Half Yearly Report

29th September 2011
RNS Number : 1487P
Real Estate Investors PLC
29 September 2011
 

 

 

 

 

Real Estate Investors plc

(“REI” or “the Company” or “the Group”)

 

Half Year Results for the six months to 30 June 2011

 

Real Estate Investors PLC (AIM:RLE) the West Midlands based property group, today announces its half year results  for the six month period ended 30 June 2011.

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

·      Contracted rent roll up 12% at half year

·      Gross property assets valued at £60.3 million (31 December 2010: £56.5 million)

·      Current contracted rent roll up 50% after acquisitions post half year end (£6.11m)

·      Rental income up 9% to £1.8 million (H1 2010: £1.6 million)

·      Net assets decreased by 4% over half year to  £30.9 million

·      Cash and cash equivalents of £8 million (H1 2010: £19 million)

·      Successful fundraising in July 2011 of £11.7 million after costs

·      Loan to value of 63% (50% net of cash)

 

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

·      Post period end £13 million of acquisitions

–       Total rent roll of £1.5 million representing an initial yield of 11.84%

·      £3.3 million  of acquisitions in first half

·      £134,000  of disposals in first half, at above book value

 

Paul Bassi, CEO of Real Estate Investors commented: “Despite the doom and gloom in the financial markets we remain positive, focussed and continue to run our business prudently with the view to improving rental income and subsequent capital growth. 

 

With our existing cash and agreed bank facilities, we will secure further opportunistic investments that will comply with our acquisition criteria of attractive yields, asset management, and rising capital values.”

 

Enquiries:

Real Estate Investors PLC

Paul Bassi

+44 (0)121 212 3446

Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited

Azhic Basirov / Siobhan Sergeant

+44 (0)20 7131 4000

Liberum

Chris Bowman/Richard Bootle

+44 (0)20 3100 2000

Tavistock Communications

Jeremy Carey/Amy Walker

+44 (0)20 7920 3150

 

Notes to Editors

 

1.      REI is an AIM listed property investment company specialising in commercial and residential property principally in the West Midlands and central England.

 

2.      REI is focused on delivering shareholder value through returns generated from strong yields and capital enhancements. This is achieved by targeting investments in orphaned, distressed, part-let and underperforming commercial and residential property assets.

 

3.      REI is led by respected property investor Paul Bassi CBE, who has over 25 years of property experience in the West Midlands. Mr Bassi is also founder and chairman of Bond Wolfe and chairman of CP Bigwood Chartered Surveyors.

 

4.      REI was admitted to trading on AIM in June 2004. As at 30 June 2011 its portfolio and inventories were valued at £60 million.

 

5.      Further information on REI can be found at www.reiplc.barques.dev.

 

 

Chief Executive’s Statement

 

Results

Despite the continuing turmoil in the financial markets, REI has had an encouraging first half and continued to make progress in establishing itself as a leading regional property investment company. The six month period ending 30th June 2011 saw rental income increase by 9% to £1.8 million (H1 2010: £1.6 million) and gross property assets increase by 7% to £60.3 million from £56.5 million at the year end. New lettings and asset management initiatives increased the contracted rent roll by 12% to £4.5 million (31 December 2010: £4.1 million). Since the period end, following the £13 million of acquisitions announced on 13 September 2011, the contracted annualised rent roll has increased to £6.1 million, a 50% increase since the beginning of the financial year.

 

The Company showed a pre-tax loss of £1.9 million for the period, reflecting a revaluation deficit of £1.7 million and a £71,000 loss on the revaluation of interest rate swaps, both of which are non-cash items. Cash and cash equivalents amounted to £8 million at the period end.

 

Asset Management

Lettings and asset management initiatives have been completed on a number of properties. For example, at Chingford, we negotiated a new 20 year lease to Tesco, of a 3,275 sq ft shop unit at a rent of £49,500 per annum with five-yearly rent reviews, an uplift of 2.1% on the previous rent. At Wakefield, we have let a former JJB Sports store of 4,870 sq ft to Bank of Scotland on a 15 year lease at £65,000 per annum with five-yearly rent reviews. Bank of Scotland is refurbishing the property as a new bank branch.  Having maximised the values, we will be offering these investments for sale once the market stabilises.

 

Similarly, our purchase of land in Tredegar, which has planning consent for 283 homes, will be sold once market conditions are appropriate together with former public house sites that now have the benefit of a residential planning consent. Again, we anticipate these sales will be at above our existing book valuations.

 

Fund raising

In July, we announced that we had raised £11.7 million (net of expenses) by way of a Placing supported by existing and new shareholders. This has significantly strengthened the company financially.

 

The additional capital has provided us with the resources to take advantage of market conditions and secure good quality assets that provide attractive yields and asset management opportunities,with the potential for rising capital values as markets recover,.  Existing valuations continue to be impacted by the low level of market transactions and some of our own opportunistic acquisitions, which provide negative comparable evidence in the short term.  We believe that as the obsession with London property diminishes and bank lending improves, good quality regional property will become attractive to investors, particularly in a low level interest rate environment.  We are already starting to see signs of this in recent months.

 

Market overview

The executive management have a long standing association with some of the regions leading property consultancies, namely Bond Wolfe Commercial, Paul Dubberley & Co and CP Bigwood Chartered Surveyors.

Activity from these businesses and our portfolio reveals:

·      Improving tenant demand

·      Strong residential sales both at auction and private trading

·      Rising residential rents

·      No major tenant defaults or arrears within our portfolio

·      Increased office lettings

·      Stable retail rents with good local and multiple demand

·      National and regional house builders have become active and competitive

·      Substantial improvement in the availability of mortgages

·      Few investment property transactions

 

Banking

In principle, we have agreed a new three year £20million facility with Lloyds Bank on similar terms subject to internal credit committee approval expected within the next few days. 

 

REI continues to receive excellent support from its existing bankers, Lloyds, Aviva, Nationwide and Handelsbanken and continues to operate within all agreed lending terms.  We have seen improving appetite from Barclays, Yorkshire Bank and Santander to lend to the property sector and have also noted new entrants to the arena such as Legal & General.  Whilst we have always enjoyed excellent banking support, we have also seen improvements in lending to the general market place, particularly to small residential developments and investment property, albeit at lower loan to value ratios and higher margins. 

 

Outlook and opportunities for 2011-2012

The financial and property market will remain volatile.  We anticipate continued increases in lettings, predominantly driven by cost and improved capital values.  With our existing cash and agreed bank facilities, we will secure further opportunistic investment property that comply with our acquisition criteria of attractive yields, asset management opportunities and rising capital values.

 

Our opportunities will be sourced from:

·      Institutional vendors exiting regional assets requiring active management.

·      Local and national government disposals

·      Distressed stock from bank recovery departments

·      Property in receivership and placed with insolvency practitioners.

 

Once market conditions stabilise, we believe we will begin to see capital growth.  This will be spurred by a low interest rate environment, which will improve demand for investment property, supported by improvements in bank lending.

 

Despite the doom and gloom, we remain positive. We continue to run our business prudently with a view to improving rental income with no reliance on any one tenant, transaction or asset.  This strategy has served us well and should provide the foundation for REI to commence a progressive dividend policy in respect of the year to 31 December 2012.  We continue to monitor new legislation that will allow us to consider a conversion to a Real Estate Investment Trust, which would mean that REI would no longer pay tax on the profits and gains from its qualifying property rental business.

