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| Share Name | Share Symbol | Market | Type | Share ISIN | Share Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U And I Group Plc | LSE:UAI | London | Ordinary Share | GB0002668464 | ORD 50P |
| Price Change | % Change | Share Price | Bid Price | Offer Price | High Price | Low Price | Open Price | Shares Traded | Last Trade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.00 | 0.00% | 148.50 | 148.50 | 149.00 | 0.00 | 01:00:00 |
| Industry Sector | Turnover | Profit | EPS - Basic | PE Ratio | Market Cap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | N/A | 0 |
From Apr 2019 to Apr 2024
TIDMUAI
RNS Number : 7632Z
U and I Group PLC
22 May 2019
U and I Group PLC
("U+I" or "the Company" or "the Group")
Results for the 13-months ended 31 March 2019
Strengthened short and long-term pipeline, giving good future visibility
Development and trading gains of GBP42.8 million; ongoing investment portfolio transition
-- GBP42.8 million of development and trading gains delivered (2018: GBP68.3 million) during prolonged political and economic uncertainty in the financial period
-- Further progress with investment portfolio strategy, with increasing focus on regeneration assets from our development portfolio to align with wider business strategy. Secured GBP27.4 million of acquisitions and GBP7.5 million of disposals; investment portfolio total return of -1% (2018: 10.1%), reflecting a significant decline in values in the retail sector
Grew pipeline from >GBP7 billion to >GBP11 billion across core geographies
-- Won major new PPP scheme at Cambridge Northern Fringe East in London City Region*, strengthening our credentials in the Cambridge/Oxford corridor
-- Secured three new trading opportunities across London City Region and Dublin; targeting gains in FY2020 and in later years
-- Ongoing progress on two potential partnership projects with a Gross Development Value of c.GBP2.0 billion, with outcome expected in H1 2020
Board and operational changes to support delivery of financial performance
-- GBP2.5 million reduction in annualised net recurring overheads in FY2019
-- Appointment of Professor Sadie Morgan as independent Non-executive Director to drive accountability for delivering on our PPP commitments and to oversee the establishment of a new workforce advisory panel
-- Richard Upton's title changes from Deputy CEO to Chief Development Officer to more accurately reflect his role in the origination and delivery of major PPP projects
Fifth successive supplemental dividend; positive outlook for sustainable shareholder returns
-- Total dividends of 10.0 pence per share (2018: 17.9 pence per share)
-- Includes interim dividend of 2.4 pence per share (2018: 2.4 pence per share), a final dividend of 3.5 pence per share (2018: 3.5 pence per share) and a supplemental dividend of 4.1 pence per share (2018: 12.0 pence per share)
-- FY2020 development and trading target prudently revised to GBP35-45 million from GBP45-55 million, in light of economic and political uncertainty delaying project timing. FY2021 target increased from GBP35-45 million to GBP45-55 million. Investment portfolio target total return retained at 10% per annum
-- Longer-term target of GBP50 million of development and trading gains per annum remains
* Within one hour's commute from London
Matthew Weiner, Chief Executive, said:
"We delivered a resilient performance in the financial period, most notably GBP42.8 million of development and trading gains, against our GBP45-50 million target. We have strengthened our short and long-term pipeline, giving us good future visibility and a positive outlook for shareholder returns. We have a clear and focused strategy and the fundamentals that underpin it remain relevant, as we are aligned with political and social trends, where demand for homes, offices, and mixed-use spaces is growing and is a major priority for Government and local authorities.
Whilst the last thirteen months have seen economic and political uncertainty in the UK, which has affected decision-making and timing on some of our projects, these uncertainties have also opened up new opportunities to expand our portfolio. Being selected for Cambridge Northern Fringe East further strengthens our PPP pipeline and reinforces our significant credentials in partnership regeneration in the London City Region. Along with our other core geographies of Dublin and Manchester, this market shares the characteristics we believe foster long-term growth and prosperity; talent, tourism, transport and tolerance. We have also strengthened our short-term pipeline with three new trading opportunities. We continue to make progress with our investment portfolio, with three acquisitions in the period and a further disposal of a non-core asset. Combined these will help to support improved medium-term performance.
A major focus over the coming year is on delivering our existing development and trading projects, as well as driving through the investment portfolio strategy. We believe that we have the right approach, pipeline and team to deliver sustainable returns for our shareholders and we are focused on doing just that."
Financial summary:
Hot Features
Premium
31 Mar 2019 28 Feb 2018
Development and trading
gains GBP42.8m GBP68.3m
----------- -----------
Profit before tax GBP6.3m GBP48.2m
----------- -----------
Basic net asset value (NAV) GBP360.1m GBP379.3m
----------- -----------
Basic NAV per share 289p 303p
----------- -----------
Basic earnings per share 4.2p 32.2p
----------- -----------
Total declared dividends
per share including supplemental
dividend 10.0p 17.9p
----------- -----------
Net debt GBP139.0m GBP119.1m
----------- -----------
Gearing 38.6% 31.4%
----------- -----------
Change of year end
Figures throughout the report and accounts represent thirteen months (1 March 2018 -31 March 2019) due to a change in year end from 28 February to align with our market peers. Our current financial period runs from 1 April 2019 -31 March 2020.
Conference call for analysts and investors
The management team will present to equity analysts and investors today at 10.30am at U+I's offices at 7A Howick Place, London, SW1P 1DZ. The live audio webcast and presentation materials can be accessed via the following link: http://webcasting.brrmedia.co.uk/broadcast/5c9ba46cec650d01c34f4b74 with conference call details as below. A recording of the conference call and archive version will be made available later today.
Conference Call details: United Kingdom 0330 336 9411 All other locations +44 (0)330 336 9411 Joining your call: Participant Password: 3313162
Forthcoming announcement dates
The Company intends to hold its Annual General Meeting on 4 September 2019.
For further information, please contact:
U and I Group PLC
Matthew Weiner, CEO
Richard Upton, Chief Development Officer
Marcus Shepherd, CFO
Nicola Krafft, Head of Investor Relations Tel: +44 20 7828 4777
E-mail: ir@uandiplc.com
Camarco (Financial PR adviser)
Geoffrey Pelham-Lane / Hazel Stevenson
/ Tom Huddart Tel: +44 20 3757 4996
E-mail: uandi@camarco.co.uk
This announcement contains inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No. 596/2014 and is disclosed in accordance with the Company's obligations under Article 17 of those Regulations.
CEO statement
U+I has delivered a robust performance in the financial period (to 31 March 2019), including GBP42.8 million of development and trading gains, against a very challenging backdrop. Our profit before tax was GBP6.3 million (2018: GBP48.2 million), and our basic net asset value is down 5.3% to 289 pence per share (2018: 303 pence per share), after the payment of GBP22.4 million of dividends (17.9 pence per share) during the period. Including joint venture assets, our investment portfolio delivered -1% total return (2018: 10.1%), as we suffered a 4.9% capital value decline. Post tax total return was 0.9% (2018: 12.2%), primarily reflecting the reduction in value of the investment portfolio.
These results show our resilience against an uncompromising market backdrop and a year marked by growing political, planning and economic uncertainty, without which we believe gains would have been in excess of our upper GBP50 million target. Over the last four years, we have delivered average gains of c.GBP50 million per annum, in line with our medium-term target.
Our markets
The medium-term economic fundamentals in the UK remain sound, if unspectacular, with consumers' real incomes increasing and companies having money to invest, albeit showing reluctance to do so. The real estate cycle has numerous long-term supportive forces at play, most notably in terms of the supply of new accommodation, which has been comparatively disciplined. Interest rates globally remain anchored at low levels and, with limited debt exposure, the market can stay relatively protected against a slowdown. At the same time, we are seeing the redefinition of space, in terms of usage and ownership. Increasingly property is seen as a service; a provision to be subscribed to rather than owned outright.
This has widespread consequences. In the retail environment, it has led to a much faster degree of obsolescence. In the office environment, businesses need to occupy inspiring spaces or else talent is not interested in working for them. In residential, people are searching for spaces where they can feel truly at home, but with pressure on disposable income, affordability and convenience are prioritised over postcode.
As an industry, we need to provide those places and we need to do this by creating multi-use spaces that suit an increasingly "co-everything" world. Political, economic and social demand for the type of mixed-use developments that we deliver will continue.
These are the challenges but they are also opportunities for U+I.
Our opportunity
We are a specialist developer and investor with a substantial pipeline of complex mixed-use regeneration schemes. We seek to transform overlooked parts of towns and cities, through a mix of commercial and residential real estate uses, revitalising communities. We unlock the potential of land and assets - mainly in the densely populated areas of London City Region, Manchester and Dublin - to create value.
Our blend of large Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects, shorter-term entrepreneurial trading activity and recurring revenue from our investment portfolio - all centred on mixed-use regeneration - give our portfolio a clear focus and generate multiple income streams to help to mitigate risk. Our deep relationships with local stakeholders help us to identify suitable sites and better understand potential risks so we can facilitate planning and delivery.
The scale of our projects, our vision to see the potential in complex sites where others don't, our partnership approach with the public and private sector and our ability to secure funding for our PPP schemes create barriers to entry for others, and give us a competitive advantage.
Public Private Partnerships - strengthening our portfolio
We are making further progress on our stated strategic objective to develop a pipeline of fewer, larger projects with public and private partners in our three core geographies.
In July 2018 Cambridge City Council and Anglian Water appointed us as master developer to deliver a major residential-led mixed-use scheme - named Cambridge Northern Fringe East (CNFE) - on an existing water recycling site, to help address the significant shortfall in homes and amenities in this region. The scheme secured GBP227 million in funding from Government's Housing Infrastructure Fund in March 2019 to relocate Anglian Water's existing water recycling centre and release the core 120-acre brownfield site. Having met this key milestone, the project is now progressing at pace. It will deliver c.GBP20-30 million of development and trading gains for U+I over its c.15 year lifespan, with our first profits expected in FY2023. These gains could increase should we bid for and be selected to deliver any elements of this project ourselves.
We remain in exclusive negotiations for a new PPP project in the London City Region and are also still on the shortlist for a major partnership opportunity in Dublin, and expect a decision on both in H1 2020. Combined they have a Gross Development Value of circa GBP2.0 billion.
In August 2018, we were also appointed to the Greater London Authority's (GLA's) London Development Panel which will bring forward up to GBP20 billion worth of development land over the next four years. This opens up new opportunities and supports our position on TfL's Property Partnership Framework, a position we have held since 2016.
PPP is an integral part of our business and support for it was reinforced by Government in the November 2018 Budget. Yet it is often misunderstood as a mechanism for change and faces some reputational challenges. In the financial period we undertook an extensive research, consultation and listening programme with the public, private and civic sectors in an effort to understand these challenges, establish a blueprint to address them and drive new industry standards. We published our findings in our PPP - The Reset report in November 2018, whilst also making a number of specific commitments which will enhance and improve our approach to PPP. Most notably, we will establish a Community Challenge Panel which will be overseen by our recently appointed independent Non-executive Director, Professor Sadie Morgan, to hold ourselves to account on our commitments. The process to appoint the Panel is underway.
Development and trading - steady progress in a difficult market
Public Private Partnerships are an essential part of our business and these projects tend to be large, long-term and equity light as the public or private sector seeds the partnership with land. In contrast, and crucially as a counterbalance to these large, long-term projects, our trading portfolio is shorter-term in nature. We buy land and add value through enhanced planning consents and/or asset management, leveraging our experience in mixed-use regeneration and local authority relationships that we have nurtured and developed over the last 25+ years.
Having achieved development and trading gains of GBP12.8 million in the first half, we added another GBP30.0 million in the second half, totalling GBP42.8 million for the financial period and reflecting our typical second half weighting. However, some projects were delayed - including Kensington Church Street and Rhoscrowther Wind Farm, both of which we now expect to monetise in FY2020. Some, like Hendy Wind Farm, we took a different approach to benefit shareholders, whilst others exceeded expectations. A full breakdown of the projects that underpinned this financial period's gains is provided in the Portfolio Review. It demonstrates the diversity and flexibility we have within our portfolio.
Preston Barracks in Brighton has been a particular highlight for us this financial period as we achieved gains of GBP13.8 million, significantly ahead of our GBP2-3 million target. This was mainly achieved, through the sale of the residential component to Optivo, one of the largest housing providers in the UK, and some additional planning overage gains from our partnership with Scape Student Living. Optivo recognised the quality of the proposed scheme and, as experts in affordable housing, they are perfectly qualified to deliver this part of our wider GBP200 million GDV mixed-use development, that will provide over GBP280 million of economic benefit for the City of Brighton over the next ten years.
Harwell continues to evolve into a key project for us. This world-class, Government-backed science, technology and innovation campus, where we have worked since 2014, delivered GBP4.8 million of development and trading gains in the financial period. This follows the completion of two pre-let developments and the sale of a significant piece of land to an existing occupier. In the last five years we have delivered and leased 350,000 sq.ft. of space on the campus. In March 2019, our joint venture partnership secured GBP110 million of funding from Santander, committing further resources to the next stage of development, which in the next two years will deliver over 200,000 sq.ft. of high-tech industrial, laboratory and office accommodation.
With Harwell and CNFE, we now have two major PPP schemes in the Cambridge/Oxford corridor. In line with Government, which is investing heavily in these locations, we too see this growth corridor as a focus for innovation and talent, and we are committed to continuing to grow our presence here.
