INTERIM RESULTS
· Portfolio valued at £284.3 million at 30 September 2018, following £15.0 million of disposals during the period, representing an increase of 6.5% on the aggregate purchase price and a 1.6% like-for-like increase on the valuation at 31 March 2018, or a 2.9% increase taking into account the disposed assets
· Profit on disposal of investment properties totalled £3.7 million in the period
· Bank debt lowered to £109.5 million, reducing the loan to value ratio to 37.1% at 30 September 2018 (40.5% at 31 March 2018)
· Paid or declared dividends totalling 3.0 pence per share for the first half of the year, on track for target of 6.0 pence per share for the full year***
*** This is a target not a forecast and there can be no assurances that it will be met.
Operational highlights
· Continued strong tenant demand, supported by the further growth of ecommerce, is driving robust rental increases
· Supply of new multi-let warehouse space remains constrained across the UK, with capital values below replacement cost
· Strong asset management performance in the period
o Completed 37 new lettings of vacant space, generating additional annual rent of £1.2 million, 6.9% ahead of 31 March 2018 ERV
o Achieved 12 lease renewals, securing additional £0.5 million of income and reflecting a 7.8% increase in headline rents
o Spent or committed capital expenditure of £1.4 million, in line with target
o Portfolio occupancy of 92.1% at the period end (31 March 2018: 93.1%), with the reduction in the period primarily due to the tenant at Deeside entering administration. Occupancy has since risen to 93.0% as at 31 October 2018, following re-letting of the Deeside asset (see below)
o WAULT of 4.2 years (31 March 2018: 4.1 years), with 2.8 years to first break (31 March 2018: 2.8 years)
o Sold four assets for £19.0 million, reflecting an aggregate net initial yield of 5.1% and a 27% premium to 31 March 2018 book values
· Acquired one asset, Burntbroom Court, Queenslie, Glasgow, for £2.4 million reflecting a net initial yield of 8.0%. The asset is adjacent to the Group's existing 55-acre site at Queenslie
Post period end highlights
· Obtained planning permission for a major mixed-use development at Queenslie Business Park, Glasgow for an additional 250,000 sq ft of warehouse and ancillary uses. The scheme has a gross development value of £25 million
· Acquired a 49,000 sq ft urban warehouse unit in Widnes, Cheshire, let to a global internet retailer on a new five-year lease with a tenant's break at year three, for £2.8 million reflecting a net initial yield of 7.3%. This global internet retailer is now the second largest tenant by portfolio rental income
· Let 60,000 sq ft at Deeside to A&D Transport (NW) Ltd on a 15-year term, with a tenant only break at 10 years, at an average rent over the first five years at 16% above the previous rent following a programme of landlord works for the restoration of the premises
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