Interim Results
Panther Securities PLC
25 September 2007
Panther Securities PLC
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2007
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
INTRODUCTION
I am delighted to be able to report record figures for the six months to 30th
June 2007 pre-tax profits amount to £5,543,000 compared to £1,692,000 for the
same period last year.
Despite our recent property sales over recent years, rents receivable during the
period have held up well at £3,785,000 compared to £3,724,000 for the equivalent
period last year.
FINANCE
In our full year accounts to December 2006, I reported in detail upon our loan
facility rearrangement, the financial benefits of which started to be seen this
year. We are, however, not only saving money on our borrowing costs, but under
the International Financial Reporting Standards, the financial value of our swap
instruments is taken into account in our income statement and is included even
if not yet realised.
On 30th June 2007, our financial swap was worth approximately £2,500,000. Our
borrowing costs on £50 million have been fixed but currently we are borrowing
£35 million, so increases in short-term interest rates have the effect of
lowering our net borrowing costs!!
The valuation of the derivatives is calculated using future market interest
rates which currently are very volatile. Therefore, the valuation of this asset
changes daily and was valued at £1,569,000 on 24th September 2007.
During this accounting period we repaid our remaining building society loans
totalling £2.1 million.
DISPOSALS
In February 2007, we sold at auction the following properties: 191-199 Rushey
Green, Catford, London; Hainton House, Hainton Square, Grimsby; 74 Kilmarnock
Road, Glasgow; 63/65 High Street, Dumbarton; Units 1 and 2, 4 High Street,
Paisley. We also sold 107/109 George Street, Oban, in May 2007.
These properties, which were producing £277,000 per annum, were sold for
approximately £5,400,000; the profit on disposal was approximately £1,150,000.
We have sold our entire ordinary shareholding in Real Estate Investors PLC for
£740,000, realising a profit of £92,000. We still retain a convertible loan
note in this company for £325,000, repayable in 2 years time or convertible into
ordinary shares.
ACQUISITIONS
In February 2007, we purchased freehold factories at Boraston Lane, Burford,
Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire; Picts Lane, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire
and Valley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, occupied by recently acquired subsidiary
companies of Elektron PLC. We paid £4,600,000 (including stamp duty) and
simultaneously entered into leaseback arrangements so that a total annual rental
of £343,500 was immediately receivable. These three factories have a total net
lettable area of 120,000 square feet on seven acres of land. 14,000 square feet
are vacant, with the potential for an additional rental income of £50,000 per
annum.
PROGRESS REPORT
21/27 Guildhall Street, Folkestone
Our development of residential units above our shops in Folkestone was increased
to 20 units and is progressing well, which means only slightly behind schedule.
We expect to be able to offer them for sale in the very near future.
177-195 High Street, Scunthorpe
We recently let approximately half of our property in Scunthorpe, on a 25 year
lease to Barracuda Pubs & Bars Limited at a commencing rental of £68,000 per
annum, rising to £72,500 over five years, and when the remaining parts of this
property are let, its current value should increase considerably.
Pyewipe Industrial Estate, Grimsby
After the tenant of this 26,000 square foot single storey factory failed, we
decided to divide the building into smaller, individual industrial units, of
1,250 to 2,500 square feet. There is a strong demand for small units, which in
turn attract higher rents per square foot when let.
Rather surprisingly, this needed planning permission, which we received after
nearly a year of dealing with the local authority. Our works on the development
will begin soon, and when finished and fully let, should produce over £100,000
per annum income.
You will recall in my last report I briefly mentioned the new property stealth
tax of abolishing rates relief for vacant properties. To me, it seems
disgraceful that local authorities force the property owner to obtain planning
permission for simple non-controversial matters, take an inordinately long time
to make a decision and, at the same time, charge rates whilst you are waiting on
them. Disgraceful!
