LEI: 213800BMY95CP6CYXK69
22 November 2024
ALPHA REAL TRUST LIMITED ("ART" OR THE "COMPANY" OR "THE
GROUP")
ART ANNOUNCES ITS HALF YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED
30 SEPTEMBER 2024
· NAV
per ordinary share 208.8p as at 30 September 2024 (31 March 2024:
207.3p).
· Basic earnings for the six months ended 30 September 2024 of
5.1p per ordinary share (six months ended 30 September 2023: basic
earnings of 1.5p per ordinary share).
· Adjusted earnings for the six months ended 30 September 2024
of 5.0p per ordinary share (six months ended 30 September 2023:
adjusted earnings of 4.6p per ordinary share)*.
· Declaration of a quarterly dividend of 1.0p per ordinary
share expected to be paid on 24 January 2025.
· Robust financial position: ART remains on a robust financial
footing and is 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.
· Diversified portfolio of secured senior and secured mezzanine
loan investments: as at 30 September 2024, the size of ART's drawn
secured loan portfolio was £45.3 million, representing 36.8% of the
investment portfolio.
· The
senior portfolio has an average Loan to Value ('LTV')** of 62.0%
based on loan commitments (with mezzanine loans having an LTV range
of between 49.5% and 72.0% whilst the highest approved senior loan
LTV is 63.6%).
· 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 £0.1 million.
· Cash
management: at the balance sheet date, the Company has invested
£23.7 million in short term UK Treasury Bonds (Gilts), £9.6 million
in short term UK Treasury bills, £10.0 million in the Morgan
Stanley Sterling Liquidity Fund and £6.9 million in the BlackRock
ICS Sterling Government Liquidity Fund to enhance returns on its
liquid holdings.
* The basis of the adjusted earnings per share
is provided in note 8
** 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
outlook and interest rate policy continue to shape 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 focuses on
asset-backed lending, debt investments and high return property
investments in Western Europe that are capable of delivering strong
risk-adjusted returns.
The portfolio mix at 30 September 2024,
excluding sundry assets/liabilities, was as follows:
|
30 September
2024
|
31 March
2024
|
|
High return debt:
|
36.8%
|
39.2%
|
|
High return equity in property
investments:
|
14.7%
|
26.1%
|
|
Other investments:
|
30.8%
|
20.6%
|
|
Cash:
|
17.7%
|
14.1%
|
|
|
|
|
|
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.
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
|
6 months ended
30 September
2024
|
12 months ended
31 March
2024
|
6 months ended
30 September 2023
|
Net asset value (£'000)
|
125,834
|
123,106
|
125,354
|
Net asset value per ordinary
share
|
208.8p
|
207.3p
|
214.3p
|
Earnings/(losses) per ordinary
share (basic and diluted)
|
5.1p
|
(1.6)p
|
1.5p
|
Earnings per ordinary share (basic
and diluted) (adjusted)*
|
5.0p
|
10.3p
|
4.6p
|
Dividend per ordinary share (paid
during the period)
|
2.0p
|
4.0p
|
2.0p
|
* The adjusted earnings per
ordinary 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 8
to the accounts.
Chairman's statement
I am pleased to present the
Company's half year report and accounts for the six months ended 30
September 2024.
ART's investment portfolio
benefits from diversification across geographies, sectors and asset
types and the Company remains on a robust financial footing and is
well placed to capitalise on new investment
opportunities.
The scale and pace of interest
rate reductions continues to dominate the economic backdrop in
which the Company operates and shape the outlook for the real
estate market. The uncertain market offers potential opportunities
in the medium term for ART to grow its diversified investment
portfolio. The Company is currently focussed on risk managing and
selectively growing its loan portfolio and opportunistically
extending its wider investment strategy to target mezzanine
opportunities as companies seek to refinance and recapitalise. The
Company is also seeking to invest further in assets offering
inflation protection via index linked income adjustments and
investments that have potential for capital
appreciation.
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.
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 30 September 2024, ART had committed £52.7
million across twelve loans, of which £45.3 million (excluding a
£6.0 million provision for Expected Credit Loss and £0.4 million
impairment 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 have benefited from rising interest rates. However outstanding
loans will deliver lower returns as loan rates track falls in the
BoE Base Rate.
During the quarter ended 30
September 2024, additional drawdowns of £1.5 million were made on
existing loans and £1.1 million (including accrued interest) was
received as part repayments.
Post period end, one new loan was
granted for £3.1 million, £0.3 million of drawdowns were made on
existing loans, two loans for £20.5 million (including accrued
interest and applicable fees) were fully repaid and part payments
were received amounting to £0.6 million (including accrued
interest).
As at 30 September 2024, 53.0% of the Company's
loan investments were senior loans and 47.0% were mezzanine loans.
The portfolio has an average LTV of 58.0% based on loan commitments
(with mezzanine loans having a LTV range of between 49.5% and 72.0%
whilst the highest approved senior loan LTV is 63.6%). 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 30 September 2024 is a senior loan of £12.4 million which
represents 23.5% of committed loan capital and 9.9% of the
Company's NAV. Post period end, in October 2024, this loan was
repaid.
Four loans in the portfolio have
entered receivership and ART is working closely 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 has impaired one loan, which is accounted for at
fair value, by £0.4 million; the Group also calculated an Expected
Credit Loss ('ECL') on the other three loans of approximately £4.3
million; the Group have also provided for an ECL on the remainder
of the loans' portfolio for an additional £1.7 million. In total,
the Group have provided for an ECL of £6.0 million (31 March 2024:
£5.7 million) in its consolidated accounts.
Aside from the 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 30 September 2024 had diversification throughout the UK and Channel
Islands with assets held located in London accounting for 31.2% of
the total loan investment portfolio.
Long leased assets
The Company's portfolio of long
leased properties, comprising three 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.
Other investments
Investment in listed and authorised
funds
The Company has invested across
three investments that offer potential to generate attractive risk
adjusted returns. During the period, ART received £0.5 million as a
partial redemption from GCP Asset Backed Income Fund Limited. The
remaining value of these investments as at 30
September 2024 was £3.9
million.
The prevailing higher interest rate
environment continues to have an impact on 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.
Cash management
The Company adopts an active
approach to enhance returns on its cash balances.
As at 30
September 2024, the Company had
invested a total of £23.7 million in UK Treasury Bonds (Gilts) and
£9.6 million in UK Treasury Bills with annualised yields to
maturity ranging from 4.3% to 5.2% with maturities ranging between
October 2024 and June 2026. These government backed short term
investments offer the Company enhanced returns over cash
balances.
Post period end, on 15 October
2024, ART made two further investments in Gilts of £10 million each
and, on 21 October 2024, ART received £6.7 million at maturity of a
UK Treasury Bill investment.
As at 30
September 2024, the Company also had
invested £10.0 million in the Morgan Stanley Sterling Liquidity
Fund, which invests in high quality short-term money market
instruments denominated in sterling, offers same day liquidity and
earns an annualised return, net of Morgan Stanley's fees, of 4.9%
and £6.9 million in the BlackRock ICS Sterling Government Liquidity
Fund, which invests in government debt, offers same day liquidity
and earns an annualised return, net of BlackRock's fees, of
4.8%.
Post period end, the Company
increased its investment in the BlackRock ICS Sterling Government
Liquidity Fund to £10.0 million.
Results and dividends
Results
Basic earnings for the six months ended 30
September 2024 are £3.1 million (5.1 pence per ordinary share, see
note 8 of the financial statements).
Adjusted earnings, which the Board believe is a
more appropriate assessment of the operational income accruing to
the Group's activities, for the six months ended 30 September 2024
are £3.0 million: this represents 5.0 pence per ordinary share,
which compares with adjusted earnings of 4.6 pence per ordinary
share in the same period of last year (see note 8 of the financial
statements). Adjusted earnings have improved due to enhanced
revenues from investments supported by treasury management
initiatives.
The net asset value per ordinary share at 30
September 2024 is 208.8 pence per share (31 March 2024: 207.3 pence
per ordinary share) (see note 9 of the financial statements). The
increase in net asset value reflects a positive fair value movement
on investments and improved earnings after dividends.
Dividends
The Board announces a dividend of 1.0 pence per
ordinary share which is expected to be paid on 24 January 2025
(ex-dividend date 5 December 2024 and record date 6 December
2024).
The dividends paid and declared in respect of
the twelve month period ended 30 September 2024 totalled 4.0 pence
per ordinary share representing an annual dividend yield of 3.3%
p.a. by reference to the average closing share price over the
twelve months to 30 September 2024.
During the period, £98,802 dividends were paid
in cash and £1,093,277 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 30 September 2024. 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 9 January
2025 to benefit from the scrip dividend alternative for the next
dividend.
