Retailer pursues arbitration to the bitter end because it's worth it
Laura Ashley has won a dispute with L'Oréal over a 20-year licensing agreement at arbitration proceedings.

Seymour Pierce analyst Richard Ratner believed, the beauty products manufacturer signed a perfumery licensing deal with Laura Ashley, but produced only one product before terminating the licence in 2002, six years after the agreement was made.

Costs and compensation will be discussed at a future meeting at an as yet unspecified date. Ratner said that Laura Ashley was claiming for£700,000 in unpaid royalties to date of termination, but 'it appears unlikely that the final payment will be enormous'.

Laura Ashley Holdings joint chief executive Ainum Mohd Saaid said: 'I am delighted that the first phase of the proceedings is now successfully behind us. This outcome vindicates our decision to pursue our claim against L'Oréal. We are now taking steps in preparation of the second phase.'