Property Update & Disposal

Worthington Group PLC 06 March 2006 Worthington Group PLC (the 'Company') Property update and Disposal 6th March 2006 Worthington are pleased to announce the sale of their Office block and adjoining Factory at Fence Avenue, Macclesfield ('Fence Avenue'), for the sum of £2,750,000 to The Printworks Chester LLP. ('The Printworks'). Contracts have today been exchanged subject to shareholder approval for completion on 6 June 2006. The Printworks will pay £412,000 into an escrow account, which will only be released to Worthington after an Extraordinary General Meeting which will be specially called to obtain shareholders approval for this transaction. This is a Class 1 disposal which requires a full circular, which will be sent out to shareholders as soon as practicable together with details of the date and venue of the EGM. The Printworks will be undertaking certain alterations to the building during the time that shareholders approval is being sought, and so Worthington Group Plc have indemnified them to the sum of £412,000, payable if shareholders do not approve this transaction at the EGM. Fence Avenue has been on the market since Autumn 2004 when the trading business of the subsidiary company occupying it was moved to smaller premises as part of a downsizing exercise. Since then the property has undergone extensive marketing by our agents during which time a number of lower offers were received and rejected on our agent's advice. Our agents have now recommended to the Board that the offer received from the Printworks should be accepted. The sale will generate a loss on disposal of some £300,000 before selling costs. The funds received will go to redeem the mortgage on the property and eliminate all outstanding borrowings of the Group leaving it with a net cash position. The Board will be recommending to shareholders that they give their approval at the EGM. In respect of the remaining properties the offer of £2.5m for the Keighley premises has fallen through with the purchasers withdrawing their offer due, we believe, to funding difficulties. The planning application for the Eccleshill site continues to be considered by planners. If received we intend to finalise the agreed offer of £1.2m subject to planning approval. J C Dwek CBE Chairman 6 March 2006 Enquiries: Worthington Group plc Joe Dwek CBE, Chairman Tel: 01625 549082 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings