Alpha Real Regulatory News (ARTL)

LEI: 213800BMY95CP6CYXK69

23 June 2023

ALPHA REAL TRUST LIMITED ("ART" OR THE "COMPANY" OR "THE GROUP")

ART ANNOUNCES ITS ANNUAL RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2023

· NAV per ordinary share 216.8p as at 31 March 2023 (31 March 2022: 216.0p).

· Basic earnings for the year ended 31 March 2023 of 1.1p per ordinary share (31 March 2022: earnings of 13.3p per ordinary share).

· Adjusted earnings for the year ended 31 March 2023 of 7.7p per ordinary share (31 March 2022: 4.0p per ordinary share)*.

· Declaration of a quarterly dividend of 1.0p per ordinary share expected to be paid on 28 July 2023.

· Robust financial position: ART continues to adopt a cautious approach to new investment and has conserved cash as a result of the uncertainty that characterised the past year; this has placed the Company on a robust financial footing making it well positioned to take advantage of new investment opportunities.

· Investment targets: the Company is currently focussed on selectively increasing its loan portfolio and opportunistically extending its wider investment strategy to target investments offering inflation protection via index linked income adjustments and investments that have potential for capital gains.

· H2O Madrid: signing of a lease with anchor retailer Primark for a new 3,000 square metre store as part of a mall reconfiguration.

· Diversified portfolio of secured senior and secured mezzanine loan investments: as at 31 March 2023, the size of ART's drawn secured loan portfolio was £55.4 million, representing 44.5% of the investment portfolio.

· The senior portfolio has an average Loan to Value ('LTV')** of 63.5% based on loan commitments (with mezzanine loans having an LTV range of between 48.8% and 78.6% whilst the highest approved senior loan LTV is 72.9%).

· Loan commitments: including existing loans at the balance sheet date and loans committed post period end, ART's current total committed but undrawn loan commitments amount to £9.4 million.

· Cash management: during the period the Company invested £14 million in short term UK Treasury Bonds (Gilts) and UK Treasury Bills to enhance returns on its liquid holdings.

* The basis of the adjusted earnings per share is provided in note 9

** See below for more details

William Simpson, Chairman of Alpha Real Trust, commented:

"ART's investment portfolio benefits from diversification across geographies, sectors, and asset types. As inflationary pressures increasingly dominate the economic backdrop in which the Company operates, ART remains on a robust financial footing and is well placed to capitalise on new investment opportunities. 

ART remains committed to growing its diversified investment portfolio. In recent years the Company focused on reducing exposure to direct development risk and recycling capital into cashflow driven investments. The Company is currently focussed on its loan portfolio and also on its wider investment strategy which targets investments offering inflation protection via index linked income adjustments and investments that have potential for capital gains."

The Investment Manager of Alpha Real Trust is Alpha Real Capital LLP.

For further information please contact:

Alpha Real Trust Limited

William Simpson, Chairman, Alpha Real Trust +44 (0) 1481 742 742

Gordon Smith, Joint Fund Manager, Alpha Real Trust +44 (0) 207 391 4700

Brad Bauman, Joint Fund Manager, Alpha Real Trust +44 (0) 207 391 4700

Panmure Gordon, Broker to the Company

Atholl Tweedie +44 (0) 20 7886 2500

Notes to editors:

About Alpha Real Trust

Alpha Real Trust Limited targets investment, development, financing and other opportunities in real estate, real estate operating companies and securities, real estate services, infrastructure, infrastructure services, other asset-backed businesses and related operations and services businesses that offer attractive risk-adjusted total returns.

Further information on the Company can be found on the Company's website: www.alpharealtrustlimited.com.

About Alpha Real Capital LLP

Alpha Real Capital is a value-adding international property fund management group. Alpha Real Capital is the Investment Manager to ART. Brad Bauman and Gordon Smith of Alpha Real Capital are joint Fund Managers to ART. Both have experience in the real estate and finance industries throughout the UK, Europe and Asia. 

For more information on Alpha Real Capital please visit www.alpharealcapital.com.

Company's summary and objective

Strategy

ART targets investment, development, financing and other opportunities in real estate, real estate operating companies and securities, real estate services, infrastructure, infrastructure services, other asset-backed businesses and related operations and services businesses that offer attractive risk-adjusted total returns.

ART currently selectively focusses on asset-backed lending, debt investments and high return property investments in Western Europe that are capable of delivering strong risk adjusted cash flows.

The portfolio mix at 31 March 2023, excluding sundry assets/liabilities, was as follows:

The Company is currently focussed on selectively increasing its loan portfolio and opportunistically extending its wider investment strategy to target high return property investments offering inflation protection via index linked income adjustments and investments that have potential for capital gains.

In a market of higher interest rates and volatility of valuations, alternative credit remains an attractive investment opportunity. As geared asset owners seek to refinance at current valuations in an environment of more conservative lending criteria, higher margins and base rates, requirements will emerge for opportunistic capital to provide mezzanine finance at attractive risk adjusted returns.

Dividends

The current intention of the Directors is to pay a dividend and offer a scrip dividend alternative quarterly to all shareholders.

Listing

The Company's shares are traded on the Specialist Fund Segment ("SFS") of the London Stock Exchange ("LSE"), ticker ARTL: LSE.

Management

The Company's Investment Manager is Alpha Real Capital LLP ("ARC"), whose team of investment and asset management professionals focus on the potential to enhance earnings in addition to adding value to the underlying assets, and also focus on the risk profile of each investment within the capital structure to best deliver attractive risk adjusted returns.

Control of the Company rests with the non-executive Guernsey based Board of Directors.

Financial highlights

* The adjusted earnings per share includes adjustments for the effect of the fair value revaluation of investment property and indirect property investments, capital element on Investment Manager's fees, the fair value movements on financial assets and deferred tax provisions: full analysis is provided in note 9 to the accounts.

Chairman's statement

I am pleased to present the Company's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2023.

ART's investment portfolio benefits from diversification across geographies, sectors and asset types. As inflationary pressures increasingly dominate the economic backdrop in which the Company operates, ART remains on a robust financial footing and is well placed to capitalise on new investment opportunities.

During the year there has been elevated volatility across the markets in which the Company operates. Inflationary pressures and rising central bank interest rates continue to dominate the economic agenda. The impact of these events on real asset prices is yet to be fully determined.

The uncertain market will offer opportunities in the medium term for ART to grow its diversified investment portfolio. In recent years the Company focused on recycling capital into cashflow driven investments. The Company is currently focussed on its loan portfolio and opportunistically extending its wider investment strategy to target investments offering inflation protection via index linked income adjustments and investments that have potential for capital gains.

ART continues to adhere to its disciplined strategy and investment underwriting principles which seek to manage risk through a combination of operational controls, diversification and an analysis of the underlying asset security.

Long leased assets

The Company's portfolio of long leased properties, comprising two hotels leased to Travelodge in the UK and an industrial facility in Hamburg, Germany, leased to a leading industrial group are well positioned in the current inflationary environment. The leased assets have inflation linked rent adjustments which offer the potential to benefit from a long term, predictable, inflation linked income stream and the potential for associated capital growth.

Diversified secured lending investment

The Company invests in a diversified portfolio of secured senior and mezzanine loan investments. The loans are typically secured on predominately residential real estate investment and development assets with attractive risk adjusted income returns. As at 31 March 2023, ART had committed £72.0 million across nineteen loans, of which £55.4 million (excluding a £3.7 million provision for Expected Credit Loss discussed below) was drawn.

The Company's debt portfolio comprises predominately floating rate loans. Borrowing rates are typically set at a margin over Bank of England ('BoE') Base Rate and benefit from rising interest rates as outstanding loans deliver increasing returns as loan rates track increases in the BoE Base Rate.

During the year, six loans totalling £10.7 million (including accrued interest and exit fees) were fully repaid and a further £5.2 million (including accrued interest) was received as part repayments. Post year end, no new loans were drawn but additional drawdowns of £3.3 million were made on existing loans, one loan was fully repaid for £1.5 million (including accrued interest and exit fees) and part payments for other loans were received amounting to £2.3 million (including accrued interest).

As at 31 March 2023, 70.0% of the Company's loan investments were senior loans and 30.0% were mezzanine loans. The portfolio has an average LTV of 63.5% based on loan commitments (with mezzanine loans having an LTV range of between 48.8% and 78.6% whilst the highest approved senior loan LTV is 72.9%). Portfolio loans are underwritten against value for investment loans or gross development value for development loans as relevant and collectively referred to as LTV in this report.

The largest individual loan in the portfolio as at 31 March 2023 is a senior loan of £10.3 million which represents 14.3% of committed loan capital and 8.2% of the Company's NAV.

Three loans in the portfolio have entered receivership: ART is closely working with stakeholders to maximise capital recovery. The Company has considered the security on these loans (which are a combination of a first charge and a second charge over the respective assets and personal guarantees) and have calculated an Expected Credit Loss ('ECL') on these three loans of approximately £2.9 million; the Group have also provided for an ECL on the remainder of the loans' portfolio for an additional £0.8 million: in total, the Group have provided for an ECL of £3.7 million in its consolidated accounts.

Aside from the isolated cases of receivership, illustrated above, the Company's loan portfolio has proved to be resilient despite the recent extended period of heightened uncertainty and risk. In terms of debt servicing, allowing for some temporary agreed extensions, interest and debt repayments have been received in accordance with the loan agreements. Where it is considered appropriate, on a case-by-case basis, underlying loan terms may be extended or varied with a view to maximising ART's risk adjusted returns and collateral security position. The Company's loan portfolio and new loan targets continue to be closely reviewed to consider the potential impact on construction timelines, building cost inflation and sales periods.

The underlying assets in the loan portfolio as at 31 March 2023 had geographic diversification with a London and Southeast focus. The South East of England (including London) accounted for 49%, of which London accounted for 24%, of the committed capital within the loan investment portfolio.

H2O, Madrid

ART has a 30% stake in a joint venture with CBRE Investment Management in the H2O shopping centre in Madrid.

H2O occupancy, by area, as at 31 March 2023 was 92%. The centre's visitor numbers remain below pre-Covid highs; however, a recovery is evident. In the three months to 31 March 2023, visitor numbers were approximately 9.4% below those in 2019 (pre-Covid) and 10.0% above 2022. Tenant sales volumes are ahead of pre-Covid levels, with total comparable sales being approximately 12% above 2019 and 2022 levels.

During the period, a lease with anchor retailer Primark was signed for a new 3,000 square metre store. The new store will involve a reconfiguration of a mall area which is under commercialised with the unit combining a number of existing vacant units along with space currently used as communal mall area. The store is expected to be delivered during 2024.

Other investments

Investment in listed and authorised funds

The Company invested a total of £6.0 million (value as at 31 March 2023: £4.3 million) across three investments that offered potential to generate attractive risk adjusted returns. Current market volatility and rises in interest rates have impacted the capital value of these investments. The investment yield offers a potentially accretive return to holding cash while the Company deploys capital in opportunities in line with its investment strategy. These funds invest in ungeared long-dated leased real estate, debt and infrastructure.

During the year, the Company fully divested £5.3 million from a further investment, delivering an 8.1% capital return over the holding period.

Investment in UK Treasury Bonds and Treasury Bills

In February 2023, the Company invested £7.0 million in UK Treasury Bills with maturity 7 August 2023 and an annualised yield to maturity of 4.2% (value as at 31 March 2023: £7.0 million) and £7.0 million in UK Treasury Bonds earning a 2.25% annual coupon with maturity 7 September 2023 and an annualised yield to maturity of 4.0% (value as at 31 March 2023: £7.0 million). Post year end, on 8 June 2023, the Company invested a further £6.0 million in short dated Treasury Bonds. These government backed short term investments offer the Company enhanced returns over cash balances.

Results and dividends

Results

Basic earnings for the year ended 31 March 2023 are £0.6 million (1.1 pence per ordinary share, see note 9 of the financial statements).

Adjusted earnings, which the Board believes is a more appropriate assessment of the operational income accruing to the Group's activities, for the year ended 31 March 2023 are £4.5 million (7.7 pence per ordinary share, see note 9 of the financial statements). This compares with adjusted earnings of £2.4 million (4.0 pence per ordinary share) in the same period last year. Earnings have improved predominantly due to a stronger performance from the Company's loan portfolio.

The net asset value per ordinary share at 31 March 2023 is 216.8 pence per share (31 March 2022: 216.0 pence per ordinary share) (see note 10 of the financial statements). The net positive movement over the period reflects a combination of improved adjusted earnings (less dividends) with positive foreign exchange movements mitigating to a certain extent the fair value movements in investments.

Dividends

The Board announces a dividend of 1.0 pence per ordinary share which is expected to be paid on 28 July 2023 (ex-dividend date 6 July 2023 and record date 7 July 2023).

The dividends paid and declared in respect of the year ended 31 March 2023 totalled 4.0 pence per ordinary share representing an annual dividend yield of 2.9% p.a. by reference to the average closing share price over the year ended 31 March 2023.

During the period, dividends of £355,776 were paid in cash and £2,023,584 settled by scrip issue of shares.

Scrip dividend alternative

Shareholders of the Company have the option to receive shares in the Company in lieu of a cash dividend, at the absolute discretion of the Directors, from time to time.

The number of ordinary shares that an Ordinary Shareholder will receive under the Scrip Dividend Alternative will be calculated using the average of the closing middle market quotations of an ordinary share for five consecutive dealing days after the day on which the ordinary shares are first quoted "ex" the relevant dividend.

The Board has elected to offer the scrip dividend alternative to Shareholders for the dividend for the quarter ended 31 March 2023. Shareholders who returned the Scrip Mandate Form and elected to receive the scrip dividend alternative will receive shares in lieu of the next dividend. Shareholders who have not previously elected to receive scrip may complete a Scrip Mandate Form (this can be obtained from the registrar: contact Computershare (details below)), which must be returned by 13 July 2023 to benefit from the scrip dividend alternative for the next dividend.

Financing

As at 31 March 2023 the Group has one direct bank loan of €9.5 million (£8.4 million), with no financial covenant tests, to a subsidiary used to finance the acquisition of the Hamburg property. The loan is secured over the Hamburg property and has no recourse to the other assets of the Group.

Further details of individual asset financing can be found under the individual investment review sections later in this report.

Share buybacks

Under the general authority, approved by Shareholders on 6 August 2021, the Company announced a tender offer on 29 June 2022 for up to 6,428,353 ordinary shares at a price (before expenses) of 175.0 pence per share. In July 2022, a total of 5,419,016 ordinary shares were validly tendered under the tender offer. All purchased ordinary shares are held in treasury.

During the year, the Company additionally purchased 46,500 shares in the market at an average price of £1.51 per share: these shares are held in treasury.

Post period end, the Company made no share buybacks.

As at the date of this announcement, the ordinary share capital of the Company is 65,820,175 (including 7,717,581 ordinary shares held in treasury) and the total voting rights in the Company is 58,102,594.

Foreign currency

The Company monitors foreign exchange exposures and considers hedging where appropriate. Foreign currency balances have been translated at the period end rates of £1: €1.137 or £1: INR101.554, as appropriate.

Russian invasion of Ukraine and going concern

As previously stated, ART has no investments in Ukraine or Russia, nor exposure to any companies that have investments in, or links to, Ukraine or Russia. ART has no arrangements with any person currently on (or potentially on) any sanctions list, or links to Ukraine or Russia. The Board continues to monitor the global political and economic situation regularly assessing impacts arising from inflation and interest rates changes for a potential material impact on ART's portfolio.

The Company has adopted a prudent short-term strategy to move to cash conservation and a cautious approach to commitments to new investments over this uncertain time. Alert to the impact of potentially reducing income returns, this approach has supported a robust balance sheet position. The Company continues to adopt this cautious approach to new investment and is conserving cash because of the uncertainty that has characterised the past few months; this ensures the Company retains a robust financial footing, making it well positioned to take advantage of new investment opportunities.

As noted above, the Company held approximately (as at 31 March 2023) 13.8% of its assets (excluding sundry net assets) in cash and 11.2% in highly liquid UK Treasury Bonds and Bills with limited current contractual capital commitments. While there is external financing in the Group's investment interests, this is limited and non-recourse to the Company; the borrowings in these special purpose vehicles are compliant with their banking covenants. See the investment review section for more details on relevant investments.

Bearing in mind the nature of the Group's business and assets, after making enquiries, with the support of revenue forecasts for the next twelve months and considering the above, the Directors consider that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Strategy and outlook

ART's investment portfolio benefits from diversification across geographies, sectors, and asset types. As inflationary pressures increasingly dominate the economic backdrop in which the Company operates, ART remains on a robust financial footing and is well placed to capitalise on new investment opportunities. 

ART remains committed to growing its diversified investment portfolio. In recent years the Company focused on reducing exposure to direct development risk and recycling capital into cashflow driven investments. The Company is currently focussed on its loan portfolio and also on its wider investment strategy which targets investments offering inflation protection via index linked income adjustments and investments that have potential for capital gains. 

William Simpson Chairman

22 June 2023

Investment review

Portfolio overview as at 31 March 2023

1 Percentage share shown based on NAV excluding the company's sundry assets/liabilities

2 Including accrued interest/coupon at the balance sheet date

3 The income returns for high return debt are the annualised actual finance income return over the period shown as a percentage of the average committed

capital over the period

4 Yield on equity over 12 months to 31 March 2023

5 Property value including sundry assets/liabilities, net of associated debt

6 Annualised monthly return

7 Group cash of £18.4m excluding cash held with the Hamburg holding company of £1.2m

8 Fixed annual coupon

9 Annualised yield to maturity

10 Weighted average interest earned on call accounts

High return debt

Overview

ART has a portfolio of secured loan investments which contribute a diversified return to the Company's earnings position. The portfolio comprises high return senior (first charge) loans and mezzanine (second charge) loans secured on real estate investment assets and developments. ART loan underwriting is supported by the Investment Manager's asset-backed lending experience, developer and investor relationships and knowledge of the underlying assets and sectors, in addition to the Group's partnerships with specialist debt providers.

Secured Finance

* Including accrued interest/coupon at the balance sheet date

** The income returns for high return debt are the annualised actual finance income return over the period shown as a percentage of the average committed capital over the period

ART's portfolio of secured senior and mezzanine loan investments have increased in scale and diversity over the past year. These loans are typically secured on real estate investment and development assets with attractive risk-adjusted income returns from either current or capitalised interest or coupons.

As at 31 March 2023, ART had invested a total amount of £55.4 million across nineteen loans. Over the past twelve months the loan portfolio has increased by 52.2%.

During the year, six loans totalling £10.7 million (including accrued interest and exit fees) were fully repaid and a further £5.2 million (including accrued interest) was received as part repayments. Post year end, no new loans were drawn but additional drawdowns of £3.3 million were made on existing loans, one loan was fully repaid for £1.5 million (including accrued interest and exit fees) and part payments for other loans were received amounting to £2.3 million (including accrued interest).

Each loan will typically have a term of up to two years (one loan has a term of four years), a maximum 75% loan to gross development value ratio and be targeted to generate attractive risk-adjusted income returns. As at 31 March 2023, the portfolio had an average LTV of 63.5% (with average approved LTV between 48.8% and 78.6% for mezzanine facilities while the highest approved LTV for senior loans is 72.9%).

Three loans in the portfolio, with a total balance at year end of £6.8 million, have entered receivership: ART is closely working with stakeholders to maximise capital recovery. The Company has considered the security on these loans (which are a combination of a first charge and a second charge over the respective assets and personal guarantees) and have calculated an Expected Credit Loss ('ECL') on these three loans of approximately £2.9 million; the Group has also provided for an ECL on the remainder of the loans' portfolio for an additional £0.8 million: in total, the Group has provided for an ECL of £3.7 million in its consolidated accounts.

Current loan investment examples:

High return equity in property investments

Overview

ART continues to remain focused on investments that offer the potential to deliver attractive risk-adjusted returns by way of value enhancement through active asset management, improvement of income, selective deployment of capital expenditure and the ability to undertake strategic sales when the achievable price is accretive to returns.

H2O Shopping Centre, Madrid

* Yield on equity over twelve months to 31 March 2023

ART has a 30% stake in joint venture with CBRE Investment Management in the H2O shopping centre in Madrid. H2O was opened in 2007 and built to a high standard providing shopping, restaurants and leisure around a central theme of landscaped gardens and an artificial lake. H2O has a gross lettable area of approximately 54,896 square metres comprising 119 retail units. In addition to a multiplex cinema, supermarket (let to leading Spanish supermarket operator Mercadona) and restaurants, it has a large fashion retailer base, including some of the strongest international fashion brands, such as Nike, Zara, Mango, JD Sports, Cortefiel, H&M and C&A.

In line with other shopping centres in Spain, H2O's visitor numbers remain below the pre-Covid highs however a recovery versus 2022 is evident, a year in which Covid restriction had been largely relaxed. In the three months to 31 March 2023, visitor numbers were approximately 9.4% below those in 2019 (pre-Covid) and 10.0% above 2022. Tenant sales volumes are ahead of pre-Covid levels, with total comparable sales being approximately 12% above 2019 and 2022 levels.

During the period, a lease with anchor retailer Primark was signed for a new 3,000 square metre store. The new store will involve a reconfiguration of a mall area which is under commercialised with the unit combining a number of existing vacant units along with space currently used as communal mall area. The store is expected to be delivered during 2024.

The asset management highlights are as follows:

· Valuation: 31 March 2023: €119.3 million (£104.9 million) (31 March 2022: €121.0 million (£102.1 million)).

· Centre occupancy: 92.1% by area as at 31 March 2023.

· Weighted average lease length to next break of 2.5 years and 7.6 years to expiry as at 31 March 2023.

Long leased industrial facility, Hamburg

* Property value including sundry assets/liabilities and cash, net of associated debt

** Yield on equity over twelve months to 31 March 2023

ART has an investment of €9.9 million (£8.7 million) in an industrial facility leased to a leading international group.

The property is held freehold and occupies a site of 11.8 acres in Billbrook, a well-established and well-connected industrial area located approximately 8 kilometres south-east of Hamburg centre. Hamburg is one of the main industrial and logistics markets in Germany.

The property is leased to Veolia Umweltservice Nord GmbH, part of the Veolia group, an international industrial specialist in water, waste and energy management, with a 19-year unexpired lease term. Under the operating lease, the tenant is responsible for building maintenance and the rent has periodic inflation linked adjustments.

The Hamburg asset is funded by way of a €9.5 million (£8.4 million) non-recourse, fixed rate, bank debt facility which matures on 31 July 2028. The facility carries no financial covenant tests.

This investment offers the potential to benefit from a long term secure and predictable inflation-linked income stream which is forecast to generate stable high single digit income returns. In addition, the investment offers the potential for associated capital growth from an industrial location in a major German logistics and infrastructure hub.

Long leased hotel, Wadebridge, Cornwall

* Annualised monthly return

In July 2022, ART acquired a hotel in Wadebridge (UK) for £4.3 million, including acquisition costs. As at 31 March 2023, the property was valued at £3.8 million.

The hotel is a 55-bedroom property, which is held freehold and is situated on the outskirts of Wadebridge in the county of Cornwall. The hotel is in a well-connected location in close proximity to the A39. 

The property is leased to Travelodge Hotels Limited on a 20 year unexpired lease term (including landlord extension option). Under the lease, the tenant is responsible for building maintenance.

The passing rent of £0.3 million p.a. has inflation linked adjustments.

Long leased hotel, Lowestoft

* Annualised monthly return

In June 2022, ART acquired a hotel in Lowestoft (UK) for £3.1 million, including acquisition costs. As at 31 March 2023, the property was valued at £2.8 million.

The hotel is a 47-bedroom property, which is held freehold and occupies a site of 1.08 acres in Lowestoft, a well-established and well connected area located in close proximity to the A47 which runs to Norwich.

The property is leased to Travelodge Hotels Limited on an 18 year unexpired lease term (including landlord extension option). Under the lease, the tenant is responsible for building maintenance.

The passing rent of £0.2 million p.a. has inflation linked adjustments.

Other Investments

Listed and authorised fund investments

*Yield on equity based on 12 months to 31 March 2023

The Company invested a total of £6.0 million (value as at 31 March 2023: £4.3 million) across three investments that offered potential to generate attractive risk adjusted returns. Current market volatility and rise in interest rates has impacted the capital value of these investments. The investment yield offers a potentially accretive return to holding cash while the Company deploys capital in opportunities in line with its investment strategy. These funds invest in ungeared long-dated leased real estate, debt and infrastructure.

During the year, the Company fully divested £5.3 million from a further investment, delivering an 8.1% capital return over the holding period.

Affordable Housing

The Company's wholly owned investment, RealHousingCo Limited ("RHC") has obtained successful registration with the Regulator of Social Housing as a For Profit Registered Provider of affordable homes. This status provides RHC with a platform to undertake future investment in the affordable housing sector which offers scope to generate long term, inflation-linked returns while addressing the chronic undersupply of affordable homes in the UK.

RHC owns a residential property located in Liverpool (UK), which is comprised of seven units, all of which are occupied by private individuals, each with a six month term contract. The fair value of the Liverpool property as at 31 March 2023 was £0.6 million.

UK Treasury Bonds and Bills

In February 2023, the Company invested £7.0 million in UK Treasury Bills with maturity 7 August 2023 and an annualised yield to maturity of 4.2% (value as at 31 March 2023: £7.0 million) and £7.0 million in UK Treasury Bonds earning a 2.25% annual coupon with maturity 7 September 2023 and an annualised yield to maturity of 4.0% (value as at 31 March 2023: £7.0 million). Post period end, on 8 June 2023, the Company invested a further £6.0 million in short dated Treasury Bonds. These government backed short term investments offer the Company enhanced returns over cash balances.

Cash balances

* Group cash of £18.4m excluding cash held with the Hamburg holding company of £1.2m

** weighted average interest earned on call accounts

As at 31 March 2023, the Group had cash balances of £17.2 million, excluding cash held with the Hamburg holding company of £1.2 million. The Group's cash is held with established banks with strong credit ratings.

Summary

ART has a diversified portfolio focussed on asset-backed lending and property investments in Western Europe. 

The Company is currently focussed on selectively increasing its loan portfolio and extending its wider investment strategy to opportunistically target investments offering inflation protection via index linked income adjustments and investments that have potential for capital gains

Brad Bauman and Gordon Smith

For and on behalf of the Investment Manager

22 June 2023

Directors

William Simpson (aged 67)

Chairman

William Simpson has over 30 years' experience as a lawyer in financial services. His focus has been on regulated and unregulated investment vehicles, encompassing banking, finance, corporate, investment, trust and regulatory work.

William studied law at Leeds University and practised at the Bar in England before moving to the Cayman Islands and then the British Virgin Islands. William was a partner at Ozannes, now Mourant, and then managing partner of Ogier Guernsey, during which time he also served on the Ogier Group board.

In 2017 William became an independent consultant and remains a director of a number of Guernsey based financial services companies. William is a member of the English and Guernsey Bars.

Phillip Rose (aged 63)

Phillip Rose is a Fellow of the Securities Institute and holds a Master of Law degree. He has over 40 years' experience in the real estate, funds management and banking industries in Europe, the USA and Australasia. He has been the Head of Real Estate for ABN AMRO Bank, Chief Operating Officer of European shopping centre investor and developer TrizecHahn Europe, Managing Director of retail and commercial property developer and investor Lend Lease Global Investment and Executive Manager of listed fund General Property Trust.

Phillip is currently CEO of Alpha Real Capital LLP and has been a member of the Management Committee for Hermes Property Unit Trust and its Audit Committee, and has been a Non-Executive Director of Great Portland Estates plc.

Jeff Chowdhry (aged 62)

Jeff is currently General Partner at Concept Ventures, an early stage, software focused, VC fund. It is currently the largest dedicated pre-seed fund in the UK.

He has an investment career which spans over 40 years having held senior positions at F&C, as head of emerging markets and BMO Asset Management where he was responsible for AUM of over $5 billion. He has specific expertise in ESG related matters.

He is an active Angel investor having backed over 30 start-up companies and has several board advisory positions within these rapidly growing businesses.

Melanie Torode (aged 43)

Mel Torode has 20 years' experience in the fund administration industry specifically including private equity, property and mezzanine debt and is an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Prior to founding Morgan Sharpe in April 2008 (a fund administration company sold to Estera, subsequently Ocorian, in 2017), Mel was the Company Secretary of Assura Administration, overseeing the administration of listed property funds. During the period from 2017 to 2021, Mel held the roles of Operations Director, Managing Director and subsequently Non-Executive of Ocorian Guernsey.

Mel began her career at Guernsey International Fund Managers (now Northern Trust), working on large private equity funds and European holding companies, moving to Mourant International Finance Administration (now State Street) where she spent more than two years concentrating primarily on listed property funds.

Peter Griffin (aged 64)

Peter Griffin has over 30 years' experience in financial services and is a qualified chartered accountant.

He is currently a director of Handelsbanken Alternatives Fund Limited, an investment company listed on The International Stock Exchange.

Peter previously had various senior roles in the trust services industry in the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

Directors' and Corporate Governance report

The Directors present their report and financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2023.

Principal activities and status

During the year, the Company, an authorised closed-ended Guernsey registered investment company, carried on business as an investment company, investing in direct property, development, financing and other opportunities in real estate, real estate operating companies and securities, real estate services, infrastructure, infrastructure services, other asset-backed businesses and related operations and services businesses.

The Company's shares are traded on the Specialist Fund Segment ("SFS") of the London Stock Exchange ("LSE").

Business review, results and dividend

A review of the business during the year is contained in the Chairman's Statement.

The results for the year to 31 March 2023 are set out in the financial statements. On 24 February 2023, the Company declared a dividend of 1.0p per share, which was paid to shareholders on 6 April 2023. The intention of the Company is to pay a dividend quarterly.

Share buybacks

Under the general authority, approved by Shareholders on 6 August 2021, the Company announced a tender offer on 29 June 2022 for up to 6,428,353 ordinary shares at a price (before expenses) of 175.0 pence per share. In July 2022, a total of 5,419,016 ordinary shares were validly tendered under the tender offer. All purchased ordinary shares are held in treasury.

During the year, the Company additionally purchased 46,500 shares in the market at an average price of £1.51 per share: these shares are held in treasury. Post period end, the Company made no share buybacks. As at the date of this announcement, the ordinary share capital of the Company is 65,820,175 (including 7,717,581 ordinary shares held in treasury) and the total voting rights in the Company is 58,102,594.

Scrip dividend alternative

In the circular published on 18 December 2018, the Company sought shareholders' approval to enable a scrip dividend alternative to be offered to ordinary shareholders whereby they could elect to receive additional ordinary shares in lieu of a cash dividend, at the absolute discretion of the Directors, from time to time. This was approved by shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting on 8 January 2019.

The number of ordinary shares that an ordinary shareholder will receive under the scrip dividend alternative will be calculated using the average of the closing middle market quotations of an ordinary share for five consecutive dealing days after the day on which the ordinary shares are first quoted "ex" the relevant dividend.

The Board elected to offer the scrip dividend alternative to shareholders for the dividend for the quarter ended 31 December 2022: for this period, scrip dividend alternative elections were received in respect of 52,402,023 shares of the Company, which has resulted in the issue of 401,545 new ordinary shares in April 2023.

Further details on dividends are given in note 8 of the financial statements.

Corporate governance

As a Guernsey registered company traded on SFS, the Company is not required to comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code ("UK Code"). However, as a company authorised by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission ("GFSC"), it is required to follow the principles and guidance set out in the Finance Sector Code of Corporate Governance issued by the GFSC and effective from 1 January 2012 (amended in February 2016 and November 2021) ("Guernsey Code"). Compliance with the Guernsey Code and general principles of good corporate governance are reviewed by the Board at least annually and, at the date of signing these financial statements, the Board is satisfied that the Company is fully compliant with the Guernsey Code. The Guernsey Code is available for consultation on the GFSC website: www.gfsc.gg.

The Board

Biographies of the Directors are set out above.

The Directors' interests in the shares of the Company as at 31 March 2023 are set out below:

Post year end, Phillip Rose increased his shareholding in ART to 985,696 ordinary shares.

Non-executive directors are not appointed for specified terms; appointments of Board members can be terminated at any time without penalty and the Company's Articles of Association ("Articles") require each Director to retire and submit himself/herself to re-election by the shareholders at every third year. In addition, the Board believes that continuity and experience add to its strength. 

The Annual General Meeting of the Company will take place on 7 September 2023. At this meeting, Jeff Chowdhry will retire and submit himself for re-election. The remainder of the Board recommend his re-appointment.

Individual Directors may seek independent legal advice in relation to their duties on behalf of the Company.

Operations of the Board

The Board has determined that its role is to consider and determine the following principal matters which it considers are of strategic importance to the Company:

1) Review the overall objectives for the Company and set the Company's strategy for fulfilling those objectives within an appropriate risk framework

2) Consider any shifts in strategy that it considers may be appropriate in light of market conditions

3) Review the capital structure of the Company including consideration of any appropriate use of gearing both for the Company and in any joint ventures in which the Company may invest from time to time

4) Appoint the Investment Manager, Administrator and other appropriately skilled service providers and monitor their effectiveness through regular reports and meetings

5) Review key elements of the Company's performance including Net Asset Value and payment of dividends.

At Board meetings, the Board ensures that all the strategic matters are considered and resolved by the Board. Certain issues associated with implementing the Company's strategy are delegated either to the Investment Manager or the Administrator. Such delegation is over minor incidental matters and the Board continually monitors the services provided by these independent agents. The Board considers matters that are significant enough to be of strategic importance and are therefore reserved solely for the Board (e.g. all acquisitions, all disposals, significant capital expenditure, leasing and decisions affecting the Company's financial gearing).

The Board meets at least quarterly and as required from time to time to consider specific issues reserved for decision by the Board, as noted above.

At the Board's quarterly meetings, it considers papers circulated in advance including reports provided by the Investment Manager and the Administrator. The Investment Manager's report comments on:

· The property and debt markets of the UK and Europe including recommendations for any changes in strategy that the Investment Manager considers may be appropriate

· Performance of the Group's portfolio and key asset management initiatives

· Transactional or lending activity undertaken over the previous quarter and being contemplated for the future

· The Group's financial position including relationships with bankers, borrowers and lenders.

These reports enable the Board to assess the success with which the Group's investment strategy and other associated matters are being implemented and also consider any relevant risks and to consider how they should be properly managed.

The Company's service providers issue reports on their own internal controls and these reports are considered by the Board periodically.

