Panther Securities Regulatory News (PNS)

25 Sep 2007 11:51

Panther Securities PLC25 September 2007 Panther Securities PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2007 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT INTRODUCTIONI am delighted to be able to report record figures for the six months to 30th June 2007 pre-tax profits amount to £5,543,000 compared to £1,692,000 for the same period last year. Despite our recent property sales over recent years, rents receivable during the period have held up well at £3,785,000 compared to £3,724,000 for the equivalent period last year. FINANCEIn our full year accounts to December 2006, I reported in detail upon our loan facility rearrangement, the financial benefits of which started to be seen this year. We are, however, not only saving money on our borrowing costs, but under the International Financial Reporting Standards, the financial value of our swap instruments is taken into account in our income statement and is included even if not yet realised. On 30th June 2007, our financial swap was worth approximately £2,500,000. Our borrowing costs on £50 million have been fixed but currently we are borrowing £35 million, so increases in short-term interest rates have the effect of lowering our net borrowing costs!! The valuation of the derivatives is calculated using future market interest rates which currently are very volatile. Therefore, the valuation of this asset changes daily and was valued at £1,569,000 on 24th September 2007. During this accounting period we repaid our remaining building society loans totalling £2.1 million. DISPOSALSIn February 2007, we sold at auction the following properties: 191-199 Rushey Green, Catford, London; Hainton House, Hainton Square, Grimsby; 74 Kilmarnock Road, Glasgow; 63/65 High Street, Dumbarton; Units 1 and 2, 4 High Street, Paisley. We also sold 107/109 George Street, Oban, in May 2007. These properties, which were producing £277,000 per annum, were sold for approximately £5,400,000; the profit on disposal was approximately £1,150,000. We have sold our entire ordinary shareholding in Real Estate Investors PLC for £740,000, realising a profit of £92,000. We still retain a convertible loan note in this company for £325,000, repayable in 2 years time or convertible into ordinary shares. ACQUISITIONSIn February 2007, we purchased freehold factories at Boraston Lane, Burford, Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire; Picts Lane, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire and Valley Road, Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, occupied by recently acquired subsidiary companies of Elektron PLC. We paid £4,600,000 (including stamp duty) and simultaneously entered into leaseback arrangements so that a total annual rental of £343,500 was immediately receivable. These three factories have a total net lettable area of 120,000 square feet on seven acres of land. 14,000 square feet are vacant, with the potential for an additional rental income of £50,000 per annum. PROGRESS REPORT 21/27 Guildhall Street, FolkestoneOur development of residential units above our shops in Folkestone was increased to 20 units and is progressing well, which means only slightly behind schedule. We expect to be able to offer them for sale in the very near future. 177-195 High Street, ScunthorpeWe recently let approximately half of our property in Scunthorpe, on a 25 year lease to Barracuda Pubs & Bars Limited at a commencing rental of £68,000 per annum, rising to £72,500 over five years, and when the remaining parts of this property are let, its current value should increase considerably. Pyewipe Industrial Estate, GrimsbyAfter the tenant of this 26,000 square foot single storey factory failed, we decided to divide the building into smaller, individual industrial units, of 1,250 to 2,500 square feet. There is a strong demand for small units, which in turn attract higher rents per square foot when let. Rather surprisingly, this needed planning permission, which we received after nearly a year of dealing with the local authority. Our works on the development will begin soon, and when finished and fully let, should produce over £100,000 per annum income. You will recall in my last report I briefly mentioned the new property stealth tax of abolishing rates relief for vacant properties. To me, it seems disgraceful that local authorities force the property owner to obtain planning permission for simple non-controversial matters, take an inordinately long time to make a decision and, at the same time, charge rates whilst you are waiting on them. Disgraceful! 199-205 High Street, PerthWe are currently carrying out a rear ground floor extension and major refurbishment of the property, which has been vacant for some time. We had previously only intended to carry out building works when we had pre-let the property, but prospective tenants have proved too demanding or kept changing their minds, so we decided to build speculatively. I am sure it will prove profitable. Brackla Shopping Centre, BridgendThis is a small out of town shopping centre which was acquired within the Northstar Group some years ago. It has always been fully let and has provided good rental growth. We have secured planning permission for five extra shop units, which we are hoping to start building soon. We are already receiving enquiries for these units from some major retailers. ELEKTRON PLCOur shareholders will be aware we are significant shareholders in this company, where we are optimistic that they will continue to prosper and that its expansion policy will enable us to occasionally acquire factory investments off-market to our mutual benefit. GENERAL OVERHEADSMy salary waiver has reduced overheads by over £250,000 in the period under review, compared to last year. TAX CHARGESOur provision for tax payments appears low and this is because from April 2008, large company tax rates change from 30% to 28% and this reduced rate of future tax