Financial Review/Continued
Dividends This year we have maintained our quarterly dividend rate of 0.875 pence per share, equating to an annual rate of 3.5 pence per share. Total dividends paid out were £19.1 million, an increase of 3.6% compared to 2022. Dividend cover for the year remained healthy at 112%. Investment properties The appraised value of our investment property portfolio was £766.2 million at 31 March 2023, lower than the £849.3 million reported a year ago. We have made acquisitions this year, for a total consideration of £20.6 million, including costs. These acquisitions are discussed in more detail in the Portfolio Review section. Also this year, we have invested £6.1 million of capital expenditure in the portfolio upgrading a number of assets, including Madleaze Trading Estate, Gloucester, Colchester Business Park, Lyon Business Park, Essex and Metro, Manchester. In line with last year, the value of the floor that we occupy at Stanford Building, London, has been excluded from the value of Investment Properties and included separately with Property, Plant and Equipment. Any capital movements arising from the revaluation of this element of the property are shown within Other Comprehensive Income. At 31 March 2023 the portfolio comprised 49 assets, with an average lot size of £15.6 million. A further analysis of capital expenditure, in accordance with EPRA Best Practices Recommendations, is set out in the EPRA BPR and Supplementary Disclosures section.
2023
2022
2021
212.6
Fixed rate loans (£m)
213.9
166.2
11.9
Drawn revolving facility (£m)
4.9
–
224.5 204.4
Total borrowings (£m)
218.8 180.3
166.2 142.8
Borrowings net of cash (£m)
38.1 26.7
Undrawn facilities (£m) Loan to value ratio (%)
45.1 21.2
50.0 20.9
3.8 8.4
Weighted average interest rate (%)
3.7 9.6
4.2 8.9
Average duration (years)
Borrowings Total borrowings are now £224.5 million at 31 March 2023, with the loan to value ratio at 26.7%. The weighted average interest rate on our borrowings is 3.8%, while the average loan duration is now 8.4 years. Our loan facility with Aviva reduced by the regular amortisation, £1.4 million in the year. The Group remained fully compliant with its loan covenants throughout the year. At 31 March 2023, we had £11.9 million drawn under the revolving credit facility, which matures in 2025. This year we drew down £7.0 million under this facility, largely to fund the acquisition of the new Cheltenham asset, as well as for ongoing capital expenditure projects. The fair value of our drawn borrowings at 31 March 2023 was £201.7 million, lower than the book value by some £22.8 million. As a result, our EPRA NDV asset value was £570.4 million at 31 March 2023, higher than the reported net assets under IFRS. Both lending margins and gilt yields are currently higher relative to the rates set on our facilities. A summary of our borrowings is set out in the table above.
Cash flow and liquidity Our cash outflow for the year was £18.5 million. The cash flow from operating activities this year is £23.0 million, some 15% higher than the previous year. We invested £26.8 million during the year; £20.6 million being the consideration paid for two principal acquisitions, as well as £6.1 million of capital expenditure. Overall borrowings increased by £5.6 million. Dividends paid increased to £19.1 million. Our cash balance at the year-end stood at £20.1 million. Share capital No new ordinary shares were issued during the year. The Company’s Employee Benefit Trust acquired a further 1,250,000 shares, at a cost of £1.1 million, or 90 pence per share, during the year. This was to satisfy the future vesting of awards made under the Long-term Incentive Plan and Deferred Bonus Plan, and now holds a total of 2,388,694 shares. As the Trust is consolidated into the Group’s results, these shares are effectively held in treasury and therefore have been excluded from the net asset value and earnings per share calculations, from the date of purchase. Andrew Dewhirst Finance Director 24 May 2023
40
Picton Property Income Limited Annual Report 2023
Powered by FlippingBook