REG - Angling Direct PLC - Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Director

Angling DirectAnnouncement

05/04/2022 11:30

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RNS Number : 3312H  Angling Direct PLC  05 April 2022

05 April 2022

 

Angling Direct plc

("Angling Direct" or "Company" or "Group")

 

Appointment of Independent Non-Executive Director

 

Angling Direct plc (AIM: ANG), the leading omni-channel specialist fishing
tackle and equipment retailer, is pleased to announce the appointment of Chris
Keen as an Independent Non-Executive Director, effective immediately. Chris
will also serve on the Company's Audit Committee.

 

Chris brings more than 20 years of experience in various Chief Financial
Officer roles, with a focus on scaling up businesses operating both
domestically and internationally and across a variety of sectors including
retail and leisure.

 

Chris is currently CFO at McKesson UK, part of McKesson Corporation, a global
leader in healthcare supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy,
community oncology and specialty care and healthcare information solutions.
Between 2012 and 2019, Chris was CFO of Holland & Barrett, a leading
health and wellness product retailer, where he oversaw a number of key
acquisitions across Europe, driving the group's international growth strategy
and expanding its omni-channel proposition.

 

Prior to joining Holland & Barrett, between 2006 and 2012, Chris was CFO
at The Laurel Pub Company (latterly the Stonegate Pub Company), helping to
build the business into the largest privately held managed pub operator in the
UK with over 500 units. In 2012 Chris was appointed CFO of the Bramwell Pub
Group to oversee the financial restructuring of the business.

 

Chris is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and
Wales.

 

Martyn Page, Non-Executive Chairman of Angling Direct, commented:

"On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to welcome Chris to Angling Direct.
His extensive financial and omni-channel leadership experience, particularly
in the retail sector, will be invaluable as we strengthen our Board. We look
forward to working with Chris as the Group looks to achieve further progress
in 2022 and capitalise on the compelling growth opportunities that exist
across our end markets."

 

Chris Keen, Non-Executive Director of Angling Direct, commented:

"I am extremely pleased to be joining the Board of Angling Direct. The Group
is on an exciting growth trajectory, having recently opened its European
distribution centre and I look forward to using my experience to contribute to
its continued success."

 

 

For further information please contact:

 

 Angling Direct plc                         via FTI Consulting
 Andy Torrance, Chief Executive Officer

 Steven Crowe, Chief Financial Officer

 Singer Capital Markets - NOMAD and Broker  +44 (0) 20 7496 3000
 Peter Steel (Corporate Finance)

 Alex Bond (Corporate Finance)

 Tom Salvesen (Corporate Broking)

 FTI Consulting - Financial PR              +44 (0) 20 3727 1000
 Alex Beagley                               anglingdirect@fticonsulting.com (mailto:anglingdirect@fticonsulting.com)

 Alice Newlyn

 Sam Macpherson

 

 

The following information regarding the appointment of Christian ('Chris')
Keen, aged 57, is disclosed under Schedule 2(g) and Rule 17 of the AIM Rules
for Companies:

 

As at the date of this announcement, Mr Keen owns 9,600 ordinary shares of one
penny each in Angling Direct, representing 0.01% of the Company's issued share
capital.

 

 Current Directorships                                    Previous Directorships (within the last five years)
 2012 Dream Limited                                       A.C. Ferguson (Chemist) Limited
 28CVR Limited                                            AAH Furb Pension Trustee Limited
 30MC Limited                                             AAH Glass & Windows Limited
 A. Suthrell (Haulage) Limited                            AAH Lloyds Pension Trustees Limited
 AAH Builders Supplies Limited                            AAH Nominees Limited
 AAH Limited                                              Atlas Travel Clinic Limited
 AAH One Limited                                          Beaumonts Health Stores Limited
 AAH Pharmaceuticals Limited                              Blackstaff Pharmaceuticals Limited
 AAH Twenty Four Limited                                  Caronet Trading Limited
 AAH Twenty Limited                                       Good 'N' Natural Limited
 AAH Twenty Six Limited                                   Health & Diet Centres Limited
 Acme Drug Co. Limited                                    Health & Diet Food Company Limited
 Added Marketing Limited                                  Holland & Barrett (Benelux) Limited
 Admenta Holdings Limited                                 Holland & Barrett Group Limited
 Admenta UK Limited                                       Holland & Barrett Holdings Limited
 Alchem (Southern) Limited                                Holland & Barrett International Limited
 Ayrshire Pharmaceuticals Limited                         Holland & Barrett Limited
 Baillieston Health Centre Pharmacy Limited               Holland & Barrett Retail Limited
 Bannister & Thatcher Limited                             IPCC Limited
 Barclay Pharmaceuticals (Atherstone) Limited             L1R HB Finance Limited
 Barclay Pharmaceuticals Limited                          L1R HB Holdings Limited
 Barley Chemists Holdings Limited                         L1R HB Limited
 Barry Shooter (Romford) Limited                          L1R HB Midco Limited
 Beauty Care Drug Stores Limited                          L1R HB Midco Sub Limited
 Berkshire Medical Supplies Ltd.                          Lifecycle 2018 Limited
 Betterlifehealthcare Limited                             LP Clinical Homecare Group Limited
 Big Pharma Limited                                       M.H. Gill Limited
 Bridport Medical Centre Services Limited                 Mount Pharmacy Limited
 Clark Munro Limited                                      Neal's Yard Wholefoods Limited
 Clark-Care Group Limited                                 Nutrition Warehouse Limited
 Cross and Herbert (Devon) Limited                        Paul Wheeler Limited
 Cross and Herbert (Holdings) Limited                     Precision Engineered Limited
 Cross and Herbert Limited                                R. Gordon Drummond Limited
 Eclipse Healthcare Limited                               Thurnby Rose Limited
 Escon (St. Neots) Limited
 Evolution Homecare Services Limited
 Expert Health Limited
 Farillon Limited
 Firth and Pilling Limited
 Foster & Plumpton Group Limited
 Foster & Plumpton Limited
 G K Chemists Limited
 G. K. Chemists (Glos). Limited
 George Staples (Stoke) Limited
 GPL 2007 Limited
 Graeme Pharmacy (Stirling) Limited
 Greens Pharmaceuticals (Holdings) Limited
 H.H. Thatcher Limited
 Health Needs Limited
 Healthclass Limited
 Herbert Ferryman Limited
 Higgins & Son (Chemists) Limited
 Hill-Smith (Warrington), Limited
 Hywel Davies (Caerphilly) Limited
 Independent Pharmacy Care Centres (2008) Limited
 Inspiron Distribution Limited
 J. Bradbury (Surgical) Limited
 J.S.Dent Limited
 John Bell & Croyden Limited
 John Hamilton (Pharmaceuticals) Limited
 Keen Consulting Limited
 Kingswood Chemists Limited
 Kingswood-GK Limited
 Kyle and Carrick Holdings Limited
 Levelcrown Limited
 Linford Pharmacies Limited
 Livingston Health Centre (P.D.) Co. Limited
 Lloyds Chemists Limited
 Lloyds Chemists Retail (Northern) Limited
 Lloyds Chemists Retail Limited
 Lloyds Group Properties Limited
 Lloyds Pharmacy Clinical Homecare Limited
 Lloyds Pharmacy Limited
 Lloyds Properties Limited
 Lloyds Retail Chemists Limited
 LPL One Limited
 M. Payne & Co. Limited
 Masta Limited
 Medical Advisory Services For Travellers Abroad Limited
 Medimart Limited
 Metabolic Healthcare Holdings Limited
 Metabolic Healthcare Limited
 Munro Pharmacy Limited
 New Kirk Pharmacy Limited
 Optimed Health Limited
 Palemoda Limited
 Peel Street Pharmacy Limited
 Pharmagen Limited
 Philip Goodman Limited
 Pimelight Limited
 Prescribing Support Services Ltd
 Prima Brands Limited
 R.F. Foskett & Son Limited
 Sangers (Northern Ireland) Limited
 Savory & Moore Limited
 Scholes (Chemists) Limited
 Statim Finance Limited
 Superfield Limited
 T. and I. White Limited
 Uscita Limited
 W. Jamieson (Chemists) Limited
 W.H. Chanter Limited
 W.H. Green (Chemists) Limited
 Westclose Limited
 Woodside Pharmacy (Glasgow) Limited

 

The table below shows information on The Laurel Pub Company Limited and
certain of its affiliated entities, which all entered administration on 27
March 2008 while Chris Keen was a director:

 

 Company                                             Date entered Creditors Voluntary Liquidation  Date dissolved     Deficit to creditors (£million)
 Forno Vivo Limited                                  27 March 2009                                 3 October 2012     3.93
 Ha! Ha! Bar & Canteen Limited                       27 March 2009                                 30 September 2012  36.33
 Laurel Pub Bidco Limited                            27 March 2009                                 29 August 2012     205.16
 Santa Fe Group Limited                              27 March 2009                                 30 September 2012  1.76
 Santa Fe Limited                                    27 March 2009                                 30 September 2012  10.25
 Target Pil Core Limited                             28 September 2009                             27 July 2012       14.03
 The High Street Bar & Restaurant Group Limited      27 March 2009                                 3 October 2012     7.22
 The Laurel Pub Company Limited                      28 September 2009                             29 January 2013    95.02
 Yates Brothers Limited                              27 March 2009                                 3 October 2012     13.93
 Yates Group Limited                                 28 September 2009                             3 January 2013     83.65
 Yates's Wine Lodges Limited                         28 September 2009                             9 November 2012    24.44

 

Mr Keen was also a director of Laurel High Street Bars Limited, Laurel High
Street Estate Pubs Limited, The Manor Leisure and Marketing Corporation
Limited and Yates's Duty Free Limited (also affiliates of The Laurel Pub
Company Limited) at the time that these companies entered administration in
March 2008. These companies were subsequently moved from administration to
dissolution in June 2009.

 

Mr Keen resigned as a director of Bramwell Pubs and Bars Limited in November
2012 which entered administration in October 2013, creditors voluntary
liquidation on 7 May 2015 and was then dissolved on 9 May 2017. The deficit to
creditors was £55.69 million.

 

Mr Keen resigned as a director of Bramwell Company Limited in November 2012
which entered administration in October 2013 and was then dissolved on 30 July
2014. The deficit to creditors was £48.95 million.

 

 

Save as set out above there are no further disclosures pursuant to Rule 17 or
Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules for Companies in respect of the
appointment of Mr Keen.

 

About Angling Direct

 

Angling Direct is the leading omni-channel specialist fishing tackle retailer
in the UK. The Company sells fishing tackle products and related equipment
through its network of retail stores, located strategically throughout the UK
as well as through its leading digital platform (www.anglingdirect.co.uk
(https://www.anglingdirect.co.uk/) .de, .fr and .nl) and other third-party
websites.

 

Angling Direct is committed to supporting its active customer base and
widening access to the angling community through its passionate colleagues,
store-based qualified coaches, social media reach and ADTV YouTube
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOenrSpp_3DpdT14EBrPkWA) channel. The
Company currently sells over 20,000 fishing tackle products, including capital
items, consumables, luggage and clothing. Angling Direct also owns and sells
fishing tackle products under its own brand 'Advanta', which was formally
launched in March 2016.

 

From 1986 to 2002, the Company's founders acquired interests in a number of
small independent fishing tackle shops in Norfolk and, in 2002, they acquired
a significant premise in Norwich, which was branded Angling Direct. Since
2002, the Company has continued to acquire or open new stores, taking the
total number up to 42 retail stores. In 2015, the Company opened a 2,800 sq.
metres central distribution centre in Rackheath, Norfolk, where the Company's
head office is also located. In March 2022, Angling Direct opened a 3,940
square metre distribution centre in Venlo, Netherlands to service its
established, and rapidly growing, presence in Europe with native language
websites set up in key regions to address demand.

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