RNS Number:1194T
Ashpol PLC
10 December 2003

10 December 2003 
 
Introduction 

The Group owns a property portfolio which contains nursing homes, a leisure park and office accommodation.

Group results for the year ended 14 August 2003

Profit and loss account 

Group turnover for the twelve months to 14 August 2002 was #9.70m (2002 - #9.87m).

Administration costs decreased from #1.69m in 2002 to #0.27m. The reduction was primarily due to two expense items in
2002 that did not recur in 2003; impairment of goodwill #1.03m and impairment of investment property #0.3m.

Operating profit was #8.95m (2002 - #7.68m), representing 92% of turnover (2002 - 78%).

The sale of investment properties generated a #0.83m profit in the year (2002 - no sales).

Group retained profit for the year was #2.27m (2002 - #0.23m).

Balance sheet 

The group held investment properties with a cost of #119m at 14 August 2003 (2002 - #126m). The directors have taken
the decision not to revalue investment properties at the year end as they do not believe the additional information a
revaluation would provide justifies the additional cost.

Accounting standards require investment properties to be included in the Financial Statements at open market value
and therefore the audit report has been qualified for this non-compliance with accounting standards.

                                                                                                           
            Unaudited consolidated profit & loss account                                                   
            for the year ended 14 August 2003                                                              
                                                                                  Year ended    Year ended 
                                                                                   14 August     14 August  
                                                                          Note          2003          2002 
                                                                                       #'000         #'000
  
            Rental income                                                              9,699         9,872              
            Property outgoings                                                         (472)         (503)              
                                                                                       
            Gross profit                                                               9,227         9,369              
                                                                                        
            Administrative expenses                                                    (274)       (1,688)              
                                                                                        
            Operating profit                                                           8,953         7,681              
                                                                                        
            Profit on disposals of fixed assets                                          828             -              
                                                                                          
            Profit on ordinary activities before interest and taxation                 9,781         7,681              
                                                                                        
            Interest receivable                                                        1,348         1,138              
                                                                                        
            Interest payable                                                         (8,172)       (8,096)              
                                                                                      
            Profit on ordinary activities before taxation                              2,957           723              
                                                                                        
            Taxation on profit on ordinary activities                        4         (579)         (386)              
                                                                              
            Profit on ordinary activities after taxation                               2,378           337              
     
            Dividends (non-equity)                                         2           (104)         (106)              
                                                                                        
            Retained profit for the year                                               2,274           231              
     
                                                                                        
All amounts relate to continuing activities.
All recognised gains and losses are included in the profit and loss account.

                                                                                            
            Unaudited consolidated balance sheet                            
            at 14 August 2003                                               
                                                      14 August   14 August 
                                                           2003        2002 
                                                          #'000       #'000  
                                                
            Fixed assets -investment properties 3       119,484     126,035 
            Current assets                                                  
            Debtors                                      16,810       8,509                   
                                                                          
            Cash at bank                                    898         927                
                                                                             
                                                                                            
                                                         17,708       9,436
 
            Creditors falling due within one year       (3,909)     (4,733)                     
                                                                        
            Net current assets                           13,799       4,703                    
                                                                         
            Total assets less current liabilities       133,283     130,738 

            Creditors falling due after one year       (75,000)    (75,000)                      
                                                                       
            Provisions for liabilities and charges        (657)       (386)                   
                                                                          
            Net assets                                   57,626      55,352 
            Capital and reserves                                            
            Called up share capital - equity              7,378       7,378                   
                                                                          
                                    - non-equity         40,632      40,632 
                                                                                            
                                                         48,010      48,010 

            Share premium account                         7,069       7,069                   
                                                                          
            Capital redemption reserve                       42          42                
                                                                             
            Profit and loss account                       2,505         231                   
                                                                          
            Total shareholders' funds                    57,626      55,352                    
                                                                         
            
                                                                                         
                  Unaudited consolidated summarised cash flow statement                              
                  for the year ended 14 August 2003                                                  
                                                                            Year ended    Year ended  
                                                                             14 August     14 August 
                                                                                  2003          2002 
                                                                                 #'000         #'000  

                  Net cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities          (477)           130                    
                                                                                 
                  Returns on investment and servicing of finance               (6,928)       (7,794)                    
  
                                                                               
                  Taxation                                                         (3)             -                   
                                                                                   
                  Capital expenditure and financial investment                   7,379      (88,200)                    
                                                                                 
                  Acquisitions and disposals                                         -       (8,894)                 
                                                                                     
                  Equity dividends paid                                              -             -                 
                                                                                     
                  Cash (outflow) / inflow before financing                        (29)     (104,758)                    
                                                                                  
                  Financing                                                          -      (25,478)                 
                                                                                     
                  (Decrease) / increase in cash                                   (29)     (130,236)                    
                                                                                  
                  Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash                                     
                  flow from operating activities                                                     
                                                                            Year ended    Year ended 
                                                                             14 August     14 August 
                                                                                  2003          2002 
                                                                                 #'000         #'000 