Financing
As at 30 September 2024 the Group has one
direct bank loan of €9.5 million (£7.9 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
Following the Annual General Meeting held on 5
September 2024 the Company has the authority to buy back a total of
8,966,800 shares. No shares have yet been bought back under this
authority.
During the period and post period end, the
Company did not purchase any shares in the market.
As at the date of this announcement, the
ordinary share capital of the Company is 68,470,638 (including
7,717,581 ordinary shares held in treasury) and the total voting
rights in the Company is 60,753,057.
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:€1.199 as
appropriate.
Going concern
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 30 September 2024) 17.7% of its assets (excluding sundry net
assets) in cash (including the investments in the
Morgan Stanley Sterling Liquidity Fund and
BlackRock ICS Sterling Government Liquidity Fund) and
27.0% in highly liquid UK Treasury Bonds and UK Treasury 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.
ART has no arrangements with any person
currently on (or potentially on) any sanctions list. The Board
continues to monitor the global political and economic situation
regularly assessing impacts arising from inflation and interest
rate changes for a potential material impact on ART's
portfolio.
Strategy and outlook
ART's investment portfolio benefits from
diversification across geographies, sectors, and asset types. As
inflationary outlook and interest rate policy continue to shape 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
21 November 2024
Investment review
Portfolio overview & risk analysis
as at 30 September 2024
Investment
name
|
|
|
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a. *
|
Investment location
|
Property type / underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
%
of portfolio1
|
Notes **
|
|
High return debt
(36.8%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Secured senior finance
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior secured loans (excluding
committed but undrawn facilities of £1.0 million)
|
£24.0m 2
|
9.6% 3
|
UK
|
Diversified loan portfolio
focussed on real estate investments and developments
|
Senior secured debt
|
19.5%
|
13
|
|
Secured mezzanine
finance
|
|
|
|
|
|
Second charge mezzanine
loans
|
£21.3m 2
|
18.0% 3
|
UK
|
Diversified loan portfolio
focussed on real estate investments and developments
|
Secured mezzanine debt and
subordinated debt
|
17.3%
|
13
|
|
High return equity in
property investments (14.7%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long leased industrial facility,
Hamburg
|
|
|
|
|
Direct property
|
£7.1m
5
(€8.5m)
|
8.7%
4
|
Germany
|
Long leased industrial complex in
major European industrial and logistics hub with RPI linked
rent
|
Medium term moderately geared bank
finance facility
|
5.8%
|
10
|
|
Long leased hotel,
Wadebridge
|
|
|
|
Direct property
|
£3.3m
|
6.6%
4
|
UK
|
Long leased hotel to Travelodge, a
large UK hotel group with CPI linked rent
|
No external gearing
|
2.7%
|
10
|
|
Long leased hotel,
Lowestoft
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Direct property
|
£2.9m
|
6.5%
4
|
UK
|
Long leased hotel to Travelodge, a
large UK hotel group with RPI linked rent
|
No external gearing
|
2.3%
|
10
|
|
Long leased hotel,
Yardley
|
|
|
Direct property
|
£4.8m
|
8.1%
4
|
UK
|
Long leased hotel to Travelodge, a
large UK hotel group with RPI linked rent
|
No external gearing
|
3.9%
|
10
|
|
Other investments
(30.8%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Listed and authorised fund
investments
|
£3.9m
|
8.2%
4
|
UK
& Channel Islands
|
Commercial real estate,
infrastructure and debt funds
|
Short to medium term investment in
listed and authorised funds
|
3.2%
|
11
|
|
Affordable housing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Residential Investment
|
£0.7m
|
n/a
|
UK
|
High-yield residential UK
portfolio
|
100% shareholding; no external
gearing
|
0.6%
|
10
|
|
UK Treasury Bonds
|
£23.7m
|
4.3%-4.9% 6
0.1%-5.0% 7
|
UK
|
UK government bonds
|
-
|
19.3%
|
11
|
|
UK Treasury Bills
|
£9.6m
|
4.8%-5.2% 6
|
UK
|
UK government bonds
|
-
|
7.7%
|
11
|
|
Cash and short-term
investments (17.7%)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash 8
|
£4.9m
|
3.5%
9
|
UK
|
'On call' and current
accounts
|
-
|
4.0%
|
-
|
|
Sterling Money Market
Funds
|
£16.9m
|
4.8%-5.3%
10
|
UK
|
Morgan Stanley and BlackRock
funds
|
Money market funds, daily
liquidity
|
13.7%
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
* Return from underlying
investments excluding Fund fees
** See notes to the financial
statements
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 30 September
2024
5 Property value including sundry assets/liabilities, net of
associated debt
6 Range of annualised yields to maturity
7 Range of fixed annual coupons
8 Group cash of £5.2m excluding cash held with the Hamburg
holding company of £0.3m
9 Weighted average interest earned on call accounts
10 Range of annualised daily return (net of fees)
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
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a.
|
Property type / underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Secured senior finance
|
First charge secured
loans
|
£24.0m *
|
9.6%**
|
Diversified loan portfolio
focussed on real estate investments and developments
|
Secured debt
|
Secured mezzanine
finance
|
Second charge secured
loans
|
£21.3m *
|
18.0%**
|
Diversified loan portfolio
focussed on real estate investments and developments
|
Second charge secured debt and
secured subordinated debt
|
*
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
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 30 September 2024, ART had
invested a total amount of £45.3 million across twelve loans. Over
the past twelve months the loan portfolio has decreased by
21.8%.
During the six months to 30
September 2024, additional drawdowns of £1.9 million were made on
existing loans, one loan for £4.1 million (including accrued
interest and exit fees) was fully repaid and a further £5.9 million
(including accrued interest) was received as part
repayments.
Post period end, one new loan was
granted for £3.1 million, £0.3 million of drawdowns were made on
existing loans, two loans for £20.5 million (including accrued
interest and applicable fees) were fully repaid and part payments
were received amounting to £0.6 million (including accrued
interest).
Each loan will typically have a
term of up to two years, a maximum 75% loan to gross development
value ratio and be targeted to generate attractive risk-adjusted
income returns. As at 30 September
2024, the senior portfolio has an average
LTV of 62.0% based on loan commitments (with mezzanine loans having
an LTV range of between 49.5% and 72.0% whilst the highest approved
senior loan LTV is 63.6%).
Four loans in the portfolio have
entered receivership and ART is working closely 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 has impaired one loan, which is accounted for at
fair value, by £0.4 million; the Group also calculated an ECL on
the other three loans of approximately £4.3 million; the Group have
also provided for an ECL on the remainder of the loans' portfolio
for an additional £1.7 million. In total, the Group have provided
for an ECL of £6.0 million (31 March 2024: £5.7 million) in its
consolidated accounts.
Current loan investment examples:
Location
|
Total commitment
|
Loan type
|
Loan term
|
Current LTV
|
Underlying security
|
Reading, Berkshire
|
£3,563,000
|
Mezzanine Development Loan
|
13
|
57.45%
|
Redevelopment to provide ninety-three
apartments
|
St. Lawrence, Jersey
|
£11,731,000
|
Senior Development Loan
|
24
|
63.00%
|
Development of eleven new build
apartments
|
Throughout the UK
|
£12,000,000
|
Senior Investment Loan
|
36
|
59.72%
|
Refinance of a portfolio of six care
homes
|
London
|
£8,737,000
|
Mezzanine Investment Loan
|
60
|
49.77%
|
Refinance of Central London hotel
|
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.
