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GRI Grainger Plc

252.50
1.50 (0.60%)
19 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Grainger Plc LSE:GRI London Ordinary Share GB00B04V1276 ORD 5P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  1.50 0.60% 252.50 251.50 253.00 254.50 248.50 254.50 785,413 16:29:51
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Real Estate Investment Trust 106.1M 25.6M 0.0347 72.77 1.86B

Grainger PLC Half Year Results (6011F)

19/05/2017 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMGRI

RNS Number : 6011F

Grainger PLC

19 May 2017

19 May 2017

Grainger plc

Half year results for the six months ended 31 March 2017

Grainger's strategy delivers 39% growth in adjusted earnings

Helen Gordon, CEO of Grainger, the UK's largest listed residential landlord, comments:

"I am pleased to report that the pursuit of our strategy is delivering strong results. In the first six months of the year we have increased adjusted earnings by 39% and net rental income by 11%.

"We expect this momentum to continue now that we have secured GBP439m of private rented sector ("PRS") investment, over half of our GBP850m target, and have good visibility on additional investment opportunities to meet our overall target. We are making good progress delivering our pipeline, and on average we are completing a new PRS building every two months over the next two years.

"Grainger is a focused, simpler and more efficient business. We have made changes to the way we operate in order to enhance returns, through reducing costs, simplifying processes and improving the scalability of our operating platform.

"The private rented sector growth opportunity is compelling with strong investment fundamentals. Our strategy to grow rents and simplify and focus the business puts Grainger in a strong position to deliver further sustainable income led growth."

Financial highlights - six months ended 31 March 2017

-- Net rental income up 11% to GBP20.0m (HY16: GBP18.0m)

-- Adjusted earnings* up 39% to GBP34.1m (HY16: GBP24.5m)

-- Profit before tax up 13% to GBP41.2m (HY16: GBP36.6m)

-- Dividend per share up 10% to 1.60p^ (HY16: 1.45p)

-- EPRA NNNAV up 8 pence per share or 3% since the year end to 295p (FY16: 287p)

-- Net debt of GBP791m and LTV 36.0% (FY16: GBP764m and 35.9%)

-- Cost of debt at period end reduced to 3.6% (FY16: 3.9%)

Strategic progress

Growing rents - increased investment and returns

-- We have grown net rental income by 11% to GBP20.0m (HY16: GBP18.0m), with gains through acquisitions, improved operational efficiency and rental growth. More than half of Grainger's net rental income is derived from our PRS assets.

-- We have made good progress on our PRS pipeline with GBP439m of our GBP850m investment target secured, and a further GBP425m in the planning or legal process.

-- We have materially reduced property operating expenses ("gross to net") to 25.8% for HY17 from 29.2% for HY16 and 28.0% for FY16, through improving our processes and supply chain to increase efficiency and strengthen cost discipline.

-- Like-for-like rental growth across our entire portfolio of 3.5% in the first six months, comprised 2.9% on our PRS homes and 4.3% annualised on regulated tenancy reviews.

-- Our trading performance has been robust relative to the market. We have seen good overall valuation growth rates across our portfolio with our assets in the regions and outer London performing well, more than offsetting central and inner London which has been broadly flat.

-- Interim dividend increased by 10% to 1.60 pence per share (HY16: 1.45p), in line with our policy to distribute 50% of annual net rental income, with one third distributed at the interim stage.

Simplifying and focusing the business

-- We have reduced overheads to GBP13.4m, a 17% reduction from the prior year (HY16: GBP16.2m), and we are on track to deliver our GBP27.5m overhead target for FY17.

-- We refinanced a GBP100m debt facility which reduced the average cost of debt by 23 bps.

-- We have agreed a two year extension to 2022 for GBP450m of our syndicated bank facility, at unchanged margins, with extension options for a further two years.

-- We have been actively reviewing and upgrading our systems, processes and technology to achieve greater operating efficiencies and prepare the business to service an increasing number of customers.

Good financial performance

-- Adjusted earnings up 39% to GBP34.1m (HY16: GBP24.5m) through higher net rental income, lower overhead costs and lower finance costs, despite a strong prior period result (HY16) which benefited from high levels of sales ahead of the changes to stamp duty land tax.

-- EPRA NNNAV and EPRA NAV up 3% and 2% respectively in the six month period to 295p and 338p (FY16: 287p and 330p), supported by a strong trading performance and robust valuation growth of 2.1% on the market value of our assets.

-- Vacant residential property sales averaged 2.0% above September 2016 valuations (HY16: 6.8%), delivering GBP49.5m of revenue and GBP24.7m of profit (HY16: GBP62.7m and GBP29.6m).

Outlook

We expect a further strong trading performance in the second half of the year and lead indicators point to a robust performance for the year as a whole. We remain confident in our ability to continue to source compelling PRS investments, and we will retain our selective and disciplined approach and remain focused on returns as we move towards securing our GBP850m PRS investment target by 2020.

The demand for the rental market in the UK remains strong with 20% of all homes in England privately rented, the highest levels since records began in 1980. In addition, for the first time we have seen an increase in the number of households renting across the broadest age range of 25-64. Coupled with an undersupply of housing, the PRS offers good growth prospects, which Grainger is in a strong position to capture, having focused on developing a scalable, efficient operating platform.

Grainger's business model is increasingly focused on driving sustainable income led shareholder returns and with our established strategy, operational platform and pipeline, we are confident in the future.

*Adjusted earnings (previously called recurring profit) is profit before tax, less valuation movements, and non-recurring items.

^The dividend will be paid on 30 June 2017 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 2 June 2017.

English Housing Survey 2017.

FY17 reporting dates

-- Trading update and Capital Markets Day - Wednesday 27 September 2017

-- Full year results - Thursday 30 November 2017

Interim results presentation

Grainger will be holding a presentation for analysts and investors at 9.00am (UK time) on Friday 19(th) May 2017.

The presentation will also be available live via webcast and a telephone dial-in facility. In addition, a copy of the presentation slide will be available on Grainger's website, www.graingerplc.co.uk.

Webcast details

To view the webcast, please go to the following URL link. Registration is required.

Webcast URL link: http://webcasting.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/58b04dbe2ad960ba5fff008f

The webcast will be available for six months from the date of the presentation.

Conference call details

   UK dial-in number:                              +44 (0) 330 336 9411 or 0800 279 7204 
   US dial-in number:                              +1 (719) 457 1036 
   Netherlands dial-in number:                +31 (0) 20 703 8261 or 0800 023 1436 
   Access code:                                      8587577 

For further information, please contact:

   Grainger                                                                    Carmarco 
   Helen Gordon / Vanessa Simms /                              Ginny Pulbrook / Geoffrey Pelham-Lane 

Kurt Mueller

   Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7940 9500                              Telephone: +44 (0) 20 3757 4992 / 4985 

Chief Executive's review

Overview

The pursuit of our strategy is delivering good results. We are growing rents, reducing costs and restructuring the business so that we are ready for the exciting opportunity presented by the growth in demand for homes to rent.

We have made good progress on developing our PRS investment pipeline; and we have prepared the business for the future through improving scalability and efficiency which will enhance returns.

Our market leading position provides us with opportunities for growth and we were recently recognised as Property Company of the Year, Landlord of the Year, Asset Manager of the Year and PRS Developer of the Year by industry peers.

Grow rents - investment

We have secured GBP439m of investment, over half of our GBP850m target. The best investment opportunities have come via forward funding and direct development schemes. These provide higher quality assets and more attractive returns, relative to the tenanted, stabilised acquisition opportunities that we have been appraising. A further GBP425m is in the planning or legal process, with several compelling schemes at advanced stages.

The main increase in the period came from securing a c.GBP42m, 242 unit build to rent scheme on the Yorkshire Post site in Leeds city centre. Construction is expected to begin in Autumn this year and we are targeting a c.7% gross yield post completion in late 2019.

We are making good headway in construction on our secured PRS schemes, where we are targeting gross yields of c.7-8% once fully let. These include:

-- Clippers Quay, our GBP99m, 614 unit PRS scheme in Salford is approaching half way through construction, with first completions expected in late FY18.

-- Our PRS phase at Berewood in Hampshire to deliver 104 homes is on track to complete this Summer.

-- Construction of Argo Apartments is expected to complete in Autumn this year, which will deliver 134 PRS units in Canning Town, London. It is being acquired by our PRS REIT, GRIP, for which Grainger is the property and asset manager (supplementing co-investment returns).

-- Construction has started at Finzels Reach, our 194 unit, GBP46m PRS build-to-rent development in Bristol, where completion is expected in FY19.

Our PRS REIT, GRIP, which is focused on investments in London and the South East, has also completed on two freehold residential tenanted acquisitions in London and Brighton, for total consideration of GBP24m (Grainger share GBP6m).

Our PRS partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) is progressing well. We have recently completed our first units in this partnership at Hortensia Road which comprises 31 homes, and construction and pre-sales are progressing well at the Young Street site. Grainger generates development and asset management fees from this relationship and a share of the future rental income.

Simplify and focus

2016 was a transformational year for Grainger. We profitably sold our Equity Release and German businesses, improved the capital structure of the company, embarked on our PRS growth strategy and restructured our operations to focus the business, reduce costs and improve efficiency.

The benefits we have seen coming through in the first six months of the year is a testament to the strength, quality and responsiveness of our team.

Adjusted earnings have increased by 39%, with reduced finance and overhead costs the key drivers of the growth. This has been achieved alongside initiatives to prepare the business for the future through enhancing our systems, processes and supplier relationships that will underpin the scalability and efficiency of our property and asset management platform as the business grows. It is pleasing to see the sizeable reductions in property operating expenses and operational changes being made whilst maintaining our focus on financial performance.

We are pleased to report that our new Chief Operating Officer, John Kenny, started earlier this month (formerly COO of Liberty Living, a leading student housing provider). John will help drive forward further operational improvements and efficiencies in the business, building on the great work we have achieved over the past 18 months.

Build on our heritage

Grainger has a 105 year history of renting homes. We have a competitive advantage as a PRS business through being able to originate, invest in and operate PRS homes across the UK. In addition to the skills, knowledge, asset management and operational platform our heritage provides, our resilient and highly cash generative regulated tenancy portfolio supports our investment into higher-yielding PRS assets.

Residential sales in the period generated GBP57m of income, which was in line with our expectations and demonstrated the resilience of our assets. Our regulated tenancies had an average vacancy rate of c.6.5% for the period. Prices on the sale of vacant properties were achieved on average at 2.0% above September 2016 valuations.

Market

Demand for renting is growing and this trend is set to continue. One in five households rent today, from one in ten, ten years ago.

The UK is seeing a structural change in housing, underpinned by greater demand for flexibility and service.

This developing market and our ability to increase housing supply continues to benefit from increased Government support, most recently evidenced in the recent Housing White Paper. This paper recognised the need for a high quality rental sector to help solve the housing crisis and showed a positive shift in Government housing policy, away from policies primarily focused on home ownership. We welcome this policy shift.

Increased regulation and cost for smaller buy-to-let landlords will help support the development of a larger scale professional rental sector, where we operate.

The PRS and build to rent sector benefit from cross party political support for increasing housing supply, increasing investment in good quality homes and professionalising the rental market.

The recent Housing White Paper set out a number of changes that have the potential to support development of the private rented sector, including changes to the planning system, greater flexibility in affordable housing requirements and initiatives to ensure local authorities support and release land for housing.

The drive for longer tenancies for renters was discussed in the Conservative Government's Housing White Paper and the Labour Party Manifesto, as was a ban on letting fees to stop the practice of double charging. Grainger already provides longer term tenancies across a number of our sites and are supportive of this move. We also welcome the ban on letting fees and the protection it provides to our customers.

Outlook

Our portfolio remains resilient and continues to perform well. We expect a further strong trading performance in the second half of the year and lead indicators point to a robust valuation performance for the year as a whole. We remain confident in our ability to continue to source compelling PRS investments, and we will retain our selective and disciplined approach and remain focused on returns as we move towards securing our GBP850m PRS investment target by 2020.

The undersupply of housing and the growing demand for rental housing presents an exciting growth opportunity. Grainger is in a strong position to capture this opportunity, having developed a scalable, efficient operating platform.

Grainger's business model is increasingly focused on driving sustainable income led shareholder returns, and our strategy, operational infrastructure and pipeline provide us with confidence for the future.

Helen Gordon

Chief Executive

19 May 2017

Financial review

We have delivered a good set of financial results for the six month period ended 31 March 2017 through a combination of growth initiatives and decisive actions taken to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.

These actions have significantly enhanced our income returns. We have increased adjusted earnings by 39% (GBP9.6m) to GBP34.1m (HY16: GBP24.5m), driven by rental growth and improving operating and finance costs. EPRA NNNAV increased by 3% to 295p (FY16: 287p), supported by the strong trading performance and valuation growth.

The Board has declared an interim dividend per share of 1.60p (+10% YoY, HY16: 1.45p) in line with our policy to distribute 50% of annual net rental income, with one third to be paid at the interim stage.

 
 Income                              HY16       HY17   Change 
------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
 Rental growth (like for                                  -50 
  like)                              4.0%       3.5%      bps 
 Net rental income               GBP18.0m   GBP20.0m     +11% 
 Adjusted earnings* (note 
  2)                             GBP24.5m   GBP34.1m     +39% 
 Adjusted earnings per share 
  (after tax) (note 2)               4.9p       6.6p     +35% 
 Profit before tax (note 
  2)                             GBP36.6m   GBP41.2m     +13% 
 Dividend per share (note 
  10)                               1.45p      1.60p     +10% 
 Earnings per share (diluted) 
  (note 9)                           7.3p       8.0p     +10% 
 
 Capital                             FY16       HY17   Change 
------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
 EPRA NAV per share                  330p       338p      +2% 
 EPRA NNNAV per share                287p       295p      +3% 
 Net debt                         GBP764m    GBP791m      +4% 
                                                          +10 
 Group LTV                          35.9%      36.0%      bps 
                                                          -70 
 Cost of debt (average)              4.4%       3.7%      bps 
                                                          -30 
 Cost of debt (period end)           3.9%       3.6%      bps 
 Reversionary surplus             GBP327m    GBP314m      -4% 
------------------------------  ---------  ---------  ------- 
 

Income financials and reversionary surplus on a continuing operations basis.

*Adjusted earnings (previously called recurring profit) is profit before tax, less valuation movements, and non-recurring items.

Income statement

We have successfully continued to grow our income return. Through new acquisitions, active asset management and operational improvements we have increased net rental income. Our sales performance remains resilient and we have made great strides in reducing costs across the business.

The table below summarises adjusted earnings and profit before tax (from continuing operations) for the 6 months ended 31 March 2017.

 
 Income statement                             Change 
  GBP'm                       HY16     HY17 
-------------------------  -------  -------  ------- 
 Net rental income            18.0     20.0     +11% 
 Profit on sale of 
  assets                      36.4     35.0      -4% 
 Mortgage income (CHARM)       3.2      3.1      -3% 
 Management fees               3.3      2.3     -30% 
 Overheads                  (16.2)   (13.4)     -17% 
 Other expenses              (0.4)    (0.4)       0% 
 Joint ventures                0.8      1.2     +50% 
 Net finance costs          (20.6)   (13.7)     -34% 
                           -------  -------  ------- 
 Adjusted earnings*           24.5     34.1     +39% 
 Valuation movements          15.9      7.0     -56% 
 Derivative movements        (4.1)      0.4    +110% 
 Non-recurring items           0.3    (0.3)    -200% 
                           -------  -------  ------- 
 Profit before tax            36.6     41.2     +13% 
-------------------------  -------  -------  ------- 
 

See note 2 to these results for the reconciliation from statutory measures.

* Adjusted earnings (previously called recurring profit) is profit before tax, less valuation movements, and non-recurring items.

Rental income

We have grown net rental income by 11% to GBP20.0m for the period (HY16: GBP18.0m), through new investments, active asset management within our existing portfolio and increased operational efficiencies. More than half of Grainger's net rental income is now derived from our PRS assets.

Like-for-like rental growth across our entire portfolio of 3.5% in the first six months, comprised 2.9% on our PRS assets and 4.3% annualised on regulated tenancy reviews.

 
                        GBP'm 
---------------------  ------ 
 HY16 Net rental 
  income                 18.0 
 Disposals              (0.7) 
 Acquisitions             1.0 
 Rental growth            0.8 
 Propex efficiencies      0.9 
                       ------ 
 HY17 Net rental 
  income                 20.0 
                       ------ 
 YoY growth               11% 
---------------------  ------ 
 

Sales

Our sales performance continues to be resilient where we see sustained healthy levels of trading and robust pricing. On average we have been selling assets at 2% above their previous valuation, with sustained transactional levels and robust demand.

 
                                  HY16                     HY17 
                        -----------------------  ----------------------- 
                                 Sales   Profit           Sales   Profit 
                        ------                   ------ 
                         Units                    Units 
                          sold   GBP'm    GBP'm    sold   GBP'm    GBP'm 
----------------------  ------  ------  -------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Residential sales 
  on vacancy               174    62.7     29.6     148    49.5     24.7 
 Tenanted and 
  other sales               38     5.1      2.8      55     7.3      4.0 
                        ------  ------  -------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Residential sales 
  total                    212    67.8     32.4     203    56.8     28.7 
 Development activity        -    13.0      4.0       -    34.6      6.3 
 Overall sales             212    80.8     36.4     203    91.4     35.0 
----------------------  ------  ------  -------  ------  ------  ------- 
 

Residential sales represent the majority of our overall sales and relate primarily to regulated tenancy assets sold on vacant possession. Annual reductions in sales are expected due to the natural wind down of this portfolio. Our regulated tenancy vacancy rate averaged c.6.5% over the period.

Sales over the period have performed well, in line with expectations. The reduction on last year is a reflection of an exceptionally buoyant period in 2016 ahead of the changes to stamp duty land tax.

Our development activity over the period includes our PRS partnership with the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), where we are shortly completing the first of seven sites, Hortensia Road, along with other sales of development assets.

Operating costs

Our income return has been enhanced by the significant improvements the management team has made to the operating costs of the business. Three key areas of focus over the period have been: property operating expenses ("gross to net"), overheads and finance costs.

Property operating expenses

Through improving systems, processes and our supply chain to increase efficiency and improve cost controls, we have significantly reduced property operating expenditure as a percentage of gross rental income ("gross to net") by 340 bps year-on-year to 25.8%. Our medium term target remains a gross to net range of 25 - 26%.

 
 Property expenditure        FY15    HY16    FY16    HY17 
  evolution 
-------------------------  ------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Property operating 
  expenditure percentage 
  of gross rents            30.7%   29.2%   28.0%   25.8% 
-------------------------  ------  ------  ------  ------ 
 

Overheads

We have reduced overheads by 17% to GBP13.4m over the period (HY16: GBP16.2m), leaving the business on track to deliver our GBP27.5m overheads target, an overall reduction of 24%. Management believe that this is a sustainable level for its medium term growth plans.

It is worth noting that GBP2.3m of overheads were recovered over the period from management fees, resulting in an overall net overhead of GBP11.1m (HY16: GBP12.9m).

Finance costs

We have reduced net finance costs by 34% to GBP13.7m (HY16: GBP20.6m). At the period end, cost of debt was 3.6%, which we view as being a sustainable medium term level. This is significantly reduced from 4.5% at the end of HY16 and 3.9% at the end of FY16.

Balance sheet

We continue to secure attractive investment opportunities aligned to our PRS investment strategy, and have seen robust growth in the net asset value of the business over the period.

 
 Market value balance 
  sheet (GBP'm)                     FY16      HY17 
------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 
 Residential - PRS                   461       470 
 Residential - regulated 
  tenancy                          1,342     1,340 
 Development work in 
  progress                           105       125 
 Investment in JVs/associates        193       191 
                                --------  -------- 
 Total investments                 2,101     2,126 
 
 Net debt                          (764)     (791) 
 Other assets/liabilities             32        66 
 Discontinued (excluding 
  loans)                              11        11 
                                --------  -------- 
 EPRA NAV                          1,380     1,412 
 EPRA NAV (pence per 
  share)                             330       338 
 
 Deferred and contingent 
  tax                              (146)     (147) 
 Fair value of fixed 
  rate debt and derivatives         (34)      (30) 
                                --------  -------- 
 EPRA NNNAV                        1,200     1,235 
 EPRA NNNAV (pence per 
  share)                             287       295 
------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Reversionary surplus            GBP327m   GBP314m 
 LTV                               35.9%     36.0% 
------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

A reconciliation between the statutory balance sheet and the market value balance sheets for both EPRA NAV and EPRA NNNAV is set out in note 3 of these results.

EPRA NNNAV increased by 3% in the six month period to 295p (FY16: 287p), driven by robust trading performance and valuation growth.

EPRA NNNAV does not include the reversionary surplus of GBP314m or 75 pence per share. GBP247m (59 pence per share) relates to our regulated tenancies which will be realised as they become vacant and are sold.

EPRA NNNAV is the most relevant metric for Grainger due to the contingent tax liability, 75% of which relates to our trading portfolio, predominantly our regulated tenancies, and will crystallise as our regulated tenancies are vacated and sold.

 
 EPRA NNNAV movement 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
                                                  Pence per 
                                          GBP'm       share 
                                         ------  ---------- 
 EPRA NNNAV at 30 September 
  2016                                    1,200         287 
 Profit after tax (before derivatives)       33           8 
 Revaluation gains on trading 
  stock                                      33           8 
 Disposals (trading assets)                (24)         (6) 
 Contingent tax                             (1)           - 
 Dividends and other                        (9)         (2) 
 Mark to market on fixed rate 
  debt                                        3           - 
 EPRA NNNAV at 31 March 2017              1,235         295 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------- 
 

Property portfolio

Our portfolio continues to perform well. The market value increased by 2.1% over the six month period. Our confidence in the valuation of our assets is supported by the 148 units that were sold over the period, achieving on average 2% above previous valuations.

This compares to 2.1% for the combined average of the Nationwide and Halifax House price indices, 1.5% according to the Office of National Statistics and 2.8% for the LSL Acadata House Price Index.

We have seen good growth in our wholly owned portfolio in the South East, Outer London and the regions, while Inner London values were broadly flat, as shown in the table below:

 
 Regional performance     Units    Investment   Change since 
                                   value HY17           FY16 
                                       (GBPm) 
----------------------   ------  ------------  ------------- 
 Central & Inner 
  London                  1,570           926           0.7% 
 Outer London               488           175           4.6% 
 South East                 544           130           6.3% 
 South West                 621           166           2.0% 
 East and Midlands          822           135           2.9% 
 North West               1,133           126           2.1% 
 Other regions              555            63           5.2% 
 
 Total                    5,733         1,720           2.1% 
-----------------------  ------  ------------  ------------- 
 

Portfolio summary

The following table shows the breakdown of Grainger's portfolio, and includes the market value and vacant possession value by portfolio type (reflecting the type of tenancy).

 
 
                                                        Vacant 
                                          Market    possession   Reversionary 
                                    No.    value         value        surplus 
                                  units    GBP'm         GBP'm          GBP'm 
------------------------------  -------  -------  ------------  ------------- 
 Residential - PRS                2,079      470           508             38 
 Residential - regulated 
  tenancies                       3,654    1,250         1,497            247 
 Residential - mortgages            667       90            88            (2) 
 Development work 
  in progress                         -      125           125              - 
------------------------------  -------  -------  ------------  ------------- 
 Wholly-owned assets              6,400    1,935         2,218            283 
 Investment in JVs/associates 
  (Grainger share)                  688      259           290             31 
------------------------------ 
 Total investments                7,088    2,194         2,508            314 
------------------------------  -------  -------  ------------  ------------- 
 
 Assets held-for-sale                 3        3             3              - 
 HY17 total                       7,091    2,197         2,511            314 
------------------------------  -------  -------  ------------  ------------- 
 
 Assets under management          1,482      590           664 
 Total assets under 
  management                      8,573    2,787         3,175 
------------------------------  -------  -------  ------------  ------------- 
 

Capital structure

Significant improvements have been made to strengthen the capital structure of the business. Grainger is a simpler and more focused business with a much lower quantum and cost of debt.

In line with our strategy, we are investing in PRS assets (GBP78m in the period), resulting in a 4% increase in net debt to GBP791m (FY16: GBP764m), and a marginal increase in loan to value to 36.0% (FY16: 35.9%).

Our strong cash generation, low level of gearing and incremental cost of debt of below 2%, provide us with the capacity to successfully deliver our GBP850m PRS investment target. Loan to value is expected to increase to between 40% and 45% as we invest.

 
                                  GBP'm 
-------------------------------  ------ 
 FY16 Net debt                      764 
            Gross rent, sales 
             and fees             (111) 
            Propex, overheads, 
             tax and dividends       44 
            Finance costs            16 
            Investment               78 
 Movement                            27 
                                 ------ 
 HY17 Net debt                      791 
-------------------------------  ------ 
 

Over the period, a GBP100m debt facility was refinanced and a two year extension to 2022 for GBP450m of Grainger's syndicated bank facility has been secured at the same margins (with options for a further two year extension).

Further work on our financing structure is underway, and we have made good progress in appraising new funding options for our PRS portfolio, which will provide us with longer term financing suitable for these investment assets.

 
                      FY16       HY17 
---------------  ---------  --------- 
 Net debt          GBP764m    GBP791m 
 Consolidated 
  LTV                35.9%      36.0% 
 Headroom          GBP321m    GBP283m 
 Cost of debt 
  (average)           4.4%       3.7% 
 Cost of debt 
  (period end)        3.9%       3.6% 
 Hedging               87%        85% 
---------------  ---------  --------- 
 

Summary

We continue to make positive progress in growing net rental income, which is enhanced through actions we are taking to reduce costs and improve efficiencies. In particular, we are pleased with the significant improvements made to property operating expenses, overheads and finance costs.

We remain confident in both the ability of Grainger to continue to deliver value to shareholders, alongside a resilient property portfolio that continues to both rent and sell well.

Vanessa Simms

Chief Financial Officer

19 May 2017

Statement of Directors' responsibilities

The directors confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

-- the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the EU

-- the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by:

(a) DTR 4.2.7R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, being an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements; and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year; and

(b) DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules, being related party transactions that have taken place in the first six months of the current financial year and that have materially affected the financial position or performance of the entity during that period; and any changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report that could do so.

The directors of Grainger plc are listed in the Grainger plc Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2016 and on the Grainger website: www.graingerplc.co.uk.

The following changes have been made since 30 September 2016: Mark Clare and Justin Read were appointed as non-executive Chairman and non-executive director respectively on 13 February 2017. Margaret Ford retired from the board on 8 February 2017.

Helen Gordon Vanessa Simms

Chief Executive Officer Chief Finance Officer

19 May 2017 19 May 2017

Independent Review Report to Grainger plc

Introduction

We have been engaged by the company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 31 March 2017 which comprises the Condensed Consolidated Income Statement, the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income, the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the related explanatory notes. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

This report is made solely to the company in accordance with the terms of our engagement to assist the company in meeting the requirements of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules ("the DTR") of the UK's Financial Conduct Authority ("the UK FCA"). Our review has been undertaken so that we might state to the company those matters we are required to state to it in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have reached.

Directors' responsibilities

The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the DTR of the UK FCA.

As disclosed in note 1a, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting as adopted by the EU.

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review.

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the UK. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 31 March 2017 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with IAS 34 as adopted by the EU and the DTR of the UK FCA.

Bill Holland

for and on behalf of KPMG LLP

Chartered Accountants

15 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5GL

19 May 2017

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

 
                                                           Unaudited 
                                                          2017     2016 
 For the 6 months ended 31 March                Notes     GBPm     GBPm 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Group Revenue                                      4    117.2    109.0 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Net rental income                                  5     20.0     18.0 
 Profit on disposal of trading property             6     34.1     36.1 
 Profit on disposal of investment property          7      0.9      0.3 
 Income from financial interest in 
  property assets                                  15      3.4      4.5 
 Fees and other income                              8      2.3      4.1 
 Administrative expenses                                (13.4)   (16.2) 
 Other expenses                                          (0.7)    (0.8) 
 Impairment of inventories to net realisable 
  value                                                  (1.8)    (0.2) 
 (Impairment)/reversal of impairment 
  of joint venture                                 14    (2.2)      0.4 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Operating profit before net valuation 
  gains on investment property                            42.6     46.2 
 Net valuation gains on investment 
  property                                         11      9.6      7.9 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Operating profit after net valuation 
  gains on investment property                            52.2     54.1 
 Change in fair value of derivatives               23      0.4    (4.1) 
 Finance costs                                          (14.8)   (21.7) 
 Finance income                                            1.1      1.0 
 Share of profit of associates after 
  tax                                              13      2.3      5.5 
 Share of profit of joint ventures 
  after tax                                        14        -      1.8 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Profit before tax - continuing operations          2     41.2     36.6 
 Tax charge for the period - continuing 
  operations                                       18    (7.5)    (6.2) 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Profit for the period - continuing 
  operations                                              33.7     30.4 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 
 Discontinued operations 
 Loss after tax for the period for 
  discontinued operations                                (0.2)    (2.8) 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Profit for the period attributable 
  to the owners of the company                            33.5     27.6 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 
 Basic Earnings per share                           9     8.1p     6.7p 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Diluted Earnings per share                         9     8.0p     6.6p 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Basic Earnings per share - continuing 
  operations only                                   9     8.1p     7.3p 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 Diluted Earnings per share - continuing 
  operations only                                   9     8.1p     7.3p 
---------------------------------------------  ------  -------  ------- 
 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income

 
                                                        Unaudited 
                                                       2017    2016 
 For the 6 months ended 31 March              Notes    GBPm    GBPm 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Profit for the period - continuing 
  operations                                           33.7    30.4 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Items that will not be transferred 
  to the consolidated income statement: 
 Actuarial gain/(loss) on BPT defined 
  benefit pension scheme                         20     4.7   (1.3) 
 
 Items that may be or are reclassified 
  to the consolidated income statement: 
 Fair value movement on financial interest 
  in property assets                             15   (0.4)     0.6 
 Exchange differences on translating 
  foreign operations                                      -   (0.8) 
 Exchange adjustments recycled on disposal 
  of foreign operations                                   -   (1.7) 
 Changes in fair value of cash flow 
  hedges                                                7.2   (2.6) 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Other comprehensive income and expense 
  for the period before tax                            11.5   (5.8) 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Tax relating to components of other 
  comprehensive income: 
 Tax related to items that will not 
  be reclassified to the consolidated 
  income statement                               18   (2.0)     0.2 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Other comprehensive income and expense 
  for the period after tax - continuing 
  operations                                            9.5   (5.6) 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Loss after tax - discontinued operations             (0.2)   (2.8) 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 Total other comprehensive income and 
  expense for the period attributable 
  to the owners of the Company                         43.0    22.0 
-------------------------------------------  ------  ------  ------ 
 
 

Included within the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income is a credit of GBP0.2m (2016: a charge of GBP0.3m) in respect of associates and joint ventures.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

 
                                                  Unaudited   Audited 
                                                      March      Sept 
                                                       2017      2016 
 As at 31 March 2017                      Notes        GBPm      GBPm 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Non-current assets 
 Investment property                         11       308.9     261.3 
 Property, plant and equipment                          0.9       1.1 
 Investment in associates                    13       114.3     105.1 
 Investment in joint ventures                14        68.8      78.9 
 Financial interest in property 
  assets                                     15        89.8      93.1 
 Deferred tax assets                         18         5.3       8.6 
 Intangible assets                                      2.3       2.1 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
                                                      590.3     550.2 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Current assets 
 Inventories - trading property              12       878.5     904.3 
 Trade and other receivables                 16        99.5      64.0 
 Derivative financial instruments            23         1.8       0.3 
 Cash and cash equivalents                             81.2      90.7 
 Assets classified as held-for-sale                     3.3       3.4 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
                                                    1,064.3   1,062.7 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Total assets                                       1,654.3   1,612.9 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings       17       863.5     744.7 
 Retirement benefits                         20         0.4       5.2 
 Provisions for other liabilities 
  and charges                                           1.4       1.4 
 Deferred tax liabilities                    18        30.1      30.2 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
                                                      895.4     781.5 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Current liabilities 
 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings       17       (1.2)      99.0 
 Trade and other payables                    19        39.3      38.4 
 Provisions for other liabilities 
  and charges                                           0.7       0.9 
 Current tax liabilities                     18         6.6       4.8 
 Derivative financial instruments            23         7.3      13.1 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
                                                       52.7     156.2 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Total liabilities                                    948.1     937.7 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Net assets                                           706.5     675.2 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Capital and reserves attributable 
  to the owners of the Company 
 Issued share capital                        21        20.9      20.9 
 Share premium                                        110.9     110.8 
 Merger reserve                                        20.1      20.1 
 Capital redemption reserve                             0.3       0.3 
 Cash flow hedge reserve                              (6.1)    (12.0) 
 Available-for-sale reserve                             6.9       7.3 
 Retained earnings                                    553.4     527.7 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Equity attributable to the owners 
  of the Company                                      706.4     675.1 
 Non-controlling interests                              0.1       0.1 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 Total equity                                         706.5     675.2 
---------------------------------------  ------  ----------  -------- 
 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 
                                                                        Cash      Available 
                             Issued                        Capital      flow       for 
                             share     Share     Merger    redemption   hedge      sale       Retained   Non-controlling   Total 
                             capital   premium   reserve   reserve      reserve    reserve    earnings    interest         equity 
 For the 6 
  months ended 
  31 March 
  2017               Notes      GBPm      GBPm      GBPm         GBPm      GBPm        GBPm       GBPm              GBPm     GBPm 
---------------  ---------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Balance as 
  at 1 October 
  2016 
  (audited)                     20.9     110.8      20.1          0.3    (12.0)         7.3      527.7               0.1    675.2 
---------------  ---------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Profit for 
  the period                       -         -         -            -         -           -       33.5                 -     33.5 
 Actuarial 
  gain on BPT 
  defined 
  benefit 
  pension 
  scheme                20         -         -         -            -         -           -        4.7                 -      4.7 
 Fair value 
  movement 
  on financial 
  interest 
  in property 
  assets                15         -         -         -            -         -       (0.4)          -                 -    (0.4) 
 Changes in 
  fair value 
  of cash flow 
  hedges                23         -         -         -            -       7.2           -          -                 -      7.2 
 Tax relating 
  to components 
  of other 
  comprehensive 
  income                18         -         -         -            -     (1.3)           -      (0.7)                 -    (2.0) 
---------------  ---------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Total 
  comprehensive 
  income for 
  the period                       -         -         -            -       5.9       (0.4)       37.5                 -     43.0 
 Award of 
  SAYE shares                      -       0.1         -            -         -           -          -                 -      0.1 
 Share-based 
  payments 
  charge                           -         -         -            -         -           -        0.9                 -      0.9 
 Dividends 
  paid                  10         -         -         -            -         -           -     (12.7)                 -   (12.7) 
---------------  ---------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Balance as 
  at 31 March 
  2017 
  (unaudited)                   20.9     110.9      20.1          0.3     (6.1)         6.9      553.4               0.1    706.5 
---------------  ---------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

 
                                                                         Cash   Available 
                            Issued                          Capital      flow         for 
                             share     Share    Merger   redemption     hedge        sale   Retained   Non-controlling    Total 
                           capital   premium   reserve      reserve   reserve     reserve   earnings          interest   equity 
 For the 6 
 months 
 ended 31 March 
 2016 and 30 
 September 2016   Notes       GBPm      GBPm      GBPm         GBPm      GBPm        GBPm       GBPm              GBPm     GBPm 
---------------  -------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Balance as at 
  1 October 2015 
  (audited)                   20.9     110.7      20.1          0.3     (3.5)         4.6      411.7               0.1    564.9 
------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Profit for the 
  period                         -         -         -            -         -           -       27.6                 -     27.6 
 Actuarial loss 
  on BPT defined 
  benefit pension 
  scheme                         -         -         -            -         -           -      (1.3)                 -    (1.3) 
 Fair value movement 
  on financial 
  interest in 
  property assets                -         -         -            -         -         0.6          -                 -      0.6 
 Exchange adjustments 
  on retranslation 
  of foreign operations          -         -         -            -         -           -      (0.8)                 -    (0.8) 
 Exchange differences 
  recycled on 
  disposal of 
  foreign operations             -         -         -            -         -           -      (1.7)                 -    (1.7) 
 Changes in fair 
  value of cash 
  flow hedges                    -         -         -            -     (2.6)           -          -                 -    (2.6) 
 Tax relating 
  to components 
  of other comprehensive 
  income                         -         -         -            -         -           -        0.2                 -      0.2 
------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Total comprehensive 
  income for the 
  period                         -         -         -            -     (2.6)         0.6       24.0                 -     22.0 
 Purchase of 
  own shares                     -         -         -            -         -           -      (0.5)                 -    (0.5) 
 Share-based 
  payments charge                -         -         -            -         -           -        1.0                 -      1.0 
 Dividends paid                  -         -         -            -         -           -      (8.7)                 -    (8.7) 
------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Balance as at 
  31 March 2016 
  (unaudited)                 20.9     110.7      20.1          0.3     (6.1)         5.2      427.5               0.1    578.7 
------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Profit for the 
  period                         -         -         -            -         -           -      107.7                 -    107.7 
 Actuarial loss 
  on BPT Limited 
  defined benefit 
  pension scheme                 -         -         -            -         -           -      (2.8)                 -    (2.8) 
 Fair value movement 
  on financial 
  interest in 
  property assets                -         -         -            -         -         2.3          -                 -      2.3 
 Exchange adjustments 
  offset in reserves             -         -         -            -         -           -        1.9                 -      1.9 
 Exchange differences 
  recycled on 
  disposal of 
  foreign operations             -         -         -            -         -           -      (2.6)                 -    (2.6) 
 Changes in fair 
  value of cash 
  flow hedges                    -         -         -            -     (6.9)           -          -                 -    (6.9) 
 Tax relating 
  to components 
  of other comprehensive 
  income                         -         -         -            -       1.0       (0.2)        1.2                 -      2.0 
------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Total comprehensive 
  income for the 
  period                         -         -         -            -     (5.9)         2.1      105.4                 -    101.6 
 Purchase of 
  own shares                     -         -         -            -         -           -      (0.1)                 -    (0.1) 
 Award of SAYE 
  shares                         -       0.1         -            -         -           -          -                 -      0.1 
 Share-based 
  payments charge                -         -         -            -         -           -        0.9                 -      0.9 
 Dividends paid                  -         -         -            -         -           -      (6.0)                 -    (6.0) 
------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 Balance as at 
  1 October 2016 
  (audited)                   20.9     110.8      20.1          0.3    (12.0)         7.3      527.7               0.1    675.2 
------------------------  --------  --------  --------  -----------  --------  ----------  ---------  ----------------  ------- 
 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

 
                                                            Unaudited 
                                                           2017      2016 
 For the 6 months ended 31 March                Notes      GBPm      GBPm 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Cash flow from operating activities 
 Profit for the period                                     33.5      27.6 
 Depreciation and amortisation                              0.4       0.3 
 Net valuation gains on investment 
  property                                      11        (9.6)     (3.3) 
 Net finance costs                                         13.7      40.3 
 Profit on disposal of discontinued 
  operation                                                   -     (8.6) 
 Share of profit of associates and 
  joint ventures                                13,14     (2.3)     (7.3) 
 Share-based payment charge                     22          0.9       1.0 
 Change in fair value of derivatives            23        (0.4)       4.1 
 Profit on disposal of investment properties    7         (0.9)     (0.3) 
 Interest income from financial interest 
  in property assets                            15        (3.4)     (4.5) 
 Impairment/(reversal of impairment) 
  of joint venture                              14          2.2     (0.4) 
 Tax                                            18          7.6       7.1 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Operating profit before changes in 
  working capital                                          41.7      56.0 
 Increase in trade and other receivables                  (8.0)     (6.7) 
 Decrease in trade and other payables                     (1.8)     (3.1) 
 Decrease in provisions for liabilities 
  and charges                                             (0.2)     (0.1) 
 Decrease in inventories                                    2.9       6.1 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Cash generated from operations                            34.6      52.2 
 Interest paid                                           (15.0)    (22.7) 
 Tax (paid)/received                            18        (4.6)       0.9 
 Payments to defined benefit pension 
  scheme                                        20        (0.3)     (0.3) 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Net cash inflow from operating activities                 14.7      30.1 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Cash flow from investing activities 
 Proceeds from sale of investment property                  3.4       6.0 
 Proceeds from financial interest in 
  property assets                               15          6.3       4.7 
 Net proceeds from disposal of discontinued 
  operations                                                  -      69.8 
 Interest received                                          0.1       0.4 
 Distributions received                         13,14       2.5       0.7 
 Investment in associates and joint 
  ventures                                      13,14     (1.6)    (16.5) 
 Acquisition of investment property             11       (40.4)    (33.6) 
 Acquisition of property, plant and 
  equipment and intangible assets                         (0.5)     (1.0) 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from investing 
  activities                                             (30.2)      30.5 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Award of SAYE options                                      0.1         - 
 Purchase of own shares                                       -     (0.5) 
 Proceeds from new borrowings                             220.0     136.6 
 Purchase of interest rate caps                               -     (1.0) 
 Payment of loan settlement costs                             -    (11.7) 
 Repayment of borrowings                                (201.4)   (185.4) 
 Dividends paid                                 10       (12.7)     (8.7) 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 Net cash inflow/(outflow) from financing 
  activities                                                6.0    (70.7) 
---------------------------------------------  ------  --------  -------- 
 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows continued

 
                                                          Unaudited 
                                                         2017     2016 
 For the 6 months ended 31 March                Notes    GBPm     GBPm 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------  ------- 
 Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents              (9.5)   (10.1) 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning 
  of the period                                          90.7     88.8 
 Net exchange movements on cash and 
  cash equivalents                                          -      0.2 
-----------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the end 
  of the period                                          81.2     78.9 
-----------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents are shown 
  as: 
 Cash and cash equivalents - Consolidated 
  statement of financial position                        81.2     65.7 
 Cash and cash equivalents - Disposal 
  group-assets classified as held-for-sale                  -     13.2 
-----------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the end 
  of the period                                          81.2     78.9 
-----------------------------------------------------  ------  ------- 
 

The Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash flows above includes cash flows from both continuing and discontinued operations.

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim financial results

   1.         Accounting policies 
   1a.       Basis of preparation 

These condensed interim financial statements are unaudited and do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. This condensed consolidated interim financial information has been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Finance Conduct Authority and International Accounting Standard 34 (IAS 34) 'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the European Union. The interim condensed financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2016 which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') as adopted by the European Union.

The accounting policies used are consistent with those contained in the Group's last annual report and accounts for the year ended 30 September 2016 which is available on the Group's website (www.graingerplc.co.uk). The Grainger business is not judged to be highly seasonal, therefore comparatives used for the six month period ended 31 March 2017 Consolidated Income Statement are the six month period ended 31 March 2016 Consolidated Income Statement. It is therefore not necessary to disclose the Consolidated Income Statement for the full year ended 30 September 2016 (available in the last annual report).

The comparative figures for the financial year ended 30 September 2016 are not the Company's statutory accounts for that financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the Company's auditor and delivered to the registrar of companies. The report of the auditor was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report, and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with EU endorsed IFRS, IFRS IC interpretations and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

All property assets are subject to a Directors' valuation at the half year end, supported by an independent external valuation on a sample basis. The Group's financial derivatives were valued as at 31 March 2017 by external consultants, using a discounted cash flow model and quoted market information.

Taxation is calculated based upon the best estimate of the weighted average corporation tax rate expected for the full year.

   1b.       Adoption of new and revised International Financial Reporting Standards 

New standards and interpretations in the year

New standards, amendments and interpretations that have been published and are therefore mandatory for the Group's accounting periods beginning on or after 1 October 2016 and later periods are disclosed on page 102 of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 September 2016. There is no material impact from the adoption of these IFRS's, IFRIC interpretations and amendments in this condensed consolidated interim financial information.

   1c.       Group risk factors 

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group are set out in the Risk Management report on pages 30 - 33 of the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts.

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

A number of risks faced by the Group are not directly within our control such as the wider economic and political environment.

Risks are outlined on pages 28 - 29 of the Annual Report for September 2016. There have been no significant updates to risk, or failures of control, within the reporting period.

   1d.       Forward-looking statements 

Certain statements in this interim announcement are forward-looking. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to have been correct.

Because these statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

   1e.       Significant judgements and estimates 

Full details of critical accounting estimates are given on pages 103 - 108 of the Annual Report for the year ended 30 September 2016. There has been no significant change made in the period ended 31 March 2017.

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   2.         Analysis of profit before tax-continuing operations 

The results for the six months ended 31 March 2017 and 2016 respectively have been affected by valuation movements and non-recurring items. The table below provides further analysis of the Condensed Consolidated Income Statement showing the results of trading activities separately from these other items.

 
 For the 6 months                               2017                                             2016 
  ended 31 March 
 GBPm                     Statutory   Valuation   Non-recurring   Adjusted   Statutory   Valuation         Non   Adjusted 
                                                                  earnings                                   -   earnings 
                                                                                                     recurring 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Group revenue                117.2           -               -      117.2       109.0           -           -      109.0 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Net rental 
  income                       20.0           -               -       20.0        18.0           -           -       18.0 
 Profit on disposal 
  of trading 
  property                     34.1           -               -       34.1        36.1           -           -       36.1 
 Profit on disposal 
  of investment 
  property                      0.9           -               -        0.9         0.3           -           -        0.3 
 Income from 
  financial interest 
  in property 
  assets                        3.4       (0.3)               -        3.1         4.5       (1.3)           -        3.2 
 Fees and other 
  income                        2.3           -               -        2.3         4.1           -       (0.8)        3.3 
 Administrative 
  expenses                   (13.4)           -               -     (13.4)      (16.2)           -           -     (16.2) 
 Other expenses               (0.7)           -             0.3      (0.4)       (0.8)           -         0.4      (0.4) 
 Impairment 
  of inventories 
  to net realisable 
  value                       (1.8)         1.8               -          -       (0.2)         0.2           -          - 
 (Impairment)/reversal 
  of impairment 
  of joint venture            (2.2)         2.2               -          -         0.4       (0.4)           -          - 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Operating profit 
  before net 
  valuation gains 
  on investment 
  property                     42.6         3.7             0.3       46.6        46.2       (1.5)       (0.4)       44.3 
 Net valuation 
  gains on investment 
  property                      9.6       (9.6)               -          -         7.9       (7.9)           -          - 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Operating profit 
  after net valuation 
  gains on 
  investment 
  property                     52.2       (5.9)             0.3       46.6        54.1       (9.4)       (0.4)       44.3 
 Change in fair 
  value of derivatives          0.4       (0.4)               -          -       (4.1)         4.1           -          - 
 Finance costs               (14.8)           -               -     (14.8)      (21.7)           -         0.1     (21.6) 
 Finance income                 1.1           -               -        1.1         1.0           -           -        1.0 
 Share of profit 
  of associates 
  after tax                     2.3       (1.1)               -        1.2         5.5       (4.8)           -        0.7 
 Share of profit 
  of joint ventures 
  after tax                       -           -               -          -         1.8       (1.7)           -        0.1 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Profit before 
  tax - continuing 
  operations                   41.2       (7.4)             0.3       34.1        36.6      (11.8)       (0.3)       24.5 
 Tax charge 
  for the year 
  - continuing 
  operations                  (7.5)                                              (6.2) 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Profit after 
  tax - continuing 
  operations                   33.7                                               30.4 
 Loss before 
  tax - discontinued 
  operations                  (0.1)                                              (1.9) 
 Tax charge 
  - discontinued 
  operations                  (0.1)                                              (0.9) 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 Profit for 
  the year attributable 
  to the owners 
  of the company               33.5                                               27.6 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 Diluted earnings 
  per share - 
  adjusted                                                            6.6p                                           4.7p 
-----------------------  ----------  ----------  --------------  ---------  ----------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

Non-Recurring

Non-recurring items comprise restructuring costs of GBP0.3m (2016 GBP0.4m). Non-recurring items in 2016 also included GBP0.1m related to accelerated write off of loan costs after refinancing the bank syndicate and income of GBP0.8m from a claim against a contractor.

   3.         Segmental information 

IFRS 8 'Operating Segments' (IFRS 8) requires operating segments to be identified based upon the Group's internal reporting to the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) so that the CODM can make decisions about resources to be allocated to segments and assess their performance. The Group's CODM is the Chief Executive Officer. The significant segments for continuing operations are outlined below. The title 'Other' has been included in the tables below to reconcile the segments to the figures reviewed by the CODM. The key operating performance measure of profit or loss used by the CODM is on adjusted earnings, being profit before tax, valuation and non-recurring items. The CODM reviews by segment two key statement of financial position measures of net asset value. These are EPRA Net Asset Value and EPRA Triple Net Asset Value.

2017 Income Statement - Continuing Operations (unaudited)

 
 GBPm                          Residential   Development   Funds   Other    Total 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Group revenue 
 Segment revenue - external           80.3          34.9     2.0       -    117.2 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Net rental income                    19.9           0.1       -       -     20.0 
 Profit on disposal 
  of trading property                 27.8           6.3       -       -     34.1 
 Profit on disposal 
  of investment property               0.9             -       -       -      0.9 
 Income from financial 
  interest in property 
  assets                                 -             -       -     3.1      3.1 
 Fees and other income                 0.1           0.2     2.0       -      2.3 
 Administrative expenses             (2.8)         (0.9)   (0.3)   (9.4)   (13.4) 
 Other expenses                      (0.3)             -       -   (0.1)    (0.4) 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Operating profit/(loss) 
  before interest and 
  trading from joint 
  ventures and associates             45.6           5.7     1.7   (6.4)     46.6 
 Net finance costs                  (14.1)           1.1   (0.7)       -   (13.7) 
 Share of trading profit 
  from joint ventures 
  and associates after 
  tax                                    -             -     1.2       -      1.2 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Adjusted earnings                    31.5           6.8     2.2   (6.4)     34.1 
 Valuation movements                                                          7.4 
 Net non-recurring items                                                    (0.3) 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Profit before tax - 
  continuing operations                                                      41.2 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

2016 Income Statement - Continuing Operations (unaudited)

 
 GBPm                          Residential   Development   Funds   Other    Total 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Group revenue 
 Segment revenue - external           92.3          13.2     2.7     0.8    109.0 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Net rental income                    17.9           0.1       -       -     18.0 
 Profit on disposal 
  of trading property                 32.1           4.0       -       -     36.1 
 Profit on disposal 
  of investment property               0.3             -       -       -      0.3 
 Income from financial 
  interest in property 
  assets                                 -             -       -     3.2      3.2 
 Fees and other income                 0.4           0.2     2.7       -      3.3 
 Administrative expenses             (4.3)         (0.9)   (1.4)   (9.6)   (16.2) 
 Other expenses                      (0.2)         (0.1)       -   (0.1)    (0.4) 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Operating profit/(loss) 
  before interest and 
  trading from joint 
  ventures and associates             46.2           3.3     1.3   (6.5)     44.3 
 Net finance costs                  (18.6)         (0.6)   (0.7)   (0.7)   (20.6) 
 Share of trading profit 
  from joint ventures 
  and associates after 
  tax                                    -             -     0.8       -      0.8 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Adjusted earnings                    27.6           2.7     1.4   (7.2)     24.5 
 Valuation movements                                                         11.8 
 Net non-recurring items                                                      0.3 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 Profit before tax - 
  continuing operations                                                      36.6 
----------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  ------- 
 

Segmental assets

The majority of the Group's properties are classified as trading stock and are therefore shown in the statutory statement of financial position at the lower of cost and net realisable value. This does not reflect the market value of the assets and, accordingly, the Group's key statement of financial position measures of net asset value include trading stock at market value. The two principal net asset value measures reviewed by the CODM are EPRA NAV and EPRA NNNAV.

EPRA NAV is the statutory net assets plus the adjustment required to increase the value of trading stock from its statutory accounts value of the lower of cost and net realisable value, to its market value. In addition, the statutory statement of financial position amounts for both deferred tax on property revaluations and derivative financial instruments net of deferred tax, including those in joint ventures and associates, are added back to statutory net assets. Finally, the market value of Grainger plc shares owned by the Group is added back to statutory net assets.

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

EPRA NNNAV reverses some of the adjustments made between statutory net assets and EPRA NAV. All of the adjustments for the value of derivative financial instruments net of deferred tax, including those in joint ventures and associates, are reversed. The adjustment for the deferred tax on property revaluations is also reversed. In addition, adjustments are made to net assets to reflect the fair value, net of deferred tax, of the Group's fixed rate debt and to deduct from net assets the contingent tax calculated by applying the expected rate of tax to the adjustment to increase the value of trading stock from its statutory accounts value of the lower of cost and net realisable value, to its market value.

These measures are set out below by segment along with a reconciliation to the summarised statutory statement of financial position.

March 2017 Reconciliation of NAV measures (Unaudited)

 
                                         Adjustments 
                                           to market 
                                              value,       EPRA                                        EPRA 
                            Statutory       deferred        NAV          Deferred                     NNNAV 
                              balance        tax and    balance    and contingent                   balance 
 GBPm                           sheet    derivatives      sheet               tax   Derivatives       sheet 
-------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Investment property            308.9              -      308.9                 -             -       308.9 
 Property, plant 
  and equipment                   0.9              -        0.9                 -             -         0.9 
 Investment in 
  associates                    114.3            1.0      115.3                 -         (1.0)       114.3 
 Investment in 
  joint ventures                 68.8            7.3       76.1             (6.9)         (0.4)        68.8 
 Financial interest 
  in property assets             89.8              -       89.8                 -             -        89.8 
 Deferred tax asset               5.3          (1.2)        4.1                 -           6.2        10.3 
 Intangible assets                2.3              -        2.3                 -             -         2.3 
 Inventories - 
  trading property              878.5          658.5    1,537.0                 -             -     1,537.0 
 Trade and other 
  receivables                    99.5              -       99.5                 -             -        99.5 
 Derivative financial 
  instruments                     1.8          (1.8)          -                 -           1.8         1.8 
 Cash and cash 
  equivalents                    81.2              -       81.2                 -             -        81.2 
 Assets classified 
  as held-for-sale                3.3              -        3.3                 -             -         3.3 
 Value of own shares 
  held                              -            6.8        6.8                 -             -         6.8 
-------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Total assets                 1,654.6          670.6    2,325.2             (6.9)           6.6     2,324.9 
-------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Interest-bearing 
  loans and borrowings        (862.3)              -    (862.3)                 -        (29.5)     (891.8) 
 Retirement benefits            (0.4)              -      (0.4)                 -             -       (0.4) 
 Provisions for 
  other liabilities 
  and charges                   (2.1)              -      (2.1)                 -             -       (2.1) 
 Deferred and contingent 
  tax liabilities              (30.1)           28.3      (1.8)           (140.2)             -     (142.0) 
 Trade and other 
  payables                     (39.3)              -     (39.3)                 -             -      (39.3) 
 Current tax liabilities        (6.6)              -      (6.6)                 -             -       (6.6) 
 Derivative financial 
  instruments                   (7.3)            7.3          -                 -         (7.3)       (7.3) 
-------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Total liabilities            (948.1)           35.6    (912.5)           (140.2)        (36.8)   (1,089.5) 
-------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Net assets                     706.5          706.2    1,412.7           (147.1)        (30.2)     1,235.4 
-------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

March 2017 Segment net assets (Unaudited)

 
                                            Continuing 
                            ------------------------------------------ 
                                                                                    Pence 
                                                                                      per 
 GBPm                        Residential   Development   Funds   Other     Total    share 
 Total segment net asset 
  (statutory)                      361.0         132.8   105.9   106.8     706.5        - 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  --------  ------- 
 Total segment net assets 
  (EPRA NAV)                     1,055.3         125.3   114.0   118.1   1,412.7      338 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  --------  ------- 
 Total segment net assets 
  (EPRA NNNAV)                     913.7         126.6   106.0    89.1   1,235.4      295 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  --------  ------- 
 

'Other' includes CHARM assets.

September 2016 Reconciliation of NAV measure (audited)

 
                                           Adjustments 
                                             to market 
                                                value,       EPRA                                        EPRA 
                              Statutory       deferred        NAV          Deferred                     NNNAV 
                                balance        tax and    balance    and contingent                   balance 
 GBPm                             sheet    derivatives      sheet               tax   Derivatives       sheet 
---------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Investment property              261.3              -      261.3                 -             -       261.3 
 Property, plant 
  and equipment                     1.1              -        1.1                 -             -         1.1 
 Investment in associates         105.1            1.4      106.5                 -         (1.4)       105.1 
 Investment in joint 
  ventures                         78.9            7.2       86.1             (6.9)         (0.3)        78.9 
 Financial interest 
  in property assets               93.1              -       93.1                 -             -        93.1 
 Deferred tax asset                 8.6          (2.5)        6.1                 -           7.0        13.1 
 Intangible assets                  2.1              -        2.1                 -             -         2.1 
 Inventories - trading 
  property                        904.3          649.4    1,553.7                 -             -     1,553.7 
 Trade and other 
  receivables                      64.0              -       64.0                 -             -        64.0 
 Derivative financial 
  instruments                       0.3          (0.3)          -                 -           0.3         0.3 
 Cash and cash equivalents         90.7              -       90.7                 -             -        90.7 
 Assets classified 
  as held-for-sale                  3.4              -        3.4                 -             -         3.4 
 Value of own shares 
  held                                -            7.5        7.5                 -             -         7.5 
---------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Total assets                   1,612.9          662.7    2,275.6             (6.9)           5.6     2,274.3 
---------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Interest-bearing 
  loans and borrowings          (843.7)              -    (843.7)                 -        (26.8)     (870.5) 
 Retirement benefits              (5.2)              -      (5.2)                 -             -       (5.2) 
 Provisions for 
  other liabilities 
  and charges                     (2.3)              -      (2.3)                 -             -       (2.3) 
 Deferred and contingent 
  tax liabilities                (30.2)           28.5      (1.7)           (138.8)             -     (140.5) 
 Trade and other 
  payables                       (38.4)              -     (38.4)                 -             -      (38.4) 
 Current tax liabilities          (4.8)              -      (4.8)                 -             -       (4.8) 
 Derivative financial 
  instruments                    (13.1)           13.1          -                 -        (13.1)      (13.1) 
---------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Total liabilities              (937.7)           41.6    (896.1)           (138.8)        (39.9)   (1,074.8) 
---------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 Net assets                       675.2          704.3    1,379.5           (145.7)        (34.3)     1,199.5 
---------------------------  ----------  -------------  ---------  ----------------  ------------  ---------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

September 2016 Segment net assets (audited)

 
                                            Continuing 
                            ------------------------------------------ 
                                                                                    Pence 
                                                                                      per 
 GBPm                        Residential   Development   Funds   Other     Total    share 
 Total segment net asset 
  (statutory)                      363.4          96.9   116.6    98.3     675.2        - 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  --------  ------- 
 Total segment net assets 
  (EPRA NAV)                     1,048.7          89.5   124.9   116.4   1,379.5      330 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  --------  ------- 
 Total segment net assets 
  (EPRA NNNAV)                     908.5          90.8   116.6    83.6   1,199.5      287 
--------------------------  ------------  ------------  ------  ------  --------  ------- 
 

'Other' includes CHARM assets.

   4.         Group revenue 
 
                                              Unaudited 
-----------------------------------------  -------------- 
                                             2017    2016 
                                             GBPm    GBPm 
-----------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 Gross rental income                         26.9    25.5 
 Gross proceeds from disposal of trading 
  property                                   88.0    79.4 
 Fees and other income                        2.3     4.1 
-----------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
                                            117.2   109.0 
-----------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 
   5.         Net rental income 
 
                                            Unaudited 
---------------------------------------  -------------- 
                                           2017    2016 
                                           GBPm    GBPm 
---------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 Gross rental income                       26.9    25.5 
 Property repair and maintenance costs    (6.9)   (7.5) 
                                           20.0    18.0 
---------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 
   6.         Profit on disposal of trading property 
 
                                                  Unaudited 
--------------------------------------------  ---------------- 
                                                 2017     2016 
                                                 GBPm     GBPm 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Proceeds from disposal of trading property      72.6     79.4 
 Revenue from construction contract              15.4        - 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Gross proceeds from disposal of trading 
  property                                       88.0     79.4 
 Selling costs                                  (1.5)    (1.7) 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Net proceeds from disposal of trading 
  property                                       86.5     77.7 
 Carrying value of trading property sold       (42.9)   (41.6) 
 Carrying value of construction contract 
  expenses                                      (9.5)        - 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
                                                 34.1     36.1 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   7.         Profit on disposal of investment property 
 
                                                 Unaudited 
--------------------------------------------  -------------- 
                                                2017    2016 
                                                GBPm    GBPm 
--------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 Gross proceeds from disposal of investment 
  property                                       3.4     1.4 
 Selling costs                                 (0.1)       - 
--------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 Net proceeds from disposal of investment 
  property                                       3.3     1.4 
 Carrying value of investment property 
  sold                                         (2.4)   (1.1) 
--------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
                                                 0.9     0.3 
--------------------------------------------  ------  ------ 
 
   8.         Fees and other income 
 
                                              Unaudited 
------------------------------------------  ------------ 
                                             2017   2016 
                                             GBPm   GBPm 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----- 
 Property and asset management fee income     2.3    3.3 
 Other income                                   -    0.8 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----- 
                                              2.3    4.1 
------------------------------------------  -----  ----- 
 

Prior year other income includes GBP0.8m of non-recurring income which relates to the recovery of a claim made against a contractor.

   9.         Earnings per share 

Basic

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit or loss attributable to the owners of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period, excluding ordinary shares purchased by the Group and held both in Trust and as treasury shares to meet its obligations under the Long Term Incentive Scheme ('LTIS'), Deferred Bonus Plan ('DBP') and SAYE schemes.

Diluted

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of shares in issue by the dilutive effect of ordinary shares that the Company may potentially issue relating to its share option schemes and contingent share awards under the LTIS and DBP, based upon the number of shares that would be issued if 31 March 2017 was the end of the contingency period. Where the effect of the above adjustments is antidilutive, they are excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share.

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

 
                                                         Unaudited 
                           -------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                     31 March 2017                      31 March 2016 
                           ---------------------------------  --------------------------------- 
                            Profit       Weighted              Profit       Weighted 
                               for        average   Earnings      for        average   Earnings 
                               the         number        per      the         number        per 
                              year      of shares      share     year      of shares      share 
                              GBPm    (thousands)      pence     GBPm    (thousands)      pence 
-------------------------  -------  -------------  ---------  -------  -------------  --------- 
 Basic earnings 
  per share - continuing 
  and discontinued 
  operations 
 Profit attributable 
  to equity holders           33.5          415.4        8.1     27.6          413.9        6.7 
 Effect of potentially 
  dilutive securities 
 Share options 
  and contingent 
  shares                         -            2.2      (0.1)        -            3.5      (0.1) 
-------------------------  -------  -------------  ---------  -------  -------------  --------- 
 Diluted earnings 
  per share - continuing 
  and discontinued 
  operations 
 Profit attributable 
  to equity holders           33.5          417.6        8.0     27.6          417.4        6.6 
-------------------------  -------  -------------  ---------  -------  -------------  --------- 
 Basic earnings 
  per share - continuing 
  operations only 
 Profit attributable 
  to equity holders           33.7          415.4        8.1     30.4          413.9        7.3 
 Effect of potentially 
  dilutive securities 
 Share options 
  and contingent 
  shares                         -            2.2          -        -            3.5          - 
-------------------------  -------  -------------  ---------  -------  -------------  --------- 
 Diluted earnings 
  per share - continuing 
  operations only 
 Profit attributable 
  to equity holders           33.7          417.6        8.1     30.4          417.4        7.3 
-------------------------  -------  -------------  ---------  -------  -------------  --------- 
 
   10.       Dividends 

The Company has announced an interim dividend of 1.60p (March 2016: 1.45p) per share which will return GBP6.7m (March 2016: GBP6.0m) of cash to shareholders. In the six months ended 31 March 2017, the final proposed dividend for the year ended 30 September 2016 which amounted to GBP12.7m has been paid.

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   11.       Investment property 
 
                                                      31 March      30 Sept 
                                                          2017         2016 
                                                   (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                          GBPm         GBPm 
-----------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Opening balance at 1 October                            261.3        357.8 
 Additions                                                40.4         79.5 
 Disposals - continuing operations                       (2.4)        (2.4) 
 Disposals - discontinued operations                         -        (9.2) 
 Business disposal                                           -      (188.3) 
 Net transfer to assets classified as 
  held-for-sale                                              -        (3.1) 
 Net valuation gains - continuing operations               9.6         20.3 
 Net valuation gains - discontinued operations               -        (0.9) 
 Exchange adjustments                                        -          7.6 
-----------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Closing balance                                         308.9        261.3 
-----------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
   12.       Inventories 
 
                                     31 March      30 Sept 
                                         2017         2016 
                                  (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                         GBPm         GBPm 
------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Residential trading property           802.8        818.8 
 Development trading property            75.7         85.5 
                                        878.5        904.3 
------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
   13.       Investment in associates 
 
                                                       31 March      30 Sept 
                                                           2017         2016 
                                                    (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                           GBPm         GBPm 
------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Opening balance at 1 October                             105.1        108.4 
 Share of profit for the period - continuing                2.3          9.8 
 Share of profit for the period - discontinued                -          0.2 
 Dividends received                                           -        (7.5) 
 Loans advanced to associates                               6.6         10.5 
 Exchange adjustments                                         -          0.6 
 Share of change in fair value of cash 
  flow hedges taken through other comprehensive 
  income                                                    0.3        (0.8) 
 Disposal                                                     -       (16.1) 
 Closing balance                                          114.3        105.1 
------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   13.       Investment in associates (continued) 

As at 31 March 2017, the Group's interest in associates was as follows:

 
                      % of 
                  ordinary 
                     share 
                  capital/ 
                    equity             Country 
                      held    of incorporation 
 GRIP REIT PLC        24.9                  UK 
 Vesta LP             15.0                  UK 
--------------  ----------  ------------------ 
 
   14.       Investment in joint ventures 
 
                                                       31 March      30 Sept 
                                                           2017         2016 
                                                    (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                           GBPm         GBPm 
------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Opening balance at 1 October                              78.9         70.8 
 Share of profit for the period - continuing                  -          5.1 
 Dividends received                                       (2.5)            - 
 (Impairment)/reversal of impairment                      (2.2)         14.1 
 Loan interest (received)/paid                            (0.3)          0.1 
 Loans advanced to joint ventures                           1.0          5.5 
 Loans repaid by joint ventures                           (6.0)       (16.7) 
 Share of change in fair value of cash 
  flow hedges taken through other comprehensive 
  income                                                  (0.1)            - 
 Closing balance                                           68.8         78.9 
------------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

The closing balance comprises share of net assets of GBP52.4m (2016: GBP55.0m) and net loans due from joint ventures of GBP16.4m (2016: GBP23.9m).

As at 31 March 2017, the Group's interest in joint ventures was as follows:

 
                                           % of ordinary 
                                           share capital             Country 
                                                    held    of incorporation 
 Curzon Park Limited                                  50      United Kingdom 
 King Street Developments (Hammersmith) 
  Limited                                             50      United Kingdom 
 Walworth Investment Properties 
  Limited                                             50      United Kingdom 
 CCZ a.s.                                             50      Czech Republic 
 CCY a.s.                                             50      Czech Republic 
 Prazsky Projekt a.s.                                 50      Czech Republic 
---------------------------------------  ---------------  ------------------ 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   15.       Financial interest in property assets 
 
                                             31 March      30 Sept 
                                                 2017         2016 
                                          (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                 GBPm         GBPm 
--------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Opening balance at 1 October                    93.1         93.7 
 Cash received from the instrument              (6.3)        (9.3) 
 Amounts taken to income statement                3.4          5.8 
 Amounts taken to other comprehensive 
  income before tax                             (0.4)          2.9 
 Closing balance                                 89.8         93.1 
--------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

Amounts taken to the income statement in respect of the six months ended 31 March 2017 was GBP3.4m (31 March 2016: GBP4.5m).

Financial interest in property assets relates to the CHARM portfolio, which is a financial interest in equity mortgages held by the Church of England Pensions Board as mortgagee. It is accounted for under IAS 39 in accordance with the designation available-for-sale financial assets and is valued at fair value. The fair value of the Group's interest has decreased and this decrease of GBP0.4m since September 2016 has been recognised in the statement of other comprehensive income available for sale reserve. GBP2.9m was taken to other comprehensive income in the year ended September 2016.

   16.       Trade and other receivables 
 
                                            31 March      30 Sept 
                                                2017         2016 
                                         (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                GBPm         GBPm 
-------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Rent and other tenant receivables               3.1          3.1 
 Deduct: Provision for impairment of 
  trade receivables                            (0.5)        (0.5) 
-------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Rent and other tenant receivables - 
  net                                            2.6          2.6 
 Amounts recoverable on contracts               70.9         50.5 
 Other receivables                              16.8          4.2 
 Prepayments                                     9.2          6.7 
                                                99.5         64.0 
-------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   17.       Interest-bearing loans and borrowings and financial risk management 
 
                                                    31 March      30 Sept 
                                                        2017         2016 
                                                 (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                        GBPm         GBPm 
---------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Current liabilities 
 Bank loans                                            (1.7)        (1.5) 
 Non-bank financial institution                          1.1        101.1 
 Corporate bond                                        (0.6)        (0.6) 
---------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
                                                       (1.2)         99.0 
---------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Bank loans                                            582.5        447.7 
 Non-bank financial institution                          7.6         23.9 
 Corporate bond                                        273.4        273.1 
                                                       863.5        744.7 
---------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total interest-bearing loans and borrowings           862.3        843.7 
---------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
   17.       Interest-bearing loans and borrowings and financial risk management - continued 

Categories of financial instrument

The Group holds financial instruments such as financial interest in property assets, trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments), derivatives cash and cash equivalents. For all assets and liabilities, excluding interest bearing loans, the book value was the same as the fair value as at 31 March 2017 and as at 30 September 2016.

As at 31 March 2017, the fair value of interest bearing loans is greater by GBP29.5m (September 2016: GBP26.8m) than the book value, but there is no requirement under IAS 39 to adjust the carrying value of loans, all of which are stated at unamortised cost in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Market risk

The Group is exposed to market risk through interest rates, foreign exchange fluctuations, the availability of credit and house price movements relating to the Tricomm Housing portfolio and the CHARM portfolio. The Group internally measures its market risk exposure by running sensitivity analyses using a 1% per cent movement in interest rates as a reasonable possible change.

As at 31 March 2017, 85% (September 2016: 87%) of the group's borrowings were economically hedged to fixed or capped rate. Based on the Group's interest profile on the date of 31 March 2017, a +/- 1% change in interest rates would decrease/increase profits by GBP2.0m (September 2016: GBP1.8m). Based on a 19.5% effective tax rate the effect on equity of a 1% change would be GBP11.3m (September 2016: GBP14.5m). Interest rate swaps protect against interest rate movements. Where the Group's swaps qualify as effective hedges under IAS 39, movements on these swaps are recognised directly in other comprehensive income.

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

Fair value

IFRS 13 sets out a three tier hierarchy for financial assets and liabilities valued at fair value. These are as follows:

Level 1 - quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets and liabilities,

Level 2 - inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly; and

   Level 3 -          unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. 

See pages 142 - 143 of the Annual Report and Accounts for September 2016 for details about definitions used for specific Grainger assets and liabilities. Fair value for swaps and other liabilities fall within Level 2. The CHARM portfolio (note 15) the Tricomm Housing portfolio, and investment property fall within Level 3. See note 15 for movement in financial interest in property assets and note 11 for movement in investment property.

 
                                                                       30 Sept 2016 
                                          31 March 2017 
                                            (unaudited)                  (audited) 
------------------------------------  ---------------------  ---  --------------------- 
                                       Assets   Liabilities        Assets   Liabilities 
                                         GBPm          GBPm          GBPm          GBPm 
------------------------------------  -------  ------------  ---  -------  ------------ 
 Level 3 
------------------------------------  -------  ------------  ---  -------  ------------ 
 Financial interest in property 
  assets                                 89.8             -          93.1             - 
 Investment property                    308.9             -         261.3             - 
------------------------------------  -------  ------------  ---  -------  ------------ 
                                        398.7             -         354.4             - 
------------------------------------  -------  ------------  ---  -------  ------------ 
 Level 2 
------------------------------------  -------  ------------  ---  -------  ------------ 
 Interest rate swaps - in 
  cash flow hedge accounting 
  relationships                           1.2           7.3             -          13.1 
 Interest rate caps - not 
  in cash flow hedge accounting 
  relationships                           0.6             -           0.3             - 
 Assets classified as held-for-sale       3.3             -           3.4             - 
------------------------------------  -------  ------------  ---  -------  ------------ 
                                          5.1           7.3           3.7          13.1 
------------------------------------  -------  ------------  ---  -------  ------------ 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   18.       Tax 
 
                                                                                             Unaudited 
--------------------  -----  ----  --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
                                            As at 
                                          30 Sept 
                                             2016 
                                                                                           Movements        As 
                                                                                          recognised        at 
                                                       Payments        Movements            in other        31 
                                                         in the       recognised       comprehensive     March 
 GBPm                                   (audited)        period        in income              income      2017 
--------------------  -----  ----  --------------  ------------  ---------------  ------------------  -------- 
 Current tax                                  4.8         (4.6)              6.4                   -       6.6 
---------------------------------  --------------  ------------  ---------------  ------------------  -------- 
 Deferred tax 
 Trading property 
  uplift to fair 
  value on business 
  combinations                               11.4             -            (0.4)                   -      11.0 
 Investment property 
  revaluation                                17.0             -              0.3                   -      17.3 
 Accelerated capital 
  allowances                                (0.2)             -                -                   -     (0.2) 
 Short-term timing 
  differences                               (4.5)             -              1.3                   -     (3.2) 
 Actuarial deficit 
  on BPT Limited 
  pension scheme                            (1.0)             -                -                 0.7     (0.3) 
 Equity component 
  of available-for-sale 
  financial asset                             1.4             -                -                   -       1.4 
 Fair value movement 
  in cash flow hedges 
  and exchange                              (2.5)             -                -                 1.3     (1.2) 
---------------------------  ----  --------------  ------------  ---------------  ------------------  -------- 
                                             21.6             -              1.2                 2.0      24.8 
  -------------------------------  --------------  ------------  ---------------  ------------------  -------- 
 Total tax 
  - movement                                 26.4         (4.6)              7.6                 2.0      31.4 
---------------------------------  --------------  ------------  ---------------  ------------------  -------- 
 

The total tax charge for the period of GBP7.6m (2016: GBP7.1m) comprises:

 
                                 Unaudited 
                                2017    2016 
                                GBPm    GBPm 
-----------------------------  -----  ------ 
 UK Tax                          7.5     7.3 
 Overseas Tax (discontinued)     0.1   (0.2) 
-----------------------------  -----  ------ 
                                 7.6     7.1 
-----------------------------  -----  ------ 
 

The main rate of Corporation tax in the UK fell from 20% to 19% from 1 April 2017 and will fall to 17% from 1 April 2020. Accordingly the Group's results for this accounting period are taxed at an effective rate of 19.5%. Deferred tax has been predominantly calculated at a rate of 17% (September 2016: 17%).

Deferred tax balances are disclosed as follows:

 
                                                31 March      30 Sept 
                                                    2017         2016 
                                             (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                                    GBPm         GBPm 
-----------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Deferred tax assets: non-current assets             5.3          8.6 
 Deferred tax liabilities: non-current 
  liabilities                                     (30.1)       (30.2) 
 Deferred tax                                     (24.8)       (21.6) 
-----------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   19.       Trade and other payables 
 
                                      31 March      30 Sept 
                                          2017         2016 
                                   (unaudited)    (audited) 
                                          GBPm         GBPm 
-------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Deposits received                         3.0          2.6 
 Trade payables                           13.1         16.0 
 Tax and social security costs             4.0          0.2 
 Accruals                                 17.1         18.2 
 Deferred income                           2.1          1.4 
                                          39.3         38.4 
-------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

Deferred income includes GBP2.1m (2016: GBP1.4m) of rent received in advance.

   20.       Retirement benefits 

The Group retirement benefit liability decreased by GBP4.8m to GBP0.4m in the six months ended 31 March 2017. The Group obtained an updated valuation of the assets and liabilities of the pension scheme for the purposes of the interim financial statements. The brought forward deficit of GBP5.2m was reduced by GBP0.2m of contributions and by GBP4.7m of actuarial gains and increased by GBP0.1m interest charged to the income statement. The assumptions used by the actuary reflect the market conditions as at 31 March 2017. Demographic and life expectancy assumptions are unchanged from the previous year end.

Assumptions

 
                                                 31 March      30 Sept 
                                                     2017         2016 
                                              (unaudited)    (audited) 
 Discount rate                                      2.50%        2.25% 
 Retail Price Index (RPI) Inflation                 2.85%        3.10% 
 Consumer Price Index (CPI) Inflation               1.85%        2.10% 
 Salary increases                                   3.35%        3.60% 
 Rate of increase of pension payment                5.00%        5.00% 
 Rate of increase for deferred pensioners           1.85%        2.10% 
------------------------------------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
   21.       Capital 

As at 31 March 2017 there were 416,944,132 ordinary shares and 1,506,300 treasury shares in issue. The increase since September 2016 of 75,897 relate to the exercise of SAYE options.

   22.       Share based payment arrangements 

The Group operates an equity-settled, share-based compensation plan comprising awards under a long term incentive plan ('LTIP'), a deferred bonus plan ('DBP'), a share incentive plan ('SIP') and a save as you earn scheme ('SAYE'). Accounting for these schemes is consistent with the accounting described in the full year annual report in the year to 30 September 2016. The share based payments charge recognised in the income statement for the period is GBP0.9m (2016: GBP1.0m).

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

   23.       Derivative financial instruments 
 
                                                                        30 Sept 2016 
                                        31 March 2017 
                                          (unaudited)                     (audited) 
-----------------------------------  -------------------  -----------  ------------- 
                                    Assets   Liabilities       Assets    Liabilities 
                                      GBPm          GBPm         GBPm           GBPm 
 -----------------------------------------  ------------  -----------  ------------- 
 Interest rate derivatives 
  - in cash flow hedge accounting 
  relationships                        1.2           7.3            -           13.1 
 Interest rate derivatives 
  - not in cash flow hedge 
  accounting relationships             0.6             -          0.3              - 
------------------------------------  ----  ------------      -------  ------------- 
                                       1.8           7.3          0.3           13.1 
------------------------------------  ----  ------------      -------  ------------- 
 
 

In accordance with IAS 39, the Group has reviewed its interest rate hedges. In the absence of hedge accounting, movements in fair value have been taken directly to the income statement. However, where derivatives qualify for cash flow hedge accounting, the movement in fair value is taken to other comprehensive income through the cash flow hedge reserve. During the 6 months ended 31 March 2017 there was a credit to the cash flow hedge reserve of GBP7.2m net of tax (six months to 31 March 2016 a debit of GBP2.6m) in respect of derivatives.

The fair value movement relating to cash flow hedges not in hedge accounting relationships amounted to a credit through the income statement of GBP0.4m (March 2016: charge of GBP4.1m).

   24.       Related party transactions 

During the period ended 31 March 2017 the Group transacted with its joint ventures and associates (details of which are set out in notes 13 and 14). The related party transactions recognised in the Income Statement and Statement of Financial Position are as follows:

The Group provides a number of services to its joint ventures and associates including property and asset management services. The fees earned and outstanding in respect of these services are set out below:

 
                                                    Unaudited 
                                          31 March 2017            31 March 2016 
-------------------------------  -------------------------------  --------------  --------- 
                                                                                     Period 
                                                          Period            Fees        end 
                                  Fees recognised    end balance      recognised    balance 
                                          GBP'000        GBP'000         GBP'000    GBP'000 
-------------------------------  ----------------  -------------  --------------  --------- 
 GRIP REIT PLC                              1,897          1,727           1,805      1,687 
 Grainger Stuttgart Portfolios                  -              -             288          - 
 Walworth Investment 
  Properties Limited                           20             20              20         20 
-------------------------------  ----------------  -------------  --------------  --------- 
                                            1,917          1,747           2,113      1,707 
-------------------------------  ----------------  -------------  --------------  --------- 
 
 

Notes to the unaudited condensed interim finance results (continued)

The interest earned on loans and balances outstanding are set out below:

 
                                                          Unaudited 
                                                                               30 Sept 
                                       31 March          31                       2016      30 Sept 
                           31 March        2017       March      31 March       Period         2016 
                               2017      Period        2017          2016     end loan     Interest 
                           Interest    end loan    Interest      Interest      balance         Rate 
                         recognised     balance        Rate    recognised    (audited)    (audited) 
                            GBP'000        GBPm           %       GBP'000         GBPm            % 
---------------------  ------------  ----------  ----------  ------------  -----------  ----------- 
                                                        Nil                                     Nil 
                                                        and                                     and 
 GRIP REIT PLC                  375        22.7        4.75           423         19.9         4.75 
 Czech Republic 
  combined                       58       (3.4)        4.00             -        (3.6)         4.00 
 Curzon Park 
  Limited*                        -        21.9         Nil             -         19.5          Nil 
 King Street 
  Development 
  (Hammersmith) 
  Limited *                       -         8.2         Nil             -          6.8          Nil 
 Walworth Investment 
  Properties Limited            156           -        7.00           226          6.7         7.00 
 Vesta LP                         -         0.1         Nil             -          0.1          Nil 
                                589        49.5                       649         49.4 
---------------------  ------------  ----------  ----------  ------------  -----------  ----------- 
 

* The amount disclosed above is the gross loan amount. Some provisions have been made against the loans.

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