Final Results

Wynnstay Properties PLC 18 June 2002 WYNNSTAY PROPERTIES PLC 18 JUNE 2002 Wynnstay Properties PLC - 'the Company' or 'Wynnstay' Preliminary Results for Year Ended 25th March 2002 Chairman's Statement I am delighted to present another very satisfactory set of results for the year ended 25th March 2002 as summarised below: 2002 2001 (Restated) • Profit before Property Disposals and Taxation: + 16.7% £581,000 £498,000 • Profit before taxation: + 31.9% £666,000 £505,000 • Net asset value per share: + 6.4% 251p 236p • Basic earnings per share: + 32.5% 15.5p 11.7p • Recommended total dividend per share: + 7.1% 6.75p 6.3p Subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, the recommended total dividend of 6.75p per share again represents an increase substantially in excess of the prevailing inflation rate, thereby providing Shareholders with real income growth. At the heart of this continuing improved performance are a number of factors. Our disposal of some of the smaller, management-intensive properties and the close attention by management to minimising the risk of tenant defaults and consequent voids, has meant that we have reduced property costs including rates, repairs and insurance charges that are incurred on vacant premises as well as avoiding bad debts. As I reported at the half-year, we have significantly reduced our ongoing borrowing costs by negotiating a £7.5 million five year term loan facility with N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited. Although there is an inevitable cost associated with concluding such an agreement, the ongoing savings in finance costs to the Company will be very beneficial. We have further protected the position by fixing the interest payable on £4 million of the facility throughout its duration at a very attractive rate, thereby providing certainty over the next four years. This is all the more important when it appears likely that interest rates, now at an historic low, will rise in the foreseeable future. As to the balance of the facility, we are actively managing this by repaying borrowings as we make realisations and generate cash, until this is reinvested. As a result, net finance costs last year fell to £395,000 (2001 - £461,000). Net gearing at 25 March 2002 was 77% (2001 - 83%). The Company has been required to adopt for the first time the recently introduced accounting standard FRS 19 which requires that deferred tax should be provided in full on all timing differences that are not permanent. Last year's financial statements have been re-stated in accordance with the provisions of FRS 19 resulting in a reduction in net asset value of 2p per share in 2001. The impact this year, when compared to the previous method of accounting for ACT receivable, has been to increase the tax charge by £101,000, equivalent to 3p per share. I would emphasise, however, that FRS 19 has no impact on the actual tax we pay. The new standard has been much criticised by the property sector as being potentially misleading on account of the resulting provision not reflecting a true underlying liability as, in reality, capital allowance clawbacks do not normally arise when properties are sold by property investment companies such as Wynnstay. The notes to the accounts show how the deferred tax provision now made will be written back to the profit and loss account over future years, assuming the assets concerned remain in the Company's ownership. As commented on in detail previously, the ongoing programme of selective disposals continues towards re-orientation of your Company's property portfolio. We have disposed of three smaller properties in Cambridge and Epping during the first half and in Barking prior to the year end which, together, produced profits of £85,000 for the year. Your Company's property portfolio was valued at £14,550,000 at the year end, compared to a figure of £14,145,000 in 2001. In determining the value of our properties each year, Messrs. Chesterton are bound by rules laid down by The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors which dictate the method to be adopted. It is interesting to note that recent experience shows that when we have sold properties we have been successful in achieving prices considerably in excess of their corresponding book values. Indeed, there are indications that, in the present buoyant market, this would also be the case with a number of our other properties. I mentioned in my half-year report that we plan to make other selective disposals to take advantage of the attractive prices currently available, while seeking to reinvest in properties that will further enhance the portfolio. Our major acquisition last year was the property at Crawley, West Sussex on which I reported at the interim stage. This is currently operated as a Parceline sorting depot and is let to a subsidiary of La Poste, the French Post Office. This quality acquisition, coupled with the other industrial units we purchased previously in Aldershot and Alton means that, in value terms, we now have 42% of the portfolio invested in industrial property, 33% in offices and 25% in retail. Since I wrote to you at this time last year, the FTSE 100 Index has fallen by approximately 16% and the FTSE AIM Index by approximately 32% and it is not surprising, therefore, that property companies have become something of a safe-haven. In current stock market conditions, the diminishing number of quoted property companies of Wynnstay's size and structure can be seen as attractive targets for those with ambitions to acquire them at prices significantly below the real value of their underlying assets. Wynnstay is, perhaps, nowadays a rather unusual quoted company investment. Whilst sentiment should play no part in investment decisions, our Shareholders should be entitled to benefit fully from the Company's true value, especially when many of you, as descendants of the original founders, have held shares for many years. Property, by its nature, is a longer-term investment and the Directors remain committed to increasing the value of your Company's assets and to enhancing its profitability. Tony Harris, who has been a non-executive Director of Wynnstay for the last eight years and is now 66, has indicated his desire to retire from the Board at the conclusion of this year's Annual General Meeting. Tony has spent all his working life in the property field and successfully developed the firm of Rogers Chapman to the point where it is one of the prominent agencies in the burgeoning Heathrow and West London area. His detailed knowledge of the finer points of property investment and management has been invaluable. We will miss his expertise as well as his incisive and challenging contributions to our debates. He will leave with our best wishes for a long and happy retirement with his wife, Christine, and their family. In replacing Tony, we have been very fortunate in securing the services of Charles Delevingne who has today been appointed a Director of the Company. Like Tony, Charles who is 52, has spent his whole working life to date in the property field initially with various well-known estate agencies and for the last twenty years in successfully building up a substantial private property company. The new financial year has commenced satisfactorily with the portfolio fully let and interest rates currently at lower levels than we have seen for many years. There remain considerable opportunities for your Company and your Board will continue to work hard in building on the progress achieved over recent years. When I wrote to you at the half-year, I urged you all to plan to spend a day in London on Thursday 25th July and to attend our Annual General Meeting at the Royal Automobile Club. It provides an excellent opportunity to meet both other Shareholders and the Board, to ask questions and to hear about recent developments in your Company's affairs. Finally, I would like to thank both our hardworking and loyal full-time staff and our professional advisers for their contributions in making this another successful year. I would also like to thank you, the Shareholders, for your continuing interest in and support for Wynnstay. Philip G.H. Collins Chairman CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT YEAR ENDED 25TH MARCH 2002 2002 2001 Restated £'000 £'000 Gross Rental Income 1,435 1,385 Fees and Commissions 19 23 ---------- ---------- 1,454 1,408 Property Outgoings 56 65 ---------- ---------- 1,398 1,343 Administration and Other Costs 422 384 ---------- ---------- Operating Profit 976 959 Profit on Disposal of Investment Properties 85 7 ---------- ---------- 1,061 966 Finance Costs (Net) 395 461 ---------- ---------- Profit on Ordinary Activities before Taxation 666 505 Taxation on Profit from Ordinary Activities 178 136 ---------- ---------- PROFIT AFTER TAXATION ATTRIBUTABLE TO ORDINARY SHAREHOLDERS 488 369 ========== ========== Dividends per share:- Interim Paid: 2.0p 2001: 1.875p 63 59 Final Payable: 4.75p 2001: 4.425p 150 140 ----- ------ ---------- ---------- Total: 6.75p 6.3p 213 199 ------ ------ ---------- ---------- RETAINED PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR Wynnstay Properties PLC 253 157 Subsidiary Companies 22 13 ---------- ---------- 275 170 ========== ========== BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE 15.5P 11.7P NORMALISED EARNINGS PER SHARE 13.5P 11.5P CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT 25TH MARCH 2002 2002 2001 Restated £'000 £'000 Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 14,578 14,178 Investments 56 54 ---------- ---------- 14,634 14,232 Current Assets Debtors 102 53 Cash at Bank and in Hand 353 180 ---------- ---------- 455 233 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (686) (602) ---------- ---------- NET CURRENT LIABILITIES (231) (369) ---------- ---------- TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 14,403 13,863 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year (6,450) (6,397) ---------- ---------- 7,953 7,466 Provisions for liabilities and charges (38) - ---------- ---------- 7,915 7,466 ========== ========== Capital and Reserves: Share Capital 789 789 Reserves Capital Redemption Reserve 205 205 Share Premium Account 1,135 1,135 Capital Reserve 151 151 Revaluation Reserve 2,836 2,740 ---------- ---------- Non-Distributable Reserves 4,327 4,231 Profit and Loss Account 2,799 2,446 ---------- ---------- Equity Shareholders' Funds 7,915 7,466 ========== ========== CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25TH MARCH 2002 2002 2001 £'000 £'000 CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 944 1,214 ----------- ----------- RETURNS ON INVESTMENT AND SERVICING OF FINANCE Interest Received 12 23 Interest Paid (374) (578) ----------- ----------- NET CASH (OUTFLOW) FROM RETURNS ON INVESTMENT AND SERVICING OF FINANCE (362) (555) ----------- ----------- TAXATION PAID (121) (143) ----------- ----------- CAPITAL EXPENDITURE AND FINANCIAL INVESTMENT Purchase of Tangible Fixed Assets (1,208) (742) Disposal of Tangible Fixed Assets 1,070 82 Purchase of Sinking Fund Policy Premium (1) (1) ----------- ----------- NET CASH (OUTFLOW) FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES (139) (661) ----------- ----------- EQUITY DIVIDENDS PAID (202) (192) ----------- ----------- NET CASH INFLOW/(OUTFLOW) BEFORE FINANCING 120 (337) FINANCING Drawdown of Bank Loan 6,450 700 Repayment of Bank Loan (6,397) (785) ----------- ----------- INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN CASH IN THE PERIOD 173 (422) =========== =========== RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT Increase/(Decrease) in Cash in the Period 173 (422) Cash (Outflow)/Inflow from Debt Financing (53) 85 ----------- ----------- Movement in Net Debt in the Period 120 (337) NET DEBT AT 25TH MARCH 2001 (6,217) (5,880) ----------- ----------- NET DEBT AT 25TH MARCH 2002 (6,097) (6,217) =========== =========== OTHER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 25TH MARCH 2002 2002 2001 Restated £'000 £'000 STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES Profit for the Financial Year after Taxation 488 369 Taxation on realised revaluation (11) - Unrealised Surplus on Revaluation of Investment Properties 185 428 ----------- ----------- Total Recognised Gains and Losses for the Year 662 797 =========== Prior year adjustment (52) ----------- Total Recognised Gains and Losses since last Annual Report 610 =========== RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS Opening Shareholders' Funds as at 26th March 2001 7,466 6,881 Profit for the Financial Year after Taxation 488 369 Dividends (213) (199) Other recognised gains and losses - as per Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses (as above) 174 428 ----------- ----------- 7,915 7,479 Prior year adjustment - 13 ----------- ----------- Closing Shareholders' Funds as at 25th March 2002 7,915 7,466 =========== =========== NOTE OF HISTORICAL COST PROFITS AND LOSSES Profit on Ordinary Activities before Taxation 666 505 Realisation of Property Revaluation Gains on Previous Years 89 51 ----------- ----------- Historical Cost Profit on Ordinary Activities before Taxation 755 556 =========== =========== Historical Cost Profit for the Year Retained after Taxation and Dividends 364 221 =========== =========== Notes 1. The financial information above does not constitute full accounts within the meaning of Section 240 Companies Act 1985 as amended (the 'Act'). Full accounts in respect of the year ended 25th March 2001, on which the auditors reported without qualification and which contained no statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Act, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 2. Basic earnings per share have been calculated on profits after taxation attributable to Shareholders of £488,000 (2001: £369,000) and on 3,155,267 ordinary shares being the weighted average number of shares in issue in both periods. Normalised earnings per share have been calculated on profits after taxation attributable to Shareholders, excluding profit on property disposals, of £427,000 (2001: £362,000) on the same weighted average 3,155,267 shares. 3. A final dividend of 4.75p (2001: 4.425p) per share is being recommended and will be paid on 30th July 2002 to Shareholders on the register at the close of business on 12th July 2002. 4. The 2002 Annual Report & Financial Statements will be posted to Shareholders shortly and copies may be obtained by writing to the Secretary, Wynnstay Properties PLC, Cleary Court, 21 St. Swithin's Lane, London EC4N 8AD. 5. The Company's Annual General Meeting will be held at 12 noon on Thursday 25th July 2002 at The Royal Automobile Club, 89 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HS. END This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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