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Helical

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FY2000 Annual Report · Helical
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Helical Bar Report & Accounts 2000

PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY

Helical Bar plc Contents

Corporate Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Chairman's Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Review of Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Financial Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Officers and Advisors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Directors' Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Auditors' Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Consolidated Profit and Loss Account . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Balance Sheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Statement of  Total Recognised Gains and Losses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Notes to Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Ten Year Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Notice of Annual General Meeting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Financial Calendar

Office development at 200 Hammersmith Road, London W6

Helical Bar plc Corporate Statement

1

Helical Bar plc is a property development and investment company.

Our objective is to maximise growth in assets per share using a recurring stream 
of development and trading profits to build up the investment portfolio.

Pre-tax profit
£m

18.5

22.0

20.0

12.0

9.2

Ordinary dividend per share
Pence

8.00 9.00 10.00 11.15

7.30

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Diluted net asset value per share
Pence

603

482 473

372

330

Increase in shareholders
funds pre-dividend
£m

45.2

38.2

35.3

17.6

5.1

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Note: Special dividends of 100.0p and 2.0p were declared in respect of the periods ended 31st March 1999 and 31st March 1997 respectively.

2

Helical Bar plc Chairman’s Statement

Review of the results

The year to 31 March 2000 has seen
several challenges to the property industry
such as the perceived threats to the old
order from new and exciting hi-tech
industries, the increasing burden
government is laying on property investors
via differentiated taxation and increased
stamp duty, an additional planning regime
in London and investors’ growing
dissatisfaction with quoted real estate
companies. We adjust our strategies
accordingly to anticipate changes so as to
continue to provide the infrastructure in
which new industries can prosper and
grow while creating prime investments for
our institutional partners.

We are pleased that the foresight of our
development and investment teams has
continued to bear fruit, and sites and
investment properties purchased in recent
years have contributed to another good
year with record pre-tax profits and
substantial property revaluations. This
performance is particularly pleasing
coming after the reduction in net assets 
of almost 20% by the payment of the
100p special dividend last year.

The main driving forces behind the 
current economic success of the country
remain in London and the South East
through the growth of the technology,
media and telecommunications sector in
the West End and Thames Valley and of
financial and professional services 
in the City.

Profits before tax for the year to 31 March
2000 were £22.0m, an increase of 10%
over the previous year. Gross profits from
our development programme contributed
£19.3m (1999: £21.6m) to pre-tax profits
and were mainly the result of a number of
lettings of offices. The investment portfolio 
contributed £23.7m of net rental income,
a substantial increase on the previous
year’s £18.5m. Profits on sale of
investment properties rose to £4.6m 
(1999: £0.4m) on net sales of £110.9m
(1999: £15.4m).

Net interest payable rose to £16.3m
(1999: £12.5m) reflecting the higher levels
of gearing and base rates during the year.
Administration costs rose to £9.7m (1999:
£6.9m). After a 27% tax charge (1999:
19%), profits remained steady at £16.0m
(1999: £16.1m). Retained profits, after
dividends of £3.2m (1999: £33.6m) were
£12.7m (1999: retained loss of £18.7m
after payment of a special dividend 
of £28.9m).

Your Board is recommending a final
dividend of 6.75p per share (1999: 6.00p)
which, with the interim dividend of 4.40p
(1999: 4.00p), makes a total of 11.15p
(1999: 10.00p). This is an increase of 11%
on the previous year. The total dividend of
11.15p per share is covered 5 times by
profits after tax.

A revaluation surplus of £30.4m (1999:
£19.9m) on the investment portfolio
helped net asset value per share rise by
30% to 620p (1999: 478p) on an
undiluted basis and by 27% to 603p
(1999: 473p) on a diluted basis. This figure
takes no credit for any surplus of value in
the trading and development stock.

The out performance of the company in
contrast to almost all other listed real
estate companies has enabled it to reward
shareholders through exceptional net asset
value growth and substantial increases in
dividends, together with special dividends.

We are pleased to welcome Antony
Beevor as a non-executive member of the
Board. Antony, a Managing Director of 
S G Hambros, is a Deputy Chairman of
the Takeover Panel and a non-executive
Director of Croda International plc.

We operate in an increasingly volatile
world where a stop in the strong growth
in the United States economy could
impact unfavourably in the UK, particularly
in London and the South East. Liquidity 
in these markets is not helped by ever-
increasing transaction costs, particularly in
any downturn.

Net assets have doubled over the last
three years after adding back the 100p
special dividend paid last year. We have
made an encouraging start to the new
financial year. We are maintaining the size
of our development programme and
continue to increase our investment
portfolio, reinvesting the cash flows from
completed developments.

John Southwell
Chairman
16 June 2000

Helical Bar plc

3

Office development at 100 Wood Street, London EC1

4

Helical Bar plc Review of Operations

Developments

Offices

It is our objective to provide a continuing
flow of development profits from pre-let
and speculative office, retail and industrial
schemes in partnership with funding
institutions. Whilst a small number of
schemes are financed with bank funding
and, therefore, remain on our balance
sheet, the majority of our schemes are
pre-sold or forward sold. This policy has a
significant effect on our return on capital
employed and has enabled us to create
and sustain one of the largest
development programmes in the country.

Development programme 
- anticipated end values

Office Retail Industrial Total
£m

£m

£m

£m

Completed
programme

Let and sold 

1993-2000

291

198

23

512

Current programme

31 March 2001

31 March 2002

280

120

30

80

31 March 2003

120+

90+

520

200

-

10

-

10

310

210

210+

730

Blenheim House, Leeds, a 32,000 sq.ft.
development completed in 1995, was sold
to Britannia Invest Holland IIBV and our
site at Welshback, Bristol was sold to Fuller
Smith Turner plc for development as a
hotel. These two properties were the last
remaining from the early part of the
current development cycle.

Looking forward, we have commenced
work at our 60,000 sq.ft. development at
One Plough Place, London EC4, funded
with Henderson Investors. We have also
commenced work on two buildings at the
former West London Hospital in
Hammersmith. No. 200 Hammersmith
Road, comprising 65,000 sq.ft., has been
forward sold to a limited partnership
owned by Mercury Asset Management
and HQ Global Offices and will be run as
a serviced office facility. The second,The
Saunders Building, will utilise the existing
façade of the original hospital and
comprises some 14,000 sq.ft.
Both buildings will be complete by
November 2001.

We are shortly to start construction at
our 140,000 sq.ft. development at The
Meadows, Camberley funded with Scottish
Widows as a joint venture with Morgan
Grenfell Property Unit Trust. We have
started a refurbishment of Rex House,
10 Regent Street, London SW1 which will
be completed later this year.

Future office developments include The
Waterfront Business Park, Fleet, where
70,000 sq.ft. of offices are to be built as an
extension to the existing park as well as
other deals in the pipeline. At Bunhill
Row, London EC1, next to our
development at 25 Chiswell Street, we are
planning to build 100,000 sq.ft. of offices.

At the end of the year the company
completed its 150,000 sq.ft. development
at 100 Wood Street, London EC2 forward
funded with Despa, the German
investment fund. Designed by Foster and
Partners and completed in time to take
advantage of the transitional rules on rates
relief, the building immediately attracted
attention from a number of potential
tenants.
announce that four floors comprising 
56,500 sq.ft. had been let to The Chase
Manhattan Bank. We are confident that
the remaining space will be let this year
and that we shall then be able to take the
profits which this development will have
generated.

In April we were able to

Work continued on our 260,000 sq.ft.
development at 25 Chiswell Street,
London EC1, also funded with Despa.
This development, pre-let to City solicitors
Slaughter and May, is our largest office
development to date and is due for
completion by October 2000.

Our 35,000 sq.ft. development at 10
Mansion House Place, London EC4,
funded with bank finance, was completed
and sold during the year to British Arab
Commercial Bank for their own
occupation. A further 5,500 sq.ft. of space
at 6 St Andrew Street, London EC4 was
let to solicitors Speechly Bircham leaving
one floor of 4,800 sq.ft. remaining  This
45,000 sq.ft. development, forward sold to
Shell Pension Fund, was completed in
September 1999.

Our two buildings at Windsor Dials,
Windsor (66,000 sq.ft.) were completed
during the year. Funded by Strathclyde
Pension Fund, the buildings were let to FM
Global and The Galileo Company. Also
completed during the year was No. 1
Farnham Road, Guildford, a 28,000 sq.ft.
development funded with Stargas
Nominees, the British Gas Pension Fund,
and let on completion to MWB 
Business Exchange.

Helical Bar plc

5

Office development at 25 Chiswell Street, London EC1

Office development at The Meadows, Camberley

6

Helical Bar plc Review of Operations

Retail

Helical Retail, our joint venture with Oswin
Developments, continues to be successful.
In the six years since Jim Kelly and his
team joined us, we have developed over
1m sq.ft. of retail space with an end value
of almost £200m.

In the year Helical Retail has completed a
number of developments whilst taking
options, purchasing sites and negotiating
positions to enable it to continue its
programme.

In October it completed its 230,000 sq.ft.
in-town redevelopment of Middlesbrough
city centre, known as Captain Cook
Square. This unique “New Orleans” style
open shopping centre was funded by
Norwich Union.

At Glasgow, the 80,000 sq.ft. redevelopment
of the George Hotel, pre-let to Virgin,
Burtons and JD Sports and funded by
Hermes was completed.

At Horns Road, Ilford, 44,000 sq.ft. of retail
space was completed, pre-let to Toys R Us
and Currys and pre-sold to Merseyside
Superannuation Fund.

In Bolton a 5,400 sq.ft. retail unit was
completed, sold to Legal and General and
let to Sofa Workshop.

Currently, the retail team are completing
the land assembly of a site in Bolton, next
to the Bolton Gate Retail Park completed
in 1998, for a 122,000 sq.ft. unit for B&Q
pre-funded with HSBC. This retail unit, the
largest B&Q in the UK, is due for
completion in the summer of 2001.
Solihull, a 12,500 sq.ft. retail unit is to be
built for Daewoo. This unit, funded by
Nestlé Pension Fund, is also due for
completion in summer 2001.

In

Looking forward, a 314,000 sq.ft.
redevelopment of the city centre of
Ipswich, the “Mint Quarter”, is planned as
a joint venture with NCP and plans for a
53,000 sq.ft. redevelopment of Accrington
town centre are progressing.

