Interim Results
RNS Number : 1207W
Circle Property PLC
09 December 2019
9 December 2019
Circle Property Plc
Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2019
Well positioned to deliver FY expectations of strong NAV growth
Circle Property Plc (AIM: CRC) ("Circle" or the "Company"), which invests in, develops and actively manages well-located regional office assets today announces its results for the six months to 30 September 2019. In the period, the Company has been actively building momentum into the business. Circle has established a strong pipeline of well located, income generating assets which, with our active asset management expertise, are expected to deliver strong returns in the second half.
Circle's current portfolio, which has been independently valued at £135.6 million as at 30 September 2019, is 99% focused in the office sector and has no exposure to the retail sector. All of our properties are geographically located in favourable regions with 89% in Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Maidenhead and Bristol.
These results demonstrate the consistent underlying strength of the regional office market which is underpinned by Permitted Development Rights and Circle's ability to identify sites which offer sustainably strong rental returns and value enhancement.
Financial highlights: Strong rental income; investment in property portfolio
· Unaudited estimated NAV per share of £2.78 (30 September 2018: £2.75, 31 March 2019: £2.77), representing an 87% increase since IPO in February 2016
· 7.2% increase in annualised contracted rental income to £8.2 million (31 March 2019: £7.6 million), with a further £598,478 of contracted rent since period end
· Interim dividend up 10% to 3.3p (30 September 2018: 3.0p), maintaining the Company's progressive dividend policy
· Property portfolio valuation increased to £135.6 million (31 March 2019: £124.6 million), largely due to Company's largest acquisition to date: the £14.6 million purchase (plus costs) of Concorde Park, Maidenhead
· Since IPO, Circle has delivered a NAV compound average growth rate of 23% and a total return compound average growth rate of 26%, making Circle one of the top-performing public real estate companies
Operational highlights: largest acquisition since IPO driving uplift in contracted rental income
· K2, Milton Keynes - letting of 20,482 sq ft to Grand Union Housing, contractual rent of £352,625 pax on a 10-year lease with a CPI rent review in the fifth year
· Concorde Park, Maidenhead - acquisition of 71,500 sq ft business park for £14.6 million. Contracted passing rent (excluding rent free) £627,372 pax with a reversion to £1.55 million
Post HY 2020 highlights: Continued momentum
· Victory House, Northampton - re-geared lease with Regus for a further 12 years, increase in contracted rental income to £360,000 per annum of which 30% will be based upon turnover
· Concorde Park, Maidenhead - completed two lettings totalling approximately 21,000 sq ft increasing the contracted passing rent (excluding rent free) by a further £485,234 pax. Total gross contracted rental income at the site has increased by 76% since acquisition by the Company to over £1.1 million per annum with a gross rental income target of over £1.55 million per annum. The speed of these lettings since acquisition has been achieved by the Company's asset management expertise
· 141 Moorgate, London EC2 - letting of the third floor to Suede Labs Ltd at £60,264 per annum
· Elizabeth House, 56-60 London Road, Staines - letting of the ground floor to Accent Catering Ltd at £52,980 per annum
· K3, Milton Keynes - refurbishment on track to commence in December 2019. Once completed the 13,500 sq ft office building will be offered to let at an ERV of approximately £270,000 pax
· 135 Aztec West, Bristol - refurbishment on track to commence in January 2020. Once completed the 13,258 sq ft self-contained office will be offered to let at an ERV of approximately £245,300 pax
John Arnold, CEO of Circle Property Plc, commented:
"Circle's portfolio now comprises 99% (by value) regional offices, which is highly reversionary, and has no exposure to retail property. Our focus on "added value" rather than initial yield continues to reap rewards with income generation arising from judicious capital expenditure.
"In the six months ended 30 September and post period end, we have been investing in the pipeline, increasing our rental growth and we are on track to deliver expectations for the full year. In the first half, the pace of lettings has increased, with over £950,000 of newly-contracted rents being completed to date since the start of the year. This bodes well for an uplift in valuation at the year end and we look forward to continuing our positive momentum."