Long leased industrial facility, Hamburg
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a.
|
Property type /
underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Industrial facility,
Werner-Siemens-Straße Hamburg, Germany
|
Direct property
|
£7.1m*
(€8.5m)
|
8.7%**
|
High return industrial facility in
Hamburg Germany
|
Long leased investment with
moderately geared, medium term bank finance facility
|
*
Property value including sundry assets/liabilities and cash, net of
associated debt
** Yield on
equity over twelve months to 30 September 2024, excluding Fund
fees
ART has an investment of €8.5 million (£7.1
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
17-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 (£7.9 million) non-recourse, fixed rate, bank debt facility
which matures in 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
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a.
|
Property type /
underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Hotel, Wadebridge Cornwall,
UK
|
Direct property
|
£3.3m
|
6.6%*
|
Long leased hotel to Travelodge, a
large UK hotel group with RPI linked rent
|
No external gearing
|
* Yield
on equity over twelve months to 30 September 2024, excluding Fund
fees
ART has an investment of £3.3 million (property
valuation as at 30 September 2024) in 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 until September 2035 with a Landlord's extension of an
additional 7 years resulting in an expiry of 2042. 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
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a.
|
Property type /
underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Hotel, Lowestoft, UK
|
Direct property
|
£2.9m
|
6.5%*
|
Long leased hotel to Travelodge, a
large UK hotel group with RPI linked rent
|
No external gearing
|
* Yield
on equity over twelve months to 30 September 2024, excluding Fund
fees
ART has an investment of £2.9 million (property
valuation as at 30 September 2024) in 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 until May 2034 with a Landlord's extension of an additional
6 years resulting in an expiry of 2040. 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, Yardley, Birmingham
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a.
|
Property type /
underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Hotel, Yardley, UK
|
Direct property
|
£4.8m
|
8.1%*
|
Long leased hotel to Travelodge, a
large UK hotel group with RPI linked rent
|
No external gearing
|
* Yield
on equity over twelve months to 30 September 2024, excluding Fund
fees
ART has an investment of £4.8 million (property
valuation as at 30 September 2024) in a 64-bedroom property, which
is held freehold and occupies a site of 1.42 acres and has 116 car
parking spaces in Yardley. The hotel is situated to the east of
Birmingham City Centre off the A45. The hotel is in a
well-connected location equidistant between Birmingham City Centre
to the west and Birmingham Airport to the east.
The property is leased to Travelodge Hotels
Limited until November 2060 with a tenant only break option in 2035
(11 years unexpired). Under the lease, the tenant is responsible
for building maintenance.
The passing rent of £0.4 million
p.a. has inflation linked adjustments.
Other Investments
Listed and authorised fund investments
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a. *
|
Property type / underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Sequoia Economic Infrastructure
Income Fund Limited
|
Listed equity
|
£2.2m
|
8.6%
|
Listed investment fund
|
FTSE 250 infrastructure debt
fund
|
GCP Infrastructure Investments
Limited
|
Listed equity
|
£1.0m
|
8.9%
|
Listed investment fund
|
FTSE 250 infrastructure
fund
|
GCP Asset Backed Income Fund
Limited
|
Listed equity
|
£0.7m
|
6.3%
|
Listed investment fund
|
Diversified asset back debt
fund
|
Total
|
|
£3.9m
|
8.2%
|
|
|
* Yield
on equity over twelve months to 30 September 2024
The Company has invested across
three investments that offer potential to generate attractive risk
adjusted returns. 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 period, ART received
£0.5 million as a partial redemption from GCP Asset Backed Income
Fund Limited. The remaining value of these investments as at 30
September 2024 was £3.9 million.
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 30
September 2024 was £0.7 million.
UK Treasury Bonds (Gilts) and Bills
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a. *
|
Property type / underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Gilts
|
UK Treasury Bonds
|
£23.7m
|
4.3%-4.9%
|
Liquid Government
security
|
Short dated (maturity range: March
2025 - June 2026)
|
Treasuries
|
UK Treasury Bills
|
£9.6m
|
4.8%-5.2%
|
Liquid Government
security
|
Short dated (maturity range:
October 2024 - March 2025)
|
Total
|
|
£33.3m
|
4.7% **
|
|
|
* Range of
annualised yield to maturity
** Weighted
average
These government backed short term
investments offer the Company enhanced returns over cash
balances.
During the period, ART invested
£9.5 million in UK Treasury Bills, earning a yield to maturity
ranging from 4.8% to 5.2%, and £10.0 million in Gilts, earning a
yield to maturity of 4.3%, and ART received £6.1 million at
maturity of a Gilt investment, which earned a yield to maturity of
4.8%.
Post period end, on 15 October
2024, ART made two further investments in Gilts of £10 million each
and, on 21 October 2024, ART received £6.7 million at maturity of a
UK Treasury Bill investment.
Cash balances
Investment
|
Investment type
|
Carrying value
|
Income return p.a.
|
Property type / underlying security
|
Investment notes
|
Cash balance *
|
Cash
|
£4.9m
|
3.5% **
|
'On call' and current
accounts
|
n/a
|
Morgan Stanley Sterling Liquidity
Fund
|
Short-term investment
|
£10.0m
|
4.9% ***
|
Money market fund, daily
liquidity
|
n/a
|
BlackRock Sterling Liquidity
Fund
|
Short-term investment
|
£6.9m
|
4.8% ***
|
Money market fund, daily
liquidity
|
n/a
|
* Group
cash of £5.2m excluding cash held with the Hamburg holding company
of £0.3m
** weighted
average interest earned on call accounts
*** annualised daily
return (net of fees)
As at 30 September 2024, the Group had cash
balances of £4.9 million, excluding cash held with the Hamburg
holding company of £0.3 million.
During the period, ART invested
£6.9 million in the BlackRock ICS Sterling
Government Liquidity Fund, which invests in government debt, offers
same day liquidity and earns an annualised return, net of
BlackRock's fees, of 4.8%.
Post period end, the Company
increased its investment in the BlackRock ICS Sterling Government
Liquidity Fund to £10.0 million.
The Group's cash is held with established
banks with strong credit ratings.
Summary
ART's investment portfolio benefits from
diversification across geographies, sectors, and asset types. As
inflationary outlook and interest rate policy continue to shape 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
Brad Bauman and Gordon
Smith
For and on
behalf of the Investment
Manager
21 November 2024
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.
The Board believes that the above principal
risks and uncertainties, which are discussed more extensively in
the annual report for the year ended 31 March 2024, would be
equally applicable to the remaining six month period of the current
financial year.
Statement of Directors' Responsibilities
The Directors confirm that to the
best of their knowledge:
· the condensed
consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting', as adopted by the
European Union; and
· the half year
report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR
4.2.7R, being an indication of the important events that have
occurred during the first six months of the financial year, and
their impact on the half year report, and a description of the
principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of
the financial year; and
· the half year
report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR
4.2.8R, being the related parties transactions that have taken
place in the first six months of the current financial year and
that have materially affected the financial position or the
performance of the Group during that period; and any changes in the
related parties transactions described in the last annual report
that could have a material effect on the financial position or
performance of the enterprise in the first six months of the
current financial year.
The Directors of ART are listed
below.
By order of the Board
William Simpson
Chairman
21 November 2024
Independent review report
To the Members of Alpha Real Trust
Limited
Conclusion
Based on our review, nothing has come to our
attention that causes us to believe that the condensed consolidated
set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for
the six months ended 30 September 2024 is not prepared, in all
material respects, in accordance with International Accounting
Standard 34, as adopted by the European Union, and the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial
Conduct Authority.
We have been engaged by the company to review
the condensed consolidated set of financial statements in the
half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September
2024 which comprises the condensed consolidated statement of
comprehensive income, condensed consolidated balance sheet,
condensed consolidated cash flow statement, condensed consolidated
statement of changes in equity and related notes.
Basis for conclusion
We conducted our review in accordance with
International Standard on Review Engagements (UK) 2410, "Review of
Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor
of the Entity" ("ISRE (UK) 2410"). 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 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.
As disclosed in note 2, the annual financial
statements of the group are prepared in accordance with
International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") as adopted by
the European Union. The condensed set of financial statements
included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in
accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim
Financial Reporting".
Conclusions relating to going
concern
Based on our review procedures, which are less
extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the
Basis for conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to
our attention to suggest that the directors have inappropriately
adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that the directors
have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern
that are not appropriately disclosed.
This conclusion is based on the review
procedures performed in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410, however
future events or conditions may cause the group to cease to
continue as a going concern.
Responsibilities of
directors
The directors are responsible for preparing the
half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial
Conduct Authority.
In preparing the half-yearly financial report,
the directors are responsible for assessing the company'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
company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative
but to do so.
Auditor's responsibilities for the
review of the financial information
In reviewing the half-yearly report, we are
responsible for expressing to the company a conclusion on the
condensed set of financial statement in the half-yearly financial
report. Our conclusion, including our Conclusions Relating to Going
Concern, are based on procedures that are less extensive than audit
procedures, as described in the Basis for Conclusion paragraph of
this report.
Use of our report
Our report has been prepared in accordance with
the terms of our engagement to assist the Company in meeting the
requirements of the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules of
the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority 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.
BDO Limited
Chartered Accountants
2nd Floor, Plaza
House
Admiral Park
St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 3LL
21 November 2024
Condensed consolidated statement of
comprehensive income
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2024
(unaudited)
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2023
(unaudited)
|
|
Notes
|
Revenue
£'000
|
Capital
£'000
|
Total
£'000
|
Revenue
£'000
|
Capital
£'000
|
Total
£'000
|
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenue
|
3
|
955
|
-
|
955
|
820
|
-
|
820
|
Interest revenue
|
|
2,609
|
-
|
2,609
|
3,398
|
-
|
3,398
|
Change in the revaluation of investment
properties
|
10
|
-
|
215
|
215
|
-
|
(867)
|
(867)
|
Gains/(losses) on financial assets and
liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
|
5
|
178
|
327
|
505
|
(62)
|
(48)
|
(110)
|
Total income/(expense)
|
|
3,742
|
542
|
4,284
|
4,156
|
(915)
|
3,241
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expected credit losses
|
|
29
|
(357)
|
(328)
|
(277)
|
(779)
|
(1,056)
|
Property operating expenses
|
|
(50)
|
-
|
(50)
|
(41)
|
-
|
(41)
|
Investment Manager's fee
|
21
|
(1,233)
|
-
|
(1,233)
|
(1,158)
|
-
|
(1,158)
|
Other administration costs
|
|
(548)
|
-
|
(548)
|
(546)
|
-
|
(546)
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
(1,802)
|
(357)
|
(2,159)
|
(2,022)
|
(779)
|
(2,801)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating profit/(loss)
|
|
1,940
|
185
|
2,125
|
2,134
|
(1,694)
|
440
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share of (loss)/profit of joint
venture
|
12
|
(16)
|
-
|
(16)
|
167
|
(120)
|
47
|
Finance income
|
4
|
1,230
|
-
|
1,230
|
481
|
4
|
485
|
Finance costs
|
|
(99)
|
(84)
|
(183)
|
(102)
|
-
|
(102)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) before
taxation
|
|
3,055
|
101
|
3,156
|
2,680
|
(1,810)
|
870
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Taxation
|
6
|
(70)
|
(23)
|
(93)
|
(18)
|
23
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit/(loss) after
taxation
|
|
2,985
|
78
|
3,063
|
2,662
|
(1,787)
|
875
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Items that may be reclassified to
profit or loss in subsequent periods:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exchange differences arising on
translation of foreign operations
|
|
-
|
(195)
|
(195)
|
-
|
(443)
|
(443)
|
Other comprehensive expense for the period
|
|
-
|
(195)
|
(195)
|
-
|
(443)
|
(443)
|
Total comprehensive
income/(expense) for the
period
|
|
2,985
|
(117)
|
2,868
|
2,662
|
(2,230)
|
432
|
Earnings per ordinary share (basic &
diluted)
|
8
|
|
|
5.1p
|
|
|
1.5p
|
Adjusted earnings per ordinary share (basic &
diluted)
|
8
|
|
|
5.0p
|
|
|
4.6p
|
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 these financial
statements.
Condensed consolidated balance
sheet
|
Notes
|
30 September 2024
(unaudited)
£'000
|
31 March 2024
(audited)
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
Investment property
|
10
|
26,583
|
26,740
|
Loans advanced
|
13
|
7,699
|
16,039
|
|
|
34,282
|
42,779
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
Investment in joint venture
|
12
|
17
|
12,630
|
Investments held at fair value
|
11
|
37,262
|
23,675
|
Derivatives held at fair value through profit
or loss
|
|
104
|
327
|
Loans advanced
|
13
|
37,553
|
30,407
|
Collateral deposit
|
14
|
338
|
1,156
|
Trade and other receivables
|
15
|
3,655
|
4,500
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
16
|
22,142
|
17,221
|
|
|
101,071
|
89,916
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
135,353
|
132,695
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
Trade and other payables
|
17
|
(1,216)
|
(1,145)
|
Corporation tax
|
|
(88)
|
(56)
|
Bank borrowings
|
18
|
(30)
|
(31)
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
(1,334)
|
(1,232)
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets less current
liabilities
|
|
134,019
|
131,463
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
Bank borrowings
|
18
|
(7,866)
|
(8,053)
|
Deferred tax
|
6
|
(319)
|
(304)
|
|
|
(8,185)
|
(8,357)
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
(9,519)
|
(9,589)
|
|
|
|
|
Net assets
|
|
125,834
|
123,106
|
|
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
19
|
-
|
-
|
Special reserve
|
|
63,654
|
62,602
|
Translation reserve
|
|
(495)
|
(300)
|
Capital reserve
|
|
33,255
|
33,177
|
Revenue reserve
|
|
29,420
|
27,627
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity
|
|
125,834
|
123,106
|
|
|
|
|
Net asset value per ordinary
share
|
9
|
208.8p
|
207.3p
|
The financial statements were approved by the
Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 21 November 2024.
They were signed on its behalf by William Simpson.
William
Simpson
Director
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial
statements.
Condensed consolidated cash flow
statement
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2024
(unaudited) £'000
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2023
(unaudited) £'000
|
Operating
activities
|
|
|
Profit for the period after
taxation
|
3,063
|
875
|
Adjustments
for:
|
|
|
Change in revaluation of
investment property
|
(215)
|
867
|
Gains/(losses) on financial assets and
liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss
|
(505)
|
110
|
Taxation
|
93
|
(5)
|
Share of loss/(profit) of joint
venture
|
16
|
(47)
|
Interest receivable on loans to
third parties
|
(2,609)
|
(3,398)
|
Expected credit losses
|
328
|
1,056
|
Finance income
|
(1,230)
|
(485)
|
Finance cost
|
183
|
102
|
Operating cash flows before movements in working
capital
|
(876)
|
(925)
|
Movements in working
capital:
|
|
|
Movement in trade and other
receivables
|
864
|
(42)
|
Movement in trade and other
payables
|
30
|
93
|
Cash flows generated from/(used in)
operations
|
18
|
(874)
|
|
|
|
Loan interest received
|
1,813
|
678
|
Loans granted to third
parties
|
(2,529)
|
(9,739)
|
Loans repaid by third
parties
|
4,133
|
8,710
|
Interest received
|
148
|
131
|
Interest paid
|
(91)
|
(93)
|
Tax paid
|
(15)
|
(30)
|
Cash flows generated from/(used in)
operating activities
|
3,477
|
(1,217)
|
|
|
|
Investing activities
|
|
|
Acquisition of investment
property
|
-
|
(5,118)
|
Investment in UK Treasury Bonds and
Bills
|
(19,486)
|
(13,140)
|
Redemption of UK Treasury Bonds and
Bills
|
6,100
|
14,130
|
Redemption on investments
|
501
|
-
|
Capital return from joint
venture
|
12,511
|
-
|
Dividend income from
investments
|
178
|
187
|
Income from UK Treasury Bonds and
Bills
|
380
|
163
|
Dividend income from Sterling Liquidity
Funds
|
273
|
33
|
Collateral deposit increase
|
817
|
12
|
Cash flows generated from/(used in)
investing activities
|
1,274
|
(3,733)
|
|
|
|
Financing activities
|
|
|
Share buyback costs
|
(41)
|
(39)
|
Cash received/(paid) on maturity
of foreign exchange forward
|
336
|
(202)
|
Ordinary dividends paid
|
(99)
|
(106)
|
Cash flows generated from/(used in)
financing activities
|
196
|
(347)
|
|
|
|
Net increase/(decrease)
in cash and cash
equivalents
|
4,947
|
(5,297)
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period
|
17,221
|
18,455
|
Exchange translation
movement
|
(26)
|
(66)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of
period
|
22,142
|
13,092
|
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial
statements.
Condensed consolidated statement of
changes in equity
For the six months ended 30
September 2024
(unaudited)
|
Notes
|
Special
reserve
£'000
|
Translation reserve
£'000
|
Capital
reserve
£'000
|
Revenue
reserve
£'000
|
Total
equity
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 April 2024
|
|
62,602
|
(300)
|
33,177
|
27,627
|
123,106
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income/(expense)
for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit for the period
|
|
-
|
-
|
78
|
2,985
|
3,063
|
Other comprehensive expense for the
period
|
|
-
|
(195)
|
-
|
-
|
(195)
|
Total comprehensive (expense)/income
for the period
|
|
-
|
(195)
|
78
|
2,985
|
2,868
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transactions with owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash dividends
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(99)
|
(99)
|
Scrip dividends
|
7
|
1,093
|
-
|
-
|
(1,093)
|
-
|
Share issue costs
|
|
(41)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(41)
|
Total transactions with
owners
|
|
1,052
|
-
|
-
|
(1,192)
|
(140)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 September 2024
|
|
63,654
|
(495)
|
33,255
|
29,420
|
125,834
|
For the six months ended 30
September 2023
(unaudited)
|
Notes
|
Special
reserve
£'000
|
Translation reserve
£'000
|
Capital
reserve
£'000
|
Revenue
reserve
£'000
|
Total
equity
£'000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 1 April 2023
|
|
60,550
|
452
|
40,147
|
23,918
|
125,067
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income/(expense)
for the period
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss/(profit) for the
period
|
|
-
|
-
|
(1,787)
|
2,662
|
875
|
Other comprehensive expense for the
period
|
|
-
|
(443)
|
-
|
-
|
(443)
|
Total comprehensive (expense)/income
for the period
|
|
-
|
(443)
|
(1,787)
|
2,662
|
432
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transactions with owners
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash dividends
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(106)
|
(106)
|
Scrip dividends
|
7
|
1,053
|
-
|
-
|
(1,053)
|
-
|
Share issue costs
|
|
(39)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(39)
|
Total transactions with
owners
|
|
1,014
|
-
|
-
|
(1,159)
|
(145)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At 30 September 2023
|
|
61,564
|
9
|
38,360
|
25,421
|
125,354
|
The accompanying notes form an integral part of these financial
statements.
Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for
the period ended 30 September 2024
1. General information
The Company is a limited liability,
closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey. The Group
comprises the Company and its subsidiaries. The condensed
consolidated financial statements are presented in pounds Sterling
as this is the currency in which the funds are raised and in which
investors are seeking a return. The Company's functional currency
is Sterling and the subsidiaries' currencies are Euro and Sterling.
The presentation currency of the Group is Sterling. For Euro based
transactions the period end exchange rate used is £1:€1.199 (31
March 2024: £1:€1.170) and the average rate for the period used is
£1:€1.178 (30 September 2023: £1:€1.157).
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 half year
report was approved and authorised for issue on 21 November 2024
and signed by William Simpson on behalf of
the Board.
2. Material accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements in the half year report for the
six months ended 30 September 2024 have been prepared in accordance
with International Accounting Standard (IAS) 34, 'Interim Financial
Reporting' as adopted by the European Union. This half year report
and condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in
conjunction with the Group's annual report and consolidated
financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2024, which have
been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting
Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and are available
at the Company's website (www.alpharealtrustlimited.com).
The accounting policies adopted and
methods of computation followed in the condensed consolidated
financial statements are consistent with those applied in the
preparation of the Group's annual consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2024 and are expected to be applied to
the Group's annual consolidated financial statements for the year
ending 31 March 2025.
The Group continues to only have
one operating segment.
3.
Revenue
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2024
£'000
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2023
£'000
|
Rental income
|
929
|
768
|
Service charges
|
26
|
26
|
Rental
revenue
|
955
|
794
|
|
|
|
Other income
|
-
|
26
|
Other
revenue
|
-
|
26
|
|
|
|
Total
|
955
|
820
|
4.
Finance income
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2024
£'000
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2023
£'000
|
Bank interest receivable
|
148
|
131
|
Income from UK Treasury Bonds and
Bills
|
809
|
317
|
Income from Liquidity Funds
|
273
|
33
|
Foreign exchange gain
|
-
|
4
|
Total
|
1,230
|
485
|
5. Net gains and losses on financial assets
and liabilities held at fair value through profit or
loss
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2024
£'000
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2023
£'000
|
Unrealised
gains and losses on financial assets and financial liabilities held
at fair value through profit or loss
|
|
|
Movement in fair value of loans
|
-
|
(314)
|
Movement in fair value of
investments
|
271
|
(260)
|
Movement in fair value of foreign exchange
forward contract
|
(223)
|
414
|
|
|
|
Realised gains
and losses on financial assets and financial liabilities held at
fair value through profit or loss
|
|
|
Movement in fair value of loans
|
(57)
|
65
|
Dividends received from investments held at
fair value
|
178
|
187
|
Realised gain/(loss) on foreign exchange
forward contract
|
336
|
(202)
|
Net
gains/(losses) on financial assets and financial
liabilities held at fair value through profit or
loss
|
505
|
(110)
|
6. Taxation
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2024
£'000
|
For the six months
ended
30 September 2023
£'000
|
Current tax
|
(70)
|
18
|
Deferred tax
|
(23)
|
(23)
|
Tax
expense
|
(93)
|
5
|
The Company is exempt from Guernsey
taxation on income derived outside of Guernsey and bank interest
earned in Guernsey. A fixed annual fee of £1,600 is payable to the
States of Guernsey in respect of this exemption. No charge to
Guernsey taxation arises on capital gains. The Group is liable to
foreign tax arising on activities in the overseas
subsidiaries. The Company has investments
and subsidiaries operations in Luxembourg, United Kingdom, the
Netherlands and Germany.
The current tax charge is due in
Luxembourg, Germany and
the Netherlands.
Unused tax losses in Luxembourg,
Germany and the United Kingdom can be carried forward indefinitely.
Unused tax losses in the Netherlands can be carried forward for
nine years.
A deferred tax liability has been
provided for in relation to the Hamburg investment property in
Germany and its movement can be analysed as follows:
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Opening
balance
|
304
|
349
|
Movement for the period
|
23
|
(36)
|
Foreign exchange
movements
|
(8)
|
(9)
|
Closing
balance
|
319
|
304
|
7. Dividends
Dividend reference period
|
Shares
|
Dividend
|
Paid
|
Date of
payment
|
'000
|
per
share
|
£
|
|
Quarter ended 31 December
2023
|
4,923
|
1.0p
|
49,236
|
12 April
2024
|
Quarter ended 31 March
2024
|
4,956
|
1.0p
|
49,566
|
26 July
2024
|
Total paid in the period
|
|
|
98,802
|
|
Quarter ended 30 June 2024
|
4,906
|
1.0p
|
49,064
|
25
October 2024
|
Total
|
|
|
147,866
|
|
The Company will pay a dividend of
1.0p per share for the quarter ended 30 September 2024 on 24
January 2025.
In accordance with IAS 10, the
dividends for quarters ended 30 June 2024 and 30 September 2024 have not been
included in these financial statements as the dividends were
declared or paid after the period end. The current intention of the
Directors is to pay a dividend quarterly.
Dividends paid and payable after
the balance sheet date have not been included as a liability in the
half year report.
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 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 all quarterly
dividends from the quarter ended 31 December 2018 onwards. These
issued shares are ranked pari-passu in all respects with the
Company's existing issued ordinary shares.
During the six month period ended
30 September 2024, the Company issued 894,600 ordinary shares: on
12 April 2024, 437,407 were issued at the price of £1.25 and, on 26
July 2024, 457,193 were issued at the price of £1.20.
8. Earnings per share
The calculation of the basic and
diluted earnings per ordinary share is based on the following
data:
|
For the
six months ended 30 September
2024
|
Year
ended
31 March
2024
|
For the
six months ended 30 September
2023
|
|
Ordinary
share
|
Ordinary
share
|
Ordinary
share
|
Earnings/(losses) per statement of
comprehensive income (£'000)
|
3,063
|
(929)
|
875
|
Basic and diluted earnings/(losses)
(pence per share)
|
5.1
|
(1.6)
|
1.5
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings/(losses) per statement of
comprehensive income (£'000)
|
3,063
|
(929)
|
875
|
Net change in the revaluation of investment
properties
|
(215)
|
1,419
|
867
|
Movement in fair value of
investments
|
(271)
|
161
|
260
|
Movement in fair value of foreign exchange
forward contract
|
(113)
|
(450)
|
(212)
|
Net change in the revaluation of the joint
ventures' investment property
|
-
|
4,141
|
120
|
Movement in fair value of loans
|
57
|
-
|
-
|
Expected credit losses
|
357
|
1,711
|
779
|
Deferred tax
|
23
|
(36)
|
(23)
|
Foreign exchange (gain)/loss
|
84
|
24
|
(4)
|
Adjusted
earnings
|
2,985
|
6,041
|
2,662
|
Adjusted
earnings (pence per share)
|
5.0
|
10.3
|
4.6
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
average number of shares ('000s)
|
59,958
|
58,626
|
57,879
|
The adjusted earnings are presented
to provide what the Board believes is a more appropriate assessment
of the operational income accruing to the Group's activities.
Hence, the Group adjusts basic earnings for income and costs which
are not of a recurrent nature or which may be more of a capital
nature.
9. Net asset value per share
|
At 30 September 2024
£'000
|
At 31 March 2024
£'000
|
At 30 September 2023
£'000
|
Net asset value
(£'000)
|
125,834
|
123,106
|
125,354
|
Net asset value per ordinary
share
|
208.8p
|
207.3p
|
214.3p
|
|
|
|
|
Number of ordinary shares
('000s)
|
60,276
|
59,381
|
58,493
|
10. Investment property
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Fair value of
investment property at 1 April
|
26,740
|
23,496
|
Additions
|
-
|
5,118
|
Fair value adjustment in the
period/year
|
215
|
(1,419)
|
Foreign exchange
movements
|
(372)
|
(455)
|
Fair value of
investment property at 30 September / 31 March
|
26,583
|
26,740
|
Investment property is represented
by a property located in Hamburg (Werner-Siemens-Straße), Germany,
a residential property located in Liverpool, UK and three hotels
located in the UK.
