Interim Results

Ocean Wilsons Holdings Ld 25 September 2001 Chairman's Interim Statement for Ocean Wilsons Holdings Limited Accounts and Dividends The unaudited accounts for the six months ended 30th June, 2001 show an operating profit for the period of £4,954,000 (2000 - £3,545,000) The operating business continued to perform well with underlying operating profit after excluding non-recurring items at £4.3 million in line with 2000 (£4.2 million). The share of operating profit from joint ventures increased by £1.0 million to £1.5 million (2000 - £467,000). Towage revenue was up in $Reais terms and operating margins showed an improvement over the comparative period in 2000. Additional income was generated from towage support for salvage and margins at our towage joint ventures also showed an improvement. Profitability at the Ship Agency continued to benefit from the devaluation of the $Real as most of the divisions revenues is in US dollars while costs are predominantly $Reais denominated. Tecon Rio Grande continued to perform well with revenue increasing in both $Reais and sterling terms. Operating margins were marginally lower due to increased depreciation following completion of the expanded terminal. Business at Tecon Salvador continues to develop although more slowly than expected. Our joint venture bonded warehouse Eadi Santo Andre made good progress with both revenues and profit increasing in sterling terms. In the six months to 30 June 2001 the $Real devalued 18% against the US dollar (from 1.95 to 2.30) and 11% against sterling (from 2.91 to 3.25). The Group's Brazilian subsidiaries have significant borrowings in US dollars and $Real denominated loans that are monetarily corrected by the movement in the US dollar / $Real exchange rate. The Group assumes this risk as there is no long-term financing denominated in $Reais available to us for capital expenditure. Current interest rates on $Reais commercial borrowings in Brazil are 25% per annum. Due to the prohibitive cost of hedging the $Real the Group does not hedge its net exposure. The devaluation of the $Real against the US dollar has generated a large $Real denominated loss on the Group's US dollar and US dollar linked loans of £8,826,000 (2000 - £487,000). The cashflow effect of these losses in $Reais is only realised when repayments are made over the life of the loans, up to 12 years. The average maturity is 9 years. The priority for management is to raise our $Real tariffs in order to service the increased $Reais debt repayments. The loss before taxation was £2.4 million (2000 - £4.4 million profit). Excluding exchange losses on foreign currency borrowings and non recurring items included in the operating profit, the profit before tax was unchanged at £5.8 million (2000 - £5.6 million). The loss per share based on ordinary activities after taxation and minority interests of 2.97p (2000 - Earnings per share 5.98p) reflected the negative impact of the exchange losses on foreign currency borrowings on the Group's results. The board has resolved that an interim dividend of 1.00p per share be paid on 2nd of November, 2001 to shareholders on the register at close of business on 12th October 2001. Cash flow Net cash inflow from operating activities during the period remained strong at £7.0 million (2000 - £4.8 million). Group Net Assets At 30th June 2001 Group net assets amounted to 155.94p per share (31st December, 2000 - 164.73p) of which 78.05p (31st December 2000 - 86.08P) was attributable to assets located in Brazil and 77.89p (31st December 2000 - 78.65p) in other, primarily financial assets outside Brazil. At 19 September 2001 the total of the investment portfolio and cash balances held outside Brazil was approximately £25.8 million (73.0p per share). Share repurchases During the period the Group repurchased and cancelled a further 2.08 million shares at an average price of 81.3p per share. Consequently as at 25th September the number of shares in issue is 35,363,040. Management After 37 years of service to the company and having reached the age of 60, Mr Claudio Marote is retiring as Managing Director of the Group. We are delighted that he has agreed to remain on the board so the company will continue to benefit from his intimate knowledge of the Brazilian towage market. We are pleased to announce that Mr Cezar Baiao, currently Finance Director has been appointed a Director of the Holding company and will assume responsibility of Managing Director from 31 October of this year. Mr Keith Middleton the Group Finance Director will assume responsibility for the finance function in the Brazilian subsidiaries. Future Prospects. The operating result for July and August are in line with the same period in 2000. Our insurance underwriting subsidiary operating at Lloyds is likely to suffer some losses as a result of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre. Our liability is limited to approximately £1.0 million. The board will review the level of the final dividend payment to be announced in April 2002 in the light of trading conditions and the performance of the $Real which has fallen a further 19% against sterling to 3.98. If this exchange rate is maintained at the year end this will adversely impact the Groups results. J F Gouvea Vieira Ocean Wilsons Holdings Limited Preliminary Announcement At a board meeting held today the following announcement of the unaudited results of the Company and its subsidiary companies for the six months ended 30th June 2001 was approved by the directors. CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Audited Unaudited Unaudited Year to 31st Six Months Six months December, 2000 to 30th June to 30th June 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 TURNOVER 81,382 Turnover and share of 41,885 40,947 joint ventures (7,007) less share of joint (4,348) (3,492) venture turnover 74,375 GROUP TURNOVER 37,537 37,455 (60,117) Operating costs (29,451) (31,189) (5,684) Depreciation (3,132) (2,721) 8,574 GROUP OPERATING PROFIT 4,954 3,545 1,232 Share of operating 1,506 467 profit in joint ventures (160) Share of operating loss (142) (222) in associates 189 Income from fixed asset 40 86 investments 1,953 Realised (147) 95 (deficits)/surpluses on sales of investments - Profit on disposals of 32 12 fixed assets 3,390 Other interest 2,057 2,462 receivable and similar income (2,915) Interest payable and (1,892) (1,484) similar charges (4,114) Net exchange loss on (8,826) (487) foreign currency borrowings 8,149 (LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY (2,418) 4,474 ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (2,603) Taxation on profit on ordinary activities 853 (1,791) 5,546 (LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY (1,565) 2,683 ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION (585) Minority interests 485 (333) 4,961 (LOSS)/PROFIT FOR THE (1,080) 2,350 PERIOD DIVIDENDS (2,205) Paid and Payable (354) (375) 2,756 RETAINED BY GROUP (1,434) 1,975 COMPANIES 12.93 (LOSS)/EARNINGS PER (2.97) 5.98p SHARE BASIC AND DILUTED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET As at 31 As at 30 June As at 30 June December 2000 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 £'000 71,525 Fixed Assets 68,362 71,962 17,017 Investments 23,719 20,531 CURRENT ASSETS 1,233 Stocks 1,058 1,005 19,627 Debtors 17,033 20,696 36,370 Cash at Bank 27,063 32,178 57,230 45,154 53,879 (24,843) Creditors (amounts falling due within one year) (21,900) (23,596) 32,387 NET CURRENT ASSETS 23,254 30,283 120,929 TOTAL ASSETS LESS 115,335 122,776 CURRENT LIABILITIES (50,467) Creditors (amounts (53,859) (46,950) falling due after one year) (4,238) Provisions for (2,460) (5,709) liabilities and charges (4,545) Minority interests (3,873) (4,127) 61,679 NET ASSETS 55,143 65,990 CAPITAL AND RESERVES 7,489 Called up share 7,073 7,820 capital 29,199 Profit and loss 25,318 29,776 account 20,642 Capital reserves 18,749 21,731 4,349 Revaluation reserve 4,003 6,663 61,679 55,143 65,990 164.73p NET ASSETS PER 155.94p 168.82p SHARE CONSOLIDATED CASHFLOW STATEMENT Year to 31 Six months to 30 Six months to December 2000 June 2001 30 June 2000 £'000 Note £'000 £'000 13,798 NET CASH INFLOW 7,000 4,813 FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 961 Dividends from 1,139 427 joint ventures 1,312 Returns on 226 1,092 investments & servicing of finance (2,771) Taxation (632) (1,569) (10,979) Capital expenditure (14,820) (11,885) and financial investment (5,203) Acquisitions and (1,205) (1,831) disposals (2,340) Equity dividends (1,830) (1,965) paid (5,222) CASH OUTFLOW BEFORE (10,122) (10,918) MANAGEMENT OF LIQUID RESOURCES AND FINANCING (1,176) Management of 7,800 4,540 liquid resources 4,961 Financing 2,374 6,414 (1,437) INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH IN 52 36 THE PERIOD EXCHANGE RATES USED 1.494 US$ to £1 1.412 1.518 2.914 R$ to £1 3.248 2.748 Notes to Interim Accounts 1 In respect of the six monthly results which are based on unaudited reports for management purposes: (a) the figures are not the company's statutory accounts; (b) the auditors of the company have not made any report thereon under section 90(2) of the Bermuda Companies Act. (c) The interim report has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the latest annual accounts 2 Taxation UK withholding tax 0 Overseas taxation (853) (853) The interim dividend of 1.00p per share will be paid on the 2nd November, 2001, to shareholders on the register at close of business on 12th October, 2001. Additional copies of this announcement can be obtained from the company's registered office Clarendon House, Church Street, Hamilton, Bermuda or from the Company's UK transfer agent, Capita IRG, Balfour House, 390-398 High Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 1NQ.
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