Interim Results

Panther Securities PLC 26 September 2000 Results for the Six Months to 30 June 2000 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Introduction I am pleased to present the interim figures for the six months to 30 June 2000. Whilst in this half-year pre-tax profit was £1,118,000 compared to £1,630,000 for the same period last year, the previous half-year included the £812,000 reverse premium received on the surrender of leases at Elmbank Chambers, Glasgow. Rents received during this period increased from £2,128,000 to £2,628,000. This increase arises, in the main, from the inclusion of the Northstar Group acquired in June 1999. Additional rents from some of our recent significant lettings do not come on stream until the second half. Main Events As previously reported, Malcolm Bloch retired from our Board and active business life on 31 March 2000. After receiving shareholders' approval at our EGM in July, the company purchased his personal shareholding of 1,065,307 ordinary shares at £1.20 per share. These shares were cancelled shortly after the EGM and has the effect of increasing net asset value of each share by approximately 4p. This will be reflected in the year end Balance Sheet. Panther House Redevelopment Progress on the redevelopment proposals for our site is proceeding slowly. The properties are enjoying both the highest occupancy levels ever experienced and considerably higher levels of rents. We are currently discussing a potential sale of the site with interested parties and, should a sale take place, it would be at a price significantly higher than its last professional valuation in March 2000. Bristol Redevelopment I am pleased to say that it appears that our scheme for a 100,000 sq ft supermarket and ancillary shopping development at Bristol will be approved by the Department of the Environment for the grant of full planning permission. This would be beneficial and allow us to proceed with a full marketing campaign. We hold a long lease on approximately half of the site required for the development and we are currently in talks with the Local Authority, which owns the remaining area. It has always been enthusiastic and supportive of this scheme and we hope to be able to make progress once the major hurdle of obtaining Planning Permission has been passed. Elmbank Chambers, Glasgow In my last Statement I reported that we were offering this property for sale. It is now under offer at a figure in excess of book value and it is anticipated that contracts will be exchanged shortly, subject to structural survey only. Wynnstay Properties PLC After the half-year we were approached by a large private property company who wished to acquire our 29.9% holding in Wynnstay. Accordingly, within 24 hours terms had been agreed and the shares sold, realising a total slightly in excess of £1,600,000. This represented a surplus of almost £400,000 over cost. Other Investments In my last Chairman's Statement I mentioned that we had invested approximately £1,000,000 in shares in quoted property companies. As these investments for accounting purposes are included in stock, no enhancement of the value is recorded in these results. I am pleased to report, however, that their current market value is approximately 40% in excess of cost and, even at current values, I believe they still represent a good investment. New Property Acquisitions In August 2000 we acquired at auction The Old Inn House, High Street, Sutton, Surrey which is a freehold fully occupied shop and air conditioned office building producing £230,000 per annum exclusive. We paid £1,800,000 and believe there is potential rental growth in this property. At the same auction we purchased the freehold of three shops with six flats above in Cheam, Surrey for £400,000. The flats and shops will be sold off separately in due course and should show useful trading profits. Dividends An interim dividend of 3p per share (compared to 2.5p per share last year) will be paid on 3 November 2000 and it is your Board's intention to recommend a final dividend of at least 3p per share. Prospects Whilst the overall property market does not seem as buoyant as it was, there is still an active letting and investment market and we are maintaining substantial cash balances for any special opportunities that may occur. Andrew S. Perloff Chairman 26 September 2000 Panther Securities P.L.C. UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED RESULTS for the six months ended 30th June 2000 Six months to Six months to Year ended 30th June 30th June 31st December 2000 1999 1999 Notes (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) £000 £000 £000 Turnover 2,903 2,950 5,861 Cost of sales (540) (463) (997) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gross profit 2,363 2,487 4,864 Administrative expenses (348) (342) (1,346) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Operating Operating profit 2,015 2,145 3,518 Profit on sale of investment property 50 - 153 Income from participating interests 24 129 64 Interest receivable 247 155 242 Interest payable (1,218) (799) (1,921) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 1,118 1,630 2,056 Taxation (308) (329) (503) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 810 1,301 1,553 Minority interests (5) (4) (9) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Profit attributable to members of the parent undertaking 805 1,297 1,544 Dividends 3 (509) (452) (1,085) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Retained profit for the year 296 845 459 Transfer from revaluation reserve - - 805 Purchase of own shares (25) - (41) Retained profit brought forward 9,738 8,515 8,515 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Retained profit carried forward 10,009 9,360 9,738 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Earnings per share- basic 4 4.5p 7.2p 8.6p Notes: 1. Results The six months results have been prepared on the historical cost basis, modified to include the revaluation of fixed asset land and buildings, although no further revaluation has been undertaken on any part of the property portfolio since results were last reported. They are unaudited and do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. 2. Accounts The figures for the year to 31st December 1999 have been extracted from the statutory accounts which have been reported on by the Group's auditors and have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report was unqualified and did not contain any statement under section 237(2),(3) or (4) of the Companies Act 1985. 3. Dividends An interim dividend of 3p per ordinary share will be paid on 3rd November 2000 to shareholders on the Register on 2nd October 2000. 4. Earnings per share Earnings per ordinary share have been calculated on profit attributable to members of the holding company and on 18,059,548 (June 1999 - 18,094,164) ordinary shares being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue throughout the six months ended 30th June 2000. 5. 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. Panther Securities P.L.C. UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET as at 30th June 2000 30th June 30th June 31st December 2000 1999 1999 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Intangibles - (125) - Tangibles 51,257 48,203 51,136 Investments 1,737 1,399 1,707 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 52,994 49,477 52,843 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Current assets Stock 5,811 4,833 4,812 Debtors 1,468 1,713 788 Cash at bank and in hand 7,083 3,363 7,687 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14,362 9,909 13,287 Current liabilities Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (3,773) (5,753) (2,761) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net current assets 10,589 4,156 10,526 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total assets less current liabilities 63,583 53,633 63,369 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year (30,319) (24,153) (30,379) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 33,264 29,480 32,990 Minority interests (113) (135) (115) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net assets 33,151 29,345 32,875 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capital and reserves Share capital 4,510 4,524 4,515 Revaluation reserve 14,384 11,297 14,384 Profit and loss account 10,009 9,360 9,738 Share premium account 2,859 2,856 2,859 Negative goodwill reserve 1,103 1,037 1,098 Capital redemption reserve 286 271 281 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Shareholders' funds 33,151 29,345 32,875 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net assets per share 183.7p 162.2p 182.0p
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