Disposal

Avon Rubber PLC 22 May 2006 Embargoed until 0700 22 May 2006 AVON RUBBER PLC ('Avon Rubber' or 'the Group') Proposed disposal of Avon Rubber's Automotive Division ('Avon Automotive') HIGHLIGHTS •Conditional agreement to sell Avon Automotive for a total value of £63 million •Disposal will allow the Group to develop opportunities in respiratory protection where Avon Rubber expects to achieve higher margins and growth •Avon Rubber will continue to develop its strong market positions in dairy, aerosol gaskets and engineered fabrications •Cash proceeds from sale will be used, in the first instance, to reduce debt Commenting on the disposal, Trevor Bonner, Chairman of Avon Rubber said: 'The disposal signals a significant strategic advance for the Group allowing Avon Rubber to focus on the high growth potential the Board has identified for the Group's respiratory protection products. Avon Rubber will continue to develop its strong market positions in dairy, aerosol gaskets and engineered fabrications. This combination of established businesses and growth opportunities provides a balanced portfolio of business activities for the future. The Board is excited about the opportunity to pursue its planned strategic direction and is confident of the future opportunities for growth of the continuing businesses as this strategy is implemented.' For further information: Avon Rubber p.l.c. 020 7067 0700 Terry Stead, Chief Executive (until 2.00pm) Peter Slabbert, Finance Director ING Corporate Finance 020 7767 1000 Simon Newton Vinesh Karia Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700 Richard Hews Rachel Taylor Stephanie Badjonat ING Corporate Finance (the corporate finance division of ING Bank N.V., London Branch), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Avon Rubber and no one else in connection with the Disposal and the associated related party arrangements and will not be responsible to anyone other than Avon Rubber for providing the protections afforded to clients of ING Bank N.V., London Branch or providing advice in relation to the Disposal and the associated related party arrangements, or any other matter referred to in this announcement. This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any part of, an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Disposal and the associated related party arrangements or otherwise. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom, or who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal and regulatory requirements. This announcement, including information included or incorporated by reference in this announcement, may contain 'forward-looking statements' concerning the Disposal and the continuing Group. Generally, the words 'will', 'may', 'should', 'continue', 'believes', 'expects', 'intends', 'anticipates' or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Company's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions and the behaviours of other market participants, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The directors of Avon Rubber assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required pursuant to applicable law. Overview The Board of Avon Rubber announced today, along with its interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2006, that the Company has entered into a conditional agreement to sell Avon Automotive to Petrol Automotive Holdings Inc. (the 'Purchaser'), a company established and controlled by Red Diamond Capital, L.P. ('RDC') and the Management Team led by Leland Richards (the 'Disposal'). The Disposal values Avon Automotive at £63.0 million, prior to the assumption by the Purchaser of certain long term liabilities amounting to £4.6 million. After working capital adjustments, taxation and transaction costs, Avon Rubber expects to receive cash of not less than £52.1 million. In view of the size of the Disposal relative to the Group, the Disposal is conditional upon the approval of Shareholders. This approval is to be sought at the Extraordinary General Meeting ('EGM') of the Company to be held on 13 June 2006 or as soon as possible thereafter, notice of which will be posted to Shareholders shortly. Background to and reasons for the Disposal The focus in Avon Automotive has for some time been on improving operational productivity, cost control and financial discipline in the face of challenging market conditions. Whilst this strategy has led to improved results within Avon Automotive, the Board has decided to concentrate the future direction of the Group on its Protection and Engineered Products businesses, where the Board believes Avon Rubber can sustain higher margins and growth. Avon Automotive operates in a highly competitive market, supplying customers who are considerably larger than itself. A significant feature of the market is the expectation of annual price reductions from component suppliers. Under International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS'), Avon Automotive achieved a 4.2 per cent return on sales in the six months ended 31 March 2006 and a 4.7 per cent return in the year ended 30 September 2005, before exceptional items and any allocation of central costs. These low margins coupled with price reductions and increasing raw material costs have led the Group progressively to relocate many activities to lower labour cost areas with the resultant costs of closure in the higher labour cost areas. The Board believes this pattern is likely to continue into the future. The low margins also make the business vulnerable to relatively small volume changes. Historically, Avon Automotive in North America has been predominantly a supplier to the Big 3 automotive companies. Whilst the overall number of vehicles sold in North America has remained at an historically high level, the Big 3 manufacturers have lost market share and this is expected to continue. This could result in a substantial risk to the Avon Automotive business if sales to new domestic manufacturers cannot be grown to offset any reduction. Whilst Avon Automotive has continued to be cash generative, it is the Board's view that this cash generation is not sufficient to fund the combination of any future automotive plant closures, and expansion, particularly into the growing Chinese market, and the accelerated development and expansion in the Group's respiratory protection activities. Accordingly, the Board reviewed the future of the automotive business within the Group and concluded that the sale of Avon Automotive was in the best interests of Shareholders. The Board appointed ING Corporate Finance to determine how value may be realised for Shareholders. The Board received a number of expressions of interest in the business, which concluded with an approach from RDC, in conjunction with the Management Team led by Leland Richards (Divisional Managing Director of Avon Automotive and a former director of Avon Rubber), expressing an interest in acquiring Avon Automotive. The discussions with RDC culminated in the Disposal announced today. Use of proceeds and capital structure The expected net proceeds from the Disposal of not less than £52.1 million are required by the Group's lending banks, in the event of a disposal of this nature, to be applied, in the first instance to reduce indebtedness resulting from previous investments and acquisitions in respiratory protection. The Disposal represents an opportunity to review the appropriate capital structure for the Group. The appropriate capital structure will need to be determined by the Board having balanced a number of important factors, including perceived growth/acquisition opportunities (most notably in respiratory protection), product development programmes, restructuring plans, on-going pension obligations and distribution policy. The Board intends to update Shareholders on this review at the time of the Group's preliminary results for the period ending 30 September 2006. Information on Avon Automotive Avon Automotive is an international manufacturer of advanced polymer products, predominantly for supply to the automotive industry. For the year ended 30 September 2005, under IFRS, Avon Automotive generated an operating profit before exceptional items of £8.8 million and an operating profit after exceptional items of £2.1 million on turnover of £186.4 million. In the six months ended 31 March 2006, under IFRS, Avon Automotive generated an operating profit before exceptional items of £4.0 million and an operating profit after exceptional items of £4.0 million on turnover of £96.7 million. All operating profits stated in this paragraph are before any allocation of central costs. As at 31 March 2006, under IFRS, Avon Automotive had net operating assets of £48.0 million and gross assets of £93.2 million. The IFRS financial information for Avon Automotive for the period ended 31 March 2006 and the comparative information for the year ended 30 September 2005 and the period ended 31 March 2005 has not been audited. Further financial information on Avon Automotive is set out at Annex A. Principal terms of the Disposal Under the Sale and Purchase Agreement, which was signed on 19 May 2006, Avon Rubber has agreed to sell, or to procure the sale of, Avon Automotive to the Purchaser. The value attributable to Avon Automotive is £63.0 million, on a cash and debt free basis, subject to the assumption by the Purchaser of certain long term liabilities relating to employee retirement medical benefits and product recall provisions amounting in total to £4.6 million. Avon Rubber expects to receive net proceeds of not less than £52.1 million. The net proceeds are arrived at after estimated transaction costs (£4.0 million), taxation (£1.9 million) and expected working capital adjustments (£0.4 million). The Disposal, which is expected to be completed in June 2006, is conditional, inter alia, on the approval of Shareholders at the EGM. The Sale and Purchase Agreement will terminate automatically if this approval is not received on or before 31 July 2006. The Purchaser is entitled to terminate the Sale and Purchase Agreement at any time before completion where any of the warranties given by Avon Rubber under the agreement cease to be true in all material respects or on the occurrence of certain specified events, including the business of Avon Automotive suffering a material adverse change. Financial effects of the Disposal The Disposal is expected to be earnings dilutive in the current financial year. The Board believes that the actions and opportunities set out below provide the opportunity for growth in the future. An unaudited pro forma statement of net assets of the Group as at 31 March 2006 is set out at Annex B for illustrative purposes only. At that date, the Group had consolidated net assets of £42.1 million. As shown in that statement, the illustrative consolidated net assets of the Group as at 31 March 2006, on a pro forma basis and adjusted to reflect the Disposal as if completion had occurred at that date, would have been £42.1 million. It should be noted that the pro forma statement includes an amount of £4.5 million in respect of working capital adjustments relating to the Disposal. As noted above, the expected working capital adjustments at completion will amount to £0.4 million. The Disposal would have had a positive cash impact of £50.0 million (before taxation) based on the working capital position as at 31 March 2006. Based on the projected working capital at completion the Disposal is expected to have a positive cash impact of £54.1 million before taxation and £52.1 million after taxation. Related party arrangements The Avon Automotive businesses currently report to Leland Richards, Divisional Managing Director. Following completion, Mr Richards, together with the other members of the Avon Automotive senior management team, will remain with the disposed businesses. Mr Richards is deemed to be a related party under the Listing Rules so far as his involvement in the Disposal is concerned, as he has been a director of the Company during the last 12 months prior to the date of the transaction. As at 19 May 2006, Mr Richards held 39,534 Shares, representing approximately 0.14 per cent of Avon Rubber's issued share capital. Mr Richards will abstain from voting at the EGM on the resolution to approve the Disposal and additionally has undertaken to take all reasonable steps to ensure that his associates, where relevant, will abstain from voting on that resolution. As Mr Richards ceased to be a director of the Company on 21 July 2005, he has not been party to the Board's decision to proceed with the Disposal. The Company has agreed with Mr Richards and other members of the Management Team to make a payment on successful completion of the Disposal. As this payment is connected with the Disposal, in the case of Mr Richards the anticipated payment of £311,458 amounts to a related party transaction under the Listing Rules. The transaction with Mr Richards is, however, classed as a smaller related party transaction for the purposes of the Listing Rules. As such, the transaction with Mr Richards does not require the consent in general meeting of the Company, but in accordance with the Listing Rules the Company will notify the UK Listing Authority ('UKLA') in writing of the terms of the transaction with Mr Richards and ING Corporate Finance will confirm to the UKLA that the terms of the related party transaction are fair and reasonable so far as Shareholders are concerned. The Company will undertake to the UKLA in writing to include details of the related party transaction in its next published Annual Report. The Group - Businesses, strategy and prospects Respiratory protection The Board has identified respiratory protection as a major growth opportunity for the Group. Having supplied the UK military with respirators for over 50 years, the Group won the development contract for the United States Joint Services General Purpose Mask ('JSGPM') in 1999. This is now entering the production phase and forms the basis for the Group's expansion in respiratory protection. In early 2005 the Board agreed the strategic direction for respiratory protection and identified the additional technologies that it wished to develop or acquire. The first of these was Self Contained Breathing Apparatus ('SCBA'). Having already made the decision to seek a disposal of Avon Automotive, the Group acquired International Safety Instruments ('ISI') in June 2005 mainly to bring SCBA technology into the Group. The cost of the acquisition was £12.7 million and ISI is performing strongly, producing a consistent level of earnings. In addition, the Group has acquired the technology associated with the design and manufacture of the filters for the JSGPM respirators and is investing in production capability to manufacture a range of respiratory protection filters, the first of which are now being produced. The Group has also invested in the development of an escape hood which is designed to give 20 minutes Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear ('CBRN') protection. Sales of this product are expected to start in the second half of this financial year. In order to develop a range of products to enable the Group to grow its respiratory protection business, ongoing investment in product development will be necessary and, in due course, consideration will be given to the acquisition of technologies and other businesses. Non protection business In addition to the respiratory protection business, the Group will maintain its existing operations primarily in the dairy, aerosol gaskets and engineered fabrications markets. The dairy market is served from Hi-Life, Wisconsin, USA and Hampton Park West, UK. The principal product offering from both sites for this market is milking machine liners. Aerosol gaskets are manufactured at Hampton Park West. Avon Engineered Fabrications based in Picayune, Mississippi, USA supplies skirts for air cushioned vehicles and portable storage tanks for fuel and water. Strategy The Group has a number of well established businesses that are operating effectively, producing consistent levels of profit and generating cash. The Group also has significant growth opportunities, particularly in the area of respiratory protection and, in the immediate future, the business will require investment to grow and develop a broader product offering. Additionally, the UK operations offer the opportunity of substantially improved performance. These businesses have underperformed and actions are being taken to bring them back to profitability. The established businesses include the North American dairy business and ISI, which have both performed strongly, and Avon Engineered Fabrications, which has experienced substantial growth. All of these businesses are generating consistent levels of earnings and the Board would expect this to continue. The major growth opportunity is in respiratory protection. The Group has a long history in providing respiratory protection, particularly to the military market. The Group has been awarded the contract to supply the new US military respirator and production has already started. A facility to manufacture filters is being established in Cadillac, Michigan, alongside the manufacturing operation for the respirator. The Board expects sales to the US Department of Defense to grow significantly over the coming months. This will form the base for the Group to be able to address other military and homeland security markets. In addition, sales of the new escape hood are expected to start before the end of the current financial year. There are further new products being developed in the area of respiratory protection and the Board would expect to see growth continuing in future years. The contractual nature of these sales will result in a proportion of the growth being in large discrete contracts. In order to smooth the various market provisioning cycles the Group is targeting not only military but also the fire (through ISI), homeland security, industrial, law enforcement and medical markets. The Group has some underperforming businesses, particularly in the UK. The Board is taking steps to improve the performance of its UK operations near Melksham and a proposed reduction in the workforce has been announced today. The UK mixing facility is currently operating at a loss and actions are being taken to eliminate this. Both of these areas, whilst not offering significant scope for top-line growth, offer the opportunity for meaningful margin improvement. The reduced size of the Group will necessitate a reduction in corporate overheads. Some of these cost reductions were implemented last July in advance of the disposal but further reductions will be necessary and will be announced in due course. Outlook The Disposal signals a significant strategic advance for the Group, allowing Avon Rubber to focus on the high growth potential the Board has identified for the Group's respiratory protection products. Avon Rubber will continue to develop its strong market positions in dairy, aerosol gaskets and engineered fabrications. This combination of established businesses and growth opportunities provides a balanced portfolio of business activities for the future. The Group is targeting respiratory protection as its major growth area, particularly related in the short term to the new US military respirator and associated filters, and an escape hood which provides emergency protection from CBRN threats. Longer term, the Group has an exciting range of new products being developed and will explore appropriate acquisitions to enhance its technologies. Avon Rubber's recent acquisition, ISI, together with the North American dairy business and the engineered fabrications business in Mississippi are operating in line with the Board's expectations and delivering consistent levels of earnings. The Board is taking steps to improve the performance of the continuing UK operations. The expected growth from respiratory protection will build on this foundation. The Board is excited about the opportunity to pursue its planned strategic direction and is confident of the future opportunities for growth of the continuing businesses as this strategy is implemented. Expected Timetable of Principal Events Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy 48 hours prior to the EGM Extraordinary General Meeting 10 a.m. on 13 June 2006 or shortly thereafter Expected date of completion of the Disposal 23 June 2006 For further information: Avon Rubber p.l.c. 020 7067 0700 Terry Stead, Chief Executive (until 2.00pm) Peter Slabbert, Finance Director ING Corporate Finance 020 7767 1000 Simon Newton Vinesh Karia Weber Shandwick Square Mile 020 7067 0700 Richard Hews Rachel Taylor Stephanie Badjonat ING Corporate Finance (the corporate finance division of ING Bank N.V., London Branch), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Services Authority, is acting exclusively for Avon Rubber and no one else in connection with the Disposal and the associated related party arrangements and will not be responsible to anyone other than Avon Rubber for providing the protections afforded to clients of ING Bank N.V., London Branch or providing advice in relation to the Disposal and the associated related party arrangements, or any other matter referred to in this announcement. This announcement is not intended to and does not constitute, or form any part of, an offer to sell or an invitation to purchase any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Disposal and the associated related party arrangements or otherwise. Persons who are not resident in the United Kingdom, or who are subject to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal and regulatory requirements. This announcement, including information included or incorporated by reference in this announcement, may contain 'forward-looking statements' concerning the Disposal and the continuing Group. Generally, the words 'will', 'may', 'should', 'continue', 'believes', 'expects', 'intends', 'anticipates' or similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Many of these risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Company's ability to control or estimate precisely, such as future market conditions and the behaviours of other market participants, and therefore undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. The directors of Avon Rubber assume no obligation and do not intend to update these forward-looking statements, except as required pursuant to applicable law. Annex A FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON AVON AUTOMOTIVE 1. Nature of financial information The following financial information relating to the entities which make up Avon Automotive has been extracted without material adjustment from the consolidation schedules which support the interim financial statements of Avon Rubber for the six months ended 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2005 and the financial statements of Avon Rubber for the three years ended 30 September 2003, 30 September 2004, and 30 September 2005. The financial information contained in sections 2 and 3 of this Annex A does not constitute statutory accounts for any company within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act, 1985 (as amended) ('Act'). The statutory accounts for Avon Rubber in respect of each of the last three financial years have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' reports in respect of those statutory accounts for the three years ended 30 September 2003, 30 September 2004 and 30 September 2005 were unqualified and did not contain statements under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Act. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was the auditor of Avon Rubber in respect of the three years ended 30 September 2003, 30 September 2004 and 30 September 2005. The audited financial information on Avon Automotive has been prepared under United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ('UK GAAP') using the accounting policies set out in the respective Annual Reports of Avon Rubber for the years ended 30 September 2003, 30 September 2004 and 30 September 2005. The unaudited financial information on Avon Automotive for the year ended 30 September 2005 and the six months ended 31 March 2005 and 31 March 2006 has been prepared on the basis of the recognition and measurement requirements of IFRS and International Accounting Standards currently in issue that either are adopted by the EU and will be effective (or available for early adoption) at 30 September 2006 or are expected to be adopted and effective (or available for early adoption) at 30 September 2006, being Avon Rubber's first annual reporting date at which it is required to use accounting standards adopted by the EU. Based on these recognition and measurement requirements, management has made assumptions about the accounting policies expected to be applied when Avon Rubber's first annual financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting standards adopted by the EU for the year ending 30 September 2006. The unaudited financial information on Avon Automotive set out in sections 2 and 3 of this Annex A is included in the Group's Interim Results for the six months ended 31 March 2006, announced today. Some entities within the Group include both Automotive and non Automotive operations. Avon Rubber did not allocate the interest costs of such entities between these segments, and does not consider that a meaningful allocation can be produced. In addition it is not possible to provide a meaningful allocation of tax balances nor other finance income. 2. Profit and loss accounts IFRS UK GAAP ------------------ ------------------ Six months ended Year ended Year ended 31 March 30 September 30 September ------------------ ------------- -------------- 2006 2005 2005 2005 2004 2003 Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited Audited ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Turnover 96,702 90,372 186,391 186,391 177,289 181,781 Cost of sales (85,587) (80,547) (166,127) (166,127) (156,831) (156,267) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Gross profit 11,115 9,825 20,264 20,264 20,458 25,514 Net operating expenses (7,072) (6,590) (11,463) (11,497) (12,799) (17,794) ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Operating profit profit before exceptional items 4,043 3,235 8,801 8,767 7,659 7,720 Exceptional items - (1,760) (6,734) (6,734) - - ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total operating profit 4,043 1,475 2,067 2,033 7,659 7,720 ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== 3. Balance sheets IFRS ----------------------- As at As at 31 March 30 September --------------------------- ------------ 2006 2005 2005 ------ ------ ------- Unaudited Unaudited Unaudited ----------- ----------- ------------ £000 £000 £000 ASSETS Non-current assets Goodwill - 10,270 10,078 Intangible assets 5,282 5,715 6,072 Property plant and equipment 34,421 41,351 40,639 Investments accounted for using the equity method 146 74 146 Deferred tax asset 708 512 750 ---------- ----------- ------------ 40,557 57,922 57,685 Current assets Inventories 14,336 14,852 14,559 Trade and other receivables 38,289 37,708 40,382 Cash and cash equivalents - - - ----------- ----------- ------------ 52,625 52,560 54,941 ----------- ----------- ------------ Total assets 93,182 110,482 112,626 ----------- ----------- ------------ LIABILITIES Current liabilities Financial liabilities - - 2 Trade and other payables 36,594 33,642 41,021 Current tax liabilities 338 257 196 ----------- ----------- ------------ 36,932 33,899 41,219 Net current assets 15,693 18,661 13,722 Non current liabilities Financial liabilities - - - Deferred tax liability 1,487 996 1,460 Retirement benefit liability 5,048 2,396 5,301 Provisions 1,682 3,574 2,324 ----------- ----------- ------------ 8,217 6,966 9,085 Total liabilities 45,149 40,865 50,304 ----------- ----------- ------------ NET ASSETS 48,033 69,617 62,322 =========== =========== ============ Annex B PRO FORMA STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS The following unaudited pro forma statement of net assets of the continuing Group has been prepared under IFRS for illustrative purposes only to show how the Disposal might have affected the net assets of the Group if it had occurred on 31 March 2006. Because of its nature, the pro forma statement addresses a hypothetical situation and does not, therefore, represent the continuing Group's actual financial position or results. Adjustments ------------------------- Group(1) Avon Disposal(3) Use of Pro forma(5) Automotive(2) proceeds(4) ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 ASSETS Non-current assets Goodwill 6,338 - - - 6,338 Intangible assets 10,456 - - - 10,456 Property, plant and equipment 31,613 - - - 31,613 Investments accounted for using the equity method - - - - - Trade and other receivables 597 - - - 597 Deferred tax asset 2,620 - - - 2,620 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 51,624 - - - 51,624 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Current assets Inventories 9,072 - - - 9,072 Trade and other receivables 16,492 - - - 16,492 Cash and cash equivalents 7,808 - 49,977 (49,977) 7,808 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 33,372 - 49,977 (49,977) 33,372 Assets classified as held for sale 93,182 (93,182) - - - ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 126,554 (93,182) 49,977 (49,977) 33,372 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Total assets 178,178 (93,182) 49,977 (49,977) 84,996 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ LIABILITIES Current liabilities Financial liabilities 44,053 - - (44,053) - Trade and other 12,935 - - - 12,935 payables Current tax liabilities 3,008 - 1,944 - 4,952 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 59,996 - 1,944 (44,053) 17,887 Liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale 45,149 (45,149) - - - ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 105,145 (45,149) 1,944 (44,053) 17,887 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Net current assets/(liabilities) 21,409 (48,033) 48,033 (5,924) 15,485 Non-current liabilities Financial liabilities 20,246 - - (5,924) 14,322 Deferred tax liabilities 1,682 - - - 1,682 Other non-current liabilities 1,153 - - - 1,153 Retirement benefit liability 4,952 - - - 4,952 Provisions 2,879 - - 2,879 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ 30,912 - (5,924) 24,988 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Total liabilities 136,057 (45,149) 1,944 (49,977) 42,875 ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ Net assets 42,121 (48,033) 48,033 - 42,121 ============ ============ ============ ============ ============ Notes: (1) The net assets of the Group as at 31 March 2006 have been extracted without material adjustment from the unaudited Interim Results of Avon Rubber for the six months ended 31 March 2006. (2) The net assets of Avon Automotive as at 31 March 2006 have been extracted without material adjustment from the financial information on Avon Automotive set out in Annex A. In accordance with IFRS 5 'Non-current assets held for sale and discontinued operations', in the balance sheet at 31 March 2006 in Avon Rubber's interim statement of results for the six months then ended, all assets of Avon Automotive are shown in the single line 'assets classified as held for sale' and all liabilities of Avon Automotive are shown in the single line 'liabilities directly associated with assets classified as held for sale'. The adjustment is therefore made against those line items. (3) The Disposal adjustments comprise: (a) an adjustment to cash of £49,977,000, representing: £'000 --------- Gross cash proceeds 63,000 Deduction in respect of assumed long term liabilities (4,573) Working capital adjustment, calculated based on Avon Automotive's actual working capital at 31 March 2006 (see note (5)) (4,450) Transaction costs (4,000) --------- 49,977 ========= (b) an adjustment to current tax liabilities of £1,944,000, representing the tax payable on the Disposal. (4) The net proceeds are used to repay outstanding debt. (5) The actual working capital adjustment will be dependent on the level of Avon Automotive's working capital at Completion. Based on the expected movement in Avon Automotive's working capital balances between 31 March 2006 and Completion, it is expected that the actual cash received at Completion will be higher than that shown in this pro forma net asset statement. 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