The fair value of the Hamburg
property of €18.0 million (£15.0 million) (31 March 2024: €18.0
million (£15.4 million)) has been arrived at on the basis of an
independent valuation carried out at the balance sheet date by
Cushman & Wakefield ('C&W').
The fair values of the three UK
hotels have been arrived at on the basis of an independent
valuation carried out at the balance sheet date by C&W and were
as follows, by location:
· Wadebridge £3.3 million (31 March 2024: £3.3
million)
· Lowestoft £2.9 million (31 March 2024: £2.7
million)
· Yardley £4.8 million (31 March 2024: £4.8 million).
The fair value of the Liverpool
residential property of £0.7 million (31 March 2024: £0.6 million)
has been arrived at on the basis of an independent valuation
carried out at the balance sheet date by ASL Chartered Surveyors
& Valuers ('ASL').
C&W and ASL are independent
valuers and are not connected to the Group.
The valuation basis used is fair
value as defined by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Appraisal and Valuations Standards ("RICS"). The approved RICS
definition of 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".
Foreign exchange movement is
recognised in other comprehensive income.
11. Investments held at fair value
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Current
|
|
|
As
at 1 April
|
23,675
|
18,310
|
Additions
|
19,486
|
26,414
|
Redemptions
|
(6,601)
|
(21,454)
|
Accrued income on UK Treasury Bonds and
Bills
|
431
|
566
|
Movement in fair value of
investments
|
271
|
(161)
|
As at 30
September / 31 March
|
37,262
|
23,675
|
The investments, which are
disclosed as current investments held at fair value, are as
follows:
· Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Limited ('SEQI'),
a listed fund: the market value of SEQI as at 30 September 2024 was
£2.2 million (31 March 2024: £2.3 million).
· GCP
Infrastructure Investments Limited ('GCP') a listed fund: the
market value of GCP as at 30 September 2024 was £1.0 million (31
March 2024: £0.9 million).
· GCP
Asset Backed Income Fund Limited ('GABI'): the market value of GABI
as at 30 September 2024 was £0.7 million (31 March 2024: £1.0
million). During the period, ART received £0.5 million as a partial
redemption from GABI.
· During the period, ART invested a further £10.0 million in
Gilts and received £6.1 as proceeds for Gilts that matured: the
market value of the Gilts' portfolio as at 30 September 2024 was
£23.7 million (31 March 2024: £19.5 million).
· During the period, ART invested £9.5 million in UK Treasury
Bills: the market value of the UK Treasury Bills' portfolio as at
30 September 2024 was £9.6 million (31 March 2024:
£nil).
· HLP
(ordinary shares (after cancellation of participating redeemable
preference shares following HLP's restructuring in February 2024)):
HLP provides quarterly valuations of the net asset value of its
shares; the net asset value of the investment as at 30 September
2024 was £nil (31 March 2024: £nil).
Post period end, in October 2024,
ART purchased a further £20 million investment in Gilts and
received proceeds of £6.7 million at maturity of a UK Treasury
Bill.
12. Investment in joint venture
The movement in the Group's share
of net assets of the joint venture can be summarised as
follows:
|
H2O
|
H2O
|
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
As at 1
April
|
12,630
|
17,654
|
Group's share of joint venture's profits before
fair value movements and dividends
|
(16)
|
443
|
Fair value adjustment for investment property
and interest rate cap
|
-
|
(4,141)
|
Dividends paid by joint venture to the
Group
|
-
|
(871)
|
Capital return
|
(12,511)
|
-
|
Foreign exchange
movements
|
(86)
|
(455)
|
As at 30
September / 31 March
|
17
|
12,630
|
ART had an investment in the H2O shopping
centre in Madrid, Spain: the Group held a 30% equity investment in
CBRE H2O Rivas Holding NV ('CBRE H2O'), a company based in the
Netherlands, which in turn owned 100% of the Spanish entities that
owned the shopping centre.
In April 2024, CBRE H2O disposed of its
Spanish subsidiaries for net proceeds of €48.4 million (£41.4
million): the price was based on the 31 December 2023 accounts of
the Spanish subsidiaries and was adjusted, immaterially, for the 3
April 2024 accounts; ART received €14.7 million (£12.5 million) as
capital return from CBRE H2O.
Post period end, CBRE H2O commenced a
voluntary liquidation and is expected to be dissolved by January
2025.
Foreign exchange movement is
recognised in other comprehensive income.
13. Loans advanced
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Non-current
|
|
|
Loans granted to third parties
|
7,593
|
15,834
|
Interest receivable from loans granted to third
parties
|
106
|
205
|
Total loans at
amortised cost
|
7,699
|
16,039
|
Loans at fair value through profit or
loss
|
-
|
-
|
Total
non-current loans
|
7,699
|
16,039
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
Loans granted to third parties
|
40,093
|
32,304
|
Interest receivable from loans granted to third
parties
|
3,163
|
3,350
|
Total loans at
amortised cost
|
43,256
|
35,654
|
Loans at fair value through profit or
loss
|
298
|
426
|
Expected credit losses
|
(6,001)
|
(5,673)
|
Total current
loans
|
37,553
|
30,407
|
As at 30 September 2024, the Group
had granted a total of £45.3 million (31 March 2024: £46.4 million)
of secured senior and secured mezzanine loans to third parties.
These comprised twelve loans to UK entities, which assisted with
the purchase of property developments, predominantly residential,
in the UK. These facilities typically range from a 6 to 36 month
term and entitle the Group to a weighted average overall return on
the investment of 18.0% for mezzanine loans and 9.6% for senior
loans.
All senior and mezzanine loans
granted by the Group are secured asset backed real estate loans.
Senior loans have a first charge security and mezzanine loans have
a second charge security on the property developments.
Loans at fair value through profit
or loss represents loans that failed the 'solely payment of
principal and interest' criteria of IFRS 9 to be measured at
amortised cost: this is due to a loan facility agreement's clause
that links those loans to a return other than
interest.
Movement in expected credit losses
can be summarised as follows:
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Opening
balance of ECL
|
(5,673)
|
(3,685)
|
Movement for the period (revenue)
|
29
|
(277)
|
Movement for the period (capital)
|
(357)
|
(1,711)
|
Closing
balance of ECL
|
(6,001)
|
(5,673)
|
As at 30 September 2024, four loans totalling
£8.8 million (31 March 2024: £8.1 million) 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 impaired one loan,
which is accounted for at fair value, by £0.4 million
(31 March 2024: £0.3 million); the Group also calculated an
ECL on the other three loans of approximately £4.3 million (31
March 2024: £4.1 million); the Group have also provided for an ECL
on the remainder of the loans' portfolio for an additional £1.7
million (31 March 2024: £1.6 million): in total, the Group have
provided for an ECL of £6.0 million (31 March 2024: £5.7 million)
in its consolidated accounts.
Loans maturity of the total £45.3 million loans
granted by the Group at year end, can be analysed as
follows:
|
Less than
6 months
£'m
|
Between 6
to 12 months
£'m
|
Between
12 to 24 months £'m
|
Over 24
months
£'m
|
Total
£'m
|
Non-current
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7,699
|
7,699
|
Current
|
29,241
|
8,312
|
-
|
-
|
37,553
|
Post period end, one new loan was
granted for £3.1 million, £0.3 million of drawdowns were made on
existing loans, two loans for £20.5 million (including accrued
interest and applicable fees) were fully repaid and part payments
were received amounting to £0.6 million (including accrued
interest).
Despite all of 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
without a repayable on demand clause amount to £8.3 million and
£7.7 million and mature in April 2025 and February 2029,
respectively; both loans remain in stage 1 of the IFRS 9 model.
These two loans 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.
14. Collateral deposit
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Collateral deposit
|
338
|
1,156
|
The collateral deposit of £0.3
million (31 March 2024: £1.1 million) is a cash deposit with
Barclays Bank PLC ('Barclays') in Guernsey in relation to the
foreign exchange forward contract entered into by the Group at
period end: this cash has been placed on deposit.
15. Trade and other receivables
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Current
|
|
|
Trade debtors
|
301
|
8
|
Other debtors
|
3,354
|
4,492
|
Total
|
3,655
|
4,500
|
The other debtors balance at period
end includes £3.1 million held on escrow for a secured senior
mezzanine loan granted in October 2024.
The Directors consider that the
carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to
their fair value.
16. Cash and cash equivalents
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
BlackRock ICS Sterling Government Liquidity
Fund
|
6,850
|
-
|
Morgan Stanley Sterling Liquidity
Fund
|
10,000
|
10,000
|
Cash at bank
|
5,292
|
7,221
|
Total
|
22,142
|
17,221
|
During the period, the Company
invested £6.9 million in the BlackRock ICS Sterling Government
Liquidity Fund, which invests in government debt, offers same day
liquidity and earns an annualised return, net of BlackRock's fees,
of 4.8%.
The Morgan Stanley
Sterling Liquidity Fund invests in high
quality short-term money market instruments denominated in
sterling, offers same day liquidity and earns an annualised return,
net of Morgan Stanley's fees, of 4.9%.
17. Trade and other payables
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Trade creditors
|
73
|
35
|
Deferred revenue
|
233
|
220
|
Investment Manager's fee
payable
|
630
|
589
|
Accruals
|
212
|
231
|
VAT
|
48
|
30
|
Other creditors
|
20
|
40
|
Total
|
1,216
|
1,145
|
Trade and other payables primarily
comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs.
The Group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure
that all payables are paid within the credit time frame. The
Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other
payables approximates their fair value.
18. Bank borrowings
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Current liabilities: interest
payable
|
30
|
31
|
Total current
liabilities
|
30
|
31
|
Non-current liabilities: bank
borrowings
|
7,866
|
8,053
|
Total
liabilities
|
7,896
|
8,084
|
|
|
|
The borrowings are repayable as follows:
|
|
|
Interest payable
|
30
|
31
|
On demand or within one
year
|
-
|
-
|
In the second to fifth years
inclusive
|
7,866
|
8,053
|
After five years
|
-
|
-
|
Total
|
7,896
|
8,084
|
Movements in the Group's
non-current bank borrowings are analysed as follows:
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
As at 1
April
|
8,053
|
8,271
|
Amortisation of deferred finance
costs
|
8
|
15
|
Exchange differences on translation of foreign
currencies
|
(195)
|
(233)
|
As at 30
September / 31 March
|
7,866
|
8,053
|
As at 30 September 2024, bank
borrowings represent the Nord LB (a German bank) loan principal for
€9.5 million (£7.9 million), excluding deferred finance costs,
which was used to partly fund the acquisition of the investment
property in Hamburg (Werner-Siemens-Straße), Germany. This loan is
composed of two tranches of €4.9 million (£4.1 million) and €4.6
million (£3.8 million), which bear a 1.85% and 2.7% fixed rate
respectively and that are due to mature in August 2028.
The borrowings are secured over the
Hamburg property and have no recourse to the other assets of the
Group and the facility carries no financial covenant tests. The
fair value of bank borrowings at the balance sheet date is €9.5
million (£7.9 million).
The tables below set out an analysis
and the movements of net liabilities from financing activities for
the period ended 30 September 2024 and same period of prior
year.
|
Foreign exchange
forward
£'000
|
Borrowings
£'000
|
Total
£'000
|
Net
liabilities from financing activities
as at 1 April
2024
|
327
|
(8,053)
|
(7,726)
|
Cash movements
|
(336)
|
-
|
(336)
|
Non cash
movements
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange adjustments
|
-
|
195
|
195
|
Unrealised gain on foreign exchange forward
contract
|
113
|
-
|
113
|
Loan fee amortisation and other
costs
|
-
|
(8)
|
(8)
|
Net
liabilities from financing activities
as at 30
September 2024
|
104
|
(7,866)
|
(7,762)
|
|
Foreign exchange
forward
£'000
|
Borrowings
£'000
|
Total
£'000
|
Net
liabilities from financing activities
as at 1 April
2023
|
(171)
|
(8,271)
|
(8,442)
|
Cash movements
|
202
|
-
|
202
|
Non cash
movements
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange adjustments
|
-
|
122
|
122
|
Unrealised gain on foreign exchange forward
contract
|
212
|
-
|
212
|
Loan fee amortisation and other
costs
|
-
|
(8)
|
(8)
|
Net
liabilities from financing activities
as at 30
September 2023
|
243
|
(8,157)
|
(7,914)
|
19. Share capital
|
|
|
Number of shares
|
Authorised
|
|
|
|
Ordinary shares of no par value
|
|
|
Unlimited
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ordinary
|
Ordinary
|
Ordinary
|
Issued and
fully paid
|
treasury
|
external
|
total
|
At 1 April
2024
|
7,717,581
|
59,381,140
|
67,098,721
|
Share issue for scrip dividend
|
-
|
894,600
|
894,600
|
Shares bought back
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Shares cancelled following buyback
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
At 30
September 2024
|
7,717,581
|
60,275,740
|
67,993,321
|
The Company has one class of
ordinary shares. The Company has the right
to reissue or cancel the remaining treasury shares at a later
date.
Following the Annual General Meeting held on 5
September 2024 the Company has the authority to buy back a total of
8,966,800 shares. No shares have yet been bought back under this
authority.
During the period and post period end, the
Company did not purchase any shares in the market.
As at 30 September 2024, the ordinary share
capital of the Company was 67,993,321 (including 7,717,581 ordinary
shares held in treasury) and the total voting rights in the Company
was 60,275,740.
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 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 all quarterly
dividends from the quarter ended 31 December 2018 onwards. These
issued shares are ranked pari-passu in all respects with the
Company's existing issued ordinary shares.
During the six month period ended
30 September 2024, the Company issued 894,600 ordinary shares: on
12 April 2024, 437,407 were issued at the price of £1.25 and, on 26
July 2024, 457,193 were issued at the price of £1.20.
All transaction amounts in relation
to the issue and buyback of shares in the period are recognised
within the Special Reserve and shown in the Statement of Changes in
Equity.
Post period end, the Company made
no share buybacks.
On 25 October 2024, as a result of the scrip
dividend elections related to the dividend of the quarter ended 30
June 2024, the Company issued 477,317 ordinary shares at the price
of £1.16.
As at the date of this announcement, the
ordinary share capital of the Company is 68,470,638 (including
7,717,581 ordinary shares held in treasury) and the total voting
rights in the Company is 60,753,057.
20. Events after the balance sheet date
Post period end, one new loan was
granted for £3.1 million, £0.3 million of drawdowns were made on
existing loans, two loans for £20.5 million (including accrued
interest and applicable fees) were fully repaid and part payments
were received amounting to £0.6 million (including accrued
interest).
Post period end, in October 2024, ART purchased
a further £20 million investment in Gilts, received proceeds of
£6.7 million at maturity of a UK Treasury Bill and increased
its investment in the BlackRock ICS Sterling
Government Liquidity Fund to £10.0 million.
On 25 October 2024, as a result of the scrip
dividend elections related to the dividend of the quarter ended 30
June 2024, the Company issued 477,317 ordinary shares at the price
of £1.16 (note 19).
As at the date of this announcement,
the Company declares a quarterly dividend of 1.0p
per ordinary share, which is expected to be paid on 24 January
2025.
21. Related party transactions
Parties are considered to be related
if one party has the ability to control the other party or exercise
significant influence over the other party in making financial or
operational decisions. ARC is the Investment Manager to the Company
under the terms of the Management Agreement and is thus considered
a related party of the Company.
The Investment Manager is entitled
to receive a fee from the Company at an annual rate of 2% of the
net assets of the Group, payable quarterly in arrears. The
Investment Manager is also entitled to receive an annual
performance fee calculated with reference to total shareholder
return ("TSR"), whereby the fee is 20% of any excess over an
annualised TSR of 15% subject to a rolling three year high water
mark.
During the period, a total of £1.2
million (31 March 2024: £2.3 million) was billed by ARC to ART. As
at the period end, a total of £0.6 million was outstanding (31
March 2024: £0.6 million).
Details of the Investment Manager's
fees for the current period are disclosed on the face of the
condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income and the
balance payable at 30 September 2024 is provided in note
17.
The Directors of the Company
received total fees as follows:
|
For the six months
ended
30 September
2024
|
For the six months
ended
30 September
2023
|
Phillip Rose
|
13,750
|
13,750
|
Jeff Chowdhry
|
13,750
|
13,750
|
Melanie Torode
|
20,289
|
24,000
|
William Simpson
|
19,750
|
19,750
|
Peter Griffin
|
13,750
|
13,750
|
Total
|
81,289
|
85,000
|
The Directors' interests in the
shares of the Company are detailed below:
|
30 September
2024
Number of ordinary shares
held
|
31 March
2024
Number of ordinary shares
held
|
Phillip Rose
|
1,046,756
|
1,031,935
|
Jeff Chowdhry
|
5,000
|
5,000
|
Melanie Torode
|
-
|
-
|
William Simpson
|
51,094
|
40,347
|
Peter Griffin
|
-
|
-
|
Post period end, following the
October 2024 scrip issue by the Company, Phillip Rose and William
Simpson increased their shareholdings in ART by 7,903 and 440
ordinary shares, respectively.
Alpha Global Property Securities
Fund Pte. Ltd, a company registered in
Singapore, owned directly by the partners of ARC, held 26,433,204
shares in the Company at 30 September 2024 (31 March 2024:
26,000,909).
ARC did not hold any shares in the
Company at 30 September 2024 (31 March 2024: nil). The following,
being partners of the Investment Manager, hold direct interests in
the following shares of the Company:
|
30 September
2024
Number of ordinary shares
held
|
31 March
2024
Number of ordinary shares
held
|
Brian Frith
|
-
|
-
|
Phillip Rose
|
1,046,756
|
1,031,935
|
Brad Bauman
|
62,488
|
61,478
|
Post period end, following the
October 2024 scrip issue by the Company, Brad Bauman increased his
shareholdings in ART to 63,026 ordinary shares.
During the period, Karl Devon-Lowe,
a partner of ARC, received fees of £525 (31 March 2024: £5,000) in
relation to directorial responsibilities on a number of the
Company's subsidiary companies.
During the period, a total of
£46,950 (31 March 2024: £96,300) was billed by Ocorian
Administration (Guernsey) Limited to ART and an amount of £33,850
was outstanding at period end (31 March 2024: £20,800).
22. Financial assets and financial liabilities held at fair
value through profit or loss
|
|
Financial assets carrying
value
|
|
|
30 September 2024
£'000
|
31 March 2024
£'000
|
Financial
assets at fair value through profit or loss
|
|
|
|
Investments held at fair value
|
|
37,262
|
23,675
|
Foreign exchange forward contract
|
|
104
|
327
|
Loans advanced
|
|
298
|
426
|
Total
financial assets at fair value through profit or
loss
|
|
37,664
|
24,428
|
At the balance sheet date, the
Group held no financial liabilities at fair value through profit
and loss.
Fair value measurement
The Group discloses fair value
measurements by level of the following fair value measurement
hierarchy:
· Quoted
prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities (level 1)
· Inputs
other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are
observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is, as
prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices) (level
2)
· Inputs
for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market
data (that is, unobservable inputs) (level 3).
The level in the fair value
hierarchy within which the financial asset or financial liability
is categorised is determined on the basis of the lowest input that
is significant to the fair value measurement. Financial instruments
are classified in their entirety into one of the three
levels.
The following methods and assumptions are used
to estimate fair values:
Level
1
· The fair values of the ART's
investments in the SEQI, GCP and GABI shares, which are traded
daily on the LSE, are based upon the market value of the shares at
the balance sheet date.
· The
fair value of the investments in UK Treasury Bonds which are traded
on the LSE, is based upon the market price of those instruments at
the balance sheet date.
· The fair value
of the investments in UK Treasury Bills, is based upon the market
valuation of those instruments provided by Barclays Bank PLC at the
balance sheet date.
Level
2
· The
fair value of the foreign exchange forward contract is determined
by reference to the quarter end applicable forward market rate
provided by the contractual counter party.
Level
3
· The
fair value of the HLP investment is based
upon the price provided by the issuer for the relevant share class
owned: this is calculated by reference to the net asset value of
the investment and principally driven by the fair value of HLP's
underlying property investments. This net asset value is therefore
mainly based on unobservable inputs and is deemed to be a level 3
financial asset. HLP's accounts are audited annually. HLP's
underlying investment properties are fair
valued as per RICS definition and the ART Board considers that any
reasonable possible movement in the valuation of
HLP's individual
properties would not be material to the value of ART's
investment.
Financial assets and financial liabilities
held at fair value are valued on a recurring basis as indicated
above. There have been no changes to the valuation methods applied
from the Group's annual report and accounts for the year ended 31
March 2024.
The Board 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.
The following table shows an
analysis of the fair values of financial
instruments recognised in the balance
sheet by level of the fair value hierarchy described
above:
30
September 2024
|
Assets and liabilities
measured at fair value
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Assets measured at fair value
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current
|
|
|
|
|
Investment property (note
10)
|
-
|
-
|
26,583
|
26,583
|
Loans advanced
|
-
|
-
|
298
|
298
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
Investments held at fair value (note
11)
|
37,262
|
-
|
-
|
37,262
|
Foreign exchange forward
contract
|
-
|
104
|
-
|
104
|
31
March 2024
|
Assets and liabilities
measured at fair value
|
Level 1
|
Level 2
|
Level 3
|
Total
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
£'000
|
Assets measured at fair value
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current
|
|
|
|
|
Investment property (note
10)
|
-
|
-
|
26,740
|
26,740
|
Loans advanced
|
-
|
-
|
426
|
426
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
Investments held at fair value (note
11)
|
23,675
|
-
|
-
|
23,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities measured at fair value
|
|
|
|
|
Current
|
|
|
|
|
Foreign exchange forward
contract
|
-
|
327
|
-
|
327
|
There were no transfers between
level 1 and level 2 fair value measurements and no transfers into
or out of level 3 fair value measurements during the six month
period ended 30 September 2024.
Directors and Company information
Directors
William Simpson (Chairman)
Jeff Chowdhry
Peter Griffin
Phillip Rose
Melanie Torode
|
Independent valuers in the UK
Cushman & Wakefield
No 1 Colmore Square
Birmingham B4 6AJ
|
Legal advisors in Guernsey
Carey Olsen
PO Box 98, Carey House
Les Banques
St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 4BZ
|
Registered office
Floor 2, Trafalgar Court
Les Banques
St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 4LY
|
Independent valuers in Germany
Cushman & Wakefield
Rathenauplatz, 1
Frankfurt, 60313
Germany
|
Legal advisors in the UK
Norton Rose
3 More London Riverside
London SE1 2AQ
|
Investment Manager
Alpha Real Capital LLP
Level 6, 338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BG
|
Independent Auditor
BDO Limited
2nd Floor, Plaza House, Admiral Park
St Peter Port
Guernsey GY1 3LL
|
Broker
Panmure Liberum Limited
One New Change
London EC4M 9AF
|
Administrator and secretary
Ocorian Administration (Guernsey)
Limited
Floor 2, Trafalgar Court
Les Banques, St Peter
Port
Guernsey GY1 4LY
|
Tax advisors in Europe
KPMG LLP
15 Canada Square
London E14 5GL
Ernst & Young LLP
1 More London Riverside
London SE1 2AF
|
Registrar
Computershare Investor Services (Jersey)
Limited
13 Castle Street
St Helier
Jersey JE1 1ES
|
|
|
|
Shareholder information
Further information on the Company
can be found at the Company's website:
www.alpharealtrustlimited.com
Dividends
Ordinary dividends are declared and paid
quarterly. Shareholders who wish to have dividends paid directly
into a bank account rather than by cheque to their registered
address can complete a mandate form for this purpose. Mandates may
be obtained from the Company's Registrar. Where dividends are paid
directly to shareholders' bank accounts, dividend vouchers are sent
directly to shareholders' registered addresses.
Share price
The Company's Ordinary Shares are listed on the
SFS of the LSE.
Change of address
Communications with shareholders are mailed to
the addresses held on the share register. In the event of a change
of address or other amendment, please notify the Company's
Registrar under the signature of the registered holder.
Investment Manager
The Company is advised by Alpha Real Capital
LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct
Authority in the United Kingdom.
Financial calendar
Financial
reporting
|
Reporting/
Meeting
dates
|
Dividend
period
|
Ex-dividend
date
|
Record
date
|
Last date for election to
scrip dividend
(if
applicable)
|
Share certificates
posted
(if
applicable)
|
Payment
date
|
Half year report and dividend
announcement
|
22
November
2024
|
Quarter
ending
30
September 2024
|
5
December 2024
|
6
December 2024
|
9
January
2025
|
23
January
2025
|
24
January
2025
|
Trading update
(Qtr 3)
|
28
February
2025
|
Quarter
ending 31 December 2024
|
13
March
2025
|
14
March
2025
|
27
March
2025
|
10
April
2025
|
11
April
2025
|
Annual report and dividend
announcement
|
20
June
2025
|
Quarter
ending 31 March
2025
|
3
July
2025
|
4
July
2025
|
10
July
2025
|
24
July
2025
|
25
July
2025
|
Annual report published
|
4
July
2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Annual General Meeting
|
11
September 2025
|
|
|
|
|
|
|