HC Deb 19 March 1987 vol 112 cc586-7W
Mr. Greg Knight

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a further statement on the capital structure of Rolls-Royce.

Mr. Pattie

As stated by my right hon. Friend in his reply to his hon. Friend the Member for Hastings and Rye (Mr. Warren) on 18 December 1986, at columns 607–8, as part of the arrangements for and at the time of the offer for sale the Government intend to subscribe an amount of new shares which will give net proceeds to the company equal to the net borrowings of the company and its subsidiaries (including obligations under finance leases) as recorded in the consolidated audited balance sheet at 31 December 1986.

The directors of Rolls-Royce plc have today approved their accounts for 1986. These show that as on 31 December 1986 the net borrowings were £283 million, made up as follows:

£ million £ million
Bank loans, overdrafts and other borrowings
falling due within one year 171
falling due after more than one year 79
250
Obligations under financial leases
payable within one year 17
payable after more than one year 37
54
304
Less
Cash at bank and in hand 21
283

The new ordinary shares which will be subscribed by the Government in line with the arrangements described (and which will be subscribed conditional on the offer for sale being completed) will form part of the shares made available under the offer for sale.