A 10,000 sq.ft. second phase is planned
alongside Captain Cook Square in
Middlesbrough. Negotiations continue
with potential tenants for the
redevelopment of Dorchester town
centre. Options have been obtained on
sites in Canterbury, Wigan, Great Yarmouth
and Cheltenham.

Retail development at Captain Cook Square, Middlesbrough

Retail development at the George Hotel, Glasgow

Helical Bar plc

7

Retail development at Horns Road, Ilford

Retail development at Bolton Gate Retail Park, Bolton

8

Helical Bar plc Review of Operations

Investment portfolio

Our investment philosophy is based on
four guiding principles. Rather than being
single sector specialists, Helical elects to
rotate between property types so that the
portfolio remains orientated towards
growth stock. Gearing is used on a tactical
basis, being raised to accentuate
performance when property returns are
judged to materially outperform the cost
of debt. The average number of
properties remains small to facilitate fast
repositioning of the portfolio and
encouraging management focus on key
assets. Finally, there is a preference for
multi-let stock where value can be added
through refurbishment and lease
restructuring.

Over the last three years the office
exposure has been raised from 52% to
70% and is now almost exclusively within
the South East with the bias having moved
west away from the City. The shopping
sector component has been sold in light 
of increasing competition in the high street
with retail exposure down to 7%,
principally in two retail parks. All the
major assets have been acquired from
1997 onwards with the exception of our

main industrial properties at Aycliffe and
Peterlee which provide useful cash flow 
to cross-subsidise sites held prior to
institutional funding and refurbishment
projects.

£236m of investment properties were
held throughout the last financial year
increasing in value by 9.1% and driven by
an office performance showing 15.2%
growth. £160m of purchases were made
and valued at the year end at 9.5% above
headline purchase prices but, given the
high level of transaction costs due to
successive rises in stamp duty, this reduced
to 4.6% above gross purchase costs.
Historically, Helical’s purchases have been
performance dilutive in their first year but
the key driver of investment returns over
the following two years. £111m of sales
were made of which £38m were
developments held as investments
(Mansion House Place and St Andrew
Street). The remainder were sold at 5.4%
above March 1999 valuations with the
principal transactions being at Aldermary
House, EC4 (£2.5m surplus); Cannon Park
Shopping Centre, Coventry (£0.7m

surplus); Allders Warehouse, Croydon
(£0.5m surplus); and The Pavilion,Thames
Ditton (£0.5m surplus).

The schedule of investment properties on
page 10 shows that the underlying
performance has been driven principally
by high levels of rental growth.
Notwithstanding this, average passing rents
of the office portfolio at £13 - £32 p.s.f.
remain low by Central London standards.
The portfolio is highly reversionary with
the running yield of 7.1% anticipated to
rise to 8.1% within a year and ultimately to
9.1% based on current rental values.
These yields exclude £33.6m of vacant
investment stock currently undergoing
refurbishment.

In the short term, whilst supply of
accommodation remains tight in our
favoured markets with demand strong and
supply of new space restricted, further
rental growth seems likely. However, we
remain vigilant to any demand shocks,
particularly those that could emanate from
high levels of volatility being experienced
by the financial markets.

Book

Value

£m

Passing

Square

Average

net rents

footage

rent

Void Space

£m

000’s

£ per sq. ft. 000’s sq. ft.

Office

260.5

16.5

Out of town retail

Industrial
Other

35.8

75.3
19.8

2.3

7.0
1.4

954

333

2,980
186

17.3

6.9

2.3
7.5

89

-

242
-

Total income

producing

391.4

27.2

4,408

Investment properties

33.6

-

235

in course of

redevelopment

Land and sites

16.6

441.6

Investment property at CBXII, Milton Keynes

Helical Bar plc Investment Portfolio

9

 Property values by sector   

0

5

10 15 20 25 30

0

5

10 15 20 25 30

2000

1999

City offices

14%

West End offices

30%

19%

Other Central London offices

15%

South East offices

11%

Out of town retail

7%

Industrial

19%

5%

12%

8%

26%

26%

Other

4%

4%

percentage

2000

percentage

Valuation increases by sector

-5

0

5

10 15 20 25 30

City offices

12%

West End offices

7%

Other Central London offices

27%

South East offices

Out of town retail

8%

10%

Industrial

-3%

Other

Total

2%

7%

percentage

City offices

West End offices

Rental income - running
yields and ERV's

0

2

4
5.5%

6

8

10 12

Other Central London offices

4.8%

South East offices

Out of town retail

6.9%

Industrial

Other

Total

Key:

Running Yield

ERV's

8.3%

7.1%

8.6%

9.5%

7.8%

8.9%

8.3%

9.5%

11.7%

7.9%

8.5%

7.1%

9.2%

percentage

10

Helical Bar plc Review of Operations

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Helical Bar plc

11

Investment property at 60 Sloane Avenue, London SW3

12

Helical Bar plc Financial Review

One key financial risk to Helical is adverse
movements in interest rates.
It has insured
against such interest rate movements
through the use of a number of interest
rate hedging instruments. Borrowings of
£160m are capped until 2004 and £111m
until 2006 at interest rates between 6.00%
and 7.50%. A further £80m is capped
until January 2001 at rates between 9.05%
and 9.15%. Of current borrowings £105m
is fixed at rates of between 5.22% and
9.05%. Using interest rate floors the
company is able to benefit from the
reduction of rates down to 4.73% and
4.83% on £160m until January 2006.

The success of the company’s interest rate
hedging can be seen from the valuation of
financial assets and liabilities under FRS13.
This values these financial instruments on a
fair value basis, and at 31 March 2000 an
adjustment would increase net assets by
£2.4m (1999: decrease by £4.8m).

Profits

Dividends

Gross profits for the year were £43.5m.
These compare with gross profits for the
year to 31 March 1999 of £39.0m and
include net rental income after property
overheads of £23.7m (1999: £18.5m) and
trading profits of £0.4m (1999: £0.1m).
Our development programme contributed
£19.3m (1999: £21.6m).

Administrative expenses include a £0.6m
(1999: nil) write off of goodwill following
the sale of our investment property in
Croydon and a £0.7m (1999: nil) write off
of the deficit in the company’s Employee
Share Option Scheme resulting from the
waiver of its right to receive dividends.

The surplus on book value on sale of
investment properties was £4.6m (1999:
£0.4m).

Interest paid on borrowings, net of interest
received on cash balances, increased from
£12.5m to £16.3m. This was after
capitalisation of £2.7m of interest (1999:
£2.1m).

Pre-tax profits rose by 10% from £20.0m
to £22.0m. The higher tax charge of 27%
(1999: 19%) includes a £1.5m provision for
deferred tax on a property sold in the
current year. After a decreased minority
interest of £0.1m (1999: £1.2m), profits
before dividends increased to £15.9m
(1999: £15.0m). Earnings per share on a
diluted basis rose from 50.7p to 53.7p per
share.

The Board is recommending to members
at the Annual General Meeting on 19 July
2000 a final dividend of 6.75p per share
(1999: 6.00p) to be paid on 21 July 2000
which, with the interim dividend of 4.40p,
makes a total of 11.15p. This is an
increase of 11.5% on the previous period’s
dividend of 10.00p.
by profits after tax.

It is covered 5 times

Net assets

The increase in value of investment
properties of £30.4m (1999: £19.9m) and
retained profits of £12.7m led to a rise in
Helical’s net assets to £184.9m (1999:
£142.1m). Net assets per share of 620p
compare with 478p in 1999. Diluted net
assets per share rose from 473p to 603p
and, after taking account of the value
ascribed to financial instruments under
FRS 13 and unprovided deferred tax,
rose from 422p to 564p, a 34% increase.

Borrowings and
financial risk

During the year Helical increased the
levels of bank borrowings to fund the
expansion of the investment portfolio.
At 31 March 2000 its borrowings
amounted to £260.1m (1999: £218.8m).
The company seeks to manage financial
risk by ensuring that there is sufficient
financial liquidity to meet foreseeable
needs and to invest surplus cash safely 
and profitably. At the year end Helical 
had over £120m of undrawn bank facilities
and cash of £17.0m (1999: £44.3m).

Helical Bar plc Officers and Advisors

13

Company Secretary
Tim Murphy ACA
Aged 40
Appointed March 1994

Registered office
11-15 Farm Street,
London  W1X 8NP
Telephone 020 7629 0113
Fax 020 7408 1666

Investor relations
Email address: info@helical.co.uk
Web-site address: www.helical.co.uk
Public relations: Financial Dynamics

Executive directors

Non-executive directors

Managing Director
Michael Slade BSC (Est.Man) FRICS FSVA,
Aged 53
Appointed Managing Director in 1986.

Finance Director
Nigel McNair Scott MA FCA FCT,
Aged 54
Appointed Finance Director in 1987,
Nigel McNair Scott is the non-executive
Chairman of Avocet Mining PLC and 
a Director of Govett Strategic 
Investment Trust.

Development Director
Gerald Kaye BSC (Est.Man) FRICS,
Aged 42
Appointed Development Director in 1994.

Investment Director
Michael Brown BSC (EST.MAN) ARICS,
Aged 39
Appointed Investment Director in 1998.

* Member of Audit and Remuneration Committees
† Member of Nominations and Appointments

Committee

Chairman
John Southwell MA (Senior non-executive),
Aged 67*†
Appointed Chairman in 1987,
John Southwell is a consultant with
Credit Lyonnais Securities Europe (UK),
Chairman of Lochain Patrick Holdings Ltd
and Director of James Cropper PLC.

Ian Butler CBE MA FCA, Aged 75*†
Appointed non-executive Director in
1993, Ian Butler is a former Director of
Cookson Group plc and a former
member of the Cadbury Committee.

