4 July 2008
Panther Securities PLC
("Panther" or "the Company")
Sale of a derivative financial instrument and an investment property
The Company announces that on 3 July 2008 it cancelled one of its derivative
financial instruments with HSBC Bank plc ("HSBC"). This was an interest rate
swap which fixed £25,000,000 of its loans at a rate of 4.90 per cent.
(excluding margin) until 1 March 2021. The Company received a premium of £
1,240,000 from HSBC in consideration for the cancellation.
This cancellation is in addition to the interest rate swap cancellation
announced on 16 June 2008, which resulted in a premium of £1,120,000 being paid
to the Company.
At the year end, these interest rate swaps were valued at £572,000, as reported
in note 30 to the consolidated financial accounts for the year ended 31
December 2007 copies of which are available for download on the Company's
website.
In addition, the Company also announces that it has entered into a 30 year
interest rate swap, fixing £35,000,000 at 5.06 per cent. (excluding margin)
until 1 September 2038. No premium was required for this transaction. The
Company has entered into this arrangement as a hedge for the current borrowings
of £35,000,000 drawn down against its existing £42,500,000 facility.
Furthermore, the Company also announced on 16 June 2007 that it had sold at
auction its property at 245-249 Whitechapel Road, London E1, which had
exchanged at £2,655,000 showing a book profit (before tax) of approximately £
1,350,000. The Company is pleased to announce that this sale has now completed.
The Company's cash balances at 4 July 2008 stood at approximately £10,600,000.
Panther also has undrawn loan facilities available of approximately £7,500,000
(without providing additional security) and these funds are available for
future trading and investing purposes.
The directors believe that the current financial environment will lead to an
increasing number of interesting opportunities in which these facilities could
be utilised.
For further information:
Panther Securities plc 020 7278 8011
Andrew Perloff (executive chairman)
Simon Peters (finance director)
END
© 2008 PR Newswire