Contacts:
| Circle Property Plc | +44 (0)207 930 8503 |
| John Arnold, CEO Edward Olins, COO | |
| Cenkos Securities | +44 (0)207 397 8900 |
| Azhic Basirov Katy Birkin | |
| Radnor Capital | +44 (0)203 897 1830 |
| Joshua Cryer Iain Daly | |
| Camarco | +44 (0)203 757 4980 |
| Ginny Pulbrook Tom Huddart |
| Condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income |
| for the 6 months ended 30 September 2019 |
| 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | |||||
| Note | (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | ||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Rental income | 4 | 3,563,322 | 3,644,353 | 6,878,912 | |||
| Other income | 4 | 105,286 | 157,473 | 224,323 | |||
| 3,668,608 | 3,801,826 | 7,103,235 | |||||
| Property expenses | 5 | (289,086) | (277,512) | (639,440) | |||
| Net rental income | 3,379,522 | 3,524,314 | 6,463,795 | ||||
| Administrative expenses | 6 | (982,058) | (1,250,374) | (2,794,124) | |||
| Operating profit before gains on investment properties | 2,397,464 | 2,273,940 | 3,669,671 | ||||
| (Loss)/Gain on disposal of investment properties | (44,331) | 494,933 | 471,177 | ||||
| (Loss)/Gains on revaluation of investment properties | 11 | (390,279) | 11,733,347 | 12,609,968 | |||
| Operating profit | 1,962,854 | 14,502,220 | 16,750,816 | ||||
| Finance income | 7 | 1,679 | 2,056 | 2,717 | |||
| Finance costs | 8 | (858,920) | (738,061) | (1,507,471) | |||
| Net finance costs | (857,241) | (736,005) | (1,504,754) | ||||
| Profit for the period before taxation | 1,105,613 | 13,766,215 | 15,246,062 | ||||
| Taxation | 9 | 145,074 | (227,372) | (291,142) | |||
| Profit after taxation | 1,250,687 | 13,538,843 | 14,954,920 | ||||
| Earnings per share | 10 | 0.04 | 0.48 | 0.53 | |||
| NAV per share | 2.78 | 2.75 | 2.77 |
| Condensed consolidated statement of financial position |
| as at 30 September 2019 |
| Note | 30 September 2019 | 30 September 2018 | 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Non-current assets | |||||||
| Investment properties | 11 | 126,146,508 | 115,750,716 | 115,320,178 | |||
| Property plant and equipment | 55,035 | 49,883 | 59,865 | ||||
| Trade and other receivables | 12 | 8,546,628 | 8,516,589 | 8,310,903 | |||
| Deferred tax | 1,941,676 | 1,647,443 | 1,603,918 | ||||
| 136,689,847 | 125,964,631 | 125,294,864 | |||||
| Current assets | |||||||
| Trade and other receivables | 12 | 1,811,350 | 1,242,391 | 1,553,699 | |||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 2,359,771 | 3,014,269 | 3,650,372 | ||||
| 4,171,121 | 4,256,660 | 5,204,071 | |||||
| Total assets | 140,860,968 | 130,221,291 | 130,498,935 | ||||
| Equity | |||||||
| Stated capital | 42,542,179 | 42,542,179 | 42,542,179 | ||||
| Treasury share reserve | (79,344) | (77,486) | (79,344) | ||||
| Retained earnings | 36,288,100 | 35,404,032 | 35,971,206 | ||||
| Total equity | 78,750,935 | 77,868,725 | 78,434,041 | ||||
| Non-current liabilities | |||||||
| Borrowings | 13 | 59,391,252 | 50,100,845 | 49,039,681 | |||
| 59,391,252 | 50,100,845 | 49,039,681 | |||||
| Current liabilities | |||||||
| Trade and other payables | 14 | 2,718,781 | 2,251,721 | 3,025,213 | |||
| 2,718,781 | 2,251,721 | 3,025,213 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 62,110,033 | 52,352,566 | 52,064,894 | ||||
| Total liabilities and equity | 140,860,968 | 130,221,291 | 130,498,935 |
| Condensed consolidated statement of cash flows |
| for the 6 months ended 30 September 2019 |
| 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | ||||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | ||||||
| £ | £ | £ | ||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||||||||
| Profit for the period before taxation | 1,105,613 | 13,766,215 | 15,246,062 | |||||
| Adjustments for: | ||||||||
| Finance income | (1,679) | (2,056) | (2,717) | |||||
| Finance expense | 858,920 | 738,061 | 1,507,471 | |||||
| Depreciation | 5,443 | 6,404 | 13,296 | |||||
| Gains on revaluation of investment properties | 390,279 | (11,733,347) | (12,609,968) | |||||
| Gains on disposal of investment properties | 44,331 | (494,933) | (471,177) | |||||
| Share based payments | - | 180,001 | 178,143 | |||||
| (Increase) in trade and other receivables | (493,376) | (1,415,944) | (1,521,566) | |||||
| (Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables | (653,810) | (155,751) | 961,902 | |||||
| Cash generated from operating activities | 1,255,721 | 888,650 | 3,301,446 | |||||
| Interest and other finance costs paid | (613,803) | (660,129) | (1,459,030) | |||||
| Interest received | 1,679 | 2,056 | 2,717 | |||||
| Net cash from operating activities | 643,597 | 230,577 | 1,845,133 | |||||
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||||||||
| Cost of refurbishment of investment properties | (404,189) | (702,121) | (1,006,634) | |||||
| Cost of acquisition of investment property | (15,412,420) | - | - | |||||
| Proceeds from disposal of investment properties | 4,555,671 | 3,444,933 | 2,228,749 | |||||
| Cost of additions of property plant and equipment | (615) | - | (16,874) | |||||
| Net cash from investing activities | (11,261,553) | 2,742,812 | 1,205,241 | |||||
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||||||||
| Repayment of borrowings | - | (1,750,000) | (49,358,932) | |||||
| Drawdown of borrowings | 10,261,148 | - | 49,016,953 | |||||
| Dividends paid | (933,793) | (848,903) | (1,697,806) | |||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | 9,327,355 | (2,598,903) | (2,039,785) | |||||
| Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (1,290,601) | 374,486 | 1,010,589 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period | 3,650,372 | 2,639,783 | 2,639,783 | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period | 2,359,771 | 3,014,269 | 3,650,372 | |||||
| Condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity |
| for the 6 months ended 30 September 2019 |
| Share capital | Treasury shares reserve | Retained earnings | Total | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |||||
| As at 1 April 2018 | 42,542,179 | (257,487) | 22,714,092 | 64,998,784 | ||||
| Profit for the period | - | - | 13,538,843 | 13,538,843 | ||||
| Share-based payments | - | 180,001 | - | 180,001 | ||||
| Dividends | - | - | (848,903) | (848,903) | ||||
| As at 30 September 2018 | 42,542,179 | (77,486) | 35,404,032 | 77,868,725 | ||||
| Profit for the period | - | - | 1,416,077 | 1,416,077 | ||||
| Share-based payments | (1,858) | - | (1,858) | |||||
| Dividends | - | - | (848,903) | (848,903) | ||||
| As at 31 March 2019 | 42,542,179 | (79,344) | 35,971,206 | 78,434,041 | ||||
| Profit for the period | - | - | 1,250,687 | 1,250,687 | ||||
| Share-based payments | - | - | - | - | ||||
| Dividends | - | - | (933,793) | (933,793) | ||||
| As at 30 September 2019 | 42,542,179 | (79,344) | 36,288,100 | 78,750,935 |
| Notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements |
| for the 6 months ended 30 September 2019 |
| 4 Revenue | 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Rental income | 3,339,652 | 3,122,433 | 6,390,514 | ||||
| SIC 15 adjustment (spreading of lease incentives) | 223,670 | 521,920 | 488,398 | ||||
| 3,563,322 | 3,644,353 | 6,878,912 | |||||
| Insurance recovery | 72,286 | 63,473 | 130,323 | ||||
| Dilapidation monies | 33,000 | 94,000 | 94,000 | ||||
| 105,286 | 157,473 | 224,323 | |||||
| 3,668,608 | 3,801,826 | 7,103,235 | |||||
| 5 Property expenses | 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Property expenses | 11,504 | 41,149 | 76,229 | ||||
| Property service charges | 83,437 | 88,343 | 271,493 | ||||
| Property repairs and maintenance costs | 8,753 | - | 24,788 | ||||
| Property insurance | 76,483 | 74,967 | 148,893 | ||||
| Property rates | 108,909 | 73,053 | 118,037 | ||||
| 289,086 | 277,512 | 639,440 | |||||
| 6 Administrative expenses | 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Staff costs | 384,712 | 559,987 | 1,403,844 | ||||
| Administration fees | 153,189 | 127,307 | 321,013 | ||||
| Legal and professional fees | 344,413 | 468,441 | 788,994 | ||||
| Audit fees | 1,928 | 2,004 | 57,084 | ||||
| Accountancy fees | 2,105 | 2,593 | 7,164 | ||||
| Rent, rates and other office costs | 49,981 | 32,281 | 68,521 | ||||
| Other overheads | 40,287 | 51,357 | 134,208 | ||||
| Depreciation of tangible fixed assets | 5,443 | 6,404 | 13,296 | ||||
| 982,058 | 1,250,374 | 2,794,124 |
| 7 Finance income | 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Bank interest | 1,679 | 2,056 | 2,717 | ||||
| 1,679 | 2,056 | 2,717 | |||||
| 8 Finance costs | 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Loan interest | 732,280 | 682,116 | 1,347,779 | ||||
| Loan commitment fees | 36,217 | 20,716 | 51,219 | ||||
| Loan arrangement fees | 90,423 | 35,229 | 108,473 | ||||
| 858,920 | 738,061 | 1,507,471 | |||||
| 9 Taxation | 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Current tax | 192,684 | 146,856 | 167,101 | ||||
| Deferred tax charge | (337,758) | 80,516 | 124,041 | ||||
| (145,074) | 227,372 | 291,142 |
| 6 months to 30 September 2019 | 6 months to 30 September 2018 | 12 months to 31 March 2019 | |||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Profit for the period | 1,250,687 | 13,538,843 | 14,954,920 | ||||
| Weighted average number of shares | 28,296,762 | 28,296,762 | 28,296,792 | ||||
| Earnings per ordinary share: | 0.04 | 0.48 | 0.53 | ||||
| 11 Investment properties | 30 September 2019 | 30 September 2018 | 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Balance brought forward | 124,600,000 | 114,075,000 | 114,075,000 | ||||
| Cost of refurbishment of investment properties | 404,189 | 594,733 | 826,634 | ||||
| Cost of acquisition of investment property | 15,412,420 | - | - | ||||
| Disposal of investment properties | (4,600,000) | (2,950,000) | (4,300,000) | ||||
| (Loss)/Gain on revaluation of investment properties | (390,279) | 11,733,347 | 12,609,968 | ||||
| Lease incentive amortisation | 223,670 | 1,421,920 | 1,388,398 | ||||
| Fair value of investment properties per valuation report | 135,650,000 | 124,875,000 | 124,600,000 | ||||
| Unamortised lease incentives | (9,503,492) | (9,124,284) | (9,279,822) | ||||
| Closing fair value | 126,146,508 | 115,750,716 | 115,320,178 | ||||
| 12 Trade and other receivables | 30 September 2019 | 30 September 2018 | 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Non-current | |||||||
| Lease incentives | 8,546,628 | 8,516,589 | 8,310,903 | ||||
| Current | |||||||
| Lease incentives | 956,864 | 607,695 | 968,919 | ||||
| Amounts due from property agents | 15,391 | 104,822 | 20,034 | ||||
| Amounts due from tenants | 602,316 | 384,760 | 275,540 | ||||
| Other receivables | 236,779 | 145,114 | 289,206 | ||||
| 1,811,350 | 1,242,391 | 1,553,699 | |||||
| 13 Borrowings | 30 September 2019 | 30 September 2018 | 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Brought forward | 49,738,852 | 51,901,360 | 51,815,616 | ||||
| Loan repayments | - | (1,750,000) | (51,901,360) | ||||
| Loan drawdowns | 10,261,148 | - | 49,738,852 | ||||
| Lending costs | (721,900) | - | (721,900) | ||||
| Amortisation of lending costs | 113,152 | (50,515) | 108,473 | ||||
| Total borrowings | 59,391,252 | 50,100,845 | 49,039,681 |
| 14 Trade and other payables | 30 September 2019 | 30 September 2018 | 31 March 2019 | ||||
| (unaudited) | (unaudited) | (audited) | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| Trade payables | 39,698 | 103,554 | 65,997 | ||||
| Property improvement costs | - | 72,612 | - | ||||
| Wages and salaries | - | - | 454,333 | ||||
| Deferred income | 1,611,306 | 1,511,160 | 1,638,217 | ||||
| Rental deposit accounts | 92,546 | 85,586 | 92,545 | ||||
| Loan interest payable | 343,033 | 291,074 | 188,339 | ||||
| VAT | 257,413 | 22,379 | 267,442 | ||||
| Valuation fee | 15,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 | ||||
| Legal and professional fees | - | 3,500 | - | ||||
| Audit fee | - | - | 55,080 | ||||
| Administration fees | - | - | 66,159 | ||||
| Current taxation | 359,785 | 146,856 | 167,101 | ||||
| 2,718,781 | 2,251,721 | 3,025,213 |