Financial Highlights 2022

202220212020
Profit after tax£147m£34m£22.5m
Dividend cover115%134%105%
Net assets£657m£528m£509m
Earnings per share 27.0p6.2p4.1p
Total Shareholder Return18.7%0.0%3.6%
Property valuation£849m£682m£665m

Strong financial performance

  • Profit after tax of £147 million, the highest profit recorded since launch in 2005
  • Net assets of £657 million, or 120p per share, an increase of 24.4% (2021: £528 million or 97p per share)
  • Earnings per share of 27.0p (2021: 6.2p)
  • Total return of 28.3% (2021: 6.6%)
  • Increased dividends paid of £18.4 million with dividend cover of 115%
  • Loan to value ratio maintained at 21% with significant headroom against loan covenants
  • Refinanced existing debt facility increasing borrowings by £49 million while reducing the cost of debt and extending the term

Outperforming property portfolio

  • Significant valuation gains with like-for-like valuation increase of 21%
  • Total property return of 24.3%, outperforming MSCI UK Quarterly Property Index of 19.6%
  • Outperformed MSCI UK Quarterly Property Index for the ninth consecutive year
  • Upper quartile outperformance against MSCI over three, five and ten years, and since inception
  • Well positioned portfolio comprising Industrial 60%, Office 30%, Retail and Leisure 10%
  • Like-for-like increase in passing rent of 2.1%
  • Like-for-like estimated rental value increase of 5.4%
  • Selective investment activity:
    • Two industrial assets acquired for 25.0 million
    • One retail asset disposal for 0.7 million, 16% ahead of March 2021 valuation
  • Rent collection back to pre-pandemic levels

Occupier focused asset management

  • Increased occupancy to 93% (2021: 91%)
  • 76 asset management transactions completed including:
    • 34 lettings or agreements to lease, 8% ahead of ERV
    • 21 lease renewals or regears, 3% ahead of ERV
    • 12 rent reviews, 7% ahead of ERV
    • 9 other asset management transactions
  • £10 million invested into asset refurbishment, upgrades and repositioning projects

Responsible stewardship

  • Improved EPC ratings with 71% rated A-C (2021: 64% rated A-C)
  • Pathway to net zero carbon published:
    • Target date of 2040
    • Includes both operational and embodied emissions
  • Signatory to Better Buildings Partnership Climate Commitment