Disposal

Andrews Sykes Group PLC 6 June 2002 For immediate release 6 June 2002 Andrews Sykes Group plc Disposal of the Cox Plant Hire Business as a going concern Andrews Sykes Group plc ('Andrews Sykes Group') announces that it has today completed the disposal of the trade and net current assets of its loss making, general plant hire business ('Cox Plant Hire') on a going concern basis to Paddico (235) Limited. The freehold properties used by Cox Plant Hire (the ' Freehold Properties') have been simultaneously sold to Miles Leslie Properties. The total disposal proceeds, which are approximately equal to the net book value of the assets being sold as at 29 December 2001, are £9,316,000. These are receivable as follows: • An immediate payment of £7,428,000; • A deferred payment receivable on 31 May 2004 of £1,838,000; and • A deferred payment of £50,000, conditional upon the grant within seven months of a legal right of way across third party land for the benefit of one of the Freehold Properties. In the last financial year Cox Plant Hire made a loss before tax of £1,376,000 before internal interest charges. This loss is stated after charging external loan interest of £1,244,000 which was incurred on loans taken out to finance the acquisition in June 1998 of both the Cox Plant Hire assets and the Accommodation Hire Limited ('Cox Accommodation') assets (together the 'Acquisition Loans'). Cox Accommodation is being retained by the Andrews Sykes Group and is core to the continuing business. The sale proceeds will be used to repay part of the outstanding Acquisition Loans of £12,350,000 with the balance being refinanced on the assets of Cox Accommodation. The loans in relation to the balance will only be secured on the assets of Cox Accommodation and will continue to be ring fenced from the remaining assets of the Andrews Sykes Group. For further information contact: J-C Pillois Director 0207 409 0258 K Ford Group Financial Controller 01902 328700 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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