During the financial period we secured planning permission and commenced construction works at Hendy Wind Farm. We also entered discussions to sell the project at a level that would have delivered our forecast gain. However, as we moved to close, we did not feel the terms and price reflected the ultimate quality of the scheme. Therefore, as with Bryn Blaen last year, we felt it was prudent to delay as we believe we can get a better return for shareholders if we sell in FY2020 when the project works have been completed.
In the second half of the financial period we achieved practical completion at St Mark's Square in Bromley. There is a good level of buyer interest in the completed residential units and the leisure element is open and trading well. However, due to construction delays in the second half of the year, we have incurred increased professional fees as well as higher interest charges as sale receipts were delayed, leading to a provision of GBP1.5 million. We are in the process of settling the final account with the contractor and expect to resolve the situation during FY2020.
During the financial period we have focused on building our shorter-term pipeline to support our larger, longer-term PPP projects. At the start of the financial period we revised the structure and focus of our acquisitions team towards trading and this has delivered three new trading opportunities. All in our core geographies, the Arts Building in Finsbury Park, Newtown Works in Ashford and White Heather Industrial Estate in Dublin are a further demonstration of our ability to source exciting opportunities. We expect them to generate strong gains for the business over the next one to three years, giving us improved short-term pipeline visibility.
Investment portfolio - the regeneration opportunity
At the year end, the investment portfolio was valued at GBP154.0 million (2018: GBP139.5 million). Over the 13-month period we made GBP27.4 million of acquisitions and GBP7.5 million of disposals. The core portfolio initial yield of 6.6% remained robust, confirming the work we have done on income sustainability. However, we suffered a capital value decline of 4.9% (including our share of joint ventures) as market sentiment outweighed asset fundamentals, especially for retail property outside London and the South East. Including joint venture assets, we delivered a total return of -1% which takes into account capital value movements and income return. Our activity levels were below the GBP50 million acquisitions and GBP25 million disposals targets we set ourselves for this financial period but we believe it is essential, particularly in the current environment, to remain disciplined and buy and sell the right assets at the right price.
We remain encouraged by the high levels of occupancy across our portfolio (>90%), largely unchanged rental values and low voids (7.3%), evidence that smart buying and active management can deliver income led results, even when the investment market is challenging overall. With such a strong convenience focus (38.1% of portfolio), no department stores and only 13.6% exposure to fashion/footwear, our portfolio has the fundamentals to deliver. Retail failures from CVAs and administrations continue to have only a small impact, representing 2.4% of rental income. Of this, the net impact to income was only GBP75,000 or 0.6% of rent roll. We also have limited exposure to any one single tenant, with our largest - Matalan - making up less than 5.0% of total income.
The UK property market is uncertain, with liquidity weakening, mainly due to the nervousness triggered by delays in decision-making at Government level. We believe that retail assets are being indiscriminately valued rather than being assessed on fundamentals. This creates clear challenges for us as vendors and asset managers but also provides opportunities as buyers.
To that end, we have remained cautiously active in recent months, using this market uncertainty to make three attractive acquisitions: St Peter's Quarter in Bournemouth, Waterglade Retail Park in Clacton-on-Sea and a Pure Gym unit in Finchley. Each of these assets is well-suited to the local catchment, has the potential for us to add further value through asset management initiatives and should deliver the double-digit returns we look for.
Our portfolio is primarily in the retail sector, where shopper missions are polarising along the lines of destination/experience orientated visits or service/convenience. Our focus remains on convenience-led schemes which are aligned to their local catchment and play a vital role within the community. Here demand remains robust and there is a certain degree of insulation against the ongoing shift to internet shopping and changes in consumer behaviour.
Over time, we believe the industry will need to reconsider what 'prime retail' really means. Ultimately, the most attractive retail assets are those that provide a sustainable income by offering the right experience to the consumer and the right price for the occupier. These are the assets that we pursue, not 'prime' in the conventional sense but fit for purpose, resilient and delivering sustainable income and capital appreciation.
Having delivered our target return in FY2018, we have been disappointed by the performance of the investment portfolio over the 13-month period. We acknowledge that our approach has not delivered consistently over the last three years. We have previously spoken of the potential to retain elements of our development portfolio and benefit from the opportunity to realise further value as those schemes mature. As our development portfolio has grown in size, so this potential is now a reality and will allow us to benefit from the world-class schemes which we have created and of which we have a deep understanding. Most importantly, this reinforces the business's focus on regeneration, whilst also driving higher returns to shareholders, such that over a three to five-year period we expect to see investment portfolio returns closer to our overall target return.
Initially we have identified potential assets worth up to GBP250 million from our development pipeline which would meet our investment portfolio criteria. This means that by 2024 the investment portfolio should primarily be comprised of assets created from our development portfolio or assets held for their longer-term development potential. We know that we can achieve our targets and recapture previous levels of performance.
Capital initiatives to enhance delivery
In order to advance some of our bigger schemes, we have held a number of meetings with potential capital partners from around the world to invest, initially, in up to three of our major PPP projects. We have been encouraged by the level of engagement and interest in our projects from a range of private and institutional capital from across the globe, albeit UK political uncertainty has meant that progress has been slower than we would like, with capital showing some reticence to invest. However, empathy with the UK remains and potential capital partners have been attracted by both the quality of the projects and their locations within our gateway cities. We are in the process of shortlisting potential partners, whom we think are the best fit, see the potential of these assets and share our vision for our major projects. We are targeting concluding the process in 2020 and will give a further update on progress at our interim results in November 2019. Securing funding allows us to advance our projects cost-efficiently, ensures timely delivery of our projects in conjunction with our public sector partners and means we can rotate capital into new schemes.
Efficiencies programme underway
We remain focused on maintaining capital discipline and a strong balance sheet. As reported in our interim results, we have put in place an efficiencies programme to ensure that we continue to manage our recurring overheads as effectively as possible, given our prospective pipeline of projects. This is being led by a Chief Operating Officer who was appointed in January 2018 on an interim basis to undertake a review of all areas of the business and identify and implement cost savings. Annualised net recurring overheads in the financial period were GBP17.8 million (2018: GBP20.3 million).
Currently we employ certain specialist development related expertise internally, such as project management and marketing, rather than using external specialists. We do this as it gives us more immediate control over certain aspects of our projects. Historically we have viewed this as a central cost/overhead expense. In order to more closely align ourselves with and be more comparable to our peer group, we are now adopting the industry-wide practice of capitalising that expenditure where appropriate rather than treating it as a corporate overhead. This has led to capitalisation of GBP2.5 million in FY2019, which is expected to be the level for future years.
To further increase efficiencies, over the financial period, we have undertaken an internal review of each part of the business, which has led to us realigning teams and improving some of our processes so we now believe we have the right team size, structure and skillset, relevant to the scale, value and stage of each project. As we conclude our existing smaller and legacy projects and continue to focus on fewer, larger projects, productivity will increase and support more efficient delivery. Furthermore, as we move into the delivery phase of our pipeline, we will increase the opportunity to earn additional Development Management Fees to offset our overhead. Development Management Fees generated in FY2019 were GBP2.5 million, a figure which we expect to increase annually over the next five years, with GBP3.0 million targeted in FY2020.
Dividend - aligning shareholders with our performance
In line with our dividend policy we paid an ordinary dividend of 5.9 pence per share - comprising an interim dividend of 2.4 pence per share paid on 30 November 2018 and a recommended final dividend payment of 3.5 pence per share to be paid to shareholders on 6 September 2019.
As part of our dividend policy we also pay a supplemental dividend related to the net free cash flow generated during the financial period. Given the strength of our net cash position, we are pleased to recommend a supplemental dividend of 4.1 pence per share (2018: 12.0 pence per share).
This will be the fifth successive supplemental dividend paid to shareholders, evidence of our ability to generate strong and sustained surplus cash flows from our development and trading activities, as well as our commitment to aligning our shareholders with the success of the business.
We constantly monitor the method by which capital is returned to our investors and the Board will review this again over the course of the coming year.
Innovation to unlock potential and drive growth
Mixed-use regeneration is about breathing new life into neglected or underestimated places and we believe that innovation is an integral part of that process.
Having re-established the Central Research Laboratory at The Old Vinyl Factory in Hayes as the UK's first full-service accelerator for hardware entrepreneurs, we have taken this proof of concept and committed GBP3 million to develop an innovation hub proposition we call Plus X. This brings together public and private sector capital to promote innovation, enhance job creation and give fledgling businesses and SMEs room to grow, while simultaneously driving demand for commercial space and delivering distinctive places. The first Plus X will open at Preston Barracks in Brighton in early 2020 and we have also submitted planning for a revised facility at The Old Vinyl Factory. This is just the start, as we plan to develop further Plus X holdings at other major regeneration projects. This concept delivers substantial wash over of value to our wider regeneration activity and we believe it is the first of its kind in our industry. In time, we expect Plus X to create additional value for U+I through securing further PPP opportunities such as Preston Barracks, whilst becoming a potentially valuable and scalable business in its own right.
During the financial period, we also made a deliberate move to explore innovation in property technology that has a direct benefit to delivering better outcomes for our projects. Having been early adopters of their product, in October 2018 we made a small investment into WiredScore, the market leader in certifying building technology. As users, we believe there is tremendous growth potential for the technology, not just in commercial property, but increasingly in residential where connectivity and quality of infrastructure are of growing importance. Since the period end, we have also invested in Matterport, the 3D virtual reality modelling experts for the real estate sector. In our role as strategic advisor to these two businesses, we can share expertise, whilst getting an opportunity to see first-hand some of the new cutting-edge technologies that could inform our future approach to our schemes and help us to keep innovating. Given the speed at which the world is moving, we will continue to seek out relevant new innovations to invest in, where we can harness technology to get insights that will support our decisions and allow us to stay ahead of new trends, to deliver great places that meet people's needs, not just now, but for the future.
Strengthening the team
In recent years, U+I has evolved from a newly-formed business into a recognised brand with a portfolio of landmark regeneration assets across the London City Region, Manchester and Dublin.
That transition would not have been possible without our people, the backbone of our business and the inspiration for everything we do. Whilst our land bank can provide the raw material from which we can generate returns, it is our team that will realise this potential. In this vein, we need to do more and prove that we can execute, as well as originate. That involves ensuring that we have the right talent and structure to deliver on our KPIs and develop as a business.
To that end, from 22 May 2019, Richard Upton becomes Chief Development Officer. The Board has long felt that the Deputy CEO title did not fully reflect Richard's role. His ability to develop and realise a compelling vision, to build the necessary trust and relationships across stakeholder groups, and find solutions that benefit everyone are essential to our business. His job content will not change but this new title better indicates his focus, where he has accountability and responsibility for the origination of new opportunities, exploiting the potential within our increased pipeline and execution of our major PPP projects, including Mayfield in Manchester and 8 Albert Embankment in London.
We are also pleased to announce that Professor Sadie Morgan, founding director of architects' practice dRMM, has joined the Board as an independent Non-executive Director with effect from 3 April 2019. A Stirling prize-winner, a commissioner on the National Infrastructure Commission and chair of the Independent Design Panel for High Speed Two, Professor Morgan brings with her a wealth of knowledge and a genuine commitment to PPP as a source of long-term regeneration. As well as chairing our Community Challenge Panel to hold us to account on our PPP commitments set out in PPP - The Reset, Professor Morgan will oversee the establishment of a workforce advisory panel, acting as a conduit between the Board and our people to support employee engagement and ensure we are sustaining an inspiring culture relevant to our vision.
Outlook - delivering sustainable long-term returns for shareholders
U+I sits at the heart of major trends. We are regeneration specialists with the experience, understanding and creative talent to turn underestimated and overlooked sites into vibrant, mixed-use places that enhance productivity, drive economic growth and contribute constructively to communities.
The raw material is there - neglected public sector land in our chosen geographies - with the public sector increasingly under pressure to deliver greater productivity from its real estate. The need has never been greater, people want to live in better homes, work in better places and lead better lives. We have the skillset and the relationships to enable and support central and local government to meet its targets, whilst addressing the shortfall in quality mixed-use spaces that will benefit local communities. That is our focus and we are confident that we can deliver over the long-term.
The short-term will be more challenging, as markets face political and economic uncertainty. The Brexit delay spells another six months of uncertainty and will keep investment and hiring decisions on hold. This has had a direct bearing on our FY2019 results and has meant that we have revised our development and trading gains target for FY2020 from GBP45-55 million to GBP35-45 million and our FY2021 target from GBP35-45 million to GBP45-55 million. We have reviewed our pipeline as a whole and, although we have moved Kensington Church Street, Hendy Wind Farm and Rhoscrowther Wind Farm into FY2020, this lowering of our target and retaining this larger guidance range reflects the market we currently operate in, where we expect wider factors - in particular the fallout from the political crisis at both central and local government levels - to delay decision-making and, in turn, the delivery of some of our gains.
Of course, within this increasingly complex political and planning environment there is opportunity for a business such as ours that treats community engagement as central to delivering schemes that can heal the divides that are blighting our cities. There is a need for knowledge and expertise to find opportunities amid the uncertainty.
We remain a total return business and are committed to our longer-term target of 12% average post tax total return and 10% average investment portfolio total return, and believe we have the right strategy and team to achieve these over time.
In the year ahead, we will focus on securing planning consents and delivering our development projects, while remaining alert to shorter-term trading or new investment opportunities where they align with our regeneration focus, as well as possible new PPP opportunities in our three core regions.
