Camellia Regulatory News (CAM)

Chairman's statement

The profit before tax, excluding biological asset gains, was £12,996,000 for the six months to 30 June 2012 compared with a profit of £14,112,000 for the same period last year. The current period biological asset gains were £16,079,000 of which £15,751,000 are attributable to our Malawi operations following the significant devaluation of the Malawian Kwacha in May 2012. A similar amount has reduced reserves in the balance sheet. Both these amounts are non-cash items and are required to be treated in this manner under International Accounting Standards. As a result, the profit before tax was £29,075,000 compared with a profit of £14,129,000 for the same period last year.

The board has declared an interim dividend of 32p per ordinary share payable on 8 October 2012 to shareholders registered on 7 September 2012.

Tea

India

Variable weather conditions have led to an overall reduction in crop yields in The Dooars and Assam regions. Production costs have increased mainly due to higher labour and energy costs. However, tea prices are marginally ahead of the same period last year.

Bangladesh

Crop levels are ahead of budget following the favourable weather during the growing season. Prices have increased in the local market. The benefits of the improvement to management and husbandry practices are starting to filter through with improved crop yields and better quality.

Africa

Production in Kenya is down this year following an exceptional dry spell at the beginning of the year, although production has been excellent following the rains in April. Production in Malawi is slightly below last year. Tea prices in both Kenya and Malawi have remained strong in the first half of the year. The rebuilding of our tea processing factory in the Thyolo district of Malawi, following its destruction by fire, is underway.

The political situation in Malawi is stable following the death of the former president and the devaluation of the Malawian Kwacha has been beneficial to the local economy particularly as far as availability of essential imports is concerned.

The Sireet Outgrowers Empowerment company has given Kakuzi notice that it will exercise its option to buy the 50.5% of the Siret Tea company that it does not already own.

Edible nuts

Macadamia production in Malawi and South Africa is marginally below last year, principally due to hail damage on one of our South African estates and a dry period in Malawi at the time of flowering. Prices have remained buoyant.

In California, the biennial pistachio harvest takes place in the second half of the year and prospects are expected to be in line with a normal 'on' year for production.

Other horticulture

Avocado production at Kakuzi in Kenya is expected to significantly improve following the drought in the previous year. Sale prices are expected to be lower than last year due to greater availability in the European market of fruit from Peru.

Our citrus crop in California has improved over last year and prices are better than expected.

Our wine harvest in South Africa was slightly ahead of the previous year.

Food storage and distribution

Occupancy levels in Associated Cold Stores and Transport's cold stores improved in the first six months of this year and the company returned to profitability. However the market for cold storage in the UK remains very competitive with overcapacity. Our businesses in the Netherlands continue to suffer from the problems with the Euro and the low economic growth in the Netherlands.

Engineering

Our engineering group continues to operate in a varied environment. AKD Engineering has had a difficult start to the year due to a major contract delay, while our Scottish based companies have had a successful first six months. The new Abbey Metal Finishing facility in Hinckley is now fully operational, notwithstanding one or two teething problems, and they are beginning to win new orders in the aerospace sector. GU Cutting and Grinding Services is fully operational from its new facility in Stockport and the future looks promising for their new water jet and grinding machines. For our other engineering companies, orders are being placed intermittently and margins remain competitive.

Banking

Duncan Lawrie occupies a niche position as a small private bank offering excellent personal service to its clients, without the risk inherent in its larger competitors with investment banking operations. It is to be hoped that we can increase our client base in the present uncertain market conditions. The current lack of any meaningful margin on depositors' funds makes it more difficult to achieve a satisfactory return on capital employed but our asset management and trust operations are performing to expectations and we remain confident for the future.

Prospects

Our agricultural operations are continuing to make a positive contribution to profits, but the increasing costs of production and labour remain a cause for concern. The continuation of this contribution is of course dependent on benign climatic conditions, reasonable sale prices and the continued political stability in the countries in which we operate, none of which can be guaranteed. The group has no net debt and remains in a strong financial position but, as usual, it is not possible to give any indication of the likely outcome for the full year.

M C Perkins

Chairman

30 August 2012

Interim management report

The chairman's statement forms part of this report and includes important events that have occurred during the six months ended 30 June 2012 and their impact on the financial statements set out herein.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The directors' report in the statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011 (the accounts are available on the company's website: www.camellia.plc.uk) highlighted risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the group's businesses. As these businesses are widely spread both in terms of activity and location, it is unlikely that any one single factor could have a material impact on the group's performance. These risks and uncertainties continue to be relevant for the remainder of the year. In addition, the chairman's statement included in this report refers to certain specific risks and uncertainties that the group is presently facing.

Statement of directors' responsibilities

The directors confirm that these condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the European Union, and that the interim management report herein includes a fair review of the information required by sections 4.2.7 and 4.2.8 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority.

The directors of Camellia Plc are listed in the Camellia Plc statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011. There have been no subsequent changes of directors and a list of current directors is maintained on the group's website at www.camellia.plc.uk.

By order of the board

M C Perkins

Chairman

30 August 2012

Consolidated income statement

for the six months ended 30 June 2012

Statement of comprehensive income

for the six months ended 30 June 2012

Consolidated balance sheet

at 30 June 2012

Consolidated cash flow statement

for the six months ended 30 June 2012

For the purposes of the cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents are included net of overdrafts repayable on demand. These overdrafts are excluded from the definition of cash and cash equivalents disclosed on the balance sheet.

Statement of changes in equity

for the six months ended 30 June 2012

Notes to the accounts

1 Basis of preparation

These financial statements are the interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Camellia Plc, a company registered in England, and its subsidiaries (the "group") for the six month period ended 30 June 2012 (the "Interim Report"). They should be read in conjunction with the Report and Accounts (the "Annual Report") for the year ended 31 December 2011.

The financial information contained in this interim report has not been audited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. A copy of the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2011 has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' opinion on these accounts was unqualified and does not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph or a statement made under Section 498(2) and Section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The interim condensed financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") including IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting". For these purposes, IFRS comprise the Standards issued by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB") and Interpretations issued by the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") that have been adopted by the European Union.

Where necessary, the comparatives have been reclassified from the previously reported interim results to take into account any presentational changes made in the Annual Report.

These interim condensed financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 30 August 2012. At the time of approving these financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the company and the group have adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future. They therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

2 Accounting policies

These interim condensed financial statements have been prepared on the basis of accounting policies consistent with those applied in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2011.

3 Cyclical and seasonal factors

Due to climatic conditions the group's tea operations in India and Bangladesh produce most of their crop during the second half of the year. Tea production in Kenya remains at consistent levels throughout the year but in Malawi the majority of tea is produced in the first six months.

Soya and maize in Brazil are generally harvested in the first half of the year. In California the pistachio crop occurs in the second half of the year and has 'on' and 'off' years. Avocados in Kenya are mostly harvested in the second half of the year.

There are no other cyclical or seasonal factors which have a material impact on the trading results.

4 Segment reporting

Agriculture and horticulture current period trading profit includes exchange gains of £1,756,000 following the devaluation of the Malawian Kwacha.

5 Share of associates' results

The group's share of the results of associates is analysed below:

6 Profit on non-current assets

A profit of £994,000 has been realised following part recovery of insurance claims received in relation to the property, plant and equipment destroyed by the fire in 2011 at one of the tea processing factories owned by Eastern Produce Malawi Limited.

In 2011, an additional profit of £534,000 was realised in relation to the property, plant and equipment destroyed by the fire in 2010 at the Nuneaton premises of Abbey Metal Finishing Limited.

7 Gain arising from changes in fair value of biological assets

Included in the biological asset gain of £16,079,000 is a gain of £15,751,000 attributable to the group's Malawi operations following the significant devaluation of the Malawian Kwacha in May 2012.

8 Finance income and costs

The above figures do not include any amounts relating to the banking subsidiaries.

9 Taxation on profit on ordinary activities

Tax on profit on ordinary activities for the six months to 30 June 2012 has been calculated on the basis of the estimated annual effective rate for the year ending 31 December 2012.

10 Equity dividends

Dividends amounting to £52,000 (2011: six months £50,000 - year £69,000) have not been included as group companies hold 62,500 issued shares in the company. These are classified as treasury shares.

The proposed interim dividend was approved by the board of directors on 30 August 2012 and has not been included as a liability in these financial statements.

11 Earnings per share (EPS)

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the

weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue of 2,779,500 (2011: six months 2,779,500 - year 2,779,500), which excludes 62,500 (2011: six months 62,500 - year 62,500) shares held by the group as treasury shares.

12 Property, plant and equipment

During the six months ended 30 June 2012 the group acquired assets with a cost of £9,059,000 (2011: six months £10,351,000 - year £20,790,000). Assets with a carrying amount of £66,000 were disposed of during the six months ended 30 June 2012 (2011: six months £91,000 - year £366,000).

13 Cash and cash equivalents

Included in cash and cash equivalents of £273,903,000 (2011: six months £263,322,000 - year £260,916,000) are cash and short-term funds, time deposits with banks and building societies and certificates of deposit amounting to £197,651,000 (2011: six months £188,507,000 - year £181,278,000), which are held by banking subsidiaries and which are an integral part of the banking operations of the group.

14 Assets/liabilities held for sale

On 18 May 2012, Kakuzi Limited a group subsidiary in Kenya, received notice from Sireet Outgrower Empowerment and Producer Company Limited (formerly EPK Outgrowers Project Company Limited) of its intention to purchase the remaining 50.5 per cent. shareholding in Siret Tea Company Limited which it does not already own. This is in accordance with the agreement signed in 2007. As a result, the assets and liabilities of Siret Tea Company Limited have been classified as held for sale at 30 June 2012. Following the Competition Authority of Kenya approval on 16 August 2012, it is expected that this transaction will be completed on 31 August 2012.

15 Borrowings

Borrowings (current and non-current) include loans and finance leases of £451,000 (2011: six months £639,000 - year £479,000) and bank overdrafts of £10,741,000 (2011: six months £10,579,000 - year £7,012,000). The following loans and finance leases were issued and repaid during the six months ended 30 June 2012:

16 Retirement benefit schemes

The UK defined benefit pension scheme for the purpose of IAS 19 has been updated to 30 June 2012 from the valuation as at 31 December 2011 by the actuary and the movements have been reflected in this interim statement. Overseas schemes have not been updated from 31 December 2011 valuations as it is considered that there have been no significant changes.

An actuarial loss of £4,910,000 was realised in the period, of which a gain of £2,162,000 was realised in relation to the scheme assets and a loss of £7,072,000 was realised in relation to changes in the underlying actuarial assumptions. The assumed discount rate has decreased to 4.25% (31 December 2011: 4.70%), the assumed rate of inflation (CPI) has decreased to 1.80% (31 December 2011: 2.00%) and the assumed rate of increases for salaries to 1.80% (31 December 2011: 2.00%). There has been no change in the mortality assumptions used.

17 Reconciliation of profit from operations to cash flow

19 Related party transactions

There have been no related party transactions that had a material effect on the financial position or performance of the group in the first six months of the financial year.

For further enquiries please contact Camellia Plc

Malcolm Perkins, Chairman

01622 746655

30 August 2012