Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 9785M

Highcroft Investments PLC

25 August 2011

 



HIGHCROFT INVESTMENTS PLC

Interim report

30 June 2011

Chairman's Statement for the six months ended 30 June 2011

Highlights

·      Rental income up 3.7% to £1,040,000 (2010 £1,002,000).

·      Profit before tax increased by 7.2% to £1,299,000 (2010 £1,212,000).

·      Basic earnings per share on all activities was 25.1p (2010 25.4p).

·      Net asset value per share increased to 724p (June 2010 676p and December 2010 716p).

·      Interim property income distribution increased 4.5% to 11.5p per share compared with 11.0p in 2010.

·      Net cash £3,306,000 (2010 £3,065,000) equivalent to 64p per share (2010 59p per share).

·      During the period three residential properties were disposed of and one lease extended yielding a total of £1,300,000 (2010 £297,000).

·      Contracts now exchanged for one further residential disposal and one commercial acquisition.

Dear Shareholder

The results for the 6 months ended 30 June 2011 are, in the circumstances of significant economic uncertainty, solid and reassuring.  They show a steady income position and a slight increase in net asset value.

Gross rental income rose a little compared with 2010, reflecting improved commercial rental revenue - including that from our new property in Warwick - offset to a degree by the decline in rent from residential properties as they become vacant and are sold.  Net rental income fell as a result of necessary expenditure - particularly in Yeovil - associated with new leases.  Dividend income from our equity portfolio was helped by a special one off dividend resulting in an increase to £126k (2010: £101k). The net effect of this was that the revenue account profits reduced to £832k (2010: £862k) resulting in earnings per share of 16.1p (2010: 16.7p).  I can also report that, notwithstanding the £19k costs associated with the general meeting requisitioned by certain shareholders, our administrative expenses have reduced slightly to £165k (2010: £168k).

In capital terms, a mixture of net valuation gains on our investment properties and a small valuation loss on our equity portfolio produced a capital profit of £467k (2010: £453k), resulting in earnings per share of 9.0p (2010: 8.7p).

Importantly, given the economic uncertainties with which the world is faced, our balance sheet remains very strong with cash at the half year end of £3.3m, no borrowings, and net assets per share of 724p (June 2010: 676p, December 2010: 716p).  We still believe that it is right to take a cautious view but continue to look at properties that fit our criteria for the medium term.  We have recently exchanged contracts for the purchase of an industrial unit in Andover and this purchase is expected to be completed in November 2011. The initial yield is 6.4% with an unexpired lease term of 23 years let to a strong covenant and is representative of the sort of purchases that we seek. In the first half of 2011 we have also completed on the sale of three of our residential properties and completed one lease extension.  This has resulted in net proceeds of £1.3m being received.  A further residential property became vacant in February on which we exchanged contracts for the sale in July and this sale is expected to complete next month. We have not disposed of any equities in the 6 months and have made a modest further investment into the market of £378k.

We believe that shareholders can take comfort in these difficult economic times from the quality of our property portfolio.  Our confidence in the medium term is reflected in our decision to declare an interim dividend of 11.5p per share (2010 11p per share) payable on 20 October 2011.

Yours sincerely

J Hewitt

Chairman

25 August 2011

For further information, contact:

Highcroft Investments PLC

John Hewitt / Roberta Miles                      01865 840 023

Charles Stanley Securities

Dugald Carlean / Karri Vuori                     0207 149 6000

Condensed consolidated interim statement of comprehensive income (unaudited)

for the six months ended 30 June 2011

			First Half 2011				First Half 2010				Full Year 2010
	Note	Revenue	Capital	Total		Revenue	Capital	Total		Revenue	Capital	Total
		£'000	£'000	£'000		£'000	£'000	£'000		£'000	£'000	£'000
Continuing operations
Gross rental income		1,040	-	1,040		1,002	-	1,002		2,053	-	2,053
Property operating expenses		(173)	-	(173)		(76)	-	(76)		(245)	0	(245)
Net rental income		867	-	867		926	-	926		1,808	-	1,808
Realised gains on investment property		-	58	58		-	42	42		-	108	108
Realised losses on investment property		-	(23)	(23)		-	-	-		-	(8)	(8)
Net gain on disposal of investment property		-	35	35		-	42	42		-	100	100
Valuation gains on investment property		-	563	563		-	755	755		-	1,735	1,735
Valuation losses on investment property		-	(100)	(100)		-	(25)	(25)		-	(158)	(158)
Net valuation gains/(losses) on investment property		-	463	463		-	730	730		-	1,577	1,577
Dividend income		126	-	126		101	-	101		234	-	234
Gains on investments		-	195	195		-	105	105		-	718	718
Losses on investments		-	(226)	(226)		-	(527)	(527)		-	(209)	(209)
Net investment income/(loss)		126	(31)	95		101	(422)	(321)		234	509	743
Administrative expenses		(165)	-	(165)		(168)	-	(168)		(330)	-	(330)

Operating profit/(loss) before net financing costs		828	467	1,295		859	350	1,209		1,712	2,186	3,898
Finance income		7	-	7		5	-	5		10	-	10
Finance expenses		(3)	0	(3)		(2)	-	(2)		(1)	-	(1)
Net finance costs		4	-	4		3	-	3		9	-	9
Profit/(loss) before tax		832	467	1,299		862	350	1,212		1,721	2,186	3,907
Income tax credit/(expense)	4	-	-	-		-	103	103		144	(89)	55
Total profit/(loss) and comprehensive		832	467	1,299		862	453	1,315		1,865	2,097	3,962
income/(expense) for the financial period
Basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share	6	16.1p	9.0p	25.1p		16.7p	8.7p	25.4p		36.0p	40.7p	76.7p

Condensed consolidated interim statement of financial position (unaudited)

as at 30 June 2011

		30 June		30 June		31 December
		2011		2010		2010
	Note	£'000		£'000		£'000
Assets
Non-current assets
Investment property	7	29,902		28,300		30,705
Equity investments	8	5,954		5,221		5,608
Total non-current assets		35,856		33,521		36,313
Current assets
Trade and other receivables		101		83		93
Cash at bank and in hand		3,306		3,065		2,472
Total current assets		3,407		3,148		2,565
Total assets		39,263		36,669		38,878
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings		-		-		-
Current income tax		213		286		215
Trade and other payables		894		792		897
Total current liabilities		1,107		1,078		1,112
Non-current liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings		-		-		-
Deferred tax liabilities		764		668		764
Total non-current liabilities		764		668		764
Total liabilities		1,871		1,746		1,876
Net assets		37,392		34,923		37,002
Equity
Issued share capital		1,292		1,292		1,292
Revaluation reserve - property		5,904		6,442		6,670
Revaluation reserve - other		1,720		1,630		1,750
Capital redemption reserve		95		95		95
Realised capital reserve		21,099		19,238		19,810
Retained earnings		7,282		6,226		7,385
Total equity		37,392		34,923		37,002

Condensed consolidated interim statement of changes in equity

for the six months ended 30 June 2011

a) First half 2011 -Unaudited
	Equity		Revaluation reserves				Capital		Realised		Retained
			Property		Other		Redemption		Capital		Earnings		Total
							Reserve		Reserve
	£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000
At 1 January 2011	1,292		6,670		1,750		95		19,810		7,385		37,002
Dividends	-		-		-		-		-		(909)		(909)
Transactions with owners	-		-		-		-		-		(909)		(909)
Total comprehensive profit for the period	-		-		-		-		-		1,299		1,299
Identification of non-distributable items recognised in income statement:
Revaluation gains/(losses)	-		463		(30)		-		-		(433)		-
Tax on revaluation gains and losses	-		-		-		-		-		-		-
Realised gains	-		-		-		-		35		(35)		-
(Surplus)/deficit attributable to assets sold	-		(1,254)		-		-		1,254		-		-
Excess of cost over revalued amount taken to retained earnings	-		25		-		-		-		(25)		-
Total comprehensive income for the period	-		(766)		(30)		-		1,289		806		1,299
At 30 June 2011	1,292		5,904		1,720		95		21,099		7,282		37,392

b) First half 2010 - Unaudited
	Equity		Revaluation reserves				Capital		Realised		Retained
			Property		Other		Redemption		Capital		Earnings		Total
							Reserve		Reserve
	£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000
At 1 January 2010	1,292		5,696		2,656		95		18,229		6,467		34,435
Dividends	-		-		-		-		-		(827)		(827)
Transactions with owners	-		-		-		-		-		(827)		(827)
Total comprehensive profit for the period	-		-		-		-		-		1,315		1,315
Identification of non-distributable items recognised in income statement:
Revaluation gains/(losses)	-		730		(27)		-		-		(703)		-
Tax on revaluation gains and losses	-		-		69		-		-		(69)		-
Realised losses	-		-		-		-		(95)		95		-
(Surplus)/deficit attributable to assets sold	-		(9)		(1,095)		-		1,104		-		-
Excess of cost over revalued amount taken to retained earnings	-		25		27		-		-		(52)		-
Total comprehensive income for the period	-		746		(1,026)		-		1,009		586		1,315
At 30 June 2010	1,292		6,442		1,630		95		19,238		6,226		34,923

c) Full year 2010 - Audited
	Equity		Revaluation reserves				Capital		Realised		Retained
			Property		Other		Redemption		Capital		Earnings		Total
							Reserve		Reserve
	£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000		£'000
At 1 January 2010	1,292		5,696		2,656		95		18,229		6,467		34,435
Dividends	-		-		-		-		-		(1,395)		(1,395)
Transactions with owners	-		-		-		-		-		(1,395)		(1,395)
Total comprehensive profit for the period	-		-		-		-		-		3,962		3,962
Identification of non-distributable items recognised in income statement:
Revaluation gains/(losses)	-		1,577		572		-		-		(2,149)		-
Tax on revaluation gains and losses	-		-		(93)		-		-		93		-
Realised gains	-		-		-		-		(58)		58		-
(Surplus)/deficit attributable to assets sold	-		(254)		(1,385)		-		1,639		-		-
Excess of cost over revalued amount taken to retained earnings	-		(349)		-		-		-		349		-
Total comprehensive income for the year	-		974		(906)		-		1,581		2,313		3,962
At 31 December 2010	1,292		6,670		1,750		95		19,810		7,385		37,002

Condensed consolidated interim statement of cash flows (Unaudited)

for the six months ended 30 June 2011

	First Half		First Half		Full Year
	2011		2010		2010
	£'000		£'000		£'000
Operating activities
Profit/(loss) for the period	1,299		1,315		3,962
Adjustments for:
Net valuation (gains)/losses on investment property	(463)		(730)		(1,577)
Gain on disposal of investment property	(35)		(42)		(100)
Net losses/(gains) on investments	31		422		(509)
Finance income	(7)		(5)		(10)
Finance expense	3		2		1
Income tax (expense)/credit	-		(103)		(55)
Operating cash flow before changes in working capital and provisions	828		859		1,712
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables	(8)		20		10
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables	(3)		13		120
Cash generated from operations	817		892		1,842
Finance income	7		5		10
Finance expense	(3)		(2)		(1)
Income tax paid	-		-		(25)
Cash flows from operating activities	821		895		1,826
Investing activities
Purchase of fixed assets   - investment property	-		-		(1,558)
- equity investments	(378)		(727)		(1,028)
Sale of fixed assets          - investment property	1,300		297		355
- equity investments	-		2,481		3,326
Cash flows from investing activities	922		2,051		1,095
Financing activities
Loan repayments	-		-		-
Dividends paid	(909)		(827)		(1,395)
Cash flows used in financing activities	(909)		(827)		(1,395)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	834		2,119		1,526
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2011	2,472		946		946
Cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2011	3,306		3,065		2,472

NOTES (unaudited)

1.  Nature of operations and general information

Highcroft Investments PLC ('Highcroft') and its subsidiary (together 'the group') principal activities are investment in property and equities. It is incorporated and domiciled in Great Britain.  The address of Highcroft Investments PLC's registered office, which is also its principal place of business, is Thomas House, Langford Locks, Kidlington, OX5 1HR.  Highcroft's condensed consolidated interim financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling (£), which is also the functional currency of the group. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been approved for issue by the directors on 25 August 2011. The financial information for the year ended 31 December 2010 set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 404 of the Companies Act 2006.  The group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2010 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.  The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain statements under Section 498(2) or Section 498(5) of the Companies Act 2006.

2.  Basis of preparation

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements are for the six months ended 30 June 2011.  They have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34, Interim Financial Reporting.  They do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2010. 

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of investment properties and the measurement of equity investments at fair value. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies adopted in the last annual financial statements for the year to 31 December 2010. 

The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the group for the purposes of preparation of these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

3.  Segmental reporting

Segmental information is presented in the condensed consolidated interim financial statements in respect of the group's business segments.  The business segment reporting format reflects the group's management and internal reporting structure. Segment results include items directly attributable to a segment as well as those that can be allocated on a reasonable basis.  All gross income is from external tenants or external investments.

The group is comprised of the following main business segments:

*      Commercial property comprising retail outlets, offices and warehouses.

*      Residential property comprising mainly single-let houses.

*      Financial assets comprising exchange-traded equity investments.