Our efficiencies programme enhances our ability to deliver value for shareholders for the long-term. Our funding partnerships are part of this programme, enabling us to drive returns, while delivering on our commitments.
I want to thank the team for their hard work and contribution over the last 13 months. Against an exceptionally difficult backdrop, our people have continued to demonstrate the curiosity, passion and commitment that helps us to secure flagship projects and deliver on our key purpose 'to unlock long-term value for all through regeneration'.
Notwithstanding market conditions, we have strengthened our short and long-term pipeline, giving good future visibility. I am enthusiastic about our ability to deliver our projects and create a successful, motivated and inspirational company.
Matthew Weiner
Chief Executive Officer
22 May 2019
Portfolio Review
The U+I portfolio comprises a balance of longer-term PPP projects, shorter-term trading opportunities and investment assets. These three elements combine to maximise value creation, providing multiple routes to market, diversifying our earnings stream and mitigating risk through the economic cycle.
There is a strong connected theme running through our schemes. They are focused on regeneration; they are focused on our core geographies of London City Region, Manchester and Dublin; and they are expected to benefit from what we believe to be the four key drivers of economic growth - talent, tourism, transport and tolerance.
Importantly too, each element benefits from the others, to create a unified business, where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
Development and trading
-- Development: large-scale, mixed-use regeneration projects that are designed to deliver significant value over time. Often structured as Public Private Partnerships, these comprise 31% of gross assets and deliver multi-year profit flows.
-- Trading: shorter-term trading opportunities where we buy land and add value through enhanced planning consents and/or asset management. These comprise 39% of gross assets and deliver profit flows over one to three years.
Investment: assets that provide recurring income, the proceeds of which support our development and trading activities. These assets also offer optionality for asset management or change of use to drive incremental value. They comprise 30% of gross assets.
We use our values of imagination, intelligence and audacity to bring vision and verve to our business and our projects. We have always thought of the communities who will populate the places we create. With this in mind we have increasingly recognised that the generations of today are more interested in affordability and convenience than postcode. This understanding - combined with hard work and an increasingly talented team - have helped us to gain the trust of stakeholders in both the public and private sector, and thereby win landmark projects. These will become the core assets of the future and we intend to deliver them with our capital partners.
Development and trading
During the financial period, we delivered GBP42.8 million of development and trading gains. A summary of our realised gains and losses in FY2019 can be found below:
Previous Realised
Project name Value trigger target gains
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
Completed disposal of this retail-led,
Bicester (Mixed-Use mixed-use scheme, conveniently located
Scheme A), London opposite Bicester Village, to Value
City Region Retail. GBP3-5m GBP4.0m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
Completed disposal in March 2019.
Gain is slightly below our target
Bryn Blaen Wind due to increased costs in connecting
Farm, Wales* the site to the grid. GBP6-8m GBP4.7m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
Completed sale in H1 to Hyde Group.
This was the final disposal of the
site we assembled in Charlton Riverside
Charlton Riverside, and was held in joint venture with
London* Proprium Capital Partners. GBP2-4m GBP3.3m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
Sale of a plot of land to facilitate
an existing occupier's expansion
on site and completion of two pre-let
Harwell, Oxford* developments totalling 65,000 sq.ft. GBP4-6m GBP4.8m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
The scheme was approved by the Mayor
of London in September 2018. However,
in March 2019, the Secretary of
State for Housing, Communities and
Local Government called in the scheme
leading to an inquiry in November
2019. This delay restricted our
ability to deliver gains this financial
period. We, alongside our joint
venture partners, continue to seek
a timely outcome and are targeting
realising gains in FY2020 - either
through development of the site
or refinancing of the site post
planning. However, this is dependent
on the timing of the decision by
Government post the inquiry. We
Kensington Church have slightly reduced our forecasts
Street, London* for FY2020 to reflect the delay. GBP5-7m GBP0.0m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
This asset has been acquired by
the Government as part of the HS2
project. The gain represents our
share of the estimate of the fair
value due to Curzon Park Limited
of the land that was subject to
a CPO during the financial period.
Curzon Park, We remain in negotiations with HS2
Birmingham* to agree the final level of settlement. GBP4-7m GBP9.3m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
Disposal of the residential element
of the site to affordable housing
provider, Optivo and further gains
from planning overage from our partnership
with Scape Student Living. This
project highlights the potential
for successful PPP schemes. The
Preston Barracks, gains exceeded expectations, largely
Brighton reflecting the quality of the site. GBP2-3m GBP13.8m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
Planning for Hendy was secured on
30 October 2018 but we made a strategic
decision not to sell the project
during the year in the strong belief
that we could realise more value
by delivering a built out site.
We expect to exchange on a sale
in H2 2020 which should deliver
GBP4-6 million gains. As announced
at our interim results, planning
consent was delayed at Rhoscrowther,
meaning we missed the subsidy window.
We now expect to deliver lower than
previously expected gains in FY2020
Wind Farm Projects through delivery of a non-subsidised
- Hendy and scheme. A planning application will
Rhoscrowther be submitted shortly. GBP10-12m GBP0.0m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
Various smaller projects, contributing
less than GBP3.0 million apiece.
These include completion of the
final units at Ilford, delivering
GBP1.6 million; development profit
from the student accommodation at
Circus Street, Brighton for GBP1.8
million, and the sale of the Assembly
Buildings and Veneer Building at
The Old Vinyl Factory, Hayes. It
also includes a provision of GBP1.5
million at St Mark's Square in Bromley
where we incurred increased professional
fees and interest charges as receipts
were delayed due to construction
Other (8 projects) delays. GBP9-12m GBP2.9m
------------------- ------------------------------------------- --------- --------
* Held in joint venture
New trading opportunities
We have continued to grow our trading pipeline with three new opportunities that are expected to generate strong gains for the business.
-- Arts Building, London City Region: in January 2019, we acquired the Arts Building in Finsbury Park, a c.50,000 sq.ft., five-floor warehouse-style building. The transaction was completed off-market, highlighting the strength of our network and our ability to move quickly when necessary. Located less than 10 minutes from Central London, we will refurbish the offices and convert the ground floor warehouse space into offices and re-let. It is our intention to revalue or sell, generating gains in FY2020.
-- Newtown Works, London City Region: in December 2018, we completed a funding deal with Quinn Estates to acquire Newtown Works, a 12-acre brownfield site in Ashford. This is our fourth transaction in the town, underlining the trusted relationship that we have developed with local stakeholders, including Ashford Borough Council. Work is already underway to transform the site into a dynamic mixed-use scheme, likely to begin generating profits from FY2020.
-- White Heather Industrial Estate, Dublin: in December 2018, we acquired the White Heather Industrial Estate in Dublin as a medium-term trading opportunity. This builds on our previous strategy of identifying industrial land with potential for residential-led mixed-use regeneration.
Outlook for FY2020
We have reviewed our portfolio for the coming financial period, including the addition of Kensington Church Street, Hendy Wind Farm and Rhoscrowther Wind Farm that have moved across from FY2019. Based on our current pipeline, we are targeting development and trading gains of GBP35-45 million in FY2020 (revised down from GBP45-55 million) and GBP45-55 million in FY2021 (revised up from GBP35-45 million). The projects listed below are expected to make up this target but, as always, these can change and we have the ability to flex this mix of projects where appropriate.
We have a strong pipeline of short and long-term projects and are focused in the year ahead on delivery across these. This includes securing planning consents at 8 Albert Embankment and Landmark Court - two of our major PPP projects in London City Region which we submitted for planning in March 2019 - whilst also securing planning for the first phase of our GBP1.1 billion mixed-use regeneration project at Mayfield, Manchester, for a 6.5 acre park, office and parking space.
As well as driving value from our existing portfolio, in line with our strategic aim of growing our portfolio with high-quality projects, we will continue to seek out opportunities that meet our regeneration focus, where we can broaden our shorter-term trading pipeline and complement our longer-term PPP pipeline across London City Region, Manchester and Dublin.
Projects expected to deliver FY2020 gains:
Targeted
Project name Value trigger gains
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------
Arts Building, Completion of works, letting and subsequent
London sale. GBP8-10m
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------
Newtown Works,
Ashford Securing planning and initial lettings/disposals. GBP5-7m
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------
Surplus arising from either development
Kensington Church of the site or refinancing of the site
Street, London* post planning. GBP4-6m
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------
Hendy Wind Farm,
Wales Completion of construction and sale. GBP4-6m
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------
Rhoscrowther
Wind Farm, Wales Planning and sale. GBP1-3m
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------
Various smaller projects individually
Other contributing <GBP3.0 million. GBP13-15m
------------------ -------------------------------------------------- ----------
* Held in joint venture
Investment portfolio
During FY2019, we completed GBP27.4 million acquisitions, GBP7.5 million disposals and GBP4.6 million asset management initiatives, as outlined below. Our target for FY2020 is to deliver c.10% total return, albeit delivery of this could be challenging in current markets.
Project name Overview Valuation
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Disposals
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Killingworth Centre, In line with our focus on three Mall element
Newcastle core geographies, we identified sold for GBP7.5
Killingworth as a strategic disposal million; yield
in 2018. In FY2019, to reduce of 9.4%
our risk, we sold off the Mall
element where we felt income
was not sustainable. We have
retained the long-term income
from Matalan and Home Bargains
units, yielding >8.5%.
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Acquisitions
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
St Peter's Quarter, Bournemouth is largely populated Acquired for
Bournemouth by students and older, affluent GBP11.3 million
retirees. St Peter's Quarter,
a 98,000 sq.ft. mixed-use scheme,
fits neatly into this demographic.
Comprising student accommodation,
leisure and retail, the asset
is generating a strong income
return and there is significant
potential for further growth/asset
management. In recent months,
we have let additional space
in the basement and benefitted
from break clauses not being
exercised due to strong trade.
We believe it will achieve a
>10% total return, with 56% of
the rent subject to fixed or
RPI uplifts.
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Waterglade Retail A convenience site occupied by Acquired for
Park, Clacton four tenants (B&M, Halfords, GBP11.3 million
on Sea Iceland and Carpetright), this
acquisition exemplifies our understanding
of the retail market and the
niche opportunities it presents.
All four tenants are well-suited
to the local catchment, the investment
generates an initial yield of
9.3%, with the opportunity to
deliver double-digit returns
through asset management and
lease re-structuring. Since financial
period end, we have re-geared
the B&M lease, extending the
term by 8 years and generating
a c.GBP600K capital uplift.
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Pure Gym Unit, This leasehold asset was acquired Acquired for
Finchley off-market. Located on an acre GBP4.8 million
of land, the transaction builds
on our relationship with the
London Borough of Barnet and
meets our investment criteria
as an income-generating asset
with longer-term regeneration
potential. It offers a net initial
yield of 5.9%, expected to rise
to over 7.0% at rent review in
2021. The residual value with
planning for residential uses
and vacant possession would be
materially higher than current
investment value.
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Material Store Transferred from our development
and Boiler House, portfolio into our investment
The Old Vinyl portfolio on practical completion,
Factory, Hayes demonstrating how we can nurture
quality assets where we see longer-term
potential. Units were pre-let.
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Asset management initiatives
------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------
Harwell, Oxford The campus environment is improving,
as we build new accommodation
and the campus continues to attract
top talent. This will drive rental
growth by the creation of new
headline rents. During the financial
period, we also restructured
the lease at the adjacent Gemini
building, increasing the value
of the asset by GBP2.0 million.
We also completed an outstanding
rent review on the Element Six
building, securing an uplift
in value of GBP3.5 million; our
share being GBP0.9 million.
--------------------- ------------------------------------------- -----------------
Key statistics
31 Mar 2019 28 Feb 2018
Portfolio value GBP154.0m GBP139.5m
------------ ------------
Valuation change GBP(11.2)m GBP(2.4)m
------------ ------------
Number of assets
held 19 16
------------ ------------
Value of disposals GBP(7.5)m GBP(53.2)m
------------ ------------
Initial yield in
the period 6.6% 6.2%
------------ ------------
Equivalent yield 7.9% 8.3%
------------ ------------
Contracted rental GBP11.7m GBP8.9m
value
------------ ------------
Estimated rental GBP13.1m GBP10.7m
value
------------ ------------
Voids 7.3% 7.9%
------------ ------------
Specialist platforms
Our specialist platforms, focused on office refurbishments and income-generating strategic land in the London City Region and Dublin, combine our skills and experience with the balance sheet strength of our joint venture partners, Colony Capital and Proprium Capital Partners. More details of our five projects across the two platforms can be found below.
Project Name Overview FY2020 target
-------------------- -------------------------------- -----------------------------
Colony Capital
-------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------
Donnybrook House, We completed the refurbishment Targeting the building
Dublin of Donnybrook House, being fully let and
increasing the net a subsequent sale.
lettable space by 37%
and launched this landmark
six-level office development
in October 2018. Since
the end of the financial
period, we have let
the gym in the basement
and discussions are
underway with the creative
and technology sectors
to let the office space.
-------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------
The Hive (formerly Construction started Targeting practical
Ballymoss House), in August 2018 to refurbish completion of construction
Dublin and extend The Hive in August 2019, pre-letting
building, providing the building and
much needed office a subsequent sale.
space to the undersupplied
Dublin market. It has
already attracted considerable
letting interest.
-------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------
Carrisbrook House, Secured planning permission Revising planning
Dublin at Carrisbrook House consent to take advantage
in October 2018, having of new Dublin City
acquired the building Council planning
in August 2017 as a guidance on heights.
neglected property
with significant upside
potential.