199-205 High Street, Perth
We are currently carrying out a rear ground floor extension and major
refurbishment of the property, which has been vacant for some time. We had
previously only intended to carry out building works when we had pre-let the
property, but prospective tenants have proved too demanding or kept changing
their minds, so we decided to build speculatively. I am sure it will prove
profitable.
Brackla Shopping Centre, Bridgend
This is a small out of town shopping centre which was acquired within the
Northstar Group some years ago. It has always been fully let and has provided
good rental growth. We have secured planning permission for five extra shop
units, which we are hoping to start building soon. We are already receiving
enquiries for these units from some major retailers.
ELEKTRON PLC
Our shareholders will be aware we are significant shareholders in this company,
where we are optimistic that they will continue to prosper and that its
expansion policy will enable us to occasionally acquire factory investments
off-market to our mutual benefit.
GENERAL OVERHEADS
My salary waiver has reduced overheads by over £250,000 in the period under
review, compared to last year.
TAX CHARGES
Our provision for tax payments appears low and this is because from April 2008,
large company tax rates change from 30% to 28% and this reduced rate of future
tax payable has been shown in the deferred tax creditors and brought into the
current tax payable calculations.
DIVIDENDS
An interim dividend of 6p per share will be paid on 28th September 2007, and it
is anticipated a final dividend of not less than 6p per share will be
recommended to shareholders for approval at the next AGM and paid thereafter.
POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS
In August 2007, we purchased two freehold factories at Woodland Road and
Woodland Close, Torquay, Devon, which comprises approximately 68,000 square feet
on 3.5 acres, subject to a leaseback to Sifam Limited at £215,000 per annum
exclusive following a one year rent free period. Our total cost, including
stamp duty, was £2,430,000. Sifam Limited had immediately previous to this
transaction been purchased by Elektron PLC.
In August, we also purchased three further freeholds, a shop investment at 86-88
High Street, Margate for £525,000, a 10,000 square foot factory investment in
Harwood Road, Littlehampton for £550,000 and a former Lloyds Bank at 216/218
Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate, for £300,000. This was a vacant property
and, after minor works, will be offered for letting.
From our recent acquisition experiences it appears to us that vendors have been
taking a more realistic view of asset values, and this was even before the
recent financial shake-out in the financial markets, which I have no doubt will
affect many highly geared investors.
Our policy of selling a portion of our portfolio over the last two or three
years into a buoyant market has meant we are well placed to take advantage of
any exciting opportunities that may come our way by virtue of our low borrowing,
unutilised facilities and cash funds.
THE FOURTH HORSEMEN OF THE FINANCIAL APOCALYPSE HAS ARRIVED
My previous Chairman's supplement was announced on 30th April 2007, having been
prepared months earlier. I know many of you have read my 'Four Horsemen of the
Financial Apocalypse', but even I am surprised how quickly my warnings have come
into effect.
You will remember that in my last statement I suggested that when the factors of
excessive debt, both personal and company, combined with the separation of
management and ownership of wealth, massive deceit and the flightiness of money,
all of which are currently present, a financial disaster of incalculable
proportions could take place if some type of major problem creates panic or a
loss of confidence occurs. I suggested that the place in which this might
happen would be in hedge funds or some similar but poorly understood area which
involves institutional gambling. As we all know, it is happening now! The
American sub prime mortgage meltdown seems to have infected the world's banking
communities. While it is easy to understand American banks and their funds
getting into trouble, the problems have had far reaching repercussions in German,
Chinese, British and French banks. Many insurance companies and pension funds
have surreptitiously invested in these toxic funds. The Federal Reserve,
European Central Bank and Bank of England have all stepped in to steady the
financial markets. This, of course, is the only way to prevent the Armageddon
that I predicted.
Tax funded government bank intervention slows the pace of the monumental losses
that are inherent in the banking system and allow the losses to be spread over
time. This 'sub prime' financial toxic waste will probably run for a year or
two and regularly throw up new 'surprises'.
We read in the press about worries that City bonuses may be reduced by 10%-15% -
what an outrage! Surely they should forfeit their bonuses and repay some of
last year's Bonus to all the shareholders and fund holders who have lost money
from excessively high risk strategies which were carried out to increase their
own incomes. Would they have been quite so reckless had it been their own money
with which they were gambling.
After the Wall Street Crash of October 1929, Professor J K Galbraith who lived
through the experience said after such huge financial losses 'people will look
for and find the bezzle'. This, of course, is an 'Americanism' meaning the
middle part of 'embezzlement'. I suspect, in due course, we will see many
'class actions' against high profile banks and bonus-fuelled traders who will be
found to have been working in their own interests rather than that of their
customers, some of whom inevitably won't survive the experience.
Of course, I have some stories from my past which, I feel, have some relevance.
This time they start when I was very young.
It was my parent's way that even at a pre-teen age, if I wanted pocket money, I
should earn it by carrying out some home tasks.
One day, my father promised to give me five shillings for cleaning his car. I
set about this task with a vengeance, doing a very thorough job. The paintwork,
windows and wheels gleamed brightly, and I was justifiably proud of the result.
I fetched my father to show him my handiwork and claim my reward. He inspected
the car and said 'Well done, it's very good'. He started fishing round in his
pockets and found he did not have any money, except a shilling coin. 'Here you
are, that's all I can find'. I blew my top, threw the coin back at him,
shouting rudely. He grabbed hold of me and gave me (nowadays so politically
incorrect) a bloody good hiding. By the evening at dinner time, tears and
tantrums had subsided and nearly been forgotten about. My father explained that
he did not wallop me for calling him a 'bloody stingy mean old sod', but for
throwing the shilling and showing such disrespect for money. He told me money
in big or small amounts is very important and should always be treated with care
and respect.
I now fast-forward about twenty years, when one Saturday morning, having just
been to a furniture auction viewing at Phillips in a leafy backwater of
Bayswater. I was strolling casually back to my car, when I noticed a very smart
city gent walking towards me. He was a tall, slim, middle aged man and wearing
a dark pin-stripe suit and black bowler hat and also carrying a rolled up
umbrella, even though it was, and did not appear that there was any likelihood
of rain. I was struck by his smartness, because I was well aware of my own
sartorial elegance which, at the best of times, is only noticeable by its
absence.
As he was nearing me, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to dab his brow,
and I heard a tinkling noise which I instantly knew was a silver coin. I looked
down and saw that he had dropped a shilling in the gutter. I said, 'Excuse me,
sir, but you've dropped a shilling' and pointed to the coin. He replied
condescendingly in a very posh voice 'Oh, that's very kind of you to point that
out, but I won't bother with it'.
I then said, 'Well, if you don't want it, I'll have it' and bent down and picked
it out of the gutter.
He was about to turn away when I unlocked my much loved black Rolls Royce. He
looked surprised, and laughed uproariously, then smiling, said to me: 'You know,
there must be a moral here somewhere'. AND OF COURSE, HE WAS CORRECT.
Some couple of years later, when the property market was in deep depression, I
received an early phone call from one of my agent friends.
'Hello Andrew, I don't know if I've got good news or bad news for you.'
'Fire away' I said.
'That's just it, that property I bought you last year, the five shops in Upton
Lane. Well, I pass it every morning and I have just passed it and it had flames
up to the sky with five fire engines outside fighting the huge fire. It looks
terrible, so I don't know if that's good news or bad news for you', he told me.
'If no-one's hurt and it's a complete write-off, it's probably good news, but if
only a partial claim, it will be a pain in the neck to deal with.'
By the afternoon, a District Surveyor had called us and arranged to meet at what
was left of the property at 9am the next morning, which we did. The whole of
the internal structure of the property had been gutted, but all main outside and
dividing brick main walls still stood. The council surveyor, after five minutes
external viewing, decided the property was unsafe and would arrange for a
demolition order to be served.
We asked him if he could recommend some council approved demolition contractors
who would be suitable for the job. He recommended three contractors, each of
whom we asked for quotes. Within days, we received the quotes, and as far as I
can remember, they were about £36,000, £37,500 and slightly over £40,000.
Although we were fully covered and the insurance company would have picked up
the entire bill, it appeared to me that it was surprisingly high. We asked one
of the contractors why the quotes were so unexpectedly high and he explained
that it 'was an emergency rushed job'. Not altogether satisfied with his
explanation, and having obviously inherited the 'mean old sod' gene, I phoned a
couple of other demolition contractors that we found in Yellow Pages, and within
a few hours one of them had inspected the site and phoned back quoting £10,500.
As I thought he had made a mistake, I asked him to put the quote in writing,
which was subsequently delivered by hand. Obviously we accepted, and the work
was carried out satisfactorily within a week.
After our chosen contractor had been paid, I asked him why he was so much
cheaper than three other companies and, upon being told who they were, he
informed me that one of the contractors was the brother-in-law of the district
surveyor, and the other two were friends of the first contractor. It was common
knowledge in the trade that they often organised similar quotes and when the
lowest one got the contract, they shared the excess profit.
I have no idea if this story is true or false - but I always felt it had the
ring of truth.
When government spending is over £500,000,000,000, it is inconceivable that
there is not at least a 2% or 3% Bezzle rate which, if eliminated, could allow
for abolition of capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Even with out changing
most of the current daft policies, there is certainly another 10% of waste that
could be easily eliminated without any noticeable effect, and this would
transform our taxation system by taking out of taxation low earners. Every local
authority should have an experienced worldly-wise 'mean old sod' to look over
all contracts and items of expenditure to watch out for the Bezzle or waste
factor.
The many politicians who pontificate about the impossibilities of reducing
taxation are blithering idiots.
CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
for the six months ended 30 June 2007
Six Six
months months Year
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
Notes £'000 £'000 £'000
Revenue 2 5,142 4,247 9,722
Cost of sales 2 (1,557) (1,165) (2,930)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 3,585 3,082 6,792
Other income 46 54 153
Administrative expenses (1,058) (1,026) (2,503)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,573 2,110 4,442
Profit on the disposal of investment properties 1,151 171 438
Movement in fair value of investment properties - 70 6,081
Fair value gain on derivative financial assets 2,515 - -
Finance costs (962) (1,437) (2,669)
Investment income 190 323 490
Profit on the disposal of available for sale
investments (shares) 76 480 497
Surplus of assets acquired over consideration given - - 15
Share of result from Associate - (25) (25)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit before tax 5,543 1,692 9,269
Income tax expense 3 (226) (112) (1,924)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit for the period 5,317 1,580 7,345
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent 5,328 1,589 7,387
Minority interest (11) (9) (42)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net profit for the period 5,317 1,580 7,345
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share
Basic and diluted 5 31.3 p 9.3 p 43.5 p
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
As at 30 June 2007
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
Notes £'000 £'000 £'000
ASSETS
Non-current assets:
Property, plant and equipment 30 20 21
Investment property 7 105,303 100,170 104,521
Goodwill - 13 -
Derivative financial assets 2,515 - -
Available for sale investments (shares) 2,006 1,779 2,051
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
109,854 101,982 106,593
Current assets:
Inventories 96 152 269
Stock properties 9,374 9,770 9,374
Available for sale investments (shares) - 424 423
Trade and other receivables 3,356 3,547 3,369
Cash and cash equivalents 6,637 5,594 7,736
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
19,463 19,487 21,171
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets 129,317 121,469 127,764
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
Capital and reserves:
Share capital 4,250 4,250 4,250
Share premium account 2,886 2,886 2,886
Capital redemption reserve 571 571 571
Retained earnings 8 69,862 59,650 65,562
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
77,569 67,357 73,269
Minority interest 83 116 93
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total equity 77,652 67,473 73,362
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term borrowings 35,011 38,009 36,989
Deferred tax liabilities 11,156 10,778 12,272
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46,167 48,787 49,261
Current liabilities:
Trade and other payables 3,879 3,988 4,364
Short-term borrowings - 109 135
Current tax payable 1,619 1,112 642
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,498 5,209 5,141
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 51,665 53,996 54,402
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total equity and liabilities 129,317 121,469 127,764
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSE
for the six months ended 30 June 2007
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
Movement in fair value of available for
sale investments (shares) taken to equity (23) 116 276
Deferred tax relating to movement in fair
value of available for sale investments
(shares) taken to equity 15 (110) (156)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income/ (expense) taken directly to
equity (8) 6 120
Profit for the period 5,317 1,580 7,345
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recognised income and expense for the 5,309 1,586 7,465
period
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent 5,320 1,595 7,507
Minority interest (11) (9) (42)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,309 1,586 7,465
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the six months ended 30 June 2007
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
Notes £'000 £'000 £'000
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Profit before interest, investment income and tax 2,573 2,110 4,442
Add: Depreciation charges for the year 6 3 9
Less: Profit on sale of available to sale
investments (shares) - current assets (16) - -
Less: Provision against available for sale
investments (shares) - current assets - (13) (12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit before working capital change 2,563 2,100 4,439
(Increase) / decrease in inventories 173 47 (70)
(Increase) / decrease in stock properties - (236) 160
(Increase) / decrease in receivables 14 (192) 25
Increase / (decrease) in payables (445) (636) (203)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash generated from operations 2,305 1,083 4,351
Interest paid (1,001) (1,437) (2,730)
Income tax paid (350) (479) (1,424)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash from operating activities 954 (833) 197
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of plant and equipment (15) (3) (10)
Purchase of investment properties 7 (5,047) (1,516) (1,648)
Purchase of available for sale investments
(shares) - non current assets (205) - (200)
Purchase of available for sale investments
(shares) - current assets - (1) (1)
Net cash acquired with subsidiary - 361 361
Proceeds from sale of investment properties 5,416 1,469 3,527
Proceeds from disposal of available for sale
investments (shares) - current assets 114 - -
Proceeds from disposal of available for sale
investments (shares) - non current assets 627 1,749 1,969
Dividend income received 10 8 45
Interest income received 180 315 445
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash from investing activities 1,080 2,382 4,488
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CASH FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
New loans net of repayments (2,113) (8,631) (9,625)
Dividends paid 4 (1,020) (1,870) (1,870)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in financing activities (3,133) (10,501) (11,495)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1,099) (8,952) (6,810)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of 7,736 14,546 14,546
period
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period 6,637 5,594 7,736
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Basis of preparation of accounts
The results for the year ended 31 December 2006 have been audited whilst the
results for the six months ended 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007 are un-audited.
The interim report is un-audited and does not constitute statutory accounts as
defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the
year ended 31 December 2006 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
The auditors' opinion on these accounts was unqualified and did not contain a
statement made under s237(2) or s237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. Copies of the
report are available from the address shown in note 9.
There is no material seasonality associated with the group's activities.
To the best of the Directors' knowledge, the half yearly interim financial
report gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position
and profit or loss of the entity and were approved by the board on 20 September
2007.
The Interim figures are prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out
in the last annual report to 31 December 2006. Additionally IAS 39 has been
applied for the interim figures for the treatment of Derivative financial
assets. The Derivative financial instruments are recognised on the balance sheet
at fair value with its gain or loss in value over the period being shown within
the income statement. Under IAS 39 the fair value of the Derivative financial
instruments is calculated using the yield curve to work out the net present
value of future cash flows derived from the instrument.
Shares held as 'Available for sale investments' in current assets are no longer
intended for disposal in the next 12 months, as such they have been reclassified
as non current assets.
