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| Share Name | Share Symbol | Market | Type | Share ISIN | Share Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Londonmetric Property Plc | LSE:LMP | London | Ordinary Share | GB00B4WFW713 | ORD 10P |
| Price Change | % Change | Share Price | Bid Price | Offer Price | High Price | Low Price | Open Price | Shares Traded | Last Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.80 | 0.41% | 195.50 | 195.30 | 195.50 | 197.00 | 194.90 | 196.40 | 2,358,199 | 14:10:32 |
| Industry Sector | Turnover | Profit | EPS - Basic | PE Ratio | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Real Estate Agents & Mgrs | 146.7M | -506.3M | -0.4648 | -4.21 | 2.13B |
From Apr 2019 to Apr 2024
TIDMLMP
RNS Number : 7827X
LondonMetric Property PLC
29 November 2017
LONDONMETRIC PROPERTY PLC
("LondonMetric" or the "Group" or the "Company")
HALF YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHSED 30 SEPTEMBER 2017
Income focused strategy and sector calls delivering sector outperformance
LondonMetric today announces its half yearly results for the six months ended 30 September 2017.
Hot Features
Premium
Six months to Six months to
Income Statement 30 Sept 2017 30 Sept 2016
---------------------------- ------------- -------------
Net rental income (GBPm)(1) 44.5 39.7
EPRA Earnings (GBPm) 28.8 25.3
EPRA EPS (p) 4.2 4.0
Dividend per share (p) 3.7 3.6
Reported Profit/(Loss)
(GBPm) 79.6 (13.1)
Balance Sheet 30 Sept 2017 31 March 2017
---------------------------- ------------- -------------
EPRA NAV per share (p) 155.7 149.8
IFRS net assets (GBPm) 1,063.9 1,006.9
LTV (%)(1,2) 34 30
1 Including share of Joint Ventures. Further details on Alternative Performance Measures and the presentation of financial information can be found in the Finance Review and definitions can be found in the Glossary.
2 Including cash from deferred sales
EPRA earnings up 14% to GBP28.8m, (up 5% on a per share basis)
-- Net rental income up 12% to GBP44.5m(1) reflecting deployment of equity raise and portfolio activity
-- Reported profit of GBP79.6m driven by GBP52.8m(1) revaluation surplus reflecting a 3.2% uplift
Dividend increased 3% to 3.7p, 114% dividend cover
-- Second quarterly interim dividend declared of 1.85p
EPRA NAV up 4% to 155.7p (FY 17: 149.8p)
-- Portfolio valued at GBP1,705m(1) , topped up NIY of 5.2% -- Total Property Return of 6.1% compared to IPD All Property of 5.0% -- Total Accounting Return of 6.6%
Distribution weighting increased to 67.4%; targeting 75%+
-- Distribution acquisitions of GBP171m at 6.0% yield, further investment announced separately today
-- Regional distribution sale of GBP49m at 5.0% yield, further regional disposal PPE
-- Urban logistics grown to 40 assets, representing over 25% of our end to end logistics portfolio
-- Non distribution disposals of GBP131m, including sale of our last office -- Long income and convenience acquisitions of GBP65m at 6.4% yield
Continued income growth from asset management activity
-- GBP2.3m pa income uplift from rent reviews and lettings. New leases signed with WAULT of 14.3 years
-- GBP1.8m pa of income from letting activity PPE, including GBP1.0m of terms agreed at our Crawley and Frimley developments
-- In H1, achieved 2.7% like for like income growth and 1.8% ERV growth, 4.9% on urban logistics
Short cycle developments creating future long income at attractive yields
-- 0.8m sq ft under construction in H2 at a yield of 6.2%, 84% pre-let -- 0.7m sq ft development pipeline at a 7.0% yield, including our Bedford development
Portfolio metrics reflect our focus on long income, contractual uplifts and low operational requirements
-- Occupancy of 99.4%, WAULT of 12.4 years and only 3.5% of income expiring within three years -- 48.4% of income is subject to contractual uplifts and 98.7% gross to net income ratio
Finances strengthened and improved
-- Debt maturity increased to 5.3 years and LTV at 34% (FY 17: 30%) -- Average cost of debt fallen to 3.0% from 3.5% with marginal cost at 1.8% -- EPRA cost ratio reduced to 15% from 17%
Andrew Jones, Chief Executive of LondonMetric, commented:
"Our primary goal is to allocate capital into those sectors of real estate that will generate high quality, sustainable income growth from structural changes and management actions.
"Today, almost 70% of our portfolio is allocated to the distribution sector with the balance mainly invested in long income and convenience retail; both areas that are benefiting from the changes taking place in consumer shopping habits. Our decision a number of years ago to pivot into these winning sectors was driven by the impact of technology on shopper behaviour.
"We were early movers into both these sectors and this is reflected in our strong financial numbers. We have performed across every key financial measure, increasing our income, earnings, profits, dividend and NAV whilst maintaining our strong portfolio metrics.
"The desperate search for yield globally is continuing to drive investor demand for income backed real estate. Our approach of patiently collecting and compounding our income remains front and centre of our strategy, and this is exactly what a REIT was designed to do."
For further information, please contact:
LondonMetric Property Plc: +44 (0)20 7484 9000
Andrew Jones (Chief Executive)
Martin McGann (Finance Director)
Gareth Price (Investor Relations)
FTI Consulting: +44 (0)20 3727 1000
Dido Laurimore /Tom Gough /Richard Gotla
Meeting and audio webcast
A meeting for investors and analysts will be held at 11.00 am today at FTI Consulting. A conference call dial-in is available for the meeting: +44 (0)330 336 9411 (Participant Passcode: 9115416).
For the live webcast see: http://webcasting.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/59fa055494ea4f7c5e31b384
An on demand recording will be available shortly after the meeting from the same link and also from: http://www.londonmetric.com/investors/reports-and-presentations
Notes to editors
LondonMetric is a FTSE 250 REIT (ticker: LMP) that specialises in distribution, convenience and long income property. It focuses on strong and growing income and adding value through asset management initiatives and short cycle developments. LondonMetric has 13 million sq ft under management. Further information is available at www.londonmetric.com
Neither the content of LondonMetric's website nor any other website accessible by hyperlinks from LondonMetric's website are incorporated in, or form part of this announcement nor, unless previously published by means of a recognised information service, should any such content be relied upon in reaching a decision as to whether or not to acquire, continue to hold, or dispose of shares in LondonMetric.
Forward looking statements: This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to LondonMetric's expectations and plans, strategy, management objectives, future developments and performance, costs, revenues and other trend information. These statements and forecasts involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend upon circumstances that may occur in the future. There are a number of factors which could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements and forecasts. Certain statements have been made with reference to forecast price changes, economic conditions and the current regulatory environment. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of LondonMetric speak only as of the date they are made. LondonMetric does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect any changes in LondonMetric's expectations with regard thereto or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast. Past share price performance cannot be relied on as a guide to future performance.
CEO's overview
The last six months have seen a continuation of the political and economic uncertainty and structural changes that are expected to shape the investment environment over the next few years. Against this backdrop, we have continued our focus as a REIT to compound our long, strong and growing income and enhance its repetitive, reliable and secure characteristics. Our primary objective is to own good real estate with strong fundamentals that generate a growing income that is in excess of our dividend and where the intrinsic value of our assets is likely to be higher in the future.
Delivering strong returns and maintaining our leading portfolio metrics
The search for sustainable income led returns will continue to be a defining characteristic of this decade's investment environment. Our investment in logistics, long income and convenience real estate is delivering sustainable and growing income and creating long term value.
EPRA earnings for the period increased by 13.8% as completed developments, asset management initiatives and the rapid deployment of the equity that we raised in March increased our rental income. Reported profit of GBP79.6 million benefited from a GBP52.8 million revaluation surplus, which reflects the strength of our chosen asset classes and the occupier appeal of our assets.
Our sector leading portfolio metrics were maintained with 12.4 years average lease lengths, 99.4% occupancy, 98.7% gross to net income ratio and only 3.5% of our income expiring over the next three years. Approximately half of the portfolio is subject to contractual rental increases, and further progress on lettings and open market rent reviews allowed the portfolio to deliver like for like income growth of 2.7% in the six month period. Total Property Return for the half year was 6.1%.
Our financing remains aligned to our property strategy. Loan to value of 34% provides us with flexibility to make further acquisitions and build our 1.5 million sq ft of developments. Debt maturity increased to 5.3 years, dividend cover was 114% and our EPRA cost ratio fell to 15% from 17% last year.
Global search for yield continues unabated, benefiting income backed real estate
We continue to live in an environment of both political and economic uncertainty and in a world where technology increasingly affects our everyday lives.
The extended period of low economic growth and near historically low interest rates is creating an almost desperate search for yield, which we believe is set to continue as the world adapts to a demographic tsunami. In the UK, having remained static for a long period, the percentage of the population defined as old age dependent is forecast to increase from 29% in 2016 to 41% in 2036. This demographic shift will only accentuate the need for income.
We see this trend as an unstoppable force as more of the investing fraternity, including dedicated income funds, private investors, corporate and local authority/government pension funds, focus on alternative investment sources for an acceptable income return.
Those sectors of real estate that can deliver a reliable, predictable, long and growing income stream are benefiting significantly in an increasingly competitive market. Reflecting this growing need, CBRE estimates that GBP25 billion is invested in UK 'long income' real estate and that, since 2010, they have seen a 42% compound annual growth rate in the value of long income funds that they advise.
Structurally supported real estate is seeing significant demand
The real estate market continues to pivot towards those sectors that are underpinned by structural support. In common with many other sectors, technology continues to disrupt real estate, particularly physical retail.
Industrial and logistics have been a significant beneficiary of this disruption and have been the strongest performing sectors in 2017 with investment yields pushed to record lows. Buoyant occupier demand, much of it driven by e-commerce, combined with rational levels of new supply have supported high occupancy rates and strong levels of rental growth. This has been an area of significant investment for us, particularly urban logistics, where we are building critical mass off attractive yields and which are supported by compelling income growth metrics.
With reports suggesting that nearly 40% of online deliveries are next day or specified day services, supply chains are having to rapidly evolve to satisfy increasingly demanding consumers. As operators seek closer proximity to population centres where supply of suitable logistics space is severely restricted, we expect strong rental outperformance of urban logistics ('spoke') against a more muted rental outlook for national distribution ('hub'). This is clearly reflected in our ERV growth rates for the period where urban logistics achieved ERV growth of 4.9% against 1.8% for mega distribution.
Convenience retail is also benefiting from changing shopping patterns as consumers look to 'top up' shop on the go and seek value propositions. This sector has performed strongly as investors have sought to take advantage of the impact that the likes of Aldi and Lidl are having in disrupting the established grocery market; these two retailers alone are reported to account for half of the growth in all UK food sales. We have increased our investment in convenience retail over recent years and these assets continue to deliver attractive returns with long leases.
For assets with strong income characteristics and structural support, we expect the deep pockets of liquidity to continue and the investment market to remain very much open for business.
Real estate continues to see further polarisation
We continue to advocate that capitalisation yields should reflect future occupational trends, the expected trajectory in future rental income and security of future cash flows.
Those real estate sectors that lack structural support, face political uncertainty and/or are being disrupted by new technology continue to find the going tough and are suffering from poor liquidity. Pricing of these sectors is beginning to factor in the value destructive forces and the impact of obsolescence, shorter leases, risks of income disruption, operating expenses and defensive capex.
These forces are particularly pronounced in physical retail, where retailer failures are rising and the 'right sizing' of store estates continues to play out. Operators are having to adjust to the impact that online and convenience shopping is having on their business model and prioritise investment in distribution over stores.
Shopping centres have seen a record low in investment transactions and, along with department stores and large food, are particularly exposed. We believe it is only a matter of time before valuers start to properly reflect the future outlook for challenged real estate sectors and the cost that comes with avoiding income disruption and keeping real estate fit for purpose.
Further aligning our portfolio to structurally supported sectors
Recognising the ongoing macro and structural changes, we remain focused on our objective of further aligning the portfolio to our preferred sectors of distribution, long income and convenience retail. During the period, we invested GBP236.2 million at an average yield of 6.2% and post period end we have invested a further GBP41.7 million. The majority of this was invested in distribution where we continue to target investment in all three segments of urban, regional and mega and which we expect will represent more than 75% of the portfolio.
In August, we acquired the GBP116.6 million Cabot portfolio of 11 urban and three regional distribution assets. This helped to increase our urban logistics platform to nearly GBP300 million across 40 assets, which is up from 11 assets a year ago and represents 17.2% of the total portfolio. Our end to end logistics portfolio represents 67.4% of our assets (as at 30 September 2017, adjusted for deferred disposals).
We remain highly disciplined in our investment approach and continue to seek out new opportunities and capitalise on our strong occupier and developer relationships, particularly in urban logistics where we are attracted by the strong intrinsic value from alternative uses. However, we won't overpay for assets or jeopardise the quality of our portfolio to simply grow the size of our distribution exposure or boost short term income. Having made the correct structural calls, we can continue to take a disciplined and patient approach to investing.
Indeed, since the summer and in response to the strong market, we sold two distribution warehouses let to Royal Mail and Tesco where the market valued these assets more highly than we did. The sale proceeds will be recycled into our 1.5 million sq ft of developments and other investment opportunities, where we expect to generate stronger returns going forward.
