Final Results
Capital & Regional plc
23 March 2006
23 March 2006
CAPITAL & REGIONAL PLC:
2005 PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Capital & Regional plc, the co-investing property asset manager, today announces
its unaudited preliminary results for the year ended 30 December 2005.
Highlights1
• Return on equity before exceptional items 36.6% (2004: 39.0%);
• £5.6bn2 of property assets under management (30 December 2005:
£5.1bn) (30 December 2004: £4.0bn);
• Adjusted fully diluted net asset value per share up to 975p (30
December 2004: 710p);
• Profit before tax and exceptionals £43.5m (2004: £36.2m);
• Recurring profit before tax £20.2m (2004: £16.6m);
• 29% increase in dividend to18p for the full year;
• All funds outperformed their benchmarks. Total returns to fund
investors, after performance fees, on a geared basis were:
The Mall Fund: 22.8%
The Junction Fund: 34.1%
X-Leisure Fund: 28.3%
Commenting on the results, Martin Barber, Chief Executive said:
"2005 has been a truly great year where we have seen significant developments in
the business and excellent returns to shareholders. We remain confident that we
will deliver continued outperformance in the future".
For further information please contact Capital & Regional on 020 7932 8000:
Martin Barber, Chief Executive Tel: 020 7932 8101
William Sunnucks, Group Finance Director Tel: 020 7932 8125
James Benjamin/Michael Sandler, Hudson Sandler Tel: 020 7796 4133
1 For definition of terms, refer to "Glossary of terms" on page 34
2 Estimate as at 28 February 2006.
Chairman's statement
2005 saw the Company achieve a 36.6% return on equity before exceptional items,
the third consecutive year in which returns have exceeded 30%. While this period
has undoubtedly seen highly favourable conditions in the UK property investment
market, the Company has delivered enhanced returns to shareholders through its
property management skills and intelligent use of the capital markets to create
advantageous financing structures.
Total property assets under management have since the year end reached £5.6 bn,
principally held through our three established funds investing in shopping
centres, retail parks and urban entertainment complexes. The economies of scale
arising from our fund based business model (on the financing as well as the
asset management side) benefit both the fund investors and our own shareholders.
The performance fees payable to the Company by the three funds in respect of
2005 exceeded £50m for the first time.
We have further strengthened the specialised management teams responsible for
each of our funds and they now have greater depth than ever before. While our
established operations have continued to grow, we have taken two carefully
considered new initiatives, in the area of trade parks in the UK and retail
parks in Germany. The first signs for these two new businesses are encouraging
and, combined with the further growth in scale, quality and value which we
anticipate in our existing areas of specialisation, they should enable us to
deliver continued strong returns.
Dividends
The board is recommending a final dividend of 11p (2004: 9p), bringing the total
for the year to 18p (2004: 14p), a 29% increase over the previous year. The
total dividends for the year are covered 2.5 times by the total after tax profit
before exceptional items and 1.6 times by recurring pre-tax profit.
Board
David Cherry, who has been a non-executive director for nine years, is retiring
following this year's AGM. His lifetime of experience in the property market has
been of great value to the Company, at every stage of its development, but
particularly in recent years as the property management operations conducted
through CRPM adapted, with his advice and guidance, to the rapid growth in the
property assets under management. We should all be grateful for his contribution
during this exceptional period in the Company's development.
Employees
Our success derives from the skills, energy and commitment of our employees, of
whom there are now 147 in our London and Glasgow offices and 522 in our
individual centres and Snozone operations. Strong financial markets do not by
any means make for an easy life and our employees, old and new, have achieved
extraordinary results for the Company, not just in 2005, but over many years. On
behalf of the shareholders, the board and I give them our warm thanks and
appreciation.
Chief Executive's Review
Financial results
I am pleased to be able to report a strong set of financial results for 2005.
Highlights include:
• Return on equity before exceptional items 36.6% (2004: 39.0%);
• Adjusted fully diluted net asset value per share up to 975p, a 37.3%
increase;
• 28.6% increase in the full year dividend to 18p (2004: 14p).
Background to the financial results
Our 36.6% return on equity is high, significantly above our long term average.
It arises from a strong underlying business model, significantly boosted by the
general growth in retail property values caused by yield shift. Yield shift
benefits our shareholders in two ways - through the increase in the value of its
investment portfolio, and through increased performance fees. Details of how we
have estimated the components of total return are given on page 6.
Breakdown of total return 2005 2004
% %
Underlying return 18.4 17.5
Yield shift 22.2 21.5
Changes in stamp duty rules -4.0 -
Total return before exceptional items 36.6 39.0
The underlying return of 18.4% is above our target range of "mid to high teens"
which we aim to deliver to our shareholders over the long term. It excludes the
4.0% extra provision for stamp duty made when the Chancellor removed relief for
disadvantaged areas. This had a bigger impact on the Mall and Junction funds
than the average in the relevant IPD index.
Fund performance
Each fund has outperformed its benchmark on both a geared and ungeared basis in
each of the last three years:
Fund performance over last three years
Geared return Ungeared return IPD IRR
% % %
Mall 2003 33.5 21.7 15.2
Mall 2004 26.0 19.6 17.1
Mall 2005 22.8 16.5 16.3
Junction 2003 28.2 17.7 16.6
Junction 2004 35.6 24.0 23.5
Junction 2005 34.1 23.3 22.1
C&R hurdle
X-Leisure 2004 (9 months) 18.0 11.4 8.9
X-Leisure 2005 28.3 15.3 12.0
The Mall fund is measured against the IPD Shopping Centres index, and the
Junction fund against the IPD Retail Parks index. The X-Leisure fund is
measured against an absolute return of 12%.
Our strategic approach
The directors believe that success in the property business requires the right
assets, the right money and most significantly the right people.
The right assets: we buy property in sectors where active management can add
value, and where there is long term strategic strength. We like sectors where
there is reason to expect long term rental and value growth caused, for example,
by tight planning restrictions or clear market trends.
The right money: this encapsulates not just the choice of bank, but also
finding the right equity investors and channelling their money into property
through the right corporate and tax structures. Our current structure enables
us to address two different equity markets - institutional property investors
wanting specific types of property exposure, and equity market investors
interested in property as a business. Capital markets may well change over the
next few years, driven by changes in tax legislation, the possible introduction
of a UK REIT and the emergence of tax efficient offshore investment vehicles.
We would expect to adapt to new market conditions as they arise.
The right people: one of C&R's distinguishing features is its willingness to
build up strong specialist management teams. We currently have three sector
specific divisions, each with a track record in its sector, and each with its
own finance and accounting resource, marketing, leasing and in some cases HR.
The corporate team at the centre works mainly on business development, IT,
reporting and tax. Cross divisional committees on HR, marketing, construction
and banking encourage information sharing and cordial relationships.
Business development
Our two recent initiatives - in Germany and in trade parks - are consistent with
the strategic approach outlined above.
In Germany we spent nearly two years developing our relationship with the Hahn
Group before we invested. We believe they are the right people to manage our
German retail warehouse portfolio. Although we own 87.4% of the total equity in
the portfolio and have legal control, they are treated as partners and we
benefit from their knowledge in the local market.
Our trade parks portfolio offers a significant opportunity for our retail parks
team to add value. They will use their experience of developing the retail park
sector, to build a new niche business primarily serving trade rather than the
ultimate consumer. We believe that they have the tenant contacts, planning
expertise and ability to assemble a larger portfolio built upon the £68m
portfolio acquired from the T3 fund.
Changing capital markets
The equity markets available for property are changing.
• Offshore investment companies have already raised large sums through
Guernsey and the Isle of Man to invest in high yielding property.
• Onshore there is the prospect of a tax efficient investment vehicle in the
form of a REIT which would be easier to run than an offshore structure.
C&R, in its present form, is unlikely to convert into a REIT, but we are
monitoring developments closely, and will react to opportunities as they arise.
In the meantime our current business model is working well.
Market conditions
During early 2005 there was much talk of a retailing slump. However there were
no major problems for our business, except in some small sub sectors, and
trading improved later in the year. We benefit from the dynamism of the market,
and so far we have been able to treat occupier failures as opportunities to
improve the tenant mix.
Future prospects
We have enjoyed three years of positive yield shift, rental growth and close to
full occupancy. There is good reason to suppose that these trends have further
to go, but if they do not our businesses should still prosper.
Yield shift: there is a huge weight of money seeking exposure to good quality
retail property which may well drive further yield shift. Equivalent yields of
5-6% still make sense against an index linked gilt rate of under 1%.
Rental growth: there is a dynamic occupier market in our sectors underpinning
future occupancy and rental growth. We have seen a small number of failures,
but very few long term vacancies. We enjoy working closely with our tenant
partners and we think that our active management approach will work well in bad
times as well as good.
Overall I can report that the company is in good shape and we look forward to
continued success in the future.
Finance Director's review
This section of the annual report is intended to give further detailed
information to help investors and others to evaluate the business.
Measuring performance
We follow two corporate performance measures closely - total return on equity
and recurring pre-tax profit. Our total profit figure is less meaningful, as it
is heavily influenced by non-recurring items such as property disposal profits.
Return on equity: our 36.6% total return for the year is shown in the table
below:
Total accounting return before exceptionals (TAR)
2005 2004
£m £m
Profit before tax and exceptional items 43.5 36.2
Revaluation gains 164.5 122.0
Total return before tax and exceptionals 208.0 158.2
Tax (13.7) (15.1)
Total return for the year 194.3 143.1
Adjusted return on equity, before exceptional items 36.6% 39.0%
The high return is achieved partly by yield shift, but even if there had been no
yield shift we estimate that our return would still have been 18.4% (see page
3).
Recurring pre-tax profit: our profit and loss account includes several one off
items which make it difficult to evaluate ongoing profitability. This problem
will increase under the new international financial reporting standards (IFRS)
when revaluation surpluses and debt mark to market will be included. We
therefore measure "recurring pre-tax profit", the recurring earnings of the
business before performance fees, variable overhead, property disposal profits
or losses and other non-recurring items. The measure is useful for:
• Monitoring performance;
• Assessing our interest cover and gearing position;
• Guiding dividend policy.
2005 recurring pre-tax profit was £20.2m and full details are given in note 2.
We have seen a substantial increase from 2004 due to increases in rental income
and management fee income, and due to the inclusion of the high yielding German
portfolio and a bigger share of Great Northern.
Analysing yield shift
Yield shift improves our total return by (i) increasing our revaluation surplus,
and (ii) increasing the performance fees we earn.
Our revaluation surplus has increased by £109m due to yield shift estimated as
follows:
• For shopping centres and retail parks we use the shift in the
equivalent yield for the IPD benchmark indices;
• For leisure we use yield shift on our own portfolio adjusted to a like
for like basis as a proxy for market yield shift;
• We apply the yield shift to the portfolios at the beginning of the
year.
Our profit after tax was increased by £9m due to yield shift, via the
performance fee. We estimate this by assuming that there were no yield shift
movements over the three year performance period, and putting corresponding
adjustments through the fund returns, the variable management costs and the tax
charge.
Earnings businesses
Our two earnings businesses use very little capital and their value is not fully
reflected in our balance sheet. Our balance sheet includes £35m for the two
businesses which this year generated pre-tax profits of £43m.
Capital & Regional plc
Earnings businesses Property investments
Snozone Property Management Co-investments Partnerships Wholly
owned
-------- Mall Fund ------------
----- Junction Fund ---------
----- X-Leisure Fund --------
Property Management: Capital & Regional Property Management (CRPM) employs 147
staff in our London and Glasgow offices and manages property valued at £5.6bn.
It has management contracts with the three funds, ranging from 5-15 years in
length and also receives small amounts of income from C&R's non-fund interests.
CRPM's property management profit can be divided between recurring and
non-recurring profit streams. Recurring profits include all fee income except
performance fees. Approximately 80% of all overhead except for bonuses and
management incentive schemes is allocated to this business. The remaining 20%
is allocated to our asset management business (see note 2).
CRPM Property Management business
Profit and loss account
2005 2004
£m £m
Fixed fees 15.3 12.4
Service charge fees 3.9 3.3
Other fees 3.6 3.6
Fixed management expense -12.6 -10.6
Goodwill amortisation -1.1 -1.2
9.1 7.5
Mall performance fee 29.6 22.8
Junction performance fee 17.3 7.3
X-Leisure performance fee 4.1 1.1
Variable overhead - bonuses, CAP, LTIP -18.9 -11.8
32.1 19.4
CRPM profit before tax 41.2 26.9
Snozone Limited operates the ski slopes at the three Xscapes. It requires very
little capital investment, pays a full arms length rent to the Xscape
partnerships and made a profit of £1.8m in 2005. It is one of the very few
profitable indoor ski slope operators, and has opportunities for expansion. It
is of particular value to C&R as its operating skills give us credibility in
starting new Xscapes.
Snozone profits 2005 2004
£m £m
Income 9.3 8.9
Expenses (7.5) (7.8)
Profit before tax 1.8 1.1
Staff numbers: the principal assets of Snozone and CRPM are people. Staff
numbers for the whole C&R operation, including people employed at the centres
and paid directly through the service charge budgets, are shown below:
Numbers of employees Dec 2005 Dec 2004
Shopping centres 58 48
Retail parks 24 21
Leisure 27 26
Corporate 38 33
Total CRPM employees 147 128
Employed at the Malls 288 278
Employed at the Leisure centres 17 23
Snozone employees 217 196
Total 669 625
Assets business
Our property ownership business is fairly valued in the balance sheet. All
properties are carried at market value, except Great Northern which is a trading
property and the accounting is complex because it was acquired in two halves.
Net of "negative goodwill" the carrying value is £83m, the cost to the group,
which is some £10m below market value.
The balance sheet is best understood on a "see through" basis - this calculates
our total exposure to different types of property irrespective of the legal
structure:
Three Balance Sheet presentations
Enterprise See through Statutory
£m £m £m
Mall 2,334 610 350
Junction 1,441 394 208
X-Leisure 701 75 32
Xscapes 219 121 46
Germany 136 119 136
Wholly owned 263 263 263
Total property 5,093 1,581 1,035
Working capital etc 117 5 20
Debt (2,662) *(892) *(360)
Net assets 2,548 694 694
C&R shareholders 694 694 694
Fund investors 1,854
Total equity 2,548 694 694
* Debt net of cash held.
This shows that we are exposed to £1,581m of property, financed by £694m equity
and £892m debt. Our debt to equity ratio is 129% using this method, whereas our
statutory balance sheet only shows 52%.
Financing
2005 was a good year for borrowers. Increasing competition among banks has
driven down margins, and the bond market has given borrowers direct access to
investors at even lower margins.
Our weighted average interest margin fell from 1.11% to 0.74%. The biggest
change was the securitisation of 20 shopping centres in the Mall fund, which
resulted in the replacement of £1.06bn of bank debt at a 0.90% margin with bonds
at a 0.18% margin. After amortisation of the significant fees involved, the
saving for the fund was £6m per annum.
See Through Debt Net Debt Interest Interest cost % hedged Duration of
(our share) margin % fixings
% (months)
£m
On balance sheet
* £ sterling 237 0.96% 5.38% 44.8% 20
* Euros - sterling equiv 108 1.11% 3.81% 66.1% 55
Fund Debt 475 0.52% 5.11% 94.5% 60
Partnership debt 72 0.95% 6.07% 61.5% 41
Total 2005 892 0.74% 5.10% 75.1% 52
Total 2004 649 1.11% 5.69% 72.0% 29
The increase in duration was also driven by the Mall securitisation where the
old swaps were replaced by a new seven year swap.
Share Capital and CULS
Since June 2004 our fully diluted share capital has fallen from 75.8m shares to
72.5m shares. The company has bought 77% of its Convertible Unsecured Loan
Stock (CULS) back in the market at a cost of £75.2m, and holders of a further 7%
have exercised their conversion rights, leaving only 16% of the original issue
outstanding. Our buy back made sense because:
• The buy back of CULS in the market was at a discount to underlying
NAV, a value enhancing transaction;
• The premium paid on the buyback is tax deductible.
The owners of the remaining CULS can convert them into shares in July each year.
We expect a large number to convert this July, because the dividend stream
from the shares now clearly exceeds the 6.75% coupon on the CULS.
During the same period we have also raised £50m from two issues totalling 6.56m
new ordinary shares.
Operating review - shopping centres
Market conditions
The shopping centre investment market enjoyed another record year in 2005. 95
centres changed hands at over £7bn3, up 36% from 2004, itself a record year.
Investor appetite for centres has showed no sign of abatement, encouraged by the
income and multi let risk characteristics of this class of asset. This strong
investor demand has pushed yields down by 0.5% over the year.
In the occupier market the paradox continues: consumer demand has clearly
weakened, and operational cost increases have put pressure on some retailers'
profitability. But demand for quality space continues to fuel rental growth.
The emerging consensus is that this situation is likely to prevail for most of
2006, but could change in 2007. In this scenario, we believe the Mall's direct,
income focused management model will continue to differentiate it from the
competition, both for the shoppers' pound and investors' capital.
3 Source: DTZ.
The Mall fund
Established in March 2002 by Capital & Regional and Morley Fund Management, the
Mall has grown to become the largest UK shopping centre indirect investment
vehicle, owning and operating some 9% of the UK market.
Gross assets are now approximately £2.8bn in 23 Malls with common investment
criteria:
• Town centre locations
• Dominant in localised town catchment or strong metropolitan catchment
• Minimum 150,000 sq ft lettable area
• Car park or public transport facilities
• Covered, or able to be
• Tenant profile "mass market" or "value" retail
• Revenue and capital growth potential
• Value adding management opportunities
Acquisitions and disposals
The Mall has been extremely active in the investment market. It has bought
centres for a total of £675m in Camberley, Luton, Uxbridge, Redhill and
Bradford, all acquired off market. It has sold Redhill and Bradford shortly
after purchase as it was judged these centres would not contribute positively to
investor returns. In addition, during autumn 2005 The Pallasades Birmingham was
sold with the proceeds recycled into the return additive acquisitions above.
Fund investors
During 2005 the investor base grew from 30 to 36 with £72m new equity invested.
Together with revaluation surplus the total equity invested in the fund has now
reached £1.3bn.
Fund debt
One of the major strategic events for The Mall in 2005 was the restructuring of
the Fund's debt through the issue of £1.06bn of Mall Bonds in May secured on 20
out of 22 Malls at 52% loan to value. The bonds were rated triple A by all
three rating agencies, reflecting the strength of the property locations, the
diversity of the tenant base and the quality of the management structure. As a
result the interest margin fell from 0.90% to 0.18% reducing our financing costs
by £6m a year.
At the same time we were able to retain the operational flexibility essential to
the success of the Mall business through a £300m capital expenditure and
acquisition facility entered into with the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The Mall's market position
We continue to see healthy, but selective retailer demand for the right space.
This is reflected in an average void rate for the year of 4.3% (2004: 3.5%).
This includes strategic vacations for reconfiguration and re-letting.
Across the entire portfolio there are current and future opportunities to create
the right quality of space to attract retailer demand. This in turn should
encourage more shopping visits and fuel sustainable rental growth and revenues.
When these opportunities are set alongside our Mall branded retailer and
community marketing activities and our value for money direct management
approach, we believe The Mall is well placed to compete in the more challenging
consumer and retail climate.
Performance
The Mall has outperformed its benchmark index at geared and ungeared level in
each of the last three years (see page 3).
In 2005 we suffered from the removal of SDLT relief in disadvantaged areas.
This affected 45% of our portfolio but only 12% of the index. An adjustment for
this would increase the small outperformance shown at property level to a much
more significant 1.15%.
At geared level the outperformance is even more marked being 22.8% after all
fund level costs and performance fees against the 16.3% index.
Operating review: retail parks and trade parks
This team currently has three main activities:
• Managing the Junction Fund, a £1.5 bn retail park fund in which C&R has a
27.3% interest;
• Pursuing other retail park opportunities which do not fit with Junction
fund criteria;
• Building a new trade park portfolio,100% owned by C&R.
Retail park market
The out of town retail park sector has seen phenomenal growth since the early
1980s with its market share now reaching 30%. It is able to offer consumers
convenient shopping, avoiding the congestion of town centres. Planning
permissions for further development is constrained - so those planning
permissions which exist are valuable.
The market is becoming more discriminating. Opportunities for rental growth are
seen to be stronger in locations with planning consent for any sort of retailing
(open A1) than in those restricted to bulky goods retailers. However, the
reality is more complex and although planning status is important, a dominant
location matters more. Some open A1 parks may struggle, while prime bulky goods
locations will continue to perform strongly.
The Junction retail park portfolio
The Junction's retail park portfolio would be difficult to replicate in the
current market. It has been assembled using the following investment criteria:
• At least 80,000 sq ft multilet retail park, freehold or long leasehold
• Open A1 bulky goods or a mix thereof
• Value enhancement opportunities
• Either the dominant scheme in local catchment, or ability to become so
Approximately 40% of the portfolio now has open A1 consent. The portfolio has
reached a size where scale economies are achievable, both in financing and in
dealing with retail chains.
Junction fund performance
In 2005 the Junction was the top performer out of 27 specialist vehicle funds
included in the HSBC/APUT Pooled Property Fund Index. This was achieved despite
a setback when stamp duty relief for disadvantaged areas was withdrawn as 49% of
our portfolio was affected compared to 21% in the index.
Junction fund developments,reconfigurations and refurbishments
Development activity, reconfigurations and refurbishment contributed
significantly to the high returns generated in 2005. This is relatively low
risk, as pre-lets are normally in place before building work starts, and most of
the construction risk is borne by the contractors. Value is created through
refurbishments,for example, glazed frontages, reconfigurations of existing space
and construction of mezzanines to anticipate tenant requirements as well as by
adding new floor space.
Non fund retail parks
Glasgow Fort: although this shopping park was sold to the Hercules Fund in
2004, we are still receiving deferred consideration payments as further lettings
and planning permissions are achieved.
Morfa Retail Park, Swansea: this investment was completed in October 2004 and
has traded strongly since opening. This together with yield shift and
development of further restaurant units has contributed to a significant growth
in value.
Capital Retail Park Cardiff: we continued during 2005 to progress an
opportunity to create a new retail park investment in Cardiff, including
entering into a joint venture with a Welsh partner, PMG Estates Limited .
Pre-lets to Costco and a forward land sale of part of the site to Asda now
anchor the scheme and we expect to commence development in quarter 4, 2006.
Trade Parks
This portfolio of 32 properties was acquired in December 2005 from a partnership
between Axa and Warner Estates for £96m at a 5.56% initial yield. We sold 10
industrial estates at the same yield retaining a core portfolio of trade parks
or properties capable of becoming trade parks.
These locations are attractive to firms supplying local tradesmen such as Topps
Tiles, Howden Joinery, and plumbing and electrical suppliers. The rents are
low, and if the locations are right there is cross fertilisation between the
trades. We plan to build the portfolio and work closely with tenants to improve
the mix of trades at each location.
Operating review - leisure
Our leisure team now operates a £1bn portfolio of leisure destinations in the
UK. In addition to the Xscapes it manages the £701m X-Leisure Fund and the
Great Northern Retail Warehouse in Manchester. It is also manages Snozone, the
ski slope operator.
The leisure market
2005 saw a further stage in the development of the leisure property sector.
Occupiers, developers and investors are becoming more sophisticated in their
thinking and no longer seek to cluster all sub-sectors together without too much
attention to tenant mix. Town centre circuits are evolving with operators
seeking to be complementary and slightly differentiate their offer. Restaurant
clusters are becoming much more customer focused. A number of restaurant
operators such as Nandos, La Tasca and Pizza Express, who previously would not
consider out of town locations are now aggressively pursuing such opportunities.
As for cinema groups, they are looking to both fill in gaps in the market and
create super cinemas such as Showcase Deluxe, and are no longer taking a one
size fits all approach. The outcome of the 2005 Gambling Act, which effectively
limited the anticipated level of "de-regulation" of the gambling industry has
had little impact on the market.
Investors are increasingly appreciating the benefits of owning well managed
leisure destinations and we have seen the initial yields on our portfolio,
adjusted for acquisitions and disposals, fall from 6.10% to 5.73%. Yields are
still significantly higher than for retail property, and given the quality of
the covenants, growing leisure spending and the structure of our leases, we
believe there is room for the differential to close.
The X-Leisure approach
As C&R's leisure arm, the X-Leisure team has applied its successful business
model
throughout its business units, capitalising on a very strong industry knowledge
and expertise. We have always passionately believed in the destination/
experience business model achieving differentiation and a unique selling
proposal. That is why as a team we concentrate on the consumer experience, as
well as our tenants'/partners' success, and not just bricks and mortar.
It is evident that today's consumer has become more sophisticated; therefore,
product differentiation is paramount. Differentiation comes from range, price
and location but increasingly the total consumer experience is vital. Consumer
experience and success comes from leisure destinations delivering unique and
integrated experiences.
No longer can owners within these sectors sit back and collect rent and expect
to outperform educated/specialist owners.
X-Leisure fund
The X-Leisure fund has continued to enjoy the benefits of an increasingly strong
leisure market. It has seen a 7% rise in footfall across its destinations.
This, coupled with a 4% increase in leisure spend in the UK, has created good
trading conditions for operators which, in due course, should feed through to
stronger rental growth.
The X-Leisure fund in 2005 has sought to recycle capital released from disposals
into acquisitions that offer attractive returns. Two acquisitions, opportunities
with strong growth potential were identified in 2005 - Cambridge Leisure Park
(acquired March 2005 for £39m) and Queen's Links Leisure Park, Aberdeen
(acquired August 2005 for £22.1m). Since the end of the year the X-Leisure fund
has acquired the UGC cinema at Sixfields, Northampton for £9.2m. There are
opportunities to increase this holding with adjacent schemes and development
opportunities. In term of sales, in January and February 2005 the X-Leisure
fund disposed of the three health and fitness clubs for £24.6m.
There has been very strong asset management activity in the portfolio during
2005 with new lettings, rent reviews and re-gears which have added significant
additional value. In addition, two major capital projects were completed: the
refurbishment of Tower Park, Poole and the installation of a new leisure
attraction in Star City, Birmingham. During 2005 the X-Leisure fund did not
suffer any significant losses due to operator failure. The total loss for
operators in default and subsequent void was below 1% of rental income.
The X-Leisure fund had a very strong performance in 2005 of 28.3% (12% hurdle
rate objective, achieving 18% return over 9 months in its first year, 2004). The
X-Leisure fund has proved itself, as a credible market leader with a strong base
of 17 institutional investors, and continues to prove the case for leisure as a
long term sustainable investment, thanks to its successful growth, track record
and financial performance.
Xscape
Xscape Milton Keynes (MK) has delivered a very strong return to C&R in 2005 of
38.9%. It has proved itself as an excellent investment for C&R, an excellent
operating business for all its operators and also a huge success as one of the
largest visitor attractions in the UK (6m visitors in 2005).
Xscape Castleford/Leeds has benefited from an excellent increase in footfall in
2005 (3.2m visitors). Although the retail was a challenge for the UK market,
food and beverage and leisure outlets performed very well in 2005.
Xscape Braehead is scheduled to open on 6 April and is 90% pre let (March 2006).
There is huge enthusiasm in Scotland, for what promises to be the best Xscape
to date.
Snozone Holdings
2005 has been another record profit year for the C&R operating snowslope
business. Despite increasing utility costs (gas, electricity), Snozone Holdings,
through its two operating units in Milton Keynes and Castleford/Leeds delivered
£1.85m net profit. With an experienced and dedicated management team and a
solid business strategy, our operating business should continue to grow
organically in the UK through future Xscapes, starting with the Braehead/Glasgow
opening. We have also had a number of approaches from overseas property owners
interested in working with us to leverage our operating expertise in other
countries.
This snow market is still not price sensitive. The average ticket price remains
higher than the market reference with an outstanding spend per head. Snozone is
managing to maintain high levels of Quality of Service within a more demanding
environment due to a high return visit ratio and better educated customers who
do not hesitate to compare MK and Castleford.
Cost control remains a key focus. We have suffered from instability in the
utility market which caused an average increase of 22% in electricity year on
year and a 43% increase in gas.
Marketing and sales is the core element of the business and revenue has
increased year on year with a better targeted strategy to develop and attract
new potentials.
Great Northern Warehouse
C&R bought the 50% stake owned by AWG plc in September 2005, and now owns 100%
of the property. Thanks to asset management initiatives, numerous lettings, and
the completion of the lease with London Clubs International, the building
achieved a significant uplift from £72.5m to £93.7m in 2005.
Hemel Hempstead
This property was acquired by C&R in 2005 for £17m and is currently under review
for a transformation into a mixed use scheme.
Operating review - German portfolio
C&R now owns a portfolio of 14 big box retail properties in Germany valued at
€232m, of which 13 were bought in 2005.
Our expansion strategy has been management led. We started working with the
Hahn group (see below) in 2004, and built up a strong understanding with them
before we invested. Hahn has a long and successful specialist track record in
investing in big box retail throughout Germany for their substantial closed end
fund business. It is investing in the portfolio and has a 10% equity interest in
all acquisitions to date. Seven of the properties were bought from existing
Hahn managed closed end funds, the remainder being bought in the open market.
We were attracted by a property type with which we are familiar, and a
management team specialising in a sector which offers attractive income yields
and good asset management opportunities.
Results to date
We have been building up the portfolio over the last 6 months of the year. Our
net rental income was running at an annualised rate of 6.9% and debt at 4%. In
addition, the portfolio, when revalued at the year end showed a 3.6% uplift.
The total return, after setup costs of €8.1m, has already made a useful
contribution to the company's results.
German retail warehouse market
The German retail warehouse market is a specialist sector driven by a number of
substantial tenants and complicated by a generally illiquid and non-transparent
market. Leases are generally very long and indexed giving few opportunities to
test the open market rental value, which by most yardsticks appear very
affordable and sustainable.
Over recent years the German retail warehouse market has seen little fluctuation
in yields and rents but at the same time the sector maintains a close to 0%
vacancy rate. The sector also benefits from long lease terms to excellent
covenants such as Metro and REWE who are among Europe's largest retailers.
At the same time, this sector benefits from low management costs and low
non-recoverable costs. Locations of the big box retail units are becoming more
protected as German town planners are increasingly unwilling to grant planning
permission for large retail units.
However, recent interest from foreign investors especially from the UK and other
European countries has filled a gap left by the traditional German investors.
Strategy
Fortunately, we identified the opportunity to establish an operating platform
early. It gives us sufficient scale to justify and implement a drive into
expanding a very interesting opportunity. We are continuing to develop a
relationship with Hahn and have also recruited a chartered surveyor who is a
German national based in London, to implement this strategy together with Hahn.
We are continuing to see interesting opportunities with an emphasis on off
market transactions where we can capitalise on Hahn's local skills and at the
same time bringing in C&R's expertise in the out of town big box retail market,
where there are very interesting parallels.
We are concentrating on acquisitions with the following criteria:
• Strong locations;
• Tight local planning policies;
• Tenant led investments;
• Asset management opportunities.
The Hahn group:
The Hahn group is an experienced real estate manager specialising in the retail
warehouse sector. Based in Bergisch Gladbach, near Cologne, the Hahn group has
been active in this sector for over 20 years. Traditionally, the Hahn group
initiated closed end funds for private investors. Having grown considerably in
size in recent years, the Hahn group today employs over 60 professional staff
and has over 130 retail properties under management with an annual rent roll
exceeding €120 million.
As a result, the Hahn group has significant experience in this sector and has
built up a strong management team over the years which uses its existing
relationships with contractors, tenants and the owners of real estate to provide
a cost effective management service to maximise investment returns.
Our portfolio
Our German investments differ significantly from the typical UK retail park that
we have specialised in the UK as in Germany, we have acquired stand alone retail
units with emphasis on mainly food stores and some DIY stores which do not
necessarily have the set up as a retail park. However, in a number of instances
our tenants have sub-underlet to other specialist retailers and this gives us a
potential management opportunity some time in the future.
Principal Tenants % total
Metro and subsidiaries (Real, Extra) 25.8%
AVA & Edeka (Linked Co-operatives) 4.6%
Rewe and Subsidiaries 10.5%
Wal*Mart 15.2%
Plaza (Coop Schleswig Holstein) 17.5%
Others (24 other retailers) 26.4%
100.0%
Financial structure
This portfolio is readily financeable. We have borrowed 75% of our total
acquisition cost from three banks, namely HBOS, Eurohypo and Landesbank
Rheinsfeld-Platz, and fixed our interest at an all in rate of 3.94% for five
years.
Our share of the portfolio is 87.43%. The Hahn group holds 10%, and in some
cases the vendors of the properties have retained a 5.1% share which reduces
transfer tax payable.
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
For the year ended 30 December 2005
Unaudited
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to 30 Period to 30
Notes December December
2005 2004
£000 £000
Turnover: group income and share of joint ventures' turnover 100,571 69,030
Less: share of joint ventures' turnover 7 (6,710) (6,658)
Group turnover 93,861 62,372
- Existing operations 89,131 62,372
- Acquisitions 4,730 -
93,861 62,372
Cost of sales (10,604) (7,008)
Gross profit 83,257 55,364
Profit on sale of trading and development properties 2,381 327
Exceptional Group restructuring costs 5 - (1,994)
Other administrative expenses (35,891) (27,923)
Total administrative expenses (35,891) (29,917)
Group operating profit 49,747 25,774
- Existing operations 46,496 25,774
- Acquisitions 3,251 -
49,747 25,774
Share of operating profit in associates 6 24,532 26,181
Share of operating profit in joint ventures 7 4,764 4,393
Total operating profit 79,043 56,348
Income from other fixed asset investments 114 445
Profit/(loss) on sale of investment properties and investments 4,292 (1,771)
Profit on sale of investment properties in associates and joint ventures 2,705 13,779
Profit on ordinary activities before interest 86,154 68,801
Interest receivable and similar income 2,179 1,872
Interest payable and similar charges
- Group (13,030) (7,389)
- Share of associates (26,517) (21,533)
- Share of joint ventures (5,263) (7,493)
- Exceptional premium paid on buyback of Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock 5 (46,918) (8,217)
(91,728) (44,632)
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation 2 (3,395) 26,041
Taxation on (loss)/profit on ordinary activities 3 443 (5,852)
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after taxation (2,952) 20,189
Minority interest (281) -
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after taxation and attributable to (3,233) 20,189
the shareholders of the Company
Equity dividends paid and payable (12,553) (9,016)
(Loss)/profit retained in the year/period (15,786) 11,173
(Loss)/earnings per share - basic 4 (4.7p) 32.2p
(Loss)/earnings per share - diluted 4 (4.7p) 28.4p
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
As at 30 December 2005
Unaudited
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Notes 30 December 30 December
2005 2004
£000 £000
Fixed assets
Property assets 316,959 82,938
Other fixed assets 14,443 12,500
331,402 95,438
Goodwill 11,028 12,179
Negative goodwill (10,634) -
394 12,179
Total fixed assets 331,796 107,617
Investment in joint ventures:
share of gross assets 135,842 150,644
share of gross liabilities (86,179) (103,902)
7 49,663 46,742
Investments in associates 6 589,836 477,092
971,295 631,451
Current assets
Property assets 93,695 8,314
Debtors:
amounts falling due after more than one year 3,261 3,904
amounts falling due within one year 73,810 46,350
Cash at bank and in hand 40,076 4,427
210,842 62,995
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (64,103) (50,404)
Net current assets 146,739 12,591
Total assets less current liabilities 1,118,034 644,042
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 8 (419,451) (147,674)
(including convertible debt)
Provisions for liabilities and charges - (1,831)
Net assets 698,583 494,537
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 10 7,100 6,404
Share premium account 10 216,826 167,351
Revaluation reserve 10 389,518 247,197
Other reserves 10 12,473 1,145
Profit and loss account 10 68,570 72,440
Equity shareholders' funds 694,487 494,537
Equity minority interests 4,096 -
698,583 494,537
Net assets per share 11 996p 793p
Adjusted fully diluted net assets per share 11 975p 710p
STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES
For the year ended 30 December 2005
Unaudited
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to 30 Period to 30
Notes December December
2005 2004
£000 £000
(Loss)/profit before tax (3,395) 26,041
Exceptional items 5 46,918 10,211
Profit before tax and exceptional items 43,523
36,252
Movements in revaluation reserve - on investment properties 19,232 16,371
- on other fixed assets 2,051 280
- on joint ventures and associates 133,591 105,358
Reserve arising on the acquisition of the remaining 50% interest in 9,599 -
Morrison Merlin
Total gains before tax and exceptional items 207,996 158,261
Tax charge before exceptional items (12,587) (8,915)
Tax on revaluation surplus realised (1,110) (6,185)
194,299 143,161
Exceptional items (46,918) (10,211)
Tax on exceptional items 13,030 3,063
Exceptional item net of tax (33,888) (7,148)
12
Total recognised gains and losses for the year/period 12 160,411 136,013
Return on equity for the year/ period 12 30.2% 37.0%
Return on equity before exceptional items 12 36.6% 39.0%
RECONCILIATION OF MOVEMENTS IN EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS
For the year ended 30 December 2005
Unaudited
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to 30 Period to 30
December December
2005 2004
£000 £000
(Loss)/profit for the year/period after taxation attributable to (3,233) 20,189
shareholders of the Company
Equity dividends paid and payable (12,553) (9,016)
(Loss)/profit retained in the year/period (15,786) 11,173
Other recognised gains and losses relating to year/period 163,363 115,824
Share capital and share premium issued in year/period (net of expenses) 50,171 1,870
Purchase of own shares - (3,285)
LTIP credit in respect of profit and loss charge 2,202 1,829
Net increase in equity shareholders' funds 199,950 127,411
Opening equity shareholders' funds 494,537 367,126
Closing equity shareholders' funds 694,487 494,537
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the year ended 30 December 2005
Unaudited
Notes (Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to Period to
30 December 2005 30 December 2004
£000 £000
Net cash inflow from operating activities (i) 46,699 10,950
Dividends received from associates and joint ventures 6,655 32,989
Returns on investments and servicing of finance (15,955) (9,346)
Taxation (446) (9,613)
Capital expenditure and financial investment (83,548) 7,757
Acquisitions and disposals (17,795) (20,278)
Equity dividends paid (10,780) (6,226)
Cash (outflow)/inflow before financing (75,170) 6,233
Financing 110,819 (6,281)
Increase/(decrease) in cash 35,649 (48)
Notes to the cash flow statement
(i) Net cash inflow from operating activities
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to 30 Period to 30
December December
2005 2004
£000 £000
Group operating profit 49,747 25,774
Profit on the sale of the trading and development properties (2,381) (327)
47,366 25,447
Depreciation of other fixed assets 337 383
Amortisation of short leasehold properties 165 268
Amortisation of tenant incentives 1,485 (764)
Amortisation of goodwill 1,151 1,151
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 12 1
(Increase) in debtors (23,792) (29,538)
Increase in creditors 17,773 12,173
Non-cash movement relating to LTIP 2,202 1,829
Net cash inflow from operating activities 46,699 10,950
(ii) Analysis of net debt
At 30 December Acquisitions Non cash At 30 December
and
2004 Cash flows Movements 2005
disposals*
£000 £000 £000 £000
£000
Cash in hand and at bank 4,427 35,649 - - 40,076
Debt due within one year (200) - - - (200)
Debt due after one year (118,039) (123,932) (154,498) - (396,469)
Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock (20,426) 15,837 - 529 (4,060)
(138,665) (108,095) (154,498) 529 (400,729)
Total (134,238) (72,446) (154,498) 529 (360,653)
* excluding cash and overdrafts.
1. Status of financial information
The financial information contained in this announcement does not constitute
statutory financial statements within the meaning of Section 240 Companies Act
1985. The comparative figures have been extracted from the audited financial
statements for the period ended 30 December 2004 which have been filed at
Companies House. The auditors have reported on those accounts; their report was
unqualified and did not contain statements under S237(2) or (3) of the Companies
Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 December 2005 will be
finalised on the basis of the financial information presented by the directors
in this preliminary announcement and will be delivered to the Registrar of
Companies following the company's annual general meeting.
The preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with applicable UK
accounting standards. The accounting policies have all been applied
consistently throughout the current year and the preceding period.
2. Segmental analysis
(Unaudited) (Audited)/
Year ended Period ended
30 December 30 December
Property Property 2005 2004
Property investment investment Exceptional Total Total
management UK Germany Snozone items £000 £000
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Management fees 22,774 - - - - 22,774 19,312
Net rents - 52,156 3,251 - - 55,407 45,267
Snozone income - - - 9,323 - 9,323 8,958
Management cost (12,576) (3,318) - (7,477) - (23,371) (21,256)
Net interest - (40,584) (2,162) - - (42,746) (34,543)
payable
Goodwill (1,151) - - - - (1,151) (1,151)
amortisation
Recurring pre-tax 9,047 8,254 1,846 - 20,236 16,587
profit
1,089
Performance fees 50,956 - - - 50,956 31,220
earned by CRPM
-
Performance fee - (17,134) - - - (17,134) (11,285)
backcharge
Exceptional items - - - - (46,918) (46,918) (10,211)
Variable (18,845) - - - - (18,845) (13,050)
management expense
Share of other - (1,067) - - - (1,067) -
non-recurring
items
Profit on - 9,377 - - - 9,377 12,780
disposals/
investments (net)
Profit before 41,158 (570) 1,089 1,846 (46,918) (3,395) 26,041
taxation
Revaluation - 150,132 4,742 - - 154,874 122,009
surplus
Reserve arising on - 9,599 - - - 9,599 -
the acquisition of
Morrison Merlin
Taxation (12,347) 641 (327) (554) 13,030 443 (12,037)
Total return 28,811 159,802 5,504 1,292 (33,888) 161,521 136,013
Equity 34,714 631,856 28,033 (116) - 694,487 494,537
shareholders'
funds at 30
December 2005
2004
Recurring pre-tax 7,554 7,856 1,177 - 16,587
profit
-
Profit/(loss) before 26,953 8,225 1,074 (10,211) 26,041
taxation
-
Total return 18,867 123,542 752 (7,148) 136,013
-
Net assets at 30 38,778 453,572 2,187 - 494,537
December 2004
-
3. Taxation
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to 30 Period to 30
December December
2005 2004
£000 £000
Current tax
UK corporation tax (at 30%) 939 7,369
Prior year 458 (1,147)
Total current tax 1,397 6,222
Deferred tax
Origination and reversal of timing differences (1,840) (370)
Total taxation (credit)/charge (443) 5,852
Tax reconciliation
Group (loss)/profit on ordinary activities (3,395) 26,041
Tax on (loss)/profit on ordinary activities at UK corporation tax rate of (1,019) 7,812
30%
Effects of: - timing differences 3,694 3,682
- capital allowances (856) (1,403)
- utilisation of tax losses - (3,342)
- tax on revaluation gains (799) (725)
- expenses not deductible for tax purposes (81) 1,345
- adjustment in respect of prior years 458 (1,147)
Total current tax 1,397 6,222
Tax recognised in the Statement of total recognised gains and losses
The tax on revaluation surplus recognised of £1,110,000 (2004:£6,185,000) is in
relation to gains arising in respect of prior year revaluations realised on
disposals.
Deferred taxation
The amounts of deferred taxation provided and unprovided in the accounts are as
follows:
(Unaudited) (Audited) (Unaudited) (Audited)
Provided Provided Not provided Not provided
2005 2004 2005 2004
£000 £000 £000 £000
Tax on capital gains if investment assets were sold - - 2,715 4,200
at their current valuation
Accelerated capital allowances and other timing (9) 1,831 - -
differences
(9) 1,831 2,715 4,200
The amount of deferred tax un-provided is net of an un-provided deferred tax
asset of £1,045,000 in respect of tax losses carried forward.
A significant part of the Group's property interests has been transferred
offshore. In addition, the Auchinlea partnership has sold its interest in
Glasgow Fort and the Swansea Retail Park investment has been restructured. The
Group has been advised that no capital gains tax liability arises on these
transactions, although the relevant computations have yet to be agreed.
If a provision was made for deferred taxation that has not been provided it
would have an adverse effect on net assets per share of 4p (2004: 7p) and on
fully diluted net assets per share of 4p (2004: 6p).
4. (Loss)/earnings per share
Year to 30 December 2005 (Unaudited)
(Loss) Number of (Loss)
£000 shares per share
Basic and diluted (3,233) 69,065,355 (4.7p)
Period to 30 December 2004 (Audited)
Earnings Number of Earnings
£000 shares per share
Basic 20,189 62,727,988 32.2p
Exercise of share options - 625,543
Conversion of Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock 1,250 12,183,118
Diluted 21,439 75,536,649 28.4p
The calculation includes the full conversion of the Convertible Subordinated
Unsecured Loan Stock where the effect on earnings per share is dilutive. Own
shares held are excluded from the weighted average number of shares.
5. Exceptional Items
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to 30 Period to 30
December 2005 December 2004
£000 £000
Exceptional Group restructuring costs - 1,994
Exceptional premium paid on buyback of Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock 46,918 8,217
Total exceptional items 46,918 10,211
6. Associates
(Unaudited) (Audited)
The Mall The Junction X-Leisure* Total to Total to 30
LP LP LPs 30 December 2005 December 2004
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Profit and loss account (100%)
Turnover 154,338 46,517 42,858 243,713 193,344
Property expenses (27,941) (2,080) (4,253) (34,274) (24,683)
Net rental income 126,397 44,437 38,605 209,439 168,661
Fund and property management expenses (10,088) (6,820) (3,809) (20,717) (18,452)
Performance fee (41,381) (23,040) (5,185) (69,606) (43,115)
Administrative expenses (7,733) (1,670) (440) (9,843) (5,318)
Share of joint ventures' operating profit 3,222
Operating profit 67,195 12,907 29,171 109,273 104,998
Sale of investment properties 1,740 409 89 2,238 -
Net interest payable (54,621) (29,197) (24,517) (108,335) (81,906)
Profit/(loss) before and after tax 14,314 (15,881) 4,743 3,176 23,092
Balance sheet (100%)
Investment properties and joint ventures 2,333,697 1,440,660 700,633 4,474,990 3,690,654
Current assets 162,255 50,685 26,174 239,114 196,396
Current liabilities (100,338) (46,623) (35,304) (182,265) (491,597)
Borrowing due in more than one year (1,055,301) (684,121) (390,893) (2,130,315) (1,543,315)
Net assets (100%) 1,340,313 760,601 300,610 2,401,524 1,852,138
C&R interest at end of year 26.12 27.32 10.72
C&R interest at start of year 27.86 27.32 10.77
Group share of
Turnover 40,948 12,709 4,666 58,323 51,085
Operating profit 17,828 3,526 3,178 24,532 26,181
Sale of investment properties 462 111 10 583 -
Net interest payable (14,493) (7,977) (2,670) (25,140) (20,186)
Profit/(loss) before and after tax 3,797 (4,340) 518 (25) 5,995
Revaluation surplus for the year/period 58,947 57,702 5,653 122,302 97,358
Investment properties and joint ventures 609,562 393,589 75,108 1,078,259 920,857
Current assets 42,381 13,846 2,806 59,033 49,788
Current liabilities (26,208) (12,737) (3,784) (42,729) (75,858)
Borrowing due in more than one year (275,645) (186,902) (41,904) (504,451) (417,419)
Associate net assets 350,090 207,796 32,226 590,112 477,368
Unrealised profit on sale of property to (276) - - (276) (276)
associate
Group share of associate net assets 349,814 207,796 32,226 589,836 477,092
* On 17 March 2004, the three X-Leisure funds were consolidated into one
umbrella fund. Capital & Regional's share of the new umbrella fund was 10.77%.
7. Joint ventures
Xscape (Unaudited) (Audited)
Milton Xscape* Xscape Total to 30 Total to 30
Keynes Castleford Braehead December December
Partnership Partnership Partnershp Others 2005 2004
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Profit and loss account (100%)
Turnover 4,841 2,755 - 4,907 12,503 12,641
Property expenses (353) (1,117) - (1,702) (3,172) (3,936)
Net rental income 4,488 1,638 - 3,205 9,331 8,705
Fund and property management (100) - - - (100) (200)
expenses
Administrative expenses (140) (14) (4) (84) (242) (172)
Operating profit/(loss) 4,248 1,624 (4) 3,121 8,989 8,333
Sale of investment properties - - - 4,244 4,244 27,555
Net interest payable (3,013) (3,144) - (3,017) (9,174) (13,615)
Profit/(loss) before tax 1,235 (1,520) (4) 4,348 4,059 22,273
Tax - - - (44) (44) (1,400)
Profit/(loss) after tax 1,235 (1,520) (4) 4,304 4,015 20,873
Balance sheet (100%)
Investment properties 97,397 70,981 50,764 - 219,142 161,080
Current assets 3,655 4,398 6,099 13,201 27,353 116,670
Current liabilities (3,092) (7,562) (5,743) (6,218) (22,615) (34,267)
Borrowing due in more than one (46,800) (45,616) (39,620) - (132,036) (157,215)
year
Net assets (100%) 51,160 22,201 11,500 6,983 91,844 86,268
C&R interest at start and end 50% 66.7% 50%
of year
Group share of
Turnover 2,420 1,837 - 2,453 6,710 6,658
Operating profit/(loss) 2,124 1,083 (2) 1,559 4,764 4,393
Sale of investment properties - - - 2,122 2,122 13,779
Net interest payable (1,506) (2,095) - (1,509) (5,110) (7,329)
Profit/(loss) before tax 618 (1,012) (2) 2,172 1,776 10,843
Tax - - - (22) (22) (700)
Profit/(loss) after tax 618 (1,012) (2) 2,150 1,754 10,143
Revaluation surplus for the 6,614 3,172 1,503 - 11,289 8,000
year/period
Investment properties 48,699 47,344 25,382 - 121,425 91,460
Current assets 1,827 2,941 3,050 6,599 14,417 59,184
Current liabilities (1,546) (5,059) (2,872) (3,066) (12,543) (17,293)
Borrowing due in more than one (23,400) (30,426) (19,810) - (73,636) (86,609)
year
Group share of joint venture 25,580 14,800 5,750 3,533 49,663 46,742
net assets
* Capital & Regional plc has a 66.7% share in the Xscape Castleford partnership.
The investment is accounted for as a joint venture, rather than a subsidiary,
as a result of joint control and the deadlock agreements that are in place.
8. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year
(Unaudited) (Audited)
2005 2004
£000 £000
Bank loans (secured) 396,469 118,039
Unamortised issue costs (826) (195)
395,643 117,844
Convertible subordinated unsecured loan stock (see note 9) 4,060 20,426
Unamortised issue costs - (54)
4,060 20,372
Other creditors 19,748 9,458
419,451 147,674
9. Convertible Subordinated Unsecured Loan Stock
2005 2004
£000 £000
At beginning of the year/period 20,426 24,642
CULS purchased, cancelled and converted in the year/period (16,366) (4,216)
4,060 20,426
The Convertible Subordinated Unsecured Loan Stock ("CULS") may be converted by
the holders of the stock into 51.42 (2004: 51.42) ordinary shares per £100
nominal value CULS in any of the years 1997 to 2015 inclusive, representing a
conversion price of 194p (2004: 194p) per ordinary share. The Company has the
right to redeem at par the CULS in any year from 2006 to 2016. The CULS are
unsecured and are subordinated to all other forms of unsecured debt but rank in
priority to the holders of the ordinary shares in the Company. The CULS carry
interest at an annual rate of 6.75%, payable in arrears on 30 June and 31
December in each year.
In accordance with FRS 4 "Financial Instruments" the CULS are shown net of
unamortised loan issue costs.
10. Reserves
Other Reserves
Share Property Capital Profit and
Share premium revaluation redemption Other Loss
capital account reserve reserve Reserves Account Total
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Group
As at 30 December 2004 6,404 167,351 247,197 4,289 (3,144) 72,440 494,537
Issue of share capital 696 49,475 - - - - 50,171
Revaluation of investment - - 21,283 - - - 21,283
properties and other fixed
assets
Share of revaluation surplus - - 133,591 - - - 133,591
of joint ventures &
associates
Realisation of surplus on - - (12,553) - - 12,553 -
disposal of investment
properties and dilution of
interest in associates
Gain arising on the - - - - 9,599 - 9,599
acquisition of the remaining
50% interest in Morrison
Merlin
Tax on revaluation surpluses - - - - - (1,110) (1,110)
realised in the year
Credit in respect of LTIP - - - - - 2,202 2,202
charge
Amortisation of cost of own - - - - 1,729 (1,729) -
shares
Loss for the year - - - - - (15,786) (15,786)
As at 30 December 2005 7,100 216,826 389,518 4,289 8,184 68,570 694,487
11. Net assets per share
As at 30 December 2005 (Unaudited)
Net assets Number Net assets
£000 of shares per share
Equity shareholders' funds as per balance sheet 694,487 71,000,465
Own shares held (1,244,771)
Net assets per share 694,487 69,755,694 996p
Conversion of CULS (net of unamortised issue costs) 4,006 2,087,784
Exercise of share options 1,595 653,121
Capital allowances deferred tax provision 6,802 -
Adjusted fully diluted 706,890 72,496,599 975p
As at 30 December 2004 (Audited)
Net assets Number of shares Net assets per share
£000
As per the balance sheet 494,537 64,039,578
Own shares held (1,688,411)
Net assets per share 494,537 62,351,167 793p
Conversion of CULS (net of unamortised issue 20,281 10,503,109
costs)
Exercise of share options 1,897 782,071
Capital allowances deferred tax provision 5,807 -
Adjusted fully diluted 522,522 73,636,347 710p
Net assets per share are shareholders' funds divided by the number of shares
held by shareholders at the period end. The shares held by the Group's employee
benefit trust (own shares held) are excluded from both net assets and the number
of shares.
Adjusted fully diluted net assets per share includes the effect of those shares
potentially issuable under the CULS or employee share options schemes. The
capital allowances deferred tax provision is added back.
12. Return on Equity
(Unaudited) (Audited)
Year to Period to
30 December 30 December
2005 2004
£000 £000
Total recognised gains and losses 160,411 136,013
Equity shareholders' funds 530,857 367,126
Return on equity 30.2% 37.0%
Exceptional items (net of tax) 33,888 7,148
Total recognised gains and losses before exceptional items 194,299 143,161
Return on equity before exceptional items 36.6% 39.0%
Return on equity is calculated as total recognised gains and losses divided by
opening equity shareholders' funds, which is net of own shares held, plus
time-weighted additions to share capital (excluding share options) less
reductions in share capital.
Additional information - Unaudited
Property under management 28 February 2006 30 December 2005 30 December 2004
£m £m £m
Investment properties 320 320 83
Trading properties 94 94 8
Mall fund 2,790 2,338 2,099
Junction fund 1,467 1,459 1,010
X-Leisure fund 717 702 597
Other joint ventures 226 226 226
Total 5,614 5,139 4,023
Fund Portfolio information
At 30 December 2005 Mall Fund Junction Fund X-Leisure Fund
Number of core properties 21 19 17
Number of lettable units 2,118 258 291
Square feet (000) 6,822 3,920 3,009
Properties at market value (note 1) £2,338m £1,459m £702m
Initial yield % 5.09% *3.47% 5.68%
Equivalent yield % 5.73% 4.86% 6.32%
Vacancy rate 2.80% 4.90% 1.40%
Net rental income (£m per annum) £125.8m £55.2m £42.1m
Estimated rental value (£m pa) £152.6m £75.2m £47.3m
Rental increase (ERV) 4.86% **14.38% 1.84%
Reversionary % 11.48% 18.98% 7.96%
Loan to value ratio 45.5% 47.00% 56.24%
Underlying valuation change since 30 December 2004 9.80% 18.30% 9.30%
Property level return 16.52% 23.30% 15.30%
Geared return 22.80% 34.08% 28.30%
Unit price (£1.00 at inception) £2.0464 £2.4904 £1.4050
C&R share 26.12% 27.32% 10.72%
* 3.71% excluding development land
** 6.00% like for like rental growth
Notes
1. Properties at market value include tenant incentives which
are transferred to current assets for accounting purposes.
Shareholder information
Final dividend 2005
Ex div date Wednesday 19 April 2006
Dividend payment date Friday 16 June 2006
Glossary of terms
Adjusted Fully diluted NAV per share includes the Loan to value (LTV) is the ratio of debt to the value
effect of those shares potentially issuable under the of the associated property.
CULS or employee share options. The capital allowances
deferred tax provision is added back.
Market value is an opinion of the best price at which
the sale of an interest in the property would complete
Capital allowances deferred tax provision. Full unconditionally for cash consideration on the date of
provision has been made for deferred tax arising on the valuation (as determined by the Group's external
benefit of capital allowances claimed to date. In the valuers). In accordance with usual practice, the
Group's experience liabilities in respect of capital Group's external valuers report valuations net, after
allowances provided are unlikely to crystallise in the deduction of the prospective purchaser's costs,
practice and are therefore excluded when arriving at including stamp duty, agent and legal fees.
adjusted fully diluted NAV per share.
Passing rent is the gross rent, less any ground rent
CULS is the Convertible Subordinated Unsecured Loan payable under head leases.
Stock.
Return on equity is the total return, including
Earnings per share (EPS) is the profit on ordinary revaluation surplus, divided by opening equity plus
activities after taxation and minority interest divided time weighted additions to share capital, excluding
by the weighted average number of shares in issue share options exercised, less reductions in share
during the period excluding own shares held. capital.
Estimated rental value (ERV) is the Group's external Reversion is the estimated increase in rent at review
valuers' opinion as to the open market rent which, on where the gross rent is below the estimated rental
the date of valuation, could reasonably be expected to value.
be obtained on a new letting or rent review of a
property.
Reversionary yield is the anticipated yield, which the
initial yield will rise to once the rent reaches the
Equivalent yield is a weighted average of the initial estimated rental value.
yield and reversionary yield and represents the return
a property will produce based upon the timing of the
income received. In accordance with usual practice,
the equivalent yields (as determined by the Group's See through balance sheet is the pro forma
external valuers) assume rent received annually in proportionately consolidated balance sheet of the
arrears and on gross values including prospective Group, its associates and joint ventures.
purchasers' cost.
Total return is the group's total recognised gains and
ERV growth is the total growth in ERV on properties losses for the period as set out in the Statement of
owned throughout the year including growth due to Total Recognised Gains and Losses (STRGL).
development.
Total shareholder return is the growth in price per
Gearing is the Group's net debt as a percentage of net share plus dividends per share.
assets. See through gearing includes our share of non
recourse net debt in the associates and joint ventures.
UITF 28 "Operating lease incentives" debtors Under
accounting rules the balance sheet value of lease
incentives given to tenants is deducted from property
Initial yield is the annualised net rents generated by valuation and shown as a debtor. The incentive is
the portfolio expressed as a percentage of the amortised through the profit and loss account.
portfolio valuation, excluding development properties.
Vacancy rate is the estimated rental value of vacant
IPD is Investment Property Databank Ltd, a company that properties expressed as a percentage of the total
produces an independent benchmark of property returns. estimated rental value of the portfolio, excluding
development properties.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange