Company Announcements

Half-year Report

Source: RNS
RNS Number : 3700G
Land Securities Group PLC
15 November 2022
 

 

 

 

15 November 2022

 

 

LAND SECURITIES GROUP PLC ("Landsec")

Results for the half year ended 30 September 2022

Strong strategic and operational momentum leave Landsec well placed in changing market

 

Mark Allan, Chief Executive of Landsec, commented:

 

"The strategy we launched two years ago was underpinned by two key principles of sustainable value creation: focusing our resources on where we have genuine competitive advantage, and preserving our strong balance sheet. At the time, interest rates and property yields were very low, so asset values in many sectors looked expensive. Acting on this, we sold nearly £2bn of mature, low yielding assets while focusing new investment exclusively on opportunities where we saw clear value, or situations which offered long term optionality.

 

Our competitive advantages remain our high-quality portfolio, our strong customer relationships, and the ability to unlock complex opportunities through our unique expertise, all of which is evidenced by our strong operational performance in the half year. Our business remains underpinned by a strong balance sheet, with a low 31% LTV, long 9.8-year average debt maturity and no need to refinance any debt until 2026. The successful execution of our strategy therefore means we are not only well placed for more challenging market conditions, but also have optionality to take advantage of new opportunities that will no doubt emerge as property markets continue to adjust to a new reality."

Financial highlights


30 Sep 2022

Prior period (1)


30 Sep 2022

Prior period (1)

EPRA earnings (£m)(2)(3)

197

180

(Loss)/profit before tax (£m)

(192)

275

EPRA EPS (pence)(2)(3)

26.6

24.3

Basic EPS (pence)

(25.7)

37.2

EPRA NTA per share (pence)(2)(3)

1,010

1,063

Net assets per share (pence)

1,023

1,070

Total accounting return (%)

(2.9)

3.7

Dividend per share (pence)

17.6

15.5

Group LTV ratio (%)(2)(3)

31.1

34.4

Net debt (£m)

3,475

4,254

 

¾  EPRA EPS(2)(3) up 9.5% to 26.6p, supported by strong leasing and 8.3% LFL rental income growth

¾  Total accounting return of -2.9%, reflecting softening of London yields due to rising interest rates

¾  EPRA NTA per share(2) (3) down 5.0% to 1,010p, driven by a -2.9% movement in portfolio value

¾  Group LTV(2)(3) down to 31.1% (Mar-22: 34.4%) following £1bn of mature London office disposals

¾  Loss before tax of £192m (2021: £275m profit), with growth in earnings offset by market yield shift

¾  Total dividend up 13.5% to 17.6p per share, supported by increase in earnings

¾  Weighted average debt maturity up to 9.8 years (Mar-22: 9.1 years), providing solid financial base

Operational highlights: continued operational momentum, maintaining strong capital base

Positive leasing performance in Central London offices and major retail destinations, despite general macro challenges, highlight high quality of Landsec platform and portfolio, with strong progress on executing strategy since late 2020 creating balance sheet resilience and optionality for future growth.

Central London: strong leasing momentum and maintaining optionality to drive future growth

¾  Sold £1.0bn of mature offices, including 21 Moorfields development which crystallised 25% profit on cost, bringing total London office disposals over last two years to £1.8bn at an average yield of 4.35%

¾  Delivered strong leasing, with £41m of lettings completed or in solicitor's hand, 3% ahead of valuers' assumptions, and current occupancy stable vs March at 95.1%, as demand for high-quality space remains resilient, notwithstanding a 4.4% softening in values due to general market yield shift

¾  Only £110m capex left to spend on committed pipeline which is set to generate £38m ERV once fully let, 38% of which is pre-let or under offer, with lettings over past six months 11% ahead of ERV

¾  Maintained optionality on near-term pipeline, which could deliver 1.1m sq ft of Grade A space at yield on cost of 7%+ into a market which is expected to see a sharp reduction in new supply

Major retail destinations: continued strong leasing, as high-quality destinations return to growth

¾  Differentiated focus on brand and guest relationships continues to deliver results, capitalising on 'flight to prime' and upsizing of key brands, with 6.3% YoY sales growth and like-for-like sales 3.6% above 2019 levels, as consumer behaviour is reverting back to pre-pandemic trend

¾  Built further on growing leasing momentum, with £27m of lettings signed or in solicitors' hands on average 12% ahead of ERV, up from 2% for the year to March 2022, driving 120bps increase in occupancy since March to 94.4% and underpinning resilience in valuations, with values up 0.4%

Mixed-use urban neighbourhoods: progressing preparations, creating future optionality  

¾  Progressed preparation of 9.0m sq ft future mixed-use pipeline, with signing of drawdown agreement for first phase of office development at Mayfield and detailed planning for first phase at MediaCity

¾  No existing capex commitments but potential to start first phases at Mayfield, MediaCity and, subject to planning, Finchley Road in 2023, providing optionality for future growth at limited holding cost

¾  U+I and Landsec teams integrated and sold or exchanged contracts to sell almost half of c. £180m of non-core U+I assets since acquisition in December 2021, on average 22% above book value

Underpinning our strategy: capital discipline and decisive action on sustainability

¾  Further strengthened capital base, with LTV down from 34.4% to 31.1%; average debt maturity up from 9.1 to 9.8 years; 84% of debt hedged, with an overall average cost of 2.7%; strong credit profile; and no need to refinance any debt until 2026 given existing £1.8bn undrawn facilities

¾  Secured £2.0bn of disposals since late 2020, ahead of plan to sell c. £4bn of assets over six years, with potential further disposals to increase optionality for future opportunities, as value of subscale portfolio remains relatively resilient at -1.2%

¾  Continued to progress net zero transition investment plan, with 43% of office portfolio already rated EPC 'B' or higher vs 15% for wider London office market, and announced target to reduce embodied carbon by 50% vs a typical development by 2030

¾  Announced Realising Potential Fund to invest £20m over next 10 years to enhance social mobility in our industry, to empower 30,000 people towards world of work and deliver £200m of social value

 

1. Prior period measures are for the six months ended 30 September 2021 other than EPRA NTA per share, net assets per share, Group LTV ratio and net debt, which are as at 31 March 2022.

2. An alternative performance measure. The Group uses a number of financial measures to assess and explain its performance, some of which are considered to be alternative performance measures as they are not defined under IFRS. For further details, see the Financial review and table 14 in the Business analysis section.

3. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Financial review.

 

A live video webcast of the presentation will be available at 9.00am GMT. A downloadable copy of the webcast will then be available by the end of the day.

 

We will also be offering an audio conference call line, details are available in the link below. Due to the large volume of callers expected, we recommend that you dial into the call 10 minutes before the start of the presentation.

 

Please note that there will be an interactive Q&A facility on both the webcast and conference call line.

 

Webcast link: https://webcast.landsec.com/2022-half-year-results

Call title: Landsec half year results 2022

 

Forward-looking statements

These half year results, the latest Annual Report and Landsec's website may contain certain 'forward-looking statements' with respect to Land Securities Group PLC (the Company) and the Group's financial condition, results of its operations and business, and certain plans, strategies, objectives, goals and expectations with respect to these items and the economies and markets in which the Group operates.

Forward-looking statements are sometimes, but not always, identified by their use of a date in the future or such words as 'anticipates', 'aims', 'due', 'could', 'may', 'should', 'expects', 'believes', 'intends', 'plans', 'targets', 'goal' or 'estimates' or, in each case, their negative or other variations or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. By their very nature forward-looking statements are inherently unpredictable, speculative and involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Many of these assumptions, risks and uncertainties relate to factors that are beyond the Group's ability to control or estimate precisely. There are a number of such factors that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, changes in the political conditions, economies and markets in which the Group operates; changes in the legal, regulatory and competition frameworks in which the Group operates; changes in the markets from which the Group raises finance; the impact of legal or other proceedings against or which affect the Group; changes in accounting practices and interpretation of accounting standards under IFRS, and changes in interest and exchange rates.

Any forward-looking statements made in these half year results, the latest Annual Report or Landsec's website, or made subsequently, which are attributable to the Company or any other member of the Group, or persons acting on their behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the factors referred to above. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date it is made. Except as required by its legal or statutory obligations, the Company does not intend to update any forward-looking statements.

Nothing contained in these half year results, the latest Annual Report or Landsec's website should be construed as a profit forecast or an invitation to deal in the securities of the Company.

 

Chief Executive's statement

Successful execution on strategy. Well placed in changing markets.

When we launched our strategy two years ago, it was underpinned by two key principles of sustainable value creation: focusing our resources on where we have genuine competitive advantage, and preserving a strong balance sheet. At that time, interest rates and property yields in many sectors were at or close to all-time lows hence asset values in these sectors looked expensive. As a result, we focused on selling mature London office assets where our ability to add further value was limited and since then have sold £1.8bn of such assets, at an average yield of 4.35% and, on average, just 1% below book value.

 

From a new investment perspective, we focused only on opportunities where we saw clear value, such as our acquisition of a further 18.75% stake in Bluewater at an 8.15% initial yield and a 75% stake in MediaCity at a 5.8% yield, or situations which offered long term optionality, such as our acquisition of U+I, which added to our pipeline of mixed-use, multi-phased urban regeneration projects.

 

External market conditions have changed considerably over the last two years and especially since the start of this year. More so than ever, our areas of competitive advantage remain: i) our high quality portfolio; ii) the strength of our customer relationships; and iii) our ability to unlock complex opportunities through development and asset management expertise. These strengths are clearly evident in our strong operational performance in the first half of this year and we expect these to remain so going forward.

 

This remains underpinned by our balance sheet strength. Our leverage is low, with a 31% LTV and net debt/EBITDA of 8.7x; our average debt maturity is long at 9.8 years and we have no need to refinance any debt until 2026, taking into account our existing credit facilities; and remaining capex commitments are only £127m, or 1% of our portfolio value. As a result of the successful execution of our strategy, Landsec is not only well placed to weather challenging market conditions but also to take advantage of opportunities that will undoubtedly emerge as markets adjust to a higher rate, higher yield reality.

Strong operational performance. Resilient financial position.

Our operational performance over the six months to September 2022 has been positive, building further on the growing momentum delivered by our proactive focus on growing customer relationships. This is underpinned by the high quality of our portfolio, as people choose to spend time together in inspiring places, be it to work, shop or spend their leisure time. This is increasingly driving decision making for our customers, as they focus on the best space to attract their staff and customers.

 

Our operational results reflect this, with positive leasing in London and growth in occupancy and sales in retail. EPRA EPS for the half year was up 9.5% to 26.6 pence, supported by 8.3% growth in like-for-like gross rental income and 6.2% growth in like-for-like net rental income, whilst an increase in surrender premiums received driven by a lease regear in the prior year added 1.3 pence to EPS. The dividend for the half year is 17.6 pence, up 13.5% vs last year, reflecting a dividend cover over the period of 1.5 times.

 

Whilst our operational performance and growth in earnings were strong, our total accounting return for the period was -2.9%. The material increase in bond yields since March has started to put upward pressure on property yields, principally for those assets where yields were lowest. In the sectors we are in, this principally affected London offices, vindicating our decision to sell £1.8bn of mature assets over the past two years. Our solid leasing activity drove 1.8% ERV growth yet our overall portfolio value was down 2.9%, with a small 0.4% increase in retail valuations offset by a 4.4% reduction in London. Reflecting all this, EPRA NTA per share was down 5.0% to 1,010 pence.

 

Table 1: Highlights


Sep 2022

Sep 2021

Change %

EPRA earnings (£m)(1)

197

180

9.4

(Loss)/profit before tax (£m)

(192)

275

(170)

Total accounting return (%)

(2.9)

3.7

(6.6)





Basic (loss)/earnings per share (pence)

(25.7)

37.2

(169)

EPRA earnings per share (pence)(1)

26.6

24.3

9.5

Dividend per share (pence)

17.6

15.5

13.5






Sep 2022

Mar 2022

Change %

Combined portfolio (£m)(1)

10,929

12,017

(9.1)

IFRS net assets (£m)

7,639

7,991

(4.4)

EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share (pence) (1)

1,010

1,063

(5.0)





Adjusted net debt (£m)(1)

3,441

4,179

(17.7)

Group LTV ratio (%)(1)

31.1

34.4

(3.3)





Proportion of portfolio rated EPC 'B' or higher (%)

37

36


Embodied carbon reduction development pipeline (%)

23.8

20.7


Energy intensity reduction vs 2020 (%)

16.9

17.5


 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information in the Financial Review.

Our strategy in a rapidly changing environment

Global economic and financial market conditions have changed significantly since our full year results in May. Interest rates across the board have surged in response to rising inflation, with the central bank support that artificially depressed these for most of the past decade now in reverse. It is difficult to assess where interest rates will settle in the medium term, but it seems clear that in a long term context, the ultra-low rate environment of the past decade was the aberration - not the adjustment we have seen this year.

 

This will likely have a lasting impact on asset values, be it equities, bonds or real estate. In public markets price adjustment is, as usual, well ahead of private markets, but in real estate it is well underway too now and, in our view, will likely continue. The psychology of investing in any financial asset means markets always overshoot, to the upside or downside, rather than smoothly revert to a new fair value.

 

Importantly, the strategy we set out in late 2020 was never based on a persistent low rate environment. This is why we said we would i) focus our investment on sectors where we have a genuine competitive advantage that helps us create long-term value, rather than sectors which happened to be in vogue at the time and where record-low yields are now rapidly correcting; ii) over time sell c. £2.5bn of mature London assets where yields were low, of which we have sold £1.8bn now; and iii) maintain capital discipline.

 

Our strategic focus on sustainable value creation in three key areas, Central London offices, major retail destinations and mixed-use urban neighbourhoods, remains the right one. Demand in each area remains resilient, underpinned by the strength of our customer relationships and high quality portfolio.

 

We are however mindful that financial market conditions have changed. As such, capital recycling will likely slow, although we remain pragmatic and are not holding on to yesterday's hope value. The fact that 75% of our residual c. £2bn capital recycling programme is focused on a range of sectors which for us were subscale, rather than assets where forward returns were modest puts us in a good place.

 

In terms of future investment, we are focused on maximising optionality in our future pipeline. For London, we plan to let early works packages on two office schemes with a total cost of c. £55m, which will allow us to maintain programme for delivery in what we expect to be a very supply-constrained market in 2025, whilst buying an extra 6-9 months of time before we have to commit to a full development. In mixed-use, we have no commitments and the holding cost of our five main development sites is modest given the 6% income yield on the current use of these, but we retain optionality to start the first phases of Mayfield and MediaCity in early/mid 2023. We are open to new acquisitions, but financial discipline remains our priority. Pricing might well be better in 12-18 months than it is today, so returns will need to reflect this.

 

Our strategy remains grounded in our purpose; Sustainable places. Connecting communities. Realising potential. In executing this, we continue to be led by three things: delivering sustainably, delivering for our customers, and being disciplined with our capital.

 

To support this execution and drive pace, we initiated a review of our operating model six months ago with the aim of creating a culture which is more agile and efficient, with less internal complexity and more external focus. This will allow us to make the most of the substantial talent within Landsec, whose strong capability and dedication is key to our success. We have already made a number of changes and once completed by the year-end, this will improve our efficiency. With a strong capital base, high quality existing portfolio, and significant optionality in our pipeline, this will leave us well placed to drive longer term growth, notwithstanding the near-term economic challenges.

Central London - growing customer focus on quality supports further ERV growth  

Central London comprises 61% of our overall portfolio by value. 63% of this is located in the West End, with a further 6% in Southwark and 31% in the City, down from 39% at the start of the year. In a market where customers increasingly focus on flexibility, the best quality space which offers the right amenities to attract talent, and buildings which have the right sustainability credentials, we are well positioned; 48% of our assets have been developed over the past ten years vs c. 20% for the overall market, and 43% of our offices have an EPC rating of 'B' or higher vs 15% for the market.

 

Reflecting this, following record leasing last year, leasing activity remained strong, with £10m of lettings on average 1% above valuers' assumptions, and a further £31m in solicitors' hands, 3% ahead of valuers' assumptions. Current occupancy is stable vs March, at 95.1%, which means our vacancy is roughly half that of the London market. We continue to see a gradual increase in office utilisation, as London continues to get busier, and strong interest in our expanding Myo flexible offer.

 

Sustained demand for high-quality space drove 2.8% ERV growth, supporting our expectation for ERVs to grow by a low to mid single digit percentage this year. Unsurprisingly, rising bond yields put upward pressure on property yields, with equivalent yields up 21bps to 4.7%, leading to a 4.4% value reduction. We expect yields to soften further, yet how much is reliant on where rates settle. We expect the impact of this on values will continue to be partly offset by ERV growth, as Grade A space remains in short supply.

 

We significantly de-risked our current development pipeline via the £809m sale of 21 Moorfields, which despite a 9% discount to March book value, crystallised a 25% profit on cost. Our three other committed schemes are expected to produce an ERV of £38m once fully let, with just £110m of capex left to spend. Demand remains encouraging, with 38% of this space let or under offer and the £9m of lettings which we agreed terms on since our FY results in May were on average 11% ahead of ERV. We intend to start early works on Timber Square and Portland House shortly, with a modest c. £55m initial commitment, keeping flexibility on the residual c. £400m capex until mid-next year while markets remain unsettled.

Major retail destinations - continued leasing momentum drives growth in prime locations

Major retail destinations comprise 18% of our portfolio, split c. 60/40% between prime shopping centres and outlets. Building on the positive momentum we created during the previous financial year, operational performance over the first half of the year has been strong. Highlighting the attraction of our high-quality destinations, sales were up 6.3% vs last year and LFL sales are now 3.6% above pre-Covid levels.

 

For many leading brands, online and physical channels are now firmly inter-connected, so we continue to see existing brands upsize, new brands opening stores in our assets as they move from nearby locations to benefit from higher footfall, and digital native brands opening stores to grow customer connectivity and experience. Consumer behaviour has gradually reverted back to pre-Covid trends, with online sales down and in-store sales growing over the past six months. Indeed, both Shopify and Next recently reported that the material acceleration in online sales during the pandemic turned out to be only temporary.

 

Given the inflationary pressure on margins for many brands, both online and physical, we expect that the rationalisation of the tail-end of brands' store portfolios will further accelerate. This adds to the challenges for secondary retail locations, where there remains a significant excess of space, yet brands' focus on fewer, but bigger and better stores, mean prime destinations continue to get stronger.

 

Supported by the investment in our team over the past year and our differentiated focus on growing brand relationships and guest experience, the above trends are clearly visible across our portfolio. We delivered a 120bps increase in occupancy since March to 94.4% and we signed £12m of new lettings, on average 20% above ERV, with a further £15m in solicitor's hands 7% above ERV. This means that over the past 18 months we have now let or re-let 23% of our total retail rent, on average 8% above ERV. We recognise that the economic pressures facing consumers could lead to some let-up in this strong leasing momentum over the coming months, although we are seeing little sign of this yet. Our positive operational performance meant values were up 0.4% over the six months, with the high c. 7-8% yield on prime shopping centres in particular still providing an attractive buffer vs higher interest rates.

Mixed-use urban neighbourhoods - progressing significant pipeline of future opportunities

Our portfolio of mixed-use urban neighbourhood assets makes up 8% of our overall portfolio, split roughly evenly between our standing investments in MediaCity, Greater Manchester and five future regeneration projects in London, Manchester and Glasgow. Given their existing use, the majority of these projects are income producing with a blended yield of 6%, minimising their holding cost whilst we prepare for future development. Comprising a mix of residential, office and leisure space, the overall GDV of these schemes is in excess of £4bn with a potential staged delivery of individual phases over the next 10-15 years.

