Highcroft Investments PLC ("Highcroft" or the "Company")

Final results for the year ended 31 December 2022

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

·      2022 rent collection 100% (2021 97%)

·      0.3% increase in net property income to £5,275,000 (2021 £5,258,000)

·      1.2% increase in revenue profit before tax to £3,283,000 (2021 £3,243,000)

·      11.8% decrease in property valuation on a like-for-like basis to £77.9m, reflecting the volatile macro-economic backdrop, (2021 11.1% increase to £87.6m)

·      £0.7m of additions to existing properties during the year

·      15.2% decrease in net asset value per share to 1081p (2021 15.5% increase to 1275p)

·      Total debt remained at £27,200,000; LTV 35% (2021 31%)

·      Next debt maturity 2026

·      Cash £7,206,000 (2021 £5,715,000)

·      Loss per share of 137.0p (2021 profit 230.5p)

·      Final dividend 33p per share (2021 33p per share)

·      1.8% increase in total dividend payable for 2022 to 56p per share (2021 55p per share)

Dear Shareholder,

Highcroft has not been immune to the macro-economic factors affecting the UK and the wider global economy during 2022.  Just as the economy started to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, we were hit by the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which contributed to a year of soaring inflation, significant rises in interest rates and political instability.  However, while the gains in net asset value of 2021 were reversed in 2022, I am pleased to say that due to our diversified portfolio, strong balance sheet, low levels of gearing, and low fixed borrowing costs, our profit before tax increased during the year leading to a 1.8% increase in the total annual dividend.  I believe we are well positioned to weather the current economic challenges and to continue to deliver an attractive, secure, and long-term dividend to our shareholders.

Property portfolio

During 2022, our portfolio remained unchanged.  It remained focussed on warehouses and retail warehouses, which made up 72% of our portfolio by asset value at the yearend. These sectors performed well in the first half of 2022, but were affected by the significant adverse market movements in the second half of the year.  On a like-for-like basis, our total portfolio reduced by 11.8% (£10.4m), which was better than the all-property market negative movement of 14.2%.

We did not acquire any properties during the year, although we carried out improvement work at our Cardiff property and gained planning permission for the development of an industrial unit at our property in St Austell, resulting in additions of £0.7m to property carrying value. After the year end, in February 2023, we sold our Llantrisant asset for £7.85m, £1.1m above the 2022 year-end valuation and £0.9m above cost. As this asset had been vacated by the tenant during 2022, and the lease expired in Q1 2024, this disposal, at this price, in the current market protects shareholder value in the medium-term.  We intend to invest our available cash back into property that meets our strict selection criteria in a timely manner.   Despite the macro-economic challenges affecting our tenants in 2022, we collected 100% of the rent due for the year (2021 97%) and we let one of the two properties that were void at the start of the year, leaving one void unit, our Cardiff asset, representing 6% of our rental income. At the year end contracted rental revenue was 0.2% higher than at 31 December 2021, whilst net rental income remained constant at £5.3m compared to 2021.

Our net assets have fallen by £9.9m,15.0%, (2021 rise of £9.0m, 15.7%), primarily because of the movements in property valuation.

We have kept our debt levels low at 35% LTV with a weighted average cost of debt of 3.06% and have no debt maturing before 2026.

Dividend

The company's interim dividend was 23p, a 4.5% increase on 2021, and we are proposing a final dividend for 2022 of 33p per share, taking the total dividend for 2022 to 56p per share. This represents an increase of 1.8% from the 2021 dividend of 55p per share.

Continued focus on ESG

Highcroft has a clear purpose of providing our tenants with excellent properties in optimal locations, enabling them to succeed, and our stakeholders to benefit on a long-term sustainable basis. As a board, we have maintained our focus on sustainability, particularly during the refurbishment of our Cardiff asset and the design of a new building at our St Austell site. We continue to develop the most appropriate strategy for reducing our environmental impact within the existing portfolio and consider ESG matters in the selection of new assets. 

People

Our strategy is focussed on our competitive strength and our people, including our advisory teams, who are critical to this. In September 2022, Simon Gill indicated his intention to stand down as executive director on 31 March 2023 and I would like to thank him for his valuable contribution to the board over the past decade, which has been a period of significant growth for the group. He leaves behind a strong and well-positioned property portfolio.

In January 2023, we were pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Leaf-Wright as chief executive with effect from 1 January 2023. He brings with him a wealth of experience of property companies and of delivering shareholder value. As part of this change, we have also appointed new property advisers to the board and both they and Paul have completed their handover from Simon Gill.

Outlook

Highcroft's performance in 2022 was resilient, notwithstanding global and UK events causing repercussions in our marketplace. Since the year end, as mentioned, we have successfully sold one of our properties for £7.85m, an increase of 16% over the 31 December 2022 valuation. With our well-positioned portfolio, low level of well-priced debt and cash in the bank for reinvestment, we are well placed to continue to deliver long-term secure returns for our shareholders.  

Our AGM this year will, as last year, be an open meeting, and I look forward to meeting those of you who can attend.

Charles Butler

Chairman                                                                                                                   

27 March 2023

Enquiries:

Highcroft Investments PLC

Charles Butler / Roberta Miles

01869 352766

020 7496 3000

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information stipulated under retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulations (EU No. 596/2014) (the "UK MAR"), which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (withdrawal) Act 2018.

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

Consolidated statement of financial position

at 31 December 2022