RNS Number:6741I
Ashley (Laura) Hldgs PLC
13 March 2003

13 March 2003

EMBARGOED UNTIL 13 MARCH 2003


                           LAURA ASHLEY HOLDINGS plc
                                ("the Company")


Laura Ashley Holdings plc announced on 8 January 2003 that the Company's results
for the year ended 25 January 2003 would be broadly in the range of breakeven.

The Company is currently in the process of finalising the accounts for the year
ended 25 January 2003 and now expects a pre-tax loss before exceptional items of
approximately #5 million.

This difference is due to a combination of three principal factors arising out
of the year end process: first, lower sales and margins in January 2003 than had
been anticipated; secondly, a higher write-down of stock arising, in part, out
of the year end closing process and, in part, from improved stock reconciliation
processes and thirdly, an increase in accruals and other accounting year end
adjustments.

Further to the Company's announcement on 23 January 2003, the Company is now in
advanced negotiations with a prospective franchisee in respect of the Laura
Ashley companies in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.  If successfully
concluded, the Company expects to be able to exit these countries at much
reduced costs and, additionally, to be able to develop and expand its franchise
operations in these countries.

Laura Ashley
David Cook                               020 7880 5100
Chief Financial Officer

Brunswick                                020 7404 5959
Katya Reynier


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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