Final Results
TR Property Investment Trust PLC
06 June 2003
TR PROPERTY INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
Highlights
* Outperformed benchmark for fifth consecutive year
* Total return of minus 4.2% compares with All Share total return of minus 29.8%
* Revenue earnings rise 27.8%
* Dividend increased by 24.2%
* Encouraging start to current financial year
Financial Highlights 31 March 31 March
2003 2002 Change
Revenue
Gross revenue (£'000) 16,676 13,751 +21.3%
Revenue pre-tax (£'000) 11,971 9,027 +32.6%
Revenue per share 2.30p 1.80p^ +27.8%
Net dividend per share 2.05p 1.65p +24.2%
Balance Sheet
Gross assets (£'000) 359,145 428,553 -16.2%
Shareholders' funds (£'000) 304,127 342,481 -11.2%
Shares in issue at end of period (m) 416.5 416.6 -0.02%
Gearing 15% 24%
Net asset value per share 73.02p 78.08p^ -6.5%
Performance 31 March 31 March
Assets and Benchmark 2003 2002
Benchmark performance (price only)* -9.3% +1.6%
NAV price only return -6.4% +6.7%^
Benchmark performance (total return)* -5.5% +4.1%
NAV total return+ -4.2% +8.9%^
IPD Monthly Index total return** +10.6% +7.2%
Total return from direct property# +8.0% +12.8%
Performance 31 March 31 March
Share Price 2003 2002 Change
Share price at 31 March 59.00p 64.75p -8.9%
Share price total return+ -6.2% +14.3%
Market capitalisation at 31 March £246m £270m -8.9%
Sources: +AITC/*Datastream/#WM Company/**IPD
^ fully diluted
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Introduction
The last twelve months have been rather inglorious ones for equity investment.
Declines in share prices have been widespread and substantial - sufficient to
scare some long term institutional investors away from equity investment
altogether. Against this challenging background I am very pleased to report to
you that the Trust has performed remarkably well. Though the asset value per
share fell, the decline was a modest one. Our NAV returns have outperformed our
benchmark index again (for the fifth financial year in a row), revenue earnings
are sharply higher and the Board is able to recommend another substantial
dividend increase.
Property shares beat the market again last year but there was a marked
difference in performance between the UK and the Continent. In the UK the sector
index fell 23%; on the Continent property shares fell 5% in local currency
terms, but rose 8% in sterling terms due to a strengthening Euro. The move, two
years ago, to increase the Trust's equity investment exposure on the Continent
therefore paid off handsomely last year in absolute terms at both the capital
and the revenue level, the more so as the Euro exposure was not hedged. In
relative terms we were underweight continental assets throughout the year. Had
we, a year ago, sold more UK assets and invested further in the Continent, the
performance would have been further improved.
Asset Performance
In the year to the end of March 2003, the Trust's NAV per share declined by 6.5%
from 78.08p to 73.02p and gave a total return (that is after adding back the
value of the dividends paid) of minus 4.2%. Our benchmark index fell by 9.3% and
produced a total return of minus 5.5% over the same period. This is the fifth
consecutive year in which our NAV returns have beaten the returns from our
benchmark. During those five years the benchmark index has fallen 14.8% while
your Trust's NAV has risen by 31.7% - giving outperformance of 54.7%. Against
the All Share Index the NAV outperformance over the five years is higher still
at 103%.
Our direct property holdings, all of which are in the UK, produced an ungeared
total return of 8.0%, and so again made a positive contribution to performance,
though they underperformed the IPD Monthly Index total return for the same
period of 10.6% because we held no retail property directly. Over the last five
years our ungeared total return from direct property has been 92% compared with
the IPD Index figure of 65%.
Revenue Performance
Revenue earnings per share have risen by 27.8% from 1.80p to 2.30p per share.
