Disposal of Manor Credit & Acquisitions Update

Mentmore Abbey Plc 10 April 2000 MENTMORE ABBEY plc DISPOSAL OF NON CORE ACTIVITY AND ACQUISITIONS UPDATE Mentmore Abbey plc, the largest space management group in the UK, announces the following transactions: Disposal of non core activity The trade and loan book of Manor Credit, the finance company acquired with Birkby, has been sold to London Scottish Bank plc. The consideration, amounting to £10.0m, will be used to reduce debt pending reinvestment. In the year ended 31 March 1999 Manor Credit generated operating profits of £1.1 million. Acquisitions BDM, the groups records management alliance with Iron Mountain Incorporated, has strengthened its position in the Spanish market with a further two acquisitions. Documentalia, a leading medical records service provider in Madrid and four other regions, was acquired on 11 February 2000 for Peseta 1.1 billion (approximately £4.0 million). Boston Data, the largest media service provider in Spain, was acquired on 31 March 2000 for Peseta 270 million (approximately £1.0 million). Abbey Storage, the group s personal storage business, has opened two new sites since the beginning of the year. This includes the first conversion of an existing Imex site to incorporate self-storage. The business now operates from 21 locations with five new sites under construction. Imex, the groups serviced work space business, has acquired a further 20 sites adding approximately one million sq. ft. at a cost of £16.6 million. This business now operates 155 centres across the UK. Commenting on these transactions, Nick Smith, chairman, said: 'The disposal of Manor Credit was contemplated at the time of the Birkby acquisition. Its activities are not complementary to the rest of the group and the business is best placed with a specialist financing group such as London Scottish Bank. The addition of Documentalia and Boston Data to our existing Datavault commercial records management business means that we now provide a full range of services in Spain. We look forward to strong growth in this market. In line with plan, our personal storage and serviced work space businesses are adding new sites at an accelerating rate. It is pleasing to report the opening of the first self-storage location in an Imex site; further conversions are in progress.' Contacts: Nick Smith, Chairman Clive Drysdale, Group Finance Director Mentmore Abbey plc Tel: 0208 946 3159 Charles Ryland/Richard Oldworth Buchanan Communications Tel: 0207 466 5000
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