                  Operating profit                                               8,953         7,681 

                  Impairment of goodwill                                             -         1,025                  
                                                                                    
                  (Increase) / decrease in debtors                             (8,301)       (6,697)                    
                                                                               
                  (Decrease) / increase in creditors                           (1,129)       (2,179)                    
                                                                               
                  Impairment of fixed asset investment property                      -           300                 
                                                                                     
                  Net cash (outflow) / inflow from operating activities          (477)           130                    
                                                                                 

Notes to the preliminary announcement 

 
     1. Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and, except as indicated below, are
in accordance with United Kingdom accounting standards. The principal accounting policies have been applied
consistently during both the current year and the previous year. In order to show a true and fair view, the group's
accounting policy in respect of investment properties departs from the requirements of the Companies Act 1985.
Details of this departure are given in the accounting policy for investment properties below.

Compliance with accounting standards 

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards except in respect of
the requirement of Statement of Standard Accounting Practice No. 19 that all investment properties should be included
in the financial statements at their current open market value as the directors do not believe the additional
information this would provides justifies the cost of a valuation. Investment properties are recorded in the
financial statements at cost.

Goodwill 

Goodwill arising on an acquisition of a trade or subsidiary undertaking is the difference between the fair value of
the consideration paid and the fair value of the assets and liabilities acquired. Positive goodwill is capitalised
and amortised through the profit and loss account over the directors' estimate of its useful economic life.
Impairment tests on the carrying value of goodwill are undertaken:
 
     - at the end of the first full financial year following acquisition; and 
     - in other periods if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be
       recoverable.

Deferred tax 
 
Deferred tax balances are recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed by
the balance sheet date except that the recognition of deferred tax assets is limited to the extent that the group
anticipates making sufficient taxable profits in the future to absorb the reversal of the underlying timing
differences.

Deferred tax balances are not discounted.

 
     2. Dividends

                                                                                                                      
                                                                                             Year ended    Year ended 
                                                                                              14 August     14 August 
                                                                                                   2003          2002 
                                                                                                  #'000        #'000  
  Non-Equity Shares:                                                                                                  
  10% Cumulative Preference Shares - paid                                                           104          106  
                                                                                                    104          106 
  The directors do not propose an equity dividend                                                                     
                                                                                                                      

  3.     Fixed assets - investment properties                                                                         
                                                                                                  #'000               
  Balance at 15 August 2002                                                                     126,035               
  Additions                                                                                       9,284               
  Disposals                                                                                    (15,835)               
  Balance at 14 August 2003                                                                     119,484               

  4.     Taxation on profit on ordinary activities                                           Year ended    Year ended 
                                                                                              14 August     14 August 
                                                                                                   2003          2002 
                                                                                                  #'000         #'000 
  Current tax - current tax on profit for the year                                                  308             - 
  Deferred tax - origination of timing differences                                                  271           386 
                                                                                                    579           386 

  The tax assessed for the year is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the                             
  UK. The differences are explained below:                                                                            

  Profit on ordinary activities at the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 30%            887           217 
  (2001 - 30%)                                                                                                        

  Effect of:                                                                                                          
  Expenses not deductable for tax purposes                                                           69           194 
  Capital allowances for the year                                                                 (271)         (386) 
  Utilisation of losses brought forward                                                            (18)          (25) 
  Tax allowances on property disposals                                                            (359)              -
  Current tax charge for the year                                                                   308             - 
                                                                                       

  5.     Net debt                                       
                                                              Year ended    Year ended 
                                                               14 August     14 August 
                                                                    2003          2002 
                                                                   #'000         #'000 
                                 Repayable as follows:                                 
                                 After more than five years     (75,000)      (75,000) 
                                 Cash                                898           927 

                                 Net debt                       (74,102)      (74,073)                        
                                                                
 

6.          Statutory accounts

These preliminary results for the year ended 14 August 2003 have been prepared using accounting policies unchanged
from those set out in the company's 14 August 2002 statutory financial statements. Full audited accounts for the year
ended 14 August 2003 will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies and shareholders in due course. The financial
information for the year ended 14 August 2002 is extracted from the audited financial statements to that date which
have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors report on the 2002 financial statements did not
contain a statement under S237(2) or (3) of the Act.

The statutory accounts for the year ended 14 August 2003 are expected to include a qualified audit report as a result
of non-compliance with Statement of Standard Accounting Practice 19. The audit report in the prior year was qualified
for a similar reason. The financial information contained in this preliminary announcement does not constitute
statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985.


7.     Company Information 


Directors                W S Benjamin
                         K D McGrath
                         M Pashley
                         I Smith

Secretary                A M Jacobs

Registered Office        5 Wigmore Street
                         London
                         W1U 1PB
                         

Registered Number        104394
 
END  


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

FR FFLFWSSDSEDE