Interim Report

R.E.A.Hldgs PLC 19 September 2001 LETTER TO COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENTS OFFICE LETTER DATED 18 September 2001 At a board meeting held today the directors considered and approved the 2001 Interim Report incorporating the unaudited results for the six months to 30 June 2001. LETTER FROM R. E. A. HOLDINGS plc R. E. A. HOLDINGS plc (Registered in England and Wales number 671099) Interim Report 2001 Interim statement The results for the half year to 30 June 2001 were considerably influenced by the several significant corporate transactions agreed during the period. As previously announced and approved by shareholders, the group's former head office at 7 Bedford Square was sold together with the group's sisal interests in East Africa, its fruit farming and viticultural interests in North America and the residue of its former merchanting activities. These disposals accounted for the bulk of the surplus on disposal of assets and investments. The group also concluded agreements for the unconditional sale of half of its remaining 50 per cent shareholding in Deundi Tea Company Limited and for the conditional sale of the balance. Substantially the whole of the continuing operations of the group are now represented by the interests in the P.T. REA Kaltim Plantations ('REA Kaltim') oil palm project in East Kalimantan. Yields from those interests continued to increase and 46,700 tonnes of oil palm fresh fruit bunches were harvested in the six months to 30 June 2001 as compared with 19,500 tonnes in the same period of 2000. Results, however, were disappointing because of the very low price for crude palm oil which averaged US$248 per tonne over the period. The open offer of ordinary shares of April 2001 raised some £1.3 million after expenses. The subsequent conversion of the former ordinary shares of £1 each into ordinary shares of 25p each and deferred shares of 75p each and the cancellation of the resultant deferred shares has had no effect on shareholder funds because the £6.9 million arising from the cancellation has been credited to a special reserve. The proceeds of the sales of assets and investments, being some £5.3 million, have been used to eliminate borrowings and augment the group's cash resources. Negotiations for the rescheduling of REA Kaltim's indebtedness are continuing. The negotiations have not progressed as quickly as might have been hoped as a result of a lack of consensus between the group and another significant shareholder in Makassar Investments Limited (the parent company of REA Kaltim) as to the rescheduling terms that should be agreed. The group believes that it may be appropriate to support a proposed composition between REA Kaltim and its loan creditors which it understands may be acceptable to a majority of such creditors. Pursuant to such composition, capital repayments would be postponed for several years while interest payments would be reduced for a two year period to a level equivalent to the cost of inter bank funds and thereafter to a level that would provide a normal spread (but below the spread that would apply under existing loan terms). There has been a welcome increase in the crude palm oil price since 30 June 2001. That coupled with the expected continuing growth in REA Kaltim crops augurs for better trading in the second half. Pending a final outcome to the REA Kaltim debt rescheduling negotiations, the directors find it difficult to project the financing requirement that the group will face to ensure adequate funding for REA Kaltim. Moreover, the group has accepted that the first instalment of sale proceeds from the recent divestment of further shares in Deundi Tea Company Limited be paid slightly later than originally agreed. In the absence of certainty as to calls on the group's cash resources, the directors, as previously announced, may feel constrained to defer payment of the next fixed semi annual dividend on the company's preference shares due on 31 December 2001. R M Robinow Chairman 18 September 2001 Consolidated profit and loss account for the six months ended 30 June 2001 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 June 30 June 31 December 2001 2000 2000 £000 £000 £200 Turnover Continuing 203 272 638 Discontinued 105 11,619 13,310 308 11,891 13,948 Cost of sales (26) (10,254) (11,485) Gross profit 282 1,637 2,463 Other income and expenses 1 (874) (1,278) Group operating profit (note 1) 283 763 1,185 Share of operating profit of associates - continuing (67) 210 254 - discontinued 52 (68) (152) Disposal of assets & investment - 628 62 524 discontinued Interest payable - continuing (note 2) (424) (271) (331) Interest payable - discontinued (note 2) (120) (401) (856) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 352 295 624 Tax on profit on ordinary activities (13) (19) 15 Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 339 276 639 Minority interests (15) (16) (21) Profit for the period 324 260 618 Dividends, including non-equity dividends (257) (256) (513) Retained (loss)/profit for the period 67 4 105 Earnings per ordinary share - basic 0.7p 0.1p 1.1p - fully diluted 0.7p 0.7p 1.1p Notes: 1. Group operating profit Continuing 237 437 838 Discontinued 46 326 347 2. Interest payable Associates (404) 255 547 Group (140) 417 640 Consolidated balance sheet 30 June 2001 30 June 30 June 31 December 2001 2000 2000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Tangible fixed assets 129 1,805 1,625 Fixed asset investments 3,892 11,188 7,394 4,021 12,993 9,019 Current assets Stocks - 379 35 Debtors 9,703 12,634 8,677 Cash 4,963 4,396 4,109 14,666 17,409 12,821 Creditors up to one year Borrowings (623) (7,034) (2,762) Creditors (1,167) (3,975) (2,439) (1,790) (11,009) (5,201) Net current assets 12,876 6,400 7,620 Total assets less current liabilities 16,897 19,393 16,639 Creditors over one year - borrowings - (603) (1,100) Net assets 16,897 18,790 15,539 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 8,812 14,890 14,890 Share premium account 1,178 720 720 Capital redemption reserve 3,240 3,240 3,240 Special reserve 6,888 - - Warrants 1,218 1,219 1,219 Revaluation reserve (466) 2,000 (772) Profit and loss account (3,973) (3,280) (3,778) Shareholders' funds* 16,897 18,789 15,519 Minority interests - 1 20 16,897 18,790 15,539 * Shareholders' funds comprise equity interests of £11,150,000 (30 June 2000 £13,084,000; 31 December 2000 £9,814,000) and non-equity interests of £5,705,000 (30 June 2000 £5,705,000; 31 December 2000 £5,705,000) Consolidated cash flows for the six months ended 30 June 2001 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 June 30 June 31 December 2001 2000 2000 £000 £000 £000 Group operating profit 283 763 1,185 Interest receivable - (239) (1,541) Investment income - - (14) Depreciation 15 86 146 Decrease in stocks 11 521 504 (Increase)/Decrease in debtors (1,941) 1,294 4,675 (Decrease)/increase in creditors (330) 706 45 Exchange (loss)/gain (13) 6 7 Net cash flow from operating activities (1,975) 3,137 5,007 Dividends from associates - (10) - Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received - 239 1,541 Interest paid (140) (417) (640) Investment income - - 14 Dividends paid to minority shareholders - (17) (40) Dividends paid to preference shareholders (257) (256) (513) Taxation (1) (11) 2 Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (47) (16) (29) Sale of tangible fixed assets 2,110 44 - Sale of investments 361 1,008 Acquisition and disposals Purchase of shares in associated companies - - (313) Sale of subsidiaries 3,145 - 200 Goodwill on sale of a business - - 300 Adjustment of selling price of interests 41 - (53) Equity dividends paid - (368) (368) Cash inflow before management of liquid resources and financing 2,876 2,686 6,116 Management of liquid resources and financing Issue of ordinary shares 1,268 - - Other (4,029) (1,736) (6,167) 115 950 (51) Reconciliation of movement in net cash/(debt) Increase in cash in period 115 950 (51) Cash flow from debt and leases 3,214 110 4,526 Cash flow from management of liquid 764 1,636 1,709 resources 4,093 2,696 6,184 Net cash/(debt) at beginning of period 247 (5,937) (5,937) Net cash/(debt) at end of period 4,340 (3,241) 247 Notes to the interim statement for the six months ended 30 June 2001 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 June 30 June 31 December 2001 2000 2000 £000 £000 £000 Profit on ordinary activities before taxation (by business class) Merchanting - discontinued 45 195 29 Agriculture (all associates) - continuing (359) 54 (130) - discontinued (60) (167) (315) Other activities- discontinued (7) (14) (67) Unallocated - continuing 105 165 583 Disposal of assets and investments - discontinued 628 62 524 352 295 624 Continuing (104) 219 453 Discontinued 456 76 171 352 295 624 Reconciliation of shareholders' funds Profit for financial period 324 260 618 Dividends (257) (256) (513) Issue of shares 1,268 - - Revaluations and foreign exchange translation 43 140 (3,231) Goodwill previously written off, reinstated - 250 250 1,378 394 (2,876) Shareholders' funds at beginning of period 15,519 18,395 18,395 Shareholders' funds at end of period 16,897 18,789 15,519 Notes: The interim financial information has not been audited and does not constitute statutory accounts for the purpose of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985, but has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the annual accounts as at 31 December 2000. The figures for the year ended 31 December 2000 are abridged and have been extracted from the statutory accounts filed with the Registrar of Companies on which the auditors issued an unqualified report. Registered office Third floor 40-42 Osnaburgh Street London NW1 3ND

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