This has been the first financial year in which the revenue account had the full
benefit of the returns from higher yielding Continental property shares, and
their contribution to our investment income rose from £1.7m to £5.8m in the
year. Despite the significant sales of UK assets made to finance the Continental
investment and the reduction of total assets by the £19m spent due to share and
warrant repurchases, our UK income from shares and property declined by only
£1m. As a result total investment and rental income rose 23% to £16.5m. During
the year several property companies chose to return capital to shareholders by
way of special dividends. The Trust received some £3.85m by way of these special
dividends. Your Board and the auditors consider these payments fundamentally to
be capital receipts. Only where it is clear that the payments by companies have
been made as a result of potentially repeatable earnings have the dividends been
credited to income, and the amount so treated in the year was £0.55m and the
remaining £3.30m was credited to the capital account.
Revenue Outlook
Our managers currently anticipate that the Trust's revenue income per share will
increase again in the current year, but at a very modest pace compared with
increases in the last two years. Earnings and dividend growth from the companies
within our equity portfolio are slowing but are expected to remain positive in
the next twelve months. Further ahead we expect to see a sharp increase in our
income from our French property companies in our next but one financial year if
the proposed REIT structure in France is fully implemented. These comments
notwithstanding, shareholders will be well aware that the investee company
dividends that make up the bulk of our income are not in our control.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT CONT'D
Dividends
The interim dividend was raised by an extraordinary level from 0.65p to 0.90p
per share and I commented in my statement then that shareholders should not
anticipate that the final dividend of 1.00p per share would necessarily be
raised. In the light of the full year revenue result I am pleased to report that
the Board now proposes a 15% increase in the final dividend to 1.15p per share.
This, added to the interim dividend, produces a total payment for the year ended
31 March 2003 of 2.05p per share, a 24.2% increase over the total dividends of
1.65p per share paid for the year ended March 2002. This total dividend of 2.05p
per share compares with a total payment of 1.12p per share made five years ago
in the year ended March 1998. The percentage increase of 83.0% is equivalent to
12.8% per annum compound.
Gearing
Net debt declined from £82m to £47m last year and gearing fell from 24% to 15%.
Given the relatively high income producing potential of our property assets, it
is the Board's policy for the Trust to be between 15% and 30% geared under
stable market conditions. The level of gearing may be lower or higher than these
levels if justified by the manager's forecasts of future investment value
movements.
Currency Exposure
The portfolio exposure to foreign currency assets and income was unhedged during
the last financial year, during which the Euro rose by 13% against the pound.
This added some 3.5p to the total return per share. Going forward it will be the
Trust's normal policy to remain unhedged unless, with the manager's advice, the
Board considers that there is a strong potential benefit to shareholders from
hedging on a short term basis.
Share and Warrant Repurchases
The managers, on instructions from the Board, have continued to purchase shares
for cancellation when suitable opportunities have occurred and the Board is
seeking renewal of authority from shareholders to buy back shares at the Annual
General Meeting. During the last financial year a total of £10.66m was spent
buying back 17.5 million shares at an average price of 60.8p. A further £8.89m
was spent repurchasing 38.8 million warrants before the expiry date of the
warrant issue in July 2002. Combined, these repurchases served to increase the
net asset value by 1.65p per share. The Trust issued 17.4 million shares to the
remaining warrant holders at 47.5p during the year with the result that the
number of shares outstanding at the end of the financial year is almost the same
as at March 2002. Since they were instigated in late 1999, the additional value
created for shareholders through buy-backs has been around 3.6p per share or
almost 5% of the asset value at March 2003.
FTSE 250 Index
The Trust's shares entered the FTSE 250 Index in September 2002. This promotion
carries no lasting benefit to shareholders, but illustrates the extent to which
the Trust's capitalisation has withstood the ravages of the market declines
relative to many other companies, which historically have been far larger.
Perhaps we should hope, for sake of the future of equity investment in the UK,
that the Trust does not remain in the Index for long!
Awards
Investment awards are recognition of excellent past performance. Last year your
Company received the Bloomberg Money Award for the Best Specialist Investment
Trust of 2002 and the Money Observer Award for the Best Large Investment Trust
of 2002. In addition our management team was joint runner-up in the Property
Fund Manager of the Year Award for 2002 organised by Property Week magazine. As
I commented at the interim stage receiving such awards can be a bad omen for
future performance but I am confident that your Company will be an exception to
this rule.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT CONT'D
In my last interim statement, I remarked that despite the outstanding
performance record of the Trust, the Board was concerned that the share price
discount to net asset value per share remained appreciable and that it would
continue to pursue ways of addressing this. In pursuit of this aim the Board has
approved the appointment of Mark Vickery, as an investor relations manager for
the Trust, with a mandate to widen investor awareness in the Trust and its
excellent track record.
Board and Management
Although I am offering myself for re-election at this year's Annual General
Meeting, I have informed the Board that it is my intention to retire as a
director of the Trust after the AGM in 2004 when I will have served on the Board
for ten years. It is my strong belief that a regular infusion of new Board
members is important to the continuing vitality of all companies, and your
Company currently has a strong group of more recently appointed directors to
guide it in the future.
I am pleased to announce that our management team has been further strengthened
this year by the appointment of James Wilkinson to run the direct property
portfolio. James will report to Marcus Phayre-Mudge, who has been appointed
Deputy Fund Manager.
Outlook
As an asset class, property has performed with great credit over the past four
years relative to equities. The high annuity-like returns offered are attractive
to maturing pension and life assurance funds in a low interest rate environment.
Property equities have shared some, but not all, of the performance glory. Given
current discount levels, they must be expected now to outperform directly held
property assets as world economies start to recover. The Trust has come through
the downturn in good shape and your Board believes it is favourably positioned
for a gradual improvement in equity markets.
However, direct property has probably seen the zenith of its relative
performance in the current cycle. The outlook for tenant demand and rental
growth is currently much less positive, and without a revival in the general
economy and the broader equity market, property and property shares cannot
prosper for long. The current management team has demonstrated its ability to
increase both the dividend income from, and the asset value of, your Company in
an extraordinarily volatile market environment. On your behalf, I thank them
most warmly for their efforts.
EXTRACTS FROM THE MANAGER'S REPORT
Introduction
Pan European property shares had another excellent year relative to European
equities in general. Property values were, on average, steady, earnings rose
modestly as did dividends. On a country basis, the UK produced the best physical
property total return (plus 10.6%) and almost the worst property share total
return (minus 20.6%) - a huge (30%) discrepancy which I comment on later in my
report.
My main investment themes remained unchanged throughout the year. That is to say
I have continued to add to our retail property exposure and to invest in
companies in this area with good liquidity and decent sustainable dividend
yields. At the same time I have continued to sell the shares of companies with
high gearing and particularly those exposed to office property whatever the
dividend yield. This risk-averse policy has worked reasonably well. Where I
erred was in regional asset allocation. I left too much money in the UK and
failed to go overweight on the Continent. In particular the Trust had far too
little invested in Austrian and Swiss real estate stocks where property shares
show positive total returns. Nevertheless I avoided most of the horror stories,
of which there were several. Stock selection was positive enough to allow the
Trust to outperform the benchmark again.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
EXTRACTS FROM THE MANAGER'S REPORT CONT'D
Property Market Background
A birds-eye view of all the commercial and residential property in Europe would
now show that capital values are falling, but only by one or two per cent per
annum. Tenant demand is weakening particularly in office markets as the Pan
European economies splutter to maintain even modest GDP growth. However, the
impact of falling rental values is being offset by investor demand, which
broadened over the year and has been encouraged by the poverty of income yields
in other asset classes and by the historically low cost of borrowed money.
Meanwhile, though average values are in decline there are still areas of the
property market where occupier demand exceeds supply and values continue to
rise. The key in assessing the future trend of capital values in any particular
market is the outlook for tenant demand relative to current and future supply.
Investor demand eventually follows tenant demand not vice-versa.
Offices
Across the whole of Europe office occupier demand is fragile and in some
locations it is almost non-existent. Weakness in rental values is most marked in
the core and suburban areas of the largest cities, and least obvious, as yet, in
regional towns. London, so often a leader in property value trends (in both
directions), is currently winning the award for having the fastest falling rents
and poorest tenant demand. In the City and Docklands rental values have already
fallen over 25%. Vacancy rates are over 10% and still climbing. Empty desks are
also evident in many 'fully' occupied buildings. The office market in the West
End is also poor, and the vacancy rate is close to 10%, but there is still just
enough tenant demand to ensure that the market has some depth to it. On the
outskirts of London, M25 office rental levels are soft after a sharp increase in
vacancy rates. In regional UK markets the main source of demand is the public
sector.
Continental city centre office markets seem inexorably to be following London's
lead. In Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Madrid, Munich and Stockholm, where
significant new speculative office construction occurred in the last three
years, conditions have already worsened sharply with rental values down by
between 15% to 20% to date. In other locations, such as Barcelona, Paris, Milan,
Vienna and Zurich, where there has been less or little new development, there
has been a slower increase in vacancy rates and therefore a slower decrease in
rental values - so far. Gauging the timing and extent of the nadir and then the
recovery in office markets is a crucial question for all property investors. The
optimists believe that rents will soon stabilise at their new lower levels and
that demand will recover as soon as GDP growth accelerates. The pessimists, with
whom I currently agree, believe that the severity of the downturn in business to
business confidence has been so sharp that private sector occupiers will only
recover their desire to hire more labour very gradually and that while vacancy
rates remain at historically high levels rental values will continue to drift
downwards.
Retail
Retail property has been a star performer over the last two years as retail
sales growth has continued to rise in absolute terms, particularly in the UK.
Consumer demand is now slowing across the whole of Europe and is already
negative in some areas. Meanwhile cost inflation is outpacing price inflation
for some retailers, and hurting their margins. In short, the overall picture for
retail property demand appears to be moving from positive to negative. But
retail property is different. It is much less homogenous than office and
industrial property in terms of tenant demand and centres offer greater
opportunities for continuous income enhancement through active management. It is
also, and this is very important in a Pan European context, subject to far
stricter planning controls than offices or industrial property. This means that
good retail space is still scarce and when, as now, major national and
international retailers are expanding or rolling out new concepts, there can
still be strong competition for floorspace even if the immediate profit outlook
is cloudy.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
EXTRACTS FROM THE MANAGER'S REPORT CONT'D
I have tried to concentrate the equity investments in the shares of those retail
property companies that own the bigger shopping centres, which have monopolies
in their catchment areas, and on those that concentrate on retail warehousing.
It seems to me that retail sales are likely to hold up most strongly in
locations where shoppers are attracted by the widest range of goods combined
with ease of access and good, preferably free, car parking. As the recent
corporate activity in Safeway, Selfridges and Debenhams illustrates, retailing
(and retail property) is still of enormous interest to venture capital.
Property Share Background
In performance terms property equities had another excellent year relative to
general equities. The FT Eurotop 300 Index in sterling fell a huge 34.4% over
the twelve months to end March 2003 while our benchmark in sterling fell only
9.3%. The UK property shares sector was a poor performer falling 23.3% and
producing a total return of minus 20.6%. Excluding the UK, the property equities
in the rest of Europe did far better. In Euro terms they fell by only 4.8% and
produced a positive total return of 0.3%, but the Euro rose by 13% against the
pound so that in sterling terms the returns were plus 8% price only and plus 13%
total return.
I remarked at the start of my statement that the poor performance of UK property
shares ran contrary to the strong returns from UK direct property. There was no
single outstanding cause of this discrepancy, but rather it was the sum of a
number of contributory factors. The more important of these are that UK equity
investors tend to view property companies as shares first and property second,
while across the Channel and in other countries, property shares are normally
seen as property first and equities second, and therefore as being separate from
general equities. The higher level of dividend yield on the Continent has
attracted buying interest to the sector from investors needing income - a source
of buying interest generally absent in the UK.
Indeed, looking across the global real estate equities market, the UK sector's
poor performance last year stands in marked contrast to returns in other G7
markets, all of which now have or are about to get tax transparent property
structures. Quoted tax transparent property companies, known generally as 'real
estate investment trusts' or by the acronym 'REITs', are now a standard method
of global property investment. REIT performance has been strong and in the US,
Australia and Japan REIT share prices are currently standing at or close to
their all time highs. In Europe the tax transparent Benelux property companies
have also performed strongly and in France, where REITs are due to be introduced
in 2004, property shares have performed well in anticipation of the enhanced
income which is expected to flow from the companies involved.