In between its regular quarterly meetings, the Board has also met on a number of occasions during the year to approve specific transactions and for other matters.

Board and Directors' appraisals

The Board carries out an annual review of its composition and performance (including the performance of individual Directors) and that of its standing committees. Such appraisal includes reviewing the performance and composition of the Board (and whether it has an appropriate mix of knowledge, skills and experience), the relationships between the Board and the Investment Manager and Administrator, the processes in place and the information provided to the Board and communication between Board members.

Board Meeting attendance

The table below shows the attendance at Board meetings during the year to 31 March 2023:

Directors' and officers' insurance

An appropriate level of Directors' and officers' insurance is maintained whereby Directors are indemnified against liabilities to third parties to the extent permitted by Guernsey company law.

Board Committees

The Board has established three standing committees, all of which operate under detailed terms of reference, copies of which are available on request from the Company Secretary.

Audit and Risk Committee

The Audit and Risk Committee consists of Peter Griffin (Chairman), Jeff Chowdhry and William Simpson. The Board is satisfied that Peter Griffin continues to have the requisite recent and relevant financial experience to fulfil his role as Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Role of the Committee

The role of the Audit and Risk Committee, which meets at least twice a year, includes:

· The engagement, review of the work carried out by and the performance of the Group's external auditor

· To monitor and review the independence, objectivity and effectiveness of the external auditor

· To develop and apply a policy for the engagement of the external audit firm to provide non-audit services

· To assist the Board in discharging its duty to ensure that financial statements comply with all legal requirements

· To review the Group's financial reporting and internal control policies and to ensure that the procedures for the identification, assessment and reporting of risks are adequate

· To review regularly the need for an internal audit function

· To monitor the integrity of the Group's financial statements, including its annual and half-year reports and announcements relating to its financial performance, reviewing the significant financial reporting issues and judgements which they contain

· To review the consistency of accounting policies and practices

· To review and challenge where necessary the financial results of the Group before submission to the Board.

The Audit and Risk Committee makes recommendations to the Board which are within its terms of reference and considers any other matters as the Board may from time to time refer to it.

Members of the Audit and Risk Committee may also, from time to time, meet with the Group's independent property valuers to discuss the scope and conclusions of their work.

Committee meeting attendance

Policy for non audit services

The Committee has adopted a policy for the provision of non-audit services by the Company's external auditor, BDO Limited, and reviews and approves all material non-audit related services in accordance with the need to ensure the independence and objectivity of the external auditor. No services, other than audit-related ones, were carried out by BDO Limited during the year.

Internal audit

The Board relies upon the systems and procedures employed by the Investment Manager and the Administrator which are regularly reviewed and are considered to be sufficient to provide it with the required degree of comfort. Therefore, the Board continues to believe that there is no need for an internal audit function, although the Audit and Risk Committee considers this annually, reporting its findings to the Board.

Nomination Committee and attendance

The Nomination Committee consists of William Simpson (Chairman), Phillip Rose and Melanie Torode.

The Committee's principal task is to review the structure, size and composition of the Board in relation to its size and position in the market and to make recommendations to fill Board vacancies as they arise and it meets at least annually. It met once during the year and all Committee members were present.

Remuneration Committee and attendance

The Remuneration Committee consists of Melanie Torode (Chairman), Jeff Chowdhry and William Simpson.

The Board has approved formal terms of reference for the Committee and a copy of these is available on request from the Company Secretary.

As the Company comprises only non-executive directors, the Committee's main role is to determine their remuneration within the cap set out in the Company's Articles. No meeting was held during the year.

Remuneration report

The aggregate fees payable to the Directors are limited to £200,000 per annum under the Company's Articles. The annual fees payable to each Director, which were last reviewed in 2019, have been increased by 10% with effect from 1 April 2022. The fees payable to the Directors are expected to reflect their expertise, responsibilities and time spent on the business of the Group, taking into account market equivalents, the activities, the size of the Group and market conditions. Under their respective appointment letters, each Director is entitled to an annual fee together with a provision for reimbursement for any reasonable out of pocket expenses. 

During the year the Directors received the following emoluments in the form of fees from Group companies:

* retired on 30 September 2021

** appointed on 30 September 2021

*** This comprises £27,500 for the ART's directorship plus fees for directorships of ART's subsidiaries and joint ventures

Internal control and risk management

The Board understands its responsibility for ensuring that there are sufficient, appropriate and effective systems, procedures, policies and processes for internal control of financial, operational, compliance and risk management matters in place in order to manage the risks which are an inherent part of business. Such risks are managed rather than eliminated in order to permit the Company to meet its financial and other objectives.

The Board reviews the internal procedures of both its Investment Manager and its Administrator upon which it is reliant. The Investment Manager has a schedule of matters which have been delegated to it by the Board and upon which it reports to the Board on a quarterly basis. These matters include quarterly management accounts and reporting both against key financial performance indicators and its peer group. Further, a compliance report is produced by the Administrator for the Board on a quarterly basis.

The Company maintains a risk management framework which considers the non-financial as well as financial risks and this is reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee prior to submission to the Board.

Investment management agreement

The Company has an agreement with the Investment Manager. This sets out the Investment Manager's key responsibilities, which include proposing a property investment strategy to the Board, identifying property investments to recommend for acquisition and arranging appropriate lending facilities. The Investment Manager is also responsible to the Board for all issues relating to property asset management.

Substantial shareholding

Shareholders with holdings of more than 3 per cent of the voting rights of the Company as at 25 May 2023 were as follows:

Shareholder relations

The Board places high importance on its relationship with its shareholders, with members of the Investment Manager's Investment Committee making themselves available for meetings with key shareholders and sector analysts. Reporting of these meetings and market commentary is received by the Board on a quarterly basis to ensure that shareholder communication fulfils the needs of being useful, timely and effective. One or more members of the Board and the Investment Manager will be available at the Annual General Meeting to answer any questions that shareholders attending may wish to raise.

Directors' Responsibilities Statement

The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and the financial statements in accordance with the applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year, which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group at the end of the year and of the profit or loss of the Group for that year.

In preparing those financial statements, the Directors are required to:

1) select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

2) make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

3) state whether applicable accounting standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and

4) prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is appropriate to assume that the Group will not continue in business.

So far as each of the Directors is aware, there is no relevant information of which the Group's auditor is unaware, and they have taken all the steps they ought to have taken as Directors to make themselves aware of any relevant information and to establish that the Group's auditor is aware of that information.

The Directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and which enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements.

Principal risks and uncertainties

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group can be outlined as follows:

· Rental income, fair value of investment properties (directly or indirectly held) and fair value of the Group's equity investments are affected, together with other factors, by general economic conditions and/or by the political and economic climate of the jurisdictions in which the Group's investments and investment properties are located.

· The Group's loan investments are exposed to credit risk which arise by the potential failure of the Group's counter parties to discharge their obligations when falling due; this could reduce the amount of future cash inflows from financial assets on hand at the balance sheet date; the Group receives regular updates from the relevant investment manager as to the performance of the underlying investments and assesses their credit risk as a result.

Russian invasion of Ukraine and going concern

As previously stated, ART has no investments in Ukraine or Russia, nor exposure to any companies that have investments in, or links to, Ukraine or Russia. ART has no arrangements with any person currently on (or potentially on) any sanctions list, or links to Ukraine or Russia. The Board continues to monitor the global political and economic situation regularly assessing impacts arising from inflation and interest rates changes for a potential material impact on ART's portfolio.

The Company has adopted a prudent short-term strategy to move to cash conservation and a cautious approach to commitments to new investments over this uncertain time. Alert to the impact of potentially reducing income returns, this approach has supported a robust balance sheet position. The Company continues to adopt this cautious approach to new investment and is conserving cash because of the uncertainty that has characterised the past few months; this ensures the Company retains a robust financial footing, making it well positioned to take advantage of new investment opportunities.

As noted above, the Company held approximately (as at 31 March 2023) 13.8% of its assets (excluding sundry net assets) in cash and 11.2% in highly liquid UK Treasury Bonds and Bills with limited current contractual capital commitments. While there is external financing in the Group's investment interests, this is limited and non-recourse to the Company; the borrowings in these special purpose vehicles are compliant with their banking covenants. See the investment review section for more details on relevant investments.

Bearing in mind the nature of the Group's business and assets, after making enquiries, with the support of revenue forecasts for the next twelve months and considering the above, the Directors consider that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM of the Company will be held in Guernsey at 9.00 am on 7 September 2023 at Floor 2, Trafalgar Court, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey. The meeting will be held to receive the Annual Report and Financial Statements, re-elect Directors and propose the reappointment of the auditor and that the Directors be authorised to determine the auditor's remuneration.

Independent Auditor

BDO Limited has expressed its willingness to continue in office as auditor.

By order of the Board,

William Simpson Peter Griffin

Director Director

22 June 2023

Directors' statement pursuant to the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules

Each of the Directors, whose names and functions are listed in the Directors' and corporate governance report confirm that, to the best of each person's knowledge and belief:

· The financial statements, prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group, and

· The Chairman's statement and the investment review include a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Group and provides a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that the Group faces.

By order of the Board,

William Simpson Peter Griffin

Director Director

22 June 2023

Independent Auditor's Report

To the Members of Alpha Real Trust Limited

Opinion on the financial statements

In our opinion, the financial statements of Alpha Real Trust Limited ("the Parent Company") and its subsidiaries (the "Group"):

· give a true and fair view of the state of the Group's affairs as at 31 March 2023 and of its profit for the year then ended;

· have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the European Union; and

· have been properly prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008.

We have audited the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2023 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and IFRS as adopted by the European Union

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs

(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the audit committee.

Independence

We remain independent of the Group and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC's Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.

Conclusions relating to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the Directors' assessment of the Group ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included:

· Obtaining those charged with governance and directors' assessment in respect of going concern and challenging this, based on our knowledge of the Group, with both those charged with governance and management; 

· Challenging the directors' cash flow forecasts for the twelve months from the approval of these financial statements by stress testing future income and expenditure and the impact on the going concern assessment;

· Consideration of the cash available together with the expected annual running expenses of the Group and determining whether these assumptions were reasonable based on our knowledge of the Group; and 

· Reviewing the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance, the RNS announcements and the compliance reports for indication of any events or conditions which may impact on going concern. 

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group's ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Overview

An overview of the scope of our audit

Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including the Group's system of internal control, and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. We also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors that may have represented a risk of material misstatement.

We tailored the scope of our audit taking into account the nature of the Group's investments, involvement of the Investment Manager, the accounting and reporting environment and the industry in which the Group operates.

The Group consists of the Parent Company, numerous subsidiaries and a joint venture entity. We concluded that the most effective audit approach to the Group due to the same accounting processes and control environment, with the exception of the joint venture structure, was to audit the consolidated financial statements as if they were one entity, during which we have performed audit procedures on all key risk areas. The materiality applied was based on the consolidated financial information (see Materiality section below).

For the H2O joint venture entity, we assessed the main property holding company within this structure to be a significant component. This component was subject to a full scope audit and was completed by a component auditor who is part of the BDO Network.

Our involvement with component auditors

For the work performed by component auditors, we determined the level of involvement needed in order to be able to conclude whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained as a basis for our opinion on the Group financial statements as a whole. Our involvement with component auditors included the following:

We issued group instructions to the component auditor of the H20 joint venture and reviewed the key risk areas of their work. In addition to the work performed by the component auditor, we have also performed our own audit procedures on the property valuation and other significant balances.

Key audit matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit, and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Our application of materiality

We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of misstatements. We consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the financial statements.

In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their effect on the financial statements as a whole.

Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole and performance materiality as follows:

Specific materiality

We also determined that for sensitive fees including: management fees, performance fees, legal fees, directors' fees and audit fees, a misstatement of less than materiality for the financial statements as a whole, specific materiality, could influence the economic decisions of users. As a result, we determined materiality for these items based on 10% (2022: 10%) of materiality being £202,300 (2022: £213,000). We further applied a performance materiality level of 75% (2022: 75%) of specific materiality to ensure that the risk of errors exceeding specific materiality was appropriately mitigated.

Component materiality

We set materiality for the significant component of the Group based on a percentage of 90% (2022: 90%) of Group materiality dependent on the size and our assessment of the risk of material misstatement of that component. Component materiality was set at £1,820,700 (2022: £1,922,400). In the audit of that component, we further applied a performance materiality level of 75% (2022: 75%) of the component materiality to our testing to ensure that the risk of errors exceeding component materiality was appropriately mitigated.

Reporting threshold 

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all individual audit differences in excess of £60,690 (2022: £64,000). We also agreed to report differences below this threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

Other information

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report and Financial Statements, other than the financial statements and our auditor's report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Other Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 reporting

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

· proper accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company; or

· the financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records; or

· we have failed to obtain all the information and explanations which, to the best of our knowledge and belief, are necessary for the purposes of our audit.

Responsibilities of Directors

As explained more fully in the Directors' responsibilities statement within the Directors' and Corporate Governance Report, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor's responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the Group and the industry in which it operates, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations related to its investment activities, and we considered the extent to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the Group's financial statements.

We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the Group and have a direct impact on the preparation of the financial statements. We determined that the most significant frameworks which are directly relevant to specific assertions in the financial statements are those that relate to the reporting framework such as IFRS as adopted by the EU and the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. We evaluated management's incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of management override of controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to revenue recognition in relation to the rental income from properties held, revenue recognition in relation to loan interest from loans advanced and management bias and judgement involved in accounting estimates, specifically in relation to the valuation of properties and the expected credit loss provisions (the response to which are detailed in our key audit matters above).

We communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and the component auditor, and remained alert to any indications of fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit.

Audit procedures performed by the engagement team to respond to the risks identified included:

· Discussion with and enquiry of management and those charged with governance concerning known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;

· Obtaining an understanding of the internal control environment in place to prevent and detect irregularities;

· Reading minutes of meetings of those charged with governance, correspondence with the Guernsey Financial Services Commission, internal compliance reports, complaint registers and breach registers to identify and consider any known or suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud;

· Recalculating loan interest income based on the underlying loan agreements; and

· Recalculating the rental income based on the lease agreements and required accounting by IFRS as adopted by the EU and comparing to that of management.

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.

A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council's website at:

https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor's report.

The engagement director on the audit resulting in this independent auditor's opinion is Simon Hodgson

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Parent Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Section 262 of the Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Parent Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Parent Company and the Parent Company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

.......................................................

Simon Hodgson

For and on behalf of BDO Limited

Chartered Accountants and Recognised Auditor

Place du Pré, Rue du Pré

St Peter Port, Guernsey

Date: 22 June 2023

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

The total column of this statement represents the Group's statement of comprehensive income, prepared in accordance with IFRS. The revenue and capital columns are supplied as supplementary information permitted under IFRS. All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. Consolidated balance sheet

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 22 June 2023. They were signed on its behalf by William Simpson and Peter Griffin.

William Simpson Peter Griffin

Director Director

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

Consolidated cash flow statement

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

Notes to the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2023

1. General information

The Company is a limited liability, closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey. The address of the registered office is given below. The nature of the Group's operations and its principal activities are set out in the Chairman's Statement. The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue on 22 June 2023 and signed by William Simpson and Peter Griffin on behalf of the Board.

2. (a) Significant accounting policies

A summary of the principal accounting policies is set out below. The policies have been consistently applied for all periods presented unless otherwise stated.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS, as adopted by the EU, requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the accounting policies. The areas involving a high degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where the assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed in this note.

Basis of preparation

These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, which comprise standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board ("IASB"), and International Accounting Standards and Standards Interpretations Committee's interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Committee ("IASC") that remain in effect, and to the extent that they have been adopted by the European Union.

Russian invasion of Ukraine and going concern

As previously stated, ART has no investments in Ukraine or Russia, nor exposure to any companies that have investments in, or links to, Ukraine or Russia. ART has no arrangements with any person currently on (or potentially on) any sanctions list, or links to Ukraine or Russia. The Board continues to monitor the global political and economic situation regularly assessing impacts arising from inflation and interest rates changes for a potential material impact on ART's portfolio.

The Company has adopted a prudent short-term strategy to move to cash conservation and a cautious approach to commitments to new investments over this uncertain time. Alert to the impact of potentially reducing income returns, this approach has supported a robust balance sheet position. The Company continues to adopt this cautious approach to new investment and is conserving cash because of the uncertainty that has characterised the past few months; this ensures the Company retains a robust financial footing, making it well positioned to take advantage of new investment opportunities.

As noted above, the Company held approximately (as at 31 March 2023) 13.8% of its assets (excluding sundry net assets) in cash and 11.2% in highly liquid UK Treasury Bonds and Bills with limited current contractual capital commitments. While there is external financing in the Group's investment interests, this is limited and non-recourse to the Company; the borrowings in these special purpose vehicles are compliant with their banking covenants. See the investment review section for more details on relevant investments.

Bearing in mind the nature of the Group's business and assets, after making enquiries, with the support of revenue forecasts for the next twelve months and considering the above, the Directors consider that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

(a) Adoption of new and revised Standards

A few amendments and interpretations of existing standards apply to the Group's financial year but these did not have a significant impact on the financial statements of the Company.

(b) Standards and Interpretations in issue and not yet effective

At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, there are a number of standards and interpretations, which have not been applied in these financial statements that were in issue but not yet effective. The Directors anticipate that the adoption of these standards and interpretations will not have a material impact on the financial statements of the Group.

Basis of consolidation

(a) Subsidiaries

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and the subsidiary undertakings controlled by the Company, made up to 31 March each year. Control is achieved where the Company has power over the investee, exposure or rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and the ability to use its power to affect the amount of the investor's returns.

The results of subsidiary undertakings acquired or disposed of during the year are included within profit or loss in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal as appropriate.

When necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiary undertakings to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by the Group.

All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

ART holds a number of direct property investments through subsidiary undertakings. The Group is actively involved in the management of these property investments and its investment plans do not include specified exit strategies for these investments. As a result, ART plans to hold these property investments indefinitely. ART reports its investment properties at fair value in its financial statements but this is not the primary measurement attribute used by management to evaluate the performance of these investments. In addition, ART holds a number of loans through subsidiary undertakings and management do not measure the performance of these on a fair value basis. In consequence, management have concluded that ART does not meet the definition of an investment entity and the subsidiaries have been consolidated into the Group's balance sheet, rather than being carried at fair value.

When a partial disposal of a subsidiary occurs which causes the entity to no longer be controlled and hence no longer a subsidiary, the Company derecognises the subsidiary and recognises the retained interest initially at fair value.

When calculating the profit or loss on disposal the Company measures the retained interest at fair value and includes this in the fair value of the consideration received. The profit or loss on disposal is the difference between the fair value of the consideration received and the carrying value of the assets and liabilities disposed of, as reduced by transactions costs incurred and any foreign currency gains or losses recycled on disposal as per the foreign currency accounting policy in respect of group companies.

(b) Joint ventures and associates

The Group applies IFRS 11 to its joint arrangement. Under IFRS 11 investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures depending on the contractual rights and obligations of each investor. The Group has assessed the nature of its joint arrangements and determined them to be joint ventures. Joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method.

The Group also applies IAS 28: this standard defines an associate as an entity over which an investor exercises significant influence. Under IAS 28 significant influence is the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the investee but is not control or joint control of those policies and, where an entity holds 20% or more of the voting power (directly or through subsidiaries) of an investee, it is presumed that the investor has significant influence unless it can be clearly demonstrated that this is not the case. Associates are accounted for using the equity method.

Under the equity method of accounting, interests in joint ventures and associates are initially recognised at cost and adjusted thereafter to recognise the Group's share of the post-acquisition profits or losses and movements in other comprehensive income. When the Group's share of losses in a joint venture or associate equals or exceeds its interests in the joint venture or associate (which includes any long-term interests that, in substance, form part of the Group's net investment in the joint venture or associate) the Group does not recognise further losses, unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the joint venture or associate.

Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its joint ventures or associates are eliminated to the extent of the Group's interest in the joint ventures or associates. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

(c) Joint venture in arbitration

The Galaxia joint venture was classified as joint venture in arbitration and, historically, it was included within the financial statements based on its estimate of realisable value to the Group: in the prior year, the Group completed the full recovery of the capital invested in the joint venture and received the full amount due under the award.

Presentation of statement of comprehensive income

In order to better reflect the activities of an investment company and in accordance with guidance issued by the Association of Investment Companies ("AIC"), supplementary information, which analyses the statement of comprehensive income between items of a revenue and capital nature, has been presented alongside the statement of comprehensive income.

Revenue recognition

Rental income and service charge income from investment property leased out under an operating lease are recognised within profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. Lease incentives granted are recognised as an integral part of the net consideration for the use of the property and are therefore also recognised on the same straight line basis. Rental revenues are accounted for on an accruals basis. Therefore, deferred revenue generally represents advance payments from tenants. Revenue is recognised when it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the Group and the amount of revenue can be measured reliably. Upon early termination of a lease by the lessee, the receipt of a surrender premium, net of dilapidations and non-recoverable outgoings relating to the lease concerned, is immediately recognised as revenue.

Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and the effective interest rate applicable.

Other income is recognised when received.

Leasing

(a) Company as a lessor

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

(b) Company as a lessee

Under IFRS 16, all leases are recorded on the balance sheet as liabilities, at the present value of the future lease payments, along with an asset reflecting the right to use the asset over the lease term.

The Group owns no leasehold property.

Foreign currencies

(a) Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group entities are measured in the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the "functional currency"). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Sterling, which is the Company's functional and presentation currency.

(b) Transactions and balances

Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Gains and losses arising on retranslation are included in profit or loss for the year.

(c) Group companies

The results and financial position of all the Group entities that have a functional currency which differs from the presentation currency are translated into the presentation currency as follows:

(i) assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the balance sheet date;

(ii) income and expenses for each statement of comprehensive income are translated at the average exchange rate prevailing in the period; and

(iii) all resulting exchange differences are recognised within other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, the exchange differences arising from the translation of the net investment in foreign entities are taken to equity. When a foreign operation is sold, such exchange differences are recognised within profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income as part of the gain or loss on sale.

For Euro based balances the year end exchange rate used is £1:€1.137 (2022: £1:€1.185) and the average rate for the year used is £1:€1.158 (2022: £1:€1.176). The year-end exchange rate used for Indian rupee (INR) balances is £1:INR101,554 (2022: £1:INR99.678) and the average rate for the year used is £1:INR96,816 (2022: £1:INR101.813).

Expenses

All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis and include fees and other expenses paid to the Administrators, the Investment Manager and the Directors. In respect of the analysis between revenue and capital items, presented within profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income, all expenses have been presented as revenue items except expenses which are incidental to the acquisition of an investment property which are included within the cost of that investment property. The Investment Manager's performance fee is charged to the capital column within profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income in order to reflect that the fee is due primarily to the capital performance of the Group.

Taxation

The Company is exempt from Guernsey taxation on income derived outside of Guernsey and bank interest earned in Guernsey. A fixed annual fee of £1,200 was payable to the States of Guernsey in respect of this exemption for the year. No charge to Guernsey taxation arises on capital gains. The Group is liable to foreign tax arising on activities in the overseas subsidiaries. The Group holds investments in Spain (H2O), owned through investment entities in Luxembourg and the Netherlands, in Germany (Hamburg), owned through a Guernsey subsidiary and in the United Kingdom, owned directly by a UK subsidiary (Liverpool and Travelodge Hotels in Lowestoft and Wadebridge). The Group may therefore be liable to taxation in these overseas jurisdictions.

The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the statement of comprehensive income because it excludes items of income and expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible timing differences can be utilised.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the year when the liability is settled or the asset realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited within profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Dividends

Dividends are recognised as a liability in the Group's financial statements in the period in which they become obligations of the Group.

Investment property

Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is initially recognised at cost being the fair value of consideration given including related transaction costs.

After initial recognition at cost and/or upon commencement of construction, investment property is carried at its fair value based on half yearly professional valuations made by independent valuers or based on Directors' valuations. The independent valuers' valuations are in accordance with standards complying with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Appraisal and Valuation manual and the International Valuation Standards Committee.

Gains or losses arising from changes in fair value of investment property are included within profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income in the period in which they arise. Investment property is treated as acquired when the Group assumes the significant risks and returns of ownership and as disposed of when these are transferred to the buyer.

All costs directly associated with the purchase of an investment property and all subsequent expenditures qualifying as acquisition costs are capitalised.

Segmental reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker, which is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments, has been identified as the Board of Directors of the Company.

The investing policy means the Group may invest in real estate opportunities unconstrained by geography, but with a particular focus on the UK and Europe. At present, for management purposes, the Group is organised into one main operating segment being Europe.

The Group's revenue generated in the UK was £5,729,000 and in Germany was £924,000 (Year ended 31 March 2021: £4,617,000 in the UK and £839,000 in Germany).

The Group's non-current assets are located in the following countries:

Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on the Group's balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. The Group shall offset financial assets and financial liabilities if the Group has a legally enforceable right to set off the recognised amounts and interests and intends to settle on a net basis.

(a) Financial assets

Under IFRS 9, on initial recognition, a financial asset is classified as measured at:

· Amortised cost;

· Fair value through other comprehensive income ("FVOCI") - debt investment;

· FVOCI - equity investment; or

· Fair value through profit or loss ("FVTPL").

The classification of financial assets under IFRS 9 is generally based on the business model in which a financial asset is managed and its contractual cash flow characteristics.

The Group only has financial assets that are classified as amortised cost or FVTPL.

(a) (i) Financial assets held at amortised cost

A financial asset is measured at amortised cost if it meets both of the following conditions and is not designated as at FVTPL:

· it is held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets to collect contractual cash flows; and

· its contractual terms give rise on specified dates to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding.

Financial assets at amortised cost are initially measured at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributed to its acquisition, unless it is a trade receivable without a significant financing component which is initially measured at its transaction price.

These assets are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The amortised cost is reduced by impairment losses as detailed in (b) below.

Cash deposits with banks that cannot be accessed within a period of three months are not considered to be cash and cash equivalents.

(a) (ii) FVTPL

All financial assets not classified as measured at amortised cost or FVOCI are measured at FVTPL which includes derivative financial assets. Financial assets at FVTPL are initially and subsequently measured at fair value.

Fair value measurement

The Group measures certain financial instruments such as derivatives and non-financial assets such as investment property, at fair value at the end of each reporting period, using recognised valuation techniques and following the principles of IFRS 13. In addition, fair values of financial instruments measured at amortised cost are disclosed in the financial statements.

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The fair value measurement is based on the presumption that the transaction to sell the asset or transfer the liability takes place either:

· in the principal market for the asset or liability

or

· in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market for the asset or liability.

The Group must be able to access the principal or the most advantageous market at the measurement date. The fair value of an asset or a liability is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, assuming that market participants act in their economic best interest.

A fair value measurement of a non-financial asset takes into account a market participant's ability to generate economic benefits by using the asset in its highest and best use or by selling it to another market participant that would use the asset in its highest and best use.

The Group uses valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair value, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs significant to the fair value measurement as a whole:

· Level 1 - Quoted (unadjusted) market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

· Level 2 - Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is directly or indirectly observable.

· Level 3 - Valuation techniques for which the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement is unobservable.

For assets and liabilities that are recognised in the financial statements on a recurring basis, the Group determines whether transfers have occurred between levels in the hierarchy by re-assessing categorisation (based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement as a whole) at the end of each reporting period.

(a) (iii) Impairment of financial assets

(i) Trade receivables

Under IFRS 9 for trade receivables, including lease receivables, the Group has elected to apply the simplified model as the trade receivables all have a maturity of less than one year and do not contain a significant financing component. Under the simplified approach the requirement is to always recognise lifetime ECL. Under the simplified approach practical expedients are available to measure lifetime ECL but forward looking information must still be incorporated. Under the simplified approach there is no need to monitor significant increases in credit risk and entities will be required to measure lifetime ECLs at all times.

The directors have concluded that any ECL on trade receivables would be highly immaterial to the financial statements due to the low credit risk of the relevant tenants.

(ii) Other receivables

The directors have concluded that any ECL on other receivables would be highly immaterial to the financial statements due to:

· collateral being held in the form of a security deposit for the Group's hedging strategy which can be called back at any time with no capital loss should the Group decide to terminate its foreign exchange contracts before their contractual maturity;

· The credit risk of the underlying banks which are utilised by the law firms by whom cash on escrow is kept before completion of a given senior or mezzanine loan.

The remaining other receivables are immaterial to the financial statements and therefore no assessment of the ECL has been completed.

(iii) Loans advanced

Despite the loans having a set repayment term, all but two of the loans have a repayable on demand feature so the Group may call for an early repayment of their principal, interest and applicable fees at any time.

Considering the 'on demand' clause, the Group concluded that the loans are in stage 3 of the IFRS 9 model as should the loans be called on demand the borrowers would technically be in default as repayment would only be possible on demand if the property had already been sold.

The two loans that have a repayment term have an immaterial lifetime ECL and hence no detailed analysis of whether those loans has suffered a significant increase in credit risk has been performed.

(b) Financial liabilities

The Group classifies its financial liabilities into one of two categories, depending on the purpose for which the liability was issued and its characteristics. Although the Group uses derivative financial instruments in economic hedges of currency and interest rate risk, it does not hedge account for these transactions.

Unless otherwise indicated, the carrying amounts of the Group's financial liabilities are a reasonable approximation of their fair values.

(b) (i) Derivatives at fair value through profit or loss

This category comprises only 'out-of-the-money' financial derivatives. They are carried in the balance sheet at fair value with changes in fair value recognised within profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income. Other than derivative financial instruments, the Group does not have any liabilities held for trading nor has it designated any other financial liabilities as being at fair value through profit or loss.

The fair value of the Group's derivatives is based on the valuations as described in note 25.

(b) (ii) Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

Other financial liabilities include the following items:

· Trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities, which are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method;

· Bank borrowings which are initially recognised at fair value net of attributable transaction costs incurred. Such interest bearing liabilities are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

(b) (iii) Derecognition of financial liabilities

A financial liability (in whole or in part) is derecognised when the Company or Group has extinguished its contractual obligations, it expires or is cancelled. Any gain or loss on derecognition is taken to profit or loss in the statement of comprehensive income.

(c) Share capital

Financial instruments issued by the Group are treated as equity only to the extent that they do not meet the definition of a financial liability. The Company's ordinary shares and class A shares are classified as equity instruments. For the purposes of the disclosures given in note 25 (capital risk part) the Group considers all its share capital, share premium and all other reserves as equity. The Group is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.

(d) Effective interest rate method

The effective interest rate method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial asset or liability and of allocating interest income or expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts or payments (including all fees on points paid or received that form an integral part of the effective interest rate, transaction costs and other premiums or discounts) through the expected life of the financial asset or liability, or, where appropriate, a shorter period.

2. (b) Significant accounting estimates and judgements

The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related 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 financial year are discussed below.

Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

(a) Investment property

The Group uses the valuations carried out by its independent valuers as the fair value of its investment properties, whenever possible. The valuations are based upon assumptions including future rental income, anticipated maintenance costs, future development costs and the appropriate discount rate. The valuers also make reference to market evidence of transaction prices for similar properties. Investment property which is in the course of construction is carried at cost plus associated costs and this has been considered by the Directors to represent fair value at the balance sheet date: upon commencement of construction, valuations will be carried out by independent valuers.

As at the year ended 31 March 2023, the following valuations have been carried out:

(a) (i) Independent valuations

Independent valuations were carried out for the following investment properties:

· The directly owned properties located in Hamburg (Germany), Liverpool (UK), Lowestoft and Wadebridge (Travelodge Hotels in UK) (notes 13 and 26);

· An indirectly owned property located in Madrid (Spain), held through CBRE H2O Rivas Holding NV (note 12).

A sensitivity analysis of these investment properties' valuations is provided in notes 12 and 26.

(b) Loans advanced - ECLs

The Group has calculated the lifetime ECLs of the loans advanced using the following three scenarios:

1. Credit criteria unchanged or strengthened since inception and expectation of repayment in full;

2. Credit criteria weakened since inception but expectation of full recovery;

3. Credit criteria significantly weakened and potential for repayment to not be fully achieved.

The criteria referred to above incorporate the following:

· Progress of development against plan;

· Borrower's financial position;

· Property market data.

In calculating the recoverable amounts under the three scenarios, the Directors have taken into account the available collateral under the loan agreements including charges over property and other guarantees.

Three loans in the portfolio have entered receivership: ART is closely working with stakeholders to maximise their capital recovery. The Company has considered the security on these loans (which are a combination of a first charge over the assets and personal guarantees) and have calculated an Expected Credit Loss ('ECL') on these three loans of approximately £2.9 million; the Group have also provided for an ECL on the remainder of the loans' portfolio for an additional £0.8 million: in total, the Group have provided for an ECL of £3.7 million in its consolidated accounts.

3. Revenue

At 31 March 2023, the Group recognised non recoverable property operating expenditure as follows:

The Group recognises rental revenue from its investment in one residential property located in Liverpool, UK and three commercial properties: a long leased industrial facility in Hamburg, Germany, and two Travelodge Hotels located in Lowestoft and Wadebridge in the UK.

The Hamburg property is leased to Veolia Umweltservice Nord GmbH, part of the Veolia group, an international industrial specialist in water, waste and energy management, with a 24-year unexpired lease term. Under the operating lease, the tenant is responsible for building maintenance and the rent has periodic inflation linked adjustments.

The Liverpool residential property is comprised of seven units, six of which are occupied by private individuals with a six month term contract with one unit being vacant at 31 March 2023.

The Travelodge Hotels in Lowestoft (47-bedroom property) and in Wadebridge (55-bedroom property) are leased to Travelodge Hotels on an 18 year and 20 year unexpired lease term ((including landlord extension option), respectively.

At 31 March 2023, the Group had contracted with its tenants for the following future minimum lease payments:

4. Other administration costs

5. Finance income

6. Finance costs

The above finance costs arise on financial liabilities measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. No other losses have been recognised in respect of financial liabilities at amortised cost other than those disclosed above.

7. Taxation

(a) Parent Company

The Parent Company is exempt from Guernsey taxation on income derived outside of Guernsey and bank interest earned in Guernsey. A fixed annual fee of £1,200 (31 March 2022: £1,200) was payable to the States of Guernsey in respect of this exemption for the year. No charge to Guernsey taxation arises on capital gains. The Group is liable to foreign tax arising on activities in its overseas subsidiaries. The Company has investments, subsidiaries and joint venture operations in Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Cyprus.

(b) Group

The Group's tax expense for the year comprises:

The charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as follows: