Daejan Holdings PLC
Annual Report 2024

Plain-text annual report

2 0 2 4 GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Chairman’s Introduction 2 Financial Highlights 3 Strategic Report 5 Directors’ Report 36 Corporate Governance Report 40 Directors’ Remuneration Report 43 Directors’ Responsibilities Statement 47 Independent Auditor’s Report to the Members of Daejan Holdings Limited 49 Consolidated Income Statement 52 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 53 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 53 Consolidated Balance Sheet 54 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows 55 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements 56 Company Balance Sheet 87 Company Statement of Changes in Equity 88 Notes to the Company Financial Statements 89 Group Five-Year Record 92 Directors and Advisers 93 PAGE 1 PAGE 1 CONTENTS 2 0 2 4 GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED PAGE 3 PAGE 2 CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION Front cover, inside front cover, above and opposite page: Strand Palace Hotel, London WC2. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS NET VALUATION LOSS £103.3 million 2023: loss of £90.2 million LOSS BEFORE TAX £75.3 million 2023: loss of £47.1 million LOSS PER SHARE £3.39 2023: loss of £2.21 UNDERLYING PROFIT BEFORE TAX £34.7 million* 2023: £41.1 million* SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS £1,568.6 million 2023: £1,652.0 million SHAREHOLDERS’ FUNDS PER SHARE £96.26* 2023: £101.38* GEARING 28.8%* 2023: 28.0%* *Definitions of these alternative performance measures are included on pages 85 and 86. DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 It gives me pleasure to present the results for the year ended 31 March 2024. The year has seen progressive reductions in rates of inflation from record high levels; high interest rates, however, have remained largely unchanged. Economic growth has been minimal or non- existent. In the UK the threat of recession has remained for most of the year, although the USA performance has been better. These factors have resulted in a loss before tax for the year of £75.3 million (2023 – £47.1 million). Shareholders’ funds have reduced by 5.0% to £1,568.6 million (2023 – 1.6% reduction). As I have previously reported, we believe that “underlying profit” is an important metric as it does not include fluctuations in unrealised fair value movements. As set out on page 25 and in note 23 to the accounts on page 85 the underlying profit for the year was £34.7 million compared to £41.1 million in 2023. In the UK we saw overall rental growth of 3.9% (2023 – 2.4%) with strong residential demand allowing us to reduce vacancies and increase rents. The position with regard to commercial property was much more mixed. In the USA we achieved rental growth on most of our properties outside of New York. Our Florida properties saw increases as high as 10% in some cases. Overall our USA rental income grew by 5.2%. In both the UK and USA small increases in capitalisation yields have exercised downward pressure on capital values with a 3.3% overall decrease in portfolio values. Expenditure on repairs increased by 9.5% (2023 – 28.7%). During the year we undertook a major reconstruction of the Group’s corporate structure. We also successfully refinanced all our UK bank borrowings extending the maturity profile in these uncertain times with maturity dates in 2028 to 2031 including extension options. Outlook The outlook for the coming year in both the UK and USA will be dominated by political uncertainty. In the UK the recently elected Labour government has yet fully to show its hand but has hinted at a “painful” tax raising budget later in the year. Despite having economic growth at the centre of their manifesto it seems likely that the corporate sector will bear the brunt of their tax raising activity. On the positive side, inflation is forecast to stay at its current low level with only modest economic growth and one or more reductions in base rates of interest anticipated. If, on the other hand, the UK government does succeed in delivering economic growth, the prospects for increases in rental income and asset values will be enhanced. The USA faces presidential elections later this year which inevitably brings an element of uncertainty. These circumstances call for a cautious approach with risks kept to a minimum. We are ever on the lookout for worthwhile opportunities but this must be tempered by prudence. Our focus will remain the achievement of long term low risk growth in asset value and rental income. As ever my thanks go to our hard working staff for their efforts during the year. B S E Freshwater Chairman PAGE 5 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 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. Strategy The strategy for achieving our objectives has three principal elements: ■ 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. 80 90 100 110 120 130 Net asset value per share (£) 130 140 150 160 170 180 Gross rental income 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 £ millions This page and opposite page: Strand Palace Hotel, London WC2. PAGE 6 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 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 18 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 and emerging 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 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 17 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 28.8% (2023 – 28.0%). 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 are the economic cycle and major changes to government policy which are particularly prevalent following a change in This page and opposite page: 677 West End Avenue, Manhattan, New York. STRATEGIC REPORT continued government as we have had in the UK. Both factors have the potential to impact significantly 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 In the UK the outlook is for minimal economic growth with inflation staying at or about the Bank of England’s target of 2%. Interest rates are anticipated to continue a gradual reduction. These positive factors are, however, outweighed by the uncertainty created by the recently elected Labour government. In the USA uncertainty is being created by the upcoming presidential elections. The decision by the United Kingdom to leave the European Union continues to have a negative impact on the business. This is the background which provides the risks and opportunities both for our residential tenants and also for the businesses of our commercial tenants and their demand for space. We seek to mitigate and manage such risk by: ■ Continuous monitoring of the economic outlook and asset allocation ■ Continued maintenance of low gearing and the conservation of cash and bank facilities ■ 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 STRATEGIC REPORT continued PAGE 8 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 This page and opposite page: Bentinck Close, Prince Albert Road, London NW8. PAGE 11 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued 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. During the year the Group refinanced all UK bank borrowings with new facilities with NatWest, Standard Chartered and Handelsbanken. Our staggered maturity profiles from 2028 to 2031 with extension options provides us with further resilience in uncertain times. In addition, Heads of Terms have been signed with Barclays for a further new facility which is expected to be finalised and signed imminently. We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by: ■ Ensuring that the properties which we invest in are, in our opinion, likely to maintain their value ■ Monitoring funding trends and the development of banking regulations ■ Sustaining relationships with our principal financing partners, both banks and also 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 ■ Continuing to seek to use financial instruments to fix or cap interest rates Movements in currency rates of exchange With 30.2% 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 rise in the value of sterling relative to the US dollar in the financial year was 2% (2023 – fall of 6%). This has had the effect of decreasing the reported value of our USA net assets. The average exchange rate for the year rose by 4% (2023 – 12%) and its impact on the reported USA results is not material. We mitigate and manage this risk by: ■ 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 £8.8 million (2023 – gain of £23.5 million) arises in reserves mainly on the re-translation of the opening net book value of assets in the USA ■ Incurring all costs used to generate US dollar rental income in US dollars This page and opposite page: Shelton Street/ Drury Lane, London WC2. PAGE 12 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued Regulation In the UK the new Labour government’s first King’s Speech in July 2024 included a Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill. The aims of the proposed legislation include bolstering residential leaseholders’ rights and regulating ground rents for residential property. The detail of the proposals will become apparent as the legislation makes its way through the parliamentary process in the coming months. It is likely that when enacted the legislation will have an impact on our business model. In particular the pricing and sale of leasehold extensions are likely to be affected. Rent controls in New York City are constraining the rental and capital value growth of our properties in that city as well as restricting the supply of good quality new residential apartments. Increased regulation on building or environmental standards, health and safety or planning matters could impose additional costs which we assess to be immaterial. We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by: ■ Careful monitoring of developments in legislation with the help of our professional advisers ■ Concentrating new acquisitions in areas which are not subject to rent control or other adverse regulation Catastrophic events The operations of the Group were affected by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and could in future be adversely affected by the impact of further such events or 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: ■ Maintaining a system of home working to ensure that the Group can continue to function despite the need for office closures ■ Insuring buildings with third parties ■ Physical building security ■ Fireproof storage of leases and other documents of title ■ Dispersal of business critical IT systems and enhanced data security measures This page and opposite page: 200 Portland Street, Boston, Massachusetts. PAGE 15 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 14 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued PROPERTY UK Commercial £939.9m Residential £886.8m Residential £691.0m Commercial £94.7m PROPERTY USA COMMERCIAL PROPERTY UK Offices £278.6m Leisure & Services £269.8m Land & Development £1.0m COMMERCIAL PROPERTY USA Offices £92.7m Retail £2.0m Analysis by property type Industrial £72.1m Greater London £1,490.5m Midlands & East Anglia £88.2m UK VALUATIONS New York £208.1m Wales & West £58.4m North & Scotland £51.1m Boston £87.4m New Jersey £52.1m Baltimore £28.6m Pennsylvania £57.7m Analysis by location South East £138.5m USA VALUATIONS Florida £351.8m Retail £318.4m This page and opposite page: Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. Tenant default Tenant default constitutes a risk to income and, ultimately, to capital value. Notwithstanding that certain sectors and individual tenants face difficult circumstances we continue to collect virtually all rent due under contractual arrangements. 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 addition, we seek to mitigate and manage this risk by: ■ Seeking tenants with strong covenants ■ 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 Retail Sector The change in shopping patterns and in particular the move to online shopping which continues, albeit at a slower rate than of late, means that the downward pressure on UK shopping centres’ tenant demand and capital values is likely to continue. Parades of shops, an important part of our portfolio, have not so far suffered to the same extent. Our portfolio is not significantly exposed to the risk of any single retail tenant. We seek to mitigate and manage this risk by: ■ Close monitoring of developments in the retail sector ■ Careful monitoring of tenants showing signs of financial stress ■ Avoiding concentration on any one tenant or retail sector PAGE 16 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued This page and opposite page: Nevern Mansions, Warwick Road. London SW5. Internal risks Regional concentration in UK and US portfolios Within the UK, the majority of our properties are situated in and around the London area. Our portfolio is therefore significantly impacted by valuation trends in that area. Historically, our USA portfolio has been mainly located in New York where in recent years capital values have been impaired by the introduction of severe rent controls and restrictions. However following recent acquisitions, the greater part of the portfolio is now located in Florida where property values have benefitted from the movement of population into the state. 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: ■ Continuing to invest in the USA, principally in Florida and other locations outside New York ■ 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 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, such as we presently face, 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: ■ 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. PAGE 19 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 We seek to mitigate and manage these risks by: ■ Rigorous screening of all development opportunities including external professional advice and, where appropriate, market research to ensure continued tenant demand ■ 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. We have sought to mitigate and manage this risk by: ■ The establishment of a strong Group management team to support the executive directors ■ The appointment of directors from the next generation of the Freshwater family both in the holding and subsidiary companies Investment properties A professional valuation of all of the Group’s properties was carried out at 31 March 2024. The UK properties were valued by Colliers International Property Advisers UK LLP, Chartered Surveyors. In the USA, all properties were valued by Jones Lang Lasalle, Certified General Real Estate Appraisers. The table below shows a summary of the valuation of our investment property at 31 March 2024: Valuation Valuation March 2024 March 2023 £m £m Commercial property UK 939.9 994.4 USA 94.7 110.4 Residential property UK 886.8 872.9 USA 691.0 722.1 Less lease incentives (14.1) (17.0) Total 2,598.3 2,682.8 This page and opposite page: the reception area of Africa House, Kingsway, London WC2. PAGE 20 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 This page and opposite page: 10 Temple Street, Birmingham. A more detailed analysis of the investment property portfolio is set out in Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements. The changes in value shown in the table on page 19 are attributable to the net gains and losses arising on revaluation and movements resulting from purchases, capital expenditure, disposals and changes in currency rates of exchange. This is shown in the analysis below: 2024 2023 £m £m Opening valuation 2,682.8 2,705.4 New acquisitions 16.2 4.0 Additions to existing properties 22.0 19.4 Disposals (1.1) (5.9) 2,719.9 2,722.9 Revaluation loss (103.3) (90.2) Foreign exchange (loss)/gain (18.3) 50.1 Closing valuation 2,598.3 2,682.8 Our property portfolio values in the UK fell overall by 2.2%. Property values in the USA fell by 3.5% in dollar terms. Within the UK, our residential properties rose by 1.6% overall whilst our commercial properties fell by 5.5% overall, with falls of 13.1% in the value of offices and 2.7% in retail properties and 1.0% in leisure and services properties. The values of our industrial properties remained broadly flat. In the USA, we continued to see value growth in Florida with prices up 3% although these gains were more than offset by falls in New York of 13% and losses of 4% in other locations. Acquisitions and Developments In the UK the Group acquired the freehold of the Strand Palace Hotel for £8.6 million and a mixed office and retail block in Shelton Street, central London for £7.2 million. Small developments of flats were completed at Bentinck Close, London NW8 and at Goulston Street, London E1. STRATEGIC REPORT continued PAGE 23 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Results for the year The Group recorded a loss before taxation for the year ended 31 March 2024 of £75.3 million (2023 – loss of £47.1 million). The result includes a net valuation loss of £103.3 million arising on investment properties (2023 – loss of £90.2 million). The table below shows the performance of the Group before and after valuation movements: 2024 2023 £m £m Total rental and related income from investment property 194.2 185.0 Property operating expenses (110.3) (104.8) Net rental and related income from investment property 83.9 80.2 Profit on disposals of investment property 4.1 9.4 Administrative expenses (18.4) (18.7) Net operating profit before net valuation movements 69.6 70.9 Net valuation losses on investment property (103.3) (90.2) Net financing expense (41.6) (27.8) Loss before taxation (75.3) (47.1) Overall this year has seen an increase of £9.2 million in rental income equivalent to 5.0% (2023 – 9.9%). In the UK demand for residential property has been strong which has resulted in increases in rental levels and a reduction in the number of vacant units. Commercial property income has increased following the completion of various schemes of refurbishment. However this increase has been more than offset by tenant losses as a result of sluggish economic conditions and changes in working practices. Overall UK rental income increased by 3.9% (2023 – 2.4%). In the USA our properties in Florida have enjoyed strong rental growth particularly those which we have purchased in the last few years. The rent control regime in New York City has limited growth in rental income from our properties in that area. Overall USA rental income increased by 5.2% (2023 – 6.0%). Properties in Florida. Opposite page top: Madison Oaks, Tampa, bottom: Hidden Palms, Tampa, left: Inverrary, Lauderhill, above: Fisherman’s Landing, Tampa. PAGE 25 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 24 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Service charge income represents the recovery of costs incurred on relevant leases. The increase in the year was mainly attributable to the increasing cost of major works. Property operating expenses have increased by 5.2% (2023 – 11.3%) at constant exchange rates. This reflects increased spending on repairs together with the impact of high inflation in both the UK and USA. Profit on disposals derive in the main from the sale of lease extensions in the UK. When long leaseholders extend their lease a premium is paid; the Group has no control over when these extensions may occur. The uncertainty surrounding the proposed leasehold reforms has resulted in a reduction in the number of sales of lease extensions to 90 compared to 176 in the prior year. This year’s increase of £8.2 million in finance expenses arose entirely in the UK where a significant proportion of our debt was subject to floating rates. Our debt in the USA is largely on fixed rates. This year’s fair value movement on financial instruments was a loss of £5.8 million (2023 – gain of £4.3 million). Our realised profits are subject to tax in the UK at 25% and in the USA at 27.8%. Provision for deferred tax is then made for items recognised in the accounts but not realised for tax purposes, principally property revaluation surpluses. This provision is calculated at the rates which are expected to apply in the future. Our overall effective tax rate is 27.1% which is consistent with the statutory tax rates. Earnings per share The Group recorded a loss per share of £3.39 (2023 – loss of £2.21), which represents an increased loss of £1.18 per share (2023 – £5.74). -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 £ STRATEGIC REPORT continued This page and opposite page: Fairlawn Court, Chiswick, London W4. STRATEGIC REPORT continued Underlying profit before tax The profit or loss 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 profit before tax” which does not include these valuation items. Underlying profit before tax for the last two years is set out below: 2024 2023 £m £m Loss before tax per the income statement (75.3) (47.1) Property valuation deficit 103.3 90.2 Financial instruments fair value adjustments 5.8 (4.3) Adjustment to measurement of disposal profits 0.9 2.3 Underlying profit before tax 34.7 41.1 This year’s underlying profit before tax of £34.7 million represents a decrease of £6.4 million on the underlying profit of £41.1 million in the previous year. The decrease is mainly due to increased interest costs and a reduction in profit arising from the sale of lease extensions. 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. PAGE 27 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued This page and opposite page: 50 Gt Marlborough Street, London W1. Gearing Gearing, the ratio between our loans and borrowings and the value of our total assets, is 28.8% (2023 – 28.0%) for the Group as a whole. In the UK the ratio is 22.1% (2023 – 21.0%) whilst in the USA, where each property is financed separately on a ring-fenced basis, it is 42.8% (2023 – 42.4%). Shareholders’ funds At 31 March 2024 shareholders’ funds amounted to £1,568.6 million, a fall of 5.0% on last year’s figure of £1,652.0 million. Shareholders’ funds in recent years have been as follows: Outlook The Chairman’s Introduction on page 2 and the section dealing with external risks on page 8 describe the economic and political factors which will affect the Group in the coming year. 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 £ million 2024 2020 2021 2022 2023 PAGE 28 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued This page and opposite page: 325 East 80th Street, Manhattan, New York. In the UK the immediate future will be dominated by political uncertainty. Inflation is anticipated to remain at or around the Bank of England target level of 2%; interest rates are forecast to fall, albeit slowly and in small steps. Economic growth is forecast to be minimal although the threat of recession seems to have been removed. US presidential elections are due this coming November which creates an environment of uncertainty. On the positive side, the rate of inflation has reduced and the trajectory for interest rates is downwards. In these conditions we will conserve our financial resources while continuing to seek low risk opportunities for growth in rental income and asset value. 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. We continue to explore development opportunities within our existing portfolio; the timing and speed with which these are pursued will be influenced by general economic, political and market conditions. In the USA we continue to seek acquisition opportunities in favourable locations, mainly outside New York 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. Employees The day-to-day activities are outsourced to management companies which are responsible for the provision of the services of the staff on whom 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 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). All Directors of the Company are male and no new recruitment to the Board is presently planned. In addition, there are 23 other directors of the Company’s UK subsidiaries, of whom 12 (or 52%) are PAGE 30 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued This page and opposite page: properties in the block of Oxford, Berwick and Wardour Streets. female and 11 (or 48%) are male. When the need for recruitment arises equal consideration is given to all candidates, regardless of gender, religion or ethnicity. Health and Safety 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: ■ 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. 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: ■ Donations, largely to educational charities, which this year amounted to £60,776 (2023 – £173,487). ■ 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 £1,239,560 (2023 – £1,198,242) being passed to charitable companies. PAGE 32 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued This page and opposite page: Brookfield Mansions, Highgate West Hill, London N6. Environment As mentioned on page 28, 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. Pursuant to Part 7A 20D (7) of Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008, the Company is exempt from the disclosures required in Part 7 regarding greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and energy efficiency action. 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. Where appropriate we also seek to take into account the likelihood of future tightening of environmental standards. 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. Section 172 (1) statement The Directors have acted in the way that they considered, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole and in doing so had regard to the matters set out in Section 172 (1) (a) to (f) of the Companies Act 2006. The Board considers the Group’s key stakeholders to be the Group’s: lenders, shareholders, staff provided by management companies, suppliers and tenants. The Board impress the need for an open, fair, honest and respectful workplace culture on senior management who ensure that all who work for the Group are aligned to these values. This enables the Group to forge strong long term relationships with its key stakeholders, which is critical to the success of the business and its stated objective of the pursuit of long term, low risk growth in net asset value and rental income as explained on page 5. The executive directors aim to meet with many of the Group’s key stakeholders each year and it is an important part of the role of senior management to meet with and foster business relationships with lenders, suppliers, tenants and other stakeholders. High standards of business conduct are demanded from all those who represent the Group whether they are members of the Board, staff provided by management companies or third party advisers, agents or other representatives. Viability review The Directors have 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 and emerging risks faced by the Group, described on pages 8 to 19 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. ■ The Group has a low risk, balanced portfolio of properties, with many commercial properties occupied by tenants with long leases. Based on current trends and notwithstanding the challenging economic outlook in the UK and USA, 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 overall for at least five years. ■ The Group utilises external funding and its policy is to have available and committed facilities which are spread over a period of years. Most bank finance is available for a term of five years. During the year the Group entered into agreements with three major banks for five-year loan DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued PAGE 33 PAGE 34 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 STRATEGIC REPORT continued facilities totalling £325 million. These loans are fully drawn and the Group has agreed terms on a further £100 million facility with a fourth bank which is expected to be signed imminently which will provide additional liquidity when needed. The Group has ongoing discussions with incumbent and potential lenders regarding the renewal or replacement of facilities well in advance of their maturity. ■ The Group is organised with the UK and USA operations and structures kept quite separate from each other; there are no cross guarantees. Within the USA, properties are financed individually with no overall group guarantees. This means that plausible worst case scenarios for the USA would be contained within the USA and could not affect the viability of the Group as a whole. The review below is therefore concentrated on the UK business. 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 and emerging 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 forecasts for 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. Testing included assuming that the lender with whom we are in advanced negotiations regarding a new loan facility ultimately decides against lending to the Group and that the proportion of UK rent collected falls to 80%, down from 98.4% which is the percentage of UK rent for the year ended 31 March 2024 that had been collected at the date of signing this report. Notwithstanding the reduction in forecast cash collected, administration and operating costs were assumed to remain the same in real terms. Headroom on loan covenants has 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 J S Southgate Company Secretary 30 September 2024 This page and opposite page: Romney Court, Shepherds Bush Green, London W12. Mr R E Freshwater. Aged 54 – 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 has been a non-executive director of the Group’s ultimate holding company since .July 2010. The powers of the 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 and Mr S I Freshwater 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 18 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 14 to the financial statements. At 31 March 2024, the Company had 3,347,364 A shares and 12,947,993 B shares in issue and, with the exception of 763 B shares, all shares were controlled by or held in trusts on behalf of members of the Freshwater family. Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company are as follows: Non-beneficial Beneficial interest interest 31 March 31 March 31 March 31 March 2024 2023 2024 2023 B S E Freshwater 457,683 457,683 12,245,617 12,245,617 S I Freshwater 206,920 206,920 8,332,941 8,332,941 A M Freshwater 5,938,658 5,938,658 962,323 962,323 C B Freshwater 5,938,658 5,938,658 – – R E Freshwater 5,938,658 5,938,658 1,034,566 1,034,566 Notes: 1 Non-beneficial interests of B S E Freshwater and S I Freshwater include 3,347,364 A shares; their other beneficial and non-beneficial interests are in B shares. 2 Beneficial interests of A M Freshwater, C B Freshwater and R E Freshwater include 3,347,364 A shares; their other beneficial and non-beneficial interests are in B shares. 3 Beneficial interests of B S E Freshwater and S I Freshwater includes shares held by: (i) a company owned 50% by B S E Freshwater and 50% by S I Freshwater; and (ii) B S E Freshwater and S I Freshwater joint pension scheme. 4 Beneficial interests of A M Freshwater, C B Freshwater and R E Freshwater include shares held by trusts in which they are each one of a large class of beneficiaries. 5 Non-beneficial interests relate to shares held by trusts, charities and bodies corporate owned by family trusts where the director is a trustee or director. PAGE 37 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Strategic Report The Company’s Strategic Report for the year ended 31 March 2024 is set out on pages 5 to 34 and contains the following information: ■ 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 Dividends The loss for the year amounted to £54.9 million (2023 – loss of £35.9 million). A first interim dividend of 60p on both A Shares and B Shares was approved on 7 September 2023 and a second interim dividend on both A Shares and B Shares of 60p per share was approved on 19 March 2024. The Directors do not recommend the payment of a final dividend. Directors The Directors who served throughout the year and up to the date of this report, except as noted, were: Mr B S E Freshwater Mr S I Freshwater Mr A M Freshwater – Appointed 7 September 2023 Mr C B Freshwater – Appointed 7 September 2023 Mr R E Freshwater – Appointed 7 September 2023 Brief biographies of the Directors are as follows: Mr B S E Freshwater. Aged 76 – Joined the Group 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 74 – 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 Group’s ultimate holding company since January 1986. Mr A M Freshwater. Aged 53 – He is resident in the UK and sits as an Arbitrator in complex commercial disputes. He is an actual and potential beneficiary of trusts and a trustee of certain other trusts with substantial holdings of the Company’s equity. He has been a non-executive director of the Group’s ultimate holding company since July 2010. Mr C B Freshwater. Aged 52 – 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. He has been a non-executive director of the Group’s ultimate holding company since July 2017. DIRECTORS’ REPORT PAGE 36 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 the financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities. In addition, Note 17 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. The Group generated cash from operating activities of £74.0 million during the year (2023 – £62.4 million). Gearing, on the basis of gross debt to total assets, was 28.8% (2023 – 28.0%). Reported net debt (total loans and borrowings less cash and cash equivalents) increased to £680.2 million (2023 – £661.0 million) and increased by £26.0 million in constant currency terms as the strengthening of the pound relative to the US dollar mitigated some of the increase. The Group had undrawn committed facilities of £Nil million at the balance sheet date (2023 – £55.0 million). The Group has undertaken a detailed and robust assessment of its projected future financial position. The assessment also considered the Group’s ability to meet its debts, the potential impact on property prices, demand for property and the associated impact on rents and yields of the current macroeconomic and political climate in the UK and USA. During the year the Group entered into agreements with three major banks for five-year loan facilities totalling £325 million. These loans are fully drawn and the Group has agreed terms on a further £100 million facility with a fourth bank which is expected to be signed imminently which will provide additional liquidity when needed. The Board is confident that the borrowing options that the Group currently has are more than adequate. During the year, the Group generated over £70 million of cash from operations before tax and interest. If rent collection in the UK fell to 80% of rent demanded, down from 98.4% which is the percentage of UK rent for the year ended 31 March 2024 that had been collected at the date of signing this report, the Group would still have sufficient cash to operate. The ability to reduce expenditure quickly on development costs and dividends provide further security. The Board is satisfied that even in the plausible worst-case scenario, the Group will have sufficient resources to be able to continue to operate and that there will be no breaches of any loan covenants which would lead to the loan needing to be repaid in advance of the maturity date. 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. Auditor The Company’s auditor, KPMG LLP, has expressed its willingness to continue in office and pursuant to Section 487 of the Companies Act 2006, the auditor will be deemed to be reappointed as the Company’s auditor. 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 J S Southgate Secretary 30 September 2024 PAGE 39 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Included in the directors’ holdings shown in the table on the previous page are the following holdings at 31 March 2024, each amounting to 3% or more of the Company’s issued share capital: Number of shares % Tal Subco B Limited A Shares 1,673,682 10.3 Tal Subco S Limited A Shares 1,673,682 10.3 Henry Davies (Holborn) Limited B Shares 1,934,090 11.9 Trustees of the S I Freshwater Settlement B Shares 1,560,000 9.6 Distinctive Investments Limited B Shares 1,464,550 9.0 Quoted Securities Limited B Shares 1,305,631 8.0 Centremanor Limited B Shares 1,000,000 6.1 Valand Investments Limited B Shares 1,000,000 6.1 Silda 2 Limited B Shares 705,000 4.3 Mayfair Charities Limited B Shares 565,000 3.5 Tabard Property Investment Company Limited B Shares 500,000 3.1 There have been no changes to the shareholder’s interests from 31 March 2024 up to the date of signing this report. Group Reconstruction A reconstruction of the Daejan Group was undertaken on 26 June 2023. Daejan Group Holdings Limited, which already held 20.5% of the issued share capital of Daejan Holdings Limited by owning all A shares, became the sole shareholder of Daejan Holdings Limited and replaced it as the ultimate holding company of the Daejan Group. To effect the reconstruction, Daejan Holdings Limited cancelled all its B shares in issue, amounting to 79.5% of its issued share capital and immediately then issued new B shares to Daejan Group Holdings Limited. Daejan Group Holdings Limited then immediately issued an identical number of B shares amounting to 79.5% of its subsequent enlarged share capital to the holders of those cancelled shares in Daejan Holdings Limited. This resulted in the former shareholders of Daejan Holdings Limited owning the same number of shares in and proportion of Daejan Group Holdings Limited as they did in Daejan Holdings Limited. Corporate Governance This report combines by reference the Corporate Governance Report on pages 40 to 42. 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 six bank loan and mortgage facilities which contain change-of-control clauses. Two of these facilities in certain circumstances 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 other three facilities would similarly constitute an event of default but no provision is made for the prior written consent of the lender. At 31 March 2024, these facilities represented £350.6 million (2023 – £106.9 million) of the loans and borrowings in the financial statements and undrawn facilities of £Nil million (2023 – £30.0 million). 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 5 to 35, which also refers to DIRECTORS’ REPORT continued PAGE 38 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 41 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 40 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT Overview The Board has long recognised the benefits of strong corporate governance and its link to enhanced business performance. Strong corporate governance supports high levels of accountability and robust, informed and transparent decision-making which benefits the Group’s major stakeholders. It also gives confidence and reassurance to our stakeholders that we operate with honesty, integrity and in a socially responsible way. Each year, the Board reviews the Group’s approach to corporate governance and considers any changes which might be necessary in light of developments in best practice and in the context of the needs of the Group’s business. The Board’s assessment of the Group’s governance framework included consideration of the Wates Corporate Governance Principles for Large Private Companies issued in December 2018 and endorsed by the Financial Reporting Council. As it is privately-owned, the Group is not required to apply the 2018 UK Corporate Governance Code, but has considered the principles included in this Code. 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 an 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 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 Secretaries who are 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. Directors and Directors’ Independence During the year the Board comprised the Chairman, who acts in an executive capacity, one further executive director and three non-executive directors. The names of the directors together with their biographical details are set out on pages 36 and 37. The directors are all members of the Freshwater family as, with the exception of 763 B shares, all shares are controlled by or held in trusts on behalf of members of the Freshwater family. Financial Reporting The Board has ultimate responsibility for all aspects of the Group’s financial reporting obligations. 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 management 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 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. External auditor KPMG LLP and its predecessor entities have been the Group’s statutory auditor since the Group in its current form was created by reverse takeover in 1959. The Board 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 2016 provide an objective service, from the sound base of their understanding of the Group’s business. Whilst there are no legal restrictions on the length of time an auditor can continue as the auditor of a private company, in line with good corporate governance the Board are considering tender options for the Group’s audit. 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. 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 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 was considered 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. PAGE 43 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 42 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT continued Directors’ Remuneration Policy Included in this report is the remuneration strategy and policy together with other relevant information about the terms and conditions applicable to executive directors of the Group: Overview The remuneration strategy is designed to be simple and transparent. In setting levels of remuneration it is important to: ■ 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 a contractual entitlement to compensation for loss of office Executive directors’ potential remuneration Executive directors normally receive basic pay only. There are no formal bonus or incentive schemes in operation or any form of share option scheme or long term incentive plan, although the executive directors were each paid an additional fee in both the current and prior financial year in recognition of their exceptional contribution to the Group. The executive directors are incentivised by virtue of all shares in issue, with the exception of 763 shares, being held by or on behalf of themselves, other members of their families and their charitable interests. 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. The annual review takes into consideration: ■ 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. Benefits There are no additional benefits granted to any director over and above basic pay and additional fee for their services to the Company. Mr A M Freshwater and Mr R E Freshwater received medical insurance for themselves and their family as part of their remuneration for their directorship of subsidiary companies. DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT 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 met 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. 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. 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. Recruitment of executive directors Mr B S E Freshwater has served as an executive director of the Daejan Group’s ultimate holding company since 1971 and Mr S I Freshwater since 1986. No other appointments of executive directors have been made for many years but if an appointment were made, salary would take into account market data for the relevant role, the individual’s experience and the responsibilities expected of them. Non-executive directors The non-executive directors are not appointed for a fixed term but are subject to periodic reviews. Mr A M Freshwater and Mr R E Freshwater were appointed as directors of the Daejan Group’s ultimate holding company in 2010. Mr C B Freshwater was appointed in 2017. They are all remunerated by a fixed director’s fee. Annual Report on Remuneration This section describes all payments to directors in connection with the year under review. Total directors’ remuneration Details of each individual director’s remuneration are set out below on an accruals basis: Base Additional Other Salary fee benefits Total 2024 £ £ £ £ Mr B S E Freshwater 1,600,000 750,000 – 2,350,000 Mr S I Freshwater 1,600,000 750,000 – 2,350,000 Mr A M Freshwater 100,000 – 8,433 108,433 Mr C B Freshwater 20,000 – – 20,000 Mr R E Freshwater 100,000 – 9,207 109,207 3,420,000 1,500,000 17,640 4,937,640 Base Additional Other Salary fee benefits Total 2023 £ £ £ £ Mr B S E Freshwater 1,500,000 750,000 – 2,250,000 Mr S I Freshwater 1,500,000 750,000 – 2,250,000 Mr A M Freshwater 100,000 – 7,051 107,051 Mr C B Freshwater 20,000 – – 20,000 Mr R E Freshwater 100,000 – 7,686 107,686 3,220,000 1,500,000 14,737 4,734,737 In addition to the amounts included in the tables above were the following payments from USA based subsidiaries under a consultancy agreement: Mr B S E Freshwater US$Nil (2023 – US$830,000 (equivalent to £688,454)) and Mr S I Freshwater US$Nil (2023 – US$165,000 (equivalent to £136,861)). The Group maintains comprehensive liability insurance for its directors and officers. PAGE 45 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 44 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued Changes in the year Mr B S E Freshwater and Mr S I Freshwater each received an increase in basic salary of £100,000 per annum during the year (2023 – £100,000), equivalent to 6.67% (2023 – 7.1%). The increases were approved by the Board. The total staff costs borne by the Group under its arrangements with its management companies and the salary costs of directors of subsidiaries in the UK increased by 4.8% (2023 – increase of 13.2%). The increase in total staff costs for the year reflects pay rises for employees given by the management companies and a slight increase in staff numbers. Since such staff are employed under these arrangements, no consultations regarding directors’ remuneration policy or implementation have been held. Non-executive directors’ remuneration Non-executive directors of the Company each receive a base fee of £20,000 per annum which is reviewed periodically, pro-rated for his or her period of service in any one year. Included in the tables on page 44 for both Mr A M Freshwater and R E Freshwater are director’s fees of £80,000 (2023 – £80,000) and other benefits of £8,433 (2023 – £7,051) and £9,207 (2023 – £7,686) respectively from subsidiary companies. Additionally, other directors of subsidiary companies received fees of £1,780,000 (2023 – £1,620,000) and other benefits of £39,225 (2023 – £59,461); these amounts are not included in the tables on pages 44 as the recipients are not directors of the Company. Relative importance of spend on pay The table below demonstrates the relative amounts expended by the Group, excluding Employers’ National Insurance contributions, on staff costs, Directors’ remuneration and dividends to shareholders. The Company did not buy back any shares during the year. Directors’ Dividends to Staff costs remuneration shareholders £000 % of total £000 % of total £000 % of total 2024 8,973 27.0 4,938 14.8 19,359 58.2 2023 8,562 26.6 4,735 14.7 18,903 58.7 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 the Directors’ Report on pages 37 and 38. The basic pay of the Chairman and Managing Director who is also the highest paid director over the past ten years is shown as a single figure in the table below: Mr B S E Freshwater £ 2015 1,000,000 2016 1,100,000 2017 1,150,000 2018 1,200,000 2019 1,250,000 2020 1,300,000 2021 1,350,000 2022 2,900,000 2023 2,250,000 2024 2,350,000 PAGE 47 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 46 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT continued 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 have elected to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards and applicable law and have elected to prepare the parent Company financial statements in accordance with the UK accounting standards, and applicable law (UK Generally Accepted Accounting Practice), 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 the Group’s profit or loss for that period. In preparing each of the Group and parent Company financial statements, the directors are required to: ■ select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; ■ make judgements and estimates that are reasonable, relevant and reliable; ■ for the Group financial statements state whether they have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards; ■ 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. 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 49 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 48 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 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: ■ 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 30 September 2024 To the members of Daejan Holdings Limited Opinion We have audited the financial statements of Daejan Holdings Limited (“the Company”) for the year ended 31 March 2024 which comprise the 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 related notes, including the accounting policies in note 1. In our opinion: ■ 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 2024 and of the Group’s loss for the year then ended; ■ the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards; ■ 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. 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 have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities under, and are independent of the Group in accordance with, UK ethical requirements including the FRC Ethical Standard. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is a sufficient and appropriate basis for our opinion. Going concern The directors have prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis as they do not intend to liquidate the Group or the Company or to cease their operations, and as they have concluded that the Group and the Company’s financial position means that this is realistic. They have also concluded that there are no material uncertainties that could have cast significant doubt over their ability to continue as a going concern for at least a year from the date of approval of the financial statements (“the going concern period”). In our evaluation of the directors’ conclusions, we considered the inherent risks to the Group’s business model and analysed how those risks might affect the Group and Company’s financial resources or ability to continue operations over the going concern period. Our conclusions based on this work: ■ we consider that the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate; ■ we have not identified, and concur with the directors’ assessment that there is not, a material uncertainty related to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group or the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for the going concern period. However, as we cannot predict all future events or conditions and as subsequent events may result in outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements that were reasonable at the time they were made, the above conclusions are not a guarantee that the Group or the Company will continue in operation. Fraud and breaches of laws and regulations – ability to detect Identifying and responding to risks of material misstatement due to fraud To identify risks of material misstatement due to fraud (“fraud risks”) we assessed events or conditions that could indicate an incentive or pressure to commit fraud or provide an opportunity to commit fraud. Our risk assessment procedures included: ■ Enquiring of directors as to the Group’s high-level policies and procedures to prevent and detect fraud, as well as whether they have knowledge of any actual, suspected or alleged fraud; ■ Reading Board minutes; ■ Considering remuneration incentive schemes and performance targets for management; and ■ Using analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships. INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 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; ■ in our opinion the information given in the strategic and the directors’ report 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. 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: ■ 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 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. 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 and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view; 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; 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 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 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. A fuller description of our responsibilities is provided on the FRC’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our responsibilities 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 30 September 2024 PAGE 51 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 50 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 We communicated identified fraud risks throughout the audit team and remained alert to any indications of fraud throughout the audit As required by auditing standards, we perform procedures to address the risk of management override of controls, in particular the risk that management may be in a position to make inappropriate accounting entries and the risk of bias in accounting estimates and judgements such as investment property valuations. We did not identify any additional fraud risks. On this audit we do not believe there is a fraud risk related to revenue recognition because the company’s income primarily arises from operating lease contracts with fixed, or highly predictable, periodic payments. We also performed procedures including: ■ identifying journal entries to test based on a risk criteria and comparing the identified entries to supporting documentation. These included those containing certain key words, posted by unauthorized users, posted with unexpected account combination and those posted to unusual accounts. ■ Assessing whether the Judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of a potential bias. Identifying and responding to risks of material misstatement due to non-compliance with laws and regulations We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our general commercial and sector experience and through discussion with the directors (as required by auditing standards) and discussed with the directors the policies and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and remained alert to any indications of noncompliance throughout the audit. The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the financial statements varies considerably. Firstly, the company is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial reporting legislation (including related companies’ legislation), distributable profits and taxation legislation. We assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items. Secondly, the company is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: landlord and tenant legislation, property laws and building legislation, recognizing the nature of the Group’s activities. Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. Therefore, if a breach of operational regulations is not disclosed to us or evident from relevant correspondence, an audit will not detect that breach. Context of the ability of the audit to detect fraud or breaches of law or regulation Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there remained a higher risk of non-detection of fraud, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal controls. Our audit procedures are designed to detect material misstatement. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance or fraud and cannot be expected to detect noncompliance with all laws or regulation. Other information The directors are responsible for the other information, which comprises the strategic report, directors’ report, the corporate governance report, and the director’s remuneration report. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express an audit opinion thereon. INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT continued PAGE 53 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY PAGE 52 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. As explained in Notes 1 (b) and 1 (u), comparatives in the primary financial statements have changed following the adoption of merger accounting principles. The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. Year ended Year ended 31 March 31 March for the year ended 31 March 2024 Notes 2024 2023 £000 £000 Gross rental income 173,067 168,908 Service charge income 17,603 16,069 Dilapidation receipts 3,492 – Total rental and related income from investment property 2 194,162 184,977 Property operating expenses 3 (110,286) (104,847) Net rental and related income from investment property 83,876 80,130 Profit on disposal of investment property 4,107 9,352 Net valuation losses on investment property 9 (103,271) (90,169) Administrative expenses 4 (18,358) (18,648) Net operating loss before net financing costs (33,646) (19,335) Fair value (losses)/gains on derivative financial instruments (5,760) 4,271 Other finance income 5 6,557 2,160 Finance expenses 5 (42,409) (34,174) Net financing costs (41,612) (27,743) Loss before taxation (75,258) (47,078) Income tax credit 6 20,394 11,199 Loss for the year (54,864) (35,879) Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent (55,255) (36,093) Minority interest 391 214 Loss for the year (54,864) (35,879) Basic and diluted loss per share 7 £(3.39) £(2.21) Year ended Year ended 31 March 31 March for the year ended 31 March 2024 2024 2023 £000 £000 Loss for the year (54,864) (35,879) Foreign exchange translation differences (8,821) 23,495 Total comprehensive loss for the year (63,685) (12,384) Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent (64,047) (12,654) Minority interest 362 270 Total comprehensive loss for the year (63,685) (12,384) All comprehensive income may be reclassified as profit and loss when realised in the future. Issued Equity for the year ended share Merger Translation Retained shareholders’ Minority Total 31 March 2024 capital reserve reserve earnings funds interest equity £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Balance at 1 April 2022 3,737 (273,123) 59,737 1,888,977 1,679,328 939 1,680,267 Issue of share capital 337 – – – 337 – 337 (Loss)/profit for the year – – – (36,093) (36,093) 214 (35,879) Foreign exchange translation differences – – 23,439 – 23,439 56 23,495 Dividends to equity shareholders – – – (15,020) (15,020) – (15,020) Balance at 31 March 2023 4,074 (273,123) 83,176 1,837,864 1,651,991 1,209 1,653,200 Balance at 1 April 2023 4,074 (273,123) 83,176 1,837,864 1,651,991 1,209 1,653,200 (Loss)/profit for the year – – – (55,255) (55,255) 391 (54,864) Foreign exchange translation differences – – (8,792) – (8,792) (29) (8,821) Distribution to minority interest – – – – – (637) (637) Dividends to equity shareholders – – – (19,359) (19,359) – (19,359) Balance at 31 March 2024 4,074 (273,123) 74,384 1,763,250 1,568,585 934 1,569,519 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS PAGE 55 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET PAGE 54 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. 31 March 31 March as at 31 March 2024 Notes 2024 2023 £000 £000 Assets Investment property 9 2,598,307 2,682,837 Deferred tax assets 10 3,131 3,131 Total non-current assets 2,601,438 2,685,968 Trade and other receivables 11 100,909 102,291 Current investments 136 131 Cash and cash equivalents 12 139,700 167,779 Total current assets 240,745 270,201 Total assets 2,842,183 2,956,169 Equity Share capital 14 4,074 4,074 Merger reserve (273,123) (273,123) Translation reserve 74,384 83,176 Retained earnings 1,763,250 1,837,864 Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 1,568,585 1,651,991 Non-controlling interest 934 1,209 Total equity 1,569,519 1,653,200 Liabilities Loans and borrowings 16 815,462 548,635 Deferred tax liabilities 10 362,451 391,442 Lease obligations payable 9 8,135 8,185 Total non-current liabilities 1,186,048 948,262 Loans and borrowings 16 4,414 280,113 Trade and other payables 15 79,823 74,594 Taxation 2,379 – Total current liabilities 86,616 354,707 Total liabilities 1,272,664 1,302,969 Total equity and liabilities 2,842,183 2,956,169 The financial statements on pages 52 to 86 were approved by the Board of Directors on 30 September 2024 and were signed on its behalf by: B S E Freshwater Director 31 March 31 March for the year ended 2024 2023 31 March 2024 £000 £000 £000 £000 Cash flows from operating activities Net cash generated from operations (Note 21) 74,044 62,369 Interest received 6,525 2,093 Interest paid (44,246) (33,110) Tax paid (10,108) (8,437) Net cash generated from operating activities 26,215 22,915 Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition and development of investment property (37,627) (23,405) Proceeds from sale of investment property 5,683 17,202 Net cash absorbed by investing activities (31,944) (6,203) Cash flows from financing activities Loan from a related party 25,000 – New bank loans 320,479 – Repayment of bank loans (339,793) (508) New mortgages 14,197 39,109 Repayment of mortgages (19,694) (36,328) Dividends paid to equity holders of the parent (19,359) (15,020) Payments to non-controlling interest (637) – Net cash absorbed by financing activities (19,807) (12,747) Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (25,536) 3,965 Cash and cash equivalents brought forward 167,779 157,538 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held (2,543) 6,276 Cash and cash equivalents (Note 12) 139,700 167,779 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 56 1. Material Accounting Policies Daejan Group Holdings Limited (“the Company”) is a company domiciled in the United Kingdom. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2024 comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as “the Group”). The consolidated financial statements were authorised for issuance on 30 September 2024. (a) Statement of compliance The consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards (“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 87 to 91. (b) Basis of preparation The consolidated financial statements are presented in pounds 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, current asset investments and properties held for sale. Merger accounting principles have been applied to the group reconstruction which occurred on 26 June 2023 and which involved Daejan Group Holdings Limited becoming the holding company for the Daejan Group. The consolidated financial statements have been prepared as if Daejan Group Holdings Limited had been the holding company throughout the years ended 31 March 2023 and 31 March 2024. A merger reserve has been created on consolidation which represents the cost of the shares Daejan Group Holdings Limited purchased from non- Freshwater family shareholders as part of the scheme of arrangement in May 2020 net of the issued share capital and share premium of Daejan Holdings Limited. The Group has undertaken a detailed and robust assessment of its projected future financial position. The assessment also considered the Group’s ability to meet its debts including interest payments, the potential impact on property prices, demand for property and the associated impact on rents and yields of the current macroeconomic and political climate in the UK and USA. During the year the Group entered into agreements with three major banks for five-year loan facilities totalling £325 million. These loans are fully drawn and the Group has agreed terms on a further £100 million facility with a fourth bank which is expected to be signed imminently which will provide additional liquidity when needed. During the year, the Group generated over £74 million of cash from operations before tax and interest. If rent collection in the UK fell to 80% of rent demanded, down from 98.4% which is the percentage of UK rent for the year ended 31 March 2024 that had been collected at the date of signing this report, the Group would still have sufficient cash to operate. Additionally if base interest rates in the UK, where most loans are subject to a variable rate of interest, were to increase to 10% the Group would still expect to have sufficient cash to operate. The ability to reduce expenditure quickly on development costs and dividends provide further security. The Board is satisfied that even in the plausible worst-case scenario, the Group will have sufficient resources to be able to continue to operate and there would be no material breaches of any of its loan covenants. 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 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 57 Report & Accounts. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. 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 page 61. 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 Group has applied the following amendments to IFRSs during the year: • Insurance contracts – Amendments to IFRS 17 • Definition of accounting estimates – Amendments to IAS 8 • International tax reform (Pillar Two model rules) – Amendments to IAS 12 • Deferred tax related to assets and liabilities arising from a single transaction – Amendments to IAS 12 • Disclosure of accounting policies – Amendments to IAS 1 The adoption of these amendments has not had a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. The Group has assessed the impact of the Pillar Two tax legislation (effective 1 January 2023). The Group is not expected to meet the minimum thresholds for the legislation to apply. The following amendments to standards and interpretations relevant to the Group have been issued but were not in effect at the start of the accounting period. None of these have been early-adopted by the Group: • Classification of liabilities as current or non-current – Amendments to IAS 1 • Sale and leaseback arrangements – Amendments to IFRS 16 • Presentation and disclosure in financial statements – Amendments to IFRS 18 With the exception of IFRS 18, none of the amendments that are not yet effective are expected to have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements. (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. (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. DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 58 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued 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: Year end Average 2024 2023 2024 2023 US Dollar 1.26 1.23 1.26 1.21 (g) Derivative financial instruments 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 and caps is the estimated amount that the Group would recover or pay to terminate the swap or cap at the balance sheet date, taking into account current interest rates and the credit worthiness of the swap or cap counterparties. The gain or loss on re-measurement to fair value is recognised immediately in the income statement. (h) Investment property and properties held for sale 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. Properties held for sale are 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. The Group’s interest in some of its investment properties are in the form of a long lease as opposed to freehold ownership. Following the adoption of IFRS 16 Leases, the Group recognises as liabilities amounts payable under head leases and a corresponding right of use asset, which is included in investment property. These leased investment properties are initially recorded at the present value of the remaining lease payments and are then subsequently carried at fair value. In calculating the present value of lease payments, the Group uses the incremental borrowing rate at the lease commencement date if the interest rate implicit in the lease is not readily determinable. Leases held at the date of transition were discounted using the Group’s incremental borrowing cost at that date. Properties are classified as being held for sale when it is considered highly probable that a sale will be completed within one year of the classification date. 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. DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 59 (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 amortised 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 and investments. These short term deposits and investments 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, service charges, dilapidations and other property related income 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. DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 60 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 and properties held for sale (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. 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. The Group makes a provision for impairment for the expected credit losses associated with its trade and other receivables reflecting historic credit loss experience, informed credit assessments and forward looking information. The Group makes provisions of an amount equal to lifetime expected credit loss (“ECL”), except for debt securities and bank balances for which credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition which are measured as 12-month ECL. When determining whether the credit risk of a financial asset has increased significantly since initial recognition and when estimating ECL, the Company considers reasonable and supportable information that is relevant and available without undue cost or effort. Lifetime ECLs are the ECLs that result from all possible default events over the expected life of a financial instrument. Credit losses are measured as the present value of all cash shortfalls and are discounted at the effective interest rate of the financial 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. DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 61 (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 material accounting policies are set out in 1(a) to 1(t) on pages 56 to 61. 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 the accounting policy that management considers particularly significant because of the level of complexity and estimation involved in its application and its impact on the consolidated financial statements. 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. Adoption of merger accounting As explained in Note 1b on page 56, the Group has applied the principles of merger accounting. The amounts included in the primary financial statements are presented as if the Company had wholly owned Daejan Holdings Limited throughout the current and previous financial year. Whilst Daejan Holdings Limited represents the greater part of most of the results and balances, the combining of the results and balances together with certain eliminations means that the reported comparative figures differ from those reported by Daejan Holdings limited in 2023. The principal differences are as follows: Other finance income fell by £4.3 million as interest paid by Daejan Group Holdings Limited to Daejan Holdings Limited prior to the reconstruction was eliminated. Whilst this elimination also reduced finance expenses by an equal amount, the reduction was more than offset by £6.0 million of other interest incurred by Daejan Group Holdings Limited. Additionally, the inclusion of Daejan’s Group Holdings Limited’s income tax credit for the year increased the combined income tax credit by £1.3 million. These were the material differences that resulted in the reported loss increasing by £4.8 million. The Group no longer recognises as a non-current asset the £225.0 million loan from Daejan Holdings Limited to Daejan Group Holdings Limited as the former company did in its 2023 financial statements. However, non-current assets now includes a deferred tax asset of £3.1 million which was previously recognised by Daejan Group Holdings Limited. Similarly, trade and other receivables increased by £1.3 million as amounts owed to Daejan Group Holdings Limited were combined with other amounts owed to Daejan Holdings Limited. Loans and borrowings due after one year increased by £52.0 million, reflecting the inclusion of a loan from a related party to Daejan Group Holdings Limited which remains unpaid. Trade and other payables increased by £4.2 million as amounts owed by Daejan Group Holdings Limited were included. Overall, total assets decreased by £220.6 million, total liabilities increased by £56.2 million and hence net assets fell by £276.8 million. Consequently, total equity also fell £276.8 million following the creation of a merger reserve of £273.1 million, the elimination of £0.6 million Daejan Holdings Limited’s share premium and a reduction in retained earnings of £3.1 million. The merger reserve arises on the elimination of the carrying value of Daejan Group Holdings Limited’s investment in Daejan Holdings Limited of £274.5 million which it acquired from third party shareholders in 2020 as part of a scheme of arrangement together with the recognition of £3.2 million share capital issued by Daejan Group Holdings as part of the reconstruction partially offset by the elimination of Daejan Holdings Limited’s share capital and share premium of £4.6 million. Retained earnings fell £3.1 million as the reported loss increased by £4.8 million (as explained in the second paragraph of this note) and the accumulated losses of Daejan Group Holdings Limited at the date of reconstruction of £2.2 million were only partially offset by the derecognition of the £3.9 million dividend that Daejan Holdings Limited paid to Daejan Group Holdings Limited prior to the reconstruction which it had previously included in its 2023 consolidated statement of changes in equity. 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. UK USA Eliminations Total for the year ended 31 March 2024 £000 £000 £000 £000 Rental and related income 114,562 79,600 – 194,162 Property operating expenses (61,456) (48,830) – (110,286) Profit/(loss) on disposal of investment property 5,372 (1,265) – 4,107 Net valuation movements on property (71,618) (31,653) – (103,271) Administrative expenses (16,921) (1,437) – (18,358) Loss before finance costs (30,061) (3,585) – (33,646) Fair value losses (5,760) – – (5,760) Other finance income 2,001 4,747 (191) 6,557 Finance expenses (25,245) (17,355) 191 (42,409) Loss before taxation (59,065) (16,193) – (75,258) Income tax credit 13,640 6,754 – 20,394 Loss for the year (45,425) (9,439) – (54,864) Capital expenditure 32,515 5,655 – 38,170 Investment property 1,814,856 783,451 – 2,598,307 Other assets 101,110 155,880 (13,114) 243,876 Total segment assets 1,915,966 939,331 (13,114) 2,842,183 Total segment liabilities (736,108) (549,670) 13,114 (1,272,664) Capital employed 1,179,858 389,661 – 1,569,519 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 62 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 63 UK USA Eliminations Total for the year ended 31 March 2023 £000 £000 £000 £000 Rental and related income 106,116 78,861 – 184,977 Property operating expenses (57,622) (47,225) – (104,847) Profit on disposal of investment property 9,321 31 – 9,352 Net valuation movements on property (78,307) (11,862) – (90,169) Administrative expenses (15,726) (2,922) – (18,648) (Loss)/profit before finance costs (36,218) 16,883 – (19,335) Fair value gains 4,271 – – 4,271 Other finance income 429 1,930 (199) 2,160 Finance expenses (16,976) (17,397) 199 (34,174) (Loss)/profit before taxation (48,494) 1,416 – (47,078) Income tax credit/(charge) 12,128 (929) – 11,199 (Loss)/profit for the year (36,366) 487 – (35,879) Capital expenditure 16,069 7,308 – 23,377 Investment property 1,853,960 828,877 – 2,682,837 Other assets 136,140 150,404 (13,212) 273,332 Total segment assets 1,990,100 979,281 (13,212) 2,956,169 Total segment liabilities (745,717) (570,464) 13,212 (1,302,969) Capital employed 1,244,383 408,817 – 1,653,200 No single lessee accounted for more than 5% of the Group’s rental and related income in either year. 3. Property Operating Expenses 2024 2023 £000 £000 Movement in bad debt provision 424 (178) Porterage, cleaning and repairs 53,149 50,208 Insurance 9,354 8,541 Building services 30,159 29,199 Other management costs 17,200 17,077 110,286 104,847 Of the property operating expenses shown above, an amount of £2,693,000 (2023 – £1,150,000) related to properties which generated no income during the year. DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 64 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued 4. Administrative Expenses 2024 2023 £000 £000 Staff costs 7,826 7,516 Remuneration of directors of Daejan Group Holdings Limited 4,938 4,735 Remuneration of directors of subsidiary companies 1,819 1,679 Audit and accountancy 1,064 995 Legal and other administrative expenses 2,711 3,723 18,358 18,648 Auditor’s remuneration: For the year, the fees payable to KPMG LLP were £50,000 (2023 – £50,000) for the audit of the Company and £850,000 (2023 – £800,000) for the audit of Group subsidiary companies, together with £Nil (2023 – £Nil) for audit related assurance services and £Nil (2023 – £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 184 (2023 – 178). The average number of full time equivalents whose staff costs were borne by the Group during the year was 130 (2023 – 126). The aggregate staff cost of these persons is shown above and can be analysed as follows: 2024 2023 £000 £000 Salaries 6,421 5,840 NI contributions 672 633 Pensions 733 1,043 7,826 7,516 In addition the property and administrative management companies provide, under agency arrangements, staff to perform various caretaking roles. Those costs totalling £893,000 (2023 – £895,000) are included within property operating expenses (Note 3) under porterage, cleaning and repairs. Details of Directors’ remuneration are set out in the Directors’ Remuneration Report. 5. Finance Income and Expenses 2024 2023 £000 £000 Finance income: Bank interest receivable 6,226 2,033 Other finance income 331 127 6,557 2,160 Finance expenses: Interest payable on bank loans 18,285 11,490 Interest payable on mortgages 18,859 18,974 Interest payable on loans from related parties 4,743 1,559 Interest on lease obligation payable 494 496 Other interest payable 28 1,655 42,409 34,174 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 65 6. Taxation Taxation based on the loss for the year of the Company and its subsidiaries: 2024 2023 £000 £000 UK corporation tax 4,803 5,683 UK prior year items (381) (663) 4,422 5,020 Overseas taxation 1,085 875 Total current tax 5,507 5,895 Deferred tax (25,901) (17,094) Total deferred tax (25,901) (17,094) Total tax credit (20,394) (11,199) Reconciliation of tax expense Loss before taxation (75,258) (47,078) Corporation tax at the standard UK rate of 25% (2023 – 19%) (18,815) (8,945) Decrease in future tax rate (2,599) – Prior year items (381) (663) Impact of different tax rates (408) (3,988) Indexation and non-taxable items 916 1,627 Non-allowable expenses 893 770 Total tax credit (20,394) (11,199) The rate of UK corporation tax throughout the current year was 25% (2023 – 19%). The rate increased to 25% from 1 April 2023, a change that was enacted in the summer of 2021. In the USA, our USA results are subject to Federal and State taxes at a rate of 27.8% (2023 – 28.3%). The decrease in the USA rate meant we recalculated our USA deferred tax balances and resulted in a one-off deferred tax credit of £2,599,000. The Group’s effective tax rate for the current year was 27.1% (2023 – 23.8%). 7. (Loss)/Earnings per Share Loss per share is calculated on the loss, after taxation and non-controlling interests, of £55,255,000 (2023 – loss of £36,093,000) and the weighted average shares in issue during the year of 16,295,357 (2023 – 16,295,357). 8. Dividends 2024 2023 £000 £000 Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year: First interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2023, approved 3 August 2022 @ 58p per B share* – 7,510 Second interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2023, approved 28 March 2023 @ 58p per B share* – 7,510 First interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024, approved 7 September 2023 @ 60p per A share and 60p per B share 9,777 – Second interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024, approved 19 March 2024 @ 60p per A share and 60p per B share** 9,582 – 19,359 15,020 * The first and second 2023 interim dividends were paid before the group reconstruction in June 2023. In addition to the amounts shown, the holders of A shares received the two 2023 interim dividends of 58p per share totalling £3,883,000. The cost of which has been eliminated by the adoption of merger accounting principles. ** The holders of 326,294 B shares waived their right to the 2024 second interim dividend. The amount waived was retained by the Company. 9. Investment Property Long Short Total Total Freehold leasehold leasehold 2024 2023 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Balance at 1 April 2,165,196 490,928 26,713 2,682,837 2,705,444 Disposals – (1,109) – (1,109) (5,911) New acquisitions 15,940 199 – 16,139 3,955 Additions to existing properties 18,043 3,988 – 22,031 19,422 Revaluation (recognised in profit) (91,681) (10,957) (633) (103,271) (90,169) Foreign exchange movements (16,436) (1,884) – (18,320) 50,096 Balance at 31 March 2,091,062 481,165 26,080 2,598,307 2,682,837 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 2024. The aggregate amount of £1,818.7 million (2023 – £1,859.2 million) is based on open market values, assessed in accordance with the RICS Valuation – Current Global Standards (incorporating the International Valuation Standards). The Group’s USA investment properties were independently professionally valued at 31 March 2024 by Jones Lang Lasalle, USA Certified Real Estate Appraisers (“JLL”). The aggregate amount of £785.5 million (2023 – £832.4 million) is based on open market values, assessed in accordance with the Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice of the Appraisal Institute. Both valuers have recent experience in the location and category of the properties being valued. The aggregate professional valuations included in the above table have been reduced by an amount of £14.1 million (2023 – £17.0 million), relating to lease incentives included in Trade and other receivables and increased by an amount of £8.2 million (2023 – £8.2 million) relating to lease obligations. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued PAGE 66 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 67 Valuation techniques and key inputs The valuation techniques used are set out below and the key inputs used in these valuation techniques are set out in the tables over the page. Most 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. The valuation of hotels incorporates the reversionary value subsequent to the expiry of the existing lease. Development schemes, where planning consent has been obtained, are valued on a residual basis. UK residential property was valued using a sales valuation approach, derived from recent comparable transactions in the market, adjusted by applying discounts to reflect the 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% 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 £9.6 million (2023 – £10.0 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. DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 68 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued 2024 Fair value Rental value £ per sq ft Equivalent yield % £000 Low Average High Low Average High UK commercial Office units Greater London 240,576 8.6 53.6 75.0 5.0% 6.3% 15.5% UK – South 30,236 2.0 17.7 53.2 6.1% 9.7% 18.3% UK – North 7,845 3.4 12.1 22.9 8.9% 11.7% 14.0% Retail units Greater London 199,021 8.1 28.2 86.7 1.0% 7.5% 14.5% UK – South 102,393 0.2 15.3 46.0 2.2% 9.1% 28.1% UK – North 16,975 2.1 11.5 28.6 8.0% 11.8% 17.1% Industrial units All UK 72,059 2.8 10.1 33.1 4.8% 7.5% 10.1% Leisure and service units All UK 269,785 4.4 17.9 46.2 6.1% 6.5% 18.0% Land and development All UK 1,015 – – – – – – Total UK commercial 939,905 UK residential Sales value £ per sq ft Greater London 790,479 403 675 2,003 – – – UK – South 91,496 158 376 655 – – – UK – North 4,868 185 241 359 – – – Total UK residential 886,843 Total UK 1,826,748 USA commercial Rental value £ per sq ft Capitalisation rate % Massachusetts, Philadelphia and New Jersey 94,646 8.8 32.4 38.0 6.2% 6.3% 7.3% Total USA commercial 94,646 USA residential apartments Rental value £ per sq ft Capitalisation rate % New York City 128,544 9.3 12.5 29.1 5.3% 6.5% 6.8% Florida 351,814 11.6 14.8 16.5 5.5% 5.9% 6.5% Other States 131,079 12.7 14.2 15.8 5.3% 5.6% 6.0% New York City – unsold Discount rate % co-operative 79,585 3.7 15.4 23.6 9.5% 10.9% 13.5% Total USA residential 691,022 Total USA 785,668 Total Group 2,612,416 Less lease incentives (14,109) 2,598,307 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 69 2023 Fair value Rental value £ per sq ft Equivalent yield % £000 Low Average High Low Average High UK commercial Office units Greater London 285,174 7.5 53.9 75.0 4.7% 5.7% 14.9% UK – South 27,404 2.0 16.0 53.2 6.0% 9.4% 22.6% UK – North 7,977 3.4 11.0 18.7 7.5% 11.1% 14.9% Retail units Greater London 197,706 5.8 27.8 78.2 1.0% 7.1% 15.2% UK – South 109,787 0.2 14.8 37.5 2.2% 8.8% 25.8% UK – North 19,470 2.1 10.0 28.6 8.0% 10.9% 14.5% Industrial units All UK 71,458 2.0 9.5 33.1 4.5% 7.2% 10.0% Leisure and service units All UK 272,490 4.4 18.1 46.2 5.9% 6.9% 15.0% Land and development All UK 2,910 – – – – – – Total UK commercial 994,376 UK residential Sales value £ per sq ft Greater London 779,110 381 629 1,788 – – – UK – South 89,268 137 338 586 – – – UK – North 4,520 164 203 320 – – – Total UK residential 872,898 Total UK 1,867,274 USA commercial Rental value £ per sq ft Capitalisation rate % Massachusetts, Philadelphia and New Jersey 110,391 8.9 33.0 38.6 5.5% 5.6% 6.8% Total USA commercial 110,391 USA residential apartments Rental value £ per sq ft Capitalisation rate % New York City 158,743 8.9 12.1 28.0 4.5% 5.7% 6.0% Florida 348,263 9.1 12.2 13.7 5.5% 5.8% 6.8% Other States 129,910 11.6 13.0 15.1 4.5% 5.6% 6.0% New York City – unsold Discount rate % co-operative 85,221 3.7 15.6 70.1 9.0% 10.6% 13.0% Total USA residential 722,137 Total USA 832,528 Total Group 2,699,802 Less lease incentives (16,965) 2,682,837 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 70 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued 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. As explained in Note 1(u), 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 investment property is 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. Future minimum lease payments The present value of future minimum lease payments in relation to leasehold investment properties is £8.2 million at 31 March 2024 (2023 – £8.2 million). In determining the present value, the Group used the estimated incremental borrowing cost at the date of transition as the discount rate. In accordance with the accounting policy described in Note 1(h) following the introduction of IFRS 16 Leases, a right of use asset has been recognised in the property valuation. Reconciliation between the total of future minimum lease payments and their present capital values 2024 2023 Present Present Minimum Interest value Minimum Interest value lease on lease of lease lease on lease of lease payments payments liabilities payments payments liabilities £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Due within one year 538 (491) 47 539 (494) 45 Due within two to five years 2,151 (1,934) 217 2,153 (1,947) 206 Due after more than five years 40,926 (33,008) 7,918 41,466 (33,487) 7,979 43,615 (35,433) 8,182 44,158 (35,928) 8,230 Capital commitments, arising from contractual obligations not yet invoiced or paid, for the purchase, construction, development or enhancement of investment properties, amounted to £3.4 million at 31 March 2024 (2023 – £3.8 million). DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 71 10. Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities 2024 2023 Assets Liabilities Net Assets Liabilities Net £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Investment property – (312,384)(312,384) – (342,739) (342,739) Accelerated tax depreciation 3,131 (49,422) (46,291) 3,131 (46,618) (43,487) Financial instruments – (645) (645) – (2,085) (2,085) 3,131 (362,451)(359,320) 3,131 (391,442) (388,311) The movement in deferred tax is as follows: Accelerated tax Financial Investment depreci- instru- Total Total property ation ments 2024 2023 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Balance at 1 April (342,739) (43,487) (2,085)(388,311) (399,107) Recognised in income 28,083 (3,622) 1,440 25,901 19,224 Foreign exchange movements 2,272 818 – 3,090 (8,428) Balance at 31 March (312,384) (46,291) (645)(359,320) (388,311) 12. Cash and Cash Equivalents 2024 2023 £000 £000 Bank balances 79,224 64,636 Short term deposits and investments 60,476 103,143 Cash and cash equivalents 139,700 167,779 Included within bank balances are tenants’ deposits of £5,621,000 (2023 – £4,809,000) in the UK and £3,500,000 (2023 – £3,359,000) in the USA, which cannot be used in the ordinary course of business. Included within short term deposits and investments are £53,448,000 (2023 – £72,924,000) of USA Treasury Bills. 13. Properties held for sale Properties held for sale are recorded at their fair value. The fair value is a Level 3 valuation as defined by IFRS 13 and is based on offers received discounted for risks of completion. There were no properties held for sale at the end of the current or previous financial year. 14. Share Capital 2024 2024 2023 2023 Number £000 Number £000 Allotted, called up and fully paid: Ordinary A shares of 25 pence per share 3,347,364 837 3,347,364 837 Ordinary B shares of 25 pence per share 12,947,993 3,237 12,947,993 3,237 Ordinary shares of 25 pence per share 16,295,357 4,074 16,295,357 4,074 As described in Note 1 (b) on page 56, the Group has applied merger accounting principles whereby the financial statements have been prepared as if Daejan Group Holdings had been the holding company for the Daejan Group throughout the current and previous financial years. Consequently, the issued share capital shown in the table above shows the amounts included in the financial statements for each year. None of the shares have or had any special rights or rights to fixed income in the current or previous year. There are and have been no restrictions on the transfer of these shares or restrictions on voting rights in either the current or previous year. 15. Trade and Other Payables 2024 2023 £000 £000 Rent and service charges charged in advance 30,584 28,822 Other creditors and accruals 49,192 45,727 Lease obligations payable 47 45 79,823 74,594 PAGE 73 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 72 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued 11. Trade and Other Receivables 2024 2023 £000 £000 Current assets Rent and service charges 44,224 43,710 Other debtors and prepayments 47,443 48,262 Derivative financial instruments 2,580 8,340 Mortgages granted repayable within one year 610 633 Corporation tax recoverable 6,052 1,346 100,909 102,291 The ageing of rent and service charge receivables was as follows: 2024 2023 £000 £000 Not past due 32,198 23,704 Past due by less than one month 5,774 4,228 Past due by one to three months 1,900 2,059 Past due by three to six months 1,693 1,571 Past due by more than six months 9,908 21,610 51,473 53,172 Impairment (7,249) (9,462) Net 44,224 43,710 The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade and other receivables during the year was as follows: 2024 2023 £000 £000 Balance at 1 April 9,462 11,637 Amounts written off (2,637) (1,997) Movement in allowance for impairment 424 (178) Balance at 31 March 7,249 9,462 The Group therefore has multiple funding options with the aggregate amount well in excess of expected needs. Whilst the recent rises in interest rates will inevitably increase the cost of the interest rate caps and swaps, the Board considers the overall expected cost of available finance to be entirely affordable. The Group’s interest rate cap and swaps are set out in Note 17 on page 79. The interest rate profile of the Group’s fixed rate mortgages was as follows: 2024 2023 £000 £000 Per cent. 2.5 – 3.0 62,615 48,717 3.0 – 3.5 66,450 99,301 3.5 – 4.0 101,182 115,984 4.0 – 4.5 56,864 69,422 4.5 – 5.0 65,990 67,656 5.0 – 5.5 12,207 12,544 5.5 – 6.0 24,968 15,677 6.0 – 6.5 10,619 7,557 6.5 – 7.0 14,623 – 7.0 – 7.5 6,782 – 422,300 436,858 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: 2024 2023 2024 2023 % % Years Years Sterling 5.70 5.71 8.5 9.4 US Dollar 4.04 3.81 6.4 7.2 17. Financial Assets and Liabilities The Group’s financial instruments are analysed into categories as follows: 2024 2023 Financing Financing Carrying income/ Carrying income/ amount (expense) amount (expense) £000 £000 £000 £000 Current asset investments 136 – 131 – Derivative financial instruments 2,580 (5,760) 8,340 4,271 Current assets at fair value through profit or loss 2,716 (5,760) 8,471 4,271 Current liabilities at fair value – – – – Trade and other receivables 98,329 331 93,951 127 Cash and cash equivalents 139,700 6,226 167,779 2,033 Assets at amortised cost 238,029 6,557 261,730 2,160 Trade and other payables (79,776) (28) (74,549) (1) Lease obligations payable (8,182) (494) (8,230) (496) Floating rate loans and borrowings (320,616) (11,121) (339,930) (13,049) Fixed rate loans and borrowings (499,260) (30,766) (488,818) (20,628) Current and non-current liabilities at amortised cost (907,834) (42,409) (911,527) (34,174) Total financial instruments (667,089) (41,612) (641,326) (27,743) PAGE 75 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 16. Loans and Borrowings 2024 2023 £000 £000 Non-current liabilities Bank loans 320,616 64,500 Mortgages 417,886 432,175 Loans from related parties (Note 18) 76,960 51,960 815,462 548,635 Current liabilities Bank loans – 275,430 Mortgages 4,414 4,683 4,414 280,113 Total loans and borrowings Bank loans 320,616 339,930 Mortgages 422,300 436,858 Loans from related parties (Note 18) 76,960 51,960 819,876 828,748 All mortgages and bank loans are secured on specific investment properties owned by subsidiary undertakings. The maturity profile of the Group’s loans and borrowings was as follows: 2024 2023 Bank Loan from loans Mortgages related party Total Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Due within one year – 4,414 – 4,414 280,113 Due within one to two years – 10,269 – 10,269 69,746 Due within two to five years 320,616 115,324 – 335,866 41,039 Due after more than five years – 292,293 76,960 469,327 437,850 320,616 422,300 76,960 819,876 828,748 The risk profile of the Group’s loans and borrowings, after taking account of interest rate swaps, was as follows: 2024 2023 Fixed Floating Total Fixed Floating Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Sterling 132,455 290,616 423,071 108,752 309,930 418,682 US Dollar 396,805 – 396,805 410,066 – 410,066 529,260 290,616 819,876 518,818 309,930 828,748 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued PAGE 74 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Cash and derivative financial instruments The credit rating of counterparties to financial instruments is kept under review. The Group’s interest rate swaps are with major financial institutions and the Group does not consider counterparty risk on swaps to 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. 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. Included in bank loans due after more than one year are two revolving credit facilities amounting to £175 million (2023 – £Nil) which expire in 2029. As is standard for such facilities, they are notionally repayable at each quarterly interest payment date but can be rolled over provided certain covenant conditions are met. The Group considers it highly improbable that it would be unable to exercise its right to roll over the debt. 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 2024, gearing was 28.8% (2023 – 28.0%) (see note 23). Cash and short-term deposits and investments at 31 March 2024 were £139.7 million (2023 – £167.8 million) and £4.4 million of loans and borrowings were repayable within one year (2023 – £280.1 million). In addition, the Group expects to finalise a further £100 million facility with a fourth bank very shortly which will provide additional liquidity when needed. PAGE 77 Fair values of financial instruments With the exception of fixed rate loans and borrowings, the Group’s financial instruments are shown in the table on page 75 at fair value. Fixed rate loans and borrowings are stated at amortised cost as shown in the table on page 75 and as explained in Note 1(t). The fair value of fixed rate loans and borrowings was £471,569,000 (2023 – £439,222,000). At both the current and preceding year end there were no non-recurring fair value measurements. The Group does not hedge account and interest rate swaps and caps are initially recognised, and subsequently recorded, at fair value, with any movement being recorded in the consolidated income statement. The fair values of interest rate swaps, caps 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. 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 and cash balances. Trade receivables The majority of the Group’s commercial rental income is demanded quarterly in advance and its residential rental income is demanded monthly in advance. 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 based upon an expected credit loss model, 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. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued PAGE 76 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Derivative financial instruments The derivative financial instruments held by the Group at the year end were as follows: Contracted rate Notional principal Fair value 2024 2023 2024 2023 2024 2023 Class % % £000 £000 £000 £000 Maturing within one year Cap – 0.5 – 150,000 – 5,342 Maturing within 2 – 5 years Swap 1.2 1.2 5,000 5,000 271 379 Maturing within 2 – 5 years Swap 1.7 1.7 25,000 25,000 2,309 2,619 30,000 180,000 2,580 8,340 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 £35.4 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, shorter-term bank loans and loans from related parties as set out in Note 16 and cash and short term deposits and investments as set out in Note 12. All loans and borrowings are secured against investment property and the bank loans are drawn against committed facilities. 18. 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 (“Highdorn”) and by Freshwater Property Management Limited (“FPM”). 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. Mr B S E Freshwater and Mr S I Freshwater are Directors of the parent company of FPM 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. In their capacity as property managing agents, Highdorn and FPM collect rents and incur direct property expenses on behalf of the Group. Additionally Highdorn leases offices, from which it operates, from the Group. At 31 March 2024, the aggregate net amounts due to the Group from Highdorn and FPM was £16.3 million (2023 – £14.7 million due to the Group from Highdorn and FPM). These amounts are not secured and are payable on demand. No guarantees have been given or received and the amounts are settled in cash. PAGE 79 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 The maturity analysis of the undiscounted cash flows arising from the Group’s financial liabilities at 31 March 2024 was as follows: 2024 Aggregate Due Due Due Due after Carrying undiscounted within within within more than amount cash flows one year 1-2 years 2-5 years 5 years £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Bank loans 320,616 320,616 – – 320,616 – Mortgages 422,300 422,300 4,414 10,269 115,324 292,293 Loans from related parties 76,960 76,960 – – – 76,960 Interest – 247,141 45,354 45,061 129,446 27,280 Lease obligations payable 8,182 43,615 538 538 1,613 40,926 Trade and other payables 79,776 79,776 79,776 – – – 907,834 1,190,408 130,082 55,868 566,999 437,459 2023 Aggregate Due Due Due Due after Carrying undiscounted within within within more than amount cash flows one year 1-2 years 2-5 years 5 years £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Bank loans 339,930 339,930 275,430 64,500 – – Mortgages 436,858 436,858 4,683 5,246 41,039 385,890 Loans from related parties 51,960 51,960 – – – 51,960 Interest – 154,130 34,381 17,731 51,461 50,557 Lease obligations payable 8,230 44,157 538 538 1,615 41,466 Trade and other payables 74,549 74,549 74,549 – – – 911,527 1,101,584 389,581 88,015 94,115 529,873 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 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 16. It is estimated that a general increase of one percentage point in interest rates would decrease the Group’s profit before taxation by approximately £2.9 million per annum, on the basis of the floating rate debt outstanding at 31 March 2024, 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 an increase in the fair value of interest rate swaps outstanding at 31 March 2024 of £1.4 million, together with a corresponding reduction in the Group’s loss before taxation. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued PAGE 78 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 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. 21. Notes to the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows Cash generated from operations 2024 2023 £000 £000 Net operating loss before net financing costs (33,646) (19,335) Adjusted for: Net valuation loss on investment property (Note 9) 103,271 90,169 Net gain on sale of investment property (4,107) (9,352) Cash flows from operations before changes in working capital 65,518 61,482 Changes in working capital: Change in trade and other receivables (1,089) (6,084) Change in trade and other payables 9,615 6,971 Working capital movement 8,526 887 Cash generated from continuing operations 74,044 62,369 Change in liabilities during the year relating to financing activities 2024 2023 £000 £000 Total loans and borrowings at 1 April (Note 16) 828,748 804,014 Repayment of bank loans (339,793) (508) Repayment of mortgages (19,694) (36,328) Loan from/(to) a related party 25,000 (2,016) New bank loans 320,479 – New mortgages 14,197 39,109 Foreign exchange impact (9,061) 24,477 Total loans and borrowings at 31 March (Note 16) 819,876 828,748 PAGE 81 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Included in the balance above are amounts paid and payable by the Group for the provision of property and other management services to Highdorn and FPM, which were as follows: 2024 2023 £000 £000 Balance due to related party managing agents at 1 April 1,758 3,156 Charged during the year 5,677 6,070 Paid during the year (6,023) (7,468) Balance due to related party managing agents at 31 March 1,412 1,758 Additionally, the Group has entered into loan agreements with Centremanor Limited and Highdorn and owes these companies £52.0 million (2023 – £52.0 million) and £25.0 million (2023 – £Nil) respectively; these balances are included in non-current liabilities in note 16. Interest is charged on both of these loans at a rate of 7%. During the year interest of £3.6 million (2023 – £1.6 million) was payable to Centremanor Limited and £0.9 million (2023 – £Nil) was payable to Highdorn. Mr B S E Freshwater is a director of Centremanor Limited but has no beneficial interest in its share capital. Mr C B Freshwater and Mr R E Freshwater are potential beneficiaries of trusts which own Centremanor Limited. Mr B S E Freshwater and Mr S I Freshwater are trustees of two charities that owned 6.3% of the share capital of the Company throughout the year. These charities have received dividend payments in the year of £1,239,560 (2023 – £1,198,242). The Directors’ interests in the Company and the principal shareholders are described on pages 37 and 38. The Board considers that the Directors are the key management personnel of the Group and their remuneration is disclosed on pages 44 and 45. 19. 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. 20. 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 (2023 – £Nil). At the balance sheet date, future minimum lease payments receivable by the Group under operating leases were as follows: 2024 2023 £000 £000 Due within one year 120,106 117,363 Due within one to two years 60,336 62,916 Due within two to five years 115,846 119,706 Due after more than five years 265,838 293,003 562,126 592,988 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued PAGE 80 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 83 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 82 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued a Company exempted from audit Incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales Registered office: Freshwater House, 158 – 162 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8HR Company number Agecroft Estates Ltd 457090 Alsam Limited 461238 Astral Estates (London) Limiteda 427644 Bagnight Limited 1409963 Bampton (B&B) Limited 2798348 Bampton (Redbridge) Limiteda 852156 Bampton Holdings Limiteda 898794 Bampton Homes Limited 849161 Bampton Management Limited 944562 Bampton Property Group Limited (The) 647924 Brickfield Properties Limited 741218 Chilon Investment Co. Limited 617017 City and Country (Londonderry House) Limited 836356 City and Country Properties (Birmingham) Limiteda 730135 City and Country Properties (Camberley) Limiteda 876266 City and Country Properties (Estates) Limited 351303 City and Country Properties (Gillingham) Limited 922908 City and Country Properties (Leeds) Limited 514483 City and Country Properties (Midlands) Limited 458951 City and Country Properties Limited 632613 Coindragon Limiteda 6750083 Coineagle Limited 6750177 Coinface Limited 7644669 Coinmad Limited 7644633 Coinmoat Limited 6750062 Coinorbit Limited 6750156 Coinpilot Limited 6750137 Coinreach Limited 7644736 Coinsmart Limited 7644663 Company number Coinspear Limited 6750057 Coinsun Limiteda 4204282 Consbrix Developments Limited 813110 Cromlech Property Co. Limited (The)a 613900 Crozera Limited 1269708 Daejan (Brentford) Limited 3666085 Daejan (Brighton) Limiteda 2565357 Daejan (Cambridge) Limiteda 5439513 Daejan (Cardiff) Limiteda 2887383 Daejan (Care Homes) Limited 6665981 Daejan (Dartford) Limited 2620091 Daejan (Design & Build) Limiteda 7645186 Daejan (Durham) Limited 2552073 Daejan (FH 1998) Limited 3605328 Daejan (FHNV 1998) Limited 3613818 Daejan (Hanger Hill) Limited 3679742 Daejan (High Wycombe) Limiteda 2684725 Daejan (Kingston) Limiteda 2622396 Daejan (Lauderdale) Limited 2347187 Daejan (Norwich) Limited 3487190 Daejan (NUNV) Limited 3375782 Daejan (NUV) Limiteda 3381643 Daejan (PF) Limited 4896862 Daejan (Reading) Limiteda 2620506 Daejan (Taunton) Limiteda 2663494 Daejan (UK) Limited 4203384 Daejan (US) Limited 4204270 Daejan (Warwick) Limiteda 2550013 Daejan (Watford) Limited 7080518 Daejan (Wimbledon) Limited 7644764 Daejan (Worcester) Limiteda 2683045 Daejan Commercial Properties Limited 3135225 Daejan Developments Limiteda 691876 Daejan Enterprises Limited 3346239 Daejan Estates Limited 741217 22. Subsidiary Undertakings At 31 March 2024, except for Daejan Holdings Limited which is directly owned, the following were indirect subsidiaries of the Company, where the Company’s interest is in ordinary shares. All were wholly owned, except as indicated, and are included in the consolidated financial statements. Daejan Group Holdings Limited has guaranteed the liabilities of certain subsidiaries under Sections 479A and 479C of the Companies Act (2006). Those companies on pages 82 and 83 marked by a will take advantage of the audit exemption set out within Section 479A of the Companies Act (2006) for the year ended 31 March 2024. The assets, liabilities and results for the year of these companies have been audited as part of the group audit however these companies are exempt from having their own financial statements audited. Company number Daejan Holdings Limited* 305105 Daejan Investments (Grove Hall) Limited 631208 Daejan Investments (Harrow) Limiteda 658151 Daejan Investments (Park) Limiteda 853824 Daejan Investments Limited 629395 Daejan Metropolitan Investments Limited 741216 Daejan Properties Limited 629396 Daejan Retail Properties Limited 3087160 Daejan Securities Limiteda 1340920 Daejan Services Limiteda 1710219 Daejan Traders Limited 4204201 Daneryn Limited 1355633 Derlingrange Limited 1268416 Ealux Limited 329109 Endell Developments Limited 6434585 Endell Properties Limiteda 6434799 Endell Real Estate Limited 6434801 Esslock Limited 460091 Fifth Charles Investments Limited 1295017 First Charles Investments Limited 1293651 Foredale Limited 1124135 Gertsbrix Developments Limited 683494 Grapeseal Limited 1077074 Halliard Property Co. Limited (The) 613836 Hampstead Way Investments Limiteda 751683 Inputstock Limited 4497638 Company number Inputstripe Limited 4497556 Insworth Investments Limited 1375136 Johnsbrix Developments Limited 812765 Kingforge Limited 1273663 Kintsilk Investments Limiteda 789249 Lawnstamp Limiteda 5315719 Lesbrix Developments Limited 789658 Limebridge Co. Limiteda 868817 Lookstate Limiteda 1993941 Lyme & Farrar Limited 462783 Marfred Limited 486536 Mineral and General Investments Limited 391604 Modboon Limited 1366107 Mont Investments Limited 525225 Offerworld Limited 2476200 Pegasus Investment Company Limiteda 515280 Ronend Properties Limited 1147295 Rosebel Holdings Limiteda 693831 Seaglen Investments Limiteda 616559 Semlark Limiteda 6853866 Simlock Limited 445959 St. Leonards Properties Limited 766864 Strand Palace Hotel Limited 3676473 Summerseas Investment Co. Limiteda 616969 Wisebourne Limited 949842 Workvideo Limited 4204199 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. a Company exempted from audit PAGE 85 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 84 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued 3780 Bronx Blvd. LLC 22-04 Collier Avenue LLC 730 GC LLC 740 GC LLC 780 GC LLC 790 GC LLC 1166 GC LLC. 1750 GC LLC 3045 GC LLC 3380 Nostrand LLC 77NW LLC 200 Portland LLC 670 River Realty Corp. 427 West 51st Street Owners Corp. 611 West 158th Street Corp. Ace 2160 Wallace LLC Ace 2180 Wallace LLC Ace 2181 Barnes LLC Ace 2181 Wallace LLC Aspen Grove LLC Daejan 1010 Regency LLC(i) Daejan 11 E Chase LLC(i) Daejan 77 Inc.(vii) Daejan 3120 Court LLC(i) 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 Grand LLC Ivory Bainbridge LLC Ivory 3908 Bronx Realty LLC Madison Oaks Apartment Homes LLC(ii) New Franconia Associates* Newport Colony Apartment Homes LLC(ii) Waterford Park Apartment Homes LLC(ii) 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. *70% owned 23. Alternative Performance Measures The directors use a number of alternative performance measures within this Annual Report to provide more relevant explanations of the Group’s financial position and performance. Provided below are explanations for each such measure and reconciliations to relevant IFRS balances. Underlying profit before tax The directors consider “underlying profit before tax” which excludes unrealised changes in the valuation of property and certain financial instruments to be a useful measure as it represents the element of our results that has actually been realised. 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. 2024 2023 £000 £000 Loss before tax per the income statement (75,258) (47,078) Property valuation losses 103,271 90,169 Financial instruments fair value losses/(gains) 5,760 (4,271) Realised valuation losses on property disposals 926 2,308 Underlying profit before tax 34,699 41,128 Shareholders’ funds per share The directors consider that shareholders’ funds per share is a useful measure as it reflects the fair value of the investment property we hold and is a common measure used across the property industry. It is calculated by dividing the total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. The calculation for 2023 uses the shares in issue at the end of the year as the denominator to enable a direct comparison to be made; this is consistent with the principles of merger accounting which the Group has adopted in preparing this annual report and accounts. 2024 2023 Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent (£000) 1,568,585 1,651,991 Weighted average number of shares in issue during the year 16,295,357 16,295,357 Shareholders’ funds per share (£) 96.26 101.38 Gearing The Group considers gearing to be the ratio of our loans and borrowings to the value of our total assets. 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. 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 UK USA Total UK USA Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Loans and borrowing (Note 16) 423,071 396,805 819,876 418,682 410,066 828,748 Total assets 1,915,966 926,217 2,842,183 1,990,100 966,069 2,956,169 Gearing 22.1% 42.8% 28.8% 21.0% 42.4% 28.0% Incorporated in the USA Registered office, except as noted in (i) to (vii) at end of this note: 1651 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11230 PAGE 87 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 86 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 COMPANY BALANCE SHEET Valuation of investment properties Valuation gains or losses on investment properties is a key metric for property companies and is presented on the face of the income statement. To assist a reader’s understanding, we also express the net revaluation gains or losses recognised during the year as a percentage of the value of investment property at the start of the year. Where a property’s value is not denominated in sterling, such as those in the USA, the opening value is first adjusted for the impact of movements in exchange rates during the year. 2024 2024 2024 2023 2023 2023 UK USA Total UK USA Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Carrying value at 1 April (Note 9) 1,853,960 828,877 2,682,837 1,920,620 784,824 2,705,444 Foreign exchange movements – (18,320) (18,320) – 50,096 50,096 Value at 1 April at year end exchange rate 1,853,960 810,557 2,664,517 1,920,620 834,920 2,755,540 Acquisitions 16,139 – 16,139 3,955 – 3,955 Additions to existing properties 16,376 5,655 22,031 12,115 7,307 19,422 Disposals (1) (1,108) (1,109) (4,423) (1,488) (5,911) Revaluation (71,618) (31,653) (103,271) (78,307) (11,862) (90,169) Carrying value at 31 March (Note 9) 1,814,856 783,451 2,598,307 1,853,960 828,877 2,682,837 Valuation loss percentage (3.9%) (3.9%) (3.9%) (4.1%) (1.4%) (3.3%) 24. Ultimate controlling party The Freshwater Family are considered to be the ultimate controlling party by virtue of all shares in issue, with the exception of 763 shares, being held by or on behalf of themselves, other members of their families and their charitable interests. 25. Events after the reporting period There were no material events after the reporting period which require inclusion or disclosure in these financial statements. as at 31 March 2024 Notes 2024 2023 £000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Investment in subsidiary undertakings 4 277,752 274,515 Deferred tax assets 3,131 3,131 280,883 277,646 Current assets Debtors 1,803 1,251 Cash at bank 840 33 2,643 1,284 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 5 (30,413) (4,252) Net current liabilities (27,770) (2,968) Total assets less current liabilities 253,113 274,678 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 6 (176,960) (276,960) Net assets/(liabilities) 76,153 (2,282) Capital and reserves Called up share capital 7 4,074 837 Profit and loss account 72,079 (3,119) Equity shareholders’ funds 76,153 (2,282) The Company’s profit for the year after taxation was £94,589,000 (2023 – loss of £902,000). The financial statements of Daejan Group Holdings Limited (Company number 12325581) on pages 87 to 91 were approved by the Board of Directors on 30 September 2024 and were signed on its behalf by: B S E Freshwater Director The accompanying notes form an integral part of the Company financial statements. NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued Issued Equity share Retained shareholders’ for the year ended 31 March 2024 capital earnings funds £000 £000 £000 Balance at 1 April 2022 500 (2,217) (1,717) Loss for the year – (902) (902) Issue of share capital 337 – 337 Balance at 1 April 2023 837 (3,119) (2,282) Profit for the year – 94,589 94,589 Issue of share capital 3,237 – 3,237 Foreign exchange translation differences – (32) (32) Dividends to equity shareholders – (19,359) (19,359) Balance at 31 March 2024 4,074 72,079 76,153 PAGE 88 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY The accompanying notes form an integral part of the Company financial statements. PAGE 89 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 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 Standards applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (“FRS 102”). The Company is a qualifying entity for the purpose of FRS 102 as its results are included the Group’s consolidated financial statements on pages 52 to 86 and as such is permitted to and has adopted the following disclosure exemptions permitted by paragraphs 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. (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 debtors and trade and other creditors Trade and other debtors are recognised initially at transaction price plus attributable transaction costs. 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 less any impairment losses in the case of trade and other debtors. 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) ii) Loans and rowings 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. (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. Debtors and creditors are retranslated using the rate of exchange at the balance sheet date. 2. Profit on Ordinary Activities before Taxation The Company has no employees other than its Directors and their remuneration is set out on pages 44 and 45 of the Group accounts. The parent company audit fee is disclosed on page 64 of the Group accounts. 3. Dividends 2024 2023 £000 £000 Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year: First interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024, approved 7 September 2023 @ 60p per A share and 60p per B share 9,777 – Second interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2024, approved 19 March 2024 @ 60p per A share and 60p per B share* 9,582 – 19,359 – * The holders of 326,294 B shares waived their right to the second interim dividend. The amount waived was retained by the Company. 4. Investments in Subsidiary Undertakings Shares at cost £000 At 1 April 2023 274,515 Additions 3,237 At 31 March 2024 277,752 PAGE 91 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 90 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued 5. Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year 2024 2023 £000 £000 Amounts owed to related party 2,981 4,191 Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings 27,271 – Other creditors and accruals 161 61 30,413 4,252 6. Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year 2024 2023 £000 £000 Amounts owed to related party 51,960 51,960 Amounts owed to subsidiary undertaking 125,000 225,000 176,960 276,960 The amounts included in creditors falling due after more than one year are long term loans. The loan due to a related party is from Centremanor Limited and interest is payable at a rate of 7%. The loan due to a subsidiary undertaking is from Daejan Holdings Limited and interest is payable at a rate of 1.9%; the balance on this loan was reduced by £100 million during the year following the declaration of a dividend of £100 million by Daejan Holdings Limited payable to Daejan Group Holdings Limited. 7. Share Capital 2024 2024 2023 2023 Number £000 Number £000 Allotted, called up and fully paid: Ordinary A shares of 25 pence per share 3,347,364 837 3,347,364 837 Ordinary B shares of 25 pence per share 12,947,993 3,237 1 – Ordinary shares of 25 pence per share 16,295,357 4,074 3,347,365 837 As part of the scheme of reconstruction, the Company issued 12,947,992 Ordinary B shares of 25 pence each at par value on 26 June 2023 to holders of B shares of Daejan Holdings Limited, resulting in the share structure becoming identical to the structure of Daejan Holdings Limited. The consideration due was satisfied in full at the time of issue. None of the shares have or had any special rights or rights to fixed income in the current or previous year. There are and have been no restrictions on the transfer of these shares or restrictions on voting rights in either the current or previous year. 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Total rental and related income 166,143 162,457 168,386 184,977 194,162 Property operating expenses (91,094) (91,659) (89,840) (104,847) (110,286) Net rental and related income 75,049 70,798 78,546 80,130 83,876 Profit on disposal of investment properties 15,775 3,248 15,344 9,352 4,107 Net valuation (losses)/gains on investment properties (90,494) 33,817 101,072 (90,169) (103,271) Administrative expenses Recurring (14,254) (14,984) (17,871) (18,648) (18,358) Non-recurring arising from Scheme of Arrangement – (3,259) – – – Total administrative expenses (14,254) (18,243) (17,871) (18,648) (18,358) Net operating (loss)/profit before net financing costs (13,924) 89,620 177,091 (19,335) (33,646) Net financing expense (19,227) (17,646) (17,432) (27,743) (41,612) (Loss)/profit before taxation (33,151) 71,974 159,659 (47,078) (75,258) Income tax (charge)/credit (13,441) (17,518) (102,011) 11,199 20,394 (Loss)/profit for the year (46,592) 54,456 57,648 (35,879) (54,864) (Loss)/earnings per share £(2.92) £3.35 £3.53 £(2.21) £(3.39) Total assets 2,756,597 3,011,216 3,179,013 2,956,169 2,842,183 Equity shareholders’ funds 1,897,168 1,902,102 1,956,499 1,651,991 1,568,585 Equity shareholders’ funds per share £116.35 £116.67 £120.01 £101.38 £96.26 GROUP FIVE-YEAR RECORD (UNAUDITED) PAGE 93 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 92 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 Directors B S E Freshwater (Chairman and Managing Director) S I Freshwater A M Freshwater (non-executive) C B Freshwater (non-executive) R E Freshwater (non-executive) Secretaries M D E Bale J S Southgate Registered & Head Office Freshwater House 158-162 Shaftesbury Avenue London WC2H 8HR Registered in England Co. No. 12325581 Auditor KPMG LLP 15 Canada Square London E14 5GL Consulting Accountants Cohen Arnold New Burlington House 1075 Finchley Road London NW11 0PJ Principal Bankers Barclays Bank PLC Lloyds Banking Group PLC NatWest Group PLC DIRECTORS AND ADVISERS NOTES PAGE 95 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 PAGE 94 DAEJAN GROUP HOLDINGS LIMITED Annual Report & Accounts 2024 NOTES Design, art direction and UK and New York photography by Roger Watt sterling 177118 Opposite page: Strand Palace Hotel. Back cover: Strand Palace Hotel.

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