Prospectus • Oct 30, 2014
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 security 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 security 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 intermediaries |
Not applicable, the Company is not engaging any financial intermediaries for any resale or final placement of securities after publication of the Prospectus. |
| Section B – Issuer | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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. |
| B.5. | Group description | The Company is the holding company of the Group and has the following subsidiaries (all of which are incorporated in England and Wales): |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Principal activity | Proportion of ownership interest % |
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| Empiric Investments (One) Limited | Intermediate holding company |
100 | |||||
| Empiric Investments (Two) Limited | Intermediate holding company |
100 | |||||
| Empiric (Edge Apartments) Limited | Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (College Green) Limited | Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (Picturehouse Apartments) Limited |
Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (Summit House) Limited | Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Limited | Property holding company |
100 | |||||
| Empiric (St Peter Street) Limited | Property holding company |
100 | |||||
| Empiric (Birmingham) Limited | Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (London Road) Limited | Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (Talbot Studios) Limited | Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (Centro Court) Limited | Property holding company |
100* | |||||
| Empiric (Alwyn Court) Limited | Property holding company |
100** | |||||
| Empiric (Northgate House) Limited | Property holding | ||||||
| Empiric (Snow Island) Limited | company Property holding company |
100** 100 |
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| Empiric Student Property Trustees Limited |
Trustee of the EBT |
100 | |||||
| Empiric (Developments) Limited | Development management |
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| company | 100 | ||||||
| held by Empiric Investments (One) Limited *held by Empiric Investments (Two) Limited |
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| In addition, the Company has the following interests in two | |||||||
| joint venture development companies. The remaining 50 per cent. of the shares in each company are held by KH |
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| II Estates 117 Limited, a company advised by Revcap. | |||||||
| Name | Principal activity |
Proportion of ownership interest % |
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| Empiric (Southampton) Limited | Joint venture development company |
50 | |||||
| Empiric (Glasgow) Limited | Joint venture development company |
50 | |||||
| The Directors intend that further Group companies will be set up for any additional properties which will 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 October 2014 (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 | Number of Shares |
Percentage of issued share capital (%) |
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| East Riding of Yorkshire Council Pension Fund SG Hambros Bank Limited CCLA Investment |
15,000,000 9,844,353 |
17.65 11.58 |
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| Management Limited Rathbones Brothers plc Charles Stanley & Co. Limited Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC Bank Morgan Stanley Zurich, |
8,500,000 7,513,530 4,503,764 3,207,866 3,000,000 2,600,000 |
10.00 8.84 5.30 3.77 3.53 3.06 |
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| As at 29 October 2014 (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 Shares |
Percentage of issued share capital (%) |
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| Baroness Dean Timothy Attlee Paul Hadaway Michael Enright() Jim Prower(*) |
33,500 875,000 875,001 520,000 23,760 |
0.04 1.03 1.03 0.61 0.03 |
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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. | Key financial information |
Selected historical key financial information of the Group as at 31 July 2014 is set out below. The information has been extracted without material adjustment from the audited consolidated financial information period ended 31 July 2014. |
of the Group for the | ||||
| Assets Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment Investment property Joint venture |
£ 43,007 46,454,000 1,754,544 –––––––––– 48,251,551 |
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| Current assets Trade and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents |
–––––––––– 1,554,999 34,949,471 –––––––––– 36,504,470 |
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| Total assets | –––––––––– 84,756,021 –––––––––– |
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| Liabilities Current liabilities Trade and other payables |
1,196,232 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | –––––––––– 1,196,232 –––––––––– |
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| Equity £ Shareholders' equity Called up share capital 850,000 Capital reduction reserve 82,281,424 Retained earnings 428,365 –––––––––– Total equity 83,559,789 –––––––––– Total equity and liabilities 84,756,021 –––––––––– Save to the extent disclosed below, there has been no significant change in the financial or trading position of the Group since 31 July 2014, being the date to which the Group's audited financial information has been prepared: • on 22 August 2014, Empiric (Edge Apartments) Limited completed the acquisition of Edge Apartments (Birmingham) for a purchase price of £8,940,000; • on 2 September 2014, Empiric (Centro Court) Limited completed the acquisition of Centro Court (Aberdeen) for a purchase price of £6,500,000; • on 30 September 2014, Empiric (Talbot Studios) Limited completed the acquisition of Talbot Studios (Nottingham) for a purchase price of £8,200,000; • on 24 October 2014, RBS made available to the Group an investment term loan of up to £35.5 million, secured on a number of the Group's operating property assets; • on 29 October 2014, Empiric (Alwyn Court) Limited exchanged contracts to acquire Alwyn Court (Cardiff) for a purchase price of £3,500,000; • on 29 October 2014, Empiric (Northgate House) Limited exchanged contracts to acquire Northgate House (Cardiff) for a purchase price of £5,200,000. Completion of the acquisition is conditional on practical completion of the property; and • the first interim dividend of 1.5 pence per Share was today declared in relation to the period from the IPO to 30 September 2014. |
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| B.8. | Key pro forma financial information |
Not applicable. No pro forma financial information is contained in the Prospectus. |
| 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 contained in the Prospectus is not qualified. |
| 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 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 |
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| • 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. |
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| The Company also intends to undertake limited development of new buildings or refurbishment 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 its investments. The Group intends to buy out its joint venture partners at or soon after practical completion. |
| 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 |
| 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; |
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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; |
| • 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, 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. 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. No material change will be made to the investment policy and investment restrictions without the approval of |
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| Shareholders by ordinary resolution. | ||
| B.35. | Borrowing limits | Conditional on full-scope AIFM Directive authorisation being obtained (as set out below under "Regulatory status of the Company and the Shares") the Board expects to use Company level structural leverage for investment purposes to enhance equity returns. |
| On 24 October 2014, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Empiric Investments (One) Limited agreed a £35.5 million term loan facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (acting as agent for National Westminster Bank plc). The RBS Facility Agreement is secured against a number of the Group's standing operating assets. The amounts drawn down under the RBS Facility Agreement are segregated and are non-recourse to the Company, and do not have the effect of increasing the Company's financial exposure to Empiric Investments (One) Limited or the standing operating assets of which it is the holding company. As a consequence, the amounts drawn down under the RBS Facility Agreement are not considered to be leverage attributable to the Company for the purposes of the AIFM Directive. |
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| In addition, development assets that are held by the Group in 50/50 joint venture companies during the development phase are not subject to the leverage restrictions arising from the AIFM Directive, and external development debt has currently been entered into in relation to the development of Brunswick House (Southampton). |
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| 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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| The Company 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 Company'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 is not regulated as a collective investment scheme by the FCA. However, the Company and Shareholders are subject to the Listing Rules, the Prospectus Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules. |
| On 19 March 2014, the Company was granted registration by the FCA as a "small registered UK AIFM" pursuant to regulation 10(2) of the AIFM Regulations on the basis that it is a small internally managed AIF. Accordingly, whilst it holds this registration, the Company will not be subject in the UK, inter alia, to the marketing restrictions placed on AIFs and AIFMs under the AIFM Regulations. |
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| The Company, as its own AIFM, submitted an application to the FCA in August 2014 for a full-scope Part 4A permission under the AIFM Regulations. The Company currently anticipates obtaining full-scope authorisation within three to six months of submission. |
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| 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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| The Company, as the principal company of the Group, has given notice to HMRC (in accordance with Section 523 CTA 2010) that the Group is a REIT and needs to comply with certain ongoing regulations and conditions (including minimum distribution requirements). |
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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 a single underlying issuer or investment company |
Not applicable. The Company will not invest 20 per cent. of gross assets or more in a single underlying issuer or investment company. |
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| B.39. | Investment of 40 per cent. or more in another collective investment undertaking |
Not applicable. The Company will not invest 40 per cent. or more of gross assets in another collective investment undertaking. |
| B.40. | Applicant's | Investment support arrangements |
| service providers |
Revcap Advisors Limited is appointed by the Company under the terms of the Investment Support Agreement to provide certain real estate investment support services to the Company for the purpose of its business and in connection with the management of its real estate assets. |
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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, with effect from the first anniversary of the IPO, 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 £170,000 (which minimum payment shall be increased to £200,000 with effect from the first date on which the Company shall have either, (i) raised in aggregate new equity funds of at least £100 million, or (ii) achieved a published Net Asset Value of at least £100 million) 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' notice by the Company or Revcap, such notice not to be given earlier than the second anniversary of the IPO. |
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| Facilities and lettings management arrangements | ||
| The Company is responsible for the facilities and lettings management of all properties in the portfolio. To facilitate the administrative and resource requirements, the Group will engage professional external facilities and lettings managers. As at the date of the Prospectus, the Group has engaged the services of four facilities and lettings managers, Collegiate AC, Aberdeen Property Leasing Ltd, Corporate Residential Management Ltd and Tenant Direct Ltd, in relation to various properties in the Property Portfolio. |
| The Company anticipates that further external facilities and lettings managers will be engaged in relation to future properties acquired by the Group. |
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| As at the date of the Prospectus, the majority of the Group's properties are under the facilities and lettings management of Collegiate AC. Under the Collegiate Property Management Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Collegiate AC a percentage (ranging between 4.5 and 5.5 per cent.) of the income collected by it on each property, or aggregation of properties, depending on the size and location of each property. In addition, in relation to mobilisation services for new properties (i.e. preparing them for letting), the Company will pay Collegiate AC a fixed payment of £150 per bed (subject to a minimum of £15,000 per property). If occupation of a property is delayed and Collegiate AC is required to manage interim arrangements, it will be paid a fixed fee of £4,500 per month plus other direct expenses incurred. All fees are exclusive of VAT. |
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| Administration and company secretarial arrangements | ||
| IOMA Fund and Investment Management 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 |
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| The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement is terminable upon six months' written notice. |
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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 the second anniversary of Admission. |
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| Audit services | ||
| BDO LLP provides audit services to the Company. | ||
| B.41. | Regulatory status of investment manager and custodian |
The Company is internally managed by the Board and has not appointed an external investment manager. The Company has not appointed a custodian. |
| B.42. | Calculation of Net Asset Value |
The Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) will be calculated quarterly by the Company and reviewed by the Administrator. Calculations will be made in accordance with IFRS. Details of each quarterly valuation, and of any |
| suspension in the making of such valuations, will be announced by the Company through a Regulatory Information Service as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant quarter. The quarterly valuations of the Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) will be calculated on the basis of the most recent semi-annual valuation of the Company's properties. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| B.44. | Financial statements | The Company has commenced operations and historical financial information is included in the Prospectus. |
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| 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. |
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| Operating properties | ||||||||
| Name Location No. of Date of Beds acquisition |
Market value as at 29 Oct 2014 (£) |
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| College Green Bristol 84 July 2014 Picturehouse |
10,130,000 | |||||||
| Apartments Exeter 102 July 2014 |
11,522,000 | |||||||
| Summit House Cardiff 87 July 2014 Edge Selly Oak, |
9,610,000 | |||||||
| Apartments Birmingham 77 August 2014 The Brook Selly Oak, |
8,940,000 | |||||||
| Birmingham 106 July 2014 |
12,410,000 | |||||||
| Centro Court Aberdeen 56 September 2014 London Road(1) Southampton 46 – |
6,710,000 4,000,000 |
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| Talbot Studios Nottingham 98 September 2014 |
8,500,000 | |||||||
| Alwyn Court Cardiff 51 October 2014 |
3,740,000 | |||||||
| Northgate House(2) Cardiff 67 – ——— |
5,600,000 ————— |
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| Total 774 ——— |
81,162,000 ————— |
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| (1) The Group has exchanged contracts to acquire London Road (Southampton). Completion of the acquisition will occur by 30 November 2014. (2) The Group has exchanged contracts to acquire Northgate House, parts of which are still currently under construction. Completion of the acquisition will take place on practical completion which is scheduled to occur in January 2015. The vendor has provided a 100 per cent. rental guarantee for the 2014/2015 academic year in respect of the parts of the property which are not currently let. The market value is based on the special assumption that Northgate House has reached practical completion and is fully let at the date of valuation. |
| Development and forward funded projects | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Location | Proposed no. of beds |
Date of acquisition |
Estimated completion date |
Market value as at 29 Oct 2014(1) (£) |
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| Forward funded projects | |||||||
| Buccleuch Street |
Edinburgh | 86 | July 2014 | May 2016 | 3,190,000 | ||
| Development projects | |||||||
| Brunswick House |
Southampton | 173 | July 2014 | September 2015 |
1,800,000(2) | ||
| Willowbank(3) Glasgow | 178 | – | September 2016 |
– | |||
| (1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 29 October 2014. | |||||||
| property. | (2) This figure represents the value of the Group's 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the | ||||||
| (3) London Cornwall Property Partners Limited ("LCPP"), acting on behalf of Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, has concluded missives (equivalent to exchange of contracts under English law) with Glasgow City Council in relation to the acquisition of Willowbank. Completion of the acquisition of Willowbank will be subject to receipt of planning approval and listed building consent to redevelop the building into direct-let premium student accommodation. LCPP is a company controlled by Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway, Executive Directors of the Company. It has been agreed that Willowbank will be transferred from LCPP to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited shortly after completion of the purchase. LCPP will receive no economic benefit from its role in the transaction. Due to the current status of Willowbank, it has not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation Report. |
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| B.46. | Net Asset Value | Net Asset Value per Share was Company of 1.5 pence per Share. |
As at 31 July 2014, the audited Net Asset Value per Share was 98.3 pence. As at 30 September 2014, the unaudited 99.8 adjusting for the interim dividend declared today by the |
pence, prior to |
| Section C – Securities | |||
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| Element | Disclosure Requirement |
Disclosure | |
| C.1. | Type and class of securities |
The Company intends to issue up to 300 million Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme. |
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| The ISIN of the Shares is GB00BLWDVR75 and the SEDOL is BLWDVR7. The ticker for the Company is ESP. |
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| C.2. | Currency | Sterling. | |
| C.3. | Issued Shares | As at 29 October 2014 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the Prospectus), the issued share capital of the Company was £850,000.01 divided into 85,000,001 Shares of £0.01 each. |
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| C.4. | Description of the rights attaching to the securities |
The Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme 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, Shares subscribed pursuant to the Initial Issue will not rank for the first interim dividend |
| declared today in relation to the period from the IPO to 30 September 2014. |
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| 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 issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme to be admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the Main Market. |
| It is expected that Initial Admission will become effective and that dealings in Shares issued pursuant to the Initial Issue will commence on 24 November 2014. |
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| C.7. | Dividend policy | The Company intends to pay dividends on a quarterly basis with dividends declared in February, May, August and November in each year and paid within one month of being declared. |
| On the basis of the Principal Bases and Assumptions, the Company expects to pay dividends of 2 pence per Share in respect of the period from Admission to 31 December 2014. In this regard the Company has today declared the first interim dividend of 1.5 pence per Share in relation to the period and expects the balance of the 2 pence per Share to be paid following the period end. |
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| The Company expects to pay dividends of at least 2.0 pence per Share for the first six months of 2015 and will target an annual dividend of 6 pence per Share for the financial year commencing 1 July 2015. Thereafter dividends are expected to grow by not less than inflation. |
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| In order to obtain and comply with REIT status the Company will be required to meet a minimum distribution test for each year that it is a REIT. This minimum distribution test requires the Company to distribute 90 per cent. of the income profits (as calculated for UK tax purposes) of the Property Rental Business for each accounting period, as adjusted for tax purposes. |
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| The Company will also target an additional 7.0 per cent. average annual growth in NAV (based on the issue price at IPO), to be delivered both from its development activities and through standing asset value growth resulting from potential rental increases. Together this would represent a total target annualised Shareholder return of 13 per cent. per annum (based on the issue price at IPO) following full investment of the net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme. |
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| 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 | The Company has a limited operating history | |
| on 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. |
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| The Company may not meet its investment objective | |||
| 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. |
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| Investor returns will be dependent upon the performance of the portfolio and the Company may experience fluctuations in its operating results |
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| 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. |
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| 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 Group's portfolio |
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| Rental income and property values may be adversely affected by increased supply of student accommodation, the failure to collect rents because of tenants' or licensees' 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 Company's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares. |
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| 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 |
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| 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 that the Group owns. 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 Company's profitability, the Net Asset Value, the price of |
the Shares 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 Company'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 Company's profitability, 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 independent third-party valuation agents. 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 Company's financial position and results of operations.
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 strategy or that it will be able to fully invest its available capital. The inability to find or agree terms of such investment opportunities could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position and results of operations. |
|---|
| Construction of the Group's development projects may be subject to delays or disruptions that are outside of the Group's control |
| The Group will depend on skilled third party contractors for the timely construction of its developments in accordance with international 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, any of which could have a material adverse effect on the Company's profitability, Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares. |
| If the Group fails to maintain REIT status for UK tax purposes, its profits and gains will be subject to UK corporation tax |
| 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 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. |
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| The value and/or market price of the Shares may go down as well as up |
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| 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. |
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| The Company will in the future issue new equity, which may dilute Shareholders' equity |
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| The Company will issue new equity in the future pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme or otherwise. Where statutory pre-emption rights under the Companies Act are disapplied, any additional equity finance will be dilutive to those Shareholders who cannot, or choose not to, participate in such financing. |
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| Future sales of Shares could cause the share price to fall | ||
| Sales of 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 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 |
On the assumption that gross proceeds of £65.65 million are raised pursuant to the Initial Issue, the expenses payable by the Company will not exceed £1.31 million (being 2 per cent. of the gross proceeds of the Initial Issue), resulting in net proceeds of approximately £64.34 million. |
| 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 will be fixed at a level of 2 per cent. of the gross issue proceeds. |
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|---|---|---|
| E.2.a. | Reason for the offer and use of proceeds |
The Share Issuance Programme is being undertaken in order to raise funds for the purpose of achieving the Company's investment objective. |
| The proceeds from the Share Issuance Programme are expected to be utilised to acquire, or to fund the development of, high-end student accommodation assets in accordance with the Company's investment policy. |
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| E.3. | Terms and conditions of the offer |
The Company intends to issue up to 300 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. |
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| 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. |
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| E.4. | Material interests | Not applicable. No interest is material to 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 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 charged to the investor by the issuer |
The Company will not charge investors any separate costs or expenses in connection with the Initial Issue. The costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the Initial Issue are fixed at 2 per cent. of the gross proceeds of the Initial Issue (that is £1.31 million assuming gross proceeds of the Initial Issue of £65.65 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 (the "FCA") made pursuant to section 73A of FSMA, 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.espreit.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 Future Securities Note applicable to each issue and subject to a separate approval by the Financial Conduct Authority 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 purposes of the Prospectus Rules.
The Company and the Directors, whose names appear on page 17 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 disclaim 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), 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) pursuant to the U.S. Private Placement 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 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 (http://www.espreit.co.uk) and the National Storage Mechanism of the FCA at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm.
Dated: 30 October 2014.
| Page | ||
|---|---|---|
| RISK FACTORS | 3 | |
| IMPORTANT INFORMATION | 14 | |
| DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS | 17 | |
| PART 1 | INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY | 19 |
| PART 2 | THE PROPERTY PORTFOLIO | 33 |
| PART 3 | THE UK STUDENT ACCOMMODATION MARKET | 41 |
| PART 4 | DIRECTORS AND ADMINISTRATION | 48 |
| PART 5 | FINANCIAL INFORMATION ON THE GROUP | 57 |
| PART 6 | VALUATION REPORT | 84 |
| PART 7 | REIT STATUS AND TAXATION | 102 |
| PART 8 | GENERAL INFORMATION | 118 |
| PART 9 | DEFINITIONS AND GLOSSARY | 165 |
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 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 Company'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 Company'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 tenants in the Group's properties will 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 Company'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 Company'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 Company's profitability, the Net Asset Value, the price of the Shares 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 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:
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 Company's profitability, Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
A number of the Group's operational properties include commercial units, which are expected to generate between 5 and 20 per cent. (depending upon each property) of the individual total rental income from such properties. Future properties which the Group acquires and which contain commercial units may follow a similar profile. In the event that the Group proved unable to let or renew a lease in one or more of the commercial units in the future, due to general commercial property market conditions or otherwise, this could have a material adverse effect on the Company's profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
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, Revcap (pursuant to the terms of the Investment Support Agreement), the Administrator and the facilities and lettings managers engaged by the Group in relation to its properties, and their respective delegates, if any, will 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 Company'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 independent 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. 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 Company'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 Company 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 Company'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 Company'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 Company'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 Company'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 Company'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 Company's reputation, profitability, the Net Asset Value and the price of the Shares.
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 Company'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.
The Company anticipates the Group Companies incurring 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 hedged 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 Company'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 Company'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 Company'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 Company'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 Company'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 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 4.3 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.
The AIFM Directive, which was to be transposed by EEA member states into national law on 22 July 2013, imposes a regime for EEA managers of AIFs and in respect of marketing of AIFs in the EEA. The AIFM Directive has been transposed in to UK law by the AIFM Regulations.
Based on the provisions of the AIFM Directive and the AIFM Regulations, the Company is an AIF within the scope of the AIFM Directive and the AIFM Regulations. The Company currently operates as an internally managed AIF and is consequently its own AIFM. On 19 March 2014, the Company was granted registration by the FCA as a "small registered UK AIFM" pursuant to regulation 10(2) of the AIFM Regulations on the basis that it is a small internally managed AIF. As a small registered UK AIFM, the Company is restricted from taking on Company level structural leverage for investment purposes and the Company does not have access to the AIFM Directive "passport" which would allow the Shares to be marketed to professional investors in other EEA member states. The "passport" is only available to full-scope AIFMs under the AIFM Directive. In addition, the Company can only remain registered as a small registered UK AIFM whilst its assets under management (calculated pursuant to the AIFM Directive) are below €500 million.
The Company submitted in August 2014 an application to the FCA for a full-scope Part 4A permission under the AIFM Regulations and currently anticipates receiving full-scope authorisation within three to six months of submission.
If the Company does not obtain full-scope authorisation or cannot maintain its registration as a small registered UK AIFM (due for instance to its assets under management exceeding €500 million), the operation of the Company or the marketing of Shares to investors in the UK and other EEA member states may be prohibited or impaired. This may adversely impact the Company's ability to raise further capital and manage and/or add to the Property Portfolio in the future.
Once full-scope authorisation is obtained the Company will be required to comply with various organisational, operational and transparency obligations. In complying with these obligations the Company may be required to provide additional or different information to or update information given to investors and appoint or replace external service providers that the Company intends to use, including those referred to in this Registration Document. In addition, in requiring AIFMs to comply with these organisational, operational and transparency obligations, the AIFM Directive is likely to increase management and operating costs, in particular the regulatory and compliance costs, of the Company.
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 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 to the extent that the Company: (i) is permitted to be marketed into the relevant EEA jurisdiction pursuant to either Article 36 or 42 of the AIFM Directive (if and as implemented into local law); or (ii) can otherwise be lawfully offered or sold (including on the basis of an unsolicited request from a professional investor).
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 authorized 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.
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 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 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. The financial information contained 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 300 million additional 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.espreit.co.uk. The contents of the Company's website do not form part of this Registration Document.
| 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) Alexandra Mackesy (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.espreit.co.uk |
| Joint Financial Advisers | Akur Limited 23 Bruton Street Mayfair London W1J 6QF |
| 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 | Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co 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 |
IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited AXV 3.4 7 Cavendish Square London W1G 0PE |
| 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 the high end student residential accommodation sector. The Shares were admitted to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market on 30 June 2014, raising gross proceeds of £85,000,000 through the issue of 85 million Shares at a price of 100 pence per Share.
The Company is an internally managed investment company. 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. In addition, the Company has engaged Revcap to provide certain investment support services to the Company in connection with the operation of its business.
The Executive Directors are experienced real estate professionals with a recognised track record in the development and management of high-end 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.
As at 30 September 2014, the Company had invested, or allocated for investment, £82.82 million of the net proceeds raised pursuant to the IPO in 11 student accommodation investments, comprising a mix of operating properties and development and forward funded projects. As at 30 September 2014, the unaudited estimated Net Asset Value per Share was 99.8 pence, prior to adjustment for the first interim dividend declared today of 1.5 pence per Share. This compares to the unaudited Net Asset Value per Share immediately following the IPO of 98.0 pence and an audited Net Asset Value per Share of 98.3 pence as at 31 July 2014. As at 29 October 2014 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document), the Company has a market capitalisation of approximately £86.1 million.
On 24 October 2014, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Empiric Investments (One) Limited agreed a £35.5 million term loan facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (acting as agent for National Westminster Bank Plc). The RBS Facility Agreement is secured against a number of the Group's operating properties. Amounts drawn down under the RBS Facility Agreement are segregated and are non-recourse to the Company. The amounts drawn down under the RBS Facility Agreement are available to the Group for investment into further property assets.
As at 29 October 2014 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document), the Company had drawn down £33.9 million under the RBS Facility Agreement of which £8.7 million has been committed for investment in a further two student accommodation investments. As at 29 October 2014, the independently appraised market value of the Property Portfolio was £86,152,000(1).
Further details of the RBS Facility Agreement are set out in paragraph 9.2 of Part 8 of this Registration Document.
(1) This valuation excludes the Willowbank development project and is based on the special assumption that Northgate House (Cardiff) has reached practical completion and is fully let at the date of valuation.
As at the date of this Registration Document, the Property Portfolio consists of the following investments comprising a mix of operating properties and development and forward funded projects. Further details of the Property Portfolio are set out below and in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
| Market value | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy | as at 29 Oct | |||||
| for | Date of | 2014 | ||||
| Name | Location | No. of Beds | 2014/2015 | acquisition | Title | (£) |
| College Green Picturehouse |
Bristol | 84 | 100% | July 2014 | Leasehold(1) 10,130,000 | |
| Apartments | Exeter | 102 | 97% | July 2014 | Freehold | 11,522,000 |
| Summit House | Cardiff | 87 | 100% | July 2014 | Freehold | 9,610,000 |
| Edge Apartments | Selly Oak, | |||||
| Birmingham | 77 | 100% | August 2014 | Freehold | 8,940,000 | |
| The Brook | Selly Oak, | |||||
| Birmingham | 106 | 100% | July 2014 | Freehold | 12,410,000 | |
| Centro Court | Aberdeen | 56 | 100% | September 2014 | Freehold | 6,710,000 |
| London Road | Southampton | 46 | 100%(2) | – | Freehold/ | 4,000,000 |
| Leasehold | ||||||
| Talbot Studios | Nottingham | 98 | 100% | September 2014 | Freehold | 8,500,000 |
| Alwyn Court | Cardiff | 51 | 100% | October 2014 | Freehold | 3,740,000 |
| Northgate House(3) | Cardiff | 67 –––––––– |
– | – | Freehold | 5,600,000 ––––––––– |
| Total | 774 –––––––– |
81,162,000 ––––––––– |
(1) 150 year lease, started in August 2010.
(2) The Group has exchanged contracts to acquire London Road (Southampton). Completion of the acquisition will occur by 30 November 2014. The vendor has provided a 100 per cent. rental guarantee for the 2014/2015 academic year.
(3) The Group has exchanged contracts to acquire Northgate House parts of which are still currently under construction. Completion of the acquisition will take place on practical completion which is scheduled to occur in January 2015. The vendor has provided a 100 per cent. rental guarantee for the 2014/2015 academic year in respect of the parts of the property which are not currently let. The market value is based on the special assumption that Northgate House has reached practical completion and is fully let at the date of valuation.
The average unaudited net initial yield of the operating properties as at 30 September 2014 was 6.7 per cent. Rental growth in the operating properties is an average of approximately 3.0 per cent., comparing 2014/2015 with 2013/2014.
The gross annual rent for the operating properties owned by the Group as at 30 September 2014 was £6.1 million.
The Group has entered into the following development and forward funded projects:
| Proposed | Date of | Total investment to completion |
Estimated completion |
Market value as at 29 Oct 2014(1) |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Location | no. of beds | acquisition | (£ million) | date | (£) |
| Forward funded projects Buccleuch Street |
Edinburgh | 86 | July 2014 | 8.5 | May 2016 | 3,190,000 |
| Development projects | ||||||
| Brunswick House | Southampton | 173 | July 2014 | 6.9(3) September 2015 | 1,800,000(2) | |
| Willowbank(4) | Glasgow | 178 | – | 6.7(3) September 2016 | – |
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 29 October 2014.
(2) This figure represents the value of the Group's 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the property.
(3) The total investment to completion figure excludes Revcap's contribution.
(4) LCPP, acting on behalf of Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, has concluded missives (equivalent to exchange of contracts under English law) with Glasgow City Council in relation to the acquisition of Willowbank. Completion of the acquisition of Willowbank will be subject to receipt of planning approval and listed building consent to redevelop the building into direct-let premium student accommodation. LCPP is a company controlled by Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway, Executive Directors of the Company. It has been agreed that Willowbank will be transferred from LCPP to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited shortly after completion of the purchase. LCPP will receive no economic benefit from its role in the transaction. Due to the current status of Willowbank, it has not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation Report.
The Company 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 deployed in development and forward funded projects.
In respect of a development project, the Company will generally identify a potential development site and, relying on the track record and experience of the Executive Directors, assess whether it would be an appropriate investment proposition, such assessment to include the specific supply and demand dynamics of the relevant university city, the location, adherence to the investment objective and investment policy, the proposed return on investment and the anticipated timing and delivery of the completed property.
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 Company 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 relevant contractors and sub-contractors will be identified, invited to pitch for the project and then selected. The Company will then supervise the entire development and construction process. Contractors will be selected based on key criteria, such as their skill sets and track record, being of appropriate size, with appropriate experience, and with the relevant insurance package. Risks to the Company 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 over several years across a number of separate developments), and by spreading development exposure across several different projects, as well as utilising the expertise and experience of Revcap. 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 across Russell Group (or similar quality) university cities and towns.
Each development project undertaken via this arrangement will be acquired via a separate joint venture company and will be owned 50/50 between the Company and an affiliated Revcap company. Both the Company and Revcap will each commit up to a maximum total of £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.
The Directors anticipate that the joint venture framework with Revcap will benefit the Company by providing the potential for a more diversified portfolio of development projects than would be the case if the equity component of each project was funded by the Company alone.
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 an asset management fee equal to 3.5 per cent. of the pre-agreed construction cost, payable quarterly. In this role, Empiric Developments will, amongst other things, be responsible for sourcing investments; business plan implementation; advising on planning matters and managing the planning process; short listing, selection and appointment of third party contractors, architects, engineers and other service providers; contract procurement, construction and development management; managing the construction process and managing the unit leasing and marketing process.
Revcap, as joint venture funding partner alongside the Company, will have monitoring and control rights under the terms of the applicable joint venture agreement that are typical for funding partners in development transactions, including acquisition and disposal decisions; final approval of building contractors; approval of major expenditure items and approval of senior debt terms.
Empiric Developments will also 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 each joint venture company at a valuation provided by an independent expert and, if this right is exercised, the IRR incentive profit share (if any) due to the Company (as described above) will be reflected in an adjustment to the amount due on repayment of the Revcap shareholder loan. This right of first refusal is expected to provide a flow of future investment opportunities for the Company.
A forward funded project is very similar to direct development. The Company still acquires the site directly (conditional to receiving planning permission), and still funds the project in stages, but the actual development work is undertaken by a third party developer which will have identified the site prior to the Company'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 7-8 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 rolled up into the overall contract price. Under a forward funded arrangement, the risk of cost overruns rests with the third party developer.
Such development and forward funded projects are expected to enable the Company to benefit from capital appreciation of its limited investment in development assets, which typically see significant uplifts in market value as the projects progress. The Company should benefit both from this capital appreciation, and also from the flow of standing asset investment opportunities that such activities may bring.
The Company will target a minimum IRR for development and forward funded projects of 40 per cent.
In addition to the recent exchange of contracts in relation to Alywn Court (Cardiff) and Northgate House (Cardiff), the Company is in final stage negotiations on two forward funded assets and one standing operating property. These assets comprise an aggregate of 337 beds representing a total commitment of approximately £28.85 million. Subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations, all of these assets are expected to be acquired by December 2014 and will be funded principally by the RBS Loan.
The Company is also in the advanced stages of negotiation in relation to a near-term pipeline comprising 15 properties across multiple locations in the UK with an aggregate of more than 1,800 beds representing a total commitment of approximately £180 million. This comprises a mix of operating properties and forward funded and development projects with a similar return profile to the current Property Portfolio. Subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations and available financing, the Company believes that all of the properties would be able to be acquired by the Group over the next several months, and by no later than the end of March 2015. It is anticipated that any commitments made to such pipeline assets will be financed by equity proceeds raised under the Share Issuance Programme, additional debt (whether pursuant to the RBS Loan or otherwise) or a combination of these.
Beyond the identified pipeline described above, the Company has a further pipeline of assets under consideration at earlier stages of due diligence and negotiation representing an additional potential commitment of approximately £400 – 600 million.
The Company's pipeline opportunities are sourced from owner-operators, developers, agents, proprietary contacts and local knowledge. Revcap provides a further source of pipeline opportunities.
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.
As the principals of LCPP, the Executive Directors developed c.£100 million worth of properties from 2001. LCPP focused on the student accommodation sector from 2009, and worked with Revcap (and its affiliated companies) as its joint venture partner from early 2010. Under this joint venture arrangement LCPP and Revcap (and its affiliated companies) developed five student accommodation properties: College Green (Bristol); Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter); Summit House (Cardiff); Edge Apartments (Birmingham); and Gateway (Edinburgh). In each case, LCPP undertook the development role, including the functions the Group undertakes pursuant to the Company's joint venture arrangements with Revcap, and where the Group pursues forward funded or other development projects. This prior track record of undertaking successful development projects is a competitive strength of the Company.
College Green (Bristol); Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter); Summit House (Cardiff); and Edge Apartments (Birmingham) have been acquired by the Group and form part of the Property Portfolio, further details of which are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
In addition, LCPP acted as development manager to the British Airways Pension Fund, the funders of the development of Pennine House (Leeds). This is a 40,000 sq ft office building which has been converted into student accommodation. LCPP does not have an ownership interest in this project.
The Executive Directors have a track record of delivering development profits. This is highlighted by the returns from the various student developments they have undertaken to date, most of which comprise assets now in the Property Portfolio. The development projects in Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Birmingham, as well as in relation to the development in Edinburgh which has been sold, achieved the following returns:
It should be noted that the IRRs at the lower end of the range spectrum represent two projects which suffered delays and cost overruns due to the failure of the main contractor, but which nevertheless still returned total project IRRs in excess of c.22 per cent.
The above IRRs are calculated by reference to the whole equity invested in the relevant project, without any benefit from the developer's incentive profit share. The Executive Directors are targeting an IRR of 40 per cent. for development projects undertaken by the Company, after taking account of the incentive profit share structure that the Company expects to benefit from.
Returns on College Green (Bristol), Summit House (Cardiff), Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter) and Edge Apartments (Birmingham) are calculated using actual development costs and calculated for an exit at practical completion based on the agreed sale price to the Group. Gateway Apartments (Edinburgh) uses the actual development costs and the actual sale price. Equity IRR includes financing costs. Project IRR and project yield excludes financing cost. Project yield on cost excludes financing cost.
Included in the above statistics is Gateway (Edinburgh) which was disposed of in December 2013 following an unsolicited approach from an international institutional buyer prior to practical completion. The sale was agreed at c.£16 million, compared to a total cost of acquisition and development of c.£11.1 million. The purchase price represented a c.6.5 per cent. net initial yield for the buyer. This price represented a c.73 per cent. IRR on equity and a 2.5x equity multiple on exit. Gateway (Edinburgh) was also the winner of the Residential Property category at the RICS Scotland awards 2014.
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 Group intends to buy out its joint venture partners at or soon after practical completion.
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 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.
Conditional on full-scope AIFM Directive authorisation being obtained (as set out below under "Regulatory status of the Company and the Shares") the Board expects to use Company level structural leverage for investment purposes to enhance equity returns.
On 24 October 2014, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary Empiric Investments (One) Limited agreed a £35.5 million term loan facility with The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (acting as agent for National Westminster Bank Plc). The RBS Facility Agreement is secured against a number of the Group's standing operating properties. The amounts drawn down under the RBS Facility Agreement are segregated and are non-recourse to the Company, and do not have the effect of increasing the Company's financial exposure to Empiric Investments (One) Limited or the standing operating assets of which it is the holding company. As a consequence, the amounts drawn down under the RBS Facility Agreement are not considered to be leverage attributable to the Company for the purposes of the AIFM Directive.
In addition, development assets that are held by the Group in 50/50 joint venture companies during the development phase are not subject to the leverage restrictions arising from the AIFM Directive, and external development debt has currently been entered into in relation to the development of Brunswick House (Southampton).
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).
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.
The Company 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 Company'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 approval of 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 declared in February, May, August and November in each year and paid within one month of being declared.
On the basis of the Principal Bases and Assumptions set out in paragraph 13 of Part 8 of this Registration Document, the Company expects to pay dividends of 2 pence per Share in respect of the period from Admission to 31 December 2014. In this regard the Company has today declared the first interim dividend of 1.5 pence per Share in relation to the period and expects the balance of the 2 pence per Share to be paid following the period end.
The Company expects to pay dividends of at least 2.0 pence per Share for the first six months of 2015 and will target an annual dividend of 6 pence per Share for the financial year commencing 1 July 2015. Thereafter dividends are expected to grow by not less than inflation.
For the avoidance of doubt, Shares issued pursuant to the Initial Issue will not rank for the first interim dividend.
In order to 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 additional 7.0 per cent. average annual growth in NAV (based on the issue price at IPO), to be delivered both from its development activities and through standing asset value growth resulting from potential rental increases. Together this would represent a total target annualised Shareholder return of 13 per cent. per annum (based on the issue price at IPO) 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.
Under the Investment Support Agreement the Company has engaged Revcap to provide certain investment support services to the Company. Through the agreement, the Executive Directors will have access to the advice and experience of the senior management team of Revcap.
Founded in 2004, Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP (of which Revcap is an affiliate) is a European investor that targets small and medium sized real estate co-investment opportunities. Headquartered in London, with offices in Paris, Frankfurt and Stockholm, Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP has a team of over 25 focused on generating superior risk adjusted returns. Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP co-invests in joint ventures with proven local operating partners. The firm has an established network of more than 90 existing joint venture partners and has transacted across the UK and Europe in over 200 individual investments. Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP has made investments in European real estate, including commercial, residential, data centres, advertising hoardings and student accommodation valued in excess of £2.5 billion.
Further details of the Investment Support Agreement are set out in paragraph 9.7 of Part 8 of this Registration Document.
The Company is responsible for the facilities and lettings management of all properties in the portfolio. To facilitate its administrative and resource requirements, the Group will engage professional external facilities and lettings managers. As at the date of this Registration Document, the Group has engaged the services of four facilities and lettings managers, Collegiate AC, Aberdeen Property Leasing Ltd, Corporate Residential Management Ltd and Tenant Direct Ltd, in relation to various properties in the Property Portfolio. The Company anticipates that further external facilities and lettings managers will be engaged in relation to future properties acquired by the Group.
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 (at the request of the Group), preparation of operating budgets for approval, overseeing building maintenance, maintenance of tenancy records, acting as tenant liaison and provision to the Company of agreed management reports and performance measures for the properties. These services are provided by the relevant facilities and lettings managers under the supervision of the Company.
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 throughout the months preceding the start of the academic year in September.
The Group is responsible for the marketing and letting of any commercial units forming part of its properties although, in certain cases the external facilities and lettings managers may be engaged to provide a general oversight and rental collection service for commercial units.
The Directors intend to use CBRE, or another professional independent valuer of equivalent standing, as property valuer to the Company. Full valuations of the Company's properties will be conducted semi-annually as at 30 June and 31 December in each year. The valuations of the Group's properties will be at fair value as determined by CBRE on the basis of market value in accordance with the internationally accepted RICS Appraisal and Valuation Standards. CBRE has produced the Valuation Report in relation to the Property Portfolio as at 29 October 2014 which is set out at 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 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) will be calculated quarterly by the Company (and reviewed by the Administrator). Calculations will be made in accordance with IFRS. Details of each quarterly valuation, and of any suspension in the making of such valuations, will be announced by the Company via a Regulatory Information Service announcement as soon as practicable after the end of the relevant quarter. The quarterly valuations of the Net Asset Value (and Net Asset Value per Share) will be calculated on the basis of the most recent semi-annual 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 will be prepared in Sterling under IFRS. The Company's annual report and accounts will be prepared up to 30 June each year, with the first accounting period of the Company ending on 30 June 2015. It is expected that copies of the report and accounts will be sent to Shareholders by the end of October each year. Shareholders will also receive an unaudited half-yearly report covering the six months to 31 December each year, which is expected to be dispatched within the following two months. The first financial report and accounts that Shareholders will receive will be the half yearly report for the period ending on 31 December 2014 (covering the period from incorporation of the Company).
The Company intends to hold its first annual general meeting before 31 December 2015 and will hold an annual general meeting each year thereafter.
The Board has the discretion to seek to manage, on an ongoing 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. Following the IPO, the Company applied to the Court to cancel the share premium account arising from the Shares issued pursuant to the IPO so as to create a new special reserve which may be treated as distributable profits and, amongst other things, out of which share buy-backs may be funded.
In connection with the IPO, a special resolution was passed granting the Directors authority to repurchase up to 14.99 per cent. of the Company's issued share capital immediately following the IPO during the period expiring on the conclusion of the earlier of the Company's first annual general meeting and 31 December 2015. 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 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 Ordinary 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, gave notice to HMRC (in accordance with Section 523 CTA 2010) that the Group had become a REIT on 1 July 2014. As a REIT, it complies with certain ongoing 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.
On 19 March 2014, the Company was granted registration by the FCA as a "small registered UK AIFM" pursuant to regulation 10(2) of the AIFM Regulations on the basis that it is a small internally managed AIF. Accordingly, whilst it holds this registration, the Company will not be subject in the UK, inter alia, to the marketing restrictions placed on AIFs and AIFMs under the AIFM Regulations. One of the qualifying criteria for registration as a "small registered UK AIFM" for an AIF with more than €100 million of assets under management is that it must be unleveraged as determined for the purposes of the AIFM Directive.
The Company, as its own AIFM, submitted an application to the FCA in August 2014 for a full-scope Part 4A permission under the AIFM Regulations in order, amongst other things, to have the ability to take on Company level structural leverage for investment purposes. The Company currently anticipates obtaining full-scope authorisation within three to six months of submission. For the avoidance of doubt, the implementation of the Company's investment policy is not dependent upon Company level structural leverage being taken on or full-scope authorisation being obtained.
As noted above under "Borrowing Policy" the amounts drawn down under the RBS Facility Agreement by Empiric Investments (One) Limited are not considered to be leverage attributable to the Company for the purposes of the AIFM Directive. In addition, development assets that are held by the Group in 50/50 joint venture companies during the development phase are not subject to the leverage restrictions arising from the AIFM Directive.
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, comprising a mix of operating properties and development and forward funded projects. The figures contained in this Part 2 of the Registration Document are unaudited.
| Title | Long leasehold (146 years unexpired) |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £9.97 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£10.13 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£140 to £199 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
85:15 (projected for 2014/15 academic year) |
| Net initial yield | 6.70 per cent. |
Developed by LCPP and 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, and is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/2015 academic year. 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 Morrisons supermarket) on the ground floor which is let on a 15 year lease together with other retail/coffee shop 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 |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £11.41 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£11.52 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£109 to £194 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
94:6 (projected for 2014/15 academic year) |
| Net initial yield | 6.30 per cent. |
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, and is 97 per cent. let for the 2014/2015 academic year. 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 |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £9.58 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£9.61 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£163 to £189 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
95:5 (projected for 2014/15 academic year) |
| Net initial yield | 6.40 per cent. |
Developed by LCPP and in operation since the commencement of the 2013 academic year, Summit House (Cardiff) is an office conversion consisting of bespoke student accommodation, comprising 87 beds arranged in both individual studios and two bedroom apartment configurations, and is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/2015 academic year. 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 |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £8.94 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£8.94 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£145 to £195 per bed per week |
| Ratio of student rental income to commercial rental income |
88:12 (projected for 2014/15 academic year) |
| Net initial yield | 7.00 per cent. |
Developed by LCPP and completed in August 2014, Edge Apartments (Birmingham) is a purposebuilt student accommodation property, comprising 77 beds arranged in both individual studios and two bedroom apartment configurations and is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/2015 academic year. The property includes a gym, cinema room, games rooms and work rooms for the use of the student residents. The property also benefit 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 |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £12 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£12.41 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£182 to £205 per bed per week |
| Net initial yield | 6.50 per cent. |
The Brook (Birmingham) was acquired by the Group in July 2014 from a subsidiary of The Mansion Group. The property comprises 106 studio beds. 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. The property is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/15 academic year. Both properties will be managed together bringing cost savings from the joint operation.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £6.5 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£6.71 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£180 to £233 per bed per week |
| Net initial yield | 6.80 per cent. |
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 entertainment and laundry areas. The property, on Loch Street, Aberdeen is located 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. The property is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/15 academic year.
| Title | Freehold and leasehold |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £3.55 million (payable on completion) |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£4.00 million |
| Weeks let per year | 52 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£128 to £175 per bed per week |
| Net initial yield | 7.50 per cent. |
The Group exchanged contracts in September 2014 to acquire a purpose-built student accommodation property on London Road, Southampton from Urban Creation, which developed phase 1 of the property (34 beds) in 2013 with phase 2 (12 beds) having been completed in September 2014 in time for the 2014/15 academic year. Completion of the acquisition will occur by 30 November 2014. 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 development and it is anticipated that both schemes will be paired, operationally, with students having access to the Brunswick House communal facilities and enabling the Group to share operational costs. As at the date of this Registration Document the property is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/2015 academic year taking into account a 100 per cent. rental guarantee for the academic year provided by the vendor.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £8.20 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£8.50 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/15 academic year |
£135 to £165 per bed per week |
| Net initial yield | 6.90 per cent. |
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. The property is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/2015 academic year.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £3.5 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£3.74 million |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Rent range for the 2014/2015 academic year |
£115 to £153 per bed per week |
| Net initial yield | 7.00 per cent. |
The Group exchanged contracts in October 2014 to acquire Alwyn Court, a purpose built student accommodation property on Salisbury Road in Cardiff. The property, which opened in 2012, comprises 51 beds arranged in both individual studios and apartment configurations with communal facilities. The property is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/15 academic year. 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 on which the Group has also recently exchanged contracts. The Company anticipates being able to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Acquisition price | £5.20 million (payable on completion) |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014 |
£5.60 million(1) |
| Weeks let per year | 51 |
| Net initial yield | 7.00 per cent. |
The Group exchanged contracts in October 2014 to acquire Northgate House, a purpose built student accommodation property parts of which are still in late stages of construction on The Kingsway in Cardiff. The property, which is anticipated to be completed in January 2015, comprises 67 beds arranged in both individual studios and apartment configurations with communal facilities. The Group has received a 100 per cent. rental guarantee for the 2014/15 academic year from the vendor in respect of the parts of the property which are not currently let. 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 on which the Group has also recently exchanged contracts. The Company anticipates being able to derive cost savings through the joint management of these properties.
(1) The market value is based on the special assumption that Northgate House has reached practical completion and is fully let at the date of valuation.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 86 |
| Total consideration payable | £8.50 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014(1) |
£3.19 million |
| Estimated completion date | May 2016 |
| Estimated yield on cost | 8.00 per cent. |
| Developer | Cruden Homes (East) Limited |
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 Company estimates that on completion the property will have a valuation in the region of £11.2 million.(2)
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 29 October 2014.
(2) This figure does not represent a formal valuation of the property and is a management estimate of the potential value of the property at practical completion, assuming a yield on costs of 8.0 per cent. and a yield at practical completion of 6.1 per cent. The potential uplift in valuation at practical completion over the total required investment is a function of the current budgeted arrangements and contracts which exist to complete the property, and the valuation metrics applicable to the current market conditions. Such valuation metrics are likely to change by the time of practical completion of the property, which could result in greater or lesser gains for the Group. This estimate is for illustration only, subject to change and is therefore not a profit forecast.
| Title | Freehold |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 173 |
| Total Company investment (equity and share of joint venture debt) |
£6.9 million |
| Valuation as at 29 October 2014(1) |
£1.80 million (this figure represents the value of the Group's |
| 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the property) | |
| Estimated completion date | September 2015 |
| Estimated yield on completion | 6.5 per cent. |
| Estimated yield on cost | 9.5 per cent. |
| Joint venture partner | Revcap affiliated investment fund |
| Current percentage equity interest in project |
50 per cent. |
In July 2014, Empiric (Southampton) Limited, a joint venture development company owned on a 50/50 basis between the Company and a Revcap affiliated investment fund, acquired Brunswick House on Brunswick Place, Southampton for £3.58 million. The project comprises the redevelopment of a commercial office property into a direct-let, premium student accommodation scheme and was acquired with existing planning permission for 158 studio beds which is subject to a variation application to increase the number of beds. The proposed opening target date for the development is September 2015 in time for the 2015/2016 academic year. The project is located in central Southampton, close to Southampton Solent University and between the city centre and the University of Southampton. Empiric (Southampton) Limited has entered into a development loan facility with Close Brothers Limited to fund the development of the project. The Company estimates that on completion the Company's share in the property will have a valuation in the region of £10.2 million.(2)
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 29 October 2014.
(2) This figure does not represent a formal valuation of the property and is a management estimate of the potential value of the Company's share in the property at practical completion, assuming a yield on costs of 9.5 per cent. and a yield at practical completion of 6.5 per cent. The potential uplift in valuation at practical completion over the total required investment is a function of the current budgeted arrangements and contracts which exist to complete the property, and the valuation metrics applicable to the current market conditions. Such valuation metrics are likely to change by the time of practical completion of the property, which could result in greater or lesser gains for the Group. This estimate is for illustration only, subject to change and is therefore not a profit forecast.
| Title | Freehold (on completion) |
|---|---|
| Proposed number of beds | 178 |
| Total Company investment (equity and share of joint venture debt) |
£6.7 million |
| Valuation as at 30 September 2014 |
–* |
| Estimated completion date | September 2016 |
| Estimated yield on completion | 6.5 per cent. |
| Estimated yield on cost | 9.0 per cent. |
|---|---|
| Joint venture partner | Revcap affiliated investment fund |
| Current percentage equity interest in project |
50 per cent. |
* Due to the current status of Willowbank, it has not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation Report.
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 a purchase price of £1.83 million. Completion of the acquisition of Willowbank will be subject to receipt of planning approval and listed building consent to redevelop the building into direct-let premium student accommodation. A planning application has been submitted for the development of a scheme comprising approximately 178 beds in a mix of studio, two and three bed apartments. An agreed overage payment is payable in the event that planning consent is obtained for bedrooms in excess of 158 bedrooms. Planning approval is currently anticipated to be received by the end of 2014.
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. LCPP, the Company and Empiric (Glasgow) Limited have, in addition, entered into a fronting agreement (the "Fronting Agreement") pursuant to the terms of which LCPP has agreed, amongst other things, to hold LCPP's interest under the missives on trust for Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, to comply with its instructions in relation to the missives and to transfer title to the property to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited. It is agreed and acknowledged by the parties to the Fronting Agreement that LCPP shall not be entitled, and is not intended, to receive any financial benefit on its own behalf from the Fronting Agreement or its holding of title at any time to the property.
As a condition of concluding missives with LCPP, the Council has required the Company to enter into a guarantee (the "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. The Guarantee will continue to apply post-settlement unless any transferee of the Willowbank site can satisfy a covenant test for discharge which is contained in the Guarantee. In addition, it has been agreed that in all cases, the total aggregate direct and indirect financial exposure of the Company to LCPP (whether potential or actual) and whether under the Guarantee and/or the terms of the Fronting Agreement (via its interest from time to time in Empiric (Glasgow) Limited) shall not at any time exceed £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 September 2016 in time for the 2016/17 academic year. The Company estimates that on completion the Company's share in the property will have a valuation in the region of £9.3 million.(1)
(1) This figure does not represent a formal valuation of the property and is a management estimate of the potential value of the Company's share in the property at practical completion, assuming a yield on costs of 9.0 per cent. and a yield at practical completion of 6.5 per cent. The potential uplift in valuation at practical completion over the total required investment is a function of the current budgeted arrangements and contracts which exist to complete the property, and the valuation metrics applicable to the current market conditions. Such valuation metrics are likely to change by the time of practical completion of the property, which could result in greater or lesser gains for the Group. This estimate is for illustration only, subject to change and is therefore not a profit forecast.
The Company has commissioned CBRE to produce a valuation report on the investments comprising the Property Portfolio as at 29 October 2014. The Valuation Report is set out in Part 6 of this Registration Document and values the Property Portfolio in aggregate at £86.15(1) million as at 29 October 2014.
The Valuation Report sets out a description of the investments comprising the Property Portfolio (with the exception of Willowbank) and highlights material points which have been taken into account in the valuations of such properties. The Company believes 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.
(1) This valuation excludes the Willowbank development project and is based on the special assumption that Northgate House (Cardiff) has reached practical completion and is fully let at the date of valuation.
The statistics below illustrate the diversification as between level of study and geographical origin of tenants at the Group's operational properties (excluding Aberdeen and Southampton).
| Level of study | % |
|---|---|
| Postgraduate | 42 |
| Undergraduate – first year – second year – third year |
27 15 14 |
| PhD | 2 |
| Geographical origin | % |
| Asia UK |
49 22 |
| Europe (excl. UK) Middle East |
11 9 |
| Africa North America |
5 3 |
| South America | 1 |
| Australasia | 1 |
Source: the Company. Statistics for 2014/15 academic year excluding Centro Court (Aberdeen) and London Road (Southampton).
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 rather than to the HEI ("Direct Let"). 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 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.
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, 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, 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 (Figure 1).
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.
Figure 1 Rental value growth in the UK, by sector
Source: IPD, National Union of Students, Savills, ONS, Jones Lang LaSalle
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 is emerging as an asset class in its own right. Factors contributing to the continued growth of this sector include:
• The continued attraction of the UK's higher education system to international students is likely to drive further demand, particularly at the higher end of the quality spectrum of the Direct Let sub-sector.
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 (see Figure 1). 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.
Source: Savills, IPD, Bank of England
The sector is increasingly attracting significant levels of institutional capital. The last three years has seen rapidly increasing levels of transactional activity. In 2013, approximately £2.6 billion of gross assets (representing 40,000 beds) were sold compared to the nearly £1 billion in 2010. In 2014, it is expected that in excess of £3 billion, overall, will be transacted (Source: Savills).
Source: Savills
Figure 4 Blended occupancy levels across the UK
Source: Savills
In 2012/2013, there were 1.68 million full time students in the UK, of which 425,000 (25 per cent.) were international students (Source: HESA). Although the peak in student numbers was experienced in 2010/11, the number of applicants is now approaching those levels again (Figure 4). In 2013/14 UCAS placed 495,600 under-graduates into higher education, an increase of 30,700 (6.6 per cent.) over the previous year and the highest number recorded for a single year.
Increased tuition fees and a challenging economy have not deterred UK students from enrolling into institutions away from their home towns and cities. In 2012/13, almost 60 per cent. of UK domiciled new students chose to study over 25 miles from their homes.
Source: UCAS
The UK is the second most popular country across the globe, for international students. In the 2013/2014 cycle, UK HEI acceptances from other EU countries increased 5.5 per cent. to 24,500 (around 4-5 per cent. of all acceptances). Acceptances from countries outside the EU have also increased in 2013/14, up 5.8 per cent. to 37,500 (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: Jones Lang LaSalle). 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.
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 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 and local authorities are starting to restrict the supply of HMOs in certain areas.
Within the 27 top tier university towns and cities targeted by the Company, there are currently approximately 316,000 purpose-built bed spaces, compared to 1.13 million 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 25 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 5, 96 per cent. of students do not have access to a purpose-built bed.
In many cities there is not sufficient purpose-built accommodation to cater even for first year students. (The horizontal black line at 25 per cent. indicates the average proportion of first year students across the cities).
Source: Savills
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 2013, rental values have tripled, showing almost twice as much growth as that from other real estate sectors (Figure 1). Direct Let assets are currently trading at net initial yields of approximately 6.5 per cent. in prime regional areas, and at sub 6.0 per cent. in London.
The student accommodation sector has shown a stable yield profile (Figure 2). 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 have stabilised around this level. However, as rental values continue to grow (Figure 1), 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 Directors believe that the returns in the sector should remain attractive for the medium to longer terms.
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 will be 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.
Along with Tim Attlee, Paul was jointly responsible for the acquisition, development and management of LCPP's student portfolio.
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.
Michael Enright's role is not full time and currently he works on average 3.5 days per week. It is intended that Michael's position will transition to full time as the business of the Company develops.
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 25 years experience 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.
A chartered accountant, Jim is currently the finance partner of Argent (Property Development) Services LLP and Argent Investments LLP, and was group finance director of Argent Group PLC ("Argent") between January 1998 and November 2012. During that period, Argent has been responsible for the development of Brindley Place in Birmingham, Piccadilly Place, One Piccadilly Gardens and One St Peters Square in Manchester. Jim's role at Argent includes the funding of, and the reporting related to, the development of Kings Cross Central in London (a 67 acre development in the heart of London, including c.50 new buildings and c.2000 new homes). Jim also acts as director and company secretary of Miller Argent Holdings Limited, a 50:50 joint venture between Argent and Miller Group, which is undertaking the third phase of the East Merthyr Tydfil reclamation scheme by opencast coal mining methods.
Jim is a non-executive director of Tritax Big Box REIT plc (where he chairs the audit committee), a c.£400 million UK listed REIT. Jim also held the role of finance director and company secretary at Minty plc (1987–1989), Creston Land & Estates plc (1989–1995) and NOBO Group plc (1995– 1997).
Alexandra is a non-executive director of The Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust Plc, Asian Total Return Investment Company plc and RENN Universal Growth Investment Trust PLC. Since 2000, she has worked as a part-time consultant in Asia. Prior to this, she held posts in Hong Kong with Credit Suisse as director, Head of Hong Kong and China Equity Research, JP Morgan as director, Asian Equity Research, and SBC Warburg/SG Warburg as director, Hong Kong Equity Research.
The Company also has engaged the services of the following key employees and consultants:
After obtaining a Bachelor of Accounting, Finance & Information Systems at the University of Canterbury New Zealand, Ella went on to complete her professional exams while at KPMG Wellington. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 2009 Ella moved to London to benefit from a larger market and wider opportunities. Prior to joining the Company, Ella held a number of financial management, control and reporting roles.
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 subcontractors, 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.
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 2003-2006, 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.
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 – 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, 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. In addition, the Group can draw upon the contacts and resources of Revcap in order to identify potential investment opportunities.
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.
Key locations are: Aberdeen, Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Canterbury, Cardiff, Chichester, Coventry, Durham, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Kingston on Thames, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton, St Andrews and York. The Company is not restricted to investing only in these locations.
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. In addition, if an investment opportunity represents a project suitable for development via the joint venture with Revcap details of the proposal are shared with Revcap for internal review.
The Executive Directors have authority to approve new investments, save where a transaction falls within the scope of the matters reserved for the full Board from time to time.
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 an option over Shares. Further details of the LTIP, the share awards granted to the Executive Directors and the applicable performance and vesting conditions are set out in paragraph 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 5.1 and 6.3 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 including; providing the Board with interpretation of market analysis of the student accommodation sector utilising Revcap's proprietary knowledge and experience of the sector and the broader real estate market in general; providing high level strategy support, development and monitoring functions to the Board in relation to the development and implementation of the Company's investment strategy as the Board may request from time to time; providing oversight of, and administrative support in relation to, the due diligence process for the acquisition by the Company of new investments and providing such other investment support and administrative services as may be agreed between Revcap and the Company from time to time. The agreement with Revcap is non-exclusive.
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, with effect from the first anniversary of the IPO, 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 £170,000 (which minimum payment shall be increased to £200,000 with effect from the first date on which the Company shall have either, (i) raised in aggregate new equity funds of at least £100 million, or (ii) achieved a published Net Asset Value of at least £100 million) 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 the second anniversary of the IPO. The agreement may also be terminated immediately by the Company on the occurrence of certain events.
The Company is responsible for the facilities and lettings management of all properties in the portfolio. To facilitate the administrative and resource requirements, the Group will engage professional external facilities and lettings managers. As at the date of this Registration Document, the Group has engaged the services of four facilities and lettings managers, Collegiate AC, Aberdeen Property Leasing Ltd, Corporate Residential Management Ltd and Tenant Direct Ltd, in relation to various properties in the Property Portfolio. The Company anticipates that further external facilities and lettings managers will be engaged in relation to future properties acquired by the Group.
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 (at the request of the Group), preparation of operating budgets for approval, overseeing building maintenance, maintenance of tenancy records, acting as tenant liaison and provision to the Company of agreed management reports and performance measures for the properties. These services are provided by the relevant facilities and lettings managers under the supervision of the Company. The Group is responsible for the marketing and letting of any commercial units forming part of its properties although, in certain cases, the external facilities and lettings managers may be engaged to provide a general oversight and rental collection service for commercial units.
As at the date of this Registration Document, the majority of the Group's properties are under the facilities and lettings management of Collegiate AC. Under the Collegiate Property Management Agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Collegiate AC a percentage (ranging between 4.5 and 5.5 per cent.) of the income collected by it on each property, or aggregation of properties, depending on the size and location of each property. In addition, in relation to mobilisation services for new properties (i.e. preparing them for letting), the Company will pay Collegiate AC a fixed payment of £150 per bed (subject to a minimum of £15,000 per property). If occupation of a property is delayed and Collegiate AC is required to manage interim arrangements, it will be paid a fixed fee of £4,500 per month plus other direct expenses incurred. All fees are exclusive of VAT.
The Collegiate Property Management Agreement may be terminated by the Company on six months' written notice prior to 31 August each year, such notice not to take effect prior to 31 August 2018 and is also terminable on 30 days' notice in the event of breach of a material provision of the agreement and in certain other circumstances including insolvency and dissolution.
IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited has been appointed as administrator and company secretary to the Company. 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.
The Company utilises the services of Computershare Investor Services PLC as registrar in relation to the transfer and settlement of Shares held in uncertificated form.
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 the second anniversary of Admission.
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.
The ongoing 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 Company expects to have an overall total expense ratio of circa 1.2 per cent. per annum at the time of full deployment of the net proceeds of the Initial Issue, noting that the total expense ratio will tend to reduce over time as asset values rise (such ratio includes accrued for discretionary bonuses but excludes accrued for potential LTIP payments).
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.
Revcap also holds 1,500,000 Shares in the Company representing 1.76 per cent. of the issued share capital of the Company as at 29 October 2014 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Registration Document).
The Takeover Code applies to the Company.
The Company is required under the Listing Rules to report its compliance or otherwise with the UK Corporate Governance Code in its annual financial statements each year.
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, Alexandra Mackesy 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 Alexandra Mackesy, 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 audited consolidated financial information of the Group for the period from the Company's incorporation to 31 July 2014 (the "Financial Information") is set out in full in Part C of this Part 5. The Financial Information has been reported on by BDO LLP, whose report is set out in Part B of this Part 5. Where the Financial Information makes reference to other documents such other documents are not incorporated into, and do not form part of, this Registration Document.
The financial information contained in the Financial Information does not constitute Statutory Accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act.
The Financial Information (as reproduced in Part C of this Part 5) have been prepared in accordance with IFRS. IFRS comprises standards and interpretations approved by the International Accounting Standards Board and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee and adopted by the European Union as at each relevant accounting period.
Prospective investors should read the following discussion, together with the whole of this Registration Document, including the Risk Factors and the Financial Information (as reproduced in Part C of this Part 5) and should not just rely on the information contained in Part C of this Part 5. Save for the Financial Information, none of the information in this Registration Document has been audited.
The following is a discussion of the Company's financial condition and results of operations for the period from 11 February 2014 (the date of incorporation) to 31 July 2014 (referred to in this section as the "period under review"). This discussion should be read in conjunction with the section entitled "Capitalisation and indebtedness" in the Securities Note (and any Future Securities Note) and the Financial Information set out in Part C of this Part 5.
Some of the information contained in the following discussion contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions and estimates and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Investors should read the section entitled "Forward-looking statements" on page 15 of this Registration Document for a discussion of the risks and uncertainties related to those statements. Investors should also read the Risk Factors for a discussion of certain factors that may affect the Group's business, results of operations or financial condition.
Listed on the 30 June 2014, the Company raised gross proceeds of £85 million via a placing and offer for subscription in conjunction with the IPO.
In the period under review, the Company deployed, in aggregate, approximately £43.3 million in the completion of the acquisition of four operating, income-producing student accommodation properties (College Green (Bristol); Summit House (Cardiff), Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter) and The Brook (Birmingham)).
In addition, the Company deployed £2.2 million in the acquisition of land for a forward funded project (Buccleuch Street (Edinburgh)) and has also committed £6.4 million for investment into the development of this site.
Finally, the Company deployed £1.8 million to part fund the acquisition of a development site (Brunswick House (Southampton)), in a joint venture with a company advised by Revcap, and has committed a further £500,000 for investment into the development of this site.
As at 31 July 2014, the Net Asset Value was £83.6 million (30 June 2014: £83.3 million (unaudited)). The audited Net Asset Value per Share as at 31 July 2014 was 98.3 pence (30 June 2014: 98.0 pence (unaudited)).
The Group's revenue in the period under review was £210,321.
The Group's primary source of revenue is student rental income. The Group generates student rental income from its tenants by letting rooms on assured shorthold tenancies. Gross student rental income in the period under review was £202,451. The Group also generates rental income from commercial lets in some of its buildings, which amounted to £7,542 in the period. Rental income is recognised on an accruals basis and, as a result, revenues are booked over the course of the tenancy rather than when payments are received. Overseas students without UK guarantors are required to pay 100 per cent. of their rent in advance, while UK students or overseas students with UK guarantors pay termly in advance. Cost of sales in the period were £87,703.
The Group also earns revenues from development services provided by Empiric Developments and from funding charges in respect of forward funding agreements. No such income was accrued in the period under review because the development and forward funded assets were acquired towards the end of the period.
Administrative expenses in the period under review were £312,137. Of this, £264,314 relates to the period (30 June 2014 to 31 July 2014) following the IPO. The main contributors to the latter figure were salaries and Director's remuneration. The balance of administrative expenses in the period under review, £47,823, relate to administrative expenses incurred at the time of the IPO.
The Group's total comprehensive income for the period under review was a gain of £402,323. Earnings per Share were 0.47 pence.
Since 31 July 2014, the following new developments have occurred which have affected the Company's income from operations:
on 29 October 2014, Empiric (Alwyn Court) Limited exchanged contracts to acquire Alwyn Court (Cardiff) for a purchase price of £3,500,000;
on 29 October 2014, Empiric (Northgate House) Limited exchanged contracts to acquire Northgate House (Cardiff) for a purchase price of £5,200,000. Completion of the acquisition is conditional on practical completion of the property;
The Company's operating properties are 99 per cent. occupied for the 2014/15 academic year, generating an aggregate annual net rent of approximately £5.1 million (exclusive of commercial rental income). This represents a yield on cost of 7.5 per cent. and an increase of 5.3 per cent. on like-for-like 2013/14 rent levels.
As at 30 September 2014, the Group had received 63 per cent. of its rental income for the 2014/15 academic year as a result of its policy of receiving rent in advance.
As far as the Directors are aware, there are no uncertainties that could materially affect the Group's operations other than those stated in the section entitled Risk Factors. There are no other trends, potential claims or other demands, undertakings or events, save for those which are a consequence of the regular operations, that can be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Group's business results of operations, financial condition or prospects.
BDO LLP 55 Baker Street London W1U 7EU
30 October 2014
The Directors Empiric Student Property Plc 6-8 James Street London W1U 1ED
Jefferies International Limited Vintners Place 68 Upper Thames Street London EC4V 3BJ
Dear Sirs
We report on the financial information set out in Part C of Part 5. This financial information has been prepared for inclusion in the Registration Document dated 30 October 2014 of the Company (the "Registration Document") on the basis of the accounting policies set out in note 1 to the financial information. This report is required by item 20.1 of annex I of the Commission Regulation (EC) No. 809/2004 (the "PD Regulation") and is given for the purpose of complying with that item and for no other purpose.
The directors of the Company are responsible for preparing the financial information in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union.
It is our responsibility to form an opinion on the financial information and to report our opinion to you.
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 the law we do not assume any responsibility and will not accept any liability to any other person for any loss suffered by any such other person as a result of, arising out of, or in connection with this report or our statement, required by and given solely for the purposes of complying with item 23.1 of annex I of the PD Regulation consenting to its inclusion in the Registration Document.
We conducted our work in accordance with Standards for Investment Reporting issued by the Auditing Practices Board in the United Kingdom. Our work included an assessment of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial information. It also included an assessment of significant estimates and judgements made by those responsible for the preparation of the financial information and whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the entity's circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.
We planned and performed our work so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial information is free from material misstatement whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error.
Our work has not been carried out in accordance with auditing or other standards and practices generally accepted in the United States of America or other jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom and accordingly should not be relied upon as if it had been carried out in accordance with those standards and practices.
In our opinion, the financial information gives, for the purposes of the Registration Document, a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group as at 31 July 2014 and of its results, cash flows and changes in equity for the period then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union.
For the purposes of Prospectus Rule 5.5.3R(2)(f) we are responsible for this report as part of the Registration Document and declare that we have taken all reasonable care to ensure that the information contained in this report is, to the best of our 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 item 1.2 of annex I of the PD Regulation.
