Interim Management Statement
Embargoed Release: 07:00hrs Tuesday 18 November 2008
CLS HOLDINGS PLC
("CLS" or the "Company")
INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT
FOR THE PERIOD 1 JULY 2008 TO 17 NOVEMBER 2008
HIGHLIGHTS
* Sale of King Street and London House, Hammersmith for £7.8 million, a
discount of 1.3% to the 30 June valuations
* Sale of Belin properties in Paris by Citadel Group via a corporate sale.
The properties were valued at €87.0 million (£68.5 million), a discount of
0.7% to the 30 June valuations
* Letting of 7,780 sq.m (83,713 sq.ft) at Vänerparken, Vänersborg, Sweden on
a ten year, index-linked lease term to the City of Vänersborg at an initial
rent of £0.7 million per annum (SEK 8.0 million)
* Letting of 1,911 sq.m (20,570 sq.ft) at Liebnizstrasse, Berlin, Germany on
terms between two and five years to an adult education association, at an
initial annual rent of £0.2 million (€0.3 million)
* Letting of 823 sq.m (8,849 sq.ft) at Cambridge House, Hammersmith, UK to
Open Society Foundation and SDI Media on terms between six and nine years,
at an initial annual rent of £0.2 million. This building is now fully let.
PROPERTY REVIEW
The CLS portfolio has seen continued requirements from existing tenants to
renew leases and take up additional areas within existing buildings.
The Company continues to work closely with its tenants and is seeking early
renewals and exploring opportunities to retain tenants, both through active
management of buildings and delivery of high quality office space at
competitive rates.
The downward pressure on valuations across the key markets in which the Company
operates has meant that new properties are beginning to appear on the market at
very attractive yields. CLS will make acquisitions where the properties fit its
strict investment criteria and good potential for future value growth is
evident. The Company's strong cash position and excellent relationships with
banks will enable it to move swiftly where these opportunities arise.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Debt levels have fallen further to £544 million and cash at bank has increased
to £188 million at 30 September. Following the re-financing of the Munich
portfolio during October, which released £15 million (€18.5 million), cash
balances are now above £200 million.
Accordingly, adjusted gearing has been reduced, but would rise again at year
end if the valuations continue their expected downward trend.
SHARE CAPITAL
As a result of the turmoil in financial markets since 30 June, shares in CLS
are trading at a substantial discount to the Adjusted NAV of 765.8p per share
as at 30 June 2008. The Company has therefore used its free cash reserves to
continue to buy back shares in the market. Since 30 June these purchases have
totalled 1.1 million shares at an average of £3.44 per share, a total cost of £
3.6 million.
The Company has also announced a tender offer buy-back of shares to be
completed later this month, the terms of which are 1 in every 25 shares at 425
pence per share. This will result in the purchase of a further 2,575,644 shares
and a total distribution to shareholders of £10.9 million.
Assuming no further market buy-backs are made, after completion of the tender
offer buy-back on 20 November 2008 the number of shares in issue will be
66,815,471 including 5,000,000 shares held as treasury shares. The number of
shares in issue excluding treasury shares and the total number of voting rights
in CLS Holdings plc will be 61,815,471.
OUTLOOK
The Company continues its focus on core property operations, and considers that
its underlying strategy of forging long-term relationships with tenants will
deliver value during the economic downturn. In addition, the significant
proportion of lettings to government and local government tenants puts the
Company in a strong position relative to the market with secured rental income
streams over the short to medium term from tenants with high credit ratings.
- ends -
For further information please contact:
Sten Mortstedt, Executive.Chairman, CLS Holdings plc + 44 (0)20 7582 7766
Henry Klotz, CEO, CLS Holdings plc + 44 (0)20 7582 7766
Jonathan Gray, NCB Corporate Finance Limited + 44 (0)20 7071 5200
Adam Reynolds, Hansard Group + 44 (0)20 7245 1100