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Daejan Holdings PLC
Annual Report 2018

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FY2018 Annual Report · Daejan Holdings PLC
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dAEJAN
HOLDINGS PLC
Annual Report & Accounts
2 0 1 8

dAEJAN
HOLDINGS PLC
Annual Report & Accounts
2 0 1 8

CONTENTS

Chairman’s Introduction
Financial Highlights
Strategic Report
Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance Report
Audit Committee Report
Nominations Committee Report
Remuneration Committee Report
Directors’ Responsibilities Statement
Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Daejan Holdings PLC
Consolidated Income Statement
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Consolidated Balance Sheet
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Company Balance Sheet
Company Statement of Changes in Equity
Notes to the Company Financial Statements
Group Five-Year Record
Directors and Advisers
Notice of Meeting

2
3
4
30
35
39
41
42
47
49
58
59
59
60
61
62
88
89
90
93
94
95

Page 1

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

I am pleased to report on another year of sustained progress during which shareholders’ funds have
increased by 9.5% to £1,813 million (2017 – increase 11.9% to £1,656 million).

Against a background of difficult market conditions in the UK, the 5.9% (2017 – 7.2%) growth in the
value of our property portfolio is a creditable result.  Whilst we have seen a slowdown in the general
rate of increase in property values, a number of development projects in both the UK and USA have
neared completion and generated significant increases in value; these are discussed further in the
following pages. Once again we have seen stronger growth in dollar terms in the value of our USA
portfolio, 9.2% (2017 – 6.2%), particularly aided by the compression of rental yields.

Our  overall  rental  income  has  increased  by  4.6%  (2017  –  6.6%)  to  £131.3  million (2017  –
£125.5 million). The  increase  has  been  spread  across  a  wide  range  of  UK  and  USA  properties.
Unusually, in this year there were fewer ongoing schemes of major work with the result that service
charge income is well down on the previous period.

Outlook

Continuing political and economic uncertainty in the UK will provide a challenging environment for
the Group in the coming year.  Although the UK is due to leave the European Union in March 2019
the basis of departure and the arrangements which will follow are still completely unclear. Forecasts
of economic growth continue to be revised downwards. In contrast, the domestic economic outlook
in the USA is much more positive although this may be adversely impacted if a full blown tariff war
develops between the USA and its major trading partners.

We remain committed to the pursuit of long term growth in net asset value created by projects of
development  and  enhancement  designed  to  generate  significant  increases  in  rental  values.  The
timing of  major  projects  is  driven  by  general  economic  conditions,  planning  and  construction
timetables and does not necessarily align with the annual reporting cycle.

We are always long term in our approach and I remain confident that the pursuit of our tried and
tested strategy will ensure that the Group continues to progress.

Dividend

In keeping with our stated objective of prudent, sustained dividend growth, the Board is pleased to
propose an increase in the total dividend of 5p to 103p (2017 – 98p).

Our sincere thanks must go to those whose efforts have delivered these results.

B S E Freshwater
Chairman

Above, right and
contents page:
11 East Chase Street,
Baltimore, Maryland.
Front cover:
77 North Washington, 
Boston, Massachusetts. 
Inside front cover:
260 West End Avenue,
Manhattan, New York.
Opposite page
background:
427 West 51st Street,
Manhattan, New York.

Page 2

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

NET VALUATION GAIN

£146.4 million

(2017: £144.5 million)

PROFIT BEFORE TAX

£201.3 million(2017: £198.4 million)
£12.45

EARNINGS PER SHARE

(2017: £9.93)

SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS

£1,812.9 million

(2017: £1,655.7 million)

SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS PER SHARE

£111.25*

(2017: £101.61)*

GEARING

13.8%*

(2017: 14.6%)*

PROPOSED TOTAL DIVIDEND PER SHARE

103p

(2017: 98p)

*Definitions of these alternative performance measures are included on pages 20 to 22.

Page 3

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT 

Objectives

For many years we have focussed on the pursuit of the Group’s objective of achieving long term, low
risk growth in net asset value and rental income, and in prudently growing our dividends.

Net asset value per share (£)

Dividends per share (p)

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

Strategy

120

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018 

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

The strategy for achieving our objectives has three principal elements:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Management  of  our  property  portfolio  to  maximise  net  rental  income  and  thereby  enhance
capital values

Identification  and  completion  of  value  enhancing  development  opportunities  within  our
portfolio

Identification and completion of new property acquisitions which have the potential, through
development or otherwise, for long term enhancement to net asset value

In  pursuing  this  strategy  we  take  the  view  that  property  is  a  long  term  business  which  does  not
always fit conveniently into the annual reporting cycle. Development opportunities, in particular, can
take many years from first idea to first letting and will often involve substantial investment over a
period of years before any gain is achieved. We carefully monitor our exposure to ensure that the
impact on our resources remains manageable.

Business model

The  main  activity  of  the  Group,  as  carried  on  through  its  subsidiary  companies,  is  investment  in
commercial, industrial and residential property in the UK and also on the eastern seaboard of the USA.
The  Group  generally  holds  its  properties  for  the  long  term  in  order  to  generate  rental  income  and
capital appreciation although in the right circumstances any property could be available for sale.

The  Group  operates  a  substantially  outsourced  business  model. Day-to-day  management  of  the
Group’s  properties  in  the  UK  is  carried  out  by  Highdorn  Co. Limited  and  Freshwater  Property
Management Limited. These companies also provide the staff who carry out all of the UK functions
of the Group. Further details of the relationship with these companies are set out in Note 17 to the
financial statements.

Similar arrangements with local managing agents operate in the USA.

Managing risk

Whilst retaining an entrepreneurial culture, the Group has a low appetite for risk. This underpins our
approach to all aspects of the business and is appropriate to our strategic objective of delivering long
term, low risk growth in net asset value per share.

The Board has undertaken a robust assessment of the principal risks facing the Group, by reviewing
detailed risk  reports,  including  those risks threatening  its  business  model,  future  performance,
solvency and liquidity.

In  relation  to  financial  instrument  risk,  the  Group  operates  a  cautious  financial  policy  on  a  non-
speculative and long term basis in order to enable the Group to carry on its business in confidence
and with strength. The Group aims to ensure that the cost of capital is kept to a minimum through

Above and opposite
page top: 77 North
Washington, Boston,
Massachusetts.
Opposite page bottom:
11 East Chase Street,
Baltimore, Maryland.

Page 4

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

the  maintenance  of  its  many  long  standing  relationships  with  leading  banks  and  other  financial
institutions. The Group seeks to minimise the risk of sudden or unexpected rises in finance costs by
way of fixed rate debt and financial derivative instruments whilst retaining some flexibility in relation
to short term interest rates. As explained in Note 1(g) to the financial statements, the Group does not
hedge  account. Note  16  to  the  financial  statements  details  the  Group’s  exposure  to  the  various
financial instrument risks.

Managing risk has been central to the success of the Group over many years and in particular gearing
has been kept at a relatively low level for the property industry; currently gearing is 13.8% (2017 –
14.6%).

The Board recognises that, in common with all companies, it can only have limited control over many
of the external risks which it faces. The largest of such “uncontrollable” factors is the economic cycle
which has a major impact on the demand for and price of property and the ability of the Group to
achieve its strategic objectives.

The  principal  risks  facing  the  Group  are  described  in  the  following  paragraphs  together  with  the
steps which are taken to mitigate and manage them.

External risks

Economic outlook

The UK is facing a period of slowing economic growth and unprecedented political uncertainty. Special
mention must also be made of the additional level of uncertainty for business driven by the ongoing
Brexit negotiation process. Until some clarity emerges as to the nature of the UK’s on-going relationship
with the EU it will be difficult for businesses to plan for the future. Such circumstances increase the risk
of downward pressure on rental and capital values and an increase in vacancy rates and bad debts.

The USA continues to experience economic growth and sustained demand for commercial space and
residential accommodation.

This is the background which provides the risks and opportunities for our residential tenants and for
the businesses of our commercial tenants and their demand for space.

We seek to mitigate and manage such risk by:

(cid:2)

Continuous monitoring of the economic outlook

Right: 2160 Wallace,
The Bronx, New York.
Far right:
200 Portland Street,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Above and opposite
page bottom:
The St Paul Court,
3120 St Paul Street,
Baltimore, Maryland.
Opposite page top
left: 1010 St Paul
Street, Baltimore,
Maryland. Opposite
page top right: 2180
Wallace, The Bronx,
New York.

Page 6

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Continued maintenance of low gearing

Rigorous tenant covenant checks including independent assessments for major lettings. In the
case of smaller properties we undertake such checking as is appropriate

Enhanced rent collection effort to minimise the possibility of bad debts

Availability of finance on acceptable terms

In order to undertake significant acquisitions or projects of development and value enhancement
within  our  portfolio, the  Group  relies  in  part  on  funding  from  the  UK  and  USA  property  finance
market.  At present our experience shows that suitable finance can be obtained on acceptable terms.

Nevertheless any reduction in the availability of finance for property at an acceptable cost and for
an appropriate period would adversely affect the Group’s ability to undertake acquisitions and major
schemes of redevelopment and refurbishment.

We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Monitoring funding trends and the development of banking regulations

Sustaining relationships with our principal financing partners, both banks and other lending
institutions

Securing term finance facilities to meet our foreseeable requirements

Ensuring that the maturities of major loan arrangements are spread over a period of years

Movements in currency rates of exchange
With 25% by value of the Group’s property portfolio located in the USA, any significant movement
in the US dollar/sterling rate of exchange will impact our reported results.

The period since the decision to leave the EU has seen significant movement in the US dollar/sterling
rate of exchange.  The rise in the value of sterling relative to the US dollar in the financial year was

Properties in
Manhattan, New York.
Above: 670 Riverside
Drive. Right:
611 West 158th Street. 

Page 8

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

12% (2017 – 13% fall). This has had the effect of reducing the reported value of our USA net assets.
However,  the  average  exchange  rate  for  the  year  was  not  significantly  different  from  the  previous
period and its impact on reported USA profits is therefore not material.

We mitigate and manage this risk by:
(cid:2)

Funding  US  assets  by  US  dollar  borrowings  and  local  retained  earnings. This  means  that  the
impact of movements in the exchange rate is limited to accounting adjustments in the Group’s
consolidated accounts. An accounting loss of £29.8 million (2017 – gain of £29.1 million) arises
in reserves mainly on the re-translation of the opening net book value of assets in the USA 

(cid:2)

Incurring all costs used to generate US dollar rental income in US dollars

Regulation

Regulations aimed at the control of residential rental levels or shorthold tenancy arrangements could
have  an  adverse  impact  on  the  Group.  Similarly,  increased  regulation  on  building  standards
environmental, health and safety or planning matters could impose additional costs.

We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by:
(cid:2)

Careful monitoring of developments in legislation with the help of our professional advisers

Catastrophic events

The operations of the Group could be adversely affected by a significant catastrophe such as extreme
weather, fire, cyber-attack, civil disturbance or terrorism which could result in the loss of any of our
principal buildings or offices and the records stored in them.

We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by:
(cid:2)

Insuring buildings with third parties

(cid:2)

Physical building security

Properties in
Manhattan, New York.
Far Left:
The Franconia,
20 West 72nd Street.
Left: 260 West End
Avenue.

Page 9

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Fireproof storage of leases and other documents of title

Dispersal of business critical IT systems and enhanced data security measures

Tenant default

Tenant default constitutes a risk to income and, ultimately, to capital value. The multi-tenanted nature
of the portfolio, with rental income derived from numerous properties, provides a natural measure
of protection against the risk of individual default. In recent times we have seen the contraction or
collapse of several high profile retail chains. The pressures facing UK high street outlets are likely to
continue. However, our portfolio is not significantly exposed to the risk of any single retail tenant.

In addition, we seek to mitigate and manage this risk by:
(cid:2)

Seeking tenants with strong covenants

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Credit checks on new tenants including independent assessments for major lettings

Careful monitoring of tenants showing signs of financial stress

Actively using recovery mechanisms for overdue debts

Internal risks
Regional concentration in UK portfolio
Within the UK the majority of our properties are situated in and around the London area. In recent
years the increase in value of our UK portfolio has been almost entirely derived from the London area
which has enjoyed a period of well publicised growth. A slowdown in the London market such as has
occurred  over  the  last  year  will  significantly  reduce  the  net  annual  revaluation  uplifts  in  the  UK
portfolio.  Changes in aggregate property value have a direct impact on the net worth of the Group.

We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by:
(cid:2)

Continuing to invest in the USA

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Regular  monitoring  of  the  property  market  for  opportunities,  not  just  in  London  but
throughout the UK

Regular professional revaluations by our independent surveyors in the UK and USA

Above, left and
opposite page top:
Park Street, Taunton,
Somerset. Opposite
page bottom: newly
completed development
at Thorncliffe Court,
Clapham, London SW4.

Page 11

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

Acquisitions

The Group seeks well priced acquisitions which will meet the strategic objective of adding long term,
low risk growth in net asset value. The Group’s oft stated aversion to undue risk means that in a period
of economic and political uncertainty, opportunities for acquisition will be approached with extreme
caution. There is nevertheless a risk that an inappropriate or ill-judged acquisition could destroy value.

We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by:
(cid:2)

Rigorous pre-acquisition screening of all buying opportunities and appropriate due diligence

Development

The Group continues to seek development opportunities, principally from within the portfolio but
also elsewhere. Development provides an opportunity to enhance income and net asset values but
carries risk as to planning, construction timing, costs and letting.

We seek to mitigate and manage these risks by:
(cid:2)

Rigorous  screening  of  all  development  opportunities  including  external  professional  advice
and, where appropriate, market research

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Seeking fixed price contracts with building contractors

Focusing on a limited number of developments at any one time

Close monitoring, together with our external advisers, of active developments

People

The Group relies heavily on the involvement of key executive directors in both strategic and day-to-
day affairs. Loss of this involvement would be disruptive to business.

Properties in Finchley
Road, London NW11.
Above: Dudley Court.
Opposite page top
left: Dudley Court, top
right: Montrose Court,
bottom: Clarendon
Court.

Right: progress on the
Travelodge Hotel,
Aldgate, London E1.

Page 12

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

Analysis by property type

Property UK

Residential
£776.2m

Commercial
£1,023.1m

Property USA

Residential
£505.3m

Commercial
£87.1m

Travelodge Hotel,
Aldgate, London E1.
Background: in
progress June 2018,
above: artist’s
impression of the
finished project.

Page 14

Commercial Property UK

Land &
Development
£60.7m

Industrial
£39.3m

Offices
£361.7m

Commercial Property USA

Retail
£3.3m

Offices
£83.8m

Leisure &
Services
£142.8m

Retail
£418.6m

Analysis by location

UK Valuations

USA Valuations

North &
Scotland
£49.1m

Wales &
West
£58.6m

Greater
London
£1,450.8m

Midlands &
East Anglia
£90.6m

South East
£150.2m

Pennsylvania
£44.3m

Baltimore
£25.5m

New York
£297.8m

New Jersey
£41.3m

Boston
£80.8m

Florida
£102.7m

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

We have sought to mitigate and manage this risk by:
(cid:2)

The appointment of new directors from the next generation of the Freshwater family

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

The appointment of independent non-executive directors

The establishment of a strong Group management team to support the executive directors

Investment properties
A professional valuation of all of the Group’s properties was carried out at 31 March 2018. The UK
properties were valued by Colliers International Property Advisers UK LLP, Chartered Surveyors. In
the USA, properties were valued by Joseph J. Blake and Associates, Inc. and Metropolitan Valuation
Services, Inc. both of which are Certified General Real Estate Appraisers.

The table below shows a summary of the valuation of our investment property at 31 March 2018:

Commercial property
UK
USA
Residential property
UK
USA

Total

Valuation Percentage
change
in year

March 2018
£m

1,023.1
87.1

776.2
505.3

2,391.7

+7.6%
+3.0%

+8.2%
-2.4%

+5.3%

Whilst the percentage changes shown above, in the main, are attributable to net surpluses arising on
revaluation, they also include movements resulting from purchases, capital expenditure, disposals and
changes in currency rates of exchange. This is shown in the analysis below:

Opening valuation
New acquisitions
Additions to existing properties
Disposals

Revaluation gain
Foreign exchange (loss)/gain

Closing valuation*

2018
£m

2,256.8
1.1
39.6
(4.1)

2,293.4
146.4
(66.6)

2,373.2

2017
£m

2,009.4
0.5
29.7
(1.2)

2,038.4
144.5
73.9

2,256.8

*In this table and in the financial statements, the total valuation of £2,391.7 million (2017 – £2,271.1 million) has been reduced
by an amount of £18.6 million (2017 – £14.3 million) relating to lease incentives, as required by accounting standards – see Note 9
to the consolidated financial statements.

This  year  the  £48.9 million  valuation  uplift  on  USA  properties  is  more  than  offset  by  the  foreign
exchange loss of £66.6 million arising on translation.

The market sentiment at the start of the year was that in the UK we were at, or about at, the peak of
the property cycle. Whilst modest general valuation gains might continue, significant uplifts would be
dependent  upon  the  completion  of  successful  developments,  rent  reviews  and  lettings. This  has
proved to be the case with our three principal projects, the Travelodge Hotel, Central Park in Brighton
and Balham High Road, adding in aggregate some £50 million to the overall 5.9% valuation increase in
the UK property portfolio. We have also seen a significant increase in the value of the development
site adjacent to the hotel development in Aldgate, on the eastern fringe of the City of London.

Percentages calculated as
net valuation gains on
investment properties
divided by prior year
investment property value
(Note 2) which for the USA
is adjusted by the foreign
exchange movement
(Note 9).

Page 15

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

The  reduction  of  foreign  investment  interest  has  had  a  depressive  effect  on  some  commercial  and
residential  values  in central  London.  Residential  values  in  outer  London  were  largely  flat. The  UK
outside the M25 showed modest gains with some residential hot spots doing well.  Shortage of supply
of commercial, industrial and warehousing property generated some positive movement.  Well let and
located  commercial  properties  continued  to  attract  favourable  yields. In  the  USA,  pressure  from
investors  saw  yields  compressed  with  a  positive  effect  on  valuations;  this  together  with  the
refurbishment and reletting of our Portland Street, Boston office property generated an overall uplift
in US dollar terms of 9.2% in our USA portfolio.

Acquisitions and Developments
In the UK our development efforts have been concentrated in the following areas:

Hotel Development 
The project to develop a 395 bedroom hotel for Travelodge on our site in Aldgate on the eastern fringe
of the City of London, at a cost of some £31 million, is now complete and was handed over in July
2018.

Central Park
The conversion of the office block Prestamex House, Brighton into 63 flats is nearing completion and
marketing of a show flat has commenced.

Balham High Road
This project has successfully reconfigured an existing building, added a new floor to create a total of
nine new flats and a new retail unit which has been let to the Co-op.

During the coming year, work will continue on the flat development programme mentioned in last
year’s report which will cumulatively over several years add some 250 new residential units to our
portfolio.

Preliminary work continued throughout the year on the planning of our Oxford Street site. This is a
large and complex project and it is currently hoped that planning consent will be obtained next year. 

Above and left:
Glenloch Court,
London NW3. 
Opposite page: Oslo
Court, London NW8.

Page 17

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

In the USA the largest project was improvement work to our office block in Portland Street, Boston
costing  $6  million.   The  work  was  undertaken  with  input  from WeWork,  the  serviced  office  space
provider, who have taken a 15 year lease on four floors.

There have been no significant new property acquisitions in the year.

Results for the year 
The  profit  before  taxation  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2018  amounts  to  £201.3 million  (2017  –
£198.4  million). The  result  includes  a  net  valuation  gain  of  £146.4 million  arising  on  investment
properties (2017 – £144.5 million).

The  table  below  shows  the  performance  of  our  core  rental  business  before  and  after  valuation
movements:

Total rental and related income from investment property

Property operating expenses

Net rental and related income from investment property

Profit on disposals of investment property

Administrative expenses

Net operating profit before net valuation gains

Net valuation gains on investment property

Net financing expense

Profit before taxation

2018
£m

142.9

(76.4)

66.5

11.9

2017
£m

140.7

(75.9)

64.8

14.6

(13.3)

(12.6)

65.1

146.4

66.8

144.5

(10.2)

(12.9)

201.3

198.4

Overall we have seen an increase of £5.8 million in rental income, equivalent to 4.6% (2017 – 6.6%).
In the UK the increase was 5.5% reflecting a reduction in the number of vacant residential units, a
full year’s rental for new commercial lettings made last year as well as new commercial lettings in
the  current  year.  In  the  USA  we  achieved  rental  growth  across  the portfolio  with  our  Boston
properties performing particularly well.

Service  charge  income  is  driven  by  the  major  works  programmes  undertaken  in  the  period. This
year, unusually, there were fewer ongoing major works and this is reflected in the reduced level of
service charge income, which fell £3.7 million to £11.6 million.

Property expenses have remained at the level of the previous year.  The reduction in expenditure on
major  works  programmes  has  been  offset  by  increased  refurbishment  expenditure  on  previously
vacant units to enable reletting. In the USA our letting commission costs increased due to several
new and negotiated commercial lettings.

Once again the profit on disposal derives almost entirely from the sale of lease extensions in the UK.
On  certain  buildings  where  we  own  the  freehold,  long  leasehold  interests  on  some  flats  were
previously sold.  When the long leaseholders extend the length of their lease they pay us a premium
and the Group has no control over when these extensions may occur.

The  net  finance  costs  have  reduced  this  year  principally  as  a  result  of  the  fair  value  gain  of
£1.9 million (2017 – £0.1 million) arising on the revaluation of our financial instruments.

In the USA our applicable tax rate has been reduced from 40% to 28%. The change in tax rate has
resulted in a release from the provision for deferred taxation of £39.9 million.  After other current
and  deferred  tax  charges  this  produces  an  overall  credit  for  the  year  of  £1.7 million  (2017  –
£36.3 million charge).

Progress on Central
Park, Brighton, East
Sussex (formerly
known as Prestamex
House). Opposite
page top left: May
2017. Above, opposite
page top right and
bottom: May 2018.

Page 19

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

Earnings per share
This year earnings per share stands at £12.45 (2017 – £9.93) an increase of 25.4%.

£

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

2014

2015

2016

2017

 2018

This increase in earnings per share is primarily attributable to the release of deferred tax provisions
following changes in USA tax legislation.

Underlying profit before tax
The  profit  reported  in  the  financial  statements  has  for  some  years  included  property  revaluation
movements  and  fair  value  adjustments  to  financial  instruments. In  addition  to  this  measure  of
performance we also focus on “underlying profits before tax” which do not include these valuation
items. Underlying profit before tax for the last two years are set out below:

Profit before tax per the income statement 

Property valuation surplus 

Financial instruments fair value adjustments 

Adjustment to measurement of disposal profits (Note 9)

Underlying profit before tax 

2018
£m

201.3

2017
£m

198.4

(146.4)

(144.5)

(1.9)

1.9

54.9

(0.1)

1.0

54.8

This year’s underlying profit before tax of £54.9 million is at a similar level to the previous year.

Underlying profit before tax represents that element of our reported results which has actually been
realised and is not dependent on valuation judgements. It represents the performance of our core
rental business together with disposal profits which tend to fluctuate from year to year.

It is our underlying profit before tax which generates the cash we use to re-invest in the business and
to pay dividends and taxes.

Gearing
Gearing,  the  ratio  between  our  loans  and  borrowings  and  the  value  of  our  total  assets,  is 13.8%
(2017 – 14.6%) for the Group as a whole. In the UK the ratio is 6.7% (2017 – 6.5%) whilst in the USA,
where each property is financed separately on a ring-fenced basis, it is 33.3% (2017 – 35.8%).

Above and opposite
page: Africa House,
Kingsway, London
WC2.

As  the  majority  of  our  loans  and  borrowings  are  secured  on  our  investment  property  assets,  our
gearing ratio is useful as it indicates our capacity to borrow further to invest in our business and also
shows the level of headroom we have in case of adverse property valuation movements.

Page 20

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

Shareholders’ funds
At  31  March  2018  shareholders’  funds  amounted  to  £1,812.9 million,  an  increase  of 9.5%  on  last
year’s figure of £1,655.7 million. Shareholders’ funds have grown in recent years as follows:

n
o
i
l
l
i

m
£

2,000

1,800

1,600

1,400

1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018 

Shareholders’ funds per share is calculated by dividing total equity attributable to equity holders of
the  parent company by  the  weighted  average  shares  in  issue  during  the  year. We  believe  this  is  a
useful measure as it reflects the fair value of the investment property we hold. For this reason it is a
common measure used in the property industry.

Dividend
The  proposed  total  dividend  for  the  year  of 103p  per  share  represents  an  increase  of 5.1%
(2017 – 98p).

Below: Barons Court,
Kingsbury,
London NW9.

Outlook

The  Chairman’s  Introduction  on  page  2  describes  the  economic  and  political  factors  which  will
affect the Group in the coming year.  We are in a period when the UK market generally is flat and

Page 22

 
DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

This page and
opposite page top:
recently completed
development at
163 Abbey Foregate,
Shrewsbury,
Shropshire.

Page 23

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

likely to produce only modest valuation gains at best. We will therefore continue our focus on the
enhancement  of  our  rent  roll  in  order  to  increase  income  and  capital  growth.  It  is  the  nature  of
programmes of development and enhancement that they tend to span more than one accounting
period and may take some time to bring to fruition; we are comfortable taking a long term, low risk
approach to growing net asset value. In the immediate future we are unlikely to experience the rate
of growth in net asset values that we have enjoyed in recent years.

Preparatory and planning work will continue on the block of properties which we have assembled
at the eastern end of Oxford Street WC1. This is a large and complex project and construction work
is unlikely to commence until 2020.

In addition the flat development programme will continue with the aim, over a number of years, of
adding a total of 250 units to our portfolio. The exact timing and speed with which we pursue these
opportunities will be influenced by general economic and market conditions.

In  the  USA  we  continue  to  seek  acquisition  opportunities  and,  whenever  possible,  to  refinance
existing  properties  at  more  advantageous  rates.  There  is  strong  competition  for  worthwhile
opportunities but we stick to our rigorous selection criteria and are prepared to wait for the right
transaction.

Above and below:
Barclays House,
Crawley, Sussex.

Employees
The day-to-day  activities  are  outsourced  to  management  companies  which  are  responsible  for  the
provision  of  the  services  of  the  staff  on  which  we  rely  to  run  the  business. As  part  of  the
arrangements with the management companies in the UK, those individuals engaged on the Group’s

Page 24

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

affairs hold joint employment contracts but the management companies retain sole responsibility
for setting recruitment, employment, training, health and safety, diversity and human rights policies
for their staff. Whilst the Group supports and encourages good practice in all of these areas, detailed
responsibility  for  the  establishment  and  execution  of  such  policies  lies  with  the  management
companies. As  a  result,  this  report  does  not  contain  the  kind  of  information  mentioned  in the
Companies Act 2006 s414C (7)(b)(ii) and (iii).

So far as health and safety is concerned, the Board recognises the importance of ensuring that our
properties  provide  a  safe  and  healthy  environment  for  all  users. With  this  in  mind  the  Board  has
requested that the management companies ensure that:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

All their employees  receive  appropriate  training  in  the  identification  and  management  of
health  and  safety  risks. Every  employee  is  required  to  be  familiar  with  health  and  safety
policies and has responsibility for ensuring that they are followed in their area of work

Regular cyclical risk assessments are undertaken by external consultants on all properties for
which the Group has responsibility. A dedicated team is tasked with resolving issues raised by
such assessments and with monitoring policy compliance

To ensure that an awareness of the importance of this issue continues at the highest level within the
Group, health and safety reviews are periodically presented at Board level.

All Directors of the Company are male and no new recruitment to the Board is planned which would
cause this to change in the near future.

Above and below:
Talgarth Mansions,
London W4.

Page 25

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

Community
The Group has long recognised the importance of supporting the communities in which we operate.
Many  companies  encourage  and  facilitate  their  employees  to  donate  their  time  and  efforts  to
community projects; because our staffing is outsourced this route is not available to us. Our support
therefore takes the following forms:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Donations,  largely  to  educational  charities,  which this  year amounted  to  £196,000 (2017  –
£151,000)

Dividends  on  donated  shares following  the  donation  some  years  ago  to  charities  of  shares
representing  6.3%  of  the  capital  of  the  Company with dividend  payments  in  the  year  of
£1,001,386 (2017 – £960,659) being passed to charitable companies

Environment
As mentioned above, all the staff engaged in the business and who control our buildings are provided
by management companies.We do not have responsibility for the greenhouse gas emissions related
to the employment of those people. The greenhouse gas emissions arising from our let properties
are the responsibility of our tenants.

In  consequence,  we  have  no  disclosures  to  make  in  relation  to  greenhouse  gas  emissions  and
therefore this report does not contain information of the kind mentioned in Part 7 of the Companies
Act 2006 (Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013.

The  scope  for  enhancing  the  environmental  standards  across  the  majority  of  our  properties  is
limited. In the main they were constructed before the advent of modern standards and it would be
neither  practically  nor  economically  feasible  to  undertake  a  complete  upgrade  to  meet  modern
requirements. However, we do take the opportunities which arise each year as part of programmes
of repair and refurbishment to improve the energy efficiency of our buildings and the plant therein.

When we undertake new developments or major schemes of refurbishment we strive to achieve the
highest environmental and sustainability standards consistent with the nature of the building and the
scheme being undertaken. So, for example, as previously reported the hotel which we are developing
for Travelodge has been designed to achieve a BREEAM excellent rating. The environmental features
include combined heat and power for energy efficiency, management of surface water run-off, energy
efficient lighting, and the use of recycled aggregates and sustainably sourced construction materials.

Above and opposite
page: Grove Hall
Court, London NW8.
Right: New College
Court, London NW3.
Far Right: Vincent
Court, London NW4.

Page 26

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

STRATEGIC REPORT  continued

Viability statement
In  accordance  with  provision  C.2.2  of  the  2016 UK  Corporate  Governance  Code,  the  Directors
appointed a team led by senior management to assist the Board in undertaking a viability assessment.
A thorough review has been undertaken of the Group’s current financial, strategic and operational
position,  the  Board’s  future  plans  for  the  business  and  the  principal  risks  faced  by  the  Group,
described on pages 6 to 15 of the Strategic Report.

The Directors consider that five years remains an appropriate time horizon for assessing the longer-
term viability of the business and this is consistent with the period which has been used for strategic
planning.

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

The Group has a low risk, balanced portfolio of properties, with many commercial properties
occupied  by  tenants  with  long  leases.  Based  on  current  trends,  the  Directors  continue  to
believe that the Group will be able to grant short term leases on residential properties and new
leases on commercial properties at comparable rents for at least five more years.

The  Group  utilises  external  funding  and  has  available  and  committed  facilities  which  are
spread over a period of years. Most bank finance is available for an initial term of five years and
82.9%  of  the  Group’s  current  facilities  mature during  or  beyond March  2022.  Discussions
regarding the renewal or replacement of facilities occur in advance of their maturity.

Assessment  of  the  Group’s  viability  over  the  next  five  years  included  stress  testing  key  business
metrics  with  what  is  considered  the  plausible  worst-case  potential  impact  of  the  principal  risks.
Whilst carrying out this assessment, the strength and effectiveness of the controls in place to mitigate
risks were considered.

In determining what should be regarded as the plausible worst-case impact, the Board and senior
management  team  have  considered  in  detail  and  sought  advice  on  the  potential  impact  to  UK
property  prices,  demand  for  UK  property  and  the  associated  impact  on  rents  and  yields,  and  the
willingness of financial institutions to lend to UK property companies. Particular attention was given
to the potential impact of an unfavourable Brexit agreement and the possible consequences of the
current political climate within the UK and the USA. Headroom on loan covenants have been stress-
tested, the maturities of loan agreements reviewed and a five-year cash flow forecast produced.

The Directors confirm that, based on the analysis, they have a reasonable expectation that the Group
can  continue  to  operate  and  meet  its  liabilities  as  they  fall  due  over  the  five-year  period  of  their
assessment.

By order of the Board
M R M Jenner
Company Secretary 
20 July 2018

Above and right:
Jeffries Passage,
Guildford, Surrey.
Opposite page:
11 East Chase Street,
Baltimore, Maryland.

Page 28

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ REPORT 

Strategic Report

The Company’s Strategic Report for the year ended 31 March 2018 is set out on pages 4 to 28 and
contains the following information:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

The principal activities of the Group

The business review of the Group

An indication of the future developments of the Group

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the business, including those relating to financial
instruments

Employee and environmental disclosures including those related to greenhouse gas emissions

Results and Dividend

The profit for the year amounted to £203.0 million (2017 – £162.1 million). An interim dividend of
35p per share was paid on 9 March 2018 and the Directors now recommend the payment of a final
dividend of 68p per share, making a total for the year of 103p per share (2017 – 98p per share).

The  dividend,  if  approved,  will  be  paid  on 2 November  2018  to  shareholders  on  the  register  on
5 October 2018.

Directors

The Directors who served throughout the year, except as indicated below, and who are still in office,
are:
Mr B S E Freshwater
Mr S I Freshwater
Mr S B Benaim 
Mr D Davis
Mr A M Freshwater (USA)
Mr C B Freshwater (Appointed 4 July 2017)
Mr R E Freshwater
Mr S Srulowitz (USA) (Appointed 4 July 2017)

Brief biographies of the Directors are as follows:

Mr B S E Freshwater. Aged 70 – Joined the Board in December 1971 with primary responsibility for
the  Group’s  finances.  In  July  1976  he  was  appointed  Managing  Director  and,  additionally,  became
Chairman in July 1980.

Mr S I Freshwater. Aged 67 – Directs the Group’s operations in the USA and also has responsibility
for the Group’s UK sales division. He has been a Director of the Company since January 1986.

Mr  S  B  Benaim. Aged  62  – Was  appointed  to  the  Board in January  2017 and  is  an  independent
non-executive  director.  He  was  formerly  Global  Head  of  Real  Estate  at  accountancy  firm  BDO.

Mr D Davis. Aged 83 – Previously a partner in Cohen Arnold, the Group’s consulting accountants. He
relinquished  his  partnership  in  1971  in  order  to  devote  more  time  to  his  numerous  business  and
other interests. He has been a non-executive Director of the Company since December 1971.

Page 30

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

Mr  A  M  Freshwater.  Aged  47  –  He  is  resident  in  the  UK  and  sits  as  an  Arbitrator  in  complex
commercial disputes. He is a potential beneficiary of trusts and a trustee of certain other trusts with
substantial  holdings  of  the  Company’s  equity. He  was  appointed  to  the  Board  as  a  non-executive
director in July 2010.

Mr  C  B  Freshwater. Aged  46  – Was  appointed  to  the  Board  as  a non-executive  Director  on  4  July
2017.  He  currently  lectures  at  a  London  college. He  is  an  actual  and  a  potential  beneficiary  of
trusts  and  a  trustee  of  certain  other  trusts  with  substantial  holdings  of  the  Company’s  equity.

Mr R E Freshwater. Aged 48 – He is currently pursuing an academic career and lectures to graduate
students. He is an actual and a potential beneficiary of trusts and a trustee of certain other trusts with
substantial  holdings  of  the  Company’s  equity. He  was  appointed  to  the Board  as  a  non-executive
director in July 2010.

Mr  S  Srulowitz.  Aged  66  – Was  appointed  to  the  Board on  4  July  2017 and  is  an  independent
non-executive director. He is currently the Managing Partner of Sonnenschein, Sherman & Deutsch
in  New York,  a  member  of  the American  Bar Association  and  the  New York  State  Bar Association.

The  rules  governing  the  election  and  re-election  of  Directors  are  set  out  in  the  Corporate
Governance  Report  on  page 36. The  powers  of  Directors  of  the  Company  are  as  set  out  in  the
Company’s articles of association. During the year, the Company did not purchase any shares.

Directors’ Interests in Transactions

Day-to-day management of the Group’s properties and its operations in the UK is mainly carried out
by Highdorn Co. Limited and by Freshwater Property Management Limited. Mr B S E Freshwater and
Mr S I  Freshwater  are  Directors  of  both  companies. They  have  no  direct  beneficial  interest  in  the
share capital of Highdorn Co. Limited. Mr B S E Freshwater, Mr S I Freshwater and Mr D Davis are also
Directors of the parent company of Freshwater Property Management Limited but have no beneficial
interest in either company. Mr C B Freshwater and Mr R E Freshwater have a beneficial interest in a
trust holding interests in shares in Highdorn Co. Limited.

Details of the amounts paid for the provision of these services are set out in Note 17 to the financial
statements.

Share Capital and Substantial Directors’ and other Shareholdings

The structure of the Company’s share capital, including the rights and obligations attaching to the
shares, is given in Note 13 to the financial statements.

Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company are as follows:

B S E Freshwater
S I Freshwater
S B Benaim
D Davis
A M Freshwater
C B Freshwater
R E Freshwater
S Srulowitz

(Notes 1, 2, 3 & 4)
(Notes 2, 3 & 4)

(Notes 2 & 3)
(Notes 2 & 3)
(Notes 2 & 3)
(Notes 2 & 3)

Daejan Holdings PLC Ordinary Shares
31 March
31 March
2017
2018

340,033
89,270
–
763
–
–
–
–

340,033
89,270
–
763
–
–
–
–

Page 31

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ REPORT  continued

Notes:

1.

2.

3.

All the holdings shown in the table on page 31 were beneficially owned. Mr B S E Freshwater’s shareholding
represents 2.1% of the issued share capital of the Company.
A  further  2,908,116  shares  (2017  –  2,908,116)  representing  17.8%  of  the  issued  share  capital  of  the
Company were held by Freshwater family trusts and by charitable companies in which Mr B S E Freshwater,
Mr S I Freshwater, Mr D Davis and Mr A M Freshwater have no beneficial interest. Mr S I Freshwater and
Mr A M Freshwater are trustees of a trust which owns 250,000 shares representing 1.5% of the issued share
capital of the Company. Mr C B Freshwater and Mr R E Freshwater have a beneficial interest in certain trusts
referred to in this Note 2 which together hold 326,294 shares, representing 2.0% of the issued share capital
of the Company.
In addition to the holdings shown in the table and in Note 2 above, companies owned and controlled by
Mr B S E  Freshwater,  Mr  S  I  Freshwater,  their  families  and  family  trusts,  held  at  31  March  2018 a  total  of
7,876,431  shares  (2017  –  7,876,431)  representing  48.3%  of  the  issued  share  capital  of  the  Company.
Mr D Davis and Mr A M Freshwater have a non-beneficial interest in some of these shares, either as a Director
of the companies concerned, or as a trustee. Mr C B Freshwater and Mr R E Freshwater have a beneficial
interest  in  certain  trusts  included  in  this  Note  3  which  indirectly  have  interests  in  3,774,853  shares,
representing 23.2% of the issued share capital of the Company.

4. Of these shares 89,270 are held by a company owned jointly by Mr B S E Freshwater and Mr S I Freshwater.

Included in Notes 2 and 3 above are the following holdings at 31 March 2018, each amounting to 3%
or more of the Company’s issued share capital:

Henry Davies (Holborn) Limited
Trustees of the S I Freshwater Settlement
Distinctive Investments Limited
Quoted Securities Limited
Centremanor Limited
Mayfair Charities Limited
Tabard Property Investment Company Limited

Shares
1,934,090
1,560,000
1,464,550
1,305,631
1,000,000
565,000
500,000

%
11.9
9.6
9.0
8.0
6.1
3.5
3.1

In addition, the Company has been notified of the following substantial interests in its issued share
capital at 31 March 2018:

Valand Investments Limited
Silda 2 Limited

Shares
1,000,000
705,000

%
6.1
4.3

The Company is not aware of any changes to any of the above interests from 31 March 2018 up to
the date of signing this report.

Relationship agreement with controlling shareholders

Any person who exercises or controls on their own or together with any person with whom they
are acting in concert, 30% or more of the votes able to be cast on all or substantially all matters at
general  meetings  of  a  company  are  known  as ‘controlling  shareholders’. The  Financial  Conduct
Authority’s Listing Rules require companies with controlling shareholders to enter into a written and
legally  binding  agreement  which  is  intended  to  ensure  that  the  controlling  shareholder  complies
with certain independence provisions. The agreement must contain undertakings that:

(a)

(b)

transactions  and  arrangements  with  the  controlling  shareholders  (and/or  any  of  their
associates) will be conducted at arm’s length and on normal commercial terms;

neither the controlling shareholders nor any of their associates will take any action that would
have the effect of preventing the listed company from complying with its obligations under the
Listing Rules; and

Page 32

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

(c)

neither the controlling shareholders nor any of their associates will propose or procure the
proposal of a shareholder resolution which is intended to circumvent proper application of
the Listing Rules.

The Board confirms that in accordance with the Listing Rules, on 14 November 2014, the Company
entered into such an agreement with:

Centremanor Limited
Linnet Limited
Highdorn Co. Limited
B S E Freshwater
S I Freshwater
D Davis
R E Freshwater
A M Freshwater

who  together  with  their  related  companies  and  trusts  comprise  controlling  shareholders  of  the
Company with a combined total holding of approximately 79.5% of the Company’s voting rights.

The  Board  confirms  that,  since  the  entry  into  the  Relationship Agreement  on  14  November  2014
until 20 July 2018, being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of the annual report and
accounts:

(1)

(2)

(3)

the Company has complied with the independence provisions included in the Relationship
Agreement;

so  far  as  the  Company  is  aware,  the  independence  provisions  included  in  the  Relationship
Agreement have been complied with by all of the other parties to the Relationship Agreement
and their associates and;

so far as the Company is aware, the other parties to the Relationship Agreement have procured
compliance with the independence provisions in the Relationship Agreement by their related
companies and their associates.

Corporate Governance

This  report  combines  by  reference  the  Corporate  Governance  Report  on  pages 35 to 38,  which
includes a statement on going concern.

Change of Control 

Part 6 of Schedule 7 of the Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports)
Regulations  2008  requires  the  Company  to  identify  those  significant  agreements  to  which  the
Company  is  party  that  take  effect,  alter  or  terminate  upon  a  change  of  control  of  the  Company
following a takeover bid and the effects of any such agreements.

The Group has seven bank loan and mortgage facilities which contain change-of-control clauses. Five
of these facilities require the prior written consent of the lender to a change of control over the
parent  company,  without  which  such  change  of  control  would  constitute  an  event  of  default. A
change of control under the remaining two facilities would similarly constitute an event of default
but  no  provision  is  made  for  the  prior  written  consent  of  the  lender. At  31 March  2018,  these

Page 33

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ REPORT  continued

facilities  represented  £112.5 million  (2017  – £113.9  million)  of  the  loans  and  borrowings  in  the
financial statements and undrawn facilities of £45.0 million (2017 – £48.4 million).

Auditor

The Company’s auditor, KPMG LLP, has expressed its willingness to continue in office. In accordance
with Section 489 of the Companies Act, a resolution for the appointment of KPMG LLP as auditor of
the Company, and to authorise the Directors to determine its remuneration, is to be proposed at the
forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

Statement of Disclosure of Information to the Auditor

The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this Directors’ Report confirm that, so far as
they  each  are  aware  there  is  no  relevant  audit  information  of  which  the  Company’s  auditor is
unaware,  and  each  Director  has  taken  all  the  steps  he  ought  to  have  taken  as  a  Director  to  make
himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware
of that information.

By order of the Board

M R M Jenner
Secretary

20 July 2018

Page 34

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT  

Overview

The  Board  is  required  to  report  on  the  extent  of  its  application  of  the  principles  and  of  its
compliance  with  the  provisions  contained  in  the  2016  UK  Corporate  Governance  Code  (“the
Code”).

The Board reviews each year the extent to which it is compliant with the Code and considers any
changes which might be necessary in the light of developments in the principles and provisions of
the Code and in the context of the needs of the Group’s business.

During  the  year  we  did  not  comply  with  certain  provisions  of  the  Code  in  connection  with  non-
executive representation on the Board. The Board has previously shared responsibility for all facets
of  the  Company’s  business,  without  reserving  areas  of  decision  making  solely  for  non-executive
Directors or sub-committees, with those matters which the Code recommends should be reserved
for audit, nomination and remuneration committees being dealt with by the entire Board. However,
during  the  year  and  in  accordance  with  the  Code,  the  Board  decided  to establish formal  audit,
nominations and remuneration committees. Further details of these are included on pages 39 to 46.
Given the extensive experience and knowledge of the Group possessed by the current Chairman it
is  not  considered  necessary  to  split  the  roles  of  Chairman  and  Chief  Executive.  The  Group’s
independent  non-executive  directors  provide  some  checks  on  this  joint  arrangement.  Executive
remuneration is not directly related to performance, but a link is established by virtue of executive
remuneration not being agreed upon until after the results for the year are known.

The Board

The Group is controlled through the Company’s Board of Directors. The Board’s main roles are to
create  value  for  shareholders,  to  provide  entrepreneurial  leadership  of  the  Group,  to  approve  the
Group’s strategic objectives and to ensure that the necessary financial and other resources are made
available to enable those objectives to be met.

The Board meets regularly throughout the year on both a formal and informal basis. Comprehensive
management information covering all aspects of the Group’s business is supplied to the Board in a
timely manner and in a form and quality which enables it to discharge its duties. The Board’s principal
focus,  in  accordance  with  the  formal  schedule  of  matters  referred  to  it  for  decision,  is  on  the
formation of strategy and the monitoring and control of operations and financial performance. The
performance of the Board, its committees and individual directors is kept under constant review by
the Chairman and therefore it is not considered necessary to undertake a more formal process of
evaluation, either internally or externally. All directors have access to the Company Secretary who is
responsible for ensuring compliance with the Board procedures. The Board has agreed a procedure
for directors in the furtherance of their duties to take independent professional advice, if necessary,
at the Company’s expense.All directors are briefed by the Chairman of the views, and any changes
to them, of the major shareholders.

The Chairman of each of the Audit, Nominations and Remuneration Committees formally report to
the Board on matters discussed at, decisions made at and any recommended actions arising from,
meetings of these sub-committees.

The Board consults on a regular basis with the Group’s external auditor and is charged with ensuring
that its objectivity and independence is safeguarded.

Page 35

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT  continued

The  entire  Board  is  responsible  for  the  approval  of  candidates  for  appointment  to  the  Board,
following recommendations from the Nominations Committee.

All  Directors  retire  and  submit  themselves  for  re-election  to  shareholders  at  the Annual  General
Meeting each year.

During  the  year  there  were  three  full formal  board  meetings  attended  by  all  Directors,  except
Mr C B Freshwater and Mr S I Freshwater who were each unable to attend one meeting.

Directors and Directors’ Independence

The  Board  currently  comprises  the  Chairman,  who  acts  in  an  executive  capacity,  one  further
executive Director and six non-executive Directors. The names of the Directors together with their
biographical  details  are  set  out  on  pages 30 and 31.  Mr A M Freshwater,  Mr  C  B Freshwater  and
Mr R E Freshwater  are  not  independent  by  virtue  of  their  membership  of  the  Freshwater  family.
The Board  acknowledges  that,  in  view  of  his  length  of  service,  Mr  D  Davis  is  technically  not
independent.

Financial Reporting

The Board has ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the Group’s financial reporting obligations
and is assisted by the Audit Committee in discharging that responsibility. The key aspects of these
obligations are as follows:

Accounting and significant areas of judgement
It is essential to the standard of the Group’s financial reporting that appropriate accounting policies
are adopted and applied on a consistent basis. The Board is updated by the Chairman of the Audit
Committee of the impact of new and emerging accounting standards and keeps under careful review
those areas of its accounting policies requiring subjective or complex judgements or estimates. These
areas, particularly in relation to fair value measurements of investment property and the assessment
of tax liabilities, are set out in Note 1(u) to the financial statements. As part of their review of the
accounts,  the  Board  also considers the  valuation  reports  and  discusses  these  with  its  valuers and
discusses the tax position of the Group with its advisers.

External auditor
KPMG LLP, and its predecessor entities, has been the Group’s statutory auditor since the Group in its
current  form  was  created  by  reverse  takeover  in  1959. The  Board and  the Audit  Committee keep
under careful review the independence of the auditor and the quality of its services to the Group
and is satisfied that KPMG LLP and Richard Kelly who has been the Senior Statutory Auditor since
2015 provide a  high  quality,  objective  and  cost  effective  service,  from  the  sound  base  of their
understanding  of  the  Group’s  business. Although  the  Code  would  now  recommend  the  company
re-tender  the  audit,  under a recent  EU Audit  Directive  and  EU  Regulation  the  Company  will  be
required to appoint a different external auditor by 2020 provided these regulations still apply at that
time. It is therefore not the current intention of the Board to put the external audit contract out to
tender before then, but the position will be kept under regular review. The Board has a policy of
using  KPMG  LLP  to  provide  non-audit  services  to  the  Group  only  in  relation  to  matters  closely
associated with the audit and maintains close scrutiny of its non-audit services and fees in order to
safeguard objectivity and independence.

Page 36

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

Internal Controls

The Board is ultimately responsible for the Group’s system of internal control and for reviewing its
effectiveness. However, such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure
to achieve business objectives and can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance against
material misstatement or loss.

The  Code  requires  that  the  Directors  review  the  effectiveness  of  the  Group’s  system  of  internal
controls, covering financial, operational and compliance controls and risk management. The Board
confirms  that  there  is  an  ongoing  process  for  identifying,  evaluating  and  managing  the  significant
business risks faced by the Group and the internal control systems, and that this process has been in
place for the year under review and up to the date of approval of the Annual Report & Accounts.
This process is considered by the Audit Committee in detail and reviewed by the Board at regular
intervals.

The  Board  has  considered  the  benefits  likely  to  arise  from  the  appointment  of  an  internal  audit
function  and  has  concluded  that  this  is  not  currently  necessary  having  regard  to  other  controls
which operate within the Group.

Key elements of the Group’s system of internal controls
These are as follows:

Control  environment: The  Group  is  committed  to  the  highest  standards  of  business  conduct  and
seeks  to  maintain  these  standards  across  all  its  operations. The  Group  has  a  clear  organisational
structure for planning, executing and monitoring business operations in order to achieve the Group’s
objectives. Lines of responsibility and delegation of authority are well defined.

Risk identification and evaluation: Management is responsible for the identification and evaluation
of key risks applicable to the areas of the property market which impact its objectives. These risks
are assessed on a continual basis, are subject to a robust annual assessment and may be associated
with a variety of internal and external sources. The Board considers the risk implications of business
decisions including those affecting all major transactions.

Information  and  communication:  Periodic  strategic  reviews  are  carried  out  which  include  the
consideration  of  long  term  financial  projections.  Financial  performance  is  actively  monitored  at
Board level. Through these mechanisms group performance is monitored, risks identified in a timely
manner, their implications assessed, control procedures re-evaluated and corrective actions agreed
and implemented.

Control procedures: The Group has implemented control procedures designed to ensure complete
and accurate accounting for financial transactions and to limit the potential exposure to loss of assets
or  fraud.  Measures  include  physical  controls,  segregation  of  duties,  use  of  external  experts  and
advisers where beneficial, reviews by management and reviews by the Company’s external auditor
to the extent necessary to arrive at their audit opinion.

Monitoring and corrective action: The Board and the Audit Committee meet regularly, formally and
informally,  throughout  the  year  to  review  the  internal  controls. This  process  includes  a  detailed
annual  review  of  the  significant  business  risks  and  formal  consideration  of  the  scope  and
effectiveness  of  the  Group’s  system  of  internal  control.  In  addition,  the  executive  Directors  and
senior management have a close involvement in the day-to-day operations of the Group and as such,
the  controls  are  subject  to  ongoing  monitoring.  The  Board  is  satisfied  with  the  scope  and
effectiveness of the internal controls.

Page 37

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT  continued

Investor Relations

The Board values communication with private and institutional shareholders and with analysts. The
Annual General Meeting is used as the primary opportunity for the Board as a whole to meet private
shareholders.  Other  opportunities  are  taken  as  they  arise  during  the  year  to  discuss  strategic  and
other issues with institutional shareholders and analysts.

The Board continues to support the concept of individual resolutions on separate issues at Annual
General  Meetings.  Details  of  proxy  voting  on  each  resolution will  be  disclosed  on  the  company
website after the meeting. In accordance with the Code, notice of the Annual General Meeting and
the Annual Report & Accounts will be sent to shareholders at least twenty working days before the
meeting.

Compliance Statement

The Board considers the Company has complied throughout the year ended 31 March 2018 with all
the provisions of the Code with the exception of the following paragraphs:

Subject compliance achieved
Division of Chairman and CEO responsibilities
Non-executive directors and composition of the Board

Paragraph(s)
A.2.1;  A.3.1
A.4.1-2; B.1.2
B.2.1; 2.2; 2.4; B.3.1-2 Nomination committee and its responsibilities*
B.4.1
B.6.1-3
C.3.1-8
D.1.1; D.2.1-2

Development of the Board
Evaluation of the Board
Audit committee and its responsibilities*
Remuneration committee and its responsibilities*

*Following the formation of the Audit, Nominations and Remuneration Committees on 28 November
2017,  the  Company  has  become  compliant  with  additional  paragraphs  of  the  Code  during  the
current year and further compliance will be achieved next year once these committees have had a
full year of operation.

Going Concern

The  Group’s  business  activities,  together  with  the  factors  likely  to  affect  its  future  development,
performance and position are set out in the Strategic Report on pages 4 to 28, which also refers to
the  financial  position  of  the  Group,  its  cash  flows,  liquidity  position  and  borrowing  facilities.  In
addition, Note 16 to the financial statements includes the Group’s objectives, policies and processes
for managing its financial risks, together with details of its financial instruments, hedging activities
and exposures to credit, liquidity and market risks.

As shown in the consolidated statement of cash flows, the Group generated net cash from operating
activities of £35.5 million during the year (2017 – £19.0 million). Gearing, on the basis of gross debt
to total assets, was 13.8% (2017 – 14.6%). Net debt (total loans and borrowings less cash and cash
equivalents)  has decreased to  £251.7 million  (2017  –  £268.3  million),  due  principally  to the
strengthening of Sterling against the US dollar during the period. The Group has undrawn committed
facilities  of  £63.4 million  at  the  balance  sheet  date  (2017  –  £48.4  million).  The  Group  has
considerable financial resources and very low gearing and therefore, the Directors consider that the
Group  is  well  placed  to  manage  its  business  risks  successfully  in  the  current  and  foreseeable
economic conditions. Consequently, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least twelve months from the date of
approving this Annual Report & Accounts. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of
accounting in preparing the financial statements.

Page 38

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

Formation, role and responsibilities

The Audit Committee was formed during the year ended 31 March 2018 and, up until the date of
approval of this Annual Report, has met three times. Mr Benaim and Mr Srulowitz attended all three
meetings. Mr Davis attended two meetings. It is intended that the Audit Committee will formally meet
at least three times during each financial year in future. The Audit Committee will meet at least once
a year with the Group’s external auditor without any other party being present.

The primary role of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in ensuring the integrity of the Group’s
financial reporting, internal controls and risk management framework.

Membership

The  three  members  of  the  Audit  Committee  are  Mr  S  B  Benaim  (Chairman),  Mr  D  Davis  and
Mr S Srulowitz, all of whom are non-executive directors of the Group and were all appointed when
the committee was formed. 

Mr Benaim is a Chartered Accountant and was formerly a partner in, and Global Head of Real Estate
at, the accountancy firm BDO. Mr Davis is a Chartered Accountant and was formerly a partner in the
accountancy  firm  Cohen  Arnold.  Mr  Srulowitz  is  a  practising  lawyer  in  the  USA,  specialising  in
property matters. Pursuant to provision C.3.1 of the UK Corporate Governance Code (“the Code”),
the  Board  considers  Mr  Benaim  to  have  significant,  recent  and  relevant  financial  experience  and
additionally that each member of the Audit Committee possesses relevant sectoral competence and
appropriate  levels  of  independence  and  experience. As  noted  on  page 36,  in  view  of  his  length  of
service, Mr Davis is not technically independent and therefore whilst the composition of the Audit
Committee  is  consistent  with  the EU  Directive  which  requires  the  majority  of  members  to  be
independent, it is not strictly compliant with the Code which requires all members to be independent.

Main activities since formation

Membership

The three members of the committee each agreed to serve and Mr Benaim
agreed to be the chairman of the committee.

Adoption of terms of
reference

Terms of reference were reviewed in detail and recommended for approval
by the main Board.

Risk management and
internal controls

The Group’s register of risks and the specific controls in place designed to
mitigate them, together with the broader internal control framework were
reviewed  in  detail. As  part  of  their  robust  assessment,  management  were
challenged  by  the  Audit  Committee  on  the  appropriateness  and
completeness of both the register and the internal controls framework. 

Particular attention was paid to the value of investment properties and the
corporate tax creditor and the risk that either of these amounts might be
materially misstated.  The Audit Committee considered relevant professional
advice received by the Group and the Chairman met with the valuers of the
UK property portfolio.  The Audit Committee were satisfied that the carrying
values of both investment properties and the corporate tax creditor shown in
the financial statements are appropriate.

Further details of the principal risks faced by the Group are included in the
Strategic Report on pages 6 to 15. The key elements of the Group’s internal
control  framework  are  included  in  the  Corporate  Governance  report  on
page 37.

Page 39

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT  continued

2018 Annual Report

The Audit Committee reviewed the 2018 Annual Report and Accounts and
concluded  that  taken  as  a  whole,  it  presents  a  fair,  balanced  and
understandable assessment of the Group’s position and prospects.

The  Audit  Committee  reviewed  the  correspondence  received  by  the
Company  during  the  year  from  the  FRC’s Audit  Quality  Review  team and
were satisfied with the responses received to the issues they raised with the
external auditor and Management.

The Audit Committee reviewed the independence and effectiveness of the
external auditor, including by meeting with them, scrutinising their external
audit  plan  and  considering  observations  from  the  Group’s  Finance  team.
The Audit  Committee  is  satisfied  with  their  review  and  recommends  that
they be re-appointed at the forthcoming AGM. Further details of the Group’s
policies towards and relationship with the external auditor is included on
page 36.

FRC review

External auditor

S B Benaim
20 July 2018

Page 40

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE REPORT

Formation, role and responsibilities

The Nominations Committee was formed during the year ended 31 March 2018 and, up until the date
of  approval  of  this Annual  Report,  has  met  once,  in  July  2018, with  all  members  attending  the
meeting. It is intended that the Nominations Committee will formally meet at least once during each
financial year in future. Additional meetings will be held when necessary.

The primary role of the Nominations Committee is to develop and maintain a formal procedure for
making  recommendations  on  Board  appointments. The  Board and  the  Nominations  Committee
recognise the  growing  emphasis  placed  on  criteria  such  as  diversity  and  gender  but  continues  to
believe that appointees should be selected primarily on the basis of a full, balanced range of criteria
considered to be key to the management of the Group, without any forced emphasis.

Membership

The  three  members  of  the  Nominations  Committee  are  Mr  B  S  E  Freshwater  (Chairman),
Mr S B Benaim and Mr S Srulowitz, all of whom were appointed when the committee was formed. 

Main activities since formation

The  Nominations  Committee  considered  the  composition  of  the  Board  and  concluded  that  the
directors have the requisite skills, knowledge and experience to deliver the Group’s strategy and deal
with changes in the business environment. No new appointments were made to the Board between
the date the Nominations Committee was formed and the date of approval of this Annual Report.

B S E Freshwater
20 July 2018

Page 41

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPOR T 

Formation, role and responsibilities

The Remuneration Committee was formed during the year ended 31 March 2018 and, up until the
date of approval of this Annual Report, has met once, in July 2018, with all members attending the
meeting.  It  is  intended  that  the  Remuneration  Committee  will  formally  meet at  least once  during
each financial year in future. Additional meetings will be held when necessary. 

The  primary  role  of  the  Remuneration  Committee  is  to  determine  an  appropriate  remuneration
package  for  executive  directors. The  formation  of  this  committee  formalises  the  work  that  was
previously  performed  by  the  non-executive  members  of  the  Board  to  determine  directors
remuneration.

Membership

The three members of the Remuneration Committee are Mr D Davis (Chairman), Mr S B Benaim and
Mr S Srulowitz, all of whom are non-executive directors of the Group and were appointed when the
committee was formed. 

Directors’ Remuneration Policy

Set out below and on page 43 is the remuneration strategy and policy together with other relevant
information about the terms and conditions applicable to executive Directors of the Group:

1.

Overview

The remuneration strategy is designed to be simple and transparent. In setting levels of remuneration
it is important to:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Reflect the interests and expectations of shareholders and other stakeholders

Take account of pay and employment conditions of employees in the Group

Reward the sustained growth and profitability of the business

Encourage  management  to  adopt  a  level  of  risk  which  is  in  line  with  the  risk  profile  of  the
business as approved by the board

Ensure  there  is  no  reward  for  failure  by  having  no  entitlement  to  compensation  for  loss  of
office

2.

Executive Directors’ potential remuneration

Executive Directors receive basic pay only. There are no bonus or incentive schemes in operation or
any  form  of  share  option  scheme  or  long  term  incentive  plan.  The  executive  Directors  are
incentivised  by  their  substantial  interests  in  family  shareholdings  which  more  directly  align  their
interests with shareholders generally.

3.

Strategy

Purpose
The salary is set to be competitive, relative to other companies operating in the same sector.

Annual review
A review of executive Directors’ salaries is carried out each year once the results for the year are
known and with reference to a comprehensive peer group of similar companies.

Page 42

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

The annual review takes into consideration:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

Individual responsibilities, experience and performance

Salary levels for similar positions in comparable businesses

The  level  of  pay  increases  awarded  to  staff  whose  services  are  provided  by  management
companies

Economic and market conditions

Overall performance of the business

There is no overall limit to maximum increases save as to comply with the strategy outlined above.

Shareholder views
The Company welcomes the views of its significant shareholders on remuneration and if received
these would be taken into consideration when next reviewing salaries.

4.

Benefits

There are no additional benefits granted to any Director over and above basic pay.

5.

Pension

The Group does not operate a pension scheme for the Directors and therefore they do not receive
either pension contributions or entitlement to pension benefits as part of their remuneration by the
Group.

6.

Recruitment of executive Directors

No  new  appointments  of  executive  Directors  have  been  made  for  a  number  of  years  but  if  an
appointment  was  made, salary  would  take  into  account  market  data  for  the  relevant  role,  the
individual’s experience and the responsibilities expected of them.

7.

Service contracts

No Director has a service contract. Company policy is to employ executive Directors at will, with no
contractual  entitlement  to  compensation  for  loss  of  office.  Mr  B  S  E  Freshwater  has  served  as  a
Director since 1971 and Mr S I Freshwater has served as a Director since 1986.

The non-executive Directors are not appointed for a fixed term but are subject to periodic reviews.
Mr D Davis was appointed in 1971, Mr R E Freshwater and Mr A M Freshwater were appointed in
2010. Mr S B Benaim, Mr S Srulowitz and Mr C B Freshwater were all appointed in 2017.  They are
all remunerated by a fixed Director’s fee. Mr S B Benaim receives an additional fee as Chairman of
the Audit Committee.

Annual Report on Remuneration

This section describes all payments to Directors in connection with the year under review and how
the  Remuneration  Policy  will  be  applied  over  the  next  three  years.  KPMG  LLP  have  audited  this
section of the report to the extent required by legislation.

Page 43

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPORT continued

Total directors’ remuneration
Details of each individual director’s remuneration are set out below on an accruals basis:

Long
term
perfor-
mance
pay
£

Perfor-
mance
pay
£

Pension
contri-
butions
£

Total
£

Salary
£

Benefits
£

1,200,000
1,200,000
21,712
20,000
20,000
14,923
20,000
14,923
2,511,558

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

– 1,200,000
– 1,200,000
21,712
–
20,000
–
20,000
–
14,923
–
20,000
–
–
14,923
– 2,511,558

Long
term
perfor-
mance
pay
£

Perfor-
mance 
pay
£

Pension
contri-
butions
£

Total
£

Salary
£

Benefits
£

1,150,000
1,150,000
3,769
20,000
20,000
20,000
2,363,769

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–
–
–
–

– 1,150,000
– 1,150,000
3,769
–
20,000
–
–
20,000
20,000
–
– 2,363,769

2018

Mr B S E Freshwater
Mr S I Freshwater
Mr S B Benaim
Mr D Davis
Mr A M Freshwater
Mr C B Freshwater
Mr R E Freshwater
Mr S Srulowitz

Comparative table

2017

Mr B S E Freshwater
Mr S I Freshwater
Mr S B Benaim
Mr D Davis
Mr A M Freshwater
Mr R E Freshwater

Changes in the year
Following their review, the Remuneration Committee recommended increases to the basic salaries
of the executive directors and these increases were approved by the full Board.

Mr B S E Freshwater and Mr S I Freshwater received an increase in basic salary of £50,000 per annum
during the year (2017 – £50,000), equivalent to 4.3% (2017 – 4.5%). These increases were agreed at
a meeting of the Remuneration Committee.

The total staff costs borne by the Group under its arrangements with its management companies in
the UK increased by 7.6% due to an increase in the number of employees and additional pension
cost charges made by the management companies (2017 decreased by 0.4%). Since such staff are
employed under these arrangements, no consultations regarding directors’ remuneration policy or
implementation have been held.

It is intended that the current practice of annual reviews and the method in which they are carried
out will continue unchanged during the current and following years.

Page 44

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

Non-executive directors’ remuneration
The non-executive directors receive a base fee of £20,000 per annum which is reviewed periodically,
pro-rated for their period of service in any one year. This entitlement has not changed in recent years.
The Chairman of the Audit Committee receives an additional fee of £5,000, pro-rated for his or her
period of service in any one year.

Relative importance of spend on pay
The table below demonstrates the relative amounts expended by the Group on staff costs, Directors’
remuneration and dividends to shareholders.The Company did not buy back any shares during the year.

Staff costs

£000

7,314
6,798

% of total

28.4
28.0

Directors’
remuneration

Dividends to
shareholders

£000

2,512
2,364

% of total

£000

% of total

9.7
9.7

15,969
15,155

61.9
62.3

2018
2017

Statement of directors’ shareholdings and share interests
There  is  no  minimum  shareholding  requirement  for  executive  or  non-executive directors.  The
directors’ share interests are complex and are set out in detail in the Directors’ Report on pages 31
and 32.

Approval of Directors’ Remuneration Report
At the last Annual General Meeting of the Company, votes cast by shareholders on the resolution to
approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report were as follows:

For
Against

13,598,815
719,968

95.0%
5.0%

Page 45

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPOR T  continued

Total shareholder return
The following graph shows the total shareholder returns for the Company (based on an investment
of £100 at 1 April 2008) for each of the last ten financial years compared to the FTSE All Share Real
Estate Investment and Services Index and the FTSE 350 Index. The Company is a constituent of both
these indices and the Board considers these to be the most appropriate broad market equity indices
for illustrating the Company’s relative performance.

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC
FTSE 350
FTSE ALL SHARE REAL ESTATE INDEX

Source: Thomson Reuters Datastream

The basic pay of the Chairman and Managing Director during the same period as the graph above is
shown as a single figure in the table below:

Mr B S E Freshwater

2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018

By order of the Board

D Davis

20 July 2018

Page 46

£

700,000
720,000
740,000
770,000
820,000
870,000
1,000,000
1,100,000
1,150,000
1,200,000

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the group and parent company
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare group and parent company financial statements for
each  financial  year.  Under  that  law  they  are  required  to  prepare  the  group  financial  statements  in
accordance  with  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union
(“IFRSs as adopted by the EU”) and applicable law and have elected to prepare the parent company
financial statements in accordance with UK accounting standards, including FRS 102 The Financial
Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland. 

Under company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied
that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the group and parent company and of their
profit  or  loss  for  that  period.  In  preparing  each  of  the  group  and  parent  company  financial
statements, the directors are required to: 

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

make judgements and estimates that are reasonable, relevant, reliable and prudent; 

for the group financial statements, state whether they have been prepared in accordance with
IFRSs as adopted by the EU; 

for  the  parent  company  financial  statements,  state  whether  applicable  UK  accounting
standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in
the parent company financial statements; 

assess the group and parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as
applicable, matters related to going concern; and 

use the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the group or
the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show
and explain the parent company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the
financial  position  of  the  parent  company  and  enable  them  to  ensure  that  its  financial  statements
comply  with  the  Companies  Act  2006.  They  are  responsible  for  such  internal  control  as  they
determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and have general responsibility for taking such steps as
are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud
and other irregularities. 

Under  applicable  law  and  regulations,  the  Directors  are  also  responsible  for  preparing  a  Strategic
Report, Directors’ Report, Directors’ Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance Statement that
complies with that law and those regulations. 

The  Directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  and  integrity  of  the  corporate  and  financial
information included on the company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and
dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 

Page 47

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES STATEMENT  continued

Responsibility statement of the directors in respect of the annual financial report

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge: 

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

the  financial  statements,  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  applicable  set  of  accounting
standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit or loss
of the company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole; and 

the strategic report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business
and the position of the issuer and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a
whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face. 

We consider the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable
and  provides  the  information  necessary  for  shareholders  to  assess  the  Group’s  position  and
performance, business model and strategy.

B S E Freshwater
Chairman

20 July 2018 

Page 48

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

To the members of Daejan Holdings Plc

Our opinion is unmodified 

1.
We  have  audited  the  financial  statements  of  Daejan  Holdings  PLC  (“the  Company”)  for  the  year
ended 31 March 2018 which comprise Consolidated Income Statement, Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive  Income,  Consolidated  Statement  of  Changes  in  Equity,  Company  Statement  of
Changes in Equity, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Company Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of
Cash Flows, and the related notes, including the accounting policies in note 1. 

In our opinion: 

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the parent
Company’s affairs as at 31 March 2018 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended; 

the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International
Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union; 

the parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK
accounting standards, including FRS 102  The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the
UK and Republic of Ireland; and 

the  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the
Companies  Act  2006  and,  as  regards  the  Group  financial  statements,  Article  4  of  the  IAS
Regulation. 

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”)
and applicable law. Our responsibilities are described below. We believe that the audit evidence we
have obtained is a sufficient and appropriate basis for our opinion. Our audit opinion is consistent
with our report to the audit committee. 

We  were  appointed  as  auditor  by  the  company  before  1959. The  period  of  total  uninterrupted
engagement  is  for  more  than  the  60  financial  years  ended  31  March  2018. We  have  fulfilled  our
ethical  responsibilities  under,  and  we  remain  independent  of  the  Group  in  accordance  with,  UK
ethical requirements including the FRC Ethical Standard as applied to listed public interest entities.
No non-audit services prohibited by that standard were provided. 

Overview

Materiality:
Group financial statements as a whole

Lower materiality:
Applied to certain items

Coverage

Risks of material misstatement vs 2017

Recurring risks
(Group)

Recurring risk
(Parent)

£24.1 million (2017: £21.6 million)
1.0% (2017: 0.9%) of Gross Assets

£2.7 million (2017: £2.4 million)
5.0% (2017: 4.4%) of normalised profit

100% (2017: 100%) of Gross Assets

Valuation of investment property
Current tax liability

(cid:3) (cid:3)
(cid:3) (cid:3)

Recoverability of investment in
subsidiary undertakings

(cid:3)(cid:3)
(cid:3)(cid:3)

Page 49

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued

Key audit matters: our assessment of risks of material misstatement

2.
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in
the  audit  of  the  financial  statements  and  include  the  most  significant  assessed  risks  of  material
misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by us, including those which had the greatest
effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts
of  the  engagement  team. We  summarise  below  the  key  audit  matters  (unchanged  from  2017),  in
decreasing order of audit significance, in arriving at our audit opinion above, together with our key
audit  procedures  to  address  those  matters  and,  as  required  for  public  interest  entities,  our  results
from  those  procedures. These  matters  were  addressed,  and  our  results  are  based  on  procedures
undertaken, in the context of, and solely for the purpose of, our audit of the financial statements as
a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and consequently are incidental to that opinion, and
we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

The Risk

Valuation of investment property (Group)

(Group: £2,373.2 million; 2017: £2,256.8 million)

Refer to page 39 (Audit Committee Report), page 64 (Significant accounting policies) and page
72 (Notes to the consolidated financial statements).

Subjective valuation

Investment properties represent 93.6% (2017: 93.8%) of gross assets of the Group.

The property portfolios are externally valued by qualified independent valuers and held at fair value
at the balance sheet date.

Determination of the fair value of the investment properties is considered a significant audit risk due
to the magnitude of the balance and the subjective nature of the valuation methodology and inputs
which depend on the individual nature of each property, its location and expected future net rental
values, market yields and comparable market transactions.

Our Response

Our procedures included:

Assessing valuers’ credentials: we assessed the valuers’ objectivity, professional qualifications and
capabilities through discussions with the valuers, reading their valuation reports, and reviewing their
terms of engagement with the Group to determine whether there were any matters that might have
affected their objectivity or may have imposed scope limitations upon their work.

Methodology  choice:  we  held  discussions  with  the  Group’s  external  property  valuers  to
determine  the  valuation  methodology  used.  With  the  assistance  of  our  own  property  valuation
specialists,  critically  assessing  that  the  valuations  were  in  accordance  with  the  RICS  Valuation
Professional  Standards ‘the  Red  Book’  for  the valuation of  the  UK  portfolio,  and  the  Standards  of
Professional Appraisal Practice of the Appraisal Institute for the valuation of the US portfolio, and that
the methodologies adopted were appropriate by reference to acceptable valuation practice. 

Benchmarking  assumptions: with  the  assistance  of  our  own  property  valuation  specialists  we
held  discussions  with  the  Group’s  external  property  valuers  to  critically  assess  movements  in
property values. For a sample of properties selected using various criteria including analysis of capital
movements  by  comparison  to  industry  indices  or  published  market  trends,  we  evaluated  and
challenged as appropriate the key assumptions upon which these valuations were based, including

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DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018
DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

forecast rents, yields, discount rates, vacant periods and irrecoverable expenditure and comparable
transactions  by  making  a  comparison  to  our  own  understanding  of  the  market  and  to  industry
benchmarks. 

Assessing transparency: we considered the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures on the valuation
techniques and significant unobservable inputs employed in the valuation. 

Our results

We found the valuation of investment properties to be acceptable (2017: acceptable).

The Risk

Current tax liability (Group)

(Group: £47.3 million; 2017: £47.2 million)

Refer  to  page  39  (Audit  Committee  Report),  page  66 (Significant  accounting  policies)  and
page 71 (Notes to the consolidated financial statements).

Dispute outcome

Accruals for tax contingencies require the directors to make judgements and estimates in relation to
tax issues and exposures. This is a key audit risk due to the time taken for tax matters to be agreed
with the tax authorities and complexity of tax legislation.

The majority of the current tax liability relates to a number of open periods which the Group has
with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), as a result of ongoing enquiries into the interpretation of tax
legislation regarding historical financing arrangements undertaken by the Group. 

Our Response

Our procedures included:

Our tax expertise: we used our own internal tax specialists to assist us in assessing the Group’s
open tax positions. 

With the assistance of our internal tax specialists we inspected the latest correspondence between
the Group and HMRC regarding open matters. In addition, we read legal advice or opinions obtained
in the period in relation to uncertain tax positions, in order to consider whether the level of accruals
recognised at year end is based on up to date legal advice in response to HMRC’s challenges.

We  analysed  and  challenged  the  assumptions  used  to  determine  tax  accruals  based  on  our
knowledge  and  experiences  of  the  application  of  local  legislation  by  the  relevant  authorities  and
courts.

Assessing  transparency: we assessed the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures in respect of tax
and uncertain tax positions by reference to relevant accounting standards.

Our results

We found the current tax liability to be acceptable (2017: acceptable). 

Page 51

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued

The Risk

Recoverability of investment in subsidiary undertakings (Parent)

(Parent: £1,326.9 million; 2017: £1,330.5 million)

Refer to page 90 (Accounting policies) and page 92 (Notes to the Company financial statements).

Low risk, high value

The carrying amount of the parent company’s investments in subsidiaries represents 98.6% (2017:
99.4%)  of  the  company’s  total  assets.  Their  recoverability  is  not  at  a  high  risk  of  significant
misstatement or subject to significant judgement. However, due to their materiality in the context of
the parent company financial statements, this is considered to be the area that had the greatest effect
on our overall parent company audit.

Our Response

Our procedures included: 

Tests  of  detail:  Comparing  the  carrying  amount  of  100%  of  investments  with  the  relevant
subsidiaries’ draft balance sheet to identify whether their net assets, being an approximation of their
minimum recoverable amount, were in excess of their carrying amount and assessing whether those
subsidiaries have historically been profit-making or whether they have a positive net asset value and
therefore coverage of the debt owed. For the investments where the carrying amount exceeded the
net asset value, comparing the carrying amount of the investment with the consolidated net assets. 

Assessing subsidiary audits: Assessing the work performed by the Group or subsidiary audit team
on all of those subsidiaries and considering the results of that work, on those subsidiaries’ profits and
net assets, including assessing the ability of the subsidiaries to obtain liquid funds and therefore the
ability of the subsidiaries to fund the repayment.

Our results

We found the recoverability of the investment in subsidiary to be acceptable (2017: acceptable).

Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of our audit 

3.
Materiality  for  the  Group  financial  statements  as  a  whole  was  set  at  £24.1  million  (2017:  £21.6
million), determined with reference to a benchmark of total assets, of which it represents 1.0% (2017:
0.9%). 

In addition, we applied materiality of £2.7 million (2017: £2.4 million), determined with regard to
normalised profit before tax adjusted for net valuation gains, fair value gains on derivative financial
instruments  and  realised  gains  on  property  disposals,  as  defined  on  page  20,  to  rental  income,
property operating expenses, administrative expenses and financial expenses, for which we believe
misstatements  of  lesser  amounts  than  materiality  for  the  financial  statements  as  a  whole  could
reasonably  be  expected  to  influence  the  company’s  members’  assessment  of  the  financial
performance of the Group.

Materiality for the Parent Company financial statements as a whole was set at £13.4 million (2017:
£13.4  million),  determined  with  reference  to  a  benchmark  of  Company  gross  assets,  of  which  it
represents 1.0% (2017: 1.0%).

We agreed to report to the Audit Committee any corrected or uncorrected identified misstatements
exceeding  £1.2  million  (Group)  (2017:  £1.1  million),  £0.7  million  (Parent  Company)  (2017:  £0.7
million) or £0.1 million (2017: £0.1 million) for misstatements relating to procedures performed to

Page 52

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

the  lower  materiality,  in  addition  to  other  identified  misstatements  that  warranted  reporting  on
qualitative grounds.

Total Assets
£2,535.0 million (2017: £2,406.8 million)

Group Materiality
£24.1 million (2017: £21.6 million)

£24.1 million
Whole financial statements materiality
(2017: £21.6 million)

£2.2 million
Range of materiality of the 50 components
(£2,038 to £2.2 million)
(2017: £1,995 to £1.9 million)

£1.2 million
Misstatements reported to the 
audit committee (2017: £1.1 million)

Total Assets
Group materiality

Of the group’s 50 (2017: 50) reporting components, we subjected 50 (2017: 50) to full scope audits
for group purposes. 

The components within the scope of our work accounted for the percentages illustrated below.

Group revenue

Group profit before tax

Group total assets

100%

(2017 100%)

100%

(2017 100%)

100%

(2017 100%)

Key

Full scope for group audit purposes 2018

Full scope for group audit purposes 2017

The Group team approved the component materialities, which ranged from £2,038 to £2.2m (2017:
£1,995  to  £1.9m),  having  regard  to  the  mix  of  size  and  risk  profile  of  the  Group  across  the
components.

The  Group  team  instructed  the  component  auditor  as  to  the  significant  areas  to  be  covered,
including the relevant risks detailed above and the information to be reported back. 

The  work  on  1  of  the  50  components  (2017:  1  of  the  50  components)  was  performed  by  a
component auditor and the rest, including the audit of the parent company, was performed by the
Group team.

Page 53

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued

The Group team visited the component audited by the component auditor to assess the audit risk
and  strategy. At  this  visit,  the  findings  reported  to  the  Group  audit  team  were  discussed  in  more
detail,  and  any  further  work  required  by  the  Group  audit  team  was  then  performed  by  the
component auditor.

4. We have nothing to report on going concern 
We are required to report to you if:

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

we have anything material to add or draw attention to in relation to the directors’ statement on
page 47 to the financial statements on the use of the going concern basis of accounting with
no material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt over the Group and Company’s use
of that basis for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial
statements; or 

the related statement under the Listing Rules set out on page 32 is materially inconsistent with
our audit knowledge. 

We have nothing to report in these respects.

5. We have nothing to report on the other information in the Annual Report
The directors are responsible for the other information presented in the Annual Report together with
the  financial  statements.  Our  opinion  on  the  financial  statements  does  not  cover  the  other
information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except as explicitly stated below,
any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether, based on our
financial statements audit work, the information therein is materially misstated or inconsistent with
the financial statements or our audit knowledge. Based solely on that work we have not identified
material misstatements in the other information. 

Strategic report and directors’ report 

Based solely on our work on the other information: 

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors’ report; 

in our opinion the information given in those reports for the financial year is consistent with
the financial statements; and 

in our opinion those reports have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. 

Directors’ remuneration report 

In  our  opinion  the  part  of  the  Directors’  Remuneration  Report  to  be  audited  has  been  properly
prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006. 

Disclosures of principal risks and longer-term viability 

Based on the knowledge we acquired during our financial statements audit, we have nothing material
to add or draw attention to in relation to: 

(cid:2)

the directors’ confirmation within the Viability statement on page 28 that they have carried out
a  robust  assessment  of  the  principal  risks  facing  the  Group,  including  those  that  would
threaten its business model, future performance, solvency and liquidity; 

Page 54

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

the  principal  risks  disclosures  describing  these  risks  and  explaining  how  they  are  being
managed and mitigated; and 

the directors’ explanation in the Viability statement of how they have assessed the prospects
of the Group, over what period they have done so and why they considered that period to be
appropriate,  and  their  statement  as  to  whether  they  have  a  reasonable  expectation  that  the
Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the
period  of  their  assessment,  including  any  related  disclosures  drawing  attention  to  any
necessary qualifications or assumptions. 

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the Viability statement. We have nothing to report
in this respect. 

Corporate governance disclosures 

We are required to report to you if: 

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

we have identified material inconsistencies between the knowledge we acquired during our
financial statements audit and the directors’ statement that they consider that the annual report
and financial statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the
information  necessary  for  shareholders  to  assess  the  Group’s  position  and  performance,
business model and strategy; or 

the  section  of  the  annual  report  describing  the  work  of  the  Audit  Committee  does  not
appropriately address matters communicated by us to the Audit Committee.

We are required to report to you if the Corporate Governance Report does not properly disclose a
departure from the eleven provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specified by the Listing
Rules for our review. 

We have nothing to report in these respects. 

6. We have nothing to report on the other matters on which we are required to report

by exception 

Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required to report to you if, in our opinion: 

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

(cid:2)

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent Company, or returns adequate
for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

the parent Company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report
to be audited are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or 

certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

We have nothing to report in these respects. 

Respective responsibilities 

7.
Directors’ responsibilities 

As explained more fully in their statement set out on page 47, the directors are responsible for: the
preparation of the financial statements including being satisfied that they give a true and fair view; such

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DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued

internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that
are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; assessing the Group and parent
Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going
concern; and using the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the Group
or the parent Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

Auditor’s responsibilities 

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole
are  free  from  material  misstatement,  whether  due  to  fraud  or  other  irregularities  (see  below),  or
error,  and  to  issue  our  opinion  in  an  auditor’s  report.  Reasonable  assurance  is  a  high  level  of
assurance, but does not guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always
detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud, other irregularities
or  error  and  are  considered  material  if,  individually  or  in  aggregate,  they  could  reasonably  be
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. 

fuller  description  of  our  responsibilities 

A 
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. 

is  provided  on 

the  FRC’s  website  at

Irregularities – ability to detect

We  identified  areas  of  laws  and  regulations  that  could  reasonably  be  expected  to  have  a  material
effect on the financial statements from our sector experience, through discussion with the directors
and other management (as required by auditing standards).

We had regard to laws and regulations in areas that directly affect the financial statements including
financial  reporting  (including  related  company  legislation)  and  taxation  legislation. We  considered
the extent of compliance with those laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related
financial statement items. 

We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any
indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. This included communication from the group
to component audit team of relevant laws and regulations identified at group level, with a request to
report  on  any  indications  of  potential  existence  of  non-compliance  with  relevant  laws  and
regulations (irregularities) in these areas, or other areas directly identified by the component team.

As with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of non-compliance with relevant
irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the
override of internal controls. 

Page 56

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our responsibilities 

8.
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of
Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to
the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and
for  no  other  purpose.  To  the  fullest  extent  permitted  by  law,  we  do  not  accept  or  assume
responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members, as a body, for our
audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 

Richard Kelly (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants 
15 Canada Square
London E14 5GL

20 July 2018

Page 57

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

for the year ended 31 March 2018

Notes

Gross rental income
Service charge income

Total rental and related income from investment 

property
Property operating expenses

Net rental and related income from investment 

property

Profit on disposal of investment property
Net valuation gains on investment property

Administrative expenses

Net operating profit before net financing costs

Fair value gains on derivative financial instruments

Fair value gains on current investments

Other financial income

Financial expenses

Net financing expense

Profit before taxation

Income tax

Profit for the year

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interest

Profit for the year

2

3

9

4

5

5

6

Year ended
31 March
2018
£000

131,323

11,562

Year ended
31 March
2017
£000

125,522

15,216

142,885

(76,407)

140,738

(75,938)

66,478

11,893
146,438

(13,263)

64,800

14,594

144,508

(12,559)

211,546

211,343

1,923

6

581

86

–

499

(12,794)

(13,532)

(10,284)

(12,947)

201,262

1,696

198,396

(36,266)

202,958

162,130

202,889

161,779

69

351

202,958

162,130

Basic and diluted earnings per share

7

£12.45

£9.93

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

Page 58

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the year ended 31 March 2018

Profit for the year
Foreign exchange translation differences

Year ended
31 March
2018
£000

202,958

(29,759)

Year ended
31 March
2017
£000

162,130

29,076

Total comprehensive income for the year

173,199

191,206

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interest

173,156

190,845

43

361

Total comprehensive income for the year

173,199

191,206

All comprehensive income may be reclassified as profit and loss when realised in the future.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Share

Equity

Non-

premium Translation

Retained

shareholders’ controlling

account

reserve

earnings

£000

£000

funds

£000

interest

£000

Total

equity

£000

32,051

1,443,345

1,480,025

–

161,779

161,779

69

351

1,480,094

162,130

29,066

–

–

–

–

29,066

10

29,076

–

(190)

(190)

(15,155)

(15,155)

–

(15,155)

for the year ended

31 March 2018

Balance at 1 April 2016

Profit for the year

Foreign exchange translation 

differences

Distributions to non-controlling

interest

Dividends to equity shareholders

Issued

share

capital

£000

4,074

–

–

–

–

£000

555

–

–

–

–

Profit for the year

Foreign exchange translation 

differences

Distributions to non-controlling

interest

Dividends to equity shareholders

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Balance at 31 March 2017

4,074

555

61,117

1,589,969

1,655,715

–

202,889

202,889

240

69

1,655,955

202,958

(29,733)

–

–

–

–

(29,733)

(26)

(29,759)

–

(192)

(192)

(15,969)

(15,969)

–

(15,969)

Balance at 31 March 2018

4,074

555

31,384 1,776,889

1,812,902

91 1,812,993

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

Page 59

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

as at 31 March 2018

Assets
Investment property
Deferred tax assets

Total non-current assets

Trade and other receivables
Current investments
Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity
Share capital
Share premium
Translation reserve
Retained earnings

Total equity attributable to equity holders 

of the parent

Non-controlling interest

Total equity

Liabilities
Loans and borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities

Total non-current liabilities

Loans and borrowings
Trade and other payables
Current taxation

Total current liabilities

Total liabilities

Notes

31 March
2018
£000

31 March
2017
£000

9
10

2,373,184
197

2,256,800
524

11

12

13

15
10

15
14

2,373,381

2,257,324

62,714
158
98,752

65,062
162
84,283

161,624

149,507

2,535,005

2,406,831

4,074
555
31,384
1,776,889

4,074
555
61,117
1,589,969

1,812,902
91

1,655,715
240

1,812,993

1,655,955

296,501
271,807

303,242
299,756

568,308

602,998

53,958
52,489
47,257

49,297
51,360
47,221

153,704

147,878

722,012

750,876

Total equity and liabilities

2,535,005

2,406,831

The financial statements on pages 58 to 87 were approved by the Board of Directors on 20 July 2018
and were signed on its behalf by:

B S E Freshwater

D Davis

Director

Director

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

Page 60

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

for the year ended 31 March 2018

Year ended
31 March
2018
£000

£000

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations (Note 20)
Interest received
Interest paid
Tax paid

56,480

581

(12,592)
(8,967)

Year ended
31 March
2017
£000

£000

39,150

500

(13,529)
(7,132)

Net cash from operating activities

35,502

18,989

Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition and development of

investment property

Proceeds from sale of investment

property

(39,424)

16,085

(27,726)

18,242

Net cash absorbed by investing activities

(23,339)

(9,484)

Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of bank loans

New bank loans
Repayment of mortgages
New mortgages

Dividends paid to equity holders of 

the parent

Payments to non-controlling interest

Net cash generated from/(absorbed by)

financing activities

(2,509)

15,000

(58,398)

70,216

(15,969)

(192)

(1,871)

–

(6,899)

8,057

(15,155)

(190)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents brought forward

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on

cash held

Cash and cash equivalents (Note 12)

8,148

20,311

84,283

(5,842)

98,752

(16,058)

(6,553)

84,863

5,973

84,283

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements.

Page 61

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.

Significant Accounting Policies

Daejan  Holdings  PLC  is  a  company  domiciled  in  the  United  Kingdom. The  consolidated  financial
statements  of  the  Company  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2018  comprise  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries (together referred to as “the Group”).

The consolidated financial statements were authorised for issuance on 20 July 2018.

(a)

Statement of compliance

The  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  International
Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU (“IFRS”) and those parts of the Companies Act
2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

The Company has elected to prepare its parent company financial statements in accordance with
Financial  Reporting  Standard  102  The  Financial  Reporting  Standard  applicable  in  the  UK  and
Republic of Ireland and these are presented on pages 88 to 92.

(b)

Basis of preparation

The consolidated financial statements are presented in sterling, the Company’s functional currency
and the Group’s presentational currency, rounded to the nearest thousand. They are prepared on the
historical  cost  basis  except  that  the  following  assets  and  liabilities  are  stated  at  their  fair  value:
investment property, derivative financial instruments and current asset investments.

The Group has considerable financial resources and very low gearing and therefore, the Directors
consider that the Group is well placed to manage its business risks successfully in the current and
foreseeable economic conditions. Consequently, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the
Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for at least twelve months from
the  date  of  approving  this Annual  Report  and Accounts. Thus  they  continue  to  adopt  the  going
concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

To  facilitate  comparisons  with  most  other  major  UK  listed  property  groups,  the  consolidated
statement of cash flows on page 61 has been presented using the indirect method; no restatement
of prior year numbers was required.

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  IFRS  requires  management  to  make
judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts
of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. Although these estimates are based on management’s
best knowledge of the events or amounts involved, actual results ultimately may differ from those
estimates. The areas involving a higher degree of complexity, judgement or estimation are set out in
Note 1(u) on pages 66 and 67.

Page 62

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

The accounting policies set out in this Note 1 have been applied consistently throughout the Group
to all periods presented in the consolidated financial statements, except as described below.

Accounting standard changes

The following accounting standards and guidance were adopted by the Group during the year, none
of which has had a material impact on the Group’s financial statements:

•
•
•
•

Amendments to IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures
Amendments to IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities
Amendments to IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows
Amendments to IAS 12 Income taxes

The following standards, amendments to standards and interpretations relevant to the Group have
been issued but are not yet effective.  None of these have been early-adopted by the Group and, based
on the Group’s ongoing assessment of each of them, none are expected to have a material impact on
the Group’s financial statements.

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments (effective year ended 31 March 2019)
IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements (amendment)
IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts with customers (effective year ended 31 March 2019)
IFRS 16 Leases (effective year ended 31 March 2020)
IAS 19 Employee Benefits (amendment)
IAS 23 Borrowing Costs (amendment)
IAS 28 Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures (amendment)
IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets (amendment)
IAS 38 Intangible Assets (amendment)
IAS 40 Investment Property (amendment)
IFRIC 22 Foreign currency transactions and advance consideration

In  relation  to  IFRS  9  Financial  Instruments, the effect  of  any  change  to  the  Group’s  current
accounting  policies  covering  the  measurement  of  financial  instruments  and  the  estimation  of
impairment is expected to be immaterial.

In  relation  to  IFRS  15  Revenue  from  Contracts  with  Customers,  the  Group’s  revenue  primarily
relates to property rental income which is outside the scope of IFRS 15.  

In relation to IFRS 16 Leases, the Group is primarily a lessor whereas the standard primarily affects
lessees.  The Group’s assessment of the impact of IFRS 16 is ongoing.

(c)

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are those entities controlled by the Company. Control exists when the Company has the
power,  directly  or  indirectly,  to direct  relevant  activities  of  an  entity  and  an  exposure  to  variable
returns so as to obtain benefits from its activities. In assessing control, potential voting rights that
presently are exercisable are taken into account.

(d)

Transactions eliminated on consolidation

Intra-group  balances  and  any  unrealised  gains  and  losses  arising  from  intra-group  transactions  are
eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

(e)

Income available for distribution

Under the articles of association of certain Group investment undertakings, realised capital surpluses
are not available for distribution as dividends.

Page 63

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

(f)

Foreign currency translation

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated to sterling at the foreign exchange rate
ruling at the balance sheet date. The revenues and expenses of foreign operations are translated to
sterling at rates approximating to the foreign exchange rates ruling at the dates of the transactions.
Foreign  exchange  differences  arising  on  re-translation  are  recognised  directly  in  a  separate
component of equity. The cumulative translation difference for all foreign operations was deemed to
be zero as at the date of transition to IFRS. The year end and average rates used for these purposes
were as follows:

US Dollar

(g) Derivative financial instruments

Year end

Average

2018

1.40

2017

1.25

2018

1.33

2017

1.31

The Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to interest rate risk arising
from operational and financing activities. As these derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting,
they  are  accounted  for  as  trading  instruments.  Derivative  financial  instruments  are  initially
recognised,  and  subsequently  recorded,  at  fair  value. The  fair  value  of  interest  rate  swaps  is  the
estimated amount that the Group would recover or pay to terminate the swap at the balance sheet
date, taking into account current interest rates and the credit worthiness of the swap counterparties.
The gain or loss on re-measurement to fair value is recognised immediately in the income statement.

(h)

Investment property

IFRS defines investment properties as those which are held either to earn rental income or for capital
appreciation or both. All of the Group’s property falls within this definition. Investment property is
initially recognised at cost and subsequently recorded at fair value.

External, independent valuation firms having appropriate recognised professional qualifications and
recent relevant experience in the location and category of property being valued, value the portfolio
annually at the Company’s year end. The fair values are based on market values, being the estimated
amount for which a property could be exchanged 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 knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion. The valuations are prepared either by
considering the aggregate of the net annual operating income from the properties using a market
yield/capitalisation rate which reflects the risks inherent in the net cash flow which is then applied
to the net annual operating income, or on a sales comparison basis. Any gains or losses arising from
a change in fair value are recognised in the income statement.

When the Group begins to redevelop an existing investment property for continued future use as an
investment property, the property continues to be treated as an investment property, and is measured
based on the fair value model. Interest is capitalised on such developments to the extent that such
interest is directly attributable to the cost of redevelopment.

A  property  interest  under  an  operating  lease  is  classified  and  accounted  for  as  an  investment
property  on  a  property-by-property  basis  when  the  Group  holds  it  to  earn  rentals  or  for  capital
appreciation or both. Any such property interest under an operating lease classified as an investment
property is carried at fair value. Where material, the aggregate present value of the minimum future
lease payments under such leases is recognised as a liability.

Acquisitions  and  disposals  are  recognised  on  the  date  that  the  significant  risks  and  rewards  of
ownership have been transferred. Any resulting gain or loss based on the difference between sale
proceeds and valuation is included in the income statement and taxation applicable thereto is shown
as part of the taxation charge.

Page 64

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

(i)

Current investments

Investments  comprise  equity  securities  and  other  investments  held  for  trading  and  classified  as
current assets stated at fair value, with any resultant gain or loss recognised in the income statement.

(j)

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables are initially stated at fair value and subsequently carried at cost less an
allowance for impairment. These assets are not discounted as the effect is deemed immaterial.

(k) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and short term deposits. These short term deposits
are highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are
subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value. Bank overdrafts are repayable on demand and form
an integral part of the Group’s cash management. Bank overdrafts when utilised are therefore included
as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

(l)

Dividends

Dividends are recognised as a liability in the period in which they are approved.

(m) Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables are initially stated at fair value and subsequently carried at amortised cost.

(n) Net rental income

Net rental income comprises rent and service charges receivable less applicable provisions and costs
associated with the properties. Rental income from investment property leased out under operating
leases  is  recognised  in  the  income  statement  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  the  certain  term  of  the
lease. Lease incentives granted are recognised as an integral part of the total rental income. If a rent
review is due but not yet agreed with the tenant any expected rent increase is only recognised when
receipt  is  highly  probable. Service  charge  income  is  recognised  as  the  services  are  provided.  Net
rental income is stated net of recoverable VAT.

The cost of repairs is written off to the income statement in the year in which the expenditure was
incurred.  Lease  payments  under  operating  leases  are  recognised  in  the  income  statement  on  a
straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

(o) Dividend income

Dividend  income  is  recognised  in  the  income  statement  on  the  date  the  entity’s  right  to  receive
payments is established which, in the case of quoted securities, is the ex-dividend date.

(p)

Taxation

Income tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax. The tax charge for
the year is recognised in the income statement, the statement of comprehensive income or directly
in equity, depending on the accounting treatment of the related transaction. 

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, using tax rates enacted
or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of
previous years.

Page 65

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

Deferred  tax  is  provided  using  the  balance  sheet  liability  method,  providing  for  temporary
differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes
and the amounts used for taxation purposes. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the
expected manner of realisation or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities (which,
in  the  case  of  investment  property,  is  assumed  to  be  through  sale),  using  tax  rates  enacted  or
substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

A deferred tax asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will
be available against which the asset can be utilised.

(q)

Segmental reporting

The Company has identified its operating segments on the basis of those components of the Group
which engage in business activities from which they may earn revenues and incur expenses and for
which  discrete  financial  information  is  available  and  regularly  reviewed  by  the  Chief  Operating
Decision Maker in order to allocate resources and assess performance. The Group has determined
the Chief Operating Decision Maker to be the Board of Directors.

(r)

Impairment

The  carrying  amounts  of  the  Group’s  assets,  other  than  investment  property  (see  Note  1(h))  and
deferred tax assets (see Note 1(p)), are reviewed at each balance sheet date to determine whether
there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists the asset’s recoverable amount is
estimated and an impairment loss recognised whenever the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its
recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement.

The recoverable amount of an asset is the greater of its fair value less costs to sell and its value-in-
use. The value-in-use is determined as the net present value of the future cash flows expected to be
derived  from  the  asset,  discounted  using  a  pre-tax  discount  rate  that  reflects  current  market
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.

(s)

Provisions

A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation
as a result of a past event, and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required
to  settle  the  obligation.  If  the  effect  is  material,  provisions  are  determined  by  discounting  the
expected  future  cash  flows  at  a  pre-tax  rate  that  reflects  current  market  assessments  of  the  time
value of money and, where appropriate, the risks specific to the liability.

(t)

Loans and borrowings

Floating  rate  and  fixed  rate  loans  and  borrowings  are  initially  recognised  at  fair  value  and  are
subsequently  recorded  at  amortised  cost. Transaction  costs  are  deducted  from  the  fair  value  at
recognition and any differences between the amount initially recognised and the redemption value
is recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowings on an effective interest rate
basis.  When  mortgages  are  refinanced,  any  redemption  costs  are  immediately  recognised  in  the
income statement.

(u)

Significant judgements, key assumptions and estimates

The Group’s significant accounting policies are set out in 1(a) to 1(t) on pages 62 to 66. Not all of
these  policies  require  management  to  make  subjective  or  complex  judgements  or  estimates. The
following is intended to provide further detail relating to those accounting policies that management
consider particularly significant because of the level of complexity and estimation involved in their
application and their impact on the consolidated financial statements.

Page 66

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

(i)

Property valuations

The valuation of the Group’s property portfolio is inherently subjective, depending on
many factors, including the individual nature of each property, its location and expected
future net rental values, market yields and comparable market transactions (as set out in
Note 9). Therefore the valuations are subject to a degree of uncertainty and are made on
the basis of assumptions which may not prove to be accurate, particularly in periods of
difficult market or economic conditions. As noted in Note 1(h), all the Group’s properties
are valued by external valuers with appropriate qualifications and experience.

(ii)

Income taxes

The tax treatment of some transactions and calculations cannot be determined until a
formal resolution has been reached with the relevant tax authorities. In particular, the
Group  is  discussing  the  treatment  of historical  financing  arrangements  with  tax
authorities (as set out in Note 6). In such cases, a best estimate of the relevant tax charge
or credit is made, having regard to the extent of uncertainties associated with it. Where
the final outcome of such matters is different from the amounts initially recorded, those
differences will be reflected in the income and deferred taxes amounts at the time of
formal resolution.

Page 67

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

2.

Segmental Analysis

The  Group  is  managed  through  two  discrete  geographical  divisions  and  has  only  one  product  or
service,  being  investment  in  property  for  the  generation  of  rental  income  and/or  capital
appreciation. This is reflected in the Group’s structure and in the segment information reviewed by
the Board.

for the year ended 31 March 2018

Rental and related income
Property operating expenses
Profit/(loss) on disposal of property
Net valuation movements on property
Administrative expenses
Profit before finance costs
Fair value gains
Other financial income
Financial expenses
Profit before taxation
Income tax (charge)/credit
Profit for the year
Capital expenditure

Investment property
Other assets
Total segment assets
Total segment liabilities

UK

£000

92,395
(47,278)
12,900
97,504
(12,600)
142,921
1,929
144
(5,425)
139,569
(21,883)
117,686
32,057

USA Eliminations

£000

£000

50,490
(29,129)
(1,007)
48,934
(663)
68,625
–
618
(7,550)
61,693
23,579
85,272
8,580

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(181)
181
–
–
–
–

Total

£000

142,885
(76,407)
11,893
146,438
(13,263)
211,546
1,929
581
(12,794)
201,262
1,696
202,958
40,637

1,783,506
84,777
1,868,283
(385,452)

589,678
87,821
677,499
(347,337)

–
(10,777)
(10,777)
10,777

2,373,184
161,821
2,535,005
(722,012)

Capital employed

1,482,831

330,162

–

1,812,993

Page 68

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

for the year ended 31 March 2017

Rental and related income
Property operating expenses
Profit on disposal of property
Net valuation movements on property
Administrative expenses
Profit before finance costs
Fair value gains
Other financial income
Financial expenses
Profit before taxation
Income tax charge
Profit for the year
Capital expenditure

Investment property
Other assets
Total segment assets
Total segment liabilities

UK

£000

91,859
(48,334)
14,204
109,987
(11,782)
155,934
86
171
(5,209)
150,982
(17,028)
133,954
23,322

USA Eliminations

£000

£000

48,879
(27,604)
390
34,521
(777)
55,409
–
512
(8,507)
47,414
(19,238)
28,176
6,856

–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(184)
184
–
–
–
–

Total

£000

140,738
(75,938)
14,594
144,508
(12,559)
211,343
86
499
(13,532)
198,396
(36,266)
162,130
30,178

1,655,922
82,730
1,738,652
(359,078)

600,878
79,205
680,083
(403,702)

–
(11,904)
(11,904)
11,904

2,256,800
150,031
2,406,831
(750,876)

Capital employed

1,379,574

276,381

–

1,655,955

No single lessee accounted for more than 5% of the Group’s rental and related income in either year.

3.

Property Operating Expenses

Porterage, cleaning and repairs
Insurance
Building services
Other management costs

2018

£000

35,501
4,908
20,142
15,856

2017
£000

35,763
5,055
21,537
13,583

76,407

75,938

Of  the  property  operating  expenses  shown  above,  an  amount  of  £907,000  (2017  –  £2,076,000)
related to properties which generated no income during the year.

Page 69

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

4.

Administrative Expenses

Staff costs
Directors’ remuneration
Audit and accountancy
Legal and other administrative expenses

2018

£000

7,314
2,512
928
2,509

2017
£000

6,798
2,364
824
2,573

13,263

12,559

Auditor’s remuneration:

For  the  year,  the  fees  payable  to  KPMG LLP were £31,000  (2017  –  £31,000) for  the  audit  of  the
Company and £434,000 (2017 – £404,000) for the audit of the Group’s subsidiaries, together with
£Nil (2017 – £Nil) for audit related assurance services and £Nil (2017 – £Nil) for other services.

In  the  UK,  the  average  number  of  staff  provided  by  the  property  and  administrative  management
companies who performed roles for the Group totalled 206 (2017 – 203). The average number of full
time equivalents whose staff costs were borne by the Group during the year was 149 (2017 – 143).
The aggregate staff cost of these persons is shown above and can be analysed as follows:

Salaries
NI contributions
Pensions

2018

£000

5,779
626
909

2017
£000

5,492
593
713

7,314

6,798

In  addition  the  property  and  administrative  management  companies  provide,  under  agency
arrangements,  staff  to  perform  various  caretaking  roles.  Those  costs  totalling  £1,058,000
(2017 –  £1,037,000)  are  included  within  property  operating  expenses  (Note  3)  under  porterage,
cleaning and repairs.

Details of Directors’ remuneration are set out in the Remuneration Committee Report.

5.

Financial Income and Expenses

Financial income:
Bank interest receivable
Other financial income

Financial expenses:
Interest payable on bank loans
Interest payable on mortgages
Other interest payable

Page 70

2018

£000

2017
£000

41
540

581

44
455

499

3,136
9,479
179

3,053
10,466
13

12,794

13,532

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

6.

Taxation

Taxation based on the profit for the year of the Company and its subsidiaries:

UK corporation tax
UK prior year items

Overseas taxation

Total current tax

Deferred tax
Deferred tax – reduction in future tax rate

Total deferred tax

Total tax (credit)/charge

Reconciliation of tax expense
Profit before taxation

Corporation tax at the standard UK rate of 19% (2017 – 20%)
Reduction in future tax rate
Prior year items
Impact of different tax rates
Indexation and non-taxable items
Other

Total tax (credit)/charge

2018

£000

7,787
(382)

2017
£000

8,026
751

7,405

8,777

1,598

808

9,003

9,585

29,248
(39,947)

33,830
(7,149)

(10,699)

26,681

(1,696)

36,266

201,262

198,396

38,240
(39,947)
(382)
2,708
(2,850)
535

39,679
(7,149)
751
6,582
(3,426)
(171)

(1,696)

36,266

Legislation changes have been enacted that mean the UK Corporation tax rate will reduce from 19%
to 17% from 1 April 2020 and the USA Corporation tax rate will reduce from 35% in the current year
to 21% next year. With USA State taxes our applicable overall tax rate on USA profits is 40% in the
current  year  and  will  be  28%  next  year. These  enacted  rate  changes  will  reduce  the  Group’s  tax
charge accordingly.  The deferred tax balances at 31 March 2018 have been calculated based on the
17% rate in the UK and the 28% rate in the USA.

The Group’s effective tax rate for the current year was 0.8% credit (2017: 18.3% charge). As set out
in the tables above the current year benefitted from a £39,947,000 tax credit from the recalculation
of our USA deferred tax balances based on the newly enacted USA Corporation tax rate. Removing
this tax credit our effective tax rate is 19%, a rate consistent with the UK Corporation tax rate and
the prior  year. The  increased  tax  charge  from  our  profits  arising  in  the  USA  that  are  subject  to  a
higher Corporation tax rate has been offset by an element of our UK property valuations not being
taxable due to an indexation allowance.

Tax liabilities are recognised when it is considered probable that there will be a future outflow of
funds to a tax authority. In assessing the amount of tax due the Group uses professional advisers in
both  the  UK  and  the  USA  to  assist  in  assessing  tax  due  on  open  tax  computations. The  principal
uncertain  tax  item  relates  to  enquiries  opened  by  HMRC  relating  to  the  interpretation  of  tax
legislation regarding historical financing arrangements that had been entered into over several years
in the ordinary course of business but have now ceased. On advice of leading Counsel, we continue

Page 71

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

actively to dispute the assessments from HMRC but at present we estimate the probable range of
outcomes  of  the  tax  which  may  become  due  is  £23  to  £52 million. The  directors  have  made  an
accrual for tax which is within this range, included within the current tax liability and which is in
their view an adequate estimate of potential tax that might arise. An accrual has also been made for
potential interest. Due to the uncertainty associated with such items, it is possible that at a future
date, on reaching a conclusion on these open tax matters, the final outcome may vary significantly.

7.

Earnings per Share

Earnings  per  share  is  calculated  on  the  earnings,  after  taxation  and non-controlling  interests,  of
£202,889,000 (2017 – £161,779,000) and the weighted average shares in issue during the year of
16,295,357 (2017 – 16,295,357).

8.

Dividends

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year:
Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016,

paid 11 November 2016 @ 58p per share

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2017,

paid 10 March 2017 @ 35p per share

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2017, 

paid 10 November 2017 @ 63p per share

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2018, 

paid 9 March 2018 @ 35p per share

2018

£000

2017
£000

–

–

9,452

5,703

10,266

5,703

–

–

15,969

15,155

The  Board  has  recommended  a  final  dividend  for  the  year ended  31  March  2018  of  £11,081,000,
representing 68p  per  share. This  dividend  has  not  been  included  as  a  liability  in  these  financial
statements.

9.

Investment Property

Long

Short

Freehold leasehold leasehold
£000

£000

£000

Total

2018

£000

Total

2017
£000

Balance at 1 April
Disposals
New acquisitions
Additions to existing properties
Revaluation (recognised in 

profit)

Foreign exchange movements 

(recognised in other 
comprehensive income)

1,862,619 368,938
(2,159)
–
736

(1,975)
1,069
38,832

25,243 2,256,800 2,009,361
(1,192)
(4,134)
472
1,069
29,706
39,568

–
–
–

143,786

5,549

(2,897) 146,438

144,508

(57,202)

(9,355)

–

(66,557)

73,945

Balance at 31 March

1,987,129 363,709

22,346 2,373,184 2,256,800

External,  independent  professional  valuations  of  all  the  Group’s  UK  investment  properties  were
carried out by Colliers International Property Advisers UK LLP, RICS Registered Valuers at 31 March

Page 72

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

2018. The aggregate amount of £1,799.3 million (2017 – £1,668.6 million) is based on open market
values, assessed in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Professional Standards (2014). The Group’s
USA  investment  properties  were  also  independently  professionally  valued  at  31 March  2018 by
Joseph  J.  Blake  and Associates,  Inc.  and  Metropolitan Valuation  Services,  Inc.,  both  USA  Certified
General Real Estate Appraisers. The aggregate amount of £592.4 million (2017 – £602.5 million) is
based on open market values, assessed in accordance with the Standards of Professional Appraisal
Practice  of  the Appraisal  Institute. All  three  valuers  have  recent  experience  in  the  location  and
category of the property being valued.

The aggregate professional valuations included in the above table have been reduced by an amount
of  £18.6 million  (2017 –  £14.3  million),  relating  to  lease  incentives  included  in Trade  and  other
receivables.

As  explained  in  Note  1(u)(i),  property  valuations  are  inherently  subjective,  depending  on  many
factors, including the individual nature of each property, its location and expected future net rental
values,  market  yields  and  comparable  market  transactions. These  fair  value  measurements  are
unrealised and classified as Level 3 as defined by IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement. There have been
no transfers between the levels of fair value hierarchy during the year. During the year £1.9 million
(2017 – £1.0 million)  of  unrealised  property  revaluation  recognised  in  prior  years  was  realised
through the sale of properties, this is included in the underlying profit calculation on page 20.

Valuation techniques and key inputs

We  set  out  the  valuation  techniques  used  below  and  the  key  inputs  used  in  these  valuation
techniques are set out in the tables over the page.

UK  commercial  property  was  valued  using  the  income  capitalisation  method,  requiring  the
application of the appropriate market based yield to net operating income. Adjustments are made
to allow for voids when less than five years are left under the current tenancy and to reflect market
rent at the point of lease expiry or rent review. Estimated fair value is sensitive to and would increase
if either net operating income increased or estimated yield decreased.

UK residential property was valued using a sales valuation approach, derived from recent comparable
transactions  in  the  market,  adjusted  by  applying  discounts  to  reflect  status  of  occupation  and
condition. The largest discounts for the status of occupation were applied to those properties subject
to  registered  tenancies,  reflecting  the  relative  difference  in  security  of  tenure,  whilst  the  smallest
discounts were applied to those properties subject to assured shorthold tenancies. The base discount
for condition was maintained at 10% in 2018 reflecting current estimates of costs being incurred. It is
estimated  that  an  increase  of  one  percentage  point in  this  discount  would  result  in  a  decrease  of
£8.6 million in the value of investment property.Estimated fair value is sensitive to and would increase
if the sales values increased.

USA  commercial  and  residential  properties  (excluding  co-operative  apartments)  have  been  valued
using  the  application  of  a  capitalisation  rate,  based  on  recent  arm’s  length  transactions,  to  an
assessment of stabilised net income, and for residential properties the values are cross-checked to
recent comparative sales evidence. USA commercial and residential estimated fair value is sensitive
to and would increase if either capitalisation rates decreased or estimated rental values increased.

USA co-operative residential apartments have been valued using the application of a discount rate,
based on recent arm’s length transactions, to an assessment of net income over the period to full
reversion, cross-checked to recent comparative sales evidence. USA unsold co-operative residential
apartments estimated fair value is sensitive to and would increase if either discount rates decreased,
estimated rental values increased or estimated sales values increased.

Page 73

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

2018

Fair Value

Rental Value £ per sq ft

Equivalent Yield %

£000

Low Average

High

Low Average

High

UK Commercial
Office Units

Greater London
UK – South
UK – North

Retail Units

Greater London
UK – South
UK – North

Industrial Units
All UK

Leisure and Service Units
All UK

Land and Development
All UK

Total UK Commercial

1,023,159

UK Residential

Greater London
UK – South
UK – North

Total UK Residential

Total UK

USA Commercial

Massachusetts, Philadelphia 

697,193 
76,031
2,950

776,174

1,799,333

305,780 
45,282 
10,629 

247,799 
144,166
26,622 

7.4 
2.0 
3.2 

5.4
4.0 
2.1 

52.0
15.2
9.0

42.8
19.9
10.3

75.0 
45.1 
14.5

81.3 
61.4 
26.0 

5.2% 13.9%
4.6%
4.4%
9.6% 29.3%
7.0% 10.1% 13.7%

4.8% 15.1%
3.5%
2.2%
7.8% 21.5%
6.5% 10.1% 14.8%

39,276 

1.5 

7.4

61.0 

5.4%

8.5% 24.2%

142,866 

5.0

18.1

37.6

6.6%

8.1% 14.7%

60,739

–

–

–

Sales value £ per sq ft
1,814
918
329
551
328
103
237
171
106

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

Rental value £ per sq ft

Capitalisation rate %

and New Jersey

87,062 

7.4 

25.1 

31.2 

5.0%

5.1%

6.8%

Total USA Commercial

87,062

USA Residential Apartments

New York City
Florida
Other States

216,372 
102,736 
104,944 

Rental value £ per sq ft
24.3 
9.8 
7.3 
9.4 
8.5 
6.1 
13.0 
10.8 
9.5 

Capitalisation rate %
3.8%
6.3%
5.8%

3.2%
6.1%
5.4%

2.3%
6.0%
4.8%

New York City 

– co-operative

Total USA Residential

Total USA

Total Group

Less lease incentives

81,291 

3.3 

12.1 

56.9 

6.0%

Discount rate %
9.6% 15.0%

505,343

592,405

2,391,738

(18,554)

2,373,184

There  are  inter-relationships  between  the  groups  of  inputs  as  they  are  determined  by  market
conditions. Movements in more than one input having the effect of increasing fair value could give
rise to a magnifying effect on the valuation. Due to the number of properties included in the Group’s
valuations, it is impracticable to disclose the extent of the possible effects of each assumption and it
is possible that outcomes that are different from the current assumptions could result in a material
adjustment to the valuation.

Page 74

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

2017

Fair Value

Rental Value £ per sq ft

Equivalent Yield %

£000

Low Average

High

Low Average

High

UK Commercial
Office Units

Greater London
UK – South
UK – North

Retail Units

Greater London
UK – South
UK – North

Industrial Units
All UK

Leisure and Service Units
All UK

Land and Development
All UK

Total UK Commercial

951,065

UK Residential

Greater London
UK – South
UK – North

Total UK Residential

Total UK

659,160
54,812
3,593

717,565

1,668,630

USA Commercial

Massachusetts, Philadelphia 

297,544
50,077
14,188

227,071
144,689
24,204

3.8
4.2
3.2

3.6
4.0
2.1

31.6
12.4
7.5

23.0
13.7
10.4

75.0
47.2
14.0

81.3
61.4
22.5

4.4%
8.5% 13.7%
4.1% 10.3% 32.5%
6.9% 10.3% 12.7%

1.4%
2.2%
5.2%

8.8% 13.6%
8.8% 20.8%
9.9% 15.4%

37,114

1.5

5.0

20.1

5.8%

9.6% 25.9%

84,578

4.4

15.6

37.6

6.8%

8.7% 12.5%

71,600

–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

Sales value £ per sq ft
1,851
932
328
536
338
104
234
167
117

Rental value £ per sq ft

Capitalisation rate %

and New Jersey

84,568

7.7

24.4

30.7

5.0%

5.3%

7.0%

Total USA Commercial

84,568

USA Residential Apartments

New York City
Florida
Other States

211,660
111,636
107,952

Rental value £ per sq ft
27.3
10.8
8.0
10.4
9.3
6.6
15.9
11.7
10.0

Capitalisation rate %
4.1%
6.3%
6.0%

3.5%
6.1%
5.5%

2.5%
6.0%
5.0%

New York City 

– co-operative

Total USA Residential

Total USA

Total Group

Less lease incentives

86,650

3.7

13.4

66.4

6.0%

Discount rate %
9.3% 12.0%

517,898

602,466

2,271,096

(14,296)

2,256,800

Page 75

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

The  present  value  of  future  minimum  lease  payments  in  relation  to  the  leasehold  investment
properties is £9.8 million at 31 March 2018 (2017 – £9.8 million).

Reconciliation between the total of future minimum lease payments and their present
capital values

2018

Present

2017

Minimum

Interest

value Minimum

Interest

Present

value

Lease

on lease

of lease

Lease

on lease

of lease

Payments

payments liabilities

£000

£000

£000

Payments payments
£000

£000

liabilities
£000

Due within one year 
539
Due within two to five years 
2,155
Due after more than five years  44,203

(532)
(2,137)
(34,414)

7
18
9,789

541 
2,164 
44,664 

(537) 
(2,154)
(34,852)

4
10
9,812

46,897

(37,083)

9,814

47,369 

(37,543) 

9,826

Capital commitments, arising from contractual obligations not yet invoiced or paid, for the purchase,
construction, development or enhancement of investment properties, amounted to £16.5 million at
31 March 2018 (2017 – £42.2 million).

10. Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities

2018

2017

Assets

Liabilities

£000

£000

Net

£000

Assets Liabilities
£000
£000

Net
£000

Investment property
Accelerated tax depreciation
Financial instruments

–
–
197

(250,383) (250,383)
(21,424) (21,424)
197

–

– (270,661) (270,661)
(29,095)
–
524
524

(29,095)
–

197

(271,807) (271,610)

524 (299,756) (299,232)

The movement in deferred tax is as follows:

Accelerated

tax Financial

Investment

depreci-

instru-

property

£000

ation

£000

ments

£000

Total

2018

£000

Total

2017
£000

Balance at 1 April
Recognised in income
Foreign exchange movements

(270,661) (29,095)
4,916
2,755

6,110
14,168

524 (299,232)
(327) 10,699
16,923

–

(254,725)
(26,681)
(17,826)

Balance at 31 March

(250,383) (21,424)

197 (271,610)

(299,232)

Page 76

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

11.

Trade and Other Receivables

Rent and service charges debtor
Rent and service charges accrued
Other debtors and prepayments
Mortgages granted repayable within one year

2018

£000

34,598
4,020
23,683
413

2017
£000

27,354
6,291
30,904
513

62,714

65,062

The ageing of rent and service charge receivables was as follows:

Not past due
Past due by less than one month
Past due by one to three months
Past due by three to six months
Past due by more than six months

2018

Impair-

ment
£000

Net
£000

– 27,038
5,122
1,311
1,476
3,671

(886)
(321)
(389)
(6,632)

Gross
£000

27,038
6,008
1,632
1,865
10,303

2017

Impair-

ment
£000

–
(354)
(151)
(333)
(9,040)

Net
£000

23,168
4,263
1,330
1,506
3,378

Gross
£000

23,168
4,617
1,481
1,839
12,418

46,846

(8,228) 38,618

43,523

(9,878)

33,645

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade and other receivables during the
year was as follows:

Balance at 1 April
Amounts written off
Movement in allowance for impairment

Balance at 31 March

12.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Bank balances
Short term deposits

2018

£000

2017
£000

9,878
(1,508)
(142)

10,805
(598)
(329)

8,228

9,878

2018
£000

2017
£000

73,836
24,916

62,567
21,716

Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet and cash flow statement

98,752

84,283

Included within bank balances are tenants’ deposits of £4,677,000 (2017 – £3,553,000) in the UK and
£2,669,000 (2017 – £2,885,000) in the USA, which cannot be used in the ordinary course of business.

Page 77

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

13.

Share Capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid:
Ordinary shares of 25 pence per share

Number

2018
£000

2017
£000

16,295,357

4,074

4,074

The Company has one class of share, which carries no special rights or rights to fixed income. There
are no restrictions on the transfer of these shares or restrictions on voting rights.

14.

Trade and Other Payables

Rent and service charges charged in advance
Other creditors and accruals
Derivative financial instruments

15.

Loans and Borrowings

Non-current liabilities
Mortgages
Bank loans

Current liabilities
Mortgages
Bank loans

Total loans and borrowings
Mortgages
Bank loans

2018
£000

22,783
28,545
1,161

2017
£000

18,574
29,702
3,084

52,489

51,360

2018
£000

2017
£000

230,429
66,072

225,283
77,959

296,501

303,242

27,311
26,647

47,028
2,269

53,958

49,297

257,740
92,719

272,311
80,228

350,459

352,539

All  mortgages  and  bank  loans  are  secured  on  specific  investment  properties  owned  by  subsidiary
undertakings.

Page 78

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

The maturity profile of the Group’s loans and borrowings was as follows:

Due within one year
Due within one to two years
Due within two to five years
Due after more than five years

2018

Bank loans
£000

Mortgages
£000

26,647
–
66,072
–

27,311
10,681
41,975
177,773

Total
£000

53,958
10,681
108,047
177,773

2017
Total
£000

49,297
57,226
99,138
146,878

92,719

257,740

350,459

352,539

The risk profile of the Group’s loans and borrowings, after taking account of interest rate swaps, was
as follows:

2018
Fixed Floating
£000
£000

Total
£000

Fixed
£000

2017
Floating
£000

Total
£000

Sterling
US Dollar

57,259
217,263

67,719 124,978
8,218 225,481

58,190
239,121

55,228
–

113,418
239,121

274,522

75,937 350,459

297,311

55,228

352,539

Floating rate bank loans bear rates based on LIBOR. The Group’s interest rate swaps are set out in
Note 16 on page 83. The interest rate profile of the Group’s fixed rate mortgages was as follows:

Per cent.
3.0-3.5
3.5-4.0
4.0-4.5
4.5-5.0
5.0-5.5
5.5-6.0
6.0-6.5

2018
£000

2017
£000

110,800
93,874
3,383
4,974
13,901
7,275
15,315

109,899
84,293
10,904
6,526
14,129
31,312
15,248

249,522

272,311

The  weighted  average  rate and  the  weighted  average  term  of  the  Group’s  fixed  rate  loans  and
borrowings (after taking account of interest rate swaps) were as follows:

Sterling
US Dollar

2018
%

5.98
3.62

2017
%

5.97
3.84

2018
Years

8.2
7.9

2017
Years

9.2
6.7

Page 79

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

16.

Financial Assets and Liabilities

The Group’s financial instruments are analysed into categories as follows:

2018

2017

Carrying
amount
£000

158

158

(1,161)

(1,161)

62,714
98,752

161,466

Financing
income/
(expense)
£000

6

6

1,923

1,923

540
41

581

Carrying
amount
£000

162

162

(3,084)

(3,084)

65,062
84,283

149,345

Financing
income/
(expense)
£000

–

–

86

86

455
44

499

Current asset investments

Current assets at fair value

Derivative financial instruments

Current liabilities at fair value

Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Current assets at amortised cost

Trade and other payables
Floating rate loans and borrowings
Fixed rate loans and borrowings

(51,328)
(100,937)
(249,522)

(179)
(3,414)
(9,201)

(48,276)
(80,228)
(272,311)

(13)
(3,053)
(10,466)

Current and non-current liabilities at

amortised cost

(401,787)

(12,794)

(400,815)

(13,532)

Total financial instruments

(241,324)

(10,284)

(254,392)

(12,947)

The  finance  income  of  £1,923,000 (2017:  £86,000)  relating  to  derivative  financial  instruments  is
stated net of £35,000 expense (2017: £35,000 income) relating to credit risk movements.

Fair values of financial instruments

With the exception of fixed rate loans and borrowings, the Group’s financial instruments are shown
in the table above at fair value. Fixed rate loans and borrowings are stated at amortised cost as shown
in the table above and as explained in Note 1(t).  The fair value of fixed rate loans and borrowings
was £260,155,000 (2017 – £287,351,000). At both the current and preceding year end there were
no non-recurring fair value measurements.

The  Group  does  not  hedge  account  and  all  its interest  rate  swaps  are  initially  recognised,  and
subsequently recorded, at fair value, with any movement being recorded in the consolidated income
statement. The  fair  values  of  all
interest  rate  swaps  and  fixed  rate  loans  and  borrowings  are
determined by reference to observable inputs that are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy
set  out  in  IFRS  13  Fair Value  Measurement. Fair  values  have  been  determined  by  discounting
expected future cash flows using market interest rates and yield curves over the remaining term of
the instrument, as adjusted to reflect the credit risk attributable to the Group and, where relevant,
its counterparty.

Page 80

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

Financial instrument risk management

In common with all businesses, the Group is exposed to the following types of risk which arise from
its use of financial instruments:

Credit risk
Liquidity risk
Market risk

This note presents information about the nature of the Group’s exposure to such risks, its objectives,
policies  and  processes  for  measuring  and  managing  risk  and  the  Group’s  management  of  capital.
Reference to disclosures given elsewhere in the financial statements is included as appropriate.

The  Board  has  overall  responsibility  for  determining  the  Group’s  risk  management  objectives  and
policies and, whilst retaining ultimate responsibility for them, has delegated to the finance function
the  authority  for  designing  and  operating  processes  that  ensure  the  effective  implementation  of
those objectives. The overall objectives of the Board are to set policies that seek to reduce risk as far
as possible without unduly affecting the Group’s competitiveness and flexibility.

Credit risk

The Group’s exposure to credit risk arises from the potential financial loss if a tenant or counterparty
to  a  financial  instrument  fails  to  meet  its  contractual  obligations  and  arises  principally  from  the
Group’s trade receivables from tenants.

Trade receivables

The majority of the Group’s rental income is demanded quarterly in advance and demands are sent
out prior to the due date. Management monitors arrears continually and prompt action is taken to
address potential defaults as appropriate. The credit worthiness of each tenant is assessed prior to
the agreement of the lease. Where appropriate, collateral is required by the Group to support lease
obligations. In many cases this takes the form of a tenant security deposit but also includes parent
company  guarantees,  bank  or  other  guarantees  where  appropriate.  Provision  is  made  on  a  sliding
scale against any rental arrears where recovery is in doubt or where solicitors have been instructed
to  recover  the  debt,  with  full  provision  for  impairment  usually  being  made  where  a  tenant  is  in
arrears for more than a year. Details of the Group’s trade receivables and the extent of impairment
provisions against them are set out in Note 11.

Due to the large number of tenants across various sectors and geographical locations, the Board does
not consider there to be a significant concentration of credit risk.

Cash and derivative financial instruments

The  credit  rating  of  counterparties  to  financial  instruments  is  kept  under  review. The  Group’s
interest rate  swaps  are  currently out-of-the-money;  consequently,  counterparty  risk  on  swaps  does
not represent a major risk at the current time. The counterparty risk on cash and short-term deposits
is managed by limiting the aggregate exposure to any institution by reference to their credit rating.
Such  balances  are  generally  placed  with  major  financial  institutions  where  credit  risk  is  not
considered significant.

Maximum exposure

The aggregate carrying amounts of the Group’s financial assets, which are stated net of impairment
provisions, represents the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk, before taking into account the
value of the tenant security deposits held and other collateral.

Page 81

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting its financial obligations
as  they  fall  due  and  arises  from  the  Group’s  management  of  its  working  capital  and  the  finance
charges and amortisation of its loans and borrowings.

The  Group’s  policy  is  to  seek  to  maintain  cash  balances  to  meet  all  short  and  medium  term
requirements. The Group has a low level of gearing relative to the property investment sector as a
whole and has long standing relationships with many leading banks and financial institutions from
which the Board expect to be able to raise further funds if required. At 31 March 2018, gearing was
13.8% (2017  – 14.6%)  on  the  basis  of  gross  debt  to  gross  assets. Cash  and  short-term  deposits  at
31 March 2018 were £98.8 million (2017 – £84.3 million) and £54.0 million of loans and borrowings
were repayable within one year (2017 – £49.3 million). In addition, at the same date, the Group had
undrawn committed facilities of £63.4 million (2017 – £48.4 million), which expire between 2018
and 2022.

The maturity analysis of the undiscounted cash flows arising from the Group’s financial liabilities at
31 March 2018 was as follows:

Aggregate
undiscounted
cash flows
£000

92,719
257,740
81,496
3,956
51,328

2018

Due
within
one year
£000

26,647
27,311
11,539
918
51,328

Due
within
1-2 years
£000

–
10,681
10,074
325
–

Due Due after
within more than
5 years
£000

2-5 years
£000

66,072
–
41,975 177,773
34,977
24,906
1,740
973
–
–

Carrying
amount
£000

92,719
257,740
–
1,161
51,328

402,948

487,239 117,743

21,080 133,926 214,490

Carrying
amount

£000
80,228
272,311
–
3,084
48,276

403,899

Aggregate
undiscounted
cash flows
£000
80,228
272,311
71,774
5,822
48,276

2017

Due
within
one year
£000
2,269
47,028
11,206
1,320
48,276

Due
within
1-2 years
£000
26,712
30,514
9,857
971
–

Due Due after
within more than
5 years
£000
–
146,878
28,841
2,396
–

2-5 years
£000
51,247
47,891
21,870
1,135
–

478,411

110,099

68,054

122,143

178,115

Bank loans
Mortgages
Interest
Interest rate swaps
Trade and other payables

Bank loans
Mortgages
Interest
Interest rate swaps
Trade and other payables

Market risk

Market risk arises mainly from the impact that changes in interest rates might have on the cost of
Group borrowing and the impact that changes in the US dollar/sterling rate of exchange might have
on the Group’s recognition of its USA net assets.

Interest rates

The  Group  seeks  to  reduce  the  interest  rate  risk  by  fixing  rates  on  a  majority  of  its  loans  and
borrowings, whilst maintaining some loans at floating rates in order to retain flexibility in relation to
short term interest rates. Interest rates are fixed either through the use of fixed rate mortgage finance
or through interest rate swaps. The Group does not speculate in treasury products but uses these

Page 82

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

only to limit exposure to potential interest rate fluctuations. The interest rate profile of the Group’s
loans and borrowings is set out in Note 15.

It is estimated that a general increase of one percentage point in interest rates would decrease the
Group’s profit before taxation by approximately £0.6 million per annum, on the basis of the floating
rate debt outstanding at 31 March 2018, after taking account of the interest swaps in place.

There also exists a risk to the income statement arising from the recognition and re-measurement of
interest  rate  swaps  at  fair  value.  It  is  estimated  that  a  general  increase  of  one  percentage  point  in
interest rates would give rise to a reduction in fair value of interest rate swaps outstanding at 31 March
2018 of £3.1 million, together with a corresponding increase in the Group’s profit before taxation.

Interest rate swaps

The interest rate swaps held by the Group at the year end were as follows:

Contracted rate

Notional principal

Fair value

2018

%
5.6
1.6

2017
%
5.6
1.6

2018

£000
25,000
30,000

2017
£000
25,000
30,000

2018

£000
766
395

2017
£000
2,084
1,000

55,000

55,000

1,161

3,084

Maturing within one year
Maturing after five years

Foreign exchange rates

The Group seeks to reduce its exposure to foreign currency risk in relation to its USA net assets by
funding  its  USA  investment  property  with  US dollar  denominated  loans  and  borrowings. As  the
Group’s investment in USA assets are held for the long term and funds are not usually returned to
the UK, the Group’s policy is not to hedge its residual exposure. Management monitors exchange
rates on a regular basis and elects to transfer funds only when the rate is favourable to do so.

It  is  estimated  that  a ten  percentage  point  decrease  in  the  value  of  the US dollar  against sterling
would result in a decrease in the sterling value of the Group’s USA net assets of £30.0 million.

Capital management

The  capital  structure  of  the  Group  consists  of  equity  attributable  to  equity  holders  of  the  parent
together with net debt. This is kept under constant review to ensure the Group has sufficient capital
to fund its operations and that the Group’s strategy of low gearing is maintained. The Group seeks to
maintain  a  balance  between  longer-term  finance  appropriate  to  fund  its  long-term  investment
property holding strategy and medium-term finance which provides a more cost effective source of
finance.  Equity  comprises  issued  share  capital,  reserves  and  retained  earnings  as  set  out  in  the
consolidated statement of changes in equity. Net debt comprises a mix of fixed rate mortgages and
shorter-term  bank  loans  as  set  out  in  Note  15  and  cash  and  short  term  deposits  as  set  out  in
Note 12. All loans and borrowings are secured against investment property and the bank loans are
drawn against committed facilities.

17. Related Party Transactions

Day-to-day management of the Group’s properties and its operations in the UK is mainly carried out
by Highdorn Co. Limited and by Freshwater Property Management Limited. Mr B S E Freshwater and
Mr  S  I  Freshwater  are  Directors  of  both  companies. They  have  no  beneficial  interest  in  the  share
capital of Highdorn Co. Limited. Mr B S E Freshwater, Mr S I Freshwater and Mr D Davis are Directors
of the parent company of Freshwater Property Management Limited but have no beneficial interest
in either company. Mr C B Freshwater and Mr R E Freshwater have a beneficial interest in a trust
holding interests in shares in Highdorn Co. Limited.

Page 83

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

In their capacity as property managing agents, Highdorn Co. Limited (“Highdorn”) and Freshwater
Property Management Limited (“FPM”) collect rents and incur direct property expenses on behalf of
the Group. At 31 March 2018, the aggregate net amounts due to the Group from Highdorn and FPM
was £2.7 million (2017 – £6.6 million). These amounts are not secured and are payable on demand.
No guarantees have been given or received and the amounts are settled in cash.

Included  in  the  balance  above  are amounts  paid  and  payable  by  the  Group  for  the  provision  of
property  and  other  management  services to Highdorn  Co. Limited  and  Freshwater  Property
Management Limited, which were as follows:

Balance due to related party managing agents at 1 April
Charged during the year
Paid during the year

Balance due to related party managing agents at 31 March

2018

£000

2017
£000

1,889
6,179
(5,557)

2,891
4,488
(5,490)

2,511

1,889

Mr B S E Freshwater, Mr S I Freshwater and Mr D Davis are trustees of two charities that own 6.3% of
the  share  capital  of  the  Company. These  charities  have  received  dividend  payments  in  the  year  of
£1,001,386 (2017 – £960,659). The Directors’ interests in the Company and the principal shareholders
are described on pages 31 and 32.The Board considers that the Directors are the key management
personnel of the Group and their remuneration is disclosed on page 44.

18.

Contingent Liabilities

The Group is from time to time party to legal actions arising in the ordinary course of business. The
Directors are not aware of any current actions which could have a material adverse effect on the
financial position of the Group.

19. Operating Lease Agreements

The Group earns rental income by leasing its investment properties to tenants under operating leases
which vary in terms and provisions between type of property and type of tenure. Leases providing
for contingent rents are rare within the Group’s property portfolio and no amounts for contingent
rents are included in rental income for the year (2017 – £Nil).

At the balance sheet date, future minimum lease payments receivable by the Group under operating
leases were as follows:

Due within one year
Due within one to two years
Due within two to five years
Due after more than five years

2018

£000

2017
£000

75,386
44,721
95,365
233,788

76,536
49,043
105,796
273,792

449,260

505,167

Many of the Group’s residential properties are let under assured shorthold tenancies which typically
are for initial terms of 12 months or less, whereafter they are cancellable at short notice. The Group’s
experience is that a significant proportion of such tenancies are held over after the expiry of their
initial term.

Page 84

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

20. Notes to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Cash generated from operations

Net operating profit before net financing costs
Adjusted for:
Net valuation gain on investment property (Note 9)
Net gain on sale of investment property
Net valuation loss/(gain) on listed investments

2018

£000

2017
£000

211,546

211,343

(146,438) (144,508)
(14,594)
(3)

(11,893)
10

Cash flows from operations before changes in working capital

53,225

52,238

Changes in working capital:
Change in trade and other receivables
Change in trade and other payables

Working capital movement

Cash generated from continuing operations

Change in liabilities during the year relating to financing activities

Total loans and borrowings at 1 April (Note 15)
Repayment of bank loans
New bank loans in year
Repayment of mortgages
New mortgages
Foreign exchange impact

Total loans and borrowings at 31 March (Note 15)

21.

Subsidiary Undertakings

366
2,889

(5,040)
(8,048)

3,255

(13,088)

56,480

39,150

2018

£000

2017
£000

352,539
(2,509)
15,000
(58,398)
70,216
(26,389)

321,928
(1,871)
-
(6,899)
8,057
31,324

350,459

352,539

Except  where  indicated  the  following  are  indirect  subsidiaries  of  the  Company,  where  the
Company’s  direct  and  indirect  interest  is  in  ordinary  shares. All  are  wholly  owned, except as
indicated,  are  property  investment  companies and  are  included  in  the  consolidated  financial
statements.

Incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales

Registered office: Freshwater House, 158 – 162 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HR

Agecroft Estates Limited
Alsam Limited
Astral Estates (London) Limited
Bagnight Limited*
Bampton (B&B) Limited
Bampton (Redbridge) Limited
Bampton Holdings Limited
Bampton Homes Limited
Bampton Management Limited
Bampton Property Group Limited (The)

* Directly owned

Brickfield Properties Limited
Chilon Investment Co. Limited
City and Country (Londonderry House) Limited
City and Country Properties (Birmingham)
Limited
City and Country Properties (Camberley)
Limited
City and Country Properties (Estates) Limited
City and Country Properties (Gillingham)
Limited

Page 85

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued 

City and Country Properties (Leeds) Limited
City and Country Properties (Midlands) Limited
City and Country Properties Limited
Coindragon Limited*
Coineagle Limited*
Coinface Limited*
Coinmad Limited*
Coinmoat Limited*
Coinorbit Limited*
Coinpilot Limited*
Coinreach Limited*
Coinsmart Limited*
Coinspear Limited*
Coinsun Limited
Consbrix Developments Limited
Cromlech Property Co. Limited (The)
Crozera Limited
Daejan (Brentford) Limited*
Daejan (Brighton) Limited
Daejan (Cambridge) Limited
Daejan (Cardiff) Limited
Daejan (Care Homes) Limited*
Daejan (Dartford) Limited
Daejan (Design & Build) Limited*
Daejan (Durham) Limited
Daejan (FH 1998) Limited
Daejan (FHNV 1998) Limited
Daejan (Hanger Hill) Limited*
Daejan (High Wycombe) Limited
Daejan (Kingston) Limited
Daejan (Lauderdale) Limited
Daejan (Norwich) Limited
Daejan (NUNV) Limited
Daejan (NUV) Limited
Daejan (PF) Limited
Daejan (Reading) Limited
Daejan (Taunton) Limited
Daejan (UK) Limited*
Daejan (US) Limited*
Daejan (Warwick) Limited
Daejan (Watford) Limited
Daejan (Wimbledon) Limited*
Daejan (Worcester) Limited
Daejan Commercial Properties Limited
Daejan Developments Limited
Daejan Enterprises Limited
Daejan Estates Limited
Daejan Investments (Grove Hall) Limited
Daejan Investments (Harrow) Limited
Daejan Investments (Park) Limited

Daejan Investments Limited
Daejan Metropolitan Investments Limited*
Daejan Properties Limited
Daejan Retail Properties Limited
Daejan Securities Limited*
Daejan Services Limited*
Daejan Traders Limited*
Daneryn Limited*
Derlingrange Limited*
Ealux Limited
Endell Developments Limited*
Endell Properties Limited*
Endell Real Estate Limited*
Esslock Limited 
Fifth Charles Investments Limited*
First Charles Investments Limited*
Foredale Limited*
Gertsbrix Developments Limited
Grapeseal Limited*
Halliard Property Co. Limited (The)
Hampstead Way Investments Limited
Inputstock Limited
Inputstripe Limited
Insworth Investments Limited*
Johnsbrix Developments Limited
Kingforge Limited*
Kintsilk Investments Limited
Lawnstamp Limited
Lesbrix Developments Limited
Limebridge Co. Limited
Lookstate Limited
Lyme & Farrar Limited
Marfred Limited
Mineral and General Investments Limited
Modboon Limited*
Mont Investments Limited
Offerworld Limited
Pegasus Investment Company Limited
Ronend Properties Limited*
Rosebel Holdings Limited
Seaglen Investments Limited
Semlark Limited*
Simlock Limited
St. Leonards Properties Limited
Strand Palace Hotel Limited*
Summerseas Investment Co. Limited
Wisebourne Limited*
Workvideo Limited *

* Directly owned

Page 86

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

Incorporated in Guernsey
Registered office: Bordage House, Le Bordage, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 1BU

Daejan Financing Limited
Three Dials Limited
Four Dials Limited

Eight Dials Limited
Nine Dials Limited
Ten Dials Limited

Incorporated in the Isle of Man
Registered office: 8 St George’s Street Douglas IM1 1AH

Temple Investments Limited

Incorporated in Curaçao
Registered office: Schottegatweg Oost 44, Curaçao

Daejan Holdings N.V. 

Incorporated in the USA

Registered office, except as noted in (i) to (vii) below: 1651 Coney Island Avenue,

Brooklyn, NY 11230

77NW LLC
200 Portland LLC
260 Realty Associates**
427 West 51st Street Owners Corp.
611 West 158th Street Corp.
670 River Realty Corp.
730 GC Realty Corp.
1750 GC LLC
3380 Nostrand LLC
Ace 2160 Wallace LLC
Ace 2180 Wallace LLC
Ace 2181 Barnes LLC
Ace 2181 Wallace LLC
CM Bucks Landing 120 LLC
Daejan 1010 Regency LLC(i)
Daejan 11 E Chase LLC(i)
Daejan 77, Inc.(vii)
Daejan 3120 Court LLC(i)
Daejan Astoria LLC
Daejan Baltimore Inc.
Daejan Chesterfield LLC(ii)
Daejan Crossroads LLC
Daejan Enterprises Inc.
Daejan Fisherman’s Landing LLC(iii)

Daejan Greenwich Commons LLC(iv)
Daejan Hidden Palms LLC(iii)
Daejan Holdings (U.S.) Inc.*(vi)
Daejan Inverrary LLC
Daejan Lauderhill Inc.
Daejan Lycoming LLC, Inc.
Daejan N.Y. Ltd.
Daejan Oak Manor, Inc.(v)
Daejan Portland, Inc.
DJN Crossroad, Inc.
DJN Greenwich Inc.
DJN Raritan LLC
Ivory 1150 Concourse Corp.
Ivory 1166 G.C. Realty Corp.
Ivory 3045 Grand Concourse Corp.
Ivory 3591 Bainbridge Corp.
Ivory 3780 Bronx Blvd. Corp.
Ivory 3908 Bronx Realty Corp.
Ivory 780 Grand Corp.
Ivory 790 G.C. Corp.
New Franconia Associates***
Sevens G.C. Realty Corp.
Tampa Sunscape Inc.

Registered offices: (i) 6800 Liberty Road, Baltimore, MD 21207; (ii) 4200 Inverrary Blvd, Lauderhill, FL 33319; 
(iii) 14555 Bruce D. Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 33613; (iv) 14608 43rd Street, Tampa, FL 33813; (v) 5105 Mission Hills Ave, Tampa,
FL 33617; (vi) 1105 North Market Street, Wilmington, NY 19899; (vii) 65 Franklin Street, Suite 401, Boston, MA 02110.

* Directly owned

** 75% owned

*** 70% owned

Page 87

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

COMPANY BALANCE SHEET

as at 31 March 2018

Notes

£000

2018
£000

£000

2017
£000

Fixed assets
Investment in subsidiary

undertakings
Deferred tax assets

4

1,326,904
197

1,327,101

1,330,488
524

1,331,012

Current assets
Debtors
Cash at bank

Creditors: amounts falling 
due within one year

Net current liabilities

Total assets less current

liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year

Net assets

Capital and reserves
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Other reserves
Profit and loss account

Equity shareholders’ funds

560
18,187

18,747

1,157
6,570

7,727

5

(338,321)

(300,635)

(319,574)

(292,908)

1,007,527

1,038,104

6

7

(48,267)

959,260

4,074
555
893
953,738

959,260

(60,469)

977,635

4,074
555
893
972,113

977,635

The financial statements of Daejan Holdings PLC (Company number 305105) on pages 88 to 92 were
approved by the Board of Directors on 20 July 2018 and were signed on its behalf by:

B S E Freshwater

Director

D Davis

Director

Page 88

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

for the year ended 31 March 2018

Balance at 1 April 2016

Loss for the year

Dividends to equity shareholders

Balance at 1 April 2017

Loss for the year

Dividends to equity shareholders

Issued

share

capital
£000

4,074

–

–

4,074

–

–

Balance at 31 March 2018

4,074

Share

premium

account
£000

555

–

–

555

–

–

555

Equity

Other

Retained shareholders’

reserves
£000

893

–

–

earnings
£000

990,498

funds
£000

996,020

(3,230)

(3,230)

(15,155)

(15,155)

893

972,113

977,635

–

–

(2,406)

(2,406)

(15,969)

(15,969)

893

953,738

959,260

Page 89

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 

1.

Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are
considered material in relation to the Company’s financial statements.

(a)

Basis of preparation

The  Company  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with Financial  Reporting
Standard 102, the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (“FRS
102”). The Company has adopted the following disclosure exemptions permitted by FRS 102 1.12
(b), (c) and (e): The requirement to present a statement of cash flows; the requirement to disclose
the  terms  and  conditions  of  long  term  debt;  and  the  requirement  to  disclose  key  management
personnel compensation in total. 

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, a separate profit and loss account dealing
with  the  results  of  the  Company  has  not  been  presented. The  Company’s loss  for  the  year  after
taxation was £2,406,000 (2017 – £3,230,000).

(b)

Investments in subsidiary undertakings

Investments in subsidiary undertakings comprise shares in, and loans to, those undertakings and are
stated at cost less any provision for impairment.

(c)

Financial instruments

Financial  liabilities  and  equity  instruments  are  classified  according  to  the  substance  of  the
contractual arrangements entered into.  An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual
interest in the assets of the entity after deducting all financial liabilities.

Basic financial instruments
(i) Trade and other creditors
Trade  and  other  creditors  are  recognised  initially  at  transaction  price  less  attributable  transaction
costs.  Subsequent  to  initial  recognition  they  are  measured  at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective
interest  method.  If  the  arrangement  constitutes  a  financing  transaction,  for  example  if  payment  is
deferred beyond normal business terms, then it is measured at the present value of future payments
discounted at a market rate for a similar debt instrument.

(ii) Loans and borrowings
Loans  and  borrowings  are  initially  recognised  at  fair  value  and  are  subsequently  recorded  at
amortised cost. Transaction costs are deducted from the fair value at recognition and any differences
between  the  amount  initially  recognised  and  the  redemption  value  is  recognised  in  the  income
statement over the period of the borrowings on an effective interest rate basis.

Derivative financial instruments
The Company uses derivative financial instruments to hedge its exposure to interest rate risk arising
from operational and financing activities. As these derivatives do not qualify for hedge accounting,
they  are  accounted  for  as  trading  instruments.  Derivative  financial  instruments  are  initially
recognised,  and  subsequently  recorded,  at  fair  value. The  fair  value  of  interest  rate  swaps  is  the
estimated  amount  that  the  Company  would  recover  or  pay  to  terminate  the  swap  at  the  balance
sheet  date,  taking  into  account  current  interest  rates  and  the  credit  worthiness  of  the  swap
counterparties. The  gain  or  loss  on  re-measurement  to  fair  value  is  recognised  immediately  in  the
income statement.

Page 90

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

(d) Deferred tax

Deferred  tax  is  provided  on  timing  differences  which  arise  from  the  inclusion  of  income  and
expenses  in  tax  assessments  in  periods  different  from  those  in  which  they  are  recognised  in  the
financial statements. Deferred tax is not recognised on permanent differences arising because certain
types  of  income  or  expenses  are  non-taxable  or  are  disallowable  for  tax  or  because  certain  tax
charges or allowances are greater or smaller than the corresponding income or expense.

Deferred  tax  is  measured  at  the  tax  rate  that  is  expected  to  apply  to  the  reversal  of  the  related
difference, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Unrelieved  tax  losses  and  other  deferred  tax  assets  are  recognised  only  to  the  extent  that  it  is
probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future
taxable profits.

(e)

Foreign currencies

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded using the rate of exchange ruling at the date of the
transaction and gains and losses on translation are included in the profit and loss account.

2.

Profit on Ordinary Activities before Taxation

The Company has no staff other than its Directors and their remuneration is set out on page 44 of
the Group accounts. The parent company audit fee is disclosed on page 70 of the Group accounts.

3.

Dividends

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year:
Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2016,

paid 11 November 2016 @ 58p per share

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2017,

paid 10 March 2017 @ 35p per share

Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2017, 

paid 10 November 2017 @ 63p per share

Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2018, 

paid 9 March 2018 @ 35p per share

2018
£000

2017
£000

–

–

9,452

5,703

10,266

5,703

–

–

15,969

15,155

The  Board  has  recommended  a  final  dividend  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2018  of  £11,081,000,
representing 68p  per  share. This  dividend  has  not  been  included  as  a  liability  in  these  financial
statements.

Page 91

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  continued

4.

Investments in Subsidiary Undertakings

At 1 April 2017
Loans

At 31 March 2018

Shares at 
cost
£000

991,933
–

Loans
£000

Total
£000

338,555
(3,584)

1,330,488
(3,584)

991,933

334,971

1,326,904

5.

Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year

Bank loans and overdrafts
Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings
Other creditors and accruals
Derivative financial instruments

2018
£000

26,888
296,563
13,709
1,161

2017
£000

2,498
294,282
771
3,084

338,321

300,635

6.

Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year

Secured bank loans

7.

Share Capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid:
Ordinary shares of 25 pence per share

8.

Profit and Loss Reserve

2018
£000

2017
£000

48,267

60,469

Number

2018
£000

2017
£000

16,295,357

4,074

4,074

Some  years  ago,  the  Company  sold  its  shareholdings  in  certain  subsidiary  undertakings  to
intermediate  holding  companies. As  a  result  of  that  transaction,  the  parent  company  transferred
£645.1 million of revaluation gains relating to these investments to the profit and loss reserve. As
the  transfer  of  these  revaluation  gains  arose  as  a  result  of  a  sale  of  assets  within  the  Group,  it  is
unlikely that the Company will seek to treat the profit and loss reserve thus arising as distributable.

Under the articles of association of certain Group investment undertakings, realised capital surpluses
are not available for distribution as dividends.

Page 92

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

GROUP FIVE-YEAR RECORD

2014
£000
112,202
(68,789)

2015
£000
128,976
(70,041)

2016
£000
138,197
(70,008)

2017
£000
140,738
(75,938)

2018
£000
142,885
(76,407)

43,413
11,320

58,935
12,036

68,189
11,725

64,800
14,594

66,478
11,893

122,050
(10,550)

229,722
(11,821)

117,947
(13,041)

144,508
(12,559)

146,438
(13,263)

166,233
(8,063)

288,872
(11,333)

184,820
(11,578)

211,343
(12,947)

211,546
(10,284)

158,170
(12,231)

277,539
(49,979)

173,242
(30,237)

198,396
(36,266)

201,262
1,696

145,939

227,560

143,005

162,130

202,958

£8.95

£8.77

£13.95

£12.45
1,655,552 1,964,088 2,158,073 2,406,831 2,535,005
1,117,533 1,345,874 1,480,094 1,655,955 1,812,993
£90.82
£111.25

£101.61

£68.58

£82.59

£9.93

Total rental and related income
Property operating expenses

Net rental and related income
Profit on disposal of investment properties
Net valuation gains on investment 

properties

Administrative expenses

Net operating profit before 

financing costs

Net financing expense

Profit before taxation
Income tax

Profit for the year

Earnings per share
Total assets
Equity shareholders’ funds
Equity shareholders’ funds per share

Page 93

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

DIRECTORS AND ADVISERS

Directors

B S E Freshwater

Auditor

KPMG LLP

(Chairman and Managing Director)

15 Canada Square, 

S I Freshwater

London E14 5GL

S B Benaim (non-executive)

D Davis (non-executive)

Consulting Accountants

A M Freshwater (USA) (non-executive) 

Cohen Arnold

C B Freshwater (non-executive)

New Burlington House, 

R E Freshwater (non-executive)

1075 Finchley Road,

S Srulowitz (USA) (non-executive)

London NW11 0PJ

Secretary

M R M Jenner F.C.I.S.

Principal Bankers

Lloyds Banking Group plc

Barclays Bank PLC

Registered & Head Office

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

Stockbrokers

N+1 Singer

1 Bartholomew Lane,

London EC2N 2AX

Freshwater House,

158-162 Shaftesbury Avenue, 

London WC2H 8HR

Registered in England

Co. No. 305105

Registrars

Equiniti

Aspect House, 

Spencer Road, 

Lancing,

West Sussex BN99 6DA

Page 94

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTICE OF MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Eighty Second Annual General Meeting of Daejan Holdings PLC will
be  held  at The  Connaught  Rooms,  61-65  Great  Queen  Street,  London WC2B  5DA,  on Wednesday
29 August at 2.30 p.m. for the following purposes:

Ordinary Business

To consider and if thought fit, pass the following Ordinary Resolutions:

1. 

2.

3.

To  receive  the  Financial  Statements  for  the  year  ended  31  March  2018  together  with  the
Reports of the Directors and the Auditor. (Resolution 1)

To approve the Remuneration Report for the year ended 31 March 2018. (Resolution 2)

To declare a final dividend. (Resolution 3)

4. 

To re-elect B S E Freshwater as a Director. (Resolution 4)

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

To re-elect S I Freshwater as a Director. (Resolution 5)

To re-elect S B Benaim as a Director. (Resolution 6)

To re-elect S Srulowitz as a Director. (Resolution 7)

To re-elect D Davis as a Director. (Resolution 8)

To re-elect R E Freshwater as a Director. (Resolution 9)

10.

To re-elect A M Freshwater as a Director. (Resolution 10)

11.

To re-elect C B Freshwater as a Director. (Resolution 11)

12.

To reappoint KPMG LLP as Auditor, and to authorise the Directors to agree its remuneration.
(Resolution 12)

By order of the Board
M R M Jenner
Secretary

Explanatory Note to Resolutions 6 and 7
The UK Corporate Governance Code provides for all directors of companies forming the FTSE350 to be subject to annual
re-election  by  shareholders. Accordingly  all  members  of  the Board  are  standing  for  re-election  at  this Annual  General
Meeting. Biographical details of all the directors are set out on pages 30 and 31 of the annual report.

Resolutions 6 and 7 relate to the re-election of Mr S Benaim and Mr S Srulowitz who are the directors that the Board has
determined are independent directors for the purposes of the UK Corporate Governance Code. Because the Company
has controlling shareholders, set out on page 32 of the annual report, (that is exercising more than 30% of the voting
rights of the Company) the Listing Rules require that such directors seeking re-election by shareholders who are deemed
independent must be approved by a majority of both:

1.

2.

The shareholders of the Company; and

The independent shareholders of the Company (that is the shareholders of the Company entitled to vote on the
election of directors who are not controlling shareholders of the Company).

Resolutions  6  and  7  are  therefore  being  proposed  as  ordinary  resolutions  which  all  shareholders  may  vote  on  but  in
addition  the  Company  will  separately  count  the  number  of  votes  cast  by  independent  shareholders  in  favour  of  the
resolution. The Company will announce the results of the resolutions on this basis as well as announcing the results of
the ordinary resolutions of all shareholders.

Neither Mr Benaim nor Mr Srulowitz have any previous or existing material relationship with the Company, its directors
or any controlling shareholder.

20 July 2018

Page 95

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTICE OF MEETING  continued

Shareholder Notes

1. Members are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote on
their behalf at the meeting and at any adjournment of it. A member may appoint more than one proxy in relation
to the meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or shares
held by that member. If a proxy appointment is submitted without indicating how the proxy should vote on any
resolution, the proxy will exercise his/her discretion as to whether and, if so, how he/she votes.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

A proxy need not be a member of the Company. A proxy form which may be used to make such appointment and
give proxy instructions accompanies this notice. If you do not have a proxy form and believe that you should have
one, or if you require additional forms, please contact the Company’s Registrar, Equiniti Limited, on 0371 384 2203
(international callers: +44 121 415 7047). Lines open 8.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Members may also
appoint a proxy through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service as described in note 13 below.

To be valid any proxy form or other instrument appointing a proxy must be received by post or (during normal
business hours only) by hand to Equiniti Limited, Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex BN99 6DA no
later than 2.30 p.m. on 27 August 2018, together with, if appropriate, the power of attorney or other authority (if
any) under which it is signed or a duly certified copy of that power or authority.

The  return  of  a  completed  proxy  form,  other  such  instrument  or  any  CREST  Proxy  Instruction  (as  described  in
note 13(a) below) will not prevent a member attending the meeting and voting in person if he/she wishes to do so.

A vote withheld option is provided on the form of proxy to enable you to instruct your proxy not to vote on any
particular resolution. However, it should be noted that a vote withheld in this way is not a ‘vote’ in law and will not
be counted in the calculation of the proportion of the votes ‘For’ and ‘Against’ a resolution.

Any person to whom this notice is sent who is a person nominated under section 146 of the Companies Act 2006
to enjoy information rights (a “Nominated Person”) may, under an agreement between him/her and the shareholder
by whom he/she was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for
the Annual  General  Meeting.  If  a  Nominated  Person  has  no  such  proxy  appointment  right  or  does  not  wish  to
exercise it, he/she may, under any such agreement, have a right to give instructions to the shareholder as to the
exercise of voting rights.

The statement of the rights of shareholders in relation to the appointment of proxies in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above
does  not  apply  to  Nominated  Persons.  The  rights  described  in  these  paragraphs  can  only  be  exercised  by
shareholders of the Company.

To be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the
votes  they  may  cast),  members  must  be  registered  in  the  register  of  members  of  the  Company  at 6.30 p.m.  on
27 August 2018 (or, in the event of any adjournment, 6.30 p.m. on the date which is two days before the time of the
adjourned  meeting).  Changes  to  the  register  of  members  after  the  relevant  deadline  shall  be  disregarded  in
determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting.

In  the  case  of  joint  holders,  where  more  than  one  of  the  joint  holders  purports  to  appoint  a  proxy,  only  the
appointment submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which
the names of the joint holders appear in the Company’s register of members in respect of the joint holding (the
first-named being the most senior).

10.

If a member submits more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time
for the receipt of proxies will take precedence.

11. Any member attending the meeting has the right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any
such question relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting but no such answer need be given if (i) to
do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or would involve the disclosure of confidential
information or (ii) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question or (iii) it
is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.

12. As at the date of issue of this notice the Company’s issued share capital consists of 16,295,357 ordinary shares,
carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at the date of issue of this notice are
16,295,357.

13. CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service
may  do  so  for  this  meeting  by  using  the  procedures  described  in  the  CREST  Manual  which  can  be  viewed  at
www.euroclear.com. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members
who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s),
who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf. Please note the following:

(a)

In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate
CREST message (a “CREST Proxy Instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear
UK  &  Ireland  Limited’s  specifications  and  must  contain  the  information  required  for  such  instructions,  as
described in the CREST Manual. The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy
or is an amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be
transmitted  so  as  to  be  received  by  the  issuer’s  agent  (ID  RA19)  by  the  latest  time(s)  for  receipt  of  proxy
appointments specified in this notice. For this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as
determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Application Host) from which the issuer’s
agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After this time

Page 96

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee
through other means.

(b) CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers, should note that
Euroclear  UK  &  Ireland  Limited  does  not  make  available  special  procedures  in  CREST  for  any  particular
messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy
Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a
CREST personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that
his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a
message  is  transmitted  by  means  of  the  CREST  system  by  any  particular  time.  In  this  connection,  CREST
members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service providers are referred in particular to
those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

(c) The  Company  may  treat  as  invalid  a  CREST  Proxy  Instruction  in  the  circumstances  set  out  in  regulation

35(5)(a) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

14. Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its

behalf all of its powers as a member provided they do not do so in relation to the same shares.

15. A copy of this notice and other information required by Section 311A of the Companies Act 2006 can be found at

www.daejanholdings.com.

16. You may not use any fax number, email address or other electronic address provided in this document or on the

proxy form to communicate with the Company for any purpose other than expressly stated.

Page 97

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

NOTES

Page 98

DAEJAN HOLDINGS PLC Annual Report & Accounts 2018

Page 99

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