Hirco Reports Strong Interim Results

Thursday May 8 4:03 PM

Hirco PLC (AIM:HRCO), the investment vehicle for Hiranandani, India's largest residential builder and leading developer of prestigious mixed-use townships, today announced its interim results for the first six months of fiscal 2008 ended 31 March 2008.

First-half Fiscal 2008 Highlights

-- Profit after tax was GBP 52.48 million, representing earnings per share of 69 pence based on 76,526,984 shares outstanding.

-- As of 31 March 2008, Hirco's Net Asset Value (NAV) was GBP 6.82 per share, up 11% from a NAV of GBP 6.14 per share as of 30 September 2007. Hirco's NAV as of 31 March 2008 also represents an annualised increase of 34% from a NAV of GBP 4.74 per share at the time of the IPO on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on 13 December 2006.

-- The Company announced its GBP 96.6-million investment in Panvel Residential on 25 October 2007. Panvel Residential is co-located on a site with Hirco's Panvel Commercial development. The combined Panvel township site is a Special Economic Zone, which will provide tax advantages. The new township is close to the recently announced Navi Mumbai International Airport.

Hirco's Chennai and Panvel township developments have in total 66.4 million square feet of buildable area of residential, commercial, retail and social space.

Chennai is India's fourth-largest city. Panvel is located in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Mumbai is the largest metropolis in India and regarded as the commercial and financial capital of India.

Recent Developments

-- On 10 April 2008, Hirco announced strong residential pre-sales and pricing at both its Chennai and Panvel residential developments.

Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman of Hirco PLC, said:

"Hirco is making great strides towards its goal of capitalising on the diverse and growing Indian real estate market. There continues to be robust and escalating demand for quality residential, commercial and retail space. This demand is fuelled by India's continued economic growth, the rising affluence and purchasing power of the Indian people, as well as the high demand for quality housing. This continues to translate into strong support for our strategy of developing world-class, mixed-use townships in the suburbs of India's major cities."

About Hirco

Hirco PLC is the investment vehicle for Hiranandani, India's largest residential builder and leading developer of prestigious mixed-use townships for the country's increasingly affluent middle class. Hirco's modern, large-scale developments - combining high-quality residential, commercial and retail components with green space and social and recreational facilities - are strategically located in suburban areas outside major city centres. Hirco's four current projects - in Chennai in southeast India and Panvel, in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region - feature a combined total of 66.4 million square feet of buildable mixed-use space.

Hirco PLC shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange's Alternative Investment Market (AIM) under the symbol HRCO. At the time of its admission to trading on AIM in December 2006, Hirco PLC was the largest-ever real estate investment company IPO on the AIM and that year's largest IPO on the AIM.

For additional information about Hirco, including the Company's corporate DVD and corporate overview, please visit www.hirco.com.

Hirco Plc
Consolidated Income Statement
for the six months ended 31 March 2008                   Amount in GBP
                                                                  '000

                                            --------------------------
Continuing Operations                         Unaudited    Unaudited
                                            --------------------------
                                             6 Months to 02 Nov 2006
                                              31 March        to
                                                 2008    31 March 2007
                                            --------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment income                                 21,385         6,320
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign Exchange (Loss) / Gain                       (9)            19
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Investment Income                             21,376         6,339
                                            --------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value gain on Investments                    33,105             -
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative Expenses                          (1,991)         (752)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit before Taxes                               52,490         5,587
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Income Tax Expense                                  (10)           (4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit for the period                             52,480         5,583
                                            --------------------------

Number of ordinary shares                     76,526,984    76,526,984
Earnings per share (pence), basic and fully
 diluted                                           68.58          7.30
Hirco Plc
Consolidated Balance Sheet
As at 31 March 2008                                         Amount in
                                                              GBP '000

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets                                       Unaudited      Audited
                                          ----------------------------
                                            31 Mar 2008   30 Sep 2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Property, plant and equipment                          37           42
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Investments                                       471,134      341,392
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT ASSETS
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Accrued preference dividends                       32,555       12,086
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Other debtors and prepaid expenses                    488          158
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Other current assets                                  162           47
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents                          18,724      116,423
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Assets                                      523,100      470,148

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Liabilities
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
CURRENT LIABILITIES
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Trade & Other Payables                                437           69
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Accrued Expenses                                      434          332
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Liabilities                                     871          401
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Assets                                        522,229      469,747
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Capital                                         765          765
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Share Premium                                     361,871      361,871
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign Exchange Fluctuation Reserve                    2            -
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained Earnings                                 159,591      107,111
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Equity                                      522,229      469,747

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Equity                                      522,229      469,747
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Number of ordinary shares                      76,526,984   76,526,984
Net Asset Value per share (GBP )                     6.82         6.14
Hirco Plc
Statement of changes
in equity
for the six months ended 31                                    Amount
 March 2008                                                    in GBP
                                                                  '000

----------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Share   Share   Foreign   Retained   Total
                         Capital Premium   Exchange  Earnings
                                           Reserve
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Issue of Share Capital       765  381,869         -         -  382,634
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Share issue cost               - (19,998)         -         - (19,998)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Profit for the
 period                        -        -         -   107,111  107,111
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
As at 30 September 2007
 (Audited)                   765  361,871             107,111  469,747
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Translation of foreign
 operations                    -        -         2         -        2
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Profit for the
 period                        -        -         -    52,480   52,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
As at 31 March 2008
 (Unaudited)                 765  361,871         2   159,591  522,229
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Hirco Plc
Consolidated cash flow statement
for the six months ended 31 March 2008                       Amount in
                                                              GBP '000

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from operating activities               Unaudited Unaudited
                                                   --------- ---------
                                                   6 Months   02 Nov
                                                      to      2006 to
                                                   31 March  31 March
                                                      2008      2007
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net Profit for the period :                           52,490     5,587
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjustment for:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fair Value gains on Investments                 (33,105)         -
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Depreciation                                          17         -
----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Unrealised Fx Gain on Translation of foreign
     operations                                            2         -
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Profit before Working Capital changes       19,404     5,587
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in Trade and Other Receivables               (20,914)   (2,186)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in Trade and Other Payables                       460       289
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used by) / generated from operating
 activities                                          (1,050)     3,690
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from investing activities
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of Fixed Assets                                (12)         -
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of Investments                             (96,637) (125,736)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities               (96,649) (125,736)
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flows from financing activities
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Proceeds from issue of Share Capital (net of issue
 costs)                                                    -   362,526
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash generated from financing activities                   362,526
----------------------------------------------------------------------

----------------------------------------------------------------------
(Decrease) / Increase in cash and cash equivalents
 during the period                                  (97,699)   240,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents balance at the beginning
 of the period (1 October 2007)                      116,423         -
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents balance at the end of
 the period                                           18,724   240,480
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Contact:

Hirco
Jasper Reiser, +91 22 6671 8522
jreiser@hirco.com
or
Gutenberg Communications
US
Hugh Burnham, +1 212-239-8595
hugh@gutenbergpr.com
or
Michael Gallo, +1 212-239-8594
mgallo@gutenbergpr.com
UK
Shalini Siromani, +44 (0) 20 3008 5231
shalini@gutenbergpr.com
or
India
Pranav Kumar, +91 98 1007 7898
pranav@gutenbergpr.com

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