payable has been shown in the deferred tax creditors and brought into the current tax payable calculations. DIVIDENDSAn interim dividend of 6p per share will be paid on 28th September 2007, and it is anticipated a final dividend of not less than 6p per share will be recommended to shareholders for approval at the next AGM and paid thereafter. POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTSIn August 2007, we purchased two freehold factories at Woodland Road and Woodland Close, Torquay, Devon, which comprises approximately 68,000 square feet on 3.5 acres, subject to a leaseback to Sifam Limited at £215,000 per annum exclusive following a one year rent free period. Our total cost, including stamp duty, was £2,430,000. Sifam Limited had immediately previous to this transaction been purchased by Elektron PLC. In August, we also purchased three further freeholds, a shop investment at 86-88 High Street, Margate for £525,000, a 10,000 square foot factory investment in Harwood Road, Littlehampton for £550,000 and a former Lloyds Bank at 216/218 Northdown Road, Cliftonville, Margate, for £300,000. This was a vacant property and, after minor works, will be offered for letting. From our recent acquisition experiences it appears to us that vendors have been taking a more realistic view of asset values, and this was even before the recent financial shake-out in the financial markets, which I have no doubt will affect many highly geared investors. Our policy of selling a portion of our portfolio over the last two or three years into a buoyant market has meant we are well placed to take advantage ofany exciting opportunities that may come our way by virtue of our low borrowing, unutilised facilities and cash funds. THE FOURTH HORSEMEN OF THE FINANCIAL APOCALYPSE HAS ARRIVED My previous Chairman's supplement was announced on 30th April 2007, having been prepared months earlier. I know many of you have read my "Four Horsemen of the Financial Apocalypse", but even I am surprised how quickly my warnings have come into effect. You will remember that in my last statement I suggested that when the factors of excessive debt, both personal and company, combined with the separation of management and ownership of wealth, massive deceit and the flightiness of money, all of which are currently present, a financial disaster of incalculable proportions could take place if some type of major problem creates panic or a loss of confidence occurs. I suggested that the place in which this might happen would be in hedge funds or some similar but poorly understood area which involves institutional gambling. As we all know, it is happening now! The American sub prime mortgage meltdown seems to have infected the world's banking communities. While it is easy to understand American banks and their funds getting into trouble, the problems have had far reaching repercussions in German, Chinese, British and French banks. Many insurance companies and pension funds have surreptitiously invested in these toxic funds. The Federal Reserve, European Central Bank and Bank of England have all stepped in to steady the financial markets. This, of course, is the only way to prevent the Armageddon that I predicted. Tax funded government bank intervention slows the pace of the monumental losses that are inherent in the banking system and allow the losses to be spread over time. This "sub prime" financial toxic waste will probably run for a year or two and regularly throw up new "surprises". We read in the press about worries that City bonuses may be reduced by 10%-15% - what an outrage! Surely they should forfeit their bonuses and repay some of last year's Bonus to all the shareholders and fund holders who have lost money from excessively high risk strategies which were carried out to increase their own incomes. Would they have been quite so reckless had it been their own money with which they were gambling. After the Wall Street Crash of October 1929, Professor J K Galbraith who lived through the experience said after such huge financial losses "people will look for and find the bezzle". This, of course, is an "Americanism" meaning the middle part of "embezzlement". I suspect, in due course, we will see many "class actions" against high profile banks and bonus-fuelled traders who will be found to have been working in their own interests rather than that of their customers, some of whom inevitably won't survive the experience. Of course, I have some stories from my past which, I feel, have some relevance. This time they start when I was very young. It was my parent's way that even at a pre-teen age, if I wanted pocket money, I should earn it by carrying out some home tasks. One day, my father promised to give me five shillings for cleaning his car. I set about this task with a vengeance, doing a very thorough job. The paintwork, windows and wheels gleamed brightly, and I was justifiably proud of the result. I fetched my father to show him my handiwork and claim my reward. He inspected the car and said "Well done, it's very good". He started fishing round in his pockets and found he did not have any money, except a shilling coin. "Here you are, that's all I can find". I blew my top, threw the coin back at him, shouting rudely. He grabbed hold of me and gave me (nowadays so politically incorrect) a bloody good hiding. By the evening at dinner time, tears and tantrums had subsided and nearly been forgotten about. My father explained that he did not wallop me for calling him a "bloody stingy mean old sod", but for throwing the shilling and showing such disrespect for money. He told me money in big or small amounts is very important and should always be treated with care and respect. I now fast-forward about twenty years, when one Saturday morning, having just been to a furniture auction viewing at Phillips in a leafy backwater of Bayswater. I was strolling casually back to my car, when I noticed a very smart city gent walking towards me. He was a tall, slim, middle