Final Results - Year Ended 31 March 2000, Part 1

Workspace Group PLC 26 June 2000 Part 1 ANOTHER RECORD YEAR FOR WORKSPACE AS DEMAND FROM SME's REMAINS HIGH Workspace Group PLC ('Workspace'), today announces its preliminary results for the financial year ended 31 March 2000. Workspace provides approximately 6 million sq.ft of flexible business accommodation to over 3,000 small and medium size enterprises ('SMEs') in London, the South East and the Midlands. * Profit before tax on trading activities up 19.5% to £8.3 million (1999: £7.0 million) * Annual rent roll at year end up 48.9% to £25.9 million * Turnover up 28.9% to £29.3 million (1999: £22.7 million) * Earnings per share on trading activities up 20.4% to 40.2p (1999: 33.4p) * Ordinary dividend up 10.5% to 21p (1999: 19p) * Net asset value per share up 32.4% to £9.04 (1999: £6.83) Commenting on the results, Harry Platt, Chief Executive, said ' This is another excellent set of results. Over the last five years, Workspace has shown compound growth in earnings per share of 15.5% per annum and in net asset value of 22.1% pa. ' The small business sector is buzzing and we have a huge market place in which to expand. There are 1.2 million small businesses employing up to 50 people, making up a vibrant and resilient market. Demand for good value yet high quality space for small business remains buoyant. We offer a customer focused product with a mix of service provision that enhances our earnings potential. ' The £75 million Tonex portfolio has proven to be an excellent purchase. We are now the dominant provider of accommodation for SME's in London. There is a lot of scope to extract further value from our properties by continuing to improve rents and occupancy levels. ' The Group's portfolio is located in sought after locations with good growth prospects. We continue to explore opportunities to create further value from our sites. In particular, we are seeing increasing demand and more opportunities to offer a mix of live-work schemes. These appeal particularly to the young, entrepreneurial new economy generation.' For further information: Harry Platt, Chief Executive Jonathon Gillen Mark Taylor, Finance Director Simon Courtenay Workspace Group PLC City Profile Group 020-7247-7614 020-7726-8588 e-mail: info@workspacegroup.co.uk e-mail:sc@profilecomms.co.uk web: www.workspacegroup.co.uk Chairman's Statement This has been another year of significant progress by Workspace Group. It has again delivered an excellent performance in its profits, earnings and net asset value growth and in share price performance. The Group continues to demonstrate its ability to add value through its active management. My first year as chairman saw strong growth from our portfolio. Over the last five years our earnings per share has increased by 105.9%, a compound annual growth of 15.5% and our net asset value per share by 170.9%, a compound annual growth of 22.1%. This performance is amongst the best in the sector and has been driven by the Group's longstanding strategy of providing workspace for the small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) market, actively managing our properties, adding value to our offering and concentrating on London and the South East. Results The Group has this year produced another set of record financial results. Rental income during 1999/2000 was £23.4 million, up 28.5% on the previous year, whilst turnover was up 28.9% to £29.3 million. These increases were attributable to both rental growth and the contribution from the Tonex portfolio reported on below. Profits before tax from trading operations increased by 19.5% to £8.3 million and earnings per share by 20.4% to 40.2 pence. The value of the Group's portfolio increased by £118.3 million or 63.6%. Of this £87.1 million arose from new net investment and £31.2 million from increases on revaluation. This has been reflected in an increase of 32.4% in net asset value per share to £9.04. Comparing your company to the external yardstick of the Investment Property Databank (IPD) shows an ungeared total return for our portfolio of 24.9% against the IPD All-Fund performance of 15.2%. This outperformance is a consistent feature whether measured over one, three or five years reflecting the long term benefits of the Group's active management approach. Highlights of the Year This has been an exciting year. In July 1999 we completed the purchase of the Tonex portfolio of twenty three estates for a consideration of £74.7 million, enlarging our portfolio by 40%. Details of this acquisition were included in a circular to shareholders last June. Twenty one of the properties are in London, our main area of operation, the others being in the South East and the Midlands where we already have a significant presence. This portfolio plays to our strengths not just in terms of location but in the rental growth opportunities available to our style of active management. The average estimated rental value at the time of acquisition was £4.82 per square foot compared with an average of £8.54 per sq. ft for our similar types of property. The management team has set about the challenge with some relish. Some disposals have been made, development and improvement opportunities identified and rents uplifted by 31 pence per sq. ft by the year end. This was an excellent acquisition and one that will provide significant benefits to shareholders for some years to come. 770 lettings were achieved in the year Of these two are exceptional. Firstly the whole of 1-10 Union Street, Southwark, was let to J Sainsbury for a rental of £2 million per annum, subject to completion of a major refurbishment. Secondly, the whole of the office space at the recently refurbished and extended Ensign Court on the fringe of the City of London was let to News International, taking the total rent of this property to £411,000 per annum compared with £95,000 prior to its refurbishment. Both of these major lettings are a direct result of the broad vision the Company brings to making the best use of its portfolio. I am confident that further added-value opportunities will be created in the future. Dividend A final dividend of 15p, making 21p for the year, an increase of 10.5% over last year, is recommended by the Board. This is in keeping with its policy of increasing the dividend by a margin above the rate of inflation. Dividends are covered 1.91 times by post tax operating profits, excluding other items. Board and staff I was delighted to be invited by the Board to succeed Alan Porter as Chairman on his retirement last September. Alan led the company from its formation in 1987, taking it from its small innovative beginnings to being one of the leaders in our sector. He left with our thanks and best wishes for what will no doubt be a long and very active retirement. I have served as a non-executive director since 1992 and my role as Chairman will be a non-executive one. As a result, Harry Platt became Chief Executive on 1 October last year. I am pleased to welcome Dr Christopher Pieroni, of property advisers Colliers Conrad Ritblat Erdman, as a non-executive director of the Company. Shareholders will be aware from previous reports that the success of Workspace Group is very much due to the efforts of the whole team. This has been strengthened since the Tonex purchase and our new members have been rapidly integrated into the business and in turn have brought with them fresh ideas. My thanks go to everyone - staff and Board - for their efforts during what has been a year of substantial progress. Prospects Workspace Group has always concentrated on providing accommodation and services for the small and medium sized enterprises market. There are some 1.2 million SMEs employing up to 50 people and they are a vibrant and resilient group. They represent a very large market, one that is dynamic and growing. Meeting the needs of this market requires an equally dynamic company for consistent success - and workspace Group has achieved that. We have an increasingly dominant position in London, the area of greatest growth for our market, and our offering is clearly relevant to today's SMEs. It is particularly pleasing to note how many of our newer tenants are part of the new economy. By continuing to focus on the SME market, extracting best value from our portfolio either from the reversionary rental opportunity that exists, or from development and alternative use potential, we shall continue to add value for our shareholders. Our progress has continued into the new year. There remains excellent scope for both rental and capital growth from our portfolio. Your Company remains ambitious and continues to seek opportunities to expand its property and tenant base. Operating Review - Adding Value ' Demand for the Group's product remains strong - its principal operating locations vibrant - promising continued growth in rent, earnings and assets. With much of its portfolio in improving locations there continue to be opportunities for the Group to secure added value from the alternative use and refurbishment of many of its properties.' Harry Platt, Chief Executive. Key Events Three major events in the year stand out: the acquisition of the Tonex portfolio in July 1999; the related financing of this transaction and the letting of 1-10 Union Street to J Sainsbury. In July 1999 the Group acquired a portfolio of 23 estates (the Tonex portfolio) with over 800 lettable units and a floor area of almost 2 million sq. ft, for £74.7 million. Linked with the acquisition was the deferred purchase in January 2001, following settlement of a rent review, of a further property in London for a consideration of £6.5 million plus an overage payment based upon the rent to be settled on review at that time. The portfolio fits well with the Group's holdings. The properties and their use are similar to the Group's existing portfolio, namely multi-let properties occupied principally by small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Twenty one of the estates are located in London. Over 40% of the portfolio, by value, is located in central London, much of this being near to the route of the new Jubilee Line extension in areas likely to see economic uplift over the immediate future. Overall, the acquisition improved the Group's penetration of the key London market and it now holds the largest portfolio of workspace properties let to SMEs in London. The acquisition offered particular scope for adding value both through improvement of rental levels at certain properties and selective disposals of others. The average rental of the portfolio at acquisition was £4.13 per sq. ft compared with an Estimated Rental Value (ERV) at that stage of £4.82 per sq. ft and a comparable average value for Workspace's existing similar estates of £8.54 per sq. ft. By 31 March 2000 the average rental of retained properties had increased to £4.44 per sq. ft, an uplift on a like- for-like basis of 8.6% over the eight months of ownership, with the average ERV increasing by 10.8% to £5.47 per sq. ft. leaving more to go for. At the same time four properties regarded as having limited growth potential, or where there was substantially better alternative use potential together with some vacant land, were sold for £3.93 million, yielding 20.8% over the aggregate purchase cost of these properties. At 31 March 2000 the remaining acquired properties were valued at £82.1 million by Insignia Richard Ellis, an uplift of 8.5% over the book cost of these properties. The purchase of the Tonex portfolio was financed entirely by debt. At the same time part of the Group's existing loan facilities were refinanced. This enabled the construction of a £122m facility in anticipation of a refinancing via a commercial paper programme, which in turn it is proposed will be covered by a bond issue. This route was selected by the company since it offered the key advantage of certainty of availability of finance to complete the purchase without diluting existing shareholders' equity. Use of the securitisation route provided other advantages in loan covenants and other terms, whilst providing a further platform for financing the Group's activities in the future. Full details of the financing are included in the Financial Review. The third landmark event of the year was the letting of 1-10 Union Street to J Sainsbury. This vacant former Royal Mail sorting office was originally acquired in April 1998 with the intention of refurbishing it and creating a further business centre in Southwark following the Group's success with the nearby Leathermarket. Recognising the improving fortunes of the area and in parallel with negotiations of the necessary planning approvals for the development of a business centre, the property was also marketed for sole occupancy. J Sainsbury agreed to take the property on a 15 year lease at an initial rental of £2 million per annum, subject to the completion of certain refurbishment works. An agreement for lease was exchanged in September 1999. Fuller details of the letting to and the development agreement with J Sainsbury and of the project finance package are given later. The Group's ambitions for a new business centre in the Southwark area were fulfilled by the acquisition of the Great Guildford Business Centre as part of the Tonex acquisition. Our Market Place We focus our activities on London, the South East and the Midlands where 60% of the UK's 1.2 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are based and where business is forecast to continue to grow. Since we currently accommodate almost 3,000 of these 650,000 businesses, it is clear that there is enormous potential for Workspace Group to continue to acquire more properties and tenants without even beginning to approach saturation point. Our new customers are often people looking to move from a back room environment to more formal business premises. Many of them will, in time, relocate within our portfolio as their need for space increases. Churn - the formation, expansion, reduction and closure of business - is an important aspect of the SME market: it provides new tenants, relocates others, and creates a continuing opportunity to increase rents. Our property management operations - letting, estate management, credit control - are all undertaken in-house and are attuned to the flexibility needed in this market place. This enables us to foster close contact with our tenants, to monitor changes in the market, and to maintain exacting standards. We try to work closely with our tenants; to understand and be responsive to their needs. This is reflected in our flexible leasing approach and through a combination of focus groups, entry and exit interviews and active centre management. In many of the locations in which the Group operates the introduction of competing workspace is constrained either by low rental values which are unable to support development or by high alternative use values for land. During the year under review 3,858 enquiries for space were received in London and 807 in the Midlands. The principal generators of enquiries continued to be estate signboards and referrals from existing tenants. Following the Tonex portfolio acquisition nd the rebranding of the properties, an immediate uplift in enquiry levels was noted in the London region. These enquiries are valuable not only as a source of lettings but also as indicators of levels of activity within the SME sector and industry sub-sectors, essential for the effective adjustment of the Group's offering to current and emerging demand areas. By operating in the economically vigorous SME market and continuously monitoring both its tenant profile and that of its enquirers the Group is able to target emerging 'value-adding' businesses - those best able to pay improving rents. Occupancy, turnover and rent Occupancy of core properties (those held throughout the year and not subject to redevelopment) remained steady at around 92%, which the Group regards as effective full occupancy. Low vacancy rates and continuing high levels of enquiries have aided rental review programmes and improved rentals on re-lettings (approximately 40% of the Group's portfolio is subject to rental review or re-letting each year). With the progress in letting up space at properties subject to development, principally Ensign Court, the overall occupancy levels in London and the South East improved from 85.1% to 86.1%. Occupancy levels in the Midlands also improved from 93.0% to 94.2% with those on the Tonex portfolio remaining at 85% (the level at the time of acquisition). This latter statistic disguises the real level of activity at these newly acquired properties where as a result of tenant churn not only has the quality of the income stream improved but also an uplift of 8.6% (on a like for like basis) in rentals was achieved over the eight months since acquisition. Rents have again increased strongly throughout the year. Average rentals of the core portfolio held at 31 March 2000 increased by 8.3% (1999: 5%) during the year, from £6.00 per sq. ft to £6.50. The principal increases continued to be in London and the South East where the average rent per sq. ft of the core portfolio rose by 12.5% (1999: 5.5%) from £6.87 to £7.73. The rolling rent review and lease renewal programme continued and in 1999/2000 impacted on 13.4% of the opening rent roll. The uplift achieved during the year of £0.47 million on reviews and renewals represents a 20.0% increase on previous passing levels. High levels of occupancy, improvements in average rent and the increase in size of the portfolio have all contributed to the 28.9% increase in turnover during the year. Local market presence, attentive in-house management and constant monitoring of occupancy and rental income gives the Group an unparalleled understanding of its market. Acquisitions and Disposals During the year the Group invested £77.0 million in new properties. The majority of this was in the £74.7 million acquisition of the Tonex portfolio. The remaining £2.3 million was invested in the Sugarhouse Business Centre, the Shaftesbury Business Centre and in a small plot of land at Brook Road, Redhill. All these properties are adjacent to existing investment properties held by the roup (3 Mills Studios, Pall Mall Deposit and Hooley Lane respectively). The Tonex acquisition represented a major opportunity for the Group. The portfolio was well known to the Company, having monitored its performance and progress for some time. With its strong London and South East presence and focus on short term lettings to SMEs, the properties and their use were closely allied to the Group's existing holdings. Our knowledge of the market and the portfolio greatly reduced the customary risk associated with such a large acquisition and enabled us to move quickly when it became available. This acquisition followed the pattern of a number of previous acquisitions where vendors seeking an off-market sale recognised Workspace Group's ability to assess and complete transactions quickly. The Tonex properties themselves, whilst generally sound and located well, had not been improved to the standard operated elsewhere within the Group's portfolio. They offer considerable scope for improvement through a rolling programme which will add considerably to the reversionary rental potential of the portfolio. During the year six properties together with a parcel of land at one further property were sold. Two of the sales, Westgate and Malham Road, were properties held at 31 March 1999 but which had limited growth potential. These were sold for an aggregate sum of £1.51 million and an excess of £0.10 million (7.1%) over valuation at 31 March 1999. The other four properties and land parcel were part of the Tonex portfolio and realised an aggregate sum of £3.93 million, an excess of £0.67 million 20.8% over cost. The Group has identified a number of other sites where there is potential for added value through conversion to residential/live-work, retail or leisure uses and where disposals in due course might occur. In addition to these potential opportunities there are a number of opportunities to add value by extending, upgrading or converting existing properties to produce additional workspace for letting to SMEs. Through these schemes and the recycling of capital released on disposals, the Group is able to enhance shareholders' interests without recourse to new capital. In July 1999 a fire completely destroyed the Group's property at Ferry Lane, Rainham. Subsequently the Group's claim was settled with insurers at £1.55 million. The property was valued at £0.94 million at 31 March 1999 and the cleared site at £0.45 million at 31 March 2000. Allowing for costs of clearing the site and settling compensation with existing tenants a sum of £0.66 million has been taken to profit. Shortly after the year end the Group announced a joint venture with Copthorn Homes for the development of some vacant land for residential use at its 3 Mills Studio property. Negligible value is attributed to this land in the Group's books. The Group holds other properties where similar schemes are possible. In most cases these opportunities can be realised without significant erosion of the Group's core activity of provision of accommodation to SME's and, through partnering or outright sale, without taking development risks. Acquisitions during the year were made at a net aggregate yield of 9.16% with disposals at 8.34%. ACQUISITIONS IN 1999-2000 Description Purchase Initial Price Annual Income £ £ Sugarhouse Freehold Business Centre, (23,118 sq. ft 20 units) Stratford, London Business centre 385,000 45,112 E15 Tonex Portfolio, Mainly freehold mainly London 23 estates (792 units, 1,881,302 74,700,000 6,807,754 sq. ft) Brook Road, Land adjacent to 250,000 20,000 Redhill existing storage land holding Shaftesbury Freehold (11,012 Business Centre, sq. ft 30 Unit 1,700,000 180,800 North Kensington business centre) London W10 Disposals in 1999/2000 Disposal Exit Annual Price Income £ £ Westgate Business Centre, 410,000 57,373 London E8 Malham Road Industrial state, 1,100,000 106,000 London SE23 *Tysoe Studios, London EC1 1,330,000 81,030 *Church Road Studios, London 425,000 51,835 E12 *Cape House (Front and Rear) 1,100,000 70,000 London E14 *St Anne's Trading Estate, 900,000 87,316 London E14 *Land at Westminster Business 175,000 - Square, London SE1 *These properties were purchased as part of the Tonex portfolio In addition notice under an option was served before the year end by the tenant for the purchase of South Block, Westminster Business Square, London, SE1. This sale was completed on 19 April 2000 for £1,235,000, at which time a further option agreement was entered into for the sale (at a consideration of £500,000) of some vacant land adjacent to the property. Development and refurbishment The Group's core activity is investment in and letting of small unit accommodation. As such it is not a property development company but will from time to time engage in development activities to improve the quality of the assets it holds, and hence the return from these assets. During 1999 the Group had five major projects in progress, with a number of smaller initiatives at other properties. The major projects, in which £8.9 million was invested during the year were at 1-10 Union Street, Ensign Court, Kingsland Viaduct, Helix Business Park (Surrey Heath) and 3 Mills Studios. The £11 million refurbishment of 1-10 Union Street is the most significant project in progress presently. To expedite completion of the development, management responsibilities have been passed through to J Sainsbury under a development agreement which also caps the Group's financial liability. Through this and the fixed rent start date of 31 March 2001 most of the risks associated with development activity have been covered. In addition to the £11 million building refurbishment J Sainsbury will invest approximately £9.5 million in th e fit-out works prior to taking occupation of the building. The works were commenced in September 1999 and should be completed, with J Sainsbury taking occupation, by September 2000. Alongside the agreement for lease and development agreement with J Sainsbury a project finance package, secured solely against the property and the agreement for lease, was negotiated with National Westminster Bank. This package provides all development finance including interest up to rent commencement in March 2001. On completion the Group's investment in 1-10 Union Street will represent a substantial proportion of the Group's overall net worth and it is proposed that the property will be sold to enable reinvestment in property more closely aligned to the Group's core business. On rent commencement the estimated total costs will be £18.4 million showing a yield of 10.9%. This development has been included in the report and accounts at cost. Works to add an additional floor and refurbish the upper floors of the Ensign Court, a former flatted factory located on The Highway in the fringe of the City of London, were completed in 1999. This space (15,983 sq. ft) was let to News International on a 14 year lease (coterminous with the earlier letting of the ground floor to Oddbins) at a rent of £306,000, £19.15 per sq. ft, in March 2000. Following these lettings the property has become more institutionally attractive and accordingly it is proposed that the investment be marketed during 2000/01. The programme of improvement at Kingsland Viaduct is now largely complete. This series of 105 railway arches stretches for a mile between Broadgate in the City, to Dalston, in Hackney, and comprises around 290,000 sq. ft of space. Workspace Group is in a partnership agreement with the London Borough of Hackney and London Transport under which it acquired an income-sharing long-leasehold interest in the property in return for an obligation to invest £2.3m. For the past four years of our initial expectations. Work on the 19,645 sq. ft Helix Business Park was completed on programme and to budget. This is a new-build scheme of 20 units of small-unit light-industrial workspace in Camberley and is a joint venture with Surrey Heath Borough Council. The property has attracted considerable interest and by late May 2000 seven units had been let at an average rent of £10.19 per sq. ft. It is anticipated that at full occupancy the estate will yield £178,500, showing a 12.2% return on investment. At 3 Mills Studio, the Group has this year focussed on promoting the accommodation created during the conversion of the former Bottling Plant to create Rush House and the Rooftop and Waterhouse Studio complexes. In addition, works were completed to create 20 moorings for narrowboats on the site. The refurbishment of the adjacent Sugarhouse Yard to bring back into use 45,000 sq. ft of space has commenced. As noted earlier a joint venture with Copthorn Homes was agreed following the year end for the development of residential accommodation on a vacant part of the site. Letting performance during the current year will be important in setting the future pace of development work at 3 Mills Studios. The investment portfolio At 31 March 2000 the Group owned 94 estates: some 5.68 million sq. ft of accommodation in 3,523 lettable units with an aggregate valuation of £312.4 million. 86.1% of the portfolio by valuation, and 77.6% by space is in London and the South East, with the rest in the Midlands. The Tonex portfolio acquired during the year represents 26.3% by value 31.8% by space, of the total year end holdings. Portfolio Valuation At 31 March 2000 Insignia Richard Ellis valued the Group's portfolio at £312.4 million showing a surplus (for accounts purposes) of £31.2 million. The valuation was conducted in compliance with the Practice Statements contained in the Appraisal and Valuation Manual prepared by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors on the basis of open market valuation as defined in Statement 4. The £216.3 million sum for freehold properties includes a valuation of £18.7 million for 1-10 Union Street, Southwark. Since this property is classified as undergoing development it is shown in the accounts at its book cost of £10.9 million. The short leasehold Alpha Business Centre, valued at £0.35 million, is also included in the accounts at a nominal £1. For accounts purposes, therefore, the Group's properties are valued at £304.3 million, as shown below: Analysis of valuation at 31.3.2000 Valuation Adjustment Financial £m £m £m Freehold 216.3 (7.8) 208.5 Long Leasehold 95.8 - 95.8 Short Leasehold 0.3 (0.3) - --------------------------------------------------------- Total 312.4 (8.1) 304.3 --------------------------------------------------------- For properties held throughout the year (comparing their value at 31 March 1999, plus additions and improvements at cost, with that at 31 March 2000) the uplift was £24.2 million or 13.2%. A further uplift of £7.0 million or 8.1% arose from acquisitions. Again we commissioned the Investment Property Databank (IPD) to compare our portfolio's ungeared performance with the All-Fund (All-Property) index over one, three and five calendar years. The Group's performance exceeded the All-Fund index by a wide margin in all these periods and achieved first percentile performance when measured over the one and three year period. Workspace Group v IPD All-Fund Index (%) One Three Five Year Years Years ------------------------------------------------------ Workspace Group 24.9% 22.7% 19.6% IPD All Fund 15.2% 15.1% 12.1% Workspace Group Percentile Rank 1st 1st 2nd Improvements in valuation arise partly from market movements but also as a result of value adding activity through acquisition, management and refurbishment/ redevelopment. Comparison against indices such as these segregates simple market movement from value-adding activity. With its top-ranking performance over the medium term the Group has demonstrated its ability to generate enhanced returns from its investments. Financial Review Profits before tax at £8.76 million are 5.35% ahead of last year. Despite an increased taxation charge (effective rate up from 21.4% to 25.5%), earnings per share increased by 0.4p to 41.6p. For trading operations i.e. excluding profits and losses on disposals together with other one-off costs) profits before tax were 19.5% and earnings per share 20.4% ahead of last year. The valuation surplus of £31.2 million represents £1.98 per share, taking the net asset value at 31 March 2000 to £9.04 per share (1999: £6.83), an increase of 32.4%. This continues the unbroken pattern of growth delivered by the Group since its flotation in December 1993. 1999/2000 1998/1999 Compound growth growth growth 1995 - 2000 Improvement in 19.5% 24.0% 28.0% Trading PBT Improvement in EPS 1.0% 31.6% 15.5% Improvement in 10.5% 11.8% 16.0% dividends per share Improvement in NAV 32.4% 30.6% 22.1% The strong underlying growth in 1999/2000 was a reflection of the improvement in rental income and the contribution from the newly acquired Tonex portfolio. Overheads (excluding other items) have fallen as a percentage of turnover from 15.1% to 14.5%. Net interest increased during the year by £3.84 million. The increase in interest costs was attributable principally to the increased levels of borrowings following the £74.7 million Tonex acquisition which was financed entirely by debt. Interest costs of £0.74 million (1999: £0.73 million) were capitalised during the year. These relate to interest charges on developments at 3 Mills Studios, Helix Business Park, Ensign Court, and 1-10 Union Street. The Group considers that with its careful focus on asset values underpinned by six-monthly independent valuations, its policy of capitalising interest presents no risk of overstatement of asset values. The £993,000 of interest payable classified as 'Other Items' comprises breakage costs on repayment of mortgages of £528,000 and write off of previously capitalised loan costs of £465,000 (both relating to the refinancing of the Group's existing mortgages at the time of the acquisition and new financing). Taxation The effective rate of Corporation Tax in 2000 was 25.5% (1999: 21.4%). The effective rate excluding surpluses on property disposals was 24.3% (1999: 23.8%). The rate increased during the year as predicted last year due to the absorption of all previously written-off ACT and capital losses in previous periods with the result that none was available for off-set in 2000. It is likely that the Group's effective rate will stabilise at 27% or thereabouts. Dividend A final dividend of 15p per share is proposed. The interim dividend was 6p per share, and so the total dividend proposed for the year is 21p. The dividends are covered 1.98 times by earnings (1.91 times if based on trading income only). Internal performance measures Internal benchmark comparison shows: Performance measures 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Turnover per member of staff 277 277 247 231 209 (£000) Year-end investment in property 2,340 2,268 1,967 1,610 1,505 per member of staff (£000) Administration costs as a 14.5% 15.1% 14.2% 14.6% 13.0% percentage of revenue Total return on equity 36.9% 36.3% 32.5% 27.5% 8.7% Return on equity is computed by reference to pre-tax profits plus valuation surpluses/deficits divided by opening shareholders' funds (allowing for share capital increases during the year). Our target is to achieve over a 20% return on equity year on year, and in due course (with expansion of the portfolio), to maintain administration costs as a percentage of revenue at below 12%. Financing During the year a number of major financing initiatives were completed. In order to finance the £74.7 million purchase of the Tonex portfolio and repay certain existing loans a new £122 million facility was negotiated with WestLB. This facility was drawn down at completion of the acquisition. The funding was structured initially as a secured term loan. However the loan was subsequently refinanced through a transfer into a commercial paper programme operated by WestLB, thereby reducing the funding costs by 15-20 basis points. It is intended that, in due course the financing via the commercial paper programme will be refinanced through a bond issue. Whilst commercial paper is essentially a short term financing instrument, by backing this with various liquidity facilities and a fall-back term loan commitment from WestLB, security (for 10 years) and continuity of financing is assured. Securitisation was chosen as an appropriate funding route by comparison with existing facilities partly because it offered the opportunity to ringfence liability and hence risk at a time when relatively high (148%) gearing levels were being assumed. Its reliance on interest and debt service cover covenants in place of the more conventional interest and loan to value ratio covenants was also a key factor. Interest/debt service is driven by cash generation which is the principal financial driver applied by Workspace Group. Separately a £14.4 million project finance package was negotiated with National Westminster Bank to Drawdown under the loan also released £1.5 million of the Group's investment in the property. Interest on the loan is at a margin of 1.10% over LIBOR until practical completion when it falls to 1.00%. The loan is ringfenced being secured only against the Group's investment in the property and the Sainsbury lease. The Group will be seeking to dispose of this asset during 2000/2001. On disposal it is anticipated that the property will yield 10.9% on the Group's investment of £18.4 million. Finally, the Group has increased and extended its revolving property loan facility with National Westminster Bank from £13 million to £23 million with a maturity of 18 months. The interest rate on this loan has been reduced from a margin of 1.5% to 1.1% over LIBOR. The Group also holds a £2.5 million overdraft facility with National Westminster Bank which attracts interest at 1.5% over base rate. Borrowings over 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 recent years % Fixed/hedged 93% 93% 59% 81% 52% Average interest 8.48% 8.91% 9.56% 9.11% 10.5% rates Interest cover 1.87 2.32 1.98 2.07 2.11 Year-end gearing 104% 63% 85% 83% 85% Year-end gearing of 104% improved from a peak of 148% immediately following the Tonex acquisition. With the planned 1-10 Union Street and Ensign Court disposals it is set to reduce further. Interest cover at 1.87 is lower than last year due principally to the higher levels of borrowing. Both gearing and interest cover levels are within the levels historically set by the Board of 120% and 1.5 times. The Board again examined the possibility of redeeming or replacing its original £19.5 million Debenture Stock, which carries historically high coupons averaging 11.30%. This initiative was not pursued due to the potentially high cost of redemption. The Debenture and Convertible Loan Stock represents just 16% of total borrowings (1999: 28%). As at 31 March 2000 the total Group indebtedness (bank borrowings net of cash in hand and at bank) amounted to £148.7 million (1999: £68.4 million). The maturity of net debt and the Group's borrowings by source at 31 March 2000 are shown below: Maturity of net % Borrowings by % debt source ---------------------------------- ------------------------------ Under 12 months (3)% Debentures 13% Between one and five years 21% Convertible loan stock 3% Between five and ten years 24% Commercial Paper/Funding 77% Over ten years 58% Bank borrowings 7% ---------------------------------- ------------------------------ Total 100% Total 100% ---------------------------------- ------------------------------ The Group had further facilities of £19.0 million undrawn at 31 March 2000. At 31 March 2000 the average cost of floating rate funds was a margin of 1.03% over LIBOR or base rate (1999:1.26%). At 31 March 2000 the secured borrowings were covered 2.05 times by the value of charged property (with a further £14.8 million uncharged giving an overall cover of 2.16 times). It should be noted that the market price of the Company's ordinary shares has risen above the conversion price of £5.00 for the Company's £4.04 million of Convertible Loan Stock. The Directors believe that most stockholders, who receive interest at 11% on their investment, will wish to retain their stock for the time being because of its superior income yield. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow The Group's netcurrent liabilities at 31 March 2000 were £8.52 million (1999:£13.86 million). Current liabilities include tenants' deposits in the form of advance rent payments and quarterly and monthly rents and service charge payments in advance amounting in aggregate to £6.9 million (1999: £4.0 million). The Directors consider that in the normal course of business these liabilities are unlikely to require payment and properly form part of the working capital of the Group. Operating level net cash inflow of £20.2 million (1999: £14.9 million) improved, principally due to the contribution from the newly acquired properties together with increased profitability from existing properties. MORE TO FOLLOW
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