Final Results - Year Ended 31 December 1999
Pathfinder Properties PLC
29 March 2000
Pathfinder Properties PLC
Preliminary Announcement of Results for the year ended 31 December 1999
Highlights
Pre-tax profit increases to £2,729,000 (1998: up 74%
£1,174,000)
Earnings per share up to 2.77p (1998: 1.65p) up 26%
Final dividend of 0.375p per share making 0.5p in up 23%
total (1998: 0.306p)
Net assets increase to £14.30m (1998: £11.72m) up 22%
Wimbledon and Bedford Row developments in London
completed and sold
40 out of 57 remaining investment properties sold
generating profits of £1,444,000 before tax
Church Street, Manchester, development nearing
completion with 60 apartments out of 78 now sold
or under offer
Interest acquired in new Manchester developments
Design and planning proceeding at 'The Merchant
Village' development in Glasgow which has been
joint ventured with other Pathfinder companies
Results are for the year to 31 December 1999. Comparative figures are for
the nine months ended 31 December 1998. Comparative figures have been
amended for the purposes of calculating percentage increases.
PATHFINDER PROPERTIES PLC
Chairman's Statement
The year under review
The third and final phase of our development in Wimbledon, London SW19, was
completed during the year. The remaining 44 apartments were sold in the
period together with the long leasehold interest in the bar/restaurant unit.
The sales in this development amounted to £8,341,000 and contributed a
further £1,449,200 to gross profits during the year.
The Group has also sold its commercial development at Bedford Row, London
WC1, for £2,625,000 and half of its ten acre land site in Perth, Scotland,
for £250,000 at a profit.
Overall development turnover amounted to £11,356,000 compared with
£10,228,000 for the nine months ended 31 December 1998 whilst development
profits were £1,802,000 compared with £1,483,000 for the previous nine
months.
Construction is nearing completion of the Group's joint venture at Church
Street, Manchester. Since the year end, 60 of the 78 apartments have been
sold or are under offer and a lease signed with a health club operator for
occupation of the ground and lower ground floors. In accordance with Group
accounting policies, no turnover or profit has been recorded in the financial
statements for the year in respect of this development.
The Group continues to dispose of the residential investment portfolio taken
over in 1998 as a result of the acquisition of Pathfinder Repossessions II
Limited. The market for this property has been strong during the second
half of the year and 40 out of the 57 units held at the start of the year
have been sold. Profits from these sales amounted to £1,444,000 compared to
£35,000 for the previous period. A further 17 units remained to be sold at
the year end.
The Group has acquired interests in developments being undertaken jointly
with other Pathfinder companies and has joint ventured its Merchant Village
development in central Glasgow with those companies. The Group has an
interest in a number of Manchester and Glasgow based developments which, when
developed, will provide new luxury residential, leisure and retail
accommodation. During the year the Group also acquired an interest in a
further property, Pall Mall House, in Manchester's Northern Quarter.
Financial review
Operating profits for the year were £1,333,000 (1998 9 months -- £1,251,000).
After taking into account income from investment property sales and net
interest payable, profits before taxation amounted to £2,729,000 compared
with £1,174,000 for the previous period. Earnings per share have
accordingly risen to 2.77p per share compared with 1.65p per share for the
prior period.
The Board is proposing that a final dividend of 0.375p per share is paid to
shareholders on the register at 14 April 2000, which, taken in conjunction
with the interim dividend of 0.125p per share paid in October 1999, will make
a full dividend for the year of 0.5p per share. After dividends, the Group
will retain profits of £1,594,000 to fund future developments.
Sales have generated a significant cash surplus during the period which has
enabled the Group to repay the loans outstanding on the Wimbledon development
and reduce borrowings secured on the investment properties. Accordingly
borrowings have reduced from £6,646,000 to £1,400,000 whilst cash balances
have risen from £1,692,000 to £3,563,000.
£7,600,000 has been invested in the joint ventures described above which now
account for the majority of the Group's development operations. Further
investments are intended over the next few months.
Profits for the year, together with a revaluation surplus of £985,000 arising
on the remaining investment property portfolio at 31 December 1999, have
resulted in an increase in net assets to 20.32p per share from 16.66p per
share at 31 December 1998.
Dividends
As stated above, it is proposed, subject to the approval of shareholders, to
pay a final dividend of 0.375p per share on 17 May 2000 to shareholders on
the register at 14 April 2000.
Current trading and outlook
Sales at Church Street, Manchester, and from the investment portfolio
continue well. However, as stated in the interim results for 30 June 1999,
the development cycle for larger schemes, such as the Merchant Village, is
longer than for most projects and the benefits from these are likely to be
realised over a number of years. Your Board is confident that its policy of
focussing on larger schemes outside London, in conjunction with joint venture
funding and development partners, should achieve good results for
shareholders over the medium term.
Sir Christopher Leaver
Chairman
28 March 2000
PATHFINDER PROPERTIES PLC
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
for the year ended 31 December 1999
Notes Year to 9 months to
31 December 31 December
1999 1998
£'000 £'000
TURNOVER
Group and share of joint ventures 11,544 10,400
less share of joint ventures - -
Group Turnover 3 11,544 10,400
Ongoing operations 11,544 10,258
Acquired in period - 142
Cost of sales (9,920) (8,843)
Gross profit 1,624 1,557
Administrative expenses (444) (306)
1,180 1,251
Other operating income 153 -
Share of profits in joint ventures - -
OPERATING PROFIT 3 1,333 1,251
Ongoing operations 1,333 1,209
Acquired in period - 42
Profit on sale of investment properties 1,444 35
2,777 1,286
Interest receivable 236 44
Interest payable (284) (156)
PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
BEFORE TAXATION 2,729 1,174
Taxation Group (783) (282)
PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
AFTER TAXATION 1,946 892
Minority interests - (2)
PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES
ATTRIBUTABLE TO MEMBERS 1,946 890
Ordinary Dividends 4 (352) (215)
Retained profit for the period 5 1,594 675
Earnings per share 2.77p 1.65p
The operating profit arises from the Group's continuing operations.
A statement of total recognised gains and losses for the year is given in
note 7.
PATHFINDER PROPERTIES PLC
BALANCE SHEET
31 December 1999
Notes 31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£'000 £'000
FIXED ASSETS
Investment properties 3,094 6,932
Investment in joint ventures
Share of gross assets 10,567 1,153
Share of gross liabilities (2,836) (1,022)
7,731 131
10,825 7,063
CURRENT ASSETS
Work-in-progress 2,779 2,263
Debtors 1,145 9,647
Cash at bank 3,563 1,692
7,487 13,602
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due
within one year (2,237) (7,089)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 5,250 6,513
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT
LIABILITIES 16,075 13,576
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due
after more than one year
Bank and other loans (1,400) (1,600)
PROVISIONS: Deferred taxation (380) (260)
Net assets 14,295 11,716
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called up share capital 7,034 7,034
Share premium account 1,617 1,617
Capital reserve 2,494 2,494
Revaluation reserve 985 -
Profit and loss account 5 2,165 571
Shareholders' funds 6 14,295 11,716
Net assets per share 20.32p 16.66p
PATHFINDER PROPERTIES PLC
CASHFLOW STATEMENT
for year ended 31 December 1999
Notes Year to 9 months to
31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£'000 £'000
NET CASH INFLOW
FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 8 9,869 2,188
RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND SERVICING
OF FINANCE
Interest received 210 40
Interest paid (421) (460)
Net cash outflow from returns on investments and
servicing of finance (211) (420)
TAXATION
Corporation tax paid (673) (275)
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND FINANCIAL
INVESTMENT
Receipts from sales of investment properties 6,285 1,330
Purchase of investment properties (250) (515)
Net cash inflow from capital expenditure
and financial investment 6,035 815
ACQUISITIONS AND DISPOSALS
Investments in joint ventures (7,600) (131)
Purchase of subsidiary undertaking - (2,752)
Net cash acquired with subsidiary undertaking - 1,155
(7,600) (1,728)
EQUITY DIVIDENDS PAID (303) -
FINANCING
Issue of ordinary shares - 777
Debt due within a year:
Bank loan drawn down 254 5,802
Bank loans repaid (5,300) (6,025)
Debt due in more than one year:
Loan drawn down 2,750 300
Loans repaid (2,950) (600)
(5,246) 254
INCREASE IN CASH 1,871 834
PATHFINDER PROPERTIES PLC
NOTES
1 BASIS
The figures shown for the year to 31 December 1999 are unaudited and do not
constitute statutory financial statements within the meaning of the Companies
Act 1985. The financial statements for the nine months ended 31 December
1998 have been reported on by the Company's auditors and delivered to the
Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and did
not contain a statement under s.237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985.
2 ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those applied in previous
periods.
3 SEGMENTAL ANALYSIS
Year to 9months to
31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£'000 £'000
Turnover:
Development 11,356 10,228
Investment 188 172
11,544 10,400
Operating profit
Development 1,802 1,483
Investment (96) 50
1,706 1,533
Common costs (373) (282)
1,333 1,251
4 DIVIDENDS ON ORDINARY SHARES
Year to 9 months to
31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£'000 £'000
Interim dividend - 0.125p per share 88 -
Final dividend - 0.375p per share 264 215
352 215
5 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
Year to 9 months to
31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£'000 £'000
Brought forward 571 (104)
Profit in period 1,594 675
Carried forward at end of period 2,165 571
6 SHAREHOLDERS FUNDS
Year to 9 months to
31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£'000 £'000
Brought forward 11,716 6,071
Shares issued in year/period - 3,425
Capital reserve arising on consolidation - 1,545
Profit in year/period 1,594 675
Increase in revaluation reserve, net
of deferred tax 985 -
Carried forward at end of period 14,295 11,716
7 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
Year to 9 months to
31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£ £
Profit for the financial year/period
attributable to members 1,946 890
Surplus on revaluation of investment properties 985 -
Total recognised gains and losses relating to the
year/period 2,931 890
8 RECONCILATION OF OPERATING PROFIT TO OPERATING CASH FLOWS
Year to 9 months to
31 December 1999 31 December 1998
£ £
Operating profit 1,333 1,251
Depreciation 73 27
(Increase)/decrease in work-in-progress (447) 397
Decrease/(increase) in debtors 8,981 (267)
(Decrease)/increase in creditors (71) 780
9,869 2,188
A copy of this statement is being sent to all shareholders and further copies
may be obtained from the company by writing to Pathfinder Properties PLC,
Capital House, Michael Road, London SW6 2YH.
For further information, contact:
Andrew de Candole, Managing Director Tel: (020) 7736 9669
Issued by:
Richard Robinson, Marshall Robinson Roe Tel: (020) 7489 2033