Yours faithfully
Chartered Accountants
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127)
Group Financial Information
for the period
11 February 2014 to 31 July 2014
| Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss and Other Comprehensive Income | 64 |
|---|---|
| Consolidated Statement of Financial Position | 65 |
| Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity | 66 |
| Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows | 67 |
| Notes to the Financial Information | 68 |
| Notes | £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Continuing operations | ||
| Revenue | 2 | 210,321 |
| Property expenses | 3 | (87,703) |
| Gross profit | 122,618 | |
| Administrative expenses | 4 | (312,137) |
| Change in fair value of investment property | 10 | 721,460 |
| Operating loss | 531,941 | |
| Share of results from joint venture | 12 | (129,618) |
| Profit before income tax | 6 | 402,323 |
| Corporation tax | 7 | – |
| Profit for the period | 402,323 | |
| Other comprehensive income | – | |
| Total comprehensive income for the period | 402,323 | |
| Earnings per share expressed | ||
| in pence per share: | 8 | |
| Basic | 0.47 | |
| Diluted | 0.47 |
| Notes | £ | |
|---|---|---|
| Assets | ||
| Non-current assets | ||
| Property, plant and equipment | 9 | 43,007 |
| Investment property | 10 | 46,454,000 |
| Joint venture | 12 | 1,754,544 |
| 48,251,551 | ||
| Current assets | ||
| Trade and other receivables | 13 | 1,554,999 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 14 | 34,949,471 |
| 36,504,470 | ||
| Total assets | 84,756,021 | |
| Liabilities | ||
| Current liabilities | ||
| Trade and other payables | 19 | 1,196,232 |
| Total liabilities | 1,196,232 | |
| Equity | ||
| Shareholders' equity | ||
| Called up share capital | 15 | 850,000 |
| Capital reduction reserve | 17 | 82,281,424 |
| Retained earnings | 18 | 428,365 |
| Total equity | 83,559,789 | |
| Total equity and liabilities | 84,756,021 |
| Balance at 31 July 2014 | 850,000 | 428,365 | – | 82,281,424 | 83,559,789 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reduction in share premium | – | – (82,281,424) 82,281,424 | – | ||
| Share-based payment | – | 26,042 | – | – | 26,042 |
| Share issue costs | – | – | (1,868,576) | – | (1,868,576) |
| Profit for the period | – | 402,323 | – | – | 402,323 |
| capital at par | (50,000) | – | – | – | (50,000) |
| Redemption of share | |||||
| Issue of share capital | 900,000 | – | 84,150,000 | – | 85,050,000 |
| Changes in equity Issued capital on incorporation |
– | – | – | – | – |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| capital | earnings | premium | reserve | equity | |
| share | Retained | Share | reduction | Total | |
| Called up | Capital |
| £ | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||
| Cash generated from operations | 25 | (478,218) |
| Net cash from operating activities | 478,218 | |
| Cash flows from investing activities | ||
| Purchase of tangible fixed assets | (43,469) | |
| Investment in joint venture | (1,884,162) | |
| Purchase of investment property | (45,732,540) | |
| Net cash from investing activities | (47,660,171) | |
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||
| Share issue proceeds | 84,000,000 | |
| Share issue costs | (1,868,576) | |
| Restricted shares issued | 50,000 | |
| Restricted shares redeemed | (50,000) | |
| Net cash from financing activities | 82,131,424 | |
| Increase in cash and cash equivalents | 34,949,471 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | – | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 14 | 34,949,471 |
The consolidated financial information of the Group reporting period is from the date of incorporation on 11 February 2014 to 31 July 2014 but the Group only commenced trading from 1 July 2014.
The consolidated financial information of the Group for the period to 31 July 2014 comprises the Company and its subsidiaries, together referred to as the Group. This financial information have been prepared on a going concern basis and in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) as adopted by the European Union. This is the first year that the Company has adopted IFRS.
The Group's financial information has been prepared on a historical cost basis, except for investment property which has been measured at fair value. The consolidated financial information is presented in Sterling which is also the Group's functional currency.
The preparation of the Group's financial information requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities, and the disclosure of contingent liabilities, at the reporting date. However, uncertainty about these assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of the asset or liability affected in future periods.
In the process of applying the Group's accounting policies, management has made the following judgements, which have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the consolidated financial information:
(a) Operating lease contracts – the Group as lessor
The Group has acquired investment properties which are subject to commercial property leases with tenants. The Group has determined, based on an evaluation of the terms and conditions of the arrangements, particularly the duration of the lease terms and minimum lease payments, that it retains all the significant risks and rewards of ownership of these properties and so accounts for the leases as operating leases.
(b) Fair valuation of investment property
The market value of investment property is determined, by real estate valuation experts, to be the estimated amount for which a property should exchange on the date of the valuation in an arm's length transaction. Properties have been valued on an individual basis. The valuation experts use recognised valuation techniques and the principles of IFRS 13.
The valuations have been prepared in accordance with the RICS Valuation - Professional Standards January 2014 ("the Red Book"). Factors reflected include current market conditions, annual rentals, lease lengths, and location. The significant methods and assumptions used by valuers in estimating the fair value of investment property are set out in Note 10.
For properties under construction the fair value is calculated by estimating the fair value of the completed property using the income capitalisation technique less estimated costs to completion.
Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial information comprises the financial information of the Company and its subsidiaries as at 31 July 2014. Control is achieved when the Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee.
Specifically, the Group controls an investee if, and only if, it has:
When the Group has less than a majority of the voting or similar rights of an investee, the Group considers all relevant facts and circumstances in assessing whether it has power over an investee, including:
The Group reassesses whether or not it controls an investee if facts and circumstances indicate that there are changes to one or more of the three elements of control. Consolidation of a subsidiary begins when the Group obtains control over the subsidiary and ceases when the Group loses control of the subsidiary.
The financial information of the subsidiaries is prepared for the same reporting period as the parent company, using consistent accounting policies. All intra-group balances, transactions and unrealised gains and losses resulting from intra-group transactions are eliminated in full.
The Directors are of the opinion that the Group is engaged in a single segment business, being the investment in the United Kingdom in student accommodation.
All property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure which is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset.
Depreciation has been charged to the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss on the following basis:
Fixtures and fittings – 15% reducing balance;
Computer equipment – straight-line basis over three years.
Investment property
Investment property comprises property that is held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation, or both, and property under development. Property is held as investment property when it is held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both, rather than for sale in the ordinary course of business or for use in production or administrative functions.
Investment property is measured initially at cost including transaction costs and is included in the accounts upon completion. Transaction costs include transfer taxes, professional fees for legal services and initial leasing commissions to bring the property to the condition necessary for it to be capable of operating. The carrying amount also includes the cost of replacing part of an existing investment property at the time that cost is incurred if the recognition criteria are met.
Subsequent to initial recognition, investment property is stated at fair value. Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair values are included in the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss in the year in which they arise, including the corresponding tax effect.
Investment property is derecognised when it has been disposed of or permanently withdrawn from use and no future economic benefit is expected from its disposal. The investment property is derecognised upon completion. The difference between the net disposal proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset would result in either gains or losses at the retirement or disposal of investment property. Any gains or losses are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss in the year of retirement or disposal.
Gains or losses on the disposal of investment property are determined as the difference between net disposal proceeds and the carrying value of the asset in the previous full period's financial information.
The group is a party to a joint arrangement when there is a contractual arrangement that confers joint control over the relevant activities of the arrangement to the group and at least one other party. Joint control is assessed under the same principles as control over subsidiaries.
The Group classifies its interests in joint arrangements as either:
Joint ventures: where the Group has rights to only the net assets and the joint arrangement
Joint operations: where the Group has both the rights to assets and obligations for the liabilities of the joint arrangement.
In assessing the classification of interests in joint arrangements, the Group considers:
the legal form of joint arrangements structured through a separate vehicle
the contractual terms of the joint arrangement agreement
The Group accounts for its interests in joint ventures using the equity method.
Joint ventures are initially recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position at cost and are subsequently accounted for using the equity method, where the Group's share of post-acquisition profits and losses and other comprehensive income is recognised in the consolidated statement of profit and loss and other comprehensive income (except for losses in excess of the Group's investment in the joint venture unless there is an obligation to make good those losses).
Profits and losses arising on transactions between the Group and its joint venture are recognised only to the extent of unrelated investors' interests in the joint venture. The investor's share in the joint venture's profits and losses resulting from these transactions is eliminated against the carrying value of the joint venture.
Any premium paid for an investment in a joint venture above the fair value of the Group's share of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired is capitalised and included in the carrying amount of the investment in joint venture. Where there is objective evidence that the investment in a joint venture has been impaired the carrying amount of the investment is tested for impairment in the same way as other non-financial assets.
The Group accounts for its interests in joint ventures by recognising its share of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in accordance with its contractually conferred rights and obligations.
Rent and other receivables are recognised at their original invoiced value net of VAT. A provision is made when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to recover balances in full.
The Group classifies its financial assets into one of the categories discussed below, depending on the purpose for which the asset was acquired. The Group has not classified any of its financial assets as held to maturity.
The Group's accounting policy for each category is as follows:
These assets are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market.
They arise principally through the provision of goods and services to customers (e.g. trade receivables), but also incorporate other types of contractual monetary asset. They are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition or issue, and are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method, less provision for impairment.
Impairment provisions are recognised when there is objective evidence (such as significant financial difficulties on the part of the counterparty or default or significant delay in payment) that the Group will be unable to collect all of the amounts due under the terms receivable, the amount of such a provision being the difference between the net carrying amount and the present value of the future expected cash flows associated with the impaired receivable. For trade receivables, which are reported net, such provisions are recorded in a separate allowance account with the loss being recognised within administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. On confirmation that the trade receivable will not be collectable, the gross carrying value of the asset is written off against the associated provision.
The Group's loans and receivables comprise trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated statement of financial position.
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less from inception.
The Group's financial liabilities comprise mainly trade payables and other short-term monetary liabilities, which are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.
The Group is the lessor in operating leases. Rental income arising from operating leases on investment property is accounted for on a straight-line basis over the lease terms and is included in gross rental income in the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss due to its operating nature, except for contingent rental income which is recognised when it arises. Initial direct costs incurred in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are recognised as an expense over the lease term on the same basis as the lease income.
Tenant lease incentives are recognised as a reduction of rental revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. The lease term is the non-cancellable period of the lease together with any further term for which the tenant has the option to continue the lease, where, at the inception of the lease, the directors are reasonably certain that the tenant will exercise that option.
Amounts received from tenants to terminate leases or to compensate for dilapidations are recognised in the income statement when the right to receive them arises.
Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
Taxation on the profit and loss for the period not exempt under UK REIT regulations comprises current and deferred tax. Taxation is recognised in Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognised as direct movement in equity, in which case it is also recognised as a direct movement in equity.
Current tax is expected tax payable on any non-REIT taxable income for the period, using tax rates enacted at the balance sheet date.
Where equity settled share options are awarded to employees, the fair value of the options at the date of grant is charged to the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss over the vesting period. Non-market vesting conditions are taken into account by adjusting the number of equity instruments expected to vest at each reporting date so that, ultimately, the cumulative amount recognised over the vesting period is based on the number of options that eventually vest. Non-vesting conditions and market vesting conditions are factored into the fair value of the options granted. As long as all other vesting conditions are satisfied, a charge is made irrespective of whether the market vesting conditions are satisfied.
Where the terms and conditions of options are modified before they vest. The increase in the fair value of the options, measured immediately before and after the modification, is also charged to the Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss over the remaining vesting period.
The ordinary shares are classified as equity. External costs directly attributable to the issuance of shares are recognised as a deduction from equity.
Where the Company purchases the Company's equity share capital (treasury shares), the consideration paid, including any directly attributable incremental costs (net of income taxes) is deducted from equity attributable to the Company's equity holders until the shares are cancelled or reissued. Where such ordinary shares are subsequently reissued, any consideration received, net of any directly attributable incremental transaction costs and the related income tax effects, is included in equity attributable to the Company's equity holders.
| For the period 11 February 2014 | |
|---|---|
| to 31 July 2014 | |
| £ | |
| Rental income | 210,321 |
Rental income is generated from student lettings and commercial lease so is considered to be diverse in nature.
| For the period 11 February 2014 | |
|---|---|
| to 31 July 2014 | |
| £ | |
| Site offices and utilities | 19,193 |
| Technology services | 13,385 |
| Repairs and maintenance | 10,945 |
| Cleaning and service contracts | 9,575 |
| Direct site costs | 34,605 |
| 87,703 |
| For the period 11 February 2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| to 31 July 2014 | ||
| £ | ||
| Salaries and Directors' remuneration | 147,377 | |
| Legal and professional fees | 44,341 | |
| Other administrative costs | 120,419 | |
| 312,137 |
The auditor has also received £75,000 in respect of providing reporting accountant services for the IPO of Empiric Student Property plc and £7,350 in reviewing financial models relating to the IPO.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Wages and salaries | 135,213 |
| National insurance | 12,164 |
| 147,377 |
The average monthly number of employees during the period was as follows:
| Management Administration |
3 6 |
|---|---|
| 9 | |
| £ | |
| Directors' remuneration | 91,667 |
| Share based payment | 26,042 |
| Total | 117,709 |
The profit before income tax is stated after charging:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Other operating leases | 64,539 |
| Depreciation – owned assets | 462 |
Taxation on the profit or loss for the period not exempt under UK REIT regulations comprises current and deferred tax. Taxation is recognised in the REIT group Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss except to the extent that it relates to items recognised as direct movement in equity, in which case it is also recognised as a direct movement in equity.
Current tax is expected tax payable on any non-REIT taxable income for the period, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares adjusted to assume the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.
Reconciliations are set out below.
| Weighted | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| average | Per-share | ||
| number of | amount | ||
| Earnings £ | shares | pence | |
| Basic EPS | |||
| Calculation of basic EPS | 402,323 | 85,000,000 | 0.47 |
| Diluted EPS | |||
| Adjustment for employee share options | – | 937,500 | |
| Calculation of diluted EPS | 402,323 | 85,937,500 | 0.47 |
The number of ordinary shares is based on the time weighted average number of shares throughout the period since IPO. This excludes the period from 11 February 2014 to 30 June 2014 when the Group was dormant.
| Fixtures | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| and | Computer | ||
| fittings | equipment | Total | |
| £ | £ | £ | |
| Cost | |||
| Additions | 35,142 | 8,327 | 43,469 |
| At 31 July 2014 | 35,142 | 8,327 | 43,469 |
| Depreciation | |||
| Charge for period | 244 | 218 | 462 |
| At 31 July 2014 | 244 | 218 | 462 |
| Net book value | |||
| At 31 July 2014 | 34,898 | 8,109 | 43,007 |
| As at 31 July 2014 | 3,190,000 | 33,202,000 | 10,062,000 | 46,454,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| during the period | 1,067,400 | (296,180) | (49,760) | 721,460 |
| Change in fair value | ||||
| Property additions | 2,122,600 | 33,498,180 | 10,111,760 | 45,732,540 |
| As at 11 February 2014 | – | – | – | – |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| construction | freehold | leasehold | Total | |
| Assets under |
Investment properties |
properties long |
||
| Investment |
In accordance with IAS 40, the carrying value of investment properties is their fair value as determined by external valuers. This valuation has been conducted by CBRE Limited, as external valuers, and has been prepared as at 31 July 2014, in accordance with the Appraisal & Valuation Standards of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors ("RICS"), on the basis of market value. This value has been incorporated into the financial information.
The independent valuation of all property assets uses market evidence and also includes assumptions regarding income expectations and yields that investors would expect to achieve on those assets over time. Many external economic and market factors, such as interest rate expectations, bond yields, the availability and cost of finance and the relative attraction of property against other asset classes, could lead to a reappraisal of the assumptions used to arrive at current valuations. In adverse conditions, this reappraisal can lead to a reduction in property values and a loss in net asset value.
Fair value hierarchy
The following table provides the fair value measurement hierarchy for investment property:
| Quoted | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| prices | Significant | Significant | |||
| in active observable unobservable | |||||
| markets | inputs | inputs | |||
| Date of | Total | (Level 1) | (Level 2) | (Level 3) | |
| valuation | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| Assets measured at fair value: |
|||||
| Investment property | 31 July 2014 46,454,000 | – | – | 46,454,000 |
There have been no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 during any of the periods, nor have there been any transfers between Level 2 and Level 3 during any of the periods.
The valuations have been prepared on the basis of Market Value ("MV") which is defined in the RICS Valuation Standards, as:
"The estimated amount for which a property should exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction after proper marketing wherein the parties had each acted knowledgably, prudently and without compulsion."
The following descriptions and definitions relating to valuation techniques and key unobservable inputs made in determining fair values are as follows:
(a) Unobservable input: Rental values
The rent at which space could be let in the market conditions prevailing at the date of valuation.
(Range £109 per week – £215 per week)
(b) Unobservable input: Rental growth
The estimated average increase in rent based on both market estimations and contractual arrangements.
Assumed growth of 3% used in valuations.
(c) Unobservable input: Net initial yield
The net initial yield is defined as the initial gross income as a percentage of the market value (or purchase price as appropriate) plus standard costs of purchase. (Range: 6.15% – 6.50%)
No planning enquiries have been undertaken for any of the development properties.
Those subsidiaries listed below are considered to be the only principal subsidiaries of the company.
| Country of Ownership | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| incorporation | % | Principal activity | |
| Empiric (Birmingham) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (Centro Court) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (College Green) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (Developments) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (Edge Apartments) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (Glasgow) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (Picturehouse Apartments) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (St Peter Street) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric (Summit House) Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
| Empiric Student Property Trustees Limited | UK | 100% | Property investment |
In July 2014 the Group entered into a joint venture with a company advised by Revcap Advisors Limited ("Revcap") to develop a 175 room site in Southampton called Brunswick House. The total cost of the development will be £13.9m. Funding for the development has been obtained with a contribution of equity, (50% from each entity), and from senior debt of £9.35m from Close Brothers. The completion date for the development of the property is scheduled for 30 September 2015.
| £ | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Investment made | 1,884,162 | ||
| Share of losses | (129,618) | ||
| Investment at 31 July 2014 | 1,754,544 | ||
| Empiric (Southampton) Limited | UK | 50% | Property investment |
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Current: | |
| Called up share capital and share premium not paid | 1,000,000 |
| Other debtors | 216,326 |
| VAT recoverable | 195,434 |
| Prepayments | 143,239 |
| 1,554,999 |
As there were no trade receivables past due at the period end, no aged analysis of trade receivables has been included.
The amounts disclosed on the statement of cash flow as cash and cash equivalents are in respect of the following amounts shown in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Cash at bank and in hand | 34,949,471 |
| Ordinary shares | Number | £ | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issued and fully paid | 11 February 2014 | 1 | – |
| Issued and partially paid | 30 June 2014 | 85,000,000 | 850,000 |
| At 31 July 2014 | 85,000,001 | 850,000 | |
| Restricted shares | Number | £ | |
| Issued and fully paid | 29 April 2014 | 50,000 | 50,000 |
| Redeemed at par value | 30 June 2014 | (50,000) | (50,000) |
| At 31 July 2014 | – | – |
The company issued 1 ordinary share of £0.01 on 11 February 2014 on incorporation, 50,000 restricted shares of £1 on 29 April 2014 and 85,000,000 ordinary shares of £0.01 on 30 June 2014. The restricted shares were redeemed at par on 30 June 2014.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Premium paid on shares issued | 84,150,000 |
| Costs associated with the issue of ordinary shares at IPO | (1,868,576) |
| Cancellation of share premium | (82,281,424) |
| At 31 July 2014 | – |
| £ |
|---|
| – |
| 82,281,424 |
| 82,281,424 |
| At 31 July 2014 | 82,281,424 | – | 428,365 | 82,709,789 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cancellation of share premium 82,281,424 | (82,281,424) | – | – | |
| Share issue costs | – | (1,868,576) | – | (1,868,576) |
| Share based payment | – | – | 26,042 | 26,042 |
| Cash share issue | – | 84,150,000 | – | 84,150,000 |
| Profit for the period | – | – | 402,323 | 402,323 |
| £ | £ | £ | £ | |
| reserves | premium | earnings | Totals | |
| reduction | Share | Retained | ||
| Capital |
The capital reduction reserve account is a distributable reserve account. On 30 July 2014 the Company, by way of Special Resolution, cancelled its share premium account as confirmed by an Order of the High Court of Justice, Chancery Division.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Current: | |
| Trade creditors | 624,262 |
| Accruals and deferred income | 554,540 |
| Other creditors | 17,430 |
| 1,196,232 |
The Directors consider that the carrying value of trade and other payables approximates to their fair value.
Future total minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases on office space currently rented fall due as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Between one and five years | 633,780 |
Future minimum lease receivables under non-cancellable operating leases on investment properties are as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Between one and five years | 255,000 |
| More than 5 years | 3,148,000 |
| 3,403,000 |
There were no contingent liabilities at 31 July 2014.
At the balance sheet date the Group was committed to further capital expenditure on the development of the property owned by Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Limited totalling £8.76 million. The Group is also committed to providing further funding to the Empiric (Southampton) Limited joint venture totalling £2.28 million.
Key management personnel
Key management personnel are considered to comprise the board of directors. Please refer to note 5 for details of the remuneration for the key management.
Property purchases
There were a number of properties that were acquired from joint ventures between London Cornwall Property Partners Ltd (LCPP) and funds advised by Revcap. These properties include College Green, Picturehouse Apartments, Summit House and Edge Apartments.
The table below describes the details of the related party transactions.
| Related party | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| associated with Acquisition | Acquisition | ||||
| Name | Location | Vendor | the Vendor | Price (£m) | Date |
| College Green | Bristol Bristol Student | LCPP(1) | 9.97 1 July 2014 | ||
| Housing LLP | Revcap(2) | ||||
| Michael Enright(4) | |||||
| Picturehouse | Exeter | Prime | LCPP(1) | 11.41 1 July 2014 | |
| Apartments | Student | Revcap(2) | |||
| Housing | Michael Enright(3) | ||||
| (Exeter) LLP | |||||
| Summit House | Cardiff | Prime | LCPP(1) | 9.58 1 July 2014 | |
| Student | Revcap(2) | ||||
| Housing | Michael Enright(3) | ||||
| (Cardiff) LLP | |||||
| Edge | Birmingham | Prime | LCPP(1) | 8.94 | 21 August |
| Apartments | Student | Revcap(2) | 2014 | ||
| Housing | |||||
| (Birmingham) | |||||
| Limited (Jersey) |
(1) Paul Hadaway and Tim Atlee are directors' and shareholders' in LCPP.
(2) Stephen Alston is an employee of Real Estate Venture Capital Management LLP (an affiliate of Revcap).
(3) Michael Enright was a shareholder in the vendor for Picturehouse Apartments and Summit House.
(4) College Green was purchased from Bristol Student Housing LLP to whom Mr Enright was a senior debt provider.
The below table details the share transactions of related parties over the period.
| Name | How related | No of shares | Transaction | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tim Atlee | Director | 875,000 | Purchased 30 June 2014 | |
| Paul Hadaway | Director | 875,000 | Purchased 30 June 2014 | |
| Michael Enright | Director | 520,000 | Purchased 30 June 2014 | |
| Baroness Brenda Dean Platform Securities Nominees Ltd (Jim |
Chairperson | 33,500 | Purchased 30 June 2014 | |
| Prower) | Director | 23,760 | Purchased 30 June 2014 |
Unpaid share capital and share premium was owed by Paul Hadaway (£375,000), Timothy Atlee (£375,000) and Michael Enright (£250,000) as at 31 July 2014. The unpaid share capital and share premium was paid in full by Paul Hadaway (£375,000) and Timothy Atlee (£375,000) on 21 August 2014 and by Michael Enright (£250,000) on 9 September 2014.
Upon admission nil cost options were granted to executive directors in the amounts of:
| Paul Hadaway | 375,000 |
|---|---|
| Tim Atlee | 375,000 |
| Michael Enright | 187,500 |
Details of the shares granted are outlined in note 26 – Share-based payments.
A number of properties were purchased after the balance sheet date. The properties are listed below.
| Acquisition | Acquisition | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Location | Beds | Title | Price (£m) | Date |
| Edge | |||||
| Apartments | Birmingham | 77 | Freehold | 8.94 | 21 August 2014 |
| Centro Court | Aberdeen | 56 | Freehold | 6.95 | 2 September 2014 |
| Talbot Studios | Nottingham | 98 | Freehold | 8.36 | 24 September 2014(1) |
| London Road | Southampton | 46 | Freehold | 3.65 | 26 September 2014(2) |
| Alwyn Court | Cardiff | 51 | Freehold | 3.50 | 29 October 2014(3) |
| Northgate House | Cardiff | 67 | Freehold | 5.20 | 29 October 2014(3) |
(1) Talbot Studios exchanged on 24 September 2014 with completion date being 30 September 2014.
(2) London Road exchanged on 26 September 2014 with completion expected to be in November 2014.
(3) Alwyn Court and Northgate House exchanged on 29 October 2014.
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Profit before income tax | 402,323 |
| Share-based payments | 26,042 |
| Depreciation charge | 462 |
| Share of results from joint venture | 129,618 |
| Change in fair value of investment property | (721,460) |
| (163,015) | |
| Increase in trade and other receivables (excluding unpaid share capital) | (554,999) |
| Increase in trade and other payables | 1,196,232 |
| Cash generated from operations | (478,218) |
The Company operates a share based remuneration scheme for executive directors.
Upon admission 937,500 nil cost options were granted to the executive directors (Paul Hadaway 375,000, Tim Atlee 375,000, and Michael Enright 187,500). The options will vest subject to the Company meeting Total Shareholder Return (TSR) targets. The initial target for shareholder return growth is 5% covering the period from 30 June 2014 to 30 June 2015. The subsequent target is 10% (compound) per annum during the two year period from 30 June 2015 to 30 June 2017. Subject to the criteria being met an award would vest after 30 June 2017 in shares.
The awards have the benefit of dividend equivalence. The remuneration committee will determine on or before vesting whether the dividend equivalent will be provided in the form of cash and/or shares.
| Granted during the year | 937,500 |
|---|---|
| Outstanding at 31 July 2014 | 937,500 |
Financial instruments
The Group's principal financial assets and liabilities are those which arise directly from its operations: trade and other receivables, trade and other payables and cash and cash equivalents.
The Group's investment properties are not classified as financial instruments and risk management associated with those assets is not detailed in this note.
Set out below is a comparison by class of the carrying amounts and fair value of the Group's financial instruments that are carried in the financial information:
The Group is exposed to market risk (including interest rate risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.
The Board of Directors oversees the management of these risks.
The Board of Directors reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks which are summarised below.
Market risk is the risk that the fair values of financial instruments will fluctuate because of changes in market prices. The financial instruments held by the Group that are affected by market risk are principally the Group's bank balances.
Credit risk is the risk that counterparty will not meet its obligations under a financial instrument or customer contract, leading to a financial loss. The Group is exposed to credit risks from both its leasing activities and financing activities, including deposits with banks and financial institutions. Credit risk is managed by requiring tenants to pay rentals in advance. The credit quality of the tenant is assessed based on an extensive credit rating scorecard at the time of entering into a lease agreement.
Outstanding tenants' receivables are regularly monitored. The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each class of financial asset.
Tenant receivables, primarily tenant rentals, are presented in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position net of allowances for doubtful receivables and are monitored on a case by case basis. Credit risk is primary managed by requiring tenants to pay rentals in advance and performing tests around strength of covenant prior to acquisition. There are no trade receivables past due as at the period end.
One of the principal credit risks of the Group arises with the banks and financial institutions. The Board of Directors believes that the credit risk on short term deposits and current account cash balances are limited because the counterparties are banks, who are committed lenders to the Group, with high credit ratings assigned by international creditrating agencies.
Liquidity risk arises from the Group's management of working capital and going forward, the finance charges and principal repayments on any borrowings, of which currently there are none. It is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting its financial obligations as they fall due as the majority of the Group's assets are property investments and are therefore not readily realisable. The Group's objective is to ensure it has sufficient available funds for its operations and to fund its capital expenditure. This is achieved by continuous monitoring of forecast and actual cash flows by management.
The primary objectives of the Group's capital management is to ensure that it remains a going concern and continues to qualify for UK REIT status.
The Board of Directors monitors and reviews the Group's capital so as to promote the longterm success of the business, facilitate expansion and to maintain sustainable returns for shareholders.
Capital consists of ordinary shares, other capital reserves and retained earnings.
The Group had no borrowings at the balance sheet date.
CBRE Limited Henrietta House Henrietta Place London W1G 0NB
Fax +44 (0)20 7182 2001 Switchboard +44 (0)20 7182 2000
Report Date 29 October 2014
Addressee Empiric Student Property plc (the "Company") 6-8 James Street London W1U 1ED
Akur Limited 23 Bruton Street Mayfair London W1J 6QF
Jefferies International Limited Vintners Place 68 Upper Thames Street London EC4V 3BJ
(together the "Addressees")
below ("the Properties").
The Properties The properties listed in the Schedule of Capital Values set out
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 21 February 2014 confirmed in our Terms of Business dated 21 May 2014 as amended by our terms of engagement dated 21 August 2014.
Valuation Date 29 October 2014.
Capacity of Valuer External.
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 registration document to be issued by the Company in connection with the Transaction (the "Registration Document").
Market Value £85,922,000 (EIGHTY FIVE MILLION NINE HUNDRED AND TWENTY TWO THOUSAND POUNDS), exclusive of VAT, as shown in the Schedule of Capital Values set out below.
We have based our opinion of Market Value (as such term is defined under "Assumptions" below) valuation 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.
The valuation of the properties included in the Group's interim financial statements for the period ended 31 July 2014 was £48,208,544 (being £46,454,000 in relation to investment property and £1,754,544 in relation to joint ventures). The difference between the Market Value of the properties at 29 October 2014 and the Market Value of the properties in the Group's audited interim statements for the period ended 31 July 2014 is explained as follows:
| Market Value as at 31 July 2014 | £48,208,544 |
|---|---|
| Increase in Market Value in Properties held | |
| as at 31 July 2014 | £453,456 |
| Additions since 31 July 2014 | £37,260,000 |
| Market Value as at 29 October 2014 | £85,922,000 |
Market Value on the Special Assumption that Northgate House, Cardiff, has reached Practical Completion and is fully let as at the date of valuation
£86,152,000 (EIGHTY SIX MILLION ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY TWO THOUSAND POUNDS), exclusive of VAT, as shown in the Schedule of Capital Values set out below.
We have based our opinion of Market Value (as such term is defined under "Assumptions" below) valuation 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.
| Special Assumptions | As at the Valuation Date, Northgate House, Cardiff, is under construction. Northgate House is being purchased under a contract conditional upon Practical Completion being reached by 10 January 2015. We further understand that the Vendor will provide the purchaser with a rent guarantee for the 2014/15 year on a 100% of the units. Our valuation is on the Special Assumption that, as at the date of valuation, the property has reached Practical Completion and has the benefit of the rent guarantee. |
|---|---|
| Compliance with Valuation Standards |
The valuations have been prepared in accordance with The RICS Valuation – Professional Standards (2012) ("the Red Book"). |
| 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. |
|
| 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 | It is confirmed that CBRE has previously valued some of the Properties 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. |
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
Michael Brodtman FRICS Jo Winchester Executive Director Senior Director RICS Registered Valuer RICS Registered Valuer
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]
Properties held as an investment
| * Long | ** Short | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freehold | Leasehold | Leasehold | Total | |
| Address | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| ABERDEEN, Centro | 6,710,000 | |||
| BIRMINGHAM, Edge Apartments | 8,940,000 | |||
| BIRMINGHAM, The Brook | 12,410,000 | |||
| BRISTOL, 43 College Green | 10,130,000 | |||
| CARDIFF, 9-10 Windsor Place | ||||
| and 9 Park Lane | 9,610,000 | |||
| CARDIFF, Alwyn Court, | ||||
| Cranbrook Street | 3,740,000 | |||
| EXETER, Picturehouse Apartments | ||||
| 69-73 Sidwell Street | 11,522,000 | |||
| NOTTINGHAM, Talbot Studios | 8,500,000 | |||
| SOUTHAMPTON, London Road | ||||
| Apartments, London Road | 2,930,000 ––––––––– |
1,070,000 ––––––––– |
––––––––– | |
| Total | 64,362,000 ––––––––– |
11,200,000 ––––––––– |
75,562,000 ––––––––– |
|
| Address | Freehold £ |
* Long Leasehold £ |
** Short Leasehold £ |
Total £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDINBURGH, Buccleuch Street SOUTHAMPTON, Brunswick House (the figure represents a 50 per cent. |
3,190,000 | |||
| joint venture interest in the property) 1,800,000 CARDIFF, Northgate House, |
||||
| Kingsway | 5,370,000 ––––––––– |
––––––––– | ||
| Total | 10,360,000 ––––––––– |
––––––––– | 10,360,000 ––––––––– |
|
| Portfolio Total | 74,722,000 ––––––––– |
11,200,000 ––––––––– |
85,922,000 ––––––––– |
* more than 50 years unexpired
** 50 years or less unexpired
| Tenure | Freehold £ |
* Long Leasehold £ |
** Short Leasehold £ |
Total £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Freehold Properties 1 Long Leasehold Property 1 Part Freehold Part Leasehold |
71,792,000 | 10,130,000 | 71,792,000 10,130,000 |
|
| Property | 2,930,000 | 1,070,000 | 4,000,000 | |
| Portfolio Total | ––––––––– 74,722,000 ––––––––– |
––––––––– 11,200,000 ––––––––– |
––––––––– 85,922,000 ––––––––– |
Schedule of Capital Values on the Special Assumption that Northgate House, Cardiff, has reached practical Completion and is fully let as at the date of valuation
Properties held as an investment
| ** Short Leasehold |
|
|---|---|
| Total | |
| £ | £ |
| 75,562,000 ––––––––– |
|
| ––––––––– |
Properties in course of development
| Freehold | * Long Leasehold |
** Short Leasehold |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Address | £ | £ | £ | £ |
| EDINBURGH, Buccleuch Street SOUTHAMPTON, Brunswick House (the figure represents a 50% joint |
3,190,000 | |||
| venture interest in the property) CARDIFF, Northgate House, |
1,800,000 | |||
| Kingsway | 5,600,000 ––––––––– |
––––––––– | ––––––––– | |
| Total | 10,590,000 ––––––––– |
––––––––– | 10,590,000 ––––––––– |
|
| Portfolio Total | 74,952,000 ––––––––– |
11,200,000 ––––––––– |
86,152,000 ––––––––– |
* more than 50 years unexpired
** 50 years or less unexpired
| Tenure | Freehold £ |
* Long Leasehold £ |
** Short Leasehold £ |
Total £ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Freehold Properties 1 Long Leasehold Property 1 Part Freehold Part Leasehold |
72,022,000 | 10,130,000 | 72,022,000 10,130,000 |
|
| Property | 2,930,000 ––––––––– |
1,070,000 ––––––––– |
4,000,000 ––––––––– |
|
| Portfolio Totals | 74,952,000 ––––––––– |
11,200,000 ––––––––– |
86,152,000 ––––––––– |
| Sources of Information | We have carried out our work based upon information supplied to us by the Company, as set out within this report, which we have assumed to be correct and comprehensive. |
|---|---|
| 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 21 October 2013 and 15 October 2014. |
| Areas | We have not measured the Properties but have relied upon the floor areas provided. |
| 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.
| 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. |
|
| Rental Values | Rental values 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. |
| 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 In the absence of any information to the contrary, we have assumed that:
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:
(a) there are no abnormal ground conditions, nor archaeological remains, present which might adversely affect the current or future occupation, development or value of the Properties;
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
Property Description Interest Held ABERDEEN, Centro Court, Loch Street
BIRMINGHAM, Edge Apartments, Bristol Road
Ownership 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 selfcontained studios as well as good quality communal space. We have been informed that the property is 100 per cent. let for the 2014/15 academic year.
The property is situated within Aberdeen city centre which provides a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants. In particular, the Bon Accord shopping centre is situated within a five minute walk of the property. The University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University are easily accessible by public transport with regular buses from the city centre. North East Scotland College is also situated within a short walk on Loch Street.
Freehold The property recently reached Practical Completion on 11 August 2014 and consists of a purpose built student accommodation scheme providing 64 single studios and 13 en-suite rooms within cluster flats which will be let directly to students. There will also be two ground floor retail units. The first retail unit has been pre-let to Sainsbury's and the second is currently vacant and un-let.
The property is located in Selly Oak, approximately 3.7 miles to the south of Birmingham city centre. It is a short distance from Birmingham University and a 5 minute walk to Selly Oak train station which provides regular services to the city centre and the other university campuses in the city including Birmingham City University and Aston University.
Property Description Interest Held BIRMINGHAM, The Brook
BRISTOL, College Green, 43 College Green
Freehold The property consists of 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.
The property is located in Selly Oak, approximately 3.7 miles to the south of Birmingham city centre. The property is situated approximately 5 minutes walking distance from Birmingham University. It is also a 5 minute walk to Selly Oak train station which provides regular services to the city centre and the other university campuses in the city including Birmingham City University and Aston University. The surrounding area is mixed in character with surrounding uses including retail, purpose built student accommodation and residential. There is a good range of local amenities including convenience stores, pubs and take-aways.
Leasehold The property consists of a student accommodation scheme with three ground floor retail units. The building was constructed in the 1950s and the upper floors were converted to student accommodation in 2011. The student accommodation provides 48 two bedroom studios and 36 single studios. All of the bedrooms are directly let to students on assured shorthold tenancies. 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.
The property is situated in a prime location for student housing in Bristol, approximately 0.3 miles west of the city centre. It is also 0.6 miles south west of Cabot Circus shopping centre and 0.8 miles north west of Bristol Temple Meads mainline railway station. The property is well located for students attending either the University of Bristol or the University of the West of England ("UWE"). The University of Bristol is located to the north west, with the Senate Building approximately 0.7 miles away. Students can connect to UWE via regular bus services to the campus from the city centre.
Property Description Interest Held CARDIFF, Summit House, 9-10 Windsor Place and 9 Park Lane
CARDIFF, Northgate House, Kingsway
CARDIFF, Alwyn Court, Cranbrook Street
Freehold The property consists of 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.
The property is situated on Windsor Place, immediately to the north east of the city centre in a mixed use area. Queen Street, the prime retailing pitch in Cardiff which includes the Capitol Shopping Centre, is located 50m to the south east. The main Cardiff University campus is situated approximately 300m to the north and Cardiff Metropolitan University is situated approximately 400m to the east.
Freehold The property consists of a student accommodation scheme with two retail units on the ground floor and the lower ground floor. The property is currently undergoing a development with practical completion due to take place in January 2015. Part of the student scheme has been occupied since September 2014. When completed, the total scheme will comprise 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 subject to an Agreement for Lease.
The property is situated in the city centre opposite the Castle and close to Queen Street, which is one of the prime retail areas of Cardiff. The main Cardiff University campus and Cardiff Metropolitan University are situated within a walking distance.
Freehold 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.
The property is located in Cathays, the area popular with students and within a short walk from the University of Cardiff City campus.
| Property | Description | Interest Held |
|---|---|---|
| EXETER, Picturehouse Apartments, 69-73 Sidwell Street |
The property was completed in April 2014 and consists of a purpose built student accommodation scheme and a ground floor retail unit. The student accommodation provides 74 studios and 28 en-suite bedrooms in cluster flats. All of the bedrooms are directly let to students on assured shorthold tenancies. The ground floor retail unit is fully let to Tesco Stores Ltd. |
Freehold |
| The property is situated on Sidwell Street adjacent to the city's Odeon Cinema, on the edge of Exeter City Centre. The surrounding properties along Sidwell Street are predominately retail. The University of Exeter's main Streatham Campus is situated approximately 0.5 miles to the north west and the smaller St. Luke's Campus is situated approximately 0.5 miles to the south east. |
||
| NOTTINGHAM, Talbot Studios |
The property provides 98 self-contained studios located within a modern 4-6 storey building and adjacent Grade II |
Freehold |
Freehold 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.
The property is situated on the verge of Nottingham city centre which provides a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants. The property is close to the Nottingham Trent University ("NTU") City campus. Other campuses of the NTU and Nottingham University are well connected by public transport with regular buses.
Property Description Interest Held SOUTHAMPTON, London Road Apartments, 40-42B London Road
EDINBURGH, Land to the rear of the former Odeon Cinema, Buccleuch Street
The property 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 has been extended to offer an additional 12 studios (8 studios and 2 twodios). The scheme provides good quality student accommodation. However, it does not offer any communal space apart from a roof terrace at the rear.
The property is situated on London Road, in a prime location for Southampton Solent University, within Southampton city centre. The University of Southampton is located 1.8 miles north of the scheme, and can be reached in 15 minutes via the Uni-Link bus service.
Ownership The property consists of a site with planning consent for the demolition of the existing structures and the development of 102 bedrooms of student accommodation. The scheme will be developed by Cruden Homes Ltd in time for the start of the 2016/2017 academic year. It has been contractually agreed between the Company and the developer that they will deliver a revised scheme comprising 86 student accommodation bedrooms within a mix of 5 four bedroom apartments, 60 studios and 6 accessible studios. The planning authority have confirmed that planning consent is not required for the revised scheme.
The site is extremely well located for the University of Edinburgh being situated directly opposite the University's Central Area campus. The property is subject to a sub-station lease with a term of 175 years and a current rent of £1 per annum.
Part Freehold/ Part Long Leasehold
Property Description Interest Held SOUTHAMPTON, Brunswick House, 8-13 Brunswick Place
Freehold The property consists of a 13 storey 1970s mixed use building with 34,772 sq ft of office space above five ground floor retail units totalling 9,336 sq ft. The upper floors benefit from excellent views over Southampton and East Park. There is also a car park to the rear of the property with 41 spaces.
All of the office space is vacant and all of the retail space is vacant with the exception of Unit 13 which is let to Brunswick Salon. There is also a rooftop telecoms aerial which is let to Cable & Wireless. We understand that vacant possession of Unit 13 and the rooftop space occupied by the aerial is not required for the proposed development.
Planning consent has been granted for change of use of the property to ground floor commercial use (Classes A1-A5) with 156 bedrooms of student accommodation above. We understand that the Company intends to apply for planning consent for a higher density scheme as a non-material amendment.
For accounting purposes, we have valued the property based on the existing planning consent.
The Company is in the process of applying for a non-material amendment for a 175-bed scheme, but this has not yet been approved and the revised scheme is subject to change.
The property is very well located within Southampton city centre and would be convenient for students studying at Southampton University or Southampton Solent University. There are a good range of amenities in the immediate area and the railway station is approximately 0.7 miles to the south west.
Market value of £1,800,000 reported herein reflects a 50 per cent. share in the joint venture.
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
1.3 Dividend policy under REIT regime
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.
1.4 The Substantial Shareholder rule
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.
2.2.4 Conditions for the Property Rental Business
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.
2.3.1 Tax savings
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.
2.3.5 Certain tax avoidance arrangements
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.
2.3.6 Movement of assets in and out of 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 4.6 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.
accretion to the Distribution. Income shall be treated as arising when payable, so that no apportionment shall take place.
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.
7.3 Any sale pursuant to Article 7.2 above shall be at the price which the Directors consider is the best price reasonably obtainable and the Directors shall not be liable to the holder or holders of the relevant Share for any alleged deficiency in the amount of the sale proceeds or any other matter relating to the sale.
close company status, which powers may include the ability to arrange for the sale of Shares on behalf of members.
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 (all of which are incorporated in England and Wales):
| Proportion of | ||
|---|---|---|
| ownership | ||
| Name | Principal activity | interest % |
| Empiric Investments (One) Limited | Intermediate holding company | 100 |
| Empiric Investments (Two) Limited | Intermediate holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Edge Apartments) Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (College Green) Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (Picturehouse Apartments) | ||
| Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (Summit House) Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (Buccleuch Street) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (St Peter Street) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric (Birmingham) Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (London Road) Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (Talbot Studios) Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (Centro Court) Limited | Property holding company | 100* |
| Empiric (Alwyn Court) Limited | Property holding company | 100** |
| Empiric (Northgate House) Limited | Property holding company | 100** |
| Empiric (Snow Island) Limited | Property holding company | 100 |
| Empiric Student Property Trustees | ||
| Limited | Trustee of the EBT | 100 |
| Empiric (Developments) Limited | Development management company | 100 |
* held by Empiric Investments (One) Limited
** held by Empiric Investments (Two) Limited
In addition, the Company has the following interests in two joint venture development 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 | ||
| Name | Principal activity | interest % |
| Empiric (Southampton) Limited | Joint venture development company | 50 |
| Empiric (Glasgow) Limited | Joint venture development company | 50 |
EIOL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 28 August 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9189111.
EIOL is an intermediate holding company and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
2.2.2 Empiric Investments (Two) Limited) ("EITL")
EITL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 10 September 2014 under the Companies Act with registration number 9212619.
EITL is an intermediate holding company and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
ECGL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 2 May 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9023693. ECGL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. ECGL is the owner of the property known as College Green (Bristol). Further details of College Green (Bristol) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
ESHL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 2 May 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9023691. ESHL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. ESHL is the owner of the property known as Summit House (Cardiff). Further details of Summit House (Cardiff) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
EEAL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 2 May 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9023794. EEAL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. EEAL is the owner of the property known as Edge Apartments (Birmingham). Further details of Edge Apartments (Birmingham) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
EPAL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 2 May 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9023793. EPAL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. EPAL is the owner of the property known as Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter). Further details of Picturehouse Apartments (Exeter) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
EBL was incorporated and registered on 6 June 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9074806. EBL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. EBL is the owner of the property known as The Brook (Birmingham). Further details of The Brook (Birmingham) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
ECCL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 3 July 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9114782. ECCL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. ECCL is the owner of the property known as Centro Court (Aberdeen). Further details of Centro Court (Aberdeen) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
ELRL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 28 August 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9190389. ELRL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. ELRL will on completion own the property known as London Road (Southampton). Further details of London Road (Southampton) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
ETSL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 28 August 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9189088. ETSL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EIOL. ETSL is the owner of the property known as Talbot Studios (Nottingham). Further details of Talbot Studios (Nottingham) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
EACL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 10 September 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9212778. EACL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EITL. On completion, EACL will own the property known as Alwyn Court (Cardiff). Further details of Alwyn Court (Cardiff) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
ENHL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 10 September 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9212776. ENHL is a wholly owned subsidiary of EITL. On completion, ENHL will own the property known as Northgate House (Cardiff). Further details of Northgate House (Cardiff) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
ESIL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 30 September 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9242262. ESIL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. ESIL is currently a dormant company.
EBSL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 30 June 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9106741. EBSL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. EBSL is the owner of the property known as Buccleuch Street (Edinburgh). Further details of Buccleuch Street (Edinburgh) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
EGL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 21 May 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9050280.
EGL is 50 per cent. owned by the Company and 50 per cent. owned by KH II Estates 117 Limited ("KH II"). The shares were transferred to KH II on 28 August 2014, for the purposes of developing the property known as Willowbank (Glasgow) by way of a joint venture. Further details of Willowbank (Glasgow) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
ESPTL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 2 May 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9023795. ESPTL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. ESPTL acts as trustee of the EBT.
EDL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 6 May 2014 under the Companies Act 2006 with registered number 9025058. EDL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. EDL was established to receive development management fees from the Group's development projects and other ancillary income. EDL is currently engaged as the development manager in relation to the Willowbank and Brunswick House joint venture development projects.
EPSL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 3 July 2014 under the Companies Act 2006 with registered number 9114779. EPSL is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. EPSL is currently a dormant company.
ESL was incorporated and registered in England and Wales on 6 June 2014 under the Companies Act with registered number 9074810.
ESL is 50 per cent. owned by the Company and 50 per cent. owned by KH II. The shares were transferred to KH II on 30 July 2014, for the purposes of developing the property known as Brunswick House (Southampton) by way of a joint venture. Further details of Brunswick House (Southampton) are set out in Part 2 of this Registration Document.
2.3 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 65 million Shares are issued in the Initial Issue) is as follows:
| Shares | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate | ||
| nominal | ||
| Number | value (£) | |
| (i) As at the date of this Registration Document | 85,000,001 | 850,000.01 |
| (ii) Immediately following Initial Admission | 150,000,001 1,500,000.01 |
3.3.2 on 30 June 2014, 85,000,000 Shares were issued pursuant to a placing and offer for subscription at an issue price of £1.00 per Share; and
3.3.3 on 30 June 2014, the 50,000 Restricted Shares were redeemed out of the proceeds of the placing and offer for subscription at par value and cancelled.
purchased is 14.99 per cent. of the Shares in issue immediately following completion of the IPO. The minimum price which may be paid for a Share is £0.01. The maximum price which may be paid for a Share must not be more than the higher of (i) 5 per cent. above the average of the mid-market value of the Shares for the five Business Days before the purchase is made or (ii) the higher of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid for Shares. Such authority will expire on the earlier of the conclusion of the first annual general meeting of the Company and 31 December 2015 save that the Company may contract to purchase Shares under the authority thereby conferred prior to the expiry of such authority, which contract will or may be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority and may purchase Shares in pursuance of such contract.
Directors may allot Shares in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if such power had not expired. The resolution revokes and replaces all unexercised powers previously granted to the Directors to allot Shares as if Section 561 of the Companies Act did not apply but without prejudice to any allotment of equity securities already made or agreed to be made pursuant to such authorities;
4.1 Other than as set out in the table below, as at 29 October 2014 (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 |
|
|---|---|
| capital (%) | |
| 17.65 | |
| 9,844,353 | 11.58 |
| 10.00 | |
| 8.84 | |
| 5.30 | |
| 3.77 | |
| 3.53 | |
| 3.06 | |
| Number of Shares 15,000,000 8,500,000 7,513,530 4,503,764 3,207,866 3,000,000 2,600,000 |
| Percentage | ||
|---|---|---|
| of issued | ||
| Director | Number of shares | share capital |
| Baroness Dean | 33,500 | 0.04 |
| Timothy Attlee | 875,000 | 1.03 |
| Paul Hadaway | 875,001 | 1.03 |
| Michael Enright(*) | 520,000 | 0.61 |
| Jim Prower(**) | 23,760 | 0.03 |
(*) 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.
| 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 |
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 |
South West Peninsular Properties Ltd (dissolved) SWPP Investments Ltd (dissolved) |
| Name | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Attlee (continued) |
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 |
|
| 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 Marble Shelf Developments (Holdings) Ltd Empire (Glasgow) Limited Empire (Southampton) Limited |
Marble Shelf Developments Limited (dissolved) 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 Noticedesign Limited Notice Investments Limited Noticeboard Limited Phoenix Film Finance Limited |
| Michael Enright |
Future Media Group Limited Livingstone Leisure Limited London Cornwall (Cardiff) Limited London Cornwall (Exeter) Limited |
SBB Services Inc. Vectrix Corporation Inc. Brazilian Football Experience Limited Karbon Kinetics Limited Global Media Vault Limited Mediatonic Limited |
| Stephen Alston | Hartwood Capital LLP Prime Student Housing (Cardiff) Limited Prime Student Housing (Exeter) Limited Metropolitan & Suburban Partners Limited Metropolitan & Suburban Regeneration Fulham Limited |
Generator Group LLP |
| Jim Prower | 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 (R3) Limited |
Argent Group PLC Argent Estates Limited Argent Nominee 1 Limited Argent Nominee 2 Limited Argent (UK Developments) Limited Argent Brindleyplace Investments Limited Argent Group Developments PLC Brindleyplace PLC |
| Name | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Prower | KCC Nominee 2 (R3) Limited | Brindleyplace General Partner |
| (continued) | KCC Nominee 1 (R5S) Limited | Limited |
| KCC Nominee 2 (R5S) Limited | Argent (Paradise) Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (T5) Limited | Argent (Piccadilly Gardens) | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (T5) Limited | Limited | |
| Kings Cross Events Limited | Argent (Stevenson Square) | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (T1) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (T1) Limited | Argent Piccadilly Place (No. 1) | |
| KCC Nominee 1 Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 Limited | Argent Brindleyplace Investment | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (B3) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (B3) Limited | Argent Piccadilly Place (No. 2) | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (R5N) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (R5N) Limited | Piccadilly Place General Partner | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (GG) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (GG) Limited | Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 1) | |
| KC (B2&B4) GP Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (B2) Limited | Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 2) | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (B2) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (B4) Limited KCC Nominee 2 (B4) Limited |
Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 3) Limited |
|
| KCC Nominee 1 (B5) Limited | Piccadilly Place Trustee (No. 4) | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (B5) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (WTS) Limited | Miller Argent (Nominee 1) Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (WTS) Limited | Miller Argent (South Wales) | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (MGS) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (MGS) Limited | Argent Development Consortium | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (Coal Drops) | Limited | |
| Limited | Brindley Place Management | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (Coal Drops) | Limited | |
| Limited | Argent Development Management | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (R2) Limited | Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (R2) Limited | Colnbrook Developments | |
| T1 Manco Limited | (Nominee) Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (T1 Resl) Limited | Colnbrook Developments Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (T1 Resl) Limited | Pelagia Developments | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (P1) Limited | Eight Brindleyplace (No 2) Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (P1) Limited | Eight Brindleyplace Limited | |
| KCC Nominee 1 (P1 Resl) Limited | Seven Brindleyplace (No 2) | |
| KCC Nominee 2 (P1 Resl) Limited KCC Nominee 1 (G1 PAV) Limited |
Limited Seven Brindleyplace (No 2) |
|
| KCC Nominee 2 (G1 PAV) Limited | Limited | |
| King's Cross Central (Trustee No. | Six Brindleyplace (No 2) Limited | |
| One) Limited | Six Brindleyplace Limited | |
| King's Cross Central (Trustee No. | Ten Brindleyplace (No 2) Limited | |
| Two) Limited | Ten Brindleyplace Limited | |
| King's Cross Central General | Brindleyplace (Headlease) (No 2) | |
| Partner Limited | Limited | |
| Argent King's Cross Nominee | Brindleyplace (Headlease) Limited | |
| Limited | Brindleyplace Co-nominee Limited | |
| Argent King's Cross GP Limited | Brindleyplace Nominee Limited | |
| Argent (King's Cross) Limited | Five Brindleyplace (No. 4) Limited |
Icknield Port Regeneration Limited
| Name | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Prower (continued) Alexandra |
King's Cross Estate Services Limited Argent Projects No. 4 GP Limited Argent Projects No. 4 GP Nominee Limited Elisabeth House General Partner Limited Elisabeth House Nominee No.1 Limited Elisabeth House Nominee No.2 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 Argent Investments LLP Tritax Big Box REIT plc Tritax Acquisition 1 Limited Baljean Properties Ltd Tritax REIT Acquisition 3 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 4 Limited Tritax Acquisition 4 Ltd. Tritax REIT Acquisition 5 Limited Tritax Acquisition 5 Ltd. Tritax Acquisition 6 Limited Sonoma Ventures Ltd Prometheus Regeneration Limited Sisyphus Limited P1 Manco Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 8 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 9 Limited Tritax REIT Acquisition 10 Limited Tritax Acquisition 7 Limited Tritax Acquisition 8 Limited Tritax Acquisition 9 Limited Tritax Acquisition 10 Limited Tritax Ripon Limited Scottish Oriental Smaller |
None |
| Mackesy | Companies Trust plc Asian Total Return Investment Company plc RENN Universal Growth Investment Trust plc Little Bevan Ltd ila-spa Ltd |
5.1 Executive Directors
The following agreements have been entered into between each of the Executive Directors and the Company:
contract with Company dated 16 June 2014, which includes a notice period of 12 months and contains restrictive covenants. The annual salary under Timothy Attlee's service agreement is £250,000.
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 |
| Alexandra Mackesy | 40,000 | 28 May 2014 |
* 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 2015 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 be 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 employees 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 employees 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 e.g. 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 Share issued on the vesting of awards or exercise or 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.
Pursuant to a decision of the Remuneration Committee dated 13 June 2014 the Executive Directors have been granted nil cost options over the following numbers of Shares:
| Name | Awards granted |
|---|---|
| Paul Hadaway | 375,000 |
| Tim Attlee | 375,000 |
| Michael Enright | 187,500 |
The vesting of LTIP awards is subject to the Company meeting a target of total shareholder return (the "Performance Condition") of at least 5 per cent. for the period from 30 June 2014 to 30 June 2015 (the "Initial Period") and then 10 per cent. (compound) per annum during the two year period from 30 June 2015 to 30 June 2017 (the "Subsequent Period" and together with the Initial Period the "Performance Period").
Subject to satisfaction of the Performance Condition and the LTIP rules, an award shall vest after 30 June 2017.
The starting point for the calculation is £1.00 per Share (the "Opening Value").
Total shareholder return means the combined share price growth and dividends for the Shares as determined by the Remuneration Committee from time to time. The Opening Value shall be used as the base value for assessing total shareholder return for the Performance Period. The total shareholder return calculation shall be based on the opening and closing share price for a Share (as derived from Bloomberg, or such other pricing service as may be determined by the Remuneration Committee from time to time) for the 30 day period prior to the last London business day of the Performance Period.
An award will vest over such number of Shares as follows:
| Annual total shareholder return growth of a Share over the Performance Period |
Vesting percentage of the Shares subject to an award (%) |
|---|---|
| Less than 5 per cent. for the Initial Period and less than 10 per cent. (compound) for the Subsequent Period |
0 |
| Equal to 5 per cent. for the Initial Period and equal to 10 per cent. (compound) for the Subsequent Period |
25 |
Annual total shareholder return growth of a Vesting percentage of the Shares
Greater than 5 per cent. and lower than Between 25 and 100 on a straight line basis 7.5 per cent. for the Initial Period and greater than 10 per cent. (compound) and lower than 15 per cent. (compound) for the Subsequent Period
Equal to or greater than 7.5 per cent. for 100 the Initial Period and equal to or greater than 15 per cent. (compound) for the Subsequent Period
Share over the Performance Period subject to an award (%)
As soon as reasonably practicable following the end of the Performance Period the Remuneration Committee shall determine the extent to which the Performance Condition has been satisfied. The determinations of the Remuneration Committee shall not be open to question and the Remuneration Committee shall be under no liability to any person in relation to its determination of the extent to which the Performance Condition has been satisfied in any particular case.
If the Performance Condition has not been satisfied in full or in part at the end of the Performance Period (or earlier if relevant under the Rules), then any part of the award that does not vest as a consequence of any part of the Performance Condition not being satisfied, will lapse immediately. Any fraction of an ordinary share arrived at by applying the Performance Condition shall be ignored.
The award to the Executive Directors have the benefit of dividend equivalence pursuant to the Rules. The Remuneration Committee shall determine on or before vesting the awards whether the dividend equivalent will be provided in the form of cash and/or Shares.
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 would be dependent upon performance over the prior 12 month period, with targets set and agreed with the Remuneration Committee.
For the first 12 month period following Admission (the "Initial Period"), the Remuneration Committee has the set the following initial conditions to the payment of awards under the annual bonus scheme:
Following the Initial Period, the following conditions to the payment of awards under the annual bonus scheme will apply: (i) 50 per cent. is triggered if dividend growth is above RPI; and (ii) 50 per cent. is triggered if the NAV growth of the Group's development assets meets agreed levels.
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.
If at any time the share capital of the Company is divided into different classes, the Board may pay such interim dividends on shares which rank after shares conferring preferential rights with regard to dividends as well as on shares conferring preferential rights, unless at the time of payment any preferential dividend is in arrears. Provided that the Board acts in good faith, it shall not incur any liability to the holders of shares conferring preferential rights for any loss that they may suffer by the lawful payment of any interim dividend on any shares ranking after those preferential rights.
such proposals to Shareholders within 60 days of the date of the annual general meeting at which the continuation resolution was proposed.
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.
7.5.3 Unless the Board otherwise determines, a transfer of shares will not be registered if the transferor or any other person whom the Company reasonably believes to be interested in the transferor's shares has been duly served with a notice pursuant to the Companies Act requiring such person to provide information about his interests in the Company's shares, has failed to supply the required information within 14 days and the shares in respect of which such notice has been served represent at least 0.25 per cent. in nominal value of their class, unless the member is not himself in default as regards supplying the information required and proves to the satisfaction of the Board that no person in default as regards supplying such information is interested in any of the shares the subject of the transfer, or unless such transfer is by way of acceptance of a takeover offer, in consequence of a sale on a recognised investment exchange or any other stock exchange outside the United Kingdom on which the Company's shares are normally traded or is in consequence of a bona fide sale to an unconnected party.
The Company may, from time to time, by ordinary resolution:
7.8.3.3 the general nature of the business to be transacted at the meeting;
7.8.3.4 if the meeting is convened to consider a special resolution, the text of the resolution and the intention to propose the resolution as such; and
7.8.8.2 at least five members having the right to vote on the resolution;
7.8.8.3 a member or members representing not less than ten per cent. of the total voting rights of all the members having the right to vote on the resolution (excluding any voting rights attached to shares held as treasury shares); or
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.
7.11.1 The Directors (other than alternate Directors) shall be entitled to receive by way of fees for their services as Directors such sum as the Board may from time-to-time determine (not exceeding in aggregate £400,000 per annum or such other sum as the Company in general meeting shall from time-to-time determine). Any such fees payable shall be distinct from any salary, remuneration or other amounts payable to a Director pursuant to any other provision of the Articles or otherwise and shall accrue from day-to-day.
7.11.2 The Directors are entitled to be repaid all reasonable travelling, hotel and other expenses properly incurred by them in or about the performance of their duties as Directors.
7.12.3.4 may be a director or other officer of, or employed by, or a party to any transaction or arrangement with, or otherwise interested in, any company promoted by the Company or in which the Company is otherwise interested or as regards which the Company has any powers of appointment; and
7.12.3.5 shall not be liable to account to the Company for any profit, remuneration or other benefit realised by any office or employment or from any transaction or arrangement or from any interest in any body corporate. No such transaction or arrangement shall be liable to be avoided on the grounds of any such interest or benefit nor shall the receipt of any such profit, remuneration or any other benefit constitute a breach of his duty not to accept benefits from third parties.
any shares of that class in that company held as treasury shares) nor to his knowledge holds one per cent. or more of the voting rights which he holds as shareholder or through his direct or indirect holding of financial instruments (within the meaning of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules) in such body corporate;
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.
particulars of the person's identity, particulars of the person's own past or present interest in any shares and to disclose the identity of any other person who has a present interest in the shares held by him, where the interest is a present interest and any other interest, in any shares, which subsisted during that three year period at any time when his own interest subsisted to give (so far as is within his knowledge) such particulars with respect to that other interest as may be required and where a person's interest is a past interest to give (so far as is within his knowledge) like particulars for the person who held that interest immediately upon his ceasing to hold it.
7.16.2 If any shareholder is in default in supplying to the Company the information required by the Company within the prescribed period (which is 14 days after service of the notice), or such other reasonable period as the Directors may determine, the Directors in their absolute discretion may serve a direction notice on the shareholder. The direction notice may direct that in respect of the shares in respect of which the default has occurred (the "default shares") the shareholder shall not be entitled to vote in general meetings or class meetings. Where the default shares represent at least 0.25 per cent. in nominal value of the class of shares concerned, the direction notice may additionally direct that dividends on such shares will be retained by the Company (without interest) and that no transfer of the default shares (other than a transfer authorised under the Articles) shall be registered until the default is rectified.
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:
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 following are all of the contracts, not being contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business that have been entered into by the members of the Group since incorporation and are, or may be, material or contain any provision under which the Group has any obligation or entitlement which is or may be material to it as at the date of this Registration Document:
The Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement dated 30 October 2014 between the Company, the Directors, Jefferies and Akur, pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Jefferies has agreed to use its reasonable endeavours to:
In addition, under the Placing and Offer for Subscription 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 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement may be terminated by Jefferies in certain customary circumstances prior to Admission.
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 issued pursuant to the Initial Issue occurring and becoming effective by 8.00 a.m. on or prior to 24 November 2014 or such later time and/or date as the Company and Jefferies may agree; and (ii) the Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement becoming wholly unconditional (save as to Initial Admission and in respect of any condition which relates to the ongoing 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 Placing and Offer for Subscription 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 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 Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The RBS Facility Agreement dated 24 October 2014 between (inter alium) 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") under which the Lender has made available to the Borrower an investment term loan facility of £35.5 million (the "RBS Loan").
The purpose of the RBS Loan is for refinancing the acquisition costs of the Properties (as defined in the RBS Facility Agreement), either directly or by on-lending amounts to the Obligors to enable them to refinance the acquisition costs of the Properties.
The Borrower may borrow the RBS Loan in full (or in a maximum of two drawdowns), in the period from and including the date of the RBS Facility Agreement to and including the date falling 3 months from the date of the RBS Facility Agreement (the "Availability Period") by giving RBS a duly completed request (a "Utilisation Request"). The amount of each Utilisation Request must not exceed £35.5 million or 50 per cent. of the aggregate market value of the Properties (as determined by the most recent valuation). 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.
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").
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 does not grant 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 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:
The RBS Facility Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Loan Facility Agreement dated 7 August 2014 between Close Brothers Limited and Empiric (Southampton) Limited pursuant to which Close Brothers Limited has granted Empiric (Southampton) Limited a loan of £9,350,000 based on the terms and conditions set out in the agreement (the "Facility").
The purpose of the Facility is to provide, (i) £8,875,200 towards building works at Brunswick House (Southampton), including professional costs and fees and nonrefundable VAT due, (ii) £350,000 towards interest payments on the Facility and (iii) £124,800 towards the cost of the contribution to be made under the terms of a S.106 agreement relating to the property.
Draw down of the Facility under, paragraph (i) above will be made in tranches against certificates provided by a preferred project monitoring surveyor with the first draw down taking place no later than three months from the date of the agreement and with Empiric (Southampton) Limited funding the first £309,668 of building works. Facility drawings under paragraph (ii) above will be made in accordance with interest payment provisions (detailed below) and drawings under paragraph (iii) will be made by way of a single payment once the sum under the terms of the S.106 agreement has become due and payable.
The Facility shall expire on the earlier of 31 May 2016 or the last calendar day of the eighteenth month from drawdown under paragraph (i) above.
The Facility is secured by a legal debenture over Empiric (Southampton) Limited's assets and undertaking, a legal charge over Brunswick House, an intercreditor deed between Close Brothers Limited, the Company and Revcap, appropriate collateral warranties from the contractor and other relevant professionals involved in the development of Brunswick House, 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), an assignment of rental income from Brunswick House in favour of Close Brothers Limited and all existing and future security granted by Empiric (Southampton) Limited to Close Brothers Limited.
Interest on the 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. Interest is payable by Empiric (Southampton) Limited on the first day of each month and on the date of full repayment of the Facility. Empiric (Southampton) Limited can capitalise monthly interest payments up to the £350,000 stated in paragraph (ii) above and thereafter Empiric (Southampton) Limited must provide sufficient funds to meet further interest payments.
A non-refundable commitment fee of £93,500 is payable upon acceptance of the Facility. Empiric (Southampton) Limited is entitled to a release fee of £178,500 on the sale or letting of Brunswick House or upon the repayment in full, expiry or default of the Facility.
The agreement specifies various conditions precedent that must be satisfied before the Facility becomes available including the provision of certain documents and forms, an acceptable report on title relating to Brunswick House, various confirmations from Close Brothers Limited's solicitors relating to Empiric (Southampton) Limited, Brunswick House and agreements concerning the development, a detailed valuation report, written confirmation from the valuers and project monitoring surveyors that they have reviewed all appropriate documentation, satisfactory references for Empiric (Southampton) Limited and the chosen contractor and any other document that may reasonably be required.
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 (defined in the Revcap Development Framework Agreement the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.6 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 a "Rejection"). Following a Rejection the ESP Parties are free to pursue the Business Opportunity provided the Business Opportunity is pursued on similar (and no less favourable) terms to those originally proposed to KH II.
Each of the Shareholders is obliged to enter into the Shareholders' Loan Agreement (the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.4.2 below) as a mechanism for providing funding for Brunswick House and its development (as set out in the relevant business plan). If any additional and/or emergency funding is needed by Empiric (Southampton) Limited then this would require the unanimous approval of the directors which, if given, would mean each Shareholder is entitled, but not obliged, to increase their Shareholders' loan in order to provide the additional and/or emergency funding. If the additional and/or emergency funding is not provided by both Shareholders in their relevant proportions then whichever has not provided their proportion shall have 45 days to advance its share which shall be repaid to the funding Shareholder. If that Shareholder still declines to contribute their share of the additional and/or emergency funding then that Shareholders' capital investment shall be pro rata diluted accordingly. The additional and/or emergency funding shall be made by way of an additional Shareholders' loan, earning a priority return of a 25 per cent. IRR per annum and repayment shall include payment of the 25 per cent. IRR per annum coupon.
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 would 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 including a "Texas Shootout", the particulars of which are set out in the summary to the Revcap Development Framework Agreement (the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.6 below).
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. However a Shareholder may transfer all (but not part) of its shareholding and shareholder loans to a third party provided that prior written notice has been given to the remaining Shareholder for purchase by them at a specified price and the remaining Shareholder has, within 15 business days, indicated whether or not it accepts such offer. If the remaining Shareholder does not wish to purchase the departing Shareholders' interest, then the departing Shareholder may transfer their interest to a third party with the prior written consent of the remaining Shareholder (not to be unreasonably withheld).
The agreement contains certain termination provisions whereby Empiric (Southampton) Limited shall be wound up upon the sale of its assets, upon the unanimous consent of the Shareholders or if Empiric (Southampton) Limited needs additional capital and no Shareholder is forthcoming. In an event of default by either Shareholder then the non-defaulting Shareholder shall be entitled to terminate the agreement and may purchase the defaulting Shareholder's shareholding for no less than 85 per cent. of the fair value of the shareholding. The Shareholders' Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
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 the 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 Shareholders' Agreement and immediately upon the sale of Brunswick House, (Southampton). 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.
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.
The Asset Manager shall collaborate with Empiric (Southampton) Limited to develop, update and implement the business plan, appoint third party consultants and/or professionals, maintain the accounts and books, prepare and provide Empiric (Southampton) Limited with agreed management reports, prepare budgets and act as general tenant liaison including for the collection of rents and the maintenance of repairs. If appropriate, Empiric Developments' duties may also extend to assisting with the management of the development including the preparation of appropriate planning applications and entering into agreements with a building contractor in respect of any development works.
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 fees shall be paid in quarterly instalments to Empiric Developments for the duration of the development period. The fees can be withheld by Empiric (Southampton) Limited (acting by Revcap alone) if Empiric Developments fails to deliver the management report as and when it falls due.
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 includes key man provisions whereby if Timothy Attlee or Paul Hadaway (as directors of Empiric Developments) cease being a director then Empiric Developments has to find a suitable replacement within 45 days and if it fails to do so then Empiric (Southampton) Limited may terminate the agreement.
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 Shareholders' Agreement (the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.4.1 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 Reimbursement Agreement dated 30 July 2014 between KH II, the Company and Empiric (Southampton) Limited to reflect the reimbursement of certain costs from KH II to the Company and the recognition of such payments by Empiric (Southampton) Limited pursuant to the Shareholders' Loan Agreement (the terms of which are summarised in paragraph 9.4.1 above).
In connection with the acquisition of Brunswick House (Southampton) the Company paid the sum of £3,558,978.37 for and on behalf of Empiric (Southampton) Limited. Under the agreement, KH II agreed that within five business days it would pay to the Company the sum of £1,779,489.19, being its proportionate share of the acquisition costs.
Upon this payment, Empiric (Southampton) Limited will attribute KH II's amount of £1,779,489.19 and the Company's amount of £1,779,489.18 as having been drawn down as Advances pursuant to the terms of the Shareholders' Loan Agreement (summarised at paragraph 9.4.2 of this Part 8).
The Reimbursement 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):
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 9.4.1 of this Part 8.
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 9.4.2 of this Part 8.
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 9.4.3 of this Part 8.
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 of 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 (including the price of Willowbank) 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 9.5.5 of this Part 8).
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 this Guarantee together with interest but excluding other liabilities and expenses incurred by the Council by reason of such failure.
Interest is due on the sum in question at 4 per cent. per annum above the base rate from time to time of the Royal Bank of Scotland plc from the date that such sum is due for payment.
The Obligations are primary obligations and if any cease to be valid or enforceable the Company will still be liable to the Council in respect of the Obligations as if they were fully valid and enforceable.
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 their 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 their obligations under their 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 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").
The joint venture parties will seek to secure senior debt on a deal by deal basis at a loanto-value basis of no greater than 60 per cent. 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. In this role, Empiric Developments will, amongst other things, be responsible, for sourcing investments; business plan implementation; advising on planning matters and managing the planning process; short listing, selection and appointment of third party contractors, architects, engineers and other service providers; contract procurement, construction and development management; managing the construction process and managing the unit leasing and marketing process.
Revcap, as joint venture funding partner alongside the Company, will have monitoring and control rights under the terms of the applicable joint venture agreement that are typical for funding partners in development transactions, including acquisition and disposal decisions; final approval of building contractors; approval of major expenditure items and approval of senior debt terms.
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. At any time following practical completion of each property's development, the Company will be able to convene a board meeting of the joint venture company to seek approval for the joint venture company to repay the Revcap's shareholder loan. The Company would present to the board an offer based on a new valuation of the property and an audited balance sheet of the joint venture company. This valuation would be prepared by a suitably qualified valuation firm and would include full details of appropriate comparable transactions which support the level of the valuation. If the offer is approved by unanimous approval of the members' board, the Company would procure that the joint venture company repays Revcap's shareholder 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.
If, for whatever reason, the joint venture company did not repay the Revcap shareholder loan and repayment fee pursuant to this process, it is intended that the relevant property would be held for investment jointly by both the Company and Revcap. This pre-emption process would be capable of being triggered only once in relation to each relevant transaction. For the avoidance of doubt if the Company did procure that the Revcap shareholder loan is repaid the Company would purchase Revcap's ordinary shares in the joint venture company at par value.
After expiration of the period of 36 months from the entry into the joint venture (the "Lockin Period"), either the Company or Revcap will have the option of winding up the joint venture by providing notice (a "Trigger Notice") to the other. If a Trigger Notice were to be served, the following provisions are intended to apply:
In all cases where a Texas Shootout is possible, there will be incorporated a period under which "without prejudice" price indications may be exchanged or given in order to identify the other parties' views (and potentially avoid the full procedure). It is intended that the Texas Shootout can be used prior to the Lock-in Period only in the event of a prolonged, irresolvable and genuine deadlock between the shareholders on a defined major decision.
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 3 years from the date of the agreement that has a total project cost of more than £3,000,000.
Revcap shall have a period of 10 working days after receipt of the final business plan for a Relevant Project to decide whether the opportunity is of interest. In the event that Revcap has not confirmed its intention in writing to joint venture with the Company in relation to a disclosed Relevant Project within the 10 day period noted above, the Company will be free to disclose the opportunity to another party or to undertake the transaction independently (the "Release Date"). The ESP Parties undertake not to disclose any particulars of a Relevant Opportunity to any other potential investment partner other than Revcap and not to complete the deal independently until the Release Date.
Save as is required to adjust the agreements to reflect changes to the commercial or legal structure as set out in the Revcap Development Framework Agreement, the individual joint venture agreements for each joint venture company will be based on agreements previously signed between companies advised by Revcap and companies owned and managed by LCPP and its directors unless otherwise agreed by the Company and Revcap.
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 including; providing the Board with interpretation of market analysis of the student accommodation sector utilising Revcap's proprietary knowledge and experience of the sector and the broader real estate market in general; providing high level strategy support, development and monitoring functions to the Board in relation to the development and implementation of the Company's investment strategy as the Board may request from time to time; providing oversight of, and administrative support in relation to, the due diligence process for the acquisition by the Company of new investments; and providing such other investment support and administrative services as may be agreed between Revcap and the Company from time to time. The agreement with Revcap is non-exclusive.
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, with effect from the first anniversary of the IPO, 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 £170,000 (which minimum payment shall be increased to £200,000 with effect from the first date on which the Company shall have either, (i) raised in aggregate new equity funds of at least £100 million, or (ii) achieved a published Net Asset Value of at least £100 million) and a capped maximum annual payment of £300,000. Fees payable will be subject to VAT.
The Company has given certain market standard indemnities in favour of Revcap in respect of Revcap's potential losses in carrying on its responsibilities under the Investment Support Agreement.
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 the second anniversary of the IPO. 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 Collegiate Property Management Agreement dated 16 June 2014 between the Company and Collegiate AC. Under this agreement, Collegiate AC undertakes property and facilities management services in relation to certain of the Group's current properties and agreed future properties owned by the Group 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 (at the request of the Group), preparation of operating budgets for approval, overseeing building maintenance, maintenance of tenancy records, acting as tenant liaison and provision to the Company of agreed management reports and performance measures for the properties. These services are provided under the supervision of the Company.
In consideration for its property and asset management and reporting and performance measurement services, Collegiate AC is paid a percentage (ranging between 4.5 and 5.5 per cent.) of the income collected by them on each property, or aggregation of properties, depending on the size and location of each property. In addition, in relation to mobilisation services for new properties (i.e. preparing them for letting), the Company pays Collegiate AC a fixed payment of £150 per bed (subject to a minimum of £15,000 per property). All fees are exclusive of VAT. If occupation of a property is delayed and Collegiate AC is required to manage interim arrangements, it is paid a fixed fee of £4,500 per month plus other direct expenses incurred.
The Collegiate Property Management Agreement may be terminated by the Company on six months' written notice prior to 31 August each year, such notice not to take effect prior to 31 August 2018 and is also terminable on 30 days' notice in the event of breach of a material provision of the agreement (which has not been remedied within twenty working days' notice of such breach) and in certain other circumstances including insolvency and dissolution.
The Company has given certain market standard indemnities in favour of Collegiate AC in respect of Collegiate AC's potential losses in carrying on its responsibilities under the Collegiate Property Management Agreement.
The Collegiate Property Management Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The IPO Placing and Offer Agreement dated 16 June 2014 between the Company, the Directors, LCPP, Dexion Capital plc and Akur pursuant to which, subject to certain conditions, Dexion Capital plc agreed to use reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for Shares at the issue price of £1.00 per Share. In addition, under the IPO Placing and Offer 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 proposed applications for admission of the IPO Shares. The IPO Placing and Offer Agreement was terminable by Dexion Capital plc in certain customary circumstances prior to admission. The Company, LCPP and the Directors gave warranties to Dexion Capital plc and Akur concerning, inter alia, the accuracy of the information contained in the IPO prospectus. The Company also gave indemnities to Dexion Capital plc and Akur. The warranties and indemnities given by the Company, LCPP and the Directors were standard for an agreement of this nature. The IPO Placing and Offer Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Executive Directors Subscription and Lock-up Agreements dated 16 June 2014 (as amended by way of amendment agreements dated 26 June 2014) between the Company, Dexion Capital plc and each of the Executive Directors, pursuant to which each of the Executive Directors irrevocably agreed to subscribe for certain Shares pursuant to the IPO. The Executive Directors also agreed, pursuant to the terms of their respective Executive Directors Subscription and Lock-up Agreement, not to transfer, dispose of or grant any options over any of the Shares held at IPO for a period of 18 months following the IPO. The Executive Directors Subscription and Lock-up Agreements contain exceptions customary for agreements of this nature including transfers pursuant to: the acceptance of a takeover offer, participation in any tender offer by the Company or any similar transaction; an order of a court of competent jurisdiction and the prior written approval of the Company and Dexion Capital plc (which approval may be granted or declined at their absolute discretion). The Executive Directors Subscription and Lock-up Agreements are each governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Revcap Subscription and Lock-up Agreement dated 16 June 2014 (as amended by way of an amendment agreement dated 26 June 2014) between the Company, Dexion Capital plc and Revcap pursuant to which Revcap irrevocably agreed to subscribe (or to procure that an affiliate or fund advised by it subscribes) for certain Shares in the IPO. Revcap also agreed it will not (and agreed to procure that any affiliate or fund advised by it that subscribes for Shares will not) transfer, dispose of or grant any options over any of the Shares held at IPO for a period of 18 months following the IPO. The Revcap Subscription and Lock-up Agreement contains exceptions customary for agreements of this nature including transfers pursuant to: the acceptance of a takeover offer; participation in any tender offer by the Company or any similar transaction; an order of a court of competent jurisdiction and the prior written approval of the Company and Dexion Capital plc (which approval may be granted or declined at their absolute discretion). The Revcap Subscription and Lock-up Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement dated 16 June 2014 between the Company and IOMA Fund and Investment Management 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.
The Administration and Company Secretarial Agreement is terminable, inter alia, (i) upon six months' written notice or (ii) 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 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.
9.13 The Registrar Agreement
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's 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 30 October 2014 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 Offer for Subscription and the U.S. Private Placement. 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 July 2014, being the date to which the Group's audited financial information has been prepared:
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:
| Initial Issue size | £65.65 million |
|---|---|
| Investment basis | Net Proceeds of the Initial Issue are invested on an approximately straight line basis from Initial Admission to the end of March 2015, with assets being acquired with similar return and gearing parameters as for the existing Property Portfolio |
| Occupancy assumption | 98 per cent. |
| 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) | 40 per cent. |
| Development portfolio allocation | Average of 15 per cent. of Net Asset Value (measured at the time of full investment of the net proceeds of the Initial Issue and including land value) |
| Development portfolio, IRR target | 50 per cent., based on an even accrual of returns over the development period |
| Joint venture management fee | The Company will earn 3.5 per cent. of the total contract value to develop the property, this represents approximately a 10 per cent. return on the Company's equity during the development phase |
| Development portfolio timing (acquisition to practical completion) |
12-24 months from deployment of development capital |
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 Registration 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)(c). 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 does not omit anything 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 9.12 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|---|---|
| Administrator | IOMA Fund and Investment Management 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 any Shares becoming effective in accordance with the LSE Admission Standards and admission of any 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 |
| 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 |
| Business Day | any day which is not a Saturday or Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a bank holiday in the City of London |
| 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 |
| Collegiate AC | Collegiate Accommodation Consulting Limited |
| Collegiate Property Management Agreement |
the property management agreement between the Company and Collegiate AC, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.8 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
| 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 |
|||||
| 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 |
|||||
| EBT Trustee | Empiric Student Property Trustees Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company established to act as the trustee of the EBT |
|||||
| Empiric Developments | Empiric (Developments) Limited, the wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company established to receive development management fees from the Group's development projects |
| ERISA | U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1976, as amended |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EU | the European Union | ||||
| Euro | the lawful currency of the EU | ||||
| 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 |
||||
| 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 | ||||
| Financial Information | the audited consolidated financial information of the Group for the period from incorporation to 31 July 2014, as set out at Part C of Part 5 of this Registration Document |
||||
| 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 9.5.4 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, 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, if any, of Shares (other pursuant to the Initial Issue) made pursuant to this Registration Document and subject to separate approval by the FCA |
||||
| General Meeting | the general meeting of the Company to be held at 10.30 a.m. on 17 November 2014 |
||||
| 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 9.5.5 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 Period | has the meaning set out in paragraph 6.2 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|||
| Initial Admission | Admission pursuant to the Initial Issue | |||
| Initial Issue | together, the Initial Placing, the Initial Offer for Subscription and the U.S. Private Placement |
|||
| 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 19 November 2014 |
|||
| 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 or around 19 November 2014 |
|||
| 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 9.7 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 |
|||
| IPO Placing and Offer Agreement |
the placing and offer agreement dated 16 June 2014 entered into between the Company, the Directors, LCPP, Akur and Dexion Capital plc, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.9 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|||
| 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 |
| Joint Financial Advisers | Akur and Jefferies (acting in their capacity as joint financial advisers to the Company) and reference to Joint Financial Adviser shall be construed accordingly |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LCPP | London Cornwall Property Partners Limited | ||||
| let | the grant of a lease or licence to occupy | ||||
| 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 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 | ||||
| Office | the registered office for the time being of the Company | ||||
| Official List | the Official List of the UK Listing Authority | ||||
| Opening Value | has the meaning set out in paragraph 6.2 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
||||
| Overseas Persons | a potential investor who is not resident in, or who is not a citizen of, the UK |
||||
| Performance Condition | has the meaning set out in paragraph 6.2 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
||||
| Performance Period | has the meaning set out in paragraph 6.2 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
||||
| person | includes a body of persons, corporate or unincorporated, wherever domiciled |
| Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement |
the placing and offer for subscription agreement between the Company, the Directors, Jefferies and Akur, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.1 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|||
| Principal Bases and Assumptions |
the principal bases and assumptions set out in paragraph 13 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|||
| Property Portfolio | the investment portfolio of the Company, the current property portfolio as at the date of this Registration Document is 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 Directive | the EU Prospectus Directive 2003/71/EC | |||
| Prospectus Rules | the prospectus rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority under Section 73A of FSMA |
|||
| RBS | The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc | |||
| RBS Loan | the investment term loan facility of up to £35.5 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 9.2 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 9.14 of Part 8 of this registration document |
|||
| 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 9.13 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 Member State | a member state of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive |
|||||
| 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 9.6 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|||||
| Revcap Subscription and Lock-up Agreement |
the subscription and lock-up agreement between the Company, Dexion Capital plc and Revcap, a summary of which is set out in paragraph 9.11 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 |
|||||
| SDLT | stamp duty land tax | |||||
| SDRT | stamp duty reserve tax | |||||
| Securities Note | the securities note dated 30 October 2014 issued by the Company in respect of the Shares made available pursuant to this Registration Document and approved by the FCA |
|||||
| Shareholder | a holder of Shares | |||||
| 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) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shares | ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company | |||
| 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 | |||
| Subsequent Period | has the meaning set out in paragraph 6.2 of Part 8 of this Registration Document |
|||
| 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 30 October 2014 issued by the Company pursuant to this Registration Document and the Securities Note 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 |
| United States of America, United States or U.S. |
the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Code | U.S. Internal Revenue Code, as amended | |||
| U.S. Exchange Act | U.S. 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. Private Placement | the limited Private Placement by the Company to certain U.S. Persons to subscribe for Shares and forming part of the Initial Issue |
|||
| 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 at the date of this Registration Document, as set out at Part 6 of this Registration Document |
|||
| Valuer or CBRE | CBRE Limited, in its capacity as the Company's independent 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 should immediately contact your stockbroker, accountant or other 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 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 (the "FCA") made pursuant to section 73A of FSMA, 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.espreit.co.uk.
The Prospectus is being issued in connection with the issue of up to 300 million Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme. The Company may issue up to 300 million Shares in one or more tranches (including the Initial Issue) throughout the period commencing 30 October 2014 and ending 29 October 2015 pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme.
Application 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 listing on 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)
Sponsor, Joint Financial Adviser and Sole Global Coordinator and Bookrunner Joint Financial Adviser
JEFFERIES INTERNATIONAL LIMITED AKUR LIMITED
The Company and each of the Directors, whose names appear on page 9 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.
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 in connection with the Share Issuance Programme and the Initial Admission, will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of the Prospectus) as a client in relation to the Share Issuance Programme and the 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 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 in connection with the Share Issuance Programme and the Initial Admission, will not regard any other person (whether or not a recipient of the Prospectus) as a client in relation to the Share Issuance Programme or the 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 Admission, the contents of the Prospectus or any matters referred to therein.
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, each of Jefferies and Akur and any person affiliated with them 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 any of them, or on behalf of them, by or on behalf of the Company or any other person in connection with the Company, the Shares or the Share Issuance Programme 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 and any of their respective affiliates accordingly disclaim all and any responsibility or liability whatsoever 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, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been so authorised by the Group or the Joint Financial Advisers. 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 Share Issuance Programme, 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), 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) pursuant to a private placement 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 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.espreit.co.uk) and the National Storage Mechanism of the FCA at www.morningstar.co.uk/uk/nsm.
| Clause EXPECTED TIMETABLE |
Page 4 |
|---|---|
| INITIAL ISSUE STATISTICS | 5 |
| SHARE ISSUANCE PROGRAMME STATISTICS | 5 |
| DEALING CODES | 5 |
| RISK FACTORS | 6 |
| DIRECTORS, MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS | 9 |
| IMPORTANT INFORMATION | 11 |
| PART 1 – REASONS FOR THE SHARE ISSUANCE PROGRAMME | 14 |
| PART 2 – THE SHARE ISSUANCE PROGRAMME | 17 |
| PART 3 – TAXATION | 22 |
| PART 4 – ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 27 |
| PART 5 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE INITIAL PLACING | 38 |
| PART 6 – TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPLICATION UNDER THE INITIAL OFFER FOR SUBSCRIPTION |
45 |
| PART 7 – DEFINITIONS AND GLOSSARY | 66 |
Initial Offer for Subscription closes 11.00 a.m. on 19 November 2014 Initial Placing and U.S. Private Placement closes 3.00 p.m. on 19 November 2014 Announcement of the results of the Initial Issue 20 November 2014 Initial Admission and crediting of CREST accounts in respect of the Initial Issue 24 November 2014
| Admission and crediting of CREST accounts in respect of | 8.00 a.m. on the Business Day |
|---|---|
| subsequent Tranches | on which the Shares are issued |
| Share Issuance Programme closes | 29 October 2015 |
General Meeting 10.30 a.m. on 17 November 2014
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.
Issue Price 101 pence per Share
Shares being issued* up to 65 million Shares
Estimated Net Proceeds* up to £64.34 million
Maximum number of Shares being made 300 million available under the Share Issuance Programme
Share Issuance Programme price NAV per Share plus a premium*
* Further terms and conditions of issues of Shares under the Share Issuance Programme 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 are as follows:
SEDOL BLWDVR7
Ticker ESP
Gross Proceeds* up to £65.65 million
ISIN GB00BLWDVR75
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 Company 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 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 such 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 such issue price should have been less than the issue price actually paid, investors will have borne a greater premium than intended. If such issue price should have been greater than the issue price actually paid, investors will have paid less than intended and, in certain circumstances, the NAV of the Shares 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 is seeking 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 will be 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) pursuant to the U.S. Private Placement 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) Alexandra Mackesy (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.espreit.co.uk |
| Joint Financial Advisers | Akur Limited 23 Bruton Street Mayfair London W1J 6QF |
| 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 | Wragge Lawrence Graham & Co 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 |
IOMA Fund and Investment Management Limited 7 Cavendish Square London W1G 0PE |
| 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 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.
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, 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.
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:
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 and each person who initially acquires any Shares or to whom any offer is made under the Share Issuance Programme 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 to the extent that the Company: (i) is permitted to be marketed into the relevant EEA jurisdiction pursuant to either Article 36 or 42 of the AIFM Directive (if and as implemented into local law); or (ii) can otherwise be lawfully offered or sold (including on the basis of an unsolicited request from a professional investor).
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 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. The financial information contained 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.espreit.co.uk. The contents of the Company's website do not form part of this Securities Note.
Since its initial public offering on 30 June 2014, the Company has invested or committed substantially all of the net investable funds raised in accordance with its investment objective and investment policy. As at the date of this Securities Note, the Property Portfolio consists of the following investments and comprises a mix of operating properties and development and forward funded projects:
| Market value | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy | as at 29 Oct |
|||||
| Name | Location | No. of Beds |
for 2014/2015 |
Date of acquisition |
Title | 2014 (£) |
| College Green | Bristol | 84 | 100% | July 2014 | Leasehold(1) | 10,130,000 |
| Picturehouse Apartments |
Exeter | 102 | 97% | July 2014 | Freehold | 11,522,000 |
| Summit House | Cardiff | 87 | 100% | July 2014 | Freehold | 9,610,000 |
| Edge Apartments |
Selly Oak, Birmingham |
77 | 100% | August 2014 | Freehold | 8,940,000 |
| The Brook | Selly Oak, Birmingham |
106 | 100% | July 2014 | Freehold | 12,410,000 |
| Centro Court | Aberdeen | 56 | 100% | September 2014 | Freehold | 6,710,000 |
| London Road | Southampton | 46 | 100%(2) | – | Freehold/Leasehold | 4,000,000 |
| Talbot Studios | Nottingham | 98 | 100% | September 2014 | Freehold | 8,500,000 |
| Alwyn Court | Cardiff | 51 | 100% | October 2014 | Freehold | 3,740,000 |
| Northgate House(3) | Cardiff | 67 | – | – | Freehold | 5,600,000 |
| Total | ——— 774 ——— |
————— 81,162,000 ————— |
(1) 150 year lease, started in August 2010.
(2) The Group has exchanged contracts to acquire London Road (Southampton). Completion of the acquisition will occur by 30 November 2014. The vendor has provided a 100 per cent. rental guarantee for the 2014/2015 academic year.
(3) The Group has exchanged contracts to acquire Northgate House parts of which are still currently under construction. Completion of the acquisition will take place on practical completion which is scheduled to occur in January 2015. The vendor has provided a 100 per cent. rental guarantee for the 2014/2015 academic year in respect of the parts of the property which are not currently let. The market value is based on the special assumption that Northgate House has reached practical completion and is fully let at the date of valuation.
| Total | Market | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| investment to | Estimated | value as at | ||||
| Proposed | Date of | completion | completion 29 Oct 2014(1) | |||
| Name | Location | no. of beds | acquisition | (£ million) | date | (£) |
| Forward funded projects | ||||||
| Buccleuch Street | Edinburgh | 86 | July 2014 | 8.7 | May 2016 | 3,190,000 |
| Development projects | ||||||
| Brunswick House | Southampton | 173 | July 2014 | 6.9(3) | September | |
| 2015 | 1,800,000(2) | |||||
| Willowbank(4) | Glasgow | 178 | – | 6.7(3) | September | |
| 2016 | – |
(1) Value based on progress of the development of the asset to 29 October 2014.
(2) This figure represents the value of the Group's 50 per cent. joint venture interest in the property.
(3) The total investment to completion figure excludes Revcap's contribution.
(4) London Cornwall Property Partners Limited ("LCPP"), acting on behalf of Empiric (Glasgow) Limited, has concluded missives (equivalent to exchange of contracts under English law) with Glasgow City Council in relation to the acquisition of Willowbank. Completion of the acquisition of Willowbank will be subject to receipt of planning approval and listed building consent to redevelop the building into direct-let premium student accommodation. LCPP is a company controlled by Timothy Attlee and Paul Hadaway, Executive Directors of the Company. It has been agreed that Willowbank will be transferred from LCPP to Empiric (Glasgow) Limited shortly after completion of the purchase. LCPP will receive no economic benefit from its role in the transaction. Due to the current status of Willowbank, it has not been valued for the purposes of the Valuation Report set out in Part 6 of the Registration Document.
Each of the development projects is being undertaken via 50:50 joint venture arrangements with Revcap Advisors Limited.
The Directors believe that the Share Issuance Programme will have the following principal benefits for Shareholders:
It is intended that all new Shares under the Share Issuance Programme will be issued at a premium to the prevailing Net Asset Value per Share, after related costs have been deducted.
The Company's stated longer term objective is to grow the Property Portfolio to a target size of 8,000 to 10,000 beds. The Company is therefore launching the Share Issuance Programme to issue, in aggregate, up to 300 million Shares in order to move closer to this objective.
Pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme, the Company is proposing to issue an initial Tranche of up to 65 million Shares pursuant to the Initial Issue. The Initial Issue will together comprise the Initial Placing, the Initial Offer for Subscription and the U.S. Private Placement.
In addition to the recent exchange of contracts in relation to Alywn Court (Cardiff) and Northgate House (Cardiff), the Company is in final stage negotiations on two forward funded assets and one standing operating property. These assets comprise an aggregate of 337 beds representing a total commitment of approximately £28.85 million. Subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations, all of these assets are expected to be acquired by December 2014 and will be funded principally by the RBS Loan.
The Company is also in the advanced stages of negotiation in relation to a near-term pipeline comprising 15 properties across multiple locations in the UK with an aggregate of more than 1,800 beds representing a total commitment of approximately £180 million. This comprises a mix of operating properties and forward funded and development projects with a similar return profile to the current portfolio. Subject to the satisfactory completion of negotiations and available financing, the Company believes that all of the properties would be able to be acquired by the Group over the next several months, and by no later than the end of March 2015. It is anticipated that any commitments made to such pipeline assets will be financed by equity proceeds raised under the Share Issuance Programme, additional debt (whether pursuant to the RBS Loan or otherwise) or a combination of these.
Beyond the identified pipeline described above, the Company has a further pipeline of assets under consideration at earlier stages of due diligence and negotiation representing an additional potential commitment of approximately £400 – 600 million.
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 300 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 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 101 pence per Share with aggregate costs and commissions of £1.31 million, the total net proceeds of the Share Issuance Programme would be £64.34 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 will open on 30 October 2014 and will close on 29 October 2015 (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 300 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 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 29 October 2015 or (ii) such earlier date as all the Shares the subject of the Share Issuance Programme are issued. In relation to each Tranche, a new securities note and new summary will, to the extent necessary, 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 29 October 2015.
The issuance of each Tranche of Shares pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme 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.
It is intended that 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 two per cent. of the gross proceeds of such Tranche.
Applications will be made to the UK Listing Authority for the Shares issued pursuant to each Tranche of the Share Issuance Programme 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).
The terms and conditions which apply to any subscriber for Shares pursuant to the Initial Placing are set out in Part 5 of this Securities Note.
It is expected that Initial Admission will become effective and that unconditional dealings in the Shares will commence at 8.00 a.m. on 24 November 2014. Dealings in Shares in advance of the crediting of the relevant stock account shall be at the risk of the person concerned. The Issue Price is 101 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 Issue Price, subject to the Terms and Conditions of Application. These terms and conditions and the Application Form set out in Part 6 of this Securities Note 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 19 November 2014. 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 19 November 2014. 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 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 1.00 p.m. on 20 November 2014, allowing for the delivery and acceptance of Shares to be made against payment of the 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 Shares with a minimum subscription amount of 10,000 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.
The Company does not guarantee that at any particular time any 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. Furthermore, the level of the liquidity in the Shares can vary significantly.
In the event that aggregate applications for Shares under the Initial Issue were to exceed the maximum size of the Initial Issue, it would be necessary to scale back applications. Jefferies reserves the right, at its sole discretion, but after consultation with the Board, to scale back applications in such amounts as it considers appropriate. The Company reserves the right to decline in whole or in part any application for Shares pursuant to the Initial Issue and to scale back the Initial Placing in favour of the Initial Offer for Subscription. Accordingly, applicants for Shares may, in certain circumstances, not be allotted the number of Shares for which they have applied. In particular, the Company shall determine all matters relating to the U.S. Private Placement.
The Company will notify investors of the number of 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 20 November 2014 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.
The Company, the Directors, Jefferies and Akur have entered into the Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement, pursuant to which Jefferies has agreed, subject to certain conditions, to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for Shares made available under any placing component of the Share Issuance Programme.
Applications pursuant to the placing component (if any) under each Tranche will be on the terms and conditions set out in the Part 5 of this Securities Note as applicable, as modified by any relevant supplementary prospectus or Future Securities Note applicable to the relevant Tranche. Where a Tranche comprises an open offer or offer for subscription component, the terms of such offer(s) will be set out in the Future Securities Note applicable to such Tranche.
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.
In the event that there are any significant changes affecting any of the matters described in the Prospectus or where any significant new matters have arisen after the publication of the Prospectus, the Company will publish a supplementary prospectus. The supplementary prospectus will give details of the significant change(s) or the significant new matter(s).
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 the Share Issuance Programme.
Should a Tranche be aborted or fail to complete for any reason, monies received will be returned without interest at the risk of the applicant to the bank account from which the money was received forthwith following such abort or failure, as the case may be. Any abort or failure fees and expenses will be borne by the Company.
Shares issued pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme will be issued in registered form and may be held in either certificated or uncertificated form and settled through CREST from the relevant Admission. In the case of Shares to be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to a Tranche, these will be transferred to successful applicants through the CREST system. Accordingly, settlement of transactions in the Shares following an 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 each 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 a Tranche 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.
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.
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 "nonredeemable 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.
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 £11,000 for the tax year 2014- 2015. 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 2014-2015.
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.
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.
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 (£15,000 for the tax year 2014/2015); 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 | 85,000,001 | 850,000.01 | |
| (ii) | Immediately following Initial Admission | 150,000,001 | 1,500,000.01 |
("Related Party Transaction"), the Company's proposal to issue and allot Shares to East Riding of Yorkshire Council Pension Fund pursuant to the Share Issuance Programme be approved;
2.1 Other than as set out in the table below, as at 29 October 2014 (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 | issued share | |
| Name | of Shares | capital (%) |
| East Riding of Yorkshire Council Pension Fund | 15,000,000 | 17.65 |
| SG Hambro Bank Limited | 9,844,353 | 11.58 |
| CCLA Investment Management Limited | 8,500,000 | 10.00 |
| Rathbones Brothers plc | 7,513,530 | 8.87 |
| Charles Stanley & Co. Limited | 4,503,764 | 5.30 |
| Smith & Williamson Holdings Limited | 3,207,866 | 3.77 |
| BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC | 3,000,000 | 3.53 |
| Bank Morgan Stanley, Zurich | 2,600,000 | 3.06 |
| Percentage of | ||
|---|---|---|
| Number of | issued share | |
| Director | Shares | capital |
| Baroness Dean | 33,500 | 0.04 |
| Timothy Attlee | 875,000 | 1.03 |
| Paul Hadaway | 875,001 | 1.03 |
| Michael Enright(*) | 520,000 | 0.61 |
| Jim Prower(**) | 23,760 | 0.03 |
(*) 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:
3.1 Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act, to any special terms as to voting on which any shares may have been issued or may from time-to-time be held and to any suspension or abrogation of voting rights pursuant to the Articles, at any general meeting, every member who is present in person shall, on a show of hands, have one vote, every proxy who has been appointed by a member entitled to vote on the resolution shall, on a show of hands, have one vote and every member present in person or by proxy shall, on a poll, have one vote for each share of which he is a holder. A shareholder entitled to more than one vote need not, if he votes, use all his votes or vest all the votes he uses the same way. In the case of joint holders, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, shall be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other joint holders.
to holders of shares the right to elect to receive shares of the same class, credited as fully paid, instead of the whole (or some part, to be determined by the Board) of any dividend specified by the ordinary resolution.
3.9 Unless the Board otherwise determines, the payment of any dividend or other money that would otherwise be payable in respect of shares will be withheld by the Company if such shares represent at least 0.25 per cent. in nominal value of their class and the holder, or any other person whom the Company reasonably believes to be interested in those shares, has been duly served with a notice pursuant to the Companies Act requiring such person to provide information about his interests in the Company's shares and has failed to supply the required information within 14 days. Furthermore such a holder shall not be entitled to elect to receive shares instead of a dividend.
renunciation) by the certificate for the share to which it relates and such other evidence as the Board may reasonably require to prove the title of the transferor or person renouncing and the due execution of the transfer or renunciation by him or, if the transfer or renunciation is executed by some other person on his behalf, the authority of that person to do so,
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.
another person so that it will cease to be a Prohibited Share. From the date of such notice until registration for such a transfer or a transfer arranged by the Directors as referred to below, the share will not confer any right on the holder to receive notice of or to attend and vote at a general meeting of the Company and of any class of shareholder and those rights will vest 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).
3.19 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 Takeover Code applies to the Company. Under Rule 9 of the Takeover Code, if:
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) as at 30 September 2014 and the Company's audited capitalisation as at 31 July 2014.
| 30 September | |
|---|---|
| 2014 | |
| (unaudited) | |
| £'000 | |
| Total current debt: | |
| Guaranteed | – |
| Secured | – |
| Unguaranteed/unsecured | – |
| Total non-current debt (excluding current portion of long-term debt): | |
| Guaranteed | – |
| Unsecured | – |
| Unguaranteed/unsecured | – –––––––– |
| Total indebtedness | – |
| –––––––– | |
| 31 July 2014 | |
| (audited) | |
| £'000 | |
| Capitalisation: | |
| Share capital | 850 |
| Legal reserves | – |
| Other reserves(1) | 82,281 |
| –––––––– | |
| Total capitalisation | 83,131 |
| –––––––– |
(1) Other reserves comprise the capital reduction reserve, but exclude retained earnings.
The following table shows the Company's unaudited net indebtedness as at 30 September 2014.
| 30 September 2014 | |
|---|---|
| (unaudited) £'000 |
|
| Cash | 9,905 |
| Cash equivalent Trading securities |
– – –––––––– |
| Liquidity | 9,905 –––––––– |
| Current financial receivables(1) | 3,186 |
| Current bank debt Current portion of non-current debt Other current financial debt |
– – – –––––––– |
| Current financial debt | – –––––––– |
| Net-current financial liquidity | 13,091 |
| Non-current bank loans Bonds issued Other non-current loans |
–––––––– – – – |
| Non-current financial indebtedness | –––––––– – |
| Net financial liquidity | –––––––– 13,091 –––––––– |
(1) Current financial receivables represent cash held by Collegiate AC.
As at 30 September 2014 the Group had no indirect or contingent indebtedness.
approval of the Company and Dexion Capital plc (which approval may be granted or declined at their absolute discretion). The Revcap Subscription and Lock-up Agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.
Conditionally upon: (i) Initial Admission occurring and becoming effective by 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 24 November 2014 (or such later time and/or date as the Company and Jefferies may agree); (ii) the Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement becoming otherwise unconditional in all respects (save as to Initial Admission) and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms; (iii) Jefferies confirming to Placees their allocation of Shares, each Placee agrees to become a member of the Company and agrees to subscribe for those Shares allocated to it by Jefferies at the Issue Price. 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 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's application for Shares shall be rejected.
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, the Registrar, the Company and their respective officers, agents and employees that:
any time, by any person concerning the Company, the Initial Placing and/or the Share Issuance Programme. It agrees that none of the Company, Jefferies, Akur nor the Registrar nor any of their respective officers, agents or employees will have any liability for any other information, representation or statement made or purported to be made by them or on its or their behalf in connection with the Company, the Initial Placing and/or the Share Issuance Programme and irrevocably and unconditionally waives any rights it may have in respect of any other information or representation;
or indirectly, within any Excluded Territory unless an exemption from any registration requirement is available;
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.
4.20 if it is outside the United Kingdom, neither the Prospectus nor any other offering, marketing or other material in connection with the Initial Placing and/or the Share Issuance Programme constitutes an invitation, offer or promotion to, or arrangement with, it or any person whom it is procuring to subscribe for Shares pursuant to the Initial Placing unless, in the relevant territory, such offer, invitation or other course of conduct could lawfully be made to it or such person and such documents or materials could lawfully be provided to it or such person and Shares could lawfully be distributed to and subscribed and held by it or such person without compliance with any unfulfilled approval, registration or other legal requirements;
4.21 it does not have a registered address in, and is not a citizen, resident or national of, any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make or accept an offer of the Shares and it is not acting on a non-discretionary basis for any such person;
functions and is based or incorporated in, or formed under the law of, a country in which there are in force provisions at least equivalent to those required by the Money Laundering Directive;
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, such Placee must promptly disclose it to them.
6.1 The rights and remedies of Jefferies, the Registrar and the Company, the Board and affiliates under these terms and conditions are in addition to any rights and remedies which would otherwise be available to each of them and the exercise or partial exercise of one will not prevent the exercise of others.
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 6.
Shares are available under the Initial Offer for Subscription at a price of 101 pence per Share.
Applications must be made on the application form (the "Application Form") attached at the end of this Securities Note or otherwise published by the Company.
Applications under the Initial Offer for Subscription must be for Shares with a minimum subscription amount of 10,000 Shares and thereafter in multiples of 100 Shares. Multiple applications will be accepted.
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:
remittance is not so honoured you will not be entitled to receive a share certificate 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 and the Joint Financial Advisers 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);
case, the Shares which would otherwise have been allotted to you may be re-allotted or sold to some other party and the lesser of your application monies or such 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) by the UK Listing Authority being notified through a Regulatory Information Service of the basis of allocation (in which case the acceptance will be on that basis).
The basis of allocation will be determined by Jefferies in consultation with the Company. 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 banker's 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 the then published bank base rate of a clearing bank selected by the Company plus four 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 banker's 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 banker's 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 19 November 2014. 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 20 November 2014, allowing for the delivery and acceptance of Shares to be made against payment of the Issue Price per Share, 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:
(a) Initial Admission occurring and becoming effective by 8.00 a.m. (London time) on 24 November 2014 (or such later time and/or date as the Company and Jefferies may agree); and
(b) the Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement becoming otherwise unconditional in all respects (save as to Initial Admission) and not having been terminated in accordance with its terms.
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 separate account.
By completing an Application Form, you:
(e) acknowledge that no person is authorised in connection with the Initial Offer for Subscription to give any information or make any representation other than as contained in the Prospectus and, if given or made, any information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorised by the Company, the Joint Financial Advisers or the Receiving Agent;
(f) warrant that you are not under the age of 18 on the date of your application;
not registered and will not register as an investment company under the 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 you the (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 315,000 (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 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 315,000 (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 315,000 (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 of America, 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 0870 707 1143 (calls to this number are charged at ten pence per minute from a BT landline, other network providers' costs may vary) or +44 (0) 870 707 1143 if calling from outside the United Kingdom. Other network providers' costs may vary. Calls to the helpline from outside the United Kingdom will be charged at applicable international rates.
Lines are open 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday. Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones and calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. The helpline cannot provide advice on the merits of the Issue 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 unless, in the relevant territory, such an invitation or offer could lawfully be made to you or an Application Form could lawfully be used without contravention of any registration or other legal requirements. It is your responsibility, if you are outside the UK and wish to make an application for Shares under the Initial Offer for Subscription, to satisfy yourself as to full observance of the laws of any relevant territory or jurisdiction in connection with your application, including obtaining any requisite governmental or other consents, observing any other formalities requiring to be observed in such territory and paying any issue, transfer or other taxes required to be paid in such territory.
None of the Shares have been or will be registered under the laws of Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia, the Republic of South Africa or under the US Securities Act or with any securities regulatory authority of any state or other political subdivision of the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Japan, Australia or the Republic of South Africa. If you subscribe for Shares pursuant to the 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 US Person or a resident of Canada, New Zealand, 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 New Zealand or Japan or Australia or the Republic of South Africa and that you are not subscribing for such Shares for the account of any US Person or resident of Canada, New Zealand, 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, New Zealand, Japan, Australia or the Republic of South Africa or to any US Person or person resident in Canada, New Zealand, 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, New Zealand, 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 its 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, the Joint Financial Advisers 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 19 November 2014. In that event, the new closing time and/or date will be notified to applicants.
The Company may terminate the Initial Offer for Subscription in its absolute discretion at any time prior to Admission. If such right is exercised, the Initial Offer for Subscription will lapse and any monies will be returned as indicated without interest.
You agree that the Joint Financial Advisers and the Receiving Agent are acting for the Company in connection with the Initial Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription and for noone else, and that neither the Joint Financial Advisers 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 Placing and Initial Offer for Subscription 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 this Securities Note.
HELP DESK: If you have a query concerning completion of this Application Form please call Computershare Investor Services PLC on 0870 707 1143 from within the UK or on +44 (0) 870 707 1143 if calling from outside the UK. Calls to the 0870 707 1143 number cost 10 pence per minute from a BT landline. Other network providers' costs may vary. Lines are open 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. (London time) Monday to Friday. Calls to the helpline from outside the UK will be charged at the applicable international rate. Different charges may apply to calls from mobile telephones and calls may be recorded and randomly monitored for security and training purposes. The helpline cannot provide advice on the merits of the Issue nor give any financial, legal or tax advice.
Fill in (in figures) in Box 1 the amount of money being subscribed for Shares. The amount being subscribed must be a minimum of 10,000 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 banker's 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 banker's 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 19 November 2014. 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 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, will require from you in order to settle your Commitment 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 Subscription 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 Subscription 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 Subscription Agreement. 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 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 24 November 2014 against payment of the 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: | 20 November 2014 |
|---|---|
| Settlement Date: | 24 November 2014 |
| Company: | Empiric Student Property plc |
| Security Description: | Ordinary 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 20 November 2014.
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 no later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) on 19 November 2014, 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.
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 no later than 11.00 a.m. (London time) on 19 November 2014.
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.
Important: Before completing this form, you should read the Prospectus and the Terms and Conditions of the Initial Offer for Subscription set out in the Securities Note and accompanying notes to this form.
Box 1 (minimum of 10,000 Shares and in multiples of 100 Shares thereafter)
£
To: Empiric Student Property plc and the Receiving Agent
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 and subject to the articles of association of the Company in force from time-totime.
(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 box 3 below you are deemed to have read the Prospectus and agreed to the terms and conditions in Part 6 of the Securities Note (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 |
| 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: |
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 made payable to "Computershare Investor Services PLC re: Empiric Student Property plc – Offer for Subscription a/c". Cheques and banker's 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 19 November 2014. 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 19 November 2014 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 Issue Price per Share, following the CREST matching criteria set out below:
Trade Date: 20 November 2014 Settlement Date: 24 November 2014 Company: Empiric Student Property plc Security Description: Ordinary 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 20 November 2014.
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:
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 315,000 (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:
Tick here for documents provided
(4) details of the name and address of their personal bankers from which the Receiving Agent may request a reference, if necessary.
(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: |
The following definitions apply throughout this Registration Document unless the context requires otherwise:
| Admission | admission to trading on the London Stock Exchange's Main Market of any Shares becoming effective in accordance with the LSE Admission Standards and admission of any Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List becoming effective in accordance with the Listing Rules |
|---|---|
| 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 Offer for Subscription |
| Articles | the articles of association of the Company |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| ERISA | U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1976, as amended |
| Executive Directors | the executive directors of the Company being at the date of this Securities Note, Paul Hadaway, Timothy Attlee and Michael Enright |
|---|---|
| Excluded Territory | Australia, Japan, the Republic of Ireland and the Republic of South Africa |
| FCA | the Financial Conduct Authority |
| 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, if any, of Shares (other than pursuant to the Initial 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 pursuant to the Initial 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 10.30 a.m. on 17 November 2014 |
| Group | the Company and the other companies in its group for the purposes of Section 606 of CTA 2010 |
| Gross Proceeds | the gross proceeds of the Initial Issue |
| 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, the Initial Offer for Subscription and the U.S. Private Placement |
| 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 19 November 2014 |
| 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 or around 19 November 2014 |
| interest in the Company | includes, without limitation, an interest in a Distribution made or to be made by the Company |
| ISA | UK individual savings account |
| ISIN | International Securities Identification Number |
| Issue Price | 101 pence per Share |
| Jefferies | Jefferies International Limited |
|---|---|
| Joint Financial Advisers | Akur and Jefferies (acting in their capacity as joint financial advisers to the Company) and reference to Joint Financial Adviser shall be construed accordingly |
| LCPP | London Cornwall Property Partners Limited |
| Listing Rules | the listing rules made by the UK Listing Authority 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 |
| 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 Proceeds | the aggregate net cash proceeds of the Initial Issue (after deduction of all expenses and commissions relating to the Initial Issue and payable by the Company) |
| 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 |
| Non-PID Dividend | a distribution by the Company which is not a PID |
| Official List | the Official List of the UK Listing Authority |
| person | includes a body of persons, corporate or unincorporated, wherever domiciled |
| Placee | a person who subscribes for Shares pursuant to the Initial Placing |
| Placing and Offer for Subscription Agreement |
the placing and offer for subscription agreement between the Company, the Directors, Jefferies and Akur |
| 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 |
| Property Portfolio | the investment portfolio of the Company, the current property portfolio as at the date of the Registration Document as set out in Part 2 of the 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 Rules | the prospectus rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority under Section 73A of FSMA |
|---|---|
| RBS | The Royal Bank of Scotland Plc |
| RBS Loan | the investment term loan facility of up to £35.5 million pursuant to the RBS Facility Agreement |
| RBS Facility Agreement | the facility agreement dated 24 October 2014 between (inter alia) 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 9.2 of Part 8 of the Registration Document |
| Receiving Agent | Computershare Investor Services PLC, in its capacity as the Company's receiving agent |
| Registrar | Computershare Investor Services PLC, in its capacity as the Company's registrar |
| Registration Document | the registration document dated 30 October 2014 issued by the Company in respect of the Shares |
| 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 |
| Shareholder | a holder of Shares |
| Share Issuance Programme | the programme under which the Company intends to issue Shares in Tranches |
| Shares | ordinary shares of £0.01 each in the capital of the Company |
| 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 30 October 2014 issued by the Company pursuant to the Registration Document and this Securities Note and approved by the FCA |
| 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 6 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 |
| 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 |
| United States of America, United States or U.S. |
the United States of America, its territories and possessions, any state of the United States of America and the District of Columbia |
| U.S. Code | U.S. Internal Revenue Code, 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. Private Placement | the limited private placement by the Company to certain U.S. Persons to subscribe for Shares and forming part of the Initial Issue |
| U.S. Securities Act | U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended |
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