with sales in these categories
up 7% yoy.
• We have seen a pleasing
international performance, albeit we
deliberately constrained our growth
as we bedded in a third-party credit
offering. USA demand was up 13%
for the year.
• Operating margin was 11.5%, down
150bps yoy.
Looking ahead, we have a number of
projects in progress. From a customer
standpoint we will continue to build
the profile of our Power Brands, target
increased share of wallet and loyalty
from our existing customers, and
further drive service enhancements.
On infrastructure, this is the key
implementation year for our systems
transformation programme, which we
call ‘Fit 4 the Future’, and we are also
building a major warehouse extension
to support our growth. Finally, we
are working hard on improving our
processes, rationalising our product
line count and completing a store
efficiency review.
Customer metrics
Our active customer file increased by
2.4% and 23% of demand came from
new customers. Online we have seen
particularly encouraging metrics,
with online demand up 3% and active
customer numbers up 4% for the year.
Q4 online demand was up 10% and
online active customer numbers up
11%. We also continue to see very
encouraging conversion rates, up
to 5.5% at the year-end which is well
ahead of the industry average.
We continue to see very strong
demand from mobile devices, with
these now accounting for over half
of our online traffic.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
09
Financial Services
We are very pleased with the
performance of our Financial Services
business over the past year. Whilst
revenue from services declined by
2.9%, this was driven by a number of
policy changes we chose to make;
the gross profit contribution increased
year-on-year. Credit arrears are now
at the lowest level on record.
Financial Services remain an
important part of our business. Our
focus is on three areas: maintaining
our credit customer base, growing
the number of incremental cash
customers buying from us, and
modernising our Financial Services
offer. This latter target is enabled by
our systems transformation project
‘Fit 4 the Future’, which will give us
the tools to charge variable APRs,
offer promotional interest free periods
and allow us to make credit decisions
at a product level.
It is early days in our experience of
dealing with cash customers, although
we are pleased with our initial results.
The introduction of cash customers
has not resulted in a decline in the
population of our credit customers
who roll a balance. Instead, cash
customers are either incremental or at
the expense of credit customers who
immediately paid off their balance,
not incurring interest charges.
Cash customers share similar average
order values and order frequencies as
this latter group. What is encouraging
from a profitability perspective,
however, is that cash customers have
a 6ppts lower returns rate than either
group of our credit customers.
In common with the wider industry,
we are now regulated by the FCA,
having historically being regulated by
the OFT. We are progressing with our
full FCA authorisation.
Systems investment – Fit 4 the Future
Our systems transformation project,
called Fit 4 the Future, is now led
by our new CIO Andy Haywood.
He and his team have carried out
a comprehensive review of the
TO BE THE UNIVERSALLY
LOVED EXPERTS
IN FASHION THAT FITS
WE’LL DO THIS BY HELPING OUR
CUSTOMERS LOOK AND FEEL
AMAZING THROUGH OUR TRUSTED
FAMILY OF FASHION BRANDS
PRICE
Great prices
and flexible
ways to pay
PEOPLE
Obsessed with
customers, enriched
with data, powered
by technology
PRODUCT
Fantastic quality
and fit fashion,
home ranges and
relevant financial
services
PLACE
PLACE
Whatever you want,
Whatever you want,
wherever you are,
wherever you are,
whenever you want
whenever you want
it, we make it easy
it, we make it easy
G
U S T O
OUR VISION
Where we
are going
OUR MISSION
What we do every
day to achieve
our vision
OUR STRATEGIC
FOUNDATIONS
The drivers of
success to sustain
profitable growth
OUR VALUES
The power behind
our everyday actions
Product drivers
Over the past year we have made
significant improvements to our
product quality, further improving our
fit and size consistency and improving
fabric quality. We are also developing
unique and innovative products,
which build upon our considerable
skills and expertise.
From a price perspective, we decided
to make a number of investments to
improve our competitive positioning.
We have rebalanced our pricing
architecture, with clearer definition
between good, better and best
products. We introduced a small
number of key value lines, to highlight
our good value credentials to our
customers. At the top of our pricing
structure we have also improved the
ranging of our unique and premium
product, with occasionwear being a
good example.
For Spring 2015, we also moved JD
Williams to ‘All Sizes One Price’,
in line with our other brands. This
was following positive results from a
number of trials in Autumn 2014, and
based on our experience of making
the same change in Marisota last year.
These changes led in both cases to
a percentage margin reduction but
importantly, cash margin increased
after three to six months. Early results
in JD Williams are in line with our
expectations following past experience
with Marisota, and customer feedback
has been very positive.
10
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
project, with a focus on priorities,
deliverability and, importantly, risk
minimisation. The number of systems
releases have been streamlined and
the project length reduced.
The project is primarily focused
on customer facing improvements.
In association with the significant
systems change, we are also running
in parallel an organisational change
programme to ensure that we maximise
the benefits of our investment.
The overall project has been
re-scoped by the new team and
the business case reviewed, with
our latest projections for costs and
benefits shown below. The benefits
case remains compelling. The
benefit types include cost reductions,
increased demand, improved margin
and cost avoidance. Some of these
benefits will be reinvested back into
the business. The benefits case now
reflects a higher level of investment
in systems development, even post
implementation, due to the pace of
industry change.
The costs and expected benefits for
the three release streams of the project
are as follows:
£m
Cost
Benefits
Global multi-channel
transformation
Credit transformation
Planning transformation
Total
41
9
15
65
24
12
9
45
We expect these annual benefits to
start to ramp up from H2 FY16/17
onwards, with the full impact from
FY19/20.
Fit 4 the Future will give us a
considerable number of tools in order
to drive future growth and improve
efficiency, allowing us to trade with
far more agility going forwards.
The benefits of the programme
include significantly improved speed
to market, cloud-hosted technology,
a new international web platform,
new financial products, improved
personalisation, a new customer
contact centre system and a real-time
single customer view.
5 9 %
O N L I N E
P E N E T R A T I O N
+2.4%
ACTIVE
CUSTOMER BASE
+11%
J A C A M O
S A L E S
International & stores update
USA
Our performance in the USA was
pleasing, with product demand
growth of 13%. We reduced the
operating loss significantly, from
£4.7m to £2.5m.
Revenue growth was somewhat
constrained by our decision to
dial-down our recruitment activity
as we bedded in our third-party
credit provider. This credit offer
has performed strongly and has
significantly improved customer
loyalty, with credit customers seeing
a 250% uplift in second order rates
versus cash customers.
Our systems transformation
programme includes the launch of
a new international web platform.
Until this platform is live in mid-
2016, we will remain in cautious
expansion mode in the USA, with a
focus on further improving customer
loyalty, building brand awareness and
minimising operating losses.
Simply Be and Jacamo stores
Sales from our Simply Be and
Jacamo stores were up 64% to £13m.
The operating loss increased slightly,
from £1.6m to £1.8m, which we view
as a strong performance against
the backdrop of a significant store
opening programme.
Today we have 15 stores, of which
14 are dual-fascia. This includes five
stores we opened during FY14/15,
together with our Exeter store which
opened in March 2015. Exeter is our
best performing new store to date.
Our long-term strategy here is
unchanged – we plan to open a total
of 25 stores, covering 85% of the
population. We continue to see a
positive halo effect from our store
portfolio and they are also important
in terms of serving customers and
building brand awareness. This year
we are carrying out an efficiency
review, focused on logistics, because
we believe our operations could be
further optimised in this area. We will
update the market on this review at
the interim results in October.
11
FY15/16 Guidance
Our guidance remains unchanged to
that announced at the Q4 statement
on 11th March:
• Gross margin -100bps to flat
year-on-year
• Group operating costs up mid-single
digit year-on-year
• Depreciation and amortisation in
the range of £25m to £28m
• Net interest costs in the range of
£8m to £10m
• Capital expenditure of £50m to
£60m, as we accelerate our systems
transformation project and invest
in an extension of our warehouse to
support future growth.
In addition we are today providing two
further items of guidance for FY15/16:
• Tax rate of c.20%
• Exceptional costs of £5m -
£7m associated with business
restructuring.
Outlook
The UK retail sector is changing at a
significant pace, and we are changing
even faster as we modernise the
business so that we can thrive in the
new online-first world. Current trading
is in line with our expectations.
New reporting calendar
Following the change in reporting
requirements and driven by a
desire to improve the quality of our
" F A M O U S F I V E "
H O M E W A R E S A L E S
+ 7 %
communications, we are simplifying
our external reporting calendar.
we have seen with Jacamo
to our other menswear brands.
We will now issue a Q1 statement
in mid-June, followed by our interim
results in October, in which our
Q2 performance will be clearly
highlighted. We will then issue a
Christmas trading statement in mid-
January, which will cover our Q3
period together with December
and early-January trading figures.
For FY15/16 our scheduled
announcement dates will be:
• Q1 statement – 19th June 2015
• Interims – 14th October 2015
• Q3/Christmas trading statement –
21st January 2016
• Prelims – late April 2016.
Financial results
Revenue
Total continuing group revenue
was -0.1% to £818.0m. Within this,
revenue from the sale of goods
increased by 1.1% to £582.9m and
revenue from financial services
declined by 2.9% to £235.1m.
The table below shows revenue
performance by brand.
£m continuing
operations
Year to Year to
28 Feb
2015
1 March %
2014
change
JD Williams
Simply Be
Jacamo
294.6
134.2
77.3
302.8
132.4
69.6
-2.7%
+1.4%
+11.1%
Power Brands
506.1
504.8
+0.3%
Support Brands
Specialist Brands 77.5
234.4
245.3
68.8
-4.4%
+12.6%
Continuing
revenue
818.0
818.9
-0.1%
Whilst we are encouraged by the
relaunch of JD Williams, the poor
weather in September 2014 impacted
sales performance, accounting for
half of the year-on-year decline in
revenue of this brand. Simply Be was
also impacted, although to a lesser
extent, by the unseasonal trading
conditions. Jacamo performed
strongly with sales up 11%, and we
are taking learnings from the success
In line with our strategy of focusing
both our efforts and our marketing
spend on our power brands, revenue
from support brands declined by
4.4% and accounted for 28.7% of total
continuing revenue, down 130bps
versus last year.
Our specialist brands performed
strongly in the year, with revenue
+12.6% to £77.5m. This was driven by
a strong result from House of Bath.
£m continuing
operations
Year to Year to
28 Feb
2015
1 March %
2014
change
Gross Profit
Gross Margin %
425.6
52.0%
431.1
52.6%
-1.3%
-60bps
Distribution costs (73.9)
Sales &
Administration
costs
(257.9)
(69.4)
+6.5%
(255.2)
+1.1%
Operating profit
before exceptional
costs
93.8
106.5
-11.9%
Operating margin 11.5%
13.0%
-150bps
Gross margin
Overall gross margin was 52.0%,
down from 52.6% last year. Product
gross margin negatively impacted
group gross margin by -130bps. This
was driven by tactical markdowns and
price investment, partially offset by
the benefit of better buying. Financial
Services margin had a +70bps impact
on group gross margin, driven by a
better bad debt performance. The net
bad debt charge declined by 2.1% to
£66.4m from £67.8m last year.
Operating costs
Distribution costs increased by
6.5%, driven by volumes up 4.2%
yoy. We also invested in our delivery
proposition to ensure we remained
competitive. Finally, our new stores
also led to increased distribution costs.
Sales and administration costs were up
1.1% to £257.9m, a solid performance.
Within this marketing costs were
marginally down year-on-year.
12
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Net finance costs
Net finance costs were £7.6m
compared to £6.9m last year, due to
higher levels of average borrowings.
D I V ID E ND
M A IN TA IN E D AT
Exceptional items
Exceptional costs totalled £12.6m
(FY13/14: nil). These comprise £5.6m
14 .2 3p
REVENUE FROM
THE SALE OF GOODS INCREASED
BY 1.1% TO £582.9M
NET ASSETS
+2.3%
on strategy costs,
which include the outsourcing of our
call centre to Serco and group
re-organisation costs. These
exceptional items are broadly in line
with the £5m previously guided to.
We also incurred £7.0m exceptional
costs for VAT. This relates to a
potential settlement with HMRC in
respect of VAT recovery on bad debts
written off over a number of years.
We anticipate that this matter will be
settled in the current financial year.
We are also in discussion with HMRC
in relation to the VAT consequences
of the allocation of marketing
costs between our retail and credit
businesses. At this stage it is not
possible to determine when or how
this matter will be resolved. However,
within our year end VAT creditor is
an asset of £16.7m which has arisen
as a result of cash payments made
under protective assessments raised
by HMRC. Based on legal counsels’
advice, we believe that we will recover
this amount in full from HMRC.
Discontinued operation –
Gray & Osbourn
Following a review of the business and
its future profit potential, the board
decided to close the Gray & Osbourn
catalogue business in January 2015.
The closure process is ongoing, with
Spring/Summer 2015 being used to
clear remaining inventory. We expect
operations to cease by the end of
August 2015. Given the decision to
close this business it is now classified
as a discontinued operation.
Taxation
The effective rate of corporation tax
for the year is 21.7% (FY13/14 22.0%).
The tax charge for the year is £16.5m
(FY13/14, £21.3m) which meant that
profit after taxation and attributable
to shareholders was down by 34.9% to
£49.4m (£75.9m).
Earnings per share
Adjusted earnings per share from
continuing operations were 20.49p
(FY13/14: 27.74p). Statutory earnings
per share from continuing operations
were 21.23p (FY13/14: 26.95p).
Dividends
The board is proposing a final
dividend of 8.56 pence per share,
flat on last year, giving a full year
dividend of 14.23 pence, also
unchanged on the year, and covered
1.44 times (FY13/14: 1.95 times).
Capital expenditure
Capitalised expenditure for the year
was £63.3m (FY13/14, £20.8).
The breakdown of our capital
expenditure is as follows:
£m
Year to 28 Feb 2015
Fit 4 the Future
Warehouse
Stores
IT
Other
17
7
7
21
11
Total capital expenditure 63
IT spend of £21m includes some
necessary additional investment in
our proposition in order to ensure that
we remain competitive prior to our new
systems coming on-stream.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow
Inventory levels at the year-end
increased by 5.4% to £94.8m
(FY13/14 £89.9m). This was driven
by the timing of new season intake.
Trade receivables increased by 1.6%
to £587.4m (FY13/14, £577.9m).
The bad debt provision decreased
to £40.5m (FY13/14 £50.2m) which
equates to 6.5% (FY13/14, 8.0%) of
gross debtors. The reduction in the
provision reflects the improvement in
customer arrears profiles. The lower
level of customer recruitment in the
year due to the weak autumn trading
conditions also had a beneficial
impact on bad debt.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
13
The deficit position of the group’s
defined benefit pension scheme has
reduced to £3.3m compared to £4.2m
at the prior year end. The movement
predominately arises from a net
actuarial gain of £1.4m together
with service costs of £2.4m offset
by contributions of £1.9m.
fix the costs of sterling. This hedging
activity involves the use of spot,
forward and option contracts. At the
year end the group had outstanding
forward foreign exchange contract
commitments of $54m (FY13/14,
$51m) with a fair value of £1.1m asset
(FY13/14, £1.6m liability).
Cash generated from operations
increased from £60.8m to £93.8m
driven by an improvement in
working capital as a consequence of
slower growth in trade receivables.
After funding capital expenditure,
finance costs, taxation and
dividends, net debt increased by
£32.9m to £246.6m (FY13/14,
£213.7m). Gearing levels increased
from 44% to 50%.
Treasury
There has been no change during the
year to the group’s banking facilities
which are in place to support its
ongoing trading and development
activities. The group has committed
borrowings of £370m of which
£287m (FY13/14, £259m) was
utilised at the year end. The primary
facilities are a £250m securitisation
programme through an HSBC A-1/
P1 rated conduit that has a matching
standby facility. This facility is in
place until March 2016. Additionally,
the group has two revolving credit
loan facilities of £50m each with
HSBC Bank plc and the Royal Bank
of Scotland plc which also expire in
March 2016. All current facilities in
place at the year-end are arranged
at floating interest rates. Where
appropriate, exposure to interest rate
fluctuations on indebtedness may be
managed by using derivatives such
as interest rate swaps. There were no
interest rate swaps used in the year.
Foreign exchange requirements,
primarily for the purchase of stocks
denominated in US dollars may be
hedged for up to three years ahead to
Going Concern
In determining whether the group’s
accounts can be prepared on a going
concern basis, the directors consider
the group’s business activities
together with factors likely to affect
its future development, performance
and its financial position including
cash flows, liquidity position,
borrowing facilities and the principal
risks and uncertainties relating to its
business activities. These are set out
within this report.
The directors have considered
carefully its cashflows and banking
covenants for the next twelve
months from the date of signing the
group’s audited financial statements.
These have been appraised in light
of the current economic climate.
Conservative assumptions for working
capital performance have been used
to determine the level of financial
resources available to the company and
to assess liquidity risk. The key trading
risk identified by the directors for
these assumptions is the impact that a
deterioration in the economic climate
might have on the performance of the
group’s sales and debtor book.
The group’s forecast and projections,
after sensitivity to take account of all
reasonably foreseeable changes in
trading performance, show that the
group will have sufficient headroom
within its current loan facilities of
£370m. The group is in advanced
negotiations with its bankers in relation
to the extension of these facilities to
ensure appropriate levels of committed
funds are in place beyond 2016.
After making appropriate enquires,
the directors have a reasonable
expectation that the company and
the group have adequate resources
to continue in operational existence
for the future. Accordingly, they
continue to adopt the going concern
basis in the preparation
of the annual report and accounts.
Key Performance Indicators
The group employs a number of key
performance indicators (KPIs) to
monitor progress including:
Financial KPI’s
• Like for like sales growth; -0.4%
(FY13/14, +6.3%)
• Gross margin: 52.0%
(FY13/14, 52.6%)
• The number of customer debtor
accounts and their average debtor
balance, which at the year-end was
1,310,000 (FY13/14, 1,440,000) and
£455 (FY13/14, £409) respectively.
• Operating margin: 11.5%
(FY13/14, 13.0%)
• Interest cover: 12.3 times
(FY13/14, 15.4 times)
• Adjusted earnings per share:
20.49p (FY13/14, 27.74p).
Non-Financial KPI’s
• Mix of sales by brand and product
category (as discussed elsewhere in
this report)
• Proportion of online sales: 59%
(FY13/14, 57%)
• Proportion of online traffic from
mobile devices: 50% (FY13/14, 40%)
• UK Institute of Customer Service
index: 84% (FY13/14 84%)
• Average online delivery lead times:
3.6 days (FY13/14, 3.4 days).
Angela Spindler
14
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors and Officers
Left to right:
Angela Spindler,
Andrew Higginson, Dean Moore,
Craig Lovelace,
Lord Alliance of Manchester,
Ivan Fallon, Ron McMillan,
Fiona Laird, Simon Patterson,
Lesley Jones, Theresa Casey.
Angela Spindler (52)
Chief Executive d
Appointed Chief Executive in July 2013.
Previously chief executive of The Original
Factory Shop since 2009 and prior to this,
Angela had roles at Coca Cola, Mars Inc, Asda
and Debenhams.
Andrew Higginson (57)
Non-executive Chairman
Appointed a director on 3 July 2012 and
became Chairman on 1 September 2012.
Having started his career in consumer
products, with Unilever and Guinness, Andrew
spent 22 years as an Executive Director of
retail companies, first with Laura Ashley
Holdings, then The Burton Group, and for
fifteen years, on the Board of Tesco plc. At
Tesco, he was Group Finance and Strategy
Director for eleven years, then CEO of
Retailing Services for four years where he was
responsible for businesses including Tesco.
com and Tesco Bank. He is also Chairman
of Morrisons Supermarkets plc, and a non
executive director of Woolworths Za (South
Africa), McCurrach Ltd, and the Rugby
Football Union.
Dean Moore (57)
Group Finance Director
(resigned 30 April 2015)
Appointed in 2003. Previously Group Finance
Director at T&S Stores Plc and Graham
Group Plc. Also held various roles with
Lloyds Chemist Plc, Sketchley Plc, Blue Circle
Industries and Grant Thornton.
Craig Lovelace (41)
Group Chief Financial Officer
(appointed 11 May 2015)
Appointed in May 2015. Formerly Group Chief
Financial Officer for General Healthcare Group Ltd
since 2011 and prior to this, held a number of senior
UK and International finance roles at Regus Plc,
Electronic Arts Inc and PwC. Fellow of the ICAEW.
Lord Alliance of Manchester CBE (82)
Non-executive Director c
Appointed a director and Chairman in 1968. Stood
down as Chairman on 1 September 2012. Formerly
Chairman of Coats Viyella Plc. He is also a
director of a number of private companies, and was
appointed a life peer in 2004.
Ivan Fallon (70)
Deputy Chairman
Non-executive Director a, b, c
Appointed a director in 1994 and Deputy
Chairman on 1 March 2009. He was Chief
Executive of Independent News & Media (UK)
until March 2010 and a leading financial
journalist. His latest book is A Bazaar Life, The
Autobiography of David Alliance, the founder of
N Brown Group Plc.
Ron McMillan (62)
Non-executive Director a, b, c
Appointed a Director on 1 April 2013. Ron is a
Non Executive Director and Chairman of the
Audit Committee of B&M Value Retail SA, 888
Holdings Plc and SCS PLC. Previously, he was the
Deputy Chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers in
the Middle East and Northern Regional Chairman
of the UK firm.
Fiona Laird (54)
Non-executive Director a, b, c, d
Appointed a director on 1 April 2013. Senior Vice
President of Human Resources at Unilever plc.
She has served in numerous human resources,
compensation & benefits, labour relations,
communications and change management roles
globally for Unilever since joining the company
in 1991.
Simon Patterson (42)
Non-executive Director a, b, c
Appointed a director on 1 April 2013. Managing
Director at Silver Lake, a leading investment firm
focused on the global technology industry. He is
currently a board member of Dell and Intelsat,
and a Trustee of the Natural History Museum.
Lesley Jones (60)
Non-Executive Director a, c
Retired from executive life in January 2014 after
30 years in relationship and risk management
at Citigroup and latterly as Chief Credit Officer
for RBS Group Plc from 2008 through January
2014. Appointed as Non Executive Director and
Board Risk Committee Chair at Close Brothers in
December 2013 and a Non Executive Director of
N Brown Group Plc in October 2014.
Theresa Casey (46)
Company Secretary
Joined the company in January 2015. Admitted
as a solicitor in 1997, Theresa has held a number
of legal and company secretarial roles in the
financial services and retail sectors, including the
Co-operative Bank, Shop Direct, La Redoute and
Brown Shipley Private Bank.
a - Audit committee member
b - Remuneration committee member
c - Nomination & Governance committee member
d - CSR committee member
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
15
THE FACTS
AND FIGURES
17
21
33
50
54
54
55
56
56
57
58
82
82
Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance Statement
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Independent Auditor’s Report
Consolidated Income Statement
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
Reconciliation of Operating Profit to Net Cash from Operating Activities
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Notes to the Group Accounts
Company Balance Sheet
Notes to the Company Accounts
IBC Shareholder Information
16
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Report
Activities and results
The directors present their annual report
and audited financial statements for the
year ended 28 February 2015.
The principal activity of the group is multi-
channel retailing. The activities are more
fully explained and reviewed in the Chief
Executive’s Review on pages 9 to 14.
Group profit before taxation from continuing
operations for the 52 weeks ended
28 February 2015 amounted to
£76.3m (2014, £96.8m). No geographical
segmentation is provided because, other
than small operations in the Republic of
Ireland, Germany and the United States, all
activities take place in the United Kingdom.
Strategic report
In accordance with the Companies Act
2006 (‘Companies Act’), the company sets
out in this report a review of the business
of the group during the 52 weeks ended
28 February 2015 and the position of the
group at the end of that period to enable
shareholders to assess how the directors
have performed their duty under section
172 of the Companies Act (the duty to
promote the success of the company).
The report also describes the principal
risks and uncertainties facing the group
and provides a fair review of the group’s
business at the end of the financial year.
This information can be found within the
following sections of this report, and in
the Chairman’s Statement and the Chief
Executive’s Review all of which information
is incorporated by cross-reference into this
report and is deemed to form part of it.
The board oversees the development of
processes to manage risks appropriately.
The executive directors and operating
board directors implement and oversee
risk management processes and report
to the board on them. The board also
identifies and reviews key business risks.
Further detail can be found on page 26.
The board also monitors a number
of financial and non-financial Key
Performance Indicators (“KPIs”). These
KPIs are detailed on page 14.
As required by the UK Corporate
Governance Code 2012 (the “Code”),
pages 4 to 14 provide an explanation of
the basis on which the company generates
value and preserves it over the long-term
(its business model) and its strategy for
delivering its objectives.
Results, dividends and reserves
The financial statements set out the
group’s and company results for the
year ended 28 February 2015 and are
contained in pages 54 to 84.
An interim dividend of 5.67p per share
(2014, 5.67p) was paid on the ordinary
shares of the company on 9 January 2015.
The net cost of this dividend was £16.0m
(2014, £15.9m).
The directors recommend a final dividend
of 8.56p per share (2014, 8.56p) for the 52
weeks ended 28 February 2015, the net
cost of which will be £24.1m (2014, £24.0m).
The dividend will be paid on 31 July 2015.
Movements in reserves are shown in the
Consolidated Statement of Changes in
Equity on page 57.