Initial yield is a strong factor in the current pricing of global property
shares, and tax freedom, or the lack of it, is the major component of the
difference in initial yields. US REITs are standing on an average 10% premium to
NAV and yielding 6.5%, in Australia the comparable figures are a 6% discount to
NAV and a yield of 6.8% while for Benelux stocks the discounts average 9% and
dividend yields are 7.5%. In the UK the discount average is a whopping 32% but
the sector average net dividend yield is only 3.1% - lower than the current
yield on the All Share Index.
We remain overweight in UK property shares primarily because of this very large
average discount to asset value. I think this discount gives UK property stock
prices more potential upside than the stocks in other markets. Share buy-backs
and returns of capital are adding value, takeover bids make sense, and there is
a chance that a change in tax legislation will see the introduction of UK REITs
and result in a hefty one-off rerating of the sector. Its an outside chance, but
the property industry has recently been invited by the Treasury to submit
arguments as to why REITs should be introduced in the UK. Given the general
trend towards Pan European tax harmonisation and the potential willingness of
the industry to find a 'quid pro quo' the chance may be a five to one bet
against.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
EXTRACTS FROM THE MANAGER'S REPORT CONT'D
Distribution of Assets
The overall division between UK property and UK and Continental equities has
altered only modestly over the financial year. The Group Cash Flow Statement
shows that purchases and sales added together were only around 70% of the
previous year's total. As I commented earlier, performance would have been
enhanced if I had reduced the UK equity holdings further and bought more
Continental equities. The current target distribution of the portfolio is 35% to
55% in UK equities, 35% to 55% in Continental equities and 10% to 30% in UK
direct property.
On a see-through basis the distribution of assets shows greater percentage
change. At March 2002, the Trust's see-through portfolio was 56% offices, 25%
retail property, 12% industrial and warehousing and 7% residential and other
uses. At March 2003 the percentages were 40%, 38%, 12% and 10%.
Largest Equity Investments
I have commented briefly on the top twenty equity holdings. There are six new
entries over the year, which I hope shareholders will not consider as evidence
of lethargy. Of the departures from the top twenty, two, Rodamco North America
and Haslemere, were taken over for cash. Canary Wharf aside, we maintained our
investments in the other departures which slipped out of the top twenty on price
movements or as a result of returning capital. Canary Wharf dropped out as a
result of a reduced holding and a return of capital.
There are three French companies in the new entries - Gecina, Klepierre and
Silic. All were existing holdings to which we added, though Gecina's increase in
value mainly results from a merger with Simco during the year. All three
companies are expected to enter the new French tax-free property company
structure later this year and therefore be able to pay enlarged dividends from
2004 onwards. We added to our Eurocommercial - a real European corporate hybrid
- the shares are quoted in Holland with a management based in London and the
majority of its assets in Italian and French shopping centres. The final two new
entries were Cofinimmo, a tax-free owner of Brussels office buildings (where
tenant demand is primarily from EU activity) and Grainger Trust, which, despite
specialising in the ownership of housing in the UK, performed strongly last
year.
Movements within the list reflect my attempt to avoid portfolios overweight in
offices or companies with above average gearing. With this in mind I added
considerably to holdings in Rodamco Europe, Liberty International and Corio and
reduced the investment in British Land and Canary Wharf. I also reduced the size
of the holding in St Modwen from 9% to 6% of the company's equity - taking a
substantial capital gain in the process. I intend to retain a large investment
in this well run smaller company. Our shareholding in The Big Yellow Group was
unchanged over the year, during which the shares fell by 35%. I believe that the
energetic management of this self storage company will deliver its five year
business plan and that the Trust's equity investment is a 'sleeper' from which
we will secure high returns in the future.
Gearing and Debenture Debt
Over the year I reduced the Trust's net debt level from £82m to £47m and the
gearing ratio fell from 24% to 15%. Shareholders should note that some £40m of
our present debt is in the form of two debentures with coupons of 8.125% and
11.5% repayable in 2008 and 2016 respectively. The market value of this
debenture debt was £49.8m at the year end. This additional £9.8m represents a
negative value equivalent to 2.4p per share.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
EXTRACTS FROM THE MANAGER'S REPORT CONT'D
Indicating to shareholders the likely trend in gearing over the current year is
unusually difficult. As I comment below the outlook for earnings and capital
values remains cloudy. We have the capacity to increase gearing and it is
tempting from a revenue angle to do so as we are able to borrow money today at a
lower rate than the yield on many of our property and equity investments.
Gearing would therefore boost earnings in the short term, particularly as the
Trust's accounting policies provide for half the cost of debt to be charged to
the capital account. Nevertheless my instinct is to bide my time in this
uncertain economic environment.
The portfolio's see-through gearing, which takes account of our own debt and
adds in the proportionate debt of all our equity investments, has dropped from
around 90% at March 2002 to a current level of 84%.
Direct Property Portfolio
The Trust's direct property portfolio produced a total return of 8.0% over the
year, reflecting an income return of 6.6% and capital gains from investment
sales completed during the year. The 8.0% figure also includes a reduction of
0.3% in the value of those properties retained at the end of the year but within
this average figure the range of valuation changes was wide. Excluding sales,
the best performance (plus 28%) came from our Southampton office building where
we regeared the tenant's lease, while the worst performing asset (minus 21%) was
the warehouse at Wootton Bassett, near Swindon, where the tenant went into
receivership. The properties at Tolworth and Staines were sold over the winter
for some £10m, almost 11% more than their September 2002 valuations (£8.95m) and
6.7% more than their combined book value (£9.28m) which included additional
capital expenditure at Staines. A little 0.2 acre site at Tavern Quay, where we
obtained residential development permission in 2002, was sold for £1.5m. The
land was formally the over-spill car park, and the sale price compared with a
March 2002 valuation of £750,000.
The major achievement during the year was obtaining planning consents for our
redevelopment proposals at Piccadilly and Battersea. The planning process in
London has become a vastly time consuming and often politicised business.
Although we achieved the consents we were seeking - 90,000 ft of mixed office
and retail at Piccadilly and a mixed residential (57 flats) and commercial
(27,000 ft) scheme at Battersea - the process took longer and was more costly
than expected. This pre-development expenditure together with the cost of part
refurbishment of Tavern Quay contributed to capital costs of £1m during the
year. Our intention is that both Piccadilly and Battersea will be sold on to
developers. However, the consents have arrived at a moment when demand from
developers for sites is greatly reduced. It may be that the greatest potential
gain to shareholders will come from retaining the properties for a limited time
until London's residential and office values are more stable. In the meanwhile
we will maintain the income stream from short term lettings in both properties.
We have continued to keep voids to an absolute minimum during the year.
Notwithstanding the poor state of the occupational market, particularly in the
office sector, our only significant void is the 36,000 ft warehouse at Wootton
Bassett, which we have referred to above. This represents less than 3% of the
portfolio by capital value.
At this stage of the property cycle it is likely that property shares offer
better value and stronger recovery potential than much of the direct property
market and therefore it continues to be attractive for the Trust to switch
further capital from buildings into equities. Since the year end we have sold
our distribution unit in Swanley ahead of the valuation and further disposals
are being considered.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
EXTRACTS FROM THE MANAGER'S REPORT CONT'D
Unquoted Investments
We have made no investments in unquoted companies during the year. Controlrun, a
joint venture that owns petrol filling stations, remains our only investment in
this area of any significance. Sales of all the assets owned by the business are
planned. Two properties were under offer at the interim stage, one of these, in
Southall, was sold for £1.5m that compared with a most recent valuation of £1m.
The sale of another at Milton Keynes has fallen through. The property is to be
remarketed and the disposal of the other three properties is under
consideration.
Outlook
We enter the new financial year still overweight in the UK, and this is now
proving positive for performance. Our currency position remains unhedged. The
stronger the Euro relative to Sterling, the weaker will be the outlook for
Continental tenant demand relative to the UK market. In the UK I expect the
overall total return from physical property to be modestly positive (around 4%).
I expect that office markets will face another very tough year and that retail
property will again be the best performing sector. Despite their recent sharp
rally, UK property shares are still standing at high average discounts to spot
asset values, and corporate activity has re-emerged with three bid approaches in
the sector since the year end.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
GROUP STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN (Incorporating the Revenue Account)
for the year ended 31 March 2003
Year ended 31 March 2003 Year ended 31 March 2002
Revenue Capital Total Revenue Capital Total
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Total capital (losses)/gains from - (25,633) (25,633) - 20,129 20,129
investments
Repurchase of warrants - (8,885) (8,885) - (3,986) (3,986)
Investment income 11,529 - 11,529 7,502 - 7,502
Net rental income 4,938 - 4,938 5,869 - 5,869
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
16,467 (34,518) (18,051) 13,371 16,143 29,514
Interest receivable and similar income 209 - 209 380 - 380
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Gross revenue and capital (losses)/gains 16,676 (34,518) (17,842) 13,751 16,143 29,894
Management and performance fees (1,702) (851) (2,553) (1,687) (2,155) (3,842)
Other administrative expenses (570) - (570) (558) - (558)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net return on ordinary activities 14,404 (35,369) (20,965) 11,506 13,988 25,494
before interest payable and taxation
Interest payable and similar charges (2,433) (2,433) (4,866) (2,479) (2,479) (4,958)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net return on ordinary activities 11,971 (37,802) (25,831) 9,027 11,509 20,536
before taxation
Taxation on net return on ordinary (2,237) 696 (1,541) (1,080) 1,059 (21)
activities
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Net return on ordinary activities 9,734 (37,106) (27,372) 7,947 12,568 20,515
after taxation
Ordinary dividends
Interim of 0.90p (2002: 0.65p) (3,823) - (3,823) (2,766) - (2,766)
Final of 1.15p (2002: 1.00p) (4,774) - (4,774) (4,166) - (4,166)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
(8,597) - (8,597) (6,932) - (6,932)
------- ------- ------- ------- ------- -------
Transfer to/(from) reserves 1,137 (37,106) (35,969) 1,015 12,568 13,583
==== ==== ==== ==== ==== ====
Return per ordinary share
Basic 2.30p (8.78)p (6.48)p 1.86p 2.94p 4.80p
Fully diluted n/a n/a n/a 1.80p 2.84p 4.64p
The revenue columns of this statement represent the revenue account of the
Group.
All revenue and capital items in the above statement derive from continuing
operations.
No operations were acquired or discontinued during the year.
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
GROUP AND COMPANY BALANCE SHEETS
Group Group Company Company 2002
2003 2002 2003 £'000
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed asset investments 358,178 427,679 357,646 418,876
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Current assets
Debtors 4,267 7,049 3,452 5,136
Cash at bank 1,790 901 1,641 51
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
6,057 7,950 5,093 5,187
Creditors - amounts falling due within one year
Bank loans and overdrafts 8,697 42,932 8,697 42,911
Other creditors 11,217 10,028 49,665 38,421
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
19,914 52,960 58,362 81,332
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Net current liabilities (13,857) (45,010) (53,269) (76,145)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Total assets less current liabilities 344,321 382,669 304,377 342,731
Creditors - amounts falling due after more than one 40,194 40,188 250 250
year
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Total net assets 304,127 342,481 304,127 342,481
_________ _________ _________ _________
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 104,124 104,150 104,124 104,150
Share premium 37,063 30,111 37,063 30,111
Warrant reserve - 3,031 - 3,031
Other reserves 145,997 189,383 153,355 196,793
Revenue reserve 16,943 15,806 9,585 8,396
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------
Equity shareholders' funds 304,127 342,481 304,127 342,481
_________ _________ _________ _________
Net asset value per share
Basic 73.02p 82.21p 73.02p 82.21p
Fully diluted n/a 78.08p n/a 78.08p
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the year ended 31 March 2003
2003 2003 2002 2002
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash inflow from operating activities 12,483 6,811
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest paid (4,806) (5,050)
---------- ----------
Net cash outflow from servicing of finance (4,806) (5,050)
Taxation recovered 442 461
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Purchase of investments (82,130) (146,766)
Sale of investments 128,490 152,024
---------- ----------
Net cash inflow from financial investment 46,360 5,258
Equity dividends paid (7,989) (6,419)
---------- ----------
Net cash inflow before financing 46,490 1,061
Financing
Issue of shares 8,277 287
Purchase of own shares (10,662) (13,945)
Purchase of own warrants (8,885) (3,986)
---------- ----------
Net cash outflow from financing (11,270) (17,644)
---------- ----------
Increase/(decrease) in cash 35,220 (16,583)
======= =======
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in
net debt
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Increase in cash 985 201
Cash outflow/(inflow) from decrease/(increase) in 34,235 (16,784)
loans
---------- ----------
Change in net debt resulting from cash flows 35,220 (16,583)
Exchange differences (96) (672)
Other (6) (7)
---------- ----------
Movement in net debt 35,118 (17,262)
Net debt at 1 April (82,219) (64,957)
---------- ----------
Net debt at 31 March (47,101) (82,219)
======= =======
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UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
NOTES:
1. Return per ordinary share
Basic revenue return per ordinary share is based on the net revenue return on ordinary activities after taxation
of £9,734,000 (2002: £7,947,000) and on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year,
being 422,633,986 (2002: 427,073,371). Basic capital return per ordinary share is based on net capital losses of
£37,106,000 (2002: £12,568,000 gains) and on the same weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue.
The calculations of the fully diluted revenue and capital returns per ordinary share are carried out in
accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 14, 'Earnings per Share'. For the purposes of calculating diluted
revenue and capital returns per share, the number of shares is the weighted average used in the basic calculation
plus the number of shares deemed to be issued for no consideration on exercise of all warrants, by reference to
the average price of the ordinary shares during the year.
2. Net asset value per ordinary share
Basic net asset value per ordinary share is based on net assets attributable to ordinary shares of £304,176,000
(2002: £342,481,000) and on 416,494,500 (2002: 416,599,673) ordinary shares in issue at the year-end. The fully
diluted net asset value per ordinary share at 31 March 2002 was calculated on the assumption that the 56,228,441
warrants in issue at that time were fully converted into ordinary shares at 47.5p per share.
3. Share Capital Changes
During the year the Company made market purchases for cancellation of 17,530,872 ordinary shares of 25p and
38,802,742 warrants, for an aggregate consideration of £10,662,000 for the shares and £8,885,000 for the
warrants. The warrants lapsed during August 2002 so that, at 31 March 2003, there were no warrants outstanding
(2002: 56,228,441).
4. Reconciliation of Group operating revenue to net cash inflow from operating activities
2003 2002
£'000 £'000
Net revenue before interest payable and taxation 14,404 11,506
Decrease/(increase) in operating debtors 1,244 (781)
Increase in operating creditors 3 121
UK income tax deducted at source - (11)
Overseas withholding tax suffered (1,007) (322)
Performance fees paid (1,310) (2,934)
Management fee charged to capital (851) (768)
--------- ---------
Net cash inflow from operating activities 12,483 6,811
====== ======
5. Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2002
The figures and financial information for the year ended 31 March 2002 are extracted from the latest published
accounts of the Company and do not constitute the statutory accounts for that year. Those accounts have been
delivered to the Registrar of Companies and included the report of the auditors which was unqualified and did not
contain a statement under either Section 237(2) or Section 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985.
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- 14 -
UNAUDITED PRELIMINARY GROUP RESULTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2003
6. Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2003
The preliminary figures for the year ended 31 March 2003 have been extracted from the latest Group accounts.
These accounts have not yet been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, nor have the auditors yet reported on
them.
7. Dividend
The final dividend, subject to shareholders' approval at the AGM, will be paid on 28 July 2003 to shareholders on
the register at 27 June 2003. The shares will be quoted ex-dividend from 25 June 2003.
8. Annual Report and AGM
The Annual Report will be posted to shareholders in June 2003 and will be available thereafter from the Secretary
at the Registered Office, 4 Broadgate, London EC2M 2DA. The Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at
4 Broadgate, London EC2M 2DA on Friday 25 July 2003 at 12 noon.
Enquiries
TR PROPERTY INVESTMENT TRUST PLC
Chris Turner, Manager (Tel: 020 7818 4348)
HENDERSON GLOBAL INVESTORS
Stephen Westwood, Head of Investment Trusts (Tel: 020 7818 5517)
Vicki Staveacre, Corporate Affairs (Tel: 020 7818 4222)
- ENDS -
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange