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

Alice Newlyn

Sam Macpherson

anglingdirect@fticonsulting.com

 

 

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 .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 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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