Composition of the group
During the year there were no corporate
acquisitions or disposals.
Share capital
Details of the company’s issued share
capital are shown in note 23 on page 75.
The company has one class of ordinary
shares which carry no fixed income.
Each share carries the right to one vote
at general meetings of the company.
The ordinary shares are listed on the
Official List and are traded on the London
Stock Exchange. There are no specific
restrictions on the size of a holding nor
on the transfer of shares which are both
governed by the general provisions of the
company’s Articles of Association and
prevailing legislation (except as set out
below in the section entitled “Voting Rights
and Restrictions on Transfers”). No person
has any special rights over the company’s
share capital and all issued shares are
fully paid.
Details of outstanding employee share
options and the operation of the relevant
schemes are shown in note 28 on page 77.
The directors have no current plans to
issue shares other than in connection with
employee share options.
Annual general meeting
The annual general meeting will be held
at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, 14 July 2015.
The notice convening the annual general
meeting will be sent to members by way
of separate circular. Explanatory notes
on each resolution to be proposed at the
meeting will accompany the circular.
Directors
The biographies of the current directors,
are shown on page 15. With regard to
the appointment and replacement of
directors, the company is governed by its
Articles of Association, the Code and the
Companies Act.
At the 2015 annual general meeting all
of the current directors will retire and will
offer themselves for re-election.
The directors who served throughout the
year and to the date of this report were
as follows:-
Andrew Higginson
Lord Alliance of Manchester CBE
Angela Spindler
Dean Moore
Craig Lovelace
Ivan Fallon
Fiona Laird
Simon Patterson
Ron McMillan
John McGuire
Anna Ford
Lesley Jones
Non-executive Chairman
Non-executive Director
Chief Executive Officer
Finance Director
Chief Financial Officer
Non-executive Director
Non-executive Director
Non-executive Director
Non-executive Director
Non-executive Director
Non-executive Director
Non-executive Director
(resigned 30 April 2015)
(appointed 11 May 2015)
(retired 1 April 2014)
(retired 22 July 2014)
(appointed 1 October 2014)
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
17
Directors’ Report
Details of directors’ interests (beneficial
and non-beneficial) in shares of the
company are given in the Remuneration
Report on page 47 and are deemed to
be incorporated into this report by
cross-reference.
The powers of the directors are
described in the board terms of
reference and the Corporate Governance
Statement starting on page 21. The
terms of reference for the board and
its committees are available on the
company’s website (www.nbrown.co.uk).
Other than a contract of service, no
other director had any interest in any
disclosable contract or arrangements with
the company or any subsidiary company
either during or at the end of the year.
Directors’ and officers’ liabilities
The company’s Articles of Association
provide that, in so far as the law permits,
every director of the company or
associated company may be indemnified
by the company against liability. In
accordance with section 236 of the
Companies Act, 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. In addition, the group
maintains insurance for directors and
officers of the group, indemnifying them
INVESCO Asset Management Ltd
Nigel Alliance OBE
Schroder Investment Management Ltd
Legal & General Investment Management Ltd
Tameside MBC re Greater Manchester Pension Fund
against certain liabilities incurred by them
whilst acting on behalf of the group. Both
the insurance and indemnities applied
throughout the financial year ended
28 February 2015 and through to the date
of this report.
Major shareholders
In addition to the directors’ shareholdings
shown in the Remuneration Report on
page 47 and in accordance with Chapter
5 of the Disclosure and Transparency
Rules, the following notifications had
been received from holders of notifiable
interests in the company’s issued share
capital at 30 April 2015:
Holding
37,093,165
31,489,256
14,096,907
9,379,746
9,029,491
% of issued
share capital
13.08
11.11
4.97
3.31
3.19
Governance
The board is committed to maintaining
high standards of corporate governance.
Further details are contained in the
Corporate Governance Statement starting
on page 21.
Charitable and political donations
During the year, the group made charitable
donations of £40,818 (2014, £48,920). No
political donations have been made (2014,
nil). No contributions have been made to
non-EU political parties (2014, nil).
Pension fund
The company has a defined benefit
scheme The N Brown Group Pension
Fund (“Pension Fund”). Its assets are
administered by a trustee company
(the “Trustee”) which is controlled by a
board of directors and which includes
an independent trustee and others who
represent the interests of pension fund
members (including pensioners) and
the company.
The Trustee has appointed Mercer Limited
to provide various services including
actuarial advice, investment advice,
administration services and fiduciary
management services.
The Pension Fund is required to
undertake an actuarial valuation every
3 years and the last valuation took place
on 30 June 2012.
The company (and some of its associated
companies) are required to indemnify
the Trustee company and its officers
in respect of certain liabilities incurred
by them in the performance of their
obligations relating to the Pension Fund or
in the administration of the Pension Fund.
This amounts to a “qualifying pension
scheme indemnity provision” (as defined
in section 235 of the Companies Act).
The Pension Fund was closed to new
entrants with effect from 31 January
2002. New employees joining the group
after 31 January 2002 and existing
employees who had not joined the
Pension Fund as at that date are entitled
to join a stakeholder pension scheme
administered by Prudential Stakeholder
Pensions which provides a defined
contribution pension arrangement.
Auto-enrolment
‘The People Pension’ is the auto-
enrolment provider for weekly paid
employees, whilst Prudential auto-enrol
monthly paid employees and continue to
run the Stakeholder Pension for weekly
employees already in the scheme. As
at May 2015 80% of all employees were
members of a qualifying pension scheme
with 1,352 employees being auto-enrolled
as at the date of this report. At the date of
this report the current opt-out rate is 6.7%.
Financial risk management, objectives
and policies
The group is exposed to certain financial
risks, namely interest rate risk, currency
risk, liquidity risk and credit risk.
Information regarding such financial risks
is detailed in note 20 on page 73. The
group’s risk management policies and
procedures and the table of principal risks
and mitigations can be found on page 26.
Change of control
There are a number of agreements that
take effect, alter or terminate upon a
change of control of the company such
as commercial contracts, bank loan
agreements, property lease arrangements
and employee share plans. None of these
are considered to be significant in terms
of their likely impact on the business of
the group as a whole. Executive directors’
service contracts are terminable by the
company on giving 12 months’ notice.
18
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Report
There are no agreements between the
company and its directors or employees
that provide for additional compensation
for loss of office or employment that
occurs because of a takeover bid. No
relevant events were reported in the year.
Significant Contracts
The group has a number of contractual
arrangements with suppliers (both of
goods and services) and occupies
leasehold premises for the purpose of
conducting its business. Whilst these
arrangements are important to the
business of the group, individually none of
them are essential to the business of the
group and do not require disclosure under
section 417(5)(c) of the Companies Act.
Tax status
The company is not a close company
within the meaning of the Corporation Tax
Act 2010.
Auditor
A resolution to appoint new auditors to the
company will be proposed at the annual
general meeting on 14 July 2015.
The auditor’s fees for both audit and
non-audit work are given in the audit
committee report on page 25.
Voting rights and restrictions on
transfer of shares
None of the ordinary shares in the
company carry any special rights with
regard to control of the company.
There are no restrictions on transfers of
shares other than:
• certain restrictions which may from
time to time be imposed by laws or
regulations such as those relating to
insider dealing;
• pursuant to the companys code for
securities transactions whereby the
directors and designated employees
require approval to deal in the
companys shares; and
• where a person with an interest in the
company’s shares has been served with
a disclosure notice and has failed to
provide the company with information
concerning interests in those shares.
The directors are not aware of any
arrangements between shareholders that
may result in restrictions on the transfer of
securities or voting rights. The rights and
obligations attaching to the companys
ordinary shares are set out in the Articles
of Association.
Amendment of the company’s Articles
of Association
The company’s articles of association may
only be amended by a special resolution
at a general meeting of shareholders.
Where class rights are varied, such
amendments must be approved by
the members of each class of shares
separately. The company currently only
has one class of share.
Powers of the directors
The directors are responsible for the
management of the business of the
company and may exercise all powers
of the company subject to applicable
legislation and regulation and the
companys articles of association.
At the 2014 annual general meeting, the
directors were given the power to issue
new shares up to a nominal amount of
£10,442,189. This power will expire on
the earlier of the conclusion of the 2015
annual general meeting or 22 July 2015.
Accordingly, a resolution will be proposed
at the 2015 annual general meeting to
renew the Company’s authority to issue
new shares.
Directors were also given the power to
issue new shares up to a further nominal
amount of £10,442,189 in connection with
an offer by way of a rights issue. This
authority too will expire on the earlier of
the conclusion of the 2015 annual general
meeting or 22 July 2015, and a resolution
will be proposed at the 2015 annual
general meeting to renew it.
Approval was also given at the 2014
annual general meeting for a certain
number of shares up to a maximum
nominal value of £1,566,328 - to be
allotted pursuant to the authority granted
to directors set out above without being
covered by statutory pre-emption rights
regime. As with the previously mentioned
approvals, this authority too will expire on
the earlier of the conclusion of the 2015
annual general meeting or 22 July 2015,
and a resolution will be proposed at the
2015 annual general meeting to renew
this authority.
As in previous years, authorisation for
the directors to buy back the company’s
shares will not be sought at the 2015
annual general meeting.
Employee share schemes –
rights of control
The trustees of the N Brown Group plc
Employee Share Ownership Trust hold
shares on trust for the benefit of the
executive directors and employees of the
group. The shares held by the trust are
used in connection with the companys
various share incentive plans. The
trustees currently abstain from voting but
have the power to vote for or against, or
not at all, at their discretion in respect
of any shares in the company held in
the trust. The trustees may, upon the
recommendation of the company, accept
or reject any offer relating to the shares in
any way they see fit, without incurring any
liability and without being required to give
reasons for their decision. In exercising
their trustee powers the trustees may take
all of the following matters into account:
• the long-term interests of beneficiaries;
• the interests of beneficiaries other than
financial interests;
• the interests of beneficiaries in their
capacity as employees or former
employees or their dependents;
• the interests of persons (whether
or not identified) who may become
beneficiaries in the future; and
• considerations of a local, moral, ethical,
environmental or social nature.
Going concern
The directors have adopted the going
concern basis in the financial statements
and their opinion is explained on page 14.
Liability Statement
All the information contained in the
Chairman’s Statement on page 8, the Chief
Executive’s Review on pages 9 to 14, the
Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages
33 to 49 and the Corporate Governance
Statement on pages 21 to 32 form part
of this Directors’ Report. Any liability for
the information is restricted to the extent
prescribed in the Companies Act.
Directors’ responsibilities statement
The directors are responsible for
preparing the annual report and the
financial statements in accordance with
applicable law and regulations.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
19
Directors’ Report
The directors are responsible for
the maintenance and integrity of the
company’s website. Legislation in the
United Kingdom governing the preparation
and dissemination of financial statements
may differ from legislation in other
jurisdictions.
Company law requires the directors
to prepare financial statements for
each financial year. 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 have elected to
prepare the parent company financial
statements in accordance with United
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting
Standards and applicable 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 group and parent company and of the
profit or loss of the group for that period.
In preparing the parent company
consolidated financial statements, the
directors are required to:
• select suitable accounting policies and
then apply them consistently;
• make judgments and accounting
estimates that are reasonable and
prudent;
• state whether applicable IFRS’s as
adopted by the European Union 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.
Disclosure of Information to Auditor
Responsibility statement
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. 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.
Each person who is a director at the date
of the approval of this report confirms that:
• so far as the director is aware, there is
no relevant audit information of which
the group’s auditor is unaware; and
• the director has taken all steps that he or
she ought to have taken as a director in
order to make himself or herself aware
of any relevant audit information and
to establish that the group’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.
By order of the board
Theresa Casey LL.B (Hons) (Solicitor)
Secretary
22 May 2015
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 Chief Executive’s Review and
Directors’ Report, taken together,
include 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, taken as a whole, is
fair, balanced and understandable and
provides the information necessary for
shareholders to assess the company’s
performance, business model and
strategy.
By order of the board
Angela Spindler
Chief Executive
22 May 2015
20
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Corporate Governance Statement
Chairman’s introduction
Dear Shareholder,
The board is committed to meeting a high
standard of corporate governance and
compliance with the principles in the UK
Corporate Governance Code issued by
the UK Financial Reporting Council in
2012 (the “Code”). My role is to ensure
the board operates effectively, is well
managed, complies with the requirements
of the Code and has the correct balance of
diversity skills and experience to execute
the strategy set by the board. Over recent
years these characteristics have been
enhanced by a number of non-executive
appointments. Strong governance and
effective management is a key component
of the company’s continued success.
Statement of Compliance with the Code
The group complied with the provisions
of the Code and the UK Financial
Conduct Authority’s Disclosure and
Transparency Rules throughout the year.
The following paragraphs explain how
the main principles of the Code have
been applied. The Remuneration Report
contains further details on pages 33 to 49.
Disclosures required by the Disclosure
and Transparency Rules (rule 7.2.6)
regarding share capital can be found in
the Directors’ Report.
Board composition
The board comprises nine directors of
whom seven are non-executive including
the chairman. Of the seven non-executive
directors, Lord Alliance of Manchester
and Ivan Fallon are not considered by the
board to be independent. The Chairman
was considered independent at the time of
his appointment.
Full biographical details of all directors
appear on page 15.
There is a clear division of responsibilities
between the Chairman, Andrew
Higginson, who is responsible for the
effective operation of the board and the
Chief Executive, Angela Spindler, who is
responsible for the group’s operational
performance.
The board understands the need for
non-executive directors to be and remain
independent of the management in order
to be able to exercise proper oversight
and effectively challenge the executive
directors. The non-executive directors who
served during the financial year ended 28
February 2015 were:
• Andrew Higginson (Chairman);
• Lord Alliance of Manchester CBE;
• Ivan Fallon;
• John McGuire (retired 1 April 2014);
• Anna Ford (retired 22 July 2014);
• Fiona Laird;
• Simon Patterson;
• Ron McMillan; and
• Lesley Jones
(appointed 1 October 2014).
During the year there was one
appointment to the board. Lesley Jones
was appointed as a non-executive director
on 1 October 2014. John McGuire and
Anna Ford retired from the Board in April
and July respectively, I would like to
thank them both personally for their huge
contribution to the company.
The board considers that, throughout
the year, at least half of the board,
excluding the chairman, comprised
independent non-executive directors and
that the composition of the board had
the necessary balance of executive and
non-executive directors to provide the
requisite skills, experience, challenge
and judgement appropriate for the
requirements of the business and full
board effectiveness.
All board members remain in place as at
the date of this report.
Pursuant to the Code, all directors are
required to retire and submit themselves
for re-election annually. Accordingly,
each of the directors will retire at the
forthcoming annual general meeting and
offer themselves for reappointment at
that meeting.
With the exception of Ivan Fallon,
who remains on a three month rolling
arrangement, all non-executive directors
serve on letters of appointments
stipulating 3 year terms. All appointments
are terminable, without compensation,
on between three and six months’ notice
by either party and are subject to other
early termination provisions without
compensation, for example in the event
a director is not re-elected at the annual
general meeting.
The board, having carried out a
performance evaluation, believes the
performance of all directors and their
commitment to the role of director continues
to be fully effective. Further details of this
evaluation can be found on page 22.
Appointments to the board are made
solely on merit based on the skills and
experience offered by the candidate and
required by the role. This ensures that all
appointees have the best mix of skills and
time to devote themselves effectively to
the business of the board and to discharge
their duties to the best of their ability.
Details of directors’ contract terms are
shown in the Remuneration Report on
page 40. In accordance with the Code,
the company has made the terms and
conditions of appointment of the non-
executive directors available for inspection.
Diversity
The board recognises the importance of
diversity, including gender, at all levels
of the company as well as on the board.
The company is committed to equal
opportunities and increasing diversity
across our operations in terms of relevant
skills, experience, ethnicity and gender.
The board now comprises six male
directors and three female directors.
The board will continue to consider how
diversity can be enhanced through the
board and the senior management teams
and across the group generally, whilst
ensuring that it appoints only the most
appropriate candidates to the board.
Gender Diversity
We currently have 33% female diversity
at board level and 40% on the Home
Shopping board. This is over the current
Government target of 25% by 2015,
established in the Davies review, and
significantly higher than the current FTSE
250 who have achieved representation
at 18%. We believe that gender
representation makes good business
sense, given that women make up over
half of the UK population and almost 60%
of our total workforce.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
21
Corporate Governance Statement
Strengthening our executive pipeline
remains a permanent task for us and we
continue to open up new opportunities
for women in the business, working with
head-hunters and agencies that can
provide true gender diversification in their
candidate bases.
To provide role models in the business
and break the glass ceiling we are
members of “Women on Boards” and
have 2 representatives who serve in
that organisation (Caroline Massingham
– People and Retail director and Linda
Quinn – trading director). Our aim is to
allow development of board directors
and to allow directors to take up non-
executive roles in other businesses where
opportunities arise.
Gender Split
At the date of this report the gender split
(male/female, senior management and
entire workforce) is as follows:-
Male
Female
Heads %Split Heads %Split
Senior
Management
54
65
29
35
All
Employees
1,354
43 1,827
57
Board operation and evaluation
An effective board of directors leads and
controls the group. The members of the
board are named below. The board met 8
times during the year. Directors’ attendance
at board meetings was as follows:
Attendance
Andrew Higginson
Lord Alliance of Manchester CBE
Angela Spindler
Ivan Fallon
Dean Moore
John McGuire
(retired 1 April 2014)
Anna Ford
(retired 22 July 2014)
Fiona Laird
Simon Patterson
Ron McMillan
Lesley Jones
(appointed 1 October 2014)
8
8
8
7
8
1
4
8
8
8
2
The board is responsible for all major
policy decisions and for determining the
operational and strategic risks it is willing
to take in achieving its objectives. The
board has, where necessary, delegated
operational matters to its committees and
sub-committees, and to its executive and
operational directors and senior officers.
The board is collectively responsible
for providing effective leadership and
promoting the success of the group and
works to a formal list of matters reserved
for the board (a copy of which is available
on the company’s website, www.nbrown.
co.uk). Matters reserved to the board
include, amongst other things, decisions
on business strategy, the approval of
financial statements, the annual capital and
operating expenditure plans, investment,
treasury and dividend policies, governance
issues, major capital projects, overseeing
the group’s risk control procedures, board
membership and the composition of its
committees and the group’s ethical, social
and environmental policies.
The board governs through clearly
mandated committees, accompanied by
robust monitoring and reporting systems.
Further detail is given below.
Day-to-day management of the group’s
activities is delegated to the operational
board, known as the Home Shopping
board, on which Angela Spindler, Dean
Moore (until 30 April) and Craig Lovelace
(from 11 May) sit as chief executive officer
and finance director respectively. Other
members of the Home Shopping Board
are Paul Kendrick (Customer, Financial
Services and International Director),
Andrew Haywood (CIO and Change
Director), Ian Carr (Logistics Director),
Caroline Massingham (People and
Retail Director), Ann Steer (Marketing
Director), Ralph Tucker (Product Director,
Ed Watson (Global Communications
and Creative Director) and Linda Quinn
(Ladieswear and Design Director).
In January of each year the members of
the board meet with members of the Home
Shopping Board over a two day period to
review the progress being made against,
and the future development of, the group’s
long-term rolling strategic plan.
Board papers include detailed
management reports from the Chief
Executive and the Finance Director,
management accounts, broker analyses,
compliance and regulatory briefings and
bespoke reports. A comprehensive pack
of papers is electronically circulated to
each director not less than seven days
prior to each board meeting. Budgetary
performance and forecasts are reviewed
and revised at each meeting. Outside
of the meeting there is a regular flow
of information between the directors
including the weekly dissemination of
management information statistics.
Non-executive directors meet with
operational teams and the Home
Shopping Board and undertake site visits
to ensure that they have the most up-to-
date knowledge and understanding of the
company and its activities and also so
that the broader population of the group
can derive benefit from the skills and
experience of the non-executive directors.
All board members are permitted to
obtain independent professional advice
in respect of their own fiduciary duties
and obligations and have full and direct
access to the Company Secretary, who
is a qualified solicitor and who attends
all board and committee meetings as
secretary. The Company Secretary
provides an on-going programme of
briefings for directors covering legal and
regulatory changes and developments
relevant to the group’s activities and
director’s areas of responsibility. The
Company Secretary is also responsible
for the induction of new directors.
New directors are provided with a
comprehensive pack of information
(including terms of reference, information
regarding the business and guidance on
their roles and duties as directors) and
meetings/site visits with key employee
contacts are arranged as appropriate.
Inductions to the business for new
directors are designed to expose them
to all areas of the group’s operations
but with particular emphasis on each
director’s area of expertise.
Board Effectiveness appraisal
In accordance with Main Principle B.6 of
the Code the board appointed an external
evaluator to carry out an independent
effectiveness review of the board and
22
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Corporate Governance Statement
its committees. The review was carried
out by Consilium who has no other
connection to the company.
The appraisal included:
• Review of:- Board Agendas, Minutes
and Papers, strategy inputs, analysts
notes Board & Committee Remits
Internal Board evaluations.
• Interviews with all directors, the
Company Secretary and HR director.
• Observation of a Board meeting and the
annual strategy session.
• A report of findings.
• A Discussion of the report and
recommendation with the Board.
• Guidance for Senior Independent
Director’s leadership of the Board’s
process to evaluate the Chairman.
Overall, the review concluded that “the
Board has achieved much in the last
year; improving its own processes, the
structure and rigour of governance and
supporting Angela in developing her team.”
In particular the review noted that the board
are professional, self-disciplined and highly
committed and that the board operates in
an open and productive climate. Areas for
Board focus in 2015 included processes
and communications, focus and agenda
planning and information and metrics.
Based on the findings of the external
review, the Board has agreed a set of
objectives for 2015/16.
Beyond the annual evaluation, the
performance of the executive directors is
continuously monitored throughout the
year by the Chairman and the senior non-
executive director.
The Chairman reviews and agrees
with each director their training and
development needs.
Directors’ conflicts of interest
The Articles of Association of the
company give the directors the power to
consider and, if appropriate, authorise
conflict situations where a director’s
declared interest may conflict or does
conflict with the interests of the company.
Procedures are in place at every meeting
for individual directors to report and record
any potential or actual conflicts which
arise. The register of reported conflicts is
reviewed by the board at least annually.
The board has complied with these
procedures during the year.
One potential conflict of interest was
reported in the year ended 28 February
2015 in circumstances where the non-
executive concerned was neither directly
or indirectly involved in any potential
dealings between the group and the
company concerned. The conflict was
authorised by the board with appropriate
safeguards being put in place.
Board activities in 2014/15
Some of the key activities that the board
has covered over the past year are:-
• Strengthening the board through the
appointment of a new independent director
who is an experienced financial services
executive and the appointment of our new
CFO who has experience in dealing with
multi-site multi-platform businesses;
• Reviewing the progress and costs of the
Fit 4 the Future Project;
• Assessing the progress of the group’s
international and High Street strategies;
and
• Reviewing and improving
communications with our investors and
appointing a director of investor relations
Committees of the Board
The board delegates authority to a
number of committees to deal with specific
aspects of management and to maintain
supervision over the internal control
policies and procedures of the group.
These committees meet regularly and have
formal written terms of reference which are
available for inspection on the company’s
website. The minutes of the meetings of
these committees are circulated to all
committee members in advance of the next
following committee meeting, at which they
are ratified. The following committees of
the board have been established:
• an audit committee;
• a remuneration committee;
• a nominations and governance
committee; and
• a corporate social responsibility
committee.
After each committee meeting the
chairman of that committee makes a formal
report to the board of directors detailing the
business carried out by the committee and
setting out its recommendations.
Audit Committee Report
Introduction by Ron McMillan, Chairman
of the Committee
Dear Shareholder,
The Audit Committee exercises oversight
of the group’s financial policies and
reporting. It monitors the integrity of
the financial statements and reviews
and considers significant financial and
accounting estimates and judgements.
The committee satisfies itself that the
disclosures in the financial statements
about these judgements and estimates are
appropriate and obtains from the external
auditor an independent view of the key
disclosure issues and risks.
Amongst other things, during the year the
committee considered:-
• The regulatory environment in which
the group operates;
• The group’s approach to and
methodology for provisioning for bad
and doubtful receivables;
• The group’s approach to and
methodology for provisioning for
inventory;
• The group’s exposure to corporate tax
and VAT risks;
• The valuation of the group’s defined
benefit pension scheme;
• The presentation and appropriateness of
exceptional items;
• Treasury and cash management;
• Group security;
• Business continuity planning; and
• Fraud.
A key responsibility of the committee
is to review the scope, nature and
effectiveness of internal and external
audits. The committee ensures that the
head of internal audit has appropriate
independence and authority, that the scope
of internal audit’s work is not restricted and
that the function has adequate resources.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
23
Corporate Governance Statement
The head of internal audit has a direct
reporting line to me. The committee will
also continue to monitor and review the
key aspects of the group’s external audit.
In relation to risk and control, the
committee ensured that the three lines
of defence model which clearly attributes
responsibilities and accountability for
controls, was fully embedded.
Further information on the committee’s
responsibilities and the way in which they
have been discharged is set out below.
I will be available at the annual general
meeting in July to answer any questions
you may have on this report and would
like to thank my colleagues on the audit
committee for their help and support this
year.
Ron McMillan
Chairman of the Audit Committee
Audit committee report
Committee Composition
The committee comprises a minimum
of three members, all of whom are
non-executive directors. Two members
constitute a quorum. The committee
requires the inclusion of one financially
qualified member with recent and relevant
financial experience. The committee
chairman fulfils that requirement. All
members are expected to have an
understanding of financial reporting, the
group’s internal audit control environment,
relevant corporate legislation, the roles and
functions of internal and external audit and
the regulatory framework of the business.
The members of the committee during the
year were:
Ron McMillan (Chairman)
Simon Patterson
Fiona Laird
Lesley Jones (appointed 1 October 2014)
The Chief Executive, the Finance
Director, the head of internal audit and the
external auditor are invited to attend audit
committee meetings where appropriate.
The committee met 3 times during the year
and attendance was as follows:-
Ron McMillan
Simon Patterson
Fiona Laird
Lesley Jones
3
3
3
0
In addition to scheduled meetings, the
chairman of the committee met with the
Finance Director, the head of internal
audit and the external auditor on a
number of occasions during the year.
Responsibilities
The committee is responsible for:
• Monitoring the integrity of the group’s
financial statements and reviewing
significant financial judgements and
estimates in advance of these being
considered by the board;
• In conjunction with internal audit and
the external auditor, reviewing internal
financial controls and managements’
response to required corrective action;
• Monitoring and reviewing the role and
effectiveness of the group’s internal
audit function, including activities and
resources; and
• Overseeing the role and effectiveness of
the group’s external auditors, reviewing
and monitoring their objectivity and
independence and agreeing the scope
of this work, and related materiality and
fees for audit and non-audit services.
Activities
The key matters considered by the
committee during the year were:
Regulatory environment
The regulatory environment in which
the group operates is both complex and
changing with the transfer of regulatory
supervision from the OFT to the FCA.
Changes in laws and regulations may
impact the groups business, sector and
market. The committee reviewed updates
on the work carried out by the group’s
compliance committee and satisfied itself
that action is being taken to address the
changes that are required to comply with
new regulations.
Bad and doubtful debts
The methodology for provisioning for bad
and doubtful debts is complex and requires
significant judgements and assumptions.
The committee reviewed the outputs of the
detailed work undertaken by the external
auditor in this area and satisfied itself as to
the appropriateness of the provision.
Exposure to corporate tax and VAT
The group has a number of open items
with the tax authorities and the calculation
of the group’s potential liabilities or assets
in respect of these necessarily involves
a degree of estimation and judgement.
The Board sets and oversees the group’s
tax strategy which evaluates tax risk. In
undertaking this task the group uses its
tax advisors and legal counsel. During the
year the group’s tax advisers have kept
the committee appraised of existing and
emerging risks and the committee has
considered the appropriateness of related
tax provisions and assets.
In addition to the matters referred to in the
letter from the chairman of the committee
on page 23, the work of the committee
during the year included:
• Reviewing the draft interim and annual
reports and considering:
(1) The accounting principles, policies
and practices adopted and the adequacy
of related disclosures in the reports;
(2) The significant accounting
issues, estimates and judgements of
management in relation to financial
reporting;
(3) Whether any significant adjustments
were required arising from the audit;
and
(4) Compliance with statutory tax
obligations and the group’s tax policy.
• Meeting with the internal and external
auditor, both with and in the absence of
the executive directors.
• Reviewing and approving the resources
of, the scope of work undertaken by and
the reports prepared by internal audit.
• Reviewing the reports prepared by the
external auditor on key audit findings
24
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Corporate Governance Statement
and any significant deficiencies in the
financial control environment.
• Reviewing and considering the group’s
systems of internal risk control, sources
of assurance and exposure to fraud and
overseeing the development of a new
risk model for aligning identified risks
with mitigating actions.
• Overseeing the management of the
group’s whistleblowing procedures
which contain procedures for the
committee to receive, in confidence,
complaints on all operational matters.
• Reviewing the performance of the
external auditor, including their
relationship with the group, the group’s
use of the auditor for non-audit services
and the balance of audit and non-audit
fees paid to the auditors. Non-audit
services are generally subject to tender
processes and the allocations of work
are done on the basis of competence,
cost effectiveness, regulatory
requirements, the potential for conflicts
to arise and knowledge of the group’s
business. Deloitte LLP has, during the
year, provided non-audit services in the
form of corporate tax, and VAT advisory
work and regulatory compliance. It was
considered that Deloitte LLP was best
placed to provide such advice in view
of its knowledge of the group’s financial
position. The committee is satisfied that,
in relation to these services, Deloitte
LLP has taken actions to ensure that
any potential conflicts of interest are
properly managed.
• Reporting to the board on how it has
discharged its responsibilities, and
• Making recommendations to the board in
respect of its findings in respect of all of
the above matters.
The committee has established a
continuous process for identifying,
evaluating and managing the significant
risks the group faces. This monitoring is
principally based on reviewing reports
from senior management to consider
whether significant operational risks are
being identified, evaluated, managed and
controlled and whether any significant
weaknesses exist which need to be
addressed. During the year, committee
members have continued to receive,
consider and approve updated risk
evaluations from the operational directors.
Further details are given later in the Risk
Management section of this report.
The board considers that the processes
undertaken by the audit committee
continue to be appropriately robust and
effective and in compliance with the
guidance issued by the Financial Reporting
Council. During the year the board has not
been advised by the audit committee of,
nor identified itself, any failings, frauds or
weaknesses in internal control which it has
determined to be material in the context of
the financial statements.
Deloitte LLP has been the group’s auditor
for 13 years and, as indicated in our last
Annual Report we have reviewed their
appointment in light of changes to the
Code. Consequently, Deloitte LLP will not
seek re-appointment as the Company’s
auditors at the 2015 AGM. The committee
has commenced a competitive tender
process to appoint new external auditors
for 2015 onwards. A resolution at the
AGM will ask shareholders to confirm
the appointment of the successful firm
following the tender process.
The total fees paid to Deloitte LLP for the
year ended 28 February 2015 were £2.2m,
of which £1.9m was in respect of non-audit
services. Further details are set out in note
6 to the financial statements.
Risk Management
The directors have overall responsibility
for ensuring that the group maintains a
sound system of internal control. There
are inherent limitations in any system of
internal control and no system can provide
absolute assurance against material
misstatement, loss or failure. Equally no
system can guarantee elimination of the
risk of failure to meet the objectives of
the business. Against this background,
the board has established a continuous
process for identifying, evaluating and
managing the significant risks the group
faces in order to give it reasonable
assurances regarding its operations and
compliance with laws and regulations.
In order to ensure key business
developments and emerging risks are
appropriately factored into the risk
management process, the group’s internal
auditors facilitated two board level risk
sessions in the year. The Chief Executive
and Finance Director along with the
operational directors identified, ranked
and reviewed the key risks facing the
business and appraised the structure of
internal controls and identified current and
proposed activities to mitigate these risks.
The committee was provided with the
outputs from this process and given the
opportunity to conduct its own assessment
of risk across strategic, financial and
operational areas. The results were
circulated by internal audit as a key driver
in the annual internal audit plan.
An enterprise wide mapping of activities
across business functions was also
undertaken by internal audit during the
year to assess the level of risk within each
activity. Output from this process has also
been reflected in the annual audit plan.
Appropriate responsibilities and
accountabilities have been set to ensure that
there is ownership of the actions required to
mitigate risk across the business.
Risk committee
The risk committee is a sub-committee of
the audit committee on which the Chief
Executive, Finance Director, the Company
Secretary and head of internal audit sit,
to focus on reviewing managements
activities and to continually monitor and
manage the risks identified. Operational
management is asked to present to the
risk committee on a cyclical basis on the
progress of agreed actions against the
major risks identified by the process. The
output from the risk committee is shared
with the audit committee and the full board.
The com mittee believes that appropriate
internal controls are in place throughout
the group, the most significant of which
have been specifically referred to in this
report. The group has a well-defined
organisational structure, with clear lines
of responsibility and explicit authority
delegated to divisional boards and
executive management. The group also
has a comprehensive financial reporting
system with good communication of plans,
budgets and monthly results to relevant
levels of management and the board.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
25
Corporate Governance Statement
The group has complied, and continues
to comply, with the provisions of the Code
on internal controls. There is an on-going
process in place for identifying, evaluating
and managing the significant risks
facing the group that has been in place
throughout the year and to the date of this
report. The process has been reviewed by
the committee and the board and accords
with guidance appended to the Code.
The principal risks which the group has
identified, together with actions to mitigate
those risks are set out below:
Risk
Mitigating activities
Failure to recognise the need for change
The business does not recognise the need for change, is
unsuccessful in delivering the best course of action or fails to
execute chosen strategy.
Competition
Failure to compete effectively through product and
service propositions.
Regulatory environment
Failure to ensure the Group complies with existing and emerging
UK and overseas legislation and regulation.
IT systems
The replacement of core legacy IT systems is too slow,
expensive or ineffective.
Overseas ventures
Overseas ventures under-perform against expectations and
expose the group to additional risk.
People
Over-reliance on key personnel and inability to recruit and retain
required skill sets.
Business interruption
A significant event impacts the ability of the business to
continue trading.
• Board strategic planning away-days.
• Fit 4 the Future two year business transformation programme
which will facilitate the omni-channel retail vision.
• Monitoring of performance against strategic objectives
and targets.
• Robust change management programme.
• Responsive to market demands. For example the credit
transformation programme and new product capabilities.
• Continuous monitoring and benchmarking of
competitor activity.
• Dedicated Customer Insight team undertakes customer
perceptual gap surveys.
• Investment in price programmes.
• Fit 4 the Future two year business transformation programme
which provides platforms to meet customer requirements.
• Warehouse expansion project to develop and expand the
customer delivery proposition.
• The Group employs specialists in relevant fields to provide
in-house and external expertise.
• Governance and change control strengthened through
incorporation of additional committee oversight.
• Dedicated regulatory compliance function.
• Pro-active engagement with appropriate regulatory bodies.
• Membership of the British Retail Consortium.
• Group recruits specialist in-house and external resources.
• Regular review of IT strategy and its implementation.
• Fit 4 the Future two year business transformation programme
which is focused on the replacement and standardisation of
IT platforms.
• Monitoring of performance against targets and post-investment
implementation reviews.
• Employment of dedicated executive and management teams.
• Recruitment of specialist external consultancy services.
• Introduction of credit offer in the USA.
• Review of performance against targets.
• Organisation capability review undertaken.
• Group internal opportunities and reward systems.
• Introduction of talent identification programme.
• Employee engagement surveys.
• Benchmarking of competitors’ reward packages and terms
and conditions.
• Business Continuity Planning programmes.
• Crisis management plan, team and communication systems.
• IT disaster recovery plans including penetration testing.
• Fit 4 the Future two year business transformation programme.
26
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Corporate Governance Statement
Remuneration committee
A Remuneration Report in accordance
with the requirements of the Large and
Medium-sized Companies and Groups
(Accounts and Reports) Regulations
2008 (as amended), together with a letter
from the chairman of the remuneration
committee, are included on pages
33 to 49. Information concerning the
committee’s activities during the year is
set out in those reports.
Nomination and governance committee
Introduction by Simon Patterson,
Chairman
Dear Shareholder,
In July 2014, the remit of the Nomination
Committee was expanded and re-named.
The objectives of the committee are to
ensure the board comprises individuals
possessing the requisite skills, knowledge
and experience and to review and make
recommendations to the Board to ensure
that the Company’s arrangements are
consistent with best practice corporate
governance standards.
Lesley Jones completed a full induction
programme, which involved spending time
with the main functions and departments
of the business. She is a member of the
Nominations and Governance Committee
and the Audit Committee.
The nomination and governance committee
is chaired by me, and the members are
Andrew Higginson, Lesley Jones, Ron
McMillan and Fiona Laird. The formal terms
of reference for this committee require it to
make recommendations to the board for
appointments of directors including, when
appropriate, the Chairman of the board and
also directors of the operating board and
other senior executive staff of the operating
company. Where appropriate, the Chief
Executive and Company Secretary are
invited to attend meetings of the committee.
The committee evaluates board
candidates on merit, against objective
criteria, taking into account the skills and
experience required to perform the duties
of the post with due regard to diversity
and gender. Where appropriate, external
search consultants are engaged.
MWM Consulting LLP (“MWM”) were
appointed by the Committee to assist
in the discharge of its duties. The
appointment of Lesley Jones as a non-
executive director on 1 October 2014
was as a result of an external candidate
search and selection process conducted
by MWM. MWM have no other connection
with the company.
During the year the committee met on
two occasions with full attendance by all
members.
Activities undertaken during the year
included review of the company’s
succession planning and capital
expenditure policy.
In accordance with Listing Rule 9.2.2AR(2)
(a) the company has entered into a written
and binding relationship agreement with
Lord Alliance of Manchester CBE.
Simon Patterson
Chair of the Nominations Committee
All People
Where people are concerned, so are we
We want everyone who works for us,
wherever they are, to be treated with
fairness, dignity and respect. Because
everything we achieve as a business, we
achieve through people.
One Planet
Protecting the earth begins with
respecting it
We’re determined to understand our effect
on the world, and find better smarter
and more sustainable ways of working.
To learn and to teach, to recycle, reuse
and respect, wherever we are on our big
beautiful planet.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR)
Every Product
Introduction by Fiona Laird, Chairman of
the CSR Committee.
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to report that during the
year the group has undertaken an
extensive review of all aspects of the CSR
(Corporate Social Responsibility) Policies
and Procedures. We will be launching
our CSR Charter later this year with the
overarching title of “Taking Care of Our
World - Our passion for fair fashion” which
comprises three main pillars – All People,
One Planet, Every Product as explained
below.
We believe we should be a major force for
good as well as a major force in fashion.
It’s a huge responsibility, and a purpose
way beyond profit.
Fiona Laird
Chairman of the CSR Committee
Corporate Social Responsibility
During the year the group has undertaken
an extensive review of all aspects of the
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility)
Policies and Procedures. We will be
launching our CSR Charter later this year
with the overarching title of “Taking Care
of Our World” Our passion for fair fashion
which comprises three main pillars as
listed below.
We believe we should be a major force for
good as well as a major force in fashion.
It’s a huge responsibility, and a purpose
way beyond profit.
Our products should make people feel
as good as they look
That means partnering suppliers who
share our standards, working together to
create ever more responsible, sustainable
products that our customers can enjoy
with confidence and with conscience.
It’s a big word and a huge task to change
it. We’ve taken our first steps on this
important journey, but we have a long
way to go. Making a positive impact is our
obligation not an option. We know that
achieving all this will take collaboration
and co-operation with others. And
because we are in a position to lead, we
are ready to stand up and be counted.
Everything that we will do going forward
will link back to these three main pillars.
We have reviewed and updated our
policies and procedures. As part of this we
have adopted the following policies:
Human Rights Policy – This covers our
support of the United Nations Declaration
of Human Rights and International Labour
Organisation Core Conventions. We are
developing our Human Rights Impact
Assessments and will begin reporting on
these next year.
Animal Welfare Policy - Covers all aspects
of animal welfare including endangered
species, fur free, leather, wool, cashmere,
feather and down and animal testing.
As part of a gap analysis we will this
tear work on a Forestry Strategy and
Deforestation Policy.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
27
Corporate Governance Statement
We continue to be signatories to the
United Nations Global Compact and have
recently published our first Communication
on Progress report. During the year our
Ethical Trading Manager was selected to
be a member of the Advisory Group on
Supply Chain Sustainability.
We continue to play an active role as
members of the ETI (Ethical Trading
Initiative). This year we have participated
in a number of programmes:-
Leicester Programme – Along with
a number of other retailers we
commissioned an independent review
of Leicester’s garment manufacturing. It
was felt that some substantive research
was needed to help understand the wider
issues before we could decide on what
action to take. The report highlighted a
number of issues surrounding excessive
working hours, low wages and regular
unauthorised sub-contracting. We are
currently working on a programme of work
to tackle all the issues raised together
with trade unions and civil society. We
are committed to support our suppliers
in Leicester to raise the standards of the
industry as a whole.
Tamil Nadu, Southern India – Again
together with other retailers and NGO’s
we are tackling the wider Sumangali
scheme. This scheme is where young,
usually women workers, are attracted
to employment in mills and factories in
the Tiripur region with the promise of
paid work, safe accommodation and a
final lump sum payment. However recent
research has shown that some of these
schemes are the equivalent of bonded
labour, with excessive working hours,
poor living conditions and lump sums
not being paid at the end of the scheme.
We are working with other retailers and
textile suppliers to set up a regulation,
inspection and service model in the
region that can be up scaled across
all mills and factories. The project is
currently engaging 2,650 workers across
six spinning mills and one factory.
During the year we continued our support
for the Bangladesh Accord Agreement.
http://bangladeshaccord.org/. We are
signatories to the Accord along with over
180 global retailers who source from
Bangladesh. The Accord was formed
in 2013 following the tragic Rana Plaza
building collapse in April 2013. It is a
five year commitment to improve the
standards in the Bangladeshi garment
industry specifically in the areas of
fire, electrical and structural safety. We
were founding board members of the
Accord and committed significant time
and resources during the first year of
set up. All our factories manufacturing
in Bangladesh have had independent
inspections with the reports and
corrective action plans publically
disclosed on the website.
We have successfully bid for funding to
undertake a project as part of the TGVCI
(Trade in Global Value Chains Initiative)
jointly funded by DFID (Department
for International Development) and
ourselves. This project will focus on
gender sensitisation of workers and
managers in ten of our garment factories in
Bangladesh. We wish to focus on attitude
change with the factories by encouraging
worker/management dialogue, build local
capacity to support this on the ground and
empower factories to initiate and complete
improvement projects as a result of the
dialogue. This will be through a train the
trainer approach in a safe environment.
This project is planned to run to April 2016.
Through our membership of BSR
(Business for Social Responsibility), we
are part of a working group of six brands
on responsible sourcing from Myanmar.
This is a year long project to try and tackle
some of the more systemic issues left in
Myanmar after years of sanctions. We are
focussing on freedom of association and
child labour remediation. We will also work
to develop intercultural communications
training to begin the process of dialogue
and understanding of what good industrial
relations can achieve. We are currently
working with UNICEF and the ILO to
progress the work of the group over the
next year.
We are also focussing our work in the
area of Living Wage within the garment
industry. We are working together with
13 global brands and a global trade
union, IndustriALL, to find a co-ordinated
approach across the industry in a very
complex and difficult area.
We are introducing a clothing recycling
scheme as a trial with our customers.
We will be distributing 250,000 bags and
will utilise our current courier network to
collect any unwanted clothing. This is
aiming to encourage less clothing to go to
landfill. We are partnering with a charity
called Traid http://www.traid.org.uk/ who
will either sell the clothes in their network
of 12 charity shops or recycle the fabric
if the clothes are not saleable. All profits
are then invested in projects in garment
producing countries all around the world,
including the UK. We will also be able
to report on the amount we have saved
going to landfill and the impact this has
had on waste and water usage.
The group’s policy for the payment
of suppliers is to ensure that terms of
payment are negotiated with suppliers
when agreeing the terms of each
transaction and to ensure that all
suppliers are made aware of and accept
agreed payment terms. The group
continually reviews payment procedures
and liaises with suppliers to eliminate
difficulties and to maintain good working
relationships. Agreed payment terms are
then abided by and payment is made
in accordance with those terms. Trade
creditors of the group at 28 February 2015
represented 30 days (2014, 36 days) of
purchases.
We have also undertaken a full review
of the group's charity support. We
have engaged with customers and
employees to find the most relevant type
of charities they wish to support. We
are in the process of shortlisting to find
the best strategic partners for a three
year commitment going forward. We are
ensuring these will be relevant for our
core power brands JD Williams, Jacamo
and Simply Be. More information on the
choice of charities will be released later
in the year. We are working with the
Charities Aid Foundation to find the best
way to maximise our impact in this area.
Environment
Overview
Our sustainability strategy and
environmental performance has become
an integral element of our core business
strategy. As a responsible multi-channel
retailer, we have formally committed
to reduction targets and continually
strive to exceed expectations of our
customers, staff and investors. Group-
wide sustainability responsibility has been
assigned to Ian Carr, director of logistics,
who sits on the operational board of J D
Williams & Company Limited and who
reports to the Chief Executive Officer and,
through him, to the board of directors.
28
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Corporate Governance Statement
Since 2007, the group has been actively
working alongside its environmental
partners, Envantage Limited and
Viridor Limited, to boost environmental
performance and increase group-
wide environmental awareness and
accountability. Ongoing investment
into energy, carbon, waste and water
minimisation initiatives has led to a
considerable reduction in our carbon
emissions and water footprint profiles.
Emissions profile
Our Green House Gas (GHG) emissions
inventory is calculated for the global
Group under the operational control
approach, in accordance with the GHG
Protocol and GHG emissions factors
published by DECC (Department of
Energy & Climate Change). The inventory
is independently calculated by our partner
carbon consultants Envantage Limited.
Under GHG reporting guidelines,
scope 1 and 2 emissions are the key
mandatory areas to report, illustrating the
environmental impact of the Group for
activities where we have direct control- i.e.
operation of our sites and vehicles. As a
responsible retailer we have also taken
steps to quantify as many extra optional
scope 3 emission sources related to our
operation to boost our environmental impact
assessment and emissions reduction plan.
Total GHG tCO2e
2013 – 2014
(Comparison year)
2014 – 2015
(Current year)
Scope
Scope 1
Source
Gas
Diesel
HFC
Gas oil
LPG
Company and pool car
Scope 2
Electricity
Total scope 1 and 2
Scope 3
Water
Employee Commuting
2,386.2
477.3
259.8
101.2
-
149.5
8,996.9
12,370.9
37.3
3,000.9
Business travel (air, road and rail)
1,100.0
Well to tank (all)
Total
Outside scopes- Biogenic element- Diesel
2,023.8
18,532.9
11.9
This table and chart illustrate our GHG
emissions across all our reporting areas,
for the global Group from March 2014 to
February 2015 and the previous year.
Business travel (air,
road and rail) 10%
Well to tank (all) 11%
1,890.1
573.2
261.0
56.6
10.2
137.8
10,306.6
13,235.5
37.9
2,137.0
1,883.4
2,117.1
19,410.9
13.8
Employee
Commuting
11%
Water 0.2%
N Brown Group Plc GHG
emissions profile
2014-2015 (tCO²e)
Gas 10%
Diesel 3%
LPG 0.1%
HFC 1%
Company
and pool
car 0.7%
ElectricIty 53%
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
29
Corporate Governance Statement
As a growing organisation, evaluation of
scope 1 and 2 emissions performance
using intensity ratios allows a more
meaningful comparison to be made
between inventory periods. The table
below shows the scope 1 and 2 GHG
emissions by GHG emissions in relation to
both Group turnover (£million) and million
items dispatched.
Intensity ratios
2013-2014
Comparison year
2014-2015
Current year
Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions tCO2e / group turnover (£million)
14.8
Scope 1 & 2 GHG emissions tCO2e / million items dispatched
400.4
15.9
370.2
% Change
7.4% increase
7.5% decrease
Since the last annual report the Group
has increased operational hours and
activities across its main distribution
sites to meet an increased demand
for products. This increased demand
is illustrated in the increased number
of dispatched items during the 2014 -
2015 period. We have also increased
the number of facilities and supporting
services we operate as we have
developed and grown our Simply Be
brand. Due to continued investment into
carbon reduction and energy efficiency,
we have successfully reduced GHG
emissions per unit dispatched by 7.6%
since the previous reporting period.
The majority of the Group’s scope 1 &
2 GHG emissions (tCO²e), as outlined
in the table on the previous page, are
associated with electricity, natural gas
and diesel (internal haulage) across
our facilities and vehicles. Since the
last reporting period our actual energy
consumption in kWh across electricity,
gas and diesel has reduced by 3.7%,
despite a significant increase in business
activities. Assessment of energy in kWh
on a relative basis to the number of items
we dispatched in 2014-2015, shows a
significant reduction of 16.8% when
compared to the previous year.
Electricity
Although our overall Group energy
consumption in kWh has reduced since
the last reporting period, our electricity
consumption in kWh has increased by
5.6% due to the growth of the Simply Be
high street brand. However, electricity
consumption across all other divisions
has remained static despite increased
working hours and increased handled
goods. The Group have been working
to reduce electricity demand by ongoing
energy management and investment into
new technologies such as LED lighting.
Although electricity consumption has
slightly increased since the last reporting
period, our electricity GHG emissions
(tCO²e) are indirectly higher due to an
increase in published electricity emissions
factors for 2014. Effectively the electricity
grid is less green on average in 2014 than
it was in 2013, making the associated
GHG emissions higher per kWh.
Brown Energy 16%
Green Energy 84%
Green electricity profile
2014-2015
As a responsible retailer, we have been
purchasing green electricity for a number
of years. During the last inventory period
our green electricity accounted for
83.5% of our total profile. In addition to
purchasing green electricity, we will now
be generating our own green energy onsite
following the recent installation of a solar
PV plant at our main distribution centre.
Diesel (haulage)
Diesel consumption has also grown
since the last year due to an increase in
distance travelled and vehicle utilisation
in order to support our growing brand.
However, on a relative basis achieved
miles per gallon (MPG) have actually
improved due to driver training, journey
planning and improved load management.
Natural Gas
Our gas consumption has significantly
dropped across the group by 20.7% since
the previous period, despite a colder
winter and an increase in the number
of handled items and steam cleaned
returned goods. Gas consumption has
successfully reduced due to significant
investment into heating controls, energy
efficiency boilers and more efficient steam
tunnels for returns cleaning.
Mandatory GHG reporting notes
This data disclosed is in conformance
the companies Act 2006 (strategic report
and directors’ report regulations). GHG
emissions disclosed under the required
reporting categories fall within the groups
consolidated financial statement. Scope
1 and 2 emissions have been calculated
on a global scale where the group have
operation control using the GHG protocol.
The quantified emissions are for the
reporting year 1st March 2014 to 28th
February 2015.
GHG emissions factors published by
DECC for 2014 have been used to
calculated GHG emissions.
30
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Corporate Governance Statement
Note change in emission for 2013-2014
• Data accuracy: Some data for the
2013-2014 inventory has been updated
based on actual data or more accurate
data for some sources.
• Update in DECC emissions factors:
Emissions from the previous published
report for the period 2013-2014 have
been recalculated with the newly
published factors for 2014, affecting the
months of January and February 2014
(2014 factors were not available at time
of publish). This has resulted in a slight
change in emissions reported.
Data records
• Natural Gas and electricity: Data is
primarily calculated based on actual
metered consumption from invoices or
meter readings. Where actual metered
data is not available as energy is billed
as part of a landlord service charge,
energy consumption has been estimated
using floor areas and published
benchmarks. Some data has been
estimated where quarterly bills have not
yet been published.
• Gas oil: Fuel is used in stand by
generators and onsite transport (forklifts
etc.). Data for onsite transport is
calculated using actual fuel usage from
invoices. Generator fuel usage has been
estimated using generator fuel demand
per hour and activation information.
• LPG: Fuel has been used in 2014 for
space heating at one site. Data is based
on invoices.
• Diesel: Data is calculated based on
actual fuel consumption from invoices.
• Company car: Data is primarily calculated
for the group using data logged in
our global expense system which
records distance travelled, and vehicle
information for each business travel
expense claimed. Any company cars
not logged on this system have been
estimated based on milometer readings.
• HFC: Refrigeration emissions have been
calculated from the F-Gas register for
applicable plant. Emissions for plant
not affected by this regulation (smaller
systems) have been calculated using
data provided by full service records.
Where service records were not
available for a very small number of
shops refrigeration losses have been
estimated using DECC leakage tables.
Employees
The Chief Executive has board level
responsibility for employment matters.
Employee involvement - Our success has
been substantially contributed to by an
engaged, enthusiastic, motivated and well-
trained workforce. Considerable resources
are devoted to employee training, with a
large dedicated training team based in
the contact centre with around 40 people
providing customer service and systems
training to ensure our customers receive
the highest possible levels of service.
A management development team based
at head office provides learning and
development support for head office
teams and all subsidiary and support
divisions. The entire management
team undergoes a bespoke 360 degree
appraisal process every two years with
the intention of ensuring that everyone
understands the impact they have on the
teams around them. In 2013 we launched
‘simplybefrank’, an employee survey used
to validate engagement levels across
the group’s divisions and subsidiaries.
The Customer Service team also run
a separate engagement survey which
provides results on a team level within the
division. A Consultative Forum operates
within the logistics division where
employees from all levels contribute and
share ideas that help shape the culture
of the business. This year the Logistics
division achieved Investors in People
accreditation at Gold standard, joining the
Customer Service division which achieved
this standard in 2013.
A large proportion of the group’s training
and development work is delivered by the
HR learning and development team, which
is supplemented by external training in
specialist technical and IT training areas
where necessary as well as individually
tailored training. There is also a suite
of self-training and e-learning tools
available via an online database, “simply
development”, which enables employees to
access a wide range of self-development
activities, tools and information.
The company has developed close
relationships with local universities
to retain talent within the northwest.
We now offer graduate schemes in
Buying, Quality & IT. In addition we
offer placements within the Buying
and Merchandising function with many
graduates returning post degree.
An employee profit share scheme has
been introduced to enable employees to
participate in the company’s success. The
scheme provides an enhanced bonus for
junior grades, providing greater benefit
differentials for employees promoted to
non-management grades.
Over 500 group employees either hold
shares in the company or have options/
awards to acquire them through the
group’s various share option and long-
term incentive schemes.
Consultation - Constructive relationships
exist with the trade unions that represent the
group’s employees (principally USDAW and
SATA). Elements of the group are covered
by a collective bargaining arrangement with
USDAW. Union membership is encouraged
and regular communication with the
union is facilitated through ‘partnership
forums’ established on the principle of
shared commitment to business success,
employment security and development
with a particular emphasis on quality of life,
openness and adding value.
Equal opportunities
The group supports the principle of
equal opportunities in employment and
is opposed to all forms of discrimination,
including those on the grounds of colour,
race, nationality, ethnic or national origin,
religion, gender, age, sexual orientation,
marital status or disability.
Our selection processes for recruitment,
promotion, training and development are
non-discriminatory. We believe it is in
the best interests of employees and the
group to provide these opportunities to the
most suitable candidates, and to achieve
a balanced working population spread
across a diverse range of ethnic origins,
gender and age groups.
Applications for employment by disabled
persons are thoroughly and sympathetically
considered, with the aptitude of the applicant
being regarded foremost. In the event of
any employee becoming disabled during
their employment, every effort is made to
ensure that their employment with the group
continues and the group will endeavour to
assist the employee by offering additional
training, adapting the job if appropriate or
by offering a transfer to another position. It
is the policy of the group that the training,
career development and promotion of
disabled persons should, as far as possible,
be identical to that of other employees.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
31
Relations with investors
The company places considerable
importance on good communication with
all shareholders, be they institutional or
individual investors. Institutional investors,
fund managers and analysts are kept
informed of the company’s overall strategy
through regular meetings and investor
‘road-shows’ and site visits. All non-
executive directors are kept informed
of shareholders’ views through detailed
feedback on surveys and polls and
analyst and broker reports are tabled at
each board meeting. The senior non-
executive director is available to meet
with, and understand, the views of major
shareholders. Other non-executive
directors are available to meet major
shareholders as appropriate.
The company aims to ensure that all
shareholders have full and timely access
to the information it discloses in the
annual report, the yearly and half yearly
announcements and interim management
statements and that shareholders
have the opportunity to meet with the
executive management team (and certain
members of the operating division)
at the announcement of the group’s
results and also at the annual general
meeting. Non-executive and executive
directors also attend meetings with major
shareholders on request. As well as
being provided with a copy of the annual
report and results announcements, the
group recently overhauled its website
to provide shareholders with up to date
and comprehensive material about the
group and its activities and also real-
time market information and prices.
Shareholders also have the opportunity
to ask questions, make observations
and represent their views to the board
of directors by constructive use of the
annual general meeting.
Corporate Governance Statement
Health and safety
The health, safety and welfare at work of
its employees, contractors, visitors and
customers is paramount as is ensuring
compliance with all relevant legislation.
The group is also committed to best
practice initiatives.
As the number of our retail outlets
increases, we ensure that we maintain
our high health and safety standards
by having robust procedures, training,
supervision and guidance. Our audit
programme for the group ensures that
all sites are meeting the same exacting
standards that we demand throughout.
Cumulative group accident statistics show
that for the year in review, reportable
accidents under Reporting of Injuries,
Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences
Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) have fallen
as a percentage of our employees from
0.03% in the previous year to 0.02%.
In the year in review, the group ratio
of accidents per employee remained
static at 0.6%. This reflects the work
completed to ensure that our new retail
sites maintain the high safety standards
expected within the group.
The group’s Health & Safety and
Human Resources departments are
complemented by an Occupational Health
department, whose focus is to look after
the well-being of the group’s employees.
The Department provides advice,
guidance and support on people’s fitness
to work, on-site physiotherapy, chiropody
and a counselling service.
We endeavour to ensure that all products
and services sold by the group or used in
the workplace are safe and without risk
to employees and customers when used
properly.
Customers
A key factor of the group’s success is
the strength of relationships with our
customers and their levels of satisfaction
with our group products and services.
conducted both directly and through
third parties.
Our overall strategy is to adopt a “multi-
channel approach to managing customer
contacts, with the key aim of a joined-up
and consistent customer experience
across channels. Our multi-channel
service platforms cover web, telephone,
mobile/tablet and post, and will extend to
our new store operations.
We continually develop our web-sites for
richer product content, ease of use, and
improved performance. Optimisation for
mobile/tablet devices is a priority due
to the rapid growth of demand in this
channel. Web self-service capabilities
are delivered through a “my account ”
facility for customer orders and account
management information. Web-enabled
contact centre capabilities are being
deployed to support our web-trading
customers, including multimedia, web
chat, click-to-call and social media.
The group operates both in-house and
outsourced contact centres, predominantly
located in the UK. Our international
businesses are supported through local
contact centres in the USA and Eire.
Enquiries and complaints have been
pro-actively reduced over recent years as a
proportion of customer order transactions,
reflecting the introduction of more
customer-oriented policies, processes and
product/service standards. Telephone, email
and letter contacts received from customers
are analysed and remedial actions taken to
improve our levels of service.
Our speed of answering calls and
responding to emails has been improved
and made more consistent. Automated
speech services handle a significant
proportion of customer telephone
payments and parcel collection requests.
We continue to invest in improved speed
of product deliveries to our customers and
to offer more delivery service options such
as next-day or nominated day of delivery.
E-mails inform customers about their order
and account status.
We aim to attract and retain customers
through a highly competitive product and
service offering, regularly monitoring retail
and home-shopping sector developments
to stay in touch with our marketplace.
Insights into our customers’ needs and
expectations are regularly updated
through customer satisfaction surveys
Service developments are planned
to further enhance our multi-channel
customer experience with new capabilities
to offer personalisation and choice.
Individual customer needs and preferences
will drive their relationship with us across
brands, products, services, channels,
offers, trading terms, and communications.
32
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Introduction by Fiona Laird, the Chairman
of the Remuneration Committee
Dear Shareholder,
I am pleased to present the Directors’
Remuneration Report for 2014/15 on
behalf of the Board and to summarise the
remuneration committee’s main activities
during the year.
During the year the group’s strategy
of comprehensive modernisation and
the move towards digital first has been
accelerated. This, together with weak
Autumn sales across the sector has
resulted in a year of mixed performance
against KPIs. As a result, no bonus will be
paid this year.
The remuneration committee now consists
entirely of independent non-executive
directors. I am current chairman and the
current members are Ron McMillan, and
Simon Patterson.
The remuneration committee met on three
occasions during the year. Members’
attendance was as follows:
Attendance
Fiona Laird (Chairman)
Ron McMillan
Simon Patterson
John McGuire
(retired 1 April 2014)
Anna Ford
(retired 22 July 2014)
3
3
3
0
2
The remuneration committee reviews,
formulates and determines the reward and
remuneration package of each executive
director and other senior employees of the
company including the Home Shopping
board. It also considers how the company
is applying the principles of the UK
Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”)
in respect of directors’ remuneration. We
have created a remuneration framework
that rewards both long and short-term
performance as we believe this is in the
best interests of all of our shareholders.
This reports sets out the remuneration of
the Company’s directors for the year and
is separated into the following parts:
• This “Annual Statement” which identifies
the key messages on remuneration
for the year under review and explains
the business context in which the
Committee’s major decisions during the
period were taken;
• The directors remuneration policy
which was approved by shareholders
at the 2014 AGM and is included for
information in this year’s report; and
• An “Annual Report on Remuneration”
which provides shareholders with
details of the remuneration that was
actually delivered to the company’s
directors during 2014/15. This final
part of the report will be subject to an
advisory vote at the forthcoming annual
general meeting.
Annual bonus is paid 60% in cash and
40% deferred as a conditional award of
shares payable at the end of 3 years after
the award. The principal performance
metric for the normal annual bonus was
based on group profit. The committee
determined that this element of the annual
bonus targets had not been met. The
remainder of the normal annual bonus
was based on meeting corporate and
personal objectives. Again, the committee
determined that these were not met and
therefore no bonus was awarded to Dean
or Angela.
The committee reviewed the TSR
performance of the company in respect of
the 2012 Long Term Incentive Share Plan
(“LTISP”) award. The company was ranked
below median against its peers at the end
of the three year performance period, as a
result of which the award lapsed.
The committee reviewed the salaries of
the executive directors in April 2015 and
determined that these should be increased
by 2%, in-line with most of the general
workforce. The review date for salaries
has been changed to October, bringing it
into line with the majority of retailers.
The weighting of performance measures
used in the annual bonus has been
reviewed and amended to reflect the
revised strategic priorities of the group,
with an increased weighting on corporate
measures and a reduced weighting
on personal performance. Subject to
commercial confidentiality, performance
against these targets is set out in this report.
Awards with a face value of 150% of salary
were granted to both Angela Spindler and
Dean Moore in July 2014. Vesting of these
awards is subject to growth in adjusted
EPS in excess of RPI (60% weighting)
and relative TSR against a peer group of
retailers (40% weighting). In 2015 Angela
Spindler will again receive an award
with a face value of 150% of salary. The
award will be granted in July 2015 and
will be again subject to EPS and relative
TSR performance conditions with the
same weighting as the 2014 awards.
The committee has also reviewed
the TSR comparator group to ensure
that it is appropriate for the awards in
2015. Details of the comparator group
are provided in the Annual Report on
Remuneration.
Dean Moore stepped down as Finance
Director at the end of April 2015. In
accordance with the Remuneration Policy,
Dean has been paid the balance of his
notice period. Payments are phased over
the remaining 9 months of his contractual
notice period and are subject to an
obligation to mitigate. Craig Lovelace
joined the company as Chief Financial
Officer in May 2015. Details of his
package are set out in the Remuneration
Report below.
I will be available to answer any questions
at the annual general meeting in July
and very much hope that you will support
the Directors’ Remuneration Report and
Annual Report on Remuneration at our
forthcoming meeting.
I would like to thank all of my colleagues
on the remuneration committee for all
their hard work in implementing the new
reporting requirements of the Director’s
Remuneration Report and generally with
the day to day tasks of the committee over
the last year.
Fiona Laird
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
Remuneration policy
This report sets out the information
required by Part 4 of the Schedule
8 to The Large and Medium-sized
Companies and Groups (Accounts and
Reports) (Amendment) Regulations
2008, as amended. The report also
satisfies the relevant requirements of the
Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct
Authority, and describes how the board
has applied the principles and complied
with the provisions relating to directors’
remuneration in the Code.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
33
Directors’ Remuneration Report
It summarises the current remuneration
policy for the executive directors which
was approved by shareholders at the
2014 annual general meeting. The
policy report has been reproduced for
information and updated to reflect the
passage of time, such as change in tense
and page references and the Directors
current packages for the purposes of the
scenario chart.
The committee’s policy is designed to
ensure that the main elements of the
remuneration package are linked to the
company’s annual and long-term strategy,
are appropriate in quantum and capable
of attracting, motivating and retaining
executive directors. The policy aims to
reward executive directors and senior
executives by offering them competitive
remuneration packages, which are
prudently constructed, sufficiently
stretching and linked to long-term
profitability and which do not encourage
excessive risk taking.
In particular, the committee strives to
ensure that remuneration packages are:
• aligned with the group’s strategic plan;
• aligned with shareholders’ interests;
• measured against stretching targets,
both in absolute and relative terms;
• competitive and sufficiently flexible to
support the recruitment needs of the
business;
• paid in a combination of cash and
shares; and
• linked to performance measured over
annual and three-year performance
periods.
Summary of components of executive
directors remuneration
The table below summarises the
committee’s policy for the main components
of remuneration.
Element
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum
Performance
assessment
Salary
Reflects the performance
of the individual, their skills
and experience, and the
responsibilities of the role.
Provides an appropriate
level of basic fixed income.
None, although overall
individual performance is
a factor considered when
setting and reviewing
salaries.
Salary increases will
normally be in line with
increases awarded to other
employees of the group.
More significant increases
may be awarded at
the discretion of the
committee, for example:
where there is a change
in responsibilities or
scope of the role; to reflect
individual development and
performance in the role
(e.g. for recent hires); or in
exceptional circumstances.
Reviewed annually, taking
account of absolute
group profitability and
performance against
personal & corporate
objectives.
Set with reference to
the levels of base salary
for similar positions
with comparable status,
responsibility and skills in
competitor organisations
of comparable size and
complexity, in particular
those in the home shopping
and retail market sectors.
When reviewing salary
increases the committee
takes into account the
impact of any increase to
base salaries on the total
remuneration package.
Any changes normally take
effect from 1st June.
34
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Element
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum
Performance
assessment
Annual
Bonus
Drives and rewards
annual delivery of
financial, corporate and
personal goals.
Annual performance
targets are aligned to the
long-term strategic KPIs
of the company and aimed
at increasing shareholder
value, whilst being prudent
and safeguarding the
future of the company.
Deferral provides
alignment with
shareholders and assists
with retention.
Long-term
incentive
plan “LTIP”
Provides appropriate
incentives to reward
sustained success
through the achievement
of challenging business
targets, thereby
aligning the interests
of shareholders and
executives.
Chief executive:
up to 150% of
base salary p.a.
Other executive
directors: up to
125% of base
salary p.a.
Normal
maximum of
150% of salary.
Exceptional
circumstances
maximum of
200% of salary.
Targets are reviewed
annually to ensure that they
are appropriate to the current
market conditions, the long-
term strategy of the company
and that they continue
to remain stretching and
challenging.
From 2014/15 onwards,
bonuses will be paid 60% in
cash, with 40% deferred as a
conditional award of shares.
Vesting of future deferred
shares is at the end of three
years from the award of the
bonus, subject to continued
employment (save in “good
leaver” scenarios).
The payment of any earned
bonus remains ultimately at the
discretion of the committee.
Executives may also be
entitled to receive the value
of dividends that would have
been paid on vested shares
during the deferral period.
Annual grants of nil-cost
options or conditional awards
of shares, which vest subject
to the group’s performance
measured over three years.
Participation and all awards
are subject to the discretions
given to the committee in the
plan rules.
Executives may also be
entitled to receive the value of
dividend payments that would
otherwise have been paid
on vested awards during the
vesting period.
A significant majority of the annual
bonus will normally be determined
by reference to performance against
stretching group profit measures.
Additional targets linked to
corporate performance and
individual targets will be applied.
Personal objectives will be
measurable and linked to goals
that are consistent with the group’s
longer-term goals.
Performance below threshold results
in zero payment. Payment rises
from 0% to 100% of the maximum
opportunity for levels of performance
between threshold and maximum,
with 50% of the maximum normally
payable for on-target performance.
Includes a “clawback” mechanism in
the event of material misstatement
of the group’s financial results or
individual misconduct.
Awards made from 2014 onwards
are subject to targets based on
growth in adjusted EPS in excess of
RPI (60% of the award) and relative
TSR against a peer group of other
retailers (40% of the award). The
committee will have the discretion to
set different weightings and select
different peer groups for future
awards. The peer groups for 2015
and prior years are disclosed in the
Annual Report on Remuneration.
EPS targets are set by the
remuneration committee prior
to each grant. Targets for both
EPS and TSR will be based on a
sliding scale. For each measure
performance below threshold
results in zero payment. Payment
rises from 25% at threshold or
median to 100% of the maximum
opportunity at a maximum or upper
quartile performance level.
Includes a “clawback” mechanism in
the event of a material misstatement
of the group’s financial results or
individual misconduct.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
35
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Element
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum
All-
employee
share
schemes
(SAYE and
SIP)
All employees, including
executives, are able
to acquire shares by
participating in the Group’s
all-employee share plan
at the discretion of the
Committee.
The group operates an
HM Revenue & Customs
approved savings related
share option scheme for the
benefit of group employees
provided that they have
completed at least six
months’ service.
Participation in the SIP may
also be offered.
The plans are subject
to statutory individual
limits as amended from
time-to-time. These
are broad-based plans
and are not subject to
performance targets.
Performance
assessment
N/A
Pension
Provides retirement
benefits that reward
sustained contribution.
Other
Benefits
Provides a competitive
package of benefits that
assists with recruitment
and retention.
The company operates a
defined contribution plan
and may also provide cash
pension contributions or cash
supplements in lieu.
Up to 15% of salary as
a company contribution
to a defined contribution
pension scheme and/or
as a cash allowance.
Main benefits currently include
private medical insurance and
a car allowance.
Car and fuel
allowance up to
£20,000 per annum.
N/A
N/A
Other benefits will be
in-line with market. The
value of each benefit
it based on the cost to
the company and is not
predetermined.
Notes:
1. A description of how the company
intends to implement the policy set out
in this table for 2015/16 is set out in the
Annual Report on Remuneration.
2. The remuneration policy for the executive
directors and other senior executives
is designed with regard to the policy for
employees across the group as a whole.
However, there are some differences in
the structure of the remuneration policy
for senior executives. In general, these
differences arise from the development
of remuneration arrangements that
are market competitive for the various
categories of individuals. They also
reflect the fact that, in the case of
the executive directors and senior
executives, a greater emphasis tends to
be placed on performance-related pay in
the market.
3. All-employee share plans do not have
performance conditions. Executive
directors are eligible to participate in the
SAYE and SIP on the same terms as
other employees.
4. Copies of the LTIP rules are available
on request from the company secretary.
5. LTISP awards granted prior to 2014
are subject to performance conditions
described in the Annual Report on
Remuneration.
6. The company also operates share
ownership guidelines requiring
executive directors to acquire and
hold a specified level of shareholding.
The current level of holding expected
under the guidelines is described in the
Annual Report on Remuneration.
How employees’ pay is taken
into account
The remuneration policy for the executive
directors is designed with regard to
the policy for employees across the
group as a whole. The companys
ability to meet growth expectations and
compete effectively is dependent on
the skills, experience and performance
of all of our employees. As a result our
employment policies, remuneration
and benefit packages for employees
are regularly reviewed. Whilst there are
some differences in the structure of
the remuneration policy, these reflect
individuals differing responsibilities,
with the principal difference being the
increased emphasis on performance
related pay for the more senior executives
within the organisation.
Although the committee does not consult
directly with employees on directors pay,
the committee does take into consideration
the pay and employment conditions of
all employees when setting the policy for
directors remuneration. The committee
is also mindful of any changes to the pay
and benefit conditions for employees more
generally when considering the policy for
directors pay.
36
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Committee discretions
The committee operates the group’s
variable incentive plans according to their
respective rules and in accordance with
HMRC rules where relevant. To ensure the
efficient administration of these plans and
to be consistent with market practice, the
committee will retain certain operational
discretions. These include:
• selecting plan participants;
• determining the timing of grants of
awards and/or payment;
• determining the quantum of awards and/
or payments (within the limits set out in
the policy table above);
• determining the extent of vesting based
on the assessment of performance;
• making the appropriate adjustments
required in certain circumstances
(e.g. change of control, rights issues,
corporate restructuring events, and
special dividends);
• determining “good leaver” status for
incentive plan purposes and applying
the appropriate treatment; and
• undertaking the annual review of
weighting of performance measures,
and setting targets for the annual bonus
plan and LTIP from year to year.
If an event occurs which results in the
Annual Bonus Plan, Deferred Share
Bonus Plan or LTIP performance
conditions and/or targets being deemed
no longer appropriate (e.g. a material
acquisition or divestment), the committee
will have the ability to adjust appropriately
the measures and/or targets and alter
weightings, provided that the revised
conditions or targets are not materially
less difficult to satisfy.
Any use of the above discretions would,
where relevant, be explained in the Annual
Report on Remuneration and may, as
appropriate, be the subject of consultation
with the company’s major shareholders.
Legacy arrangements
In approving the remuneration policy,
authority is given to the company to
honour any commitments previously
entered into with the current or former
directors in accordance with the relevant
plan rules, where applicable. It is also part
of this policy that the company will honour
payments or awards crystallising after the
effective date of this policy but arising from
commitments entered into at a time when
the relevant individual was not a director
at the company. Details of any payments
to former directors will be set out in the
Annual Report on Remuneration.
Selection of performance metrics
and targets
All incentives are subject to the individual
review and scrutiny of the committee,
particularly in the case of share incentives,
both at award and vesting to ensure
that performance has been correctly
adjudicated and to safeguard against
excessive overall reward. Variable
pay and remuneration is linked to both
corporate and individual performance and
is benchmarked to attract and retain the
highest quality people.
The annual bonus is designed to
thoroughly stretch the performance of the
executive and is linked to absolute growth
in annual group profit, the achievement
of certain business targets and of
personal objectives. These targets are
reviewed and agreed by the committee
at the beginning of each financial year to
ensure that they are appropriate to the
current market conditions and the long-
term strategy of the company, and that
they continue to remain stretching and
challenging. The targets are linked to KPIs
which are drawn from, and relate to, the
achievement of ‘milestones’ contained in
the company’s strategic long-term plan.
This ensures they are aligned to the
strategic objectives of the company and
designed to increase shareholder value,
whilst being prudent and safeguarding the
long-term future of the company.
The committee has decided to apply a
condition based on growth in adjusted
EPS alongside the existing measure;
TSR to awards made under the PSP.
Adjusted EPS is considered appropriate
as it is easily understood, is a key
measure of financial performance and
closely aligned to the company’s
objectives of driving profitable growth.
The measure takes account of fair value
adjustments to financial instruments (net
of tax) as well as other non-recurring
items such as unplanned investments
in IT infrastructure, acquisitions and/or
disposals. As the targets are set as a rate
of growth in excess of RPI it also takes
into account inflation. TSR provides an
external assessment of the company’s
performance against its peers and aligns
rewards received by the executives with
the returns received by shareholders.
The committee determines from time
to time which companies are to be
added or removed from this comparator
group, including the treatment of any
company which ceases trading during any
performance period.
The committee considers the group’s
performance on environmental, social and
governance (‘ESG’) issues when setting
the remuneration of any executive director
and is of the opinion that the incentive
arrangements for senior managers do
not raise ESG risks by inadvertently
motivating irresponsible behaviour or the
taking of undue risks with the business.
Shareholding guidelines
It is the board's policy that executive
directors build and retain a minimum
shareholding in the company. Under these
guidelines the chief executive and the
finance director are respectively required
to hold company shares equal in value (at
the time of acquisition) to 200% and 100%
of their base salary, respectively and to
have met this guideline within 5 years
of appointment. Details of the current
shareholdings of the executive directors
are provided later in this report.
How shareholders’ views are taken
into account
The committee considers shareholder
feedback received regarding the directors’
remuneration report and guidance from
shareholder representative bodies more
generally. As appropriate, the committee
also seeks feedback from shareholders
on specific matters. These views are key
inputs when shaping remuneration policy.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
37
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Potential remuneration scenarios for executive directors (£000s)
£2,400 -
£2,200 -
£2,000 -
£1,800 -
£1,600 -
£1,400 -
£1,200 -
£1,000 -
£800 -
£600 -
£400 -
£200 -
£0 -
£2,230
£2,230
36%
36%
£1,231
16%
£1,304
34%
£1,231
16%
£631
32%
36%
£749
15%
£631
32%
36%
£670
15%
£1,172
34%
£415
30%
34%
£369
30%
34%
100%
52%
28%
100%
55%
32%
100%
52%
28%
100%
55%
32%
Fixed Pay
Target Maximum Fixed Pay
Angela Spindler
2014/15
Target
Target Maximum Fixed Pay
Dean Moore
Target Maximum Fixed Pay
Angela Spindler
(Subject to review)
2015/16
Target
Craig Lovelace
Maximum
Total Fixed Pay
Annual Bonus
Long-term Share Grants
Assumptions
1. Fixed pay = salary as paid in year, benefits and pension provision.
2. On target = fixed pay plus target annual bonus (50% of the maximum) of 75% of salary for the chief executive and 62.5% of salary for the finance director plus
target LTIP awards of 37.5% of salary for the chief executive and 31.25% for the finance director.
3. Maximum = fixed pay plus maximum annual bonus of 150% of salary for the chief executive and 125% for the finance director plus maximum LTIP awards of
150% of salary for the chief executive and 125% for the finance director.
4. Salary levels (on which other elements of the packages are calculated) are based on those effective from 1 June 2014.
5. The value of taxable benefits is based on an estimated cost of £19,000 in respect of the chief executive and £17,000 for the financial director and includes a car
allowance and health insurance.
6. Pension provision is 15% of salary for the chief executive and 12% for the finance director.
Executive directors’ service
agreements and termination policy
It is the company’s policy that executive
directors should have contracts with an
indefinite term providing for a maximum of
12 months’ notice.
The policy is that the company does not
make payments beyond its contractual
obligations on termination. In addition,
executive directors are expected to
mitigate their loss or, within existing
contractual constraints, accept phased
payments. The committee seeks to
ensure that there are no unjustified
payments for failure. Neither of the
executive directors’ contracts provides
for liquidated damages. There are no
special provisions contained in any of the
executive directors’ contracts that provide
for longer periods of notice on a change
of control of the company. Furthermore,
there are no special provisions
providing for additional compensation
on an executive director’s cessation of
employment with the company. Where
the director may be entitled to pursue a
legal claim, the company will be entitled
to negotiate settlement terms that the
committee considers to be in the best
interests of the company and to enter
into a settlement agreement to effect the
terms agreed under the service contract
and any additional statutory or other
claims. Potential termination payments are
summarised below:
Name
Angela Spindler
Dean Moore
Craig Lovelace
Date of contract
1 July 2013
20 December 2004
6 January 2015
Potential termination payment
12 months’ salary and benefits
12 months’ salary and benefits
12 months’ salary and benefits
38 N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
favourable than the committee considers
is required to provide reasonable
compensation to the incoming director for
the awards they will be losing. Existing
plans will be used to the extent possible
(subject to the exceptional limits contained
in the plan rules), however, the committee
retains discretion to agree bespoke
arrangements and, if required, to make
use of the flexibility provided by the
Listing Rules to make awards without prior
shareholder approval when buying out
existing entitlements. There is no intention
to use this flexibility to offer a “golden
hello” unrelated to remuneration lost.
The service contract for a new appointment
would be in accordance with the policy for
the current executive directors.
In the case of an internal hire, any
outstanding variable pay awarded in
relation to the previous role will be allowed
to pay out according to its terms of grant.
Fees for a new chairman or non-executive
director will be set in line with the
approved policy.
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Other than in certain “good leaver”
circumstances (including, but not limited
to, redundancy, ill-health or retirement or
on a change of control), no bonus would
be payable unless the individual remains
employed and is not under notice at
the payment date. Any bonuses paid to
a “good leaver” would be based on an
assessment of their individual and the
company's performance over the period,
and pro-rated for the proportion of the
bonus year worked.
Deferred bonus share awards will
also normally lapse on cessation of
employment, unless the executive director
is deemed to be a “good leaver” by the
Committee. Awards will vest early on a
change of control subject to the plan rules.
With regards to long-term incentive
awards, the LTIP rules provide that
other than in certain “good leaver”
circumstances, awards lapse on cessation
of employment. Where an individual is
a “good leaver”, the committee’s policy
for future LTIP awards will be to permit
awards to remain outstanding until the end
of the original performance period, when
a pro-rata reduction will be made to take
account of the proportion of the vesting
period that elapsed prior to termination of
employment, although the committee has
discretion to partly or completely disapply
pro-rating and the performance conditions
in certain circumstances. On a change of
control awards would vest, subject to the
extent to which the performance conditions
have been achieved and, normally,
pro-rating for time. The committee has
discretion to determine “good leaver”
treatment. In doing so, it will take account
of the reason for their departure and the
performance of the individual.
For awards granted under the LTIP,
awards lapse if cessation occurs during
the financial year in which an award is
granted. Thereafter awards held by good
leavers may vest subject to performance
without pro-rating. On a change of control
existing awards would not be pro-rated.
Apart from service contracts, no
executive director has any material
interest in any contract with the company
or its subsidiaries.
Copies of executive directors’ service
contracts (and also non-executive
directors’ letters of appointment) are
available for inspection at the company’s
registered office on application to the
company secretary.
Recruitment of executive directors
Base salary levels will be set in
accordance with the company’s
remuneration policy, taking account of the
executive’s skills, experience and their
current remuneration package. Where it is
appropriate to offer a lower salary initially,
a series of above inflation increases to
the desired salary positioning may be
given over subsequent years subject to
individual and company performance.
Benefits and pension will generally be
provided in accordance with the approved
policy, with relocation expenses and/or an
expatriate allowance paid for if necessary.
For an overseas appointment, the benefit
and pension arrangements may be
tailored to reflect local market practice
(subject to the overall maximum limits
set out in the policy table). Assistance
with relocation may be provided where
appropriate. Tax equalisation may also
be considered as may payment of the
executive's legal fees in connection with
the appointment.
The variable pay opportunity will be in
accordance with the company’s approved
policy as detailed above. However, different
performance measures and targets may
be set for the first year in the case of the
annual bonus and long-term incentives
taking into account the responsibilities of
the individual, and the point in the financial
year at which they joined.
If it is necessary to buy-out incentive
pay, which would be forfeited by reason
of leaving the previous employer, in
order to secure the appointment, this
would be provided for taking into account
the form (cash or shares), timing and
expected value (i.e. likelihood of meeting
any existing performance criteria) of the
remuneration being forfeited and such
other specific matters as it considers
relevant. Existing arrangements may be
bought out on terms that are no more
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
39
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Policy for non-executive directors
Element
Purpose and link
to strategy
Operation
Maximum
Performance
assessment
Non-
executive
directors’
and
Chairman’s
fees
Takes account of
recognised practice
and set at a level that is
sufficient to attract and
retain high-calibre non-
executives
All non-executive directors have specific
terms of engagement and their remuneration
is determined by the board within the limits
set by the Articles of Association and based
on independent surveys of fees paid to non-
executive directors of similar companies.
N/A
N/A
The chairman is paid a single fee for all his
responsibilities. The non-executives are paid a
basic fee. The Chair of committees and senior
independent director receive additional fees to
reflect their extra responsibilities.
Non-executive directors may not participate in
any of the company’s share incentive schemes or
performance-based plans and are not eligible to
join the company’s pension scheme.
Limited benefits relating to travel,
accommodation, secretarial support and
hospitality provided in relation to the
performance of their duties.
When reviewing fee levels, account is taken of
market movements in non-executive director
fees, board committee responsibilities, ongoing
time commitments, the general economic
environment and the level of increases awarded
to the wider workforce.
In exceptional circumstances, additional fees
may be paid where there is a substantial
increase in the time commitment required of non-
executive directors.
Non-executive directors’
letters of appointment
Non-executive directors are retained on
letters of appointment. Other than the
chairman and Lord Alliance, whose letters
of appointment provide for six months
notice in the event of early termination and
Ivan Fallon who remains on a three month
rolling arrangement, all non-executive
appointments are on three-year rolling
terms terminable upon three months’
notice. All appointments are subject to
successful re-election upon retirement at
the annual general meeting. Termination
carries no right to compensation other
than that provided by general law.
Brief details of non-executive directors’
contracts are summarised below:
Name
Date of contract/
letter of appointment
Date current
term commenced
Lord Alliance of Manchester CBE
Ivan Fallon
John McGuire (retired 1 April 2014)
Anna Ford (retired 22 July 2014)
Andrew Higginson
Fiona Laird
Simon Patterson
Ronald McMillan
Lesley Jones
16 May 2007
1 October 1994
17 March 2004
1 March 2009
3 July 2012
1 March 2013
13 March 2013
1 March 2013
30 September 2014
10 April 2013
10 April 2013
10 April 2013
10 April 2013
3 July 2012
1 April 2013
13 April 2013
1 April 2013
1 October 2014
Notice
period
6 months
3 months
3 months
3 months
6 months
3 months
3 months
3 months
3 months
40
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Annual Report on Remuneration
This part of the report has been prepared
in accordance with Part 3 of the revised
Schedule 8 set out in The Large and
Medium-sized Companies and Groups
(Accounts and Reports) (Amendment)
Regulations 2013, and 9.8.6R of the
Listing Rules. The Annual Report on
Remuneration will be put to an advisory
shareholder vote at the 2015 annual
general meeting. The information on
pages 41 to 49 has been audited.
The remuneration committee
and its advisers
Members of the Remuneration Committee
Name
From
To
Fiona Laird
John McGuire
Anna Ford
Ivan Fallon
Ron McMillan
Simon Patterson
The group head of legal & company
secretary, Theresa Casey, acts as
secretary to the committee and the chief
executive, Angela Spindler, the chairman,
Andrew Higginson, and the group HR
director, Caroline Massingham, may also
attend meetings by invitation. However,
no director played any part in discussion
about his or her own remuneration.
The committee members have no
personal financial interest (other than as
shareholders) in matters to be decided,
no potential conflicts of interest arising
from cross-directorships and no day-to-
day involvement in running the business
and are considered by the company to be
independent. The committee has formal
written terms of reference which are
available for shareholders to inspect and
on the corporate website. The committee
met 3 times during the year. See page 33
for details of attendance.
Application of the remuneration
policy for 2014/15
Base salary
The executive directors’ salaries were
reviewed in April 2015. The salary
Angela Spindler
Dean Moore
Craig Lovelace
Date
1 April 2014
22 July 2014
1 October 2014
Date
Date
New Bridge Street is a signatory to the
Remuneration Consultants’ Group Code
of Conduct, which sets out guidelines to
ensure that its advice is independent and
free from undue influence. The company
received no other services from New
Bridge Street, or any other part of the Aon
group of companies, during the year. The
fees paid to New Bridge Street in 2014/15
were £100,365 (2013/14: £39,226). The
committee reviews the performance and
independence of its advisers on an annual
basis and it satisfied that the advice
received is objective and independent.
The advisors’ terms of engagement are
available on request from the company
secretary.
1 April 2013
17 March 2004
1 March 2009
1 October 1994
1 April 2013
1 April 2013
Advisers
The committee received advice from
New Bridge Street (a trading name of
Aon Hewitt Limited, part of Aon plc). New
Bridge Street was formally appointed by
the committee. In addition, Mercer Human
Resource Consulting Limited (“Mercer”)
provided advice to the company during
the year which materially assisted the
committee in relation to the former chief
executive’s pension arrangements and
Pinsent Masons LLP provided advice
on compliance with legislation. Pinsent
Masons LLP are the group’s general
legal advisers and were not specifically
appointed by the committee. Mercer
were not specifically appointed by the
committee and also provide other services
to the company in relation to pension
matters. These advisors have no other
connections with the group other than as
set out above.
increases, take place from 1 October
2015 and are set out below. The salary
increases are in line with most of the
general workforce.
Salary as at
1 June 2014
Salary as at
1 October 2015
Increase
£533,000
£355,531
n/a
£543,660
n/a
£320,000
2%
n/a
n/a
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
41
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Fees for the chairman and
non-executive directors
As detailed in the remuneration policy,
the company aims to set remuneration for
non-executive directors at a level which
is sufficient to attract and retain non-
executive directors of the right calibre.
Details of the fees are detailed below:
Chair’s fees
Other non-executive directors’ base fee
Senior independent non-executive director
Chair of a committee’s fees
Fees as at
1 March 2014
Fees as at
1 March 2015
Increase
£250,000
£47,000
£5,000
£5,000 - £8,000
£250,000
£47,000
£5,000
£5,000 - £8,000
–
–
–
–
Annual bonus plan performance targets
The annual bonus plan for 2015/16 will
be payable 60% in cash and 40% as an
award of deferred shares. Deferred bonus
shares will vest, subject to continued
service, three years after award.
For 2015/16, the performance measures
and weightings will be as follows:
Measure
Group profitability
Corporate objectives
Individual objectives
As a percentage of maximum
bonus opportunity
Angela Spindler
Craig Lovelace
70%
20%
10%
70%
20%
10%
The personal objectives of the executive
directors for 2014/15 were as follows:
Angela Spindler
Dean Moore
• Restructure of the JD Williams board;
• Ensure Fit for the Future project is on
track; and
• Deliver a “credit business to be proud of”.
Each objective carried equal weighting.
Long term incentive targets
Awards granted to the executive directors
under the LTIP in 2015/16 will be subject
to two metrics, namely growth in adjusted
EPS and relative TSR measured against
a peer group of retail sector companies
• Successful delivery of Oracle Financials;
• Establishing a Commercial Planning
Function;
• Establishing an MI/BI Centre of
Excellence; and
• Implementing cost reductions of £4m
in year.
Each objective carried equal weighting.
listed below. The performance targets are
as follows:
Percentage of
each part of
the award that
will vest
0%
25%
100%
Annual growth in
adjusted EPS in
excess of RPI over
3 financial years
(60% of award)
Less than RPI +2.5%
At least RPI +2.5%
At least RPI +7.5%
Relative TSR
vs peer group
(40% of award)
Below median
Median
Upper quartile
Below threshold
Threshold
Maximum
For performance that is between the
threshold and maximum levels awards
vest on a straight-line pro-rata basis with
interpolation between intermediate ranking
positions for TSR.
The retail sector peer group for the
2014/15 awards comprises: ASOS;
Carpetright; Darty; Debenhams; Dixons
Carphone; Dunelm; Halfords; Home Retail
Group; Inchcape; J.D. Sports; Kingfisher;
Marks & Spencer; Mothercare; Next;
Sports Direct; and WH Smith.
42
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Directors’ emoluments (Audited)
Salaries &
fees
£000s
Taxable
benefits¹
£000s
Year
Bonus
(cash and
deferred
shares)
£000s
LTISP and
Matching
Share
Awards
£000s
Pension
and
salary
supplement
Other²
£000s £000s
Executives (salaries)
Angela Spindler²
Dean Moore
Alan White
Non-executives (fees)
Lord Alliance of
Manchester CBE³
Andrew Higginson
Ivan Fallon
John McGuire
Fiona Laird
Anna Ford
Simon Patterson
Ron McMillan
Lesley Jones
appointed
1 October 2014
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
2014/15
2013/14
530
347
353
344
-
361
47
45
250
237
55
55
5
54
55
46
22
51
55
46
60
49
19
-
19
12
17
17
-
16
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
433
-
59
-
58
-
-
473
575
-
2,280
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
79
52
42
42
-
19
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
100
520
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Total
£000s
728
1,364
885
1,037
-
2,734
47
45
250
237
55
55
5
54
55
46
22
51
55
46
60
49
19
-
Notes:
1. Taxable benefits comprise private medical cover and car allowance.
2. Angela Spindler was entitled to relocation expenses of £100,000 and has been included in the Other column. The prior year number relates to one-off share
awards which are shown on page 46.
3. Lord Alliance has waived his non-executive director’s fee.
Total pension entitlements (Audited)
Angela Spindler receives a cash
supplement of 15% of salary in lieu of
pension contributions.
Dean Moore was a member of the
contributory defined contribution pension
scheme (“scheme”) and received
matching contributions from the company
up to a maximum of 6% of salary.
In addition, he received an additional 6% of
salary as a cash allowance. Contributions
paid by the company into the scheme
during the year in respect of Dean Moore
amounted to £21,745 (2014, £20,685).
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
43
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Details of variable pay earned in the year
Annual bonus (Audited)
The table below gives details of executive
directors’ bonuses for 2014/15
Director
Measure
Weighting (as a
percentage of
maximum bonus
opportunity)
Performance
required
threshold
(0% payout)
Maximum
(100%
payout)
Actual¹
Performance
Payout
% of
salary
Angela Spindler
Group Profit
70%
£102m
£107m
£73.6m
Corporate
objectives
Personal
objectives
15%
15%
Dean Moore
Group Profit
70%
£102m
£107m
£73.6m
Corporate
objectives
Personal
objectives
15%
15%
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Notes:
1. In assessing the performance achieved against the group profit performance condition the remuneration committee did not consider that the group profit achieved
was supported by the underlying trading profit performance of the group. It therefore determined that the targets for the profit, corporate and personal objectives
bonus element had not been met.
Long term share awards (Audited)
Details of the performance conditions for
the relevant awards vesting in 2014/15 are
set out below:
Grant
Condition
Performance
period
Threshold
target
Stretch
target
Actual
performance
Vesting
2011 LTISP
award
TSR
3 years to 1
March 2014
25% vests at median
performance
2012
matching
DABS
award
EPS
2 years to 1
March 2014
100% vests if growth
in EPS at least equal
to growth in RPI
100% vests
at upper
quartile
n/a
5th out of 20
100%
Growth in EPS
below growth
in RPI
0%
44
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Summary of awards granted in
2014/15 (Audited)
The table below provide details of the
long-term incentive awards granted to
executive directors during the year.
Executive
Type of
award
Condition
% of
salary
Face
value
Number
of shares
Share
price at
grant*
Performance
Period
Threshold
target
Stretch
target
Angela
Spindler
LTIP
60% EPS
40% TSR
150%
£799,500 185,198
431.7p
Dean
Moore
LTIP
60% EPS
40% TSR
125%
£533,296 102,945
431.7p
EPS
3.9%
£13,970
2,963
471.5p
Deferred
share
bonus
matching
award
EPS: 3 years
to end of
financial
year 2016/17.
TSR: 3 years
to June 2017.
EPS: 0%
vests if
EPS growth
compounded
annually less
than 2.5%.
TSR: 25%
vests at
median
performance.
EPS:100%
vests if
EPS growth
compounded
annually
greater than
7.5%.
TSR: 100%
vests at
upper
quartile.
EPS: 3 years
to end of
financial
year 2016/17.
TSR: 3 years
to June 2017.
EPS:0%
vests if
EPS growth
compounded
annually
less than
2.5%.
EPS:100%
vests if
EPS growth
compounded
annually
greater than
7.5%.
TSR: 25%
vests at
median
performance.
TSR: 100%
vests at
upper
quartile.
2 financial
years to
February
2016.
Growth in
EPS must at
least equal
growth in
RPI.
Growth in
EPS must at
least equal
growth in
RPI.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
45
Directors’ Remuneration Report
On an exceptional basis, and only to
the extent necessary to compensate for
awards which were forfeited as a result
of taking up her appointment with the
company, Angela Spindler was granted
two one-off share awards as detailed in
the 2013 Annual Report on Remuneration.
Vesting of the first, over shares worth
£520,000 at the time of grant, is subject
to employment conditions over two years.
The value of this award is included in the
single figure for 2013/14. The second, over
shares worth £1,040,000 at the time of
grant is also subject to the achievement
of strategic objectives measured over a
period of three years.
The specific strategic targets are
commercially sensitive but include the
following:
• Further development of the retail space
strategy;
• Development and delivery of segmented
marketing strategy and multi-channel
offering including international;
• Improving the impact and effectiveness
of customer insight through access to
and analysis of big data; and
• Delivery of our systems infrastructure
programme.
The recruitment awards described above
were granted pursuant to the exemption
from the need for prior shareholder
approval contained in Listing Rule 9.4.2.
The awards are non-pensionable and
non-transferable (other than on death).
The committee considered that the awards
were necessary to facilitate Angela
Spindler’s recruitment as chief executive.
Summary of awards (Audited)
The table below summarises each of
the executive directors' long-term share
awards and the changes that have taken
place in the year.
Executive
Angela
Spindler
Dean
Moore
1 March
2014
110,169
220,338
151,834
-
109,467
132,777
81,023
-
9,273
11,017
-
8,413
Awarded
during
the year
Lapsed
during
the year
Vested and
exercised
during the
year
28 February
2015
Date
granted
-
-
-
185,913
-
-
-
102,945
-
-
2,963
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(9,273)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
(109,467)
-
-
-
-
-
-
(8,413)
110,169
220,338
151,834
185,913
-
132,777
81,023
102,945
-
11,017
2,963
-
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2013
Aug 2014
July 2011
July 2012
June 2013
Aug 2014
May 2012
May 2013
May 2014
Aug 2009
Type of
award
Recruitment
Recruitment
LTISP
LTIP
LTISP
LTISP
LTISP
LTIP
Matching share award
Matching share award
Matching share award
SAYE
The current deferred annual bonus
scheme was introduced in 2010. Under
its terms, executive directors (excluding
Angela Spindler) invest up to 25% of
their base salary into shares and defer
receipt for two years. Matching shares
could be earned subject to employment
conditions and were subject to a financial
performance condition requiring that
growth in the company’s EPS must at least
equal the growth in RPI over the deferral
period. The matching element of the
deferred annual bonus scheme operated
for the last time in respect of the finance
director’s bonus outcome for 2013/14.
46
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Directors’ shareholdings (Audited)
It is the board’s policy that executive
directors build up and retain a minimum
shareholding in the company. Under
these guidelines the chief executive
officer and the finance director are
expected to hold company shares equal
in value (at the time of acquisition) to
200% and 100% of their base salary
respectively and to have met this
guideline within 5 years of appointment.
The beneficial interests of directors who
served during the year, together with
those of their families, in the shares of the
company are as follows:
Owned shares
(Number of shares)
1 March
2014
28 February
2015
Value of
shares
counting
towards
guideline
holding
(as a % of
salary)
Other interests in shares
Outstanding
awards
subject to
performance
conditions
Outstanding
awards not
subject to
performance
conditions
Guideline
met?
Outstanding
Share
options
Total as at
28 February
2015
Executive
Angela Spindler
-
-
n/a
Dean Moore
84,485
156,175
197%
Lord Alliance of
Manchester CBE
95,047,966
95,047,966
Andrew Higginson
86,514
91,331
Ivan Fallon
11,425
11,425
John McGuire
7,007
Lesley Jones
Ron McMillan
Fiona Laird
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Simon Patterson
10,000
10,000
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Yes
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
557,370
110,169
330,815
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
667,539
486,990
95,047,966
91,331
11,425
-
-
-
-
10,000
The directors’ share interests shown
above include shares held by members
of the directors family, as required by the
Companies Act 2006.
There have been no changes to the
directors interests in shares between 28
February 2015 and the date of this report.
Termination payments (Audited)
Dean Moore stepped down as Finance
Director on 30 April 2015. After due
consideration the committee determined
that Dean was a “good leaver” and the
terms in relation to “good leaver” will
therefore apply.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
47
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Performance graph and table
The graph shows the company’s five
year performance, measured by TSR,
compared with the performance of the
FTSE 250 Index, also measured by
TSR. The company is a member of this
index and accordingly it is felt to be the
most appropriate comparator group for
this purpose.
Total shareholder return performance: N Brown vs FTSE 250
N Brown Group plc
FTSE Mid-250 Index
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
)
0
0
1
o
t
d
e
s
a
b
e
r
(
n
r
u
t
e
R
r
e
d
o
h
e
r
a
h
S
l
l
a
t
o
T
0
Feb-10
Feb-11
Feb-12
Feb-13
Feb-14
Feb-15
Financial Period
Analysis of chief executive’s
pay over 5 years
Total remuneration (£000)
Annual bonus (% of maximum)
Long term share awards
vesting (% of maximum)
2010/11
2011/12
2012/13
2013/14
Alan White
Angela Spindler
2013/14
2014/15
3,738
90.63%
2,734
38.7%
1,780
71.4%
2,734
15.8%
1,364
83.2%
100%
100%
100%
85%
n/a
728
0%
n/a
Percentage change in the chief
executive’s remuneration
The table below shows the percentage
change in the chief executive's total
remuneration (excluding the value of any
long term share awards and pension
benefits receivable in the year) between
the 2013/14 and 2014/15 financial years,
compared to that of the average for all
employees of the group.
% Change from 2013/14 to 2014/15
Benefits
Annual bonus
Salary
Chief Executive
Average of other employees
The chief executive’s bonus metrics are
principally financial.
+2.5%
+2.5%
nil
nil
nil
nil
48
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Relative importance of spend on pay
The following table shows the companys
actual spend on pay (for all employees)
relative to dividends.
Staff costs (£m)
Dividends (£m)
The figures relate to amounts payable in
respect of the relevant financial year.
Shareholder voting on the directors
remuneration report at the 2014 annual
general meeting
Remuneration Policy
For
Against
Total votes cast (for and against
(for and against excluding withheld votes)
Votes withheld¹
Total votes cast (including withheld votes)
2015
74.2
40.0
2014
69.8
38.9
% change
+6.3%
+2.8%
Total number of votes
% of votes cast
181,513,469
7,751,806
189,265,275
17,120
189,248,155
95.90%
4.09%
99.99%
0.01%
100%
Notes:
1. A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes cast “for” and “against” a resolution.
Annual Report on Remuneration
For
Against
Total votes cast (for and against
(for and against excluding withheld votes)
Votes withheld¹
Total votes cast (including withheld votes)
Total number of votes
% of votes cast
150,590,339
34,112,688
184,703,027
4,545,128
189,248,155
79.57%
18.03%
97.60%
2.40%
100%
Notes:
1. A vote withheld is not a vote in law and is not counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes cast “for” and “against” a resolution.
Approval of the directors’
remuneration report
The directors remuneration report was
approved by the board on 22 May 2015.
Signed on behalf of the board
Fiona Laird
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
49
Independent Auditor’s Report to the
Members of N Brown Group Plc
Opinion on financial statements of
N Brown Group plc
In our opinion:
• the financial statements give a true and
fair view of the state of the group’s and
of the parent company’s affairs as at 28
February 2015 and of the group’s profit
for the year 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; and
• the financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with the
requirements of the Companies Act
2006 and, as regards the group
financial statements, Article 4 of the
IAS Regulation.
the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated
and Parent Company Balance Sheets,
the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement,
the Consolidated Statement of Changes
in Equity, and the related notes 1 to 40.
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
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted
Accounting Practice).
Separate opinion in relation to IFRSs as
issued by the IASB
As explained in note 1 to the group
financial statements, in addition to
complying with its legal obligation to
apply IFRSs as adopted by the European
Union, the group has also applied IFRSs
as issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board (IASB).
The financial statements comprise
the Consolidated Income Statement,
In our opinion the group financial statements
comply with IFRSs as issued by the IASB.
Going concern
As required by the Listing Rules we have
reviewed the directors’ statement on page
14 that the group is a going concern. We
confirm that:
• we have concluded that the directors’
use of the going concern basis of
accounting in the preparation of the
financial statements is appropriate; and
• we have not identified any material
uncertainties that may cast significant
doubt on the group’s ability to continue
as a going concern.
However, because not all future events
or conditions can be predicted, this
statement is not a guarantee as to the
group’s ability to continue as a going
concern.
Our assessment of risks of
material misstatement
The assessed risks of material
misstatement described below are
those that had the greatest effect on
our audit strategy, the allocation of
resources in the audit and directing the
efforts of the engagement team:
Risk
How the scope of our audit responded to the risk
Impairment of customer receivables
The impairment provision is a critical judgement in preparing
the accounts and is estimated using a model which contains
a number of inputs and assumptions that includes the arrears
stage of a customer, previous payment history, the historical
performance of other customers and the length of time that the
borrower has been a customer.
We have focussed our audit challenge in a number of areas,
including benchmarking the methodology and assumptions,
comparing the assumptions to objective evidence, evaluating
the design and implementation of the key controls, checking
the calculation methodology for compliance with accounting
standards and industry practice and assessing the movement in
the provision compared to trends in arrears, write-offs, recoveries
and the size and mix of the customer receivables portfolio.
We consulted with our internal credit specialists to design the
audit methodology and to enhance our challenge of assumptions
and methodology through benchmarking.
We used our own data specialists and checked the integrity of the
calculations by performing an independent recalculation of the
provision and checked the completeness and accuracy of data
inputs by testing the underlying transactions on a sample basis.
50
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Independent Auditor’s Report to the
Members of N Brown Group Plc
Risk
Regulatory
How the scope of our audit responded to the risk
The group operates in a regulated environment not only because
it is a listed entity, but also because of the unsecured credit it
provides to customers. Specifically:
• The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) began to regulate the
consumer credit market on 1 April 2014. The FCA has the
power to suspend or withdraw a firm’s regulatory permissions,
so there is a risk that if a firm does not comply with regulations,
then their permission to lend to customers may be suspended
or terminated.
We involved our own regulatory specialists in our evaluation of
the design and implementation of controls and practices in place
in relation to the processes the group has put in place to manage
regulatory compliance and governance and benchmarked these
against sources of best practice.
We reviewed correspondence with regulators and selected a
sample of customer complaints for testing and used analytical
procedures to assess the completeness of provisions for such
complaints.
• Regulated companies must ensure that their governance
arrangements are appropriate, that only authorised
people within the group are approved to carry out work
in this regulated environment and that their boards and
subcommittees are operating effectively.
When assessing the complaints procedures that the Group has
implemented, we considered how many of those complaints that
were rejected were then referred to the Financial Ombudsman
Service and the uphold rate of those referrals, to consider
whether the Group were right to reject those claims.
• Payment Protection Insurance (‘PPI’) remains an area of focus
for the group given the media exposure this has received in
recent years.
Taxation provisions
The group has ongoing debates with HMRC in respect of open
taxation positions and certain areas of expense. The most
significant matters which are most likely to have an impact
upon the financial statements and require the greatest degree
of judgements relates to VAT, specifically Bad Debt Relief and
Partial Exemption. In addition, there are a number of smaller
Corporation Taxation debates that remain open at the balance
sheet date. The outcomes of these cases are uncertain and
therefore are subject to estimates by management.
Our audit team included taxation specialists who have reviewed
correspondence with HMRC to date and considered whether
this correspondence has been interpreted and applied correctly,
having also considered current industry practice. We have
reviewed and recalculated the amounts provided and agreed
these to supporting documentation to assess the integrity of
the data provided. We have considered the judgements taken
and considered whether these judgements made are within a
reasonable range of possible outcomes.
Inventory provisioning
The inventory provision is based on the amount of current and
non-current stock on hand at the year end and the forecast
disposal plan, which estimates inventory items to be sold both
above and below cost. Therefore the provision is the subject of
considerable management judgement.
We recalculated the arithmetic accuracy of the provisioning
methodology used by management. We utilised data analytics
to test the inventory provision by comparing the selling price
of inventory in the year to the cost of the inventory as well
as analysing the ageing of inventory items. In addition, we
considered the appropriateness of the provisioning methodology
through analysing the inventory disposal channels utilised in
the year and comparing these to the forecast disposal plan. To
confirm existence of the inventory and the inventory counting
procedures, we test counted inventory independently twice in
the year in both the Shaw warehouse and a sample of stores
operated by the Group.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
51
Independent Auditor’s Report to the
Members of N Brown Group Plc
The description of risks above should be
read in conjunction with the significant
issues considered by the Audit Committee
discussed on page 23.
Our audit procedures relating to these
matters were designed in the context of
our audit of the financial statements as a
whole, and not to express an opinion on
individual accounts or disclosures. Our
opinion on the financial statements is not
modified with respect to any of the risks
described above, and we do not express
an opinion on these individual matters.
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.
We determined materiality for the group
to be £3.7 million (2014: £4.9 million),
which is 5% (2014: 5%) of pre-tax profit
from continuing operations, and below
1% (2014: equated to 1%) of equity. In the
prior year, all operations were continuing
operations. Therefore the only change
in the calculation of materiality from the
prior year is to exclude discontinuing
operations in the current year. There were
no discontinuing operations in 2014.
We agreed with the Audit Committee that
we would report to the Committee all audit
differences in excess of £76,000 (2014:
£97,000), 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
Given the nature of the group’s corporate
structure where all evidence relating to
each trading component is compiled at
the group’s head office, we performed an
audit covering 100% of the group’s trading
components and accordingly our samples
were selected from 100% of the group’s
total assets, revenue and profit. All group
companies are subject to the same group-
wide controls and consolidation processes,
which were audited as part of our work.
The group has a significant trading
component, J. D. Williams & Company
Limited, which was focused on as part of
the audit. The audit of this company was
completed to a lower materiality than for
the consolidated accounts.
Opinion on other matters prescribed by
the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion:
• the part of the Directors’ Remuneration
Report to be audited has been properly
prepared in accordance with the
Companies Act 2006; and
• the information given in the Chief
Executives Review and the Directors’
Report for the financial year for which
the financial statements are prepared is
consistent with the financial statements.
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 or the part of the Directors’
Remuneration Report to be audited is not
in agreement with the accounting records
and returns. We have nothing to report
arising from these matters.
Corporate Governance Statement
Under the Listing Rules we are also
required to review the part of the
Corporate Governance Statement
relating to the company’s compliance
with ten provisions of the UK Corporate
Governance Code. We have nothing to
report arising from our review.
Our duty to read other information in the
Annual Report
Under International Standards on Auditing
(UK and Ireland), we are required to report
to you if, in our opinion, information in the
annual report is:
• materially inconsistent with the
information in the audited financial
statements; or
• apparently materially incorrect based
on, or materially inconsistent with, our
knowledge of the group acquired in the
course of performing our audit; or
• otherwise misleading.
In particular, we are required to
consider whether we have identified any
inconsistencies between our knowledge
acquired during the audit and the
directors’ statement that they consider
the annual report is fair, balanced and
understandable and whether the annual
report appropriately discloses those
matters that we communicated to the audit
committee which we consider should have
been disclosed. We confirm that we have
not identified any such inconsistencies or
misleading statements.
Respective responsibilities of directors
and auditor
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.
Our responsibility is to audit and express
an opinion on the financial statements
in accordance with applicable law and
International Standards on Auditing (UK
and Ireland). Those standards require
us to comply with the Auditing Practices
Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. We
also comply with International Standard
on Quality Control 1 (UK and Ireland).
Our audit methodology and tools aim to
ensure that our quality control procedures
are effective, understood and applied. Our
quality controls and systems include our
dedicated professional standards review
team and independent partner reviews.
This report is made solely to the
company’s members, as a body, in
52
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Independent Auditor’s Report to the
Members of N Brown Group Plc
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.
Scope of the audit of the financial
statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence
about the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements sufficient to
give reasonable assurance that the
financial statements are free from material
misstatement, whether caused by fraud
or error. This includes an assessment
of: whether the accounting policies
are appropriate to the group’s and the
parent company’s circumstances and
have been consistently applied and
adequately disclosed; the reasonableness
of significant accounting estimates
made by the directors; and the overall
presentation of the financial statements. In
addition, we read all the financial and non-
financial information in the annual report
to identify material inconsistencies with
the audited financial statements and to
identify any information that is apparently
materially incorrect based on, or materially
inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired
by us in the course of performing the
audit. If we become aware of any apparent
material misstatements or inconsistencies
we consider the implications for our report.
Damian Sanders
(Senior statutory auditor)
for and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory
Auditor
Manchester, United Kingdom
22 May 2015.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
53
Consolidated Income Statement
For the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2015
Continuing operations
Revenue
Operating profit before exceptional items
Exceptional items
Operating profit
Investment income
Finance costs
Profit before taxation and fair value adjustments to financial instruments
Fair value adjustments to financial instruments
Profit before taxation
Taxation
Profit for the year from continuing operations
(Loss)/ Profit for the year from discontinued operations
Profit attributable to equity holders of the parent
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations
Basic
Diluted
Earnings per share from continuing operations
Basic
Diluted
Earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations
Basic
Diluted
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2015
Profit for the period
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit pension schemes
Tax relating to items not reclassified
3
6
6
8
9
19
10
5
12
12
12
Note
29
10
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations
Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent
54
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
2015
2014 £m
(restated
£m see note 1)
818.0
818.9
93.8
106.5
(12.6)
81.2
0.1
(7.7)
–
106.5
0.1
(7.0)
73.6
99.6
2.7
76.3
(2.8)
96.8
(16.5)
(21.3)
59.8
(10.4)
49.4
75.5
0.4
75.9
20.49p
20.43p
27.74p
27.55p
21.23p
21.17p
26.95p
26.77p
17.54p
17.49p
27.09p
26.91p
2015
£m
49.4
1.4
(0.3)
1.1
(0.9)
49.6
2014
£m
75.9
(2.7)
0.6
(2.1)
(0.4)
73.4
Consolidated Balance Sheet
As at 28 February 2015
Non-current assets
Intangible assets
Property, plant & equipment
Deferred tax assets
Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial instruments
Cash and cash equivalents
Total assets
Current liabilities
Bank loans
Trade and other payables
Derivative financial instruments
Current tax liability
Net current assets
Non-current liabilities
Bank loans
Retirement benefit obligation
Deferred tax liabilities
Total liabilities
Net assets
Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Own shares
Foreign currency translation reserve
Retained earnings
Total equity
Note
2015
£m
2014
£m
13
14
21
16
17
19
25
18
22
19
18
29
21
23
24
98.3
70.5
3.2
172.0
94.8
609.9
1.1
40.4
746.2
918.2
(7.0)
(108.9)
-
(13.9)
(129.8)
616.4
73.3
63.2
4.8
141.3
89.9
599.0
–
45.3
734.2
875.5
(9.0)
(98.0)
(1.6)
(18.8)
(127.4)
606.8
(280.0)
(3.3)
(8.5)
(250.0)
(4.2)
(8.6)
(291.8)
(262.8)
(421.6)
(390.2)
496.6
485.3
31.3
11.0
(0.3)
1.0
453.6
496.6
31.3
11.0
(0.5)
1.9
441.6
485.3
The financial statements of N Brown Group plc (Registered Number 814103) were approved by the board of directors and authorised
for issue on 22 May 2015.
They were signed on its behalf by:
Angela Spindler
Director
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
55
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
For the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2015
Note
Net cash from operating activities
Investing activities
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
Purchases of intangible assets
Interest received
Net cash used in investing activities
Financing activities
Interest paid
Dividends paid
Increase in bank loans
Purchase of shares by ESOT
Proceeds on issue of shares held by ESOT
Net cash used in financing activities
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
25
Reconciliation of Operating Profit to Net Cash from
Operating Activities
For the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2015
Operating profit from continuing operations
Operating (loss)/profit from discontinued operations
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of intangible assets
Impairment of intangible assets
Share option charge
2015
£m
2014
£m
73.1
40.7
0.1
(14.9)
(44.6)
0.1
(59.3)
(7.4)
(40.0)
28.0
(0.2)
0.9
(18.7)
(4.9)
45.3
40.4
–
(3.9)
(16.9)
0.1
(20.7)
(5.7)
(38.9)
9.0
(1.1)
0.7
(36.0)
(16.0)
61.3
45.3
2015
2014 £m
(restated
£m see note 1)
81.2
(11.0)
8.0
(0.1)
15.0
8.0
2.1
106.5
0.5
7.1
–
13.2
–
2.4
Operating cash flows before movements in working capital
103.2
129.7
Increase in inventories
Increase in trade and other receivables
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
Pension obligation adjustment
Cash generated by operations
Taxation paid
Net cash from operating activities
(4.9)
(9.9)
5.1
0.3
93.8
(20.7)
73.1
(3.4)
(51.0)
(12.7)
(1.8)
60.8
(20.1)
40.7
56
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Share
capital
£m
Note 23
Share
premium
£m
Own
shares
£m
Note 24
Foreign
currency
translation
reserve
£m
Retained
earnings
£m
Total
£m
Changes in equity for the 52 weeks
ended 28 February 2015
Balance as at 1 March 2014
31.3
11.0
(0.5)
Profit for the period
Other items of comprehensive income
for the period
Total comprehensive income
for the period
Equity dividends
Purchase of own shares by ESOT
Issue of own shares by ESOT
Adjustment to equity for share payments
Share option charge
Tax on items recognised directly in equity
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Balance at 28 February 2015
31.3
11.0
Changes in equity for the 52 weeks
ended 1 March 2014
–
–
–
–
(0.2)
0.4
–
–
–
(0.3)
Balance as at 2 March 2013
31.3
11.0
(0.9)
Profit for the period
Other items of comprehensive income
for the period
Total comprehensive income
for the period
Equity dividends
Purchase of own shares by ESOT
Issue of own shares by ESOT
Adjustment to equity for share payments
Share option charge
Tax on items recognised directly in equity
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(1.1)
1.5
–
–
–
1.9
–
441.6
49.4
(0.9)
1.1
485.3
49.4
0.2
(0.9)
50.5
49.6
–
–
–
–
–
–
(40.0)
–
–
0.5
2.1
(1.1)
(40.0)
(0.2)
0.4
0.5
2.1
(1.1)
1.0
453.6
496.6
402.3
446.0
2.3
–
75.9
(0.4)
(2.1)
(0.4)
73.8
–
–
–
–
–
–
(38.9)
–
–
(0.8)
2.4
2.8
75.9
(2.5)
73.4
(38.9)
(1.1)
1.5
(0.8)
2.4
2.8
Balance at 1 March 2014
31.3
11.0
(0.5)
1.9
441.6
485.3
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
57
Notes to the Group Accounts
1 General information
N Brown Group plc is a company
incorporated in the United Kingdom under
the Companies Act 2006. The address of the
registered office is listed at the end of the
report. The nature of the group’s operations
and its principal activities are set out on page
17 of the directors’ 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 2.
The groups financial statements for
the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2015
have been prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards
(IFRS) as adopted for use in the EU.
The accounting policies have been applied
consistently in the current and prior periods,
other than that as set out below.
Adoption of new and revised Standards
No standards have been adopted that affect
the reported results or financial position.
At the date of authorisation of these financial
statements, the following Standards and
Interpretations which have not been applied
in these financial statements were in issue
but not yet effective (and in some cases had
not yet been adopted by the EU):
• Amendments to IFRS 10, IFRS 12 and
IAS 28 (Dec 2015): Investment Entities:
Applying the Consolidation Exception.
• Amendments to IAS 1 (Dec 2015):
Disclosure Initiative.
• Annual Improvements to IFRSs: 2012-2014
Cycle (Sept 2014): Annual Improvements
to IFRSs: 2012-2014 Cycle.
• Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28 (Sept
2014): Sale or Contribution of Assets
between an Investor and its Associate or
Joint Venture.
• Amendments to IAS 27 (Aug 2014): Equity
Method in Separate Financial Statements.
• IFRS 9: Financial Instruments.
• Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 41 (Jun
2014): Agriculture: Bearer Plants.
• IFRS 15: Revenue from Contracts
with Customers.
• Amendments to IAS 16 and IAS 38 (May
2014): Clarification of Acceptable Methods
of Depreciation and Amortisation.
• Amendments to IFRS 11 (May 2014):
Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in
Joint Operations.
• IFRS 14: Regulatory Deferral Accounts.
The directors do not expect that the adoption
of the standards listed above will have a
material impact on the financial statements
of the group in future periods, except as
follows:
• IFRS 9 will impact both the measurement
and disclosures of Financial Instruments.
Discontinued operations
Discontinued operations are those which
management identify separately and
where notice has been given that they are
to be discontinued. As a result of notice
being given regarding the closure of Gray
& Osbourn as detailed in note 5, the prior
year income statement has been restated
to exclude the results of Gray & Osbourn
under continuing activities.
2 Accounting policies
Adoption of International Financial
Reporting and Accounting Standards
(IFRS)
The group has adopted Standards and
Interpretations issued by the International
Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and
the International Financial Reporting
Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) of the
IASB that are relevant to its operations.
Individual standards and interpretations
have to be adopted by the European
Commission (EC) and the process leads
to a delay between the issue and adoption
of new standards and interpretations
and in some cases amendments by the
EC. Where the group has applied a new
standard or interpretation in advance of
EC adoption this will be noted below in
the relevant policy statement.
Basis of accounting
The financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with IFRS.
The financial statements have also
been prepared in accordance with
IFRSs adopted by the European Union
and therefore comply with Article 4 of
the EU IAS Regulation.
The financial statements have been
prepared on the historical cost basis,
except for the revaluation of certain
financial instruments. The principal
accounting policies adopted are set out
as follows.
Accounting period
Throughout the accounts, the directors
report and financial review, reference to
2015 means at 28 February 2015 or the
52 weeks then ended; reference to 2014
means at 1 March 2014 or the 52 weeks
then ended unless otherwise stated.
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements
incorporate the financial statements
of the company and entities controlled
by the company (its subsidiaries) made
up to the Saturday that falls closest to
28 February each year. The Employee
Share Ownership Trust is also made up
to a date coterminous with the financial
period of the parent company.
The results of subsidiaries acquired or
disposed of during the period are included
in the consolidated income statement
from the effective date of acquisition or
up to the effective date of disposal, as
appropriate. Control is achieved where
the company has the power to govern
the financial and operating policies of an
investee entity so as to obtain benefits from
its activities. 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.
Business combinations
The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted
for using the purchase method. The cost of
the acquisition is measured at the aggregate
of the fair values, at the date of exchange, of
assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed,
and equity instruments issued by the group
in exchange for control of the acquiree. The
acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and
contingent liabilities that meet the conditions
for recognition under IFRS 10 are recognised
at their fair value at the acquisition date.
Acquisition costs are expensed as incurred.
Goodwill
Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised
as an asset on the date control is acquired
and initially measured at cost, being
the excess of the cost of the business
combination over the group’s interest
in the net fair value of the identifiable
assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities
recognised. If, after reassessment, the
group’s interest in the net fair value of the
acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities
58
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost
of the business combination, the excess is
recognised immediately in profit or loss.
Freehold buildings
2%
Leasehold property
and improvements
over the period
of the lease
Goodwill is not amortised, but is reviewed for
impairment at least annually. Any impairment
is recognised immediately in the income
statement and is not subsequently reversed.
Motor vehicles
Computer equipment
Plant and machinery
20%
20%
between
5% and 20%
between
10% and 20%
Fixtures and equipment
Assets held under finance leases are
depreciated over their expected useful lives
on the same basis as owned assets or, where
shorter, over the term of the relevant lease.
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.
Borrowing costs
Borrowing costs directly attributable to
the acquisition, construction or production
of qualifying assets, which are assets that
necessarily take a substantial period of time
to get ready for their intended use or sale,
are added to the cost of those assets, until
such time as the assets are substantially
ready for their intended use or sale.
All other borrowing costs are recognised
in profit or loss in the period in which they
are incurred.
Intangible assets
Computer software development costs that
generate economic benefits beyond one
year are capitalised as intangible assets
and amortised on a straight-line basis over
five years.
Customer databases arising on acquisitions
assessed under the requirements of IFRS 3
are amortised over their useful economic lives,
which have been assessed as being five years.
Legally protected or otherwise separable
trade names acquired as part of a business
combination are capitalised at fair value on
acquisition. Brand names are individually
assessed and are assumed to have an
indefinite life and are not amortised, but are
subject to annual impairment tests.
Impairment of tangible and intangible
assets excluding goodwill
At each balance sheet date, the group reviews
the carrying value of its tangible and intangible
assets to determine whether there is any
indication that those assets have suffered
an impairment loss. 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.
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 discount rate that reflects
current market assessments of the time
value of money and the risks specific to the
asset for which the estimate 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 years. A
reversal of an impairment loss is recognised
as income immediately.
Leasing
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
even where payments are not made on
such a basis.
Assets held under finance leases are
included in tangible fixed assets at a value
equal to the original costs incurred by the
lessor less depreciation, and obligations to
the lessor are shown as part of creditors. The
interest element is charged to the income
statement over the period of the lease to
produce a constant rate of charge on the
balance of capital repayments outstanding.
On disposal of a subsidiary, the attributable
amount of goodwill is included in the
determination of the profit or loss on disposal.
Purchased goodwill arising on acquisitions
before 1 March 1998 was charged against
reserves in the year of acquisition in
accordance with UK GAAP and has not been
reinstated and is not included in determining
any subsequent profit or loss on disposal.
Revenue recognition
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the
consideration received or receivable and
represents the total amount receivable for
goods and services provided in the normal
course of business net of returns, VAT and
sales related taxes.
Sales of goods are recognised when goods
are delivered and title has passed and
it is probable that the economic benefits
associated with the transaction will flow to
the entity. Sales of rendering of services
include interest, administrative charges
and arrangement fees. Interest income is
accrued on a time basis, by reference to
the principal outstanding and the applicable
effective interest rate which is the rate that
exactly discounts estimated future cash
receipts through the expected life of the
financial assets to that asset’s net carrying
amount. Such revenues are recognised only
when collectability is reasonably assured.
Revenue from non-interest related financial
income is recognised when the services
have been performed.
Property, plant & equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated
at cost, less accumulated depreciation
and any provision for impairment in value.
Depreciation is charged so as to write off
the cost of assets to their estimated residual
values, based on current prices at the
balance sheet date, over their remaining
useful lives, using the straight-line method.
No depreciation is charged on freehold
land. In this respect the following annual
depreciation rates apply:
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
59
Notes to the Group Accounts
Inventories
Inventories have been valued at the lower
of cost and net realisable value. Provision
is made based on the age of the inventory.
Cost comprises direct materials and those
overheads that have been incurred in
bringing inventories to their present location
and condition based on the standard costing
method. Cost has been calculated on a first-
in-first-out basis. Net realisable value means
estimated selling price less all costs to be
incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.
Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the
tax currently payable and deferred tax.
The tax currently payable is based on
taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit
differs from net profit as reported in the
income statement because it excludes
items of income or expense that are taxable
or deductible in other years 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 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 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.
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.
Deferred tax is charged or credited in the
income statement, except when it relates to
items charged or credited directly to equity,
in which case the deferred tax is also dealt
with in equity.
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 consolidated financial statements, the
results and financial position of each group
company are expressed in pounds sterling,
which is the functional currency of the
group, and the presentation currency for the
consolidated financial statements.
In preparing the financial statement 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 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 equity. For such non-monetary items, any
exchange component of that gain or loss is
also recognised directly in equity.
In order to hedge its exposure to certain
foreign exchange risks, the group may enter
into forward contracts and options (see
below for details of the group’s accounting
policies in respect of such derivative
financial instruments).
For the purpose of presenting consolidated
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
transactions are used. Exchange differences
arising, if any, are classified as equity and
transferred to the group’s translation 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 on the group’s balance sheet when
the group becomes a party to the contractual
provisions of the instrument. Profits and
losses on financial instruments are recognised
in the income statement as they arise.
Trade receivables
Trade receivables are measured at
amortised cost using the effective interest
rate method. Appropriate allowances
for estimated irrecoverable amounts are
recognised in profit or loss when there is
objective evidence that the asset is impaired
based on specific customer patterns of
behavior which may be affected by external
economic conditions.
The allowance recognised is measured as
the difference between the asset’s carrying
amount and the present value of estimated
future cash flows discounted at the effective
interest rate computed at initial recognition.
Trade receivables are assessed for
impairment on a collective basis. Objective
evidence of impairment could include
the group’s past experience of collecting
payments and observable changes in
national and local economic conditions that
could correlate with a default event.
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.
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.
Bank borrowings
Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts
are recorded at 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 accrual basis in the
60
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
income statement using the effective interest
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 nominal value.
Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the company
are recorded at the proceeds received, net
of direct issue costs.
Derivative financial instruments
The group’s activities expose it primarily
to the financial risks of changes in foreign
currency exchange rates relating to the
purchase of overseas sourced products, and
interest rates relating to the group’s debt.
The group uses foreign exchange forward
contracts and interest rate swap contracts
where appropriate to hedge these exposures.
In accordance with its treasury policy, the
group does not use derivative financial
instruments for speculative purposes.
The use of financial derivatives is governed
by the group’s policies approved by the
board of directors, which provide written
principles on the use of financial derivatives.
Derivatives are stated at their fair value. The
fair value of foreign currency derivatives
contracts is their quoted market value at the
balance sheet date.
Market values are based on the duration of
the derivative instrument together with the
quoted market data including interest rates,
foreign exchange rates and market volatility
at the balance sheet date. The fair value
of interest rate contracts is the estimated
amount that the group would receive or pay
to terminate them at the balance sheet date,
taking into account prevailing interest rates.
Changes in the fair value of currency
derivative financial instruments are
recognised in the income statement
as they arise.
Share-based payments
The group issues equity-settled share-
based payments to certain employees.
Equity-settled share-based payments are
measured at fair value 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 shares that will eventually vest.
Fair value is measured by use of a Black-
Scholes model.
Retirement benefit costs
Payments to defined contribution retirement
benefit schemes are charged as an
expense as they fall due. Payments made
to state-managed retirement benefit
schemes are dealt with as payments to
defined contribution schemes where the
group’s obligations under the schemes
are equivalent to those arising in a defined
contribution retirement benefit scheme.
For defined benefit retirement benefit
schemes, the cost of providing benefits is
determined using the Projected Unit Credit
Method, with actuarial valuations being
carried out at the end of each reporting
period. Remeasurement comprising
actuarial gains and losses, the effect of the
asset ceiling (if applicable) and the return
on scheme assets (excluding interest) are
recognised immediately in the balance sheet
with a charge or credit to the statement
of comprehensive income in the period in
which they occur. Remeasurement recorded
in the statement of comprehensive income is
not recycled. Past service cost is recognised
in profit or loss in the period of scheme
amendment. Net-interest is calculated by
applying a discount rate to the net defined
benefit liability or asset. Defined benefit
costs are split into three categories:
• current service cost, past-service cost
and gains and losses on curtailments and
settlements;
• net-interest expense or income; and
• remeasurement.
The group presents the first two components
of defined benefit costs within operating
expenses (see note 29) in its consolidated
income statement. Curtailments gains and
losses are accounted for as past-service
cost. Net-interest expense or income is
recognised within finance costs (see note 9).
The retirement benefit obligation recognised
in the balance sheet represents the present
value of the defined benefit obligation, as
reduced by the fair value of scheme assets.
Any asset resulting from this calculation
is restricted to the past service cost plus
the present value of available refunds and
reductions in future contributions.
Going concern
including cash flows, liquidity position and
borrowing facilities and the principal risks
and uncertainties relating to its business
activities. These are set out within the Chief
Executive’s Review.
The group has considered carefully its cash
flows and banking covenants for the next
twelve months from the date of signing
the audited financial statements. These
have been appraised in light of the current
economic climate. As such, conservative
assumptions for working capital
performance have been used to determine
the level of financial resources available
to the company and to assess liquidity
risk. The key trading risk identified by the
directors for these assumptions is the
impact that a deterioration in the economic
climate might have on the performance of
the group’s sales and debtor book.
The group’s forecasts and projections,
after sensitivity to take account of all
reasonably foreseeable changes in trading
performance, show that the group will have
sufficient headroom within its current loan
facilities of £370m. The group is in advanced
negotiations with its bankers in relation to
the extension of these facilities to ensure
appropriate levels of committed funds are in
place beyond 2016. After making appropriate
enquiries, the directors have a reasonable
expectation that the company and the group
have adequate resources to continue in
operational existence for the foreseeable
future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt
the going concern basis in the preparation of
the annual report and accounts.
Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those that are
considered to be one off, non-recurring in
nature and so material that the directors
believe that they require separate disclosure
to avoid distortion of underlying performance
and should be separately presented on the
face of the income statement.
Critical judgements and key sources
of estimation uncertainty
The key assumptions concerning the future
and other sources of estimation uncertainty at
the year end date, that have a significant risk of
causing a material adjustment to the carrying
amounts of assets and liabilities within the next
financial year, are discussed below.
In determining whether the group’s accounts
can be prepared on a going concern
basis, the directors considered the group’s
business activities together with factors
likely to affect its future development,
performance and its financial position
Trade receivables
An appropriate allowance for estimated
irrecoverable trade receivables is derived
where there is an identified event which,
based on previous experience, is evidence
of a potential reduction in the recoverability
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
61
Notes to the Group Accounts
of future cash flows. This estimation is based
on assumed collection rates which, although
based on the group’s historical experience
of customer repayment patterns, remains
inherently uncertain.
As a result this is continually assessed
for relevance and adjusted appropriately.
Further information is given in note 17.
Taxation
The group’s tax balances comprise income
tax, which is the sum of the total current
and deferred tax balances, and VAT. The
group has on-going discussions with HMRC
in respect of open taxation positions and
the calculation of the group’s potential
liabilities or assets in respect of these
necessarily involves a degree of estimation
and judgement in respect of items whose tax
treatment cannot be finally determined until
resolution has been reached with HMRC
or, as appropriate, through a formal legal
process. Issues can, and often do, take a
number of years to resolve. The amounts
recognised or disclosed are derived from the
group’s best estimation and judgement and,
where appropriate, legal counsel’s opinion
has been sought. However, the inherent
uncertainty regarding the outcome of these
means eventual realisation could differ from
the accounting estimates and therefore
impact the group’s results and cash flows.
Inventory
Provision is made for those items of inventory
where the net realisable value is estimated
to be lower than cost. Net realisable value
is based on both historical experience and
assumptions regarding future selling values
and disposal channels, and is consequently a
source of estimation uncertainty.
Regulatory
The regulatory environment in which
the group operates is both complex and
changing with the transfer of regulatory
supervision from the OFT to the FCA. This
can be a critical area of judgement when
considering any liabilities that could arise as
a result of the legislation in place.
3 Revenue
An analysis of the group’s revenue is as follows:
Continuing operations
Sale of goods
Rendering of services
Revenue - continuing operations
Investment income
Discontinued operations
Subsidiary catalogue business
Revenue
4 Business segments
Revenue
Continuing operations
Home Shopping
Operating profit
Segment result & operating profit – Home Shopping
Fair value adjustments to financial instruments
Investment income
Finance costs
Profit before taxation
Taxation
Profit after tax
2015
£m
2014
£m
582.9
235.1
818.0
0.1
818.1
14.5
832.6
2015
£m
576.7
242.2
818.9
0.1
819.0
16.0
835.0
2014
£m
818.0
818.9
81.2
2.7
0.1
(7.7)
76.3
(16.5)
59.8
106.5
(2.8)
0.1
(7.0)
96.8
(21.3)
75.5
The group has one business segment and
one significant geographical segment that
operates in and derives revenue from UK.
Revenue derived from international markets
amounted to £30.2m (2014, £31.4m) and
incurred operating losses of £1.3m (2014,
£3.5m). All segment assets are located in
the UK and Ireland.
The analysis above is in respect of
continuing operations.
For the purposes of monitoring segment
performance, all assets and liabilities are
allocated to the sole business segment,
being Home Shopping, with the exception
of current and deferred tax assets and
liabilities. There are no impairments of
goodwill, intangible assets or tangible assets
in the current period (2014, £nil).
62
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
4 Business segments (continued)
Other information
Capital additions
Capital disposals
Depreciation and amortisation
Brand impairment
Depreciation eliminated on disposal
Balance sheet
Total segment assets
Total segment liabilities
Segment net assets
Unallocated assets
Unallocated liabilities
Consolidated net assets
5 Discontinued operations
2015
£m
2014
£m
63.3
(0.1)
(23.0)
(8.0)
0.1
915.0
(399.2)
515.8
3.2
(22.4)
496.6
20.8
–
(20.3)
–
–
870.7
(362.8)
507.9
4.8
(27.4)
485.3
Following a review of the business and its
future profit potential, the board decided in
January 2015 to close the Gray & Osbourn
catalogue business. The process is ongoing
and will continue into the next financial
year. The results of the discontinued
operation, which have been included in
the consolidated income and cash flow
statement were as follows.
Revenue
Expense
Brand impairment
Attributable tax credit/(expense)
Net (loss)/profit attributable to discontinued operations
6 Profit for the period
Continuing operations
Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Distribution costs
Sales and administration costs
Exceptional items
Operating profit
2015
£m
14.5
(17.5)
(8.0)
(11.0)
0.6
(10.4)
2014
£m
16.0
(15.5)
–
0.5
(0.1)
0.4
2015
£m
2014
£m
818.0
(392.4)
425.6
(73.9)
(257.9)
(12.6)
818.9
(387.8)
431.1
(69.4)
(255.2)
–
81.2
106.5
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
63
Notes to the Group Accounts
6 Profit for the period (continued)
Exceptional costs totalled £12.6m (2014,
nil). These comprise £5.6m on strategy
costs, which include the outsourcing
of our call centre to Serco and group
re-organisation costs. The group also
incurred £7.0m of exceptional costs for
VAT. This relates to a potential settlement
with HMRC in respect of VAT recovery
on bad debts written off over a number of
years. We anticipate that this matter will
be settled in the current financial year.
Profit for the period has been arrived at after (crediting)/charging:
Net foreign exchange gains
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Depreciation eliminated on disposal
Amortisation of intangible assets
Cost of inventories recognised as expense
Staff costs
Auditor’s remuneration for audit services (see below)
Doubtful debts recognised as an expense
Brand impairment
Amounts payable to Deloitte LLP and their associates by the company and its UK subsidiary undertakings
in respect of non-audit services were £1.9m (2014, £1.3m).
A more detailed analysis of auditor’s remuneration is provided below:
Audit fees:
The audit of the company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation
Other services:
Tax services
2015
£m
(2.4)
8.0
(0.1)
15.0
263.4
89.3
0.3
66.4
8.0
2015
£m
0.3
1.9
2014
£m
(2.8)
7.1
–
13.2
248.1
85.2
0.3
67.8
–
2014
£m
0.3
1.3
Fees payable for tax services relate to tax
advisory services of £1.8m (2014, £1.2m)
and compliance of £0.1m (2014, £0.1m).
Fees payable to the company’s auditor
for the audit of the company’s annual
accounts were £10,000 (2014, £10,000).
Within the fees for audit of the company’s
subsidiaries pursuant to legislation there
are other assurance fees totalling £30,000
(2014, £30,000).
In addition to the amounts shown above,
the auditors received fees of £4,000
(2014, £4,000) for the audit of the group
pension scheme.
A description of the work of the audit
committee is set out in the corporate
governance statement and includes an
explanation of how auditor objectivity and
independence is safeguarded when non
audit services are provided by the auditor.
7 Staff costs
The average monthly number of employee (including executive directors) was:
Distribution
Sales and administration
Their aggregate remuneration comprised
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs (see note 29)
Share options costs (see note 28)
Details of individual directors’ remuneration is disclosed in the remuneration report on page 43.
2015
Number
2014
Number
1,109
2,268
3,377
2015
£m
74.2
7.5
5.5
2.1
89.3
1,005
2,427
3,432
2014
£m
69.8
7.9
5.1
2.4
85.2
64
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
2015
£m
2014
£m
0.1
0.1
Notes to the Group Accounts
8 Investment income
Interest on bank deposits
9 Finance costs
Interest on bank overdrafts and loans
Net pension finance charge (see note 29)
10 Tax
Current tax – charge for the period from continuing operations
Current tax – adjustment in respect of previous periods from continuing operations
Deferred tax (see note 21) from continuing operations
Current tax – (credit)/charge for the period from discontinued operations
UK corporation tax is calculated at 21.17% (2014, 23.08%) of the estimated assessable profit for the period.
Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions.
The charge for the period can be reconciled to the profit per the income statement as follows:
Profit before tax from continuing operations:
Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 21.17% (2014, 23.08%)
Effect of change in deferred tax rate
Tax effect of expenses that are not deductible in determining taxable profit
Effect of different tax rates of subsidiaries operating in other jurisdictions
Tax effect of adjustments in respect of previous periods
Tax expense for the period
2015
£m
7.5
0.2
7.7
2015
£m
16.5
0.7
(0.7)
16.5
(0.6)
15.9
2015
£m
76.3
16.1
–
0.5
(0.8)
0.7
16.5
In addition to the amount charged to the income statement, tax movements recognised directly through equity were as follows:
Deferred tax – retirement benefit obligations
Tax charge/(credit) in the statement of comprehensive income
Current tax – share based payments
Deferred tax – share based payments
Tax charge/(credit) in the statement of changes in equity
2015
£m
0.3
0.3
2015
£m
(0.8)
1.9
1.1
2014
£m
7.0
–
7.0
2014
£m
21.4
0.4
(0.5)
21.3
0.1
21.4
2014
£m
96.8
22.3
(1.1)
0.6
(0.9)
0.4
21.3
2014
£m
(0.6)
(0.6)
2014
£m
(2.0)
(0.8)
(2.8)
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
65
Notes to the Group Accounts
11 Dividends
Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the period:
Final dividend for the 52 weeks ended 1 March 2014 of 8.56p (2013, 8.23p) per share
Interim dividend for the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2015 of 5.67p (2014, 5.67p) per share
Proposed final dividend for the 52 weeks ended 28 February 2015 of 8.56p (2014, 8.56p) per share
2015
£m
2014
£m
24.0
16.0
40.0
24.1
23.0
15.9
38.9
24.0
The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the annual general meeting and has not yet been included
as a liability in these financial statements.
12 Earnings per share
The calculations of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following data:
Earnings
Earnings for the purposes of basic and diluted earnings per share being
net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent
Number of shares (’000s)
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share
Effect of dilutive potential ordinary shares:
Share options
2015
£m
2014
£m
49.4
75.9
2015
Number
2014
Number
281,612
280,127
856
1,929
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share
282,468
282,056
Earnings from continuing operations
Net profit attributable to equity holders of the parent
Adjustments to exclude loss/(profit) for the period from discontinued operations
Earnings from continuing operations for the purpose of basic earnings per share
excluding discontinued operations
Fair value adjustment to financial instruments (net of tax)
Adjusted earnings for the purposes of adjusted earnings per share
2015
£m
49.4
10.4
59.8
(2.1)
57.7
2014
£m
75.9
(0.4)
75.5
2.2
77.7
The denominators used are the same as those detailed above for basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing and
discontinued operations.
From discontinued operations
Basic
Diluted
2015
Pence
(3.69)
(3.68)
2014
Pence
0.14
0.14
66
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
13 Intangible assets
Cost
At 2 March 2013
Additions
At 1 March 2014
Additions
At 28 February 2015
Amortisation
At 2 March 2013
Charge for the period
At 1 March 2014
Charge for the period
Impairment charge for the period
At 28 February 2015
Carrying amount
At 28 February 2015
At 1 March 2014
At 2 March 2013
Brands
£m
Software
£m
Customer
Database
£m
Total
£m
16.9
–
16.9
–
16.9
–
–
–
–
8.0
8.0
8.9
16.9
16.9
146.0
16.9
162.9
48.0
210.9
93.3
13.2
106.5
15.0
–
121.5
89.4
56.4
52.7
1.9
–
1.9
–
1.9
1.9
–
1.9
–
–
1.9
–
–
–
164.8
16.9
181.7
48.0
229.7
95.2
13.2
108.4
15.0
8.0
131.4
98.3
73.3
69.6
Assets in the course of construction included in intangible assets at the year end total £40.6m (2014, £16.4m), of which £17.0m relates to the
Fit for the Future project (2014, £16.4m). No depreciation is charged on these assets.
All software additions relate to internal development.
Amortisation of intangible assets is split equally between cost of sales and administration costs and is disclosed in note 6.
The amortisation periods for intangible assets are:
Software
Customer Database
Years
5
5
The brand names arising from the acquisition of High and Mighty, Slimma, Figleaves, Diva and Dannimac are deemed to have indefinite lives as
there are no foreseeable limits to the periods over which they are expected to generate cash inflows and are subject to annual impairment tests.
As a result of the decision to close the Gray & Osbourn catalogue business the carrying value of the brand has been permanently impaired to
a value of £nil (2014, £8.0m).
The carrying value of the brand names have been determined from a value in use calculation. The key assumptions for this calculation are
those regarding the discount rates, growth rates and the forecast cash flows.
The group prepares cash flow forecasts based on the most recent three year financial budgets approved by management and thereafter
extrapolates cash flows in perpetuity (with 2.7% growth assumed) to reflect that there is no foreseeable limit to the
period over which cash flows are expected to be generated. The rate used to discount the forecast pre-tax cash flows is 7.4% (2014, 7.2%).
The directors consider that the value in use calculation has sufficient headroom above the carrying value of the brand names.
The carrying value in relation to Gray & Osbourn is £nil (2014, £8.0m), £7.1m (2014, £7.1m) for Figleaves and for High and Mighty is £1.0m
(2014, £1.0m). Whilst the directors do not consider that either brand name is impaired as at the balance sheet date, should there be a
downturn in future or forecasted cashflows, then there is a risk of impairment to these brand names.
The discount rates applied by the directors have been reviewed in the year and the directors are satisfied that they are reflective
of the capital structure and debt to equity ratio of the group.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
67
Notes to the Group Accounts
14 Property, plant and equipment
Cost
At 2 March 2013
Additions
At 1 March 2014
Additions
Disposals
At 28 February 2015
Accumulated depreciation and impairment
At 2 March 2013
Charge for the period
At 1 March 2014
Charge for the period
Eliminated on disposals
At 28 February 2015
Carrying amount
At 28 February 2015
At 1 March 2014
At 2 March 2013
Land and Fixtures and
Equipment
Buildings
£m
£m
Total
£m
158.5
3.9
162.4
15.3
(0.1)
177.6
92.1
7.1
99.2
8.0
(0.1)
112.3
3.9
116.2
8.3
(0.1)
124.4
81.7
6.2
87.9
7.1
(0.1)
94.9
107.1
29.5
28.3
30.6
70.5
63.2
66.4
46.2
–
46.2
7.0
–
53.2
10.4
0.9
11.3
0.9
–
12.2
41.0
34.9
35.8
Assets in the course of construction included in property, plant and equipment at the year end date total £3.1m (2014, £2.8m), and in
land and buildings total £7.0m (2014, £nil). No depreciation has been charged on these assets.
At 28 February 2015, the group had not entered into any contractual commitments for the acquisition of property, plant and
equipment (2014, £nil).
15 Subsidiaries
A list of the significant investments in subsidiaries, including the name, country of incorporation, proportion of ownership interest
is given in note 33 to the company’s separate financial statements.
16 Inventories
Finished goods
Sundry stocks
2015
£m
93.7
1.1
94.8
2014
£m
88.1
1.8
89.9
68
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
17 Trade and other receivables
Amount receivable for the sale of goods and services
Allowance for doubtful debts
Other debtors and prepayments
2015
£m
627.9
(40.5)
587.4
22.5
609.9
2014
£m
628.1
(50.2)
577.9
21.1
599.0
Trade receivables are measured at amortised cost.
The average credit period given to customers for the sale of goods is 258 days (2014, 253 days). Interest is charged at 44.9% (2014, 44.9%) on
the outstanding balance. Generally, receivables over 150 days past due are written off in full. Trade receivables that reach the trigger point of
56 days past due are provided for based on estimated irrecoverable amounts, determined by reference to past default experience. The carrying
amount of trade receivables whose terms have been renegotiated but would otherwise be past due totalled £97.1m at 28 February 2015 (2014,
£97.3m). Interest income recognised on trade receivables which have been impaired was £10.6m (2014, £10.9m).
Before accepting any new customer, the group uses an external credit scoring system to assess the potential customer’s credit quality and
defines credit limits by customer. Credit limits and scores attributed to customers are reviewed every 28 days. The credit quality of trade
receivables that are neither past due nor impaired, with regard to the historical default rate has remained stable.
Ageing of trade receivables
Current – not past due
0 – 28 days – past due
29 – 56 days – past due
57 – 84 days – past due
85 – 112 days – past due
Over 112 days – past due
Total
Movement in the allowance for doubtful debts
Balance at the beginning of the period
Amounts charged net to the income statement
Net amounts written off
Balance at the end of the period
2015
£m
506.9
56.0
24.9
16.5
12.0
11.6
627.9
2015
£m
50.2
66.4
(76.1)
40.5
2014
£m
485.6
67.5
29.4
18.2
14.2
13.2
628.1
2014
£m
55.7
67.8
(73.3)
50.2
The concentration of credit risk is limited due to the customer base being large and unrelated and comprising 1.3 million (2014, 1.5 million)
customers. Accordingly, the directors believe that there is no further credit provision required in excess of the allowance for doubtful debts.
The directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates their fair value.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
69
Notes to the Group Accounts
18 Bank overdraft and loans
Bank loans
The borrowings are repayable as follows:
Within one year
In the second year
In the third to fifth year
Amounts due for settlement after 12 months
All borrowings are held in sterling
The weighted average interest rates paid were as follows:
Bank overdrafts
Bank loans
The principal features of the group’s borrowings are as follows:
2015
£m
2014
£m
287.0
259.0
7.0
280.0
–
280.0
2015
%
2.0
0.7
9.0
–
250.0
250.0
2014
%
2.0
0.7
(i) Bank overdrafts which are nil at the current and prior year ends are repayable on demand, unsecured and bear interest at a margin over
bank base rates.
(ii) The group has a bank loan of £250m (2014, £220m) secured by a charge over certain ‘eligible’ trade debtors (current and 0-28 days past
due) of the group and is without recourse to any of the group’s other assets. The facility has a current limit of £250m for which finance
costs are linked to US commercial paper rates which is committed until March 2016.
The group also has unsecured bank loans of £37m (2014, £39m) drawn down under various medium term bank revolving credit facilities,
of which £120 million is committed until March 2016.
(iii) All borrowings are arranged at floating rates, thus exposing the group to cash flow interest rate risk. The group may use derivatives
such as interest rate swaps where appropriate to manage this risk. None have been used in the current or prior year. Based on weighted
average interest rates and the value of bank loans at 28 February 2015 the estimated future interest cost per annum until maturity would be
£2.0m (2014, £1.8m).
Financial liabilities other than financial instruments include bank loans and overdrafts and trade and other payables. Other than as disclosed
above, all are due within one year. The maturity analysis of the group’s financial liability to its lenders on an undiscounted basis, assuming that
the facilities are retained until the end of the committed period are as follows:
On demand or within one year
In the second year
In the third year
2015
£m
9.0
280.2
–
289.2
2014
£m
10.8
1.8
250.2
262.8
At 28 February 2015, the group had available £83m (2014, £111m) of undrawn committed borrowing facilities in respect of which all conditions
precedent had been met.
The CEO Review on page 14 summarises the objectives and policies for holding or issuing financial instruments and similar contracts, and the
strategies for achieving those objectives that have been followed during the period.
There is no material difference between the fair value and book value of the group’s borrowings and other financial assets and liabilities.
70
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
19 Derivative financial instruments
At the balance sheet date, details of outstanding forward foreign exchange contracts that the group has committed to are as follows:
Notional amount – Sterling contract value
Fair value of asset/(liability) recognised
2015
£m
33.9
1.1
2014
£m
32.2
(1.6)
Changes in the fair value of assets/liabilities recognised, being non-hedging currency derivatives, amounted to a credit of £2.7m
(2014, charge of £2.8m) to income in the period.
The financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value are all grouped into Level 2 (2014, same).
Level 2 fair value measurements are those derived from inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the
asset or liability, either directly (ie as prices) or indirectly (ie derived from prices).
There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during the year (2014, same).
20 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 stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The capital structure of the group consists of debt, which includes
the borrowings disclosed in note 18, cash and cash equivalents disclosed in note 25 and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent,
comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in notes 23 to 24 and the statement of changes in equity.
Gearing ratio
The gearing ratio at the year end is as follows:
Debt
Cash and cash equivalents
Net Debt
Equity
Gearing ratio
2015
£m
287.0
(40.4)
246.6
496.6
50%
2014
£m
259.0
(45.3)
213.7
485.3
44%
Debt is defined as long and short-term borrowings, as detailed in note 18.
Equity includes all capital and reserves of the group attributable to equity holders of the parent.
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 expenses are recognised, in respect of each class of financial asset, financial liability and equity instrument are
disclosed in note 2.
Financial risk management objectives
The financial risks facing the group include currency risk, credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow interest rate risk. The group seeks to minimise
the effects of certain of these risks by using derivative financial instruments to hedge these risk exposures as governed by the group’s policies.
The group does not enter into or trade financial instruments, including derivative financial instruments, for speculative purposes.
Foreign currency risk management
The group undertakes certain transactions denominated in foreign currencies. Hence, exposures to exchange rate fluctuations arise.
Exchange rate exposures are managed within approved policy parameters utilising forward foreign exchange contracts.
It is the policy of the group to enter into forward foreign exchange contracts to cover specific foreign currency payments for the purchase of
overseas sourced products. Group policy allows for these exposures to be hedged for up to three years ahead.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
71
Notes to the Group Accounts
20 Financial instruments (continued)
At the balance sheet date, details of the notional value of outstanding US dollar forward foreign exchange contracts that the group
has committed to are as follows:
Less than 6 months
6 to 12 months
12 to 18 months
2015
£m
14.7
13.4
5.8
33.9
2014
£m
15.3
13.2
3.7
32.2
Forward contracts outstanding at the period end are contracted at US dollar exchange rates ranging between 1.51 and 1.68.
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
Liabilities
Assets
2015
£m
1.1
9.8
2014
£m
1.0
4.1
2015
£m
7.3
0.9
2014
£m
8.2
1.6
Foreign currency sensitivity analysis
The following table details the group’s hypothetical sensitivity to a 10% increase and decrease in sterling against the relevant foreign
currencies. The sensitivity rate of 10% represents the director’s assessment of a reasonably possible change. 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 before tax.
Income statement
Sterling strengthens by 10%
Sterling weakens by 10%
Categories of financial instruments
Financial assets
Cash and bank balances
Derivatives at fair value through profit and loss - held for trading
Loans and receivables
Financial liabilities
Derivatives at fair value through profit and loss - held for trading
Amortised cost
Euro
Currency
Impact
2015
£m
(0.6)
0.7
2014
£m
(0.7)
0.8
US Dollar
Currency
Impact
2015
£m
0.8
(1.0)
2015
£m
40.4
1.1
587.4
628.9
–
(357.3)
(357.3)
2014
£m
0.3
(0.2)
2014
£m
45.3
–
577.9
623.2
(1.6)
(320.5)
(322.1)
72
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
20 Financial instruments (continued)
Interest rate risk management
The group is exposed to interest rate risk, as entities in the group borrow funds at floating interest rates. Where appropriate, exposure to
interest rate fluctuations on indebtedness is managed by using derivatives such as interest rate swaps.
Interest rate sensitivity analysis
If interest rates had increased by 0.5% and all other variables were held constant, the group’s profit before tax for the 52 weeks ended
28 February 2015 would have decreased by £1.4m (2014, £1.25m).
This sensitivity analysis has been determined based on exposure to interest rates at the balance sheet date and assuming the net debt
outstanding at the year end date was outstanding for the whole year.
Credit risk management
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in a financial loss to the group. Investments
of cash surpluses, borrowings and derivative financial instruments are made through banks which are approved by the board.
All customers who wish to trade on credit terms are subject to credit verification procedures, supplied by independent rating agencies.
Customer debtor balances are monitored on an ongoing basis and provision is made for estimated irrecoverable amounts. The concentration
of credit risk is limited due to the customer base being large and unrelated, and did not exceed five percent of gross monetary assets at any
one time during the period.
Liquidity risk management
The group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate banking and borrowing facilities and by continuously monitoring forecast and actual
cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities. Included in note 18 is a description of additional undrawn
facilities that the group has at its disposal and details of the group’s remaining contractual maturity for its non-derivative financial liabilities.
Fair value of financial instruments
Foreign currency forward contracts are measured using quoted forward exchange rates and yield curves derived from quoted interest rates
matching maturities of the contracts.
The carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities recorded at amortised cost in the financial statements approximate their
fair values.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
73
Notes to the Group Accounts
21 Deferred tax
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the group and movements thereon during the current and prior
reporting periods.
At 2 March 2013
Credit/(charge) to income
Credit to equity
At 1 March 2014
Credit/(charge) to income
Charge to equity
At 28 February 2015
Share
based
payments
£m
2.4
0.6
0.8
3.8
0.5
(1.9)
2.4
Accelerated Retirement
benefit
depreciation obligations
£m
tax
£m
(7.1)
0.1
–
(7.0)
(0.2)
–
(7.2)
0.8
(0.6)
0.6
0.8
0.1
(0.3)
0.6
Other
£m
(1.8)
0.4
–
(1.4)
0.3
–
(1.1)
Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset)
for financial reporting purposes:
Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities
2015
£m
3.2
(8.5)
(5.3)
Total
£m
(5.7)
0.5
1.4
(3.8)
0.7
(2.2)
(5.3)
2014
£m
4.8
(8.6)
(3.8)
At the balance sheet date, the group has unused tax losses of £0.1m (2014, £0.1m) and capital losses of £4.4m (2014 £4.4m) available for offset
against future profits. No deferred tax asset has been recognised due to the unpredictability of future profit streams within the relevant subsidiary.
22 Trade and other payables
Trade payables
Other taxes and social security
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income
2015
£m
70.3
5.0
0.4
33.2
108.9
2014
£m
61.5
7.8
0.2
28.5
98.0
Trade payables and accruals principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The average credit period
taken for trade purchases is 30 days (2014, 36 days).
For most suppliers no interest is charged on the trade payables. The group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure that all
payables are paid within agreed credit terms.
Within ‘Other taxes and social security’ includes a net VAT creditor, comprising the VAT liability which arises from day to day trading, together
with amounts in relation to matters which are in dispute with HMRC. These include an asset of £16.7 million which arises as a result of
protective assessments raised by HMRC, the recoverability of which cannot be finally determined until resolution has been reached with
HMRC, or, as appropriate, through a formal legal process.
74
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
23 Share capital
Authorised
Ordinary shares of 11¹/¹9p each
Allotted, called-up and fully paid
Ordinary shares of 11¹/¹9p each
At 28 February 2015 & 1 March 2014
2015
Number
2014
Number
2015
£m
2014
£m
352,857,142
352,857,142
39.0
39.0
283,429,454
283,429,454
31.3
31.3
The company has one class of ordinary shares which carry no right to fixed income.
24 Own shares
Balance at 1 March 2014
Additions
Issue of own shares on exercise of share options
Balance at 28 February 2015
2015
£m
0.5
0.2
(0.4)
0.3
2014
£m
0.9
1.1
(1.5)
0.5
The own shares reserve represents the cost of shares in N Brown Group plc held by the N Brown Group plc Employee Share
Ownership Trust to satisfy options under the group’s various share benefit schemes (see note 28).
At 28 February 2015 the employee trusts held 1,370,506 shares in the company (2014, 2,519,955).
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
75
Notes to the Group Accounts
25 Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents (which are presented as a single class of assets on the face of the balance sheet) comprise cash at
bank and other short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less.
A breakdown of significant cash and cash equivalent balances by currency is as follows:
Sterling
Euro
US Dollar
26 Contingent liabilities
2015
£m
38.5
1.5
0.4
40.4
2014
£m
42.9
1.3
1.1
45.3
Parent company bank overdrafts which at 28 February 2015 amounted to £49.4m (2014, £29.6m) have been guaranteed by certain
subsidiary undertakings.
27 Operating lease arrangements
2015
£m
2014
£m
Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised as an expense for the period
8.0
6.8
At the balance sheet date, the group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating
pleases, which fall due as follows:
Within one year
In the second to fifth years inclusive
After five years
2015
£m
0.3
20.8
11.0
32.1
2014
£m
0.7
15.2
6.4
22.3
Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the group for certain buildings, plant and equipment and motor vehicles.
76
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
28 Equity settled share based payments
The remuneration report on pages 33 to 49 contains details of management and sharesave options/awards offered to employees
of the group.
Details of the share options/awards outstanding during the period are as follows:
Option scheme
2000 Savings related scheme
2000 Executive scheme
Unapproved executive scheme
Long-term incentive scheme awards
July 2011
June 2012
July 2013
August 2013
August 2014
Deferred annual bonus scheme awards
May 2012
May 2013
May 2014
Option price
in pence
Exercise
period
Number
of shares
2015
Number
of shares
2014
186 – 420
146 – 459
211 – 459
August 2014 – February 2020
June 2008 – August 2024
May 2009 – August 2014
1,462,239
1,380,799
1,296,532
1,586,937
1,791,982
1,694,745
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
July 2014 – January 2015
June 2015 – December 2015
July 2016 – December 2016
August 2016 – January 2017
August 2017 – August 2024
May 2014 – November 2014
May 2015 – November 2015
May 2016 – November 2016
–
891,609
579,981
151,834
872,955
–
89,133
32,559
721,989
1,010,154
644,124
151,834
–
106,794
112,519
–
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
77
Notes to the Group Accounts
28 Equity settled share based payments (continued)
Movements in share options are summarised as follows:
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
2015
Weighted
average exercise
price
£
2014
Number of
share options
Weighted
average exercise
price
£
2.53
4.09
2.81
2.07
2.80
2.38
4,826,645
1,297,936
(239,665)
(811,252)
5,073,664
501,482
2.31
3.19
2.50
2.32
2.53
2.37
Number of
share awards
5,073,664
807,176
(1,257,659)
(483,611)
4,139,570
456,542
Options were exercised on a regular basis throughout the period and the weighted average share price during this period was 426 pence
(2014, 499 pence). The options outstanding at 28 February 2015 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 5.1 years (2014,
5.6 years). The aggregate estimated fair values of options granted in the period is £851,009 (2014, £2,583,000).
Movements in management share awards are summarised as follows:
Number of
share awards
2015
Weighted
average exercise
price
£
2014
Number of
share awards
Weighted
average exercise
price
£
Outstanding at the beginning of the period
Granted during the period
Forfeited during the period
Exercised during the period
2,747,414
905,514
(328,656)
(706,201)
Outstanding at the end of the period
2,618,071
Exercisable at the end of the period
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
3,807,885
943,878
(563,746)
(1,440,603)
2,747,414
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
The awards outstanding at 28 February 2015 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 1.8 years (2014, 1.8 years).
The fair value of management and sharesave options/awards granted is calculated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing
model. The inputs into the Black-Scholes model are as follows:
Weighted average share price at date of grant (pence)
Weighted average exercise price (pence)
Expected volatility (%)
Expected life (years)
Risk-free rate (%)
Dividend yield (%)
2015
2014
441
193
26.0 – 36.2
2.5 – 5.5
1.2
3.4
475
185
28.1 – 37.4
2.5 – 5.5
0.4
3.0
Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the group’s share price over a period equivalent to the
expected life of the option. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the
effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions, and behavioural considerations.
The group recognised total expenses of £2.1m and £2.4m related to equity-settled share based payment transactions in 2015 and
2014 respectively.
78
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
29 Retirement benefit schemes
Defined contribution schemes
The group operates defined contribution retirement benefit schemes for all qualifying employees.
The group is required to contribute a specified percentage of payroll costs to the retirement benefit scheme to fund the benefits.
The only obligation of the group with respect to the retirement benefit scheme is to make the specified contributions.
The total cost charged to income of £3.3m (2014, £2.7m) represents contributions payable to the schemes by the group at rates specified in
the rules of the plans. As at 28 February 2015, contributions of £0.4m (2014, £0.3m) due in respect of the current reporting period had not
been paid over to the schemes.
Defined benefit scheme
The group operates a defined benefit scheme, the N Brown Group Pension Fund. Under the scheme, the employees are entitled to retirement
benefits based on final pensionable earnings and was closed to new members from 31 January 2002. No other post-retirement benefits
are provided. The scheme is a funded scheme and operates under UK trust law and the trust is a separate legal entity from the group.
The scheme is governed by a board of trustees. The trustees are required by law to act in the best interests of scheme members and are
responsible for setting certain policies (eg investment funding) together with the group. The scheme exposes the group to actuarial risks such
as longevity risk, interest rate risk and investment risk.
The most recent actuarial valuations of plan assets and the present value of the defined benefit obligation were carried out at 30 June 2012
by an independent qualified actuary. The present value of the defined benefit obligation, the related current service cost and past service cost
were measured using the projected unit credit method. The principal actuarial assumptions used in determining the group’s net retirement
benefit obligations at the balance sheet date were as follows:
Discount rate
Expected rate of salary increase
Future pension increases
Inflation – Retail Price Index
Inflation – Consumer Price Index
Life expectancy at age 65 (years)
Pensioner aged 65
Non-pensioner aged 45
Amounts recognised in income in respect of these defined benefit schemes are as follows:
Current service cost
Net interest cost
The actual return on scheme assets was £21.5m (2014, £3.4m).
2015
2014
3.50%
4.30%
2.12%
3.25%
2.25%
24.6
26.7
2015
£m
2.2
0.2
2.4
2.20%
3.5%
2.5%
24.6
26.7
2014
£m
2.4
–
2.4
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
79
Notes to the Group Accounts
29 Retirement benefit schemes (continued)
The amount included in the balance sheet arising from the group’s obligations in respect of its defined benefit retirement benefit scheme is
as follows:
Present value of defined benefit obligations
Fair value of scheme assets
Deficit in the scheme and liability recognised in the balance sheet
Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations were as follows:
At 1 March 2014
Service cost
Interest cost
Actuarial losses – financial assumptions
Actuarial gains – demographic assumptions
Actuarial losses – experience
Benefits paid
At 28 February 2015
Movements in the fair value of the scheme assets were as follows:
At 1 March 2014
Expected return on scheme assets
Return on scheme assets excluding interest income
Contributions from sponsoring companies
Benefits paid
At 28 February 2015
2015
£m
(120.8)
117.5
(3.3)
2015
£m
100.8
2.2
4.3
16.0
–
–
(2.5)
120.8
2015
£m
96.6
4.1
17.4
1.9
(2.5)
117.5
2014
£m
(100.8)
96.6
(4.2)
2014
£m
94.3
2.4
4.2
1.4
(0.9)
1.4
(2.0)
100.8
2014
£m
91.0
4.2
(0.8)
4.2
(2.0)
96.6
80
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Group Accounts
29 Retirement benefit schemes (continued)
The analysis of the scheme assets at the balance sheet date was as follows:
Equities
Fixed-interest government bonds
Index-linked government bonds
Corporate Bonds
Property
High yield debt (including emerging market debt)
Alternatives
Net current assets
2015
£m
37.4
18.0
29.5
12.5
2.1
9.7
6.9
1.4
2015
%
31.8
15.3
25.1
10.6
1.8
8.3
5.9
1.2
117.5
100.0
2014
£m
32.1
14.8
24.1
9.6
1.9
6.7
7.4
–
96.6
2014
%
33.2
15.3
25.0
9.9
2.0
6.9
7.7
–
100.0
Significant actuarial assumptions for the determination of the defined benefit obligation are the discount rate and inflation.
An increase of 0.25% in the discount rate used would decrease the defined benefit obligation by £7.0m (2014, £5.8m).
An increase of 0.25% in the inflation assumption would increase the defined benefit obligation by £4.7m (2014, £3.9m).
The above sensitivities are applied to adjust the defined benefit obligation at the end of the reporting period. Whilst the analysis does not take
account of the full distribution of cash flows under the scheme, it does provide an approximation to the sensitivity of the assumptions shown.
No changes have been made to the method and assumptions used in this analysis from those used in the previous period.
The scheme is funded by the group and current employee members. Funding the scheme is based on a separate actuarial valuation for
funding purposes for which the assumptions may differ from the assumptions above. Funding requirements are formally set out in the
Statement of Funding Principles, Schedule of Contributions and Recovery Plan agreed between the trustees and the group.
Whilst no commitment has been made as at the balance sheet date, the group expects to contribute £1.8m to the defined benefit scheme in
the next financial year.
The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation at 28 February 2015 is approximately 24 years (2014, 24 years).
The defined benefit obligation at 28 February 2015 can be approximately attributed to the scheme members as follows:
– Active members: 44% (2014, 46%)
– Deferred members: 36% (2014, 35%)
– Pensioner members; 20% (2014, 19%)
All benefits are vested at 28 February 2015 (unchanged from 1 March 2014).
30 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. Details of remuneration paid to the group’s key management personnel are given on page 43 of the directors’
remuneration report.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
81
Company Balance Sheet
As at 28 February 2015
Fixed assets
Investments
Current assets
Debtors
Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year
Net current liabilities
Total assets less current liabilities
Non current liabilities
Bank loans
Net assets
Capital and reserves
Called-up share capital
Share premium account
Profit and loss account
Shareholders’ funds
Note
2015
£m
2014
£m
33
34
35
36
37
38
38
38
344.9
344.9
45.4
24.4
(243.5)
(198.1)
146.8
(30.0)
116.8
31.3
11.0
74.5
116.8
(225.2)
(200.8)
144.1
(30.0)
114.1
31.3
11.0
71.8
114.1
The financial statements of N Brown Group plc (Registered Number 814103) were approved by the board of directors and authorised
for issue on 22 May 2015.
They were signed on its behalf by:
Angela Spindler
Director
Notes to the Company Accounts
31 Significant accounting policies
Basis of accounting
The separate financial statements of the company are presented as required by the Companies Act 2006. They have been prepared under the
historical cost convention and in accordance with United Kingdom Accounting Standards and law.
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have all been applied consistently throughout the period and the preceding period.
Investments
Fixed asset investments in subsidiaries are shown at cost less provision for impairment.
Bank borrowings
Interest bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded at the proceeds received. Finance charges are accounted for on an accruals basis in
the profit and loss account using the effective interest rate method.
Cash flow
The company has taken advantage of the exemption from producing a cash flow statement afforded by FRS 1 (Revised) because the group
accounts include a consolidated cash flow statement.
Taxation
Corporation tax payable is provided on taxable profits at the current rate.
82
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Notes to the Company Accounts
32 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.
N Brown Group plc reported a profit for the financial period ended 28 February 2015 of £42.7m (2014, profit £42.6m).
The non executive directors’ remuneration was £567,833 (2014, £582,875) and nine non executive directors were remunerated
(2014, eight). The executive directors were remunerated by a subsidiary company in both years. Further details are provided on page 43 of the
directors’ remuneration report.
The auditor’s remuneration for audit services to the company of £10,000 (2014, £10,000) was borne by subsidiary undertakings.
33 Fixed asset investment
Cost and net book value
At 28 February 2015 and at 1 March 2014
£m
344.9
The company and group has investments in the following subsidiaries and joint ventures which principally affected the profits or net assets
of the group. All of the below companies are held indirectly. To avoid a statement of excessive length, the company has taken advantage of
section 410(2) of the Companies Act 2006 to list only its principal subsidiary undertakings.
Company
Principal activity
J D Williams & Co. Limited
Oxendale & Co. Limited
J D W Finance Limited
N B Insurance Guernsey Limited
Gray & Osbourn Limited
Speciality Home Shopping (US) Limited
N B Finance
N B Malta No2 Limited
Direct home shopping retailer
Direct home shopping retailer
Financing and ancillary services
Insurance services
Direct home shopping retailer
Direct home shopping retailer
Financing and ancillary services
Financing and ancillary services
Country of
incorporation
and operation
England
Republic of Ireland
England
Guernsey
England
England
Republic of Ireland
Malta
Proportion
held by the
group (%)
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
34 Debtors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Amounts owed by group undertakings
Prepayments and accrued income
35 Creditors
Amounts falling due within one year:
Bank loans and overdrafts
Trade creditors
Amounts owed to group undertakings
Accruals and deferred income
2015
£m
45.2
0.2
45.4
2015
£m
56.4
0.3
186.5
0.3
243.5
2014
£m
24.0
0.4
24.4
2014
£m
38.6
0.5
185.8
0.3
225.2
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
83
Notes to the Company Accounts
36 Bank loans
Bank overdrafts
Bank loans
The borrowings are repayable as follows:
On demand within one year
In the second year
In the third to fifth year
Less: amounts due for settlement within 12 months (shown under current liabilities
Amounts due for settlement after 12 months
2015
£m
49.4
37.0
86.4
56.4
30.0
–
86.4
(56.4)
30.0
2014
£m
29.6
39.0
68.6
38.6
–
30.0
68.6
(38.6)
30.0
The company has unsecured bank loans of £30m (2014, £30m) drawn down under a medium term bank revolving credit facility
committed until March 2016.
At 28 February 2015, the company had available £83.0m (2014, £81.0m) of undrawn committed borrowing facilities in respect of which
all conditions precedent had been met.
The weighted average interest rate paid were as follows:
Bank overdrafts
Bank loans
37 Share capital
Authorised
Ordinary shares of 11¹/¹9p each
Allotted, called-up and fully paid
Ordinary shares of 11¹/¹9p each
At 28 February 2015 and at 1 March 2014
2015
%
2.0
1.7
2015
£m
2014
%
2.0
1.7
2014
£m
2015
Number
2014
Number
352,857,142
352,857,142
39.0
39.0
283,429,454
283,429,454
31.3
31.3
The company has one class of ordinary share which carry no right to fixed income.
38 Reconciliation of movements in
shareholders’ funds and reserves
Balance at 2 March 2013
Dividends paid
Profit for the financial period
Balance at 1 March 2014
Dividends paid
Profit for the financial period
At 28 February 2015
39 Guarantees
Share
capital
£m
31.3
–
–
31.3
–
–
31.3
Share
premium
account
£m
Profit
and loss
account
£m
11.0
–
–
11.0
–
–
11.0
68.1
(38.9)
42.6
71.8
(40.0)
42.7
74.5
Total
£m
110.4
(38.9)
42.6
114.1
(40.0)
42.7
116.8
Parent company bank overdrafts which at 28 February 2015 amounted to £49.4m (2014, £29.6m) have been guaranteed by certain
subsidiary undertakings.
40 Related party transactions
The company has taken advantage of the exemption under FRSS8 “Related party disclosures” not to disclose transactions and balances with
other group companies.
84
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
Shareholder Information
Financial Timetable
2014
2015
9 October
12 December
9 January
28 February
29 April
5 June
3 July
14 July
31 July
Announcement of interim results
Closing of register for interim dividend
Payment of interim dividend
Financial year-end
Preliminary announcement of annual results
Publication of 2015 annual report and accounts
Closing of register for final dividend
Annual general meeting
Payment of final dividend
Registered Office
Griffin House
40 Lever Street
Manchester
M60 6ES
Registered No. 814103
Telephone 0161 236 8256
Registrars
Capita Asset Services
PXS 1
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent BR3 4ZF
Telephone 0871 664 0300
(Calls cost 10 pence per minute plus network extras)
Auditor
Deloitte LLP
P O Box 500
2 Hardman Street
Manchester
M60 2AT
Bankers
HSBC Bank plc
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
Solicitors
Pinsent Masons LLP
Eversheds LLP
Addleshaw Goddard LLP
Corporate Brokers
Jeffries Hoare Govett
Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited
Shareholder benefits
Subject to certain conditions, shareholders are entitled to a 20% privilege discount off the selling price of consumer merchandise in
any of the group catalogues. Shareholders interested in these facilities should write for further information to the Company Secretary,
N Brown Group plc, Griffin House, 40 Lever Street, Manchester, M60 6ES stating the number of shares held and the catalogue or product
of interest.
Capital gains tax
For the purpose of capital gains tax, the value of the company’s ordinary shares of 10p each was 6.40625p per share on 31 March 1982
and 1.328125p on 6 April 1965.
For more information and latest news on the group, visit www.nbrown.co.uk.
N Brown Group plc Annual Report & Accounts 2015
85
GRIFFIN HOUSE
40 LEVER STREET
MANCHESTER, M60 6ES
www.nbrown.co.uk