Giles Weaver FCA, Aged 54*†
Appointed non-executive Director in
1993, Giles Weaver is the Managing
Director of Murray Johnstone Ltd,
Director of James Finlay PLC and Charter
European Trust PLC

Antony Beevor BA, Aged 60*†
Appointed non-executive Director on
11 April 2000, Antony Beevor is a
Managing Director of S G Hambros, a
Deputy Chairman of the Takeover Panel
and a non-executive Director of Croda
International plc

Advisors 

Registrars
IRG plc
Bourne House
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent  BR3 4TU

Joint stockbrokers
Cazenove & Co.
12 Tokenhouse Yard
London  EC2R 7AN

Credit Lyonnais Securities Europe (UK)
Broadwalk House
5 Appold Street
London EC2A 2DA

Merchant bankers
Lazard Bros & Co Ltd
21 Moorfields
London  EC2P 2HT

Solicitors
Ashurst Morris Crisp
Mishcon de Reya
Olswang
Titmuss Sainer Dechert
Norton Rose

Bankers
Barclays Bank PLC
Credit Lyonnais
HypoVereinsbank Bank
National Westminster Bank Plc
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc
DePfa Bank AG

Auditors
Grant Thornton
Grant Thornton House
Melton Street
Euston Square
London NW1 2EP

14

Helical Bar plc Directors’ Report

The directors present their report and
financial statements for the year ended
31 March 2000.

Principal activities
The principal activity of the company is that
of a holding company and the principal
activities of the subsidiaries are property
investment, dealing and development. A full
review of these activities and the group’s
future prospects are given in the Review of
Operations on pages 4 to 11.

Trading results
The results for the year are set out on
page 20. The profit on ordinary activities
before taxation amounts to £22,020,000
(1999: £20,044,000).

Share capital
The detailed movements in share capital
are set out in note 22 to these financial
statements.

At 31 March 2000 there were 29,611,697
ordinary 5p shares in issue.

Dividends
A final dividend of 6.75p (1999: 6.00p) per
share is recommended for approval at the
Annual General Meeting on 19 July 2000.
The total ordinary dividends of 11.15p
(1999: 10.00p) per share amount to
£3,223,000 (1999: £2,434,000 plus special
dividend of £28,904,000).

Donations
Donations to charities amounted to
£9,403 (1999: £6,110). A contribution 
of £10,000 (1999: £10,000) was made 
to the Conservative Party.

Creditor payment policy
The group's policy is to settle all agreed
liabilities within the terms established with
suppliers. At 31 March 2000 there were
21 days’ (1999: 41 days) purchases
outstanding in respect of the group's
creditors.

Auditors
Grant Thornton offer themselves for
reappointment as auditors in accordance
with Section 385 of the Companies Act 1985.

Substantial shareholdings
At 16 June 2000 the shareholders listed in
Table A below had notified the company
of a disclosable interest of 3% or more in
the nominal value of the ordinary share
capital of the company.

Directors and their interests
The directors who were in office during
the year and their interests, all of which
were beneficial, in the ordinary shares are
listed in Table B below and note 22.

The Helical Bar Employees’ Share
Ownership Plan Trust, referred to in note
13 owned 708,000 ordinary shares at
31 March 2000 (1999: 708,000).

On 16 June 1999 and 7 April 2000, shares
acquired by the Helical Bar Profit Sharing
Scheme were allocated to directors and
staff. The number of shares allocated to
directors is disclosed in note 3.

Shares purchased by directors since 1
April 1999 are listed in Table C below.

There have been no other changes in the
above directors’ interests in the period
from 31 March 2000 to 16 June 2000.

Table A - Substantial shareholdings
No. of
ordinary shares
3,219,953
2,250,000
1,672,546
1,436,274
1,306,847
1,155,960

Schroder Investment Management Ltd
T R Property Investment Trust
Fidelity Investments
Scudder Threadneedle
Hermes Investment Management
Jupiter Asset Management

The interests of Michael Slade (10.2%) are noted below.

Table B - Directors’ interests

Ordinary 5p shares

J. P. Southwell
M. E. Slade
N. G. McNair Scott
I. G. Butler
C.G.H.Weaver
G. A. Kaye
P. M. Brown

Total directors’ interests

Percentage of issued share capital

31.03.00
33,870
3,012,604
624,284
12,987
18,000
230,514
117,584  

4,049,843

13.7%

%
10.87
7.60
5.65
4.85
4.41
3.90

01.04.99
33,870
3,011,147
622,827
12,987
18,000
186,057
57,127

3,942,015

13.3%

Table C - Directors’ share purchases 

Ordinary 5p shares

15 September 1999
3 March 2000
21 March 2000
30 March 2000
7 June 2000
8 June 2000

G. A. Kaye
-
25,000
16,000
2,000
14,167
27,200

P. M. Brown
25,000
25,000
9,000
-
10,833
20,800

Helical Bar plc Directors’ Report

15

Report on remuneration

The membership of the remuneration
committee is as follows:

John Southwell (Chairman)

Ian Butler

Giles Weaver

Anthony Beevor 
(appointed 11 April 2000)

None of the committee has any personal
financial interest in the matters to be
decided (other than as shareholders),
potential conflicts of interest arising from
cross-directorships nor any day-to-day
involvement in running the business. The
committee consults the Managing Director
and Finance Director about its proposals
and has access to professional advice from
inside and outside the company.

Policy on executive directors’
remuneration
Executive remuneration packages are
designed to attract, motivate and retain
directors of the calibre necessary to
maintain the group’s position as a market
leader and to reward them for enhancing
shareholder value and return. The
performance measurement of the
executive directors and the determination
of their annual remuneration package is
undertaken by the committee which
consists solely of non-executive directors.

There are three main elements of their
remuneration package:

i. basic annual salary and benefits in kind;

ii. annual bonus payments;

iii. share option incentives.

Basic annual salary and
benefits in kind
Basic annual salaries for executive
directors are reviewed having regard to
individual performance and market
practice. Executive directors’ basic salaries
were last reviewed in September 1999.
Benefits in kind provided to executive
directors include the provision of a
company car and health insurance.

Bonus schemes
In June 1997 the committee reached
agreement with the executive directors to
establish a new bonus scheme following
the cessation of the old scheme. This new
scheme operated from 1 April 1997 and
will continue until 31 March 2002. A
bonus will be payable under this scheme
only if there is an increase in the net asset
value of the company and that increase is
greater than that achieved by the upper
quartile of the Investment Property
Databank Index for capital growth of all
properties, an ungeared benchmark.
If
achieved the bonus is payable in cash and
is calculated in bands, the amount of
bonus increasing with the level of
outperformance. Among other
constraints, the committee may restrict the
bonus if payment would affect the financial
or trading position of the group. The
executive directors in this bonus scheme
for the period were Michael Slade, Nigel
McNair Scott, Gerald Kaye and Michael
Brown. Additional bonuses were awarded
by the committee in recognition of the
performances of the development
director, Gerald Kaye and the investment
director, Michael Brown.

Share options
The company operated three share option
schemes during the year.

The Senior Executive 1988 Share Option
Scheme ceased to be able to grant
options over new shares on 7 June 1998.
The scheme can grant options, until 7 June
2001, in respect of shares held by the
Helical Bar Employees Share Ownership
Plan Trust. Share options granted in
respect of this scheme are included in
note 22.

The Helical Bar 1999 Share Option
Scheme received shareholder approval on
16 February 1999. Under this scheme the
aggregate market value of shares issued or
issuable to an individual under this and
other option schemes may not exceed
eight times his annual earnings. Share
options granted in respect of this scheme
are included in note 22.

The Helical Bar 1999 Approved Share
Option Scheme also received shareholder
approval on 16 February 1999 and Inland
Revenue approval in March 1999. Under
this scheme options up to a maximum
value of £30,000 per individual may be
granted and options granted to directors
in respect of this scheme are included in
note 22.

The performance criteria of the two 1999
schemes requires total shareholder return
over a set period to exceed a certain
percentile of the aggregate performance of
companies in the Property Sector Index of
the FTSE All Share Index. For the
approved scheme the relevant period is
three years and the 50th percentile. For
the unapproved scheme the relevant
period is five years and 75th percentile.

The Committee considers that these share
options, coupled with the associated
performance measures, will continue to
provide the most effective method of
longer term incentivisation for the key
executives of the company.

16

Helical Bar plc Directors’ Report

Helical Bar profit sharing
scheme
The Helical Bar Profit Sharing Scheme is
open to all employees and has operated
since 1997. Under the terms of the
scheme the Trustees purchase shares in
the company and allocate them to all
employees in accordance with the rules of
the scheme. Allocations of shares were
made to all directors and employees on
16 June 1999 and 7 April 2000.

Details of directors’
remuneration-share options
This report should be read in conjunction
with notes 3 and 22 to the financial
statements which also form part of this
report. Full details of all elements of the
remuneration package of each director are
given in note 3 to the financial statements.
Details of directors’ share interests and
share options are given in note 22 to the
financial statements.

Service contracts
The service contracts of each of the
executive directors noted in table B 
have a one year notice period.

Pension contributions
The company makes annual contributions
into a Small Self Administered Pension
Scheme on behalf of Michael Slade and
Nigel McNair Scott.

Re-election
Michael Slade and Nigel McNair Scott are
due to retire by rotation and offer
themselves for re-election. Anthony
Beevor, who was appointed on 11 April
2000, seeks formal re-election for the 
first time.

Non executive directors
The remuneration of the non-executive
directors is determined by the Board
within the limits set out in the Articles of
Association and was last increased in April
2000. Non-executive directors do not
participate in any of the company’s share
option schemes. Non-executive directors
do not have a contract of service.

On behalf of the Board 

J. P. Southwell
Chairman
16 June 2000

Helical Bar plc Directors’ Report

17

Corporate governance

The company is committed to applying
the highest principles of corporate
governance commensurate with its size.

The company has complied throughout
the year with the Code provisions set out
in Section 1 of the Combined Code.
In complying with Code provision D.2.1 
on internal control, the company has
adopted the transitional approach of
reporting on internal financial control
allowed by the Stock Exchange in its 
letter of 27 September 1999.

Application of principles
The company has applied the principles 
of good governance contained in the
Combined Code appended to the Listing
Rules of the Financial Services Authority.

Directors
The company supports the concept of an
effective board leading and controlling the
company. The Board is responsible for
approving company policy and strategy.
It meets three monthly and has a schedule
of matters specifically reserved to it for
decision. Management supply the Board
with appropriate and timely information
and the directors are free to seek any
further information they consider
necessary. All directors have access 
to advice from the company secretary 
and independent professionals at the
company’s expense. Training is available
for new directors and other directors 
as necessary.

The Board consists of four executive
directors who hold the key operational
positions in the company and four
non-executive directors, who bring a
breadth of experience and knowledge,
of whom all are independent of
management and any business or other
relationship which could interfere with 
the exercise of their independent
judgement. This provides a balance
whereby the Board’s decision making
cannot be dominated by an individual or
small group. The Chairman of the Board is
John Southwell and the company’s

business is run by Michael Slade, the
Managing Director. The Board has named
John Southwell as the senior independent
non-executive director. The Board
members are described on page 13.

All directors are subject to re-election
every three years and, on appointment, at
the first AGM after appointment. The
Nominations and Appointments
Committee meets as required to select
and recommend to the Board suitable
candidates for both executive and non-
executive appointments to the Board.
It
comprises John Southwell, Chairman of
the Board (Chairman), and the three other
non-executive directors, Ian Butler, Giles
Weaver and Antony Beevor.

Directors’ remuneration
The company recognises that directors’
remuneration is of legitimate concern to
the shareholders and is committed to
following current best practice. The policy
of the company is to provide sufficient
levels of remuneration to attract, retain
and motivate executive directors.The
Remuneration Committee, which carries
out the policy on behalf of the Board,
comprises John Southwell (Chairman),
Ian Butler, Giles Weaver and Antony
Beevor, all of whom are independent 
non-executive directors.
It meets at least twice a year. As well as
considering conditions in the group as a
whole, the Committee takes into account
the position of the company relative to
other companies and is aware of what
these companies are paying, though
comparisons are treated with caution to
avoid an upward ratchet in remuneration.
The Committee consults the Managing
Director and has access to independent
professional advice.

The remuneration packages of individual
directors are structured so that the
performance related elements form a
significant proportion of the total and are
designed to align their interests with those
of the shareholders. Share options are
designed so that they recognise the long
term growth of the company. No director
has a service contract of more than 
one year.

The remuneration of non-executive
directors is determined by a sub-committee
of the Board comprising the Managing
Director and the Finance Director.

It sets out the

The Board's report on remuneration is on
pages 15 and 16.
company's policy in detail and gives full
details of all elements in the remuneration
package of each individual director.

Relations with shareholders
The company values the views of its
shareholders and recognises their interest
in the company’s strategy and
performance, Board membership and
quality of management.
regular meetings with its institutional
shareholders to discuss objectives.

It therefore holds

The AGM is used to communicate with
investors and they are encouraged to
participate. The Chairmen of the Audit,
Remuneration and Nomination
Committees are available to answer
questions. Separate resolutions are
proposed on each issue so that they can
be given proper consideration and there is
a resolution to approve the annual report
and accounts. The company counts all
proxy votes and will indicate the level of
proxies lodged on each resolution, after it
has been dealt with by a show of hands.

Accountability and audit
The Board represents a balanced and
understandable assessment of the
company’s position and prospects in all
interim and price-sensitive reports and
reports to regulators as well as in the
information required to be presented by
statutory requirements. The Audit
Committee comprises Ian Butler, Giles
Weaver and Antony Beevor, all of whom
are independent non-executive directors,
and John Southwell, who is Chairman of
the Board and a non-executive director.
The terms of reference of the Committee
include keeping under review the scope
and results of the external audit and its
cost effectiveness. The Committee
reviews the independence and objectivity
of the external auditors.

18

Helical Bar plc Directors’ Report

This includes reviewing the nature and
extent of non audit services supplied by
the external auditors to the company,
seeking to balance objectivity and value for
money.The responsibilities of the directors
as regards the accounts are described
below, and that of the auditors on page
19. A statement on going concern is 
also below.

Internal control
The Board is responsible for maintaining 
a sound system of internal control to
safeguard shareholders’ investment and the
company’s assets. The company has
adopted the transitional approach
permitted by the Stock Exchange in its
letter to listed companies of 27
September 1999 for accounting periods
ending prior to 23 December 2000 in
respect of the application of Code
principle D.2. The Board has reviewed its
risk management and identified areas
where procedures need to be changed or
installed. The company has in place the
procedures necessary to implement the
guidance, “Internal Control: Guidance for
Directors on the Combined Code”. The
Board will undertake a full risk and control
assessment before reporting on the year
ending 31 March 2001. The Board keeps
under review whether an internal audit
function would add value to the company.

The directors are responsible for the
group’s system of internal financial control.
The system of internal financial control is
designed to provide reasonable, but not
absolute, assurance against material
misstatement or loss. The key features of
the group’s system of internal financial
control are as follows:

- clearly defined organisational

responsibilities and limits of authority;

- financial controls and review procedures;

- financial information systems including

cash flow, profit and capital expenditure
forecasts and;

- an Audit Committee which meets with

the Auditors at least twice a year and
deals with any significant internal financial
control matter.

Going concern
After making enquiries, the directors have
a reasonable expectation that the group
has adequate resources to continue in
operational existence for the foreseeable
future. For this reason, they continue to
adopt the going concern basis in preparing
the financial statements.

Year 2000 compliance
The company experienced no problems
arising out of Year 2000 compliance issues
and has received no indication of
problems arising at any of its
developments or investment properties
nor has it received notification of any
problems at its major customers, suppliers
or trading partners.

Directors’ responsibilities for
the financial statements
Company law requires the directors to
prepare financial statements for each
financial year which give a true and fair
view of the state of affairs of the company
and the group and of the profit or loss of
the group for that period.
In preparing
those financial statements, the directors
are required to:

- select suitable accounting policies and

then apply them consistently;

- make judgements and estimates that are

reasonable and prudent and;

- state whether applicable accounting

standards have been followed, subject to
any material departures disclosed and
explained in the financial statements.

The directors are responsible for
maintaining proper accounting records, for
safeguarding the assets of the group and
for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and
other irregularities.

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the
company will be held on 19 July 2000 at
11.30 a.m. at The Westbury, Conduit Street
at New Bond Street, London W1A 4UH.
There are 4 resolutions concerning 
special business. The first converts the
authorised but unissued convertible
cumulative redeemable preference shares
into ordinary shares. The second gives
your Board the authority for a further five
years to allot 9,870,560 shares (one third
of the existing issued share capital as at the
date hereof). The third gives your Board
the power for a further year to issue
shares pursuant to a rights issue and a
modest number (approximately 5 per cent
of the existing issued share capital as at the
date hereof) for cash other than to existing
shareholders. The fourth extends, for a
further year, the authority given at the
Annual General Meeting last year for the
company to buy in, for cancellation, its
ordinary share capital and increases that
authority to 14.95 per cent. There have
been no instances of the company
purchasing its own shares since the last
Annual General Meeting.

By Order of the Board
T. J. Murphy
Secretary
16 June 2000

Helical Bar plc Auditor’s Report

19

We planned and performed our audit so
as to obtain all the information and
explanations which we considered necessary
in order to provide us with sufficient
evidence to give reasonable assurance that
the financial statements are free from
material misstatement, whether caused by
fraud or other irregularity or error.
forming our opinion we also evaluated the
overall adequacy of the presentation of
information in the financial statements.

In

Opinion
In our opinion the financial statements give
a true and fair view of the state of the
affairs of the company and the group as at
31 March 2000 and of the profit of the
group for the year then ended and have
been properly prepared in accordance
with the Companies Act 1985.

To the members of 
Helical Bar plc
We have audited the financial statements
on pages 20 to 41 which have been
prepared under the accounting policies set
out on pages 24 & 25.

Respective responsibilities of
directors and auditors
The directors are responsible for
preparing the Annual Report, including as
described on page 18, the financial
statements. Our responsibilities, as
independent auditors, are established in
the United Kingdom by statute, the
Auditing Practices Board, the Listing Rules
of the Financial Services Authority and by
our profession’s ethical guidance.

We report to you our opinion as to
whether the financial statements give a
true and fair view and are properly
prepared in accordance with the
Companies Act. We also report to you if,
in our opinion, the directors’ report is not
consistent with the financial statements, if
the company has not kept proper
accounting records, if we have not
received all the information and
explanations we require for our audit, or if
information specified by law on the Listing
Rules regarding directors’ remuneration
and transactions with the group is not
disclosed.

We review whether the statement on
page 18 reflects the company’s compliance
with those provisions of the Combined
Code specified for our review by the
Financial Services Authority, and we report
if it does not. We are not required to
consider whether the Board’s statements
on internal control cover all risks and
controls, or form an opinion on the
effectiveness of the group’s corporate
governance procedures or its risk and
control procedures.

We read the other information contained
in the Annual Report, including the
corporate governance statement, and
consider whether it is consistent with the
audited financial statements. We consider
the implications for our report if we
become aware of any apparent
misstatements or material inconsistencies
with the financial statements.

Basis of opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance
with United Kingdom Auditing Standards
issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An
audit includes examination, on a test basis,
of evidence relevant to the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements.
It also includes an assessment of the
significant estimates and judgements made
by the directors in the preparation of the
financial statements, and of whether the
accounting policies are appropriate to the
circumstances, consistently applied and
adequately disclosed.

Grant Thornton
Registered Auditors
Chartered Accountants
London
16 June 2000

20

Helical Bar plc Consolidated Profit & Loss Account

Helical Bar plc and subsidiary undertakings for the year ended 31 March 2000

Note 

Year ended
31 March 2000
£000

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

149,922
(106,440)

121,244
(82,240)

43,482
(9,669)

33,813
4,555

38,368
(16,348)

22,020
(6,032)

15,988
(77)

15,911
(3,223)

39,004
(6,860)

32,144
415

32,559
(12,515)

20,044
(3,899)

16,145
(1,175)

14,970
(33,631)

12,688

(18,661)

1,829
10,859

55.0p

53.7p

(10,302)
(8,359)

66.7p

50.7p

Turnover
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Administrative expenses

Operating profit
Profit on sale of investment properties

Profit on ordinary activities before interest
Net interest payable and similar charges

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Taxation on profit on ordinary activities

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation
Equity minority interests

Profit for the year
Dividends paid and proposed including non-equity

Retained profit/(loss) for the year

By company
By subsidiaries

Earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

2

2
3

4

5

6

7

23

8

9

9

The notes on pages 24 to 41 form part of these financial statements.

Helical Bar plc Balance Sheets

21

Helical Bar plc and subsidiary undertakings as at 31 March 2000

Group 

Company

Note

31 March 2000
£000

31 March 1999
£000

31 March 2000
£000

31 March 1999
£000

10
12
13

14
15
16
17

683
420,354
3,656

424,693

525
22,020
54,786
5,236
16,991

99,558

576
333,372
4,359

338,307

525
35,054
40,148
-
44,310

120,037

-
770
5,908

6,678

-
48
104,393
2,088
9,076

115,605

-
896
6,545

7,441

-
31
121,491
-
31,297

152,819

18

(80,515)

(128,662)

(8,033)

(47,896)

Fixed assets
Intangible assets
Tangible assets
Investments

Current assets
Fixed assets for resale
Stock and long term contracts
Debtors
Investments
Cash at bank and in hand

Creditors: amounts
falling due within one year

Net current assets/(liabilities)

19,043

(8,625)

107,572

104,923

19

21

22
23
23
23
23
23

Total assets less current liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year
Provisions for liabilities
and charges

Capital and reserves
Called-up share capital
Share premium account
Revaluation reserve
Capital redemption reserve
Other reserves
Profit and loss account

Shareholders’ funds
Equity minority interests

Shareholders’ funds
Equity shareholders’ funds
Non-equity shareholders’ funds

443,736

329,682

114,250

112,364

(257,384)

(187,576)

(19,935)

(19,858)

(1,500)

184,852

1,481
34,502
95,701
7,101
291
44,452

183,528
1,324

184,852

183,528
-

183,528

-

142,106

1,495
34,508
78,948
7,081
291
19,201

141,524
582

142,106

141,510
14

141,524

-

-

94,315

92,506

1,481
34,502
-
7,101
1,987
49,244

94,315 
-

94,315

94,315
-

94,315

1,495
34,508
-
7,081
1,987
47,435

92,506
-

92,506

92,492
14

92,506

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 16 June 2000.
M. E. Slade, N. G. McNair Scott – Directors

The notes on pages 24 to 41 form part of these financial statements.

22

Helical Bar plc Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses

Helical Bar plc and subsidiary undertakings for the year ended 31 March 2000

Statement of total recognised gains and losses

Profit for the year after taxation
Minority interest
Surplus on revaluation of investment properties
Minority interest in revaluation surplus

Total recognised gains and losses relating to the year

Notes on historical cost profits and losses

Reported profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Realisation of property revaluation gains of previous years

Historical cost profit on ordinary activities before taxation

Year ended 
31 March 2000 
£000

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

15,988
(77)
30,404
(1,068)

45,247

2000
£000

22,020
12,583

34,603

16,145
(1,175)
19,850
-

34,820

1999
£000

20,044
3,193

23,237

Historical cost profit/(loss) for the year retained

25,271

(15,468)

2000
£000

15,911
(3,223)

12,688

30,404
(1,068)
(20)
-

42,004

141,524

183,528

1999
£000

14,970
(33,631)

(18,661)

19,850
-
1,513
(160)

2,542

138,982

141,524

Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds

Profit for the year
Dividends paid and proposed including non-equity

Revaluation of investment property
Minority interest in revaluation surplus
(Redemption)/issue of shares
Expenses of share issue

Net addition to shareholders' funds

Opening shareholders' funds

Closing shareholders' funds

The notes on pages 24 to 41 form part of these financial statements.

Helical Bar plc Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

23

Helical Bar plc and subsidiary undertakings for the year ended 31 March 2000

Note 

Year ended
31 March 2000
£000

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Returns on investments and servicing of finance

Taxation

Capital expenditure and financial investment

Acquisitions

Equity dividends paid

Cash flow before management of liquid resources
and financing

Management of liquid resources

Financing
(Redemption)/issue of shares
Increase in debt

Increase/(decrease) in cash

24

25

25

25

11

26

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt

Increase/(decrease) in cash in the year
Cash inflow from management of liquid resources
Cash inflow from change in debt
Debt arrangement expenses
Liability acquired with subsidiary

Movement in net debt in the year
Net debt 1 April 1999

Net debt 31 March 2000

45,569

(19,486)

(4,560)

(4,886)

(9,028)

27,969

(18,161)

(3,650)

(60,398)

-

(31,910)

(1,648)

(24,301)

30,347

(20)
(3,086)

2,940

2000
£000

2,940
(30,347)
3,086
(365)
(43,910)

(68,596)
(174,489)

(243,085)

(55,888)

10,110

1,352
33,324

(11,102)

1999
£000

(11,102)
(10,110)
(33,324)
(256)
-

(54,792)
(119,697)

(174,489)

The notes on pages 24 to 41 form part of these financial statements.

24

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

1. Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of investment
properties and in accordance with applicable accounting standards. The accounting policies have remained unchanged since
the previous year, except for the adoption of FRS15.

Basis of consolidation
The group financial statements consolidate those of the company and its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 31 March 2000.
Profits or losses on intra group transactions are eliminated in full.

Turnover
Turnover represents rental income and the proceeds from the sale of trading properties and developments. For funded
developments, turnover comprises the increase in the valuation of work during the year and profit recognised on each
development.
directors a binding contract of sale exists.

Income from the sale of trading properties is included in the profit and loss account when in the opinion of the

Depreciation
Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost to residual value of all fixed assets, excluding investment properties, by equal
annual instalments over their expected useful lives.
The annual rates generally applicable are:

- short leasehold property 
- leasehold improvements
- vehicles & office equipment

length of lease
10%
25%

Developments
The attributable profit on developments is recognised once their outcome can be assessed with reasonable certainty.
case of developments funded by institutions this profit is recognised on the letting of the developments.

In the

Stock
Stock is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value.
Long-term contract balances included in stock are stated at cost, after provision has been made for any foreseeable losses and
the deduction of applicable payments on account.

Deferred taxation
Deferred tax is provided for under the liability method using the tax rates estimated to apply when the timing differences
reverse, and is accounted for to the extent that it is probable that a liability or asset will crystallise. Unprovided deferred tax is
disclosed as a contingent liability.

Interest capitalised on development properties
Interest costs incurred on development properties are capitalised until the earliest of:

- the date when the development becomes fully let;
- the date when the income exceeds outgoings;
- the date of completion of the development.

This accounting policy has been changed to adopt the requirements of FRS15. This change has had no material effect on the group.

Investments
Current asset investments are included at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Other investments are included at cost
less amounts written off.

Investment property
Completed investment properties are included in the balance sheet at their open market values. Any surplus arising is credited
to the revaluation reserve, any temporary deficits are netted off against the remaining balance on the reserve. Permanent
diminutions in value below original cost are reflected through the profit and loss account.
Standard Accounting Practice No. 19, freehold investment properties and leasehold investment properties where the
unexpired term is over twenty years are not depreciated but are valued by an external valuer at least every three years.
years where an external valuation is not commissioned, a valuation is undertaken by a suitably qualified member of the
company’s staff.

In accordance with the Statement of

In

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

25

1. Accounting policies (continued)
This policy represents a departure from statutory accounting principles which require depreciation to be provided on all fixed
assets. The directors consider that this policy is necessary in order that the financial statements may give a true and fair view
because current values and changes in current values are of prime importance rather than the calculation of systematic annual
depreciation. Depreciation is only one of many factors affecting annual valuation and its effect cannot be quantified.

Financing costs
The group uses derivative financial instruments to manage exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. Financial assets and
liabilities are recognised in the balance sheet at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Provision is made for diminution in
value where appropriate.

The costs of arranging finance for the group, including financial instruments entered into to protect against the effects of
interest rate movements, are written off to the profit and loss account over the terms of, and in proportion to, the associated
finance.

Goodwill
Goodwill arising on acquisition is treated as an intangible asset and the cost written off in equal instalments over its useful
economic life, currently estimated to be fifteen years.

Employees share ownership plan trust (the “Trust” )
Shares in Helical Bar plc owned by the Trust are stated at the lower of cost and net income from the expected exercise of
options over the shares. Any deficit arising between the original cost of the shares and their net realisable value will be funded
by the company.

2. Turnover and gross profit on ordinary activities before taxation
The analysis of turnover and gross profit by function is as follows:

Trading property sales
Rental income
Developments
Other income and provisions

Gross profit
Central overheads
Interest payable less receivable

Turnover

Gross profit

Year ended
31 March 2000
£000

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

Year ended
31 March 2000
£000

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

3,890
26,656
116,243
3,133

95
21,482
96,622
3,045

372
23,652
19,345
113

43,482
(9,669)
(16,348)

72
18,475
21,601
(1,144)

39,004
(6,860)
(12,515)

Profit before taxation and profit on sale of investment properties

17,465

19,629

All sales were within the UK. All turnover is attributable to continuing operations.

An analysis of property assets can be found in notes 12 and 14 and the directors do not consider a further analysis of net
assets to be appropriate.

26

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

3. Administrative expenses
Operating profit on ordinary activities is stated after:

Staff costs
Depreciation and amortisation
-  tangible fixed assets
-  goodwill
-  deferred loan arrangement expenses
Deficit in ESOP
Auditors' remuneration:
-  audit services
-  non-audit services

Staff costs during the year:
-  salaries
-  social security costs
-  other pension costs

Year ended 
31 March 2000 
£000

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

6,280

5,008

226
612
365
703

76
53

5,009
857
414

6,280

221
41
256
-

61
82

4,132
501
375

5,008

With the exception of the pension contributions referred to overleaf, other pension costs relate to payments to individual
pension plans.

The average number of employees of the group during the year was:
-  management and administration

Remuneration in respect of directors was as follows:

Chairman
J. P. Southwell

Non-Executive Directors
I. G. Butler
C.G.H. Weaver 
(paid to a third party)

Executive Directors
M. E. Slade
N. G. McNair Scott
G. A. Kaye
P. M. Brown

Salary/
Fees
£000

Benefits
in kind
£000

Bonus
£000

40

17
17

463
169
202
169

1,077

13

-
-

24
16
17
17

87

-

-
-

1,000
-
1,517
983

3,500

2000
Total
£000

53

17
17

1,487
185
1,736
1,169

4,664

2000

24

1999
Total
£000

56

19
19

2,757
366
1,211
828

5,256

1999

26

Pensions

2000
Total
£000

1999
Total
£000

-

-
-

2
367
-
-

369

-

-
-

2
330
-
-

332

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

27

3. Administrative expenses (continued)
The pension contributions were paid into a Small Self Administered Scheme and include £333,000 (1999 : £300,000) bonus
paid as contributions in respect of Nigel McNair Scott. The assets of this money purchase scheme are administered by
trustees in a fund independent from the assets of the group.

Gerald Kaye was the highest paid director during the year with a total remuneration, excluding pension contributions, of
£1,736,000 (1999: Michael Slade, £2,757,000 including profit on exercise of share options of £1,436,000).

On 11 June 1999 the Helical Bar Profit Sharing Scheme purchased 18,545 ordinary shares in the company. On 16 June 1999
under the rules of the Scheme 18,715 shares were allocated to directors and employees of the company. On 30 March 2000
the Scheme purchased 20,000 ordinary shares in the company. On 7 April 2000, under the rules of the Scheme 19,295 shares
were allocated to directors and employees of the company.

The shares allocated to the directors of the company were as follows:

M. E. Slade
N. G. McNair Scott
G. A. Kaye
P. M. Brown

On 16 June 1999

On 7 April 2000

No. of
shares

1,457
1,457
1,457
1,457

Price

549.0p
549.0p
549.0p
549.0p

No. of
shares

1,415
1,415
1,415
1,415

Price

565.0p
565.0p
565.0p
565.0p

4. Sale of investment properties

Net proceeds from sale of investment properties
Book costs
Provision for permanent diminution in value

Profit on sale of investment properties

5. Net interest payable and similar charges

On bank loans and overdrafts
Finance arrangement costs
Other interest and similar charges
Interest capitalised
Loan termination costs
Interest receivable and similar income

Year ended
31 March 2000 
£000 

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

110,875
(106,320)
-

4,555

2000
£000

17,893
365
2,350
(2,661)
(36)
(1,563)

16,348

15,446
(14,357)
(674)

415

1999
£000

14,097
256
1,760
(2,088)
-
(1,510)

12,515

28

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

6. Taxation on profit on ordinary activities

The tax charge represents:
-  UK corporation tax at 30% (1999 31%)
-  deferred taxation (note 21)

Adjustments in respect of prior years:
- UK corporation tax

Year ended
31 March 2000 
£000 

Year ended
31 March 1999
£000

4,595
1,500

6,095

(63)

6,032

3,899
-

3,899

-

3,899

The effective tax charge for the year was reduced from 30% through the availability of capital allowances of approximately 
£8.9m (1999 £5.4m).

7. Dividends
Attributable to equity share capital
Ordinary
-  interim paid 4.40p (1999 4.00p) per share
-  final proposed 6.75p (1999 6.00p) per share

Total ordinary dividends 11.15p (1999 10.00p) per share
Special ordinary dividend payable nil (1999 100.00p) per share

Total ordinary dividends

Attributable to non-equity share capital
5.25p convertible cumulative redeemable preference shares 2012 of 70p each
-  dividends paid

2000
£000

1,272
1,951

3,223
-

3,223

-

3,223

1999
£000

700
1,734

2,434
28,904

31,338

2,293

33,631

8. Parent company

The company has taken advantage of section 230 of the Companies Act 1985 and has not included its own profit and loss
account in the financial statements. The group profit after tax for the year includes a profit of £5,052,000 (1999 £23,329,000)
which is dealt with in the financial statements of the parent company.

9. Earnings per share

Earnings per share is based on the profit after tax, minority interest and preference dividends of £15,911,000 (1999:
£12,677,000) and a weighted average of 28,903,697 (1999: 19,014,376) ordinary shares of 5p each in issue during the year.
The weighted average of ordinary shares for the year to 31 March 2000 is the number of ordinary shares in issue of
29,611,697 less the 708,000 shares held by the ESOP, which has waived its entitlement to receive dividends. For the year to
31 March 1999, the weighted average is the number of ordinary shares in issue of 17,593,637 at the start of the year less
350,000 shares held by the ESOP at 1 April 1998 plus 370,356 shares issued during the year following the exercise of share
options and 1,400,383 shares issued following the conversion of preference shares.

Fully diluted earnings per share are based on 29,653,861 (1999: 29,552,075) ordinary shares of 5p, which includes 750,164
(1999: 409,869) ordinary shares representing the weighted average of share options.

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

29

10. Intangible fixed assets - goodwill
Cost at 1 April 1999
Additions
Cost at 31 March 2000

Depreciation at 1 April 1999
Provision for the year

Depreciation at 31 March 2000

Net book amount at 31 March 2000

Net book amount at 31 March 1999

Group
£000

617
719

1,336

41
612

653

683

576

11. Purchase of Glenlake Limited

The company purchased 100% of the issued share capital of Glenlake Limited on 4 June 1999 and the acquisition method of
accounting has been adopted. The loss after taxation of Glenlake Limited for the period from 1 January 1999, the beginning of
the subsidiary’s financial period, to the date of aquisition, was £2,659,000. The loss after taxation for the year ended 31st
December 1998 was £126,000.

The analysis of net assets acquired is as follows:

Fixed assets - investment property
Investment 
Debtors
Cash
Creditors 
Loans

Net Assets

Goodwill arising

Consideration in cash

Less: Cash acquired with subsidiary

£000

52,000
1
692
3,527
(474)
(43,910)

11,836

719

12,555

(3,527)

9,028

30

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

Short
Investment Properties
In course of
leasehold
In course of
development development property &

Vehicles
& office

Freehold
£000

Leasehold
£000

Freehold
£000

12. Tangible fixed assets

Group

Leasehold improvements equipment
£000

£000

£000

Total
£000

Cost or valuation at 1 April 1999
Additions at cost
Transfers
Disposals
Revaluation

239,992
116,990
22,886
(30,401)
30,334

43,050
619
-
(37,495)
(14)

49,415
33,158
(22,886)
(38,424)
(604)

-
12,262
-
-
688

646
-
-
-
-

945 
111
-
(43)
-

334,048
163,140
-
(106,363)
30,404

Cost or valuation at 31 March 2000

379,801

6,160

20,659

12,950

646

1,013

421,229

Depreciation at 1 April 1999
Provision for the year
Eliminated on disposals

Depreciation at 31 March 2000

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

Net book amount at 31 March 2000

379,801

6,160

20,659

12,950

Net book amount at 31 March 1999

239,992

43,050

49,415

Company

Cost at 1 April 1999
Additions at cost
Disposals

Cost at 31 March 2000

Depreciation at 1 April 1999
Provision for the year
Eliminated on disposals

Depreciation at 31 March 2000

Net book amount at 31 March 2000

Net book amount at 31 March 1999

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

-

-

-

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

-

-

178
47
-

225

421

468

646
-
-

646

178
47
-

225

421

468

498
179
(27)

650

676
226
(27)

875

363

447

420,354

333,372

922
111
(43)

990

494
174
(27)

641

349

428

1,568
111
(43)

1,636

672
221
(27)

866

770

896

Interest capitalised in respect of the development of investment properties is included in tangible fixed assets to the extent of
£1,735,000 (1999: £3,504,000)
Interest capitalised during the year in respect of investment properties in the course of development was £1,603,000 
(1999: £1,458,000)

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

31

12. Tangible fixed assets (continued)
The investment properties have been valued on an open market basis at 31 March 2000 as follows:

Healey & Baker, International Real Estate Consultants
Jones Lang LaSalle, International Real Estate Consultants
Allsop & Co, Chartered Surveyors
Knight Frank, Chartered Surveyors
DTZ Debenham Tie Leung, International Property Advisors
King Sturge & Co. Chartered Surveyors
Directors’ valuation

£000

210,700
56,000
33,150
22,350
16,750
14,320
66,300

419,570

The net surplus arising of £30,404,000 (1999 £19,850,000) has been transferred to the revaluation reserve.
The historical cost of investment property is £322,807,000 (1999 £258,188,000).

13. Investments
Shares in subsidiary undertakings at cost
Employees’ Share Ownership Plan Trust -
own shares

The movement in the year was as follows:

At 1 April 1999
Acquired during year
Deficit in ESOP written off

At 31 March 2000

Group

Company

31 March 2000 31 March 1999

31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000

£000

-

3,656

3,656

4,359
-
(703)

3,656

-

4,359

4,359

1,934
2,425
-

4,359

£000

2,252

3,656

5,908

6,545
66
(703)

5,908

£000

2,186

4,359

6,545

4,119
2,426
-

6,545

Following approval at the 1997 Annual General Meeting the Company established the Helical Bar Employees’ Share Ownership
Plan Trust (the “Trust”) to be used as part of the remuneration arrangements for employees. The purpose of the Trust is to
facilitate and encourage the ownership of shares by or for the benefit of employees by the acquisition and distribution of
shares in the Company.

At 31 March 2000 the Trust held 699,000 (1999 699,000) ordinary shares in Helical Bar plc over which options had been
granted. At 31 March 2000 the Trust held 9,000 (1999 9,000) ordinary shares over which no options had been granted.

32

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

13. Investments (continued)

The company’s principal subsidiary undertakings, all of which have been consolidated, are:

Name of undertaking

Nature of business

Percentage of ordinary
share capital held

Aycliffe and Peterlee Development Company Limited
Aycliffe and Peterlee Investment Company Limited*
Helical Bar (CL) Investment Company Limited*
Helical Bar Developments (South East) Limited
Helical Bar (Wales) Limited*
Helical Properties Limited
Helical Properties Investment Limited
Intercontinental Land and Development Co. Limited*
Helical Bar Developments Limited*
Helical Bar (City Developments) Limited*
Helical Bar Trustees Limited
CPP Investments Limited*
Helical Bar (Wood Street) Limited
61 Southwark Street Limited*
Helical Bar (Oxford) Limited
Helical Properties Retail Limited
Helical Bar (CL) Limited*
Helical Bar (Chiswell Street) Limited*
Baylight Developments Limited
Helical Bar (City Investments) Limited*
Networth Limited*
56 Cheapside Limited
Helical Investment Holdings Limited
Helical Bar (Mansion House Place) Limited
Helical (Strand) Limited
Helical Properties (Basingstoke) Limited*
CBX II Limited*
Glenlake Limited*
Helical (SA) Limited
Helical Bar (Rex House) Limited
Helical (Fleet) Limited
48 Gracechurch Street Limited
Helical (TE) Limited
Helical (Interchange) Limited
Helical Retail Limited
Helical Retail (RBS) Limited*
Helical Properties (WSM) Limited*

Development and trading
Investment
Investment
Development and trading
Development and trading
Investment development and trading
Investment
Investment development and trading
Development
Development
Trustee of Profit Sharing Scheme
Investment
Development
Investment
Trading
Investment
Investment
Development
Investment
Investment
Trading
Trading
Share dealing
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Investment
Development and trading
Development and trading
Investment

100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
90%
75%
75%
75%

All principal subsidiary undertakings operate in the United Kingdom and are incorporated and registered in England and Wales.

*Ordinary capital is held by a subsidiary undertaking.

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

33

14. Stock 

Development sites
Properties held as trading stock

Group

31 March 2000 31 March 1999

Company
31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000

£000

£000

£000

16,621
5,399

22,020

27,715
7,339

35,054

48
-

48

31
-

31

Interest capitalised in respect of the development of sites is included in stock to the extent of £572,000 (1999: £1,276,000).
Interest capitalised during the year in respect of development sites amounted to £1,058,000 (1999: £1,808,000).

15. Debtors
Trade debtors
Taxation
Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings
Other debtors
Prepayments and accrued income

Group

Company

2000
£000

25,805
964
-
1,253
26,764

54,786

1999
£000

9,158
1,171
-
1,126
28,693

40,148

2000
£000

1,527
496
100,650
202
1,518

104,393

1999
£000

220
501
120,354
78
338

121,491

Included in group prepayments and accrued income is an amount of £2,460,000 (1999 £5,099,000) due after more than one year.

16. Current asset 
investments
UK Listed investments at cost

Group

Company

2000
£000

5,236

5,236

1999
£000

-

-

2000
£000

2,088

2,088

1999
£000

-

-

The market value of listed investments at 31 March 2000 was £5,019,000.

34

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

17. Cash at bank and in hand
Cash secured against debt repayable within one year
Free cash

18. Creditors: amounts falling 
due within one year
Bank overdrafts and term loans
Trade creditors
Taxation
Social security costs and other taxation
Dividends payable
Other creditors
Accruals and deferred income

19. Creditors: amounts falling 
due after more than 
one year
Bank loans repayable within:
-  1-2 years
-  2-5 years
-  after 5 years

Deferred arrangement costs

Group
31 March 2000 31 March 1999

Company
31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000

£000

4,761
12,230

16,991

2000
£000

2,692
42,887
4,233
594
1,951
1,894
26,264

80,515

5,464
38,846

44,310

Group

1999
£000

31,223
32,748
5,600
84
30,638
1,005
27,364

128,662

Group

2000
£000

1999
£000

£000

505
8,571

9,076

2000
£000

-
134
1,213
442
2,055
-
4,189

8,033

2000
£000

Company

Company

30,397
53,548
175,807

259,752
(2,368)

2,035
34,275
152,746

189,056
(1,480)

257,384

187,576

20,000
-
-

20,000
(65)

19,935

£000

-
31,297

31,297

1999
£000

10,650
139
2,906
61
30,638
-
3,502

47,896

1999
£000

-
20,000
-

20,000
(142)

19,858

Bank overdrafts and term loans in creditors falling due within one year and after one year are secured against properties held
in the normal course of business by subsidiary undertakings to the value of £402,026,000 (1999 £347,533,000). These will be
repayable when the underlying properties are sold.

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

35

20. Financing and financial instruments
Short term debtors and creditors
Short term debtors and creditors have been excluded from all the following disclosures.

Bank overdraft and loans - maturity
After 5 years
From 2-5 years
From 1-2 years

Deferred arrangement costs

Due after more than one year
Due within one year

Group
31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000

£000

175,807
53,548
30,397

259,752
(2,368)

257,384
2,692

260,076

152,746
34,275
2,035

189,056
(1,480)

187,576
31,223

218,799

The group has various undrawn committed borrowing facilities. The facilities available at 31 March 2000 in respect of which all
conditions precedent had been met were as follows:

Expiring in one year or less
Expiring in more than one year but not more than two years
Expiring in more than two years

%

-
9.050
8.625
8.335
-

5.220/5.450
6.600

2000
Expiry

-
Feb. 2009
Sept. 2001
June 2000
-
July 2002
June 2001

6.809

July 2002

Interest rates

Fixed rate borrowings
- fixed
- fixed
- fixed
- swaps
- swaps
- swaps
- swaps

Weighted average
Floating rate borrowings

Total borrowings
Deferred arrangement costs
Provision for loan 
redemption charge

Floating rate borrowings bear interest at rates based on LIBOR.

-
9,933
20,000
14,200
-
49,000
11,625

104,758
157,686

262,444
(2,368)

-

260,076

£000

%

1999
Expiry

Nov. 2013
Feb. 2009
Sept. 2001
June 2000
July 1999
-
-

11.419
9.050
8.625
8.335
7.228
-
-

8.000

Oct. 2001

2000
£000
50,000
-
74,398

1999
£000
33,403
14,025
6,646

124,398

54,074

£000

8,500
10,239
20,000
14,200
74,500
-
-

127,439
90,320

217,759
(1,480)

2,520

218,799

36

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

20. Financing and financial instruments (continued)

Hedging
In addition to the fixed rates, borrowings are also hedged by the following financial instruments:

Instrument

Current
-  cap
-  cap
-  cap
-  collar
-  floor
Forward
-  collar

Gearing

Total borrowings
Cash

Net borrowings

Net assets

Gearing

Value
£000

50,000
30,000
49,000
31,000
49,000

80,000

Rate
%

9.050
9.150
6.000-6.500
4.730-6.500
4.730

Commencement

Expiry

-
-
-
-
-

Jan. 2001
Jan. 2001
July 2004
Jan. 2006
Jan. 2006

4.830-7.500

Jan. 2001

Jan. 2006

31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000
260,076
(16,991)

£000
218,799
(44,310)

243,085

174,489

184,852

142,106

131%

123%

Fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities

Borrowings
Interest rate swaps
Other financial instruments

2000

1999

Book
Value
£m
262,444
-
(223)

Fair
Value
£m
263,668
(1,551)
(2,299)

Book
Value
£m
220,279
-
(203)

Fair
Value
£m
222,526
1,305
995

262,221

259,818

220,076

224,826

The fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities represents the mark to market valuations at 31 March 1999 and 
31 March 2000. The adjustment to net assets from a recognition of these values would be to increase net asset value per
share by 7p (1999: reduce by 15p).

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

37

21. Deferred taxation

Amounts provided for:

-  unrealised capital gains

Amounts unprovided are:

-  unrealised capital gains
-  accelerated capital allowances
-  other timing differences
-  tax losses

Group

31 March 2000 31 March 1999

Company
31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000

£000

£000

£000

1,500

1,500

21,548
1,210
163
(7,812)

15,109

-

-

15,456
1,560
1,406
(6,797)

11,625

-

-

-
-
31
-

31

-

-

-
-
33
-

33

The amounts unprovided represent contingent liabilities at the balance sheet date and are calculated using a tax rate of 30%.
Amounts provided for represent the anticipated corporation tax payable on properties sold since the year end for which
revaluation surpluses have been recognised.
No provision has been made for taxation which would accrue if the remaining investment properties were disposed of at their
revalued amounts. The amounts unprovided are shown above under unrealised capital gains. The adjustment to net assets
resulting from a recognition of these amounts would be to reduce net asset value per share by 46p (1999 36p).

22. Share capital
Authorised
-  45,000,000 (1999: 34,000,000) ordinary shares of 5p each
-  45,996,768 (1999: 45,996,768) 5.25p convertible cumulative 

redeemable preference shares 2012 of 70p each

Allotted, called up and fully paid at 31 March 2000
Attributable to equity interests:
-  29,611,697 (1999: 29,611,697) ordinary shares of 5p each
Attributable to non equity interests:
-  nil (1999: 20,088) 5.25p convertible cumulative

redeemable preference shares 2012 of 70p each

On 12 April 1999 20,088 preference shares were redeemed.

2000
£000

2,250

32,198

34,448

1999
£000

1,700

32,198

33,898

1,481

1,481

-

1,481

14

1,495

38

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

22. Share capital (continued)

Share Options
At 31 March 2000 options over 3,460,000 (1999 3,460,000) ordinary shares in the company had been granted to directors
and employees under the company’s share option schemes. During the year no options were exercised and no new options
were granted.

Exercise price
per share
p

Number
of shares

Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme

Subscription options
Option period ending:
-  9 March 2004
-  20 October 2004
-  10 July 2007
-  28 September 2007
-  26 November 2007

Purchase options
Option period ending:
-  26 November 2004
-  9 July 2005

Helical Bar 1999 Share Option Scheme

Subscription options
Option period ending
-  7 March 2009

Purchase options
Option period ending
-  7 March 2009

Helical Bar 1999 Approved Share Option Scheme

Subscription options
Option period ending
-  7 March 2009

273.0
252.0
412.5
467.5
452.5

452.5
565.0

100,000
200,000
365,000
100,000
394,000

206,000
400,000

442.5

1,547,768

442.5

93,000

442.5

54,232

3,460,000

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

39

22. Share capital (continued)
The directors’ interests in these Share Options Schemes during the year were as follows:

At Start
and end
of year

Exercise
price

Date from
which
exercisable

Expiry
date

Type

M E Slade
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar 1999 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar Approved 1999 Share Option Scheme

Purchase
Purchase
Subscription
Subscription
Subscription

6,000
400,000
394,000
493,221
6,779

1,300,000

N G McNair Scott
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar 1999 Share Option Scheme
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar 1999 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar Approved 1999 Share Option Scheme

Purchase
Purchase
Subscription
Subscription
Subscription

G A Kaye
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar 1999 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar 1999 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar Approved 1999 Share Option Scheme

Subscription
Subscription
Purchase
Subscription
Subscription

P M Brown
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Senior Executive 1988 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar 1999 Share Option Scheme
Helical Bar Approved 1999 Share Option Scheme

Purchase
Subscription
Subscription
Subscription

50,000
43,000
250,000
235,221
6,779

585,000

100,000
200,000
50,000
393,221
6,779

750,000

100,000
100,000
293,221
6,779

500,000

452.5p
565.0p
452.5p
442.5p
442.5p

452.5p
442.5p
412.5p
442.5p
442.5p

273.0p
252.0p
442.5p
442.5p
442.5p

26.11.01
10.07.02
26.11.02
08.03.04
08.03.02

26.11.04
09.07.05
26.11.07
07.03.09
07.03.09

26.11.01
08.03.03
10.07.02
08.03.04
08.03.02

26.11.04
07.03.06
10.07.07
07.03.09
07.03.09

10.03.99
21.10.99
08.03.03
08.03.04
08.03.02

09.03.04
20.10.04
07.03.06
07.03.09
07.03.09

452.5p
467.5p
442.5p
442.5p

26.11.01
29.09.02
08.03.04
08.03.02

26.11.04
28.09.07
07.03.09
07.03.09

There have been no changes in the above directors interests in the period to 16 June 2000.

The market price of the ordinary shares at 31 March 2000 was 569.0p (1999: 485.0p).This market price varied between
485.0p and 641.0p during the year.

40

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

Share
premium
account
£000

Non-distributable
Capital
redemption
reserve
£000

Distributable

Other
reserves
£000

Revaluation
reserve
£000

Profit
& loss
account
£000

19,201
12,688
-

-
12,583
(20)

44,452

47,435
1,829
(20)

49,244

23. Share premium 
and reserves
Group
At 1 April 1999
Profit retained
Revaluation of investment property
Minority interest in revaluation of 
investment property
Realised on disposals
Redemption of preference shares

34,508
-
-

-
-
(6)

7,081
-
-

-
-
20

291
-
-

-
-
-

78,948
-
30,404

(1,068)
(12,583)
-

At 31 March 2000

34,502

7,101

291

95,701

Company
At 1 April 1999
Profit retained
Redemption of preference shares

At 31 March 2000

34,508
-
(6)

34,502

7,081
-
20

7,101

1,987
-
-

1,987

-
-
-

-

24. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash 
inflow from operating activities
Operating profit
Depreciation of fixed assets
Writedown of fixed assets 
Deficit in ESOP
(Profit)/Loss on sale of fixed assets
Write down of goodwill
(Increase)/decrease in debtors
Increase in creditors
Decrease/(increase) in stocks

Year ended

Year ended

31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000

£000

33,813
226
-
703
(7)
612
(12,819)
7,346
15,695

32,144
221
500
-
10
41
599
2,708
(8,254)

Net cash inflow from operating activities

45,569

27,969

Helical Bar plc Notes to Financial Statements

41

25. Analysis of cash flows for headings netted in 
the cash flow statement
Return on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received
Interest paid
Non-equity dividends paid

Taxation
Tax received
Tax paid

Capital expenditure and financial investment
Purchase of property
Sale of property
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Sale of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of investments

Year ended

Year ended

31 March 2000 31 March 1999

£000

£000

1,564
(20,702)
(348)

1,510
(15,482)
(4,189)

(19,486)

(18,161)

266
(4,826)

(4,560)

(109,104)
109,541
(111)
23
(5,235)

-
(3,650)

(3,650)

(73,172)
15,446
(293)
46
(2,425)

(4,886)

(60,398)

At 
1 April 1999
£000

Cash Flow
£000

Acquisition
£000

Other non
cash changes
£000

At 
31 March 2000
£000

44,310
(69)

44,241

(31,154)
(189,056)
1,480

(218,730)

(174,489)

3,028
(88)

2,940

28,619
(26,786)
1,253

3,086

6,026

-
-

-

-
(43,910)
-

(43,910)

(43,910)

(30,347)
-

16,991
(157)

(30,347)

16,834

-
-
(365)

(365)

(2,535)
(259,752)
2,368

(259,919)

(30,712)

(243,085)

26. Analysis of net debt
Cash at bank and in hand
Bank overdraft

Debt due within one year
Debt due after more than one year
less: arrangement expenses

Total

27. Contingent liabilities

The company has entered into cross guarantees in respect of the banking facilities of its subsidiaries. The company has also
entered into interest rate floors on £80 million at 4.83% from January 2001 to January 2006, and on a further £80 million at
4.73% from July 1999 to January 2006.

Other than these contingent liabilities and the deferred tax referred to in note 21 there were no contingent liabilities at
31 March 2000 (1999 nil).

28. Capital commitments

At 31 March 2000 there were no capital commitments (1999 nil).

42

Helical Bar plc Ten Year Review

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D

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Helical Bar plc Notice of Annual General Meeting

43

Notice is hereby given that the 
eightieth Annual General Meeting of the
company will be held at The Westbury,
Conduit Street at New Bond Street,
London W1A 4UH on Wednesday 19 July
2000 at 11.30 a.m. for the following
purposes

As ordinary business
1. To receive and consider the directors’
report and the financial statements for
the year ended 31 March 2000.

2. To declare a final dividend of 6.75p per

ordinary share of 5p.

3. To re-elect Mr M E Slade, who retires

by rotation, as a director of the
company.

4. To re-elect Mr N G McNair Scott, who
retires by rotation, as a director of the
company.

5. To re-elect Mr A R Beevor, who was
appointed on 11 April 2000, as a
director of the company.

6. To re-appoint Grant Thornton as
auditors to the company and to
authorise the directors to fix their
remuneration.

As special business
To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the
following resolutions of which resolutions
7, 9 and 10 will be proposed as special
resolutions and resolution 8 will be
proposed as an ordinary resolution:

7. That:

a) each of the Convertible Cumulative
Redeemable Preference Shares 2012
of 70p in the capital of the company
be and they are hereby sub-divided
and converted into 14 Ordinary
Shares of 5p each;

b) Article 3 of the company’s Articles of

Association be and it is hereby deleted
and replaced by the following:

“3. The authorised share capital of the
company is £34,447,737 divided into
688,954,752 ordinary shares of 5p
each (hereinafter referred to as
“Ordinary Shares”).”

8. That the directors be and they are

hereby generally and unconditionally
authorised, pursuant to Section 80 of
the Companies Act 1985, to exercise
all powers of the company to allot
relevant securities (as defined in
Section 80 of that Act) of an aggregate
nominal amount of £493,528 provided
that this authority shall expire on
18 July 2005 save that the company
may before said expiry make an offer
or agreement which would or might
require relevant securities to be
allotted after such expiry and the
directors may allot relevant securities
in pursuance of such offer or
agreement as if the authority conferred
hereby had not expired.

9. That the directors be and are hereby

empowered, pursuant to Section 95 of
the Companies Act 1985, to allot
equity securities for cash (as defined in
Section 94 of that Act) pursuant to the
authority conferred by Resolution 8
above as if Section 89 of that Act did
not apply to any such allotment
provided that this power shall be
limited to:

a) the allotment of equity securities for
cash in connection with a rights issue
in favour of shareholders on the
register of members at such record
date or dates as the directors may
determine for the purposes of the
issue where the equity securities
respectively attributable to the
interests of all ordinary shareholders
are proportionate (as nearly as may
be) to their respective entitlements at
such record date or dates so
determined provided that the 
directors may make such arrangements
in respect of overseas shareholders
and in respect of fractional 

entitlements as they consider
necessary or expedient; and

b) the allotment (otherwise than pursuant
to sub-paragraph (a) above) of equity
securities for cash up to an aggregate
maximum nominal amount of £74,029;
and shall expire at the conclusion of
the next Annual General Meeting of
the company after the passing of this
resolution, or on 30 September 2001,
if earlier, save that the company may
before such expiry make an offer or
agreement which would or might
require equity securities to be allotted
after such expiry and the directors
may allot equity securities in pursuance
of such offer or agreement as if the
power conferred hereby had not
expired.

10. That the company is hereby generally

and unconditionally authorised to make
market purchases (within the meaning
of Section 163 of the Companies Act
1985) of ordinary shares of 5p each in
the capital of the company (‘ordinary
shares’) provided that:

a) the maximum number of ordinary
shares hereby authorised to be
purchased is 4,427,000;

b) the maximum price which may be paid
for an ordinary share is an amount
equal to 105 per cent of the average
of the middle market quotations for an
ordinary share as derived from The
Stock Exchange Daily Official List for
the 5 business days immediately
preceding the day on which the
ordinary share is purchased;

c)

the minimum price which may be paid
for an ordinary share is 1p;

44

Helical Bar plc Notice of Annual General Meeting

d) the authority hereby conferred shall be

in lieu of any existing authority
conferred by ordinary resolution to
purchase ordinary shares (but without
prejudice to any purchase of ordinary
shares previously made pursuant to
such authority);

e) the authority hereby conferred shall
expire at the conclusion of the next
Annual General Meeting of the
company after the passing of this
resolution, or 30 September 2001,
whichever is the earlier, unless such
authority is renewed prior to such
time; and

f)

the company may make a contract to
purchase the ordinary shares under
the authority hereby conferred prior
to the expiry of such authority which
will or may be executed wholly or
partly after the expiry of such
authority and may make a purchase of
ordinary shares in pursuance of any
such contract.

By order of the Board

T J Murphy
Secretary

26 June 2000

Registered Office
11/15 Farm Street
London W1X 8NP

Registered No. 156663

Notes

a) Holders of Ordinary Shares are

entitled to attend and vote on all the
resolutions proposed at the Annual
General Meeting.

If you are unable to attend

b) Any member entitled to attend and
vote is entitled to appoint one or
more proxies to attend and, on a poll,
vote instead of him. Any such proxy
need not be a member of the
company.
the Annual General Meeting please
complete and return the form of
proxy so as to reach IRG plc, Proxy
Department, Bourne House, 34
Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent
BR3 4TU as soon as possible and in
any event so as to reach there not
later than 48 hours before the time
appointed for holding the meeting.

c) Copies of the directors’ contracts of

service will be available at the
registered office of the company during
normal business hours on any weekday
(Saturday and public holidays
excluded) from the date of this notice
until the date of the meeting and will
then be available for inspection at the
place of the meeting 15 minutes prior
to and during the meeting.

d) The register of directors’ shareholdings
and transactions will be available for
reference at the commencement of
and during the continuance of the
meeting.

e) Completion of the form of proxy will
not preclude a person from attending
and voting in person.

f) Entitlement to attend and vote at the

meeting will be determined by
reference to the Register of Members
of the company at midnight on 17 July
2000.

Helical Bar plc Financial Calendar

Year ended 31 March 2000
Annual General Meeting to be held
Final ordinary dividend payable

19 July 2000
21 July 2000

Half year ending 30 September 2000
Results and interim ordinary dividend announced
Interim ordinary dividend payable

November 2000
December 2000

Year ending 31 March 2001
Results and final dividend announced
Final ordinary dividend payable

June 2001
July 2001

Designed and produced by Milton PDM, Windsor.  Printed by Newgate Press Ltd.