This statement from the company on Friday is bollocks IMO.
The company has previously advised the market of an ongoing sale process for the UK Vouchers business which is consistent with the company's stated aim of de-leveraging the business and strengthening the company's capital structure. The sale process for the Vouchers business remains open. If a successful transaction was achieved it would not conclude in the 2008 financial year. The company has previously advised it was considering selling its property assets in the UK. In addition, the company is now considering selling the UK nurseries business with the Vouchers business and the UK property assets in a single transaction. A number of highly conditional indicative proposals for the entire UK business have been received. A sales process has commenced and discussions are continuing with interested parties. The details of any successful transaction will be advised to the market. The current sale process envisages that the transaction will complete in the first half of the 2009 financial year and the profit recognised as a one-off item. The company has given previous guidance of an approximate $100m profit on the sale of the Vouchers business. If the company concludes a sale for the entire UK business the profit would be lower as the sale would crystallise into cash the previously recognised $51.1m discount on the acquisition of the Leapfrog Nurseries business. The company is unable to give any further guidance at this early stage of the process.
ABS Price at posting:
0.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held