3.  Segmental reporting (continued)

	First Half		First Half		Full Year
	2011		2010		2010
	£'000		£'000		£'000
Commercial property
Gross income	1,020		970		1,995
Profit/(loss) for the period	859		1,212		2,690
Assets	31,560		29,024		28,655
Liabilities	713		630		743
Residential property
Gross income	20		32		58
Profit for the period	365		338		654
Assets	1,742		2,423		2,695
Liabilities	10		10		23
Financial assets
Gross income	126		101		234
Profit/(loss) for the period	75		(235)		618
Assets	5,961		5,222		7,528
Liabilities	1,148		1,106		1,110
Total
Gross income	1,166		1,103		2,287
Profit for the period	1,299		1,315		3,962
Assets	39,263		36,669		38,878
Liabilities	1,871		1,746		1,876

The largest tenant represents 10% of gross commercial property income.

4.  Income tax (credit) / expense
	First Half		First Half		Full Year
	2011		2010		2010
	£'000		£'000		£'000
Current tax:
On revenue profits	-		-		(60)
On capital profits	-		(34)		(19)
Prior year underprovision	-		-		(69)
	-		(34)		(148)
Deferred tax	-		(69)		93
	-		(103)		(55)

The taxation charge has been based on the estimated effective tax rate for the full year.  As a Real Estate Investment Trust the group does not pay corporation tax on its profits and gains from its commercial and residential property activities.

5.  Dividends

On 25 August 2011, the directors declared a property income dividend of 11.50p per share (2010 11.00p interim dividend) payable on 20 October 2011 to shareholders registered at 23 September 2011.

The following property income distributions have been paid by the company.

	First Half		First Half		Full Year
	2011		2010		2010
	£'000		£'000		£'000
2010 final: 17.60p per ordinary share (2009 final 16.00p )	909		827		827
2010 interim: 11.00p per ordinary share	-		-		568
	909		827		1,395

6.  Earnings per share

The calculation of earnings per share is based on the profit for the period of £1,295,000 (2010 £1,315,000)  and on 5,167,240 shares (2009 5,167,240) which is the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period ended 30 June 2011 and throughout the period since 1 January 2010.

The allocation differs to that disclosed in the year end published accounts to better reflect the designation of realised investment gains as capital in nature and to ensure consistency with prior years. There is no impact on the total year end results.

In order to draw attention to the impact of valuation gains and losses which are included in the income statement but not available for distribution under the company's articles of association, an adjusted earnings per share based on the profit available for distribution of £828,000 (2010 £862,000) has been calculated.

	First Half		First Half		Full Year
	2011		2010		2010
	£'000		£'000		£'000
Earnings:
Basic earnings	1,299		1,315		3,962
Adjustments for:
Net valuation (profits)/losses on investment property	(498)		(772)		(1,677)
Gains and losses on investments	31		422		(509)
Income tax on (gains)/losses	-		(103)		89
Adjusted earnings	832		862		1,865
Per share amount:
Basic earnings per share	25.1p		25.4p		76.7p
Adjustments for:
Net valuation gains on investment property	(9.6)p		(14.9)p		(32.5)p
Gains and losses on investments	0.6p		8.2p		(9.9)p
Income tax on gains and losses	0.0p		(2.0)p		1.7p
Adjusted earnings per share	16.1p		16.7p		36.0p

7.  Investment property

	First Half		First Half		Full Year
	2011		2010		2010
	£'000		£'000		£'000
Valuation at 1 January 2011	30,705		27,825		27,825
Additions	-		-		1,558
Disposals	(1,266)		(255)		(255)
Gain on revaluation	463		730		1,577
Valuation at 30 June 2011	29,902		28,300		30,705

The directors have used an external independent valuation of properties at 30 June 2011 which has been carried out consistently with the annual valuation.

8.  Equity Investments

Listed and unlisted	First Half		First Half		Full Year
	2011		2010		2010
	£'000		£'000		£'000
Valuation at 1 January 2011	5,608		7,397		7,397
Additions	378		727		1,028
Disposals	-		(2,601)		(3,393)
(Deficit)/surplus on revaluation in excess of cost	(30)		(290)		572
Revaluation decrease below cost	(11)		(27)		(6)
Revaluation increase still below cost	9		15		10
Valuation at 30 June 2011	5,954		5,221		5,608

9.  Related party transactions

Kingerlee Holdings Limited owns, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, 25.4% (2010: 25.4%) of the company's shares and D H Kingerlee and J C Kingerlee are directors of the company, Kingerlee Holdings Limited and its wholly owned subsidiaries and shareholders of the company and Kingerlee Holdings Limited. 

During the period, the group made purchases from Kingerlee Holdings Limited or its subsidiaries, being a service charge in relation to services at Thomas House, Kidlington of £7,000 (2010: £7,000).  The amount owed at 30 June 2011 was nil (2010: nil).  All transactions were undertaken on an arm's length basis.

 

END

 

 

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