Interim Management Statement.
A & J Mucklow Group Plc, the Midlands based Real Estate Investment Trust, announces its Interim Management Statement for the period from 1 July 2011 to 7 November 2011, to coincide with its Annual General Meeting this morning.
Rupert Mucklow, Chairman, will comment:
Our occupancy rate has been maintained at around 93%, since our year end on 30 June 2011, while rent collection has remained stable, with over 90% of rent being collected within 7 days of the September quarter day, similar to the same period last year.
There has been very little improvement in occupational demand or letting activity in the Midlands, during the summer months, and we do not anticipate any change for the remainder of our half year to 31 December 2011.
The regional investment market has also been quiet during the first quarter, with few new opportunities becoming available, or transactions being concluded. No new investment properties were acquired during the period.
We expect to see more investment stock being released by Banks and Institutions over the next few months, but remain very selective on acquiring suitable properties and are prepared to bide our time for the right deals.
We sold a farm at Penn, near Wolverhampton, in September 2011 for 1.7m. The property was held as trading stock and comprised a farm house, barn and approximately 270 acres of land. The farm was sold for a profit of around 1.5m.
Following the completion of the farm, our total net borrowings have reduced marginally from 67.7m to 64.7m at 31 October 2011, against total assets of 267m. We still have 23.5m of undrawn banking facilities to utilise, should any suitable opportunities arise.
Other than stated above, there has been no significant change in the Group's financial position since 30 June 2011.