Interim Results

RNS Number : 1687C
UK Coal PLC
28 August 2008
 




UK COAL PLC

('UK COAL' or the 'Group')



Financial Results for the six months ended 30 June 2008



On track to meet full year expectations

Increased coal price creates strong economic environment

Property gains from planning progress and agricultural land values


  • Revenue up 18% to £172.9m (H1 2007: £146.2m)  

  • Average sales price per gigajoule (GJ) up 18% to £1.79 (H1 2007: £1.52)

    • Expected average sales price for H2 2008 of £1.95 to £2.00/GJ

  • Total sales H1 2008 3.7m tonnes (H1 2007: 3.8m tonnes excluding Maltby)

    • Expected output for H2 2008 circa 5m tonnes (H2 2007: 4.1m tonnes)

  • RICS like-for-like valuation of land and property portfolio up 5% to £438.4m (December 2007: £410.7m)

    • Further modest increase expected for H2 2008

  • Group operating loss before non-trading exceptional items £(4.2)m (H1 2007: operating profit £35.5m) reflecting lower property valuation gains in the current year

  • Loss before tax £(9.9)m (H1 2007: profit before tax £40.6m)

  • Loss per share (6.5)p (H1 2007: earnings per share 34.2p; 25.9p excluding tax credit)

  • Net assets £319.8m (December 2007: £358.2m) after pension movement of £28.5m




David Jones, Chairman, said


'These results show the robustness of UK COAL's growth platform and place us on track to meet full year expectations. They also demonstrate the changing financial profile of our business as higher coal prices now start to deliver increased cash flows and we progressively reduce the proportion of our production needed to fulfil low-priced, legacy contracts.


'While overall the reported result for the first half is lower than for the same period last year, this is not unexpected bearing in mind the scheduled timing of our mining production over this year and the unsurprisingly reduced level of non-cash property valuation gains achieved for the first half of 2008 given the current property environment.


'We lay primary emphasis upon safety, and I am pleased to say we have made good progress in reinforcing the safety culture of our Group.  We are particularly pleased with the reduction in the major injury accident rate in the deep mines over the period.


'In mining, our first half output was proportionately more committed to satisfying older contractsmuting the positive impact of the increased market price for coal. In addition, first half production was constrained and was marginally lower than original expectations, principally reflecting the timing of face changes at Kellingley and Welbeck. For the second half, while there may always be unpredictabilities, we expect significantly higher production at a significantly higher sales price.


'The sharp increase in the market price of coal, up around 45% from the start of the year to the end of July, and its strong forward curve, transforms the outlook for our mining operations.


'In our deep mines, Daw Mill is working through its two year long panel and, while Kellingley and Thoresby continue to face difficult coal conditions as they work their way through the last of their current seams, the investment programmes are well on track to enable access to their further substantial reserves from mid and late 2009, respectively. We have also begun the geological work to enable us to decide on the economic viability of re-opening our Harworth mine.


'Our surface mines performed well, increasing production in the first half by 29% to 0.9m tonnes (H1 2007: 0.7m tonnes).


'In our property business, Harworth Estates, we are differentiated from others in the sector as our property portfolio is at an early stage in its development life, with milestone planning gains, some rental appreciation, and the good performance of agricultural land values in the period more than offsetting current general property market conditions. Longer term, we believe that the UK's structural shortage of land for development benefits our estate and that the locations of our brownfield sites fit well with both local and national government's vision of sustainable communities.


'We were pleased to receive, planning approval from the Local Authority Planning Committee for the first phase of the Prince of Wales project in August.


'While last year's rate of increase in property valuations could not be maintained, it is notable that, despite difficult market conditions for the property industry as a whole, our further progress in securing planning permissions and the strength of agricultural land values mean that we have achieved a modest valuation increase in the first half of the year and expect to do so again in the second half.


'Overall, we have made further good progress in realising the substantial potential of the Group. Wcontinue to be confident of meeting expectations for the full year and view the future with optimism.'


Enquiries:


Media:


Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Anthony Carlisle Tel: 020 7638 9571. Mobile: 07973 611 888


Analysts and investors:

Jon Lloyd, Chief Executive, UK COAL PLC Tel: 01302 755 002

David Brocksom, Group Finance Director, UK COAL PLC Tel: 01302 755 012

Citigate Dewe Rogerson

Nick Cox-Johnson Tel: 020 7638 9571. Mobile: 07957 596 729


Notes to Editors:


UK COAL is Britain's biggest producer of coal, supplying around 15% of all the coal burned in the country, which is equivalent to the energy needed to provide around 5% of the country's electricity requirements. UK COAL is one of Britain's largest brownfield site property developers, owning some 46,500 acres of land across the country, of which some 3,696 acres are currently targeted for development.


Financial highlights

Income Statement



H1

 2008


H1

2007

Full

Year

2007





Revenue (£m)

172.9 

146.2 

328.5 

Group (loss) / profit before non-trading exceptional items and finance costs (£m)


(3.6)


35.8 


72.6 

(Loss) / profit before tax (£m)

(9.9)

40.6 

69.0 

(Loss) / earnings per share (pence)

(6.5)

34.2 

59.9 

(Loss) / earnings per share excluding deferred tax (pence)

(6.5)

25.9 

44.0 


Divisional breakdown - (losses) / profits before non-trading exceptional items


H1

2008


H1

 2007

Full

Year

2007


£m

£m

£m

Deep mines

(25.7)

(24.7)

(14.6)

Surface mines 

5.0 

4.5 

8.5 

    Surface mines - additional restoration provision

(5.6)

- 

Power

1.5 

1.7 

4.3 

Others

0.1 

0.7 

Property - Other income less expenses

0.6 

2.1 

2.7 

    - Net gains from investment properties

19.9 

51.9 

70.5 

Group operating (loss)/profit before non-trading exceptional items

(4.2)

35.5 

72.1 

Share of profit from joint ventures

0.6 

0.3 

0.5 

Group (loss)/profit before non-trading exceptional items

(3.6)

35.8 

72.6 


Balance sheet


June 

2008

Dec

 2007




Net assets (£m)

319.8

358.2

Net assets per share (£)

2.04

2.28

Net debt excluding restricted funds (£m)

145.3

104.3


Chairman's Statement


Results Overview


These results show the robustness of UK Coal's growth platform and place us on track to meet full year expectations. They also demonstrate the changing financial profile of our business as higher coal prices now start to deliver increased cash flows and we progressively reduce the proportion of our production needed to fulfil low-priced, legacy contracts.


We lay primary emphasis upon safety, and I am pleased to say we have made good progress in reinforcing the safety culture of our Group. We are especially pleased with a reduction in the major injury/fatality accident rate in the deep mines from 3.3 per 100,000 manshifts in 2007 to 1.7.  On behalf of the Board I would like to thank all of our employees for their dedication, not just on safety matters, but for the progress made within our operations. We are very fortunate in having a very skilled workforce with tremendous belief in our businesses.


Group revenue has increased 18.3% to £172.9m during the first half of the year, reflecting the higher average realised coal sales price, which rose 17.8% to £1.79 per gigajoule (GJ) compared with £1.52/GJ for the same period in 2007.


In mining, our first half output was proportionately more committed to satisfying older contractsmuting the positive impact of the increased market price for coal. In addition, first half production was constrained and was marginally lower than original expectations, principally reflecting the timing of face changes at Kellingley and Welbeck. For the second half, while there may always be unpredictabilities, we expect significantly higher production at a significantly higher sales price.


Our surface mines performed well, increasing production in the first half by 28.5% to 0.9tonnes (H1 2007: 0.7m tonnes).


While the increased market value of coal is highly positive to the business, cost inflation, in particular in other fuel and steel prices, is affecting our businesses. Diesel fuel is a significant element of surface mine operating costs and overall performance in the period was affected by increases in its cost. The sharp increase and long term outlook for the price of 'red diesel' has also led us to review the provisions required for the restoration of surface mine sites over the next 3-5 years, and for us to make an exceptional charge to the income statement of £5.6m


In our property business, Harworth Estates, we are differentiated from others in the sector as our property portfolio is at an early stage in its development life, with milestone planning gains, some rental appreciation, and the good performance of agricultural land values in the period more than offsetting current general property market conditions. Longer term, we believe that the UK's structural shortage of land for development benefits our estate and that the locations of our brownfield sites fit well with both local and national government's vision of sustainable communities.


Harworth Estates performed well in the tough conditions for the property market as a whole, achieving a 5% like-for-like increase in RICS property valuations since the end of 2007 to £438.4m.  While last year's rate of increase in valuations could not be maintained, it is notable that, despite difficult market conditions for the property industry as a whole, our further progress in securing planning permissions and the strength of agricultural land values mean that we have achieved a modest valuation increase in the first half of the year and expect to do so again in the second half.


We were pleased to receive, planning approval from the Local Authority Planning Committee for the first phase of the Prince of Wales project in August.


Reflecting the lower scale of property valuation gains and the surface mines restoration provision, the Group made an operating loss before non-trading exceptional items of £(4.2)m in the first half of the year compared to profit of £35.5m in the same period in 2007. 


The Group loss before tax in the first half of the year was £9.9m (H1 2007: profit before tax £40.6m). Loss per share was 6.5 pence (H1 2007: earnings per share 34.2 pence, or 25.9 pence excluding the tax credit in the period).


While overall the reported result for the first half is lower than for the same period last year, this is not unexpected bearing in mind the scheduled timing of our mining production over this year and the unsurprisingly reduced level of non-cash property valuation gains achieved for the first half of 2008 given the current property environment.


Net assets on the balance sheet were £319.8compared to £358.2at the end of 2007, primarily a result of a £28.5m increase in the Group's pension schemes' deficits to £101.7m. This increase mainly reflects a reduction in the market value of the schemes' assets of £43.5m, partially offset by an actuarial gain of £12.5m resulting from an increase in the interest rate used to discount the liabilities, both reflecting market conditions at the end of June 2008


Overall net debt (excluding restricted cash balances) at 30 June 2008 was in line with expectations at £145.3m (December 2007: £104.3m).


Dividend

The Group is making significant investments in its businesses to take advantage of opportunities to maximise shareholder value. For this reason and to preserve financial flexibility, the Board is not declaring an interim dividend.


Outlook

In our deep mines, Daw Mill is working through its two year long panel and, while Kellingley and Thoresby continue to face difficult coal conditions as they work their way through the last of their current seams, the investment programmes are well on track to enable access to their further substantial reserves from mid and late 2009, respectively. Welbeck will continue to mine its remaining resources until these are exhausted at the end of 2009.  We have also begun the geological work to enable us to decide on the economic viability of re-opening our Harworth mine.


The sharp increase in the market price of coal, up around 45% from the start of the year to the end of July, and the strong forward price curve, transforms the outlook for our mining operations. For the second half, we expect to achieve both a significantly higher average sales price and, absent any disruption, a significantly higher volume of production, delivering strong positive cash flows. While we expect the difficulties in the commercial and residential property market to continue, we also expect to achieve a further modest increase in RICS property valuations in the second half. 


Longer term, the proportion of our coal production needed to meet legacy contract commitments will now progressively fall, and we have made good progress in putting in place a balance of new contracts at floating, capped and collared and fixed prices, leaving a proportion of our production available to take advantage of short term market prices. This will progressively move our overall sales prices closer to world market price and is changing the economics of our mining business. 


In property, it will take time for the current difficult market conditions to work through but we believe the longer term outlook, with the UK's structural shortage of land for development, remains positive. We also believe we are well positioned given the strength of agricultural land values, the impact of the planning permissions we are pursuing, the location of our development sites and the timing of the construction phase, the latter not being significant until after the end of 2009.


Overall, we have made further good progress in realising the substantial potential of the Group. We continue to be confident of meeting expectations for the full year and view the future with optimism.


Operating review


SAFETY


Safety in all aspects of the Group's operations remains key and we are pleased to have made good progress in reinforcing the safety culture across the Group.


We continue to reinforce our links with the Health and Safety Executive through industry liaison committees on both surface and deep mines. Direct liaison between all unions, management and mines inspectors has been carried out collaboratively as well as individually at senior levels, at all sites within the deep mine sector.


A significant improvement has been made in respect of safety in the deep mine operations where a major injury/fatality accident rate of 1.7 per 100,000 manshifts was achieved in the first six months of 2008, compared to 3.3 in 2007. Overall the major injury/fatality accident rate in the first half was 3.0 per 100,000 manshifts, a similar level to 2007, although overall the severity of accidents has diminished. The Group's rate for accidents reported under RIDDOR in the first half was 25.9 per 100,000 manshifts, compared to 23.9 in 2007.



MINING AND POWER


Coal Market


The coal market has continued to perform strongly during 2008, notwithstanding recent market corrections, with a further sharp increase in the world coal pricefollowing its almost doubling in 2007 As with all commodities, the price of coal is a balance between increasing world demand (2007 up around 3% compared to 2006) against both the supply of mineable reserves and, perhaps more pertinently, logistical difficulties and the costs of getting coal into the appropriate market. Overall, we believe the pricing environment looking forward will remain strong, and that it is unlikely that there will be a major downward shift in the near term in the price of energy generally and of coal in particular.  



Coal Sales


Demand for our core product remains strong, not least because, given the high price of gas, coal burn for electricity generators in the UK market remains more profitable than gas, leaving aside the security of supply issues which were reflected in the difficulties encountered over the last winter in the UK obtaining imported gas supplies.


Although a significant portion of our coal production is still contracted, generally under old fixed price contracts, a small portion of our production for the first half has been available for sale at market prices, at times realising in excess of £4.00/GJ. As a consequence, the realised price for all sales in the first half was £1.79/GJ, up 10.5% over the price realised for the whole of 2007 of £1.62/GJ, and up 17.8% over the price for the first half of 2007 of £1.52/GJ.


At 30 June 2008, we had 21m tonnes of coal contracted to be sold, with 4.5m - 5m tonnes due for delivery in the remainder of 2008, 6m - 7m tonnes in 2009 and the balance in subsequent years.


Of our total commitments, 10.5m tonnes is under older 'legacy' contracts at an average (fixed or capped) price of c.£1.55/GJ. The balance of the 21m tonnes contains fixed, capped and floating rate commitments.  


There will be a significant reduction over the next 18 months in the amount of this 'legacy' contracted coal, with some 7m tonnes due for delivery by the end of 2009. Providing the coal price remains strong, this will have a marked effect on the profitability and cashflows of the business. It is noteworthy that this reduction in legacy contracted coal will also coincide with an improvement in the expected production at Kellingley and Thoresby as we start to mine their new reserves in the Beeston and Deep Soft seams respectively, although the closure of Welbeck will also take place over this period


In the short term, we have indicated our expectation for the second half of 2008 of a overall realised sales price of between £1.95 to £2.00/GJ, based upon a market price for the half of approximately $175/tonne (c.£3.50/GJ at an illustrative $2:£1) and production of approximately 5m tonnes. This would give an overall realised sales price for the full year of £1.90 to £1.95/GJ.  Given the contractual commitments for 2009, and assuming no significant change in market conditions, we would expect this to rise to over £2.10/GJ for that year.


The seasonality of sales volumes is not particularly marked, with sales being driven by the timing of production faces rather than customer demand. In contractual terms, the delivery under older contracts tends to be more focussed in the earlier part of the year, although other deliveries and spot sales may obviate this in any given period.



Deep Mines 


Colliery performance summary


Production

(m tonnes)

H1 2008


Production

(m tonnes)

H1 2007

Operating cost*

(£m)

H1 2008

Operating cost*

(£m)

H1 2007

Ongoing deep mines





Daw Mill

1.6

1.2

42.4

33.0

Kellingley

0.5

0.8

35.1

35.0

Thoresby

0.3

0.6

32.9

28.8

Welbeck

0.4

0.6

25.9

22.1

Total ongoing deep mines

2.8

3.2

136.3

118.9

Closed/sold deep mines

-

0.1

-

8.3

Total deep mines

2.8

3.3

136.3

127.2

* Operating cost before non-trading exceptional items and depreciation costs, with central costs absorbed.


Overall the deep mines generally met our expectations in the period, with the exception of Kellingley where unexpectedly difficult geological conditions were encountered in the development of the final 900 metres of one of the two gates for the new panel. As a consequence, the roof had to be supported with steel arches for over 500 metres, instead of using the more conventional and significantly faster roof bolting technique and this has resulted in a face gap which lasted until 16 August 2008. This was disappointing, especially given that production rates on the old face had actually been in advance of our expectations.


Daw Mill is now set well, exploiting the current panelwhich contained over 6m tonnes at the start of 2008, and will continue through until the end of 2009. Thoresby which, along with Kellingley, is working its way through some very difficult coal until it can reach its new reserves, had a good first half given the resources available to be mined.


The developments to extend the lives of Kellingley and Thoresby are both progressing well and are on target for production from the new reserves in line with our expectations of mid and late 2009 respectively.


Welbeck had a slightly disappointing first half of the year with production of 0.4m tonnes, below the first half of 2007 (0.6m tonnes). This is a result of a delay in the start date for the new face in the aftermath of the previously reported fatality at the mine last year.


At Harworth, we have begun seismic studies to assess the quality and extent of the reserves in the Top Hard seam that we are considering accessing. Bore holes will be sunk in the second half of the year, once planning consent is obtained for the drilling operations. It is intended that these feasibility studies will be completed in order to make a decision in early 2009 as to whether to re-open Harworth.


As expected, overall operating costs in the business have risen reflecting the impact of above RPI inflation increases being felt especially in steel and other material prices, with increased working hours, especially at Daw Mill, also contributing to the rise.


Surface Mines




H1 2008

H1 2007

Production (m tonnes)


0.9

0.7

Cost before depreciation (£m)


31.6

15.5

Cost per gigajoule before depreciation (£/GJ)


1.52

1.07

Additional provision re fuel increases (£m)


5.6

-

Total cost before depreciation (£m)


37.2

15.5


Surface mines had a good first half, meeting expectations with production up 28.5% at 0.9m tonnes (H1 2007: 0.7m tonnes). Production has progressed well at sites successfully opened in the second half of 2007 at Steadsburn, Long Moor and Sharlston.


Planning delays continue to frustrate the development of the business although this has not impacted on production this year. In particular delays on the new Park Wall site have resulted in the deferral of that scheme which was previously expected to start in 2008, although the production shortfall in 2008 will be made up from other sites.


Operating costs, before depreciation (but after amortisation of restoration provisions), in the first half at £1.52/GJ were at the top end of our expectations, reflecting most notably an increase in the cost of 'red diesel' from 47 pence per litre at the start of the period to 66 pence at the end of June 2008, although this has subsequently fallen back to circa 60 pence. 


As we believe that we have seen a more permanent shift in the cost of energy, notwithstanding some recent market corrections, we have reviewed upwards the provisions required to restore the mine sites at the end of their operating lives to reflect the diesel cost component of these provisions, resulting in an exceptional charge to the income statement of £5.6m in the period. 


Harworth Power 


We generated 84,193 MWh (H1 2007: 80,356 MWh) of electricity from mines methane pumped from both operational and closed deep mines. This is enough to power around 37,000 homes, and equivalent to about 60% of the deep mines' electricity requirements in the period. Our generating station at the former Stillingfleet deep mine, which was commissioned in 2007, has consistently generated at over 90% utilisation, although output at the operating mines was more variable as the methane released from mining operations varies with activity levels.


We are continuing with the lengthy process of gaining planning permissions for wind farms to be built on a number of our sites. Currently we have consent for a 9MW wind farm at Lynemouth, Northumberland, and are seeking to fulfil planning conditions on this.  We have applications for a further 1MW in the planning system, and we are undertaking planning applications and studies at a number of other sites. 


HARWORTH ESTATES


The first half of 2008 has been the most difficult period for the property industry since 1990. Notwithstanding this, our property business has delivered profits in the first half of the year of £20.5m (December 2007: £54.0m) including investment property valuation gains of £19.8m (December 2007: £51.0m).


Although we are certainly not immune from the market we believe that we are differentiated from most of our property peer groups as our land portfolio is at an early stage in its development life and also contains a significant agricultural element.  For these reasons, the RICS valuation, produced by external valuers, of our property portfolio increased from £410.7m at the end of 2007 to £438.4m at 30 June 2008. After allowing for purchases, depreciation and development spend, the net gain in the first half of the year on a like-for-like basis was 5%.


We have not, for this half year, undertaken a review of our Project Worth estimates which will be done at the end of the full year.


Portfolio RICS Valuation as at 30 June 2008


VALUATION SUMMARY BY CLASSIFICATION





 

 

Jun-08

Dec-07

Like-for-like 

 

 

£m

£m

% change*






Business Parks


60.4 

53.3 

10%

Commercial with planning


30.6 

28.0 

8%

Other commercial and residential


235.7 

224.7 

3%

Agricultural 


111.7 

104.7 

7%






Total

 

438.4 

410.7 

5%






* The like-for-like percentage change and December 2007 comparatives are after propertreclassifications and take into account adjustments for asset sales and development expenditure.

In July we received confirmation that several of our residential schemes in Project Worth now sit in areas confirmed as Housing Growth Points under the latest Government plans for meeting demand for additional new homes over the next decade.  As a result, we will make a stronger case for increased housing numbers on our various mixed use projects in the North East, West and South Yorkshire and the East Midlands.


Over the past six months we have continued the promotion of our Eco-town project at Rossington, Doncaster and have had several meetings with Government, its Eco-town Challenge Panel and, most recently, on site with the Housing Minister. The project now consists of 5,000 homes, 3,500 of which are on our own brownfield land, the former pithead of Rossington Colliery. The balance is on adjoining previously developed land in single third party ownership, making our ability to deliver this project, from a land assembly perspective, a key differentiator for us in the Eco-town contest. Successful sites will be awarded special planning status in the first quarter of 2009.


In the period we have continued to promote several major planning applications including particularly the joint venture project, G-Park at Lounge, Ashby de la Zouch, (850,000 sqft with Gazeley) and at Coalville (589,000 sqft joint venture with Graftongate Developments).  


Whilst our planning consent for a major rail-related business park at Gascoigne Wood in North Yorkshire has been challenged in the courts, the Secretary of State (and Harworth Estates) had the consent confirmed at High Court in May this year. Although the third party challenging the decision has sought leave to refer that decision to the Court of Appeal, we believe that this challenge will not be sustained. Gascoigne Wood can deliver a major community regeneration and job creating project for the Selby area and development there has all party support from the Local Authority.  


At Cutacre, Bolton, our major premium business park proposal, on part of the current surface mining project, has been identified as the Council's Preferred Option for its employment site in the Local Development Framework.  


At the turn of the half year, we submitted the planning application for a community of approximately 3,900 new homes at Waverley in Rotherham (an area now designated by Government as a Housing Growth Point) and we will shortly be submitting an application for the adjoining circa 650,000 sqft Helical Governetz joint venture scheme, providing Government with environmentally sound and cost effective relocation offices.


At the Prince of Wales Colliery, Pontefract, our scheme to provide initially 913 houses and 250,000 sqft of employment space, has received approval from the Planning Committee of Wakefield Council and will now be referred to the Government Office for Yorkshire to confirm that the Council can proceed to issue the planning consent.  


We will continue to report on the progress of the RICS valuation on a half yearly basis and the management estimate of Project Worth on an annual basis.  Notwithstanding the current market turbulence, we continue to believe both these measures are likely to increase in the medium term as planning milestones are achieved.


FINANCIAL REVIEW


Profit performance

 

A review of the profit performance of the individual businesses is contained in the Operating Review and further detailed disclosures are contained in the financial statements accompanying this report



Finance costs


Group net finance costs were £5.4m (H1 2007: £4.8mincluding the non-cash cost for the unwinding of discounts on provisions of £2.0m (H1 2007: £2.0m), and a credit in respect of the mark to market on our interest rate hedges of £2.1m (H1 2007: £0.9m).  The increase in net finance costs reflects the general increase in the level of net debt of the Group.


We have started applying hedge accounting on our interest rate swaps progressively during the first half of the year once this has been possible on a case by case basis. The need to revalue hedges, up to the date when hedge accounting could be implemented and in respect of others where this has not been possible, has resulted in a mark to market gain of £2.1in the income statement. A credit to reserves of £0.5m was made in respect of movements in the market value of hedges from the dates when hedge accounting was implemented.


Joint ventures


Coal4Energy, our joint venture with Hargreaves Services PLC, earned profits of £0.6m in the first of the year (H1 2007: £0.3m).


We have also entered into a new joint venture, UK Strategic Partnership, with Strategic Sites Limited, which has acquired a small parcel of land at the Waverley AMP site, for development.


Taxation


Corporation tax of £309,000 (H1 2007: £nil) has been charged in respect of the power generation business: the taxable profits of part of this business not being allowed to be offset against other losses.  There have been no further tax charges or credits during the period due to the availability of substantial brought forward tax losses for offset against profits expected in the second half year.  


There have been no movements in respect of deferred tax in the period (H1 2007: £13.0m credit).



Retirement Benefit Obligations


The Group's defined benefit obligations comprise two funded Industry Wide Schemes and an unfunded concessionary fuel scheme.


The Industry Wide Schemes have a combined deficit of £78.0m (30 June 2007: £57.7m; 31 December 2007: £49.8m) on these schemes, which are closed to new entrants but are required to be open for future service.  The deficit has increased over the first half by £28.2m, primarily as a result of a fall of £42.8m in the fund value as compared to the expected returnpartially offset by an increase in the  rate used to discount the liabilities of the schemewhich reduced `the scheme liabilities by £12.3mDuring the first half there were payments to the scheme, in excess of current service costs, of £2.3m. 


Thoverall post service obligations also include an unfunded liability in respect of the concessionary fuel scheme of £23.7m (30 June 2007: £22.0m; 31 December 2007: £23.4m).





Pension

£m


Concessionary fuel

£m


Total

£m

1 January 2008

(49.8)

(23.4)

(73.2)

Change in fund value compared to expected return

(42.8)

(0.7)

(43.5)

Actuarial gains in respect of liabilities

12.3 

0.2 

12.5 

Contributions paid less current service cost

2.3 

0.2 

2.5 

30 June 2008

(78.0)

(23.7)

(101.7)




CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT





FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2008







Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited



6 months

6 months

12 months



to June

to June

to December



2008

2007

2007

 

Notes

£000

£000

£000

Revenue

2

172,854

146,167

328,485

Cost of sales 

 

(193,814)

(164,285)

(319,218)

Gross (loss)/profit


(20,960)

(18,118)

9,267






Net appreciation in fair value of investment properties

 

19,828

51,043

66,799

Profit on disposal of investment properties

 

62

889

3,688

Gains on investment properties


19,890

51,932

70,487

Profit on sale of business


-

12,227

8,481

Other operating income and expenses


(4,052)

(962)

(5,579)

Operating (loss)/profit

2

(5,122)

45,079

82,656

Finance costs

3

(6,749)

(6,234)

(17,121)

Finance income

3

1,349

1,391

2,951

Finance costs - net

3

(5,400)

(4,843)

(14,170)

Share of post tax profit from joint ventures


623

337

537

(Loss)/profit before tax

 

(9,899)

40,573

69,023

Tax

4

(309)

12,994

25,000

(Loss)/profit for the period

13

(10,208)

53,567

94,023






Attributable to:





Equity holders of the Company

 

(10,208)

53,567

94,023






(Loss)/earnings per share


pence

pence

pence

Basic and diluted

6

(6.5)

34.2

59.9


The attached notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSE



FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2008





Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


6 months

6 months

12 months


to June

to June

to December


2008

2007

2007

 

£000

£000

£000

Actuarial (loss)/gain on Industry Wide schemes

(30,971)

35,569

35,733

Actuarial gain on Blenkinsopp pension scheme

58

-

464

Actuarial gain on concessionary fuel reserve

174

2,294

1,280

Movement on deferred tax asset relating to retirement benefit liabilities

-

(12,986)

(22,012)

Impact of change in UK tax rate on deferred tax

-

-

(2,383)

Property revaluation on transfer to investment properties

1,747

1,231

6,733

Cash flow hedges

492

-

-

Net (loss)/gain recognised directly in equity

(28,500)

26,108

19,815

(Loss) / profit for the period

(10,208)

53,567

94,023

Total recognised (expense)/income for the period

(38,708)

79,675

113,838





Attributable to:




Equity holders of the Company

(38,708)

79,675

113,838




CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET





AT 30 JUNE 2008







Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited



30 June

30 June

31 December



2008

2007

2007

 

Notes

£000

£000

£000

Assets





Non current assets





Operating property, plant and equipment


190,963

210,443

199,551

Surface mine development and restoration assets

 

31,065

16,664

20,111

Total operating property, plant and equipment

7

222,028

227,107

219,662

Investment properties

8

413,877

360,560

384,291

Investment in joint ventures

14

1,869

142

342

Deferred tax asset


36,000

35,747

36,000

Trade and other receivables


1,615

964

1,613

 

 

675,389

624,520

641,908

Current assets





Inventories


46,150

43,691

39,756

Trade and other receivables


41,453

37,666

29,953

Derivative financial instruments


928

1,467

424

Cash and cash equivalents

9

40,300

46,526

70,068

 

 

128,831

129,350

140,201

Liabilities





Current liabilities





Financial liabilities





  - Borrowings

10

(7,066)

(32,532)

(27,320)

Trade and other payables


(103,190)

(100,195)

(100,213)

Provisions

11

(31,221)

(35,360)

(31,061)

 

 

(141,477)

(168,087)

(158,594)

Net current liabilities

 

(12,646)

(38,737)

(18,393)






Non current liabilities





Financial liabilities





  - Borrowings

10

(141,148)

(75,038)

(97,921)

  - Derivative financial instruments


(55)

-

(2,148)

Trade and other payables


(98)

(231)

(73)

Deferred tax liability


(815)

(1,172)

(815)

Provisions

11

(99,174)

(105,771)

(91,141)

Retirement benefit obligations

12

(101,678)

(79,662)

(73,171)

 

 

(342,968)

(261,874)

(265,269)

Net assets

 

319,775

323,909

358,246






Equity





Capital and reserves





Ordinary shares


1,571

1,569

1,571

Share premium


30,756

30,756

30,756

Revaluation reserve


143,893

140,873

143,014

Capital redemption reserve


257

257

257

Fair value reserve


197,746

162,413

177,851

Hedging reserve


492

-

-

Retained earnings

13

(54,940)

(11,959)

4,797

Total equity

13

319,775

323,909

358,246



CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 





FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2008







Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited



6 months

6 months

12 months



to June

to June

to December



2008

2007

2007

 

Notes

£000

£000

£000

Cash flows from operating activities





(Loss)/profit for the period

2

(10,208)

53,567

94,023

Depreciation/impairment of operating property, plant and equipment


20,268

19,637

38,500

Amortisation of surface mine development and restoration assets


5,726

3,368

8,723

Net fair value appreciation in investment properties


(19,828)

(51,043)

(66,799)

Net interest payable and amortisation of discount on provisions


5,400

4,843

14,170

Net charge for share based remuneration


237

112

284

Share of post tax profit from joint ventures


(623)

(337)

(537)

Profit on disposal of investment property


(62)

(889)

(3,688)

Profit on disposal of operating property, plant and equipment


(15)

(1,345)

(1,598)

Profit on sale of business


-

(12,227)

(8,481)

Capitalised surface mine restoration costs


(11,269)

(6,178)

(14,490)

Increase/(decrease) in provisions and retirement benefit obligations


3,983

(11,066)

(38,818)

Tax charge / (credit)

 

309

(12,994)

(25,000)

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital


(6,082)

(14,552)

(3,711)

Increase in stocks


(6,394)

(7,051)

(3,116)

(Increase)/decrease in receivables


(11,502)

9,938

17,253

Increase/(decrease) in payables

 

2,693

(6,167)

(4,304)

Cash (used in)/generated from operations


(21,285)

(17,832)

6,122

Interest paid


(6,140)

(4,247)

(13,188)

Cash used in operating activities

 

(27,425)

(22,079)

(7,066)






Cash flows from investing activities





Interest received


1,349

1,391

2,951

Net receipt from/(payment to) insurance and security provision funds


11,711

(2,475)

(6,794)

Net proceeds from sale of business


-

21,500

21,500

Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets


909

5,279

14,122

Net (investment in)/receipts from joint ventures


(904)

400

400

Development costs of investment properties


(6,167)

(2,579)

(7,547)

Precoaling expenditure for surface mines


(5,411)

(792)

(4,650)

Purchase of operating property, plant and equipment


(14,356)

(12,327)

(23,046)

Cash (used in)/generated from investing activities

 

(12,869)

10,397

(3,064)






Cash flows from financing activities





Net drawdown of bank loans


27,152

12,552

27,223

Net (repayments)/proceeds of obligations under hire purchase and finance leases


(4,915)

(2,747)

253

Cash generated from financing activities

 

22,237

9,805

27,476






(Decrease)/increase in cash

 

(18,057)

(1,877)

17,346






At commencement of period





Cash


20,973

3,627

3,627

Cash equivalents

 

49,095

42,301

42,301



70,068

45,928

45,928

(Decrease)/increase in cash equivalents (net receipt from insurance and subsidence security funds) 


(11,711)

2,475

6,794

(Decrease)/increase in cash


(18,057)

(1,877)

17,346

 

 

40,300

46,526

70,068

At end of period





Cash


2,916

1,750

20,973

Cash equivalents


37,384

44,776

49,095

Cash and cash equivalents

9

40,300

46,526

70,068


NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2008


1.  Basis of preparation of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements


UK COAL PLC is a company domiciled in the UK. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements as at and for the six months ended 30 June 2008 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the 'Group').


The Group financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2007 were approved by the Board of Directors on 17 April 2008 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies.


The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under section 237 of the Companies Act 1985.


These condensed consolidated interim financial statements do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.


These condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2008 are unaudited but have been reviewed by the auditors and their Independent Review Report is included with these statements.


The Board approved the condensed consolidated interim financial statements on 27 August 2008.


Statement of compliance

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2008 have been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and with IAS34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the European Union ('EU'). The condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2007 which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS's as adopted by the EU.


Accounting policies

Except as described below, the accounting policies applied are consistent with those of the annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2007, as described in those annual financial statements.  Taxes on income in the interim periods are accrued using the tax rate that would be applicable to expected annual earnings.


The following standard is effective for the first time in 2008:


IFRIC 14, 'IAS 19 - The limit on a defined benefit asset, minimum funding requirements and their interaction' (effective from 1 January 2008). IFRIC 14 provides guidance on assessing the limit in IAS 19 on the amount of the surplus that can be recognised as an asset. It also explains how the pension asset or liability may be affected by a statutory or contractual minimum funding requirement. The Group has applied IFRIC 14 from 1 January 2008, but it has not had any impact on the Group's accounts. 


The following new standards, amendments to standards or interpretations are mandatory for the first time for the financial year beginning 1 January 2008, but are not currently relevant to the Group:


  - IFRIC 11 'IFRS2 - Group and treasury share transactions'

  - IFRIC 12 'Service concession arrangements'


Trading and non-trading exceptional items

Items that are both material and non-recurring and whose significance is sufficient to warrant separate disclosure and identification within the consolidated financial statements are referred to as exceptional items and disclosed within their relevant income statement category. Items that may give rise to classification as exceptional items include, but are not limited to, significant and material restructuring closures and reorganisation programmes, asset impairments, and profits or losses on the disposal of businesses.


Exceptional items are divided into non-trading and trading exceptional items, depending upon the impact of the event giving rise to the cost or income on the ongoing trading operations and the nature of the costs or income involved. Non-trading exceptional items include costs and income arising from closure, rationalisation and business disposals. 


Property related transactions, including changes in the fair value of investment properties, and profits and losses arising on the disposal of property assets are not included in the definition of exceptional items as they are expected to recur, but are separately disclosed on the face of the consolidated income statement, where material.


Going concern

In forming its opinion as to going concern, the Board prepares a working capital forecast based upon its assumptions as to trading as well as taking into account the available borrowing facilities in line with the Treasury Policy disclosed in the Directors' Report in the Group's Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007. The Board also prepares a number of alternative scenarios modelling the business variables and key risks and uncertainties, both as summarised in the Operating and Financial Review within the Annual Report and Accounts.


Based upon these, the Board has concluded that the Group has adequate working capital and has therefore concluded that it is appropriate to use the going concern basis of preparation for the condensed consolidated interim financial statements of the Group.


Estimates and judgements

The preparation of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates.


In preparing these condensed consolidated interim financial statements, the significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those that applied to the consolidated financial statements as at and for the year ended 31 December 2007.


2.  Segmental Reporting


Revenue

6 months

6 months

12 months


to June

to June

to December


2008

2007

2007

Revenue from operations arises from:

£000

£000

£000

Sale of goods

164,914

140,044

318,671

Rendering of services

5,354

3,622

5,037

Rental income

2,586

2,501

4,777

 

172,854

146,167

328,485


Primary reporting format - business segments


Six months ended 30 June 2008




Ongoing Deep Mines

Closed/sold Deep Mines

Deep Mining

Surface Mining

Power

Property

Other

Total

 

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Continuing operations









Revenue - gross

128,818

-

128,818

41,541

3,790

2,592

1,149

177,890

Revenue - intra Group

-

-

-

(3,625)

(1,156)

-

(255)

(5,036)

Revenue

128,818

-

128,818

37,916

2,634

2,592

894

172,854

 









Operating (loss)/profit before non-trading exceptional items

(25,682)

-

(25,682)

(603)

1,476

20,452

195

(4,162)










Non-trading exceptional items









- Rationalisation, closure and other costs

(347)

(541)

(888)

(72)

-

-

-

(960)

Operating (loss)/profit after non-trading exceptional items

(26,029)

(541)

(26,570)

(675)

1,476

20,452

195

(5,122)

Finance costs








(6,749)

Finance income








1,349

Finance costs - net








(5,400)

Share of post-tax profit from joint ventures








623

Loss before tax








(9,899)

Tax








(309)

Loss for the period








(10,208)










Other segmental items









Capital expenditure

12,267

-

12,267

1,199

2

7,055

-

20,523

Depreciation

18,188

-

18,188

1,338

650

81

11

20,268

Surface mines development costs and restoration assets capitalised

-

-

-

16,680

-

-

-

16,680

Amortisation of surface mining development and restoration assets

-

-

-

5,726

-

-

-

5,726

Provisions - non-cash charge

3,673

-

3,673

16,915

-

-

23

20,611



Property operating profit includes the gains on investment properties of £19,890,000 being net appreciation in fair value of investment properties of £19,828,000 and profit on disposal of investment properties of £62,000.


Trading exceptional items

Deep mines operating loss includes Coal Investment Aid income of £1,554,000. Surface mines operating loss includes a one off charge of £5,574,000 to increase the surface mines restoration provision following a sharp increase in fuel prices.


Non-trading exceptional items

Rationalisation, closure and other costs are predominantly associated with the deep mines operations and include costs in respect of Harworth colliery of £541,000 and redundancy costs of £419,000.


All trading and non-trading exceptional items are included in cost of sales except for Coal Investment Aid which is included within other operating income and expenses.


Six months ended 30 June 2007




Ongoing Deep Mines

Closed/sold Deep Mines

Deep Mining

Surface Mining

Power 

Property

Other

Total

 

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Continuing operations









Revenue - gross

112,668

7,345

120,013

25,517

3,939

2,522

721

152,712

Revenue - intra Group

-

-

-

(3,945)

(2,392)

-

(208)

(6,545)

Revenue

112,668

7,345

120,013

21,572

1,547

2,522

513

146,167

 









Operating (loss)/profit before non-trading exceptional items

(23,119)

(1,600)

(24,719)

4,491

1,714

54,000

(9)

35,477










Non-trading exceptional items









- Profit on sale of business

-

11,989

11,989

-

238

-

-

12,227

- Rationalisation, closure and other costs

(1,470)

(1,120)

(2,590)

(35)

-

-

-

(2,625)

Operating (loss)/profit after non-trading exceptional items

(24,589)

9,269

(15,320)

4,456

1,952

54,000

(9)

45,079

Finance costs








(6,234)

Finance income








1,391

Finance costs - net








(4,843)

Share of post-tax profit from joint ventures








337

Profit before tax








40,573

Tax 








12,994

Profit for the period








53,567










Other segmental items









Capital expenditure

8,073

1,040

9,113

326

2,779

2,688

-

14,906

Depreciation

17,036

529

17,565

1,566

415

91

-

19,637

Surface mines development costs and restoration assets capitalised

-

-

-

10,338

-

-

-

10,338

Amortisation of surface mining development and restoration assets

-

-

-

3,368

-

-

-

3,368

Provisions - non-cash charge/(credit)

5,857

(6,724)

(867)

9,103

-

-

7

8,243



Property operating profit includes the gains on investment properties of £51,932,000 being net appreciation in fair value of investment properties of £51,043,000 and profit on disposal of investment properties of £889,000.


Trading exceptional items

Deep mines operating loss includes Coal Investment Aid income of £1,460,000 and recovery costs for Daw Mill colliery of £11,005,000. 


Non-trading exceptional items

Rationalisation, closure and other costs are predominantly associated with the deep mines operations and include costs in respect of Harworth colliery of £1,120,000, redundancy costs of £1,924,000 and pension curtailment gains of £419,000. The profit on sale of business relates to the sale of Maltby colliery in February 2007.



All trading and non-trading exceptional items are included in cost of sales except for Coal Investment Aid which is included within other operating income and expenses.


Year ended 31 December 2007



Ongoing Deep Mines

Closed/sold Deep Mines

Deep Mining

Surface Mining

Power 

Property

Other

Total

 

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Continuing operations









Revenue - gross

258,404

7,375

265,779

60,399

8,575

4,803

1,286

340,842

Revenue - intra Group

-

-

-

(7,542)

(4,430)

-

(385)

(12,357)

Revenue

258,404

7,375

265,779

52,857

4,145

4,803

901

328,485

 









Operating (loss)/profit before non-trading exceptional items

(14,037)

(600)

(14,637)

8,543

4,333

73,200

694

72,133










Non-trading exceptional items









- Profit on sale of business

-

8,243

8,243

-

238

-

-

8,481

- Rationalisation, closure and other costs

4,078

(1,811)

2,267

(225)

-

-

-

2,042

Operating (loss)/profit after non-trading exceptional items

(9,959)

5,832

(4,127)

8,318

4,571

73,200

694

82,656

Finance costs








(17,121)

Finance income








2,951

Finance costs - net








(14,170)

Share of post-tax profit from joint ventures








537

Profit before tax








69,023

Tax 








25,000

Profit for the year








94,023










Other segmental items









Capital expenditure

16,374

1,040

17,414

1,447

3,422

8,116

194

30,593

Depreciation

33,664

529

34,193

3,079

1,056

172

-

38,500

Surface mines development costs and restoration assets capitalised

-

-

-

19,140

-

-

-

19,140

Amortisation of surface mining development and restoration assets



-

8,723

-

-

-

8,723

Provisions - non-cash (credit)/charge

(245)

(8,633)

(8,878)

12,086

-

-

17

3,225


Property operating profit includes the gains on investment properties of £70,487,000 being net appreciation in fair value of investment properties of £66,799,000 and profit on disposal of investment properties of £3,688,000.  


Trading exceptional items

Deep mines operating loss includes Coal Investment Aid income of £2,926,000 and recovery and related costs for Daw Mill colliery of £11,505,000. 


Non-trading exceptional items

The profit on sale of business relates to the sale of Maltby colliery in February 2007.


Rationalisation, closure and other costs are predominantly associated with the deep mines operations and include a net credit of £8,767,000 following settlement of a dispute on tax deductions arising on redundancies with HMRC, costs in respect of Harworth colliery of £1,811,000, redundancy costs of £3,065,000, write down of stores equipment in connection with a strategic review on closure of deep mine operations of £1,737,000, pension curtailment gains of £668,000 and other costs of £780,000.


All trading and non-trading exceptional items are included in cost of sales except for Coal Investment Aid which is included within other operating income and expenses.


3. Finance income and costs



6 months

6 months

12 months


to June

to June

to December


2008

2007

2007

 

£000

£000

£000

Interest expense




- Bank borrowings

(5,581)

(3,757)

(8,868)

- Hire purchase agreements and finance leases

(559)

(466)

(810)

- Unwinding of discount on provisions

(1,977)

(1,987)

(3,933)

- Amortisation of issue costs of bank loans

(736)

(967)

(1,610)

Gain/(loss) on interest rate swaps not eligible for hedge accounting

2,104

943

(1,900)

Finance costs

(6,749)

(6,234)

(17,121)

Finance income

1,349

1,391

2,951

Net interest costs

(5,400)

(4,843)

(14,170)


The Group has adopted hedge accounting for its interest rate swaps where possible for the first time during the period to 30 June 2008.


4. Tax

The tax charge in the period of £309,000 relates to a charge on the profits of the power generation business. No tax payments have been made during the period.



5. Dividends

No dividends have been paid or proposed in relation to 2007. No interim dividend is proposed for the six months ended 30 June 2008.



6.  (Loss)/earnings per share

(Loss)/earnings per share has been calculated by dividing the (loss)/earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of shares in issue and ranking for dividend during the year.


In calculating the diluted (loss)/earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares is adjusted for the diluting effect of share options potentially issuable under the Group's employee share option plans.



6 months

6 months

12 months


to June

to June

to December


2008

2007

2007

 

£000

£000

£000

(Loss)/profit before tax

(9,899)

40,573

69,023

Corporation tax

(309)

-

-

(Loss)/profit before deferred tax

(10,208)

40,573

69,023

Deferred tax

-

12,994

25,000

(Loss)/profit for the year

(10,208)

53,567

94,023


Weighted average number of shares used for basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share calculations

157,128,220

156,673,616

156,839,338

Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share (pence)

(6.5)

34.2

59.9


Adjusted loss per share, excluding deferred tax, for the six months ended 30 June 2008 is 6.5 pence (six months ended 30 June 2007: earnings per share 25.9 pence; year  ended 31 December 2007: earnings per share 44.0 pence). This adjusted (loss)/earnings per share is stated to enable comparability to the previous period.


7.  Operating property, plant and equipment - Net book value



Operating

Surface mine 



property

development



plant and 

and restoration



equipment

 assets

Total

 

£000

£000

£000

At 1 January 2007

228,248

9,694

237,942

Additions

12,327

10,338

22,665

Disposals

(13,586)

-

(13,586)

Net transfer from Investment Properties

3,091

-

3,091

Depreciation charge

(19,637)

(3,368)

(23,005)

At 30 June 2007

210,443

16,664

227,107

Additions

10,719

8,802

19,521

Disposals

(48)

-

(48)

Net transfer to Investment Properties

(2,700)

-

(2,700)

Depreciation charge

(18,863)

(5,355)

(24,218)

At 31 December 2007

199,551

20,111

219,662

Additions

14,356

16,680

31,036

Disposals

(31)

-

(31)

Net transfer to Investment Properties

(2,645)

-

(2,645)

Depreciation charge

(20,268)

(5,726)

(25,994)

At 30 June 2008

190,963

31,065

222,028


In addition to the above the Group is committed to a further £7,900,000 of expenditure for operating property, plant and equipment.


8. Investment properties



6 months

6 months

12 months


to June

to June

to December


2008

2007

2007

At valuation 

£000

£000

£000





At 1 January

384,291

311,677

311,677

Additions

6,167

2,579

7,547

Disposals

(801)

(2,879)

(8,074)

Fair value uplift

19,828

51,043

66,799

Transfer from operating property, plant and equipment

2,645

8

1,256

Revaluation gain on transfer from operating property, plant and equipment

1,747

1,231

6,733

Transfer to operating property, plant and equipment

-

(3,099)

(1,647)

At period end 

413,877

360,560

384,291


In addition to the above the Group is committed to a further £1,300,000 of expenditure for investment properties.


All investment properties were valued at 30 June 2008, in accordance with the Appraisal and Valuation Standards of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, by three firms, Atisreal, Smiths Gore and Bell Ingram, all independent firms with relevant experience of valuations of this nature. The valuation excludes any deduction of rehabilitation and restoration costs which are stated within provisions in the balance sheet.


Key assumptions within the basis of fair value are:

- The sites will be cleared of redundant buildings, levelled and prepared ready for development

- The values are on a basis that no material environmental contamination exists on the subject or adjoining sites, or where this is present the sites will be remediated to a standard consistent with the intended use, the costs for such remediation being separately provisioned and

- No deduction or adjustment has been made in relation to clawback provisions, or other taxes which may be payable in certain events


9.  Cash and cash equivalents 



30 June

30 June

31 December


2008

2007

2007

 

£000

£000

£000

Cash deposited to cover insurance requirements

19,696

22,029

25,692

Subsidence security fund

17,688

22,747

23,403

Total 'restricted' cash balances

37,384

44,776

49,095

Other cash balances

2,916

1,750

20,973

Cash and cash equivalents

40,300

46,526

70,068


10. Financial liabilities - borrowings



30 June

30 June

31 December


2008

2007

2007

 

£000

£000

£000

Current

7,066

32,532

27,320

Non current

141,148

75,038

97,921

 

148,214

107,570

125,241



Debt at 30 June 2008 is stated after deduction of unamortised borrowing costs of £3,431,000 (30 June 2007: £2,381,000; 31 December 2007: £3,255,000).


During the period, the Group made repayments of £1,086,000 against borrowings. Additional facilities of £10,584,000 have been secured during the period. Of these, £4,584,000 has been through the increase of an existing facility and is repayable on expiry of the facility in February 2010. A further £6,000,000 was secured through an increase on the renegotiation/renewal of a former facility of £20,000,000, which was due to have expired in August 2008. Following renegotiation the facility has been increased to £26,000,000 and the term extended to May 2011. The balance of the movement in borrowings relates to the outstanding balance on a revolving credit facility which is due for repayment in September 2010 and is disclosed as non current.


11. Provisions



1 January

Created

Released 

Utilised

Unwinding

30 June


2008

in period

in period

in period

of discount

2008

 

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Employer and public liabilities

18,875

1,375

-

(1,897)

282

18,635

Surface damage

16,405

2,066

(106)

(4,970)

241

13,636


35,280

3,441

(106)

(6,867)

523

32,271

Claims

39

23

-

(13)

-

49

Restoration and closure costs of surface mines

54,598

16,843

-

(3,862)

1,032

68,611

Restoration and closure costs of deep mines







 - shaft treatment and pit top

12,193

-

(7)

(1,057)

183

11,312

 - spoil heaps

3,224

-

(2)

(8)

48

3,262

 - pumping costs

6,304

-

-

-

94

6,398

Ground/groundwater contamination

6,465

-

-

-

97

6,562

Redundancy

4,099

419

-

(2,588)

-

1,930

 

122,202

20,726

(115)

(14,395)

1,977

130,395


The nature of the Group's obligations is as disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2007. The restoration and closure costs created for surface mines in the period includes costs in respect of new sites and a one off charge to reflect increasing fuel costs.


Restricted funds of £37,384,000 have been set aside to meet the liabilities due on the employer and public liabilities and surface damage provisions above.




Provisions have been allocated between current and non current as follows:



30 June

30 June

31 December


2008

2007

2007

 

£000

£000

£000

Provisions payable within one year

31,221

35,360

31,061

Provisions payable after more than one year

99,174

105,771

91,141

 

130,395

141,131

122,202




Provisions are expected to be settled within the timescales set out in the following table:






More than



Within 1 year

1-2 years

2-5 years

5 years

Total

 

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Employer and public liabilities

5,469

5,305

5,969

1,892

18,635

Surface damage

3,000

2,727

6,000

1,909

13,636


8,469

8,032

11,969

3,801

32,271

Claims

49

-

-

-

49

Restoration and closure costs of surface mines

19,726

21,975

19,193

7,717

68,611

Restoration and closure costs of deep mines






 - shaft treatment and pit top

640

1,014

1,571

8,087

11,312

 - spoil heaps

407

587

574

1,694

3,262

 - pumping costs

-

-

-

6,398

6,398

Ground/groundwater contamination

-

-

-

6,562

6,562

Redundancy

1,930

-

-

-

1,930

 

31,221

31,608

33,307

34,259

130,395



12.  Retirement benefit obligations





30 June

30 June

31 December




2008

2007

2007

 

 

 

£000

£000

£000

Retirement benefit obligations - Blenkinsopp



820

1,299

835

Retirement benefit obligations - concessionary fuel


23,741

21,974

23,443

Retirement benefit obligations - Industry Wide Schemes


77,117

56,389

48,893

 

 

 

101,678

79,662

73,171



13. Statement of changes in shareholders' equity




Share 





Ordinary 

premium 

Other

Retained

Total


shares

account 

reserves 

earnings

equity


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

At 1 January 2007

1,566

30,756

253,639

(41,842)

244,119

Profit for six months to June 2007

-

-

-

53,567

53,567

New shares issued

3

-

-

-

3

Actuarial gains on post retirement benefits

-

-

-

37,863

37,863

Accrual for long term incentive plan liabilities

-

-

-

112

112

Movement on deferred tax asset in relation to retirement benefit liabilities

-

-

-

(12,986)

(12,986)

Fair value gain on revaluation of investment properties

-

-

51,043

(51,043)

-

Property revaluation on transfer to investment properties

-

-

1,231

-

1,231

Disposal of investment properties

-

-

(2,370)

2,370

-

At 30 June 2007

1,569

30,756

303,543

(11,959)

323,909

Profit for six months to December 2007

-

-

-

40,456

40,456

New shares issued

2

-

-

-

2

Actuarial losses on post retirement benefits

-

-

-

(386)

(386)

Accrual for long term incentive plan liabilities

-

-

-

172

172

Movement on deferred tax asset in relation to retirement benefit liabilities

-

-

-

(11,409)

(11,409)

Fair value gain on revaluation of investment properties

-

-

15,756

(15,756)

-

Property revaluation on transfer to investment properties

-

-

5,502

-

5,502

Disposal of investment properties

-

-

(3,679)

3,679

-

At 31 December 2007

1,571

30,756

321,122

4,797

358,246

Loss for six months to June 2008

-

-

-

(10,208)

(10,208)

Actuarial losses on post retirement benefits

-

-

-

(30,739)

(30,739)

Accrual for long term incentive plan liabilities

-

-

-

237

237

Fair value gain on revaluation of investment properties

-

-

19,828

(19,828)

-

Property revaluation on transfer to investment properties

-

-

1,747

-

1,747

Disposal of investment properties

-

-

(801)

801

-

Hedging reserve created - Fair value gains in period

-

-

492

-

492

At 30 June 2008

1,571

30,756

342,388

(54,940)

319,775



14.  Related party transactions


During the period the group acquired 50% of the issued shares in UK Strategic Partnership Limited, as a joint venture company with Strategic Sites Limited for the development of certain Investment Properties. The first development will be at the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley, South Yorkshire.


Investments in joint ventures



30 June

30 June

31 December


2008

2007

2007


£000

£000

£000

Coal4Energy

965

142

342

UK Strategic Partnership

904

-

-


1,869

142

342







Transactions with joint ventures 

The following transactions were carried out with joint ventures:



30June

30June

31December


2008

2007

2007

 

£000

£000

£000

UK Strategic Partnership 




Sale of land to related party

1,292

-

-





Coal4Energy




Sale of goods and services to related party:




  - Coal

12,041

15,738

29,114

  - Services

338

274

516

 

12,379

16,012

29,630





Coal4Energy




Purchases of goods and services from related party:




  - Coal

5

-

24

  - Finance costs

2

23

23

 

7

23

47






Sales and purchases to and from the joint ventures were carried out on commercial terms and conditions and at market prices. Profit of £62,000 has been recognised in the period on the sale of land to UK Strategic Partnership.


Balances owing from/(to) joint ventures


Coal4Energy

The balance arising from sales of goods and services at 30 June 2008 was £1,143,000 (30 June 2007: £1,979,000; 31 December 2007: £2,332,000) owed from the joint venture, and the balance arising from purchase of goods and services at 30 June 2008 was £nil (30 June 2007: £nil; 31 December 2007: £nil).


UK Strategic Partnership 

There are no balances outstanding at the period end


PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

UK COAL PLC operates in an industry which carries inherent risk, and is subject to market and other external risks which cannot be fully controlled, mitigated or insured against.


The principal risks and uncertainties identified by the Directors which exist within the Group remain those disclosed on pages 36 and 37 in the Annual Report and Accounts for the Group for the year ended 31 December 2007. 


The key risks fall into the following categories: 

Mining risks:

  - Health, safety and environment 

  - Major unforeseeable production shortfalls or geological constraints

   - Fluctuations in coal prices


Property risks:

  - Property market downturn or volatility

  - Planning approvals


The Outlook section of the Chairman's statement provides commentary concerning the remainder of the financial year.


RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTORS IN RESPECT OF THE HALF YEARLY FINANCIAL REPORT


The Directors' confirm that this condensed consolidated interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the European Union and that the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8, namely:


  - an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and


  - material related parties transactions in the first six months and any material changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report.


The Directors of UK COAL PLC are listed in the UK COAL PLC Annual Report for 31 December 2007. A list of current Directors is maintained on the UK COAL PLC 

website: www.ukcoal.com


By order of the Board



Jon Lloyd                      David Brocksom

Chief Executive            Finance Director

27 August 2008            27 August 2008



This information is provided by RNS
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