Summary
Profit before tax and exceptional items of £25.8m (2015: £22.9m - 53 week period).
Profit before tax and after exceptional items of £23.9m (2015: £23.5m - 53 week period).
Total like-for-like retail sales up 4.1% with like-for-like growth across all categories.
Total Group sales of £400.9m (2015: £303.6m - 53 week period).
Online revenue of £73.5m. (2015: £48.5m - 53 week period). Like-for-like* up 15.7%.
Hotel revenue of £3.5m (2015: £1.9m - 53 week period).
£5.0m net cash balance.
Final dividend of 0.5 pence per share taking total dividends for the period to 2.5p.
Commenting on the results, Tan Sri Dr Khoo Kay Peng, Chairman, said:
"I am pleased with the overall performance of the business. Continued like-for-like growth in the UK market, boosted by the good performance of our digital channel, is encouraging.
I am happy that the Company has signed a new licence partner for Australia and am confident that the business opportunity there will be optimised. Such partnership opportunities, in new territories, will continue to be explored and developed.
I am grateful for the enduring loyalty of our many worldwide customers, whose love of the Brand and its rich heritage, has helped to grow and strengthen the business.
The Company will continue to focus on enhancing the design and quality of its product ranges upon whose provenance the Brand has been built. In a time of uncertainty for retail and the global economy at large, I am optimistic and confident that Laura Ashley will remain a business with solid foundations to withstand challenges as they arise."