 

There remains a structural need to remodel many parts of today's built environment to make sure they are fit for changing consumer expectations with respect to how we live, work and spend our leisure time and to increasing sustainability demands. Situated in attractive locations with strong transport links in some of the fastest growing urban areas in the UK, our pipeline remains well placed to cater for these demands. At the same time, Landsec's sustainability and development expertise, combined with the now fully integrated U+I team's placemaking skills, means we are well positioned to deliver this.

 

We have continued to make good progress in terms of preparing our pipeline, through planning and other pre-development activities. This means we now have optionality to start the first phases at Mayfield and MediaCity in early/mid 2023. However, the changes in capital market conditions have a clear impact on our underwriting assumptions, so any decision to start these will have to reflect an appropriate level of return, with target IRRs in the low to mid-teens. We continue to make good progress on planning at our residential-led scheme at Finchley Road, with a decision expected in the second half of the financial year.

Sustainability and energy efficiency

We continue to progress the net zero transition investment plan we set out a year ago. We are on track to complete the concept design for installing air source heat pumps for four offices and progress the detailed design for the first two buildings, and to optimise the building management systems across our offices this year. Delivery of our investment plan will ensure we transition to net zero and stay ahead of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard Regulations, which require a minimum EPC 'B' certification by 2030, as well as other regulatory requirements, and the cost to achieve EPC 'B' is already reflected in our valuations.

 

We delivered a 17% reduction in energy intensity for the first half of 2022/23 compared with 2019/20. This represents a 32% reduction against our 2013/14 baseline, so we remain on track vs our 2030 target to reduce energy intensity by 45%. We will continue to drive down our energy consumption with a combination of energy efficiency measures alongside our net zero transition investment programme.

 

We started working with our largest customers last year to help them identify opportunities to save energy and have expanded this during the period. Given the rise in energy costs, this has become even more relevant. Our retail customers typically purchase their energy directly, but where we purchase energy on behalf of customers, costs have been fully hedged for the current and next financial years and 40% hedged for the year after, limiting the impact on their overall cost base.

Outlook

Looking ahead, we anticipate global economic uncertainty to remain elevated. Decades of globalisation, fuelling growth and depressing inflation, have started to go into reverse, with rising geopolitical tensions adding to risks around energy reliance and supply chains. Positively, the turbulence in UK politics in late summer has started to normalise, although political stability remains fragile.

 

Still, it is clear that London remains a top global city which continues to attract new businesses and talent; that the future of major retail destinations is more positive than most, including many retailers themselves, thought two years ago; and that there remains a structural need to remodel city centres in a sustainable way. It is difficult to say where interest rates will settle and whilst we think this is unlikely to be where they have been for the past decade, our strategic decisions over the past two years mean we are in excellent shape for any eventuality:

 

¾  our portfolio quality is high, which has increasingly become a decisive factor for customers;

¾  our balance sheet is strong, with an LTV of 31% and no refinancing needs until 2026;

¾  we have sold nearly £2bn of mature, low-yielding assets most at risk of repricing;

¾  we have an attractive pipeline of opportunities with full flexibility on any future commitments.

 

Despite the uncertain economic outlook, our long 9.8-year average debt maturity provides visibility and underpins the sustainability of our earnings. We continue to expect underlying EPRA EPS for this year to grow by a low to mid-single digit percentage, excluding the benefit from increased surrender premiums which were up £10m in the first half of the year, and we expect dividend for the full year to grow in line with underlying EPRA EPS. Beyond FY23, the exact shape of earnings progression will rely on the pace of future disposals and reinvestments, but our strategy and strong capital base continue to offer the potential to grow earnings and total accounting return over time.

 

Operating and portfolio review

Overview

Our combined portfolio was valued at £10.9bn as of September, comprising the following segments:

 

¾  Central London (61%): our high-quality office (84%) and retail and other commercial space (16%), located in the West End (63%), City (31%) and Southwark (6%). Of our investment assets, 48% has been developed in the last ten years, compared to c. 20% for the overall London office market.

¾  Major retail destinations (18%): our investments in six shopping centres and five retail outlets, with the seven largest assets comprising 83% of the overall retail portfolio value, most of which are amongst the highest selling locations for retailers in the UK.

¾  Mixed-use urban neighbourhoods (8%): our investments in mixed-use assets and future development opportunities, focused on five sites in London, Manchester and Glasgow, of which some still have a short-term use as retail ahead of their medium-term redevelopment.

¾  Subscale (13%): assets in sectors where we have limited scale and which we therefore intend to divest over time, with a broadly equal split between retail parks, hotels and leisure assets.

Investment activity

We made significant progress on our objective to recycle capital out of mature assets during the period, with a view to reinvest this into higher growth opportunities over time. In late 2020, we said we intended to sell a combined c. £4bn of London offices and assets in sectors which were subscale for us over a period of circa six years. Two years later, we have now sold £2.0bn, including £1.0bn over the past half year.

 

Our largest sale was the £809m disposal of our 21 Moorfields, EC2 development project in September.  The building is fully pre-let to Deutsche Bank for 25 years and therefore offered little room to add further value. The total consideration represented a 9% discount to March book value, partly reflecting the fact that construction will only complete in March 2023, but crystallised a 25% profit on cost. Shortly after the March 2022 year-end we also sold 32-50 Strand, WC2 for £195m, 15% above its prior book value.

 

As a result, we have now sold £1.8bn of mature London offices over the past two years, at an average yield of 4.35% and 1% discount to book value. Since the acquisition of U+I late last year, we have also sold or exchanged contracts to sell close to half of its non-core assets for £85m, on average 22% above book value. We have not made any material acquisitions during the period.

 

Looking ahead, we expect capital recycling will slow given increased uncertainty in global capital markets. The residual c. £2bn of assets earmarked for disposal over the next four years are broadly equally split between four sectors, allowing us to tap into different pools of demand. Furthermore, for 75% of this c. £2bn our intention to sell purely reflects a lack of scale, rather than any caution on forward returns. Our strong capital base means we can therefore afford to be selective, although we remain pragmatic about value given the opportunities additional cash could potentially provide over the next 12-18 months.

Portfolio valuation

The rise in interest rates over the period meant that transaction volumes across global and UK property markets slowed considerably during the half year and that, especially over the last few months, pricing started to adjust. This adjustment has been most pronounced in sectors where yields compressed most during prior years, such as logistics, or for assets which had been valued as bond-like income.

 

Against this backdrop, our portfolio value reduced by 2.9% over the period. Our Central London portfolio value was down 4.4%, with a 21bps increase in yields. This was partly offset by 2.8% growth in ERVs, with 2.2% growth in the West End driven by our strong letting evidence in Victoria, which makes up the lion share of our London portfolio. City ERVs were up 3.3%, principally reflecting a major lease regear at a higher rent, with associated refurbishment works now taken as cost in the valuation. As a result, West End values (-4.2%) were more resilient than City (-9.7%). Developments were broadly stable, as our successful pre-letting activity drove an increase in ERVs, offsetting a softening of valuation yields.

 

Despite the challenging macro backdrop, the value of our retail portfolio was up 0.4%. Shopping centre values rose 1.1%, as our continued positive letting activity drove 2.4% ERV growth. Yields remained stable at 7.4% and, following their correction in recent years, continue to offer a healthy margin over funding costs. Outlet values were down slightly at -0.6%, partly reflecting a small reduction in turnover income following strong sales last year, driven by the clearance of excess stock post lockdowns.

 

In mixed-use, the value of our completed assets at MediaCity was down 4.8% as yields moved out 18bps, offsetting a 2.0% increase since our acquisition at the FY valuation in March. The rest of our mixed-use assets, which principally comprise our future development schemes, were up in value by 2.0%, partly driven by valuation upside at Mayfield. The value of our subscale assets was down 1.2%, as positive growth in the value of our hotel portfolio (+5.3%) reflecting their strong operational performance, was offset by a modest softening in leisure values (-2.6%) and principally retail parks (-5.4%), which saw a softening in yields following their 31.9% increase in value over the prior twelve months.

 

Looking ahead, we expect valuation yields to continue to see upward pressure from rising funding costs, especially for those sectors where they are lowest. For us, this principally affects London offices, even though we expect that in the West End and Southwark part of the impact on value of this will be offset by further rental value growth, as Grade A availability remains scarce. We expect the impact on other parts of our portfolio to be less and shopping centre values in particular to remain much more resilient, given their high initial yields and increasing visibility on their sustainability of income.

 

Table 2: Valuation analysis


Market value 30 Sep 2022

Surplus/ (deficit)

Valuation movement

LFL rental value change(1)

Net initial
 yield

Topped-up net initial
 yield

Equivalent
 yield

Movement in LFL equivalent yield


£m

£m

%

%

%

%

%

bps

West End offices

2,761

(116)

-4.2

2.2

4.6

5.0

4.8

21

City offices

1,746

(183)

-9.7

3.3

3.3

4.0

4.9

27

Retail and other

1,089

2

0.2

2.7

4.2

4.4

4.6

14

Developments

1,102

(7)

-0.6

n/a

0.3

0.3

4.5

-

Total Central London

6,698

(304)

-4.4

2.8

4.1(2)

4.6(2)

4.7

21

Shopping centres

1,150

12

1.1

2.4

7.7

8.1

7.4

5

Outlets

740

(5)

-0.6

-0.9

5.9

6.0

6.7

-4

Total Major retail

1,890

7

0.4

1.1

7.0

7.3

7.1

1

Completed investment

393

(20)

-4.8

n/a

5.3

5.3

5.9

18

Developments

497

11

2.0

n/a

5.2

5.3

5.3

-

Total Mixed-use urban

890

(9)

-1.0

n/a

5.3(2)

5.3(2)

5.6

18

Leisure

563

(14)

-2.6

-0.4

6.9

7.0

7.2

27

Hotels

444

23

5.3

-1.1

5.2

5.2

5.5

-1

Retail parks

444

(26)

-5.4

1.8

6.1

6.4

6.0

29

Total Subscale sectors

1,451

(17)

-1.2

0.1

6.1

6.2

6.3

17

Total Combined Portfolio

10,929

(323)

-2.9

1.8

5.1(2)

5.4(2)

5.4

19

 

1. Rental value change excludes units materially altered during the period.

2. Excluding developments

 

Leasing and operational performance

Central London

Across the Central London market, office take-up increased 78% YoY to 12.4m sq ft, in line with the 10-year average. Space under offer is broadly stable since March and, at 3.8m sq ft, remains ahead of the 3.4m sq ft 10-year average. Vacancy came down slightly, from 9.0% to 8.3%, although 79% of this is second-hand space, of which a large part does not necessarily fit today's customer and sustainability requirements. Vacancy remains elevated in the City at 12.2%, yet fell 0.7ppt to 3.9% in the West End.

 

Against this backdrop, we signed ten lettings and renewals in Central London, totalling £10m of rent, on average 1% ahead of valuers' assumptions, with a further £31m in solicitors' hands, 3% above valuers' estimates. Overall, office lettings were 2% above ERV. Retail lettings were at a 5% premium, as demand picked up materially, with office utilisation gradually increasing and tourism up significantly compared to last year. Overall occupancy was down 30bps to 94.8% at the end of September, but has increased back to 95.1% since the period-end. We also continue to see good demand for our Myo flexible space, with 123 Victoria Street 98% let and Dashwood 86% let, vs 98% and 64% six months ago, which supports our plans to open four new Myo locations, totalling 160,000 sq ft, over the next 18 months.

 

Looking forward, we expect more flexible ways of working will reduce overall demand for office space in the UK, although the impact of this will not be evenly spread. We expect large HQ type space and areas which offer little reason to visit beyond doing a job to see a much bigger impact than places which offer exciting amenities for people to give them a reason to want to spend time there. We continue to see good demand for the high quality space we offer, with current negotiations on new lettings on average ahead of ERV, so we expect our high occupancy will further improve in the second half.

 

Major retail destinations

Demand for retail space in prime locations has continued to grow. Total retail sales across our portfolio grew 6.3% YoY and LFL sales are now 3.6% above 2019 levels, highlighting the value of our major retail destinations for brands and consumers. At the same time, online sales have fallen back to pre-pandemic trends, as consumer behaviour continues to normalise. Many leading brands now recognise online and physical channels as fully inter-connected, as e.g. Next and Shopify recently commented that the surge in online sales as a result of Covid which many thought to be permanent has proven to be only temporary.

 

The growth in sales across our portfolio relative to the sharp c. 35% reset in income over the years to FY21 means the affordability of our space for brands has improved significantly, at a time that the cost of doing business online has increased materially. Whilst we expect brands will continue to rationalise their store footprints and potentially even accelerate this, with inflation putting pressure on marginal stores, their focus on 'fewer, bigger, better' stores has started to drive a tangible return to growth for our assets.

 

We completed 103 lettings totalling £12m in the first half of this year, ahead of the same period last year, on average a marked 20% ahead of ERV. This was partly driven by three sizeable outlet lettings at more than double the ERV, but even excluding these, the average premium vs ERV was still a material 15%, including a 7% premium for shopping centre lettings. In addition, we have a further £15m of lettings in solicitors' hands, on average 7% ahead of ERV, with shopping centre leases 8% ahead.

 

Close to 80% of the 103 leases we signed during the half year had some turnover linkage, although the average turnover element was only 15% of the overall rent, so even the fixed base rent was well above ERV. On an overall basis, c. 40% of our leases now have a turnover component, with turnover rent making up 17% of our overall retail income. This growing insight in turnover provides us with valuable data and, across a nation-wide portfolio, a unique insight in underwriting sustainable income levels.

 

As a result, since March, occupancy has increased 120bps to 94.4%. We continue to monitor credit risks in our portfolio, but units in administration remain low at 0.5%, in line with March. There have been no CVAs and minimal insolvencies during the period, as many of the most challenged business models already folded during the pandemic. We note that Cineworld, which makes up 0.6% of the annual rent of our major retail destinations, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US, although it continues to trade and pay rent. Footfall across our shopping centres increased 21% YoY and is now at 86% of pre-pandemic levels, compared to 82% for the UK market and up from 80% six months ago.

 

Looking forward, we are mindful consumers face significant headwinds as a result of macro-economic challenges, but given our strong letting pipeline we expect occupancy to grow further in the second half. Moreover, the stark contrast between sales in our shopping centres which are now close to pre-pandemic levels vs rents which are c. 35% lower and values which are 63% down since 2017, means the outlook for income and values in our view remains attractive.

 

Mixed-use urban neighbourhoods

At present, the completed investment assets in our mixed-use portfolio solely comprise our investment in MediaCity, which we acquired in late 2021. Over half of the income is RPI linked with caps and collars at 2-5%, securing future income growth. Occupancy remained stable during the period, but since the period-end this has increased to 97.5%. Our mixed-use development assets include our three shopping centres in London and Glasgow which are held for future development, but where the existing income is managed on a short-term basis to maximise our flexibility to obtain access for development.

 

Subscale sectors

The operational performance of our subscale assets remained robust, despite some slowdown in leisure compared to the reopening bounce last year. We completed £2m of retail park and leisure lettings across 14 deals during the half year, 10% above valuers' assumptions, with a further £5m of rent in solicitors' hands, 11% above valuers' assumptions, and overall occupancy was broadly stable. Our hotels, which are all let to Accor, have seen occupancy rise to 94% of pre-pandemic levels, up from 67% last year, which drove a material increase in RevPAR.

 

Table 3: Operational performance analysis


Annualised rental income

Estimated rental value

LFL Occupancy (1)

LFL occupancy change (1)

 WAULT(1)


£m

£m

%

ppt

years

West End offices

132

143

98.4

-

6.5

City offices

79

104

90.3

-1.0

7.8

Retail and other

43

54

94.1

-0.2

7.6

Developments

5

64

n/a

n/a

n/a

Total Central London

259

365

94.8

-0.3

7.0

Shopping centres

106

104

93.9

1.1

4.2

Outlets

57

61

95.2

1.4

3.2

Total Major retail

163

165

94.4

1.2

3.9

Completed investment

24

24

n/a

n/a

9.7

Developments

29

32

n/a

n/a

n/a

Total Mixed-use urban

53

56

n/a

n/a

9.7

Leisure

50

51

95.6

-0.9

10.4

Hotels

25

25

n/a

-

8.7

Retail parks

29

29

97.4

0.9

4.3

Total Subscale sectors

104

105

97.3

-0.1

8.0

Total Combined Portfolio

579

691

95.1

-

6.4

 

1. Excluding developments

 

Investing in sustainability, people and culture

A year ago, we were the first UK property company to announce a fully costed net zero carbon transition plan, which would see us invest £135m of capex in our existing portfolio by 2030 to deliver our science based target and meet the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard of EPC 'B' by 2030. Since then, we have completed air source heat pump feasibility studies for six offices, with four progressing to concept design and one to detailed design. We have also completed building management system optimisations for five offices, with a further seven to be completed this financial year, where we are identifying on average a 10% annual energy saving. In addition, we are on track to expand the energy audits with 15 of our largest customers, which identified annual carbon and costs savings of 10-15%, to an additional ten customers. Highlighting its quality, 43% of our office portfolio is already rated 'B' or higher, which compares to 15% for the overall office market.

 

We continue to work on reducing embodied carbon in our future pipeline, in line with our target to reduce this by 50% vs a typical development by 2030, to below 500kgCO2e/sqm for offices. To help achieve this target, we have recently signed up to the ConcreteZero Initiative where we commit to using 100% net zero concrete by 2050 with ambitious interim targets. This complements our existing membership of the SteelZero Initiative and sends a strong market signal of our commitment to net zero to our supply chain.

 

Our plans for Timber Square, SE1 already show an embodied carbon intensity of 535kgCO2e/sqm, reflecting the retention of part of the existing structure, a highly optimised design and the use of low carbon cross laminated timber. At Red Lion Court, SE1 we expect an embodied carbon intensity of c. 600kgCO2e/sqm, reflecting the retention of 35-40% of the existing basement and piles and the use of a highly flexible concrete structural solution with demountable timber infills. The Forge, SE1, which completes later this year, remains on track to be the first building in the UK to be designed and operated in line with the UK Green Building Council framework definition of a net zero carbon building. Combined with Liberty of Southwark, these schemes will create an attractive new green office cluster in Southwark.

 

In May, we also announced our Realising Potential fund which is aimed at improving social mobility in the real estate industry and will see us invest £20m over the next 10 years, to empower 30,000 people towards the world of work and create £200m in social value. We will launch this in April 2023, including a bursary programme that will provide financial support to underrepresented young adults studying for a placemaking career and a small grants programme that will provide grants to local charities and community organisations in the areas we operate,

 

Whilst we invest in building a sustainable business, we also need to make sure we build a culture which is right for the future. To that extent, we started an organisation-wide review six months ago with the aim to reduce internal complexity and become more agile, customer service-oriented and outward focused. This builds on the changes to our retail team last year, where we brought in experience and capabilities from international retailer backgrounds to focus more on growing brand relationships and guest experience, and the successful retention of the U+I team's unique placemaking and design capability.

 

We have already made a number of changes as a result, including a number of leadership changes, and we expect further changes in the second half. This will help improve our overall efficiency, but more importantly, changing the culture of our business is key to creating a more diverse organisation which can harness the skills and experience of all of the substantial talent within Landsec, in order to successfully deliver on our strategy in the long term.

 

Development pipeline

Central London

The £809m sale of 21 Moorfields substantially reduced our development exposure and crystallised a healthy 25% profit on cost. As a result, our committed pipeline now comprises three schemes, which are set to produce an ERV of £38m once fully let, with just £110m capex left to spend. Reflecting our strong leasing activity, the combined ERV increased by 3% since March, of which 38% is let or under offer, with active negotiations on further lettings. All three projects are set to complete over the next nine months, with costs and timelines broadly maintained over the past six months, despite market wide pressures from inflation, supply chain disruption and labour shortages.

 

Table 4: Committed development pipeline

Property

Sector

Size

 sq ft

'000

Estimated completion
date

Net income/ ERV

£m

Market value
£m

Capital expenditure to complete

£m

Market value + future TDC

 £m

Gross yield on MV + future TDC

%

The Forge, SE1

Office/retail

140

Dec-22

10

155

18

174

5.5

Lucent, W1

Office/retail/residential

144

Mar-23

14

222

41

265

5.3

n2, SW1

Office

165

Jun-23

14

172

51

227

6.2

Total


449


38

549

110

666


 

The rise in construction cost and, more recently, sharp rise in development finance costs is likely to result in a significant reduction in near-term development starts in London. During previous periods of economic uncertainty, new starts ended up c. 30-90% below originally expected levels and we believe this could well repeat over the next twelve months. As such, we think this could create an attractive window to deliver new space in 2025, when new supply of Grade A space is likely to be low.

 

We are confident that the quality of our future pipeline and its sustainability credentials is well positioned for future demand, but are mindful that in periods of economic uncertainty demand can be cyclical. In the near term, we are therefore focused on maintaining optionality. For the two schemes which are ready to go, Timber Square, SE1 and the refurbishment of Portland House, SW1 this means we plan to commit to early works at a total cost of c. £55m shortly, which allows us to maintain a timeline of potential delivery in late 2025, whilst keeping flexibility on committing to the residual c. £400m capex investment. With rents achieved on our current pipeline since May 11% ahead of valuers' assumptions, we expect a gross yield on cost of 7%+ for both projects and a yield on incremental expenditure of 10%+.

 

Table 5: Future Central London development pipeline

Property

Sector

Proposed

 sq ft

'000

Indicative TDC

£m

Indicative ERV

£m

Gross yield on TDC

%

Potential start
date

 

Planning status

Near-term








Timber Square, SE1

Office

380

400

30

7.5

H1 2023

Consented

Portland House, SW1

Office

300

380

28

7.4

H1 2023

Consented

Liberty of Southwark, SE1

Office/resi

200

245

15

7.2(1)

H1 2023

Consented

Red Lion Court, SE1

Office

230

320

23

7.2

H1 2024

Planning application

Total near-term

 

1,110

1,345

96

7.3

 

 

Longer-term

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nova Place, SW1

Office

50




2024

Design

Old Broad Street, EC2

Office

290




2025

Design

Hill House, EC4

Office

325




2025

Design

Total longer-term


665






Total future pipeline


1,775






 

1. Gross yield on cost adjusted for residential TDC

 

Mixed-use urban neighbourhoods

Our 9.0m sq ft mixed-use urban neighbourhoods pipeline continues to offer significant growth potential in locations where structural demand characteristics remain positive. The integration of the Landsec and U+I teams into a combined regeneration business is now complete and we remain on track in terms of preparing our pipeline, whilst maintaining optionality on future commitments.

 

At Mayfield, the new 6.5-acre public park opened in September and we agreed terms with our JV partners for a drawdown of land for the first phases of development from the JV, once we intend to start on site. At MediaCity, we obtained detailed planning for the first 263,000 sq ft office building in October, which means we could potentially start both projects in early to mid 2023.

 

At Finchley Road, NW3, we expect a decision on the planning application which we submitted in January 2022 by the financial year-end and we have made further progress on our vacant possession strategy. Subject to planning, we could therefore start enabling works as soon as next year. In Glasgow, we have concluded the first rounds of public consultation and now expect to submit a planning application by the year-end. In Lewisham, SE13 we have continued our positive engagement with the Council on a new masterplan and are preparing to submit an application for this next year.

 

As such, our mixed-use pipeline provides a valuable opportunity to build an attractive balance of income, development upside and medium term growth potential. The flexibility to phase capex, mixed-use nature and geographic spread of the pipeline all add to its balanced risk-profile, as we retain flexibility to adapt to changes in demand. As land values are much lower in the regions than in London, we are mindful that development returns are more sensitive to yield movements and construction costs, although this is partly mitigated by the fact that margins and yields on cost tend to be higher.

 

Whilst we continue to prepare our pipeline, we maintain flexibility on future capital commitments to make sure we achieve our targeted low to mid-teens IRR. The current book value of the pipeline below of c. £350m is modest compared to its potential upside and given the blended 6.4% income yield on the meanwhile use of part of the existing assets, its holding cost is low. As such, this provides valuable optionality for future growth.

 

Table 6: Mixed-use urban neighbourhoods development pipeline

Property

Landsec share

%

Proposed

 sq ft

'000

Earliest start on site

Number of blocks

Estimated first/total scheme completion

Indicative TDC

£m

Target yield on cost

%

Planning status

Mayfield, Manchester

50-100

2,500

2023

18

2025/2032

800-950

7 - 8

Consented

MediaCity, Greater Manchester

75

1,900

2023

8

2025/2030

550-650

7 - 8

Consented

Finchley Road, NW3

100

1,400

2023

10

2026/2034

950-1,200

6 - 7

Application

Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow

100

1,400

2024

11

2027/2035

600-750

7 - 8

Design

Lewisham, SE13

100

1,800

2025

14

2028/2037

1,100-1,300

6 - 7

Design

Total future pipeline


9,000




4,000-4,850



 

Financial review

Overview

Our positive operational performance is reflected in a meaningful increase in EPRA earnings, which was up 9.4% to £197m, primarily driven by a £24m increase in net rental income, partly reflecting a £10m increase in surrender premiums received. Like-for-like gross rental income excluding surrender premiums was up 8.3%, or 6.2% on a net rental income basis. This reflects our positive leasing performance, primarily in major retail destinations, and continued growth in income across our hotel portfolio. As a result, EPRA EPS increased 9.5% to 26.6 pence. This allows us to pay a second interim dividend of 9.0 pence, bringing the total dividend for the half year to 17.6 pence, up 13.5% vs the prior year. Our policy remains to have dividends annually covered 1.2 to 1.3 times by EPRA earnings.

 

Despite this strong operational result, our overall financial performance was impacted by a £323m reduction in the value of our Combined Portfolio, as market yield shift in London more than offset the ERV growth our leasing activity delivered and the upside from our successful development activity. As a result, our total accounting return was -2.9%, with a loss before tax of £192m, compared to a profit of £275m in the prior year. After dividends paid during the period, EPRA NTA per share reduced 5.0% to 1,010 pence.

 

Nevertheless, our actions during the half year further strengthened our robust capital base. Adjusted net debt fell from £4.2bn to £3.4bn due to our successful disposals, so as a result, our LTV reduced from 34.4% to 31.1%. Our weighted average net debt/EBITDA stands at a modest 8.7 times and we expect this to reduce to c. 8 times by the year-end, reflecting the full year benefit of our recent disposals. Our average debt maturity increased to 9.8 years and with £1.8bn of undrawn facilities, we have no need to refinance any maturing debt until 2026, so our balance sheet is in excellent shape.

Presentation of financial information

The condensed consolidated preliminary financial information is prepared under IFRS where the Group's interests in joint ventures are shown collectively in the income statement and balance sheet, and all subsidiaries are consolidated at 100%. Internally, management reviews the results of the Group on a basis that adjusts for these forms of ownership to present a proportionate share. The Combined Portfolio, with assets totalling £10.9bn, is an example of this approach, reflecting the economic interest we have in our properties regardless of our ownership structure.

 

Our key measure of underlying earnings performance is EPRA earnings, which represents the underlying financial performance of the Group's property rental business, which is our core operating activity. A full definition of EPRA earnings is given in the Glossary. This measure is based on the Best Practices Recommendations of the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) which are metrics widely used across the industry to aid comparability and includes our proportionate share of joint ventures' earnings. Similarly, EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share is our primary measure of net asset value.

 

Measures presented on a proportionate basis are alternative performance measures as they are not defined under IFRS. This presentation provides additional information to stakeholders on the activities and performance of the Group, as it aggregates the results of all the Group's property interests which under IFRS are required to be presented across a number of line items in the statutory financial statements. For further details see table 14 in the Business analysis section.

Income statement

Our positive income growth reflects our successful asset management and the resilience our high-quality portfolio provides, with quality becoming an increasingly important driver for customers. We have seen rental income grow, principally in major retail destinations; mixed-use, where some of our future projects have an existing retail use; and subscale sectors, which include our retail parks, leisure and hotels, as trading in these segments continued to normalise relative to last year, when the UK had just emerged out of lockdown at the start of the period.

 

Table 7: Income statement (1)



Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021





Central London

Major retail

Mixed-use urban

Subscale sectors

Total

Central London

Major retail

Mixed-use urban

Subscale sectors

Total


Change


Table

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m


£m

Gross rental income (2)


160

84

28

53

325

148

74

17

43

282


43

Net service charge expense


(1)

(6)

(1)

(1)

(9)

-

(3)

(1)

(2)

(6)


(3)

Net direct property expenditure


(11)

(15)

(6)

(6)

(38)

(9)

(9)

(3)

(4)

(25)


(13)

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions


1

3

(4)

-

-

(2)

5

1

(1)

3


(3)

Segment net rental income

8

149

66

17

46

278

137

67

14

36

254


24

Net administrative expenses






(41)





(41)


-

EPRA earnings before interest






237





213


24

Net finance expense






(40)





(33)


(7)

EPRA earnings






197





180


17

Capital/other items














Valuation (deficit)/surplus






(323)





81



(Loss)/gain on changes in finance leases






(6)





6



(Loss)/profit on disposals






(92)





6



Impairment charges






(8)





-



Fair value movement on interest rate swaps






48





2



Other






(6)





-



(Loss)/profit before tax attributable to shareholders of the parent






(190)





275



Non-controlling interests






(2)





-



(Loss)/profit before tax






(192)





275



 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information above.

2. Includes finance lease interest, after rents payable.

Net rental income

Net rental income for the half year increased by £24m to £278m. Like-for-like gross rental income rose £19m, or 8.3%, and the net impact of our investment activity was up £10m. Bad and doubtful debt charges were nil, compared to a £3m reversal of provisions last year. Variable rent, which includes income from hotels, Piccadilly Lights, parking and retail turnover rent, increased £14m as trading has continued to normalise. We received £19m of surrender premiums during the period vs £9m in the prior period. This principally reflected a £15m premium in relation to the lease restructuring with Deloitte at New Street Square, EC4, at the end of last year. The space this freed up provides flexibility for asset management initiatives across the wider estate, whilst we work up medium term redevelopment plans.

 

Whilst there were minimal insolvencies and no new CVAs during the period, we note that Cineworld, which makes up 1.8% of our annual rent, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. We have taken appropriate provisions during the half year and will await the outcome of this process, but all assets in our portfolio continue to trade and the company continues to pay rent.

 

Direct property expenditure increased by £13m, of which almost half was driven by acquisitions. Like-for-like direct property costs increased £7m. This reflected a combination of higher letting fees, due to our increased letting activity; higher utilisation of our assets given that at the start of the prior period, the UK was still in lockdown; and some element of cost inflation. Net service charge expenditure increased £3m, which principally reflects a reconciliation of prior year charges. As a result, our gross to net ratio was 85.5%, but we expect this to improve as void and letting costs reduce as occupancy improves further.

 

Table 8: Net rental income(1)



£m

Net rental income for the six months ended 30 September 2021


254

Gross rental income like-for-like movement in the period(2):



Increase in variable and turnover-based rents


14

Other movements


5

Total like-for-like gross rental income


19

Like-for-like net service charge expense


(2)

Like-for-like net direct property expenditure


(7)

Like-for-like movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions


3

Surrender premiums received


10

Developments(2)


(9)

Acquisitions since 1 April 2021(2)


16

Disposals since 1 April 2021(2)


(6)

Net rental income for the six months ended 30 September 2022


278

 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information above.

2. Gross rental income on a like-for-like basis and the impact of developments, acquisitions and disposals exclude surrender premiums received.

Net administrative expenses

Net administrative expenses were flat at £41m, in line with our view that admin costs for the full year will be largely stable vs last year. Despite the increase in cost due to the impact of the U+I acquisition, c. £5m of annual IT and data related costs reflecting an investment in upgrading our systems and data capability which due to updated IFRIC accounting guidance is now expensed instead of capitalised, and wage inflation, this reflects our continued focus on making sure our overall cost base is right. We still anticipate administrative expenses for next year to reduce compared to the current year.

 

Our EPRA cost ratio for the period was 26.2% in line with the full year last year. Elevated wage inflation and general cost inflation are putting upward pressure on costs, but the actions we have taken to reduce our cost base mean we are on track to improve this ratio towards the low 20's over time through a combination of a reduction in administrative expenses and an improvement in gross to net rent margin.

Net finance expenses

Net interest costs increased £7m to £40m, principally due to our acquisitions last year which resulted in an increase in average gross borrowings for the period, ahead of the disposal of 21 Moorfields at the end of the half year, plus some increase in variable interest rates. At the start of the period, 70% of our borrowings were fixed or hedged, but in line with our expectations, borrowings reduced due to our disposals, so hedging increased to 84% at the period-end. With much lower borrowings in the second half, we still expect net interest costs for the full year to be only slightly higher than the £71m for last year.

 

Non-cash finance income, which includes the fair value movements on derivatives, caps and hedging and which is not included in EPRA earnings, increased from a net income of £2m in the prior period to a net income of £48m for the last six months. This is predominantly due to the fair value movements of our interest-rate swaps as a result of the increase in interest rates over the period.

Valuation of investment properties and profit on disposals

The independent external valuation of our Combined Portfolio showed a £323m value reduction. Whilst the strong leasing evidence we created drove 1.8% ERV growth and we delivered further profits on our committed pipeline, the upside of this was offset by a market-wide softening of yields due to the sharp rise in bond yields. This principally affected our London portfolio, as the value of our major retail, mixed-use and subscale assets has been more resilient.

 

We recognised a £92m loss on disposals, mostly reflecting the sale of 21 Moorfields and an element of development provisions, offset by the sale of 32-50 Strand. The March valuation of Strand already reflected part of the 15% premium to book value on the sale. The sale of 21 Moorfields reflected a 9% discount to book value, but crystallised a 25% development profit and significantly reduced our LTV.

IFRS profit after tax

Substantially all our activity during the year was covered by UK REIT legalisation, which means our tax charge for the year remained minimal. Reflecting the increase in EPRA earnings, offset by the valuation shortfall, IFRS loss after tax for the period was £192m, compared to a profit of £275m in the prior period.

Total accounting return

EPRA Net Tangible Assets, which principally reflects the value of our Combined Portfolio less adjusted net debt, reduced to £7,504m, or 1,010 pence on a per share basis, marking a 5.0% reduction since March. Including dividends paid, this means our total accounting return for the half year was -2.9%.

 

Table 9: Balance sheet(1)


30 September 2022

31 March 2022


£m

£m

Combined Portfolio

10,929

12,017

Adjusted net debt

(3,441)

(4,179)

Other net assets/(liabilities)

16

50

EPRA Net Tangible Assets

7,504

7,888

Shortfall of fair value over net investment in finance leases book value

1

6

Other intangible asset

2

2

Excess of fair value over trading properties book value

(7)

-

Fair value of interest-rate swaps

69

21

Net assets, excluding amounts due to non-controlling interests

7,569

7,917




Net assets per share

1,023p

1,070p

EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share (diluted)

1,010p

1,063p

 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information above.

 

Table 10: Movement in EPRA Net Tangible Assets(1)



Diluted per share


£m

pence

EPRA Net Tangible Assets at 31 March 2022

7,888

1,063

EPRA earnings

197

27

Like-for-like valuation movement

(307)

(41)

Development valuation movement

3

-

Impact of acquisitions/disposals

(19)

(3)

Total valuation deficit

(323)

(44)

Dividends

(155)

(21)

Loss on disposals

(92)

(13)

Other

(11)

(2)

EPRA Net Tangible Assets at 30 September 2022

7,504

1,010

 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information above.

Net debt and LTV

During the half year, adjusted net debt, which includes our share of JV borrowings, reduced by £738m to £3,441m. This was principally driven by the £1bn disposal of two mature London office assets, 32-50 Strand and 21 Moorfields. We made no material acquisitions, but capital expenditure on our Combined Portfolio was £195m, reflecting our London office development programme, the preparation of future developments and the investment in our current portfolio. We only have £127m committed capex left to spend and retain full flexibility on any potential new development starts.

 

The other key elements behind the increase in net debt are set out in our statement of cash flows and note 9 to the financial statements, with the main movements in adjusted net debt shown below. A reconciliation between net debt and adjusted net debt is shown in note 13 of the financial statements.

 

Due to the reduction in borrowings, our Group LTV which includes our share of JVs, reduced from 34.4% to 31.1%. This remains well within our target range of 25% to 40% and in line with the low 30's level we said we expected for the foreseeable future. We continue to look for opportunities to recycle capital but our strong balance sheet and limited capital commitments mean we can afford to be selective.

 

Table 11: Net debt and LTV


30 September 2022

31 March 2022




Net debt

£3,475m

£4,254m

Adjusted net debt(1)

£3,441m

£4,179m




Group LTV(1)

31.1%

34.4%

Security Group LTV

32.5%

36.4%

 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information above.

 

Table 12: Movement in adjusted net debt(1)


£m

Adjusted net debt at 31 March 2022

4,179

Adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities

(168)

Dividends paid

155

Capital expenditure

141

Acquisitions

2

Disposals

(870)

Other

2

Adjusted net debt at 30 September 2022

3,441

 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information above.

Financing

Our gross borrowings of £3,541m are diversified across various sources, including £2,341m Medium Term Notes, £0.8bn syndicated and bilateral bank loans and £424m of commercial paper. Our MTN and bank loans form part of our Security Group, which provide security on a floating pool of assets currently valued at £10.2bn. This provides flexibility to include or exclude assets and an attractive cost of funding, with our MTN currently rated AA and AA- with a stable outlook respectively by S&P and Fitch.

 

The Security Group structure has a number of tiered covenants. Below 65% LTV, these involve very limited operational restrictions, whilst a default only occurs when LTV is more than 100% or the ICR falls below 1.0 times. With a Security Group LTV of 32.5%, down from 36.4% in March, our portfolio could withstand a 50% fall in value before we reach the 65% hurdle and 68% before reaching 100%.

 

We have £1.8bn of undrawn facilities, which provides substantial flexibility. The amount of borrowings which is fixed or hedged increased to 84%, as we used the proceeds from our significant disposals during the period to repay part of our floating debt, as planned. We expect this figure to remain within an 80-90% range, to keep some flexibility for potential divestments.

 

The reduction in utilisation of our revolving credit facilities following our disposals over the period, meant that our average maturity of debt increased to 9.8 years, even though we did not issue any new debt during the period. As expected, our average cost of debt increased slightly to 2.7% due to the increase in variable rates. We only have £733m of debt maturing in the next three years, but all of this is more than covered by existing undrawn facilities, which means we have no refinancing requirements until 2026. All in all, our strong financial base therefore offers clear visibility, sustainability of earnings and significant optionality for future opportunities.

 

Table 13: Available facilities(1)


30 September 2022

£m

31 March 2022

£m




Medium Term Notes

2,341

2,341




Drawn bank debt

776

1,519

Outstanding commercial paper

424

499

Cash and cash equivalents

(80)

(157)

Available undrawn facilities

1,814

1,119

Total committed credit facilities

2,934

2,980




Weighted average maturity of debt

9.8 years

9.1 years

Percentage of borrowings fixed or hedged

84%

70%

Weighted average cost of debt

2.7%

2.4%

 

1. Including our proportionate share of subsidiaries and joint ventures, as explained in the Presentation of financial information above.

 

Principal risks and uncertainties

The principal risks of the business were set out on pages 60-69 of the 2022 Annual Report that was published in May. The Board has reviewed these risks again and concluded that they remain relevant. In reviewing Landsec's risk landscape, the Board concluded that key change projects failing to deliver the expected benefits, especially those that relate to cultural changes, should be included within our principal risks.

 

Many of the risks disclosed in the Annual Report have evolved over the first half of 2022/23 due largely to the increasing volatility and uncertainty in the UK economy. Unsurprisingly, the macro-economic outlook remains our highest rated risk, with inflation and rising interest rates having an impact on valuations, capital costs and our investment and development strategies. 

 

Our principal risks are summarised as follows:

 

Macro-economic Outlook and Capital Allocation - The current economic climate in the UK is increasingly uncertain and business confidence has fallen significantly as a result of high inflation and interest rate rises. This has impacted consumers and resulted in a cost of living crisis and the threat of recession. For Landsec, this impacts asset yields and therefore valuations, our cost-base, including the cost of completing development projects, and our ability to recycle assets. It may also give rise to opportunities to acquire assets.

 

Office Occupier Market - Our premium office products have continued to perform well and occupancy and valuations have held up better than "secondary office" space. Tenants continue to pay rents and our portfolio team have seen positive demand for this space which is well regarded in the market. Uncertainty around the demand for office space appears to have levelled out as the hybrid working model adopted by many organisations has become embedded.

 

Retail and Hospitality Occupier Market - The split between online and physical retail sales has fluctuated in recent years and this in turn impacted demand for retail space. However, footfall and sales in retail locations have improved over the past six months, especially at our premium retail destinations. Cinemas have been an area of concern, with Cineworld recently filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the US. The potential for recession and resurgence of Covid-19 in winter 2022/23 could further challenge our retail business.

 

Change Programmes - With a number of important internal change programmes underway, it is crucial that the benefits identified, especially those that relate to cultural changes, are realised in order to deliver our strategic objectives.

 

Development Strategy - Fluctuating demand for existing and future office space continues to be uncertain. This, coupled with supply chain and inflationary pressures, is likely to impact our investment and development activity in the short to medium term.

 

Information and Cyber Security - Significant emphasis has been placed on this risk since year end, with investment in improving our controls and resilience, which is partially offset by the ever increasing external threat.

 

The three other principal risks (people and skills; health and safety; and climate change transition) have all remained stable in the six months since year end.

 

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

Each of the Directors, whose names and functions appear below, confirm to the best of their knowledge that the condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting', as contained in UK adopted international accounting standards and that the interim management report herein includes a fair review of the information required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rules (DTR), namely:

 

¾    DTR 4.2.7 (R): an indication of important events that have occurred during the six month period ended 30 September 2022 and their impact on the condensed interim financial statements and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and

¾    DTR 4.2.8 (R): any related party transactions in the six month period ended 30 September 2022 that have materially affected, and any changes in the related party transactions described in the 2022 Annual Report that could materially affect, the financial position or performance of the enterprise during that period.

 

The Directors of Land Securities Group PLC as at the date of this announcement are as set out below:

 

¾    Cressida Hogg, Chairman*

¾    Mark Allan, Chief Executive

¾    Vanessa Simms, Chief Financial Officer

¾    Edward Bonham Carter, Senior Independent Director*

¾    Nicholas Cadbury*

¾    Madeleine Cosgrave*

¾    Christophe Evain*

¾    Manjiry Tamhane*

¾    Miles Roberts*

 

*Non-executive Directors

 

A list of the current Directors is maintained on the Land Securities Group PLC website at landsec.com.

 

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company's website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial information differs from legislation in other jurisdictions.

 

By order of the Board

 

 

 

Mark Allan                                Vanessa Simms

Chief Executive                        Chief Financial Officer

 

Independent review report to Land Securities Group PLC

Conclusion

We have been engaged by the Company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2022 which comprises consolidated income statement, the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated statement of changes in equity, the consolidated statement of cash flows and the related notes to the financial statements 1 to 17. We have read the other information contained in the half yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2022 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34 and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

Basis for conclusion

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

 

As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting".

Conclusions relating to going concern

Based on our review procedures, which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the Basis of Conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that management have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that management have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern that are not appropriately disclosed.

 

This conclusion is based on the review procedures performed in accordance with this ISRE, however future events or conditions may cause the entity to cease to continue as a going concern.

Responsibilities of the Directors

The Directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

 

In preparing the half-yearly financial report, the Directors are responsible for assessing the company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the review of the financial information

In reviewing the half-yearly report, we are responsible for expressing to the Company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report. Our conclusion, including our Conclusions Relating to Going Concern, are based on procedures that are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the Basis for Conclusion paragraph of this report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the company in accordance with guidance contained in International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK) "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Financial Reporting Council. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

 

 

 

Ernst & Young LLP

London

14 November 2022

 

Financial statements

Unaudited income statement


Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021



EPRA earnings

 Capital and other items

Total

EPRA earnings

Capital and other items

Total


Notes

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Revenue

5

         360

34

394

314

1

315

Costs - movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions

6

-

-

-

7

-

7

Costs - other

6

(143)

(45)

(188)

(124)

(1)

(125)



217

(11)

206

197

-

197

Share of post-tax profit/(loss) from joint ventures

12

14

1

15

12

(13)

(1)

(Loss)/profit on disposal of investment properties


-

(92)

(92)

-

6

6

Net (deficit)/surplus on revaluation of investment properties

10

-

(331)

(331)

-

94

94

(Loss)/gain on changes in finance leases


-

(6)

(6)

-

6

6

Operating profit/(loss)


231

(439)

(208)

209

93

302

Finance income

7

6

51

57

4

2

6

Finance expense

7

(40)

(1)

(41)

(33)

-

(33)

Profit/(loss) before tax


197

(389)

(192)

180

95

275

Taxation


-

-

-

-

-

-

Profit/(loss) attributable to shareholders


197

(389)

(192)

180

95

275









Attributable to:








Shareholders of the parent




(190)



275

Non-controlling interests




(2)



-





(192)



275









(Loss)/profit per share attributable to shareholders:








Basic (loss)/earnings per share

4



(25.7)p



37.2p

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share

4



(25.7)p



37.1p

 

Unaudited statement of comprehensive income


Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021




Total



Total




£m



£m

(Loss)/profit for the period



(192)



275








Items that will not be subsequently reclassified to the income statement:







Movement in the fair value of other investments



-



(2)

Net re-measurement (loss)/gain on defined benefit pension scheme



(2)



1

Deferred tax charge on defined benefit pension scheme



-



(1)








Other comprehensive loss for the period



(2)



(2)








Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the period



(194)



273








Attributable to:







Shareholders of the parent



(192)



273

Non-controlling interests



(2)



-




(194)



273

 

 

Unaudited balance sheet


30 September

31 March



2022

2022

(restated)(1)


Notes

£m

£m

Non-current assets




Investment properties

10

10,187

11,207

Intangible assets


7

8

Net investment in finance leases


20

70

Investments in joint ventures

12

678

700

Investments in associates


4

4

Trade and other receivables


168

177

Other non-current assets


99

61

Total non-current assets


11,163

12,227





Current assets




Trading properties

11

135

145

Trade and other receivables


385

368

Monies held in restricted accounts and deposits


1

4

Cash and cash equivalents


47

146

Other current assets


28

5

Total current assets


596

668





Total assets


11,759

12,895





Current liabilities




Borrowings

14

(424)

(541)

Trade and other payables


(358)

(320)

Other current liabilities


(13)

(11)

Total current liabilities


(795)

(872)





Non-current liabilities




Borrowings

14

(3,302)

(4,012)

Trade and other payables


(9)

(8)

Other non-current liabilities


(14)

(12)

Total non-current liabilities


(3,325)

(4,032)





Total liabilities


(4,120)

(4,904)





Net assets


7,639

7,991





Equity




Capital and reserves attributable to shareholders




Ordinary shares


80

80

Share premium


317

317

Other reserves


10

9

Retained earnings


7,162

7,511

Equity attributable to shareholders of the parent


7,569

7,917

Equity attributable to non-controlling interests


70

74

Total equity


7,639

7,991

 

1. Cash and cash equivalents and monies held in restricted accounts and deposits have been restated as at 31 March 2022 following clarification by IFRIC on classification of funds with externally imposed restrictions.

 

 

The financial statements on pages 26 to 47 were approved by the Board of Directors on 14 November 2022 and were signed on its behalf by:

 

 

 

M C Allan

V K Simms

Directors


 

 

Unaudited statement of changes in equity

Attributable to shareholders of the parent



Ordinary shares

Share premium

Other reserves

Retained earnings

 

Total

Non-controlling interests

Total
equity


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

At 1 April 2021

80

317

28

6,787

7,212

-

7,212









Total comprehensive income for the financial period

-

-

-

273

273

-

273

Transactions with shareholders of the parent:








Share-based payments

-

-

(1)

1

-

-

-

Dividends paid to shareholders of the parent

-

-

-

(66)

(66)

-

(66)

Transfer of treasury shares

-

-

(21)

21

-

-

-

Total transactions with shareholders of the parent

-

-

(22)

(44)

(66)

-

(66)









At 30 September 2021

80

317

6

7,016

7,419

-

7,419









Total comprehensive income for the financial period

-

-

-

609

609

6

615

Transactions with shareholders of the parent:








Share-based payments

-

-

3

1

4

-

4

Dividends paid to shareholders of the parent

-

-

-

(115)

(115)

-

(115)

Total transactions with shareholders of the parent

-

-

3

(114)

(111)

-

(111)









Acquisition of subsidiaries

-

-

-

-

-

68

68









At 31 March 2022

80

317

9

7,511

7,917

74

7,991









Total comprehensive loss for the financial period

-

-

-

(192)

(192)

(2)

(194)

Transactions with shareholders of the parent:








Share-based payments

-

-

1

2

3

-

3

Dividends paid to shareholders of the parent

-

-

-

(159)

(159)

-

(159)

Total transactions with shareholders of the parent

-

-

1

(157)

(156)

-

(156)









Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

-

-

-

-

-

(2)

(2)

Total transactions with shareholders

-

-

1

(157)

(156)

(2)

(158)









At 30 September 2022

80

317

10

7,162

7,569

70

7,639

 

 

Unaudited statement of cash flows


Six months ended
30 September



2022

2021

(restated) (1)


Notes

£m

£m

Cash flows from operating activities




Net cash generated from operations

9

196

202

Interest paid


(86)

(46)

Interest received


13

7

Rents paid


(5)

(4)

Capital expenditure on trading properties


(12)

-

Disposal of trading properties


7

-

Development income proceeds received


54

-

Other operating cash flows


9

(1)

Net cash inflow from operating activities


176

158





Cash flows from investing activities




Investment property development expenditure


(132)

(127)

Other investment property related expenditure


(26)

(33)

Acquisition of investment properties


(2)

-

Disposal of investment properties


870

52

Cash distributions from joint ventures

12

2

2

Other investing cash flows


(2)

(1)

Net cash in/(out)flow from investing activities


710

(107)





Cash flows from financing activities




Proceeds from new borrowings (net of finance fees)


-

192

Repayment of borrowings

14

(858)

(142)

Net cash in/(out)flow from derivative financial instruments

14

27

(1)

Dividends paid to shareholders

8

(155)

(75)

Dividends paid to non-controlling interests


(2)

-

Decrease in monies held in restricted accounts and deposits


3

-

Net cash outflow from financing activities


(985)

(26)





(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents for the period


(99)

25

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period


146

10

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period


47

35

 

1. Cash and cash equivalents and monies held in restricted accounts and deposits have been restated as at 30 September 2021 following clarification by IFRIC on classification of funds with externally imposed restrictions.

 

 

Notes to the financial statements

1. Basis of preparation and consolidation


Basis of preparation

This condensed consolidated interim financial information (financial statements) for the six months ended 30 September 2022 has been prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as contained in UK adopted international accounting standards (IFRS).

 

The condensed consolidated interim financial information does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2022, prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards (IFRSs and IFRICs) and in conformity with the Companies Act 2006, were approved by the Board of Directors on 16 May 2022 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under section 498(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006. The condensed consolidated interim financial information has been reviewed, not audited, and should be read in conjunction with the Group's annual financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022.

 

In preparing the condensed consolidated interim financial information, the Group has considered the impact of climate change and concluded that climate change did not have a material impact on the financial reporting judgements and estimates.

 

This condensed consolidated interim financial information was approved for issue by the Directors on 14 November 2022.

 

Going concern

 

The impact of recent international and domestic political and economic events has resulted in the UK facing a prolonged recessionary period and therefore the Directors have continued to place additional focus on the appropriateness of adopting the going concern assumption in preparing the financial statements. The Group's going concern assessment considers changes in the Group's principal risks (see page 22) and is dependent on a number of factors, including our financial performance and continued access to borrowing facilities. Access to our borrowing facilities is dependent on our ability to continue to operate the Group's secured debt structure within its financial covenants, which are described in note 14.

 

In order to satisfy themselves that the Group has adequate resources to continue as a going concern for the foreseeable future, the Directors have reviewed downside and reverse stress test models, as well as a cash flow model which considers the impact of pessimistic assumptions on the Group's operating environment (the 'mitigated downside scenario'). This mitigated downside scenario reflects unfavourable macro-economic conditions, a deterioration in our ability to collect rent and service charge from our customers and removes uncommitted acquisitions, disposals and developments.

 

The Group's key metrics from the mitigated downside scenario as at the end of the going concern assessment period, which covers the 16 months to 31 March 2024, are shown below alongside the actual position at 30 September 2022.

 

Key metrics


30 September 2022
latest mitigated downside scenario

31 March 2022
mitigated downside scenario


30 September 2022

31 March 2024

30 September 2023

Security Group LTV

32.5%

42.3%

38.9%

Adjusted net debt

£3,441m

£3,644m

£4,363m

EPRA Net Tangible Assets

£7,504m

£5,121m

£7,266m

Available financial headroom

£1.8bn

£1.8bn

£1.2bn

 

In our mitigated downside scenario, the Group has sufficient cash reserves, with our Security Group LTV ratio remaining less than 65% and interest cover above 1.45x, for a period of at least 16 months from the date of authorisation of these financial statements. The value of our assets would need to fall from 30 September 2022 values by approximately a further 50% for LTV to reach 65%. The Directors consider the likelihood of this occurring over the going concern assessment period to be remote. 

 

The Security Group requires earnings before interest of at least £150m in the full year ending 30 September 2023 for interest cover to remain above 1.45x in the mitigated downside scenario, which would ensure compliance with the Group's covenant through to the end of the going concern assessment period. Security Group earnings in the six months to 30 September 2022 are already above the level required to meet the interest cover covenant for the year ending 31 March 2023. Therefore, the Directors do not anticipate a reduction in Security Group earnings over the period ending 31 March 2024 to a level that would result in a breach of the interest cover covenant.

 

Based on these considerations, together with available market information and the Directors' knowledge and experience of the Group's property portfolio and markets, the Directors have adopted the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements for the period ended 30 September 2022.

Presentation of results

The Group income statement is presented in a columnar format, split into those items that relate to EPRA earnings and Capital and other items. The Total column represents the Group's results presented in accordance with IFRS; the other columns provide additional information. This is intended to reflect the way in which the Group's senior management review the results of the business and to aid reconciliation to the segmental information.

 

A number of the financial measures used internally by the Group to measure performance include the results of partly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures on a proportionate basis. Measures that are described as being on a proportionate basis include the Group's share of joint ventures on a line-by-line basis and are adjusted to exclude the non-owned elements of our subsidiaries. These measures are non-GAAP measures and therefore not presented in accordance with IFRS. This is in contrast to the condensed consolidated interim financial information presented in these half year results, where the Group applies equity accounting to its interest in joint ventures and associates, presenting its interest collectively in the income statement and balance sheet, and consolidating all subsidiaries at 100% with any non-owned element being adjusted as a non-controlling interest or redemption liability, as appropriate. Our joint operations are presented on a proportionate basis in all financial measures used internally by the Group.

 

2. Significant accounting policies


 

The condensed consolidated interim financial information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies, significant judgements and estimates as set out in the notes to the Group's annual financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2022, as amended where relevant to reflect the new standards, amendments and interpretations which became effective in the period. Following clarification by IFRIC on the classification of monies held in restricted accounts, monies that are restricted by use only are classified at 30 September 2022 as 'Cash and cash equivalents', whereas monies to which access is restricted remain classified as 'Monies held in restricted accounts and deposits'. The comparative balances have been restated where applicable to reflect this change in classification. There has been no material impact on the financial statements of adopting any other new standards, amendments and interpretations.

 

3. Segmental information

 

The Group's operations are all in the UK and are managed across four operating segments, being Central London, Major retail destinations (Major retail), Mixed-use urban neighbourhoods (Mixed-use urban) and Subscale sectors.

 

The Central London segment includes all assets geographically located within central London. Major retail includes all regional shopping centres and shops outside London and our outlets. The Mixed-use urban segment includes those assets where we see the most potential for capital investment. Subscale sectors mainly includes assets that will not be a focus for capital investment and consists of leisure and hotel assets and retail parks.

 

Management has determined the Group's operating segments based on the information reviewed by senior management to make strategic decisions. The chief operating decision maker is the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), comprising the Executive Directors and the Managing Directors. The information presented to ELT includes reports from all functions of the business as well as strategy, financial planning, succession planning, organisational development and Group-wide policies.

 

The Group's primary measure of underlying profit after tax is EPRA earnings. However, segment net rental income is the lowest level to which the profit arising from the ongoing operations of the Group is analysed between the four segments. The administrative costs, which are predominantly staff costs for centralised functions, are all treated as administrative expenses and are not allocated to individual segments.

 

The Group manages its financing structure, with the exception of joint ventures and non-wholly owned subsidiaries, on a pooled basis. Individual joint ventures and non-wholly owned subsidiaries may have specific financing arrangements in place. Debt facilities and finance expenses, including those of joint ventures, are managed centrally and are therefore not attributed to a particular segment. Unallocated income and expenses are items incurred centrally which are not directly attributable to one of the segments.

 

All items in the segmental results note are presented on a proportionate basis. The following table reconciles the Group's income statement to the segmental results.

 

Reconciliation of segmental information note to interim reporting




Six months ended 30 September 2022


Group income statement

£m

Joint

ventures(1)

£m

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries (2)

£m

Total

£m

EPRA earnings

£m


Capital and other items

£m

Rental income

307

27

(4)

330

330


-

Finance lease interest

1

-

-

1

1


-

Gross rental income (before rents payable)

308

27

(4)

331

331


-

Rents payable

(5)

(1)

-

(6)

(6)


-

Gross rental income (after rents payable)

303

26

(4)

325

325


-

Service charge income

43

5

(1)

47

47


-

Service charge expense

(51)

(6)

1

(56)

(56)


-

Net service charge expense

(8)

(1)

-

(9)

(9)


-

Other property related income

13

1

-

14

14


-

Direct property expenditure

(48)

(5)

1

(52)

(52)


-

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions

-

-

-

-

-


-

Segment net rental income

260

21

(3)

278

278


-

Other income

1

-

-

1

1


-

Administrative expenses

(38)

(1)

-

(39)

(39)


-

Depreciation

(3)

-

-

(3)

(3)


-

EPRA earnings before interest

220

20

(3)

237

237


-

Share of post-tax profit from joint ventures

15

(15)

-

-

-


-

Profit on disposal of trading properties

1

-

-

1

-


1

Loss on disposal of investment properties(3)

(92)

-

-

(92)

-


(92)

Net (deficit)/surplus on revaluation of investment properties

(331)

1

7

(323)

-


(323)

Loss on changes in finance leases

(6)

-

-

(6)

-


(6)

Impairment of goodwill

(5)

-

-

(5)

-


(5)

Impairment of trading properties

(8)

-

-

(8)

-


(8)

Depreciation

(2)

-

-

(2)

-


(2)

Operating (loss)/profit

(208)

6

4

(198)

237


(435)

Finance income

 57

-

(2)

55

6


49

Finance expense

(41)

(6)

-

(47)

(46)


(1)

(Loss)/profit before tax

(192)

-

2

(190)

197


(387)

Taxation

-

-

-

-




(Loss)/profit for the period

(192)

-

2

 (190)




 

1. Reallocation of the share of post-tax profit from joint ventures reported in the Group income statement to the individual line items reported in the segmental results table.

2. Removal of the non-wholly owned share of results of the Group's subsidiaries. The non-wholly owned subsidiaries are consolidated at 100% in the Group's income statement, but only the Group's share is included in EPRA earnings reported in the segmental results table. The non-owned element of the Group's subsidiaries are included in the 'Capital and other items' column presented in the Group's income statement, together with items not directly related to the underlying rental business such as investment properties valuation changes, profits or losses on the disposal of investment properties, the proceeds from, and costs of, the sale of trading properties, income from and costs associated with long-term development contracts, amortisation and impairment of intangibles, and other attributable costs, arising on business combinations.

3. Included in the loss on disposal of investment properties for the period ended 30 September 2022 is a £7m charge related to the provision for fire safety remediation works on properties no longer owned by the Group but for which the Group is responsible for remediating under the Building Safety Act 2022.

 

Segmental results




Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021(2)

EPRA earnings

Central London

Major retail

Mixed-use urban

Subscale sectors

Total

Central London

Major

retail

Mixed-use urban

Subscale sectors

Total

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Rental income

160

88

28

54

330

146

77

17

42

282

Finance lease interest

1

-

-

-

1

4

-

-

1

5

Gross rental income (before rents payable)

161

88

28

54

331

150

77

17

43

287

Rents payable(1)

(1)

(4)

-

(1)

(6)

(2)

(3)

-

-

(5)

Gross rental income (after rents payable)

160

84

28

53

325

148

74

17

43

282

Service charge income

22

20

5

-

47

20

19

2

-

41

Service charge expense

(23)

(26)

(6)

(1)

(56)

(20)

(22)

(3)

(2)

(47)

Net service charge expense

(1)

(6)

(1)

(1)

(9)

-

(3)

(1)

(2)

(6)

Other property related income

6

6

1

1

14

6

6

1

1

14

Direct property expenditure

(17)

(21)

(7)

(7)

(52)

(15)

(15)

(4)

(5)

(39)

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions

1

3

(4)

-

-

(2)

5

1

(1)

3

Segment net rental income

149

66

17

46

278

137

67

14

36

254

Other income





1





3

Administrative expense





(39)





(41)

Depreciation





(3)





(3)

EPRA earnings before interest





237





213

Finance income





6





4

Finance expense





(40)





(33)

Joint venture net finance expense





(6)





(4)

EPRA earnings attributable to shareholders of the parent





197





180

 

1. Included within rents payable is lease interest payable of £1m (2021: £2m) for the Central London segment.

2. A reconciliation from the Group income statement to the information presented in the segmental results table for the six months to 30 September 2021 is included in table 25.

 

4. Performance measures


 

In the tables below, we present earnings per share and net assets per share attributable to shareholders of the parent, calculated in accordance with IFRS, together with certain measures defined by the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA), which have been included to assist comparison between European property companies. Three of the Group's key financial performance measures are EPRA earnings per share, EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share and total accounting return.

 

EPRA earnings, which is a tax adjusted measure of underlying earnings, is the basis for the calculation of EPRA earnings per share. We believe EPRA earnings and EPRA earnings per share provide further insight into the results of the Group's operational performance to stakeholders as they focus on the rental income performance of the business and exclude Capital and other items which can vary significantly from period to period.

 

Earnings per share

Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


Loss for the period

EPRA earnings

Profit for the period

EPRA earnings

 


£m

£m

£m

£m

 

(Loss)/profit attributable to shareholders of the parent

(190)

(190)

275

275

 

Valuation and loss/(profit) on disposals

-

435

-

(93)

 

Net finance income (excluded from EPRA earnings)

-

(48)

-

(2)

 

(Loss)/profit used in per share calculation

(190)

197

275

180

 






 


IFRS

EPRA

IFRS

EPRA

 

Basic (loss)/earnings per share

(25.7)p

26.6p

37.2p

24.3p

 

Diluted (loss)/earnings per share(1)

(25.7)p

26.5p

37.1p

24.3p

 

 

1. In the six months ended 30 September 2022, share options are excluded from the weighted average diluted number of shares when calculating IFRS diluted loss per share because they are not dilutive.

 

Net assets per share

30 September 2022

31 March 2022


Net assets

EPRA NDV

EPRA NTA

Net assets

EPRA NDV

EPRA NTA


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Net assets attributable to shareholders of the parent

7,569

7,569

7,569

7,917

7,917

7,917

Shortfall of fair value over net investment in finance leases book value

-

(1)

(1)

-

(6)

(6)

Deferred tax liability on intangible asset

-

-

1

-

-

1

Goodwill on deferred tax liability

-

(1)

(1)

-

(1)

(1)

Other intangible asset

-

-

(2)

-

-

(2)

Fair value of interest-rate swaps

-

-

(69)

-

-

(21)

Excess of fair value of trading properties over book value

-

7

7

-

-

-

Shortfall/(excess) of fair value of debt over book value

-

373

-

-

(107)

-

Net assets used in per share calculation

7,569

7,947

7,504

7,917

7,803

7,888









IFRS

EPRA NDV

EPRA NTA

IFRS

EPRA NDV

EPRA NTA

Net assets per share

1,023p

n/a

n/a

1,070p

n/a

n/a

Diluted net assets per share

1,019p

1,070p

1,010p

1,067p

1,052p

1,063p

 

Number of shares

Six months ended
30 September 2022
Weighted average

30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021
Weighted average

31 March 2022


million

million

million

million

Ordinary shares

751

751

751

751

Treasury shares

(7)

(7)

(7)

(7)

Own shares

(4)

(4)

(4)

(4)

Number of shares - basic

740

740

740

740

Dilutive effect of share options

3

3

1

2

Number of shares - diluted

743

743

741

742

 

Total accounting return is calculated as the cash dividends per share paid in the period plus the change in EPRA NTA per share, divided by the opening EPRA NTA per share. We consider this to be a useful measure for shareholders as it gives an indication of the total return on equity over the period.

Total accounting return based on EPRA NTA

Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


pence

pence

(Decrease)/increase in EPRA NTA per share

(53)

27

Dividend paid per share in the period (note 8)

22

9

Total return (a)

(31)

36

EPRA NTA per share at the beginning of the period (b)

1,063

985

Total accounting return (a/b)

(2.9)%

3.7%

 

5. Revenue


 

All revenue is classified within the 'EPRA earnings' column of the income statement, with the exception of proceeds from the sale of trading properties, income from long-term development contracts and the non-owned element of the Group's subsidiaries which are presented in the 'Capital and other items' column.

 


Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


EPRA earnings

Capital and other items

Total

EPRA earnings

Capital and other items

Total


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Rental income (excluding adjustment for lease incentives)

306

4

310

269

-

269

Adjustment for lease incentives

(3)

-

(3)

(11)

-

(11)

Rental income

303

4

307

258

-

258

Service charge income

42

1

43

36

-

36

Trading property sales proceeds

-

15

15

-

-

-

Other property related income

13

-

13

12

-

12

Finance lease interest

1

-

1

5

-

5

Long-term development contract income(1)

-

14

14

-

1

1

Other income

1

-

1

3

-

3

Revenue per the income statement

360

34

394

314

1

315

 

The following table reconciles revenue per the income statement to the individual components of revenue presented in the segmental results table in note 3.

 


Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


Group

Joint ventures

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Total

Group

Joint
 ventures

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Total


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Rental income

307

27

(4)

330

258

24

-

282

Service charge income

43

5

(1)

47

36

5

-

41

Other property related income

13

1

-

14

12

2

-

14

Finance lease interest

1

-

-

1

5

-

-

5

Other income

1

-

-

1

3

-

-

3

Revenue in the segmental information note

365

33

(5)

393

314

31

-

345

Long-term development contract income(1)

14

-

-

14

1

-

-

1

Trading property sales proceeds

15

-

-

15

-

-

-

-

Revenue including Capital and other items

394

33

(5)

422

315

31

-

346

 

1. Development contract income for the six months to 30 September 2022 relates to the income released from the contract liability recorded on the disposal of 21 Moorfields, recognised in line with costs incurred on the development in Note 6.

 



 

6. Cost


 

All costs are classified within the 'EPRA earnings' column of the income statement, with the exception of the cost of sale of trading properties, costs arising on long-term development contracts, amortisation and impairments of intangible assets, other attributable costs arising on business combinations and the non-owned element of the Group's subsidiaries which are presented in the 'Capital and other items' column.

 


Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


EPRA earnings

Capital and other items

Total

EPRA earnings

Capital and other items

Total


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Rents payable

5

-

5

4

-

4

Service charge expense

50

1

51

42

-

42

Direct property expenditure

47

1

48

34

-

34

Administrative expenses

38

-

38

41

-

41

Depreciation

3

2

5

3

-

3

Cost of trading property disposals

-

14

14

-

-

-

Long-term development contract expenditure(1)

-

14

14

-

1

1

Impairment of goodwill

-

5

5

-

-

-

Impairment of trading properties

-

8

8

-

-

-

Costs - other per the income statement

143

45

188

124

1

125

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions - rent

-

-

-

(3)

-

(3)

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions - service charge

-

-

-

(4)

-

(4)

Total costs per the income statement

143

45

188

117

1

118

 

The following table reconciles costs per the income statement to the individual components of costs presented in the segmental results table in note 3.

 


Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


Group

Joint ventures

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Total

Group

Joint
 ventures

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Total


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Rents payable

5

1

-

6

4

1

-

5

Service charge expense

51

6

(1)

56

42

5

-

47

Direct property expenditure

48

5

(1)

52

34

5

-

39

Administrative expenses

38

1

-

39

41

-

-

41

Depreciation

3

-

-

3

3

-

-

3

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions - rent

-

-

-

-

(3)

4

-

1

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions - service charge

-

-

-

-

(4)

-

-

(4)

Costs in the segmental information note

145

13

(2)

156

117

15

-

132

Cost of trading property disposals

14

-

-

14

-

-

-

-

Long-term development contract expenditure(1)

14

-

-

14

1

-

-

1

Impairment of goodwill

5

-

-

5

-

-

-

-

Impairment of trading properties

8

-

-

8

-

-

-

-

Depreciation

2

-

-

2

-

-

-

-

Costs including Capital and other items

188

13

(2)

199

118

15

-

133

 

1. Development contract expenditure for the six months to 30 September 2022 relates to the ongoing development of 21 Moorfields following the sale of the property during the period.

 

The Group's costs include employee costs for the period of £37m (2021: £33m), of which £3m (2021: £3m) is within service charge expense, £6m (2021: £nil) is within direct property expenditure and £28m (2021: £30m) is within administrative expenses.

 

7. Net finance expense


Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


EPRA earnings

Capital and other items

Total

EPRA earnings

Capital and other items

Total


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Finance income







Interest receivable from joint ventures

6

-

6

4

-

4

Fair value movement on interest-rate swaps

-

51

51

-

2

2


6

51

57

4

2

6








Finance expense







Bond and debenture debt

(34)

-

(34)

(33)

-

(33)

Bank and other short-term borrowings

(20)

(1)

(21)

(7)

-

(7)


(54)

(1)

(55)

(40)

-

(40)

Interest capitalised in relation to properties under development

14

-

14

7

-

7


(40)

(1)

(41)

(33)

-

(33)








Net finance (expense)/income

(34)

50

16

(29)

2

(27)

Joint venture net finance expense

(6)



(4)



Net finance expense included in EPRA earnings

(40)



(33)



 

Lease interest payable of £1m (2021: £2m) is included within rents payable as detailed in note 3.

 



 

8. Dividends


 

Dividends paid


Six months ended 30 September



Pence per share

2022

2021


Payment date

PID

Non-PID

Total

£m

£m

For the year ended 31 March 2021:







Final

23 July 2021

9.00

-

9.00


66

For the year ended 31 March 2022:







Third interim

7 April 2022

8.50

-

8.50

63


Final

22 July 2022

13.00

-

13.00

96


Gross dividends





159

66

 

Dividends in the statement of changes in equity





159

66

Timing difference on payment of withholding tax





(4)

9

Dividends in the statement of cash flows





155

75

 

On 7 October 2022, the Company paid a first interim dividend in respect of the current financial year of 8.6p per ordinary share (2021: 7.0p), wholly as a Property Income Distribution (PID), representing £64m in total (2021: £52m).

 

The Board has declared a second interim dividend of 9.0p per ordinary share to be payable wholly as a PID (2021: 8.5p) on 3 January 2023 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 24 November 2022.

 

A Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP) has been available in respect of all dividends paid during the period. The last day for DRIP elections for the second interim dividend is close of business on 8 December 2022.

 

9. Net cash generated from operations



Reconciliation of operating (loss)/profit to net cash generated from operations

Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


£m

£m




Operating (loss)/profit

(208)

302




Adjustments for:



Net deficit/(surplus) on revaluation of investment properties

331

(94)

Loss/(gain) on changes in finance leases

6

(6)

Profit of disposal of trading properties

(1)

-

Loss/(profit) on disposal of investment properties

92

(6)

Share of (profit)/loss from joint ventures

(15)

1

Share-based payment charge

3

1

Rents payable

5

4

Depreciation

5

3

Development contract income

(14)

-

Other

9

1


213

206

Changes in working capital:



Increase in receivables

(7)

(11)

(Decrease)/increase in payables and provisions

(10)

7

Net cash generated from operations

196

202

 

Reconciliation to adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities

Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021

£m

£m

Net cash inflow from operating activities

176

158

Joint ventures net cash (out)/inflow from operating activities

(8)

14

Adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities(1)

168

172

 

1. Adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities is now presented inclusive of cash flows from trading property activities, whereas previously it had excluded these cashflows. There were no cash flows from trading property activities in the period to 30 September 2021, therefore there has been no change to the presentation for that period. Refer to the Glossary for the definition of Adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities.

 

10. Investment properties





Six months ended
30 September 2022

Six months ended
31 March 2022

Six months ended
30 September 2021


£m

£m

£m

Net book value at the beginning of the period

11,207

9,822

9,607

Transfer from joint venture

23

-

-

Acquired through acquisition of group of subsidiaries

-

619

-

Acquisitions of investment properties

2

247

-

Net movement in head leases capitalised(1)

(11)

63

(1)

Capital expenditure

187

180

163

Capitalised interest

14

10

7

Disposals(2)(3)

(904)

(56)

(42)

Net (deficit)/surplus on revaluation of investment properties

(331)

322

94

Transfers to trading properties

-

-

(6)

Net book value at the end of the period

10,187

11,207

9,822

 

1. See note 14 for details of the amounts payable under head leases and note 6 for details of the rents payable in the income statement.

2. Includes impact of disposals of finance leases.

3. Includes £766m impact of disposal of 21 Moorfields. Gross proceeds of £742m (inclusive of development costs to go) were received following adjustments to the headline price of £809m for rent top up and fit-out contributions.

 

The fair value of investment properties at 30 September 2022 was determined by the Group's external valuers, CBRE, JLL and Savills. The valuations are in line with RICS standards and were arrived at by reference to market evidence of transactions for similar properties. The valuations performed by the independent valuers are reviewed internally by senior management and relevant people within the business. This includes discussions of the assumptions used by the external valuers, as well as a review of the resulting valuations. Discussions about the valuation process and results are held between senior management, the Audit Committee and the external valuers on a half-yearly basis.

 

The Group considers all of its investment properties to fall within 'Level 3', as defined by IFRS 13. There were no changes in the Group's valuation processes, valuation techniques, and types of inputs used in the fair value measurement of investment properties during the period.

 

The market value of the Group's investment properties, as determined by the Group's external valuers, differs from the net book value presented in the balance sheet due to the Group presenting tenant finance leases, head leases and lease incentives separately. The following table reconciles the net book value of the investment properties to the market value.

 


30 September 2022

31 March 2022


Group
(excl. joint ventures)

Joint

ventures(1)

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Combined Portfolio

Group
 (excl. joint ventures)

Joint
ventures(1)

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Combined

Portfolio


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Market value

10,296

774

(141)

10,929

11,362

800

(145)

12,017

Less: properties treated as finance leases

(20)

-

-

(20)

(66)

-

-

(66)

Plus: head leases capitalised

112

9

-

121

123

9

-

132

Less: tenant lease incentives

(201)

(37)

-

(238)

(212)

(38)

-

(250)

Net book value

10,187

746

(141)

10,792

11,207

771

(145)

11,833










Net (deficit)/surplus on revaluation of investment properties

(331)

1

7

(323)

416

(3)

(4)

409

 

1. Refer to note 12 for a breakdown of this amount by entity.

 

As at 30 September 2022, the Group had contractually committed development capital expenditure obligations of £127m

 

11. Trading properties





Development land and infrastructure

Residential

Total


£m

£m

£m

At 1 April 2021

24

12

36

Transfers from investment properties

-

6

6

At 30 September 2021

24

18

42

Acquisitions

128

-

128

Capital expenditure

1

5

6

Disposals

(25)

-

(25)

Impairment provision

-

(6)

(6)

At 31 March 2022

128

17

145

Capital expenditure

4

8

12

Disposals

(5)

(9)

(14)

Impairment provision

(7)

(1)

(8)

At 30 September 2022

120

15

135

 

The cumulative impairment provision at 30 September 2022 in respect of Development land and infrastructure was £7m (31 March 2022: £nil) and in respect of Residential was £7m (31 March 2022: £6m).

 

12. Joint arrangements


 

The Group's principal joint arrangements are described below:

 

Joint ventures

Percentage owned & voting rights(1)

Business
segment

Year end date(2)

Joint venture partner

Held at 30 September 2022(3)





 

Nova, Victoria(4)

50%

Central London

31 March

Suntec Real Estate Investment Trust

 

Southside Limited Partnership

50%

Major retail

31 March

Invesco Real Estate European Fund

 

St. David's Limited Partnership

50%

Major retail

31 March

Intu Properties plc(5)

 

Westgate Oxford Alliance Limited Partnership

50%

Major retail, Subscale sectors

31 March

The Crown Estate Commissioners

 

Harvest(6)(7)

50%

Subscale sectors

31 March

J Sainsbury plc

 

The Ebbsfleet Limited Partnership(7)

50%

Subscale sectors

31 March

Ebbsfleet Property Limited

 

West India Quay Unit Trust(7)

50%

Subscale sectors

31 March

Schroder UK Real Estate Fund

 

Mayfield(7)(8)

50%

Mixed-use urban

31 March

LCR Limited, Manchester City Council, Transport for Greater Manchester

 

Curzon Park Limited(7)

50%

Subscale sectors

31 March

Derwent Developments (Curzon) Limited

 

Plus X Holdings Limited(7)

50%

Subscale sectors

31 March

Paul David Rostas, Matthew Edmund Hunter

 

Landmark Court Partnership Limited(7)

51%

Central London

31 March

TTL Landmark Court Properties Limited

 

Joint operation

Ownership  interest

Business
segment

Year end date(2)

Joint operation partners

 

Held at 30 September 2022





 

Bluewater, Kent

48.75%

Major retail

31 March

M&G Real Estate and GIC

Royal London Asset Management

Aberdeen Standard Investments

 

 

1. Investments under joint arrangements are not always represented by an equal percentage holding by each partner. In a number of joint ventures that are not considered principal joint ventures and therefore not included in the table above, the Group holds a majority shareholding but has joint control and therefore the arrangement is accounted for as a joint venture.

2. The year end date shown is the accounting reference date of the joint arrangement. In all cases, the Group's accounting is performed using financial information for the Group's own reporting year and reporting date.

3. During the period to 30 September 2022, Wind Farms are no longer classified as a joint venture and are consolidated together with other subsidiary undertakings. Wind Farms includes DS Renewables LLP, Hendy Wind Farm Limited and Rhoscrowther Wind Farm Limited.

4. Nova, Victoria includes the Nova Limited Partnership, Nova Residential Limited Partnership, Nova GP Limited, Nova Business Manager Limited, Nova Residential (GP) Limited, Nova Residential Intermediate Limited, Nova Estate Management Company Limited, Nova Nominee 1 Limited and Nova Nominee 2 Limited.

5. Intu Properties plc went into administration in June 2020 and its subsidiary, our joint venture partner Intu the Hayes Limited, was subsequently placed in receivership by its secured creditors in November 2020.

6. Harvest includes Harvest 2 Limited Partnership, Harvest Development Management Limited, Harvest 2 Selly Oak Limited, Harvest 2 GP Limited and Harvest GP Limited.

7. Included within Other in subsequent tables.

8. Mayfield includes Mayfield Development Partnership LP and Mayfield Development (General Partner) Limited.

 

All of the Group's joint arrangements have their principal place of business in the United Kingdom. All of the Group's joint arrangements own and operate investment property, with the exception of The Ebbsfleet Limited Partnership, which is a holding company, and Harvest, which is engaged in long-term development contracts. The activities of all the Group's principal joint arrangements are therefore strategically important to the business activities of the Group.

 

All joint ventures are registered in England and Wales with the exception of Southside Limited Partnership and West India Quay Unit Trust which are registered in Jersey.

 

Joint ventures

Six months ended 30 September 2022


Nova,

Victoria

Southside Limited Partnership

St. David's Limited Partnership

Westgate Oxford Alliance Partnership

Other

Total

Total

Comprehensive income statement

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Group share

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m









Revenue(1)

24

5

17

17

3

66

33









Gross rental income (after rents payable)

18

5

14

14

3

54

26









Net rental income

18

(1)

10

12

  3 

42

21









EPRA earnings before interest

17

(1)

9

12

3

40

20









Finance expense

(9)

(3)

  - 

  - 

  - 

(12)

(6)

Net finance expense

(9)

(3)

  - 

  - 

  - 

(12)

(6)









EPRA earnings

8

(4)

9

12

3

28

14









Capital and other items








Net (deficit)/surplus on revaluation of investment properties

(31)

1

6

7

19

2

1

(Loss)/profit before tax

(23)

(3)

15

19

22

30

15

Post-tax (loss)/profit

(23)

(3)

15

19

22

30

15

Total comprehensive (loss)/income

(23)

(3)

15

19

22

30

15

















Group share of (loss)/profit before tax

(12)

(2)

8

10

11

15


Group share of post-tax (loss)/profit

(12)

(2)

8

10

11

15


Group share of total comprehensive (loss)/income

(12)

(2)

8

10

11

15


 

1. Revenue includes gross rental income (before rents payable), service charge income, other property related income, trading properties disposal proceeds and income from long-term development contracts.

 

Joint ventures

Six months ended 30 September 2021


Nova,
Victoria

Southside Limited Partnership

St. David's Limited Partnership

Westgate
Oxford

Alliance Partnership

Other

Total

Total

 

Comprehensive income statement

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Group share

 

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

 









 

Revenue(1)

23

5

14

19

2

63

31

 









 

Gross rental income (after rents payable)

17

5

11

12

2

47

23

 









 

Net rental income

9

6

6

10

2

33

16

 









 

EPRA earnings before interest

8

6

5

10

2

31

16

 









 

Finance expense

(4)

(3)

-

-

-

(7)

(4)

 

Net finance expense

(4)

(3)

-

-

-

(7)

(4)

 









 

EPRA earnings

4

3

5

10

2

24

12

 









 

Capital and other items








 

Net (deficit)/surplus on revaluation of investment properties

(4)

(3)

(14)

(7)

1

(27)

(13)

 

(Loss)/profit before tax

-

-

(9)

3

3

(3)

(1)

 

Post-tax (loss)/profit

-

-

(9)

3

3

(3)

(1)

 

Total comprehensive (loss)/income

-

-

(9)

3

3

(3)

(1)

 









 









 

Group share of (loss)/profit before tax

-

-

(4)

1

2

(1)


 

Group share of post-tax (loss)/profit

-

-

(4)

1

2

(1)


 

Group share of total comprehensive (loss)/income

-

-

(4)

1

2

(1)


 

 

1. Revenue includes gross rental income (before rents payable), service charge income, other property related income, trading properties disposal proceeds and income from long-term development contracts.

 

Joint ventures






30 September 2022


Nova, Victoria

Southside Limited Partnership

St. David's Limited Partnership

Westgate Oxford

Alliance Partnership

Other

Total

Total

Balance sheet

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Group share

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Investment properties(1)

784

134

237

239

99

1,493

746

Non-current assets

784

134

237

239

99

1,493

746









Cash and cash equivalents

22

4

16

24

6

72

36

Other current assets

64

3

12

15

110

204

85

Current assets

86

7

28

39

116

276

121

Total assets

870

141

265

278

215

1,769

867









Trade and other payables and provisions

(22)

(10)

(11)

(9)

(115)

(167)

(52)

Current liabilities

(22)

(10)

(11)

(9)

(115)

(167)

(52)









Non-current liabilities

(126)

(145)

(16)

-

(42)

(329)

(144)

Non-current liabilities

(126)

(145)

(16)

-

(42)

(329)

(144)

Total liabilities

(148)

(155)

(27)

(9)

(157)

(496)

(196)









Net assets

722

(14)

238

269

58

1,273

671









Market value of investment properties(1)

839

134

226

249

99

1,547

774

Net cash/(debt)(2)

22

3

-

24

5

54

27

 

 

Joint ventures

31 March 2022


Nova, Victoria

Southside Limited Partnership

St. David's Limited Partnership

Westgate

Oxford

Alliance Partnership

Other

Total

Total

Balance sheet

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

Group share

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Investment properties(1)

815

133

235

236

132

1,551

771

Non-current assets

815

133

235

236

132

1,551

771









Cash and cash equivalents

27

4

10

12

10

63

31

Other current assets

63

7

13

14

53

150

105

Current assets

90

11

23

26

63

213

136

Total assets

905

144

258

262

195

1,764

907









Trade and other payables and provisions

(22)

(10)

(9)

(10)

(12)

(63)

(44)

Current liabilities

(22)

(10)

(9)

(10)

(12)

(63)

(44)









Non-current liabilities

(139)

(145)

(22)

(3)

(131)

(440)

(168)

Non-current liabilities

(139)

(145)

(22)

(3)

(131)

(440)

(168)

Total liabilities

(161)

(155)

(31)

(13)

(143)

(503)

(212)









Net assets

744

(11)

227

249

52

1,261

695









Market value of investment properties(1)

870

133

226

247

124

1,600

800

Net cash/(debt)(2)

27

2

(6)

12

4

39

19

 

1. The difference between the book value and the market value of investment properties is the amount recognised in respect of lease incentives, head leases capitalised and properties treated as finance leases, where applicable.

2. Excludes funding provided by the Group and its joint venture partners.

 

Joint ventures

Nova,

Victoria

Southside
Limited Partnership

St. David's Limited Partnership

Westgate

Oxford

Alliance Partnership

Other

Total

Net investment

Group share

Group share

Group share

Group share

Group share

Group share

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

At 1 April 2021

351

(7)

124

125

32

625

Total comprehensive (loss)/income

-

-

(4)

1

2

(1)

Non-cash contributions

5

-

-

-

-

5

Cash distributions

-

-

-

-

(2)

(2)

At 30 September 2021

356

(7)

120

126

32

627

Total comprehensive income

16

2

1

10

5

34

Acquisitions

-

-

-

-

54

54

Cash distributions

-

-

(8)

(11)

(1)

(20)

At 31 March 2022

372

(5)

113

125

90

695

Total comprehensive (loss)/income

(12)

(2)

8

10

11

15

Cash distributions

-

-

(2)

-

-

(2)

Other distributions

-

-

-

-

(8)

(8)

Transfer from joint arrangements

-

-

-

-

(24)

(24)

Other non-cash movements

-

-

-

-

(5)

(5)

At 30 September 2022

360

(7)

119

135

64

671

Comprised of:







At 31 March 2022







Non-current assets

372

-

113

125

90

700

Non-current liabilities

-

(5)

-

-

-

(5)

At 30 September 2022







Non-current assets

360

-

119

135

64

678

Non-current liabilities

-

(7)

-

-

-

(7)

 

13. Capital structure


 

30 September 2022

31 March 2022(2)

 

Group

Joint ventures

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Combined

Group

Joint
 ventures

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

Combined

 

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Property portfolio









Market value of investment properties

 10,296

 774

(141)

 10,929

11,362

800

(145)

12,017

Trading properties and long-term contracts

 

135

 

 -  

 

-

 

135

145

1

 

-

146

Total property portfolio (a)

 10,431

 774

(141)

 11,064

11,507

801

(145)

12,163










Net debt









Borrowings(1)

3,614

 -  

(73)

 3,541

4,430

3

(73)

4,360

Monies held in restricted accounts and deposits

(1)

 -

 -

(1)

(4)

-

 

-

(4)

Cash and cash equivalents

(47)

(36)

3

(80)

(146)

(31)

5

(172)

Fair value of interest-rate swaps

(72)

 -

3

(69)

(21)

-

2

(19)

Fair value of foreign exchange swaps and forwards

 

(19)

 

 - 

 

-

 

(19)

(5)

-

 

-

(5)

Net debt (b)

 3,475

(36)

(67)

 3,372

4,254

(28)

(66)

4,160

Less: Fair value of interest-rate swaps

72

  - 

(3)

69

21

-

(2)

19

Adjusted net debt (c)

 3,547

(36)

(70)

 3,441

4,275

(28)

(68)

4,179










Adjusted total equity









Total equity (d)

7,639

 -

(70)

7,569

7,991

-

(74)

7,917

Fair value of interest-rate swaps

(72)

  - 

3

(69)

(21)

-

2

(19)

Adjusted total equity (e)

 7,567

 -  

(67)

 7,500

7,970

-

(72)

7,898










Gearing (b/d)

45.5%



44.6%

53.2%



52.5%

Adjusted gearing (c/e)

46.9%



45.9%

53.6%



52.9%

Group LTV (c/a)

34.0%



31.1%

37.2%



34.4%

Security Group LTV

32.5%




36.4%




Weighted average cost of debt

2.2%



2.7%

2.1%



2.4%

 

1. Borrowings used in the net debt and adjusted net debt calculated for gearing, adjusted gearing, Group LTV and weighted average cost of debt is calculated for excluding amounts payable under head leases.

2. Cash and cash equivalents and monies held in restricted accounts and deposits have been restated as at 31 March 2022 following a clarification by IFRIC on classification of funds with externally imposed restrictions. There was no impact on computed net debt, adjusted net debt, gearing, adjusted gearing, Group LTV and Security Group LTV.

 

14. Borrowings





30 September 2022

31 March 2022


Secured/
unsecured

Fixed/
floating

Effective
interest rate

%

Nominal/ notional value

£m

Fair
value

£m

Book value

£m

Nominal/ notional value

£m

Fair
value

£m

Book value

£m

Current borrowings










Commercial paper










Sterling

Unsecured

Floating

SONIA + margin

-

-

-

140

140

140

Euro

Unsecured

Floating

SONIA + margin

132

132

132

217

217

217

US Dollar

Unsecured

Floating

SONIA + margin

292

292

292

142

142

142











Euro loan note

Unsecured

Fixed

4.8

-

-

-

30

30

30











Syndicated and bilateral bank debt

Secured

Floating

SONIA + margin

-

-

-

2

2

2

Syndicated and bilateral bank debt

Secured

Floating

Euribor + margin

-

-

-

10

10

10

Total current borrowings




424

424

424

541

541

541

Amounts payable under head leases




-

-

-

-

-

-

Total current borrowings including amounts payable under head leases




424

424

424

541

541

541











Non-current borrowings










Medium term notes (MTN)










A10  4.875% MTN due 2025

Secured

Fixed

5.0

10

10

10

10

10

10

A12  1.974% MTN due 2026

Secured

Fixed

2.0

400

381

399

400

399

399

A4    5.391% MTN due 2026

Secured

Fixed

5.4

17

17

17

17

18

17

A5    5.391% MTN due 2027

Secured

Fixed

5.4

87

86

87

87

93

87

A16  2.375% MTN due 2027

Secured

Fixed

2.5

350

303

348

350

351

348

A6    5.376% MTN due 2029

Secured

Fixed

5.4

65

63

65

65

74

65

A13  2.399% MTN due 2031

Secured

Fixed

2.4

300

249

299

300

299

299

A7    5.396% MTN due 2032

Secured

Fixed

5.4

77

77

77

77

107

77

A11  5.125% MTN due 2036

Secured

Fixed

5.1

50

49

50

50

68

50

A14  2.625% MTN due 2039

Secured

Fixed

2.6

500

353

494

500

491

494

A15  2.750% MTN due 2059

Secured

Fixed

2.7

500

315

495

500

497

495





2,356

 1,903

 2,341

2,356

2,407

2,341











Syndicated and bilateral bank debt

Secured

Floating

SONIA + margin

 849

 849

 849

1,546

1,546

1,546

Syndicated and bilateral bank debt

Secured

Floating

Euribor + margin

 -  

 -  

 -  

2

2

2











Total non-current borrowings




3,205

2,752

3,190

3,904

3,955

3,889

Amounts payable under head leases



3.3

112

177

112

123

164

123

Total non-current borrowings including amounts payable under head leases




3,317

2,929

3,302

4,027

4,119

4,012











Total borrowing including amounts payable under head leases




3,741

3,353

3,726

4,568

4,660

4,553

Total borrowings excluding amounts payable under head leases




3,629

3,176

3,614

4,445

4,496

4,430

 

Reconciliation of the movement in borrowings

Six months ended
30 September 2022

Year ended
31 March 2022


£m

£m

At the beginning of the period

4,553

3,516

Bank debt assumed through acquisition of subsidiaries

-

403

Proceeds from new borrowings

-

1,053

Repayment of bank debt

(858)

(489)

Foreign exchange movement on non-Sterling borrowings

42

8

Movement in amounts payable under head leases

(11)

62

At the end of the period

3,726

4,553

 

Reconciliation of movements in liabilities arising from financing activities


Six months ended 30 September 2022




Non-cash changes



At the beginning of the period

Cash flows

Foreign exchange movements

Other changes in fair values

Other changes

At the end
of the period


£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Borrowings

4,553

(858)

42

-

(11)

3,726

Derivative financial instruments

(26)

27

(42)

(51)

1

(91)


4,527

(831)

-

(51)

(10)

3,635











Year ended 31 March 2022

Borrowings

3,516

564

8

-

465

4,553

Derivative financial instruments

3

(3)

(8)

(12)

(6)

(26)


3,519

561

-

(12)

459

4,527

 

Medium term notes

The MTNs are secured on the fixed and floating pool of assets of the Security Group. The Security Group includes investment properties, development properties, the X-Leisure fund, and the Group's investment in Westgate Oxford Alliance Limited Partnership, Nova, Victoria, St. David's Limited Partnership and Southside Limited Partnership, in total valued at £10.2bn at 30 September 2022 (31 March 2022: £11.2bn). The secured debt structure has a tiered operating covenant regime which gives the Group substantial flexibility when the loan-to-value and interest cover in the Security Group are less than 65% and more than 1.45x respectively. If these limits are exceeded, the operating environment becomes more restrictive with provisions to encourage a reduction in gearing. The interest rate of each MTN is fixed until the expected maturity, being two years before the legal maturity date of the MTN. The interest rate for the last two years may either become floating on a SONIA basis plus an increased margin (relative to that at the time of issue), or subject to a fixed coupon uplift, depending on the terms and conditions of the specific notes.

 

The effective interest rate is based on the coupon paid and includes the amortisation of issue costs. The MTNs are listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and their fair values are based on their respective market prices.

 

During the period, the Group did not purchase any MTNs (31 March 2022: £nil).

 

Syndicated and bilateral bank debt


Authorised

Drawn

Undrawn


Maturity as at 30 September 2022

30 Sept
2022

31 March 2022

30 Sept
2022

31 March 2022

30 Sept
2022

31 March 2022



£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Syndicated debt

2022

-

12

-

12

-

-

Syndicated debt

2024-27

2,782

2,785

781

1,393

2,001

1,392

Bilateral debt

2026

225

225

68

155

157

70



3,007

3,022

849

1,560

2,158

1,462

 

All syndicated and bilateral facilities are committed and secured on the assets of the Security Group, with the exception of facilities secured on the assets at MediaCity. During the period ended 30 September 2022, the amounts drawn under the Group's facilities decreased by £711m.

 

The terms of the Security Group funding arrangements require undrawn facilities to be reserved where syndicated and bilateral facilities mature within one year, or when commercial paper is issued. The total amount of cash and available undrawn facilities, net of commercial paper, at 30 September 2022 was £1,781m (31 March 2022: £1,109m, restated for the impact of the change in classification between cash and monies held in restricted accounts during the period).

Fair values

The fair value of the amounts payable under the Group's lease obligations, using a discount rate of 2.2% (31 March 2022: 2.2%), is £177m (31 March 2022: £164m). The fair value of the Group's net investment in tenant finance leases, calculated by the Group's external valuer by applying a weighted average equivalent yield of 7.5% (31 March 2022: 4.9%), is £19m (31 March 2022: £66m).

 

The fair values of any floating rate financial liabilities are assumed to be equal to their nominal value. The fair values of the MTNs fall within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy, the syndicated and bilateral facilities, commercial paper, interest-rate swaps and foreign exchange swaps fall within Level 2, and the amounts payable and receivable under leases fall within Level 3.

 

The fair values of the financial instruments have been determined by reference to relevant market prices, where available. The fair values of the Group's outstanding interest-rate swaps have been estimated by calculating the present value of future cash flows, using appropriate market discount rates. These valuation techniques fall within Level 2.

 

The fair value of the other investments is calculated by reference to the net assets of the underlying entity. The valuation is not based on observable market data and therefore the other investments are considered to fall within Level 3.

 



 

15. Contingencies


 

The Group has contingent liabilities in respect of legal claims, tax queries, guarantees and warranties arising in the ordinary course of business, as well as contingent liabilities for fire safety remediation arising from the Building Safety Act 2022. It is not anticipated that any material liabilities will arise from the contingent liabilities.

 

 

16. Related party transactions


 

There have been no related party transactions during the period that require disclosure under Section 4.2.8 (R) of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules or under IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting.

 

 

17. Events after the reporting period


 

On 31 October 2022, the Group sold its interest in 56 Regency Street for a headline price of £12m. On 4 November 2022, the Group sold its interest in the Crispin Centre for a headline price of £1m.

 

Since 30 September 2022, the Group sold or exchanged contracts to sell certain interests in trading properties acquired as part of U+I Group PLC in the previous financial year.

 

On 11 November 2022, the Group entered into an option to acquire the first phase of Mayfield from Mayfield Development Partnership Limited Partnership.

 

Alternative performance measures

Table 14: Alternative performance measures

The Group has applied the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) 'Guidelines on Alternative Performance Measures' in these results. In the context of these results, an alternative performance measure (APM) is a financial measure of historical or future financial performance, position or cash flows of the Group which is not a measure defined or specified in IFRS.

 

The table below summarises the APMs included in these results and where the reconciliations of these measures can be found. The definitions of all APMs are included in the Glossary.

 

Alternative performance measure

Nearest IFRS measure

Reconciliation

EPRA earnings

Profit/loss before tax

Note 3

EPRA earnings per share

Basic earnings/loss per share

Note 4

EPRA diluted earnings per share

Diluted earnings/loss per share

Note 4

EPRA Net Tangible Assets

Net assets attributable to shareholders

Note 4

EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share

Net assets attributable to shareholders

Note 4

Total accounting return

n/a

Note 4

Adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Note 9

Combined Portfolio

Investment properties

Note 10

Adjusted net debt

Borrowings

Note 13

Group LTV

n/a

Note 13

 

 

EPRA disclosures 

Table 15: EPRA net asset measures

EPRA net asset measures

30 September 2022


EPRA NRV

EPRA NTA

EPRA NDV


£m

£m

£m

Net assets attributable to shareholders

7,569

7,569

7,569

Shortfall of fair value over net investment in finance lease book value

(1)

(1)

(1)

Deferred tax liability on intangible asset

1

1

-

Goodwill on deferred tax liability

(1)

(1)

(1)

Other intangible asset

-

(2)

-

Fair value of interest-rate swaps

(69)

(69)

-

Shortfall of fair value of debt over book value

-

-

373

Excess of fair value of trading properties over book value

7

7

7

Purchasers' costs(1)

655

-

-

Net assets used in per share calculation

8,161

7,504

7,947






EPRA NRV

EPRA NTA

EPRA NDV

Diluted net assets per share

1,098p

1,010p

1,070p

 


31 March 2022


EPRA NRV

EPRA NTA

EPRA NDV


£m

£m

£m

Net assets attributable to shareholders

7,917

7,917

7,917

Shortfall of fair value over net investment in finance lease book value

(6)

(6)

(6)

Deferred tax liability on intangible asset

1

1

-

Goodwill on deferred tax liability

(1)

(1)

(1)

Other intangible asset

-

(2)

-

Fair value of interest-rate swaps

(21)

(21)

-

Excess of fair value of debt over book value

-

-

(107)

Purchasers' costs(1)

698

-

-

Net assets used in per share calculation

8,588

7,888

7,803






EPRA NRV

EPRA NTA

EPRA NDV

Diluted net assets per share

1,157p

1,063p

1,052p

 

1. EPRA NTA and EPRA NDV reflect IFRS values which are net of purchasers' costs. Purchasers' costs are added back when calculating EPRA NRV.

 

Table 16: EPRA performance measures




30 September 2022

Measure

 

Definition for EPRA measure

Notes

Landsec

measure

EPRA

measure






EPRA earnings

Recurring earnings from core operational activity

4

£197m

£197m

EPRA earnings per share

EPRA earnings per weighted number of ordinary shares

4

26.6p

26.6p

EPRA diluted earnings per share

EPRA diluted earnings per weighted number of ordinary
shares

4

26.5p

26.5p

EPRA Net Tangible Assets (NTA)

Net assets adjusted to exclude the fair value of interest-rate swaps, intangible assets and excess of fair value over net investment in finance lease book value

4

£7,504m

£7,504m

EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share

Diluted Net Tangible Assets per share

4

1,010p

1,010p

EPRA net disposal value (NDV)

Net assets adjusted to exclude the fair value of debt and goodwill on deferred tax and to include excess of fair value over net investment in finance lease book value

4

£7,947m

£7,947m

EPRA net disposal value per share

Diluted net disposal value per share

4

1,070p

1,070p

EPRA loan-to-value (LTV)(1)

Ratio of adjusted net debt, including net payables, to the sum of the net assets, including net receivables, of the Group, its subsidiaries and joint ventures, all on a proportionate basis, expressed as a percentage


32.6%

32.6%



Table



Voids/vacancy rate

ERV of vacant space as a % of ERV of Combined Portfolio excluding the development programme(2)

17

4.9%

4.9%

Net initial yield (NIY)

Annualised rental income less non-recoverable costs as a % of market value plus assumed purchasers' costs(3)


5.1%

5.1%

Topped-up NIY

NIY adjusted for rent free periods(3)


5.4%

5.4%

Cost ratio(4)

Total costs as a percentage of gross rental income (including direct vacancy costs)(4)


25.4%

26.2%


Total costs as a percentage of gross rental income (excluding direct vacancy costs)(4)


n/a

21.5%

 

1. EPRA LTV is a new measure introduced by EPRA in the current period. The EPRA measure differs from the Group LTV presented in Note 13 as it includes net payables and receivables, and includes trading properties at fair value and debt instruments at nominal value rather than book value. EPRA LTV was not presented in the financial statements at 31 March 2022 as the measure had not yet been introduced. EPRA LTV would have been presented as 35.6% at 31 March 2022.

2. Our measure reflects voids in our like-for-like portfolio only, excluding properties where the scale of refurbishment is such that the property is not deemed lettable. The EPRA measure reflects voids in the Combined Portfolio excluding only properties under development.

3. Our NIY and Topped-up NIY relate to the Combined Portfolio, excluding properties in the development programme that have not yet reached practical completion, and are calculated by our external valuer. EPRA NIY and EPRA Topped-up NIY calculations are consistent with ours but exclude only properties currently under development. Topped-up NIY reflects adjustments of £40m and £40m for rent free periods and other incentives for the Landsec measure and EPRA measure, respectively.

4. The EPRA cost ratio is calculated based on gross rental income after rents payable and excluding costs recovered through rents but not separately invoiced of £4m, whereas our measure is based on gross rental income before rents payable and costs recovered through rents but not separately invoiced. We do not calculate a cost ratio excluding direct vacancy costs as we do not consider this to be helpful. Provisions for bad and doubtful debts have been excluded from our cost ratio.

 

Table 17: EPRA vacancy rate

The EPRA vacancy rate is based on the ratio of the estimated market rent for vacant properties versus total estimated market rent, for the Combined Portfolio excluding properties under development. There are no significant distorting factors influencing the EPRA vacancy rate.

 


30 September 2022


£m

ERV of vacant properties

29.5

ERV of Combined Portfolio excluding properties under development

606.3

EPRA vacancy rate (%)

4.9

 

Table 18: Change in net rental income from the like-for-like portfolio(1)


30 September

2022

30 September

2021

 

 

Change


£m

£m

£m

%

Central London

124

118

6

5

Major retail

57

63

(6)

(10)

Subscale sectors

47

34

13

38


228

215

13

6

 

1. Excludes surrender premiums received during the period.

 

Table 19: Acquisitions, disposals and capital expenditure




Six months ended 30 September 2022

Six months ended 30 September 2021

Investment properties

Group (excl. joint ventures)

£m

Joint ventures

£m

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

£m

 

Combined Portfolio

£m

 

Combined Portfolio

£m

Net book value at the beginning of the period

11,207

771

(145)

11,833

10,342

Transfer from joint venture

23

(12)

-

11

-

Acquisitions

2

-

-

2

-

Capital expenditure

187

(14)

(3)

170

167

Capitalised interest

14

-

-

14

7

Net movement in head leases capitalised

(11)

-

-

(11)

(1)

Disposals

(904)

-

-

(904)

(42)

Net (deficit)/surplus on revaluation of investment properties

(331)

1

7

(323)

81

Transfers to trading properties

-

-

-

-

(6)

Net book value at the end of the period

10,187

746

(141)

10,792

10,548







(Loss)/profit on disposal of investment properties

(92)

-

-

(92)

6






Trading properties

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Net book value at the beginning of the period

145

1

-

146

36

Transfers from investment properties

-

-

-

-

6

Capital expenditure

12

(1)

-

11

-

Disposals

(14)

-

-

(14)

-

Movement in impairment

(8)

-

-

(8)

-

Net book value at the end of the period

135

-

-

135

42







Profit on disposal of trading properties

1

-

-

1

-

 

Acquisitions, development and other capital expenditure


Investment

 properties(1)

£m

Trading

properties

£m

Combined

Portfolio

£m

Combined

 Portfolio

£m

Acquisitions(2)


2

-

2

-


154

8

162

127


16

3

19

40

Capitalised interest


14

-

14

7

Acquisitions, development and other capital expenditure


186

11

197

174









Disposals


£m

£m

Net book value - investment property disposals


904

42

Net book value - trading property disposals


14

-

Net book value - other net assets of investment property disposals


51

4

(Loss)/profit on disposal - investment properties


(92)

6

Profit on disposal - trading properties


1

-

Other


(1)

-

Total disposal proceeds


877

52

 

1. See EPRA analysis of capital expenditure table 20 for further details.

2. Properties acquired in the period.

3. Development capital expenditure for investment properties comprises expenditure on the development pipeline and completed developments.

 

Table 20: EPRA analysis of capital expenditure


Six months ended 30 September 2022















Other capital expenditure








Acquisitions(1)

£m

Development capital expenditure(2)

£m

Incremental lettable space(3)

£m

     No incremental lettable space

£m

     Tenant improvements

£m

Total

£m

Capitalised interest

£m

Total capital expenditure - Combined Portfolio

£m


Total capital expenditure - joint ventures

(Group share)

£m

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries

£m

Total capital expenditure -

 Group

 

£m

Central London














West End Offices


  -  

  -  

-

3

-

3

  -  

3


-

-

3

City Offices


  -  

  -  

  -  

1

  -  

1

  -  

1


-

-

1

Retail and other


  -  

  -  

-

1

-

1

  -  

1


-

-

1

Developments


  -  

153

  -  

  -  

  -  

  -  

14

167


-

-

167

Total Central London


  -  

153

-

5

-

5

14

172


-

-

172















Major retail














Shopping centres


  -  

  -  

1

1

-

2

  -  

2


(2)

  -  

4

Outlets


  -  

  -  

-

(2)

3

1

  -  

1


  -  

  -  

1

Total Major retail


  -  

  -  

1

(1)

3

3

  -  

3


(2)

  -  

5















Mixed-use urban














Completed investment


  -  

  -  

  -  

5

  -  

5

  -  

5


  -  

(3)

8

Developments


2

1

  -  

  -  

  -  

  -  

  -  

3


(11)

-

14

Total Mixed-use urban


2

1

  -  

5

  -  

5

  -  

8


(11)

(3)

22















Subscale sectors














Leisure


-

  -  

-

(1)

1

-

  -  

-


(1)

-

1

Hotels


  -  

  -  

  -  

1

  -  

1

  -  

1


  -  

  -  

1

Retail parks


  -  

  -  

-

1

1

2

  -  

2


  -  

  -  

2

Total Subscale sectors


-

  -  

-

1

2

3

  -  

3


(1)

  -  

4















Total capital expenditure


2

154

1

10

5

16

14

186


(14)

(3)

203















Timing difference between accrual and cash basis








(43)


-

  -  

(43)

Total capital expenditure on a cash basis









143


(14)

(3)

160

 

1. Investment properties acquired in the period.

2. Expenditure on the future development pipeline and completed developments.

3. Capital expenditure where the lettable area increases by at least 10%.

 

Other business analysis

Table 21: Top 12 occupiers at 30 September 2022


% of Group rent(1)

Central Government

5.8

Deloitte

5.5

Accor

4.5

Cineworld

1.8

Boots

1.7

Taylor Wessing

1.4

Peel

1.3

BBC

1.3

M&S  

1.1

Sainsbury's

1.1

H&M

1.0

Next

1.0


27.5

 

1. On a proportionate basis.

 

Table 22: Committed and future development pipeline and trading property development schemes at 30 September 2022

Central London










Property

Description
of use

Ownership
interest
%

Size

 sq ft

Letting
status
%

Market value
£m

Net income/ ERV

£m

Estimated completion
date

Total development costs to date

£m

Forecast total development cost

 £m











Committed development pipeline










The Forge, SE1

Office

100

 139,000

-

155

10

Dec 2022

133

152


Retail


 1,000







Lucent, W1

Office

100

 120,000

19

222

14

Mar 2023

209

252


Retail


 21,000








Residential


 3,000







n2, SW1

Office

100

 164,000

27

172

14

Jun 2023

153

208


Retail


1,000

















Property


Description of use


Ownership interest %



Proposed sq ft


Potential start date











Future near-term development pipeline









Timber Square, SE1


Office


100



380,000


2023

Portland House, SW1


Office


100



300,000


2023

Liberty of Southwark, SE1


Office/ Residential


100



200,000


2023

Red Lion Court, SE1


Office


100



230,000


2024

 

Property

Description
of use

Ownership
interest
%

Size

 sq ft

Number

of units

Sales exchanged by unit

%

Estimated completion
date

Total development costs to date

£m

Forecast total development cost

 £m










Trading property development schemes









Castle Lane, SW1

Residential

100

 52,000

89

99

Jan 2024

20

47

 

 

Mixed-use urban




















Property




Ownership interest %



Proposed sq ft


Potential start date











Future development pipeline










Mayfield, Manchester




50-100



2,500,000


2023

MediaCity, Greater Manchester




75



1,900,000


2023

Finchley Road, NW3




100



1,400,000


2023

Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow




100



1,400,000


2024

Lewisham, SE13




100



1,800,000


2025

 

Where the property is not 100% owned, floor areas and letting status shown above represent the full scheme whereas all other figures represent our proportionate share. Letting % is measured by ERV and shows letting status at 30 September 2022. Trading property development schemes are excluded from the future development pipeline.

 

Total development cost

Refer to the Glossary for definition.

 

Net income/ERV

Net income/ERV represents headline annual rent on let units plus ERV at 30 September 2022 on unlet units, both after rents payable.

 

Table 23: Combined Portfolio analysis
Like-for-like segmental analysis


Market value(1)

Valuation
movement(1)

Rental income(1)

Annualised rental income(2)

Net estimated rental value(3)


30 September 2022

31 March 2022

Surplus/ (deficit)

Surplus/ (deficit)

30 September 2022

30 September 2021

30 September 2022

31 March 2022

30 September 2022

31 March 2022         


£m

£m

£m

%

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

£m

Central London











West End offices

2,761

3,013

(116)

-4.2%

72

70

132

135

143

147

City offices

1,746

1,928

(183)

-9.7%

40

38

79

76

104

101

Retail and other

1,089

1,131

2

0.2%

30

37

43

47

53

54

Developments(6)

1,102

1,709

(7)

-0.6%

19

5

5

10

64

112

Total Central London

6,698

7,781

(304)

-4.4%

161

150

259

268

365

414

Major retail











Shopping centres

1,150

1,141

12

1.1%

60

51

106

108

104

101

Outlets

740

743

(5)

-0.6%

28

26

57

56

61

61

Total Major retail

1,890

1,884

7

0.4%

88

77

163

164

165

162

Mixed-use urban











Completed investment

393

409

(20)

-4.8%

11

-

24

24

24

24

Developments(6)

497

486

11

2.0%

17

17

29

29

32

32

Total Mixed-use urban

890

895

(9)

-1.0%

28

17

53

53

56

56

Subscale sectors











Leisure

563

569

(14)

-2.6%

24

22

50

49

51

51

Hotels

444

422

23

5.3%

15

6

25

16

25

25

Retail parks

444

466

(26)

-5.4%

15

15

29

29

29

29

Total Subscale sectors

1,451

1,457

(17)

-1.2%

54

43

104

94

105

105

Combined Portfolio

10,929

12,017

(323)

-2.9%

331

287

579

579

691

737

Properties treated as finance leases





(1)

(5)





Combined Portfolio

10,929

12,017

(323)

-2.9%

330

282
















Represented by:











Investment portfolio

10,155

11,217

(324)

-3.1%

303

258

533

531

640

687

Share of joint ventures

774

800

1

0.2%

27

24

46

48

51

50

Combined Portfolio

10,929

12,017

(323)

-2.9%

330

282

579

579

691

737

 

Total portfolio analysis                                                                       Notes:


Net initial yield(4)

Equivalent yield(5)


30 September 2022

Movement in like-for-like(7)

30 September 2022

Movement in like-for-like(7)


%

bps

%

bps

Central London





West End offices

4.6%

36

4.8%

21

City offices

3.3%

(34)

4.9%

27

Retail and other

4.2%

(30)

4.6%

14

Developments(6)

0.3%

n/a

4.5%

n/a

Total Central London

3.5%

-

4.7%

21

Major retail





Shopping centres

7.7%

(8)

7.4%

5

Outlets

5.9%

10

6.7%

(4)

Total Major retail

7.0%

2

7.1%

1

Mixed-use urban





Completed investment

5.3%

21

5.9%

18

Development(6)

5.2%

n/a

5.3%

n/a

Total Mixed-use urban

5.2%

21

5.6%

18

Subscale sectors





Leisure

6.9%

37

7.2%

27

Hotels

5.2%

99

5.5%

(1)

Retail parks

6.1%

43

6.0%

29

Total Subscale sectors 

6.1%

54

6.3%

17

Combined Portfolio

4.6%

13

5.4%

19
















Represented by:





Investment portfolio

4.5%

n/a

5.4%

n/a

Share of joint ventures

5.6%

n/a

5.8%

n/a

Combined Portfolio

4.6%

n/a

5.4%

n/a






1.    Refer to Glossary for definition.

2.    Annualised rental income is annual 'rental income' (as defined in the Glossary) at the balance sheet date, except that car park and commercialisation income are included on a net basis (after deduction for operational outgoings). Annualised rental income includes temporary lettings.

3.    Net estimated rental value is gross estimated rental value, as defined in the Glossary, after deducting expected rent payable.

4.    Net initial yield - refer to Glossary for definition. This calculation includes all properties including those sites with no income.

5.    Equivalent yield - refer to Glossary for definition. Future developments are excluded from the calculation of equivalent yield on the Combined Portfolio.

6.    Comprises the development pipeline - refer to Glossary for definition.

7.    The like-for-like portfolio - refer to Glossary for definition.

 

Table 24: Floor Areas


30 September

Million sq ft

Central London


West End offices

2.8

City offices

1.8

Retail and other

1.0

Developments

n/a

Total Central London

5.6

Major retail


Shopping centres

6.6

Outlets

1.5

Total Major retail

8.1

Mixed-use urban


Completed investment

3.0

Developments

n/a

Total Mixed-use urban

3.0

Subscale sectors


Leisure

3.4

Hotels

2.0

Retail parks

1.8

Total Subscale sectors

7.2

Total

23.9

 

Table 25: Reconciliation of segmental information note to interim reporting for the six months to 30 September 2021





Six months ended 30 September 2021



Group income statement

£m

Joint

ventures(1)

£m

Adjustment for non-wholly owned subsidiaries(2)

£m

Total

£m

EPRA  earnings

£m


Capital and other items

£m

Rental income


258

24

-

282

282


-

Finance lease interest


5

-

-

5

5


-

Gross rental income (before rents payable)


263

24

-

287

287


-

Rents payable


(4)

(1)

-

(5)

(5)


-

Gross rental income (after rents payable)


259

23

-

282

282


-

Service charge income


36

5

-

41

41


-

Service charge expense


(42)

(5)

-

(47)

(47)


-

Net service charge expense


(6)

-

-

(6)

(6)


-

Other property related income


12

2

-

14

14


-

Direct property expenditure


(34)

(5)

-

(39)

(39)


-

Movement in bad and doubtful debts provisions


7

(4)

-

3

3


-

Segment net rental income


238

16

-

254

254


-

Other income


3

-

-

3

3


-

Administrative expenses


(41)

-

-

(41)

(41)


-

Depreciation


(3)

-

-

(3)

(3)


-

EPRA earnings before interest


197

16

-

213

213


-

Share of post-tax loss from joint ventures


(1)

1

-

-

-


-

Profit on disposal of investment properties


6

-

-

6

-


6

Net surplus/(deficit) on revaluation of investment properties


94

(13)

-

81

-


81

Gain on modification of finance leases


6

-

-

6

-


6

Operating profit


302

4

-

306

213


93

Finance income


6

-

-

6

4


2

Finance expense


(33)

(4)

-

(37)

(37)


-

Profit before tax


275

-

-

275

180


95

Taxation


-

-

-

-




Profit for the period


275

-

-

275




 

1. Reallocation of the share of post-tax loss from joint ventures reported in the Group income statement to the individual line items reported in the segmental information note.

2. Removal of the non-wholly owned share of results of the Group's subsidiaries. The non-wholly owned subsidiaries are consolidated at 100% in the Group's income statement, but only the Group's share is included in EPRA earnings reported in the segmental results table.

 

Table 26: Lease lengths


Weighted average unexpired lease term at 30 September 2022


Like-for-like portfolio

Like-for-like portfolio, completed developments and acquisitions


Mean(1)

Mean(1)


Years

Years

Central London



West End Offices

6.5

6.5

City offices

7.8

7.8

Retail and other

7.6

7.6

Total Central London

7.0

7.0

Major retail



Shopping centres

4.2

4.2

Outlets

3.2

3.2

Total Major retail

3.9

3.9

Mixed-use urban

n/a

9.7

Subscale sectors



Leisure

10.4

10.4

Hotels

8.7

8.7

Retail parks

4.3

4.3

Total Subscale sectors

8.0

8.0




Combined Portfolio

6.3

6.4

 

1. Mean is the rent weighted average of the unexpired lease term across all leases (excluding short-term leases). Term is defined as the earlier of tenant break or expiry.

 

Investor information

1. Company website: landsec.com

The Group's half year and annual reports to shareholders, results announcements and presentations, are available to view and download from the Company's website. The website also provides details of the Company's current share price, the latest news about the Group, its properties and operations, and details of future events and how to obtain further information.

2. Registrar: Equiniti Group PLC

Enquiries concerning shareholdings, dividends and changes in personal details should be referred to the Company's registrar, Equiniti Group PLC (Equiniti), in the first instance. They can be contacted using the details below:

 

Telephone:

 

-    0371 384 2128 (from the UK)

-    +44 121 415 7049 (from outside the UK)

-    Lines are ordinarily open from 08:30 to 17:30, Monday to Friday, excluding UK public holidays.

 

Correspondence address:

 

Equiniti Group PLC

Aspect House

Spencer Road

Lancing

West Sussex

BN99 6DA

 

Information on how to manage your shareholding can be found at help.shareview.co.uk. If you are not able to find the answer to your question within the general Help information page, a personal enquiry can be sent directly through Equiniti's secure e-form on their website. Please note that you will be asked to provide your name, address, shareholder reference number and a valid e-mail address. Alternatively, shareholders can view and manage their shareholding through the Landsec share portal which is hosted by Equiniti - simply visit portfolio.shareview.co.uk and follow the registration instructions.

3. Shareholder enquiries

If you have an enquiry about the Company's business or about something affecting you as a shareholder (other than queries which are dealt with by the Registrar), please email Investor Relations (see details in 8. below).

4. Share dealing services: shareview.co.uk

The Company's shares can be traded through most banks, building societies and stockbrokers. They can also be traded through Equiniti. To use their service, shareholders should contact Equiniti: 0345 603 7037 from the UK. Lines are ordinarily open Monday to Friday 08:00 to 16:30 for dealing and until 18:00 for enquiries, excluding UK public holidays.

5. 2022/23 second quarterly dividend

The Board has declared a second quarterly dividend for the year ending 31 March 2023 of 9.0p per ordinary share which will be paid on 3 January 2023 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 24 November 2022. This will be paid wholly as a Property Income Distribution (PID). Together with the first quarterly dividend of 8.6p already paid on 7 October 2022 wholly as a PID, the first half dividend will be 17.6p per ordinary share (six months ended 30 September 2021: 15.5p).

6. Dividend related services

Dividend payments to UK shareholders - Dividend mandates

Dividends are no longer paid by cheque. Shareholders whose dividends have previously been paid by cheque will need to have their dividends paid directly into their personal bank or building society account or alternatively participate in our Dividend Reinvestment Plan (see below) to receive dividends in the form of additional shares. To facilitate this, please contact Equiniti or complete a mandate instruction available on our website: landsec.com/investors and return it to Equiniti.

 

Dividend payments to overseas shareholders - Overseas Payment Service (OPS)

Dividends are no longer paid by cheque. Shareholders need to request that their dividends be paid directly to a personal bank account overseas. For more information, please contact Equiniti or download an application form online at shareview.co.uk.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP)

A DRIP is available from Equiniti. This facility provides an opportunity by which shareholders can conveniently and easily increase their holding in the Company by using their cash dividends to buy more shares. Participation in the DRIP will mean that your dividend payments will be reinvested in the Company's shares and these will be purchased on your behalf in the market on, or as soon as practical after, the dividend payment date.

 

You may only participate in the DRIP if you are resident in the UK.

 

For further information (including terms and conditions) and to register for any of these dividend-related services, simply visit www.shareview.co.uk.

 

7. Financial reporting calendar

2023

Financial year end

31 March

Preliminary results announcement

16 May



Half year results announcement

14 November*

* Provisional date only

8. Investor relations enquiries

For investor relations enquiries, please contact Edward Thacker, Head of Investor Relations at Landsec, by telephone on +44 (0)20 7413 9000 or by email at enquiries@landsec.com.

 

Glossary

Adjusted net cash inflow from operating activities

Net cash inflow from operating activities including the Group's share of our joint ventures' net cash inflow from operating activities.

 

Adjusted net debt

Net debt excluding cumulative fair value movements on interest-rate swaps and amounts payable under head leases. It generally includes the net debt of subsidiaries and joint ventures on a proportionate basis.

 

Book value

The amount at which assets and liabilities are reported in the financial statements.

 

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment's Environmental Assessment Method.

 

Combined Portfolio

The Combined Portfolio comprises the investment properties of the Group's subsidiaries, on a proportionately consolidated basis when not wholly owned, together with our share of investment properties held in our joint ventures.

 

Completed developments

Completed developments consist of those properties previously included in the development programme, which have been transferred from the development programme since 1 April 2021.

 

Development pipeline

The development programme together with proposed developments.

 

Development programme

The development programme consists of committed developments (Board approved projects), projects under construction and developments which have reached practical completion within the last two years but are not yet 95% let.

 

Diluted figures

Reported results adjusted to include the effects of potentially dilutive shares issuable under employee share schemes.

 

Dividend Reinvestment Plan (DRIP)

The DRIP provides shareholders with the opportunity to use cash dividends received to purchase additional ordinary shares in the Company immediately after the relevant dividend payment date. Full details appear on the Company's website.

 

Earnings per share

Profit after taxation attributable to owners divided by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.

 

EPRA

European Public Real Estate Association.

 

EPRA earnings

Profit after tax, excluding profits on the sale of non-current assets and trading properties, profits on long-term development contracts, valuation movements, fair value movements on interest-rate swaps and similar instruments used for hedging purposes, debt restructuring charges, and any other items of an exceptional nature.

 

EPRA earnings per share

Earnings per share based on EPRA earnings after related tax.

 

EPRA loan-to-value (LTV)

Ratio of adjusted net debt, including net payables, to the sum of the net assets, including net receivables, of the Group, its subsidiaries and joint ventures, all on a proportionate basis, expressed as a percentage. The calculation includes trading properties at fair value and debt at nominal value.

 

EPRA net disposal value (NDV) per share

Diluted net assets per share adjusted to remove the impact of goodwill arising as a result of deferred tax, and to include the difference between the fair value and the book value of the net investment in tenant finance leases and fixed interest rate debt.

 

EPRA net initial yield

EPRA net initial yield is defined within EPRA's Best Practice Recommendations as the annualised rental income based on the cash rents passing at the balance sheet date, less non-recoverable property operating expenses, divided by the gross market value of the property. It is consistent with the net initial yield calculated by the Group's external valuer.

 

EPRA Net Reinstatement Value (NRV) per share

Diluted net assets per share adjusted to remove the cumulative fair value movements on interest-rate swaps and similar instruments, the carrying value of deferred tax on intangible assets and to include the difference between the fair value and the book value of the net investment in tenant finance leases and add back purchasers' costs.

 

EPRA Net Tangible Assets (NTA) per share

Diluted net assets per share adjusted to remove the cumulative fair value movements on interest-rate swaps and similar instruments, the carrying value of goodwill arising as a result of deferred tax and other intangible assets, deferred tax on intangible assets and to include the difference between the fair value and the book value of the net investment in tenant finance leases.

 

Equivalent yield

Calculated by the Group's external valuer, equivalent yield is the internal rate of return from an investment property, based on the gross outlays for the purchase of a property (including purchase costs), reflecting reversions to current market rent and such items as voids and non-recoverable expenditure but ignoring future changes in capital value. The calculation assumes rent is received annually in arrears.

 

ERV - Gross estimated rental value

The estimated market rental value of lettable space as determined biannually by the Group's external valuer. For investment properties in the development programme, which have not yet reached practical completion, the ERV represents management's view of market rents.

 

Fair value movement

An accounting adjustment to change the book value of an asset or liability to its market value (see also mark-to-market adjustment).

 

Finance lease

A lease that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership from the Group as lessor to the lessee.

 

Gearing

Total borrowings, including bank overdrafts, less short-term deposits, corporate bonds and cash, at book value, plus cumulative fair value movements on financial derivatives as a percentage of total equity. For adjusted gearing, see note 13.

 

Gross market value

Market value plus assumed usual purchaser's costs at the reporting date.

 

Head lease

A lease under which the Group holds an investment property.

 

Interest Cover Ratio (ICR)

A calculation of a company's ability to meet its interest payments on outstanding debt. It is calculated using EPRA earnings before interest, divided by net interest (excluding the mark-to-market movement on interest-rate swaps, foreign exchange swaps, capitalised interest and interest on the pension scheme assets and liabilities). The calculation excludes joint ventures.

 

Interest-rate swap

A financial instrument where two parties agree to exchange an interest rate obligation for a predetermined amount of time. These are generally used by the Group to convert floating-rate debt or investments to fixed rates.

 

Investment portfolio

The investment portfolio comprises the investment properties of the Group's subsidiaries on a proportionately consolidated basis where not wholly owned.

 

Joint venture

An arrangement in which the Group holds an interest and which is jointly controlled by the Group and one or more partners under a contractual arrangement. Decisions on the activities of the joint venture that significantly affect the joint venture's returns, including decisions on financial and operating policies and the performance and financial position of the operation, require the unanimous consent of the partners sharing control.

 

Lease incentives

Any incentive offered to occupiers to enter into a lease. Typically, the incentive will be an initial rent-free period, or a cash contribution to fit-out or similar costs. For accounting purposes, the value of the incentive is spread over the non-cancellable life of the lease.

 

Like-for-like portfolio

The like-for-like portfolio includes all properties which have been in the portfolio since 1 April 2021 but excluding those which are acquired or sold since that date. Properties in the development pipeline and completed developments are also excluded.

 

Loan-to-value (LTV)

Group LTV is the ratio of adjusted net debt, including subsidiaries and joint ventures, to the sum of the market value of investment properties and the book value of trading properties of the Group, its subsidiaries and joint ventures, all on a proportionate basis, expressed as a percentage. For the Security Group, LTV is the ratio of net debt lent to the Security Group divided by the value of secured assets.

 

Market value

Market value is determined by the Group's external valuer, in accordance with the RICS Valuation Standards, as an opinion of the estimated amount for which a property should exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction after proper marketing.

 

Mark-to-market adjustment

An accounting adjustment to change the book value of an asset or liability to its market value (see also fair value movement).

 

Net assets per share

Equity attributable to owners divided by the number of ordinary shares in issue at the end of the period. Net assets per share is also commonly known as net asset value per share (NAV per share).

 

Net initial yield

Net initial yield is a calculation by the Group's external valuer of the yield that would be received by a purchaser, based on the Estimated Net Rental Income expressed as a percentage of the acquisition cost, being the market value plus assumed usual purchasers' costs at the reporting date. The calculation is in line with EPRA guidance. Estimated Net Rental Income is determined by the valuer and is based on the passing cash rent less rent payable at the balance sheet date, estimated non-recoverable outgoings and void costs including service charges, insurance costs and void rates.

 

Net rental income

Net rental income is the net operational income arising from properties, on an accruals basis, including rental income, finance lease interest, rents payable, service charge income and expense, other property related income, direct property expenditure and bad debts. Net rental income is presented on a proportionate basis.

 

Net zero carbon building

A building for which an overall balance has been achieved between carbon emissions produced and those taken out of the atmosphere, including via offset arrangements. This relates to operational emissions for all buildings while, for a new building, it also includes supply-chain emissions associated with its construction.

 

Over-rented

Space where the passing rent is above the ERV.

 

Passing cash rent

Passing cash rent is passing rent excluding units that are in a rent free period at the reporting date.

 

Passing rent

The estimated annual rent receivable as at the reporting date which includes estimates of turnover rent and estimates of rent to be agreed in respect of outstanding rent review or lease renewal negotiations. Passing rent may be more or less than the ERV (see over-rented, reversionary and ERV). Passing rent excludes annual rent receivable from units in administration save to the extent that rents are expected to be received. Void units at the reporting date are deemed to have no passing rent. Although temporary lets of less than 12 months are treated as void, income from temporary lets is included in passing rents.

 

Planning permission

There are two common types of planning permission: full planning permission and outline planning permission. A full planning permission results in a decision on the detailed proposals on how the site can be developed. The grant of a full planning permission will, subject to satisfaction of any conditions, mean no further engagement with the local planning authority will be required to build the consented development. An outline planning permission approves general principles of how a site can be developed. Outline planning permission is granted subject to conditions known as 'reserved matters'. Consent must be sought and achieved for discharge of all reserved matters within a specified time-limit, normally three years from the date outline planning permission was granted, before building can begin. In both the case of full and outline planning permission, the local planning authority will 'resolve to grant permission'. At this stage, the planning permission is granted subject to agreement of legal documents, in particular the s106 agreement. On execution of the s106 agreement, the planning permission will be issued. Work can begin on satisfaction of any 'pre-commencement' planning conditions.

 

Pre-development properties

Pre-development properties are those properties within the like-for-like portfolio which are being managed to align vacant possession within a three-year horizon with a view to redevelopment.

 

Pre-let

A lease signed with an occupier prior to completion of a development.

 

Property Income Distribution (PID)

A PID is a distribution by a REIT to its shareholders paid out of qualifying profits. A REIT is required to distribute at least 90% of its qualifying profits as a PID to its shareholders.

 

Qualifying activities/Qualifying assets

The ownership (activity) of property (assets) which is held to earn rental income and qualifies for tax-exempt treatment (income and capital gains) under UK REIT legislation.

 

Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

A REIT must be a publicly quoted company with at least three-quarters of its profits and assets derived from a qualifying property rental business. Income and capital gains from the property rental business are exempt from tax but the REIT is required to distribute at least 90% of those profits to shareholders. Corporation tax is payable on non-qualifying activities in the normal way.

 

Rental income

Rental income is as reported in the income statement, on an accruals basis, and adjusted for the spreading of lease incentives over the term certain of the lease in accordance with IFRS 16 (previously, SIC-15). It is stated gross, prior to the deduction of ground rents and without deduction for operational outgoings on car park and commercialisation activities.

 

Rental value change

Increase or decrease in the current rental value, as determined by the Group's external valuer, over the reporting year on a like-for-like basis.

 

Return on average capital employed

Group profit before net finance expense, plus joint venture profit before net finance expense, divided by the average capital employed (defined as shareholders' funds plus adjusted net debt).

 

Return on average equity

Group profit before tax plus joint venture tax divided by the average equity shareholders' funds.

 

Reversionary or under-rented

Space where the passing rent is below the ERV.

 

Reversionary yield

The anticipated yield to which the initial yield will rise (or fall) once the rent reaches the ERV.

 

Security Group

Security Group is the principal funding vehicle for the Group and properties held in the Security Group are mortgaged for the benefit of lenders. It has the flexibility to raise a variety of different forms of finance.

 

SONIA

The Sterling Overnight Index Average reflects the average overnight interest rate paid by banks for unsecured sterling transactions with a range of institutional investors. It is calculated based on actual transactions and is often used as a reference rate in bank facilities.

 

Temporary lettings

Lettings for a period of one year or less. These are included within voids, but excluded from vacancy rates.

 

Topped-up net initial yield

Topped-up net initial yield is a calculation by the Group's external valuer. It is calculated by making an adjustment to net initial yield in respect of the annualised cash rent foregone through unexpired rent-free periods and other lease incentives. The calculation is consistent with EPRA guidance.

 

Total accounting return

Dividend paid per share in the year plus the change in EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share, divided by EPRA Net Tangible Assets per share at the beginning of the year.

 

Total cost ratio

Total cost ratio represents all costs included within EPRA earnings, other than rents payable, financing costs and provisions for bad and doubtful debts, expressed as a percentage of gross rental income before rents payable adjusted for costs recovered through rents but not separately invoiced.

 

Total development cost (TDC)

Total development cost refers to the book value of the site at the commencement of the project, the estimated capital expenditure required to develop the scheme from the start of the financial period in which the property is added to our development programme, together with capitalised interest, being the Group's borrowing costs associated with direct expenditure on the property under development. Interest is also capitalised on the purchase cost of land or property where it is acquired specifically for redevelopment. The TDC for trading property development schemes excludes any estimated tax on disposal.

 

Total property return (TPR)

The change in market value, adjusted for net investment, plus the net rental income of our investment properties expressed as a percentage of opening market value plus the time weighted capital expenditure incurred during the period.

 

Total Shareholder Return (TSR)

The growth in value of a shareholding over a specified period, assuming that dividends are reinvested to purchase additional units of the stock.

 

Trading properties

Properties held for trading purposes and shown as current assets in the balance sheet.

 

Turnover rent

Rental income which is related to an occupier's turnover.

 

Vacancy rates

Vacancy rates are expressed as a percentage of ERV and represent all unlet space, including vacant properties where refurbishment work is being carried out and vacancy in respect of pre-development properties, unless the scale of refurbishment is such that the property is not deemed lettable. The screen at Piccadilly Lights, W1 is excluded from the vacancy rate calculation as it will always carry advertising although the number and duration of our agreements with advertisers will vary.

 

Valuation surplus/deficit

The valuation surplus/deficit represents the increase or decrease in the market value of the Combined Portfolio, adjusted for net investment and the effect of accounting for lease incentives under IFRS 16 (previously SIC-15). The market value of the Combined Portfolio is determined by the Group's external valuer.

 

Voids

Voids are expressed as a percentage of ERV and represent all unlet space, including voids where refurbishment work is being carried out and voids in respect of pre-development properties. Temporary lettings for a period of one year or less are also treated as voids. The screen at Piccadilly Lights, W1 is excluded from the void calculation as it will always carry advertising although the number and duration of our agreements with advertisers will vary. Commercialisation lettings are also excluded from the void calculation.

 

Weighted average cost of capital (WACC)

Weighted average cost of debt and notional cost of equity, used as a benchmark to assess investment returns.

 

Weighted average unexpired lease term

The weighted average of the unexpired term of all leases other than short-term lettings such as car parks and advertising hoardings, temporary lettings of less than one year, residential leases and long ground leases.

 

Yield shift

A movement (negative or positive) in the equivalent yield of a property asset.

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