Thg Regulatory News (THG)

14 Jul 2009 07:00



14 July 2009

Terrace Hill Group PLC

("Terrace Hill" or the "Group")

INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS TO 30 APRIL 2009

Terrace Hill Group plc (AIM: THG), a leading UK property investment and development group, today announces interim results for the six months to 30 April 2009.

Financial highlights

Operational highlights

Commenting, Robert Adair, Chairman of Terrace Hill, said:  "Our ability to manage our debt position, re-finance loans and implement cost control measures, coupled with the successful management of our existing assets and the profitable new business we continue to transact, gives me confidence that we are well positioned to outperform in the medium term."

Philip Leech, Terrace Hill's chief executive, added: "We believe the current market conditions play to our established strategy of buying secondary properties and sites and applying our development and letting skills to create prime investment properties. Where appropriate, we will also continue our business model of carrying out commercial development projects in joint venture with financial partners, which allows us to make a higher return on our equity committed while minimising our exposure to risk. In addition, we continue to experience strong demand from food retailers for new stores and from Government backed office occupiers for pre-lets, as evidenced by our recently announced successes."

For further information:

Terrace Hill Group plc Tel: +44 (0)20 7631 1666

Robert Adair, Chairman

Philip Leech, Chief Executive

Oriel Securities (Nominated Adviser) Tel: +44 (0)20 7710 7600

Richard Crawley

Daniel Conti

Financial Dynamics Tel: +44 (0)20 7831 3113

Stephanie Highett/Richard Sunderland/Rachel Drysdale terracehill@fd.com

  CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

I am pleased to report our unaudited results for the six months ended 30 April 2009. The period has continued to be one of difficulty for the property markets with capital values declining, occupational markets suffering and rental values falling across all sectors. Notwithstanding this, we have achieved some notable successes with lettings of our existing stock and the pre-letting of new developments. During the reporting period, we made good progress across our areas of operation, including a number of important planning gains, and with re-financing and extending our debt facilities as they fall due. This progress continued into the second half and in recent weeks we have concluded a large 38,500 sq ft office pre-letting to a Primary Care Trust; let an 8,100 sq ft floor at 129 Wilton Road, our office development in Victoria, London; let 7,900 sq ft of industrial space to Menzies in Eastbourne; and completed the sale of an office building to Sovereign Housing in Bristol. We are also continuing to work on a significant number of supermarket development opportunities following on from the success of our recent transactions with Sainsbury's.

In line with most in the sector, during the six months under review, adjusted diluted net asset value (as defined by EPRA, the European Public Real Estate Association) has declined by 23.5% to 44.4 pence per share (31 October 2008: 58.0 pence per share) and our triple net asset value (TNAV) has fallen by 24.4% to 40.4 pence per share (31 October 2008: 53.4 pence per share). The TNAV takes account of any valuation uplifts above book costs, as well as contingent tax on prospective gains and adjustments for financial instruments.

Our dividend policy, as outlined in my last statement with the accounts for the year ended 31 October 2008, has been to vary the amount of our dividend in line with the movement in our TNAV. We paid a dividend of 0.54 pence per share to shareholders in April 2009 in accordance with this policy. Given the further reduction in our TNAV and the restricted trading conditions, the board has decided not to pay a dividend at this interim stage. We will review this policy again at the year-end and remain committed to resuming a progressive dividend policy once market conditions have improved.

The Group's loss before tax for the period amounted to £30.8 million (six months to 30 April 2008: £4.4 million profit). Excluding property write downs, our loss before tax for the period was £1.1 million, reflecting a period of limited trading activity.

We have also continued to make good progress with our re-financings. Since 31 October 2008, £30.1 million of Group debt has been re-financed and terms have been agreed in principle on £39.3 million of Group debt where the maturity has been extended for an average period of 30 months. Terms have also been agreed in principle in respect of £260.4 million of associate/JV debt. The Group has a further £9.5 million of re-financings still to agree where the existing maturity falls in 2009. We continue to enjoy good relationships with all of our lending banks and remain confident that acceptable terms will be agreed for the remaining loans.

Outlook

There are encouraging signs of values stabilising in the prime commercial market although the value of secondary properties continues to fall. This presents a clear opportunity for us to generate good development margins by recycling secondary investments and sites into prime assets. Our recent successes in concluding pre-lettings to supermarket retailers and Government backed office occupiers demonstrates our ability to create new business, despite difficult economic conditions. 

In addition, we are continuing to have discussions with new, as well as established financial partners regarding potential co-investments in our new development pipeline. This will ensure that the Group is well placed, with sufficient capital available to fully exploit opportunities as they arise.

The value of residential property continues to decline, albeit at a much slower rate than before. The specific locations and intentionally affordable nature of our portfolios has led to outperformance of most House Price Indices and I foresee stability returning as liquidity and availability of mortgage financing improves in the medium term.

Our ability to manage our debt position, re-finance loans and implement cost control measures, coupled with the successful management of our existing assets and the profitable new business we continue to transact, gives me confidence that we are well positioned to outperform in the medium term.

Robert Adair

Chairman

14 July 2009

 REVIEW OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCE REVIEW

Commercial Property

The recession and the low availability of bank debt continue to affect the commercial property market. Capital values have fallen by more than 45% since the start of the downturn, although the pace of decline has slowed markedly in recent months.

Encouragingly, prime property values show signs of stabilising although secondary values are continuing to fall. According to IPD, "All Property" equivalent yields have reached 9.3%, the highest since 1993 and reflect a record premium of almost 600 basis points over five year swaps and 10 year gilt yields. These high yields are encouraging investors to re-enter the market and demand from overseas investors has increased as they take advantage of sterling's weakness.

We intend to take advantage of the current market conditions by pursuing our established strategy of buying secondary properties and sites and applying our development skills to create prime investment properties. In addition, we continue to experience strong demand from food retailers for new stores and from Government backed office occupiers for pre-lets. We have had recent success in both of these areas and are actively pursuing a number of similar transactions.

Our business model for commercial development is to carry out projects in joint venture with financial partners, with us making a higher return on our equity committed while minimising our exposure to risk. Both existing and new partners are keen to work with us on new projects and we are confident that we will have sufficient capital to take full advantage of new opportunities.

 The operational highlights since October 2008 are as follows:

Residential investment portfolios

At 30 April 2009, our residential investment portfolios comprised 1,957 units and were valued at £260.3 million (31 October 2008: £275.0 million). 1,714 of these units are held within the Terrace Hill Residential PLC associate, in which we hold a 49% stake. Overall, the value of the portfolios fell by 6.1% since 31 October 2008, significantly outperforming the Halifax HPI, which recorded a fall of 8.0% over the same period. Occupancy levels have remained satisfactory at 89.3%, slightly below the level at 31 October 2008 of 91.8%. This change is largely a consequence of our rolling maintenance programme, which causes slight occupancy level fluctuations where we take the opportunity to refurbish units when lease terms end, rather than resulting from any changing trend. The Terrace Hill Residential PLC associate has outperformed the IPD Index (Residential Market Lets) for the period to 31 December 2008 by 7.3% and was in the top quartile performance of the databank.

Clansman Homes

We continue to operate this business cautiously with very few new project starts. However, we are encouraged by our continued success in selling inventory units and by the fact that we have recently seen increased interest from potential purchasers. Additionally, we have also created further value through the recently received planning consents on our sites at Fenwick and Carnwath, increasing the total number of consented plots by 20 and we expect to receive planning for a further 340 units at two other sites during the course of the year.

Financial results and net asset value

The Group's NAV fell by 26.7% in the period to £75.6 million (35.7 pence per share) from £103.0 million (48.6 pence per share) at 31 October 2008 and our adjusted NAV (equivalent to that defined by EPRA) fell by 23.5% to £94.1 million (44.4 pence per share) from £124.2 million (58.0 pence per share) at 31 October 2008.

The fall in Group NAV was principally caused by the reduction in the carrying value of our properties, which on an ungeared basis has fallen £22.9 million or 13.5% since 31 October 2008 (year to 31 October 2008: £16.4 million, 9.1%).

Our TNAV, which takes into account any tax payable on profits arising if all the Group's properties were sold at the values used for our adjusted NAV, the write-off of goodwill and fair value adjustments, fell by 24.4% to £85.6 million (40.4 pence per share) from the £114.3 million (53.4 pence per share) at 31 October 2008.

Income statement

Revenue is significantly lower compared with the year to 31 October 2008 as no property sales were completed in the period.

The income statement includes the valuation write-downs of the carrying value of our properties mentioned above, as follows:

Development properties (and included in cost of sales): £19.5 million

Investment properties: £3.4 million

Development and investment properties held in off-balance sheet undertakings (and included in the share of joint venture and associated undertakings): £6.8 million.

Administrative expenses were £3.1 million in the period under review, which is in line with our expected annualised administrative expenses mentioned in our last Annual Report. We continue to seek ways of reducing costs. Executive directors and senior staff have agreed to a reduction in base salaries of 10%, no bonuses have been paid and we have reduced our headcount by 11 (19%) since 31 October 2008. Finance costs for the period include the cost of our Group debt which was reduced by a credit of £2.1 million in respect of a development funding agreement and £0.6 million in respect of a discount on settlement of a loan.

Our investment in joint ventures and associated undertakings generated a loss in the period of £8.1 million (six months to 30 April 2008: £4.8 million). This loss is primarily due to the results of Terrace Hill Residential PLC of which our share is 49%. The loss of £8.1 million includes our share of the non-cash and unrealised pre-tax loss on property revaluations of £6.8 million (six months ended 30 April 2008: £4.8 million) and a trading loss in the period of £1.3 million (six months ended 30 April 2008: loss £2.7 million).

Balance sheet

The Group's total assets at 30 April 2009 were £198.1 million, a decrease of 14.7% on the amount as reported at 31 October 2008 of £232.4 million. Net assets, after deducting minority interests, were £75.6 million (31 October 2008: £103.0 million), a reduction of 26.6%.

Financial resources and capital management

Our debt position as at 30 April 2009 is summarised in the table below:

The Group's net debt has increased since last October largely due to expenditure in respect of:

the buy-out of our partner at Kean House in Covent Garden (£4.3 million);

expenditure in our housebuilding division less sales income (£4.0 million); 

carrying costs of our commercial development sites (£2.0 million); 

the Group's share of the operating deficit in Terrace Hill Residential PLC (£1.3 million); and 

general working capital less rental income (£3.5 million).

The Group continues to finance its projects with dedicated debt facilities where an individual project provides the security to the lender, ensuring the project and related debt are ring-fenced. Where loan expiries have approached we have successfully negotiated with our lenders in advance to extend facilities for up to three further years.

Since 31 October 2008, £30.1 million of Group debt has been re-financed. The Group has a further £48.8 million of debt and £260.4 million of associate/JV debt to re-finance during 2009. Of this, terms have been agreed in principle in respect of £39.3 million of Group debt and all of the associate/JV debt. Each bank has indicated that they believe the revised financing arrangements will be completed in accordance with the terms which have been agreed. The re-financings in all cases are characterised by higher margins but, due to the lower levels of current interest rates, our funding costs remain broadly as before. The maturity profile of the re-financed debt (including where terms have been agreed but not documented) is greatly improved, with the average term to expiry for this debt now 32 months (Group debt: 30 months).

Notwithstanding our success in dealing with our maturing bank facilities, we continue to monitor our loans and our rolling 24 month cash forecast very closely. The Group has been successful in constraining project expenditure such that, in respect of its projects, outgoings are largely limited to funding costs and some professional fees. In respect of associate/JV projects, all project expenditure is funded by related bank facilities.

There are no bank facilities in place which measure Group loan to value ratios. We have a number of loans with loan to value covenants based on the assets used as security for those loans. In many cases, the loan to value covenants have been amended in order allow the Group to focus its efforts on commercial property development. We believe that this demonstrates the continuing willingness of our relationship banks to support the Group during the current global economic recession. The Group has also been approached by a number of banks with whom we have had no previous corporate relationship and who are keen to advance debt capital for our new developments.

Philip Leech, Chief Executive

Jon Austen, Group Finance Director

14 July 2009

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO TERRACE HILL GROUP PLC

Introduction

We have been engaged by the company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 April 2009 which comprises the unaudited consolidated income statement, the unaudited consolidated statement of changes in equity, the unaudited consolidated balance sheet, the unaudited consolidated cash flow statement and related notes.

We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

Directors' responsibilities

The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of and has been approved by the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market which require that the half-yearly report be presented and prepared in a form consistent with that which will be adopted in the company's annual accounts having regard to the accounting standards applicable to such annual accounts.

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review.

Our report has been prepared in accordance with the terms of our engagement to assist the company in meeting the requirements of the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market and for no other purpose. No person is entitled to rely on this report unless such a person is a person entitled to rely upon this report by virtue of and for the purpose of our terms of engagement or has been expressly authorised to do so by our prior written consent. Save as above, we do not accept responsibility for this report to any other person or for any other purpose and we hereby expressly disclaim any and all such liability.

Scope of review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, ''Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity'', issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 April 2009 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market.

BDO Stoy Hayward LLP

Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors

55 Baker Street

London

W1U 7EU

14 July 2009

Unaudited consolidated income statement

for the six months ended 30 April 2009

Unaudited consolidated statement of changes in equity

for the six months ended 30 April 2009

Unaudited consolidated balance sheet

as at 30 April 2009

Unaudited consolidated cash flow statement

for the six months ended 30 April 2009

Notes to the half-yearly financial statements

for the six months ended 30 April 2009

1 Accounting policies 

Basis of preparation

The financial information in this half-yearly report does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.  The comparative financial information for the year ended 31 October 2008 does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. 

The statutory accounts of Terrace Hill Group plc for the year ended 31 October 2008 have been reported on by the Company's auditors and have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' report was unqualified, did not include a reference to matters which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and did not contain statements under Section 237(2) or 272(3) of the Companies Act 1985. 

The half yearly report has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as endorsed by the European Union using accounting policies that are expected to be applied for the financial year ended 31 October 2009.

Going concern

The directors are required to make an assessment of the Group's ability to continue to trade as a going concern. Because of the difficult market conditions prevailing, this assessment has been subject to more uncertainties than are usual. The directors have given this matter due consideration and have concluded that it is appropriate to prepare the Group financial statements on a going concern basis. The two main considerations were as follows:

Cash flow - the Group maintains a rolling 24 month cash forecast that takes account of all known inflows and outflows.  The cash flow includes estimates of a number of key variables including the assumed dates and amounts relating to property disposals and amounts that may be required to reduce indebtedness as a consequence of falling property values and re-financing. The cash flow is regularly stress tested to ensure that the Group can withstand reasonable changes in circumstances that could adversely affect its cash flow. The key potential changes that the Group has considered include: possible falls in value of the portfolio which could result in margin calls or increased funding costs if future loan to value covenants were breached; possible delays in the timing and reductions in proceeds from portfolio sales given the current lack of liquidity in the market; and, possible reductions in anticipated cash flows from re-financing properties after planning permission has been obtained. After considering the potential cash flow sensitivities the Group believes that it has sufficient resources to continue trading for the foreseeable future.

Support of the Group's banks - Since 31 October 2008, £30.1 million of Group debt has been re-financed. The Group has a further £48.8 million of debt and £260.4 million of associate/JV debt to re-finance during 2009. Of this, terms have been agreed in principle in respect of £39.3 million of Group debt and all of the associate/JV debt. Each bank has indicated that they believe the revised financing arrangements will be completed in accordance with the terms which have been agreed. The re-financings in all cases are characterised by higher margins but, due to the lower levels of current interest rates, our funding costs remain broadly as before. The maturity profile of the re-financed debt (including where terms have been agreed but not documented) is greatly improved, with the average term to expiry for this debt now 32 months (Group debt: 30 months).

Further information is contained in the review of operations and finance review.

2 Earnings per ordinary share

The calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share is based on a loss of £26,030,000 (31 October 2008: £27,253,000 loss and 30 April 2008: £1,805,000 profit) and on 211,971,299 (31 October 2008: 211,187,902 and 30 April 2008: 211,361,386) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period.

The calculation of diluted earnings per ordinary share for the period to April 2009 and October 2008 is the same as the calculation of the basic earnings per ordinary share.  For April 2008 the calculation of diluted earnings per ordinary share is based on a profit of £1,805,000 and on 214,671,386 ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period adjusted to allow for the issue of shares in relation to all performance related share awards.

3 Investment properties

Included in additions is capitalised interest of £Nil (2008: £Nil).

The investment properties situated in Scotland owned by the Group have been valued as at 30 April 2009 by qualified valuers from Allied Surveyors, an independent firm of Chartered Surveyors, on the basis of open market value. The valuations were carried out in accordance with guidance issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

The commercial investment properties situated in England owned by the Group have been valued as at 30 April 2009 by qualified valuers from CB Richard Ellis, an independent firm of Chartered Surveyors, on the basis of open market value. The valuations were carried out in accordance with guidance issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

Residential investment properties situated in England owned by the Group have been valued at open market value by directors, who are suitably qualified or experienced, at 30 April 2009 having regard to professional advice and/or sales evidence during the period. The value of these properties was £5,051,000 (2008: £5,387,000).

4 Investments

Associates and joint ventures

The Group's interest in its principal associates which have been equity accounted in the consolidated financial statements were as follows:

Terrace Hill Residential PLC was incorporated in Scotland.

Summarised information 2009

Summarised information 2008

Summarised information

The Group's interest in its joint venture which has been equity accounted in the consolidated financial statements was as follows:

Available-for-sale investments and other investments

5 Property inventories

Included in property inventories is capitalised interest of £8,583,000 (2008: £8,269,000).

6 Trade and other receivables

Included in other receivables is a balance of £3.5 million that has a final maturity date of 31 December 2014.

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of amounts due from associates and joint ventures during the year was as follows:

The allowance is based on falling asset values in the associates.

7 Bank overdrafts and loans

Half-yearly report

The half-yearly report will be available, free of charge, from the Company Secretary, Terrace Hill Group PLC, 144 West George Street, Glasgow G2 2HG.