Interim Results

R.E.A.Hldgs PLC 11 September 2003 •INTERIM STATEMENT• Crops for the six months to 30 June 2003 showed a useful increase over the corresponding period of the preceding year with a harvest of oil palm fresh fruit bunches of 96,500 tonnes against 86,400 tonnes. However, the extent of the increase was a little disappointing as it had been hoped at the start of the year that the increase would have been more. That it was not must be attributed to the unusually extended dry season in East Kalimantan during 2002. Current reports from the group's estates indicate that, with the 2003 dry season now ended, crops are picking up sharply. The directors are therefore optimistic that crops for the second half of 2003 will be in line with expectations. Moreover, given that the 2003 dry season has been of normal duration, the directors would not expect 2004 crops to be affected by moisture deficits in the way that crops for the first half of 2003 have obviously been. The crude palm oil ('CPO') extraction rate achieved by the group has been maintained at just under 25 per cent, a very high level by industry standards. The palm kernel extraction rate was some 4.4 per cent which, although not abnormal in industry terms is a figure that should be capable of improvement. The total CPO and palm kernel outputs for the six months to 30 June 2002 were, respectively, 24,000 tonnes and 4,300 tonnes as compared with 21,600 tonnes and 3,900 tonnes in the six months to 30 June 2001. The period saw a further firming of the Indonesian rupiah from a level, at the beginning of 2003, of about Rp 9,000 = US$1 to a level by end June 2003 of Rp 8,300 = US$1. This had the effect of increasing local costs in US dollar terms but this negative was substantially offset by production efficiencies. Accordingly, in US dollar terms, there was little overall change in costs during the six month period. With the CPO price comfortably ahead of $400 per tonne (CIF Rotterdam) throughout the six months, the result was an acceptable level of profitability for the production levels currently being achieved by the group. Work on installing a second production line in the existing oil mill is making excellent progress. Whilst some elements of the extension work (principally the installation of a second boiler) will not be wholly finished until later this year, sufficient of the work has been completed to provide the capacity needed to process the peak crops of the remaining months of 2003. In line with previously announced plans for a resumed extension planting programme, nurseries have already been established and clearing is well advanced as respects the first 3,000 has of this programme (which envisages a planting rate of 3,000 has per annum). Efforts to complete rescheduling of the indebtedness of the company's Indonesian subsidiary, PT REA Kaltim Plantations ('REA Kaltim') continue. The process is steadily moving forward and the directors are hopeful that it can be satisfactorily completed by year end. There have been no new developments in relation to the US litigation pending against the company. A memorandum of understanding has recently been signed between the group and a local Indonesian investor for the establishment of a joint venture oil palm development (to be owned 95 per cent by the group and 5 per cent by the local investor) on an area of about 6,500 hectares adjacent to the area of the REA Kaltim property that lies to the south of the Belayan river. This development will be an important addition for the group as it will ultimately permit the capacity of the existing oil mill to be fully utilised without the requirement to transfer FFB by ferry from areas of the REA Kaltim property lying to the north of the Belayan. If finance permits, it is hoped to develop the new joint venture area over a period of about four years. Such development would be in addition to the already planned 3,000 hectares per annum extension of the REA Kaltim property and would thus materially enhance the group's planned growth. Provided that CPO prices do not fall materially from current levels (and the recent performance of the CPO market encourages the hope that they will not), the directors expect that the group will make further progress during the second half of 2002. On that basis and provided that the REA Kaltim debt rescheduling discussions continue to proceed in the manner anticipated, the directors remain hopeful that the company will be able to resume payment of dividends on the preference shares on 31 December 2003 with a dividend on that date equal to the semi-annual dividend then falling due. Looking beyond the current year, the directors remain confident of their previously expressed view that palm product output from the existing planted areas will progressively grow to a level of in excess of 100,000 tonnes per annum by around 2006. Thereafter, further substantial growth can be expected as areas planted under the further extension programme already in hand and under the new joint venture now being established progressively come to maturity. R M ROBINOW Chairman 11 September 2003 •CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT• 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 June 30 June 31 December 2003 2002 2002 £000 £000 £000 Turnover - Continuing 6,169 5,246 12,831 Cost of sales (3,677) (3,923) (7,897) -------- ------- --------- Gross profit 2,492 1,323 4,934 Other operating income and expenses (1,243) (893) (2,571) -------- ------- --------- Group operating profit 1,249 430 2,363 Disposal of assets & investments - continuing - (3) (6) - discontinued - - (320) Interest receivable and similar income 63 114 88 Interest payable - group (557) (917) (669) -------- ------- --------- Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 755 (376) 1,456 Tax on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities (205) (20) (49) -------- ------- --------- Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation 550 (396) 1,407 Minority interests (including non-equity interests) (233) 30 (725) -------- ------- --------- Profit/(loss) for the period 317 (366) 682 Non-equity dividends (256) (257) (512) -------- ------- --------- Retained profit/(loss) for the period 61 (623) 170 -------- ------- --------- Earnings per ordinary share - basic 0.4p (5.0)p 1.4p - fully diluted 0.4p (4.3)p 1.3p •CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET• 30 June 30 June 31 December 2003 2002 2002 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 49,723 47,720 49,603 Investments - 507 - -------- ------- --------- 49,723 48,227 49,603 -------- ------- --------- Current assets Stocks 984 1,722 857 Debtors 3,702 2,415 4,544 Cash 7,015 4,236 5,156 -------- ------- --------- 11,701 8,373 10,557 -------- ------- --------- Creditors up to one year Borrowings (8,375) (28,405) (8,565) Creditors (4,535) (6,315) (5,200) -------- ------- --------- (12,910) (34,720) (13,765) -------- ------- --------- Net current assets (1,209) (26,347) (3,208) -------- ------- --------- Total assets less current liabilities 48,514 21,880 46,395 Creditors over one year Convertible debt (3,448) (3,528) (3,419) Borrowings (19,882) (2,113) (21,084) Creditors (185) (12) (50) -------- ------- --------- Net assets 24,999 16,227 21,842 -------- ------- --------- Capital and reserves Called up share capital 10,042 8,887 8,887 Share premium account 3,172 1,238 1,233 Capital redemption reserve 3,240 3,240 3,240 Warrants 1,218 1,218 1,218 Revaluation reserve (945) (3,734) (532) Other reserve 1,024 512 768 Profit and loss account 2,515 1,587 2,454 -------- ------- --------- Shareholders' funds* 20,266 12,948 17,268 Minority interests** 4,733 3,279 4,574 -------- ------- --------- 24,999 16,227 21,842 -------- ------- --------- * Shareholders' funds comprise equity interests of £14,561,000 (30 June 2002 £6,971,000; 31 December 2002 £11,563,000) and non-equity interests of £5,705,000 (30 June 2002 £5,705,000; 31 December 2002 £5,705,000). **Minority interests comprise equity interest of £2,130,000 (30 June 2002 £563,000; 31 December 2002 £2,010,000) and non-equity interest of £2,603,000 (30 June 2002 £2,716,000; 31 December 2002 £2,564,000). •CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS• 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 June 30 June 31 December 2003 2002 2002 £000 £000 £000 Group operating profit 1,249 430 2,363 Depreciation and amortisation 1,057 1,255 1,616 (Increase)/decrease in stocks (80) (418) 350 Decrease/(increase) in debtors 986 458 (1,513) (Decrease) in creditors (700) (83) (1,216) Exchange gain/(loss) 17 (845) (565) ------- ------- --------- Net cash inflow from operating activities 2,529 797 1,035 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 63 114 88 Interest paid (557) (917) (669) Taxation (36) (51) (101) Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (2,282) (1,049) (2,154) Sale of tangible fixed assets - 14 60 Acquisitions and disposals Further costs of acquisition of shares in subsidiaries (75) (177) (560) ------- ------- --------- Cash (outflow) before management of liquid resources and financing (358) (1,269) (2,301) Management of liquid resources (758) 418 (3,315) Financing Issue of ordinary shares and expenses 3,094 - - Issue of convertible loan stock and expenses - 3,528 3,419 Other (794) (3,522) 2,659 ------- ------- --------- (Decrease)/increase in cash 1,184 (845) 462 ------- ------- --------- Reconciliation of movement in net cash/(debt) Increase/(decrease) in cash in period 1,184 (845) 462 Cash flow from debt and leases 794 (279) (6,078) Cash flow from management of liquid resources 758 (418) 3,315 ------- ------- --------- 2,736 (1,542) (2,301) New debt and leases, net (128) (148) 727 Exchange 614 1,668 2,929 Net (debt) at beginning of period (27,912) (29,267) (29,267) ------- ------- --------- Net (debt) at end of period (24,690) (29,289) (27,912) ------- ------- --------- •NOTES TO THE INTERIM STATEMENT• 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 June 30 June 31 December 2003 2002 2002 £000 £000 £000 Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation (by business class) Agriculture 990 (101) 2,162 Unallocated (235) (275) (380) Disposal of assets and investments - - (326) ------- ------- --------- 755 (376) 1,456 ------- ------- --------- Tax on profit/(loss) on ordinary activities UK Corporation tax - - - Foreign taxation (25) (45) (59) Adjustments in respect as prior periods - 25 10 Deferred foreign taxation on origination and reversal of timing differences (180) - - ------- ------- --------- (205) (20) (49) ------- ------- --------- Reconciliation of shareholders' funds Profit/(loss) for financial period 317 (366) 682 Goodwill previously written off - - 50 Dividends - - - Issue of shares 3,094 135 130 Revaluations and foreign exchange translation (413) (1,418) 1,809 ------- ------- --------- 2,998 (1,649) 2,671 Shareholders' funds at beginning of period 17,268 14,597 14,597 ------- ------- --------- Shareholders' funds at end of period 20,266 12,948 17,268 ------- ------- --------- Notes: The interim financial information has not been audited and does not constitute statutory accounts for the purpose of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985, but has been prepared on the basis of the basis of the accounting policies set out in the annual accounts as at 31 December 2002 and the balance sheet as at 30 June 2002 has been restated to accord with those policies. The figures for the year ended 31 December 2002 are abridged and have been extracted from the statutory accounts filed with the Registrar of Companies on which the auditors issued an unqualified report. Registered office Third Floor 40-42 Osnaburgh Street London NW1 3ND This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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