Outside of distribution, we completed our patient and disciplined exit from the office sector through the sale of our Marlow asset for GBP68.5 million. We continue to sell our multi-let, operational retail and, in the period, exchanged on retail and leisure disposals totalling GBP62.4 million (Group share: GBP58.2 million), including the sale of our retail park in Milford Haven and a large Morrisons food store in Loughborough. As asset management initiatives complete, we expect to monetise further operational retail parks, which represent only 8.3% of the portfolio at the half year.
We continue to view retail as highly polarised and generally opportunistic. We continue to see good value in convenience retail but few opportunities in multi-let operational retail where organic rental growth remains anaemic. With the benefit of our occupier relationships, we acquired GBP65.1 million of long income and convenience retail in the period.
Outlook
We continue to believe that structural calls will define the real estate winners and losers. Our decisions to date have positioned us strongly and we expect they will protect us against market movements and timing of cycles. Our rational approach and shareholder alignment will ensure that we continue to provide highly repetitive, reliable and growing income that will compound and deliver above sector returns. This is exactly what a REIT is designed to do.
This patient approach to collecting and compounding has been rewarded and we will continue our focus on this and owning good assets, let to strong covenants that provide secure and growing income.
We will selectively look to enhance the value and quality of our portfolio by selling assets with less potential for future outperformance. Whilst the strong liquidity for our preferred sectors and high frictional costs is proving a challenging re-investment environment, our strong customer and developer relationships are allowing us to seek out 'smart' new opportunities, particularly within our short cycle developments.
Investment review
Over the period we disposed of GBP179.8 million of assets as we continued to further sell down our retail and leisure assets, and the sale of our last remaining office in Marlow. Since the half year end, we have disposed of a further GBP46.5 million of non core retail, leisure and distribution assets.
Acquisitions in the period totalled GBP236.2 million, of which urban logistics accounted for GBP125.1 million. Since the half year, we have acquired a further GBP41.7 million of assets.
Acquisitions Disposals
----------------------------------- ------------------- ---------------
Proceeds
Cost at share NIY at share NIY
GBPm % GBPm %
----------------------------------- ------------- ---- --------- ----
Distribution(1) 171.1 6.0% 48.8 5.0%
Retail, Convenience & Leisure(1,2) 65.1 6.4% 58.2 6.0%
Office - - 68.5 6.7%
Residential - - 4.3 2.5%
----------------------------------- ------------- ---- --------- ----
Total 236.2 6.2% 179.8 6.1%
----------------------------------- ------------- ---- --------- ----
(1) Includes the investment value resulting from an increase in our share of the DFS joint venture from 30.0% to 45.0% in the period, the majority of which was retail related
(2) Disposals include two assets in Loughborough and Birkenhead that exchanged in the period with deferred completions. These disposals will be accounted for as sales in the second half of the year.
Distribution
The value of our end to end distribution portfolio, including developments, totalled GBP1,123.1 million at 30 September 2017 compared to GBP867.0 million a year ago, representing a 29.5% increase in assets.
These are high quality single let assets with a WAULT of 11.9 years. They offer an attractive mix of guaranteed rental uplifts on larger mega and regional assets whilst providing strong open market rental growth potential on smaller urban logistics assets where there is significant demand/supply tension and a higher terminal value from alternative uses of location.
As at 30 September 2017 Mega Regional Urban Logistics ------------------------ --------- --------- --------------- Value(1) GBP495.1m GBP335.5m GBP292.5m Number(1) 7 15 40 Yield(2) 4.7% 4.8% 5.4% WAULT 13.7yrs 13.3yrs 7.4yrs Contractual uplifts(3) 74.2% 50.1% 15.7% ------------------------ --------- --------- ---------------
(1) Including developments except for the Bedford land development which was acquired post period end
(2) Topped up NIY
(3) Percentage of portfolio that benefits from contractual rental uplifts
Mega and regional distribution
The investment market for mega and regional distribution continues to be highly competitive as investors price these assets on the basis of optimistic assumptions for rental growth and occupier lease intentions. Therefore, we have remained disciplined and only invested GBP46.0 million in regional warehousing, the majority of which was part of the large Cabot portfolio acquisition in August. We have supplemented these acquisitions by investing into our development pipeline where we are able to access attractive product at yields on cost significantly in excess of investment value whilst extending the lifecycle of our assets.
Moreover, the strength of the investment market has prompted us to sell two of our regional assets at strong prices since the summer. In the period, we sold a Royal Mail warehouse let for a further six years for GBP48.8 million, reflecting a 5.0% NIY. Post period end, we also sold a 274,000 sq ft warehouse for GBP24.4 million let to Tesco for 4.2 years. This asset had been acquired as part of the Cabot portfolio and the disposal price reflected a NIY of 5.35%, representing a significant tightening in price over the portfolio acquisition yield of 6.1%.
The sale proceeds will be recycled into other investment opportunities and our 1.5 million sq ft of developments, which we added to post period end through the acquisition of a large distribution development site in Bedford.
Urban logistics
Despite the competitive market, we have been able to leverage our relationships to buy a number of urban logistics assets in the period. This has helped us to grow our urban logistics platform from just GBP82.1 million a year ago to GBP292.5 million at the period end. These assets have been acquired at attractive yields and are let to strong occupiers, in good locations with strong terminal values.
As supply chain networks continue to rapidly evolve in response to increasingly demanding consumers, so logistics investors must ensure that their investments are aligned to the hub and spoke operational model and that they continue to own real estate that is fit for purpose. With urban logistics now representing over 25% of our overall distribution portfolio, this has helped to improve the balance of our end to end logistics platform and our visibility on the overall logistics operational model.
We remain excited by the outlook for urban logistics. Demand continues to grow as occupiers seek closer proximity to population centres to reduce the operational cost impact of delivery times. This sensitivity of profitability to transportation costs in supply starved locations is critical. For example, the costs of running a network of 200 vans delivering individual products versus 20 HGVs delivering pallets has a bigger potential impact on operational costs than the rent payable in the right location.
These dynamics of tight supply and significant occupier demand are therefore driving material rental outperformance of the spoke against the hub, and is behind our targeted investment strategy in specific locations.
Our urban logistics investments in the period totalled GBP125.1 million and we acquired 17 warehouses at a blended yield of 5.9% and with a WAULT of 8.3 years:
-- 775,000 sq ft of warehouses across 11 assets as part of the Cabot portfolio acquisition. The assumed investment value was GBP73.4 million at a blended NIY of 6.0% with a WAULT of 5.6 years;
-- 132,000 sq ft newly developed warehouse in Speke let to Gefco for 15.0 years;
-- 120,000 sq ft forward funding development in Huyton for GBP11.8 million let to Antolin Interiors for 15.0 years at a yield on cost of 6.1%;
-- 90,000 sq ft warehouse in Coventry for GBP5.7 million at a NIY of 7.0% let to DHL for 10.0 years;
-- 62,000 sq ft forward funding development in Frimley for GBP13.1 million at an anticipated yield on cost of 5.3%. Over half of the space has been pre-let to BAE Systems for 15.0 years;
-- 51,000 sq ft warehouse in Crawley for GBP6.4 million at a NIY of 4.8% and a reversionary yield of 6.2% let to TNT for 6.4 years; and
-- 42,000 sq ft warehouse in Warrington for GBP4.4 million at a NIY of 5.6% let to Hovis for 9.7 years.
Post period end, we acquired a 364,000 sq ft warehouse in Ollerton for GBP37.4 million at a NIY of 4.6% and a running yield of 5.5% after five years based on inflationary expectations. The warehouse is let to Clipper Logistics for 19.8 years with annual RPI rental uplifts.
Retail
As at 30 September 2017, retail parks represented 8.3% (GBP142.4 million) of the overall portfolio, long income retail represented 12.9% (GBP219.5 million) and convenience retail accounted for 6.9% (GBP118.2 million).
In the period, we continued to dispose of retail assets and exchanged to sell GBP56.6 million (Group Share: GBP52.4 million) of assets that were in poorer geographies and/or where we had been able to achieve a very strong sale price:
-- GBP32.5 million disposal of a 55,000 sq ft Morrisons store at a NIY of 4.3%. The asset had been recently extended and was let on a new 25 year lease. The disposal will complete and be accounted for in the second half of the financial year;
-- GBP15.3 million disposal of an 84,000 sq ft retail park in Milford Haven at a NIY of 6.9% and with a WAULT of 8.5 years; and
-- GBP8.8 million of disposals (Group Share: GBP4.6 million) in Swansea, on behalf of our DFS joint venture, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
The strength of the investment market and the demand for income producing assets continues to generate regular approaches for our assets. As asset management initiatives complete on our remaining retail parks, we expect to further monetise these assets.
We are also seeing particularly strong interest in our long income and convenience portfolio which have long lease lengths, low operational requirements and certainty of income growth through built in contractual rental uplifts.
As a result, post period end, we disposed of two further retail assets:
-- GBP7.9 million disposal (Group Share: GBP3.5 million) in Swindon by our DFS joint venture at a NIY of 6.9%. The joint venture has now sold 17 of the 27 stores acquired in 2014 for a total receipt of GBP114.6 million and delivered an IRR to the joint venture partners of 23% per annum and a profit of over GBP50 million; and
-- GBP6.0 million disposal of a 26,000 sq ft convenience scheme in Guisborough at a NIY of 5.0%. The asset is let to Aldi and Iceland for a further 11.9 years and was acquired at a NIY of 5.8%.
Whilst we view retail as highly opportunistic, we do see good value in certain pockets of the retail market. With the benefit of our occupier relationships, we invested GBP65.1 million into long income and convenience retail in the period at a 6.4% yield, consisting of:
-- A Currys PC World in New Malden for GBP28.3 million at a yield on cost of 6.1% let for a further 14.4 years;
-- Two strongly performing M&S stores on the Isle of Wight and in Kendal for GBP24.6 million at a NIY of 5.5%, let for a further ten years; and
-- An increase in our equity share of the DFS joint venture from 30.5% to 45.0%, which represented GBP12.2 million of investment. At the same time, Atlantic Leaf Properties Limited acquired a 45.0% interest in the joint venture from LVS II Lux X S.A.R.L.
Leisure
During the period, we exchanged to sell a Vue Cinema in Birkenhead for GBP5.8 million at a NIY of 7.2%. This disposal will complete and be accounted for in the second half of the financial year.
Post period end:
-- We sold an Odeon cinema in Derby for GBP12.6 million at a NIY of 4.7%, reducing our cinema ownership to five assets accounting for GBP3.0 million of rent per annum, 100% of which is RPI linked, and have a WAULT of 20.6 years. We continue to see strong buying appetite for our cinema portfolio; and
-- Our MIPP joint venture bought its first hotel asset, agreeing to fund an 84 bed Premier Inn hotel development in Ringwood for GBP8.5 million (Group Share: GBP4.3 million) at a yield of 5.0% and let for 25.0 years with CPI uplifts.
Office and Residential
At Marlow, we sold our last remaining 231,000 sq ft office for GBP68.5 million at a yield of 6.7%. Although completion was planned for January 2018 to allow time for re-investment, we brought forward the timing of completion to September given the speed with which we had been able to deploy the disposal proceeds.
At Moore House in Chelsea, our last remaining residential asset in which we have a 40% share, we continue to patiently sell down individual units. Purchaser interest has remained steady over the year and we sold 11 units in the period. A further 8 units have been sold or are currently under offer post period end and there are 51 units remaining of the original 149 units owned.
Property review
Strong portfolio metrics provide security of income
We have maintained our sector leading portfolio metrics through our investment, asset management and development activities. Our average lease lengths of 12.4 years (11.5 years to first break) continue to provide security of income with only 3.5% of our income expiring over the next three years. Occupancy remains very high at 99.4% and our gross to net income ratio improved further to 98.7%.
There is a wide range of lease lengths across the portfolio's sectors. The convenience and leisure sectors have lease lengths that average 15 to 20 years, mega and regional distribution average 13 to 14 years, retail averages 12 years and urban logistics averages seven years. We are very comfortable with shorter lease lengths on urban logistics given this sector's strong demand/supply dynamics, positive rental growth, and supportive terminal value that they offer.
Valuation uplift reflects our portfolio alignment to structurally supported sectors
The portfolio increased in value by GBP52.8 million over the period, representing a 3.2% uplift. This gain reflected the positioning of our portfolio and its alignment to the structurally winning real estate sectors. Our actions accounted for approximately half of the valuation uplift with our strong exposure to superior ERV growth and with successfully executed asset management initiatives. The topped up net initial yield on the portfolio is 5.2% and the equivalent yield is 5.5%, reflecting an equivalent yield compression of 12bps over the period.
Distribution has been the strongest performing real estate subsector and our distribution assets generated a capital return of 3.4%, helped by a 4.7% capital increase in urban logistics. Our retail and leisure portfolio saw a 3.2% valuation increase, with retail parks delivering a 2.3% valuation uplift, which is materially higher than the wider retail park sector.
The valuation uplift, combined with the portfolio's sustainable and growing income, helped us to deliver a total property return of 6.1%, outperforming IPD All Property which returned 5.0%.
Further Income growth through lettings and rent reviews
We undertook 32 occupier transactions in the period and generated GBP2.3 million of additional income. Like-for-like income growth on the investment portfolio was 2.7% for the six month period.
Area Net uplift WAULT
sq ft in income to expiry
'000 No. of transactions GBPm years
------------- ------ ------------------- ----------- ----------
New lettings 126 13 1.6 14.3
Rent reviews 1,924 19 0.7 -
------------- ------ ------------------- ----------- ----------
Total 2,050 32 2.3 -
------------- ------ ------------------- ----------- ----------
Lettings in the period were undertaken on average at 21.5% above ERV and with an average lease length of 14.3 years. These delivered GBP1.6 million of additional contracted income and 72% of this rent has contracted rental uplifts:
-- GBP0.5 million related to lettings at developments in Crawley and Ipswich at 18% above ERV and with a WAULT of 14.1 years;
-- GBP0.8 million arose from the full letting of our M&S anchored property in Matlock and a re-gear at our recent long income purchase in New Malden at 21% above ERV and with a WAULT of 15.0 years; and
-- GBP0.3 million related to nine smaller lettings at 23.4% above ERV and with a WAULT of 13.0 years.
Post period end, we have exchanged or have agreed terms on eight lettings which will add GBP1.8 million of additional contracted income.
Rent reviews were agreed across 1.9 million sq ft adding GBP0.7 million of contracted income at 12.9% above passing on a five yearly equivalent basis and 8.2% above ERV. In the period, we settled:
-- Five distribution reviews at 2.7% above passing (10.3% on a five yearly equivalent basis), two of which were open market reviews on urban logistics where the average uplift was 9.4%; and
-- 14 retail and leisure reviews at 6.3% above passing (16.2% on a five yearly equivalent basis), the majority of which were inflation linked reviews on our cinema and convenience assets.
Fixed rental uplifts and asset management provides certainty of future income growth
Over the period, our contracted income increased from GBP87.3 million to GBP93.8 million. The portfolio generated ERV growth of 1.8% in the period and we expect to see future income growth arising from:
-- Fixed or inflation linked rental uplifts on our existing portfolio, which applies to 48.4% of our rental income;
-- Full letting of our developments; and
-- Capturing of further rental growth, particularly in urban logistics which is achieving good uplifts on rent review and saw strong ERV growth of 4.9% in the six month period, following a 9.5% increase in the last full year.
Adding value and income through our short cycle developments
Following completion of 1.1 million sq ft of developments in the previous financial year, we completed one development in the period in Tonbridge, which is fully let. Developments under construction over the second half of this year total 0.8 million sq ft. These are expected to generate a yield on cost of 6.2% and 84% have been pre-let including terms agreed post period end:
-- Stoke - 137,000 sq ft of the 277,000 sq ft scheme has been let to Michelin for 15 years and construction of that unit has completed. We have commenced formal marketing of the remaining space and construction of this unit is expected to complete in February 2018;
-- Dagenham - the new 180,000 sq ft warehouse development completes in Q2 2018 and was pre-let as part of a 26 year lease re-gear with Eddie Stobart across an enlarged 436,000 sq ft of warehousing;
-- Huyton - the funding development has now completed and is let to Antolin Interiors for 15 years;
-- Crawley - 32,000 sq ft of the 114,000 sq ft development has been pre-let to Boeing for 15 years. Terms are agreed on the larger of the two remaining units totalling 47,000 sq ft;
-- Frimley - 38,000 sq ft of the 62,000 sq ft development has been pre-let to BAE Systems for 15 years. Terms are agreed on the remaining unit;
-- Launceston - the redevelopment completed in the second half of the year and is fully let; and
-- Ipswich - construction is complete and the retail park is now fully let to Wickes, Evans Cycles and Topps Tiles. A planning application has been submitted for a new Costa pod.
Our pipeline of developments totals 0.7 million sq ft, which we anticipate will generate a yield on cost of 7.0%.
At Bedford, we have completed on the 40 acre land acquisition from the local authority and enabling works have commenced. The site is adjacent to an established distribution location where we own an Argos distribution centre and other occupiers include Sainsbury's and Asda. Planning consent has been received for up to 670,000 sq ft and we expect to commence phased construction once works have completed in summer 2018. Occupier interest is strong and we are in ongoing discussion with several parties.
At a new development site in Derby, we have pre-let a 16,000 sq ft development to M&S, Starbucks and Nandos and expect to develop at a cost of GBP6.2 million and a yield of 6.7% with an anticipated WAULT of approximately 16 years. We have conditionally exchanged on the site acquisition subject to receiving planning consent.
At Weymouth, we have agreed terms with Aldi on a 19,000 sq ft store and received offers on the letting of three small pods. The 26,000 sq ft development is expected to cost GBP8.9 million and generate a yield of 6.1% with an anticipated WAULT of approximately 18 years. The site has been purchased and a planning application will be submitted shortly.
Development Summary
Area Additional Yield Practical
sq ft Rent on cost completion
Scheme Sector '000 GBPm % date(4)
---------------------- ------------- ------ ---------- -------- -----------
Completed in H1
Tonbridge Retail 53 0.3 6.1 Q3 17
---------------------- ------------- ------ ---------- -------- -----------
53 0.3 6.1
------------------------------------ ------ ---------- -------- -----------
Under construction(3)
Stoke(2) Distribution 277 1.5 6.3 Q1 18
Dagenham Distribution 180 0.9 5.7 Q2 18
Huyton(1) Distribution 120 0.7 6.1 Q4 17
Crawley(2) Distribution 114 1.4 6.7 Q1 18
Frimley(2) Distribution 62 0.7 5.3 Q2 18
Ipswich(1) Retail 31 0.7 6.9 Q4 17
Launceston(1) Retail 30 0.3 6.2 Q4 17
---------------------- ------------- ------ ---------- -------- -----------
814 6.2 6.2
------------------------------------ ------ ---------- -------- -----------
Pipeline
Bedford(2) Distribution 670 4.4 7.3 2018/19
Ringwood Leisure 35 0.2 5.0 H2 18
Weymouth(2) Retail 26 0.5 6.1 2018/19
Derby Retail 16 0.4 6.7 2018/19
---------------------- ------------- ------ ---------- -------- -----------
747 5.5 7.0
------------------------------------ ------ ---------- -------- -----------
(1) Completed post period end
(2) Rental income shown is anticipated
(3) GBP4.1 million of the GBP6.2 million total income from developments under construction is contracted and terms are agreed on a further GBP1.1 million
(4) Based on calendar quarters and years
(5) LondonMetric share shown for rent
Financial review
Our focus on owning assets with long and secure income streams, particularly in the distribution, long income and convenience retail sectors, has delivered both earnings and NAV growth in the period. We have successfully deployed the proceeds of the equity placing in March into our preferred sectors, increasing our distribution exposure to 67.4% and reducing our undrawn debt facilities to GBP85.8 million. We have sold our last remaining non-core office asset in Marlow and have transacted on GBP416.0 million of property in the period.
EPRA earnings have increased by 13.8% to GBP28.8 million compared with GBP25.3 million last half year. On a per share basis, EPRA earnings have increased by 5.0% to 4.2p per share, reflecting the impact of the equity placing of 62.8 million ordinary shares in March. The earnings growth has enabled us to increase our dividend for the period to 3.7p per share, an increase of 2.8% over last year. The dividend continues to be fully covered by EPRA earnings at 114%.
IFRS reported profit has increased by GBP92.7 million to GBP79.6 million, predicated on a revaluation gain of GBP52.8 million this half year compared with a loss of GBP23.0 million for the same period last year. EPRA NAV is GBP1,076.9 million or 155.7p per share, an increase of 3.9% on a per share basis in the period since March.
We refinanced our secured loan facility with Helaba in July, strengthening our financing metrics by increasing average debt maturity to 5.3 years and decreasing average debt cost to 3.0%.
Presentation of financial information
The Group financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS.
We account for our interests in joint ventures using the equity method as required by IFRS 11 which means the results and investment in joint venture entities are presented as a single line item in the consolidated income statement and balance sheet.
Management monitors the performance of the business on a proportionally consolidated basis which includes the Group's share of income, expenses, assets and liabilities of joint ventures on a line by line basis in the income statement and balance sheet.
The figures and commentary in this review are consistent with our management approach as we believe this provides a more meaningful analysis of overall performance. Measures presented on a proportionate basis are alternative performance measures as they are not defined under IFRS.
Alternative performance measures
The Group consistently uses EPRA earnings and EPRA net assets as alternative performance measures as they highlight the underlying recurring performance of the Group's property rental business.
The EPRA alternative measures are widely recognised and used by public real estate companies and seek to improve transparency, comparability and relevance of published results.
The Group's key EPRA measures are summarised in note 7 to the financial statements and Supplementary notes i to vii. Definitions of EPRA alternative performance measures are provided in the Glossary.
Income statement
EPRA earnings for the Group and its share of joint ventures are detailed as follows:
Group JV 2017 Group JV 2016
For the six months to 30 September GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm
----------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Gross rental income 40.6 4.5 45.1 36.0 4.5 40.5
Property costs (0.4) (0.2) (0.6) (0.6) (0.2) (0.8)
----------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
Net rental income 40.2 4.3 44.5 35.4 4.3 39.7
Management fees 0.8 (0.4) 0.4 0.9 (0.4) 0.5
Administrative costs (6.7) - (6.7) (6.7) - (6.7)
Net finance costs (8.5) (0.9) (9.4) (7.1) (1.1) (8.2)
EPRA earnings 25.8 3.0 28.8 22.5 2.8 25.3
----------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- -----
The table below reconciles the movement in EPRA earnings in the year from September 2016:
GBPm p
-------------------------------------------- ----- -----
EPRA earnings 2016 25.3 4.0
Net rental income 4.8 0.7
Administrative costs net of management fees (0.1) -
Net finance costs (1.2) (0.2)
Other(1) - (0.3)
-------------------------------------------- ----- -----
EPRA earnings 2017 28.8 4.2
-------------------------------------------- ----- -----
(1) Opening earnings per share has been adjusted for the increased weighted average number of shares following the equity placing in March 2017
Net rental income
Net rental income increased 12.1% to GBP44.5 million, driving the growth in EPRA earnings. Movements in net rental income are reflected in the table below.
GBPm
----------------------- -----
Net rental income 2016 39.7
Existing properties(1) 3.1
Developments 2.7
Acquisitions 4.6
Disposals (5.8)
Property costs 0.2
------------------------ -----
Net rental income 2017 44.5
------------------------ -----
(1) Based on properties held throughout the half year in 2016 and 2017 on a proportionately consolidated basis to exclude the distortive impact of acquisitions, disposals and development completions in either period
The GBP4.8 million increase in net rental income was due to additional rent generated from the existing portfolio of assets and from completed developments over the last 18 months totalling GBP5.8 million, more than offsetting the impact of net sales which reduced net rental income by GBP1.2 million.
Property costs have decreased marginally by GBP0.2 million due to decreased vacant unit costs associated with completed asset management and development projects. Our cost leakage is minimal and net income as a percentage of gross rents remains strong at 98.7%.
Administrative costs
Administrative costs of GBP6.7 million are in line with the previous period and are stated after capitalising staff costs of GBP0.9 million (2016: GBP0.9 million) in respect of time spent on development activity.
EPRA cost ratio
The Group's cost base continues to be closely monitored and the EPRA cost ratio is used as a key measure of effective cost management. The full calculation is shown in Supplementary note iv.
2017 2016
For the six months to 30 September % %
----------------------------------------------- ---- ----
EPRA cost ratio including direct vacancy costs 15 17
EPRA cost ratio excluding direct vacancy costs 15 16
----------------------------------------------- ---- ----
The EPRA cost ratio for the period, including direct vacancy costs, has fallen to 15% compared with 17% last year. The ratio reflects total operating costs, including the cost of vacancy, as a percentage of gross rental income.
Net finance costs
Net finance costs, excluding the costs associated with repaying debt and terminating hedging arrangements on sales and refinancing in the period were GBP9.4 million, an increase of GBP1.2 million over the previous period.
This was due to decreases in interest receivable from forward funded developments that have completed and interest capitalised on developments of GBP1.2 million and GBP0.6 million respectively.
This was offset by decreased Group bank interest costs associated with lower average levels of debt of GBP0.4 million and lower joint venture interest costs of GBP0.2 million as a result of repaying debt facilities following sales. The movements are shown in notes 4 and 9 to the financial statements.
Our interest rate exposure is hedged by a combination of fixed and forward starting interest rate swaps and caps as discussed further in the Financing section of this review.
Share of joint ventures
EPRA earnings from joint venture investments were GBP3.0 million, an increase of GBP0.2 million over the comparative period as reflected in the table below.
2017 2016
For the six months to 30 September GBPm GBPm
------------------------------------ ----- -----
MIPP 1.9 1.6
Retail Warehouse (DFS) 1.0 1.1
Residential (Moore House) 0.1 0.1
3.0 2.8
------------------------------------ ----- -----
In addition, the Group received net management fees of GBP0.4 million for acting as property advisor to each of its joint ventures (2016: GBP0.5 million).
The Group increased its investment in the DFS joint venture in September 2017 by 14.5% to 45.0% at a cost of GBP7.9 million. This joint venture disposed of one asset in Swansea in the period and our residential joint venture sold a further 11 flats at Moore House, London.
Dividend
The Company has continued to declare quarterly dividends and has offered shareholders a scrip alternative to cash payments.
The Company paid the third and fourth quarterly dividends for the year to March 2017 of GBP25.7 million or 3.9p per share in the period.
The first quarterly payment for the current year of 1.85p per share was paid as a Property Income Distribution (PID) in October 2017. The second quarterly dividend will comprise a PID of 1.85p per share and has been approved by the Board for payment in January 2018.
IFRS reported profit
A full reconciliation between EPRA earnings and IFRS reported profit is given in note 7(a) to the accounts and is summarised in the table below.
Group JV 2017 Group JV 2016
For the six months to 30 September GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm
----------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ------ ----- ------
EPRA earnings 25.8 3.0 28.8 22.5 2.8 25.3
Revaluation of investment property 50.0 2.8 52.8 (17.9) (5.1) (23.0)
Fair value of derivatives 10.5 0.1 10.6 (9.4) (0.1) (9.5)
Debt/hedging early close out costs (6.3) (0.1) (6.4) (3.5) (0.1) (3.6)
Loss on disposal (5.8) (0.4) (6.2) (1.6) (0.5) (2.1)
Other items(1) - - - (0.2) - (0.2)
----------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ------ ----- ------
IFRS reported profit/(loss) 74.2 5.4 79.6 (10.1) (3.0) (13.1)
----------------------------------- ----- ----- ----- ------ ----- ------
(1) Other items in 2016 include amortisation of intangible assets
The Group's reported profit of GBP79.6 million compares with a loss of GBP13.1 million in the previous comparative period. This was predicated on the property revaluation gain of GBP52.8 million compared with a deficit of GBP23.0 million in the previous period and the favourable derivative rate movement of GBP10.6 million compared with an adverse movement of GBP9.5 million in the previous comparative period.
Other movements in reported profit include loss on sales of properties and debt and hedging break costs, which reduced profit by GBP12.6 million this year compared to GBP5.7 million in the previous period.
The disposal of our non-core office at Marlow generated a loss over book value of GBP3.6 million. This loss was partly mitigated by the retention of rent for the deferred completion period. We called for completion three months earlier than we had originally intended in order to finance further investments and consequently the net loss was GBP1.6 million after the rent receipts of GBP1.2 million and before sales costs of GBP0.8 million. The corresponding profit over original cost was GBP4.5 million. The total profit over original cost of sales in the period was GBP9.7 million.
In July, as part of the Helaba loan refinancing, we cancelled GBP128.4 million of out of the money interest rate swaps at a cost of GBP6.3 million. For further details see the Financing section of this review.
Balance sheet
EPRA net assets for the Group and its share of joint ventures are as follows:
30 September
Group JV 2017 Group JV 31 March 2017
As at GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm GBPm
------------------------------- ------- ------ ------------ ------- ------ -------------
Investment property 1,532.9 172.1 1,705.0 1,373.4 160.4 1,533.8
Gross debt (630.0) (60.9) (690.9) (473.2) (54.5) (527.7)
Cash 31.6 4.2 35.8 42.9 3.2 46.1
Other net assets/(liabilities) 28.5 (1.5) 27.0 (20.4) (1.3) (21.7)
------------------------------- ------- ------ ------------ ------- ------ -------------
EPRA net assets 963.0 113.9 1,076.9 922.7 107.8 1,030.5
------------------------------- ------- ------ ------------ ------- ------ -------------
EPRA net assets have increased GBP46.4 million or 4.5% since March to GBP1,076.9 million. On a per share basis net assets increased by 5.9p, or 3.9% to 155.7p. The movement in the period is summarised below.
EPRA EPRA NAV
Net Assets per share
GBPm p
--------------------- ----------- ----------
At 1 April 2017 1,030.5 149.8
EPRA earnings 28.8 4.2
Property revaluation 52.8 7.6
Ordinary dividend (25.7) (3.9)
Other movements(1) (9.5) (2.0)
At 30 September 2017 1,076.9 155.7
--------------------- ----------- ----------
(1) Other movements include loss on sales (GBP6.2m), debt/hedging break costs (GBP6.4m), share based awards (GBP0.5m), offset by scrip share issues (GBP3.6m)
The movement in EPRA net assets, together with the dividend paid in the period net of the scrip issue of shares of GBP22.1 million, results in a total accounting return of 6.6%. The full calculation can be found in supplementary note viii. IFRS reported net assets increased by GBP57.0 million to GBP1,063.9 million. A reconciliation between IFRS and EPRA net assets is detailed in note 7(c) to the financial statements.
Portfolio valuation
Our property portfolio, including the share of joint venture assets, grew by GBP171.2 million or 11.2% over the six month period to GBP1,705.0 million. This was a result of significant net property investment and a strong valuation increase for our chosen asset classes in the period. Investment in our preferred distribution sector at the period end increased to 65.9% of the total portfolio, up from 61.9% in March as reflected in the table below and also in Supplementary note ix. Including deferred completions on sales at Loughborough and Birkenhead, this increases to 67.4% of the portfolio.
30 September 2017 30 September 2017 31 March 31 March
GBPm % 2017 2017
As at GBPm %
---------------------- ----------------- ----------------- -------- --------
Distribution 1,074.1 63.0 927.4 60.4
Convenience & leisure 184.9 10.8 156.2 10.2
Long income 219.5 12.9 166.6 10.8
Retail Parks 136.1 8.0 145.2 9.5
Offices - - 70.0 4.6
---------------------- ----------------- ----------------- -------- --------
Investment portfolio 1,614.6 94.7 1,465.4 95.5
Residential 35.1 2.1 41.1 2.7
Development(1) 55.3 3.2 27.3 1.8
---------------------- ----------------- ----------------- -------- --------
Property value 1,705.0 100.0 1,533.8 100.0
---------------------- ----------------- ----------------- -------- --------
(1) Split in September 2017 was Distribution GBP49.0 million (2.9%), Retail Parks GBP6.3 million (0.3%). Split in March 2017 was Distribution GBP22.8 million (1.5%), Retail Parks GBP4.5 million (0.3%).
Investment in development assets at the half year has increased as work at Crawley and Stoke has progressed and new forward funded developments at Huyton and Frimley have commenced. Total development expenditure was GBP26.1 million, of which GBP10.5 million was in respect of forward funded developments.
The movement in the investment portfolio is explained in the table below.
Portfolio value
GBPm
-------------------------------------------- ---------------
Valuation as at 1 April 2017 1,533.8
Acquisitions 216.0
Developments 26.1
Capital expenditure on completed properties 11.1
Disposals (134.6)
Revaluation 52.8
Lease incentives (0.2)
-------------------------------------------- ---------------
Valuation as at 30 September 2017 1,705.0
-------------------------------------------- ---------------
Further detail on the split between Group and joint venture movements and the EPRA capital expenditure analysis can be found in Supplementary note vii.
Property values have increased by GBP52.8 million in the half year, most significantly in our preferred distribution and long income sectors and the portfolio has delivered a total property return of 6.1% compared to the IPD index of 5.0%.
It has been a busy half year with significant investment activity. The Group acquired 20 distribution assets and three retail assets in the period as discussed in detail in the Investment Review.
Our last remaining non-core office in Marlow was disposed in September 2017 generating gross proceeds of GBP68.5 million, which has been recycled into end to end distribution and development opportunities. A further four commercial and 11 residential sales in the period reduced the total carrying value of property by GBP134.6 million.
Included within the trade and other receivables balance of GBP55.2 million on the Group balance sheet is GBP48.8 million due on completion of the sale of Danes Way, Daventry, which has been accounted for as a disposal in the period and has completed in October.
We exchanged to sell two further assets in the period, a Vue cinema in Birkenhead for GBP5.8 million and a Morrisons store in Loughborough for GBP32.5 million. Both have deferred completions and in accordance with our accounting policy will be reflected as disposals in the financial statements in the second half of the year.
Taxation
As the Group is a UK REIT, any income and capital gains from our qualifying property rental business are exempt from UK corporation tax. Any UK income that does not qualify as property income within the REIT regulations is subject to UK tax in the normal way.
The Group's tax strategy is compliance oriented; to account for tax on an accurate and timely basis and meet all REIT compliance and reporting obligations.
We seek to minimise the level of tax risk and to structure our affairs based on sound commercial principles. We strive to maintain an open dialogue with HMRC with a view to identifying and solving issues as they arise.
We continue to monitor and comfortably comply with the REIT balance of business tests and distribute as a Property Income Distribution 90% of REIT relevant earnings to ensure our REIT status is maintained.
Financing
The key performance indicators used to monitor the Group's debt and liquidity position are shown in the table below.
30 September 2017 31 March 2017
As at GBPm GBPm
---------------------- ----------------- -------------
Gross debt 690.9 527.7
Cash 35.8 46.1
Net debt 655.1 481.6
Loan to value(1) 34% 30%
Cost of debt(2) 3.0% 3.5%
Undrawn facilities 85.8 299.7
Average debt maturity 5.3 years 5.2 years
Hedging(3) 76% 87%
---------------------- ----------------- -------------
(1) At 30 September 2017, LTV includes GBP87.1 million of deferred consideration receivable on sales at Daventry (GBP48.8 million), Birkenhead (GBP5.8 million) and Loughborough (GBP32.5 million) and excludes the value of Birkenhead and Loughborough
(2) Cost of debt is based on gross debt and including amortised costs but excluding commitment fees
(3) Based on the notional amount of existing hedges and total debt facilities
The Group and joint venture split is shown in Supplementary note iii.
In July 2017 we refinanced our secured debt facility with Helaba and repaid GBP66.2 million by drawing additional unsecured debt, extending the term by 2.7 years and reducing the average cost of debt. In addition, we cancelled GBP128.4 million of interest rate swaps at a cost of GBP6.3 million, which we expect to be paid back in interest cost savings in less than 2.5 years.
Our MIPP joint venture increased and extended its debt facility with Deutsche Pfandbriefbank in September by GBP18.2 million and for a further three years.
The Group's share of joint venture gross debt has increased by GBP6.3 million since March due to the Group's additional investment in the DFS Retail Warehouse joint venture, which increased our share of debt by GBP7.4 million, offset by debt repaid following the sale of Swansea of GBP1.1 million.
These financing transactions have strengthened our key financial ratios with average debt cost falling to 3.0% (March 17: 3.5%) and average maturity increasing to 5.3 years despite the passing of time (March 17: 5.2 years).
We have successfully utilised and deployed our available undrawn facilities in the period to invest further into our preferred sectors, reducing undrawn facilities at the half year to GBP85.8 million.
Loan to value, net of cash resources and deferred consideration on sales which complete and will be recognised post period end, was 34% (March 17: 30%). We remain committed to keeping LTV below 40% to provide flexibility as opportunities arise whilst maintaining sufficient headroom under our gearing covenants.
The Group has comfortably complied throughout the year with the financial covenants contained in its debt funding arrangements and has substantial levels of headroom.
The Group's unsecured facility and private placement loan notes contain gearing and interest cover financial covenants. At 30 September 2017, the Group's gearing ratio as defined within these funding arrangements was 57% compared with the maximum limit of 125% and interest cover ratio was 4.8 times compared with the minimum level of 1.5 times.
The Group's policy is to substantially de-risk the impact of movements in interest rates by entering into hedging arrangements. Independent advice is given by J C Rathbone Associates.
At 30 September 2017, 76% of our exposure to interest rate fluctuations was hedged by way of swaps and caps assuming existing debt facilities are fully drawn (March 17: 87%). This has fallen as a result of the cancellation of swaps in the period. We continue to monitor our hedging profile in light of forecast interest rate movements.
Cash flow
During the year, the Group's cash balances decreased by GBP11.4 million as reflected in the table below.
2017 2016
For the six months to 30 September GBPm GBPm
------------------------------------------------------ -------- -------
Cash flows from operations 37.3 31.2
Changes in working capital (8.3) 2.4
Finance costs and taxation (16.2) (13.2)
Cash flows from operating activities 12.8 20.4
Cash flows from investing activities (157.4) (4.8)
Cash flows from financing activities 133.2 (9.3)
------------------------------------------------------ -------- -------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (11.4) 6.3
------------------------------------------------------ -------- -------
Cash flows from operating activities have decreased by GBP7.6 million compared to the previous comparative period due to changes in net working capital requirements.
Cash inflows from operations net of finance costs were GBP21.1 million in the period compared with GBP18.0 million for the same period last year.
Cash flows from investing activities reflect property acquisitions, including those classified as forward funded developments, of GBP209.5 million and capital expenditure of GBP33.7 million offset by net proceeds from disposals of GBP88.3 million.
Net drawing of bank facilities of GBP156.8 million supported the net property investment, offset by cash dividends paid of GBP22.1 million.
Further detail is provided in the Group Cash Flow Statement.
Key risks and uncertainties
Risk management
As an income focused REIT the strategic priorities for the business continue to be the delivery of sustainable, progressive earnings and long term capital growth. Issues which might prevent the attainment of these goals are identified and action is taken to reduce or remove the likelihood of such issues having a material adverse impact. The Company's appetite for risk is low where it prejudices the achievement of its strategic priorities.
The process for identifying, assessing and mitigating the principal risks of the business are set out in the Managing Risk section on pages 40 to 47 of the 2017 Annual Report. The Board is satisfied that the systems for identifying, managing and mitigating risk are sound. The Board considers the Group's risk management at each meeting. There have been no significant changes to the risks being faced by the business since publication of the 2017 Annual Report, however the outcome of the General Election on 8 June and the subsequent formation of a minority Government and the uncertainty surrounding Brexit discussions has increased the level of UK political risk.
The principal uncertainties and risks facing the Group are summarised as follows:
Corporate risks
Corporate strategy
The Company's strategy may be inappropriate for the current stage of the property cycle and the economic climate and as a result it may not be able to take advantage of opportunities and effectively manage threats or ensure that it has the right people, resources and systems in place.
Economic and political outlook
Risks from external factors may lead to a downturn in the economy or specific industry sector turbulence resulting in poorer than expected performance.
Human resources
There may be an inability to attract, motivate and retain high calibre skilled staff which could jeopardise the delivery of the Company's strategy.
Systems, processes and financial management
Controls for safeguarding assets and supporting strategy may not be robust.
Regulatory and tax framework
Non-compliance with legal or regulatory obligations including planning, environmental, health and safety and tax could result in increased costs, impact the letting prospects of an asset, damage corporate reputation and investor demand in the Company.
Property risks
Investment risk
The Company may be unable to source investment opportunities at attractive prices and recycle capital into value enhancing and earnings accretive investments.
Development risk
Excessive capital could be allocated to activities which carry development risk. Developments may fail to deliver expected returns due to inconsistent timing with the economic cycle, adverse letting conditions, increased costs, planning or construction delays.
Valuation risk
Property values may not be realised which would impact the Group's NAV and put pressure on loan covenants. This risk is inherent to the property industry.
Transaction and tenant risk
Property purchases may be inconsistent with strategy. Inadequate due diligence may be undertaken. Tenant default and failure to let vacant units could reduce earnings and dividend cover and if material put pressure on loan covenants.
Financing risks
Capital and finance risk
The Company may have insufficient funds and credit available to it to enable it to fund investment opportunities and implement strategy.
Group income statement
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
Note GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
Gross rental income 40,634 36,033 73,905
Property operating expenses (401) (617) (814)
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
Net rental income 3 40,233 35,416 73,091
Property advisory fee income 809 900 1,713
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
Net income 41,042 36,316 74,804
Administrative costs (6,735) (6,735) (13,268)
Amortisation of intangible asset - (147) (182)
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
Total administrative costs (6,735) (6,882) (13,450)
Profit/(loss) on revaluation of
investment properties 8 50,044 (17,896) 22,200
Loss on sale of investment properties (5,796) (1,558) (4,503)
Share of profit/(loss) of joint
ventures 9 5,419 (3,004) 3,560
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
Operating profit 83,974 6,976 82,611
Finance income 178 1,386 1,740
Finance costs 4 (4,541) (21,441) (21,340)
---------
Profit/(loss) before tax 79,611 (13,079) 63,011
Taxation 5 (18) (15) (13)
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
Profit/(loss) for the period and
total comprehensive income 79,593 (13,094) 62,998
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
Earnings per share
Basic and diluted 7 11.5p (2.1)p 10.1p
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
EPRA 7 4.2p 4.0p 8.2p
-------------------------------------- ---- ------------- ------------- ---------
All amounts relate to continuing activities
Group balance sheet
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
Note GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Non current assets
Investment properties 8 1,532,905 1,324,755 1,373,400
Investment in equity accounted
joint ventures 9 113,856 110,418 107,567
Intangible asset - 36 -
Other tangible assets 287 340 310
---------
1,647,048 1,435,549 1,481,277
Current assets
Trade and other receivables 10 55,208 27,532 18,758
Cash and cash equivalents 11 31,554 48,914 42,944
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
86,762 76,446 61,702
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Total assets 1,733,810 1,511,995 1,542,979
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 12 34,012 33,530 46,395
Non current liabilities
Borrowings 13 622,985 584,627 466,319
Derivative financial instruments 13 12,885 32,989 23,350
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
635,870 617,616 489,669
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Total liabilities 669,882 651,146 536,064
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Net assets 1,063,928 860,849 1,006,915
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Equity
Called up share capital 14 69,461 62,804 69,238
Share premium 15 91,946 - 88,548
Capital redemption reserve 15 9,636 9,636 9,636
Other reserve 15 223,462 224,445 221,374
Retained earnings 15 669,423 563,964 618,119
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Equity shareholders' funds 1,063,928 860,849 1,006,915
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Net asset value per share 7 153.8 137.6p 146.4p
EPRA net asset value per share 7 155.7 143.0p 149.8p
--------------------------------- ---- ------------- -------------- ---------
Group statement of changes in equity
Six months ended 30 September 2017 (Unaudited)
Capital
Share Share redemption Other Retained
capital premium reserve reserve earnings Total
Note GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- ---------
At 1 April 2017 69,238 88,548 9,636 221,374 618,119 1,006,915
Profit for the period
and total comprehensive
income - - - - 79,593 79,593
Purchase of shares
held in trust - - - (1,823) - (1,823)
Vesting of shares
held in trust - - - 3,911 (3,635) 276
Share-based awards - - - - 1,072 1,072
Dividends paid 6 223 3,398 - - (25,726) (22,105)
------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- ---------
At 30 September 2017 69,461 91,946 9,636 223,462 669,423 1,063,928
------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- ---------
Year ended 31 March 2017 (Audited)
Capital
Share Share redemption Other Retained
capital premium reserve reserve earnings Total
Note GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- ---------
At 1 April 2016 62,804 - 9,636 222,936 602,821 898,197
Profit for the year
and total comprehensive
income - - - - 62,998 62,998
Equity placing 6,280 86,492 - - - 92,772
Purchase of shares
held in trust - - - (5,195) - (5,195)
Vesting of shares
held in trust - - - 3,633 (3,629) 4
Share-based awards - - - - 1,833 1,833
Dividends paid 6 154 2,056 - - (45,904) (43,694)
At 31 March 2017 69,238 88,548 9,636 221,374 618,119 1,006,915
------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- ---------
Six months ended 30 September 2016 (Unaudited)
Capital
Share Share redemption Other Retained
capital premium reserve reserve earnings Total
Note GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
---------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- --------
At 1 April 2016 62,804 - 9,636 222,936 602,821 898,197
Loss for the period and
total comprehensive income - - - - (13,094) (13,094)
Purchase of shares held
in trust - - - (2,124) - (2,124)
Vesting of shares held
in trust - - - 3,633 (3,590) 43
Share-based awards - - - - 1,231 1,231
Dividends paid 6 - - - - (23,404) (23,404)
---------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- --------
At 30 September 2016 62,804 - 9,636 224,445 563,964 860,849
---------------------------- ---- -------- -------- ----------- -------- --------- --------
Group cash flow statement
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
Six months to Six months to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit/(loss) before tax 79,611 (13,079) 63,011
Adjustments for non-cash items:
(Profit)/loss on revaluation of investment properties (50,044) 17,896 (22,200)
Loss on sale of investment properties 5,796 1,558 4,503
Share of post-tax (profit)/loss of joint ventures (5,419) 3,004 (3,560)
Movement in lease incentives 1,886 417 293
Share-based payment amortisation 1,072 1,231 1,833
Amortisation of intangible asset - 147 182
Net finance costs 4,363 20,055 19,600
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Cash flows from operations before changes in working capital 37,265 31,229 63,662
Change in trade and other receivables (2,497) 1,365 902
Change in trade and other payables (5,848) 1,013 9,686
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Cash flows from operations 28,920 33,607 74,250
Interest received 20 40 64
Interest paid (8,254) (8,783) (17,149)
Tax received /(paid) 266 (3) (34)
Financial arrangement fees and break costs (8,085) (4,476) (6,340)
Cash flows from operating activities 12,867 20,385 50,791
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Investing activities
Purchase of investment properties (209,541) (50,891) (147,348)
Capital expenditure on investment properties (33,699) (14,358) (19,387)
Lease incentives paid (1,631) (1,506) (6,495)
Sale of investment properties 88,306 55,723 165,035
Investments in joint ventures (8,321) (200) (450)
Distributions from joint ventures 7,451 6,444 16,109
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Cash flow from investing activities (157,435) (4,788) 7,464
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Financing activities
Dividends paid (22,105) (23,404) (43,694)
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares - - 92,772
Purchase of shares held in trust (1,823) (2,124) (5,195)
Vesting of shares held in trust 276 43 4
New borrowings 285,000 146,181 226,181
Repayment of loan facilities (128,170) (130,000) (328,000)
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities 133,178 (9,304) (57,932)
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (11,390) 6,293 323
Opening cash and cash equivalents 42,944 42,621 42,621
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Closing cash and cash equivalents 31,554 48,914 42,944
------------------------------------------------------------- -------------- -------------- ---------
Notes to the financial statements
1. Basis of preparation and general information
Basis of preparation
The condensed consolidated financial information included in this Half Year Report has been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and with IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting", as adopted by the European Union. The current period information presented in this document is reviewed but unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.
The financial information for the year to 31 March 2017 does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. A copy of the statutory accounts for that period has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those accounts was not qualified, did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying the report, and did not contain statements under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
The same accounting policies, estimates, presentation and methods of computation are followed in the Half Year Report as those applied in the Group's annual financial statements for the year to 31 March 2017 and which the Group expects to be applicable at 31 March 2018.
Amendments to existing standards including IFRS 2, IFRS 9, IFRS 10, IFRS 11, IFRS 12, IFRS 15, IAS 1, IAS 7, IAS 16, IAS 27, IAS 28, IAS 38, IAS 40 and Annual Improvements to IFRSs: 2012 - 2014, which came into effect during 2017, have not had a significant impact on the accounting policies, method of computation or presentation of the condensed financial statements.
In addition, IFRS 9, IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 were in issue as at the date of approval of these condensed financial statements but were not yet effective for the current accounting period and have not been adopted early. The potential impact on the Group's financial statements of these new standards is set out below:
-- IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective from 1 January 2018) - this standard applies to the classification and measurement of financial assets and liabilities, impairment provisioning and hedge accounting. The Group is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard which may have a limited impact on the measurement and presentation of the Group's financial assets and liabilities;
-- IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective from 1 January 2018) - this standard is applicable to management fees receivable and other property income but excludes rental income, which is within the scope of IFRS 16. The Group is in the process of assessing the impact of this standard; and
-- IFRS 16 Leases (effective 1 January 2019) - the adoption of this standard is not expected to have a significant impact on the current accounting for rental income earned by the Group as lessor. As the Group does not hold any material operating leases as lessee, which are affected by this standard, its impact is not expected to be significant.
These condensed financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 28 November 2017.
Going concern
The Group's business activities, together with the factors affecting its performance, position and future development are set out in the CEO's overview, Investment and Property reviews. The finances of the Group, its liquidity position and borrowing facilities are set out in the Financial review.
The Directors have reviewed the current and projected financial position of the Group, making reasonable assumptions about future trading performance. As part of the review the Directors have considered the Group's cash balances, debt requirements and the maturity profile of its undrawn facilities. On the basis of this review, and after making due enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Half Year Report.
2. Segmental information
Property value
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30 September 30 September 31 March
100% owned Share of JV 2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Distribution 1,064,675 9,375 1,074,050 832,014 927,337
Convenience &
leisure 184,895 - 184,895 140,695 156,270
Long income 90,225 129,295 219,520 153,872 166,625
Retail parks 136,095 136,095 195,400 145,170
Office - - - 72,300 70,000
Residential 1,655 33,468 35,123 48,845 41,111
Development 55,360 - 55,360 39,280 27,315
1,532,905 172,138 1,705,043 1,482,406 1,533,828
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Gross rental income
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
100% owned Share of JV 2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Distribution 27,862 210 28,072 21,704 46,555
Convenience &
leisure 5,270 - 5,270 4,132 8,634
Long income 1,969 3,967 5,936 5,581 11,228
Retail parks 3,495 - 3,495 6,506 11,557
Office 2,007 - 2,007 2,018 3,941
Residential 31 323 354 566 1,021
Development - - - 32 80
40,634 4,500 45,134 40,539 83,016
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Net rental income
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
100% owned Share of JV 2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Distribution 27,913 211 28,124 21,647 46,612
Convenience &
leisure 5,156 - 5,156 4,088 8,500
Long income 1,943 3,931 5,874 5,505 11,070
Retail parks 3,272 - 3,272 6,149 11,211
Office 1,920 - 1,920 1,910 3,678
Residential 31 160 191 370 635
Development (2) - (2) 32 83
40,233 4,302 44,535 39,701 81,789
-------------- ---------- ----------- ------------- ------------- ---------
An operating segment is a distinguishable component of the Group that engages in business activities, earns revenue and incurs expenses, whose results are reviewed by the Group's chief operating decision makers and for which discrete financial information is available. Gross rental income represents the Group's revenues from its tenants and the net rental income is the principal profit measure used to determine the performance of each sector. Total assets are not monitored by segment. However, property assets are reviewed on an on-going basis. The Group operates entirely in the United Kingdom and no geographical split is provided in information reported to the Board.
We have reclassified the operating segments this year to reflect the current portfolio mix and investment strategy. The retail segment has been split into three categories of convenience and leisure, long income and retail parks and the comparatives have been updated accordingly.
3. Net income
Unaudited
Unaudited Six months Audited
Six months to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
---------------------------- -------------- ------------- ---------
Gross rental income 40,634 36,033 73,905
Property operating expenses (401) (617) (814)
---------------------------- -------------- ------------- ---------
40,233 35,416 73,091
---------------------------- -------------- ------------- ---------
For the six months to 30 September 2017 13% of the Group's gross rental income was receivable from one tenant. For the comparative periods to 30 September 2016 and 31 March 2017, 14% of the Group's gross rental income was receivable from one tenant.
4. Finance costs
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Interest payable on bank loans and related
derivatives 7,730 8,245 16,916
Debt and hedging early close out costs 6,367 3,514 3,516
Amortisation of loan issue costs 685 681 1,409
Commitment fees and other finance costs 869 817 1,643
------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Total borrowing costs 15,651 13,257 23,484
Less amounts capitalised on developments (645) (1,235) (1,924)
------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Net borrowing costs 15,006 12,022 21,560
Fair value(profit)/ loss on derivatives (10,465) 9,419 (220)
------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
4,541 21,441 21,340
------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
5. Taxation
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
----------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Current tax charge on profit 18 15 13
----------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
As the Group is a UK-REIT there is no provision for deferred tax arising on the revaluation of properties or other temporary differences.
6. Dividends
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Ordinary dividends paid
2016 Second Interim dividend: 3.75p per
share - 23,404 23,404
2017 First quarterly Interim dividend: 1.8p
per share - - 11,257
2017 Second quarterly Interim dividend:
1.8p per share - - 11,243
2017 Third quarterly Interim dividend: 1.8p
per share 11,269 - -
2017 Fourth quarterly Interim dividend:
2.1p per share 14,457 - -
25,726 23,404 45,904
--------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Quarterly dividend paid and proposed
2018 First quarterly Interim dividend: 1.85p
per share 12,817
2018 Second quarterly Interim dividend:
1.85p per share 12,880
--------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
The Company paid a first quarterly interim dividend in respect of the current financial year of 1.85p per share, wholly as a Property Income Distribution (PID), on 6 October 2017.
The second quarterly interim dividend for 2018 of 1.85p per share was approved by the Board on 28 November 2017 and will be paid on 10 January 2018, wholly as a PID, to ordinary shareholders on the register at the close of business on 8 December 2017.
A scrip dividend alternative was available to shareholders for the first quarterly dividend and is intended for the second quarterly payment. Neither dividend has been included as a liability in these accounts. Both dividends will be recognised as an appropriation of retained earnings in the six months to 31 March 2018.
7. Earnings and net assets per share
Adjusted earnings and net assets per share are calculated in accordance with the Best Practice Recommendations of The European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA). The EPRA earnings measure highlights the underlying recurring performance of the property rental business.
The earnings per share calculation uses the weighted average number of ordinary shares during the period and excludes the average number of shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust for the period.
The net asset per share calculation uses the number of shares in issue at the period end and excludes the actual number of shares held by the Employee Benefit Trust at the period end.
a) EPRA Earnings
EPRA earnings for the Group and its share of joint ventures are detailed as follows:
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
Group JV 2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------- ------- ------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Gross rental income 40,634 4,500 45,134 40,539 83,016
Property costs (401) (198) (599) (838) (1,227)
--------------------- ------- ------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Net income 40,233 4,302 44,535 39,701 81,789
Management fees 809 (368) 441 532 981
Administrative costs (6,735) (65) (6,800) (6,767) (13,353)
Net finance costs(1) (8,461) (914) (9,375) (8,198) (18,398)
Other (18) - (18) (15) (13)
EPRA earnings 25,828 2,955 28,783 25,253 51,006
--------------------- ------- ------- ------------- ------------- ---------
1 Group net finance costs reflect net borrowing costs of GBP15,006,000 (note 4) less early close out costs of GBP6,367,000 (note 4) and finance income of GBP178,000.
The reconciliation of EPRA earnings to IFRS reported profit/ (loss) can be summarised as follows:
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
Group JV 2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
----------------------------------- ------- ------- ------------- ------------- ---------
EPRA earnings 25,828 2,955 28,783 25,253 51,006
Revaluation of investment property 50,044 2,792 52,836 (23,036) 20,973
Fair value of derivatives 10,465 139 10,604 (9,486) 328
Debt/hedging early close out
costs (6,367) (53) (6,420) (3,625) (3,642)
Loss on disposal (5,796) (414) (6,210) (2,053) (5,485)
Amortisation of intangible
assets - - - (147) (182)
IFRS reported profit/(loss) 74,174 5,419 79,593 (13,094) 62,998
----------------------------------- ------- ------- ------------- ------------- ---------
b) Earnings per ordinary share
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
Basic and diluted earnings/(losses) 79,593 (13,094) 62,998
EPRA adjustments(1) (50,810) 38,347 (11,992)
------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
EPRA earnings 28,783 25,253 51,006
------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
(1) Adjustments shown in table reconciling EPRA earnings with IFRS reported profit/ (loss)
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
Number of shares (in thousands) 2017 2016 2017
--------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Weighted average number of ordinary
shares(1) 690,630 624,000 625,457
--------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
(1) Excludes shares held in the LondonMetric
Property Plc Employee Benefit Trust
Basic and diluted earnings per share 11.5p (2.1)p 10.1p
EPRA earnings per share 4.2p 4.0p 8.2p
c) Net assets per share
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
Equity shareholders' funds 1,063,928 860,849 1,006,915
Fair value of derivatives 12,885 32,989 23,350
Fair value of joint ventures' derivatives 90 404 229
EPRA net asset value 1,076,903 894,242 1,030,494
------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
Number of shares (in thousands) 2017 2016 2017
------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
Ordinary share capital 694,613 628,044 692,383
Number of shares held in employee benefit
trust (2,777) (2,628) (4,502)
------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
Number of ordinary shares 691,836 625,416 687,881
------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------- ---------
Basic net asset value per share 153.8p 137.6p 146.4p
EPRA net asset value per share 155.7p 143.0p 149.8p
8. Investment properties
Unaudited Audited
30 September 31 March
Completed Under development 2017 Completed Under development 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------- --------- ----------------- ------------- --------- ----------------- ---------
Opening balance 1,346,085 27,315 1,373,400 1,289,560 56,550 1,346,110
Acquisitions 200,850 10,154 211,004 81,043 60,840 141,883
Capital expenditure 11,058 15,885 26,943 18,055 7,901 25,956
Disposals (128,231) - (128,231) (174,965) (650) (175,615)
Property transfers - - - 103,976 (103,976) -
Revaluation movement 48,165 1,879 50,044 15,615 6,585 22,200
Tenant incentives (382) 127 (255) 12,801 65 12,866
--------------------- --------- ----------------- ------------- --------- ----------------- ---------
1,477,545 55,360 1,532,905 1,346,085 27,315 1,373,400
--------------------- --------- ----------------- ------------- --------- ----------------- ---------
Investment properties are held at fair value as at 30 September 2017 based on external valuations performed by professionally qualified valuers CBRE Limited ("CBRE") and Savills Advisory Services Limited ("Savills").
The valuation of property held for sale at 30 September 2017 was GBP79.6 million (30 September 2016: GBP59.5 million, 31 March 2017: GBP40.9 million).
The valuations have been prepared in accordance with the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards 2014 on the basis of fair value. There has been no change in the valuation technique in the period. The total fees earned by CBRE and Savills from the Company represent less than 5% of their total UK revenues. CBRE and Savills have continuously been the signatory of valuations for the Company since October 2007 and September 2010 respectively.
Long-term leasehold values included within investment properties amount to GBP90.7 million (30 September 2016: GBP93.5 million, 31 March 2017: GBP102.0 million). All other properties are freehold.
Included within the investment property valuation is GBP65.1 million (30 September 2016: GBP53.6 million, 31 March 2017: GBP65.3 million) in respect of lease incentives and rent free periods.
The historical cost of all of the Group's investment properties at 30 September 2017 was GBP1,251.8 million (30 September 2016: GBP1,119.4 million, 31 March 2017: GBP1,135.5 million).
Capital commitments have been entered into amounting to GBP51.3 million (30 September 2016: GBP46.2 million, 31 March 2017: GBP57.8 million) which have not been provided for in the financial statements.
Internal staff costs of the development team of GBP0.9 million (30 September 2016: GBP0.9 million, 31 March 2017: GBP1.8 million) have been capitalised in the period, being directly attributable to the development projects in progress.
Forward funded development costs of GBP2.4 million (30 September 2016: GBP25.2 million, 31 March 2017 GBP52.7 million) have been classified within investment property under development as acquisitions.
9. Investment in joint ventures
At 30 September 2017 the following principal property interests, being jointly-controlled entities, have been equity accounted for in these financial statements:
Country of Incorporation
or Registration Property Sector Group Share
----------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------- -----------
Metric Income Plus Partnership England and Wales Retail 50.0%
LMP Retail Warehouse JV PUT Guernsey Retail 45.0%
LSP London Residential Investments Guernsey Residential 40.0%
----------------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------- -----------
The principal activity of all joint venture interests is property investment in the UK in the sectors noted in the table above, which complements the Group's operations and contributes to the achievement of its strategy.
The Metric Income Plus Partnership ("MIPP"), in which the Company has a 50% interest, increased and extended its debt facility with Deutsche Pfandbriefbank by GBP18.2 million and for a further three years to April 2023. The partnership agreement was also extended by two and a half years to June 2023.
The Group increased its investment in the LMP Retail Warehouse joint venture in September 2017 by 14.5% to 45.0% at a cost of GBP7.9 million. The joint venture, which holds a portfolio of DFS assets, disposed of one property in Swansea for GBP6.0 million (Group share: GBP1.8 million) in the period.
The Group also disposed of 11 residential flats at Moore House for GBP10.7 million (Group share: GBP4.3 million) through its 40% interest in LSP London Residential Investments in the period.
At 30 September 2017, the freehold and leasehold investment properties were externally valued by CBRE and Savills.
The valuation of property held for sale by joint ventures at 30 September 2017 was GBP14.7 million (Group share: GBP6.2 million) (30 September 2016: GBP7.7 million (Group share: GBP3.1 million), 31 March 2017: GBP1.6 million (Group share: GBP0.7 million)). The movement in the carrying value of joint venture interests in the period is summarised as follows:
Unaudited Unaudited
Six months Six months Audited
to to Year to
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Opening balance 107,567 119,666 119,666
Additions at cost 8,321 200 450
Share of profit/(loss) in the period 5,419 (3,004) 3,560
Disposals (2,907) (3,583) (5,384)
Profit distributions received (4,544) (2,861) (10,725)
------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Closing balance 113,856 110,418 107,567 ------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
All Group interests are equity accounted for in these financial statements. The Group's share of the profit after tax and net assets of its associates and joint ventures is as follows:
LMP LSP
Metric Retail London Unaudited Unaudited
Income Plus Warehouse Residential 30 September 30 September
Partnership JV PUT Investments 2017 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Summarised income statement 100% 100% 100% 100% Group share
Gross rental income 5,604 4,426 809 10,839 4,500
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Property costs (66) (5) (410) (481) (198)
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Net rental income 5,538 4,421 399 10,358 4,302
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Administrative costs (75) (33) (40) (148) (65)
Management fees (425) (172) (255) (852) (368)
Revaluation 7,757 1,099 (3,952) 4,904 2,792
Finance income - - 2 2 1
Finance cost (1,285) (1,017) (11) (2,313) (968)
Movement in derivatives 282 (4) - 278 139
Loss on disposal (15) (385) (622) (1,022) (414)
Profit/(loss) after tax 11,777 3,909 (4,479) 11,207 5,419
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
EPRA adjustments
Revaluation (7,757) (1,099) 3,952 (4,904) (2,792)
Movement in derivatives (282) 4 - (278) (139)
Loss on disposal 15 385 622 1,022 414
Debt and hedging early close out costs - 144 11 155 53
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
EPRA earnings 3,753 3,343 106 7,202 2,955
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Group share of EPRA earnings 1,877 1,036 42 2,955
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Summarised balance sheet
Investment properties 182,235 105,625 83,670 371,530 172,138
Other current assets 354 1 182 537 248
Cash 4,787 1,554 2,778 9,119 4,204
Current liabilities (3,147) (1,169) (433) (4,749) (2,274)
Bank debt (75,900) (50,944) - (126,844) (60,885)
Unamortised finance costs 594 484 - 1,078 515
Derivative financial instruments (181) 2 - (179) (90)
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Net assets 108,742 55,553 86,197 250,492 113,856
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Group share of net assets 54,371 25,006 34,479 113,856
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
LMP LSP
Metric Retail London Unaudited Unaudited
Income Plus Warehouse Residential 30 September 30 September
Partnership JV PUT Investments 2016 2016
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Summarised income statement 100% 100% 100% 100% Group share
Gross rental income 4,936 4,950 1,320 11,206 4,506
Property costs (61) (13) (465) (539) (221)
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Net rental income 4,875 4,937 855 10,667 4,285
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Administrative costs (17) (24) (42) (83) (32)
Management fees (385) (192) (292) (869) (368)
Revaluation (2,198) (3,305) (7,582) (13,085) (5,140)
Finance income 24 2 1 27 13
Finance cost (1,487) (1,157) (262) (2,906) (1,200)
Movement in derivatives (97) (85) 19 (163) (67)
Loss on disposal (115) - (1,094) (1,209) (495)
Profit/(loss) after tax 600 176 (8,397) (7,621) (3,004)
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
EPRA adjustments
Revaluation 2,198 3,305 7,582 13,085 5,140
Movement in derivatives 97 85 (19) 163 67
Loss on disposal 115 - 1,094 1,209 495
Debt and hedging early close out costs 203 - 25 228 111
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
EPRA earnings 3,213 3,566 285 7,064 2,809
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Group share of EPRA earnings 1,607 1,088 114 2,809
LMP LSP
Metric Retail London Audited Audited
Income Plus Warehouse Residential 31 March 31 March
Partnership JV PUT Investments 2017 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Summarised balance sheet 100% 100% 100% 100% Group share
Investment properties 174,370 110,775 98,641 383,786 160,428
Other current assets 268 - 289 557 240
Cash 4,029 779 2,371 7,179 3,200
Current liabilities (3,089) (1,021) (526) (4,636) (2,068)
Bank debt (75,900) (54,470) - (130,370) (54,563)
Unamortised finance costs 716 658 - 1,374 559
Derivative financial instruments (462) 6 - (456) (229)
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Net assets 99,932 56,727 100,775 257,434 107,567
--------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
Group share of net assets 49,967 17,290 40,310 107,567 --------------------------------------- ------------ ---------- ------------ ------------- -------------
10. Trade and other receivables
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Trade receivables 2,102 246 280
Amounts receivable from property sales 48,861 24,199 14,931
Prepayments and accrued income 4,021 3,023 3,455
Other receivables 224 64 92
--------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
55,208 27,532 18,758
--------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
All amounts fall due for payment in less than one year. Trade receivables comprise rental income which is due on contractual payment dates with no credit period.
At 30 September 2017 there were trade receivables of GBP8,300 which were overdue and considered at risk (30 September 2016: GBP16,000, 31 March 2017: GBPnil). A full provision has been made against these receivables.
11. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include GBP4.7 million (30 September 2016: GBP6.2 million, 31 March 2017: GBP5.3 million) retained in rent and restricted accounts which are not readily available to the Group for day to day commercial purposes.
12. Trade and other payables
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
----------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Trade payables 6,472 3,763 9,118
Amounts payable on property acquisitions
and disposals 3,096 6,677 1,832
Rent received in advance 13,857 14,285 13,724
Accrued interest 1,140 1,359 1,664
Other payables 1,939 1,976 3,102
Other accruals 7,508 5,470 16,955
----------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
34,012 33,530 46,395
----------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
The Group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure that all payables are settled within the required credit period.
13. Borrowings
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
-------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Secured Bank loans 130,000 196,170 196,170
Unsecured Bank loans 500,000 395,000 277,000
Unamortised finance costs (7,015) (6,543) (6,851)
-------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
622,985 584,627 466,319
-------------------------- ------------- ------------- ---------
Certain bank loans at 30 September 2017 are secured by fixed charges over Group investment properties with a carrying value of GBP310.3 million.
The following table shows the contractual maturity profile of the Group's bank loans on an undiscounted cashflow basis and assuming settlement on the earliest repayment date.
Less than One to Two to More than
one year two years five years five years Total
As at 30 September 2017 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -------
Bank loans 14,171 14,171 406,678 273,053 708,073
Derivative financial instruments 3,631 5,881 14,445 - 23,957
--------------------------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -------
17,802 20,052 421,123 273,053 732,030
--------------------------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -------
Less than One to Two to More than
one year two years five years five years Total
As at 31 March 2017 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -------
Bank loans 12,245 12,245 265,620 251,672 541,782
Derivative financial instruments 5,712 6,500 21,529 16 33,757
--------------------------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -------
17,957 18,745 287,149 251,688 575,539
--------------------------------- --------- ---------- ----------- ----------- -------
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk from the use of debt financing at a variable rate. It is Group policy that a reasonable portion of external borrowings are at a fixed interest rate in order to manage this risk.
The Group uses interest rate swaps and caps to manage its interest rate exposure and hedge future interest rate risk for the term of the bank loan.
Details of the fair value of the Group's derivative financial instruments that were in place at 30 September 2017 are provided below:
Average rate Notional amount Fair value
----------------------------- ----------------------------- -----------------------------
Audited Audited Audited
Unaudited 31 March Unaudited 31 March Unaudited 31 March
30 September 2017 2017 30 September 2017 2017 30 September 2017 2017
Interest rate caps - expiry % % GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
---------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
Less than one year 2.0 2.0 116,313 16,313 - -
One to two years 3.0 2.0 10,000 100,000 - 1
Two to five years 2.0 2.3 19,620 29,620 95 121
More than five years - - - - - -
---------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
2.1 2.1 145,933 145,933 95 122
---------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
Average rate Notional amount Fair value
----------------------------- ----------------------------- -----------------------------
Audited Audited Audited
Unaudited 31 March Unaudited 31 March Unaudited 31 March
30 September 2017 2017 30 September 2017 2017 30 September 2017 2017
Interest rate swaps - expiry % % GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
----------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
Less than one year 0.6 - 50,000 - (35) -
One to two years 2.0 0.6 10,000 50,000 (214) (134)
Two to five years 2.1 2.0 425,000 166,960 (12,731) (6,187)
More than five years - 2.1 - 425,000 - (17,151)
----------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
1.9 1.9 485,000 641,960 (12,980) (23,472)
----------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- Total fair value (12,885) (23,350) ----------------------------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ --------- ------------------ ---------
All derivative financial instruments are non-current interest rate derivatives and are carried at fair value following a valuation as at 30 September 2017 by J C Rathbone Associates Limited.
The market values of hedging products change with interest rate fluctuations, but the exposure of the Group to movements in interest rates is protected by way of the hedging products listed above. In accordance with accounting standards, fair value is estimated by calculating the present value of future cash flows, using appropriate market discount rates. For all derivative financial instruments this equates to a Level 2 fair value measurement as defined by IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. The valuation therefore does not reflect the cost or gain to the Group of cancelling its interest rate protection at the balance sheet date, which is generally a marginally higher cost (or smaller gain) than a market valuation.
The Group has complied throughout the year comfortably with the financial covenants contained in its debt funding arrangements.
14. Share capital
Unaudited Unaudited Audited Audited
30 September 30 September 31 March 31 March
2017 2017 2017 2017
Number GBP000 Number GBP000
---------------------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- ---------
Issued, called up and fully
paid
Ordinary shares of 10p each 694,612,714 69,461 692,382,431 69,238
---------------------------- ------------- ------------- ----------- ---------
In June 2017, the Company granted options over 2,771,554 ordinary shares under its Long Term Incentive Plan and Deferred Bonus Plan. In addition, 2,212,076 ordinary shares in the Company that were granted to certain Directors and employees under the Company's Long Term Incentive Plan in 2014 vested along with 606,160 ordinary shares in the Director's Deferred Bonus Plan.
The Company issued 2,230,283 ordinary shares in the period under the terms of its Scrip Dividend Scheme.
15. Reserves
The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve within equity:
Share capital The nominal value of shares issued.
------------------ --------------------------------------------------------
Share premium The premium paid for new ordinary shares issued
above the nominal value.
------------------ --------------------------------------------------------
Capital redemption Amounts transferred from share capital on redemption
reserve of issued ordinary shares.
------------------ --------------------------------------------------------
Other reserve A reserve relating to the application of merger
relief in the acquisition of LondonMetric Management
Limited and Metric Property Investments Plc by
the Company, the cost of the Company's shares
held in treasury and the cost of shares held in
trust to provide for the Company's future obligations
under share award schemes.
------------------ --------------------------------------------------------
The cumulative profits and losses after the payment
Retained earnings of dividends.
------------------ --------------------------------------------------------
16. Related party transactions and balances
Management fees and dividends receivable from the Group's joint venture arrangements in which it has an equity interest were as follows:
Management fees Dividends
-------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Unaudited Unaudited
Unaudited Unaudited Six months to Six months to
Six months to Six months to 30 September 30 September
30 September 2017 30 September 2016 2017 2016
Group interest GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
LSP Green Park Distribution
Holdings 50.0% - - - 10
LSP London Residential
Investments 40.0% 212 243 1,800 -
Metric Income Plus
Partnership 50.0% 425 465 1,863 1,768
LMP Retail Warehouse JV PUT 45.0% 172 192 881 1,083
---------------------------- -------------- ------------------ ------------------ -------------- --------------
809 900 4,544 2,861
---------------------------- -------------- ------------------ ------------------ -------------- --------------
Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries which are related parties have been eliminated on consolidation.
17. Post balance sheet events
On 5 October 2017 the Group's Metric Income Plus partnership conditionally exchanged to forward fund an 84 bed Premier Inn hotel in Ringwood for GBP8.5 million (Group share GBP4.3 million).
On 6 October 2017 the Group conditionally exchanged to acquire a retail development site in Derby that has been pre-let to M&S, Starbucks and Nandos.
On 13 October 2017 the Group exchanged to sell a 274,000 sq ft distribution unit in Bolton let to Tesco for GBP24.4 million.
On 18 October 2017 the Group's Retail Warehouse joint venture exchanged to sell a DFS unit in Swindon for GBP7.9 million (Group share: GBP3.5 million).
On 6 November 2017 the Group completed the acquisition of a 40 acre development site in Bedford from the local authority with planning consent for up to 670,000 sq ft of logistics space.
On 10 November 2017 the Group exchanged to sell the Odeon cinema in Derby for GBP12.6 million.
On 21 November 2017 the Group exchanged to sell Cleveland Gate Retail Park, Guisborough for GBP6.0 million.
On 22 November the Group acquired a development site in Weymouth for GBP3.3 million.
On 27 November the Group acquired a 364,000 sq ft distribution warehouse in Ollerton for GBP37.4 million let to Clipper Logistics.
Directors' responsibility statement
The Directors are responsible for preparing the condensed set of financial statements, in accordance with applicable law and regulations. The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:
-- This condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting", as adopted by the European Union; and
-- This condensed set of financial statements includes a fair review of the information required by Sections DTR 4.2.7R and DTR 4.2.8R of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.
By order of the Board
Andrew Jones
Chief Executive
Martin McGann
Finance Director
28 November 2017
Independent review report to LondonMetric Property Plc
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 30 September 2017 which comprises the Group income statement, the Group balance sheet, the Group statement of changes in equity, the Group cash flow statement and related notes 1 to 17. 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 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. Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company those matters we are required to state to it in an independent review 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 formed.
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 Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.
As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting," as adopted by the European Union.
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 United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making inquiries, 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 30 September 2016 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 as adopted by the European Union and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.
DELOITTE LLP
Statutory Auditor
28 November 2017
London, United Kingdom
Supplementary information
i EPRA Summary table
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
EPRA earnings per share 4.2p 4.0p 8.2p
EPRA net asset value per share 155.7p 143.0p 149.8p
EPRA triple net asset value per share 153.8p 137.6p 146.4p
EPRA vacancy rate 0.6% 1.5% 0.4%
EPRA cost ratio (including vacant property
costs) 15% 17% 16%
EPRA cost ratio (excluding vacant property
costs) 15% 16% 15%
EPRA net initial yield 4.4% 4.8% 4.5%
EPRA "topped up" net initial yield 5.2% 5.4% 5.4%
------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
The definition of these measures can be found in the Glossary.
ii EPRA proportionally consolidated income statement
For the six months to Group JV 2017 Group JV 2016 30 September GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 -------------------- ------- ------- --------- ------- ------- -------- Gross rental income 40,634 4,500 45,134 36,033 4,506 40,539 Property costs (401) (198) (599) (617) (221) (838) -------------------- ------- ------- --------- ------- ------- -------- Net income 40,233 4,302 44,535 35,416 4,285 39,701 Management fees 809 (368) 441 900 (368) 532 Administrative costs (6,735) (65) (6,800) (6,735) (32) (6,767) Net finance costs (8,461) (914) (9,375) (7,122) (1,076) (8,198) Other (18) - (18) (15) - (15) ==================== ======= ======= ========= ======= ======= ======== EPRA earnings 25,828 2,955 28,783 22,444 2,809 25,253 ==================== ======= ======= ========= ======= ======= ========
iii EPRA proportionally consolidated balance sheet
30 September 31 March
Group JV 2017 Group JV 2017
As at GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
-------------------- --------- -------- -------------- --------- -------- ---------
Investment property 1,532,905 172,138 1,705,043 1,373,400 160,428 1,533,828
Gross debt (630,000) (60,885) (690,885) (473,170) (54,563) (527,733)
Cash 31,554 4,204 35,758 42,944 3,200 46,144
Other 28,498 (1,511) 26,987 (20,476) (1,269) (21,745)
-------------------- --------- -------- -------------- --------- -------- ---------
EPRA net assets 962,957 113,946 1,076,903 922,698 107,796 1,030,494
-------------------- --------- -------- -------------- --------- -------- ---------
Loan to value 34% 33% 34% 30% 32% 30%
Cost of debt 3.0% 3.3% 3.0% 3.6% 3.4% 3.5%
Undrawn facilities 73,750 12,050 85,800 296,750 2,938 299,688
-------------------- --------- -------- -------------- --------- -------- ---------
iv EPRA cost ratio
2017 2016
For the six months to 30 September GBP000 GBP000
---------------------------------------------------------- ------- -------
Property operating expenses 401 617
Administration expenses 6,735 6,735
Share of joint venture property operating, administration
expenses and management fees 632 621
Less:
Joint venture property management fee income (809) (900)
Ground rents (68) (64)
---------------------------------------------------------- ------- -------
Total costs including vacant property costs (A) 6,891 7,009
Group vacant property costs (226) (395)
Share of joint venture vacant property costs (116) (114)
---------------------------------------------------------- ------- -------
Total costs excluding vacant property costs (B) 6,549 6,500
Gross rental income 40,634 36,033
Share of joint venture gross rental income 4,500 4,506
---------------------------------------------------------- ------- -------
45,134 40,539
Less: Ground rents (68) (64)
---------------------------------------------------------- ------- -------
Total gross rental income (C) 45,066 40,475
Total EPRA cost ratio (including vacant property
costs) (A)/(C) 15% 17%
Total EPRA cost ratio (excluding vacant property
costs) (B)/(C) 15% 16%
---------------------------------------------------------- ------- -------
v EPRA net initial yield and "topped up" net initial yield
30 September 31 March
2017 2017
As at GBP000 GBP000
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
Investment property - wholly-owned 1,532,905 1,373,400
Investment property - share of joint ventures 172,138 160,428
Less development properties (55,360) (27,315)
Less residential properties (35,123) (41,111)
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
Completed property portfolio 1,614,560 1,465,402
Allowance for:
Estimated purchasers' costs 109,790 99,647
Estimated costs to complete 27,390 39,309
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
EPRA property portfolio valuation (A) 1,751,740 1,604,358
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
Annualised passing rental income 70,773 65,169
Share of joint ventures 9,854 8,814
Less development properties (2,928) (1,243)
Less residential properties (489) (526)
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
Annualised net rents (B) 77,210 72,214
Contractual rental increased for rent free periods 10,499 10,558
Contractual rental increases for fixed uplifts 3,057 3,151
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
"Topped up" net annualised rent (C) 90,766 85,923
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
EPRA net initial yield (B/A) 4.4% 4.5%
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
EPRA "topped up" net initial yield (C/A) 5.2% 5.4%
--------------------------------------------------- ------------ ---------
vi EPRA vacancy rate
30 September 31 March
2017 2017
As at GBP000 GBP000
----------------------------------------------------- ------------ --------
Annualised estimated rental value of vacant premises 588 384
Portfolio estimated rental value(1) 91,268 86,228
----------------------------------------------------- ------------ --------
EPRA vacancy rate 0.6% 0.4%
----------------------------------------------------- ------------ --------
(1) Excludes residential and development properties
vii EPRA capital expenditure analysis
30 September 31 March
Group JV 2017 Group JV 2017
As at GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
======================= ========= ======= ============ ========= ======== =========
Opening valuation 1,373,400 160,428 1,533,828 1,346,110 174,741 1,520,851
Acquisitions 200,850 15,180 216,030 81,043 9,146 90,189
Developments(1) 26,039 - 26,039 68,741 - 68,741
Capital expenditure(2) 11,058 51 11,109 18,055 561 18,616
Disposals (128,231) (6,360) (134,591) (175,615) (22,631) (198,246)
Revaluation 50,044 2,792 52,836 22,200 (1,227) 20,973
Lease incentives (255) 47 (208) 12,866 (162) 12,704
======================= ========= ======= ============ ========= ======== =========
Closing valuation 1,532,905 172,138 1,705,043 1,373,400 160,428 1,533,828
======================= ========= ======= ============ ========= ======== =========
(1) Includes capitalised interest of GBP0.6 million (March 2017: GBP1.9 million) and capitalised staff costs of GBP0.9 million (March 2017: GBP1.8 million)
(2) Capital expenditure on completed properties
viii Total accounting return
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
As at GBP000 GBP000 GBP000
------------------------ ------------ ------------ ---------
EPRA net asset value
- at end of year 1,076,903 894,242 1,030,494
- at start of year 1,030,494 922,105 922,105
------------------------ ------------ ------------ ---------
Increase/(decrease) 46,409 (27,863) 108,389
Dividend paid 22,105 23,404 43,694
Equity placing - - (92,772)
------------------------ ------------ ------------ ---------
Net increase/(decrease) 68,514 (4,459) 59,311
------------------------ ------------ ------------ ---------
Total accounting return 6.6% (0.5)% 6.4%
------------------------ ------------ ------------ ---------
ix Portfolio split and valuation
31 March
30 September
2017 2017
As at GBPm % GBPm %
------------------------------ ------- ------------ ------- --------
Mega distribution 495.1 29.0 477.8 31.1
Regional distribution 318.1 18.7 303.4 19.8
Urban logistics 260.9 15.3 146.2 9.5
------------------------------ ------- ------------ ------- --------
Distribution 1,074.1 63.0 927.4 60.4
------------------------------ ------- ------------ ------- --------
Convenience & leisure 184.9 10.8 156.2 10.2
Long income 219.5 12.9 166.6 10.8
Retail parks 136.1 8.0 145.2 9.5
Office - - 70.0 4.6
============================== ======= ============ ======= ========
Investment Portfolio 1,614.6 94.7 1,465.4 95.5
============================== ======= ============ ======= ========
Development - distribution(1) 49.0 2.9 22.8 1.5
Development - retail 6.3 0.3 4.5 0.3
Residential 35.1 2.1 41.1 2.7
============================== ======= ============ ======= ========
Total portfolio 1,705.0 100.0 1,533.8 100.0
============================== ======= ============ ======= ========
(1) Represents regional distribution of GBP17.4 million and urban logistics of GBP31.6 million at 30 September 2017
x Investment portfolio yields
30 September 31 March
EPRA 2017 EPRA 2017
topped up Equivalent topped up Equivalent
EPRA NIY NIY yield EPRA NIY NIY yield
As at % % % % % %
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------------
Distribution 4.1 4.9 5.4 4.1 5.0 5.5
Convenience &
leisure 5.2 5.2 5.8 5.1 5.2 6.0
Long income 5.9 6.2 5.7 6.2 6.5 6.0
Retail parks 3.6 5.6 5.6 3.8 5.7 5.9
Office - - - 5.8 6.5 7.4
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------------
Investment portfolio 4.4 5.2 5.5 4.5 5.4 5.8
--------------------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------- ---------------
xi Investment portfolio - Key statistics
WAULT Average
WAULT to first rent
Area to expiry break Occupancy GBP per
As at 30 September 2017 '000 sq ft years years % sq ft
========================= =========== ========== ========= =========== =========
Distribution 10,366 11.9 11.0 99.0 5.60
Convenience & leisure 658 17.4 17.2 100.0 15.80
Long income 1,276 11.4 10.1 100.0 19.50
Retail parks 437 11.5 10.0 99.6 19.20
Investment portfolio 12,737 12.4 11.5 99.4 7.50
------------------------- ----------- ---------- --------- ----------- ---------
Distribution development 574
Retail development 31
------------------------- -----------
Commercial portfolio 13,342
------------------------- -----------
xii Total property returns
All All All
property property property
------------ ------------ ---------
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
% % %
--------------- --- ------------ ------------ ---------
Capital return 3.3 (1.3) 1.7
Income return 2.8 2.8 5.6
-------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------
Total return 6.1 1.5 7.4
-------------------- ------------ ------------ ---------
xiii Contracted rental income
30 September 30 September 31 March
2017 2016 2017
As at GBPm GBPm GBPm
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
Distribution 57.1 46.6 50.9
Convenience & leisure 10.4 8.8 8.8
Long income 14.5 10.8 11.5
Retail parks 8.4 12.3 9.4
Office - 4.4 4.9
=========================== ============ ============ ========
Investment portfolio 90.4 82.9 85.5
=========================== ============ ============ ========
Development - distribution 2.4 0.1 0.8
Development - retail 0.5 0.4 0.5
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
Commercial portfolio 93.3 83.4 86.8
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
Residential 0.5 0.7 0.5
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
Total portfolio 93.8 84.1 87.3
--------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------
xiv Rent subject to expiry
Within Within Within Within Over
5 years 10 years 15 years 20 years 20 years
As at 30 September 2017 % % % % %
------------------------ -------- ---------------- --------- --------- ---------------
Distribution 11.4 45.1 66.4 83.9 100.0
Convenience & leisure 3.4 20.1 32.2 47.6 100.0
Long income 10.9 31.0 90.0 97.2 100.0
Retail parks 5.2 44.5 89.3 100.0 -
Commercial portfolio 9.9 40.0 68.4 83.5 100.0
------------------------ -------- ---------------- --------- --------- ---------------
xv Contracted rent subject to RPI or fixed uplifts for commercial portfolio
30 September 31 March
2017 2017
GBPm % GBPm %
---------------------- ---- ------------ ---- --------
Distribution 30.0 50.4 29.9 57.8
Convenience & leisure 9.3 89.4 7.7 87.5
Long income 4.5 31.0 3.4 29.6
Retail parks 1.4 15.7 1.4 14.1
Office - - 3.0 60.9
====================== ==== ============ ==== ========
Commercial portfolio 45.2 48.4 45.4 52.4
---------------------- ---- ------------ ---- --------
xvi Top ten assets (by value)
WAULT
Area Contracted WAULT to first
'000 sq Rent Occupancy to expiry break
As at 30 September 2017 ft GBPm % years years
-------------------------------- -------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------
Primark, Islip 1,062 5.5 100.0 23.0 23.0
Primark, Thrapston 783 4.1 100.0 15.0 15.0
Dixons Carphone, Newark 726 4.4 100.0 15.8 15.8
Eddie Stobart, Dagenham 436 4.1 100.0 26.0 26.0
Argos, Bedford 658 3.8 100.0 5.2 5.2
Poundworld, Wakefield 527 2.6 100.0 14.0 14.0
M&S, Sheffield 626 2.6 100.0 6.2 3.8
Amazon, Omega South, Warrington 357 2.1 100.0 14.2 14.2
Kirkstall Bridge, Leeds 120 2.5 98.6 10.9 8.4
Dixons Carphone, New Malden 51 1.9 100.0 14.2 9.6
-------------------------------- -------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ---------
xvii Top ten occupiers
Contracted Contracted
rental income Market capitalisation rental income
As at 30 September 2017 GBPm GBPbn %
------------------------ -------------- --------------------- --------------
Primark(1) 9.6 26.0 10.3
Dixons Carphone 8.1 2.2 8.7
M&S 6.9 5.3 7.4
DHL(1) 4.1 50.2 4.4
Argos(1) 4.1 5.2 4.4
Eddie Stobart 4.1 0.6 4.4
DFS 4.0 1.0 4.3
Odeon 3.6 1.8 3.8
Tesco 2.8 14.6 3.0
Poundworld 2.7 n/a 2.9
------------------------ -------------- --------------------- --------------
Top ten 50.0 53.6
------------------------ -------------- --------------------- --------------
Other commercial income 43.3 46.4
------------------------ -------------- --------------------- --------------
Total commercial 93.3 100.0
------------------------ -------------- --------------------- --------------
Residential 0.5
------------------------ -------------- --------------------- --------------
Total Group 93.8
------------------------ -------------- --------------------- --------------
(1) Market capitalisation of Parent Company
Glossary
Capital Return Equivalent Yield Logistics The valuation movement The weighted average The organisation and on the property portfolio income return expressed implementation of operations adjusted for capital as a percentage of the to manage the flow of expenditure and expressed market value of the property, physical items from origin as a percentage of the after inclusion of estimated to the point of consumption capital employed over purchaser's costs Net Rental Income the period Estimated Rental Value Gross rental income receivable Commercial portfolio (ERV) after deduction for ground The Group's property The external valuers' rents and other net property portfolio excluding residential opinion of the open market outgoings including void properties rent which, on the date costs and net service Contracted Rent of valuation, could reasonably charge expenses The annualised rent excluding be expected to be obtained Occupancy Rate rent free periods on a new letting or rent The ERV of the let units Cost of debt review of a property as a percentage of the Weighted average interest European Public Real total ERV of the investment rate payable Estate Association (EPRA) portfolio Debt maturity The European Public Real Passing Rent Weighted average period Estate Association (EPRA) The gross rent payable to expiry of drawn debt is the industry body by tenants under operating Distribution for European Real Estate leases, less any ground The activity of delivering Investment Trusts(REITs) rent payable under head a product for consumption Gross rental income leases by the end user Rental income for the Property Income Distribution EPRA Cost Ratio period from let properties (PID) Administrative and operating reported under IFRS, Dividends from profits costs (including and after taking into account of the Group's tax-exempt excluding costs of direct the net effects of straight property business under vacancy) as a percentage lining for lease incentives, the REIT regulations. of gross rental income including rent free periods. The PID dividend is paid EPRA Earnings per Share Gross rental income will after deducting withholding (EPS) include, where relevant, tax at the basic rate Recurring earnings from turnover based rent, Real Estate Investment core operational activities surrender premiums and Trust (REIT) divided by the average car parking income A listed property company number of shares in issue Group which qualifies for and over the period LondonMetric Property has elected into a tax EPRA NAV per Share Plc and its subsidiaries regime which is exempt Balance sheet net assets IFRS from corporation tax excluding fair value The International Financial on profits from property of derivatives, divided Reporting Standards issued rental income and UK by the number of shares by the International capital gains on the in issue at the balance Accounting Standards sale of investment properties sheet date Board and adopted by Total Accounting Return EPRA NNNAV per Share the European Union (TAR) EPRA NAV per share adjusted Income Return The movement in EPRA to include the fair value Net rental income expressed NAV plus the dividend of financial instruments, as a percentage of capital paid during the period
debt and deferred taxes employed over the period expressed as a percentage
at the balance sheet Investment Portfolio of the EPRA NAV at the
date The Group's property beginning of the period
EPRA net initial yield portfolio excluding development, Total Property Return
Annualised rental income land holdings and residential (TPR)
based on cash rents passing properties Unlevered weighted capital
at the balance sheet Investment Property Databank and income return of
date, less non recoverable (IPD) the property portfolio
property operating expenses, Investment Property Databank as calculated by IPD
expressed as a percentage (IPD) is a wholly owned Total Shareholder Return
of the market value of subsidiary of MSCI producing (TSR)
the property, after inclusion an independent benchmark The movement in the ordinary
of estimated purchaser's of property returns and share price as quoted
costs the Group's portfolio on the London Stock Exchange
EPRA topped up net initial returns plus dividends per share
yield Like for Like Income assuming that dividends
EPRA net initial yield Growth are reinvested at the
adjusted for expiration The movement in contracted time of being paid
of rent free periods rental income on properties Weighted Average Interest
or other lease incentives owned through the period Rate
such as discounted rent under review, excluding The total loan interest
periods and stepped rents properties held for development and derivative costs
EPRA Vacancy and residential per annum (including
The Estimated Rental Loan to Value (LTV) the amortisation of finance
Value (ERV) of immediately Net debt expressed as costs) divided by the
available vacant space a percentage of the total total debt in issue at
as a percentage of the property portfolio value the period end
total ERV of the Investment at the period end Weighted Average Unexpired
Portfolio Lease Term (WAULT)
Average unexpired lease
term across the investment
portfolio weighted by
Contracted Rent
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
IR PGGGUGUPMPUR
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
November 29, 2017 02:01 ET (07:01 GMT)
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