Prospectus • Mar 1, 2016
Prospectus
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Summaries are made up of disclosure requirements known as "Elements". These elements are numbered in Sections A – E (A.1 – E.7). This summary contains all the Elements required to be included in a summary for this type of securities and issuer. Some Elements are not required to be addressed which means there may be gaps in the numbering sequence of the Elements. Even though an Element may be required to be inserted into the summary because of the type of securities and issuer, it is possible that no relevant information can be given regarding the Element. In this case a short description of the Element is included in the summary with the mention of "not applicable".
| Section A – Introduction and warnings | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Disclosure Requirement |
Disclosure | ||
| A.1. | Warning | This summary should be read as an introduction to the Prospectus. Any decision to invest in Shares should be based on consideration of the Prospectus as a whole by the investor. |
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| Where a claim relating to the information contained in the Prospectus is brought before a court, the plaintiff investor might, under the national legislation of the Member States, have to bear the costs of translating the Prospectus before the legal proceedings are initiated. Civil liability attaches only to those persons who have tabled the summary including any translation thereof, but only if the summary is misleading, inaccurate or inconsistent when read together with the other parts of the Prospectus or it does not provide, when read together with the other parts of the Prospectus, key information in order to aid investors when considering whether to invest in such securities. |
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| A.2. | Subsequent resale or final placement of securities through financial |
The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus by financial intermediaries in connection with the subsequent resale or final placement of securities by financial intermediaries. |
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| intermediaries | The offer period within which any subsequent resale or final placement of securities by financial intermediaries can be made and for which consent to use the Prospectus is given commences on 1 March 2016 and closes at 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. |
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| Information on the terms and conditions of any subsequent resale or final placement of securities by any financial intermediary is to be provided at the time of the offer by the financial intermediary. |
| Section B – Issuer | ||||||||
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| Element | Disclosure Requirement |
Disclosure | ||||||
| B.1. | Legal and commercial name |
Empiric Student Property Plc. | ||||||
| B.2. | Domicile and legal form |
The Company was incorporated in England and Wales on 11 February 2014 with registered number 08886906 as a public company limited by shares under the Companies Act. The principal legislation under which the Company operates is the Companies Act. |
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| B.5. | Group description | The Company is the holding company of the Group and has the following subsidiaries: |
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| Name | Principal activity | Proportion of ownership interest % |
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| Empiric Investments (One) Limited | Intermediate holding company |
100 | ||||||
| Empiric (Edge Apartments) Limited | Property | |||||||
| Empiric (College Green) Limited | holding company Property |
100(1) | ||||||
| Empiric (Picturehouse Apartments) | holding company Property |
100(1) | ||||||
| Limited Empiric (Summit House) Limited |
holding company Property |
100(1) | ||||||
| Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Limited | holding company Property |
100(1) | ||||||
| Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Leasing | holding company Property |
100 | ||||||
| Limited | leasing company | 100 | ||||||
| Empiric (St Peter Street) Limited | Property holding company |
100 | ||||||
| Empiric (St Peter Street) Leasing Limited |
Property leasing company |
100 | ||||||
| Empiric (Birmingham) Limited | Property holding company |
100(1) | ||||||
| Empiric (London Road) Limited | Property holding company |
100(1) | ||||||
| Empiric (Talbot Studios) Limited | Property | |||||||
| Empiric (Centro Court) Limited | holding company Property |
100(1) | ||||||
| Empiric (Alwyn Court) Limited | holding company Property |
100(1) | ||||||
| Empiric (Northgate House) Limited | holding company Property |
100(2) | ||||||
| Empiric (Snow Island) Limited | holding company Property |
100(2) | ||||||
| Empiric (Huddersfield Snow Island) | holding company Property |
100 | ||||||
| Leasing Limited Empiric (Claremont Newcastle) Limited |
holding company Property |
100 | ||||||
| holding company | 100 | |||||||
| Empiric (Newcastle Metrovick) Limited | Property holding company |
100(2) | ||||||
| Empiric (Exeter DCL) Limited | Property holding company |
100(2) | ||||||
| Empiric (Exeter LL) Limited | Property holding company |
100 | ||||||
| Empiric (Hatfield CP) Limited | Property holding company |
100(2) | ||||||
| Empiric (Leeds Algernon) Limited | Property | |||||||
| Empiric (London Camberwell) Limited | holding company Property |
100(2) | ||||||
| holding company | 100(2) | |||||||
| Name | Principal activity | Proportion of ownership interest % |
|---|---|---|
| Empiric (Leeds St Marks) Limited | Property holding company |
100(2) |
| Empiric (Glasgow Ballet School) Limited | Property holding company |
100(2) |
| Empiric (Nottingham 95 Talbot) Limited Empiric (Nottingham 95 Talbot Leasing |
Property holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Leeds St Marks) Limited |
leasing company Property |
100 |
| Empiric Investment Holdings (Two) | holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric Investments (Two) Limited |
holding company Intermediate |
100 |
| Empiric (Durham St Margarets) Limited | holding company Property holding company |
100 100(1) |
| Empiric Investment Holdings (Three) Limited |
Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric Investments (Three) Limited | Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow Bath St) Limited | Property holding company |
100(4) |
| Empiric Investments (Four) Limited Empiric Investment Holdings (Four) |
Property holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Lancaster Penny Street 1) |
holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Lancaster Penny Street 2) |
holding company Property |
100(1) |
| Limited Empiric (Lancaster Penny Street 3) Limited |
holding company Property holding company |
100(1) 100(1) |
| Empiric (Leicester Peacock Lane) Limited |
Property holding company |
100(1) |
| Empiric (Bristol) Limited | Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (Bristol) Leasing Limited | Property leasing company |
100 |
| Empiric (Framwellgate Durham) Limited Empiric (Framwellgate Durham) |
Property holding company Property |
100 |
| Leasing Limited Empiric (Baptists Chapel) Limited |
leasing company Property |
100 |
| Empiric (Baptists Chapel) Leasing Limited | holding company Property |
100 |
| Empiric (Portobello House) Limited | leasing company Property |
100 |
| Empiric (Portobello House) Leasing Limited | holding company Property holding company |
100 100 |
| Empiric (Huddersfield Oldgate House) Limited |
Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (Huddersfield Oldgate House) Leasing Limited |
Property leasing company |
100 |
| Empiric Acquisitions Limited Empiric (Glasgow Otago Street) Limited |
Intermediate holding company Property |
100 |
| Glasgow (Otago Lane) Limited | holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Glasgow Otago Street) Leasing | holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Stirling Forthside) Limited |
leasing company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Stirling Forthside) Leasing Limited |
holding company Property holding company |
100 100 |
| Empiric (Bath James House) Limited | Property holding company |
100(2) |
| Name | Principal activity | Proportion of |
|---|---|---|
| ownership interest % |
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| Spring Roscoe Limited Grove St Studios Ltd |
Property holding company Property |
100(5) |
| Empiric (Bath JSW) Limited | holding company Property |
100(5) |
| Empiric (Portsmouth Registry) Limited | holding company Property |
100(2) |
| Empiric (Nottingham Frontage) Limited | holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Nottingham Frontage) Leasing | holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Falmouth Maritime Studios) |
leasing company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Exeter Bonhay Road) Limited |
holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Exeter Bonhay Road) Leasing | holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Portsmouth Europa House) |
holding company Property |
100 |
| Limited Empiric (Portsmouth Europa House) |
holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Leasing Limited Empiric (Sheffield Provincial House) Limited |
leasing company Property holding company |
100(4) 100 |
| Empiric (Sheffield Provincial House) Leasing Limited |
Property leasing company |
100 |
| Empiric (Sheffield Trippet Lane) Limited | Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (Sheffield Trippet Lane) Leasing Limited |
Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow George St) Limited | Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow George St) Leasing Limited |
Property leasing company |
100 |
| Empiric (Cardiff Wndsr House) Limited | Property holding company |
100(2) |
| Empiric (Cardiff Wndsr House) Leasing Limited Empiric (Bath Piccadilly Place) Limited |
Property holding company Property |
100(2) |
| Empiric (Bath Canalside) Limited | holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Glasgow George Square) Limited | holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Glasgow George Square) | holding company Property |
100 |
| Leasing Limited Empiric (Liverpool Art School/Maple |
leasing company Property |
100 |
| House) Limited Empiric (Stoke Caledonia Mill) Limited |
holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Liverpool Chatham Lodge) Limited | holding company Property |
100(4) |
| Empiric (Liverpool Grove Street) Limited | holding company Property holding company |
100(4) 100(4) |
| Empiric (Liverpool Octagon/Hayward) Limited |
Property holding company |
100(4) |
| Empiric (York George Hudson) Limited | Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (York George Hudson) Leasing Limited |
Property holding company |
100 |
| Empiric (Manchester Ladybarn) Limited | Property holding company |
100(3) |
| Empiric (Oxford Stonemason) Limited | Property holding company |
100(3) |
| Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) Limited | Intermediate holding company |
100(3) |
| Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) Luxembourg S.à r.l |
Property holding company |
100(3) |
| Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) Leasing Limited |
Property leasing company |
100(3) |
| Name | Principal activity | Proportion of ownership interest % |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Empiric (York Lawrence Street) Limited | Property holding company |
100 | |||
| Empiric Student Property Trustees Limited |
Trustee of the EBT 100 |
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| Empiric (Developments) Limited | Development management company |
100 | |||
| Hello Student Management Limited | Letting management company |
100 | |||
| (1) held by Empiric Investments (One) Limited (2) held by Empiric Investments (Two) Limited (3) held by Empiric Investments (Three) Limited (4) held by Empiric Investments (Four) Limited (5) held by Empiric Acquisitions Limited |
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| All of the above companies are incorporated in England and Wales with the exception of Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) Luxembourg S.à. Luxembourg. |
r.l which is incorporated in | ||||
| In addition, the Company has interests in the following joint venture companies. The remaining 50 per cent. of the shares in each company are held by KH II Estates 117 Limited, a company advised by Revcap. |
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| Name | Principal activity | Proportion of ownership interest % |
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| Empiric (Southampton) Limited | Joint venture development company |
50 | |||
| Empiric (Southampton) Leasing Limited | Property leasing company |
50(6) | |||
| Brunswick Contracting Limited | Property contracting company |
50(6) | |||
| Empiric (Glasgow) Limited | Joint venture development company |
50 | |||
| Empiric (Glasgow) Leasing Limited | Property leasing company |
50(7) | |||
| (6) held by Empiric (Southampton) Limited in which the Company has a 50 per cent. ownership interest (7) held by Empiric (Glasgow) Limited in which the Company has a 50 per cent. ownership interest |
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| The Board intends that further companies and intermediate | |||||
| holding companies will be set up to hold any additional properties which may be acquired by the Group. |
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| B.6. | Major shareholders | Other than as set out in the table below, as at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Prospectus) the Company was not aware of any person who was directly or indirectly interested in 3 per cent. or more of the issued share capital of the Company: |
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| Name | Shares | Number of Percentage of issued share capital (%) |
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| Schroders plc Investec Wealth & Investment Limited East Riding of Yorkshire Council Pension Fund CCLA Investment Management Limited SG Hambros Bank Limited Avenue Europe Management LLP BlackRock, Inc Asset Value Investors Jefferies International Limited Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited |
40,685,914 29,221,146 24,756,828 21,922,495 20,355,208 16,329,718 14,123,202 13,352,000 11,922,979 11,788,870 |
10.57 7.59 6.43 5.69 5.29 4.24 3.67 3.47 3.10 3.06 |
| As at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Prospectus) the interests of the Directors and their connected persons in the issued share capital of the Company were as follows: |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Number of Percentage of Shares issued share capital % |
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| Baroness Dean Timothy Attlee Paul Hadaway Michael Enright Jim Prower Stephen Alston |
33,500 0.01 875,000 0.23 1,094,001 0.28 645,000 0.17 23,760 0.01 26,300 0.01 |
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| * 20,000 of these shares are held on behalf of Mr. Enright's children. ** 11,880 of these shares are held by Mr. Prower's wife |
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| B.7. | Financial information |
period ended 31 December 2015: | The selected historical financial information set out below, which has been prepared under IFRS, has been extracted without material adjustment from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for the period from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015 and the interim report and unaudited financial statements for the financial |
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| Statement of Financial Position | |||||||
| As at 30 June 2015 (Audited) £'000 |
As at 31 As at 31 December 2015 December 2014 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) £'000 £'000 |
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| Assets and Liabilities Investment property 239,775 Investment in joint ventures 8,378 Receivables 4,174 Cash and cash equivalents 78,788 Total assets 331,424 Payables 4,055 Deferred rental income 2,377 Bank borrowings 83,398 Total liabilities 91,029 Net assets 240,395 Net Asset Value per |
346,190 104,265 10,342 5,903 18,106 1,485 147,806 83,899 522,693 195,610 6,084 8,026 7,460 2,873 101,872 34,864 116,797 46,537 405,896 149,074 |
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| Share (basic) (p) 103.21 Income Statement |
105.43 99.38 |
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| Financial period from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015 (Audited) £'000 Rental income 8,303 Property expenses 2,170 Administration expenses 4,794 Gains on investment properties 11,283 Operating profit 12,623 Finance costs 1,324 Fair value movement on financial derivatives Total comprehensive income for the period 14,013 |
Financial Financial period from the period from the 1 July 2015 to 31 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2015 December 2014 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) £'000 £'000 9,395 2,579 2,657 716 3,154 2,185 11,391 2,721 14,975 2,399 1,968 490 206 182 531 13,840 2,707 |
| Save to the extent disclosed below, there has been no significant change in the financial condition or operating results of the Group since 31 December 2015, being the end of the period covered by the historical financial information: • the second interim dividend of 1.5 pence per Share was declared on 1 March 2016 in relation to the quarter ended |
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| 31 December 2015; and • the entry into of the amendment and restatement of the Canada Life Facility to create the new Facility B in an amount of £40 million. |
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| B.8. | Key pro forma financial information |
Not applicable. No pro forma financial information is contained in the Prospectus. |
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| B.9. | Profit forecast | Not applicable. No profit forecast or estimate made. | ||||
| B.10. | Description of the nature of any qualifications in the audit report on the historical financial information |
Not applicable. The audit report on the historical financial information incorporated by reference in the Prospectus is not qualified. |
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| B.11. | Qualified working capital |
Not applicable. The Company is of the opinion that the working capital available to the Group is sufficient for its present requirements, that is for at least the next 12 months from the date of the Prospectus. |
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| B.34. | Investment policy | Investment objective | ||||
| The investment objective of the Company is to provide Shareholders with regular, sustainable and growing long term dividends (which it will seek to grow at least in line with the RPI inflation index) together with the potential for capital appreciation over the medium to long term. |
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| Investment policy | ||||||
| The Company intends to meet its investment objective through acquiring, owning, leasing and developing high quality student residential accommodation in the UK let on direct tenancy agreements to tenants enrolled with Higher Education Institutions ("HEIs"). The Company will invest in modern high-end, student accommodation assets with a focus on quality, and generally located in prime city centre locations in top university cities and towns. The Company is focused on investing in, and developing, high quality self contained residential accommodation in locations where the Executive Directors believe attractive opportunities exist for the Company to exploit demand for student residential accommodation at the higher end of the quality scale. To deliver the high quality and high-end experience, the individual sizes of the assets are generally expected to be between 50 to 200 beds. In addition, each property will generally have: |
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| • studios and 1–3 bedroom apartments; |
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| • generous space per student bed; |
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| • all rooms with en-suite bathroom and kitchen facilities; and |
| • communal facilities to typically include: a cinema room, study rooms, a gym and break-out areas. |
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| The Company anticipates that rental income will predominantly be generated from direct leases and/or licences to students (with the rent being inclusive of wifi/internet, all utilities, and access to on-site amenities). The Company also anticipates benefitting in some cases from ancillary commercial lease opportunities within student accommodation properties, including (but not limited to) retail outlets and mobile telephone transmission apparatus. The Company may in due course derive rental income from agreements with students that are guaranteed by HEIs or directly with HEIs. The Company may enter into soft nominations agreements (being marketing arrangements with HEIs to place their students in private accommodation). The Company will target upper quartile rental values, primarily servicing postgraduate and international students. |
| The Group may acquire assets through acquisitions of the underlying property or through the acquisition of the subsidiary companies or other investment vehicles through which such properties are owned. The Company may opportunistically acquire portfolios of student accommodation properties. Following such a transaction, individual properties within such a portfolio, which do not meet the Group's required standards or which cannot be cost effectively refurbished, may be sold. |
| The Company also intends to undertake limited development of new buildings or conversion of existing properties for student accommodation and related services pursuant to the terms of the joint venture arrangement between the Company and Revcap, with other development partners or solely, without a third party partner. Save for such development assets that may be held by the Group in 50/50 joint venture companies during the development phase of such projects, the Group intends to have sole ownership of all investments. |
| The Company will also focus on the acquisition of properties where the student accommodation units benefit from "Multiple Dwelling Relief", reducing SDLT on the value of such student accommodation units from 4 per cent. to 1 per cent. |
| The Board intends to hold the Group's investments on a long term basis. The Group, however, may dispose of investments outside of this time frame, should an appropriate opportunity arise where, in the Board's opinion, the value that could be realised from such a disposal would represent a satisfactory return on the initial investment and/or otherwise enhance the value of the Group, taken as a whole. There is no limit on the number of investments which the Group may dispose of from the portfolio (subject always to maintaining compliance with the investment restrictions that form part of the investment policy). |
| Investment restrictions | ||||
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| The Company will invest and manage its assets with the objective of spreading risk through the following investment restrictions: |
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| • the Company will generate its rental income from a portfolio of not less than five separate buildings (such minimum to exclude development projects, and to count two or more buildings in close proximity or on the same campus as a single building); |
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| • the value of no single asset at the time of investment will represent more than 20 per cent. of the Gross Asset Value; |
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| • at least 90 per cent. by value of the properties directly or indirectly owned by the Company shall be in the form of freehold or long leasehold properties (with over 100 years remaining at the time of acquisition) or the equivalent; |
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| • the Company may commit up to a maximum of 15 per cent. of its Net Asset Value (measured at the commencement of the project) to expenditure in relation to development or forward funded projects (including conversion of buildings to student accommodation). All development and forward funded projects will be conducted in special purpose vehicles with no recourse to the other assets of the Group. This restriction will be calculated by reference to the equity requirement of all such projects in progress (i.e. up to practical completion) at the time of commitment, to include expenditure already made in such projects and the remaining budgeted expenditure (the "Development Limit"). For the purposes of the Development Limit, "equity requirement" shall mean the amount of equity or shareholder loans contributed and/or committed by the Company or any other Group entity to the relevant special purpose vehicle and shall exclude other sources of funds obtained by such special purpose vehicle; |
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| • the calculation of the Development Limit shall exclude from the numerator the acquisition cost of the relevant undeveloped land or property in use, or to be used, for development or forward funded projects, which shall be subject to a separate limit of 10 per cent. of Net Asset Value (measured at the time of investment); |
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| • for the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the Development Limit shall also exclude from the numerator all investment and expenditure on the renovation, restoration, fit-out, internal reconfiguration, maintenance and engineering works and general up-keep of any existing and new student accommodation investments by the Group; |
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| • rent from ancillary commercial leases will be limited to 25 per cent. of total rent receipts of any single building and to 15 per cent. of the Group's total rent receipts; |
| • in each case where investment is via a joint venture, the relevant restriction will be calculated by reference to the Company's share of the relevant joint venture; and • the Company will not invest in other closed-ended |
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| investment companies. | ||
| The Company will also seek to spread risk by seeking to achieve a diversified exposure to individual cities, towns and HEIs, though no quantitative limits are in place, due to the widely various demographics prevailing in different locations. |
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| The Company will at all times invest and manage its assets in a way that is consistent with its objective of spreading investment risk and in accordance with its published investment policy and will not, at any time, conduct any trading activity which is significant in the context of the business of the Company as a whole. |
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| In the event of a breach of the investment policy and investment restrictions set out above, the Directors upon becoming aware of such breach will consider whether the breach is material, and if it is, notification will be made to a Regulatory Information Service. |
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| No material change will be made to the investment policy and investment restrictions without the prior approval of the FCA and of Shareholders by ordinary resolution. |
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| B.35. | Borrowing limits | The Board expects to use Company level structural leverage for investment purposes to enhance equity returns. |
| The level of borrowing will be on a prudent basis for the asset class, and will seek to achieve a low cost of funds, whilst maintaining flexibility in the underlying security requirements. If gearing is employed, the Company will maintain a conservative level of aggregate borrowings typically of 35 per cent., but no more than 40 per cent., of the Gross Asset Value (calculated at the time of draw down). Borrowings employed by the Group may either be secured on individual assets without recourse to the Company or by a charge over some or all of the Company's assets to take advantage of potentially preferential terms. Development loans, however, will only be secured at the individual asset level, without recourse to the Group's other assets or revenues. |
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| As at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Prospectus), the Group has approximately £103.25 million of drawn debt financing (excluding the Group's share of joint venture debt) representing a loan to value ratio of 20.3 per cent. |
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| Where the Group takes on floating rate loan facilities, the Group may engage in interest rate hedging in respect of borrowings, or otherwise seek to mitigate the risk of interest rate increases, for efficient portfolio management purposes only. |
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| The borrowing limits set out above will be inclusive of the Group's pro-rata share of development loans incurred in |
| relation to joint venture development projects. Intra-group debt between the Company and subsidiaries will not be included in the definition of borrowings for these purposes. |
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| B.36. | Regulatory status | The Company, as its own AIFM, has a full-scope Part 4A permission under the AIFM Regulations and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (reference number 630634). |
| As a REIT, the Shares are "excluded securities" under the FCA's rules on non-mainstream pooled investments. Accordingly, the promotion of the Shares is not subject to the FCA's restriction on the promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments. |
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| B.37. | Typical investor | An investment in the Shares is only suitable for institutional investors, professionally-advised private investors and highly knowledgeable investors who understand and are capable of evaluating the risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses (which may equal the whole amount invested) that may result from such an investment. |
| B.38. | Investment of 20 per cent. or more in single underlying asset or investment company |
Not applicable. The Company will not invest 20 per cent. or more of gross assets in a single underlying issuer or investment company. |
| B.39. | Investment of 40 per cent. or more in single underlying |
Not applicable. The Company will not invest 40 per cent. or more of gross assets in another collective investment undertaking. |
| asset or investment company |
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| B.40. | Applicant's service | Investment support arrangements |
| providers | Revcap Advisors Limited has been appointed by the Company under the terms of the Investment Support Agreement to provide certain real estate investment support services to the Company in connection with the operation of its business. |
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| Under the Investment Support Agreement, the Company pays to Revcap, as consideration for the provision of its services, a fee which shall accrue annually at a rate of 0.2 per cent of the Net Asset Value (but adjusted to exclude any cash balances held by the Company from time to time), which fee shall be payable in arrears each quarter based on the last published Net Asset Value (calculated before deduction of any accrued fee for that quarter) but subject always to a minimum annual payment of £200,000 and a capped maximum annual payment of £300,000. |
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| The Investment Support Agreement may be terminated at any time on not less than 12 months' written notice by the Company or Revcap, such notice not to be served before 30 June 2016. |
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| Facilities and lettings management arrangements |
and lettings managers. This includes larger national players, such as Collegiate Accommodation Consulting Limited and Corporate Residential Management Ltd, together with specialist local operators where appropriate. In addition, the Group has engaged Bilfinger GVA as managing agent in relation to the majority of the commercial units forming part of its properties. The Company anticipates that further external facilities and lettings managers may be engaged in relation to future properties acquired by the Group but the medium to long-term plan is to reduce such number.
Under these arrangements, the facilities and lettings managers engaged by the Group will generally undertake property and facilities management services in relation to the relevant student units including collaborating with the Company in relation to the marketing and letting of the units in each property, rent collection and credit control services, payment of agreed capital expenditure, preparation of operating budgets for approval, overseeing building maintenance, maintenance of tenancy records, acting as tenant liaison and production of agreed management reports and performance measures for the properties.
External marketing and operations managers are paid a fee based on a proportion of rent collected. Depending on the manager and the building, this varies between 4-6 per cent. This fee along with other external costs such as utilities, health and safety, maintenance and repairs amounts to approximately 25 per cent. of the gross annual rental income.
FIM Capital Limited is appointed as administrator and company secretary to the Company and its subsidiaries. Under the terms of the Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement, the Administrator is paid an administration and company secretarial fee of £30,000 per annum (exclusive of VAT). This fee is subject to review annually.
The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement is terminable upon six months' written notice.
Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited is appointed as depositary to the Company. The Depositary acts as the sole depositary of the Company and is, amongst other things, responsible for ensuring the Company's cash flows are properly monitored, the safe keeping of the assets of the Group and the oversight and supervision of the Company (as its own AIFM).
Under the terms of the Depositary Agreement, the Depositary is entitled to a fee based on the value of the Company's assets under management subject to a minimum fee of £20,000 per annum and a maximum fee of £40,000 per annum (excluding VAT).
| The Depositary Agreement may be terminated by the Depositary on 3 months' prior written notice to the Company. The Company may terminate the agreement on 1 month's prior written notice to the Depositary. |
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| Registrar arrangements | ||
| Computershare Investor Services PLC has been appointed registrar of the Company. Under the terms of the Registrar Agreement, the Registrar is paid an annual maintenance fee of £1.20 per Shareholder account per annum, subject to a minimum fee of £3,000 per annum. The Registrar is also entitled to activity fees under the Registrar Agreement. |
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| The Registrar Agreement may be terminated on six months' notice, such notice not to expire prior to 30 June 2016. |
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| Audit services | ||
| BDO LLP provides audit services to the Company. | ||
| B.41. | Regulatory status of investment manager and |
The Company is internally managed by the Board and has not appointed an external investment manager. The Company has not appointed a custodian. |
| custodian | The Depositary is authorised and regulated by the FCA. | |
| B.42. | Calculation of Net Asset Value |
The Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) is calculated semi-annually by the Company (and reviewed by the Administrator). Calculations will be made in accordance with IFRS and EPRA's best practice recommendations. The Company intends to report its Net Asset Value according to EPRA guidelines. Details of each semi-annual valuation, and of any suspension in the making of such valuations, are announced by the Company through a Regulatory Information Service announcement, as part of its results announcement, as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant half year. The semi-annual valuations of the Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) are calculated on the basis of the most recent valuation of the Property Portfolio. The calculation of the Net Asset Value will only be suspended in circumstances where the underlying data necessary to value the investments of the Company cannot readily, or without undue expenditure, be obtained or in other circumstances (such as a systems failure of the Company) which prevents the Company from making such calculations. Details of any suspension in making such calculations will be announced through a Regulatory Information Service as soon as practicable after any such suspension occurs. |
| B.43. | Cross liability | Not applicable. The Company is not an umbrella collective investment undertaking and as such there is no cross liability between classes or investment in another collective investment undertaking. |
| B.45. Portfolio As at the date of the Prospectus, the Property Portfolio consists of the following investments comprising a mix of operating properties and development and forward funded projects. Operating properties |
Market value as at 31 December 2015 |
|---|---|
| Name Location No. of Date of Beds acquisition |
(£m) |
| College Green Bristol 84 July 2014 Picturehouse |
11.4 |
| Apartments Exeter 102 July 2014 |
13.1 |
| Summit House Cardiff 87 July 2014 |
10.7 |
| The Brook Selly Oak, Birmingham 106 July 2014 |
12.9 |
| Brunswick | |
| House Southampton 173 July 2014 Edge |
10.1(1) |
| Apartments Selly Oak, |
|
| Birmingham 77 August 2014 Centro Court Aberdeen 56 September 2014 |
10.8 7.5 |
| Talbot Studios Nottingham 98 September 2014 |
9.9 |
| Alwyn Court Cardiff 51 October 2014 |
3.9 |
| London Road Southampton 46 November 2014 |
4.4 |
| Kingsmill Studios Huddersfield 98 November 2014 |
9.2 |
| Curzon Point Hatfield 116 December 2014 Dean Clarke Lofts Exeter 30 December 2014 |
10.4 4.7 |
| Algernon Firth Leeds 111 January 2015 |
8.6 |
| Northgate House Cardiff 67 February 2015 |
6.5 |
| Halsmere Studios London 79 February 2015 |
16.2 |
| Ballet School Glasgow 103 March 2015 |
11.7 |
| St Mark's Court Leeds 85 March 2015 St Margaret's Flats Durham 109 May 2015 |
7.2 5.6 |
| CityBlock 1 Lancaster 30 May 2015 |
2.0 |
| CityBlock 2 Lancaster 77 May 2015 |
6.1 |
| CityBlock 3 Lancaster 100 May 2015 |
8.4 |
| CityBlock 1 Leicester 98 May 2015 |
6.3 |
| CityBlock 2 Leicester 76 May 2015 Library Lofts Exeter 61 May 2015 |
5.2 7.7 |
| Art School Lofts Liverpool 64 June 2015 |
8.1 |
| Maple House Liverpool 147 June 2015 |
12.6 |
| Chatham Lodge Liverpool 50 June 2015 |
4.2 |
| Hayward House Liverpool 74 June 2015 The Octagon Liverpool 19 June 2015 |
5.5 2.0 |
| Grove Street Studios Liverpool 28 June 2015 |
2.6 |
| Caledonia Mill Stoke-on-Trent 120 June 2015 |
5.9 |
| Maritime House Falmouth 137 August 2015 |
11.0 |
| The Registry Portsmouth 41 August 2015 |
4.6 |
| 333 Bath Street Glasgow 70 September 2015 |
8.1 |
| Canal Bridge Bath 20 November 2015 Widcombe Wharf Bath 40 November 2015 |
1.8 4.5 |
| Piccadilly Place Bath 47 November 2015 Ayton House St Andrews 241 December 2015 |
4.3 25.1 |
| ——— Total 3218 ——— |
————— 310.7 ————— |
| (1) The figure represents the value of the Group's 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the property. |
|
| Assets under development | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Location Proposed No. of Beds |
Date of acquisition |
Estimated completion |
Market value as at date 31 December 2015(1) (£) |
||
| Forward Commitments | ||||||
| Claremont Place |
Newcastle | 88 | May 2015 August 2016 | –(4) | ||
| 1-3 James Street West |
Bath | 78 August 2015 | September 2016 |
–(4) | ||
| James House |
Bath | 169 August 2015 | September 2016 |
–(4) | ||
| Metrovick House |
Newcastle | 63 | September 2015 |
July 2016 | –(4) | |
| Windsor House |
Cardiff | 314 | 2015 | November August 2016 | –(4) | |
| Forward funded projects | ||||||
| Buccleuch Street |
Edinburgh | 86 | July 2014 | June 2016 | 8.9 | |
| 95 Talbot Street |
Nottingham | 77 | February 2015 |
September 2016 |
2.7(2) | |
| Spital Court Studios |
Aberdeen | 123 | March 2015 August 2016 | 9.3 | ||
| William and Matthew House |
Bristol | 75 | April 2015 August 2016 | 3.3 | ||
| Welsh Baptist Chapel |
Manchester | 93 | May 2015 August 2017 | 1.0 | ||
| Oldgate House |
Huddersfield | 179 | May 2015 August 2016 | 4.7 | ||
| Portobello House |
Sheffield | 134 August 2015 | June 2016 | 4.2 | ||
| The Frontage |
Nottingham | 162 | August 2015 |
September 2016 |
9.5 | |
| Bonhay Road |
Exeter | 139 | September 2015 |
October 2017 |
2.0 | |
| 155 George Street |
Glasgow | 89 | November 2015 |
July 2017 | –(6) | |
| Provincial House |
Sheffield | 107 | December 2015 |
July 2017 | –(6) | |
| Development projects | ||||||
| Willowbank | Glasgow | 178 | December 2014 |
July 2017 | 5.4(3) | |
| Framwellgate Durham | 110 | June 2015 | June 2017 | –(5) | ||
| Forthside | Stirling | 204 August 2015 | September 2017 |
–(5) | ||
| (1) Market value for these properties is based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015 as taken from the Valuation Report. |
||||||
| 77. | (2) The Group acquired the land at 95 Talbot Street, Nottingham on 20 February 2015. The details of a proposed forward funded development for the site are under negotiation. Revised planning permission has been received increasing the number of beds from 65 to |
|||||
| property. | (3) The figure represents the value of the Group's 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the | |||||
| (4) The Group has exchanged conditional contracts on each of these properties, completion of which is subject to a number of conditions. As at the date of the Prospectus, the Group therefore holds no property interest in relation to such projects and consequently they have not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation Report. |
||||||
| Report. | (5) The Group has exchanged conditional contracts on each of these development sites, subject to planning consent being obtained and other conditions being satisfied. As at the date of the Prospectus, the Group therefore holds no property interest in relation to such projects and consequently they have not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation |
| B.46. | Net Asset Value | The Company has published an unaudited Net Asset Value |
|---|---|---|
| per Share as at 31 December 2015 of 105.4 pence. |
| Section C – Securities | ||
|---|---|---|
| Element | Disclosure Requirement |
Disclosure |
| C.1. | Type and class of securities |
The Company intends to issue up to 165 million Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme. The Initial Issue (comprising the Initial Placing, the Initial Open Offer and the Initial Offer for Subscription) has a target size of £90 million. |
| The ISIN of the Shares is GB00BLWDVR75 and the SEDOL is BLWDVR7. The ISIN for the Basic Entitlement under the Initial Open Offer is GB00BYP7YR81 and the SEDOL is BYP7YR81. The ISIN for the Excess Open Offer Entitlement under the Initial Open Offer is GB00BYP7ZY20 and the SEDOL is BYP7ZY20. The ticker for the Company is ESP. |
||
| C.2. | Currency | Sterling. |
| C.3. | Issued Shares | As at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Prospectus), the issued share capital of the Company was £3,850,000.01 divided into 385,000,001 Shares of £0.01 each. |
| C.4. | Description of the rights attaching to the securities |
The Shares will rank in full for all dividends and distributions declared, made or paid after their issue and otherwise pari passu in all respects with each existing Share then in issue and will have the same rights (including voting and dividend rights and rights on a return of capital) and restrictions as each existing Share, as set out in the Articles. For the avoidance of doubt, subscribers for Shares will not be entitled to the interim dividend of 1.5 pence per Share for the quarter ended 31 December 2015 (in relation to such new Shares) declared on 1 March 2016, which will be paid to Shareholders on the register on 12 March 2016. |
| C.5. | Restrictions on the free transferability of the securities |
There are no restrictions on the free transferability of the Shares. |
| C.6. | Admission | Application will be made to the UKLA and the London Stock Exchange respectively for the Shares to be admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market. |
| C.7. | Dividend policy | The Company intends to pay dividends on a quarterly basis with dividends ordinarily declared in February, May, August and November in each year and paid within one month of being declared. The Company has a target to achieve a dividend of 6 pence per Share for the financial year ending 30 June 2016, provided that the Company can continue to successfully implement its investment policy. Thereafter dividends are expected to grow by at least the rate of RPI inflation. |
| In order to comply with and maintain REIT status, the Group will be required to meet a minimum distribution test for each accounting period that it is a REIT. This minimum distribution test requires the Company to distribute 90 per cent. of the income profits of the Property Rental Business for each accounting period, as adjusted for tax purposes. |
|---|
| The Company will also target an annualised Shareholder return of 13 per cent. per annum (based on the IPO issue price) over the medium term following full investment of the net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme. |
| Investors should note that the figures in relation to dividends, total shareholder return and targeted annual growth in NAV set out above are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be taken as, a profit forecast or estimate. |
| Section D – Risks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Disclosure Requirement |
Disclosure | |
| D.1. | Key information on | The Company has a limited operating history | |
| the key risks that are specific to the Company or its industry |
The Company was incorporated on 11 February 2014 and was listed on 30 June 2014. As the Company has a limited operating history, investors have a limited basis on which to evaluate the Company's ability to achieve its investment objective and provide a satisfactory investment return. |
||
| The Company may not meet its investment objective | |||
| Meeting the investment objective is a target but the existence of such an objective should not be considered as an assurance or guarantee that it can or will be met. |
|||
| Investor returns will be dependent upon the performance of the Property Portfolio and the Company may experience fluctuations in its operating results |
|||
| Returns achieved are reliant primarily upon the performance of the Property Portfolio. No assurance is given, express or implied, that Shareholders will be able to realise the amount of their original investment in the Shares. |
|||
| The Group's rental income and property values may be adversely affected by increased supply of student accommodation, the failure to collect rents, increasing operating costs or any deterioration in the quality of the properties in the Property Portfolio |
|||
| Rental income and property values may be adversely affected by increased supply of student accommodation, the failure to collect rents because of tenants' inability to pay or otherwise, the periodic need to renovate and the costs thereof and increased operating costs. A decrease in rental income and/or on property values may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares. |
The Group may not be able to maintain or increase the rental rates for its rooms, which may, in the longer term, have a material adverse impact on the value of the Group's properties, as well as the Group's turnover
The value of the Group's properties and the Group's turnover will be dependent on the rental rates that can be achieved from the properties in the Property Portfolio. The ability of the Group to maintain or increase the rental rates for its rooms and properties generally may be adversely affected by general UK economic conditions and/or the disposable income of students. Any failure to maintain or increase the rental rates for the Group's rooms and properties generally may have a material adverse effect on the value of the Group's properties as well as the Group's turnover and the Group's ability to meet interest and capital repayments on any debt facilities.
The Group may not be able to maintain the occupancy rates of the Group's properties or any other student accommodation properties it acquires, which may have a material adverse effect on the Group's revenue performance, margins and asset values
The ability of the Group to maintain attractive occupancy levels (or to maintain such levels on economically favourable terms) in relation to its properties may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including a fall in the number of students, competing sites, any harm to the reputation of the Group amongst universities, students or other potential customers, or as a result of other local or national factors. A fall in occupancy levels may have a material adverse effect on the Group's revenue performance, margins and asset values.
The valuation of the Group's properties is inherently subjective, in part because all property valuations are made on the basis of assumptions that may not prove to be accurate, and, in part, because of the individual nature of each property. This is particularly so where there has been more limited transactional activity in the market against which the Group's property valuations can be benchmarked by the Group's external valuer. Valuations of the Group's investments may not reflect actual sale prices or optimal purchase prices even where any such transactions occur shortly after the relevant valuation date.
In recent years a number of UK and international property investors have become active in the UK student accommodation sector. The Group also faces the threat of new competitors emerging. Such competitors may have access to larger financial resources than the Group and/or be targeting lower investment returns. Competition in the student accommodation sector may lead to an oversupply of rooms through overdevelopment, to prices for existing properties or land for development being inflated through competing bids by potential purchasers or to the rents to be achieved from existing properties being adversely impacted by an oversupply of rooms. This could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The availability of potential investments which meet the Company's investment strategy will depend on the state of the economy and financial markets in the UK. The Company can offer no assurance that it will be able to identify and make investments that are consistent with its investment objective and investment policy or that it will be able to fully invest its available capital. The inability to find, or agree terms for, such investment opportunities could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The Group will depend on skilled third party contractors for the timely construction of its developments in accordance with UK standards of quality and safety. The process of construction may be delayed or disrupted by a number of factors, such as inclement weather or acts of nature, industrial accidents, defective building methods or materials and the insolvency of the contractor. Any of these factors, alone or in combination, could delay or disrupt the construction process by halting the construction process or damaging materials or the development itself. In addition, the costs of construction depends primarily on the costs of materials and labour, which may be subject to significant unforeseen increases. The Group may not be able to recover cost overruns under its insurance policies or from the responsible contractor or sub-contractor or may incur holding costs and the development may decrease in value and the Group many sustain reputational damage, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
Minor breaches of certain conditions within the REIT regime may only result in additional tax being payable or may not be penalised if remedied within a given period of time, provided that the regime is not breached more than a certain number of times. A serious breach of these regulations may lead to the Group ceasing to be a REIT. If the Company or the Group fails to meet certain of the statutory requirements to maintain its status as a REIT, it may be subject to UK
| corporation tax on its property rental income profits and any chargeable gains on the sale of some or all properties. This could reduce the reserves available to make distributions to Shareholders and the yield on the Shares. In addition, incurring a UK corporation tax liability might require the Company and the Group to borrow funds, liquidate some of its assets or take other steps that could negatively affect its operating results. Moreover, if the Group's REIT status is withdrawn altogether because of its failure to meet one or more REIT qualification requirements, it may be disqualified from being a REIT from the end of the accounting period preceding that in which the failure occurred. |
||
|---|---|---|
| D.3. | Key information on the key risks that are specific to the Shares |
The Shares may trade at a discount to NAV per Share and Shareholders may be unable to realise their investments through the secondary market at NAV per Share |
| The Shares may trade at a discount to NAV per Share for a variety of reasons, including adverse market conditions, a deterioration in investors' perceptions of the merits of the Company's investment objective and investment policy, an excess of supply over demand in the Shares, and to the extent investors undervalue the management activities of the Executive Directors or discount the valuation methodology and judgments made by the Company. While the Directors may seek to mitigate any discount to NAV per Share through such discount management mechanisms as they consider appropriate, there can be no guarantee that they will do so or that such mechanisms will be successful. |
||
| The value and/or market price of the Shares may go down as well as up |
||
| Prospective investors should be aware that the value and/or market price of the Shares may go down as well as up and that the market price of the Shares may not reflect the underlying value of the Company. Investors may, therefore, realise less than, or lose all of, their investment. |
||
| The Company may in the future issue new equity, which may dilute Shareholders' equity |
||
| The Company may seek to issue new equity in the future pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme or otherwise. While the Companies Act contains statutory pre-emption rights for Shareholders in relation to issues of shares in consideration for cash, such rights can be disapplied, and have been disapplied in relation to the maximum amount of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme. Where statutory pre-emption rights are disapplied, any additional equity financing will be dilutive to those Shareholders who cannot, or choose not to, participate in such financing. |
||
| Future sales of Shares could cause the market price of the Shares to fall |
||
| Sales of Shares or interests in Shares by significant investors could depress the market price of the Shares. A |
| substantial amount of Shares being sold, or the perception that sales of this type could occur, could also depress the market price of the Shares. Both scenarios, occurring either individually or collectively, may make it more difficult for Shareholders to sell the Shares at a time and price that they |
|
|---|---|
| deem appropriate. |
| Section E – Offer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Element | Disclosure Requirement |
Disclosure | |
| E.1. | Proceeds and Expenses |
The total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme will depend on the number of Shares issued throughout the Share Issuance Programme, the issue price of such Shares, and the aggregate costs and commissions for each Tranche. However the aggregate costs and commissions of each Tranche will be fixed at a level of 2 per cent. of the gross issue proceeds of that Tranche. |
|
| E.2.a. | Reason for offer and use of proceeds |
The Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue) is being undertaken in order to raise further equity funds which, when combined with available and proposed future debt, will allow the Group to acquire further student accommodation assets and in order to achieve its stated objective. |
|
| The proceeds from the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue) will be utilised by the Group to fund future investments in student accommodation assets in accordance with the Group's investment policy and for general corporate purposes. |
|||
| E.3. | Terms and conditions of the offer |
The Company intends to issue up to 165 million Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme. Shares will only be issued at times when the Company considers that suitable investments in accordance with the Company's investment policy will be capable of being secured. |
|
| The Share Issuance Programme is flexible and may have a number of closing dates in order to provide the Company with the ability to issue Shares on appropriate occasions over a period of time. The Share Issuance Programme is intended to satisfy market demand for the Shares and to raise further money for investment in accordance with the Company's investment policy. |
|||
| Subject to the requirements of the Listing Rules, the price at which each new Share will be issued will be calculated by reference to the latest published Net Asset Value per Share. |
|||
| The Issue Price of the Shares to be issued under the Initial Issue is 107.5 pence per Share. The Initial Issue is conditional, inter alia, on the passing of the resolutions to be proposed at the Company's General Meeting convened for 17 March 2016 and Initial Admission of the Shares to be issued pursuant to the Initial Issue occurring by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016 (or such later date as Jefferies |
| and the Company may agree, not being later than 8.00 a.m. on 30 April 2016). |
||
|---|---|---|
| E.4. | Material interests | Not applicable. No interest is material to the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue). |
| E.5. | Name of person selling securities |
Not applicable. No person or entity is offering to sell Shares as part of the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue). |
| E.6. | Dilution | Existing Shareholders who do not participate in the Share Issuance Programme may have their percentage holding in the Company diluted on the issue of new Shares. |
| E.7. | Estimated Expenses | The Company will not charge investors any separate costs or expenses in connection with any issue under the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue). The costs and expenses (including commission) incurred in connection with the Initial Issue will be 2 per cent. of Gross Proceeds (and assuming Gross Proceeds of £90 million will be £1.8 million) and will be borne by the Company. |
| The issue price of Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme shall include a premium to the Net Asset Value per Share and the costs and expenses of such issue payable by subscribers (including placing commissions) will be borne out of such premium). |
THIS REGISTRATION DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately from an independent financial adviser who is authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) ("FSMA") if you are in the United Kingdom, or from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser if you are in a territory outside the United Kingdom.
This Registration Document, the Securities Note and the Summary together constitute a prospectus relating to Empiric Student Property Plc (the "Company") (the "Prospectus") prepared in accordance with the Prospectus Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") made pursuant to section 84 of FSMA and has been filed with the FCA in accordance with Rule 3.2 of the Prospectus Rules. The Prospectus will be made available to the public in accordance with Rule 3.2 of the Prospectus Rules at www.empiric.co.uk.
This Registration Document is valid for a period of up to 12 months following its publication and will not be updated. A future prospectus for any issuance of additional Shares may, for a period of up to 12 months from the date of the publication of this Registration Document, consist of this Registration Document, a Future Summary and a Future Securities Note applicable to each issue and subject to a separate approval by the FCA on each issue. Persons receiving this Registration Document should read the Prospectus together as a whole and should be aware that any update in respect of a Future Summary and Future Securities Note may constitute a material change for the purpose of the Prospectus Rules.
The Company and the Directors, whose names appear on page 19 of this Registration Document, accept responsibility for the information contained in this Registration Document. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Company and the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in this Registration Document is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
(incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 08886906 and registered as an investment company under Section 833 of the Companies Act)
Sponsor, Joint Financial Adviser and Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner Joint Financial Adviser
Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA is acting exclusively for the Company and for no-one else, will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Registration Document) as a client and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Jefferies, nor for providing advice.
Akur Limited ("Akur") is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA. Akur is acting exclusively for the Company and for no-one else, will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of this Registration Document) as a client and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Akur, nor for providing advice.
Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Jefferies and Akur by FSMA, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any other jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, Jefferies and Akur do not accept any responsibility whatsoever and make no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of this Registration Document, including its accuracy or completeness, or for any other statement made or purported to be made by either of them, or on behalf of them, the Company or any other person in connection with the Company or the Shares and nothing contained in this Registration Document is or shall be relied upon as a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. Each of Jefferies and Akur accordingly disclaims all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which it might otherwise have in respect of this Registration Document or any such statement.
The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or with any securities or regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and the Shares may not be offered, sold, exercised, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act ("Regulation S")), except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States. There will be no public offer of the Shares in the United States. The Shares are being offered or sold only, (i) outside the United States to non U.S. Persons in offshore transactions in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act provided by Regulation S thereunder, and (ii) to persons that are "qualified institutional buyers" (as the term is defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act) that are also "qualified purchasers" within the meaning of section 2(a) (51) of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "U.S. Investment Company Act") in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 506 of Regulation D under the U.S. Securities Act. The Company has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act and investors will not be entitled to the benefits of the U.S. Investment Company Act.
Copies of this Registration Document, the Securities Note and the Summary (along with any Future Securities Note and Future Summary) will be available on the Company's website (www.empiric.co.uk) and the National Storage Mechanism of the FCA at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm.
Dated: 1 March 2016
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| RISK FACTORS | 4 | |
| IMPORTANT INFORMATION | 15 | |
| DIRECTORS AND ADVISERS | 19 | |
| PART 1 | INFORMATION ON THE GROUP | 21 |
| PART 2 | THE PROPERTY PORTFOLIO | 34 |
| PART 3 | THE UK STUDENT ACCOMMODATION MARKET | 58 |
| PART 4 | DIRECTORS AND ADMINISTRATION | 65 |
| PART 5 | FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON THE GROUP | 72 |
| PART 6 | VALUATION REPORT | 76 |
| PART 7 | REIT STATUS AND TAXATION | 98 |
| PART 8 | GENERAL INFORMATION | 114 |
| PART 9 | DEFINITIONS AND GLOSSARY | 163 |
Prospective investors should note that the risks relating to the Group and its industry and the Shares summarised in the "Summary" are the risks that the Board believes to be the most essential to an assessment by a prospective investor of whether to consider an investment in the Shares. However, as the risks which the Group faces relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future, prospective investors should consider not only the information on the key risks summarised in the "Summary" but also, among other things, the risks and uncertainties described below and in the section headed "Risk Factors" in the Securities Note.
The Directors believe the risks described below are the material risks relating to an investment in the Shares and the Company at the date of this Registration Document. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Directors, or that the Directors deem immaterial at the date of this Registration Document, may also have an adverse effect on the performance of the Company and the value of the Shares. In addition specific risk factors in respect of the Shares will be set out in the Summary and Securities Note or any Future Summary and Future Securities Note prepared in respect of this Registration Document.
The Company was incorporated on 11 February 2014 and was listed on 30 June 2014. As the Company has a limited operating history, investors have a limited basis on which to evaluate the Company's ability to achieve its investment objective and provide a satisfactory investment return.
The Company's returns and operating cash flows will depend on many factors, including the performance of its investments, the availability and liquidity of investment opportunities falling within the Company's investment objective and investment policy, conditions in the financial markets, real estate market and economy and the Company's ability to successfully operate its business and execute its investment objective and investment policy. There can be no assurance that the Company's investment objective and investment policy will be successful.
The Company may not achieve its investment objective. Meeting the investment objective is a target but the existence of such an objective should not be considered as an assurance or guarantee that it can or will be met.
The Company's investment objective includes the aim of providing Shareholders with regular, sustainable and growing long-term dividends. The declaration, payment and amount of any future dividends by the Company are subject to the discretion of the Directors and will depend upon, amongst other things, the Company successfully pursuing its investment policy and the Company's earnings, financial position, cash requirements, level and rate of borrowings and availability of profit, as well the provisions of relevant laws or generally accepted accounting principles from time to time. There can be no assurance as to the level and/or payment of future dividends by the Company.
The Company's investment objective includes the aim of providing Shareholders with capital appreciation over the medium to long term. The amount of any capital appreciation will depend upon, amongst other things, the Company successfully pursuing its investment policy and the performance of the Company's investments. There can be no assurance as to the level of any capital appreciation over the long term.
The Company's targeted returns set out in this Registration Document are targets only and are based on estimates and assumptions about a variety of factors including, without limitation, asset mix, value, holding periods, performance of the Company's investments, investment liquidity and interest rates, which are inherently subject to significant business, economic and market uncertainties and contingencies, all of which are beyond the Company's control and which may adversely affect the Company's ability to achieve its targeted returns. The Company may not be able to implement its investment objective and investment policy in a manner that generates returns in line with the targets. Furthermore, the targeted returns are based on the market conditions and the economic environment at the time of assessing the targeted returns, and are therefore subject to change. In particular, the targeted returns assume no material changes occur in government regulations or other policies, or in law and taxation, and that the Company is not affected by natural disasters, terrorism, social unrest or civil disturbances or the occurrence of risks described elsewhere in this Registration Document. There is no guarantee that actual (or any) returns can be achieved at or near the levels set out in this Registration Document. Accordingly, the actual rate of return achieved may be materially lower than the targeted returns, or may result in a partial or total loss, which could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The Group's ability to achieve its investment objective is partially dependent on the performance of the Executive Directors in terms of the acquisition of investments for the Group, the carrying out of the Group's development projects, the management of the Group's properties and the determination of any financing arrangements. The performance of the Executive Directors cannot be guaranteed. Failure by the Executive Directors to acquire and manage assets effectively could materially adversely affect the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
Consequently, the future ability of the Group to successfully pursue its investment strategy may, among other things, depend on the ability of the Company to retain its existing Executive Directors and other staff and/or to recruit individuals of similar experience and calibre. Whilst the Company has and will endeavour to ensure that the Executive Directors are suitably incentivised, the retention of Executive Directors cannot be guaranteed. Furthermore, in the event of a departure of an Executive Director, there is no guarantee that the Company would be able to recruit a suitable replacement or that any delay in doing so would not adversely affect the performance of the Group. Events impacting but not entirely within the Company's control, such as its financial performance, it being acquired or making acquisitions or changes to its internal policies and structures could in turn affect its ability to retain any or all of the Executive Directors.
It is expected that a significant majority of the tenants in the Group's properties will continue to be international students. As such, any appreciation in the value of Sterling may decrease demand for accommodation by international students which may materially and adversely impact the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and price of the Shares.
The Group's performance will depend to a significant extent on property values in the United Kingdom. An overall downturn in the UK property market and/or the availability of credit to the UK property sector may have a material adverse effect on the value of the Property Portfolio and ultimately upon the Net Asset Value and the ability of the Group to generate revenues.
Returns achieved are reliant primarily upon the performance of the Property Portfolio. No assurance is given, express or implied, that Shareholders will be able to realise the amount of their original investment in the Shares.
The Company may experience fluctuations in its operating results due to a number of factors, including changes in the values of properties in the Property Portfolio from time to time, changes in the Group's rental income, operating expenses, occupancy rates, the degree to which the Group encounters competition and general economic and market conditions. Such variability may be reflected in dividends, may lead to volatility in the trading price of the Shares and may cause the Company's results for a particular period not to be indicative of its performance in a future period.
Rental income and property values may be adversely affected by an increase in the supply of student accommodation, the failure to collect rents because of tenants' inability to pay or otherwise, the periodic need to renovate and the costs thereof and increased operating costs. A decrease in rental income and/or on property values may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The value of the Group's properties, and the Group's turnover will be dependent on the rental rates that can be achieved from the properties in the Property Portfolio. The ability of the Group to maintain or increase the rental rates for its rooms and properties generally may be adversely affected by general UK economic conditions and/or the disposable income of students. In addition, there may be other factors that depress rents or restrict the Group's ability to increase rental rates, including local factors relating to particular properties/locations (such as increased competition) and any harm to the reputation of the Group amongst universities, students or other potential customers. Any failure to maintain or increase the rental rates for the Group's rooms and properties generally may have a material adverse effect on the value of the Group's properties as well as the Group's turnover and the Group's ability to meet interest and capital repayments on any debt facilities.
The Group and its operations are subject to laws and regulations enacted in the UK by central and local government and central government policy. Any change in the laws, regulations and/or central government policy affecting the Group may have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Group to successfully pursue its investment policy and meet its investment objective and on the value of the Company and the Shares. In such event, the investment returns of the Company may be materially adversely affected. Such potential changes in law, regulation and/or government policy include:
• increased tuition fees, decreased student loans and/or grants and reducing the number of international students granted student visas which may reduce student numbers (both from the United Kingdom and overseas) and reduce students' disposable income which may in turn reduce demand for student accommodation and rents;
The ability of the Group to maintain attractive occupancy levels (or to maintain such levels on economically favourable terms) in relation to its properties may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including a fall in the number of students, competing sites, any harm to the reputation of the Group amongst universities, students or other potential customers, or as a result of other local or national factors. A fall in occupancy levels may have a material adverse effect on the Group's revenue performance, margins and asset values.
The Group will rely on the services of certain third party service providers for the provision of a number of functions which are important to the operation of the Group's business. In particular, the Administrator, the Depositary and the facilities and lettings managers engaged by the Group in relation to its properties, and their respective delegates, if any, perform services that are important to the Group's operations. Failure by any service provider to carry out its obligations to the Group in accordance with the terms of its appointment, to exercise due care and skill, or to perform its obligations to the Group at all as a result of insolvency, bankruptcy or other causes could have a material adverse effect on the Group's performance and returns to Shareholders. To the extent that these third parties are unable or unwilling to perform their contractual commitments, there is a risk of reputational damage to the Group, or that the Group will have to seek alternative contractors (or to perform such services itself) which could be difficult or more costly. The termination of the Group's relationship with any third party service provider or any delay in appointing a replacement for such service provider, could disrupt the business of the Group materially and could have a material adverse effect on the Company's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares. Further, misconduct or misrepresentations by employees of the third party service providers could cause significant losses to the Company.
The past performance of the Group's properties, and of the Executive Directors, cannot be relied upon as an indicator of the future performance of the Company. Investor returns will be dependent on the Company successfully pursuing its investment objective and investment policy. The success of the Company will depend, amongst other things, on the Executive Directors' ability to identify and acquire investments in accordance with the Company's investment policy. There can be no assurance that they will be able to do so. An investor may not get back the amount originally invested. The Company can offer no assurance that investments will generate gains or income or that any gains or income that may be generated on particular investments will be sufficient to offset any losses that may be sustained.
The Group will invest in student residential accommodation. Such investments are illiquid and may be difficult for the Group to sell and the price achieved on any such realisation may be at a discount to the prevailing valuation of the relevant investment which may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The valuation of the Group's properties is inherently subjective, in part because all property valuations are made on the basis of assumptions that may not prove to be accurate, and, in part, because of the individual nature of each property. This is particularly so where there has been more limited transactional activity in the market against which the Group's property valuations can be benchmarked by the Group's external valuer. Valuations of the Group's investments may not reflect actual sale prices or optimal purchase prices even where any such transactions occur shortly after the relevant valuation date.
The Group may invest in properties through investments in various property-owning vehicles, and may in the future utilise a variety of investment structures for the purpose of investing in property. Where a property or an interest in a property is acquired through a company or investment structure, the value of the company or investment structure may not be the same as the value of the underlying property due, for example, to tax, environmental, contingent, and contractual or other liabilities, or structural considerations. As a result, there can be no assurance that the value of investments made through those structures will fully reflect the value of the underlying property.
In recent years a number of UK and international property investors have become active in the UK student accommodation sector. The Group also faces the threat of new competitors emerging. Such competitors may have access to larger financial resources than the Group and/or be targeting lower investment returns. Competition in the student accommodation sector may lead to an oversupply of rooms through overdevelopment, to prices for existing properties or land for development being inflated through competing bids by potential purchasers or to the rents to be achieved from existing properties being adversely impacted by an oversupply of rooms. Accordingly, the existence of such competition may have a material adverse effect on the Group's ability to secure tenants for its properties at satisfactory rental rates and on a timely basis and to acquire properties or develop land at satisfactory cost. This could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The availability of potential investments which meet the Company's investment strategy will depend on the state of the economy and financial markets in the UK. The Company can offer no assurance that it will be able to identify and make further investments that are consistent with its investment objective and investment policy or that it will be able to fully invest its available capital.
Investment opportunities that may be identified by the Company as being potential investments for the Group may be in the process of due diligence and/or negotiation or discussion. There is no guarantee that these investment opportunities will continue to be available in the future at a time or in a form which is convenient for the Group or that the Group will or will be able to invest in these opportunities. The inability to find, or agree terms for, such investment opportunities could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the value of the Shares.
Prior to entering into an agreement to acquire any property, the Group will perform due diligence on the proposed investment. In doing so, it would typically rely, in part, on third parties to conduct a significant portion of this due diligence (including legal reports on title and property valuations). To the extent that such third parties underestimate or fail to identify risks and liabilities (including any environmental liabilities) associated with the investment in question, the Group may be subject to defects in title, to environmental, structural or operational defects requiring remediation, or the Group may be unable to obtain necessary permits which may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
A due diligence failure may also result in properties that are acquired failing to perform in accordance with projections, particularly as to rent and occupancy, which may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The Group may be required to put down a deposit and expects to incur certain third-party costs in respect of potential pipeline investments, including in connection with financing, valuations and professional services associated with the sourcing and analysis of suitable assets. There can be no assurance that the Group will not forfeit any deposit or as to the level of such costs. The forfeiture of a deposit may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares and there can be no guarantee that the Group will be successful in its negotiations to acquire any given potential pipeline investment.
Although the Group expects to have the benefit of insurance coverage for reinstatement costs and loss of rental income for all of its properties, and the benefit of certain insurance policies covering such matters as restrictive covenants and rights of light, the Group's properties may suffer physical damage resulting in losses (including loss of rent) and/or face other claims which may not be fully compensated for by insurance, or at all. Should an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occur, the Group may lose capital invested in the affected property as well as anticipated future revenue from that property and the Group might also remain liable for any debt or other financial obligations related to that property. Any material uninsured losses may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
There is a risk of accidents at premises owned by the Group, which could result in personal injury to tenants, people visiting the premises, employees, contractors or members of the public. The Group has public liability insurance in place which the Directors consider will provide an adequate level of protection against third party claims. However, should an accident attract publicity or be of a size and/or nature that is not adequately covered by insurance, the resulting publicity and costs could have an adverse impact on the Group's reputation, profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The Group faces potential risks associated with the proposed referendum on the UK's continued membership of the EU (to be held on 23 June 2016) and potential uncertainty preceding and following the referendum. If the outcome of the referendum is a vote in favour of the UK leaving the EU, this could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
In particular a vote in favour of the UK exiting the EU could result in higher tuition fees being payable by EU students which may deter them from choosing to study and live in the UK. It could also result in prolonged uncertainty regarding aspects of the UK economy and damage investors' confidence in the UK more generally. In addition, certain regulations applicable to the Group, such as the AIFM Directive and its EU passporting regime, may no longer be available to the Group which may affect the ability of the Company to market the Shares to EU resident investors and may increase compliance and operating costs.
A vote in favour of the UK exiting the EU may also increase the possibility of another referendum on Scottish independence from the UK, creating further uncertainty on Scotland's position within the UK. Should Scotland subsequently become independent, it is currently unclear what effect (if any) this may have on the Group and any assets it has or acquires which are located in Scotland. While the Group is monitoring and assessing the potential impacts on its business of a referendum vote in favour of an EU exit, the situation is currently uncertain.
Certain Group companies have, and the Group expects in the future, to take on leverage in accordance with the Company's borrowing policy. Investors should be aware that, whilst the use of borrowings should enhance Net Asset Value per Share, where the value of the Group's underlying assets is rising, it will have the opposite effect where the underlying asset value is declining. In addition, in the event that the rental income derived from the Group's property assets declines, including as a result of defaults by tenants pursuant to their leases with the Group, the use of borrowings will amplify the impact of such declines on the net revenue of the Group and, accordingly, this may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, dividend payments, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
If the value of the Group's assets falls, the Net Asset Value of the Company will reduce. Furthermore, the borrowings which certain Group companies use (and which the Group will in the future use) are expected to contain loan to value covenants, being the accepted market practice in the UK. If real estate assets owned by Group companies and used as collateral for any borrowings decrease in value such covenants could be breached, and the impact of such an event could include: an increase in borrowing costs; a call for additional capital from the lender; or payment of a fee to the lender; or in such cases where other remedies were not available, it could require a sale of an asset, or a forfeit of any asset to a lender, this could result in a total or partial loss of equity value for each specific asset, or indeed the Group as a whole.
Any increase in Sterling interest rates could have an adverse impact on the Group's cost of borrowing or its ability to secure borrowing facilities and could result in the expected dividends of the Company being reduced and a reduction in the price of the Shares.
Group companies may incur debt with interest payable based on LIBOR. Depending upon market conditions, the relevant borrowing Group companies may hedge or partially hedge interest rate exposure on borrowings, however such measures may not be sufficient to protect the Group from adverse movements in prevailing interest rates to the extent exposures are unhedged or hedges are inadequate to offer full protection. If exposures are hedged, interest rate movements may lead to mark-to-market movements in the value of the hedging instrument, which may be positive or negative and upon breaking of such hedges may cause crystallisation of gains or losses for the Group. In addition, hedging arrangements expose the Group to credit risk in respect of the hedging counterparty. Increased exposure to interest rate movements may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, dividend payments, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
Any amounts that are secured by a Group company under a loan facility are likely to rank ahead of Shareholders' entitlements and accordingly, should the Group's assets generate insufficient returns to cover the Group's operating costs and interest expense, Shareholders may not recover their initial investment on a liquidation of the Company or when they sell their Shares.
Pursuant to the Company's investment policy, the Company may commit up to a maximum of 15 per cent. of its Net Asset Value (measured at the commencement of the project) to expenditure in relation to development or forward funded projects (including conversion of buildings to student accommodation). The following risk factors are those considered to be material in respect of the Group's real estate development activities and may singly or in combination reduce the value of the Group's assets.