 

 

Paul Bassi

Chief Executive

28 September 2011

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME





For the 6 months ended 30 June 2011












Six months to

Six months to

Year ended



30 June 2011

30 June 2010

31 December 2010



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)



Note

£’000

£’000

£’000






Revenue


1,807

1,655

4,020






Cost of sales


(60)

(203)

(1,251)






Gross profit


1,747

1,452

2,769






Administrative expenses


(692)

(647)

(1,340)

Share of operating (loss)/profit of joint venture


(9)

9

Surplus on sale of investment property


21

188

186

Net valuation losses


(1,742)

(126)

(4,119)






(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before interest


(666)

858

(2,495)






Finance income


117

259

502

Finance costs


(1,261)

(1,193)

(2,418)

Loss on financial liabilities held at fair value


(71)

(1,547)

(1,178)






Loss on ordinary activities before taxation


 (1,881)

(1,623)

(5,589)






Income tax credit


508

468

801






Retained loss for the period


(1,373)

(1,155)

(4,788)






Basic loss per share

6

(0.28)p

(0.34)p

(1.01)p

Diluted loss per share

6

(0.28)p

(0.34)p

(1.01)p

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY





for the 6 months ended 30 June 2011











Share

Share

Capital

Other

Retained

Total


capital

premium

Redemption

Reserves

Earnings




account

Reserve





£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000

£’000








At 31 December 2009

3,407

29,472

45

121

(5,725)

27,320








Transactions with owners








Issue of new shares

1,553

1,553








Premium on issue of shares

8,542

8,542








Expenses of share issue

(360)

(360)









1,553

8,182

9,735















Loss for the period

(1,155)

(1,155)








Other comprehensive income








At 30 June 2010

4,960

37,654

45

121

(6,880)

35,900








Transactions with owners








Loss for the period

(3,633)

(3,633)








Other comprehensive income








At 31 December 2010

4,960

37,654

45

121

(10,513)

32,267








Transactions with owners








Loss for the period

(1,373)

(1,373)








Other comprehensive income








At 30 June 2011

4,960

37,654

45

121

(11,886)

30,894








 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION


as at 30 June 2011




30 June 2011

30 June 2010

31 December 2010


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)



£’000

£’000

£’000





Assets




Non current assets



Intangible assets

171

171

171

Investment properties

51,938

47,953

50,478

Property, plant and equipment

35

43

40

Investment in joint venture

105

87

103

Deferred taxation

3,818

2,977

3,310






56,067

51,231

54,102





Current assets



Inventories

8,330

6,754

6,053

Trade and other receivables

1,474

3,734

3,707

Cash and cash equivalents

7,817

18,861

11,822






17,621

                    29,349

21,582





Total assets

73,688

80,580

75,684





Liabilities



Current liabilities




Bank loans

21,657

23,195

22,131

Provision for current taxation

118

137

118

Trade and other payables

1,985

1,755

1,941






23,760

25,087

24,190





Non-current liabilities




Bank loans

16,546

16,807

16,810

Liabilities at fair value

2,488

2,786

2,417






19,034

19,593

19,227





Total liabilities

42,794

44,680

43,417





Net assets

30,894

35,900

32,267





Equity




Share capital

4,960

4,960

4,960

Share premium account

37,654

37,654

37,654

Capital redemption reserve

45

45

45

Other reserves

121

121

121

Profit and loss account

(11,886)

(6,880)

(10,513)

Shareholders’ funds

30,894

35,900

32,267

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASHFLOWS

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2011



Six months to

Six months to

Year ended


30 June 2011

 30 June 2010

31 December 2010


(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)



£’000

£’000

£’000





Cashflows from operating activities


Loss after taxation

(1,373)

(1,155)

(4,788)





Adjustments for:



Depreciation

6

7

Surplus on sale of investment property

(21)

(188)

(186)

Net valuation losses

1,742

126

4,119

Share of loss/(profit) of joint venture

9

(9)

Finance income

(117)

(259)

(502)

Finance costs

1,261

1,193

2,418

Loss on financial liabilities held at fair value

71

1,547

1,178

Taxation credit recognised in profit and loss

(508)

(468)

(801)

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(2,277)

701

Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables

2,233

(1,063)

(1,036)

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

44

(187)

(1)






1,061

(445)

                1,100





Interest paid

(1,261)

(1,193)

(2,418)

Income taxes paid

(12)

(31)





Net cash from operating activities

(200)

(1,650)

(1,349)





Cash flows from investing activities






Purchase of investment properties

(3,335)

(210)

(6,730)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(1)

(40)

(44)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

154

373

373

Investment in joint venture

(2)

(41)

(39)

Interest received

117

259

502






(3,067)

341

(5,938)





Cash flow from financing activities






Proceeds from share issue

9,735

9,735

Repayment of bank loans

(738)

(396)

(1,457)






(738)

9,339

8,278





Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(4,005)

8,030

991





Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

11,822

10,831

10,831





Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

7,817

18,861

11,822

 

 

NOTES TO THE INTERIM REPORT

for the 6 months ended 30 June 2011

 

1.   BASIS OF PREPARATION

 

Real Estate Investors PLC, a Public Limited Company, is incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom.

 

The interim financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2011 (including the comparatives for the year ended 31 December 2010 and the period ended 30 June 2010) were approved by the board of directors on 28 September 2011.  Under the Security Regulations Act of the EU, amendments to the financial statements are not permitted after they have been approved.

 

It should be noted that accounting estimates and assumptions are used in preparation of the interim financial information. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge and judgement of current events and action, actual results may ultimately differ from these estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the interim financial information are set out in note 3 to the interim financial information.

 

The interim financial information contained within this report does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of the Companies Act 2006. The full accounts for the year ended 31 December 2010 received an unqualified report from the auditors and did not contain a statement under Section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

 

2.   ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

The interim financial report has been prepared under the historical cost convention except for the revaluation of properties and financial instruments held at their value through profit and loss.  

 

The principal accounting policies and methods of computation adopted to prepare the interim financial information are consistent with those detailed in the 2010 financial statements published by the Company on 4 April 2011.

 

 

3.   CRITICAL ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS

 

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions

 

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next accounting year are as follows:

 

Investment property revaluation

 

The Group uses the valuations performed by its independent valuers or the directors as the fair value of its investment properties. The valuation is based upon assumptions including future rental income, anticipated maintenance costs, anticipated purchaser costs and the appropriate discount rate. The valuer and the directors also make reference to market evidence of transaction prices for similar properties.

 

Interest rate swap valuation

 

The Group carries the interest rate swap as a liability at fair value through the profit or loss at a valuation. This valuation has been provided by the Group’s bankers.

 

Critical judgements in applying the Group’s accounting policies

 

The Group makes judgements in applying the accounting policies. The critical judgement that has been made is as follows:

 

Categorisation of trading properties

 

Properties held by the subsidiary 3147398 Limited are classified as inventories, being properties held for resale. These properties generate rental income but are actively marketed for sale and are therefore categorised as properties held for resale and carried at the lower of cost and net realisable value.

 

4.   SEGMENTAL REPORTING

 

The only material business that the Group has is that of investment in and trading of commercial properties. Turnover relates entirely to rental income from investment properties and sale of trading properties within the UK.

 

 

5.   INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

 

The carrying amount of investment properties for the periods presented in the interim financial information is reconciled as follows:

 


£’000



Carrying amount at 31 December 2009

48,054



Additions

210



Revaluation

(126)



Disposals

(185)



Carrying amount at 30 June 2010

47,953



Additions

6,520



On acquisition of subsidiary undertaking

(2)



Revaluation

(3,993)



Carrying amount at 31 December 2010

50,478



Additions

               3,335



Revaluation

(1,742)



Disposals

(133)



Carrying amount at 30 June 2011

51,938

 

6.   LOSS PER SHARE

 

The calculation of the loss per share is based on the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. The calculation of the diluted loss per share is based on the basic earnings per share adjusted to allow for all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

 

The loss per share has been calculated on the loss for the period of £1,373,000 (31 December 2010: loss of £4,788,000 and 30 June 2010: loss of £1,155,000) and on 496,024,161 (31 December 2010: 473,472,322 and 30 June 2010: 343,096,162) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period.

 

The impact of the share warrants for the six months ended 30 June 2011 and 2010 and the year ended 31 December 2010 is anti-dilutive.

This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 

END

 
 

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