Disposal

R.E.A.Hldgs PLC 26 June 2001 R.E.A. Holdings plc ('REA' or the 'Company') Disposal of remaining 50% interest in Deundi Tea Company Ltd ('DTC') REA announces that it has exchanged contracts for the disposal of its remaining 50% holding in DTC for an initial consideration of £676,000 plus potential further earn out consideration referable to the audited post tax profits of DTC for each financial year up to and including that to 31 December 2007. DTC is a UK company the entire undertaking of which is represented by operations in Bangladesh comprising three tea estates. DTC was for many years a wholly owned subsidiary of REA but REA's interest in the issued share capital of DTC was reduced to 50 per cent as a result of the divestment of a half interest in DTC in March 1998. DTC was accounted for in the group accounts of REA to 31 December 2000 as an associated company. Its contribution to REA group profits before taxation for that year amounted to £(1,000) and the equity interest in DTC was included in the REA group balance sheet at 31 December 2000 at £1.1 million. The disposal has been effected by two agreements. Pursuant to the first agreement, REA has sold 25 per cent of DTC for a consideration of £676,000 and has further agreed to assign loan balances owed by DTC to REA of £424,000 for a consideration equal to the face value of those balances. The overall consideration thus due of £1,100,000 will be payable as to £600,000 within 30 days, £250,000 on 31 December 2001 and the balance of £250,000 on a basis relating to the receipt of cash transfers from Bangladesh into the UK, which transfers are subject to Bangladeshi exchange controls. Pursuant to the second agreement, REA has sold the balance of 25 per cent of DTC for a consideration ('the earn out consideration') to be determined on a formula basis and to be settled by one or more payments on account and a final settlement on 30 April 2008. The amount of the earn out consideration is to be 2.5 times the average post tax profits as reported in the audited accounts of DTC for the seven years ended 31 December 2007, of which amount 20% is to be paid to certain key personnel involved in the management of DTC as an incentive to them to continue to manage DTC to best advantage following the disposal. A payment on account of the earn out consideration will be made on each occasion (on or prior to final settlement) upon which a cash dividend is paid by DTC, such payment to be of an amount equal to 25 per cent of such dividend. Upon determination of the amount of the earn out consideration (following publication of DTC's audited accounts for 2007) any net under or overpayment of that amount will be settled by way of the final settlement on 30 April 2008. The purchaser has the right to elect for early settlement of the earn out consideration; in which event, the method of calculating the amount of the earn out consideration will be varied so as to base the calculation on the average of the post tax profits of DTC for the seven calendar years preceding the date of the election and the final settlement would become due 28 days following the date of such election. The sale proceeds received pursuant to the two transactions will be utilised to further the REA group's strategy, as most recently stated in the listing particulars issued on 10 April 2001, of basing the future of the group on the oil palm project in East Kalimantan, Indonesia, of funding that project to the maximum extent feasible by divestment of other group interests and of minimising calls by the Company for additional equity capital. Enquiries Richard Robinow 020 7419 0100 Chairman ENDS

Companies

REA Holdings (RE.)
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