-------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------
The Record Store, Progressing fit out. Targeting fully letting
Hayes building and sale.
-------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------
Proprium Capital
Partners
-------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------
Mecca Bingo, London Vacant possession discussions Securing planning.
underway.
-------------------- -------------------------------- -------------------------------
Top five occupiers as at 31 March 2019
Annual Rent % of contracted
GBP'm rent
------------------------- ------------ ----------------
Matalan 0.5 4.7%
Sainsbury's Supermarket 0.5 4.2%
Ricardo-Aea 0.5 3.9%
B&M 0.4 3.2%
Carpetright 0.3 2.7%
-------------------------- ------------ ----------------
Income generating properties - like for like rental income received
Year ended 31 March
2019
--------------------------
Property owned
throughout Total net
the year Acquisitions Disposals rental income
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------- --------------- ------------- ---------- ---------------
Investment 9,831 3,931 (37) 13,725
Development and trading 1,823 334 308 2,465
Joint ventures 3,204 - 58 3,262
14,858 4,265 329 19,452
------------------------- --------------- ------------- ---------- ---------------
Year ended 28 February 2018
Property owned
throughout Total net
the year Acquisitions Disposals rental income
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------- --------------- ------------- ---------- ---------------
Investment 10,288 - 1,724 12,012
Development and trading 1,306 - 763 2,069
Joint ventures 2,404 - 358 2,762
13,998 - 2,845 16,843
------------------------- --------------- ------------- ---------- ---------------
Core investment portfolio - 31 March 2019
Gross rental income - tenant profile 1 PLC/Nationals 58.9% 2 Local Traders 29.1% 3 Regional Multiples 7.4% 4 FTSE 100 4.2% 5 Government 0.4% Gross rental income - lease-term profile 1 0-5 years 54.4% 2 5-10 years 23.7% 3 10-15 years 14.3% 4 15-20 years 5.9% 5 20 years+ 1.7% Capital value - local profile 1 London 26.6% 2 South East 40.6% 3 Manchester 2.2% 4 Rest of UK 30.6%
Risk review
Our business model is shaped by the risks the Directors consider significant to our strategy, size and capabilities.
Risk management structure
The Group's risk profile is maintained under continual review by its Audit and Risk Committee and by the Board. In addition, the Group has a Risk Management Committee, which oversees the Group's risk register and risk control processes on behalf of the Audit and Risk Committee. The Risk Management Committee is comprised of senior employees from across the Group, covering all areas of the Group's operations.
External risks
Risk Impact Mitigation Risk exposure change
year-on-year
------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
a. Market risk Lack of liquidity Risk-averse property -
The real estate in market may development strategy, The UK economic fundamentals
market is directly delay the ability whereby projects remain solid. However,
linked to the to realise planned are pre-funded, continuing political
health of the disposals leading pre-let, or pre-sold uncertainty as to the
local and national to significantly where appropriate. timing and nature of
economies. Lack reduced cash Long maturities Brexit, together with
of economic inflows. of debt finance escalating geopolitical
growth, recessionary Higher occupier facilities. risks and continuing
conditions or risk, leading Moderate level of trade uncertainties,
economic uncertainty to significantly gearing. continue to overshadow
can translate reduced values. Regular meetings the market. The six-month
into the negative Lack of occupier with economic forecasters Brexit delay will keep
sentiment towards, demand, resulting to gauge economic investment and housing
and performance in inability trends. decisions on hold.
of, real estate. to realise gains.
------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
b. Scarcity Inability to Flexible approach (R)
of viable investment source new deals to market opportunities, Opportunities continue
and development leads to decline seeking out sectors to be sourced for
opportunities in development where value can development,
The Group's and trading be generated and trading and investment,
business is profits in future seeking funding which satisfy Group
predominantly years. partners with different underwriting criteria,
transactional Higher pricing return requirements. albeit that the market
and requires of acquisition Stringent deal underwriting is running late cycle
a flow of PPP, opportunities procedures with with yield rents and
trading and leads to reduced minimum return hurdles. house prices at historically
investment opportunities ability to add Maintaining broad high levels.
to generate value. industry contacts
consistent returns. for acquisitions
The risk is rather than being
that the flow dependent on a single
of suitably source of opportunity.
priced opportunities Use of PPP model
either reduces to secure regeneration
or stops. opportunities in
an innovative way.
------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
c. Counterparty Failure of sales Proof of funding (R)
risk transaction required prior to The Group continues
Transaction counterparties agreeing sales contracts. to have exposure to
counterparties, may lead to The Board regularly the private residential
be they joint an inability assesses the market through the
venture partners, to produce trading creditworthiness development of pre-sold
purchasers under profits. of financial counterparties residential units both
sale contracts Failure of financial prior to placing on and off-balance
or banks in counterparties deposits and hedging sheet. The risk of
respect of cash may impact effectiveness transactions. purchasers failing
deposits or of hedging or Substantial deposits to complete has not
derivative arrangements, recoverability are required for reduced during the
may suffer or of deposits. pre-sold residential year as Bromley reached
fail financially. developments prior practical completion.
to commencing construction.
------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
d. Bank funding Inability to The Group maintains -
risk secure funding relationships with The lending market
The pressure for new opportunities. a wide range of continues to see new
on a large number Inability to both bank and non-bank entrants. Through the
of traditional refinance existing lenders, reducing year there has been
real estate facilities, over-reliance on a gradual reduction
lending banks leading to disposals any one partner. in lenders' appetite
to reduce their at the wrong The Group is constantly for development risk,
exposure to time in business seeking to widen particularly on a
real estate plans and failure its range of funding speculative
reduces the to maximise sources and liaises basis, as Brexit uncertainly
capacity and profits. regularly with new continues and given
liquidity within Unpredictability entrants into the expected increases
the lending of cash flows. real estate lending in interest rates.
market and can market. Also, a gradual fall
impact upon in house prices has
the availability impacted upon appetite
of debt to deliver for residential development.
business plans.
------------------------- ------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
BUSINESS RISKS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk Impact Mitigation Risk exposure change
year-on-year
----------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------
e. Construction Reduced profitability The Group retains -
risk or potential in-house experienced There continues to
There is a risk loss on individual project managers be an increase in
of being unable projects and/or throughout the life construction
to secure a guarantees being of individual projects, material prices. At
viable construction called. to ensure that costs the same time, uncertainty
contract, post Construction are appropriately over the status of
receipt of planning work ceasing budgeted and timetables EU nationals working
permission. whilst a suitable are adhered to, in the UK post any
replacement hence the impact deal between the UK
Real estate contractor is of these risks is and the EU is leading
construction found, leading minimised. to construction workforce
is subject to to delays in The Group performs shortages and increasing
the risk of project completion appropriate pre-contract labour costs. These
cost overruns, and a reduction due diligence on are both impacting
delay and the in profit. the capabilities upon pricing and making
financial failure and financial security the placement of
of an appointed of its material construction
contractor. contractors and contracts more difficult
key sub-contractors. in terms of cost certainty
The Group continually and hence margin.
monitors the financial
position of key As a result, contractors
contractors to anticipate are increasing pricing
financial difficulties. on new tenders so as
If issues arise to build in additional
with contractors, contingencies for the
the Group uses its losses they have suffered
professional teams in the last two to
and in-house expertise three years.
to mitigate the
impact. This can also lead
The Group requires to a lengthening of
detailed design tender periods and
and specification the need for more detailed
throughout the tender design before a viable
process to enable construction contract
it to maximise the can be agreed.
risk transfer to
contractors. There has also been
The Group requires the failure of certain
that all construction large-scale contractors
contracts include which has both taken
provisions for liquidated capacity out of the
ascertained damages market and lead to
in the case of performance other contractors reviewing
failures by contractors their business models.
and that contractors
provide performance The complexity of our
bonds, typically projects requires even
to a level of 10% greater rigour in delivery.
of the contract
sum.
----------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------
f. Planning Failure to secure The Group retains -
risk planning consent a team with a strong The ability to obtain
Procuring appropriate can either cause track record of clear planning decisions
and valuable delay or render achieving planning is potentially compromised
planning consents a project consents and an as key political events,
is often a key unviable/unprofitable extensive local such as elections,
element of value and lead to knowledge, supplemented approach. Brexit focus
creation through the write-off by advisors and has also weakened Central
property development. of considerable sector specialist Government involvement
costs or reduced partners, to maximise in the planning process.
Securing planning profit potential. the chance of success
permission in and reduce the risks The political landscape
a changing political and costs of failure. and planning decisions
and regulatory An alternative exit are increasingly becoming
environment strategy is always the battleground on
is a complex considered in case which disagreements
and uncertain of planning failure. over social issues
process, with The Group's PPP play out. The financial
applications model seeks to build strain on local authorities
subject to objection partnerships with is also manifesting
from a wide local statutory itself in under-resourcing
range of potential and planning authorities of planning departments.
stakeholders, as a way of mitigating Taken against a back-drop
and hence prone risk. of ever-increasing
to delay, modification complexity in both
and rejection. projects and planning
regulations, especially
in respect of mixed-use
schemes with greater
density, there is an
urgent need to
professionalise
planning departments.
----------------------- ---------------------------- --------------------------- ----------------------------
Financial review
Results for the year
During the year the Group focused on its aim of delivering development and trading gains whilst at the same time continuing to rationalise the number of smaller, inefficient projects it is involved in and restructuring its investment portfolio.
A summary of the Group's financial results is shown below:
13-month period Year ended
ended 28 February
31 March 2019 2018
Development and trading GBP68.3m
gains GBP42.8m
--------------- ------------
Basic net asset value GBP379.3m
(NAV) GBP360.1m
--------------- ------------
Basic NAV per share 289p 303p
--------------- ------------
Total declared dividends
per share 10.0p 17.9p
--------------- ------------
Profit before tax GBP6.3m* GBP48.2m
--------------- ------------
Total return 0.9% 12.2%
--------------- ------------
Balance sheet gearing 38.6% 31.4%
--------------- ------------
* 13-month period to 31 March 2019
The profit before tax for the 13-month period to 31 March 2019 was GBP6.3 million (28 February 2018: GBP48.2 million), after generating development and trading gains of GBP42.8 million, marginally lower than the range we were guiding for the year.
Development and trading gains
During the year, we realised a total of GBP42.8 million of net development and trading gains. The key components of these gains are:
-- GBP13.8 million - Preston Barracks: disposal of residential accommodation scheme. -- GBP9.3 million - Curzon Park: disposal of site via CPO*. -- GBP4.8 million - Harwell: construction of two new buildings and disposal of surplus land*. -- GBP4.7 million - Bryn Blaen: disposal of windfarm. -- GBP4.0 million - Bicester: disposal of site. -- GBP3.3 million - Charlton Riverside: disposal of site*. -- GBP1.8 million - Circus Street: construction of student accommodation.
* These gains represent U+I's share of gains on assets held in joint venture arrangements with significant capital partners
The single largest element of the development and trading gains was at Preston Barracks where the consented residential site in Brighton was sold to Optivo, one of the largest housing providers in the UK and experts in affordable housing. This generated a profit of GBP13.8 million.
The Group holds 50% of the share capital in a joint venture which previously owned a 10.5-acre site at Curzon Park in Birmingham. During the year, the site was acquired, via compulsory purchase order (CPO), by High Speed Rail Link 2 (HS2). As a result of this disposal, the Group has been able to recognise a joint venture asset and hence recover losses previously recognised when the Group was unsure as to the recoverable amounts associated with the site. The net benefit during the period to the Group as a result of this is GBP9.3 million.
In addition to the above, approximately GBP1.1 million of gains were realised from a number of smaller projects as we continued our policy of rationalising the number of projects.
At our retail project in Lichfield we have taken a GBP3.4 million write off as we were unable to deliver a viable project prior to the longstop date in the PPP agreement; we will not incur any other costs.
Development and trading gains can be analysed as follows.
13-month period Year ended
ended 28 February
31 March 2019 2018
GBPm GBPm
-------------------------------- --------------- ------------
Included in segmental analysis:
Development and trading
segment result 19.3 48.4
Share of results of joint
ventures 17.1 13.0
Sale of investments 3.9 6.8
Other income - 0.1
Adjustment re legacy corporate
loan 2.5 -
-------------------------------- --------------- ------------
42.8 68.3
-------------------------------- --------------- ------------
Investment property portfolio
During the period, the Group continued its policy of selectively disposing of non-core assets outside of our key geographies, in particular Killingworth Centre, Newcastle.
We have been cautious about acquisitions, especially in light of uncertainty in the UK property market mainly driven by inactivity and lack of governmental decision making. In spite of this, we have invested GBP29.2 million in three attractive investment opportunities: St Peter's Quarter, Bournemouth, Waterglade Retail Park, Clacton-on-Sea and a Pure Gym unit in Finchley, where we will look to drive double-digit returns through asset management initiatives.
The Group's historic portfolio does still have a retail bias and as such we have suffered an GBP11.2 million decline in values. Overall, including our share of joint venture assets, we have seen a 4.9% decline in capital values, as market sentiment outweighed asset fundamentals, especially for retail property outside London and the South East.
Working capital
The nature of the Group's business involves transactions in real estate, both purchase and disposal, where there is usually a period of up to four weeks between exchange, when the transaction is accounted for, and completion when the associated cash flows.
As a result, depending on the purchase and disposal activity around the period end, there are large differences between the level of receivables and payables from one Balance Sheet to the next. For example, as at 31 March 2019, there were receivables of GBP23.2 million relating to asset disposals immediately prior to the period end (28 February 2018: GBP84.8 million). This highlights the significant movement from one period to the next of receivables.
Overheads
The overheads during the period comprised:
13-month period Year ended
ended 28 February
31 March 2019 2018
GBPm GBPm
--------------------------------- --------------- ------------
Group overheads 21.9 24.2
LTIP charge (net) - (1.8)
--------------------------------- --------------- ------------
21.9 22.4
Income from specialist platforms (2.5) (2.1)
--------------------------------- --------------- ------------
Net recurring overheads 19.4 20.3
Annualised net recurring
overheads 17.8 20.3
--------------------------------- --------------- ------------
We remain rigorously focused on maintaining capital discipline and a strong balance sheet. We have put in place an efficiencies programme to ensure that we continue to manage our recurring overheads as effectively as possible, whilst identifying further opportunities for efficiencies, both this financial period and in the longer-term. This is being led by a Chief Operating Officer who was appointed in January 2018 on an interim basis to undertake a review of all areas of the business and identify and implement cost savings. Annualised net recurring overheads in the financial period were GBP17.8 million (2018: GBP20.3 million).
Currently we employ certain specialist development related expertise internally, such as project management and marketing, rather than using external specialists. We do this as it gives us more immediate control over certain aspects of our projects. Historically we viewed this as a central cost/overhead expense. In order to more closely align ourselves with and be more comparable to our peer group, we are now adopting the industry-wide practice of capitalising that expenditure where appropriate, rather than treating it as a corporate overhead. This has led to capitalisation of GBP2.5 million of staff costs in FY2019.This is expected to be at a similar level in future years.
We have also invested in launching and building a market leading brand, which has helped us to win projects like CNFE. Maintaining the U+I brand is essential to our continued success but we believe we can now reduce our corporate marketing spend, whilst continuing to maintain its awareness and understanding.
To further increase efficiencies, over the financial period, we have undertaken an internal review of each project, which has led to us realigning teams and improving some of our processes so we now believe we have the right team size, structure and skillset, relevant to the scale, value and stage of each project, whilst being more efficient in our day to day delivery. As we conclude our existing smaller and legacy projects and continue to shift to fewer, larger projects, productivity will increase and support more efficient delivery, whilst generating higher returns as we turn these projects from vision to reality. Furthermore, as we move into the delivery phase of our pipeline, we will increase the opportunity to earn additional Development Management Fees to offset our overhead. Fees generated in FY2019 were GBP2.5 million, a figure which we expect to increase annually over the next five years, with GBP3.0 million targeted in FY2020.
Net finance costs
Net finance costs for the 13-month period of GBP5.8 million (2018: GBP9.7 million) include a foreign exchange gain of GBP0.2 million (2018: GBP1.4 million deficit) in respect of the retranslation of Euro-denominated loans and deposits.
For entities where the reporting currency is in Euros, retranslation differences are charged to reserves. The movement for 2019 was a gain of GBP0.2 million (2018: GBP0.3 million gain). The net impact of these movements on NAV during the year was GBP0.4 million gain (2018: GBP1.1 million loss).
Debt
We use debt finance to leverage the use of our equity in property transactions. We continue to borrow from a wide range of financial institutions, including UK clearing banks, insurance company-backed lenders, debt funds and financial institutions. The availability of debt finance has not impacted our ability to transact new property deals.
Details of our debt facilities are shown in the table below:
Group's bank facilities
Principal financial highlights
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utilised
as at
31 March Loan to Interest(1) Minimum(1)
2019 Interest value cover net worth
Facility type Notes Total facility GBP'000 rate Maturity ratio ratio GBP'000
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Loans financing longer-term assets
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term loan 3 GBP10,580 10,580 Variable 10-Jan-20 73% 160% -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Loan notes 2 EUR47,000 40,448 Cap 24-Apr-21 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan GBP19,710 13,410 Variable 25-Mar-22 50% 175% Term loan
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan GBP66,667 65,831 Fixed 5-Dec-32 75% 125% Term loan
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Loans financing development and trading assets
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Term loan 3 GBP44,100 45,276 Fixed 31-Mar-19 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3, 4 GBP26,000 28,432 Variable 30-Jun-19 60% 125% 100,000
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 GBP4,900 4,900 Fixed 16-Nov-19 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 EUR22,045 18,292 Fixed 18-Nov-19 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 EUR20,125 11,928 Fixed 06-Jan-20 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 4 GBP9,500 10,415 Variable 31-Jan-20 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 4 GBP26,000 26,652 Fixed 31-Jan-20 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 GBP31,000 15,881 Variable 24-Oct-21 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 GBP5,610 5,330 Cap 31-Mar-21 60% 175% -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 EUR14,000 12,048 Variable 08-Aug-21 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan GBP16,800 15,800 Fixed 15-Jan-22 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan EUR8,515 7,328 Fixed 13-Dec-22 75% - 200,000
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 GBP16,674 3,500 Variable 31-Dec-22 - 120% -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan EUR2,180 1,876 Fixed 28-Mar-23 75% - 200,000
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 GBP24,113 22,410 Variable 31-Dec-22 - - -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
Term loan 3 GBP110,000 65,000 SWAP 16-Feb-26 65% 150% -
-------------- ----- -------------- --------- -------- --------- ------- ----------- ----------
1 Interest cover ratios are specific to the loan and the relevant property. Minimum net worth refers to the net asset value of the Group per its latest Balance Sheet (31 March or 30 September)
2 These unsecured, variable rate loan notes are denominated in Euros, with a nominal value of EUR47 million. An interest rate cap is in place to limit the Group's exposure to movements in the EURIBOR rate.
3 Loans relating to joint ventures represent the total loan facility and not the Group's share
4 This facility has the provision to allow interest to be rolled into the loan
Represents the amount of the Group's liability in Sterling as at the balance sheet date
During the year, the major changes to our debt portfolio were as follows:
-- Refinancing the Barclays loan for a new GBP19.7 million, three-year facility. This also resulted in the repayment of the Santander loan.
-- Draw down of GBP15.8 million loan to finance the purchase of The Arts Building. -- Two new Irish loan facilities secured on two industrial assets in Dublin.
-- To enable the build out of the Hendy wind farm, the joint venture entered into a GBP16.7 million loan facility with Close Brothers.
-- The Santander facility financing the development of Harwell was refinanced during the period. The new GBP110.0 million facility was signed by the joint venture in February 2019.
Our debt policy can be summarised as follows:
-- Longer-term fixed rate facilities are used to fund longer-term income-producing assets. Target loan to value (LTV): 60-65%.
-- Shorter-term asset-specific debt aligned to the business plan for shorter-term trading assets. Target LTV: 50-55%.
-- Medium-term Euro-denominated corporate debt to support our investment into Euro-denominated assets in Dublin. No LTV target as this is corporate-level debt.
-- The Group has no specific debt on non-income producing assets or investments into PPP schemes.
-- Joint venture arrangements are designed to leverage both our operational expertise and our Balance Sheet. When acting with third party capital we deploy asset-specific debt, which is often at a higher LTV (65-75%), reflecting the risk appetite and cost of capital of our partners.
A summary of the Group's gearing is shown below.
Group gearing
31 March 22 May 28 February
Target 2019 2019 2018
--------------- ------ -------- ------ -----------
Gearing (excl.
share of JVs) 40-50% 38.6% 39.1% 31.4%
Gearing (incl.
share of JVs) 50-60% 62.8% 64.3% 50.5%
--------------- ------ -------- ------ -----------
The greatest fluctuation in gearing occurs where we utilise debt to fund the build-out of pre-sold residential developments on our own Balance Sheet.
Our overall gearing targets therefore act as a limit on the amount of development that we can undertake on our own Balance Sheet.
The Group maintains a mix of variable and fixed rate facilities to provide a degree of certainty whilst also benefiting from historically low interest rates. Longer-term facilities tend to be structured with fixed rates.
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
---------------------------- ----- -------- -----------
Group net debt and gearing:
Gross debt GBPm (179.8) (171.2)
Cash and cash equivalents GBPm 40.8 52.1
---------------------------- ----- -------- -----------
Net debt GBPm (139.0) (119.1)
---------------------------- ----- -------- -----------
Net assets GBPm 360.1 379.3
Gearing % 38.6 31.4
Weighted average debt
maturity years 6.2 7.0
Weighted average interest
rate % 4.6 4.7
---------------------------- ----- -------- -----------
Including joint ventures:
Share of net debt in
joint ventures GBPm (87.3) (72.7)
Gearing % 62.8 50.5
Weighted average debt
maturity years 4.5 5.4
Weighted average interest
rate % 5.1 5.2
---------------------------- ----- -------- -----------
Monies held in restrictive account and deposits
As at 31 March 2019 the Group held GBP8.8 million of restricted cash deposits (28 February 2018: GBP11.5 million). Restricted cash deposits primarily arise as a result of the operation of certain of the Group's debt facilities where, on disposal of an asset charged to the facility, the lender temporarily retains the sale proceeds as security pending reinvestment. The restricted cash deposits are deemed to be directly attributable to associated debt facility and as such are reported under financing activities in the Group's Consolidated Cash Flow Statement.
Joint venture arrangements
The Group has a policy of working in joint venture arrangements as a way of:
-- Leveraging our equity so we can participate in projects that would otherwise be too large for our Balance Sheet;
-- Accessing deals with specialist partners who have secured positions on projects but require further equity and the planning and structuring skills, which are a key part of our business.
During the year, the Group has continued to create considerable value from one of its most important joint ventures:
-- At Harwell we are partnered with the UKAEA, STFC and Harwell Oxford Partners on the 700-acre Harwell Campus, an internationally renowned science campus. During the period we have successfully completed the letting and development of two buildings and let over 125,000 sq. ft. of space to, amongst others, Oxford Nanopore technologies and Agilent Technologies. During the period this has generated both GBP4.8 million of development and trading gains and net investment gains of GBP1.2 million in respect of the Group's holding.
Taxation
Our tax strategy is aligned with our overall business strategy and is principled, transparent and sustainable for the long- term. The key components of this strategy are:
-- A commitment to ensure full compliance with all statutory obligations, including full disclosure to all relevant tax authorities;
-- Any tax planning strategy entered into is only implemented after full consideration of the risks and if necessary after prior consultation with the relevant tax authority. Those findings are recorded in any relevant structuring document;
-- The maintenance of good relationships with tax authorities and a clear interaction between tax planning and the Group's wider corporate reputation and responsibility; and
-- Management of tax affairs in a manner that seeks to maximise shareholder value whilst operating within the parameters of existing tax legislation.
For the financial period the underlying tax rate, including deferred taxes, was 16.5%. The Group's tax rate is sensitive to both geographical location of profits and business activity from which the profits are derived. It is anticipated that future years will see an increase in the effective tax rate following legislative changes announced in the 2017 Budget and the possible impact of interest deductions in line with OECD's Base Erosion Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Point 4.
The suitability of our tax strategy is kept under constant review to ensure compliance with both the fiscal needs of the Group and the constant evolution of tax legislation.
Dividends
Our dividend policy consists of two elements as follows:
-- An Ordinary dividend, comprising interim and final at 2.4 pence and 3.5 pence per share respectively; and
-- A supplemental dividend related to the net free level of cash flow generated from the financial year.
A final dividend of 3.5 pence per share was approved by the Board on 21 May 2019, to be paid on 6 September 2019 to shareholders on the register on 9 August 2019 (2018: 3.5 pence per share).
On 21 May 2019, the Board approved the payment of a supplemental dividend of 4.1 pence per share, to be paid on 12 July 2019 to shareholders on the register on 6 June 2019.
Foreign currency movements
The Group's operations are conducted primarily in the UK. However, as one of its three core regions is Dublin, the Group is exposed to movements in foreign exchange rates between Sterling and Euros.
The Group's principal exposure to foreign currency movements is in respect of its EUR47.0 million Euro-denominated loan notes, Euro-denominated bank loans and property assets.
At 31 March 2019, the Group had net Euro-denominated liabilities of EUR30.9 million (2018: EUR38.7 million).
During the year, the value of Sterling against the Euro has fluctuated reflecting economic uncertainty relating to the UK's decision to leave the EU. The impact on our NAV during the period was a gain of GBP0.4 million, which is the net result of a gain of GBP0.2 million recorded in finance income in the profit and loss account and a gain through reserves of GBP0.2 million. This demonstrates that the Group's foreign currency hedging strategy has been effective during times of significant foreign currency volatility.
Marcus Shepherd
Chief Financial Officer
22 May 2019
Five-year summary
31 March 28 February 28 February 28 February 28 February
2019 2018 2017 2016 201
--------------------- ------ -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Revenue GBPm 150.3 173.7 123.9 242.3 203.7
Profit/(loss) before
taxation GBPm 6.3 48.2 (1.7) 25.8 34.8
Net assets GBPm 360.1 379.3 347.6 363.3 346.4
Earnings/(loss)
per share Pence 4.2 32.2 (2.4) 17.5 26.8
Net assets per share Pence 289 303 278 291 276
--------------------- ------ -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Viability statement
Introduction
U+I's business model is to deliver returns through regeneration, realising profits by successfully transforming undervalued land and assets into new places that deliver social and economic value to a wide range of stakeholders.
The key drivers in delivering the model are as follows:
-- Ability to source a regular supply of new business opportunities which can deliver profits in future years.
-- Sourcing debt finance to leverage new business opportunities and refinance existing facilities where appropriate.
-- Access to a wide range of capital partners to co-invest in larger schemes and forward fund larger speculative developments.
-- Successfully delivering new planning permissions.
-- A high-yielding investment portfolio generating a sustainable cash yield to support business activities and sustain corporate overheads.
-- Maintaining a diversified portfolio of projects so as to reduce property specific risk across the overall portfolio.
Assessment period
The Group's business planning process consists of a five-year look forward. The rationale for this is that the main driver of success is the generation of development and trading gains from projects, with the exception of two outliers:
-- Short-term pure trading; and -- Long-term land strategies.
The majority of projects have a duration of between two and five years from acquisition to exit. Therefore, from any starting point, over a five-year period the vast majority of projects will have moved through to exit. To plan for a period longer than five years would lead to the construction of a purely theoretical model in years 5+, rather than one underpinned by specific existing projects in the initial five-year period.
Therefore, for the purposes of this review, the business has been considered and stress tested over a five-year period.
Consideration of principal risks
The nature of the Group's business and the industry in which it operates expose it to a variety of risks. The Board regularly reviews the principal risks and assesses the appropriate controls and mitigating actions required to manage the operations of the Group within an appropriate risk environment. The Board has further considered their impact within the context of the Group's viability with particular emphasis on construction and planning risk.
Assumptions
In assessing the long-term viability of the Group, the Board has made the following assumptions:
Property investment valuations continue to be broadly stable with no prolonged significant downwards movements.
-- The Group continues to be able to deliver cash-backed development and trading gains from its existing portfolio of projects sufficient to meet its operational requirements, principally driven by securing new planning permissions.
-- The Group continues to be able to source new business opportunities capable of delivering both short-term trading gains and longer-term development gains to replace existing projects as they are exited.
-- The Group continues with its policy of having a mixture of long-term debt associated with its long-term investment portfolio and shorter-term stand-alone debt associated with its development and trading projects.
-- The Group continues, as it did throughout the previous recession, to be able to source both replacement and new debt facilities as they are required from both existing and new lenders.
-- The Group continues with its policy of maintaining a broad range of counterparties, including financial, contractor and purchaser, so as to mitigate the impact of potential counterparty failure.
-- The Group continues its policy of de-risking developments by obtaining forward-funding for larger schemes and only carrying out limited on-balance sheet development.
-- Construction contracts are entered into on a guaranteed maximum price basis where possible.
The Group maintains its current conservative gearing strategy.
In addition, the Group's five-year business model was stress-tested to simulate either a deterioration in market conditions, which could be the result of a number of factors, including a disorderly Brexit outcome, or a flexing of these assumptions, as detailed below. In particular, consideration was given to the following:
-- Persistent valuation falls of 2.5%, 5.0% and 10.0% per annum for each of the next five years and the resultant impact upon NAV, gearing covenants and cash levels i.e. a fall of 25% in property values.
-- Inability to win any new business opportunities over the next five years - hence the only profits that can be generated are from existing schemes.
-- Debt facilities were stress-tested to see how much property valuations would need to fall before loan covenants would be breached and how much cash would be required to cure any loan covenant defaults.
Conclusion
As a result of the work performed above, including the consideration of the key assumptions and the subsequent stress testing, the Board believes that the Group's strategy of maintaining a broad portfolio of development and trading projects, a core investment portfolio and a diverse range of financial and operational counterparties provides the Group with a strong platform on which to continue its business.
The Directors therefore have a reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the five-year period to March 2024.
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the 13-month period ended 31 March 2019
13-month period Year ended
ended 28 February
31 March 2019 2018
Total Total
Notes GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Revenue 2 150,310 173,684
Direct costs 2 (123,449) (117,477)
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Gross profit 2 26,861 56,207
Operating costs 2 (21,859) (24,235)
(Loss)/gain on disposal of investment properties 2 (223) 3,324
Loss on revaluation of property portfolio 9 (11,165) (2,417)
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Operating (loss)/profit (6,386) 32,879
Other income 2,547 2,089
Share of post-tax profits of joint ventures
and associates 2 12,128 16,175
Profit from sale of investments 2 3,888 6,713
(Loss)/gain on sale of other plant and
equipment (42) 5
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Profit before interest and income tax 12,135 57,861
Finance income 3(a) 617 94
Finance costs 3(b) (6,432) (9,783)
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Profit before income tax 6,320 48,172
Income tax (1,120) (7,916)
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Profit for the period/year 5,200 40,256
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Profit for the period/year 5,200 40,256
Items that may be subsequently reclassified
to profit or loss:
Currency translation differences 163 292
Revaluation of operating property 6 40 35
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Total comprehensive income for the period/year 5,403 40,583
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------
Basic earnings per share attributable to
the Parent* 5 4.2p 32.2p
Diluted earnings per share attributable
to the Parent* 5 4.2p 32.2p
------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------- ------------ * Adjusted earnings per share from continuing activities is given in note 5.
All amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income relate to continuing operations.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
As at 31 March 2019
31 March 2019 28 February 2018
Notes GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Direct real estate interests
Investment properties 6 154,041 139,506
Operating property 750 775
Trade and other receivables 4,617 2,487
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
159,408 142,768
Indirect real estate interests
Investments in associates 7 5,763 -
Investments in joint ventures 7 103,870 92,806
Intangible assets - goodwill 2,328 2,328
Financial assets at amortised cost 3,204 -
Financial assets at fair value through
profit or loss 13,244 -
Financial assets - available-for-sale - 15,812
Financial assets at fair value through
other comprehensive income 1,271 -
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
129,680 110,946
Other non-current assets
Other plant and equipment 4,594 4,241
Derivative financial instruments - 10
Deferred income tax assets 1,294 1,225
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
5,888 5,476
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total non-current assets 294,976 259,190
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
CURRENT ASSETS
Inventory - development and trading
properties 8 203,759 216,393
Financial assets at amortised cost 8,962 8,888
Financial assets available-for-sale - 7,949
Financial assets at fair value through
profit or loss 13,672 -
Trade and other receivables 60,426 119,629
Current income tax asset - -
Monies held in restricted accounts
and deposits 8,841 11,473
Cash and cash equivalents 31,911 40,626
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
327,571 404,958
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total assets 622,547 664,148
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Trade and other payables (77,286) (99,716)
Current income tax liabilities (1,230) (7,748)
Borrowings 9 (37,394) (63,209)
Provisions (36) (2,513)
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(115,946) (173,186)
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Borrowings 9 (142,362) (107,975)
Deferred income tax liabilities (3,448) (3,290)
Provisions (646) (416)
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
(146,456) (111,681)
Total liabilities (262,402) (284,867)
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Net assets 360,145 379,281
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
EQUITY
Share capital 62,716 62,671
Share premium 104,590 104,475
Other reserves 54,457 56,628
Retained earnings 138,382 155,507
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Total equity 360,145 379,281
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Basic/diluted net assets per share
attributable to the owners of the
Parent 5 289p/289p 303p/303p
--------------------------------------- ----- --------- --------- --------- ---------
Approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 22 May 2019 and signed on its behalf by:
M S Weiner, Director
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
For the 13-month period ended 31 March 2019
Share Share Other Retained Total
capital premium reserves earnings equity
Notes GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
At 1 March 2017 62,613 104,325 54,551 126,136 347,625
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Profit for the year ended 28
February 2018 - - - 40,256 40,256
Other comprehensive income:
- Revaluation of operating
property - - 35 - 35
- Currency translation differences - - 292 - 292
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Total comprehensive income
for the year ended 28 February
2018 - - 327 40,256 40,583
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Issue of Ordinary shares 58 150 - - 208
Share-based payments - - 1,750 - 1,750
Final dividend 2017 4 - - - (4,379) (4,379)
Supplemental dividend 2017 4 - - - (3,503) (3,503)
Interim dividend 2018 4 - - - (3,003) (3,003)
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Total contributions by and
distributions to owners of
the Company 58 150 1,750 (10,885) (8,927)
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Balance at 28 February 2018 62,671 104,475 56,628 155,507 379,281
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Profit for the 13-month period
ended
31 March 2019 - - - 5,200 5,200
Other comprehensive income:
- Revaluation of operating
property - - 40 - 40
- Currency translation differences - - 163 - 163
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Total comprehensive income
for the period ended 31 March
2019 - - 203 5,200 5,403
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Issue of Ordinary shares 45 115 - - 160
Share-based payments (net movement) - - (1,081) 109 (972)
Treasury shares (net movement) - - (1,293) - (1,293)
Final dividend 2018 4 - - - (4,390) (4,390)
Supplemental dividend 2018 4 - - - (15,033) (15,033)
Interim dividend 2019 4 - - - (3,011) (3,011)
------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Total contributions by and
distributions to owners of
the Company 45 115 (2,374) (22,325) (24,539) ------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- -------- Balance at 31 March 2019 62,716 104,590 54,457 138,382 360,145 ------------------------------------ ----- -------- -------- --------- --------- --------
Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
For the 13-month period ended 31 March 2019
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
Notes GBP'000 GBP'000
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
CASH GENERATED FROM/(USED IN) OPERATIONS
Cash flows generated from/(used in) operating
activities 10 31,562 (211)
Interest paid (7,189) (9,140)
Income tax paid (7,550) (296)
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities 16,823 (9,647)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Interest received 417 3,803
Proceeds on disposal of other plant and equipment 10 5
Proceeds on disposal of investment properties 7,293 39,253
Proceeds from sale of investments 10,506 -
Purchase of other plant and equipment (1,225) (822)
Purchase of investment properties (30,496) (2,432)
Investment in joint ventures (31,351) (31,535)
Cash inflow from joint ventures and associates
- disposals - 4,000
Cash inflow from joint ventures and associates
- profit distribution - 6,482
Cash inflow from joint ventures and associates
- dividends 17,654 -
Cash inflow from joint ventures and associates
- repayment of loan 8,998 972
Cash outflow for financial asset loans (3,784) (5,676)
Cash inflow from financial assets - loans repaid
by other real estate businesses 10,518 10,455
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities (11,460) 24,505
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Dividends paid (22,434) (10,885)
Issue of new shares 160 208
Purchase of treasury shares (1,293) -
Repayments of borrowings (38,233) (120,529)
New bank loans raised 46,013 118,110
Transaction costs associated with borrowings (923) (922)
Cash released from restricted accounts 31,910 27,434
Cash retained by restricted accounts (29,278) (11,421)
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
Net cash (used in)/generated from financing activities (14,078) 1,995
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (8,715) 16,853
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of
the year 40,626 23,785
Exchange loss on cash and cash equivalents - (12)
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period/year 31,911 40,626
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS COMPRISE:
Cash at bank and in hand 31,911 40,626
Bank overdrafts - -
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period/year 31,911 40,626
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
NET DEBT COMPRISES:
Monies held in restricted accounts and deposits 8,841 11,473
Cash and cash equivalents 31,911 40,626
Financial liabilities:
- Current borrowings (37,394) (63,209)
- Non-current borrowings (142,362) (107,975)
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
Net debt (139,004) (119,085)
-------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------- -----------
An analysis of the movement in net debt is provided in note 10.
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For the 13-month period ended 31 March 2019
1 Basis of preparation and accounting policies
a)
(i) General information
The Consolidated financial statements of the Group for the 13-month period ended 31 March 2019 comprise the results of U and I Group PLC and its subsidiaries and were authorised by the Board for issue on 21 May 2019.
The Company is a public limited company which is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 7A Howick Place, London SW1P 1DZ.
(ii) Going concern
The Group meets its day to day working capital requirements through its cash reserves and bank facilities. The current economic conditions continue to create uncertainty. The Group produces regular forecasts and cash flow projections to confirm that it can continue to operate within the level of its existing banking facilities. The Group considers the risks and uncertainties highlighted in the Viability Statement when reviewing its projections. Following this review, the Directors consider it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing its Consolidated financial statements.
b) Basis of preparation
The Group's financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRSIC) interpretation as adopted by the European Union and with the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The accounting policies which follow set out those policies which were applied consistently in preparing the financial statements for the 13-month period ended 31 March 2019 and the year ended 28 February 2018.
The Consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investment property, operating property, financial assets classified as fair value through profit or loss (FVPL) or fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI), financial liabilities and derivative instruments at fair value through profit and loss.
The financial information included in the preliminary announcement does not constitute statutory Consolidated financial statements of the Group for the periods ended 31 March 2019 and 28 February 2018 but is derived from those Consolidated financial statements. Statutory Consolidated financial statements for 2018 have been delivered to the registrar of companies and those for 31 March 2019 will be delivered in due course. The auditors have reported on those financial statements; their reports were (i) unmodified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without modifying their report, and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
c) Critical accounting judgements and estimates
When preparing the Group financial statements, management are required to make judgements, assumptions and estimates concerning the future. These judgements and assumptions are made at the time the financial statements are prepared and adopted based on the best information available. Actual outcomes may be different from initial estimates and are reflected in the financial statements as soon as they become apparent. Management believe that the underlying assumptions are appropriate. Areas requiring judgements or estimates are discussed in the following section.
Judgements other than estimates
1.1 Classification of directly owned property assets
The Group earns revenue from property development, trading and investment, and operating serviced offices.
Property development includes the entire development process from identification of an opportunity through to construction, letting and sale of a completed scheme. This activity is undertaken both on the Group's own Balance Sheet and in partnership with institutional investors, usually via a pre-sale of the completed development.
Property trading refers to participation in the development process, where the Group acquires an interest in land and enhances the potential development, for instance by procuring or changing planning permission, before selling on to a third party to complete the development.
Property investment represents the acquisition of income-generating real estate which is held for the purposes of income and capital gain, through active asset management.
In most cases the property interest is held directly by the Group and is classified either as investment property (refer note 6) or as inventory for development and trading properties (refer note 8).
The varied nature of the Group's properties is such that a number exhibit characteristics consistent with more than one classification; also, the Directors' strategy for an asset may change during its ownership. The Directors determine the status of each asset according to their intention on acquisition. A change in classification is made only in exceptional circumstances, where the strategy and use have demonstrably changed. Two assets have been reclassified from inventory to investment properties during the period (refer note 6).
1.2 Classification of projects in partnership
In addition to its directly owned and managed activities, the Group participates in similar activities in partnership with others, typically to access expertise in different locations or market sectors. The Group's financial participation may be by way of equity investment or loan. In each case a judgement is required as to the status of the Group's interest, as an associate, a joint venture, a joint operation or a financial asset, typically focusing on the extent of control exercised by the Group.
The Group's share of control is governed and achieved by a mixture of rights set out in agreements and participation in the management of each business. The exercise of control in practice does not always follow the legal structure. The Directors have considered the position in respect of each venture, taking account of the operation in practice, and have determined the status of each accordingly.
These investments are reported under the relevant balance sheet headings.
1.3 Acquisition of subsidiaries
The Group sometimes acquires properties through the purchase of entities which own real estate. At the time of acquisition, the Group considers whether the transaction represents the acquisition of a business. In cases where the entity is capable of being operated as a business, or an integrated set of activities is acquired in addition to the property, the Group accounts for the acquisition as a business combination. When the acquisition does not represent a business, it is accounted for as the purchase of a group of assets and liabilities. In making this distinction, the Group considers the number of items of land and buildings owned by the entity, the extent of ancillary services provided by the entity, and whether the entity has its own staff to manage the property (over and above the maintenance and security of the premises).
Estimates
1.4 Valuation of property assets
The key source of estimation uncertainty rests in the values of property assets, which affects several categories of assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
The investment portfolio (and the operating property) are stated at fair value, which requires a number of judgements and estimates in assessing the qualities of the Group's assets relative to market transactions.
The same uncertainties affect the determination of fair value of certain financial instruments, with the further complexity that the value of these assets requires estimates of future construction costs, tenant demand and market yields.
The Group's development and trading properties are carried at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The determination of net realisable value relies upon similar estimates, with the added challenge, in some cases, of judgements about uncertain planning outcomes. These amounts are disclosed in note 8.
1.5 Impairment reviews
During the period, the Curzon Park site was subject to a compulsory purchase order (CPO) and the Group received an initial payment of compensation. The Directors are continuing their negotiations with the Government regarding the final settlement due for the site. The timing and amount of future receipts remain uncertain, however, following consultations with CPO advisors as to the minimum amount expected to receive, the Directors have reversed GBP4,613,000 of the impairment previously booked against the Group's joint venture holding.
1.6 Derivative financial instruments
The Group is party to a number of interest rate swap agreements which are accounted for as derivatives and measured at fair value. The estimation of this figure is based upon market assumptions about future movements in interest and exchange rates.
1.7 Group Long-Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)
During the period, the Group made awards to staff under the Group's LTIP. The awards vest according to a number of performance criteria, the primary measure being net asset value growth over a three-year period. In calculating the provision to accrue, management are required to estimate net asset growth over the vesting period. The estimate is reassessed at each reporting date. Following assessment, the 2016 LTIP will not vest and previous provisions have been reversed.
1.8 Revenue
The Group develops and sells properties. The development or sale contract will specify certain conditions which need to be satisfied and considered highly probable in order for revenue to be recognised. The Directors need to consider the terms within each contract in order to determine the amount and when revenue is recognised. The Directors will also need to consider the certainty surrounding the payment of contingent or variable consideration.
2 Segmental analysis
The segmental information presented consistently follows the information provided to the CODM and reflects the two sectors in which the Group operates. The CODM, which is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Leadership Team. Following the decision to scale down its serviced office business the Group has reassessed its operating divisions. From 1 March 2018, for management purposes, the Group is now organised into two operating divisions, whose principal activities are as follows:
-- Investment - management of the Group's investment portfolio, generating rental income and valuation surpluses from property management; and
-- Development and trading - managing the Group's development and trading projects. Revenue is received from project management fees, development profits and the disposal of inventory.
The remaining elements of the service office operation are now reported under the investment division.
Operating revenue for the year ended 28 February 2018 was received from serviced office operations and was principally received under short-term licence agreements. During the period, the operating segment would have reported a deficit of GBP196,000.
These divisions are the basis on which the Group reports its primary segmental information. All operations occur and all assets are located in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland. All revenue arises from continuing operations.
Unallocated amounts relate to general corporate assets and liabilities which cannot be allocated to specific segments; an analysis is provided in the table on the following page.
These divisions are the basis on which the Group reports its primary segmental information. All operations occur and all assets are located in the United Kingdom, except assets of GBP47,575,000 (28 February 2018: GBP30,004,000) which are located in the Republic of Ireland. All revenue arises from continuing operations.
Development
Investment and trading Total
13-month period ended 31 March 2019 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
-------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
Segment revenue 16,299 134,011 150,310
Direct costs (8,719) (114,730) (123,449)
-------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
Segment result 7,580 19,281 26,861
Operating costs (1,322) (10,976) (12,298)
Unallocated overhead costs (9,561)
Loss on disposal of investment properties (223) - (223)
Loss on revaluation of property portfolio (11,165) - (11,165)
-------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
Operating (loss)/profit (6,386)
Other income 481 2,066 2,547
Share of post-tax (losses)/profits of joint
ventures and associates (5,002) 17,130 12,128
(Loss)/profit on sale of investment (42) 3,930 3,888
Unallocated loss on sale of other plant and
equipment (42)
-------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
Profit before interest and income tax 12,135
Finance income 250 367 617
Finance costs (3,725) (2,707) (6,432)
Profit before income tax 6,320
Income tax (1,120)
-------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
Profit for the period 5,200
-------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Segment assets 174,757 410,417 585,174
Unallocated assets 37,373 -------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ --------- Total assets 622,547 -------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ --------- Segment liabilities (74,834) (181,178) (256,012) Unallocated liabilities (6,390) -------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ --------- Total liabilities (262,402) -------------------------------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------
A summary of unallocated assets and liabilities is shown below.
Development
Investment and trading Total
13-month period ended 31 March 2019 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------
OTHER SEGMENT INFORMATION
Capital expenditure 30,519 - 30,519
Unallocated capital expenditure 1,202
Impairment of assets - (9,137) (9,137)
Depreciation 96 - 96
Unallocated depreciation 789
Development and trading expenditure - 103,832 103,832
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------
REVENUE
Rental income 13,725 2,465 16,190
Serviced office income 2,408 - 2,408
Project management fees - 345 345
Trading property sales - 7,393 7,393
Other property income - 7,371 7,371
Development proceeds - 116,374 116,374
Other 166 63 229
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------
16,299 134,011 150,310
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------
In the 13-month period ended 31 March 2019, three projects with turnover totalling GBP88,301,000 generated in excess of 10.0% of total revenue and fell within the development and trading segment.
Development
Investment and trading Operating Total
Year ended 28 February 2018 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Segment revenue 12,086 157,481 4,117 173,684
Direct costs (3,656) (109,037) (4,784) (117,477)
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Segment result 8,430 48,444 (667) 56,207
Operating costs (3,579) (20,656) - (24,235)
Gain on disposal of investment properties 3,324 - - 3,324
Loss on revaluation of property portfolio (2,417) - - (2,417)
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Operating profit/(loss) 5,758 27,788 (667) 32,879
Other income 483 1,606 - 2,089
Share of post-tax profits of joint
ventures and associates 3,142 13,033 - 16,175
(Loss)/profit on sale of investment (99) 6,812 - 6,713
Unallocated gain on sale of other
plant and equipment 5
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Profit before interest and income
tax 57,861
Finance income 35 59 - 94
Finance costs (4,942) (4,841) - (9,783)
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Profit before income tax 48,172
Income tax (7,916)
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Profit for the year 40,256
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Segment assets 175,388 444,763 2,402 622,553
Unallocated assets 41,595
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Total assets 664,148
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Segment liabilities (74,243) (192,548) (3,965) (270,756)
Unallocated liabilities (14,111)
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Total liabilities (284,867)
------------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- ---------
Development
Investment and trading Operating Total
Year ended 28 February 2018 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- --------
OTHER SEGMENT INFORMATION
Capital expenditure 3,038 - 22 3,060
Unallocated capital expenditure 194
Impairment of assets - (9,415) - (9,415)
Depreciation 173 - 63 236
Unallocated depreciation 724
Development and trading expenditure - 137,342 - 137,342
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- --------
REVENUE
Rental income 12,012 2,069 - 14,081
Serviced office income - - 4,117 4,117
Project management fees - 358 - 358
Trading property sales - 20,985 - 20,985
Other property income - 2,695 - 2,695
Development proceeds - 131,374 - 131,374
Other 74 - - 74
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- --------
12,086 157,481 4,117 173,684
------------------------------------ ---------- ------------ --------- --------
In the year ended 28 February 2018, project with turnover totalling GBP23,250,000 generated in excess of 10.0% of total revenue and fell within the development and trading segment.
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
---------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
UNALLOCATED ASSETS CAN BE ANALYSED AS FOLLOWS:
Other plant and equipment 4,448 4,087
Deferred income tax asset 1,294 1,225
Derivative financial instruments - 10
Trade and other receivables 8,773 5,596
Cash and cash equivalents 22,858 30,677
---------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
37,373 41,595
---------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
UNALLOCATED LIABILITIES CAN BE ANALYSED AS FOLLOWS:
Current borrowings (17) (17)
Trade and other payables (2,925) (10,804)
Deferred income tax liability (3,448) (3,290)
---------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
(6,390) (14,111)
---------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
3 Finance income and costs
a) Finance income
13-month
period ended Year ended
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Interest receivable on loans and deposits 463 94
Net foreign currency differences arising on retranslation
of cash and cash equivalents 154 -
----------------------------------------------------------- --- ------------
617 94
----------------------------------------------------------- --- ------------
b) Finance costs
13-month
period ended Year ended
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Interest on bank loans and other borrowings (9,138) (8,488)
Amortisation of transaction costs (449) (1,405)
Provision: unwinding of discount (19) (7)
Fair value loss on financial instruments - interest
rate swaps, caps and collars (10) (247)
Net foreign currency differences arising on retranslation
of cash and cash equivalents - (1,376)
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
(9,616) (11,523)
Capitalised interest on development and trading properties 3,184 1,740
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Total finance costs (6,432) (9,783)
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Net finance costs (5,815) (9,689)
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Net finance costs before foreign currency differences (5,969) (8,313)
----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Interest was capitalised at an average rate of 6.21%. GBP2,701,000 of capitalised interest (28 February 2018: GBPnil) was written off in the period. The tax treatment of capitalised interest follows the accounting treatment.
4 Dividends
13-month
period ended Year ended
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
DECLARED AND PAID DURING THE PERIOD/YEAR
Equity dividends on Ordinary shares:
Final dividend for 28 February 2018: 3.50 pence per
share (28 February 2017: 3.50 pence per share) 4,390 4,379
Interim dividend for 31 March 2019: 2.40 pence per
share (28 February 2018: 2.40 pence per share) 3,011 3,003
Supplemental dividend for 28 February 2018: 12.00
pence per share (28 February 2017: 2.80 pence per
share) 15,033 3,503
------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------------
22,434 10,885
------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------------
DIVID DECLARED BUT NOT PAID SINCE 31 MARCH 2019
Supplemental dividend for 31 March 2019: 4.1 pence
per share (28 February 2018: 12.00 pence per share) 5,114 15,041
PROPOSED FOR APPROVAL BY SHAREHOLDERS AT THE ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING
Final dividend for 31 March 2019: 3.50 pence per
share (28 February 2018: 3.50 pence per share) 4,366 4,387
------------------------------------------------------ ------ ------------
On 21 May 2019, the Board approved the payment of a supplemental dividend of 4.1 pence per share, which will be paid on 12 July 2019 to Ordinary shareholders on the register at the close of business on 6 June 2019 and will be recognised in the year ending 31 March 2020.
Subject to approval by shareholders, the final dividend of 3.50 pence was approved by the Board on 21 May 2019 and has not been included as a liability or deducted from retained earnings as at 31 March 2019. The final dividend is payable on 6 September 2019 to Ordinary shareholders on the register at the close of business on 9 August 2019 and will be recognised in the year ending 31 March 2020.
5 Earnings per share and net assets per share
The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share and EPRA profit per share is based on the following data:
13-month
period ended Year ended
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
---------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
PROFIT
Profit for the purpose of basic and diluted earnings
per share 5,200 40,256
Revaluation deficit/(surplus) (including share of
joint venture revaluation surplus) 8,711 (13,454)
Loss/(gain) on disposal of investment properties 223 (3,324)
Impairment of development and trading properties 9,137 8,415
Impairment of financial assets - 1,000
Reversal of previous impairments (5,705) -
Mark-to-market adjustment on interest rate swaps
(including share of joint venture
mark-to-market adjustment) 411 140
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------- ------------
EPRA adjusted profit from continuing activities attributable
to owners of the Company 17,977 33,033
-------------------------------------------------------------- ------- ------------
13-month
period ended Year ended
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------------------------- -------------- ------------
NUMBER OF SHARES
Weighted average number of Ordinary shares for the
purpose of earnings per share 124,674 125,218
Effect of dilutive potential Ordinary shares:
Share options 98 57
---------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Weighted average number of Ordinary shares for the
purpose of diluted earnings per share 124,772 125,275
---------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Basic earnings per share (pence) 4.2p 32.2p
---------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
Diluted earnings per share (pence) 4.2p 32.2p
---------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
EPRA adjusted earnings per share (pence) 14.4p 26.4p
---------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
EPRA adjusted diluted earnings per share (pence) 14.4p 26.4p
---------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------
The Directors consider the acquisition and disposal of trading assets to be part of the core business of the Group and therefore have not adjusted profit for the gain on disposal when calculating EPRA adjusted earnings per share.
Net assets per share and diluted net assets per share have been calculated as follows:
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
No. of Net assets No. of Net assets
Net assets shares per share Net assets shares per share
GBP'000 '000 Pence GBP'000 '000 Pence
------------------------------- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- ------- -----------
Basic net assets per share
attributable
to the owners 360,145 124,741 289 379,281 125,343 303
Cumulative mark-to-market
adjustment on interest rate
swaps (430) (19)
------------------------------- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- ------- -----------
EPRA adjusted net assets
per share 359,715 124,741 288 379,262 125,343 303
Cumulative mark-to-market
adjustment on interest rate
swaps 430 19
Fair value of debt (12,648) (9,514)
EPRA adjusted triple net
assets per share 347,497 124,741 280 369,767 125,343 295
Effect of dilutive potential
Ordinary shares 521 294 625 447
Diluted net assets per share 360,666 125,035 289 379,906 125,790 303
------------------------------- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- ------- -----------
EPRA diluted net assets per
share 360,236 125,035 288 379,887 125,790 303
------------------------------- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- ------- -----------
EPRA diluted triple net assets
per share 348,018 125,035 280 370,392 125,790 295
------------------------------- ---------- ------- ----------- ---------- ------- -----------
6 Investment properties
Long
Freehold leasehold Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
--------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- --------
At valuation 1 March 2017 136,873 42,326 179,199
Additions:
- acquisitions - 1,627 1,627
- capital expenditure 528 277 805
Transfer from development and trading assets 13,000 471 13,471
Disposals (51,688) (1,491) (53,179)
Deficit on revaluation (1,322) (1,095) (2,417)
--------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- --------
At valuation 28 February 2018 97,391 42,115 139,506
Additions:
- acquisitions 24,108 5,061 29,169
- capital expenditure 171 1,156 1,327
Transfer from development and trading assets - 2,720 2,720
Disposals - (7,516) (7,516)
Deficit on revaluation (6,873) (4,292) (11,165)
--------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- --------
At valuation 31 March 2019 114,797 39,244 154,041
--------------------------------------------- -------- ---------- --------
Direct costs of GBP6,115,000 (28 February 2018: GBP3,656,000) arose as a result of ownership of investment properties.
Two development and trading assets were transferred to investment properties during the period following a change in strategy and use of the assets. The Group intends to hold the properties for the foreseeable future for capital appreciation and rental income.
a) Reconciliation of market value of investment properties to the net book amount
The following table reconciles the market value of investment properties to their net book amount. The components of the reconciliation are included within their relevant balance sheet heading.
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
Market value as assessed by the independent valuers
or Directors 157,328 142,092
Amount included in prepayments and accrued income
in respect of lease incentives (3,287) (2,586)
------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
Net book amount of Investment properties - non-current
assets 154,041 139,506
------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
At 31 March and 30 September (previously 28 February and 31 August) each year, the Group engages professionally qualified valuers who hold a recognised professional qualification and who have recent experience in the locations and sectors of the investment portfolio. As at 31 March 2019, completed investment properties have been valued by CBRE Ltd at a value of GBP138,748,000 (28 February 2018: GBP124,329,000). The current value equates to the highest and best use value of the asset.
The valuers have consented to the use of their name in the financial statements.
Included within Investment properties are freehold land and buildings representing investment properties under development, amounting to GBP15,293,000 (28 February 2018: GBP15,177,000), which have been valued by the Directors. These properties comprise buildings and landholdings for current or future development as investment properties. This approach has been taken because the value of these properties is dependent on a detailed knowledge of the planning status, the competitive position of these assets and a range of complex project development appraisals.
Investment properties under development include GBP8,075,000 (28 February 2018: GBP8,075,000) of landholdings adjacent to retail properties within the Group's portfolio, acquired for the purpose of extending the existing shopping centres. The fair value of these properties rests in the planned extensions, and is difficult to estimate pending confirmation of designs and planning permission, and hence has been estimated by the Directors at cost as an approximation to fair value.
GBP138,593,000 (28 February 2018: GBP122,059,000) of total investment properties are charged as security against the Group's borrowings.
7 Investments
Investments Investments
in in
associates joint ventures
GBP'000 GBP'000
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
At 1 March 2017 8,372 46,089
Additions - 31,535
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
Share of profit/(loss) 7 (609)
Share of revaluation surplus - 16,670
Share of mark-to-market adjustment on interest
rate swaps - 107
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
Share of results 7 16,168
Transfer to subsidiaries (1,500) -
Disposal of associate (2,500) -
Distributions under profit share arrangements (4,379) (14)
Capital distributions - repayment of loans - (972)
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
At 28 February 2018 - 92,806
Additions 5,777 25,574
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
Share of (loss)/profit (14) 10,109
Share of revaluation surplus - 2,454
Share of mark-to-market adjustment on interest
rate swaps - (421)
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
Share of results (14) 12,142
Dividend distributions - (17,654)
Capital distributions - repayment of loans - (8,998)
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
At 31 March 2019 5,763 103,870
----------------------------------------------- ----------- ---------------
8 Inventory
Development Trading
properties properties Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ---------
DEVELOPMENT AND TRADING PROPERTIES
At 1 March 2017 165,588 42,754 208,342
Additions:
- acquisitions 3,131 - 3,131
- development expenditure 132,101 2,110 134,211
Transfer to investment assets (refer note
6) (471) (13,000) (13,471)
Disposals (90,428) (18,616) (109,044)
Foreign currency differences - 580 580
Net write down of development properties
to net realisable value (7,356) - (7,356)
------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ---------
At 28 February 2018 202,565 13,828 216,393
Additions:
- acquisitions - 35,912 35,912
- development expenditure 66,190 361 66,551
- capitalised staff costs 1,369 - 1,369
Transfer to investment assets (refer note
6) (2,720) - (2,720)
Disposals (97,985) (6,507) (104,492)
Foreign currency differences - (117) (117)
Net write down of development properties
to net realisable value (7,402) (1,735) (9,137)
------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ---------
At 31 March 2019 162,017 41,742 203,759
------------------------------------------ ----------- ----------- ---------
Included in the above amounts are projects stated at net realisable value of GBP88,266,000 (28 February 2018: GBP79,565,000).
Net realisable value has been estimated by the Directors, taking account of the plans for each project, the planning status and competitive position of each asset, and the anticipated market for the scheme. For material developments, the Directors have consulted with third-party chartered surveyors in setting their market assumptions.
Interest of GBP3,184,000 (28 February 2018: GBP1,740,000) was capitalised on development and trading properties during the period. Capitalised interest included within the carrying value of such properties on the Balance Sheet is GBP5,837,000 (28 February 2018: GBP5,354,000).
9 Financial liabilities
Borrowings
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
-------------------------------------- -------- -----------
CURRENT
Bank overdrafts - -
Current instalments due on bank loans 804 1,034
Current loans maturing 37,084 62,550
Unamortised transaction costs (494) (375)
-------------------------------------- -------- -----------
37,394 63,209
-------------------------------------- -------- -----------
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
------------------------------ -------- -----------
NON-CURRENT
Bank loans and loan notes 143,889 109,143
Unamortised transaction costs (1,527) (1,168)
------------------------------ -------- -----------
142,362 107,975
------------------------------ -------- -----------
Bank loans are secured by way of mortgages and legal charges on certain properties and cash deposits held by the Group.
10 Note to the cash flow statement
Reconciliation of profit before income tax to net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities:
31 March 28 February
2019 2018
GBP'000 GBP'000
----------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
Profit before income tax 6,320 48,172
Adjustments for:
Loss/(gain) on disposal of investment properties 223 (3,324)
Loss on revaluation of property portfolio 11,165 2,417
Other income - (2,089)
Share of post-tax profits of joint ventures and associates (12,128) (16,175)
Profit from sale of investment (3,888) (6,713)
Loss/(profit) on sale of other plant and equipment 42 (5)
Finance income (617) (94)
Finance cost 6,432 9,783
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 885 960
----------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
Operating cash flows before movements in working
capital 8,434 32,932
Decrease/(increase) in development and trading properties 3,680 (10,037)
Decrease/(increase) in receivables 45,635 (57,042)
(Decrease)/increase in payables (23,940) 33,696
(Decrease)/increase in provisions (2,247) 240
----------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
Cash flows generated from/(used in) operating activities 31,562 (211)
----------------------------------------------------------- -------- -----------
Analysis of movement in net debt
31 March 2019 28 February 2018
Cash
Cash and and
deposits Borrowings Net debt deposits Borrowings Net debt
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
-------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------
At 1 March 52,099 (171,184) (119,085) 51,271 (172,125) (120,854)
Cash flow (11,347) (7,780) (19,127) 840 2,419 3,259
Foreign currency exchange
movements - 1,035 1,035 (12) (1,497) (1,509)
Non-cash movements - (1,827) (1,827) - 19 19
-------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------
At 31 March/28 February 40,752 (179,756) (139,004) 52,099 (171,184) (119,085)
-------------------------- --------- ---------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------
11 Contingent liabilities
In the normal course of its development activity, the Group is required to guarantee performance bonds provided by banks in respect of certain obligations of Group companies. As at 31 March 2019, such guarantees amounted to GBP5,607,000 (28 February 2018: GBP5,543,000).
The Group has provided guarantees for rent liabilities in respect of properties previously occupied by Group companies. In the event that the current tenants ceased to pay rent, the Group would be liable to cover any shortfall until the building could be re-let. The Group has made provision against crystallised liabilities in this regard. In respect of potential liabilities where no provision has been made, the annual rent-roll of the buildings benefiting from such guarantees is GBP7,000 (28 February 2018: GBP7,000) with an average unexpired lease period of 67 years (28 February 2018: 68 years).
The Group has guaranteed its share of interest up to a maximum of GBP575,000 in respect of the GBP26,000,000 loan in Notting Hill (Guernsey Holdco) Limited.
12 Post balance sheet events
As at 31 March 2019, the Group had exchanged contracts on the sale of a number of assets held directly and in joint venture. These sales have since successfully completed.
Definitions
Operating profit: stated after loss on disposal of investment properties, the revaluation of the investment portfolio and exceptional items and before the results of associates, jointly controlled entities and finance income and costs.
IPD Index and Total Portfolio Return: total return from the completed investment portfolio, comprising net rental income or expenditure, capital gains or losses from disposals and revaluation surpluses or deficits, divided by the average capital employed during the financial period, as defined and measured by Investment Property Databank Limited (IPD), a company that produces independent benchmarks of property returns.
Total shareholder return: movement in share price over the period plus dividends paid as a percentage of the opening share price.
Gearing: expressed as a percentage and measured as net debt divided by total shareholders' funds.
Net debt: total debt less cash and short-term deposits, including cash held in restricted accounts.
Basic earnings per share: amounts are calculated by dividing profit or loss for the period attributable to owners of the Parent by the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding during the period, excluding shares purchased by the Parent and held as treasury shares.
Diluted earnings per share: amounts are calculated by dividing the profit or loss attributable to owners of the Parent by the weighted average number of Ordinary shares outstanding during the period plus the weighted average number of Ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential Ordinary shares into Ordinary shares.
Basic net assets per share: amounts are calculated by dividing net assets by the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the balance sheet date excluding shares purchased by the Parent and held as treasury shares.
Diluted net assets per share: amounts are calculated by dividing net assets by the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the balance sheet date plus the number of Ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential Ordinary shares into Ordinary shares.
Management have chosen to disclose the European Public Real Estate (EPRA) adjusted net assets per share and earnings per share from continuing activities in order to provide an indication of the Group's underlying business performance and to assist comparison between European property companies.
EPRA earnings: is the profit or loss after taxation excluding investment property revaluations (including valuations of joint venture investment properties), impairment of development and trading properties, exceptional items and mark-to-market movements of derivative financial instruments (including those of joint ventures) and intangible asset movements and their related taxation.
EPRA net assets (EPRA NAV): are the balance sheet net assets adjusted to reflect the fair value of development and trading assets, excluding mark-to-market adjustment on effective cash flow hedges and related debt adjustments and deferred taxation on revaluations and diluting for the effect of those shares potentially issuable under employee share schemes.
EPRA NAV per share: is EPRA NAV divided by the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the balance sheet date.
EPRA triple net assets (EPRA NNNAV): is EPRA NAV adjusted to reflect the fair value of debt and derivatives and to include deferred taxation on revaluations.
EPRA NNNAV per share: is EPRA NNNAV divided by the number of Ordinary shares in issue at the balance sheet date.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
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