2. Revenue and cost of sales
The majority of the revenue cost of sales and profit before taxation is
attributable to the principal activity of the Group and all of which is
continuing. The Group's main business segment is that of investment and dealing
in property and securities.
M.R.G. Systems Ltd is a separate business segment whose principal activity is
that of electronic designers, engineers and consultants. The split of assets and
tax effect of each segment is not shown as these are not material in relation to
M.R.G. Systems Ltd.
M.R.G. Systems Ltd became a subsidiary on 1 April 2006.
Turnover arose as follows: 30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
Rental income 3,785 3,724 7,510
Income from sale of stock properties - - 1,007
Proceeds from disposal of available for sale
investments (shares) - current assets 114 - -
Income from trading (M.R.G.Systems Ltd) 1,243 523 1,205
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,142 4,247 9,722
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost of sales arose as 30 June 30 June 31 December
follows: 2007 2006 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cost of sales - from rental income 634 833 1,695
Stock properties recognised as an expense - - 514
Cost of sales - available for sale
investments (shares) - current assets 99 - -
Cost of sales - trading (M.R.G. Systems Ltd) 824 332 721
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,557 1,165 2,930
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. Taxation
The charge for taxation comprises the following:
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
Current period UK corporation tax 1,327 455 1,108
Prior period UK corporation tax - - (290)
Current period deferred tax (1,101) (343) 1,106
-------------------------------------------------------------
226 112 1,924
-------------------------------------------------------------
The taxation charge is calculated by applying the Directors' best estimate of
the annual effective tax rate to the profit for the period.
4. Dividends
Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the period:
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
Final dividend for the year 1,020 850 850
ended 31 December 2006 of 6p
(2005 - 6p) per share
Interim dividend for the year - 1,020 1,020
ended 31 December 2006 of 6p
per share
------------------------------------------------------------
1,020 1,870 1,870
------------------------------------------------------------
The Directors have already proposed an interim dividend of 6p per share that
will be paid on 28 September 2007.
The Directors anticipate recommending a final dividend of not less than 6p per
share for the year ended 31 December 2006.
5. Earnings per ordinary share (basic and diluted)
The calculation of earnings per ordinary share is based on earnings, after
minority interests, of £5,328,000 (30 June 2006 - £1,589,000 and 31 December
2006 - £7,387,000) and on 16,998,151 (30 June 2006 and 31 December 2006 -
16,998,151) ordinary shares being the weighted average number of ordinary shares
in issue throughout the six months ended 30 June 2007.
6. Net assets per share
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
Net assets per share 456p 396p 431p
------------------------------------------------------------
The calculation of net asset per ordinary share is based on the equity
attributable to shareholders of the equity in the parent company, and on
16,998,151 (30 June 2006 and 31 December 2006 - 16,998,151) ordinary shares
being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue throughout the six
months ended 30 June 2007.
7. Investment Properties
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fair value of investment property
At 1 January 104,521 99,881 99,881
Additions 5,047 1,516 1,648
Disposals (4,265) (1,297) (3,089)
Revaluation increase - 70 6,081
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
105,303 100,170 104,521
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The directors do not consider there to be a material change in value since the
directors' valuation for the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2006. It is
intended that an independent professional valuation will be obtained for the
year ending 31 December 2007.
8. Retained earnings
30 June 30 June 31 December
2007 2006 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
At 1 January 65,562 59,925 59,925
Profit for the period 5,328 1,589 7,387
Movement in fair value of available for
sale investments (shares) taken to equity (23) 116 276
Deferred tax relating to movement in fair
value of available for sale investments
(shares) taken to equity 15 (110) (156)
Dividends paid (1,020) (1,870) (1,870)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
69,862 59,650 65,562
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Copies of this report are to be sent to all shareholders and are available
from the Company's registered office at Panther House, 38 Mount Pleasant, London
WC1X 0AP.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange