Interim Results

R.E.A.Hldgs PLC 20 September 2000 R.E.A. HOLDINGS plc Interim Report 2000 Interim Statement Profit before tax for the half year to June 2000 amounted to £295,000. It should be noted that the comparative figure of £680,000 included substantial profits attributable to a minority interest (which were then deducted under minority). For this reason, the profit for the period (after tax and minority) at £260,000 in fact showed an increase on the profit for the comparative period of £92,000. As previously announced, the group's former fibre trading business was sold during the period in May. The merchanting component of the results reflects a satisfactory final contribution from the divested business and was generally in line with expectations. Results from agriculture were more disappointing with positive contributions from the REA Kaltim oil palm project in East Kalimantan and the Bangladesh tea gardens more than offset by losses from the East African sisal and Californian fruit operations. Looking forward, a recovery in sisal prices and a reasonable expectation of better citrus crops means that the outlook for both East Africa and North America is improving. However, with the increasing concentration of the group's resources on the REA Kaltim project, it is to that project that the group must primarily look for its future profits. Whilst political and economic conditions in Indonesia remain mixed, the directors believe that as compared with a year ago there are now some signs of improvement as evidenced by the resumption of internal growth and a more stable, if still slightly weak, local currency. Operationally, the progress of the REA Kaltim project continues to be most encouraging with oil palm fresh fruit production in the six months to 30 June 2000 at 19,500 tonnes as compared with 6,200 tonnes in the same period last year. Prices of crude palm oil have been relatively weak throughout the current year and whilst REA Kaltim, as a low cost producer of palm oil, can still operate profitably at current prices, the present lower prices are inevitably impacting cash flow. As a result, the total further funding needed to carry the project to the point at which it will become self-sustaining has increased beyond the level projected a year ago although, with the passing of a year, the net amount still to be expended up to that point and the risk of error in the estimation of that amount have of course both significantly reduced. The group is continuing to meet with success in its programme of divesting non Indonesian assets. In addition, discussions are progressing with a major international lender with a view to securing additional local debt finance for REA Kaltim. There are, however, material uncertainties both as to the timing of divestments and as to the final outcome of the Indonesian financing discussions. These make difficult projection of the group's short and long term cash requirements. For the moment, the group is relying on assurances that it has received from the principal shareholders that they will support the group in raising additional finance should this be required. A decision regarding such additional finance (the amount of which should in any event be limited) will be made as soon as there is greater clarity as to some of the present uncertainties. R M ROBINOW Chairman Registered office: 7 Bedford Square London WC1B 3RA Consolidated profit and loss account for the period ended 30 June 2000 6 months 6 months Year to to to 31 30 30 December June June 1999 2000 1999 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover Continuing 1,043 12,263 23,899 Discontinued 10,848 - - 11,891 12,263 23,899 Cost of sales (10,254) (10,666) (20,781) Gross profit 1,637 1,597 3,118 Other income and expenses (874) (1,091) (2,077) Group operating profit 763 506 1,041 Share of operating profit of 142 1,128 1,886 associates Disposal of assets and 62 - 265 investments Interest payable - associates (255) (547) (1,724) Interest payable - others (417) (407) (856) Profit on ordinary activities 295 680 612 before taxation Tax on profit on ordinary (19) (34) (214) activities Profit on ordinary activities 276 646 398 after taxation Minority interests (16) (554) (161) Profit for the period 260 92 237 Dividends, including non- (256) (257) (513) equity dividends Retained profit / (loss) for 4 (165) (276) the period (Loss) / earnings per ordinary share - basic 0.1p (1.8)p (3.0)p - fully diluted 0.1p (2.0)p (3.2)p Profit on ordinary activities before taxation (by business class) Merchanting (£124,000 discontinued)195 143 369 Agriculture (all associates) (113) 688 162 Other activities (14) 9 (11) Unallocated 165 (160) (173) Disposal of assets and 62 - 265 investments 295 680 612 Note: The interim financial information has not been audited and does not constitute statutory accounts for the purposes of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985, but has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the annual financial statements as at 31 December 1999. The figures for the year to 31 December 1999 are abridged and have been extracted from the statutory accounts filed with the Registrar of Companies on which the auditors issued an unqualified report. Consolidated balance sheet 30 June 2000 30 30 31 June June December 2000 1999 1999 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 1,805 2,986 1,896 Investments 11,188 11,319 11,242 12,993 14,305 13,138 Current assets Stocks 379 1,021 898 Debtors 12,634 16,217 13,906 Cash 4,396 1,010 2,565 17,409 18,248 17,369 Creditors up to one year Borrowings (7,034) (8,673) (7,838) Creditors (3,975) (3,370) (3,610) (11,009) (12,043) (11,448) Net current assets 6,400 6,205 5,921 Total assets less current 19,393 20,510 19,059 liabilities Creditors over one year - (603) (2,121) (664) borrowings Net assets 18,790 18,389 18,395 Capital and reserves Called-up share capital 14,890 14,889 14,890 Share premium account 720 720 720 Capital redemption reserve 3,240 3,240 3,240 Warrants 1,219 1,219 1,219 Revaluation reserve 2,000 614 1,860 Profit and loss account (3,280) (2,321) (3,534) Shareholders' funds* 18,789 18,361 18,395 Minority interest 1 28 - Total capital employed 18,790 18,389 18,395 * Shareholders' funds comprise equity interests of £13,084,000 (30 June 1999 £12,656,000; 31 December 1999 £12,690,000) and non equity interests of £5,705,000 (30 June 1999 £5,705,000; 31 December 1999 £5,705,000). Consolidated cash flows for the six months ended 30 June 2000 6 months 6 Year to to months 31 30 to December June 30 1999 2000 June £'000 1999 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating 3,137 3,274 6,169 activities Dividends from associates (10) - 235 Returns on investment and servicing of finance Interest received 239 257 568 Interest paid (417) (407) (856) Investment income - - 2 Dividends paid to minority (17) - - shareholders Dividends paid to preference (256) (247) (559) shareholders (451) (397) (845) Taxation (11) (24) (183) Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed (16) (17) (21) assets Sale of tangible fixed assets 44 13 1,337 Sale of investments 361 36 108 Purchase of investments - - (70) 389 32 1,354 Equity dividends paid (368) - - Financing / management of (1,736) 243 (1,970) liquid resources Increase in cash 950 3,128 4,760 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating cash flow Group operating profit 763 506 1,041 Interest received (239) (257) (568) Investment income - - (2) Depreciation 86 149 230 Decrease in stocks 521 114 292 Decrease in debtors 1,294 5,465 7,967 Increase / (decrease) in 706 (2,789) (2,719) creditors Exchange 6 86 (72) Net cash inflow from operating 3,137 3,274 6,169 activities Reconciliation of movement in net debt Increase in cash in period 950 3,128 4,760 Cash flow for debt and leases 110 (303) (138) Cash flow from management of 1,636 - 2,050 liquid resources 2,696 2,825 6,672 Net debt at beginning of (5,937) (12,609) (12,609) period Net debt at end of period (3,241) (9,784) (5,937)

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REA Holdings (RE.)
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