13 June 2024

Custodian Property Income REIT plc

("the Company" or "Custodian Property Income REIT")

Final results for the year ended 31 March 2024

Custodian Property Income REIT's 10th annual results marked by strong operational performance driving

further growth in fully covered dividend

Custodian Property Income REIT (LSE: CREI), which seeks to deliver an enhanced income return by investing in a diversified portfolio of smaller regional properties with strong income characteristics across the UK, today announces its final results for the year ended 31 March 2024.

Commenting on the final results, David MacLellan, Chairman of Custodian Property Income REIT, said: In

my first annual results as Chairman, I am very pleased to note the year to March 2024 as a significant milestone for the Company, marking the 10 year anniversary since launch, and that the Company once again performed well. Despite the significant challenges and changes we have all faced over the last decade, politically, economically and in terms of social volatility including COVID, Custodian Property Income REIT has grown successfully and delivered on its objectives with an over sixfold increase in the size of the portfolio, an average annual NAV total return of 5.5%, an annual average fully covered dividend of 5.9p per share and a decreasing ongoing charges ratio.

"This success has been achieved by the Company's resolute focus on being fully invested in a portfolio of below institutional lot-sized regional properties to capture the income advantages that these types of assets afford, in order to deliver enhanced income-centric total returns to institutional, wealth management and private investors."

"Looking at the year under review, the occupational market has continued to remain robust, with rental growth and falling vacancy reflected in recurring EPRA earnings per share increasing by 3.6%. This increase in earnings allowed the Board to declare a special dividend in March 2024 to take the aggregate dividend for the year to 5.8p, along with announcing a 9% increase in the prospective dividend per share from 5.5p to 6.0p due to an improved outlook.

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"The quarter ended 31 March 2024 saw a marginal increase in NAV due to profitable disposals on the back of flat valuations, as rental growth and falling vacancy rates started to have a positive impact. Despite stabilising valuations and the prospect of rental growth, sentiment towards listed UK commercial real estate has caused weakness and volatility in the share price. The prevailing share price implied a dividend yield of 8.3%, compared to 6.3% and 5.8% at 31 March 2023 and 2022 respectively. However, the first move down in interest rates should be the real catalyst for a positive shift in sentiment towards real estate investment, so later in 2024 could be a turning point in the market.

"The Company's portfolio is well placed to benefit from any upwards rerating in sector valuations as the economy improves. In an inflationary environment and with a lack of supply of modern, smaller regional properties we expect to see continued rental growth over the year ahead and it will be this growth in income that is likely to form the greater component of total return over the next phase of the property market and we believe that Custodian Property Income REIT's strong income yielding portfolio, supported by higher-than-peer group recurring earnings per share, will continue to underpin shareholder returns".

Highlights of the year:

  • 3.6% growth in EPRA earnings per share to 5.8p (FY23: 5.6p)
  • 5.6% growth in like-for-like contracted rental income to £43.1m with a 3.9% increase in rental revenue to £42.2m (FY23: £40.6m)
  • Estimated rental value ("ERV") grew 3.6% with ERV now 15% ahead of passing rent providing a significant opportunity to unlock further rental growth through asset management and at lease events
  • 15 rent reviews completed during the year across all sectors at an average 23% ahead of previous passing rent, with 47 new lettings, lease renewals and lease regears completed reflecting the continued strong demand for space in the Company's portfolio and adding £9.5m to valuation
  • Occupancy increased to 91.7% during the year (FY23: 90.3%), with further improvement to c.93% since April 2024
  • Valuation of the Company's portfolio of 155 properties, including assets held-for-sale, remained flat at £589.1m in the final quarter, with a modest 4.0% like-for-like fall over the full year (31 March 23: £613.6m) suggesting that a turning point in sentiment and valuations has been reached
  • £19.0m of capital investment during the year into refurbishment and EPC improvement of offices in Leeds and Manchester and Midlands industrial units, including solar panel and electric vehicle charger installations, leading to a 21.7% increase in the ERV of the properties
  • £18.2m proceeds from selective disposals achieved at an aggregate 8% premium to last valuation, with a further £11.3m of disposals since year end at an average 49% premium to pre-offer valuation
  • Net gearing remains low at 29.2% (31 March 2023: 27.4%) with 78% fixed and no expiries until August 2025
  • 5.5% increase in fully covered dividends paid to shareholders during the year comprising 5.5p of ordinary dividends and a 0.3p special dividend

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  • 9% increase in the prospective dividend announced in May 2024 from 5.5p to 6.0p per share reflecting the Board's confidence in the Company's prospects, together with its commitment to a property strategy that supports a relatively high dividend, fully covered by EPRA earnings.

For further information, please contact:

Custodian Capital Limited

Richard Shepherd-Cross / Ed Moore / Ian Mattioli MBE

Tel: +44 (0)116 240 8740

www.custodiancapital.com

Deutsche Numis

Tel: +44 (0)20 7260 1000

Hugh Jonathan/Nathan Brown

www.dbnumis.com

FTI Consulting

Tel: +44 (0)20 3727 1000

Richard Sunderland / Ellie Sweeney / Andrew Davis

custodianreit@fticonsulting.com

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Custodian Property Income REIT plc Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2024

Custodian Property Income REIT plc ("Custodian Property Income REIT" or "the Company") is a UK real estate

investment trust ("REIT") which seeks to deliver an enhanced income return by investing in a diversified portfolio of smaller, regional properties with strong income characteristics let to predominantly institutional grade tenants across the UK.

Property highlights

2024

£m Comments

Portfolio value1589.1

Property valuation decreases: (27.0)

Occupancy91.7%

Capital investment

19.0

Representing a 4.0% like-for-like decrease, explained further in the Investment Manager's report

Occupancy rates have increased from 90.3% to 91.7% by the year end, improving further post year end to c.93%.

Primarily comprising:

  • £6.8m refurbishing four office buildings in Leeds and Manchester
  • £3.5m redeveloping an industrial site in Redditch
  • £2.2m refurbishing an industrial asset in Ashby-de-la-Zouch
  • £1.3m buying the long-leasehold of a unit at a 10-unit industrial asset in Knowsley
  • £1.0m reconfiguring retail assets in Shrewsbury and Liverpool
  • £2.0m invested in photovoltaics and electric vehicle chargers at various sites

At an aggregate 8% premium to valuation (£1.4m profit on disposal) comprising:

Disposal proceeds18.2

£8.0m industrial unit in Milton Keynes £6.0m industrial unit in Weybridge

£1.6m high street retail units in Bury St Edmunds and Cirencester

£2.0m vacant offices in Derby

£0.6m children's day nursery in Chesham

1 Includes £11.0m of assets sold since the year end classified as 'held-for-sale'.

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At an aggregate 49% premium to pre-offervaluation comprising:
£9.0m vacant industrial unit in Warrington
£2.3m vacant former car showroom in Redhill
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Disposal proceeds since the

year end

11.3

Financial highlights and performance summary

2024 2023 Comments

Returns

*EPRA2 earnings per share3

Basic and diluted earnings per share4

Loss before tax (£m)

Dividends per share5

*Dividend cover6

*NAV total return per share7

*Share price total return8

Capital values

NAV and *EPRA NTA9 (£m)

NAV per share and *NTA per share

*Net gearing10

*Weighted average cost of drawn debt facilities

Costs

*Ongoing charges ratio11 ("OCR")

*OCR excluding direct property expenses12

5.8p 5.6p

(0.3p) (14.9p)

(1.5) (65.8)

5.8p 5.5p

100.7% 102.2%

(0.4%) (12.5%)

(2.6%) (7.0%)

411.8 437.6

93.4 99.3p

29.2% 27.4%

4.1% 3.8%

2.20% 1.96%

1.24% 1.23%

Rental growth and improvement in occupancy have offset administrative cost inflation and higher finance costs

Loss resulting from a £27.0m valuation decreases

Special dividend of 0.3p approved for the year. Target dividend per share for the year ended 31 March 2025 of 6.0p

In line with the Company's policy of paying fully covered dividends

5.5% dividends paid (2023: 4.6%) and a

5.9% capital decrease (2023: 17.1% capital decrease)

Share price decreased from 89.2p to 81.4p during the year

Decreased due to £27.0m of valuation decreases

Further reduced to 27.9% following property disposals since the year-end and broadly in line with the Company's 25% target

Base rate (SONIA) increased from 4.2% to 5.2% during the year. Impact mitigated by 78% fixed rate debt.

2 The European Public Real Estate Association ("EPRA").

3 Profit after tax, excluding net loss on investment property, divided by weighted average number of shares in issue.

  1. Profit after tax divided by weighted average number of shares in issue.
  2. Dividends paid and approved for the year.
  3. Profit after tax, net loss on investment property, divided by dividends paid and approved for the year.
  4. Net Asset Value ("NAV") movement including dividends paid during the year on shares in issue at 31 March 2023.
  5. Share price movement including dividends paid during the year.
  6. EPRA net tangible assets ("NTA") does not differ from the Company's IFRS NAV or EPRA NAV.
  7. Gross borrowings less cash (excluding restricted cash) divided by property portfolio value.
  8. Expenses (excluding operating expenses of rental property recharged to tenants) divided by average quarterly NAV.
  9. Expenses (excluding operating expenses of rental property) divided by average quarterly NAV.

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Environmental

*Weighted

average

energy

C (53)

C (58) EPCs updated

across

42 properties

performance

certificate

("EPC")

demonstrating

continuing

rating13

improvements

in the

environmental

performance of the portfolio

*Alternative performance measures ("APMs") - the Company reports APMs to assist stakeholders in assessing performance alongside the Company's results on a statutory basis, set out above. APMs are among the key performance indicators used by the Board to assess the Company's performance and are used by research analysts covering the Company. The Company uses APMs based upon the EPRA Best Practice Recommendations Reporting Framework which is widely recognised and used by public real estate companies. Certain other APMs may not be directly comparable with other companies' adjusted measures and APMs are not intended to be a substitute for, or superior to, any IFRS measures of performance. Supporting calculations for APMs and reconciliations between APMs and their IFRS equivalents are set out in Note 22.

13 Weighted by floor area. For properties in Scotland, English equivalent EPC ratings have been obtained.

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Business model and strategy

Purpose

Custodian Property Income REIT offers investors the opportunity to access a diversified portfolio of UK commercial real estate through a closed-ended fund. The Company seeks to provide investors with an attractive level of income and the potential for capital growth from a portfolio with strong environmental credentials, becoming the REIT of choice for private and institutional investors seeking high and stable dividends from well-diversified UK real estate.

Stakeholder interests

The Board recognises the importance of all stakeholder interests and keeps these at the forefront of business and strategic decisions, ensuring the Company:

  • Understands and meets the needs of its occupiers, owning fit for purpose properties with strong environmental credentials in the right locations which comply with safety regulations;
  • Protects and improves its stable cash flows with long-term planning and decision making, implementing its policy of paying dividends fully covered by recurring earnings and securing the Company's future; and
  • Adopts a responsible approach to communities and the environment, actively seeking ways to minimise the Company's impact on climate change and providing the real estate fabric of the economy, giving employers a place of business.

Investment Policy

The Company's investment policy14 is summarised below:

  • To invest in a diverse portfolio of UK commercial real estate, principally characterised by smaller, regional, core/core-plus15 properties that provide enhanced income;
  • The property portfolio should be diversified by sector, location, tenant and lease term, with a maximum weighting to any one property sector or geographic region of 50%;
  • To acquire modern buildings or those considered fit for purpose by occupiers, focusing on areas with: - High residual values;

14 A full version of the Company's Investment Policy is shown in the Investment Policy section of this Annual Report.

15 Core real estate generally offers the lowest risk and target returns, requiring little asset management and fully let on long leases. Core-plus real estate generally offers low-to- moderate risk and target returns, typically high-quality and well-occupied properties but also providing asset management opportunities.

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    • Strong local economies; and
    • An imbalance between supply and demand.
  • No one tenant or property should account for more than 10% of the rent roll at the time of purchase, except for:
    • Governmental bodies or departments; or
    • Single tenants rated by Dun & Bradstreet as having a credit risk score worse than two16, where exposure may not exceed 5% of the rent roll.
  • Not to undertake speculative development, except for the refurbishment or redevelopment of existing holdings;
  • To seek further growth, which may involve strategic property portfolio acquisitions and corporate consolidation; and
  • The Company may use gearing provided that the maximum loan-to-value ("LTV") shall not exceed 35%, with a medium-term net gearing target of 25% LTV.

The Board reviews the Company's investment objectives at least annually to ensure they remain appropriate to the market in which the Company operates and in the best interests of shareholders.

Differentiated property strategy

The Company's portfolio is focused on smaller, regional, core/core-plus assets which helps achieve our target of high and stable dividends from well-diversified real estate by offering:

  • An enhanced yield on acquisition - with no need to sacrifice quality of property, location, tenant or environmental performance for income and with a greater share of value in 'bricks and mortar';
  • Greater diversification - spreading risk across more assets, locations and tenants and offering more stable cash flows; and
  • A higher income component of total return - driving out-performance with forecastable and predictable returns.

Success in achieving the Company's performance and sustainability objectives is, in part, measured by performance against key performance indicators set out in detail in the Financial review and ESG Committee reports respectively. The Principal risks and uncertainties section of the Strategic Report sets out potential risks in achieving the Company's objectives.

Richard Shepherd-Cross, Investment Manager, commented: "Our smaller-lot specialism has consistently delivered significantly higher yields with lower volatility without exposing shareholders to additional risk".

16 A risk score of two represents "lower than average risk".

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Growth strategy

The Board is committed to seeking further growth in the Company to increase the liquidity of its shares and reduce ongoing charges. Our growth strategy involves:

  • Organic growth through share issuance at a premium to NAV;
  • Broadening the Company's shareholder base, particularly through further penetration into online platforms;
  • Becoming the natural choice for private clients and wealth managers seeking to invest in UK real estate;
  • Taking investor market share from open-ended funds and peer group companies being wound-down; and
  • Strategic property portfolio acquisitions and corporate consolidation.

The Board ensures that property fundamentals are central to all decisions.

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Custodian REIT plc published this content on 13 June 2024 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 13 June 2024 08:39:04 UTC.