aged man and wearing a dark pin-stripe suit and black bowler hat and also carrying a rolled up umbrella, even though it was, and did not appear that there was any likelihood of rain. I was struck by his smartness, because I was well aware of my own sartorial elegance which, at the best of times, is only noticeable by its absence. As he was nearing me, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket to dab his brow, and I heard a tinkling noise which I instantly knew was a silver coin. I looked down and saw that he had dropped a shilling in the gutter. I said, "Excuse me, sir, but you've dropped a shilling" and pointed to the coin. He replied condescendingly in a very posh voice "Oh, that's very kind of you to point that out, but I won't bother with it". I then said, "Well, if you don't want it, I'll have it" and bent down and picked it out of the gutter. He was about to turn away when I unlocked my much loved black Rolls Royce. He looked surprised, and laughed uproariously, then smiling, said to me: "You know, there must be a moral here somewhere". AND OF COURSE, HE WAS CORRECT. Some couple of years later, when the property market was in deep depression, I received an early phone call from one of my agent friends. "Hello Andrew, I don't know if I've got good news or bad news for you." "Fire away" I said. "That's just it, that property I bought you last year, the five shops in Upton Lane. Well, I pass it every morning and I have just passed it and it had flames up to the sky with five fire engines outside fighting the huge fire. It looks terrible, so I don't know if that's good news or bad news for you", he told me. "If no-one's hurt and it's a complete write-off, it's probably good news, but if only a partial claim, it will be a pain in the neck to deal with." By the afternoon, a District Surveyor had called us and arranged to meet at what was left of the property at 9am the next morning, which we did. The whole of the internal structure of the property had been gutted, but all main outside and dividing brick main walls still stood. The council surveyor, after five minutes external viewing, decided the property was unsafe and would arrange for a demolition order to be served. We asked him if he could recommend some council approved demolition contractors who would be suitable for the job. He recommended three contractors, each of whom we asked for quotes. Within days, we received the quotes, and as far as I can remember, they were about £36,000, £37,500 and slightly over £40,000. Although we were fully covered and the insurance company would have picked up the entire bill, it appeared to me that it was surprisingly high. We asked one of the contractors why the quotes were so unexpectedly high and he explained that it "was an emergency rushed job". Not altogether satisfied with his explanation, and having obviously inherited the "mean old sod" gene, I phoned a couple of other demolition contractors that we found in Yellow Pages, and within a few hours one of them had inspected the site and phoned back quoting £10,500. As I thought he had made a mistake, I asked him to put the quote in writing, which was subsequently delivered by hand. Obviously we accepted, and the work was carried out satisfactorily within a week. After our chosen contractor had been paid, I asked him why he was so much cheaper than three other companies and, upon being told who they were, he informed me that one of the contractors was the brother-in-law of the district surveyor, and the other two were friends of the first contractor. It was common knowledge in the trade that they often organised similar quotes and when the lowest one got the contract, they shared the excess profit. I have no idea if this story is true or false - but I always felt it had the ring of truth. When government spending is over £500,000,000,000, it is inconceivable that there is not at least a 2% or 3% Bezzle rate which, if eliminated, could allow for abolition of capital gains tax and inheritance tax. Even with out changing most of the current daft policies, there is certainly another 10% of waste that could be easily eliminated without any noticeable effect, and this would transform our taxation system by taking out of taxation low earners. Every local authority should have an experienced worldly-wise "mean old sod" to look over all contracts and items of expenditure to watch out for the Bezzle or waste factor. The many politicians who pontificate about the impossibilities of reducing taxation are blithering idiots. CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTfor the six months ended 30 June 2007 Six Six months months Year ended ended ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Revenue 2 5,142 4,247 9,722Cost of sales 2 (1,557) (1,165) (2,930)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Gross profit 3,585 3,082 6,792 Other income 46 54 153Administrative expenses (1,058) (1,026) (2,503)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2,573 2,110 4,442 Profit on the disposal of investment properties 1,151 171 438Movement in fair value of investment properties - 70 6,081Fair value gain on derivative financial assets 2,515 - -Finance costs (962) (1,437) (2,669)Investment income 190 323 490Profit on the disposal of available for sale investments (shares) 76 480 497Surplus of assets acquired over consideration given - - 15Share of result from Associate - (25) (25)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Profit before tax 5,543 1,692 9,269 Income tax expense 3 (226) (112) (1,924)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Profit for the period 5,317 1,580 7,345---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Attributable to:Equity holders of the parent 5,328 1,589 7,387Minority interest (11) (9) (42)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Net profit for the period 5,317 1,580 7,345---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Earnings per share Basic and diluted 5 31.3 p 9.3 p 43.5 p------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETAs at 30 June 2007 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 Notes £'000 £'000 £'000ASSETS Non-current assets:Property, plant and equipment 30 20 21Investment property 7 105,303 100,170 104,521Goodwill - 13 -Derivative financial assets 2,515 - -Available for sale investments (shares) 2,006 1,779 2,051--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 109,854 101,982 106,593 Current assets:Inventories 96 152 269Stock properties 9,374 9,770 9,374Available for sale investments (shares) - 424 423Trade and other receivables 3,356 3,547 3,369Cash and cash equivalents 6,637 5,594 7,736--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19,463 19,487 21,171---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total assets 129,317 121,469 127,764--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- EQUITY AND LIABILITIESEquity attributable to equity holders of the parentCapital and reserves:Share capital 4,250 4,250 4,250Share premium account 2,886 2,886 2,886Capital redemption reserve 571 571 571Retained earnings 8 69,862 59,650 65,562--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 77,569 67,357 73,269Minority interest 83 116 93---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total equity 77,652 67,473 73,362---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Non-current liabilities:Long-term borrowings 35,011 38,009 36,989Deferred tax liabilities 11,156 10,778 12,272--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 46,167 48,787 49,261 Current liabilities:Trade and other payables 3,879 3,988 4,364Short-term borrowings - 109 135Current tax payable 1,619 1,112 642--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5,498 5,209 5,141---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total liabilities 51,665 53,996 54,402---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total equity and liabilities 129,317 121,469 127,764--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSEfor the six months ended 30 June 2007 Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Movement in fair value of available forsale investments (shares) taken to equity (23) 116 276 Deferred tax relating to movement in fairvalue of available for sale investments (shares) taken to equity 15 (110) (156)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Net income/ (expense) taken directly to equity (8) 6 120 Profit for the period 5,317 1,580 7,345--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Total recognised income and expense for the 5,309 1,586 7,465period--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Attributable to:Equity holders of the parent 5,320 1,595 7,507Minority interest (11) (9) (42)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5,309 1,586 7,465-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENTfor the six months ended 30 June 2007 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIESProfit before interest, investment income and tax 2,573 2,110 4,442Add: Depreciation charges for the year 6 3 9Less: Profit on sale of available to sale investments (shares) - current assets (16) - - Less: Provision against available for sale investments (shares) - current assets - (13) (12) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Profit before working capital change 2,563 2,100 4,439 (Increase) / decrease in inventories 173 47 (70)(Increase) / decrease in stock properties - (236) 160(Increase) / decrease in receivables 14 (192) 25Increase / (decrease) in payables (445) (636) (203)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cash generated from operations 2,305 1,083 4,351 Interest paid (1,001) (1,437) (2,730)Income tax paid (350) (479) (1,424)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Net cash from operating activities 954 (833) 197---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIESPurchase of plant and equipment (15) (3) (10)Purchase of investment properties 7 (5,047) (1,516) (1,648)Purchase of available for sale investments (shares) - non current assets (205) - (200) Purchase of available for sale investments (shares) - current assets - (1) (1) Net cash acquired with subsidiary - 361 361Proceeds from sale of investment properties 5,416 1,469 3,527Proceeds from disposal of available for sale investments (shares) - current assets 114 - - Proceeds from disposal of available for sale investments (shares) - non current assets 627 1,749 1,969 Dividend income received 10 8 45Interest income received 180 315 445----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Net cash from investing activities 1,080 2,382 4,488---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CASH FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIESNew loans net of repayments (2,113) (8,631) (9,625)Dividends paid 4 (1,020) (1,870) (1,870)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Net cash used in financing activities (3,133) (10,501) (11,495)----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (1,099) (8,952) (6,810) Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of 7,736 14,546 14,546period----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period 6,637 5,594 7,736---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. Basis of preparation of accounts The results for the year ended 31 December 2006 have been audited whilst theresults for the six months ended 30 June 2006 and 30 June 2007 are un-audited.The interim report is un-audited and does not constitute statutory accounts asdefined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for theyear ended 31 December 2006 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.The auditors' opinion on these accounts was unqualified and did not contain astatement made under s237(2) or s237(3) of the Companies Act 1985. Copies of thereport are available from the address shown in note 9. There is no material seasonality associated with the group's activities. To the best of the Directors' knowledge, the half yearly interim financialreport gives a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial positionand profit or loss of the entity and were approved by the board on 20 September2007. The Interim figures are prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set outin the last annual report to 31 December 2006. Additionally IAS 39 has beenapplied for the interim figures for the treatment of Derivative financialassets. The Derivative financial instruments are recognised on the balance sheetat fair value with its gain or loss in value over the period being shown withinthe income statement. Under IAS 39 the fair value of the Derivative financialinstruments is calculated using the yield curve to work out the net presentvalue of future cash flows derived from the instrument. Shares held as 'Available for sale investments' in current assets are no longerintended for disposal in the next 12 months, as such they have been reclassifiedas non current assets. 2. Revenue and cost of sales The majority of the revenue cost of sales and profit before taxation isattributable to the principal activity of the Group and all of which iscontinuing. The Group's main business segment is that of investment and dealingin property and securities. M.R.G. Systems Ltd is a separate business segment whose principal activity isthat of electronic designers, engineers and consultants. The split of assets andtax effect of each segment is not shown as these are not material in relation toM.R.G. Systems Ltd. M.R.G. Systems Ltd became a subsidiary on 1 April 2006. Turnover arose as follows: 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Rental income 3,785 3,724 7,510Income from sale of stock properties - - 1,007 Proceeds from disposal of available for sale investments (shares) - current assets 114 - - Income from trading (M.R.G.Systems Ltd) 1,243 523 1,205----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5,142 4,247 9,722----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cost of sales arose as 30 June 30 June 31 Decemberfollows: 2007 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Cost of sales - from rental income 634 833 1,695Stock properties recognised as an expense - - 514Cost of sales - available for sale investments (shares) - current assets 99 - -Cost of sales - trading (M.R.G. Systems Ltd) 824 332 721 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,557 1,165 2,930------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Taxation The charge for taxation comprises the following: 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Current period UK corporation tax 1,327 455 1,108 Prior period UK corporation tax - - (290) Current period deferred tax (1,101) (343) 1,106------------------------------------------------------------- 226 112 1,924------------------------------------------------------------- The taxation charge is calculated by applying the Directors' best estimate ofthe annual effective tax rate to the profit for the period. 4. Dividends Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the period: 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Final dividend for the year 1,020 850 850ended 31 December 2006 of 6p (2005 - 6p) per share Interim dividend for the year - 1,020 1,020ended 31 December 2006 of 6p per share ------------------------------------------------------------ 1,020 1,870 1,870------------------------------------------------------------ The Directors have already proposed an interim dividend of 6p per share thatwill be paid on 28 September 2007. The Directors anticipate recommending a final dividend of not less than 6p pershare for the year ended 31 December 2006. 5. Earnings per ordinary share (basic and diluted) The calculation of earnings per ordinary share is based on earnings, afterminority interests, of £5,328,000 (30 June 2006 - £1,589,000 and 31 December2006 - £7,387,000) and on 16,998,151 (30 June 2006 and 31 December 2006 -16,998,151) ordinary shares being the weighted average number of ordinary sharesin issue throughout the six months ended 30 June 2007. 6. Net assets per share 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 Net assets per share 456p 396p 431p------------------------------------------------------------ The calculation of net asset per ordinary share is based on the equityattributable to shareholders of the equity in the parent company, and on16,998,151 (30 June 2006 and 31 December 2006 - 16,998,151) ordinary sharesbeing the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue throughout the sixmonths ended 30 June 2007. 7. Investment Properties 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fair value of investment property At 1 January 104,521 99,881 99,881Additions 5,047 1,516 1,648Disposals (4,265) (1,297) (3,089)Revaluation increase - 70 6,081--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 105,303 100,170 104,521--------------------------------------------------------------------------- The directors do not consider there to be a material change in value since thedirectors' valuation for the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2006. It isintended that an independent professional valuation will be obtained for theyear ending 31 December 2007. 8. Retained earnings 30 June 30 June 31 December 2007 2006 2006 £'000 £'000 £'000 At 1 January 65,562 59,925 59,925 Profit for the period 5,328 1,589 7,387Movement in fair value of available for sale investments (shares) taken to equity (23) 116 276 Deferred tax relating to movement in fair value of available for sale investments (shares) taken to equity 15 (110) (156) Dividends paid (1,020) (1,870) (1,870)--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 69,862 59,650 65,562--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. Copies of this report are to be sent to all shareholders and are availablefrom the Company's registered office at Panther House, 38 Mount Pleasant, LondonWC1X 0AP. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange