West Street Capital Corporation Reports 2009 First Quarter Results
May 29 2009 - 5:02PM
Marketwired
West Street Capital Corporation ("West Street" or the "company")
(TSX VENTURE: WSC)(TSX VENTURE: WSC.PR.A) reported net income for
the three months ended March 31, 2009 of $0.4 million, consistent
with $0.4 million reported during the same period in 2008.
Investment income decreased by $0.2 million from the same period in
2008 to $0.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, and
consists principally of dividends and interest earned on the
company's securities portfolio. The decrease in investment income
is a result of lower interest rates on the company's securities
portfolio. After providing for unpaid preferred share dividend
obligations of $0.7 million that accumulated during three month
period, the net loss was $0.03 per common share, compared to a net
loss of $0.03 per common share during the three months ended March
31, 2008.
The company classified investments within its securities
portfolio as available-for-sale financial instruments and
accordingly records changes in the market value of these
investments in other comprehensive income. During the three months
ended March 31, 2009, unrealized losses recorded in other
comprehensive income were $0.4 million after tax, consistent with
the prior year and offset the net income recorded during the
period. Accordingly, the net book value attributed to the preferred
shares was unchanged at $42.4 million or $25.23 per preferred
share.
The company's major shareholder, Brookfield Asset Management
Inc., ("Brookfield") intends to make a formal offer to purchase any
Class E Preferred Shares, Series 1 of the company (the "Preferred
Shares") that Brookfield does not currently own at a price of
$35.00 for each Preferred Share. The company's Board of Directors
has established a committee of Independent Directors to review the
offer and the offer will include an independent valuation of the
Preferred Shares.
Statements of Operations
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(unaudited) Three months ended March 31
$thousands, except per share amounts 2009 2008
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Investment income $ 521 $ 690
Operating and legal expenses 35 25
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Net income before tax 486 665
Current tax expense 106 226
Future tax expense - 85
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Net income $ 380 $ 354
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Net loss per common share $ (0.03) $ (0.03)
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Balance Sheets
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(unaudited)
$thousands, except per share amounts March 31, 2009 December 31, 2008
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Assets
Cash and equivalents $ 17,165 $ 16,805
Securities 25,088 25,392
Interest receivable and other 181 235
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$ 42,434 $ 42,432
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Liabilities
Accounts payable and provisions $ 83 $ 58
Shareholders' equity(1) 42,351 42,374
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$ 42,434 $ 42,432
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Attributable to each Class E Preferred
Share, Series 1(1) $ 25.23 $ 25.25
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(1) Shareholders' Equity
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March 31 Per Preferred
$thousands, except per share amounts 2009 Share
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Shareholders' equity $ 42,351 $ 25.23
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Less amounts attributed to preferred
shares
Redemption value 41,887 24.96
Unaccrued dividends in arrears 51,293 30.56
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93,180 55.52
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Common share deficit $ (50,829) $ (30.29)
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As a result of cumulative dividends in arrears, the tangible net book
value of the company currently accrues entirely to the preferred
shares. Based on 1,678,465 preferred shares currently issued and
outstanding.
Note: This news release contains "forward-looking information"
within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and
regulations, the word "intends" and other expressions that are
predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and
which do not relate to historical matters identifying
forward-looking information. Expressions of future or conditional
verbs such as "will" are predictions of or indicate future events,
trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters
or identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking
information in this news release includes statements with regard
the company's major shareholder's intention to make a formal offer
to purchase any Preferred Shares of the company that it does not
currently own, and the independent valuation of the Preferred
Shares included in the offer.
Although the company believes that the anticipated future
results or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking
information and statements are based upon reasonable assumptions
and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on the
forward-looking information and statements because they involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the
company to differ materially from anticipated future results,
performance or achievement expressed or implied by such
forward-looking information and statements.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those contemplated or implied by the forward-looking
information and statements include: the behavior of financial
markets, including fluctuations in interest and exchange rates,
availability of equity and debt financing and other risks and
factors detailed from time to time in the company's other documents
filed with the Canadian securities regulators.
We caution that the foregoing list of important factors that may
affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our
forward-looking information to make decisions with respect to the
company, investors and others should carefully consider the
foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events.
Except as may be required by law, the company undertakes no
obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
information or statements, whether written or oral, that may be as
a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Contacts: West Street Capital Corporation Brian D. Lawson
President (416) 359-8625
West Street Capital Corp. (TSXV:WSC)
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