15th Oct 2014 12:20
15 October 2014
All Leisure group plc
Update
The Board of All Leisure group plc (the "Company" or the "Group") (AIM: ALLG), the niche cruise and tour operator specialising in the over-55s market, announces that it has successfully sold its 43 year old, loss-making cruise ship mv Discovery ("Discovery") to Liberty Resources Inc. of Nassau, Bahamas ("Liberty") for a net consideration of US Dollars 5.0m. This cash has now been received by the Company.
On 13 February 2014, the Group announced that it had written down the value of Discovery to approximately £9.9m including spares and planned to dispose of it at the end of the summer. Although the consideration received is less than the current book value of the vessel, the Board's decision to sell mv Discovery to Liberty also took into account the absence of the future liabilities and other uncertainties associated with many other bids. The losses attributable to mv Discovery for the year ended 31 October 2013 were in excess of £3m. Several higher indicative offers were made but had weaker cash flow profiles given the prospect of staged payments over several years. Furthermore, during these extended payment periods, the Group would have remained responsible for warranting the vessel and the forthcoming winter lay-up costs of the vessel, together with the costs of meeting the requirements of the dry docking regime. It was the Board's considered view that is was therefore in shareholders' best interests to accept the lower cash offer in full and final settlement.
The Group's financial year end is 31 October and a further update will be provided on current trading at the end of November 2014. This will include an assessment of the financial impact of the cruises to Ukraine and Crimea, as notified on 11 July 2014 in the Group's interim results for the six months ended 30 April 2014.
Further to the announcement dated 21 July 2014, the Company is also pleased to confirm the appointment of Kevan Witts to the role of Interim Group Finance Director with effect from 11 September 2014. Chris Gadsby has stepped down from his role as Group Finance Director and remains with the Company until mid-December. The Company has already commenced the search for a new Group Finance Director. The Board would like to thank Chris for his contribution to the business and wish him success for the future.
Kevan Ronald Witts (aged 54)
Current Directorships / Partnerships | Former Directorships / Partnerships (past 5 years) |
All Discovery Cruising Limited | (none) |
All Leisure Group plc |
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All Leisure Holidays Limited |
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Atholl Shipping Corporation |
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Blue Chip Travel Coaching Limited |
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Blue Chip Travel Limited |
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Cruise Line Direct Limited |
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Cruiseminded Limited |
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Discovery Cruises Limited |
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Discovery Cruising Limited |
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Discovery Shipping Limited |
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Just You Holidays Limited |
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Page & Moy Limited |
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Page & Moy Properties Limited |
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Page & Moy Surface Transport Services Limited |
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Page & Moy Travel Air Transport Services Limited |
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Page & Moy Travel Group Air Holidays Limited |
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Page & Moy Travel Group Limited |
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Page & Moy Travel Group Surface Holidays Limited |
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Page & Moy Travel Limited |
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Travelsphere Limited |
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Voyages of Discovery Limited |
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Worldwide Voyages of Discovery Limited |
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There are no further matters in connection with the Company's appointment of Kevan Witts to be disclosed under Rule 17 or Schedule Two paragraph (g) of the AIM Rules.
All Leisure group PLC |
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Roger Allard (Executive Chairman) | Tel: +44 7836 382767 |
Ian Smith (Group Chief Executive Officer) | Tel: +44 1858 588396 |
Kevan Witts (Interim Group Finance Director) | Tel: +44 1858 588216 |
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Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited |
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Andrew Godber/Charles Leigh-Pemberton | Tel: + 44 207 7886 2500 |
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Citigate Dewe Rogerson |
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Ginny Pulbrook | Tel: +44 207 282 2945 |
Related Shares:
ALLG.L