The Group's development activities are likely to involve a higher degree of risk than is associated with its operating properties and will require the Group to assess each development opportunity, including the return on investment, transport and other infrastructure attributes of the location, the quality of the specification, the configuration and the flexibility of accommodation and the timing and delivery of the completed property. Inaccurate assessment of a development opportunity or a decrease in tenant demand due to competition from other student accommodation properties or adverse market conditions, could result in a substantial proportion of the development remaining vacant after completion. Such vacancies would affect the level of rental income obtained, the amount of realised sales proceeds and the value of the development property, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
In the event that planning applications for the Group's development projects are unsuccessful or are granted subject to constraints or conditions which the Group regards as unacceptable or onerous (and which the Group is unsuccessful, or concludes is unlikely to be successful, in removing), then the Group may conclude that it is not likely to realise anticipated value from such development opportunities and, accordingly, may decide not to proceed with, or to defer, construction. In any event, the decision to proceed with construction of any development will depend upon the Group's assessment that such development project is likely to provide a satisfactory return on investment having regard to such factors as the cost of construction, timing and delivery of completed property, planning and development constraints and conditions, and local and general market conditions. The Group may defer or decide not to proceed with construction of any development that does not satisfactorily meet its assessment criteria. The failure to obtain satisfactory planning permission or any decision to defer or not proceed with construction could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The Group will depend on skilled third party contractors for the timely construction of its developments in accordance with UK standards of quality and safety. The process of construction may be delayed or disrupted by a number of factors, such as inclement weather or acts of nature, industrial accidents, defective building methods or materials and the insolvency of the contractor. Any of these factors, alone or in combination, could delay or disrupt the construction process by halting the construction process or damaging materials or the development itself. In addition, the costs of construction depends primarily on the costs of materials and labour, which may be subject to significant unforeseen increases. The Group may not be able to recover cost overruns under its insurance policies or from the responsible contractor or sub-contractor or may incur holding costs, the development may decrease in value and the Group may sustain reputational damage, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The Group's development projects will be subject to the hazards and risks normally associated with the construction and development of real estate assets, including personal injury and property damage. The occurrence of any of these events could result in significant increased operating costs, reputational damage, fines, legal fees, or criminal prosecution of the companies within the Group, and their directors or management, all of which could have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
The levels of, and reliefs from, taxation may change, adversely affecting the financial prospects of the Company and/or the returns payable to Shareholders.
Any change in the Company's tax status or in taxation legislation in the UK (including a change in interpretation of such legislation) could affect the Company's ability to achieve its investment objective or provide favourable returns to Shareholders. In particular, an increase in the rates of SDLT or the abolition of Multiple Dwelling Relief could have a material effect on the value of the Group's property assets and the price at which UK property assets can be acquired. Any such change could also adversely affect the net amount of any dividends payable to Shareholders and/or the price of the Shares.
The Company cannot guarantee that the Group will maintain REIT status nor can it guarantee continued compliance with all of the REIT conditions and there is a risk that the REIT regime may cease to apply in some circumstances. HMRC may require the Group to exit the REIT regime if:
If the conditions for REIT status relating to the share capital of the Company (i.e. the Company may issue only one class of ordinary share capital and/or issue non-voting restricted preference shares) or the prohibition on entering into loans with abnormal returns are breached, or the Company ceases to be UK tax resident, becomes dual tax resident or becomes an open-ended investment company, the Group will automatically lose its REIT status with effect from the end of the previous accounting period.
The Group could lose its status as a REIT as a result of actions by third parties, for example, in the event of a successful takeover by a company that is not a REIT, or due to a breach of the close company conditions after the period of 3 years beginning with the date the Group becomes a REIT, if it is unable to remedy the breach within a specified timeframe.
Future changes in legislation may cause the Group to lose its REIT status.
If the Group were to be required to leave the REIT regime within 10 years of joining, HMRC has wide powers to direct how it is to be taxed, including in relation to the date on which the Group is treated as exiting the REIT regime. The Group may also in such circumstances be subject to an increased tax charge.
The requirements for maintaining REIT status are complex. Minor breaches of certain conditions within the REIT regime may only result in additional tax being payable or will not be penalised if remedied within a given period of time, provided that the regime is not breached more than a certain number of times. A serious breach of these regulations may lead to the Group ceasing to be a REIT. If the Company or the Group fails to meet certain of the statutory requirements to maintain its status as a REIT, it may be subject to UK corporation tax on its property rental income profits and any chargeable gains on the sale of some or all properties. This could reduce the reserves available to make distributions to Shareholders and the yield on the Shares. In addition, incurring a UK corporation tax liability might require the Group to borrow funds, liquidate some of its assets or take other steps that could negatively affect its operating results. Moreover, if the Group's REIT status is withdrawn altogether because of its failure to meet one or more REIT qualification requirements, it may be disqualified from being a REIT from the end of the accounting period preceding that in which the failure occurred.
The Group is intending to grow through acquisitions of operating properties and development of new properties. However, the REIT distribution requirements may limit the Group's ability to fund acquisitions and capital expenditures through retained income earnings. To maintain REIT status and as a result obtain full exemption from UK corporation tax on the profits of the Property Rental Business of the Group, the Company is required to distribute annually to Shareholders an amount sufficient to meet the 90 per cent. distribution test by way of Property Income Distributions. The Group would be required to pay tax at regular UK corporation tax rates on any shortfall to the extent that the Company distributes as Property Income Distributions less than the amount required to meet the 90 per cent. distribution test for each accounting period. Therefore, the Group's ability to grow through acquisitions of operating properties and development of new properties could be limited if the Group was unable to obtain debt or issue Shares.
In addition, differences in timing between the receipt of cash and the recognition of income for the purposes of the REIT rules and the effect of any potential debt amortisation payments could require the Group to borrow funds to meet the distribution requirements that are necessary to achieve the full tax benefits associated with qualifying as a REIT, even if the then-prevailing market conditions are not favourable for these borrowings.
As a result of these factors, the constraints of maintaining REIT status could limit the Group's flexibility to make investments.
A REIT may become subject to an additional tax charge if it makes a distribution to, or in respect of, a Substantial Shareholder, that is broadly a company which has rights to 10 per cent. or more of the distributions or Shares or controls at least 10 per cent. of the voting rights. This additional tax charge will not be incurred if the Company has taken reasonable steps to avoid paying distributions to a Substantial Shareholder. Therefore, the Articles contain provisions designed to avoid the situation where distributions may become payable to a Substantial Shareholder and these provisions are summarised at paragraph 3 of Part 7 of this Registration Document. These provisions provide the Directors with powers to identify Substantial Shareholders and to prohibit the payment of dividends on Shares that form part of a Substantial Shareholding, unless certain conditions are met. The Articles also allow the Directors to require the disposal of Shares forming part of a Substantial Shareholding in certain circumstances where the Substantial Shareholder has failed to comply with the above provisions.
This Registration Document should be read in its entirety, along with the Summary and the Securities Note or any Future Summary and Future Securities Note, before making any application for Shares. In assessing an investment in the Company, investors should rely only on the information in this Registration Document (together with the Summary and the Securities Note or any Future Summary and Future Securities Note).
No broker, dealer or other person has been authorised by the Company to issue any advertisement or to give any information or to make any representations in connection with the offering or sale of Shares other than those contained in this Registration Document (together with the Summary and the Securities Note or any Future Summary and Future Securities Note) and, if issued, given or made, such advertisement, information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorised by the Company.
Prospective investors should not treat the contents of this Registration Document as advice relating to legal, taxation, investment or any other matters. Prospective investors should inform themselves as to: (a) the legal requirements within their own countries for the purchase, holding, transfer or other disposal of Shares; (b) any foreign exchange restrictions applicable to the purchase, holding, transfer or other disposal of Shares which they might encounter; and (c) the income and other tax consequences which may apply in their own countries as a result of the purchase, holding, transfer or other disposal of Shares. Prospective investors must rely upon their own legal advisers, accountants and other financial advisers as to legal, tax, investment or any other related matters concerning the Company and an investment in the Shares.
Statements made in this Registration Document are based on the law and practice in force in England and Wales as at the date of this Registration Document and are subject to changes therein.
This Registration Document should be read in its entirety before making any application for Shares. All Shareholders are entitled to the benefit of, and are bound by and are deemed to have notice of, the provisions of the Articles.
This Registration Document does not constitute, and may not be used for the purposes of, an offer or solicitation to anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorised or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The distribution of this Registration Document and the offering of Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted and accordingly persons into whose possession this Registration Document is received are required to inform themselves about and to observe such restrictions.
In relation to each Relevant Member State, no Shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that offers of Shares to the public may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they are implemented in that Relevant Member State:
• to any legal entity which is a "qualified investor" as defined in the Prospectus Directive;
provided that no such offer of Shares shall result in a requirement for the publication of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in a Relevant Member State (other than the United Kingdom) and each person who initially acquires any Shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to any offer of Shares in any Relevant Member State means a communication in any form and by any means presenting sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Shares, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and the amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU (the "2010 PD Amending Directive")), to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
In addition, Shares will only be offered in any relevant EEA jurisdiction, (i) to the extent that the Company has given notification of its intention to market in such relevant EEA jurisdiction pursuant to the passporting regime established for full-scope EEA AIFMs under the AIFM Directive; or (ii) can otherwise be lawfully offered or sold (including on the basis of an unsolicited request from a professional investor) to an investor resident in such relevant EEA jurisdiction.
An offering for Shares is solely directed to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers) within the meaning of section 1:1 of the Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht), as amended from time to time. No approved prospectus is required in connection with an offering in the Netherlands pursuant to the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC), as amended.
An offering for Shares is to be exclusively conducted under applicable private placement exceptions and therefore has not been and will not be notified to, and any other offering material has not been, and will not be approved by, the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority pursuant to the Belgian laws and regulations applicable to the public offering of securities. Accordingly, this Registration Document and any other documents or materials related to the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Shares, may not be advertised, offered or distributed in any other way, directly or indirectly, (i) to any other person located and/or resident in Belgium other than a professional client within the meaning of Annex II to Directive 2004/39/EC or an eligible counterparty within the meaning of Article 24 of the same directive, or (ii) to any person qualifying as a consumer for the purposes of Book VI of the Belgian Code of economic law, unless this is in compliance with the relevant provisions of such code and the implementing regulation.
Neither the Shares nor this Registration Document or any other offering material relating to the Company may be distributed in or from Switzerland. The Company is not authorised by or registered with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA ("FINMA") under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes ("CISA"). Therefore, investors do not benefit from protection under CISA or supervision by FINMA. Neither this Registration Document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Company constitutes a prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to article 652a or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations or a prospectus pursuant to the CISA.
The Shares may only be promoted in or from within the Bailiwick of Guernsey by persons regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission as licensees under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (as amended). Persons appointed by the Company and not so licensed may not promote the Company in Guernsey to private investors and may only distribute and circulate any document relating to Shares in Guernsey to persons regulated as licensees under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 as amended, the Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1994, the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 or the Regulation of Fiduciaries, Administration Business and Company Directors, etc. (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2000, and provided that the provisions of Section 29(1)(cc) of the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (as amended) are satisfied. Promotion of the Shares may not be made in any other way. The Guernsey Prospectus Rules 2008 do not apply to the offer of the Shares.
The Prospectus may be circulated in Jersey only by persons who are registered by the Jersey Financial Services Commission in accordance with the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998, as amended, for the conduct of financial services business, or are exempt from such registration in accordance with the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998, as amended. In addition, the Prospectus may be circulated in Jersey only to persons similar to those to whom, and in a manner similar to that in which, it is for the time being circulated in the United Kingdom. Consent for the circulation of the Prospectus in accordance with article 8 of the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958, as amended, has not been sought from or given by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
This Registration Document contains forward looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or similar expressions. Such forward looking statements involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Group, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place any undue reliance on such forward looking statements. These forward looking statements speak only as at the date of this Registration Document. Subject to its legal and regulatory obligations (including under the Prospectus Rules), the Company expressly disclaims any obligations to update or revise any forward looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority, including FSMA, the Prospectus Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules and the Listing Rules.
Nothing in this Registration Document qualifies or should be deemed to qualify the working capital statement given in the Summary or the Securities Note (or any Future Summary or Future Securities Note).
The Company prepares its financial information under IFRS and EPRA's best practice recommendations. The financial information contained or incorporated by reference in this Registration Document, including that financial information presented in a number of tables in this Registration Document, has been rounded to the nearest whole number or the nearest decimal place. Therefore, the actual arithmetic total of the numbers in a column or row in a certain table may not conform exactly to the total figure given for that column or row. In addition, certain percentages presented in the tables in this Registration Document reflect calculations based upon the underlying information prior to rounding, and, accordingly, may not conform exactly to the percentages that would be derived if the relevant calculations were based upon the rounded numbers.
This Registration Document assumes that no further Shares will be issued after the date of this Registration Document and before the completion of the Initial Issue. This Registration Document is valid for a period of up to 12 months following its publication. The Company may issue up to 165 million Shares at any time within a period of up to 12 months from the date of this Registration Document in connection with the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue). The prospectus for any issuance of additional Shares may, for a period of up to 12 months from the date of the publication of this Registration Document, consist of this Registration Document which will not be updated and a Future Summary and Future Securities Note which will be applicable to each issue and subject to separate approval by the FCA on each issue. Persons receiving this Registration Document should read the Prospectus (or any future prospectus) together as a whole and should be aware that any update in respect of a Future Summary and Future Securities Note may constitute a material change for the purposes of the Prospectus Rules.
The Company's website address is www.empiric.co.uk. The contents of the Company's website do not form part of the Prospectus.
| Directors | Brenda Dean (The Rt Hon Baroness Dean Thornton-le-Fylde) (Chairman) Paul Hadaway (Chief Executive Officer) Timothy Attlee (Chief Investment Officer) Michael Enright (Chief Finance Officer) Stephen Alston (Non-Executive Director) Jim Prower (Non-Executive Director) Stuart Beevor (Non-Executive Director) |
|---|---|
| all of the registered office below: | |
| Registered Office | 6-8 James Street London W1U 1ED Tel: +44(0)20 3772 2780 Website: www.empiric.co.uk |
| Joint Financial Advisers | Akur Limited 66 St James's Street London SW1A 1NE |
| Jefferies International Limited Vintners Place 68 Upper Thames Street London EC4V 3BJ |
|
| Sponsor, Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner |
Jefferies International Limited Vintners Place 68 Upper Thames Street London EC4V 3BJ |
| Legal Adviser to the Company | Gowling WLG (UK) LLP 4 More London Riverside London SE1 2AU |
| Legal Adviser to the Sponsor, Joint Financial Advisers and Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner |
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP 3 More London Riverside London SE1 2AQ |
| Administrator and Company Secretary |
FIM Capital Limited 7 Cavendish Square London W1G 0PE |
| Depositary | Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited 41-43 Maddox Street London W1S 2PD |
| Registrar | Computershare Investor Services PLC The Pavilions Bridgwater Road Bristol BS99 6ZZ |
|---|---|
| Receiving Agent | Computershare Investor Services PLC Corporate Actions Projects Bristol BS99 6AH |
| Auditor and Reporting Accountant |
BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 7EU |
| Valuer | CBRE Limited Henrietta House Henrietta Place London W1G 0NB |
The Company is a closed-ended investment company incorporated in England and Wales and carries on business as a REIT, investing in premium student residential accommodation sector. The Shares are admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities.
Pursuant to its initial public offering in June 2014 and the First Share Issuance Programme, which closed in October 2015, the Company has raised gross equity funds of, in aggregate, £397 million since June 2014. In addition, as at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document), the Group has approximately £103.25 million of drawn down debt financing (excluding the Group's share of joint venture debt) which together with its equity funds has been invested in, or committed to, the Property Portfolio.
The Property Portfolio at the date of this Registration Document comprises: 39 operating student accommodation properties; and 19 student accommodation properties in development consisting of a mix of forward funded, forward commitment and development projects located in 26 prime student cities and towns across the UK.
The properties consist of premium quality, purpose built or purpose renovated direct let student accommodation with high specification layouts and communal facilities. Summary details of the Property Portfolio are set out below in this Part 1 and in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
The Company is an internally managed investment company and is authorised and regulated by the FCA as its own alternative investment fund manager. The Board as a whole is therefore responsible for the determination of the Company's investment objective and investment policy and has overall responsibility for the Company's activities. The Executive Directors undertake the management of the Company's investment activities on a day-to-day basis. The Executive Directors are experienced real estate professionals with a recognised track record in the development and management of premium student residential accommodation. In addition to this sector specific real estate expertise, the Board as a whole combines individuals with extensive experience of acting as directors of premium listed companies and other real estate expertise, including in the student accommodation sector.
The Company has an experienced internal management team consisting of 20 full-time employees (including the Executive Directors) who are responsible for managing the operations of the Group's operating properties, overseeing the management and delivery of the Group's development projects and the provision of the Group's internal finance function.
As at 31 December 2015, the unaudited Net Asset Value per Share was 105.4 pence, prior to adjustment for the interim dividend declared on 1 March 2016 of 1.5 pence per Share. This compares to the audited Net Asset Value per Share as at 30 June 2015 of 103.2 pence. Since its initial public offering the Company has paid or declared cumulative dividends amounting to 7.0 pence per Share.
As at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document), the Company had a market capitalisation of approximately £426 million.
It is anticipated the Company will become eligible for inclusion in the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT indices following the annual index review in March 2016.
The Directors believe that, since the Company's initial public offering in June 2014, the Group has made excellent progress in successfully implementing its investment strategy by acquiring a diverse portfolio of high quality student accommodation properties (both operational and in development) in centrally situated locations in prime student cities and towns across the UK. These assets have been acquired at attractive net initial yields which the Board expects to generate good returns for the Group.
The Directors believe that the underlying fundamentals of the Group's market in premium student accommodation are solid: increasing demand coupled with a supply shortage. Notwithstanding the introduction of tuition fees, the number of students studying in the UK has continued on a growth trend. In particular, following the removal of the cap on student numbers in 2015/2016, the number of international students is expected to grow significantly, and it is international students, together with post-graduates, which comprise the Group's target market.
The Company's stated objective continues to be to grow the Property Portfolio to a target size of 10,000 beds. As at 31 December 2015, the Group had acquired or exchanged contracts on, in aggregate, 5,686 beds in operation or under development.
The Company has identified a strong pipeline comprising a mix of operating properties and properties under development across multiple locations in the UK representing in aggregate over 4,000 beds.
The Company is therefore launching the Share Issuance Programme to raise further equity funds which, when combined with available and proposed future debt, will allow the Group to acquire further student accommodation assets in order to achieve its stated objective.
As at the date of this Registration Document, the Property Portfolio consists of the following investments comprising a mix of operating properties and development projects. Further details of the Property Portfolio are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
Operating Properties (all freehold unless otherwise stated)
| Market value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| as at | ||||
| 31 December | ||||
| No. of | Date of | 2015 | ||
| Name | Location | Beds | acquisition | (£m) |
| College Green(1) | Bristol | 84 | July 2014 | 11.4 |
| Picturehouse Apartments | Exeter | 102 | July 2014 | 13.1 |
| Summit House | Cardiff | 87 | July 2014 | 10.7 |
| The Brook | Selly Oak, Birmingham | 106 | July 2014 | 12.9 |
| Brunswick House | Southampton | 173 | July 2014 | 10.1(5) |
| Edge Apartments | Selly Oak, Birmingham | 77 | August 2014 | 10.8 |
| Centro Court | Aberdeen | 56 | September 2014 | 7.5 |
| Talbot Studios | Nottingham | 98 | September 2014 | 9.9 |
| Alwyn Court | Cardiff | 51 | October 2014 | 3.9 |
| London Road(2) | Southampton | 46 | November 2014 | 4.4 |
| Kingsmill Studios | Huddersfield | 98 | November 2014 | 9.2 |
| Curzon Point(3) | Hatfield | 116 | December 2014 | 10.4 |
| Dean Clarke Lofts(4) | Exeter | 30 | December 2014 | 4.7 |
| Algernon Firth | Leeds | 111 | January 2015 | 8.6 |
| Northgate House | Cardiff | 67 | February 2015 | 6.5 |
| Market value | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| as at | ||||
| No. of | Date of | 31 December 2015 |
||
| Name | Location | Beds | acquisition | (£m) |
| Halsmere Studios | London | 79 | February 2015 | 16.2 |
| Ballet School | Glasgow | 103 | March 2015 | 11.7 |
| St Mark's Court | Leeds | 85 | March 2015 | 7.2 |
| St Margaret's Flats | Durham | 109 | May 2015 | 5.6 |
| CityBlock 1 | Lancaster | 30 | May 2015 | 2.0 |
| CityBlock 2 | Lancaster | 77 | May 2015 | 6.1 |
| CityBlock 3 | Lancaster | 100 | May 2015 | 8.4 |
| CityBlock 1 | Leicester | 98 | May 2015 | 6.3 |
| CityBlock 2 | Leicester | 76 | May 2015 | 5.2 |
| Library Lofts | Exeter | 61 | May 2015 | 7.7 |
| Art School Lofts | Liverpool | 64 | June 2015 | 8.1 |
| Maple House | Liverpool | 147 | June 2015 | 12.6 |
| Chatham Lodge | Liverpool | 50 | June 2015 | 4.2 |
| Hayward House | Liverpool | 74 | June 2015 | 5.5 |
| The Octagon | Liverpool | 19 | June 2015 | 2.0 |
| Grove Street Studios | Liverpool | 28 | June 2015 | 2.6 |
| Caledonia Mill | Stoke-on-Trent | 120 | June 2015 | 5.9 |
| Maritime House | Falmouth | 137 | August 2015 | 11.0 |
| The Registry | Portsmouth | 41 | August 2015 | 4.6 |
| 333 Bath Street(6) | Glasgow | 70 | September 2015 | 8.1 |
| Canal Bridge | Bath | 20 | November 2015 | 1.8 |
| Widcombe Wharf | Bath | 40 | November 2015 | 4.5 |
| Piccadilly Place | Bath | 47 | November 2015 | 4.3 |
| Ayton House | St Andrews | 241 | December 2015 | 25.1 |
| Total | ——— 3,218 |
————— 310.7 |
||
| (1) 150 year lease, from August 2010. |
——— | ————— |
(1)
(2) Freehold/leasehold.
(3) 199 year lease, from December 2014.
(4) 999 year lease, from March 2014.
(5) The figure represents the value of the Group's 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the property.
(6) 125 year lease, from 15 October 1984.
The portfolio of operating properties is Fully Let for the 2015/2016 academic year (meaning an occupancy and/or income level of the operating portfolio of 97.5 per cent. or more). The gross annualised rent for the operating properties as at 31 December 2015 was £25.1 million, of which £1.1 million (representing 4.5 per cent. of the gross annualised rent) was attributable to commercial revenue. Rental growth in the operating properties is an average of approximately 3.25 per cent., comparing 2015/2016 with 2014/2015.
Students pay for their accommodation termly in advance if they are UK residents or have a UK guarantor. If they are overseas students, without a UK guarantor, then students pay for their entire year in advance. The majority of the tenancies are for 51 weeks, although student accommodation in Edinburgh often has 44 week tenancies with extra income derived from lettings during the festival period.
Prices for rooms in student property developments are typically determined towards the end of a calendar year, with bookings taken at those prices throughout the months preceding the start of the academic year in September.
The average net initial yield of the operating properties as at 31 December 2015 was 5.8 per cent. compared to an average acquisition net initial yield of 6.4 per cent. representing average yield compression in the operating properties of approximately 60 basis points.
| Market | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Estimated | value as at | ||||
| Proposed No. | Date of | investment to | completion 31 December | |||
| Location | of Beds | acquisition | completion | date | 2015(1) | |
| Name | (£ million) | (£) | ||||
| Forward Commitments Claremont Place |
Newcastle | 88 | May 2015 | 11.0(2) | August 2016 | –(6) |
| 1-3 James Street West | Bath | 78 | August 2015 | 7.7(2) | September 2016 |
–(6) |
| James House | Bath | 169 | August 2015 | 25.0(2) | September 2016 |
–(6) |
| Metrovick House | Newcastle | 63 | September 2015 |
7.4(2) | July 2016 | –(6) |
| Windsor House | Cardiff | 314 | November 2015 |
40.0(2) | August 2016 | –(6) |
| Forward funded projects | ||||||
| Buccleuch Street | Edinburgh | 86 | July 2014 | 8.8(9) | June 2016 | 8.9 |
| 95 Talbot Street | Nottingham | 77 | February 2015 | 6.0(9) | September 2016 |
2.7(3) |
| Spital Court Studios (St Peter's Street) |
Aberdeen | 123 | March 2015 | 13.5(9) | August 2016 | 9.3 |
| William & | ||||||
| Matthew House | Bristol | 75 | April 2015 | 8.0(9) | August 2016 | 3.3 |
| Welsh Baptist Chapel | Manchester | 93 | May 2015 | 7.9(9) | August 2017 | 1.0 |
| Oldgate House | Huddersfield | 179 | May 2015 | 10.9(9) | August 2016 | 4.7 |
| Portobello House | Sheffield | 134 | August 2015 | 11.0(9) | June 2016 | 4.2 |
| The Frontage | Nottingham | 162 | August 2015 | 18.8(9) | September 2016 |
9.5 |
| Bonhay Road | Exeter | 139 | September 2015 |
12.2(9) | October 2017 | 2.0 |
| 155 George Street | Glasgow | 89 | November 2015 |
9.6(9) | July 2017 | –(6) |
| Provincial House | Sheffield | 107 | December 2015 |
11.0(9) | July 2017 | –(6) |
| Development projects | ||||||
| Willowbank | Glasgow | 178 | December 2014 |
7.1(4) | July 2017 | 5.4(5) |
| Framwellgate | Durham | 110 | June 2015 | 1.2(7) | June 2017 | –(8) |
| Forthside | Stirling | 204 | August 2015 | 0.7(7) | September 2017 |
–(8) |
(1) Market value for these properties is based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015 as taken from the Valuation Report.
(2) Purchase price to be paid on completion of the acquisition.
(3) The Group acquired the land at 95 Talbot Street, Nottingham on 20 February 2015. The details of a proposed forward funded development for the site are under negotiation. Revised planning permission has been received increasing the number of beds from 65 to 77.
(4) The figure represents internal management calculations of the total development costs to completion for the project to be paid by the Group as at 31 December 2015 and excludes Revcap's contribution.
(5) The figure represents the value of the Group's 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the property.
(6) The Group has exchanged conditional contracts on each of these properties, completion of which is subject to a number of conditions. As at the date of this Registration Document, the Group therefore holds no property interest in relation to such projects and consequently they have not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation Report.
(7) This represents the proposed purchase price of the land on acquisition only.
(8) The Group has exchanged conditional contracts on each of these development sites, subject to planning consent being obtained and other conditions being satisfied. As at the date of this Registration Document, the Group therefore holds no property interest in relation to such projects and consequently they have not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation Report.
(9) The figures represent internal management calculations of the total development costs to completion for each project as at 31 December 2015.
The Group is responsible for the facilities and lettings management of all properties in the Property Portfolio. The Group has developed and launched its own internal operations and lettings management platform under the "Hello Student®" brand. In addition, to facilitate its administrative and resource requirements, the Group also engages professional external facilities and lettings managers.
The Group has recently launched its new operational platform and consumer brand Hello Student® at www.hellostudent.co.uk. The Company is working in partnership with CRM Student Ltd to deliver the Hello Student® marketing, booking, billing and accounting platform which will be managed by a dedicated internal team. The Company is directly employing local accommodation managers for its buildings and will appoint a team of regional managers based across the UK who will form the national management and concierge team under the Hello Student® platform. Incentive Facilities Management Group Ltd will provide facilities management and maintenance services nationwide across the Group's portfolio, working in partnership with the Group to provide a single central resource for the Hello Student® operational platform and its managers.
Initially, Hello Student® is directly managing six of the Group operating student accommodation assets and is marketing these and seven of the Group assets currently under development that will become operational for the 2016/17 academic year. By the start of the 2018/19 academic year, it is expected that all of the Group's current Property Portfolio will be marketed and managed under the Hello Student® platform.
In addition to its in-house operations platform, the Group also utilises the services of a number of external facilities and lettings managers. This includes larger national players, such as Collegiate Accommodation Consulting Limited and Corporate Residential Management Ltd, together with specialist local operators where appropriate. In addition, the Group has engaged Bilfinger GVA as managing agent in relation to the majority of the commercial units forming part of its properties. The Company anticipates that further external facilities and lettings managers may be engaged in relation to future properties acquired by the Group but the medium to long-term plan is to reduce such number.
Under these arrangements, the facilities and lettings managers engaged by the Group will generally undertake property and facilities management services in relation to the relevant student units including collaborating with the Group in relation to the marketing and letting of the units in each property, rent collection and credit control services, payment of agreed capital expenditure, preparation of operating budgets for approval, overseeing building maintenance, maintenance of tenancy records, acting as tenant liaison and production of agreed management reports and performance measures for the properties.
External marketing and operations managers are paid a fee based on a proportion of rent collected. Depending on the manager and the building, this varies between 4-6 per cent. This fee along with other external costs such as utilities, health and safety, maintenance and repairs amounts to approximately 25 per cent. of the gross annual rental income.
The Group is predominantly focused on investing in built and operating properties or those properties close to practical completion (i.e. within 12 months of operation). However, up to 15 per cent. of the Net Asset Value of the Company (measured at the commencement of the project) may be committed to development and forward funded projects.
Such forward funded and development projects are expected to enable the Group to benefit from capital appreciation of its investment in development assets, which typically see significant uplifts in market value as the projects progress.
As at 31 December 2015, the aggregate value of the development and forward funded assets (based on the Valuation Report) represented 14.1 per cent. of the aggregate value of the Property Portfolio.
In relation to a forward funded project, the Group will acquire the site directly (conditional on receiving planning permission), and fund the development of the project in stages, with the actual development work undertaken by a third party developer which will have identified the site prior to the Group's involvement, arranged all the planning applications and organised and managed the various building contractors. The required development financing will be paid pursuant to an agreed schedule during the development phase of the project, usually with a bullet balancing payment to the developer paid at completion when the Group takes possession of the completed asset for no further consideration. In the development phase, forward funded projects typically generate a coupon (or interest payment) for the funder of approximately 7 per cent. per annum, which is calculated by reference to the staged payments made to the third party developer, and is paid by the third party developer in cash or, alternatively, this liability is rolled up into the overall contract price. Under a forward funded arrangement, the risk of cost overruns rests with the third party developer.
Generally any potential development site would only be acquired subject to the receipt of planning permission. Although incidental expenditure may be incurred initially prior to acquisition (for example in relation to the preparation of architectural plans and proposed specifications), the site is only acquired on the granting of planning permission, which in turn mitigates the risk to the Group of the planning process.
Once the site has the benefit of planning permission and is acquired by the Group, the full design and project management process is put in place, including the financing package. The Company will then supervise the entire development and construction process. Risks to the Group are intended to be mitigated by appointing contractors of sufficient financial strength on a fixed contract, by fitting out developments with a standard kit of parts (an approach developed by the Executive Directors over several years across a number of separate developments), and by spreading development exposure across several different projects. Development risk is intended to be further mitigated by agreeing an appropriate payment schedule, whereby the contractor only receives the minimum funding to meet the next development milestone. Further, the contractor will only receive its profit after completion of the project and following relevant surveys. A development project will typically take 12-24 months to complete, from identification of the site to practical completion.
The Company has entered into the Revcap Development Framework Agreement which sets out a framework under which the Company and Revcap will cooperate through a joint venture to identify, acquire (subject to planning), secure planning and develop suitable properties and sites that can be developed or converted into prime student residential accommodation. In connection with each joint venture development with Revcap, Empiric Developments will be responsible for the day-to-day project management and will receive an asset management fee. Empiric Developments will also receive an incentive profit share from each joint venture development based on the IRR achieved. The Company will have a right to procure repayment by a joint venture company of the Revcap shareholder loan and to purchase Revcap's interest in each joint venture company. The current properties which have benefited from this joint venture arrangement are Brunswick House, Southampton (now operational) and Willowbank, Glasgow (scheduled to be completed in July 2017). Further details of the Revcap Development Framework Agreement are set out in paragraph 9.14 of Part 8 of this Registration Document.
The investment objective of the Company is to provide Shareholders with regular, sustainable and growing long-term dividends (which it will seek to grow at least in line with the RPI inflation index) together with the potential for capital appreciation over the medium to long term.
The Company intends to meet its investment objective through acquiring, owning, leasing and developing high quality student residential accommodation in the UK let on direct tenancy agreements to tenants enrolled with Higher Education Institutions ("HEIs"). The Company will invest in modern, high-end, student accommodation assets with a focus on quality, and generally located in prime city centre locations in top university cities and towns. The Company is focused on investing in, and developing, high quality self-contained residential accommodation in locations where the Executive Directors believe attractive opportunities exist for the Company to exploit demand for student residential accommodation at the higher end of the quality scale. To deliver the high quality and high-end experience, the individual sizes of the assets are generally expected to be between 50 to 200 beds. In addition, each property will generally have:
The Company anticipates that rental income will predominantly be generated from direct leases and/or licences to students (with the rent being inclusive of wifi/internet, all utilities, and access to on-site amenities). The Company also anticipates benefiting in some cases from ancillary commercial lease opportunities within student accommodation properties, including (but not limited to) retail outlets and mobile telephone transmission apparatus. The Company may in due course derive rental income from agreements with students that are guaranteed by HEIs or directly with HEIs. The Company may enter into soft nominations agreements (being marketing arrangements with HEIs to place their students in private accommodation). The Company will target upper quartile rental values, primarily servicing postgraduate and international students.
The Group may acquire assets through acquisitions of the underlying property or through the acquisition of the subsidiary companies or other investment vehicles through which such properties are owned. The Company may opportunistically acquire portfolios of student accommodation properties. Following such a transaction, individual properties within such a portfolio, which do not meet the Group's required standards or which cannot be cost effectively refurbished, may be sold.
The Company also intends to undertake limited development of new buildings or conversion of existing properties for student accommodation and related services pursuant to the terms of the joint venture arrangement between the Company and Revcap, with other development partners or solely, without a third party partner. Save for such development assets that may be held by the Group in 50/50 joint venture companies during the development phase of such projects, the Group intends to have sole ownership of all investments.
The Company will also focus on the acquisition of properties where the student accommodation units benefit from "Multiple Dwelling Relief", reducing SDLT on the value of such student accommodation units from 4 per cent. to 1 per cent.
The Board intends to hold the Group's investments on a long term basis. The Group, however, may dispose of investments outside of this time frame, should an appropriate opportunity arise where, in the Board's opinion, the value that could be realised from such a disposal would represent a satisfactory return on the initial investment and/or otherwise enhance the value of the Group, taken as a whole. There is no limit on the number of investments which the Group may dispose of from the portfolio (subject always to maintaining compliance with the investment restrictions that form part of the investment policy).
The Company will invest and manage its assets with the objective of spreading risk through the following investment restrictions:
• the Company will not invest in other closed-ended investment companies.
The Company will also seek to spread risk by seeking to achieve a diversified exposure to individual cities, towns and HEIs, though no quantitative limits are in place, due to the widely various demographics prevailing in different locations.
The Company will at all times invest and manage its assets in a way that is consistent with its objective of spreading investment risk and in accordance with its published investment policy and will not, at any time, conduct any trading activity which is significant in the context of the business of the Company as a whole.
The Directors currently intend, at all times, to conduct the affairs of the Group so as to enable it to qualify as a REIT for the purposes of Part 12 of the CTA 2010 (and the regulations made thereunder).
In the event of a breach of the investment policy and investment restrictions set out above, the Directors, upon becoming aware of such breach, will consider whether the breach is material, and if it is, notification will be made through a Regulatory Information Service.
The Board expects to use Company level structural leverage for investment purposes to enhance equity returns. The Group currently has committed and drawn down debt facilities with lenders such as RBS, Canada Life and Santander. Details of the key terms of these facilities are summarised in the material contracts section in Part 8 of this Registration Document.
The level of borrowing will be on a prudent basis for the asset class, and will seek to achieve a low cost of funds, whilst maintaining flexibility in the underlying security requirements. If gearing is employed, the Company will maintain a conservative level of aggregate borrowings typically of 35 per cent. but no more than 40 per cent. of the Gross Asset Value (calculated at the time of draw down) and will comply with the REIT condition relating to the ratio between the Company's 'property profits' and 'property finance costs' (in this regard, a tax charge will arise if, in respect of any accounting period, the ratio of the Group's income profits (before capital allowances) in respect of its Property Rental Business to the financing costs incurred in respect of the Property Rental Business is less than 1.25).
As at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document), the Group has approximately £103.25 million of drawn debt financing (excluding the Group's share of joint venture debt) representing a loan to value ratio of 20.3 per cent.
Borrowings employed by the Group may either be secured on individual assets without recourse to the Company or by a charge over some or all of the Group's assets to take advantage of potentially preferential terms. Development loans, however, will only be secured at the individual asset level, without recourse to the Group's other assets or revenues.
Where the Group takes on floating rate loan facilities, the Group may engage in interest rate hedging in respect of borrowings, or otherwise seek to mitigate the risk of interest rate increases, for efficient portfolio management purposes only.
The borrowing limits set out above will be inclusive of the Group's pro-rata share of development loans incurred in relation to joint venture development projects. Intra-group debt between the Company and subsidiaries will not be included in the definition of borrowings for these purposes.
The restrictions in the investment policy and investment restrictions will apply on a look-through basis irrespective of how an investment is held. No material change will be made to the investment policy and investment restrictions without the prior approval of the FCA and the Shareholders by ordinary resolution.
Further details of the REIT conditions are set out at paragraph 2.2 of Part 7 of this Registration Document.
The Company intends to pay dividends on a quarterly basis with dividends ordinarily declared in February, May, August and November in each year and paid within one month of being declared.
For the financial year ending 30 June 2015 the Company declared four interim dividends amounting, in aggregate, to 4 pence per Share. This achieved the objective set out at the time of the launch of the First Share Issuance Programme.
The Board declared a first interim dividend for the 2016 financial year of 1.5 pence per Share in respect of the first quarter ended 30 September 2015. The Company declared the second interim dividend of 1.5 pence per Share on 1 March 2016 in relation to the quarter ended 31 December 2015.
The Company has a target to achieve a dividend of 6 pence per Share for the financial year ending 30 June 2016, provided that the Company can continue to successfully implement its investment policy. Thereafter dividends are expected to grow by at least the rate of RPI inflation.
In order to comply with and maintain REIT status, the Group will be required to meet a minimum distribution test for each accounting period that it is a REIT. This minimum distribution test requires the Company to distribute 90 per cent. of the income profits of the Property Rental Business for each accounting period, as adjusted for tax purposes.
The Company will also target an annualised Shareholder return of 13 per cent. per annum (based on the IPO issue price) over the medium term following full investment of the net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme.
Investors should note that the figures in relation to dividends, total shareholder return and targeted annual growth in NAV set out above and elsewhere in this Registration Document are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be taken as, a profit forecast or estimate. They have been calculated using the Principal Bases and Assumptions shown in paragraph 13 of Part 8 of this Registration Document. Actual returns cannot be predicted and may differ materially from these illustrative figures. There can be no assurance that they will be met or that any dividend or NAV growth will be achieved.
The Directors use CBRE as property valuer to the Company. Valuations of the Company's properties are conducted semi-annually at 30 June and 31 December in each year. The market value of the Group's properties will be determined by CBRE in accordance with the internationally accepted RICS Valuation – Professional Standard (2014). CBRE has produced the Valuation Report in relation to the Property Portfolio as at 31 December 2015 which is set out in Part 6 of this Registration Document.
Details of each semi-annual valuation, and of any suspension in the making of such valuations, will be announced by the Company within the context of its periodic financial reporting or otherwise via a Regulatory Information Service announcement as soon as practicable after the relevant valuation date.
The Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) is calculated semi-annually by the Company (and reviewed by the Administrator). Calculations will be made in accordance with IFRS and EPRA's best practice recommendations. The Company intends to report its Net Asset Value according to EPRA guidelines. Details of each semi-annual valuation, and of any suspension in the making of such valuations, are announced by the Company via a Regulatory Information Service announcement, as part of its results announcement, as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant half-year. The semi-annual valuations of the Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) are calculated on the basis of the most recent valuation of the Property Portfolio.
The calculation of the Net Asset Value will only be suspended in circumstances where the underlying data necessary to value the investments of the Company cannot readily, or without undue expenditure, be obtained or in other circumstances (such as a systems failure of the Company) which prevents the Company from making such calculations. Details of any suspension in making such calculations will be announced via a Regulatory Information Service announcement as soon as practicable after any such suspension occurs.
The audited accounts of the Company are prepared in Sterling under IFRS and in accordance with EPRA's best practice recommendations. The Company's annual report and accounts are prepared up to 30 June each year. Copies of the report and accounts are sent to Shareholders by the end of October each year. Shareholders also receive an unaudited half-yearly report covering the six months to 31 December each year, which is dispatched within the following two months.
The Company has published its first annual report and accounts for the year ended 30 June 2015. Interim financial statements have been produced in relation to the six month period to 31 December 2015. Such annual and interim accounts have been incorporated by reference into this Registration Document.
The Board has the discretion to seek to manage, on an on-going basis, the premium or discount at which the Shares may trade to their Net Asset Value through further issues and buy-backs, as appropriate. In addition, where the Group disposes of an investment, where the net disposal proceeds are not reinvested or committed within 12 months such proceeds will be distributed to Shareholders, subject to the Group's working capital requirements and the requirements of the Companies Act.
The Directors will consider repurchasing Shares in the market if they believe it to be in Shareholders' interests as a whole and as a means of correcting any imbalance between supply of, and demand for, the Shares.
At the Company's annual general meeting on 4 November 2015, a special resolution was passed granting the Directors authority to repurchase up to 14.99 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital during the period expiring on the conclusion of the earlier of, (i) the Company's next annual general meeting to be held in 2016, and (ii) 4 February 2017. Renewal of this buy-back authority will be sought at each annual general meeting of the Company.
The Directors will have regard to the Group's REIT status when making any repurchase and will only make such repurchase through the market at prices (after allowing for costs) below the relevant prevailing Net Asset Value per Share and otherwise in accordance with guidelines established from time to time by the Board. Purchases of Shares may be made only in accordance with the Companies Act, the Disclosure Rules and Transparency Rules and the Listing Rules. Under the Listing Rules, the maximum price that may be paid by the Company on the repurchase of any Shares pursuant to a general authority is 105 per cent. of the average of the middle market quotations for the Shares for the five Business Days immediately preceding the date of purchase or, if higher, that stipulated by Article 5(1) of the Buy Back and Stabilisation Regulation (EC No 227312003). The minimum price will not be below the nominal value of one penny in respect of the Shares.
Shareholders should note that the purchase of Shares by the Company is at the absolute discretion of the Directors and is subject to the working capital requirements of the Company and the amount of cash available to the Company to fund such purchases. Accordingly, no expectation or reliance should be placed on the Directors exercising such discretion on any one or more occasions.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act and to any relevant authority of the Company required by the Companies Act, the Board may allot, grant options over, offer or otherwise deal with or dispose of any new shares or rights to subscribe for or convert any security into shares or sell Shares out of treasury, at such times and generally on such terms and conditions as the Board may decide, provided that, for as long as any Shares are listed on the Official List, no new Shares may be issued at a price per Share which is less than the Net Asset Value per Share at the time of such issue unless authorised by an ordinary resolution of Shareholders or such new Shares are first offered on a pro rata basis to Shareholders. The Company will endeavour to give priority to applications from existing Shareholders who subscribe for new Shares in a future placing or offer (if any).
Investors should note that the issuance of new Shares is entirely at the discretion of the Board, and no expectation or reliance should be placed on such discretion being exercised on any one or more occasions or as to the proportion of new Shares that may be issued.
Any Shares repurchased pursuant to the general authority referred to above may be held in treasury. The Companies Act allows companies to hold shares acquired by way of market purchase as treasury shares, rather than having to cancel them. These shares may be subsequently cancelled or sold for cash. This would give the Company the ability to reissue Shares quickly and cost efficiently, thereby improving liquidity and providing the Company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base.
The Board currently intends only to authorise the sale of Shares from treasury at prices at or above the prevailing Net Asset Value per Share (plus costs of the relevant sale). This should result in a positive overall effect for Shareholders if Shares are bought back at a discount and then sold at a price at or above the Net Asset Value per Share (plus costs of the relevant sale).
The Company has been established with an indefinite life. At the annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2017, under the requirements of the Articles, the Board will propose an ordinary resolution that the Company continue its business as presently constituted. If this resolution is not passed, the Board will formulate proposals to be put to Shareholders to reorganise, restructure or wind-up the Company and to present such proposals to Shareholders within 60 days of the date of the annual general meeting at which the continuation resolution was proposed.
The Company, as the principal company of the Group, has given notice to HMRC (in accordance with Section 523 CTA 2010) that the Group has become a REIT with effect from 1 July 2014. As a REIT, it complies with certain on-going regulations and conditions (including minimum distribution requirements). Potential investors are referred to Part 7 of this Registration Document for details of the REIT regime and the taxation of the Group in the UK.
The Company, as its own AIFM, has a full-scope Part 4A permission under the AIFM Regulations and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (reference number 630634).
As a REIT, the Shares are "excluded securities" under the FCA's rules on non-mainstream pooled investments. Accordingly, the promotion of the Shares is not subject to the FCA's restriction on the promotion of non-mainstream pooled investments.
An investment in the Shares is only suitable for institutional investors, professionally-advised private investors and highly knowledgeable investors who understand and are capable of evaluating the risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses (which may equal the whole amount invested) that may result from such an investment.
As at the date of this Registration Document, the Property Portfolio comprises the following investments, being a mix of operating properties, forward commitment, forward funded and development projects.
The portfolio of operating properties is Fully Let for the 2015/2016 academic year (meaning an occupancy and/or income level of the operating portfolio of 97.5 per cent. or more).
The properties that will be available for letting for a particular academic year (whether they are operating or under development with an expected completion date prior to the start of the academic year) are marketed by the Company and/or its agents from the start of the relevant calendar year. The Company has recently launched a website, hellostudent.co.uk, which will be the principal marketing tool for the Company, listing all the available properties.
The figures contained in this Part 2 are unaudited.
| Title | Long leasehold (146 years unexpired) |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £11.4 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£144 to £203 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
85:15 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
In operation since the commencement of the 2011 academic year, College Green (Bristol) is an office conversion consisting of bespoke student accommodation, comprising 84 beds arranged in both individual studios and two bedroom apartment configurations. The property includes a gym, cinema room, games rooms and work rooms for the use of the student residents. The property also includes a retail outlet (a small Morrison's supermarket) on the ground floor which is let on a 15 year lease together with two other retail units. The property is in a prime location 10 minutes' walk from the University of Bristol campus, and walking distance to Cabot Circus and the mainline railway station.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £13.1 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£109 to £210 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
95.5 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
In operation since the commencement of the 2013 academic year (and formally completed in April 2014), Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter) is a purpose-built student accommodation property, comprising 102 beds arranged in both individual studios and two bedroom apartment configurations. The property includes a gym, cinema room, games rooms and work rooms for the use of the student residents. The property also comprises a retail outlet (a small Tesco supermarket) on the ground floor let on a 20 year lease. The property is located only 10 minutes' walk from the University of Exeter and close to the city centre and mainline railway station.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £10.7 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£168 to £193 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
95:5 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
In operation since the commencement of the 2013 academic year, Summit House (Cardiff) was acquired in July 2014 and is an office conversion consisting of bespoke student accommodation, comprising 87 beds arranged in both individual studios and two bedroom apartment configurations. The property includes a gym, cinema room and work rooms for the use of the student residents. The property also benefits from rental income from an antennae lease of roof space and a separate coffee shop on the ground floor. The property is located only 5 minutes' walk from the Cardiff University campus and close to the city centre and mainline railway station.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £12.9 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£183 to £205 per bed per week |
The Brook (Birmingham) was acquired by the Group in July 2014 from a subsidiary of The Mansion Group. The property comprises 106 beds arranged as individual studio apartments. The property includes secure parking and bike storage facilities, communal kitchen and laundry areas. The property, on Bristol Road, Selly Oak, is located within 5 minutes' walk from the University of Birmingham and is adjacent to the Group's Edge Apartments property. Both properties are managed together bringing cost savings from the joint operation.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £10.8 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£145 to £210 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
90:10 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Edge Apartments (Birmingham) is a purpose-built student accommodation property, comprising 77 beds arranged in both individual studios and two bedroom apartment configurations. The property includes a gym, cinema room, games rooms and work rooms for the use of the student residents. The property also benefits from rental income from a Sainsbury's store (which is let on a 15 year lease) and a coffee shop on the ground floor. The property is in a prime location opposite the main University of Birmingham campus in Selly Oak.
| Title | Freehold (50 per cent. interest held by the Group) |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £10.1 million (representing the Group's 50 per cent. interest) |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£148 to £200 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
97:3 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Brunswick House (Southampton) is currently owned on a 50/50 basis between the Company and a Revcap affiliated investment fund. The property comprises a redevelopment of a commercial office block into direct-let, premium student accommodation. The project was completed on a joint venture basis with Revcap under the terms of the Revcap Development Framework Agreement. The property was completed in September 2015 and has 173 beds arranged in both individual studios and one, two and three bedroom apartment configurations. The property includes a gym, cinema room, games room and work rooms for the use of the student residents. The property also benefits from rental income from two commercial tenants with another three retail units available to let. The property is located in central Southampton, close to Southampton Solent University and between the city centre and the University of Southampton.
| Title | Freehold (Scottish) |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £7.5 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£195 to £210 per bed per week |
Centro Court (Aberdeen) was acquired by the Group in September 2014 and is a purpose-built student accommodation property comprising 56 self-contained studio apartments together with bike storage facilities, communal space and laundry areas. The property is located in the city centre, close to Aberdeen College, within walking distance of Aberdeen University and a 10 to 15 minute bus ride from the main campus of Robert Gordon University. The property is also within easy reach of local amenities and transport links.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £9.9 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£135 to £165 per bed per week |
Talbot Studios (Nottingham) was acquired by the Group in September 2014. The scheme, which opened in 2012, comprises 98 self-contained studio apartments together with bike storage facilities and communal laundry area. The property, on Talbot Street, Nottingham, is located close to Nottingham Trent University's main campus (which includes Nottingham Law School) and is a short bus ride to Nottingham University's main University Park and Jubilee campuses. The property is also within easy reach of local amenities and transport links.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £3.9 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£114 to £150 per bed per week |
The property, which was acquired by the Group in October 2014, opened in 2012, and comprises 51 beds arranged in both individual studios and apartment configurations with communal facilities. The property is located within a five minute walk of Cardiff University and close to the Group's Summit House property and the Northgate House property. The Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Part freehold/Part leasehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £4.4 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£123 to £180 per bed per week |
London Road (Southampton) was acquired by the Group in November 2014 and is a purpose-built student accommodation property. The property is located in central Southampton, close to Southampton Solent University and between the city centre and the University of Southampton. It comprises 46 beds arranged in predominantly self-contained studio apartments and a small number of two bed apartments. The property has bike storage facilities and a communal laundry area. The property is in close proximity to the Group's Brunswick House property and both schemes are paired, operationally, with students having access to the Brunswick House communal facilities which enables the Group to share operational costs.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £9.2 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£135 to £168 per bed per week |
Kingsmill Studios (Huddersfield) was acquired in November 2014 and developed by the Group into purpose built student accommodation. This is a 98 bed scheme comprising self-contained studios and two-bed apartments. The property also has a gym and cinema as part of the complex. The property is in a prime location close to the University of Huddersfield.
| Title | Leasehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £10.4 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£124 to £170 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
98:2 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Curzon Point (Hatfield) was acquired by the Group in December 2014. The property is a bespoke student accommodation scheme, comprising 116 en-suite beds and studios with communal facilities. There is also a single retail unit let to Pizza Hut on the ground floor. The property is conveniently located within walking distance of both campuses at the University of Hertfordshire and close to the local amenities.
| Title | Leasehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £4.7 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£219 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
86:14 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Dean Clarke Lofts (Exeter) was acquired by the Group in December 2014 and was converted from a Grade II listed Georgian building to provide 30 loft-style studios featuring mezzanine bedrooms. The property has a single retail unit which is currently let to Cosy Club (Loungers) on the lower ground floor. The property is located close to the Group's Picturehouse Apartments and Library Lofts properties and the Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £8.6 million |
| Weeks let per year | 43 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£98 to £185 per bed per week |
Algernon Firth (Leeds) was acquired by the Group in January 2015 and is a high-quality student accommodation conversion of a Grade II listed building. The property has 111 beds consisting of a mixture of studio flats, duplex flats and en-suite apartments. The property also has communal areas, a gym and a dedicated study area. The property is well located in Leeds city centre adjacent to the teaching hospital. The property is located close to the Group's St. Marks Court property and the Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £6.5 million |
| Weeks let per year | 52 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£130 to £165 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
98:2 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
The Group acquired Northgate House in October 2014. The property is a newly developed purpose built student accommodation property on The Kingsway in Cardiff. The property comprises 67 beds arranged in both individual studios and apartment configurations with communal facilities and two retail units on the ground floor. The property is situated in a prime central Cardiff location within an easy walk of Cardiff University and close to the Group's Summit House property and the Alwyn Court property. The Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £16.2 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£249 to £329 per bed per week |
In operation since 2007, Halsmere Studios (London) was acquired by the Group in February 2015. The property is a high-quality student accommodation conversion and comprises 79 self-contained studios of varying sizes, a student common room and entertainment facilities. The property is centrally located serving multiple universities and close to excellent transport links including the Northern Line. Due to its well placed location the property has the potential to let to non-students which provides the Group with operational flexibility.
| Title | Freehold (Scottish) |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £11.7 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£165 to £250 per bed per week |
The Ballet School (Glasgow) was developed in 2013 and acquired by the Group as an operational student accommodation scheme in March 2015. The development comprises partly the conversion of a B listed building (the former home of the Scottish Ballet) and partly a new build. In all, the property comprises 103 self-contained studios. The property is located immediately adjacent to Willowbank School which is also under development by the Group.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £7.2 million |
| Weeks let per year | 50 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£133 to £156 per bed per week |
St. Mark's Court (Leeds) is a modern, purpose-built student accommodation scheme comprising 85 self-contained studios and was acquired by the Group in March 2015. The property is well located in Leeds city centre and close to the Group's Algernon Firth property. The Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £5.6 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£105 per bed per week |
St Margaret's Flats (Durham) was acquired by the Group in May 2015 and is a purpose built student accommodation property comprising 109 beds. The property is located in the popular Crossgate area, a short distance from the city centre of Durham.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £2.0 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£110 to £114 per bed per week |
CItyBlock 1 (Lancaster) was acquired by the Group alongside the other CityBlock properties in Lancaster in May 2015. The property comprises 30 en-suite bedrooms with shared communal living space and an open-plan kitchen on each floor. The property is situated in the city centre with good transport links to the Lancaster University campus and within walking distance of the University of Cumbria.
commercial rental income
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £6.1 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£110 to £141 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to | 95:5 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
CityBlock 2 (Lancaster) was acquired by the Group alongside the other CityBlock properties in Lancaster in May 2015. The property comprises 77 beds made up of en-suite bedrooms and studios with the use of a shared communal living space and an open-plan kitchen on each floor. In addition the property provides two retail units, both of them let. The property is situated in the city centre with good transport links to the Lancaster University campus and within walking distance of the University of Cumbria.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £8.4 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£115 to £200 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
94:6 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
CityBlock 3 (Lancaster) was acquired by the Group alongside the other CityBlock properties in Lancaster in May 2015. The property comprises 100 beds comprising en-suite bedrooms, studios and en-suite rooms in five townhouses. There is also a ground floor retail unit let to Sainsburys. The property is situated in the city centre with good transport links to the Lancaster University campus and within walking distance of the University of Cumbria.
| CityBlock 1 | CityBlock 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Title | Freehold | Freehold |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £6.3 million | £5.2 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£100 to £150 per bed per week | |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
95:5 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
CityBlock 1 and 2 (Leicester) were acquired by the Group in May 2015. CityBlock 1 provides a total of 98 beds comprising en-suite bedrooms and studios. The property also contains a ground floor retail unit. CityBlock 2 is physically linked to CityBlock 1 and provides a total of 76 beds comprising en-suite bedrooms and studios. It also has two ground floor retail units. The properties are conveniently located in Leicester.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £7.7 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£150 to £210 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
88:12 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Library Lofts (Exeter) was acquired by the Group in May 2015 as a forward commitment investment and became fully operational in September 2015. The property comprises 61 beds and student communal space. The property also has a ground floor office let to a local tenant. The property is well located to the University of Exeter and within five minutes' walk of both Dean Clarke Lofts and Picturehouse Apartments and the Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £8.1 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£127 to £200 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
88:12 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Art School Lofts (Liverpool) was acquired by the Group in June 2015. The property was converted in 2012 from a Grade II listed building and provides a total of 64 beds comprising studios and an apartment. The property also has a fully let commercial space occupied by The Art School Restaurant and ground floor offices which are currently unlet. The property is located close to the University of Liverpool's main city centre campus and in addition is less than 5 minutes' walk from Liverpool John Moores University's Mount Pleasant campus.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £12.6 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£119 to £161 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
89:11 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Maple House (Liverpool) was acquired by the Group in June 2015. The property provides a total of 147 beds comprising en-suite bedrooms and studios. There are also three commercial units on the ground floor let to the Co-op supermarket, Greggs and Café Nero. The property is located close to the University of Liverpool's main city centre campus and in addition is less than 5 minutes' walk from Liverpool John Moores University's Mount Pleasant campus.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £4.2 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£114 to £139 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
84:16 (projected for 2015/16 academic year) |
Chatham Lodge (Liverpool) was acquired by the Group in June 2015. The property provides a total of 50 beds comprising en-suite bedrooms and studios. There is also a retail unit let to Tesco Stores Ltd on the ground floor. The property is located close to the University of Liverpool's main city centre campus and in addition is less than 5 minutes' walk from Liverpool John Moores University's Mount Pleasant campus.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £5.5 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£120 to £141 per bed per week |
Hayward House (Liverpool) was acquired by the Group in June 2015. The property provides a total of 74 beds comprising en-suite bedrooms and studios. The property is located close to the University of Liverpool's main city centre campus and in addition is less than 5 minutes' walk from Liverpool John Moores University's Mount Pleasant campus.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £2.0 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£128 to £205 per bed per week |
The Octagon (Liverpool) was acquired by the Group in June 2015. The property was converted in 2013 from a Grade II listed building and provides a total of 19 beds comprising studios and an apartment. The property is located close to the University of Liverpool's main city centre campus and in addition is less than 5 minutes' walk from Liverpool John Moores University's Mount Pleasant campus.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £2.6 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£105 to £175 per bed per week |
Grove Street Studios (Liverpool) was acquired by the Group in June 2015. The property was converted and refurbished in 2011 and provides a total of 28 beds comprising studios and apartments. The property benefits from planning consent for nine additional studios within the grounds of the scheme. The property is located close to the University of Liverpool's main city centre campus, about a 10 minute walk to the south of the other properties held by the Group.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £5.9 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£90 to £120 per bed per week |
Caledonia Mill (Stoke-on-Trent) was acquired by the Group in June 2015. Completed in 2011, this low-rise, multi storey property provides a total of 120 beds comprising en-suite bedrooms and studios. The property is located close to the University of Keele and Stoke-on-Trent College's Cauldon Campus as well as the main campus of Staffordshire University.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £11.0 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£111 to £150 per bed per week |
Maritime House (Falmouth) was acquired by the Group in August 2015 and comprises 146 self-contained apartments with communal facilities. The Group has acquired the freehold of all the studios however 14 of the studios were sold off prior to acquisition on long leases. The Group has now repurchased 5 of these beds resulting in 137 beds in total under the Group's control. The property is located within a few minutes' walk to the Falmouth University Woodlane campus and the Marine School and just a 10 minute walk from Falmouth town.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £4.6 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£174 to £206 per bed per week |
The Registry (Portsmouth) was acquired by the Group in August 2015 and comprises a student accommodation scheme converted from the former Land Registry building. The property comprises 41 self-contained studio apartments with communal facilities. The property is located in the heart of the Portsmouth University campus between the Student Union and the university's research institute. This well placed location means that it is also close to the harbour and associated transport links, bars and restaurants.
| Title | Leasehold (Scottish) |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £8.1 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£173 to £198 per bed per week |
333 Bath Street (Glasgow) was acquired by the Group in September 2015 and comprises 70 self-contained studios of varying sizes with communal facilities and amenity space. The property is well positioned to provide access to all three of Glasgow's main universities as well as the retail and entertainment centre.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £1.8 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£109 to £145 per bed per week |
Canal Bridge (Bath) was acquired as an operational, direct-let, premium student accommodation property in November 2015. The property was constructed in 2012 and comprises 20 beds in combinations of two, four and six bed flats. The property is located adjacent to Widcombe Wharf in a central location between Bath city centre and the University of Bath campus and is a 15 minute walk to both the University of Bath and Bath College.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £4.5 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£111 per bed per week |
Widcombe Wharf (Bath) was acquired as an operational, direct-let, premium student accommodation property in November 2015. The property was constructed in 2014 and comprises 40 en-suite beds across five eight-bed flats. The property also has a retail unit on a long lease. The property is located adjacent to Canal Bridge in a central location between Bath city centre and the University of Bath campus and is a 15 minute walk to both the University of Bath and Bath College.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £4.3 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£108 per bed per week |
Piccadilly Place (Bath) was acquired as an operational, direct-let, premium student accommodation property in November 2015. The property was constructed in 2012 and comprises two separate buildings with 47 beds in combinations of three, four and five bed flats. The property is conveniently located a short walking distance from Bath College and a short bus ride to the University of Bath campus.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015 | £25.1 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2015/16 academic year |
£160 to £185 per bed per week |
Ayton House (St Andrews) is a 241 bed, premium student accommodation property in St. Andrews, acquired by the Group in December 2015. The property was newly completed for the 2015/2016 academic year and comprises a mixture of studios and 4 and 5-bed en-suite apartments. The property is located in a prominent position in the centre of town within a 10 minute walk to the university.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 88 |
| Acquisition price | £11.0 million |
| Estimated completion date | August 2016 |
The Group exchanged contracts to acquire Claremont Place (Newcastle) in May 2015 as a forward commitment investment with the project coming under the Group's operational control in August 2016. The property has been converted from a Grade II listed building and will comprise 88 selfcontained studios, some with access to garden space. The property is located immediately adjacent to the University of Newcastle.
| Title | Leasehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 78 |
| Acquisition price | £7.7 million |
| Estimated completion date | September 2016 |
The Group entered into an agreement to acquire 1-3 James Street West (Bath) in August 2015 which will be converted into 78 en-suite bedrooms in self-contained apartments with communal facilities. The site will also have a ground floor retail unit being retained by the freeholder, Bath & North East Somerset Council. The site is conveniently located in central Bath and equidistant between the University of Bath and Bath Spa University.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 169 |
| Acquisition price | £25 million |
| Estimated completion date | September 2016 |
The proposed new build development at James House (Bath) will comprise 169 beds in a mix of multi-bed townhouses and self-contained studios with communal facilities. The site is conveniently located in central Bath and equidistant between the University of Bath and Bath Spa University. The Group will benefit from a rental guarantee for the first year of operation.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 63 |
| Acquisition price | £7.4 million |
| Estimated completion date | July 2016 |
The Group entered into an agreement to acquire Metrovick House (Newcastle) in September 2015 which will be converted to student accommodation, with retail units to be arranged over the ground and basement floors. The property will comprise 63 self-contained studio apartments with communal facilities and will increase the Group's presence in Newcastle to 151 beds. The site is located in the city centre within walking distance from the City's two universities.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 314 |
| Acquisition price | £40 million |
| Estimated completion date | August 2016 |
Windsor House (Cardiff) is currently under construction and will comprise 314 beds across a mix of studios and two bed apartments with communal facilities. The site is located directly opposite the Group's existing Summit House property on Windsor Place, and is a ten minute walk from the University of Cardiff. The Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 86 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£8.9 million |
| Total investment to completion | £8.8 million |
| Estimated completion date | June 2016 |
In July 2014 the Group acquired the freehold of the site, part of a listed former cinema building, located on Buccleuch Street, Edinburgh, from the developer. The project is in a sought after location next to the University of Edinburgh. The proposed scheme will provide a mixture of flats and self-contained studios as well as secure cycle storage, common room, cinema room, games room, gym and laundry room.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 77 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£2.7 million |
| Total investment to completion | £6.0 million |
| Estimated completion date | September 2016 |
The Group acquired the freehold of the site in February 2015 and intends to build a direct-let, purpose built student accommodation property comprising 77(2) beds with a mix of room types alongside student communal space to complement the Group's existing Talbot Studios property. The property will also have one retail unit to let.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 123 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£9.3 million |
| Total investment to completion | £13.5 million |
| Estimated completion date | August 2016 |
Spital Court Studios is a new development of 123 studios for student accommodation including communal facilities such as a laundry, gym and cinema room along with a small car park. The property will be located very close to Aberdeen University's main campus and a short walk from the city centre and all of its amenities.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 75 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£3.3 million |
| Total investment to completion | £8.0 million |
| Estimated completion date | August 2016 |
William & Matthew House is currently being developed into a purpose built student accommodation property comprising 75 beds with a mix of room types and communal space. The property is well located within a five minute walk of the University of Bristol's main city campus and within a five minute walk of the Company's College Green property.
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 93 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£1.0 million |
| Total investment to completion | £7.9 million |
| Estimated completion date | August 2017 |
Welsh Baptist Chapel (Manchester) is the former Grade II listed Welsh Baptist Chapel and will be converted into a purpose built student accommodation property comprising a 93 bed scheme with a mix of room types and student communal spaces. The property is located a short walk from both the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University's main city campuses.
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 179 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£4.7 million |
| Total investment to completion | £10.9 million |
| Estimated completion date | August 2016 |
This office conversion was acquired by the Group in May 2015 and will comprise 179 beds across a mix of studios together with communal spaces for students. The property is located within a five minute walk of the main campus of the University of Huddersfield and within a ten minute walk of Kingsmill Studios, another of the Group's properties which began operations in September 2015.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 134 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£4.2 million |
| Total investment to completion | £11.0 million |
| Estimated completion date | June 2016 |
Portobello House (Sheffield) is a forward funded development comprising a 134 bed new-build student accommodation property with communal space. The site is conveniently located close to the University of Sheffield campus and within a ten minute walk to the city centre and Sheffield Hallam University.
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 162 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£9.5 million |
| Total investment to completion | £18.8 million |
| Estimated completion date | September 2016 |
The Frontage (Nottingham) was acquired by the Group in August 2015 and is an office conversion behind a Grade II listed façade. The property will comprise 162 beds within self-contained single and double studios as well as three commercial units let to restaurant tenants. The property is located in the centre of Nottingham within walking distance of Nottingham Trent University and the city's retail and leisure attractions.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 139 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£2.0 million |
| Total investment to completion | £12.2 million |
| Estimated completion date | October 2017 |
The Group currently has permission to develop Bonhay Road (Exeter) into a 139 bed new-build premium student accommodation property. The Group is applying for a revised consent based on a new scheme of 140 bed spaces. The site is located a short distance from the University of Exeter, Exeter College and the city centre and opposite Exeter St David's train station. The property is also located close to the Group's other Exeter properties and the Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 89 |
| Total investment to completion | £9.6 million |
| Estimated completion date | July 2017 |
The Group has exchanged Contracts to acquire 155 George Street (Glasgow) which will be developed into 89 self-contained studios and one two bed apartments. The site is in close proximity to the University of Glasgow and directly opposite Strathclyde University's main John Anderson campus.
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 107 |
| Total investment to completion | £11.0 million |
| Estimated completion date | July 2017 |
The Group has exchanged Contracts to acquire Provincial House (Sheffield) which currently comprises the vacant and listed Provincial House office building. The development will involve the conversion and refurbishment of the entire property into 24 units together with the construction of three new blocks to provide a further 83 units. The site is located in central Sheffield immediately next to the University of Sheffield's North campus.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 178 |
| Valuation as at 31 December 2015(1) |
£5.4 million (representing the Group's 50 per cent. interest) |
| Total Company investment (equity and share of joint venture debt) |
£7.1 million |
| Estimated completion date | July 2017 |
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 31 December 2015.
In August 2014, LCPP acting on behalf of Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, a joint venture development company owned on a 50/50 basis between the Company and a Revcap affiliated investment fund, concluded missives (equivalent to exchange of contracts under English law) with Glasgow City Council (the "Council") in relation to the acquisition of the former Willowbank Primary School, on Willowbank Crescent, Glasgow ("Willowbank") for redevelopment into a direct-let premium student accommodation property.
Due to the original offer to acquire Willowbank having been submitted by LCPP (a company controlled by Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway), and approved by the Council's committee, prior to the establishment and IPO of the Company, the Council required missives to be concluded with LCPP rather than the Company (or a Group company). The property will therefore initially be acquired by LCPP (funded by, and acting on behalf of, Empiric (Glasgow) Limited) and then transferred to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited shortly following acquisition, with no benefit to LCPP. As a condition of concluding missives with LCPP, the Council also required the Company to enter into a guarantee in favour of the Council, pursuant to the terms of which the Company will guarantee the payment and development obligations of LCPP in relation to the Willowbank scheme, in all cases up to an aggregate maximum capped amount of £4 million.
Willowbank Crescent is a super-prime location in the West End of Glasgow situated between the city centre and the University of Glasgow. The project is estimated to be completed in July 2017 in time for the 2017/18 academic year. The property is located immediately adjacent to the Group's existing Ballet School property and the Group intends to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 110 |
| Acquisition price | £1.2 million |
| Estimated completion date | June 2017 |
Framwellgate (Durham) is a 131 bed premium purpose-built student accommodation development. The acquisition of the site is subject to, inter alia, planning consent and is expected to complete by June 2016. The property will comprise groups of four to eighteen en-suite bedrooms together with self-contained studios arranged as townhouses with each having its own communal facilities. It is anticipated that construction work will commence in the second quarter of 2016 and will complement the Group's existing asset in Durham, St Margarets, which is already operational.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 204 |
| Acquisition price | £0.7 million |
| Estimated completion date | September 2017 |
Forthside Way (Stirling) was acquired by the Group in August 2015 and is a premium student accommodation development comprising 204 beds in a mix of studios and apartments. The site is located a short bus ride away from the main campus of the University of Stirling.
The Property Portfolio has been independently valued by CBRE in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Professional Standards (2014). The Valuation Report is set out in Part 6 of this Registration Document and values the Property Portfolio in aggregate at £361,680,000 as at 31 December 2015. Of this, £310,655,000 was attributable to operating assets, an increase of 10.3 per cent. in value compared to the aggregate purchase price of approximately £281,090,000 (net of acquisition costs). The aggregate valuation attributable to the forward commitment, forward funded and development assets that had unconditionally exchanged was £51,025,000, which is based on the progress of the development of the assets to 31 December 2015.
The Valuation Report sets out a description of the investments comprising the Property Portfolio and highlights material points which have been taken into account in the valuations of such properties. The Company affirms that there have been no material changes in the valuation of the investments comprising the Property Portfolio since the date of the Valuation Report and the date of this Registration Document.
The pie charts below illustrate the diversification as between level of study and geographical origin of tenants at the Group's operational properties.
Source: the Company
The private student accommodation sector in the UK continues to undergo a fundamental evolution. Traditionally, students in the UK have been housed in university halls of residence, particularly during their first undergraduate year. These traditional halls typically provide an institutional living experience with a certain level of pastoral care. Second and third year students have generally migrated to the private open market where they are confronted with the multiple challenges of setting up utilities and broadband access and establishing a group with which to share costs and live together, a set-up known as a House in Multiple Occupation ("HMO").
The modern generation of students is increasingly moving towards purpose-built (or converted) student accommodation. Private owned purpose-built accommodation is typically let directly to students ("Direct Let") rather than to the Higher Education Institution ("HEI"). Certain types of private purpose-built accommodation may also have an affiliation with a HEI, whereby the HEI may sanction or approve certain buildings or Direct Let options in its area. The Executive Directors have also seen cases in which a HEI has rented a purpose built accommodation block for a number of years to satisfy demand from increasing student numbers which the HEI is unable to accommodate in their currently owned accommodation. The purpose-built accommodation is typically relatively high density modern student accommodation, providing students with communal space and a conventional studio or flat. This option is typically a professional, institutional investor led and owned development, with a professional management team.
Direct Let removes many of the challenges of the HMO sector, providing almost the simplicity of hotel style accommodation. Typically this has resonated with international students less familiar with the UK, but increasingly second and third year students and postgraduates are also migrating toward the Direct Let option.
The private Direct Let allows landlords to benefit from growing rents, as they provide for annual rental reviews. This ability to respond to the market has led to increasing quality of provision and consistent rental growth. Each individual student generally signs a separate lease with the provider of accommodation and hence the property will typically have a very diverse customer base.
With the significant recent rise in tuition fees for UK students increasing to up to £9,000 a year, the rising student numbers, and the competitive employment market for graduates, it is the Directors' belief that students are increasingly seeking a high quality environment in which to live and maximise their productivity, without the stresses of the traditional HMO.
Taken as a whole, the purpose-built student accommodation sector has shown consistent growth in rents suggesting a considerable supply demand imbalance. The sector stands out when compared to other real estate sectors and general indicators of inflation.
The migration of student occupation from HMOs to purpose-built accommodation provides benefits to a local community. HMOs released from student occupiers eases pressure on private sector housing and brings the property into the council tax net, a benefit local authorities have been eager to exploit especially given the UK-wide housing shortage.
The purpose-built student accommodation sector as a whole has delivered the best rental growth of any UK property sector, growing significantly in excess of RPI.
In general, the UK student accommodation sector has emerged as an asset class in its own right. Factors contributing to the continued growth of this sector include:
Student accommodation yields have remained stable over recent years, as rental growth has been matched by capital appreciation. The sector has therefore outperformed other sectors. Yields though remain in general higher than in other sectors as student accommodation remains a specialist real estate segment with barriers to entry such as scale and access to dedicated operating platforms.
| Lease | Nomination Agreement |
Direct Let | Trend | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime London | 3.75% | 4.50% | 4.75% | |
| Super Prime Regional | 4.25% | 4.75% | 5.50% | |
| Prime Regional | 4.50% | 5.25% | 6.00% | |
| Secondary Regional | 5.00% | 5.75% | 6.75% |
Source: Savills (December 2015)
The sector is increasingly attracting significant levels of institutional capital. The last three years has seen rapidly increasing levels of transactional activity. 2015 was a record year for student accommodation investment with approximately £5.8 billion of gross assets (representing 75,000 beds) sold compared to £2.5 billion in 2014 and £2.0 billion in 2013. (Source: Savills).
Source: Savills (December 2015)
Source: Savills (December 2015)
In 2014/2015, there were 1.70 million full time students in the UK, of which 392,000 (23 per cent.) were international students (Source: HESA). Although a peak in student applicants was experienced in 2010/11, the number of applicants in 2015 reached a new record high (Figure 4). In 2015/16 UCAS placed 532,265 under-graduates into higher education, an increase of 19,895 (3.9 per cent.) over the previous year and the highest number recorded for a single year. Every year since 2008, save for 2012, has seen a new higher education acceptance record being reached in the UK.
Total accepted applicants for the academic year 2015/16 reached a new all-time high of 532,265 applicants
Source: UCAS (2015/2016)
The UK is the second most popular country across the globe for international students. In the 2015/2016 cycle, UK HEI acceptances from other EU countries increased 11.0 per cent. to 29,300 (around 5-6 per cent. of all acceptances). Acceptances from countries outside the EU have also increased in 2015/16, up 1.9 per cent. to 39,250 (around 7-8 per cent. of acceptances) (Source: UCAS).
UK higher education has strengthened its position in an international context. In 2000, the UK had a 10.8 per cent. share of the global market for students studying abroad. By 2011, this had grown to 13.0 per cent. In 2011/2012, it was estimated that international students spent £10.2 billion on tuition fees and living expenses in the UK (Source: JLL). As the Government's international education strategy acknowledges, international students enhance the UK's cultural life and broaden the educational experience of the students they study alongside.
The numbers of international students generally continue to increase in the higher ranked universities and decrease in the lower ranks. This is indicative of an increasing demand for high quality education from international students. These higher ranked universities form the core of the Group's operations and target market.
International students tend to be more sophisticated consumers, typically demanding accommodation with modern amenities, which they can source online and review through social media. Purpose-built accommodation also provides higher levels of safety and security. As international students also pay much higher tuition fees than their UK counterparts, accommodation is proportionately a smaller element of their overall education cost. The Executive Directors believe that this may contribute to the general theme of international students driving demand for higher quality, albeit higher priced, purpose-built accommodation options.
The Government's Department for Business, Innovation and Skills believes it is realistic for the numbers of international students in the UK to grow by 15-20 per cent. over the next five years, and has signalled that there is no cap on the number of students who can come to study in the UK (though visa conditions continue to apply). The Department published a comprehensive paper (in mid-2013) setting out its support for growing international student numbers and its view that there are few sectors in the UK with the capacity to grow and generate export earnings as impressive as that of education.
The supply of suitable student accommodation has failed to keep pace with demand. Universities appear unwilling to develop their own accommodation, instead favouring investment into teaching facilities. This has pushed students increasingly toward the private sector, where students recognise the value of high quality purpose-built accommodation whilst local authorities are starting to restrict the supply of HMOs in certain areas.
The quality of university owned accommodation is generally considered to be fairly basic. An Arcadis study found that of the 325,000 university owned beds only 18 per cent. were classified "as new" with 23 per cent. needing major repair or replacement to continue operating (Figure 6). The estimated cost of renovating this stock (the 23 per cent. of beds) is estimated at £790 million (Source: Arcadis/EC Harris).
Within the 35 top tier university towns and cities targeted by the Company, there are currently approximately 429,000 purpose-built bed spaces, compared to 1.26 million full-time students. This includes all halls of residence and other purpose-built student accommodation assets. In some university towns and cities, this level of purpose-built accommodation even falls short of the total number of first year students (typically comprising 27 per cent. student population in any specific university town or city). Excluding the tranche of first year students, across all university towns and cities shown in Figure 6, 91 per cent. of students do not have access to a purpose-built bed.
(The horizontal black line at 27 per cent. indicates the average proportion of first year students across the cities).
Source: ESP, Savills, HESA for 2013/14 academic year
Outlined below are some of the key Government policies that have had, and are likely to continue to have, a significant effect on the student accommodation market in the UK.
The purpose-built student accommodation sector has delivered steady and rising rental income above inflation rates. The sector has demonstrated superior performance compared to all other real estate sectors – in the period from 1995 to 2014, rental values have tripled, showing almost twice as much growth as that from other real estate sectors.
The student accommodation sector has shown a stable yield profile (Figure 1). Following yield compression in the early to mid-2000s, average yields hit 5.75 per cent. in 2007, rose to 6.4 per cent. in 2009 and are currently trading at net initial yields of approximately 6.0 per cent. in prime regional areas, and at sub 5.0 per cent. in London. As rental values continue to grow, and yield remains constant, asset price inflation is the result. Given the structural imbalance in the sector and the challenges to large scale development in the UK, the Executive Directors believe that the returns in the sector should remain attractive for the medium to longer term.
As an internally managed investment company, the Executive Directors are principally responsible for the management of the Company's investment activities on a day-to-day basis. The principal responsibility of the Board is to promote the long term success of the Company by creating and delivering sustainable shareholder value. The Board leads and provides direction for the Executive Directors by setting the investment objective and investment policy and overseeing its implementation by the Executive Directors.
The Board is responsible for ensuring that an effective system of internal control is maintained and that management maintains an effective risk management and oversight process across the Group, so that growth is delivered in a controlled and sustainable way.
The majority of the Board (including the Chairman) are independent of the Executive Directors and they are responsible for the oversight of the activities and performance of the Executive Directors.
The Directors are as follows:
Baroness Dean is currently a member of the regulated board of Places for People, and was for nine years (2004–2013) a non-executive director at Taylor Wimpey acting as a member of the remuneration, audit and nomination committees at various times. Baroness Dean was also the chairman of the Covent Garden Market Authority (2005–2013), and as chairman led the work to secure the redevelopment of the 57 acre site. Amongst many other activities, Baroness Dean was chairman of the Housing Corporation (now the Homes and Communities Agency), which managed private and public funding in excess of £50 billion in the sector. She was also chairman of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Baroness Dean is currently a non-executive director of the National Air Traffic Services (NATS), and is a member of the remuneration committee and chairman of the employee share trust. Baroness Dean is a member of the Council for Nottingham University (a member of the Russell Group), and holds honorary degrees from ten different universities in the UK. She was a member of the National Committee of Inquiry into the Future of Higher Education – the Dearing Committee, has been a Council member of City University, London, the Open University and the London School of Economics. Baroness Dean was created a Life Peer in 1993 and a member of the Privy Council in 1998.
An architect by training, Paul worked in Hong Kong on the development of the North Island Line of its metro railway system, the MTR. He returned to London in 1986, and worked for Chicago based Skidmore Owings and Merrill, where his clients included Natwest and Hyatt Hotels. Paul also worked as a partner in an architectural practice, The Design Solution, from 1991 with clients including BAA, Westfield, Compass Group and Debenhams. Paul has worked as a property investor since his first purchase, an office building in Lambeth, in 1997. He began working with Tim Attlee in 1999. Their property developments since then have included student, up-market residential, medical and educational turn-key buildings and commercial offices.
After obtaining a degree at King's College, London and post graduate study at the University of Reading, Tim ran an office in Botswana for Knight Frank undertaking all aspects of real estate general practice, but with particular emphasis on institutional investment and development. Since 1988, Tim has worked as a principal in property development and investment businesses, working on a wide range of projects in Botswana and South Africa, many of which were undertaken on behalf of institutional clients. After returning to the UK in 1998, Tim worked on projects across the UK, before establishing a working partnership with Paul Hadaway, his partner in LCPP, in 1999. In 2009, LCPP first targeted the UK student residential market and Tim was jointly responsible for the acquisition, development and management activities of LCPP's student portfolio.
Michael has worked in industry and commerce since 1977, having qualified with Arthur Andersen & Co where he remained until 1981. After three years working in New York and Miami in corporate finance roles, Michael returned to the UK to lead the flotation of CCF Group plc (a provider of technology to the financial services sector), as finance director. CCF was subsequently renamed Quotient plc, and experienced strong growth, organically and through M&A and joint venture activities, across key global markets. The business was subsequently acquired by Misys Group plc. As finance director at Oasis Group plc (a strategic consulting and technology provider), Michael led a proposed UK flotation, which was overtaken by an acquisition by Sybase Inc, a c.US\$1.5bn NASDAQ listed technology provider. In 1996, Michael was also part of a management buy-in team at M-R Group plc (a document services and work flow technology provider) and, after a period of major restructuring and repositioning, this business was also acquired by a major US technology company in 1999. From 1999, Michael focused on opportunities in the property and leisure sectors, including investment in, and an advisory role to, LCPP from its inception.
Stephen is a partner of Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP with responsibility for asset management across its UK investment portfolio and the raising of debt funding requirements for both investment and development projects. Stephen is also a member of the Revcap investment committee. Stephen has 26 years' experience of structuring investment, development and planning deals as a lender and financial equity partner for both commercial and residential projects across market cycles. Stephen was previously Deputy CEO (Commercial Banking & Treasury) at Ahli United Bank (UK) PLC. Stephen is a member of the Association of Property Lenders. As an employee of Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP, Stephen is not considered to be fully independent for the purposes of the Listing Rules.
Jim has worked in industry and commerce since 1985, having qualified at Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co in 1979. He performed the roles of Finance Director and Company Secretary at Minty plc (1987-1989), Creston Land & Estates plc (1989-1995) and NOBO Group plc (1995-1997), before joining Argent Group plc in the same roles. Since 2009, he has been closely involved with the development of King's Cross Central (a joint venture between London & Continental Railways, Australian Super, Hermes Investment Management, DHL Supply Chain and Argent King's Cross Limited Partnership), for which he has been primarily responsible for raising debt for working capital, development and investment. In December 2012, together with other senior Argent personnel, Jim became a member of Argent (Property Development) Services LLP and Argent Investments LLP, which acquired Argent's property investment, development and management. Jim retired from Argent (Property Development) Services LLP on 31 December 2015. In addition to being a non-executive director of the Company he acts as a non-executive director of Tritax Big Box REIT plc (where he chairs the audit committee).
Stuart is a Chartered Surveyor with 35 years of real estate experience, including student accommodation, having been a non-executive director on the board of The Unite Group plc for nine years from 2004. Stuart is currently a non-executive director of ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt Investments Limited, the Senior Independent Director of Metropolitan Housing Trust, Chairman of the Investment Advisory Board for the Diversified Property Fund for Charities, a member of two segregated pension fund investment committees managed by DTZ Investors, a member of the Greenwich Hospital Advisory Board, and a trustee of the Investment Property Forum Educational Trust. Previously, Stuart was Managing Director of Grosvenor Fund Management, an international real estate fund management business. Prior to that, he was Managing Director at Legal and General Property Limited, having started his career at Norwich Union (now Aviva).
The Company also has engaged the services of the following key employees and consultants:
Clint joined the Company as Operations Director in February 2015. From 2001 to 2012, Clint worked as Senior Director of Real Estate for the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity operating a portfolio of 183 Student properties across the United States and Canada. In 2013, Clint joined the London student accommodation operator Nido managing its flagship building, Spitalfields Tower, and led the group to win the UK Student Operator of the Year RESI Award in 2014. Clint has a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University and a Master of Business Administration from Roosevelt University.
After obtaining a geography degree at the University of Nottingham and a post-graduate diploma in Surveying at the University of Reading, Charles was elected a professional member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2006. From 2003 to 2009, Charles worked in the Student Property team at Knight Frank in Birmingham, becoming an Associate in 2008. In 2009, Charles joined specialist student accommodation providers The Mansion Group, as an acquisitions surveyor, becoming head of department in 2013. Charles started working with the Company as a consultant in September 2014.
Andrew is a chartered quantity surveyor, having gained membership to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2009. Andrew joined the construction industry in 1996 and has gained experience on a wide range of construction projects providing quantity surveying services to sub-contractors, main contractors and professional construction consultants. Prior to joining the Company, Andrew specialised in providing technical due diligence services on construction projects to a range of funding institutions, with a focus on project management, project monitoring and risk management from inception to completion.
Martyn obtained a degree in Land Management and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Reading and was elected a professional member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1989. Between 1985 and 1993, Martyn worked for both Debenham Tewson & Chinnocks and Hillier Parker in Los Angeles and London. Since 1994, he has been based in Scotland and has headed up the Scottish development businesses of a number of large property companies (London & Regional Properties, The Unite Group plc and Kenmore Property Group). Since leaving Kenmore in 2008, Martyn has run his own student accommodation advisory business.
The Executive Directors have established a network of contacts in the UK student accommodation sector from which potential investment flows are sourced. This network includes owner/operators, investment funds, developers, property agents and other proprietary real estate contacts.
The Company focuses on acquiring (or developing) assets in towns and cities with high-quality HEIs, an attractive imbalance of supply and demand in existing student accommodation and a student profile (typically with numerous overseas and graduate students) that supports the strategy of targeting higher rental rates.
As referred to in the investment policy, the Company generally targets prime central locations in order to increase the alternative use value of the properties and to limit the risk of obsolescence.
Following initial screening, short listed investment opportunities and projects are subjected to detailed financial, legal and technical due diligence by the Company. Following the successful conclusion of this due diligence process, a formal investment proposal and business plan for the investment is prepared.
All investments are approved by the Board.
In addition to the salaries payable to the Executive Directors pursuant to their service agreements and any bonuses awarded by the Remuneration Committee under the Company's annual bonus scheme, the Company operates a long term incentive plan (the "LTIP") under which the Executive Directors (and any other future employees of the Group) are incentivised by the grant to them of options over Shares. Further details of the LTIP and the share awards granted to the Executive Directors are set out in paragraphs 4.4 and 6 of Part 8 of this Registration Document.
Further details of the Executive Directors' service agreements and the annual bonus scheme are set out in paragraphs 5 and 6 of Part 8 of this Registration Document.
Revcap has been appointed by the Company under the terms of the Investment Support Agreement to provide certain investment support services to the Company in connection with the operation of its business. Under the Investment Support Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Revcap, as consideration for the provision of its services, a fee which shall accrue annually at a rate of 0.2 per cent. of the Net Asset Value (but adjusted to exclude any cash balances held by the Company from time to time), which fee shall be payable in arrears each quarter based on the last published Net Asset Value (calculated before deduction of any accrued fee for that quarter) but subject always to a minimum annual payment of £200,000 and a capped maximum annual payment of £300,000. The Investment Support Agreement and the appointment of Revcap shall continue unless and until terminated by the Company or Revcap giving to the other not less than 12 months' written notice, such notice not to be served before 30 June 2016. The agreement may also be terminated immediately by the Company on the occurrence of certain events.
FIM Capital Limited has been appointed as administrator and company secretary to the Company and its subsidiaries. The Administrator will provide company secretarial functions required by the Companies Act. The Company's statutory records will be maintained at the Company's registered office. In addition, the Administrator will provide certain agreed administration functions to the Company. Under the terms of the Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement, the Administrator is entitled to an administration fee of £30,000 per annum (exclusive of VAT). This fee is subject to review annually. The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement is terminable upon six months' written notice.
Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited has been appointed as depositary to the Company. The Depositary acts as the sole depositary of the Company and is, amongst other things, responsible for: ensuring the Company's cash flows are properly monitored; the safe keeping of the assets of the Group; and the oversight and supervision of the Company (as its own AIFM). Under the terms of the Depositary Agreement, the Depositary is entitled to a depositary fee based on the value of the Company's assets under management subject to a minimum fee of £20,000 per annum and a maximum fee of £40,000 per annum (excluding VAT).
The Company utilises the services of Computershare Investor Services PLC as registrar in relation to the transfer and settlement of Shares. Under the terms of the Registrar Agreement, the Registrar is entitled to an annual maintenance fee of £1.20 per Shareholder account per annum, subject to a minimum fee of £3,000. The Registrar is also entitled to activity fees under the Registrar Agreement. The Registrar Agreement may be terminated on six months' notice, such notice not to expire prior to 30 June 2016.
BDO LLP provides audit services to the Company. The annual report and accounts will be prepared according to the accounting standards laid out under IFRS and in accordance with EPRA's best practice recommendations.
The on-going annual expenses of the Company will be borne by the Company including salaries bonuses and fees paid to the Directors and service providers as detailed in this Part 4, travel, accommodation, printing, audit, finance costs, due diligence and legal fees. All reasonable out-ofpocket expenses of the facilities and lettings managers engaged by the Group, the Administrator, the Registrar and the Directors relating to the Company will also be borne by the Company. The on-going annual expenses of the Company for the period ending 31 December 2016 relative to the Net Asset Value is expected to be approximately 1.55 per cent., however, with the predominantly fixed cost base of the Company, for illustration, if the NAV were to rise by £100 million, this rate would fall to approximately 1.25 per cent.
Stephen Alston, an employee of Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP (an affiliate of Revcap), is a Non-Executive Director of the Company.
Under the terms of the Investment Support Agreement, the Company has engaged Revcap to provide investment support services to the Company. The Company has also entered into the Revcap Development Framework Agreement under which Revcap and the Company have agreed to cooperate through a joint venture to acquire, secure planning, develop and retain as investments suitable properties and sites that can be developed/converted into prime student residential accommodation.
As an interested person, Stephen Alston will not participate in discussions or decisions of the Board, which relate to the Group's arrangements with Revcap and/or investment decisions relating to joint venture projects under the Revcap Development Framework Agreement.
The Takeover Code applies to the Company.
The Board supports high standards of corporate governance and the development of corporate governance policies and procedures in compliance with the requirements of the AIC Code and the relevant provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code.
The Company is a member of the AIC and complies with the principles of good governance contained in the AIC Code (which complements the UK Corporate Governance Code and provides a framework of best practice for listed investment companies) with reference to the AIC Guide. The AIC Code, as explained by the AIC Guide, addresses all the principles set out in the UK Corporate Governance Code as well as setting out additional principles and recommendations on issues that are of specific relevance to the Company as an investment company.
The Company will seek to comply with the recommendations of the AIC Code and the relevant provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code and will disclose any areas of non-compliance in its annual report and accounts.
Furthermore, the Company is a member of EPRA, the real estate body responsible for formulating best practice for the European real estate sector in reporting and accounting.
The Chairman is Baroness Dean.
With the exception of Stephen Alston (who is an employee of Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP) the Board considers each of the Non-Executive Directors (including the Chairman) to be independent for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code. Jim Prower is the Company's Senior Independent Director.
The full Board will meet at least six times a year to consider general matters affecting the Company and otherwise as required. Committee meetings comprising any two or more Directors will meet on an ad hoc basis to consider transactional and related matters concerning the Company's business.
The Board has established Audit, Remuneration and Nominations Committees. These Committees undertake specific activities through delegated authority from the Board. Terms of reference for each Committee have been adopted and will be reviewed on a regular basis by the Board.
The Audit Committee comprises Stephen Alston, Stuart Beevor and Jim Prower (who is Chairman and is considered to have recent and relevant financial experience). The Audit Committee meets at least twice a year. There are likely to be a number of regular attendees at meetings of the Audit Committee, including other members of the Board and the Group's external auditors. The Chairman of the Audit Committee will also meet with external auditors without the Executive Directors present.
The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring that the financial performance of the Group is properly reported and monitored. The Audit Committee reviews the annual and interim accounts, the accounting policies of the Group and key areas of accounting judgment, management information statements, financial announcements, internal control systems, risk management and the continuing appointment of auditors. It also monitors the whistle blowing policy and procedures over fraud and bribery.
Due to its size, structure and the nature of its activities, the Group does not have an internal audit function. The Audit Committee will continue to keep this matter under review.
The Nominations Committee comprises Stephen Alston, Paul Hadaway and Baroness Dean, who is Chairman. The Nominations Committee undertakes an annual review of any succession planning and ensures that the membership and composition of the Board and its Committees are constituted appropriately in light of the requirements of the Group and those of the UK Corporate Governance Code, with the necessary balance of skills and expertise to undertake their roles effectively.
The Remuneration Committee comprises Jim Prower, Baroness Dean and Stuart Beevor, who is Chairman. The Remuneration Committee meets at least once a year to:
The Remuneration Committee has delegated authority to set individual remuneration arrangements for the Executive Directors. In determining remuneration for the Executive Directors, the Committee reviews and agrees: (i) overall market positioning of the remuneration package; (ii) individual base salaries and increases; and (iii) the annual and long-term incentive/bonus arrangements, and sets the relevant targets for performance related schemes. In determining remuneration policy and packages, the Committee has regard to the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Listing Rules and all other relevant codes, laws and regulations.
The Committee also considers and recommends to the Board the content of the Directors' Remuneration Report which will have regard to, and reflect, all relevant legislation.
The fees and other payment arrangements for Non-Executive Directors are matters for consideration by a sub-committee of the Board, consisting of the Chairman and one or more Executive Directors, which makes recommendations to the Board as a whole.
The Company is required to comply with the UKLA Model Code.
The Group has published audited consolidated financial statements for the period from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015 in respect of which the Company's auditor, BDO LLP, Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor, of 55 Baker Street, London W1 7EU, has given an unqualified opinion that the accounts give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group as at 30 June 2015 and its profits for the period then ended, have been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act and have been delivered to Companies House.
The Group has published unaudited financial statements in respect of the financial period from 1 July 2015 to 31 December 2015.
Save for the historical information of the Group from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015 incorporated by reference in paragraph 2 of this Part 5, none of the information in this Registration Document has been audited. Unless otherwise indicated, all unaudited financial information relating to the Group contained in this Registration Document has been sourced, without material adjustment, from the internal accounting records of the Group on a basis consistent with the Company's accounting policies.
The audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for the period from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015, which have been incorporated in this Registration Document by reference, included the information specified in the tables below.
| Audited consolidated financial | |
|---|---|
| statements of the Group | |
| for the period from the | |
| Company's incorporation | |
| to 30 June 2015 | |
| Nature of information | Page no(s) |
| Consolidated statement of Comprehensive Income | 66 |
| Consolidated statement of Financial Position | 67 |
| Consolidated statement of Changes in Equity | 69 |
| Consolidated statement of Cash Flows | 71 |
| Notes to the Financial Statements | 73-93 |
| Report of the Independent Auditor | 62-65 |
| Chairman's Statement | 2-3 |
| Director's Report | 58-60 |
The key audited figures that summarise the Group's financial condition in respect of the period from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015 which have been extracted directly on a straightforward basis without material adjustment from the historical financial information referred to in paragraph 2.1 of this Part 5, are set out in the following table:
| As at or for the | |
|---|---|
| period ended | |
| 30 June 2015 | |
| Total Assets (£'000) | 331,424 |
| Investments (£'000) | 248,153 |
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities (£'000) | 324,242 |
| Net Assets (£'000) | 240,395 |
| Net Asset Value per Share (basic) (sterling pence) | 103.21 |
| Earnings per Share (basic) (sterling pence) | 9.67 |
| Dividends per Share (sterling pence) | 3.00 |
The published audited consolidated financial statements of the Group for the period from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015, which have been incorporated by reference into this Registration Document, include, on the pages specified in the table below, descriptions of the Group's financial condition (in both capital and revenue terms), details of the Group's investment activity and portfolio exposure, and changes in its financial condition for the period from the Company's incorporation to 30 June 2015:
| Audited consolidated | |
|---|---|
| financial statements of | |
| the Group for the period from | |
| the Company's incorporation | |
| to 30 June 2015 | |
| Page no(s) | |
| Chairman's statement | 2-3 |
| Our Business Model | 4-5 |
| Chief Executive's Q&A | 8-10 |
| Chief Investment Officer's Market Update | 12-13 |
| Chief Financial Officer's Review | 16-22 |
| Key Performance Indicators | 24 |
The interim report and unaudited financial statements for the six month period ended 31 December 2015, which have been incorporated into this Registration Document by reference, include the information specified in the table below.
| Interim report and unaudited |
|---|
| financial statements |
| for the six month period |
| ended 31 December 2015 |
| Page no(s) |
| 22 |
| Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 23 |
| Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 24 |
| 26 |
| 27-39 |
| 6-9 |
The key unaudited figures that summarise the Group's financial condition in respect of the six month period from 1 July 2015 to 31 December 2015 (together with comparative data from the six month period from 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2014), which have been extracted directly on a straightforward basis without material adjustment from the historical financial information referred to in paragraph 3.1 of this Part 5, are set out in the following table:
| As at or for the | As at or for the | |
|---|---|---|
| financial period | financial period from | |
| from 1 July 2015 to | 1 July 2014 to | |
| 31 December 2015 | 31 December 2014 | |
| Total Assets (£'000) | 522,639 | 195,610 |
| Investments (£'000) | 356,532 | 110,168 |
| Total Assets less Current Liabilities (£'000) | 508,389 | 184,711 |
| Net Assets (£'000) | 405,896 | 149,074 |
| NAV per Share (basic) (sterling pence) | 105.43 | 99.38 |
| Earnings per Share (basic) (sterling pence) | 4.35 | 3.26 |
| Dividends per Share (basic) (sterling pence) | 3.00 | 2.00 |
The interim report and unaudited financial statements for the six month period ended 31 December 2015, which have been incorporated by reference in this Registration Document, include, on the pages specified in the table below, descriptions of the Group's financial condition (in both capital and revenue terms), details of the Group's investment activity and portfolio exposure, and changes in its financial condition for that period.
Interim report and unaudited financial statements for the six month period ended 31 December 2015 Page no(s) Chairman's Statement 6-9 Executive Directors' Report 10-16
Copies of the Company's annual report and audited accounts and interim report and unaudited financial statements referred to in paragraphs 1 to 3 of this Part 5 are available online at www.empiric.co.uk and are also available for inspection at the address set out on page 163 of this Registration Document.
Where part only of a document is incorporated by reference into this Document, those parts not so incorporated by reference are either not relevant for prospective investors or are covered elsewhere in this Registration Document.
As at 31 December 2015, the Company's cash balance was £147.8 million. Apart from the Group's operating requirements for working capital, these funds are committed to financing the Group's portfolio of assets under development including both the forward funded projects and the Group's share of joint venture development costs, as well as paying for the assets for which the Group has entered into forward commitments.
On 29 February 2016, the Group entered into the amended and restated Canada Life Facility pursuant to which it has secured a further £40 million of debt financing (see paragraph 9.8 of Part 8 of this Registration Document). As a result, the Group currently has approximately £150 million of committed debt financing in place of which £103.25 million is currently drawn (excluding the Group's share of joint venture debt) representing a loan to value ratio of 20.3 per cent., with a weighted average term to maturity of 6.7 years.
The Group, therefore, has sufficient funds to fulfil its current commitments. The Net Proceeds of the Initial Issue and any undrawn debt facilities will be used to fund further acquisitions from the Company's identified pipeline.
VALUATION REPORT
CBRE Limited Henrietta House Henrietta Place London W1G 0NB
Fax +44 (0)20 7182 2001 Switchboard +44 (0)20 7182 2000
| Valuation Report | |
|---|---|
| Report Date | 1 March 2016 |
| Addressee | Empiric Student Property plc (the "Company") 6-8 James Street London W1U 1ED |
| Akur Limited 66 St. James's Street London SW1A 1NE |
|
| In their capacity as Joint Financial Advisor | |
| Jefferies International Limited Vintners Place 68 Upper Thames Street London EC4V 3BJ |
|
| In their capacity as Sponsor, Joint Financial Adviser and Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner |
|
| (together the "Addressees") | |
| The Properties | The properties listed in the Schedule of Capital Values set out below (the "Properties"). |
| Instruction | To value on the basis of Market Value the Properties as at the valuation date in accordance with the instructions of the Company dated 11 February 2016. |
| Valuation Date | 31 December 2015 |
| Capacity of Valuer | External (as defined by the RICS Valuation Professional Standards). We confirm that CBRE Ltd has no financial interest in the Company. |
| Purpose of Valuation | We are instructed to report to the Addressees our opinion as to the value of the Properties as at the Valuation Date for use in connection with the issuance of ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company (the "Shares"), and the admission of the Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on London Stock Exchange plc's Main Market for listed securities (the "Transaction") and the prospectus to be issued by |
the Company in connection with the Transaction (the "Prospectus").
| Market Value | £361,680,000 (THREE HUNDRED AND SIXTY HUNDRED AND EIGHTY THOUSAND POUNDS), exclusive of VAT, as shown in the Schedule of Capital Values set out below. |
ONE MILLION SIX |
|---|---|---|
| For the avoidance of doubt we have valued the Properties individually and no account has been taken of any discount or premium that may be negotiated in the market if all or part of the portfolio was to be marketed simultaneously, either in lots or as a whole. |
||
| We can confirm that there are no negative values to report. | ||
| We have based our opinion of Market Value (as such term is defined under "Assumptions" below) on the assumption that under current legislation the properties would qualify for Multiple Dwellings Relief (MDR). As with all SDLT legislation, this could be subject to change. |
||
| Where a property is owned by way of a joint tenancy in a trust for sale, or through an indirect investment structure, our valuation represents the relevant apportioned percentage of ownership of the value of the whole property, assuming full management control. Our opinion of Market Value is based upon the Scope of Work and Valuation Assumptions attached, and has been primarily derived using comparable recent market transactions on arm's length terms. |
||
| ESMA 130 (vi) | The valuation of the Properties included in the Group's audited consolidated financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2015 was £260,425,000 (being £230,730,000 in relation to investment properties, £18,195,000 in relation to properties in the course of development and £11,500,000 in relation to two properties held in joint ventures). The difference between the Market Value of the Properties at 31 December 2015 and the Market Value of the Properties in the Group's audited consolidated statements for the period ended 30 June 2015 is explained as follows: |
|
| Market Value as at 30 June 2015 | £260,425,000 | |
| Increase in Market Value in Properties held as at 30 June 2015 |
£26,175,000 | |
| Market Value of Additions since 30 June 2015, as at 31 December 2015 |
£75,080,000 | |
| Market Value as at 31 December 2015 | £361,680,000 | |
| Compliance with Valuation Standards |
The valuations have been prepared in accordance with The RICS Valuation – Professional Standards January 2014 (revised April 2015) ("the Red Book"). |
|
| The valuations are compliant with the International Valuation Standards, and are in accordance with paragraphs 128 to 130 of the ESMA update of the Committee of European Securities Regulators' (CESR) recommendations for the consistent implication of the European Commission Regulation (EC) implementing the Prospectus Directive and Rule 5.6.5 of the Prospectus Rules. |
no. 809/2004 |
| We confirm that we have sufficient current local and national knowledge of the particular property market involved, and have the skills and understanding to undertake the valuations competently. |
|
|---|---|
| Where the knowledge and skill requirements of the Red Book have been met in aggregate by more than one valuer within CBRE Ltd ("CBRE"), we confirm that a list of those valuers has been retained within the working papers, together with confirmation that each named valuer complies with the requirements of the Red Book. |
|
| Assumptions | The property details on which each valuation is based are as set out in this report. We have made various assumptions as to tenure, letting, taxation, town planning, and the condition and repair of buildings and sites – including ground and groundwater contamination – as set out below. |
| If any of the information or assumptions on which the valuation is based are subsequently found to be incorrect, the valuation figures may also be incorrect and should be reconsidered. |
|
| Market Conditions | The values stated in this report represent our objective opinion of Market Value in accordance with the definition set out above as of the valuation date. Amongst other things, this assumes that the properties had been properly marketed and that exchange of contracts took place on this date. |
| The valuations of the Company's properties were made as at 31 December 2015 and do not reflect any changes in the properties or market conditions since that date. |
|
| We have reflected in our valuation, as at the valuation date, our opinion of the investment market's perception of potential domestic and international demographic, economic and political trends and risks. Subsequent developments in such matters may impact on the market value of the properties in the future. |
|
| Variation from standard Assumptions |
None. |
| Valuer | The Properties have been valued by a valuer who is qualified for the purpose of the valuation in accordance with the Red Book. |
| Independence | The total fees, including the fee for this assignment, earned by CBRE (or other companies forming part of the same group of companies within the UK) from the Addressees (or other companies forming part of the same group of companies) is less than 5.0% of the total UK revenues. |
| Disclosure | We have provided valuation advice to the Company in respect of the Properties owned by the Company since 31 July 2014 for accounts purposes. |
| We also provided valuations for London Stock Exchange purposes on 11 June 2014, and 29 October 2014. |
|
| We have also provided valuations to Royal Bank of Scotland plc and Canada Life Limited for lending purposes. |
|
We also valued the Properties on acquisition.
Conflicts of Interest It is confirmed that CBRE has previously valued Willowbank, Glasgow and Brunswick House, Southampton for accounting purposes on behalf of Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP. We do not consider that any conflict of interest arises for us in preparing the advice requested by the Company and the Company has confirmed this to us.
We confirm that we do not have any material interest in the Company or any of the Properties. Copies of our conflict of interest checks have been retained within the working papers.
Student accommodation is an income-driven property investment asset class. There are various letting models, including leases to universities, nomination agreements and lettings direct to students ('direct let') through an operator. Student Housing as an Asset Class
Approximately 10% of rooms in the operational portfolio in the 2015/2016 year are subject to some form of nomination agreement.
Schemes are managed by an operator, and rooms in the residences are marketed and let to students who pay rents directly to the operator.
Lettings during term time are usually between 40 and 51 weeks. The length of tenancy will depend upon local market dynamics. There is an opportunity to let rooms during the summer period where there is demand.
Costs of running the properties, including repair, maintenance, on-site staff, broadband, utilities, insurance, marketing and letting administration are borne by the landlord. In addition to the day to running costs, the operator will normally charge a management fee.
The success of direct let student accommodation schemes depends on location (proximity to campus locations, public transport, shops and bars and other locations of interest to students), specification, and the overall level of service provided on site.
Student accommodation has grown significantly in popularity as an investment asset class over the last 5 years, and is experiencing strong demand from investors in the current market conditions to its stable income producing potential and the opportunity to review the rents upward each year.
Valuation Methodology In valuing the properties, we have made key assumptions in respect of matters including, but not limited to, estimated rental values and expected future rental revenues from the property and market-based yields. In respect of development properties additional assumptions include, but are not limited to, the development considered achievable, assumed timescales, assumed future development costs and appropriate finance rates and profit rates.
Such assumptions may prove in future to have been inaccurate, which could negatively affect the valuation of any of the properties.
To arrive at the Market Value of the student schemes we have derived the Market Rent by comparing the passing rent to comparable rental evidence and from this made an allowance for outgoings. We have then capitalised our estimate of net income using net initial yield based on comparable investment transactions, whilst also benchmarking the value per bedspace.
We have inputted our valuation into a ten year cashflow. After making assumptions to rental growth, cost inflation and exit yield we are able to arrive at an indicative IRR we have then used to further benchmark our valuation.
Further explanation of the valuation components is set out below:
We adopt the room mix (number of each type) from the originally provided floorplans and where amended we have relied on the information provided by the Company. We have reviewed and benchmarked against other market rents the proposed advertised rents as provided by the Company. We then apply the rents at which we believe the scheme will achieve full occupancy. Very often these rents are the advertised rents, but occasionally we apply rents which are more or less than these when compared to the wider market.
Our rents for 2016/2017 have been provided by the Company and are based on the rents which are being advertised for the next academic year.
We reflect the tenancy lengths achieved at each property and also local market norms for the type of property.
We have assumed 97 per cent. to 98 per cent. occupancy as we are assuming rents at which the property will sell out.
Where relevant, we will reflect the terms of any nomination agreements for the relevant years in our cash flow.
The majority of the subject properties are let on 51-lettings; therefore there is little summer income potential. However, where relevant we reflect an element of summer income potential.
We have included additional income derived from vending machines and the on-site launderette. Occasionally there may be other items such as parking spaces.
The term time rental income, summer income and additional income together form the gross rental income.
We have estimated the Market Rents based on comparable rental evidence. We have applied the market rents taking into account the macro and micro characteristics such as location of the property
within each town together the size and specification of each room type.
We been provided with running costs information associated with the scheme by the property managers. We have compared these running costs to market levels and adopted a level that represents what a potential purchaser would need to pay to operate the scheme on an individual basis.
The gross rental income minus the management costs are the net rental income.
The key yield driver in our valuations is the net initial yield. We apply the net initial yield derived from comparable transactions to the net rental income. We provide an IRR calculation on our cash flows for illustrative purposes but it is not a key driver.
The student housing sector offers an annual opportunity for rental growth.
We model rental growth at 2-3.5 per cent. per annum. Key considerations in the amount of rental growth applied are the current rental levels, the letting track record at the property, the amount of competing schemes nearby and the degree of supply in the town.
We typically model cost growth of 3 per cent. to 3.5 per cent. per annum. Cost growth may be higher than rental growth in some towns.
Exit is assumed at the end of the 10-year cash flow period. Our exit yield is typically 50 basis points higher than the net initial yield applied. The exit yield is applied to the projected rental income at the end of the cash flow. We apply purchaser's costs and agency fees to the exit value.
Our exit value is included within our cashflow to enable an IRR calculation to be made. The IRR is a useful tool to help further benchmark our valuation but it is less of a valuation driver than the net initial yield or the capital value per bedspace.
We have made allowance in our valuations for purchaser's costs, based on the SDLT rates applicable to UK Real Estate, plus notional allowances for agents' and legal fees. Where appropriate, the SDLT rates adopted reflect Multiple Dwellings Relief.
The Company has confirmed that in the case of Kingsmill, Huddersfield the OpCo/Prop Co structure has recently been collapsed. MDR will therefore now apply to this property.
Some of the schemes have ground floor commercial units. We use Argus software to calculate the values of these units. Typically we apply an appropriate net initial yield to the existing income.
Where a unit is vacant, we capitalise the rental value and allow for a letting void, rent free period and void costs.
Properties held for Development or in the Course of Development have been valued on the Residual (Development Appraisal) Method.
This is the commonly practised method of valuing development property, whereby the estimated total costs of realising the proposed development (including construction costs, fees and other on-costs, contingencies, costs of finance and developer's profit) are deducted from the gross development value of the completed project to determine the residual land value.
Values derived from a Residual Development Appraisal calculation can be extremely sensitive to minor changes in any of the inputs. Whilst we have checked the information provided to us against available sources of information and provided for levels of profit which in our opinion reflect the levels of risk inherent in the projects, unforeseen events such as delays in timing, minor market movements etc. can have a disproportionate effect on the resulting value.
For the development sites, we have calculated the projected Gross Development Values (GDVs) as outlined above. We have allowed for rental growth between now and practical completion.
We have made a profit margin allowance from the GDVs. This is to reflect the fact that if the property were to be sold as a development in progress, a hypothetical purchaser would expect a discount from the stabilised price to reflect a range of factors such as the risk of contractor failure, late completion and letting risk. The quantum of the profit margin depends on the remaining time to completion, and whether the development is on schedule.
In the cases of the developments which are currently under construction (Glasgow, Sheffield, Bristol, Huddersfield Oldfield House, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Nottingham), we have deducted the outstanding development costs (taken from the cost trackers) from the GDV net of the profit margin.
Reliance and Responsibility This report has been prepared for inclusion in the Registration Document and may not be reproduced or used in connection with any other purposes without our prior consent.
Save for any responsibility arising under Prospectus Rule 5.5.3R(2)(f) to any person as and to the extent there provided, to the fullest extent permitted by law we do not assume any responsibility and will not accept any liability to any other person for any loss suffered by any such person as a result of, arising out of, or in accordance with this report or our statement, required by and given solely for the purposes
of complying with Annex I item 23.1 of the Prospectus Directive, consenting to its inclusion in the Registration Document.
For the purposes of Prospectus Rule 5.5.3R(2)(f), CBRE accepts responsibility for the information within this report and declares that it has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this report is, to the best of its knowledge, in accordance with the facts and contains no omission likely to affect its import. This declaration is included in the Registration Document in compliance with Annex I item 1.2 of the Prospectus Directive.
Publication Neither the whole nor any part of our report nor any references thereto may be included in any published document, circular or statement nor published in any way without our prior written approval of the form and context in which it will appear.
Such publication of, or reference to this report will not be permitted unless it contains a sufficient contemporaneous reference to any departure from the Red Book or the incorporation of the special assumptions referred to herein.
Yours faithfully
T: 020 7182 2674 T: 020 7182 2019.
Valuation & Advisory Services T: 020 7182 2000 F: 020 7182 3002 W: www.cbre.co.uk Project Reference: JW/JT/341702. Report Version: 2013 GROUP CERT r4.dotm
For and on behalf of CBRE Ltd For and on behalf of CBRE Ltd
E: [email protected] E: [email protected]
| Address | Freehold £ |
* Long Leasehold £ |
** Short Leasehold £ |
Total £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RBS Portfolio 1 | ||||
| SOUTHAMPTON, London Road Apartments |
3,170,000 | 1,190,000 | 4,360,000 | |
| NOTTINGHAM, Talbot Studios | 9,850,000 | 9,850,000 | ||
| ABERDEEN, Centro Court | 7,500,000 | 7,500,000 | ||
| BIRMINGHAM, Edge Apartments | 10,810,000 | 10,810,000 | ||
| BIRMINGHAM, The Brook | 12,920,000 | 12,920,000 | ||
| EXETER, Picturehouse Apartments | 13,100,000 | 13,100,000 | ||
| CARDIFF, Summit House | 10,720,000 | 10,720,000 | ||
| BRISTOL, College Green | 11,410,000 | 11,410,000 | ||
| RBS Portfolio 1 Total | 68,070,000 | 12,600,000 | 80,670,000 | |
| RBS Portfolio 2 | ||||
| LANCASTER, City Block 1 | 2,020,000 | 2,020,000 | ||
| LANCASTER, City Block 2 | 6,070,000 | 6,070,000 | ||
| LANCASTER, City Block 3 | 8,410,000 | 8,410,000 | ||
| LEICESTER, City Block 1 | 6,260,000 | 6,260,000 | ||
| LEICESTER, City Block 2 | 5,230,000 | 5,230,000 | ||
| DURHAM, St Margaret's Flats | 5,590,000 | 5,590,000 | ||
| RBS Portfolio 2 Total | 33,580,000 | 0 | 33,580,000 | |
| Canada Life Portfolio | ||||
| LEEDS, St Mark's Court | 7,220,000 | 7,220,000 | ||
| GLASGOW, Ballet School | 11,740,000 | 11,740,000 | ||
| CARDIFF, Northgate House | 6,530,000 | 6,530,000 | ||
| LONDON, Halsmere Studios | 16,150,000 | 16,150,000 | ||
| LEEDS, Algernon Firth | 8,620,000 | 8,620,000 | ||
| HATFIELD, Curzon Point | 10,350,000 | 10,350,000 | ||
| CARDIFF, Alwyn Court | 3,940,000 | 3,940,000 | ||
| EXETER, Dean Clarke Lofts | 4,680,000 | 4,680,000 | ||
| Canada Life Portfolio Total | 54,200,000 | 15,030,000 | 69,230,000 |
| Santander Portfolio | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LIVERPOOL, Arts School | 8,050,000 | 8,050,000 | ||
| LIVERPOOL, Maple House | 12,580,000 | 12,580,000 | ||
| LIVERPOOL, Chatham Lodge | 4,190,000 | 4,190,000 | ||
| LIVERPOOL, Hayward House | 5,460,000 | 5,460,000 | ||
| LIVERPOOL, The Octagon | 2,020,000 | 2,020,000 | ||
| STOKE-on-TRENT, Caledonia Mill | 5,870,000 | 5,870,000 | ||
| LIVERPOOL, Grove Street Studios | 2,600,000 | 2,600,000 | ||
| Santander Portfolio Total | 40,770,000 | 0 | 40,770,000 | |
| Other Operational Properties | ||||
| EXETER, Library Lofts | 7,720,000 | 7,720,000 | ||
| FALMOUTH, Maritime Studios | 11,030,000 | 11,030,000 | ||
| GLASGOW, 333 Bath Street | 8,050,000 | 8,050,000 | ||
| PORTSMOUTH, The Registry | 4,610,000 | 4,610,000 | ||
| BATH, Widcombe Wharf | 4,460,000 | 4,460,000 | ||
| BATH, Piccadilly Place | 4,260,000 | 4,260,000 | ||
| BATH, Canal Bridge | 1,830,000 | 1,830,000 | ||
| ST ANDREWS, Ayton House | 25,100,000 | 25,100,000 | ||
| SOUTHAMPTON, Brunswick House (50:50 JV) |
10,115,000 | 10,115,000 | ||
| HUDDERSFIELD, Kingsmill | 9,230,000 | 9,230,000 | ||
| Total Other Operational Properties | 78,355,000 | 8,050,000 | 86,405,000 | |
| Total All Properties Held as Investments |
274,975,000 | 35,680,000 | 310,655,000 | |
| Properties in course of Development | ||||
| Address | Freehold | * Long | ** Short | Total |
| £ | Leasehold | Leasehold | £ | |
| £ | £ | |||
| Sites Held in Forward Funding Structures | ||||
| SHEFFIELD, Portobello Road | 4,220,000 | |||
| NOTTINGHAM, The Frontage | 9,520,000 | |||
| HUDDERSFIELD, Oldgate House | 4,730,000 | |||
| BRISTOL, William & Matthew House | 3,270,000 |
| ABERDEEN, St Peter's Street | 9,300,000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDINBURGH, Buccleuch Street | 8,940,000 | |||
| EXETER, Bonhay Road | 2,000,000 | |||
| MANCHESTER, Baptist Church Site | 1,000,000 | |||
| Directly Owned Sites | ||||
| GLASGOW, Willowbank (50:50 JV) | 5,375,000 | |||
| NOTTINGHAM, 95 Talbot Street | 2,670,000 | |||
| Total | 51,025,000 | 0 | 51,025,000 | |
| Portfolio Total | £326,000,000 | £35,680,000 | £361,680,000 | |
| PORTFOLIO SUMMARY | ||||
| Schedule of Market Values according to tenure | ||||
| Tenure | Freehold | * Long | ** Part | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | Leasehold | Freehold/Part | £ | |
| £ | LLH | |||
| £ |
| 44 Freehold Properties | 322,830,000 | 322,830,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Long Leasehold Properties | 34,490,000 | 34,490,000 | ||
| 1 Part Freehold Part Leasehold Property | 4,360,000 | 4,360,000 | ||
| Portfolio Totals (49 properties) | 361,680,000 |
* more than 50 years unexpired
** 50 years or less unexpired
| Introduction | An Assumption is defined in the Red Book Glossary and Appendix 3 to be a "supposition taken to be true" (an "Assumption"). |
|---|---|
| Assumptions are facts, conditions or situations affecting the subject of, or approach to, a valuation that it has been agreed need not be verified by the valuer as part of the valuation process. Assumptions are made when it is reasonable for the valuer to accept that something is true without the need for specific investigation. |
|
| The Company has confirmed and we confirm that our Assumptions are correct as far as The Company and we, respectively, are aware. In the event that any of these Assumptions prove to be incorrect then our valuations should be reviewed. The principal Assumptions which we have made are stated within this Valuation Report. |
|
| For the avoidance of doubt, the Assumptions made do not affect compliance with the approach to Market Value under the Red Book. |
|
| Sources of Information | We have carried out our work based upon tenancy schedules supplied to us by the Company, as set out within this report, which we have assumed to be correct and comprehensive. |
| For the operational properties, we have been provided with the stabilised costs based on the most recent budgets prepared by the operators. The budgets were adjusted by the Company to account for the mobilisation costs, capital expenditure (where is not part of an operational budget) and inherited from vendors unusually high expenditure relating to utilities, site costs, insurance and technology costs. |
|
| These costs are being currently lowered through efficient management and contract renegotiations. |
|
| We have reviewed information relating to the current letting position of each scheme for 2015/2016. For the development properties, we have reviewed operational budgets where available and the 'cost trackers' provided by the Company, which show the total development costs, costs spent to date and costs outstanding as at 31 December 2015. |
|
| Title and other legal information reflected in our valuation was as supplied to us by the Company's lawyers at the time of acquisition, when CBRE Ltd has provided valuation advice, in each case. |
|
| The Properties | Our report contains a brief summary of the property details on which our valuation has been based. |
| Inspections | We have internally and externally inspected all of the properties between 2 April 2014 and 4 February 2016. The dates when each of the properties was last inspected is listed on the Schedule at Part II 'Property Details'. |
| Areas | We have not measured the Properties but have relied upon the floor areas provided. Where floor areas have been provided for the retail units, these are either on a Gross Internal Basis or Net Internal Basis. |
|---|---|
| Environmental Matters | We have not undertaken, nor are we aware of the content of, any environmental audit or other environmental investigation or soil survey which may have been carried out on the Properties and which may draw attention to any contamination or the possibility of any such contamination. |
| We have not carried out any investigations into the past or present uses of the Properties, nor of any neighbouring land, in order to establish whether there is any potential for contamination and have therefore assumed that none exists. |
|
| Repair and Condition | We have not carried out building surveys, tested services, made independent site investigations, inspected woodwork, exposed parts of the structure which were covered, unexposed or inaccessible, nor arranged for any investigations to be carried out to determine whether or not any deleterious or hazardous materials or techniques have been used, or are present, in any part of the Properties. We are unable, therefore, to give any assurance that the Properties are free from defect. |
| During our inspection, no major defects or serious items of disrepair were noted which would be likely to give rise to a substantial capital expenditure in the foreseeable future or which fall outside the scope of the normal annual maintenance programme. Our valuation is on the basis that there were no defects, items of disrepair or other matters that would materially affect our valuation at the Valuation Date. |
|
| Town Planning | We have not undertaken planning enquiries. We assume the properties comply with all relevant statutory requirements including fire and building regulations. |
| Titles, Tenures and Lettings | Details of title/tenure under which the Properties are held and of lettings to which they are subject are as supplied to us. We have not generally examined nor had access to all the deeds, leases or other documents relating thereto. Where information from deeds, leases or other documents is recorded in this report, it represents our understanding of the relevant documents. We should emphasise, however, that the interpretation of the documents of title (including relevant deeds, leases and planning consents) is the responsibility of your legal adviser. |
| We have not conducted credit enquiries on the financial status of any tenants. We have, however, reflected our general understanding of |
purchasers' likely perceptions of the financial status of tenants.
| Valuation Assumptions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital Values | Each valuation has been prepared on the basis of "Market Value", which is defined as: |
|||
| "The estimated amount for which an asset or liability should exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction after proper marketing and where the parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion." |
||||
| The Properties have been valued in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Prospectus Rules issued by the Financial Conduct Authority and the ESMA update of the CESR recommendations for the consistent implementation of the Commission Regulation (EU) No. 809/2204 implementing the Prospectus Directive. |
||||
| The valuation represents the figure that would appear in a hypothetical contract of sale at the Valuation Date. No adjustment has been made to this figure for any expenses of acquisition or realisation – nor for taxation which might arise in the event of a disposal. |
||||
| No account has been taken of any inter-company leases or arrangements, nor of any mortgages, debentures or other charge. |
||||
| No account has been taken of the availability or otherwise of capital based Government or European Community grants. |
||||
| Net Rental Income 2015/2016 The Net Rental Income for 2015/2016 represents the gross rental income receivable from the property including term time and estimated vacation income receivable from students, additional income streams and income from commercial units, less the annual running costs. |
||||
| The nature of 'direct let' Student Accommodation properties is that there is not one single lease document confirming the Net Rental Income or running costs. Some amounts within the Net Rental Income total need to be estimated or are budgets rather than confirmed actual amounts. We have calculated the Net Rental Income from source data provided to us by the Company, and where appropriate we have relied upon cost budgets provided by third party management companies. The Net Rental Income 2015/2016 therefore represents our best estimate of the Net Rental Income receivable from the properties. |
||||
| The Company has confirmed to us that the Net Rental Income 2015/2016 stated in the Schedule below is an accurate reflection of the actual income receivable. |
||||
| Rental Values 2016/2017 | Rental values 2016/2017 indicated in our report are those which have been adopted by us as appropriate in assessing the capital value and are not necessarily appropriate for other purposes, nor do they necessarily accord with the definition of Market Rent. Rental Values for 2016/2017 are calculated in the same way to the Net |
Rental Income 2015/2016 as set out above.
| The Property | Items of plant and machinery normally considered as landlord's fixtures such as lifts, escalators, air conditioning, central heating and other normal service installations have been treated as an integral part of the building and are included within our valuation. |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Furthermore, a number of items that normally might be regarded as tenant's fixtures and fittings – such as trade appliances, furniture and equipment – as well as soft goods considered necessary to generate the turnover and profit, are included in our valuation of the Property. The vacant possession valuation assumes that Properties are available for sale including all fixtures and fittings. We understand that fixtures, machinery and equipment are either owned, leased or under contract. We have made no adjustment to reflect the net present value of meeting any existing lease contracts in respect of the equipment. Unless stated otherwise within this report, we have assumed that any such leasing costs are reflected in the trading figures supplied to us, and that all trade fixtures and fittings essential to the running of the Property as an operational entity would be capable of transfer as part of a sale of the building, and any necessary third party consents obtained. |
||||||
| All measurements, areas and ages quoted in our report are approximate. |
||||||
| Environmental Matters | that: | In the absence of any information to the contrary, we have assumed | ||||
| (a) | the Properties are not contaminated and are not adversely affected by any existing or proposed environmental law; |
|||||
| (b) | any processes which are carried out on the Properties which are regulated by environmental legislation are properly licensed by the appropriate authorities; |
|||||
| (c) | the Properties possess current Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) as required under the Government's Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, and that they have an energy efficient standard of 'E', or better. We would draw your attention to the fact that the Energy Act 2011 is due to come into force in England and Wales no later than 1 April 2018 (although it may be earlier), and in Scotland, no earlier than April 2015. From such date, it will be unlawful for landlords to rent out a residential or business premise unless they have reached a minimum energy efficient standard – most likely, 'E' – or carried out the maximum package of measures funded under the 'Green Deal' or the Energy Company Obligation (ECO); and |
|||||
| (d) | the Properties are either not subject to flooding risk or, if they are, that sufficient flood defences are in place and that appropriate building insurance could be obtained at a cost that would not materially affect the capital value. |
|||||
| High voltage electrical supply equipment may exist within, or in close proximity of, the Properties. The National Radiological Protection |
Board (NRPB) has advised that there may be a risk, in specified circumstances, to the health of certain categories of people. Public
perception may, therefore, affect marketability and future value of the property. Our valuation reflects our current understanding of the market and we have not made a discount to reflect the presence of this equipment.
Repair and Condition In the absence of any information to the contrary, we have assumed that:
We have otherwise had regard to the age and apparent general condition of the Properties. Comments made in the property details do not purport to express an opinion about, or advise upon, the condition of uninspected parts and should not be taken as making an implied representation or statement about such parts.
Unless stated otherwise within this report, and in the absence of any information to the contrary, we have assumed that:
Title, Tenure, Lettings, Planning, Taxation and Statutory & Local Authority requirements
| Ref No |
Address | Notes on Description and Location | Tenure | Age (conversion No of date) |
Beds | Total Net Income All Uses 2015/ 2016 |
Total Market Rent All Uses 2016/ 2017 |
Total Market Values All Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATIONAL ASSETS | ||||||||
| RBS Portfolio | ||||||||
| 1 | SOUTHAMPTON, London Road Apartments, 40A-42B London Road,SO15 2AG |
The scheme provides a 46-bedroom residence arranged in self-contained studios and twodios. The property occupies first to third floors above two retail units (which are held under separate titles). The scheme was opened in 2012 offering 34 beds and in 2014 was extended to offer an additional 12 studios (8 studios and 2 twodios). Located in Southampton city centre, 0.5 miles from the main shopping centre. Southampton Solent University and University of Southampton campuses are located 0.4 miles to the south east and 1.9 miles to the north of the property, respectively. The property is in a very good location for students attending Southampton Solvent University. The scheme is located close to Brunswick House, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 5 September 2014. |
Part FH/Pt LH | 2012 and 2014 | 46 | £262,328 | £264,514 | £4,360,000 |
| 2 | NOTTINGHAM, Talbot Studios, 116-120 Talbot Street, NG1 5GP |
The property provides 98 self-contained studios located within a modern 4-6 storey building and adjacent Grade II listed refurbished period three-storey building (10 studios) detached building. The buildings share a courtyard. The scheme was completed in 2012. Located in Nottingham city centre close to amenities. The scheme is ideally located 0.3 miles from the main Nottingham Trent City campus and 4.3 miles north east of Clifton campus. The main University of Nottingham campus is situated 1.9 miles to the south west of the scheme. The scheme located across the road from 95 Talbot Street, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 8 September 2014. |
Freehold | 2012 | 98 | £583,537 | £582,149 | £9,850,000 |
| 3 | ABERDEEN, Centro Court, 87 Loch Street, AB25 1DH |
The property consists of a 5 storey purpose built student accommodation scheme which was completed in 2013. It has been finished to a high specification and provides 56 self-contained studios as well as good quality communal space. Located in Aberdeen city centre and close to the city's amenities and main retail parades on George Street and Union Street. The scheme is located 1.5 miles south of the main University of Aberdeen campus and 3 miles north east of the Robert Gordon University campus. Date of last inspection: 22 August 2014. |
Freehold | 2013 | 56 | £426,095 | £451,450 | £7,500,000 |
| 4 | BIRMINGAM, Edge Apartments, 520 Bristol Road, B29 |
The property reached Practical Completion in August 2014 and consists of a purpose built student accommodation scheme providing 64 single studios and 13 en-suite rooms within cluster flats. There are two ground floor retail units, both are currently let. The property is located in Selly Oak, 3 miles south of Birmingham city centre. The University of Birmingham's main campus is located 400m to the north of the scheme. The surrounding area is dominated by the university and the property sits on Selly Oak's high street providing amenities. The scheme is located close to The Brook, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 10 October 2014. |
Freehold | 2014 | 77 | £644,142 | £643,215 | £10,810,000 |
| 5 | BIRMINGHAM, The Brook, 536 Bristol Road, B29 6BD |
A purpose built student accommodation scheme which was constructed in the mid-2000s. There are a total of 106 self-contained studios. A ground floor retail unit has been sold off on a lease expiring on 11 October 3010 at a peppercorn rent. Located in Selly Oak, 3 miles south of Birmingham city centre. The University of Birmingham's main campus is located 400m to the north of the scheme. The surrounding area is dominated by the university and Selly Oak's high street providing amenities. The scheme is located close to Edge Apartments, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 8 July 2014. |
Freehold | mid-2000s | 106 | £556,372 | £798,057 | £12,920,000 |
| 6 | EXETER, Picturehouse Apartments, Sidwell Street, EX4 6PL |
A purpose built student accommodation scheme with a ground floor retail unit completed in 2014. The student accommodation provides 74 studios and 28 en-suite bedrooms in cluster flats. The ground floor retail unit is fully let to Tesco Stores Ltd. Located in Exeter city centre close to the main shopping district and amenities. The main University of Exeter campus is located 0.8 miles north west of the property. The property is in a good location for student accommodation. Date of last inspection: 2 April 2014. |
Freehold | 2014 | 102 | £776,435 | £776,120 | £13,100,000 |
| 7 | CARDIFF, Summit House, 9-10 Windsor Place and 9 Park Place, CF10 3BS |
A student accommodation scheme with a ground floor retail unit. The building was constructed in the 1970s and the upper floors were converted to student accommodation in 2012. A new purpose built extension was also constructed to the rear. The student accommodation provides 65 studios and 22 two bedroom apartments let directly to students. The ground floor retail unit is fully let to a local tenant. Located in Cardiff city centre, close to amenities. Cardiff University campus is located 0.3 miles north west and University of South Wales Cardiff campus is 0.5 miles south of the property. Cardiff Metropolitan University campus is 2.2 miles to the north west. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation. Date of last inspection: 29 September 2014. |
Freehold | 1970s (2012) |
87 | £649,855 | £643,765 | £10,720,000 |
| 8 | BRISTOL, 38A-43 College Green, BS1 5SH |
A student accommodation scheme with three ground floor retail units. Originally an office block constructed in the 1950s. The upper floors were converted to student accommodation in 2011 to provide 48 two bedrooms and 36 single studios. The three ground floor retail units are fully let to WM Morrison and two local tenants. The property is held on a 150 year ground lease commencing 26 August 2010.Located within Bristol city centre, 0.6 miles south west of the main shopping centre and city centre. The main Bristol University and University of West England campuses are situated 0.4 miles north and 4.5 miles north east of the property, respectively. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation. Date of last inspection: 15 October 2014. |
Leasehold | 1950s (2011) |
84 | £684,314 | £699,506 | £11,410,000 |
| 9 | LANCASTER, Cityblock 1, 77-81 Penny Street, LA1 1XN |
The property comprises a single block constructed in 2003. The property provides 30 ensuite bedrooms arranged over four upper floors. There is a single retail unit at ground floor level which is currently vacant. The property is located in Lancaster city centre alongside several restaurants and the main retail pitch. The University of Cumbria is located 0.6 miles south east of the property. The University of Lancaster campus is located 2.5 miles south of the property. Date of last inspection: 13 February 2015. |
Freehold | 2003 | 30 | £100,911 | £107,586 | £2,020,000 |
| 10 | LANCASTER, Cityblock 2, 99-101 Penny Street, LA1 1XA |
The property provides 52 en-suite cluster rooms and 25 studios. In addition the property provides two retail units fronting Penny Street, both of them let. Located in Lancaster city centre adjacent to CityBlock 3 and close to amenities. The University of Cumbria is located 0.5 miles south east of the property. The University of Lancaster campus is located 2.5 miles south of the property. The property is marginally closer to the university campuses than CityBlock 1 but slightly further from the city centre. Date of last inspection: 13 February 2015. |
Freehold | 2004 | 77 | £427,024 | £376,133 | £6,070,000 |
| 11 | LANCASTER, Cityblock 3, 102 Penny Street, LA1 1XN |
A purpose built student accommodation scheme with a ground floor retail unit let to Sainsbury's.The accommodation is arranged in cluster flats of 15 beds per flat on floors first, second and third floor whilst the fourth floor has cluster flat of 12 beds. In addition there are 10 studio rooms. To the rear of the development there are four townhouses with six beds and one townhouse with nine beds. Located in Lancaster city centre adjacent to CityBlock 2 and close to amenities. The University of Cumbria is located 0.5 miles south east of the property. The University of Lancaster campus is located 2.5 miles south of the property. The property is 100m south of CityBlock 1 and marginally closer the university by further from the city centre. Date of last inspection: 13 February 2015. |
Freehold | 2012 | 100 | £536,813 | £524,228 | £8,410,000 |
| 12 | LEICESTER, Cityblock 1, 21-24 Careys Close, LE15 1NS |
CityBlock 1 comprises 91 en suite cluster bedrooms and 7 studios. It is arranged over ground and six upper floors. The properties are situated side by side within Leicester city centre, close to the Highcross Shopping centre and amenities. The scheme is located 0.3 miles north of De Monfort University campus and 1 mile north west of the University of Leicester campus. Date of last inspection: 13 February 2015. |
Freehold | 2009 | 98 | £394,199 | £391,839 | £6,260,000 |
| Total Net Income |
Total Market Rent |
Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ref No |
Address | Notes on Description and Location | Tenure | Age (conversion No of date) |
Beds | All Uses 2015/ 2016 |
All Uses 2016/ 2017 |
Market Values All Uses |
| OPERATIONAL ASSETS | ||||||||
| RBS Portfolio | ||||||||
| 13 | LEICESTER, Cityblock 2, 21-25 Carey Street, LE15 1NS |
CityBlock 2 provides a total of 76 beds comprising 65 en-suite cluster bedrooms arranged over first to fifth floor. There is a nine bedroom cluster flat at first floor and fourteen bed clusters at floors second to fifth. The sixth floor comprises 11 studios. There are two retail units at ground floor level both with a frontage onto Peacock Street. Both units are let. The properties are situated side by side within Leicester city centre, close to the Highcross Shopping centre and amenities. The scheme is located 0.3 miles north of De Monfort University campus and 1 mile north west of the University of Leicester campus. Date of last inspection: 13 February 2015. |
Freehold | 2010 | 76 | £281,592 | £338,804 | £5,230,000 |
| 14 | DURHAM, St Margarets Flats, Crossgate, DH1 4DS |
Originally a purpose built scheme developed by the University. The property comprises non-en-suite rooms arranged mainly in five bed cluster flats. Located in Durham city centre. Surrounding use is predominantly residential with many terraced houses occupied by students. The main Durham University campus is located 0.9 miles south of the property. Several colleges are located between 0.6 miles and 1.1 miles to the east of the scheme. The property is in a good location for student accommodation. Date of last inspection: 27 April 2015. |
Freehold | 1994 | 109 | £421,413 | £365,042 | £5,590,000 |
| Canada Life Portfolio | ||||||||
| 15 | LEEDS, St Mark's Studios, Shay Street, LS6 2QJ |
A purpose built student housing scheme providing larger size studios only. No communal area. Located in Woodhouse, a residential area popular with students, 0.9 miles north of Leeds city centre. The main University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University campuses are located 0.3 and 0.6 miles south of the scheme, respectively. The main attractions, such as Trinity Leeds shopping centre are located 1.1 miles to the south. Date of last inspection: 10 December 2014. |
Freehold | 2009 | 85 | £367,829 | £426,666 | £7,220,000 |
| 16 | GLASGOW, The Ballet School, West Prince's Street, G4 9EE |
Originally home to the Scottish Ballet, the property was converted in 2013. The scheme comprises three separate student accommodation blocks around a landscaped central courtyard. All studios. Located in a well-established student area 1.0 mile north west of Glasgow city centre. The University of Glasgow campus is located 0.4 miles west of the scheme. Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Strathclyde campuses are located slightly further from the scheme 1.0 and 1.4 miles to the south east, respectively. The property is in a good location for the University of Glasgow students. The scheme is adjacent to Willowbank. Date of last inspection: 8 January 2015. |
Freehold | early1900s (2013) |
103 | £327,361 | £751,001 | £11,740,000 |
| 17 | CARDIFF, Northgate House, Kingsway, CF10 3FD |
A student accommodation scheme with two retail units on the ground floor and the lower ground floor. Originally a 1970s office block converted in 2014/2015. The scheme comprises 67 bedspaces (48 studios and 19 en-suite room in 3 and 4-bedroom cluster flats). One retail unit on the ground floor is subject to a long lease at a peppercorn rent and the lower ground unit is let to a local covenant.Located in the heart of Cardiff city centre overlooking Cardiff Castle, 60m from Queen Street, which is one of the main shopping precincts. The scheme is well located for the main campus of the Cardiff University (0.2 miles) and University of South Wales (0.6 miles). Cardiff Metropolitan University campus is 2.0 miles to the north west. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation. Date of last inspection: 13 March 2015. |
Freehold | 1980s (2014/2015) |
67 | £385,440 | £390,907 | £6,530,000 |
| 18 | LONDON, Halsmere Studios, Halsmere Road, SE5 9LN |
The scheme comprises all studios within two detached buildings. Majority of studios were recently refurbished by the Company. Located in Camberwell, south east London within the London Borough of Lambeth within a predominantly residential area. Several London universities are easily accessible from the property; Kings College London, Denmark Hill campus is 1.0 mile to the south east; University of the Arts London, Camberwell College of Arts is 1.3 miles to the east; University of London, Goldsmiths University of London is 3.6 miles to the south east; and London South Bank University is located 2.5 miles north. Central London is located 3.7 miles from the scheme with the closest underground station, Oval, situated 1.0 mile from the property. Date of last inspection: 16 December 2014. |
Freehold | 1930s and 2000s |
79 | £236,748 | £889,443 | £16,150,000 |
| 19 | LEEDS, Algernon Firth, Thornsby place, LS1 3EX |
The building is considered to be one of the most remarkable inter-war buildings in Leeds. Grade II listed. Originally part of the Infirmary the building was converted in 2014. It provides 26 studios and 85 en-suite room is cluster flats. Located in the city centre and adjacent to Leeds General Infirmary. The University of Leeds School of Medicine is 0.4 miles from the property, on the hospital site. The main campuses of University of Leeds and Leeds Beckett University are located 0.4 miles to the north and north east of the property. Date of last inspection: 10 December 2014. |
Freehold | 1930s (2014) |
111 | £494,462 | £505,297 | £8,620,000 |
| 20 | HATFIELD, Curzon Point, The Common, Herts AL10 0LU |
Purpose built with a retail unit on the ground floor which is let as a take away shop. Accommodation in two blocks providing 3 studios and 113 en-suite room in cluster flats. Located in Hatfield town centre close to its associated shops, restaurants, a large supermarket and take away units. The University of Hertfordshire has two university campuses, both accessible by foot from the scheme and located 0.7 and 0.9 miles from the property. The Galleria outlet shopping centre is located 0.5 miles to the west of the property. Date of last inspection: 9 October 2014. |
Leasehold | 2013 | 116 | £613,835 | £615,493 | £10,350,000 |
| 21 | CARDIFF, Alwyn Court, Cranbrook Street, CF24 4BF |
The property comprises a student housing scheme of 51 bedspaces (24 studios and 27 beds in 3 and 4 bed cluster flats). The property was new for September 2012. Located in Cathays, which is an area dominated by the Cardiff University, close to amenities of the city centre. Cardiff University's main campus is ideally located 0.2 miles to the west of the property. The University of South Wales is located 0.6 miles south of the property and Cardiff Metropolitan University is located 2.3 miles to the north west. Date of last inspection: 13 March 2015. |
Freehold | 2012 | 51 | £230,039 | £237,065 | £3,940,000 |
| 22 | EXETER, Dean Clarke Lofts, Southernhay Gardens, EX1 1PQ |
Previously part of a hospital the building was converted in 2012 to provide 30 spacious studios and a ground floor restaurant, which is let. Property is Grade II listed. The property is located towards the south of Exeter city centre close to Exeter Cathedral and the main high street. The University of Exeter campus is 1.1 miles north of the property. Date of last inspection: 7 November 2014. |
Leasehold | 1742 (2012) |
30 | £304,542 | £287,295 | £4,680,000 |
| Santander Portfolio | ||||||||
| 23 | LIVERPOOL, Arts School Lofts, 2A Myrtle Street, L7 7DP |
Previously part of an Art School the building is Grade II listed. It was converted to provide 64 bedspaces, including 60 studios. There are two retail units, both are let, and ground floor offices which are currently unlet. Located in prime location for student housing in Liverpool, on the edge of the Liverpool University campus. Liverpool John Moores University are situated 0.2 miles north and north west of the scheme. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is located 0.3 miles south west of the scheme and Liverpool Hope University is located 3.5 miles to the east. The scheme is adjacent to Maple House, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 30 April 2015. |
Freehold | 1888 (2012) |
64 | £520,904 | £483,789 | £8,050,000 |
| 24 | LIVERPOOL, Maple House, Caledonia Street, L7 7DX |
Purpose built in 2012 to provide 9 studios and 138 en-suite rooms. There are three retail units, all let (Co-op convenience store, Cafe Nero and Greggs). Located in prime location for student housing in Liverpool, on the edge of the Liverpool University campus. Liverpool John Moores University are situated 0.2 miles north and north west of the scheme. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is located 0.3 miles south west of the scheme and Liverpool Hope University is located 3.5 miles to the east. The scheme is adjacent to Arts School Lofts, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 30 April 2015. |
Freehold | 2012 | 147 | £834,088 | £780,325 | £12,580,000 |
| 25 | LIVERPOOL, Chatham Lodge 24 Myrtle Street, L7 7DP |
Purpose built in 2010 to provide 50 beds, including 3 studios. One retail unit is let to Tesco Stores Ltd. Located in a prime location for student housing in Liverpool, on the edge of the Liverpool University campus and in the south eastern edge of the city centre. Liverpool John Moores University are situated 0.2 miles north and north west of the scheme. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is located 0.3 miles south west of the scheme and Liverpool Hope University is located 3.5 miles to the east. The scheme is located within a short walk from Maple House, owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 30 April 2015. |
Freehold | 2010 | 50 | £262,158 | £269,046 | £4,190,000 |
| 26 | LIVERPOOL, Hayward House, 117 Grove Street, L7 7AD |
Purpose built in 2013 comprising 74 bedspaces; 8 studios and 22 3-bed clusters. Located in a prime location for student housing in Liverpool, on the edge of the Liverpool University campus and in the south eastern edge of the city centre. Liverpool John Moores University are situated 0.2 miles north and north west of the scheme. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is located 0.3 miles south west of the scheme and Liverpool Hope University is located 3.5 miles to the east. The property is adjacent to The Octagon, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 30 April 2015. |
Freehold | 2013 | 74 | £348,753 | £338,714 | £5,460,000 |
| Ref No |
Address | Notes on Description and Location | Tenure | Age (conversion No of date) |
Beds | Total Net Income All Uses 2015/ 2016 |
Total Market Rent All Uses 2016/ 2017 |
Total Market Values All Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPERATIONAL ASSETS | ||||||||
| 27 | LIVERPOOL, The Octagon, 117 Grove Street, L7 7AD |
A Grade II listed building converted in 2013 into 17 studios and one 2-bedroom flat. Located in a prime location for student housing in Liverpool, on the edge of the Liverpool University campus and in the south eastern edge of the city centre. Liverpool John Moores University are situated 0.2 miles north and north west of the scheme. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is located 0.3 miles south west of the scheme and Liverpool Hope University is located 3.5 miles to the east. The property is adjacent to Hayward House, also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 30 April 2015. |
Freehold | 1880s (2013) |
19 | £133,650 | £127,536 | £2,020,000 |
| 28 | STOKE-ON-TRENT, Caledonia Mills, Caledonia Road, ST4 2DN |
The scheme comprises 6 studios and 114 en-suite rooms in cluster flats. There is a central courtyard. Located 1.0 mile north of Stoke city centre in a mainly residential area. The main University of Staffordshire Stoke campus is 0.5 miles south east of the property and the University of Keele campus is 3.5 miles to the west. The Potteries Shopping Centre in Hanley is 1.2 miles north of the scheme. Date of last inspection: 30 April 2015. |
Freehold | 2011 | 120 | £422,315 | £375,386 | £5,870,000 |
| 29 | LIVERPOOL, Grove Street Studios, Grove Street, L7 7BA |
A 1960s residential block converted into a student housing in 2011. Comprises 20 studios and four 2-bed flats (non-en-suite rooms). Planning permission in place to extend for an additional 12 bedspaces. The property is located on the south eastern edge of the city centre, known as Edgehill, 1.2 miles from the main shopping centre and city centre attractions. The University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University are situated 0.3 miles north and 0.6 miles north west of the scheme, respectively. Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts is located 0.6 miles west of the scheme and Liverpool Hope University is located 3.2 miles to the east. The scheme is located a short walk from The Octagon and Hayward House. Date of last inspection: 30 April 2015. |
Freehold | mid-1960s (2011) |
28 | £179,626 | £166,514 | £2,600,000 |
| Other Assets Portfolio | ||||||||
| 30 | EXETER, Library Lofts, Castle Street, EX4 3PU |
A former Exeter City Library built in 1931, it was converted in 2015 to provide 61 bedspaces; 27 studios and 17 2-bedroom flats. There is a ground floor office currently let to a local covenant. Located in Exeter city centre, close to Exeter Castle and 110m from the main high street and associated retail and leisure amenities. The University of Exeter is 0.7 miles north of the scheme. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation in Exeter. Date of last inspection: 27 April 2015. |
Freehold | 1930 (2015) |
61 | £456,296 | £482,118 | £7,720,000 |
| 31 | FALMOUTH, Maritime Studios,Penndenis Rise, TR11 4FB |
A purpose built six-storey building provides 146 studios. Nine studios were sold off on long leases to private investors. All studios have balconies. Attractive communal area with sea views. The property is located 0.7 miles east of Falmouth town centre and its amenities. The scheme is adjacent to Falmouth Dock train station which provides direct connection to the Penryn Campus located 4.0 miles to the north west. The Falmouth University Woodlane campus is located 1.0 mile. Date of last inspection: 23 July 2015. |
Freehold | 2008 | 137 | £559,484 | £701,829 | £11,030,000 |
| 32 | GLASGOW, 333 Bath Street, G2 4E4 |
A former office building converted into student housing in 2015. It provides 70 studios. Located between the West End and city centre of Glasgow. The scheme is located between the various universities in Glasgow; the University of Glasgow is located 1.0 mile to the north west and Glasgow School of Art, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of Strathclyde are located 0.2 miles, 0.5 miles, 0.8 miles and 0.9 miles to the east, respectively. George Square and the main Buchanan Shopping Centre are located 0.8 miles east of the property. Date of last inspection: 15 May 2015. |
Leasehold | 1980s (2015) |
70 | £333,509 | £521,433 | £8,050,000 |
| 33 | PORTSMOUTH, The Registry, St Michael Road, PO1 2EE |
A former Land Registry building converted into a student housing scheme in 2015. It provides 41 studios. Located in the city centre, within the main University of Portsmouth campus and surrounded by university buildings. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation in Portsmouth. The scheme is 0.6 miles to the east of Gunwharf Quays Designer Outlet and associated amenities. Date of last inspection: 15 June 2015. |
Freehold | late-1800s (2015) |
41 | £295,958 | £296,349 | £4,610,000 |
| 34 | BATH, Widcombe Wharf, Widcombe Hill, BA2 6AA |
Constructed in 2014 the scheme provides 5 flats of 8 en-suite rooms. The ground floor retail unit was sold off on a long leasehold at peppercorn. Located close to the city centre and 0.4 miles from the main shopping district. The University of Bath is located 1.2 miles to the east of the property and Bath Spa University is located 4.2 miles to the west. The property is in a good location for student accommodation. The scheme is adjacent to Canal Bridge student accommodation scheme also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 7 September 2015. |
Freehold | 2014 | 40 | £217,574 | £254,400 | £4,460,000 |
| 35 | BATH, Piccadilly Place, London Road, BA1 6PL |
The scheme provides 47 bedspaces in 11 cluster flats of non-en-suite rooms. Located to the north of Bath city centre, 1.2 miles from the main shopping district. The University of Bath is located 1.7 miles to the south east of the scheme and Bath Spa University is located 4.7 miles to the west. The scheme is located very close to Norland College. Date of last inspection: 7 September 2015. |
Freehold | 2012 | 47 | £240,706 | £250,980 | £4,260,000 |
| 36 | BATH, Canal Bridge, Widcombe Wharf, BA2 6AA |
Constructed in 2012 it provides 20 beds in 5 shared bathroom cluster flats. Located in Bath city centre, 0.4 miles from the main shopping district. The property is adjacent to Widcombe Wharf student accommodation scheme also owned by the Company. The University of Bath is located 1.2 miles to the east of the property and Bath Spa University is located 4.7 miles to the west. The property is in a good location for student accommodation in Bath. Date of last inspection: 7 September 2015. |
Freehold | 2012 | 20 | £91,719 | £106,800 | £1,830,000 |
| 37 | ST ANDREWS, Ayton House, Abbey Walk, KY16 9BF |
The scheme provides 127 studios and 114 en-suite rooms.The property is located to the south east of St Andrews town centre, 0.3 miles from the main retail and leisure amenities. The coast and beach are located 0.2 miles to the east. The University of St Andrews is located 0.5 miles to the north of the property. Date of last inspection: 2 December 2015. |
Freehold | 2015 | 241 £1,453,764 £1,414,493 | £25,100,000 | ||
| 38 | SOUTHAMPTON, Brunswick House, Brunswick Place, SO15 2AP (JV) |
Originally a 13 storey 1970s office block with four retail units on the ground floor. Converted in 2015 it provides 140 studios and 33 en-suite rooms in 15 cluster flats.One retail unit is let to a local tenant, remaining three are vacant on the market to let. Addtionally, there is a telecom income from Cable & Wireless. Located in Southampton city centre, 0.3 miles north of the main shopping centre and amenities. Southampton Solent University is located 0.2 miles to the south east of the scheme and the main University of Southampton campus is located 2.0 miles to the north. The property is in a prime student accommodation location for Southampton Solent University students. The scheme located close to London Road Apartments student accommodation scheme owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 16 May 2014. |
Freehold | 1980s (2015) |
173 £1,026,487 £1,231,201 | £10,115,000 | ||
| 39 | HUDDERSFIELD, Kingsmill Studios, King's Mill Lane, HD13AU |
The scheme was purpose built in 2015 and comprises 98 bedspaces in 90 studios and four 2-bed apartments. Located to the south east of the city centre, 0.4 miles from the main retail pitch. The scheme is located 0.2 miles to the south of the University of Huddersfield campus. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation in Huddersfield. Date of last inspection: 3 February 2016. |
Freehold | 2015 | 98 | £574,799 | £578,696 | £9,230,000 |
| Sub Total (Operational Assets) |
3,218 £17,657,078 £19,445,184 | £310,655,000 |
| Ref No |
Address | Notes on Description and Location | Tenure | Age (conversion No of |
Total Net Income All Uses 2015/ |
Total Market Rent All Uses 2016/ |
Total Market Values All |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| date) | Beds | 2016 | 2017 | Uses | ||||
| SITES HELD IN FORWARD FUNDING STRUCTURES |
Date of PC (age, if conversion) |
|||||||
| 40 | SHEFFIELD, 145-147 Portobello Street, S1 4DX |
A former office building is being developed to provide 134 studios. Located in the north west of Sheffield city centre and close to amenities. The property is located opposite the University of Sheffield campus and 0.5 miles east of the Students' Union. Sheffield Hallam University's City campus is located 0.6 miles south east of the scheme. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation in Sheffield. Date of last inspection: 13 April 2015. |
Freehold | 2016 (1980s) |
134 | N/A | £790,575 | £4,220,000 |
| 41 | NOTTINGHAM, The Frontage, Queen Street,NG1 2BL |
Previously an 1980s office building behind a listed facade with three leisure/retaurant units, which are all let. A student housing scheme will provide 142 studios and 10 twodios. Extensive communal areas on the lower ground floor. Located in the very heart of Nottingham city centre, adjacent to Old Market Square. Nottingham Trent University City campus is located around the city centre, with the main buildings located 0.1 miles to the north of the property. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation in Nottingham. The property is also located in a good retail pitch. Date of last inspection: 7 July 2015. |
Freehold | 2016 (1980s behind a listed 1890s façade) |
162 | N/A £1,271,333 | £9,520,000 | |
| 42 | HUDDERSFIELD, Oldgate House, 2 Oldgate, HD16QF |
A former office building is being converted into a student housing scheme providing 179 studios. Located in the very centre of Huddersfield town centre, 75 m from the main shopping centre. The University of Huddersfield campus is 0.3 miles to the south of the scheme. Date of last inspection: 15 May 2015. |
Freehold | 2016 (1970s) |
179 | N/A | £893,183 | £4,730,000 |
| 43 | BRISTOL, William & Matthew House, Colston Street, BS1 5AE |
Two adjacent former office buildings (one Grade II Listed) are being converted into a Student housing scheme providing 66 studios and 3 three-bedroom cluster flats. Located in the Bristol city centre, 0.3 miles from the main shopping centre, restaurants and leisure facilities. The University of Bristol campus is situated 0.2 miles to the north west of the property. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation in Bristol. The scheme is located close to College Green student accommodation scheme also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 20 April 2015. |
Freehold | 2016 (1900s and 1980s) |
75 | N/A | £545,581 | £3,270,000 |
| 44 | ABERDEEN, Spital Court Studios, St Peter's Street, AB24 3HU |
The Student housing scheme will provide 123 studios. Located to the north of Aberdeen city centre and 0.7 miles from the city centre amenities. The University of Aberdeen is located 0.5 miles to the north of the scheme. Date of last inspection: 15 April 2015. |
Freehold | 2016 | 123 | N/A | £944,415 | £9,300,000 |
| 45 | EDINBURGH, former Odeon Cinema Site, Buccleuch Street, EH8 9JH |
The scheme will provide 66 studios and 20 en-suite rooms. Located to the south of Edinburgh city centre, on the edge of the University of Edinburgh campus. The property is in a prime location for student accommodation in Edinburgh. Date of last inspection: 20 June 2015. |
Freehold | 2016 | 86 | N/A | £674,968 | £8,940,000 |
| 46 | EXETER, Bonhay Road, EX4 4GB |
A site to be cleared. Current planning permission for a development of 139 bedspaces in townhouses and en-suites. The Company is applying for a revised consent based on a new scheme of 140 bedspaces. Located north of Exeter city centre 0.7 miles from the main restaurant, retail and leisure offering. The University of Exeter is located 0.7 miles north east of the property. Date of last inspection: 4 February 2016. |
Freehold | 2017 | 139 | N/A | £763,574 | £2,000,000 |
| 47 | MANCHESTER, Welsh Baptist Chapel, Upper Brook Street, M13 9AJ |
A development will comprise 93 studios within the shell of the existing Grade II* listed chapel and in a new building. Located to the south of Manchester city centre (1.0 mile). The scheme is in the prime location, opposite the main University of Manchester campus. Royal Northern College of Music and Manchester Metropolitan University campuses are 0.3 miles and 0.4 miles from the property, respectively. Date of last inspection: 22 January 2016. |
Freehold | 2017 (1830s) |
93 | N/A | £647,819 | £1,000,000 |
| DIRECTLY OWNED SITES | ||||||||
| 48 | GLASGOW, Willowbank, Willowbank Crescent, G3 6NB (JV) |
A development of a student housing within a Grade C listed period building and new built buildings. The scheme will comprise 178 bedspaces; 121 studios and 57 en-suite rooms. Located to the north west of Glasgow city centre, 1.2 miles from the Buchanan Galleries shopping centre and George Square. The University of Glasgow is located 0.5 miles to the west of the scheme. Glasgow School of Art, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow Caledonian University and University of Strathclyde are located 0.5 miles, 0.9 miles, 1.2 miles and 1.5 miles to the east of the property, respectively. The scheme is adjacent to The Ballet School student accommodation scheme also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 20 June 2014. |
Freehold | 2016 (c1900) |
178 | N/A £1,162,221 | £5,375,000 | |
| 49 | NOTTINGHAM, 95 Talbot Street, NG1 5GN |
A development of a cleared site to provide 48 studios, 29 en-suite rooms in cluster flats and two retail units. Located to the west of Nottingham city centre (0.4 miles). The scheme is 0.3 miles from the main Nottingham Trent City campus and 4.1 miles north east of Clifton campus. The main University of Nottingham campus is situated 1.9 miles to the south west of the scheme. The property is in a very good location for students at Nottingham Trent University. The scheme is located across the road from Talbot Studios which is also owned by the Company. Date of last inspection: 10 February 2015. |
Freehold | 2016 | 77 | N/A | £443,173 | £2,670,000 |
| Sub Total (Properties in course of development) |
1,246 | £0 | £8,136,842 | £51,025,000 | ||||
| Total All Properties | 4,469 £17,657,078 £27,852,027 | £361,680,000 |
The principal advantage of REIT status is that the Group will be exempt from UK corporation tax on both rental profits and chargeable gains on disposals of properties held by the Property Rental Business. This will remove the effective double tax charge currently suffered by many investors in UK companies (see paragraph 2.1 of this Part 7 for more information).
The principal disadvantages of REIT status are as follows:
Overall, the Board believes that the advantage of REIT status outweighs the disadvantages
The Group will have to meet a minimum distribution test for each accounting period that it is a REIT. This minimum distribution test requires the Company to distribute 90 per cent. of the income profits (broadly, calculated using normal UK tax rules) of the Property Rental Business for each accounting period. The Board believes that the Company's dividend policy will enable the Group to meet this minimum distribution requirement.
Under the REIT Regime, a tax charge may be levied on the Group if the Company makes a distribution to a Substantial Shareholder, unless the Company has taken "reasonable steps" to avoid such a distribution being paid. This tax charge may be imposed only if, after joining the REIT regime, the Company pays a dividend in respect of a Substantial Shareholding and the dividend is paid to a person who is a Substantial Shareholder. The charge is not triggered merely because a Shareholder is a Substantial Shareholder, or if the person beneficially entitled to the dividend is a Substantial Shareholder. The amount of the charge is calculated by reference to the whole dividend paid to the Substantial Shareholder, and not just that part of the dividend attributable to Shares held by the Substantial Shareholder in excess of 10 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital.
A summary of the Articles is set out at paragraph 7 of Part 8 and the relevant provisions intended to give the Board the powers it needs to demonstrate to HMRC that "reasonable steps" have been taken to avoid making distributions to Substantial Shareholders are set out in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Part 7.
As mentioned below in paragraph 1.6 of this Part 7, the Company must not be a close company other than only by virtue of having as a participator an institutional investor. An institutional investor includes the trustee or manager of an authorised unit trust (or overseas equivalent) or a pension scheme, an insurance company, a charity, a limited partnership, a registered social landlord or an open-ended investment company. However the Company may be close for tax purposes for up to three years after joining the regime. If the non-close company requirement is not met at the start of the first day after the end of the first three-year period, the Group will lose its REIT status at the end of the three-year period. If the non-close company requirement is not met at any time after the first day following the first three-year period, the Group will cease to be a REIT at the end of the accounting period preceding the accounting period in which the breach began or, if later, the end of the first three-year period. Loss of REIT status would have a material impact on the Group because of the loss of tax benefits conferred by the REIT regime.
Although the Board does not expect the close company condition to be breached in the ordinary course of events, there is a risk that the Company may fail to meet this condition for reasons beyond its control. However, under certain circumstances a breach of this condition may be disregarded if the reason for the breach is because the Company becomes a member of another group REIT or if the breach is the result of anything done (or not done) by a person other than the Company and the Company remedies the breach before the end of the accounting period after that in which the breach began.
The Company can give notice to HMRC at any time that it wants the Group to leave the REIT regime. The Board retains the right to decide to exit the REIT regime at any time in the future without the consent of Shareholders if it considers this to be in the best interests of the Group and the Shareholders.
If the Group voluntarily leaves the REIT regime within ten years of joining and disposes of any property or other asset that was involved in its qualifying Property Rental Business within two years of leaving, any uplift in the base cost of any property held by the Group as a result of the deemed disposal on entry into the REIT regime, movement into the ringfence or exit from the REIT regime would be disregarded in calculating the gain or loss on the disposal. It is important to note that the Company cannot guarantee continued compliance with all of the REIT conditions and that the REIT regime may cease to apply in some circumstances. HMRC may require the Group to exit the REIT regime if:
The Group may lose its status as a REIT from the first day of joining the REIT regime if during the first accounting period certain conditions have not been met. In such circumstances the REIT status may not apply for the whole period.
In addition, the Group would automatically lose REIT status if any of the following were to occur:
Future changes in legislation may cause the Group to lose its REIT status.
If the Group is required to leave the REIT regime within 10 years of joining, HMRC has wide powers to direct how the Group should be taxed, including in relation to the date on which the Group is treated as exiting the REIT regime.
Shareholders should note that it is possible that the Group could lose its status as a REIT as a result of actions by third parties (for example, if the Company is taken over by a company that is not itself a REIT).
The following paragraphs are intended as a general guide only and constitute a high-level summary of the Company's understanding of current UK law and HMRC practice, each of which is subject to change. They do not constitute advice.
The REIT regime is intended to encourage greater investment in the UK property market and follows similar legislation in other European countries, as well as the long-established regime in the United States.
Investing in property through a corporate investment vehicle (such as a UK company) has the disadvantage that, in comparison to a direct investment in property assets, some categories of shareholders (but not most UK companies) effectively suffer tax twice on the same income: first, indirectly, when the vehicle pays UK direct tax on its profits; and secondly, directly (but with the benefit of a tax credit), when the shareholder receives a dividend. Non-tax paying entities, such as UK pension funds, suffer tax indirectly when investing through a corporate vehicle that is not a REIT in a manner they do not suffer if they invest directly in the property assets.
Provided certain conditions and tests are satisfied (see "Qualification as a REIT" below), REITs will not pay UK corporation tax on the profits of their Property Rental Business. Instead, distributions in respect of the Property Rental Business will be treated for UK tax purposes as property income in the hands of shareholders. However, UK corporation tax will still be payable in the normal way in respect of income and gains from any Residual Business (generally including any property trading business) not included in the Property Rental Business.
While within the REIT regime, the Property Rental Business will be treated as a separate business for UK corporation tax purposes to the Residual Business, and a loss incurred by the Property Rental Business cannot be set off against profits of the Residual Business (and vice versa).
A REIT will be required to distribute to its shareholders (by way of a dividend in cash or by way of an issue of share capital in lieu of a cash dividend), on or before the filing date for the REIT's tax return for the accounting period in question, at least 90 per cent. of the income profits (calculated using normal tax rules) of the Property Rental Business arising in each accounting period. Where a stock dividend has been issued and a market value of the stock dividend has had to be used which causes the distribution requirement not to be met, an extended time limit of up to six months beginning with the filing date applies for complying with the distribution requirement. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a UK corporation tax charge calculated by reference to the extent of the failure, although this charge can be avoided if an additional dividend is paid within a specified period which brings the amount of profits distributed up to the required level.
In this Registration Document, references to a company's accounting period are to its accounting period for tax purposes. This period can differ from a company's accounting period for other purposes.
Subject to certain exceptions, PIDs will be subject to withholding tax at the basic rate of income tax (currently 20 per cent.). Further details of the UK tax treatment of Shareholders after entry into the REIT regime are contained in paragraph 3 of this Part 7.
A group becomes a REIT by serving notice on HMRC on or before the date from which it wishes to come under the REIT regime. In order to qualify as a REIT, the Company and the Group must satisfy certain conditions set out in Part 12 of CTA 2010. A non-exhaustive summary of the material conditions is set out below. Broadly, the Company and the Group must satisfy the conditions set out in paragraphs 2.2.1 to 2.2.4 below.
The principal company of a REIT must be a solely UK tax-resident company whose ordinary shares are admitted to trading on a recognised stock exchange, which includes the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. Additionally, the principal company of a REIT must not be an open-ended investment company. After the first 3 year period, the principal company of a REIT must also not be a close company for UK tax purposes other than by virtue of having as a participator an institutional investor. Broadly, a close company, is a UK resident company controlled by five or fewer participants, or by participants who are directors. A participant is a person having a share or interest in the income or capital of a company. An institutional investor includes the trustee or manager of an authorised unit trust (or overseas equivalent) or a pension scheme, an insurance company, a charity, a limited partnership, a registered social landlord or an open-ended investment company.
The principal company of a REIT must have only one class of ordinary shares in issue and the only other shares it may issue are particular types of non-voting restricted preference shares.
The principal company of a REIT must not be party to any loan in respect of which the lender is entitled to interest which exceeds a reasonable commercial return on the consideration lent or where the interest depends to any extent on the results of any of its business or on the value of any of its assets. A loan is not treated as carrying results-dependant interest by reason only that the terms of the loan provide for interest to reduce if the results improve or to increase if the results deteriorate. In addition, the amount repayable must either not exceed the amount lent or must be reasonably comparable with the amount generally repayable (in respect of an equal amount lent) under the terms of issue of securities listed on a recognised stock exchange.
The Property Rental Business must satisfy the conditions summarised below in respect of each accounting period during which it is to be treated as a REIT:
Any distribution of profits or gains of the Property Rental Business by the principal company of a group UK REIT received by another REIT are treated as tax exempt profits of the Property Rental Business of the investing REIT. The investing REIT would be required to distribute 100 per cent. of such distributions to its shareholders. For the purposes of the 75 per cent. assets test, the investment by a REIT in the shares of another REIT will be included as an asset of the investing REIT's Property Rental Business.
As a REIT, a group will not pay UK corporation tax on profits and gains from the Property Rental Business. UK corporation tax will still apply in the normal way in respect of the Residual Business which includes certain trading activities, incidental letting in relation to property trades and letting of administrative property which is temporarily surplus to requirements.
A REIT would also continue to pay indirect taxes such as VAT, stamp duty land tax and stamp duty and payroll taxes (such as national insurance) in the normal way.
A REIT will become subject to an additional tax charge if it pays a dividend to, or in respect of, a Substantial Shareholder. The additional tax charge will be calculated by reference to the whole dividend paid to a Substantial Shareholder, and not just by reference to the proportion which exceeds the 10 per cent. threshold. It should be noted that this restriction only applies to shareholders that are bodies corporate and to certain entities which are deemed to be bodies corporate for tax purposes in accordance with the law of an overseas jurisdiction with which the UK has a double taxation agreement or in accordance with such a double taxation agreement. It does not apply to nominees.
This tax charge will not be incurred if the REIT has taken "reasonable steps" to avoid paying dividends to such a shareholder. HMRC guidance describes certain actions that a REIT may take to show it has taken such "reasonable steps". One of these actions is to include restrictive provisions in the REIT's articles of association to address this requirement. The Articles of Association are consistent with such provisions.
When a REIT pays a dividend (including a stock dividend), that dividend will be a PID to the extent necessary to satisfy the 90 per cent. distribution test. If the dividend exceeds the amount required to satisfy that test, the REIT may determine that all or part of the balance is a Non-PID Dividend paid out of the profits of the activities of the Residual Business. Any remaining balance of the dividend (or other distribution) will be deemed to be a PID: firstly, in respect of the income profits out of which a PID can be paid and which have not been distributed in full; and secondly, a PID paid out of certain chargeable gains which are exempt from tax by virtue of the REIT regime. Any remaining balance will be attributed to any other profits.
A tax charge will arise if, in respect of any accounting period, the ratio of the Group's income profits (before capital allowances) in respect of its Property Rental Business to the financing costs incurred in respect of the Property Rental Business is less than 1.25. The ratio is based on the cost of debt finance taking into account interest, amortisation of discounts or premiums and the financing expense implicit in payments made under finance leases. The corporation tax charge is capped at a maximum of 20 per cent. of the profits of the Property Rental Business for the accounting period in question.
If HMRC believes that a member of a REIT has been involved in certain tax avoidance arrangements, it may cancel the tax advantage obtained and, in addition, impose a tax charge equal to the amount of the tax advantage. These rules apply to both the Residual Business and the Property Rental Business.
In general, where an asset owned by a REIT and used for the Property Rental Business begins to be used for the Residual Business, there will be a tax-free step up in the base cost of the property. Where an asset used for the Residual Business begins to be used for the Property Rental Business, this will generally constitute a taxable market value disposal of the asset, except for capital allowances purposes. Special rules apply to disposals by way of a trade and of development property.
If a REIT is beneficially entitled to at least 40 per cent. of the profits available for distribution to equity holders in a joint venture company and at least 40 per cent. of the assets of the joint venture company available to equity holders in the event of a winding-up, that joint venture company is carrying on a qualifying property rental business which satisfies the 75 per cent. profits test and the 75 per cent. assets test (the "JV company") and certain other conditions are satisfied, the REIT may, by giving notice to HMRC, elect for the relevant proportion of the assets and income of the JV company to be included in the Property Rental Business for tax purposes. In such circumstances, the income and assets of the JV company will count towards the 90 per cent. distribution test, the 75 per cent. profits test and the 75 per cent. assets test to the extent of a REIT's interest in the JV company. Note that these rules also apply to joint venture groups.
If a REIT is taken over by another REIT, the acquired REIT does not necessarily cease to be a REIT and will, provided the conditions are met, continue to enjoy tax exemptions in respect of the profits of its Property Rental Business and chargeable gains on disposal of properties in the Property Rental Business.
The position is different where a REIT is taken over by an acquirer which is not a REIT. In these circumstances, the acquired REIT is likely in most cases to fail to meet the requirements for being a REIT and will therefore be treated as leaving the REIT regime at the end of its accounting period preceding the takeover and ceasing from the end of this accounting period to benefit from tax exemptions on the profits of its Property Rental Business and chargeable gains on disposal of property forming part of its Property Rental Business. The properties in the Property Rental Business are treated as having been sold and reacquired at market value for the purposes of UK corporation tax on chargeable gains immediately before the end of the preceding accounting period. These disposals should be tax-free as they are deemed to have been made at a time when the company was still in the REIT regime and future chargeable gains on the relevant assets will, therefore, be calculated by reference to a base cost equivalent to this market value. If the company ends its accounting period immediately prior to the takeover becoming unconditional in all respects, dividends paid as PIDs before that date should not be recharacterised retrospectively as normal dividends.
The Articles contain provisions designed to enable the Company to demonstrate to HMRC that it has taken "reasonable steps" to avoid paying a dividend (or making any other distribution) to any Substantial Shareholder.
If a distribution is paid to a Substantial Shareholder and the Company has not taken reasonable steps to avoid doing so, the Company would become subject to a UK corporation tax charge.
The Articles contain special articles for this purpose (the "Special Articles"). The text of the Special Articles is set out in paragraph 5 of this Part 7.
The Special Articles:
The effect of the Special Articles is explained in more detail below.
The share register of the Company records the legal owner and the number of Shares they own but does not identify the persons who are beneficial owners of the Shares or are entitled to control the voting rights attached to the Shares or are beneficially entitled to dividends. While the requirements for the notification of interests in shares provided in Part VI of the Companies Act and the Board's rights to require disclosure of such interests (pursuant to Part 22 of the Companies Act and article 4 of the Articles) should assist in the identification of Substantial Shareholders, those provisions are not on their own sufficient.
Accordingly, the Special Articles require a Substantial Shareholder and any registered Shareholder holding Shares on behalf of a Substantial Shareholder to notify the Company if his Shares form part of a Substantial Shareholding. Such a notice must be given within two business days. The Special Articles give the Board the right to require any person to provide information in relation to any Shares in order to determine whether the Shares form part of a Substantial Shareholding. If the required information is not provided within the time specified (which is seven days after a request is made or such other period as the Board may decide), the Board is entitled to impose sanctions, including withholding dividends (as described in paragraph 4.3 below) and/or requiring the transfer of the Shares to another person who is not, and does not thereby become, a Substantial Shareholder (as described in paragraph 3.6 below).
The Special Articles provide that a dividend will not be paid on any Shares that the Board believes may form part of a Substantial Shareholding unless the Board is satisfied that the Substantial Shareholder is not beneficially entitled to the dividend.
If in these circumstances payment of a dividend is withheld, the dividend will be paid subsequently if the Board is satisfied that:
For this purpose references to the "transfer" of a Share include the disposal (by any means) of beneficial ownership of, control of voting rights in respect of and beneficial entitlement to dividends in respect of, that Share.
The Special Articles provide that dividends may be paid on Shares that form part of a Substantial Shareholding if the Board is satisfied that the right to the dividend has been transferred to a person who is not, and does not thereby become, a Substantial Shareholder and the Board may be satisfied that the right to the dividend has been transferred if it receives a certificate containing appropriate confirmations and assurances from the Substantial Shareholder. Such a certificate may apply to a particular dividend or to all future dividends in respect of Shares forming part of a specified Substantial Shareholding, until notice rescinding the certificate is received by the Company. A certificate that deals with future dividends will include undertakings by the person providing the certificate:
The Directors may require that any such certificate is copied or provided to such persons as they may determine, including HMRC.
If the Board believes a certificate given in these circumstances is or has become inaccurate, then it will be able to withhold payment of future dividends (as described in paragraph 3 above). In addition, the Board may require a Substantial Shareholder to pay to the Company the amount of any tax payable (and other costs incurred) as a result of a dividend having been paid to a Substantial Shareholder in reliance on the inaccurate certificate. The Board may require a sale of the relevant Shares and retain the amount claimed from the proceeds.
Certificates provided in the circumstances described above will be of considerable importance to the Company in determining whether dividends can be paid. If the Company suffers loss as a result of any misrepresentation or breach of undertaking given in such a certificate, it may seek to recover damages directly from the person who has provided it. Any such tax may also be recovered out of dividends to which the Substantial Shareholder concerned may become entitled in the future.
The effect of these provisions is that there is no restriction on a person becoming or remaining a Substantial Shareholder provided that the person who does so makes appropriate arrangements to divest itself of the entitlement to dividends.
The Special Articles provide that if a dividend is in fact paid on Shares forming part of a Substantial Shareholding (which might occur, for example, if a Substantial Shareholding is split among a number of nominees and is not notified to the Company prior to a dividend payment date) the dividends so paid are to be held on trust by the recipient for any person (who is not a Substantial Shareholder) nominated by the Substantial Shareholder concerned. The person nominated as the beneficiary could be the purchaser of the Shares if the Substantial Shareholder is in the process of selling down their holding so as not to cause the Company to breach the Substantial Shareholder rule. If the Substantial Shareholder does not nominate anyone within 12 years, the dividend concerned will be held on trust for the Company or such charity as the Board may nominate.
If the recipient of the dividend passes it on to another without being aware that the Shares in respect of which the dividend was paid were part of a Substantial Shareholding, the recipient will have no liability as a result. However, the Substantial Shareholder who receives the dividend should do so subject to the terms of the trust and as a result may not claim to be beneficially entitled to those dividends.
The Special Articles also allow the Board to require the disposal of Shares forming part of a Substantial Shareholding if:
In these circumstances, if the Company incurs a charge to tax as a result of one of these events, the Board may, instead of requiring the Shareholder to dispose of the Shares, arrange for the sale of the relevant Shares and for the Company to retain from the sale proceeds an amount equal to any tax so payable.
The Special Articles do not prevent a person from acquiring control of the Company through a takeover or otherwise, although as explained above, such an event may cause the Company to cease to qualify as a REIT.
The Special Articles also give the Company power to require any Shareholder who applies to be paid dividends without any tax withheld to provide such certificate as the Board may require to establish the Shareholder's entitlement to that treatment.
The Special Articles may be amended by special resolution passed by the Shareholders in the future, including to give powers to the Directors to ensure that the Company can comply with the close company condition described in paragraph 2.2.1 of this Part 7, which powers may include the ability to arrange for the sale of Shares on behalf of Shareholders.
The following sets out in full the Special Articles (being Articles 3 to 8) contained in the Company's Articles:
Any such notice shall be delivered by the end of the second Business Day after the day on which the person becomes a Substantial Shareholder or a Relevant Registered Shareholder or the change in relevant particulars or within such shorter or longer period as the Directors may specify from time to time.
4.2 The Directors may at any time give notice in writing to any person requiring him, within such period as may be specified in the notice (being seven days from the date of service of the notice or such shorter or longer period as the Directors may specify in the notice), to deliver to the Company at the Office such information, certificates and declarations as the Directors may require to establish whether or not he is a Substantial Shareholder or a Relevant Registered Shareholder or to comply with any Reporting Obligation. Each such person shall deliver such information, certificates and declarations within the period specified in such notice.
In this Article 5.3, references to the "transfer" of a Share include the disposal (by any means) of beneficial ownership of, control of voting rights in respect of and beneficial entitlement to dividends in respect of, that Share.
5.4 A Substantial Shareholder may satisfy the Directors that he is not beneficially entitled to a Distribution by providing a Distribution Transfer Certificate. The Directors shall be entitled to (but shall not be bound to) accept a Distribution Transfer Certificate as evidence of the matters therein stated and the Directors shall be entitled to require such other information, certifications or declarations as they think fit.
the Directors may give notice in writing (a "Disposal Notice") to any persons they believe are Relevant Registered Shareholders in respect of the relevant Shares requiring such Relevant Registered Shareholders within 21 days of the date of service of the notice (or such longer or shorter time as the Directors consider to be appropriate in the circumstances) to dispose of such number of Shares the Directors may in such notice specify or to take such other steps as will cause the condition set out in Article 5.2 no longer to be satisfied. The Directors may, if they think fit, withdraw a Disposal Notice.
the Directors may arrange for the Company to sell all or some of the Shares to which the Disposal Notice relates or, as the case may be, that form part of the Substantial Shareholding concerned. For this purpose, the Directors may make such arrangements as they deem appropriate. In particular, without limitation, they may authorise any officer or employee of the Company to execute any transfer or other document on behalf of the holder or holders of the relevant Share and, in the case of Shares in uncertificated form, may make such arrangements as they think fit on behalf of the relevant holder or holders to transfer title to the relevant Share through a relevant system.
8.9 Where any certificate or declaration may be or is required to be provided by any person (including, without limitation, a Distribution Transfer Certificate) pursuant to any of Articles 3 to 8, such certificate or declaration may be required by the Directors (without limitation):
8.9.1 to be addressed to the Company, the Directors or such other persons as the Directors may determine (including HMRC);
The provisions of Articles 3 to 8 shall apply notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in any other Article (including, without limitation, Articles 147 to 159)."
2.1 The Company is the holding company of the Group and has the following subsidiaries:
| Name | Principal activity | Proportion of ownership interest % |
|---|---|---|
| Empiric Investments (One) Limited | Intermediate holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Edge Apartments) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (College Green) Limited Empiric (Picturehouse Apartments) |
Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Summit House) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Limited Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Leasing |
Property holding company | 100 |
| Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (St Peter Street) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Proportion of | ||
|---|---|---|
| ownership | ||
| Name | Principal activity | interest % |
| Empiric (St Peter Street) Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Birmingham) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (London Road) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Talbot Studios) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Centro Court) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Alwyn Court) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Northgate House) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Snow Island) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Huddersfield Snow Island) | ||
| Leasing Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Claremont Newcastle) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Newcastle Metrovick) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Exeter DCL) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Exeter LL) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Hatfield CP) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Leeds Algernon) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (London Camberwell) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Leeds St Marks) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Glasgow Ballet School) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Nottingham 95 Talbot) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Nottingham 95 Talbot Leasing | ||
| Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Leeds St Marks) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric Investment Holdings (Two) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric Investments (Two) Limited | Intermediate holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Durham St Margarets) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric Investment Holdings (Three) | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric Investments (Three) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow Bath St) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric Investments (Four) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric Investment Holdings (Four) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Lancaster Penny Street 1) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Lancaster Penny Street 2) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Lancaster Penny Street 3) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Leicester Peacock Lane) Limited | Property holding company | 100(1) |
| Empiric (Bristol) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Bristol) Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Framwellgate Durham) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Framwellgate Durham) Leasing | ||
| Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Baptists Chapel) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Baptists Chapel) Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Portobello House) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Portobello House) Leasing Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Huddersfield Oldgate House) | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Huddersfield Oldgate House) | ||
| Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric Acquisitions Limited | Intermediate holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow Otago Street) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Proportion of | ||
|---|---|---|
| ownership | ||
| Name | Principal activity | interest % |
| Glasgow (Otago Lane) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow Otago Street) Leasing | ||
| 100(4) | ||
| Limited | Property leasing company | |
| Empiric (Stirling Forthside) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Stirling Forthside) Leasing Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Bath James House) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Spring Roscoe Limited | Property holding company | 100(5) |
| Grove St Studios Ltd | Property holding company | 100(5) |
| Empiric (Bath JSW) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Portsmouth Registry) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Nottingham Frontage) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Nottingham Frontage) Leasing | ||
| Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Falmouth Maritime Studios) | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Exeter Bonhay Road) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Exeter Bonhay Road) Leasing | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Portsmouth Europa House) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Portsmouth Europa House) | ||
| Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Sheffield Provincial House) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Sheffield Provincial House) | ||
| Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Sheffield Trippet Lane) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Sheffield Trippet Lane) Leasing | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow George St) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow George St) Leasing | ||
| Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Cardiff Wndsr House) Limited | Property holding company | 100(2) |
| Empiric (Cardiff Wndsr House) Leasing | ||
| 100(2) | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Bath Piccadilly Place) Limited | Property holding company | |
| Empiric (Bath Canalside) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Glasgow George Square) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Glasgow George Square) | ||
| Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100 |
| Empiric (Liverpool Art School/Maple | ||
| House) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Stoke Caledonia Mill) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Liverpool Chatham Lodge) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Liverpool Grove Street) Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (Liverpool Octagon/Hayward) | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100(4) |
| Empiric (York George Hudson) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (York George Hudson) Leasing | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Manchester Ladybarn) Limited | Property holding company | 100(3) |
| Empiric (Oxford Stonemason) Limited | Property holding company | 100(3) |
| Proportion of ownership |
||
|---|---|---|
| Name | Principal activity | interest % |
| Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) | ||
| Limited | Intermediate holding company | 100(3) |
| Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) | ||
| Luxembourg S.à r.l | Property holding company | 100(3) |
| Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) | ||
| Leasing Limited | Property leasing company | 100(3) |
| Empiric (York Lawrence Street) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric Student Property Trustees | ||
| Limited | Trustee of the EBT | 100 |
| Empiric (Developments) Limited | Development management | |
| company | 100 | |
| Hello Student Management Limited | Letting management company | 100 |
All of the above companies are incorporated in England and Wales with the exception of Empiric (St Andrews Ayton House) Luxembourg S.àr.l which is incorporated in Luxembourg.
In addition, the Company has interests in the following joint venture companies. The remaining 50 per cent. of the shares in each company are held by KH II Estates 117 Limited, a company advised by Revcap.
| Proportion of ownership |
|
|---|---|
| Principal activity | interest % |
| Joint venture development | |
| company | 50 |
| Property leasing company | 50(6) |
| Property contracting company | 50(6) |
| Joint venture development | |
| company | 50 |
| Property leasing company | 50(7) |
(6) held by Empiric (Southampton) Limited in which the Company has a 50 per cent. ownership interest. (7) held by Empiric (Glasgow) Limited in which the Company has a 50 per cent. ownership interest.
2.2 The Board intends that further companies and intermediate holding companies will be set up to hold any additional properties which may be acquired by the Group.
3.1 The Company's share capital: (i) as at the date of this Registration Document, and (ii) as it will be immediately following Initial Admission (assuming 83.7 million Shares are issued in the Initial Issue) is as follows:
| Shares | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate | ||
| nominal | ||
| Number | value (£) | |
| As at the date of this Registration Document | 385,000,001 3,850,000.01 | |
| Immediately following Initial Admission | 468,700,001 4,687,000.01 | |
the Company or grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, Shares in the Company ("Rights"):
but subject to such exclusions and other arrangements as the Directors may consider necessary or appropriate in relation to fractional entitlements, record dates, treasury shares or any legal, regulatory or practical problems under the law of any territory (including the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange) or any other matter; and
such authority to expire (unless previously revoked by the Company) on the earlier of 15 months from the date of the annual general meeting at which the resolution is passed and the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and in each case the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require Shares to be allotted or Rights to be granted after the authority has expired and the Directors may allot Shares or grant Rights in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority has expired; and all previous authorities to allot Shares or grant Rights, to the extent unused, shall be revoked.
but subject to such exclusions and other arrangements as the Directors may consider necessary or appropriate in relation to fractional entitlements, record dates, treasury shares or any legal, regulatory or practical problems under the law of any territory (including the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange) or any other matter; and
(ii) the allotment of equity securities (otherwise than under paragraph (i) of the resolution summarised in this paragraph (b)) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £303,848.00
this power shall expire when the authority given by the resolution above is revoked or expires but the Company may before expiry of this power make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power had expired; and the power applies in relation to a sale of treasury shares which constitutes an allotment of equity securities by virtue of section 560(3) of the Act.
unless previously renewed, varied or revoked, the authority conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company to be held in 2016 or 15 months from the date of the resolution, whichever is earlier,
the Company may make a contract or contracts to purchase Shares under the above authority prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority and may make a purchase of Shares in pursuance of any such contract or contracts.
expire on 17 March 2017 (unless previously renewed, varied or revoked by the Company in general meeting), save that the Company may, at any time prior to the expiry of such authority, make an offer or enter into an agreement which would or might require the allotment of Shares in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if such authority had not expired.
4.1 Other than as set out in the table below, as at 29 February 2016 (being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document), the Company was not aware of any person who was directly or indirectly interested in 3 per cent. of more of the issued share capital of the Company:
| Percentage of | ||
|---|---|---|
| issued share | ||
| Name | Number of Shares | capital (%) |
| Schroders plc | 40,685,914 | 10.57 |
| Investec Wealth & Investment Limited | 29,221,146 | 7.59 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council Pension Fund | 24,756,828 | 6.43 |
| CCLA Investment Management Limited | 21,922,495 | 5.69 |
| SG Hambros Bank Limited | 20,355,208 | 5.29 |
| Avenue Europe Management LLP | 16,329,718 | 4.24 |
| BlackRock, Inc | 14,123,202 | 3.67 |
| Asset Value Investors | 13,352,000 | 3.47 |
| Jefferies International Limited | 11,922,979 | 3.10 |
| Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited | 11,788,870 | 3.06 |
4.2 Other than as disclosed above, the Company and the Directors are not aware of any person who as at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document), directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, exercises or could exercise control over the Company, nor are they aware of any arrangements, the operation of which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control of the Company.
4.3 Save as set out below, no Director has any interests (beneficial or non-beneficial) in the share capital of the Company as at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document):
| Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|
| of issued | ||
| share | ||
| Director | Number of Shares | capital (%) |
| Baroness Dean | 33,500 | 0.01 |
| Timothy Attlee | 875,000 | 0.23 |
| Paul Hadaway | 1,094,001 | 0.28 |
| Michael Enright(*) | 645,000 | 0.17 |
| Jim Prower(**) | 23,760 | 0.01 |
| Stephen Alston | 26,300 | 0.01 |
(*) 20,000 of these Shares are held on behalf of Mr. Enright's children.
(**) 11,880 of these Shares are held by Mr. Prower's wife.
4.4 Details of the Executive Directors' interests in nil cost options over Shares awarded under the LTIP as at the date of this Registration Document are set out below:
| Number of | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shares the | Number of | Number of | ||
| subject of Shares under Shares under | ||||
| the 2014/2015 | option | option | ||
| annual bonus | pursuant | pursuant | ||
| awards (issued | to the | to the | Total LTIP | |
| pursuant to | 2015-2018 | 2014-2017 | awards | |
| Name | the LTIP) | LTIP awards | LTIP awards | outstanding |
| Paul Hadaway | 103,825 | 406,131 | 375,000 | 938,956 |
| Timothy Attlee | 103,825 | 406,131 | 375,000 | 938,956 |
| Michael Enright | 75,273 | 368,105 | 187,500 | 630,878 |
The annual bonus awards are not subject to any further performance conditions and in normal circumstances will be exercisable on or after the third anniversary of grant.
The 2015-2018 LTIP awards and the 2014-2017 LTIP awards are subject to a performance condition linked to total shareholder return, measured over a three year period ending on 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2017 respectively and are expected to vest in November 2018 and November 2017 respectively.
| Name | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Baroness Dean |
Places for People Individual Support Limited Places for People Homes Limited Nats Holdings Limited Nats Employee Sharetrust Limited Thompson Media Foundation (Trustee) Limited The University College London Hospitals Charitable Foundation Places for People Ventures Limited Places for People Operations Limited Places for People Group Limited |
Taylor Wimpey plc East Foundation Limited Industry and Parliament Trust Dawson Holdings Limited Chamberlain Phipps Group Plc |
| Timothy Attlee |
London Cornwall Property Partners Ltd London Cornwall Student Investments Ltd London Cornwall (Birmingham) Ltd London Cornwall (Bristol 1) Ltd London Cornwall (Cardiff) Ltd London Cornwall (Edinburgh) Ltd London Cornwall (Exeter) Ltd London Cornwall (Pinewood) Ltd Pinewood Nominal Ltd Pinewood Polzeath Residents Management Company Ltd Prime Student Housing (Cardiff) Contracting Ltd Prime Student Housing (Exeter) Contracting Ltd Boscawen Limited Empire (Glasgow) Limited Empire (Southampton) Limited |
South West Peninsular Properties Ltd (dissolved) SWPP Investments Ltd (dissolved) |
| Paul Hadaway |
PLPP Management Ltd London Cornwall Property Partners Ltd London Cornwall Student Investments Ltd London Cornwall (Pinewood) Ltd Pinewood Nominal Ltd Pinewood Polzeath Residents Management Company Ltd Empire (Glasgow) Limited Empire (Southampton) Limited London Cornwall (Birmingham) Ltd London Cornwall (Bristol 1) Ltd London Cornwall (Cardiff) Ltd London Cornwall (Edinburgh) Ltd London Cornwall (Exeter) Ltd Prime Student Housing (Cardiff) Contracting Ltd Prime Student Housing (Exeter) Contracting Ltd |
Marble Shelf Developments Limited (dissolved) Marble Shelf Developments (Holdings) Ltd |
| Name | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Enright |
Livingstone Leisure Limited London Cornwall (Cardiff) Limited London Cornwall (Exeter) Limited |
SBB Services Inc. Vectrix Corporation Inc. Brazilian Football Experience Limited Mediatonic Limited The Future Media Group Limited |
| Stephen Alston |
Prime Student Housing (Cardiff) Contracting Limited Prime Student Housing (Exeter) Contracting Limited Metropolitan & Suburban Partners Limited Metropolitan & Suburban Regeneration Fulham Limited Lumley Properties 1 LLP REQ Opco (Kingston) Limited Brunswick Contracting Limited Khemco Limited |
Generator Group LLP Hartwood Capital LLP |
| Jim Prower | Argent Investments LLP Elisabeth House General Partner Limited Elisabeth House Nominee No. 1 Limited Elisabeth House Nominee No. 2 Limited |
Argent (UK Development) Limited Argent Estates Limited Argent Nominee 1 Limited Argent Nominee 2 Limited Argent Brindleyplace Investments Limited Argent Group Developments PLC Brindleyplace PLC Brindleyplace General Partner Limited Argent (Paradise) Limited Argent (Piccadilly Gardens) Limited Argent (Stevenson Square) Limited Argent Piccadilly Place (No. 1) Limited Argent Piccadilly Place (No. 2) Limited Argent Brindleyplace Investment Limited Piccadilly Place General Partner Limited Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 1) Limited Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 2) Limited Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 3) Limited Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 4) Limited Miller Argent (Nominee No. 1) Limited Miller Argent (South Wales) Limited Argent Development Consortium Limited |
Jim Prower (continued)
Brindleyplace Management Limited Argent Development Management Limited Colnbrook Developments (Nominee) Limited Colnbrook Developments Limited Eight Brindleyplace (No 2) Limited Eight Brindleyplace Limited Seven Brindleyplace (No 2) Limited Seven Brindleyplace Limited Six Brindleyplace (No 2) Limited Six Brindleyplace Limited Ten Brindleyplace (No 2) Limited Ten Brindleyplace Limited Brindleyplace (Headlease) (No 2) Limited Brindleyplace (Headlease) Limited Brindleyplace Co-nominee Limited Brindleyplace Nominee Limited KCC Nominee 1 (J) Ltd KCC Nominee 2 (J) Ltd ArtHouse Manco Limited KCC Nominee 1 (P2) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (P2) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (Q1) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (Q1) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (R1) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (R1) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (T5) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (T5) Limited King's Cross Events Limited KCC Nominee 1 (T1) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (T1) Limited KCC Nominee 1 Limited KCC Nominee 2 Limited KCC Nominee 1 (B3) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (B3) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (R5N) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (R5N) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (GG) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (GG) Limited KC (B2&B4) GP Limited KCC Nominee 1 (B2) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (B2) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (B4) Limited
Jim Prower (continued)
KCC Nominee 2 (B4) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (B5) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (B5) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (WTS) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (WTS) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (MGS) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (MGS) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (Coal Drops) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (Coal Drops) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (R2) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (R2) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (T1 Resi) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (T1 Resi) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (P1) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (P1) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (P1 Resi) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (P1 Resi) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (G1 PAV) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (G1 PAV) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (FC) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (FC) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (S2) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (S2) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (N1 RESI) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (N1 RESI) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (N1) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (N1) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (R7) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (R7) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (B6) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (B6) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (R6) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (R6) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (R3/R6) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (R3/R6) Limited Plimsoll Manco Limited R3/R6 Manco Limited Tapestry Manco Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 11 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 12 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 13 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 14 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 16 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 17 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 18 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 21 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 22 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 23 Limited Argent Group Limited
| Name | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Prower (continued) |
King's Cross Central (Trustee No. One) Limited King's Cross Central (Trustee No. Two) Limited King's Cross Central General Partner Limited Argent King's Cross Nominee Limited Argent King's Cross GP Limited Argent (King's Cross) Limited King's Cross Estate Services Limited Argent Projects No. 4 GP Limited Argent Projects No. 4 GP Nominee Limited Five Piccadilly Management Company Limited Miller Argent (Nominee No. 1) Limited Miller Argent (South Wales) Limited Ffos-y-fran (Commoners) Limited Miller Argent (Ffos-y-fran) Limited Miller Argent Holdings Limited Argent (Property Development) Services LLP Tritax REIT Acquisition 3 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 4 Limited Argent Estates Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 5 Limited Prometheus Regeneration Limited Sisyphus Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 8 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 9 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 10 Limited |
|
| Stuart Beevor |
ICG-Longbow Senior Secured UK Property Debt Investments Limited Beevor Consulting Ltd Clapham Park Development Limited Metropolitan Living Limited |
The Unite Group plc Grosvenor Estate Holdings Grosvenor Estate International Developments Grosvenor Estate International Properties Grosvenor Estate Investment Management Limited Grosvenor European Properties Limited Grosvenor Garden Leisure Limited Grosvenor Investments UK Limited Grosvenor Sports Club Limited Grosvenor Westminster Holdings |
Limited
| Stuart Grosvenor International Fund Management Limited Beevor Grosvenor Continental Europe Holdings Limited Grosvenor Fund Management Limited Almack House Limited Belgrave House Investment Limited Forge Glasgow Limited Freshney Place (No.2) Limited Grosvenor Investment Management Limited Grosvenor Estate Holdings Grosvenor Basingstoke Management Limited Grosvenor Basingstoke Properties Limited Grosvenor Fund Management UK Limited Grosvenor Liverpool Limited Grosvenor Management Limited Grosvenor UK Properties Limited NPS 40 GPL Limited NPS Victoria Investments (London) Limited Talbot General Partner Limited 125 Wood Street Limited 110 Park Street Limited Grosvenor Group Holdings Limited 10 Grosvenor Street Limited Grosvenor Residential GP Limited Clapham Park Homes Limited |
Name | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grosvenor Investment |
4.8 Timothy Attlee was a director of South West Peninsular Properties Ltd and SWPP Investments Ltd, both of which companies were placed into voluntary solvent liquidation and dissolved.
Management Limited
4.11.1 did not have any convictions in relation to fraudulent offences;
4.11.2 save as disclosed in this paragraph 4, were not associated with any bankruptcies, receiverships or liquidations of any partnership or company through acting in the capacity as a member of the administrative, management or supervisory body or as a partner, founder or senior manager of such partnership or company; and
The following agreements have been entered into between each of the Executive Directors and the Company:
Each Non-Executive Director has entered into a letter of appointment with the Company. The Directors' appointments can be terminated in accordance with the Articles and without compensation. All Directors are subject to retirement by rotation in accordance with the Articles. There is no notice period specified in the letters of appointment or Articles for the removal of Non-Executive Directors. The Articles provide that the office of Director shall be terminated by, amongst other things: (i) written resignation; (ii) unauthorised absences from board meetings for six consecutive months or more; or (iii) the written request of all of the other Directors.
Each of the Non-Executive Directors is entitled to receive a fee from the Company at such rate as may be determined in accordance with the Articles. Details of the remuneration for the Non-Executive Directors as at the date of this Registration Document is as follows:
| Director | Fee (£) | Appointment date |
|---|---|---|
| Baroness Dean | 67,000 | 28 May 2014 |
| Stephen Alston | None* | 28 May 2014 |
| Jim Prower | 45,000 | 28 May 2014 |
| Stuart Beevor | 40,000 | 1 January 2016 |
* Due to the Company's arrangement with Revcap under the Investment Support Agreement, Mr Alston does not receive any separate Non-Executive Directors' fees for his role on the Board.
The Non-Executive Directors are also entitled to out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the proper performance of their duties. The aggregate remuneration and benefits in kind of the Non-Executive Directors in respect of the Company's accounting period ending 30 June 2016 which will be payable out of the assets of the Company are not expected to exceed £152,000.
The Company has adopted the Empiric Student Property Plc 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (the "LTIP").
Employees and Executive Directors of the Company and designated subsidiaries and joint ventures are eligible to participate in the LTIP.
The Directors or, in the case of Executive Directors, the Remuneration Committee will decide who will participate and how many Shares they can receive.
Selected employees are granted a right to receive Shares in the Company in the future subject to remaining in employment and subject to the satisfaction of any performance conditions. The right (referred to as an award) can take the form of: (i) a conditional right to free Shares on vesting; or (ii) an option to acquire Shares, from the date of vesting, at an exercise price set at the time of grant (which may be zero).
When the participant becomes entitled to the Shares the award is said to have vested.
Awards will normally only be granted within 42 days of announcement of the Company's results for any period or the annual general meeting. No awards can be granted more than 10 years after the adoption of the LTIP.
Vesting of an award may be subject to a performance condition set by the Remuneration Committee at the time of grant which will normally be tested over at least three financial years. Awards made to Directors of the Company will be subject to performance conditions as described in the Company's remuneration policy from time to time.
The value of Shares subject to awards granted to a Director in any financial year will be limited to 150 per cent. of basic salary using an average share price over a period determined by the Remuneration Committee, being not less than twelve months. This limit is subject to any higher percentage approved by the Shareholders in respect of the Company's remuneration policy.
Awards will normally only vest to the extent any performance condition is met. To the extent the award vests, Shares will be issued or transferred to the participant or, in the case of an option, the option will become exercisable for up to 10 years from the date of grant.
An award can be granted on the basis that the participant will receive an additional amount on vesting based on the dividends paid on the number of Shares in respect of which the award vests or is exercised. This may be paid in cash or additional Shares.
The Remuneration Committee can reduce or delay vesting in certain circumstances such as an error in, or restatement of, results or misconduct by the participant.
If a participant leaves employment, his award will normally lapse. However, if the participant leaves because of disability, ill-health or injury; redundancy; retirement; sale of his employer, or in other circumstances if the Remuneration Committee allows (a "good leaver"), his award will continue in effect and vest on the original vesting date. On death, or in other circumstances if the Remuneration Committee so decides, the award will vest early.
An award will only vest in these circumstances to the extent that any performance condition is satisfied at the date of vesting and, unless the Remuneration Committee decides otherwise, the number of Shares in respect of which it vests will be reduced to reflect the fact that the participant left early.
The Remuneration Committee can decide that any holding period will not apply where the participant leaves before it starts and his award does not lapse.
Awards will generally vest early on a takeover, merger or other corporate event to the extent that any performance condition is then satisfied. Where an award vests in these circumstances, the number of Shares in respect of which it vests will, unless the Remuneration Committee decides otherwise, be reduced to reflect the fact that it is vesting early. Alternatively, participants may be allowed or required to exchange their awards over shares in the acquiring company.
Awards under the LTIP can also be made in respect of arrangements under which a cash bonus is to be deferred into Shares. Such awards will vest in full on a takeover, merger or other corporate event. If a participant leaves employment, his award will normally lapse. If however he is a good leaver his award will continue in effect and vest on the original vesting date. On death, or in other circumstances if the Remuneration Committee so decides, the award will vest early.
In any 10 year period, not more than 10 per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company may be issued or issuable under the LTIP and all other employee share plans operated by the Company.
In any 10 year period, not more than five per cent. of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company may be issued or issuable under the LTIP and all other discretionary employee share plans adopted by the Company.
These limits do not include options or awards which lapse but does include treasury shares if they were newly issued for so long as it is best practice to do so.
The Remuneration Committee can amend the LTIP in any way. However, subject to the following, Shareholder approval will be required to amend certain provisions to the advantage of participants. These provisions relate to: (i) eligibility; (ii) individual and plan limits; (iii) exercise price; (iv) rights attaching to options, awards and Shares; (v) adjustments on variation in the Company's share capital, and (vi) the amendment power.
The Remuneration Committee can, without shareholder approval, change the LTIP to obtain or maintain favourable tax treatment, make certain minor amendments such as to benefit the administration of the LTIP or change any performance condition in accordance with its terms or if anything happens which causes the Remuneration Committee reasonably to consider it appropriate to do so.
Any Shares issued on the vesting of awards or exercise of options will rank equally with Shares of the same class in issue on the date of allotment except in respect of rights arising by reference to a prior record date.
The option price or number of Shares subject to options or awards may be adjusted following a demerger, rights issue or other variation in the share capital of the Company.
Options and awards are not pensionable or transferable.
The Group operates an annual bonus scheme for the Executive Directors. The maximum pay out under the annual bonus scheme is 110 per cent. of annual salary, with at least 40 per cent. of any bonus satisfied by the issue of Shares which will be deferred for three years. Payment of an annual bonus is dependent upon performance over the prior 12 month period, with targets set and agreed with the Remuneration Committee. Deferred Share awards under the annual bonus scheme are issued in the form of nil cost options under the LTIP. Such awards have no further performance conditions.
The Articles contain provisions, inter alia, to the following effect:
The Articles do not provide for any objects of the Company and accordingly the Company's objects are unrestricted.
independent shareholders who hold the Company's shares that have been admitted to premium listing can vote on such separate resolution.
provided that the Board shall not refuse to register a transfer or renunciation of a partly paid share in certificated form on the grounds that it is partly paid in circumstances where such refusal would prevent dealings in such share from taking place on an open and proper basis on the market on which such share is admitted to trading. The Board may refuse to register a transfer of an uncertificated share in such other circumstances as may be permitted or required by the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755) and the relevant electronic system.
in the Chairman of any such meeting, who may exercise or refrain from exercising them entirely at his discretion. If the notice is not complied with within 21 days to the satisfaction of the Directors, the Directors shall arrange for the Company to sell the share at the best price reasonably obtainable to any other person so that the share will cease to be a Prohibited Share. The net proceeds of sale (after payment of the Company's costs of sale and together with interest at such rate as the Directors consider appropriate) shall be paid over by the Company to the former holder upon surrender by him of the relevant share certificate (if applicable).
(h) Upon transfer of a share the transferee of such share shall be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Company that such transferee is acquiring shares in an offshore transaction meeting the requirements of Regulation S and is not, nor is acting on behalf of: (i) a benefit plan investor and no portion of the assets used by such transferee to acquire or hold an interest in such share constitutes or will be treated as "plan assets" of any benefit plan investor under Section 3(42) of ERISA; and/or (ii) a U.S. Person.
The Company may, from time to time, by ordinary resolution:
Chairman of the meeting may, with the consent of the meeting at which a quorum is present, and shall, if so directed by the meeting, adjourn the meeting from time-to-time (or indefinitely) and from place to place as the meeting shall determine. Where a meeting is adjourned indefinitely, the Board shall fix a time and place for the adjourned meeting. Whenever a meeting is adjourned for 30 days or more or indefinitely, seven clear days' notice at the least, specifying the place, the day and time of the adjourned meeting and the general nature of the business to be transacted, must be given in the same manner as in the case of the original meeting.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Directors may exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge all or any part of its undertaking, property and assets (present and future) and uncalled capital or any part or parts thereof and to issue debentures and other securities, whether outright or as collateral security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or of any third party.
of the Company or the holder of such share is liable to be, redeemed in accordance with the Articles or as the Directors may determine.
(c) The business of the Company shall be managed by the Directors who, subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, the Articles and to any directions given by special resolution to take, or refrain from taking, specified action, may exercise all the powers of the Company, whether relating to the management of the business or not. Any Director may appoint any other Director, or any other person approved by resolution of the Directors and willing to act and permitted by law to do so, to be an alternate Director.
(b) Subject to having, where required, obtained authorisation of the conflict from the Board, a Director shall be under no duty to the Company with respect to any information which he obtains or has obtained otherwise than as a Director of the Company and in respect of which he has a duty of confidentiality to another person. In particular, a Director shall not be in breach of the general duties he owes to the Company under the Companies Act because he fails to disclose any such information to the Board or to use or apply any such information in performing his duties as a Director, or because he absents himself from meetings of the Board at which any matter relating to a conflict of interest, or possible conflict, of interest is discussed and/or makes arrangements not to receive documents or information relating to any matter which gives rise to a conflict of interest or possible conflict of interest and/or makes arrangements for such documents and information to be received and read by a professional adviser.
(c) Provided that his interest is disclosed at a meeting of the Board, or in the case of a transaction or arrangement with the Company, in the manner set out in the Companies Act, a Director, notwithstanding his office:
(ii) the giving of any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent to, or obligations incurred by him or any other person at the request of or for the benefit of, the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings;
(iii) the giving of any guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of a debt or obligation of the Company or any of its subsidiary undertakings for which he himself has assumed responsibility in whole or in part under a guarantee or indemnity or by the giving of security;
Unless and until otherwise determined by an ordinary resolution of the Company, the number of Directors (other than alternate Directors) shall be not less than two and the number is not subject to a maximum.
office for nine years or more, shall be subject to re-appointment at each annual general meeting.
Subject to the Articles, the Company may sell any shares registered in the name of a member if and provided that during the period of 12 years immediately prior to the date of the publication of the advertisement of an intention to make such a disposal the Company has paid at least three cash dividends on the shares and no cash dividend payable on the share has either been claimed or cashed. Until the Company can account to the member, the net proceeds of sale will be available for use in the business of the Company or for investment, in either case at the discretion of the Board. The proceeds will not carry interest.
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, but without prejudice to any indemnity to which he may otherwise be entitled, every past or present Director (including an alternate Director) or officer of the Company or a director or officer of an associated company (except the auditors or the auditors of an associated company) may at the discretion of the Board be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against all costs, charges, losses, damages and liabilities incurred by him for negligence, default, breach of duty, breach of trust or otherwise in relation to the affairs of the Company or of an associated company, or in connection with the activities of the Company, or of an associated company, or as a trustee of an occupational pension scheme (as defined in Section 235(6) Companies Act). In addition the Board may purchase and maintain insurance at the expense of the Company for the benefit of any such person indemnifying him against any liability or expenditure incurred by him for acts or omissions as a Director or officer of the Company (or of an associated company).
A summary of the REIT provisions included in the Articles is set out in paragraph 4 of Part 7 of this Registration Document.
The Takeover Code applies to the Company. Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, if:
the acquirer and, depending on the circumstances, its concert parties, would be required (except with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers) to make a cash offer for the outstanding Shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for any interests in the Shares by the acquirer or its concert parties during the previous 12 months.
Under Sections 974 – 991 of the Companies Act, if an offeror acquires or contracts to acquire (pursuant to a takeover offer) not less than 90 per cent. of the Shares (in value and by voting rights) to which such offer relates it may then compulsorily acquire the outstanding Shares not assented to the offer. It would do so by sending a notice to outstanding holders of Shares telling them that it will compulsorily acquire their Shares and then, six weeks later, it would execute a transfer of the outstanding Shares in its favour and pay the consideration to the Company, which would hold the consideration on trust for the outstanding holders of Shares. The consideration offered to the holders whose Shares are compulsorily acquired under the Companies Act must, in general, be the same as the consideration that was available under the takeover offer.
In addition, pursuant to Section 983 of the Companies Act, if an offeror acquires or agrees to acquire not less than 90 per cent. of the Shares (in value and by voting rights) to which the offer relates, any holder of Shares to which the offer relates who has not accepted the offer may require the offeror to acquire his Shares on the same terms as the takeover offer.
The offeror would be required to give any holder of Shares notice of his right to be bought out within one month of that right arising. Sell-out rights cannot be exercised after the end of the period of three months from the last date on which the offer can be accepted or, if later, three months from the date on which the notice is served on the holder of Shares notifying it of its sell-out rights. If a holder of Shares exercises its rights, the offeror is bound to acquire those Shares on the terms of the takeover offer or on such other terms as may be agreed.
The following are the only contracts, not being contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business, which have been entered into by the Group in the two years immediately preceding the date of this document and which are, or may be, material or which have been entered into at any time by the Group and which contain any provision under which any obligation or entitlement is, or may be, material to the Group at the date of this Registration Document.
The Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement dated 1 March 2016 between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Jefferies has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to
In addition, under the Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement, Akur has been appointed as joint financial adviser and Jefferies has been appointed as sponsor, joint financial adviser, sole global coordinator and bookrunner in connection with the proposed applications for Admission of new Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme.
The Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement may be terminated by Jefferies in certain customary circumstances prior to the Final Date.
The obligations of the Company to issue Shares under the Initial Placing and the obligations of Jefferies to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for Shares under the Initial Placing are conditional upon certain conditions that are typical for an agreement of this nature. These conditions include, among others: (i) Initial Admission in respect of the Shares occurring and becoming effective by 8.00 a.m. on or prior to 21 March 2016 or such later time and/or date as the Company and Jefferies may agree; and (ii) the Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement becoming wholly unconditional (save as to Initial Admission and any conditions relating to any subsequent issue under the Share Issuance Programme) and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms at any time prior to Initial Admission.
Similarly, the obligations of the Company and Jefferies in connection with the Share Issuance Programme are conditional upon certain conditions that are typical for an agreement of this nature. These conditions include, among others: (i) Admission occurring in respect of the relevant placing of Shares; (ii) the Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement becoming wholly unconditional in respect of the relevant placing of Shares (save as to Admission of those Shares) and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms at any time prior to such Admission; and (iii) in relation to non-pre-emptive offerings, the issue price being not less than the then current Net Asset Value per Share.
The Company and the Directors have given warranties to Jefferies and Akur concerning, inter alia, the accuracy of the information contained in this Registration Document. The Company has also given indemnities to Jefferies and Akur. The warranties and indemnities given by the Company and the Directors are customary for an agreement of this nature.
The Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The October 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement dated 8 October 2015 between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Jefferies agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for new Shares pursuant to the final placing undertaken by the Company in October 2015 under the First Share Issuance Programme.
In addition, under the October 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement, Akur was appointed as joint financial adviser and Jefferies was appointed as sponsor, joint financial adviser, sole global coordinator and bookrunner in connection with the placing.
The October 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The July 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement dated 8 July 2015 between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Jefferies agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for new Shares pursuant to the third placing undertaken by the Company in July 2015 under the First Share Issuance Programme.
In addition, under the July 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement, Akur was appointed as joint financial adviser and Jefferies was appointed as sponsor, joint financial adviser, sole global coordinator and bookrunner in connection with the placing.
The July 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The February 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement dated 25 February 2015 between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Jefferies agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for new Shares pursuant to the second placing undertaken by the Company in February 2015 under the First Share Issuance Programme.
In addition, under the February 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement, Akur was appointed as joint financial adviser and Jefferies was appointed as sponsor, joint financial adviser, sole global coordinator and bookrunner in connection with the placing.
The February 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The October 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement dated 30 October 2014 between the Company, the directors of the Company on such date, Jefferies and Akur, pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Jefferies agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for new Shares pursuant to the first placing undertaken by the Company in November 2014 under the First Share Issuance Programme.
In addition, under the October 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement, Akur was appointed as joint financial adviser and Jefferies was appointed as sponsor, joint financial adviser, sole global coordinator and bookrunner in connection with the establishment of the First Share Issuance Programme and the first placing under it.
The October 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The June 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement dated 16 June 2014 between the Company, the directors of the Company on such date, LCPP, Dexion Capital plc and Akur, pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Dexion Capital plc agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for new Shares pursuant to the placing undertaken by the Company in June 2014.
In addition, under the June 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement, Akur was appointed as joint financial adviser and Dexion Capital plc was appointed as sponsor, joint financial adviser, sole global coordinator and bookrunner in connection with the Company's IPO and its first placing.
The June 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Pursuant to the RBS Facility Agreement dated 24 October 2014 (as amended on 27 November 2014 and amended and restated on 23 February 2015) and made between (inter alios) Empiric Investments (One) Limited (the "Borrower"), (the parties listed therein as guarantors together with the Borrower, the "Obligors"), RBS (as arranger, agent, security trustee and original lender) (the "Lender") and National Westminster Bank PLC (acting as account bank and hedge counterparty) (the "RBS Facility Agreement") the Lender has made available to the Borrower a revolving (re-drawable) term loan facility of £55.5 million (the "RBS Loan").
The purpose of the RBS Loan is for such lawful purposes as the Borrower may decide (including property acquisitions, property re-financings, funding for joint ventures (investment or development), forward funding across the Group or among affiliates or as general working capital to be used in the ordinary course of business of the Group's/affiliates' investment, management, acquisition and developments of student accommodation assets) either directly or by on-lending amounts to the Obligors, or paying other relevant persons.
The Borrower may borrow the RBS Loan in the period from and including the date of the RBS Facility Agreement to and including the date falling 3 months before the Termination Date (as defined below) (the "Availability Period") by giving RBS a duly completed request (a "Utilisation Request"). Each date on which the loan is borrowed must fall within the Availability Period. Any undrawn commitments under the RBS Loan will be automatically cancelled at the end of the Availability Period.
In order to borrow further funds under the RBS Loan, amongst other conditions, the loan to value (following the utilisation) must not be greater than 50 per cent. and the total number of properties secured under the RBS Loan must be equal to or greater than six. The Borrower may bring Additional Properties (as defined in the RBS Facility Agreement) into the RBS Loan to ensure compliance with the requirements for further drawdowns, but the Lender has a right to refuse any proposed Additional Property, providing it acts reasonably in doing so subject to certain conditions.
The Borrower must repay the outstanding amount of the RBS Loan, together with all other amounts due under the Finance Documents (as defined therein), in full to the relevant parties on 24 October 2019 (the "Termination Date"). Prior to such date, the Borrower may, subject to the terms of the RBS Loan, reborrow monies that it has repaid.
The rate of interest on the RBS Loan for each interest period is the percentage rate per annum equal to the aggregate of the applicable: (a) Margin; and (b) LIBOR (both as defined in the RBS Facility Agreement). The Margin is 1.9 per cent. per annum. The interest payment dates are 31 January, 30 April, 31 July, 31 October and the Termination Date, with the first interest payment date being 31 January 2015.
The RBS Loan is secured by:
The Company has not granted any security (including over the shares of the Borrower) to the Lender, but has entered into a subordination deed dated 24 October 2014 to regulate the ranking and payment of inter-company debts owing by the Obligors to the Company.
The RBS Facility Agreement contains undertakings, representations and warranties customary for a loan facility of this nature, including:
The RBS Facility Agreement includes both a loan to value covenant ("LTV Covenant") and an interest cover covenant ("ICR Covenant"). The ICR Covenant requires that interest cover will not be less than 2:1 and is tested quarterly on each interest payment date (such dates as detailed above). The LTV Covenant requires that the loan to value should not at any time exceed 55 per cent. of the market value of the properties. The LTV Covenant may be tested at any time during the term of the RBS Loan. Any breach of the LTV Covenant (which is not remedied), and any breach of the ICR Covenant is an event of default under the RBS Facility Agreement.
In addition to the events of default arising from a breach of the LTV Covenant or the ICR Covenant, the RBS Facility Agreement includes other various events of default customary for a secured facility of this nature, including insolvency events of default which are applicable to each of the Obligors and the Company. An event of default which is continuing would entitle the Lender to:
(c) exercise or direct RBS in its capacity as security trustee to exercise any or all of its rights, remedies, powers or discretions under the Finance Documents.
The RBS Facility Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Canada Life Facility dated 11 May 2015 (as amended and restated on 29 February 2016) between Empiric Investments (Two) Limited (the "Borrower"), the companies listed in Schedule 1 of the agreement (the "Propcos") (together with the Borrower, the "Borrower Obligors") and Canada Life (the "Lender") (the "Canada Life Facility") under which the Lender has made available to the Borrower investment term loan facilities of £31.1 million ("Facility A") and £40 million ("Facility B") (the "Canada Life Loans").
The purpose of Facility A was to refinance the acquisition costs of the Original Properties (as defined in the Canada Life Facility) and the purpose of Facility B is to finance (or refinance) the acquisition costs of the Portfolio Two Original Properties (which are forward commitments that the Borrower has entered into sale agreements to purchase, but which it is not yet obliged to acquire).
The Borrower must repay Facility A in full on 14 May 2030 (the "Facility A Final Repayment Date"). The Borrower must repay £20 million of Facility B on 20 March 2024 and the remainder of Facility B on 25 July 2031 (the "Facility B Final Repayment Date").
Facility A was drawn-down in full on 14 May 2015.
On 27 July 2016, Facility B will be drawn-down in full and will be advanced to the Security Account (as defined in the Canada Life Facility). Interest will accrue on Facility B from 27 July 2016. Each of the Portfolio Two Original Properties has been given an Allocated Loan Amount (as defined in the Canada Life Facility).There are conditions precedent to the release of relevant Allocated Loan Amounts from the Security Account, which include, amongst other conditions precedent, practical completion and acquisition of the relevant Portfolio Two Original Property and the delivery of a first ranking legal charge over such relevant Portfolio Two Original Property in favour of the Lender. If, by the Longstop Date (1 June 2017), more than £5,000,000 is standing to the credit of the Security Account and has not been released, the Lender may require the Borrower to prepay all of Facility B. (This would only occur if the forward committed properties are not acquired and substitute properties are not agreed by Canada Life).
The rates of interest on the Canada Life Loans are the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of (a) the applicable Margin; and (b) the applicable Reference Gilt Rate (both as defined in the Canada Life Facility) (the "Interest Rate"). The Margin in respect of Facility A is 1.75 per cent per annum and the Margin in respect of Facility B is 2.01 per cent per annum. The amount of interest payable in respect of the Canada Life Loans shall be calculated by applying the Interest Rate to the amount of the Canada Life Loans, dividing the product of such calculation by four and rounding the resulting figure upwards to the nearest penny. The interest payment dates are 20 March, 20 June, 20 September and 20 December in each year and the relevant Final Repayment Date.
The Canada Life Loans are secured by:
(a) a first ranking debenture dated 14 May 2015 granted by the Borrower and the First Propco's (as defined in the Canada Life Facility) and a debenture dated 29 February 2016 granted by the Borrower and the Second Propcos (as defined in the Canada Life Facility) each in favour of the Lender and incorporating (without limitation), (in the case of the First Propcos) legal mortgages over the Original Properties (or any Substitute Property (as defined therein)) situated in England and Wales, and in each case, fixed charges over the accounts (other than the tenancy deposit accounts), a share charge over the entire issued share capital of each of the Propcos, assignments by way of security in respect of the rental income (other than any rental income derived from the Original Properties (or any Substitute Properties) situated in Scotland (a "Scottish Property")), insurance policy proceeds and each property management agreement and floating charges over all of their other assets and undertakings;
The Second Propcos will enter into supplemental legal charges to grant the Lender a first ranking charge over the relevant Portfolio Two Original Property when they have completed the acquisition of such property.
The Company, the Parent and the Borrower Obligors have further entered into subordination deeds dated 14 May 2015 and 29 February 2016 to regulate the ranking and payment of any inter-company debts owing by the Borrower Obligors to either the Borrower or the Parent.
The Canada Life Facility contains undertakings, representations and warranties customary for a loan facility of this nature, including:
The Canada Life Facility also includes loan to value covenants (the "LTV Covenants") and interest cover covenants (the "ICR Covenants").
Any breach of the LTV Covenant or an ICR Covenant (if not remedied) is an event of default under the Canada Life Facility and the Borrower may not exercise its rights to remedy the breach more than three times during the lifetime of the Canada Life Facility.
In addition to the events of default arising from a breach of the LTV Covenants or the ICR Covenants, the Canada Life Facility includes other events of default customary for a secured facility of this nature, including insolvency events of default which are applicable to each of the Borrower Obligors, the Parent and the Company. An event of default which is continuing would entitle the Lender to:
The Canada Life Facility includes a mandatory prepayment obligation if any person acquires more than 50 per cent. ownership or control of the Company and Canada Life is not satisfied that the change of control does not have a negative impact on the risk profile of the Loans.
The Canada Life Facility is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Santander Loan Facility dated 30 April 2014 as amended by an amendment letter dated 20 June 2015 (the "Amendment Letter") between Spring Roscoe Limited (the "Borrower") and Santander UK plc (the "Lender") (the "Santander Loan Facility") under which the Lender has made available to the Borrower a term loan facility of an amount not exceeding £19,410,000 (the "Santander Loan").
The Santander Loan was drawn down by way of a single advance within the Availability Period (which was 14 days from the date of entry into the Santander Loan Facility).
The Borrower must repay the Santander Loan in instalments by repaying an amount of £187,500 to the Lender quarterly from the Utilisation Date and quarterly thereafter (the "Interest Repayment Date"). The Borrower shall repay any amount of the Santander Loan outstanding and all other amounts owed to the Lender under the Santander Loan Facility on the date falling 5 years after the Utilisation Date (the "Final Repayment Date").
The rate of interest on the Santander Loan is the percentage rate per annum which is the aggregate of (a) the Margin; and (b) LIBOR (both as defined in the Santander Loan Facility). The Margin is 2.5 per cent. per annum. If the Borrower fails to pay an amount payable to it under a Finance Document (as defined therein) on its due date, default interest shall accrue on the overdue amount from the due date up to the date of actual payment at a rate which is 2 per cent. higher than the rate which would have been payable if the overdue amount had, during the period of non-payment, constituted the Santander Loan for successive interest periods, each of a duration selected by the Lender (acting reasonably).
All obligations of the Borrower to the Lender under the Finance Documents (as defined therein) are secured by:
(c) all security which may be granted in favour of the Lender from time to time in relation to the obligations of the Borrower to the Lender.
The Santander Loan Facility contains undertakings, representations and warranties customary for a loan facility of this nature, including:
The Santander Loan Facility also includes financial covenants (the "Financial Covenants") that apply while any amount is outstanding under the Finance Documents. The Borrower must ensure that:
The Financial Covenants shall be tested on each Interest Repayment Date and the Borrower shall supply to the Lender a compliance certificate within 10 days of each Financial Covenant test setting out the computations as to compliance with the above Financial Covenants.
The Santander Loan Facility includes events of default customary for a secured facility of this nature, including breach of the Financial Covenants, a breach of certain undertakings given by the Borrower, an insolvency event applicable to the Borrower or if the entire issued share capital of the Borrower ceases to be legally and beneficially owned by Empiric Acquisitions Limited. An event of default which is continuing would entitle the Lender to:
The Santander Loan Facility is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Loan Facility Agreement dated 7 August 2014 (as amended on 18 November 2015) between Close Brothers Limited and Empiric (Southampton) Limited pursuant to which Close Brothers Limited has granted Empiric (Southampton) Limited a loan of £10,030,000 based on the terms and conditions set out in the agreement (as amended) (the "Facility"). The purpose of the Facility is to assist with the costs of building works at Brunswick House (including professional costs and fees and non-refundable VAT due), to contribute towards interest payments on the Facility and towards the cost of the contribution to be made under the terms of a S.106 agreement relating to the property.
The Facility shall expire on 31 December 2016 unless otherwise renewed. Notwithstanding this, the Facility is repayable on demand.
The Facility is secured by (i) a legal debenture over Empiric (Southampton) Limited's assets and undertaking, (ii) a legal charge over Brunswick House, (iii) an intercreditor deed between Close Brothers Limited, the Company and Revcap, (iv) appropriate collateral warranties from the contractor and other relevant professionals (including sub-contractors) involved in the development of Brunswick House, (v) an assignment by way of first charge over the performance bond in respect of the building contract (the bond being 10 per cent. of the building contract), (vi) an assignment of rental income from Brunswick House in favour of Close Brothers Limited and (vii) all existing and future security granted by Empiric (Southampton) Limited to Close Brothers Limited from time to time.
Interest on the Facility shall accrue daily on the total outstanding balance at the rate of 4 per cent. per annum above one month LIBOR fixed for each interest period. The minimum effective rate of interest payable shall be 5 per cent. per annum. Empiric (Southampton) Limited can capitalise monthly interest payments up to £350,000 and thereafter must provide sufficient funds to meet further interest payments. A release fee of £178,000 is payable by Empiric (Southampton) Limited upon the sale or letting of Brunswick House or upon the repayment in full or expiry of the Facility or, if at any time, the Facility goes into default.
The Loan Facility Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The following documents have been entered into in connection with the joint venture relating to Brunswick House (Southampton):
The Shareholders' Agreement dated 30 July 2014 between KH II 117 Limited ("KH II"), the Company (each a "Shareholder"), Empiric (Southampton) Limited, Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway and relating to Empiric (Southampton) Limited, pursuant to which the Shareholders have recorded the terms on which they will continue as shareholders of Empiric (Southampton) Limited.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Company, Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway (the "ESP Parties") undertake to disclose to KH II, from the date of the agreement until 7 July 2017, any Relevant Project (as defined in the Revcap Development Framework Agreement, the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.14 below) that has a total project cost of more than £3,000,000 (a "Business Opportunity"). The ESP Parties also undertake not to participate in any Business Opportunity unless it has first been rejected by KH II, deemed to have been rejected by KH II not expressly notifying the ESP Parties within 10 business days that it wishes to pursue such Business Opportunity or unless KH II has provided prior written consent to the ESP Parties.
Each of the Shareholders is obliged to enter into the Shareholders' Loan Agreement (the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.11(b) below) as a mechanism for providing funding for Brunswick House and its development (as set out in the relevant business plan).
After the expiration of the period of 36 months from the date of the agreement (the "Lock in Period"), either Shareholder will have the option to terminate the agreement by giving notice in writing (a "Trigger Notice") to the other. The Shareholders may not create an artificial deadlock. If a Trigger Notice is served, then there is a 1 month negotiation period during which the parties will enter into good faith discussions with a view to agreeing a mutually acceptable exit and failing successful resolution the Shareholders would trigger an auction process.
The agreement contains certain transfer limitations namely that a Shareholder may not assign, transfer or dispose of its shareholding before the Lock-in Period ends except for KH II who may make certain inter-group transfers and no transfer, assignment or disposal shall occur without repayment in full of any advances under the Shareholders' Loan Agreement and any additional and/or emergency funding made by the Shareholders including all interest accrued.
The Shareholders' Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
(b) Shareholders' Loan Agreement
The Shareholders' Loan Agreement dated 30 July 2014 between KH II, the Company (each a "Shareholder") and Empiric (Southampton) Limited and relating to Empiric (Southampton) Limited pursuant to which each Shareholder has agreed to make loan facilities available to Empiric (Southampton) Limited to fund the business. Under the agreement, Empiric (Southampton) Limited can request, in writing, for a specified amount (an "Advance") not exceeding the maximum amount (£2,500,000 for each of KH II and the Company) for the purposes of meeting its business objectives and each Shareholder will provide this Advance within 10 business days. The Advance made by the Company shall be on an interest-free basis. The Advance made by KH II shall attract interest reflecting a 2 per cent. IRR. Each Advance shall be repayable in accordance with the provisions of the Brunswick House Shareholders' Agreement and immediately upon the sale of Brunswick House. On repayment of the Advance, Empiric (Southampton) Limited shall pay KH II a repayment fee calculated in accordance with the formula set out in the agreement.
The Shareholders' Loan Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
(c) Asset Management Agreement
The Asset Management Agreement dated 30 July 2014 between Empiric (Southampton) Limited, Empiric (Developments) Limited, Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway and relating to Empiric (Southampton) Limited. Under this Agreement Empiric (Developments) Limited as Asset Manager will carry out certain services in relation to the management and operation of Empiric (Southampton) Limited on a day to day basis including under the terms of such appointment, co-ordinating and being responsible for payments owed by Empiric (Southampton) Limited for third party costs.
In consideration for the performance of its obligations, Empiric Developments shall be paid an amount equal to 3.5 per cent. of the building contract price in relation to the development of Brunswick House (Southampton) (the building contract to be in a form and price agreed by Empiric (Southampton) Limited). The appointment of Empiric Developments will continue unless terminated in accordance with the terms of the agreement or if Empiric (Southampton) Limited ceases to own Brunswick House (Southampton) (and any other properties acquired by it).
The agreement may also be terminated by Empiric (Southampton) Limited (acting by the Revcap directors alone) on three months' prior written notice or on termination of the Brunswick House Shareholders' Agreement (the terms of which are summarised in paragraph (a) above). Empiric (Southampton) Limited (acting by the Revcap directors alone) may terminate the agreement without cause if the Shareholders' Agreement terminates due to an event of default on the part of the Company, if a trigger event occurs, if there is any mismanagement or negligence by Empiric Developments, a material breach of the agreement by Empiric Developments or if the Company ceases to be a shareholder of Empiric (Southampton) Limited.
The Asset Management Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The following documents have been entered into in connection with the joint venture relating to Willowbank (Glasgow):
(a) Shareholders' Agreement
The Shareholders' Agreement dated 28 August 2014 between KH II, the Company, Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway and relating to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited. The terms of the Shareholder's Agreement are in materially identical form to the Shareholders' Agreement relating to Empiric (Southampton) Limited, the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.11(a) above.
(b) Shareholders' Loan Agreement
The Shareholders' Loan Agreement dated 28 August 2014 between KH II, the Company and Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, and relating to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited. The terms of the Shareholder's Loan Agreement are in materially identical form to the Shareholders' Loan Agreement relating to Empiric (Southampton) Limited, the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.11(b) above.
(c) Asset Management Agreement
The Asset Management Agreement dated 28 August 2014 between Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, Empiric Developments, Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway and relating to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited. The terms of the Asset Management Agreement are in materially identical form to the Asset Management Agreement relating to Empiric (Southampton) Limited, the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.11(c) above.
(d) The Fronting Agreement
The Fronting Agreement dated 28 August 2014 between Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, LCPP and the Company pursuant to which LCPP as trustee agreed to conclude a conditional contract (the "Missives") to acquire Willowbank, implement the instructions of Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, as beneficiary, concerning any due diligence relevant to Willowbank, submit and conduct any planning appeal or proceedings as may be requested by Empiric (Glasgow) Limited and if various preconditions are completed or waived, to allow Empiric (Glasgow) Limited to take title to Willowbank.
Under the agreement, LCPP has agreed to hold the Missives on trust for Empiric (Glasgow) Limited until such time as it can transfer title to Willowbank to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited subject to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited complying with any obligations of a new purchaser in terms of the Missives.
In return Empiric (Glasgow) Limited and the Company shall ensure that LCPP complies fully with its obligations and Empiric (Glasgow) Limited undertakes to pay all professional fees incurred on behalf of it in relation to the conclusion of the Missives, make all payments to be paid by LCPP in terms of the Missives to LCPP and make all payments to be paid by the Company in terms of the Guarantee (the terms of which are summarised in paragraph (e) below).
The total aggregate financial liability of the Company to LCPP under the Guarantee and the Fronting Agreement shall not exceed £4 million.
The Fronting Agreement is governed by Scots Law.
The Guarantee dated 15 August 2014 by the Company in favour of Glasgow City Council (the "Council") to guarantee payment of the purchase price of Willowbank in full by LCPP under the Missives and the obligations undertaken by LCPP in terms of the appended minute of agreement in relation to the Council.
The Company, as guarantor, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantees to the Council full and punctual payment and/or performance by LCPP of all of LCPP's present and future obligations (the "Obligations") up to a maximum liability of £4 million and failing payment and/or performance of the Obligations, the Company will make payment or effect performance of the Obligations, together with all costs and expenses reasonably incurred by the Council in connection with the enforcement of the Guarantee together with interest but excluding other liabilities and expenses incurred by the Council by reason of such failure.
The Guarantee will be enforceable so long as any liability on the part of LCPP in relation to the Missives or the minute of agreement, or on the part of the Company under this Guarantee, remains unfulfilled and will not be discharged or prejudiced by any release or neglect of an obligation by the Council or any variation of the terms of the minute of agreement or the Missives.
The Council has the right to assign or transfer the Guarantee to any statutory successor of the Council but not to anyone else. The Company has no right to assign or transfer its rights or obligations under the Guarantee. If LCPP sells Willowbank then the Company must provide a replica guarantee to the Council in respect of the obligations of any new owner at which point, provided that the new owner is of sound financial standing and can perform its obligations under its guarantee, the Council shall grant the Company a valid discharge of the Guarantee.
The obligations of LCPP survive liquidation of LCPP and other insolvency events and will continue to be due and outstanding until fully paid or performed by the Company or until it reaches its maximum liability.
The Guarantee is governed by Scots law.
The Loan Facility Agreement dated 17 March 2015 between Close Brothers Limited and Empiric (Glasgow) Limited pursuant to which Close Brothers Limited has granted Empiric (Glasgow) Limited a loan of £10,140,000 based on the terms and conditions set out in the agreement (the "Willowbank Facility").
The purpose of the Willowbank Facility is to provide, £9,750,000 towards the building works at the property known as Willowbank (Glasgow) (including professional costs and fees and non-refundable VAT due) and £390,000 towards interest payments on the Willowbank Facility.
The Willowbank Facility shall expire on the earlier of 31 January 2017 or the last calendar day of the eighteenth month from drawdown above.
The Willowbank Facility is secured by (i) a floating charge over Empiric (Glasgow) Limited's assets and undertaking, (ii) a first standard security over the property known as Willowbank, (iii) an intercreditor deed between Close Brothers Limited and Glasgow City Council granting Close Brothers Limited unlimited priority in respect of Glasgow City Council's charge over the property known as Willowbank and any overage payment that may become payable pursuant to the Overage Agreement (as defined therein), (iv) an intercreditor deed between Close Brothers Limited, the Company and Revcap, (v) appropriate collateral warranties from the building contractor and other relevant professionals involved in the development of the property known as Willowbank and (vi) all existing and future security granted by Empiric (Glasgow) Limited to Close Brothers Limited from time to time.
Interest on the Willowbank Facility shall accrue daily on the total outstanding balance at the rate of 4.5 per cent. per annum above one month LIBOR fixed for each interest period. The minimum effective rate of interest payable shall be 5.5 per cent. per annum. Empiric (Glasgow) Limited can capitalise monthly interest payments up to £390,000 and thereafter must provide sufficient funds to meet further interest payments. A release fee of £195,000 is payable by Empiric (Glasgow) Limited upon the sale or letting of the property known as Willowbank or upon the repayment in full or expiry of the Willowbank Facility or if, at any time, the Facility goes into default.
The Willowbank Facility is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Revcap Development Framework Agreement dated 16 June 2014 between Revcap and the Company. The Revcap Development Framework Agreement sets out a framework under which the Company and Revcap agree to cooperate through a joint venture to identify, acquire, secure planning and develop suitable properties and sites that can be developed or converted into prime student residential accommodation across Russell Group (or similar quality) university cities (a "Relevant Project").
Each project will be acquired via a separate joint venture company and will be owned 50/50 between the Company (or a subsidiary of the Company) and an affiliated Revcap company. For a period of 36 months (the "Lock up Period"), both the Company and Revcap will each contribute a maximum of up to £15 million in capital to all such joint venture projects. Such capital will be drawn down from the Company and Revcap, in equal proportion, into development joint ventures as required.
In connection with each joint venture development with Revcap, Empiric Developments will enter into an asset management agreement pursuant to which Empiric Developments will be responsible for the day-to-day project management of each joint venture development. During the construction period, Empiric Developments will receive a fee equal to 3.5 per cent. of the pre-agreed construction cost, payable quarterly. Empiric Developments will also be entitled to receive an incentive profit share from each joint venture development, based on the IRR achieved. Distributions relating to a joint venture project will be distributed in the following order of priority: (i) first, pari passu between the joint venture parties until each has received an IRR of 20 per cent. on invested capital, and (ii) second 20 per cent. to Empiric Developments and 80 per cent. pari passu between the Company and Revcap.
The Company will have a right to procure repayment by a joint venture company of the Revcap shareholder loan and to purchase Revcap's interest in the joint venture company. If the offer to repay the Revcap shareholder loan is approved by unanimous approval of the members' board, the Company would procure that the joint venture company repays the loan and pays a repayment fee equal to Revcap's agreed profit share for the project. If this right is exercised, the IRR incentive profit share (if any) due to the Company (as described above) would be reflected in an adjustment to the amount due on repayment of the Revcap shareholder loan. This pre-emption process would be capable of being triggered only once in relation to each relevant transaction.
After expiration of the period of 36 months from the entry into of the joint venture (the "Lock-in Period"), either the Company or Revcap will have the option of winding up the joint venture by providing notice to the other.
The Company, Paul Hadaway or Timothy Attlee (or any associates of Paul Hadaway or Timothy Attlee) (together the "ESP Parties"), undertake to disclose any Relevant Project to Revcap for a period of three years from the date of the agreement that has a total project cost of more than £3,000,000.
The Revcap Development Framework Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Investment Support Agreement dated 16 June 2014 (as amended) between Revcap and the Company pursuant to which Revcap was appointed by the Company to provide certain investment support services to the Board in connection with the operation of its business.
Under the Investment Support Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Revcap as consideration for the provision of its services a fee which shall accrue annually at a rate of 0.2 per cent of the Net Asset Value (but adjusted to exclude any cash balances held by the Company from time to time), which fee shall be payable in arrears each quarter based on the last published Net Asset Value (calculated before deduction of any accrued fee for that quarter) but subject always to a minimum annual payment of £200,000 and a capped maximum annual payment of £300,000. Fees payable will be subject to VAT.
The Investment Support Agreement and the appointment of Revcap shall continue in force unless and until terminated by the Company or Revcap giving to the other not less than 12 months' written notice, such notice not to be served before 30 June 2016. The agreement may also be terminated immediately by the Company on the occurrence of certain events.
The Investment Support Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Depositary Agreement dated 27 November 2014 entered into between the Company and Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited pursuant to which the Company appointed the Depositary to act as the sole depositary of the Company and be responsible for: (i) ensuring the Company's cash flows are properly monitored; (ii) the safe keeping of the assets of the Company; and (iii) the oversight and supervision of the Company (as its own AIFM).
Under the terms of the Depositary Agreement, the Depositary is entitled to an initial fee of £3,000 and a depositary fee of £20,000 per annum but subject to increase in line with the increase in the Company's assets under management up to a maximum fee of £40,000 per annum (exclusive of VAT). The Depositary is entitled to reimbursement of all expenses (exclusive of VAT) properly incurred in connection with its duties.
The Depositary Agreement is terminable by either the Company on one month's written notice or the Depositary on three months' written notice (unless it is unable for regulatory reasons to perform its duties in which case it can terminate on one month's notice). The Depositary Agreement may be terminated with immediate effect by either the Company or the Depositary on the occurrence of certain events, including inter alia: the Depositary ceasing to be an authorised person permitted under FSMA to act as a depositary, the Company ceasing to be authorised as an internally managed AIF, a breach of warranty by the Company or in the case of insolvency of the Company.
The Company has given certain market standard indemnities in favour of the Depositary in respect of the Depositary's potential losses in carrying on its responsibilities under the Depositary Agreement.
The Depositary Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement dated 16 June 2014 between the Company and FIM Capital Limited pursuant to which the Administrator agreed to act as company secretary and administrator to the Company and its subsidiaries.
Under the terms of the Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement, the Administrator is entitled to a fee of £30,000 per annum (exclusive of VAT). This fee is subject to review annually.
The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement contains provisions whereby the Company indemnifies and holds harmless the Administrator, its affiliates and their directors, officers, employees and agents from and against any and all losses incurred by such parties resulting or arising from the Company's breach of the Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement except to the extent that any such claims have resulted from the negligence, fraud, breach of the Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement by the Administrator.
The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement is terminable, inter alia, (a) upon six months' written notice, or (b) immediately upon the occurrence of certain events including the insolvency of the Company or the Administrator or a party committing a material breach of the Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement (where such breach has not been remedied within thirty days of written notice being given).
The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Registrar Agreement dated 16 June 2014 between the Company and Computershare Investor Services PLC pursuant to which the Registrar agreed to act as registrar to the Company.
Under the agreement, the Registrar is entitled to a fee calculated on the basis of the number of Shareholders and the number of transfers processed (exclusive of any VAT). The Registrar is also entitled to reimbursement of all out of pocket costs, expenses and charges properly incurred on behalf of the Company.
The Registrar Agreement may be terminated on six months' notice by either party, such notice not to expire prior to the end of the second year of appointment and is also terminable on shorter notice in the event of breach of the agreement or insolvency.
The Company has given certain market standard indemnities in favour of the Registrar in respect of the Registrar's potential losses in carrying on its responsibilities under the Registrar Agreement. The Registrar's liabilities under the Registrar Agreement are subject to a cap.
The Registrar Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Receiving Agent Agreement dated 1 March 2016 between the Company and Computershare Investor Services PLC pursuant to which the Receiving Agent has agreed to act as receiving agent in connection with the Initial Open Offer and the Initial Offer for Subscription. Under the terms of the agreement, the Receiving Agent is entitled to a fee at an hourly rate, plus a processing fee per application. The Receiving Agent will also be entitled to reimbursement of all out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred by it in connection with its duties.
The Company has given certain market standard indemnities in favour of the Receiving Agent in respect of the Receiving Agent's potential losses in carrying on its responsibilities under the Receiving Agent Agreement. The Receiving Agent's liabilities under the Receiving Agent Agreement are subject to a cap.
The Receiving Agent Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
There are no governmental, legal or arbitration proceedings, (including any such proceedings pending or threatened of which the Company is aware) during a period covering at least the previous 12 months which may have, or have had in the recent past, a significant effect on the Company and/or the Group's financial position or profitability.
Save to the extent disclosed below, there has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of the Group since 31 December 2015, being the end of the period covered by the historical financial information:
Save for the entry into of, (i) the sale and purchase agreements relating to the acquisition of College Green (Bristol), Summit House (Cardiff), Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter) and Edge Apartments (Birmingham), (ii) the Guarantee, and (iii) the Fronting Agreement, the Company has not entered into any related party transaction at any time during the period from incorporation to the date of this Registration Document.
The Principal Bases and Assumptions used in calculating the dividends, total shareholder return and targeted annual growth in Net Asset Value figures given in this Registration Document in relation to the Shares are:
| Issue size | £90 million |
|---|---|
| Investment basis | Invested on a straight line basis from Initial Admission to the end of August 2016 in respect of standing assets |
| Occupancy assumption | 97.5 per cent. occupancy across the portfolio |
| Tenancy contract length | 51 weeks |
| Rental inflation | 3.0 per cent. per annum |
| Total expense ratio | 1.2 per cent. at the time of full investment of the net proceeds of the Initial Issue |
| Leverage ratio (LTV) | 35 per cent. |
| Development portfolio allocation | Average of 15 per cent. of Net Asset Value (excluding land costs and development costs funded by debt) |
| Development portfolio timing (acquisition to practical completion) |
12-24 months from deployment of development capital |
| Net initial yield on standing assets | 6.25 per cent. |
| Yield on costs on forward funded assets | 7.5 per cent. |
Shareholders should note that these principal bases and assumptions do not constitute a profit forecast and the Company's actual returns will be based on a number of factors, any one of which, if not achieved, may result in a lower rate of return to Shareholders.
14.1 CBRE Limited has given and not withdrawn its written consent to the inclusion in this document of references to its name in the form and context in which it appears and has authorised the contents of the Valuation Report for the purposes of Prospectus Rule 5.5.3R(2)(f). CBRE accepts responsibility for the Valuation Report. To the best of the knowledge and belief of CBRE (who has taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in the Valuation Report is in accordance with the facts and contains no omission likely to affect the import of such information. CBRE was incorporated in England and Wales on 27 March 1998 as a private limited company under the Companies Act 2006 (registered number 03536032). CBRE's registered office is situated at St Martin's Court, 10 Paternoster Row, London EC4M 7HP (telephone number 0207 182 2000).
The following definitions apply throughout this Registration Document unless the context requires otherwise:
| Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement |
the administration and company secretarial agreement between the Company and the Administrator, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.17 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|---|---|
| Administrator | FIM Capital Limited, in its capacity as the Company's administrator and company secretary |
| Admission | admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market of Shares becoming effective in accordance with the LSE Admission Standards and admission of Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List becoming effective in accordance with the Listing Rules |
| AIC | the Association of Investment Companies |
| AIC Code | the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, as amended from time to time |
| AIC Guide | the AIC Corporate Governance Guide for Investment Companies, as amended from time to time |
| AIF | an alternative investment fund |
| AIFM | an alternative investment fund manager |
| AIFM Directive | the European Union's Alternative Investment Fund Managers directive (No. 2071/61/EU) and all legislation made pursuant thereto, including, where applicable, the applicable implementing legislation and regulations in each member state of the European Union |
| AIFM Regulations | the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations 2013 of the United Kingdom (SI 2013/1773) |
| Akur | Akur Limited |
| Articles | the articles of association of the Company |
| Audit Committee | the audit committee of the Board |
| Brunswick House Development Facility Agreement |
the loan facility agreement dated 7 August 2014 between Close Brothers Limited and Empiric (Southampton) Limited, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.10 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| Business Day | any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday in the City of London |
| Canada Life | Canada Life Limited |
|---|---|
| Canada Life Loans | the investment term loan facilities of £31.1 million and £40 million pursuant to the Canada Life Facility |
| Canada Life Facility | the facility agreement dated 11 May 2015 (as amended and restated on 29 February 2016) between Empiric Investments (Two) Limited (as borrower), the companies listed in Schedule 1 therein and Canada Life Limited, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.8 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| Capital gains tax or CGT | UK taxation of capital gains or corporation tax on chargeable gains, as the context may require |
| certificated or in certificated form |
not in uncertificated form |
| Companies Act or Act | the Companies Act 2006 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Company | Empiric Student Property Plc |
| CREST Manual | the compendium of documents entitled "CREST Manual" issued by Euroclear from time-to-time |
| CREST | the computerised settlement system operated by Euroclear which facilitates the transfer of title to shares in uncertificated form |
| CTA 2009 | Corporation Tax Act 2009 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| CTA 2010 | Corporation Tax Act 2010 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Depositary | Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited |
| Depositary Agreement | the depositary agreement between the Company and the Depositary, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.16 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| Directors or Board | the board of directors of the Company |
| direct let agreements | direct leases and/or licences for a dwelling with students |
| Disclosure and Transparency Rules |
the disclosure and transparency rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority under Section 73A of FSMA |
| Distribution | any dividend or other distribution on or in respect of the Shares of the Company and references to a Distribution being paid include a distribution not involving a cash payment being made |
| Distribution Transfer | a disposal or transfer (however effected) by a person of his rights to a Distribution from the Company such that he is not beneficially entitled (directly or indirectly) to such a |
| Distribution and no person who is so entitled subsequent to such disposal or transfer (whether the immediate transferee or not) is (whether as a result of the transfer or not) a Substantial Shareholder |
|
|---|---|
| Distribution Transfer Certificate | a certificate in such form as the Directors may specify from time to time to the effect that the relevant person has made a Distribution Transfer, which certificate may be required by the Directors to satisfy them that a Substantial Shareholder is not beneficially entitled (directly or indirectly) to a Distribution |
| EBT | the employee benefit trust of the Group under which the LTIP operates |
| Empiric Developments | Empiric (Developments) Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company established to receive development management fees from the Group's development projects |
| EPRA | the European Public Real Estate Association |
| ERISA | U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1976, as amended |
| EU | the European Union |
| Euroclear | Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, being the operator of CREST |
| Excess Charge | in relation to a Distribution which is paid or payable to a person, all tax or other amounts which the Directors consider may become payable by the Company under Section 551 of the CTA 2010 and any interest, penalties, fines or surcharge attributable to such tax as a result of such Distribution being paid to or in respect of that person |
| Excluded Shareholders | subject to certain exceptions, Shareholders who have a registered address in, who are incorporated in, registered in or otherwise resident or located in any Excluded Territory |
| Excluded Territory | Australia, Canada, Japan and the Republic of South Africa |
| Executive Directors | the executive directors of the Company being at the date of this Registration Document, Paul Hadaway, Timothy Attlee and Michael Enright |
| FCA | the Financial Conduct Authority |
| February 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement |
the placing and offer for subscription agreement dated 25 February 2015 entered into between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.4 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| First Share Issuance Programme the first share issuance programme established by the Company as described in the prospectus dated 30 October 2014 |
| FRI | full repairing and insuring |
|---|---|
| Fronting Agreement | the agreement dated 28 August 2014 entered into between Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, LCPP and the Company, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.12(d) of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| FSMA | the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Future Securities Note | a securities note to be issued in the future by the Company in respect of each issue (not being a Placing Only Issue), if any, of Shares (other than pursuant to the Initial Issue) made pursuant to this Registration Document and subject to separate approval by the FCA |
| Future Summary | a summary to be issued in the future by the Company in respect of each issue (not being a Placing Only Issue), if any, of Shares (other than pursuant to the Initial Issue) made pursuant to this Registration Document and subject to separate approval by the FCA |
| Fully Let | an occupancy and/or income level of the operating portfolio of 97.5 per cent. or more; |
| Group | the Company and the other companies in its group for the purposes of Section 606 of CTA 2010 |
| Gross Asset Value | the aggregate value of the total assets of the Company as determined in accordance with the accounting principles adopted by the Company from time-to-time |
| Guarantee | the guarantee dated 15 August 2014 entered into between the Company and Glasgow City Council, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.12(e) of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| HEI | higher education institute |
| HMRC | Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs |
| IFRS | International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union |
| Initial Admission | Admission pursuant to the Initial Issue |
| Initial Issue | together, the Initial Open Offer, the Initial Placing and the Initial Offer for Subscription |
| Initial Offer for Subscription | the first offer for subscription of Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close on 16 March 2016 |
| Initial Open Offer | the first conditional offer to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close 16 March 2016, |
| constituting an invitation to apply for Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in the Securities Note |
|
|---|---|
| Initial Placing | the first placing of Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close on 1 March 2016 |
| interest in the Company | includes, without limitation, an interest in a Distribution made or to be made by the Company |
| Investment Support Agreement | the investment support agreement entered into between the Company and Revcap, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.15 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| IPO | the admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market of the share capital of the Company and admission of Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List on 30 June 2014 |
| IRR | internal rate of return |
| ISA | UK individual savings account |
| ISIN | International Securities Identification Number |
| ITA | the Income Tax Act 2007 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Jefferies | Jefferies International Limited |
| July 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement |
the placing and offer for subscription agreement dated 8 July 2015 entered into between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.3 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| June 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement |
the placing and offer for subscription agreement dated 16 June 2014 entered into between the Company, the directors as at that date, London Cornwall Property Partners, Dexion Capital plc and Akur, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.6 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| LCPP | London Cornwall Property Partners Limited |
| LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
| Listing Rules | the listing rules made by the UK Listing Authority pursuant to Part VI of the FSMA |
| London Stock Exchange | London Stock Exchange plc |
| LTIP | the Company's long term incentive plan, a summary of the key terms of which is set out in paragraph 6.1 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| Main Market | the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities |
| member account ID | the identification code or number attached to any member account in CREST |
|---|---|
| Net Asset Value or NAV | the value, as at any date, of the assets of the Company after deduction of all liabilities determined in accordance with the accounting policies adopted by the Company from time-to-time |
| Net Asset Value per Share or NAV per Share |
at any time the Net Asset Value attributable to the Shares divided by the number of Shares in issue (other than Shares held in treasury) at the date of calculation |
| Nominations Committee | the nominations committee of the Board |
| Non-PID Dividend | a distribution by the Company which is not a PID |
| October 2014 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement |
the placing and offer for subscription agreement dated 30 October 2014 entered into between the Company, the directors as at that date, Jefferies and Akur, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.5 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| October 2015 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement |
the placing and offer for subscription agreement dated 8 October 2015 entered into between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.2 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| Office | the registered office for the time being of the Company |
| Official List | the Official List of the UK Listing Authority |
| Overseas Persons | a potential investor who is not resident in, or who is not a citizen of, the UK |
| person | includes a body of persons, corporate or unincorporated, wherever domiciled |
| PID or Property Income Distribution |
the distribution by the Company of the profits of the Company's Property Rental Business by way of a dividend in cash or the issue of share capital in lieu of a cash dividend in accordance with Section 530 of the CTA 2010 |
| Placing Only Issue | an issue under the Share Issuance Programme which comprises only a placing and does not include an offer for subscription or an open offer component |
| Principal Bases and Assumptions |
the principal bases and assumptions set out in paragraph 13 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| Property Portfolio | the current property portfolio as at the date of this document as set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document |
| Property Rental Business | the qualifying property rental business in the UK and elsewhere of UK resident companies within a REIT and non-UK resident companies within a REIT with a UK qualifying property rental business |
| Prospectus | the prospectus prepared in accordance with the Prospectus Rules comprising this Registration Document, the Securities Note and the Summary, each dated 1 March 2016 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Prospectus Directive | the EU Prospectus Directive 2003/71/EC | |
| Prospectus Rules | the prospectus rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority under Section 73A of FSMA |
|
| Qualifying Shareholders | holders of Shares on the register of members of the Company at the Record Date with the exclusion of Excluded Shareholders |
|
| RBS | The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc | |
| RBS Loan | the investment term loan facility of up to £55.5 million pursuant to the RBS Facility Agreement |
|
| RBS Facility Agreement | the facility agreement dated 24 October 2014 between (inter alium) Empiric Investments (One) Limited, RBS (acting as agent for National Westminster Bank Plc) and the financial lenders listed therein, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.7 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|
| Receiving Agent | Computershare Investor Services PLC, in its capacity as the Company's receiving agent |
|
| Receiving Agent Agreement | the receiving agent agreement between the Company and the Receiving Agent, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.19 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|
| Record Date | 5.00 p.m. on 26 February 2016 | |
| Register | the register of members of the Company | |
| Registrar | Computershare Investor Services PLC, in its capacity as the Company's registrar |
|
| Registrar Agreement | the registrar agreement between the Company and the Registrar, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.18 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|
| Regulation S | Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act | |
| Regulatory Information Service | a service authorised by the UKLA to release regulatory announcements to the London Stock Exchange |
|
| REIT or Real Estate Investment Trust |
a Real Estate Investment Trust as defined in Part 12 of the CTA 2010 |
|
| REIT Notice | the notice by the Company for the Group to become a REIT |
| Relevant Registered Shareholder a Shareholder who holds all or some of the shares in the Company that comprise a Substantial Shareholding (whether or not a Substantial Shareholder) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Remuneration Committee | the remuneration committee of the Board | |
| Residual Business | that part of the business of companies within a REIT that is not part of the Property Rental Business |
|
| Reporting Obligation | any obligation from time to time of the Company to provide information or reports to HMRC as a result of or in connection with the Company's status, or the Group's status as a REIT |
|
| Revcap | Revcap Advisors Limited | |
| Revcap Development Framework Agreement |
the joint venture development framework agreement between the Company and Revcap, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.14 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|
| RICS | Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors | |
| RPI | Retail Price Index, an inflationary indicator that measures the change in the cost of a fixed basket of retail goods as calculated on a monthly basis by the Office of National Statistics |
|
| Russell Group | the Russell Group is an association of 24 British public research universities |
|
| Santander | Santander UK plc | |
| Santander Loan | the term loan facility made pursuant to the Santander Loan Facility |
|
| Santander Loan Facility | the facility agreement dated 30 April 2014 as amended on 20 June 2015 between Spring Roscoe Limited (as borrower) and Santander (as lender), a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.9 of Part 8 of this Registration Document; |
|
| SDLT | stamp duty land tax | |
| SDRT | stamp duty reserve tax | |
| Securities Note | the securities note dated 1 March 2016 issued by the Company in respect of the Shares made available pursuant to the Initial Issue and approved by the FCA |
|
| Shareholder | a holder of Shares | |
| Shares | ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company | |
| Share Issuance Programme | the programme under which the Company intends to issue Shares in Tranches on the terms set out in the Summary and the Securities Note (and any Future Summary and Future Securities Note) |
| Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement |
the agreement relating to the Share Issuance Programme and the issues thereunder (including the Initial Issue) dated 1 March 2016 entered into between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.1 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|---|---|
| SIPP | a self-invested personal pension as defined in Regulation 3 of the UK Retirement Benefits Schemes (Restriction on Discretion to Approve) (Permitted Investments) Regulations 2001 |
| soft nominations agreement | a pari passu marketing arrangement with an HEI to place their students in private accommodation |
| SSAS | a small self-administered scheme as defined in Regulation 2 of the UK Retirement Benefits Schemes (Restriction on Discretion to Approve) (Small Self-Administered Schemes) Regulations 1991 |
| Sterling or £ | the lawful currency of the United Kingdom |
| Substantial Shareholder | any person whose interest in the Company, whether legal or beneficial, direct or indirect, may cause the Company to be liable to pay tax under Section 551 of CTA 2010 (as such legislation may be modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time) on or in connection with the making of a Distribution to or in respect of such person including, at the date of adoption of the Articles, any holder of excessive rights as defined in Section 553 of CTA 2010 |
| Substantial Shareholding | the Shares in relation to which or by virtue of which (in whole or in part) a person is a Substantial Shareholder |
| Summary | the summary dated 1 March 2016 issued by the Company in respect of the Shares made available pursuant to the Initial Issue and approved by the FCA |
| Takeover Code | the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers |
| Tranches each a Tranche | a tranche of Shares issued under the Share Issuance Programme |
| UK Corporate Governance Code | the UK Corporate Governance Code as published by the Financial Reporting Council from time-to-time |
| UKLA Model Code | the Model Code for directors' dealings contained in the Listing Rules of the UKLA |
| UK Listing Authority or UKLA | the FCA acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of FSMA |
| UK Money Laundering Regulations |
the UK Money Laundering Regulations 2007, as amended |
| United Kingdom or UK | the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| U.S. Code | U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended | |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. Exchange Act | U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended | |
| U.S. Investment Company Act | U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended | |
| U.S. Person | any person who is a U.S. person within the meaning of Regulation S adopted under the U.S. Securities Act |
|
| U.S. Securities Act | U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended | |
| Valuation Report | the valuation report prepared by CBRE in relation to the Property Portfolio, as set out at Part 6 of this Registration Document |
|
| Valuer or CBRE | CBRE Limited, in its capacity as the Company's external valuer |
|
| VAT | value added tax | |
| Willowbank | the former Willowbank Primary School, Glasgow, further details of which are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document |
THIS SECURITIES NOTE, THE REGISTRATION DOCUMENT AND THE SUMMARY ARE IMPORTANT AND REQUIRE YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt about the action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately from an independent financial adviser who is authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (as amended) ("FSMA") if you are in the United Kingdom, or from another appropriately authorised independent financial adviser if you are in a territory outside the United Kingdom.
This Securities Note, the Registration Document and the Summary together constitute a prospectus relating to Empiric Student Property Plc (the "Company") (the "Prospectus") prepared in accordance with the Prospectus Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") made pursuant to section 84 of FSMA and has been filed with the FCA in accordance with Rule 3.2 of the Prospectus Rules. The Prospectus will be made available to the public in accordance with Rule 3.2 of the Prospectus Rules at www.empiric.co.uk.
The Prospectus has been issued in connection with the issue of up to 165 million Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme. The Company may issue up to 165 million Shares in one or more tranches throughout the period commencing 1 March 2016 and ending 28 February 2017 pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme.
Applications will be made to the UK Listing Authority and the London Stock Exchange for all of the Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme to be admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities.
(incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 08886906 and registered as an investment company under Section 833 of the Companies Act)
(Including the Initial Placing, the Initial Open Offer and the Initial Offer for Subscription)
The Company and the Directors, whose names appear on page 10 of this Securities Note, accept responsibility for the information contained in the Prospectus. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the Company and the Directors (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case), the information contained in the Prospectus is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.
Potential investors should read the whole of this Securities Note, together with the Registration Document and the Summary and, in particular, their attention is drawn to the risk factors set out on pages 7 to 9 of this Securities Note and those set out in the Registration Document.
Jefferies International Limited ("Jefferies"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA is acting exclusively for the Company and for no-one else, will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of the Prospectus) as a client in relation to the Share Issuance Programme, the Initial Issue and Initial Admission and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Jefferies, nor for providing advice in connection with the Share Issuance Programme, the Initial Issue, Initial Admission, the contents of the Prospectus or any matters referred to therein.
Akur Limited ("Akur") is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the FCA. Akur is acting exclusively for the Company and for no-one else, will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of the Prospectus) as a client in relation to the Share Issuance Programme, the Initial Issue and Initial Admission and will not be responsible to anyone other than the Company for providing the protections afforded to clients of Akur, nor for providing advice in connection with the Share Issuance Programme, the Initial Issue, Initial Admission, the contents of the Prospectus or any matters referred to therein.
The Initial Open Offer will remain open until 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016, the Initial Placing will remain open until 3.00 p.m. on 16 March 2016 and the Initial Offer for Subscription will remain open until 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. Persons wishing to participate in the Initial Open Offer should complete the Open Offer Application Form or settle the relevant CREST instructions (as appropriate). To be valid, Open Offer Application Forms must be completed and returned with the appropriate remittance, by post to the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH or by hand (during business hours only), to Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE, so as to be received by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016.
Persons wishing to participate in the Initial Offer for Subscription should complete the Application Form set out in the Appendix to this Securities Note. To be valid, Application Forms must be completed and returned with the appropriate remittance, by post to the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH or by hand (during business hours only), to Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE so as to be received by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016.
If you sell or have sold or otherwise transferred your Shares in certificated form before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 (being the ex-entitlement date for the Initial Open Offer) please send the Prospectus, together with any Open Offer Application Form, if received, at once to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for delivery to the purchaser or transferee except that the Prospectus and the Open Offer Application Form should not be distributed, forwarded to or transmitted in or into any jurisdiction where to do so may constitute a violation of local securities laws or regulations, including, but not limited to, the Excluded Territories. If you sell or have sold or otherwise transferred all or some of your Shares held in uncertificated form before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 (being the ex-entitlement date for the Initial Open Offer), a claim transaction will automatically be generated by Euroclear which, on settlement, will transfer the appropriate number of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to the purchaser or transferee. If you sell or have sold or have otherwise transferred only part of your holding of Shares held in certificated form before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 (being the ex-entitlement date for the Open Offer), you should refer to the instruction regarding split applications in Part 7 of this Securities Note.
Apart from the responsibilities and liabilities, if any, which may be imposed on Jefferies and Akur by FSMA, or the regulatory regime established thereunder, or under the regulatory regime of any other jurisdiction where exclusion of liability under the relevant regulatory regime would be illegal, void or unenforceable, Jefferies and Akur do not accept any responsibility whatsoever and make no representation or warranty, express or implied, for the contents of the Prospectus, including its accuracy or completeness, or for any other statement made or purported to be made by either of them, or on behalf of them, the Company or any other person in connection with the Company or the Shares and nothing contained in the Prospectus is or shall be relied upon as a promise or representation in this respect, whether as to the past or future. Each of Jefferies and Akur accordingly disclaims all and any responsibility or liability whether arising in tort, contract or otherwise (save as referred to above) which it might otherwise have in respect of the Prospectus or any such statement.
Investors should rely only on the information contained in the Prospectus. No person has been authorised to give any information or make any representations other than those contained in the Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus published by the Company prior to Initial Admission and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been so authorised by the Group, Jefferies or Akur. Without prejudice to the Company's obligations under the Prospectus Rules, neither the delivery of the Prospectus nor any subscription for or purchase of Shares made pursuant to the Initial Issue, under any circumstances, create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the Group since, or that the information contained herein is correct at any time subsequent to, the date of the Prospectus
In connection with the Share Issuance Programme, each of Jefferies and Akur and any of their respective affiliates, acting as investors for its or their own accounts, may subscribe for or purchase Shares and in that capacity may retain, purchase, sell, offer to sell or otherwise deal for its or their own account(s) in the Shares and other securities of the Company or related investments in connection with the Share Issuance Programme or otherwise. Accordingly, references in the Prospectus to Shares being issued, offered, acquired, subscribed or otherwise dealt with, should be read as including any issue or offer to, acquisition of, or subscription or dealing by Jefferies and Akur and any of their respective affiliates acting as an investor for its or their own account(s). Neither Jefferies nor Akur nor any of their respective affiliates intends to disclose the extent of any such investment or transactions otherwise than in accordance with any legal or regulatory obligation to do so. In addition, Jefferies and Akur may enter into financing arrangements with investors, such as share swap arrangements or lending arrangements in connection with which Jefferies and Akur may from time to time acquire, hold or dispose of shareholdings in the Company.
The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or with any securities or regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and the Shares may not be offered, sold, exercised, resold, transferred or delivered, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act ("Regulation S")), except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States. There will be no public offer of the Shares in the United States. The Shares are being offered or sold only, (i) outside the United States to non U.S. Persons in offshore transactions in reliance on the exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act provided by Regulation S thereunder, and (ii) to persons that are "qualified institutional buyers" (as the term is defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act) that are also "qualified purchasers" within the meaning of section 2(a) (51) of the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "U.S. Investment Company Act") in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 506 of Regulation D under the U.S. Securities Act. The Company has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act and investors will not be entitled to the benefits of the U.S. Investment Company Act.
Copies of this Securities Note, the Registration Document and the Summary (along with any Future Securities Note and Future Summary) will be available on the Company's website (www.empiric.co.uk) and the National Storage Mechanism of the FCA at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm.
Dated: 1 March 2016
| EXPECTED TIMETABLE | Page 5 |
|
|---|---|---|
| INITIAL ISSUE STATISTICS | 6 | |
| SHARE ISSUANCE PROGRAMME STATISTICS | 6 | |
| DEALING CODES | 6 | |
| RISK FACTORS | 7 | |
| DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS | 10 | |
| IMPORTANT INFORMATION | 12 | |
| PART 1 | REASONS FOR THE SHARE ISSUANCE PROGRAMME | 16 |
| PART 2 | THE SHARE ISSUANCE PROGRAMME AND THE INITIAL ISSUE | 18 |
| PART 3 | TAXATION | 27 |
| PART 4 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 32 |
| PART 5 | AIFMD – ARTICLES 23 DISCLOSURES | 45 |
| PART 6 | TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE INITIAL PLACING | 59 |
| PART 7 | TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE INITIAL OPEN OFFER | 67 |
| PART 8 | TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE INITIAL OFFER FOR SUBSCRIPTION | 94 |
| PART 9 | DEFINITIONS AND GLOSSARY | 117 |
| Record date for entitlements under the Initial Open Offer | 5.00 p.m. on 26 February 2016 |
|---|---|
| Open Offer Application Forms dispatched to Qualifying | |
| Non-CREST Shareholders | 1 March 2016 |
| Ex-entitlement date for the Initial Open Offer | 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 |
| Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements credited to stock accounts in CREST (Qualifying CREST Shareholders only) |
As soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. on 2 March 2016 |
| Recommended latest time for requesting withdrawal of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements from CREST (i.e. if your Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements are in CREST and you wish to convert them to certificated form) |
4.30 p.m. on 10 March 2016 |
| Latest time and date for depositing Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements into CREST |
3.00 p.m. on 11 March 2016 |
| Latest time and date for splitting of Open Offer Application Forms (to satisfy bona fide market claims only) |
3.00 p.m. on 14 March 2016 |
| Latest time and date for receipt of completed Open Offer Application Forms and payment in full under the Initial Open Offer or settlement of relevant CREST instructions (as appropriate) |
11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016 |
| Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription | |
| Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription open | 1 March 2016 |
| Latest time and date for receipt of completed Application Forms and payment in full under the Initial Offer of Subscription |
11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016 |
| Latest time and date for receipt of placing commitments under the Initial Placing |
3.00 p.m. on 16 March 2016 |
| Other key dates | |
| Results of the Initial Issue announced | 8.00 a.m. on 17 March 2016 |
| General Meeting | 1.00 p.m. on 17 March 2016 |
| Initial Admission and crediting of CREST accounts in respect of the Initial Issue |
8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016 |
| Share certificates dispatched in respect of the Initial Issue | week commencing 4 April 2016 or as soon as possible thereafter |
| Further Tranches pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme | |
The times and dates set out in the expected timetable and mentioned throughout this Securities Note may, in certain circumstances, be adjusted by the Company, in which event details of the new times and dates will be notified, as required, to the UKLA and the London Stock Exchange and, where appropriate, Shareholders and an announcement will be made through a Regulatory Information Service. All references to times in this Securities Note are to London time unless otherwise stated.
| Initial Issue Price | 107.5 pence |
|---|---|
| Target size of the Initial Issue* | £90 million |
| Shares being issued pursuant to the Initial Open Offer | 55 million |
| Estimated Net Proceeds* | £88.2 million(1) |
* The number of Shares to be issued pursuant to the Initial Issue, and therefore the Gross Proceeds and the Net Proceeds of the Initial Issue, is not known as at the date of this Securities Note but will be notified by the Company via a Regulatory Information Service prior to Initial Admission. If the Initial Issue does not proceed, subscription monies received will be returned without interest at the risk of the applicant.
(1) Assuming the Initial Issue is subscribed as to £90 million.
Maximum number of Shares being made available under the Share Issuance Programme 165 million
Share Issuance Programme Price NAV per Share plus a premium*
* Further terms and conditions of issues of Shares under the Share Issuance Programme which involve either an offer for subscription and/or open offer element will, to the extent necessary, be contained in a Future Securities Note and Future Summary for each such issue.
The dealing codes for the Shares, the Basic Entitlements and the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements are as follows:
| ISIN – Shares | GB00BLWDVR75 |
|---|---|
| SEDOL – Shares | BLWDVR7 |
| Ticker – Shares | ESP |
| ISIN – Basic Entitlements | GB00BYP7YR81 |
| SEDOL – Basic Entitlements | BYP7YR81 |
| ISIN – Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements | GB00BYP7Z420 |
| SEDOL – Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements | BYP7Z420 |
Prospective investors should note that the risks relating to the Group and its industry and the Shares summarised in the "Summary" are the risks that the Board believes to be the most essential to an assessment by a prospective investor of whether to consider an investment in the Shares. However, as the risks which the Group faces relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future, prospective investors should consider not only the information on the key risks summarised in the "Summary" but also, among other things, the risks and uncertainties described below and in the section headed "Risk Factors" in the Registration Document.
The Directors believe the risks described below are the material risks relating to an investment in the Shares at the date of this Securities Note. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to the Directors, or that the Directors deem immaterial at the date of this Securities Note, may also have an adverse effect on the performance of the Company and the value of the Shares. Investors should review this Securities Note as well as the information contained in the Registration Document carefully and in its entirety and consult with their professional advisers before making an application to invest in the Shares.
The Shares may trade at a discount to NAV per Share for a variety of reasons, including adverse market conditions, a deterioration in investors' perceptions of the merits of the Company's investment objective and investment policy, an excess of supply over demand for the Shares, and to the extent investors undervalue the management activities of the Executive Directors or discount the valuation methodology and judgments made by the Company. While the Directors may seek to mitigate any discount to NAV per Share through such discount management mechanisms as they consider appropriate, there can be no guarantee that they will do so or that such mechanisms will be successful.
Prospective investors should be aware that the value and/or market price of the Shares may go down as well as up and that the market price of the Shares may not reflect the underlying value of the Company. Investors may, therefore, realise less than, or lose all of, their investment.
The market price of the Shares may not reflect the value of the underlying investments of the Group and may be subject to wide fluctuations in response to many factors, including, among other things, variations in the Company's operating results, additional issuances or future sales of the Shares or other securities exchangeable for, or convertible into, its Shares in the future, the addition or departure of Board members (in particular any of the Executive Directors), expected dividend yield, divergence in financial results from stock market expectations, changes in stock market analyst recommendations regarding the UK property market as a whole, the Company or any of its assets, a perception that other markets may have higher growth prospects, general economic conditions, prevailing interest rates, legislative changes in the Company's market and other events and factors within or outside the Company's control. Stock markets experience extreme price and volume volatility from time to time, and this, in addition to general economic, political and other conditions, may have a material adverse effect on the market price for the Shares. The market value of the Shares may vary considerably from the Company's underlying Net Asset Value. There can be no assurance, express or implied, that Shareholders will receive back the amount of their investment in the Shares.
The issue price of the Shares issued on a non-pre-emptive basis under the Share Issuance Programme cannot be lower than the latest published NAV per Share. The issue price of such Shares will be calculated by reference to the latest published unaudited NAV per Share. Such NAV per Share is determined on the basis of the information available to the Company at the time and may be subject to subsequent revisions. Accordingly, there is a risk that, had the issue price been calculated by reference to information that emerged after the calculation date, it could have been greater or lesser than the issue price actually paid by the investors. If the issue price should have been less than the issue price actually paid, investors will have borne a greater premium than intended. If the issue price should have been greater than the issue price actually paid, investors will have paid less than intended and, in certain circumstances, the Net Asset Value per Share may have been diluted.
General movement in local and international stock markets and real estate markets, prevailing and anticipated economic conditions and interest rates, investor sentiment and general economic conditions may all affect the market price of the Shares. To optimise returns, Shareholders may need to hold the Shares for the long term and the Shares are not suitable for short term investment.
The Company may seek to issue new equity in the future pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme or otherwise. While the Companies Act contains statutory pre-emption rights for Shareholders in relation to issues of shares in consideration for cash, such rights can be disapplied, and have been disapplied in relation to the maximum amount of Shares that may be issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme. Where statutory pre-emption rights are disapplied, any additional equity financing will be dilutive to those Shareholders who cannot, or choose not to, participate in such financing.
Sales of Shares or interests in the Shares by significant investors could depress the market price of the Shares. A substantial amount of Shares being sold, or the perception that sales of this type could occur, could also depress the market price of the Shares. Both scenarios, occurring either individually or collectively, may make it more difficult for Shareholders to sell the Shares at a time and price that they deem appropriate.
Investors are reminded that, in accordance with the Companies Act, Shares may only be repurchased out of the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for the purpose of the repurchase or out of distributable profits (including any reserve arising out of the cancellation of the Company's share premium account). There can be no assurance that the Company will have any such proceeds or distributable profits to allow the Company at any time to utilise any granted buy-back authority and to thereby return capital to Shareholders.
In the event of a winding-up of the Company, the Shares will rank behind any creditors of the Company and, therefore, any positive return for holders of Shares will depend on the Company's assets being sufficient to meet the prior entitlements of any creditors.
The Shares have not been registered and will not be registered in the United States under the U.S. Securities Act or with any securities or regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States. Moreover, the Shares are only being offered and sold, (i) outside the United States to non-U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act), and (ii) to persons located inside the United States or U.S. Persons that are "qualified institutional buyers" (as the term is defined in Rule 144A under the U.S. Securities Act) that are also "qualified purchasers" within the meaning of Section 2(a)(51) of the U.S. Investment Company Act in reliance on the exemption from registration provided by Rule 506 of Regulation D under the U.S. Securities Act.
If at any time the holding or beneficial ownership of any Shares in the Company by any person (whether on its own or taken with other Shares), in the opinion of the Directors: (i) would cause the assets of the Company to be treated as "plan assets" of any benefit plan investor under Section 3(42) of ERISA or the U.S. Code; or (ii) would or might result in the Company and/or its Shares being required to register or qualify under the U.S. Investment Company Act and/or the U.S. Securities Act and/or the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "U.S. Exchange Act") and/or any laws of any state of the U.S. that regulate the offering and sale of securities; or (iii) may cause the Company not to be considered a "Foreign Private Issuer" under the U.S. Exchange Act; or (iv) may cause the Company to be a "controlled foreign corporation" for the purpose of the U.S. Code; or (v) creates a significant legal or regulatory issue for the Company under the U.S. Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (as amended) or regulations or interpretations thereunder, the Directors may require the holder of such Shares to dispose of such Shares and, if the Shareholder does not sell such Shares, may dispose of such Shares on their behalf. These restrictions may make it more difficult for a U.S. Person to hold and shareholders of the Company generally to sell the Shares and may have an adverse effect on the market value of the Shares.
| Directors | Brenda Dean (The Rt Hon Baroness Dean of Thornton-le-Fylde) (Chairman) Paul Hadaway (Chief Executive Officer) Timothy Attlee (Chief Investment Officer) Michael Enright (Chief Finance Officer) Stephen Alston (Non-Executive Director) Jim Prower (Non-Executive Director) Stuart Beevor (Non-Executive Director) |
|---|---|
| all of the registered office below: | |
| Registered Office | 6-8 James Street London W1U 1ED Tel: +44(0)20 3772 2780 Website: www.empiric.co.uk |
| Joint Financial Advisers | Akur Limited 66 St James's Street London SW1A 1NE |
| Jefferies International Limited Vintners Place 68 Upper Thames Street London EC4V 3BJ |
|
| Sponsor, Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner |
Jefferies International Limited Vintners Place 68 Upper Thames Stree London EC4V 3BJ |
| Legal Adviser to the Company | Gowling WLG (UK) LLP 4 More London Riverside London SE1 2AU |
| Legal Adviser to the Sponsor, Joint Financial Advisers and Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner |
Norton Rose Fulbright LLP 3 More London Riverside London SE1 2AQ |
| Administrator and Company Secretary |
FIM Capital Limited 7 Cavendish Square London W1G 0PE |
| Depositary | Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited 41-43 Maddox Street London W1S 2PD |
| Registrar | Computershare Investor Services PLC The Pavilions Bridgwater Road Bristol BS13 8AE |
|---|---|
| Receiving Agent | Computershare Investor Services PLC Corporate Actions Projects Bristol BS99 6AH |
| Auditor and Reporting Accountant |
BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 7EU |
| Valuer | CBRE Limited Henrietta House Henrietta Place London W1G 0NB |
The Prospectus should be read in its entirety before making any application for Shares. In assessing an investment in the Company, investors should rely only on the information in the Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus published by the Company prior to Initial Admission.
No broker, dealer or other person has been authorised by the Company to issue any advertisement or to give any information or to make any representations in connection with the offering or sale of Shares other than those contained in the Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus published by the Company prior to Initial Admission and, if issued, given or made, such advertisement, information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorised by the Company.
Prospective investors should not treat the contents of the Prospectus as advice relating to legal, taxation, investment or any other matters. Prospective investors should inform themselves as to: (a) the legal requirements within their own countries for the purchase, holding, transfer or other disposal of Shares; (b) any foreign exchange restrictions applicable to the purchase, holding, transfer or other disposal of Shares which they might encounter; and (c) the income and other tax consequences which may apply in their own countries as a result of the purchase, holding, transfer or other disposal of Shares. Prospective investors must rely upon their own legal advisers, accountants and other financial advisers as to legal, tax, investment or any other related matters concerning the Company and an investment in the Shares.
Statements made in this Securities Note are based on the law and practice in force in England and Wales as at the date of this Securities Note and are subject to changes therein.
The Prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used for the purposes of, an offer or solicitation to anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorised or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The distribution of the Prospectus and the offering of Shares in certain jurisdictions may be restricted and accordingly persons into whose possession the Prospectus is received are required to inform themselves about and to observe such restrictions.
Applicants under the Initial Open Offer and the Initial Offer for Subscription are strongly recommended to read and consider the Prospectus before completing the Open Offer Application Form or the Application Form respectively. Qualifying CREST Shareholders have not been sent an Open Offer Application Form. Instead, Qualifying CREST Shareholders will receive a credit to their appropriate stock accounts in CREST in respect of their Basic Entitlement and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. on 2 March 2016.
The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus by financial intermediaries in connection with any subsequent resale or final placement of securities by financial intermediaries in the UK on the following terms: (i) in respect of the financial intermediaries who have been appointed by Jefferies prior to the date of this Securities Note, as listed in paragraph 7 of Part 4 of this Securities Note, from the date of this Securities Note, and (ii) in respect of financial intermediaries who are appointed by Jefferies after the date of this Securities Note, a list of which will appear on the Company's website, from the date on which they are appointed to participate in connection with any subsequent resale or final placement of securities and, in each case, until the closing of the period for the subsequent resale or final placement of securities by financial intermediaries at 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016, unless closed prior to that date. Any financial intermediary that uses the Prospectus must state on its website that it uses the Prospectus in accordance with the Company's consent and the conditions attached thereto. Any application made by investors to any financial intermediary is subject to the terms and conditions imposed by each financial intermediary.
The Company accepts responsibility for the information contained in the Prospectus with respect to any subscriber for Shares pursuant to any subsequent resale or final placement of securities by financial intermediaries.
Any new information with respect to financial intermediaries unknown at the time of approval of this Securities Note will be available on the Company's website.
In relation to each Relevant Member State, no Shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (including under the Initial Issue) to the public in that Relevant Member State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the Shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Directive, except that offers of Shares to the public may be made at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Directive, if they are implemented in that Relevant Member State:
provided that no such offer of Shares shall result in a requirement for the publication of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in a Relevant Member State (other than the United Kingdom) and each person who initially acquires any Shares or to whom any offer is made under the Share Issuance Programme (including under the Initial Issue) will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that it is a "qualified investor" within the meaning of Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an "offer to the public" in relation to any offer of Shares in any Relevant Member State means a communication in any form and by any means presenting sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Shares, as the same may be varied in that Relevant Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Relevant Member State and the expression "Prospectus Directive" means Directive 2003/71/EC (and the amendments thereto, including Directive 2010/73/EU (the "2010 PD Amending Directive")), to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State and includes any relevant implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
In addition, Shares will only be offered in any relevant EEA jurisdiction, (i) to the extent that the Company has given notification of its intention to market in such relevant EEA jurisdiction pursuant to the passporting regime established for full-scope EEA AIFMs under the AIFM Directive; or (ii) can otherwise be lawfully offered or sold (including on the basis of an unsolicited request from a professional investor) to an investor resident in such relevant EEA jurisdiction.
The Initial Placing is solely directed to qualified investors (gekwalificeerde beleggers) within the meaning of section 1:1 of the Financial Supervision Act (Wet op het financieel toezicht), as amended from time to time. No approved prospectus is required in connection with the Initial Placing in the Netherlands pursuant to the Prospectus Directive (Directive 2003/71/EC), as amended.
The Initial Placing is to be exclusively conducted under applicable private placement exceptions and therefore has not been and will not be notified to, and any other offering material relating to the Initial Placing has not been, and will not be approved by, the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority pursuant to the Belgian laws and regulations applicable to the public offering of securities. Accordingly, the Prospectus and any other documents or materials related to the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Shares, may not be advertised, offered or distributed in any other way, directly or indirectly, (i) to any other person located and/or resident in Belgium other than a professional client within the meaning of Annex II to Directive 2004/39/EC or an eligible counterparty within the meaning of Article 24 of the same directive, or (ii) to any person qualifying as a consumer for the purposes of Book VI of the Belgian Code of economic law, unless this is in compliance with the relevant provisions of such code and the implementing regulation.
Neither the Shares nor the Prospectus or any other offering material relating to the Company may be distributed in or from Switzerland. The Company is not authorised by or registered with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA ("FINMA") under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes ("CISA"). Therefore, investors do not benefit from protection under CISA or supervision by FINMA. Neither the Prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Company constitutes a prospectus as that term is understood pursuant to article 652a or 1156 of the Swiss Federal Code of Obligations or a prospectus pursuant to the CISA.
The Shares may only be promoted in or from within the Bailiwick of Guernsey by persons regulated by the Guernsey Financial Services Commission as licensees under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (as amended). Persons appointed by the Company and not so licensed may not promote the Company in Guernsey to private investors and may only distribute and circulate any document relating to Shares in Guernsey to persons regulated as licensees under the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 as amended, the Banking Supervision (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1994, the Insurance Business (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2002 or the Regulation of Fiduciaries, Administration Business and Company Directors, etc. (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 2000, and provided that the provisions of Section 29(1)(cc) of the Protection of Investors (Bailiwick of Guernsey) Law, 1987 (as amended) are satisfied. Promotion of the Shares may not be made in any other way. The Guernsey Prospectus Rules 2008 do not apply to the offer of the Shares.
The Prospectus may be circulated in Jersey only by persons who are registered by the Jersey Financial Services Commission in accordance with the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998, as amended, for the conduct of financial services business, or are exempt from such registration in accordance with the Financial Services (Jersey) Law 1998, as amended. In addition, the Prospectus may be circulated in Jersey only to persons similar to those to whom, and in a manner similar to that in which, it is for the time being circulated in the United Kingdom. Consent for the circulation of the Prospectus in accordance with article 8 of the Control of Borrowing (Jersey) Order 1958, as amended, has not been sought from or given by the Jersey Financial Services Commission.
The Prospectus contains forward looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "believes", "estimates", "anticipates", "expects", "intends", "may", "will" or "should" or, in each case, their negative or other variations or similar expressions. Such forward looking statements involve unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements.
Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place any undue reliance on such forward looking statements. These forward looking statements speak only as at the date of the Prospectus. Subject to its legal and regulatory obligations (including under the Prospectus Rules), the Company expressly disclaims any obligations to update or revise any forward looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority, including FSMA, the Prospectus Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules and the Listing Rules.
Nothing in the preceding two paragraphs should be taken as qualifying the working capital statement in paragraph 5 of Part 4 of this Securities Note.
The Company prepares its financial information under IFRS and EPRA's best practice recommendations. The financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, including that financial information presented in a number of tables in the Prospectus, has been rounded to the nearest whole number or the nearest decimal place. Therefore, the actual arithmetic total of the numbers in a column or row in a certain table may not conform exactly to the total figure given for that column or row. In addition, certain percentages presented in the tables in the Prospectus reflect calculations based upon the underlying information prior to rounding, and, accordingly, may not conform exactly to the percentages that would be derived if the relevant calculations were based upon the rounded numbers.
The Company's website address is www.empiric.co.uk. The contents of the Company's website do not form part of the Prospectus.
Under its initial public offering in June 2014 and its previous share issuance programme, which closed in October 2015, the Company has raised gross equity funds of, in aggregate, £397 million since June 2014. In addition, as at 29 February 2016 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Securities Note), the Group has approximately £103.25 million of drawn down debt financing (excluding the Group's share of joint venture debt) which, together with its equity funds, has been invested in, or committed to, the Property Portfolio.
The Company's stated longer term objective is to continue to grow the Property Portfolio to a target size of 10,000 beds. The Company has launched the Share Issuance Programme to issue, in aggregate, up to 165 million Shares in order to achieve this objective.
The Directors believe that the Share Issuance Programme has the following principal benefits for Shareholders:
It is intended that all new Shares under the Share Issuance Programme (including under the Initial Issue) will be issued at a premium to the prevailing Net Asset Value per Share, after related costs have been deducted.
As at 31 December 2015, the unaudited Net Asset Value per Share was 105.4 pence, prior to adjustment for the interim dividend declared on 1 March 2016 of 1.5 pence per Share. This compares to the audited Net Asset Value per Share as at 30 June 2015 of 103.2 pence. For the purposes of calculating the unaudited Net Asset Value the Property Portfolio has been independently valued as at 31 December 2015.
Pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme, the Company is targeting an initial issue of £90 million. The Initial Issue will together comprise the Initial Placing, the Initial Open Offer and the Initial Offer for Subscription.
The Company has a strong pipeline comprising a mix of operating properties and properties under development across multiple locations in the UK representing in aggregate over 4,000 beds. Accordingly, the Company expects to commit the net proceeds of the Initial Issue, by July 2016.
The Company's pipeline opportunities are sourced from owner-operators, developers, agents, proprietary contacts and local knowledge.
There can be no assurance that any of these pipeline projects will be completed or will be purchased or funded by the Company. The Company will, in any event, continue to evaluate other potential acquisitions in accordance with its investment policy.
The Company intends to issue up to 165 million Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme in Tranches. Shares will only be issued at times when the Company considers that suitable investments in accordance with the Company's investment policy will be capable of being secured within the near-term. Each Tranche will comprise a placing on similar terms to the Initial Placing and may, at the discretion of the Company, in consultation with Jefferies, comprise an open offer component on similar terms to the Initial Open Offer and/or an offer for subscription component on similar terms to the Initial Offer for Subscription.
The Share Issuance Programme is flexible and may have a number of closing dates in order to provide the Company with the ability to issue Shares on appropriate occasions over a period of time. The Share Issuance Programme is intended to satisfy market demand for the Shares and to raise further money for investment in accordance with the Company's investment policy.
The total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme will depend on the number of Shares issued throughout the Share Issuance Programme, the issue price of such Shares, and the aggregate costs and commissions for each Tranche. However, assuming that the maximum number of Shares available under the Share Issuance Programme are issued at an issue price of 107.5 pence per Share with aggregate costs and commissions of approximately £3.6 million, the total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme would be approximately £173.8 million.
The size and frequency of each Tranche, and of each placing, open offer and offer for subscription component of each Tranche, will be determined in the sole discretion of the Company in consultation with Jefferies.
The Share Issuance Programme opened on 1 March 2016 and will close on 28 February 2017 (or any earlier date on which it is fully subscribed). The maximum number of Shares to be issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme is 165 million. The maximum number of Shares should not be taken as an indication of the number of Shares finally to be issued. The issue of Shares under the Share Issuance Programme is not being underwritten.
The price at which Shares are issued on a non-pre-emptive basis under the Share Issuance Programme will always represent a premium to the prevailing Net Asset Value per Share after the related costs have been deducted. The commissions and costs for each Tranche to be met by the Company will be capped at 2 per cent. of the gross proceeds of such Tranche.
The issue of Shares under the Share Issuance Programme is at the discretion of the Directors. Issuance may take place at any time prior to, (i) the final closing date of 28 February 2017, or (ii) such earlier date as all the Shares the subject of the Share Issuance Programme are issued (the "Final Date"). In relation to each Tranche, which includes either an offer for subscription and/or open offer component, a new securities note and new summary will be published and an announcement will be released through a Regulatory Information Service, including details of the number of Shares allotted and the applicable Issue Price.
It is anticipated that dealings in the Shares will commence no more than two Business Days after the trade date for each issue of Shares. Whilst it is expected that all Shares issued pursuant to a particular Tranche will be issued in uncertificated form, if any Shares are issued in certificated form it is expected that share certificates would be despatched approximately two weeks after Admission of the relevant Shares. No temporary documents of title will be issued.
Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme will rank pari passu with the existing Shares then in issue (save for any dividends or other distributions declared, made or paid on the Shares by reference to a record date prior to the allotment of the relevant Shares).
The Share Issuance Programme will be suspended at any time when the Company is unable to issue Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme under any statutory provision or other regulation applicable to the Company or otherwise at the Directors' discretion. The Share Issuance Programme may resume when such conditions cease to exist, subject always to the final closing date of the Share Issuance Programme being no later than 28 February 2017.
The issuance of each Tranche of Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue) is conditional upon inter alia:
In circumstances where these conditions are not fully met, the relevant issue of Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme will not take place.
The Initial Issue is being implemented by way of the Initial Open Offer, Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription which will each be made at an Initial Issue Price of 107.5 pence per Share. The Company is targeting an initial issue of £90 million.
The Directors recognise the importance of pre-emption rights to Shareholders. Accordingly, a substantial proportion of the Shares available under the Initial Issue are being initially offered to Qualifying Shareholders by way of the Initial Open Offer pursuant to which they will be entitled to apply for 1 Share for every 7 existing Shares held on the Record Date. Qualifying Shareholders may also apply under the Excess Application Facility for additional Shares in excess of their Basic Entitlement. The Excess Application Facility will comprise whole numbers of Shares which are not taken up by Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to their Basic Entitlements, together with fractional entitlements under the Initial Open Offer. In addition, to the extent that any Shares available under the Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription are not fully subscribed, then such Shares will be available to satisfy Excess Applications under the Excess Application Facility, if required.
In addition, a minimum of approximately 28.7 million Shares have been reserved for the Initial Placing and the Initial Offer for Subscription. This will increase to the extent that Qualifying Shareholders do not take up their Basic Entitlements under the Initial Open Offer (or apply for such excess Shares through the Excess Application Facility).
Under the Initial Open Offer up to 55 million Shares will be made available to Qualifying Shareholders at the Initial Issue Price pro rata to their holdings of Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Initial Open Offer on the basis of:
held and registered in their name at the Record Date.
Shareholders should be aware that the Initial Open Offer is not a rights issue. As such, Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders should note that their Open Offer Application Forms are not negotiable documents and cannot be traded. Qualifying CREST Shareholders should note that, although the Basic Entitlements will be admitted to CREST and enabled for settlement, the Basic Entitlements will not be tradeable or listed and applications in respect of the Initial Open Offer may only be made by the Qualifying Shareholder originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim. Shares for which application has not been made under the Initial Open Offer will not be sold in the market for the benefit of those who do not apply under the Initial Open Offer and Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply to take up their entitlements will have no rights, and will not receive any benefit, under the Initial Open Offer.
Qualifying Shareholders may also subscribe for Shares in excess of their Basic Entitlement through the Excess Application Facility and/or the Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription, as appropriate.
Fractional entitlements under the Initial Open Offer will be rounded down to the nearest whole number of new Shares and will be disregarded in calculating Basic Entitlements. All fractional entitlements will be aggregated and made available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility described below.
The latest time and date for acceptance and payment in full in respect of the Initial Open Offer will be 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. Valid applications under the Initial Open Offer will be satisfied in full up to an applicant's Basic Entitlement.
The terms and conditions of application under the Initial Open Offer are set out in Part 7 of this Securities Note and, in the case of Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders, the Open Offer Application Form. These terms and conditions should be read carefully before an application is made. Shareholders who are in any doubt about the Initial Open Offer arrangements should consult their independent financial adviser.
Applications under the Initial Open Offer are not subject to any minimum subscription requirement.
Qualifying Shareholders who take up all of their Basic Entitlements may also apply under the Excess Application Facility for additional Shares in excess of their Basic Entitlements. The Excess Application Facility will comprise whole numbers of Shares under the Initial Open Offer which are not being taken up by Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to their Basic Entitlements (including any aggregated fractional entitlements) in addition to any Shares not subscribed under the Initial Placing and the Initial Offer for Subscription, if any.
Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders who wish to subscribe for more than their Basic Entitlement should complete the relevant sections on the Open Offer Application Form.
Qualifying CREST Shareholders will have Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements credited to their stock account in CREST and should refer to paragraph 4.2(c) of Part 7 of this Securities Note for information on how to apply for additional Shares under the Excess Application Facility.
Applications under the Excess Application Facility will be allocated, in the event of over-subscription, pro rata to Qualifying Shareholders' applications under the Excess Application Facility. No assurance can be given that applications by Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility will be met in full or in part or at all.
To the extent any Shares remain unallocated pursuant to the Initial Open Offer (including under the Excess Application Facility), they will be made available under the Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription.
Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders have been sent an Open Offer Application Form giving details of their Basic Entitlement.
Persons that have sold or otherwise transferred all of their Shares should forward the Prospectus, together with any Open Offer Application Form, if and when received, at once to the purchaser or transferee, or the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee, except that, such documents should not be sent to any jurisdiction where to do so might constitute a violation of local securities laws or regulations including, but not limited to, the Excluded Territories.
Any Shareholder that has sold or otherwise transferred only some of their Shares held in certificated form on or before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 should refer to the instruction regarding split applications in the Terms and Conditions of the Initial Open Offer at paragraph 4.1(b) of Part 7 of this Securities Note and the Open Offer Application Form.
Qualifying CREST Shareholders have not been sent an Open Offer Application Form. Instead, Qualifying CREST Shareholders will receive a credit to their appropriate stock accounts in CREST in respect of their Basic Entitlement and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement as soon as practicable after 8.00 a.m. on 2 March 2016.
In the case of any Qualifying Shareholder that has sold or otherwise transferred only part of their existing holding of Shares held in uncertificated form on or before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016, a claim transaction will automatically be generated by Euroclear which, on settlement, will transfer the appropriate Basic Entitlement and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement to the purchaser or transferee.
Full details of the Initial Open Offer are contained in the Terms and Conditions of the Initial Open Offer in Part 7 of this Securities Note. If you have any doubt as to what action you should take, you should seek your own advice from your independent financial adviser duly authorised under FSMA who specialises in advice on the acquisition of shares and other securities.
The ISIN of the Basic Entitlements is GB00BYP7YR81 and the SEDOL is BYP7YR81. The ISIN for the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement is GB00BYP7Z420 and the SEDOL is BYP7Z420.
The terms and conditions which apply to any subscriber for Shares pursuant to the Initial Placing (and which also apply to any subsequent Placing-Only Issue) are set out in Part 6 of this Securities Note.
It is expected that Initial Admission will become effective and that unconditional dealings in the Shares issued pursuant to the Initial Placing will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016. Dealings in Shares in advance of the crediting of the relevant stock account shall be at the risk of the person concerned. The Initial Issue Price is 107.5 pence per Share.
Applications for Shares under the Initial Placing must be for a minimum subscription amount of £50,000 (or such lesser amount as may be accepted by the Directors). There is no maximum subscription.
The Company has agreed to make an offer of Shares pursuant to the Initial Offer for Subscription in the UK at the Initial Issue Price, subject to the Terms and Conditions of Application. These terms and conditions set out in Part 8 of this Securities Note and the Application Form should be read carefully before an application is made. Investors should consult their independent financial adviser if they are in any doubt about the contents of the Prospectus or the acquisition of Shares.
Application Forms accompanied by a cheque or banker's draft in Sterling made payable to "Computershare Investor Services PLC re: Empiric Student Property plc – Offer for Subscription A/C" and crossed "A/C Payee Only" for the appropriate sum should be returned to the Receiving Agent by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. If the Initial Offer for Subscription is extended, the revised timetable will be notified to any investors who have returned Application Forms.
For applicants sending subscription monies by electronic bank transfer (CHAPS), payment must be made for value by 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. Please contact Computershare Investor Services PLC by email at [email protected] and Computershare will then provide applicants with a unique reference number which must be used when sending payment.
Applicants choosing to settle via CREST, that is DVP, will need to match their instructions to Computershare's participant account 8RA22 by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016, allowing for the delivery and acceptance of Shares to be made against payment of the Initial Issue Price per Share, following the CREST matching criteria set out in the Application Form.
Applications under the Initial Offer for Subscription must be for a minimum of 1,000 Shares and thereafter in multiples of 100 Shares. Commitments under the Initial Offer for Subscription, once made, may not be withdrawn without the consent of the Board. The Directors reserve the right to refuse applications for any reason.
In connection with the Initial Offer for Subscription, Jefferies will appoint certain Intermediaries to market the Shares to potential retail investors in the United Kingdom. The Intermediaries who have been appointed by Jefferies prior to the date of the Prospectus are listed in paragraph 7 of Part 4 of this Securities Note. Further Intermediaries may be appointed by Jefferies after the date of this Securities Note.
Each Intermediary has agreed, or will on appointment agree, to the Intermediaries Terms and Conditions, which regulate, inter alia, the conduct of the Intermediaries in relation to the offering of Shares on market standard terms and provide for the payment of commission to any such Intermediaries that elect to receive commission from Jefferies.
Each Intermediary will submit a single Application Form pursuant to the Initial Offer for Subscription in its own name, as nominee, for the aggregate number of Shares procured by it via subscriptions from underlying retail investors.
Each applicant who applies for Shares via an Intermediary must comply with the appropriate money laundering checks required by the relevant Intermediary. Where an application is not accepted or there are insufficient Shares available to satisfy an application in full (due to scaling back of subscriptions or otherwise), the relevant Intermediary will be obliged to refund the applicant as required and all such refunds shall be made without interest. The Company, Jefferies and Akur accept no responsibility with respect to the obligation of the Intermediaries to refund monies in such circumstances.
Pursuant to the Intermediaries Terms and Conditions, the Intermediaries have undertaken to make payment on their own behalf for the consideration for any Shares subscribed pursuant to the Initial Offer for Subscription by means of the CREST system against delivery of the Shares.
The publication of the Prospectus and any actions of the Company, Jefferies, Akur, the Intermediaries or other persons in connection with the Initial Offer for Subscription should not be taken as any representation or assurance as to the basis on which the number of Shares to be offered under the Initial Offer for Subscription or allocations between applications in the Initial Offer for Subscription (from Intermediaries or otherwise) will be determined and any such actions or statements are hereby disclaimed by the Company, Jefferies, Akur and the Intermediaries.
Applications will be made to the UK Listing Authority for the Shares to be admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List. Applications will also be made to the London Stock Exchange for such Shares to be admitted to trading on the Main Market.
The Company's existing Shares are admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market.
The Company is subject to, and complies with, the on-going requirements of the Listing Rules, the Prospectus Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules and the Market Abuse Directive (as implemented in the United Kingdom).
Initial Admission is expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016. An investor applying for Shares under the Initial Issue may receive Shares in certificated or uncertificated form. The Shares are in registered form. No temporary documents of title will be issued. Dealings in Shares in advance of the crediting of the relevant stock account shall be at the risk of the person concerned. It is expected that CREST accounts will be credited on 21 March 2016 in respect of Shares issued in uncertificated form and definitive share certificates in respect of Shares held in certificated form will be despatched by post during the week commencing 4 April 2016.
The Company does not guarantee that at any particular time market maker(s) will be willing to make a market in the Shares, nor does it guarantee the price at which a market will be made in the Shares. Accordingly, the dealing price of the Shares may not necessarily reflect changes in the Net Asset Value per Share.
The Directors have reserved the right, in consultation with Jefferies, to increase the size of the Initial Issue, with any such increase being announced through a Regulatory Information Service.
The Initial Offer for Subscription may be scaled back in favour of the Initial Placing and the Initial Placing may be scaled back in favour of the Initial Offer for Subscription in the Directors' discretion (in consultation with Jefferies). The Initial Open Offer is being made on a pro-rata basis to Qualifying Shareholders and is not subject to scaling back in favour of either the Initial Placing or the Initial Offer for Subscription, provided that any new Shares that are available under the Open Offer and are not taken up by Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to their Basic Entitlements and under the Excess Application Facility may be reallocated to the Initial Placing and/or the Initial Offer for Subscription and made available thereunder. In addition, to the extent that any new Shares available under the Initial Placing or Initial Offer for Subscription are not fully subscribed, then such new Shares will be available to satisfy Excess Applications under the Excess Application Facility, if required.
The Directors have the discretion (in consultation with Jefferies) to determine the basis of allocation within and between the Initial Offer for Subscription and the Initial Placing. Allocations of Shares pursuant to the Open Offer and Excess Application Facility shall be allocated on a pro-rata basis as further detailed in the section above entitled "The Initial Open Offer" in this Part 2.
The Company will notify investors of the number of new Shares in respect of which their application has been successful and the results of the Initial Issue will be announced by the Company on or around 17 March 2016 via a Regulatory Information Service announcement.
Subscription monies received in respect of unsuccessful applications (or to the extent scaled back) will be returned, by cheque, without interest at the risk of the applicant to the bank account from which the money was received.
In the event that the Company is required to publish a supplementary prospectus prior to Initial Admission, applicants who have applied for Shares under the Initial Issue shall have at least two clear Business Days following the publication of the relevant supplementary prospectus within which to withdraw their offer to acquire Shares in its entirety. The right to withdraw an application to acquire Shares in these circumstances will be available to all investors in the Initial Issue. If the application is not withdrawn within the stipulated period, any offer to apply for Shares will remain valid and binding.
Investors under the Initial Open Offer, Excess Application Facility and Initial Offer for Subscription wishing to exercise statutory withdrawal rights after the publication of a supplementary prospectus and prior to Initial Admission must do so by lodging written notice of withdrawal by hand (during normal business hours only) at Computershare Investor Services PLC at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE or by post to Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH, so as to be received by no later than two Business Days after the date on which the supplementary prospectus is published. Notice of withdrawal given by any other means or which is deposited with or received after expiry of such period will not constitute a valid withdrawal.
If a Qualifying Shareholder:
his or her proportionate ownership and voting interests in the Company will be reduced.
The Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur have entered into the Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement relating to the establishment of the Share Issuance Programme and each issue thereunder (including the Initial Issue), pursuant to which Jefferies has agreed, subject to certain conditions, to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for Shares made available under the Initial Placing.
Applications pursuant to the Initial Placing and any Placing-Only Issue under the Share Issuance Programme will be on the terms and conditions set out in Part 6 of this Securities Note.
Pursuant to anti-money laundering laws and regulations, with which the Company must comply in the UK, the Company (and its agents) may require evidence in connection with any application for Shares, including further identification of the applicant(s), before any Shares are issued.
The Directors (in consultation with Jefferies) may in their absolute discretion waive the minimum application amounts in respect of any particular application for Shares under any Tranche (including the Initial Issue).
If any Tranche (including the Initial Issue) does not proceed, any monies received under that Tranche will be returned to applicants without interest.
Shares issued pursuant to each Tranche (including the Initial Issue) will be issued in registered form and may be held in either certificated or uncertificated form and settled through CREST from the relevant date of Admission. In the case of Shares to be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to any Tranche (including the Initial Issue), these will be transferred to successful applicants through the CREST system. Accordingly, settlement of transactions in the Shares following the relevant Admission may take place within the CREST system if any Shareholder so wishes. CREST is a paperless book-entry settlement system operated by Euroclear which enables securities to be evidenced otherwise than by certificates and transferred otherwise than by written instrument. CREST is a voluntary system and Shareholders who wish to receive and retain share certificates will be able to do so.
It is expected that the Company will arrange for Euroclear to be instructed on the relevant Admission date to credit the appropriate CREST accounts of the subscribers concerned or their nominees with their respective entitlements to Shares. The names of subscribers or their nominees investing through their CREST accounts will be entered directly on to the share register of the Company.
The transfer of Shares outside of the CREST system following the closing of each Tranche (including the Initial Issue) should be arranged directly through CREST. However, an investor's beneficial holding held through the CREST system may be exchanged, in whole or in part, only upon the specific request of the registered holder to CREST for share certificates or an uncertificated holding in definitive registered form. If a Shareholder or transferee requests Shares to be issued in certificated form and is holding such Shares outside CREST, a share certificate will be despatched either to him or his nominated agent (at his risk) within 21 days of completion of the registration process or transfer, as the case may be, of the Shares. Shareholders holding definitive certificates may elect at a later date to hold such Shares through CREST or in uncertificated form provided they surrender their definitive certificates.
Shareholders holding their Shares through CREST or otherwise in uncertificated form may obtain from the Registrar (as evidence of title) a certified extract from the Register showing their Shareholding.
The attention of potential investors who are Overseas Persons is drawn to the paragraphs below. The offer of Shares to Overseas Persons may be affected by the laws of the relevant jurisdictions. Such persons should consult their professional advisers as to whether they require any government or other consents or need to observe any applicable legal requirements to enable them to obtain Shares. It is the responsibility of all Overseas Persons receiving the Prospectus and/or wishing to subscribe for Shares to satisfy themselves as to full observance of the laws of the relevant territory in connection therewith, including obtaining all necessary governmental or other consents that may be required and observing all other formalities needing to be observed and paying any issue, transfer or other taxes due in such territory.
In particular, no person receiving a copy of the Prospectus in any territory other than the UK may treat the same as constituting an offer or invitation to him/her, unless in the relevant territory such an offer can lawfully be made to him/her without compliance with any further registration or other legal requirements. Persons (including, without limitation, nominees and trustees) receiving the Prospectus and/or an Open Offer Application Form may not distribute or send it to any U.S. Person or in or into the United States or any other jurisdiction where to do so would or might contravene local securities laws or regulations including, but not limited to, the Excluded Territories.
The Company reserves the right to treat as invalid any agreement to subscribe for Shares if it appears to the Company or its agents to have been entered into in a manner that may involve a breach of the securities legislation of any jurisdiction.
An investment in the Shares is only suitable for institutional investors, professionally-advised private investors and highly knowledgeable investors who understand and are capable of evaluating the risks of such an investment and who have sufficient resources to be able to bear any losses (which may equal the whole amount invested) that may result from such an investment.
The following paragraphs are intended as a general guide only and are based on the Company's understanding of current UK tax law and HMRC practice as at the date of this Securities Note, each of which is subject to change, possibly with retrospective effect. They do not constitute advice.
The following paragraphs relate only to certain limited aspects of the United Kingdom taxation treatment of PIDs and Non-PID Dividends paid by the Company, and to disposals of Shares in the Company, in each case, assuming the Company maintains REIT status. Except where otherwise indicated, they apply only to Shareholders who are resident for tax purposes solely in the United Kingdom. They apply only to Shareholders who are the absolute beneficial owners of both their PIDs and their Shares and who hold their Shares as investments. They do not apply to Substantial Shareholders. They do not apply to certain categories of Shareholders, such as dealers in securities or distributions, persons who have or are deemed to have acquired their Shares by reason of their or another's employment, persons who hold their Shares as part of hedging or conversion transactions, or persons who hold their Shares in connection with a UK branch, agency or permanent establishment. Except where otherwise indicated at paragraph 1.3(d) (Withholding tax) below, they do not apply to persons holding Shares by virtue of an interest in any partnerships, insurance companies, life insurance companies, mutual companies, collective investment schemes, charities, trustees, local authorities, or pension scheme administrators.
Shareholders who are in any doubt about their tax position, or who are subject to tax in a jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, should consult their own appropriate independent professional adviser without delay, particularly concerning their tax liabilities on PIDs, whether they are entitled to claim any repayment of tax, and, if so, the procedure for doing so.
A Shareholder who is an individual resident for UK tax purposes in the UK and who receives a Non-PID Dividend from the Company will be entitled to a tax credit equal to one-ninth of the sum of the dividend received.
The Non-PID Dividend received plus the related tax credit (the "Gross Dividend") will be part of the Shareholder's total income for UK income tax purposes and will be regarded as the top slice of that income. However, in calculating the Shareholder's liability to UK income tax in respect of the Gross Dividend, the tax credit (which equates to 10 per cent. of the Gross Dividend) will be set off against any further tax chargeable on the Gross Dividend.
In the case of such a Shareholder who is not liable to UK income tax at either the higher or the additional rate, that Shareholder will be subject to UK income tax on the Gross Dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. The tax credit will, in consequence, satisfy in full the Shareholder's liability to UK income tax on the Gross Dividend.
In the case of a Shareholder who is liable to UK income tax at the higher rate, the Shareholder will be subject to UK income tax on the Gross Dividend at the rate of 32.5 per cent., to the extent that the Gross Dividend falls above the threshold for the higher rate of UK income tax but below the threshold for the additional rate of UK income tax when it is treated (as mentioned above) as the top slice of the Shareholder's income. The tax credit will, in consequence, satisfy only part of the Shareholder's liability to UK income tax on the Gross Dividend and the Shareholder will have to account for UK income tax equal to 22.5 per cent. of the Gross Dividend. Thus, the effective tax rate applicable to the Non-PID Dividend received by such a Shareholder would be 25 per cent.
In the case of a Shareholder who is liable to UK income tax at the additional rate, the Shareholder will be subject to UK income tax on the Gross Dividend at the rate of 37.5 per cent., to the extent that the Gross Dividend falls above the threshold for the additional rate of UK income tax when it is treated (as mentioned above) as the top slice of the Shareholder's income. After setting off the tax credit comprised in the Gross Dividend, the Shareholder will, accordingly, have to account for UK income tax equal to 27.5 per cent. of the Gross Dividend. Thus, the effective tax rate applicable to the Non-PID Dividend received by such a Shareholder would be approximately 30.6 per cent.
A UK resident individual Shareholder whose liability to UK income tax in respect of a Non-PID Dividend received from the Company is less than the tax credit attaching to it will not be entitled to any repayment from HMRC in respect of any part of the tax credit attaching to the Non-PID Dividend.
From 6 April 2016 the dividend tax credit will be replaced by a new dividend allowance in the form of a 0 per cent. tax rate on the first £5,000 of dividend income per year. UK resident individual Shareholders will pay tax on any dividends received over the £5,000 allowance at the following rates: 7.5 per cent. on dividend income within the basic rate band, 32.5 per cent. on dividend income within the higher rate band and 38.1% on dividend income within the additional rate band.
A Shareholder within the charge to UK corporation tax which is a "small company" (for the purposes of UK taxation of dividends) will not generally be subject to tax on Non-PID Dividends from the Company, provided certain conditions are met.
Other Shareholders within the charge to UK corporation tax will not be subject to tax on Non-PID Dividends from the Company so long as they fall within an exempt class and do not fall within certain specified anti-avoidance provisions. Examples of dividends that are within an exempt class are dividends paid on "non-redeemable ordinary shares" for UK tax purposes and dividends in respect of portfolio holdings, where the recipient owns less than 10 per cent. of the issued share capital of the payer (or any class of that share capital).
Subject to certain exceptions, a PID will generally be treated in the hands of Shareholders who are individuals as the profit of a single UK property business (as defined in Section 264 of the Income Tax (Trading and Other Income) Act 2005). A PID is, together with any property income distribution from any other company to which Part 12 of the CTA 2010 applies, treated as a separate UK property business from any other UK property business (a "different UK property business") carried on by the relevant Shareholder. This means that surplus expenses from a Shareholder's different UK property business cannot be offset against a PID as part of a single calculation of the profits of the Shareholder's UK property business.
Please see also paragraph (d) (Withholding tax) below.
(b) UK taxation of corporate Shareholders
Subject to certain exceptions, a PID will generally be treated in the hands of Shareholders who are within the charge to UK corporation tax as profit of a UK property business (as defined in Section 205 of the Corporation Tax Act 2009). This means that, subject to the availability of any exemptions or reliefs, such Shareholders should be liable to UK corporation tax on income on the entire amount of their PID. A PID is, together with any property income distribution from any other company to which Part 12 of the CTA 2010 applies, treated as a different UK property business carried on by the relevant Shareholder. This means that any surplus expenses from a Shareholder's different UK property business cannot be off-set against a PID as part of a single calculation of the Shareholder's UK property profits.
Please see also paragraph (d) (Withholding tax) below.
(c) UK taxation of Shareholders who are not resident for tax purposes in the UK
Where a Shareholder who is resident outside the UK receives a PID, the PID will generally be chargeable to UK income tax as profit of a UK property business and this tax will generally be collected by way of a withholding by the Company.
Please see also paragraph (d) (Withholding tax) below.
Subject to certain exceptions summarised below, the Company is required to withhold income tax at source at the basic rate (currently 20 per cent.) from its PIDs. The Company will provide Shareholders with a certificate setting out the amount of tax withheld.
• Shareholders solely resident in the UK
Where UK income tax has been withheld at source, Shareholders who are individuals may, depending on their circumstances, either be liable to further tax on their PID at their applicable marginal rate, or be entitled to claim repayment of some or all of the tax withheld on their PID. Shareholders who are bodies corporate may, depending upon their circumstances, be liable to pay UK corporation tax on their PID but they should note that, where income tax is (exceptionally) withheld at source, the tax withheld can be set against the Shareholder's liability to UK corporation tax in the accounting period in which the PID is received.
• Shareholders who are not resident for tax purposes in the UK
It is not possible for a Shareholder to make a claim under a relevant double taxation treaty with the UK for a PID to be paid by the Company gross or at a reduced rate. The Shareholder may be able to claim repayment of any part of the tax withheld from a PID, depending on the existence and terms of any such double taxation treaty between the UK and the country in which the Shareholder is resident for tax purposes.
• Exceptions to requirement to withhold income tax
Shareholders should note that in certain circumstances the Company may not be obliged to withhold UK income tax at source from a PID. These include where the Company reasonably believes that the person beneficially entitled to the PID is a company resident for tax purposes in the UK, a charity, or a body which is allowed the same exemption from tax as a charity. They also include where the Company reasonably believes that the PID is paid to the scheme administrator of a registered pension scheme, or the sub-scheme administrator of certain pension sub-schemes or the account manager of an ISA, provided the Company reasonably believes that the PID will be applied for the purposes of the relevant scheme or account.
The Company will also not be required to withhold income tax at source from a PID where the Company reasonably believes that the body beneficially entitled to the PID is a partnership each member of which is a body described in the paragraph above.
In order to pay a PID without withholding tax, the Company will need to be satisfied that the Shareholder concerned is entitled to that treatment. For that purpose the Company will require such Shareholders to submit a valid claim form.
1.4 UK taxation of chargeable gains, stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax ("SDRT") in respect of Shares
Subject to the first paragraph of paragraph 1.1 above, the following comments apply to both individual and corporate Shareholders, regardless of whether or not such Shareholders are resident for tax purposes in the UK.
(a) UK taxation of chargeable gains
Individual Shareholders who are resident in the UK for tax purposes will generally be subject to UK capital gains tax in respect of any gain arising on a disposal of their Shares. Each such individual has an annual exemption, such that capital gains tax is chargeable only on gains arising from all sources during the tax year in excess of this figure. The annual exemption is £11,100 for the tax year 2015-2016. Capital gains tax chargeable will be at the current rate of 18 per cent. (for basic rate tax payers) and 28 per cent. (for higher and additional rate tax payers) for the tax year 2015-2016.
Shareholders who are individuals and who are temporarily non-resident in the UK may, under anti-avoidance legislation, still be liable to UK tax on any capital gain realised (subject to any available exemption or relief).
Corporate Shareholders who are resident in the UK for tax purposes will generally be subject to UK corporation tax on chargeable gains arising on a disposal of their Shares. The indexation allowance may reduce the amount of chargeable gain that is subject to UK corporation tax but may not create or increase any allowable loss. Capital losses realised on a disposal of Shares must be set as far as possible against chargeable gains for the same tax year (or accounting period in the case of a corporate Shareholder), even if this reduces an individual Shareholder's total gain below the annual exemption. Any balance of losses is carried forward without time limit and set off against net chargeable gains (that is, after deducting the annual exemption) in the earliest later tax year. Losses cannot generally be carried back, with the exception of losses accruing to an individual Shareholder in the year of his death.
(b) UK stamp duty and SDRT
No UK stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax will generally be payable on the issue, allotment and registration of Shares.
Transfers on sale of Shares will generally be subject to UK stamp duty at the rate of 0.5 per cent. of the consideration given for the transfer. The purchaser normally pays the stamp duty.
An agreement to transfer Shares will normally give rise to a charge to SDRT at the rate of 0.5 per cent. of the amount or value of the consideration payable for the transfer. If a duly stamped transfer in respect of the agreement is produced within six years of the date on which the agreement is made (or, if the agreement is conditional, the date on which the agreement becomes unconditional) any SDRT paid is repayable, generally with interest, and otherwise the SDRT charge is cancelled. SDRT is, in general, payable by the purchaser.
Paperless transfers of Shares within the CREST system will generally be liable to SDRT, rather than stamp duty, at the rate of 0.5 per cent, of the amount or value of the consideration payable. CREST is obliged to collect SDRT on relevant transactions settled within the CREST system. Deposits of Shares into CREST will not generally be subject to SDRT, unless the transfer into CREST is itself for consideration.
Other than pursuant to the Initial Placing, Shares are eligible for inclusion in ISAs. Investments held in ISAs will be free of UK tax on both capital gains and income. The opportunity to invest in Shares through an ISA is restricted to certain UK resident individuals aged 18 or over. Sums received by a Shareholder on a disposal of Shares would not count towards the Shareholder's annual limit (£15,240 for the tax year 2015/2016); but a disposal of Shares held in an ISA will not serve to make available again any part of the annual subscription limit that has already been used by the Shareholder in that tax year.
Subject to the rules of the trustees of the SIPP or SSAS, the Shares are eligible for inclusion in a SIPP or SSAS provided, broadly, that the pension scheme member (or a connected person) does not occupy or use any residential property held by the Company and the SIPP or SSAS in question does not hold (directly or indirectly) more than 10 per cent. of any of the Shares or the Company's voting rights or rights to income or amounts on a distribution or rights to the assets on a winding up.
| Shares | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggregate nominal | |||
| Number | value (£) | ||
| (i) | As at the date of this Securities Note | 385,000,001 | 3,850,000.01 |
| (ii) | Immediately following Initial Admission | 468,700,001 | 4,687,000.01 |
1.5 The effect of the Initial Issue will be to increase the net assets of the Company. On the assumption that the Gross Proceeds are £90 million, the Initial Issue is expected to increase the net assets of the Company by c.£88.2 million.
1.6 On 4 November 2015, resolutions of the Company were passed at its annual general meeting for the following purposes:
but subject to such exclusions and other arrangements as the Directors may consider necessary or appropriate in relation to fractional entitlements, record dates, treasury shares or any legal, regulatory or practical problems under the law of any territory (including the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange) or any other matter; and
such authority to expire (unless previously revoked by the Company) on the earlier of 15 months from the date of the annual general meeting at which the resolution is passed and the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company and in each case the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require Shares to be allotted or Rights to be granted after the authority has expired and the Directors may allot Shares or grant Rights in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the authority has expired; and all previous authorities to allot Shares or grant Rights, to the extent unused, shall be revoked.
but subject to such exclusions and other arrangements as the Directors may consider necessary or appropriate in relation to fractional entitlements, record dates, treasury shares or any legal, regulatory or practical problems under the law of any territory (including the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange) or any other matter; and
(ii) the allotment of equity securities (otherwise than under paragraph (i) of the resolution summarised in this paragraph (b)) up to an aggregate nominal amount of £303,848.00
this power shall expire when the authority given by the resolution above is revoked or expires but the Company may before expiry of this power make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power had expired; and the power applies in relation to a sale of treasury shares which constitutes an allotment of equity securities by virtue of section 560(3) of the Act.
(d) that, a general meeting of the Company other than an annual general meeting may be called on not less than 14 clear days' notice.
1.7 On 17 March 2016 resolutions of the Company will be considered at the General Meeting for the following purposes:
2.1 Other than as set out in the table below, as at 29 February 2016 (being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this Securities Note), the Company was not aware of any person who was directly or indirectly interested in 3 per cent. of more of the issued share capital of the Company:
| Percentage of | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of | issued share | |
| Name | Shares | capital (%) |
| Schroders plc | 40,685,914 | 10.57 |
| Investec Wealth & Investment Limited | 29,221,146 | 7.59 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council Pension Fund | 24,756,828 | 6.43 |
| CCLA Investment Management Limited | 21,922,495 | 5.69 |
| SG Hambros Bank Limited | 20,355,208 | 5.29 |
| Avenue Europe Management LLP | 16,329,718 | 4.24 |
| BlackRock, Inc | 14,123,202 | 3.67 |
| Asset Value Investors | 13,352,000 | 3.47 |
| Jefferies International Limited | 11,922,979 | 3.10 |
| Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited | 11,788,870 | 3.06 |
| Percentage of | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of | issued share | |
| Director | Shares | capital (%) |
| Baroness Dean | 33,500 | 0.01 |
| Timothy Attlee | 875,000 | 0.23 |
| Paul Hadaway | 1,094,001 | 0.28 |
| Michael Enright(*) | 645,000 | 0.17 |
| Jim Prower(**) | 23,760 | 0.01 |
| Stephen Alston | 26,300 | 0.01 |
(*) 20,000 of these Shares are held on behalf of Mr. Enright's children. (**) 11,880 of these Shares are held by Mr. Prower's wife.
The Articles contain provisions, inter alia, to the following effect:
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles, where required by the Listing Rules, a vote must be decided by a resolution of the holders of the Company's shares that have been admitted to premium listing. In addition, where the Listing Rules require that a particular resolution must in addition be approved by the independent shareholders (as such term is defined in the Listing Rules), only independent shareholders who hold the Company's shares that have been admitted to premium listing can vote on such separate resolution.
provided that the Board shall not refuse to register a transfer or renunciation of a partly paid share in certificated form on the grounds that it is partly paid in circumstances where such refusal would prevent dealings in such share from taking place on an open and proper basis on the market on which such share is admitted to trading. The Board may refuse to register a transfer of an uncertificated share in such other circumstances as may be permitted or required by the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001 (SI 2001 No. 3755) and the relevant electronic system.
in the Chairman of any such meeting, who may exercise or refrain from exercising them entirely at his discretion. If the notice is not complied with within 21 days to the satisfaction of the Directors, the Directors shall arrange for the Company to sell the share at the best price reasonably obtainable to any other person so that the share will cease to be a Prohibited Share. The net proceeds of sale (after payment of the Company's costs of sale and together with interest at such rate as the Directors consider appropriate) shall be paid over by the Company to the former holder upon surrender by him of the relevant share certificate (if applicable).
(h) Upon transfer of a share the transferee of such share shall be deemed to have represented and warranted to the Company that such transferee is acquiring shares in an offshore transaction meeting the requirements of Regulation S and is not, nor is acting on behalf of: (i) a benefit plan investor and no portion of the assets used by such transferee to acquire or hold an interest in such share constitutes or will be treated as "plan assets" of any benefit plan investor under Section 3(42) of ERISA; and/or (ii) a U.S. Person.
The Company may, from time to time, by ordinary resolution:
The Takeover Code applies to the Company. Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, if:
the acquirer and, depending on the circumstances, its concert parties, would be required (except with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers) to make a cash offer for the outstanding Shares at a price not less than the highest price paid for any interests in the Shares by the acquirer or its concert parties during the previous 12 months.
Under Sections 974 – 991 of the Companies Act, if an offeror acquires or contracts to acquire (pursuant to a takeover offer) not less than 90 per cent. of the Shares (in value and by voting rights) to which such offer relates it may then compulsorily acquire the outstanding Shares not assented to the offer. It would do so by sending a notice to outstanding holders of Shares telling them that it will compulsorily acquire their Shares and then, six weeks later, it would execute a transfer of the outstanding Shares in its favour and pay the consideration to the Company, which would hold the consideration on trust for the outstanding holders of Shares. The consideration offered to the holders whose Shares are compulsorily acquired under the Companies Act must, in general, be the same as the consideration that was available under the takeover offer.
In addition, pursuant to Section 983 of the Companies Act, if an offeror acquires or agrees to acquire not less than 90 per cent. of the Shares (in value and by voting rights) to which the offer relates, any holder of Shares to which the offer relates who has not accepted the offer may require the offeror to acquire his Shares on the same terms as the takeover offer.
The offeror would be required to give any holder of Shares notice of his right to be bought out within one month of that right arising. Sell-out rights cannot be exercised after the end of the period of three months from the last date on which the offer can be accepted or, if later, three months from the date on which the notice is served on the holder of Shares notifying them of their sell-out rights. If a holder of Shares exercises its rights, the offeror is bound to acquire those Shares on the terms of the takeover offer or on such other terms as may be agreed.
The Company is of the opinion that the working capital available to the Group is sufficient for its present requirements, that is for at least the next 12 months from the date of this Securities Note.
The following table, sourced from the Company's internal accounting records, shows the Company's unaudited indebtedness (distinguishing between guaranteed and unguaranteed, secured and unsecured indebtedness) and capitalisation as at 31 December 2015 being the date of the Group's last published unaudited interim accounts:
| 31 December | |
|---|---|
| 2015 | |
| (unaudited) | |
| (£'000) | |
| Total current debt: | |
| Guaranteed | – |
| Secured | 750 |
| Unguaranteed/unsecured | – |
| Total non-current debt (excluding current portion of long-term debt): | |
| Guaranteed | – |
| Secured | 101,872 |
| Unguaranteed/unsecured | – –––––––––– |
| Total indebtedness | 102,622 –––––––––– |
| 31 December | |
| 2015 | |
| (unaudited) | |
| (£'000) | |
| Capitalisation: | |
| Share capital | 3,850 |
| Legal reserves | 238,952 |
| Other reserves | 134,530 |
| Total capitalisation | –––––––––– 377,332 |
| –––––––––– |
(1) Other reserves comprise the capital reduction reserve, but exclude retained earnings and the cash flow hedge reserve.
The following table shows the Company's unaudited net indebtedness as at 31 December 2015:
| 31 December | |
|---|---|
| 2015 | |
| (unaudited) | |
| (£'000) | |
| Cash | 147,806 |
| Cash equivalent | – |
| Trading securities | – ––––––––– |
| Liquidity | 147,806 ––––––––– |
| Current financial receivables(1) | 2,207 |
| Current bank debt | – |
| Current portion of non-current debt | 750 |
| Other current financial debt | – ––––––––– |
| Current financial debt | 750 ––––––––– |
| Net-current financial liquidity | 149,263 ––––––––– |
| Non-current bank loans | 101,872 |
| Bonds issued | – |
| Other non-current loans | – |
| Non-current financial indebtedness | 101,872 ––––––––– |
| Net financial liquidity | 47,391 |
| ––––––––– |
(1) Current financial receivables represent cash held by Collegiate AC.
As at 31 December 2015 the Group had no indirect or contingent indebtedness.
The Intermediaries authorised at the date of this Securities Note to use the Prospectus in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to the Initial Issue are:
| Name | Address |
|---|---|
| AJ Bell Youinvest | Trafford House, Chester Road, Manchester M32 0RS |
| Alliance Trust Savings Limited | PO Box 164, 8 West Marketgait, Dundee, DD1 9YP |
| Barclays Bank Plc | 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP |
| Jarvis Investment Management Ltd | 78 Mount Ephraim, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN4 8BS |
| Redmayne Bentley LLP | 9 Bond Court, Leeds LS1 2JZ |
8.2 The actual Net Proceeds are not known as at the date of this Securities Note but will be notified by the Company via a Regulatory Information Service announcement prior to Initial Admission in relation to the Shares issued pursuant to the Initial Issue.
8.3 The total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme will depend on the number of Shares issued throughout the Share Issuance Programme, the applicable Issue Price of such Shares, and the aggregate costs and commissions for each Tranche. However, assuming that the maximum number of Shares available under the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue) are issued at an Issue Price of 107.5 pence per Share with aggregate costs and commissions of approximately £3.6 million, the total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme would be approximately £173.8 million.
This Part 5 contains the information required to be made available to investors in the Company before they invest, pursuant to Directive 2011/61/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on Alternative Investment Fund Managers and UK implementing measures (the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations No.1773/2013, and consequential amendments to the FCA Handbook).
The table below sets out information required to be disclosed pursuant to the AIFM Directive and related national implementing measures.
This Part 5 contains solely that information that the Company (as its own AIFM) is required to make available to investors pursuant to the AIFM Directive and should not be relied upon as the basis for any investment decision.
| DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENT | DISCLOSURE OR LOCATION OF RELEVANT DISCLOSURE |
|---|---|
| 1(a) a description of the investment strategy and objectives of the Company |
The investment objective of the Company is to provide Shareholders with regular, sustainable and growing long term dividends (which it will seek to grow at least in line with the Retail Prices Index inflation index) together with the potential for capital appreciation over the medium to long term. |
| Investment policy | |
| The Company meets its investment objective through acquiring, owning, leasing and developing high quality student residential accommodation in the UK let on direct tenancy agreements to tenants enrolled with Higher Education Institutions ("HEIs"). The Company will invest in modern, high-end, student accommodation assets with a focus on quality, and generally located in prime city centre locations in top university cities and towns. The Company is focused on investing in, and developing, high quality self contained residential accommodation in locations where the Executive Directors believe attractive opportunities exist for the Company to exploit demand for student residential accommodation at the higher end of the quality scale. To deliver the high quality and high-end experience, the individual sizes of the assets are generally expected to be between 50 to 200 beds. In addition, each property will generally have: |
|
| • studios and 1 – 3 bedroom apartments; |
|
| • generous space per student bed; |
|
| • all rooms with en-suite bathroom and kitchen facilities; and |
|
| • communal facilities to typically include: a cinema room, study rooms, a gym and break-out areas. |
|
| The Company anticipates that rental income will predominantly be generated from direct leases and/or |
| licences to students (with the rent being inclusive of wifi/internet, all utilities, and access to on-site amenities). The Company also anticipates benefitting from ancillary commercial lease opportunities within student accommodation properties, including (but not limited to) retail outlets and mobile telephone transmission apparatus. The Company may in due course derive rental income from agreements with students that are guaranteed by HEIs or directly with HEIs. The Company may enter into soft nominations agreements (being marketing arrangements with HEIs to place their students in private accommodation). The Company will target upper quartile rental values, primarily servicing postgraduate and international students. |
|
|---|---|
| The Group may acquire assets through acquisitions of the underlying property or through the acquisition of the subsidiary companies or other investment vehicles through which such properties are owned. The Company may opportunistically acquire portfolios of student accommodation properties. Following such a transaction, individual properties within such a portfolio, which do not meet the Group's required standards or which cannot be cost effectively refurbished, may be sold. |
|
| The Company also undertakes limited development of new buildings or conversion of existing properties for student accommodation and related services pursuant to the terms of the joint venture arrangement between the Company and Revcap, with other development partners or solely without a third party partner. Save for such development assets that may be held by the Group in 50/50 joint venture companies during the development phase of such projects, the Group intends to have sole ownership of all investments. |
|
| The Company will also focus on the acquisition of properties which benefit from "Multiple Dwelling Relief", reducing SDLT on the value of such student accommodation units from 4 per cent. to 1 per cent. |
|
| The Board intends to hold the Group's investments on a long term basis. The Group, however, may dispose of investments outside of this time frame, should an appropriate opportunity arise where, in the Board's opinion, the value that could be realised from such a disposal would represent a satisfactory return on the initial investment and/or otherwise enhance the value of the Group, taken as a whole. There is no limit on the number of investments which the Group may dispose of from the portfolio (subject always to maintaining compliance with the investment restrictions that form part of the investment policy). |
|
| (b) if the Company is a feeder fund, information on where the master fund is established; |
N/a |
| (c) if the Company is a fund of funds, information on where the underlying funds are established; |
N/a |
|---|---|
| (d) a description of the types of assets in which the Company may invest; |
The Company meets its investment objective through acquiring owning, leasing and developing premium student residential accommodation in the UK let on direct tenancy agreements to tenants enrolled with HEIs. The Company will invest in modern, high-end, student accommodation assets with a focus on quality, and generally located in prime city centre locations in top university cities and towns. The Company is focused on investing in, and developing, high quality self-contained residential accommodation in locations where the Executive Directors believe attractive opportunities exist for the Company to exploit demand for student residential accommodation at the higher end of the quality scale. |
| (e) the investment techniques | Investment origination |
| that the Company may employ and all associated risks; |
The Executive Directors have established a network of contacts in the UK student accommodation sector from which potential investment flows are sourced. This network includes owner/operators, investment funds, developers, property agents and other proprietary real estate contacts. |
| The Company focuses on acquiring (or developing) assets in towns and cities with high-quality HEIs, an attractive imbalance of supply and demand in existing student accommodation and a student profile (typically with numerous overseas and graduate students) that supports the strategy of targeting higher rental rates. |
|
| As referred to in the investment policy, the Company generally targets prime central locations in order to increase the alternative use value of the properties and to limit the risk of obsolescence. |
|
| Due Diligence | |
| Following initial screening, short listed investment opportunities and projects will be subjected to detailed financial, legal and technical due diligence by the Company. |
|
| Following the successful conclusion of this due diligence process, a formal investment proposal and business plan for the investment will be prepared. |
|
| Approval and execution | |
| All investments are approved by the Board. | |
| Summary of key risks | |
| • The Company has a limited operating history. |
|
| • The Company may not meet its investment objective. |
|
| • Investor returns will be dependent upon the performance of the Property Portfolio and the Company may experience fluctuations in its operating results. |
| • The Group's rental income and property values may be adversely affected by increased supply of student accommodation, the failure to collect rents, increasing operating costs or any deterioration in the quality of the properties in the Property Portfolio. |
|
|---|---|
| • The Group may not be able to maintain or increase the rental rates for its rooms, which may, in the longer term, have a material adverse impact on the value of the Group's properties, as well as the Group's turnover. |
|
| • The Group may not be able to maintain the occupancy rates of the Group's properties or any other student accommodation properties it acquires, which may have a material adverse effect on the Group's revenue performance, margins and asset values. |
|
| • Property valuation is inherently subjective and uncertain. |
|
| • Competition with other participants in the student accommodation sector. |
|
| • Availability of investment opportunities. |
|
| • Risks relating to the use of leverage. |
|
| • Construction of the Group's development projects may be subject to delays or disruptions that are outside of the Group's control. |
|
| • If the Group fails to maintain REIT status for UK tax purposes, its profits and gains will be subject to UK corporation tax. |
|
| (f) any applicable investment | Investment restrictions |
| restrictions; | The Company will invest and manage its assets with the objective of spreading risk through the following investment restrictions: |
| • the Company will generate its rental income from a portfolio of not less than five separate buildings (such minimum to exclude development projects, and to count two or more buildings in close proximity or on the same campus as a single building); |
|
| • the value of no single asset at the time of investment will represent more than 20 per cent. of the Gross Asset Value; |
|
| • at least 90 per cent. by value of the properties directly or indirectly owned by the Company shall be in the form of freehold or long leasehold properties (with over 100 years remaining at the time of acquisition) or the equivalent; |
|
| • the Company may commit up to a maximum of 15 per cent. of its Net Asset Value (measured at the commencement of the project) to expenditure in relation to development or forward funded projects (including conversion of buildings to student |
| accommodation). All development and forward funded projects will be conducted in special purpose vehicles with no recourse to the other assets of the Group. This restriction will be calculated by reference to the equity requirement of all such projects in progress (i.e. up to practical completion) at the time of commitment, to include expenditure already made in such projects and the remaining budgeted expenditure (the "Development Limit"). For the purposes of the Development Limit, "equity requirement" shall mean the amount of equity or shareholder loans contributed and/or committed by the Company or any other Group entity to the relevant special purpose vehicle and shall exclude other sources of funds obtained by such special purpose vehicle; |
|---|
| • the calculation of the Development Limit shall exclude from the numerator the acquisition cost of the relevant undeveloped land or property in use, or to be used, for development or forward funded projects, which shall be subject to a separate limit of 10 per cent. of Net Asset Value (measured at the time of investment); |
| • for the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of the Development Limit shall also exclude from the numerator all investment and expenditure on the renovation, restoration, fit-out, internal reconfiguration, maintenance and engineering works and general up-keep of any existing and new student accommodation investments by the Group; |
| • rent from ancillary commercial leases will be limited to 25 per cent. of total rent receipts of any single building and to 15 per cent. of the Group's total rent receipts; |
| • in each case where investment is via a joint venture arrangement, the relevant restriction will be calculated by reference to the Company's share of the relevant joint venture; and |
| • the Company will not invest in other closed-ended investment companies. |
| The Company will also seek to spread risk by seeking to achieve a diversified exposure to individual cities, towns and HEIs, though no quantitative limits are in place, due to the widely various demographics prevailing in different locations. |
| The Company will at all times invest and manage its assets in a way that is consistent with its objective of spreading investment risk and in accordance with its published investment policy and will not, at any time, conduct any trading activity which is significant in the context of the business of the Company as a whole. The Directors currently intend, at all times, to conduct the |
| affairs of the Company so as to enable it to qualify as a REIT |
| for the purposes of Part 12 of the CTA 2010 (and the regulations made thereunder). |
|
|---|---|
| In the event of a breach of the investment policy and investment restrictions set out above, the Directors upon becoming aware of such breach will consider whether the breach is material, and if it is, notification will be made through a Regulatory Information Service. |
|
| (g) the circumstances in which the Company may use |
The Board expects to use Company level structural leverage for investment purposes to enhance equity returns. |
| leverage; | Where the Group takes on floating rate loan facilities, the Group may engage in interest rate hedging in respect of borrowings, or otherwise seek to mitigate the risk of interest rate increases, for efficient portfolio management purposes only. |
| The Company's borrowing limits will be inclusive of the Group's pro-rata share of development loans incurred in relation to joint venture development projects. Intra-group debt between the Company and subsidiaries will not be included in the definition of borrowings for these purposes. |
|
| (h) the types and sources of leverage permitted and the associated risks; |
Certain Group companies have, and the Group expects in the future, to take on leverage in accordance with the Company's borrowing policy. Investors should be aware that, whilst the use of borrowings should enhance Net Asset Value per Share, where the value of the Group's underlying assets is rising, it will have the opposite effect where the underlying asset value is declining. In addition, in the event that the rental income derived from the Group's property assets declines, including as a result of defaults by the tenants pursuant to their leases with the Group, the use of borrowings will amplify the impact of such declines on the net revenue of the Group and, accordingly, this may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, dividend payments, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares. |
| If the value of the Group's assets falls, the Net Asset Value of the Company will reduce. Furthermore, the borrowings which certain Group companies' use (and which the Group will in the future use) are expected to contain loan to value covenants, being the accepted market practice in the UK. If real estate assets owned by Group companies and used as collateral for any borrowings decrease in value such covenants could be breached, and the impact of such an event could include: an increase in borrowing costs; a call for additional capital from the lender; or payment of a fee to the lender; or in such cases where other remedies were not available, it could require a sale of an asset, or a forfeit of any asset to a lender, this could result in a total or partial loss of equity value for each specific asset, or indeed the Group as a whole. |
|
| Any increase in Sterling interest rates could have an adverse impact on the Group's cost of borrowing or its ability to secure borrowing facilities and could result in the expected dividends of the Company being reduced and a reduction in the price of the Shares. |
| Group companies may incur debt with interest payable based on LIBOR. Depending upon market conditions the relevant borrowing Group companies may hedge or partially hedge interest rate exposure on borrowings, however such measures may not be sufficient to protect the Group from adverse movements in prevailing interest rates to the extent exposures are unhedged or hedges are inadequate to offer full protection. If exposures are hedged, interest rate movements may lead to mark-to-market movements in the value of the hedging instrument, which may be positive or negative and upon breaking of such hedges may cause crystallisation of gains or losses for the Group. In addition, hedging arrangements expose the Group to credit risk in respect of the hedging counterparty. Increased exposure to interest rate movements may have a material adverse effect on the Group's profitability, dividend payments, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares. |
|
|---|---|
| Any amounts that are secured by a Group Company under a loan facility are likely to rank ahead of Shareholders' entitlements and accordingly, should the Group's assets generate insufficient returns to cover the Group's operating costs and interest expense, Shareholders may not recover their initial investment on a liquidation of the Company or when they sell their Shares. |
|
| (i) any collateral and asset reuse arrangements; |
Borrowings employed by the Group may either be secured on individual assets without recourse to the Company or by a charge over some or all of the Company's assets to take advantage of potentially preferential terms. Development loans, however, will only be secured at the individual asset level, without recourse to the Group's other assets or revenues. |
| (j) the maximum level of leverage which the Company is entitled to employ; |
The level of borrowing will be on a prudent basis for the asset class, and will seek to achieve a low cost of funds, whilst maintaining flexibility in the underlying security requirements. If gearing is employed, the Company will maintain a conservative level of aggregate borrowings typically of 35 per cent., but no more than 40 per cent., of the Gross Asset Value (calculated at the time of draw down) and will comply with the REIT condition relating to the ratio between the Company's 'property profits' and 'property finance costs'. |
| The AIFM Directive prescribes two methods of measuring and expressing leverage (as opposed to gearing) and requires disclosure of the maximum amount of 'leverage' the Company might be subject to. The definition of leverage is wider than that of gearing and includes exposures that are not considered to be gearing. |
|
| Without prejudice to the foregoing (in compliance with the investment policy concerning gearing), the Company has set a maximum leverage limit of 1.66x (on both a "gross" and "commitment" basis). |
| (2) a description of the procedures by which the Company may change its investment strategy or investment policy, or both; |
No material change will be made to the investment policy and investment restrictions without the prior approval of the FCA and of Shareholders by ordinary resolution. Any change to the investment policy or investment restrictions which does not amount to a material change to the investment policy may be made by the Company without the approval of the FCA and the Shareholders. |
|---|---|
| (3) a description of the main legal implications of the contractual relationship entered into for the purpose of investment, including information on jurisdiction, the applicable law and the existence or absence of any legal instruments providing for the recognition and enforcement of judgments in the territory where the Company is established; |
The Company is a company limited by shares, incorporated in England and Wales. While investors acquire an interest in the Company on subscribing for or purchasing shares, the Company is the sole legal and/or beneficial owner of its investments. Consequently, Shareholders have no direct legal or beneficial interest in those investments. The liability of Shareholders for the debts and other obligations of the Company is limited to the amount unpaid, if any, on the Shares held by them. Shareholders' rights in respect of their investment in the Company are governed by the Articles and the Companies Act. Under English law, the following types of claim may in certain circumstances be brought against a company by its shareholders: contractual claims under its articles of association; claims in misrepresentation in respect of statements made in its prospectus and other marketing documents; unfair prejudice claims and derivative actions. In the event that a Shareholder considers that it may have a claim against the Company in connection with such investment in the Company, such Shareholder should |
| consult its own legal advisers. | |
| Jurisdiction and applicable law | |
| As noted above, Shareholders' rights are governed principally by the Articles and the Companies Act. By subscribing for Shares, investors agree to be bound by the Articles which are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England and Wales. |
|
| Recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments | |
| Regulation (EC) 593/2008 ("Rome I") must be applied in all member states of the European Union (other than Denmark). Accordingly, where a matter comes before the courts of a relevant member state, the choice of a governing law in any given agreement is subject to the provisions of Rome I. Under Rome I, the member state's court may apply any rule of that member state's own law which is mandatory irrespective of the governing law and may refuse to apply a rule of governing law if it is manifestly incompatible with the public policy of that member state. Further, where all other elements relevant to the situation at the time of the choice are located in a country other than the country whose law has been chosen, the choice of the parties shall not prejudice the application of provisions of the law of that other country which cannot be derogated from by agreement. Shareholders should note that there are a number of legal instruments providing for the recognition and enforcement of |
| jurisdiction of the original judgment, Council Regulation (EC) No 44/2001 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, Regulation (EC) No 805/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 creating a European Enforcement Order for uncontested claims, the Convention on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters done at Lugano on 30 October 2007, the Administration of Justice Act 1920 and the Foreign Judgment (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 may apply. There are no legal instruments providing for the recognition and enforcement of judgments obtained in jurisdictions outside those covered by the instruments listed above, although such judgments might be enforceable at common law. |
|
|---|---|
| (4) the identity of the AIFM, the Company's depositary, the auditor and any other service |
The Company is an internally managed alternative investment fund and consequently, for the purposes of the AIFM Directive, is its own AIFM. |
| providers and a description of | Administrator and company secretary: |
| their duties and the investors' rights; |
FIM Capital Limited, 7 Cavendish Square, London W1G 0PE. |
| FIM Capital Limited has been appointed as administrator and company secretary to the Company. The Administrator provides company secretarial functions required by the Companies Act. The Company's statutory records are maintained at the Company's registered office. In addition, the Administrator provides certain agreed administration functions to the Company. |
|
| Under the terms of the Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement, the Administrator is entitled to an administration fee of £30,000 per annum (exclusive of VAT). This fee is subject to review annually. |
|
| The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement is terminable upon six months' written notice. |
|
| Registrar: | |
| Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road Bristol BS13 8AE. |
|
| The Company utilises the services of Computershare Investor Services PLC as registrar in relation to the transfer and settlement of Shares. |
|
| Under the terms of the Registrar Agreement, the Registrar is entitled to an annual maintenance fee of £1.20 per Shareholder account per annum, subject to a minimum fee of £3,000 per annum. The Registrar is also entitled to activity fees under the Registrar Agreement. |
|
| The Registrar Agreement may be terminated on six months' notice, such notice not to expire prior to 30 June 2016. |
|
Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited, 41-43 Maddox Street, London W1S 2PD.
Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited has been appointed as depositary to the Company. The Depositary acts as the sole depositary of the Company and is, amongst other things, responsible for:
Under the terms of the Depositary Agreement, the Depositary is entitled to a depositary fee based on the value of the Company's assets under management subject to a minimum fee of £20,000 per annum and a maximum fee of £40,000 per annum (excluding VAT).
BDO LLP, 55 Baker Street, London W1U 7EU.
BDO LLP provides audit services to the Group. The auditor's principal responsibilities are to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements of the Company in accordance with applicable law and auditing standards. The annual report and accounts are prepared according to accounting standards laid out under IFRS, and EPRA's best practice recommendations.
The Company is reliant on the performance of third party service providers, including the Administrator, the Depositary, the Auditor and the Registrar.
Without prejudice to any potential right of action in tort that a Shareholder may have to bring a claim against a service provider, each Shareholder's contractual relationship in respect of its investment in Shares is with the Company only. Accordingly, no Shareholder will have any contractual claim against any service provider with respect to such service provider's default.
In the event that a Shareholder considers that it may have a claim against a third party service provider in connection with such Shareholder's investment in the Company, such Shareholder should consult its own legal advisers.
The above is without prejudice to any right a Shareholder may have to bring a claim against an FCA authorised service provider under section 138D of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (which provides that breach of an FCA rule by such service provider is actionable by a private person who suffers loss as a result), or any tortious cause of action. Shareholders who believe they may have a claim under section 138D of the Financial Services and
| Markets Act 2000, or in tort, against any service provider in connection with their investment in the Company, should consult their legal adviser. |
|
|---|---|
| Shareholders who are "Eligible Complainants" for the purposes of the FCA "Dispute Resolutions Complaints" rules (natural persons, micro-enterprises and certain charities or trustees of a trust) are able to refer any complaints against FCA authorised service providers to the Financial Ombudsman Service ("FOS") (further details of which are available at www.fscs.org.uk). Additionally, Shareholders may be eligible for compensation under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme ("FSCS") if they have claims against an FCA authorised service provider which is in default. There are limits on the amount of compensation. Further information about the FSCS can be found at www.fscs.org.uk. To determine eligibility in relation to either the FOS or the FSCS, Shareholders should consult the respective websites above and speak to their legal advisers. |
|
| (5) a description of how the Company complies with the requirements referred to in IPRU-INV 11.3.11G (Professional negligence) relating to professional liability risk; |
Professional liability risks resulting from those activities which the Company carries out pursuant to the AIFM Directive, are, to the extent required by law, covered by the Company through additional own funds. |
| (6) a description of: (a) any management function delegated by the Manager; |
The Company (as its own AIFM) has not delegated any significant function and is responsible for the discretionary portfolio management and exercising the risk management functions in respect of the Company. |
| (b) any safe-keeping function delegated by the depositary; |
N/a |
| (c) the identity of each delegate appointed in accordance with FUND 3.10 (Delegation); and |
Property valuation: CBRE Limited, Henrietta House, Henrietta Place, London W1G 0NB. |
| (d) any conflicts of interest that may arise from such delegations; |
N/a |
| (7) a description of the | Property valuation: |
| Company's valuation procedure and of the pricing methodology for valuing assets, including the methods used in valuing any hard-to-value assets, in line with FUND 3.9 (Valuation); |
The Directors use CBRE as property valuer to the Company. Valuations of the Company's properties are conducted semi annually as at 30 June and 31 December in each year. The market value of the Group's properties will be determined by CBRE in accordance with the internationally accepted RICS Valuation – Professional Standard (2014). |
| Details of each semi-annual valuation, and of any suspension in the making of such valuations, are announced by the Company via a Regulatory Information Service announcement as soon as practicable after the relevant valuation date. |
| Calculation of Net Asset Value | |
|---|---|
| The Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) is calculated semi-annually by the Company (and reviewed by the Administrator). Calculations are made in accordance with IFRS and EPRA's best practice recommendations. Details of each semi-annual valuation, and of any suspension in the making of such valuations, are announced by the Company via a Regulatory Information Service announcement as part of its results announcement as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant half-year. The semi-annual valuations of the Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) are calculated on the basis of the most recent valuation of the Property Portfolio. |
|
| (8) a description of the Company's liquidity risk management, including the redemption rights of investors in normal and exceptional circumstances, and the existing redemption arrangements with |
The Company is a closed-ended investment company incorporated in England and Wales on 11 February 2014 which carries on business as the principal company of a REIT. Shareholders are entitled to participate in the assets of the Company attributable to their Shares in a winding-up of the Company or other return of capital, but they have no rights of redemption. |
| investors; | Liquidity risk is defined as the risk that the Company will encounter difficulty in meeting obligations associated with financial liabilities that are settled by delivering cash or another financial asset. Exposure to liquidity risk arises because of the possibility that the Company could be required to pay its liabilities earlier than expected. The Company mitigates this risk by maintaining a balance between continuity of funding and flexibility through the use of bank deposits and loans. |
| (9) a description of all fees, charges and expenses, and the maximum amounts directly or |
The on-going annual expenses of the Company for the period ending 31 December 2016 relative to the Net Asset Value is expected to be approximately 1.55 per cent. |
| indirectly borne by investors; | Given that many of the fees are irregular in their nature, the maximum amount of fees, charges and expenses that Shareholders will bear in relation to their investment cannot be disclosed in advance. |
| (10) a description of how the Company ensures a fair treatment of investors; |
As a company listed on the UKLA's Official List, the Company is required under the Premium Listing Principles to treat all Shareholders of a given class equally. |
| In addition, as directors of a company incorporated in England and Wales, the Directors have certain statutory duties with which they must comply. These include a duty upon each Director to act in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole. |
|
| No investor has a right to obtain preferential treatment in relation to their investment in the Company and the Company does not give preferential treatment to any investors. |
|
| The Shares rank pari passu with each other. |
| (11) whenever an investor obtains preferential treatment or the right to obtain preferential treatment, a description of: |
N/a |
|---|---|
| (a) that preferential treatment; | N/a |
| (b) the type of investors who obtain such preferential treatment; and |
N/a |
| (c) where relevant, their legal or economic links with the Company; |
N/a |
| (12) the procedure and conditions for the issue and sale of units or shares; |
The Shares are admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities. Accordingly, the Shares may be purchased and sold on the main market. |
| New Shares may be issued at the Board's discretion and providing relevant Shareholder issuance authorities are in place. Shareholders do not have the right to redeem their Shares. While the Company will typically have Shareholder authority to buy back Shares any such buy back is at the absolute discretion of the Board and no expectation or reliance should be placed on the Board exercising such discretion. |
|
| (13) the latest net asset value of the Company or the latest |
As at 31 December 2015, the unaudited Net Asset Value per Share was 105.4 pence. |
| market price of the unit or share of the Company, in line with FUND 3.9 (Valuation); |
When published, net asset value announcements can be found on the Company's website: www.empiric.co.uk. |
| (14) the latest annual report, in line with FUND 3.3 (Annual |
The Company has published its first annual report for the period ended 30 June 2015 in line with FUND 3.3. |
| report of an AIF); | When published, annual reports can be found on the Company's website: www.empiric.co.uk. |
| (15) where available, the historical performance of the Company; |
The Company has published its audited financial statements for the period from 11 February 2014 (being the date of the incorporation of the Company) to 30 June 2015. In addition, the Company has published unaudited interim financial statements for the six month period from 1 July 2015 to 31 December 2015. |
| When published, annual and interim financial statements can be found on the Company's website: www.empiric.co.uk. |
|
| (16) | N/a |
| (a) the identity of the prime brokerage firm; |
|
| (b) a description of any material arrangements of the Company |
N/a |
|---|---|
| with its prime brokerage firm and the way any conflicts of interest are managed; |
|
| (c) the provision in the contract with the depositary on the possibility of transfer and reuse of Company assets; and |
N/a |
| (d) information about any transfer of liability to the prime brokerage firm that may exist; and |
N/a |
| (17) a description of how and when the information required under FUND 3.2.5 R and |
In order to meet the requirements of FUND 3.2.5 R, the Company intends to disclose annually in the Company's annual report (pursuant to FUND 3.3): |
| FUND 3.2.6 R will be disclosed. | (1) the percentage of the Company's assets that are subject to special arrangements arising from their illiquid nature, if applicable; |
| (2) any new arrangements for managing the liquidity of the Company; and |
|
| (3) the current risk profile of the Company and the risk management systems employed by the Company to manage those risks. |
|
| Information will also be provided to investors regarding any changes to: |
|
| (a) the maximum level of leverage that the Company may employ; |
|
| (b) any right of reuse of collateral or any guarantee granted under the leveraging arrangement; and |
|
| (c) the total amount of leverage employed by the Company. | |
| To meet the requirements of FUND 3.2.6 R, this information will be provided to investors by way of an update to these disclosures or in such other manner the Company deems appropriate. |
|
| Amendment of this Part 5 | |
| When there is a material change to the information contained in these disclosures, it shall be updated. |
Conditionally upon:
To the fullest extent permitted by law, each Placee acknowledges and agrees that it will not be entitled to exercise any remedy of rescission at any time. This does not affect any other rights the Placee may have.
Each Placee must pay the applicable Issue Price for the Shares issued to the Placee in the manner and by such time as directed by Jefferies. If any Placee fails to pay as so directed and/or by the time required by Jefferies, the relevant Placee shall be deemed hereby to have appointed Jefferies or any nominee of Jefferies as its agent to use its reasonable endeavours to sell (in one or more transactions) any or all of the Shares allocated to the Placee in respect of which payment shall not have been made as directed, and to indemnify Jefferies and its affiliates on demand in respect of any liability for stamp duty and/or stamp duty reserve tax or any other liability whatsoever arising in respect of any such sale or sales.
A sale of all or any of such Shares shall not release the relevant Placee from the obligation to make such payment for relevant Shares to the extent that Jefferies or its nominee has failed to sell such Shares at a consideration which, after deduction of the expenses of such sale and payment of stamp duty and/or stamp duty reserve tax as aforementioned, exceeds the applicable Issue Price per Share.
By agreeing to subscribe for Shares, each Placee that is outside the United States and is not a U.S. Person and which enters into a commitment with Jefferies to subscribe for Shares will (for itself and any person(s) procured by it to subscribe for Shares and any nominee(s) for any such person(s)) be deemed to represent and warrant to Jefferies, Akur, the Registrar, the Company and their respective officers, agents and employees that:
4.6 it has carefully read and understands the Prospectus in its entirety and acknowledges that it is acquiring Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Part 6 and the Articles as in force at the date of Initial Admission in the case of the Initial Issue or the relevant date of Admission in the case of any Further Placing and agrees that in accepting a participation in the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing it has had access to all information it believes necessary or appropriate in connection with its decision to subscribe for the Shares;
4.7 it has not relied on Jefferies, Akur or any person affiliated with Jefferies or Akur in connection with any investigation of the accuracy or completeness of any information contained in the Prospectus or any supplementary prospectus published by the Company prior to the relevant Admission;
benefit plan that is subject to any federal, state, local or non-U.S. law that is substantially similar to the provisions of Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the U.S. Code, its acquisition, holding, and disposition of the Shares will not constitute a violation of law or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 503 of the U.S. Code or any substantially similar law;
4.15 if any Shares are issued to it in certificated form, then such certificates evidencing ownership will contain a legend substantially to the following effect unless otherwise determined by the Company in accordance with applicable law:
EMPIRIC STUDENT PROPERTY PLC (THE "COMPANY") HAS NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT"). IN ADDITION, THE SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN AND WILL NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "U.S. SECURITIES ACT"), OR WITH ANY SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF THE UNITED STATES. ACCORDINGLY, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (I) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION COMPLYING WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION S UNDER THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT TO A PERSON OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES AND NOT KNOWN BY THE TRANSFEROR TO BE A U.S. PERSON, BY PRE- ARRANGEMENT OR OTHERWISE AND UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WILL NOT REQUIRE THE COMPANY TO REGISTER UNDER THE U.S. INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT, OR (II) WITHIN THE UNITED STATES IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 144 OF THE U.S. SECURITIES ACT, IF AVAILABLE, AND IN COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION IN THE UNITED STATES, IN EACH CASE OF CLAUSE (I) OR (II), IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS, UPON SURRENDER OF THE SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE AND DELIVERY OF A WRITTEN CERTIFICATION THAT SUCH TRANSFEROR IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS CLAUSE IN THE FORM OF A DULY COMPLETED AND SIGNED OFFSHORE TRANSACTION LETTER (THE FORM OF WHICH MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE REGISTRAR) TO THE COMPANY, WITH COPIES TO THE REGISTRAR AND THE ADMINISTRATOR. IN ADDITION, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED TO ANY PERSON USING THE ASSETS OF (I) (A) AN "EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 3(3) OF ERISA THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA; (B) A "PLAN" AS DEFINED IN SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. CODE, INCLUDING AN INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNT OR OTHER ARRANGEMENT THAT IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. CODE; OR (C) AN ENTITY WHICH IS DEEMED TO HOLD THE ASSETS OF ANY OF THE FOREGOING TYPES OF PLANS, ACCOUNTS OR ARRANGEMENTS THAT IS SUBJECT TO TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. CODE OR (II) A GOVERNMENTAL, CHURCH, NON-U.S. OR OTHER EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN THAT IS SUBJECT TO ANY FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL OR NON-U.S. LAW THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE I OF ERISA OR SECTION 4975 OF THE U.S. CODE IF THE PURCHASE, HOLDING OR DISPOSITION OF THE SECURITIES WILL NOT RESULT IN A VIOLATION OF APPLICABLE LAW AND/OR CONSTITUTE A NON-EXEMPT PROHIBITED TRANSACTION UNDER SECTION 503 OF THE U.S. CODE OR ANY SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR LAW.
4.16 if in the future it decides to offer, sell, transfer, assign, pledge or otherwise dispose of the Shares or any beneficial interest therein, it will do so only: (i) in an "offshore transaction" complying with the provisions of Regulation S under the U.S. Securities Act to a person outside the United States and not known by the transferor to be a U.S. Person, by prearrangement or otherwise; (ii) within the United States in accordance with Rule 144 of the U.S. Securities Act, if available, and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction in the United States; or (iii) to the Company or a subsidiary thereof;
4.23 it has not, directly or indirectly, distributed, forwarded, transferred or otherwise transmitted the Prospectus or any other offering materials concerning the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing or the Shares to any persons within the United States or to any U.S. Persons, nor will it do any of the foregoing;
4.24 it acknowledges that neither Jefferies nor Akur nor any of their respective affiliates nor any person acting on its or their behalf is making any recommendations to it, advising it regarding the suitability of any transactions it may enter into in connection with the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing or providing any advice in relation to the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing, that participation in the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing is on the basis that it is not and will not be a client of Jefferies, Akur or any of their affiliates and that Jefferies, Akur and any of their respective affiliates do not have any duties or responsibilities to a Placee for providing protections afforded to its clients or for providing advice in relation to the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing nor in respect of any representations, warranties, undertakings or indemnities contained in the Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement;
moneys relating thereto. It holds harmless and will indemnify Jefferies, the Company and/or their agents against any liability, loss or cost ensuing due to the failure to process such application, if such information as has been required has not been provided by it or has not been provided on a timely basis;
If Jefferies, the Registrar or the Company or any of their agents request any information about a Placee's agreement to purchase Shares under the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing, such Placee must promptly disclose it to them.
under the Initial Placing and/or any Further Placing and the appointments and authorities mentioned in the Prospectus will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of England and Wales. For the exclusive benefit of Jefferies, Akur, the Registrar and the Company each Placee irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales waives any objection to proceedings in any such courts on the ground of venue or on the ground that proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum. This does not prevent an action being taken against a Placee in any other jurisdiction.
The Company may issue up to 55 million Shares at the Initial Issue Price under the Initial Open Offer.
The Initial Open Offer is an opportunity for Qualifying Shareholders to apply for Shares pro rata to their holdings as at the Record Date at the Initial Issue Price on the basis of 1 new Share for every 7 existing Shares held at the Record Date in accordance with the terms of the Initial Open Offer.
The Record Date for entitlements, under the Initial Open Offer for Qualifying CREST Shareholders and Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders is 5.00 p.m. on 26 February 2016. Open Offer Application Forms for Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders accompany the Prospectus.
The latest time and date for receipt of completed Open Offer Application Forms and payment in full under the Initial Open Offer and settlement of relevant instructions (as appropriate) is expected to be 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016, with Initial Admission and commencement of dealings in the Shares expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016.
This Securities Note and, for Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders only, the Open Offer Application Forms contain the formal terms and conditions of the Initial Open Offer. Your attention is drawn to paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 of this Part 7 which gives details of the procedure for application and payment for the Shares under the Initial Open Offer.
The Excess Application Facility is an opportunity for Qualifying Shareholders who have applied for all of their Basic Entitlements to apply for additional Shares. The Excess Application Facility will be comprised of Shares that are not taken up by existing Shareholders under the Initial Open Offer pursuant to their Basic Entitlements and aggregated fractional entitlements under the Initial Open Offer.
There is no limit on the amount of Shares that can be applied for by existing Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility, save that the maximum amount of Shares to be allotted under the Excess Application Facility shall be the maximum size of the Initial Issue less the number of Shares issued under the Initial Open Offer pursuant to Qualifying Shareholders' Basic Entitlements and any Shares that the Directors determined to issue under the Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription. Applications under the Excess Application Facility will be allocated in the event of over-subscription pro-rata to Qualifying Shareholders' applications under the Excess Application Facility. No assurance can be given that applications by Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility will be met in full or in part or at all. To the extent any Shares remain unallocated pursuant to the Basic Entitlements and under the Excess Application Facility, and the Initial Placing and/or the Initial Offer for Subscription is oversubscribed, such Shares may, at the Board's discretion, be allocated to subscribers under the Initial Placing and/or the Initial Offer for Subscription.
Application will be made to the UK Listing Authority for the Shares to be admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List. Application will also be made to the London Stock Exchange for the Shares to be admitted to trading on the Main Market.
If you sell or have sold or otherwise transferred your Shares in certificated form before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 (being the ex-entitlement date for the Initial Open Offer) please send the Prospectus, together with any Open Offer Application Form, if received, at once to the purchaser or transferee or to the bank, stockbroker or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected for delivery to the purchaser or transferee except that the Prospectus and the Open Offer Application Form should not be distributed, forwarded to or transmitted in or into any jurisdiction where to do so may constitute a violation of local securities laws or regulations, including, but not limited to, the Excluded Territories. If you sell or have sold or otherwise transferred all or some of your Shares held in uncertificated form before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 (being the ex-entitlement date for the Initial Open Offer), a claim transaction will automatically be generated by Euroclear which, on settlement, will transfer the appropriate number of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to the purchaser or transferee. If you sell or have sold or have otherwise transferred only part of your holding of Shares held in certificated form before 8.00 a.m. on 1 March 2016 (being the ex-entitlement date for the Initial Open Offer), you should refer to the instruction regarding split applications in this Part 7.
Subject to the terms and conditions set out below (and, in the case of Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders, in the Open Offer Application Form), under the Initial Open Offer, an aggregate of 55 million Shares will be made available to Qualifying Shareholders at the Initial Issue Price pro rata to their holdings of Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions of the Initial Open Offer on the basis of:
held and registered in their name at the Record Date.
Applications by Qualifying Shareholders made and accepted in accordance with these terms and conditions will be satisfied in full up to the amount of their individual Basic Entitlements.
Basic Entitlements will be rounded down to the nearest whole number and any fractional entitlements to new Shares will be disregarded in calculating Basic Entitlements and will be aggregated and made available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility. Accordingly, Qualifying Shareholders with fewer than 7 existing Shares will not receive a Basic Entitlement but may apply for Shares under the Excess Application Facility.
Qualifying Shareholders may apply to acquire less than their Basic Entitlement should they so wish. In addition, Qualifying Shareholders who apply for all their Basic Entitlement may also apply to acquire Shares using the Excess Application Facility.
Holdings of Shares in certificated and uncertificated form will be treated as separate holdings for the purpose of calculating entitlements under the Initial Open Offer, as will holdings under different designations and in different accounts.
If you are a Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder, the Open Offer Application Form shows the number of Shares available to you under your Basic Entitlement (in Box B). Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders who wish to apply to subscribe for more than their Basic Entitlement should complete Boxes D, E, F and G on the Open Offer Application Form.
Qualifying CREST Shareholders will have Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements credited to their stock accounts in CREST and should refer to paragraph 4.2 of this Part 7 for information on the relevant CREST procedures. Qualifying CREST Shareholders can also refer to the CREST Manual for further information on the relevant CREST procedures. The Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements are expected to be credited to CREST accounts as soon as possible after 8.00 a.m. on 2 March 2016.
Shareholders should be aware that the Initial Open Offer is not a rights issue. As such, Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders should note that their Open Offer Application Forms are not negotiable documents and cannot be traded. Qualifying CREST Shareholders should note that, although the Basic Entitlements and the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will be admitted to CREST, and enabled for settlement, neither the Basic Entitlements nor the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will be tradeable or listed and applications in respect of the Initial Open Offer may only be made by the Qualifying Shareholder originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim. Shares for which application has not been made under the Initial Open Offer will not be sold in the market for the benefit of those who do not apply under the Initial Open Offer and Qualifying Shareholders who do not apply to take up their entitlements will have no rights, and will not receive any benefit, under the Initial Open Offer. Any Shares which are not applied for in respect of the Initial Open Offer may be allotted to Qualifying Shareholders to meet valid applications under the Excess Application Facility or, if not applied for under the Excess Application Facility, may be issued to the subscribers under the Initial Placing and/or the Initial Offer for Subscription, with the proceeds retained for the benefit of the Company.
The Initial Open Offer is conditional upon, amongst other things, Initial Admission becoming effective by not later than 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016 or such later time and/or date as the Company and/or Jefferies may agree (being not later than 8.00 a.m. on 30 April 2016) and the Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement becoming unconditional in all respects in relation to the Initial Issue (other than as to Initial Admission).
Accordingly, if these conditions are not satisfied or waived (where capable of waiver), the Initial Open Offer will not proceed and any applications made by Qualifying Shareholders will be rejected. In such circumstances, application monies will be returned (at the applicant's sole risk), without interest, as soon as practicable thereafter.
No temporary documents of title will be issued. Definitive certificates in respect of Shares are expected to be posted to those Qualifying Shareholders who have validly elected to hold their Shares in certificated form in the week commencing 4 April 2016. In respect of those Qualifying Shareholders who have validly elected to hold their Shares in uncertificated form, the Shares are expected to be credited to their stock accounts maintained in CREST on 21 March 2016.
Application will be made to the UK Listing Authority for the Shares to be admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List. Application will also be made to the London Stock Exchange for the Shares to be admitted to trading on the Main Market. Initial Admission is expected to occur on 21 March 2016, when dealings in the Shares are expected to begin.
All monies received by the Receiving Agent in respect of Shares will be credited to an account by the Receiving Agent. Any interest earned on monies in such account will be retained by and for the benefit of the Company.
If for any reason it becomes necessary to adjust the expected timetable as set out in this Securities Note, the Company will notify the UKLA and make an appropriate announcement to a Regulatory Information Service giving details of the revised dates.
The action to be taken by you in respect of the Initial Open Offer depends on whether you hold your Shares in certificated or uncertificated form.
Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders will receive the Open Offer Application Form enclosed with this Securities Note. The Open Offer Application Form shows Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders the number of Shares available under their Basic Entitlement that can be allotted in certificated form. Qualifying CREST Shareholders will be allotted Shares in CREST. Qualifying Shareholders who hold part of their Shares in uncertificated form will be allotted Shares in uncertificated form to the extent that their entitlement to Shares arises as a result of holding Shares in uncertificated form. However, it will be possible for Qualifying Shareholders to deposit Basic Entitlements into, and withdraw them from, CREST. Further information on deposit and withdrawal from CREST is set out in paragraph 4.2(g) of this Part 7.
CREST sponsored members should refer to their CREST sponsor as only their CREST sponsor will be able to take the necessary action specified below to apply under the Initial Open Offer in respect of the Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements of such members held in CREST. CREST members who wish to apply for Shares in respect of their Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements in CREST should refer to the CREST Manual for further information on the CREST procedures referred to below.
Qualifying Shareholders who do not wish to apply for the Shares under the Initial Open Offer should take no action and should not complete or return the Open Offer Application Form, or send a USE message through CREST.
Subject as provided in paragraph 6 of this Part 7 in relation to certain Overseas Shareholders, Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders will receive an Open Offer Application Form. The Open Offer Application Form shows the number of Shares available to them under their Basic Entitlement in Box B. Entitlements to Shares are rounded down to the nearest whole number and fractional Basic Entitlements have therefore also been rounded down. Such fractional Basic Entitlements will be aggregated and made available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility. Box C shows how much the Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders would need to pay if they wish to take up their Basic Entitlement in full. Any Qualifying Shareholders with fewer than 7 existing Shares will not receive a Basic Entitlement but may apply for Shares under the Excess Application Facility. Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders may apply for less than their Basic Entitlement should they wish to do so. Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders may also hold such an Open Offer Application Form by virtue of a bona fide market claim. Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders may also apply for additional Shares under the Excess Application Facility by completing Boxes D, E, F and G on the Open Offer Application Form.
The instructions and other terms set out in the Open Offer Application Form form part of the terms of the Initial Open Offer in relation to Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders.
Applications to acquire Shares under the Initial Open Offer may only be made on an Open Offer Application Form by the Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder named in it or by a person entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim in relation to a purchase of Shares through the market prior to the date upon which the Shares were marked "ex" the entitlement to participate in the Initial Open Offer (being 8.00 a.m. on 26 February 2016). Open Offer Application Forms may not be assigned, transferred or split, except to satisfy bona fide market claims up to 3.00 p.m. on 14 March 2016. The Open Offer Application Form is not a negotiable document and cannot be separately traded. A Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder who has sold or otherwise transferred all or part of his holding of Shares prior to the date upon which the Shares were marked "ex" the entitlement to participate in the Initial Open Offer, should consult his broker or other professional adviser as soon as possible, as the invitation to acquire Shares under the Open Offer may be a benefit which may be claimed by the transferee. Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders who have sold all of their registered holdings should, if the market claim is to be settled outside CREST, complete Box J on the Open Offer Application Form and immediately forward the Open Offer Application Form together with any accompanying documents at once to the purchaser or transferee or stockbroker or bank or other agent through whom the sale was effected, for delivery to the purchaser or transferee (save that the Open Offer Application Form should not be submitted or forwarded in or into the United States or any of the Excluded Territories or any jurisdiction where it would or may be unlawful to do so, unless pursuant to an applicable exemption). If you have sold or transferred only some of the Shares, you should complete Box J and return the Open Offer Application Form at once by post to Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH or by hand (during normal business hours only), to Computershare Investor Services PLC at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE, accompanied by a letter stating the number of split Open Offer Application Forms required and the total number of Shares to be included in each split Open Offer Application Form. The latest time and date for splitting is 3.00 p.m. on 14 March 2016. If the market claim is to be settled in CREST, the beneficiary of the claim should follow the procedure set out in paragraph 4.2(b) of this Part 7 below.
Qualifying Shareholders who have taken up all their Basic Entitlement may apply to acquire additional Shares using the Excess Application Facility, should they wish. Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders wishing to apply for additional Shares, may do so by completing Boxes D, E, F and G of the Open Offer Application Form. The Maximum Excess Application Number shall be limited to: (a) the maximum size of the Initial Issue; less (b) Shares issued under the Initial Open Offer pursuant to Basic Entitlements and Shares issued pursuant to the terms of the Initial Placing and the Initial Offer for Subscription. Applications under the Excess Application Facility will therefore only be satisfied to the extent that: (i) other Qualifying Shareholders do not apply for their Basic Entitlement in full; (ii) fractional entitlements have been aggregated and made available under the Excess Application Facility; and (iii) (if applicable) valid subscriptions are received in respect of the Initial Offer for Subscription and Initial Placing for fewer than the number of Shares available thereunder.
Qualifying Shareholders can apply for up to the Maximum Excess Application Number of Shares under the Excess Application Facility. Shares under the Excess Application Facility will be allocated to Qualifying Shareholders that have taken up their Basic Entitlements in full on a pro-rata basis to their applications under the Excess Application Facility. No assurance can be given that applications by Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility will be met in full or in part or at all.
Excess monies in respect of applications which are not met in full will be returned to the applicant (at the applicant's risk) without interest as soon as practicable thereafter by way of cheque or CREST payment, as appropriate.
Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders wishing to apply to acquire Shares to which they are entitled under the Initial Open Offer should complete the Open Offer Application Form in accordance with the instructions printed on it.
Completed Open Offer Application Forms should be posted in the accompanying pre-paid envelope to the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH or returned by hand (during normal business hours only) to Computershare Investor Services PLC at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE so as to be received by the Receiving Agent by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016, after which time Open Offer Application Forms will not be valid. Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders should note that applications, once made, will be irrevocable and receipt thereof will not be acknowledged. If an Open Offer Application Form is being sent by first-class post in the UK, Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders are recommended to allow at least four working days for delivery.
All payments must be in pounds sterling and made by cheque or banker's draft made payable to "Computershare Investor Services PLC re: Empiric Student Property Plc – Open Offer A/C" and crossed "A/C payee only". Cheques or banker's drafts must be drawn on a bank or building society or branch of a bank or building society in the United Kingdom which is either a settlement member of the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company Limited or the CHAPS Clearing Company Limited or which has arranged for its cheques and bankers' drafts to be cleared through the facilities provided by any of those companies or committees and must bear the appropriate sort code in the top right-hand corner and must be for the full amount payable on application. Third party cheques will not be accepted with the exception of building society cheques or bankers' drafts where the building society or bank has confirmed the name of the account holder by stamping or endorsing the cheque or draft to confirm that the relevant Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder has title to the underlying funds. The account name should be the same as that shown on the application. Post-dated cheques will not be accepted.
Cheques or bankers' drafts will be presented for payment upon receipt. The Company reserves the right to instruct the Receiving Agent to seek special clearance of cheques and bankers' drafts to allow the Company to obtain value for remittances at the earliest opportunity (and withhold definitive share certificates (or crediting to the relevant member account, as applicable) pending clearance thereof). No interest will be paid on payments made before they are due. It is a term of the Initial Open Offer that cheques shall be honoured on first presentation and the Company may elect to treat as invalid acceptances in respect of which cheques are not so honoured. All documents, cheques and bankers' drafts sent through the post will be sent at the risk of the sender. Payments via CHAPS or electronic transfer will be acceptable.
If cheques or bankers' drafts are presented for payment before the conditions of the Initial Issue are fulfilled, the application monies will be credited to a non-interest bearing account by the Receiving Agent. If the Initial Issue does not become unconditional, no Shares will be issued and all monies will be returned (at the applicant's sole risk), without payment of interest, to applicants as soon as practicable following the lapse of the Initial Issue.
The Company may in its sole discretion, but shall not be obliged to, treat an Open Offer Application Form as valid and binding on the person by whom or on whose behalf it is lodged, even if not completed in accordance with the relevant instructions or not accompanied by a valid power of attorney where required, or if it otherwise does not strictly comply with the terms and conditions of the Initial Open Offer. The Company further reserves the right (but shall not be obliged) to accept either:
All documents and remittances sent by post by or to an applicant (or as the applicant may direct) will be sent at the applicant's own risk.
If Shares have already been allotted to a Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder and such Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder's cheque or banker's draft is not honoured upon first presentation or such Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder's application is subsequently otherwise deemed to be invalid, Jefferies shall be authorised (in its absolute discretion as to manner, timing and terms) to make arrangements, on behalf of the Company, for the sale of such Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder's Shares and for the proceeds of sale (which for these purposes shall be deemed to be payments in respect of successful applications) to be paid to and retained by the Company. None of Jefferies, Akur nor the Company nor any other person shall be responsible for, or have any liability for, any loss, expense or damage suffered by such Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders.
By completing and delivering an Open Offer Application Form the applicant:
Admission or any part thereof, or involved in the preparation thereof, shall have any liability for any such information or representation not so contained and further agrees that, having had the opportunity to read the Prospectus, he will be deemed to have had notice of all information in relation to the Company and the Shares contained in the Prospectus (including matters incorporated by reference);
any such other information or representation should not be relied upon as having been authorised by the Company, Jefferies or Akur.
If an Open Offer Application Form includes a payment for an incorrect sum, the Company reserves the right:
All enquiries in connection with the procedure for application and completion of the Open Offer Application Form should be addressed to the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1143 from within the UK or on +44 (0)370 707 1143. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays). Please note the Receiving Agent cannot provide advice on the merits of the Initial Open Offer or as to whether applicants should take up their Basic Entitlements or apply for additional Shares under the Excess Application Facility or give any financial, legal or tax advice.
Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders who do not wish to take up or apply for Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility should take no action and should not complete or return the Open Offer Application Form.
A Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder who is also a CREST member may elect to receive the Shares to which he is entitled in uncertificated form in CREST (please see paragraph 4.2(a) below for more information).
Subject as provided in paragraph 6 of this Part 7 in relation to certain Overseas Shareholders, each Qualifying CREST Shareholder will receive a credit to his stock account in CREST of his Basic Entitlement equal to the maximum number of Shares for which he is entitled to apply to acquire under the Initial Open Offer. Entitlements to Shares will be rounded down to the nearest whole number and any Basic Entitlements have therefore also been rounded down. Any fractional entitlements to Shares will be disregarded in calculating Basic Entitlements and will be aggregated and made available to Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility. Any Qualifying CREST Shareholder with fewer than 7 existing Shares will not receive a Basic Entitlement but may apply for Shares under the Excess Application Facility.
The CREST stock account to be credited will be an account under the participant ID and member account ID specified in the section headed "Expected Timetable" in this Securities Note and below.
If for any reason the Basic Entitlement and/or Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements cannot be admitted to CREST by, or the stock accounts of Qualifying CREST Shareholders cannot be credited by 8.00 a.m. on 2 March 2016, or such later time and/or date as the Company may decide, an Open Offer Application Form will be sent to each Qualifying CREST Shareholder in substitution for the Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement which should have been credited to his stock account in CREST. In these circumstances the expected timetable as set out in this Securities Note will be adjusted as appropriate and the provisions of this Securities Note applicable to Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders with Open Offer Application Forms will apply to Qualifying CREST Shareholders who receive such Open Offer Application Forms.
CREST members who wish to apply to acquire some or all of their entitlements to Shares should refer to the CREST Manual for further information on the CREST procedures referred to below. All enquiries in connection with the procedure for application should be addressed to Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1143 from within the UK or on +44 (0)370 707 1143. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays). Please note the Receiving Agent cannot provide financial advice on the merits of the Initial Open Offer or as to whether applicants should take up their Basic Entitlements or apply for additional Shares under the Excess Application Facility nor give any financial, legal or tax advice. If you are a CREST sponsored member you should consult your CREST sponsor if you wish to apply for Shares as only your CREST sponsor will be able to take the necessary action to make this application in CREST.
The Basic Entitlements and the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will constitute separate securities for the purposes of CREST. Although Basic Entitlements and the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will be admitted to CREST and be enabled for settlement, applications in respect of Basic Entitlements and/or the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements may only be made by the Qualifying CREST Shareholder originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim transaction. Transactions identified by the CREST Claims Processing Unit as "cum" the Basic Entitlements and the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will generate an appropriate market claim transaction and the relevant Basic Entitlement(s) and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements(s) will thereafter be transferred accordingly.
A Qualifying CREST Shareholder that, as a result of a bona fide market claim has received a shortfall of Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to their CREST account and would like to apply for a larger number of Shares under the Excess Application Facility or to arrange for a further credit of Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to be made should contact the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1143 from within the UK or on +44 (0)370 707 1143. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays).
Qualifying Shareholders may apply to acquire additional Shares using the Excess Application Facility, should they wish. The Excess Application Facility enables Qualifying CREST Shareholders to apply for additional Shares in excess of their Basic Entitlement. An Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement may not be sold or otherwise transferred.
Subject as provided in paragraph 6 below in relation to Overseas Shareholders, the CREST accounts of Qualifying CREST Shareholders will be credited with an Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement in order for any applications for additional Shares to be settled through CREST.
Qualifying CREST Shareholders should note that, although the Basic Entitlements and the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will be admitted to CREST, they will have limited settlement capabilities (for the purposes of market claims only). Neither the Basic Entitlements nor the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will be tradable or listed and applications in respect of the Initial Open Offer may only be made by the existing Shareholders originally entitled or by a person entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim.
To apply for additional Shares pursuant to the Excess Application Facility, Qualifying CREST Shareholders should follow the instructions in paragraph 4.2(f) below and must not return a paper form and cheque.
Should a transaction be identified by the Euroclear UK & Ireland's Claims Processing Unit as "cum" the Basic Entitlement and the relevant Basic Entitlement be transferred, the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will not transfer with the Basic Entitlement claim, but will be transferred as a separate claim. Should a Qualifying CREST Shareholder cease to hold all of his Shares as a result of one or more bona fide market claims, the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement credited to CREST and allocated to the relevant existing Shareholder will be transferred to the purchaser. Please note that a separate USE Instruction must be sent in respect of any application under the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement.
The Maximum Excess Application shall be limited to: (a) the maximum size of the Initial Issue; less (b) Shares issued under the Initial Open Offer pursuant to Basic Entitlements and Shares issued pursuant to the terms of the Initial Placing and the Initial Offer for Subscription. Applications under the Excess Application Facility will therefore only be satisfied to the extent that: (i) other Qualifying Shareholders do not apply for their Basic Entitlement in full; (ii) fractional entitlements have been aggregated and made available under the Excess Application Facility; and (iii) (if applicable) valid subscriptions are received in respect of the Initial Offer for Subscription and Initial Placing for fewer than the number of Shares available thereunder.
Qualifying Shareholders can apply for up to the Maximum Excess Application Number of Shares under the Excess Application Facility. Shares under the Excess Application Facility will be allocated to Qualifying Shareholders that have taken up their Basic Entitlements in full on a pro rata basis to their applications under the Excess Application Facility. No assurance can be given that applications by Qualifying Shareholders under the Excess Application Facility will be met in full or in part or at all.
Excess monies in respect of applications which are not met in full will be returned to the applicant (at the applicant's risk) without interest as soon as practicable thereafter by way of cheque or CREST payment, as appropriate.
Qualifying CREST Shareholders who are CREST members and who want to apply for Shares in respect of all or some of their Basic Entitlements and/or Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements must send (or, if they are CREST sponsored members, procure that their CREST sponsor sends) an USE instruction to Euroclear which, on its settlement, will have the following effect:
The USE instruction must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's specifications and must contain, in addition to the other information that is required for settlement in CREST, the following details:
In order for an application under the Initial Open Offer to be valid, the USE instruction must comply with the requirements as to authentication and contents set out above and must settle on or before 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016.
In order to assist prompt settlement of the USE instruction, CREST members (or their CREST sponsors, where applicable) may consider adding the following non-mandatory fields to the USE instruction:
CREST members and, in the case of CREST sponsored members, their CREST sponsors, should note that the last time at which a USE instruction may settle on 16 March 2016 in order to be valid is 11.00 a.m. on that day.
In the event that the Initial Issue does not become unconditional by 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016 or such later time and date as the Company and Jefferies determine (being no later than 8.00 a.m. on 30 April 2016), the Initial Issue will lapse, the Basic Entitlements admitted to CREST will be disabled and the Receiving Agent will refund the amount paid by a Qualifying CREST Shareholder by way of a CREST payment, without interest, as soon as practicable thereafter.
The USE instruction must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear's specifications and must contain, in addition to the other information that is required for settlement in CREST, the following details:
(ix) the Corporate Action Number for the Initial Open Offer. This will be available by viewing the relevant corporate action details in CREST.
In order for an application for the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements under the Excess Application Facility to be valid, the USE instruction must comply with the requirements as to authentication and contents set out above and must settle on or before 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016.
In order to assist prompt settlement of the USE instruction, CREST members (or their CREST sponsors, where applicable) may consider adding the following non-mandatory fields to the USE instruction:
CREST members and, in the case of CREST sponsored members, their CREST sponsors, should note that the last time at which a USE instruction may settle on 16 March 2016 in order to be valid is 11.00 a.m. on that day. Please note that automated CREST generated claims and buyer protection will not be offered on the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement security.
In the event that the Initial Issue does not become unconditional by 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016 or such later time and date as the Company and Jefferies determine (being no later than 8.00 a.m. on 30 April 2016), the Initial Issue will lapse, the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements admitted to CREST will be disabled and the Receiving Agent will refund the amount paid by a Qualifying CREST Shareholder by way of a CREST payment, without interest, as soon as practicable thereafter.
A Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder's entitlement under the Initial Open Offer as shown by the number of Basic Entitlements set out in his Open Offer Application Form may be deposited into CREST (either into the account of the Qualifying Shareholder named in the Open Offer Application Form or into the name of a person entitled by virtue of a bona fide market claim), provided that such Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder is also a CREST member. Similarly, Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements held in CREST may be withdrawn from CREST so that the entitlement under the Initial Open Offer is reflected in an Open Offer Application Form. Normal CREST procedures (including timings) apply in relation to any such deposit or withdrawal, subject (in the case of a deposit into CREST) as set out in the Open Offer Application Form.
A holder of an Open Offer Application Form who is proposing to deposit the entitlement set out in such form into CREST is recommended to ensure that the deposit procedures are implemented in sufficient time to enable the person holding or acquiring the Basic Entitlements and the entitlement to apply under the Excess Application Facility following their deposit into CREST to take all necessary steps in connection with taking up the entitlement prior to 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. After depositing their Basic Entitlements into their CREST account, CREST holders will, shortly after that, receive a credit for their Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement, which will be managed by the Receiving Agent.
In particular, having regard to normal processing times in CREST and on the part of the Receiving Agent, (i) the recommended latest time for depositing an Open Offer Application Form with the CREST Courier and Sorting Service, where the person entitled wishes to hold the entitlement under the Initial Open Offer set out in such Open Offer Application Form as Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements in CREST, is 3.00 p.m. on 11 March 2016 and (ii) the recommended latest time for receipt by Euroclear of a dematerialised instruction requesting withdrawal of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements from CREST is 4.30 p.m. on 16 March 2016 – in either case so as to enable, the person acquiring or (as appropriate) holding the Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements following the deposit or withdrawal (whether as shown in an Open Offer Application Form or held in CREST) to take all necessary steps in connection with applying in respect of the Basic Entitlements and/or Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements, as the case may be, prior to 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. CREST holders inputting the withdrawal of their Basic Entitlements from their CREST account must ensure that they withdraw both their Basic Entitlements and the Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement.
Delivery of an Open Offer Application Form with the CREST deposit form duly completed whether in respect of a deposit into the account of the Qualifying Shareholder named in the Open Offer Application Form or into the name of another person, shall constitute a representation and warranty to the Company, Jefferies, Akur and the Receiving Agent by the relevant CREST member(s) that it/they is/are not in breach of the provisions of the notes under the paragraph headed "Instructions for depositing entitlements under the Initial Open Offer into CREST" on page 2 of the Open Offer Application Form, and a declaration to the Company, Jefferies, Akur and the Receiving Agent from the relevant CREST member(s) that it/they is/are not in, or citizen(s) or resident(s) of, the United States or any Excluded Territory and, where such deposit is made by a beneficiary of a market claim, a representation and warranty that the relevant CREST member(s) is/are entitled to apply under the Initial Open Offer or the Excess Application Facility by virtue of a bona fide market claim.
A USE instruction complying with the requirements as to authentication and contents set out above which settles by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016 will constitute a valid application under the Initial Open Offer and/or Excess Application Facility, as applicable.
CREST members and (where applicable) their CREST sponsors should note that Euroclear does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular corporate action. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of a USE instruction and its settlement in connection with the Initial Open Offer and the Excess Application Facility. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST sponsored member, to procure that his CREST sponsor takes) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a valid application is made as stated above and settled by 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. In this connection CREST members and (where applicable) their CREST sponsors are referred in particular to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.
If a USE instruction includes a CREST payment for an incorrect sum, the Company, through the Registrar, reserves the right:
A CREST member who makes or is treated as making a valid application in accordance with the above procedures thereby:
(iv) confirms to the Company, Jefferies and Akur that in making the application he is not relying on any information or representation in relation to the Company other than that contained in the Prospectus and any supplementary prospectus published by the Company prior to Initial Admission, and the applicant accordingly agrees that no person responsible solely or jointly for the Prospectus, any supplementary prospectus published by the Company prior to Initial Admission, or any part thereof, or involved in the preparation thereof, shall have any liability for any such information or representation not so contained and further agrees that, having had the opportunity to read the Prospectus, he will be deemed to have had notice of all the information in relation to the Company and the Shares contained in the Prospectus (including matters incorporated by reference);
(v) represents and warrants to the Company, Jefferies and Akur that he is the Qualifying Shareholder originally entitled to the Basic Entitlement and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement or that he has received such Basic Entitlement and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement by virtue of a bona fide market claim;
The Company may in its sole discretion:
In the event that the Initial Issue does not become unconditional by 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016 or such later time and date as the Company and Jefferies may agree (being no later than 8.00 a.m. on 30 April 2016), the Initial Issue will lapse, the Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements admitted to CREST will be disabled and the Receiving Agent will refund the amount paid by a Qualifying CREST Shareholder by way of a CREST payment, without interest, as soon as practicable thereafter.
To ensure compliance with the UK Money Laundering Regulations, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and any other applicable regulations, the Receiving Agent may require, at its absolute discretion, verification of the identity of the person by whom or on whose behalf the Open Offer Application Form is lodged with payment (which requirements are referred to below as the "verification of identity requirements"). If the Open Offer Application Form is submitted by a UK regulated broker or intermediary acting as agent and which is itself subject to the UK Money Laundering Regulations, any verification of identity requirements are the responsibility of such broker or intermediary and not of the Receiving Agent. In such case, the lodging agent's stamp should be inserted on the Open Offer Application Form.
The person lodging the Open Offer Application Form with payment and in accordance with the other terms as described above (the "acceptor"), including any person who appears to the Receiving Agent to be acting on behalf of some other person, accepts the Initial Open Offer in respect of such number of Shares as is referred to therein (for the purposes of this paragraph 5 the "relevant Shares") and shall thereby be deemed to agree to provide the Receiving Agent with such information and other evidence as the Receiving Agent may require to satisfy the verification of identity requirements.
If the Receiving Agent determines that the verification of identity requirements apply to any acceptor or application, the relevant Shares (notwithstanding any other term of the Initial Open Offer or the Excess Application Facility) will not be issued to the relevant acceptor unless and until the verification of identity requirements have been satisfied in respect of that acceptor or application. The Receiving Agent is entitled, in its absolute discretion, to determine whether the verification of identity requirements apply to any acceptor or application and whether such requirements have been satisfied, and neither the Receiving Agent nor the Company will be liable to any person for any loss or damage suffered or incurred (or alleged), directly or indirectly, as a result of the exercise of such discretion.
If the verification of identity requirements apply, failure to provide the necessary evidence of identity within a reasonable time may result in delays in the despatch of share certificates or in crediting CREST accounts. If, within a reasonable time following a request for verification of identity, the Receiving Agent has not received evidence satisfactory to it as aforesaid, the Company may, in its absolute discretion, treat the relevant application as invalid, in which event the monies payable on acceptance of the Initial Open Offer or under the Excess Application Facility will be returned (at the acceptors risk) without interest to the account of the bank or building society on which the relevant cheque or banker's draft was drawn.
The verification of identity requirements will not usually apply:
(d) if the aggregate subscription price for the Shares is less than €15,000 (or the Sterling equivalent);
(e) if payment is made by cheque or banker's draft in sterling drawn on a branch in the United Kingdom of a bank or building society which bears a UK bank sort code number in the top right hand corner the following applies. Cheques should be made payable to "Computershare Investor Services PLC re: Empiric Student Property Plc – Open Offer A/C" and crossed "A/C payee only". Third party cheques may not be accepted with the exception of building society cheques or bankers' drafts where the building society or bank has confirmed the name of the account holder by stamping or endorsing the cheque/banker's draft to such effect. The account name should be the same as that shown on the Open Offer Application Form; or
To confirm the acceptability of any written assurance referred to in (f) above, or in any other case, the acceptor should contact the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1143 from within the UK or on +44 (0)370 707 1143. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays).The helpline cannot provide advice on the merits of the Initial Open Offer or the Excess Application Facility nor give any financial, legal or tax advice.
If the Open Offer Application Form is in respect of Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility with an aggregate subscription price of €15,000 (or the Sterling equivalent) or more and is lodged by hand by the acceptor in person, or if the Open Offer Application Form in respect of Shares is/are lodged by hand by the acceptor and the accompanying payment is not the acceptor's own cheque, he or she should ensure that he or she has with him or her evidence of identity bearing his or her photograph (for example, his or her passport) and separate evidence of his or her address.
If, within a reasonable period of time following a request for verification of identity, and in any case by no later than 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016, the Receiving Agent has not received evidence satisfactory to it as aforesaid, the Receiving Agent under instructions from the Company may, at its discretion, reject the relevant application, in which event the monies submitted in respect of that application will be returned without interest to the account at the drawee bank from which such monies were originally debited (without prejudice to the rights of the Company to undertake proceedings to recover monies in respect of the loss suffered by it as a result of the failure to produce satisfactory evidence as aforesaid).
If you hold your Basic Entitlement and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements in CREST and apply for Shares in respect of some or all of your Basic Entitlement and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement as agent for one or more persons and you are not a UK or EU regulated person or institution (e.g. a UK financial institution), then, irrespective of the value of the application, the Receiving Agent is obliged to take reasonable measures to establish the identity of the person or persons on whose behalf you are making the application. You must therefore contact the Receiving Agent before sending any USE or other instruction so that appropriate measures may be taken.
Submission of a USE instruction which on its settlement constitutes a valid application as described above constitutes a warranty and undertaking by the applicant to the Company, the Receiving Agent, Jefferies and Akur to provide promptly to the Receiving Agent such information as may be specified by the Receiving Agent as being required for the purposes of the UK Money Laundering Regulations. Pending the provision of evidence satisfactory to the Receiving Agent as to identity, the Receiving Agent may in its absolute discretion take, or omit to take, such action as it may determine to prevent or delay issue of the Shares concerned. If satisfactory evidence of identity has not been provided within a reasonable time, then the application for the Shares represented by the USE instruction will not be valid. This is without prejudice to the right of the Company to take proceedings to recover any loss suffered by it as a result of failure to provide satisfactory evidence.
The Prospectus has been approved by the FCA, being the competent authority in the United Kingdom. The comments set out in this paragraph 6 are intended as a general guide only and any Overseas Shareholders who are in any doubt as to their position should consult their professional advisers without delay.
The distribution of the Prospectus and the making of the Initial Open Offer and Excess Application Facility to persons who have registered addresses in, or who are resident in, or citizens of, or which are corporations, partnerships or other entities created or organised under the laws of countries other than the United Kingdom or to persons who are nominees of or custodians, trustees or guardians for citizens, residents in or nationals of countries other than the United Kingdom may be affected by the laws or regulatory requirements of the relevant jurisdictions. Those persons should consult their professional advisers as to whether they require any governmental or other consents or need to observe any applicable legal requirements or other formalities to enable them to apply for Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility.
No action has been or will be taken by the Company, Jefferies, Akur or any other person, to permit a public offering or distribution of the Prospectus (or any other offering or publicity materials or application form(s) relating to the Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility or Shares to be issued under the Initial Offer for Subscription) in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose may be required.
No public offer of Shares is being made by virtue of the Prospectus or the Open Offer Application Form into the United States or any Excluded Territory.
Receipt of the Prospectus and/or an Open Offer Application Form and/or a credit of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to a stock account in CREST will not constitute an invitation or offer of securities for subscription, sale or purchase in those jurisdictions in which it would be illegal to make such an invitation or offer and, in those circumstances, the Prospectus and/or the Open Offer Application Form must be treated as sent for information only and should not be copied or redistributed.
Open Offer Application Forms will not be sent to, and Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will not be credited to stock accounts in CREST of, persons with registered addresses in the United States or any other Excluded Territory or their agent or intermediary, except where the Company is satisfied that such action would not result in the contravention of any registration or other legal requirement in any jurisdiction.
No person receiving a copy of the Prospectus and/or an Open Offer Application Form and/or a credit of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to a stock account in CREST in any territory other than the United Kingdom may treat the same as constituting an invitation or offer to him or her, nor should he or she in any event use any such Open Offer Application Form and/or credit of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to a stock account in CREST unless, in the relevant territory, such an invitation or offer could lawfully be made to him or her and such Open Offer Application Form and/or credit of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to a stock account in CREST could lawfully be used, and any transaction resulting from such use could be effected, without contravention of any registration or other legal or regulatory requirements. In circumstances where an invitation or offer would contravene any registration or other legal or regulatory requirements, the Prospectus and/or the Open Offer Application Form must be treated as sent for information only and should not be copied or redistributed.
It is the responsibility of any person (including, without limitation, custodians, agent, nominees and trustees) outside the United Kingdom wishing to apply for Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility to satisfy himself or herself as to the full observance of the laws of any relevant territory in connection therewith, including obtaining any governmental or other consents that may be required, observing any other formalities required to be observed in such territory and paying any issue, transfer or other taxes due in such territory.
None of the Company, Jefferies, Akur nor any of their respective representatives is making any representation to any offeree or purchaser of the Shares regarding the legality of an investment in the Shares by such offeree or purchaser under the laws applicable to such offeree or purchaser.
Persons (including, without limitation, custodians, agents, nominees and trustees) receiving a copy of the Prospectus and/or an Open Offer Application Form and/or a credit of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to a stock account in CREST, in connection with the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility or otherwise, should not distribute or send either of those documents nor transfer Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements in or into any jurisdiction where to do so would or might contravene local securities laws or regulations. If a copy of the Prospectus and/or an Open Offer Application Form and/or a credit of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to a stock account in CREST is received by any person in any such territory, or by his or her custodian, agent, nominee or trustee, he or she must not seek to apply for Shares in respect of the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility unless the Company or Jefferies determine that such action would not violate applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any person (including, without limitation, custodians, agents, nominees and trustees) who does forward a copy of the Prospectus and/or an Open Offer Application Form and/or transfers Basic Entitlements and/or Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements into any such territory, whether pursuant to a contractual or legal obligation or otherwise, should draw the attention of the recipient to the contents of this Part 7 and specifically the contents of this paragraph 6.
The Company reserves the right to treat as invalid any application or purported application for Shares that appears to the Company or its agents to have been executed, effected, or dispatched from the United States or any Excluded Territory or in a manner that may involve a breach of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction or if the Company or its agents believe that the same may violate applicable legal or regulatory requirements or if it provides an address for delivery of the share certificates relating to Shares (or in the case of a credit of Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements to a stock account in CREST, to a CREST member whose registered address would be), in the United States or any Excluded Territory.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Prospectus or the Open Offer Application Form, the Company reserves the right to permit any person to apply for Shares in respect of the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility if the Company, in its sole and absolute discretion, is satisfied that the transaction in question is exempt from, or not subject to, the legislation or regulations giving rise to the restrictions in question.
Overseas Shareholders who wish, and are permitted, to apply for Shares should note that payment must be made in sterling denominated cheques or bankers' drafts or where such Overseas Shareholder is a Qualifying CREST Shareholder, through CREST.
The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States and, accordingly, may not be offered or sold, re-sold, taken up, transferred, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, within the United States except in reliance on an exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and in compliance with any applicable securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction of the United States.
Accordingly, the Company is not extending the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility into the United States and neither the Prospectus nor the Open Offer Application Form constitutes or will constitute an offer or an invitation to apply for or an offer or an invitation to acquire any Shares pursuant to the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility in the United States. An Open Offer Application Form, will not be sent to, and no Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility will be credited to, a stock account in CREST of, any Shareholder with a registered address in the United States. Open Offer Application Forms sent from or postmarked in the United States will be deemed to be invalid and all persons acquiring Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility and wishing to hold such Shares in registered form must provide an address for registration outside the United States.
Any person who acquires Shares pursuant to the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility will be deemed to have declared, warranted and agreed, by accepting delivery of the Prospectus or the Open Offer Application Form and delivery of such Shares, that they are not, and that at the time of acquiring the Shares pursuant to the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility they will not be, in the United States or acting on behalf of, or for the account or benefit of a person on a non-discretionary basis in the United States or any state of the United States.
The Company reserves the right to treat as invalid any Open Offer Application Form that appears to the Company or its agents to have been executed in, or despatched from, the United States, or that provides an address in the United States for the receipt of Shares, or which does not make the warranty set out in the Open Offer Application Form to the effect that the person completing the Open Offer Application Form does not have a registered address and is not otherwise located in the United States and is not acquiring the Shares with a view to the offer, sale, resale, transfer, delivery or distribution, directly or indirectly, of any such Shares in the United States or where the Company believes acceptance of such Open Offer Application Form may infringe applicable legal or regulatory requirements.
The Company will not be bound to allot or issue any Shares to any person with an address in, or who is otherwise located in, the United States in whose favour an Open Offer Application Form. In addition, the Company and Jefferies reserve the right to reject any USE instruction sent by or on behalf of any CREST member with a registered address in the United States in respect of the Shares.
The Shares have not been and will not be registered under the relevant laws of any Excluded Territories or any state, province or territory thereof and may not be offered, sold, resold, delivered or distributed, directly or indirectly, in or into any Excluded Territories or to, or for the account or benefit of, any person with a registered address in, or who is resident in, or a citizen of, any Excluded Territories except pursuant to an applicable exemption. No offer of Shares is being made by virtue of the Prospectus or the Open Offer Application Form into any Excluded Territories.
Open Offer Application Forms will be sent to Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders and Basic Entitlements and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements will be credited to the stock account in CREST of Qualifying CREST Shareholders. Qualifying Shareholders in jurisdictions other than the United Kingdom may, subject to the laws of their relevant jurisdiction, take up Shares under the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility in accordance with the instructions set out in this Securities Note and the Open Offer Application Form.
Shareholders who have registered addresses in, or who are resident in, or citizens of countries other than the United Kingdom should consult appropriate professional advisers as to whether they require any governmental or other consents or need to observe any other formalities to enable them to apply for any Shares in respect of the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility.
Any person completing and returning an Open Offer Application Form or requesting registration of the Shares comprised therein represents and warrants to the Company, Jefferies, Akur and the Registrar that, except where proof has been provided to the Company's satisfaction that such person's use of the Open Offer Application Form will not result in the contravention of any applicable legal requirements in any jurisdiction: (i) such person is not requesting registration of the relevant Shares from within the United States or any Excluded Territory; (ii) such person is not in any territory in which it is unlawful to make or accept an offer to acquire Shares in respect of the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility or to use the Open Offer Application Form in any manner in which such person has used or will use it; (iii) such person is not acting on a non-discretionary basis for a person located within any Excluded Territory (except as agreed with the Company) or any territory referred to in (ii) above at the time the instruction to accept was given; and (iv) such person is not acquiring Shares with a view to the offer, sale, resale, transfer, delivery or distribution, directly or indirectly, of any such Shares into the United States any Excluded Territory.
The Company and/or the Receiving Agent may treat as invalid any acceptance or purported acceptance of the allotment of Shares comprised in an Open Offer Application Form if it: (i) appears to the Company or its agents to have been executed, effected or dispatched from the United States or any Excluded Territory or in a manner that may involve a breach of the laws or regulations of any jurisdiction or if the Company or its agents believe that the same may violate applicable legal or regulatory requirements; or (ii) provides an address in the United States or any Excluded Territory for delivery of the share certificates of Shares (or any other jurisdiction outside the United Kingdom in which it would be unlawful to deliver such share certificates); or (iii) purports to exclude the warranty required by this sub-paragraph 6.5(a).
A CREST member or CREST sponsored member who makes a valid acceptance in accordance with the procedures set out in this Part 7 represents and warrants to the Company, Jefferies, Akur and the Receiving Agent that, except where proof has been provided to the Company's satisfaction that such person's acceptance will not result in the contravention of any applicable legal requirement in any jurisdiction: (i) he or she is not within the United States or any Excluded Territory; (ii) he or she is not in any territory in which it is unlawful to make or accept an offer to acquire Shares; (iii) he or she is not accepting on a non-discretionary basis for a person located within any Excluded Territory (except as otherwise agreed with the Company) or any territory referred to in (ii) above at the time the instruction to accept was given; and (iv) he or she is not acquiring any Shares with a view to the offer, sale, resale, transfer, delivery or distribution, directly or indirectly, of any such Shares into any of the above territories.
The provisions of this paragraph 6 and of any other terms of the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility relating to Overseas Shareholders may be waived, varied or modified as regards specific Qualifying Shareholders or on a general basis by the Company and/or Jefferies in their absolute discretion. Subject to this, the provisions of this paragraph 6 supersede any terms of the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility inconsistent herewith. References in this paragraph 6 to Qualifying Shareholders shall include references to the person or persons executing an Open Offer Application Form and, in the event of more than one person executing an Open Offer Application Form, the provisions of this paragraph 6 shall apply to them jointly and to each of them.
Qualifying Shareholders wishing to exercise or direct the exercise of statutory withdrawal rights pursuant to Section 87Q(4) of FSMA after the issue by the Company of a supplementary Prospectus must do so by lodging a written notice of withdrawal within two Business Days commencing on the Business Day after the date on which the supplementary prospectus is published. The withdrawal notice must include the full name and address of the person wishing to exercise statutory withdrawal rights and, if such person is a CREST member, the participant ID and the member account ID of such CREST member. The notice of withdrawal must be deposited by post or by hand only (during normal business hours only) with the Receiving Agent so as to be received before the end of the withdrawal period. In relation to any enquiries please call Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1143 from within the UK or on +44 (0)370 707 1143. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays). The helpline cannot provide advice on the merits of the Initial Open Offer and/or the Excess Application Facility nor give any financial, legal or tax advice. Notice of withdrawal given by any other means or which is deposited with the Registrar after expiry of such period will not constitute a valid withdrawal, provided that the Company will not permit the exercise of withdrawal rights after payment by the relevant person for the Shares applied for in full and the allotment of such Shares to such person becoming unconditional save to the extent required by statute. In such event, Qualifying Shareholders are advised to seek independent legal advice.
Application will be made to the UK Listing Authority for the Shares to be admitted to listing on the premium listing segment of the Official List. Application will also be made to the London Stock Exchange for the Shares to be admitted to trading on the Main Market. It is expected that Initial Admission will become effective and that dealings in the Shares, fully paid, will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016. All such shares, when issued and fully paid, may be held and transferred by means of CREST.
Basic Entitlements held in CREST and Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlements are expected to be disabled in all respects after 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016 (the latest date for applications under the Initial Open Offer and the Excess Application Facility). If the condition(s) to the Initial Open Offer described above are satisfied, Shares will be issued in uncertificated form to those persons who submitted a valid application for Shares by utilising the CREST application procedures and whose applications have been accepted by the Company. Computershare Investor Services PLC will instruct Euroclear to credit the appropriate stock accounts of such persons with such persons' entitlements to Shares with effect from Initial Admission (expected to be at 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016). The stock accounts to be credited will be accounts under the same CREST participant IDs and CREST member account IDs in respect of which the USE instruction was given.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Prospectus, the Company reserves the right to send Qualifying CREST Shareholders an Open Offer Application Form instead of crediting the relevant stock account with Basic Entitlements and the Excess Application Facility, and to allot and/or issue any Shares in certificated form. In normal circumstances, this right is only likely to be exercised in the event of any interruption, failure or breakdown of CREST (or of any part of CREST) or on the part of the facilities and/or systems operated by the Registrar in connection with CREST.
For Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders who have applied by using an Open Offer Application Form, share certificates in respect of the Shares are expected to be despatched in the week commencing 4 April 2016. No temporary documents of title will be issued and, pending the issue of definitive certificates, transfers will be certified against the UK share register of the Company. All documents or remittances sent by or to applicants or as they may direct, will be sent through the post at their own risk. For more information as to the procedure for application, Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders are referred to paragraph 4.1 above and their respective Open Offer Application Form.
The Company shall, in agreement with Jefferies and after consultation with its financial and legal advisers, be entitled to amend the dates that Open Offer Application Forms are despatched or amend or extend the latest date for acceptance under the Initial Open Offer and the Excess Application Facility and all related dates set out in this Securities Note and in such circumstances shall notify the London Stock Exchange and make an announcement on a Regulatory Information Service but Shareholders may not receive any further written communication.
If a supplementary prospectus is issued by the Company two or fewer Business Days prior to the latest time and date for acceptance any payment in full under the Initial Open Offer and the Excess Application Facility specified in this Securities Note, the latest date for acceptance under the Initial Open Offer and the Excess Application Facility shall be extended to the date that is three Business Days after the date of issue of the supplementary prospectus (and the dates and times of principal events due to take place following such date shall be extended accordingly).
Certain statements regarding United Kingdom taxation in respect of the Shares and the Initial Open Offer are set out in Part 3 of this Securities Note. Shareholders who are in any doubt as to their tax position in relation to taking up their entitlements under the Initial Open Offer and/or making an application under the Excess Application Facility or who are subject to tax in any jurisdiction other than the United Kingdom, should immediately consult a suitable professional adviser.
Your attention is drawn to the further information set out in the Prospectus and also, in the case of Non-CREST Shareholders and other Qualifying Shareholders to whom the Company has sent Open Offer Application Forms, to the terms, conditions and other information printed on the accompanying Open Offer Application Form.
The terms and conditions of the Initial Open Offer as set out in this Securities Note, the Open Offer Application Form and any non-contractual obligation related thereto shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, English law. The courts of England and Wales are to have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute which may arise out of or in connection with the Initial Open Offer, the Excess Application Facility, the Prospectus or the Open Offer Application Form. By taking up Shares by way of their Basic Entitlement and/or applying for Shares under the Excess Application Facility, in accordance with the instructions set out in this Securities Note and, where applicable, the Open Offer Application Form, Shareholders irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales and waive any objection to proceedings in any such court on the ground of venue or on the ground that proceedings have been brought in an inconvenient forum.
The Shares are only suitable for investors who understand the potential risk of capital loss and that there may be limited liquidity in the underlying investments of the Company, for whom an investment in Shares is part of a diversified investment programme and who fully understand and are willing to assume the risks involved in such an investment programme. In the case of a joint Application, references to you in these Terms and Conditions of Application are to each of you, and your liability is joint and several. Please ensure you read these terms and conditions in full before completing the Application Form.
The Initial Offer for Subscription is only being made in the United Kingdom. If you are outside of the United Kingdom see paragraph 2.7 of this Part 8.
Shares are available under the Initial Offer for Subscription at the Initial Issue Price.
Applications must be made on the application form (the "Application Form") attached to this Securities Note or otherwise published by the Company.
Applications under the Initial Offer for Subscription must be for a minimum of 1,000 Shares and thereafter in multiples of 100 Shares.
By completing and delivering an Application Form, you, as the applicant, and, if you sign the Application Form on behalf of another person or a corporation, that person or corporation:
for the Shares applied for in certificated form or be entitled to commence dealing in Shares applied for in uncertificated form or to enjoy or receive any rights in respect of such Shares unless and until you make payment in cleared funds for such Shares and such payment is accepted by the Receiving Agent (which acceptance shall not constitute an acceptance of your application under the Initial Offer for Subscription and shall be in its absolute discretion and on the basis that you indemnify the Receiving Agent, the Company, Jefferies and Akur against all costs, damages, losses, expenses and liabilities arising out of, or in connection with, the failure of your remittance to be honoured on first presentation) and the Company may (without prejudice to any other rights it may have) avoid the agreement to allot the Shares and may allot them to some other person, in which case you will not be entitled to any refund or payment in respect thereof (other than the refund by way of a cheque in your favour at your risk, for an amount equal to the proceeds of the remittance which accompanied your Application Form, without interest);
proceeds of sale (as the case may be, with the proceeds of any gain derived from a sale accruing to the Company) will be returned by a cheque drawn on a branch of a UK clearing bank to the bank account on which the payment accompanying the application was first drawn without interest and at your risk;
The Receiving Agent under instruction of the Company, may accept your offer to subscribe (if your application is received, valid (or treated as valid), processed and not rejected).
The basis of allocation will be determined by the Company in consultation with Jefferies. The right is reserved notwithstanding the basis as so determined to reject in whole or in part and/or scale back any application. The right is reserved to treat as valid any application not complying fully with these Terms and Conditions of Application or not in all respects completed or delivered in accordance with the instructions accompanying the Application Form. In particular, but without limitation, the Company may accept an application made otherwise than by completion of an Application Form where you have agreed with the Company in some other manner to apply in accordance with these Terms and Conditions of Application.
The Receiving Agent will present all cheques and bankers' drafts for payment on receipt and will retain documents of title and surplus monies pending clearance of successful applicants' payments.
The Receiving Agent may, as agent of the Company, require you to pay interest or its other resulting costs (or both) if the payment accompanying your application is not honoured on first presentation. If you are required to pay interest you will be obliged to pay the amount determined by the Company to be the interest on the amount of the payment from the date on which all payments in cleared funds are due to be received until the date of receipt of cleared funds. The rate of interest will be a rate equal to the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate for seven day deposits in sterling plus 2 per cent. per annum. The right is also reserved to reject in whole or in part, or to scale down or limit, any application.
Payments must be made by cheque or banker's draft in pounds sterling drawn on a branch in the United Kingdom of a bank or building society that is either a member of the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company Limited or the CHAPS Clearing Company Limited or that has arranged for its cheques or bankers' drafts to be cleared through the facilities provided for members of either of those companies. Such cheques or bankers' drafts must bear the appropriate sort code in the top right hand corner. Cheques, which must be drawn on the personal account of an individual applicant where they have sole or joint title to the funds, should be made payable to "Computershare Investor Services PLC re: Empiric Student Property Plc – Offer for Subscription A/C" and crossed "A/C payee only". Third party cheques may not be accepted with the exception of building society cheques or bankers' drafts where the building society or bank has confirmed the name of the account holder by stamping/endorsing the cheque or banker's draft to that effect. The account name should be the same as that shown on the Application Form.
For applicants sending subscription monies by electronic bank transfer (CHAPS) payment must be made for value by 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. Please contact Computershare Investor Services PLC by email at [email protected] for full bank details or telephone the Shareholder Helpline for further information. Computershare will then provide you with a unique reference number which must be used when sending payment.
Applicants choosing to settle via CREST, that is DVP, will need to match their instructions to Computershare's participant account 8RA22 by no later than 1.00 p.m. on 17 March 2016, allowing for the delivery and acceptance of Shares to be made against payment of the Initial Issue Price, following the CREST matching criteria set out in the Application Form.
The contract created by the acceptance of applications (in whole or in part) under the Initial Offer for Subscription will be conditional upon:
Admission) and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms prior to Initial Admission.
You will not be entitled to exercise any remedy of rescission for innocent misrepresentation (including pre-contractual representations) at any time after acceptance. This does not affect any other right you may have.
Where application monies have been banked and/or received, if any application is not accepted in whole, or is accepted in part only, or if any contract created by acceptance does not become unconditional, the application monies or, as the case may be, the balance of the amount paid on application will be returned without interest by returning your cheque, or by crossed cheque in your favour, by post at the risk of the person(s) entitled thereto, without interest. In the meantime, application monies will be retained by the Receiving Agent in a non-interest bearing separate account.
By completing an Application Form, you:
representation must not be relied upon as having been authorised by the Company, Jefferies, Akur or the Receiving Agent;
distributed, directly or indirectly, into or within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. Persons; and (iv) you understand and acknowledge that the Company has not registered and will not register as an investment company under the U.S. Investment Company Act;
You agree that, in order to ensure compliance with the UK Money Laundering Regulations, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and any other applicable regulations, the Receiving Agent may at its absolute discretion require verification of identity of the subscriber(s) (the "holder(s)") as the applicant lodging an Application Form and further may request from you and you will assist in providing identification of:
Any delay or failure to provide the necessary evidence of identity may result in your application being rejected or delays in crediting CREST accounts or in the despatch of documents.
Without prejudice to the generality of this paragraph 2.6, verification of the identity of holders and payors will be required if the value of the Shares applied for, whether in one or more applications considered to be connected, exceeds €15,000 (or the Sterling equivalent). If, in such circumstances, you use a building society cheque or banker's draft you should ensure that the bank or building society issuing the payment enters the name, address and account number of the person whose account is being debited on the reverse of the cheque or banker's draft and adds its stamp.
If, in such circumstances, the person whose account is being debited is not a holder you will be required to provide for both the holder and the payor an original or a copy of that person's passport or driving licence certified by a solicitor and an original or certified copy of the following which is no more than three months old, a gas, electricity, water or telephone (not mobile) bill, a recent bank statement or a council tax bill, in their name and showing their current address (which originals will be returned by post at the addressees' risk) together with a signed declaration as to the relationship between the payor and you the holder.
For the purpose of the UK Money Laundering Regulations a person making an application for Shares will not be considered as forming a business relationship with the Company or the Receiving Agent but will be considered as effecting a one-off transaction with either the Company or with the Receiving Agent. Submission of an Application Form with the appropriate remittance will constitute a warranty to each of the Company and the Registrar from the applicant that the UK Money Laundering Regulations will not be breached by the application of such remittance.
The person(s) submitting an application for Shares will ordinarily be considered to be acting as principal in the transaction unless the Receiving Agent determines otherwise, whereupon you may be required to provide the necessary evidence of identity of the underlying beneficial owner(s).
If the amount being subscribed exceeds €15,000 (or the Sterling equivalent) you should endeavour to have the declaration contained in Section 5 of the Application Form signed by an appropriate firm as described in that Section. If you cannot have that declaration signed and the amount being subscribed exceeds €15,000 (or the Sterling equivalent) then you must provide with the Application Form the identity documentation detailed in Section 6 of the Application Form for each underlying beneficial owner.
If the Application Form is lodged with payment by a regulated financial services firm (being a person or institution) (the "Firm") which is located in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Guernsey, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, the Republic of South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the United States, the Firm should provide with the Application Form written confirmation that it has that status and a written assurance that it has obtained and recorded evidence of the identity of the person for whom it acts and that it will on demand make such evidence available to the Company (or any of its agents). If the Firm is not such an organisation, it should contact Computershare Investor Services PLC at Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol BS99 6AH. To confirm the acceptability of any written assurance referred to above, or in any other case, the Applicant should call Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1143. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays). The helpline cannot provide advice on the merits of the Initial Offer for Subscription nor give any financial, legal or tax advice.
If you receive a copy of the Prospectus or an Application Form in any territory other than the United Kingdom you may not treat it as constituting an invitation or offer to you, nor should you, in any event, use an Application Form.
None of the Shares have been or will be registered under the laws of Canada, Japan, Australia, the Republic of South Africa or under the U.S. Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other political subdivision of the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or the Republic of South Africa. If you subscribe for Shares pursuant to the Initial Offer for Subscription you will, unless the Company and the Receiving Agent agree otherwise in writing, be deemed to represent and warrant to the Company that you are not a U.S. Person or a resident of Canada, Japan, Australia, the Republic of South Africa or a corporation, partnership or other entity organised under the laws of the United States or Canada (or any political subdivision of either) or Japan or Australia or the Republic of South Africa and that you are not subscribing for such Shares for the account of any U.S. Person or resident of Canada, Japan, Australia or the Republic of South Africa and will not offer, sell, renounce, transfer or deliver, directly or indirectly, any of the Shares in or into the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or the Republic of South Africa or to any U.S. Person or any person resident in Canada, Japan, Australia or the Republic of South Africa. No Application Form will be accepted if it shows the applicant, payor or a holder having an address in the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia or the Republic of South Africa.
Pursuant to The Data Protection Act 1998 (the "DP Act") the Company and/or the Registrar, may hold personal data (as defined in the DP Act) relating to past and present shareholders. Such personal data held is used by the Registrar to maintain the Register and mailing lists and this may include sharing such data with third parties in one or more of the countries mentioned below when: (a) effecting the payment of dividends and other distributions to Shareholders; and (b) filing returns of Shareholders and their respective transactions in Shares with statutory bodies and regulatory authorities. Personal data may be retained on record for a period exceeding six years after it is no longer used.
The countries referred to in the paragraph immediately above include, but need not be limited to, those in the European Economic Area and any of their respective dependent territories overseas, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States.
By becoming registered as a holder of Shares a person becomes a data subject (as defined in the DP Act) and is deemed to have consented to the processing by the Company or the Registrar of any personal data relating to them in the manner described above.
To the extent permitted by law, all representations, warranties and conditions, express or implied and whether statutory or otherwise (including, without limitation, pre-contractual representations but excluding any fraudulent representations), are expressly excluded in relation to the Shares and the Initial Offer for Subscription.
The rights and remedies of the Company, Jefferies, Akur and the Receiving Agent under these Terms and Conditions of Application are in addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be available to any of them and the exercise or partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of others.
The Company reserves the right to extend the closing time and/or date of the Initial Offer for Subscription from 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. In that event, the new closing time and/or date will be notified to applicants through a Regulatory Information Service.
The Company may terminate the Initial Offer for Subscription in its absolute discretion at any time prior to Initial Admission. If such right is exercised, the Initial Offer for Subscription will lapse and any monies will be returned as indicated without interest at the risk of the persons entitled thereto.
You agree that Jefferies, Akur and the Receiving Agent are acting for the Company in connection with the Initial Issue and for no-one else, and that neither Jefferies nor Akur nor the Receiving Agent will treat you as its customer by virtue of such application being accepted or owe you any duties concerning the price of the Shares or concerning the suitability of the Shares for you or otherwise in relation to the Initial Issue or for providing the protections afforded to their customers.
Save where the context requires otherwise, terms used in these Terms and Conditions of Application bear the same meaning as where used in the Prospectus.
HELP DESK: If you have a query concerning completion of this Application Form please call Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0370 707 1143 from within the UK or on +44 (0)370 707 1143. Calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. Lines are open from 8.30 a.m. until 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday (excluding UK public holidays). The helpline cannot provide advice on the merits of the Initial Offer for Subscription nor give any financial, legal or tax advice.
Fill in (in figures) in Box 1 the amount of money being subscribed for Shares (being the Initial Issue Price of 107.5 pence per Share multiplied by the number of Shares you wish to apply for). The minimum subscription is for 1,000 Shares and thereafter in multiples of 100 Shares. Financial intermediaries who are investing on behalf of clients should make separate applications or, if making a single application for more than one client, provide details of all clients in respect of whom application is made in order to benefit most favourably from any scaling back should this be required or to benefit most favourably from any commission arrangements.
Fill in (in block capitals) the full name and address of each holder. Applications may only be made by persons aged 18 or over. In the case of joint holders only the first named may bear a designation reference and the address given for the first named will be entered as the registered address for the holding on the share register and used for all future correspondence. A maximum of four joint holders is permitted. All holders named must sign the Application Form at Section 3.
If you wish your Shares to be deposited in a CREST Account in the name of the holders given in Section 2A enter in Section 2B the details of that CREST Account. Where it is requested that Shares be deposited into a CREST Account please note that payment for such Shares must be made prior to the day such Shares might be allotted and issued. It is not possible for an applicant to request that Shares be deposited in their CREST Account on an against payment basis. Any Application Form received containing such a request will be rejected.
All holders named in Section 2A must sign Section 3 and insert the date. The Application Form may be signed by another person on behalf of each holder if that person is duly authorised to do so under a power of attorney. The power of attorney (or a copy duly certified by a solicitor or a bank) must be enclosed for inspection (which originals will be returned by post at the addressee's risk). A corporation should sign under the hand of a duly authorised official whose representative capacity should be stated and a copy of a notice issued by the corporation authorising such person to sign should accompany the Application Form.
Payments must be made by cheque or banker's draft in Sterling drawn on a branch in the United Kingdom of a bank or building society which is either a member of the Cheque and Credit Clearing Company Limited or the CHAPS Clearing Company Limited or which has arranged for its cheques or banker's drafts to be cleared through the facilities provided for members of any of these companies.
Such cheques or bankers' drafts must bear the appropriate sort code in the top right hand corner.
Cheques, which must be drawn on the personal account of the individual investor where they have a sole or joint title to the funds, should be made payable to "Computershare Investor Services PLC re: Empiric Student Property plc – Offer for Subscription A/C". Third party cheques may not be accepted with the exception of building society cheques or bankers' drafts where the building society or bank has confirmed the name of the account holder by stamping and endorsing the cheque/banker's draft to such effect. The account name should be the same as that shown on the application.
For applicants sending subscription monies by electronic bank transfer, (CHAPS) payment must be made for value by 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. Please contact Computershare Investor Services PLC by email at [email protected] for full bank details or telephone the Shareholder Helpline for further information. Computershare will then provide you with a unique reference number which must be used when sending payment.
The Company will apply for the Shares issued pursuant to the Initial Offer for Subscription in uncertificated form to be enabled for CREST transfer and settlement with effect from Initial Admission (the "Settlement Date"). Accordingly, settlement of transactions in the Shares will normally take place within the CREST system.
The Application Form in the Appendix contains details of the information which the Company's registrars, Computershare Investor Services PLC ("Computershare"), will require from you in order to settle your application within CREST, if you so choose. If you do not provide any CREST details or if you provide insufficient CREST details for Computershare to match to your CREST account, Computershare will deliver your Shares in certificated form provided payment has been made in terms satisfactory to the Company.
The right is reserved to issue your Shares in certificated form should the Company, having consulted with Computershare, consider this to be necessary or desirable. This right is only likely to be exercised in the event of any interruption, failure or breakdown of CREST or any part of CREST or on the part of the facilities and/or system operated by Computershare in connection with CREST.
The person named for registration purposes in your Application Form (which term shall include the holder of the relevant CREST account) must be: (a) the person procured by you to subscribe for or acquire the relevant Shares; or (b) yourself; or (c) a nominee of any such person or yourself, as the case may be. Neither Computershare nor the Company will be responsible for any liability to stamp duty or stamp duty reserve tax resulting from a failure to observe this requirement. Computershare, on behalf of the Company, will input a DVP instruction into the CREST system according to the booking instructions provided by you in your Application Form. The input returned by you or your settlement agent/custodian of a matching or acceptance instruction to our CREST input will then allow the delivery of your Shares to your CREST account against payment of the Initial Issue Price per Share through the CREST system upon the Settlement Date.
By returning the Application Form you agree that you will do all things necessary to ensure that you or your settlement agent/custodian's CREST account allows for the delivery and acceptance of Shares to be made prior to 8.00 a.m. on 21 March 2016 against payment of the Initial Issue Price per Share. Failure by you to do so will result in you being charged interest at a rate equal to the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate for seven day deposits in sterling plus 2 per cent. per annum.
To ensure that you fulfil this requirement it is essential that you or your settlement agent/custodian follow the CREST matching criteria set out below:
| Trade Date: | 17 March 2016 |
|---|---|
| Settlement Date: | 21 March 2016 |
| Company: | Empiric Student Property Plc |
| Security Description: | Shares of £0.01 each |
| SEDOL: | BLWDVR7 |
| ISIN: | GB00BLWDVR75 |
Should you wish to settle DVP, you will need to match your instructions to Computershare's Participant account 8RA22 by no later than 1.00 p.m. on 17 March 2016.
You must also ensure that you or your settlement agent/custodian has a sufficient "debit cap" within the CREST system to facilitate settlement in addition to your/its own daily trading and settlement requirements.
In the event of late CREST settlement, the Company, after having consulted with Computershare, reserves the right to deliver Shares outside CREST in certificated form provided payment has been made in terms satisfactory to the Company and all other conditions in relation to the Initial Offer for Subscription have been satisfied.
Applications will be subject to the UK's verification of identity requirements. This will involve you providing the verification of identity documents listed in Section 6 of the Application Form UNLESS you can have the declaration provided at Section 5 of the Application Form given and signed by a firm acceptable to the Receiving Agent. In order to ensure your application is processed timely and efficiently all applicants are strongly advised to have the declaration provided in Section 5 of the Application Form completed and signed by a suitable firm.
Applicants need only consider Section 6 of the Application Form if the declaration in Section 5 cannot be completed. Notwithstanding that the declaration in Section 5 has been completed and signed the Receiving Agent reserves the right to request of you the identity documents listed in Section 6 and/or to seek verification of identity of each holder and payor (if necessary) from you or their bankers or from another reputable institution, agency or professional adviser in the applicable country of residence. If satisfactory evidence of identity has not been obtained within a reasonable time your application might be rejected or revoked. Where certified copies of documents are provided such copy documents should be certified by a senior signatory of a firm which is either a governmental approved bank, stockbroker or investment firm, financial services firm or an established law firm or accountancy firm which is itself subject to regulation in the conduct of its business in its own country of operation and the name of the firm should be clearly identified on each document certified.
To ensure the efficient and timely processing of your Application Form, please provide contact details of a person the Receiving Agent may contact with all enquiries concerning your application. Ordinarily this contact person should be the person signing in Section 3 on behalf of the first named holder. If no details are provided here but a regulated person is identified in Section 5, the Receiving Agent will contact the regulated person. If no details are entered here and no regulated person is named in Section 5 and the Receiving Agent requires further information, any delay in obtaining that additional information may result in your application being rejected or revoked.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR DELIVERY OF COMPLETED APPLICATION FORMS – Completed Application Forms should be returned, by post or by hand (during normal business hours only), to the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC so as to be received by no later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) on 16 March 2016, together in each case with payment in full in respect of the application. If you post your Application Form, you are recommended to use first class post and to allow at least two days for delivery. Application Forms received after this date may be returned.
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Please send this completed form by post to Computershare Investor Services PLC, Corporate Actions Projects, Bristol, BS99 6AH or by hand (during normal business hours only) to the Receiving Agent, Computershare Investor Services PLC at The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS13 8AE so as to be received by no later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) on 16 March 2016.
The Directors may, with the prior approval of Jefferies, alter such date and thereby shorten or lengthen the offer period. In the event that the offer period is altered, the Company will notify investors of such change through a Regulatory Information Service.
Important: Before completing this form, you should read the prospectus dated 1 March 2016 (the "Prospectus") and the Terms and Conditions of the Initial Offer for Subscription set out in Part 8 of the Securities Note forming part of the Prospectus and the accompanying notes to this form.
To: Empiric Student Property Plc and the Receiving Agent
Box 1 (applications must be for a minimum of 1,000 Shares and in multiples of 100 Shares thereafter)
£
I/We the person(s) detailed in Section 2A below offer to subscribe the amount shown in Box 1 for Shares subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Initial Offer for Subscription set out in the Securities Note forming part of the Prospectus of the Company dated 1 March 2016 and subject to the articles of association of the Company in force from time-to-time.
(BLOCK CAPITALS)
| 1: Mr, Mrs, Ms or Title: |
Forenames (in full): |
|---|---|
| Surname/Company name: | |
| Address (in full): | |
| Postcode: | |
| Designation (if any): |
| 2: | Mr, Mrs, Ms or Title: | Forenames (in full): |
|---|---|---|
| Surname/Company name: | ||
| Address (in full): | ||
| Postcode: | ||
| Designation (if any): | ||
| 3: | Mr, Mrs, Ms or Title: | Forenames (in full): |
| Surname/Company name: | ||
| Address (in full): | ||
| Postcode: | ||
| Designation (if any): | ||
| 4: | Mr, Mrs, Ms or Title: | Forenames (in full): |
| Surname/Company name: | ||
| Address (in full): | ||
| Postcode: | ||
| Designation (if any): |
Only complete this Section if Shares allotted are to be deposited in a CREST Account which must be in the same name as the holder(s) given in Section 2A.
(BLOCK CAPITALS)
| CREST Participant ID: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CREST Member Account ID: |
By completing the signature/execution boxes below you are deemed to have read the Prospectus and agreed to the terms and conditions in Part 8 of the Securities Note forming part of the Prospectus (Terms and Conditions under the Initial Offer for Subscription) and to have given the warranties, representations and undertakings set out therein.
| First Applicant Signature: | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Second Applicant Signature: | Date | |
| Third Applicant Signature: | Date | |
| Fourth Applicant Signature: | Date |
Execution by a Company
| Executed by (Name of Company): |
Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Director: | Signature: | Date | |
| Name of Director/Secretary: | Signature: | Date | |
| If you are affixing a company seal, please mark a cross | Affix Company Seal here: |
Please tick the relevant box confirming your method of payment.
If you are subscribing for Shares and paying by cheque or banker's draft, pin or staple to this form your cheque or banker's draft for the exact amount shown in Box 1 (being the Initial Issue Price of 107.5 pence per Share multiplied by the number of Shares you wish to subscribe for) made payable to "Computershare Investor Services PLC re: Empiric Student Property plc – Offer for Subscription A/C". Cheques and bankers' payments must be in sterling and drawn on an account at a branch of a clearing bank in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man and must bear a United Kingdom bank sort code number in the top right hand corner.
For applicants sending subscription monies by electronic bank transfer (CHAPS), payment must be made for value by 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016. Please contact Computershare Investor Services PLC by email at [email protected] for full bank details or telephone the Shareholder Helpline for further information. Computershare will then provide you with a unique reference number which must be used when sending payment. Please enter below the sort code of the bank and branch you will be instructing to make such payment for value by 11.00 a.m. on 16 March 2016 together with the name and number of the account to be debited with such payment and the branch contact details.
| Sort Code: | Account name: |
|---|---|
| Account number: | Contact name at branch and telephone number: |
If you so choose to settle your commitment within CREST, that is DVP, you or your settlement agent/custodian's CREST account must allow for the delivery and acceptance of Shares to be made against payment of the Initial Issue Price per Share, following the CREST matching criteria set out below:
| Trade Date: | 17 March 2016 |
|---|---|
| Settlement Date: | 21 March 2016 |
| Company: | Empiric Student Property plc |
| Security Description: | Shares of £0.01 each |
| SEDOL: | BLWDVR7 |
| ISIN: | GB00BLWDVR75 |
Should you wish to settle DVP, you will need to match your instructions to Computershare's Participant account 8RA22 by no later than 1.00 p.m. on 17 March 2016.
You must also ensure that you or your settlement agent/custodian has a sufficient "debit cap" within the CREST system to facilitate settlement in addition to your/its own daily trading and settlement requirements.
Completion and signing of this declaration by a suitable person or institution may avoid presentation being requested of the identity documents detailed in Section 6 of this form.
The declaration below may only be signed by a person or institution (such as a governmental approved bank, stockbroker or investment firm, financial services firm or an established law firm or accountancy firm) (the "firm") which is itself subject in its own country to operation of "know your customer" and anti-money laundering regulations no less stringent than those which prevail in the United Kingdom.
With reference to the holder(s) detailed in Section 2A, all persons signing at Section 3 and the payor identified in Section 6 if not also a holder (collectively the "subjects") WE HEREBY DECLARE:
we confirm the accuracy of the names and residential business address(es) of the holder(s) given at Section 2A and if a CREST Account is cited at Section 2B that the owner thereof is named in Section 2A;
having regard to all local money laundering regulations we are, after enquiry, satisfied as to the source and legitimacy of the monies being used to subscribe for the Shares mentioned; and
The above information is given in strict confidence for your own use only and without any guarantee, responsibility or liability on the part of this firm or its officials.
| Signed: | Name: | Position: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name of regulatory authority: | Firm's licence number: | ||
| Website address or telephone number of regulatory authority: | |||
| STAMP of firm, giving full name and business address: |
If the declaration in Section 5 cannot be signed and the value of your application is greater than €15,000 (or the Sterling equivalent), please enclose with that Application Form the documents mentioned below, as appropriate. Please also tick the relevant box to indicate which documents you have enclosed, all of which will be returned by the Receiving Agent to the first named Applicant.
In accordance with internationally recognised standards for the prevention of money laundering, the documents and information set out below must be provided:
(4) a list of the names and residential addresses of each director of the holder company; and
bankers from which the Receiving Agent may request a
(5) for each director provide documents and information similar to that mentioned in A above; and
(4) details of the name and address of their personal
(1) a certified copy of the certificate of incorporation of the
(2) the name and address of the holder company's principal
(3) a statement as to the nature of the holder company's
reference, if necessary.
holder company; and
reference, if necessary; and
business, signed by a director; and
bankers from which the Receiving Agent may request a
B. For each holder being a company (a "holder company") enclose:
(4) a list of the names and residential/registered address of each beneficial owner owning more than 5 per cent. of the issued share capital of that beneficiary company.
E. If the payor is not a holder and is not a bank providing its own cheque or banker's payment on the reverse of which is shown details of the account being debited with such payment (see note 5 on how to complete this form) enclose:
The Receiving Agent reserves the right to ask for additional documents and information.
To ensure the efficient and timely processing of this application please enter below the contact details of a person the Receiving Agent may contact with all enquiries concerning this application. Ordinarily this contact person should be the person signing in Section 3 on behalf of the first named holder. If no details are provided here but a regulated person is identified in Section 5, the Receiving Agent will contact the regulated person. If no details are entered here and no regulated person is named in Section 5 and the Receiving Agent requires further information, any delay in obtaining that additional information may result in your application being rejected or revoked.
| Contact name: | E-mail address: |
|---|---|
| Contact address: | |
| Postcode: | |
| Telephone No: | Fax No: |
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The following definitions apply throughout this Securities Note unless the context requires otherwise:
| Administrator | FIM Capital Limited, in its capacity as the Company's administrator and company secretary |
|---|---|
| Admission | admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market of Shares becoming effective in accordance with the LSE Admission Standards and admission of Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List becoming effective in accordance with the Listing Rules |
| AIF | an alternative investment fund |
| AIFM | an alternative investment fund manager |
| AIFM Directive | the European Union's Alternative Investment Fund Managers directive (No. 2071/61/EU) and all legislation made pursuant thereto, including, where applicable, the applicable implementing legislation and regulations in each member state of the European Union |
| Akur | Akur Limited |
| Application Form | the application form attached to this Securities Note for use in connection with the Initial Offer for Subscription |
| Articles | the articles of association of the Company |
| Basic Entitlements | the entitlements of Qualifying Shareholders to apply for Shares pursuant to the Initial Open Offer as set out in Part 7 of this Securities Note |
| Business Day | any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday in the City of London |
| certificated or in certificated form |
not in uncertificated form |
| Companies Act or Act | the Companies Act 2006 and any statutory modification or re enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Company | Empiric Student Property Plc |
| CREST Manual | the compendium of documents entitled "CREST Manual" issued by Euroclear from time-to-time |
| CREST | the computerised settlement system operated by Euroclear which facilitates the transfer of title to shares in uncertificated form |
| CTA 2010 | Corporation Tax Act 2010 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Depositary | Kingfisher Property Partnerships Limited |
| Directors or Board | the board of directors of the Company |
|---|---|
| Disclosure and Transparency Rules |
the disclosure and transparency rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority under Section 73A of FSMA |
| EPRA | the European Public Real Estate Association |
| ERISA | U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1976, as amended |
| EU | the European Union |
| Euroclear | Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited, being the operator of CREST |
| Excess Application Facility | the arrangement pursuant to which Qualifying Shareholders may apply for additional Shares in excess of their Basic Entitlement in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Initial Open Offer |
| Excess CREST Open Offer Entitlement |
in respect of each Qualifying CREST Shareholder, the entitlement (in addition to his Basic Entitlement) pursuant to the Initial Open Offer to apply for Shares pursuant to the Excess Application Facility, which is conditional on him taking up his Basic Entitlement in full |
| Excluded Shareholders | subject to certain exceptions, Shareholders who have a registered address in, who are incorporated in, registered in or otherwise resident or located in any Excluded Territory |
| Excluded Territory | Australia, Canada, Japan and the Republic of South Africa |
| Executive Directors | the executive directors of the Company being at the date of this Securities Note, Paul Hadaway, Timothy Attlee and Michael Enright |
| FCA | the Financial Conduct Authority |
| First Share Issuance Programme the first share issuance programme established by the Company as described in the prospectus dated 30 October 2014 |
|
| Final Date | 28 February 2017 or such earlier date on which the Share Issuance Programme is terminated |
| FSMA | the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Further Placing | a placing (other than the Initial Placing) which is made pursuant to a Placing-Only Issue |
| Future Securities Note | a securities note to be issued in the future by the Company in respect of each issue, if any, of Shares (other than pursuant to the Initial Issue (not being a Placing-Only Issue)) made pursuant to the Registration Document and subject to separate approval by the FCA |
| Future Summary | a summary to be issued in the future by the Company in respect of each issue, if any, of Shares (other than pursuant to the Initial Issue (not being a Placing-Only Issue)) made pursuant to the Registration Document and subject to separate approval by the FCA |
|---|---|
| General Meeting | the general meeting of the Company to be held at 1.00 p.m. on 17 March 2016 |
| Group | the Company and the other companies in its group for the purposes of Section 606 of CTA 2010 |
| Gross Asset Value | the aggregate value of the total assets of the Company as determined in accordance with the accounting principles adopted by the Company from time-to-time |
| Gross Proceeds | the gross proceeds of the Initial Issue; |
| HEI | higher education institute |
| HMRC | Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs |
| IFRS | International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union |
| Initial Admission | Admission pursuant to the Initial Issue |
| Initial Issue | together, the Initial Placing, Initial Open Offer and Initial Offer for Subscription |
| Initial Issue Price | 107.5 pence per Share |
| Initial Offer for Subscription | the first offer for subscription of Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close on or around 16 March 2016 |
| Initial Open Offer | the first conditional offer to Qualifying Shareholders pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close on 16 March 2016, constituting an invitation to apply for Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions set out in this Securities Note and, in the case of Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders only, the Open Offer Application Form |
| Initial Placing | the first placing of Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme (and forming part of the Initial Issue) which is expected to close on 16 March 2016 |
| interest in the Company | includes, without limitation, an interest in a Distribution made or to be made by the Company |
| Intermediaries | the entities listed in paragraph 7 of Part 4 of this Securities Note together with any other intermediary (if any) that is appointed by Jefferies to offer the Shares to retail investors after the date of this Securities Note and reference to "Intermediary" shall be construed accordingly |
| Intermediaries Booklet | the booklet entitled "Empiric Student Property Plc Share Offer: Information for Intermediaries" and containing, among other things, the Intermediaries Terms and Conditions |
|---|---|
| Intermediaries Terms and Conditions |
the terms and conditions agreed between Jefferies and the Intermediaries in relation to the Initial Offer for Subscription and as contained in the Intermediaries Booklet |
| IPO | the admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market of the share capital of the Company and admission of Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List on 30 June 2014 |
| ISA | UK individual savings account |
| ISIN | International Securities Identification Number |
| Issue Price | in the case of the Initial Issue, the Initial Issue Price, and in the case of any subsequent issuance under the Share Issuance Programme, the applicable Share Issuance Programme Price |
| ITA | the Income Tax Act 2007 and any statutory modification or re-enactment thereof for the time being in force |
| Jefferies | Jefferies International Limited |
| LIBOR | London Interbank Offered Rate |
| Listing Rules | the listing rules made by the UK Listing Authority made pursuant to Part VI of FSMA |
| London Stock Exchange | London Stock Exchange plc |
| Main Market | the London Stock Exchange's main market for listed securities |
| Maximum Excess Application Number |
the maximum number of Shares to be issued under the Excess Application Facility |
| member account ID | the identification code or number attached to any member account in CREST |
| Net Asset Value or NAV | the value, as at any date, of the assets of the Company after deduction of all liabilities determined in accordance with the accounting policies adopted by the Company from time-to-time |
| Net Asset Value per Share or NAV per Share |
at any time the Net Asset Value attributable to the Shares divided by the number of Shares in issue (other than Shares held in treasury) at the date of calculation |
| Net Proceeds | the aggregate net cash proceeds of the Initial Issue (after deduction of all expenses and commissions relating to the Issue and payable by the Company); |
| Non-PID Dividend | a distribution by the Company which is not a PID |
| Official List | the Official List of the UK Listing Authority |
|---|---|
| Open Offer Application Form | the personalised application form on which Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders may apply for Shares under the Initial Open Offer and the Excess Application Facility |
| Overseas Persons | a potential investor who is not resident in, or who is not a citizen of, the UK |
| person | includes a body of persons, corporate or unincorporated, wherever domiciled |
| PID or Property Income Distribution |
the distribution by the Company of the profits of the Company's Property Rental Business by way of a dividend in cash or the issue of share capital in lieu of a cash dividend in accordance with Section 530 of the CTA 2010 |
| Placee | a person who subscribes for Shares pursuant to the Initial Placing or any Further Placing |
| Placing-Only Issue | an issue under the Share Issuance Programme which comprises only a placing and does not include an offer for subscription or an open offer component |
| Property Portfolio | the current property portfolio as at the date of the Prospectus |
| Property Rental Business | the qualifying property rental business in the UK and elsewhere of UK resident companies within a REIT and non-UK resident companies within a REIT with a UK qualifying property rental business |
| Prospectus | the prospectus prepared in accordance with the Prospectus Rules comprising this Securities Note, the Registration Document and the Summary, each dated 1 March 2016 |
| Prospectus Directive | the EU Prospectus Directive 2003/71/EC |
| Prospectus Rules | the prospectus rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority under Section 73A of FSMA |
| Qualifying CREST Shareholder | an existing Qualifying Shareholder holding Shares in uncertificated form and Qualifying CREST Shareholders shall be construed accordingly |
| Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholder |
an existing Qualifying Shareholder holding Shares in certificated form and Qualifying Non-CREST Shareholders shall be construed accordingly |
| Qualifying Shareholders | holders of Shares on the register of members of the Company at the Record Date with the exclusion of Excluded Shareholders |
| Receiving Agent | Computershare Investor Services PLC, in its capacity as the Company's receiving agent |
| Record Date | 5.00 p.m. on 26 February 2016 |
| Register | the register of members of the Company |
|---|---|
| Registrar | Computershare Investor Services PLC, in its capacity as the Company's registrar |
| Registration Document | the registration document dated 1 March 2016 issued by the Company in respect of the Share Issuance Programme |
| Regulation S | Regulation S promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act |
| Regulatory Information Service | a service authorised by the UKLA to release regulatory announcements to the London Stock Exchange |
| REIT or Real Estate Investment Trust |
a Real Estate Investment Trust as defined in Part 12 of the CTA 2010 |
| Relevant Member State | a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive |
| Revcap | Revcap Advisors Limited |
| RICS | Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors |
| SDLT | stamp duty land tax |
| SDRT | stamp duty reserve tax |
| Securities Note | this securities note issued by the Company in connection with the Initial Issue and any Further Placing and approved by the FCA |
| Shareholder | a holder of Shares |
| Shares | ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company |
| Share Issuance Programme | the programme under which the Company intends to issue Shares in Tranches on the terms set out in the Summary and this Securities Note (and any Future Summary and Future Securities Note) |
| Share Issuance Programme Placing Agreement |
the agreement relating to the Share Issuance Programme and the issues thereunder (including the Initial Issue) dated 1 March 2016 entered into between the Company, the Executive Directors, Jefferies and Akur, further details of which are set out in paragraph 9.1 of Part 8 of the Registration Document |
| Share Issuance Programme Price |
in respect of any future issue under the Share Issuance Programme, the applicable price at which the relevant Shares will be issued as determined in accordance with the Securities Note or any Future Securities Note |
| SIPP | a self-invested personal pension as defined in Regulation 3 of the UK Retirement Benefits Schemes (Restriction on Discretion to Approve) (Permitted Investments) Regulations 2001 |
| SSAS | a small self-administered scheme as defined in Regulation 2 of the UK Retirement Benefits Schemes (Restriction on |
| Discretion to Approve) (Small Self-Administered Schemes) Regulations 1991 |
|
|---|---|
| Sterling or £ | the lawful currency of the United Kingdom |
| Substantial Shareholder | any person whose interest in the Company, whether legal or beneficial, direct or indirect, may cause the Company to be liable to pay tax under Section 551 of CTA 2010 (as such legislation may be modified, supplemented or replaced from time to time) on or in connection with the making of a Distribution to or in respect of such person including, at the date of adoption of the Articles, any holder of excessive rights as defined in Section 553 of CTA 2010 |
| Summary | the summary dated 1 March 2016 issued by the Company in respect of Shares made available pursuant to the Initial Issue and any Further Placing |
| Takeover Code | the UK City Code on Takeovers and Mergers |
| Terms and Conditions of Application |
the terms and conditions of application set out in Part 8 of this Securities Note in connection with the Initial Offer for Subscription |
| Tranches each a Tranche | a tranche of Shares issued under the Share Issuance Programme (including the Initial Issue and any Further |
| Placing) | |
| UK Listing Authority or UKLA | the FCA acting in its capacity as the competent authority for the purposes of Part VI of FSMA |
| UK Money Laundering Regulations |
the UK Money Laundering Regulations 2007, as amended |
| United Kingdom or UK | the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland |
| U.S. Code | U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended |
| U.S. Exchange Act | U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended |
| U.S. Investment Company Act | U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended |
| U.S. Person | any person who is a U.S. person within the meaning of Regulation S adopted under the U.S. Securities Act |
| U.S. Securities Act | U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended |
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