Final Results
Medsea Estates Group PLC
21 March 2005
For immediate release: 21 March 2005
MEDSEA ESTATES GROUP PLC
PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR TO
31ST DECEMBER 2004
HIGHLIGHTS
• Successful AIM float
• Turnover for the year increased by 80% to £14.08m (2003: £7.84m)
• Pre-tax profits increased by 98% to £2.24m (2003: £1.13m)
• Earnings per share of 2.01p
• Euromed Investments established to broaden activities and establish
exclusive deals with developers
• Euromed's first development, Nuevo Torre Guil, launched this month
Tony Gatehouse, Chairman, commented:
'Last year confirmed that the Medsea Group is a major force in the Spanish
property market. We have set ourselves another ambitious programme for 2005 but,
as always, we believe it to be achievable and the Board looks forward to
developing further in the coming years.'
For further information contact:
Medsea Estates Group PLC
Tony Gatehouse, Chairman Today: 0207 067 0700
Juan Carlos Rodriguez Martinez, Chief
Executive Thereafter: 0034 96 570 40 02
Beaumont Cornish Limited
Roland Cornish 0207 628 3396
Weber Shandwick Square Mile
Terry Garrett/ Alex White 0207 067 0700
CHAIRMAN'S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER 2004
The year 2004 confirmed that Medsea Estates Group PLC is a major force in the
Spanish property market. We set ourselves a very ambitious programme and, as has
always been the style of the Directors throughout the growth of Medsea, this
programme has been achieved.
My congratulations to Juan Carlos Rodriguez Martinez, our Chief Executive
Officer, whose safe hands and unlimited energy steered Medsea and its staff to
the best financial results to date.
Looking forward to 2005, we intend to use our experience and expertise to
continue our winning formula, always keeping it simple and doing the basics
extremely well.
RESULTS
For the year ended 31 December 2004, we achieved a profit on ordinary activities
before taxation of £2,242,000 (2003: £1,129,000) on turnover of £14,082,000
(2003: £7,843,000). Earnings per share amounted to 2.01p.
These results were in line with our expectations, with the exception that
Euromed, which only finalised its first acquisition 13 December 2004, did not
make a contribution to the year.
Overall, whilst the number of units was down on initial expectations because a
number of new competitor countries entered the market after September, the
average contribution was ahead, with the focus on increasing income and business
efficiency. This is a pattern which we see continuing in the current year.
LOCATIONS
Our Costa Blanca North office is in the process of extending our coverage all
the way up to Valencia and the Orange Blossom Coast. In recent times, the
Valencia area has been well publicised by UK television programmes like Homes in
the Sun, and this is sure to create further demand from the public.
New locations under serious consideration are Portugal and the Costa de la Luz.
Portugal has been marketed successfully over many years and as the property laws
are very similar to Spain it is safe for overseas buyers. The Costa de la Luz is
just over the bridge which closely links the Portuguese Algarve to Spain and has
also received good publicity from several UK television programmes. We believe,
together with existing locations, this will give a level of coverage in Spain
that is unequalled by our main competitors. That will give Medsea the edge in
attracting top UK and Irish agents.
We have examined the potential to expand into other countries and while we have
not ruled out the possibility of broader diversification in the medium term, we
feel we should exercise caution as, in a number of other countries, there seems
to be some difficulty in establishing clear title deeds to land.
AGENTS
Towards the end of 2004, we signed up a number of new agents to Medsea. We are
starting to see clients coming through from these and will continue to monitor
the overall performance of our agency base, since we are looking for quality not
quantity. We intend to introduce a scale of commission, depending on
performance, that will free up extra funds to pay performance bonuses to our top
producers.
EUROMED INVESTMENTS
Euromed Investments has been established to broaden the scope of our activities.
Until now, the Group has entered into commission arrangements with developers
and promoters to pre-sell properties under construction. We believe that we have
now achieved a sufficiently strong reputation and are of a size where we may be
able to obtain exclusivity from some developers for the sale of properties in
prime residential development locations, thereby acting in a promoter-type role
ourselves. The developer gains by having all sales dealt with through a single,
reputable agent. Euromed may in turn use other Group companies to sell these
properties, and it is likely that sales will also arise through other local
agents.
This month sees the launch of Euromed's first product, the Frondosa Valley
development in Nuevo Torre Guil, Murcia. Promilorci, S.L. a company in which
Medsea Estates Group holds a 13 per cent interest, has bought development rights
to 90 acres of land in Murcia, at a cost of €20 million (approximately £13.4
million). Promilorci intends to develop up to 786 residential properties on the
site.
Known as the Nuevo Torre Guil development it is within a large forested area
just six miles from the city of Murcia, one of the most important Spanish
destinations for national and international tourism. Medsea will supervise
everything related to the sales and marketing of the properties and Euromed,
acting as principal agent, will begin marketing the development in the UK and
Ireland through its links with some 150 independent property agents.
From the feedback we are getting, it is likely to be a 'cracking success'.
We have located a prestigious location and offices for Euromed that should be up
and running from the end of March.
We anticipate investment funds being made available to extend our range of
exclusive marketing contracts from the present three. One idea to satisfy the
SIPPS and SAPS market is to encourage the building of aparthotels in the right
locations, that will make the possibility of letting a reality.
PERSONNEL
We are actively strengthening personnel across the board. This will free up the
sales resources and ensure we are ready for the expected increase in clients,
without losing any efficiency.
Another priority is the need for a top professional marketing and publicity
person, who will get our particular messages across to both existing agents and
potential new agents, also to clients coming direct to our Property Shops, our
Finance Department and Euromed's new exclusive products. We are convinced the
right person will accelerate our expansion programme.
ISO 2001
Last year saw another landmark in Medsea's development. The Group undertook
preparation for ISO Certification. Its acquisition will re-inforce Medsea's
meticulous attention to processes and details.
POTENTIAL ACQUISITION
The Medsea Group is also actively looking to acquire a letting company in 2005,
which we feel will further enhance the business. This will have a dual benefit
as many potential buyers are choosing to bypass agents when looking to buy in
Spain and are also keen to know the letting potential before purchase. Also,
many use rental companies to find a property to stay in whilst looking around
for a property to purchase.
PROSPECTS
As set out above, we have set ourselves another ambitious programme for 2005,
but as always we believe it to be achievable and the Board looks forward to
developing further in the coming years.
Tony Gatehouse
21 March 2005
GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2004
Unaudited
Total Total
Notes 2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Turnover 14,082 7,843
Cost of sales (10,020) (5,666)
Gross profit 4,062 2,177
Administrative expenses (1,595) (1,030)
Operating Profit 3 2,467 1,147
Exceptional item 4 (219) -
Interest receivable and similar income 8 1
Interest payable and similar charges (14) (19)
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 2,242 1,129
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 5 (822) (397)
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 1,420 732
Minority interests (2) -
Retained profit for the year 1,418 732
Earnings per share
Basic 2.01p 1.04p
Continuing operations
During 2004 Medsea Estates Almeria SL was acquired. None of the group's
activities was discontinued during the above two financial years.
GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2004
Unaudited
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Statement of total recognised gains and losses
Profit for the financial year 1,418 732
Foreign exchange gain/(loss) 64 12
Unrealised surplus on revaluation of investment properties 29 126
Total recognised gains relating to the year 1,511 870
GROUP BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2004
Unaudited
2004 2003
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Intangible assets 4 3
Tangible assets 1,174 1,017
Investments 92 -
1,270 1,020
Current assets
Stock 129 -
Debtors 7,500 3,017
Cash at bank and in hand 1,229 1,013
8,858 4,030
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year (4,772) (1,800)
Net current assets 4,086 2,230
Total assets less current liabilities 5,356 3,250
Creditors: amounts falling due after
more than one year (253) (298)
Provisions for liabilities and charges (1,042) (410)
4,061 2,542
Capital and reserves
Share capital 7,063 3
Share premium 22 -
Other reserve 173 120
Revaluation reserve 98 126
Merger reserve (7,058) -
Profit and loss account 3,761 2,293
Minority interests 2 -
Shareholders' funds equity 4,061 2,542
GROUP CASHFLOW STATEMENT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2004
Unaudited
2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from
operating activities
Operating profit 2,467 1,147
Exceptional items (219) -
Depreciation 88 42
Foreign exchange 75 -
Amortisation of intangible fixed assets (64) -
(Profit)/loss on sale of fixed assets (75) (34)
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (3,102) (707)
Increase in stock (129) -
Increase in creditors 1,295 721
Net cash inflow from operating activities 336 1,169
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Net cash inflow from operating activities 336 1,169
Returns on investments and servicing of finance (6) (18)
Tax paid (440) (242)
Capital expenditure and financial investment (81) 34
Acquisitions and disposals 277 -
Management of liquid resources (92) -
Net cash flow before financing (6) 943
Financing 222 (133)
Increase in cash 216 810
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movements in net debt
Increase in cash 216 810
Cash inflow from increase in debt (138) 65
78 875
Net debt at 1 January 2004 589 (286)
Net debt at 31 December 2004 667 589
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENT
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2004
1. Basis of preparation
The preliminary statement is not the company's statutory accounts. The auditors
have not yet reported on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2004 and
those accounts have yet not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
2. Basis of consolidation
The group accounts consolidate the accounts of Medsea Estates Group PLC and all
its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 31 December each year. Medsea Estates
Group PLC acquired shares in Medsea UK Limited and all its subsidiaries on 16
July 2004. The accounts have been prepared using merger accounting so that all
the combining entities results are shown from 1 January 2004 and included in the
comparatives.
Medsea Estates Almeria SL was held outside of the legal group until 3 March 2004
but was under common management and control up to that date. The accounts for
the year ended 31 December 2003 set out in the Accountants' Report for the AIM
admission, aggregate the profits, losses, assets and liabilities of Medsea
Estates Almeria SL with those of the legal Group headed by Medsea Group SL.
3. Operating Profit
Unaudited
The operating profit is arrived at after charging: 2004 2003
£'000 £'000
Depreciation of owned assets 86 46
Depreciation of leased assets 2 7
Profit on disposal of fixed assets (75) (34)
Hire of equipment - operating leases - motor vehicles 509 551
Hire of equipment - operating leases - land and buildings 32 19
Auditors' remuneration 18 10
4. Exceptional items
These costs are the professional fees and other costs arising from the Group's
admission to the Alternative Investment Market.
5. Taxation
Unaudited
2004 2003
Analysis of charge in the year £'000 £'000
Current tax:
Spanish corporation tax on profits of the year 413 179
UK corporation tax on profits of the year 67 -
Deferred tax 342 218
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Tax on profit on ordinary activities 822 397
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